The Fighters: Master of Chains

by Jess Lebow

  Ryder felt as if his belly had once again been sliced open. "I tried to come back sooner," he said, adding, "I came as soon as I could."

  "Where were you? What happened?"

  Ryder took a deep breath. "It's a very long story," he said finally, not knowing where to begin.

  Samira bit down on her lower lip, nodding.

  Ryder smiled, looking at his beautiful wife. Of all the times he had imagined this moment, of all the nights he had spent thinking about how it would be, never had he dreamed it could be like this. He opened his arms.

  "Come to me."

  Samira looked to the ground and shook her head. "Ryder, there is something I have to tell you."

  Ryder dropped his arms. "Yes?"

  Samira stood quietly for a moment, opening her mouth to start several times but never uttering anything. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked up at her hus­band. "I thought you were dead," she said.

  Ryder smiled. "But I'm not."

  "I know that," said Samira, "now. But until this morn­ing, I thought you were dead." She took a step away from the door. "When I found out, something inside of me died right along with you. I can't explain it, but things changed when I knew my world wouldn't have you in it." Samira sobbed.

  Ryder wished he could reach out and comfort her, wished he could take away her pain. But he was stuck—both by the chains on his arms and the knowledge that he had caused that pain.

  "For the past several months, I've been trying to come to grips with the fact that you were dead," continued Samira between sobs. "For the longest time I didn't even want to believe it was true. I hoped that someday I was just going to wake up and you'd be at home with me, and everything would be the way it used to be. I wished for that every night. And every morning I woke up alone in our bed." She stopped and swallowed. "Then one morning I woke up, and it finally dawned on me that you weren't coming back. That I was never going to see you again. And as much as that hurt, it was also a relief. It meant that I no longer had to torture myself over losing you. It meant that I could move on to the next part of my life. It meant that I could start living again."

  Ryder could feel his heart breaking inside his chest. "But now that I'm back, you can start living again. Both of us can. Together."

  Samira shook her head. "No, Ryder we can't."

  Ryder frowned. "Why not?"

  Samira closed her eyes. "Because," she said, "I'm in love with another man."

  Ryder felt all of the blood in his body turn cold. "Who?"

  "Your brother," admitted Samira. "I'm in love with Liam."

  Ryder had thought he might lose Samira when she found out about Giselle. Never had he thought he would lose her to his own brother.

  Ryder looked down at the floor. "I don't know what to say." He felt hollow and numb. It was like he was stuck in time. All that had been seemed irrelevant now. His life to this point seemed a waste. The future looked just as bleak—nothing to look forward to, nothing more for him in life. No reason to move forward.

  "I'm sorry, Ryder."

  He just hung there, letting the chains hold his weight. He didn't feel anything and he didn't think anything. There was nothing left to feel, nothing left to think.

  After a long silence he looked up. "Me too," he said. But Samira was not there. He was alone, the door to his cell wide open.

  "Good-bye," he said. Lifting his hand to his lips, he kissed his fingers and blew it out to where his wife had been standing.

  Suddenly the nothingness inside him was filled with sorrow. Samira was gone. In one beat of his heart, he lost both his wife and his brother. No, it was worse than that. He hadn't lost them; they had chosen to leave him. They had chosen to betray him. They had purposely taken from him everything he had and left him with nothing.

  The sorrow inside his chest slowly began to boil, chang­ing from a slow sadness into a roiling fury. This wasn't his fault. They had done this to him. The more he thought about it the more his anger grew. It filled him to capacity, threatening to burst.

  His muscles tensed, and Ryder shook the chains. He opened his mouth and let out a terrible shout—a yell at the top of his lungs, a mix of anguish and fury.

  Then, when he had squeezed all the air from his lungs and his voice was hoarse, Ryder let go. He hung again from the chains, letting them hold his weight and admitting for the first time in his life that it was not him but the world around him that controlled his fate.

  "Hello again, Ryder," came a man's voice from the door.

  Ryder didn't bother to look up or even to respond. They could do to him whatever they wanted. He didn't care anymore.

  "What?" asked the sarcastic voice, "no greeting for your old friend?"

  Ryder heard footsteps, and four feet appeared on the floor below him—soldiers' boots.

  One of the men punched Ryder in the side, sending him swaying, suspended as he was by the chains. His ribs throbbed from the blow, but Ryder didn't make a sound.

  "Oh, come now," said the voice. "This isn't going to be any fun at all if you don't at least talk back. Don't you remember last time? How much fun we had?"

  Ryder recognized the voice—Captain Phinneous.

  Another blow landed on Ryder's back. This time he grunted a little as the pain flooded through his body.

  "That's a start," said Phinneous. "But I know you can do better."

  Ryder stood up. "You're right."

  Captain Phinneous loomed before him, a huge grin on his bald, scarred face. He had only one guardsman with him.

  "Such a good sport," said the captain, winding back for another blow.

  Leaping, Ryder grabbed hold of the chain high above his head and lifted himself into the air. The chains went slack. Kicking out with his right leg, he looped the extra links around the guardsman's neck.

  Holding himself sideways, parallel to the floor, he let his legs drop toward the ground, and the chain around the guard tightened. The entire weight of Ryder's body hung from his neck. There was a terrific popping sound, and the man managed to let out a low gurgle before his face turned purple and blood began to ooze from the corners of his eyes.

  Not waiting for the guard to fully expire, Ryder lifted himself off the ground again.

  Captain Phinneous, the grin gone from his ugly face, went for his sword, but Ryder was too fast. In one swift move, his right hand shot out, wrapped the chain around Phinneous's arm and knocked the long sword from his grip. It went clattering to the floor.

  Twisting the captain's arm, Ryder turned the man sideways, giving Ryder enough room to reach the veteran guardsman's belt.

  "I'll take those," said Ryder, grabbing the keys to unlock his chains.

  "Help," shouted Phinneous. "Guards!"

  Without letting up on Phinneous, Ryder released the locks on his right arm. Leaning forward, he spoke directly into the captain's ear.

  "Time to pay for your crimes, Phinneous."

  He unwrapped the chain from the captain's arm and looped it around the man's neck. Pulling it tight, he locked it down, leaving the guardsman gasping for air and standing on his tiptoes to keep the chain from strangling him.

  Captain Phinneous's eyes grew wide, and he clawed at his neck, trying to get his fingers between his flesh and the steel of the chain. The more he struggled, the more panicked he looked. His face grew red, and every few breaths he let out a high-pitched whistling sound.

  Ryder finished unlocking himself from the other chains and stepped up to stare into the face of the slowly suffocating Captain Phinneous.

  "I'd love to hang around with you, Phinneous," said Ryder, "but I've still got to kill your boss."

  Putting both of his hands on the captain's chest, Ryder shoved the man. Phinneous struggled to keep his footing, but his boots slipped on the slick stone floor. As the chain grew short, Ryder continued to push. Captain Phinneous kicked, but it was no use. He was lifted off the ground, hanging from his neck.

  Ryder gave one last hard shove, and Phinneous swung once. Wh
en he came back down, his feet touched the ground. His head listed sideways on his shoulder, his neck broken and limp.

  Turning away from the two dead men in his cell, Ryder crossed to a table near the windows where a large pile of chains and locks sat.

  A pair of guards came running through the door and skidded to a stop. They took one look at the slowly sway­ing frame of Captain Phinneous and the bloodied guard at his feet and turned their attention to Ryder.

  "Looking for me?" Ryder calmly selected a length of chain from the table. Turning, he walked toward the two stunned guardsmen. As he moved, he shook the chain, making the links rattle.

  The guards looked at each other then back at Ryder, fear apparent in their eyes.

  "That's right," he said, shaking the chains again. "I'm going to do to you what I did to them."

  Both men turned and bolted back out the door.

  Ryder sneered. "That's what I thought."

  Chapter 25

  In her glamoured disguise as Montauk, Shyressa stood before the Crimson Awl. She didn't maintain her enchantment for their benefit. It wouldn't have mattered to any of them. They all knew what she was. They all belonged to her now—every last one.

  There were some things about her work that she truly enjoyed. Turning an entire band of gung-ho revolutionaries into her able-bodied spawn was one of them. Another was watching one of her long-term plans finally come to fruition. Today just happened to allow her the pleasure of both.

  Behind the Awl, the rest of Shyressa's vam­pires and spawn waited for her orders. Tonight would be one of the largest blood baths in the his­tory of Ahlarkham. The peasants would suffer. The royalty would suffer. The only ones who wouldn't suffer would be the vampires as they swooped in from the southern shores of the Deepwash.

  When King Korox and his Magistrates arrived, the countryside would be crawling with undead. So too would Zerith Hold. But the king wouldn't see that part. All he would see would be Shyressa, appearing to be Montauk helping his majesty clean up the mess. Then he would be forced to put her in charge of the barony, and phase one would be complete.

  Sure, some of her minions were going to be destroyed by the king's men. A paltry price. After she had control of Ahlarkham, she would put the next part of her plan into action. It wouldn't be long before she controlled all of Erlkazar.

  She smiled. The thought of turning the King's Magis­trates into her own personal spawn sounded absolutely delicious. She might have to make it last for a few days. No sense in shortening her fun. She could have them all locked up—and could feed on their iron-rich blood at her leisure.

  Shyressa licked her lips.

  Shaking herself out of her daydream, she looked out at her little army. With a wave of her arm, her older spawn took off into the night, spreading out to ravage Duhlnarim and the surrounding areas.

  The converted Crimson Awl, however, stayed put. They were all from local stock, and their appearance wouldn't immediately give them away as outsiders or undead. That was the way Shyressa wanted it. There was still some value in this game for deception.

  "To Zerith Hold," she said in Montauk's voice. "Time to pay Lord Purdun a visit."

  * * * *

  "There is an entrance to the back of Zerith Hold that does not have the same protections as the front gate," explained Giselle. "But that does not mean that it is an easier way in." She looked out at the brave men and women of the Broken Spear. She had stories about each of them, many of them tales of heroics that had helped save her own life. "There will be at least a host of guardsmen, and perhaps more. We will without a doubt be outnumbered."

  "That's never stopped us before," said a warrior in the back of the tightly grouped Broken Spear.

  Everyone nodded.

  Giselle smiled. "These are trained soldiers," continued the leader. "And the potential exists that many of us may not be coming back."

  The Broken Spear nodded at this as well.

  "I'm not going to lie to you," she said. "We're not doing this just for riches or glory. This time it's personal." She took a deep breath. "I'm not ordering you to do anything. I'm asking you, as a favor to me, to help me go in there and get Ryder back out. But if any one of you decide that you don't want to go, then..." Her voice trailed off. "Then you are free to go your own way," she said finally. "There will be no shame, no ill will." She looked up at the people she had thought of as her family for the past several years. "You all know what this means. If we break up, it will be the end. The Broken Spear will be no more." She paused a moment to let what she had just said sink in. "All I ask is that if you want to go, that you go now. I do not want to part with any of you, in this life or in death, but if I must, please be merciful and make it swift."

  Giselle stood silently, her speech given and her plea finished.

  No one moved.

  "This is your last chance," Giselle warned.

  Jase stood up, glancing to his left and right, seeming to take in all of the members of the Broken Spear.

  Giselle looked at the young man, sadness in her heart. She smiled and offered him her hand. "May the world treat you well," she said. "No matter where your travels take you."

  But Jase waved her off. "We're going with you," he said. "All of us. So you can save your speeches for after the battle has been won."

  Giselle pulled her hand back. "Fair enough." She scanned the group for a particular face. "Curtis," she called.

  The skinny man's face popped up between a pair of warriors. "Yes? That's me."

  "You think you can get us up to the gates without being seen?"

  The illusionist put his hand to his face, grabbing hold of his chin and scanning the sky. He changed hands, con­tinuing to think. He seemed to be looking for something among the stars.

  Giselle looked up, following his gaze. She didn't see anything but the early evening sky.

  Finally Curtis nodded. "Yes. I think I have just the thing," he said, taking his hand from his chin and put­ting it inside his shirt. When his hand came out again it clutched a wrinkled, folded piece of paper. "Might hurt a bit," he said. He reached up and grabbed hold of his eyelid. Yanking out several of his eyelashes, he squinted, his eye watering. "But it'll work."

  Giselle cringed. "Well then," she said, addressing the whole group. "You all know I'm not much for long drawn-out plans. If the guards open the doors for any reason, we hit them hard and fast. Agreed?"

  As a group the Broken Spear nodded.

  "All right. Let's go." Giselle stood up and led her warriors off toward the back entrance to Zerith Hold.

  * * * *

  As they had so many times in the past few days, the double doors to the baron's sitting room burst open. Cap­tain Beetlestone, accompanied by four elite guardsmen, came running in.

  Baron Purdun, who had been eating his supper, leaped to his feet.

  Liam and Knoblauch were already standing.

  "My lord," started Beetlestone. He was out of breath. "The Crimson Awl is attacking the front gate."

  Liam was gripped with a sudden fear. He was going to have to face those men—many of whom he had grown up with—in battle.

  "There are also reports," continued Beetlestone, "that the villages surrounding Duhlnarim are under attack as well."

  "By the Awl?" blurted Liam out of turn.

  Knoblauch put his hand on Liam's shoulder, trying to calm him.

  If Baron Purdun was upset by the outburst, he didn't show it. "By whom?" he asked.

  "Undead, my lord," said Beetlestone. "Vampires are attacking the citizens of Ahlarkham."

  The baron turned to Liam and Knoblauch. "I'm about to put both of you in harm's way," he said very matter-of-factly. Then he turned and headed for the door. "Captain Beetlestone, collect your men. Take them out of the rear gate and circle around to the front of Zerith Hold. I want you and your men to flank the Awl."

  "Yes, my lord." The captain and his entourage left the room.

  When Lord Purdun got to the double doors, he drew his sabe
r from his hip. "We're going to the aid of the citizens," he said, looking back at Liam and Knoblauch. Then he turned and headed down the stairs. "And we're going out the front gate."

  The half-giant bodyguards leaped up from their posi­tions in the corners, striding quickly across the room and down the stairs after their lord.

  Liam looked to Knoblauch.

  "Guess that's it," Liam said.

  Knoblauch sighed. "Yeah."

  Then both men took off after the baron.

  Lord Purdun knew the corridors of Zerith Hold so well that Liam and Knoblauch didn't catch up with him until he was walking out into the open air of the courtyard.

  Liam stopped and looked out on the chaos before him. Everywhere there was shouting. Hundreds of flaming arrows sat lodged in the gravel at extreme angles, their shafts still flickering. More came zipping over the stone wall.

  On top, behind the crenellations, men ran back and forth, firing down on the drawbridge, trading arrows with the archers outside the Hold. But it was what Liam saw inside the wall that made his jaw drop.

  On the raised archer platform above the courtyard walked a beast of a man. He strode not around the soldiers between him and the front gate, but through them. This creature was more than a mere man, he was a force of dark­ness, and his very presence cast a pall over Zerith Hold.

  Though he was no taller than a regular man, he was nearly twice as wide. But it wasn't his flesh that gave him this girth. It was a collection of jangling chains. They hung from his head and shoulders like matted, tangled dreadlocks. They wound around his chest like a cross-bowman's bandoleer. They dangled below his knees like an overlong chain mail tunic—but these were not links from an armorer's anvil. These were the chains meant to imprison criminals. And they were being used now to protect the man who had come to kill Baron Purdun.

  "Ryder," whispered Liam, recognizing his brother.

  As Liam, Knoblauch, and Baron Purdun watched, the chain-covered man rattled his way along the archer's platform, knocking soldiers off its edge with little more than the flick of his wrist.

  Archers took aim at him and let fly, but their arrows seemed useless against such a man. The chains on his body danced and writhed like serpents. When an arrow approached, it was simply batted away or deflected by the shaking mass of dangling metal. Those men not defeated by the master of chains fled before him, as if they had seen an apparition or been ensorcelled with fear.