Read Online The White Dragon by Salvador Mercer - Free Book Online Page B

evidence that you worked with the Kesh.”
    Eric nodded, thinking the old man was right. “Well, then what?”
    Diamedes put the glass back into his pocket and looked at the tall, aging mercenary. “I’m afraid you’re going to need to find your dragon and perhaps the reason why the Kesh saved your life. I can assure you it wasn’t an altruistic gesture.”
    “No,” Eric said. “They’re up to something, that’s for sure.”
    “Time to go.” Diamedes nodded in the direction of the entrance where Galen stood next to their troops also lined in a column, ready for the march down the mountain. “Do you have friends or companions you can call upon to help you in this quest?”
    Eric nodded. “Acquaintances would be a better word to use to describe them.”
    “Best if you get them ready. I don’t think the magistrate is going to let this go, and Justiciar Corwin is obligated to make a ruling.”
    The two men walked toward Galen at the front of the group and prepared to depart. Eric didn’t bother to respond, pondering the historian’s words and not wanting the magistrate to hear their conversation. Everyone was somewhat at ease with the tension of “the dragon” encounter firmly behind them. Therefore, they were most unprepared for the attack when they stepped out of the cavern and onto the narrow trail.
    The first wolf landed on Eric’s back, biting into his neck. It would have killed him if the historian hadn’t yelled a warning a split second before. The impact knocked him on his chest, and the bite took out a piece of flesh at the base of his neck. Blood once again covered the snowy, white ground.
    Several more attacks impacted several soldiers, and Galen found himself sliding down the same slope that Eric had hurled himself upon over a week earlier to escape the dragon. Only by stabbing the ice with his sword was he able to stop his momentum, and the large white wolf that had attacked him slid down the slope, scrambling furiously with its clawed paws.
    Cries came from the soldiers as they counterattacked with their pikes and spears. They were of scant use in such a confined space, caught between the mountain and the slippery slope. Many dropped their long arms and drew their blades. Diamedes managed to dodge his own attack by ducking, and the wolf bounced a few steps before turning to face the historian, who had now drawn a rather wicked-looking dagger.
    The wolves howled, and only their bright blue eyes, seemingly to gleam against the white snow, gave away their position easily. Their white fur coats were the perfect camouflage. Eric managed to roll over on the narrow path, rolling on top of his attacker. Drawing his dagger from his belt, he stabbed backward, hitting the wolf in its torso and eliciting a growl as the creature clawed at him, ripping up his cloak in the process.
    Diamedes ran to him and stabbed the wolf in the eye, killing it instantly, and then offered a hand to Eric, who took it, standing up. “I was going to tell you to get behind me, but maybe I should take cover behind you?”
    The small historian nodded, and the wolf that had attacked renewed its effort by leaping at the old man. Eric drew his blade and stabbed the animal as it landed on them, all three falling back down again into the snow.
    “This is getting old,” Diamedes said, struggling to pull his legs free from under the huge wolf’s body. Eric did likewise, kicking the wolf over the edge of the pathway, where it slid away.
    “Help,” Galen called out from nearby.
    Both historian and mercenary crawled over to the edge of the trail, not bothering to stand since they were already on their backsides. Not far below the wolf that had attacked, the magistrate was making progress with its sharp claws, gaining traction and slowly approaching Galen, whose sword was implanted into the ice, holding him in place. He had stowed away his brand when they had left and had no other weapon other than a knife that he couldn’t reach in