Defender of Gilgin by Roderick Donatus

Author:Roderick Donatus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Norse inspired epic fantasy, Ragnarok save the world, Militaristic epic fantasy, Chaos dwarves dwarfs, Ancient creatures, Gollem golem, Dwarfs rise from the earth
Publisher: Prince of Spires
Published: 2021-04-05T00:00:00+00:00

Uneltemus

ELINA RAN AFTER HENGE, who crashed through the undergrowth ahead, clearing a path uphill. The golems they had been running from for the past two days crested a hill behind them. They had run into the monsters on the road about halfway between Brimir and Uneltemus. They'd almost made it past the group without being seen, but then a golem scout had spotted them and warned its companions. They had been fleeing ever since.

Her legs burned from the exertion. "I don't know how long I can keep this up," she gasped.

She crested the hill; Uneltemus lay in the vale below. The road wound around the foot of the hill, and from there straight to the grey stone walls of the city. This close to Uneltemus, the forest gave way to fields of rye and apple orchards.

"We're almost there," Finn puffed. "We're safe if we make it to Uneltemus."

Elina groaned. "I can't run all the way there!"

"I'll carry you." Henge picked her up and barreled down the hill. Elina dodged the branches that flew past her face, and Finn followed in their wake.

A realization struck Elina. "How are you escaping the golems?" she asked Henge.

"If we find you a place to hide, then I can outrun them and draw them along." Henge reached the bottom of the hill. He jumped a ditch to the road, and continued running.

Finn came up next to them. He pointed ahead. "We'll hide in the hamlet there."

‘Hamlet’ seemed too grand a name for the group of hovels they approached. A handful of grass-roofed houses lay scattered on either side of the road, brushwood fences separating their vegetable gardens. In an orchard in the distance, villagers picked bright red apples. Toddlers played a game of rocks by the roadside; a woman hung her washing while watching over them.

"Get inside!" Elina shouted as they ran past. "We're under attack!"

The woman looked up, and started when she saw Henge. She ran to the road, grabbed two of the kids by their arms, and dragged them inside. The rest scattered. In a moment, the hamlet was deserted.

A curve in the road hid them from the pursuing golems. Henge put Elina down. "Thanks," she said between breaths. She stroked Henge's chin. "Be careful."

"Don't worry about me," Henge said. "I can outdistance them easily."

"We'll meet you back here at nightfall tomorrow, then."

Henge nodded and ran off.

Elina ran towards the nearest house and hunkered down between a rain barrel and a pile of firewood; Finn collapsed next to her, panting. He had kept up with Henge, but the last stretch of road had really taken its toll. They could just see the road past the rain barrel. Henge was jogging leisurely along the road. The golems rounded the curve, and put on an extra burst of speed when they saw Henge. They would catch him any moment. Elina grabbed her staff and made to rise; she couldn't let Henge face them alone.

Henge accelerated when the golems were only a few dozen paces away. The distance between him and the golems grew again, slowly at first, but then faster and faster.

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