The Gates of Night_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [36]
Xu’sasar clicked her tongue again, and the others nodded.
Daine scratched his back and allowed himself to smile. “Good. Now stay alert. We’ve dealt with bloodhounds, falling stars, and scorpions. Surely we can handle one little boar.”
“That’s no little boar,” Daine said. “You’re sure about this?”
Lei nodded, and her staff murmured in acquiescence.
They were clustered at the base of one of the massive stone faces, looking down into a valley. A minute ago, Pierce had seen what they’d first taken to be a torch, moving through the night. It was no torch. It was Colchyn, the Great Boar of the Hunter’s Moon. The beast was easily the size of a full team of horses. Black bristles covered its body, and a ridge of flame ran down its back; the same fire burned in its eyes, and sparks flew from its nostrils as it snorted and smelled the air. Pierce racked his brains, trying to come up with some sort of plan that would keep them from going toe-to-hoof with this monstrosity, but nothing came to mind. He studied the sheltering tor, wondering if they could climb it, but another glance at the beast dispelled that notion. He was sure the boar could reach them even if they did climb atop the sculpted face.
“This cannot be avoided.” Once again, Xu’sasar had slipped just behind Daine. “This is our trial. Let us face it with courage.”
“We’ll need more than courage. Lei, how about some haste?”
She nodded, reaching into her pack and producing her mystical tools.
Daine peered around the edge, studying the approaching monster. “Try the tangler. I doubt it’ll hold this thing, but we’ve got nothing to lose. Pierce, keep your distance and just hit it as hard as you can. With Lei’s enchantment, your arrows are still our best weapon.”
“Understood,” Pierce said.
“Xu,” Daine said. “I know you held your own against those bloodhounds, but do you really plan to punch this thing?”
“I do not fight with only my fists. I strike with the scorpion’s sting and the chill night. I have no fear of this creature.”
Daine was tempted to tell her to stay back. Kicking a beast the size of a barn was madness. Still, Xu’sasar was swift even without Lei’s magics, and distraction was what he wanted. “If it breaks free, do what you can to keep it off-balance. If we stay on opposite sides and keep hitting it … we need to buy Pierce as much time as we can.”
“What about me?” Lei said. She’d just finished painting a silver symbol on a quartz disk.
“Stay out of the way.” Daine said.
“What? Are you—?”
“This isn’t a discussion. I know you can take care of yourself. But look at that thing. One kick and I’m bleeding out in the dirt. You’re the only one of us who can heal, and I need you to stay out of harm’s way. Stay back, and use that lightning rod of yours. Surely a blast from that will be more effective than a poke with your stick.”
He could feel her frustration, but he was right and she knew it. It made sense … and the fact that it kept her away from this monster was a fortunate coincidence.
“Let’s hope that scorpion wasn’t lying.,” Daine said. “Lei? Let’s have that speed.”
Lei closed her hand around the shard of stone and whispered an indistinct word. Daine felt only the faintest tingle through his muscles, but he knew what to expect. “Go!” he said, darting around the edge of the tor.
The boar was at the base of the hill, trotting toward them. Thanks to Lei’s magic, the beast seemed to be moving in slow motion, barely crawling up the slope. Still, at this distance Daine could see just how huge the boar was, and the thought of charging such a creature seemed ludicrous. Its tusks were as long as Daine’s arms, and flames licked around its massive hooves, searing the grass as it lumbered forward. It was a creature of nightmares.
But they’d fought nightmares