Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

repeated. “You and me. Right here, right now. Think about it, how strong your magic is. You might beat me.”
    But Dawson didn’t sound too concerned by the possibility. Bastard was trying to goad me into making the first move. Into doing something sloppy. oh, I was going to do something all right, but it wasn’t going to be what he expected.
    Still, I had to play this out to its inevitable conclusion, so I reached for the cool power deep inside me. Gathering it up, letting it fill every part of my being. Although I
    “A duel?” I asked.
    couldn’t see them, I knew my eyes were glowing a bright He nodded. “A duel. That’s how I take care of my silver with my elemental power. All around me, the stones’
    problems. Haven’t lost one yet in more than two hundred murmurs intensified, sensing my command over them. years.” He looked over his shoulder. “You boys might But the dwarf wasn’t worried. If anything, my reaching want to step out of the way for this.”
    for my magic amused him. Tobias Dawson grabbed hold The giants moved off to either side of the cavern, of his own Stone magic. Power poured off him like the leaving Dawson standing by himself in the middle. water sliding down the cavern wall, and his eyes glowed a The two men looked bored, as though they’d seen dull, slate blue. The dwarf was strong, and his magic felt their boss do this a dozen times before. They probably old and well-worn, like a horse he’d broken in over the had.
    years. No wonder he wanted to duel. one burst of magic The dwarf stood relaxed with his knees slightly bent. from him would be enough to take down most elemenHe tipped his cowboy hat back on his head to give himtals. Maybe even me. self a clearer look at me, and his hands hung down by The dwarf let out a low laugh. “You have power, bitch, his sides, fingers flexing and unflexing. He reminded me I’ll give you that. A lot of raw power. I’m going to enjoy of some old West gunfighter who’d just called the town this.”
    sheriff out into the dusty street for a noon showdown.
    “So why give me this chance, if I’m so strong? If I Yeah, I could see how elemental dueling would fit right could beat you?”
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    338 JENNIFER ESTEP
    Web of Lies 339
    “Because I like challenges.” Dawson grinned and spit had maybe another two or three seconds before he figured out another stream of tobacco juice. The foul brown mixit out and hit me with everything he had. ture landed at my feet.
    I drew in a breath and threw another blast of Stone
    “Do you know what I like, Tobias?” I asked. magic at the ceiling, even as I reached for my Ice power,
    “What?”
    making the frozen droplets and stream of water expand in
    “Playing dirty.”
    size. I forced the Ice into the stone like a chisel. Ice, stone. I smiled at him and threw my magic at the cavern ceilChisel, hammer. ing.
    My vision became a field of silver. Sweat dripped into my eyes, my knees trembled, and my whole body There was no time for finesse, restraint, or even patience. felt weak. It felt like I’d been toiling away for years, deone shot was all I had, and I took it. I threw everything I cades, even though only a second, two tops, had passed. I had at the cavern ceiling. All my Stone magic and all my wanted to let go of my magic, wanted to rest. Every part Ice power, weak though it was. The water that had been of my aching body screamed at me to just let go and fall dripping off the formations and sluicing down the cavinto the blackness that was threatening to overwhelm me. ern wall immediately froze. The resulting crystal droplets But if I did that, if I gave Dawson a second of opportuglistened like the diamonds embedded in the walls. The nity, he’d throw his own magic at me, and I didn’t have sudden surge of Ice caused bits and pieces of the cavern to the strength to ward him off. Not now. So I gritted my crack and sheer off from the rest of the walls and ceiling. teeth, pushed the pain away, and kept hammering at the Dust and dirt puffed up into the air.
    stone. Bringing the ceiling down might be the last thing Jo-Jo Deveraux had always told me I had more Stone I’d ever do, but the fucker was going to fall. magic than anyone she’d ever seen before. I hoped that Crack! Crack-crack!
    meant Tobias Dawson too. But I’d been weakened by It started to work. A large stalactite broke off from the Dawson’s punches, and I wasn’t at full strength. Even