Where the Dead Float by Joseph Daniel & Bryan Arneson

Author:Joseph Daniel & Bryan Arneson [Daniel, Joseph & Arneson, Bryan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

The wolf demon lashed out at Isobella with a long, clawed paw, drawing her sword out as she slashed for the exposed arm. It moved faster than Augustin would have believed as the limbs curled in and evaded her cut. With snapping jaws, it tested Augustin’s guard, but he did not retreat or leap back, instead, he stayed close beside Isobella, and their two blades left sizzling streaks along the creature’s long snout. The sparking bursts of silver against the demon’s flesh left the foul smell of burning hair on the air as they circled each other.

Again, the beast leapt forward to snap with its vicious jaws, and Isobella lashed out with her sword. This time, however, the beast ducked, and as it hit the ground, the demon’s hairy forepaw swept in for her leg. Augustin called out a warning, but too late as the paw unfolded to reveal long, slender fingers tipped with dark claws the color of obsidian. Those fingers clutched Isobella by the leg and dragged her to the ground. As it did, the fleshy palm began to sizzle and pop as the silver tracing around Isobella’s greaves burned and sparked beneath its grip. Seizing the chance, Augustin lunged forward, swaying past the beast’s other hand to plant his dagger into the groove of muscle where its shoulder met its throat. The beast let out a howl that echoed in the small chamber. It threw itself free of them and scurried back against the wall, holding its scorched limb close to its body.

“Silver,” the beast hissed in a thick voice, heavy with disdain. “Treacherous, worms. Do you think that I fear pain? For this deception, I will suck the flesh from your bones and wear them about my neck.”

As the creature spoke, Augustin reached down to help Isobella to her feet. Standing together again, they did not wait for the creature to attack, but moved towards it, keeping their silvered blades upright. The beast’s yellow eyes darted between the two of them, narrowing as it appraised the situation. It eyed Augustin’s dagger and Isobella’s sword. Despite what it said, the creature had leapt back from the touch of Isobella’s silvered greave. They would have to end it quickly; the beast was strong and fast, and an uncanny intelligence gleamed behind those yellow eyes.

The creature surged forward. With a terrible roar, it threw open it’s fanged jaws and leapt for them like a shot fired from a cannon. Diving to the side, Augustin spilled across the flagstone floor and felt the scrape of the demon’s claws across the back of his cuirass. As he tucked his legs and rolled, Augustin heard a roaring snarl and crunch like metal and stone. He still held his dagger, and he leveled it ahead of him as he spun to face the creature. The demon’s fanged jaws had wrapped around the silver ringed shoulder of Isobella’s cuirass, and she had driven her sword through the creature’s elbow in the collision. But as the beast shook her in its mouth and bore her down to the floor, she lost her grip on the blade.

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