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

all of us. The evil that lurks beneath the surface of love and hate. The good roots without the strength to grow out. How it’s so much easier to do the wrong thing instead of the right. I worry, Sasha.” He looked up to the clouds. A frown forming on his face.
    “About me ?” she said, following his gaze.
    Night was almost upon them. The clouds that drifted were black and the stars behind them gone. A strange fog roll ed over the grass. What was earlier a blustering day in the sun had become a land more sinister. A distant flash of lightning caught her eye.
    “Yes, of course I worry about you,” he said. “I sometimes wish you hadn’t come. I want you safe. I fear I can’t always protect you.”
    “I don’t expect you to. I have to learn how to protect myself.”
    “And you’ve done well with that,” he said, “but I wanted you here with me, Sasha. I needed you here with me.”
    A chill went through her. Bayzog never needed anything from anybody.
    “Why?”
    He looked her straight in the eye.
    “In case none of us make it back.”
    Her heart stopped. Then started again. At least it felt like it did. What was he saying? What did he mean?
    “Bayzog, I’m certain we’ll make it through this. We’ll find the Occular of Orray , heal Dragon, and then things will be the same.”
    He shook his head.
    “The climate changes. Even though my Elven instincts aren’t as sharp as they used to be, I know. That’s why I wanted to have you with me. I wanted you by my side, selfishly, just in case.”
    “Just in case what?”
    She could see her reflection in his violet eyes when he said it.
    “Just in case we’re near the end of this world.”

 
    CHAPTER 18
     
     
    Shum pulled his knees up and caught the full force of the Gnoll’s greater weight on his chest. He locked his hands around the creature’s wrists and hung on. Shum was centuries hardened by training and battle. His muscles as taut as steel. But he was no match for the raw strength of the Gnoll. Its thews were thick. Savage. More animal than Man. Its dog face snapping at his neck. He turned his face away. Hung on with all the strength he had in him.
    “Time to die, Ranger!” Saliva dripped from its mouth. “I’ve never tasted a Rover before.” It snapped at him.
    Shum shoved it back. Still lithe, he got one foot underneath the Gnoll’s hard belly. “Not today, Gnoll!” He thrust. Lifted the Gnoll up and over the top of his head.
    It let out a howl, crashing into the dirt.
    Shum dove for his sword.
    The Gnoll regained its feet and pounced right onto his back. Its claws tore into him.
    His Elven leather kept him from being torn to shreds.
    They thrashed back and forth over the dirt.
    Whop!
    The Gnoll punched him in the face, drawing spots.
    Jab! Jab! Crack!
    The Gnoll howled. Jumped off, holding its nose.
    The creature might be bigger, meaner, stronger, but Shum was smarter, faster and tougher.  And he knew the weak spots of all the races. He spotted his sword. Limped over and snatched it up. “One more step, Gnoll, and it will be the end of you,” he said, shuffling forward.
    The Gnoll backed away. Eyes darting from side to side.
    The women and other Gnolls were gone. Hiding. Leaving the two of them in the darkness. The only light the small campfires glows.
    “Surrender , Gnoll, or meet your—”
    Clatch-zip!
    Shum’s sword fell from his grip.
    The Gnoll let out a triumphant howl and charged.
    ***
    I was on alert. Eyes peeled. Ears sharp.
    That smell. That smell in the air. I knew what it was. The prints on the ground gave me a good idea. Trouble. The kind of trouble wise people sought to avoid. The kind of trouble that was hard to get out of.
    I hurried along. They could move fast, even with Brenwar. Possibly faster than me. One mistake on the trail and I myself could be in jeopardy.
    I stopped. Looked. Listened.
    Something rustled over the ground. Yards ahead. I could’ve sworn I heard Brenwar grumbling under his beard.
    I nocked an