Ben scooped her up just before she fell. “Sasha! Sasha!” he said, tapping her face. “She’s out, Brenwar!”
The wurmer ranks regenerated as fast as they’d taken them out. Now they were down another fighter. Still fighting with wurmers all around him, Brenwar roared, “Let them have it, Mortuun!” Wearing his special bracers, he raised the great war hammer high over his head and brought it down with wroth force. The ground shook.
KRANG!
A shockwave of energy knocked the wurmers backward. The branches in the trees cracked and snapped. The field of the enemy cleared, if but for a moment. Everyone backed toward the mouth of the cave as the wurmers began to drop from the sky once more.
Samaz had the Elderwood Staff in one hand and his father’s dead body over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” Rerry said to him.
“I don’t know, but get Brenwar’s chest, Rerry,” replied the shaggy black-haired Samaz. “There has to be something inside it that we can use.” Rerry ducked into the cave. “And grab Nath’s sword too.”
Rerry quickly reemerged. With his own sword sheathed, he had Fang in one hand and was dragging the strongbox with the other. Eyeing Fang’s blade, he said, “I suppose I can fight with this. I always wanted to. It will be a fine way to go down before we join Father.”
“That’s not what I had in mind,” Samaz said.
Turning his hot stare on Samaz, Brenwar said, “What did you have in mind, boy? Time is pressing.”
“See if you can use it like Nath did, to teleport us,” Samaz suggested.
Ree-rah! Ree-rah! Ree-rah!
Wurmers hit the ground and crawled through the smoke.
“They’re coming!” Brenwar yelled.
“I can’t do that!” Rerry responded.
“Try!”
Holding the sword out in front of him, Rerry closed his eyes. His brows knitted together as he said, “Fang, take us away! Fang, take us away!” He repeated it several more times. “It’s not working!”
Samaz fished through Brenwar’s chest. “Keep trying. It has to work!”
Brenwar and Sansla Libor were fighting off the horde of wurmers with everything they had. Brenwar called out, “You think of something! We fight! There has to be something in that chest!”
Ben set Sasha down beside the fallen Bayzog, reloaded Akron, and started firing. He yelled out a battle call that was not his own. “Dragon! Dragon!”
Rerry repeated it. Sword high, he charged into the frenzied fray, screaming at the top of his lungs, “Dragon! Dragon!”
It was music to Brenwar’s ears. They fought on, taking down the wurmers one, two, or three at a time. But at long last, his powerful limbs met with exhaustion. His last drop of sweat hit the ground. He let out his final battle cry. “For Morgdon!”
CHAPTER 4
The jaws of the wurmers clamped down on Brenwar’s legs. He groaned. Mortuun’s swings became sluggish. Knowledge of the iron dwarf’s mortality sank in as his powerful endurance expired. Beside him, up to his neck in wurmers, Sansla Libor labored against the gnashing forces. The winged ape’s body was full of gashes. Mats of his fur flew. “There will be no shame in you falling before I do,” Brenwar said to Sansla.
“Ha! You’re practically buried already, dwarf!” The ape grinned. “It’s been a good fight, has it not?”
Still hitting anything scaled that moved, he replied, “One of the best. I just wish it was giants.” A silver streak of light caught Brenwar’s attention. Silver dragons landed in their midst. Slivver was among them.
“Did someone call for dragons?”
“Where’ve you been? Oh, I know. Where the fight is, you aren’t,” Brenwar said.
“I’m here now.” Slivver barked a command in Dragonese. The silver shade dragons that accompanied him snaked through the frenzy. They picked up Bayzog, Sasha, Rerry, and Samaz and took flight. Others gathered the chest. Ben was plucked up next, leaving Brenwar, Sansla and Slivver. “It’s time, dwarf.”
“I’m not flying!”
Slivver’s tail coiled around Brenwar’s ankle. “I know. You’re being flown.” With a fierce beat of his wings, he took to the air.
Brenwar yelled, “Put me down!” He watched Sansla slug a few more wurmers.
The great ape’s legs coiled. He jumped high, beat his bat-like wings, and flew right after them. The wurmers screeched and pursued with tenacious ferocity. Taking the wurmer clamped on his ankle by the wing, he slung it off. Then he said, “You’d better fly faster, Slivver! They’re gaining!”
“It’s difficult to reach top speed with all of this deadweight!”
“What kind of crack is that?”
“A true one.”
With the high winds tearing at his beard the higher they soared, Brenwar watched the wurmers close in. They moved south of the hilltops beyond Narnum. The chase went on for miles. “Just drop me, Slivver. I’m too heavy. All I’m doing is slowing you down.”
“Don’t be foolish, you’re slowing every one of us down. But if you insist.” Slivver released Brenwar. “Goodbye.”
“Aaaaahhhh!” In a total free fall, Brenwar watched Slivver wheel around in the sky to face the wurmers. Bright shards of lightning erupted from Slivver’s mouth, tearing through the flock of evil. The energy spiked clean through the wurmers that dared to dive after Brenwar. Spinning in the air, he caught a glimpse of the hilltops rushing to greet him. With his beard flapping in the wind, he said, “This isn’t fair. I’m supposed to die fighting, not failing at flying!”
Below him a black swirling portal caught his eye. Like the trees below him, it grew bigger and bigger. He swam in midair. The black hole swallowed him.
“Noooooooooooooo-omph!”
He landed hard on something but not too hard. Shaking his head, he blinked away his distorted vision. He was inside an exquisite cavern that he knew to be the Chamber of Murals. All of his comrades including the silver shade dragons were there as well. His eyes caught another friendly gaze. It was the beautiful countenance of Grahleyna in full dragon form. He took a knee and bowed his head. “Your Majesty.”
CHAPTER 5
Selene sat with her head between her knees. Her long hair spread out over her back. There were patches on her arms where the scales had been plucked out.
Nath was on one knee, rubbing her arm. “I can’t believe they did this to you. I’ll make them pay for it.”
“No, I deserved every bit of it. Even worse.” She shuddered. “If you only knew more about what I did to so many people, innocent people, you’d understand.”
“That’s in the past.”
“The past is never so far away as you’d like to think. It’s always chasing me, Nath. Can’t you see that?” She lifted her head. Her eyes scanned the dreary, tomb-like cave walls. A green slimy algae dripped down through the seams in the stone. “The only thing I’m doing is putting more lives in danger. You’re trapped. Ben and the others, probably dead.”
He poked her in the forehead with his finger.
“Ow, what did you do that for?”
“Despair?” he said almost sarcastically. “That’s not like you, Selene. Quit your sulking. It’s making this glorious room more, er, gloomy.” His voice echoed a little when he spoke. “The Deep was chock-full of prisoners. Especially when you were in charge. Where are they?”
“I can only assume that Eckubahn freed all of the miscreants to do his bidding on the surface.” Selene took a long breath and sighed. Rising from the floor, she wobbled a little.
Nath caught her by the elbow and helped her up. He put his arm around her waist. There was warmth in her body nuzzled into his. A natural vibrant power. He kissed her on the head just above the temple. “At least we’re alone for a change.”
Selene’s eyes narrowed on his. “You find pleasure in such a bleak situation? Perhaps your mind is wounded.”
“I guess I’m just happy to see you. I was worried, you know. Please forgive me for reveling in the moment.”
“You are
a peculiar person, Nath.” Her features softened. She pressed closer to him. “But that was what drew me to you. That never-failing optimism you bring. You’re a light that I’d never seen before.” She kissed his cheek.
Nath moved his lips toward hers.
Selene slipped away. “Not now. After we’re no longer doomed, maybe.”
Holding her fast by the wrist, firm but gentle, he said, “You toy too often with me.”
“We need to find an exit, Nath, even though I’m certain there isn’t one. The only way out is up.”
The cavernous chamber remained dimly lit by the alsium ground between the stone. Even without it, Nath’s and Selene’s dragon sight would have allowed them to see the outlines of the rock. Dragons roamed the nether regions below the ground as well as the skies above. There were plenty of wingless dragon types who burrowed in the ground. The red rocks, ivory sliders, and squawkers were a few that came to mind.
Staying close together, the pair moseyed through the different levels of caves and chambers. Nath brushed against Selene’s vibrant figure from time to time.
“You don’t need to stay so close,” she said, hiding a smile in the corner of her mouth.
“But I must. You’re wounded, and I plan to catch you when you fall.”
“I’m regenerating quite well, thank you.” She patted his back with her tail. “I appreciate the thought, but mind you, I’m a very independent dragon.”
“Yes, I know. That’s how you wound up here in the first place.”
She turned to him. “You accuse me!”
Hands up and palms out, he said, “Easy, Selene. I’ve been there myself. I’m not the most innocent man in the world. I’ve run off plenty of times with that chip on my shoulder. But I have to admit, you’re worse than me.”
“I’m not worse than you at anything.” Her fiery violet stare subsided. She punched his shoulder. “And you know it.”
“If you say so.”
They scoured the caves and tunnels. It seemed like every nook and cranny was lined with rotting filth and bones. Tiny little bugs crawled the floors. Cotton-white wool worms inched over the piles.
Nath kicked through a pile of bones. There was a shiny thing in the deteriorating clothes. The octangular badge was brass and had the arcane markings of an agent of Barnabus. He plucked it out and flicked it over to Selene. “Looks like one of your old acolytes fell out of your favor.”
Studying the badge in the palm of her hand, she shook her head. “I’d rather you didn’t remind me.” She dropped the badge on the floor.
“Sorry. So, how did they survive down here? We haven’t been given any food.”
Selene gave him a look.
It sank in. “They ate one another?”
“Like dragons eat the herd.”
“That’s different.”
“Is it?” She ducked into a tunnel with a low ceiling and vanished.
Nath hustled after her. “Of course it is. People shouldn’t eat people. It’s sick. The herd was made for dragons and the races.”
“Everything is fair game to be devoured by evil. Do you think we can stop talking about this? Or will I have to remind you again before we reach the next cave?”
“Boy, your scales really are getting thin. But I’ll do my best to mind my clever tongue.”
“It’s not that clever. Clumsy is more like it.” She slipped into a cavern where some crude tables and chairs still stood. There was packaging of iron rations scattered on the floor. “There, you see. Not everyone ate everybody. Blatver had handled these items. The triant had made for a fine manager.” She took a seat on a wooden chair. “Nath, you don’t seem so eager to get out of here. Time is pressing, I imagine.”
“I’m just trying not to panic.” He pulled up a chair that was leaning against the wall and sat down across from her. “The truth is, I’m a bit surprised at myself. Normally, I’d be pulling my hair out by now. Not that I would ever actually do that.”
“Of course not, but I might.”
Nath laughed. The truth was, he was enjoying being in the company of Selene. Her beauty captured his heart, and something about all the scales on her sensuous figure drew him to her more. He wanted to be with her now, as much as ever.
With her arms folded over her chest, she said to him, “Will you stop looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Your eyes are devouring me as if I’m some kind of meal. Perhaps we should separate.”
CHAPTER 6
The chair groaned under Nath. “What do you mean, separate? Separate where? There isn’t anywhere to go.”
“I just think you’re having a little trouble controlling yourself right now. Your passion is blinding your reason. It’s common in men.”
Leaning forward on the table, Nath poked at his chest. “I can handle my passions just fine, frost breath. It’s not as if you’re the first woman I’ve ever wanted.”
“I know that,” she replied flatly.
Nath got up. “And you won’t be the last, either. I’m going to see to that.”
Raising her voice, she said, “Good, that’s exactly what I want you to do!”
“Good! That’s what I’ll do then.” Nath stormed out of the room. He didn’t understand what Selene’s problem was. He just wanted to spend some time with her. Flushed, he admitted to himself maybe he wanted that a little too much. He headed back to the main chamber, up the steps and down the corridor where the shaft was where he’d been lowered down inside. Oil continued to drip down the sides of the tunnel that led to the world above. There was a wink of light, high at the top. He coiled his legs under him and leapt high. He swiped at the stone, missing by less than a foot, before landing softly on his feet. “Sultans of Sulfur,” he muttered.
He jumped again, still coming up short. He flexed his fingers. Eyeing his golden-yellow claws, he came up with another idea. The corridor’s wall was high, but the oil pipe jutted out a bit at the top, a black pipe to freedom. Nath took off his boots one at a time. I’ve never tried this before, but there’s a first time for everything. He stuck his fingertips into the hard stone of the wall. The claws poked into the wall like a pick. So sensitive was Nath’s touch that he could find the hair-sized imperfections in the seemingly smooth stone and use them for a better grip. Next, he sank his toes into the wall—and like a spider, he began to climb. Not bad. I’m so amazing.
With his flame-colored locks dangling toward the stone-tiled floor, he traversed from wall to ceiling. “Ha-ha! I knew I’d figure this out.” Movement farther up the corridor caught his eye.
Selene came his way with a sliver of a smile on her face. She stood on the stone floor right under him, shaking her head.
“What?”
“You look silly and creepy. Congratulations.”
“I’m going to get us out of here. I thought you’d be excited.”
She caught the dripping oil with her eyes. “We’ll see.”
“You don’t think I can do it?”
“As I said, we’ll see.”
“Well, thanks for the encouragement!” His fingers and toes dug in hard. Jaw set, he moved toward the oil-slick pipe. I’ll show her! He made his way to the lip that led upward. Hanging by one hand with two feet firmly planted in the ceiling, he reached into the mouth of the pipe and jammed his fingers into the greasy wall. The thick oil ran down to his wrist. I hope I don’t get this in my hair. That would be awful to get out.
“How are you doing?” Selene said from below. Her chin was up and tilted to one side. “That looks difficult.”
“I’m doing just fine, thank you. As a matter of fact, I just about have it. Watch this.” He freed his hand from the ceiling and waved at her. “See, I’m dug in like a—” His grip inside the pipe gave way. “Ahhhh!” He plummeted thirty feet and landed hard on his back. The wind was knocked out of him in a whoosh!
Selene leaned over him. “That was interesting, indeed. What were you saying about being dug in? Dug in like a wha
t?”
“Oh, be quiet.” He sat up. Oil dripped from his arms and elbows. “Great, just great. I don’t suppose you installed a bathing facility down here?”
“You never know. The Deep precedes me. There’s no telling what secrets it keeps.”
“Well, one thing’s for sure. The awful smells that lurk within aren’t any secret.”
Selene laughed. “You make me laugh, Nath.” She helped him up.
“Thanks, glad you got a chuckle out of it.” He ground his teeth. His brows buckled. “How in Nalzambor are we going to get out of here?”
She patted his cheek. “That’s what we need from you. A little more fire.”
“So now you’re going to show some kindness to me. When I’m mad. Your timing couldn’t be any worse.”
“If we go too hungry down here, chances are we might end up hibernating. Who knows, we might wake up in a different age.”
“I don’t want to go through that again. Well, I sort of do. Perhaps if I did, who knows, maybe all of my dragon powers would be restored and I could fly right out of here.”
“Maybe we both could. Not all wars are won in days, months, or years, Nath. Remember, you were asleep for twenty years before. Gorn thought he had that war won, but you came back.” She brushed his hair aside. “I’m glad you did.”
“Yes, I did come back, but there were so many lost in the meantime. I can’t let that happen again. No, Selene, we absolutely have to get out of here. There must be a way.”
“Let’s just keep looking, then, huh? While we look, my powers will renew. I might be able to summon something.” She started back down the corridor with her tail dragging behind her. “Coming?”
He looked back up in the hole above. “I guess. I thought Eckubahn would just kill us. Why didn’t he?”
“We are prizes. Besides, I believe that he wants us to surrender. Perhaps he thinks that given enough time, maybe you will do it publicly. Who knows, he might call on us in a few years.”
“Now you are starting to sound like you enjoy it down here.” He followed after her.
Wrath of the Dragon: (The Chronicles of Dragon, Series 2, Book 8) (Tail of the Dragon) Page 2