Its flesh was the color of the lake when it shimmered in the autumn sunshine, its eyes huge and ice-blue, cold like the depths of winter. It was huge, its mouth full of dagger-shaped teeth that he knew had to be sharper than razors.<\/p>\n
After all, the worm that had spawned it had teeth that were the same.<\/p>\n
First blood will be to me. It has to know that.<\/em><\/p>\n It spotted him as he dashed across the ice, his footing as certain as ever, as if he was running on dirt. He had a knack for running on ice\u2014he always had. The worm roared at him in challenge, its huge eyes narrowing an instant before it spat venom in his direction.<\/p>\n Thordin swore and threw himself flat against the ice, skidding several feet across its surface as the venom spattered the frozen lake a few feet behind him. His stomach heaved.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a new trick.<\/em><\/p>\n That was when he realized his battleax was no longer in his hand.<\/p>\n Shit.<\/em><\/p>\n His eyes roamed, searching the ice for the fallen weapon. There, maybe two feet away, beyond the reach of his outstretched arm.<\/p>\n The worm bellowed again. Thom and Matt were shouting at him to get up, to move.<\/p>\n \u201cStay where you are!\u201d he shouted back.<\/p>\n He rolled to the side, intending to come to his feet. More venom spattered the ice.<\/p>\n Thank the powers that be that this thing has terrible aim.<\/em> He glanced up toward the beast, ice crunching as the giant, snake-shaped creature heaved itself up onto the surface of the frozen lake, moving toward him faster than it should have been able to.<\/p>\n Not good!<\/em><\/p>\n His hand closed around the haft of his ax.<\/p>\n What the hell did its sire\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n Its shadow crossed over him. Thordin threw himself onto his back, swinging his weapon at the lindworm\u2019s throat as its toothy maw descended, teeth flashing in the afternoon sun.<\/p>\n His world went black.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Its flesh was the color of the lake when it shimmered in the autumn sunshine, its eyes huge and ice-blue, cold like the depths of winter. It was huge, its mouth full of dagger-shaped teeth that he knew had to … Continue reading