Clutch Of The Cleric (Book 4) by Craig Halloran Read Free Book Online Page A

rustling foliage. Darting. Jumping. It was fast and coming right at him. He dove to the ground and covered his head. A herd of gazelle burst across the path, leapt over him and disappeared. His spooked horse trotted out of sight.
    “Oh great,” he said, rising and dusting off his robes. “Shum would laugh, maybe, if he saw that. Every Elf in Nalzambor would. Shameful.”
    He amb led down the path―tripping over his robes before pulling them up―and went after the horse. The beast was well trained and wouldn’t run far unless it was really spooked. He figured on the worst-case scenario for Shum. Probably being eaten by an Ettin by now. He forged ahead, pushing branch after branch from his face. He caught his robes on one, jerked it free and tore it.
    “Drat it all,” he said, under his breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
    Thoom.
    His heart skipped and beat faster.
    “Thank goodness for protection spells. Otherwise I’d be on the other side of the creek by now.”
    He moved on.
    Thoom.
    He stopped.
    Breathe, Bayzog. Breathe.
    The points on his ears bent a little. Something else was running towards him.
    He grabbed a stick and waited. I’m not getting my robes dirty this time.
    A woman’s voice cried out.
    “Aiiyee!”
    He ran towards the sound of her voice.
    She screamed again.
    He jumped over a log, smashed through the branches , and ran right into her. They both tumbled to the ground. The woman was distraught and her clothes were in tatters. She had to be one of the villagers.
    “Woman,” he said, “it’s alright. You are safe now.”
    Her eyes were wide, darting and glossy. Her entire body trembled. Bayzog brushed her dark hair from her scraped-up face. She just blinked at him like he wasn’t there.
    “Did the Ettins have you?”
    She nodded.
    Thoom!
    She grabbed his robes and said, “Please! Please! Take me home! Get me away from here!”
    “Easy,” he said. “We’ll get you home—”
    Thoom!
    She tore away from him and dashed into the woods.
    “Wait!” he said, jumping after her.
    “Ai iyee!” she said.
    Bayzog ran after her, darted behind the trees and stopped. Someone had a hold of the woman and she beat and clawed at his chest. It was Shum. The big Elf grabbed her by the back of the neck and squeezed. The woman collapsed in his arms.
    “Is she alright ?” Bayzog said.
    “She’ ll be fine.”
    “What happened? Is she hurt?”
    Shum showed a little teeth and said, “No, just a little Roving Ranger trick.”
    Thoom!
    “That thing’s getting closer,” Bayzog said. “Is it an Ettin?”
    “I suppose. And looking for her no doubt. Come on.”
    They weaved in and out of the trees. Shum carried the woman in his arms like a baby. Seconds later they found both horses.
    “Ah, good,” Bayzog said, “I thought he was lost.”
    “No worries,” Shum said, “can you ride with her?”
    “Me? Why not you?”
    “I’m not going back,” Shum said, “you are.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “What I always do,” Shum said, “find the missing.”
    Bayzog swung himself up on the horse. Shum handed up the woman and draped her over the saddle. Then, Shum whispered in the horse’s ear.
    “Can you speak Horse?”
    Shum nodded.
    “What did you tell it?”
    “ To ride you right back to where we came from,” Shum said, guiding the horse away.
    Thoom!
    The trees shook and birds scattered. Several critters dashed under the horses.
    Bayzog was saying, “I’ll come back with the others—”
    When Shum whacked the horse on the rear and the horse leapt forward.
    Bayzog surged ahead, glancing back o ver his shoulder.
    Shum leapt on his horse and disappeared.
    A tree crashed down right behind Shum, followed by a loud yell.
    “WHERE ARE YOU?”
    An Ettin emerged . It stood as tall as the trees. Its dark eyes found Bayzog.
    “Oh no!” he said, snapping the reins.
    Thoom! Thoom! Thoom! Thoom!
    The Ettin ran right after him.
    ***
    Shum realized his error. He had assumed the Ettin would