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

arrival brought the Kestsaxian army out to fight you. And Tane Kyleson is a soldier within its ranks.”

            Several priests sucked in their breath at Nizar’s ill-concealed charge. For a moment Nizar thought he had gone too far. His frustration was making him reckless. Now that he thought of it, he was sure Mogens and the others wouldn’t be here if Dakar hadn’t ordered it.

            “Then we still have a chance to capture him,” High Priest Mogens mused, idly tugging at his left mustache. The suddenly crafty look in his eyes warned Nizar to caution. “You know where he is? Right this moment?”

            Nizar smiled tightly as the tension in the pavilion eased. How much did he dare confide? High Priest Mogens understood the importance of the swordsmith far more than anyone save Dakar Himself. He had no doubt Mogens wanted their God’s favor for himself, as well.

            Over my dead body, Nizar thought.

            Aloud, and humbly as well, Nizar said, “I don’t know his exact location, Your Grace. But I know which road his unit took, so I know roughly where to find him when the battle commences.”

            “Excellent. I will personally inform our Divine Master of the fine service you performed for Him,” Mogens said. Then waving a hand at a map spread out upon a side table, “So...tell me, where exactly will this swordsmith turned soldier be deployed?”

            Nizar studied the map a moment. Kestsax was marked as a red circle, with all the roads leading out of the city drawn in remarkable detail. Strange lines and markings that Nizar didn’t understand, but understood to be military symbols for certain types of military units, were marked in two colors. The black lines were clearly Dakar’s forces, while the red lines seemed to be from a dozen kingdoms and cities scattered across a wide front.

            Tane had been garrisoned just inside the eastern-most city gate, so must have left by it. Nizar hadn’t been there to watch, not expecting Dakar’s host for another day or so. He had been busy starting an altar site to Dakar in the basement of the Forest Haven Inn, with the newly enslaved innkeep and family ordered to hide and safeguard it. Within that sanctum, Nizar could’ve held the swordsmith hidden from even the Arisen and their priests until the city fell.

            But thanks to Mogens’ quick progress from Treversax, Nizar’s well-laid plans were all in ashes. There was no doubt in his mind that Mogens was eager to deprive him of all credit and rewards. Nizar couldn’t allow that to happen.

            Pointing to two roads leading south out of Kestsax, Nizar said, “All of the Kestsaxians are marching down these two roads. Tane Kyleson’s unit is coming down the western-most road.”

            High Priest Mogens studied the map a long moment.

            “Then we will be ready for him,” Mogens said. “And it is fortuitous for us that you arrived when you did, for Sister Alexa failed our Divine Master this afternoon. She was sacrificed at sundown.”

            “I don’t understand,” Nizar said.

            Giving him a fatherly smile, all full of feigned pleasure, “I am giving you the honor of her command, Brother Nizar.”

            Keeping his face impassive, he said, “You honor me, Your Grace. And just where is my new command deployed?”

            “Why, I do believe it is the extreme eastern flank, if I’m not mistaking,” High Priest Mogens said, glancing about the map as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him. “Why yes, so it is. An honor, I think you’ll agree, to be given so important a command.”

            Nizar bowed low, fearful the wily old brigand turned priest would spy out his pleasure, saying, “I am unworthy, Your Grace, but thank you.”

Chapter 23

            Soul-numbing oppression swept over Tane as he beheld the God. Huge and reeking of menace, the dark, horned deity towered over him and his friends. Joelle chanted behind him, her hands glowing with magical energy, while Armin stood guard beside her. Quinn and Raven stood to either side and shoulder to shoulder with Tane, both growling low in their throats at the hideous monster of a God menacing them.

            “Serve me, Tane, as you would those pathetic cowards your kind chose over the True Gods,” He demanded, voice rumbling like distant thunder. “Serve me willingly, or you and your friends will die.”

            “Never!” Tane cried, tightening his grip on Bearclaw. “I will not betray Kamain for you, Old One!”

            “Well said, Tane!” Raven said, leaping forward to skewer the dark God.

            But even Raven’s lightning reflexes proved inadequate. The God’s massive, taloned hand leaped out and seized the Tyrian by the throat. She kicked, cursed and clawed, but to no avail.

            “Serve me! Swear it!” He demanded of Tane, lifting Raven up like a trophy.

            “No!”

            His hand tightened, oh so slowly. Raven’s struggles became frantic, then suddenly she tensed wide-eyed when a sickening snap echoed through the chamber. Tane and Quinn screamed murderously as she went limp in the God’s hand.

            A gray-robed priest suddenly seized Tane’s shoulder with a skeletal hand, jerking him around. He grabbed the hand and twisted, trying to break the foul man’s hold. A very feminine shriek met his efforts, then a hard slap across the face.

            Tane woke to find Raven cradling her hand and glaring at him in the dark.

Joelle was against the back wall, a glowing silvery-white bow in her hand.

            Where did that come from?

            “What’s the matter?” Quinn said, ducking into the hut.

            “The bastard almost broke my wrist when I woke him from his nightmare,” Raven said.

            “I-I’m sorry,” Tane said, shame-faced. “It won’t happen again.”

            “Bloody damn right it won’t! Next time I hear you moaning and thrashing about in your sleep, I’ll mind my own bloody business,” Raven said.

            Joelle and Armin relaxed. The bow in the witch’s hand vanished, appearing to be sucked into the wide silver ring encircling her middle left finger. A matching ring was on her right hand.