The Iron Tower Omnibus by Dennis L McKiernan

Author:Dennis L McKiernan [McKiernan, Dennis L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780990355557
Publisher: Thornwall Press
Published: 2019-08-08T06:00:00+00:00

Brega looked, too. “Braggi!” he cried. “That is Braggi’s rune, written with the blood of Squam. He came to slay the Ghath but was nevermore seen.”

On they strode without pause, passing now among the remains of the battle-slain. Dwarf armor there was, and the plate of Spawn, as well as shattered axes, broken scimitars, War hammers, and cudgels.

Brega cast his hood over his head as they hurried onward. “Here in the Háll of the Gravenarch, Braggi made his stand. But the signs tell the tale that the Ghath came and slew Braggi and his raiders as they stood frozen.”

Tuck shuddered, his gaze darting into the far reaches of the hall, his glance seeking to avoid the mute evidence from that long-ago time when the Gargon stalked down the length of a fear-rooted Dwarven column, the monster slaying as it went—and when the hideous creature had come to the last Dwarf, Braggi and his valiant raiders were no more.

Across the floor swiftly the four strode for the eastern portal, coming to the rune-marked Gravenarch. Just as they passed below it, the surging fear of the Dread pounded through their veins, yet this time it did not sweep on past them but stayed locked upon their hammering hearts, and terror arrested their steps.

“He has found us!” gasped Gildor. “He comes, and is near!”

Tuck’s lungs were heaving, yet he could not seem to get enough to breathe, and his limbs were nearly beyond his control, for he could but barely move.

Brega clutched his arms across his chest and air hissed in through clenched teeth; his face turned upward and his hood fell back from his head. His eyes widened. “The arch,” his voice jerked out. “The keystone . . . like a linchpin . . . cut off pursuit.”

Dread pulsed through them as Brega forced himself to stoop and grasp a broken War hammer. “Lift me up,” he gritted. “Lift me . . . when I smite it, drop me . . . run . . . the ceiling will collapse.”

“But you may be killed!” Tuck’s words seemed muffled in the waves of fear.

Now Brega’s rage crested above the numbing dread. “Lift, by Adon, I command it!”

Galen and Gildor hoisted the Dwarf and he stood upon their shoulders as they braced him, his left hand upon the stone of the arch, the War hammer in his right. Tuck stood behind them, and only the Warrow’s eyes were upon the portal where stood the broken door. And it seemed as if he could hear massive steps stalking through the terror, ponderous feet of stone pacing toward the door. And just as something dreadful loomed forth through the shadows: “Yah!” cried Brega, and swung the hammer with all the might of his powerful shoulders. Crack: The maul shattered through the keystone of the Gravenarch, and with a great rumble the vault above gave way. Gildor, Galen, and Brega tumbled backward, scrambling as stone fell ’round them. And Brega grabbed up Tuck and ran, for only the Warrow had glimpsed the shadow-wrapped Gargon, and the buccan could not cause his legs to move.

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