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

come for him, not Bayzog. That had been his plan, but plans change. He turned his horse and galloped after the Ettin.
    Ahead, two big heads bobbed up and down. Massive arms swung at its sides like hammer s. The Ettin’s Giant strides covered the ground as fast as a horse. He dug his heels into his steed.
    “Yah!”
    The horse thundered ahead. Shum’s horse wasn’t just any horse, but a special one bred by the Range Rovers. Big and Sleek. The Rover Stallions were the rarest horse breed in the land. It was one of the fastest creatures on four hooves. In seconds, the chestnut mare was on the heels of the Ettin, but Shum rode right by with the wind whistling in his long pointed ears.
    A head, Bayzog was doing little to distance himself from the Ettin, despite his mare’s efforts.
    Shum ran out in front of the Ettin and angled the other way. The Ettin didn’t follow. It kept after Bayzog. It wanted the woman. Time for plan two.
    Shum’s long fingers wrapped around the shaft of a short spear that was hooked to the saddle. It s tip was intricate. Elven crafted. Only two feet long. He charged after the Ettin. Its big steps would close in on Bayzog at any moment. Shum caught the worried look in Bayzog’s eyes.
    He pressed the spear to his lips and spoke in Ancient Elven.
    The spear extended. Snap . Three feet. Snap . Four feet. Snap. Six feet. The spearhead grew, widened, and brightened. Shum hopped up in the saddle and stood tall. He readied his spear over his head. He closed in. Five horse lengths. Three horse lengths. He dove at the Ettin.
    ***
    Ettins aren’t as slow and stupid as they look!
    Bayzog’s protective spell did little to calm the fear in his belly now. Instead, he was riding for his life. A monstrosity of hair, heads and yellow eyes followed behind him. Feet almost as big as his horse ready to crush him. I’ll never leave home again.
    Shum appeared. Riding hard. Eyes narrowed. Right on the Giant’s heels.
    Yes! Follow him , Ettin!
    He glanced forward. The open plains to freedom waited. He glanced back over his shoulder.
    No!
    The Ettin was still coming. Closer. One world-shaking foot after the other. He tried to think of a spell. Anything. I can’t ride and cast.
    The Ettin ’s long arms stretched towards him and touched the horse’s tail.
    “S hum!” he yelled. Where did he go?
    The Ettin roared and said, “I HAVE YOU NOW!”
    Bayzog cracked the reins.
    “No!”
    Shum reappeared. Standing on the saddle. A spear as tall as a Man glimmering in his hands. He was heading right for the Ettin. One Ettin head turned his way. The Ettin stopped, whirled, and braced itself for impact. Shum leapt off his horse with his spear high over his head.
    The Ettin swung both fists at the same time. They came together like a clap of thunder. The Elf and Ettin tumbled to the ground. Shum disappeared under its bulk.
    “No!” Bayzog yelled, pulling on the reins. The horse kept galloping. He pulled harder but the horse kept going. The Ettin’s form disappeared behind the dale and out of sight.
    “What do I do?”
     

 
    CHAPTER 13
     
     
    Pain. I was familiar with it. I’d been in pain before. But not like this. The first Ettin was squeezing me to death with both hands.
    I tried to yell, but I couldn’t get enough air. It came out like a frog’s croak. “Brenwar …”
    All four Ettin heads laughed.
    “Dragon Man hard to squish,” the first Ettin’s one head said. Then its other head said, “I likes a challenge.”
    “Let’s just eat him,” the second Ettin’s one head said. His other head said, “My belly groans.” Both of its heads smacked their lips.
    The first Ettin’s mouths both watered, dripping spit all over me. “Wonder if he tastes like fish, with those scales.”
    Eaten! I can’t let this happen.
    I flexed my Dragon arms as hard as I could, pushing out with my elbows.
    My Dragon arms pushed back the first Ettin’s grip on me just enough that I could gulp in some air.
    I yelled,