Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-Six - Saint Bastion and the Dragon

Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-Six - Saint Bastion and the Dragon

Chapter Two Hundred and Fifty-Six - Saint Bastion and the Dragon

The amphiptere spun around, mouth gaping wide to expose its large fangs, both dripping with a liquid I could only assume wasnt great for anyones health. It snapped at the air, a futile attempt to catch Bastion.

The soldiers around the monster kept jabbing at it with their spears and even the occasional swing of a sword. Magic pelted the monsters sides, leaving marks and little else against the amphipteres diamond-hard scales.

I couldnt stand not being helpful, but there wasnt much a couple of fireballs would do to something like that, and Cleaning magic would just annoy it, at best.

It really sucked, but maybe the best I could do was sit back and wait.

As I made that decision, the amphiptere spun around on itself, coiling up in a big circle and sending the soldiers near it reeling back, else theyd be squished by the creatures massive bulk.

Bastion flew back and landed with a slight bounce some two dozen metres away from the monster.

The soldiers rebuilt their formation, officers screaming out orders from within their ranks until the amphiptere was once again surrounded by a bristling wall of spearheads. It glanced around itself with a deep hiss, malevolent, angry eyes scanning across all the people that looked absolutely tiny in comparison to it.

Hey! Bastion shouted. He waved his arm above his head, and the amphiptere turned his way and bared its fangs.

It shot towards Bastion, mouth opening wide again only for Bastion to dive out of the way. The monster was clever though. It turned, one of its wings unfurled like a large leathery sail.

It made a dull thump as it swatted Bastion out of the air.

Bastion! I shouted as I saw my friend punched back. He landed with a heavy thud against the rocky ground, then rolled bum over teakettle before stopping in a heap.

The amphiptere hissed, and it sounded downright pleased with itself. It shifted its bulk, scaring off the soldiers that had started to move in again, and it slithered closer to Bastion.

The paladin was getting to his feet, but he looked dazed by the blow. I didnt know if he would have time to really figure things out before the amphiptere was on him.

Which meant that I had to do something.

I didnt decide to spend a heap of stamina to launch myself across the battlefield and right at the amphipteres head. But by the time I realized what I was doing, I was airborne and already halfway to it's scaly cranium.

I wished I had my spade with me, that would have made things a whole bunch easier. The snake didn't even turn my way, apparently dismissing me. I wasnt a threat, certainly no more than all of the soldiers fighting it from every direction.

The thing is, I wasnt rushing at it to hurt itI was there to be the most annoying bun I could be.

Hey! I shouted. Dont hurt my friends!

I landed with a crunch of loose gravel below the amphipteres head. It still towered way above me, but that didnt stop me from reaching down and grabbing a rock the size of my head.

With a grunt of effort, I leapt up and ahead of the amphiptere, then I flung the rock I had into its open mouth.Gét latest novel chapters on nov(e)lbj/n(.)c/om

It bounced off of a tooth with a heavy clunk, then rolled down its gullet.

The amphiptere closed its mouth, and I saw the muscles of its throat working before it glanced down and glared at me. It hissed again, and I glared right back. Well, thats what you get for trying to eat my friend, I shouted.

The monster seemed to consider that before it moved back towards Bastion.

Here, I said, giving him the medallion. He took it, inspected it, then nodded, all in the space of two seconds. Were luring the monster to the edge of the old quarry. We need the ground there weakened so that it can fall into the quarry.

Understood, he said. Hold fire! Were mobilizing!

Great, I said.

When is this taking place? he asked.

I half turned and looked out at the fight. It was moving already, the serpent slithering its way after Bastion, who was weaving left and right before it, drawing its attention to him while keeping its pace relatively slow. Now, I think.

You might want to inform the other parties then, the lieutenant said.

That made sense. Good idea, I said. I glanced at my stamina, saw that I still had plenty left in the tank, then I charged, aiming for the hill where the amphiptere had been staying.

The area around the hill was a mess. There were huge boulders all over and smaller rocks strewn about like toys on the floor of a messy kids bedroom. I had to watch my bounces as I darted up the hillside.

I was breathing hard when I was greeted by a line of soldiers from the Inquisition. They eyed me, uncertain. I need to talk to the major, I said.

This isnt the time for that, one of the soldiers said.

I blinked. What? Its about-- I gestured behind me. That.

Ill speak with her! Major Springsong said. He had a few officers around him, and I noticed that quite a few of his soldiers looked pretty banged up. I guessed theyd been near the worst of it for a while. The crevice, or what was left of it, was only a dozen metres away. It looked as if the stone under the edge of it was almost... melted?

That might explain how something so big had fit in there.

Captain Bunch? the major asked.

Uh, Bastion, that is, Paladin Bastion, is heading over to the old quarry. Hes hoping to lure the amphiptere there. The mole people mages are going to help him so that it falls into the quarry.

And with it unable to fly... yes, that might work, the major said. Thank you, captain.

I started to give him a sloppy salute, then remembered what Bastion said about those. Uh, right. Im off to see the commander.

Did the paladin give you any additional instructions?

I wiggled my tail in thought. I dont think so. If he did, I forgot already.

He stared.

Okay, bye! I said.

I went back down the hill. It was a lot easier running downhill than up, of course, so I got a good headstart from that. My destination was the commander, but it seemed as if the commander had guessed what would happen already. His troops were formed up in three smaller groups, all of them hemming in the amphiptere from the sides and harassing it with spears and swords, never giving it the chance to stay still without getting chopped up.

The damage each soldier inflicted was small, but it looked as though it was adding up. The amphiptere was bleeding here and there, and while it looked like it could heal fast, it wasnt outpacing the soldiers.

Eventually, the army here would win. That was, as long as nothing went wrong.

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