* * *
Bursting from the entrance, Varik squinted in the
brilliant sunlight, and veered down the mountain path. Please, please, let
it work...
He clung hard to the cliff face. Glancing back over his
shoulder, he eased his way down the path. His heart pounded in his ears. The
Ishafal dashed onto the ledge, with the box clutched too easily beneath her
arm. Where was the dragon?
The winged woman swung around as she spotted him, one
hand lifting. Varik ducked behind a stone outcrop. A boiling mass of fiery
magic seared past his ear, and the skin of his cheek and neck burned with the
sudden heat.
I need that dragon!
A rush of wind announced its arrival. The dragon bellowed, the sound reverberating off the mountain. A shower of small stones rained down on Varik, and he shielded his face with his arms. The Ishafal squealed, her beautiful voice shrill with fear.
More magic boiled upwards, clouds of blue and violet flames spewing blindly into the air. Varik half scrambled and half slid down the cliff path, dislodging pebbles and debris in his haste.
The dragon banked to avoid the Ishafal’s magical attack, swinging wide out above the valley below, and sweeping back up the path. Varik dropped to his belly as the huge creature flew over. The wind from the dragon’s wings tugged at his clothes. Dragonflame heated the air, scorching Varik’s throat as he sucked in a breath. Smoke, thick and choking, followed.
Varik coughed, and rolled. The dragon disappeared over the mountain and its flame left the cliff path scorched and blackened, an image of blasted desolation and stark beauty. Melted stone and sand cooled into glass. A charred and smoldering pile of rags fluttered in the breeze by the cave entrance. The smoke stirred, and began to dissipate.
His heart still thudded in his chest. A deep breath seared his lungs with hot air, and he scrambled to his feet, heading up the path. His legs shook. The stone burned through the soles of his boots. As he approached, the smoking pile cracked open, spilling a few hot embers onto the ground. They died in an instant. Shreds of charred violet and blue cloth fluttered amongst bone fragments and featureless lumps of grey ash.
Only a cold kind of satisfaction filled him at the sight and, hard on its heels, a hollow disappointment. Mesalina and the girls still rotted in the earth. The fire of his hatred flickered, and went out, leaving only the damning guilt.
Where was the box? Tiny worms of fear wriggled in his gut. If the box was destroyed, if this cesium was no longer contained… He was still dead.
Varik whirled, eyes
searching the barren stone of the mountain path.The iron box lay a few yards away, thrown clear by the
concussive forces of the brief battle. The metal glowed red and cooled to iron
grey. Apart from a thin film of greasy ash, it appeared undamaged.
A rush of wind announced its arrival. The dragon bellowed, the sound reverberating off the mountain. A shower of small stones rained down on Varik, and he shielded his face with his arms. The Ishafal squealed, her beautiful voice shrill with fear.
More magic boiled upwards, clouds of blue and violet flames spewing blindly into the air. Varik half scrambled and half slid down the cliff path, dislodging pebbles and debris in his haste.
The dragon banked to avoid the Ishafal’s magical attack, swinging wide out above the valley below, and sweeping back up the path. Varik dropped to his belly as the huge creature flew over. The wind from the dragon’s wings tugged at his clothes. Dragonflame heated the air, scorching Varik’s throat as he sucked in a breath. Smoke, thick and choking, followed.
Varik coughed, and rolled. The dragon disappeared over the mountain and its flame left the cliff path scorched and blackened, an image of blasted desolation and stark beauty. Melted stone and sand cooled into glass. A charred and smoldering pile of rags fluttered in the breeze by the cave entrance. The smoke stirred, and began to dissipate.
His heart still thudded in his chest. A deep breath seared his lungs with hot air, and he scrambled to his feet, heading up the path. His legs shook. The stone burned through the soles of his boots. As he approached, the smoking pile cracked open, spilling a few hot embers onto the ground. They died in an instant. Shreds of charred violet and blue cloth fluttered amongst bone fragments and featureless lumps of grey ash.
Only a cold kind of satisfaction filled him at the sight and, hard on its heels, a hollow disappointment. Mesalina and the girls still rotted in the earth. The fire of his hatred flickered, and went out, leaving only the damning guilt.
Where was the box? Tiny worms of fear wriggled in his gut. If the box was destroyed, if this cesium was no longer contained… He was still dead.
Varik whirled, eyes
searching the barren stone of the mountain path.The iron box lay a few yards away, thrown clear by the
concussive forces of the brief battle. The metal glowed red and cooled to iron
grey. Apart from a thin film of greasy ash, it appeared undamaged. Varik breathed out a huge sigh, shaking his head. He’d expected the contents to survive, but not the box. Dragonflame could consume a simple metal box. Of course, only a fool expected a box created by Sirens and Furies to be simple.
With one finger, he tentatively touched the metal surface and jerked it back. He sucked the sting away. Too hot to hold, and would be for a while. Varik stared out off the edge of the path. No sign of the dragon, but he dare not assume he was safe. He needed somewhere to hide. Though he’d cloaked himself from the dragon automatically, he was highly visible on the cliff path.
* * *
Read on in Mercy: Dragon Bait (Part 6).
**AUTHOR'S NOTE: This fiction piece is part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge and has not been to an editor.**
If you enjoyed this post, please
feel free to check out my previous posts if you haven't already. If you're
finding yourself here often, you might like to join as a member, sign up to the
blog through RSS or email, or sign-up to my newsletter. Check out my March Newsletter if you missed it.
Don't forget to share the love and spread the word on Twitter, Facebook or StumbleUpon (or other social networking site of your choice) if you know other people who might also enjoy this.
Thanks for stopping by and visiting with us!
Don't forget to share the love and spread the word on Twitter, Facebook or StumbleUpon (or other social networking site of your choice) if you know other people who might also enjoy this.
Thanks for stopping by and visiting with us!
2 comments:
Good way to get rid of the Ishafal. Bad way to not draw attention to himself. It was still a useful method for getting out of a bad situation. Varik has a quick mind. I'm interested in seeing where this goes.
Desperatetimes, desperate measures ;-)
Post a Comment