Fogle dismounted and started up the tavern steps to go inside.
The sound of splintered wood and shattered glass erupted. A huge body was hurled through a window. It skipped off the porch and crashed through the railing and onto the street. Jarla and Jubilee’s eyes were filled with marvel. It wasn’t an orc laid out on the ground. It was Brak.
CHAPTER 23
Face down, limbs jarred, Kam rolled over onto her back and spat the dirt from her mouth. Her thoughts raced. Erin. The little girl was lying on the ground close by, not moving. “Erin!”
The underling mage hovered over the ground with its arms spread and closed in.
On hands and knees, Kam crawled over to her girl and took her up to her body. The tiny frame of the little girl was turning blue. Kam flipped Erin over on her hand and firmly patted her on the back. “Breathe, baby. Breathe!”
Another explosion rocked the landscape. A horse was flung through the air. Jasper was on her knees facing the underling. Mystic missiles erupted from her fingertips and vanished through the underling’s robes. Its chilling chittering sound was laughter.
Kam kept patting Erin’s back. The little girl started to cough. “Thank goodness!” Kam turned on the underling mage. “You’re going to regret this.” Her eyes turned into green flames. A glowing green snake burst out of the ground and closed on the underling.
The underling’s slender face showed amusement as the snake coiled up at his feet and sprang into the air. The underling snatched the snake by the throat and squeezed.
Kam choked. “Gack!” She clutched at the unseen fingers around her throat, trying to pry the invisible force away. Fighting for breath, she turned her defense into an attack. Her hand filled with glowing green power. She turned it loose. A ball of power smote the underling full in the chest, knocking it head over heels into the dirt. Kam gasped for breath. She was free and back on her feet.
On one knee, the yellow-eyed underling mage contorted its face into a sneer. It ripped the mystic snake apart with its bare hands, hovered up from the ground, and summoned bright fire into its fingers.
Clatch-Zip!
A heavy crossbow bolt rocketed through the air and tore through the underling’s shoulder. It spun around once then stopped and unleashed another wave of power.
Raising up a shield, Kam turned her back, secured Erin, and braced herself.
Ssssssrazzzzz-boooooooom!
Kam’s body was flung aside. “Uh!” The jolt numbed her limbs. She couldn’t feel her feet or fingers, but she could still move. She stood up and faced the underling. “Is that all you have, underling?” She wiped the dust from her mouth. “Because that’s nothing compared to what we’ve seen!”
Grimacing, the underling pulled the bolt from its shoulder. Its fingertips charged up the arrow with a glowing light.
Pulling back the string on his heavy crossbow, Nikkel said, “I’ve never seen that before.”
The underling made a sharp whistle and gave a flick of its fingers. The crossbow bolt sliced through the air straight for Nikkel’s head.
The young man’s supple muscles snapped up, blocking his face with his crossbow. The bolt smote the bolt thrower and blew it into pieces. Nikkel lay on the ground, out cold.
Kam hurled a green javelin of light at the underling.
Its slender fingers knocked it aside.
Red hair in her mouth, she said, “Slat.” She labored for breath. Her magic was mostly spent, and her aggressor seemed to have more power than she figured. Holding Erin tight, she made her way over to Jasper, who sat on her knees, wide eyed and shaking. “Stay close,” Kam said to her.
Jasper nodded.
Kam summoned up a green shield. Its bright energy crackled with living light and sparkling swirls. Jasper grabbed her arm, giving Kam additional magic. She nodded at Jasper. “Let’s see how much this fiend has.”
The underling held up its hands and started flicking its fingers. Citrine missiles the size of fingers shot over the ground like sling stones and struck the green barrier. One came right after the other, ricocheting at first before chipping away at the shield.
Zing! Zing! Zing! Zing! Zing!
“Bish!” Jasper exclaimed. “How many of those things does the fiend have?”
“Too many!” Kam said. The underling was powerful. Its power seemed to be without limit, but she knew better. “Everyone has a limit. We’ve been through worse than this before.” Digging deep, she searched for all the mystic strength she had and brought it forth. The green shield brightened. Her chest heaved. “We can beat the fiend, Jasper. Give all your strength to me!”
“I’m trying! I’m trying!” Jasper replied.
The barrage of missiles kept coming, one right after the other. The underling put its index fingers together and sent a missile the size of three right at them. It zipped through the air and slammed into Kam’s shield with jarring impact.
The green shield cracked and started to chip and fade.
Jasper’s young face sagged. “I’m running out of energy.”
Covered in sweat, Kam said, “Keep it up! We can wear it down! I know we can!”
The underling summoned a ball of energy the size of its head. In its eyes was the look of a cat toying with a mouse. It flung the ball right at them.
“Brace yourself!” Kam said, summoning all of her strength. The shield glowed with angry fury.
The citrine ball of energy smacked into the shield.
Ssszz-Boom!
The shield held for a moment. Kam didn’t.
CHAPTER 24
Venir grabbed Chongo by one of his necks and gave a short command. The huge dog took off at the vicious guarding the way out, leapt high over it, and disappeared down the path. Venir hated to see the dog go, but he didn’t want Chongo in any danger.
Besides, the others might need Chongo’s help.
Venir moved forward into the clearing.
“I’m surprised you let your beast leave you.” Elypsa made a tricky move with her swords. “You will be in need, and now the beast is doomed like the rest of your friends.”
Venir stood between the female underling and the vicious. His head turned from one to the other. “You sound worried for me, but you shouldn’t be. It’s you who needs to be worried.”
“I’ve heard stories about you, Venir. My people call you The Darkslayer, a thorn in our sides for so long―in human years, anyway.” Elypsa circled Venir, and the vicious did as well. “My brothers called you a scourge. I always wondered at all the fuss over a man.” She shrugged. “I still don’t see what all the fuss is about. You’re just a man in a shell.”
Venir banged Brool on his shield. “That’s right. Now are you going to talk, or are you and this roach going to fight?”
“Only a fool would rush into certain death. Please don’t rush me. I want to enjoy this. There are members of my family I need to avenge.” She slowly spun her swords through the air. “Perhaps you remember them? One had golden eyes, and the other’s were silver.”
A vivid memory came to life in Venir’s mind. A burning image had formed. For some strange reason, Helm named them for him. “Verbard and Catten.”
Elypsa’s lavender eyes became as big as saucers. “You know their names?”
Venir tapped Helm with Brool. “I can’t say why, but I do. And just so you know, I tried to kill them, but I didn’t. Someone else did.” Venir reflected on the battle at Castle Almen. He didn’t have the armament then. A man named Creed did, and he killed Catten and Verbard. Venir’s hands had been full enough finishing off Tonio. “You look disappointed.”
“In a strange way I am,” she said with a distant look in her eyes. “I was looking forward to this, once I figured out who you were. Now your execution won’t be quite as satisfying.”
“You know, when I kill, I don’t take names or revel in it. Killing underlings is like stomping on worms. Their lives just don’t matter.”
“You’re right.” Elypsa gave a nod to the sword-wieldin
g vicious. “It’s time to feed the worms.” In Underling―which Helm understood just fine and translated seamlessly for Venir―she added, “Attack!”
The vicious pounced with the quickness of a mountain lion. Fast and agile, the supine brute turned loose a two-handed swing.
Brool parried.
Clang!
The powerful strike sent shockwaves through Venir’s arms. He countered with quick jabs, aiming the axe spike at the vicious’s eyes.
Helm ebbed a warning.
Elypsa waded in with her swords and struck.
Venir blocked her efforts with the shield. In a split second he was fully engaged. Flanked by fighters quick as snakes, Venir’s iron limbs were put to the task.
Bang! Clang! Bang! Slice! Chop!
“You can’t keep this up forever,” Elypsa said. Her blade strikes were as fast as anyone’s. She jabbed, sliced, and struck. “We are only toying with you. I’ve been training for hundreds of years, and you’ve only been alive a few decades.”
“Training is one thing. Experience killing your brood by the thousands is another!” Venir countered with a windmill chop in between two of the vicious’s swings. He brought Brool around so fast the great blade hooked Elypsa by the hands and ripped her blades out of her grip. At the same time, he defended his flank with the shield, hoping to block the vicious’s steel.
A split second too late.
The hulking underling drew first blood from Venir’s shoulder.
“Argh!”
The vicious drew back for another swing.
Venir changed tactics and sprang at Elypsa.
The female underling was on the ground, scrambling for her swords.
Venir kicked her in the jaw with ram-like force that lifted and snapped her head back.
She moaned and sagged to the ground, out cold.
Venir turned just in time to catch the vicious’s next strike on his shield.
Bang!
“It’s just you and me now, brood!” Venir said to the monster. He couldn’t worry about Elypsa now. He had to trust Helm to warn him if she came to consciousness. Now, he had to finish this fiend. “I’ve fought your kind before, and I’ve slaughtered them all. You will be next.”
“You’ve never fought my kind,” the vicious said.
“You speak well for a monster,” Venir said, eying the vicious.
“I am not a monster. I am an underling in this glorious body. I am the one who cannot be killed. I am Sornay the Infallible.”
“We’ll see.” Venir advanced hard and fast. He delivered quick and lethal strikes.
A true sword saint, Sornay parried and backpedaled. “You are fast. Very fast.”
Jaw set, Venir revamped his efforts, trying to wear the monstrosity down. He let Helm feed him. Fuel his hatred for the black fiends. His chops came heavier and faster.
With two hands on his blade, Sornay blocked and batted with desperation. His fiendish black eyes were wide as saucers. Though his chest did not labor and he did not sweat, he could not hide his confusion and astonishment. “Impossible.”
Venir delivered a high-arcing chop straight down with the speed of a lightning bolt.
Sornay’s arms snapped up, bringing his blade in for a block that would save his skull from being split in half.
Clang!
Brool hammered the sword into the underling’s skull, slivering off its flesh to the bone.
Somehow, Sornay held onto his blade and managed to retreat.
Sensing the kill, Venir closed in, batted down the underling’s defense, and took a stab at its heart.
The vicious wheeled away, but not before the spike sunk deep into its shoulder. It didn’t howl or cry like a normal man. It snarled and fought back with everything it had, like a wounded animal. “Never!” Sornay screamed and came at Venir with a terrific chop and stab.
Venir caught the blows on his shield and launched Brool into the underling’s side. The blade sank deep. Bone gave way to metal.
Crunch!
Sornay the vicious sagged when Venir tore the blade out. Somehow, he fought on, a bloodless fiend driven by a deep ancestral hatred. He took a stab at Venir.
Venir slid out of the way, cocked Brool back, and struck fast and precisely.
Rip!
Sornay’s head rolled from his shoulders and plopped on the ground.
Venir spun his axe. His restless eyes searched for Elypsa.
She was on her feet, clutching her side with one hand and carrying a sword in the other. Her eyes found his. She started running the other way.
CHAPTER 24
Before Fogle could even move, Brak was back on his feet, storming up the stairs.
“Brak, no!” Jubilee screamed, stepping into his path and waving her arms.
The seven plus footer paused, glowered down at her, picked her up, and flung her aside.
Fogle dove into her path, breaking her fall and tumbling to the ground with her. “Are you insane?”
Wincing and holding her shoulder, she replied, “I think.”
Pulling her up to her feet, he said, “Don’t do anything stupid again. You might as well try to stop a stampede of oxen next time.”
Jarla dismounted, took out her sword, and snaked her way up the stairs. She glanced at Fogle. “Are you coming, wizard?”
Inside the tavern, he heard wood being snapped. Glass breaking. Heavy grunting and growling. Something or someone was being slammed into the interior walls, shaking the entire building. Fogle grabbed onto the stair rail. “What manner of man or monster could have thrown Brak through a window?”
“I don’t know, but I have to find out.” Chin high, Jarla marched right inside.
Bringing a spell to his lips, Fogle went in after her. He gasped. The tavern, already a far cry from anything ever being tidy, was in the middle of a man-made demolition. Tables were overturned and smashed. The long oaken bar had been rammed through. Two candle chandeliers were torn from the rafter, and their rings were bent. Somewhere inside the kitchen, men or something like men howled and groaned.
Without warning, the shelves behind the bar burst into pieces. Three humanoids tore through the splintering wood, punching, kicking, and clawing each other. One of them was Brak. The other two were the fattest, squattest, baldest bearded ogres Fogle ever saw. Covered in kitchen grease and noodles, the threesome were a tornado of berserk fury.
Brak grabbed one ogre by the beard, held it fast, and popped it in the face.
The second ogre bit Brak’s leg.
The three of them rambled over the tavern floor and crashed through a support beam.
Astounded by the chaos, Fogle barely noticed the insistent tapping on his shoulder. “Jubilee, you should stay away.”
Jubilee popped in front of him. “Who are you talking to?” Her voice trailed off, and her eyes looked way up above Fogle’s head.
He glanced at the long, spidery fingers tapping on his shoulder and jumped away with a gasp.
A tall man stood there, slender as a pole. The man wore pale-brown robes past his toes, and his face was covered by his drape-like hood. “Are you with this berserker?” the figure said, stretching his spidery-hand out at Fogle’s face. “Are you? Are you?”
Freaked out, Fogle felt his lips begin muttering a spell.
Webbing flung from the stranger’s fingertips and covered Fogle’s mouth.
“Ulp!”
Jubilee screamed.
Jarla jumped at the lanky stranger.
The man held his hand up and said in a strong but peaceful manner, “You attack me, you attack us all. What is it you seek here? Why have you brought this trouble upon us, Jarla?”
Brak and the ogres slammed into the fireplace. Venir’s robust son stuffed one of the ogres’ heads into the fire, only to take a split upside his head.
“You know me?” Jarla said. “Who are you?”
“Yes, I know you, but you do not know me, Snake of the South. Now tell me what you seek.”
Jubilee yelle
d up at the man, “Food. Brak wants food. He goes berserk without it.”
The strange man took a knee and was still fully taller than Jubilee. “We’ll see.” He let out a shrieking whistle. “Food. Fetch food! Olg and Ugg! Fetch food, now!”
The ogres broke away from Brak and dashed for the kitchen. Their footsteps shook the room.
Brak stood alone by the fire. His neck muscles strained. His hands clenched in and out. He growled, sniffed, and snorted. “Muuuuuh-Raaaaaaah!”
Fogle peeled the webbing from his mouth. He fought to get the stickiness from his fingers.
“Can’t cast now, can you,” the strange man said. “Nice try anyway.”
Olg and Ugg burst out of the kitchen. Their big, meaty hands held metal baking dishes full of roast beast. They looked at the stranger.
The stranger waved his hands at them, saying, “Set it down, Olg and Ugg. Just set it down.”
Brak stormed across the room.
The ogre twins drew back their fists.
“Hold,” the stranger said. “Hold.”
Brak’s eyes fell on the cooked meat. He filled his hands with one of the roasts and stuffed it in his face.
“Hmmm, it seems your words are truthful,” the hooded man said. “He really is hungry. My, he eats like my ogres.”
“Your ogres?” Jarla said.
“My tavern too. The Orc’s Elbow. At least what’s left of it.” His hand disappeared into his hood, appearing to rub his hidden face. “I haven’t seen this kind of damage in years. And your friend the berserker, he seems familiar.”
The ogres and Brak got into a tugging match with the second hunk of meat. The three of them were growling at each other.
“Olg! Ugg! Leave it! Go get more food!”
That was when Fogle noticed the aprons on the two rotund ogres. “They’re the cooks?”
“Yes,” the stranger said. “And good ones too. I’m guessing your friend barged right into their kitchen. Nobody goes into their kitchen without their permission and comes out alive. Your friend shouldn’t be alive. Not many have ever fought ogres and lived to tell about it. I’ve only known one man to do so. His name was…”
The Darkslayer: Series 2 Special Edition (Bish and Bone Bundle Books 6-10): Sword and Sorcery Adventures Page 9