Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [52]
He could clearly imagine the scene. He saw the women he loved herding the civilians to safety, trying to help them find some shelter, some refuge from the terrible monster ravaging their town. Jaheira and Imoen were, as usual, risking their own lives to save the innocent and helpless.
Now that he had a goal, Abdel made quick progress. He had reached the still-open gates of Saradush and was rushing down the rubble-filled streets, ignoring the flame engulfed buildings on either side of him. The city was choked with a thick veil of smoke, forcing Abdel to hunch his seven-foot frame nearly in half to stay beneath the acrid clouds.
He knew Jaheira and Imoen would be where the destruction was the greatest-all he had to do was find the dragon, and he would find his friends.
Finding the dragon was easy. He just ran toward the screams. He was still several blocks away when he saw the enormous beast rampaging through the street, reducing buildings to dust and slaughtering every living thing that came within reach of its claws, jaws, or tail. As with all dragons, this specimen was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. As he approached, Abdel realized this dragon was but a youth, barely even full grown. Its scales were smooth and unmarked by the scars of great battles yet to come. Its hide was still a bright, shiny red. As it aged, its coloration would darken and deepen. If the creature was as inexperienced in tactics and combat as its immaturity would suggest, Abdel might have a hope of defeating it.
At the far end of the block Abdel caught a glimpse of half a dozen figures huddling in the ground level of a burned-out hull of a building whose upper reaches had already been destroyed by dragon fire. Even at this distance, Abdel recognized the silhouetted outline of Jaheira through the haze and the smaller form of Imoen beside her. Imoen's arms moved in the intricate patterns Abdel had seen mages and wizards use when performing an enchantment, and through the darkness Abdel could clearly see a parchment scroll with glowing symbols at her feet. A second later the entire group vanished from sight.
Momentarily stunned, it took Abdel a second to realize they were still there, their presence cloaked by a spell of invisibility. However, he didn't have time to wonder at Imoen's previously unrevealed magical talents as the dragon's attention was now even more focused on the small structure in which the group had sought shelter.
Slowly, as if savoring the coming slaughter, the dragon began to march along the street toward the invisible Imoen and those she would protect. A deep mocking laugh rolled out from the monster's throat, rising above the deafening crackle of flames and the screams of the other townsfolk fleeing in terror at its approach.
Abdel never hesitated in his charge, never even slowed his stride-though part of his mind was screaming at him to turn and run. The beast could rip him apart with one swipe of its massive talons or reduce him to a pile of ash and charcoal with a blast of fire so hot it would cause great chunks of the stone walls fortifying the city to melt.
Abdel knew his own instantaneous healing couldn't save him from death in the face of such traumatic, grievous injury, though it might have appeared that way to the soldiers ineffectually hacking at him back on the field of battle. Abdel knew he wasn't immortal.
It was more than just the knowledge of his own mortality that made a section of Abdel's mind cower in terror. Despite its obvious youth, the great red wyrm dwarfed the humans and halflings scurrying before it. It spread its enormous wings to span the breadth of the entire street, casually batting the tiny figures who stumbled too close to the leathery appendages, leaving the victims in crumpled, unconscious heaps.
Though large enough to carry off a pair of owlbears in its claws, the awesome spectacle of the dragon's presence was the result of more than just sheer size. Its young scales gleamed