Belly of the Beast by Warren Thomas (story books for 5 year olds txt) 📕

innkeep had Jessy’s horse out, with the saddle in hand. Nizar ordered Jessy to saddle her own horse, so the innkeep could saddle his. He watched them working, trying to figure out how Tane got to Caeren so fast. And, more importantly, he had to figure out the best tactic against the swordsmith and his companions. Throw Jessy at them first thing? Or hold her back for a surprise attack?

            “The horses are ready,” Jessy said, holding the reins to both.

            She looked a little wild-eyed. He wondered if she was just rattled by the suddenness of their situation, or was having doubts about fighting her cousin? He felt rattled, too. But Dakar showed him the way.

            Tane Kyleson will submit to me, and Dakar, today, or we will kill him and his friends.

Chapter 85

            The hammer rang loudly on the hot steel, echoing through the vast emptiness. He’d taken over completely, leaving nothing for any of his friends to do. They were not trained for any of it, so it was easier and faster to do everything himself.

            The hammer came down again, while his critical eyes scanned the length of steel. He already knew where the next ten blows would fall. The blade was almost to its full length and breadth. Ten more strikes, and he’d start on the fullers.

            The crucible is ready.

            Was that just a thought? Or a Sending by Kamain? Tane’s heart started to hammer, his hand tightening on the hammer. And then he stood tall, placed the black blade back in the forge fire, before turning to the furnace.

            He put on a heavy leather apron and a clay “helmet” with two thin eye slits. Last of all, he pulled on heavy, multilayered gloves and picked up the long tongs. Opening the furnace, he reached in with the tongs and quickly pulled out the crucible. Setting it aside to cool and harden, Tane shed all the protective clothing and turned to the blade.

            “Why aren’t you starting on the real Sword of Power?” Raven asked.

            “This is a real Sword of Power I’m working on,” he said. “The steel has even been blessed by Kamain. I’m almost finished with it. Besides, the steel is still molten in the crucible, and will need a few hours to harden.”

            “This is taken a lot longer than I thought it would,” she said.

            “Really? It’s all going at breakneck speed for me,” Tane said. “I feel like a man possessed. I have to get it done. Now. Time is running out faster than I think. No time. No time.”

            He pulled the welded blade out of the fire, the steel the color of the rising sun.

            “All I need to do is make the fuller, engrave the runes, and then polish and sharpen,” Tane said.

            “How long?” Quinn asked.

            “A day’s work normally,” he said. “A couple hours today.” He looked up and held Quinn’s eyes. “Kamain is with me.”

            “Are you sure the blade will be good?” the half-elf asked.

            “Good enough for our purpose,” Tane said. “I’m sure we can banish Dakar with it, and then I’ll make four new swords to permanently seal him out of our world.”

            Tane returned to his work. The blade had to be finished. No time left. Finish it.

Chapter 86

            Nizar led Jessy through the twisting, narrow streets ahorse. The citizenry quickly got out of their way, before bowing low to the gray-robed priest. They still slowed him down too much. Dakar continued to push him faster, faster.

            “Hurry, Jessy!”

            “I’m right here,” she cried. “Don’t worry about me.”

            The main gate stood open. Another priest stood with the guards, and waved them through. From the frazzled look on the other priest’s face, Dakar had touched him that morning, too. Nizar was grateful, because gate guards always delayed anyone in a hurry to enter or leave.

            The road hugged the side of the hill all the way down into the valley surrounding the city. Nizar spotted the turn up ground and cleared trees leading to the underground city’s entrance. They left the trees and underbrush cut down lying where it fell, so they had to dismount and leave the horses behind. The mess would slow his progress even afoot.

            “The incompetent responsible for this mess should be laid across an altar,” Nizar grumbled.

            “What?” Jessy asked. “You can’t be serious.”

            Nizar stopped his vicious reply just in time. Keeping up the pretense of an Arisen priest in disguise proved more difficult than he thought it would be. At least the game was almost over. Soon, Tane would be Dakar’s to command, or both he and this cousin would be sacrificed. Either way, he’d be rid of that vile teenage girl.

            “Of course I am,” Nizar said, forcing out a calming tone. “But even priest can get frustrated. Forgive me if I am brusque with you.”

            “I’m fine,” she said, though continued to give him wary looks. “But you can be a little scary at time.”

            He nodded, and stepped off the road. The path plunged down into the valley well below the trade road. They tried to pass through the woods to the side, to avoid all the fallen trees, but that area proved too steep and treacherous.

            Even more annoying that the debris was Jessy’s effortless ability to traverse it. Nizar struggled, but she seemed to dance across the top of everything. He decided it was growing up in the deep forest that taught her such skills. Or it was a gift children possessed that adults didn’t anymore.

            They arrived at the dig site with Nizar huffing and puffing, and Jessy completely fresh. He scowled at her, and then snarled at the chaos before him. The mercenaries in charge didn’t seem to be controlling the dig much at all.

            The great bronze doors looked more black than verdigris green, with a few spots shining through where a rock, shovel, or pick and scratched