Fate of Thorik
Page 55
Grewen slowly regained his footing after being shocked by Ka’Ru’s tentacles. Large scorched flash-points remained red and tender on his chest from the most recent assault.
Brimmelle helped Gluic out of the water as Avanda situated herself between them and the prowling cat, Delvorian.
Beads, powders, strings, and seeds were scattered across the platform. The jar of eyeballs, box of thorns, a mirror, and vile of blood were still intact despite Avanda’s attempt to break them against the cat’s face. So far, nothing that she had used from her sack of magic had done anything but slow the creature down. All that remained was a stick and a few dozen orange berries. The rest of the odd objects were scattered all over the platform, showing no magical ability. She simply didn’t know how to activate them.
It was at this time that a crack rumbled the platform and rock moaned from great pressures. The docking platform’s right doorway rumbled open and several Nums rushed out, followed by Darkmere. Emilen was among them, and stopped long enough to remove the Runestones she had added to open the stone door for Darkmere. Wess exited the door and noticed his old friends on the far side of the platform as he was herded toward the ship by one of the Del’Unday.
Ka’Ru looked over his shoulder at Darkmere. “We will be there momentarily, my lord.” He gave a slight bow of his head.
The Nums climbed aboard and were followed by the dark lord.
“Set sail,” Darkmere ordered. “I want to be away from the wall when the water is released.” Watching his servants Ka’Ru and Delvorian, he added, “Kill them and board, at once.”
With that, the ship started pulling away from the dock. They would have little time to finish their killing before they needed to make the leap onto the ship.
Wess could not stand by while Avanda was ripped apart. “No!” he screamed as he jumped off the ship and onto the platform.
Avanda pulled the handful of berries out of the sack and tossed them at the cat’s open mouth. “Chew on these, you Fesh!” Half of them landed on the ground, rolling in various directions.
The cat chewed the ones that entered his mouth, swallowed, and smiled. Again, no results. “Delicious.”
Avanda pulled out the stick, which was the last item in the sack, just as the Brandercat jumped on her and knocked her to the ground. Pinning her down, his mouth opened up to snap her neck off. His head lurched forward to grab her throat.
Wess slammed his entire body against the cat, knocking it off of Avanda. She was free, but now Wess and Delvorian were locked together in a heated battle.
Wess used his strength to squeeze the cat’s neck, cutting off its air. The Brandercat changed colors and shades as it bucked and tried to shake Wess off its back. The creature was weakening, but then again so was Wess as he lost his balance. Falling to the platform with a thud, flat on his back, the wind was knocked out of Wess long enough for the Brandercat to gather its wits.
Avanda ran to his aid, but Delvorian reached him first. With a quick bite to his neck and a twist of his head, the cat had snapped Wess’ neck. The Num’s body went limp, his head hung from the cat’s mouth, and his arms fell to the platform like dead snakes. Delvorian dropped the lifeless Num from his blood stained teeth and snarled at Avanda.
Avanda stood no more than an arm’s length away. Shocked at the scene she didn’t know how to react. However, the Brandercat did. It took advantage of her fear and stepped up to her.
Opening his mouth and turning his head sideways, Delvorian placed his teeth around the frozen girl’s throat. His hot cat breath coated her neck as she stood in shock. It was over. There was nowhere else to run. Avanda winced as she felt a few his teeth graze her skin, but instead of chomping down on her, he stopped and froze in his position.
Rumbling from deep inside Delvorian could be heard, causing his face to tighten and his side to flinch. It began to grow louder as the cat recoiled in pain and arched his shoulders forward. Short deep breaths became loud and inconsistent. Losing his sense of balance, the cat spread his legs to keep from falling over. The orange berries had been activated by his very own actions.
Avanda snapped out of her trance and backed away from Delvorian, for it appeared the cat was going to be sick. Gluic grabbed Avanda’s hand and made a dash toward the doorway. They would run for safety within Weirfortus, out of sight of the Del’Unday. However, Avanda attempted to pull away from Gluic to pick up her scattered unused magical items.
“Not now, Avanda. You can collect them later,” Gluic instructed.
“But I can use them to save Uncle Wess,” the youth responded as she looked at all the magical items scattered across the platform. Each had powers. She just needed to figure out how to activate them to save him. Tears ran down her face as she looked at her uncle’s limp body lying among useless magical objects. She was desperate for a way to make things right.
Beyond his body, a ghostly dark shadow floated on the lake. Irluk moved toward Wess, preparing to take what was rightfully hers.
Gluic reached around Avanda and gave her a warm hug as she gazed at the Death Witch. “I’m sorry dear, but there isn’t any way that we can bring him back now. It was his time,” Gluic confessed. “Be proud that he was there for you.” She continued to escort the youth to the Weirfortus entrance.
Turning back toward the platform as they reached the doorway, Avanda saw dozens of giant larvae bursting forth from the Brandercat’s midsection, consuming the cat from the inside out. Gluic covered her eyes and guided her into Weirfortus and up the long hallway.
Stunned at the scene, Ka’Ru lost concentration just long enough for Grewen to grab the Wolvian’s long thick tentacles, one in each hand.
Grewen stepped backwards, pulling Ka’Ru off his feet, before he twisted Ka’Ru’s body and began to swing the creature around him. Leaning back, Grewen shuffled his feet and whirled around in a circle with the wolf-like Del’Unday swinging out above the ground.
Around and around, Grewen swung Ka’Ru, each time gaining more and more momentum.
As the initial shock wore off, Ka’Ru energizing his tentacles. Sparks of electricity showered Grewen’s face and burned the giant’s wrists.
“Arrrrg!” Grewen screamed as the overwhelming pain shot down his body. But he refused to let go as he continued to spin the creature around while making his way to the water near the ship that had already launched.
Every part of Grewen’s body screamed in pain as Ka’Ru relentlessly drove electrical pulses into him. The burning flesh on his hands and feet began to smoke as sparks and discharges fired from inside his grip on the creature. “No More!” Grewen yelled. He was in agony as he turned one last time and released his grip with a massive toss of the Wolvian toward the ship.
Ka’Ru was now a missile heading straight for the side of the ship off shore. He impacted the port side of the ship with a splintering of wooden boards and the sound of breaking lumber. The Wolvian penetrated the hull before coming to rest at the far side of the ship.
The ship rocked violently from the attack, knocking a few of the crew overboard. Upon righting itself, the ship then began taking on water from the gaping hole in its side.
Staggering from the battle, Grewen turned to enter the Weirfortus hallway as the ship’s crew struggled to keep it afloat as they continued sailing off into the lake.
After being swallowed whole by the giant sea snake, Draq had started his attack from within the creature’s body. The snake’s internal muscles tried to crush him to death, while its stomach acid began burning his eyes.
Using his spear-like tail, Draq punctured the snake from within. His strong back claws ripped his way out of the serpent’s side. The snake thrashed about in pain as the dragon fought with everything he had to escape and obtain air to breathe. Ripping the snake’s body apart, he worked his way out through the creature’s ribs. Unfortunately, it was too late for Draq as he slowly blacked out from lack of oxygen.
To his surprise, the Red-Tipped Silver Dragon woke
up on the stone shore of the spillway, at the far end from Ambrosius. Half of his body was still stuck in the ribs of the dead serpent that had washed up. The sea creature’s internal organs had spilled onto the stone floor as well as coating the dragon’s body.
Weak from his battle, Draq needed time to recover. There simply wasn’t enough strength left to free himself from his awkward position.
Draq looked upstream toward the torchlight. Clearing his eyes, he could see Ambrosius as the lights danced on a wall of water behind him. “Ambrosius!” he screamed. But the raging waters that were starting to flood the spillway soaked up his words long before they reached him.
Struggling again with the snake’s large rib bones, he couldn’t free himself. He was forced to remain captive while watching his friend struggle.