The Binding Witch and the Bounty Hunter by Laura Rich

Author:Laura Rich [Rich, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-15T06:00:00+00:00

13

It was really more like a minute and a half before Indira shoved me into the tree and followed close behind.

Instead of my slamming against the jagged bark, it parted with a shimmer to admit me. Once through the portal, which smelled like pine sap, sugar, and a whiff of smoke, I stepped out into a bright light and shielded my eyes. I whipped around and glared at Indira, who brushed past me to join Leo, who was waiting with Gringo in what looked like a wildflower meadow. There was no sign of ogres or anyone else. The meadow was silent—I couldn’t even hear birdsong.

“Is this it?” I pointed, remembering Alick’s words. The meadow was edged by forest on three sides, but a mountain on the fourth side rose up into the clouds. At the base of the mountain were a lot of rock formations and a smallish crevice which could have been a cave opening.

“I think so, but only one way to find out,” Leo said, taking the lead with Gringo.

We cut over to the forest and skirted around the edge of the meadow so we could come upon the entrance to the cave from the side, rather than straight on. I followed and tried to think angry thoughts in case I needed to produce fireballs, but I was too keyed up to concentrate. Indira was so silent behind me, I did a double take to make sure she was there. She still wouldn’t meet my eyes, and my heart sank a little bit as I turned back around.

When we neared the cave opening, Leo and Gringo slowed.

I crept next to them and peered around the edge. It was a vast darkness. A rumbling sound rolled out of the depths of the cave, and Leo pulled me back by the collar of my shirt.

A burst of blue flame blew out of the cave where my head had just been. I sucked in a breath. It was then that I noticed that all the plant life around the opening of the cave had been singed black. This dragon must have lived here for a while to keep the grass from growing back. I also felt something else, something that set my teeth on edge, like an extra dose of static electricity.

“Uh, thanks,” I said, exhaling heavily.

“When dragons snore, flame follows,” Leo said. “Not a lesson to be learned the hard way.”

“Noted.” I rubbed my arms and tried to figure out the sensation that was staying with me. It was something familiar but exotic.

“So how do we get in there?” Indira asked.

“Luckily, dragons sleep pretty hard during the day,” Leo said. “All we have to do is not wake him up.”

“And not get incinerated,” I said.

“Right!” Leo winked at Indira. “Easy.”

She snorted.

“I honestly didn’t really think there would be a dragon,” Leo said. “They’re pretty rare these days. I thought it would be a wyvern. This place is lousy with them, and they spit poison or frost, both of which I have shields for.

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