Read The Last Protector for Free Online Page B

discolored as if by extreme heat. She picked with her fingernail at some hard, black crud in a deep crevice. “You know, there are artists in town who could melt this thing down and remake it as good as—"
    Before she could speak the word “new,” Scrornuck plucked the earring from her hand and returned it to his ear. “I like it this way,” he said firmly.
    Nalia shrugged and sipped her glass of Gentle Afternoon Red wine slowly. After a moment's contemplation, she set down the glass and said, “I've been wondering about this since last night—you guys have some pretty strange names. Do they mean anything?"
    "I told you about mine last night,” Jape began.
    "But that's just the cover story,” Scrornuck interrupted. “Truth is, his name's an old word for a joke."
    "A joke?"
    Jape sighed. “I'm afraid so. I've heard it so many times I've memorized it: Jape: a joke, a gag, a bit of mischief. See ‘shtick'. "
    "Fits you like a glove.” Scrornuck cupped a hand over his mouth and stage-whispered to Nalia, “It's also an old slang term for sex."
    As she giggled, Jape pulled out his softscroll and with mock anger said, “Watch it, big guy—I'm going to show her what your name means!"
    "What?” Scrornuck said. “I'm named for a great hero! Why, I could tell you stories..."
    "And no doubt you will,” Jape interrupted. “But first, let's see what the archives say about your name.” Using a small stylus, he printed the word “SCRORNUCK” in a box on the scroll's surface and tapped a button.
    Within seconds the scroll chimed softly. Nalia read the response and giggled. “It says you're a bug! Scrornuck: a large, stinging insect found in tropical regions. There's a picture, too.” He looked over her shoulder and saw a large insect that was at once beautiful and vaguely disturbing, sporting brightly colored, butterfly-like wings, long barbs on its legs, and a big, sharp stinger.
    "Well, I've been called worse..."
    The scroll chimed again. “Hey, there's more!” Nalia said. "Scrornuck: the name given to an insane, unstoppable warrior found in an obscure legend in many time streams." She paused. “Time streams?"
    "Just a fancy phrase for different places,” Jape said.
    "Oh.” She read further: "The legend describes a warrior, sometimes possessing a magic weapon, who would appear on the eve of a particularly epic battle. He was said to be capable of defeating an army single-handed, and could not be killed by a mere mortal. In combat, the ‘Scrornuck’ is said to be indifferent to his own injuries and fights with superhuman speed and strength. In some variations of the legend, he undergoes physical changes, developing distorted features, and growing horns, claws, spikes and other bodily protrusions. Ugh.” Nalia shuddered slightly as she looked at the picture that accompanied the description: a grotesque, half-human creature clutching an enormous, bloody axe. “Boy, I'd hate to meet one of these in a dark alley.” She looked at the picture, and then at Scrornuck, and then again at the picture. “You don't look much like that."
    Scrornuck laughed. “No, I don't. I got the name from my great-grandfather."
    "He was one of them?"
    He shrugged. “I never met him. Maybe he was, or maybe he was named after somebody who was. Or maybe the whole thing's just a legend. My people have all kinds of stories, from the days when spirits lived in the trees, demons stalked the night, and great warriors went into battle against them. Good tales, full of truth, even if they didn't always happen."
    Conversation suddenly ceased as the serving wench arrived and set an opulent platter of appetizers and sandwiches at the center of the table. “What a spread!” Scrornuck said. “What's a proper blessing for a feast like this?"
    "How about, ‘Good Lord, I'm hungry, let's eat'?” Jape suggested.
    "Sounds good to me.” Scrornuck raised one hand and intoned, "Bone Domine, esurio, comedemus!"
    "What's that mean?” Nalia