The other beast was on the move. It had dealt with Jacob’s flurry and was now trying to press through the whirling attack, wincing through the tight, quick shots but still moving forward. Jacob worked his staff in probing defensive shots toward the eye of the beast as he backed up. Suddenly it seemed to grow an extra head as Jade jumped its back from behind. She held the dagger lodged in its eye as a handle to pull herself higher onto the beast. The creature roared in agony as it shook and bucked wildly to remove the new threat. Hanging on with everything she had, Jade thrust her other dagger into its remaining good eye.
The blind creature howled as it bucked its head repeatedly. Jade grabbed both daggers and pulled as hard as she could, leaning all her weight backward. The beast had little choice but to lean back with her. “Jacob, now!” she screamed, her body now fully arched back, the creature being forced to look at the sky. Jacob jumped forward, staff ready. He measured...measured...thrust! His staff drove hard and deep into the huge beast’s throat with a sickening, crackling sound. It tried to roar, but only made a low gurgle as it crumpled to the ground. Jade still twisted the daggers the whole way down, just to make sure.
The three friends rushed toward one another, urgently checking each other for wounds. Jacob and Jade were together through their fight but had no idea what had happened to Eric. Relief flooded through them to see their friend was fine as he wiped his blade clean on his victim’s fur. In fact, he was more than fine, with not a single bruise or cut. He had taken down the other beast alone!
Finally everyone was able to catch their breath and calm down. Jade was so angry at herself. She was in charge of getting them to Taron, and her irresponsibility had almost cost them everything. “We can’t stay here. We need to ride—now!” she said with a real edge in her voice. She retrieved her daggers, wiping them off on the alcatross’s fur, and began packing up the camp. She carried on without a word as the other two followed her lead without question. After that encounter neither one of them felt much like staying here either.
They rode into the night. None of them would have been able to sleep anyway had they stayed. The air was cool but pleasant as they dashed along in silence. The moon was hidden behind thin clouds, only allowing enough light to show its approximate location.
Jacob and Eric were both feeling rather content with themselves despite how bad things could have gone. Those were the largest foes they had ever had to deal with, plus they had been caught off guard. However, Jade’s face was unreadable. They wondered how many times she had seen this sort of thing. How desensitized she must be!
The sun was starting to show over the horizon, and the adrenaline from the fight had long faded. “About three more miles,” Jade said sleepily as she tried to stifle a yawn. Those news snapped the other two out of their sleepy haze. They were getting close, and uneasiness was brewing in them now.
Eric began to second-guess his decision to make this trip. He started getting cold feet at the thought of—well, being special. But what could I have done, he thought. The worst that can happen is that they realize I’m just like everyone else; that there is nothing special about me, and I get to go home. He believed that reasoning would comfort him, but somehow it didn’t.
Searching his own feelings farther, he started to wonder if that was his real fear. That he was nothing special and would be sent home. He dismissed it all to butterflies in his stomach. I mean, who would actually want this? he thought, trying to convince himself. This...burden!
“There,” Jade yelled out as she pointed off into the distance. As they got closer, it became more and more surreal. They knew it was a big city, but were not ready for its sheer beauty. Both Jacob and Eric let out deep breaths. This was the sort of sight that reminded them how far they were from home.
Chapter 11
The road’s surface had changed from gravel and dirt to gray cobblestones for several miles now. The horses clipped-clopped along easily on the smooth stone as the wide road became more condensed with riders and merchants’ wagons coming and going from each direction. Folk marching along on foot lined the street as well, but knew to stay far off to the side as the horses and wagons puttered along.
“Stunning” did not even scratch the surface when it came to trying to describe the breathtaking city. The great stone wall that surrounded the whole city was built for protection, but whether or not it was on purpose, the marvel was truly gorgeous. No doubt it was solid on the inside, but the gentle, white cream color looked more like it belonged on a gingerbread house—too smooth and delicate-looking to possibly be functional protection. As they trotted their tired mounts down the hill, sprawling rooftops made of smooth white tile came into view.