Amber and Iron - Margaret Weis [42]
A small black and white furry body dashed past Rhys. Atta launched herself into the air and flung herself at the grappling men. She crashed into them bodily, knocking both Cam and Gerard to the ground, jarring loose Cam’s hold on his victim.
Gerard rolled over on his back, gasping for air.
Cam fought with the dog, who was attacking him viciously, her snapping teeth going for his jugular.
“Monk, call off your dog!” Dominique cried.
“Atta!” Rhys yelled. “To me!”
The dog was in a red rage, intent on the kill. The blood of the wolf that had been her distant ancestor pounded in her ears, drowning out her master’s command.
Cam seized hold of Atta by the scruff of her neck, wrenched her off him. He twisted her neck, then flung her limp body away.
Rhys couldn’t leave Gerard, who was gasping for breath. Rhys looked back in agony at Atta. He could not see her very well, for she lay outside the light of his torch. She didn’t appear to be moving.
There was a rustle of leaves and a crashing sound, and Nightshade tumbled down from his perch amidst the branches.
“She’s hurt pretty bad, but I’ll take care of her, Rhys!” the kender called with a catch in his voice.
He took Atta into his arms, and with tears running down his cheeks, began to croon to her softly, rocking her back and forth.
Rhys wrenched his gaze from his dog to the confrontation between Dominique and the Beloved. Cam had managed to regain his feet with amazing speed. His throat was slashed half-open, but only a small amount of blood oozed from the wounds.
He grinned at the paladin.
“What are you supposed to be? Huma’s ghost?”
Dominique brought forth a holy medallion he wore around his neck. He held it up in front of Cam.
“In the name of Kiri-Jolith, I call upon you to return to the Abyss from whence you came!”
“I don’t come from the Abyss,” said Cam. “I come from Solace, and get that thing out of my face!”
He knocked aside Dominique’s hand, sending the holy medallion flying out of the paladin’s grasp.
Coolly and calmly, Dominique plunged his sword in Cam’s breastbone.
Cam gave a strangled cry. He stared in disbelief at the sword that was buried in his chest up to the hilt.
Dominique yanked out the blood-smeared blade. Cam’s legs buckled. He fell to his knees, then toppled forward and lay unmoving.
“Blessed be Kiri-Jolith,” Dominique said reverently, and started to sheathe his sword.
Cam lifted his head.
“Hey, there, Huma. You missed!”
Dominique staggered backward, nearly dropping his blade in astonishment. Recovering himself, he leaped at the Beloved and brought down his sword in a slashing arc of white fire. The blow severed Cam’s head from his neck.
The body lay twitching on the ground. The head rolled a short distance away, ended up facing Gerard.
The Sheriff had managed to regain his breath.
“Cam, I’m sorry—” Gerard began then gasped in horror.
One of the eyes in the severed head winked at him.
The mouth opened and laughed. The headless body rose up on its hands and knees and began to crawl toward the severed head.
Gerard made a gargling sound. “Oh, gods!” he gasped, his throat raw. “Kill it! Kill it!”
Dominique stared at the grotesque corpse wriggling on the ground. He lifted his sword to strike it again.
“Get out of my way!” Jenna cried. “All of you!”
Rhys took hold of Gerard. Dominique joined him, and between them, they half-carried, half-dragged the sheriff deeper into the forest.
Jenna held a glittering orange gemstone in one hand and the burning red candle in the other. She began to chant the words of magic.
As Rhys watched, mesmerized, the candle flame grew larger and larger and brighter and brighter, until it blazed with such fierce intensity that the light made his eyes water.
By the brilliant light, he saw a grotesque sight. The arms of the corpse lifted up the severed head and affixed it back on the neck. Head and body melded