Read Online The Hidden Realm: Book 04 - Ennodius by A. Giannetti - Free Book Online
Authors: A. Giannetti
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turf around the carcass was torn and gouged, bearing witness to the titanic struggle that must have taken place before the death of the bull. As he took in the enormous, dagger pointed horns and the gigantic size of the ox, Elerian comprehended for the first time the true might of the dragon which they must eventually confront. He wondered where it was now and involuntarily glanced up at the sky, but it remained empty except for the carrion birds wheeling about overhead.
“The dragon made this kill,” continued Ascilius. The sounds of the struggle no doubt panicked the beasts we saw this morning. She must have returned to Ennodius after feeding on the bull. It is bad news for Orianus if the beast is now hunting south of the Tanicus. His forces and herds will no longer be safe from the dragon’s predations.”
The longer he stared at the carcass, the more agitated Ascilius became. After muttering inaudibly to himself for a moment, he abruptly turned to his right where he thought Enias was standing and shouted in a harsh voice, “Follow me no more, Elerian! I will not have your blood on my hands.”
The outburst took Elerian by surprise and also annoyed him, for he had thought this matter already settled. Suddenly weary of the somber gloom that had shrouded their journey like a dark cloud; he decided that a bit of mischief was in order.
“I am behind you,” he said loudly, smiling in amusement when Ascilius started violently and almost fell out of his saddle again.
Elerian made himself and Ascilius visible once more, regarding the overwrought Dwarf with steady gray eyes as Ascilius turned to face him.
“Fool!” shouted Ascilius. “This is no time for levity. What must I say to convince you to leave me?”
“I thought I made it plain enough that there are no words you can speak which will drive me away,” said Elerian, suddenly serious once more. “I know you fear for my life, but riding away from you will not make me any safer. I may avoid the dragon if I leave your side, but Torquatus will continue to look for me. Imagine his pleasure when he finds that he only needs to deal with one of us at a time.”
“The one who first named the Dwarves a stubborn, stiff necked people almost certainly never had any dealings with Elves,” said Ascilius, gnawing his beard in frustration. Without another word, he urged his mare out of the hollow and resumed the journey north. Following behind the Dwarf, Elerian made them all invisible again.
After leaving the hollow, they now saw no game bigger than a hare, for all the larger animals had fled south and east. When they reached the banks of the Tanicus, the shadows were already lengthening toward the east. Elerian ended his invisibility spell lest its golden glow give them away in the gathering dark.
The thick groves of willows and alders that lined the banks of the small river, some of them substantial trees forty and fifty feet tall, were a welcome sight to the two companions. After making sure there were no lions nearby, they camped for the night under the trees growing on the south bank of the river. Once more, they ate another cold meal, for they did not dare to risk a fire. Ascilius spoke little, staring moodily at the ground as he ate and seemed to take no pleasure in his meal. Elerian had not seen the Dwarf this withdrawn since their time in the Goblins' mines.
When Ascilius rolled himself into his blankets and cloak, Elerian rose and walked out from under the trees lining the riverbank. Maintaining the invisibility spell for a second day had tired him again, but he felt too restless to sit and rest. Above him, the black dome of the heavens seemed close enough to touch. Nets of diamond bright stars were scattered across the sky, too numerous to count. A short distance away, under the trees to his left, Enias was cropping grass along the edge of the trees, tearing the succulent stems with his strong teeth. Under the starlight, his gray coat had darkened so
“The dragon made this kill,” continued Ascilius. The sounds of the struggle no doubt panicked the beasts we saw this morning. She must have returned to Ennodius after feeding on the bull. It is bad news for Orianus if the beast is now hunting south of the Tanicus. His forces and herds will no longer be safe from the dragon’s predations.”
The longer he stared at the carcass, the more agitated Ascilius became. After muttering inaudibly to himself for a moment, he abruptly turned to his right where he thought Enias was standing and shouted in a harsh voice, “Follow me no more, Elerian! I will not have your blood on my hands.”
The outburst took Elerian by surprise and also annoyed him, for he had thought this matter already settled. Suddenly weary of the somber gloom that had shrouded their journey like a dark cloud; he decided that a bit of mischief was in order.
“I am behind you,” he said loudly, smiling in amusement when Ascilius started violently and almost fell out of his saddle again.
Elerian made himself and Ascilius visible once more, regarding the overwrought Dwarf with steady gray eyes as Ascilius turned to face him.
“Fool!” shouted Ascilius. “This is no time for levity. What must I say to convince you to leave me?”
“I thought I made it plain enough that there are no words you can speak which will drive me away,” said Elerian, suddenly serious once more. “I know you fear for my life, but riding away from you will not make me any safer. I may avoid the dragon if I leave your side, but Torquatus will continue to look for me. Imagine his pleasure when he finds that he only needs to deal with one of us at a time.”
“The one who first named the Dwarves a stubborn, stiff necked people almost certainly never had any dealings with Elves,” said Ascilius, gnawing his beard in frustration. Without another word, he urged his mare out of the hollow and resumed the journey north. Following behind the Dwarf, Elerian made them all invisible again.
After leaving the hollow, they now saw no game bigger than a hare, for all the larger animals had fled south and east. When they reached the banks of the Tanicus, the shadows were already lengthening toward the east. Elerian ended his invisibility spell lest its golden glow give them away in the gathering dark.
The thick groves of willows and alders that lined the banks of the small river, some of them substantial trees forty and fifty feet tall, were a welcome sight to the two companions. After making sure there were no lions nearby, they camped for the night under the trees growing on the south bank of the river. Once more, they ate another cold meal, for they did not dare to risk a fire. Ascilius spoke little, staring moodily at the ground as he ate and seemed to take no pleasure in his meal. Elerian had not seen the Dwarf this withdrawn since their time in the Goblins' mines.
When Ascilius rolled himself into his blankets and cloak, Elerian rose and walked out from under the trees lining the riverbank. Maintaining the invisibility spell for a second day had tired him again, but he felt too restless to sit and rest. Above him, the black dome of the heavens seemed close enough to touch. Nets of diamond bright stars were scattered across the sky, too numerous to count. A short distance away, under the trees to his left, Enias was cropping grass along the edge of the trees, tearing the succulent stems with his strong teeth. Under the starlight, his gray coat had darkened so
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