Clash of Heroes: Nath Dragon meets The Darkslayer by Craig Halloran Read Free Book Online

ghostly fish go by. He had an urge to catch them. Scale them. Eat them. “Look, I’m ready, Oran. I have my sword and my instincts. I say let’s go.”
    “Oh, well, there is no 'let’s'. The Badoon underlings will lead you from here.” Oran approached. He had a solid necklace of twisted metal in his hand. “Put this on.”
    Nath took it in hand. “Is it a gift?”
    “It’s for your protection. I won’t be accompanying you, Nath. But, with the aid of this, I can keep track of your location. If you are in danger, all you need to do is call my name.” Oran placed a metal band on his head that was of a similar makeup in dark metal material. “See?”
    The underling's words were convincing. As a matter of fact, every time the underling spoke, Nath felt compelled to obey, and as strange and unpleasant as the underlings seemed, for some reason he wanted to help them in their time of need. He clasped the band around his neck and immediately felt the urge to tug on it with his clawed finger. “It’s a bit snug.”
    “You’ll get used to it.”
    “I suppose I can take it off if it bothers me,” Nath said. He tried to unclasp it, but the hasp would not loosen. “Oran, what treachery is this?”
    “You cannot take it off,” Oran said, “but I can. Listen, Nath, I cannot risk losing you again. You were summoned by me and need to trust me.” He pressed his fingers to his head and closed his eyes.
    You can hear me, can you not?
    “Yes, yes I can.”
    “Then trust me. It’s for your safety, and you’ll get used to it. Before long, it will be like a second skin to you.” Oran escorted him onto the barge, where several of the underling Badoon fighters stood ready. “Nath, do not fail me. You must kill this slayer once and for all. If you fail, I fear all will be lost in this world. Not to mention, my lords Catten and Verbard will certainly skin both of us alive.”
    “I’ll find this fiend that strikes in the night.”
    “And on your journey, I’ll give you plenty to think about.” With his foot, Oran pushed the barge into the Current.
    The windless tunnels swept the craft away and took Nath into the darkness.
    ***
    Oran sat on the sofa, wringing his hands. The dragon man Nath that he had summoned was unlike any creature he’d ever dealt with before. Unlike the other monsters he’d toyed with, this one, he was certain, was good natured. He guzzled down some human-made wine and wiped his mouth across his sleeve.
    “Oh, if it weren’t for Verbard and Catten, this could be so much more interesting.”
    He poured another glass, sat back, and took the metal headband off. Eyeing it, he was pleased. He could keep an eye on the man without putting himself in any danger. He could do other things as well, such as change the man’s perception of things. The man would need to be tougher, meaner. Day by day, hour by hour, the collar Nath wore should turn him away from any noble deeds. Oran grinned.
    I’ll turn that good nature dark.
    “And it should strengthen my grip on him.” He stretched out his arms and yawned. “Oh, how I would delight in going on this journey, but why endanger myself? The Badoon have their orders: find the slayer and help my new champion kill him. And if he fails, he fails. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Catten and Verbard had forgotten all about this already.” He rubbed his lips with his finger. “And if he wins, then my, what a weapon I will have at my disposal.”

 
    CHAPTER 12
     
     
    Nath’s journey with the underlings took him through some wild country, wasteland, and marshes. Finally, they led him into a jungle-like terrain thick in vines and narrow ravines. The underlings said little. If anything, they were all business. Skilled. Tactful. They crept through the rugged foliage like a band of slithering snakes. They were nothing short of an impressive knot of people.
    Nath thumbed sweat from his eyes. In addition to its vibrant sounds of wildlife, the jungle was dripping