"How are you?" Alto asked Garrick.
"I won’t be dancing any time soon," the warrior mumbled after a long pause.
Alto frowned and looked at Mordrim. The dwarf pulled another rope tightly around the barbarian’s leg and tied it off, and then shook his head slowly. Blood still seeped down the sides of his leg and joined the spreading pool. "Dragon missed the artery but he cut his leg open like a fish being filleted. The size of this oaf’s legs, he had a lot of blood in them."
"Lucky he missed my third leg," Garrick murmured. "That’s even bigger!"
Mordrim rolled his eyes. "He won’t be walking, that’s for certain."
"We need to get back to the others," Alto said. "Make sure they’re okay. Karthor can help him then."
"What about you?" Mordrim asked. "Your side hurting?"
"Feels like it’s been kicked in," Alto admitted. "I’ll be fine, though. We’ll have to carry Garrick."
"I can walk!" Garrick protested.
"Shut your mouth," Mordrim snapped. "You’re not to be knowing up from down in a few more minutes."
"Even with one leg, I’m taller than you!"
Mordrim looked at Garrick and put his hand on the man’s shoulder for emphasis. "Garrick, this is serious. Your wits are addled with the blood you’ve lost. Be quiet and stay awake. Talk if you must. Sing if it helps, but do it quiet enough to keep what snakes remain from hunting us down."
"How are we going to do this?" Alto asked. "I can grab his arms and you his legs?"
"Too rough and he’s too heavy. I know, you’re a draft horse straight from the fields but the more his leg moves, the more blood runs out of it. He’s not got much left to lose." Mordrim glanced around the balcony and frowned, and then his eyes fell on to the opening into the mountain. "Wait here a minute."
"Don’t go back to the others alone," Alto said.
"Bah, only to look close by, don’t worry."
Alto nodded and moved over to stand next to Garrick. He heard his boots splash in the puddle of blood. Alto looked up at the barbarian, his own blisters, bruises, and broken ribs forgotten.
"This ain’t so bad," Garrick rumbled. "Cold, though. Not like back home—this cold’s deep in my bones."
"That’s not good," Alto told him.
"Probably not," the barbarian agreed with a contrary smile. "We killed a dragon!"
"Nothing to it," Alto said.
Garrick laughed for a moment and then fell silent. "Thought I’d die in battle," he said. "This is close enough, though."
"Nobody’s dying yet," Alto said, worried for the man.
"Sorry about your sister."
Alto stiffened and then winced from the pain in his side. "What about her?"
"Only person alive with worse luck than you. Saints put a curse on your family."
"The saints didn’t do the evil to my family," Alto said. "Men did that. The saints have helped me to put things right."
Garrick sighed and fell silent. He jerked his head up a moment later, lifting his chin off his chest. "Still, sorry about Caitlyn. She’s a pretty girl. Smart. Willful. Strong." He nodded and smiled. "Make a good wife."
"She still will," Alto insisted.
Garrick squinted his eyes as he stared up at Alto. The warrior blocked the setting sun from shining in his eyes but it gave him a halo effect that made Garrick smirk. "She might," he agreed.
"She will."
After a lengthy delay, the barbarian responded in a slurred voice. "Wasn’t doubting her." He paused and licked his lips. "Just takes the right kind of man to see past the harm that’s been done."
Alto grimaced and knelt down beside the barbarian. He pulled off his waterskin and held it up to Garrick’s lips. The barbarian drank from it and then coughed a little. Alto pulled it away but held it ready until the barbarian shook his head.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"Do you, um, want to pray or anything?" Alto asked, suddenly uncomfortable.
Garrick shook his head and settled his gaze on Alto. "Preth’s got no need for that. A hunter stands before him when he fails his final hunt. It’s how that hunt went and all the ones before that matter. Nothing I can do now will change what he thinks of me."
"We’ll get you back up to your home, no matter what happens," Alto vowed.
Garrick snorted. "The northlands suck. Always cold, even in the dead of summer. No, go find Mord and head on back. Leave me here in the warm sun. Go on. Go find your woman and your sister. I’ll make sure that dragon don’t dig himself out and come after you."
"I can’t leave you here!" Alto said.
"My sword," Garrick said, lolling his head around to try to find it.
Alto turned around and saw it lying on the ground behind him, just outside the pool of blood. The blue flames had died. He picked it up and handed it to the barbarian gently, afraid the man would drop it and hurt himself worse.
Garrick held it up, pulling on strength Alto was surprised to see. The flames burst out of the hilt and ran up the blade but unlike before, they were less than a finger’s width long.
"What’s that mean?" Alto asked.
"No snakes close by," Garrick guessed. He offered a sloppy grin and added, "Or dragons."
A scuffling noise drew Alto’s attention to the hallway. Mordrim emerged from it, dragging two long wooden beams with some cloth draped across them. He saw Garrick was still conscious and let out his breath. "Hey, stinky," he addressed his fallen friend. "I found your axe in the hallway. Must have been knocked loose before the dragon got out here."
"Keep it," Garrick said.
"You lazy dog," Mordrim berated him. "I’m not carrying your gear. Get your bear-loving arse onto this thing and we’ll carry you back."
"Got a good seat picked out," Garrick complained.
Mordrim dropped the litter beside him. "All right, you can come back some other time then." He bent over and picked up Garrick’s feet and then pulled them over onto the cloth. Garrick cried out and dropped his sword as he threw his hands out to keep himself from falling. They splashed in the blood pooled under him.
Alto clenched his teeth and moved up next to the barbarian so he could grab his shoulders. The warrior moaned as he hoisted the larger man up and moved him fully onto the litter.
"Get his sword," Mordrim said. "I’ll drag him."
"Drag me?" Garrick asked.
Mordrim stepped between the wooden beams and squatted down. He picked them up and caused the barbarian to cry out as he fell back and found himself staring at the sky. "You stupid dwarf," Garrick cursed. "You picked up the wrong end!"
"I ain’t the stupid one," Mordrim educated him. "You’re bleeding out your leg and the blood comes from your chest. Keep the leg higher than your chest and you keep more blood."
Garrick turned to look at Alto. He’d grabbed onto the two wooden beams he hung between for stability and opened his mouth. Alto shook his head and picked up Garrick’s sword. "Take it up with him another day," Alto advised.
The barbarian scowled. "Don’t think you’ll get away with this, shorty!"
"Might be we’ll have to take your leg to keep you alive," Mordrim mused. "Guess who’d be calling who Stumpy then?"
Garrick’s eyes widened and even Alto laughed. The dwarf dragged him back into the hallway without another word. Alto turned and gazed at the setting sun among the beautiful mountains. A gentle breeze sprung up, blowing dust and smoke his way. He sighed. They’d come so far but had so much yet to do. They’d found Namitus but his sister was still out there somewhere.
Alto tried a deep breath and had to let it go as the pain built in his side. He scowled and vowed, "Don’t worry, Caitlyn. I’m coming for you."
###
Afterword by the Author
Congratulations, you've just finished Chasing the Dragon, book two in the Order of the Dragon series. Alto and his friends continue thrill, delight, and surprise me every step of the way. We've witnessed Alto growing from a troubled boy to a young man. He's still q
uite troubled, as you've just read, but he's found his strengths and is forging his path through the world as only he can.
After Alto does his best to tend to his sister's fate he must return to the north and the troubles brewing there. Rosalyn intends to be waiting for him, for better or worse. Watch how the troubles in the north and the south grow and collide in book 3, Sands of Betrayal, which is now available.
As always, I enjoy feedback and encourage it in whatever form you might desire. Reviews are always welcome and encouraged, but by no means the only method of reaching out to me. Feel free to visit my blog (http://booksbyjason.wordpress.com), my website (http://www.booksbyjason.com), my twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/booksbyjason or @booksbyjason), or look me up on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/booksbyjason). If that's too much, just send me an email at [email protected].
Thank you for reading and enjoying the book. The only promise in good conscience that I can make is that if you keep reading, I'll keep writing!
Other books by Jason Halstead
Child of Fate (Blades of Leander, book 1)
Victim of Fate (Blades of Leander, book 2)
Silver Dragon (Blades of Leander, book 3)
Blades of Leander (all 3 books in one)
Isle of the Ape (Order of the Dragon, book 1)
Chasing the Dragon (Order of the Dragon, book 2)
Sands of Betrayal (Order of the Dragon, book 3)
Dragonlady (Order of the Dragon, book 4)
Voidhawk (Voidhawk, book 1)
Voidhawk – The Elder Race (Voidhawk, book 2)
Voidhawk – Redemption (Voidhawk, book 3)
Voidhawk – The White Lady (Voidhawk, book 4)
Voidhawk – Lost Soul (Voidhawk, book 5)
Voidhawk - The Edge of Forever (Voidhawk, book 6)
Wanted (Wanted, book 1)
Ice Princess (Wanted, book 2)
Bounty (Wanted, book 3)
The Wanted Trilogy (all 3 books in one)
Dark Earth (Dark Earth, book 1)
Devil’s Icebox (Dark Earth, book 2)
Soul Mates (Dark Earth, book 3)
Voices (a Dark Earth Book)
Bound (a Dark Earth Book)
The Lost Girls (The Lost Girls, book 1, a Dark Earth novel)
Traitor (The Lost Girls, book 2, a Dark Earth novel)
Wolfgirl (The Lost Girls, book 3, a Dark Earth novel)
Black Widow (The Lost Girls, book 4, a Dark Earth novel)
New Beginnings (Vitalis, episode 1)
The Colony (Vitalis, episode 2)
Parasites (Vitalis, episode 3)
Screamer (Vitalis, episode 4)
Squatter's Rights (Vitalis, episode 5)
Evolution (Vitalis, episode 6)
Matriarch (Vitalis, episode 7)
Vitalis Omnibus (Vitalis, episodes 1 – 7)
Vitalis: Resurrection (Vitalis, book 2)
Vitalis: Provenance (Vitalis, book 3)
Vitalis: Genesis (Vitalis, book 4)
Forbidden Love (Homeland, book 1)
Broken Slipper (Homeland, book 2)
Human Nature
Sex Sells
Chasing the Dragon Page 25
