Vox Machina Book 3: Heroes Become Legend

Chapter 18: Fallen False King

The young ones hatching from their eggs joined in the screech, calling for their parent. "Grog, Jason! Shut 'em up! Shut 'em up!" Scanlan shouts covering his ears from the volume.

The barbarian and Paladin shake off the piercing wailing, gripping their weapons in hand and charge at the young ones.

Slicing.

Smashing.

Hacking.

Killing every one of the young ones on sight.

Grog turns and brings his axe down, "Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! It's me!" Scanlan calls out, flinching from the incoming axe.

Grog halts, blinking at the gnome in front of him, before lowering his axe. Scanlan blinks an eye open, Jason pants walking towards them as he looks out at the massacre.

"Oh. Whoa." Grog mutters taking a step back as he looks at Scanlan. "You look like shit, buddy." he informs. Scanlan lets out a sigh placing his hands on his hips. "Feel like it, too." he mutters

Jason huffs a laugh. "And they all look fucking done." he points out. The two shot a momentarily look at him before looking at all the dead young ones.

"Well, damn. We went all out, eh?" Grog laughs, Jason laughs along with him. "Great, yeah. Glad you're having a laugh out of this. Listen, we got to bounce before..." Scanlan warn.

A heavy thud rumbles the volcano, catching their attention. "Fuck. Too late." Jason mutters as a roar followed "Oh, shit. Hide!" grog warns and they quickly jump behind an uprooted rock.

Thordak climbs down into the volcanic nest, looking at the hatched eggs and littered bodies. "My blood. My heirs. No!" he shouts, the horror sets in as his children were no more.

Jason peeks out over at the grieving father. Almost feeling sorry for him.

Almost.

"Hey, you've been the plan guy all day. You got another one?" Scanlan whispers, nudging Grog's shoulder. The barbarian just blinks before looking down at Scanlan. "What, me? I just punch things." he informs, looking at his brass knuckles.

Then his eyes widen with an idea, "Wait." he spoke, Jason pulls back and looks at him, seeing the smile on Grog's face. "I punch things." he repeats.

Jason blinks and leans in close to Scanlan. "Is a good thing or bad?" he whispers. Scanlan shook his head and shrugs.

"Who did this?!" Thordak roars with an anger. "Yep, that's me. Yeah, I did this." Scanlan calls out as he steps out from hiding he burps into his hand and looks up at the Cinder King.

"Sorry. I thought this was an all-you-can-eat egg buffet." he informs, turning on his bard charm. Thordak inhales a shuddered breath, glaring at the bard, "My children are born so hungry. Your blackened flesh will fill their bellies as recompense." he declares.

Scanlan frowns at the thought, stepping back, but kept his eyes on the ancient dragon. "Oh, yeah? How are they going to eat me with a ceiling on their heads?" he asks as the volcano began to rumble.

Thordak let's out a low growl, looking up at the calls, feeling something was was striking at the nest, doubled in force.

Grog slams his Titan brass knuckles into the side of the volcano, Jason a few feet away, slamming his warhammer into the side of the volcano, their hits add to the forming crack as rumble began to fall.

"Fool! You don't know what you're doing." Thordak screams at them. Grog huffs at him as Jason smirks.

"Never do."