"Heart of the Crown" Chapter 37

[seymoure]

Chapter 37

The Plains of Nightmare

Immediately upon their laying feet upon the ground, that very ground began to tremble. It moved almost as the skin of a man greets the landing of a mosquito on his arm.

Cela turned and began to cast a protection spell, but nothing happened. She tried three more simple castings, but none of them worked.

Terror filled her eyes.

Less than three paces from them, a block of earth the size of a large carriage erupted from the land and shot into the air. A moment later, it crashed on the other side of the group.

Slip noticed a group of Sproingers hopping past them. They were stripped of their sound, but that was all that was different about them.

After the Sproingers were ten feet ahead of Hawk, a bolt of blue shot through them and they burned to cinders.

A few feet away, another hunk of sod, not as large this time, flew into space and then landed soundlessly on the space that had held the hopping creatures.

Hawk had been watching Cela and now knew that she was powerless. He drew his rapier, even though he had no idea what he might do with it.

Smiga waved for them to follow him and, with less than complete commitment, they did.

The furry creature walked a zigzag path, following beds of orange flowers, all of which were undisturbed.

At this point a giant beast with a horn set between his eyes charged. The horn was the size of a man’s leg, and though the beast was blue, its horn was bright red.

Hawk stood before the thing, sword drawn, ready to do what he might.

At the last second, the earth beneath the beast’s feet took to the air and took the monster with it.

Another flock of Sproingers arrived just in time to be splattered under the mixture of dirt and beast.

Slowly the group went on behind the reptile/cat thing that they followed.

Sandor had the baby bundle strapped around his chest, so both hands were free if he needed them.

Something akin to a feathered bat the size of a battle shield flew at them but was stopped by the quick sword of Slip.

Then they stopped.

Smiga stood at the crest of the hill, and, looking down, he came to a complete halt.

The group caught up to him. Cela looked into the little animal’s eyes.

He was afraid to go on.

Whatever was ahead was more frightening than what they had already seen.

That was something to consider.

© 2008 C. Wayne Owens
Chapter 38 is here.