Free Heir To The Nova (Book 3) by T. Michael Ford

starving.”
    The vault itself was roughly rectangular in shape with the narrow end facing us and a very high cathedral-arched ceiling. The walls and ceiling appeared to be hewn directly out of the bedrock. However, down the middle were two rows of ornately carved stone columns depicting dwarf rulers of old. At least that was my interpretation; the dwarves depicted were bigger and brawnier than any I had seen on this trip and, of course, all the people in the carvings wore ornate crowns and carried fearsome weapons. Closer to us were a number of display tables that had probably held the best treasures, many of which radiated magic. Most of these had already been torn asunder and their contents strewn across the hand-fitted stone floor. I would have liked to gaze at the artwork more, but my attention was drawn by a loud crash from somewhere in the rear of the chamber.
    We walked closer, navigating around piles of gold and gems, even some weapons and bolts of cloth. I’m sure it was all unique and priceless, but at the moment, it looked like so much trash. Finally, walking around one of the massive pillars, we caught our first glimpse of the beast responsible for all the rummaging around and damage.
    First impression…big, very big! It was at least twenty feet tall and probably thirty feet long, not counting the long lizard-like tail. The front half of the creature had the body of a lion, but was way bigger than any natural lion. The back half? Well, I couldn’t see it that well from this angle, but it looked sheep-like. It had a pair of red dragon wings on its back and three heads, as expected. One was the lion, another a ram with curled horns, and the third was a formidable looking red dragon head.
    Most people, I’m sure, would take one look at this thing and run. But Nia and I were just dumbfounded…were the heads bickering with each other?
    “This has got to be it!”
    “That’s not it.”
    “And why not?”
    “It’s supposed to be a triangle.”
    “It is a triangle.”
    “Made of stone, you fool.”
    “It is a stone!”
    “An emerald is not a stone.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “Actually, he’s right on that one.”
    There was a loud, crashing sound. “Hey, why did you throw that away? It was expensive looking.”
    “Because I’m in control of the front legs. And what possible use do we have for an emerald of that size, huh?”
    “Well…we could trade it for some flea powder…that, we could use.”
    “Get some perfumed soap while you’re at it; you both stink!”
    “Well, we can’t exactly take luxurious baths, now can we, Miss I’m-afraid-of-the-water!”
    I looked at Nia as she looked down at me. “These guys have got to be the stupidest creatures on the face of the earth!”
    “You would be correct,” said a female voice. We both looked in the direction of the voice and found the massive dragon head looking right at us. “And you two aren’t even attached to them. Imagine what I have to deal with every day!” Startled, the other two heads looked in our direction and the beast started to walk over to us. With it closer now, I could see that there was some damage already done to it and its left wing looked like it was partially shredded.
    “Look what we have here; a human and a pixie? Didn’t we wipe all of them out already?” said the ram head.
    Nia pointed her swords at the sheep. “You were the ones who killed my people? Why? Why would you do something so cruel?”
    He snarled, “Orders. But I won’t say it wasn’t fun anyway!”
    “I had no part in that,” said the female dragon head.
    “Liar! There were burn marks on everything in that forest!” screamed Nia.
    “Actually, the bitch is right; she wouldn’t help us at all,” the lion complained. “I’m the one who did it! But right now, I am wondering what we should do with you.”
    The dragon head came closer to me. She took a few sniffs before her eyes widened and she pulled away, but said nothing.
    “I say we roast him