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.The creature hesitated for a moment before it folded back its wings and dove.The city rushed up as they sped down toward Kala.Han tightened his grip on the creature’s hair and kept the pressure on the knife.He could barely see as the wind rushed against them.The rooftops rushed toward them.Han pressed harder on the knife.The beast’s talons flashed as it grabbed Kala.Kala screamed in pain.The Daehtara’s wings beat furiously, trying to stop its descent, but they still plummeted down.The creature shrieked and let go of Kala, but Kala didn’t let go of its legs.The beast tried to turn but started to spin.It was shrieking in terror now as the three plunged straight for a tall building.“Hang on!” was the last thing Han said before they smashed through a roof.****“Norouk?” Dean asked again in disbelief.The golden armored figure moved forward; Dean saw it wasn’t Norouk.“Navarro? What’re you doing here?”“Don’t look so surprised, Dean.Volsur pays better.” Navarro walked forward.“I hope you’ve decided to give up that foolish quest.If not, I’m supposed to kill you right now.”Dean’s anger burned as he stared into Navarro’s eyes.“You sold out for what? That stupid-looking armor?”“For what?” Navarro laughed.“Look around.I was living like a rat.Cold, poor.a loser.Just like you.Now look at me.” He held his arms out.“You’ll find life with Volsur a lot more appealing.” Navarro gave a cocky smile.“Do you know what happened to the last guy who Volsur gave golden armor to?”“Norouk?”“Yeah.He betrayed his friends too.His reward was living for years in a valley with a bunch of twisted freak creatures until the guys he betrayed came back and ripped him into little pieces.What a bargain he made! I don’t know how you’re going to end up, but if you side with Volsur, it’s not going to end well.”Navarro drew his sword.“I won’t be like Norouk.Volsur needs me.”Now it was Dean’s turn to laugh.“Volsur needs you? For what? Your friends needed you.You betrayed them.Now you have nothing to give Volsur.He used you.”Navarro rushed at Dean and swung his sword for his head.Steel clashed against steel.Dean blocked and struck back; his anger finally burst and swept through his body like fire.His sword was a blur as he rained blow after blow down on Navarro.Navarro backed up, the smile on his face replaced by a panicked scowl.Navarro blocked again and again, but Dean’s strikes flew fast and hard.Dean swept Navarro’s sword aside.Navarro lunged in and grabbed Dean’s sword arm.Dean punched him in the face.Navarro fell backward and pulled Dean down on top of him.Dean ripped Navarro’s helmet off, and his fists pummeled Navarro.Dean roared as he swung.Blood splattered across Navarro’s golden armor, and Dean kept punching.“I surrender,” Navarro gasped.Dean hit him again.“I surrender,” Navarro said.“Mercy.”Dean’s fist stopped, prepared to strike again.“Mercy,” Navarro mumbled.Dean stood up.He wiped his bloody hands on his jeans.He walked over and picked up his sword.“You don’t deserve mercy.” Dean walked back to Navarro and pointed his sword at Navarro’s chest.Navarro held up a trembling hand.“Please?”Dean lowered his sword.Navarro’s hand fell to the floor, and he started to weep.A bitter cold crept over Dean’s skin.The hair on his neck rose, and he tightened the grip on his sword.From somewhere in the darkness, Dean heard footsteps.“Nice, very nice,” a voice called from the shadows at the end of the hall.Dean spun around.A man dressed in white and green pants and shirt, with an emerald colored cape across his broad shoulders strode forward.His blond hair fell down to his shoulders, brushed back from his handsome, tanned face.“Very nice, Dean,” the man repeated in a rich voice.There was something very familiar about the man, but Dean couldn’t place it until he got closer.Dean gasped when he saw the man’s steel gray eyes.They looked just like Panadur’s.“Volsur?” Dean stammered as he raised his sword.“Please.Don’t be so quick to kill me.” Volsur smiled, turned his hands outward, and opened them to show they were empty.“Letting Navarro live was very kind.But didn’t my brother tell you? In this world, kind gets you killed.”“Your brother told me a lot.He told me you’re the reason this world is so evil.”“Me?” Volsur laughed.It was the kind of laugh heard on a warm day, making other people smile.“This world was evil long before me.You met Lorious.How kind was he? My brothers and I traveled all over our world, fighting to make it better, until I realized we were wrong.I was just like you.I showed kindness, and it got me nothing.”“Panadur seemed pretty happy.”“He’s a fool.The three of us could have taken over this world with less killing, but instead of helping me, they turned against me.”“Shocker.” Dean’s mouth twisted into a smirk.“The good guys wanted to stop the crazy bad guy.They didn’t kill you, though.They showed you mercy.Seems if they’d killed you, this world would have been better off.”“Exactly.” Volsur’s teeth gleamed bright white as he smiled.“If they’d been strong enough to kill me, they would have gotten what they wanted.But they’re weak, like you.You let Navarro live.He’ll come back someday and repay your kindness with a dagger in your back.It’s not too late.Kill him, and I’ll let you take his place as one of my men.”“Tell you what.I’ll kick your butt, too, and let you take his place on the floor.” Dean walked forward.“I’ll never be one of your men.”“You’re just like my men,” Volsur replied calmly.“What are you talking about?” Dean stopped and sneered.“Pure of heart?” Volsur chuckled.“Please.Pure of heart.” He laughed.“The little shoplifter? You’re a common thief.You’re a cheater and a liar.” Volsur’s laughter echoed down the hall.“Pure of heart—you’re just like my men.”“Those things didn’t happen here.They happened in my world.” Dean shook his head.“It doesn’t matter, Dean,” Volsur scoffed.“You’re the same as me.You really believed my foolish brother, didn’t you? Pure of heart! Did you really think you were going to kill me? You and your misfit band? A deserting Dwarf, a helpless Elvana, a female Elf, and a beast? How do you think you got in here? Did you think you could just walk into my castle?” Volsur gloated.“You’re a fool.I brought you here.The whole way.Ever since you crashed through little Han’s roof and smashed his bed, I’ve watched over you.I wanted you to come here.”“You didn’t bring me here.I came to stop you.” Dean raised his sword.“Stop me? I brought you here to join me.It’s one big family reunion [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]