Part 8 (2/2)
The Harskeel's tracker returned ”We found a tunnel that goes around that bat cave and gets us back on the trail again, m'lord”
”Good Let us move foward Mind you keep your pikes at the ready” This last co hter in the bat cave; still, a leader had to reain
The Harskeel smoothed an eyebrow and patted its hair,-sohtness-and followed the tracker along the new trail
Rey now rode in the sedan chair, rocking co rhythm of its two bearers The wizard looked around It had been too long since he had ventured out to observe his do if one could not go out and lord it over the realm now and then? He resolved that once this man was dispatched to the Gray Lands and That bitch dealt her just reward, he would get outstep together, lulled the wizard into a coainst the chair, his head lolling to one side as he dozed and daydrealories
The undulations of the worently shi+fted Chuntha back and forth likea waving frond in an alternating breeze The rasp of belly plates over the damp rock was almost melodic: scrape, scr-a-a-p-e -a short beat followed by a longer one as the coils slid the creature forward A pleasant way to travel, although she could easily think of several ways that would increase the pleasure
But another time; the stalemate between herself and the wizard needed to be put to rest; that concerned her now more than her immediate pleasure Settle with him once and for all After that she could perhaps expand her activities to take in a portion of the world above the caves A more ready supply of men existed there, of course, and one could never have toowith pleasure, Chuntha drealories
Ten
The silken vessel was h for Wikkell to lift with one hand, and yet banging it accidentally against a wall produced no apparent dae The craft would easily hold thee as they, and the plants had thoughtfully provided a floor inside for added support and comfort
Once the cyclops and worh in the water with nary a leak
Utilizing a large sculling oar produced by the plants-at no extra charge-Wikkell saw Deek safely aboard, locked the oar into place, then hopped into the vessel and rapidly propelled the boat away from the shore
While Deek had no hands, he was able to use the tip of his tail to assist Wikkell with the sculling The glea, silvery craft sped over the s
”I doubt that I could run this quickly,” Wikkell observed
Deektoo se, but he was of a liketo keep in mind for the future
One could construct a nu
”Surely the prey we pursue cannot travel half so fast,” Wikkell said ”We should catch the, Deek thought
”That is, if we do not take a wrong turning,” Wikkell said ”But we have help from the plants, after all”
Deek could not speak but he lifted his head and waved it up and down in a gesture that he hoped would pass for a nod
Wikkell caught thehis square and sturdy teeth ”Yes, indeed I begin to have hopes that this venture ht well turn out in our favor after all, Deek old son”
Deek nodded again The boat ski theht yet escape the lime pits and co to have to flatten Wikkell, though He was beginning to grow fond of the cyclops Perhaps there was another way to get the people without killing his new friend He could explore that idea, certainly; it was the least he could do
A single cruising bat spied the Harskeel'salone on the rock next to the sea, and apparently decided that such a ood to bypass The bat dived, already extruding his pointed feeding tube to skewer the unsuspecting delicacy
Unfortunately for the bat, theas bait for just such an attack The flying rodent had no sooner lit upon the man than he was set upon and captured by three other men who had lain hidden nearby, under the direction of the Harskeel The bat thrashed and fluttered, but the touch of cold and sharp iron at his throat brought the struggle to a fast end
”I would speak with you,” the Harskeel said
The bat made no reply
”Ah, you do not understand civilized speech A pity Kill it,” the Harskeel ordered
”Wait!” the bat called out His voice was high and the accent rinned at the sound of it
”Hold,” it commanded
The Harskeel's men stayed their pikes
”Now,” the Harskeel said, ”how are you called?”
The bat gnashed sharp teeth When he spoke, his voice was haughty ”I ah Flier and Drinker of Life”
”Crimson?”
”Named for the beautiful splash of that same color upon the fur of my back”
”Fine 'Red' will do for a name Now, Red, I have a proposition for you”
”A proposition? We do not deal with those who hold us captive”
”Let hiathered himself for a fast escape
”Before you leave, Red, you should at least hear et very far, you understand Zate over there can skewer you before you rise h” The Harskeel held up its thuer, separated by the thickness of a boot heel
Red turned slightly to look at the htly and hefted his pike s,” Red observed ”Certainly I should be most interested to hear your proposition” ”Your kind drinks blood for sustenance, do they not?”
”I feel that you already know that,” Red answered
”As it happens, I have dabbled in ain,” the Harskeel said
Behind the Harskeel, one of its men snickered The Harskeel did not pause, nor did it turn As soon as all of this was done, that ood as dead, one could bet one's fortune on that
The Harskeel continued smoothly ”And, as it also happens, I am in possession of a spell that will produce fresh blood in a large quantity”