Read Online Chronicles of the Dragon Pirate by David Talon - Free Book Online
Authors: David Talon
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row took aim and fired, their musket’s strikers hitting wads of frozen quickfire which shot musket balls out with a loud flash-bang. Charging warriors screamed and went down as the second row stood and hastened backwards to reload while the first stood and the general said, “First row ready...”
Looking beyond the soldiers, I realized the jaguar shaman had become a monster. He was still vaguely human in shape but was now completely covered in black fur, his head now changed to a jaguar’s and his fingers had become glittering claws. He moved with blinding speed as he leaped at Lord Marcus.
The old man went for his sword and almost drew it, but the creature was faster, stabbing its claws into Lord Marcus’s eyes and the skull beyond, leaving them there as the old man dropped his sword and clawed at the jaguar-creature’s face. A moment later the old man’s body began to shake, and the jaguar-creature let him go. Lord Marcus fell to the ground.
Overhead I heard several women’s voices cry out in alarm. Then an air-golem of a winged woman formed and attacked the jaguar-creature as the wolf-creatures went after the men in front of them. Alfonzo had almost drawn his sword when one of the wolf-creatures slammed into him and knocked him down. The wolf-creature leaped on top of him, and Alfonzo’s scream abruptly cut off as it leaned down, coming back up a moment later with its muzzle dripping blood.
The two silver wolf soldiers got their swords out. One of them thrust forward as the wolf-creatures came at them, stabbing it in the upper thigh. The creature screamed in a voice both man and wolf as the other two wolf-creatures leaped upon the other soldier, knocking him to the ground as General Alfonzo called out, “First row fire and fall back!”
Captain Cholula hauled me back with her as she broke the spell of immobility we’d all seemed to fallen into as the first row of soldiers fired. Muskets and blunderbusses roared, and the front rank of warriors blew apart like red spray on the rocks as the first row fell back to reload and the second row made ready. Captain Cholula ran towards the mission church and I ran with her, Karl and the golem-wolf behind us as I looked over my shoulder.
The jaguar-creature had ripped apart the air-golem, but two more attacked, the three of them rolling around on the ground, tearing up chunks of dirt as the creature tore at the air-golems with claws and teeth. The wolf-creature with the wounded leg knocked the soldier who’d stabbed it to the ground. Jaws slathering as it batted the soldier’s black blade away, the creature tensed to strike as General Montejo fired the Wheelock pistol in his hand. The creature clawed at its face as it was blown backwards.
Suddenly I saw flashes of fire coming from offshore. A moment later I heard the roar of cannons as General Montejo shouted, “No, who gave the order to fire?” My heart began pounding as three fiery streaks came arching over the trees at us, General Montejo shouting, “Fall back, fall...”
The ceremonial center exploded. All of us were thrown to the ground as the earth rocked, men screaming as fire then smoke and grey ash filled the air behind us. I scrambled to my feet as Captain Cholula and Karl got to their knees, the mercenary’s laughter turning to a cough as the acrid smoke reached us. He said cheerfully, “If Montejo’s dead then Sebastian’s lost his worst enemy.”
Captain Cholula climbed to her feet. “I’m still alive.”
Karl grinned like a fiend as he used his weapons like canes to regain his feet. “The night is young”.
Captain Cholula gave him a sour look as she drew her swords, an indistinct figure running towards us out of the smoky chaos of swirling ash. A moment later I saw it was one of the wolf-creatures, blood running down its side as it rubbed at its eyes. The wolf-golem ran to meet it. The golem leaped before the wolf-creature knew it was there, its jaws ripping into the creature’s
Looking beyond the soldiers, I realized the jaguar shaman had become a monster. He was still vaguely human in shape but was now completely covered in black fur, his head now changed to a jaguar’s and his fingers had become glittering claws. He moved with blinding speed as he leaped at Lord Marcus.
The old man went for his sword and almost drew it, but the creature was faster, stabbing its claws into Lord Marcus’s eyes and the skull beyond, leaving them there as the old man dropped his sword and clawed at the jaguar-creature’s face. A moment later the old man’s body began to shake, and the jaguar-creature let him go. Lord Marcus fell to the ground.
Overhead I heard several women’s voices cry out in alarm. Then an air-golem of a winged woman formed and attacked the jaguar-creature as the wolf-creatures went after the men in front of them. Alfonzo had almost drawn his sword when one of the wolf-creatures slammed into him and knocked him down. The wolf-creature leaped on top of him, and Alfonzo’s scream abruptly cut off as it leaned down, coming back up a moment later with its muzzle dripping blood.
The two silver wolf soldiers got their swords out. One of them thrust forward as the wolf-creatures came at them, stabbing it in the upper thigh. The creature screamed in a voice both man and wolf as the other two wolf-creatures leaped upon the other soldier, knocking him to the ground as General Alfonzo called out, “First row fire and fall back!”
Captain Cholula hauled me back with her as she broke the spell of immobility we’d all seemed to fallen into as the first row of soldiers fired. Muskets and blunderbusses roared, and the front rank of warriors blew apart like red spray on the rocks as the first row fell back to reload and the second row made ready. Captain Cholula ran towards the mission church and I ran with her, Karl and the golem-wolf behind us as I looked over my shoulder.
The jaguar-creature had ripped apart the air-golem, but two more attacked, the three of them rolling around on the ground, tearing up chunks of dirt as the creature tore at the air-golems with claws and teeth. The wolf-creature with the wounded leg knocked the soldier who’d stabbed it to the ground. Jaws slathering as it batted the soldier’s black blade away, the creature tensed to strike as General Montejo fired the Wheelock pistol in his hand. The creature clawed at its face as it was blown backwards.
Suddenly I saw flashes of fire coming from offshore. A moment later I heard the roar of cannons as General Montejo shouted, “No, who gave the order to fire?” My heart began pounding as three fiery streaks came arching over the trees at us, General Montejo shouting, “Fall back, fall...”
The ceremonial center exploded. All of us were thrown to the ground as the earth rocked, men screaming as fire then smoke and grey ash filled the air behind us. I scrambled to my feet as Captain Cholula and Karl got to their knees, the mercenary’s laughter turning to a cough as the acrid smoke reached us. He said cheerfully, “If Montejo’s dead then Sebastian’s lost his worst enemy.”
Captain Cholula climbed to her feet. “I’m still alive.”
Karl grinned like a fiend as he used his weapons like canes to regain his feet. “The night is young”.
Captain Cholula gave him a sour look as she drew her swords, an indistinct figure running towards us out of the smoky chaos of swirling ash. A moment later I saw it was one of the wolf-creatures, blood running down its side as it rubbed at its eyes. The wolf-golem ran to meet it. The golem leaped before the wolf-creature knew it was there, its jaws ripping into the creature’s
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