43
Talia stared with wild eyes at the black silhouette etched against the dying sunset.
Crouched low like an erupting volcano, the massive, scaled frame launched skyward. At its apex, an immense reptilian head looked down upon them, red eyes gleaming.
Talia’s legs gave out, dropping her to the earth. When the beast puffed scorching breaths and unfurled wings of black membrane, it felt as though the entire world were being swallowed by darkness.
Varkas drew his sword and barked an order.
“Ready the suppression gear at once!”
No sooner had his command fallen than knights broke through the fleeing, screaming crowd.
Encircling the magical beast, they drove iron stakes into the ground, chaining them tight. Moments later, dozens of steel harpoons shot through the air toward the creature’s massive torso.
Talia clamped her hands over her ears. A deafening roar burst from the monster’s throat as it reared back its head.
The earth trembled every time its heavy body, bound by chains, writhed with fury. Unable to bear the strain, several stakes ripped free of the soil and flew into the air.
“Fall back!”
A shout rang out like thunder, and the beast tore loose of its remaining bindings, sweeping a great wing across the camp.
Talia screamed. The stroke obliterated two tents, hurling half a dozen helpless servants through the air like scraps of paper.
One of the bodies rolled to a stop near her feet, limbs bent at sickening angles. It was like waking into a nightmare.
“Bring more gear!”
Varkas’s rough roar anchored her slipping consciousness. Forcing strength back into her trembling legs, Talia pushed herself up. Blood drained from her face as she watched him dart like a streak of lightning toward the thrashing beast.
He was charging straight for the creature's gaping maw, though its length easily stretched past thirty kvet.
“Varkas!”
The cry had barely torn from her lips when the beast’s wing lashed out like a whip.
Talia stood frozen, eyes wide with terror.
The black wing, wide enough to blot out the sky, enveloped Varkas in an instant. Her world vanished into darkness. Then, in the very next breath, the pale blade in his hand ripped through the leathery membrane like parchment.
Having shredded the wing in a single sweep, Varkas severed the thick knot of muscle where it met the torso.
Crippled in an instant, the beast lost its footing and listed heavily to the side.
Varkas seized the opening, drawing a chain sickle from his belt and hurling the curved hook deep into its maw of needle-like teeth. Dropping into a low slide, he caught the chain against an iron stake driven into the earth and heaved with savage strength.
Its lower jaw pierced through, the monster crashed down like a fish hauled onto a line. Talia could only stare in disbelief at the monstrous force wielded by a frame as lean as a dancer's.
Gripping the taut chain with both hands, Varkas shouted to his men.
“Finish it now!”
A rain of harpoons plunged into the monster’s flesh.
Though the black-scaled beast thrashed its house-sized bulk in fury, it was helpless against the relentless volley.
Bristling with steel like a porcupine, the creature lolled its long tongue and went limp upon the bloodied ground. Only then did the breath rush back into Talia’s lungs.
“Are you unhurt, Your Highness?”
An Imperial Guard knight rushed up to her, eyes tight with concern, a drawn blade in his hand as if he had run across the field just to find her.
Sheathing his sword, the knight reached down to offer her a hand.
Talia brushed him aside and hurried toward Varkas, who was already salvaging gear from the carcass.
Coiling the slackened chain around his arm, Varkas glanced up, sweeping a cold, assessing gaze over her from head to toe. It was the detached appraisal given to an assigned duty, yet she felt no anger. Her voice came out thin and hurried.
“Are… are you all right? Are you hurt?”
Her eyes darted over him, catching on the dark crimson smeared across his neck.
She reached out, her fingers brushing the skin. It was not his blood. As relief washed over her, she noticed the sudden tension prickling at her scalp.
Looking up, she found Varkas staring down at her with wide eyes, and she snatched her hand back.
A cold sweat broke across her skin in the silence. Was he repulsed that a woman who struck him and hurled things at him daily was now fretting over his wounds? Flustered, the excuse tumbled out in a clumsy stammer.
“If… if someone I’ve known for ten years were to die right in front of me, it would ruin my sleep. I have no wish to see you in my nightmares.”
“…How fortunate, then. I have no intention of haunting Your Highness’s dreams.”
Oddly enough, the bite in his customary tone brought a wave of quiet relief.
Talia let her taut, aching shoulders drop.
Just as Varkas opened his mouth to speak, another scream rose in the distance. Talia turned, her breath catching in her throat. The sky was thick with black wings.
The knight beside them whispered in despair.
“Why a flock of Wyverns at this time of year…?”
“Save the questions and haul out the gear! Your Highness, this way.”
Snapping back into focus, Varkas barked his orders, caught her wrist, and pulled her across the camp.
Talia hurried close behind his back, her legs moving so fast her feet burned. The air choked with fire and the metallic stench of blood.
Ruin. The very catastrophe she had prayed for was here at last.
Yet there was no joy in it. Only cold terror running through her veins.
“Lord Shearkan! The barricade is set!”
Someone shouted through the haze as Talia watched in horror while the monsters smashed carriages and tents to kindling.
Varkas changed direction without missing a beat.
“Do not leave this spot under any circumstance.”
Guiding her into the center of the camp, Varkas set her down and spoke with quiet authority.
Talia looked around, still dazed. A crowd of people had gathered in the refuge behind dozens of supply wagons linked like a fortress wall.
“The wagons are fitted with protective wards. You will be safe here.”
“What about you?”
Ignoring her, Varkas turned away.
Talia caught his arm in panic.
“Have you lost your mind? Where do you think you’re going?!”
“The wards will not hold for long. I must cull them before the barrier fails.”
Prying her fingers from his sleeve, Varkas broke into a sprint back toward the fray.
Talia stared blankly at his retreating back before lunging after him.
“No! Don't go! Varkas! Varkas!”
END