Siege At The Settlements (Book 6)

by Craig Halloran

  Pilpin tossed a stone into the middle. It sunk in the clear water and settled only a foot below. All the dwarves were still with weapons ready. Gorlee breathed heavily and felt amazed. There were plenty of treacherous things in Nalzambor. Ways nature preserved itself. Or fed itself, perhaps.

  Devliik said something in dwarven and moved onward.

  “What did he say?” Gorlee said to Pilpin.

  “Avoid the pools.”

  “That’s it?”

  “Is there anything else that needs saying?”

  The dwarves formed columns on the left and right of the creek. Gorlee took the middle of the right column. He scanned the sides of the ravine. The faces were steep and ran upward hundreds of feet. He couldn’t help but feel that eyes were watching them from somewhere up there. At any moment, they would be trapped. Hemmed in on one side or the other. But he also had the feeling that Devliik wasn’t worried about a satyr. Not that dwarves would be worried about anything.

  The soft rattle of dwarven armor came to a stop. Gorlee stopped as well. Something cried out ahead, like a wounded cat. Slowly, the dwarves proceeded forward. Ahead, the creek water rushed over the rocks, forming another pool of water. A woman hung on to a vine in the middle. She struggled and splashed. Something deep in the waters was pulling her down.

  Her green eyes found the dwarves and she mewled again.

  Gorlee forced himself up to the pool’s edge. The dwarves had funny looks on their faces. The woman in the pool wasn’t just any kind of woman. She had golden fur and was spotted like a leopard. Her long whiskers rested on the waters.

  “My, look at her,” Pilpin said. He looked up at Gorlee. “Have you ever seen such a woman?”

  Nalzambor was huge and there were plenty of rare creatures that the eyes of commoners had never seen before. In the case of this feline-like woman, he didn’t know.

  “No, not like that.” He squinted his eyes. “I’d say we need a closer look.”

  “She’s pretty,” Pilpin said. His hard eyes were wide. He started to wade into the waters. Others stomped their boots into the water as well.

  She’s pretty?

  The muscles in Gorlee’s back started to knot. Something wasn’t right. He’d never heard a dwarf call anything pretty before. He scanned the woodland. The trees, bushes, and giant ferns all seemed undisturbed. Everything was pleasant. Normal. The insects and critters chirped. Everything seemed to be in harmony. Even the wind that whistled through the ravine sounded like a flute.

  The dwarves edged closer. Devliik tossed the cat-like woman a rope. Pilpin waded in. Gorlee pulled him back by the shoulder.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Don’t you think she’s pretty? She’s the prettiest I’ve ever seen.”

  Gorlee looked at the woman in the water and scratched his head. “You’re certain? She doesn’t seem like your type.”

  “Will you let go of me?” Pilpin said, jerking away and marching into the water. “I want to help her first. It’s been quite some time since I saw such a fair dwarven maiden.”

  “Dwarven?”

  Gorlee’s stomach began to knot and his forehead beaded in sweat. The ground felt loose beneath him. The horses nickered and stomped backwards. Shook their necks. The music of the wind became louder. The woman he saw in the water’s eyes drew him closer.

  This isn’t right. Isn’t right at all.

  His fingers loosened around his sword, and the blade slipped free. The musical breeze licked at his earlobes, urging him toward the waters. He took a step closer, but kept one hand on the reins.

  “Pilpin,” he said, raising his voice, “I don’t see a dwarf.”

  Pilpin didn’t turn. He kept going.

  The windy music tugged at his ears. Gorlee’s legs slackened. He felt it: magic. Rushing through him. Subtle. Seductive. Dangerous. He cried out to the dwarves but they heard him not. Their eyes were glossed over. The woman’s face in the waters darkened and shifted. Gorlee covered his ears. The woman sneered at him. The waters stirred and shifted.

  “Get out!” he yelled.

  Something terrible was about to happen. Spots in the forest began to stir.

  Gorlee’s mind raced. He was Nath Dragon. What would he do? He summoned his magic powers. He couldn’t do most of what Nath could do, but he could do a fine impression of most of it. He sucked in his chest and let out a mighty dragon-like roar until he could roar no more.

  Every dwarven head turned toward him.

  “That’s no dwarven maiden!” He yelled. “It’s a trap! Get out of there, you fools!”

  The dwarves shook their heads and turned back to the woman in the pool. She was gone.

  “Where’d she go?” One dwarf said, wading through the waters.

  Something jerked him under.

  “What goes!” Devliik cried.

  The woods and waters came to life.

  Draykis, scaly and grey, were all over them.

  CHAPTER 20

  The dragon swooped down onto the grass. Nath’s neck tightened. He didn’t fear anything, but he respected danger.

  “Stay back,” he said, dismounting and putting himself between the dragon and the others.

  The dragon was a grey scaler. The biggest he’d ever seen. Twenty feet long. Thirty feet with the tail. He had a crown of four black horns on his head. Hundreds of sharp teeth filled his great mouth. His scales were grey and hard as steel. He was black-winged and black-tailed.

  Arms wide, Nath approached him.

  “What are you doing?” Brenwar said in a forced whisper. “Get back here.”

  It was too late for that. Nath kept going.

  The dragon’s serpent eyes widened bigger than Nath’s head. Grey scalers made excellent enforcers. Guardians. Hunters. This one probably didn’t want to do anything more than check them out. Maybe kill them if bored. Nostrils the size of his fists snorted and flared. A throat bigger than Nath’s whole body growled.

  The muscles along Nath’s spine knotted up.

  “A moment please,” Nath said, holding out his hand and speaking Dragonese. He slipped off his cloak, revealing his fully-scaled body. The dragon’s great neck reared up over the top of his head. Jaws gaping. “You know who I am, don’t you.”

  The grey scaler didn’t speak, but Nath could feel words forming in his mind.

  Yes. The Dragon Prince. Death to the Dragon Prince.

  The moment the dragon swooped down, Nath had known he would probably be recognized. He was unique, which left him as flat-footed as a shoed horse. Their objective was to cross Jordak’s Pass unnoticed. Now, any commotion with the dragon would bring the entire regiment from the bridge on them. Any chance of slipping toward the river cities and investigating the mystic shards would be gone. The armies of Barnabus would comb all the hillsides in pursuit of them. Nath would have to try something else.

  “I am your prince,” Nath said.

  You are a cursed prince. A failure. As is your father.

  The dragon blood in Nath’s veins ignited. His claws lashed out across the dragon’s nose.

  “You dare!” The dragon hissed and recoiled back. And then in Nath’s mind, he heard, I serve Gorn Grattack. You and all of Dragon Home will as well. Nalzambor is ours.

  The dragon boasted, which wasn’t anything uncommon among dragons. After all, they were the most powerful creatures in Nalzambor. But this dragon was on another level. A different place. Nath could feel him oozing with confidence. Feel his heartbeat thundering behind his mighty breast. This dragon wanted glory. The glory of bringing down Nath Dragon.

  “Not without me,” Nath said, stepping forward. He poked the dragon’s chest and felt the hot breath behind the scales like a fireplace mantle. “Gorshamishultru…” It was a long word he started quickly that went on and on. You would be wiser to surrender, Nath said to him. Your body is no match for that of a full dragon.

  The dragon stirred. His tails stopped sweeping the grass when Nath finished.

  “So then you s
ubmit?”

  He huffed a hot blast of air in Nath’s face.

  It had been over a hundred years since Nath had heard what he said to the grey scaler. It was an ultimatum. A contest. Dragons were proud creatures. Many times too proud. And their pride could rub one another raw. It would take more than a conversation or a contest of prowess to settle a dispute that might last centuries. His only option was to take a match. A death match.

  “You are no full dragon,” the grey scaler said, sliding his neck from side to side.

  “You hesitate,” Nath said, “so you submit?”

  He didn’t say anything for a few minutes. Nath could hear his heart racing though.

  And then the grey scaler said, “Death for you it is,” and laid his neck on the grass, pulling back his wings.

  Nath climbed on.

  “What,” Brenwar started, aghast, “is going on?”

  “I’ve offered a Dragon’s Ultimatum,” Nath said.

  “You what!” Brenwar said. “Get off that dragon, Nath.”

  The grey scaler took several steps, lifted off, and glided over the grasses toward the hilltops.

  Nath took one last glance back at his friends. One expression was as dumbfounded as the next. He took a deep breath and wondered if he’d ever see them again.

  CHAPTER 21

  Clang!

  Crash!

  Splash!

  Dwarves and draykis battled. Gorlee himself battled. The surprise attack was as fierce as it was sudden. Gorlee was at a loss what to do. Right before his eyes he watched a draykis pin Pilpin underneath the waters. Its scaly back faced him.

  Do something, Gorlee!

  He charged with his sword and pierced the back of its hide.

  It reared up and whirled on Gorlee with wary eyes. It wasn’t Gorlee it saw, but Nath Dragon, sword in hand.

  Pilpin popped up out of the waters and struck it between the legs with his mace.

  Whop!

  The draykis wobbled on its legs and fell to its knees.

  Gorlee struck again, chopping it.

  Pilpin hauled back and clobbered it in the head.

  It splashed face-first into the creek, unmoving.

  The victory was hollow.

  Dwarves cried out. Their short arms delivered biting blows with dwarven steel, but they were overwhelmed. The draykis were bigger, faster, and greater in number. The dwarves normally fought in tight ranks and circles that carved their enemies up, but they were scattered. One on one, no dwarf was a match for a draykis, which fought like three lizard men in one.

  Hivluum, the dwarf with a square helm and horn in the middle, had two draykis pulling his arms. Another dwarf was picked up and slammed into the ravine rocks. Devliik went down as three draykis pounced on him at once. There was blood. There was death. The dwarves were being slaughtered. Soon they’d all be dead.

  Sultans of Sulfur! What do I do!

  Gorlee held up his arms and cried out, “I surrender!” He dropped his sword. He summoned his magic and yelled louder. “I surrender!”

  The woods shook.

  Everyone stilled. A dwarven helmet slipped off one’s head and into the water.

  “What are you doing?” Pilpin whispered.

  “What must be done,” Gorlee said.

  A voice spoke out from the forest.

  “Bind his hands.”

  “Let the dwarves walk away first,” Gorlee demanded.

  “You are in no position to negotiate now,” the voice said.

  The voice was that of a woman, husky. Gorlee assumed it was the satyr. His eyes scanned the ravine, but nothing noticeable was moving.

  “You’ve revealed your location,” he said. “And I can get to you faster than any of you can get to me. I’ll give you a few more seconds and then the fight will be back on.”

  “And all of the dwarves will die,” the voice said.

  “And all my vengeance will be on your head,” Gorlee growled.

  Nothing was said for a moment. Only the air stirred and the insects hummed.

  “Dwarves, depart from us then,” she said, “and make it quick.”

  The dwarves remained still, but were staring at Gorlee.

  “Do as she says,” he said.

  They grumbled.

  “But, Guh—” Pilpin started to say his name.

  Gorlee cut him off. “Do as I say, Pilpin.”

  Pilpin shook his beard and stuffed his weapons in his belt. “As you say, Nath!”

  One by one, the dwarves trudged out of the pool and up the banks of the creek. Their faces were battered and pride bruised. Blood was in their beards and armor and one spit out a tooth. Two carried one that was dead with a hard look in their eyes. Vengeance had been denied them once again.

  Devliik was the last to pass.

  “Ye should know better. It’s our right to die when and how we want to.”

  The brown-bearded dwarf mounted up and led his men back up the creek, around the boulder in the bend, and out of sight. Gorlee listened until he could hear the horse hooves splashing in the water no more. When he turned around, the draykis had him surrounded.

  “I don’t see any rope,” Gorlee said, shaking his mane of hair. Got to be convincing. “Or was I supposed to bring that myself?”

  A figure of a part goat and part woman appeared on one of the rocks above nearby. Two small horns of a goat protruded from her head. She had a nasty look about her. A set of wooden pipes hung from her shoulder and a dagger hung from her belt. Gorlee couldn’t help but think that she was the one who had murdered the dwarves in their sleep. One of them at least.

  “I must admit,” Gorlee said, “you’re more pleasant to look upon than expected, for a goat woman that is.”

  A draykis walloped him in the belly, lifting him on his toes.

  “Oof!”

  Ugh, that hurt! Try not to show it so much. He fought to stay on his feet and blocked the stars from his eyes. He patted his belly and said, “You don’t hit very hard. Are you a girl draykis?”

  The draykis’s lips pulled back over its large sharp teeth and it drew back again.

  “Enough,” Faylan said. “The High Priestess wants him alive, every last piece of him.” She tossed a rope down that splashed in the creek. “Bind him with that. Its mystic tethers will hold him.”

  The draykis stared up at her while the rope sank into the water.

  “I don’t think they know how to tie a knot,” Gorlee said. “Have you seen their fingers?”

  The big clawed and scaly hands were more like paws than fingers.

  “I’d be more than happy to do it myself.” He shrugged. “I’m really good with knots.”

  Faylan’s face bunched up in fury. She jumped off the rock and into the creek right by him. The tops of her horns came up to his chest. She bent down and snatched the rope from the water.

  “Not a move,” she said.

  Gorlee lifted his brows and offered his hands. He noticed the satyr looked much better far away than up close. Hard lines and ruddy skin covered her face. Her eyes were dark and beady and she smelled a little funny. No wonder she’s mean.

  She coiled the rope around his wrists, made a full loop around his neck, and then wove around each leg. She knotted it around his foot, staring at his scaly toes for a few seconds. She looked up and eyed him again.

  “I know,” Gorlee said, “they need clipping. You wouldn’t happen to have a file on you would y—ulp!”

  The rope constricted around his neck, legs, and wrists like living iron. He was choking.

  Guzan! What is this!

  He tried to cry out, but the bonds got tighter. He sagged to his knees.

  Now, Faylan was looking down on him.

  “Keep your tongue still,” she said in his ear. “You don’t want the rope to kill you. I don’t like your talking, and it doesn’t like it either. Do you understand me?”

  Gorlee, purple faced, managed a nod.

  “Good,” she said, lifting up his chin. “Get up now.
Slowly. It doesn’t like much moving either.”

  Gorlee froze and the draykis hissed and snickered. The rope that bit into his skin slackened, but remained taut.

  “Put him on his horse,” she ordered the draykis. “It’s time to go. I want to put as much distance between us and the dwarves as we can.”

  A draykis spoke up. “Let us finish them.”

  “Later,” she said. “First, we need to secure Nath Dragon.”

  The draykis heaved him up into his saddle and took the reins. Gorlee started to speak, but thought the better of it. He could still feel his tongue in his throat. A sudden darkness took over inside him. The dwarves were on their own and now he was as well. Maybe getting a closer look at my enemies wasn’t such a good idea after all.

  Another draykis dropped a sack over his head. Now Faylan was laughing.

  “We can’t hurt him, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make him miserable on our long journey.”

  CHAPTER 22

  “What was that all about?” Ben said, scratching his head. “What’s a Dragon’s Ultimatum?”

  Bayzog and Brenwar were silent, watching the night sky. Glum.

  Ben turned his sights toward the sky and clouds in the air. Nath and the grey scaler were a black dot that disappeared into the distant hills. He felt empty and turned back to his friends. Their faces were empty.

  “They’re going to fight, aren’t they.” Ben said.

  Brenwar huffed and jumped off his horse.

  Bayzog frowned. “It’s a battle that doesn’t end well for one or the other.”

  Ben’s hand fell on Fang’s hilt. “But he doesn’t have a weapon. He needs Fang. That dragon will kill him!”

  “Keep yer voice down,” Brenwar said. “You’re not some child anymore and neither is Nath. He made his decision. He’ll live or die by it. As will the rest of us.”

  “You always have the most spirited words, Dwarf,” Ben said, walking over to Brenwar clutching his fist.

  “Watch yourself, Man.”

  “The both of you watch yourselves. Nath is gone, and there’s no point in arguing about it now, especially with one another.” Bayzog left his horse and searched for wood. “Let’s make camp. Wait it out.”