“Go!” shouted Dox as he took another strike from the serpent. The Warden joined in, stabbing the Minotaur’s back with his sword.
Navarro looked to Dox and gave the beast-man a nod. The trio ducked out the side entrance of the tent and left. As they ran they could hear moans from Dox, hisses from the serpent creature, and shouts from the Warden.
None of them looked back.
****
Dox could feel the venom of the serpent creature running through his veins. He knew he did not have many moments left. He stumbled as he tried to keep his balance. The Warden laughed as he closed in for another attack.
“All this for a stupid horn. No wonder your race continues to suffer.” The human continued his insults. “You will perish… for nothing!”
“No,” said Dox. “Not the horn.”
The serpent coiled up and struck again, but the Minotaur caught the creature by its mouth and prevented another bite. With all his remaining strength, the beast-man lifted the serpent and hurled it across the room. It crashed through a table, chairs, and several tall cabinets.
The cloud of magic swirled again, and the serpent melted and returned to the form of Korwin. The Storm Elf choked and gagged as he held his side, writhing and grimacing in pain. The elf’s unicorn dagger fell from his belt and rolled near his head.
Dox charged, taking the Warden’s sword through the chest, but he pushed forward and grabbed the human with both hands. He hoisted his captor up so he could see him eye to eye.
“I die for them. For Kelor. For Magnus. For …” said Dox until the sound of a thud and a stab in his back halted him.
Korwin yanked the unicorn dagger free from the beast-man. The Storm Elf dropped to his rump, and still clutching his side, stared at Dox.
“I die for them, my friends,” said the Minotaur as he dropped the Warden. His eyes flickered as he started to lose consciousness, and he toppled over. “Now I can rejoin my herd.”
The Warden rolled out of the way, narrowly escaping the weight of the Minotaur crashing down upon him. He looked at Dox and was surprised to see the expression on the beast-man’s face. It looked as if the Minotaur had expired peacefully in his sleep.
The Warden looked around the tent. Kelor and Magnus were gone. He staggered to his feet and raced to the entrance. He threw back the flap and looked toward the mountains and the horizon.
“You can’t have gone far,” he shouted. “I will find you! I swear it to the gods! I will hunt you down, and I will find you!”
****
Mardin stood next to the dead body of Gork, still lying at the center of the arena.
Sedar walked up behind the God of War, peered over Mardin’s shoulder and looked at the ape. “Not bad. Did the two pass your test?” the deity asked. He stepped around to face his fellow deity. “I assume you’ve chosen your champion, God of War?”
Mardin looked at Sedar and smiled. “Their test has just begun.”
CHAPTER 30
“Now what?” asked Navarro.
Magnus, Kelor, and the bard all stood at the middle of a crossroads. The pathways were empty, not another soul in sight. The sun was just starting to break over the far horizon as beams of light trickled across the azure sky.
“Home,” said Magnus.
“Where’s that?” asked Kelor.
The wolf looked to the West. “The Mythik Forest. A place called Thornmount. The home of my pack.”
“Is it far?” asked the cat.
“A fair journey, yes. What about you, Kelor? Where will you go?” asked the young Shade Wolf.
Kelor looked to the East, then South, and eventually to the West. “I don’t know. My family is out there somewhere,” said the cat, his voice trailing. “I don’t know.” The panther watched the rising sun, a sight he had rarely seen. He looked to Magnus.
“If one was to go to Thornmount, how would he travel?” asked the cat.
Magnus sniffed the air and then answered. “Follow the benches of the Mountains of Badek to the West, then along the banks of the River of Ash. Then North through the forest to the rocks of Thornmount,” said the wolf, and then he tilted his head. “Why?”
“I think I’ll start the search for my family there,” the panther said. “It’s as good a place as any.”
“Sounds good to me,” said Navarro.
Both Magnus and Kelor looked back at Navarro.
“Don’t you have a royal court or a king’s table to attend to?” asked Kelor.
“Yes. And songs of heroes and fair maidens to write?” added Magnus.
“Sure, but I kinda like your idea,” answered the bard. He smiled at the blank stares from the wolf and cat.
“Truth is… you’re the only friends I got,” said the human. “Besides, you need me,” he added with a wink.
“I don’t,” answered Kelor. Magnus and Kelor started walking west.
Navarro jogged to catch up. “Oh ya? Tell me what happens when the two of you come upon a village or town. Think the locals are gonna welcome a Shade Wolf and a giant panther with open arms? Don’t think so.”
“He’s got a point,” said Magnus as he looked at Kelor.
“Good luck getting home when an army of angry villagers armed with pitchforks come after ya,” Navarro said.
Kelor sighed. “Ok fine. You can come. But don’t touch me. Ever. I hate that!”
Navarro grinned from as he walked in between the wolf and the panther. “Actually, I was hoping you could give me a ride, Kelor. Ya know, for awhile. For saving your life, maybe.”
“Try it; see what happens,” said Kelor and then the cat opened his jaws wide and licked his fangs with his tongue.
“Never mind. I think I’ll stretch my legs a bit,” said Navarro. “Ya, I think I’m just fine.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Kelor.
“A wise choice,” added Magnus as he looked at his friend.
The trio embarked on their journey just as Magnus described. They sang songs as the peaks of Badek towered above. They caught fish in the River of Ash and listened to Navarro’s tales and legends as they rested during the night. They kept moving West until the tall trees of the Mythik Forest came into view.
“What is it, Magnus? Slow down!” shouted Kelor as he chased the wolf.
Navarro did his best to keep up, but fell far behind the pair.
Magnus raced to the top of a ridge, and stared at the deep brush of the forest lying ahead. “We’re not far now,” said the wolf. He inhaled a deep breath to take in all the scents and odors. “Home” said Magnus as he darted into the forest.
The wolf had only run a short distance before he froze. Magnus was scanning the forest, examining every tree, every bush, and every blade of grass… as if looking for something. He smelled the ground and then the air.
Kelor trotted up and stood next to his friend. He started to speak, but stopped when he realized something was troubling the wolf.
Navarro came crashing through the brush, panting and heaving to catch his breath. “What’s his problem?” the bard asked.
A dark object appeared on the top of the next ridge.
Magnus took a few steps forward and then froze again.
The object came into view revealing the shape of a wolf. Its fur was as dark as Magnus. In fact, it looked almost exactly like Magnus.
“Father!” shouted Magnus.
The wolf turned and looked straight at the three of them. Its eyes went from a dark brown to a bright electric-blue.
Ataris howled as his body jerked and convulsed as ribbons of blue energy slowly consumed him.
The End
Look for the exciting journey to continue in Hunt for the Sacred Fang (Trail of Bones, Book 2)
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Trail of Bones: A Young Adult Fantasy Novel (An Epic Fantasy Adventure For Any Family) Page 27
