Scar retreated.
Rerry wasn’t sure what was going on. He could anticipate Scar’s moves before they happened. And his strength and skill had increased. It was as if something else, something vaguely familiar, had become a part of him. A presence. He went with it. Seeing an opening, he cut Scar across the shoulder, drawing blood. “That’s one!”
Scar let out a howl.
Rerry cut the elf’s thigh. “That’s two!”
Scar took his sword in two hands and said, “You are not going to beat me!” He attacked in an unorthodox style, chopping at Rerry like a woodsman cuts a tree—only with ferocity. “I’m going to kill you!”
Rerry saw blood in Scar’s eye. The elven soldier meant it, but Rerry caught every stinging blow on his blade, shrugging aside the jarring impact.
Scar didn’t let up.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Anticipating the next move, Rerry jumped aside.
Scar’s sword bit into the ground.
With Scar overextended, Rerry smacked him hard with the flat of his sword.
Sprawled out on the ground, Scar twisted around only to find Rerry’s sword at his throat.
Rerry nicked the elf’s neck. “That’s three.”
Chest heaving and with an eye of contempt, Scar said in a voice full of denial, “I don’t know how you did what you did, but this is not over.”
“You gave your word,” Rerry said, poking Scar in the chest with his sword. “Are you taking it back?”
With a sneer, Scar said, “No.”
“Good.” Rerry’s boundless strength fled his body. The world spun. He was falling without control, and the day turned into night.
CHAPTER 20
They came, stark against the night. The nuurg. The pair of monstrous humanoids rode on the backs of the colossal horses called wrath horns. Rain splashed off of them, splattering the muddy streets. Their spiked hooves made huge puddles. They trotted into town, stopping in the middle of the main road. Behind them was Malden. The man seemed insignificant among the towering ten-foot-tall monsters. Malden spoke, gestured, and pointed.
Nath could hear door bolts sliding shut. Shutters closing. The light of oil lamps dimmed, and many were extinguished. Fear was in the air, heavy as the rain. The mood of the tiny town was brooding.
The presence of evil had taken over.
The nuurg resumed their advance. They were covered from head to toe in heavy armor. One carried a spear longer than a man was tall. The other nuurg had a spiked flail far too big for an ordinary man to wield. Their faces were ugly, like those of orcs or ogres. One was a cyclops, and the other, with the flail, seemed more man than orc.
Malden led them down the street and pointed down the alley where he’d sent Nath and Brenwar earlier.
The nuurg paid him no mind. With awful nickers, the wrath horns, shaking the tusks on their faces, snorted and veered toward the alley.
Nath’s blood stirred. He stepped from the shadows into the rain-soaked street and called out, “Pardon me! But I think I can save you some time. I’m the one you’re looking for!”
Malden’s jaw hit the saddle. Visibly gathering his thoughts, he pointed, saying, “That’s him! That’s him! That’s the stranger I told you about!”
The nuurg pulled back on their reins and backed up. Facing Nath, they spread apart and continued their advance.
Out of the night from the backside of the nuurg, Brenwar bellowed out, “And don’t forget me. I’m the one you’re looking for as well!”
The nuurg with one eye, the cyclops, slowly turned his horse around to face Brenwar. He lowered his massive spear. The wrath horn snorted. Its front hoof clawed at the muddy ground.
“You know, you might not want to do that,” Nath said in a loud voice. “Dwarves don’t like to be poked or trampled.”
From the far end of the street, Brenwar said, “I can speak for myself!” The dwarf didn’t even have Mortuun in hand. He was nothing but soaking-wet beard and breastplate. “Come on, one eye, what are you waiting for?”
The wrath horn reared up and charged. Its great hooves thundered down the road on a path to overrun Brenwar.
All eyes were on the event.
What in Nalzambor is that crazy dwarf doing?
The naked end of the spear’s metal tip was right on course to skewer Brenwar like meat on a stick when Brenwar slipped to the side. His powerful fingers grabbed hold of the spear and yanked the nuurg right out of the saddle. Strengthened by the bracers of power that he wore, Brenwar pummeled the giant of a man into the mud with his skeleton hand.
Wham! Wham! Wham!
Covered in grit, Brenwar stood up and waved. “He’s finished.”
The nuurg with two eyes turned his attention to Nath. He drew his flail. His head swiveled on his shoulders. His dark eyes pierced Nath.
“Looking for me?” Nath said from behind the nuurg, in its blind spot. And smacked the horse hard on its backside.
It reared up.
The nuurg rider, no longer having its hand on the reins, toppled. It hit hard with a splash and a thud. The big humanoid scrambled up to his feet and came out swinging. The flail ripped over Nath’s ducking head.
Without hesitation, Nath ran the nuurg through with Fang.
The monster died in the rain.
Nath shook his head. Killing wasn’t what he wanted to do.
Brenwar came along and said, “Don’t doubt yourself. You can’t keep evil in prison. It will get out. You did what had to be done. This is war.”
“What have you done?” Malden yelled, clutching his head and hair as if the world was crumbling down. “You’ve doomed us all. The other nuurg, they’ll kill us. They’ll kill us all!”
Brenwar walloped the man in the gut with a quick punch.
Malden sank to his knees. He groaned.
“Listen to me, farmer! The only ones dying are them! But if you side with them, you’ll die with them. Tonight we turn the tables.”
Tim rushed over, feet splashing through the water. He carried Mortuun in his arms. He handed it over to Brenwar. Catching his breath, he said, “That thing’s heavier than it looks.”
“It’s supposed to be,” Brenwar replied.
“I-I couldn’t believe my eyes. The two of you made such quick work of those giant beasts. You both truly are what the songs say you are.” Tim shook his head. “I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself.”
“That was nothing,” Brenwar remarked.
Nath had one of the wrath horns by the reins and said to Tim, “Do you think you can handle one of these things?”
Staring up at the huge beast with wide eyes, Tim said, “Are you joking?”
“They aren’t as mean as they are ugly. You just have to take command.” Nath handed the man the reins. “Just imagine if the legionnaires had horses like these back when.”
Tim petted the horse between the forehead and muzzle. It snorted. Stamped its hooves. With a nod, he said, “I think I can manage.” He climbed into the saddle. Looking down at Nath, he said, “Whew, this is different. So where are we going?”
“You say you know where the other nuurg reside. Brenwar and I want to pay them a visit.” Nath put his fingers to his lips and whistled. The other wrath horn walked over with its head down. Nath mounted the creature and held down his hand. Brenwar took it and climbed up behind him. “It’s going to be our first and final visit.”
Knees deep in the mud, Malden said, “You’ll doom us. You’ll doom us all. Tim, don’t be a fool.”
Tall in the saddle, Tim said, “If I weren’t so darn set on being a good guy, I’d trample you into a mud hole.”
Malden smirked.
Tim dug his heels into the wrath horn. It reared up.
Malden cringed.
The hooves crashed down right in front of the country man.
Up on his feet, Malden took off running.
With the look of a hardened soldier firing in his eyes, Tim said, “Let’s go get them
.”
CHAPTER 21
Rerry awoke. He was leaned against a rock, head spinning. Something tugged at his arm. Eyelids flickering, he slowly made the image of Samaz form in his vision. His brother had him by the forearm. There were at least twenty stitches in the wound. Samaz was wrapping it up. “What happened?” Rerry asked.
“You passed out.”
Rerry’s heart fired. He lurched up. “Where’s Scar?”
“He’ll be back. He and the other two are out scouting for food. It’s been a busy day. Everyone is hungry.”
“What are you talking about, Samaz? Are we their prisoners again?”
“No, they’re our prisoners.” Samaz finished up the wrap. “Keep it clean.” He tried to get up.
But Rerry held him down. “Samaz, I don’t see any prisoners. You must mean they’re our escaped prisoners.”
“You beat him, Rerry. Scar is honoring his debt. He’s in your service, and his men are in his.” Samaz traced his finger along the cut in Rerry’s neck. “That might scar. I’ll see if I can find some of nature’s loam for it.”
Scratching his head, Rerry looked around and said in a whisper, “I did beat him, didn’t I. For the life of me, I don’t know how. Something just … overcame me. I felt like two men in one. It was strange, very strange.”
Making sure no one else was around, Samaz said, “It was me.”
“What do you mean, it was you?”
“We became one. I was merged with you. I can’t explain it. It just sort of happened.”
“You don’t know anything about fighting with a sword.” Rerry leaned back against the boulder and closed his eyes. “But something happened, for certain. What do you mean, you merged with me?”
“I’ve always felt something, a connection. I’ve talked to Mother about it before. She says that, being brothers born with magic in our veins, we might bear special powers. She says that if we do, one day these powers will reveal themselves.” He sat down shoulder to shoulder with Rerry. “That revelation came today. I don’t know what happened, but you were fighting, and I felt it. I tingled from head to toe right before I said you could beat him. Besides, I dreamed it.”
“Dreamed it? When?”
Samaz caught a colorful butterfly on his finger. “At least ten years ago.”
“I’d have trouble believing you if you weren’t so strange.” Rerry sighed. There wasn’t any reason for his brother to lie, and he’d indeed felt something. There wasn’t any better explanation. Scar should have cut him to ribbons, but he hadn’t. He hated to say it, but he did. “Let’s not let Scar know about this. He’ll want a rematch.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.”
“So, how did you catch those elves? Did you use some kind of spell on them?”
“I’m faster than you think.”
They helped each other to their feet.
“Well, I’d hope so.”
Scar and the soldiers returned. They had some dead rabbits and a sack of small green apples. The captain had a hard time looking at Rerry when he said, “We’ll get the meat cooked. These apples are sour as an elven elder, but they’ll fill your gut and quench your thirst.”
“I’m famished,” Rerry replied.
Scar tossed him a pair of apples.
He caught them both with one hand. “Thanks.” His lips puckered as soon as he bit into one. He pitched it away. “No thanks. I’d rather eat a rock.”
Scar took a big bite out of his own apple. “I’ll gather you all the rocks you want to eat. Mmmm, that’s good.”
What’s he up to?
Rerry was far from comfortable having Scar as his indentured servant. He wasn’t even certain to what extent he could order the elf around.
Time to push.
“Let me see your sword, Scar.”
Scar unbuckled his sword belt. “It’s yours to have. All I have to offer is yours. Even my life. The same goes for my men. We’ll keep our word.” He handed Rerry the sword—belt, scabbard, and all.
Rerry examined it.
The working of the scabbard was of the finest craft. The leather of the belt was worn and soft but well maintained by the natural oils of the lands. Countless hours must have gone into crafting the sword. It had been forged by the finest blacksmiths.
“Put it back on. It’s yours to keep for a lifetime. I have to be honest with you, Scar, I’m not comfortable having henchmen.”
“Then you’re releasing me from my word?”
“No, you are not released. As soon as I do that, you’ll be right back after me again. Instead, you and your men shall accompany us on our quest. I didn’t say I wouldn’t get used to it.” He gave a nod to Samaz. His brother was making a fire while the soldiers skinned the rabbits. “And it might just last forever.”
Scar adjusted his eyepatch. “I couldn’t have cared less before, but seeing how your quest involves me now, enlighten me some more.”
Rerry filled him in on his mother’s problem with the wizard’s dementia and went even further back to the final battle of the Great Dragon War when the elves and dwarves teamed up and turned loose the Apparatus of Ruune on the Floating City.
Scar and his men hung on every word.
Without realizing it, Rerry captivated himself. He just kept going on and on until the sun dipped behind the trees and the darkness came. When he finished, the campfire crackled and all the rabbit meat was gone. He wiped his fingers on the grasses. “It was something.”
“I must admit, I’m envious.” Scar stirred a stick in the ground. “I wasn’t doing anything when all that went on. As for your mother, I sympathize. But going into Elome to acquire the Ocular of Orray? Hah! You look more human than elf. You’ll never acquire the gem. I don’t think you can even find it. It offers no guarantees it can heal her anyway.” He broke the stick in half and tossed it into the fire. “‘There’s more than one way to do anything,’ they say. But some things can’t be undone, Rerry. Listen to me. You too, Samaz. I don’t think your mother would want you to die on her account. Go home. Abandon this quest.”
Rerry stiffened. “That won’t happen! You just want to be free.”
“You aren’t going to slip through the elves’ and dwarves’ clutches forever. You should turn yourselves in. See what happens. If Nath Dragon truly is who you say he is, his name will be cleared.”
“Not if they kill him.”
“That’s easier said than done, based off what you’ve told me. For the love of Elome, he’s a dragon. I’ve never heard of a dragon being put on trial before. But they’ll make it happen.”
“Nalzambor has enough evil in it. Nath Dragon is the least of their worries. He’s the one fighting the danger lurking out there.”
Scar rubbed his hands over the fire. “The greatest danger is what lurks within the hearts of all. We’re all quick to judge one another, Rerry. We always want a scapegoat. I hate to admit it, but your friend’s enemies will only pile up.”
“Why do you say that? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“There’s a flaw in all of us. If there weren’t, we’d all get along.” Scar lay down with his hands behind his head. “You’re young. You’ve much to figure out yet. Now, get some sleep. Your human side needs it. I can see the blackness under your eyes where if you were an elf, they’d still be bright as day.”
“I don’t need any sleep. I need to help my mother.”
“Things will be clearer once you get some shuteye. Be a soldier. Take a moment. You never know when you’ll get another chance to rest.” Scar closed his eye. He breathed easy and slept. The other elves did the same.
The glow of the dying fire showed on Samaz’s face. He looked wide awake. He always looked wide awake. “I never sleep,” he said. “Take some rest.”
“What do you think we should do?” Rerry asked.
“I might abandon Elome, but I won’t abandon Mother.”
“I’m glad we agree.” Rerry lay down, but he couldn’t sleep.
There has to be anot
her way to help her, but I don’t know where to start.
CHAPTER 22
The nuurg. They made Nath’s skin crawl. He could see one of them standing outside a small fortress made from logs and rock. It had heavy orcen features and only one eye. It chewed meat from the bone of a stag near where a metal urn filled with burning firewood blazed. The animal’s rack of antlers lay nearby. The nuurg stuck the meat in the fire, cooked it, then pulled it out of the flame and ate some more.
Concealed in a spot of higher ground fifty yards above Nath overlooking the distant open plain where the nuurg’s fortress stood sentry, Tim fidgeted.
The rain had stopped, but the humidity was up. Everything outside was quiet.
In a low voice, Tim asked, “What are the nuurg? I understand giants, but these are bigger, are they not? These monsters are something else.”
Nath couldn’t really explain it himself. There were plenty of creatures in this world he hadn’t seen before. He hadn’t even seen most of the dragons. But one thing was certain: the nuurg were a twisted abomination brought about by the titans. He rubbed the neck of his wrath horn. “I believe they are a mix of orc and giant blood. Maybe there’s dark magic behind it. We were in Urslay, the giant home in the mountains, not so long ago. There were faces from all of the races as big as them. Somehow, the titans are building an army of giant races.”
“Are you telling me there’s going to be a lot more of them?” Tim thumbed the sweat off his brow.
“They war with the dragons, not men.”
“I say it’s man’s fight as much as any. We’re slaves to those beasts.” Tim’s grip tightened on his reins, making a squeaking sound. “So what’s the plan?”
“We ride in and take them out, but you don’t need to come,” Nath said. “You’ve done enough by leading us here. I thank you.”
“I might not be as young as I used to be, but there’s still plenty of fight left in me. I can’t just stand here, watch, and do nothing.” He pulled out his sword. “I want to fight.”
Nath nodded. “I know you do. So, you said there were ten that patrolled the towns?”
Flight of the Dragon (The Chronicles of Dragon, Series 2, Book 5 of 10) (Tail of the Dragon) Page 8
