his chest and the rope burn around his ankle throbbed with it. He was also tired of following Craugh’s instructions blindly.
Hallekk continued bellowing orders, bringing discipline back to the fearful crew. Critter, for all that everyone despised the rhowdor, performed admirably, calling out commands as well.
The ship lurched again, once more struck by its attacker. Before the crew could recover, the monster raised its broad head from the depths. The prow pointed right at the bearded hoar-worm. Malignant intelligence gleamed in the creature’s black eyes. The massive jaws opened and sea froth poured forth. It towered twenty feet above the main mast.
One-Eyed Peggie slammed into the creature, shuddering, then sliding past, gliding along the slick scales. The bearded hoar-worm lunged forward, swooping toward the dwarves clinging in the rigging. Before it could close its terrible jaws, Craugh stepped forward and raised a hand.
Green lightning gathered around the wizard’s hand. Harsh, sibilant words cracked over the low growl of the wind.
The bearded hoar-worm’s attack halted a few feet distant from the dwarves, who had panicked and dropped from the rigging. An invisible
wall held the monster back as it lashed out again and again. Then it lunged forward again, attacking from the side and striking Craugh.
Propelled by the creature’s immense strength, the wizard vanished over the ship’s side. Juhg couldn’t believe what he’d seen.
“Attack!” Hallekk bellowed. “Attack this cursed thing!”
The pirates massed with weapons, drawing cutlasses and battle-axes. Juhg drew his knife, though he knew it would hardly make a dent in the monster.
When the bearded hoar-worm launched itself again, the pirates scattered. But this time they also struck back, swinging their weapons with all the might they could muster. Unfortunately, the weapons had little or no effect against the rigid scales that plated the monster.
Attacking yet again, the creature seized a dwarf in his mouth and bit him in two. As it swung its great head about, the monster struck the mainmast and snapped it in half only a few feet from the deck. Shorn of its support, the mast fell to the starboard side. Two pirates went down under the rigging and sails, and One-Eyed Peggie tilted dangerously.
Juhg took a tighter grip on his knife, but he knew it was useless. We’re going to die. Either the monster will kill us or destroy the ship and we’ll perish in the water. Even if we survive that, we’ll be helpless in these waters, and we won’t find any friends here.
Still, even as he resigned himself to his fate, Juhg’s main concern was for the Grandmagister. Since he was taken from his own family by the goblinkin slavers, Juhg had never really been close to anyone. Until the Grandmagister had taken him in, cared for him, and taught him everything he knew. Now he was going to die and there would be no one to rescue the Grandmagister from the hands of the goblinkin.
Even faced with an opponent they could not vanquish, the pirates girded themselves for battle. Juhg ran to join their ranks. There was no other place for him.
“ENOUGH!” Craugh’s voice split the howling wind.
Completely surprised, thinking that if the wizard wasn’t dead they had surely left him behind because One-Eyed Peggie still ran before the wind, Juhg turned toward the starboard side. Even the monster gave pause.
Amazingly, Craugh rose on a swell of ocean that acted independently
of the swirling sea. Wild green fire tinted the water, glowing and shifting within it like coals on a brazier.
Drenched by the sea, the wizard stood wide-legged on the tide. He’d lost his hat and his gray hair and beard hung in matted clumps. With the cloak wet and sticking to him, he looked like a drenched cat, somehow shorn of its size. If he hadn’t been riding the sea, obviously in control of at least that part of it, he would have looked like an old man about to meet his doom.
But Juhg knew
Hallekk continued bellowing orders, bringing discipline back to the fearful crew. Critter, for all that everyone despised the rhowdor, performed admirably, calling out commands as well.
The ship lurched again, once more struck by its attacker. Before the crew could recover, the monster raised its broad head from the depths. The prow pointed right at the bearded hoar-worm. Malignant intelligence gleamed in the creature’s black eyes. The massive jaws opened and sea froth poured forth. It towered twenty feet above the main mast.
One-Eyed Peggie slammed into the creature, shuddering, then sliding past, gliding along the slick scales. The bearded hoar-worm lunged forward, swooping toward the dwarves clinging in the rigging. Before it could close its terrible jaws, Craugh stepped forward and raised a hand.
Green lightning gathered around the wizard’s hand. Harsh, sibilant words cracked over the low growl of the wind.
The bearded hoar-worm’s attack halted a few feet distant from the dwarves, who had panicked and dropped from the rigging. An invisible
wall held the monster back as it lashed out again and again. Then it lunged forward again, attacking from the side and striking Craugh.
Propelled by the creature’s immense strength, the wizard vanished over the ship’s side. Juhg couldn’t believe what he’d seen.
“Attack!” Hallekk bellowed. “Attack this cursed thing!”
The pirates massed with weapons, drawing cutlasses and battle-axes. Juhg drew his knife, though he knew it would hardly make a dent in the monster.
When the bearded hoar-worm launched itself again, the pirates scattered. But this time they also struck back, swinging their weapons with all the might they could muster. Unfortunately, the weapons had little or no effect against the rigid scales that plated the monster.
Attacking yet again, the creature seized a dwarf in his mouth and bit him in two. As it swung its great head about, the monster struck the mainmast and snapped it in half only a few feet from the deck. Shorn of its support, the mast fell to the starboard side. Two pirates went down under the rigging and sails, and One-Eyed Peggie tilted dangerously.
Juhg took a tighter grip on his knife, but he knew it was useless. We’re going to die. Either the monster will kill us or destroy the ship and we’ll perish in the water. Even if we survive that, we’ll be helpless in these waters, and we won’t find any friends here.
Still, even as he resigned himself to his fate, Juhg’s main concern was for the Grandmagister. Since he was taken from his own family by the goblinkin slavers, Juhg had never really been close to anyone. Until the Grandmagister had taken him in, cared for him, and taught him everything he knew. Now he was going to die and there would be no one to rescue the Grandmagister from the hands of the goblinkin.
Even faced with an opponent they could not vanquish, the pirates girded themselves for battle. Juhg ran to join their ranks. There was no other place for him.
“ENOUGH!” Craugh’s voice split the howling wind.
Completely surprised, thinking that if the wizard wasn’t dead they had surely left him behind because One-Eyed Peggie still ran before the wind, Juhg turned toward the starboard side. Even the monster gave pause.
Amazingly, Craugh rose on a swell of ocean that acted independently
of the swirling sea. Wild green fire tinted the water, glowing and shifting within it like coals on a brazier.
Drenched by the sea, the wizard stood wide-legged on the tide. He’d lost his hat and his gray hair and beard hung in matted clumps. With the cloak wet and sticking to him, he looked like a drenched cat, somehow shorn of its size. If he hadn’t been riding the sea, obviously in control of at least that part of it, he would have looked like an old man about to meet his doom.
But Juhg knew
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