The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (22 page)

“Hurry, Saxthor! The storm is almost on you.” Belnik screamed, but he knew he couldn’t be heard over the roar of the gale. A towering wave now rose behind the emperor with Engwan clinging tight around his father’s neck. Belnik froze, seeing the black wall of water rising, curling, with the edge high above Saxthor, tipped in menacing white foam.

Saxthor was almost out of the water when an undertow formed, sucking the sand out from under his feet. He turned and saw the massive wave begin to fall, its shadow descending over him like a shroud. But then his feet broke free of the surge and he bolted ahead.

The wave tumbled over. The water rushed up the beach overtaking the emperor. It caught him and knocked him off his feet. Engwan tumbled from his arms.

“Majesty!” Belnik screamed, racing down the sand.

Saxthor got his footing as the foamy wave swept flailing Engwan down the beach toward the sea.

Engwan’s little arms scratched at the sand. “Father!”

Saxthor jumped through the receding water and snatched Engwan just as he was sucked under. The boy crawled up on top of his father. He pressed Saxthor’s face into the sand nearly drowning him before Saxthor could pull the boy off his head and get to his feet. With Engwan’s arms and legs all but implanted in his father, Saxthor turned again and rushed up the sand ahead of the next overpowering surge then collapsed on the beach for a moment to catch his breath.

Gasping, Saxthor looked up at Belnik, who was staring out to sea again. “Where did that come from?”

“Run, Saxthor!” Belnik screamed.

Saxthor didn’t turn to look, but, clutching Engwan, got to his feet and bolted up the beach and over the rocks toward the palace. Belnik was close behind, looking back toward the sea and the dark writhing shadow that rose and splashed down in the center of the dark funnel that spun the sea into a boiling froth.

Alerted by Tottiana, the palace guards now raced down to meet the emperor. Belnik saw that several stopped and stared up at something behind him. Saxthor raced on past the now retreating guards and over the terrace where winds had knocked over the furniture and sunshades. Frayed fabric remnants tore from their skeletons and flapped like frantic, dying creatures before it ripped free and flew off with the tempest.

Holding Engwan, Saxthor led the race to the palace with the guards close behind.

Winded, Belnik rushed as best he could, trying to catch his breath. He heard a different sound behind him, an enormous slithering sound displacing the sand as it slid toward him, then silence. The slithering sound started again gaining on the exhausted man. The exhausted aide stumbled on the terrace flagstones and tumbled to the ground. He rolled over and looked back behind him. The daylight that got through the swirling gloom outlined a black and yellow serpent some seventy feet in length with a full dragon’s head high above him. The monster hissed. Its black, forked tongue whipped about, tasting the air. The creature stopped and coiled on the rocks below the veranda. Its huge, black eyes were spellbinding as they focused on Belnik, lying helpless on the flagstones. Another hiss and the tendrils around the monster’s head whipped out like a fan. Two horns streaked from the back of the massive head; the creature was displaying its fury and about to strike.

Something grabbed Belnik’s forearm jerking him to his feet and back toward the palace. He looked back and saw Saxthor dragging him with all his might to the stone archway of the palace courtyard. Seeing Saxthor dispelled his shock. He gasped, and got up, and dashed for the doorway, glancing back momentarily just as the monstrous sea serpent shot down on where he had just been.

Saxthor and Belnik rushed through the great archway. The guards slammed the great oak gates closed behind them, catching Belnik’s robe. It jerked him back against the gates. The thick oak log fell into place, securing the gate as the monster slammed into it, causing the bowing oak doors to groan. Frantic, Belnik scrambled to his feet

“Quick, into the palace!” Saxthor said.

Belnik stripped off the restraining robe and dashed for the door into the palace at the other end of the courtyard as a dark shadow fell over the palace walls. The two ran into the great stone structure with the last of the guards behind them except for one that fell.

Once inside the reception hall, Belnik looked and saw the monstrous head come over the wall and engulf the guard’s head, his arms and legs still thrashing. The man went limp and the sea monster’s mouth unhinged. The beast engulfed the body with two shifts of its head, swallowing him. The palace shutters slammed shut.

“What is that thing?” Saxthor asked.

“I’ve no idea,” Belnik said. “Are Tottiana and the children safe?”

“Yes, I sent them below into the cellar deep within the rock. Nothing can reach them there.”

The scraping sound of the beasts slithering scales on the flagstone resumed outside the great doors. The creature shoved furniture aside as it probed. Then the monstrous black head rose at the window, high up on the wall. Saxthor and Belnik turned to it. An eye as large as a windowpane peered into the entrance hall. Saxthor, Belnik, and the guards all ran back into the heart of the palace. Saxthor grabbed for Sorblade, but it wasn’t at his side.

The monster’s scales, catching on the rock, made horrific scratching sounds as the giant sea monster wrapped around the palace. It slithered its way up the palace walls, searching for some opening big enough to enter.

“Quick!” Saxthor said. “Go below with the others, Belnik. You’re no match for that thing.”

“Where are you going?”

“To get Sorblade.”

Saxthor was already racing across the reception hall and up the stairs with Belnik behind but unable to keep up. Saxthor turned on the stairs. “I told you to get below with the others. They need you to protect them, there, and for them to know you’re with them.”

Huffing and puffing, Belnik continued up the stairs. “What good can I do there?”

“You can do nothing here. That thing will kill you in an instant if it gets within striking distance.”

“As it could down there, so I might as well make a stand here.”

“You’re so stubborn, Belnik. I can’t protect you and take on that monster too. I don’t have time to argue.”

“I’ll look out for me, and you too, if I can. You just worry about that vile monster out there.”

“Excuse me! Who’s emperor here and who’s supposed to do as they’re told?”

Belnik’s face and tone never wavered. “You can be emperor, but I’m not leaving you alone to take on that thing.”

Saxthor shook his hands at the ceiling. “Deliver me from my caretaker. I don’t have time to argue with you anymore. You’re impossibly stubborn. I don’t know where you get that from.”

“Our common ancestor it would seem. If Your Majesty is through raving, perhaps we could get the sword.”

“Oh, that would be acceptable to you now, would it?”

“Quite.”

Saxthor rolled his eyes, turned, and raced up the spiral staircase to the imperial family’s private quarters. He found Sorblade and strapped it on his still-wet swimming trunks. Out of breath, Belnik handed him the shield.

“Doesn’t look very intimidating,” Belnik said, looking Saxthor over head to toe.

“If you could go and speak with that thing and convince it to sit quietly on the terrace while I change into something more awe inspiring, I shall be glad to put on my armor and any other embellishments you deem worthy of a dragon slayer!”

“That won’t be necessary, Majesty. I suppose, under the circumstances, your attire will have to do.”

“Thank you, Belnik. I’m glad to know it’s acceptable.” Saxthor started out the door with Belnik close behind.

“Well, I didn’t say it was acceptable, I said it would have to do,” Belnik mumbled, but Saxthor didn’t respond. “Don’t forget your dagger.”

Saxthor reached back and grabbed the dagger without looking at Belnik.

*

The great serpent was butting the towers with its head as it slithered around on the tile roofs, searching for an opening. It struck the smallest tower at the back of the palace and knocked in the stonework just at the balcony window. It was able to nudge its massive head through the opening and as it passed into the room its horns and barbels pushed out the stonework. The top of the tower fell over the side. The gaping hole atop the tower admitted the monster that then forced its way down the spiral staircase toward the center of the palace. Saxthor met it before it could get clear of the cramped tower.

He rushed up and thrust Sorblade into the sea monster’s great, glaring eye. A clear liquid streaked with blood spilled out onto the stone stairs, making them slick. The beast hissed and jerked back, her great bulk shattering the stone tower, throwing stone blocks out across the palace roof. Then it shot back down through the toppled ruins.

Saxthor drew back as the great head surged toward him. Her head and neck broke free of the constraining tower into the great hall. Free, she glared at Saxthor, flicked her tongue, and hissed. Her mouth gaped, showing the threatening black interior where rows of massive, back-curving teeth displayed, pointing to the glistening wrinkles of her throat. Two fangs arched out over Saxthor like talons. A drop of poison formed on one. Then the great head drew back, leaning to the left so the remaining eye could see Saxthor clearly.

Belnik gasped as the thing’s muscles grew taught like a spring. Its head lashed out so quickly he only saw a blur and Saxthor crashed, rolling to the floor. The serpent’s head drew back as Saxthor’s shield clanged across the marble floor.

It smashed the shield out of Saxthor’s hand, Belnik thought. It won’t miss again.

Saxthor struggled to regain his footing, his sandals slipping on the slick, wet floor.

Before he knew what he was doing, Belnik rushed forward toward that head, fumbling with his ceremonial dagger. He approached from the blind side, gaining seconds before the monster saw him. She jerked sideways just before striking at Saxthor, apparently catching the approaching movement.

“What are you doing?” Saxthor yelled.

Clutching his shaking dagger in both hands, Belnik charged on. He raised the dagger over his head as the monster turned to him. No time to think, he thought. He tripped on his cloak and flew forward under the sea monster. The dagger caught on a broad stomach scale as the serpent sank down on him. The dagger slipped against the scale, but as Belnik fell under the creature’s weight, he turned his hands to the right, which then forced the dagger blade to the left and up between two scales. There was a sickening feeling as the dagger tip glanced off the scale and sank into soft tissue.

The sea monster jerked back, pulling herself off the dagger blade, but blood streamed down her belly. Her hissing head whipped about; the tongue flicking wildly. Her eyes dulled for a moment. The dazed snake slumped forward for an instant. It was enough time.

As Belnik crawled away on his knees, he saw Saxthor leap forward. Both hands swung Sorblade in an arc. The snake’s head, half cut through, flopped-- dangling from the stump. Blood gushed from the open wound. Another arc and the ferocious head flew from the body, which collapsed on the tower stairs, still writhing. With cold, terrifying eyes, the horned head rolled to a stop just in front of shaking Belnik.

Saxthor rushed to his aide, staring at the head at his feet. Belnik sank to his wobbly knees, his chest pounding and head throbbing.

“If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I’ll whip you myself,” Saxthor said. “By all reasonable outcomes, that beast should have killed you.”

Belnik slumped forward; Saxthor caught him just before his head hit the floor. The room spun. Belnik’s vision blurred, becoming grainy. When he came too, Belnik’s head was lying in Saxthor’s lap. Saxthor was patting his forehead with a cool, damp cloth.

“Lay still, you stubborn old fool,” Saxthor said.

“You’re one to be calling me stubborn,” Belnik mumbled. He made an effort to get up but fell back. “I’m sorry to be such a nuisance. I seem to have fainted.”

“Yes, you’re excused this time, but don’t let it happen again.”

“Yes, Majesty. You won’t tell the others I fainted, will you?”

Saxthor hunched forward and hugged his beloved cousin. “No, but I’ll tell them how you saved us all. You shall be known as Dragon Slayer in the future.”

“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Belnik said, taking off the compress and slowly sitting up, then standing. “I’m not the dragon slayer type. It would seem ridiculous and the court would make fun of me as they do now for fussing over you so much. But thank you for the offer and the honor.”

“I’ll share your bravery among the family.”

Belnik smiled and, though wobbly, finally stood erect. He looked at the monstrous, serpentine body and bloody stump again still squirming directionless on the floor.

“Think it’s edible?”

“How should I know?” Saxthor asked. “That’s an odd question.”

“Pity Bodrin isn’t here.”

“Why’s that?”

“He’d eat it, and we’d know.”

Saxthor doubled over laughing.

“What?”

The two men left the hall arm in arm for the cellar to find the imperial family. They passed an ever increasing crowd of servants and palace guards creeping into to the hall to see the great beast.