Trail of Bones: A Young Adult Fantasy Novel (6 page)

As the beast-man stepped closer to the war maiden, he was attacked from behind. Not by Kai’s mother, but by Kelor.

“Do not touch him!” shouted Kelor as he lunged in for an attack.

Dox let go of Kai’s leg, but still held the cub up with one arm. His free hand shot up as he angled his forearm to shield his face from Kelor’s assault, but the young panther’s jaws clamped down, its fangs sinking deep into the Minotaur’s flesh. The beast-man let out a muffled roar as pain rippled through his arm.

The Warden pushed Kitra away from the cage as Dox stumbled backward and fell with a thunderous thud.

As he landed, he lost his grip on Kai, and the cub hurried off. Kelor, however, clamped down harder as he thrashed his head back and forth, trying to rip the Minotaur’s arm from his torso.

The beast-man first pounded the side of Kelor’s chest, and then grabbed the cat’s snout to pry the panther loose. He bellowed again as the cat’s jaws refused to release his captured limb.

The Warden ran to a container near the steel cage. He popped open the lid, retrieved a vial of green fluid, removed the cork and slid the tip of his dagger into the liquid.

Dox scrambled to keep Kelor at bay, holding his wounded arm up and away from his body so the cat’s claws could do no more damage. He searched for his staff, fumbling through the straw until he finally seized it. He pounded on the attacker’s hide with several strong strokes, but the cat still held on.

Kelor did not wince, whimper, or show any signs of backing down.
Leave my family alone! You will not touch him again,
thought Kelor as he felt the rush of adrenaline pump through his body. Concentrated on Dox, he barely felt the impact of the staff against his ribs.

From the corner of his eye, Dox caught the glint of a steel flash. The Warden’s dagger nicked Kelor’s side, drawing blood but also injecting the green fluid that coated the tip of the blade. A couple moments later, the cat’s jaws loosened, and Dox freed himself with the use of his staff.

Kelor’s eyes glazed over as the Minotaur shoved him away, and the panther rolled unconscious to the ground.

The beast-man scrambled on all fours and crawled to the cage door and the Warden was right behind his servant. Once both were outside of the enclosure, the master slammed the door shut and secured it with the padlock.

CHAPTER 5

Stupid, arrogant!
thought the Warden.
Turn your back on a panther? You’re lucky to be alive.
But then he looked at Kitra and her companions’ faces. Their expressions were a mix of horror, shock, and satisfaction.

The Warden smiled.
Well done, Dox! That couldn’t have gone any better! Not only were the cats awake, they almost tore your arm off. You just doubled my asking price! Well done,
thought the Warden as he helped the Minotaur back to his feet.

“Are you alright?” the Warden asked as he looked at Dox’s shredded arm. “I can get you something for the pain. We’ll need to stitch that up.”

Blood gushed from several large gashes in the beast-man’s forearm, but he didn’t seem bothered by it. “I’m fine, master. The pain is gone,” answered Dox.

“You’re making a mess, Dox; go get that cleaned up.”

The beast-man nodded. He grabbed a cloth, wrapped his wounded arm, and left the tent.

“I must have him,” said the war maiden.

“Excellent! Now, we only need settle on a price, and the beast is yours. The one with the four white socks, correct?” asked the Warden.

The war maiden didn’t even bother looking at Kai or the Warden as she answered. Her gaze was still fixed on Kelor. “I said I want this one. The one with no fear,” said Kitra as she pointed to Kelor.

I knew you were going to say that. The little pain put on too good of a show. I could make a fortune with him in the arena,
thought the Warden. “Are you sure, my lady? As I mentioned before, the panthers can be a stubborn and ill tempered race, this one most of all… as you can clearly see.”

Kitra stood up and faced the Warden. “I want him. He’s perfect,” she said as she pointed at Kelor. “Let’s be done with it; I have other duties that require my attention.”

The Warden forced a smile as he ushered the group back to the receiving area of the tent.
Fine, have it your way, but it’s gonna cost you,
he thought.

Once back in the main tent, Kitra produced the pouch of coin. “Twenty platinum should more than cover it. That’s more than double the asking price of any such beast.” She tossed the pouch onto the wooden table.

“A fair price… for the cub with white socks. But the one you chose is the first born, and strongest of the litter,” the Warden stated. “I’m afraid I must know your purpose before I sell him to you. What do you plan to do with the beast?”

“That is none of your concern! Do we have a deal or not?” Kitra snapped.

The Warden prepared another drink from containers stored behind the table. He spoke as he poured the liquid into a mug. “Ah… it is my concern. If this were a corgan, or a hippogriff, your purpose would be obvious. But a giant panther, cub or not, still lethal… well, that changes things. It ups the stakes, don’t you think?” he asked.

“It’s a fair price.”

“But at what risk? In a few months, he’ll be even more deadly. What would happen if, let’s say, you released him within the city walls of Cordale? Or perhaps Draghone? Wars have begun over far less,” said the Warden as he replaced the cork into the bottle.

“Too many questions, and sooner or later, that would lead them back to me. What if you put him in the arenas? Not exactly the most effective use of such a magnificent specimen. Even so, I would demand a royalty on his winnings. So you see, it is very much my concern, and rightly so,” he said.

How dare this, this trapper try to threaten me!
she thought as she fumed with anger. “Or perhaps I should just run you through, take the cub, and do whatever I please with him!” she said as she took the handle of her sword.

The Warden did not back down, but instead grabbed the handle of his rapier. Nearly nose to nose, he stared at Kitra.

“Do you take me for a fool? You are no keeper of a Duke’s house!” he taunted.

“And you are no noble gentleman. You care not for the beast’s welfare, but only the coin he will fetch!” she shot back.

Neither budged. Kitra’s men hung back, but nervously watched and waited. Should they strike, should they wait for her command? For the moment, they would do nothing.

The Warden’s guards did the same, all staring at the two opponents in the center of the room waiting for more threats, apologies, or an exchange of blades.

Dox re-entered the tent, his right forearm heavily bandaged. He noticed the stalemate at the center of the room and rolled his eyes.
Here we go again,
he thought as he discreetly picked up his staff.

Kitra and the Warden continued the stand-off. The only sound in the room was of the Minotaur’s heavy breathing. Then, all of a sudden, the Warden broke the silence, threw up his hands, and spoke. “Perhaps you’re right. Let’s start again.”

The Warden removed his leather glove and offered his right hand to Kitra.

Baffled by the sudden change of tactics, she did nothing but keep her grip on her weapon. She looked down and saw the Warden’s hand was still open, waiting for her to take it. Another moment passed before she relented.

As Kitra shook the Warden’s hand he squeezed, and a sharp prick punctured her palm. She jerked back her hand as a droplet of blood oozed from her palm. “What treachery is this? Guards!” she yelled as she drew her bastard sword.

Neither the Warden, nor his men, drew their weapons in response. Instead, he stood vulnerable and still.

Kitra raised her blade to strike, but before she could, the Warden calmly spoke.

“End me, if you wish, but you’ll soon join me in the afterlife.” He tucked the tip of a tiny needle back up into its hiding place within the leather bracer he wore on his wrist and forearm.

The war maiden paused, still feeling pain pulsate through her hand and creep up her arm.

“I told you the serpents were troublesome. Pumping through your blood is the venom of the rare, but very poisonous axe-headed sea serpent. I was trying to harvest his unique toxin, but he just wouldn’t give it up… as long as he lived anyway,” the Warden explained.

“You fiend! I come to you in peace, offer you a fair sum, and this is how you bargain?” She groaned as the pain intensified.

“Was that before or after you threatened to run me through?” he asked.

Kitra dropped to her knees, but still held up her sword in defiance. The pain was becoming unbearable.

“It’s a remarkable poison with some interesting side effects. Unfortunately, it’s terribly painful for the victim. Should they burn your body after you pass, the ashes will infect anyone nearby with an awful rash and an equally painful demise. So I wonder, Kitra, how will you get to the afterlife if no one performs your passing ceremony?” he asked sarcastically.

Kitra groaned. Her muscles were starting to convulse as the poison coursed through her body. “What do you want?” she asked as she grimaced.

“Simple. The answer to my question. What do you intend to do with the beast?” He knelt next to Kitra.

The war maiden paused again, but only briefly. She nodded to one of her men. He produced a small journal and handed it to the Warden.

The host unlatched the book and scanned through several pages. After comprehending what he had read, he gave the woman a surprised look. “Are you sure?” he asked.

She nodded. “All the instructions are there. Follow them as described, and you’ll receive ten times the promised amount.”

“That’ll do!” said the Warden with a smile as he snapped the book shut and tucked it into his tunic. When Kitra moaned again, he casually walked to the table and retrieved a mug full of liquid.

“Antidote, but I caution you to drink it slowly,” he said as he offered her the mug.

Kitra ripped the mug from his hand and chugged it down as fast as she could, some of the liquid escaping her mouth. She gulped it down, coughed, and wiped the residue from her mouth. The antidote took affect immediately. As she stood up she nearly stumbled, but caught herself.

The Warden reached out to help steady her, but she moved out of his way.

“Don’t touch me ever again!” she yelled as she reestablished her equilibrium. “You do and I’ll feed you to the panthers myself. I swear it.”

The Warden backed away. “Understood. Will there be anything else, my lady?”

The pain had subsided and the fog in her head was clearing. Kitra took a deep breath as she regained her composure.

“This is Dor’van and Sindas. They will remain with you to make sure my instructions are followed to the letter. Should anything befall them or my panther, you will become the hunted, Warden.”

Two of Kitra’s men stepped forward and presented themselves. Both were large, strong men who appeared to be the sort that could hold their own in a fight.

“As you wish. A reasonable request considering the coin you’re offering. I will see it to they want for nothing. But this is no easy life. We travel great distances, often through troubled lands. I will treat and protect them like my own men, but I cannot guarantee their safety,” the Warden explained.

“Nor I yours, should you fail. I will return to claim my prize when the winter season comes again. Make sure the panther is adequately prepared.”

The Warden said nothing, but simply nodded and bowed.

“Nor will I forget or forgive this encounter,” she said as she turned to leave the tent.

Before exiting, however, the Warden offered one last offense.

“A pleasure doing business with you, my lady. Or should I say General Kitra? Cordale is indeed fortunate to have such a fierce and shrewd warrior leading their armies of the east,” he added with a smile.

Shocked as she was, Kitra did not wish to continue the verbal sparring. Instead, she scowled as she left the tent with her guards in tow.

How on all of Illyia does he know who I am? My promotion is not even official yet. Only a handful have such knowledge
, she thought as she shot the Warden a cold stare while looking over her shoulder.
He is dangerous. Clever, without conscience and informed. The worst kind of enemy… a smart one.

I wasn’t prepared this time, Warden. A painful lesson I don’t plan on repeating. Next we meet… I’ll be ready
. She mounted her horse and began the long trek back to Cordale.

Back in the holding tent, a figure emerged from the shadows and approached the panther cage. Kelor was starting to wake, but neither he nor his family noticed the god standing in their midst.

“Welcome to the chaos, my friend. You and I have much to do,” said Sedar as he looked down on Kelor with a grin.