Rune Warrior

by Frank Morin

  Eirene frowned, mirroring his own growing concern. “I don’t like that.”

  An insistent beeping began from one of the small laptop computers sitting open on the nearby desk. Tomas crossed to the screen.

  Not good.

  “I think the contract’s been canceled. Grab your things.”

  “How long?”

  “Ten seconds. They just crossed the outer sensors.”

  Although the job had seemed a simple assignment, he was glad he had followed standard security protocols and installed hidden motion sensors and tiny video cameras around their rooms.

  He counted twelve heavily-armed soldiers approaching, guns at the ready. He typed three quick commands in the computer, then ran to his bedroom that overlooked the expansive gardens surrounding the palace.

  Eirene had requested rooms in this wing and no one had bothered to ask why. From the window, he could see the glimmer of the nearby ocean. More importantly, thick trees grew to within yards of the building. They always defined their exit strategy before commencing any mission, no matter how safe it appeared on the surface.

  Tomas scanned the area with infrared binoculars that could give him a hint of the presence of concealed enemies, but saw nothing threatening. Most of the palace compound was covered with expansive lawns and decorative trees, but this building butted up against heavy foliage that extended all the way to the outer perimeter wall. It was a beautiful morning, warm but not hot, the humidity reasonable. Better weather than many of the exfils he’d led over the years.

  Eirene rushed into the room and closed the door. She wore a medium backpack and was belting on a pair of silenced pistols.

  “Area looks clear,” Tomas said as he extracted a rope from the suitcase on his bed and tossed one end out the window.

  As he finished tying off the other end, Eirene grabbed the rope and jumped out the window. The leather gloves she wore would provide enough protection. She only had to fall a single story.

  The outer door to their apartment crashed inward and Tomas clearly heard soldiers swarming through. The motion sensors picked them up too. They triggered the charges he had just armed from the computer.

  The front of the apartment exploded.

  The shaped charges were directed in the opposite direction, so he felt little direct force, but the shockwave still rattled the door in its frame and the noise was deafening.

  Tomas pulled a fully-loaded pack from one of the big duffel bags, slung it over his shoulders, and grabbed up his silenced bullpup rifle. The IWI Tavor carbine was one of his favorite guns for this type of encounter. Anaru hated the weapon just because it was favored by the hunters, but Tomas had loved it since the first time he fired it. It was better than the alternative from his homeland.

  He didn’t bother with the rope.

  As smoke filtered through the door to his bedroom and cries of alarm mingled with screams of panic, he vaulted out the window. He landed on the soft grass beside Eirene, easily absorbing the impact on enhanced legs.

  “Let’s go.” He led the way into the trees at an easy trot, gun held at his side to disguise its outline from any distant observers. Very little drew attention more than the sight of someone rushing around with a raised gun.

  As soon as they entered the trees, he sped up. The first moments would be critical in determining their chances of escape. If the Thai were foolish enough to assume that initial assault team would take them by surprise, pursuit would be minutes away at best. By then they would be long gone.

  Bullets tore into the trees on both sides of him, and one caught him in the shoulder. He dropped to the ground and rolled behind some bushes, gritting his teeth at the sharp, stabbing pain.

  The Thai weren’t stupid after all. A backup team had been lying in wait.

  Eirene dropped to the ground behind a thick tree. “Firing line ten yards ahead,” she said. “I spotted three of them.”

  Tomas was already pulling four smoke grenades from his pack. His shoulder burned, but the pain was already fading. If the bullet had lodged in there, it would not heal properly, but if it passed through, he’d heal within the next ten minutes.

  Bullets continued to shred the trees just overhead, but thankfully none of the soldiers had started throwing frag grenades.

  Tomas pulled the pins and tossed the smoke grenades. They hissed and belched huge clouds of smoke. Within seconds, the entire area was concealed in billowing white. He also extracted a small bluetooth speaker from his pack and tossed it after the smoke grenades.

  “Play something appropriate,” he said to Eirene.

  “I’ve got just the thing.”

  “Watch for flanking maneuvers,” he added. “I’ll be right back.”

  She held up a hand to forestall him for a couple of seconds as she pulled out her phone and tapped a selection. “All right, go.”

  Leaving his pack behind, he rose and slipped forward through the trees. The enemy firing had trickled off as the smoke enveloped the distant soldiers.

  A concealed officer was barking orders, but Tomas’ Thai wasn’t very good. To him it sounded like, “Turn the lights on.”

  As Tomas moved toward the enemy soldiers, music began blasting out of the little speaker he’d tossed. A familiar beat echoed through the trees and drowned out any small noises he might make in his approach.

  Tomas grimaced. Really? The best she could come up with was the theme song to Pirates of the Caribbean?

  She was an avid moviegoer and had been devouring films since being reincorporated. Pirates was one of her favorites, but this was taking it a little too far.

  Concealed by the peppy score, Tomas slipped through the billowing smoke, holding his breath to avoid telltale coughing while he closed on the officer. The man appeared as a shadow in the smoke, and from the sound of his voice, was turned away.

  Tomas let his rifle fall to his side on its tactical sling and drew a slender knife. He stepped right up behind the officer, waited for the man to finish his latest order before tapping him on the shoulder, then plunged the blade through the man’s eye.

  Tomas settled the body to the ground and ghosted left, down the line of soldiers. The first was looking in his direction, but mistook him for his officer until it was too late. The other three men on that side of the line never noticed his approach and fell to his silent knife.

  The first of the soldiers on the right side of the line fared no better, but the next man was more aware. As soon as he noticed Tomas’ shifting shadow in the smoke, he opened fire.

  Only Tomas’ enhanced speed saved his life.

  One bullet speared his left arm, but he dove to the side before the soldier could pour more lead into him. While the soldier fired into the concealing smoke, shouting defiant curses, Tomas rounded a tree and closed from the side.

  The soldier realized his mistake only when Tomas kicked his rifle out of his hands. Most men would have stumbled away in surprise, but this man was a fighter. He drew a long knife and came at Tomas, every slash of the blade aimed for something vital.

  The Thai soldier was well trained, and they circled each other, blades flashing in the gloom. Tomas’ left arm lacked strength. It felt like the bullet had cracked the bone. If he’d had full use of it, he could have defeated the soldier quickly.

  The man shouted while he fought, and his remaining companions crashed through the underbrush to come to his aid. Tomas embraced the surge of battle lust that had carried him through conflicts for the past three centuries and grinned with the thrill of the challenge.

  The soldier seemed content to bide his time and let his comrades finish the match with a couple thirty-round magazines, so Tomas went on the offensive. He lunged, taking a slash to his injured left arm to get inside the man’s reach, and clubbed the soldier in the side of the head with the handle of his knife.

  As the soldier collapsed in a heap, Tomas scooped up the man’s knife. It had an excellent balance so he threw it into the smoke at the sound of one of the charging soldiers
.

  A gasp, then silence.

  That was a better throw than he had expected.

  Another soldier charged out of the smoke, gun blazing. Bullets tore through the forest in a wild spray.

  Tomas slipped back around the tree and brought his own gun to bear. His left arm needed a few minutes to repair, so he propped the gun against the tree and sighted one-handed. He aimed for the upper legs since the soldier wore body armor and a helmet. His gun spat two suppressed rounds. The soldier screamed as he fell and writhed on the ground in agony.

  Tomas left him there and returned for Eirene.

  “What’s with the screaming?” she asked.

  “Tactical misdirection.”

  He waited while she tied off his wounds. His enhancements would complete the healing in minutes, but leaving a trail of blood was never a good idea. Together they ran southeast through the forest while alarms sounded behind them. The smoke, music and screaming soldier would attract pursuit like a magnet, but the Thai forces would waste precious seconds figuring out what happened.

  When they reached a narrow lane through the forest, Tomas spotted a little old grounds-keeper approaching on a golf cart. He tried to wave the man down, but the old fellow spotted his rifle, gunned the cart, and tried to run him over.

  Tomas avoided the golf cart and pulled the old man out. The fellow beat futilely against his arm while cursing him in Thai.

  “Are you serious?” Tomas twisted the old fellow around and held him for five seconds in a stranglehold until the man passed out. He laid him gently on the grass and joined Eirene, who had turned the cart around.

  “Some people have no sense of hospitality,” he said.

  Eirene accelerated away, chuckling.

  It took them ten minutes to slip past the outer security of the palace complex and reach the beach. Since so few people knew of their visit to the king, no one knew who to guard against, and they merged into the crowds of tourists exiting the area. With guns concealed in their packs, they hailed a taxi and headed for Bangkok.

  During the ride, Eirene called Gregorios on her satellite phone. To say he was upset with their client was an understatement. He arranged for the jet to be fueled and ready.

  They made it to the plane and out of Thailand without interference.

  During the trip back to Rome, Tomas wondered why the king had done such a foolish thing. Not only would his soul transfer never happen, but no one double-crossed Gregorios. The king had to know that.

  What would have driven him to take the risk?

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Yet another noted kashaph is destroyed, and the world breathes with peace today! Gudrun was successful. Her marriage to Attila was accomplished and she murdered him on their wedding night. None suspect her, and her rune remains concealed.

  ~Malachi, hunter spy, 453 A.D., regarding the death of Attila the Hun

  “It’s time to come home, Son.”

  That was exactly what Alter most feared his father would say. His assignment had been to assist Gregorios and Eirene in taking down the Cui Dashi. They had succeeded.

  Melek had begun suggesting Alter return, but Alter had managed to buy a little more time due to his rune work on the machines. He hadn’t explained to his father that he was building another machine for the hated demons or that those machines could be used by them to walk their memories and hunt for master runes.

  His family would never understand that he believed in what he was doing and that he actually trusted Eirene’s word that they wouldn’t seek the master runes.

  “Father, I’m not finished my work here.”

  “You’ve done enough,” Melek said. “It’s dangerous to spend too much time with those demons. They have a way of twisting reality and corrupting even the strongest soul.”

  He thought back to the strange feeling of familiarity with their cursed nevron soul forces.

  “I know, father. I am still hoping to convince Sarah of the truth about the demons.”

  “A non-gifted is not worth the risk,” Melek said. “The genealogists have not found the link to the family line you suspected. Leave her.”

  “There has to be something,” Alter insisted. “She learns runes faster than anyone I’ve ever known.”

  “She was one of those vile women who sold their bodies,” Reuben spat. “She isn’t worth saving.”

  “You don’t know her,” Alter bristled. “So don’t judge.”

  “Alter,” Melek said slowly. “I worry that you have grown too involved with this woman.”

  “I’m not involved,” he protested quickly. “But please father, continue the research. Just a little longer.”

  “Very well, Son. A little longer. When will you complete your research and bring those runes home to us?”

  “Soon. Father, there’s something else. I’ve learned some new facts about great grandmother, Elizabeth.”

  “Don’t believe anything those demons tell you,” Reuben snarled. “Tell them to leave our family alone.”

  “But--”

  “No,” Melek said. “Reuben is right. You must guard yourself against their influence.”

  “You’re right.” Hearing the strength of conviction in his father’s voice buoyed his own flagging resolve. Had he allowed himself to be drawn too deep, to lose his focus? “But there’s another problem. The heka cell tied to that Cui Dashi, Mai Luan, appears to be far stronger than we suspected.”

  That got their attention.

  “What have you learned?”

  “We’re hunting them, but the enforcers are experiencing unusual difficulty tracking them down.”

  “Incompetent fools,” Reuben muttered.

  “Although Mai Luan is dead, they appear to be functioning at a remarkably sophisticated level,” Alter said. “Recent developments make us worried they may have acquired a forbidden rune.”

  “Why do you think this?” Melek asked.

  “Something is attacking the demons. Their powers are suddenly erratic, unstable. All we can figure is the enemy must have a powerful forbidden rune.”

  “You’ve spoken with them of the forbidden runes?” Melek asked.

  “A little.”

  “That was unwise, Alter.” Melek spoke in the overly soft voice he used when trying not to show his anger.

  Reuben interrupted. “How badly are they affected? Are they vulnerable?”

  “It’s hard to say,” Alter side-stepped the question. He didn’t like the hunger in his brother’s voice. “But the effects seem to be worldwide.”

  “I doubt that,” Melek said. “That would require so many souls we surely would have seen hints of such a movement.”

  “That’s what I thought at first, but the evidence is strong.”

  “I’ve never heard of a rune that could interrupt the demons’ power,” Melek said. “Not even the forbidden runes.”

  “If we had, we would have used it,” Reuben stated. For most of his life, Alter would have agreed with his brother’s eagerness, but now he cringed to think of hunters storming Suntara, killing Eirene and the others.

  “There’s fear that somehow the heka may have acquired the master rune despite Mai Luan’s death, and are linking it to the forbidden rune.”

  “Abomination!” Reuben shouted.

  “That would be extremely dangerous.” Melek’s response was more measured, but Alter felt his father’s rage radiating through the phone. He shared the same outrage that anyone might be tampering with the power of the master runes. To tie that power to one of the forbidden runes was the blackest of deeds.

  “We’ll search the rune catalog and see if we can identify possible ways to twist those forbidden runes into such a use.”

  “This might be a rare opportunity,” Reuben said.

  “No, this is pure evil,” Melek rebuked him.

  “But father, if they’re vulnerable--”

  “Unleashing the power of the forbidden runes is forbidden for a reason. It’s never good. Tragedy will result i
f it’s not stopped, this I guarantee.”

  “Yes, father.” Reuben’s voice was anything but submissive.

  “Father, we have a protected environment where we can test the forbidden runes,” Alter said. “If you were to send some of them to me--”

  “Have you suggested such a thing to the demons?” Melek interrupted.

  “No,” Alter assured him quickly.

  “Never do so.” He spoke with absolute authority. “I would never trust those runes in the hands of the demons.”

  “They aren’t heka, Father.”

  “It doesn’t matter. The danger would be far too great.”

  “But Father, we could learn so much.”

  “Such knowledge isn’t worth the price,” he said. “But I do need you to acquire the master rune for us.”

  “I’ll try, but they’ll want something in return.”

  “They have your help. That must be enough.”

  As Alter tried to figure out another approach to convince his father, a distant wailing sounded through the phone. It was a sound everyone living in Jerusalem was all too familiar with.

  “The air raid sirens are sounding,” Melek said anyway. “The Palestinians have become belligerent again lately and--”

  A far louder booming sound interrupted him.

  Alter’s heart raced. That had sounded far too close.

  “Son, we have to--”

  The line went dead.

  Alter stared at the silent phone, filled with fear.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it, despite Harald’s meddling.

  ~Winston Churchill

  “We have confirmed that there was an attack on your family’s compound,” Gregorios told Alter. “Details are slim, but they were hit hard.” He hated delivering bad news, especially in the face of so many other problems. “Your brother was hurt and your father badly wounded.”

  Alter sagged in his seat in the small conference room. Sarah was there, as were Eirene and Tomas, who had just returned from Thailand.