The Veredor Chronicles: Book 02 - The Journey West Read Free

earlier. The Skatheans were all gone, and the town was in the process of cleaning up and returning to the joyful peace of former days.
    Eben retired to his room late in the evening and felt happy and full of cheer. His room was small but very pleasant. It was situated on the lower level. The lake lapped at a rock wall only several feet from his window. He placed his sword beside his bed and sat down on a cushioned chair by the window to watch the moonlight shimmer on the lake.
    Something caught his eye outside the window. There were large ripples crossing the surface of the water. He leaned toward the window and peered outside. Whatever was causing the ripples was moving closer. He strained his eyes to see if there was a boat, but it was too dark. A few moments later the ripples abated, and the lake became still once again. He thought nothing more of it. After a few minutes he stepped back across to his bed and pulled back the covers. His eye caught the movement of a dark shadow passing by his window. A feeling of apprehension was growing in his chest.
    Suddenly the glass shattered; the frame of the window gave way as a dark shape smashed inward. The face of a furious wyvern snarled as it crashed forward toward Eben. The beast wasn’t like the wyverns he had seen on the battlefield; its head was much larger, and its scales were a glimmering dark blue. The wyvern howled and whipped its head from left to right, tearing a huge hole in the side of the inn and ripping the entire outer wall away. Eben grabbed the Sword of Light and drew the blade. The beast pounced forward as he cut downward, but the wingless wyvern raised an edged arm and deflected the blade. Eben stumbled and fell back away from the fierce beast.
    The wyvern ’s huge fangs snapped forward. Eben desperately scurried back out of the way. He dashed out of the bedroom and into the hallway. The wyvern roared and smashed a way through the wall into the hallway. It chased him down the corridor toward the common room, tearing the inn apart as it pursued him. The common room was mostly empty; the few remaining patrons stared in horror as Eben burst into the room with a howling wyvern at his heels.
    Eben turned to face the beast and lifted his sword. The wyvern pounced as he quickly stepped back and cut out, missing the beast’s neck by only inches. The snarling beast recoiled and started to circle him menacingly. It smashed and knocked over chairs and tables. The few remaining terrified patrons rushed out the front door. Eben could feel his strength growing. He stared into the wyvern’s fierce red eyes.
    Suddenly Red and Stella das hed into the room from the hallway. The monstrous beast turned to face them, howling madly. They both drew their swords. Red, without considering the situation, jumped at the creature, cutting down with all his might. The wyvern raised its clawed arm and parried the strike. It then whipped its long tail. Stella quickly ducked, but the scaly tail struck Red and knocked him across the room, sending him crashing into the far wall. Meanwhile Eben charged at the beast and stabbed forward. The sword pierced through the thick blue scales; the wyvern howled in pain. Eben pushed the sword deeper and the wyvern struck out with the back of its massive clawed hand and knocked Eben across the room. Eben stumbled and for a few moments felt dizzy from the impact.
    Cassiel then stepped into the room from the hallway. His jaw dropped as he looked at the beast. He raised his right hand and a bright orange beam of flame rushed through the air and blasted into the wyvern’s face.
    ‘It’s a lindworm!’ c ried Cassiel.
    The beast writhed about the room and angrily shook the sparks away from its eyes. It then violently crashed through the front wall to the cobblestoned street beyond. Several town guardsmen had gathered outside, having heard all the commotion. They looked up at the creature in terror and backed away.
    Eben gathered himself and shook off the