Judgment of the Dragon (Book 7 of 10): Dragon Fantasy Series (Tail of the Dragon)

by Craig Halloran

  Holding the hammer in his hand, Guthrie said, “I always wanted a crack at one of these things.” Back to back with Ben, he lifted his weapon high.

  A wurmer came at him with the speed of a hungry alligator. Jaws snapped at Guthrie’s legs.

  He brought the hammer down hard on the top of the wurmer’s skull.

  Crack! The beast recoiled, with its tail flipping back and forth.

  “It lives? After that lick? My, they have hard heads!”

  The wurmer facing the weaponless Ben and Nath charged at Ben’s legs.

  Ben sidestepped the enemy’s bite.

  The wurmer’s tail lashed out, swiping Ben from his feet.

  He hit the ground hard on his backside.

  The agile wurmer clamped its jaws on Ben’s leg.

  “Gah!” Nath hopped to the ground. He felt helpless with his small size. Everything he did seemed insignificant. “Ben, are you all right?”

  With his arm locked around the wurmer’s neck, Ben punched the monster in the face. “The iron skin potion is doing the trick. Its claws are tearing the lining out of my traveling cloak, though.” He pounded the wurmer harder and harder, stinging its eyes and nose with his iron-hard fists.

  The beast broke out of Ben’s grip.

  Guthrie was fighting hard with the other wurmer. The old blacksmith pounded the wurmer as if he was straightening a piece of steel.

  Nath turned back toward Ben. He found himself facing the wide jaws of a wurmer. The monster scooped him up inside its mouth. Its jaw locked down. Nath’s world went black. “Great Dragons!”

  The wurmer’s tongue tried to knock Nath down its throat. He jammed his hands into the roof of the creature’s mouth and pushed upward. Its locked jaws didn’t give. With saliva dripping down his arms, Nath summoned his fire. His golden eyes lit up. He could see down the black tunnel of the wurmer’s throat. He let loose his breath. The golden flames ignited everything inside the wurmer’s soft interior and spread. Its jaw widened. It writhed and sucked for air. Nath jumped out of the mouth and landed softly on his feet. Now standing, he watched the monster burn from within. Smoke and flames came out of its nostrils and eye sockets.

  Standing high above, Ben said, “That’s an eyeful. Well done, Dragon.”

  Guthrie stood over the other dead wurmer with his smith hammer in hand, laboring for breath. “That was the hardest egg I ever had to crack.”

  Ben reached down to pick Nath up. His hand started shrinking. His entire body did.

  Elated, Nath realized he was growing again. He looked down at the wurmer he’d killed. It seemed small now. “Oh, thank goodness. Being small was really wearing me down.” He put his hands on Guthrie’s brawny shoulders. The strapping blacksmith was almost as big as him. “It’s much better to see you from this point of view.”

  “I can say the same. Now what, Nath?”

  Peeking into the streets and seeing that the commotion had cleared, Nath raised the hood of his cloak. “I still need to see what I can do for Selene.”

  “Yes, I know. I’m sorry, Nath. This is as far as I go. Thanks to all this stir you created, I’m going to have to see to the safety of my family.” He shook Nath’s hand. “I hope when we meet again it will be in more peaceful times.”

  Nath nodded. “Thanks, Guthrie.” He watched his friend disappear into the crowded streets. “Come on, Ben.”

  Narnum wasn’t anything like the smaller towns spread out all over Nalzambor. Those places were the backbone of the world, but Narnum was different. The once-Free City was filled with dozens of mighty towers that were hundreds of feet tall. People walked the streets during the day in tens of thousands. It was the biggest city in all Nalzambor, filled with countless people. Once you were in, blending in was easy in a cloak—so long as you didn’t create a stir.

  Nath and Ben navigated the streets with their heads low. Nath even slouched over a little, even though there were giants far bigger than him roaming the streets. At the moment, he was elated to be back to his normal size.

  I don’t think I’ll ever complain about being small again.

  Careful to avoid the prying eyes of the wurmers that scoured the rooftops, Nath and Ben slipped through the streets. After a long haul, they reached the cathedral that Guthrie had spoken about. Impossible to miss, it was a monolith made from huge blocks of cut stone encircled by tremendous archways. It rested beneath the grand tower that Selene and Nath had once called home. Thousands of people were gathered. Many held signs. Others chanted for the death of Selene.

  Jaw set and stomach stirring, Nath pushed his way to the front. Giant metal doors stood within the main arches that surrounded the cathedral. A giant sentry stood on each side of the doors. Smaller giants, massive orcs, and ogres kept the angry throng at bay. They pushed people back and off the stone partitions that guarded the entryway. Nath and Ben watched the closed doors.

  He said to Ben, “They’ll have to open sometime.”

  “I hope you’re right. I’m still hungry.”

  Nath gave Ben a look.

  “What? Those elixirs take it out of you.” Ben bit his finger. “But I think I’m still iron hard.”

  A small knot of soldiers surged through the crowd, led by the boy who had tried to kill Nath and Ben earlier. The giant sentries pulled the doors open enough to allow the boy and soldiers inside.

  Craning his neck, Nath caught a glimpse of Selene stretched out on a rack. He gasped.

  CHAPTER 37

  Nath felt sick to his stomach. He’d never seen Selene in such bad shape before. She hung in the shackles with her head cast down. Sweat drenched her face and sagging neck. The luster in her vibrant body was gone. She seemed lifeless. The giants closed the door, sealing her inside like a tomb.

  “You look like you swallowed a green toad, Nath. What did you see?”

  “Selene,” he muttered. “Come on.”

  He shoved his way through the people, jostling anyone who didn’t move out of his way. He marched to a tavern he knew called the Wyvern’s Spur. It was a low-key establishment he’d taken a shine to decades ago, located in one of the poorer areas of the city. The door was open. The boards creaked under his feet when he entered. About twenty men and women were spread out inside. Not a single one of them glanced his way.

  Nath found a table in the rear but sat down with his back to the wall. Ben sat across from him with a full view of the bar. He flagged the waitress over. She was a heavyset woman who made the boards beneath her groan as much as Nath had.

  “Two ales, darling. Big ones,” said Ben.

  “Right away, sweetie.” She hustled off and quickly returned with two tankards of ale with a creamy froth running down the sides. “Enjoy.”

  Ben scooted one of the ales over to Nath, then hitched his arm over the back of his chair and took a long drink. “Tell me what’s going on, Dragon.”

  Nath couldn’t get the image of Selene’s crumpled form out of his mind. The sympathy and anger building inside him wrestled each other. “I’m ready to kill something, but I feel powerless to do so.” He took a long drink. The oatmeal stout brought back many memories from his past. “Narnum was always such a fascinating city. Now it’s a den of evil.”

  “Almost everywhere is these days. I just do my best to find the good people.” Ben wiped the froth from his mouth. “But sometimes I feel like we’re the only good people left in this world. So many of our allies are confused.”

  “I’ll drink to that.” Nath finished half of the tankard and set it aside. “I’m not sure what to do, Ben. I need to get Selene out of there. Now.”

  “You need to stick to the plan, Dragon. You know that. We found her. That was the mission. We just need a way out of here so we can tell the others. I’m certain that when we all put our heads together, we’ll come up with something. No doubt Bayzog will.”

  Nath closed his eyes and breathed in slowly and easily. Ben was right. He’d gotten what he wanted. He knew where Selene was and what was going on. The tough part
would be getting her out. The only thought he had was to use Fang. The blade could teleport them through space if Nath could control it, but there was always a risk of losing time as well. It made for an altogether dangerous adventure.

  Ben’s right, I’ll need more ideas on this one.

  The city was huge, but it was well defended by the wurmers that covered the skies. In addition, there were all the giants. Getting back out to tell the others was one problem, and getting back in again undetected was another.

  “Dragon, I hate to say it, but maybe you should consider only trying to rescue Selene. Balzurth’s burial can wait. I’m sure he would understand. Wouldn’t you?”

  Nath nodded. “Ben, what kind of vials do you have left in your arsenal?”

  Ben produced two vials, one yellow and the other a filmy green. “I have some healing, and I believe this one is polymorph. Say, that means I can turn into anything. What about you?”

  Nath checked his pouches. There were two mixtures that swirled with mystic color. “Fire breathing and blazing speed. I’m not so certain I need this last one.”

  Ben snapped his fingers. “I know what we can do. I’ll turn into a wurmer and fly out of here, and you can just run back at blazing speeds.”

  “That helps us get out, but it won’t help us get back in. But I like the idea. Ben, you need to trust me.”

  “Uh oh, what are you getting at, Dragon? I’m not leaving you here alone. Brenwar would kill me.”

  “I have to stay close to Selene in case anything happens, Ben. You know I can’t leave her in the hands of this mob. I have to save her.”

  “You’re right. I say we work together and just snatch her now, Nath. This might be the best shot we get. Let’s see. We have speed, polymorph, fire, and healing. Two doses in each. I drank all of the iron skin in a gulp because I was so frightened. Sorry about that.”

  “No, I would have done the same thing, I’m sure.” Nath finished off his ale. “Ben, I like the way you think. It’s a good plan. Let’s see about our options. I bet we can put something together that the titans will never see coming.”

  Ben held up his tankard. “Free Narnum.”

  “Free Selene.”

  CHAPTER 38

  Selene’s arms showed small patches where scales were missing. The skin underneath was scabby and swollen. It was even worse in places where Forever stuck in hot, painful needles. The pain got worse and worse. There was no getting used to it.

  Finally, the torment stopped when a boy with solid black eyes entered. He told Eckubahn he’d seen a tiny man matching Nath Dragon’s description in the city. Eckubahn ordered the boy away and told him to resume his search for Nath Dragon. At the same time, he ordered the soldiers to shut down the entry points in and out of the city.

  Putting away her tools, Forever said to Selene, “Don’t get your hopes up. The titans know everything. Whatever Nath Dragon does, it won’t come as a surprise. The surprise will be on him.” She put the lid on the full jar of Selene’s scales as quietly as a ghost and vanished behind the cathedral’s parlor doors.

  Sweat dripped from Selene’s chin onto the rolling platform were she stood. She could barely hold her head up. She slung the hair out of her face over her neck. It gave her a clear view of Eckubahn. The broad-chested titan sat on his throne, eyeing the doors. His huge fingers were locked on the arms of his chair. His lips curled back from time to time.

  He sits there like Nath is about to come through those doors any moment. How could he even know? He must have better resources than I ever did. It’s so hard to tell whose side anyone is on anymore. She squeezed her eyes shut. Nath, leave me be and save yourself. I deserve what I have coming. You don’t.

  Tylabahn returned. The giant, haggard woman glowered at Selene, while at the same time she said to Eckubahn, “You summoned me? I hope it’s so I can scale the rest of those black diamonds from that one over there. Why let that little woman have all the fun?”

  “I have better plans for you,” he said aloud, and then he whispered something in Tylabahn’s ear.

  Tylabahn’s eyes lit up. “I like it. I like it a lot.”

  CHAPTER 39

  Nath and Ben didn’t come up with any great ideas. The potions Bayzog had given them were just enough to help them get out of the city. Nath had a better idea: use the potions to get Selene and Ben out of the city.

  “Listen, Ben. We go in. I’ll attempt a parlay. You work your way toward Selene. I’ll distract Eckubahn long enough for the two of you to use the polymorph, blend in with the residents, and escape the city.”

  “What about you? You won’t be able to slip the giants.”

  “I will if I’m fast enough.” He held up the speed potion. “I’m fast enough, but with this, I can vanish and they’ll never find me.”

  “I think this is the worst plan I’ve ever heard. Eckubahn will just kill us. I’d kill us.”

  “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, Ben. Just drink the potion and slip out. Tell the others what’s going on.”

  “No, I’m too far across the border. I’m all in, as always.” Ben rolled the vials in his hand then tucked them away. “Let’s go.”

  Nath led the way out of the tavern. He didn’t know if Eckubahn would be willing to parlay with him or not, but it was worth a try. Evil people were often overconfident. They tended to gloat about everything. Nath was counting on that to buy all the time he needed.

  He sucked down the vial of fleet feet as he approached the crowded cathedral. Again, he pushed through the masses right up to the partition.

  An ogre and an eight-foot orc stopped him from climbing over the stone barrier. Nath grabbed the ogre by the nose ring and said to the towering orcs, “Tell Eckubahn that Nath Dragon requests a parlay.”

  The great doors parted wide less than a minute later. Escorted by giant soldiers, Nath and Ben were led inside. Eckubahn sat tall in his throne, a colossal, muscular giant whose very presence overpowered them all.

  Selene hung in her shackles. Her eyes were weak. She seemed disappointed that he’d come.

  Eckubahn’s jutting chin dropped when he said, “You request a parlay, Nath Dragon? I can only assume it’s a trick. I see no reason to honor it.” He stroked his chin. “But my curiosity is getting the better of me. What do you have to offer me?”

  Nath counted ten giants in all. Each of them had their backs turned. The grand doors had closed. Beyond the columns were parlor doors to many other rooms inside the massive building. Aside from that, it just seemed to be the four of them: Eckubahn, Nath, Selene, and Ben. The chamber echoed when he cleared his throat.

  “Ahem. I’ll be happy to express my offer while my friend Ben tends to Selene.”

  “Your friend is not worthy of my presence. He has nothing but mortal blood in him. It’s an insult to bring him.”

  “I know better than that, Eckubahn. These humans tend to many of your needs. They tend to mine as well.”

  “Beware, Nath Dragon. One false move will be your end, but I’ll begin with me. My giants delight in the flavor of bones and flesh.”

  Nath gave wide-eyed Ben a nod. He climbed the steps up onto the wheeled podium and tended to Selene’s wounds. Nath cleared his throat again. “Eckubahn, I’m here to give you an opportunity to surrender.”

  Eckubahn’s head burned bright green. “Do not toy with me, Nath Dragon!”

  Nath held his hand up. “Don’t get red behind the ears. If you were in my throne room, you’d demand the same. Besides, it never hurts to ask.” His laughter echoed and died. “I want Selene and Ben set free, and you can take me in their place.”

  “Such a childish offer. I have no need to make you a martyr when I already have all three of you.”

  “They don’t wield any power, Eckubahn. I’m the Dragon King. Take me…over them.”

  “And have you slip free of my grasp the first chance you get? Do you take me for a fool?”

  “Well, you are on the wrong side of things.”

 
“Don’t mock me, Nath Dragon, or you will wind up in far worse shape than your father.”

  “Speaking of my father, I want a proper burial for him. In the Dragon Graveyard. I want the fetchers to come in and pick him up and take him away.”

  “Do you think I would dare part with my most treasured prize? I came back here to kill him. Now I have him on display for all to see. His very appearance crushes the hopes and dreams of those who thought they had free will. No. No to all your requests.” Eckubahn snapped his fingers. The giant soldiers did an about-face toward him. “Take them,” he ordered.

  “Whoa, Eckubahn, this is a parlay. You’re supposed to let me return to where the parlay was requested. Certainly you want your people to see that you’re honorable.”

  “I’ll honor half the deal. Your useless assistant may depart, but I offer him no protection outside of this hallowed ground. You, Nath Dragon, are staying with me and will be my special guest at the judgment of Selene.” Eckubahn pointed at the doors. Soldiers pulled them open.

  Nath’s eyes slid over to Ben. He gave his friend a wink. Facing Eckubahn, he said, “Fair enough. I wouldn’t leave Selene anyway.” He started to cough. With the potion of fleet feet surging through his veins, he couldn’t hold it back any longer. He summoned his fire and let out a stream of smoke. The smoke covered him, Ben, and Selene in an instant.

  Eckubahn roared. “Treachery! You’ll regret this!”

  Nath moved through the smoke as fast as he’d ever moved on two legs. He hopped up onto the platform and snapped Selene’s chains. Ben drank half of his potion and fed the other half to Selene. “It’s polymorph. Blend in and flee,” Nath said.

  “Close those doors!”

  Nath bolted into the gap between the doors and wedged his body there before they could be closed. He strained against the giants that were trying to close them. “Hurk!”