The Darkslayer: Series 2 Special Edition (Bish and Bone Bundle Books 1-5): Sword and Sorcery Adventures
Page 70
Helm interpreted it. “Impossible.”
Venir closed in. His body was loose skin and shambles. He’d never killed a woman before, but this was an underling. It had to be done. He lifted his arm that was bigger than both of her legs.
“Oyatch!” Melegal spat an order out. “Oyatch!”
Quickster bucked. His hooves drove straight into the middle of Elypsa’s back. Her spine snapped.
Crack!
She fell limp on the ground.
Helm throbbing, Venir turned.
The underling flying in the air shambled toward them. His fingertips winked in and out with fire. Deep hatred was in his lone red eye.
Venir took two great strides and pounced high in the air. Up, up he went. Down, down Brool came.
Sidebor’s mystic shield went up.
It didn’t matter. The downward force of Brool shattered it to pieces. Venir turned him into dog food.
Chop! Chop! Chop! Chop! CHOP!
Sidebor’s bright eye winked out, and a powerful gust of wind exploded from his body.
Still on his feet, Venir turned and said, “Where’s Erin?”
CHAPTER 41
Erin lived. The little girl would have a nasty scar in her shoulder, but she’d probably grow out of it.
Boon died. Melegal found him, staring up into the sky. His neck was burnt black flesh that reeked. Every hair on his body was burnt to a crisp, including his mustache. But he had a wry smile on his face. A victorious look was in his eye. Perhaps he knew something they did not know. Whatever it was, it had died with him.
“Should we bury him?” Billip crinkled his nose. “Death stinks.”
Melegal put his cap back on his head. “Are we going to bury all of them?”
There were dead everywhere and only a handful of survivors. All of Melegal’s friends had survived, at least the women, Billip, and Venir had.
Nikkel was torn to pieces and barely breathing.
“Eh,” Billip said, “I think it’s bad luck to bury a wizard. Let the birds eat him.”
“That sounds like something I’d say,” said Melegal. “No, we bury him, at least I will. I don’t know why, but I liked the old guy. I think he did us a favor too. He gave just enough so that we, or Venir at least, could finish him off.”
“If you say so. My, you look pretty bad for you.”
“Ha. And of all the scrapes we’ve been in, how’d you get out of this one unscathed?”
“I pretended I was you. You must have pretended you were Vee.” Billip patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll find a shovel. And, glad you’re still around, Melegal. We both might survive this disaster yet.” He walked away.
Melegal took a breath. His once limber limbs ached. His heart ached. The faces of his dead friends had started to stack up. Mikkel. Georgio. Lefty. Boon. And Fogle, Brak, and Jubilee were missing. Slom and Zurth were dead too—by Venir’s hand, but he’d liked them. He glanced back and found Jasper wrapping up Nikkel’s wounds. His thoughts went to Haze. The callous and scrawny woman had kept him warm inside and out. This war had taken her, too. At least Jasper had made it, for now.
Nearby, another unique body lay on the ground. It was the underling woman. Her back was broken, yet she lived. But the life in her limbs was gone. Billip had disarmed her and bound her up. She was talking in Underling, her eyes filled with fear.
Venir slipped in front of Melegal. The helmet was gone, but the axe remained. The man’s body was a mess. Bloody bandages and ugly stitches, most of which he had done himself.
“I couldn’t let you kill her,” Melegal said to him.
“I know. Let’s hope we don’t regret it.” He pointed the axe at the woman. “Maybe she’ll die.”
“They hate too strongly to die on their own,” Melegal said. He kneeled down and inspected her. “All of that fighting and not a scratch on her.”
“I must have been holding back on account of her being a woman.”
“Well, she sure got the best of you,” he said, eyeing a flap of skin that hung loose on Venir’s shoulder.
“It’s only flesh. Who needs it?” Venir studied his axe. Caressed the wood that made up the handle. His meaty hand stopped on the iron shod at the bottom of the handle. A curious look filled his eye. He turned the shod.
Sshtik!
The spike retracted.
“You really should quit playing with that thing. One day you’re going to hurt yourself.”
“Huh,” Venir said. He turned the handle again.
Sshtik!
The spike popped out.
“You know, after all these years I completely forgot about that. Wonder why?”
“Because you’re a lout.”
***
Dwarven Hole. It looked like a series of gargantuan inverted volcanoes in the ground. It took Venir and company three days to get there, but they made it. Now, they stood gaping over the rim. It was a canyon from one side to the other and dark within. Venir heard no hammer. No hum of working. No grinding machines.
Hugging him with her good arm, Kam said to him, “This doesn’t look safe.”
“Compared to what?” he joked.
Kam looked up at him with a frown.
“I’m sure it’s fine. It’s just been a while.” Too long maybe. The dwarves didn’t take in strangers, and Venir had only been here a few times—with Mood, and the King of the blood rangers was gone. That was probably his fault too. He had no idea if they would blame him or not. Or even if they knew.
“Something comes,” Billip said.
A squad of stocky bodies appeared out of the dimness and marched up the inner ramp. Dwarves in heavy armor crested the rim and more kept coming. In seconds they had the remnant of survivors surrounded.
A black bearded one in black chainmail spoke first. “Aye, we know you, Venir.” He pointed at Billip. “Him too.” He peeked around Venir. A few jung, striders, and humans stood on weak legs behind him. “Dark times. I take it you vouch for all of them.”
“We’re all we have left of one another. Some supplies would do, but I want to talk.”
The dwarf’s black brows lifted. “Then talk.”
“It’s time for war.”
“Then let’s talk some more. Come.”
The dwarves marched all of them down inside.
After they’d traveled a mile or more through the grim darkness, the soft light of Dwarven Hole came. The women gaped at all of the marvelous bridges and terraces deep within. Everything was thick, sturdy, and well built.
The dwarves led them into a grand room. Water trickled from the rock into a fresh pond. Greenery and fruit were aplenty.
“Rest,” the dwarven commander said to them all. He bowed. “Aside from you. Come, Venir.”
Aching all over, Venir followed the commander and four guards for long minutes that turned into an hour. He knew Dwarven Hole but not that well. He had no idea where or how deep he was.
Finally, the commander turned and passed under an archway.
This was a room Venir recognized. It was the throne room of Mood, King of the Blood Rangers. There stood a rank of twenty blood rangers on either side of the throne room, all with blood-red beards. Some were bushy, others braided or tied in knots. They were fair skinned, red skinned, dark skinned, and olive. Each and every one as hardy as a mountain.
The commander and his small company departed without a word.
Venir swallowed. It was clear. They wanted an explanation about Mood.
Finally, unseen, a rich dwarven voice spoke. “So, yer ready for war, are you?”
Venir’s blue eyes widened like saucers.
There was the sound of two familiar dogs barking and claws scraping the stone floor in a rush, and then Chongo was licking Venir’s face.
Smoking cigar in mouth, Mood said, “Huzzah.”
The blood rangers replied in unison, “Huzzah!”
Epilogue
Fogle sat staring into a fire. Jubilee was asleep at his side. A ragged blanket barely cove
red her.
Jarla’s tent was in sight. Brak had been with her, day in and day out, for the last two days. They were traveling south. Very south, to the jungles. The brigands had made that much clear. The brash men stank. Had filthy habits. They were just on the edge of civilized.
Mild barbarian. Hecht!
He spat the foul taste from his mouth. It wouldn’t leave. He never used to spit until now. That was all these men did. Spit. Blow snot. Curse. They made Venir look like a school boy.
Just when you think nothing can get any worse, you find yourself in an ogre’s armpit.
Jarla’s tent flap opened, and she emerged. The two sentries on either side bowed. She departed and came Fogle’s way. Dagger in hand, all she wore was a short black gown. She took a seat on a log across from him and picked up a stone. She started scraping her blade’s edge with it.
“Couldn’t you do that inside, or is Brak sleeping?”
She showed him a little smile. “A little jealous are we?”
Fogle stiffened. “Certainly not.” Yes. Bish yes. You’re a fine mare. “I just don’t see a need to coddle him.”
“Coddle. Cuddle.” She shrugged. “He’s mine now. It’s so easy to manipulate the young.”
“Figured that out, did you?”
“He told me. He told me everything. You know, he’s the reason you and she live. Me, I think you’re too dangerous.” She scraped her dagger with the stone once more and tossed the stone down. “I don’t like it.”
“You have my book. I’m useless without it. And I haven’t studied a spell in days.”
Her eyes narrowed on him. “I’m no fool, mage, so don’t get on my bad side.” She displayed the sharp blade. “Bad things can happen when you sleep, you know.”
NEXT BOOK
The Darkslayer: Brigands and Badlands, Book 6, is now available!!! Just click this link or the picture !
Or, check out, Clash of Heroes: Nath Dragon meets The Darkslayer. It will be worth your while.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Craig Halloran resides with his family outside of his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. When he isn’t entertaining mankind, he is seeking adventure, working out, or watching sports. To learn more about him, go to: www.thedarkslayer.com
Other Works by Craig Halloran
Clash of Heroes: Nath Dragon meets The Darkslayer
The Darkslayer Series 1
Wrath of the Royals (Book 1)
Blades in the Night (Book 2)
Underling Revenge (Book 3)
Danger and the Druid (Book 4)
Outrage in the outlands (Book 5)
Chaos at the Castle (Book 6)
The Darkslayer Series 2
Bish and Bone (Book 1)
Black Blood (Book 2)
Red Death (Book 3)
Lethal Liaisons (Book 4)
Torment and Terror (Book 5)
Brigands and Badlands (Book 6)
War in the Wasteland (Book 7)
Slaughter in the Streets (Book 8)
Hunt of the Beast (Book 9)
The Battle for Bone (Book 10)
The Chronicles of Dragon Series 1
The Hero, the Sword and the Dragons (Book 1)
Dragon Bones and Tombstones (Book 2)
Terror at the Temple (Book 3)
Clutch of the Cleric (Book 4)
Hunt for the Hero (Book 5)
Siege at the Settlements (Book 6)
Strife in the Sky (Book 7)
Fight and the Fury (Book 8)
War in the Winds (Book 9)
Finale (Book 10)
The Chronicles of Dragon, Series 2, Tail of the Dragon
Tail of the Dragon
Claws of the Dragon
Sword of the Dragon
Eye of the Dragon
Trial of the Dragon
Scales of the Dragon
The Supernatural Bounty Hunter Files
Smoke Rising
I Smell Smoke
Where there’s Smoke
Smoke on the Water
Smoke and Mirrors
Holy Smoke
Up in Smoke
Smoke ‘em
Smoke Out
Zombie Impact Series
Zombie Day Care: Book 1
Zombie Rehab: Book 2
Zombie Warfare: Book 3
Connect with him at:
Facebook: The Darkslayer Report by Craig
Twitter: Craig Halloran
www.craighalloran.com
www.thedarkslayer.com