Reborn: Book 2 (Chronicles of Ghost Company)

by Shawn Muller

  “You sure?” Max asked sceptically.

  Just then, a wild roar echoed off the mountains. The bestial sound was making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

  “Hell yes. We are too exposed here. Those dragons we just heard can fry us right here where we are. And I don’t want to fry again.”

  Dark shadows could be seen in the far distance about the mountains as if to emphasise my words.

  “On it,” was all Max said after seeing the amassed dragons lift into the sky.

  We beat a hasty retreat from the choke point. Not wanting to be caught in the open with the dragons in the sky heading our way. The dwarves came scrambling down the rocky scree and joined the formed column as it began the hasty withdrawal. I was the last to leave, sitting on my horse I looked back in the direction of the dragons, the inky black sky now hiding the massive beasts.

  I was grateful for the slightly overcast sky then. It would make spotting us a little harder without the light from the stars. The moon, however, did not want to play along, and all too soon it began its rise into the night sky. Black shadows raced passed us, one, two, four then six. Nine shadows, all shimmering in front of my panicking horse. Damn ogres did not understand that at all.

  “Commander Bob! Apologies for the intrusion!” Veggie interpreted for me as he suddenly appeared to my right.

  I calmed my horse with soothing words while I motioned to Veggie it was alright.

  “I bring news. The cyclops’ have launched an all-out assault with the dragons to hunt you down while you remain in the valley!” Jiw exclaimed through Veggies interpreting.

  “That explains a lot,” I murmured back, thinking of my uneasy feeling earlier.

  “How many dragons are we looking at?” I asked as Max joined my side while the rest of the Ghosts jogged or rode off towards safety.

  “Fifty will be flying directly down this road shortly, and the other fifty have left already, intending to circle and wait in ambush at the exit of the highway.”

  “Max. Call a halt, please. We need to rethink this before we run into these dragons. Maybe call the dwarves forward. Find out if there is a cave nearby we could hide in for now.”

  Max left at a gallop to the head of the column while I remained on my horse, contemplating the news from the ogres.

  Facing a hundred dragons was not going to be pleasant. And with the prospect of being trapped didn’t make it seem any better either. Max arrived, riding up with the dwarves and my sub-commanders while the rest of the men took up defensive positions.

  “Right. We are in a bit of a tight spot here. Soon we will have fifty dragons on top of us, with another fifty waiting at the end of the highway. Veggie, I know this is a lot to ask for, but I need you and your men to shift in dragons yourselves, and try and lead as many dragons off our backs as possible. Once we are clear of the valley, you can disappear and meet back with us at King Marcus camp. Pebbles, Granular, I need to know if there are any caves or overhangs nearby where we can hide for a few hours? Even if it means, we have to split up into smaller groups.

  “Ai, I know of a few spots where we could hide in smaller groups,” Granular confirmed. “We will lead you to them before those beasts arrive.”

  This good news lifted my spirits. I quickly divided the company up into four platoons. Each platoon was led by a dwarf who immediately set off to find the hiding spots. All were well off to the right of the highway. I was the last to leave the highway, well behind the last of my men as I kept an eye on the fast-approaching dragons.

  I saw Veggie and the ogres now in the dragon forms fly hard and fast towards the approaching storm of dragons. Veggie was by far the biggest dragon I had ever seen in my short time of seeing dragons. Pitch black in colour, his scales seemed to absorb the light of the full moon as it rose higher into the sky.

  His sleek body darted through the air, his massive maw wide open as he roared a challenge in the face of the enemy. Bellowing, roiling flames answered his challenge from the staggered line of approaching dragons.

  A bright purple dragon from the ogres entered into a steep climb as trails of fire followed him up before he out flew it. Diving back down, the purple dragon plunged directly onto the back of another dragon, ripping the wings off with terrible ferocity before leaping off again to escape a deadly burst of fire from another.

  The wingless dragon was doomed, hurtling towards the valley below it. Veggie spewed forth his fires, engulfing two dragons simultaneously before he dove to the valley floor. A score of dragons followed him as they sought their revenge.

  The rest of the ogres scattered into the night air, each leading off a handful of dragons. A dozen dragons flew on towards me, as the last of my men disappeared into the gloom. I knew that we wouldn’t make it to safety then. The approaching dragons were out for blood now. Still sitting on my horse, facing them, I notched an arrow in a crossbow I had collected earlier and taken aim at the lead dragon.

  Seeing my defiance, the dragons folded their wings and dove straight at me. Mouths wide open revealing their massive teeth. I could see the flames building up within their throats, the pressure about to be released as the flames would burst over me once again. I released the quarrel before they could release their flames. The quarrel flew true and struck deep within the lead dragon’s throat, causing it to choke on the wooden shaft.

  I don’t know what happened next, but all I remember seeing was the dragon suddenly swell up and explode, sending bits of dragon meat and bones and flames in all directions. I ducked down as the head came hurtling over mine, almost decapitating me in the process. That explosion injured the two dragons which flew side by side with the exploding dragon, but the rest veered out the way before diving once more at me.

  I tugged hard at the horse’s bridle, turning it as I kicked it into a gallop down the highway. I don’t know what I was thinking at that time. How the hell was I supposed to outrun a dragon and its fire breath? How was I expected to survive? I wish I knew because I didn’t.

  Once again, my horse stumbled as its rump was hit by the sun hot flames of the chasing dragons. Rearing in pain, the horse bucked and threw me clear of it as it was hit a second time, engulfing it fully. The poor animal succumbed there and then, burning to ashes within moments.

  I lay on the ground, flat on my back as I tried gasping for air. The combination of having the wind knocked out of me and the heat scorched air sucking my breath away. I felt the earth shudder under me as the remaining dragons landed around me. They jostled for space as the valley was not very broad where the highway ran through.

  I slowly regained my breath and rolled over onto my hands and knees before staggering to my feet. Huge, baleful eyes looked down on my, red-rimmed and soot stained eyes. I slowly drew my poleaxe from the strap on the back and held it at the ready. I slowly turned to look at the beasts which had me surrounded.

  Plumes of steam drifted from their nostrils, with an odd blue flame escaping when one snorted. Hot, sulphurous gasses poured over me as another opened its mouth wide. I could see the air begin to heat up, a faint flame building up deep in its throat. I dived towards it, ducking my shoulder and hitting the ground in front of it as I rolled under its surprised head.

  I lashed upwards with the sharp blade on the shaft, severing the throat which covered me in a thick, hot liquid. The dragon reared up onto its hind legs as its short front legs tried to paw at its ruined throat. I rolled left as its body fell hard to the ground, its body thrashing about as it entered into its death throes.

  A small, terrified shout came from the top of the dragon, and a small figure jumped off the back and landed next to me. The other dragons pounced onto the dying beast, rending and ripping at its flesh with their sharp talons and huge teeth. I glanced at the small cowering figure at my side.

  It looked like a smaller, white version of a goblin. Skin and bones, hairless head covered with a small, red pointy hat with pointy little ears peaking out, small, deep-set eyes and a bulbous nose covering
most of its face. It lay there wide-eyed as it stared at me as I climbed to my feet. I grabbed the creature by the front of its leather riding jerkin and held it out at arm’s length.

  I could see similar creatures on each of the dragon’s backs as they struggled to calm the wide beasts which were in a feeding frenzy. I slowly backed off, keeping an eye on the carnage. I slipped my poleaxe back into its strapping’s and held onto the small man creature, one hand clamped down onto its mouth.

  I eventually reached a pile of boulders and ducked around it, my heart hammering in my chest. I still held the small creature tightly in my arms as I left the boulders and made my get away from the dragons which were now fighting over the last of the scraps. I thought I was in the clear, but a solid thud behind me, and the heat from the breath of something down my neck caused me stop dead in my tracks.

  I slowly turned and looked into the eyes of another dragon. This one was breathing hard. Each exhale almost pushing me back. I could smell the fresh blood from its eating. It looked down at the small creature in my arms before looking back into my eyes, its head turn sideways for its eyes on the side of its head see me better.

  Before I could react, it shot a ball of fire at me, striking the small, now struggling creature before it fully engulfed me. All I could do was draw in a breath of the fiery death, the air burned my lungs and stole my last dying words as my body disintegrated and my bones went soft and melted away before finally turning to ashes once again.

  ***

  Once again blackness. Once again death. Once again waking up to a slap across my face.

  “You know Bob. I can only bring you to life so many times. Eventually, your death will be permanent,” a visibly irritated Cotus Myhym told me as I woke up.

  I was once again, in the plain white room on the mysterious island called the Crypts of Lieberkuhn.

  “Screw you Cotus,” I groaned back as I gingerly sat up.

  “It seems that you like to sacrifice yourself for others. You will be pleased to know that your men have all made it back safely to King Marcus without further incident.”

  “Thanks,” I croaked as I reached out unsteadily for a pitcher of water.

  “As soon as you are ready, I will send you back to Curixeus where you can rejoin the Ghosts,” Cotus said as he left the room.

  It seemed the infuriating old man was watching my back at least. I was surprised and very relieved to wake up alive once again. I had not expected to do that again. The dizziness and nausea soon passed, and I was able to stand on my unsteady legs. I turned and faced the bed and pulled out the drawer which had my clothes in and quickly dressed before I headed out the room, hopefully for the last time.

  “Ah. You’re up,” Cotus Myhym said through a mouthful of food.

  I had found him in the kitchen where he was eating what looking like a bowl of stew.

  “Care to join me?” He offered as I sat opposite him.

  I reached for a wooden bowl and dished some of the lovely, spicy smelling stew up and grabbed a small loaf of fresh bread which was on a serving plate on the small round table where we sat.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled as I tore pieces of bread from the loaf and dunked it into the stew, scooping up bits of meat and green vegetables.

  “Pleasure is all mine,” he replied as he swallowed another mouthful of food.

  “So, why the continued interest in me? Why do you save me again from deaths cold door?” I asked Cotus through a mouthful of stew.

  “I have a vested interest in you. As I explained to you last time, you have been chosen to save us all. In turn, I am your guardian until you are ready.”

  I looked at him while I chewed on a piece of tender meat. This stew was the most delicious stew I had tasted in a long time. There were big pieces of tender, juicy meat which complemented the dark green vegetables. The spices used only enhanced the taste of the meat while the gravy was thick and rich. The warm, fresh bread eagerly soaked up the gravy as I dunked it into my bowl while I ate the stew. I was quickly full and soon pushed my bowl away from me.

  “Thank you for the meal, and thank you once again for not letting me die,” I told Cotus with a deep nod.

  “Just don’t make a habit of it alright,” he replied in a grumpy voice, but I could see his eyes light up in humour.

  “Let me open the portal for you so you can be on your way then,” he said as he rose from the table.

  I followed him out the kitchen as we made our way outside into the bright sunlight. Cotus began his spell, kneeling down on the green grass while I waited. The portal began as a speck, floating in the air in front of the kneeling Cotus. Within seconds, it began to expand, following the flow of his voice. Soon it was large enough for me to walk through and I prepared myself for the inevitable nausea and headache which would follow.

  “Ready?” Cotus Myhym asked me as he stood up.

  I simply nodded, to which he simply gestured towards the silver portal. I stepped forward and through, my last thought being that I will miss the stew.

  “Wh? Where ” I began as I slowly opened my eyes.

  “Shoo. Relax,” a familiar, gentle voice spoke as soft hands pushed me back down.

  I closed my eyes in an effort to stop the room from spinning and the nausea from spilling out of my mouth. I must have dozed off because I jerked awake with the nausea and headache fading away. I lay on a cot, covered by a linen sheet. I looked around through blurry eyes, my gaze coming to a stop on a beautiful figure who hovered at the foot of my bed.

  “It’s about time you woke,” she said.

  “Where am I?” I asked a bit more awake than the last time.

  “Within your tent surrounded by the Ghosts and King Marcus army.”

  “So you made it out alive?” I asked confused.

  “We did. Didn’t you?” Mia asked.

  “I, don’t know. Think Cotus Myhym saved me, again.”

  I quickly told her of what I remembered, the dragons surrounding me, my death and eating stew with Cotus. It was all hazy, and confusing. But slowly the memories returned.

  “Where was I found?” I asked now that I remembered what happened.

  Mia looked down at me from where she stood, head cocked slightly to one side.

  “You don’t remember do you?” I shook my head at this.

  “We found you lying naked in the middle of the highway. We made our way back from hiding from the dragons and there you were, ready to be taken advantage of by bandits and such.”

  “Really? Lucky you found me then before I was taken advantage of,” I replied relieved.

  “Who said you weren’t?” Mia said with a sultry voice.

  She turned on her heel and sauntered out the tent before I could reply to that, leaving me with my mouth wide open in surprise.

  I eventually recovered from that and managed to climb off the cot and onto my unsteady legs. I looked around the tent, noting that it was my tent after all. I made my way over to the chest which held my clothes and slowly dressed, before donning on some light armour, a simple chainmail hauberk with leather chest and legging protection.

  I looked for my magical weapons but could not find them. I guessed that they obviously were left behind where I had died. So I strapped a simple long sword to my left thigh, with a heavy dagger to my right and a round shield on my back.

  I left the tent while I was pulling on my plate mail gauntlets and stopped at the tent flaps as my eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. Sounds from the camp drifted over me as I stood with my eyes shut, the warmth of the sun bathing my face as I enjoyed the smell of summer, mixed with the stench of the hundreds of camp fires.

  “There he is!” I opened my eyes and saw Max and Titanius standing beside a fire in front of their tent which was pitched near mine.

  “Guten tag,” Titanius greeted me in his thick German accent

  “Glad to see everybody looking healthy,” I greeted back.

  “We all made through without many hassles, except the ogres. A few w
ere scorched and had a few limbs missing, but Veggie assured us that they will be ready by tomorrow,” Max explained.

  “Seems they did better than I did,” I said as I explained what had happened to me.

  “That explains why the dragons flew away,” Titanius said.

  “Yeah, they went looking for you and the ogres. You sure stirred up a hornets’ nest for us.”

  “Glad I could help,” I replied sarcastically to a smiling Max and Titanius.

  “You woke up just at the right time. Tomorrow we expect the cyclops to start pouring out the mountain. We must have delayed them some more at the last barrier we built, probably weary of more booby traps.”

  “Wish we had set more,” I mumbled.

  “Me to, but we gave King Marcus plenty of time to organise his forces. The orcs and a contingent of centaurs arrived late last night. Man, you should see those bastards!”

  “Jawol. Big as stallions but with human bodies.”