by Thomas Rath
Much of the crowd was moving to other parts of town and most of the farmers had their mules or oxen hooked to the carts and were pulling out when a group of six rough looking men staggered past pushing each other and talking of the next tavern. One of them, a large baldheaded man with a scar across his cheek and a patch over one eye, bumped into Helgar knocking the dwarf prince forward into a cart of winter tomatoes and onions. Regaining his footing, the bald man grabbed Helgar by the shoulders and pulled him back to his original position while the guard menacingly, but without notice, positioned themselves to either side of their prince, hands stealthily finding their axe handles and preparing to draw should this turn sour.
The bald man bowed mockingly to the dwarf. “Beggin’ your pardon, master dwarf,” he slurred. “You’ll have to forgive my clumsiness.” Teek relaxed, thinking it all just a mistake when Helgar’s hand suddenly shot out and caught the man’s arm, pulling him down close. Reaching into the bald man’s cloak with his other hand, Helgar pulled out a bag of coins clearly marked with the Axegrinder seal.
“Clumsiness can be always forgiven,” Helgar hissed, “but thievery be another matter.”
The whole market area seemed to pause as if taking in a deep breath before everything suddenly broke loose. Still holding the coin bag, Helgar’s first shot forward, connecting squarely with the man’s nose shooting blood across his face and splashing some onto Helgar. The man’s friends rushed forward to help but were met by the guard and Rangor who quickly decided their bare hands were all that were needed, leaving their axes secured to their backs. Arms and fists flew about as dwarf and man threw themselves into the fray. Teek stood frozen, watching the bodies collide in a freakish dance of grunts, blood and sweat. Although the men were larger, the dwarfs seemed to quickly be gaining the upper hand.
Teek felt someone grip his arm and before he could react, he was whipped around and pulled face to face with a nightmare from his past. Two feverish eyes locked onto his and a crazed smile twisted across the grimy face that was now inches from his. Teek knew that his captor had only one arm but found he was unable to pull himself away.
“So, by the look of ya’s eyes,” the high pitched voice cackled, “I cans see that ya ain’t forgotten old Brak now have ya, he, he, he.” Teek recoiled from the crazed man struggling against his grip but it was too tight and he couldn’t pull himself free. “Yous ain’t goin’ nowheres there boy. You still got some money yous owed me and Zel. Ya, remember Zel, don’t ya.
“What do you want?” Teek squealed trying hard to keep his voice steady.
Brak screeched with demented laughter and then his voice suddenly went cold and still. “I only wants ya’s eyes. Oh, and ya arm.” Brak pulled on him, dragging him toward a dark alleyway that was only feet away from were he’d been standing. Pulling as hard as he could he was no match for Brak’s craze added strength. He knew that he needed to get away. He knew that Zel was dead; the horrid image of his mangled body and twisted head flashing in his mind. But who knew if Brak hadn’t found someone else to share in his maniacal schemes. Once they got to the alleyway, Teek knew his life would be over.
Looking over his shoulder he just caught sight of Helgar’s fist crashing against the skull of another opponent, the baldheaded man lay unconscious on the ground, while the guard busily dealt with the other four men. There was no time to get their help. The alleyway loomed dark and close and he could feel his life was only seconds from the end.
Suddenly remembering that he had a weapon, Teek cursed himself for his muddled and frightened mind as he reached inside his cloak and grabbed his dagger. Pulling it, he shouted at Brak just as he was starting to enter the alley. “You forgot one thing!”
Brak turned back just in time to see the dagger he had once stolen from Teek come slashing down across his arm. Brak’s arm recoiled from the pain as blood rushed out of the wound. Teek found himself free but off balance as he fell back onto the ground. Brak recovered quickly pulling his own knife and brandishing it as he towered over him.
“I will cut yous into tiny little pieces fer that,” he spat, a large stream of drool escaping his mouth and running down his chin and neck.
Teek brought his blade up in defense but Brak suddenly stopped, his eyes staring back at the fight that was just ending behind them. Surprised, Teek watched as he quickly turned and disappeared back into the alley, a small trail of blood marking his path as he went.
“Ye be all right?” a rough and panting voice suddenly asked just behind him. Teek quickly got to his feet and turned around to see Helgar holding his axe and looking past him into the alleyway.
Teek looked over his shoulder into the blackness that had almost been his doom and then turned back to Helgar who was now surrounded by the guard. None of them appeared to be injured save for a red mark around Helgar’s left eye that was now beginning to swell and turn black. “Fine,” he said putting his dagger away. “How about you?”
Helgar looked taken aback. “What? Ye be meaning this?” he said, smiling and pointing to his eye. “Why, that be nothin’ at all. A lucky kick with the foot while the bloody coward took his rest on the ground. And what about the one that got away?” he asked motioning with his head toward the alley.
“It was Brak,” he answered, suddenly breathless.
“Brak?”
“Yes. The one I told you about when I rescued Tchee.” His face suddenly felt flushed and his legs began to shake as the adrenaline left him and his mind caught hold of what had just happened. “I thought he was dead.”
“Aye,” Helgar replied. “And I was startin’ to worry that ye might be as well.”
Teek blanched, realizing how accurate Helgar’s words were.
Rangor cleared his throat calling for their attention. “We shouldn’t be standin’ about and talkin’ here, sire. There’s apt to be guards comin’ and we cannot be stalled by questions an’ inquiries.”
Helgar glared at the dwarf but nodded his head. “Ye be right. Let’s be gatherin’ our things and be getting’ back to camp.” Helgar suddenly chuckled. “I can’t wait to be seein’ the look on Bardolf’s face when he be findin’ out about the fight he missed.”
Teek just stared into the alley and shuddered, having the distinct feeling that this was probably not the last time he and Brak would meet.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kornok circled lazily high above the mountain pass, too far for any human to see with their weak eyes. But, even if they did see her it would not matter. They were nothing to her. She wanted to swoop down now and release her fury on them but had to restrain herself. Bedler wanted it to be a surprise. Oh, it certainly would be a surprise should she drop down on the men below and give them a breath of welcome. She laughed out loud. She was amused by all of their foolish preparations and running about. Her brothers and sister could rid the land of them all in a few short weeks. Why Bedler insisted on using his idiotic trolls and equally inept goblins was beyond her. Though they had begged, she and Gorbrak were not allowed to wreak their havoc on the pitiful humans. She envied Wargon, Krengor, and Klawbrak who had already left on their missions and were probably feasting now on sweet meats. Gorbrak was also gone, but his time would not come until late. He had not taken that news well. She savored the memory of his tantrum though it didn’t ease her frustrations at having to wait.
She bank left lifting on a thermal wind that took her higher into the clouded morning sky. She was due back soon but wanted to enjoy herself for one last moment before returning home to make her report. Bedler would be unaffected by what the humans were doing. Walls were easily broken—especially by her. She opened her great jaws and released a powerful blast of air that would have torn a hole in solid rock. Not meeting any resistance, it created an enormous boom that was heard, as well as felt, by the workers far below. Laughing to herself, anxious for the game, she banked again and flew back to Raven’s Eye Peak where Bedler and Resdin would be waiting for her.
* * *
Dor tried
to steady his horse as it pranced about nervously jerking its head, its eyes rolling back in fright. The loud boom had startled all of the mounts but the others had been able to calm theirs much quicker. He was still getting used to sitting on a horse let alone controlling its fears. All eyes had turned skyward and work had completely stopped. Everyone had heard the loud noise and many claimed to have even felt it in their chests. A few had dropped to their knees voicing prayers under their breath while expecting the sky to collapse and the world to suddenly end.
Dor had seen the tiny speck above them and watched it for a short while as it had circled lazily about in and out of the clouds. It was too far away to make out any definite form but he felt certain that it must have been rather large. A sudden chill ran up his spine as he thought back to the dragon that had taken Thane. Never in his worst nightmares had he ever imagined such a creature. And now Thane was gone. Most likely dead, he told himself, though a small piece of him still denied it.
Finally steadying his horse his gaze returned to the sky above but he could not find the speck again. There were many clouds drifting about so it could have easily disappeared behind one and been hidden from view, but he felt certain that wherever it had gone, it was an ill omen.
The familiar ringing of hammer on stone and men’s voices soon picked up again and in some short moments all work continued. Jack had allowed Dor to ride with him two days ago out of the city and over to the mountains to inspect the work that was being done to block Nomad’s Pass. Dor and Jack both knew that it was only a matter of time before the whole troll nation and their new goblin companions surged out of the mountains and attacked. They just hoped that this would be enough to keep them back. Still, without more help from Calandra the effort seemed almost useless.
“Still no word from the Capital?” Jack asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to break the silence that had fallen on the small group since their arrival.
Colonel Braxton shook his head. “Nothing.”
Jack sighed heavily. “It’s too long Myles, you know it as well as I. Something must be done.”
Braxton turned on his friend, his face betraying his frustration and anger. “And what would you have me do more than I have already done?”
Jack took his friend’s anger in stride. He knew that it wasn’t directed at him, but also knew that Myles was loyal to his post, and therefore his king. He wouldn’t move without Dagan’s word. “We must quit the city. You must begin to evacuate.”
Dor watched the exchange, knowing all too well what they faced and how close to the edge they were to complete annihilation should the goblin and troll forces attack before they were ready. Even then, he had his doubts as to how effective their defenses would be. They needed more numbers on their side.
Braxton watched the work for a long moment as it progressed at the pass. The wall was growing but it was taking too much time. It would hold for a while but eventually it would fall and if Jack’s number estimates were even half correct, they would quickly be overrun. Without Calandra, they were fated to be massacred.
Finally, he let out a long breath, as if in defeat, and dropped his head. “You are right, my friend. We have been abandoned here to our fate. We must make of it what we can.”
Jack nodded, sympathizing with him. Both knew that the king was a complete and useless idiot, but the colonel was sworn to his duty and he would die fulfilling it. Jack only hoped that that would not be the price this time.
* * *
Kornok landed gracefully, in spite of her enormous girth, in the large courtyard near the top of the peak. Resdin was there, waiting for her as he often did when she returned from her scouting missions. She could smell the desire within him and it brought a slight smile to her scaled face. She knew that Resdin was a handsome man for a human, a small resonance of what she once was, but she figured he would be more satisfying now going down her throat than he would at being a lover. Yet, his weak human lusts may turn out to be useful to her still. He might be the key to getting Bedler to make her leader of her kin. She could always eat him later if he proved useless, so she tolerated his advances and never directly discouraged him. One thing she knew for certain was that a man left hungry was more easily controlled and manipulated than one whose appetite was satiated.
Stretching her massive gray wings to either side she brushed the large talons that tipped them against the courtyard walls before pulling them back in and tucking them up against her sleek back. Like her siblings, she was massive. Her arms and legs were large and muscular, covered in protective scales that layered down to large, razor sharp claws the size of short swords. Her chest was covered in long plate scales that protected her underbelly from anything a mere human might shoot at her. Her head was slim and pointed fanning out behind her ears into spiked, bony protrusions that protected her neck. Yawning, she flashed her rows of teeth that tore through flesh and crushed through bone with the ease of a hot knife slicing into butter. Her whole body spoke of death and destruction.
She eyed Resdin for a moment feeling the slightest growling in her stomach as she contemplated again how he might taste before quickly dismissing the thought. Soon enough she would feast on the flesh of men instead of being forced to pick off the occasional goblin or troll that strayed too far from the main camp. Their meat was generally tough and less satisfying than that of a tender human but at least they kept her belly full, especially the large trolls.
“Why do you keep me in agony, my dear lady,” Resdin’s voice echoed across the yard. “Retake your human form that I might feast on your beauty.”
Kornok felt her stomach turn. His disgusting compliments might weaken the knees of any human woman but to her they were just tasteless words revealing the weaknesses of the speaker. But, swallowing her disgust, her form began to change. She hated taking the form of the pitiful human woman, but knew it was the only way to get what she wanted out of Resdin, and, of course, she couldn’t enter the keep otherwise.
Though dangerously beautiful as a dragon, she was striking as a woman. Long, dark hair cascaded down her slender back rustling gently against the gray velvet dress that matched the color of her dragon scales and hugged every curve of her body. Her skin was pale, setting off her midnight black eyes. Her facial features angled sharply creating an exotic beauty that culminated in the perfect shape of her lips that she kept painted black to match her eyes—and her heart. To behold her was to wish for death so that one more moment would not pass without possessing her.
Resdin’s eyes spoke volumes from his heart; a heart that had been twisted for long years toward satisfying his every lust and black desire. “I must have you,” he whispered, reaching out a hand for her as she approached from the center of the courtyard. “Why do you torture me so?”
She laughed, its sound harsh and spiteful. “You torture yourself,” she said, her voice silk running over stone. Taking his hand and brushing her lips against his ear, she whispered. “You’ve never seen nor felt the torture I’m capable of, dear Resdin. But someday, I promise, you will.”
Resdin felt his knees giving under him to feel her so close, letting her warm breath seep into his skin. He could have stayed like that for an eternity and not felt the loss of anything, but his revelry was quickly ended.
Releasing his hand and stepping away, Kornok’s tone suddenly turned to ice and actually cooled the air around them. “Enough of this. Where is the old man?”
“Right here,” Bedler’s voice echoed down from the balcony above. “Resdin, cease your foolishness and bring her to me. We have much to talk about. Soon we will let ourselves be known again.
* * *
Dor leaned back in the chair next to Tam’s bed and watched her breathe, lost in his thoughts of the past and trying to gain some focus on the future. He scratched the top of his head where his hair was quickly beginning to fill in again. After two weeks of growth, the prickly stubble he once had was now becoming soft creating a small carpet of black over his extremely light head
. He welcomed its return, yearning for the normalcy he felt it would bring with it and anxious to have his life back to how it had been before. Of course, nothing would be the same anymore now that Thane was gone. His best friend was lost.
Tam stirred, stretching the best she could against the ropes that still held her fast. Opening an eye she saw Dor and smiled warmly at him. Suddenly, he felt better, though he had no idea why. The cobwebs of the dark past seemed to melt away on the curved lips of one Chufa girl.
“Good morning,” Tam yawned, pressing again against her restraints as she twisted into another stretch.
“How did you sleep?” he asked, while picking up the steaming bowl that was resting on the floor next to him.
“Well enough,” she said and then pulled slightly on the ropes. “That is if you discount being tied up and not being able to roll over.” Her eyes turned dark and sad. “I wish I could just be free of them for a short moment.”
Dor stiffened. He wished the same thing for her but was still nursing a few bruises from the last time he had fallen to her pleading and charms.
Tam laughed hoarsely. “Why do you look that way? I’m not asking you to take them off.” She laughed again, but this time it seemed forced. “Though the thought of being free certainly is a tempting one.”
Dor dropped his eyes to the bowl in his hand and stared at it dumbly not wanting to see her pleading face. Then, as if suddenly realizing that the bowl contained her breakfast, he scooped up a spoonful of mush. It was all the healers allowed her to eat. “Here,” he said lifting the spoon, “I have your breakfast.”