WinterMaejic by Terie Garrison Page B

voice boomed over all the other sounds. “Scatter!” As if everyone wasn’t already doing that. Everything went dark as somehow, all the fires were extinguished. Lightning fell faster and faster now. I called out Traz’s name, then Yallick’s, but I couldn’t even hear my own voice.
    A sizzling sound split the air, and a bolt of the green lightning struck a tree only a few feet from me. Until now, I’d stood rooted in place watching the scene unfold, but the shock of the strike shook the ground beneath me and I fell down. That was enough for me. I scrambled to my feet and ran headlong in the opposite direction from the camp.
    As I raced away from the confusion, lightning continued to strike all around. The forest animals were now trying as frantically as I was to get away. Birds that would normally be sleeping at night flew dazedly through the trees. Predators ignored their usual prey as both ran in the same direction.
    There was shouting, some nearby, some farther off. Once or twice, I even thought I heard my name, but I didn’t slow down to find out. All I wanted was to escape, and in double-time. I didn’t know in what direction I ran, and I didn’t care.
    A loud thrashing noise came from my left, and whatever it was, it was moving a lot faster than I. It couldn’t be a squirrel or a fox, not making that kind of noise. A wolf, perhaps? The fleeting thought that I had no way to protect myself was followed immediately by the creature itself. I took one glance and suddenly wished it were only a wolf. A huge wild boar tore through the undergrowth, heading straight at me.
    I screamed. In the flashing green light, which was all behind me now, I caught a glimpse of a nearby tree with branches low enough to climb. If only I could reach it in time. I thought I’d been running at full speed, but now found I could sprint just a little faster. The heavy breathing of the creature was on my heels; I fancied I could feel its breath on my neck. Loud grunting noises and the thunderous pounding of its heavy feet . . . I wasn’t going to reach the tree in time. A tusk caught on my cloak. Then, just as I thought maybe I’d make it after all, I tripped on something and fell in a heap. Instinctively, I covered my head with my arms and curled up into a ball. Mama’s face flashed into my mind, then Papa’s, and Breyard’s. I waited for the huge tusks to rip into my unprotected flesh. My muscles tensed in anticipation.
    A thud, and everything went quiet. Almost afraid to see what new threat had arrived, I opened my eyes. The boar lay on its side next to me, a tusk still poking through the rip in my cloak. I felt a strong power emanating from nearby, even though I was still blocking. Then Anazian came striding toward me, a look of intense worry on his face.
    I let out my breath in a loud sigh, trying to release some of the tension as well. I started to stand up.
    “No,” Anazian said, “stay there. Let me make sure you’re all right.”
    “I am,” I assured him. “It didn’t get me.”
    The mage dropped to one knee beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder. His chest rose and fell as his breath recovered from the chase. Mine was returning to normal, too. I let out a strained giggle when I noticed that we were breathing in rhythm.
    “I really am all right,” I said, appreciative of Anazian’s concern, even if it was unnecessary.
    “I’m glad I happened to be fleeing in the same direction as you,” he said with a wry smile.
    I looked at the fallen boar. “Me, too. Is it dead? How’d you kill it?”
    He shook his head. “Not dead. Definitely unconscious, and if my spell was strong enough, it should stay that way for the rest of the night. But I had to prepare the spell hastily, so we should move away from here quickly, just in case.”
    We got to our feet, and continuing in the direction I’d been going, we fled.

    Move and countermove. We have them on the run. This has been the game of the ages, masterfully planned