No, he’ll be incinerated!
Nath looked for something to grab. Something to throw. There was nothing. “Let loose something, Selene! Soldiers, unleash those crossbows!”
“They might hit Ben,” Selene warned.
Helpless and with bated breath, Nath watched Ben about to die. Without notice, the air crackled with new energy. From somewhere below, a streak of energy shot into the sky and struck the wurmers hovering over the tower. One beast turned to ash, and the other two let out startled cries. A fork of lightning rocked into both of them. They twitched, smoked, and plummeted hard into the earth. Thud! Thud!
With no more dragons in sight, the Legionnaires and city folk erupted into cheers. Coming down the street and heading straight toward Nath and Selene, two figures emerged. Ben, looking as tough and rugged as chewed leather, strolled, arms swinging, with a smaller person by his side. Bayzog was violet eyed, green robed, and looking calm and serious both at the same time.
With a broad smile on his scarred lips, Ben put Akron away. Clatch. Snap. Clatch. He gave Nath a hug. “Dragon, I never thought I’d see you like this again. Or at all again, for that matter. I can only imagine that something bad is going on.”
“Thanks to you, nothing bad is going on at all here, Ben. You sure took it to those wurmers and saved my scales again.”
“What did I miss? What did I miss?” It was Brenwar, rushing up to them, Mortuun ready, and huffing for breath. “Tell me I didn’t miss all of the fighting.”
“Of course you did,” Bayzog said to him. “If we had to wait for you, we’d miss out on dinnertime.”
“Watch it, part-elf.”
Elderwood staff in hand, Bayzog patted Brenwar on the head. “I didn’t miss you either, friend. Eh, nice hand. What happened, did you run out of hide jerky?” He gave a quick nod to Selene and then turned to Nath. “What have you done now?”
“Me?”
Selene interrupted the moment, pointing at the sky. “Look.”
A white dragon, no horns, small legs, and with a very long body and tail soared high above.
“Strange,” Nath said, “what would an ivory slider be doing here? They are messengers,” Nath said
“Fascinating,” Bayzog said. “It’s quite a treat seeing a breed I have not seen before. It looks to be carrying something in its paws.”
The ivory slider released something with a nice bright shine and disappeared in the backdrop of clouds in the sky.
“What was that?” Ben said. “Why did it drop it on the other side of the walls?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Nath said. He took off at a trot.
“We don’t have to run everywhere, you know,” Brenwar said.
“Fine,” Nath said. “We don’t have to complain everywhere, either.”
“You know, Brenwar, I could make you some boots that will make you walk faster,” Bayzog offered.
“Why don’t you make yourself some boots that will take you back to your homeland, part-elf.”
“I love reunions,” Ben said to Selene. “How about you?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had one before.”
Eyes feeling a little misty, Nath started to round the gate at the outermost wall. There was no feeling quite like being around the friends that had fought for you again and again.
No feeling like it at all.
He came to a stop and gawked at the object sticking up out of the field. A beautiful sword pommel with dragon crossguards winked at him with gemstone eyes. “Fang!”
“I’ll be,” Brenwar said. “We really must be in for it.”
Upon snatching the sword up, Nath began twirling it around in strokes that looked like lightning. New energy coursed through his veins. The handle was warm as an old friend’s handshake. He kissed the grand and shiny blade.
“Looks like the pair of you have been reunited just in time,” Bayzog said, eyeing the storm front coming from the south.
“Really, Bayzog, why do you say that?” Nath asked.
Everyone pointed where Bayzog was looking. Wurmers, wingless and big, were snaking through the tall grasses.
Nath raised Fang high, and with the fierce bellow of a dozen embattled warriors he yelled, “Dragon! Dragon!”
Epilogue
“How nice it is to see you again, Eckubahn. It’s been too long,” Lotuus said. The fairy empress hovered inside a portion of mountainside that looked to have recently been scooped out. Inside, three earth giants stood staring down on her with heavy eyes. The tallest, brawny and covered in coarse black-brown hair, petted the hairs on his forearms. He leered at her. “Does that body not please you, grand titan?”
Eckubahn scratched the scruff underneath his neck, wetted his thumb, and smoothed his eyebrows back. His voice was the sound of a rumbling volcano. “It will do, fairy.”
Lotuus buzzed up and hung in the air right before his eyes. They couldn’t have been more different. Her figure was grace and beauty that shimmered with seductive activity. His body was a raw-powered, stony-skinned abomination. She kissed him on the nose. “I’ve missed you, my lord. Have you missed me?”
“For centuries I’ve burned with vengeance. There was no time for pleasant memories.”
She stood on his shoulder and spoke into his ear. “You are free now. Does that make you happy?”
“No, but soon it will.” He formed a fist, cocked it back, and struck at the nearest earth giant with bone-shattering impact.
Boom!
The earth giant crumpled to the ground and lay dead. The other earth giant backed up a step, took a knee, and bowed.
Petting the giant’s ear, Lotuus said with a thrill in her voice, “So powerful. So masterful. Oh, how I have missed you, Eckubahn. I must say, I was beginning to lose hope, but then Nath Dragon came along and I was freed. Hence, you were freed. I didn’t hesitate to dupe him.”
The titan’s throat rumbled. “Make no mistake, you didn’t dupe anyone. This was meant to be. Certain dragons want us gone.” He punched his fist into his hand with a resounding smack. “I want them gone. And I pledge it will be done.”
Lotuus clapped her hands. “Oh, how I can’t wait to see you upend those arrogant lizards. I’d like to pluck the scales off of them one by one.”
Eckubahn put his oversized finger under her chin. “I promise that you’ll see it done.” Feet shaking the ground, he headed out of the monstrous alcove. “This body hungers. Lead me to the nearest city so I can feast.” He spread his arms out wide, tilted his chin up toward the sky, and yelled, “Then I will have my VENGEANCE!”
***
Nath Dragons adventures continue in book 2, Claws of the Dragon, November 2015 …
From the author
Due to popular demand, Nath Dragon is back! I have to say, the comments, notes, and reviews really had an impact on my pursuing this next series, so give yourself a pat on the back. Even though I intended for Nath Dragon to be a one-shot series, I realized that Nath, Brenwar, and company have too many adventures together left in them. Also, growing up as a reader, I never liked seeing a series end. That killed off any more tales about my favorite characters! So I decided to keep Nath Dragon rolling. I think he’s a great and memorable character, so hopefully this new series will live up to the last and meet all of your expectations. As always, I’m grateful that you have been reading my books. Drop me a line anytime and keep an eye out for merchandise, book deals and giveaways.
Do good always,
Craig Halloran
[email protected]
Facebook: The Darkslayer Report
Twitter: Craig Halloran
About the Author
Craig Halloran resides with his family outside his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. When he isn’t entertaining mankind, he is seeking adventure, working out, or watching sports. To learn more about him, go to: www.thedarkslayer.com.
The Darkslayer Series 1
Wrath of the Royals (Book 1)
Blades in the Nig
ht (Book 2)
Underling Revenge (Book 3)
Danger and the Druid (Book 4)
Outrage in the Outlands (Book 5)
Chaos at the Castle (Book 6)
The Darkslayer Series 2
Bish and Bone (Book 1)
Black Blood (Book 2)
Red Death (Book 3)
Lethal Liaisons (Book 4)
Torment and Terror (Book 5)
The Chronicles of Dragon Series
The Hero, the Sword and the Dragons (Book 1)
Dragon Bones and Tombstones (Book 2)
Terror at the Temple (Book 3)
Clutch of the Cleric (Book 4)
Hunt for the Hero (Book 5)
Siege at the Settlements (Book 6)
Strife in the Sky (Book 7)
Fight and the Fury (Book 8)
War in the Winds (Book 9)
Finale (Book 10)
Zombie Impact Series
Zombie Day Care: Book 1
Zombie Rehab: Book 2
Zombie Warfare: Book 3
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files
Smoke Rising (2015)
I Smell Smoke (2015)
Where There’s Smoke (2015)
Smoke on the Water (2015)
Smoke and Mirrors (2015)
You can learn more about the Darkslayer and my other books at:
Facebook – The Darkslayer Report by Craig
Twitter – Craig Halloran
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
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