CHAPTER FIVE:

  MONSTERS FROM THE DEEP

  Whereas the mighty behemoths were Elion’s first creation on the land of Danaria, these were the first creation in the waters that surrounded it. Which came first was debated, however one thing was undeniable, the monsters from the deep were wild and strong.

  Many described them as a giant snake. Others an enormous eel. Some even a water dragon. But to those that dared to explore the seas surrounding Danaria or those that sailed the deepest and widest portions of The Living River, the monsters that roamed the lowest depths, that occasionally surfaced to wreak havoc, were simply called Leviathan.

  When Garrick and Captain Lestada were able to get to their feet, they rushed outside to view the damage and threat. On one side of the ship the small crew of The Wet Wanderer was doing their best to keep the snapping head of the leviathan at bay with arrows and spears. As Garrick looked out the other side of the boat he could see Cerelene with two quivers of arrows and Ondibar, battle axe in hand, rush to the deck as another monster rose from the water.

  After a quick look and nod, the mercenary and captain took off to join their people. Though not quite the size of a sovereign dragon, the monsters still looked just as fierce, with their heads swaying, mouths open, brandishing rows of sharp teeth. Then suddenly as they appeared, they disappeared under the water. Yes, they weren’t as big as sovereigns dragons, but they made up for their size with lightning quickness and longer bodies, thought Garrick.

  When the mercenary finally got to Cerelene’s side, the leviathan’s serpent-like body rose up again, while its lower half started to wrap its body around the mast of the ship. Onyx, after finally making it up the stairs, in mere moments clamped his fangs into the monster's body, just below one of its large wing-like fins.

  “It looks like I should have went with you to see the captain!” yelled Cerelene, tossing Garrick his arrows as Ondibar flipped his battle axe from hand to hand. “Remind you of the caverns?” smiled the elf maiden as she looked out before her at the slender, sleek serpent in the water.

  “Yeah. Only this one is bigger, and at least the one in the cavern we could see!” laughed Garrick sarcastically as he pulled an arrow. “Where are the others?” He wanted to scan the boat, but he knew he should keep his eyes on the leviathan at all times.

  “Deelah is staying with Elias. Someone needs to. Besides, her knives are no good here,” yelled Cerelene, as she pulled out another arrow. “Maldrin and Anya…”

  “Are here now, my boy. It is hard enough for an old man and a cleric to move quickly on this ship, even without two leviathans,” yelled Maldrin with a chuckle.

  “I will release a few more arrows, then I will join Onyx with…” instructed Garrick, before moving his head to look at Ondibar.

  “No need to tell me more, mercenary!” yelled Ondibar as he gripped his axe firmly in his right hand and rushed off to assist the mystic wolf. Then a moment later Garrick watched as the dwarf’s weapon crashed into the water monster.

  As Garrick pulled another arrow, he could see that Cerelene had the leviathan held at bay. It was then he looked over his right shoulder for just a moment. Behind him he could see that Captain Lestada had made his way to the giant harpoon cross bow that was located just above the wheelhouse. Then Garrick looked over his left shoulder quickly to see that the crew members of The Wet Wanderer were resilient in their attack, but some had already been tossed overboard or tossed back against the ship. And a few were now being held and squeezed by the monster’s long snake-like body. Worse yet, it looked as though its head was leaning back to strike.

  “Maldrin, can you get a forcefield up there?” yelled Garrick, pointing at Captain Lestada while chaos reigned around them.

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  After looking up, Maldrin nodded and gripped his staff with both hands. Then he muttered a few words and a glass-like sphere flew out, growing bigger as it traveled and surrounded Captain Lestada just as the leviathan attacked. When the monster recoiled in pain and disbelief after its head crashed into the forcefield, the captain got to his feet and grabbed the lever that would send the harpoon toward the serpent swirling in the water before him.

  “Maldrin! Help Cerelene! Anya! Get to the injured crew! Do not worry. I will cover you!” screamed Garrick, seeing Azure flying back and forth in front of the leviathan’s eyes. Then the mercenary released arrow after arrow until Anya made it to the other side of the ship.

  As he ran toward where the mystic wolf and dwarf were, Garrick saw that they had finally caused the monster to let loose of the mast, but now it had its body wrapped around the mystic wolf. Though he was caught fast, Onyx snarled and snapped repeatedly as he looked for something to attack. Then The Wet Wanderer shook again. Garrick almost hit the deck, but with his free hand he pushed off the wooden floor and continued to run. Nothing would stop the mercenary from saving Onyx.

  Seeing Garrick coming up fast while trying to avoid attack, Ondibar ducked beneath the leviathan’s tail before dashing to the mercenary. When he was almost to him, he saw Garrick plunge his sword with both hands into the monster below Onyx, and above the wound the dwarf and mystic wolf had given it only moments before.

  Garrick pressed the blade deeper and grimaced. It took all his strength to keep from flying back as the monster struggled. Then Ondibar arrived and swung his mighty axe again into the wound he had made only seconds earlier. The dwarf’s blade bit deep. Onyx fell, but to his dismay Ondibar’s weapon not only did not go all the way through, it was now stuck.

  Garrick sheathed his sword and grabbed the axe handle just above Ondibar’s grip. When they had finally pulled the blade successfully out, they heard Cerelene scream.

  Looking back toward her, Garrick and Ondibar saw the elf maiden staring at the enormous head of the leviathan above her, and Maldrin was nowhere to be seen. As Onyx shook his head, the mercenary and dwarf breathed deeply and started toward the elf maiden. As Garrick, Ondibar, and Onyx rushed toward Cerelene they heard the loud sound of steel connecting and a chain uncoiling. A few seconds later, a giant spear-like weapon flew out from the ship.

  When the three finally got to the elf maiden’s side, she pointed at the leviathan as it started to lean its head back. But then it stopped.

  Garrick watched the monster’s eyes grow wide as smoke began to flow out through its nostrils. Then suddenly its fangs shattered from the force of a fireball that flew out from its mouth.

  Garrick, Ondibar and Cerelene watched as an old man in a brown robe fell from the leviathan’s mouth toward The Living River below, while the monster swam away.

  “Ondibar, grab that rope!” yelled Garrick, pointing at a open crate of supplies that had settled near them in the chaos.

  Seeing Ondibar grab the rope and toss it to Garrick, Cerelene instantly understood and grabbed her last arrow. After the mercenary tied the rope firmly around the railing in front of him, he tossed the other end to the elven archer, who tied it to her arrow. Then she shot it next to the wizard floating in the water.

  As Garrick and Ondibar pulled Maldrin back toward the ship, they heard a triumphant cheer. When Cerelene looked behind her she saw that the other leviathan had disappeared as well, and that Captain Lestada had rushed down to join Anya and his crew.

  While Garrick and Ondibar continued to pull, Azure landed on Cerelene’s shoulder. Moments later, Maldrin’s angry wet face came into view.

  “If only I had wings I would not be in this predicament! It is as if she is mocking me!” sputtered the old wizard at Cerelene as he looked at Azure.

  Once Garrick and Ondibar pulled Maldrin over the railing Cerelene steadied him and hugged him tight, her eyes still wet from tears. “I thought we had lost you, old one.”

  “Now now, young lady. I am fine,” whispered Maldrin reassuringly. “Looks like my impromptu swim got that pretty face of yours all wet.” Then when he saw the mercenary, his face changed.

  “The blasted monster tried to swallow me, Garrick!” bellowed Maldrin angrily. “Can you believe it!”

  Seeing the comical look on his old friend’s face, Garrick laughed.

  “But I showed him…her…whatever! You will not take me down without a fight. Or Tal,” nodded the wizard at the red squirrel clinging to his shoulder.

  As Maldrin looked back, Ondibar began to laugh as well, followed by Cerelene. When Onyx nudged a thankful greeting to the wizard, Tal ran down the damp wizard’s robe and leapt onto the mystic wolf’s back. Then after shaking herself of excess water, laid down upon his big black head.

  “Oh, I see. Now that you are safe, you would rather be dry!” scolded Maldrin, seeing Tal laying comfortably on the mystic wolf. Then he stooped down and pet both Onyx and Tal thankfully. “Well, I guess I do not blame you.”

  As the cheers on The Wet Wanderer began to fade, they all heard the worried voice of Deelah, who had emerged from below.

  “Anya! Anya!” screamed the thief, looking around frantically.

  Seeing Deelah start to run toward them, Garrick pointed to the other side of the ship. Then as the thief ran off, he looked back at the others and, after a big thankful sigh, the mercenary smiled and announced…

  “Come on. We should join her.”