Nath patted Hacksaw’s shoulder. The man’s eyes had watered up. Hacksaw sniffed and wiped his nose. “You can stop if you want.”
“No, I need to tell it again. Even though it opens a wound in me, I feel it honors them.” Hacksaw cleared his throat. “So, the yellowbacks—”
“Why do you call them yellowbacks?”
“It’s just what we call those cowards. It’s been a name since long before I came around, but I think it’s because of that mustard yellowness in their skin.”
Nath shrugged. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“No worries. So, we waited outside of that fort for a few hours. A gate opened, and five goblins crept out. All they had on them were hatchets and some long knives. They wore bone jewelry and the worst excuse for hide armor I ever saw. And you know, there was a stink coming from the fort that I’d never forget. Goblins stink, that’s for certain. So, we followed the scurrying yellowbacks halfway down the hill, keeping our distance, hoping to track them after we hit bottom. We found them, standing ankle deep in the shale, waiting on us with that putrid yellow gleam around their beady eyes. My neck hairs stood on end as I watched McCracken slide his spear out of its sleeve.” Hacksaw shook his head. “The moment it came out, it happened.” Hacksaw slapped his hands together. “Whack!”
Nath rocked back in his saddle. “What happened?”
“Trap,” Hacksaw said out of the side of his mouth. “The goblins burst out of the shale right underneath our horses’ feet. They gored our mounts by jabbing them right underneath their bellies. All four horses reared up, and all four of us knights went down. By the time I realized what was going on, I was looking up the hill. Goblins by the dozens were streaming down the hillside, howling like wild dogs. My limbs locked. I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes. You probably don’t know this about knights, but we don’t run from a fight. We fight until it’s over or we are over.”
Nath swallowed. His jaw tightened just from hearing the severity of the moment. “Dozens of goblins and only four men?”
“Three,” Hacksaw said, talking in a long breath. “I looked back for Marshal McCracken. He caught a spear in the neck and was down on the shale, fighting for his last breath against the goblins who attacked us. I saw his eyes. He was gone, but his body still fought on. That left me, Matty, and Sacks. They were yelling. I couldn’t hear a thing. Sacks stuffed a shield in my arms and drew my sword for me. He stuck it in my hand and screamed in my face, ‘Fight!’”
The horses jumped.
Hacksaw continued, “It was all a bloody nightmare after that. Matty, Sacks, and I formed a defensive triangle standing back to back. Hiding behind our shields, we braced ourselves for the coming impact. It was Matty doing all of the talking, shouting, ‘Stand firm! Strike swift!’” He coughed out a sob. “The goblins hit us in a tide of flesh. My feet were planted firm on the ground, but I was pushed back. To be honest, I didn’t have any idea what I was doing. Those first moments were a blur. I snapped out of it when I tasted blood in my mouth for the first time that wasn’t my own. I can still taste goblin blood now. I realized I was in a fight to the finish.
“Strike hard. Strike fast. Matty said that in a cadence. It’s those first several moments that matter the most. I know my training and my armor saved me. I used to think that heavy armor was a waste, that it would slow you down, not to mention that it was uncomfortable, but I’ll never, never complain about that polished breastplate again. It saved my hide.
“So, we were being pushed around, and the goblin bodies were stacked up to our waists, but more kept coming. My arms felt like they would fall off at any moment. I have no idea how I hung on. They say in the heat of battle, a man can do things beyond his means. By power that was not my own I sustained. I walled the yellowbacks off with my shield and kept thrusting. The sword pierced them, and they screamed like a forest banshee every time. I still wake to bad dreams, hearing that chaos ringing in my ears. I see their twisted faces trying to peel me out of my armor. With blood in my eyes and my body burning, I fought the battle of lifetimes.
“Then Matty’s voice gurgled. He fell under a heap of the fiends. Back to back, Sacks quavered against me. I heard a blade slip though the links in his armor. His backside swayed into mine. Sacks yelled out one last cry, saying, ‘Ride the thunder, Hacksaw. Ride the thunder from the sky!’ Just as he died, I struck down the goblin who’d stabbed him with everything I had left. My longsword took half of its face off. I figured I was doomed after that. I expected something to run me through at any moment, but then thunder clapped, the wind twisted through the trees in a howl, and all of sudden, I felt the spirits of McCracken, Matty, and Sacks rush into me. Their voices were in my head, urging me to fight on. A silvery flame came upon me. I waded into the goblins with the ravenous speed of a panther. I dropped my shield, picked up another sword, and turned into a bushwhacker.” Hacksaw’s voice rose like a wave. “The goblins fell in twos and threes. Like the rain in a storm, nothing could stop me. Goblins were sprawled out all over the shale, leaking blood like sap from a tree. The spirits of my brethren knights fled me.
“There was only two of us standing, if I could call it standing. It was just me facing against the goblin commander, and he wasn’t anything like the rest. He was bigger than I, broader than oaks, with hardly a stitch of clothing on him. My swords hung at my sides. I couldn’t lift them. The goblin commander held Green Tongue in his hand. The blade burned like a long green candle flame. I could see in his eyes that he was ready to whittle me down. He spit on the ground. I let the swords fall from my aching fingers and dropped to my knees. Sick to my stomach, I retched. The goblin stormed right at me, holding Green Tongue high overhead. With my last breath, I yelled at him, ‘Ride the thunder!’ Lucky for me, goblins are stupid, and he didn’t see the spear half buried in the shale underneath my knees. Summoning everything I had in me, I snatched it up and buried it deep inside his heart. That goblin died, eyes wide open, standing, propped up by the spear. Green Tongue fell at my feet. I cried.”
Nath wiped his eyes. He felt every word Hacksaw said as if he was there. After riding another half mile down the road, he finally asked, “How many were there?”
“A hundred goblins in all, including the big one. I told the other knights what happened. I asked them how McCracken, Matty, and Sacks became a part of me. They said legionnaires have tales about riding the thunder before the move on to the next world. It’s a bond, born from blood and battle, that we all share. I never felt anything like that before, and I’ve never felt the likes of it since, but I rode the thunder that day, and the goblins felt every bit of it in my steel.” Hacksaw sagged in his saddle. “Whew, it exhausts me to tell it.”
Nath nodded. To him the words rang true, and he believed every one.
CHAPTER 55
On a blustery day, less than an hour before sunset, Nath and Hacksaw arrived just outside of Riegelwood. Nath donned the hood of his traveling cloak and stooped in the saddle. Hacksaw let his shoulders sag, with his own hood down around the shoulders. He looked at Nath. “How do you feel?”
“Angry,” Nath replied. All of his memories of the Black Hand swelled up inside him. His hands became clammy. It had been over two years, but it felt like a decade since he cast his eyes on the stony walls that surrounded Riegelwood like a hedge. They’d paraded him down the streets like a criminal to a chorus of boos from citizens who thought he’d kidnapped Princess Janna. He wondered if her mind ever recovered or if she even remembered him. He took a deep breath though his nose and exhaled. “Very angry.”
“You’re going to need a clear mind before we set into this,” Hacksaw said. “If you go into this on all emotion, they’ll catch on to you. I know you want to rush in there and start pounding on doors, but you need to be patient.”
“I know,” Nath said, shifting in his saddle. “And I’d like to think I have plenty of time, but I am worried about my friends in Slaver Town. I need to get them free of that place.”
“One thing
at a time, Nath. You can’t take care of everyone. Sometimes, you have to do for yourself.” Hacksaw clamped his cloak at the neck. “I’ve been thinking about Slaver Town. You escaped, so I’m fairly certain they are searching for you. There’s been enough time for word to carry up here.”
Nath rolled his eyes. “Ugh, I didn’t even consider that, but they wouldn’t look so far for me. Would they?”
“If it cost them money, I’m sure they would. That’s what drives everything, and if they prized you as much as you told me, the slavers are looking for you.” With two fingers, Hacksaw pointed at his eyes and ears. “They see all. Listen, I know it’s going to kill you, but I’m going to ride in alone. They’ll take little notice of an old northerner like me. Will that be fine by you?”
“Where are we going to meet when you come back?” Nath replied. “Am I supposed to wait in the chill?”
“Chill? You have plenty of grasses and a bedroll to keep you warm. Just keep out of sight.” Scratching the back of his head, Hacksaw added, “Where are those statues you told me about? Where the brigands first robbed you?”
Nath pointed to another road. “That way, but that’s too far. I’m just going to linger here. I’ll be fine. I don’t need much sleep, and I’ll see you coming from plenty far away, even in the night.”
“Do they patrol out here?”
“No, I don’t think so. Soldiers do hug the city though. You might not want to go in there with Green Tongue either. They’ll slaver over it.”
“He’s coming with me, but I can conceal him better.”
Nath dismounted. He grabbed a bedroll, his warhammer, and some rations from his saddlebag. “Why don’t you stable them both together? I sleep just fine without a fire, and not having a horse will draw less attention. So, you’ll check into the Oxen Inn?”
“Yes, I’ll see what Nina’s situation is, if she’s there. You gave a pretty clear description of them all. I’ll ride back out in the morning and tell you what I know. Don’t be surprised, Nath, if they’ve moved on. But we’ll see.” He turned his horse away. “So long.”
Nath waved. He stood in the grass, watching Hacksaw saunter on horseback into Riegelwood with a sway in his shoulders. It was a little difficult watching him go.
I hope I can trust him.
CHAPTER 56
The moon shone like a bright star on the breezy evening. The crickets chirped, and small critters burrowed under the grasses. Sitting behind the thickets outside of the road, Nath lay on his bedroll with his eyes cast up. Streaking clouds rushed though the sky. He watched for dragons.
Oh, what I wouldn’t do to be up there, where I could see anything, and have all of the freedom I ever wanted.
He closed his eyes and listened to the wind rustling through the grasses. Beyond the sounds of nature, he could hear voices shouting in the city of Riegelwood. Even though there was a chilling nip in the air, it was still a fine night, and it sounded as if some sort of celebration was going on within. Nath propped himself up on his elbows.
I bet Hacksaw is having a fine time in there. And here I am in the woodland. Though, I shouldn’t complain. It’s better than Slaver Town.
He rolled on his side and closed his eyes. He rolled back to his other side. He tried to sleep, but he wasn’t tired. The last few days of riding had been easy, and he rested plenty when they camped at night. The truth was, he didn’t need much sleep, and sitting in the woodland with nothing to do was agonizing. He was so close to his enemies. He didn’t want to go the slow way about it either. He wanted to hit them when they didn’t expect it. Hacksaw’s plan sounded like something that would take forever. He sat up.
“I can’t just sit here and do nothing,” he said to himself. Something in the brush scurried away. “I’m going for a walk.”
Nath picked up Stone Smiter and went on a stroll. Staying on the edge of the grasses, he headed back on the road to Quintuklen, but split off on the road where Nina took him to show him where Princess Janna had been kidnapped. It was a long walk, but he arrived at the spot where the princess’s guards were all turned to stone. The men were at least half covered in overgrowth with their faces frozen in terror. It reminded him of what he saw when he encountered the basilisk. He ran his hand over one soldier’s face. He could feel the man’s gaping mouth and gruesome expression with his fingers. He tugged on the thick veins of ivy that covered up most of the body.
Nina had said these men were turned to stone but was very hazy on the detail. They had been dragged from the road into the grove. She claimed that the Riverlynn Monks did it, but in truth it was the Black Hand that kidnapped the princess. The question was, who or what turned the soldiers to stone? And giving them a closer inspection, noting the thicker vegetation around some of them, it was quite possible that these statues could have been in this condition for years, if not decades. But, the uniforms did match the ones of the soldiers for Riegelwood.
I’m such a fool! These soldiers probably have families that cut back the grasses from time to time. These bloody statues may have been here for years. There probably isn’t such a thing as the Riverlynn Monks! Or Riverlynn for that matter!
He’d had plenty of time in prison to think about things, but he hadn’t taken time to take it back as far as he was now. He just walked into a city, put his trust in the first person he had a full conversation with, and followed along like a puppy dog. For all he knew, the button with three wavy water lines she found on the road using Winzee’s Lantern of Revealing was something she planted. Or it was just a button that could have come from anything else. It was all clear to him at this point. Everything he was told was a lie, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a clue in it. It might serve him later. He needed to learn from his mistakes. Still, he wanted to scream.
Standing in the grove of statues sent a chill down his spine. An owl hooted, and the wind picked up. He felt sorry for the soldiers and wondered if there was a way to bring them back, like the people in the Nameless Temple. For all intents and purposes, a basilisk could have been the culprit. He started walking away.
They are not your problem, Nath. They’ll have to remain someone else’s.
He touched one of the statues on the shoulder. “Sorry, men.”
A clamor of footsteps came from the road west of his position. A large group of men were talking and joking with one another. Women cackled among the gruff voices too as they cheerfully sauntered down the road toward Riegelwood.
Nath hid behind a thicket on the edge of the road. He hunkered down. Dark silhouettes of men came down the road, walking on soft feet, but making plenty of chatter. They carried no torches or lanterns. Their clothing hung loose on their bodies, and they all walked with an easy gait. Swords, knives, and daggers were belted on their hips. There was a sloshing of liquid from jugs that were being passed around. Bringing up the rear were two saddled riding horses.
Many conversations were going on all at once, but one man’s distinct voice overpowered the rest. “Enjoy the Festival of the Coming Winter, but don’t forget your role and this mission, Whisperers. And as always, wait for my signal.”
Nath gripped Stone Smiter with white knuckles. He coiled back, eyes burning on the men that had a hand in abducting him. Men of Whispers, prepare to pay!
CHAPTER 57
Unable to find a table that suited him in the crowded Oxen Inn, Hacksaw settled in behind the bar on the farthest end. He drank mead from a very tall wooden tankard and took his time chewing the plate of food they served him. The mouthwatering cooked meat, slathered in gravy, with a mix of cheeses and buttered breads, took his thoughts away from why he was there. It was a bristling atmosphere, with the patrons full of celebration and joy as they sang song after song in honor of the Festival of the Coming Winter.
Hacksaw wiped the gravy from his beard on a maroon cloth napkin. A tiny young woman wearing a pink apron wiped down the bar, took orders, tapped kegs, caught his eye, and swung by. “Sir, how is your meal? Do you need anything else?”
/> “Perhaps,” he said with a smile, “but not at the moment. Say, what is your name, young lady?”
The solemn little gal turned her back, wiping down his area. “They call me Little Shirl, and you?”
“I’m Hacksaw.” He tipped his chin and pulled out his pipe.
“Where are you from, Hacksaw?”
“North,” he said, proudly. “Huskan. Now, winter’s really cold up there, and we don’t celebrate it. We don’t dread it either, we just keep chopping wood.”
“I’ll be back,” she said, scurrying away to wait on two men who’d just wiggled their way into the bar. Little Shirl wasn’t the only one behind the bar. There were three more young ladies, all attractive, with smiles on their faces and their hands full. Little Shirl returned. Wiping her face on her apron, she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to end our conversation, but we’ve had many visitors from Huskan before, and they say the same thing as you.”
“Forgive my lack of originality, Little Shirl. I’ll try to put a little commentary on my comments next time,” he said with a wink.
“No, I like your charm compared to the others I recall. I can tell you are a very warm man, and I’m sure your heart alone keeps you and your wife warm at night.”
“I don’t have a wife,” he said.
“Really,” she said, making a smile. “Are you a widower?”
“No, just never married.”
“That is fascinating, Hacksaw.” She touched his hand. “You are very handsome. What brings you to Riegelwood?”
With his cheeks warming under her glowing stare, he said, “Uh, just a little bored and lonely, I suppose. I thought I’d do some traveling. Take a break from logging. I’ve been around, but there are plenty of places in this world that I’ve never seen.”
Enslaved: The Odyssey of Nath Dragon - Book 2 (The Lost Dragon Chronicles) Page 17