Brendella vs. the Tentacle Monster
by Thomas Yonge
Copyright 2011 Thomas Yonge
Smashwords Edition
Cover Design by Thomas Yonge
Images Courtesy of
katagaci / sxc.hu
tuareq / sxc.hu
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Visit Thomas Yonge at http://thomasyonge.blogspot.com
Other Stories by Thomas Yonge available at Smashwords
Other Brendella Stories Available
Short Stories
Brendella and the Horny Goblins
Brendella and the Trouble With Crystal Balls
Brendella in the Backwoods Peepshow
Brendella and the Overfriendly Enchantress
Collections
Brendella: Collected Stories Volume One
Contents
Brendella vs. the Tentacle Monster
Brendella vs. the Tentacle Monster
"Someone has to do something!"
Brendella looked up from the leg of rabbit she was chewing on, the conversation at the bar grabbing her attention.
"I seen it myself," the speaker continued. "It was terrible, it was! The creature killed two men, ate 'em whole! Tore the arm right off another. I barely escaped with myself intact."
The barkeeper nodded sympathetically, pushed a mug in front of him.
Brendella took a final bite from the bone and dropped it on her plate. Wiping the grease from her lips, she stood and approached the bar.
"You," she said, addressing the man who had spoken of the monster. "What's your name?"
"It's Thad, m'lady."
She sat on the empty stool beside him. "Thad," she said, eyeing the puny man, "tell that story again. Specifically, the part about this creature. What manner of beast is it?"
"Oh, it was horrible," Thad wailed. "It was big as a house, it was! With a mouth full of the biggest, nastiest teeth you ever saw! Mouth big enough to fit a whole man inside. And a single, yellow eye, set right in the center of the head."
Brendella tried to imagine the beast as the man had described it. She had seen a lot of things as she traveled the length and breadth of the continent, battling Evil wherever she found it, but she had never heard of a creature such as this.
"And the worst part," Thad continued, "was its arms. It had all these arms, like snakes or something, that would reach out and wrap around your leg, and draw you in towards that horrible mouth. Oh Erik!" The man's shoulders shook as he wept into his ale.
The barkeep leaned forward to Brendella. "Let him have some peace, will ya? The poor bastard's seen too much."
Brendella nodded, standing. "I've heard enough anyhow," she said. She laid some coins down on the bar. "For the rabbit and the ale."
The barkeep nodded and scooped up the money.
Brendella put a hand on Thad's shoulder. "One final question," she said. "Tell me where this beast can be found."
Eyes red, he turned and looked up at her. "About half a day's ride north. There's a creek runs across the road. Follow it east a short ways and you'll find a small lake. The thing was back there. Waiting for us. It's waiting for us! Oh Gods!" He broke down into more sobs.
Brendella nodded. "Very well. Then I am headed to this pond, where I shall battle and defeat this creature. For I am Brendella, Warrior of the Sands, sworn to uphold Good and vanquish Evil. I fear not this tentacled monster!"
Without a look back, she left the weeping man and the inn behind.
* * * * *
She rode north for several hours. Her pace was slow, but determined, and the sun was still high above the horizon when she came to the creek.
Stepping down from her horse, she led the animal off the road, following the creek to the east. In the distance, trees dotted the rising hills, but mostly there were flat plains.
Before long she could see the body of water ahead, ringed by a small grove of trees. Another ten minutes of walking and she stood on the shore, looking out at the calm surface of the lake.
Tying her horse some distance away so that the animal would be safe, she returned to the water's edge and looked for some sign of the tentacled menace.
The water was calm, but murky. A few yards beyond the shore, the bottom disappeared. It could be a couple of feet deep out in the middle, or plunge to great, unknown depths.
If this pool indeed held some great monster, then it was likely deep or perhaps hid some underwater cavern, which served as the creature's lair.
Brendella drew her sword and made a long, slow circuit of the lake. Eventually, she was back at the spot she had started from. If the creature was here, hiding under the water's surface, there was no visible sign.
She walked a short distance away and sat down against a nearby tree. If the creature was going to make her wait, then she was going to make herself comfortable.
* * * * *
Brendella blinked, looking around. Had she carelessly fallen asleep? She grabbed her sword, which was laying at her side, and scrambled to her feet.
She may have drifted off for a few moments, she realized. But something had startled her awake. A sound? A presence?
She scanned the water, but there was no sign of the creature. Hesitantly, sword held out in front of her, she neared the water's edge. There was nothing, barely a ripple.
She looked around at the surrounding trees. Everything seemed a little off. There was very little wind; everything was quiet. Even the sounds of the birds and the insects had stopped.
Belatedly, she turned back to the water.