The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10) (58 page)

CHAPTER 9

Gashed from head to toe, I trudged back to the mouth of the cave and out into the rain.

Sasha was the first person I saw, huddled down out of the rain under a dead tree. Her blue eyes widened, and she gasped. Froze.

“N-Nath,” she said, slowly rising to her feet.

“Aye,” I said. “What’s left of me.”

“What-what happened to you?” she said, running up to me. She hooked my arm over her shoulder and helped me along.

“Nothing I care to talk about,” I said, “but this is over, for now.” I tossed the bundle under my arm to the ground.

That’s when Bayzog and Brenwar appeared.

“You’re all bloody,” Brenwar said. “What did you do?”

“It’s good to see you too, Brenwar.” I kicked the bundle open. “I brought you gifts.”

Brenwar’s war hammer lay there along with Shum’s sword and Bayzog’s baubles. I’d even put my armor back on.

Brenwar crossed his thick arms over his barrel chest. “Did you kill him?”

Kryzak. I wished he was dead, more than anything. He’d killed Shum. And now he’d escaped. It really burned me. I shook my head.

“Give him a moment, Brenwar,” Sasha said, “he can barely walk, and he’s wheezing.”

“So?” Brenwar said.

I eyed him. “Kryzak escaped,” I said.

“What about the rest?” Brenwar said.

I shrugged. “Maybe dead,” I said, “except them.”

“Them, who?” Bayzog said, his violet eyes like saucers. He looked at me like I’d turned into an ogre or something. It made wonder.
Have I changed again?
I swung myself and Sasha back toward the mouth of the cave.

“Them,” I said, pointing.

Sasha let out a sharp gasp. The first dragon appeared. She was bigger than a dog, with bright-yellow scales and white stripes. Dark eyed and winged, she batted her long lashes at me and brushed past my leg.

Sasha started saying, “He’s so—”

“She,” Bayzog said, kneeling down and holding out the back of his hand.

The yellow dragon, a golden flower, lifted her nose and snorted past. She then spread her wings and rose into the sky.

Another came, big as a man and long necked.

“A purple tail,” Bayzog said.

Its clawed feet splashed into the mud, and the rain splattered off its dark-violet scales. It showed a row of sharp teeth six inches long, dragged its belly over the stones, and disappeared into the woods. Good thing, too. The wingless ones were ill tempered and harsh. Their heavy tails could shatter bones and rock.

The others came out, some on two legs, most on four. All splashed with vibrant colors. Most of them were little taller than my knee. They were rubies, diamonds and emeralds in the muddy rain.

“I want to hold one,” Sasha said, kneeling down.

“No you don’t,” I replied, pulling her up. “And don’t ever try it. If they want to be held, they’ll come to you.”

“They’re just so,” she clasped her hands, “magnificent.”

One by one they darted into the sky. Only one out of the many thanked me. Barely.

“That,” Sasha said, gawping as they went, “was incredible.” She looked me in the eye. “You saved them all, Nath. You did something good.”

I groaned and shuffled to a log and sat. Sure, I’d done some good, but I’d also done an awful lot of killing.

Was that bad?

I watched the rain wash my blood off into a puddle between my feet. My blood and theirs. It would take more than the rain to cleanse me of what I had done. Those goblins and gnolls, they were dead. But it had been them or me.

Brenwar picked up his war hammer and slung it onto his shoulder.

“Let’s go,” he snorted. “We’ve got a friend to bury.”

***

Brenwar had a stretcher made, but despite my wounds, I carried Shum’s body out of the crater. Unlike most elves that were lither in frame and lighter in weight than men, the Elven Ranger was heavy. I didn’t complain. His death was my burden and mine alone. I’d walk him all the way back to Elome if I had to.

Silently, we picked our way through the woods and back to the plains. It had stopped raining, and the sun began to set. The horses awaited us there. Shum’s Roamer Stallion stood taller than the rest, and I lay Shum down before him. The horse nickered, stamped his hooves, and snorted. I grabbed the reins and patted his nose.

“I’m sorry, boy. I’m sorry.”

I probably knew more about the Roamers than anyone except the Roamers themselves, but that was still very little. They were a discreet bunch, always moving through the lands and keeping to themselves.

“What do we do?” Sasha said. “Do we bury him here or do we take him somewhere else?”

I looked to Bayzog.

He shrugged with his eyes. “It’s not good to keep the dead above the ground for more than a day.” He shook his beard. “Not good at all.”

“They’re a private people,” I said. “I suppose a modest burial will do.”

“I think he’d like that,” Sasha said, picking at her lips. “I’ll pick some flowers.”

“I’ll help.”

Shum’s stallion nudged me, almost knocking me over.

“What is it?”

It dug its hoof by Shum and slung its head over its shoulder.

“Huh?”

It did it again.

“I think Shum’s horse wants to take him,” Sasha said.

“Is that what you want?” I said in its ear. “You want to take Shum?”

It nodded its head and neighed.

I looked at the others. “I suppose we can follow him. What do you—”

A black shadow crossed the sun and dropped into the grass.

Sasha screamed.

It was Sansla Libor.

CHAPTER 10

Sansla Libor stood with his black wings spread and his knuckles on the ground. He was a towering figure, the breadth of two men, and the muscles of a savage beast rippled under his fur. He beat his chest with one mighty fist and bared his fangs. He grunted.

“Get behind us,” Brenwar said to Sasha and Bayzog.

He brought his war hammer to the ready. I went for Fang.

Sansla’s wings collapsed behind his back, and his arms spread wide. His eyes grazed over all of us and rested on Shum’s body. He barked and shuffled back and forth.

“You think he wants Shum?” Sasha said.

“Well, he ain’t getting him,” Brenwar said, storming forward. “Get out of here, you ape! I’ll put a dent in your head as big as that crater. Do ye think I forgot what you did to me?”

My blood charged. I remembered the last scrape I’d been in with the ape. I could barely handle him then, but now, with my two dragon arms, his timing couldn’t have been better. I limped after Brenwar. I couldn’t hide my limp, and I didn’t care.

“Let’s do this for Shum,” I said.

We flanked the ape. Brenwar was left and I was right.

The ape didn’t glance at either of us but headed toward the others.

Brenwar charged. “No you don’t!”

I followed suit.

Sansla sprang over the top of Brenwar and swatted him in the back. Brenwar’s boots flew over his head, like a child had flung a doll.

“Now you’ve done it,” I said. I brought Fang down.

Sansla snatched my wrist and twisted.

“Argh!”

Fang fell from my fingers. I punched Sansla in the face. Then the gut.

The winged ape winced and slammed me into the ground. It was bigger and stronger. Just as fast. It twisted me around and stuffed my face into the grass, putting its full weight upon me.

I don’t remember it being so big or powerful!

Whop!

Its body shook, and it let out a howl.

“Get off him, you hairy beast!” Brenwar yelled.

It pounced off my back and onto Brenwar.

The dwarf disappeared under its girth, only to reappear hanging in Sansla’s grip by his beard.

Sansla slung Brenwar right at me.

I caught Brenwar in my chest, and we tumbled head over heels before we pushed off one another.

“Not a word about this,” Brenwar said.

“I think I’ve had enough of this myself,” I said, rising to my feet. I stuck Fang in the ground and clicked my claws.

I narrowed my eyes at Sansla. “I’m going to rip your wings off.”

Brenwar was already moving.

I passed him in a blink.

Sansla met me halfway, and we tore into one another.

I pounded into his ribs.

He socked me in the belly and slung me to the ground.

I jumped up and busted him in the face. The chin. The belly.

His hairy arms flailed me with savage fury.

I got my fingers around his neck.

He wrapped his big paws around mine.

I squeezed with all my might, feeling my eyes bulge from my head.

“You’ve met your match, Sansla,” I managed to say.

Sansla dropped a knee into my chest, kicked me off him, and grabbed his bleeding neck.

I grabbed mine and rose to my feet again.

Brenwar stepped in between.

“You’ve met double your match, beast!”

Sansla Libor held out his oversized palm and said, “Stop.”

I froze.

Brenwar huffed and looked back at me. “Did it speak?”

I nodded, cocked my head―chest heaving―and cupped my ear. “Say again?”

“Stop,” Sansla said. “I can speak, but not for long. The curse. The curse will take over.”

***

Sansla Libor kneeled alongside Shum’s body with a sad look in his eyes. It was the first time I got a close look at him. His eyes, a rich brown, were flecked with blue and distinctly elven. There was a sleekness to his face, and his expressions were elven. There was even a notable point to his ears, and his husky and powerful body moved with an agile quality about it.

He leaned over Shum, brushed his face with his paw, and closed his eyes. A savage beast turned inside out. He opened his eyes and studied the four of us. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or not, but something bothered him.

“How did you know?” I said.

“I’m the king.” His voice was throaty but still elven. “I know of such things.” He shook his head. “Who is responsible for this?”

“I am,” I said.

Sansla rose to his full height. His face twitched, and he squinted. His paws clutched into fists. He shook it off and sighed. “No, it was not you that killed him. Who was it?”

I explained.

When it was over, he said, “I see.” He scratched his chin. “Times are dangerous. Beware. Anything can happen.” He pointed at me. “Especially to you. Your curse can mislead you. It gives you power but takes control.”

My breath left me. Coldness filled my belly.

Sansla twitched again. His face contorted and turned. Mean and ugly. He gasped.

Brenwar’s knuckles were white on his war hammer.

My hand fell to my hilt.

“I’ve not much time,” Sansla said, forcing the words out. “I must take him.”

“Hold on, Sansla,” I said, “Where did you have in mind?”

“Home,” he said. His voice thickened.

“Come with us,” Sasha blurted out. “The Ocular of Orray can heal you, the elves say. That’s what Shum was here for. He was trying to find you. He wanted to help you.”

Sansla shook his great head. Pain filled his eyes. “Do they have the Ocular?”

Bayzog and I locked eyes for a moment.

Brenwar’s brows buckled as he looked at me. “Why, you liar!” He stormed away.

I hadn’t told Brenwar that the elves had the Ocular of Orray because I simply didn’t think we’d find Sansla so quickly. Plus, I didn’t want him to know that it had failed on me.

But I had lied to my best friend, and that was as bad as it got. I’d have to try and settle up with Brenwar later.

“Did you try the Ocular?” Sansla said to me.

“It failed,” I said. “But I might not be cursed. This might just be me.” I showed my arms. “I am a dragon, after all. You’re an elf. You’re not supposed to be a monster.”

“Nath!” Sasha said, eyeing me. “He’s not a monster.”

“Sorry,” I said, “but I’m not cursed and he is. Sansla, you need to come with us and take your chances with the Ocular. I’m certain it will heal you.”

He stepped forward and looked down on my snorting face.

“We are cursed, Nath. Evil grows within the two of us. I can sense it in you. I could smell the blood on your hands from miles away. Death and decay surround you now. A cloak you cannot shed.” His thick neck twitched and strained. “You should mind your friends better.”

I balled up my fists. “I’m not cursed! I’m a dragon!”

“I can’t stop what is happening to me,” Sansla said, “But you can.” He turned his back on me and picked up Shum. “The Elome elves would kill me,” he said. “They won’t trust me. I must control the darkness that consumes me. There are other ways. Shum’s death awakened the good within me, but the curse takes hold again.”

“Let us try,” I said.

Sansla placed Shum on his horse. “Secure him.” He rubbed the Roamer Stallion between the eyes. “He knows where to go.”

“But―” I said.

Sansla stepped back and spread his wings. “We’ll meet again, Nath Dragon,” he said. “Next time, I might have to kill you or you kill me.” Sansla jumped into the air, batted his wings, and soared into the sun and out of sight.