Destiny Dice by David Bischoff

Author:David Bischoff [Bischoff, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Published: 2021-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Travel across the landscape of the place known as the Dark Circle was at times excruciatingly hazardous, at times breathtakingly awesome, but it was never, never easy. By midafternoon, therefore, the Norx were quite exhausted, having defended Queen Alandra from one hungry dragon, a team of hippogriffs, and a quite lecherous belphagor who clearly cared not a hoot in hell about the importance of Alandra’s mythical virginity.

So when Alabaster the cat dropped from the sky directly onto Toothmaw’s head, the brutish creature was less than pleased. In fact, his inclination was clearly to hack first and ask questions later.

Frightened witless after its tumble down and down through the Cosmos Corridor, Alabaster clung for dear life atop the noisome head of the Norx. The cat’s shriek and the Norx’s bellow created quite a caterwaul. Stardust Alabaster had picked up during its fall puffed up and fluttered down, lending the confusion a dense haze of sparkles, which prevented Toothmaw from coming to its fellow’s aid.

“It’s just a cat!” Alandra cried. “Please don’t kill it. It’s just scared!”

Toothmaw rid himself of the leather thong connected to Alandra’s midriff, and the queen realized that this could be her opportunity to run again. But where to? Besides, the runes had advised her to stay put for the time being, in the interest of her safety and to give whatever Disruption was in the Web-flow a chance to settle.

Tombheart’s mount bucked, nearly throwing the thickly bodied Norx from its saddle. Alandra could barely make out the forms in the dazzle-cloud; they were like dancing shadows behind a magical scrim. Tombheart had drawn his sword and was waving it wildly as the panicked feline cavorted wildly about his head and shoulders. It would have been like a comedy, except for the intense fury of it and the clear intent of the Norx to render the cat into dog food. Meanwhile, Toothmaw hovered close by, on his horse, waiting for an opportunity to help.

Suddenly, there was a thunk and a grunt. The cat tumbled from the cloud…

…landing on its feet, and immediately bounding up to Alandra’s horse and leaping into her lap. The poor thing was frosty and shivery and cold, and it huddled against Alandra as though she were its mother.

Tombheart, his sword ringing, weaved for a moment on his horse, then pitched forward, unconscious, to the ground. The thing had struck himself in the head in his attempt to strike the cat! Toothmaw unhorsed and checked his companion.

“Is he dead?” Alandra asked hopefully.

“No, my lady, only a bruise and a bump,” replied Tombheart.

“How can you tell?” Alandra said, clutching the cat closer to herself.

The Norx rose and strode ponderously toward his captive mistress. He held out a hand. “I’ll take the beastie and be done with it, madam.”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort!” Alandra said. “Look, it’s doing nothing to harm me! If your idiotic companion had not acted so foolishly, there would have been no problem!”

“A cat that falls from the sky? An evil portent, madam,” Toothmaw said, reaching up with his free hand to wrest away the cat.

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