Read Online Sword of Light (The Knights of the Golden Dragons - Book One) by Troy Reaves - Free Book Online Page B

came to the bank of a great river that neatly broke his intended
path. The armor Gregor wore made swimming across impossible, even if he had
known how to swim. "Well, this is not supposed to be here. I must have
gone off course somewhere, otherwise I am sure Master Silverwing would have
mentioned this river." Gregor noted that the river seemed to bend in the
rough direction he intended to travel, though what lay beyond the curve of the
waters was obscured by trees huddling close to the banks. "Nothing to do
but look for a bridge or shallows in that direction, I suppose." Gregor
set off down the smooth bank along the river, trusting that he had made the
right decision. The path fate had chosen for him would prove eventful very
soon.
    ***
                There
was trouble ahead. Gregor heard it long before he saw anything. He had been
traveling along the river for the second day, still having no luck finding a
place to cross, but glad to have the smooth path near the water's edge.
Somewhere ahead he could hear the angry howling of a large number of wolves.   A coarse, vulgar language that sounded
completely alien to him answered the pack's throaty growling. Great shouts and
cries of pain that were almost human grew in volume as Gregor ran alongside the
river. Barking howls and yips filled the air to accompany the strange
caterwauling. Gregor drew up abruptly to watch a curious melee that was taking
place on an open area of grass near the river's opposite edge. Small, dark
green and brown humanoids bearing long sticks tipped with yellowish bone shards
were fending off a large pack of wolves. The beasts ran into the loose circle
of poorly armed humanoids, attacking with vicious efficiency. Gregor could see
no reason to fear either the wolves or the goblins from where he stood on the
safety of the opposite bank, and moved closer for a better look. None of the
participants took any notice of his arrival, so focused were they on their
opponents' destruction. Gregor noticed almost immediately that the goblins
seemed to be particularly intent upon protecting one of their number that
jumped and screeched from the center of the circle. This individual was
distinctive because, unlike the others, it wielded a short crude sword and
carried a hide shield. There was a wolf's skull fastened to its head with what
appeared to be straps formed of hide, and it was clothed in makeshift hide
armor as well. The center of the circle was littered with several bodies, both
of slain wolves and goblins.
                The
wolves also seemed to be guided by leaders of their own kind. Two larger wolves,
one with an auburn cast to its fur and the other with a gray coat that blended
to white, moved around the ring of goblins at opposite sides of the circle
formed by the wolves.   A growl or bark
from one or both of them signaled a few wolves to break away from encircling
the humanoids.   Their intention was
obvious as the wolves broke the ranks of the yelling goblins, with one of the
wolves always angling its charge toward the goblin leader. This fact had not
gone unnoticed by the shield-bearing leader, either. The largest concentration
of the dead wolves lay at his feet. Still, despite his apparent success, the
circle was growing tighter as the goblin force weakened with each attack.
Gregor found he was hoping the wolves would kill the goblin leader.
                It
seemed the large gray wolf had grown weary of seeing its brothers and sisters
slain. There was no warning as the huge animal charged into the circle,
knocking the goblins out of its path as they moved to block it. The goblin
leader turned to take it head on, bracing his feet and bringing his shield full
to face the beast. A great howl erupted from the large auburn wolf, and at once
the wolves encircling the goblins moved as one to take the remaining spear-men.
Gregor was entranced as the action unfolded. The auburn colored pack leader
moved into the path of the