Legends Of Zyconia Part 23

Terrek looked at the net and the spear, then at a pile of stones nearby.

"Perrin. Jason, John quickly, you have to distract it, grab a handful of rocks and throw them at it. Aim for the eye! Hemoth follow me!" Terrek ordered.

Terrek and Hemoth ran across the pit floor and grabbed the net. Each took one side and ran toward the minotaur. The others began shooting stones at the beast which, after being struck in the eye, blinked and raised his arms to ward off the stones. Terrek and Hemoth quickly wrapped the net around the Minotaur's legs, and Terrek called to the others to come swiftly.

"We have to do this fast, heave!" Terrek bellowed.

All five of them pulled on the net and the giant toppled to the sandy floor. Terrek ran speedily across the beast's back and grabbed its horns. He turned to ask Hemoth for the spear, but the beast lurched tip and stood erect smashing one of its horns into the wall of the pit. Terrek, clinging to the other horn, was just high enough to jump to safety in the crowds, but he wasn't about to leave his comrades. The Minotaur spun his head back and forth trying to throw Terrek off, then it brought its arms up and began swinging at him.

"Quickly, throw me the spear!" Terrek yelled in anticipation.

Hemoth lifted the spear and tossed it up into Terrek's grip. Terrek stood on top of the Minotaur's head and lifted the spear in both hands for an instant. Then all at once he brought it down with an echoing crack through the creature's cranium. The Cycloptic Minotaur released one great, deep-throated yell of agony before falling straight down. Terrek jumped clear as it fell to the ground. Hemoth and the others helped him to his feet. Everyone in the coliseum was dumbfounded. Amazed looks plastered the crowd. Even the elders, who had shown no emotion until now, seemed surprised by what had just happened. The elder in the prominent chair stood.

"Guards," he called.

Terrek's group tensed up. Would they now have to fight hand to hand too? Surprisingly, the guards entered above the pit wall and herded the crowds out. Finally only the twelve elders remained. The standing elder moved from their view and moments later appeared in the smaller doorway in the pit wall. The elder slowly approached Terrek, and held out his palm. Sitting in his hand was a purplish translucent crystal.

"'Take it, indeed you have earned it." the man said.

Terrek, puzzled, looked at the man and took the crystal from his hand depositing it in the pouch on his belt with the other two crystals. Terrek was about to speak. but the man stopped him.

"Many years ago we left lower Zyconia to escape the evil and create a utopian society, but when men like the Vicar learned what we had accomplished, they tried to destroy us. This is why we have moved underground and have left the once great city lifeless. At one time we possessed three of the crystals. All but one was stolen. That was before we were given the beast. You are not die first to come looking for that crystal. We were told that whoever vanquishes the beast is the crystal's rightful owner. You are the one. You have also entertained us, so we wish you to take these." the old man said.

The old man held out a map and fastened his amulet around Terrek's neck.

"The amulet will help you, trust me, and the map will lead you to two of the other crystals," said the old man as he headed toward the small door.

"If you go through the larger door you should find a staircase that will lead you up to a door to the street," the elder explained.

"You said you were told that whoever kills the beast is entitled to the crystal, told by whom?" asked Terrek.

"Ask not now," replied the elder.

"If you wish your army may take food and water, and whatever else we may provide, I will have my men help you reprovision," he offered.

Then he turned and left. When Terrek and his group returned to the rest of the army the entire city was bustling with people waiting to meet the conquerors of the great father Minotaur. The Utopians were all gracious and ready to lend a hand in reloading their wagons with supplies for their continuing journey.

While their wagons were reloaded, Terrek asked the head elder if he could help him decipher the hieroglyphics on the third tablet that they'd recovered from the avian Sanctuary. Fortunately the elder was able to translate. The tablet told them the location of another crystal. in the Swamp of Ghouls, which was close to their present location. After they had all said their farewells, they headed off down the mountain. Terrek had been on the outskirts of the Swamp of Ghouls before, fending off several little evil monsters with Jason and Adam. That had been enough of an experience for him. For some reason he couldn't shake the ominous feeling that something sinister was going to occur in the swamps.

TO BE CONTINUED...

TO READ FROM THE BEGINNING GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 1

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