Terror At The Temple (Book 3) by Craig Halloran

emerged from behind a wall and stepped onto the catwalk. My sword Fang hung at his hip. My breast plate armor adorned his chest. My bow. My quiver and my pack. Infuriated, my heart thundered in my chest.
    But he was different. His face was no longer that of a man, but an animal’s. A Jackal’s.
    “I see everything is in order,” The Jackal said, yellow eyes glowering at me. “I see our guest is bright eyed and bushy tailed. No matter.” He fingered his claws over my sword. “Nothing I can’t handle if need be.”
    A were-jackal. Another cursed man, like myself, but more like Corzan: corrupted by the evil. I felt a sliver of fear inside as I wondered if they’d both been good men once. I wondered what was in store for me. I rubbed the white spot of scales on my hand and vowed to do more good, given the chance.
    “Farmers!” the Jackal yelled, the moonlight shining brightly on his face, “the time has come that you paid for your deceit. I told you when I came: what’s yours is mine and mine alone, yet you stole. You sought to warn my enemies. And now you must pay.”
    The father and son trembled. Nalzambor was full of wonders, but I was certain they’d never seen a were-jackal before. Lycanthropes were evil. And there were plenty of stories and legends about them tearing people limb from limb. I could only imagine what was going through their minds at this moment.
    “It’s not much sport, is it?” I managed to say.
    All eyes were on me. Good .
    “But, I guess this is how cowards play,” I added.
    The Jackal leaned on the rail and smiled, his sharp teeth dripping in the moonlight.
    “Oh, the do-gooder speaks. Interesting. And I can only assume you are going to talk and talk until it’s over. Well then, I’ll let the games begin. Enforcers, have at them.”
    Renny, Harvey and Osclar climbed down the ladders, while two more posted themselves at the top. The farmers readied themselves as more clubs and shields were tossed down from above.
    Renny picked up his club and twirled it in the air.
    “This won’t take long. Watch my back, fellas.”
    The farmers shuffled back.
    “Come on; take a swing,” Renny said, sticking his chin out. “I’ll give you a free shot.”
    The father’s swing sailed over Renny’s head.
    Renny walloped him in the stomach, doubling him over.
    The son caught Renny in the shoulder.
    “Ow! You two idiots! I said to watch my back!”
    Harvey and Osclar attacked, swinging hard and fast at that young man. The son gathered himself behind his shield, but they beat it down.
    Wham! Wham! Wham!
    The son folded like a tent.
    Rushing to his son’s aid, the father screamed, “NOOOOOO!” He huddled over his son, but the blows kept coming. I felt sick in my stomach when the men stopped, laughed, and walked off. There was nothing worse than seeing the work of evil first hand.
    “Excellent, men!” the Jackal said. “Now that the warm-up is over, it’s time for the real fight to begin. It’s time to see how tough our visitor truly is. Let him out!”

 
    CHAPTER 13
     
     
    Run! That’s what I needed to do. But not without my gear. And I couldn’t abandon these people. I had to do what I had to do: stand up and fight for what’s right.
    I took my time getting out of the cage. My limbs were sluggish, and my head was full of mud. But I could move at last, and maybe I had my Dragon heart to thank for that. Father had said it could do wonderful things.
    Above, the Jackal stood, arms folded over his chest, all of my gear in place. It made me wonder if I was looking in a mirror. If that was what I would become if I didn’t get my act together, then I had better try, and fast. Dark, primal, animal. That’s what Corzan had called me, an animal. The Enforcers had said I was a freak and a demon. Sorrow and anger mixed in my stomach as I reflected on all I’d done wrong over the years. Holding my stomach, I shuffled forward and glowered up at him.
    “I’ll be needing my gear back, Lycan!” I