Emerald of the Elves Read Online Free Page A

item that I wish to track. For Niki’s cloak I used banana bread.”
    “Banana bread?” giggled Jenneva. “How? Why?”
    “Picture a freshly baked banana bread in your mind, Jenneva,” instructed Master Khatama. “Now execute a tracking spell.”
    Jenneva nodded and immediately turned to face the woods where Niki had gone off to be alone.
    “Amazing,” commented Jenneva. “Not only the direction is known, but the distance is clear as well. That is most ingenious, Boris.”
    “And simple,” chuckled Boris. “For Tedi’s necklace, I used crab cakes.”
    “And his staff?” inquired Jenneva.
    “Fresh blueberry pie,” grinned Master Khatama. “It has always been one of my favorites.”
    Jenneva conjured up an image of blueberry pie in her mind and cast a tracking spell. She faced south and smiled broadly.
    “I shall have to remember your fondness for blueberry pie,” laughed Jenneva. “Do you always think of food?”
    “Food is something that I have not forgotten,” frowned Boris. “It was a wise choice in hindsight.”
    * * *
    “They are no longer pursuing us,” advised Klarg. “I was afraid that I would be blinded for life. What happened back there?”
    “What happened,” scowled Calastano, “is that they have more than one mage with them. Not even Jenneva could affect all of those spells at the same time. We have underestimated our enemy once again.”
    “What are you talking about?” retorted Hagik. “We eliminated the Prince of Alcea. That was our mission. Who cares about anything else?”
    “Have we eliminated him?” posed Calastano.
    “I saw him hit at least twice,” insisted Hagik. “Nobody could survive that.”
    “Perhaps,” mused Calastano. “Still, I would not be in a rush to report our victory to the Dark One. I want to see Arik’s body before I stick my neck out any further. How many men did we lose, Klarg?”
    “There are fifteen unaccounted for,” replied the Dark Rider. “It could have been a lot worse. All of the men were blinded, and some of them lost their mounts.”
    “The horses were blinded as well,” nodded Calastano. “It was a very effective defense.”
    “You sound like you admire them,” spat Hagik. “You had best reserve your praise for the forces of Sarac.”
    “Do not lecture me on my thoughts,” warned Calastano. “I know well where my loyalties lie, but I prefer a rational approach to analyzing events. What the Rangers did to repel our attack was brilliant. Even more so because I am sure that they did not plan it beforehand. They reacted with instincts that were honed during battle. We must keep that in mind the next time we are forced to engage them.”
    “There will be no next time,” Hagik shook his head. “Arik is dead.”
    Klarg turned as one of his Dark Riders approached. “What is it?” he asked.
    “Another of our men has returned from the battle,” reported the Dark Rider. “He was thrown from his horse during the attack and hid when the dwarves pursued us.”
    “So we only lost fourteen then,” mused Klarg.
    “Yes,” nodded the Dark Rider, “but what he saw may affect our plans.”
    “Report,” Klarg ordered crisply.
    “Arik rose after the attack,” declared the Dark Rider. “He appeared to be unscathed by the assault.”
    “Preposterous,” snarled Hagik. “He could not have survived at all, never mind unscathed.”
    “Is there anything else?” asked Klarg.
    The Dark Rider shook his head, and Klarg dismissed him. “I think the Price of Alcea is living a charmed life,” frowned Klarg. “We will have to attack again.”
    “You believe this report?” Hagik asked incredulously.
    “My men have no need to lie,” glared Klarg. “Whatever the reason behind Arik’s escape from the attack, there is no doubt that he survived. Perhaps we should try to kill him by more mundane means the next time.”
    “That makes sense,” nodded Calastano. “Perhaps one of the Rangers maintains a magical shield around him at all