The Black Egg by James E. Wisher

Author:James E. Wisher [Wisher, James E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-945763-48-9
Publisher: Sand Hill Publishing

It had been good while it lasted. That’s what Moz thought as he bent low over the horse’s neck, not to protect Ariel from branches, but to shield her from the arrows that sliced the air all around them. The enemy mercenaries were getting closer all the time. He’d considered a number of possible ways the mercenaries might catch them, but having the group simply ride up behind them didn’t occur to him.

Moz risked a look back. There were a dozen of them mounted on fine black stallions, far better horses than the one he’d bought back in Gator Alley. Fine enough to close the gap long before they reached the college. Clenching his jaw, Moz silently cursed the gods. They were only an hour away! Just a little luck would have seen Ariel safe behind high walls and surrounded by powerful guardians.

But luck had never been a close ally of Moz’s, unless you counted bad luck.

They couldn’t even duck back into the forest. Thick brambles protected one side and a sheer drop to a riverbed made the other impassible.

The horse’s flanks heaved and it slowed despite Moz’s encouragement. Their time was just about up. Maybe he could take a few of the enemy with him, but escape looked impossible.

Their mount staggered.

Moz grabbed Ariel and leapt free of the collapsing beast.

They skidded to a stop and Moz sprang to his feet and moved to stand in front of Ariel. They’d take the girl over his dead body or not at all.

The horsemen made a semicircle around Moz and leveled their bows.

“No!” Ariel screamed.

One of the men smiled and drew his string back.

A massive gust of wind blew half the riders out of their saddles. The rest fought to keep their mounts from throwing them.

An instant later a shadow passed over the group. Giant wings beat and a dragon settled to the ground between Ariel and Moz and the mercenaries. The dragon was bigger than Moz’s house. Dull yellow scales covered it from nose to tail. Spikes stuck out from its back and its tail ended in bone blades a foot long.

Moz looked down at the girl. Rage twisted her face and her golden eyes blazed with an inner light. The dragon loosed a roar that shook the air.

It snapped a mercenary out of his saddle and bit him in half.

Talons ending in claws that would have made fine short swords rent another pair of men to pieces. Arrows clattered off the dragon’s scales to no effect. If the mercenaries wanted to hurt that thing, they’d need siege equipment not horse bows.

One of the mercenaries on the ground looked their way and aimed his bow.

Moz shifted just in time to intercept the arrow meant for Ariel. It burned in his shoulder, but he’d taken worse wounds.

The dragon’s rear foot came down on the man’s head before he could fire a second shot. A swipe of its tail sent more chunks of mingled horse and human flesh flying.

That was enough for the survivors.

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.