Chapter 21.
Looks like it is time to do something stupid then, Jakob thought as his hands grasped his Hupoks. Jakobs heart started to beat, sending adrenaline powering through his muscles.
The man in the middle, the brown haired fire mage, threw his hands forward. Like a rock, the ball of fire flew towards Jakob and Kreska. Moving on instinct, years of training guiding his arm, Jakob threw one of his hupoks into the air. With a subtle thud and a clink of the chain, his hupok collided with the fireball, deflecting it in mid air. Without pausing, Jakob threw the second hupok at the bald fire mage.
I've got to distract them long enough for Kreska to use a spell, He thought with a flash of urgency.
The mage, distracted by the hurtling blade, shot forth streams of a blue fire from his hands. Almost as if he had predicted this, Jakob flicked the chain connecting the hupok to his hand. In mid air, the blade twisted and coiled as if it was alive, spinning upward until the grapple connected with the roof of the tavern. Pulling on the chain and kicking off the stone wall, Jakob swung towards the figure who had not used any magic. Lashing out with a kick, he felt his heel connect with the figure's Jaw.
One down, thought Jakob as he recalled the first hupok, returning to his hand after deflecting the fireball. I wonder if Kreska can handle brown hair, he thought, sparing a glance at the orc.
A brief look of Kreska's fists made out of stone, deflecting shards of fire from the brown haired mage instilled a confidence, a need to prove himself to Kreska.
Lets focus on Baldy then, Jakob thought, as he spun to engage. A fireball brushed past his hair as the bald mage closed his distance. The ground rippled, turning into a muddy slurry beneath the pair's feet. Seizing this advantage, Jakob threw both blades into the air, missing the bald mage. The mage, oblivious to the web Jakob had sewn, smiled flames curling around his lips as he breathed in.
Shock, manifested in blue fire erupting from his mouth, as the blades from the hupoks, turned into grapples with a flick of Jakobs wrists, dug into his back, pulling him to his knees. Leaping in the air, throwing his foot down like an axe, Jakob kicked. His foot connected with the bald mages back pushing him further into the liquid stone. Reading his mind, the ground rippled again, shifting states in an instant, sending shards of clay, rock and stone flying.
Two down, thought Jakob, thankful for Kreska's help. Turning to see how Kreska was holding, Jakob noticed the Orc holding his ground against the older mage.
Sensing a loss, the brown haired mage grimaced and lowered his shoulders as if surrendering. In a heartbeat, his expression shifted like a sudden gust of wind, transforming from serene calm to a storm of emotions. Smoke, the colour of ash flowed from the mages arms as he hoped to use this moment to run.
Despite Jakobs weird ability to see the mage in the darkness, not wanting to continue the fight, he would have let this mage leave. He would have, but he saw the mage do something. Moving like the smoke itself, nimble fingers reached for a gold chain that hung on Kreskas waist. Too slow to react and respond, the fire mage swirled past Jakob. A swear slipped past Jakobs lips as he turned and began the chase after the mage
—
Kreskas point of view
"Don't do anything stupid." The bald mage said as his fingers sparked with fire.
The weight of concern pressed heavily on Kreska as he watched Jakob rise to his feet. A mixture of worry and determination etched into the lines of Kreska's stone-like features. He couldn't shake the fear that Jakob, lacking any apparent magic ability, would be left vulnerable. I can't let him get injured, Kreska thought, clenching his fists.
"Jörtregða séldngu," Kreska whispered, preparing a spell right as the brown haired mage pulled his arm back to throw the fireball.
The ground flinched in response, moving the rock beneath the brown haired mage a miniscule amount, but just enough to cause the mage's aim to be off target, just enough to force the fireball to miss Jakob. Redirecting and predicting the flame to pass over him, Kreska ducked, facing the ground. Oblivious to Jakobs deflection, Kreska threw his hands into the ground as another spell formed on his lips. "Jörðppund." The ground seemed to quiver and shake as hands of rock rose from the earth grabbing the bald haired mage by the legs. As Kreska clenched his hands under the earth the rock hands responded in kind, causing the bald mage to prematurely release flames from his hands instead of putting Jakob in danger with another fireball.
Continuing to channel the spell of rock hands, Kreska redirected the spell to hold the final man. Got to distract the final man, Kreska thought in urgency, trying to draw all the anger onto him if only to give time for Jakob to warn Acantha and Kustag.
Another fireball hissed towards Kreska, interrupting his focus and forcing him to dive to his side. "Tajörða," yet another spell was cast to give Kreska an edge in this fight, 1 against three. Dipping his hands into the earth, Kreska coated them in rock. Rising to his feet, eyes glinting with an eagerness for combat, Kreska prepared to fight the final mage. Moving the marble hands to his face, just in time, Kreska shielded his eyes. The third fireball thrown by the brown haired mage splashed harmlessly against Kreskas arms.
A quick glance towards the bald mage caused ice to form in Kreska's veins. Was one of the mages an earth mage as well? How did they pull Jakob towards them? I have to be stronger, thought Kreska as he willed the very earth to move. The earth responding to Kreskas' call, quivered and shook turning into a liquid throughout the alley. The brown haired mage momentarily distracted, was not Kreska's focus as he tried to will the earth to pull Jakob out of combat. Instead, he could only watch in morbid horror as his magic had caused Jakob to miss his shot, those weird blades from the north hissing past the bald mage.
Streams of fire, pulled his focus on the brown haired mage. I have to finish this fast, Kreska thought, Jakob might be injured because of my mistake, I'm not strong enough. A spell, in the form of a curse escaped his lips, "Jörtregða séldngu." Teeth clenched, hands forced into fists as unlike last time Kreska forced a lot more energy into the spell. The ground shimmered with an unnatural energy as shards of the liquid suddenly shifted back into a solid, causing small explosions of clay, rock and dirt.
The brown haired mage made eye contact with Kreska, a look of panic flickering behind his eyes. Kreska opened his mouth to cast a spell to trap the mage, but the brown haired mage was faster. Smoke coiled, like snakes formed from darkness, around his shoulders and the mage became obscured in darkness. Kreska, due to his talent of being an earth mage, could feel each step the mage made. The Fire mage stepped toward Kreska, but anticipating his move Kreska swung his stone covered fist. Brushing through streams of smoke, his hand just missed the mage. Seeing that Kreska knew where he was, he stepped back and moved away. Away towards Jakob… the smoke began to clear and Kreska watched as the mage bumped against Jakob… No… he hadn't bumped against Jakob, he had stolen the necklace that Jakob had been wearing around his neck.
A curse escaped Kreska's lips as he stepped forward to chase the mage.
—
Jörtregða is pronounced Yor - treg - tha
Séldngu is pronounced Seld - ngu (the ng is like the ng in singing)
Tajörða is pronounced Tay - or - tha