Esveldza: 'The Lonely Child of Fire'

Chapter XXX- The Unknown Staract

Chapter XXX

The Unknown Staract

I froze in my spot for a moment; the sudden charge of the dwarves had shocked me. Noomkiara growled, snapping me back into my senses. Salvator and Solonya had already drawn their weapons. Daarken climbed onto Volcarn, drawing his sword. Sarben readied his staff.

I ran closer to Noomkiara, my bow was strung and I quickly took an arrow from my quiver, knocking it into the string. I drew back to my chin, my eyes following the shaft and to the oncoming dwarves. I thought of the people who were hiding in the house, of my friends, of the sick torture Sousltone had been committing and I released my arrow.

It hit one of the dwarves between his eyes where the gap was between his helmet. He slammed onto the floor, a dwarf next to him faltered. Salvator shot an arrow and I knocked another. Salvator’s arrow killed another dwarf but my next arrow missed. The dwarves were drawing closer.

Volcarn reared on two feet, roaring with incredible ferocity. The dwarves all stumbled at this, they retreated a few steps in fear and then Volcarn slammed back onto the ground. He opened his jaws and red fire gushed out of it, singing the first row of dwarves completely.

Noomkiara nudged me from behind; she wanted to join Volcarn and Daarken. I ran with her towards Daarken but another explosion hit, this one closer and I had to stop for a moment. Noomkiara continued,  a dwarf reached Volcarn and with a battle cry lifted his hammer. He was so little compared to Volcarn, Volcarn easily slammed him to the ground and Daarken stabbed him in the neck.

I had my string already knocked and I drew back again, there was only 6 or so left now, one third of their original numbers. I was aiming for a dwarf when my eye caught a child. He had stepped outside one of the houses and he was looking at the dwarves with fear. Something grabbed him and he screamed, kicking his legs as the enemy ran away with him.

I dropped my bow, my concentration completely lost. I had to make a decision, one stood out to me. Everyone would be fine but that child had no way of protection.

“Noomkiara!” I called, she had a dwarf locked in her jaws and he spat him out when she saw me charging for her. I sprinted to her and when I reached her I grabbed onto her scales, lifting myself up and sitting between her plates.

I steadied myself, the reality of the situation only hitting me now, my eyes quickly found the retreating dwarf and my resolve was set. My eyes caught Daarken’s for only a moment and then Noomkiara jumped off the ground, her take off knocking dwarves to the ground.

My adrenalin pumped in unison with Noomkiara’s, I drew my string back again. I had practised archery on horseback and dragon back but flying was like another world. I tried to slow my breathing, trying to stop my arm from shaking as I aimed for the dwarf. I released and missed, the arrow skidded on the ground near him. He saw this and turned, noticing a dragon closing the distance between him and it at a great speed.

I knocked another arrow; he started running zig-zag then suddenly turned a corner when I shot again. Noomkiara was so close to him, she pounded on the ground and kicked off again after him. He suddenly stopped and turned to face us, a knife pressed against the child’s neck.

“Stop! Stop you beasts or the boy dies!” The dwarf yelled, mad fear in his eyes.

Noomkiara and I stopped but my bow was still drawn at him. “Drop your weapons!” He continued, holding the child even tighter to his body. The child squirmed; his face was red from crying.

I slowly lowered my bow. The dwarf relaxed a tiny bit, he was nodding slowly. Something flew across my head, wind gushing up my back. Volcarn landed behind the dwarf and he thrust his head forward.