The Last Heroes Before Judgement Read Online Free Page B

bats sweetness? And you’re still blind? Oh well, I will have to marvel at the Giant’s Bridge alone.”
    “That’s right, and you can even do it with your mouth shut. Bad enough you came out here with fresh blood.”
    My face burned red for no one to see. Omar started muttering about blood and monsters, but, he kept very quiet. Senjay turned to whisper with severely crossed eyes.
    “Yer a goner anyways matey. Just draw ‘em off like a good lad.”
    “Hey! No fair.”
    He ducked under the sloth pelt and Lazarus poked him. At least he laughed with me, that is, until the cart slowed to a crawl. The tunnel opened into a wide cavern that ended with a cliff on all sides. The cold air was besmirched by the clicking and squeaking of the bats. I followed it up to their den, hanging from the stalactites some two hundred feet off the ground. Thankfully, I saw only a few small pairs of glowing eyes, and most of them remained asleep. They did not mind us passing through quietly, but the mood changed when the steed’s hooves set down on the smooth limestone bridge. An entire flock dropped and flew out over the chasm. They blocked out the moon more completely than any of the clouds, but they dare not get too close.
    The clicking grew louder and they took turns breaking off to smell for fear. They passed by the lighting globe checking for moths- but went hungry. Some made the mistake of latching onto the steed, but, grandfather brandished his long sword and cut them down. When they reappeared on the bridge behind us they were torn apart by their fellow monsters. One flew close enough to swat at. When I did, the chain that I had forgot about bent a finger back. I howled at the pain. The echo blew into the swarm, driving them to hover by the rear of the moving cart.
    “Could you not keep quiet for one minute? Even at the expense of your own safety?”
    Grandfather bellowed loud over the empty river valley and kicked the steed into a trot. The bridge was spotted with ice and the sliding meant a speedier escape was just as likely to send us over the edge. I had no choice but to stand in between them and the others. The chain swung heavy in one hand and with the other I held out the bloody rag. The bats blended together into a cloud of grey fur and glowing silver platters for eyes. Then the light was covered, and I had to adjust to the few grey rays that managed to penetrate through the cloud cover.
    “Sorry boys, I’m not sitting this one out.”
    I turned back to see that Grandmother had tossed down the still burning globe and positioned the pole in both hands to deliver blows. The distraction allowed the first bat to suck my hand out of the air like a moth. The two piercing teeth were too far apart to cut me but the thing held on tight and licked at the bloody rag.
    “I can see why you’re so afraid Omar- these things are massive.”
    They all pulled the cover up to look and Omar fainted immediately.
    “Move closer and pull that tight. We need room to step.”
    “Wait you’ll miss this. Ugh- fine.”
    The weight of the overgrown rat did not impress me, so I tried smashing it on the cart door. I found the bats to be hollow as a songbird- and twice as fragile. The hollow thing collapsed, and the flock consumed it on the road while still alive. We passed the high arch signaling the half way mark and they were joined by another army of bats from under the bridge.
    They blocked out all the light beyond five paces and surged in from all sides. The steed slowed to fight them off, so, Grandfather laid prone on its back and calmly swung his sword in wide arcs. Grandmother seemed glad to have an outlet for her frustrations, and the bat army would have avoided her entirely, if she were not standing over the lighting globe. I had it so easy that I was laughing and egging them on using the blood soaked rag as bait.
    “Well met, flying rat. I am Matthius the Basher. Observe.”
    The heavy cuff moved quickly between targets and the chain