Page 101 of Consort's Dragon
They came across it suddenly, a barrel with its top pried open still sitting in a wagon with a slack-jawed driver.
As Griff neared, a beast formed, rising from the moisture, taking shape?—
Avera sliced through its body before it finished.“I’m going to nullify the water.”
He would have asked what she meant, only she leaned over the barrel and shoved her arm inside it, the same one dripping blood.Intent on her task, she didn’t see the driver turning with a knife, his glazed expression showing he wasn’t in control.
Griff sprinted the few paces between him and the man, knowing he wouldn’t make it in time.His arm drew back and then forward, launching his sword.
It flew and speared the man in the chest.The driver toppled from the wagon as Avera straightened herself with a pleased, “I think that should do it.”
Indeed, no more mist rose from the barrel.
She noticed the body on the ground holding a dagger with Griff’s sword sticking out of its chest.Her eyes widened.“Oh dear.That was close.”
Too close.
As suddenly as it rose, the mist dissipated, and Griff could see the combatants, some leaning on sword pommels, huffing from the exertion, a few sitting on the ground, and at least one dead.No monsters remained, not even the bodies as they evaporated on death.
“Let’s get you a bandage for that,” Griff said softly as he led Avera back towards the town.
As they moved past Gustav, he was patting the men on the backs, offering a gruff, “Good job.You kept us safe for another night.I think you earned an ale.Tell Kor to put it on my tab.But first, be sure to send a new squad to keep watch.”
“You think they’ll come back?”asked a young fellow with a scratch on his cheek.
“Doubtful, but best we be vigilant,” was Gustav’s sage advice.
Starlight joined them by the pillars, lips pursed as she murmured, “Zhos has learned new tricks in its prison.”
Griff’s brow creased.“Didn’t it use the fog and shadow beasts in the past?”
She shook her head.“It used to require being in the presence of people to take over their minds, and while it could lob fire and lightning, it never did anything the likes of this.”
“Meaning it’s gotten stronger,” Avera murmured, her shoulders rounding.
“More like had time to hone its skills,” Starlight stated.“Good thinking, using your blood to diffuse the situation.”
Avera shrugged.“I had to do something.I’m just glad it worked.”
“A good thing it did.There’s never been so many,” Gustav exclaimed.“I’m glad you were here to help, or the pillars likely would have fallen, and with them the town.”
As Griff and Avera returned to their bedchamber to try and salvage a few more hours’ sleep, Avera softly said, “Zhos knows we’re here.”
“I figured that.He’s trying to kill us.”
“Yes.”She heaved out a breath before laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
Her lips quirked wryly as she said, “Because it just let us know something very important.”
“What?”
“If it fears us then that must mean it knows we can stop it.Maybe our blood isn’t useless after all.”
“I’m not slitting my throat to freeze it, and neither are you,” he replied harshly.
“That would be wasteful, as it would only be temporary.Still, it’s good to know it’s worried.”
