Press The Line: Ganog Wars Book 3 Read online

  The bearded man slammed his club into Baldus, crushing his shoulder and arm. Baldus staggered back with a cry, allowing me to maneuver behind him. I was vaguely aware of Nara and her companions, who were quickly and efficiently slitting the guards' throats.

  Baldus stabbed a finger at the bearded man, and a beam of blue-green lightning shot into the slave's chest. I didn't recognized the magic, and watched in horror as the slave began to shrink. His bushy beard spread, and within seconds the man was gone. In his place lay a tiny, quite harmless, hedgehog.

  I overcame my shock, gliding toward Baldus. Energy stirred within me, a mixture of the power I'd borne when I first arrived, and the new void magic I'd gained from Xal. I combined them, deep purple lighting crackling around my blade. I rammed that blade into Baldus's back, just above the fourth vertebrate.

  The stored energy rippled through his body, and he began to twitch and thrash. Smoke rose from his body as the void lightning completed its work. The charred stench of human flesh billowed out from his armor. I blinked, struggling to grasp the power of what I'd just done.

  "That was impressive, Aran," Nara said. I looked up to find her aiming her spell-dagger in my direction. "There's no way our mutiny would have succeeded without you. You're going to make a wonderful apprentice, assuming you're smart enough to lay down that sword."

  Behind her, all four of her companions had armed themselves with spell-rifles. There was no way I was going to overcome them. I didn't trust Nara, but I didn't have a better choice. I dropped my sword.

  Nara waved her dagger at her closest supporter. "Go pick that up. We'll give it back to him when we're sure he's not going to do anything stupid. Let's go."

  They started back for the ship, two of them dragging Baldus's still smoking body. I wasn't surprised. His armor, the ruby in his eye socket, and his stave were all of nearly incalculable worth. Certainly more than I was.

  I sighed, bending to scoop up the hedgehog. It peered up at me suspiciously, growling.

  "Hey, don't blame me. I have no idea if the spell will dissipate over time, but if not maybe can find someone to dispel it." I started after Nara, wondering what came next.

  My situation wasn't of my own making, but at least no one was trying to kill me. For now.

  <<<<>>>>

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Cast of Characters

  Previously on Ganog Wars

  Hold The Line

  Planetstrider

  Prologue

  1. Nyar Prime

  2. Warp Anchor

  3. Explain

  4. The Summit

  5. Fleet Leader

  6. Rebuffed

  7. Kokar

  8. Grak

  9. Workable

  10. Nowhere Is Safe

  11. The Mission is Yours

  12. Azatok

  13. To Me

  14. Clanless

  15. Nyar Will Fall

  16. A Fool I've Been

  17. Don't Do This

  18. Halut

  19. Sanitation Ducts

  20. Life Debt

  21. Reunited

  22. Spit In Death's Eye

  23. Defiant

  24. Called To Account

  25. No Legend

  26. Extraction

  27. Fall Back

  28. The First Arcanotome

  29. Inside The Tome

  30. More Guards

  31. Bruth

  32. Longshot

  33. We Have The Technology

  34. Repairs

  35. Nyar

  36. Catch Our Breath

  37. The Void Wraith

  38. No

  39. Into The Spire

  40. Yeah, Still No

  41. Nameless One

  42. I'll Get Right On That Miracle

  43. Get Their Attention

  44. Everyone Is Online

  45. Upper Spire

  46. Assault The Beacon

  47. No, You Are Not

  48. Sacrifice

  49. Boom

  50. Azatok

  51. Respect The Tigris

  52. Not Good

  53. Online

  54. T'kon's Decision

  55. Dire Consequences

  56. Speech

  57. Transform

  What Comes Next?

  Planetstrider

  I. Tech Mage

  1. Cargo Hold

  2. Into the Eye

  3. Demons

  4. Enlightenment

  5. Betrayal