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.”“After Graylen said this, Norouk ran his sword through him, and Graylen fell upon his shield.Then the creatures and the traitor left.One thousand warriors went into the valley.Only two came out.”“If the first was Norouk, who was the other who came out?” Han asked and the others glared at him.“One was Norouk.The other was the flag carrier named Ranadin.Ranadin was among the first to fall in the battle.A spear ripped through his leg, but the wound was not fatal.A young warrior dragged him beside a fallen horse and hid him from battle.When all was over, Ranadin crawled to Graylen’s body and saw his once plain shield was now covered with many runes.Ranadin brought that shield here, knowing one day it could be used to avenge the Wardevar’s deaths.”“But all this happened before Volsur was banished.Is Norouk still alive? Is he with Volsur now?” Han asked.“Norouk, curse his name, went into the Barren Lands with Volsur.Now he’s master of the Vereortu and dresses in golden armor made from the gold Volsur paid him to betray his fellow warriors.Volsur’s power keeps him from aging.If you plan to stop Volsur, you’ll have to face Norouk.”“What? But if he killed all the Wardevar, how can we stop him?” Han groaned.Dean shook his head.“Listen.There are only four of us.If we do run into this Norouk guy and the Vereortu, we can’t fight them.We have no chance.”“We will try.” Oieda jumped to her feet and held out her spear.Dean exhaled but the old man smiled.“I admire her courage.It would be madness for you to face Norouk, but if you do head to Volsur, you will meet him.Or he will come after you.” The old man unwrapped the bundle underneath his arm to reveal a silver shield, on the front of which was inscribed hundreds of dark runes.“It is to you, Dean Theradine, I give this shield of Graylen.” As he handed the shield to Dean, he said, “I know not how to use it.But you’ll know when the time is right.”“I thank you,” Dean said.“Give me no thanks.It was my duty,” the old man snapped and then moved to the massive doors.“Night comes.You must now leave the hall.”Dean opened his mouth, but the old man held up his hands.Each of the companions bowed low as they passed by him into the growing darkness.As the massive door closed behind them, Han turned and called inside.“But you never gave us your name.”“My name is Ranadin,” the man answered as the great gates swung silently shut.CHAPTER THIRTEENThe Fallen WarriorsThe companions walked away from the hall and down a worn path that curved up and out of the valley.The midnight-black storm clouds again swirled above their heads.They traveled in silence as they climbed.Han constantly looked behind him.A look of fascination appeared on his face as he glanced at the cloth bundle underneath Dean’s arm and back again.Dean smiled at Han until something in the sky caught his eye.“Not again.” Dean cursed.“Tarlugs.A whole squadron of them.” He pointed to thirty shadowy shapes that swept toward them.“Down this path.It runs next to the cliff.We can find shelter there.”The four scrambled down a rocky path that wound its way along the sheer cliff, towering above them.The other side of the path dropped steeply off, the bottom of the valley nearly one hundred feet below.The wind had died and the sun was just about to set in the distance.Screams split the air as three Tarlugs suddenly dove straight down for them.The first Tarlug fell shrieking as one of Han’s arrows impaled it.The second beast flew in close to the wall.The tip of its wing caught against the cliff, dragging the rest of its body with it.It slammed into the wall and fell over the ledge, screaming.The third winged creature plummeted as Oieda stabbed it with her spear.As the tip ripped into its chest, the Tarlug grasped Oieda as it sped by.With a cry of pain, Oieda flew frontward and tumbled toward the edge of the cliff.Dean lunged forward.Landing hard on his stomach, he grabbed Oieda’s arm just as she fell over the edge.Dean started to slide over too.His sneakers dug into the stone but Oieda’s weight kept dragging him forward.He grabbed her arm with both hands.Bravic grasped Dean’s legs.“Pull me up,” she screamed, dangling over the valley below.“I’m trying!” Dean yelled back.“You weigh two hundred pounds.”Oieda’s eyes went wide.“I do not!”“Stop yelling at each other and pull,” Han cried as he held onto Bravic’s belt.While Bravic held Dean’s legs, Han helped Oieda back onto the path.“You can’t pull up a girl?” Oieda huffed as pressed her back against the ledge.“Now you’re a girl?” Dean rolled his eyes.“What does that mean?” Oieda snapped.“You gave me a ration of crud back in the stable about how a girl can do anything a guy can and how you want to be treated like a guy.But now you throw I’m just a girl in my face—”“I did not mean it that way.I didn’t think you were so weak that you weren’t able to lift a girl.”“You’re wearing forty pounds of armor and ten pounds of weapons.You alone have to weigh at least one hundred and—”“I know how much I weigh—”“Can we fight the Tarlugs and not each other?” Han yelled as he searched the sky.“I don’t see them.Did they flee?” Bravic asked as all four looked up.The sound of rolling stone came from somewhere above them.Crack! A large rock smashed into pieces as it crashed onto the path just behind them.“They’re bombing us with stones!” Dean pointed at a ridge above them where Tarlugs held large rocks in their arms.Crack! Another boulder shattered as it slammed into the ground and showered the four with splintered pieces, flying like little daggers through the air.“Ah-ooh-ga! Ah-ooh-ga! Dive! Dive!” Dean ordered as he sprinted down the path.The companions raced down the trail as stones rained down on them.Boulders fell all around, blowing apart as they landed.One shattered right before Dean, and a large fragment hit him just above his eye.The cut was thin, but a small amount of blood flowed down his cheek.“I’m going to get those stupid flying Krulgs.” He held his hand to his face.“There’s a cave up ahead.” Bravic panted and nodded to a large opening in the side of the cliff.They raced forward and darted inside the cave.Crack! A large rock tumbled down the side of the cliff to land outside the opening.Crack! Crack! Crack! Three more rocks slammed into the cliff and a shower of splintered rocks slid down.Crack! The whole cave shook as rock broke rock and a large section of the opening fell in.“The cave is letting go,” Bravic gasped as he peered overhead.“We must do something, or we’ll be crushed when the ceiling collapses.”“We can’t go out there
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Tematy
IndexChristine Amsden [Cassie Scot Cassie Scot ParaNormal Detecti
Christie Craig [Divorced, Des Divorced, Desperate
Moore Christopher Ssij, mała, ssij (II)
Stasheff, Christopher Wizard in Rhyme 6 Haunted Wizard
Christine Feehan Mroczna Seri Mroczny Demon
Cidney Swanson [Saving Mars Saving Mars (epub)
Stasheff, Christopher Rogue Wizard 04 A Wizard in Peace
Feehan Christine Mroczna Seria 01 Mroczny Ksišże
Stasheff, Christopher Warlock 01 The Warlock in Spite of Himself
Christine Feehan Mroczna Seria 13 Mroczne Przeznaczenie