Extract from Saga of the Stones Volume 1: Zin'ao Rising

by David Jae

Copyright 2012

All Rights Reserved

Lady Annissa stopped suddenly, turning in a slow circle. Cesa stopped, too, not bothering to conceal his irritation this time.

'Lady Annissa, this is not a sightseeing trip. We need to keep moving.'
Annissa turned to face him, her face tight with concern.

'I do not think we are alone here.'

'Don't start getting jumpy on us, alright? There's nothing here.'
No sooner had he spoken than a piercing shriek cut the air, echoing from the walls and Cesa felt his heart begin to beat faster. Scourge! Without thinking, Cesa drew his pistols, moving to scan the chamber, just as figures began dropping from the ceiling. Humanoid in appearance, but larger, with long, powerful limbs, bat-like wings and heads crowned with spiny ridges, they swept down with an eerie and terrifying grace, cutting off both ends of the walkway.

'Holli!' Cesa yelled, moving to stand back to back with her. 'Twin Point.'
They moved to flank Annissa, Holli drawing her quarterstaff, igniting it with a faint crack, energy glowing at the tips. Cesa sighted up, but held his fire, even though he knew that he could hit them from this distance. He couldn't afford to have them scattering. As the Scourge got closer, using their wings to advance in gliding-jumps, he could hear their war shrieks and make out their sharp claws and teeth, stained black with something he didn't care to think about. When the first was five metres away he fired, a single shot that struck it in the head, dropping it to the ground with a cut-off scream. He resisted the temptation to snap off another shot, knowing that he'd need to keep his cool. Aiming with his other pistol, he took a careful shot that killed the second, punching through its chest. The third had closed with him now, springing over the bodies of the fallen, swinging its clawed hand round to eviscerate him.

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