The Hammer - Cor Series Book I

Chapter 50

Jamming his long lumien flap pole in behind the topmost tier of the priests seating, Corvan pushed off the wall and vaulted out over the water. Letting go he dropped in feet first, turned and swam toward Tsarek as fast as he could go. A severed tentacle floated up toward him, and he knocked it to one side.

Grabbing Tsarek's paw, Corvan pulled him in towards the dark opening where the water creature had lived. Hopefully it had fled the battle or had been crushed when the stage collapsed. The dead weight of Tsarek's body dragged him back but he would not let go. His lungs were almost bursting as he surfaced in the small cave.

Gasping for air and pulling the limp form behind him, Corvan swam to the closest shore and pulled Tsarek onto a slab of rock that hung into the water. Rolling Tsarek onto his side he rocked the small body gently. "Don't die on me," he groaned. From the cuts and gashes on Tsarek's body, Corvan had no doubt that Tsarek was the reason the water monster had released him and Tyreth. It must have been quite the battle for such a small creature.

Water trickled from Tsarek's mouth, but his friend didn't cough or move. Tears began to fall as Corvan sat helplessly beside Tsarek and stroked the ridges on the back of Tsarek's neck.

Across the pool, a shadow fell on the surface of the water from the light flowing down the stairs. Corvan glanced up, expecting to see a tentacle reaching his way. Instead, he found Jorad standing at the bottom of the steps, black knife in hand.

"When I saw you dive in," the man said, "I should have known it would be to try to save that evil creature's life."

"Tsarek helped me save Tyreth's life, Jorad. Besides, the Chief Watcher is dead."

Jorad picked his way around the pool toward Corvan, his eyes flickering over the dark water. "I was the one who saved Tyreth. You were in the stands helping the palace guard drown our priests." He drew closer. "I can't understand what the Chief Watcher could have possibly offered you to help him destroy us. Surely you didn't hope he would give you Tyreth."

"I have never talked to the Chief Watcher," Corvan replied calmly, "and you can ask Tyreth. She'll tell you that I saved her life today."

Jorad planted his foot on the front of the stone slab. "I will ask her, but first I will make sure this creature is dead." He pointed at Tsarek with the tip of his knife.

Corvan leaned in over Tsarek's body. "I won't let you touch him. He is a good friend and has saved my life more than once."

"Then he has deceived you," Jorad said. "His kind can only serve their own selfish desires or the purpose of the one who commands them."

Corvan looked at Tsarek. "You told Madam Toreg not to judge too quickly, yet you do the same thing. This creature has a good heart. If the hammer were here, I would swear on it that he is not evil."

"What you swear makes no difference to me." Jorad's eyebrows knit together. "What you believe may feel true to you, but there are some things that do not change. The Watchers are evil and the only way to protect the Cor is to make sure they are all dead."

"This one already is," Corvan said, but even as he spoke he thought he felt Tsarek's spines tickle his palm.

"I will spare your life Kalian, in return for saving my life at the bridge, but I will not let you leave here until I know this lizard is dead." Jorad bent lower over the slab of rock. "Their kind are masters of deceit."

Corvan jumped to his feet and leaned in toward Jorad, standing the man back up. "When you choose to judge someone before you know all the facts, you act more like the Chief Watcher than the new High Priest."

Anger flashed in Jorad's eyes. He grabbed the collar of Corvan's cloak and Corvan in turn wrapped both hands around the wrist that held the knife. Locked together, they stood over Tsarek's body. Jorad pushed in hard, and his added weight tipped the stone slab steeply toward the water.