Fortress of the Forgotten: Book One of the Swordmaster Series

by Rutger Krenn

  He signaled to the men and they gathered round silently. “We’ll circle the fire,” he said, “then, like a noose that's pulling tight we’ll capture them.”

  The Chung dismounted from their horses and tied the reigns to nearby trees. They walked stealthily through the dark wood as there was no way to get close on horseback without revealing their approach.

  They came closer to the fire and as they did so their movements became correspondingly slower. They crept toward the clearing on their bellies, like wolves stalking prey.

  Wu Chin signaled with sharp but small movements of his fingers and a hard glare. Instantly two men began to circle to the other side of the fire. One around the north side and the other to the south. Their destination was about fifty yards from where they now were and he knew it would take at least ten minutes for these men to get into position. He would give them this time before closing in.

  The time passed slowly and he curbed his impatience. He was not good at this sort of thing. He would much prefer a fight in open ground where he could bring his skills and strength to bare.

  He heard no sound nor saw any sign of the other two men once they had blended into the shadows. Just as well for them, he thought. He signaled to those who remained with him and they began to move.

  They proceeded with utmost stealth for they didn’t want to lose the advantage of surprise but as they got closer to the blaze he could see that a whole stump and its fallen trunk was burning in the midst of the clearing. There was no sign of Talon or the girl. Were they hidden somewhere nearby?

  He stepped into the glade and looked carefully around the clearing, studying the tree branches in case someone was hidden there. He didn’t even trust the scattered leaves on the ground lest Talon should suddenly surge from hiding and attack, but there was nothing to be seen except indications of haste.

  All the while a barely restrained fury was burning in him. Once again Talon had escaped the noose, but his doom was close now. The firelight showed tracks leading down the game trail and he knew that his prey had fled that way. But it wasn’t long ago. Not long at all, and now he was close behind. So close that he must catch them soon. He allowed his anger to feed anticipation of what he would do to them when that happened.

  “They have fled,” he said harshly and the other Chung came slowly into the clearing.

  “Get the horses. And get them quickly!” he ordered. The men left at a run through the trees to retrieve the tired mounts, and he stayed where he was. Someone else would get his mount and then the chase would begin again.

  They followed the tracks along the game trail that their prey had left. Anger burned deep inside him and it mounted like flame catching amid a field of dry grass. This had gone on long enough! Talon had escaped time and time again, but his luck couldn’t last forever. They were close now. Very close, and he would not escape any more.

  They rode on, following the track easily even in the dark. Their eagerness spurred them forward and as they came to the edge of the trees and starlight filtered through the canopy. One of the men spurred his horse ahead and it leapt into the night and toward the open plainlands.

  Suddenly there was a loud noise that didn’t belong to the forest night. Before anyone knew what was happening the rider was screaming and tumbling from his horse. Wu Chin saw a spray of blood, visible even in the dim light, and he and the others reefed their reigns to pull to a sudden stop. Horse bumped against horse and the men yelled in surprise. The riderless mount disappeared into the night and the man lay crumpled in a heap on the ground and moaned.

  Wu Chin dismounted and walked forward. He ignored his injured companion and investigated the dim glint he saw on a tree nearby. He soon found a broken leather cord and knew what trick had been played on them. He perceived instantly how it would frighten the men and make them cautious of travelling at speed. Fury exploded in his brain like a fever of madness. A reduced pace could not be tolerated! There was only one thing to do. He must drive the men on with an even greater fear than the one holding them back.

  He went to the opposite tree where he knew the rest of the cord would be tied. He found it quickly and held the long threads in his hand. Sharp metal glistened with blood. He flung it aside and walked a little into the grasslands.

  Only one thing mattered now. Talon must die. He’d learned what was only fitting for a warrior of the Chung to know and had made him lose face. He, the greatest warrior of his generation. The only thing to expunge that shame would be a slow and agonizing death. The death of the girl wasn’t necessary but he would enjoy it nearly as much. Hers would be even slower.

  Wu Chin returned to the others. The men had bandaged the neck wounds of their companion but the cloth was already soaked with blood. That was not his only problem. His leg had been broken when he fell from the horse. Wu Chin summed up the situation in moments and knew exactly what he would do.

  “He is badly injured, Dia Sehing,” said one of the men while tying a last bandage in place. “But he’ll probably heal in time. The cuts were deep and have bled profusely but that will help to clean the wounds and prevent infection. Also . . . ”

  The man stuttered to a halt as he saw the look in Wu Chin’s eyes. He backed away, stumbling into his fellows.

  Wu Chin looked at them all. “Our task is to kill Talon. Nothing can interfere with that. This fool here,” and he pointed to the man on the ground, “is no longer of any use to us. He cannot fulfil the mission. Worse than that, he will slow us down. That cannot be allowed.”

  He drew one of his sai. The men guessed what was coming and they didn’t like it, but they would not, dared not, interfere. What he was about to do to their companion he could also do to any of them.

  The man on the ground understood what was happening. He struggled to stand, but could not. Desperately, he crawled along the ground to get away, but Wu Chin followed with measured steps.

  The others turned away. Fools! They were too soft. The Chung Empire could never be rebuilt with weaklings like them. But it would be rebuilt and he would one day lead it. Nothing could prevent that. He flung the sai and the wounded man tried to avoid it. Why could he not accept his death? Could he not see that he would only slow them down? He cried out as the long tine thudded into his back but his struggling had caused the point to strike too low.

  Wu Chin walked over and took the sai by the hilt. He did not withdraw it. Rather, he slid it in deeper, seeking through the flesh toward the heart. The man screamed as the point slowly found the right spot and then convulsed before laying still.

  Wu Chin wiped his sai clean on the dead man’s clothes. The men said nothing. They merely mounted their horses and prepared to ride again. He knew they were under his control and that he could kill them just as easily as he killed their fellow rider. Now, they would obey without question.

  He mounted also and the group rode out onto the plains. It was difficult to track at night, and the trail of their prey rapidly disappeared on the plain whereas before it had been clearly visible.

  He took the lead and they rode through the night. Silence went with them, for the men had nothing to say to one another, and nothing to say to their leader. They each shared a terrible memory, and by not speaking they felt they could pretend no one else knew what it was.

  The events of the night would haunt them for however long they lived. That much they were all sure of, all except Wu Chin. He reveled in the feeling of power that now coursed through his thoughts and, had he even known, he would not have cared that his mind had slipped from an already precarious position into madness.

  Wu Chin did not know it, but his men did. They caught sight of it in the occasional glint of his eye as he looked at them, as though his mind held knowledge they could not fathom. They saw it as his lips moved in silent mutters to himself, speaking words that none but he could discern. Nevertheless, they rode on. Mad or sane, he was their leader whom they were sworn to obey, and he would kill them if they displeased him.

  They looked une
asily at each other as they rode toward whatever fate a madman would lead them too.

  Chapter 15

  The moon had set some time ago and left the world dark. It was an expectant void; a hollowness calling out for something to fill it. Something, thought Arell, which would not be pleasant.

  They rode in silence and everything, near or far, was muted. Midnight was well past but morning remained many hours away. It felt as though they had been riding forever.

  Their flight could only take them so far however. They had come a long way, yet still the Chung were closing in. Their group was larger, and they were travelling with less care, so Arell had at times heard their passage in the grassland behind.

  At first it was only the distant whinnying of a horse or the clash of hooves on stone. Now, those sounds were closer and even the softer sounds of tack and harness reached her.

  Arell believed she and Talon had not yet given away their exact location. If they had the Chung would have urged greater speed from their mounts. Yet it was only a matter of time before her bay or the sorrel gave an answering whinny or some noise betrayed them.

  Talon leaned over his horse toward her. “We must turn away from our path,” he whispered, pointing to the south. They headed off at an angle for a few minutes before straightening up again.

  “I have a plan,” said Talon, and Arell knew the moment she dreaded had arrived. “You must go ahead,” he was saying. “You know where the army is. I’ll catch up with you, but I have to slow the Chung down otherwise we’ll be caught.”

  “Maybe,” said Arell, “and yet maybe not. If we both rode on they might lose our trail in the dark.” Even as she spoke she knew she’d abandoned her decision not to argue when this moment came.

  “It must be done,” he said simply. “Chow had a saying. Hit with the whole body, think with the whole mind. Even if they lose our trail it will only be a little while before they find it again. Now is the time for thought and a change of tactics. We cannot outdistance them and we cannot allow them to draw in front of us and get between us and the Stone Mountains. I must slow them down. I have to go back and reduce their numbers, one by one. And I must do it quickly. It can only be done in the cover of dark before morning arrives.”

  Arell frowned. “I suppose you’re right. They don’t know for sure where we’re going but they would consider the Stone Mountains a good chance. If they get ahead of us they could be waiting in the pass and block our route. I have a better idea though.”

  Talon looked at her sharply and she continued. “One of us must slow down the Chung and give the other a chance to reach the army. I’ll go back as I have the best chance of doing so. I may even be able to misdirect them. If you went back there would be fighting but it would only slow them down a short time.”

  She saw surprise, and for the first time fear, on Talon’s face.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea at all!” he said.

  “Why not? Don’t you think I can do it?”

  She saw him hesitate. “I don’t think you realize what they’re like. Especially Wu Chin. He’ll get the truth out of you very quickly and you won’t gain much time. On the other hand, if I go back I may be able to pick some of them off individually. Even if I can’t, you must remember that it’s me they want. Once they think they have me they’ll be in no hurry.”

  “You must think I’m some sort of coward,” said Arell, “that I’ll tell them everything they want to know at the drop of a hat. It’s nice to know what you really think of me!”

  She saw him grind his teeth. “Fire and flood! Just do as I say. We don’t have time to argue now. When I’m done I’ll come back and then we can quarrel all you want!”

  “Very well,” she said coolly. If you’re giving the orders you might as well tell me exactly what you want me to do.”

  “Just ride ahead,” said Talon hotly. “When I slow them down you’ll gain a better lead. I know where you’re heading and I’ll rejoin you along the way, or in the Stone Mountains.” He paused and looked away before his eyes found hers again. “Just so you know, I don’t think you’re a coward at all. And I promise I’ll rejoin you when I’m able.”

  Arell felt a surge of confidence take the place of her annoyance. Talon was giving her his assurance. He would be all right. He would join her later. She felt that if anybody could do it, he would. He had the skills and ability. He had the determination and strength of will. Reassured by his words she gave a little wave of farewell as he brought the sorrel to a standstill and she continued on.

  It was only after he had turned around and slipped into the shadows, and his grim but boyish face was swallowed up by the dark, that she understood he was trying to give her the confidence to go on without him. In fact, he knew he would not be coming back.

  How could one man hope to defeat five skilled warriors? It could not be done, even by surprise. He would certainly fight them. He might even kill some of them. At any rate, he would achieve his intended purpose of slowing them down and therefore give her a better chance of reaching the army.

  Was he prepared to sacrifice his life for Thromdar? Or was he protecting her? Or perhaps both? Her horse slowed and then came to a gradual stop as the will of its rider faltered.

  To go on, or to turn back and help? She was undecided. She had resolved not to argue with him when this moment came but she had failed in that. Had she any choice but to continue? She had only one responsibility. She must ride to the Stone Mountains and reach the army. She must accept the chance he was providing her to do so. On her alone now rested the fate of Thromdar for he would not escape the Chung alive. She must go on otherwise all was lost. Her people, her home, even her father.

  Mist was rising from the cold ground into the still air and began to swirl slowly about her. Time was slipping by and a decision had to be made. She had to ride away, and yet the moment she decided to do so, she hesitated again. Could she leave Talon behind?

  Her father would have urged her to ride. Or would he? What was more worthy? One brave and good person or a nation? Obviously the nation. And yet was a nation not made up of individuals?

  Tears sprang to her eyes. This was too hard! How could anybody make such choices? Who was to say what was right and wrong? She wished now that she had stayed in Aren Daleth and just awaited her fate like the others.

  She sniffed and brusquely dashed her tears away. She was no help to anybody like this. And she didn’t have it in her to meekly await her fate while others struggled to decide it. She would make her own decisions and live by their consequences.

  A man might choose to die for his people but a nation could not expect it of him. Nor could they expect that she would abandon a companion in need. There might yet be a way to save both Talon and Aren Daleth if she were good enough. And if she weren’t, then at least she could try. Nothing more could be asked of her.

  She turned her horse and rode quietly into the night where she had seen Talon disappear. This time she had no trouble moving. Whether her choice was right or wrong her indecision had vanished and she was going to help him. She felt as though something enormous had shifted in her mind but put it aside for thought at a later time, if such a time would come. Now was a time to think of one thing alone. Staying alive and making sure that her decision didn’t miscarry. She must survive. And Talon must survive with her.

  Talon waited motionless in the rising mist. Clear like the sky, cold like the winter. He could hear them now. They were close, very close indeed, and only the faint footfall of a horse's hooves against the sod had alerted him. He was waiting with unnatural calm. He breathed deeply into and out of his abdomen, channeling his fear out of his body and bringing into it all the timelessness of ancient night.

  He continued to relax as they came into view. Remaining still, his horse sensing his quietude and standing likewise, the five riders were almost upon him before they saw their danger.

  Talon had the element of surprise. He kicked his horse into sudden action and as it sprang tow
ard the lead rider he saw it was Wu Chin. He knew he should draw his sword and kill the man. He was the most dangerous and if he were slain perhaps the others wouldn’t continue the fight. He knew this, but he couldn’t make himself kill a man by surprise. He knew before he began that he would not do that and had another plan to try.

  The sorrel was nudged into a well-trained maneuver and bumped into Wu Chin’s horse to upset the rider’s balance. At the same time Talon reefed his enemy in the opposite direction of his shying horse. The maneuver was well timed and Wu Chin tumbled to the ground. Talon had been trained by Chow in the various methods of dislodging riders from mounts and he was well pleased with his execution of the knowledge. He slapped the other horse hard on its rump and it galloped wildly into the darkness.

  The plan was working well so far. But now came the hardest part of all. The other four riders were coming for him. Their swords were drawn and he knew that there was no easy way out of this situation. He would have to kill now, or be killed.

  He waited calmly, and the sorrel, attuned to its rider’s subtle commands, pranced to the side at the very last second. Three of the Chung warriors went by out of harm’s way, but the fourth was close and struck a vicious blow with his dao at Talon’s neck. Talon was ready for such a strike however, having set the situation up for this outcome. He leaned back and allowed the blade to come close, but it didn’t touch him. Then with ease he thrust forward with his own sword, which he had been holding low, and stabbed. The point of the patter-welded blade struck deep and the warrior groaned and fell.

  Talon withdrew his sword with speed as otherwise it would have been pulled away from him when his opponent fell. He turned the sorrel around and prepared for the next attack.