City of Fire (Dungeons & Dragons Novel) by T. H. Lain

Author:T. H. Lain [Lain, T. H.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786965021
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2013-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

“What’s taking so long?” Grawltak barked at Kark.

The older gnoll rounded up two more hapless villagers, a human girl and an old dwarf. They’d already burned the dwarf’s beard away—gnolls hated dwarves as much as any of the “civilized” peoples—but they stopped short of killing him.

Maybe I’ll use one of my mistress’s favorite tortures, Grawltak thought, eying a wagon wheel and thinking of his black-armored leader. Crucifixion seems to impress the soft-skins.

He was about to order the girl stripped and tied to the wagon wheel when the door to the inn flew open. In it, behind what looked like half a broken table, stood a hulking figure. The dim light posed no problem for the gnoll’s eyes, however. He saw clearly who it was, and he panted in pleasure.

“So, half-orc, you’re coming out at last! I hope you still have what I’ve come so far to get! My mistress will be displeased if you’ve lost it.”

From behind the table-shield, Krusk raised one hand and showed the oilskin packet. He took a step out of the doorway then stopped. A few of the gnolls moved forward, but he leaned back.

“Well, come on, half-orc!” Grawltak shouted. “What are you waiting for? Your friends have decided your fate. Come forward quickly, or I’ll add this one’s blood to the night’s pool!”

Kark passed the human girl to Grawltak, and she sobbed as he threw her roughly to the ground.

“Let them go!” the half-orc called back, half question, half demand.

Hyenalike laughter answered him, but Grawltak stepped forward and barked for silence.

“Of course! They mean nothing to us. My mistress is impatient! I will not take my pleasures in this village if you surrender yourself. Who knows? If you cooperate, maybe you, too, will live. I don’t blame you for trying to survive!”

Grawltak looked around the courtyard. He tried not to glance too long in the direction of the gnolls positioned closest to the inn. Each had two bottles of alchemist’s fire. When they had the half-orc in tow and knew the burden he carried was theirs, they would splash the inn. The burning and the death would keep the soft-skins from pursuing.

“We’ll take your weapons, but even those you might get back, if you cooperate!”

No barks of laughter answered Grawltak then. He could feel the tension in his pack. They were waiting for the kill.

The half-orc stepped forward. He kept the table in front of him as he moved across the porch, down the steps, and onto the courtyard grass. A few of the gnolls stepped forward into the light of the burning hay bales. Grawltak himself moved forward, with Kark beside him, but something made him pause.

It saved his life. The shutters of the upper story of the inn flew open and arrows shot out. Two struck the ground inches away from Grawltak’s feet and others hit each of the gnolls moving toward Krusk. One of those gnolls collapsed with a howl, but the other pulled the shaft out of his leather armor and leaped forward, axe in hand.

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