Tail of the Dragon (10 page)

CHAPTER 27

Borgash was big indeed. The abandoned city stretched for miles in all directions. Most of the city was nothing more than part of the landscape, but in places there were remnants of once-thriving stone buildings.

Nath climbed up a series of vines where dead-looking trees sprouted up like massive pylons. The bark was petrified and swallowed up by the prickling vines. He sauntered out on one of the branches and spied on his surroundings.

Not too far off in the distance, Brenwar stood on the ground, moving large rocks and boulders back and forth.

That should keep him happy. Well, “content” might be a better word.

Selene was nowhere in sight. Nath felt a little guilty about that. He’d insisted they split up. They didn’t need to watch over him anymore, dragonman or not. If anything, Selene needed an eye kept on her. After all, her roots had once been steeped in evil.

They’ll be fine. This place seems harmless enough.
He reached up, dug his claws into a branch, and pulled himself up to greater heights. From his perch up in the dead and leafless tree, he could see all around, and so far as he was concerned, there wasn’t much to look at.

I can see why no one leaves. They die of boredom.

He stretched his arms out and spread them wide.
Oh, if I could only fly!

You can.

Nath froze with chills going up his spine. Finally, his lips moved. “Eh, is someone there?”

There was no reply. Just the soft howl of the wind. Nath spun around on the branch and looked everything up and down. There was nothing in the tree. No birds. No nests. But there were some holes bored into the wood. He shook his head. “I must be hearing things. My own imagination, perhaps.”

Glancing back down at the ground, he noticed Brenwar was gone.

A chill wind slid over Nath’s neck, standing his nape hairs on end. His body tingled, but not in a good way. He felt unseen eyes all over him. The warmth of the setting sun on his face began to fade. Shadows from distant mountains changed the look of Borgash’s landscape. Nath rubbed his neck.
Perhaps splitting up wasn’t such a good idea.

Too impatient to scramble all the way down the tree, he hopped down the last twenty feet and landed soundlessly on the soft ground.

Not bad. Couldn’t have made such a subtle landing before, I’ll admit that.

He was headed in the direction he’d last seen Brenwar when Nath tripped and fell. “What in the world?” Glancing down, he noticed his feet were tangled in some vines. He started ripping the vines from his boots. “Stubborn things.”

Finally, his feet were free, and he carefully backed away. Glancing up, he noticed the tree he’d just climbed from was different. The branches were bent downward, seeming to come right at him, but still stiff and frozen.

“Odd. Very odd.” He took off at a trot, traversing the jagged landscape of the fallen city, and found himself standing where he’d last seen Brenwar. There was no sign of the dwarf. No tracks, either. “Oh, I’m not losing you again.”

By taking in a whiff of air, Nath found that Brenwar’s dwarven musk lingered. On cat’s feet, Nath picked his way through the foliage and growing shadows. If Brenwar had passed through the direction Nath was headed, there wasn’t any sign of him.

I don’t like this. I don’t like it at all.

Nath stopped and turned. Behind him, the grasses he had trodden on didn’t show the slightest sign that he’d passed through there at all. He squatted down and pressed his palm into the moss- and grass-covered ground. After he lifted his hand there was an impression. It lasted only a moment, and then the grass and moss had returned to their prior places. “That’s new.”

Glancing up at the setting sun, he noted there was little light left in the day. With a twitch in his nose, he hustled after Brenwar.

Great Guzan. What if this place has eaten him?

Pushing through the overgrowth, Nath noticed that every fiber of life he touched seemed to scrape and pull at him. His boots got stuck in between some more vines, and he ripped his foot clean out of the leather. He reached down only to find the ground and foliage swallowing his boots up. “Sultans of Sulfur!” He grabbed them just in time and hopped over more vines while he put them back on.

Keeping to the trail of Brenwar’s scent, Nath sprinted away.

I’ve got to warn Brenwar! Find Selene!

Jumping over fallen stone after fallen stone, he emerged in a barren spot of land and came to a sudden halt in front of a living and gaping hole.

His eyes were locked on Brenwar’s.

The dwarf was bound up in the new tendrils of a vine just outside a monstrous maw in the hole, encircled with teeth. On the other side of the expansive monster, Selene was corded up and being dragged into the gurgling hole.

“Selene!”

CHAPTER 28

The gaping hole of vegetation groaned. Deep in its middle, a ring of teeth chomped up and down. The vines gripping Brenwar and Selene dragged them downward toward the bone-crunching hole.

“Hold on!” Nath yelled.

There were no replies. Selene and Brenwar’s mouths were encircled by vines. Their eyes were pleading and filled with desperation.

“Blast! If I was bigger, I’d rip this thing out of the ground!” Nath’s eyes searched for something, anything that might aid his friends. He dashed around the rim of the monster. “Selene! Give me your tail!”

Her tail whipped out. Nath stretched his fingers as far as he could, but there was still a considerable gap around him.

Suddenly, more vines burst forth from the monster’s mouth. Like venomous snakes, they came right for him. He backpedaled. His feet were snagged by a tangle of vines and grasses. “Blast!”

Selene and Brenwar continued to descend deeper into the hole. All of their struggles were in vain.

“No!” Nath ripped free of the foliage.

The tendrils from the mouth reared up and encircled his arms. The vines tugged at him with tremendous force.

Nath tugged back with all his might. He ripped a tendril clear of the monster’s mouth.
Snap!

The ground shook.

The monster let out a shrill cry.
Eaaerrrrrrrr!

Nath ripped out another vine.
Snap!

The earth buckled beneath him.

“Hah! You don’t like that, do you.”

More tendrils burst forth from the monster’s mouth. Dozens of them surged for Nath all at once.

“Not good!”

Striking fast, the tendrils ripped at Nath’s legs.

He leapt backward and bounced off a boulder.

The tendrils snaked over the rim and pressed after him. The other grasses and vines came to life, holding him fast.

“This entire place is alive!”

While he was pushing himself out of the tangles, the boulder in front of him inspired an idea. He darted to the other side, wrapped his arms around it as best he could, and hoisted it up onto his shoulder. “Argh!”

The tendrils coiled up his legs and squeezed.

Sweat beading on his brow, Nath fought for balance and shuffled forward. The skin on his legs started to burn. The tremendous weight of the stone strained every muscle in his shoulders and back. Using the tugging of the evil vines, he continued the slow march forward.

“This is it, monster,” Nath said through gritted teeth. “I’ve got a bellyful for you.” Standing on the rim of the sunken maw, he hunkered down. With a heave, he launched the huge rock off of his shoulders and down into the mouth.

The boulder smashed right into the snapping mouth.

The ground rocked and reeled.

The earth let out an uncanny shriek.
Rreeeeeeeeeee!

The tendrils uncoiled from around Nath’s legs and darted back down into the hole.

The rock covered the mouth entirely.

The tendrils attacked it. They bounced off the gritty surface over and over like snakes gone mad.

Without hesitation, Nath slid down the side of the hole and yanked Selene free of the tendrils. She was gasping for breath. Nath carried her in his arms and set her down on the rim.

Below and butted up against the rock covering the mouth was Brenwar. There was a disgruntled look on his face. Nath scurried back into the hole, broke away the clinging tendrils, and fetched him up and out of the hole.

“Is everyone all right?” Nath asked.

The ground tremored beneath them.

“By Mortuun! The cursed ground here is living!” Brenwar said. He raised the war hammer high.

“Stop, dwarf!” Selene said, staying his hand with hers. “This isn’t some mountainside you can cave in. This evil breathes.” She shoved into him. “Let me handle this.”

“How dare you!” Brenwar growled, pushing back.

Selene’s hands flared up with fire.

Brenwar’s eyes became moons.

“Selene! How can you do that?” Nath said, gaping.

“I’ve been a priestess, have I not? My ability to craft magic is not gone. Does it make you uncomfortable?”

“Just a little surprised is all.”

She shook her head and turned away. Mystic tones and arcane words spun from her lips. Fire rushed from her fingertips, driving hard into the monster.

The ground screeched.

The gaping hole spread with flame. The tendrils writhed, popped, and crackled. The expanse became a burning pyre where vegetable turned to ash. The rock inside its mouth collapsed out of sight. Gray ash drifted in the wind.

Leaning over the edge, Brenwar said, “All we had to do was set it on fire?”

Selene dusted her hands off. “Mystic fire. But I took a chance.”

Nath eyed her.

“What?” she said, eyeing him back. “I’m a lifelong spell crafter.”

“Then why didn’t you use your craft before?” Nath asked.

“The same reason the dwarf didn’t get in a swing of his hammer. I was surprised.”

Nath nodded. “If you say so.”

“Nath, now is not the time to doubt me again.”

“Well, maybe if you didn’t have those black scales, we wouldn’t doubt you,” Brenwar interjected.

“Black scales. Are you jesting, dwarf?” She pointed at Nath. “Have you not noticed his too?”

“Aye, I have, and I don’t like them. Black is a sign of evil.”

Nath put his fists on his hips. “Well, your beard’s black. Does that make you evil?”

“What?” Brenwar clutched at his beard with his skeleton hand. “Why no.” He rapped Mortuun’s shaft down on the ground. “Like I said, ‘Black, isn’t it glorious!’”

The three of them had a little laugh.

Nath then turned to Selene. “I have to admit, I’m envious. It seems you have much of the power you once had. I don’t appear to have anything.”

Selene cupped his face with her hand. “Nath, be patient. I couldn’t have lifted that boulder.”

His eyes brightened like gold stars. He flexed his black-scaled arms. “No, I guess you couldn’t.”

“I could’ve,” Brenwar said, staring down at the hole.

“With the gauntlets, sure, but look at that thing. It must have been a ton if not more.”

“It wasn’t that big,” Brenwar said, still staring into the black hole. He reached down and found a piece of broken vine. He waggled it in front of Selene. “Do you mind, snake tail?”

“Oh,” she said with smoldering eyes, “you are a bold one, Bolderguild.” With a snap of her fingers, the tip of the vine was encircled in flame.

Brenwar tossed the makeshift torch into the hole. It landed with a crunchy sound that echoed upward. “By Morgdon, that hole is full of bones!”

CHAPTER 29

Nath stood inside the hole, surrounded by bones piled as high as his chin. Beside him, Brenwar pushed through the skeletons, making a path.

“Guzan, there must be hundreds of them,” Nath said. He picked up a skull and held it before his eyes. “Look at these high cheekbones. This one is elven.”

“It seems the creature took all kinds,” Selene said, holding up a round skull with heavy bone. “I’d say this one is dwarven or orcen.”

Brenwar snatched it away. “Orcen? Pah! It’s dwarven. And it needs a proper burial.”

“Don’t be silly, Brenwar. We can’t pick through all of these bones to bury your dead. They’ve probably been at rest for hundreds of years.” Nath plucked up a sword out of the pile then dropped it again when he saw that its metal was long rusted through. There were hundreds of decaying things scattered all over. “The dead are at rest. Let them rest.”

Brenwar tucked the dwarven skull under his arm. “I’ll bury him if I want.”

“Fine, Brenwar. Fine.” Wading through the bones, Nath sauntered up to Selene. Her tail was brushing the piles aside. “So, what do you make of this? Do you think this monster is what made Borgash extinct?”

She held a head in front of her that still had some hair on it. It was long and showed canine teeth. “A gnoll. A shame they aren’t all gnolls, but no, I don’t think this monster was the demise of the city. All of the races seem to be represented here. This is just hundreds of years of victims. Treasure hunters, perhaps? Travelers. All victims of the guardian.”

Nath cocked a brow. “Guardian?”

“One of many in this valley, I’d say. And if I’m correct, this plant monster is called a devourer, though this is the biggest one I’ve ever seen.”

“Where did you see them before?” Nath asked.

She dusted off her hands and faced him. “I don’t think that really matters now. Excuse me.” She brushed by him and began shifting through the char that used to be the dangerous plant. “Ah, see this?”

“Guzan!” Nath said, jumping back. “Kill it!”

Out of the ground, a tendril with a white bud on the end was writhing about. Selene seized it with her hand. “These devourers have strong roots and grow back quickly. You have to destroy the root.” She started to tug on it. “A little help, please?”

Nath wrapped his arms around her waist, dug his feet in, and started to pull her back.

“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind,” she said.

“Oh, hush and hang on.” Feet digging in, he started to pull her back harder. “Guzan! How deep is this thing?”

Puffing for breath, Selene said, “I thought you were strong!”

Nath set his jaw, leaned back, put all of his muscles and weight into it, and said, “I sure hope you don’t break.”

“I won’t!”

“Grrrrrr!”

Rip!
The plant gave.

Nath stumbled backward and crashed into the bones. Selene was on his lap, holding the squirming tendril. At its end, a huge red tuber, bigger than an ogre’s head, pulsated like a heart.

“That’s creepy!”

Brenwar charged up with Mortuun.

“No, dwarf!” Selene said, stretching out her arms.

Mortuun the Crusher came down with ram-like force.

Splat!

Slime and goo covered Selene and Brenwar.

Jumping to her feet with fists balled up at her sides, she screamed at Brenwar, “Fool of a dwarf!” Her tail rose up behind her. “I’m going to kill you!”

Brandishing his war hammer, Brenwar fired back a warning. “Watch yerself, dragon lady.”

Nath, shielded behind Selene, chuckled. “You two just aren’t ever going to get along, are you.”

Combing the gunk out of her long black hair, Selene walked away. “Probably not.”

“You really should try being a little nicer to her, Brenwar.”

Brenwar’s eyes widened. “Me? Why?”

“She’s a woman.”

“With a tail, and not so long ago, she tried to destroy me, you, and the rest of the world.”

“We’re past that now, so try to put forth a better effort.” Ignoring Brenwar’s frown, Nath glanced up out of the hole at the darkening, star-filled sky. “It’s going to be blacker than my scales before long. Hmmm.” He picked up a skull and chucked it into the black expanse that surrounded the hole. The sound of it skipping off stone echoed back. “That’s interesting. Uh, Brenwar, we could use a torch or something. Do you have your tinderbox handy?”

Selene slipped in between Brenwar and Nath. “So primitive.” With a snap of her fingers, her hand glowed with a warm green light. Its wavering glow illuminated the entire hole and beyond.

Gaping, Nath said, “Looks like the Lost City isn’t so lost after all.”