Read Online Dimwater's Demons by Sam Ferguson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sam Ferguson
Tags: BluA
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a wicked grin.
‘“Clever indeed,’ Ravenel said. His right hand went up for his mini crossbow and he fired at the beast’s face. The garunda arched back to dodge, but the bolt sunk deep into the beast’s chest. The cat roared in anger and reared up on its hind legs. Ravenel then drew a dagger and threw it at the garunda’s exposed underbelly. However, the garunda unleashed a powerful shockwave that knocked the dagger backward, and sent Ravenel flying back again to the opposite wall of the cave.
“Ravenel felt his ribs bend under the pressure as he was crushed between the magical blast and the rock wall of the cave, but he focused enough on the fight to keep from blacking out as the pain rippled through his body. The garunda dropped heavily back down to the ground, but accidentally crushed the vial underfoot. The newly spilt oil caught flame and the cat was enveloped in fire. The garunda flopped onto the stone and howled in agony. The fire grew on the beast as the burning oil clung to its skin.
“The hero set his bow down. His chest and back hurt far too much to draw the string back anymore. He loaded the mini crossbow as quickly as he could and fired repeatedly at the horrid beast. Each bolt slammed into the cat with a sickening crack, sending it twitching and recoiling over the flaming oil. Each jerk of its massive body seemed to take more and more of its remaining energy until finally, after several shots, the beast lay mostly still upon the stone, save for the occasional spasm that often occurs after death.
“Ravenel cautiously walked up to the smoldering beast and, with one swipe of his axe, smote off its head just to be sure that it would not somehow rise from its condition and follow him down the tunnel. This time he was careful to avoid the spray of sizzling blood. He went back to grab his bow, and took a moment to stretch his torso against the aches and stabbing pain that still reverberated through his body. Then, before moving farther into the cave, he dipped his arrow heads into the garunda’s blood, hoping it might give him an advantage over the shade he had yet to face.”
Kyra broke here and flattened the book on her lap. “Still think he’s a coward?” she teased.
“Continue story,” Leatherback said quickly.
Kyra picked the book up, quite pleased that she had managed to capture Leatherback’s full attention now. She picked up where she had left off.
“Ravenel followed the tunnel for more than half an hour as it wound downward, spiraling deeper into the earth below. He passed by the torn bodies of many more men as he went. The air grew thicker further down, and there arose a somewhat sour odor as he neared the main chamber, but what surprised him most was that there appeared to be a light coming from deeper inside the tunnel.
“Slowly, very slowly, he came around the final bend into the main chamber, and what he saw almost blew him over. There, standing defiantly in the large chamber, was an ancient temple. It was cylindrical in design, rising up as an oversized support column to the cave ceiling above and joining with it thirty feet above his head. The entrance, a single, enormous, black, stone door, was flanked on either side by oversized granite statues of demonic warriors. So astonished was he that his heart almost stopped beating within his chest. Ravenel then noted several large sconces along the outside of the temple, each of them ablaze, sending light flooding through the chamber.
“A low, yet distinct growl alerted him to the presence of yet another garunda. Ravenel slowly turned his head to the left to regard the monster, and he was surprised, happily so, to discover the broken shaft of a large spear protruding from the beast’s front leg, along with several arrows embedded deep in her flanks. This beast would not be half as hard to slay.
“The beast continued to growl, but she did not advance, and it was only as she paced sidelong in front of him that Ravenel noticed
‘“Clever indeed,’ Ravenel said. His right hand went up for his mini crossbow and he fired at the beast’s face. The garunda arched back to dodge, but the bolt sunk deep into the beast’s chest. The cat roared in anger and reared up on its hind legs. Ravenel then drew a dagger and threw it at the garunda’s exposed underbelly. However, the garunda unleashed a powerful shockwave that knocked the dagger backward, and sent Ravenel flying back again to the opposite wall of the cave.
“Ravenel felt his ribs bend under the pressure as he was crushed between the magical blast and the rock wall of the cave, but he focused enough on the fight to keep from blacking out as the pain rippled through his body. The garunda dropped heavily back down to the ground, but accidentally crushed the vial underfoot. The newly spilt oil caught flame and the cat was enveloped in fire. The garunda flopped onto the stone and howled in agony. The fire grew on the beast as the burning oil clung to its skin.
“The hero set his bow down. His chest and back hurt far too much to draw the string back anymore. He loaded the mini crossbow as quickly as he could and fired repeatedly at the horrid beast. Each bolt slammed into the cat with a sickening crack, sending it twitching and recoiling over the flaming oil. Each jerk of its massive body seemed to take more and more of its remaining energy until finally, after several shots, the beast lay mostly still upon the stone, save for the occasional spasm that often occurs after death.
“Ravenel cautiously walked up to the smoldering beast and, with one swipe of his axe, smote off its head just to be sure that it would not somehow rise from its condition and follow him down the tunnel. This time he was careful to avoid the spray of sizzling blood. He went back to grab his bow, and took a moment to stretch his torso against the aches and stabbing pain that still reverberated through his body. Then, before moving farther into the cave, he dipped his arrow heads into the garunda’s blood, hoping it might give him an advantage over the shade he had yet to face.”
Kyra broke here and flattened the book on her lap. “Still think he’s a coward?” she teased.
“Continue story,” Leatherback said quickly.
Kyra picked the book up, quite pleased that she had managed to capture Leatherback’s full attention now. She picked up where she had left off.
“Ravenel followed the tunnel for more than half an hour as it wound downward, spiraling deeper into the earth below. He passed by the torn bodies of many more men as he went. The air grew thicker further down, and there arose a somewhat sour odor as he neared the main chamber, but what surprised him most was that there appeared to be a light coming from deeper inside the tunnel.
“Slowly, very slowly, he came around the final bend into the main chamber, and what he saw almost blew him over. There, standing defiantly in the large chamber, was an ancient temple. It was cylindrical in design, rising up as an oversized support column to the cave ceiling above and joining with it thirty feet above his head. The entrance, a single, enormous, black, stone door, was flanked on either side by oversized granite statues of demonic warriors. So astonished was he that his heart almost stopped beating within his chest. Ravenel then noted several large sconces along the outside of the temple, each of them ablaze, sending light flooding through the chamber.
“A low, yet distinct growl alerted him to the presence of yet another garunda. Ravenel slowly turned his head to the left to regard the monster, and he was surprised, happily so, to discover the broken shaft of a large spear protruding from the beast’s front leg, along with several arrows embedded deep in her flanks. This beast would not be half as hard to slay.
“The beast continued to growl, but she did not advance, and it was only as she paced sidelong in front of him that Ravenel noticed
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