The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10) (102 page)

CHAPTER 39

There was darkness. There was pain. Nath felt hands and fingers clutching at him. Pulling him deeper into the inner core of the creature. His mind ignited with the stark realization that he wasn’t going into the belly of some beast but rather of something horribly supernatural. He screamed in his mind. His surroundings suffocated him with the thoughts of the fallen. Their existence was angry. Miserable.

Nath squeezed his eyes shut. Tried to block it out. The terror tore at his mind.

There must be a way! There must be a way!

Fear squeezed him. His breath was lost. He hung suspended in a blanket of darkness, struggling fiercely against unseen bonds.

“Don’t fight it,” the lurker said from within. “You’ll soon be one of us now.”

NEVER!

Nath felt something beating. Pulsating. A heart of some sort.

Pulling those who held him along for the ride until one by one they fell away, he swam through the dark muck right toward it. A green light glowed in the murk. He spiraled toward it. Scratched at it. It was hard as stone. Tougher than steel. Powerful magic encircled it.

“The essence of all,” the lurker said all around him, “Thousands of hearts beating as one, controlled by my thoughts. Embrace it.”

A vision of him being part of this monstrosity formed. His glorious mane on its hideous head. Nath pulled something out from concealment within his clothes. Dragon Claw’s light cut through the darkness.

“Where did that come from?” the Lurker roared.

More bodies that were there but not there swarmed him, grabbed onto him, restrained him.

Nath sent his thoughts to them. He could sense their torment and pain.

Be free.

The essences of the beings that held him struggled with one another. Their good essence got the upper hand and released him.

“Nooooo!” the lurker said.

Nath struck. Dragon Claw buried itself in the heart of the monster. It shook like an earthquake.

“I gave you everlasting life!” it roared. “You betrayed me.”

They didn’t want everlasting life. They wanted peace.

Nath twisted the blade.

The heart exploded. Thousands of voices cried out, some in anger, others in joy.

The lurker spoke no more. Its inner core collapsed around him.

Nath struggled to breathe. To rise. To do anything. But he could move no more. His thoughts were rattled.

Where am I?

He passed out.

***

Nath felt something on his face. It was cold. Icy. His mind was foggy.

Please tell me the dragon sleep didn’t hit again. Last time, I lost twenty-five years. Now would it be fifty?

He shot into an upright position and opened his eyes.

Snarggell was there along with the other gnomes. He had a bucket of water in his hand.

“You’re dirty,” he said in Gnomish. “Alive, impossibly. But dirty.”

“Where’s the lurker?”

“Where you left it. Dead. We had to fish you out of it. Now we’re all dirty. Don’t like it. We’re not dwarves or orcs. You got muck all over us.”

“Shouldn’t you be glad it’s dead and I’m alive?”

The gnome sighed.

“Now more trouble comes.”

EPILOGUE

Sasha rested in one of the gardens, enjoying the view and fresh air. She needed to get out now and then. Time to think and ease her thoughts. Rerry and Samaz were driving her crazy with worry, and she’d made it a habit to slip out from time to time, drawing their angst. But she always came here. There were people. Life. Not all the sorts she liked, but it was close enough to normal to hold her.

“Pardon me,” a woman said. She was tall, pleasant faced, and adorned in black robes that covered her from toes to the top of her head, leaving only her face open. “May I sit?”

“Certainly,” Sasha said, scooting over on the bench. “It’s too lovely a day not to share.”

The woman sat down and eyed the white clouds in the bright azure sky.

“Aye, it is. It’s so nice when all those horrible grey clouds are gone. I don’t like them.”

Sasha said, “I love the warmth that it brings. It just seems like it’s been so long.” She looked at the woman. “But aren’t you hot in all that black? That’s heavy cloth you have on.”

“No,” the woman replied, with a light giggle. “It absorbs the sun and warms me to the bones. I chill easily.” She eyed Sasha. “Is something bothering you? For such a pretty woman, I can see so much trouble on your brow.”

Sasha leaned away and looked at her.
Is it that obvious?

“Please, no offense, dear. I’m just a good judge of character.” The woman’s voice was warm and soothing. “I spend a lot of time with a lot of people.”

Sasha found comfort in the woman’s voice. She’d been so isolated, she’d almost forgotten what it was like to converse with another woman. It excited her.

“No, it’s all right. I just haven’t been out much.”

“Well, I can understand why,” the woman said, eyeing a spire that hosted a dark-green dragon. “And as much as I hate to say it, I’ve almost gotten used to it. That’s dreadful to say, isn’t it?”

“No. You sound like someone who’s found peace amidst the chaos. I think that’s commendable.”

“Well, thank you,” the woman said, smiling “And what about you?”

For reasons unknown, Sasha started talking. A dam inside burst open. Her troubles with age and being human with part-elven boys spilled out of her mouth.

“I’ll die before they even grow up. And look,” she pointed, “look at these crow’s feet decorating my eyes.”

“Is that all that bothers you?” the woman said. Looking around, she spread her arms wide. “This is Nalzambor. It has answers to everything. You’re a sorceress, are you not? You should know that.”

“I cannot reverse time,” Sasha said with a sigh.

“Well, maybe not,” said the woman, “but you can lengthen it.”

Sasha was intrigued.

“How do you know this?”

“I’m a woman,” she said, “But I’m well over one hundred.” She whispered in Sasha’s ear. “But how far over the century I will not tell.” She rubbed Sasha’s shoulder. “But I like you, and I’m willing to tell.”

Sasha started to pull away. Something wasn’t right about the woman.

“Easy now,” the woman said, rising to her feet. “I’ll be here the rest of the day and all day tomorrow, but after that I must go.” She started to walk away. “And I felt as you did once, but today I’ve never felt better.” She walked into the gardens and disappeared.

Sasha stood there gaping. There was truth in the woman’s words.

I’m tired of feeling old.

She followed after the woman.

***

Otter Bone gasped, and his eyes popped open.

“What is it?” Bayzog said. It had been days since the old man had even spoken.

Brenwar and Ben came forward.

“Yes, what is it?”

Otter Bone smiled.

“Your friend lives. But he needs our assistance.” He got up. “Come.”

Horse Neck guided him toward the mouth of the cave, but something blocked the exit. It was a dragon, but not Nath Dragon. Copper scaled, vicious, with a long, sharp tail that matched its teeth. The dragon struck, its speed blinding and the blows precise. The dragon’s jaws clamped down. Its tail lashed out. The river folk fell in heaps.

Brenwar rushed forward and smote the dragon in the skull with his hammer. It recoiled and dashed outside the hole. Brenwar chased after it and shortly came back.

“How are they?” the dwarf said.

Bayzog shook his head.

Otter Bone and Horse Neck were dead.

Fight and the Fury

The Chronicles of Dragon: Book 8

By Craig Halloran

CHAPTER 1

“What do you mean,
more trouble comes
?” Nath said to Snarggell, flinging off the lurker slime that coated him. “How could there be more trouble than that thing?” He eyed the monstrous corpse behind him. It smelled as foul as it looked.

Snarggell blinked his eyes repeatedly and said, “Have you forgotten the undead army that awaits? And the dragons? There are many, are there not? Once they sense the lurker is dead, they’ll come.”

Weary, Nath grabbed Fang and pushed himself to his feet. He stuffed Dragon Claw back inside the hilt.

“I suppose we had better get out of here then.”

“And go where?” Snarggell said. “I’m fine chipping away at jaxite until I’m dead. So are the rest of us.”

The gnomes huddled around him, murmuring in agreement. Clenching small tools and chisels between their fingers, they moved on and started picking at the stones.

Nath sighed.

“I didn’t come here to help you continue your work for Barnabus. I came here to put an end to that,” he said, slinging more muck off his hand. “And the end has come. Put down your tools and stop picking.”

“That is not possible,” Snarggell said. “We are crystal gnomes. This is what we do.”

“So you serve an evil cause, then?” Nath said, eyeing him.

“We’ve no proof of that, only your word, and we hardly know you, Scaly One.”

“No proof,” Nath argued. “Were you not brought here against your will? Are you not unable to leave? Snarggell, don’t be absurd.”

Snarggell stormed away, picked up his hammer and chisel, and joined the others.

Tink. Tink. Tink … Tink. Tink. Tink.

Nath felt every little tap inside his skull, and a headache coming on. Sometimes, slaves are uncomfortable with the thought of freedom. Prisoners aren’t kept well, but they know what to expect. Freedom can be scarier, because you have to fight for it. His father had told him that. Nath rubbed his finger under his lip and paced the cave. It wasn’t long before he found himself standing underneath the inverted staircase that had appeared once again. He rubbed his forehead.

What was that thing, the lurker? What kind of power was that?

He ran his claws through his slimy hair and slung muck to the floor.

“Yech.”

He could smell himself. Taste a nasty grime in his mouth. He took a path under the inverted stair and stopped at the edge where the cavern’s mouth opened. The winds were refreshing. The river far below looked refreshing.

I could go for a bath about now. A long one.

A dragon streaked through the sky beneath him, followed by another, two emeralds no bigger than Nath. Necks low and wings spread wide, they glided in circles, screeching back and forth at one another. Nath scratched his back.

If only I had wings!

He headed back for the gnomes, deep in thought. It was time to put their work to a halt, one way or another.

Snarggell peeked up at him, turned away, and kept on chipping.

“This ends now, Snarggell. We’re leaving.”

The gnome’s huff bristled his beard. His hands continued in a flurry of motion.

Nath marched over, snatched the tools out of his hands, and slung them aside.

“What are you doing?” Snarggell blurted out, face reddening. “We aren’t going anywhere! Nothing awaits us but death out there.”

“Nothing awaits you but death
in here
!” Nath said, snorting small flames from his nose.

All the gnomes stopped what they were doing, eyes wide as saucers. They looked at Snarggell. He looked back at them, folded his knotted arms over his chest, and said, “We’re staying right he–
ulp!
”

Nath snatched the gnome off his feet and tucked him under his arm like a satchel.

Snarggell kicked and screamed.

“Let me go! Let me go!”

Nath grabbed another one and started carrying them toward the inverted staircase. Their struggles were fierce but in vain. Nath’s powerful arms held them tight.

“Stop him! Stop him!” Snarggell screamed at the others.

The remaining gnomes attacked like a swarm of bearded bees. They climbed on Nath’s legs and on his back. Muttered curses. Tried to pull his arms away.

Nath dragged them one slow step at a time. Toward the inverted stairs and beyond.

“You’ve no right to do this!” Snarggell yelled. “You’ll get us all killed. Kill yourself!”

Snarggell did all the talking. The others fought in a furious frenzy, like wild children oblivious to anything going on around them except bringing the giant down.

Nath lumbered on. He made it ten steps from where the jaxite cavern dropped off into the river. The dragons that circled below were gone.
No time like the present.

“You remember how to swim, don’t you?” he said.

Snarggell’s head whipped around in desperation.

“What! Of course.”

“But you haven’t bathed in almost forever, have you?”

“Huh? But you can’t be doing what I think you’re doing.”

Nath made a fierce grin.

“Oh, but I am.”

“Get off him, brethren!” Snarggell yelled. “Get off him. Run!”

It didn’t register with the gnomes. Like a pack of loyal dogs, they only wanted to rescue their leader, giving no thought to the consequences, one way or the other. They clung to him like burs from the brush.

Nath slogged his way over the next few steps and leapt into the air.

“Dragon Home!”

The plunge went fast. Wind whistled in his ears, and Snarggell’s screams could barely be heard. Nath just hoped no one would get hurt. Headfirst he fell, watching the river rush up to meet them. Suddenly, two emerald dragons swooped underneath them, jaws open wide.