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

close. Then zombies appeared down the street, swinging cudgels and swords, and taking a deadly toll.

            We’re butchering them all! he thought.

            Nizar’s moment of exhilaration died as he realized that Tane could very easily be killed while he was sating his lust for vengeance on the Arisen. Or worse, the swordsmith could be captured by Mogens’ forces. The High Priest would get the credit, and their Divine Master’s lavish rewards.

            The thought had barely registered before Nizar was scrambling through the hysterical crowd towards an alley. Once inside, he raced through the garbage to the next street over and turned south again. The street was crowded, but it was smaller than the other and seemed overlooked by the zombies. Within minutes he stood within sight of the Stone Dragon Gate and garrison.

            “Damn my luck!” he growled.

            Zombies were overrunning the last resistance atop the walls as well as pouring through the open gate. Tane could be anywhere. The bastard could even be dead or captured.

            Taking a deep steadying breath, Nizar centered himself and prayed for divine help. Receiving it, he cast out for the swordsmith, and the nail clipping secreted in his armor. All the while, he prayed vehemently that Tane was still alive.

            A subtle “tugging” at his mind had Nizar reversing himself and heading north. He found that encouraging. Of course, a zombie could’ve killed him and taken the mail armor, though unlikely.

            The mental tug became stronger as he ran down the dark, twisting streets and alleys. Then exiting an alley, he found himself facing a large temple built in the Tyrian style. The stained glass windows were of different aspects of Ashtar. For an instant he thought Ashtar had set a trap for him, but then spotted the five soldiers running up to the main door.

            Tane Kyleson! he thought, exultant, as they slipped inside.

            Nizar hurried after them. He had learned much about the floor plans of temples, and of their many secret passages and chambers, since entering Dakar’s service. They could yet escape him, even with Tane wearing the armor.

            Strangely, he found them huddled together near the High Altar while the harlot knelt and prayed. The sight left him uneasy. Could Ashtar detect the enchantment he had placed upon the nail clipping secreted inside Tane’s armor? It was as subtle as possible.

            No. Ashtar is vanquished, he assured himself. I was there. I saw it.

            Just in case, he eased deeper into the shadows to wait. Soon enough, Raven finished and they hurried deeper into the temple. He felt his skin crawl when he discovered them heading down into the crypts.

            Fearing discovery, Nizar remained well out of sight of his prey. He did manage to catch a few stray words and sentence fragments. Enough to know they were heading for an escape tunnel out of the city.

            The realization struck him like a lightning bolt. All of his prayers were answered. Tane was taking himself out of the city, past High Priest Mogens and the zombie horde. Nizar wouldn’t have to devise a way to smuggle Tane past Mogens. He didn’t have to fear the High Priest’s betrayal, his stealing away Nizar’s just rewards.

            All I have to do is follow them, he thought, grinning wolfishly. With the armor magically tethered to me, I can follow safely and take the swordsmith any time I want him.

Chapter 44

            Tane hadn’t taken ten steps before he was stopped by deepening darkness. It was so dark ahead that Tane doubted even Quinn’s elven night vision would penetrate it. There had been plenty of light prior to entering the secret tunnel, and everyone had been so eager to leave no one had thought clearly. So no one had thought to bring a torch.

            “Allow me,” Joelle said, scooting past.

            She spoke a short spell. Slowly, her right hand began to glow. Brighter and brighter it grew, until Tane couldn’t look directly at it. He felt no heat, though it was a mere arm’s length from his face.

            He heard Raven grumble something about preferring torches to “witch-light,” and saw her make a quick warding sign. Armin quickly pushed past Tane as well, moving into position behind his wife. Joelle gave Tane an apologetic smile, then turned to lead the way.

            Quinn moved up behind Tane, while Raven brought up the rear. The sight of Quinn in the witch-light startled Tane, for the half-elf’s eyes glowed like wolf eyes staring at a fire. But Quinn frowned at him, motioning for him to hurry after the Vikon couple.

            Considering the poor condition of the tunnel – crumbling walls, rotting support timbers, ankle deep water in places – Tane was pleasantly surprised at their quick pace. The splashing of their feet roared in his ears, but he reassured himself that the sound couldn’t pass through to the zombies far above.

            Several minutes after they entered, Quinn froze in place and looked back. Raven, too, tensed and stared back the way they had come.

            “Did you hear something?” she said.

            “Yes,” Quinn said. “Someone is following us.”

            “How many?” Tane asked.

            “I can’t tell. Maybe one,” he said, then shrugged. “Maybe an army.”

            “Let’s not stay to find out,” Joelle said and hurried on.

            Tane whole-heartedly agreed. He didn’t hesitate, though Quinn did. And when he did, Raven snapped at him to move out or get out of her way. He quickly caught up with Tane.

            “So much for fearless Tyrians,” Armin muttered.

            “Only idiots are truly fearless,” Raven said. “And, despite what you may think, I am not stupid.”

            “We don’t need this,” Tane snapped.

            “Agreed,” Joelle said, giving Armin a disapproving look.

            After that they moved in relative quiet, broken only by the splashing of their feet in the cold, brackish water and their harsh breathing. At one point Raven suggested knocking out a support timber or three, to block the passage so whoever was following would have to turn around. Tane thought