D.D. Ward is Writing

I stared at the monsters in their cages. Three barghests lay sleeping, horse sized black dogs which could turn invisible. Across the room a manticore watched us from its cell. The monster was a rhino sized lion with bat wings and a human-like head sporting rows of shark teeth. We didn’t move for a minute. I waited as Fiona and Vincent surveyed the situation.  “All the cells are locked. And I see no guards or keepers. We should be able to slip through unnoticed.” A roar echoed from a wide tunnel ahead of us. I flinched. It sounded almost, but not quite, human. “Maybe we should hurry?” Amy said.  “Indeed. Laila, which way?” Fiona asked.  Laila pointed to the wide tunnel that the roar had come from. “That leads straight outside. Any other route is much longer.” “Much longer will have to do.” Vincent said. “I know that roar. That’s a giant. I don’t want to fight a giant.” A moment later the giant stepped out of the shadows of the tunnel. It lumbered into the patchwork torchli...