They were interrupted by the sudden arrival of a second ogre, this one wild-eyed. “Minotaur …”
Two now. Kaz shifted to compensate for the change in numbers. The second ogre carried both a sword and net, the latter one of the throwing kind used by some races when hunting prey.
This ogre eyed Kaz’s axe. “Squallin dead … by axe.”
“You not be from Nethosak,” blurted the first at the minotaur. Its axe rose.
Its words were punctuated by a pained growl as Honor’s Face caught its weapon arm, leaving a great gash. The axe dropped from the ogre’s hand. As the creature grabbed its wounded limb, Kaz whirled on the second one, who was already advancing.
A web enveloped him. Quicker than its partner, the second ogre had tossed the net with accuracy. It covered the minotaur well. The angle made it difficult to properly wield his axe, leaving Kaz nearly defenseless. The ogre’s mouth widened in triumph. It raised its sword for a killing stroke.
Bending forward, Kaz charged.
The attack was not what the ogre expected. Kaz’s horns plunged into the wide torso of the minotaur’s foe, the force behind them more than enough to pierce the ogre’s thick hide. The monster’s gasp was as much from surprise as pain. As Kaz pulled away, the ogre gasped again and tried to stanch the flow of blood.
The first ogre had retrieved its axe, but its attempt to swat the tangled minotaur with it was spoiled by its awkward swing. Kaz dodged the axe and backed away, at the same time using one hand to pull himself free of the net. The ogre he had gored collapsed.
He had the net half off when the other ogre attacked again. Although he was able to raise his own weapon to defend himself, the angle was such that his opponent’s axe clattered and slid down along the handle. Kaz grunted in pain as the edge scraped his arm, nearly making him lose his grip.
Once more the ogre brought the axe up, but obviously being more used to using its other hand, it moved slowly and without precision. It gave the minotaur time to free himself completely and still raise Honor’s Face in time to deflect the next attack.
Far to his right Kaz heard a gruff shout. Taking advantage of the distraction, the minotaur charged, battle-axe swinging low and fast. The ogre brought its own axe down in an attempt to pin Kaz’s to the ground, but over-compensated. The ogre weapon sank into the earth and before its master could pull it up, Honor’s Face cut across both legs.
Its legs collapsing beneath it, the ogre fell forward. Kaz pulled away. Unable to stop, the ogre impaled itself on the head of its own double-edged axe.
Kaz turned to face any newcomers. To his surprise, not only were there no new attackers, but it sounded as if the others were retreating.
They were heading in the direction of the camp.
Delbin was alone.
Snarling epithets at random gods, Kaz ran as fast as he could, fearing he was already too late.
Chapter 4
Ogre Attack
———
It was only a few minutes before the first of the hunters came within sight. He was only a black outline, but Kaz had no trouble identifying him as another ogre. The hunter carried a net and club.
Just a moment later, a second shadow moved toward the camp, what looked like an axe in one hand and possibly a net in the other. They were surprisingly deft for their kind, but to Kaz they were noisy enough to wake the dead. Leaning Honor’s Face against a tree, he removed a knife from the belt of his kilt and moved silently toward the nearest ogre.
The ogre never noticed him, so intent was it on the lone figure by the campfire. Kaz came up behind the stalker, then, when the ogre paused to scout the area, the minotaur struck. With one hand he covered the ogre’s mouth. Then, before the creature could comprehend what was happening, Kaz drove the blade into his adversary’s throat. The minotaur had no qualms about doing so; the ogre would have done the same—or worse.
With a muffled gasp, the ogre slumped. Kaz held on, cushioning the body to prevent it from falling to the ground too heavily. He gently lowered his victim, then, wiping the blade, looked around.
The other ogre was no longer in sight, but Kaz had a fairly good idea of where it had gone. Crouching as low as he could, yet still move swiftly, the minotaur darted among the trees. Suddenly, he spotted the second ogre waiting impatiently for some signal. Kaz moved at an incautious pace. He was almost on top of the ogre. Only a few steps more …
Then something, some slight movement on the minotaur’s part, made the hunter turn. The ogre spotted Kaz and hesitated. It would be only a moment before his opponent realized that Kaz was not an ally, so the minotaur did the only thing he could. He threw his blade, burying the knife deep in the ogre’s chest. The creature dropped its weapons and tried to reach for the blade, but its life was already draining from it. It fell before its hands were even halfway to the hilt.
Kaz rushed to the body, hoping no one had heard it fall, and reached to retrieve his knife.
A bird called out. The minotaur froze, knowing that such birds were not usually in the habit of chattering at night.
From the other side of the campsite there came the rustling of vegetation and the heavy grunting of moving figures. Kaz heard a gasp that had to have come from Delbin. A deep voice snarled an unintelligible order.
The minotaur cursed. Seizing his blade, he thrust it into his belt and ran for the camp. Even before he reached it, he was able to make out what was happening. His heart sank.
There were five of them, two minotaurs and three ogres. One ogre was trying to hold a squirming Delbin while the others looked around for obstacles to their fun. All of them looked very disappointed.
He did not hesitate. Roaring at the top of his voice, Kaz leapt into camp just behind one of the ogres. The hunters looked up in time to see him raise his arm and open his empty hand. The look of surprise in their eyes when Honor’s Face materialized in his grip amused Kaz even though he had already witnessed that shocked look countless times in the past. The magical axe always had returned to him when he most needed it, and certainly now figured to be a time of need.
He cut down the first ogre while the creature was still gaping. The one holding Delbin tossed the kender aside and readied its weapon. One of the minotaurs started forward while the second backed quickly away, retreating into the woods.
Kaz met the ogre axe against axe. The ogre was a veteran warrior, so the two traded blows at first. The other minotaur moved in after that to give the ogre a hand, forcing Kaz back. Behind them he could see the remaining ogre turn on Delbin menacingly.
Hard-pressed as he was to concentrate on anything but his two opponents, Kaz did not at first know why the ogre in the rear abruptly slipped and fell. Only when Delbin’s small figure darted past his field of vision did he guess what might have happened.
“Stand still!” cursed the second ogre, rising. It had a sword nearly as long as Kaz’s axe and was trying to cleave the moving kender in two. Kaz would have laughed, if not for the fact that his own enemies were separating in order to further divide his attention.
“Surrender and we’ll see that your death is swift,” the minotaur in the woods demanded.
“I don’t surrender to those without honor.”
His words angered the other minotaur, who swung carelessly with his blade. Kaz used that anger to his advantage, catching his foe’s weapon by the hilt with the edge of his axe and tearing the sword free. The blade flew at the ogre, who, though it was in no danger of being hurt by it, stepped back in astonishment.
His minotaur antagonist tried to stop the flow of blood from his wounded hand. Kaz immediately turned to the ogre. Its advantage lost and its footing awkward from backing away, the ogre swung its axe far too high. Kaz ducked enough to allow the weapon to pass harmlessly over his head, then brought his own battle-axe down on the ogre’s forearm.
Honor’s Face cut through the arm with as much ease as it did most everything else. The ogre screamed and pulled away, leaving behind its hand and part of its forea
rm. The wounded minotaur had retreated.
“Sargas take all of you!” cursed the second minotaur from the darkness, his words for his companions, not Kaz and Delbin. Seeing Kaz about to battle against it, the remaining ogre decided that escape was the best course of action.
Not willing to let any more of his foes escape, Kaz charged after the fleeing ogre. However, he had only reached the edge of the campsite when he suddenly became entangled in a number of tree limbs that materialized before him. Kaz tried to shove them aside, only to discover that they clung to him with the tenacity of serpents.
One of the nearest trees started to move, its branches reaching out in what looked to be an attempt to seize his axe.
“Paladine!” He tugged Honor’s Face back before the tree could succeed, then swung it around, slicing through the harassing branches. As they clattered to the ground, more sought to seize him, but he cut through those as well. No normal axe could have severed so many limbs so quickly. If Kaz had used any other weapon, he was fairly certain he quickly would have become trapped … or worse.
The animated tree suddenly loomed above him, black shadow in the black night. Kaz hefted his weapon, but as he prepared to strike, another tree moved toward him. It now appeared that the trees intended to crush him on all sides.
Unwilling to accept such a fate, the minotaur gripped his weapon and leapt into the nearest tree, which tried unsuccessfully to seize him. Kaz continued climbing into the upper reaches, avoiding branches from below that tried to drag him down.
Peering down, Kaz caught sight of an unnatural red gleam. He faintly glimpsed a minotaur holding something aloft in his left hand, an item that was the source of the gleam … and likely the reason the trees had become so lively. Hooking the axe into his harness, Kaz crawled swiftly along a strong limb that led toward the mysterious minotaur.
Movement to his left and right informed him that the other trees were squeezing in closer. Kaz took one look each way, estimated the distance to the other minotaur, and jumped.
He landed just short, but his abrupt appearance so startled the second minotaur that the latter dropped the gleaming red artifact, a crystal. Kaz, charging forward, did not waste time. The other minotaur tried to retrieve the magic talisman, placing a hand on it just as Kaz reached him. The pair collided, and the gem flew away.
Neither had time for words. The darkness made the battle more confusing. Kaz sought to get a grip on the other minotaur’s arm in the hope of twisting it, when he backed into a tree that he did not think should have been there. His amazement might have given the advantage to his foe, but for the fact that the tree pushed Kaz forward, sending both minotaurs scrambling.
What in Kiri-Jolith’s name? wondered Kaz. Then he realized the truth. The gem gave the minotaur crude command over the trees he had animated. The trees were ordered to capture or possibly kill Kaz, and if the other minotaur got in the way, they would not notice the difference.
His foe crawled out from underneath him, but instead of trying to continue the fight, he took one look at the oncoming monsters and rushed off after his comrades. Kaz did not have much respect for his fellow’s sense of duty and honor, though he did have some regard for his common sense. There was no use dying needlessly.
Tree limbs sought him again, but he managed to roll away. Kaz landed against another trunk, this one belonging to a stationary tree. The minotaur took momentary cover.
Attacking with Honor’s Face occurred to him, but Kaz did not like the idea of wading into the huge monsters no matter how formidable his battle-axe. There had to be another way. He could outrun ogres, but then he was afraid some other person might run afoul of the animated creatures. Kaz had no idea how long the enchantment would last. The only one who could have answered that question was the minotaur who had been controlling the gem—
The gem! I’ve been a fool! He quickly scanned the darkness for it, seeking the red gleam. A faint crimson glowed in the foliage to his far left. It could be only the talisman.
One of the trees had shifted closer to try to seize him, but he managed to evade it. Behind him Kaz could hear the animated trees pursuing. Kaz gritted his teeth. He was not far away now. Just a few more yards.
His legs became entangled in some branches. Kaz lost his balance and fell face forward. Almost before he had even hit the ground the hapless warrior found himself being dragged backward. He tried to reach for his axe, but it was difficult. The trees had him in their clutches.
A small figure suddenly materialized near him. “Kaz?”
“Delbin! Find the red gem! It glows in the dark!”
Even under these dire circumstances, the kender’s tone was merry. “It does? Gee, that’d be neat to see! I—”
Another set of tree limbs caught hold of his legs. Kaz managed to seize hold of the axe, but doubted he could wield it successfully from his present position on his stomach. “Be quiet, Delbin! Find the gem! Quickly! It’s over to your side.”
Delbin looked around. “I don’t see it!”
Under other circumstances, the kender could have found the tiniest trinket, even if it had been lost and buried for years. Kaz wondered whether he should just surrender to his fate now.
His companion turned his head. “Oh! There it is!” He hurried over to the gem and picked it up. “I’ve got it, Kaz!”
About time, the harried minotaur thought. “Hold it in your hand and command the trees to stop!”
“It’ll make them do that? I never saw—”
“Delbin!”
The kender immediately raised the gem high, shouting at the same time, “Stop, trees!”
Nothing happened. The trees continued their work. One of them was trying to lift Kaz by his legs. The minotaur had the axe out, but trying to strike effectively from upside down was not easy, even with his cherished weapon.
“I said that you should stop, you trees! Stop that!” Delbin paused. “I don’t think it’s working, Kaz!”
“Break the damned thing!” It was the only other idea he could think of at the moment.
“I don’t have anything to break it with. It’s pretty hard, Kaz!”
The warrior could think of only one article that either of them owned that might be able to shatter the magical gem. Loathe as he was to give up his only defense, Kaz focused on the kender, cocked his arm, and tossed Honor’s Face toward the small figure. “Use the axe! Hurry!”
The other trees clustered around him. His view of Delbin was blocked off. He did hear the kender moving around, but that was all.
“The axe is heavy, Kaz!”
“You don’t need to raise it very high!”
His inhuman foes closed on him. Kaz’s position became untenable. In minutes the trees would crush him between their trunks.
A brilliant flash of crimson light illuminated the immediate area.
The trees ceased moving. Kaz held his breath, waiting for them to resume, but they did not. He exhaled and laughed.
“Kaz? Are you okay?” Delbin’s upside-down head appeared between two of the trees.
“Good enough.” He had the arm wound and a splitting headache now, but that was negligible in comparison to what could have happened. “I think I’m going to need your help in freeing myself, though.”
“Okay.”
With his companion’s aid, Kaz was soon able to free himself from the tight little copse. There was no sign of the other attackers. Kaz guessed that he had seen the end of them. Not a very competent group, he thought, not even the minotaurs. He thought about pursuing them, but decided that it was not wise to chase around in the dark. Turning to Delbin again, he asked, “How about you? Are you all right?”
The kender nodded. If anything, he looked thrilled by the night’s festivities. It was yet another trait of the race that Kaz would never understand.
Feeling guilty for having left his companion alone, the minotaur added, “Sorry I had to do things that way. I thought we’d have a better chance if I could catch some of them unaware. I
’d hoped to do more damage.” He was slipping a little, though. He and his companion very well could have been killed. Had his time trying to raise a family dulled his wits some? “I’m sorry.”
Delbin appeared unconcerned. The kender looked at the dead ogre and surveyed the remnants of the attack. “It’s okay, Kaz. I knew you’d save us.”
The statement was said so confidently that Kaz could not dispute it. Delbin resolutely believed in him. Kaz felt embarrassed.
“I knew you’d save us,” the kender repeated, looking up and smiling. “The man in the dream said so just before I woke up.”
“The what?” Now that had an unsettlingly familiar ring to it. Kaz’s eyes narrowed. “The man in gray?”
“Yes, Kaz! He said not to worry, because the time hadn’t come yet to test the balance. He said you’d see us through to that point. We have to be somewhere else for the balancing test.”
“By Paladine! That does it!” The minotaur turned his gaze skyward. “I don’t know which one of you it is, but I’ll not be your puppet again! I’m going to rescue Hecar and then I’m going straight home to my mate and children! Get another to play your infernal game, whatever it is!”
Kaz doubted that the Great Dragon, as the Lord of Good was called by some, was behind this. Paladine was just and fair, but there were other gods, either of Good, Neutrality, or Evil, that, in his eyes, toyed with creatures when they themselves could not act outwardly.
The night sky, of course, did not respond. Kaz snorted in anger and looked at his companion. The kender seemed interested in his words, but made no comment, for which Kaz was grateful. At that moment he came to a decision that he felt was right under the circumstances. It was what he should have done in the first place.
“Tomorrow you’ll head south to the settlement and Helati, Delbin. You’ll go there and you’ll stay there.”
The kender started to protest, but Kaz turned his back on him, beginning the grisly task of disposing of the ogre remains. He did not look at or talk to his companion again for the rest of the night.
Land of the Minotaurs Page 6