The Jewel of Turmish by Mel Odom

Author:Mel Odom
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, General, Fantasy, Fiction, Forgotten realms (Imaginary place)
ISBN: 9780786926985
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Published: 2002-02-01T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Fear dried Druz's throat and locked her breath in her lungs as she watched the skeleton continue to force its way from its unmarked grave. Instinct made her reach for Tymora's coin tied at her neck.

The skeleton lay still for a moment after it had crawled from the ground. One of the wolves, emboldened by the skeleton's apparent helplessness, crept closer. Snarling black lips twitched back from white teeth. With a growl, the wolf launched itself at its intended prey. The wolf's teeth grated against the mud-slick bones.

Orange light flared in the hollows of the skeleton's eyes. It moved, snapping like a trap. The bony hand curled into a fist and jerked around like a mallet, cutting through the air. Almost too quick for the eye to follow, the skeletal fist crashed into the wolfs skull.

The animal collapsed, its skull destroyed.

Lurching, the skeleton forced itself to its feet and swayed in the storm winds. Ignoring the rest of the wolves, the skeleton turned its attention to the cave.

Druz drew herself farther back into the cave, aware that it wouldn't do any good. The fire was all the skeleton needed to see to know that the cave was occupied. She tightened her grip on her sword and asked Tymora's blessing.

Glancing over her shoulder, she said to the bear, "We've got trouble."

The bear shook himself then rose from the floor. Hunkered below the cave's low ceiling, the bear crept forward, snuffling for a moment, then cocking his head and loosing a fierce growl.

The skeleton strode from the tree line without hesitation. Clods of mud mixed with grass and tree roots dropped out of the skeleton's ribcage.

Taking a two-handed grip on her sword, Druz glanced at the bear and said, "Go get it."

The bear growled again and dropped to all four feet, and retreated to Haarn's side.

"Damn it," Druz swore, stepping up to block the way.

The cave that had offered them shelter from the rain had become a deathtrap.

Lightning flashed again, setting the jeweled shape in the skeleton's ribcage blazing with ruby light. The skeleton spread its arms as it neared.

Druz made herself breathe and thought, What is it about this damned druid that seems to draw so much bad luck?

She was certain that had Haarn been awake he'd doubtless wonder the same thing about her. She set herself and got ready to swing, but just before she committed herself, the skeleton stopped.

The grim jaws closed and resumed their mirthless grin. Relaxing, the raised arms clacked against the mud-smeared ivory thighs. Orange glow dimming in the eye hollows, the skeleton turned and walked away.

Druz released a sigh of relief, but she didn't relax until the skeleton abandoned the washed-out game trail and vanished into the forest. Even then, she stood at her post for several more long minutes until the stinging rain propelled by the cold storm winds drove her inside to the deeper shelter of the cave.

Frightened and near exhaustion, she sat with her back to the cave wall and kept watch over the entrance.

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