Dragonfire erupted into a blazing inferno from the dark, engulfing the flank in searing light. Hogle, Tix, and half a dozen others vanished in flame. Grizzle shouted over the blast, voice ragged with panic.
“Find cover! Now!”
The survivors bolted, diving behind rocks and shattered pillars.
A thunderous laugh cracked through the cavern, shaking the stone.
“Foolish, greedy little goblins! You think you can elude me? I smell you!”
Another blast tore a pillar apart. Three goblins screamed. Their screams brief—cut short by the all-consuming flames.
Grizzle ran. Not away—but toward his kin. He snatched up two spears that had miraculously escaped the inferno, heart pounding against his ribs like a drum of war.
From the dark, Rizim surged forward, rage made flesh. Scales rippled like molten armor. Teeth caught the torchlight in wicked arcs. The goblins cowered in terror—paralyzed.
Grizzle chose movement. Chose madness. With a shout, he sprinted up the path, the dragon’s breath scorching the air mere feet away. In a desperate bid, he hurled himself off the ledge, spear poised.
Read the full story, along with eight others, in Realms Beyond.
As Arch’Corporal Thalia embarks on a daring mission to retrieve ancient relics, she uncovers a hidden web of secrets and lies that threatens to upend the fragile balance of power in her realm.
J.A. Peter
Writing has been a passion of his since he was in third grade when he wrote his first short story about an apocalyptic event forcing people to live in massive submarines. Since then, he has written several short stories and even more backstories for characters he created.