01 The Crimson Sword by Thompson Eldon

Author:Thompson, Eldon [Eldon, Thompson,]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T22:27:43.943000+00:00

Even as its life flowed from its wounds in thick streams, the creature hissed contentedly. Kylac jerked awake, roused by the pressures being applied to his body, only to find himself helpless, bound in a crushing grip. He arched his neck in silent agony, unable to breathe. Jarom moaned but failed in his efforts to rise. They were both about to die. There was nothing left to stop it.

As he closed his eyes in acceptance, he was startled by a hair-prickling yowl. Jarom looked up at the sound of an arrow embedding itself within the creatures hide. Another followed, then another, humming through the air, striking with lethal precision. Jarom cringed at the reverberations of the beasts death cry. A dozen arrows, some the size of spears, protruded from its skull. At last, the beast abandoned the fight. With a gurgling grunt, it slumped into the unseen void that had been widening beneath it.

Jarom grinned weakly, then did the same.

Stop shaking me, he demanded. Let me sleep.

Jaroms eyes popped open. Alternating flashes of light and dark danced before his vision.

Allion?

Relief flooded the others concerned countenance. Still, the hunter shook him once more for good measure.

WhatHow did you

Uuyen, Allion answered, saving him the trouble. He came through the door and led me down here. And by the looks of it, not a moment too soon.

The archer twisted to one side, allowing Jarom to gaze groggily past him to where Cwingen Uuyen leaned over the recovering Kylac Kronus, helping the youth to examine his wounds. Beside them lay the corpse of the serpentine lizard, a twitching heap of ruined flesh.

Brushing aside Allions protests, Jarom struggled to his feet. Torrents of agony welcomed his return to consciousness, lancing through his head and his side and causing him to slump back against his friend. Doing his best to ignore the shooting pains, he stumbled through the haze to join his companions.

Kylac looked up as he drew near, and offered a grim nod. Well fought.

Jarom shook his head, unable to recall just then whether he had actually been of any assistance to the youth in his battle against the earth-dwelling creature. All he could think about was how miraculous it seemed, given the nature of the beast, that they had managed to evade more-serious injury.

He looked then at Uuyen, who glanced over long enough to accept his appreciative nod. He knew not what he should feel toward the courageous Mooklaayan, but guilt was certainly a part of it. The elf appeared physically unscathed as a result of his passing through the magical door that had separated them in the tunnels above; however, if the tormented look in his eyes was any indication, then the native was suffering far more than Jarom could imagine.

Lord, you two took a beating, Allion berated. But I suppose you deserve it for leaving me behind like that.

Kylac brushed the scolding aside with a simple gesture, and a grim silence settled over the group. For a moment, their eyes drifted from

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