Belly of the Beast Warren Thomas (e novels for free .txt) 📖

flight,” the rider called back over the wind. “Look to the sides and down. It’ll be easier on your eyes. The land is beautiful this time of year.”

            Well, it was all white, with the rocks and trees looking dark against the white glare. Still, it was a winter wonderland as long as he avoided looking at burnt out towns and villages.

            Within a few hours he started seeing people on the few roads. They were trudging home in the cold and wet. He felt bad for them, while he sat high above wrapped in a very warm cloak. Well, his face, ears, and legs were quite cold.

            The warhawk’s motion proved similar to a horse’s, just not the least bit jarring. That rolling motion lulled him into a daze by sunset, and then into a fitful sleep afterwards.

Chapter 99

            “To the right! Go right,” Tane cried. He pointed. “Over there. That’s my home village.”

            The rider veered in the desired direction. The other two birds fell back a bit and followed. Tane sat up straighter. His empty belly gurgled and pinched, but he no longer cared. Home.

            “That’s smoke coming out of that chimney,” he said. “And over there. And there.”

            Tane counted six chimneys with smoke rising straight up about two hundred feet, where upper-level winds disbursed them. As they neared Bracklin, Tane sought his family’s home. His excitement died when he spotted the house. No smoke. No sign of life.

            He looked down into the muddy streets as they flew five hundred feet above. Just a handful of people were out and about. They were too high up for him to recognize anyone. Obviously no one from his family. Were he and Jessy the last two?

            The warhawks turned toward Kestsax. Once the city had felt so far away. Yet, he could see the haze of smoke above the city from above Bracklin. It wouldn’t take the birds long to reach it. Just as well.

            I want to get this thing with the king over and done with, he thought. Jessy and I will wait at home for the others.

            After two weeks, he’d really hoped his family had made their way home. He had no idea how far north Dakar’s horde had traveled, but it didn’t move very fast. The fact no one had made it home dug at his nerves. Not what he was hoping.

            Tane saw a lot of activity in and around Kestsax. The opposite shore of the river looked packed with refugees returning. He suspected more than half were freed zombies. People filled the roads all around the city, most moving away, heading home. His family could be down there.

            The warhawks fell into a line, Tane’s bird leading. They started circling the city. His rider said he was waiting for permission to land. Kestsax had a small warhawk cote, which remained empty. Not a lot of warhawk riders visited the city. So he didn’t understand why they couldn’t just land.

            “There,” the rider said, pointing down to a signalman with two small white flags.

            Tane looked around the city. It looked so much smaller from above like that. The streets were full of people, but he noticed a lot of homes and other wooden structures were blackened ruins. All of the stone structures appeared to be intact.

            The signalman stood atop a tower, whipping those two flags around in a specific way. Tane understood it was a form of communication between ships, but hadn’t known that warhawk riders used flags, too.

            “We have permission to land in the Royal Plaza.”

            He easily located the Royal Plaza, which the Royal Castle opened into across a sickly green moat. The plaza was packed with people, far more densely than any other area of the city. Then he noticed all of the long tables set up.

            “What’s going on down there?”

            “A feast,” the rider said. “King Borric has declared this a holiday. A day of celebration.”

            “What are they celebrating?”

            “Life. Freedom.” The rider glanced back with a curious look. “And you.”

            “Me?”

            “You three are heroes,” he said. “You stopped the Beast. The world owes you a great debt.”

            “The Beast? Dakar?”

            He nodded. “Most don’t know His name, so call Him the Beast.”

            “He was a beast of a God, all right,” Tane muttered, returning his attention to the plaza.

            The warhawk started to flap differently, slowing as he dropped from the sky. People were scrambling out of the way. Tane noticed all of the banners decorating the plaza. Kegs were piled up around the edges. No food out as yet.

            Glancing at the kegs. “Raven will be happy.”

            The warhawks came to a remarkably soft landing, despite how fast they came down. Tane, Raven, and Jessy dismounted with help from the people waiting, and then they watched the warhawks fly away.

            Tane noticed Jessy’s eyes were alight as she watched the birds leave.

            “Enjoy the flight?” he teased.

            “Yes!”

            The people of Kestsax pressed in with jubilant faces, clapping them on the back, hugging them, with many in tears as they expressed their thanks and gratitude. Raven managed to get a mug right away, draining it quite fast.

            “Ah, that was good,” she said, smacking her lips. “Life is good! Right boys!”

            That was met with cheers, and someone pressed another mug into her hands. Tane shook his head and accepted a mug as well. It proved to be watered down beer, but still tasted great.

            The men and women all looked happy, yet even their joy couldn’t erase the ordeal they’d endure from their faces. In moments of calm, everyone’s eyes had a wild, haunted look. He prayed they all found ways to heal from what they’d suffered.

            Tane made it halfway through a second mug before trumpets sounded from the castle. Shouts of “The King!” echoed through the plaza. He looked at Jessy and Raven. Jessy licked her lips nervously, while Raven continued to laugh and