Ironhelm - Douglas Niles [41]
"Still, don't you wonder if there's more to them than what we've seen?"
She laughed again, and again he loved the sound. "Oh, I don't know. I don't really think about it. It's fun to see each new place. Don't be so serious!"
"All right." He nodded, wanting to please her.
They walked for a while down the beach, past groups of sailors and soldiers from the legion relaxing on the shore. All the men had gotten to debark at least once thus far, and more than half of them were ashore now.
Halloran looked at the forest that marked the boundary of the beach. From the sea, they had seen a steadily rising slope, leading to some moderate crests a few miles inland. Where he stood now, he could see only the trees before him, since their height concealed the rising ground beyond.
Martine exclaimed over this blossom or that brilliantly plumed bird, while the horseman wondered what lay beyond that jungle facade. What was this place really like?
"We'd better not go too far," he cautioned, realizing they had walked past the last group of men on the beach.
"Oh, stop worrying! I'd like to be someplace for once where there aren't hundreds of sweaty men around me!"
"But…" Halloran paused in total confusion. He would do anything to please her, and indeed her desires coincided deeply with his own. But the Bishou's dour and protective nature was well known, and Domincus could scarcely fail to observe their departure. Hal shuddered at the thought of his wrath.
A thunderous explosion of sound blasted from the jungle, striking them like a blast of air and driving Halloran to his knees. Like the roar of a great cat, amplified to an earth-shattering level, the bellow was strong enough, and startling enough, to knock Marline flat onto her back behind Hal. In an instant, he staggered to his feet, his sword drawn.
A creature of nightmarish appearance leaped from the jungle, pouncing to the sand ten paces before the man. Halloran saw a great black mane surrounding a feline face contorted by a hateful snarl. A pair of leathery wings flapped from the creature's shoulders, sending clouds of sand swirling into the air. A black-tufted tail lashed back and forth as the beast, larger than a horse, crouched, preparing to spring.
Martine's lips moved, but she lay immobile on the sand. She may have spoken, but Hal realized that he could hear nothing. The roar had deafened him.
Halloran stumbled unsteadily, lurching to Marline's side, crouching defensively to protect her from Ihe cruel jaws and raking lalons. The monsler leaped, and Halloran broughl his sword down in an overhand blow, slriking the thing's brutish forehead.
He felt claws lear into his rib cage al the same time as his blade contacted hard bone. Hal fell backward, still in front of Marline, while the crealure uttered a short, surprised screech, slopping in its Iracks and shaking ьs head.
Inslantly Hal leaped to his feet, ignoring the burning pain and free flow of blood along his side. The snarling feline face was marred by a long cut, but once again the beast growled and crept forward. Halloran knew he could not slop it a second time.
Suddenly he saw one, then several heavy bolts appear in Ihe monster's flank. Crossbow quarrels! Some of Dag-grande's men had seen them! The creature whirled and snapped at the missiles, so Halloran thrust at its other flank, driving his steel blade deep into ils flesh. A band of swordsmen sprinled toward them, lumbering in the soft sand.
The monster uttered another horrible roar, directed up the beach. Halloran watched in astonishment as several of the running swordsmen stumbled and fell, apparently stunned by the roar. Before the others could close, the monster sprang back toward the shelter of the forest. Its short wings greatly speeded its flight, and in moments it had disappeared into the trees.
"Are-are you all right?" Hal asked, anxiously helping Martine to her feet. His voice sounded