Wicked War of Mine (Overworld Chronicles Book 9) by John Corwin Page A
Authors: John Corwin
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pointing.
I nodded. "Destroy. Kill. Much fun."
"Do you really think it understands you?" Elyssa said from behind me.
I almost jumped out of my pants. I looked back and saw her gripping one of the spines just below the tragon's wings. "When did you come in here?"
"Just now." She shook her head and sighed. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Imagine how Daelissa's people will feel when they see me and Trago coming."
Her forehead wrinkled. "Now it has a name?"
" He has a name." I patted the tragon's neck. "Let's kick some ass, Trago."
"You are the absolute worst at coming up with names." Elyssa situated herself between two of the spines. She kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear. "You're so sexy when you're wrestling giant dinosaurs."
I squeezed her hand. "If I didn't have a war to fight, I'd take you on a ride through the countryside."
She nipped my ear. "If only." A sigh escaped her throat. "Let's go. We don't have a lot of time before the army we pushed back in the way station makes it up here."
I really wanted to make out with her right then and there. How many people could scratch an experience like this off their bucket list? Unfortunately, duty called. "Giddyup, Trago." I gave the tragon a light slap on the neck.
It didn't move.
I wiggled around. "C'mon. Move. Let's go blow up some stuff."
Trago apparently wasn't having any of it. He snorted and started to walk back into the forest.
"So much for being the first tragon whisperer," Elyssa said in a wry tone.
"Seriously?" I shouted. "I offer you the chance to go ham and you just walk back into the woods? Don't you want a little adventure in your life?"
"Either it doesn't understand you, or it's a lot smarter than it looks," Elyssa said.
As the tragon pushed further into the forest, I realized we'd either have to get off and hoof it back, or figure out a quick way to turn around this reptilian tank. Since I knew the thing's snout was a tender spot, I channeled two thick coils of Murk, curving the ends and hooking them into Trago's nose. I pulled on the right rope. The tragon trumpeted with pain. Its head rotated to alleviate the pressure, but I kept pulling until it was forced to turn its entire body.
When we were headed the way I wanted, I released the pressure and the monster stayed on course. We reached the edge of the forest.
"Open the shield, Shelton!" I called down.
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I sure as hell hope you got that thing under control."
"Of course," I lied. "Total control."
Shelton waved his staff, and a section of the forest shield flickered off. I nudged the tragon forward. For a second, he didn't move so I willed the hooks in his nose to pull forward. The beast made a whining noise and stepped forward slowly, almost as if he expected to run into the shield at any moment.
The Blue Cloaks and Templars gave the creature a wide berth as it tromped past. Once he reached the grassy field, the tragon looked around. He sniffed the air and looked toward the distant stadium.
"Let's go kick some ass," I said and released the spell keeping the monster's mouth clamped shut.
A low rumble sounded in Trago's throat. He looked back at me for a moment. I figured if he had eyebrows, he would have arched one. His head flicked forward. Without warning, Trago sprang forward at incredible speed. He trumpeted a loud roar. Clods of earth flew up behind us. Every time the tragon panted, I felt heat wash across my face. I looked back and saw the bulk of our troops rushing across the field behind the tragon.
I saw two men exit through the massive archway leading inside the stadium. Their faces lit with horror and they ran screaming back inside. Trago roared. His claws clacked as he ran across the stone-paved walkway around the stadium. My mount rushed through the archway and burst into the arena. Two massive construction golems turned to face the beast. The gems on their heads glowed.
Dazzling light beams shot at my monster. At first,
I nodded. "Destroy. Kill. Much fun."
"Do you really think it understands you?" Elyssa said from behind me.
I almost jumped out of my pants. I looked back and saw her gripping one of the spines just below the tragon's wings. "When did you come in here?"
"Just now." She shook her head and sighed. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Imagine how Daelissa's people will feel when they see me and Trago coming."
Her forehead wrinkled. "Now it has a name?"
" He has a name." I patted the tragon's neck. "Let's kick some ass, Trago."
"You are the absolute worst at coming up with names." Elyssa situated herself between two of the spines. She kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear. "You're so sexy when you're wrestling giant dinosaurs."
I squeezed her hand. "If I didn't have a war to fight, I'd take you on a ride through the countryside."
She nipped my ear. "If only." A sigh escaped her throat. "Let's go. We don't have a lot of time before the army we pushed back in the way station makes it up here."
I really wanted to make out with her right then and there. How many people could scratch an experience like this off their bucket list? Unfortunately, duty called. "Giddyup, Trago." I gave the tragon a light slap on the neck.
It didn't move.
I wiggled around. "C'mon. Move. Let's go blow up some stuff."
Trago apparently wasn't having any of it. He snorted and started to walk back into the forest.
"So much for being the first tragon whisperer," Elyssa said in a wry tone.
"Seriously?" I shouted. "I offer you the chance to go ham and you just walk back into the woods? Don't you want a little adventure in your life?"
"Either it doesn't understand you, or it's a lot smarter than it looks," Elyssa said.
As the tragon pushed further into the forest, I realized we'd either have to get off and hoof it back, or figure out a quick way to turn around this reptilian tank. Since I knew the thing's snout was a tender spot, I channeled two thick coils of Murk, curving the ends and hooking them into Trago's nose. I pulled on the right rope. The tragon trumpeted with pain. Its head rotated to alleviate the pressure, but I kept pulling until it was forced to turn its entire body.
When we were headed the way I wanted, I released the pressure and the monster stayed on course. We reached the edge of the forest.
"Open the shield, Shelton!" I called down.
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I sure as hell hope you got that thing under control."
"Of course," I lied. "Total control."
Shelton waved his staff, and a section of the forest shield flickered off. I nudged the tragon forward. For a second, he didn't move so I willed the hooks in his nose to pull forward. The beast made a whining noise and stepped forward slowly, almost as if he expected to run into the shield at any moment.
The Blue Cloaks and Templars gave the creature a wide berth as it tromped past. Once he reached the grassy field, the tragon looked around. He sniffed the air and looked toward the distant stadium.
"Let's go kick some ass," I said and released the spell keeping the monster's mouth clamped shut.
A low rumble sounded in Trago's throat. He looked back at me for a moment. I figured if he had eyebrows, he would have arched one. His head flicked forward. Without warning, Trago sprang forward at incredible speed. He trumpeted a loud roar. Clods of earth flew up behind us. Every time the tragon panted, I felt heat wash across my face. I looked back and saw the bulk of our troops rushing across the field behind the tragon.
I saw two men exit through the massive archway leading inside the stadium. Their faces lit with horror and they ran screaming back inside. Trago roared. His claws clacked as he ran across the stone-paved walkway around the stadium. My mount rushed through the archway and burst into the arena. Two massive construction golems turned to face the beast. The gems on their heads glowed.
Dazzling light beams shot at my monster. At first,
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