The Grim Wanderer

by James Wolf

  When the rising skeletons had sent the companions running every which way, the Maliven traitor had chased after the giant Northman. It had been easy to follow the Croma’s lantern. The Dark Servant had bided his time, edging closer towards the lumbering simpleton, until he had been near enough to strike. He did not want Ragad dead yet, in case he needed to interrogate him about the Key-Piece. But he had known he had to knock the Croma out, for even only semi-conscious the Northman would still be dangerous. One hefty blow from his sword pommel had been enough. Using the lantern light, the Dark Servant rifled through the savage’s pockets and found the Key-Piece.

  At last the Maliven had the prize in his grasp. His hands quivered as he held the sleek black pyramid. The Overseer would be thrilled with his guile. The Dark Servant pulled a knife from his belt to cut Ragad’s throat, but stopped short as he heard somebody coming down the passage. The Dark Servant leapt back and ran down the tunnel, away from the oncoming people, clutching the Key-Piece. He had survived as a Dark Servant all these years by knowing when to stand and fight, when to creep up and stab someone in the back, and when to run and stay in the shadows.

  Baek and Forgrun fled the skeletons together.

  ‘Where be ye others? Forgrun whispered, as they ran through the dark passage.

  ‘They must have gone a different way,’ Baek strained his eyes to see what was in the darkness ahead.

  ‘We mus’ do go back an’ be findin’ ‘em,’ Forgrun slowed down, and turned to look back up the passage.

  ‘We can’t!’ Baek pivoted, and saw the shadows of skeletons blocking their way back. As he and Forgrun watched the skeletons shamble towards them, and heard their angry moans, the passage grew dimmer until it was as black as pitch.

  ‘Gromm watch o’er us!’ Forgrun gasped, as the terrifying cries got closer in the complete darkness.

  ‘We have no light!’ Baek shuddered as he listened to the skeletons advance.

  Forgrun struck a match from the small box in his pocket. For a split-second, he and Baek both saw lurching skeletons were almost on top of them.

  ‘Run!’ Baek shouted, and they both blindly hurtled away down the passage.

  ‘Do curse our folly,’ Forgrun murmured, as they stumbled on through complete darkness.

  Baek trembled with terror as he fumbled through the black, fearing skeletons were still behind and maybe in front. He kept his ears pricked, straining to hear anything other than the shuffle of his or Forgrun’s feet. Baek’s hand quivered, as he ran it along the passage wall. The sound of his own breathing echoed in his head, as if it were as loud as a ringing bell. Baek had found these tunnels frightening enough with a light, but in complete darkness they were terrifying. His other hand shook as he held the Rhungar’s shoulder, and he tried to steady it. Neither of them spoke, for fear of being discovered by more skeletons. Baek felt the greatest relief he had ever experienced, when he saw there was a light up ahead. He and Forgrun rushed forward, but what they saw made them stop and gawk, and shoot a bewildered glance to each other.

  Taem, Logan, Hirandar and Jvarna had stayed together, even though their other companions had scattered. They had fled for a long time from the chamber of sand, only stopping once Logan deemed they had lost any skeleton pursuit. As they paused for a moment’s rest, Jvarna told the other three about finding the Key-Piece. The others were listening for any clues to the Maliven traitor’s identity, when a figure stumbled out of the darkness. Everyone jumped to draw weapons, and prepared to strike down some fearsome enemy. When Taem realised it was Drual he lowered his blade, but did not relax. He saw how Logan held his sword by his side, pointing down and away, but ready to be swung forward in an instant.

  Drual leant a steadying hand on the passage wall, ‘I’ve been trying to catch up to your light,’ he gasped.

  ‘What happened to you?’ Logan demanded.

  ‘I tried to follow Balthus,’ Drual wheezed between deep breaths. ‘But I couldn’t keep up and he lost me.’

  Logan looked to Hirandar, but the Wizard’s expression was unsure.

  ‘We have to find the others,’ Logan said, moving off, and gesturing for Drual to walk in front of him.

  Logan, Taem and Hirandar kept one eye on the rogue, as Jvarna led the group on. She soon discovered there was another opening up ahead. The ceiling towered far overhead in this huge chamber. Once he was inside, Taem realised he was standing at the bottom of a giant pit. Thirty feet above the steep sides, a walkway lined the edge of the pit.

  ‘What are those walkways for?’ Jvarna pointed up.

  ‘This chamber was once used for cruel sport,’ Hirandar murmured, as the glowing orb in her hand grew, to light up the dark corners of the vast chamber. ‘The ancient people here would have watched from those walkways,’ Hirandar raised her staff towards the balconies, ‘as gladiators fought, or prisoners were thrown to be eaten by dangerous creatures.’ Hirandar shook her head.

  Taem could imagine how, centuries ago, this arena would have been alive with a cacophony of screams and cries. But now the footsteps of the warriors were the only sounds that disturbed the quiet. Taem heard heavy stone slam down behind him. He swivelled back in alarm. A stone door now blocked the entry passage, trapping the companions inside the pit. Taem’s pulse leapt, senses on a blade edge. He looked to the only other passage that led into the pit, and he heard a rumble of groans that sent a tingle down his spine. It was the clamouring noise of skeletons approaching in large numbers. Their undead cries – so mournful and so lonely – made Taem tremble, and he felt as if his blood was going to freeze.

  ‘Does everyone hear that?’ Jvarna whispered.

  ‘We need to find another way out,’ Logan gazed up at the walkways, ‘fast!’

  Taem’s heart pounded through his chest, as he and the other frantic warriors searched the pit, listening to the mindless enemies approaching. The companions all came to the grim realisation that there was no way out, and they were snared for sure this time. One of the companions must have triggered another switch, to see them trapped inside the pit. Taem noticed a silhouette stood above the pit, staring down from the elevated walkway. Taem was relieved when he saw it was Balthus.

  ‘Balthus,’ Logan shouted up. ‘Help us! Undead are coming and we’re trapped!’

  The Lord of Dolam stood motionless, as a sly smile spread across his face. Taem felt as if he had been dunked in an icy lake. Without saying anything, Balthus slunk away from the pit and disappeared.

  Baek and Forgrun rushed over to Ragad. The Croma was lying flat on his face, in a pool of his own blood. Baek thanked the Light, as he and Forgrun managed to shake Ragad awake, and get the big man sitting upright.

  ‘Balthus attacked me,’ Ragad mumbled, his eyes dazed.

  ‘What?’ Baek gaped at Ragad.

  ‘Hurgh?’ Forgrun looked at the Croma as if he were speaking Krun.

  ‘He took the Key-Piece,’ Ragad said laboriously.

  ‘Why do be he do that?’ Forgrun asked.

  ‘There is only one explanation,’ Baek said sternly, ‘Balthus is a traitor.’

  ‘Eh?’ Forgrun’s gruff face contorted. ‘By Odrin, nay!’ The Rhungar whispered in disbelief.

  ‘Balthus?’ Jvarna yelled up out of the pit.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Drual hollered after the Lord of Dolam.

  ‘Balthus is a Dark Servant,’ Logan drew his blade to face the unlit tunnel, from where the skeletons approached. ‘We are on our own.’

  Taem eased Estellarum loose from its scabbard, as he saw Jvarna and Drual look dumbfounded at each other. Taem saw the denial in their eyes, as they realised an enemy had been in their midst all this time. Someone they had all thought a friend, and a member of the company, had betrayed them.

  Hirandar unleashed a sphere of arcane energy at the stone door that trapped them. Taem felt the juddering impact shake the whole pit. But as the haze cleared, the door was unscathed. The Wizard scourged the stone door with chains of lightning from her palms, but to no av
ail.

  ‘Can’t you fly us out of here?’ Drual asked the Wizard.

  ‘Impossible,’ Hirandar turned to face the oncoming moans. ‘Air magic flows and wanes like the wind itself. I would just as likely raise you only a couple of feet in the air, or launch you head first into the roof.’

  Taem knew the situation was dire as the first skeletons stumbled into the pit. The warriors were backed into a corner, and the only thing left to do was fight. Taem obliterated the first skeletons that came for the companions, twirling his blue blade into a blur. Logan’s sword crashed through the enemy. The Sodan Master swept through the ponderous skeletons, a swirling blade tempest. Jvarna and Drual fought alongside the Sodan, hacking and slicing through the countless skeletons. Hirandar threw spell after spell at the undead monsters, blasting the archaic bones to ashes and dust.

  Taem used the relentless attack of the Stag and Bear Forms, as he smashed through ancient skeletons. The situation was not as bleak as it first seemed. The companions were surrounded, but Taem found the dead ones were slow and easy to beat. Taem’s Starblade devastated the skeletons, crashing through brittle rib cages, demolishing skulls and severing bony necks. Logan fought alongside him, a force of raw destruction. Whilst Drual and Jvarna destroyed their fair share.

  In no time all the skeletons lay dead.

  ‘Stuff you, Balthus!’ Drual yelled triumphantly.

  ‘It’s not over yet,’ Logan said calmly. ‘We’re still trapped. We must get out!’ Logan gestured for the warriors to follow him, down the passage from where the skeletons had come.

  The five companions came to a barren chamber with a closed ceiling. Taem saw that one passage led out of this giant chamber, in the far wall. The warriors strode towards the exit tunnel, but as they crossed the middle of the chamber a stone door began to grind down, inch by steady inch, to block their only way out.

  ‘That’s a sealed door!’ Drual shouted. ‘It’s part of the pyramid’s locking system! Once the Nakramilis locks down, we’ll never get out before nightfall!’ Drual was already running for the closing door.

  ‘Hurry!’ Logan howled, urging Taem, Hirandar and Jvarna to run.

  The companions all sprinted to get under the grinding door. But a portcullis slammed down in front. All the warriors reared back, and shot each other worried glances. Turning, Taem saw a fearsome skeleton had operated a lever in the wall. Taem shuddered, as he realised this skeleton was different. This skeleton radiated an aura of dread. A dread that was ancient, sinister and powerful. To Taem’s dismay the stone door, behind the portcullis, continued its relentless crawl towards the floor.

  ‘What is that?’ Jvarna gasped, and Taem heard the horror in her voice. ‘A demon from hell…’

  The monstrous skeleton’s eyes glowed with a purple light. The creature wore ancient heavy armour that had rusted to a shade of blood red, and atop its head sat a spiked battle crown. The razored crown had the texture of granite, but was blacker than the night. This wicked crown pulsed with a dark green glow.

  ‘The King of the Dead,’ Hirandar muttered with dread.

  Drual shook with terror. Jvarna’s quivering hands were closed in prayer. Those sinister purple eyes made Taem tremble. They pierced his soul. He wanted to look away, but the purple glare had locked his muscles, stole his breath.

  The Undead King brandished an evil sword that was pronged as if it were a metal serpent’s tongue, with a vicious serrated edge. The crosspiece was spiked and bladed, as was the pommel. The sword dripped with venom, as if the evil blade salivated at the prospect of biting into flesh. Taem could feel the dark soul of that sword, sense the black magic swirling over it. Encased in its hulking armour, the King of the Dead towered over the companions. The immense bulk of its blood-glazed armour added more terrible presence to the nightmare creature.

  ‘I don’t think it’s going to let us go,’ Drual mumbled.

  ‘No,’ Hirandar whispered. ‘This creature is pure evil. It wants our souls.’ Hirandar surged an energy bolt at the ancient king, eclipsing the creature in shining magic.

  Taem and the other companions had to shield their eyes. When the brilliance rescinded, Taem gaped in terror as he saw the creature still stood, unharmed. The evil crown gleamed with a dark power, having absorbed the magic of Hirandar’s spell. The crown did not glow, but drew in all the light around it.

  ‘The Light protect us,’ Hirandar gasped. That had been her most powerful magic.

  Taem saw how Drual and Jvarna were even more frightened than he was, as they both gawked in horror at the great skeleton.

  The Undead King snarled its implacable hatred of the living warriors. All of the companions quaked at that declaration of evil intent – except the Sodan Master.

  ‘Wait here,’ Logan strode out across the chamber. He knew what had to be done, and a terrible adversary barred his way. ‘When the gate opens don’t wait for me.’ Logan called back, his eyes fixed on the enemy. ‘Get Taem out, that’s all that matters now! You must get out before nightfall.’

  Logan stalked towards the great skeleton, as in Leopard Stalking the Undergrowth.

  ‘Logan!’ Taem roared, forgetting his fear, as he made to join his Master.

  ‘No boy!’ Hirandar held Taem back. ‘You heard what he said. We must go after the Key-Piece! It is more important than our lives. Logan knows this!’

  Logan charged forward, sword raised, to smite down the King of the Dead. The giant Skeleton King crashed forward to meet the Sodan, and their blades thundered in a mighty impact, causing a shockwave of celestial power to surge out through the chamber. Taem watched in amazement as sparks flew when the magic swords crashed against each other time and again. The door continued to fall. The King of the Dead, Anaksum, was a more powerful foe in death than he had ever been in life. The necromantic magic, which coursed through his ancient skeleton, gave him strength and speed beyond any normal man. But it was no normal man that the evil creature fought.

  Logan surged forward with the techniques of Lone Wolf Hunting, feinting left and right. The Sodan pushed the creature back, swinging his blade and side-stepping. Strike and counterstrike, Taem could barely follow the combat it was so fast. Logan continued his offensive, demanding the undead monster block his calculated attack patterns. An incredible exchange of lightning parries followed. Taem saw Logan perform advanced strikes that the Master had never taught him. The Skeleton King was forced to jump back, fleeing from the Sodan’s onslaught.

  The Sodan Master rushed to switch the wall-mounted lever. Logan slammed the lever up, and swivelled to face his adversary. The portcullis began to rise.

  ‘Go!’ Logan yelled to his friends, shielding the prowling dead king from the lever with his Sodan blade. ‘I don’t know how long I can hold the creature!’

  Anaksum surged back at Logan with an ear shattering howl, and the Sodan was driven away from the lever. But Logan threw a dazzling combination of sword strikes, forcing the creature to defend itself. The devil had no opportunity to wrench the switch back down.

  The portcullis raised enough for Jvarna to dive under. Hirandar and Drual pushed Taem through but he shrugged them off.

  ‘I’m not leaving Logan!’ Taem turned back.

  ‘Taem!’ Hirandar shouted, ‘Come with me, now!’

  ‘I can’t,’ Taem shook his head, and charged back out in the chamber, holding Estellarum back and low as he ran.

  ‘You’ll be trapped!’ Drual shouted, but Taem ignored him.

  ‘Foolish boy!’ Hirandar muttered. She looked at the passage beyond the descending door, and turned back towards where Logan was battling the Skeleton King.

  ‘To hell with it,’ Drual pulled up his crossbow, checked it was loaded.

  ‘We’ll I’m not going on alone,’ Jvarna ducked back underneath the descending door, as the companions raised weapons and charged Anaksum.

  Logan and the Undead King battled on in a relentless duel. Neither could gain the advantage long enough to strike a winning blow. Logan bloc
ked to his left, twice, as the Skeleton King’s blade came swinging in with the force of a battering ram. The Sodan retaliated with a heavy downward blow. But Anaksum swept it aside. A furious exchange followed. Both combatants swung for each other, and a shower of celestial sparks exploded as the magic blades smashed together. The Undead King was as powerful a foe as Logan had ever faced.

  The combatants’ swords collided again, and became interlocked. The enemies strained to edge each other’s blades back on themselves. Their faces were almost touching. Logan’s cold eyes stared up into the pure malice of those purple orbs. With a sharp flick, Anaksum tried to cut the Sodan on the wrist with its sword’s bladed crosspiece. Logan managed to slip his hand aside, and dodge back out the way.

  Crossbow bolts thudded into Anaksum’s armour. The Skeleton King staggered back, as Drual, Taem and Jvarna lined up alongside Logan. The Wizard hung back, her magic ineffective against the creature.

  ‘I told you all to go!’ Logan roared, but kept his gaze fixed on Anaksum. ‘This enemy is beyond any of you!’

  ‘Not if we stand together!’ Taem held Estellarum in the guarding ready stance.

  ‘Well spread out then,’ Logan said, as the Skeleton King prowled towards them. ‘Encircle it, attack from all directions!’

  The companions spread wide, but Anaksum launched at the warriors before they could set. The creature swung its great sword, crashing into Taem’s Sodan blade. Taem held his sword in two hands and blocked. But he had never been hit like that in his life. The young Sodan was launched off his feet. His sword flew from his hands. He hit the ground back first, which knocked all the wind out of him. He laid still on the stone, stunned, gasping for breath, in too much pain to move.

  Jvarna hurled her spear at Anaksum. The skeleton battered it away. Drual thrust with his broadsword, but the creature deflected his wild swings. Logan charged the ancient king and the skeleton rushed back, barging into Drual, as it defended the Sodan’s attacks. The rogue was battered aside by the undead lord, as it continued its lightning-fast exchange of whirling sword strikes with Logan.