Bard Tidings by Paul Regnier

Author:Paul Regnier [Regnier, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-05T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

I froze at the sight of the spider-like creature. A whiplike tail twitched behind it, a sharp spine marking the tip. Pale gray arms reached for me, the elongated fingers ending in wicked claws.

“Attack!” Flyngard cried.

A moment of shock at the sight of this gruesome creature proved my undoing. Spindly limbs surrounded me before I could reach my staff. Clawed hands grasped my arms, digging in with painful strength.

There was piercing pain at my neck and all my muscles seized. I dropped the lightstone, the white glow disturbing the dusty ground with a soft thump. Flyngard said something but every sound was muted and distant. My vision blurred and a heavy fatigue washed over me.

There was a quick sensation of movement as my body heaved forward. I was vaguely aware of being carried down the cavern and through the narrow tunnel. My body was numb and everything was dark.

A calm feeling of detachment washed over me like I was slipping into a dream. Somewhere, far away, Flyngard was screaming at me to wake up.

* * *

My eyes blinked open to darkness. A throbbing sensation pulsed at my temples.

“Move slowly,” Flyngard said. “Best to let them think you’re dying.”

I tried to lift my head, but a painful shock flared down my spine and I decided not to move for a while.

“That’s the poison trying to take you out,” Flyngard said. “Without me, you’d be cold as a winter’s night right about now.”

“Poison?” My voice came out in a hiss. My mouth was unbearably dry. I couldn’t swallow. I needed water.

“Yes,” Flyngard said. “The cave grabbers have you. Don’t be alarmed. There’s only three nearby. Dozens more within range but if we’re quiet, we won’t have to face them all.”

My heart dropped. “Three?”

“Yes. Three or four,” Flyngard said. “Maybe five. Hard to know for sure. Best to move quietly or they’ll rush over and sting you again. My armor is strong but I can’t stop everything.”

A flash of panic went through me. I looked around, straining to take in my surroundings. A thin shaft of light broke through the ceiling of a large chamber, providing sparse illumination. A series of shallow ledges were hollowed out in the walls of the chamber. Upon closer inspection, I realized I was on one of those ledges, and other shadowy forms lay motionless on ledges nearby.

I rolled to my side, my skin radiating with pain. I winced, trying not to groan. “Why does it hurt everywhere?”

“Cave grabber poison. Very deadly. I protected you from most of it, but these creatures have a bit of magic in them. I could feel my enchantment wavering a little during the attack.”

My mind flashed back to dropping the lightstone in the narrow passage. I searched my pockets and felt the area around me in vain. I’d lost it in the caves.

I eased off the ledge, a prickling sensation spreading up my legs as I got to my feet. My head swam, and I had to hold the wall to steady myself.

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