09-07-2020, 09:40 PM
GHAUL
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire
He is the guillotine where all lives meet their equal end, kings and paupers alike. Ghaul is thrilled when Wolfbane disregards the warning Neverwhere gives and charges toward the dragon king. But another is diving face first for Ghaul and he grins with all his crooked teeth as he draws a deep breath. The northern queen was not the only one keeping secrets.
He spreads his jaws wide and, instead of fire, a beam of perfect white light erupts from his throat. Ghaul had learned that even their scales burned like autumn leaves when faced against his rays. Well, perhaps it would be better to say Yadigar had learned this. But he doesn’t wait to see if the dragon takes a blow to the face or if he dodges. There are more pressing matters at hand.
Lepis stumbles and there is a glimmer of mercy that finds its way to the surface of Ghaul’s mind. Their deal is not complete if she does not have her lover’s head. He flaps his wings to propel him forward and beside Lepis, tucking one wing around her and pulling her against him to keep her upright.
“You may die when our business is done and not a moment sooner,” he snarls, his teeth snapping near her face despite his protective stance. “I will pluck his wings so they do not harm you again.”
He releases her then, watching the blur of her outline against the backdrop of flames growing ever higher around them. It would be easiest to devour Wolfbane’s throat but he heeds the Loessian queen’s words despite his better judgment. Ghaul rushes forward for Wolfbane and ducks right, sinking his teeth into his brilliant white wing as he begins to thrash. Without the cursed stallion’s healing to aid him, the limb comes loose with a pop. Ghaul plants his left talon against Bane’s ribs and pushes off from him to free the wing completely. But he must live, sadly, and so the monster king breathes a plume of fire to cauterize the remaining stump.
He tosses his head and flings the limp wing into the fires. It would have made a handsome trophy in his nest, but he has no time for souvenirs.
“Finish him!” he commands her, baring his teeth.
He spreads his jaws wide and, instead of fire, a beam of perfect white light erupts from his throat. Ghaul had learned that even their scales burned like autumn leaves when faced against his rays. Well, perhaps it would be better to say Yadigar had learned this. But he doesn’t wait to see if the dragon takes a blow to the face or if he dodges. There are more pressing matters at hand.
Lepis stumbles and there is a glimmer of mercy that finds its way to the surface of Ghaul’s mind. Their deal is not complete if she does not have her lover’s head. He flaps his wings to propel him forward and beside Lepis, tucking one wing around her and pulling her against him to keep her upright.
“You may die when our business is done and not a moment sooner,” he snarls, his teeth snapping near her face despite his protective stance. “I will pluck his wings so they do not harm you again.”
He releases her then, watching the blur of her outline against the backdrop of flames growing ever higher around them. It would be easiest to devour Wolfbane’s throat but he heeds the Loessian queen’s words despite his better judgment. Ghaul rushes forward for Wolfbane and ducks right, sinking his teeth into his brilliant white wing as he begins to thrash. Without the cursed stallion’s healing to aid him, the limb comes loose with a pop. Ghaul plants his left talon against Bane’s ribs and pushes off from him to free the wing completely. But he must live, sadly, and so the monster king breathes a plume of fire to cauterize the remaining stump.
He tosses his head and flings the limp wing into the fires. It would have made a handsome trophy in his nest, but he has no time for souvenirs.
“Finish him!” he commands her, baring his teeth.