Unspeakable Secrets The Alchemist Series (A Dark Medieval Progression Fantasy)

Chapter 68 Storm Wyverns

Fresh fear washed over the sailors around him, and Connor shifted his position from the railing to the ballista, crawling under the main structure and hiding under it somewhat as the storm wyverns flew closer.

He held Adelia protectively against him, his arm tightening around her like steel.

The storm wyverns were massive, sleekly built beasts with scaly hides and narrow, crocodilian jaws filled with long, sharp teeth. Each one had a lengthy, sinuous tail that ended in a venomous barb large enough to impale a man like a spear. They had a pair of hind legs with feet large enough to carry away whole cows with ease in their razor-sharp talons.

The storm wyverns flew closer, utterly unperturbed by the storm and howling wind as they hissed and roared hungrily.

A flash of lightning struck one, racing over one leathery wing, down its spine, and arcing through its barbed tail into the ocean. The creature flew on, completely unfazed.

They circled overhead.

Their hungry hissing made the hairs on the back of Connor's neck stand on end as the men around him cowered in fear. Several wyverns tucked in their wings and dived down into the water like arrows fired from overhead.

Moments later they burst out of the water and took flight once again, the terrifying fish flapping uselessly in their jaws shortly before being gulped down.

More circled hungrily, their hissing roars adding to the chaos and noise as more dived down, seeking prey.

They seemed focused on the fish, and Connor felt overly paranoid hiding beneath the ballista as best he could, holding on far more awkwardly than in his earlier spot.

Then, a wyvern swooped down and snatched one of the sailors away in one of its taloned feet. The man screamed with utter terror as it carried him away.

The wyvern tossed him up into the air with a flick of its leg and snapped him up in one massive bite, silencing his screams.

Connor swallowed hard and kept to his hiding place, suddenly grateful for that paranoia. The other men emulated him as best they could, finding what little shelter there was to be had.

Many were too exposed, however, and wyverns picked them off even more easily than the fish.

As much as Connor had no wish for him and Adelia to share their fate... seeing it did give him an idea... a crazy, suicidal, incredibly bad idea.

Not all of the wyverns were diving into the middle of the feeding frenzy. With some diving on the other side of the ship, near what had once been the bottom of the ship.

The ship was going down, and with no better idea coming to mind, Connor carefully climbed out from under the ballista and up over the railing onto the side of the ship. Which was now more level than the rest of the vessel though the wood was slick with water.

The ship shifted beneath his feet as waves slammed into it, but his sense heightening potion helped him keep his balance as he shifted Adelia, slinging her over his shoulders in a fireman's carry.

Connor crouched low. With one hand holding Adelia in place and the other bracing himself against the 'floor', ready to dive out of the way of an attacking wyvern.

A wyvern burst out of the water not far from Connor's position and he sprang up, sprinting down the side of the slick ship with Adelia's limp body weighing on his shoulders. The wyvern flapped its wings feverishly and began to rise up out of the water.

Connor jumped, using all the increased strength afforded to him by his potion. He leaped over the water and several snapping, hungry fish jaws and onto the wyvern's back.