A Darker Shade of Sorcery - - (leveled readers .txt) 📗

so, meaning she could flick out with her sword and parry.

“Couldn’t you trick them by looking in the opposite direction you’re about to attack?” she asked.

“Yes, but you’re only a beginner, and they tend to do this. A master swordsman nearly always bluffs, and double bluffs. It’s all about reading your adversary.”

Sword fighting, it appeared, was more complex than just waving metal about.

“Okay, I'll try showing you how footwork works. Watch me carefully, my entire body.”

This wasn’t a problem, Brooke smirked, watching Arantay’s perfect body in motion.

He battled an invisible opponent furiously, but Brooke could tell he was going slowly for her benefit.

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“Now attack me, and try to bluff too.” He backed away, leaving himself open.

Brooke leaped forwards, aiming to stab his midsection. He stepped back from her thrust, but she kept on coming. Her sword arced down, but she shoved out her free hand to stop herself falling like she had yesterday.

Instead, her hand met a wall of solid muscle; landing on Arantay. His body seemed to surge with… something.

Her hand shot back quickly, reluctantly.

“Sorry,” she gasped.

“You apologise too much.” He smiled.

“Sorry, I mean, oh…”

“Don’t worry,” he chuckled melodically.

“Again,” he hefted his sword.

Their training resumed for a while after that, until, to Brooke’s disappointment, Arantay called a stop.

“Same again tomorrow?” she asked eagerly.

“Until you’re a master swordswoman, as promised.”

She watched him walk away, beaming stupidly.

If she had thought his touch was exquisite, then it was nothing to what she’d felt when she touched him.

*

The sky was a blood-red blanket, the ground a dry black desert. The air was stale, but sweet with the stench of death.

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“The demon we sent failed, master,” the brute gurgled, his throat not used to human speech.

Kurrlan turned to his underling.

“Then send more. Send as many as you can get inside without detection. Our allies in Veneseron will open another portal for us.”

“Yes, master.” The brute bowed low. “We shall claim him soon.”

Chapter 12- Kingdom Enchanted

It was Veneseron city, city of sorcery, city of multiplicity.

The five of them stood in one of the many plazas. Evan, Brooke and Jed open-mouthed and astonished, Elijah and Cera already accustomed to the amazing sights.

Veneseron city was nothing short of a spectacle, Rome and Athens combined couldn’t match its grandeur. It was busier than New York, bigger than Beijing and more colourful than Tokyo.

Everything appeared to be on a huge scale, as if built for giants, with twenty storey inns and towers so tall their spires appeared to touch the twin suns.

A barrage of smells filled Evan’s nostrils, from braziers filled with multi-coloured fires, to the meats and sweets laid out on market stalls and even dung from the dozen

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different animals used as transport. Exotic incense mixed with wood-smoke and the pungent fumes of futuristic vehicles.

All the colours from the interior of the Fortress were reflected in the city below it.

And the people traversing the city, they were another matter entirely.

Evan had seen some of the magical races at the Fortress, but standing amongst so many was awe-inspiring.

Tiny gnomes waddled down the packed streets, whilst elves glided through the seething multitudes, their hair every colour under the sun. Orcs sauntered beside trundling dwarves who grunted into their beards. The skies were speckled with bizarre animals. Sparkling silver valkyries, fairy swarms, and even a dragon or two flew overhead.

It occurred to Evan why all these races lived harmoniously with one another, because they all fought for the same cause, against the demons, for Veneseron. He remembered Gettelung saying Veneseron was the only place in all the realms where the races could live in peace.

“Wow,” was all Brooke could say.

“Pretty big isn’t it.” Cera smiled.

“These things aren’t gunna’ attack us right?” Jed asked loudly, pointing at a passing troll.

“They might if you stand there ogling them,” Elijah said.

Evan spotted guards stalking through the streets, covered from head to toe in armour of tyrian purple.

“Paladins.” Cera saw his glance. “The city guards don’t tolerate violence of any other kind. So don’t start a fight.”

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“With who?” Jed asked. “The only race I could take is the pixies.”

“The only fighting is at Dante’s Hollow, and that’s all mock battles and melees, apart from the Great Games of course,” Elijah said, pointing to the biggest building yet.

Across the crowded streets a giant stadium brooded, stretching from the city-centre to the outer wall.

“It’s a coliseum?” Evan asked.

Elijah chuckled. “You’ll see. If it’s one thing Venators love, it’s their games.”

“Like football and stuff?” Jed frowned.

Elijah laughed. “More like dragon jousting, unicorn racing, Jewelball, and Arena-Battle.”

“What?” the three of them asked in unison.

“Jewelball is a mix of football and basketball I guess, except with dragons and manticores.”

“Yeah, totally like football,” Jed rolled his eyes.

“You’ll see,” said Elijah. “They don't let newbies attend the Great Games straight away, though. They want you to get used to training before you can compete.”

“Crikey, you Venators and your world just keeps on giving, don’t it?” Jed shook his head.

Evan noticed several glowing billboards were hovering in the air, blaring advertisements. One was a picture of dashing dark elves who were a famous boy band, according to the caption. A second soaring billboard was advertising Kneebob, the famous goblin comedian, also performing soon.

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“Where to first then, chaps?” Elijah beamed, pointing out various other establishments. “Emi and Xavier told me about a clothes shop where the cloaks change colour every two weeks. It's a shame they couldn't come today.”

“How come?” asked Evan.

“Zeke and Xavier have extra laps round the Fortress for pranking a group of Mid-Realmers and accidentally blowing up a rec room, and Emillia's got extra Curse-Breaking because she said she didn't believe one of Elorian's elaborate stories.”

Elijah's face lit up as he spotted something in the distance. “Oooh we could go the Silver Chestnut inn, or the Golden Nut.”

Evan noticed other Venators in the streets, gathered outside taverns or visiting the fantastical shops. He saw Blake and Seth Silcorn enter a theatre with an all gnome cast, whilst Arianna and Nena were in line at a cinema. The movie currently showing was entitled: Silence of the Satyrs.

“I promised I’d show Evan my house, so we could go there first, and then meet you at the Silver Chestnut?” Cera proposed.

Evan gulped.

“Sounds good, me, you and Evan can go check out your house and Elijah can show Brooke one of the inns,” said Jed.

Evan wasn’t entirely sure Cera had meant for Jed to come along too. Elijah, however, loved this idea.

“Sounds great,” he said, snaking an arm round Brooke’s waist and steering her away. “We’ll all meet up later.”

They waved their goodbyes and parted for the moment. Elijah and Brooke were soon lost amongst the crowds and many maze-like alleyways.

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As Cera led the way, a cacophony of sound swirled around, from the cries of bizarre beasts and the chatter of inn patrons, to the merchants shrieking their wares at every corner.

Evan managed to steal a few glances at the abnormal shops as they passed, his amazement growing. There were shops selling magic flutes, the goblin merchants proclaiming a single tune will make any listener instantly adore you. There were stalls selling silver bullets--for werewolf hunters--the grizzled dwarf yelled. And shops displaying wondrous armour imbued with peculiar abilities; like a gnomish helm that enabled the wearer to be fluent in all languages.

Evan walked past what looked like a gym, through the window he saw orcs and ogres working out with mammoth-tusk barbells. Next, he passed a store with a display filled with curious confectionery. The plates had labels like Troll Toffee or Blubbergum. The label on the food named Phantom Floss, which resembled navy-blue candyfloss, said it made the consumer's skin white as a ghost.

Evan spotted another flying billboard where a guitar wielding Padrake stood amidst a rock band, with a banshee lead singer.

“Padrake’s a rockstar?” Evan exclaimed.

“A terrible one yes,” said Cera. “He sings like an ogre in pain.”

Half-an-hour passed, in which Evan and Jed were beyond baffled by everything they saw. He had to physically stop Jed from buying an expensive pair of djinn parachute pants. Finally, Cera stopped outside a gargantuan building with iron gates flanked by elven statues.

“You never said you lived in a mansion,” Jed exclaimed.

“Well I don’t really. I spend most of my time at the stronghold.”

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“I wouldn’t if I were you. Look at this place.” Jed bounced up to the gates. “Well, what’re we waiting for?”

“C’mon,” Cera giggled, taking Evan’s hand and leading him to the door.

Her hand was so small, and warm, he liked the feel of it in his.

“Are you hungry?” she asked him through long lashes, her almond-shaped eyes captivating.

“Yeah sure,” Evan said.

“You bet I am,” Jed shouted from up ahead.

Cera giggled again, “I’ll ask if my mum can add extra plates.”

Jed turned back to them, “Your mum’s going to be in? Is she fit?”

“Sssh you,” Cera replied.

“If she looks anything like you she will be.” Jed said, subtle as a flying toilet, which could happen with the right enchantment.

Cera waved Jed’s compliment away as Evan gawked at him angrily, Jed just continued to grin.

*

She did look like Cera. Her hair was the exact same shade of jet; her skin the same toffee colour, only her eyes weren't green.

She was preparing food when they entered. Jed’s eyes nearly bulged when he saw her.

“Oh you’ve brought home two little friends,” she beamed.

“Yeah, is it cool if they stay for dinner?”

“Of course.”

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“Thanks Mrs Sangel,” Evan piped up, followed by Jed.

The meal was a surreal experience, being served dinner by a robot, whilst creatures of every shape and size could be seen through the window. It was a pleasant experience though, that was, until Cera’s dad walked in.

They heard Mr Sangel before they saw him. His voice boomed throughout the house as he came through the door.

“Honey, have you heard from Cera?

Mrs Sangel stood up fearfully.

Mr Sangel continued, “I need to do another test, check for side eff-”

He cut off as he entered the room and spied Evan and Jed.

Mr Sangel’s demeanour switched from highly agitated to stern in a second.

Cera’s father was an imposing man with milky skin, thick sandy hair and moustache to match. He bore little resemblance to Cera, except for the eyes she'd inherited. He strode into the room, cutting a powerful figure in soft blue robes and cloak. He wore a laser sword at his hip.

“Who…are these?” He asked Cera’s mother, nostrils flaring.

“Friends of Cera’s,” Mrs Sangel replied innocently as she sat back down, looking relieved.

“Boyfriends?” He demanded of his daughter.

“I don’t have one boyfriend father, let alone two.”

“I see how it is,” Mr Sangel snapped. “A few months after you finally have