“Drat!” I cursed under my breath.
Maybe they knew I was onto them already.
Frustrated, I ambled down the path.
Twenty paces away, the Lizard Man stepped full into the path, spear lowered.
I unleashed Akron’s arrow into his scaly green thigh.
Thwack!
The Lizard Man pitched forward, hitting the ground with a painful hiss.
Lizard men don’t scream, but they hiss something awful when you shoot them in the leg.
It took a stab at me as I walked over. I sidestepped, then ripped the spear from its hand and broke that over its head.
“I can’t have you following me now, can I?”
I slugged it in the jaw, and its eyes rolled up in its head.
“I hope they weren’t expecting you. You’ll be awfully late with that arrow in your leg,” I said.Got to move, Dragon. I didn’t have much patience left, and the disturbing thought of caged Dragons infuriated me. I hooked Akron on my back and jogged up the path. It shouldn’t be that hard to catch up with a bunch of clerics, even if they do know the terrain better than I. An hour later, I stopped and kneeled down. I ran my fingers over some muddy footprints in the path. Excellent! Through the slop, I forged ahead.
Two more leagues I had followed the trail when the rain let up. The bright stars peeked over the trees, and the waters rushed over the hillside while I heard the sound of people shuffling up ahead. I crept up until I could see them. It was them, a small band of clerics accompanied by one Lizard Man that guarded the rear.
The path winded up the hill, through the trees and alongside a gulch. That’s when I got my first look at it. A temple jutted out in stark contrast to the woods. The exterior wall was overgrown in vines and withered with decay, and many of the stone columns behind it had fallen. The party of men filed through a gap in the wall and disappeared from sight. The Lizard Man hung back at the gate. I remained behind the trees.
Great.
The temple wall, or what was left of it, was a hundred feet long and fifteen feet high. It ran from hillside to hillside. On the wall, a few Lizard Men stood watch, and for all I knew, the place was full of them. Now, I could handle a few Lizard Men, but ten or twenty? That would be something.
What to do, Dragon? What to do? Sneak inside, or bust them all in the face?
I unhitched Akron.
Snap. Clatch. Snap.
The string coiled into place.
Clerics. Lizard Men, whoever else. No one was going anywhere until I freed those Dragons. I had them trapped.
I whipped out an arrow and rubbed spit on its tip. It twinkled with life. My Dragon heart began to thunder inside my chest. I knew the Dragons were in there, but not for long. The time to fight had come.
“Show evil no mercy,” I said through gritted teeth.
I took a deep breath, nocked the arrow, pulled back, aimed, and let it fly.
CHAPTER 35
The arrow sailed true to its mark, smacking into the temple.
KA-BOOM!
My blood coursed through my veins with new energy. Explosive action. That’s what I liked. The Lizard Men on top went flying up in the air with a shower of rock before crashing to the ground. I don’t know if that killed them, but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if it did.
The Lizard Man at the gate stood gaping at the hole in the temple wall, waiting, uncertain.
Still hidden from sight, I nocked another arrow, waiting. One. Two. Three…
Lizard Men poured from the gate, and even more of the reptilian heads popped up over the wall again. I knew it! I let another arrow fly. It juttered at the feet of the Lizard Man at the gate, drawing grunts and cries. I stepped into the clear and waved at them as they raised their weapons at me.
“Wait for it, Snake-Face!” I yelled.
KA-BOOM!
A half-dozen Lizard Men filled the sky with green.
A crossbow bolt zinged past my head. Nocking another arrow, I charged the gate. Three reptilian faces peeked over the wall, crossbows pointed at my chest. The crossbows rocked into action as I tried to dodge. A bolt skipped off my chest plate as I let the other arrow fly.
KA-BOOM!
Shards of rock flew everywhere. The top of the wall where the Lizard Men stood was a smoking ruin as I scrambled over the rubble and through the smoky hole. I heard the Lizard Men hissing and moaning nearby. I put a normal arrow in my teeth and loaded another in my bow. I aimed through the dust and smoke.
Twang!
I caught one in the thigh.
Twang!
Another in the shoulder.
Their loud hisses caused another alarm. I let my other senses guide me through the ruins and dust as another throng of Lizard Men came on. I didn’t care.
Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang! Twang!
I had plenty of arrows.
Twang! Twang! Twang!
Hisses and smoke were all I heard, and the Lizard Men weren’t going anywhere without severe limps.
Locating one, I kicked the crossbow out of its hands, wrapped my Dragon-arm around its neck, and squeezed.
“Where are the Dragons?”
Lizard Men could speak; they just didn’t speak much.
It shook its head, hissing.
I cranked up the pressure.
“Where are the Dragons?”
He pointed his scaly finger as he choked out the word, “There.”
Two columns led the way from the courtyard into a narrow tunnel.
“How many more?” I demanded.
“Many clerics. No more Lizard—”, it started as a shadow fell over me.
I jerked away.
Clonk!
Something clipped the back of my head, drawing spots in my eyes. It was a Lizard Man, a big one with brawny arms and shoulders. It reminded me of Tormac, but with scales and not as ugly.
It swung its club into my shoulder, almost breaking my arm as I dove to the ground.
I rolled onto my back, pushed off, and landed on my feet, ripping Fang from his sheath.
Shing!
The bullish Lizard Man charged, club high, swinging down.
Fang sheared its club in two.
The slits inside the Lizard Man’s skull widened as it stared at what was left of its club. Shielding its eyes from Fang’s glow, it backed away.
“Run,” I said. “Or die,” I warned. “It matters not to me.”
Tongue flicking from its mouth, it eyed me and my sword.
Poised to strike, I took another step forward.
It turned, ran towards the gate, and was gone, leaving me alone with a bunch of groaning lizards.
It took everything I had not to kill that big Lizard Man, and if he had attacked, I’m not so sure I could have held back. I'd had enough of clerics, Lizard Men, Dragon Poachers, orcs, the whole lot of them.
“You should follow your comrade if you know what’s good for you,” I said as I headed for the entrance, waggling my sword under the nose of one Lizard Man as I passed. “You better not be here when I come back, or I’ll slice every bit of Lizard from your skin.”
Hissing and crawling, they slowly made their way towards what was left of the entrance.
“Good.”
Still, my anger rose as I made my way inside the tunnel. I told myself it was the heat of battle, but I loved to battle. I just had to exercise control.
“Just free the Dragons, Nath,” I said to myself. ‘Knock all the clerics out if you have to.”
Into the darkness I went, following a stone corridor where no torches were lit. My keen eyes could barely make out the faint lines of the corridor I traveled, but I could smell them. The men, the sweat, the evil, and something else.
“Hmmm… Be ready, Fang,” I whispered.
His razor-sharp edge hummed in reply, flaring once then winking out.
The air was still: quiet, like a tomb of the dead. Using caution, I planted one foot after the other until I found myself at a crossroads. Three tunnels opened like mouths.
There was no telling how far this temple went back into the mountain.
“What do you think, Fang?”
The cold steel didn’t sing.
“Thanks.” Peering down the middle tunnel, I inhaled. Decay, men, incense and Dragons. If I got close enough, I could smell their blood. “A little light would be nice. Besides, I’m sure they know I’m coming―unless of course they are deaf acolytes.”
Fang’s hum added a soft white light.
“Thanks,” I said, making my way down the middle tunnel. That’s what Brenwar would have done, I figured. “Take the direct approach,” I said in my best Brenwar voice.
Ancient markings―carvings and paintings long worn and faded―lined the walls. It was hard to tell what race of people lived here so long ago because it was another ancient language I did not recognize. A door greeted me at the end, or at least what was left of one. I heard something on the other side and pressed my ear along the door. Beautiful humming or singing grabbed me by the ears and pulled me through.
It was wonderful, sweet, melodious as a waterfall of honey, removing all the anger and pain from my body. Fearless and care free, I went forward, a smile stretching across my face, ignoring Fang throbbing in my hand.
“It’s alright, Friend,” I said, sliding him into his sheath.
Drunk with elation, I hummed and twirled my way down the ancient corridor, its pictures and traces now colorful, vibrant and real. I hadn’t felt this way in years. I laughed, a hundred laughs in one, following the music.
“Oh Dragons,” I half sang, half said, “Where are you, Little Dragons? Come and play with your brother. You cannot hide from me.”
The warm glow of a fire was in the distance, and my compulsion drove me onward. Up there must be the most wonderful place in all of Nalzambor. The Dragons, I thought as I drifted forward, they aren't prisoners at all, but instead the most luckiest Dragons in the world. And somewhere they were being sung to by the most beautiful woman in the world. I couldn't wait to see her as I passed from one room to the other. There she was, simply captivating.
“My, you are so beautiful.”
CHAPTER 36
She was everything I imagined. The kind of woman so magnificent, the entire room lights up in her glory. And it did. Fires burned with vibrant life, and many robed men sang praises to her along the walls. Every face was happy, joyous, elated, and my heart cried out in my chest as I longed to be with her. To hold her. To kiss her. To love her like no other.
“Who are you?” I said, stretching out my hands.
Her face was gorgeous: part-human, part-elf, part-Dragon, a combination of all the most beautiful faces I'd ever seen.
“Relax, Nath Dragon. Sing.” She poured me a goblet of wine. “Drink. You look thirsty.”
I took it as her hands caressed my face, and she unbuckled my sword belt and tossed it aside. I didn’t even notice the singing acolyte lifting my quiver and bow from my shoulder. No, I was too infatuated with her dark gossamer robes blended in with her lustrous hair and how her toes did not show as she floated over.
“We’ve been expecting you,” she said, draping her long sensuous arm over my shoulder. “Come, sit, rest.” She led me towards a magnificent chair and sat me down. “Comfortable?”
My tongue clove to the roof of my mouth, and my mind swirled. I wanted to be with her so bad. I’d do anything she said. But why, the recesses of my mind asked, did she smell so bad? I had to ask.
“You are so amazing, but why do you smell… er… smell so funny?”
Her beautiful face suddenly turned dark as the music stopped.
I shook my head saying, “What’s happening?”
Whop!
A fist made of Dragon scales lashed out, striking me in the chest. She howled in triumph, her face contorting with rage as she struck again.
Whop!
My neck snapped back, slamming me into the chair.
“What in Nalzambor are you?” I said, holding my busted face.
She growled. Part-animal. Part Something Else.
All the colorful images began to fade, the beauty of the ancient sanctuary melting away, leaving only the fires (which were just torches) and the clerics (some bald as eagles, the others draped like purple curtains).
Behind me, the chair came to life, arms as strong as iron wrapping around me, crushing me.
My dream had become a nightmare, and it was just beginning.
The woman changed as well, her lustrous face and figure drifting like smoke and forming something else. A horrible, hulking abomination loomed over me, almost seven feet of meat, muscles and bone. It was built like a man, and armored, with a face like a Dragon and scales, too.
It curled up its clawed hand as big as my face, drew back, and punched me again.
I groaned in pain. I'd thought it was over with the Lizard Men.
A human voice cackled as whatever it was that held me slammed me into the ground. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I could feel though. I felt like a pane of glass catching a giant stone.
“Ugh…”
“Welcome to your party, Nath Dragon. I hope you like your surprise,” said a robed man with a slight limp in his step.
I looked up, face bleeding, getting a glimpse of the source of the familiar voice through my swelling eye.
“You, I know you,” I managed. It was the Cleric from Narnum, the one who ratted out the Orcen Hold, where the Orange Ruffie was freed. The one I saw the day before my arm turned black. I tried to smile. “Tell you what: if you let the Dragons free, I’ll go easy on you. It won’t be nearly as easy walking with two limps instead of one.”
Finnius nodded at his dragonian goons.
One kicked me in the ribs, then the other wrapped his monstrous arm around my neck.
“Easy, Draykis, we need something left of him before dinner.” Finnius squatted down beside me. “Tsk. Tsk. Catching you was so much easier than I'd thought it would be, Nath Dragon. Look around. The best plan is a well executed one. See?” He motioned to the clerics in purple behind him. They pulled back their hoods, revealing the same bald heads with tattooed signs that I had seen in the garden.
I felt like a fool. They'd known I was coming all along. Ben!
“Oh, what is wrong, Nath?”
“It’s Lord Dragon to you,” I said, shifting his focus. Maybe he didn’t know about Ben.
He shoved my face into the dirty floor saying, “Fool!”
“Don’t touch my hair, you little worm,” I warned. “Ow!” I felt a Dragon claw poking into my leg. “What are these things… uh… what is your lowly name anyway? Ow!”
He rose, wrapping his hands behind his back, and said, “Finnius. Hah. And even you should know that it only takes a little worm to catch a big fish. A big bald fish once this day is over.” Some of the acolytes chuckled as he paced the sanctuary. “Perhaps some of the Draykis would be more appealing with some of your locks attached. Or maybe I can fetch a fine price for your hair in the cities.”
“It would certainly do wonders for that bald head of yours, but these,” I stared over my shoulder, “Draykis are well past ugly. I don’t think hair would help. What in Nalzambor are they?”
“Men fused with Dragon skin, Dragon blood and magic,” he said, stepping on my Dragon hand. “A glimpse into your future.” Looking at my hand under his boot, he went on. “My, what have we here? It seems there is part Draykis in you. This is a fortunate day for you indeed, the day you get to see what you are about to become. Dragon? Draykis? Or one and the same.”
My stomach knotted. What he said didn’t so much anger me as worry me. But, there was a ring of truth to it. I was a man with Dragon blood and magic, and there was no telling what I might become.
“So, Finnius the Worm, now that you have me, what is in store for me? Death? Collect a bounty? Sell me off with the other Dragons?”
“Oh Nath, as much as the Clerics of Barnabus despise you and your heroic doings, we have no intention of killing you. You see, I follo
w orders whether I like them or not. It’s why I have this limp.” He tapped his thigh. “These signs.” He fingered the patterns on his head. “And more to command. More power. Why, I even control these powerful Draykis.” He grabbed a torch off the wall and held it to the standing Draykis's mouth. “Eat.”
The Draykis snatched the torch from his hand and stuffed it inside its mouth, chomping it to splinters and swallowing it whole. It burped a puff of smoke.
“Charming.” I struggled to get out. “Show me some more tricks. Can it eat worms, too?”
Finnius bent over, picked up my sword belt and scabbard, and handed it to one of the acolytes. He tossed another one my bow and quiver.
“Take these away,” he said.
The bald men disappeared through the door that I came in.
Finnius clapped his hands together. “Now the festivities shall begin.”
“You mean ole torch eater has more tricks?”
A wry smile formed on Finnius’s face, sending a chill down through my bones.
“I’m not supposed to kill you, Nath Dragon, but the High Priestess didn’t tell me how alive she needed you, either.”
Finnius almost pinched his fingers together when he said, “Almost dead will do.” He waved his arms over his head. “Algorzalahn!”
Finnius disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving me sealed in the room with the Draykis.
“This is going to hurt, Nath Dragon,” one said, tugging on my hair.
CHAPTER 37
The one Draykis, or whatever type of evil it was called, released me as the other watched me rise to my feet.
“So, are you monsters going to teach me a lesson?” I said, woozy.
Both were taller than me, framed like big men, coated in assorted Dragon scales. One smiled, showing an extra row of teeth as it continued to smack its man’s fist into its hand. The other wasn’t much different, aside from two horns, and both wore a mish-mash of metal armor. I couldn’t imagine what they needed that for. Their eyes were bright yellow dots of evil that glowered at me like a last meal.
“Aren’t you going to introduce yourselves?”
Terror At The Temple (Book 3) Page 13
