"Will McDermott - Magic the Gathering - Odyssey Cycle 03 - Judgement" - читать интересную книгу автора (McDermott Will)

his pinned foe.
"That's two thousand pounds of fury on your chest, barbarian. I doubt even you could lift it from that
position."
Bullock was right. With the massive cat sitting on his chest and his left arm pinned to the ground,
Kamahl could barely move. He tried to lift his head to see how close Bullock was, but the lion beast
clapped its jaws over his neck, slamming his head back down onto the ground.
"I don't want to kill you, Kamahl," said Bullock. "Yield, and I'll just take the orb and let you leave,
escorted by my friends of course."
Kamahl could hear the padding feet of two new beasts coming up beside him.
"I pledged my life to protect the orb," wheezed the barbarian through the pressure on his larynx. "If
you want it, you'll have to kill me."
"If that is what you wish," came the reply.
Kamahl summoned his strength and punched at the beast's ribs with his free hand, trying to topple it.
Just as his blow landed, a searing pain shot through his body as the tentacles from the two new beasts
lashed at him, wrapping themselves around his arms and legs.
As the tentacles tightened their grip, cutting into his exposed flesh, Kamahl felt as if he'd been
punctured by hundreds of tiny needles. Then a sudden wave of nausea almost overtook the barbarian,
causing bile to well up in his throat. The beasts must be injecting poison through their tentacles, thought
Kamahl.
"I do not wish to kill you," said Bullock, "but you give me no other choice. The Mirari belongs to the
Cabal."
Kamahl heard the words, but they echoed inside his head as if his skull were a cavernous tomb. He
had to focus through the pain, through the poisoned barbs, and locate Bullock.
"I told you," Kamahl rasped, barely able to form words. The Cabal is no longer here!"
"And I told you," replied Bullock. "I am here, and that is all you need care about."
This time, Kamahl closed his eyes and concentrated as Bullock spoke, focusing on nothing but the
jack's taunt. Kamahl managed to twisted his left wrist just enough under the weight of the massive beast's
paw to raise the tip of his sword off the ground. With the blackness creeping over him, Kamahl shot a beam
of lightning from the end of his sword.
The bolt streaked up the hill and slammed into the knees of the burly Cabalist, disintegrating the
cartilage that held the kneecaps together and ripping muscle from the bones of his legs. Bullock fell forward
on his face, his legs no longer able to support his large frame, and passed out. His creations immediately
faded.
No longer pinned to the ground but still groggy from the lingering poison, Kamahl slowly pulled himself
to his feet and surveyed the crowd. As a show of strength, he raised the sword level with his shoulders and
turned a complete circle, menacing the gathered spectators with the power of his weapon. None seemed
willing to challenge him anymore, so Kamahl walked as steadily as he could the rest of the way up the hill
before anyone grew brave. Luckily, his lightning beam had continued past Bullock's legs and smashed into
and through the gate. Kamahl stepped through the hole and left Cabal City.
An hour later, as twilight descended upon the plains outside the city and some of his strength had
returned, Kamahl came upon three familiar figures. The barbarian had brought with him several apprentices
to the final battle for the Mirari. He had sent them all packing midway through the battle when he left to
face Chainer. Kamahl was glad to have the company again. He was tired of fighting everyone he met.
"Well met, boys!" called Kamahl as he came up behind the three mountain mages.
The apprentices turned to face their teacher and almost as one, focused upon the Mirari attached to
the end of Kamahl's sword hilt.
"You have it!" the eldest called before the other two could react.
"Yes," sighed the weary barbarian. "Though it cost me the life of my best friend."
"May I have the right to first challenge, Kamahl?" replied the eager student. "Only the strong shall
prevail. It is the way of the mountain."