Page 49 of On a Barbarian World

Disappointment swamped her. She watched his warriors nod and head back toward the hargon beasts.

Kavon was still looking at her. “We will investigate other options.”

“You know this is our best one. We can’t leave.”

He headed for Tarm. “Even if I were to entertain the foolish idea of climbing down inside the mountain, we do not have the provisions with us to do it now.”

She followed him and opened her mouth to answer, but before she said anything, he tensed, whipped around, and lifted his sword.

Her heart stopped. With a hard look on his face, and his weapon raised above her, he was a formidable sight, and for a microsecond, she thought she was his target. Then she realized he was looking past her.

What the hell was⁠—?

An enormous, guttural roar blasted out from behind her.

Her blood ran cold. Slowly, she swiveled.

Her lungs constricted and she couldn’t breathe. She’d never seen anything like it.

A giant beast was pulling itself over the rim of the cave’s hole. It was the size of her scoutship, and walked on four legs. Its hide was a tough, slimy black, and its back was misshapen, like it was stuffed with rocks. A huge head was dominated by a giant mouth filled with sharp teeth, and four red eyes sat in a row above it.

Those red eyes settled on Aurina and it let out another enraged roar.

CHAPTER NINE

Kavon knew instantly what the beast was.

A dark monster of myth and legend—a naga.

It was a nightmare that Markarian mothers threatened their children with. A creature with the strength of a hundred warriors and a hunger for flesh.

But the way its attention centered on Aurina, it appeared that today it hungered for female flesh.

“Aurina, back toward me. Slowly.”

She nodded but never took her gaze off the creature. She pulled her laser stunner out, and aimed it.

The creature took a step forward, the ground shaking with it.

Behind him, Kavon heard Colm, Darroch, and Viken running back to them. But four warriors and a woman could hardly hope to take down a naga unscathed.

Get Aurina to safety. The words beat at Kavon, and his nanami responded. He felt a flood of energy into his system. His woman would not die on this mountain. Not while he was still breathing.

Suddenly, bright-orange fire whizzed through the air. Aurina held her weapon with both hands, her aim steady.

The monster roared. It lifted its front feet and slammed them down. The ground shook.

Dammit, she was just making it angry. Kavon grabbed her and pulled her back behind him.

Colm reached them, and Kavon shoved her at his best friend. “Whatever happens, protect her. If I fall, get her off this mountain.”

Her mouth dropped open, and Kavon drank in one last look at her, then turned and ran toward the beast.

The naga took a few steps forward, the ground shaking again. Kavon lifted Tanir, and when he reached the creature, he darted in close and ran the sword along its hide.

It roared again, and he dodged a swipe of its huge claws. He pressed his boots into its side, and jumped upward. His nanami helped him leap into the air, and he landed on its lumpy back.

The creature bucked, but Kavon kept his balance. The naga’s skin was rough and scaly. He raised Tanir, tightened his grip, and started slicing.