The Eight Walls of Rogar: An Epic Fantasy Adventure Series! (The Lost Kingdoms of Laotswend Trilogy--Book One) by William Woodward Page A
Authors: William Woodward
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apparent grief, making him wonder just how much she understood about what had happened.
For the next several hours they paused only briefly to rest and eat, walking up and down hills tangled with brush, trudging through knee-deep bogs teeming with all manner of creatures that crawled and slithered, crossing over streams made treacherous by banks of sucking mud, all of it seeming specifically designed to slow their progress. Despite the difficulty, Andaris kept pushing the pace, determined to reach Stonegarden before nightfall.
As day gave way to evening, however, and long shadows snaked across the forest floor, he was forced to admit this was not going to happen. Finally, with a frustrated sigh, he stopped and peered up at the sky. “I guess we’ll have to camp after all,” he said to Jade.
She sat down and barked once.
He scratched her behind the ear as she rubbed against him. “At least I have you,” he said.
Jade suddenly stood rigid, a deep growl resonating from the back of her throat.
“What is it?” he asked. Was she growling at him…or at something behind him? He spun, and though he didn’t see anything threatening, unclipped the crossbow. As he raised it up, two ferocious looking creatures came charging from the trees, standing over six feet tall with pointed beaks and wicked, curving talons.
Andaris fired on impulse, and to his amazement the creature in the lead dropped, the bolt disappearing between heavy black feathers. He couldn’t believe it. He’d actually hit one. One what though? Was it some kind of bird? If so, not a type with which he was familiar. But there was no time to speculate. The other creature was closing fast, screeching loudly at the death of its mate. Before pulling the second trigger, Andaris took careful aim, holding his breath and closing one eye. The catch released. The string twanged out. The bolt shot forward and…sunk into the side of a tree. Cursing his incompetence, he threw the crossbow to the ground and drew his thin-bladed knife. It seemed so small, so insignificant, against the shrieking mass of the beast.
Just before the thing crashed into him, Jade lunged to intercept, all gnashing teeth and raking claws. Clamping the nape of her neck in its beak, it shook her like a rag doll, leaving deep gouges along her sides and back. Andaris knew she had probably saved his life, but also knew she didn’t stand a chance. As he scrambled to get behind it, Jade let out a sharp yelp. Using all his strength, he buried his blade to the hilt into the bird’s broad back, stabbing between its plated feathers to the soft skin beneath.
It whirled on him as he stepped away, throwing Jade to the ground, then began pecking for his eyes and mouth.
Jade regained her feet and leapt onto its shoulders, biting into the side of its neck.
With an ear-piercing screech the beast slammed into Andaris.
All three crashed to the ground, Andaris’ breath exploding from his lungs as they hit.
It thrashed about wildly, pulling up his scale mail shirt, scraping its claws across his stomach and chest.
Struggling to breathe, Andaris reached around its body and yanked out his knife.
The thing squawked in surprise and reared up.
Andaris stabbed the knife into its chest again and again, drenching himself in its hot, tar-like blood.
It convulsed, spewed more steaming gore from its mouth, and collapsed on top of him.
Andaris tried to roll the thing over, but the enormous bird was too heavy. Grunting and cursing, he eventually managed to slip out from beneath instead. Lying back, he pulled down his shirt and drew a ragged breath. When he was strong enough, he sat up and looked around for Jade.
There she is, he thought, spotting her sprawled in a twisted heap a few feet away. He struggled to his feet and walked slowly to her, each step an agony for him. “Are you…are you all right?” he asked. To his great relief, she opened her eyes
For the next several hours they paused only briefly to rest and eat, walking up and down hills tangled with brush, trudging through knee-deep bogs teeming with all manner of creatures that crawled and slithered, crossing over streams made treacherous by banks of sucking mud, all of it seeming specifically designed to slow their progress. Despite the difficulty, Andaris kept pushing the pace, determined to reach Stonegarden before nightfall.
As day gave way to evening, however, and long shadows snaked across the forest floor, he was forced to admit this was not going to happen. Finally, with a frustrated sigh, he stopped and peered up at the sky. “I guess we’ll have to camp after all,” he said to Jade.
She sat down and barked once.
He scratched her behind the ear as she rubbed against him. “At least I have you,” he said.
Jade suddenly stood rigid, a deep growl resonating from the back of her throat.
“What is it?” he asked. Was she growling at him…or at something behind him? He spun, and though he didn’t see anything threatening, unclipped the crossbow. As he raised it up, two ferocious looking creatures came charging from the trees, standing over six feet tall with pointed beaks and wicked, curving talons.
Andaris fired on impulse, and to his amazement the creature in the lead dropped, the bolt disappearing between heavy black feathers. He couldn’t believe it. He’d actually hit one. One what though? Was it some kind of bird? If so, not a type with which he was familiar. But there was no time to speculate. The other creature was closing fast, screeching loudly at the death of its mate. Before pulling the second trigger, Andaris took careful aim, holding his breath and closing one eye. The catch released. The string twanged out. The bolt shot forward and…sunk into the side of a tree. Cursing his incompetence, he threw the crossbow to the ground and drew his thin-bladed knife. It seemed so small, so insignificant, against the shrieking mass of the beast.
Just before the thing crashed into him, Jade lunged to intercept, all gnashing teeth and raking claws. Clamping the nape of her neck in its beak, it shook her like a rag doll, leaving deep gouges along her sides and back. Andaris knew she had probably saved his life, but also knew she didn’t stand a chance. As he scrambled to get behind it, Jade let out a sharp yelp. Using all his strength, he buried his blade to the hilt into the bird’s broad back, stabbing between its plated feathers to the soft skin beneath.
It whirled on him as he stepped away, throwing Jade to the ground, then began pecking for his eyes and mouth.
Jade regained her feet and leapt onto its shoulders, biting into the side of its neck.
With an ear-piercing screech the beast slammed into Andaris.
All three crashed to the ground, Andaris’ breath exploding from his lungs as they hit.
It thrashed about wildly, pulling up his scale mail shirt, scraping its claws across his stomach and chest.
Struggling to breathe, Andaris reached around its body and yanked out his knife.
The thing squawked in surprise and reared up.
Andaris stabbed the knife into its chest again and again, drenching himself in its hot, tar-like blood.
It convulsed, spewed more steaming gore from its mouth, and collapsed on top of him.
Andaris tried to roll the thing over, but the enormous bird was too heavy. Grunting and cursing, he eventually managed to slip out from beneath instead. Lying back, he pulled down his shirt and drew a ragged breath. When he was strong enough, he sat up and looked around for Jade.
There she is, he thought, spotting her sprawled in a twisted heap a few feet away. He struggled to his feet and walked slowly to her, each step an agony for him. “Are you…are you all right?” he asked. To his great relief, she opened her eyes
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