Jormanthar let off a low rumble.It lunged, tromping through the burning remains of the storehouse that had blocked the way between them.
Brynn and Cenric backed away, watching to make sure the creature followed.
Brynn cast another spell at the beast, shearing cuts along its nose.The beast sneezed, shaking its head and snapping at the air.
It cleared the broken remains of the storehouse, illuminated by the light of the burning buildings.The creature wasn’t formed quite like any Brynn had seen before.It had a long neck and a head that swiveled in all directions like an eel.But it had scales and tiny legs, almost like it had been a common lizard that had far outgrown its intended size.The creature’s proportions were off, much like Wulfwir.Jormanthar was not so much a serpent as a frightened child’s idea of one.
Brynn and Cenric reached the sand beyond the wooden buildings, the beach lined with burning ships and scattered corpses.The sea was in sight, less than a hundred paces off.
Jormanthar growled and stopped, nostrils flaring at the sight of the black waves at their backs.
It’s afraid of the sea,Brynn realized with a surge of hope.Perhaps her plan was onto something, not just desperation.
“Be moving!”Cenric bellowed back at the thing.“Let’s go!”
Jormanthar hissed in response, head swaying.
Movement up the beach caught Brynn’s attention.A gaggle of men carrying spears and axes charged down the sand, thumping their weapons against their shields.
“Not now!”Brynn cursed.“Idiots!”
Jormanthar swung its head in the direction of the men.
“That will be Ovrek,” Cenric muttered.
“How can you tell?”Brynn cast him a sideways glance.
“He’ll want to fight the greatest beast.I’d hoped we’d be able to deal with the serpent before he realized where we’d gone.”
“He’s going to get himself killed.”Brynn’s fists clenched, her frustration mounting.“He’d have a better chance of defeating the Wulfwir.”
“A glorious death is better than an ignominious life,” Cenric said.
“I almost had it!”Brynn watched as the serpent cocked its head, swaying in the direction of Ovrek’s line of warriors.“What are their spears and axes going to do to this thing?”
Cenric observed as the beast withdrew, moving toward the line of warriors.“You want it near the water?”
“I’m going to try and use thekain the water to work a spell,” Brynn explained.
Cenric considered the advancing Valdari.“They might be able to flush it this way.”
“You know they won’t.”Brynn sent another lash toward the beast.Her spell ripped along its back and even in the dark she saw blood splatter the sand.The creature growled, continuing toward the line of men.
Ovrek drew his warriors into formation, creating a shieldwall.It was a good formation.Most of the men had managed to acquire weapons.They must anticipate being able to attack it the way they would an enemy army, but it seemed none of them accounted for just how quickly it would heal.
Had Hróarr not told them?Or perhaps Ovrek had simply not wanted to listen.
“You seem to be striking it from this distance,” Cenric pointed out.
“I need it to come closer,” Brynn said.“The strength of the spell I’ll need to cut all the way through that neck in one blow…” She groaned with frustration.“I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it at all, but definitely not from a hundred paces or more.”
Cenric was silent for a moment, watching as the serpent drew closer to Ovrek’s line.The warriors formed a solid formation, spears bristling from between their shields.Jormanthar would batter through them like sticks.
A volley of javelins broke from the shieldwall.Most of them went wide, missing the beast entirely.A few struck the creature, but it shook itself and the javelins fell loose as if they were nothing but thistles.
“I’ll bring it to you.”
“Cenric?”Brynn’s chest tightened.
