Corthie reached the base of the wooden platform and jumped, grasping hold of a wide crossbeam. He pulled himself up, then clambered onto the next section. Within moments, he was clear above the crowd. He laughed, feeling the gaze of hundreds upon him. His arms were starting to ache a bit as his battle-vision wore off, but he still had enough power to scale a tower. He stretched out and jumped up to a higher level, then climbed a series of crossbeams, each step taking him higher and higher. He reached the height of the top of the battlements, where a group of soldiers were staring at him, and he got a good view of the plains, where the greenhides were roiling in a mass by the moat. The next section was trickier, and he leaped, and almost fell, his left hand slipping on the wood. The crowd below him gasped, and he laughed again, as he hung suspended by one hand from the structure.
He sensed eyes watching him from above, and he glanced up. Buckler was peering down at him over the edge of his wide platform.
‘Hey, lizard,’ Corthie shouted; ‘you’d better not be thinking about helping me.’
‘I wasn’t,’ its voice growled. ‘I should warn you, I eat mortals who disturb my sanctuary.’
‘Aye? And how many have you eaten so far?’
‘None have ever made it.’
Corthie heaved himself up to the next beam, then grabbed the edge of the platform and hauled his legs up and over. He lay for a moment on the platform, the dragon’s face less than a yard away.
‘None of the others were Corthie Holdfast, lizard.’
‘So it seems, ape.’
Corthie rolled over and got to his feet. He whistled. ‘What a view! No wonder you love it up here.’ He turned to the dragon. ‘What’s wrong with the sun?’
The dragon gazed at the sunward horizon. ‘I’m no astronomer, but I believe it has something to with the world we are on, not the sun. I’m used to it now; I barely think about it.’
‘You’ve been here ten years, aye? How many greenhides you killed in that time? Did you see me with those talons?’ He laughed as he swayed in the breeze, his head starting to feel light. ‘And, by the way, lizard, thanks for almost burning my ass to a crisp last night. At first I thought you were trying to kill me, but then I realised you were only trying to help. So, thanks.’
‘You amuse me, mortal-with-powers.’
‘And you amuse me, ya flying snake. We’re going to kill lots of greenhides together, me and you.’
Buckler glanced down at the forecourt. ‘It appears that two demigods are waiting for you down there.’
‘Aye? Important ones?’
‘All of the god-children and demigods of the City feel they are important, and those two feel it more than most. One is Duke Marcus, Commander of the Bulwark, and the other is Lord Kano, his Adjutant.’
‘Kano? I’ve met him. Bit of a bawbag if you ask me.’
‘A what?’
‘A bawbag. A scrotum. A fleshly vessel containing testicles.’
For the first time, the dragon smiled. Either that, or he wanted to eat Corthie, he couldn’t tell.
‘Right,’ he went on; ‘I suppose I’d better go back down.’
‘Try not to break your neck, oh fragile one.’
‘You think you’re talking to an amateur? Watch this, oh scaly one.’
Corthie surged the last reserves of his battle-vision, and launched himself off the platform, to a cry of alarm from the crowd, He twisted in the air and grabbed hold of a crossbeam, then dropped down, level by level, and was back on the ground in under a minute.
He laughed and glanced up. ‘Did you see that, lizard-face?’
A loud cough distracted him and he turned. A space had been cleared, and two tall men were standing in full armour, staring at him. Dozens of soldiers were pushing back the other Blades, of which hundreds were packing the forecourt.
‘Kano!’ Corthie cried. ‘I bet you feel stupid now, after you doubted me. I have to say, though, that I very much enjoyed fighting the greenhides last night, sir.’
Lord Kano and Duke Marcus frowned as Corthie staggered forwards. He smiled as he realised he was taller than either of the demigods.
‘I’ve seen this type of thing before, my lord,’ Kano said. ‘After experiencing a near-death on the battle field, some soldiers exhibit signs of a nervous euphoria that causes them to behave in this manner. It is usually followed by a deep depression and an unshakeable despair.’
Corthie laughed again. ‘You’re a funny guy.’
‘You might not be so amused to learn that, tonight, you are going back out on another Wolfpack mission, where you will have to fight all over again.’
Corthie raised his hands in the air. ‘Great! I can’t wait to get stuck into those green-assed beasts; I’m going to smash even more of them tonight.’ He raised a finger. ‘However, I’m going to need a better sword; the one you gave me snapped; and a decent helmet. And, did you see the way that moat-bridge broke in two? Come on, guys; sort that out, it’s basic stuff.’
Kano glared at him. ‘You finished, Private?’
‘No. I also want the talons I brought back made into a weapon. Like a war-hammer, or a battle-axe, only with the claws at the end. Can you manage that?’
Kano’s eyes filled with rage and he opened his mouth; but Duke Marcus raised his hand. The commander stepped forward, and glanced around at the crowd.
‘Blades,’ he called out. ‘Not since the time of the Children of the Gods have we seen a warrior like Corthie Holdfast.’
The crowd roared out in approval. Marcus nodded at them, a huge smile on his face, though Corthie noticed, despite his growing exhaustion and intoxication, that the duke’s eyes remained cold.
‘I assure you all,’ Marcus went on, ‘that our new hero will be well-looked after; his requests will all be honoured. As of this moment, I am appointing him the leader of his own squadron, and he will be free to hand-pick those he wants to serve alongside him. We shall send his talons to the best armourers in the Bulwark, and fashion the weapon he has asked for; until then, he and his squadron shall be allowed to choose whatever they need from the arsenal of Arrowhead.’ He gazed around, watching the reactions of the crowd. ‘I proclaim Corthie our Lone Wolf; may he smite the greenhides from this day forth, and serve the Bulwark as one of the great champions.’
Despite dizziness and exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him, Corthie couldn’t help laughing. ‘Smite,’ he mumbled, staggering and swaying.
The duke glanced at him quizzically.
‘Thanks, Commander,’ said Corthie. His battle-vision had all but gone, and he could sense the inevitability of sleep as a deep tiredness permeated his bones. ‘Where’s Tanner?’ he cried.
The older soldier raised his hand from the edge of the crowd.
Corthie pointed at him. ‘You’re in. Select the rest of the squadron for me, I… I…’
‘Are you alright?’ said the duke.
‘I’ll be fit and ready for the mission tonight, don’t you worry yourself, boss.’ He swayed. ‘Oh aye, Tanner, find a place for Quill; I like her voice…’
Corthie’s eyes closed as he was still standing. He toppled to the ground, and began to snore.
Chapter 7
Sincerely
Sector Six, The Bulwark, The City – 6th Mikalis 3419
‘And then,’ Maddie said, her hands gesticulating above the kitchen table, ‘he leaps up and climbs right to the top of the dragon’s perch; I couldn’t believe it.’
Her mother frowned. ‘He sounds like a drunken oaf, dear.’
Rosie smirked. ‘It wouldn’t be the first of those Maddie was attracted to.’
‘Shut it, toerag, I was in the middle of telling the story.’
Her sister batted her eyes and pretended to swoon. ‘Oh Corthie, I can’t resist you!’
‘Is that his name, then?’ said her brother Tom, who was standing by the window pretending not to be interested.
‘As if you haven’t heard,’ Maddie said.
‘It might be all they’re ta
lking about down in Arrowhead,’ said her father, ‘but us folk at Stormshield like to keep our boots on the ground, literally and metaphorically.’
Rosie whistled. ‘That’s a big word, dad.’
He smiled at her. ‘I know a few.’
‘I don’t know why I bother,’ Maddie said, shaking her head. ‘A guy with battle-vision turns up, kills Malik knows how many greenhides, and you don’t care?’
‘But you didn’t actually see him fight?’ her mother said.
‘I told you, I work nights now, and that’s when the Wolfpack’s out. And the Rats.’ She frowned. Her family were already losing interest. ‘He jumped over the moat as well,’ she went on; ‘no one’s ever done that before. Did you hear me?’ The others were looking down at their dinner, their attention gone. She glared at them. ‘And,’ she said, ‘he killed a god.’
Her mother sprayed hot soup over the table as she gasped. Her father slapped her on the back as her face turned red.
‘Stop making things up,’ said Rosie, glaring at her sister.
Their mother stood, her face still flushed, and she started to clear up the mess. ‘You’ve gone too far this time, girl. What possessed you to say such a thing? Your grandmother would have expired before our eyes if you had uttered such blasphemies in front of her.’
Maddie raised her hands in innocence. ‘Hey. I’m only repeating what he himself said, in front of an entire room of folk. You can ask any of them, and anyone in Arrowhead; everyone knows about it.’
‘And you heard him?’ said Tom.
She swivelled in her chair to face her brother. ‘Yeah, I did. I’d come off my shift this morning and was getting some fresh air, and I followed these folk into the Wolfpack Tower; and there he was, throwing back the booze and telling these stories. Yeah, I heard him say it. He smashed a god’s skull in when he was fourteen.’
Her mother’s face went through several expressions. ‘But, don’t the champions come from the land of the gods? Why would they send us a savage who had killed one, if that can possibly be true?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Maddie, ‘maybe as a punishment?’
‘It’s a load of rubbish,’ said Tom. ‘He’s either a liar, or he’s delusional.’
‘That’s what folk were saying about him having battle-vision, and he proved them all wrong.’
Her brother frowned. ‘You’re beginning to sound like one of those damned Redemptionists I keep hearing about.’
‘Those freaks? Forget it. I’m no believer in that nonsense. He’s a good fighter, that’s all I’m saying, nothing more.’
‘Can we change the subject, please?’ said their mother, sitting back down at the dinner table.
‘Maddie,’ said her husband, ‘that note you left us a couple of days ago was a bit vague.’
‘That’s cause I didn’t know what I’d be doing when I wrote it.’
‘Yes, but you clearly know now.’
‘Obviously.’
‘Well?’
She shrugged. ‘Can’t say. I’m assigned to the Fourteenth Support Battalion, but I’m not allowed to tell anyone what I’m doing.’
‘But you’re quartered there with them?’
‘I have a room, yeah, but it’s not in the main barracks, so don’t bother asking your old cronies for any juicy gossip about me.’
Rosie rolled her eyes. ‘As if.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘If by “juicy gossip”, you mean a boyfriend, then, as if.’
‘I was talking about my job,’ Maddie said, ‘but what would you know about boyfriends, you little runt?’
Their father raised an eyebrow. ‘Enough, girls.’
Her mother frowned. ‘Is the work safe?’
Maddie shrugged. ‘I’ve done two nights and I’m still alive.’
‘I’d sleep easier if I knew more, but at least it’s not the Rats.’
Tom stretched his arms. ‘I need to get to the wall; my shift starts in thirty minutes. Maddie, you coming? I’ll walk with you as far as Stormshield.’
She glanced at the window clock, and a sense of dread built in her. Another night with Blackrose. When she had returned to her family home that afternoon, for dinner and a chance to pick up more of her things, she had decided that she would present a nonchalant front for the benefit of her parents and siblings, smothering the anxiety and fear that had developed into a twisted knot in the pit of her stomach over the previous two days.
‘Sure,’ she said; ‘no problem.’
Her parents glanced at each other, frowned, but said nothing.
‘So, when are you going to tell mum and dad?’
Maddie glanced at her brother as they walked along the paved road in the purple light of dusk. ‘Eh?’
‘Come on, it’s pretty obvious what’s happened. I heard about the… events at Stormshield, when you started a fight and got banged up in the cells.’
‘So? Get to the point.’
He eyed her. ‘You’re quartered in Arrowhead, after being kicked out of every unit that would have you, and you’re working the night shift. You’re a Rat, admit it.’
Her fury rose, but she said nothing, turning her gaze away. Her own brother thought she was a Rat? Is that what Rosie and her parents thought too?
‘And,’ he went on, ‘you’re spending time with the Wolfpack. You don’t have to be genius to figure it out. I know you’re getting a kick out of making it all seem a mystery, but it’s not fair on mum and dad.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Nothing to say for once?’
‘You’ve already made your mind up. It’s beyond your tiny brain to comprehend that I could be worth more than a Rat, so what’s the point of even trying?’
‘This is serious. You could get killed out there. I know we argue all the time, but I’d actually rather you didn’t get ripped to pieces, if it’s all right with you.’
Maddie laughed. ‘That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.’
He glared at her and turned away.
‘Look, I’m not a Rat, alright? But it is dangerous.’
Tom halted on the road. ‘How dangerous?’
She rubbed her chin. ‘Ahhh… fairly?’
‘As dangerous as being in the Auxiliary Work Company?’
‘No… maybe? I don’t know. I wish I could tell you, honestly, because I feel like bursting, but I swore I wouldn’t. I had to take an oath, it was a condition, otherwise I would be headed to the Rats. If I can make it through the next ten days I reckon I’ll be alright.’
Her brother stared at her.
‘Don’t tell mum or dad, I mean it.’
‘But…’
She grabbed him by the collar and pulled his face close, her teeth bared. ‘I mean it.’
‘Fine,’ he muttered, pushing her hands away and glancing around; ‘have it your way.’
The massive gatehouse of Stormshield Fort reared up before them, and they stopped as the road to Arrowhead branched off to the right.
Tom glanced at her. ‘Have a good… shift.’
‘You too.’
She turned and headed away from him, keeping her head low as she walked, and hoping that no one from Stormshield would recognise her. She was almost relieved to get away from Tom’s questions, but then remembered where she was going. Blackrose. Her heart sank. The beast had a vicious temper, and violence felt like it was only ever a breath away. Or one wrong word. Or if she did something that wasn’t exactly to her liking. As she had told her mother, she had survived two nights; could she make it through another?
The guards at Arrowhead Fort nodded to her as she passed the gates just as the sun was setting. Her face wasn’t yet well known in the fortress, but the newly sewn badge on her left upper arm displayed the insignia of her battalion. The sergeant who had first taken her to Hilde’s offices was standing by the gatehouse doors. He smiled at her, an eyebrow raised.
‘When you left this afternoon, young Jackdaw, I thought that was the last we’d see of you.’
‘Corthie alone is worth hanging around for.’
The sergeant groaned. ‘You’ve not become another of his crazed followers, have you? I took you to have more sense than that, girl.’
‘No, but did you hear what he said to Lord Kano this morning? You can’t buy entertainment like that.’
‘Oh, I heard all right; the entire damn fortress heard that.’ He shook his head. ‘The lad will need to watch out for himself. Lord Kano doesn’t take kindly to being called stupid, especially by a mortal.’
‘Yeah, but what can he do? You must have heard what the duke said as well?’
‘I heard, but words like that mean nothing. I saw the glare in the commander’s eyes as the lad was climbing down from the dragon perch.’
Maddie frowned. ‘I didn’t notice that.’
‘Of course you didn’t. Like everyone else, except me, your eyes were glued to the golden boy. Look, I heard what he did out there, and Malik knows we need someone like that right now. Buckler’s saved our asses more times in the last decade than I care to think about, but even so, we’re losing ground each year. Every summer, the greenhides get that little bit closer to getting through the outer wall. I want the lad to succeed, get me? But if he makes enemies of the demigods, then he’s finished before he even starts.’
Maddie felt like arguing, but she had promised Captain Hilde she wouldn’t be late. ‘We’ll continue this next time. Just note for now that I disagree with nearly all of what you just said.’
He shook his head at her as she raced off through the gateway and into the large forecourt. She glanced up at the dragon perch as she ran, seeing an out-stretched wing silhouetted against the purple sky. Lights were shining from the windows of the Wolfpack Tower at the apex of the fort, and she wondered what Corthie was doing. Sleeping off a monstrous hangover, she imagined, smiling to herself.
She almost barged into someone as she ran past the tower. She skidded, and started to topple. A large hand reached out and caught her.
‘Oops, sorry,’ said a voice she recognised from that morning.
She flushed and raised her eyes, then kept raising them, all the way up to his face.
The Mortal Blade: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Magelands Eternal Siege Book 1) Page 10