Read Online Clutch Of The Cleric (Book 4) by Craig Halloran - Free Book Online
Authors: Craig Halloran
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I’ll finish the rest of you.”
They backed off a step, maybe two. Eyes darting between him and the Gnolls.
“I know what you are,” the Gnoll leader said. “You’re one of those rangers. A Rover. Is that so?”
The Gnolls’ eyes were all intent on him. Reputation alone could win battles, stop wars.
“I am.”
The lead Gnoll started laughing. The others followed suit, weapons jangling with their armor.
“Does something amuse you ?” Shum said.
“Hah!” The Gnoll hitched his foot up on a log and slapped his knee. “You really do have a big belly. Kinda like an Orc.”
“Your insults wo n’t grant you any mercy,” Shum said, “and my patience thins. Let the women go. I won’t ask again.”
It coughed a laugh.
“There’s more of us in this crater than you know, Ranger. I think you better surrender.” It picked its slab of meat back up and tore off a chunk with its teeth. “Might even have you for dinner.”
If there were more, he hadn’t seen or heard them. But the tactic was sound. Even for a Gnoll.
“Well,” Shum said, “I hope you have enough for all of us?”
The Gnoll stopped chewing. Looked around.
“All of who?”
“Surely you didn’t think I came alone. A half dozen arrows are pointed right at you.” Shum held his hand straight up. “Awaiting my signal.”
Every pair of eyes shifted from tree to tree. But Shum’s gaze was steady. Right on the Gnoll. Not blinking.
It raised its arm and smiled.
“I’ve got a dozen in the trees,” the Gnoll said, “and they’re all pointed at you. Your bluff has been called, Ranger.”
“I don’t think so,” Shum said.
“I do,” the Gnoll grinned. The leader dropped his arm.
Clatch zip !
Clatch z ip!
Shum spun away from the first bolt that found a home in a Gnoll. The next bolt ripped into his thigh, sticking through one side to the other. He dropped to a knee.
“Argh!” he said.
The village women cried out.
“Didn’t see that coming, did you, Ranger?” the Gnoll said. “Kill him!”
CHAPTER 15
We had them. Two Ettins slugged along over the grassy knolls with their four chins down. Arms shackled behind their backs, they led the way, one heavy footstep after the other. A host of Legionnaire riders accompanied us along with Ben and Garrison, who ran along on foot.
“Dragon,” Ben said. “Can I ride with you? My legs are tired.”
“No, Ben,” I said. “Commander’s orders.”
“But—”
“None of that now. Why don’t you scout ahead or something?”
“A w,” Ben said, drifting back with a frown.
Sasha rode alongside me.
“Are you feeling better now?” she said.
I felt ashamed. How I ’d shunned her earlier was wrong. Even worse, I’d have to admit it. I couldn’t treat her like Brenwar treated me and hold a grudge for days, weeks, or months.
“I’m sorry, Sasha.” I didn’t look at her. “I really am. It’s just—”
“Don’t explain yourself,” she said. “I understand. After all, you just came out of a battle. Men are different when their blood runs hot. I wish Bayzog would get upset every once in a while. I don’t think I’ve ever seen his cheeks flush.”
I looked at her, smiling a little.
“Well, maybe he doesn’t have any blood?”
“Dragon!”
“Sorry,” I said.
She giggled.
“No, that was funny. I think we needed it, but I am a bit worried. Do you think he’s alright with Shum? I don’t know anything about him.”
I reached over and p atted her arm.
She didn’t flinch or pull away , which surprised me.
I said, “I’m sure he’s alright. The Rovers are the greatest Rangers in Nalzambor. He couldn’t be any safer if he was with me.” I squeezed her arm. “And thank you.”
“For what?” she said, staring at my arm, stroking it with gentle fingers.
“Er … well, saving me, Sasha. That Ettin nearly popped my head off.”
“Oh, ho ho, don’t sound so surprised, Nath. Did you think I was just going to stand there and let you get all
They backed off a step, maybe two. Eyes darting between him and the Gnolls.
“I know what you are,” the Gnoll leader said. “You’re one of those rangers. A Rover. Is that so?”
The Gnolls’ eyes were all intent on him. Reputation alone could win battles, stop wars.
“I am.”
The lead Gnoll started laughing. The others followed suit, weapons jangling with their armor.
“Does something amuse you ?” Shum said.
“Hah!” The Gnoll hitched his foot up on a log and slapped his knee. “You really do have a big belly. Kinda like an Orc.”
“Your insults wo n’t grant you any mercy,” Shum said, “and my patience thins. Let the women go. I won’t ask again.”
It coughed a laugh.
“There’s more of us in this crater than you know, Ranger. I think you better surrender.” It picked its slab of meat back up and tore off a chunk with its teeth. “Might even have you for dinner.”
If there were more, he hadn’t seen or heard them. But the tactic was sound. Even for a Gnoll.
“Well,” Shum said, “I hope you have enough for all of us?”
The Gnoll stopped chewing. Looked around.
“All of who?”
“Surely you didn’t think I came alone. A half dozen arrows are pointed right at you.” Shum held his hand straight up. “Awaiting my signal.”
Every pair of eyes shifted from tree to tree. But Shum’s gaze was steady. Right on the Gnoll. Not blinking.
It raised its arm and smiled.
“I’ve got a dozen in the trees,” the Gnoll said, “and they’re all pointed at you. Your bluff has been called, Ranger.”
“I don’t think so,” Shum said.
“I do,” the Gnoll grinned. The leader dropped his arm.
Clatch zip !
Clatch z ip!
Shum spun away from the first bolt that found a home in a Gnoll. The next bolt ripped into his thigh, sticking through one side to the other. He dropped to a knee.
“Argh!” he said.
The village women cried out.
“Didn’t see that coming, did you, Ranger?” the Gnoll said. “Kill him!”
CHAPTER 15
We had them. Two Ettins slugged along over the grassy knolls with their four chins down. Arms shackled behind their backs, they led the way, one heavy footstep after the other. A host of Legionnaire riders accompanied us along with Ben and Garrison, who ran along on foot.
“Dragon,” Ben said. “Can I ride with you? My legs are tired.”
“No, Ben,” I said. “Commander’s orders.”
“But—”
“None of that now. Why don’t you scout ahead or something?”
“A w,” Ben said, drifting back with a frown.
Sasha rode alongside me.
“Are you feeling better now?” she said.
I felt ashamed. How I ’d shunned her earlier was wrong. Even worse, I’d have to admit it. I couldn’t treat her like Brenwar treated me and hold a grudge for days, weeks, or months.
“I’m sorry, Sasha.” I didn’t look at her. “I really am. It’s just—”
“Don’t explain yourself,” she said. “I understand. After all, you just came out of a battle. Men are different when their blood runs hot. I wish Bayzog would get upset every once in a while. I don’t think I’ve ever seen his cheeks flush.”
I looked at her, smiling a little.
“Well, maybe he doesn’t have any blood?”
“Dragon!”
“Sorry,” I said.
She giggled.
“No, that was funny. I think we needed it, but I am a bit worried. Do you think he’s alright with Shum? I don’t know anything about him.”
I reached over and p atted her arm.
She didn’t flinch or pull away , which surprised me.
I said, “I’m sure he’s alright. The Rovers are the greatest Rangers in Nalzambor. He couldn’t be any safer if he was with me.” I squeezed her arm. “And thank you.”
“For what?” she said, staring at my arm, stroking it with gentle fingers.
“Er … well, saving me, Sasha. That Ettin nearly popped my head off.”
“Oh, ho ho, don’t sound so surprised, Nath. Did you think I was just going to stand there and let you get all
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