Read Online Fight And The Fury (Book 8) by Craig Halloran - Free Book Online
Authors: Craig Halloran
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have a dream about that, Bayzog? Why?” He glanced at his claws. His eyes traced the white patches of scales on them. “If I’m doing right, then why do I feel so wrong?”
Bayzog felt a chill inside his chest. His hand rested on the amulet he shared with his family. His son Samaz often had dark dreams. He never told Bayzog, but he did tell his mother, Sasha, who in turn confided in him. He worried how they were doing.
“You’ve been through much, Nath,” Bayzog said, trying to sound reassuring. “And we cannot understand the changes you’ve been through or the weight on your great shoulders. But Nath, we believe in you. We wouldn’t have made it this far if we hadn’t.”
Nath gazed up at him with a long look in his eyes and said, “I’m going to have to leave.”
“No, we’ve talked about that.”
“But Bayzog, Gorn Grattack said he was coming for me. He called me a meddler. He said he would kill all my friends.” Nath’s hand fell on Fang’s hilt. “I can’t protect you from him. His might, Bayzog. I could feel it. Nothing ever shook my marrow before, aside from my father.” He shook his head. “How can that be? How can Gorn Grattack still live?”
Bayzog wanted to pinch Nath’s lips shut. Gorn Grattack had been the greatest dragon in the last dragon war. The champion of evil. The enslaver of the world. So far as the wizard knew, none had uttered the evil dragon’s name or even written it in five hundred years. Since the last Great Dragon War was won. Saying the name, the old ones said, was the same as saying a curse. Few even knew about him in today’s world, except for the older elves, dwarves, and dragons. But careful measures were taken to make the name be forgotten.
Bayzog patted Nath’s knee and said, “Remember Nath, evil lies. I’d venture that he wants to separate you from those who look out for you. You’ll be easier to conquer alone. That’s what they want. That’s what they always want.”
“I don’t want to see my friends die because of me,” Nath said.
“That’s not your choice. It’s ours.”
Nath sulked for a bit, then stretched out his arm and let Bayzog help him to his feet. Placing his dragon paws on Bayzog’s shoulders, he said, “You’re a true friend, but I have to put an end to this.”
“No, we have to put an end to this, Nath. And don’t forget, your father says more help is coming.” Bayzog rubbed Nath’s corded forearms. The scales were smoother than wet river stones. “But it would be nice if we all had tough skin such as this. Perhaps I can create a spell for that one day.”
“Ho!” From high in his saddle, Brenwar yelled.
Ben and one of the Roaming Rangers fell in behind them. There was an Elven Steed for each of them now, aside from Nath.
“What’s going on here?” Brenwar said.
“Speaking of thick skin,” Nath mumbled.
Bayzog allowed a grin.
“Harrumph! What’s so amusing?” Brenwar’s nose twitched. “I smell secrecy. Out with it.”
“Bad dreams,” Nath said. “Bad dreams. Let’s walk and talk.”
***
Clearing the air did little to ease Brenwar’s disposition, or Ben’s either. They wouldn’t let Nath out of their sight for anything, especially now, after what he’d told them. However, unlike before, it didn’t bother him so much. The freedom Nath longed for was replaced with something greater: the companionship of his friends.
“Gnomes,” Brenwar huffed. “Of all the silly things, I ‘m tracking gnomes. Why don’t we chase after some bearded kobolds next? Hmmm?”
The dwarven fighter had been grumbling about it for almost an hour. He referred to the gnomes as ‘short men without stature’ and ‘goblins’ stupid cousins’. There was a litany of things dwarves didn’t like, and they loved to talk about them all.
Shum returned. His horse was lathered up, and there was a spark behind his stony eyes.
“You found them” Nath said.
“Indeed. Less than a league.”
Nath hated to ask the next
Bayzog felt a chill inside his chest. His hand rested on the amulet he shared with his family. His son Samaz often had dark dreams. He never told Bayzog, but he did tell his mother, Sasha, who in turn confided in him. He worried how they were doing.
“You’ve been through much, Nath,” Bayzog said, trying to sound reassuring. “And we cannot understand the changes you’ve been through or the weight on your great shoulders. But Nath, we believe in you. We wouldn’t have made it this far if we hadn’t.”
Nath gazed up at him with a long look in his eyes and said, “I’m going to have to leave.”
“No, we’ve talked about that.”
“But Bayzog, Gorn Grattack said he was coming for me. He called me a meddler. He said he would kill all my friends.” Nath’s hand fell on Fang’s hilt. “I can’t protect you from him. His might, Bayzog. I could feel it. Nothing ever shook my marrow before, aside from my father.” He shook his head. “How can that be? How can Gorn Grattack still live?”
Bayzog wanted to pinch Nath’s lips shut. Gorn Grattack had been the greatest dragon in the last dragon war. The champion of evil. The enslaver of the world. So far as the wizard knew, none had uttered the evil dragon’s name or even written it in five hundred years. Since the last Great Dragon War was won. Saying the name, the old ones said, was the same as saying a curse. Few even knew about him in today’s world, except for the older elves, dwarves, and dragons. But careful measures were taken to make the name be forgotten.
Bayzog patted Nath’s knee and said, “Remember Nath, evil lies. I’d venture that he wants to separate you from those who look out for you. You’ll be easier to conquer alone. That’s what they want. That’s what they always want.”
“I don’t want to see my friends die because of me,” Nath said.
“That’s not your choice. It’s ours.”
Nath sulked for a bit, then stretched out his arm and let Bayzog help him to his feet. Placing his dragon paws on Bayzog’s shoulders, he said, “You’re a true friend, but I have to put an end to this.”
“No, we have to put an end to this, Nath. And don’t forget, your father says more help is coming.” Bayzog rubbed Nath’s corded forearms. The scales were smoother than wet river stones. “But it would be nice if we all had tough skin such as this. Perhaps I can create a spell for that one day.”
“Ho!” From high in his saddle, Brenwar yelled.
Ben and one of the Roaming Rangers fell in behind them. There was an Elven Steed for each of them now, aside from Nath.
“What’s going on here?” Brenwar said.
“Speaking of thick skin,” Nath mumbled.
Bayzog allowed a grin.
“Harrumph! What’s so amusing?” Brenwar’s nose twitched. “I smell secrecy. Out with it.”
“Bad dreams,” Nath said. “Bad dreams. Let’s walk and talk.”
***
Clearing the air did little to ease Brenwar’s disposition, or Ben’s either. They wouldn’t let Nath out of their sight for anything, especially now, after what he’d told them. However, unlike before, it didn’t bother him so much. The freedom Nath longed for was replaced with something greater: the companionship of his friends.
“Gnomes,” Brenwar huffed. “Of all the silly things, I ‘m tracking gnomes. Why don’t we chase after some bearded kobolds next? Hmmm?”
The dwarven fighter had been grumbling about it for almost an hour. He referred to the gnomes as ‘short men without stature’ and ‘goblins’ stupid cousins’. There was a litany of things dwarves didn’t like, and they loved to talk about them all.
Shum returned. His horse was lathered up, and there was a spark behind his stony eyes.
“You found them” Nath said.
“Indeed. Less than a league.”
Nath hated to ask the next
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