“I have my life and all my limbs. I’d say chipper is an understatement.” He swatted her on the rump. “One would think you’d be thrilled as well.”
“I guess I should look on the brighter side of things, but it’s just been so long since I had a good day.” She sighed.
“The good ones are the ones that see you through to the next.” He wiped his face off with a bar rag. The Magi Roost creaked in the stiff winds. He made a head count. Melegal, Joline, and Jasper were all accounted for. “Say, where did that woman go?”
“I am here,” a voice said from behind him. Trinos stood tall and beautiful. Her armor was gone, replaced with some refined and casual green robes. Her platinum hair sparkled in the sun. “Is there something you want?”
The woman’s wounds were gone. Her refined features had been restored.
Kam’s elbow stopped his gazing.
“I’m just making sure everyone was accounted for. I can’t determine whether I should worry about you or not. I assumed you might have floated away or something.”
“No, not yet.” Trinos walked up and stood between them and the building. Her hands were locked behind her back. She nodded back at the Magi Roost. “You’re fond of it, aren’t you.”
Kam looked up at Venir and gave him a ‘Is she talking to me?’ face.
He shrugged.
Kam replied. “I built it. It was full of many wonderful times, but of late it’s been nothing but a tavern of nightmares.”
“I see,” said Trinos.
The boards of the tavern popped and cracked. The rooftop swayed from side to side and came to a stop.
“That was close,” Venir said. “Maybe I should go inside and see if I can secure some of the posts. Melegal! You coming? You’d make an excellent beam.”
Melegal was sitting on the ground with his hand on his tummy. He took Jasper’s hand and let her help him to his feet. “Why the slat not? Besides, my tumbler could use a refill.”
Venir’s voice brightened. “Aye, now you’re thinking. I believe it’s time for a celebration. I’m sure there’s some grog bottles that held up pretty well.” He marched toward the porch, side by side with Melegal.
The Magi Roost groaned, cracked, popped, and collapsed.
Boom!
“Son of a Bish!” Venir exclaimed.
“Slat,” Melegal replied.
Venir turned back toward Kam.
Her pretty but drained face held a blank expression. She was a tough woman, but things had taken a heavy toll on her.
He’d never meant to put her through anything, but he felt responsible for all of her problems somehow. It had to end, whatever was going on. For her, Erin’s, and everybody’s sake.
“That’s that, I guess,” Kam said. She looked at Venir and gave a little nod. “I’m fine.”
“You know, a woman being fine is never a good thing,” Melegal whispered in his ear. “So don’t say anything stupid. As a matter of fact, don’t say anything at all … Stupid.”
Kam huddled with Erin and Joline.
Melegal huddled with Jasper.
Venir eased away from all of them and found himself within close proximity of Trinos.
The woman stood gazing at the heaped-up building with a spacey look in her eyes.
Finally, Venir decided to give his tired limbs a rest and sit down. “Ah.” Gazing up at the clouds drifting through the sky, he tried to remember the last time he’d breathed without his life hanging in the balance. He looked at his missing fingers. It was that imp who had done that—the same imp who had aided them today.
Bish is such a strange and screwed up place. He felt eyes on him.
Trinos was looking right at him.
“What?”
“Nothing,” she said. She walked over and sat down beside him. “Enjoy these moments, Venir. You’ve a long road ahead of you yet.”
“It’s always been a long road. Tell me something new.”
“Hmmm, that’s an odd request.”
“Who said it was a request?”
“You’re toying with me.” She smiled at him. “It’s thrilling in some odd way. I think I like it.”
“Most women like it, but some of them hate it.”
“Does Kam like it?”
“She used to, but I’m not so sure how she feels about it now.”
“She has deep feelings for you,” Trinos said, placing her hand on his back.
Venir felt his tensions ease. Her touch was so warm and soothing. Caring. “I’m not sure what you’re doing,” he yawned, “but it’s making me sleepy.”
“Then rest.”
“I’ll rest when all the underlings are dead.”
Trinos removed her hand and frowned. “A part of me wants to apologize to you, Venir.”
“For what?”
“You are what you are because of me.”
Venir shook his head and laughed. “No, I am what I am because of me. I just need to like it again.”
Trinos lifted a brow. “So you don’t regret all the fighting and killing?”
“Those fiends? Hah!” He made an axe chop. “A good warrior’s work is never done.”
Taken aback, she said, “So if you could go back and avoid all the pain and anguish in your life, would you?”
He checked to see if anyone else was around and said with a guilty smile, “No.”
“I’m astonished. Almost refreshed.”
“No life’s worth living that’s not worth fighting for.” He made another axe chop. “Someone has to fight the good fight. It might as well be me.”
“You are something.”
“That I am.” He winked at her. “That’s why they call me The Darkslayer.”
CHAPTER 23
“Kill me, really?” Sidebor huffed. Eyeing the keen edges on Elypsa’s black bladed swords, he added, “Don’t dull that exquisite steel on me.”
“You are weak, Sidebor.” With the grace of a panther, she closed in on him. Her blades, like black cobras, were ready to strike. “I don’t like it.”
“Weak?” His black blood boiled. “You think you can take me with that steel, little girl?”
“I think I can take anybody.” She cut her blades in an X. “Easiest of all a thousand-year-old man with part of his essence missing.”
“Try me, you little white-haired witch,” Sidebor said with a sneer. His fingertips glowed hot red. “Try me now–”
Elypsa’s swords started to sing.
Slice! Slice!
Ching! Ching!
Sidebor caught the blades in his hands, which were aglow with blistering heat. The steel turned red hot.
Sweat burst out on Elypsa’s brow. She jerked her hands away. “Impossible!”
Sidebor tossed the blades aside with a clatter. “Nothing’s impossible. Trust me, little girl.”
“Don’t call me that. I’m more than two hundred years old.”
“Hence the term, little girl.”
A blade whisked out of one her sheaths, and she pressed it to his neck. “This little girl’s going to sever your neck.”
“Heh-heh, if that were the case you’d have done so already, Elypsa.”
She pulled the blade away and sheathed it then stepped back and walked over to pick up her swords, eyeing the blades. “You didn’t warp them. That’s a good thing.”
“It was not my intention.” His hands winked out. “Had it been, your blades would have the sharpness of spoons.”
Sheathing her swords, she resumed her trek through the winding caves. Sidebor followed. What is this bewitching woman up to? He couldn’t help but be curious, and her seductive gait was inspiring.
So they walked and walked for miles—maybe a league or more—until the underlight was no more. Now, the light came from a different source.
Elypsa stopped. Ahead, a crack of light burned like a winking eye.
Sidebor stopped by her side. “You’ve never seen the real suns before, have you.”
“You know that most underling
women haven’t. We’re not allowed.”
“You are our buried treasure. We dare not risk it.”
Guarding her violet eyes, she resumed her march forward.
Sidebor grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?”
“Let me ask you something, Master Sidebor, what are your thoughts on Sinway?”
“I hate him. But he is my son.”
“A son that keeps his father prisoner.”
“I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same, given the circumstances.”
“Just so you know, I hate him too. That’s why we’re leaving.”
“Leaving? You’re taking a trek into the outlands?” He laughed. “The heat will be more than your precious hide can bear. You’ll perish within a league. And you have no supplies.”
Elypsa ventured to the cave’s mouth. She pushed away some rocks and revealed a pair of backpacks. She tossed one to Sidebor. “That’s why you’re coming with me.”
“To my peril? I don’t think so.”
“Your peril has already been set in motion.” She slid the pack on over her shoulders. “Any moment now, they’ll learn you’re escaping. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if the underling hunt has already begun. And I’m sure Sinway will indeed have your head for it. So, are you coming, or not?”
“You need me, don’t you.”
“I need you, yes, and you want me. Yes. Don’t worry, I’ll make it worth your while.”
Something shuffled in the cave darkness behind them. A pair of Vicious emerged with claws and fangs bared.
“Tell me they’re with you.”
Elypsa shook her head. “I was hoping they were with you.”
CHAPTER 24
Georgio looked on aghast as the balfrog continued to cause splatter. Boon’s small army was devastated. The ranks faltered, and the underlings pressed into the startled army with a renewed charge. “We have to kill that thing.”
“Brilliant idea.” Boon dropped out of the sky and landed beside Pall. “Any ideas, blood ranger?”
“Sure, just climb inside its belly and carve him up from the inside out.”
“You’re joking,” said Georgio. “Right?”
Boon shrugged his brows.
“Well, shoot him with lightning or something,” he said to the wizard.
“I hate to admit it, but I am quite drained.”
“Now that I’ve seen it in action, I think that blade of yours should do the job, lad,” Pall said to Georgio. He shoved the curly haired man in the back. “Get after it.”
“How am I supposed to get inside that thing?”
“Just let him eat you,” Pall suggested.
“That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard,” Georgio argued. “Why don’t you do it?”
“He won’t eat a dwarf. Don’t like our flavor for some reason.”
The balfrog continued to snatch up the ranks, plucking up the men, striders, and jung fighters like flies. The underlings surged to victory.
“I’ll go,” said a young voice.
Georgio turned to see Lefty standing there with a dagger in his hand. “No, you won’t go.” He reached for Lefty. “You stay right here.”
Lefty ducked out of his reach. “No. Everyone’s always doing things for me. It’s time I did something for them. I’m off, Georgio!” Running at a full sprint, he weaved through the knot of angry soldiers and made a bee line for the balfrog.
“I can’t believe him!” Georgio growled. “Cover me!”
***
Taking aim on the balfrog’s eye, Billip shot another arrow. It sailed true, smiting the monster’s orb. The feathered shaft protruded from the monster’s eye, but it didn’t slow the beast.
“You need a bigger arrow,” Nikkel said, hefting up his father’s heavy crossbow. “Something more like this.” The young black man took aim and squeezed the trigger.
Clatch—Zip!
The long bolt soared true and penetrated deep into the balfrog’s eye and vanished.
The monster lurched. Its great mouth unleashed a horrendous sound.
“KROW—ACK!”
The sonic blast knocked Billip and Nikkel clean off their feet.
“KROW—ACK!”
Billip’s stomach turned. He covered his ringing ears. “That’s one sickening set of hiccups!”
“Yeah, those are even worse than Georgio’s!” Eyeing the balfrog, Nikkel grimaced and covered up his ears. “Here it goes again!”
“KROW—ACK!”
All around them, jungs and striders dropped their weapons and fell to the ground, covering their ears.
On hands and knees, Billip shook like a leaf. The devastating sound knocked the life right out of his limbs. This is miserable!
Ahead, the balfrog resumed its dinner. Quickly, its tongues snapped out and snatched up the fallen—one, two, three at a time.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
Gathering his strength and fighting through the spinning of his stomach, Billip readied another arrow. “Never thought I’d see the day when something could out-eat Brak and Georgio.”
From his knees, Nikkel pulled back the string on his crossbow. “Yeah, me either. Slat, Billip, how are we going to kill that thing?”
Billip let loose a feathered shaft into an unsuspecting underling’s neck. “Maybe we should just focus on what we can kill.”
A wee little figure of a man appeared between him and Nikkel. It was Lefty. He stood there blinking his bright blue eyes, dagger in hand. “Hi Billip! Hi Nikkel.”
“Boy, what are you doing here?” Billip pointed to the hills. “Get out of here before you get yourself killed.” He fired another arrow into the fray. “Now!”
“I’m going to kill that balfrog,” Lefty said, matter-of-fact-like.
Nikkel huffed a laugh at him. “With that little blade?”
“It’s dwarven steel. Pall gave it to me.” Lefty shrugged his little shoulders. “It should do.”
“Don’t be an idiot,” Billip retorted. “Get clear of here now, Lefty!”
“Bye, Billip. Bye, Nikkel,” Lefty said. “If I don’t survive, well, it’s been nice knowing you both.” He took off in an incredible sprint and stood right in front of the balfrog.
“He’s mad!” Nikkel said.
“Stop him! Stop him!” said a loud and desperate voice. It was Georgio, laboring for breath. “Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Seems his mind was made up,” Billip said, “and I didn’t exactly take him seriously.”
Thirty yards away, the balfrog’s big bulbous eyes fell on Lefty.
The halfling stood still with his arms wide out.
The monster’s tongues struck, snatching him up and sucking Lefty deep into his mouth.
Slurp!
Jaw dropped, all Billip could hear was Georgio’s scream.
“Nooooooooooooo!”
CHAPTER 25
Gondoon’s fingers locked around Brak’s throat like a pair of iron pythons. The mammoth ogre was nothing but animal-like brawn. A savage snarl was on his twisted lips. Spit dripped from the canine teeth in his mouth. “You will die this time, human!”
Brak dug his fingers into the ogre’s neck and squeezed with all his might. Blue veins rose up on his hands and arms and around his temples. Eyes fixed on Gondoon’s, he choked out the word, “Never!”
Locked up, the titans shuffled back and forth on the dusty ground. Pressing. Pushing. Pulling. Neither fighter would give.
Some of the brigand men chanted, “Gondoon! Gondoon! Gondoon!”
Others threw in uninspiring words.
“No mortal can kill Gondoon!”
“Not even a sword can pierce him!”
“The big lout’s neck shall soon snap like a twig, and I shall have his little woman!”
There was laughing. Scolding. The shuffle of coins clinking and bets about how much longer Brak would last.
“Don’t quit, Brak!” Jubilee shouted. “You can beat that oversized coward!”
“Shut your mouth, you!” A
brigand backhanded her across the cheek. Smack!
It gave Brak’s tired body a burst of energy. He shoved Gondoon back and pushed his thumbs in deeper.
Gondoon’s big ugly head growled. Despite Brak’s tremendous efforts, the ogre still spoke somehow. “I cannot be killed, fool.”
Brak kept squeezing. He dug deeper into the thick muscle of the ogre’s neck. He fought to push all doubts aside. Anything can die. His father, Venir, had said that. Brak held on to that belief. Muscles aching, he kept on.
“My, what a red and purple face you have,” said Gondoon. “And those ears. Red like fruit. They’ll make a fine adornment around my neck. I might even have them gold-plated.” With a heave he pushed Brak down to a knee.
“It’s almost over, men! Someone break out a cask of ale!”
Heart pounding in his ears, air supply being cut off, somehow Brak kept his hands locked on the ogre’s neck. His eyes stayed fixed on the ogre’s.
Gondoon sneered at him. His lips started puffing. It was the final surge to finish Brak off once and for all.
The viselike fingers dug deep into Brak’s ox-thick neck muscles. The dirty nails bit deep into his skin and drew blood.
“It’s almost over!” yelled a brigand.
Snorting and puffing, Gondoon turned it on.
Brak’s neck didn’t yield. His own grip didn’t either.
Suddenly, Gondoon’s grip eased. His big yellow eyes widened. Worry filled them.
Brak pushed up to his feet.
The clamoring brigands fell silent.
The layers of muscle in the ogre’s neck gave way, and Brak’s thumbs pushed deep into Gondoon’s throat. Brak took a gasp of air, and with an angry face he said, “You talk too much!”
The ogre’s once tireless limbs gave out.
Brak shoved the massive man to the ground, and with hands still clamped over Gondoon’s throat, he let out a barbarous shout.
Gondoon’s wide-eyed will gave way. His throat gave in as well.
Crack.
Gondoon flailed in the last throes of life. He bucked and punched at Brak and died.
Fighting for breath, Brak slumped over flat on his back alongside the dying stink of Gondoon. Eyes blinking in the burning light of both suns caught a glint of steel. Swords and spear tips surrounded him. “I killed your leader,” he said in a cracked voice. “It’s only fair that you let us go.”
The Darkslayer: Bish and Bone Series Collector's Edition (Books 1-10): Sword and Sorcery Masterpieces Page 64