Dragonvein Book Four by Brian D. Anderson Read Free Book Online

you.”
    Martok glanced back. The first of the kroma was only a few yards away. Three more were now free and another two were clawing their way out. He stood, his sword ready for action.
    The kroma had raised its own blade and was bearing down. But it wasn't coming for him, he realized. It was after Kat. Miriam’s sinister intentions instantly became clear. With a rapid flurry of strikes, Martok sliced at the creature’s arms and torso, but with little effect. In spite of its fragile appearance, its flesh was hard as stone. Only a few of his blows penetrated any deeper than an inch or so.
    Completely ignoring his attack, the kroma continued on its way toward Kat. It was time for a different tactic. Lowering his shoulder, he rammed it solidly into the creature's midsection, driving it back several paces. At least he had now gathered its attention. With surprising speed, it brought its weapon hard down. Martok stepped left to avoid the attack and then retaliated with a powerful blow to the kroma's sword arm. Growing fear for Kat's safety added strength to his latest strike. This time his blade cut deep, cutting more than halfway through the creature's limb.
    Even this did not stop it though. The kroma merely switched its sword to the left hand and resumed its lumbering advance toward Kat, who throughout this brief skirmish had been digging furiously at the clinging moss with her dagger. Martok could see that the next kroma was also getting dangerously close to her. He tried to move in front of the first, but it swiped at him with its damaged arm, then followed up with a wide arcing strike from its sword. This forced him down and back.
    “Enough of this,” he roared.
    With precise steps he moved in, hacking at the creature's left arm and channeling all of his fury into the strike. And now - at last - he was able to completely sever the limb. Satisfied that this kroma was no longer a serious danger, he burst into a run and managed to deliver a solid kick to the second one's hip just as it was about to raise its weapon. The creature stumbled and then fell over completely, landing with a squish as it struck the damp moss. Before it had a chance to recover, Martok slashed down on the creature's wrist, completely detaching the hand with the blade still in it.
    Snarling, the kroma quickly recovered to one knee and reached across for its weapon with its other arm. Having already seen the first one swap hands in the same determined manner, this was exactly what Martok had been hoping for. Just for a moment, bent over low like this, the creature was in the perfect position for him to strike at its exposed neck. It was as he suspected; the flesh here was considerably softer. His blade sliced easily through, decapitating the monster in a single cut.
    Martok smiled as he watched its body collapse in a heap. At least he now knew how to stop these things. But lopping the heads off another five was still going to be a daunting task. One that would take all of his skill and experience.
    The rest were still a few yards away, but the thrill of battle was now surging through him. He charged in with savage ferocity to meet them. Moving from side to side, he struck out again and again, attempting to separate their heads from their shoulders. But the kroma were better able to parry his attacks than their sluggish gait would have suggested. What's more, their relentless march toward Kat was slowly forcing him back ever closer to her.
    By now she had finally managed to free one of her legs and was frantically stabbing away at the remaining moss holding down the other. “Just a few more seconds,” she shouted. “I’m almost there.”
    Martok managed to disarm one of the kroma and kick another to the ground. But in doing so, a third had got by him and was already poised to deal Kat a lethal blow. He spun around, ignoring the danger at his back. With a heavy grunt, he took the head of Kat’s would-be killer just as its steel was about to begin its