Darkwalker on Moonshae - Douglas Niles [58]
Grunnarch’s misgivings passed unspoken as the meeting ended. Something about Thelgaar Ironhand had projected such unassailable confidence that any argument would have seemed futile even had it been uttered. Yet it was with vague discomfort that he left the bonfire to join his men.
Kazgoroth, in the body of the Iron King, watched Grunnarch leave, and was pleased. That one, it felt certain, would perform as expected. The eastern cantrevs of Corwell would burn to ashes. Beneath the might of the northmen’s invasion.
It also watched Laric, captain of the Bloodriders. That one, Kazgoroth felt sure, would not fail. Even if the Red King did not accomplish his objective, the red-robed horsemen most certainly would. Across the fire, Laric looked back at Thelgaar. The red gleam in his eyes seemed to come from more than simple reflected firelight.
Slowly, Kazgoroth swiveled its gaze to the vast, placid sea. Great swells rolled softly beyond the cozy protection of Iron Bay. Tomorrow Kazgoroth in the body of Thelgaar Ironhand would lead a second fleet of longships southward, directly toward Corwell. The long rams would slow the progress of the fleet, and increase its danger. Yet they would serve a necessary purpose before the end.
For Kazgoroth knew with certainty that the Leviathan awaited them.
*****
A low, deep growl rumbled from Canthus’s chest as the great dog regarded the dragon. The hound did not attack, however, because the prince remained too astounded to issue such a command. Surprise mingled with annoyance, at the rude trick the dragon had played on him, and amusement at the dragon’s appearance.
For this dragon was only a little over two feet long.
Fluttering daintily on gossamer wings, the bright blue creature hovered before him. His little paws were clasped together before his chest, his eyes sparkled with intelligence and humor, and a thin, snakelike tail wriggled behind him. Suddenly the little creature disappeared, but a few seconds later he popped back into sight. He repeated the process erratically, becoming invisible briefly and then blinking back and forth.
Finally the prince burst out laughing. The little creature reacted with glee, clapping his forepaws quickly and giggling in a high-pitched voice.
“Oh, I say, this is simply splendid. You have a sense of humor, too! Why, everyone else I play a little prank upon seems to get all twisted about! They really, sometimes, say the nastiest things! Why, if you only knew -”
“Hold,” cried the prince. “Who, or what, are you? And why did you lure me out here?”
“Why, I’m Newt. I thought you knew. I thought everybody knew. Oh dear, I thought I was much more famous than all that!” The dragon looked deeply distressed, but then just shook his head and continued.
“And why? Well, for the fun of it, of course. Don’t you know anything? Still, I should say, you don’t look like you live around here. The ones that live here are much bigger than you – and a good sight uglier, I might add, if you won’t get a big head. I mean, it’s not like you’re the most handsome -”
“Wait!” The prince finally interrupted the flow of chatter. His mind whirled from keeping up with the dragon. “Who lives around here? Where?” The dragon’s description had naturally reminded the prince of the dread Firbolgs.
“Well, now,” the dragon began, obviously pleased at having a partner in conversation. “They live in the Big Cave – here in the fens. They look like you, as, of course, I said already, except they’re much taller and broader and, well, hairier, and their noses are huge, I mean they just hang out of their faces like a limb hangs off a tree, and, well, they smell bad, and -”
“I think I understand,” Tristan blurted, trying to stem the flow of words. “Can you show me where this Big Cave is?”
“Why, certainly,” Newt said proudly. “Just follow me!”
In an instant, the little dragon disappeared.
“Wait!” cried the prince, afraid that Newt was gone forever. In a like instant, however, the creature returned to hover before him, regarding