Page 108 of Oath of the Wolf
The corpses lay missing limbs, heads, and in some cases chunks of rib cage.Most of them appeared to be dead, but a few were still moving, groaning on the sand.But he doubted even Brynn’s power would be enough to save them.
He had a strong stomach, but the sheer malice of the act made his stomach turn.This had not been the work of a hungry beast or an animal trying to feed itself.This had been an act of pure evil.Cenric had a stunning moment of clarity as he recognized the scene from last night’s foretelling.
A hiss over Cenric’s shoulder made him jump.
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Brynn
CenricslammedBrynnintothe shelter of the burning storehouse before the serpent struck.He covered her body with his, the shield raised over them.
It missed, its teeth smashing into the ground instead.The creature let off a bellow of anger, clawed foot smashing into the burning roof as if to bat it away.
“The beach,” Brynn panted.“We need to get to the beach.”
Cenric had lost his spear but held onto his shield.He grabbed her arm with his free hand, pulling her after him.
The serpent turned at a sound, red eyes fixed on something on the other side of the buildings.
Brynn gathered power and lashed a strike for its face.Her spell cut into the creature’s snout, sending black blood spurting free.
The creature roared and spun.Red eyes fixed on her.It didn’t speak and she was grateful.She wasn’t sure she could take the creature taunting her on top of everything else.
Shouts and cries rose from the other side of the building.It sounded like a group of Valdari were trying to attack the beast.
Fools.Brave and utter fools.
The serpent turned with a hiss, lunging for the unseen people on the far side of the building.The creature lunged and there came wet crunching sounds as screams erupted once again.
Gritting her teeth in frustration, Brynn pulled Cenric to a stop.“Jormanthar!”she shouted.“Serpent!”
The scaly body lashed back and forth on the opposite side of the storehouse, busy attacking the men who had dared attack it.
Brynn had hoped for a head start, but she would need the creature to be close for her plan to work.For a neck as thick as that, she would need power and focus and as little distance as possible.
If it had been any other enemy, she could have whipped it with hundreds of tiny cuts and weakened it either for her own attack or for spearmen.Because the serpent and its skin healed instantly, she had to give more effort.
Brynn gathered as much power as she dared and sent a lash for the creature’s exposed back.Her spell ripped into its hide, leaving a great gash in the dark brown scales.
Squealing, the creature’s head swept up, fixing on Brynn once more.
Brynn and Cenric started running again, heading toward the beach.
The serpent didn’t follow.It blinked at them with those glowing red eyes.
How hard could this be?
Brynn sent another lash of power for the serpent’s jaw.Jormanthar jolted, hissing as its mandible split, then repaired itself.
“Come on!”Brynn shouted.“Chase me, you wretch!”
Cenric snatched up a rock and hurled it at the creature’s head.He missed, but the stone bounced off the serpent’s large back.
The serpent let off a low growl, shifting toward them.The thing seemed more annoyed than anything else.It lumbered in their direction.
The creature had been feeding and its belly distended.Even though it had only been taking a bite or two out of its prey, those bites had added up.
Getting chased by the monsters had been terrifyingly easy back under the Grandfather Yew.Brynn hadn’t thought getting the serpent to follow her would be this difficult.
