Dare to Believe: Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy Bundle (Series Bundle Andy Smithson Bk 4, 5 & 6): Dragons, Serpents, Unicorns, Pegasus, Pixies, Trolls, Dwarfs, Knights and More!

by L. R. W. Lee

  “Okay!”

  Razen winked, then rejoined the company with a straight face.

  Andy, Alden, and Hannah shared questioning looks as they moved on.

  How well do I really know Razen?

  MiniMe cleared his throat, making Andy shake his head.

  Shortly after leaving the outskirts of Oops, the sound of running water reached them. Before long Entente Bridge appeared. Andy scanned the fog for unwanted company as a chill climbed his back. “Not to jinx us, but why aren’t we seeing more bird patrols?”

  “Not many left to turn.” The matter-of-fact statement by Terric met with frowns, but no one disagreed.

  The captain redirected the conversation. “We’ll cross the Entente and Amicus bridges then strike an early camp. We’re still in relatively safe territory and I’d rather shelter here overnight. Tomorrow will prove challenging enough once we reach the mountain with the centaurs. I want to be rested if we run into ogres or trolls on the way.”

  Two hours later, Hannah, Andy, and Alden explored the shore of the Crystal River after helping to set up camp. They hadn’t discovered anything of note until a white, rabbit-like creature hopped across their path.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Ruffians

  “It’s so cute,” Hannah oozed as the creature twitched its bunny nose.

  The animal was the size of a coyote. It took a timid hop closer and Hannah crouched with her palm extended, inviting it to sniff. Its bushy, squirrel-like tail twitched nervously as it stretched forward. The tall ears rotating in circles made it look like a fuzzy helicopter.

  Another tentative hop, then another, and it reached Hannah’s hand. Instantly, it flicked its ears. Hannah yelped then fell backward, clutching her hand. “It zapped me!”

  Her words had barely escaped before the animal leapt onto her. She pushed it back as it tried to sink sharp canines into her neck, zapping her again and again.

  Alden reacted first, throwing off his surprise. A quick slice of his sword and the attacker’s head separated from the rest of its body, but not before a jolt ran up his blade and zapped him. “Youch!” He dropped the weapon.

  Hannah threw the carcass off with disgust, then began to tremble.

  “It’s okay. It’s over.” Alden fell to the ground and wrapped his arms around her until she stilled.

  Andy poked at the unmoving body. “Anyone know what this is?”

  Alden and Hannah shook their heads.

  “Let’s get you back and treat those wounds,” Alden encouraged, seeing blisters forming.

  As the adventurers walked into camp, Mom spotted Hannah’s blood-soaked tunic and bolted toward her. “What happened?”

  Everyone circled and Andy recounted the details while Alden grabbed his supplies.

  “Sounds like a squink,” Razen said, drawing questioning looks for the second time since the trip began.

  How would he know?

  The bird-man continued, “It must have been extremely hungry. You said it was timid?”

  “Yes, when we first found it,” Hannah confirmed.

  “If they’ve reached their limits, that’s how they behave. They don’t usually emerge to hunt until after dark and prefer a diet of fish, but if desperate will eat any kind of meat.”

  Wide eyes ping-ponged.

  “Be thankful it was hungry. When they aren’t so famished, they are much more ferocious.”

  “Much more?” Alden’s voice rose. “That thing saw Hannah as its next meal!”

  “I’ll never be duped by wanna-be bunnies again,” Hannah huffed.

  With the excitement over, the soldiers went back to their assigned tasks. Father patted Razen on the back. “Well done.” The bird-man puffed out his chest, drawing smiles from Mom and Mermin.

  Andy shook his head. Alden and Hannah’s frowns told him they agreed.

  The sun rose early the next morning. Or so it seemed to Andy, who hadn’t gotten much sleep. Worry marauded through his thoughts all night. After breakfast, the company set out in denser than usual fog—seeing five feet proved a challenge.

  “We’ll be skirting the territory of the dwarfs, so keep an eye out as best you can,” Captain Ladilas announced. “While they are allies, the traps they set for zolt are formidable.” The captain didn’t mention his personal experience with the traps.

  The terrain rose and Andy started huffing. Whether a short mountain or a tall hill, Andy couldn’t decide, but the rise got his heart pumping. With the closeness of the fog, everyone remained silent, listening for stray noises. But all they heard were dry leaves shuffling underfoot, a startled pheasant announcing its displeasure, a deer’s footsteps skittering away.

  The terrain began to level and several sighed with relief.

  Thoo. Thoo.

  “Everybody down!” Andy yelled.

  A minute later the captain gave the all clear and everyone gathered. Captain Ladilas showed off the dart he held. “Good listening, Andy. This is what I’m talking about. It landed two inches from my leg. No telling if there’s more, so stay alert.”

  Admonition taken, they resumed their trek. But minutes later someone shouted from up ahead, “Youch! Ow! Oh! Help!”

  The company rushed forward to find an open pit from which Sergeant Gavin yelped.

  “It’s filled with squinks!” Hannah cried.

  “Albin, Hammond, Rosser, shoot them!” the captain ordered.

  “Youch! Ow!”

  “Move to one side!” Albin yelled into the pit.

  Twish. Twish. Twish. A trio of arrows released.

  “Ouch! There’s still more!”

  Twish. Twish.

  A groan emanated from the hole.

  “Stay awake, man!” the captain encouraged. “You’ve got to stay awake!”

  “How are we gonna get him out?” Sergeant Terric queried. “It’s gotta be fifteen feet deep.” Mom and Father exchanged worried looks.

  “We’ve got a rope, but he’ll never be able to secure it. He’s hurt too badly,” Alden intoned.

  “I’ll do it,” Razen squawked, transforming into his vulture form and drawing a host of murmurs.

  Only in his dreams had Andy actually seen the man transform. That had been outside a ramshackle house near Oops, and Razen had professed loyalty to Abaddon shortly thereafter. Andy would never forget the betrayal, and he seethed. While the steward’s actions would save the sergeant, seeing him do it set everyone on edge.

  Razen flapped his black wings and rose into the haze. A minute later he swooped into the hole, gliding gracefully to a stop next to the injured soldier. After transforming back into a man, he motioned for the rope to be lowered. He wound the cord into a makeshift harness and secured it about the barely conscious Gavin.

  Where’d he learn to do that?

  “Okay, carefully.” Razen’s instruction made the line go taut as the soldiers heaved on the rope.

  Moments later they pulled Sergeant Gavin over the lip of the pit and laid him down. Angry welts peppered his skin. Alden began tending to the now unconscious officer as the others looked on with worry.

  Andy and Hannah watched Razen morph back into his bird form, fly from the depths, then reverse the transformation.

  “Can everyone who’s been turned do that?” Hannah whispered.

  Andy shrugged.

  “Freeze!” The command came from outside their ranks, and everyone quickly drew their weapons. Alden kept his focus on the patient.

  “Drop your weapons!”

  No one flinched in their ready positions.

  Ten stout dwarfs wearing chain mail over red tunics appeared from the fog with their weapons drawn.

  Father sheathed his sword and raised his hands. “I’m King Hercalon V of Oomaldee. This is my queen, Emmalee.” He motioned for Mom to join him. “And Prince Andrew.” He waved Andy forward.

  A raised brow from the leader told Andy the dwarf doubted their claim. “Prove it.”

  “If I may,” Father requested. At the dwarf’s nod, Fat
her stepped forward and showed him his ring.

  “Majesty. Forgive us.” The dwarf called his soldiers off. “Medrick and Henkle recounted all that happened when Abaddon took over your home, including your torture. I’m sorry.” Medrick and Henkle had lived at Castle Avalon as they assisted the kingdom in preparing for battle. They’d used their engineering skills to design and construct large weapons.

  “Thank you.”

  “I can’t help him further,” Alden interrupted. “He needs more help than I can give, and fast.” Dwarfs were renowned healers. Alden had witnessed it himself and threw out the request.

  The dwarf leader called two of his men over. “Fetch Bridrika posthaste.”

  Andy remembered the she-dwarf who had removed a chunk of the splintered Entente Bridge from his shoulder. He loosed a breath knowing competent help was on the way. But will she make it in time?

  “Name’s Kildin. You’ll forgive me, but why would the royal family of Oomaldee be traipsing about our land?”

  Father explained their mission enough to satisfy the officer but held back the full details. In return, the dwarf offered, “Abaddon’s mage attempted to cast his magic on us, but thankfully it had no effect. Then he tried to overrun us. When that didn’t work, they abducted six of our fellows. We lost two dozen soldiers in the process. We won’t forget his treachery!”

  The dwarf healer emerged from the fog several moments later, interrupting conversation.

  “Over here!” Alden called.

  Bridrika examined Sergeant Gavin. At length, she assessed, “I’ve seen worse.”

  Alden nodded, straight-faced. He studied the healer’s every move—her inspection of his extremities, every time she listened to the patient’s chest, the ointment she spread.

  By the time she finished, the sergeant’s red welts had lightened to pastel pink and he had regained consciousness. After administering a pain reliever, she praised Alden: “You did well. It’s important to know what you’re competent to handle and what you’re not. Because you asked for help, he’s still with us.”

  “Thank you. I just wish I’d known how to treat squink zaps.”

  “I think you just learned.” Bridrika smiled. “The key is to de-energize the sting.”

  Alden nodded.

  “Your man’s welcome to stay with us. You can fetch him on your way back,” Kildin offered.

  Father considered for a minute. “Thank you, but we’ll camp here and continue on in the morning if he’s up to it.”

  Andy let out a breath. We’ll still look like the doppelgangers.

  “Suit yourselves. But if you change your mind, just holler. One of our patrols is never far off. When you’re ready to move out, call for help and we’ll escort you so you avoid any more of our traps.”

  “Much appreciated!” Father cried as the dwarfs vanished back into the fog.

  I wonder how Daralis and the others are doing. As Andy helped gather firewood, he took the opportunity to check in with his lookalikes.

  Mendell’s nearly at the Forest of Giants. Andy recognized the terrain. His twin’s hand twitched above his sheathed sword, and he kept looking up at the sky then glancing at company members. No zolt at least. Even though their swordsmanship skills had been vetted, Andy worried at their ability to fend off an attack. What’s making them so nervous?

  Andy had told his lookalikes about the Forest of Giants and how the legends had no basis in fact—giants weren’t lying in wait to eat anyone who ventured into the wood. He explained that if you picked any of the ginormous berries or other fruit, the plants would retaliate and hand you over to the giants. But if you ignored the plants, they would ignore you.

  Mendell took a deep breath and plunged into the forest. He glanced over his shoulder to see Hannah-lookalike wide-eyed and hugging herself, keeping a safe distance from the vegetation. Would-be-Alden didn’t look any more confident. Andy chuckled to himself, remembering his first encounter with that forest. They’re safe. That’s a relief.

  Andy had MiniMe locate Judson next. He recognized the area and knew they hiked around the northern edge of dwarf territory. The group stuck to tree cover for the most part. Their Razen decoy wore a sling supporting his right arm. Uh-oh. Judson walked next to Alden’s twin and Andy caught Daralis winking at him. Did she just do what I think she did? Andy’s heart sped up. Yara.

  Judson winked back as soon as would-be Alden wasn’t looking.

  Andy swallowed. She’s not winking at me. She’s not Yara. She can wink at whoever she wants.

  MiniMe cleared his throat. “Ahem…and moving right along.”

  I don’t know what happened to Razen, but everyone else in Judson’s group seems fine. Andy’s stomach relaxed. MiniMe, please find Caldwell.

  Caldwell appeared to be just entering gnome territory. He puffed, hiking up a particularly steep incline next to a kingly impersonator. Everyone looked alert but relaxed.

  They’re fine too.

  Andy exhaled, relieved that everyone seemed safe. He finished collecting wood and rejoined the others. A little while later he smiled to himself at the scent of chicken and dumplings. His doppelgangers were checking up on him too.

  Andy woke early the next morning to Sergeant Hammond stoking the fire’s slumbering embers. Albin had all the fixings to make coffee laid out on a stump nearby. Mom, Father, and Mermin still slumbered to his left, and Hannah and Alden to his right. Razen had bedded down next to Captain Ladilas on the opposite side of the fire.

  Father’s arm draped limply over Mom, her head nestled under his chin. For the first time, their affection didn’t make Andy feel uncomfortable. He watched them sleep—their bodies rose and fell in harmony as they took shallow breaths. The corners of Father’s mouth rose as if he chuckled at a joke. Mom wrinkled her nose, the way she always did when encountering an offending odor. Affection for them washed over Andy. I love you so much. Andy cherished their familiar mannerisms and wished this moment would never end.

  But Captain Ladilas put a stop to Andy’s musings when he roused everyone. Andy peered through the branches of the surrounding trees and could make out the silhouette of Mount Mur Eyah looming in the foggy distance. The peace he had enjoyed watching Mom and Father transformed, and a knot again tightened his stomach.

  Sergeant Gavin still wore signs of his run-in with the squinks but moved fairly well about the campsite. After breakfast, they hailed a dwarf patrol and within an hour the company parted ways from their dwarf guides, mounting the first of what were sure to be many hills that day.

  Andy scanned the skies but couldn’t see any predators through the fog. Not that they couldn’t see us…

  Father seems to be in a better mood this morning, Andy thought, walking next to him. Andy spied Razen at the back of the group with Mom and Mermin. The separation gave Andy an opportunity to broach, “Razen surprised me yesterday.”

  Father smiled before replying, “Did he now?”

  “Would you tell me about him?”

  The King chuckled. “Razen’s parents and sister live in Oops. He used to be a goat herder.”

  “No. Really? I can’t imagine that.”

  Father nodded. “A good twenty years back wild animals attacked him—soldiers on patrol found him mauled and nearly dead. They brought him back to the castle for treatment. Winthrop, Hans’s predecessor, tended to him. It took three months, but he recovered.”

  “Wow. I had no idea. Had he already been turned at that point?”

  Father shook his head. “A few years later he was tending his herd and overheard passersby talking about an assassination attempt being planned on my life.”

  Andy jerked his head back.

  “Razen told one of my officers. The attempt was foiled and the perpetrators punished.”

  Andy felt a sudden coldness cut into his core. Father had never spoken about threats. “How many plots have there been against you?”

  “Let’s just say it’s important to keep loyal people near you at all times. I’m not the
only one who ever had designs on power.” Father caught Andy’s eyes. “It’s a reality. It’s a temptress. Some leash it better than others.”

  Andy walked in silence for several minutes, digesting the revelation. At length he probed further. “Hans said Razen came to the castle after an attack by Abaddon, during his first rotation as healer in Oomaldee. He said they didn’t find Eleazor, your previous taster, when it ended?”

  Father neither confirmed nor denied this, only countered, “Andy, I trust Razen with my life. He’s a good man. He’s proven himself. I know you two haven’t exactly hit it off, but he is a humble man of honor and virtue. You need to trust him.”

  I respectfully disagree, thank you.

  MiniMe cleared his throat but refrained from comment. Andy tried to ignore.

  “We’re entering ogre territory. They’re not the brightest of beasts, but they can be deadly, so keep your ears sharp,” the captain warned an hour into their journey. Everyone twitched fingers above swords and bows, scanning the area.

  While Andy couldn’t see any predators, he felt their presence as he climbed the next rise. And it wasn’t long until Ector and Gavin whispered alarms of “Ogre!” while dashing toward the main group. They motioned everyone behind trees.

  A hulking, greenish creature lumbered across the path not far ahead. Its pumpkin-like head had oversize triangular ears, and a pair of two-inch canine teeth curved upward from its lower jaw. It grunted as if humming to itself.

  A second brute followed a minute later, and a third a couple minutes after that.

  What is this, Grand Central Station? Andy caught Mom’s eye as she peered from behind a tree near Father and Mermin. They waited another five minutes with no further sounds or movement—it seemed rush hour had ended. But shortly after rejoining the path, a low growl pulled them up short.

  Four triangular ears swiveled over the top of a thick clump of bushes to the left of the path. Sergeant Terric stood frozen on the opposite side of the shrubs but within reach of the pair. The look on his face betrayed uncertainty whether to flee and attract attention or pray they hadn’t noticed him.