From the doorway, a voice said, “Who says he didn’t?”
They turned to find Mackum standing there with his henchman.
Mackum stepped to the side and the Halfling emerged from behind him. “Kill them my pets!”
As three creatures charged past Mackum, Jaikus screamed while Reneeke quickly bent down to pick up one of the fallen bandits’ swords.
The creatures launched an assault on Reneeke who stood his ground.
“Rene!” Jaikus yelled.
Rearing back the sword as if to strike an advancing creature, Reneeke said, “Jaik, they’re not real.” With that he threw the sword. It passed through one of the illusionary creatures, sailed between Mackum and his henchman to land its sharpened blade vertically along the Halfling’s chest. His coat was cleaved in two and the tip cut into the underside of his jaw continuing on to embed within his throat. Staggering back as he spit blood, the Halfling collapsed and the creatures vanished.
“Now, Jaik!”
Leaping forward, Reneeke slashed at Mackum. The bandit leader brushed it aside and returned a backhand swipe that caused Reneeke to dart backward.
“I want that chest.”
“You’ll have to kill us first.”
Mackum the Red laughed. “My pleasure.”
Striking out, Mackum sliced at Reneeke’s head only to have it batted aside. He followed it with a triple-set of strikes that forced Reneeke back a step. Behind them, blades rang as his henchman engaged Jaikus.
“Give it up, boy,” Mackum said. “You can’t beat me.”
Reneeke failed to react to his baiting. Instead, he concentrated on his swordsmanship, and his opponent. As the blows came in ever greater number and speed, he again concentrated on defense during which he studied Mackum’s style. Thinking that he had it down, he began to maneuver Mackum’s blade to the side as Larko had taught him.
Two passes and it had moved out a small distance. Two more and it was even further out. When it reached a point where the next series of exchanges would bring it out enough to create an opening, he knocked Mackum’s blade aside and lunged.
Mackum twisted and his backhanded slash nearly took off Reneeke’s ear. He dove to the side to avoid the blow. He rolled and returned quickly back to his feet.
“Nice try, but you’ll have to do better than that.”
Reneeke came to realize that he may very well be facing a swordsman of superior skill. That knowledge did little to bolster his courage. Behind him, he heard Jaikus swear as their battle paused only to commence a few moments later.
There is no such thing as a fair fight, Larko had said. Either you win, or you die. Do what you must to win.
He had size on Mackum. While the bandit was not a small man, Reneeke had a couple inches on him and the strength and endurance of a life of back-breaking manual labor. He was solid, strong, and he could use that to his advantage.
Lashing out with a cross-handed slice he followed it with a back-hand slash. Then a downward hack…waited for Mackum’s lunge and as he knocked it aside leapt forward. The sheer unexpectedness of the forward maneuver caught Mackum off-guard.
Reneeke’s blade remained in contact with Mackum’s and caught it against its crossguard thus preventing him from continuing the attack.
Mackum tried to quickly backpedal out of reach but Reneeke grabbed him by the shirt front and leapt forward once more forcing Mackum back against the wall behind him. His shoulder slammed into Mackum with great force, then a knee came up and took him in the groin. As the bandit leader doubled over, Reneeke’s elbow connected with the side of his face and Mackum hit the ground.
Blade waving with less than practiced skill, Mackum tried to keep Reneeke at arm’s length while he worked back to his feet. Reneeke didn’t allow him the luxury of time.
Pressing forward, Reneeke struck the leader’s sword a few inches north of the crossguard. With strength developed through years of chopping rails, logs for the fire, and a hundred other sundry tasks required on a farm, he knocked the blade from his hand.
As it clattered across the floor, Reneeke kicked the leader in the side knocking him on his back. Then using both hands, he thrust downward with his sword.
Mackum raised his hands to try to stop the blow, but the blade skewered both hands and continued on through his breastbone. It didn’t stop until hitting the stone floor beneath. With a gurgle, the bandit leader’s eyes glazed over.
Reneeke pulled his sword free and raced over to where Jaikus was barely holding his own.
Blood soaked Jaikus’ tunic in several places and it was clear that he was slowing down.
The henchman was on full attack and it was all he could do to keep the blows from landing. Midway through a slice, the henchman caught Reneeke’s approach from the corner of his eye and pulled his attack. Taking a step back and to the side, he turned to face this new threat.
“You okay, Jaik?” Reneeke asked as his sword clashed with the henchman’s.
Jaikus merely nodded.
Reneeke began the series of blows Larko had drilled him on and worked to widen the man’s defense. Unlike Mackum, his henchman proved to be less skilled. Once his defense had widened sufficiently, Reneeke lunged and took him through the stomach. Pulling out his sword, he took a step back and waited to see what the henchman would do.
Twice more the henchman launched attacks, but the blow to his stomach quickly sapped his strength and Reneeke was able to end the fight in short order. He turned to find Jaikus sitting against the wall with his eyes closed.
“Jaik?” he asked full of worry. He hurried to his friend’s side.
Jaikus’ eyes opened. “I’m alive.”
“Thank the gods,” Reneeke said. “How bad are you?”
“He got me a couple times.”
“More than a couple.” There were four separate stains developing; one along each arm, his left shoulder and the left side of his chest.
Reneeke removed his pack and took out a minor healing potion. “Here,” he said. “Better drink this.”
Jaikus took the bottle and drank it down. He felt better immediately. The pain subsided and his head started to clear. “Thanks.”
Off to the side, Arno was making noises through his gag.
“Quiet,” Reneeke said. Then to Jaikus, “I’m going to take a look around outside and see if they had anymore with them.”
Worry came to Jaikus’ eyes. “Do you think so?”
He shook his head. “No. If they had more he probably would have brought them in. I’d just feel better if I’m sure.” Coming to his feet, he added, “Stay here and rest. I’ll be right back.”
“Be careful.”
Reneeke nodded then headed for the door. Once in the hallway, he went to the now-opened door leading to the altar room. Peering through to make sure it was empty, he then passed through and walked to the passageway leading to the outside.
The door leading outside stood closed. He put his ear against it and when he didn’t hear anything, opened it.
It was sunny outside; looked to still lack several hours until noon. No other living soul could be seen so he stepped outside. The sun on his face felt good and the fresh mountain air a welcome change to the musty air of inside. Standing there a moment, he reveled in the feel of the soft breeze. Then he heard the snort of a horse from along the trail they had taken to reach this place.
Investigating, he found their four horses, the ones the creatures had “killed” before they fled up there. There were also two that must have belonged to Mackum and his henchman as well as the Halfling’s pony. He was pleased to see the other items pilfered by Lord Holleran were attached to one of the horses as well.
Returning inside, he made sure to close and lock the door before rejoining Jaikus.
“Guess what…,” he began as he walked into the room but then stopped when he saw his friend going through Mackum’s pockets.
Jaikus glanced up. “They have surprisingly little, Rene. You’d think someone as well-kn
own as Mackum the Red would have more than ten silvers and two small gems.”
“Well, you’ll be happy to know our horses are out front, along with theirs.”
“Really?”
Reneeke nodded. “Told you those creatures had been illusion that attacked our camp.”
“Things are looking up.”
“How much did you find?”
“Altogether, not much more than a gold I think.”
Reneeke eyed his friend as he put the loot in his pouch. “How are you feeling?”
“Better than ever.” He glanced to his friend. “You’re right about those potions making you feel good. I feel like I can take on the world.”
Laughing, Reneeke said, “Wait until the effects wear off and you’ll feel like the world is weighing you down.”
“But until then, I plan to enjoy it.”
Arno again began making noises through his gag.
Jaikus jerked a thumb toward him and asked, “What should we do with him?”
Reneeke walked to the bound raider and knelt before him. Arno quieted. He then pulled down the man’s gag. “What should we do with you?”
“Man, you two are something. I never thought no one could take down Mackum the Red so readily.”
Reneeke thought ‘readily’ was a less than apt term. It had been all he could do to avoid being killed.
“Can I join you two? I could be a big help.”
Glancing to Jaikus, he saw the gleam in his eye. Jaikus would love to have a henchman, but Reneeke shook his head. “No thanks. I think we’ll be fine as we are for now.”
“Then at least let me go,” Arno pleaded. “Leaving me here tied up will be a death sentence. No one’s going to come looking.”
“I thought you said more of your crew was to return in a day or two from a supply run.”
Arno assumed a guilty expression. “Well, yeah, I just said that so you wouldn’t kill me. It was just the four of us.”
Reneeke eyed him. Was he lying then, or was he lying now? “We’ll see.” Replacing the gag, he joined Jaikus where he was going over their newly acquired loot. “No matter how many times you look at it, it isn’t likely to grow.”
Jaikus turned a grin upon him. “Yeah, I just like to.”
Patting him on the shoulder, Reneeke chuckled. “I know. We should be thinking about getting out of here.”
“Uh, yeah. I was thinking about that.”
“And?”
“And, since everyone is dead, and no one’s after us, and there are no more of his cohorts on their way, maybe we could root around a little?” When Reneeke looked ready to balk, Jaikus added, “It wouldn’t take more than an hour, two at the most. Then we could leave.”
“That locked door still on your mind?”
“Yes! It has to be locked for a reason and the fact that it can’t be opened must mean there is something truly valuable or magical behind there.”
“We only have Arno’s word that it cannot be opened.”
“Still, let’s check it out.” He gestured to Arno. “He and his crew might have a stash of loot around here too.”
Reneeke sighed. He knew he wasn’t going to get out of there until Jaikus got that bee out of his bonnet. “Okay. But an hour only.”
Jaikus scooped his loot into his pouch and stood. “Promise.”
“And,” Reneeke said as he went back to Arno, “we’re taking him with us.” Using his knife, he severed the bonds binding Arno’s ankles. Pulling him to his feet, he said, “Jaik, hand me the chest.”
With chest beneath one arm and the other holding his sword to the back of Arno, he turned to Jaikus, “Let’s go.”
Chapter 14
Reneeke pointed to the victim on the altar. “So why keep that there?”
“To scare away any who might wander in.”
Jaikus snorted. “Did it work?”
Arno glanced to the two of them and chuckled. “Apparently not.”
Bypassing the altar, they crossed to the door leading to the passage where they first encountered him. The door was ajar.
“Sure there isn’t anyone else here?” Jaikus asked.
“Positive. There was just me, Bellar, Torin and Saka. They were the three you took out in the other room.”
Reneeke nudged him with the point of his sword. “If you’re lying, you’re a dead man.”
“I’m not worried for I ain’t lyin’.”
Jaikus pulled the door open. Light still shone from the room twenty feet down on the right. This time, there were no voices.
“I think it’s clear.”
Reneeke gestured with his sword, “Lead on.”
He stepped quietly as he went to the door. After a quick peek to the inside, he waved Reneeke forward.
A fire burned in a ring in the middle of the room. Four bedrolls laid spaced around the fire; several packs sat among them.
“He could have been telling the truth,” Jaikus said. He then went to the packs and began rummaging through them.
When he came to the second one, Arno hollered, “Hey, that one’s mine!”
Jaikus ignored him and removed a small purse containing a few coppers. “You guys didn’t do very well for yourselves, did you?” He pocketed the coppers. The rest of the packs held little better. Another half gold joined the coins in his pouch.
Returning to the passageway, Jaikus looked down toward where it disappeared in shadows. “So what’s down there?”
“Just more rooms,” Arno replied.
“Anything of interest?”
He shook his head. “The last room contains two sculptures sitting in wall niches. But they are badly chipped and marred.”
Jaikus gestured for him to lead. “Show me.”
Arno took the lead with Jaikus at his side. Reneeke brought up the rear with chest under one arm and his sword out to ensure Arno behaved.
They passed four more doorways. After cursory examinations came up with nothing, they continued on.
The final door was at the end of the passage. Arno opened it and proceeded inside. He pointed off to the right. “There they are.”
Two busts of men, or what they thought might have been men, had over time been chipped and scored by weapons or other instruments. Their features could no longer be made out.
Reneeke went to investigate. “What’s the story with these?”
“Don’t know. They were like that when we arrived.”
Jaikus checked out the one on the right while Reneeke looked over the one on the left. “Even if they were untouched, doubt if they would have fetched much.”
“I agree,” Reneeke said as he turned away from the bust. “If there had ever been a key to that door, it’s long been removed.”
Jaikus ignored him as he checked the busts. Dozens of tales dealing with statues, secret compartments and triggers, as well as a myriad of other topics coursed through his mind as he slowly ran his fingers over the bust.
He checked every protuberance to see if it would move, or could be pushed in, on the right-hand bust. After trying to pull the bust out of the niche only to discover it wouldn’t budge, he went to the one on the left.
Using the same techniques, he sought a secret compartment or trigger. There had to be something that would do something to open that door. He tried tilting the bust to the right, the left, front and back. He even tried pushing it down thinking it might sink into the niche. But that failed to activate or reveal anything. It was safe to say he was getting a bit frustrated.
A story popped through his mind and he turned to Reneeke. “Maybe they have to be moved simultaneously.”
“Jaik, I really don’t think there’s anything here.”
“Rene, please. Just give it a try.”
Sighing, Reneeke turned to Arno and pointed to the corner. “Go stand over there.”
“I won’t try anything.”
Lifting his sword, he said, “Go, now.”
“Fine.” Arno walked to the corner furthest from the door. “Is
this okay?”
Reneeke nodded. “Just stay there.”
“You got it, boss.” He then leaned back against the wall to watch their efforts.
After propping his sword against the wall next to the niche, Reneeke took hold of the bust. “What do you want me to do?”
“First try pushing it back.”
Reneeke pushed it back at the same time as Jaikus. Nothing. They then tried tilting them to the left, right and forward. Lifting them up didn’t produce results, nor did pushing them down. When Jaikus cursed and let go of his busts, Arno hollered, “You didn’t try twisting them.”
Hope kindled anew. “No, we didn’t.”
Reneeke cast Arno an annoyed glance for Jaikus had been about to give up on this venture. Arno just shrugged.
“Twist to the right, Rene.”
Sighing again, Reneeke nodded. “Okay.”
“Now.”
They twisted them to the right and when they moved Reneeke was surprised.
Jaikus hollered triumphantly and Arno cried out. The wall upon which he had been leaning abruptly opened and he fell into darkness.
They rushed to him and found him lying in a narrow, dust-covered passageway. A cloud of disturbed dust particles filled the air.
“No one’s been here in ages,” Jaikus cried jubilantly. Stepping over Arno, he made to see where it went.
Reneeke grabbed his shirt and pulled him back.
“Caution may be warranted here.” He then bent over and helped Arno to his feet.
“What we need is a Springer,” Jaikus said.
They both turned to Arno.
“Oh, no. Only a fool would willingly volunteer to be a Springer.”
Jaikus looked ready to argue the point while Reneeke nodded, chuckled and said, “You got that right. Right, Jaik?”
Turning to Reneeke, Jaikus saw the grin and his scowl dissolved into a grin of his own. “Yeah.”
Beyond the secret door lay a narrow passage barely wide enough to accommodate a single person. It extended to the right along the wall. The dust covering the floor was unmarred by footprints.
Jaikus took the torch. “I’ll see where this goes.”
“We’ll all go,” Reneeke corrected. “I’m not about to get separated.”
Caravan to Kittikin Page 15