Claws of the Dragon (6 page)

CHAPTER 14

The gnoll leader let out a rumbling chuckle from his throat. The others in his gang started to chuckle as well. Sliding out their weapons, they surrounded Selene on cat’s feet. Stroking his chin, he eyed her up and down. “It seems that you are surrounded, traveler. But by the looks of you, I think more fortune has fallen into our hands. You might even fetch half the price of a dragon.”

“Oh, you mean my dragon,” she said, creeping closer to the dragon’s cage.

The orc that stood closest blocked her view, looking down at her. “Perhaps I’ll stuff you in that cage with it.”

Selene’s tail slithered from beneath her gown, coiled around the orc’s neck, and jerked him up off his feet.

“Urk!” The orc clutched and clawed at her tail.

Effortlessly, she slung the orc far into the woods and out of sight.

Pointing his sword at her, the gnoll leader shouted a command to his ranks. “Kill her!”

The quicker goblins dove in with their weapons.

Selene’s tail struck like the crack of a whip.

Whap! Whap! Whap!

She flattened the three little fiends, knocking two of them out cold.

Eyes filled with fear, the third’s hands clawed at the dirt, trying to scramble away.

Selene’s tail coiled around its ankles and lifted it off the ground. Using the goblin like a club, she swung the humanoid over her head and bashed the two charging orcs with it.
Whop! Whop!
Checking her nails, she pummeled them both some more.
Whop! Whop! Whop!
She tossed the goblin aside, sending him skittering across the ground in front of the gnoll’s feet.

Canine snouts dropped open, the two remaining gnolls threw down their spears and ran. Looking from side to side, the gnoll leader said, “Cowards!” He narrowed his eyes on Selene and said with his sword raised high, “I’m going to cut that tail off and chop it into nine little pieces.”

Without looking at him, and rubbing some smudge from one of her nails, she said, “There is zero chance of that happening.”

Howling at the top of his lungs, heavy sword arcing high, he charged and struck.

Selene caught the blade in her dragon-scaled hand and jerked it free from the gnoll’s grip. Her tail lashed out and knocked him clear off his feet. Holding the sword in both of her hands, she said, “I should kill you with your own sword.”

“No, please. No!” the gnoll pleaded. “I’ll do anything!”

“On your knees!” she demanded.

The gnoll did as she said.

“Hands on your head.”

Shaking, he did as he was told and pleaded, “Please, don’t kill me. I’ll never touch a dragon again. I promise.”

“Oh, after this, you’re going to wish you were dead.”

“Wh-what are you going to do?”

“Be silent!” Using both of her hands and squeezing the well-tempered blade, she bent it around his neck as easily as a man would bend a spoon. “Enjoy your new necklace. And when more of your filthy ilk ask why you have a sword wrapped around your neck, tell them the next poacher I find won’t have a sword wrapped around their neck. It will be placed through their wicked heart instead.”

Stammering, the gnoll tried to speak, but no words came out.

“Be gone.”

The hairy, dog-faced brute quickly found his feet and, running full speed, vanished into the woods.

Pivoting on her heel, Selene headed for the dragon’s cage.

The wooden crate was crude, but durable. The cage door-lock consisted of leather cords and a peg stuck through a latch. She plucked it out, opened the door, and with gentle hands she removed the lily dragon. Through her palm, she felt its heart racing. “There, there, little brother.”

Using her nail, she slit the bindings that secured its wings and mouth.

The dragon slid from her grasp and strutted around the camp. It shook its head and hissed at her.

Taken aback, Selene said, “Excuse me?”

Spreading its grand wings, it pushed off with its rear legs and took flight. Seconds later it was gone.

Selene’s eyes watered up, and she dropped to her knees, trembling. Her guilt and shame overwhelmed her. Tears streamed down her cheeks and dripped onto the ground. How many dragons, her own brethren, had lost their lives because of her? She had commanded the Clerics of Barnabus to have the dragons poached. She’d had them captured. Those who would not serve Gorn Grattack had been killed. Their parts sold.

Heart aching inside her chest, she started to pant and tremble. She was an abomination—both to mankind and to dragonkind. How could anyone forgive her? How could she replace all that she had taken? What about all the lives that were devastated? Families torn asunder. The innocent deceived.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she glanced at the open cage. At least one dragon was free. It felt good, but it also reminded her of all her bad deeds. And that lily dragon knew who she was and what she had done. It had made that clear. No, she needed to pay for what she had done. She had to atone for it. If not, the past would catch up with her. She was certain of it.

Standing up, she dusted her knees off.

I need to turn myself in.

She resumed her trek to the north, chin down and heavy in thought.

I need to stop the wurmers too.

Using her powerful dragon senses, she looked for signs of the wurmers as she trekked through the changing terrain, scanning the misty night sky.

Does Nalzambor need me, or is it better off without me?

CHAPTER 15

“Knowledge, eh?” said Brenwar. “Well, it better be able to find me another horse. Nath, don’t listen to what this fool has to say. We’re better off going.”

With the rain from the rocky overhang pounding at his back, Nath shook his head. “No, I’d be interested in hearing what this troublemaker has to offer.”

“Excellent,” said Ipsy, rubbing his hands together. “Excellent. Let me get us some food and some drink. You know, I don’t have many people over. The snakes aren’t too chatty, and the birds talk far too much.” Eagerly, he turned toward the cave.

Brenwar barred his path. “We aren’t hungry. I’m interested in hearing what you have to say that is worth more than a horse. Now talk.”

The druid slid away from Brenwar and closer to Nath. His eyes kept attaching themselves to Nath’s arms. “So fascinating.”

Brenwar poked him. “Talk!”

“All right! No need to get testy. The world has shifted. The forest creatures’ patterns change. Giants come down from their mountains and their massive caves. Though not one of long life, I’d not seen but one giant. Now, they pass and scatter the vermin constantly.”

Brenwar’s brows perched. “Giants, you say? Keep talking.”

Ipsy rambled on.

Nath gave the druid his full attention, nodding and agreeing with what he said. There were giants roaming about more so than before, all right. Nath believed him. At the same time he wanted to test the druid. Catch a fib or lie—which their kind were known for.

But so far everything the druid said was at least half true. Of course, much of it was common knowledge. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that Nath, then in the form of a dragon, had fought a handful of earth giants.

“So how many giants have you seen exactly?” Nath asked.

“A half dozen or so in the last few months.”

“And where were they headed?”

“Oh, I can tell you that easy. You see, I followed them, I did. Heh-heh. They don’t pay any attention to the likes of me. No, not at all. Too, too small.” He grabbed some moss from a rock and rubbed it on his skin. “And my scent blends in. Giants are good smellers, you know. Like big hounds.” He eyed Brenwar. “Smell your scruffy stink a mile away.”

Brenwar drew his fist back. “Why you––”

Ipsy slid behind Nath and peeked around his waist.

“Let it go, Brenwar.”

“I want my horse back,” the dwarf said. He plucked a small spade from the dead horse’s saddle. “And I’m not leaving until he buries this one.”

Nath sighed. He understood Brenwar’s point, but burying it? “We’ll figure out something. Now, Ipsy, tell us, I haven’t noticed any giants’ tracks. Where did you follow them to?”

“Only a couple of leagues away they are, building in the Craggy Mountains. Dark and treacherous up there, it is. Nothing that giant slayers like yourselves can’t handle. Are you going to kill them? I hope that you do. They attack dragons, you know. Kill them. Eat them. I saw some, dead, strung up like deer with purple scales. Two in all. Dead. Beautiful, but dead.”

Nath’s fingertips tingled. He grabbed Ipsy by the arm and squeezed it hard. “Don’t toy with me, druid. Is this the truth?”

Holding up his hand, Ipsy said, “I swear it on my mother’s mossy grave.”

“Speaking of graves,” Nath said, looking at the horse, “you need to get started.”

“But it’s raining!” Ipsy whined.

***

With little help from Brenwar or Nath Dragon, Ipsy carried rocks through rain and wind up and down the hill all night. One by one, he covered the dead horse with rocks. Many of them were bigger than his head.

Finally, the little druid had covered the horse’s body in its entirety. Holding his back and stretching, he said to Brenwar, “Am I finished?”

The dwarf clawed at his black-grey beard. “A few more rocks would be better.”

“I can’t find any more. This is a hillside, not a quarry!”

“You should have thought of that before you killed my horse!”

Nath stepped in. “That will do, Ipsy. We’ll be going now. I want to see if your story checks out.”

With a sigh of relief, the druid said, “Thank you! Thank you! I did not deceive you!” He mopped the sweat mixed with rain from his eyes. “I promise.”

Nath departed with a scowling Brenwar.

***

With a short maniacal laugh, Ipsy plopped down on the tomb of rocks and rubbed his aching fingers. “Guzan’s feet, I thought they’d never leave. Hard men, the both of them. Love horses as much as a horse itself.” He lay back on the pile of rocks and fell fast asleep.

While Ipsy lay snoring, a tingle at his feet awoke him.

He lurched up and faced a beautiful woman half the size of him, hovering over the ground. Long hair white as snow. Eyes dark as black pearls. Two violet wings beating gently behind her back. She was surrounded by a dozen dark and colorful hand-sized fairies. He dove to his knees and groveled. “Fairy Empress! Do with me what you please!”

“Arise, Ipsy the Hood,” she said with a coy smile. “I see our little plan failed.”

“I’m sorry, but my pets were not quick enough. And those two are quite formidable. I’m sorry. Punish me!”

She slapped his cheeks with her delicate hands and squeezed them. “Did you mention me?”

“No, they didn’t ask. I just told them about the giants like you said. As a matter of fact, they walked right into it.”

“And Nath Dragon didn’t suspect a thing?”

“I wasn’t lying, but his eyes were still wary.” Holding his back, he grimaced. “They sure love horses. Ugh.”

Her black eyes inspected the stone grave. “At least you killed a mount. That will slow them down and give me further time to plan.”

Fingers fidgeting at his side, he asked, “So, I did well?”

“Of course, Ipsy.” She caressed his cheek. “Of course. After all, you chose to follow me, the giants, and the titans. You’ll be a part of our destiny to take down the dragons.”

“What else can I do, Fairy Empress Lotuus?”

Glancing at the rocks, she said, “This pile of rubble is suspicious. You’re going to need to remove it, and the horse with it.”

His mouth fell open.

Lotuus waved her hand toward the small cave opening. The giant cobra with the busted fangs slithered out. “Come, come, sweet pet.” The snake coiled up beneath her feet. She patted its head. “Ipsy, close your eyes.”

“My eyes?”

Her face darkened. “Yes, your eyes.”

“Uh, as you wish.” He shut his eyes.

“You trust me, don’t you, Ipsy?”

“Certainly.”

“Good, now keep your eyes closed and don’t move.”

He swallowed and nodded. A new layer of sweat beaded on his brow. He felt his snake entwine itself around his body. The connection he had with it was gone, overpowered by a darker force.

“Now open your eyes,” she said.

He did. He was wrapped from neck to ankle in the giant poisonous restrictor. Its muscles slowly started to squeeze the breath out of him.

“Fairy Empress, you said I did well.”

“I lied,” she said with a sneer. “You should have at least killed the dwarf.”

“But–” he blurted out. Breathless, he could say no more. The snake began crushing his body.

Lotuus pinched his cheek and smiled. “Die knowing that your ultimate purpose was served.” With the grace of the wind, she and her fairies departed.

All Ipsy could do was unleash a silent scream. “Noooooooo!”