ChapterThirteen
Meat& Bone
Acolossal form spewed from the earth.
It hadrows of sandy scales, rushing and glittering in the cartilage light.It had arow of mandibles around a circular mouth.Its teeth were shaped like the hooksof a lamprey.When it coiled into the chest of the dead colossus, it roared asong so loud, so utterly deafening, that Isaac was forced to cover his ears,feeling the vibration deep within his flesh.He watched in horror as the wyrmspit a volley of earth and stone at the rib cage above, chipping away at thetitanic streaks of bone.
Aroundthe wyrm, giant skulls joined its melodic voice, singing in rapture as theyflipped and spun through the air.The wyrm smashed blindly at the fallingskulls, its segmented body bulging at the seams.It attacked with violent rage.
Jawssplintered.
Teethflew like shrapnel.
Thelungless voices fell into silence.
For amoment, Isaac watched the wyrm thrash and contort above him, mesmerized by thedisplay.He only realized he was in danger when Soren began to sprint.
“Fallback!”the bunny shouted.“Fall—”
A skullcrashed to the floor, landing so heavily that the entire world seemed to lurch.Soren darted away.Several more skulls collided with the ground, sprayingsplinters of bone.As the avalanche increased, the wyrm lurched again, andanother skull came tumbling across the palace courtyard, its cranium shattered,its motion wild and skittering, forcing Isaac to stumble away.Even though theskull missed him by several feet, the air pressure struck him like a wall, andhe went careening to the floor, rolling head over heels.
Dazed.
Blinking.
Hegasped for air.
Ashower of dirt poured on his face.He stared at the rib cage above.He spat andtwitched.He heard the voices of pirates, screaming in terror.
“Isaac!”
Therewas a hand.The world spun.Seconds later, he was face deep in the fur ofZaria’s chest, reeling for balance.
“Move!”
Justahead, the sandwyrm had extended half its body out through the earth, coilinginto the space beneath the glowing rib cage.Its bulging segments bristled withthe starry glint of sand-woven scales.Slowly, its vestigial wings began towriggle outward, unfurling from the carapace, displaying the old skin and sinewthat had once allowed the creatures to fly.By now, it was only a display ofsize, a symbol of prowess for mates and rivals.
For amoment, its circular mouth twitched with a dozen hooking mandibles, as iftasting the air.It listened through the silence of dirt and broken stone.
It wastrying to find new prey.
Zariawas tugging him.The rest of the pirates were sprinting back into thenecropolis, leaving every man for themselves.He had no idea where Soren hadgone.Now that the wyrm was here, all bets were off,and all who were wise would flee.
Isaacgathered his courage.
“Hey!”he shouted, breaking through Zaria’s grip.“Over here!”
“Isaac!”Zaria hissed.
Thedragon twisted, jerking its head in his direction.It had no eyes.Around thecircumference of its latching mouth, there was only a remnant of orbitaldepression, a shallow grave where once had been sight.All the same, Isaac felta titanic gaze land upon him.
“Yes,you!”he shouted, sprinting around a shattered skull.“You there!With theteeth!”
The wyrm rumbled.
“Overhere!”
Itstraightened, displaying its wings.
