The Curse of Sunderwood

Chapter 7

The thunderous noise around us was like an avalanche of mud and rock. The hair loose in my braid flew in my face as the wind buffeted over us. The scent of hot smoke and ash came from everywhere as the flying walls turned red. Searing heat clogged the air.

The sensation of the fall shifted and instead of going down, we were going up. The red glow faded away and the smoke left. My body welcomed the cool air as I looked up to see a blue light.

There was no jerk or shudder. We were just there. We were in the heart.

Buzzing accosted my body once more. As I looked up to see the rune, I was suddenly dizzy and disoriented; like I had been jettisoned from reality for too long.

"Rune teleportation is rough for humans," Nestor said as the glowing shapes beneath us disappeared, "Give yourselves a minute to adjust. We not only jumped from place to place, but we also jumped two hours. I thought it was better than walking for days."

Dunlan looked just as shook up as I felt. "I've heard of teleportation magic, but I didn't think it would bring on such a headache."

"Nestor?" The wizard peered up from the glowing orange hole in the earth.

Nestor stalked over to the edge of the blue rune. "By Arv, Nathor! What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm protecting people from your mistakes!" Nathor met him, face to face.

"Protecting them? You're damming a river that can't be held! Soon it will overflow, and it will swallow you up."

"Touching, brother. But I know that even you aren't even capable of this," Nathor pointed to the hole, "Who did this and why?"

Nestor cursed under his breath, "The dwarf dragon named Assuric. His life is tied to this fissure. He created it when I cast the spell. He wishes to glean power from the underworld."

"Unlike you?"

"Don't you start!"

"Ladies!" Dunlan stood, waving his hand in a circle, "The point."

"He's right," I said, "Assuric has to die and we can't waste time figuring out motives."

"Killing this dragon should be an easy feat for you," Nathor said to his brother.

Nestor sighed and shook his head, "I'm afraid not. The demon who controls my magic will not allow it. However, the Ranger's enchanted swords may be our answer."

"Fire against blade is not a fair fight. How will he get close enough?"

Dunlan's eyebrows furrowed, "We didn't have a chance to think through it that far."

I brushed my fingers along my bow. It had been too long since it last saw action. "What about arrows? There are scales missing from his chest. If I can get a clear shot..."

"Meg, how are you going to shoot with that arm?"

"Well, can either of you use it?"

Nestor looked away and rubbed the back of his neck, "I haven't handled a bow and arrow in a hundred years."

Dunlan fiddled with the hilt of his sword, "I have terrible aim."

"That settles it." I rose to my feet and slung the quiver over my good shoulder. My legs wobbled, and my head spun. This was going to be harder than I thought.

"Let me enchant them. The deadlier the better," Nestor offered.

"Wait... you can just enchant things on the spot?" Dunlan glared at Nestor.