by Flank Hawk
“Now we know the answer,” said Wizard Seelain. “Any assault, at least using this road, would be vulnerable to flank and rear attack by hordes of souled zombies.”
“This concerns me,” said Shaws, staring at the trampled weeds under his feet.
“You’ve probably only found a fraction of the hide holes sheltering dormant zombies,” I said. “That means the enemy’s attacks disrupting crop planting year after year were just harassing to weaken us. All the while he built his strength.” Everyone nodded. “But that doesn’t explain the road we’re watching. I’ve seen the ruts and gouges panzers make. I don’t think they travel on it.”
“I only saw one road,” said Enchanter Jonas. “Maybe they go north, to the enemy’s center of power and gather there?”
“We’ll know more when the infiltration squad returns,” said Shaws. “Wizard, can you scribe what I’ve found and summon a minor elemental to deliver it to Prince Reveron?”
She nodded, and turned to get her satchel when a deep, distant echoing call sounded. We looked about, trying to gauge the direction of its origin. It continued, getting closer.
“Cover,” said Shaws. “Get everything out of sight, under the firs. Flank Hawk, with me.”
I followed him to the secondary watch area, under a tall white pine that was crowded by several smaller ones. A tangled screen of brown weeds from last fall with green shoots overtaking them stood between us and the road.
The rumbling, rhythmic call came closer. Shaws removed his helmet and placed his ear to the ground. I’d heard of scouts doing that to detect nearby cavalry formations.
“Impact tremors,” he whispered. “It’s a mountain giant.” He looked worried. “Hurry. Tell the wizard and enchanter to remain hidden. Under no circumstances move or cast any spell. None, clear? Then get back here.”
I ran and found Wizard Seelain and Enchanter Jonas lying flat on their stomachs under the largest fir tree. I relayed Shaws’ message, double checked the camp for stray equipment, and hurried back.
When I returned, Shaws held an unwound string leading into the weeds. I wanted to ask, but he placed a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. I pointed to my crossbow, and he nodded, so I cocked it and set a quarrel to fire. I didn’t think it would do any good against a giant. A giant! My instincts cried for me to run, get away from the road. But our back was to a hill. I gritted my teeth, looked at my spear laying to my right and Shaws to my left.
I detected a cadence to the bellowing as it closed. I followed Shaws’ silent example and laid flat under the tree cover, behind the weeds.
With each step I felt the increasing vibration through the ground. Mixed with the giant’s song came a grinding rumble. I tried to remember all the stories Old Lowell told us about giants. Mostly that they were enormous, foul tempered, and fearless. And their sense of smell rivaled the best tracking hound, even mudhounds.
We’d been directed to avoid anything that would give us an exotic scent. Why didn’t anybody warn me about mountain giants? Shaws looked worried, rhythmically licking his lips. Each protrusion of his tongue and passing over his lips matched the giant’s song.
He was worried. I was scared. At least when I faced the bone golem I did it with more than a single soldier and two nearby hidden spellcasters. Then, I stopped my mind from racing. I was Wizard Seelain’s personal guard. Shaws was Enchanter Jonas’. If detected, we’d sacrifice ourselves, lead the giant away. I had no illusions about our chances of slaying a giant. Suddenly, wondering if the enchanter had actually dug his latrine holes deep enough became a big concern.
The mountain giant was nearly upon us, approaching from the north. I observed the towering creature through the tree branches. It was yellow-toothed and ugly like an ogre, but without a horn. Its flat nose looked to be the size of a wheelbarrow and its legs rivaled large cottonwoods.
The giant walked, leaning forward, with thick ropes harnessed to its chest. Under the throng of ropes the giant wore a tunic made of ragged dragon pelts. A hood and gorget made from a patchwork of deer hides covered its bald head. The sturdy ropes led to a long, flatbed wagon bearing four panzers. Two ogres pushed the wagon from behind.
The giant’s song sounded like two dozen men calling into a lonely well, only deeper, and sent vibrations that would’ve rattled my teeth if they weren’t clenched. As the giant labored past us, suddenly his song stopped. He stood straight while the ogres pulled, struggling to counter the wagon’s momentum. Then he turned his head left and right, scanning the hillsides. Standing straight, the giant’s full height was greater than the bone golem by at least a man’s height. He sniffed twice before drawing in a long breath through his nose.
Shaws realized too that the giant knew we were nearby. The soldier bit his lip and slowly pulled on the string while the taller ogre called a question up to the giant.
The giant waved it off and inhaled again. This time he looked about in disgust. I smelled the skunk spray too, from the weeds in front of us.
The giant reached with both hands across the road and uprooted a sturdy pine. He lifted it over his head and slammed it down into the stand of weeds between us and the road. The tree’s impact showered us with dirt and needles before falling against the tall pine sheltering us.
The giant spit into the weeds and laughed deeply while leaning forward, taking up the slack in his ropes. He grunted and began pulling again.
About thirty yards later the mountain giant returned to his song. About two minutes later, I began to breathe again.
Chapter 15
Southwestern United States
2,873 Years before the Reign of King Tobias of Keesee
The Lt. Colonel hung up the phone and strode across the room. He interposed himself between Dr. Mindebee and his computer monitors.
Dr. Johnston, still engrossed in the ongoing experiment, said, “Field energized and stable, portal opened. Laser ready.” He looked up to see the military officer speaking in harsh, quiet tones to the head physicist. Both men ignored Dr. Johnston as he edged closer.
“Shut it down now,” ordered the Lt. Colonel.
“Colonel Ibrahim, what kind of national emergency could involve this isolated research facility?”
“By order of the Secretary of Defense, I have been authorized to effect a cessation of this experiment. I will do it with or without your assistance.
“Thirty more seconds,” pleaded Dr. Mindebee. Without breaking eye contact with Lt. Colonel Ibrahim, the physicist motioned with his index finger to Dr. Johnston. “It will take a minimum of seven minutes forty-seven seconds to safely deactivate all systems.”
Dr. Johnston moved back to his console and began entering commands.
“You have already delayed shutdown by thirty seconds,” said Lt. Colonel Ibrahim, “and are even now jeopardizing this program’s funding.”
The low power ruby laser shot into the heart of the glowing experiment, but didn’t emerge. It was the first of a battery of tests. “Success,” Dr. Johnston murmured, casting a glance at the Lt. Colonel who’d turned his direction.
“Shut it down!” ordered the military officer.
Dr. Mindebee nodded to Dr. Johnston who then gazed at the monitors and their streams of data. He forced his fingers to comply.
Enchanter Jonas continued to wrinkle his nose and complained, “It’s been hours since the giant passed. Why are we staying so close to this skunk odor?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “We could at least move upwind.”
With zombies nearby I missed the sun’s rays. Moments earlier they fell behind the steep hills. “Should another giant pass by, or the same one return, our smell will be hidden.” I adjusted my seat behind the concealing thicket near the road, and looked back toward the hillside. “I’m more worried about the zombies in the tunnels.”
Enchanter Jonas frowned. “I’d sense a necromancer’s magic calling the souls from dormancy.” He placed three fingers to his temple to emphasize the point. “Unless only one or two were called. Priva
te Shaws, and you, should be able to handle that.”
His tone wasn’t condescending, but I knew he held more faith in Shaws than in me. I didn’t blame him. Shaws knew far more about weapons combat than I ever would.
The enchanter sniffed and huffed again. “If we ever leave this spot, it won’t take much to track us by the skunk scent absorbed by our skin and clothing.”
I wanted to ask him if he had a spell to counter the odor, but figured if he had one he’d have used it. “Private Shaws only had one vial with skunk spray.” I reached into my satchel for the small tin flask with a copper cap. A wax seal ensured the content’s safety. “He had two of these. Gave me one.”
“What is in it?” asked the enchanter.
I handed him the palm-sized flask. “Private Shaws said finely ground pepper, powered horsemint mixed with dried goose blood. I think he said it had been stewed in stag musk.”
Enchanter Jonas handed it back to me. “And?”
“He told me it will foil mudhounds. The blood, mint and musk are a combination they can’t resist, and the pepper renders them unable to track by scent for a couple hours.” I slipped the flask back into my satchel and continued to watch the road and listen. If the soldiers of the infiltration team didn’t return tonight or the next, they’d failed.
Pounding footsteps on the road! Too heavy to be goblin, too light to be ogre. Labored breathing said it wasn’t zombie. I aimed my crossbow at the figure in the shadowy moonlight. “Black stars,” I uttered sharply.
The infiltration soldier stopped and replied, “Wet clouds,” between labored breaths.
Enchanter Jonas said to me, “Go get Shaws.”
Private Shaws and Wizard Seelain weren’t yet asleep. They followed me back to the road where Corporal Brines, a dour lanky man, stood bent over with his hands on his knees, struggling to catch his breath.
Wide-eyed, Enchanter Jonas said to Wizard Seelain. “He says a sorcerer slew their enchanter!” He looked to Shaws. “No recall was sent to Prince Reveron. If I send a message, my magic may be detected by their sorcerer.”
Even as Enchanter Jonas spoke, Grand Wizard Seelain summoned a minor wind elemental. I couldn’t see it hovering in front of her face, but the swirling air pulled at her white hair before it shot off. “The prince is being summoned,” she said. “What can we expect?”
Corporal Brines answered, “We captured a souled zombie—one of importance. Greater Enchanter Lallen sacrificed himself to enable our escape. I ran ahead. Those bearing the zombie should be here very soon. The rest are delaying pursuit.”
Shaws asked the question I wanted to ask. “What comes?”
“A giant, ogres and goblins, probably the sorcerer.”
I looked back toward the hillside, hoping they didn’t also have a necromancer.
Shaws took charge. “Wizard, you and Flank Hawk with me. Brines, Enchanter, break camp. Hide the tents and supplies under the fir trees. We’ll advance and help hold the enemy until the dragons arrive. Inform the prince of the situation.”
The enchanter drew his rapier. “No time.”
I didn’t sense any magic, but my gut feeling agreed. Echoing ogre battle calls and a man’s scream proceeded a closing giant’s impact tremors. We hurried along the road, using the shadowy tree line for cover as we closed for battle.
I chewed on a dried apple slice, hoping the bitter taste would bring spit back into my mouth. A giant’s booming voice echoed off the hillsides. He’d arrive before the prince and the dragons. I tried to imitate Shaws’ confidence as I met Wizard Seelain’s determined gaze.
She took my spear and placed her hand on my loaded crossbow. Uttering an incantation, she ran a finger across the quarrel like she did once before. “You know what to do,” she said, as four men sprinted toward us from around a bend in the road, one bearing an unwieldy bundle over his shoulder.
Wrapped in canvas and secured with coils of rope, a man-sized burden writhed while trying to roll off a sergeant’s shoulder.
Shaws ordered Corporal Brines, “Take the prisoner to the pickup site.”
The winded sergeant swiftly draped the zombie over Brines’ shoulder, who then turned and ran down the road.
“Follow him, and assist,” Shaws ordered the sergeant. “Hold the enemy if we fail.”
I didn’t watch the sergeant follow Brines, or wonder long why a sergeant would take orders from a private. I was too busy feeling the ground vibrate beneath my feet. I knelt and held my crossbow ready, aiming upward. “Grand Wizard, behind me.”
“We’ll occupy the giant,” said Seelain to Shaws. As if on cue another man screamed, this time from just around the bend. I spotted the giant’s head and shoulders between the trees, framed by the rising moonlight.
Shaws nodded to the three remaining infiltration soldiers and the enchanter. “Other side of the road.”
Wizard Seelain placed a hand on my shoulder. I hadn’t noticed how tense I’d become. “Prince Reveron will be here soon,” she whispered.
The giant strode nearer and spotted us. He carried a five-tined spear. Each tine had rows of barbs, and from two of the tines hung two dead soldiers. He raised his spear and bellowed gleefully. The reverberating sound rattled my teeth.
I waited, saw the moonlight gleam off one of his eyes as he turned his head, aimed and fired. Wizard Seelain’s spell kept my aim true and the giant’s bellow became one of surprise, then anger. He reached to pluck my bolt from his right eye.
Wizard Seelain followed my shot with a quick spell. Following a miniature thunderclap the giant clutched his ear. With a rumbling snarl he stomped toward us.
I slung my crossbow across my back and grabbed my spear from the ground where Wizard Seelain had set it. Shaws led the other three infiltration soldiers down the road, toward a bunch of ogres that ran to catch up with the giant.
Enchanter Jonas yelled, “Cover your eyes!” just before a flash of silvery light burst near the giant’s face.
I charged forward and stabbed my spear at the giant’s ankle as he blindly moved forward, kicking and stomping. My spear tip bit into his flesh but inflicted hardly more than a sharp needle prick. Still, it got his attention, giving Wizard Seelain enough time to collapse the air around the giant’s other ear.
I dodged a kick and rolled away from a crushing stomp that rattled the road. The giant sniffed deeply before deciding to ignore us and continue down the road.
“He’s after the zombie,” warned the enchanter.
“I can’t stop him!” I said, and saw that an ogre, with four trailing goblins, had passed around Shaws and his men who were busy fending off three ogres and a mob of goblins. “Look!”
Wizard Seelain said, “I’ll slow the giant.” She raised her staff. “Ward me, Flank Hawk,” she ordered before turning and beginning to chant.
The ogre was a big one, wearing leather armor lined with closely sewn rings. He came on with a huge sword held two-handed over his head. I swallowed back some bile creeping up my throat. If I could cripple it quickly, I thought, I might keep it from Wizard Seelain. I gripped my spear, knowing the enchanter’s rapier would be useless. I told him, “I’ll take the ogre, you get the goblins.”
A howling wind rose behind us, telling me Wizard Seelain had summoned a wind elemental to combat the giant.
“Fair enough,” Enchanter Jonas said, presenting his rapier to the enemy while raising his left hand high above his head. “Shall we surprise the brute?” The ogre was nearly upon us, with the goblins twenty paces behind. The enchanter began mumbling what had to be a spell.
There wasn’t any time to see what Enchanter Jonas had planned. I stalked forward, preparing to leap close to get inside the ogre’s swing, and attempt a spear thrust into his throat.
A ray of silvery light shot from behind and into the ogre’s face. The brute shielded his eyes with a forearm, giving me an opening. I stepped to the right and rammed my spear tip through the ogre’s leather armor and deep into its armpit.
The ogre
grunted and swung its sword right-handed, forcing me to duck before I’d managed to yank out my spear. The sword knocked my spear from my grip. I drew my sword and moved close, darting behind my off balanced foe.
Enchanter Jonas, sprinting toward the goblins, caught the ogre’s attention. I took advantage of the distraction and stabbed my sword into the back of the ogre’s knee. My blade found flesh so I twisted it before yanking it out. I rolled to the ground to avoid a wild blow from the ogre’s left fist, and climbed back to my feet.
My back was now to the woods. To my right, Wizard Seelain had begun to follow the giant, who swatted and bellowed in frustration at the whirlwind creature assaulting it. Shaws and one soldier still stood but were being driven back, off the road by two ogres and several surviving goblins. Enchanter Jonas was more than competent with his rapier. Stepping quickly, he wielded the nimble weapon, keeping out of reach of the goblins’ short spears and long daggers. They shrieked threats even as one fell, kicking and clutching its pierced neck.
The ogre turned to face me. It favored its left leg heavily and kept its left arm unmoving against its side. I’d crippled it. Now if I could only kill it.
My foe showed no sign of giving up. He held his massive sword ready, snarled and faked a slash. I didn’t take the bait and circled to its left, causing it to snarl and grimace. When I faked an attack, the ogre swung hard, overextending, trying to reach me. I closed and got behind him again. This time I drove my sword into the back of his right knee. He bellowed and fell backwards, almost crushing me. Even though I was off balance, I saw my chance and swung two-handed, hacking deeply into its neck just below the ear.
The ogre cried out in pain and grasped for me with its gauntleted hand. I ducked under its desperate attempt and ran to its left. When the ogre rolled to protect its weak side, I leapt on its back and rammed my sword’s blade into its neck just below the skull, killing it.