Claws of the Dragon Page 12

  Nath stretched his hand out through the bars.

  Pepper slapped it. “A moment, please. Eh, put this on.” He handed Nath a checkered bib that was the size of a small blanket. “Now, scoot back. Scoot. Scoot.”

  Staring at the food and licking his lips, Nath did as he was told. In the back of his mind he felt maybe it was a trick.

  I don’t care. I’m so hungry I could eat a giant’s leg!

  With a rattle of keys, Pepper unlocked the door and swung it open.

  Nath fought the urge to make a dash for it. He was so hungry though.

  Just see how this plays out.

  The halfling shoved the cart inside and blocked the entrance. “Hold on. I have to bless the meal.” He closed his eyes and spoke some pleasant words in Halfling and reopened them. He closed the door back into place with a loud clank. “Enjoy.”

  Casting all the etiquette he’d ever known aside, Nath dove in.

  Chomp. Chomp. Chomp.

  The meal was a far cry from elven cuisine. There wasn’t much flavor, but it was sustenance. Greasy, claw-licking, stomach-filling food. He tore off a turkey leg and gnawed it down to the bone. Huge chunks of ham were stuffed in his gullet. The bread was hard as a log, but Nath didn’t care. He tore it in half and devoured it.

  “Eh, Flame Hair, wash that down with that jug down there. And don’t choke on the bones. You eat like a giant.”

  Nath grabbed the clay pitcher and gave it a sniff.

  Honey mead!

  He guzzled it down, wiped his elbow across his mouth, and said, “Ah!”

  There was enough food to feed a dozen hungry dwarves. He must have eaten half of it before he was finished. He let out a long, loud belch. “Buuuurp!”

  Fanning his huge button nose, Pepper said, “Oh, my. You might not be a giant, but you act like one. Sheesh. And I thought I was going to sit down and have a nice dinner with somebody for a change. How rude.”

  Nath wiped his mouth and fingers on his bib, walked over to the bars, looked up at Pepper, and said, “Thank you.”

  Pepper cupped his ear. “What?”

  “Thank you!”

  “You are welcome. So, is your belly full?”

  Nath patted his bulged-out stomach. “I think I have some room left, but I’m not going to push it.”

  “You aren’t feeling sleepy, are you?”

  “No, why?”

  “Oh, I always like a nap after a big meal. It settles the tummy, and the dreams are pleasant as a trickling stream.” Pepper reached into his big pocket and retrieved his snuff pouch. “This here is what you need. It’ll open up those heavy lids of yours.”

  “You don’t say? No, I think I’ll pass.” Nath glanced at the door. “So, what now? Are you fattening me up for the giants?”

  The halfling took a deep snort of the tobacco and shook like a wet dog. “Woo! I like that! Er, you said something?”

  “What now?” Nath yelled at him.

  “Oh, I think I need to get that cart out of there.” He unlocked the door, reached inside, and dragged the wooden cart out. He eyeballed the wide-open door. “Well, aren’t you going to run for it?”

  Nath sidestepped over to the right, preventing the door from closing. “Are you helping me escape?”

  “Oh no, I’d never do that. Ho ho, never. I mean, those giants would put me on a spit and eat me alive. No, never, never say such a thing.” He got behind the cart and started pushing it down the hall toward where he came from. He stopped and looked back at Nath. “Are you coming?”

  Nath trotted up to the big halfling, who led the way down the halls. He glanced in every cell that he passed by. There were bones. Tusks. Bodies mummified and petrified in armor. Chains hung from walls with hands and wrists still in them. The bodies were piled-up bones. There were no signs of life in any of them.

  I sure am glad I’m getting out of here.

  The food cart came to a squeaky halt. Pepper stood in front of a twenty-foot-high door. The wood was ancient and grey and the iron hinges tarnished. He grabbed the handle designed for a man even taller than him and pulled it open. To Nath’s surprise, the hinges were silent.

  Pepper put a finger to his lips, turned toward Nath, and said, “Wait here.” He slipped inside the crack in the door.

  I’m not waiting.

  Like a shadow, Nath fell in step behind Pepper.

  The halfling turned, saw him, and jumped back. “I told you to wait!” He pointed at something behind him. “Ssssh!”

  Nath froze. Three giants were in the room. Each was more than ten feet tall, and they all had swords on their belts. They sat at a huge table fit for them, but small by their standards. Food was piled as high as their chins. One was leaned back, head dropped over his shoulder, snoring. It was a three-eyed cyclops. The other two’s heads were resting on their arms.

  “They ate too much,” Pepper said with a little grin. “Come on now.”

  Nath scanned the room. It was a crude office, dining room, storage room, and barn. It smelled like sweat and stale ale. There were barrels and a pen filled with livestock. A huge goat bleated. Some oversized chickens clucked. With his dragon eyes, Nath searched the walls and the tall slime-coated ceiling above him.

  Pepper came back and nudged him. “What are you waiting for?”

  Nath held up his moorite chains. “I can’t be hindered by these.”

  “What?”

  Nath raised his voice. “I can’t—” He shook his head.

  Pepper scratched his eyebrow. “You’ll make too much noise in those. Hmmm, moorite. My, you must be important.” His slender fingers searched the soft curly locks of his grey hair and plucked out a sliver of steel as thin as one hair. “Stand still.”

  Nath didn’t move.

  The halfling’s hands were as big as Nath’s own head, but the fingers moved with the ease of a fairy in flight. The lock on his collar popped off. Seconds later his arms and legs were free.

  Nath cocked his head from side to side and smiled.

  Pepper patted him on the shoulder. “Feel better now, I figure.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “So, do you feel like running?”

  Nath shrugged. “Not really, why?”

  Gazing over Nath’s head at the table full of guards, Pepper said, “‘Cause I don’t think I put enough sleeping lard in that cyclops’s muffins.”

  Nath twisted around. The cyclops, the brute sitting in the middle, was wide awake. Soft footfalls caught his ear. He turned back. Pepper was off and running.

  CHAPTER 34

  Selene and Brenwar had managed a slow trek down the canyon into the city undetected. Now, they stood in a quadrant filled with huge cattle and other oversized livestock. The animals stirred little, and not many people were around that she could see.

  “Seems you found a good spot to drop into.” Her nose crinkled. “I imagine it’s just like your home in Morgdon.”

  “Hah hah.” Surrounded by goats and lambs, Brenwar scooped up a handful of the dirt and rubbed it over his clothes and armor.

  “This is no time for a bath, Dwarf.”

  “I’m covering my scent.” He slapped some mud under his armpits. “And you aren’t exactly looking inconspicuous either.”

  “I hope you don’t think I’m going to mimic you.”

  “It would do you some good.”

  They were hemmed in by sheer canyon walls hundreds of feet tall. Animals were everywhere, but the people scarce. Not too far away were some barns and storehouses. They were bigger than what one would see in Nalzambor, but not exactly fit for the giants. Just big.

  Selene wasn’t surprised by any of it. The giants often kept throngs of people as willing servants. Those people handled the chores. Tended the herds and gardens. But the men and women had to be careful. If the giants got too hungry, they would eat them.

  “Follow me,” she said, making a beeline for the outer fence.

  Pushing through the livestock, Brenwar followed.

  “I
’ll be right back.”

  “No—” Brenwar objected, but it was too late.

  Selene hopped the fence and scurried to the nearest barn and slipped inside.

  A pair of long-faced country boys stood there in heavy cloaks, warming their hands over a crude stove.

  She approached on soft feet.

  One of them turned and faced her. “Who are you?” His eyes were filled with wonder.

  “I’m new, and I was hoping I could borrow some cloaks for my family.” She hugged her shoulders and shivered. “I’m not used to this mountain air.”

  The man stripped off his cloak. “Here, you can have mine.”

  “No,” the other man said, removing his cloak. “Please, take mine. Much warmer than his. It’s oxen wool. The best.”

  The first man shoved the second. “Don’t listen to this pig farmer. Please, take mine.”

  Selene offered an enticing smile. “Oh, you men are so kind. It’s such good fortune I have run into you.” She grabbed both of the warm woolen cloaks. “May I bring my family in to warm by your fire?”

  The second man smoothed back his hair, licked his lips, and said, “Are you spoken for, milady?”

  “No, I am a lone widow traveling with my uncomely child. He’s most comfortable among the animals. It puts him at ease. That’s why we’ve ventured so far from the main city.”

  The first man stepped in front of the second, and with a toothy smile he said, “You’ll find just as much hospitality here as you will in there. What duties will you be assigned?”

  “I’ll be a seamstress for the giants.”

  Both men scratched their heads. Finally, one spoke up and offered, “Please, bring the child in, and don’t be ashamed.” The man was poorly featured and built. “The child will be welcome here. I’ve got a daughter a bit long in the tooth as well.” He winked. “She gets it from her mother. Yep, can’t say what it is, but the men in my family don’t marry well.”

  The second man shoved him. “Say, you’re talking about my sister!” He drew back a fist and punched the first man in the face.

  Selene spun on a heel and started walking away. “I’ll be back, and when I return I’ll grant a kiss to the winner.”

  The raw-boned country men let loose on one another.

  As soon as Selene cleared the barn, she heard a gruff voice speaking from the shadows. “Uncomely child, huh?”

  She tossed one of the cloaks to Brenwar and put the other one on. “I’m sorry, was that too much of an understatement?”

  He covered up in the cloak and covered his head. The hem and sleeves were way too long. He grunted. “Worst disguise ever.”

  “Come on.” Selene led the way.

  As they walked, Brenwar said, “This is a big place. How do you suppose we track Nath down?”

  “There’s a chance that I’ll catch his scent. And we can always ask. Well, I’ll ask, anyway. I don’t think too many people will be interested in talking to you. So for the time being, just be my uncomely mute boy and pray the giants don’t get a good whiff of you.”

  Now dressed to blend in, the odd couple ventured forward toward the heart of the city.

  Aside from the influx of people, not much had changed in Urslay. The alcove stone homes made the place look like an inverted honeycomb. People of all races and sizes worked along the streets and traversed the roadways above.

  Brenwar brushed against her when an ugly giant walked by and leered at them and passed, and then the stupid little dwarf bustled in front of her with his long sleeves flapping.

  She caught him by the sleeve.

  He jerked away.

  “What are you doing?” she hissed.

  “I’m trying not to explode,” he said. “In case you didn’t notice, there are giants everywhere.”

  “I count three,” she said, gazing up.

  The towering men, ten to thirty feet tall, pranced throughout the city like overlords. Some carried whips, others swords and lance-sized spears.

  She noticed a few more posted on the alcove terraces above. “We’d better look busy. Grab that wheelbarrow.”

  “You grab it.” Brenwar scurried over to a stack of grain sacks and hefted one up on his shoulder. He grabbed another by the neck and tossed one after another into the wheelbarrow. He eyed the cart. “Well, put those hands to work. Push.”

  With a huff, Selene grabbed the handles, and with her head down she followed Brenwar. Shuffling through the streets, she said, “Where exactly do you think you’re leading us? I was of the impression you’d never been here before.”

  “Just because I haven’t been here don’t mean that I don’t know where I’m going.” He cocked his head. “Hear that?”

  Somewhere in the distance was a very loud hammering of metal striking metal. The banging was quite unique.

  She nodded her head. “Yes. Iron strikes iron. So what?”

  “That ain’t iron, lady. That’s someone trying to destroy Fang.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Nath took off at a sprint after Pepper.

  Halflings are fast, but giant halflings are even faster.

  No longer shackled, Nath ran like a horse down the hallway before finally catching up with Pepper, who had ducked out of sight in an archway. Nath skidded to a stop. His toes hung over the edge of a bottomless pit. “Sultans of Sulfur!”

  Pepper caught his arm and pulled him back. “Don’t fret. It’s not so bad as it looks. They say it’s a hole from one side of the world to the other.”

  Gaping with his back pressed against the wall beside the doorway, Nath stared into the black expanse. There was nothing except a lone light more than two dozen yards away. It looked like a tiny doorway.

  “I think I’ll take my chances with the giant.” Nath turned and found himself face to face with the cyclops stabbing at him with a sword. He sidestepped the blade’s edge. “Gah! That was close.”

  “Oh my,” Pepper said, sliding up behind the much taller cyclops. He tapped him on the shoulder. “Get away from my prisoner, one-eye!”

  The cyclops grunted and unloaded a hard chop at the halfling.

  Pepper skipped away and stopped with his heels on the edge of the crevice.

  The cyclops spoke. “Your fun and games are over, Pepper.”

  The halfling cupped his ear. “What?”

  The cyclops lunged.

  With the ease of a dancer, Pepper back spun around the blade’s edge. He fastened his hand on the cyclops’s thick wrist and, using its momentum, flung him forward over the edge.

  Shocked, Nath listened to the cyclops’s outraged and fading scream. He studied Pepper. “Aren’t you going to get into a lot of trouble?”

  “Nah. I never liked that one-eye much. A big complainer, he was.” Pepper dusted off his hands. “Besides, I’ll just blame it all on you. Prisoner escaped, and that ugly feller died trying to catch him. Now, where to?”

  “You’re asking me?”

  Scratching his head, Pepper said, “I see your point. Uh, where did you want to go?”

  “I want to get out of Urslay, but I need to find my sword first.”

  “Sword, you say? What’s so special about a blade? There are plenty of those around here.”

  “No, not like this one. This one is a friend.” He recalled what Eckubahn said. “They took it to the Chamber of Contest.”

  Pepper made a leery face. “Ooh, you don’t want to go there.”

  “I insist, Pepper. And you know what, you aren’t having too much trouble hearing me now.”

  “What?”

  Nath waited.

  The halfling shook his head no. “I’m not helping you. I serve the giants. Yes. Yes. Serve the giants.” He teetered back into the hall. “Come on, the coast is clear now. I’ll show you to the Chamber of Contest, but I warn you, there are much safer paths out of here.”

  Nath caught him by the elbow and fixed his eyes up on the halfling’s. “Pepper, why are you helping me?”

  The giant halfling tried to pull
away, but Nath held him fast. Finally, with a huff, Pepper said, “Everyone who knows good is obligated to do it.”

  In his heart, Nath knew that Pepper was good and truthful. “You couldn’t be more right.”

  “What?”

  “Just get me out of here.”

  With a confused look, Pepper shook his head. “Let’s get you out of here.”

  On ginger feet, the giant halfling led him back into the stone carved corridor designed for giants as big as thirty feet tall.

  They ran for minutes, and Nath marveled with every stride. There weren’t many things that made Nath marvel, but this did. The world he’d known so well had become bigger and deadlier than he ever imagined. He’d taken too many things for granted. He was used to really tall trees, but he wasn’t used to so many men bigger than he. It bothered him. Giants were rare, but apparently not as rare as he thought. Perhaps, long, long ago, the giants had dominated the world of Nalzambor.

  “You know, we ought to be out of here by now,” Nath said.

  “Almost.” Pepper stopped in front of a door and pushed it open. Inside was another storage room, abandoned and dusty, with a stairwell at the far end. “This will take us up into the city. Just below the Chamber of Contest that you seek. I don’t recommend it though. The worst of the worst giants will be there proving themselves. It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if they swallowed you whole. They eat a lot.”

  “I’ll manage, somehow. Pepper, I have a question. Do you know where the hive of ugly dragons is, the wurmers?”

  “What?”

  “Dragons!”

  Pepper’s face turned sour. He shook his head no. “No, not taking you there. There is death.”

  “Tell me where, then.”

  “No, you just need to leave. Get your sword and go. You’ve caused a big enough stir already.”

  “Just a hint, please!”

  “The eastern part of the city. There is a nest. But those things, brrr, are nasty. I’m nosey, but not that nosey. Beware. They will pick the flesh clean off of you.”

  Nath patted Pepper on the back. “Thanks. Every bit helps.” He jogged for the stair and bounded up several steps then stopped and turned. “Aren’t you coming?”