An Axe to Grind: A Turn-Based LitRPG Dungeon Adventure (One More Turn Book 2) by D.H. Dunn

Author:D.H. Dunn [Dunn, D.H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shadow Alley Press
Published: 2024-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Someone was forcing hot liquid into his mouth. Tarn spit back while coughing, almost feeling annoyance at being pulled out of such a restful state. Finally, after months of conflict, there were no problems, no costs or decisions to make, no battles to win. He had finished the game and toppled his king on the board.

He was trying to die here after all, and it was very peaceful. The least they could do was give him a few minutes to finish.

The warmth came again, and this time he opened his trembling lips to accept it. At first, all he could taste was the hotness of the water itself, but after a moment he detected faint hints of ginger and other spices. It was pleasant, and it felt like a warm beach wind as it slid down his throat.

His eyes flickered open, then shut immediately at the bright white that was all around him. It took a few more blinks before he could adjust, as the world slowly shifted from a blurry snow-colored haze to the icy pond and surrounding snow.

Lash was sitting nearby, pushing another cup of tea toward him. His big yellow eyes were wide with concern.

“Drink, boss.” He lightly jiggled the teacup for emphasis. “You won. Beat the big bear. We need to get up, things to do.”

Tarn took another long swallow of the tea, then returned it to Lash. He tested his arm muscles first, and feeling only a little soreness, pulled himself up into a seated position.

The massive corpse of Icegore lay on the ground before Tarn. Snow kicked up by its collapse still hung in the air, shining crystals of ice that intermixed with the dying embers of combat. Tarn had expected the great beast to vanish in a cloud of mystical particles as most enemies did, but the corpse of the bear still lay where it had fallen.

Beyond their fallen adversary, the tunnel carved into the side of the great mountainside now lay unobstructed. Bog and Narsol were already walking toward the shadowed opening. Tarn could see the flicker of torchlight from within, dancing in the wind that exited the tunnel. More importantly, he could feel warmer temperatures on that wind, and perhaps the end of days of worrying about cold.

Urthin silently came to stand beside him, eyes narrowing at the entrance.

“It would seem that ahead lies the end of this journey.”

His head still swimming, Tarn thought about teasing Urthin about his habit of stating the obvious and decided against it. Smiley was right, it was good to add milestones and allow the team a sense of progress.

Urthin reached his hand out and pulled Tarn up. The world spun around him for a moment but quickly settled. The cold was beginning to eat at him again, but it also was clearing his head. He took one last pull from the cup, draining the ginger tea Lash had given him.

“That’s the entrance to the Axe Dungeon?” Aryo’s eyes were wide with anticipation. “We actually made it?”

“Did you doubt us, kid?” Jental gave Aryo a shake of her head and a teasing wink.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.