Read Online Hunt For The Hero (Book 5) by Craig Halloran - Free Book Online

water.
    “It’s …” He gasped. “It’s Dragon. He’s -gasp- gone under. A monster got him!”
    Brenwar and Bayzog waded into the waters and reached out for him.
    “Swim back here, will you?” Brenwar said, gesturing with his arms.
    Bayzog slid out of his robes and swam towards him. The wizard hooked his arms beneath Ben’s chest and swam him back to the bank. Huffing for breath, they both sat waist deep in the bristling water.
    “He went down over there,” Ben said, pointing. “It had tendrils like snakes and was stronger than iron. I cut them and freed Dragon, then they got me. Dragon saved me and when I swam up I looked down and he was gone.”
    Bayzog patted Ben’s back with his slender arm and Brenwar studied him with a cocked eyebrow. The black bearded Dwarf pointed at him.
    “You say he’s in there?” Brenwar pointed in the water. “That way?”
    Ben nodded.
    Brenwar, in full armor, marched into the river, one step at a time until his head disappeared.
    “What’s he doing?” Ben said, looking at Bayzog.
    The wizard shrugged.
    “Come on Ben, let’s get back out of this. The water might still be dangerous. And I need to think of a spell that I can cast.” His face was filled with anguish. “I hate to admit it , but I’m not very prepared for dealing with water. I’m surprised I could still swim.”
    Ben, exhausted, remained in place.
    “I’ve got to go after him,” he said. “I’ll just make one more dive.”
    Bayzog held his arm tight . “I’ve thought of a spell that might help. But I need to be on shore to cast it. Come, we must hurry.”
    Ben slowly backed towards the bank, frowning.
    “Sasha!” Bayzog yelled. “Get my pack. I need my components. And fetch Brenwar’s chest. That might help as well.”
    Ben stood ankle deep in the waters , watching. Every second felt like a minute. It was torture. Bayzog and Sasha worked behind him, trying to get something ready that would help. He had a feeling that whatever it was they came up with would be too late.
    “Is it ready ?” he said, turning his head, but not taking his eyes from the water. “I need to get back in there!”
    “A moment, Ben. A moment!” Bayzog said.
    Life begins and ends in moments. His father had told him so. The important thing is to make the moments you have count.
    Ben waded back into the waters.
    “Ben, hold on!” Sasha said. “Don’t be foolish.”
    “I’ll be fine,” Ben said, waving his hand. “And if I don’t make it back—”
    Splash!
    Nath ’s head burst out of the water.
    “Dragon!”
    A clawed hand waved at him.
    Ben swam for him . He grabbed Dragon and guided him onto the bank.
    Dragon was covered in river muck and tendrils , gasping for air. Dragon Claw glowed in his hand. He had cuts and scrapes all over him.
    “You made it!” Ben said.
    Dragon nodded.
    “What about Brenwar?” Ben asked.

 
    CHAPTER 17
     
     
    Dragon looked at Ben, then back in the waters. There was no sign of Brenwar.
    “He’s coming , I think.” Dragon started to wade back in. “He was right behind me.”
    At last Brenwar’s head popped out of the water, and foot by foot he walked up the bank. He looked at Dragon and kept going.
    “Did he save you ?” Ben said.
    “I was fine,” Dragon said, coughing. He slung some purple tendril s off his shoulders. “He showed up right after I didn’t need him.”
    “What happened? What was that thing?” Ben said.
    “I’ve no idea what it was,” Dragon said, “but it was nasty. It swallowed me whole. I couldn’t see a thing.” He dangled Dragon Claw in front of his face. “I jammed Dragon Claw into anything it could bite and finally the mouth opened up again. I swam out as fast as I could.”
    “Is it dead?” Ben said.
    Dragon’s golden eyes drifted over the waters.
    “I think so.”
    Growl.
    “W as that you, Dragon?”
    Dragon stood up , slinging his hair from his eyes and rubbing his belly.
    “It’s my stomach. I ’m famished.” He marched towards