Fortress of the Forgotten: Book One of the Swordmaster Series

by Rutger Krenn

  The three Chung warriors were there. However, instead of charging as he expected, they were motionless and their eyes filled with terror.

  Behind them, but bridging the gap at full gallop and with her gold hair flowing wildly, was Arell on her light-footed bay and the sight of her gave him a thrill even in the middle of a battle.

  But something was wrong. Why hadn’t the Chung attacked?

  “Down!” screamed Arell as she passed by the Chung and came toward him.

  Her warning came only just in time. Talon rolled off his mount and hit the ground in a fighting crouch. He felt a whoosh of air above him as something huge passed over. He caught a glimpse of wicked talons and membranous wings then there was a thud as one of Arell’s arrows struck home. It was shot from a running horse and was only a glancing strike. Nevertheless it gave Talon a few moments to collect his wits.

  He came to his feet running as the creature swept passed him and on toward Arell. She continued to race the bay toward it, riding low on its back and at just the last second she swerved and dodged.

  The creature flew on. For the first time Talon could see it properly. It was huge. It was incredible that something that big could actually lift itself off the ground and into the air, but fly it did and it was not as clumsy as its size would have indicated. Like a swallow it twisted in flight and changed direction. It headed now for the Chung warriors and they began to back their horses up. Two moved slightly to the side while the other turned and fled.

  In moments the fleeing warrior, his back to the danger and unaware of the creature’s long legs reaching out like an eagle’s, was plucked from his saddle by talons that gripped harder than steel pincers. They punctured his body and blood rained down to the ground as the warrior, screaming and struggling in vain, was lifted into the air.

  The creature flew a little higher and lifted its prey with it as it rose. All the time the Chung screamed and writhed while blood fountained from him.

  The others watched, Chung and Northmen alike, incredulous and helpless and their own fight forgotten as this monster from some dark world, some creature of Eruthram, lifted the warrior higher and then, as it turned and banked toward them, sliced him with one of the long curved spurs that grew from the elbows of its wings. The warrior was finally released and plummeted toward the earth. It was not such a fall that would kill a man instantly, and yet the body lay motionless on the ground while the creature, talons glistening, plunged toward them.

  Wu Chin lay ignored on the ground, either injured or unconscious. Talon stood, sword drawn, ready for anything. Arell approached, her horse snorting with fear while the remaining Chung warriors stayed mounted near Talon, their swords drawn and Fang Lee with a throwing knife in his other hand. They could have attacked Talon but together they faced a greater threat. This was a creature of Eruthram. It was something of which nightmares were made and their own enmity receded to insignificance.

  “Beware the spurs!” yelled Fang Lee. “They’re poison!” Suddenly Talon understood why the warrior on the ground hadn’t moved. He was dead before he even touched it.

  Down plummeted the creature and neither of those on the ground made the mistake of turning their backs to it. They faced it. Fang Lee unleashed a strong throw with his knife and it struck the creature as it approached. A moment later another of Arell’s arrows flashed in the air but struck one of the wings and shot straight through with little damage.

  The creature, unaffected by these attacks came on, banking toward the Chung warrior who was closest. Down it swooped and it moved as quick as lightning for all its bulk. The warrior threw himself away from the horse and rolled to the ground as Talon had done.

  The creature struck out at the warrior with the spurs of its wing but missed and raked its talons along the horse’s withers. The animal screamed in terror and tried to run, shying in the opposite direction from which its rider jumped.

  Talon ignored the horse. He knew with sudden insight that there was only one way to defeat this monstrous thing. The advantage of flight must be taken from it. The horse bumped him as he rushed in and nearly put him off balance, but he adjusted his weight as he jumped forward and maintained his poise sufficiently to land a solid blow before he fell. It wasn’t overly powerful but it was well placed. He struck with the blade, a sharp slashing motion just on the inside elbow joint of the creature. He felt the blade bite home. There was little in the way of blood but he felt the snap of tendons and the fracturing of bone and knew his stroke was well aimed.

  The creature tumbled to the ground, nearly atop the Chung warrior, but not quite. The warrior struck swiftly, following Talon’s que and raining blows upon its other wing as it struggled on the ground. Fang Lee joined in and its speed and power could not come to bear. It lurched like a drunken thing and tried to take off, but its wings were held at an unnatural angle and it couldn’t lift itself into the air. Talon struck a succession of blows from his side, and as the creature turned to face its new attacker Fang Lee leaped in again and plunged his sword deep into its chest.

  In moments the creature was dead. It had been deadly in the air but encumbered by its huge weight on the ground.

  Talon and the Chung warriors eyed each other over its corpse. Arell nudged her horse over to Talon and suddenly all was silent.

  It was the sudden silence that saved Talon’s life. He heard something behind him, something faint, but out of place. By reflex, he turned and moved to the side. Even so, he was caught a glancing blow by a scimitar and reeled away, a thin line of blood appearing on his shirt about the midriff.

  Wu Chin wasted no time. “Die!” he yelled and leapt to the attack, yelling a fierce battle cry now that his subterfuge had failed. Talon was caught off guard but responded as best he could. He parried and deflected a range of strokes in the onslaught and gradually regained his balance and poise. He had been struck a nasty blow, and his side hurt fiercely, but it was not lethal and didn’t interfere with his mobility.

  He launched his own attack. He knew he must finish this fight quickly. The other Chung were just watching, and so far had taken no part in the fight, but Arell was in peril. Talon couldn’t tell what the other warriors would do and that worried him. For the moment they seemed prepared to allow a fair fight. They had helped kill the creature with him, but that didn’t mean anything.

  He realized soon however that Wu Chin was more than his equal.

  Talon put such thoughts aside. He must fight now as best as he was able and he would have to make sure that was enough. To lose was to die, and to sentence Arell to the same fate.

  He parried a massive blow that would have beheaded him and stepped back, gaining a moment’s breath. Wu Chin did not follow, for he was short of breath as well.

  A slow anger began to burn inside Talon. This man had murdered Chow. He had followed him for weeks, attempting to kill him. Now, he had tried to kill him from behind and threatened Arell’s safety. Anger flared and gave him renewed energy.

  Wu Chin looked at him out of the corner of his eyes. Talon saw for the first time that he was mad. Whether that was something that had just happened, or if he were always that way, Talon didn’t know. But it sent a shiver down his spine. Such people were hard to kill. He would fight on when other men would already have died, but the madness could also be used to his advantage. If he could think of a way to unbalance his opponent, to throw him into a fit, it would work to his benefit.

  “So,” said Talon. “Are you rested yet? I didn’t realize that sneaking up on people from behind and stabbing them in the back was such hard work.”

  Wu Chin’s eyes bulged. “Scum!” he yelled. “Foreigners like you don’t deserve to die in an honorable fight. I’ve sullied my blade by even touching you!”

  “Really?” said Talon, with languid casualness. “Do you prefer to kill differently? Maybe you like to poison old men like you did with Chow? Maybe you prefer to use a sword with women? You should be careful you know, one day you’ll find a woman that will stand up
to you. She'll tell you how repulsive you are and that it would be preferable to die by the blade than endure your company.”

  Wu Chin’s eyes bulged even further but Talon had no time to enjoy the satisfaction of having provoked him. The Chung launched a murderous overhead stroke, and even though Talon had expected him to go for the head, the natural target after enraging someone, he only just managed to deflect the blow with his own blade.

  Talon was thrown off balance though and fell to the ground. Wu Chin advanced on him but then stopped. Fang Lee had stepped up to the fight and Arell had drawn her bow. What was happening?

  “Is what Talon said true?” asked Fang Lee. “Did you poison master Chow?”

  Wu Chin hesitated and the other Chung warrior stood beside Fang Lee. “Is it?”

  “What of it?” said Wu Chin. “He was not a true master. No true master would teach outsiders. He was a traitor, an abomination, and had to be removed.”

  Fang Lee drew a sharp breath between his teeth. “He was one of the masters. Talon should never have been taught, but it is a greater crime to kill a sifu. Report of what you have done will be taken home and the other masters will decide what to do about you. We are too few to compel your return, but your business with Talon is finished. This has all gone too far. It must end today. I did not train so hard to use my skills hunting down men and women.”

  “You would betray me?” asked Wu Chin. “You would betray the Chung nation and the Empire that could be?”

  “I would betray myself to follow the likes of you any longer. Men have died and for what? You’re a madman and a killer. Your time has passed. Get your horse and go!”

  Wu Chin spat. “Very well then. But remember this,” and he turned to Talon. “I have beaten you today and I will find you again to finish the job. I will find you when you least expect it and when you can’t hide behind women and traitors!”

  He sheathed his dao violently and walked across to one of the horses. He grabbed its reigns and vaulted into the saddle and kicked it into a gallop without looking back.

  Talon stood. He attempted to move easily and show no sign of his wounds, but the gash to his midriff burned like a flame and the pain in his ribs ached almost unbearably.

  Fang Lee made no move, merely watching with unreadable eyes. His sword was still held in his hand.

  “Well,” said Talon conversationally. “What now?”

  The warrior sheathed his sword. “There has been more than enough death and violence. I warned Wu Chin of the death on wings but he didn’t listen.” He cast a sideways glance at the remains of the creature. “There has been evil unleashed upon us all. We will take our horses and ride from here. We will ride fast and hard and I hope never to see a day such as this again.”

  “That is well,” said Talon. “It’s been a day of death and evil. For you it is over, but for us, we must endure. We have other tasks ahead of us. Good luck.”

  Fang Lee hesitated. “And good luck to you also. When it is all over, if you are still alive, you may face Wu Chin. I don’t know what the other masters will do. They may search for him or just exile him. If he finds you will need luck for that also. Much luck.”

  “That is true, but Chow’s murderer must be brought to justice. It would be fitting if the sword that he gifted to me was the blade to achieve it.”

  The warrior did not answer. He nodded, and once again his expression was unreadable. Then he saluted Talon in the Chung fashion, the right fist placed in the left palm and pushed forward. Talon returned the salute, astonished that it had been given because it signified acceptance.

  The warrior and his companion walked away from them, ignoring them now as if they weren’t there, and caught their horses. Once in the saddle Fang Lee looked over again.

  “Good fortune,” was all he said and then he kicked his heels into the horse’s flanks and took off. In moments they were both gone from sight.

  It was only then that Talon allowed himself to sit down. He didn’t so much sit as fall and Arell was by his side in a moment. Quickly she took off his shirt and inspected the cut and the bruising about his ribs.

  “I better wash that clean and then get some bandages.”

  “It’ll need stitching as well,” said Talon. “Can you do that?”

  “I think I can manage,” she said. “I’m good with needle and thread.”

  “You’re pretty good at a few things,” Talon said. “Your warning came just in time before.”

  “I know. You can thank me for saving you from the Engar later,” she laughed, “for now just lie back and rest. I’ll get what I need.”

  Talon did as she asked. Her smile seemed fresh in this place of death and it suddenly felt great to be alive.

  He lay back and let his mind wonder while Arell fetched the things she needed. An Engar she had called the creature. And so it must have been. He had heard legends of the creatures. Stories told in the dark of night to frighten children. The Engar were one of Eruthram’s more powerful servants. If they had been set loose what else might be roaming the wilderness?

  Chapter 16

  The rolling drums and chanting of the Goblins rose to a crescendo then ceased unnervingly.

  The sudden silence was loud in Kenrik’s ears as he watched expectantly. He felt the pulsing of a nerve in his eyelid; the sole part of him that moved. It was the only outward sign of the fear he felt and hoped the men wouldn’t notice it.

  He glanced to the tower where Arandur stood. The Wizard looked calm and resolute. He was like an ancient figure carved of stone; a relic of an older world that had withstood the tumult of endless years.

  Arandur had warned him that this would be a pivotal moment. The defense could be broken and the wall overrun in the next few minutes. They must hold fast. He knew, as did any good commander of men, that it was his role to lead, to be in the forefront of action and to show that whatever the enemy threw at them could be fought and countered.

  Cadrafer interrupted his thoughts. “Do you smell something?”

  “What?” said the Duke distractedly, his mind pondering the upcoming assault.

  “I can smell the sea.”

  “The sea? That’s impossible. The coast is far away and the mountains lie between.”

  “I know, but I can still smell it. It’s a smell from my boyhood in Lonrak and I’ll never forget it. I don’t know how, but I can smell it now.”

  Cadrafer closed his eyes. “It’s definitely the smell of the ocean, but the odor it has when the sea bottom is churned, the way it smells during a storm or at the receding of the tide.”

  The Duke caught the scent then also. He tasted salt on the air and wondered what it portended.

  “The sea, the sea,” men began to murmur and the words rippled along the lines of defenders like waves encroaching on the shore.

  “The sea,” Kenrik echoed and knew that this was the moment. “Whatever is going to happen will happen now.”

  The figure of the Wizard atop the tower stirred and Arandur’s voice boomed out. “It comes! Hold fast!”

  Suddenly the salty smell of the sea was overpowered by the fetid odor of the slimy depths of the ocean; of its oozy unexplored bed and of rotting seaweed. It was the stench of death and it rode on a sudden gale that caused the defenders to choke. There was the sound of crashing waves, the roar of surf and then water splashed on the faces of the men.

  They looked down from the battlements in disbelief. Where there was once a road and green grass; where the earth should have been, was now a swirling torrent of seawater around the base of the walls. It was contained between the fortress and some unseen and unnatural barrier.

  The green water was turbid and flashed and changed in ever shifting patterns. It was the sea, where no sea should be. And below the surface, hidden from view, something of tremendous size began to move.

  With a deafening roar and scream of hatred it emerged from the waters. High it rose, its great bulk spraying putrid water everywhere. Its skin was pallid green and encr
usted with scum. Tentacles writhed to and fro, great limbs searching, and a maw the like of which no one had ever seen before; a great beak that opened and closed as though searching for something.

  “A Kraken! A Kraken!” yelled one of the men and his words were taken up by other soldiers. Some muttered them to themselves in shocked disbelief, others mouthed the word silently, unable to find their voices. It was a monster from the deep, a thing of legend and tale, but for them it was now a nightmare come to life and summoned to destroy them.

  The limbs of the Kraken reached the rampart and began to take a grip. Slowly, and with enormous effort, it hauled its great bulk toward them. The seawater was now released from its unnatural bond and fell away in a foaming rush to soak the mountain soil.

  “Hold fast!” roared Kenrik. “It is a Kraken, but it is also flesh and blood. It can be killed!”

  Even as he finished speaking he ran to the nearest tentacle and started hacking with his blade. It had little effect, but here and there it cut into the flesh. Cadrafer leapt to the Duke’s side and he too began cutting with great stokes of his sword. Other men joined in and soon all the tentacles were under attack.

  The Kraken shrugged off pain. It continued to climb, lifting itself higher, but it did so slowly.

  Kenrik turned and struggled desperately to free a soldier who had been caught by one of the searching tentacles. The man screamed as the limb tightened but try as he might the Duke couldn’t sever it. His blade only made a slight impression. The soldier screamed again as he was lifted higher and then dashed to his death against the stone of the rampart. Kenrik continued a flurry of blows against the tentacle as it now wrapped itself around one of the crenellations and pulled.

  The strength of the creature was amazing. In moments it had broken it, stone and mortar exploding into dust beneath its crushing grip. Then with a dexterity that astounded everyone it lifted up the debris into the air.

  “Watch out!” yelled Kenrik, realizing the creature’s intention but knowing full well there was nothing anyone could do. The limb lashed forward and the debris of broken stone and mortar were flung out, spraying along the ramparts and striking some of the soldiers.