“I can!” Barros said. He threw his hand up to catch Crotorus’ claw as it swiped down towards him. “There’s no use hiding anymore.”
The Vampire dropped his invisibility, the light silver that sparkled around him vanishing. Crotorus glared down at Barros as he tried to find a release from the Hunter’s iron grip.
“How is this possible?” he asked. Panic crept into his voice. Crotorus’ eyes opened wide as he realized he wouldn’t be easily set free.
“I am a Hunter turned Vampire, one of the finest fighters in all of Taagras and I possess two amulets of Tal’davin. Tell me, Crotorus, just how do you intended to kill me. I could defeat you even as my human-self but with the added power of the amulets, I am untouchable,” Barros said. “Now give me your best, no illusions or tricks.”
“No illusions?” Crotorus asked. “Come now, Barros. You’ve been inside one this whole time. Come my brethren and defeat this monster that would call himself our kin!”
From the ceiling more than two dozen Vampires dropped around the struggling pair, their eyes all showing their thirst to see Barros split open before them. He shoved Crotorus away, sending him face first into the dirt, placing his hand on his sword hilt.
“Don’t even think about it, Barros. You’re one of us. Killing us with a Fyndfire blade will not prove your legitimacy to the rest of the Vampires. If you intend to take the world, you will need their support one way or another. Play by the rules. Defeat us in a contest with fang and claw, then the world will be at your fingertips,” Crotorus said.
“Fuck the Vampires, fuck your rules and fuck you, Crotorus,” Barros said, drawing the Fyndfire sword, the red runes clearly visible throughout the chamber, calling for the blood of Vampires. “I am a Hunter and I am here to claim your amulet of Tal’davin as my own. I still remain separate from you on so many levels, watch.” Barros cleanly sliced his left hand open holding his palm up so the Vampires could see the black blood dripping from the wound. “I am not affected by Fyndfire, nor do I feel its pain. I am immortal.”
“See how immortal he truly is!” Crotorus darted behind his guards. “Kill him.”
A Vampire ran forward, a dagger clenched in its fist. Barros made no effect to guard against the assault, his sword hanging limply by his side. As the dagger thrust into his chest, Barros laughed, letting the Vampire push it in further. Barros retaliated, lashing out, grabbing the Vampire by the skull. He raised his sword and repeated the cutting motion he had completed so many times before.
With its head removed, the Vampire dropped to the floor, at the base of its neck the orange colour of Fyndfire. More advanced towards Barros, some using their claws, while others wielded daggers and swords. They came at him in a rush, wild with thoughts of revenge and glory. A second Vampire missed wildly with a cut that Barros deflected without effort. The Hunter recoiled then lunged out, stabbing the fiend in the eye. On his back step he cut low, slicing a Vampire’s legs off at the knee before the Fyndfire rushed upwards consuming its entire body.
Crotorus watched hungrily as his kin fell within seconds of engaging Barros. As each Vampire was slain, the expression on the Shade’s face grew dimmer as Barros gave no signs of slowing down. He carved through the remaining attackers with deadly precision, each of his blows connecting with a foe.
Crotorus once again stood alone.
“You can end this quickly. Run onto my sword and be done with it,” Barros said. His breath was even, as if he had been sitting inside the Huntrey all day. His stature was relaxed but ready for Crotorus’ impending strike.
“Barros, we both know that I want to take Taagras. If I am to die this night, I will die like a Vampire. By fang and claw, no other way. Lay down your sword and fight me as one of my own kind would,” Crotorus said.
“It doesn’t matter how I kill you,” Barros said. “I am still a Hunter and it is my job to put your miserable existence to an end.” He dropped the sword, tossing it to the side. Crotorus hungrily followed its arch, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. “Go on take it. It won’t help you.”
“I have something better,” Crotorus said. He pulled the amulet off his neck and held it in the palm of his hand. “I have only used its powers once before, but it will roast you alive.”
“Try it,” Barros said. He smirked at the Vampire.
A golden beam shot out from the Shade’s hand, flying towards Barros. The Hunter stood fast, drawing his own amulet holding it out in front of him. The beam hit the amulet, vanishing into the cold grey metal as a gold glint flashed over it.
“What is this?” Crotorus asked.
“I told you, I hold two amulets. They clearly exhibit more powers together than alone. Thank you for confirming that for me. Now are you going to hand over yours? Or do I have to take it from you?” Barros asked running a finger over the amulet.
“Fuck you, Toldar. With you at the helm, the Vampires will be led to ruin. I hope for everyone and everything that your arrogance and overreaching leads to an early death for you.”
“By my word, it will not be at the hands of a Vampire or a Hunter, but something else entirely. I will fall only by a mix of two worlds, one that is both old and new.”
“Why did you have to be the one Hunter to turn? Once your brothers find out what you truly are, they will hunt you to the ends of Taagras. I can only hope that they find you without your amulets so that you are mortal once again,” Crotorus said.
“My fangs and claws are the only things that will ever reveal my identity to anyone. My skin does not change, and for anything that occurs with my eyes, I can use the Bloodrush to cover my trail. They will not find out until I move directly against them,” Barros said. “Now this is your last chance. Do you choose to give me the amulet, or do you choose death?”
“I choose death,” Crotorus said closing his eyes. “I would rather die than live in a world where you control the most powerful weapon and see it turned to ruin.”
“Very well,” Barros said holding the amulet in front of him.
Gold flashed over the amulet once again and the beam that Crotorus shot, doubled in size and power as it returned to the Vampire. It engulfed the Shade and as it passed through him, he vaporized. The only thing that remained was the amulet that dropped to the dirt. Barros walked over to the relic and scooped it up, gently pressing it against his own. The two grey pieces vibrated against each other sending a shiver down Barros’ spine until they became one.
Barros turned to the rock door. Finding the small lever that Veera had used to lock them inside, he braced himself, seeing a small object on the ground in front of him. Bending to retrieve what was a book, Barros quickly flicked through the pages, coming to rest upon a name. He tucked the book away in his pocket, refocusing his attention to the task at hand. With his sword back in hand once more, he was ready to face any Vampire that dared challenge him.
* * *
“You’re early,” Rowan said as he pulled Barros out of the cave.
“I try to be punctual, something you’re not particularly good at,” Barros said.
“Did you get it?” Rowan asked.
“Course I did,” Barros said. “I left a few dead Vampires behind, which was a bonus and I met Namzal’s brother.”
“That wouldn’t have gone down well. I wonder how you got out of that one. I imagine he would have been hell bent on revenge,” Rowan said.
“Oh, he was. I ran him through with my sword and that solved the problem pretty easily. And better yet, I read about the location of the fifth amulet,” Barros said. "There was a small book in the cavern."
“This can’t be good. We didn’t hear anything for almost three years after finding the second and now we’ve heard about two in less than a day. Something has to be going on,” Rowan said. A frown crossed his brow.
“The book mentioned a name. Do you remember anything about a Bonnie Grata? A woman from a rich and old family such as hers, you were bound to stumble across.”
“Aye, the name does s
ound familiar. The last I heard she was residing in East Anacore, probably around the Skorn area. Somewhere big, but not big enough to attract a lot of attention. If she is indeed a Vampire, I dare say she wouldn’t be too far up the rankings. The highest Bonnie would be by now would be a Desire. Not high, but high enough to do some damage, sucking the life out of men, after she’s seduced them like the vile creature she is. You know where that means we’ll be going.”
“Let me guess, she’ll be in one of the major brothels?” Barros asked.
“Aye. I say we go to the biggest in Skorn and start from there. From what I’ve heard, East Anacore also has the best in Taagras,” Rowan said.
“Speaking from personal experiences are you?” Barros asked. His eyes studied Rowan’s unmoving face.
Rowan shook his enormous head. “In all the hells you believe in Barros, no. The wife would have killed me if I ever dared step foot inside one.”
“I must be talking to a corpse then,” Barros said mounting his horse.
“If you must know I was on a hunt,” Rowan said.
“I’m sure it was,” Barros smiled cheerfully.
“Now what if Bonnie doesn't actually have the amulet?” Rowan asked. "We can only assume not many know about it."
“They all know about the amulets, Rowan. Those vile creations call the Vampires. If Bonnie is a Vampire, she could have used her resources to find it, so we need to find her,” Barros said.
“Fair enough, let's go find us a brothel.”
23
Influences
Skorn was one of the two largest cities, within East Anacore, located on the border closest to Alilletian. Originally the giant men from the frozen, windy country had built Skorn as a haven for them to retreat to during the cold winter months; but early Corians had taken it from them, their men stealing the city in the summer while the Alilletians thought it was safe.
Even now, thousands of years after the events, there was still no peace between the two countries. The Corians still hadn’t decorated the city in their traditional style, with flowing curtains and high soaring towers. Instead opting for the black stone fortress look of the Alilletians that constantly raided the city.
Two days later, the Hunters arrived at Skorn under the cover of darkness. They surveyed the city from afar, taking in the bright lights before riding forward.
“Bonnie’s somewhere inside all that? We didn’t happen to come during a festival did we?” Barros asked as a firework soared high into the sky erupting into a bright green spray.
“It could be worse,” Rowan said. “Skorn has just under two hundred thousand people inside it. We could be going to Annaian and that houses over half a million.”
“Well here is hoping that someone should know her at the nearest tavern. We can start there. I feel like an Islander rum,” Barros said.
“Long as you’re paying, I’ll get two,” Rowan said.
“Cheap bastard,” Barros said. “Isn’t your usual way of paying for something putting your axe in the head of the Vampire barkeeper then topping yourself up?”
“Usually how it happens.”
“Who goes there!” an unseen guard called out from the black watchtower.
“You’d be talking to Rowan Kreen and Barros Toldar from West Anacore. We’re on official business to settle a small dispute between our two countries,” Rowan said.
“There’s no dispute,” the guard said, his head poking out from over the ramparts. He wore the silver horned helmet of the Corian guards. “Now fuck off before I alert the rest of the city guard to dispose of you two.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Barros said. He dismounted from Azurus. “Raise those men against us and my companion and I will see this city be left undefended. We’ll cut through any number you send our way and it would be a shame if there was an Alilletian war party not far from your walls.”
“You’re spies! Men ready your weapons!”
There was a mad rush of activity as armed guards took their positions up beside the first guard. Several broad head arrows were drawn, ready to fire in the Hunter’s direction.
“Look, either you open the gate for us, or I jump up there, tear your throats out and throw your corpses down here. There’s a war party of a thousand Alilletians nested in those hills to the south. Send a squad if you don’t believe me,” Barros said.
“I’d like to see you jump these walls,” the guard said. “You don’t have a ladder, and we’d cut you down before you could move.”
“These idiots will never learn, will they?” Barros said.
Rowan shook his head. “No, probably not. Get up there and show them what you can do.”
“Give me a minute,” Barros said.
Rowan sat back in a comfortable position on his horse and folded his arms. He waved Barros off. “Oh no, please take your time.”
The twenty-meter high walls loomed before Barros. He took several large steps back. Already, he was preparing the powerful muscles in his legs to make the jump. He ran forward, like a horse fresh out of the stables. The guards opened fire but, not counting on his quickness, they missed every shot they took.
Barros neared the wall and leapt upwards, sailing towards the battlements still high above his head. As he soared close, he saw the guards look of astonishment as he dropped in on them. Each man scrambled for his sword, but Barros gave them no quarter. He dropped four of the five men within seconds, rendering them unconscious, standing alone with the original man.
“That’s impossible!” he said. He stumbled backwards. “Had I known you were a Hunter, I would not have bothered pressing you at the gates.”
“But I am a Hunter, and you did press me at the gates,” Barros said. “Now are you going to open them so we can pass through, or do I have to do it myself?”
“Uh no,” the guard said. “I’ll get the winch and you two can come right on in.”
Within seconds the orders were given and the gates were pulled back just enough so that Rowan could ferry both horses through. Barros was on the ground waiting for him as he passed by.
“Impressive as always, Barros,” Rowan said. "Glad you didn't kill those four gentlemen up there."
“Aye, they weren't worth the effort of killing. Besides it's good to let an innocent man live everyone once in a while. Shall we go find Bonnie?”
* * *
The Widower’s Wench was, by all definitions of the word, a classy establishment and had been in business for many years. In a major city like Skorn, the brothel did a roaring trade nightly, regardless of what was going on. Its patrons were a mix of all races and classes ranging from poor Corians to the wealthy Renori. No matter the budget, the Widower’s Wench would have a girl to suit any willing man.
Barros and Rowan stabled their horses opposite the establishment and crossed the street, opening the door onto a spacious courtyard. Whores and drunken men were strewn throughout the area, lounging on each other, indulging in the sights and sounds of the brothel. Rowan let a grin slide across his face as he watched the interactions.
“Look at all these fine young women, Barros. Maybe after you’ve killed Bonnie we could spend the night here.”
“Wouldn’t be a bad idea getting my mind off things,” Barros said. “But none of these girls will offer that.”
“Ha, Barros, you’re still hung up after all this time. It’s time to move on,” Rowan said.
“Can we just get this over with and get out of here,” Barros said.
“I’d rather see you into a woman’s bed tonight,” Rowan replied as they approached the young blonde woman on the bar. “Hello there,” Rowan said. He knelt over the counter and smiled.
“Hello!” the girl said with a posh Corian accent. “How can I help you fine gentlemen this evening?”
“We’re looking for a woman called Bonnie Grata and we believe she might be in the city. Do you happen to know of her?” Barros asked.
“Yes, indeed. She’s one of our more… exotic girls here,” t
he girl said. “She’s also rather dangerous with what she does to men at times which is why she’s extra.”
“I’d like to buy her for the night. I live for danger,” Barros said.
“I think you meant to say that we live for danger, my friend,” Rowan said.
The bargirl flustered a little under Barros’ intense gaze. “Uh, if you two are into that kind of thing I’m afraid Bonnie won’t have you. She’ll only see one man at a time and is very particular about what kind of man she’s with. There’s no way she’ll accept you,” she added pointing to Rowan mischievously. “But I wouldn’t mind.”
“Where could I find Bonnie?” Barros asked diverting the girl’s attention back to him.
“Up the stairs, she should be the third room on the right. She’ll want payment upfront as soon as you go in,” the girl said fixing her eyes straight back on Rowan.
“Not coming, Rowan?” Barros asked as he walked away.
“No, I think I’m good here and you’ve got this one covered. Oh and try not to get this one pregnant!” Rowan said.
Barros responded by raising his middle finger in the direction of his friend. He quickly crossed the courtyard to the stairs, ignoring every man with a woman on his lap. Barros vaulted up the stairs taking four at a time, passing two of the wooden doors that led to a whore’s room. At the third, he stopped. Holding his fist just away from the door, he wrapped on it heavily.
“Come in,” said the voice he had woken up to for five years.
Barros drew his crossbow before opening the door, holding it out in front of him. Scented candles were prominent in the room. The curved figure on the bed in front of him was, without a doubt, Sophia in her human form. She had no signs of the wounds Barros had inflicted on her. She wore a silk dress, her erect nipples clearly visible through the flimsy material. She beckoned to him with her wickedly long index figure. Barros dropped the crossbow, immediately under her spell.
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Barros,” she said.
The Toldar Series Box Set Page 16