The Last Apprentice: Complete Collection

by Joseph Delaney

  What made me shrink away to the far corner of my bed was the thing that I saw behind him.

  “There is no need to be afraid,” Slither told me in his gruff voice. “For the present you are quite safe. This is the refuge for haizda mages visiting Valkarky.”

  I took several shallow breaths and managed to point over his right shoulder at the horrific thing on the wall. He looked back at it and then gave a travesty of a smile.

  It looked like an extremely large human head with six thin, multijointed legs sprouting from the place where its ears should have been. It had long hair but neither eyes nor a nose. There wasn’t room for them. A huge oval mouth took up most of its face, and from it protruded three long, thick tongues covered with backward-facing barbs. It seemed to be licking the walls, making a harsh, rhythmic rasping sound as it did so.

  “Because these quarters are rarely used, they are subject to fungal growth. What you see is just a harmless sklutch, one of the lesser servants that we employ. It is merely going about its routine duties, cleaning the walls with its tongues and sucking up the loose fragments. There is no need to be afraid, little Nessa. It is simply a diligent servant, but as it disturbs you, I will send it away immediately.”

  With those words, he clapped his hands very hard. The hideous creature stopped its cleaning at once and raised two front antennae, which, until then, had been hidden by its long hair. They twitched and revolved in a slow circle.

  Slither gave three more claps, and it immediately scuttled down the wall and retired to a narrow crevice near the floor.

  “The sklutch, with its soft brown hair, thin black legs, and efficient tongues, is perfectly formed and suited to its task, little Nessa. It never ceases to astonish me how such a plump creature is able, without the use of magic, to fold itself into such a narrow crack. Anyway, how are you feeling now?”

  Suddenly I felt ashamed. My own fears had dominated everything, and I had forgotten all about Bryony and Susan. “Where are my sisters?” I demanded, rising up onto my knees.

  “They are quite safe, but according to Kobalos custom, each purra must be housed in a separate room. I can behave no differently here than I did in the kulad. Besides, your sisters are still sleeping.”

  “They weren’t safe in that tower. Why should this be any different?”

  “Fear not, Nessa. This is Valkarky, a city ruled by law, where everyone watches. That kulad was under the control of a corrupt high mage with no respect for the property of others. I assure you that it will be different here.”

  I shook my head in disbelief. “How long have I been asleep?” I asked.

  “A few hours at the most. While you slept, I was given a hearing and subjected to a deep probing, which was quite painful. However, it was worth it—they reached a decision quickly.”

  I felt a surge of hope. “So we can leave this place now?”

  “I wish it were that simple, little Nessa. It was proven that I was telling the truth, and the triumvirate was prepared to absolve me of all guilt in law, but the Shaiksa brotherhood made a formal objection. They submitted false evidence that was impossible to refute. They communicated the dying thoughts of the assassin that I slayed. He accused me of theft, saying that Nunc, the high mage, had paid me well for ownership of you and your two plump sisters.

  “I do not accuse the dead assassin of having lied. It may well be that he only repeated information that had been given him by Nunc. However, he lives no more, so now it is his dead, deceitful word against my honest living one.” Slither paused a moment, and I held my breath in anticipation of what he would say next.

  “I must face trial by combat. There are many legal disputes each year; a counterclaim over ownership of purrai is just one of the categories of civil conflict. The vast majority are resolved directly by the triumvirate, but in difficult cases the accused must face such a trial. It is outrageous that I have been placed in such a position—I need to vent my anger. Now I have been given the opportunity to do so publicly.”

  “You have to fight? Against another of the mages?” Fear clutched my heart again. If he lost, what would happen to us?

  “No, little Nessa. I only wish that were so. I must face the haggenbrood.”

  I didn’t even like the sound of the word. “What is that?” I asked. “Some kind of creature like the ones who are building the walls of this city?” They were indeed hideous things.

  “In a way, yes, but the haggenbrood was created by the magic of the high mages to fight in ritual combat; that is its sole purpose in life. It consists of three warrior entities bred from the flesh of a purra. The three share a common mind, and are, to all intents and purposes, one creature.”

  “Can you defeat it?”

  “No one has ever done so before.”

  “That’s not fair! If you are certain to lose, how can it be a trial by combat?”

  “It is the way of things. It allows a modicum of hope and is more honorable than being executed. And, of course, victory is not impossible—there is always a first time for everything. We cannot afford to be pessimistic, little Nessa.”

  “If you die, will we be slaves or will they kill us as well?” I managed to ask—though I didn’t really want to hear the answer. “Could you not keep your promise to my father and send my two sisters to safety before your trial?”

  “I only wish I could. But who would be willing to escort you out of the city? It is impossible. Without me, you have no status here other than as slaves or food. If I die, then you will die there in the arena with me, slain by the claws and teeth of the haggenbrood. I must defend you against the creature or die in the attempt. Come, I will show you so that you can prepare your mind for what lies ahead.”

  I was so frustrated by the situation we were in. Even though Slither repulsed me, I was dependent on him for survival. The beast left the room for a few moments, leaving me alone with my somber thoughts, but returned clutching a long chain and a lock.

  “Come here!” he commanded. “I must place this around your neck.”

  “Why?” I asked. “I won’t try to run away. Where could I go? As you pointed out, without your protection I would be killed on sight!”

  “Within Valkarky, a purra may only appear in public in the presence of her owner, with this chain around her neck. Without the chain, you would indeed be taken and there would be nothing I could do about it. This is the law.”

  I scowled at the beast but knew I had no choice but to submit. He carefully placed the cold metal chain about my neck and then attached a small lock to complete and maintain the circle. Then, holding the rest of the chain in his left hand, he gave a small tug, as if I were an animal, and pointed toward the door.

  “Now, purra, I will lead you to the arena!” he declared.

  He led me along a seemingly endless succession of gloomy corridors. Mostly they were lit by flickering torches, but in some sections the walls themselves seemed to radiate a white light. Kobalos that we passed mostly ignored us, gazing straight ahead. But when the rare curious glance came our way, Slither invariably gave a tug on the chain, jerking my head forward sharply. On one such occasion an involuntary cry escaped my lips and tears came into my eyes. But when we were once again alone in the corridor, the beast turned and spoke to me in hushed tones.

  “I have been gentle, little Nessa, and the chain is not tight. Some owners fix them so tightly that the purra is always red in the face and struggling for breath. Be brave. You will need all your courage in the arena!”

  He turned, tugged the chain again, and we continued on our way. The city was vast, but so gloomy that it seemed as if we were underground. Even the open spaces accessed by the corridors looked like vast caverns, but their walls were perfectly smooth and clearly manufactured rather than being of natural stone.

  At one point we passed through what appeared to be a vast food market. Kobalos people were handing over coins and receiving metal basins in return. Some seemed to contain roots or fungi, but in others small wormlike creatu
res squirmed as the purchasers greedily stuffed them into their mouths. I could barely contain the bile rising from my stomach at the sight and the smell.

  Then there were larger vats. Looking more closely, I saw with horror that they were full of blood, from which steam was rising. Each was surrounded by a throng of jostling customers dipping in metal cups and quaffing the liquid greedily, so that it dribbled down their chins and splattered on the floor.

  What manner of creatures had died to fill those vats? Valkarky was a terrible, terrifying, ugly place. And were it ever to expand to cover the whole world, as Slither had boasted, it would create a hell on earth—every bit of grass, every tree, every flower and creature of the meadows replaced by this vast monstrosity.

  It was not only Kobalos that I glimpsed. There were other creatures that made me shudder with fear, and even in the presence of Slither I did not feel safe. Mostly they resembled insects, except that the smallest creature I saw was the size of a sheepdog, while the largest could have bitten off my head with ease. I hoped my sisters were still safely asleep in their rooms.

  Some creatures scuttled overhead on many legs, as if they were messengers on urgent business, while others loitered, perhaps performing a similar cleaning function to the servant in Slither’s quarters.

  But one thing puzzled me. I saw Kobalos men and I saw chained human female slaves, but why did I not see any Kobalos females? Were they not allowed out in public? The faces of the Kobalos were all hairy and bestial, with elongated jaws and sharp teeth. Could it be that Kobalos females were similar to the males in appearance and I simply couldn’t tell the difference?

  We twisted and turned through this labyrinth until we arrived at a wide flight of gleaming white steps. Four levels up, we finally reached a huge gate large enough to admit a creature ten times my size.

  “Here we are, little Nessa. This is where we will all die or triumph!” Slither said, pulling me through.

  I found myself standing on a triangular platform, surrounded by tiers of empty seats rising on either side to encircle us completely.

  “The whole arena is formed from skoya. The whoskor spat it into a mound so that it could be manipulated and shaped by their many nine-fingered hands.”

  “It’s so white!” I exclaimed. It dazzled my eyes.

  “Skoya can be many colors,” Slither explained, “but there is a reason why it is white, little Nessa. It makes it easier to see the bright red of freshly spilled blood, a color that is very exciting to my people.”

  This place was truly despicable. I did not reply, but my eyes moved around, darting in all directions as I wondered about the layout of the arena. I saw that there was a white post positioned at each corner of the triangular arena.

  “What are those for?” I asked.

  “They are the three posts to which you and your two sisters will be tethered. The number varies, and the arena is shaped anew in preparation for each trial. But it is always white, to display the blood of the defeated to its best effect. You will be bound there, and the haggenbrood will try to drink your blood, then eat you. I will do my best to save you all.”

  My stomach churned at the impossibility of the task. What was this haggenbrood? I was certain my sisters and I would all die here.

  “Do you see that?” Slither asked, pointing to the circular grille in the floor at the center of the triangular arena.

  I was filled with a terrible foreboding, and I began to tremble. I did not even want to look at the grille, let alone move closer to it. But I had no choice.

  He started to walk toward it, tugging me after him. All at once I smelled something foul and was afraid to move closer. When I came to a halt, the chain jerked my neck painfully. Rather than tug me forward again, Slither walked back to see what my problem was.

  “What ails you, little Nessa?”

  “That awful stench! What is it? Is it from something down there?” I pointed with a trembling finger toward the grille.

  Slither tilted his head and sniffed the air. “Yes. What you smell is the scent of the haggenbrood. That is where it will emerge. Come closer and take a look,” he said, walking toward the center of the arena.

  Once again the chain became taut as I resisted. But this time Slither gave a hard tug, and I reluctantly stumbled along after him until we approached the edge of the pit.

  “Look down through the grille, little Nessa, and tell me what you see.”

  The grille was wide meshed and white, but the inside of the pit was a dark brown. It was coated with something extremely unpleasant. Up close, the stink was unbearable, and I tried to pull away.

  “The haggenbrood excretes that brown slime from its three bodies as part of its digestive process. It is that which causes the stench. Don’t be afraid. Move closer so you can see properly.”

  Cautiously I moved to edge of the pit and looked down into the darkness. I felt very nervous and vulnerable, and my legs trembled. Why did Slither want me to stand so close? The grille looked too flimsy to bear my weight. His hand touched my shoulder, and for one terrifying moment I thought he was about to push me in.

  “There’s something moving down there!” I cried, shaking with fear. Down below, in spite of the darkness, I could see three pairs of glowing red eyes watching me!

  The next moment, something leaped upward, and the long, scaly fingers of a huge hand grasped the grille. The creature roared up at us through the bars, clearly desperate to sink its teeth into my flesh. I had a glimpse of its snarling mouth, angry red eyes, and pointed ears.

  This was what we faced. My knees began to tremble more violently, and my heart pounded with fear. What chance did Slither have against three such fearsome beasts? We were as good as dead.

  But my captor showed no fear, and with a frown moved on to the grille directly above the snarling face of the creature. “Learn your place! I walk the earth, and you belong in the filth!” he shouted into its teeth, stamping down hard on its fingers with his boots. With an angry growl, the haggenbrood released its hold and fell back into the pit.

  “Never show fear to such creatures, little Nessa,” he advised me. “Always be bold! It pays to show them exactly who they will be dealing with in the arena.”

  “It’s so fast and fierce.” I shook my head in dismay. “What hope do you have against three of them? You will be alone. Surely you should have some help?”

  “Oh, Nessa, you must try to listen more carefully to what I say. It is even worse than that. As I explained, the haggenbrood is one creature. One mind controls the three bodies, three selves, and can coordinate their attack as easily as I can control each of my fingers simultaneously.”

  In order to demonstrate, he lowered his hairy hand and drummed a quick rhythm on the side of my head with three of his fingers. It hurt, and I gave a cry of pain. Next he quickly flexed those same fingers, making his knucklebones crack repeatedly. I shivered.

  “You will be immobile, tied to the posts, and I will only be able to be in one place at a time. Although I will try, it may prove impossible to defend all three of you. I will be alone, of course, because those are the rules. Only my purrai and I are allowed in the arena to face the haggenbrood.”

  “Then don’t worry about me,” I told him. “Defend my sisters.”

  I had spoken without thinking, but I would not recant. Although I was desperately afraid of the haggenbrood, I couldn’t bear the thought of what they might do to Bryony and Susan.

  “That is very noble of you, little one, but that depends on how the haggenbrood deploys its selves.”

  “Can’t you take the initiative and attack first?” I asked.

  “Must I explain it again? There are rules, little Nessa, and I am bound by them. They vary from trial to trial, adjusted to take account of the number of purrai involved. But this is the situation here, and we must abide by it. First the grille will be removed, and the haggenbrood will climb out of the pit. Once its three selves are in position, the signal will be given to begin. I can only react to the
attack, which could be aimed at any one of you. Alternatively, it may ignore you and launch an all-out assault on me. That way, once I am dead, the haggenbrood can feed from you and your plump sisters at its leisure. Also, if it attacks you first and two of you die, I must surrender my weapons and let it kill me. Those are the rules of this trial.”

  I couldn’t believe I was discussing something so brutal. “What weapons are you permitted?”

  “As many blades as I wish.”

  “Then cut me free and give me a blade. If I move, that might distract it and give you a better chance. We must get my sisters to safety.”

  Again the words had flown from my lips without prior thought. But reflecting quickly, I perceived that they were wise indeed. It might just give my sisters a chance at life, and surely it was better to die with a knife in my hand than bound helpless to a post?

  I saw the astonishment on the beast’s face. He frowned and seemed to be considering the possibility.

  “Would that be allowed?” I persisted, breaking the silence that had come between us.

  “There is nothing in the rules that forbids me to cut you free,” he admitted. “Your offer is generous indeed. But while the haggenbrood is prevented by its conditioning not to leave the arena, you could do so. And therein lies the danger. If you did so, the trial would immediately be over, and all our lives would be forfeit. How brave are you, little Nessa? Could you stand your ground when teeth and claws snap in your face?”

  “Yes,” I replied immediately. “It might give us a chance.”

  But could I? Would I really be brave enough to distract this terrible, fearsome haggenbrood?

  “Even if you are not torn to pieces, the haggenbrood has glands that secrete a deadly poison. If even the tip of one claw pierces your skin, it results in kirrhos, which we call ‘the tawny death.’ It is ugly to look upon and worse to suffer. There is no cure. So can you make your little human body obey your will, little Nessa? Terror may cause it to disobey you. Once you flee the arena, we are all dead. One small step would be enough!”