Temple of the Dragonslayer by Tim Waggoner Read Free Book Online Page B

door?
Pow!”
    Sindri was obviously unharmed. Nearra hurried toward the tavern—careful to keep from slipping herself—and hesitantly walked through the now-open doorway.
    The minotaur lay sprawled on the dirt floor, beneath him the splintered remains of a table, as well as a pair of very unhappy customers. The minotaur groaned and started to rise, but one of the men he’d pinned grabbed a broken table leg and cracked the man-bull over the head with it. The blow didn’t seem to injure the minotaur, but it did enrage him further. He roared and reached for the man. The man’s friend pulled free from the remnants of the table and grabbed another table leg. He swung wildly, trying to free his friend. But instead of hitting the minotaur, he nearly hit Nearra.
    Nearra screamed but dodged the blow just in time. “Davyn! Catriona! Time to go!”
    It was dim inside the tavern, but Nearra could just make out the figures of Davyn and Catriona standing near the bar. With them were two men—one tall and one short. Catriona pointed to the tall one, and then the three of them began hurrying toward the entrance, leaving the short one behind.
    Looks like we’ve found our guide, Nearra thought. She then stepped out of the way to let Davyn, Catriona, and a handsome blond elf exit the tavern.
    Catriona shot Sindri a look. “I see your horned friend managed to track you down.”
    “You missed it, Catriona! Just as the big cow was about to get me, he suddenly slipped and went crashing into the tavern! Do you think maybe I cast another spell on him without knowing it?”
    Davyn gave Nearra a quick look before turning to Sindri. “We can worry about that later. We need to get out of here before the fighting spills into the street.”
    The sounds of combat inside the tavern had become louder and more violent. It seemed the brawl had spread to include the rest of the Blind Goose’s customers.
    “You mean before the minotaur comes outside looking for Sindri again,” Catriona said.
    Nearra looked at the elf. His right hand twitched near the pack slung over his shoulder and then fell still.
    Nearra frowned. She’d had the impression that the elf had been holding something. And had she seen that same hand reach out as the elf had run past the minotaur? It had all happened so fast, she wasn’t sure.
    He smiled. “My name is Elidor.” He reached out to shake Nearra’s hand.
    “Introductions later,” Davyn said, grabbing Nearra’s hand and pulling her down the street. “Running now.”

     
    Oddvar stood with his back against the bar, warily watching the fighting and doing his best to stay away from it. He could fight well enough when he had to, but he preferred to use stealth and cunning whenever he could.
    He still had hold of the poisoned dagger he’d intended to use on the elf. He was now tempted to use it on the idiotic minotaur who’d come crashing into the tavern before Oddvar could prevent the cursed elf from stealing his “job” as Nearra’s guide. The Theiwar had no idea who the redheaded girl in chainmail had been, but obviously the boy had experienced some unexpected complications. Whatever had gone wrong, Oddvar knew his master wasn’t going to like it, not one bit. He slid the poisoned dagger back into its sheath and skulked off in search of a back door.

 
    E lidor had said they could reach the temple in only a couple of days if they traveled by horseback. But since there wasn’t enough of Maddoc’s money left to buy horses for them all in addition to the supplies they needed, they would have to walk. That meant the trip would take four days, perhaps five depending on how often and long they needed to rest.
    To prepare, they purchased dried beef from the butcher and rye bread from the baker. Then they stopped at a cobbler to get sturdy walking boots for Nearra. At the market, they bought a traveler’s pack for Nearra as well as water skins and rain cloaks for the entire group.
    “We’ll be traveling through