The Worst Kobold Chapter 28: Chapter 23 - Starlight, Starbright

Read chapter 28 of The Worst Kobold by Thalaas on NovelPedia.

Griffon watched in stunned horror as Fluke… abandoned her. He had taken off to the sky without a single word. She had seen the panic consume him, watched him quiver in pain from the rescue. But... she had never thought. “Don’t blame him,” Alexander said stoically as he placed a hand on her shoulder. “He’s not a warrior. We put too much on him, and we forced him to… open that.” The prince looked back at the growing monstrosity. Untold numbers of the magical appendages wriggled. The entire landscape began to glow, like an undersea coral reef with bioluminescence. It was horrifyingly beautiful. The kobold sobbed softly, wiping her eyes. “Right… he’s… he’s allowed to be afraid,” she said as her voice threatened to break. Griffon turned back as more of the tendrils snaked forward across the territory, inching close both to her clan and Alexander’s kingdom. The ghostly voice spoke again and again. “ Granted … Granted… Granted…” Each time it spoke it was soft, but now it sounded like a religious chorus. “We need to go now,” Chantelle pleaded, placing a hand on both of their backs. “That thing is expanding fast. We won’t be able to save ourselves soon, let alone others.” She too wanted to just collapse, but the young soldier had a duty. “Right,” Prince Alexander stood up, trying to look determined and firm. “Griffon, we’re heading back to Ashen. I’m sorry to leave you, but…” “No, go,” Griffon replied. She took one last look at the inevitable doom. A large section of the roadway had just turned to several bolts of the finest silks in dazzling colours. “I just… wish that… Fluke, I’m sorry for everything…” she said as she turned around. She slowly looked up at the tiny spec that was her friend still in the sky. She choked down another whimper then… realized something. Why can I still see him? He should be miles away by now! “Is… is he coming back?” There was hope in her voice. Magic flashed across Alexander’s eyes as he followed Griffon’s gaze. Humans didn’t have as good as night vision as kobolds. “I… think so. He seems to be flying back!” “That’s good!” Chantelle said hopefully, looking up as well. Her long hair waved in the slight breeze. “With his speed, we can warn…” She trailed off. Something seemed.. Off. “Wait….” Alexander squinted as his eyes. The way Fluke was moving, the speed, the trajectory. It didn't seem right. “I don’t think he’s coming to us…” Griffon was a trained scout and hunter. Her mind made calculations without knowing it. She took into account her angle, speed, direction… and realized in terror that Fluke? Was moving impossibly fast. He was a missile, his wings were flat against his back. His body a perfect straight arrow. Even at this speed, Griffon saw the tears flying from his eyes and a look of determination on him she'd never seen before. And she just figured out his target. “NO! STOP!” She had leapt to her feet and screamed so loud the words were barely recognizable. She flailed her arms manically, trying in vain to get his attention, to get him to change his course. “FLUKE! PLEASE DON’T!” Fluke didn't hear. He sped by them with such force the wind funnel behind him knocked them all to the ground once more. Griffon was up first, still hollering at Fluke to leave, to flee, to run, and finally to save himself. Her words were lost to the screaming wind. Fluke was going so fast he could feel the heat on what remained of scales. He knew he needed as much speed as possible and with his injuries? He knew he needed gravity’s help for this. So, he'd had flown out several miles high, and then dove into the churning whirlpool of disintegration magic. Agony ripped into Fluke once more. His eyes burned like they were submerged in acid. But his burning yellow eyes never left his target. The tiny crystalline Wishing Stone still hung in mid-air. Fluke knew he couldn’t destroy it. He was strong, but the elves had strength. He knew his magic would have no effect. But he knew one thing… He could move it. Ensure your favorite a