Thordin\u2019s axe bit deep into the lindworm\u2019s neck, as the creature\u2019s jaws closed on him. It slammed him into the ground once, twice, then flung him sideways, like a dog worrying a piece of meat, roaring in pain as it tried to dislodge the offending weapon from its scales.<\/p>\n
\u201cDammit!\u201d Thom spared a momentary glance toward his brother-in-law. \u201cCome on!\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt was already moving, his weapon raised as he charged across the ice.<\/p>\n
Dammit, it\u2019s too late. He\u2019s already dead.<\/em> Pain gripped Thom\u2019s heart, pain beyond physical. They shouldn\u2019t have listened. This wasn\u2019t a fight that Thordin should have faced alone.<\/p>\n He dashed across the ice after Matt.<\/p>\n Two arrows abruptly buried themselves in the flesh beneath the monster\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n Marin!<\/em> Thom skidded to a halt a dozen yards from the monster and turned, seeking his wife. There she was, throwing herself from the saddle as Sif, similarly armed with a bow, ran forward toward the creature.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t have him!\u201d Sif howled. \u201cHe\u2019s mine<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n The lindworm cast Thordin\u2019s limp, bloody body to the side and focused on the wrathful blonde. Thordin skidded across the ice, a trail of blood smearing the surface of the lake. Phelan ran for him, Marin notching another arrow and firing to cover his run.<\/p>\n The lindworm ignored the arrow that pinged off its scales and launched itself right at Sif.<\/p>\n Teeth bared in a feral grin, Sif cast aside her bow and drew her broadsword.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it, you overgrown serpent! Come and get me. You want to eat him, you have to deal with me!\u201d<\/p>\n For the briefest of moments, Thom wished that her words didn\u2019t feel almost normal<\/em> these days.<\/p>\n \u201cThom, help Matt!\u201d Marin yelled as she dashed after Phelan, readying another arrow.<\/p>\n Thom\u2019s gaze darted toward the lindworm\u2019s flank to see Matt quickly approaching the creature\u2019s bulk, his blade upraised and ready to strike.<\/p>\n We\u2019re all going to get ourselves killed and it\u2019s not even a goddamned dragon, is it?<\/em><\/p>\n Snarling a battlecry of his own, Thom plunged toward the lindworm, deciding it didn\u2019t matter what it was anyway\u2014it was trying to kill them, so all they could hope to do was kill it<\/em> first.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Thordin\u2019s axe bit deep into the lindworm\u2019s neck, as the creature\u2019s jaws closed on him. It slammed him into the ground once, twice, then flung him sideways, like a dog worrying a piece of meat, roaring in pain as it … Continue reading