 
       
|
DragonlustChapter XII: Dragons In The Neverwood
Just as Gib prepared for his final battle there was a cry in the air and then, a bolt of dark lightning struck the small knight in the face. It was Griffin. The scarred knight would have a few more scratches Gib guessed, but before anyone could even think there was a bellowing growl and a long bear arm swatted the one eyed knight into a tree. The bear tuned to charge the other assailant but the man was already subdued. He had tripped apparently and had fallen head first into a pitfall.
The bear approached the kicking legs, nosing them curiously. Finally they stopped and when they had, Grizzle grabbed one of the boots with his mouth and pulled the sorry knight out of the pit. He was unconscious, most likely from lack of oxygen. The other knight was out as well, and possibly had some broken bones, though it was hard to say. When Gib had finished examining him he stood up and spoke.
I must say, Grizzle, you had me worried there for a second but you came through and once more I am in your debt. And you, Griffin, don't you think that I don't know who it was that warned grizzle of my peril, or who it was that put this scarred knight in that hole. You are in my thanks as much as Grizzle. Now... lets have a look at this dragon...
Gib picked up one of the swords and walked over to the dragon. He stood there for a moment puzzling over what he had just heard.
“You let me worry about him. When we get out of these woods we'll head strait to crusader land and collect our reward. With that and the loot we stole we'll be living like kings.”
“Well it's enough for me that we're out of dragon lands. I hate dragons. The sooner we get rid of this big lizard the better.”
“Were they talking about you?” Gib asked aloud. The dragon didn’t look like it would be worth any reward. Aside from its immense size it was nothing to look at. Especially now, as it lay on the ground gasping for air.
“He must have been a slave dragon.” Gib thought. “One used for mining.”
He had heard of such things. Still, why should he help this overgrown serpent? Was it not a dragon who had taken Gart from him? Gib looked at the dragon again. Its eyes were rolled back in its head and a dark ribbon of dragon blood was trickling from its mouth. Gib recoiled. If there was one thing he hated more then dragons it was dragon blood. Griffin flew off again but Gib didn’t care. Slowly he knelt beside the dragon and reaching across its head he whispered in the dragon's ear.
“Now you dragon, calm your fire and hear my words. Your race owes me a great debt. A debt that no dragon save one can repay. Yet, somehow I am moved by a compassion that comes from whence I cannot fathom. Therefore take your vile freedom and leave.”
And with that Gib swung the sword high and broke the collars at the latch.
What happened next was the most horrible, rasping, sputtering, chugging, gargling, rattling sound you ever heard. The dragon was inhaling. Gib didn’t know if the noise came from the beast’s throat or from the muzzle but he didn’t have time to think about it because the dragon was thrashing and jerking about like it was on fire. Gib barely moved back in time to keep from getting hit by the tail. He wasn’t as young as he used to be.
When the dragon finally stood up, his muzzle and pack were gone. The dragon whirled around and glared at them. There was smoke in its nostrils and fire in its eyes, like a dog who had been beat all its life and now had its chance for revenge. Gib stood with his sword at the ready, (even if he didn’t know how to use it ) and with Grizzle at his back.
The dragon drew in it's breath. It was about to make a fire ball, but than it stopped. It starred at Gib for a second as though he knew him. Then Gib remembered...this was the same dragon who had attacked Gart and him back in that clearing all those years ago.
“You!” he screamed.
He wanted to destroy the vile beast but before he could charge there was a screech and suddenly Griffin darted through the clearing.
Then came another cry, but this was further back in the forest and this one came from a dragon.
More dragons? thought Gib. He already had his hands full with one. Or did he? The dragon had ran off as soon as it heard the others.
“Griffin... Griffin…” Gib called. The bird darted back into the clearing.
“What's going on my friend?”
The hawk was in a panic. It darted back and forth, not even stopping to land on Gib's arm.
“All right Griffin, you follow that dragon... I'll not let that vile worm escape... Grizzle go find Jackal, it seems that were under attack.”
The bear shook its shaggy head, not wanting to leave. “Go Grizzle I have to stay and figure out what's going on.”
Besides, Gib thought to himself, the bear would be little help against the many dragons Griffin had mentioned.
The bear lumbered off and Gib found himself alone with the noises of some large group heading his way. Quickly he left the path and headed down to a small bog. There he found what he was looking for... Hellicrisim reeds. They always had that sharp smell to them. If anything could throw off a dragons sense of smell it was Hellicrisim reeds.
Gib hurried back and reached the road at a place a little further up and around a bend from where he left it. Just as he arrived the troop came into view. What he saw made his blood want to freeze and boil at the same time. Dragons...lots of them. It couldn't have been less then a score and it was probably the most dragons Gib had seen in his life. All of them had riders, high knights of the Order of the Dragon.
“Halt, Targon, I must speak with you.”
“Yes, Caimlin?”
“Are you sure this is a wise idea my friend? If Lord Void finds out that you took a score of his finest knights of their posts just to capture some runaways…”
“This is a personal matter Caimlin, and as to the numbers, I do not trust these woods. If you remember, it was from these very woods that the deceiver came.”
“I know my lord, but who really cares about Bargon…”
“Silence! Have I not told you to never mention my brother’s name?”
“Yes Targon, you have, but that’s just it. Wouldn’t you be better off without him messing up your plans? And as to that other one, that Marus, we all glad that that sniveling whiner left. In addition, the men are uneasy, we must turn back.”
“The men are uneasy? Why don't you just say it... you are all afraid! Do you not think I am afraid as well?”
“No sir.”
“Well I am! Every breath of air in this horrid place fills me with dread. Yet, do I say turn back? Know this my friend. That it is not of courage nor of will to impress that I carry on. Rather it is the thought that I may find my brother and put an end to that thorn in my side.”
“Do not chastise me for a coward. You know as well as I do the fables of this Neverwood. You said yourself that it was from here that the deceiver came. And what about the guardian? Some accounts say that he was in league with the deceiver. A man would be mad to enter this wood without fear.”
“Your points are all good my friend but I will not be deterred.” and with that he spurred his dragon around the bend.
Immediately he gave a cry of triumph and the company flew to his aid. Gib footed off after them. He knew what it was that had startled the leader and when he got there he found that he had guessed rightly. There was the leader, standing over the unconscious form of his brother.
“It looks like there was some kind of fight.” he said.
“Bear tracks, dragon tracks. Lots of boot prints.”
“Well,” Targon said, silencing the other voices “I know not where the dragon has got to, nor what has become of Marus, but if no one has objection I propose that we take our prize and fly with all speed out of this cursed forest.”
To this there was a loud cry of consent followed by orders.
“Pack up that gold, men.”
“Grab those choke collars.”
“I’ve got Bargon.”
“Shut up!”
Gib was bewildered. He watched them as they loaded the one-eyed knight onto the dragon’s back. Where was the other one? The scarred knight that they called Marus. The Dragon Masters thundered back to the forest border and still no Marus.
Great. thought Gib more things to worry about.
He ran quietly across the road were he found the knights tracks. They were heading east, away from dragon land and straight into the Neverwood.
| Previous Chapter | Next Chapter |
|
|
