Dragon Sword (The Dragon Lord’s Bride #2)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

The thing resembled a wolf but with a huge hump on its almost furless back. The rest of its body was likewise bare, revealing black dots all over its form. Its snout was permanently twisted almost to the point of being broken and hideous long nails stuck out from its four paws. The thing was larger than Will and slouched out of its prison as if dazed.

The creature lifted its head and turned to look down the hall toward us. My breath caught in my throat as I beheld a pair of completely black eyes. There was not an ounce of light in those dark depths, nor even of life.

The creature noticed Will and me and curled its twisted lips back in a snarl. It took off at a full sprint with drool flying out of its open mouth. Will pulled me back a moment before the monster slammed its head into the bars. The rods bent under the force and cracks appeared in the floor and ceiling where they were embedded.

Will drew me behind him and stretched out his hand that held the fireball. The glowing orb burst outward, tripling in size and intensity as the creature rammed its head against the bars again. My eyes widened in horror as the thing wounded itself, tearing open a long gash in its forehead from which blood slid down the front of its face. The creature didn’t take any heed of its injuries as it rammed the bars again, creating more wounds and splattering its blood everywhere.

Will scurried back, taking me with him as the blood shot across the distance between the thing and us. Some of the blood struck his flame and the two magics sizzled before the blood evaporated in a small puff of black smoke. Will’s light flickered and seemed to shrink, but he gritted his teeth and the fire roared to life.

The creature backed up for another ram and lunged forward, aiming to bring the whole cell front down. Will bit him to it as he tossed his flame at the bars. The fire struck the metal and the rods melted into puddles of molten ooze. The creature wasn’t prepared for the lack of an immovable force and so slammed through the melted bars and crashed into the cell block.

Will threw us both to the wall and the thing flew past and collided with the wall. It struck the rock so hard that its head left a half-foot-deep imprint in the stone. The thing slumped to the floor but its legs kept moving as if still compelled to continue the fight.

Will pulled me out of the cell just as more doors burst outward and crashed into the wall. Another hideous wolf lumbered out along with something that resembled a skunk. Both were furless and also showed off a mess of black spots all over their bodies. Their dead eyes zeroed in on us with malevolent intent.

“Get us out of here!” Sylvia shouted as she rattled the cell bars.

I now had a good look at our companions because Steve stood beside her. The pair were dressed in simple cloth attire with roughly made shirts and pants. Leather belts kept their pants up and heavy leather boots protected their feet. Sylvia had short brown hair and brown eyes and would have been pretty if her face was clean. Steve was as burly as I expected and was only a half head taller than his companion. He sported some messy blond hair and clear blue eyes that showed more sharp intelligence than I expected from his rounded face.

Will shook his head. “You’re safer in there than with us. We’ll lead them away from you.”

My face drooped and my eyes widened. “We’re going to do what?”

Will’s answer was to toss a half dozen fireballs down the hall in the direction of the locked rooms. The flames struck the doors and a green magic shot out to do battle with his fire. The weakened elven enchantments were no match for Will’s strength and the remaining magic withered to nothing. Three of the remaining four doors burst open and the hideous shadows of the occupants slouched into the hall.

Will tightened his grip on my hand and pulled me around the corner of our cell and down the adjacent corridor. “Run!”

I stumbled along behind him while my sword vanished along with my concentration. The black-marked things let loose their terrible howls and gave chase. The hall led us deeper into the dungeons where we raced through weapons rooms filled with spears, swords, shields, and all other manner of weaponry. Will grabbed some of the close-at-hand displays and pulled them down behind him, causing a terrific crash of metal.

I looked over my shoulder and watched the creatures struggle over the piles or being forced to go around them altogether. It was a motley crew that pursued us. Besides the wolf and skunk thing, there were two deer and a really ugly rabbit. Its sharp long teeth dripped with saliva and it bounded over our mess with ease.

I gasped as it gave a great leap at us and its teeth aimed for my heel. Will yanked me forward and I flew over two yards of ground, so the rabbit ate the stone floor instead of me.

We stumbled through the weapons rooms and found ourselves in a short corridor that turned left to create a square of the whole complex but I was thrilled to see a set of steps that led upward. We reached the bottom step and Will pulled me ahead of him. He practically pushed me up the stairs and melted the metal door ahead of us, forcing us through the molten remains.

I breathed the first scent of fresh air in what felt like an eternity, but the young sun in the sky told me it was hardly past sunrise. The door led out onto what appeared to be an open training course set against the cliffs and with a barracks on the far side. Obstacles like hurdles, fake straw foes, archery targets, and the like littered the area. What also littered the area were the trainees themselves as several dozen elves practiced their skills.

That is, until we made our appearance. The men stopped their combat practice and turned to us in surprise.

“Get back and prepare yourselves!” Will shouted at them.

His words put them on the defensive and those without weapons snatched some from the racks close at hand. I heard a snarling noise behind us and turned in time to watch the wolf fly out of the door and onto the field. The elves gasped and took a step back at the sight of the hideous creature. Its friends soon followed it and the five snapping creatures crowded together.

I expected them to attack us but they shrank down to the ground. Their lifeless eyes glared up at the sun and a faint mist arose from their bodies. They crawled backward toward the hole intent on escaping into the shadows.

Will let go of me and clapped his hands together before he flung them apart. A flurry of fireballs burst out of his palms and flew not at the creatures, but behind them. His magic created a wall of fire into which the creatures walked their tales. Their dark magic clashed with Will’s power and fireworks shot out. The monsters yipped, howled, and squealed, and all of them dashed off in different directions in search of cover.

“Bind them!” a voice shouted and I looked toward the barracks to see the general hurrying over. “Destroy them if you must but stop them from escaping into the city!”

The soldiers leapt at the command and a flurry of arrows shot into the sky to come crashing down on the wild beasts. The elves moved so quickly I could barely follow them and they cut off the animals’ escape. Their swords drove them back toward the center of the field but capture was impossible.

Not because their actions weren’t heroic enough, however, but because it wasn’t necessary. Every moment they were under the open sun their bodies sizzled and more black mist rose from the maggoty wounds that sprouted all over their flesh. The creatures thrashed and bit at themselves in blind fury but one by one they dropped lifeless to the ground. Their bodies eventually burst into flames which consumed their whole being until nothing remained but a scorched spot on the otherwise green field.

We had gotten out of that frying pan and into the fire.