Draconic Prophecies by James Wyatt

Author:James Wyatt [Wyatt, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 978-0-7869-5989-1
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2011-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

24

Haldren’s magic blasted a path through the gap against the canyon wall. For every new group of worgs that stepped up to defend the narrow way, Haldren had another spell ready to scour them with fire or sear them with lightning. As the Lord General had predicted, the narrow gap actually proved a hindrance to the worgs rather than a defensive advantage. Perhaps recognizing that fact, the worgs soon fell back and ceded the gap to Haldren.

Haldren seemed as swept up in the thrill of his power as the soldiers were, ready to storm into the canyon and obliterate any resistance the worgs tried to offer. Cart, though, suddenly realized the flaw in their plan, and he tried to hold Haldren back.

“Lord General,” he said, “there might be a problem.”

“Damn right there’s a problem,” Haldren barked. “I’m thirsty. Somebody give me a drink.”

Tesh tossed a waterskin to Haldren, who drank deeply while Cart tried to explain.

“We expected the worgs to concentrate their defense in the gap, but they don’t fight like that. If they see a significant threat, they fall back and regroup.”

“They can only fall back so far,” Haldren said, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “We’ll catch them all.”

“No, Lord General, that’s just it. They’ll do exactly what we hoped to do to them—they’ll harry us and fall back, again and again, slowly wearing down our strength until we decide to retreat. But then we’ll have to fight our way through the gap again—they’ll block it from behind us.”

Cart was relieved to see the Lord General pause at least long enough to consider his warning. “What do you suggest?”

From his tone, Haldren clearly had no expectation that Cart could produce a better suggestion. He bit back a soldier’s curse that sprang to mind, and considered the situation. “I suggest we fall back and circle the canyon as the other squads are doing. We’ll wear them down from the outside in, like peeling an onion.”

Haldren grinned. “I suggest a different simile,” he said. “I say we pit them like a cherry—continue in until we find their heart, then cut it out.”

A chorus of cheers drowned out Cart’s attempt to protest further, and he shrugged. Perhaps Haldren was right—he’d had no difficulty yet in dispatching every worg they met. There didn’t seem to be any reason to expect more trouble. That was exactly why he did expect it.

* * * * *

Haldren’s confidence seemed fully justified, even if Cart also had good reason for his trepidation. They advanced slowly through the canyon, encountering occasional packs of worgs who nipped at their heels briefly before retreating, usually with at least one worg dead and no serious harm done to Haldren or his squad. Cart had been correct in his reading of the worgs’ tactics, but Haldren had apparently been right in assessing the threat they posed.

After routing the third group of worgs, the group advanced steadily for an hour without seeing any more of the demon-wolves. Distant howls assured them that

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