Hunt For The Hero (Book 5) (18 page)

Bayzog collapse
d in a heap of robes, bleeding at the nose.

The enormous
Hull Dragon reared up and exposed its great neck.

“Cover Bayzog, Brenwar!”

Nath let the arrows fly.

Twang!

KABOOM!

The Hull stumbled backwards and toppled like a stone.

Nath
skipped across the burning grass.

Everything was hazing. Ringing. Quiet and smoking.

Somehow, Nath rolled to his knees.

Brenwar helped Bayzog to
his feet and they stood there gaping.

The Hull was
slowly struggling to rise. It shook its great neck. It was angry. Worse. It was still living.

Nath
’s clawed hand fell on Fang’s hilt.

“I need you now more than ever, Brother.”

The hilt was hot, but not burning.

He unsheathed the blade. It was bright as the sun.

Nath raised it over his head and charged, yelling, “I am Dragon!”

Brenwar
sped after him with his War Hammer ready.

Bayzog rushed
with his staff.

Nath
jabbed Fang into the Hull’s chest. Ice formed over its scales. It spread fast.

Bayzog
encircled its legs with mystic energy.

Brenwar busted it
in the snout.

Ka-Raaaaang!

The great beast writhed over the ground. It squirmed and hissed.

“Get out of here
, Bayzog!” Nath yelled. “And watch out for its tail!”

The tail flicked with blue fire and struck
Nath like a jolt of lightening.

“Aargh!”

Pain erupted in every inch of his body. He held on. He drove Fang deeper.

The great
Hull Dragon roared.

Brenwar popped it in the snout again.

The tail licked out. Cracked like thunder and struck Brenwar in the chest, skipping him over the stones.

“Nooo,” Nath yelled, yanking Fang free.

He gritted his teeth.

“
Try that again!”

The tail flicked his way again
, flashing like lightening.

Nath
swung Fang with all his might.

Slice!

He clipped the end of the tail off.

The Hull twisted and howled. The blue lights in its eyes went
black. The crackling energy on its horns disappeared. Its tail swished back and forth like a headless snake.

Brenwar
rose up from the rocks and charged over. He brought War Hammer down on the back of the Hull Dragon’s skull.

The Hull
moved no more.

CHAPTER 38

The battle was won. Troghlin was saved and everyone was celebrating. Everyone but
Nath, Bayzog, Ben, Gorlee, Brenwar and the Dwarves. They’d moved on, leaving the remains of the Hull to the townsfolk of Troghlin to deal with.

“I don’t suppose there is any turning back now,” Bayzog said. His eyelids seemed heavy. “I agree. Now that you’re
awake, we might as well take it to them. But let’s pursue with wisdom.”

Nath
groaned. Everything ached. His head. His toes. And the air tasted funny. Awful actually. Everything felt awful. Still, he limped along, just like the others, glad to be alive.

“I don’t think a little caution ever hurt anyone,” he said. “I’ll do my best to heed your advice.”

“Sure you will,” Brenwar said. “And the day that happens I’ll shave my beard. Har!”

They headed west along the lake for miles until they reached a series of huts stretched out over the waters. They were connected by a series of catwalks and piers and Bayzog took them inside one near the middle. It was larger
on the inside than it looked on the outside and sparsely furnished.

“Remote enough to hide
us for now,” Bayzog said. “Let’s rest our eyes and keep our ears peeled. Now that the Hull is down, our enemies will hesitate before they come after us. We’ll be long gone by then.”

“Gone to where
?” Nath said.

“Wherever
you lead us,” Bayzog said.

Nath
eyed Bayzog. It was hard to believe that he really meant that.

“
We’re going after the Head of the Clerics of Barnabus,” Nath said, “And there will be no fuss about it.”

“This is your decision, not mine,” Bayzog said.
The wizard set down his staff and leaned back against the wall. His violet eyes seemed to glow. “I’m just here to advise you. It’s up to you to lead.” He looked over the room. “To lead all of us.”

Nath felt
all the eyes on him. He felt sacrifice. Courage. All the good in their hearts. There were plenty of people in Nalzambor just like them, suffering something dreadful. All because of him, and he still didn’t understand why. War was coming. He felt it in his busted bones. It was time to make things right.

They’d just defeated a Hull. If they could handle that
, they should be able to handle anything. He forced a smile. His golden eyes flashed.

“T
hen
our
hunt begins tomorrow.”

About the Author

Craig Halloran resides with his family outside of his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. When he isn’t entertaining mankind, he is seeking adventure, working out, or watching sports. To learn more about him, go to: 
www.thedarkslayer.com

Other works by the author

The Darkslayer: Wrath of the Royals (Book 1)

The Darkslayer: Blades in the Night (Book 2)

The Darkslayer: Underling Revenge (Book 3)

The Darkslayer: Danger and the Druid (Book 4)

The Darkslayer: Outrage in the Outlands (Book 5)

The Darkslayer: Chaos at the Castle (Book 6)

The Chronicles of Dragon: The Hero, The Sword and The Dragons (Book 1)

The Chronicles of Dragon: Dragon Bones and Tombstones (Book 2)

The Chronicles of Dragon: Terror at the Temple (Book 3)

Zombie Day Care: Impact Series: Book 1

Zombie Rehab: Impact Series: Book 2

Jerk of All Trades: It’s not him; it’s them

In the works by the author

The Chronicles of Dragon (Book 6)

You can learn more about The Darkslayer and my other books at:

Facebook – The Darkslayer Report by Craig

Twitter – Craig Halloran