Read Online Dimwater's Demons by Sam Ferguson - Free Book Online Page A

gleaming at him in the darkness. He brought out the striker and lit the cloth attached to one of the oil vials. He threw the vial in the direction of the eyes and watched with glee as the glass shattered and spewed flame all around the cave.
    “The giant beast opened its feline mouth, emitting a low growl as it stalked into the circle of light. Ravenel’s eyes widened when the garunda bared its saber-like fangs in a roar that all but deafened the large archer. The cat was easily at least six hundred pounds, more than any Khattuun he had ever fought, or any mountain cat he had ever heard of. Spikes jutted out from the beast’s shoulders, and its skin rippled taut over thick, corded muscles. There was no fur on the demon; it was just a black mass of twisted muscle and fangs.
    “Ravenel knew he had to act while the firelight still blinded the beast. He brought the bow up and pulled the arrow back. He loosed the arrow with blinding speed, and the shaft buried deep into the beast’s neck. The garunda shuddered and leapt back away from the hero, landing squarely in the burning oil.
    “The beast shook its head wildly and screeched a shrill wail as it batted at the flames with its massive paws. Ravenel didn’t miss a beat. He loosed the second arrow, piercing the other side of the garunda’s neck. Then he stepped in quickly, slicing and striking furiously with his axe across the cat’s right side. Lines of green blood appeared on the obsidian body, but it did little to stem the beast’s fury. In an instant, the cat reared back on its hind legs as it stood and roared, as a bear might do, then it sent a pulse of magical energy that knocked Ravenel backward through the air, smashing him against the stone wall.
    “Ravenel shook his head in an attempt to regain his senses. He was still standing, barely, and he had even managed to keep a strong hold on his bow and axe. The cat leapt through the air, fangs bared and claws out. Ravenel somersaulted to the left, slashing out with his axe and catching the garunda in the right foreleg. The beast howled and crashed into the wall head-first. It turned, growling wickedly and lowering its head with its black ears flat against its skull. It took two steps forward and then started to twitch violently. Ravenel could see the muscles cramping in sharp spasms and knew immediately that the paralyzing toxin was beginning to work on the monster. Ravenel dropped the axe and quickly nocked another arrow. He fired upon the beast one, two, and then three times before the garunda fell to the ground. It yowled and wailed horribly, but it could no longer move. Ravenel grabbed his axe and ran in to finish the beast with a quick chop to the neck.
    “Green, acidic blood spurted out from the wound and burned Ravenel’s hand. Quickly he scraped the ooze off with the back of one of his knives so as not to spread the viscous goo further on his skin.
    “No sooner had he done so than a second garunda appeared in the chamber with him. The cat slowly circled around, hunkering low and ready to spring at any moment. It started to jump to Ravenel’s right, but when Ravenel moved to dodge, the garunda switched directions and lunged directly where Ravenel had stepped. Ravenel just barely managed to escape the trap, but he was unable to counter attack before the cat withdrew out of reach.
    ‘“Clever kitty,’ Ravenel muttered. He nocked another arrow and took aim for the garunda’s chest. The fire from the first vial was starting to die out now, so he fired the arrow quickly, hoping to at least distract the beast long enough to reach and light the second vial. The garunda swatted the arrow out of the air and roared mightily, showing its pink gums and throat. Ravenel grabbed a vial and threw it to the flames. He heard the glass crack, but it wasn’t enough to set the oil inside aflame. When Ravenel realized the malfunction, he started for the vial, but the beast lunged in the way, snarling with what seemed to be