Chapter 36

### Chapter 36: Wyverns Make Great BBQ

The wyvern screeched again, its wings beating with powerful thrusts that whipped the dust and ash around the plateau. Its head, crowned with jagged horns and eyes glowing with predatory hunger, fixed on Trill like a hawk eyeing its prey.

"Don't let it get any closer!" Bren shouted, her molten sword flashing as she held her ground beside the caravan. Lyra was already notching an arrow, her focus entirely on the wyvern.

Trill, however, was already in motion. He was no stranger to dangerous creatures, but this was a whole new level of challenge. The wyvern was fast—faster than most beasts he had fought—but it wasn't just speed he had to worry about. The beast's talons could shred through stone, its tail was like a battering ram, and its flames could roast a man from a hundred paces.

But Trill was used to betting on himself when the odds were stacked against him.

Without so much as a second thought, he ran toward the wyvern, his eyes locked on the creature's throat. If he could just get close enough…

"Trill!" Bren shouted again, but he didn't listen.

The wyvern crouched low, ready to launch itself at him, its teeth gnashing with anticipation. Trill didn't hesitate. He pulled a small vial from his belt, uncorked it with one swift motion, and hurled it at the beast. The vial shattered mid-air, releasing a cloud of thick smoke.

The wyvern recoiled, its screech cutting through the air in a furious wail. The smoke was a mixture of alchemical concoctions Trill had perfected—a blend of compounds designed to irritate and disorient the creature. It worked. The wyvern's senses were overwhelmed by the pungent cloud, its wild thrashing growing more frantic.

Trill used the opening. He darted forward, slashing at the wyvern's underbelly with a series of precise strikes. The creature howled in pain, but its scales were thick, and his sword only managed to scrape against them. The beast reared back, but Trill had anticipated this. With a roll of his body, he swept underneath its claws and jabbed his sword upward toward its vulnerable underbelly again.

This time, the blade sank deep.

The wyvern let out a deafening roar, thrashing in pain as blood sprayed across the plateau, sizzling as it hit the rocky ground. Trill barely had time to regain his footing before the wyvern swung its massive tail around, aiming to crush him beneath it.

Bren was already on the move. She dashed forward, molten sword ablaze as she swung it with a powerful arc, cleaving through the wyvern's tail with a single strike. The creature shrieked again, its balance momentarily disrupted, and it flapped its wings in a desperate attempt to right itself.

"Finish it!" Bren yelled, eyes focused on the beast's exposed side.

Trill didn't need any more encouragement. He rushed in with all the speed he could muster, closing the distance between him and the wyvern's throat. He drove his sword forward, twisting it at the last moment to pierce the creature's windpipe.

The wyvern gasped, blood flooding its throat, and with a final, agonizing screech, it collapsed to the ground.

For a long moment, the only sound was the wind rushing through the mountains and the crackling of the fire as the wyvern's blood began to burn on the rocky earth.

Trill wiped the sweat from his brow, breathing heavily. The battle was over, but it had come at a cost. He could feel the drain on his body, and his muscles ached from the exertion. But the creature was dead.

Bren sheathed her blade and walked over to Trill, her molten sword still glowing faintly. "You're crazy," she said, her voice tinged with amusement but also something else—relief. "But that was impressive."

Trill didn't respond right away. He wiped his sword clean, then turned to face the caravan. The merchant Arlen was standing at the back, eyes wide in disbelief at what had just transpired.

"Well, that's one way to deal with a wyvern," Lyra said dryly from behind, her bow still drawn but no longer aimed. "Nice work."

Trill nodded, but he didn't linger on the praise. "Get the caravan moving," he said, voice rough. "We don't have time to waste."

Bren raised an eyebrow at him but didn't argue. She turned back to the caravan, and Lyra followed her. Trill glanced once more at the dead wyvern, his mind already shifting gears. The road ahead was treacherous, but this was what he was used to—this was his life. And if the caravan was going to survive the mountains, they would need every bit of strength they could muster.

He turned away, making his way back to the wagons. As he walked, he couldn't help but notice Bren's eyes glancing toward him occasionally. There was something different in the way she looked at him now—a new respect, maybe, or perhaps something deeper.

Trill didn't have the time to think about it.

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By the time the caravan was ready to move again, the wyvern's carcass had been stripped of its useful parts. The merchants and guildmates had made quick work of it—its scales could be sold for a small fortune, its claws and teeth fashioned into weapons or armor, and the meat could feed the entire caravan for days. Trill had his eye on a particularly large claw to add to his collection of trophies, but he didn't linger on it. There was a storm brewing in the mountains, and they needed to move fast.

The path ahead grew more treacherous with every step. Jagged rocks jutted from the earth, the ground uneven and shifting with every step. As they ascended, the air grew colder, and the once-distant rumble of thunder began to grow louder. The clouds overhead had turned dark, swirling with ominous energy.

"Looks like we're in for a storm," Lyra observed, her voice tense.

"Could be worse," Bren said. "At least it's not another wyvern."

Trill remained silent, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. There were more dangers than storms in these mountains. And he wasn't sure if they were ready for what lay ahead.

But as the caravan pressed on, with the wyvern's remains now a part of the caravan's bounty, one thing was clear—if they could survive what was coming, there would be a great reward for those who made it through.

Trill smiled grimly to himself. Treasure, power, and answers were all just beyond the next pass.

And he wasn't about to let anything stop him from getting there.

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**To be continued...**