This love is like a curse (42)
Thalia stared in horror at the dark figure that appeared in the light of the setting sun. The massive body, covered in scales, contracted like a volcano about to erupt lava, and then soared upward. At the very top was a huge head, resembling the head of a reptile, whose scarlet eyes sparkled, staring down at them.
Thalia's legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground. The monster, emitting hot breath, opened its wings, shrouded in a black membrane, and the world seemed to plunge into darkness.
- Prepare suppression equipment immediately! - Longboat commanded, drawing his sword.
As soon as his words were spoken, the knights broke out of the crowd of rushing people. They surrounded the monster, driving what looked like iron stakes into the ground and attaching thick steel chains to them. Following this, dozens of steel harpoons soared into the air, rushing towards the monster like arrows.
Thalia covered her ears. A deafening roar erupted from the mouth of the rearing monster.
The ground shook every time the body bound by dozens of chains wriggled violently. Several stakes, unable to withstand the tension, flew out of the ground and soared into the air.
- Everyone move away!
Simultaneously with someone’s loud cry, the monster, breaking free from the chains that held it, furiously flapped one wing.
Thalia screamed. From this movement, several tents were demolished, and five or six servants, who did not have time to take cover, were scattered to the sides like sheets of paper.
One of the bodies, bent at an unnatural angle, rolled and stopped very close to her. It all seemed like a terrible nightmare.
— Bring more equipment! - Longboat growled, his voice keeping Talia from going blank. She strained her trembling legs with difficulty and stood up. Then, with her face white with horror, she watched as Longboat, like a flash of lightning, rushed towards the raging monster.
He rushed straight into the open mouth of the monster, whose body was at least thirty khvets (about nine meters).
- Longboat! — his name escaped her lips with a piercing cry just at the moment when the monster’s wing, like a whip, soared towards him.
Talia watched in horror what was happening.
A huge black wing, capable of eclipsing the sky, instantly covered the figure of Longboat. Thalia's world also fell into darkness. But the next moment, the pale blade in Longboat’s hand cut the dense membrane of the wing, like paper.
He cut off the wing with one blow, and then cut off the powerful bundle of muscles connecting it to the body.
The monster, deprived of one wing, lost its balance and staggered greatly.
Wasting no time, Longboat grabbed a chain scythe from his belt and threw it, like a hook, into an open mouth full of teeth sharp as thorns. Then he quickly slid to the side, hooked the chain on the stakes driven into the ground, and pulled it with force.
And the monster, whose lower jaw was now pierced by a chain, fell to the ground, like a fish caught on a hook. The incredible strength hidden in Barkas's slender body left Talia speechless with surprise.
Squeezing the chain with both hands, he loudly shouted to his subordinates:
- Quickly! Finish it!
The next moment, dozens of harpoons were pierced into the monster’s body.
The black scaly creature, writhing, desperately resisted, but was powerless against the fierce attack.
A moment later, the monster’s body, mutilated like a hedgehog, stretched out on the ground, its long tongue hanging lifelessly. Only then was Thalia able to exhale.
-Are you all right?
One of the knights ran up to her, breathing erratically and looking at her anxiously. Apparently, he was looking for her and rushed straight to the battlefield - the sword was still clutched in his hand.
Sheathing the weapon, he extended his hand to help her up.
But Talia sharply pushed his hand away and headed towards Longboat, who was just collecting equipment from the body of the defeated monster.
Longboat, wrapping the chain around his hand, only glanced down at it. Even in this dry, appraising look - as if he was checking the state of the entrusted property - not a drop of anger was felt. Still, Thalia asked in a trembling voice:
- Are you... Are you okay? Are you injured?
Her trembling eyes noticed the bloody stain on his neck.
Thalia carefully reached out her hand, touching his skin. Fortunately, it was not his blood. She breathed a sigh of relief when she suddenly felt a slight tingling in the back of her head.
Looking up, she saw Barkas looking at her with barely noticeable surprise, and quickly lowered her hand.
His silence made cold sweat run down my skin. Is he really amazed that the one who only yesterday hit him in the face and threw things is now pretending to be caring?
Confused, Talia began to babble, as if making excuses:
“Well, we’ve known each other for almost ten years... If something happens to you right before my eyes, I’ll have nightmares later.” I don't want to sleep badly because of you.
“...I’m glad I’m not destined to appear in your dreams, Your Highness.”
His habitually caustic response somehow calmed her down.
Talia lowered her shoulders with relief, which had previously seemed filled with lead due to tension. And just as he was about to say something, a piercing scream was heard again in the distance. The girl turned around sharply. She took her breath away: the entire sky was filled with black monsters.
One of the guards muttered with a shocked face:
“Why did a bunch of wyverns come here at this time of year...?”
- This is not the time to ask questions! Get your gear ready! Your Highness, follow me! - Longboat instantly regained his composure and, grabbing her by the wrist, led her through the camp.
Thalia could barely keep up with him, pressing almost closely against his back. There was a smell of blood and burning coals everywhere.
Chaos. The chaos she had been waiting for had finally arrived.
But there was no joy. Only cold, piercing fear that flowed through my veins like ice.
- Sir Siekan! We set up a barricade on that side!
While Talia watched in horror as the monsters destroyed the carts and tore the tents to pieces, someone's voice loudly reached them.
The longboat immediately headed in that direction.
“Under no circumstances leave here,” he led her to the very middle of the camp and said sternly.
Thalia turned around and looked around: several dozen people took cover in front of a long row of carts, lined up like a barricade.
— The carts are equipped with protective artifacts. As long as you are here, nothing will happen to you.
- And you? What are you going to do?
Without answering, he was already turning around to leave.
Thalia grabbed his hand in desperation.
-Are you crazy?! Where were you going at such a moment?!
“The magical barrier won’t last long.” I must destroy the monsters before it subsides.
Longboat resolutely freed his hand and rushed to where the battle was in full swing.
Thalia watched him leave in a daze, then suddenly came to her senses and ran after him:
- No! Don't go! Longboat! Longboat!