Trail of Bones: A Young Adult Fantasy Novel (36 page)

The Minotaur grabbed the closest servant and hurled him across the tent, crashing into boxes and crates. Another slave dropped after contact with the beast-man’s powerful swing. Meanwhile Kelor felled another with a quick slash of his claws.

The last servant ran for the exit, but was met by Navarro and Magnus. The bard dropped the wolf’s leash and pummeled the servant with a right cross, an elbow and a stiff uppercut. The musician clapped the dirt from his hands as he winked at Kelor.

A little confused, Kelor watched as Navarro pulled the metal spike from his belt and examined the panther’s collar.

“We’re leaving. Wanna come?” asked Navarro as he detached the poles from Kelor’s collar.

Dox went to Magnus and removed the wolf’s leash and collar. He stood watch at the tent entrance as Navarro worked on the locking mechanism of the cat’s restraint.

“Careful. The collar contains a capsule. It’s filled with serpent venom. Very dangerous,” the Minotaur reminded his friend.

Navarro grimaced as he picked the lock. “Thanks, Dox. Don’t make this any easier.”

The Minotaur was growing anxious. “We must hurry. It won’t be long before they come looking for the missing servants.”

“Magnus, would you shut him up? I’ve almost got it,” said Navarro as he moved the spike within the device. He held his breath and jiggled the metal pin until he heard a click.

Navarro removed a small, glass, capsule with a yellow-green liquid inside. He held it up as Kelor’s collar unhinged, fell from the panther’s neck and clanked to the floor.

“This it?” the musician asked.

Dox nodded.

Kelor shook his whole body, especially his neck and shoulders. “I suppose I’m in your debt, too?” the cat asked.

“Something like that. But you can tell me how great I am later. We need to go,” said Navarro.

Navarro and Kelor joined the Minotaur and the wolf at the tent’s entrance and the group moved into the main tent.

“Kelor, there’s something you should know,” Dox said with total sincerity.

“Indeed there is!” said the Warden as he drew his sword. Dor’van and Sindas were standing with him, ready to fight. “Guards!” their captor shouted.

“You mean them?” said Navarro as he kicked at the unconscious bodies of several armed guards. The bard reached down to secure swords in each hand.

Dox stood at the front of the group, determined to shield Kelor and Magnus from the others.

“Dox, again I’m disappointed. I thought you would have told Kelor by now,” said the Warden with a sneer.

“Told me what? What’s he talking about Dox?” asked Kelor.

“Oh… where to start? How bout this? Your mother, your brothers… they’re still alive,” the Warden taunted.

“No, that’s not possible. I saw them perish in the flames of the fire beast!” Kelor shouted back.

“Did you? Are you sure?” asked the Warden as peered over the edge of his blade. “Who do you think unlocked your cage? Was that coincidence? Luck? Or part of the plan?”

Kelor lurched forward, but Magnus blocked his path.

“What did you do?” demanded the cat.

“Oh… it gets better. The bane of Dravenclaw… and The Shales,” the Warden started to say but Kelor roared in opposition.

“I did not do those things! That was not me!” the cat argued.

“I know that. But those families perished from a panther just the same. Kai is it? Not real bright, but easy to control. You, on the other hand…” the Warden said dryly.

The panther hissed. “Where are they? What have you done with them?” shouted the panther. “Dox, where are they?”

“I do not know. I’m sorry Kelor. I wanted to tell you, but you were not ready to hear such things,” the Minotaur said, refusing to take his eyes from the Warden.

Navarro noticed a subtle movement from Sindas’ right wrist. The light reflected off the small blade of a throwing knife.
The Warden’s stalling!
thought the bard.

“Look out!” shouted Navarro as he flung one of his swords across the room. The weapon spun, blade over hilt, until it struck Sindas, impaling him through the torso. The soldier dropped the knife from his hand and slumped to the ground.

The room broke into chaos. Dox charged directly at the Warden while a host of guards poured in through several entrances.

Navarro engaged the incoming guards, dispatching two almost instantly with the lightning quick strokes of his sword.

Kelor leaped in, tackling two more guards and ripping into them with teeth and claws. But the cat also took a sword to the front shoulder.

Magnus overcame the attacking guard from behind, bringing him down by the back of the man’s neck.

The wolf and the panther maneuvered through the tent to engage another group of guards, but they were both in sad shape. Kelor’s wounds were bleeding, and the swelling of his shoulder, back and hind quarters slowed him.

Magnus looked like the carcass of an animal left on the side of the roadway. His bark was fierce, but his bite had lost much of its strength.

Dox could hear the wolf yelp in pain and the cat screeching from another blow. “Get out of here!” the Minotaur shouted. He swung at the Warden with a broken board, the only piece of trash he could use as a club.

“We’re not leaving you, Dox,” said Navarro as he took down another guard.

Dor’van stood before Navarro. The soldier of Cordale was clad in full armor, and along with his broadsword, he had every advantage over the bard who wore his linen tunic and brandished a short sword.

The two exchanged attacks, parries, and counter attacks. Dor’van was rested, had his strength and the protection of his armor. Navarro, however, was unencumbered, much quicker, and finely tuned - thanks to his tournament combat skills.

The musician struck several direct blows, but Dor’van’s armor did its job and absorbed the hits.

Meanwhile, Dox continued his exchange with the Warden. The beast-man swung, kicked and gored with his horn, but the nimble Warden was too crafty and too skilled to succumb to the Minotaur’s unsophisticated and basic attacks. Each assault resulted in a nick, cut, or gash from the Warden’s narrow rapier blade.

The captor was tearing Dox apart, piece by piece.

Magnus watched as Kelor was struck by yet another blow. The cat arched up and slammed the attacker with his paw, tossing the man aside like a rag doll. But the wolf could see the terror and the pain in Kelor’s eyes. The cat was brave, but would be on his way to the afterlife if he sustained any more wounds.

Navarro continued to press his attack, but Dor’van would not yield. The bard was beginning to tire. He could fight this man all day and still not make a dent. Their swords clashed and brought the men face to face. Dor’van exhaled a deep breath and then spoke.

“What’s wrong, slave? No match for a real warrior?” Dor’van said and then opened his wide mouth in a derisive laugh.

Navarro reached down with one hand and pulled the poison capsule from his belt. In one quick move he shoved it into Dor’van’s mouth and then pushed the soldier as hard as he could, cracking the soldier’s jaw with the hilt of his own sword.

“I’ll let you know when I find one,” said the bard,

The poison capsule ruptured as Dor’van reached for his throat. He clutched his neck with both hands as the color in his face drained. The bard watched his enemy drop to the ground.

The Warden’s guards, slaves, and servants had all fallen. Only Magnus, Kelor, Navarro, Dox and the Warden were still standing – the wolf and panther just barely.

The group formed a semi-circled around the Warden as he looked for a possible escape route.

“We each have a reason to end this devil’s life. Who wants the honors?” asked Navarro.

The bard stepped forward, but as he did so a crack of thunder blasted through the tent and flung Navarro crashing into the far side.

“You must not let them escape! I need them!” shouted Korwin at the Warden as he held out one of his pudgy hands.

“Then do something!” shouted the Warden.

The Storm Elf stepped forward and raised both his arms above his head. “Amin kuva el a’ gortho ar’ tar!” shouted Korwin.

A cloud of magical, purple-green light and flames encircled the Storm Elf. He dropped to one knee and groaned as his body began to change form. It bubbled and bulged as smoke swirled. He vanished inside the haze.

After a brief moment, the smoke cleared and a hideous abomination appeared. The creature had the tail and body of a serpent, but the short arms of an elf. His face was a mix of elf and snake, with flaps of skin like a hood of a cobra projecting from his neck.

“Go!” shouted Dox. “Get out of here!”

Navarro shook his head as he got back to his feet. “What on all of Illyia…?”

Magnus and Kelor watched in horror as the snake creature slithered over to Dox. It arched its back and then struck. Korwin’s fangs sunk into his arm, as the creature’s scaled hands wrapped around the Minotaur’s waist.

“Run! Kelor! Magnus! Run!” screamed the Minotaur as he pulled the creature from his arm.

“No,” said Kelor.

Navarro tugged on the fur of the cat’s neck. “We have to go,” the bard urged.

“Please, Kelor. Now is the moment to run…” pleaded the wolf.

“No,” said Kelor again, shaking his head.

“This fight is over, but there will be another,” added Navarro.

“Go!” shouted Dox as he took another strike from the serpent. The Warden joined in, stabbing the Minotaur’s back with his sword.

Navarro looked to Dox and gave the beast-man a nod. The trio ducked out the side entrance of the tent and left. As they ran they could hear moans from Dox, hisses from the serpent creature, and shouts from the Warden.

None of them looked back.

****

Dox could feel the venom of the serpent creature running through his veins. He knew he did not have many moments left. He stumbled as he tried to keep his balance. The Warden laughed as he closed in for another attack.

“All this for a stupid horn. No wonder your race continues to suffer.” The human continued his insults. “You will perish… for nothing!”

“No,” said Dox. “Not the horn.”

The serpent coiled up and struck again, but the Minotaur caught the creature by its mouth and prevented another bite. With all his remaining strength, the beast-man lifted the serpent and hurled it across the room. It crashed through a table, chairs, and several tall cabinets.

The cloud of magic swirled again, and the serpent melted and returned to the form of Korwin. The Storm Elf choked and gagged as he held his side, writhing and grimacing in pain. The elf’s unicorn dagger fell from his belt and rolled near his head.

Dox charged, taking the Warden’s sword through the chest, but he pushed forward and grabbed the human with both hands. He hoisted his captor up so he could see him eye to eye.

“I die for them. For Kelor. For Magnus. For …” said Dox until the sound of a thud and a stab in his back halted him.

Korwin yanked the unicorn dagger free from the beast-man. The Storm Elf dropped to his rump, and still clutching his side, stared at Dox.

“I die for them, my friends,” said the Minotaur as he dropped the Warden. His eyes flickered as he started to lose consciousness, and he toppled over. “Now I can rejoin my herd.”

The Warden rolled out of the way, narrowly escaping the weight of the Minotaur crashing down upon him. He looked at Dox and was surprised to see the expression on the beast-man’s face. It looked as if the Minotaur had expired peacefully in his sleep.

The Warden looked around the tent. Kelor and Magnus were gone. He staggered to his feet and raced to the entrance. He threw back the flap and looked toward the mountains and the horizon.

“You can’t have gone far,” he shouted. “I will find you! I swear it to the gods! I will hunt you down, and I will find you!”

****

Mardin stood next to the dead body of Gork, still lying at the center of the arena.

Sedar walked up behind the God of War, peered over Mardin’s shoulder and looked at the ape. “Not bad. Did the two pass your test?” the deity asked. He stepped around to face his fellow deity. “I assume you’ve chosen your champion, God of War?”

Mardin looked at Sedar and smiled. “Their test has just begun.”

CHAPTER 30

“Now what?” asked Navarro.

Magnus, Kelor, and the bard all stood at the middle of a crossroads. The pathways were empty, not another soul in sight. The sun was just starting to break over the far horizon as beams of light trickled across the azure sky.

“Home,” said Magnus.

“Where’s that?” asked Kelor.

The wolf looked to the West. “The Mythik Forest. A place called Thornmount. The home of my pack.”

“Is it far?” asked the cat.

“A fair journey, yes. What about you, Kelor? Where will you go?” asked the young Shade Wolf.

Kelor looked to the East, then South, and eventually to the West. “I don’t know. My family is out there somewhere,” said the cat, his voice trailing. “I don’t know.” The panther watched the rising sun, a sight he had rarely seen. He looked to Magnus.