Page 109 of Lake of Sorrow

Kaylina shivered, afraid the plant’s vision was about to play out. If the beast prevailed against all the enemies in the camp and turned on her… being killed by him would be even worse than being killed by the Kar’ruk.

29

Throwing a rock in the river of time may alter the downstream flow but never the upstream.

~ Abayar, Founder Sandsteader Press

The Kar’ruk weren’t as intimidated by the arrival of the beast as the Virts sneaking into the royal castle had been. They asked questions, perhaps wondering what manner of creature this was, and stepped away from the fire to grab their axes. When they faced him, it was without fear.

Kaylina swallowed, afraid they and their magical blades would be a match for him. Between the party who’d captured her and those who’d been camped here when they arrived, there were twenty Kar’ruk. Twenty that she’d seen. What if more lurked, camouflaged from view?

When the warriors spread out to give themselves room to fight, they had the mien of beings who’d practiced often together. Experts in battle. And the beast… His blue eyes were wild, full of unthinking savagery, and Kaylina worried his animal instincts wouldn’t be enough to make him victorious.

The beast loped into the valley on his powerful legs, but he stopped before charging into the waiting Kar’ruk. His nostrils twitched as his head lifted into the air.

The Kar’ruk murmured to each other, crouching and waving their weapons, one calling a challenge. Despite their confidence, they didn’t rush to greet the beast, instead waiting for the battle to come to them.

Kaylina twisted her wrists, wishing she could free herself. If she ran off, maybe the beast wouldn’t feel the need to fight all of them. And, if he won, he wouldn’t be able to turn on her.

He charged, and she winced at the bold approach, at all the warriors ready for him. But instead of rushing them, he veered toward the pool.

Kaylina watched in confusion—as did the Kar’ruk. Did he intend to jump into the water to cool off before the fight? Had he overexerted himself in his hurry to get here?

No, the beast sprang for the container of silver powder. His sharp claws tore the lid off.

The female Kar’ruk shouted and pointed. Numerous warriors ran to save their precious magical powder.

Somehow, the beast knew what it was and how to use it. Either Vlerion had encountered it before or he’d seen her message in the logbook, and, as separate as his animalistic side was, it could draw upon his memories.

The beast covered himself and faded from view. And none too soon. Roaring and cursing, the axe-wielders reached the pool.

One must have glimpsed the beast because he chopped his blade down, as if swinging at a foe. It struck the flat rock, shearing it in two. The action upended the container, and the female shouted at him as she pointed in the direction the beast had last been seen.

Get him!

Kaylina didn’t have to know the language to understand her words.

But the beast struck before the Kar’ruk could find him. He’d altered his path and circled to the back side of the warriors, leaping onto the shoulders of one. Kaylina couldn’t see him but could tell from the way his horned foe reacted.

Even as the Kar’ruk threw his arms back, trying to knock him free, the beast bit down into his skull. The warrior went rigid and screamed in pain. Claws raked into his throat, silencing him.

It all happened quickly, but the nearby Kar’ruk also reacted quickly. They rushed toward their ally as he fell and swung their blades toward the beast.

Most missed as he leaped away, but one must have clipped him. The beast grunted in pain, and Kaylina winced with sympathy. He’d taken one enemy down, but he had so many more…

The Kar’ruk charged at the beast. He ran away, understanding that with distance they would lose sight of him again. And they did. Kaylina could tell because their blades slowed, and they shifted to stand back to back, peering around the valley.

“You’re smarter in that form than I would have guessed, Vlerion,” she whispered.

The tipped cylinder lifted into the air, and the female shouted again, pointing at it. The beast hurled it into the pool.

The Kar’ruk rushed toward him, but he was faster than the big warriors and managed to get behind them again. This time, they were ready. They spun, fanned out, and swung for him, leaving blue streaks in the air as their magical axes whizzed through it.

Kaylina sucked in a breath, not sure she wished she could see the beast or was glad she couldn’t. At least two of the axes met nothing but air. A third seemed to hit something. Him.

Not a fatal blow, she hoped.

Even as the Kar’ruk shouted, one went down, dropping his axe and grabbing for his legs. He spun, half tumbling into the pool, as great gashes appeared. His allies whirled toward him with raised blades, but they couldn’t attack or they might hit their wounded ally. The beast eviscerated the Kar’ruk, leaving him in the shallows of the pond, before springing away.

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