limadra: dragon man
Leaves slapped at his face. Zan pumped his legs as fast as they’d go. Around trees and over rocks. Branches grabbed for him and tore his shirt. But he couldn’t stop. They’d catch him if he stopped. And they’d kill him. He glanced back. The horse was right on top of him. He tripped on a jutting root and slid down an embankment. The horses and their riders leapt over the edge and landed in front of Zan. He scrambled backwards, twisted, and stumbled to his feet. He ran back up the short, steep hill. Two of the horsemen cut him off while two more blocked both sides. He was surrounded. He gulped air as one of the riders nudged his horse forward. Zan’s heart hammered. His eyes widened at the sight of a long, silver saber pointed directly at his chest.
“Thought you could get away from us, did you?” The rider tilted his head and sneered. “Well, little thief, it seems I’ve caught you.” His uniform showed that he was a soldier, but his attitude showed that he was no more than a bully. After all, it was just one silver coin. Nothing to a man like him. But it meant the world to Zan. “Do you know the punishment for stealing, boy?” Yes, he did. Ten lashes in the public square while tied by the wrists to a hangman’s noose. Zan didn’t say anything. Sweat poured down his face and back. He glanced between the horsemen for an opening. Something. Anything. “Don’t even try it,” another soldier reined his horse and puffed out his chest. “If we have to chase you again, we’re going to kill you. Slowly.” Zan gulped. Chills swept up his spine. One of the horses snorted. Another whinnied. “Wha-?” A horse turned in circles. Another shook its head and reared. |
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“Whoa!” The soldier tried to calm his mount. All five horses stamped and cried. The soldiers struggled to regain control. This was his chance! Zan darted between two of the panicky beasts. And slammed into a man who just dropped out of a tree. Zan fell backwards. The man stood up. He was bald, and covered with muscles. And scales. Zan’s blood froze. It wasn’t a man.
Zan had only heard stories of the monsters used in the king’s army. Created by dark magic, these creatures - limadra, they were called - were said to be dragons in human form. Dragon-men. But they had been rounded up and destroyed a year ago when the war ended. How was it possible that one survived? And was here? Right here! So close Zan could touch it. Zan stared at the huge creature. Its lips parted and a thick, forked tongue darted out and back in.
“Get that boy!” The first soldier cried, his sword drawn. His horse screamed and reared. The soldier fell backwards. Two of the others kicked their horses and charged. The limadra crouched. It leapt! Over Zan and at the riders. It landed on one of the soldiers and knocked him to the ground. Another soldier abandoned his terrified horse and swung his saber. Sparks flew as steel met scales. The limadra turned its head. The soldier lowered his sword and backed away. The monster flicked its tongue. It twisted and rammed a fist into the soldier’s face. Bones crunched. Two down, three to go.
The first soldier was back on his feet. The two still on horseback charged together. The limadra jumped to the side, landed on the trunk of a tree, and pushed off. He hit one of the soldiers and knocked him into the other. Both hit the ground. One slammed into a rock. The other struggled to his feet. Only two left.
The soldiers circled the limadra. Their sabers were drawn. The dragon-man turned its head and flicked its tongue. It stretched out both arms, grabbed each of the soldiers’ swords, and pulled. Both soldiers flew towards each other and slammed together. Each one’s saber sunk into the other’s chest and stuck out the back. The limadra scanned the forest. All five soldiers were dead.
Zan had only heard stories of the monsters used in the king’s army. Created by dark magic, these creatures - limadra, they were called - were said to be dragons in human form. Dragon-men. But they had been rounded up and destroyed a year ago when the war ended. How was it possible that one survived? And was here? Right here! So close Zan could touch it. Zan stared at the huge creature. Its lips parted and a thick, forked tongue darted out and back in.
“Get that boy!” The first soldier cried, his sword drawn. His horse screamed and reared. The soldier fell backwards. Two of the others kicked their horses and charged. The limadra crouched. It leapt! Over Zan and at the riders. It landed on one of the soldiers and knocked him to the ground. Another soldier abandoned his terrified horse and swung his saber. Sparks flew as steel met scales. The limadra turned its head. The soldier lowered his sword and backed away. The monster flicked its tongue. It twisted and rammed a fist into the soldier’s face. Bones crunched. Two down, three to go.
The first soldier was back on his feet. The two still on horseback charged together. The limadra jumped to the side, landed on the trunk of a tree, and pushed off. He hit one of the soldiers and knocked him into the other. Both hit the ground. One slammed into a rock. The other struggled to his feet. Only two left.
The soldiers circled the limadra. Their sabers were drawn. The dragon-man turned its head and flicked its tongue. It stretched out both arms, grabbed each of the soldiers’ swords, and pulled. Both soldiers flew towards each other and slammed together. Each one’s saber sunk into the other’s chest and stuck out the back. The limadra scanned the forest. All five soldiers were dead.
What happens next?
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