《Iron Blooded》


 One: Front Lines

    The sound grew muted as I hit my knees in the dust. All around me, the screams of men and horses faded to a dull roar. I was winded, breath rasping in my helmet. The sudden feeling of claustrophobia grips me and I fumble at the clasp beneath my chin with bloodied fingers.


    Finally, it comes undone and I rip the helmet from my head. It tumbles to the dirt with a clatter. All around me, ashes fall on the bodies of the dead. I could see my comrades'' sightless and staring eyes from where they lay in the mud. We''ll never share drinks again, never laugh together over jokes, or wrestle like brothers in the grass. S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Those days are long past.


    A warning flashes across my vision. My vitality is dangerously low. I need health potions but my inventory is empty. Is this how I die? Here after everything?


    A hand grips my wrist and I look down to see a figure from my memory. A man in a dark cloak lay dying, his hazel eyes locked on mine. He is out of place on this battlefield with his freshly laundered clothes and fine-cut leather gloves. Only the red trickling from the corners of his lips giveaway his condition.


    "Find him," he rasps, his face intent. "You must find him."


    The wagon jolted and I was wrenched out of my nightmare and back into reality.


    My eyes fly open, my hand dropping to where my sword hilt should have been. Instead, my fingers brushed only the top of my empty scabbard.


    "Are you alright young sir?" The driver glances over at me from his bench at the front of the cart. I see genuine concern in the lines of his wrinkled face. Kind, but that kindness is misplaced in a person like me.


    I blink and drag a gloved hand across my face.


    "I''m fine," I tell him. "Just a dream." The driver looks unconvinced.


    "Are you quite certain?"


    I only grunt in affirmation.


    When I don''t elaborate further he shrugs and turns to face front. I glance around and take stock of my surroundings. I must have been asleep for a while because the moon was high in the sky when I nodded off. Now the first tendrils of morning light are visible on the horizon.


    From that light, I can see the golden plains stretching out for miles into the distance.


    On a nearby hill A large war camp sprawls across the land. Rows of white tents lined all around with mounted torches. Men crawl across the camp like ants. Armored men. Fighting men.


    I see the standards of several Noblemen flapping in the wind and know that one of them is him. The man I''ve come here for. My stats flicker into my vision as I check them.


    Class: soldier


    Rank: none


    Level: 10


    Strength: 5%


    Vitality: 5%


    Damage: 6%


    Endurance: 4%


    Agility: 5%


    I sigh and close the window. All this work to grind to level 10 and yet my general stats remained frustratingly low. Killing small fries wasn''t going to get me where I needed to be. Not if I ever wanted to contend with true monsters.


    The driver clicked to his horse and the cart slowed. We approached a fork in the path marked only by a wooden signpost stood hammered into the dirt.


    Warning: This sign marks the beginning of Eastern Border Territory lines. Continue at your own risk.


    A similar warning blinked in my HUD but I waved it away. I was well aware that I was crossing into dangerous territory. All Monsters past the border were higher level and only the military, and academy-trained Mages were equipped to handle those threats.


    After all, there was a war on - and I intended to be a part of it.


    I thanked the cart driver and reached into the pocket of my worn cloak. Placing my last few copper pennies into his hand, I curled his fingers over them. Kind man that he was he tried to protest but I was already striding away.


    With my canvas sack thrown over one shoulder and my writ of passage clutched in one gloved fist, I mounted the hill before the mass of tents.


    It didn''t take long for me to be noticed. A Sentry wearing the blue and silver livery of the Kingdom stepped forward to bar my path.


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    "Who goes?" he barked, unnecessarily loudly in my opinion.


    "My name is Will," I said. "I have a writ of passage from the Elder of my village. By his recommendation, I am to join the Kadian Standing Army."


    The Sentry''s eyebrows rise as I hand the papers over.


    "This seals been broken," he said as he examined it.


    "Ah," I said. "Regrettable. I''ve come a long way I''m afraid, and the trip has been anything but kind."


    I gesture to my clothing and the Sentry eyes me, lingering on the dirty hem of my old cloak.


    "Yes I suppose so," he murmurs. "Come this way then, you''re to see the Auxillary Captain."


    I let out a sigh of relief and followed the man as he turned and signaled to the others. The two crossbowmen, which I hadn''t seen until now, raise their bows.


    It occurred to me as I walked past sharpened wooden palisades, that my encounter could have gone a lot differently.


    If they had known I''d received this letter from a dying man or that a quest of unknown origin had brought me here - I could have very well ended up dead.


    I follow the Sentry up a dirt path, hiking my pack higher on my shoulder. The camp is alive with activity.


    Despite the early hour, soldiers drilled in formation. Some ran in columns, others practiced careful maneuvers under the watchful eye of their sergeants.


    I was yanked out of the way as a woman in full plate armor clattered past, and the Sentry gave me a dubious look.


    "First time in a military camp I presume?" he asked with poorly concealed disdain. "Yes well, I suppose it would be for someone like you."


    "Do try to keep up, and for the love of The God King watch where you are going. You''ll live longer."


    I continued to observe the camp as he led me on, though with more attention to my immediate surroundings. He wasn''t wrong, this had been my first time in a military encampment. What he didn''t know was that I was also only about 4 weeks old - at least in this world.


    We paused walking to let a group of washerwomen rush past before making our way to one of the outstanding tents on the edge of camp.


    It was older than the others, and certainly less grand than that of the nobility. Where their tents were cream-colored, large, and flying the banners of their house colors - this tent by contrast was.. Well.. Unimpressive.


    I got the impression that it had been white once. Either time, lack of funds, or both had worn it down to its present state. There were stains along one side and several holes had been patched like a bizarre quilt.


    I was ordered to wait outside while the Sentry ducked inside.


    There were raised voices, the sound of something falling, and then the Sentry walked back through the flap looking harassed.


    "You deal with him," he snapped. "He''s in one of his moods and I''m not paid half enough to see farmers'' boys around camp."


    He shouldered past me and I watched him go for a moment before turning back to the tent. Knowing I might soon regret this decision, I ducked through the flap.


    "Unacceptable!" The shout came from a balding man wearing a military uniform that looked several sizes too small for him. A robust mustache sat across his upper lip like some sort of furry caterpillar.


    He had something clutched in his fist and was waving it about like a toddler having a tantrum. Realizing I was the only other person in the tent I cleared my throat.


    "Are you uh.. Talking to me?" I asked. My eyes snagged on his soldier rank, now hovering over his head. "Sir."


    "Simply inconceivable," he snapped, throwing the paper onto already cluttered desk. He heaved himself into a creaking wooden chair and glanced up at me.


    "Waverly is it?" he grunted, eyeing me over a pair of spectacles.


    "Will, sir." I corrected the Captain. He hardly seemed to notice.


    "I tell you, I have been a party to not one but three campaigns in my lifetime and yet they still manage to disregard my contribution to each and every one of them. That''s the way with nobility, isn''t it."


    He shook his head.


    "They care only for their bloodline and the glory of their household name. The rest of us be damned."


    I stayed tactfully silent during this tirade and eventually, he sighed heavily. He pulled his spectacles from his face, dropping them on the desk.


    "Yes," he muttered. "Werkins. You had a writ of passage, did you not? Does it contain the proper seal?


    "Will sir," I corrected again. "And yes." I stepped forward and handed off the writ for his examination. He glanced at it for a moment and then frowned. My heart skipped a beat in my chest but I kept my expression neutral.


    Chances were that I could lie my way out of it if my ruse was somehow discovered.


    "You''re a long way from home, eh?" He asked, folding up the paper and tossing it into a pile on his desk.


    "I dare say if you''ve trekked all this way to join the Army then you mean business."


    "I came here with one purpose sir. To kill monsters."


    "Indeed," he barked a laugh. "Well, I''m afraid I have bad news for you. The Standing Army is comprised mostly of the soldiers pledged to the different households of nobility. Those Men-at-Arms are well-leveled and just as well equipped. Not to mention that many of them are veteran Monster killers. I would offer you a place with my Auxiliary but I''m afraid I just haven''t got enough room for a-"


    The tromp of heavy boots announced the soldier moments before the tent flap flew open.


    "Sir," said a stiff voice.


    A man with silver at the temples of his dark hair came to a stop before the desk. He looked harggard, but there was no mistaking the seriousness in his eyes. I read his stats almost without thinking.


    Class: Soldier


    Rank: Auxiliary Veteran NCO, Corporal


    Level: 27


    "I''m quite in the middle of something Giller," grumbled the officer. There was a note of distaste in his voice. "I''m sure whatever complaint you have this time can wait."


    "I''m afraid not sir," said the man. A muscle feathered beneath his coarse beard.


    "I was just informed that the soldiers you sent out to scout the ridge line against advisement have returned."


    "Excellent," said the Captain, slapping a hand down on his desk. "Finally we''ve made some damn progress. Tell them to attend me at once, I want a full report on their findings."


    "They''re dead. Their bodies have just been returned to camp by the forward scouts. Or at least, what''s left of them."


    There was a heavy silence. The Captain looked momentarily stunned.


    "I¡­ All of them? Surely..." he trailed off weakly.


    "All of them." Giller''s voice was flat but there was an anger in his eyes that smoldered just beneath the surface.


    "They were good soldiers. Men I''ve trained myself over the last few months."


    "Yes well," the Captian seemed to have recovered some of his earlier bluster. "They were soldiers after all. They know the risk. It''s an occupational hazard."


    "A hazard that could have been avoided if hasty decisions hadn''t been made. Sir," he added as an afterthought.


    It was the Captain''s turn to glare. He sat forward, face reddening with anger as he stared down the veteran.


    "Careful Corporal," he sneered. "You toe the line of insubordination. I will not have common soldiers disregarding the chain of command. Not in my regiment."


    For a moment they gazed at each other, and the tension was palpable. I got the impression that this hadn''t been the first Western-style standoff between the two. Finally, the Corporal straightened and snapped a condescending salute.


    "By your leave sir," he sneered.


    The Captain curled his lip.


    "Dismissed. Oh, and take the new recruit with you. I dare say a vacancy just opened up."

 Two: 3rd Auxillary

    ¡°The balls on that bastard,¡± growled the Corporal as he marched back through camp. I followed after him, glancing back to the patchwork tent we had just vacated.¡°How does someone like him become an officer?¡± I asked.


    The man sighed and shook his head.


    ¡°Frankly? Because everyone else is dead,¡± he said. ¡°We used to have competent officers¡­ used to have funds too. But these days the Nobles just don¡¯t take us seriously. We¡¯re mostly comprised of levies and the soldiers that other companies didn¡¯t want. It¡¯s a tragedy really.¡±


    We stop to let a group of riders trot past.


    ¡°We used to be one of the greatest divisions in Eastern Kadia, you know. Everyone knew our names. But now¡­.¡±


    He gestured around at the small cluster of tents. Surrounding a large cook fire.


    ¡°This is all we have.¡±


    He glanced at me and rubbed the back of his neck.


    ¡°Sorry, not exactly a glowing recommendation to be sure. I¡¯m Corporal Giller, most call me Gills. And you are?¡±


    ¡°Will.¡±


    ¡°Pleasure, Will. I hope your impression of us isn¡¯t too dull. We may be a rag-tag bunch but we boast one of the best cooks on the line.¡±


    He clapped me on the shoulder and led me to a small lean-too with a fresh bed roll.


    ¡°This will be yours.¡± He said. ¡°Have you brought your equipment with you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have much,¡± I admitted, setting down my canvas sack with a clank. I pulled a few common items out of my bag. Most of them were drops from the few lesser monsters I¡¯d slain before coming here. A leather breastplate, two bracers, and a pair of thick leather gloves.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it,¡± said Gills. ¡°You¡¯ll have earned your share of drops before the month is out, don¡¯t doubt it.¡±


    ¡°Are things that bad?¡± I recalled the burned-out husks of farms and villages I had road passed in the cart on the way here. Remnants of battles long before this war began.


    Gills''s face grew serious and he leaned in.


    ¡°Goblin raids are not something new to us. Usually, you press the Horde back, find the nest and take them out.¡±


    He cut a hand through the air.


    ¡°But this time it¡¯s different. I¡¯ve been around for a battle or two but I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. These Goblins are unnatural. Their skin Is pale like they came from deep underground. Their numbers are far greater than the typical nests, which scouts estimate somewhere in the thousands. What¡¯s more, something has agitated them. They¡¯re not behaving like any Horde I''ve ever seen."


    Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach. Unbidden my eyes flicker to the corner of my HUD to a tiny dot labeled Quests.


    I could ask him about it. Get some clarification about why these notifications keep plaguing me. But then I remember the advice of the dying man who had given me his writ.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell them,¡± he had said. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone about the Quests. They¡¯ll kill you for it.¡±


    ¡°What makes you think they¡¯re behaving differently?¡± I asked instead, trying to dispel my unease.


    Gills takes a seat on a nearby stump.


    ¡°Well for one their armor is strange. It¡¯s a different shape and style. But really it¡¯s because of how they fight, see. Goblins have always been frenzied creatures, more beasts than anything. But now.... they¡¯ve been coordinating attacks and even learning from some of their mistakes. It¡¯s-¡°


    ¡°Gills are you scaring new recruits with your ghost stories again?¡± Interrupted a voice. I turned to see a middle-aged woman wearing an apron, one hand on her hip.


    ¡°They aren¡¯t stories,¡± Gills grumbled, but I noticed his eyes softened when he looked at her.


    She clucked her tongue.


    ¡°Pay him no mind,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s always studying the habits of Monsters. A strange pass-time for a man who spends his time killing them.¡±


    The woman grabbed a set of wooden bowls and began ladling portions of thick porage. She sprinkled some toasted nuts into each bowl and topped them with honey. My stomach gave an involuntary growl.


    ¡°You two better take yours now, the boys will be back any moment.¡±


    We thanked her and I gratefully accepted my bowl. I waited for it to cool, impatient to eat. Finally, when I¡¯d blown enough on the first bite I tried it. A few chews had me ravenous for more.


    ¡°This is heaven,¡± I said my eyes watering from the heat. ¡°I haven¡¯t had anything this good in ages.¡±


    I¡¯d lived mostly off of game and what food I had managed to steal to stay alive. This was the first hot meal I¡¯d had since arriving in this world. The Cook¡¯s smile widened and she gave Gills an approving look.


    ¡°I like this one,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯ll do.¡±


    ¡°Is that fresh meat I smell?¡±


    My hunting knife was halfway from its hidden sheath in my boot when I realized that the man who had grabbed my shoulder was one of the Auxiliary soldiers. I replaced it hastily, trying to cover my alarm with a smile.


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    ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t see you there. I¡¯m Will.¡±


    ¡°Kato,¡± he stuck out an arm and I gripped his wrist with my free hand. ¡°Welcome to the 3rd Auxiliary.¡±


    He was young, only a few years older than I was. He was tall, with short curls that clung to his head and the scuff of a goatee at his chin. His eyes went momentarily vacant in that way I¡¯d come to associate with someone reading my stats. Then he grinned.


    ¡°Only level 10?¡± he said. ¡°What have we come too? Used to be a minimum of 15 to get in. Can you swing a sword?¡±


    ¡°Well enough.¡±


    ¡°Well enough he says.¡± Kato chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±


    ¡°Quit antagonizing the trainee,¡± rumbled a gruff voice from behind us. One of the largest men I¡¯d ever seen lumbered in behind Kato. He clapped him on the shoulder and gave me a disinterested once over.


    He was wearing nothing but boots and a pair of padded trousers. I was reminded of one of those competitive bodybuilders from Earth. He made to set down the bushel of firewood he had been carrying and something caught my eye. s?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    His back was a mass of tight pink and silver scars that ran from the top of his neck to his waist. It looked as if someone had taken a whip to him over and over again.


    He turned and I looked back at my bowl, thoughtful. They whipped men in the Army, sure. But the way those scars had stretched over his skin made me think he had been whipped when he was younger. The scars had likely stretched as he had grown. A thief perhaps? It was hard to imagine someone whipping a child.


    The giant sat on a nearby log, taking a bowl of stew from the cook.


    ¡°Thanks, Vera,¡± he muttered and she beamed.


    ¡°So,¡± said Gills. ¡°How¡¯d it go.¡±


    ¡°As expected,¡± said Kato. He knelt by a bed roll and rummaged in his pack for a fresh linen shirt.


    ¡°The 3rd Auxiliary came in last, but what do you expect? We have no supplies, no proper arms, and armor, no funds for regiment equipment. Most of our recruits are country bumpkins who can¡¯t find the pointy end of a sword, no offense Will. And yet they expect us to drill with the rest of the men at arms and not look like complete fools.¡±


    ¡°We might if we took training more seriously¡± rumbled the giant. He attacked his bowl moodily with his spoon.


    ¡°Ah, but what¡¯s the point?¡± Asked Kato, sprawling across the grass and propping a foot over his knee.


    ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯d get a chance to make an actual name for ourselves. Every other regiment gets first pick of the loot, drops, and monster materials. We¡¯re lucky we even get the scraps.¡±


    ¡°Ever the optimist,¡± mumbled Vera. She stirred her large pot of porage just as a line of recruits began to form. There were some sixty men in the regiment. Most were young, but a few were veterans like Gills.


    Kato had been right about the state of the equipment. Most of the men were still dressed in armor, presumably from the morning drills but it was an odd assortment. Some wore helmets and breastplates but no gauntlets or greaves.


    Others had a set of mismatched armor that had clearly been from several different sets. There were a few that were more poorly equipped than I was.


    I finished my breakfast and dragged a hand across my mouth.


    ¡°So,¡± I said. What exactly is it you guys do around here?¡±


    Kato grinned. ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked newbie.¡±


    ***


    The sun was going down by the time we finished shoveling horse manure. I was covered in sweat and in dire need of a wash in a nearby river.


    ¡°Well, this sucks,¡± I said, stabbing my spade into the ground and mopping at my forehead with my shirt sleeve.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t used to be this way,¡± said Kato glumly. ¡°The Auxiliary used to be respected. But now. Well, you¡¯ve seen our new commander. The new Captain was a Quarter Master before all the other officers were killed off. Now he¡¯s the one giving orders. Imagine.¡±


    ¡°How exactly did that happen?¡± I asked. ¡°The other officers, I mean.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t really know.¡± The giant, who I had come to know as Draxus passed me a water canteen.


    I took a swig gratefully.


    ¡°Captain Evander was a good man as far as officers go," said Kato. "But he was¡­ ambitious. Wanted to restore the Auxiliary to its former glory. He went out on patrol a few months past with his lieutenant and they encountered a herd of Bog Gollems. Nasty work."


    "There wasn¡¯t much left of his body to bury.¡± Murmured Draxus.


    ¡°There was quite the fuss, on account of him having Noble blood and all,¡± Kato added, leaning against a nearby bushel of hay.


    ¡°Noble blood?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Aye. He was Lord Blackthorne¡¯s nephew but rumor has it he was a bastard.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Bastards don¡¯t get much favor around here.¡±


    I handed the canteen back to Draxus, troubled.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­odd,¡± I mumbled. I was about to ask more but a runner jogged into the stable yard.


    ¡°Corporal Giller had a sword requisitioned for you,¡± he said handing me an old sword. It was iron instead of steel and when I drew the blade I saw a few small nicks of wear and tear. Ultimately though, the weight felt good and I was glad to have a weapon again.


    ¡°Tell him I said thank you,¡± I said, nodding.


    The boy hesitated for a moment and I arched an eyebrow at him. He gave me a sheepish smile.


    ¡°He said you¡¯d give me five copper pennies for delivering the message."


    I chuckled. "Did he now?"


    I rummaged into the pocket of my trousers.


    ¡°A lie is more convincing when it¡¯s reasonable,¡± I told him. "Try to ask for a smaller amount next time. It might just work."


    I placed a single copper penny into his hands and his eyes lit up.


    ¡°Thank ye kindly sir.¡± He said then gave a sloppy salute and darted back the way he had come. When I glanced up Kato was giving me an odd look.


    ¡°Remind me never to play cards with you,¡± he muttered. I grinned.


    After the hard day''s work I lined up in camp to use one of the water basins that had been placed out for us. The water was cold but I didn¡¯t mind as I splashed my face and shoulders, rubbing the dirt away as best I could. I pulled on a clean shirt and took a seat by the cookfire as Vera passed around plates of cooked fish.


    ¡°Is her food always this good?¡± I asked through a mouthful. Gills smiled knowingly.


    ¡°What did I tell you? Best cook in the war camp.¡± I watched him as he speared his fish with a hunting knife, darting little glances at Vera when he thought she wasn¡¯t looking.


    ¡°Are the two of you¡­?¡±


    Gills laughed and his cheeks went pink.


    ¡°Throne, no. I doubt she¡¯d even look twice at me if I asked. Besides Vera has noble blood in her veins.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a bastard as well?¡± I guessed, thinking of what Kato had told me earlier. Gills winced.


    ¡°It¡¯s not the word I¡¯d use but I suppose it¡¯s apt. A lot of.. Illegitimate children of Nobility or even of those of Magus houses end up in the military. It¡¯s a hard life, but better than most of them would ever know otherwise. It¡¯s a hard thing not to be claimed by a parent.¡±


    He glanced at me.


    ¡°What about you? How did you grow up?¡± The question caught me off guard and I fumbled through my mind for an answer.


    ¡°Same as most I¡¯d guess,¡± I said. ¡°Parents weren¡¯t around much. It was a small town without many prospects and I decided I needed.. More.¡±


    I was worried my vague answer might arouse suspicion but Gills didn¡¯t seem bothered. He scraped the last morsel of fish into his mouth and sat back on his stump with a sigh.


    That was when we heard it. A deep and ominous howl echoed through the camp. My first thought was of a large wolf but the reaction of those around me made it clear that something was wrong. Conversations died down to silence. I could hear nothing but the crackling of the cookfire.


    Then another Howl cut through the air, this one sounding closer.


    ¡°Arms!¡± shouted Gills. The 3rd Auxiliary exploded into action. Men rushed to snatch up their gear. I vaulted the log I had been sitting on and raced to grab my armor. I had pulled the leather breastplate over my head and tightened the clasps in seconds. But my fingers fumbled at the ties of my bracers.


    ¡°Here,¡± Kato stepped out of the shadows and helped me secure the clasps. He was wearing a mail hauberk and had a salet helmet tucked under one arm.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked him. He glanced up at me, and any sign of his former good humor had vanished.


    ¡°Warg riders,¡± he said.

 Three: Warg Riders

    The camp came alive with the shouts of armored men and officers. Gills took charge, gathering the Auxiliary soldiers into a hasty formation. Gear was checked, weapons were drawn, and faces were grim.


    After precious minutes were lost helping a level 6 lace his Jupon, we began marching for the Eastern gate.


    My new sword was strapped to my waist, and I had been given a wooden shield that looked like it was made out of planks nailed haphazardly together. Still, I was glad to have something.


    Gills called a halt as we reached the edge of the palisade.


    A man mounted in polished plate was shouting orders to a group of spearmen nearby. At our approach, he turned, and beneath his upraised visor, his sneer was evident.


    ¡°Where is your Captain,¡± he barked, eyes sweeping over us with barely concealed disdain.


    Gills didn¡¯t miss a beat.


    ¡°He is indisposed, Ser Herold. The 3rd stands ready. What would you have of us?¡±


    ¡°Have of you?¡± Ser Herold tugged on the reigns of his charger who danced nervously beneath him.


    ¡°Stay out of the way and let the real soldiers do the work." he snarled. "We have no need of Farmers here. This is a bloody war for Throne''s sake.¡±


    Chuckles rang out from some of the spearmen.


    Gills started to protest but Ser Harold turned away, firelight glinting off of his armor. He snapped down his visor and called for his regiment to move out.


    The soldiers swarmed around us, either outright ignoring us, or shooting us dirty looks as they passed. One spat on the ground between my boots.


    ¡°Fucking peasants,¡± he growled, jostling my shoulder. I stepped forward but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.


    ¡°It¡¯s not worth it lad,¡± said Gills from beside me. ¡°They out-level us, and their equipment is top tier. That¡¯s what it means to be in service to a Noble House.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯d stand a chance if we had to opportunity for better loot,¡± said Kato from behind us. His arms were folded across his chest, his gauntlets tapping an angry rhythm on his shoulder.


    ¡°But they always get first pick of the enemies.¡±


    In the end, we were ordered to man the Southern wall, where exactly none of the action was happening.


    I stood on a raised platform behind the palisade and tried to see through the darkness towards the clash outside the Eastern gate.


    The glow of the torchlight cast long shadows across the ground.


    I could see the spearmen milling about as they faced off against some unseen enemy. Every once in a while, a ball of elemental magic would surge overhead, cast no doubt by one of the Armies Magus.


    The light illuminated a teaming horde of Goblins writhing like an angry ant pile. Their skin was a pale sickly grey and they wore dark iron armor shaped with rivets and spikes. It was the way they crawled across the ground on all fours that made me shiver. Unnatural, like snarling beastial spiders.


    Among them rode the Warg riders. Mounted on wolves the size of small horses, with long glistening fangs.


    The two sides went at it each other. Blood sprayed, both red and black. I saw a Warg clamp its jaws unto a man''s leg and pull him from the saddle into the darkness. It took dozens of arrows to bring one down, and when it finally fell, the rider was crushed beneath its bulk.


    A flare of lightning cracked the sky and for a moment I could see a Magus standing with his hand upraised towards the heavens. White robes whipped around him and the air grew charged.


    Then a bolt of pure energy crashed into the Goblin Horde, knocking the first two ranks flying into those behind them.


    Ser Harold was shouting something, a look of triumph on his face as lifted his visor to wipe his face of black blood. He raised his sword in the air, and several ranks of Horsemen gathered behind him.


    ¡°He means to charge,¡± said Kato, gesturing with his naked sword. I frowned.


    ¡°Is that wise?¡±


    Kato shrugged, draping an arm around one of the palisade logs.


    ¡°The enemy is almost routed. It was a smaller scale attack and Goblins break and run relatively quickly once they''re overwhelmed.¡±


    I continued to frown as I observed. I had never seen a coordinated battle like this, but something about this situation just wasn¡¯t sitting right with me. The fight was over in the span of twenty minutes. The Goblins were retreating, squealing, and bounding over one another to get away. It all seemed too¡­ easy.


    That was when the ground began to shake. It was small at first, barely noticeable. A tremble that could have been mistaken for the rumble of hooves as Ser Harold charged down the remaining Goblins with his mounted men.


    But then I felt it deep in my chest. I glanced at the ground and saw a pebble skip along the dirt. Another boom echoed.


    Gill froze, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open and he stared past me towards the battle. At the same time, a distant Magic bolt illuminated the area again and what I saw chilled me.


    Beyond the hills the distant tree line was visible. And rising above that canopy was the silhouette of something enormous.


    ¡°What the hell is that?¡± I breathed in horror.


    ¡°God King help us,¡± said Gill. ¡°It¡¯s a fucking Rock Troll. And it¡¯s wearing armor.¡±


    To the Corporal''s credit he took only a moment to gather himself. Then he was shouting orders to the line. The men of the 3rd Auxiliary snapped to.


    Runners were sent to fetch large wooden crates, within which grappling hooks and ropes were stored. Gills disappeared into his tent and emerged moments later holding a long and wicked-looking spear.


    Glowing Runes were carved along its handle, and I could see it was tipped with bronze. Monster-killing metal. He gave it a few quick thrusts and grinned viscously.


    ¡°Just a little something I picked up last campaign,¡± he said. ¡°It was a drop from a Sand Drake. I think I might be the only one in the company to own a Legendary item.¡±


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    Kato rolled his eyes.


    "And he''ll tell you the story any chance that he gets."


    He and Draxus took charge of the archers. Men without bows or shields were given grappling hooks.


    Gills led the rest of us footsoldiers. A haggard line of some two dozen men bristling with spears and swords.


    The guy next to me, a middle-aged man with a scar under his eye nodded at me grimly. He was level 18.


    We began our rapid march for the East Gate and I gripped the hilt of my sword so hard my knuckles turned white.


    I could hear the sound of men shouting, screams and splintering bones.


    ¡°First time?¡± asked the level 18 soldier, head cocked to one side. I nodded.


    ¡°Any advice?" It came out more clipped than I intended, but hell if I wasn''t scared.


    The soldier grinned, a metal tooth gleaming in the torchlight.


    ¡°Stay with the others. When the Goblins come, hold the line. You break formation, you die. We were facing the Troll.. well then it''s the opposite."


    As we approached the call was sent up, and those manning the front pulled the heavy palisade gates aside. Heart cantering like a horse in my chest, I stepped into my first battle.


    It was dark. Mounted torches had been speared into the ground to provide a halo of light, but many had been knocked down or broken in the melee.


    There were bodies¡­ dozens of them. Broken, twisted, and smashed. Somewhere up ahead we could hear a battle horn as Ser Herold and what was left of his broken regiment attempted to survive the onslaught of the Goblin Horde and their Troll.


    ¡°We have to bring the bastard down,¡± said Gills. ¡°If we leave it any longer we¡¯ll all be crushed, torn apart, or scattered as easy pickings for Goblin archers.¡±


    He turned.


    ¡°We¡¯ll split into two, work as a team to ground the bastard. I need archers to take the ridge line. Footmen, When it falls go for the eyes, neck, and the back of its knees. That is where it¡¯s most vulnerable. Understood?¡±


    The men shouted their agreement. The archers and those with grappling hooks faded into the darkness to the left. It was then that we began our assault. My first encounter with Goblins was fast and terrifying.


    One moment we were advancing with little resistance.


    The next, they were swarming us.


    Gills maintained his orders, calling to us to close rank. I was jostled by those around me, as I was unused to fighting in a group.


    ¡°Shield up lad,¡± muttered the man from next to me.


    I raised my shield and moments later I felt the sharp thunk as black barbed arrows embedded themselves in the wood.


    Then came the Goblins. They were quicker than I expected, crawling across the ground at a loping run. They were covered in a carapace of dark armor, rusted blades clutched in their gnarled hands. The average Goblin stood about 4 feet tall, but despite their size, they were incredibly strong.


    One lunged for me, yellow teeth bared and I caught its swinging blow on my shield. The impact jolted my arm all the way up to the elbow.


    I brought up my sword and stabbed through the gap in the shields, spearing it in the eye. The Goblin shrieked and fell, only to be replaced moments later with another.


    I managed to get my sword clear of the men around me and stab the next at a downward angle. The blade sank straight into its neck with a sickening crunch. Black blood oozed from the wound as the creature jerked backward. It was promptly run over by its fellows.


    One Goblin grabbed a hold of my shield and tried to drag it down while another jabbed a rusted spear at me. I tried to twist away but I was held in place by the press of men around me.


    Hot pain lanced up my arm as the spear slashed at my shoulder. I managed to knock it away with the flat of my sword and delivered a chop to the Goblin¡¯s arm that sprayed me in black Icor.


    ¡°Hold the line!¡± Roared Gills from somewhere to my left. We dug in our heels as the Goblins continued their assault. boots slipped in the bloodied earth. I was panting, snarling, trying to keep my footing and avoid going down.


    The man to my right screamed as a black arrow caught him in the chest. He tumbled down into the dirt one hand reached towards me in terror. I could see the fear in his eyes but there was nothing I could do.


    Boots trampled over him, whether ours or the Goblins it was impossible to tell. I slashed a goblin in the mouth in a spray of yellow teeth and icor. Sweat slicked my face and neck... or was that blood?


    Out of the darkness, a Warg and rider leapt forward towards the line. Up close the sheer size of the thing was nothing short of terrifying. It snarled, splintering shields in its jaws and knocking down men as it swiped with its massive paws.


    Even as I watched I saw its jaws clamp around the leg of a soldier and begin to drag him slowly backward. Gills let out a roar and stepped forward. His spear glinted in the moonlight as it flew through the air. It impaled the Warg in the chest. The beast fell forward and several soldiers leaped on the rider, bringing it down and stabbing it through with spears.


    After what felt like hours but might have been minutes, the Goblin swarm began retreating. My chest was heaving with breath. I could see my vitality meter was mostly still in the green. I had gained experience and I had lived. That at least, was something.


    ¡°No time to rest boys!¡± roared Gills. He had recovered his spear and now pointed it towards the Troll.


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    With a grumble, we lurched forward into a jog. Our boots slipped in on the bloody earth as we crested the hill. Another flash of lightning, this one much more frantic, lit the sky.


    Before us was a scene of absolute chaos. Bodies and horses lay broken on the field like scattered chess pieces.


    What remained of Ser Herold''sforces were gathered together in a grisly last stand against the armored Troll. It was huge, nearly Twenty feet tall, and with a club the size of a wagon. It bellowed a roar as arrows plinked harmlessly off its armored head.


    I looked around for the Magus and saw to my horror that he was dead. A body in white robes lay twisted about fifteen yards away. Its neck was bent at an odd angle and it was missing an arm.


    We were on our own, and we were without magic.


    The Troll''s eyes burned a deep bloody crimson. The arrows, which were coming from the ridge hill to the far left, seemed like mostly a nuisance to it.


    The Troll batted away the shafts, flailing wildly with its club. Men were knocked into the air like ragdolls. The sounds of their armored bodies hitting the ground were wet and visceral.


    Someone threw a spear and it sunk into the calf of the creature. The Troll whirled.


    On a command, Rope arrows and grapples flew out of the darkness. Some bounced harmlessly off of its armor, but a few stuck fast. The men were ordered to pull.


    The Troll roared as it staggered and lashed out with its free hand. A knight was snatched into the air and crushed between its fingers like jelly. His horse crumpled on the ground and did not rise again.


    ¡°The legs!¡± shouted Gills. ¡°Go for its legs, they are unprotected. Bring it down!¡±


    It was madness and yet I knew it was necessary. If the Troll made its way around our small force and into the camp, the civilians and injured soldiers would be torn to bloody shreds.


    Gritting my teeth I rushed forward with the line. The Troll was slow to react but when It saw us coming with shields raised it bared it''s massive fangs.


    I saw the club coming moments before it hit. I staggered to the side but an unlucky Axillary soldier was caught in the press and crushed to a crimson pulp. Another had his legs shattered and he was screaming.


    My HUD flashed a warning as I neared the troll''s gnarled trunk-sized legs. It was level 30 and what¡¯s more, it was angry.


    I jabbed my iron sword into the thick hide, but it seemed almost ineffectual. A mouse harrying a lion with a toothpick. More grapples were thrown and some managed to tangle around its left leg.


    The Troll stumbled and fell to one knee. The impact made the ground shake. It was then that I saw my opening. There wasn''t time to think.


    Rushing forward, I dove beneath the club as it came crashing down. I lept unto the downed leg of the beast and as it tried to rise I very nearly fell. I had to snatch unto the broken speer shaft that had been embedded in its leg and hoist myself upwards.


    My shield was in the way, so I threw it into empty air.


    The Troll smelled of metal and sewage. It took me precious moments to steady myself but when I did I found determination blazing through my veins. Gripping my sword in both hands I plunged it down and into the soft pale flesh at the back of the Trolls knee.


    The blade bit through to the hilt. Hot stinking icor oozed from the wound and over my hands. It stung but I refused to let go. With a snarl, I twisted the blade.


    ¡°You fucking bastard!¡± I screamed, Icor spraying my face as I yanked the hilt of the blade out, and plunged it in again.


    The Troll shrieked in pain and twisted. Suddenly I had lost my grip on my sword. I was tumbling through empty air. Then my back hit the ground with enough force to knock the wind from me.


    My vitality meter flashed from green to orange. I gazed up into the sky beyond the treeline, seeing stars. Then they were blotted out as an enormous arm came into view.


    I scrambled on my hands and knees through the dirt as the Troll collapsed around me. Knights and footsoldiers rushed in to finish it off with stabs to the eyes and neck.


    I managed to get free of the Melee and leaned with my back against a tree, chest heaving. Another shadow blocked the stars. I raised an arm to defend myself but it was only Gills.


    He stood with his spear held loosely in his hand. In the moonlight, he looked like a mad man splattered in black blood and grinning ear to ear.


    ¡°Will bloody Trollslayer,¡± he said. ¡°I do believe that kill belongs to you.¡±


    I grunted as my vision grayed around the edges. The last thing I saw was the notification on my HUD notifying me that I had reached level 12. I smiled.


    Then I blacked out.

 Four: Aftermath

    ¡°What the Bleeding fuck!?¡±It was the first thing I heard upon waking. I cracked open my eyes and saw the sun shining through the green fabric of my lean to. I was laying on my bedroll and my armor had been removed. My cloak was draped across my body for warmth.


    Sitting nearby was Kato and he was wearing his customary smirk.


    I could see he was playing dice against another member of the Axillary, who seemed to be loosing.


    The man was not happy.


    ¡°You¡¯re cheating,¡± he growled, gesturing to the table. ¡°There no way you threw down two sixes one after another.¡±


    ¡°I believe that would be four sixes my good man,¡± drawled Kato. ¡°I get the pot. A deals a deal."


    Coins clinked as he dragged them towards himself.


    ¡°You cheating son of a whore!" the other rose to his feet, fists clenched at his sides. Kato arched an eyebrow.


    "You sure you want to tangle with me, level 8?" he asked. The man''s face was dark with anger. After a moment he turned on his heel and stormed away, muttering under his breath.


    "You sure know how to make friends," I croaked as I sat up.


    Kato glanced around.


    "If it isn''t our very own Hero," he said, throwing up his hand in mock salute.


    "Back from the underworld. And here I was thinking that knock on the head might have actually did you in."


    "I''m alive," I said, grimacing. "But I''m sore as hell."


    "The after effects of a good healer will do that too you."


    Someone cleared their throat loudly and I looked around.


    ¡°I am looking for Will."


    A man stood outside our makeshift camp, looking like he''d rather be anywhere else. His Rank appeared to me as Messenger and he looked the part.


    He was wearing a coat of red and black, and his hat had a feather tucked into it. It seemed to wobble precariously every time he turned his head.


    ¡°I''m Will.¡± I said.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the man wrinkled his nose as if he had smelled something foul.


    ¡°The Lord Blackthorne has returned from patrol. He wishes to see you. Now."


    The fog cleared instantly from my mind.


    ¡°Did you say Lord Blackthorne?" I asked. "Hadrian Blackthorne?"


    The Messenger sniffed.


    ¡°Who other?¡±


    "What a pompous asshole," muttered Kato in a carrying whisper. The Messengers lips pursed, but he didn''t otherwise respond to the jab.


    I glanced down at my bare chest.


    ¡°I¡¯ll just get dressed.¡± I said. "Give me a moment."


    The Messenger waited for me outside and I rose to wash my face and hair at the water basin.


    Draxus was sitting with his back to a log, a book propped open in his over large hands. I turned my head, trying to read the cover.


    "Is that a romance novel?"


    The glare he gave me could have melted iron.


    "Mind your business Trollslayer."


    ¡°Where is Gills?¡± I asked as I tugged on a fresh tunic.


    ¡°He¡¯s meeting with the Lord.¡± Said Draxus. ¡°He has to report last nights events. The casualties were.. heavy."


    Memories of last night flashed through my mind and I blinked them away. There would be time to process later. Right now, I had work to do.


    Under the pretense of combing my hand through my wet hair I brought up the flashing quest window on my HUD and opened it.


    Quest: Speak with Lord Hadrian Blackthorne


    He was the one I¡¯d come here to see. I felt both excited and a little nervous. So far, the quests had kept me alive. They started out as small, telling me how to kill minor monsters, or where to steal food to keep myself fed. But now¡­ this felt different.


    I stared at the words for a moment, lost in thought.


    Then the Messenger poked his head into our small camp and gave me a withering look.


    ¡°A peasant does not keep a Lord waiting,¡± he snapped, feather quivering in indignation. I sighed and exchanged a look with Kato before following after him.


    The Messenger walked like a man with a stick up his ass. He was well dressed in contrast to the soldiers of the camp and he seemed to expect everyone to either go around him, or make way.


    I saw more than a few irritated looks cast in our direction. He led me across the main body of the camp and into the heart of it, where there was a secondary wall.


    the soldiers standing guard were well armored and wore the colors of their Lord. I was brought before a Tent the size of a small house. A Banner snapped in the wind sporting the crest of A black horse rearing on a red field. The symbol of House Blackthorne.


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    The Messenger stepped past the guards but I was stopped by a heavy hand on my chest.


    ¡°Hand over your weapons,¡± growled one of the two guards. I frowned. I didn¡¯t want to part with my sword, but I sensed arguing would be a bad way to start off this interaction. Instead I unbuckled my sword belt and handed it over to him.


    I decided to keep the hunting knife tucked in my boot and after a quick once over the soldier stepped aside.


    ¡°It¡¯ll be here for you when you get back.¡±


    I ducked under the tent flap and into a lush interior. There were wooden bookshelves lining the tent walls. They were filled with books on military tactics and stratagem, and tomes depicting the history of Kadia.


    Several rich furs of gold and sable covered the canvas floor. At the Center of the tent was a dark wooden desk and behind it sat the man himself.


    Lord Hadrian Blackthorne looked to be in his early thirties. He had dark hair cut short on the sides in the military fashion. His beard was oiled and trimmed and he wore his uniform well. He was a stark contrast to everything the Captain of the 3rd Auxillary had been in our first meeting.


    Here was a man, I sensed, that had earned the respect of his troops through hard won battles.


    He is hands were draped across the ornate hilt of a scabbarded great sword with it''s tip to the ground. It was gilded with gold, and the ruby set into the pummel seemed to pulse with light.


    Item: Dawnbreaker


    Category: Mythic


    So this was a Mythic Item. It was the rarest of loot drops and rumors had it that an item like that could only be claimed when the wielder killed a Legendary monster.


    When the Messenger cleared his throat I glanced up, realizing I had been staring.


    ¡°You called for me My Lord?¡± I asked hastily.


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    Gills was standing off to the side of the tent. He made a gesture with his hand and I realized that I was meant to bow.


    Bowing awkwardly at the waist, I lowered my head. Lord Blackthorne inclined his own head, looking somewhat amused.


    ¡°The Corporal tells me you were the one who brought down the Troll.¡± He said. His voice was deep and rich, and had a sort of resonance to it that denoted power.


    I shifted on my feet.


    ¡°I helped to bring it down,¡± I clarified. ¡°But ultimately it was the combined work of the 3rd Auxiliary that killed it.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne seemed to consider that, his expression thoughtful.


    ¡°And only level 12,¡± he murmured. ¡°It¡¯s an impressive feat of bravery, if not downright suicidal.¡±


    The Lord leaned back in his chair, his great sword resting against his thigh.


    ¡°Ser Herold is currently being attended by the healers. He has the 3rd Auxiliary¡¯s brave actions to thank for his life. Unfortunately, his regiment took a serious hit during the battle. Many of his men were killed or seriously wounded, and the loss of horses and equipment will be enough to cripple his forces for some time."


    He dragged a thumb across his lip.


    "This leaves the War camp in a precarious position. Without a sizable force here, I am unable to take my men on proper patrol of the border. This will leave Eastern Kadia open, unless I call for aid from one of my allies."


    He sighed heavily.


    ¡°I believe your assessment is correct, Corporal Giller."


    "My Lord?"


    "This attack seemed coordinated, as if the Goblins had waited for their chance and struck deliberately at a time when we would be less defended."


    He leaned forward, his grip on Dawnbringer tightening.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we have to consider the very real possibility that these Goblin Hordes are evolving.¡±


    A chill went down my spine at the thought. I remember Giller¡¯s assertions that before now, Goblin Hordes had been little more than beasts, savage and unthinking. But the events of last night had put things into perspective.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± said Gills carefully. ¡°Do you mean to say that-¡°


    The Lord held up a hand.


    ¡°I cannot be certain of anything - at least not so early and without true evidence. But I will be looking into this matter, make no mistake. At this point I don¡¯t believe that I can afford not to.¡±


    Gills throat bobbed and he bowed his head.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    I glanced between them, suddenly under the impression that I was missing something.


    Before I could ask, a runner entered the tent and bowed to Blackthorne before approaching him. He handed over a piece of folded parchment stamped with an official seal in red wax.


    Lord Blackthorne dismissed the runner and placed the parchment on his desk. For a moment he was silent, his dark eyes unreadable.


    ¡°I have a task for you,¡± he said at last.


    ¡°You¡¯ve proved yourselves capable soldiers. But more than that I need men I know I can trust. Are you those men?¡±


    He glanced between us and I got the sudden feeling that this was a critical moment. Remembering the Quest I stepped forward and met the Lord¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You can.¡± I told him. He held my gaze for a long moment, then he nodded.


    ¡°Then I¡¯m entrusting this task to you. Select a dozen of your most trusted soldiers from your regiment. You¡¯ll travel due Northeast, along the ridge line to castle Basset. I need this message hand delivered to The Count himself. It¡¯s for no other eyes, do you understand?¡±


    Gills stepped past me and tucked the message into the inside pocket of his tunic. Then he nodded seriously.


    ¡°It will be done My Lord."


    "Good." Blackthorne rubbed at a temple with his free hand.


    "Give the Count a full account of what''s happened here. He may be able to release a few squads of men to help patrol the border farther south. Oh, and Will,"


    He smiled at me and dimples appeared on his cheeks. He looked like a different man, less imperious and more... human.


    "I believe you are owed some of the Trolls harvest. Go and see my Crafter with Corporal Giller, and he''ll give you and the Auxiliary your fair share of the loot.¡±


    "Well that was cryptic," I muttered as we made our way back through the camp. Gills looked troubled, his eyes on the ground as we walked.


    ¡°There is something going on here," he mumbled "And I don¡¯t just mean about Goblins. I mean politically. Ever since the death of Captain Everard I¡¯ve gotten the sense that the Noble houses are locked in some sort of silent war.¡±


    He glanced over his shoulder and I took the opportunity to ask the question that had been on my mind.


    ¡°You think Everard¡¯s death was foul play?¡± I guessed, my voice low. ¡°What gives you that impression?¡±


    Gills jaw clenched and his brows drew together.


    ¡°There was something off about it from the start. The Captain was a seasoned veteran, what¡¯s more he was a Gifted.¡±


    At my look of confusion he clarified.


    ¡°Most combat classes don¡¯t rise beyond level 25 or 30. It¡¯s considered quite common among class-holders, and rising that far in and of itself is a respectable feat. But there are those who can break level 30, those with specialized abilities and power. We call them Gifted.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m assuming that¡¯s rare?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Mostly. I think every 1 out of a thousand combat class holders have potential. Only half as many are Gifted."


    He waited as a pair of soldiers on watch passed us.


    "Anyway, Evander was one of these gifted. No real surprise considered he was at least partially related to Lord Blackthorne. But for him to be slain in the field on a routine patrol is¡­odd. Not to mention there is the lack of a body.¡±


    ¡°That is strange,¡± I confirmed. ¡°But who would want to hurt him, and why?¡±


    Gills shook his head and the man suddenly looked weary.


    ¡°That I don¡¯t know,¡± he sighed. ¡°But I have a feeling we don¡¯t want to find out. Believe me when I say the politics of the Radiant Court can be downright viscous.¡±


    ¡°And the God King allows this? Isn¡¯t it his duty to protect the realm?¡±


    Gills is silent for a long moment and I wondered if he would even respond. Finally he bit his lip.


    ¡°The God King,¡± said Gills carefully. ¡°Has much more important things to do than play father to a bunch of spoiled nobility. Will, I know you¡¯re from the country but you should be careful what you say. In front of the wrong people it could be considered¡­¡± he trailed off but I got the gist.


    ¡°Right,¡± I said. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    I would have to be more careful of what I said around the others. I was growing more comfortable as the camp became familiar but If I slipped up, the consequences could be serious.


    That night I lay in my bed roll listening to Draxus snoring. We were to set out tomorrow at first light, and something told me it would be an interesting trip. I brought up my Quest window and read the text.


    Quest Completed: Speak with Lord Hadrian Blackthorne


    Quest Started: Deliver the Missive to the Count of Basset


    I sighed, dropping my head back unto the cloth sack that served as a pillow. Things were getting interesting. My mind slid back to my memories of the dying man and his parting words to me. He had warned me not to tell anyone about the Quests¡­ but how had he known?


    The questions swirled around in my mind until I drifted off to sleep and morning came.

 Five: Dangerous Questions

    "This is the read deal¡± I said, lifting my new coat and examining it in the morning light. An item window popped open.Troll Hide Coat: Armor + 15. 8% physical damage resistance.


    The Crafter, who had worked hard on this piece for most of the night, smiled.


    His skill class was high, and I could only assume that the quality was due to his skillset.


    ¡°Consider it a gift from Lord Blackthorne,¡± he said. ¡°He also wished for you to have this.¡±


    He lifted something from wooden box and handed it too me.


    Standard issue Kadian helmet: Armor + 7


    ¡°Well well well,¡± Kato strolled up beside me, to drape an arm across my shoulders. ¡°Looks like your hard work has paid off Trollslayer. I suppose we have you to thank for the new boost to funds.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a start.¡± Giller was packing the saddle bags on a mule near by. He kept tightening the straps, grunting when the beast drifted to the side.


    ¡°Stay still damn you.¡±


    I thanked the Crafter and walked over to help him steady the animal.


    ¡°Just how long will this trip take?¡± I asked him. ¡°I don¡¯t like the sound of the border being left open, especially with things being the way they are."


    ¡°Just about five days there, and another five back,¡± Said Gills. He stepped back from the saddle bags, dusting his hands on his trouser legs.


    "I feel the same. That''s why we''ll be moving as fast as we safely can."


    ¡°Why can¡¯t we take horses,¡± grumbled Kato as he shouldered his leather pack.


    ¡°Because half the horses in the camp were killed in the battle,¡± snapped Gills. ¡°Besides, do you have a horsemanship trait? I sure don¡¯t.¡±


    We left from the Western Camp Gate. There were ten of us all told, including myself, Gills, Draxus, and Kato. I was wearing my Troll Hide Coat underneath my leather breastplate. It was a dark blue grey and smelled slightly musty, but I was glad for the extra protection.


    After seeing what we had to face, I knew any equipment I could pick up along the way from loot or drops, or even anything I could buy from a crafter, might make all the difference.


    Our party headed West first. Our plan, as far as I understood it, was to cut inland to avoid encountering any more of the Goblin Horde. Caught out in the open we¡¯d be at serious risk, so it was worth the extra hours to trek inland and away from the Border line.


    The sun was hot and sweat beaded my face and neck. Kadian Summers, I was coming to realize, were no joke. We all drank heavily from our canteens and It wasn¡¯t long before we were running low on water.


    ¡°We need to find a stream,¡± said Kato, shielding his eyes with his hands.


    There were no objections and we slowed our pace to look for signs of water. After about half an hour I heard the unmistakable trickling of water over flowing over stone.


    ¡°It¡¯s here,¡± I called. The others followed and we knelt next to a small clear creek. I uncorked my canteen and made to dip it in the water but Draxus grabbed my hand.


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, pointing. I followed his gaze upstream and froze. There was a deer lying on it¡¯s side near the waters edge. It¡¯s head was draped across the rocks and it''s face was completely submurged.


    ¡°What the-¡°


    Kato stepped over to the carcass and crouched down beside it.


    ¡°It must have drowned,¡± he said uncertainly. ¡°But I don¡¯t see how...¡±


    ¡°Maybe it was injured,¡± I suggested. Draxus leaned over to examine the corpse then shook his head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see any sign of a predator attack or hunters arrow. The body seems completely untouched.¡±


    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Draxus scrubbed at his chin in thought. He continued to examine the corpse long after the others lost interest and hiked further upstream to fill their canteens.


    I took the opportunity to drop my back and roll the stiffness out of my shoulders.


    "You think it''s trouble?" I asked. Draxus shrugged and stood.


    "I don''t see signs of a predator or Monster. It''s probably nothing."


    In the late afternoon the trees and foliage began to grow denser. We had difficulty giding the mule through the trees, and occasionally had to stop to help it navigate it''s path. Kato kept swearing under his breath every time his sword snagged on a bush.


    ¡°Bloody things,¡± he huffed, snatching at his scabbard after it had gotten stuck on a bramble for the third time. S?a??h th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Ah yes, the bush,¡± I said. ¡°Your mortal enemy.¡±


    A snigger made us both look around. Jarvis, a young soldier leveled similarly to me was smiling at us. He was red haired and uncharacteristically soft spoken for his choice of profession.


    I noticed his smile didn''t quite reach his eyes.


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    ¡°Sorry,¡± he said when he noticed me looking. ¡°It¡¯s just your accent. I¡¯ve never heard anything quite like it before.¡±


    My stomach dropped like I was on a carnival ride.


    ¡°I¡¯m from the country,¡± I said evasively.


    ¡°Where in the country?¡±


    His tone was conversational but I could sense something else under the words. Something more pointe the mere curiosity.


    ¡°Oh you know,¡± I shrugged. ¡°A small town in the middle of nowhere called Blackbriar. It was a bit of a shit hole to be honest, but at the time I had nothing to compare it to.¡±


    Kato and Draxus snorted but Jarvis¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. I flicked a tongue across my lips.


    ¡°Where are you from?¡±


    ¡°From the country as well. A village to the South of Glomstead. Where exactly is Blackbriar located?¡±


    ¡°What is this an interrogation?¡± Kato cut in, sounding bored. ¡°I was taken to believing you could play the flute, Jarvis. That is why Gills brought you along I suspect.¡±


    Jarvis eyes lingered on me a moment and I wondered if he would continue to press. Then he seemed to relent, walking ahead to talk to Kato and Draxus. My heart was still pounding in my chest, and a slick film of cold sweat covered my neck.


    Until now nobody had really questioned me on where I¡¯d come from. But there was something in Jarvis¡¯s posture and the way his eyes narrowed when I answered, that made me believe he knew I was lying.


    Blackbriar had been the first name that had come to mind. It was the street I had grown up on back on earth in a small Carolina town. I gazed at the back of Jarvis¡¯s head as he talked with the others, laughing and sharing jokes.


    He might become a problem and if that was the case, I¡¯d need to proceed carefully.


    Our first night was mostly uneventful. Jarvis played flute around the fire as we ate dried meat and berries. The music was suprisingly good and the tunes had Gill tapping his foot and Draxus humming. Jarvis father had been a bard, and his talent for music was evident.


    We took turns on watch as the others slept. Late into the night there had been a bit of a scuffle between Kato and a beast. I had leapt from the ground with my sword half drawn when I realized it was only a spider in his pack.


    Kato brushed it to the ground and I saw a flash of green legs before he smashed it.


    ¡°God King protect me,¡± he said, making the sign of the saint over his forehead. ¡°I bloody hate spiders.¡±


    ¡°Is he always this dramatic?¡± I asked Draxus as I shove my sword back home in it''s sheath. The giant only nodded, his expression weary.


    "Always."


    The next day was cooler than the last, what with the thick canopy of trees blocking out much of the direct sunlight. The Auxiliary soldiers seemed to be in a better mood despite last night¡¯s excitement with the spider.


    Seth, a tall reedy soldier missing two of his front teeth struck up conversation with me. He was a nice enough guy, if a bit odd. He had a silver dagger tucked into the belt of his waistband and when I asked about it he launched into a story about killing a Frost Giant in the Northern wastes.


    ¡°I was lucky to get the drop,¡± he admitted in the end. ¡°The others did more work back then, I only got the killing blow because it fell on my spear.¡±


    ¡°A kills a kill,¡± I said. ¡°I suppose we should call you Giant Slayer.¡±


    As the day wore on I tried several times to make conversation with Jarvis. He was brusk with me and kurt in his answers. Whats more, I noticed the way he watched me when he thought I wasn¡¯t looking, A frown twisting his features. I pretended not to notice and kept talk with the other soldiers light and cordial.


    Perhaps if I kept my distance Jarvis would loose interest in me. It was worth a try.


    ¡°We¡¯ll reach the Ravine soon,¡± said Gills as we stopped to make camp. ¡°From there it will be almost a straight shot to Castle Basset.¡±


    ¡°If we survive the ravine,¡± muttered Draxus. ¡°Last I heard it was swarming with level 16 fire Scorpions.¡±


    ¡°Nothing we can¡¯t handle,¡± said Gills. ¡°Right then, let¡¯s break and make camp. Kato is on cooking duty, God King help us. Draxus, we¡¯ll need fresh water for the pot. His eyes fell on me as I set down my canvas sack.


    ¡°Oh good, Will. You can help Jarvis father firewood.¡±


    I saw Jarvis stiffen almost imperceptibly. I opened my mouth to suggest someone else take on this particular task but Gills had already turned away. Cursing my bad luck I dropped the rest of my gear and strode into the trees.


    The ground was littered with sticks and fallen branches. It hadn¡¯t rained in some time, and many of the sticks were dry and brittle, perfect for firewood. I had gathered a healthy stack of usable wood when the sound of a foot on dry leaves made me freeze.


    ¡°I know what you are.¡± Said Jarvis from somewhere behind me. My heart leapt into my throat. I hadn''t heard him approach until just now. Had he circled around to follow me?


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± I asked, straining my ears for the sound of a taught bow string. Was he armed? Had I seen him leave camp with his bow? Why had I left my sword by the fire?


    ¡°A liar,¡± he said at last. ¡°I¡¯m a map collector, it¡¯s a bit of a hobby of mine. I checked my maps of the country for a place called Blackbriar. There was none.¡±


    ¡°Well it¡¯s a Podunk town in the middle of nowehre,¡± I said, rising slowly to my feet. I could feel the comforting weight of the knife tucked in my boot.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be on a map.¡±


    ¡°Horseshit. I knew something was off about you from the moment you came into camp. A strange accent and doesn¡¯t seem familiar with our customs and mannerisms? That¡¯s the first sign of it. There are others.¡±


    I turn to face him, still clutching my stack of usable firewood.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I aske calmly. Inside my heart was hammering but I kept my face blank. Javis eyes were hard as flint. He held a few sticks of firewood, but I was relieved to see his bow slung over one shoulder.


    ¡°You ask too many questions,¡± he said. ¡°Questions that a Kadian would know the answer too. If you were from a foreign Kingdom it might have been plausible, but that¡¯s where you slipped up. Then you took down the Troll on your first day in the 3rd? It¡¯s just too uncanny.¡±


    He paused, and his eyes never left mine.


    ¡°You¡¯re an Otherworlder,¡± he said. ¡°What they call an Imposter. The Inquisition would burn you at the stake if they knew.¡±


    "Sounds like madness," I said. "I don''t know what you''re talking about, but if you don''t mind I-"


    A muscle twitched in his jaw.


    "Don''t lie to me," he hissed. "I know the truth, and if the others did they would turn on you in a second. You''d be a prisoner or a corpse in the mud and good riddance."


    An uncomfortable silence stretched between us.


    ¡°Are you going to tell them?¡± I asked finally.


    I knew there was no point in further pretenses. Even if Jarvis was wrong, he¡¯d gotten it into his mind that I was an Imposter. I doubted I could desueade him of that notion.


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    I waited but when nothing else seemed forthcoming I took a step forward.


    His eyes turned wary.


    There was about ten paces distance between us, and I could probably cross it in a few steps, draw my knife before he could reach for his bow and¡­.


    But what then? Was I really prepared to kill a man who might report me? Could I afford not to? I certainly didn¡¯t have any intention of being tortured and burned alive by His Majesty''s fucking Inquisition.


    After a tense moment of indecision I let out a breath and strode forward and past him. Jarvis watched me, a hand going to the bow on his shoulder but when I strode past him his hand relaxed.


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll change your mind.¡± I said. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything about be, not really. We don''t have to be enemies.¡±


    My back prickled at the thought of getting struck by an arrow but I forced myself to walk away slowly.


    It was a risk, I knew. Part of me was cursing myself for not simply striking first before he could tell the rest of them my secret. Or worse, inform a member of the inquisition once we arrived in Castle Basset. But I didn¡¯t want to kill one of my comrades in cold blood - not if I thought I had any other choice.


    I returned first with firewood and after a few minutes Jarvis followed. He was quiet and reserved and when the others asked his to play a tune on his flute he refused.


    I was relieved when it was time to sleep and Draxus volunteered to take first watch.

 Six: Hunted

    I awoke to a hand clamped tightly over my mouth.   My eyes flew open in the dark, hand straying towards my boot but it wasn¡¯t Jarvis I saw above me.   Draxus crouched over me, his face intent and a finger pressed to his lips for silence.   When I nodded and he removed his hand, and gestured to our surroundings. Slowly I sat up, taking in the camp. The fire smoldered low and the glow of the embers illuminated some of the nearby trees. Ten feet away Jarvis law on his side. We was wrapped in his cloak, his mouth was open in a snore.   Or at least that is what I thought.   When I looked closer I had to clamp my teeth together to keep from screaming.   Spiders were crawling from his mouth and eyes, hundreds of them, maybe thousands. They swarmed over him silently and I realized as I stared, that he was dead. The Spiders were tiny but I could see their green legs in the glow of the embers.   Draxus leaned down, his lips close to my ear.   ¡°Cave spiders,¡± he whispered. ¡°The brood mother will be nearby. They are blind, don¡¯t make any sound.¡±   Then he withdrew, slinking away towards the prone form of Gills. He wope the Corporal up in the same fashion.   Cave spiders¡­ I got to my feet, checking my clothes and pack. A single spider was crawling up the side of my arm and I brushed at it franticlaly.   If I remembered correctly their venom could be paralytic.   Jarvis must have been bit earlier tonight¡­ had it been in the forest? Either way he had been unable to move as the spiders swarmed him, eating him from the inside out. My stomach churned at the thought and I felt my gorge rise.   It was a horrible way to go, and it just as easily could have been me.   In a way it was a twisted turn of luck that the guy who might have turned me in to the inquisition was the one who ended up dead. My own rush of releif sickened me.   Draxus and Gills roused the rest of the camp and we began so silently father what we could. We unhitched the Mule from where she had been tied to a tree and she let out a soft snort as we led her to the side.   Jarvis¡¯s body was now swarmed by a blanket of spiders and Kato started towards it, his torch raised.   Gills made a cutting motion through the air.   ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± he hissed. ¡°He was dead hours ago. It¡¯s likely he was bitten by a bigger spider first and then paralyzed. There was nothing we could have done."   Kato hesitated, his face pale.   ¡°But the body?¡± he whispered. ¡°We can¡¯t just leave him.¡±   ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice.¡±   We packed what we could, giving the body and the spiders now swarming it as wide a birth as possible.   Within minutes we were heading through the forest, following the light of Kato¡¯s single torch. The Cave Spider¡¯s were blind, so it wasn¡¯t light we had to fear, but sound.   Every jingle of equipment or clank of armor set my teeth on edge. I kept looking around, expecting to see some nightmare of a spider come barreling through the trees towards us. Just how large could Cave Spiders get?   One of the soldier¡¯s stumbled and dropped his spear. It slid down a small gultch and came to rest against trunk of a tree.   ¡°Leave it,¡± muttered Gills, but the man was already climbing down after it.   We waited in tense silence as he crept towards the spear. He glanced around carefully before reaching down to pluck it up.   As he turned back towards us, something wet splattered across the font of his leather Jerkin. He glanced down at the same time that I looked up.   My mind failed to register what I was seeing for a few long moments. Then the true horror of it gripped me. A spider hung from above, it¡¯s hairy legs curled around two trees. It¡¯s multiple sightless eyes hung like pearly orbs in it¡¯s dark face. Mandibles the size of my arm stuck out from either side of it¡¯s jaws and they dripped a stringy saliva.   It was the size of a car.   The soldier stared up at it, the whites of his eyes glinting in the torch light. Gills tried to get his attention but he seemed fixated on the beast above him. He never saw the second spider that lunged from it¡¯s hidden cave and went for him. He screamed and all hell broke loose.   I ripped my sword from it¡¯s sheath and at Gills orders I stood back to back with the other men of the Auxillary. A series of clicks and chirps went off all around us. The spider in the tree lurched towards us, branches swaying as it half crawled, half ran across the canopy. Gills thrust his spear at it, managing to gore one of it¡¯s eyes.   I saw the shadow of movement as another spider, this one the size of a cat, hurled itself at me. I slashed my sword through the air, sheering it in half with a spray of green goo. The trees were alive with dark and hairy bodies.   The soldier on the ground was still screaming as the spider began pulling him towards it¡¯s abdomen. It starte to wrap him in thick strands of sticky webbing even as I watched.   Casting around on the ground I found a stone the size of my first and cocked back my arm, hurling it as hard as I could. It hit the spider with a solid thunk to the head and it lurched backward, dropping the soldier.   I ran forward to snatch at his arm.   ¡°Come on,¡± I said, heaving at him. But his bulk didn¡¯t move. I glanced down and saw his pale lifeless face. He must have bled out from the wounds in his neck.   ¡°Will!¡± I had only a moment of warning before the Cave spider bore down on me.   It clicked it¡¯s mandibles, trying to snap at me but I ducked away and rolled to one side. Slashing my sword, I hacked at one of it¡¯s legs, spraying myself with green blood.   It lurched sideways and I took the opportunity to step forward and stab it through the head. A shudder went through it¡¯s hairy body and it collapsed to the ground with a thud. I scrambled back up the gultch towards where my comrades were making a stand against a swarm of spiders.   I stabbed at one, then another. My hands were slick with green spider blood.   One managed to get a grip on my boot and began yanking at it like an angry dog. I drew my hunting knife from my other hand, stabbing wildly.   From all around us the trees began to sway. It was as if a breeze had swept through the forest, but I knew better.   ¡°She¡¯s coming,¡± said Draxus in a choked voice. ¡°We have to leave, NOW. I¡¯ll get the Mule.¡±   Gills nodded and began shunting the soldiers forward, shoving at their shoulders as he ordered them to run.   ¡°Will and I will bring up the rear guard,¡± he said. I nodded grimly.   We bounded down the trail in a column two men wide. The soldiers in the front Draxus, among them, smashed their way through the swarm with shields and spears.   The rest of us ran behind, cutting at any stranglers that managed to come at us from the sides. Occasionally, one would leap from the trees but I managed to spear several through with the point of my upraised sword.   ¡°They¡¯re in a frenzy,¡± grunted Gills from beside me. ¡°The Brood Mother wants to feed. My guess is that she smelled us when we first crossed inter her territory unknowingly.¡±   My eyes widened in realization.   ¡°She¡¯s been tracking us..¡± I hissed. ¡°So that spider that Kato found the night before¡­¡±   ¡°It was likely a scout.¡± Gills confirmed. ¡°Shit.¡±   I hacked at another fist sized spider that had landed on Seth and was trying to gnaw on his head through his helmet.   ¡°What do we do? Can we outrun her?¡±   Gills face was grim.   ¡°We can sure as hell try.¡±   The chase led us out of the heart of the forest where the ground became rockier and more solid.   We were all exhausted by the time we reached the mouth of the ravine. Jagged spikes of grey rock plunged into the air, the sides of which were at least fifty feet tall.   It looked like the ravine might have been carved out naturally by water at some point in Kadian history. But now it was dry as bone.   When the company finally halted and I put my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. We were all covered in sweat and spider gore, and none of us was more spooked then the Mule. She snorted nervously, eyes rolling backwards towards the tree line.   ¡°Theres no time,¡± rasped Gills, lifting his spear. ¡°We¡¯ll have to head into the ravine now. We¡¯re only a few days for Castle Basset, and when we emerge from the other side we can try to hail down a patrol. It¡¯s our best shot.¡±   I splashed some of the contents of my canteen across my face. My vitality meter was beginning to drop from green to yellow, and without the presence of a healer in our group I knew I¡¯d need to find a merchant soon.   The meager funds I¡¯d received for my part in taking down the Troll probably wouldn¡¯t be enough to buy more than a minor healing potion.   ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°Should we send someone to scout ahead?¡±   Gills considered it, then shook his head.   ¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°We have a better chance of surviving if we stick together.¡±   ¡°That¡¯s if the spiders don¡¯t follow us into the ravine,¡± mumbled Kato helpfully.   ¡°Always the optimist,¡± growled Draxus.   ¡°I can¡¯t believe those bastards got Jarvis in his sleep.¡± Seth ripped off his helmet and made to throw it down, then thought better of it.   ¡°If I had noticed what was happening on my watch I could have..¡±   Gills rested a hand on his shoulder.   ¡°There was nothing you could do lad,¡± he murmured. ¡°This is just the way of things.¡±   Remembering I now had my own helmet I opened my pack, pulling it on and fastening the clasp beneath my chin.   With the visor lowered, my visibility was cut in half. Still, I had a better chance of surviving without my bare head as a target for monsters or arrows to find.   After a few minutes rest Gills led us onward and into the ravine. The roots and leaves of the forest floor gave way to sparse grass and smooth stone. The Mule¡¯s hooves echoed as she clopped behind us on her lead.   I had gained a fair amount of experience from fighting the spiders, and I assumed it wouldn¡¯t be long until I reached level 13. That boost in base stats would make a difference in a fight.   If only there were incentives for finishing Quests. I sighed and adjusted my grip on my sword.   The Quests were important, but so far I didn¡¯t exactly know how or why. At first their purpose had been to feed me or keep me alive in this brutal new world. But now? Maybe I was wrong to rely on them.   A few loose rocks fell from the side of the ravine to the ground. The sound echoed like that of a gunshot and drew my attention to above. I could see a few trees growing at the top their roots wrapping around stone.   But nothing else caught my eye. Still, I was learning to be weary in this world of Monsters and death. I caught Gills arm.   ¡°There is something up there,¡± I murmured, gesturing to the top of the ridge. Gills glanced up and worried at his lip.   ¡°Whatever it is it means to ambush us. Pass to word down. We can set up a trap if we¡¯re smart about it. And a trap will need bait.¡±   We both turned to look at the Mule. She blinked back at us reproachfully.   Gills grinned. S~?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.

 Seven: Brood Mother

    ¡°I can¡¯t bloody see anything in this mist,¡± hissed Kato as he waved his naked blade through the fog in a futile attempt to clear it.It was thick, and visibility was low.


    From where we crouched behind a fallen boulder I could barely make out the spot where the Mule was tethered. From thirty feet away one of the soldiers knelt on a small outcropping of rock. He had pressed his back to the wall of the ravine, and was fiddling with a black ball of tar.


    Seth had a death grip on his spear. He kept looking around fearfully at every sound, eyes wide.


    ¡°It''s the Brood Mother, isn''t it? What if she sees the ambush coming and gets behind us?¡± He whispered, wetting his lips with his tongue.


    ¡°She can¡¯t fucking see us shes blind.¡±


    ¡°Oh.. Yeah.¡±


    As we watched and waited the Mule began to grow more restless. She snorted, dancing from foot to foot and sending the echoing click of hooves bouncing off the walls.


    This is what we had wanted.


    I leaned forward, eyes straining against the fog.


    There was nothing, no movement or sound. Then I spotted something. It was subtle, a slight swirl of fog halfway down the ravine that signaled some sort of motion. I caught sight of the shadow of something dark but just as quickly it disappeared.


    ¡°Give the signal,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°What? I don¡¯t see anything¡±


    ¡°Give the damn signal.¡± I said, more urgently. Kato turned and made several hand motions. I had learned minutes earlier that they meant.


    ¡®Threat ahead, eyes forward.¡¯ Or some sort of variation of the two.


    Gills signaled back his understanding and ran in a crouch towards the lone archer on the ridge. The man glanced down and nodded his head. From the ground he picked up an arrow covered in black tar and placed it on his bow.


    The string let out a soft creak as he bent it back to his ear. Gills fussed with the flint and steel, letting off sparks.


    A pair of hairy giant legs appeared out of the fog behind the Mule. Then another set.


    The soundlessness of the Brood Mother¡¯s movements made goose flesh erupt down my arms. She was a quiet hunter and yet she was large enough that she could have filled up my bedroom back on earth with no room to spare.


    It was an eerie thought.


    My HUD flashed and a level notification popped up.


    Cave Spider Brood Mother, Level 28


    The Mule seemed oblivious to the spider. She still shook her head nervously and snorted, dancing from foot to foot. The Spider managed to draw within fifteen feet of her before we made out move.


    Gills cut his hand through the air and moments later a bowstring twanged. The arrow, which had been lit moments ago flew through the air. It struck the line of tar that had been carefully poured across the stone and flames bloomed.


    The Brood Mother reacted quickly, drawing back and stamping her enormous legs to put out the flames now licking at her hairs. The smell of burning spider hair made me gag.


    The mist swirled and flowed around the flames and then, to everyones suprise - it caught fire.


    I dove behind the boulder, snatching Seth by the collar of his tunic and dragging him with me. The blast sucked the oxygen from the air with a strange pop. Then a roar. Gills sprinted backwards, diving for cover behind an outcrop of rock. When he came up, his eyebrows were smoking.


    ¡°Go for her eyes!¡± he wheezed, flapping a hand through the haze. "Arrows and spears. Now!¡±


    The ten of us recovered quickly.


    We rushed the Brood Mother who had now sank back, huddled against the far wall of the ravine. Her body was smoking and I saw one of her legs had been blown off. It lay several feet away - a charred husk the size of a log.


    ¡°Hold formation!¡± shouted Draxus, raising his own heavy shield. The brood mother hissed, her body vibrating as she spit venom at us.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let it touch you!¡±


    I ducked as the venom whistled past us, leaving a trail that smelled of sulfur. Where it struck the rocks began to bubble like lava.


    Acid. Delightful. Without a spear I was forced to hang back as the other prodded at the beast, forcing her backwards. It seemed like she was retreating until I realized she had braced her back legs on the wall.


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    ¡°Lookout!¡± I called but she had already struck. Draxus was knocked off his feet as she lunged, forward with pincers bared. The Brood Mother Bared down on him, slamming a heavy leg down on his shield to pin him in place. He scrabbled for his spear but it had rolled out of reach. Draxus bared his teeth in a snarl as he faced down death.


    With a roar I ran forward, sweeping my sword back and forth through the air near the Brood Mothers face.


    She lashed out at me with a foreleg and I was knocked to the ground. My helmet clanged like a gong as it hit stone, my vision vibrating.


    I rose unsteadily to my knees and managed to stab the leg before she could withdraw it. Green spider blood burst forth and the Brood Mother retreated, hissing angrily.


    I rose to my feet and reached out a hand to Draxus, which he took.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said, breathing hard. ¡°I owe you one, Blackbriar."


    Gills ran buy us followed closely by Seth. With Gills Legendary spear they managed to wound the Monster. Four of her six eyes had been gouged, and several of her legs had been hacked off. S?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    With a shriek she turned and tried to clamber up the stone wall of the ravine and out of harms way.


    ¡°Oh no you don''t.¡± Kato flung a grappling hook and I watched as the metal tines bit into the flesh of her thorax.


    Draxus and Seth grasped unto the rope and heaved with all their strength. The Brood mother lost her footing halfway up and tumbled back to the ground with a shuddering thud.


    Without delay we rushed in to finish the job. I hacked off two of her legs and managed to stab her in the belly before her legs curled. We continued to hack and stab until the system message declared her dead.


    ¡°Fuck me,¡± said Kato, leaning on his sword. ¡°That was almost a perfect ambush.¡±


    ¡°Almost,¡± Gills was wiping at the remnants of his eyebrows with a piece of cloth he dampened with his canteen.


    "It didn''t occur to me that the mist might be flammable."


    Draxus and I took one look at him and started laughing.


    ¡°Yeah yeah,¡± he mumbled, stalking past. The singed remnants of his eyebrows somewhat dampened the impact of the dark scowl he cast our way.


    Instead he strode back to the Mule who was making frightened noises in it¡¯s throat.


    ¡°There there Bessy,¡± he said, patting her neck. ¡°It¡¯s all done now, you¡¯re safe.¡±


    Kato scoffed.


    ¡°Do my ears deceive me? I thought you hated the poor animal. Could have sworn I heard you talking to Draxus about whether or not she might make better dinner than a pack animal. Now you''re calling her Bessy."


    ¡°Things change.¡± Saids Gills.


    ***


    Havesting the spider turned out to be hard work.


    Spider Hide, it seemed, wasn¡¯t worth anything tangible.


    Instead we harvested the Brood Mother¡¯s acidic venom and her spider silk. She had dropped several items of note and they were distributed among us based on who had earned the killing blows.


    I was given an amulet of minor poison resistance which I draped around my neck. It was an item of good quality, and would provide a resistance to most Monster based venoms and poisons. All in all, not a bad deal.


    By the time we were finished with the harvest we stunk of burned spider hair and sweat. I found myself missing the hot showers of earth now more than ever.


    Bessy, as the mule had now come to be called, was carrying saddlebags bulging with Monster Materials. She looked somewhat comical with a pair of giant spider mandables tied to her back with rope.


    Gills had mostly recovered from his bad mood and gone back to giving orders. I even saw him occasionally sneak a handful of wild berries from his inventory and feed them to Bessy.


    I checked on my own inventory and noticed a new slot. I now had four slots which I used to store my helmet, coin, and food. What¡¯s more, the battle with the Brood Mother had been enough of the boost I needed to level up.


    Class: soldier


    Rank: Foot soldier, 3rd Auxilary


    Level: 13


    Strength: 11%


    Vitality: 9%


    Damage: 11%


    Endurance: 9%


    Agility: 11%


    My base stats weren¡¯t exactly where I wanted them to be, but they had doubled since I¡¯d joined the Army. I also knew there were things about this leveling system that I didn¡¯t fully understand.


    ¡°What are traits,¡± I asked Kato as we walked along the Ravine.


    I could see Gills balding head as he scouted ahead some thirty paces.


    ¡°I heard Gills mention something about a Horsemanship trait.¡±


    Kato nodded.


    ¡°You¡¯re getting to the level where you¡¯ll have to start considering things like that. Traits are attributes you can choose that shape what your class becomes. Most of us hit a ceiling at level 30, but we can still grind chosen traits to Mastery if we want to grow.¡±


    I grunted.


    ¡°What traits do you have?¡±


    ¡°I chose Swordsmanship, and Precision. Bit of an unorthodox combination but you¡¯d be surprised how often it comes in handy.¡±


    He grinned.


    ¡°What about Giller?¡±


    Kato bit the inside of his cheek thoughtfully.


    ¡°I know he has a Leadership trait, and he likely has spearmanship or pole arms. Leadership came the most naturally to him though. Some days I wish that he was our Captain.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t help but agree.


    ¡°Why is he a Corporal? I mean.. Isn¡¯t he a bit¡­ old for the job?¡±


    Kato laughed.


    ¡°He¡¯s only thirty five and as far as I know he joined the Army later in life then most. But yes, it is generally odd. Gills used to be a First Sergeant back in the day. But the new Captain doesn¡¯t like him much, as I imagine you¡¯ve surmised.¡±


    ¡°He got demoted.¡±


    Kato nodded. ¡°The Captain may be a fool but he¡¯s not a man you want to get on the wrong side of. He has contacts that hold some military influence. We may be able to get around his authority from time to time, but technically he¡¯s still the Captain.¡±


    A Captain that was responsible for the degrading of quality of the 3rd Auxilliary. I was beginning to wonder if it might not have been deliberate.


    ¡°Did you know Captain Evander?¡± I asked as we walked. Kato chuckled.


    ¡°Oh aye. He was the only one that could beat me at dice. Sly bastard.¡±


    I smiled.


    ¡°What was he like?¡±


    ¡°He was¡­ hard to read.¡± Kato switched his pack to the other shoulder. Then sighed.


    ¡°He kept his thoughts to himself," He clarified. "though he never saw himself as above the rest of us. He cared about morale, and about the way his soldiers were treated. He was also an impressive fighter. I was sad the day he died.¡±


    He lapsed into thoughtful silence and my own thoughts swam to the forefront of my mind. Without meaning to I kept picturing Jarvis¡¯s face. His eyes bleeding and sightless, his mouth gaping wide as spiders poured from his throat.


    Revulsion and guilt fought for a place inside my chest. The guilt was not because I believed there was anything I could have done for him - there likely hadn¡¯t been. But because of the relief I¡¯d felt upon realizing that he was no longer a threat to my continued existence.


    Maybe I was becoming ruthless. Maybe, in this new world, I had to be.


    Was that really such a bad a thing?

 Eight: Men who kill men

    By the time the sun began it¡¯s decent in the sky we were out of the ravine and into the grasslands. We removed Bessy¡¯s saddlebags and let her wonder and graze.Seth, who had been scouting ahead, returned. His face drawn and grim.


    ¡°What is it lad?¡± asked Gills.


    ¡°There is something up ahead,¡± he said. ¡°Bodies.¡±


    Wordlessly we drew our weapons, and prepared our weary selves for yet another gruesome fight.


    The dirt trail led past a thicket of brushes and out into an open clearing.


    At Gills signal we we divided into two groups and advanced slowly from either direction. I was holding my blade in a high guard, ready for anything.


    Wind whistled through the brush, stirring my cloak. With it came the scent of death.


    The point of my sword tip dipped as I saw what lay ahead.


    ¡°No monster did this,¡± I said. ¡°At least, I don¡¯t know of any monsters who hang people.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a Monster.¡± Draxus comes to a stop beside me. His eyes are empty. When he spoke his voice held a coldness I¡¯d never heard from him before.


    ¡°The Inquisition did this.¡±


    He threw down his shield and spear, cursing. Then he strode towards the tree. Eight bodies hung from the branches, swinging gently in the breeze.


    ¡°Drax, we shouldn¡¯t..¡± Kato tried to grab at his arm but Draxus snarled and shoved him away. Kato looked as shocked as the rest of us.


    The bodies hadn''t been dead long by the look of it. One of them is shorter and smaller than the rest. A child''s body - a young boy no older than fourteen. Every one of the corpses has a symbol carved into their forehead. A stylized I that can symbolize only one thing.


    The Inquisition.


    My stomach betrayed me. I turned and hurled the contents of my gut across the ground.


    I''m not the only one.


    Draxus hoisted himself unto the tree and began climbing from branch to branch. I drew a sleeve across my mouth and I stepped forward to help.


    Flies buzz around the corpses. They are stiff and blue. I take the feet of the first body in my gloved hands and wait.


    Draxus said nothing at my approach but I noticed the set of his shoulders relax marginally. There is a pain in him and it goes deep. I make a note to myself to ask him about it when the time is right.


    Draxus pulls a long knife from his belt and slashes at the rope holding the woman up. I catch her, grunting as her full weigh hit me. Then I lowered her gently to the ground. Her eyes were glassy and vacant. I couldn''t help but wonder what she say before the end.


    I knelt and brushed my fingertips over them to close her eyelids.


    ¡°Find peace,¡± I whispered over her.


    ¡°What, no prayer?¡± asked Draxus bitterly. The branch swayed under his weight, making the bodies swing with the creaking of rope.


    ¡°Would you pray to a God King that allowed this to happen in his name?¡±


    My question is quiet but I can tell it surprised him.


    His haunted eyes met mine and I saw something flicker in them. Approval? Sadness?


    In the end he only grunted his agreement and slashed the next rope. I lowered the body to the ground as gently as I could. This time it was Kato who stooped beside me to close his eyelids.


    He put a hand on my shoulder then stood to catch the next body.


    And on and on it went. There were eight all told. Three of them were women and then there was the boy. I couldn''t help but wonder what they had done to deserve this. I didn''t think there was an answer.


    At first, the other soldiers had been weary of helping us. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    They kept making the sign of the saint, and looking fearfully at the sky as if the God King himself might appear and strike them down from the heavens.


    ¡°They fear retribution,¡± Kato explained. ¡°Technically it¡¯s illegal to interfere with the will of his Majesty''s Inquisition. Even now."


    Eventually though Gills and Seth joined us, leaving the rest of the men to stand watch as we did our work.


    We had no proper spades, so we used a pick to break the earth, and a latrine shovel to scoop the loose dirt away. True darkness had fallen when we finally shoveled dirt over the single deep grave.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    My hands were numb but I could feel something burning in my chest that hadn¡¯t been there before. Anger, or at least the embers of it. Whatever these people had done I doubted they had all been serious criminals.


    I remembered Jarvis¡¯s words, the way his lip hard curled when he told me the Inquisition would burn me at the stake for what I was.


    Would he had condoned this murder of innocents if it was done in the name of the God King?


    Draxus had been silent since the incident. I couldn''t blame him, not after seeing what we had.


    We continued down the trail for almost an hour before we spotted a river with a mill turning in the water. Beyond the mill was a small town lit with torches.


    A man wearing leather armor and the kettle hat of a watchmen hailed us. He was backed by four of his fellows, one of which had a bow drawn and pointed at us.


    ¡°That¡¯s far enough,¡± said the watchman. ¡°Who are you, and what do you want with us? We¡¯re a small town, and we don¡¯t have much.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not bandits,¡± said Gills, striding forward. He pulled the folded parchment from his breast pocket long enough to flash the red seal.


    ¡°We¡¯re soldiers, 3rd Auxiliary under command of Lord Hadrian Blackthorne.¡±


    The watchmen eyed our gore splattered clothes and mismatched armor somewhat dubiously.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look like men at arms in service to a Lord,¡± he said. He wasn''t wrong. Gills started to reply but Kato strolled past him, his sheathed sword resting across one shoulder.


    ¡°That¡¯s because we¡¯re not.¡± he said firmly.


    ¡°We¡¯re just the 3rd Auxiliary, and we¡¯re levies and volunteer mostly. A few veterans here and there.¡± He waved a hand.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been sent on this all important errand to deliver a message to the Count of fucking Basset, and as you can see we¡¯ve had a hell of a time. So please, for the love of the God King, point us to your nearest inn. We have coin.¡±


    There was a tense pause. Gills looked like he was considering cuffing Kato on the ear. Then the watchmen burst into laughter.


    ¡°He¡¯s a funny one ain¡¯t he,¡± he said, flapping a hand across his chest.


    ¡°Aye well, you¡¯re welcome here so long as you don¡¯t cause any trouble. We¡¯ve had enough of that these past few days.¡±


    The watchmen were true to their word. In town we found an inn that was mostly empty, save for a few men nursing drinks late into the evening. We paid the stable hand a copper to take Bessy in for the night before tending to our own needs.


    The innkeeper seemed less than thrilled to have us, but in the end she didn¡¯t complain when we each paid for a hot meal, board, and a bath.


    The bath was a small wooden basin filled to the brim with warm water. But to me it felt like heaven. Four additional copper pennies earned me a small bar of lye soap, which I used to scrub myself vigorously.


    The grime of the road came away quickly, and the water turned a light Grey. I dunked my head and washed my hair, scrubbing until my scalp tingled. It felt nice not to be on edge for once. Military life wasn''t one I hated but there was no denying the intensity of it.


    Constant vigilance was a side effect of being a soldier.


    I let myself soak and nearly dozed off in the warm water before I realized what was happening.


    Rising from the tub I reached for a linen towel and wrapped it around my waist. A knock came at the door.


    I crossed the wooden floorboards and tugged it open. A young woman stood outside holding a tray. On it was a bowl of steaming stew and a few slices of oat bread. My stomach growled.


    It took me a moment to remember that I was only wearing my towel. I ducked out of the doorway.


    ¡°My apologies,¡± I said, turning my back from her and pulling on a fresh shirt that I had laid out on the mattress.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting company.¡±


    She laughed.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite alright, nothing I haven¡¯t seen before.¡±


    She handed off the tray and I thanked her. Her eyes lingered on the fresh scar on my shoulder before she turned away. Despite myself I watched her hips sway down the hall and back towards the stairs.


    Kato whistled and I realized he was also standing in his doorway, elbow braced against the frame.


    ¡°I think she likes you Troll Slayer,¡± he said, smirking.


    ¡°She said like three words to me, I wouldn¡¯t hold my breath.¡±


    ¡°Three words she didn¡¯t say to Draxus,¡± he laughed. ¡°He¡¯s still sulking.¡±


    Realizing that he probably needed to talk I left my door open and crossed to the bed where I sat and laid the tray across my knees.


    Kato sauntered in, closing the door behind him and dropping into a chair in the corner. He put one arm behind his head and propped his feet on my gear.


    ¡°So,¡± I said through a mouthful of hot barely stew. ¡°Are you going to tell me what happened earlier?¡±


    ¡°With Draxus you mean.¡± He sighed when I nodded.


    ¡°The old boy has a rough history with the men in silver masks."


    When I give him a blank look he rolled his eyes.


    ¡°The inquisition man. Seriously just where is Blackbriar located? The bottom of a well?¡±


    I ignored him.


    ¡°Are they the ones that had him whipped?¡±


    Kato hesitated for a moment before leaning forward and resting his bare feet on the wood. Were moments ago his mood was playful it now seems somewhat muted.


    There was a shadow in his eyes that reminded me of the way Draxus had stared at the hanging corpses.


    ¡°That,¡± he said. ¡°Is a long story. And not fully mine to tell."


    He studied his hands.


    "But I can tell you that the Inquisition was what was responsible for the destruction of his family name. He was somebody once - the son of a baroness and set to inherit his mothers estate. Before they took it from him, I mean. To my understanding he was only eight. Who the bleeding hell whips a child?"


    He lapsed into silence and I chose to honor it. Finally he shifted back.


    ¡°That''s how he ended up with the 3rd Auxiliary. Drax has had a hard life - well, harder than most. But there are some things you shouldn¡¯t ask a man.¡±


    I swallowed my last bite of stew and set my spoon into the empty bowl.


    ¡°Fair enough. And you? How did you come to be here?¡±


    Kato snorted.


    ¡°Pissed off the wrong people, what else?¡± The answer was evasive but I let it stand, unwilling to pry.


    ¡°I have a favor to ask.¡± I said.


    Kato arched a brow.


    ¡°You¡¯re far from ugly but very much not my type,¡± he said. ¡°A lack of breasts, see.¡±


    I rolled my eyes.


    ¡°I want to learn the sword.¡±


    "Ah."


    I had expected him to mock me but Kato looked me over, assessing.


    "You have the build for it," he said. "Long arms and sturdy shoulders. With the way you fight though, I think you''d be better with the sword and shield."


    "Can you teach me?"


    He scrubbed at his chin.


    "I could. But if you want to learn the shield you should practice with Draxus. Few but knighted men can match me with a blade, but he''s been using a shield since he was a boy."


    I thanked him and we made small talk. Despite it all I could sense the shadow of what we had seen laying over us like a blanket, stifling any mirth or joy.


    After a while Kato excused himself and I took that opportunity to go to bed. I sank into the down mattress and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

 Nine: The Counts Son

    The Castle Basset stood stalwart in the distance, it¡¯s tower walls nearly thirty feet high.Before it, the Count¡¯s men were impossible to miss.


    Polished plate armor gleamed in the sun as Knights and Men at arms rode along the snaking columns. There were more soldiers than I¡¯d ever seen grouped together - even at the War Camp.


    ¡°They look like bloody peacocks,¡± said Kato.


    As we watched one of the supply wagons hit a loose stone. It bounced, jerking sideways. One of the wheels loosened and popped off. The renegade wheel rolled towards the slope of the hill, gaining momentum and bouncing as it went.


    Two foot soldiers chased after it, the furious shouts of their sergeant ringing behind them.


    ¡°I suppose we shouldn¡¯t have bothered rushing,¡± said Gills, bemused. ¡°This is quite possibly the slowest moving army I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    The Count sat astride a broad shouldered war horse outfitted in a caparison of blue and yellow. The man himself was unmistakable, in pale steel plate and a feathered helmet.


    ¡°You¡¯d think all the Nobility are competing to see who can look the most pompous.¡± Said Kato as we made our way towards the column of men.


    ¡°Lord Blackthorne¡¯s not like that,¡± I said. ¡°He has a flashy sword but his armor seemed pretty plain.¡±


    ¡°Blackthorne¡¯s different. He fought as a foot soldier in the front lines before his father passed away. I heard his gift didn¡¯t even manifest until he hit level thirty. The man¡¯s the real deal.¡± Said Gills. He kept tugging on Bessy¡¯s lead, swearing when she tried to dig her heals in and resist.


    ¡°All the noise has her spooked.¡±


    It took some time and a little bit of bribery before Bessy decided to follow us to the front of the line. One of the Knights, a man named Ser Robert met us and guided us in.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± he called to the Count. ¡°These men are from the 3rd Auxiliary. They have a message for you from Lord Blackthorne.¡±


    The Count turned his mount and trotted towards us, three mounted guards in toe. When he reached us he lifted a gauntlet to raise his visor, which got stuck halfway.


    ¡°Blast it all,¡± he snapped, ¡°I can¡¯t see in this bloody thing. What did you say Robert? These men are Messengers?¡±


    ¡°Soldiers, Lord. They are here to deliver a letter from Lord Blackthorne.¡±


    ¡°Soldier¡¯s, eh.¡± The Count regarded us dubiously, or it least he tried to. He had to turn his head at an angle to see past his jammed visor.


    ¡°Very well. Deliver your message and be on your way.¡±


    Gills stepped forward, pulling the paper from the inner pocket of his tunic and handing it over with a bow. The Count took it from him and broke the seal. It took him only a few seconds to scan the contents.


    ¡°No.¡± He said abruptly.


    The ten of us stared. Gills licked his lips, fidgeting.


    ¡°I beg your pardon Lord?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve come to ask for my aid on behalf of The Lord Blackthorne. You can tell him my answer is no. I¡¯m leading my men south to drive out the Ork tribes of the burning sands. I can¡¯t afford to spare the men. Blackthorne is on his own for this fight, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    He gripped the reigns and made to turn away.


    ¡°My Lord Count,¡± I had stepped forward before I had time to regret my decision. It was a bad plan, but it was all I had. I took a breath and plowed ahead.


    ¡°I''ve heard of you," I said. "I thought a man who earned the title of Spear of the King would be someone to fear, or even admire. But now I see the rumors of your bravery are greatly exaggerated.¡±


    Gills gasped. Ser Robert spun in his saddle, his eyes burning.


    ¡°Watch your tongue boy,¡± he snapped. ¡°You stand before nobility.¡±


    ¡°I stand before a once great bloodline. The Bassets have long been a household name where I am from My Lord."


    It was a bold faced lie, but I was committed now.


    ¡°I expected¡­ a different man. The fault was mine.¡±


    I saw the blow coming long before it fell but I stood my ground, allowing the Count of Basset to strike me. The force of the backhand knocked my head sideways and I tasted the salt of blood.


    My cheek stung where the metal had bitten into skin.


    ¡°You speak to me like that again soldier and I will have your tongue removed with a hot iron.¡±


    A rider stepped forward from behind him and I fought back a smile. I had read his stats only moments ago, and hoped he might intercede on my behalf.


    Class: Royal Knight


    Rank: Heir to Castle Basset


    Level: 37


    It was a gamble, but I had seen the way his son had looked at the Count as he spoke. There had been disapproval in his eyes.


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    ¡°Father,¡± he said. ¡°The boy is a fool, but he is correct. What would be said of our household if retreated from the front lines and left our allies to fend for themselves?"


    ¡°This is no retreat.¡± said the Count angrily. ¡°Castle Basset is besieged on all sides by enemies. In the Mid East the Goblin Hordes run rampant. In the south the Ork tribes ravage our lands and take our people captive. What would you have of me, Dacon? I cannot very well abandon one to favor the other.¡±


    ¡°No. But You¡¯ve trained me for this all my life. I''m ready to take command of my own company. Let me take my men and ride to Blackthorne¡¯s aid. You can spare my knights and a company of foot, at least.¡±


    The Count considered this and I decided to make a point of studying the ground. The moments ticked by before the Count finally grunted his agreement.


    ¡°Very well. You have decided your own path. Serve our house with honor. And for Throne¡¯s sake don¡¯t make your mother weep.¡±


    He turned to me.


    ¡°If my son should fall on the field of battle I will hunt you down boy, and your head will roll.¡±


    With that he turned his horse rode away. The Heir to Castle Basset watched the Count go.


    Then he turned to me.


    ¡°That was very unwise,¡± he said. ¡°But it was bold. You have my respect¡­¡± he raised an eyebrow questioningly.


    ¡°Will my Lord. Will of Blackbriar.¡±


    ¡°Will of Blackbriar,¡± he mused. ¡°Now that¡¯s a name.¡±


    The Count¡¯s Heir was named Dacon, and he was a much different man then his father. We watched him give orders and round up his own men to march out.


    ¡°That was a fool thing to do,¡± growled Gill. ¡°Next time you plan on risking the whipping post give us a heads up.¡±


    ¡°Leave him alone,¡± said Kato. ¡°He looks green enough already.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps because he¡¯s just realized that he has to keep the Count¡¯s Son or face the headman."


    They laughed and I grimaced. They were right. My little stunt might have earned us the support that Lord Blackthorne had needed, but I had also just inadvertently tied my fate to his.


    If Dacon were to fall, I had no doubt the Count would make good on his promise.


    A notification pinged in my vision. With trepidation I opened the Quest window.


    Quest Completed


    New Quest Activated: Protect the Count¡¯s Heir


    I sighed and was just about to close the window when another notification popped up.


    Prerequisites almost met. 9/10 Quests completed.


    I blinked. Prerequisites? Prerequisites for what?


    ¡°Will are you alright?¡±


    ¡°What?" I started.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m fine.¡± I shook my head to clear it and closed the window on my HUD.


    That notification was somethign I''d never seen before but now it had me wondering. If I completed the next Quest what would happen? I supposed surviving in order meet these unknown prerequseties was the only way I was going to get my answer.


    Damn cryptic system.


    Bessy choose that exact moment to let out a whinny. We all looked at her.


    ¡°I think she¡¯s getting tired of carrying all of these Monster Materials around,¡± said Gills. and I could use a bit of coin. How about the rest of you sorry lot?¡±


    ***


    Monster Loot, it turned out, was a lucrative business. Between the spider venom, mandibles, and ropes of spider silk, the ten of us earned a respectable amount of coin.


    We weren¡¯t rich by any stretch of the imagination, but it was nice to add some silver to the copper pennies in my inventory.


    More than that, It was time I bought some new gear.


    Lord Dacon¡¯s company boasted almost a hundred foot soldiers and half as many mounted men. Most of them were well equipped, and keeping a force of that size in good working order required Crafters, Smiths and Artificers to travel with the company.


    I made my way through the tents until I reached the Smiths temporary set up. The man was middle aged, with a short frame and wide shoulders.


    ¡°I need a new sword,¡± I told him Lifting my sheathed iron sword and laying it across the table. He eyed me warily and his eyes went vacant as he checked my stats.


    ¡°Swordsmanship trait ey?¡± he said in approval.


    ¡°That¡¯s good. Many soldiers don¡¯t care to earn a trait. They just bang away and demand higher level swords without any respect for the weapon itself. Keep at it, you¡¯ll gain mastery soon enough.¡±


    I smiled. I had managed to Earn the bronze swordsmanship trait over the past few days of training with Kato and Draxus. It hadn¡¯t been easy, and I was sporting some new cuts and bruises that would take time to heal, but it was well worth it. I was now considered a bronze level swordsman.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± He drew the blade and examined it with a practiced eye. He clucked his tongue when he saw the nicks and scratches in the blade and shook his head when he tested the edge.


    ¡°You need to learn to care for your blade,¡± he said. ¡°What you need isn¡¯t iron, but a good steel sword and a proper whetstone.¡±


    He stepped inside the back of his covered wagon and rummaged around a bit before emerging with a short sword.


    ¡°Try this,¡± he said. I took the sword and gave it an experimental swing. At his urging I dropped into a stance with a guard. He frowned.


    ¡°How do you normally fight?¡± he asked. ¡°One handed or two?¡±


    ¡°One handed.¡±


    He nodded and held out a hand for the sword. I handed it over and he disappeared back into the wagon. Moments later he emerged carrying a different weapon. He handed it over and urged me to draw it. The grip was made of tight brown leather and it slid smoothly from the sheath. The blade was shorter than that of a long sword but wider than I¡¯d expected from a one handed blade.


    I gave it a few cuts and thrusts and decided I liked the feel of it.


    Item: Steel Bastard Sword, common. +12 damage


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± I said, laying the sword down on the wooden counter top. The man beamed.


    ¡°I also need a shield,¡± I said. ¡°But I¡¯ll be low on coin after I buy my sword. Is there anything you could sell me at a premium?¡±


    The Smith considered this for a moment.


    ¡°Depends on the size of the shield and the material it¡¯s made of. Mm, there might be something¡­¡±


    He reached beneath the counter and grunted as he hoisted a shield up and set it down.


    ¡°It¡¯s made of wood but braced with iron. It isn¡¯t pretty but it¡¯ll get the job done.¡±


    I checked the weight of the shield and nodded. The leather straps were a bit worn but over all It seemed like a good piece. It was painted black in the center and white along the edges.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡±


    After handing over most of my silver I made my way back to where the others sat around a fire. We were isolated form the other men but the 3rd was used to that feeling.


    ¡°Got yourself some new gear I see,¡± said Gills approvingly.


    "I could say the same of you.¡±


    Draxus was now wearing a brigantine and Seth had a new hauberk and coif of mail.


    We were starting to look more like Soldiers and less like a rag tag group of bandits.


    "Heres to hoping there is more loot to come," I said, raising my canteen.


    The others raised their own, or in Draxus case the book he was reading, and we sat in companionable silence. S?a??h th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I pulled a few strips of dried meat from my inventory and began chewing, washing it down with sips of water.


    Compared to the hot meal of the inn it wasn¡¯t much but I wasn''t complaining.


    Gills sat up moments later, glancing towards the camp entrance.


    There was some sort of commotion. A rider had cantered into the clearing and dismounted at a run, nearly stumbling as he fell.


    ¡°Throne man, what is it?¡± Asked Dacon, emerging from his tent halfway undressed.


    ¡°It¡¯s the War camp sir.¡± The man came to a halt in front of the Count¡¯s Son.


    ¡°We¡¯ve found it.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s good is it not?¡± Dacon looked confused. ¡°Have you sent word to Lord Blackthorne to expect us?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just it sir,¡± the Messenger wiped a brow across his brow.


    ¡°The camp¡­ it¡¯s been abandoned.¡±

 Ten: To War

    The air was thick with the smell of smoke and ash. The slow breeze stirred the soot and blew it back towards us, making the men cough. The Young Lord Dacon dismounted his Courser and dropped to a crouch in the dirt. His visor was raised and his face somber as he studied the gruesome sight before him.


    That there had been a battle here, there was no doubt.


    Men lay scattered across the ground as if thrown by the hand of some callous god.


    Tents had been smashed and burned, arrows and splintered spear shafts pierced the ground around us. Among the corpses lay a broken warhorse on it¡¯s side. A man lay across the horse, his bared head resting against it''s flank. Even as I stared I saw the shuddering rise and fall of his chest.


    Dacon saw it too. He rose and crossed to the man, fumbling with the canteen in a pouch at his belt.


    kneeling, he lifted it to the dying man¡¯s lips. Water trickled over his dirt smeared face and he wheezed, face screwed up in pain.


    ¡°What happened here, soldier?¡± Asked the Count¡¯s son.


    The Knight¡¯s eyes were hollow and red rimmed from the smoke. When he turned his head to face the Lord I saw a deep gash on his neck weeping crimson tears.


    ¡°Ambush,¡± the Knight rasped. His voice was rough from inhaling smoke. He darted a tongue out to wet his cracked lips.


    ¡°They came from the North side. We didn¡¯t expect.. Didn¡¯t .... see...¡±


    He coughed violently and Dacon put a hand under his head to keep him still.


    ¡°The Horde?¡± asked the Heir. The Knight grunted In affirmation.


    ¡°Lord,¡± he croaked.


    ¡°I ask¡­.can you¡­¡± fingers twitched feebly at his side.


    At his words Dacon¡¯s face grew hard.


    ¡°Bring me the Healers,¡± he said. ¡°All of them.¡±


    ¡°My Lord,¡± said Ser Robert gently. He had come to stand beside the Heir, his blue cloak whipping in the gentle breeze.


    ¡°There is no saving him. He is to far gone, and we will need the strength of the Healers if we¡¯re to face the Horde.¡±


    He gestured with a hand towards the broken remnants of the palisades.


    ¡°My men have found no sign of the Lord Blackthorne¡¯s forces among the dead. The tracks suggest he led a counter attack due East. He could still be fighting, even now.¡±


    Ser Robert tried to put a hand on Dacon¡¯s shoulder, but the young Lord shrugged it off. He stood with his fists clenched for a long moment before he turned back to the dying Knight.


    ¡°My Lord, I will-¡°


    ¡°No.¡±


    Dacon drew his sword.


    ¡°He is my subject. This is my burden to bare.¡±


    He knelt in the dirt and slid an arm under the neck of the Knight. The man gave a wheezing cough as he looked up into the face of the Lord. There was fear in his eyes, though he tried to hide it.


    ¡°Fear not,¡± said the Heir gently. ¡°For I am with you. Go now soldier, and be at peace. The God King will welcome you into the halls of his afterlife.¡±


    Then he drove his sword under the soldiers chin and held him as the man shuddered and died.


    I will never forget the look in his eyes. A mixture of fury and sorrow. When the man was finally dead he rose and wiped his blade on a cloth.


    ¡°Have the men scrounge what they can. If there are usable supplies, let us not let them go to waste. Check for survivors and be ready to move out on my order.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord.¡±


    I found Gills tearing through the wreckage of the of the Tents of the 3rd Auxiliary. There was a wildness to his eyes, a sort of frenzy I hadn¡¯t seen before. He ripped open the tents nearest the cook fire and when he saw they were empty he stood back.


    His was chest heaving, his eyes closed.


    ¡°She¡¯s not here,¡± he whispered. ¡°I have to believe she made it out alive. I have too.¡±


    With a start I realized who he must be referring too. The 3rd''s head cook, Vera.


    ¡°If her body isn¡¯t here then she moved with the Army,¡± I reassured him. ¡°She¡¯ll be alright Gills. Don¡¯t doubt it.¡±


    Gills opened his eyes and blinked around at the smashed tents.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just¡­.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± I said gently. ¡°You should tell her before you loose the chance.¡±


    Gill¡¯s throat bobbed and he nodded. There were only a few of the 3rd that had died in the ambush. Draxus said it was because the 3rd was always ready, and I found myself hoping it was true.


    We cut the cloth from a few tents that were beyond salvation and used them to cover the dead. Then Gills said words over them.


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    ¡°The Captain¡¯s not here either,¡± muttered Kato when we were done. ¡°Bastard probably made a run for it before the walls were even breached.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it past him,¡± said Gills bitterly. ¡°If there was any chance to save himself I have no doubts he took it, and never mind the consequences. The question is what happened to the rest of the 3rd.¡±


    ¡°Still fighting... We can hope.¡± I said.


    The Count had us ready to march out within the hour. There hadn¡¯t been much to salvage as most of the camp had been methodically burned.


    Gills remarked again how it was unusual behavior for a Goblin Horde as we stored what we could in our inventory.


    ¡°There has to be something more,¡± he said. ¡°The Horde are behaving like¡­ like¡­¡±


    ¡°Men,¡± I finished grimly.


    We all exchanged looks, troubled. In this world, man had always fought monsters. Or at least, that is what I¡¯d led to think. But if Gills observations were anything to go by, the Goblins and other Monsters were evolving.


    ¡°The Brood Mother,¡± I said after a moment. ¡°The way she tracked us¡­ is that standard?¡±


    Gills considered this, leaning on his spear shaft.


    ¡°Some Monster¡¯s are smarter than others,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s strange though is how she followed us. It was almost as if¡­.¡± He smiled and shook his head.


    ¡°Throne, I shouldn¡¯t think it. I¡¯m just weary.¡±


    ¡°As if?¡± I pressed him.


    Gills sighed.


    ¡°As if she were trying to stop us. I know it¡¯s impossible but I can¡¯t deny how odd the behavior is. I¡¯ve been around for long enough, but that¡¯s something I haven¡¯t seen. If you cross out of a Monster¡¯s territory they will often give up the chance and hunt other Game. They wouldn¡¯t risk encountering something larger and more dangerous than themselves. It''s instinct."


    ¡°You should tell the Count¡¯s Son,¡± I told him. ¡°The more he knows, the more informed his decision will be."


    Gills nodded but I saw the doubt in his eyes. Maybe he was afraid the young Lord wouldn¡¯t believe his wild theories. More likely I imagined, was his concern that his words would sound an awful lot like blasphemy.


    We moved slower now that we were no longer marching in collumn.


    We had been ordered into partial formation, ready to encounter anything. The hoof tracks in the dirt were deep and the trail easy to follow.


    It wasn¡¯t long before we reached the site of another small battle.


    ¡°The blood is fresh,¡± said Ser Robert. He held up a gauntlet to show the red staining them. The Count swore.


    ¡°We must move quickly.¡± He said. ¡°Move out, now.¡±


    We redoubled the pace of our march without complaint. The sun was high in the sky but we were shielded from the heat by a thick blanket of cloud and smoke.


    One of the rear supply wagons got stuck in a muddy rut and we wasted precious minutes helping the foot soldiers lift it free.


    As the cart gave an almighty squelch and lurched out of the quagmire, a shudder went through the earth. I stumbled, nearly banging my helmet on the carts wheel.


    ¡°What the hell was that?¡±


    The ground shuddered again and I had to reach out and steady myself. I was reminded of how the rock trolls steps had shaken the ground and the blood drained from my face. I turned to share a worried glance with Gills.


    To my surprise there was no trace of fear in him, as he gazed forward across the plains.


    ¡°That,¡± he said. ¡°Is the Lord Blackthorne¡¯s power. We can feel it, even from here.¡±


    He had been right.


    When the battle came into view my mouth dropped open at the sheer scale of it.


    Lord Hadrian Blackthorne¡¯s forces were locked in a deadly melee with the Goblin Horde. There were several thousand on each side and from the teaming press of bodies, it was hard to make out who was winning.


    Blackthorne himself stood against Trolls and Goblins alike and did not falter. His great sword Dawnbreaker, gleamed in the sunlight as it sent Monster¡¯s to their grisly deaths.


    Every once in a while his body would glow with a sort of aura, and he would redouble the speed and ferocity of his attacks.


    At one point a line of Warg riders had managed to wade through the men on his left side. Lord Hadrian had turned to them and swung his sword. I had been baffled, as the Riders were at least fifteen feet away and well out of his reach.


    That was when the shock wave hit them. The sheer force of the blow cleaved two of the ork riders in half, and sent the other tumbling over each other like leaves in the wind. The tremor reached the ground beneath my boots a moments later.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­him?¡± I asked, stunned.


    Gills smiled as we readied our shields.


    ¡°That¡¯s the power of a gifted. They have the might to turn the tables of a battle, as do Magus. But they can¡¯t do it alone.¡±


    ¡°Alright Lads,¡± he raised his voice over the sound of battle.


    ¡°Blades out and let¡¯s put these bastards to the steel.¡±


    Gills had been speaking to the ten of us, but as his words a growl went up among the other foot soldiers with us. Eyes hardened and steel was drawn as men prepared themselves for the task ahead.


    The Count¡¯s son rode with Ser Robert, shouting orders to his horsemen. I watched him slam down his visor with a feeling of grim inevitability.


    I was going to have to keep this young Noble alive - and that was only if I managed to keep myself alive in the process.


    Ser Robert trotted up to us, nodding at Gills.


    ¡°You¡¯re with our foot,¡± he said, gesturing with the helmet clutched in his hand.


    ¡°Lord Blackthorne¡¯s forces are pressed. We won¡¯t sound the horn, because it will take away our element of surprise. The Count and I will lead from the rear and hold back our horseman. It¡¯s up to you lot to hit the Horde from the right and shift the battle. Give us an opening, and we might just make it out of this alive.¡±


    He jammed his helmet unto his head and gave us a last look before kicking his horse back in the direction of his Lord.


    I gnawed the inside of my cheek, worried. For now I would just have to hope that we could route the Goblin¡¯s before Dacon entered the field. Easier said than done. I lowered my visor.


    ¡°At the ready,¡± called Gills. His own voice nearly overlapped by the shouts of other NCO¡¯s down the line. Then with a signal from Ser Robert, we began our advance. It was slow at first, a sort of awkward shambling as we pressed forward.


    The sound of battle was loud now, the clashing of metal, and the thunder of the Lord Blackthorne¡¯s mighty blows making the air vibrate.


    As we grew nearer to the battle itself the mood shifted. It had been a hard trek, and many of the soldiers with us had seen the carnage at the War camp. They were angry, and that changed things. S?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Those at the front began to move faster, the ones at the back struggling to keep up. Part of the ranks came away, some men outright running to meet the enemy screaming battle cries.


    ¡°Hold the line,¡± snarled Gills. ¡°Hold the fucking line. Idiots.¡± The last part mumbled under his breath.


    I could see why a moment later. The Goblins might have been suprised at our emergence from the tree line, but they had seen us coming for at least several minutes now.


    Many of the Horde had turned to meet us head on. One of the Goblins let out an unearthly shriek and moments later the sky darkened with a hail of black arrows.


    I raised my shield and felt the thunk of arrows biting into it. Most fell short of the line, but not all.


    It was the men that had broken formation who suffered. They fell by the dozens, bodies crashing to the ground stuck through with arrows. Not all of them died quickly.


    We trampled over them, unable to arrest our forward momentum as the men behind us pressed us forward. I was in the second line, next to Gills and Kato. Gills was calling orders but only half of the soldiers were listening.


    The eagerness for blood had taken hold.


    ¡°Come on!¡± roared a man from behind me. ¡°Come on, you fuckers!¡±


    We were pressed together now, and I was close enough to see the bloody fangs of a Goblin in the front ranks.


    ¡°Come onnnnnn,¡± bellowed the soldier. I heard him in my ear, felt the spray of spittle on my neck as he snarled the words.


    And then, In one crash of fear, meat, and fury, the battle was met.

 Eleven: Bloodied Earth

    It was the force of the charge was it¡¯s own undoing.When our front lines hit the Goblin Horde we were rocked backwards by the sudden resistance.


    My head jerked back, slamming into the helmet of the man behind me. The front ranks hacked at the Goblins, shoving forward with gritted teeth and snarled oaths.


    It was already too late when we saw the sharpened ends of the rusted pole arms. The momentum of the charge was abruptly arrested as the front ranks realized they had nowhere to go. The smart ones raised their shields, bracing as the crush of the men behind them shoved them forwards.


    Others weren¡¯t so lucky. Down the line I saw a soldier panic, turn his head aside to try to avoid the jab of an iron bill hook. He was successful momentarily¡­ at least until the line was shunted forward again.


    The tip of the blade pierced him through the cheek and out the other end with a wet squelch.


    Seeing his comrade die, the man beside him twisted, trying to climb back over the bodies of those behind.


    It quickly became apparent that the men in the rear could neither see what was happening, nor hear the cries of their comrades.


    There was only the inevitable press forward, the grind of metal on metal as weapons stabbed and slashed.


    I struggled to get my own sword free from the tight squeeze. My shield arm was trapped flush against my side.


    I only just managed to get the point of my blade up as a Goblin leapt over the back of the soldiers in front of me. It slashed at me with it''s claws, teeth bared.


    I shoved my arm forward in a slash. The Goblin knocked my blade aside and tried to stab at me with a cleaver. I tucked my chin and the blade skated across the face plate of my helmet in a flurry of sparks.


    Another sudden surge from behind threw me forward and into the Goblin. I could smell it''s fetted breath through my visor.


    I was held fast, shield pinned and my sword arm caught at an odd angle. With no other option I drew back my head and slammed my helmet into the Goblins face. Once. Twice. Three times.


    Black blood sprayed.


    Gills was yelling something but I couldn¡¯t hear him over the sound of the battle. I twisted, trying to turn my head to catch sight of him. There was a slash across his cheek that was bleeding freely down his chin and neck.


    He was mouthing something but I couldn¡¯t make it out. I tried to focus on the movements of his mouth but it did little to help.


    ¡°What?¡± I screamed but even that was lost to the chaos around us. Gills lifted his spear towards the sky.


    A shadow fell over us. Then the unmistakable beat of wings.


    I looked up in time to see a gigantic scaly mass hurtling towards us. Claws, viscous black claws the size of daggers descended from above.


    They pierced the man in front of me, punching through breastplate and into flesh. Then they withdrew and he was gone.


    Men were panicking, screaming as they struggled to get away. But there was nowhere to go. A spiked tail slammed through the line and took the head of a soldier three paces away. The creature turned, arching it¡¯s head like a snake about to strike. I was close to it, too close, and I could see it¡¯s jaws open wide.


    A deep orange glow emanated from it¡¯s neck, rising higher and higher. I tried to jerk my shield free of the press but only managed to get it halfway up when the jet of flame hit me.


    The heat was sudden and intense. It felt as if I were standing in an oven set to broil. For one desperate moment I thought my armor might protect me.


    Then the heat began to melt flesh and I cried out.


    I remember the pain, white hot and searing across my neck and shoulder. I remember swinging my sword, trying to strike the Wyvern only to have the blade bounce off of scales. I remember the way men stumbled away, some on fire, others already cooked in their armor.


    Then Gills spear caught the Wyvern at the base of it¡¯s neck. The Runes on the hilt glowed blue, and the Legendary bronze tipped weapon bit deep. The Wyvern roared, and it¡¯s rider struggled to stay on at it tried to twist free.


    It was now or never. I shoved my way forward, wrenching my still burning shield up as the Wyvern snapped at me. The impact nearly made my loose my footing. Wood creaked and splintered under the strain of jaws larger than that of a bear.


    ¡°Now!¡± I roared to Gills. There was no time to see if he had heard me. No time to know if he¡¯d even get my meaning.


    The Wyvern cocked it¡¯s head, rearing back and lifting my feet off the ground. I stabbed at it¡¯s eyes with my sword, managing to spear one. The beast snarled, opening it¡¯s jaws and dropping me to the ground. That was when Gills struck. He stepped forward, grip tightening as he thrust the spear up and out.


    The blade pierced the top of the Wyvern¡¯s mouth and stuck fast. I was already up and moving, darting towards the Goblin rider that was trying to pull on the beasts reigns to get it up again. With a roar of anger slashed at it. It blocked my blow and I switched stances, taking it¡¯s head off with the back swing.


    The head of the goblin bounced to the ground and rolled.


    The Goblin line wavered.


    ¡°Push!¡± I shouted, voice cracking. ¡°Push forward.¡±


    There was a brief lull of hesitation in the remaining soldiers. Nearly half a dozen had been reduced to burned husks by the Wyvern. Eyes cast to the sky in fear but when they saw Gills kill the beast, and my blade now dripping with the riders blood, their resolve returned.


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    I swung my sword until my arm grew numb. I was bleeding from a cut on my thigh, and a black arrow had managed to bury itself in my Troll Hide coat.


    The injury wasn¡¯t serious, but I could feel the tip scrapping against bone every time I shifted my left shoulder.


    The tide of the battle had turned in our favor. At the arrival of new reinforcements, Lord Blackthorne¡¯s men fought with a renewed vigor.


    Lord Blackthorne himself took down two Trolls on the battlefield. He was splattered with black gore, but no less resplendent in his In his plain armor and red cloak.


    At one point, I saw a Goblin shaman rise into the air with it¡¯s staff raised and summon a bolt of black energy to strike at him.


    I had shouted in alarm, thinking that without a Magus to shield him Blackthorne was all but dead.


    I had been mistaken. It was then that I would witness the true power of a Gifted.


    Lord Blackthorne lifted Dawnbringer over head, bracing it with his off hand. The bolt of energy struck and Blackthorne was rocked back by the force of it.


    He managed to keep his footing and as I watched the blade of the Great sword absorbed the energy. Black lightening crackled down the sword in rippling tendrils.


    Blackthorne gripped the hilt with both hands and stabbed it into the ground, dissipating the energy a boom that made my ears hurt.


    Calmly, he took a spear from one of his men and hurled it thirty yards and into the Shaman¡¯s chest. It fell to the ground like a puppet with it¡¯s strings cut.


    It was true power. Not like the pure magic that the Magus wielded, but a more subtle force. Blackthorne was a damage sponge, and what he could absorb he could also throw back.


    It was then on the battle field that I decided that I wanted to learn from him.


    A horn was belatedly blown. I turned to see Dacon leading his riders into the battle at canter, mowing Goblins down before them. They bit deep into the enemies lines and that was when the Goblin Horde truly broke. It was over in minutes.


    I shoved up my visor and wrinkled my nose at the smell of charred flesh.


    Several feet away Kato walked among Goblin corpses, kicking them over and stabbing the ones not yet dead.


    ¡°Where is Draxus?¡± I asked, scanning the battlefield.


    ¡°Probably with the rest of the 3rd. It¡¯s a bloody reunion.¡± He pointed towards a small rise where a group of soldiers in patchwork armor stood in a huddle. I smiled.


    That smile turned to a grimace as the throbbing ache of my wounds fought for my attention.


    With my adrenaline fading the pain was growing sharper by the minute. I opened my inventory and pulled out my minor health potion.


    It was a slim glass bottle in the shape of a cylinder and the liquid inside was a shimmering red-pink.


    I twisted the cork to break the glass seal and lifted the potion to my lips.


    ¡°Don¡¯t drink it you damn fool,¡± Kato grabbed my arm. ¡°Did you hit your head? You pour the potion over the affected area. It only works on external injuries. How have you never¡­.¡±


    He trailed off as I unclasped the fastenings of my leather breast plate. It was blackened at the edges and it would likely need to be replaced. But in the end it was nothing compared to the charred mass of flesh beneath.


    ¡°Throne man,¡± said Kato, shaking his head. ¡°I think that might be one of the most gruesome battle wounds I¡¯ve ever seen. One health potion isn¡¯t going to fix that.¡±


    I grimaced.


    "I''ve got to try."


    I lifted the bottle over the wound. The splash of cool liquid made me hiss with pain but I made sure I used the entire contents of the potion. The burns began to steam and itch and I watched in fascination as new skin began to knit together.


    ¡°That¡¯ll be a wicked scar,¡± said Kato approvingly. ¡°One to impress the ladies with, eh?¡±


    He made to clap me on the shoulder and then though better of it. The pain of my burns was reduced to a dull ache. Much of the skin had healed and it was tender and pink to the touch.


    With the battle won, most of the soldiers milled about, checking for wounded or dead comrades.


    Healers combed the battlefield to aid the wounded. One made her way over to me when she saw the arrow in my shoulder.


    She had me lay on the ground, propped on my side as she worked. Her eyes strayed to the still healing burns.


    ¡°A good thing you weren¡¯t wearing plate armor, soldier,¡± she said as she gripped the remnants of the broken shaft with a pair of tongs.


    ¡°Or that wyvern fire would have roasted you alive.¡±


    ¡°You hear that will? You''re lucky you''re poor.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have anywhere else to be?¡± I grumbled.


    ¡°Not really.¡± Kato yawned.


    ¡°You¡¯ll want to bite down on this.¡± The healer reached into her robes and pulled out a leather dowel. It had the imprints of several bite marks already in it.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± I told her, unwilling to put the thing in my mouth. She sighed.


    ¡°Very well.¡±


    Then without warning she gripped the shaft with her tongs and pulled it free in one fluid motion.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± I said through clenched teeth.


    ¡°Agh.¡±


    ¡°I warned you.¡±


    She knocked away my hands as I tried to stop the bleeding and replaced them with her own. After a moment of concentration, a soft glow emanated from her palms. The relief was instantaneous.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I said as she packed her bag. Her healer level was low, but I got the impression she had seen more than a few battlefields.


    She inclined her head to me.


    ¡°Let me know if you have any lingering pain. The wound should be completed healed within 24 hours. Just know that the energy to heal wounds comes from you. You may wake up tomorrow feeling fatigued and nauseas.


    ¡°I think that¡¯s already a given.¡±


    Kato watched her walkway with someone akin to regret.


    ¡°Do you think if I stab myself she¡¯ll heal me?¡± he asked wistfully.


    I was spared having to answer as my HUD blinked.


    Quest Incomplete.


    What? I sat upright, pulse suddenly racing as I checked through my notifications. I had gained a few levels in the battle, and the subsequent boost to my stats was visible.


    But there was no explanation as to why my Quest was suddenly marked as incomplete. I frowned. Incomplete.... not failed.


    ¡°Shit.¡±


    I pushed myself to my feet, sore muscles protesting. Looking around, I scanned the battlefield with a growing sense of panic.


    ¡°Kato, where is Dacon?¡±


    The young warrior frowned and I watched his eyes scan the field as mine had moments before. The furrow in his brow deepened.


    ¡°Come on.¡±


    We picked our way across the battlefield, past soldiers stacking corpses of Goblins to burn. A group of mounted men were gathered together on the other side of the field.


    I made my way towards them and I pushed my way through the ranks.


    Ser Robert was laying on the ground, his face screwed up with pain as a healer tended to him. At first glance he appeared mostly unharmed but when my eyes dropped to his leg, I realized that was far form the case.


    The Knights knee ended in a bloody stump. His brow was beaded with sweat and even the healers looked strained as they worked to stop the bleeding.


    ¡°Ser Robert,¡± I said, dropping to a crouch beside him. ¡°Where is your Lord?¡±


    The knights eyes were wide. He was likely in shock, but I needed answers.


    ¡°They took him.¡± said the Knight softly.


    My stomach dropped.


    ¡°Who took him?¡±


    One of the Healer¡¯s cut an irritated look at me as he washed the leg with clean water. Ser Robert shuddered, his eyes staring past me to focus on nothing.


    I gripped his shoulder hard.


    ¡°Who took him?¡± I insisted, my tone urgent.


    ¡°I will have to request that you don¡¯t manhandle my patient,¡± snapped the Healer. ¡°Someone remove this man.¡±


    Hands descended from above and I felt myself wrenched upwards and away. I spun, fist cocked back and ready to strike but it was only Draxus.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone,¡± I said, jaw working. ¡°Ser Robert said they took him. I can only assume he means the damn Horde. Or what''s left of it." S~?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Draxus glanced past me to where the Knight now lay.


    ¡°Possibly. What are you going to do?¡±


    I bit the inside of my cheek so hard that I tasted the metallic tang of blood.


    ¡°The only thing I can do."


    I turned, jamming on my helmet.


    "I¡¯m going to go get him.¡±

 Twelve: Fools Errand

    The tracker knelt at the fork in the path and examined the ground. He brushed his fingertips over the hoof prints stamped in the earth and raised them to his nose. I watched as he inhaled deeply.


    ¡°What the hell is he doing?¡± Asked Seth. He was frowning down at the tracker as he picked at the stems of plants that had been trampled by the path of horses.


    ¡°Who the hell knows.¡± Kato had his sword propped over one shoulder. His face was still smeared with the grime of the recent battle, but he looked determined.


    ¡°Stealth traits are notoriously¡­ odd.¡± He said.


    I shifted impatiently from foot to foot. Tracking the path of the Goblin''s hadn''t been easy.


    When I¡¯d prepared to go after the Count¡¯s Son I¡¯d assumed I¡¯d be doing so alone.


    To my surprise, Draxus, Seth, and Kato had volunteered almost immediately. Gills had insisted I take the 3rd Auxiliary''s best tracker with with me to help expedite the process.


    I was beginning to wonder if that had been a mistake. Martin was a bit of an odd ball. And to my growing frustration, he didn''t seem to share my sense of urgency.


    ¡°How long is this going to take?¡± I asked him.


    The tracker turned, his face a mask of irritation.


    ¡°Trust the process,¡± he snapped before turning back to his dirt sniffing.


    I sighed and brought up my stat window.


    Class: Soldier


    Rank: Foot soldier, 3rd Auxiliary


    Level: 15


    Strength: 19%


    Vitality: 16%


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    Endurance: 16%


    Agility: 18%


    I had received a healthy boost in stats during the battle, and I was already starting to feel the effects of the change. It was subtle, but it was certainly there.


    I felt lighter on my feet when I moved and my sword and shield didn¡¯t feel as heavy in my hands. I shifted my shoulders and made a few experimental cuts in the air with my blade.


    Kato arched a knowing eyebrow.


    ¡°Your stat increase is impressive. Usually it takes a while for a soldier to ascend five levels, but you¡¯ve done so since first joined the 3rd. It¡¯s¡­uncanny, really."


    I glanced around it him, suddenly wary. But Kato¡¯s face didn¡¯t show any signs of suspicion. Instead his expression was thoughtful as he shared a significant look with Draxus.


    I raised my brows.


    ¡°Care to share with the class?¡±


    Draxus shrugged his massive shoulders, and rubbed the back of his neck. He suddenly looked sort of sheepish - like a child that had been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.


    ¡°Well,¡± he said.


    ¡°Since you¡­ you know¡­ managed to take down that Troll for the 3rd to finish off, there has been a bit of an ongoing bet."


    Kato looked like he was trying not to burst out laughing. I narrowed my eyes.


    ¡°What kind of bet?¡±


    Draxus stuck his tongue in his cheek and shrugged again.


    ¡°On whether or not you might become a Gifted,¡± he said.


    This answer caught me off guard.


    ¡°Me?¡± I asked, uncertainly.


    Draxus nodded.


    ¡°There aren¡¯t many level 10¡¯s that would have survived a close encounter with a high level rock Troll and live to tell the tale. Some get lucky of course but well¡­. That¡¯s how legends are born.¡±


    I looked at Kato.


    ¡°And you¡¯re in on this?¡±


    Kato flashed a smile.


    ¡°My good man, you¡¯re speaking to the bookie himself. I never turn away the opportunity for a bit of coin."


    I snorted.


    ¡°I doubt anyone is going to put actual coin on¡­¡± I trailed off at the look on his face.


    ¡°Seriously?¡±


    ¡°Will the three of you please shut your mouths? I can hardly concentrate with all your yapping.¡±


    ¡°Do you think we should tie him to a tree and leave him here?¡± asked Kato.


    I considered it.


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    ¡°Depends on if we get actual results. If we dally any longer then I doubt we¡¯ll find anything more than a corpse.¡±


    And then I''d be on my way to joining dear Lord Dacon in death. I kept that sobering thought to myself.


    After another minute the tracker rose with a swish of his cloak and pointed in the direction we''d already been going.


    ¡°That way,¡± he said.


    ¡°Well that was anticlimactic.¡± Kato adjusted his grip on his sword and made to follow after him. I stared at the back Martin''s cowl, annoyed.


    ¡°How can you tell?¡± I asked him. He turned around to give me an incredulous look.


    ¡°Unlike you rookie, I¡¯ve been a member of the 3rd since I was a lad. Tracking isn¡¯t just my job, it¡¯s my profession.¡±


    ¡°Professional dirt licker,¡± whispered Kato. Draxus¡¯s lips twitched.


    The Martin was oblivious.


    ¡°The tracks at the crossroads converged at two points. The deep hoof prints tell me that the horses who went right were moving quickly and carrying heavy loads - most likely armored men. The path on the right is mixed. There were Goblin boot prints and scuff marks that can only be associated with the way the Horde moves. Then there was the smell.¡±


    ¡°The smell?¡±


    The tracker nodded, swinging his bow from his shoulder.


    ¡°There is something else other than Goblin¡¯s in this area. I saw a monster print - what kind I can¡¯t be sure. But whatever it is, it has claws the size of knives.¡±


    ¡°Lovely.¡± I muttered. ¡°Just what we needed.¡±


    He led us through the trees until a point where the trail ended. He examined the ground, doing more of his ritualistic sniffing and tasting while we waited.


    When he was satisfied he led us past a small stream which we followed North.


    ¡°There¡¯s something that¡¯s bothering me,¡± I said. I was careful to keep the pitch of my voice low in case enemies were around.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t the Goblin¡¯s just kill Dacon? Why go through the trouble of capturing him.¡±


    Draxus grimaced.


    ¡°Goblins live in cave nests. This Horde is from much deeper underground than most of their subterranean brethren. There are dark rumors¡­.stories soldiers tell around campfires.¡±


    His lips twisted in distaste.


    ¡°Some men say that the further down the Goblin¡¯s dwell, the more depraved and barbaric the Horde becomes. Perhaps it¡¯s the darkness and the lack of resources that turns them so viscous. They say some prefer to eat flesh¡­. Or even each other.¡±


    That was a terrifying thought. I had seen the brutality of Goblin warriors first hand, but I had never considered that these pale skinned beasts would be cannibals. That did not bode well for the young Lord.


    I grimaced.


    ¡°Maybe we should have brought more men.¡±


    Draxus shook his head slowly.


    ¡°No, Lord Blackthorne was correct. A small party can move faster and without attracting as much attention. Our best chance at rescuing the Count¡¯s son, if he¡¯s even still alive, is to slip in and out as quickly as we can. Men in full plate banging around the forest isn¡¯t exactly subtle.¡±


    I conceded the point with a grunt.


    A movement ahead caught my eye and I halted at the trackers signal. I had to throw out an arm to stop Seth from blundering past. Martin had frozen six strides ahead of us, his arm thrown out behind him in warning.


    It didn¡¯t take long to realize why.


    The forest floor was a covered in roots and the debris of fallen leaves. Beneath this detritis rose the points of several wooden spikes. In fact, area seemed to be covered in them for several feet in either direction.


    ¡°Trap,¡± said the tracker unnecessarily.


    ¡°It means we¡¯re on the right path.¡±


    We moved with more caution, stopping every now and then to let Martin assess our surroundings.


    Twice we came across prints in the dirt that looked as if they had been made by some giant dog. The claw marks were deep, leaving sizable furrows in the ground.


    I was on my guard, raising my sword at any unexpected sound.


    Eventually the tracker led us to a break in the trees that opened into a small clearing. The mouth of a cave was just visible beneath a carpet of lichen and moss.


    What drew my eye however was what had been placed at the entrance of the cave as a warning to all who entered.


    Several sharpened wooden stakes had been stuck point up in the earth and on them were human heads.


    Many of the heads were old, no more than the dried remains of skin stretched over sun bleached skulls. But two looked as if they were fresh.


    I examined the faces, and breathed a sigh of relief when I confirmed none of the fresh heads had been Dacon¡¯s.


    It was no less disturbing a sight.


    ¡°The drag marks lead through here,¡± said the tracker, gesturing to the scuffs that cut through the lichen.


    ¡°Seems like the survivors put up a fight. There¡¯s Goblin blood here.¡±


    He was right. Black icor spilled across the the moss in a dripping trail that led into the grey darkness. The tracker strung his bow, pulling an arrow from the quiver on his back.


    ¡°I¡¯ll stand guard,¡± he said.


    ¡°The fuck you will.¡± Draxus was unimpressed. ¡°You''re with us Martin, whether you like it or not. No slinking off to safety while the others do the work for you. At least not today.¡±


    The tracker glared at him but at the expression on the larger man¡¯s face he conceded with a hiss of breath through his teeth.


    ¡°It''s a Fool¡¯s errand,¡± he muttered, but nevertheless he led us into the mouth of the cave.


    The light faded the deeper we went. As we walked I saw where the natural cave ended and the Goblin made tunnels began. Goblin tunnels were much smaller and almost perfectly rounded. They stank of unwashed bodies and old piss but in the air I caught the scent of something else.


    Sulfur.


    I put out a hand, signaling for the group to slow. The tunnels had narrowed enough that we could only walk two abreast.


    ¡°Sulfur,¡± I said. ¡°It smells like sorcery.¡±


    ¡°Could be a Goblin Shaman,¡± said Draxus.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case we are well and truly fucked.¡± Kato sounded Grim. ¡°None of us are equipped to handle a shaman.. Unless we¡¯re lucky enough to catch him sleeping but I highly doubt that.¡±


    ¡°We could go back for reinforcements,¡± Martin suggested. ¡°Lord Blackthorne is organizing a party that will descend into local nests and clear them. It would take some time but-¡°


    ¡°That¡¯s the one thing we don¡¯t have.¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°I¡¯m as good as dead if the Dacon ends up as Goblin soup. But the rest of you aren¡¯t bound to my fate. You should leave now instead of risking getting killed in some dark tunnel. There are other things to live for.¡±


    ¡°Is he done talking? Because I didn¡¯t come all this way to return with no loot.¡± Kato stepped past me.


    Draxus shot him a look.


    ¡°We''re with you.¡± He said. Seth nodded, his face determined.


    ¡°We came here for a purpose Trollslayer. We won¡¯t turn tail and run.¡±


    I swallowed hard and nodded.


    Martin was the only one of us that looked unhappy. He kept darting glances behind us like he expected a Goblin to put a knife between his shoulder blades at any moment.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he conceded sullenly. "But I want a hefty share of any loot we may or may not collect."


    We continued our downward path, as the tunnels sloped and became steeper. At some point Draxus pulled a torch from his inventory and lit it with flint and steel. The sudden light hurt my eyes and it took a minute for them to adjust.


    There were three narrow tunnel openings ahead of us. Martin examined each before directing us to the left most path.


    ¡°Should we check the others?¡± asked Seth.


    ¡°No time.¡±


    I stepped forward and led the way down the mouth of the tunnel. The floor smoothed out and opened into a cavern with stalactites dripping from the ceiling. Draxus raised his torch higher.


    ¡°Smells like death.¡± Despite his low tone the words bounced off of the tunnel wall in an eerie cacophony of whispers. We all froze, holding our breaths for any sign of movement or sound.


    There was nothing.


    ¡°Shit." The sound had come from Martin.


    He was standing off to one side and his gaze was fixed on something below.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    He turned to look at us and as he did a strange glow shone off of the whites of his eyes. He no longer looked troubled. He looked afraid.


    ¡°I think I found the source of our sorcery.¡±

 Thirteen: Bad Omen

    ¡°What am I even looking at?¡± Whispered Kato from by side.We were standing at the edge of a ledge overlooking a small drop off. There, about fifteen feet below us was a small pit.


    That¡¯s where the bodies were.


    There were three of them, and all were human. They were splayed out across some sort wooden slab, spread eagled. Their hands had been nailed through the palms, their eyes and tongues removed.


    I stared into the empty sockets where the eyes should have been and felt my gorge rise.


    ¡°One of them is alive.¡±


    Martin¡¯s voice sounded strangled.


    To my horror one of the victims was stirring. At the sound of our whispers it turned it¡¯s sightless face toward us.


    The skin of it¡¯s chest had been sliced open revealing the meat within. The sight alone was enough to make my palms break out in a cold sweat.


    ¡°Who the hell would do this? Who would¡­¡± Martin¡¯s voice was beginning to rise. Draxus gripped his shoulders to steady him.


    ¡°You have to end his suffering,¡± he said. ¡°Shoot him with an arrow.¡±


    Martin¡¯s lip was trembling. He was shaking his head back and forth.


    ¡°I.. I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You have too.¡± Draxus voice was steel that brooked no argument. After a moment the tracker swallowed hard and nodded. His hands were trembling as he reached for an arrow.


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    He froze at the sound of Kato¡¯s voice. The young warrior had dropped to a crouch, his eyes fixed on the one living man nailed to the slab.


    ¡°Throne.¡±


    He made the sign of the saint.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Captain,¡±


    There was a horrified silence.


    I leaned forward as far as I dared and what I saw made my stomach churn. The living corpse was the Captain¡­ or at least it had been.


    Much of the skin of his chest and stomach had been flayed off. His eyes and tongue were gone, and closer inspection revealed that he was laying in his own waste.


    I did vomit then, the sound of the splatter echoing off the walls. I wiped a hand across my mouth, grim as all sin.


    ¡°Do it.¡± I said. ¡°Don¡¯t let him suffer any longer.¡±


    Martin took in a shaky breath to steadied himself. He pulled the string back and sighted down the arrow.


    The Captain¡¯s body shuddered once when the arrow hit him through the eye socket. Then his eyeless head fell back.


    ¡°They did this to him?¡±


    I had turned to ask Draxus. He shook his head and for the first time ever I saw fear in the lines of his face.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of Goblin¡¯s performing torture rituals. That¡¯s more in the jurisdiction of,-¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Seth cut a hand through the air. ¡°Don¡¯t speak of the occult, not here. God King protect us,¡± he muttered. He was rocking back and forth on his heels.


    ¡°Someone has to report this,¡± I said. ¡°These men look like soldiers. Lord Blackthorne needs to know about this.¡±


    ¡°They could be deserters,¡± said Draxus, stepping back from the pit.


    "That would explain the Captain. He was nowhere to be found when the battle started. He must have tried to run and gotten caught."


    His hands twitched like he might make the sign of the saint, then he seemed to realize what he was doing and let them drop to his side.


    ¡°I recognize their uniforms. They were under Lord Blackthorne''s command."


    ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Martin was still unsteady on his feet. By the sweat on his upper lip and the way his eyes darted from place to place, I could tell he was on the edge of hysteria.


    I bit the inside of my lip, thinking.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°Tell Lord Blackthorne what we¡¯ve found here. And let him know we¡¯re going ahead to find Lord Dacon.¡±


    Martin nodded, and without another word he turned and fled. I watched him go with only a little regret. It was a bad idea to venture further into these tunnels. Whoever had mutilated these men could still be around, and it was possible we¡¯d find it before we found Dacon. s?a??h th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The thought made me shudder. The Occult, Draxus had said. Had he meant the paranormal? I would have to ask him later out of earshot of the others.


    I turned away from the pit and squared my shoulders. I was still nauseous and the sweat on my palms made my the inside of my gloves stick. But I was determined to see this through, even if it was starting to feel more like a suicide mission than a rescue.


    We followed the trail of icor through the tunnel, only coming to a stop when we found the Goblin corpse.


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    ¡°Sword strike,¡± said Draxus approvingly. ¡°He got him good. Looks fresh.¡±


    That boded well enough. Dacon was high leveled and if he was still armed, then his chances of survival were much higher than they had been.


    Though the trail of blood had ended, there was only one direction to go.


    Down. And so we continued.


    We passed through another Cavern, this one larger than the last. Draxus raised his torch and the flame flickered.


    ¡°There.¡±


    Kato pointed and I followed his finger. Against the rough stone of the far wall was another tunnel. It was small and narrow but the glint that came within was unmistakable.


    Draxus crouched before the entrance and I knelt and reached in. The gauntlet was heavy in my hand. It high quality steel and rimmed with an ornate gold gilding.


    It was Dacon¡¯s.


    ¡°Fuck me,¡± said Kato. ¡°I don¡¯t fancy going down there. ¡°Looks like a tight squeeze.¡±


    I grimaced. He was right. In order to fit through this secondary tunnel we¡¯d have to crawl on our hands and knees, and even then our backs might scrape the stone.


    I didn¡¯t like our odds. I hesitated for a moment before holding my hand out for the torch.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll scout ahead and see if I can spot anything. There''s no sense in all of us going down this hole if it only leads to a dead end. Then again he might have dropped the gauntlet on the way up.¡±


    Kato looked unconvinced but in the end Draxus reluctantly handed over the Torch.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go far,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll be in the dark. That torch goes out and we¡¯re Goblin food.¡±


    I nodded and leaned my shield up against the wall. As much as I hated to leave it, I wouldn¡¯t be able to fit through the hole carrying both it and the torch. The descent was slow going. The rocks were rough, snagging on my gloves and trouser legs. The flame was dancing first one way and then another, casting shadows on the walls.


    The tunnel walls became narrower.


    I grit my teeth as I felt the stone scrape against my shoulders. It was getting too tight, the space too narrow. Even the space in front of my knees felt crowded.


    I tried to move forward, only have my helmet catch on the edge of a the rock. I tried to pull my head forward but I was snagged. Panic hit me all at once. The walls felt like they were closing in. Stupidly I tried to stand up, boots slipping on the stone. There was no where to go.


    Get a grip I told myself even as my pule thudded in my ears. Maintain control. Panic will get you nowhere but stuck or dead. It was easier said than done.


    It took long minutes for me to slow my breaths enough to feel my heart rate drop. I renewed my grip on my sword and pressed forward.


    Finally the tunnel came out into an open chamber. It was clear that this cave was far from natural.


    The walls were chiseled smooth. Across the surface I saw carvings in them set into the stone. Strange markings, like writing in a language I didn¡¯t understand. I stepped forward, lifting the torch to cast light across the carved wall.


    A sound behind me made me spin. I was ready, guard up and torch held out in front of me. But the sound had come from several yards away.


    Dacon slumped against the wall, his head lulling to his chest. He had lost his helmet at some point and I could see the dark stain of blood on the gambeson beneath his plate.


    I crossed to him quickly, dropping to a knee beside him.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± I asked. ¡°Are you well?¡±


    Dacon stirred, his head rolling to one side as if he were trying to stay awake. His eyelids fluttered open and blue eyes focused on me.


    ¡°Ah, Will of Blackbriar.¡± He said. ¡°I must confess, I¡¯ve been better.¡±


    I brought the torch closer and Dacon shielded his eyes as I got a good look at his wounds. It was bad. His armor had been ripped, torn as if cut through with giant sheers.


    The metal was mangled and bent, and beneath, a steady flow of blood was leaking.


    ¡°I have to stop the bleeding,¡± I told him.


    I scanned his stats and saw that his vitality was in the yellow, but it was beginning to drop downwards. If it hit red, the Count¡¯s Son would be meet his end.


    "I didn''t go through all of this for you to die my Lord," I told him.


    I tore a strip of fabric from his linen under shirt and, putting pressure on the wound with my palm, used it to tie off the deepest of the gashes.


    Then I took my canteen from my inventory, and helped the Lord drink.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see you here,¡± he said.


    I raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Your father did threaten to have me beheaded if I let you die.¡± I said. He grunted in weary agreement.


    ¡°I¡¯m grateful to you. But I should warn you, I didn¡¯t kill it.¡±


    I paused halfway from placing my canteen back in my inventory.


    ¡°It?¡± I asked.


    Dacon nodded.


    ¡°The Cursed Bear. I only wounded it. It¡¯ll be back, and when it does we should be as far from here as we can.¡±


    Cursed bear. I remembered the tracks in the woods as I stared at the rents in his armor. Marks made by very large claws.


    ¡°I thought Goblins brought you here.¡± I said.


    ¡°Oh they did. Little bastards ambushed my men when we chased down the Horde. It was smart really. Feint a retreat only to spring an ambush at the last moment. Almost human, I¡¯d say.¡±


    ¡°Yeah¡­.¡±


    My mind was racing.


    ¡°So what happened to you? How¡¯d you get here?¡±


    He shifted against the wall, grimacing as I tore another strip of cloth and began to tie it around a wound In his thigh.


    ¡°I managed to stab one of the bastards but then it came out of nowhere. The Goblin¡¯s were just as surprised as I was. It went for them first, and lucky it had or I imagine we wouldn¡¯t be having this conversation.¡±


    So, there was something else in the cave aside from the Goblin¡¯s themselves. Something the Goblin¡¯s feared. I could use that.


    A rustle from behind me made me spin but I saw a head full of curls a moment before Kato straightened to his feet.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re not dead.¡± He said. His eyes landed on Dacon. ¡°Well well, if it isn¡¯t our missing Lord.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I asked. ¡°I thought you were going to wait.¡±


    ¡°Well we were. But then something started shuffling around up there¡­ something large. Draxus hit his tinderbox against the wall and you wouldn¡¯t believe what we saw.¡±


    ¡°A giant bear?¡± I asked.


    Kato frowned.


    ¡°Who told you?¡±


    I rose to my feet and passed him to torch just as Draxus and Seth slid out of the tunnel.


    ¡°Fuck me that¡¯s narrow,¡± grunted Draxus, dusting himself off.


    ¡°Will,¡± said Seth, his eyes wide.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe what we-¡°


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t a bear was it?¡±


    Seth frowned.


    ¡°Who told you?¡±


    ¡°Would you jokesters quit standing around and help me lift Lord Dacon? Forgive me my Lord but we¡¯ll need to prop you up. Can you walk?¡±


    ¡°I think I can manage,¡± Dacon draped an arm across Draxus¡¯s neck and stood. He wobbled a bit, and his lips pressed together with the pain. But in the end he was able to stand and take a few steps.


    I glanced at the entrance to the tunnel.


    ¡°We can¡¯t exactly go back the way we came. We¡¯ll need to find a way around. Really starting to wish I hadn¡¯t sent our only tracker away.¡±


    Dacon coughed.


    ¡°There is another set of tunnels to the right. I saw them just before the Cursed Bear caught up with me.¡±


    I considered this. It was unlikely that a giant bear had somehow managed to squash itself into the tunnel we had come through. That meant that this chamber had to connect to another network of tunnels - possibly ones that led to the surface.


    "We''ll try to make it," I said. The Goblins fear the bear, so as long as it''s around we won''t have to worry about them."


    "Just the giant fuck off bear." said Kato.


    Seth helped Draxus steady Dacon while Kato and I searched along the wall.


    ¡°It¡¯s this way,¡± I said. Kato held the torch out to better illuminate the space. Draxus and Seth helped the injured Lord Dacon limp his way forward. It was slow going, but I didn''t dare to rush Count''s son. With his injuries, we needed to be careful.


    As we walked I noticed more of the strange symbols carved along the walls. They looked to me like they were forming repeating patterns. Like characters in a script.


    I was about to ask if the others if the language was legible to them when a sound stopped me in my tracks. It was a growl - low, deep, and unmistakable.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± I said.


    And raised my sword.

 Fourteen: Cursed Beast

    The Beast was easily the size of a wagon, it¡¯s broad hairy shoulders standing at least nine feet high. It¡¯s eyes were lit with a primordial glow that filled me with a sense of dread.


    ¡°Back!¡± I shouted to Draxus even as I brought my sword upwards. The Cursed Bear was breathing heavily, it¡¯s head canted to the side as it watched us scramble back towards the tunnel.


    With a sinking feeling I realized it was unhurried, as if it knew that we had no where to go.


    Blood dripped from it¡¯s maw and unto the cave floor.


    ¡°It looks rabid.¡±


    Kato had his own blade out and at the ready his face set.


    ¡°It¡¯s Cursed,¡± he called. ¡°Tainted by Arcane magic. Don¡¯t let it bite you Will, you won''t survive it."


    At the sound of his voice the Beast growled and began loping forward.


    Giant dark metal claws scrapped across stone as it came for me.


    I ducked aside, slashing for it¡¯s face as it passed. My sword blade opened a cut under it¡¯s eye but the creature either didn¡¯t notice or didn¡¯t care.


    Kato lunged forward into a strike, spearing it in the side. Despite having scored a direct hit, the bear showed no reaction.


    Kato withdrew his blade and tried to dance back. He was to slow.


    In a movement that shouldn¡¯t have been possible the bear twisted it¡¯s neck all the way around with a sound like suction.


    It managed to clamp it¡¯s jaws around the blade of Kato¡¯s sword and bite down. Metal creaked, blood sprayed, and Kato cursed, forced to let go of the hilt and dodge aside.


    I could hear the rattle of plate against rock a Draxus and Seth propped Lord Dacon up against the wall. His breathing was labored and his eyes hooded as he tried to stay conscious.


    ¡°He can¡¯t climb through like this!¡± Draxus shouted. ¡°We¡¯ll have to hold our ground, I see no other option.¡±


    The bear slashed for me and I jumped aside, stumbling as the tips of the claws bit into my leg.


    White hot pain lanced through the wound and I looked down to see the leg of my trousers torn. The skin of my thigh was hanging off in ribbons.


    The beast spun, turning towards a now unarmed Kato.


    Swearing, I did the only thing I could. I threw myself forward, putting my momentum and body weight behind the slash as I brought the blade down on it¡¯s head.


    The bear shifted at the last second and my sword bit deep into it¡¯s shoulder.


    It didn¡¯t so much as flinch. Instead, the beast shook itself, like a horse ridding itself of a fly. My sword was wrenched from my hands as it came free.


    It slid across the floor and for the second time I cursed my lack of shield.


    The beast turned on me, the glow in it¡¯s eyes sinister and mocking.


    I tried to dodge around it, and it lazily batted at me with a paw, knocking me to the ground.


    I tried to crawl on my side to get away but it was no use. Claws bit into back and made me scream. The bear dragged me slowly backwards as if toying with me.


    It opened it¡¯s jaws, and I saw several rows of sharp and bloody teeth.


    It¡¯s head came down and I threw up my arms, catching it¡¯s neck as those razor teeth snapped inches from my face.


    ¡°Hold it Will!¡± shouted Draxus from somewhere to my right but I couldn¡¯t see him.


    Hold it? Hold off a fucking bear?


    What would happen if it bit me? Would my amulet of minor poison resistance save me? Somehow I doubted it.


    The bear shoved itself forward. With a grinding of bone and a sharp pop, my right shoulder dislocated.


    I let out a noise then, somewhere between a scream and a roar of rage as I struggled to keep the beast at bay.


    Then Draxus blade bit into the bears neck. Once, Twice, and the pressure was gone. The beasts head collapsed onto the ground by my knees. The body flopped sideways, hitting the ground with a wet thud.


    I panted as my vision spun. Draxus¡¯s face appeared above mine.


    ¡°Will,¡± he said urgently. ¡°Did it bite you?¡±


    It took a moment for my racing heart to calm. I let my helmet drop back against the stone.


    ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°No I don¡¯t think so. Fuck Draxus, I just looked death in the jaws.¡±


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    Draxus pulled a minor health potion from his inventory and called Kato over. He carefully gripped my uninjured shoulder and helped me roll forward unto my stomach.


    ¡°It got you pretty good Blackbriar,¡± said Kato. ¡°You¡¯re lucky to be alive.¡±


    ¡°Hold him still.¡± Draxus ordered.


    I sucked in a breath and nearly passed out when the cool liquid of the health potion hit my wounds. It felt as if my skin was trying to crawl off my body.


    ¡°It¡¯s enough to stop the bleeding, but not much more. We need to get him to a healer.¡±


    Kato helped me stand, though putting any weight on my shredded leg felt like stepping on hot pokers. I was able to limp over to my sword and pick it up off the ground. Every movement made the wounds in my leg and back shift.


    ¡°We should go,¡± said Draxus. "Whatever else could be in these tunnels I have no desire to meet it."


    I nodded.


    ¡°There¡¯s only one thing I have to do first.¡±


    I dropped to one knee, wincing as the wounds in my back stretched. Carefully and without ceremony I cut away the Beasts gleaming metal claws. There wasn¡¯t a time to do a proper harvest, but I¡¯d be damned if I left these.


    Item: Cursed Iron claw x10


    I put the claws into my inventory, and leaned on my sword hit, preparing to stand. A glimmer of something beneath the bear caught my attention.


    Grunting, I placed my good leg on the carcass of the bear and shoved. The headless body rolled to reveal a set of chain mail. It was a long hauberk made of steel links. The metal was clean and had a soft blueish tinge that seemed to shimmer slightly as I regarded it.


    Item: Godforged chain mail, Legendary. + 85 armor.


    Item details: Unbreakable, provides the wearer a 10% chance to deal critical damage


    I let out a soft whistle.


    ¡°It¡¯s a legendary Item. Draxus, the drop should be yours since you got the killing blow.¡±


    Draxus snorted.


    ¡°I only ran in when the opportunity presented itself. You were the one that tried to wrestle a Cursed bear, you maniac. The drop is yours.¡±


    With a feeling of awe I lifted the item and placed it into my inventory. It was my first Legendary drop and it was well worth it the pain. Or at least, I''d think so once I got to a healer.


    Together we made it through the cavern and into the tunnel system Lord Dacon had described. These tunnels were much larger and it wasn''t long before I felt the caress of a fresh breeze.


    I limped ahead with Kato while Seth and Draxus helped the Count¡¯s son out of the tunnels and into empty air.


    It was a relief being back on the surface, where the constant semi-darkness and the smell of death weren¡¯t ever present. Dacon lifted a hand to shield his face from the sun.


    ¡°I was beginning to think I¡¯d never see it again,¡± he said. I nodded.


    "I know the feeling my Lord."


    We found the trail that had led us to the cave. Following the path our footsteps we made our way back towards the Kadian Army.


    After only a half hour of shuffling, the sound of hooves made me look up.


    A dozen armored knights came around the bend at a canter. When they spotted us, the leader made a signal and they came to a halt in a spray of dirt.


    The lead knight swung down from her saddle and removing her great helm.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± she said, reaching out to catch Dacon as he stumbled forward. She took in his wounds in a sweeping gaze.


    ¡°You need a healer. Try not to move.¡±


    The she raised her head to look at us.


    ¡°We are in your debt,¡± she said. ¡°Thank you for finding our Lord. When the news arrived that Lord Dacon was attacked and taken we feared the worst."


    She slid Dacon''s arms around her shoulders, and, with the help of several other dismounted men, she led him to an empty horse that had been tethered to he others.


    ¡°No problem,¡± called Kato after her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to reward us. But if you do, coin is acceptable.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Agh!¡± I grimaced as my skin on my leg began to crawl, knitting itself back together.


    ¡°Hold still.¡± The Healer gave me an annoyed look. It was the same Healer who had healed my wounds on the battlefield.


    Her face was a mask of careful concentration as she held her hands over the torn flesh of my leg.


    ¡°You really ought to be more careful,¡± she said.


    ¡°Throwing yourself into the path of bloodthirsty beasts seems like a dangerous pass time.¡±


    ¡°They just,¡± I said through gritted teeth. ¡°Seemed so friendly.¡±


    She dipped a clean cloth into a bucket of water, and dabbed at the fresh pink skin now growing on my leg.


    ¡°You should be fine once you sleep. Remember as always that your body will use your own energy to heal you. You¡¯ll wake up tired and hungry, and it will be your responsibility to meet your needs.¡±


    She rose to her feet and beneath her cowl I caught a glimpse of sharp blue eyes. She squeezed the linen cloth into the bucket and gathered a small satchel of supplies.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± I said.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not meet again.¡± She turned for the door and then seemed to hesitate. For a second I thought she might say something but the moment quickly passed. I watched her disappear through the tent flap, leaving me alone.


    I had been given a tent of my own to recover in. S?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Lord Blackthorne had issued orders for me to rest and attend him in the morning. I would have to report the skirmish with the Cursed bear. And then there was the matter of what we had found in that cave.


    Whatever it was, it had been enough to frighten even Draxus. The memory of the Captain nailed to that wooden slab, his sightless eye sockets gazing unseeing. Unable to talk, Unable to move. It was enough to make me shiver.


    I dropped my hand from the edge of the cot and felt for the hilt of my sword. It was there, laying among my pack and helmet. I closed my fingers around it, feeling the reassurance of it''s weight.


    I had come closer to death today then I ever had, and yet I still lived. It was better than many of the soldiers caught in today''s battle could say.


    As I lay on my back, a notification popped into view. I opened the Quest Window and paused.


    Quest Complete: perquisites met. 10/10 Quest¡¯s completed.


    The window blinked, and even as I watched it expanded. A new category had formed on the right most window of my stats.


    Alert: Skill protocol unlocked. Skills 1/4


    Skill protocol? I scrubbed a hand over my face, trying to rub away the exhaustion. A line of text began to appear and beside it was a tiny icon of a sword.


    Skill unlocked: Iron Blooded. Damage increases by 8% when you are injured


    I blinked at the words as my mind struggled to catch up. I had unlocked a skill¡­ but that shouldn''t have been possible. Unless...


    Excitement warred with caution in my mind.


    Unless I was now a gifted.


    The ability to unlock skills could change the course of my career as a soldier. But it was also entirely possible that gaining power would put a target on my back.


    I thought of the dying man, of his warning to keep the Quests a secret.


    "They''ll kill you for it." He''d said.


    Was this the meaning of his warning? I couldn¡¯t be sure.


    I examined the skill more closely. There were several sots next to the small sword icon. Upgrade slots? That might mean that each skill could be scaled according to the users power. Useful.


    One thing was certain, completing Quests was the key to unlocking more skills. When I could, I would need to make it a priority.


    I made to close the window and as I did a new Quest blinked across my vision.


    New Quest: Find the Book of Souls


    I stared, wondering if I''d misread. The what?


    I tried to focus on the Quest, even going so far as lifting a hand and trying to touch the words. But my fingers only passed through the window as if it were incorporeal.


    As usual, there was no additional information or explanation.


    Great, another cryptic Quest. And this time, I had no idea where to even start.

 Fifteen: Lady Inquisitor

    I woke with a ravenous hunger.To my surprise it was Vera who knocked on my tent pole with a plate of sliced fruit and cheese.


    I thanked her and ate before rising to change my clothes. A runner had brought me a few new sets earlier in the morning.


    When I had asked him how I would pay for them, the man simply waved a hand.


    ¡°The Count¡¯s son has already payed the Taylor. The clothes are yours to keep.¡±


    I pulled the new dark tunic over my head, admiring the feel of the cloth. There was no doubt that the weave was of good quality and likely not cheap.


    It seems I had fallen into good favor with the young Lord. I''d have to make it a habit.


    I washed my face in a small basin outside the tent before picking my way across the encampment. The Kadian Army had taken up temporary residence on a rise over looking the plains.


    Much of the tents and equipment had been destroyed in the attack, and men slept outside around cook fires, and makeshift beneath lean-tos.


    The Lord Blackthorne himself had allocated his personal tent to those wounded in the battle.


    He was sitting outside on a stump, surrounded by several well dressed Knights. They spoke to him in hushed and earnest tones as he dragged the whetstone methodically over his blade.


    As if sensing my approach he lifted his head and our gazes met. The Knights around him fell suddenly silent and I could see the wariness in their eyes.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± I said, bowing at the waist.


    Blackthorne set aside his whetstone and wiped his blade with a cloth.


    ¡°I hear you are in the habit of rescuing young Lords,¡± he said, his deep voice carrying the same resonance I had heard before.


    ¡°How is Lord Dacon?¡± I asked.


    ¡°He¡¯ll live,¡± said Blackthorne. ¡°His Healers tell me he will make a full recovery, though he lost a fair amount of blood. I believe he has you to thank for the fact that he survived at all.¡±


    I shifted on my feet, uncomfortable. Blackthorne tracked the movement and the edge of his mouth quirked up.


    ¡°You are more modest than most.¡± He said.


    ¡°I am¡­ cautious my Lord,¡± I said. ¡°Modesty is simply a side effect.¡±


    Blackthorne''s boom of laughter was so unexpected that one of his Knights jumped. He tried to play off the movement as a shifting of his weight.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± said the Lord, amused.


    ¡°I will be frank Will of Blackbriar. You are no war veteran, but you have proved yourself a capable soldier and a quick wit. That is rare enough on the battlefield."


    He lifted Dawnbringer and one of his squires rushes forward to take the sword.


    ¡°Kadia will need more men like you. Decisive men with the capability to lead others in the heat of battle. That is why I have decided to give you the opportunity to show your worth.¡±


    He lifted a shield from where it had rested against the stump and held it out to me.


    Carefully I stepped forward and took it from him. It was a heater shield made of wood and good steel. The straps were new, as was the fresh coat of paint on it¡¯s front. It was painted half black and half read, and on it was the symbol of a rearing horse. The symbol of the house of Blackthorne.


    ¡°Will, join me as a man at arms in my service. I would name you Sergeant in exchange for your fealty. What say you?¡±


    I ran a hand over the shield, admiring the craftsmanship. It was a generous opportunity, and one that would potentially allow me to curry favor and rise within the ranks.


    It was also, I suspected, not an honor given to common foot soldiers this young in their career.


    I could see the warring expressions on the faces of the Knights. Some looked doubtful, others downright hostile as they glared at me.


    I didn¡¯t doubt that Lord Blackthorne had chosen to promote me despite the council of many of them.


    I bowed my head.


    ¡°I would be honored to serve my Lord,¡± I said carefully. ¡°However, I hope you¡¯ll forgive my hesitation. I¡¯ve served with the men of the 3rd Auxiliary for only a short time, yet I¡¯ve come to see many of them as friend, maybe even brothers. Therefore I ask that you consider bringing the 3rd as a whole under your banner.¡±


    It was a big ask, and I saw the surprise in Blackthorne¡¯s features.


    For a moment he sat, pondering, and I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if I¡¯d offended him. At last he nodded.


    ¡°The 3rd has suffered some losses but I believe there are about fifty men still in it¡¯s ranks. Serve me well, and I will consider your request. To take men into service is no trivial matter. It is a Lord responsibility to feed, cloth, and pay their troops. It would be a large expense, even for my household.¡±


    I bowed at the waist.


    ¡°Thank you, Lord.¡±


    Blackthorne nodded.


    ¡°Now, tell me your version of events. I¡¯ve heard the story from several others, but I would hear you account as well. What transpired after you left the battlefield?"


    I launched into the story of everything that had happened since we departed to search for the Count¡¯s son. When I reached the part about the mutilated bodies, Blackthorne¡¯s face darkened.


    ¡°Dark Arcane magic,¡± he said, lip curling. ¡°There is no doubt in my mind, nor that of Dacon. He says that the entire cave was tainted with it it''s stench. As was the beast that you encountered, I imagine."


    ¡°What does it mean?¡±


    Lord Blackthorne rubbed at his temples with a hand.


    ¡°I am... unsure,¡± he admitted. ¡°But the presence of dark magic and taint can often be correlated with the occult. These vile magics are performed only by proprietors who make deals with the patrons of hell.¡±


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Patrons of hell? A chill was creeping up my spine that had nothing to do with the breeze. If there was hell in this world then that must mean there were demons.


    ¡°Regardless,¡± said Lord Blackthorne, interrupting my flow of thoughts.


    ¡°This is now the jurisdiction of the inquisition. Against my wishes, the Crown has ordered a detachment from the nearest stronghold to investigate. They are due to arrive tonight.¡±


    The evident distaste in his voice came as no surprise. My understanding of the Inquisition was that they preferred to be feared rather than to forge alliances. I remembered the bodies swinging from the tree, the letter carved into their foreheads.


    ¡°We had our own encounter with the Inquisition on our travels,¡± I confessed.


    At Blackthorne¡¯s gesture I explained what we had seen.


    ¡°This is a serious accusation,¡± said He said. ¡°I will of course have to speak with Lord Dacon on this matter, as it was his land and his people that were effected. I urge you however to be careful around any members of the Inquisition you encounter. Not all Inquisitors are cruel, but without exception, every single one of them has the capacity to be dangerous. Don¡¯t underestimate them.¡±


    There was an undertone of warning in his voice that made me search his face, wondering just how much he might know or suspect. But as ever, the Lord¡¯s expression was unreadable.


    ¡°My Lord, there is something that requires your attention.¡± Said one of his Knights. Blackthorne sighed.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there always?¡±


    He rose from his stump and gave me an appraising look.


    ¡°Take the rest of the day to rest, Sergeant. I have a few men arriving from Havenhall that I want to place under your command.¡±


    ¡°The castle of my household,¡± he said in explanation to my blank look.


    "I''ve sent for two of my finest soldier specialists. I''m sure you''ll put them to good use."


    I bowed.


    ¡°Understood, Lord.¡±


    ***


    Several hours later and under the cover of night, I approached the spot where my friends waited.


    ¡°I can¡¯t hear anything.¡± came Seth''s urgent whisper.


    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re listening on the wrong bloody side. The war tent is in that direction.¡± Kato gestured to a corner stacked high with crates and supply boxes.


    Seth frowned.


    ¡°Tell me again why we¡¯re risking being out past curfew to spy on a couple of Nobles?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not.¡±


    Kato and Seth both spun around, relaxing when they saw me emerging form the shadows.


    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be keeping watch for me. Though I¡¯m starting to regret my choice of lookouts.¡±


    ¡°Oh our apologies your grace,¡± said Kato, bowing mockingly.


    I grimaced. One promotion and the 3rd was already having a field day at my expense. I¡¯d been saluted, bowed too, and even announced by a fake bugle upon my arrival to dinner.


    Part of me worried I''d never live it down.


    ¡°Kato," I said. "If I ever get promoted again, which is wholly unlikely, my first act as an officer will be to promote you to Sergeant.¡±


    He shuddered.


    ¡°Me an NCO? Diabolical.¡±


    We were standing near the company supply depot, the nearest temporary structure in view of the War Tent.


    I had seen the inquisition riding in to camp an hour ago. In truth, they had been impossible to miss. It hadn¡¯t taken long for word to spread that Lord Blackthorne and the Inquisitor herself would be having a private audience.


    The sudden imposition of a curfew only peaked my suspicion. And that of every other soldier in camp.


    "If you want to ensure every man knows, make it a secret." Gills had said.


    It was a risk slinking through the encampment to listen in. But the prospect of getting new information about potential threats we could face was too tempting.


    What was more, I knew that the Inquistion posed a serious threat to my person, and I was inclined to know my enemy.


    At any rate, we would need all the Intel we could get to survive what was to come. At least, that was the mood among the other soldiers.


    ¡°The Goblins nests may have been burned, and the survivors fled, but no one is in doubt that the war isn¡¯t over.¡± Gills had said over dinner.


    ¡°There is something the Nobles aren¡¯t telling us, and we need to know what.¡±


    Kato and Seth waited until the pair of sentry¡¯s doing the rounds passed our position. Then he nodded to me and I began to climb. Boxes creaked under my boots as I put my weight on them.


    I managed to heave myself up onto of a long crate of standard armor piercing arrows and rise to my knees. Here I had a good view of the tent just over the temporary palisade wall.


    The new wood had been cut recently and the smell of fresh birch wood suddenly reminded me of home. A memory of running through a field with a Labrador, laughing as she liked my face. Of hot summers and the sound of cicadas at night.


    I blinked the thoughts away. It was getting harder and harder to recall details of my old world.


    I wondered if eventually the memories would fade entirely.


    ¡°Lady Inquisitor.¡±


    The voice of Lord Blackthorne drew me back to the present.


    He was sitting in a carved black chair, his gloved fist propped beneath his chin. From my vantage, I could only see his head and shoulders through a gap in the fabric.


    Through the entrance of the tent three figures dressed in black stepped into the lamp light. Two of them were men in black armor, their faces obscured by silver masks.


    In front of them stood a woman. She was wearing fighting leathers, and I was surprised to see two ornate knives sheathed at either of her hips.


    A closer inspection revealed them as Mythic Items. That was interesting. I tried to scan her stats, but to my surprise, the numbers themselves seem to blur and shift, making it impossible to read.


    I had to exit my HUD to keep the my head from spinning. It was the first time I had ever been unable to read someones personal stats, and that alone had me unnerved.


    What made my stomach drop however was the way her head tilted ever so slightly towards me, as if she had sensed me looking. That shouldn¡¯t have been possible.. Should it?


    ¡°Hadrian,¡± the woman said, striding forward.


    The familiarity of her response surprised me, until I saw I saw her brush a gloved hand across Lord Blackthorne¡¯s chest. She lowered her mouth to his.


    Blackthorne turned his head to the side, an angry muscle working in his jaw.


    ¡°Xandria,¡± said Blackthorne, his tone cold. ¡°I was not aware you had been promoted to the role Inquisitor.¡±


    The woman stepped back from him, flicking her long dark braid over one shoulder. Far from being embarrassed, she seemed amused by his reaction.


    ¡°I suppose we both have our roles to grow into,¡± she said. ¡°I expect you read the missive my Darkblade delivered to you?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And your answer?¡± Her tone was light and playful, but there was a sharpness underneath. Blackthorne seemed to recognize it too.


    ¡°There are far more suitable candidates for the position,¡± he said.


    Xandria smirked.


    ¡°And yet the Crown Prince of Kadia has volunteered you to be the new Spear of the God King. An honor, no doubt.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne grimaced. S?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°An honor,¡± he repeated, in a way that made me think he felt it was the exact opposite.


    ¡°Perhaps the Prince himself would care to grace us with his radiance. The troops could use the boost morale... and troops.¡±


    At his words, the black armored soldiers behind her shifted. Xandria glanced at them, her lips quirking upwards at the corners.


    ¡°Careful,¡± the word was almost a hiss through her cherry red lips.


    ¡°You stray awfully close to blasphemy. And my Darkblades could not abide such a thing.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne snorted.


    ¡°Your hounds don¡¯t frighten me. Ask your questions and be gone. I grow weary of this conversation.¡±


    Xandria examined her gloves, her expression flitting between amused and mocking.


    ¡°You know I can¡¯t go. When the Crown Prince himself orders me to investigate, I have no choice but to obey.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne made a sound in his throat much like a growl.


    "Since when have you ever obeyed anyone?" He shook his head.


    ¡°I have no interest in the interference of the inquisition."


    ¡°And yet our presence here is inevitable. His radiant majesty has tasked us with one purpose, and one purpose only. We are to root out the Herald and cut out the corruption before it has a chance to fester.¡±


    ¡°By cut out you mean kill.¡± Said Blackthorne. ¡°Your solution to every problem you encounter.¡±


    ¡°The great Hadrian Blackthorne put off by a bit of killing? My darling, are you loosing you edge?"


    Blackthorne rose to his feet, and the movement was so fast that Xandria jerked back in surprise. Behind her, the two Darkblades shifted, placing their hands on their weapons.


    Their hollow eyed masks seemed to focus on Blackthorne and I saw the air around his shoulders shimmer.


    ¡°Your mind magic won¡¯t work on me,¡± he growled. Seconds later one of the Darkblades recoiled as if he had been struck.


    Xandria was still smiling.


    ¡°Now now,¡± she said. ¡°Play nice.¡±


    The Darkblades relaxed, capes swirling around them. It was as if nothing had happened.


    Blackthorne¡¯s eyes blazed with anger, and for a moment, I wondered if he would strike her. Then abruptly, he turned away.


    ¡°Leave me.¡± He said. ¡°Find somewhere else to play your games. But I warn you, if you disrupt my operations here, if you so much as step a foot outside the bounds of your jurisdiction, I will throw you out myself, Inquisitor or not.¡±


    Xandria¡¯s face shifted and I saw the first sign of irritation in her. Then her brows smoothed, and it was gone just as quickly.


    ¡°As the spear commands.¡± She said.


    Then she turned and strode form the tent.

 Sixteen: Marching Orders

    Three days after the arrival of the Inquisitor, the orders to move out came from on high. Our Army was to march south towards the city of Ceris, where we would join the counts forces to repel the growing threat of Orks.


    If the reports were anything to go by, the Counts men had sustained heavy casualties.


    The roaming Ork tribes had wasted no time in pressing their advantage. Several towns and villages in the path of the Host had been entirely wiped out. The Orks continued on, leaving a path of slaughter and destruction in their wake.


    The most chilling news came the day after. Reports of human slaves being taken for sport became common rumor among the soldiers under Blackthorne''s command. It was a fate that awaited the rest of the southern lands if the Army failed to arrive in time to face this threat.


    ¡°I thought Red Ork tribes were notorious for infighting,¡± I said to Kato one morning. ¡°How is it that a host this size has been able to gather without opposition?¡±


    It was Draxus who looked up from his book to answer.


    ¡°The Red Orks are a barbaric people, but they aren¡¯t like Goblins. They have their own way of life, and even their own religion. Their rams, that¡¯s what they call their young, prove themselves by fighting and besting other warriors. Usually tribes fighting among tribes keeps the population low. It¡¯s an endless cycle of culling.¡±


    He shut his book and set it aside.


    ¡°Occasionally one ram will rise above the others. If he is able to best and subjugate other tribe leaders, then those disgraced leaders will follow him. To them it¡¯s a matter of some twisted code of honor.¡±


    ¡°You seem to know a lot about Orks.¡±


    Draxus nodded, resting his head back on his pack.


    ¡°They were one of the greatest enemies my Father had to face on the battlefield. I heard his stories many nights by the fire.¡±


    I turned the stick I was whittling over in my hands, examining it. It was a hobby I had picked up to pass the time in camp, though my current skill level left something to be desired. I ran a thumb over the rough carving.


    ¡°So if there is one ram warlord that the others all follow.. Then why wouldn¡¯t the Kadian military try to assassinate him? If he dies then the others leaders would be released from their bonds, right? It would lead to infighting and the eventual collapse of the Host.¡±


    Draxus arched a brow, bemused.


    ¡°Much Easier said than done. Tell me Will, Have you ever seen an Ork?¡±


    When I shook my head he continued.


    ¡°They stand eight feet tall and their arms and legs are as thick around as logs. Their tusks are the lengths of your fingers, and their horns are sharp enough to spear a man through. No, in the packs they travel in, simply infiltrating an Ork encampment would be a trial in and of itself.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    I brushed the wood shavings off of my lap and into the grass between my boots.


    It was at that moment that a man wearing the crimson robes of an Engineer stormed out of the officers tent. He was followed closely by a harassed looking Gills.


    ¡°I take it supervising the construction of the bridge is going well,¡± said Kato cheerfully.


    Gills scowled at him.


    ¡°It¡¯s going as well as to be expected with the current.. complications. Two more Engineers were killed just earlier today. That makes five total."


    That news sobered everyone up.


    ¡°Goblins?¡± I asked.


    He nodded. ¡°Stragglers that want to prevent us from crossing the bridge. My guess is that there is a nest nearby, and without the protection of the Horde their growing desperate.¡±


    He scrubbed a hand over his face.


    ¡°The Engineers can¡¯t work under these conditions. I was just told in no uncertain terms that the bridges construction would halt until the nest was burned."


    Kato grimaced.


    ¡°If the Engineers don¡¯t build the bridge for the Army to cross the river, then how are we meant to kill the fucking Goblins on the other side?¡±


    ¡°A true paradox.¡± Gills sat heavily, putting his head in his hands.


    ¡°I¡¯m not cut out for being an officer,¡± he said suddenly. ¡°I¡¯m a veteran for thrones sake. Put me in front of something and tell me to stab it, sure. But all this paperwork and diplomacy? It¡¯s my own personal hell.¡±


    I clapped him on the back.


    ¡°Nothing you can¡¯t learn.¡±


    ¡°Just remember that even if you stick your head in the sand and do absolutely nothing you¡¯re still better than your predecessor.¡± Kato chimed in.


    ¡°Not helping."


    I held up my stick.


    ¡°Does it look like anything to you?¡± I asked him.


    Gills examined it for a moment.


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    ¡°I think it¡¯s a pretty good likeness of a pig. I¡¯d say you¡¯ve improved.¡±


    I frowned.


    ¡°It was supposed to be horse.¡±


    Kato burst out laughing and Draxus shot him an annoyed look.


    Sighing I stood and crossed to the edge of camp, where I hurled the stick as hard as I could.


    It flipped end over end, flying twenty feet before dropping into the river. I watched it float, bobbing up and down on the gentle current.


    That¡¯s when an idea began to form. It was an odd idea... crazy even. But despite that, I couldn''t shake the feeling that it might just work. I turned.


    ¡°Gills,¡± I said. ¡°I think I might have an answer to your Goblin problem.¡±


    ¡°It could work,¡± said Gills when I laid out the details. ¡°But there is the issue of visibility. Goblins can see well in the dark, so attacking at night would be out of the question. In broad daylight you¡¯d risk being sitting ducks.¡±


    I nodded and crouched, picking up a stick to draw in the dirt. I scribbled the river, then made a few stick figures that represented soldiers.


    ¡°So,¡± I said. ¡°What if we went down stream past the river bend. It isn¡¯t as narrow so there would be farther to go. But the chances of being seen would be greatly reduced.¡±


    Draxus leaned over, his book now completely abandoned as he examined the plan.


    ¡°Yeah, but what will you do if you''re spotted? Goblin archers could pick you off before you had a chance to make it halfway.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, scrubbing away the scribble of a a soldier on the raft and replacing it with a square.


    ¡°Our biggest threat is Goblin archers that might happen to spot us as we cross. What if we asked the Engineers to hammer together a couple of boards? We could use them as makeshift tower shields. They would have to be wide enough across to cover us, but light enough that they wouldn¡¯t tip the raft.¡±


    Gills ran a hand through his beard.


    ¡°You¡¯d have to be sure not to fall in. The river is deeper than it appears, and a man in armor would easily drown if he slipped off the edge.¡±


    It was a fair point. The image of the raft tipping and plunging a squad to their watery deaths flashed through my mind.


    ¡°Gills, do you think you can convince the Chief Engineer to lend us his assistance? We¡¯re going to need it if we want to make this plan work."


    "I''m not sure we have a choice," he admitted. "We can''t afford to take the extra week or more to march around the river."


    ¡°At that point the Count might be dead.¡± Said Draxus. S?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I agree something needs to be done.¡±


    Gills rose to his feet, dusting off his hands.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask for clearance from Lord Blackthorne. He is the Spear of the King now, and ultimately he¡¯ll have to decide our course of action.¡± Gills paused, seemingly considering something.


    ¡°You have the potential, Will." he told me.


    " But don¡¯t be so reckless as to get yourself killed. Trust the men to either side of you, and learn when to delegate. I say this not a criticism, but merely as an observation. A battle is fought just as much here,¡± he tapped at my forehead. ¡°As in the field.¡±


    He held my gaze and I got his meaning. Gills wanted me to learn to lead, not just myself but others. As it was, he thought I was reckless -and maybe there was some truth to that.


    ¡°I understand.¡± I told him, though I refrained from making any commitments. I would have to think on his words.


    He nodded.


    ¡°Then make your preparations. If the Lord sanctions your plan, then we may have to act quickly.¡±


    I dressed for battle. With the money from the iron claws Kato, Draxus, and Seth had used the opportunity to replace old equipment and purchase health potions.


    I had others ideas.


    As I crossed the encampment, my new Godforged chain mail drew more than a few stares. Soldiers turned to watch me as I passed.


    I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the rumors about men betting on the outcomes of my battles were real.


    The sound of a hammer on steel led me in the direction of the Smiths stall.


    Sweat poured from his brow as he pounded a piece of metal over his anvil. It was several long minutes before he noticed me and gestured for one of his apprentices to take over his work.


    ¡°Ah, Will of Blackbriar,¡± he said, wiping his hands on his aprons.


    ¡°I assume you are here about the uh¡­ piece you commissioned?¡± The Smith¡¯s tone was casual but I saw the way his eyes darted around to make sure no one was within ear shot.


    ¡°I am.¡± I said. ¡°Have you done what I asked?¡±


    The Smith reached beneath the counter and brought out a bundle of cloth, which he set before me.


    After another quick glance around he began to unwrap the cloth revealing the work from beneath.


    It was a a simple piece, but there was a terrible beauty in it¡¯s simplicity. The daggers blade was one sided and nearly six inches long, ending in a curved point. The metal itself was a deep dark iron that seemed to shimmer and pulse with unnatural energy. I reached for the weapon, and the Smith drew it back, his eyes twinkling.


    ¡°About the amount we agreed upon,¡± he said lightly. ¡°You must understand that the piece itself was difficult to forge and required much of the time I would have spent on other orders. Then there is the added eh.. Risk¡­.¡± He gave me a significant look.


    I arched a brow.


    ¡°We agreed on a price before you accepted the commission. What¡¯s changed?¡±


    The Smith worried at his beard with his fingers.


    ¡°The presence of the Inquisitor,¡± he said frankly. ¡°Working with cursed metal is not strictly illegal, but it is certainly frowned upon by the guild. If the Inquisition were to find out.. Well. I could face the whipping post, and my shop could be severely penalized.¡±


    He wiped a bit of sweat from his brow.


    ¡°As I said, risk is a factor.¡±


    I folded my arms across my chest.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°What amount do you purpose?¡±


    The Smith didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°Twenty five silver.¡±


    I managed to keep my jaw from dropping. There was no doubt that the dagger was a quality piece, but Given that I had done the labor of per curing much of the materials, it was steep price.


    It was also a price I couldn''t afford with only 17 silver in my inventory.


    I pretended to think it over.


    ¡°Sixteen silver,¡± I countered and the Smith¡¯s smile soured.


    ¡°That¡¯s well below asking price,¡± he said.


    ¡°True. But it¡¯s still an entire silver over our original deal.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Twenty one silver, and not a copper lower.¡±


    I pretended to think again and then shook my head.


    ¡°That¡¯s too high. I¡¯d do seventeen silver and give you first pick of monster materials for the next two months. But that¡¯s as high as I¡¯d be willing to go.¡±


    ¡°First pick you say,¡± the smith scratched at his chin. ¡°First pick and a 10% discount for purchasing materials.¡±


    I clenched my teeth but in the end I knew he had me. I would take a small hit in revenue for the next few months, but the dagger had the potential to be worth it.


    ¡°Deal.¡±


    I handed over the silver and the Smith swept it eagerly from the counter into his purse. Then he handed me the dagger and a custom buckskin sheath.


    Item: Iron Fang, Rare. Has a chance to inflict cursed damage on an opponent


    I tucked the dagger into my belt and made my way down the trail that ran parallel to the river. There, I saw the two soldiers I had been looking for.


    ¡°Alright sarge,¡± said Bjorn in way of greeting. The Northern warrior was leaning on a battle Axe, dressed in fur lined armor and looking formidable. Next to him, his dark haired sibling nodded to me.


    ¡°Sergeant.¡±


    The Northerners, affectionately referred to by the rest of the 3rd as ¡®The Twins¡¯ had been Lord Blackthorne¡¯s gift to my newly formed company. They were each level 23, and both had three traits above platinum, which made them specialists.


    Bjorn the skull cleaver was a berserker, and Astrid was a keen markswoman with a long bow. Both of them would be invaluable in the coming battles.


    ¡°Where are the others?¡± I asked.


    Bjorn jerked his chin back towards camp. ¡°The Engineers requested assistance with the labor of making the raft. Last I saw Draxus and Seth got roped in to helping carry logs.¡±


    I grimaced.


    ¡°Any word from Gills? Has Blackthorne given his approval?"


    ¡°None yet, Sarge. But you give the order and we¡¯re ready to go.¡±


    Astrid hummed her agreement, adjusting her the quiver on her shoulder.


    I couldn''t help but smile as I scanned the opposite river bank.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I said. ¡°Our time will come soon enough. For now, we wait."

 Seventeen: Without Mercy

    ¡°Get ready,¡± I said as I took my position by the side of the makeshift raft. The logs were still rough with unshorn bark.The ropes that had been used to lash the logs together were stiff. I bent at the knees, reading myself to take on the weight.


    ¡°Lift.¡±


    The men of my squad heaved upwards and the raft came slowly off the ground. It was still heavy, and I had to brace the load on my shoulder to keep my feet steady.


    ¡°Forward.¡± We moved forward towards the edge of the tree line. My squad, now comprised of fifteen men all told, strained forward under the weight.


    It was slower going then I would have liked. Even as we reached the water¡¯s edge my eyes raked over the opposite bank, searching for any hint of danger.


    I could see nothing, but that didn¡¯t mean there weren''t Goblins laying in wait even now.


    At my signal the raft was lowered into the water. Bjorn and Draxus held unto the rope leads on either side to keep the craft from floating in place.


    The bank of the river was slippery, and I had to readjust my footing as I helped Astrid on board. Her quiver was full, and I spotted a few with the white fletching of armor piercing arrows.


    We would need them today.


    The raft was mostly stable, but every now it would be caught by the current, jostling in place.


    ¡°Men to each side,¡± I said. ¡°The weight has to be balanced.¡±


    Kato, Seth and four other armored men of the 3rd climbed unto the raft, taking their positions behind the two tower shields.


    The shields themselves comprised mostly of wooden boards that had been nailed together and fastened to the front of the raft with resin.


    Draxus was the next unto the raft, which rocked under his weight. He held out both arms to steady himself before taking a place near the center.


    Bjorn and I were the last to climb on. I braced my feet against the muddy bank of the river and, now knee deep in water, giving the raft an almighty shove.


    Bjorn braced himself on the edge as the raft began to flow forward. He held out a hand to me and I took it, letting him pull me unto the craft. For It swayed ominously before I managed to brace myself.


    Two of the soldiers produced long poles which they used to help propel us forward.


    I had anticipated that the current might be a factor, but as we pushed out way towards the middle of the river I began to worry.


    We were flowing downstream faster than I had intended. Even the use of the poles couldn¡¯t seem to arrest our drift. It seemed that we weren''t going to have the choice of ground.


    I cast a glance over my shoulder at the tree line and caught Astrid¡¯s eye.


    ¡°They will follow us,¡± she said, referring to the crossbow men that we''d left behind. ¡°They are faster on foot then we are in the water."


    I hoped she was right. The raft creaked as it drifted. It was eerily quiet, the only sound the occasional rustle of clothing and clink of armor.


    Halfway there.


    Somewhere nearby a fish leapt out of the water, it¡¯s silver scales catching the sunlight. I propped an elbow on my knee and risked peeking around the edge of the tower shield.


    The opposite bank was empty but I thought I caught a flicker of movement near a shrub. I blinked, and it was gone.


    Draxus that spoke first.


    ¡°This feels too easy,¡± he said. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen any sign of Goblin activity, but I''m inclined to believe they know we''re here."


    ¡°It could be that the scouts are watching the bridge construction,¡± said Astrid. ¡°They may not even be aware we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Stay vigilant.¡± I ordered.


    The raft fell silent.


    Two thirds there.


    One of the soldiers pushing the raft shifted oddly and I turned to glance at him. There was a black arrow protruding from his shoulder. A moment later there was a splash as his body hit the water. He thrashed wildly as the weight of his own armor dragged at him.


    ¡°Contact!¡± shouted Draxus, bracing himself. I moved to the edge of the raft, rope in hand. The other pole man¡¯s eyes were wide.


    ¡°Keep going,¡± I barked. ¡°Get us to the other side. We can''t afford to stop here."


    The man swallowed and nodded, dipping his pole back into the water.


    I turned back to the drowning man. There was only a stream of bubbles bobbing on the waters surface. I knelt and tossed the rope in. For a moment the it simply floated. Had I been too late?


    Then a hand erupted from the water and grabbed a hold. The rope went taught.


    ¡°Help me pull him in!¡± I called to Bjorn. The warrior moved to my side.


    He gripped the rope in his hands and we both heaved backwards. A man in full armor is a heavy creature. It took us three pulls to get him within arms length.


    Gripping his wrist I pulled him up and unto the raft. Water cascading across the wood. He was breathing hard, eyes wild with fear. He had lost the pole in the confusion, but that was to be expected.


    He coughed water and I checked his vitality on my HUD.


    ¡°You¡¯re alright soldier,¡± I said. "Ready yourself."


    More arrows rained down from above.


    I lifted my arm in time to catch one in my shield, still quivering.


    We were almost across.


    I waisted no time when the raft rocked against the shore.


    ¡°Out!¡± I called. ¡°Get to ground and form up.¡±


    The young soldier that had nearly drowned ripped his sword from his sheath and ducked behind a comrade with a shield.


    Together we dismounted from the raft.


    Draxus pulled the rope taught, tying it around a nearby boulder even as black arrows flew.


    ¡°Form the line!¡±


    Men ran to obey.


    Shields were lifted, legs braced as we made ourselves smaller targets for arrows.


    I could hear the primal calls of the Goblins as they communicated. They knew we were here, and now they''d seen our numbers. Even now more raced through the trees towards us, crawling like spiders.


    It was what I had anticipated.


    ¡°Now Sarge?¡± asked Bjorn. The blue warpaint on his face made him look like a mad man. We would need his brand of madness before the day was out.


    ¡°Not yet,¡± I said. ¡°We need to time it right. Let them get closer. Let them think they have us.¡±


    More arrows flew from the trees. Most were harmless but one managed to slip between the gap in shields and bury itself in the ground near my boot. I gritted my teeth, even as my adrenaline flowed through me.


    Timing was everything.


    To fast and we ruined our chances at an effective charge. Too slow and the Goblin forces would have time to position themselves freely or worse, call for reinforcements.


    An arrow bounced off my helmet, spinning away.


    ¡°Steady,¡± I called to my men. I needed them to to hang on a few moments longer. The snarl of Goblin footsoldiers sounded close. Too close. I turned to Bjorn.


    ¡°Now.¡±


    The warrior lifted his hands to his mouth and cupped them. He issued a strange fluting bird call, one that we had agreed upon as the signal.


    The response wasn¡¯t long in coming. There was a swishing sound and the whistle of air. Then a Goblin foot soldier collapsed, struck in the chest by a crossbow bolt.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Five more bolts came whistling past. One dropped a Goblin archer that had been perched in a nearby tree.


    The oncoming rush of Goblin¡¯s hesitated and I took that moment to strike.


    We lurched forward as a ragged line, pushing up the bank towards the oncoming enemy.


    It wouldn¡¯t have been my choice of ground. The mud was wet and soft, and the bank rose at an odd angle. Still, we had committed and now we had to see the assault through.


    So we climbed.


    And they died.


    The first three goblins launched at us with fangs and weapons bared. We blocked with our shields and cut them down with swift efficiency. Another dove at me from the side. My sword hacked at it¡¯s leg and it fell sideways, only to be gored through the eye by a spear.


    Occasionally a crossbow bolt would find it¡¯s mark among the Goblin archers hidden in the trees and our line would press forward.


    We had gained ground and were now pushing into the tree line itself.


    The assault was brutal. The Goblin¡¯s numbers and desperation could only mean that we were drawing closer to the nest.


    I risked swiping a glove across my visor to clear black icor from my vision. That''s when I my instincts took over.


    There was not time to dodge, no time to shout, only to react. The giant iron blade swept downwards, cleaving Seth¡¯s head from his shoulders.


    I was quick enough to raise my shield and stop the blow from doing the same to me. The force behind it me knocked sideways, stumbling into the man next to me.


    A giant Goblin stood before us. It was wearing spiked armor, and it''s eyes glittered with a cold intelligence I didn''t like.


    Goblin Chieftain, level 27


    Several soldiers jabbed forward with their spears but the Goblin Chief had already moved backwards out of range.


    We tried to close the distance but more Goblin foot soldiers rushed forward to hammer our line.


    I lifted my shield and caught one under the chin, slamming it¡¯s jaws together in a blow that shattered teeth. Then I brought my sword up and through it¡¯s stomach. The Goblin dropped.


    Another was killed by Bjorn, it¡¯s head splitting in a spray of Icor as he roared a Northern war cry.


    I was trying not to look at Seth, trying not to see the headless corpse of my friend now laying next to me. There was no time to mourn. No time to do anything but fight.


    A crossbow bolt stuck the Chieftain in the the shoulder. It reached up and snapped the shaft in two in one of it''s over sized hands. It seemed unphased.


    Blood dripped into my eye from a cut on my forehead.


    I was vaguely aware of the Iron-Blooded skill activating in the corner of my HUD.


    My sword seemed to glow with a feint red light. And the next Goblin I hacked at came apart in a spray of viscera.


    I stared at the sword for a moment, thinking.


    The increase in damage could be enough to take down the Chieftain, or at least to slow it. But I needed a plan.


    ¡°Draxus,¡± I called, searching for him among the chaos of the fight.


    He was locked in a battle with several Goblins. Even as I watched he exchanged blows and managed to slice on across the arm. He was slowing though and I saw he was bleeding heavily from a a slice above his knee.


    I shouldered my way through the press, using my shield to bash one of the Goblin¡¯s in the face. Black blood stained the painted surface as I jammed the rim of the shield into it¡¯s face until it stopped moving.


    Draxus whirled to face me, sword raised and teeth bared. Coated in Icor he looked like a demon.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± I said throwing out a hand. Draxus froze, breathing hard.


    "Sorry," he said. "I thought you were.. never mind."


    I waved it away.


    ¡°We need to kill the Chief,¡± I shouted over the melee. ¡°It¡¯s our best chance of scattering them.¡±


    Draxus nodded and adjusted his grip on his sword. Between the two of us we managed to rally Bjorn and Kato to reform the line into a tighter formation. The men fought their way to us, joining their shields with ours.


    Seth hadn¡¯t been the only one to fall. One of the spear men from the raft was laying face down in the mud. I gritted my teeth against the sudden rush of guilt and anger.


    The men needed victory and they needed it soon. Otherwise what was the point of his death? Of Seth¡¯s?


    The Goblin Cheiftan seemed to realize we were rallying against it''s forces. It had retreated behind the thick trunk of an oak, but now reemerged and lifted it''s sword.


    It was still red with my friends blood. Lifting it to pale lips, it met my eyes and ran a tongue along the flat of the blade. Then it smiled, showing sharp teeth.


    Draxus grabbed a hold of my shoulder as I stepped forward. S~?a??h the ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It¡¯s baiting you,¡± he snapped. ¡°Don¡¯t be a damn fool. You¡¯re in command here.¡±


    Tearing my eyes away form the sight I spoke to Bjorn.


    ¡°I need you to hold the line¡± I said. ¡°Give us the chance to reach the Chief and bring him down.¡±


    ¡°Aye Sarge.¡±


    ¡°Astrid.¡± The woman paused shooting arrows to turn to me. Sweaty hair clung to her forehead.


    ¡°Shoot a steady steam of arrows at the Chieftain, don¡¯t stop, not for anything.¡±


    ¡°Arrows won¡¯t be enough to bring him down.¡± She said doubtfully.


    ¡°It won¡¯t need to be.¡±


    After a moment she nodded and turned for the trees.


    We advanced slowly and predictably, pushing through the line.


    The Chief Goblin watched us come, unperturbed. More of it¡¯s mindless foot soldiers threw themselves at us, and we cut them down as best we could.


    Goblin bodies began to pile in the mud, making footing precarious.


    The Chief was in no hurry to meet us on the field.


    Instead it let dozens fall in his place, retreating if we got too near.


    I glanced to the side, checking to see if Astrid had found her position. We would be needing her arrows soon enough.


    The farther we advanced into the trees, the less frequently crossbow bolts struck their targets. My understanding was that crossbows were mostly accurate at up to a 50 yard range and we were well beyond that.


    A Goblin leapt from the branches of a nearby tree and I stepped aside, allowing it to crash to the ground. I stomped my boot into it¡¯s head, feeling the crunch of bones as my increased damage did it¡¯s grisly work. The Goblin did not rise.


    The sound of an arrow whistled past my head. The point was aimed at the Chieftain¡¯s face, but at the last moment he raised his arm, catching the arrow on his forearm.


    It was a bodkin head, thick and built to pierce armor. It punched a hole in the sinew of the Chief¡¯s arm and the Goblin bellowed in anger.


    Another followed and this time it stepped aside. The tip grazed it¡¯s shoulder, drawing black blood.


    ¡°That¡¯s it you fucker,¡± I growled. ¡°Take the bait.¡±


    Another arrow pierced it¡¯s sternum and the Chieftain snarled with rage. It spun towards the source of the projectiles, and spotted Astrid.


    It bellowed to several of it''s kin, and lumbered sideways towards the tree where Astrid was now perched.


    ¡°This is our chance,¡± I shouted to Bjorn. ¡°Make your move.¡±


    Bjorn needed no other prompting.


    He let out a war cry and bounded forward with his Axe held high. Goblin skulls crunched, limbs flew, and black blood coated the ground as Bjorn the Skull Cleaver earned his name. There wasn¡¯t time to stay and watch the carnage.


    Astrid had a good position in the tree but she was isolated from the rest of us. She had placed herself in danger for the sake of drawing the Chieftain out.


    Now that she had succeeded, she was vulnerable.


    Draxus, myself, and another soldier broke from the line and charged the forward to meet them. the Chief spun, an it''s eyes seemed narrow as they focused on me. It barked something to one of it''s fellows and moments later the Goblin''s raced for us.


    Draxus took the arm of the first and I followed up with a slash to the throat that sent the Goblin spinning away. The next was speared through and eventually decapitated by me.


    With no other line of defense the Chief seemed to realize it''s error. Without it''s foot soldiers as fodder against us, it would have to face us unprotected.


    The Chieftain raised the bloody blade and bellowed a challenge. Draxus darted left and I went right, splitting it''s attention.


    I ducked aside as the giant sword whistled through the air inches above my head.


    The Goblin stepped aside as Draxus slashed at it''s groin. It curled it''s hand into a fist and that same armored fist hit the spear men in the chest moments later.


    The man was knocked backwards, crashing into a nearby tree. He lay unmoving at it¡¯s base.


    There was no time to check his vitals. I lunged, putting my weight behind a strike as I went for the Chief''s knee. My blade punched through pale grey flesh and out the other side. The Chief stumbled.


    My fingers slick with icor. I tried to the sword free but it was stuck fast. The Chief swung his blade around and I was forced to let go. I leaned backwards, catching myself with a hand as the iron passed over me.


    I rose, only to be struck in the side by the Goblins armored fist.


    the world spun. I landed on my back and skid several feet in the mud. Only my chain mail protected me from the broken ribs I likely would gave gained from the strike. I tried to rise and ended up having to roll aside to avoid the a heavy stomp aimed at my head.


    Draxus rushed the Chief from behind, intending to catch it unawares. At the last second the Goblin spun and Draxus missed. His sword managed to slice the Chief''s hand, and with a shriek it dropped it¡¯s heavy sword. The blade came away with several fingers still attached.


    Draxus dodged to the side as the Chief made to grab at him. It was enraged and I saw my opportunity.


    Gritting my teeth I yanked Iron Fang from my belt and went for him. The Chief had managed to grab a hold of Draxus leg and now yanked him forward and into the air. Moment¡¯s later one of Astrid¡¯s arrows slammed into it''s neck.


    The Chief''s head jerked to the side as the arrow bit deep. It bellowed, squeezing it''s fist until I heard the crunch of bone. Draxus howled.


    I sprinted forward, ducking under the Chieftain''s fist as it swiped at me.


    I was close enough to smell it''s unwashed body, and see the dark circles of it''s eyes. I slammed the dagger into it the spot just below it''s ribs, driving the cursed blade in and out, icor spraying.


    The increased damage did it¡¯s job.


    The Goblin screamed and dropped Draxus to the ground. Another arrow hit in in the shoulder and knocked it off balance. It was now or never. I stepped forward, lifting a boot to kick the hilt of the my sword deeper into it¡¯s knee.


    Bone crunched. The Chieftain fell forward and as it did I caught a fistful of it''s matted black hair in my fist.


    "This is for Seth." I hissed. Then I dragged my dagger across it''s throat.


    It bled Icor into the mud and I stepped over it''s dying corpse to crouch beside my friend.


    "Talk to me," I said. "Are you alive?"


    Draxus groaned. His vitality meter was in the orange and it wasn''t hard to guess why. From the knee down his leg had been shattered. It was bent almost at a ninety degree angle, and shards of bone stuck out from the calf.


    "Hold still," I told him as I pulled a minor health potion from my inventory.


    "I had," he said between breaths. "Every intention of walking away."


    "Now you sound like Kato."


    He hissed when the potion hit his leg but moments later the bleeding slowed and the pain in his face eased.


    I stood and pulled my sword free from the Chief. The battle wasn''t over.


    Astrid leapt down from the tree and I held out a hand to her.


    "That was some expert marksmanship. Helped save our asses out there."


    She gripped my forearm.


    "I am sorry for your friend. He seemed like a good man."


    I nodded, thinking of Seth''s smiling face.


    "He was."


    Astrid stayed beside Draxus as I ran to rejoin the battle. Bjorn had done his damage. He was covered in a a coating of icor so thick it looked as if he had bathed in it.


    I aided my soldiers in pressing back the rest of the Goblin stragglers, but there weren¡¯t many. Once their Chieftain had fallen, most had turned and fled the field.


    I wiped my sword blade on one of the Goblin corpses.


    ¡°Sergeant,¡± said one of my soldiers. ¡°We¡¯ve located the nest. There¡¯s a cave just beyond those trees.¡±


    I followed him to where Kato and several others were standing.


    ¡°They¡¯ve fled deeper into the save,¡± said Kato, his customary joking manner suddenly subdued.


    ¡°We¡¯ve placed dry brush, firewood, and any kindling we could find inside. Now there¡¯s just the matter of closing it.¡±


    A soldier shifted by my side.


    ¡°Ain¡¯t there little ones in there? Goblin¡¯s nurse their young within the Nest. Least, that¡¯s what I¡¯d always heard.¡±


    Kato shrugged.


    ¡°There is likely to be Goblin young in the tunnels, yes. Once we light the fires they¡¯ll suffocate from the smoke just like all the others.¡±


    The soldier looked unnerved.


    Kato turned to me.


    ¡°It¡¯s your call.¡± He said.


    I stared into the dark mouth of the cave. I remembered the casualties on the battlefield, the way Seth¡¯s head had toppled over his shoulders into the mud. There was no mercy for creatures like this. There couldn¡¯t be. Not if mankind wanted to live in this world.


    ¡°Burn it.¡± I said.

 Eighteen: Blood and Wine

    My sword sliced through the air in an arc as I practiced. It was evening, and I had been drilling for hours. Somehow the exercise that would normally clear my head was having little effect today.


    I pivoted on my lead foot, bringing up my shield and practicing my sword thrusts. Sweat fell freely down my bare chest. I could feel the eyes of others on me.


    The soldiers watched me, weary of my mood. I¡¯d been mostly silent since the death of my friend. I¡¯d needed time to think, and with thought came the need for action. I spun, retracting my shield and stepping into a lunge.


    The motion was practiced, careful. And behind it I could feel the additional boost in stats I had gained from the fight.


    I was now level 16, and by the looks of it I was well on my way to the the next. The boost in my base stats was small, and yet I could feel the difference.


    ¡°I see you climbed to silver,¡± came a voice behind me. Even without it I would have recognized the relaxed grace of Kato as he stepped into the field. He had his sword in one hand, still sheathed.


    ¡°Congratulations.¡±


    He was correct. Scanning my stats I could see that my Swordsmanship trait had ascended to silver. There was still a ways to go before I reached mastery, but the increase in skill was a welcome change.


    At my silence Kato drew his sword, setting the scabbard against a nearby stump.


    ¡°Alright then Sergeant." He said. "Let¡¯s test your mettle.¡±


    I tried to shoot a glare at him but Kato ignored me, bringing up his guard and circling.


    I knew what he was trying to do. Kato was my friend and he had seen me out of sorts. He figured what would snap me out of my mood was a proper ass-kicking.


    I intended to make him work for it.


    I parried his first thrust and sidestepped the second, using my momentum to launch into a swing. Kato caught my blade with his own and smiled.


    ¡°Good. But still predictable.¡± He leaned forwards and I jerked back, shield raising.


    At his widening smile I scowled.


    He went for me again, circling right and then left in an attempt to confuse me. Metal rang on metal as I blocked his blows.


    several minutes passe until hee stepped too far forward and I seized on the opportunity. I thrust my shield forward, intending to knock him unto his ass.


    Kato simply moved around me, flowing like water.


    Moments later I felt the cold kiss of steel at my neck.


    ¡°Better,¡± he said.


    I stepped back, lifting the rim of my shield to knock his blade upwards. At the same time I stepped inside his guard, thrusting for his exposed stomach. Kato narrowly managed to avoid the mock blow by twisting sideways.


    ¡°Not so predictable?¡± I asked, circling. Kato conceded the point with a nod and a grin.


    ¡°I do declare Trollslayer, I think you¡¯re evolving. Though your wood carving skills aren¡¯t anything to write home about.¡±


    We continued our practice bout until the sun began it¡¯s descent in the sky.


    Army Engineers began to return to the encampment in groups, having spent most of the day on the construction of the bridge.


    Without the constant threat of Goblin arrows, the progress had been steady. Lord Blackthorne predicted another full days construction before it would be complete.


    I intended to spend that time honing my skills.


    the fight went on until our endurance was spent.


    Kato and I came to a stop, both of us sucking at air like drowning men. We were sweaty, tired, and splattered in dirt. And yet the mood had shifted.


    ¡°You fought well,¡± said Kato approvingly. An angry red welt marked the spot where I¡¯d managed to strike him with the flat of my blade. My own body was covered in small cuts and bruises that I knew I¡¯d feel tomorrow.


    I leaned on my shield.


    ¡°So did you. One day I¡¯ll manage to match your skill with the blade. But it sure as hell isn¡¯t today.¡±


    He smiled but just as quickly as it had appeared that smile faded, replaced by sorrow.


    Kato gazed towards the river.


    ¡°You know it wasn¡¯t your fault Will,¡± he said. ¡°You couldn¡¯t have known things would play out as they did. The flow of battle is unpredictable. It¡¯s the one consistent thing about war.¡±


    I tightened my grip on my shield.


    ¡°I was in command.¡± I said softly. ¡°The fault was mine.¡±


    ¡°You did all that you-¡°


    ¡°The fault was mine!¡±


    I didn¡¯t mean for it to be a shout but the words still echoed across the field. I lowered my voice, suddenly conscious of those that watched us.


    I turned away to heft my shield over a shoulder.


    ¡°I know I can¡¯t change what happened,¡± I said. ¡°The only thing I can control is the strength of my arm and my ability to cut down enemies in front of me. It isn¡¯t much but it¡¯s what I have.¡±


    Kato nodded and sheathed his own sword.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good philosophy, even if it is a bit neanderthal. Bjorn would approve.¡±


    My lips twitched.


    ¡°Bjorn says battle is a conversation. That every time you swing your blade you¡¯re making a statement of your own conviction.¡±


    ¡°Spoken like a true backwoods poet.¡±


    I snorted.


    ¡°The North can¡¯t be that bad.¡±


    ¡°Tell that to the bears.¡±


    The sound of boot steps behind us made me turn. Gills approached and beside him Draxus limped along carrying a small wooden crate In his arms.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± I asked. Gills smiled.


    ¡°The 3rd will eat well tonight. The monster harvest was enough to invest in a new company tent and supplies for the Auxiliary. I believe we owe you thanks.¡±


    ¡°Did the Smith give you trouble?¡±


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    Gills grimaced.


    ¡°No, but he did low ball us. We could have gotten at least ten additional silver on the Chieftains loot. Are you sure your deal with him was worth it?¡±


    ¡°It saved my ass in the battle, so I¡¯d say so. Besides, there is nothing I can do about it now."


    Gills shrugged and pulled a purse from his belt. It was heavier than I''d seen it in the past and that seemed to cheer him. Gills handed out five silvers which I placed in my inventory.


    ¡°Vera is cooking duck tonight. Astrid managed to shoot a few down by the river.¡±


    ¡°Come sup with us and stop being so damn moody,¡± boomed Draxus¡¯s deep voice.


    I glanced at his leg. It seemed to be supporting him alright but I noticed it was still bound by bandages.


    ¡°How¡¯s the leg?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll live,¡± he grunted, shifting the box. ¡°It still pains me on account of the bones being freshly healed. But the Healers did good enough work.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in the box?" Kato stepped forward trying to peer over my shoulder. Gills grinned and spread his hands.


    ¡°Spiced wine imported from the bronze coast. Enough of it to go around, too. This is one of three crates I purchased off a traveling merchant. Only 9 silvers for the lot!¡± Gills was still smiling as Kato opened the lid and examined the bottles.


    ¡°Well some things never change,¡± he said wryly. ¡°Gills my good man, I believe you just got scammed.¡±


    Kato hefted one of the bottles.


    The smile slipped form Gills face as he turned. Kato tilted the bottle at an angle to catch the last rays of sun and held it out to him.


    Gills examined it closely. Then he swore so violently that a passing washerwoman blushed.


    ¡°I knew there was something off about that bastard,¡± he said. ¡°This is a cheap red, and it¡¯s not even vintage by the looks of it. The labels have just been swapped.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what you get for not double checking your purchase,¡± chided Kato.


    I listened to them argue all the way back to camp. There was something in me, a sort of warmth spreading in my chest.


    The 3rd was a cluster fuck, there was no denying it. But there was a strong sense of brotherhood among the rag tag group and I was glad to be a part of it.


    I splashed myself with cold water from the basin and scrubbed at my chest and neck, washing away most of the sweat and dirt. Then I changed and reemerged from my tent.


    Vera was roasting several ducks on a spit over the cook fire. The smell was enough to make my mouth water. At the sight of me, the soldiers raised tin cups and a shout went up.


    ¡°Trollslayer!¡± barked Bjorn from where stood with one foot propped on a log.


    ¡°Come and drink with us. Pour him a cup.¡±


    A tin mug was passed down and cheap red wine poured. I took the cup and, with one fluid motion, downed the lot of it. I


    t was dryer than I expected and the tartness caught me off guard. At my face the soldiers cheered again. My cup was passed along the line to be filled again.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Kato started up a marching tune, and soon others were joining in. Even Gills belted out the refrain, though he was severely off-key.


    Vera worked hard to prepare the meal and soon everyone had a wooden bowl in front of them. The meant was delicious. It had been cooked with a crunch to the skin that made the juicy center that much better.


    Vera walked among us with a mug of her own, smiling and handing out extra food to those who complimented her cooking. She was like the mother of the group and the men were grateful.


    I was four cups in now and my head had begun to feel fuzzy.


    A couple of the soldiers from another company wandered in to look around.


    The 3rd welcomed them and several empty mugs were passed forward to be filled. The soldiers drank with us and one of them, a rowdy man named York starting bragging about the last campaign he¡¯d been on.


    He was loud and the way he kept cutting glances at Vera made me think the stories were more for her benefit then anyone else.


    Vera didn¡¯t even seem to notice him. She continued making her rounds, talking with the soldiers of the 3rd and filling their plates.


    When she passed by York he suddenly reached out a gripped her wrist.


    ¡°You¡¯re a real looker aren¡¯t ye?¡± he slurred, grinning. Vera smiled uncomfortably.


    "I''m not sure what you mean," she mumbled.


    she twisted to pull her wrist free but the soldier wasn¡¯t letting go. His eyes were glazed with drink and he didn''t seem to notice the anger stares now directed at him.


    York yanked her towards him and Vera nearly fell over as he pulled her into his lap.


    ¡°Ah that¡¯s right lass, theres where you belong, eh?¡± Vera shoved at him, trying to get free but he fisted her hair and tutted.


    ¡°Just relax lass. Just-¡°


    Gills was off like a rocket. One moment he had been sitting beside me, a duck leg halfway to his mouth. The next he had York by the throat, a knife glinting under his chin.


    ¡°Put her down,¡± he snarled, pressing the blade harder. Everyone around the cook fire had gone silent.


    A trickle of blood dribbled down the soldiers neck. His eyes were wide as he released Vera¡¯s hair and she jumped to her feet.


    ¡°Bastard,¡± she said, spitting at York¡¯s boots. The soldier¡¯s expression shifted from fear to anger and he shoved Gills away from him.


    When he stood, so did his boys. There were hard faces all around, and not just from York¡¯s crew.


    Several members of the 3rd had risen too, including Draxus and Kato. It took me a moment to realize I was on my own feet.


    ¡°You fuck with a member of the 3rd and you answer to us,¡± said Gills coldly. ¡°Now kindly fuck off.¡±


    York smiled, but the expression was nasty. He cracked his neck and stepped forward, towering over Gills,


    ¡°I don¡¯t much like ye tone old man,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve half a mind to remind you of your place in this Army. You¡¯re not soldiers, you¡¯re a band of mercenaries and thugs. Cheap whores for the Lord¡¯s army.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t seem to recall your company turning the tide in the battle,¡± said Kato. ¡°You were on the line were you? Or somewhere near the rear where you could watch the real men fight."


    ¡°You calling me a fookin¡¯ coward?¡± York raised his fists.


    Kato grinned, white teeth gleaming in the fire light.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call you a word you couldn¡¯t spell.¡±


    York snarled and dropped into a boxers stance. Moments later his fist sailed through the air towards Kato. That was when all hell broke lose.


    Fighting while drunk is not optimal - but shit was it fun.


    I leapt the nearest log and swung a wild haymaker, clipping one of York¡¯s boys on the chin. The soldier stumbled back and his buddy rushed me. I brought my guard up to protect my face, grunting when a punch connected with my ribs.


    Next to me Kato and York exchanged blows, and Draxus knee¡¯d a man so hard in the stomach that he fell to his all fours and puked.


    "What a waist of wine," said Kato as he danced past, ducking under a wide swing from York.


    I grabbed my opponent by the front of his jerkin and yanked him sideways, sending him careening into the fire. He shrieked and moments later came leaping out like a galloping horse.


    Kato finally managed to get the better of York, ducking under the larger man''s guard and dropping him with two quick jabs to the chin.


    The fight wasn¡¯t long¡­ or maybe it was. In my inebriated state it was difficult to tell.


    All I knew is that I was laughing and punching any man who stepped in front of me. At some point I saw Vera pull a heavy wooden ladle from a satchel at her waist and bang a soldier who was fighting Gills on the head. The man crumpled like a ragdoll.


    We drove the soldiers back towards the entrance of our little camp and several turned tail and fled. I raised my cup as they ran - when had I gotten a cup? - and downed the contents with a flourish.


    ¡°Come back any time,¡± said Kato, planting his boot on the backside of a fleeing soldier and sending him sprawling forward. He glanced towards me and grinned.


    ¡°Your knuckles are bleeding."


    ¡°I think it¡¯s wine.¡± I slurred. We both stared at each other. Then we snorted.


    The mood hadn¡¯t faltered among the men of the 3rd. Several soldier volunteered to drag the unconscious bodies of York and his men out into the field and leave them there. When they returned they were cheered and Kato led another marching song so off key my ears hurt. S?a??h the N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I joined in despite myself, though I didn¡¯t know the words.


    At last when the moon was high and bellies were full, Gills announced it was time to call it a night.


    There was disappointing in the air, and a few men grumbled. In the end though there was nothing to do than concede. Draxus and Gills doused the cook fire and I stood, stretching sore muscles.


    My bladder was full and I had half a mind to take a walk to clear the fog from my head. Slapping Kato on the shoulder I strode out of camp towards the tree line.


    The night air was cool against my skin. I found a secluded place and did my business. When I was done I laced up my trousers and craned back my head to look at the moon.


    It was a silver orb in the night sky, so similar to our moon back on earth. It was the one thing that felt familiar about this place. Even the constellations were different.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t have taken you for a star gazer.¡±


    The voice made me jump.


    ¡°Jesus fuck,¡± I said, spinning around. I stared into the sharp blue eyed gaze of the Healer from the battlefield. She had arched one prim eyebrow.


    ¡°Who is Jesus and why do you want to fuck him?¡±


    I blinked, my wine soaked mind too slow to come up with a response.


    ¡°I - you caught me off guard is all.¡±


    She stepped closer, and her lips curved in a sly smile.


    ¡°Why, Will of Blackbriar¡­ are you drunk?¡±


    I flushed but I wasn¡¯t sure why.


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    The Healer¡¯s gaze slid to my hand now dripping with blood. She held out her own. I hesitated a moment before letting her my hand in hers. She examined it, expression thoughtful as she ran a finger along my skinned knuckles.


    ¡°Whoever was on the receiving end of that punch will probably be out til morning.¡± She said. ¡°Stay still, I¡¯ll heal it.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to-¡° I started but she ignored me.


    A soft golden glow lit up the space between us, and the throbbing pain in my knuckles faded away.


    I wiggled my fingers and smiled.


    ¡°Good as new. Why is it you¡¯re always saving me?¡±


    ¡°Oh it¡¯s simple,¡± said the Healer, tucking a strand of loose blond hair behind her ear. ¡°You¡¯re the damsel in distress.¡±


    Wine made me bold.


    ¡°At least I¡¯m a good looking damsel.¡±


    The Healer¡¯s head tilted to the side, and amusement glimmered in her eyes. She made a show of examining me, eyes running from my chest, to my shoulders, and then my face.


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± she said with a smirk.


    Then she turned and made to walk away.


    ¡°Wait,¡± I said.


    The word hung in the air between us.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you have the advantage of me. I don¡¯t know your name.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t.¡± She responded.


    Her blue eyes seemed to dance in the moonlight as she glanced over her shoulder.


    "See you around."


    I could only stand there, watching her walk away.

 Nineteen: Rising Storm

    ¡°Lord Blackthorne will see you now.¡±The Knight swept the flap of the war tent aside and stood back to allow Gills and I inside.


    Blackthorne was dressed in traveling clothes, Dawnbringer leaning against the war table beside him. He stood studying a sprawling map of Kadia, his face creased in a frown.


    Around him several of his advisers glanced up and fell silent at our approach. Gills bowed deeply and I followed suit, clasping my hands behind my back.


    We had been sent for in the early hours of the morning and by Gills somber expression I knew we were about to face the repercussions of last nights revelry.


    Lord Blackthorne waved a hand, muttering something to his advisers. They bowed their heads and retreated past us and out of the tent.


    Only two of his household guard remained, faces stoic and unmoving.


    Blackthorne yanked off his leather gloves and tossed them onto the table.


    ¡°Lieutenant Giller, do you have any idea of the trouble your little stunt has caused me?¡±


    Gills swallowed and lowered his eyes.


    ¡°No my Lord.¡±


    "No indeed."


    Blackthorne paced in front of the table, his irritation evident.


    ¡°I might have expected this kind of behavior from Will, but from you? You are a veteran of three Kadian campaigns and a stalwart soldier. I promoted you because I believe you have both the gumption and the experience to lead. Have I erred in my judgment of your character?¡±


    ¡°No my Lord,¡± said Gills softly.


    Blackthorne spun to face him.


    ¡°Then explain to me why a one of my Knights approached me with the news that you and your company had started a brawl with some of the men under my command. A drunken brawl no less if the rumors are to be believed."


    Gills cleared his throat.


    ¡°There is no excuse my Lord.¡±


    I glanced at him, baffled. Why wouldn¡¯t Gills speak in defense of his actions? But I could guess why on further reflection.


    Gills you fool, I thought. You''re doing everything in your power to keep her out of this."


    ¡°No excuse?¡± Blackthorne raised a hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose.


    ¡°Ser Connell has asked that I administer lashes to the men of the third that participated in yesterday¡¯s ill advised activities. And as it stands, he has the right to demand satisfaction."


    Gills dropped to one knee, his head bowed.


    ¡°My Lord, I know I have no right to ask for boon and yet I feel that I must. I am the company commander, and as such, the fault of my men lies with me. Please allow me to take the lashes of my soldiers as penance for my error. I ask you not to punish them for my actions."


    ¡°Gills,¡± I started but the veteran shot me a glare and I fell reluctantly silent.


    Blackthorne threw up his hands in incredulous exasperation.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said. ¡°And I might have obliged you that very thing. Only, since I¡¯ve risen in the morning I¡¯ve had to endure no less then a two dozen of the 3rd Auxiliary requesting an audience. Each and every one of them made a case plead for clemency on your behalf. They ask that you be excused from the whipping post so that they may take your place."


    Gills looked momentarily speechless. His mouth worked and he swallowed hard.


    ¡°I¡­ my Lord I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t¡­¡± he trailed off.


    Blackthorne sighed, folding his arms across his chest.


    ¡°However unruly your company has been, I cannot deny the power of their loyalty. To have soldiers come before me on bended knee to ask not only for your forgiveness, but to be allow to stand for lashes in your place... It¡¯s simply unprecedented.¡±


    Blackthorne let out a bark of humorless laughter and scrubbed a hand over his face.


    ¡°So now it falls to me to figure out what to do with you Lieutenant. Certainly I cannot ask who was responsible for starting the brawl, as every man in your company will claim themselves as the guilty party. Nor can I whip sixty men while my Army prepares to march. So that leaves me with only one course of action.¡±


    A muscle worked in his jaw.


    ¡°For the remainder of the march your company will remain as rear guard. Protection of supplies, digging of latrine pits, and break down and clean up of the camp will fall to you and your men alone. You will have no aid from other companies. You will preform your duties with haste and without complaint. Am I understood?"


    ¡°You are my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Good. You are dismissed."


    Blackthorne waved a hand.


    "Will, stay.¡±


    Gills and I exchanged a look as he rose and exited the tent. I swallowed, keeping my eyes on the ground. Lord Blackthorne was in a mood and I wasn¡¯t looking to play with fire.


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    The Lord sighed and glancing up, I saw he had fallen into a chair behind the war table, a fist propped under his chin.


    ¡°Politics,¡± he grunted. ¡°How I hate them.¡±


    I stayed tactfully silent as he studied the map in front of him for long minutes.


    ¡°The situation is more complicated then I let on,¡± he said at last.


    ¡°My lord?¡±


    Blackthorne¡¯s twisted a signet ring around his finger.


    ¡°Vera is known to me. She is the bastard daughter of current Baron of house Lormar, and a threat of violence towards her could be considered a capital offense. Men have hanged for less, make no mistake.¡± He glanced up at me and registered the lack of surprise in my features.


    ¡°So you were aware of her status? Is that why the men defended her?¡±


    I bit the inside of my cheek and thought carefully before I answered.


    ¡°No, Lord. Not everyone in the company is aware of her¡­..lineage. We stood up for her because she is one of our own, and the 3rd looks out for itself."


    I paused and then added.


    "And because York¡¯s treatment of her crossed a line.¡±


    Blackthorne considered this, then nodded.


    ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll take your account into advisement. I believe you to be an honest man Will of Blackbriar. So to it that you do not lose my faith." he gave me a significant look.


    "Nor my good will. You are dismissed.¡±


    I bowed and turned to leave.


    ¡°Your squad performed admirably against the Goblin ambush." Said Blackthorne suddenly.


    "Thank you my Lord."


    He shook his head.


    "I mean to say that I too have lost friends on the field of battle, and I was saddened to hear of your own loss. Remember this, a leader is measured not in his mistakes, but in how he adapts and learns from them. You have potential and I would not see it squandered."


    I bowed my head.


    ¡°I understand my Lord.¡±


    "Do you?" A glint of amusement entered his gaze.


    "You remind me so much of someone I used to know. At times It feels like I am speaking to him...." he trailed off and then seemed to realize I was standing there.


    "Just the ramblings of an aging man." he said.


    "Go, and put your time to good use."


    ***


    ¡°Well this sucks.¡± Said Kato.


    I was knee deep in a latrine pit, shoveling at the soft ground with a spade. A storm was mounting on the horizon and clouds darkened the sky above us. The stink of waste clung to me as I dug.


    ¡°At least it wasn¡¯t lashes,¡± Draxus dug his shovel into the earth and leaned on it, swatting a fly from his face.


    "Believe me when I say that this is the better alternative."


    We were knee deep in the sludge, having removed our boots to avoid ruining them. My trousers were rolled to the knee and I winced every time I had to take a step.


    One of the soldiers gagged, turning away to heave his guts into the mud. The smell was not improved.


    Draxus glanced aside I looked up to see Martin wading towards me, shovel in hand.


    ¡°Will," he said. "Gills wants you. Said it¡¯s urgent. I¡¯m meant to take over for you.¡± He wrinkled his nose.


    ¡°Absolutely foul.¡±


    I frowned.


    ¡°Did he say what it was about?¡± I sloshed towards the side of the trench, spade held high.


    Martin¡¯s shoulders rose and fell.


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t say but he seems stressed. Something has him out of sorts and I¡¯d hurry if I were you.¡±


    I tossed my shovel aside when I reached the bank of the trench. Then I splashed water from a nearby wash basin over my legs, grimacing when the water failed to wash away the lingering smell of sewage.


    I pulled my socks and boots on and picked my way towards where Gills stood issuing orders. He was organizing the rear guard, his expression serious.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I asked. ¡°Did something happen?"


    Gills looked tired. His shoulders were slumped and his eyes had bags under them.


    ¡°We¡¯ve lost contact with two of the supply wagons,¡± said Gills grimly. ¡°Last I¡¯d heard they were a several miles back fixing an issue with one of the horses harnesses. I left a few men with them but they should have arrived hours ago.¡±


    I cursed inwardly and glanced to the sky.


    ¡°There¡¯s a storm coming and they¡¯ll be caught in it.¡±


    Gills nodded, pulling at his beard.


    ¡°I can¡¯t spare the men to send a large search party and asking Lord Blackthorne for aid¡­¡± he trailed off.


    ¡°I can handle it,¡± I said. ¡°Give me five men and Bjorn and we¡¯ll find them.¡±


    Gills shook his head.


    ¡°I need Bjorn here to handle the rear guard. The men count on his prowess in battle and I can¡¯t risk leaving our flank exposed. With you gone it¡¯s out of the question.¡±


    I grimaced.


    ¡°And Astrid?¡±


    Gills hesitated for a moment then nodded.


    ¡°Take her with you. And listen Will,¡± He stepped closer, lowering his voice so the soldiers around us couldn¡¯t hear.


    ¡°Be careful out there. This storm is¡­ unnatural. There is something about it that isn¡¯t right. Even the horses seem spooked.¡±


    I glanced past him to where one of the nearby supply horses grazed. He was right. The animal danced in place, snorting. Every once it a while it would swing it¡¯s head around at any loud sounds.


    The horse wasn¡¯t the only one. There was an attitude among the men, a sort of uncertainty over the last few days.


    ¡°Does it have something to do with the bog?¡± I asked.


    Gills grunted and rubbed a hand across his chest where I knew an old scar still pained him.


    ¡°The nearer we draw to this place the stranger things will get. If you¡¯ve heard rumors about the Southern Marshlands, just know they aren¡¯t exaggerated. There is something¡­ wrong about that bog - and the storm is moving from that direction.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s sorcery.¡±


    Gills rubbed the back of his neck. S?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but stay vigilant out there and make sure you stay on the path. I don''t want to risk you getting lost."


    He rummaged in his inventory and pulled out three small lanterns the size of a closed fist. Inside were a glowing small glowing crystals that cast a dim light in a sort of halo across the ground.


    ¡°Torches will be useless in this weather, so I purchases some Glow Lamps from the artificer. Try not to lose them, they weren¡¯t cheap.¡±


    He handed them over and I thanked him. Then I made my way to where the men of the 3rd Auxiliary were setting up camp.


    I chose two swordsmen and three spear men, two of which I recognized from out previous venture to Castle Basset.


    None of the men looked particularly eager for this mission but I could hardly blame them. I was feeling the trepidation myself as I suited up.


    I buckled Iron Fang onto my sword belt and over my chain mail. Then I grabbed my helmet from where it rested on my pack.


    There was still a dent in it from the blow I¡¯d taken from the Goblin Chieftain. I ran a thumb over the metal before squaring my shoulders and jamming it unto my head. Around me the soldiers gathered, Astrid standing nearby with her customary serious expression.


    She had forgone her longbow for a shorter re-curve bow. She began methodically waxing the string as she listened to my instructions.


    ¡°We¡¯re to stay on the path at all times," I said. "No exceptions. I will carry one of the lamps, Bruce the second, and Astrid will have the third. We move swiftly but carefully. Draw blades at the first sign of trouble.¡±


    The men chorused their agreement and Astrid gave me a silent nod.


    As the men checked supplies I walked over to her and dropped my voice.


    ¡°The storm,¡± I said. ¡°What do you know about it?¡±


    Her eyes darted to mine and then quickly away.


    ¡°What makes you think I know anything?¡±


    I didn''t hesitate.


    ¡°Because you and Bjorn have been on edge ever since you heard that we had orders to march through the bog on our way south. I saw the way you looked at each other. Tell me what you know.¡±


    Astrid hesitated.


    ¡°There are many Kadian¡¯s who believe that the men of the North are drunk on superstition,¡± she said. ¡°But the truth is that there are things in the North¡­ wild things that cannot be explained by the laws of science or magic. This bog is much the same."


    ¡°You mean it isn¡¯t just a legend,¡± I said, glancing down the dark trail where the men now gathered.


    Astrid¡¯s eyes were serious.


    ¡°No. I have seen things¡­ things that you wouldn¡¯t believe if I told you.¡±


    She hesitated again. "But there is one thing I would say. If you hear them do not trust what they say and do not take anything they may offer you. Not for any reason."


    ¡°They?¡± I asked, feeling a chill settle over me.


    ¡°The voices.¡± Said Astrid. "The Watcher''s in the dark."

 Twenty: eyes in the Dark

    Rain ran down my armor, soaking the clothes beneath.The drops were cold, and despite the heat of the earlier day, I found myself shivering.


    It was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the crystal lamps we now carried at our belts. The light ahead of me bobbed back and forth as the spear man walked, casting strange shadows.


    ¡°The Trail ends here Sarge,¡± said Astrid from behind me. I followed her gesture and examined the tracks on the ground. The earth had been tramped by hundreds of boots and hooves as the Army had come through. What was left was hardly more than mud.


    Up on the higher ground where the trail was more solid I could see the remnants of two parallel tracks. Wagon wheels.


    ¡°Gills said they would have doubled back to the stream to refill water skins for the horses. It shouldn¡¯t be long now.¡±


    Up the trail the soldiers had paused to wait for us, their faces cast in shadow.


    ¡°Sensed anything?¡± I asked Astrid as we walked. Astrid shook her head.


    ¡°Not yet. But the storm is playing tricks on us.¡±


    I tilted my head, curious.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°The lightening flashes, you have seen them?¡±


    I nodded. The lightening strikes had been intermittent but it their momentary light had allowed us to better see our surroundings.


    ¡°Have you heard any thunder?¡±


    I started to say yes but then paused, thinking.


    ¡°No,¡± I said after a moment.


    Astrid remained silent for several paces.


    ¡°When we find the wagons we should not linger. The longer we stay out here the more danger we are in.¡±


    I scanned the trees around us, grimacing when I all I saw was the darkness between trunks. S?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    We were exposed, and I didn¡¯t like it. And yet I saw no other way forward.


    We continued on, following the deep furrow of wagon wheels on on the wet ground. After long minutes one of the soldiers ahead pointed to something off the road.


    ¡°Sarge, we found something,¡± said the spear man gesturing with the blade of his weapon. The wagon¡¯s trail had veered suddenly off the path. One side of the tracks were deeper as if the wagon''s weight had suddenly doubled. While the other set became fainter, almost disappearing entirely.


    ¡°Looks like the Wagon tipped,¡± said Astrid. ¡°But I don¡¯t see a wreckage.¡±


    I followed the trail with my eyes, un clipping my lamp and lifting it higher. The sphere of light expanded around me and I saw what I was looking for.


    ¡°There,¡± I said. ¡°It looks like a one of the crates fell off the back.¡±


    The spear man and I stepped forward to peruse it¡¯s contents. The wooden crate had been smashed against the ground, it¡¯s lid slipping halfway off. From within I could see a bushel of red apples, glistening in the rain.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t let it go to waste,¡± said the soldier eagerly. He reached for the box but I stopped his hand.


    ¡°Look again,¡± I told him. The soldier frowned and was about to pull his arm free when he looked down again. He gasped.


    Within the crate the apples looked like they had sat in the sun for days. Worms and maggots crawled through the wilted flesh, and the scent of decay lingered over them.


    ¡°They¡¯re rotten¡­¡± said the soldier. ¡°But they were fine only just..."


    ¡°Come on,¡± I said. ¡°We need to carry on. The less time we spend on this mission the better. Vera will have a steaming mug of cider for us when we get back to camp.¡±


    The soldier nodded and rose but his expression was still troubled as he turned away. I caught Astrid watching me, her face paler than normal. Or was that just the rain?


    The path branched in several directions and we followed the trail in the direction the wagons had gone. The further we got from the main trail the more tense I became.


    So far we had managed to stay on a path as instructed. But the suddenly erratic trail of the wagons made me think something had spooked the horses.


    On my orders, Astrid dropped behind to guard our flank. I walked ahead with the others, hand on the hilt of my sword. Lightening flashed in the distance and I counted the moments between, waiting for for a crack of thunder that never came.


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    The wood was silent but for the patter of rain against our armor. We sighted a fence along the pathway, the damp wood half rotted.


    Astrid tapped me on the shoulder.


    ¡°A house,¡± she said over the sound of the deluge. ¡°To the left just past those trees.¡±


    I squinted in that direction, shielding my eyes from the rain. I could see the house alright. It was small and squat with a thatch roof and white washed walls. From the stone chimney I could see the curl of smoke rising into the darkness.


    ¡°Look¡¯s like someones home,¡± I said. ¡°Astrid wait with the others. Soldier, you¡¯re with me.¡±


    I gestured to one of the spear men, a rookie by the looks of him.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°Jorgen, sir.¡±


    I snorted. "I''m no sir."


    ¡°Sorry, Sergeant.¡±


    I grinned and saw his stiff shoulders loosen. He rubbed the back of his neck as I clapped him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Take it easy, I¡¯m only messing with you. I know a greenhorn when I see one."


    "Now," I said, pointing. "you see that window near the garden? Look into it and tell me what you see.¡±


    Jorgen nodded and strode to the window. He wiped the rain from his face and peered into the window. A soft yellow candle glow illuminated his face. A dog started barking from somewhere nearby. Had we stumbled upon an isolated village? I peered into the darkness but I could see no other houses.


    Jorgen cut his way back to me.


    ¡°The candles inside are lit sir- uh, Sarge. Someones asleep by in a chair by the fire, but I can¡¯t see any sign of other inhabitants.¡±


    ¡°They live alone?¡± I said doubtfully. I wished that dog would stop barking.


    ¡°Possibly. We can knock on the door and find out.¡±


    I signaled to the others to hold position before turning back to the door.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°Let¡¯s find out if they¡¯ve seen anything. The trail leads this way.¡±


    I knocked on the door and waited. Beside me Jorgen shifted on his feet, adjusting the grip on his spear. After a moment I knocked again, harder. We waited but there was no answer. The dog was still barking and that made me wonder.


    ¡°Jorgen,¡± I said, check that it¡¯s clear and see if you can climb through the window. I¡¯m going to check around back.¡±


    Jorgen nodded and I turned away to follow a small cobble path that led to a garden.


    There were wild flowers along the path and several herbs I recognized. I wondered if the house belonged to an herbalist. Ferns swayed in the wind, their leaves glistening from rian.


    The back of the house was dark but I raised my lamp and searched the surrounding area. Nothing.


    Astrid¡¯s footsteps approached, followed moments later by the telltale glow of her lamp.


    ¡°What are you looking for?¡± she asked.


    I gestured beyond the fence.


    ¡°That dog keeps barking, and it made me think it might have spotted something.¡±


    Astrid frowned.


    ¡°What dog?¡±


    ¡°The dog that¡¯s been barking since we approached the house,¡± I said, turning to face her. ¡°It¡¯s been barking nonstop since¡­¡± I paused, listening. There was no sound but the wind and creaking of branches.


    ¡°There was a dog before..¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m sure of it.¡±


    Astrid didn¡¯t respond but her expression grew wary.


    ¡°We should go back.¡±


    I bit my lip, hesitating as I stared into the darkness. Then I grunted an affirmation and followed her back to the front of the house.


    The front door opened and Jorgen stepped out unto the porch. The soft glow of candle light lit him from behind he was alone.


    ¡°That¡¯s strange,¡± he said. ¡°I could have sworn someone was inside but when I looked the house was empty.¡±


    I scratched at my chin.


    "Are you sure? Hard to imagine someone leaving lit candles inside a house with a thatch roof."


    Jorgen nodded. "I''ve searched it from top to bottom. Nothing."


    There was something strange going on here, and I wasn¡¯t keen to stick around and find out what.


    ¡°Let¡¯s move on.¡±


    The others followed as we made our way further down the trail. The fence ended and the trail became thinner - a path less frequented by the looks of it. The long grass was overgrown and the foliage thicker. I could see the track of the wagon wheels but they were growing fainter and harder to follow.


    A shadow materialized on the ground before us. I had my sword halfway out of it¡¯s sheath before I realized exactly what I was looking at.


    A horse lay on sprawled across the road on it¡¯s side. It¡¯s body was damp with rain, it¡¯s wet mane obscuring it''s face. It had been eviscerated, intestines strewn across the ground like ropes. It looked as if the animal had been shredded, riped nearly in half by something sharp.


    ¡°Blades,¡± I said and heard the rasp of steel as my squad drew their weapons. My own sword was in my hand and I poked carefully at the corpse, examining it.


    The body was still fresh. Steam curled off it into the rapidly chilling air. I pushed up my visor, raising a hand to wipe the water clear from my eyes. It ran down the bridge of my nose to drip unto the horses carcass.


    ¡°A monster did this,¡± said Astrid, prodding the corpse with a foot. ¡°This was no wolf or bear.¡±


    The back of my neck prickled. There was something wrong with this corpse, something unnatural. I bent, chain mail clinking as I peered more closely at the horses head. Carefully I brushed the long mane away from it¡¯s face.


    Goose flesh erupted up my arms. Several of the soldiers muttered oaths and made the sign of the saint.


    The horses eyes were gone, and in it¡¯s place were gaping bloody sockets. Astrid''s face was pale, her eyes wide with fear.


    ¡°Do you know of monsters who rip apart their prey and eat the eyes?¡± I asked, even as I knew the answer.


    She shook her head and I bit my lip hard enough to draw blood. My heart was cantering in my chest, fear pulling at the corners of my mind.


    It was the same as it had been that day in the tunnels. What I had seen in that pit had haunted me, and there was no denying the similarities. The horses eyes had been cut out of it¡¯s head, and possibly while it was still alive.


    I turned to Astrid.


    ¡°Have you seen this before?" She shook her head.


    I let out a huff of frustration, staring down the trail into the night. I didn¡¯t want to abandon the mission and leave the men of the 3rd and the merchants stranded without aid. And yet, carrying on into the dark unknown seemed like a fool¡¯s errand.


    The warning signs were there, and I knew I¡¯d do well to heed them. Cursing I turned and ordered the men back the way we had come.


    ¡°But, don¡¯t we have a orders?¡± Asked Jorgen. ¡°What about the others?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like it any more than you do,¡± I said. ¡°But I¡¯ve seen this before and I know how dangerous the signs are. Whoever or whatever this thing is, it¡¯s what the Lady Inquisitor is hunting. Trust me when I say it isn¡¯t for the likes of us.¡±


    Jorgen stayed silent for a moment then nodded, face cast in shadow.


    We turned back and retraced our steps. Back towards the house. This time there was no smoke in the chimney and the soft yellow glow of candle light had gone out.


    A flicker in my HUD caught my attention and I brought up the window. There was a level indicator hovering in the air near the edge of the wood. I squinted through the rain, trying to see.


    Class: Unknown


    Rank: unknown


    Level: unknown


    There were more than one of them and they were moving fast.


    Astrid and I exchanged a look, and the fear in her eyes was enough to confirm my suspicion. She had seen it too.


    ¡°Stay in formation,¡± I said. ¡°We move now, and we don¡¯t stop for anything.¡±


    I had barely gotten the words out when the howls began.

 Twenty One: Desperate Measures

    The air was cold - colder than it should have been.I could see the puffs of steam rising from their helmets as we ran. The howls were loud as the things that stalked us grew ever closer.


    I could see the occasional glint of eyes in the dark, the shifting of a shadow between tree trunks. Astrid stumbled on a loose stone and nearly went down. Only my hand under her arm kept her from sprawling in the mud.


    ¡°They¡¯re trying to surround us,¡± she huffed. ¡°We can¡¯t let that happen.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    Armor rattled as we ran, too loud in the silence of the rain. I couldn¡¯t see damn it, and it was making everything that much worse. Another howl sounded so close I could see the steam of breath from within the darkness.


    The things were closing in and I would have to make a choice.


    Die running from the threat with our backs turned? Or stand and hope to live? It wasn¡¯t much of a choice.


    ¡°Back to the house!¡± I roared into the downpour. ¡°We¡¯ll hole up inside, use the walls as cover.¡±


    ¡°Aye Sarge,¡± said Jorgen from my right. His eyes were wide and terrified and I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯d make it out of this alive.


    We doubled back, the lamps at our belts swinging madly and casting an unearthly glow on everything around us. It felt like insanity. Felt like hell.


    Something snagged at a soldier''s boot and he screamed, hitting the ground hard.


    We had already passed him but I skidded in the mud to double back. Astrid¡¯s hand seized the back of my chain mail and her voice hissed in my ear a moment later.


    ¡°No, Will, he¡¯s already dead.¡±


    I could see the whites of the soldier''s eyes as he stared up at me, hand outstretched, and mouth open in a silent scream.


    Then he was dragged backward into the night.


    In the glow of his lamp, the silhouettes of shadow creatures loomed over him. They made gleeful sounds as they descended on him. Then his lamp went out.


    Cursing I turned and ran up the path towards the house.


    It was dark now and without the light, Jorgen was fumbling at the door. It took him long, too long, to finally wrench it open.


    ¡°In!¡± shouted Astrid, shoving at our shoulders. ¡°Bar the door.¡±


    We lurched into the house, rain water spilling across the wooden floorboards. The glow of the lanterns was barely enough to illuminate the drawing room. it was mostly bare, with a few pieces of furniture scattered against the wall.


    ¡°Somebody get those fucking candles lit.¡± I snapped. ¡°You two, help me barricade the door.¡±


    Astrid hurried to the far end of the room, pulling a tinderbox from her inventory. I focused on helping the men lift a heavy rack from the wall and shoving it up against the door. Jorgen put his back against a set of wooden shelves and pushed it screeching across the floor.


    It covered the window just in time. Something rocked into the shelf, causing books to tumble down and onto the floor. Jorgen braced it, his teeth gritted from the effort.


    Finally, a flame flared into life, and then another. Astrid was lighting candles as quickly as she could. Her bow was slung across her shoulders and she was gripping a long-bladed hunting knife in one fist.


    All around the house, the howls grew louder. We were surrounded now and the only way out was to survive.


    ¡°Ready,¡± I called, unslinging my shield from my back and pushing my arm through the straps.


    ¡°Stand your ground and stab anything that makes it through those doors. We¡¯re earning our XP tonight boys.¡±


    A roar of agreement went up for the men, though it seemed half-hearted.


    Jorgen¡¯s face hardened into youthful determination as he readied his spear. He was a good kid, and I wanted to see him through this.


    Astrid whipped her hunting knife expertly through the air and came to stand at my back. Together, as a squad, we faced off against the unimaginable.


    They came quickly and without mercy. I could hear the scrabbling on the porch outside, the thunk of something heavy striking the roof as they climbed overhead. The door shuddered as a body threw itself against it. Claws scraped across the wood.


    Another shove at the door had it rocking on its hinges. They don''t make doors to withstand Monsters. But it was the only thing between us and them.


    Wood splintered and a clawed hand shoved its way through. I hacked at it, taking two swings to cut it off entirely. It hit the floorboards with a meaty thump.


    The creature retracted the stump of its arm and I only had time to glimpse a pair of all black eyes in a grotesque face before the chaos truly started. The bookshelf rained books across the floor as a creature fought to get in.


    Jorgen shouted as it struck an arm through the gap between the bookshelf and wall. Then it¡¯s head. A long curtain of matted hair covered its face.


    ¡°Stab it!¡± I shouted, even as I fought back the clawed hands now trying to force their way through the hole in the door.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let them,¡± I stabbed a leg. ¡°Get,¡± I bashed the pummel of my sword into a face. ¡°Inside.¡±


    Jorgen brought his spear up across his body and with a thrust dispatched the creature. Its head lulled to the side revealing a face that might have once been humanoid.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    The skin was pale, stretched, and scared. The teeth were sharp and unnaturally large. Most noticeable however were the eyes. Dark and without whites - the eyes of a creature of the occult.


    Jorgen was so focused on his kill that he failed to notice the hand now curling around the top of the bookshelf. Moments later a mass of long matted hair rose from the shadows, followed by a bony spine as it climbed its way on top.


    ¡°Look out!¡± I shouted, dashing forward. Jorgen turned too late. Claws caught him across the chest and he screamed as leather armor came away along with a chunk of flesh.


    The creature lifted the flesh to its mouth, tongue darting out to lick at the meat. These things truly were monsters.


    I brought my sword down on its neck, severing the head completely. The body crumped, the bloody mound of flesh still clutched in its clawed fist.


    As soon as I managed to kill the creature, the level indicator blinked and updated.


    Class: Shadow Kin


    Rank: Dark Dweller


    Level: 18


    ¡°Thanks, Sarge,¡± said Jorgen as he pushed unsteadily to his feet. Blood ran freely down the torn armor of his chest.


    ¡°Use a healing potion on that soldier. Then get back to work.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one sir. That is I couldn¡¯t afford one.¡± Jorgen looked down, obviously embarrassed. I slapped him on the shoulder as I moved past him to take his place.


    ¡°You¡¯re earning your keep today. Here.¡±


    I tossed him one from my inventory and then turned away to bash the bottom of my shield into the hands now trying to force their way in through the window. Things weren¡¯t much better at the front door. The men were holding off the Shadow Kin, but just barely. The top half of the door had splintered and begun caving inward under the strain.


    As I watched two Shadowkin forced their way inside. Astrid slashed one across the throat while a soldier had to charge the other, pinning it to the wall beneath his shield.


    ¡°There are too many of them,¡± Astrid shouted over the carnage. She slashed at a foot that appeared, dangling from a new hole in the roof. I cut at a head that appeared above me. She was right.


    We were being worn down, and now we were trapped. I clenched my teeth against the fear that fluttered in my chest. A Shadow kin leaped from the ceiling and knocked me to the ground.


    It drew back its black claws and slashed at me. Only my chain mail saved my life. One of its claws knicked my skin and I smiled beneath my helmet as my skill activated.


    The blade of my sword glowed red, and moments later It punched through the mouth of the shadow Kin and out the back of its skull. Bloody drool dripped onto me and I curled my lip, tossing the body away.


    We fought hard in our last stand.


    Bodies of enemies piled up around us in heaps on the floor. But no matter how many we killed they just kept coming. Eventually, the door splintered inward and Shadow Kin forced their way inside, howling and screeching excitedly.


    Another crawled through the hole in the ceiling, and when it spotted me it grinned unnaturally wide. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Fresh meat,¡± it hissed and its voice made me shiver. ¡°Bloody flesh to eat. More, the host demands more.¡±


    It lunged at me and I stepped aside to hack it in half with a wet crunch. Jorgen slammed the butt of his spear into one enemy, knocking it sideways. Then he stabbed another through the chest. One of my swordsmen went down under the onslaught at the door and his body was dragged screaming through the breach.


    I could hear the wet sounds of the Shadow Kin feasting mingled with his agonized screams.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be how I die.¡± One of the Swordsmen had dropped to his knees, hands clutching at his helmet, ripping it off. His eyes were wide with terror.


    Tears leaked down his cheeks.


    ¡°No no no,¡± he muttered, rocking back and forth.


    The Shadow Kin seemed to react to his fear, screeching in delight as they flowed towards him.


    ¡°Delicious!¡± they chorused in unison. ¡°Feed us your despair. The host demands more.¡±


    With a roar I charged the breech at the door, moving around the soldier on the ground and using my shield to send two creatures flying. I brought my sword forward, slicing and hacking around me. Limbs and black blood flew. I was covered in it, teeth chattering with a mixture of fear and rage.


    ¡°Hold your fucking ground!¡± I snarled as I knocked a creature to the ground and began crushing its head under my boot. Brain and blood sprayed. Moments later another dropped, shot through the eye of one of Astrid¡¯s arrows.


    "Get up," I growled to the soldier, yanking at the collar of his gambeson. The man was muttering incoherently, not even seeming to register my presence.


    The Shadow Kin milled around. They were a teeming mass of stringy hair and dark eyes. Then those eyes seemed to lock on me.


    ¡°See how he burns?¡± They shrieked, claws clicking together. ¡°Take him. Eat him. Another for the cage of souls.¡±


    Cage of Souls? It sounded eerily familiar.


    I was forced to raise my shield and step back as five Shadow Kin rushed me at once. I decapitated one, and stabbed another through the eye. But my grip on my sword was too slick with Icor. When the creature fell the sword was wrenched from my grip.


    A heavy weight struck my back and I was knocked to the floor.


    ¡°Feast!¡± cried the creature above me. Its matted hair brushed across my face as it launched for my neck, sinking its teeth into flesh.


    I shouted, raising my empty fist to punch it over and over again. It¡¯s face was a bloody pulp. I could feel shards of it¡¯s teeth stuck in my hand but I didn¡¯t stop, I just kept punching, trying to free myself.


    Another Shadow Kin bit at my leg, teeth tearing through my boot and flesh. Oh god¡­ I was going to be eaten alive.


    Then the ground next to me trembled. I turned my head in time to see the wooden floorboards come apart.


    No¡­ a trap door had opened and three grim-faced soldiers were climbing out onto the floor. One was wielding a mace and I recognized him as a man of the 3rd.


    Was I hallucinating? Was this the end?


    Bone crunched as the soldiers beat back the Shadow Kin. The creatures, shocked at this unexpected emergence of new foes, began to retreat into the night.


    For a moment I lay there, wondering if they had gone for good.


    But then more howls sounded from beyond the shattered door. They were calling for reinforcements.


    I shoved myself to my feet, grimacing as I put weight on my injured leg. My trousers were soaked with rain water and blood.


    Swinging around I took quick stock of things. Two of my soldiers had been killed, their bloody remains were no more than piles of meat and blood. Astrid, Jorgen, and a veteran holding a bloodied short sword stood staring at the newcomers.


    ¡°Well don¡¯t just stand there,¡± snapped the soldier, waving a hand urgently. ¡°Come now, quickly before they come back.¡±


    I glanced around the room but I saw little choice. Outside the creatures still surrounded the house and I didn¡¯t like our odds of surviving yet another round of attacks.


    ¡°You heard him,¡± I said. ¡°Let¡¯s get a move on.¡±


    One of the soldiers held the heavy trap door open for us, while we climbed down the old ladder. There was a small cellar here, lined with straw and several shelves of jarred foods.


    I realized as I got to the bottom that Astrid and I had the only light in the space. The soldiers must have been hiding here in the dark since the caravan had been attacked.


    ¡°Where are the Supply Wagons?¡± I asked. ¡°Did either of them make it?¡±


    The soldier grimaced.


    ¡°Only one, Sergeant. They are holed up in a barn up the hill over yonder. They are safe there, believe me. Those creatures¡­ whatever they are attacked us. They can speak, it¡¯s.... grotesque.¡±


    He shuddered.


    ¡°They kept talking about meat, saying they wanted to eat us. Then they went for the horses.¡±


    I laid out my leg on the straw, wincing at the pain. Reaching into my inventory I pulled out my second minor health potion and uncorked it.


    ¡°Did they say anything about a cage of souls?¡± I asked as I poured. The soldier bit his lip, his shoulders rising and falling.


    ¡°They said they wanted something¡­ some book. But we didn¡¯t have any book Sarge, honest. I don¡¯t know what they were talking about. Mad, most likely. Beasts like them? They aren''t right."


    One of the other men nodded in agreement.


    ¡°I can¡¯t even read,¡± he said glumly.


    Jorgen made the sign of the saint.


    ¡°They¡¯re devils,¡± he said. ¡°Unnatural Devils. God King save us.¡±


    The skin of my leg was starting to steam as the bleeding stopped and the skin tried to knit itself back together. It wasn''t the work of a healer, but it would have to do.


    I opened the quest window on my HUD and stared at the text with a sinking feeling. They had mentioned something.. A cage of souls? And they had been looking for a book.


    Quest: Find the Book of Souls


    ¡°Well shit,¡± I whispered into the dark. "Things just got a lot more complicated."

 Twenty Two: Summons

    It was the longest night of my life crouched in that dim cellar. We listened to the sounds of scraping overhead as the Shadow Kin tore through the house looking for us.They were agitated, hissing to each other and clicking their claws. Every once in a while I would hear a sound that made my heart stop. I kept expecting the door to fly open, for them to find us and begin pouring down into the cellar like grotesque corpses.


    But the Shadow Kin never found us, and after long hours, the sounds eventually died away.


    "I think," I said softly. "That we may have only survived because those things aren''t very smart."


    Astrid wrapped her arms around her knees.


    "Do you think it''s safe to go up?"


    One of the other soldiers shook his head, chain mail clinking.


    "I wouldn''t risk it." He said. "We should wait til morning just to be safe."


    I sighed and leaned back against the wooden shelves. It was far from comfortable in this cramped space and I needed a distraction. I decided to check my stats.


    I had gained another level in the melee and my base stats had risen. I could hold my own in most of our recent skirmishes, and with the introduction to skills I had the potential to grow ever stronger.


    Still, what was the point of strength if I couldn''t protect my men? I drank from my canteen and examined my stats again.


    Class: Soldier S?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Rank: Sergeant, 3rd Auxiliary


    Level: 17


    Trait: Swordsmanship


    Level: Silver


    Strength: 24%


    Vitality: 21%


    Damage: 24%


    Endurance: 21%


    Agility: 22%


    It was a start but what I needed now was the money to upgrade my weapons and equipment.


    Nobody slept, instead we remained vigilant throughout the night. The distant trill of birds was our only indication that morning had arrived.


    I rose to my feet, dry blood making my trousers stiff. My leg still throbbed beneath me as I made my way to the base of the ladder.


    "Wait here," I whispered. The soldiers nodded.


    Astrid held her hunting knife tightly in her lap. We were all thinking the same thing. What if they were baiting us? What if they were lying in wait? The thought was chilling but I knew we couldn''t afford to hide in this cellar forever. So I rolled my shoulders and began to climb.


    At the top I stopped to listen for several minutes, barely daring to breathe. I could hear the gentle swish of the breeze through the house, and the occasional sound of birds or insects.


    There was nothing unusual, but I didn''t want to take any chances.


    I pressed my palm against the door and slowly lifted it a few inches. The sun had risen and the house was completely vacant. The splintered fragments of the front door swung back and forth idly.


    I threw a hand over my eyes to shield them from the sudden light. When they adjusted I shoved the trap door the rest of the way open and stepped out.


    "We''re alone," I called down to the others. "It''s safe."


    The relief in the air was palpable.


    One by one the soldiers ascended the ladder.


    I crossed to the door and crouched next to a pile of armor and bones that had once been a man. They had been nearly picked clean, like ribs at a summer barbecue. The thought made me feel lightheaded.


    Astrid came to stand beside me. Her eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles underneath.


    "We should go," she said. "We have a long march ahead of us. We''ll have to take the wagon and catch up with the main body of the Army. Could take us the whole day."


    I looked around at the corpses of Shadow Kin piled on top of one another. Then I set my jaw.


    "Go to the barn and see if the Supply wagon made in through the night. The rest of us will harvest materials and loot."


    Astrid hesitated, but when she saw the look on my face she only nodded and turned for the door. I reached for my sword only to realize it wasn''t there. I cast around, kicking over the bodies of fallen enemies. Eventually, I found it still stuck in the corpse of a Shadow Kin.


    I pulled it free without ceremony and examined the corpse. An initial scan told me there wasn''t any high-end loot to be had - not from these types of mobs.


    But there were materials to be harvested and I wouldn''t let them go to waste. I sheathed my sword, pulled the hunting knife from my boot, and began the grim work.


    Teeth squelched as I pulled them free from black gums. They were long, sharp, and most importantly they seemed to be made of some sort of metal. When I had collected most of them I began to skin the corpses.


    Item: Fiend Hide x6


    Upgrade available


    I checked my inventory and saw several new open slots. I would have to store these until I could speak with the smith about those upgrades.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Almost an hour later we had completed the harvest. Most of the items were in my inventory, and I used some of the remaining water in my canteen to wash my gloves and arms free of Icor.


    The wagon rolled to a stop outside and Astrid jumped down, followed by the driver. He was a portly man, bald and with drooping eyes that reminded me of a basset hound. At the sight of him, I felt a flare of unexpected anger.


    He took off his hat as he stepped into the house, eyes snagging on the corpses. He gave an audible swallow and bit his lip.


    "I uh, I owe you my thanks." He said.


    "We had harness trouble on the road yesterday. I had it in my mind that we could stop to make some impromptu repairs and be on our way but, well¡­" He trailed off turning his hat in nervous hands.


    "It didn''t work out that way. If you hadn''t come when you did I''m not sure what would have happened."


    "Didn''t work out that way?" My voice was flat, even to my ears. I rose and turned on him. His gaze fell to the sword in my hand.


    When had I drawn my weapon? Part of my mind was blaring a warning to me, but the other was cold, tired, and angry.


    "I lost good men today, men, that shouldn''t have had to die on behalf of your fucking supplies."


    He flickered a tongue across his lips. "I understand that-"


    "Do you? Because from where I stand it looks like your poor decisions led to the death of my men."


    "Will."


    "What?"


    "Put the sword away."


    It was Astrid''s voice and it took me a moment to register her words. I glanced around and saw that the men were watching me, some looking wary.


    I blinked and slid my sword back into its sheath.


    "Right," I said, turning.


    "Gather supplies and prepare to move out. We have a long walk ahead of us, and I''d like to catch up with the Army before sundown."


    "Aye Sarge," said Jorgen, and the others murmured their agreement. Astrid''s eyes lingered on me as the rest of them went to pack the extra monster materials and gear.


    "I''m sorry," I said. "I don''t know what came over me¡­ I wasn''t¡­"


    "Yourself?" She finished. "I know it''s this place. It''ll affect us all in one way or another, and it''ll likely get worse the further into the bog we travel."


    "Well, that''s a cheery thought." I made to take a sip from my canteen and frowned when I saw it was empty.


    Her lips quirked in the first smile I''d seen her give since I met her.


    "Just a typical day in the Kadian Army."


    ***


    The march back up the trail was brutal. There was only one horse left to pull the wagon, and it wasn''t strong enough to carry all of us. That meant that we were forced to walk.


    "I think my blisters are growing blisters," said Jorgen miserably. I knew the feeling. Being stuck in the dark and dank all night had meant our clothing hadn''t had time to air out and dry.


    Chaffing was quickly becoming our worst enemy. Still, we couldn''t afford to remove any of the armor weighing us down, so we were forced to suffer.


    Finally, after hours of moving across the terrain in haste, we heard the sounds of men and horses up ahead. Around the bend in the trail, several sentries of the 3rd came into view. It only took them a moment to recognize us.


    "Ey, Will''s back!" said Martin. "Kato, are you seeing this?"


    "Who''s Will?" said Kato. "He''s been gone too long, I don''t know him."


    Despite my exhaustion at the past day''s events, I cracked a smile.


    "I didn''t miss you two bastards," I told them.


    One of the sentries jogged back towards the main encampment and returned moments later with Gills. The veteran surprised me by striding right past the others and hugging me.


    "Thank the throne," he said. "I thought I''d sent you to your death. When we hadn''t heard anything from you¡­"


    "Yeah yeah," I said, pushing him away. "We''re fine... though our merry band of fools is down two men."


    "What happened?" asked Gills. "No wait, you must be starving. Eat some of Vera''s cooking and then tell us your story."


    Twenty minutes later I was sitting cross-legged on the ground with a bowl of venison stew in my lap. The sun was starting to go down, and those not on sentry or latrine duty had gathered around the cook fire to listen.


    It started slow, but soon I found myself gaining momentum as I explained what had befallen us last night. The strange atmosphere in the air, the lightning with no sound, and then the eyes in the dark that watched us.


    Everyone was listening with rapt attention. When I got to the part about Astrid shooting a Shadow Kin in the eye and saving my neck, Bjorn grinned and ruffled his sister''s hair. She scowled but seemed secretly pleased.


    When my bowl was empty Vera ladled more into it and I thanked her. I noticed as she passed that she ran a hand through Gills hair, lips quirking up at the edges as she gave him a sly look.


    Gills watched her hips as she walked away.


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "So," I said. "Looks like you have a story of your own to tell."


    Gills cheeks went pink and he cleared his throat. I could have sworn I heard the sound of Vera''s amused chuckle.


    "Shadow Kin," said Draxus from where he stood nearby, leaning against a tree. "I''ve heard that name before."


    "What did you say they were classified as?"


    "Dark Dwellers," I said. Draxus grimaced. "Sounds awfully close to demon spawn. But there haven''t been demons in this land since¡­"


    "Since the rise of the God King," finished Gills grimly. "Throne, so it wasn''t an isolated incident - what you found in the tunnels that day."


    I dropped my spoon in my empty bowl and set it aside.


    "No," I said. "It was the same thing as before. Lord Blackthorne said it had to do with.." I glanced around the fire. The soldiers of the 3rd leaned in, and even Vera stopped stirring the stew to listen.


    "Well go on," said Gills impatiently. I grimaced.


    "The occult. I heard him and the Lady Inquisitor discussing it when she first arrived. The Inquisition was sent here to hunt something and it has to do with a Herald, whatever the hell that means."


    The reaction was instantaneous. Kato fell off of the log he was sitting on. Gills jumped so badly that he nearly dumped his stew on the ground. Several of the soldiers had leaped to their feet to make the sign of the saint.


    I blinked around at them.


    "What is it?"


    Gills looked pale.


    "Don''t talk about it," he said. "To mention it is to draw its gaze. Or at least, that''s what the priests taught us. It''s bad luck to mention one of...them. They are considered ill Omens, harbingers of dark times.¡±


    "I''m sorry," I said. "I didn''t know."


    After a moment the atmosphere seemed to relax again and conversation slowly resumed around us.


    ¡°Do you think the Inquisitor¡¯s presence is justified then?¡± I asked Gills. He chewed at the nail of his thumb.


    ¡°Maybe. With the presence of Shadow Kin I¡¯d say it makes sense. The Question is whether or not the Lady Inquisitor¡¯s presence is also politically motivated.¡±


    I arched a brow.


    ¡°You think the Crown wants to spy on the Army?¡±


    ¡°Oh most definitely. That¡¯s the one thing I am sure of.¡±


    One of the soldiers brought out a loot and started playing. I watched him strum at it for a while before motion caught my eye.


    Glancing up I spotted several of Lord Blackthorne''s Knight''s making their way towards us. I wasn''t the only one. Hard Stares followed the Knight and his men as they picked their way towards us.


    "What is York doing here?" Muttered Draxus. "Didn''t he have enough last time?"


    "Wait," said Gills. "Ser Connel is with them. This could mean trouble."


    Ser Connel stopped just outside the ring of firelight, flanked by a dozen of his men. He seemed immune to the hostile glares around him.


    York stood at his side, arms folded across his chest and looking pleased with himself. That didn''t bode well.


    "Blackbriar is to come with us," said Ser Connel. He was wearing full plate and his hand rested on his sword.


    "Will?" Gills stood, scowling.


    "What do you want with him? He''s just returned from Duty and needs rest."


    Ser Connel ignored him and looked straight at me. There was a dark glint in his eyes I didn¡¯t like.


    "I was told to fetch you one way or another, boy. Give me an excuse."


    Anger flared in Gills''s eyes.


    "By whom?" he said.


    Ser Connel smiled, and it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes.


    "By the Lady Inquisitor, of course."

 Twenty Three: Interrogation

    Outside of the Inquisitor''s tent, two Darkblades stood vigil. Their silver masks turned, following my path as I stepped forward."Tell the Lady I''ve done as she instructed." Said Ser Connel. The Darkblades remained still and silent.


    "Enter," called the Lady Inquisitor. Ser Connel gestured to York who shoved me forward unnecessarily. After cutting him a glare I stepped through the flap and into the tent''s interior.


    The scent of incense and oil was strong enough to make my eyes water.


    White beeswax candles ran along the tent''s edge, their yellow flames giving off a steady glow.


    The lady Inquisitor leaned against the edge of a heavy wooden table. She was wearing her fighting leathers but her dark hair was now loose, tumbling around her shoulders.


    "Will of Blackbriar," she said and her red lips curved at the corners.


    "My Lady," I said tightly. It was a formality to make the sign of the saint upon meeting an Inquisitor but I kept pointedly still.


    "Your summons came at a bad hour," I said, keeping my voice neutral even as my heart thumped in my chest.


    "I have yet to deliver my report to lord Blackthorne, but I''ll be sure to include a detailed written account for your perusal."


    Xandria''s eyes never left mine as she spoke.


    "That is all Ser Connel, you may go."


    Her tone was dismissive and the Knight hesitated for a moment before making the sign of the saint.


    "As you wish, Lady."


    The soldier''s footsteps faded into the night and I was uncomfortably reminded of just how isolated the Inquisitor''s tent was. If my secret had been discovered there wasn''t much I could do against two DarkBlades and an Inquisitor with Mythic weapons.


    Xandria walked around the table and lifted a beaker of wine and two glasses.


    "Wine?" she asked.


    No, thank you."


    She poured two cups anyway and handed one to me which I held loosely in my hand.


    "So serious," she crooned, eyes sparkling. "But then, all of you soldier types are. I used to find it endearing."


    "And now?"


    Xandria ran the edge of her finger along the rim of her glass. Her nails were painted black.


    "Now I find I have little patience for it."


    She tapped the fingers of her free hand against the table, head tilted as she studied me.


    "You''re young for a Sergeant," she said. "And significantly less experienced than most. I was surprised when Hadrian promoted you. That was until you proved yourself a Gifted."


    My lips parted in surprise and I tried to cover it by raising the glass to my mouth and taking a small swallow.


    The wine was bitter.


    "What makes you believe I''m Gifted?" I asked her.


    Xandria smirked.


    "Aside from the rumors and your unlikely feats?" she asked. "I would say the speed at which you level. Unusual for a common soldier¡­. But quite standard for one blessed by the God King. His radiant light guides us all in these dark times."


    I took another sip to avoid answering, and the Inquisitor''s eyes tracked the movement.


    "My Lady," I said bluntly. "Why did you call me here? What do you want from me?"


    Xandria ran her tongue over her teeth and set down her glass with a clink. She watched me for a moment before speaking.


    "As you may have already guessed, my presence in the camp is no coincidence. I am on an errand, both for the crown and the Inquisition itself. There have been strange happenings on the Kadian front, of that I''m sure you are aware."


    I nodded and waited for her to continue.


    "My role is a difficult one," she said. "I hunt the Monster, the Heretic, and the Demon as that is my vocation and my Throne-given task. But, more often than not, all three of those attributes can be found among men."


    I thought of the bodies swinging from the tree. Of that little boy''s eyes, staring and glassy. S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "I don''t follow," I said.


    Xandria leaned forward.


    "Imposters," she said. "Other worlders."


    My pulse was hammering so loud I was surprised she couldn''t hear it. My palms were sweaty around the glass which I now lowered.


    "I thought they were a myth," I said casually. Xandria nodded.


    "Many do, but I assure you the threat of their existence is quite real. I have interrogated some myself, and learned some of their secrets."


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    There was a feverish glow in her eyes, the sort of madness that can only come from obsession. I licked my lips.


    "And what secrets did you find?"


    Xandria pushed of the Table.


    "Ramblings mostly, and all of it blasphemy. You can never trust the word of an Other worlder Will of Blackbriar - It is in their nature to lie. They are masters of deceit summoned by Demon Kind to disrupt our world order."


    I had to grip the glass tightly to keep my hands from shaking.


    "I don''t see how I can be of assistance then," I said. Xandria smiled knowingly.


    "You are close to Hadrian," she said suddenly, and I blinked in surprise.


    "I serve Lord Blackthorne," I said, carefully. "But we are far from close. He is nobility and I-"


    She waved a hand.


    "You misunderstand my meaning. Blackthorne is a man of few allies - the price of independence I suppose. He spent too much of his youth resisting those with power and influence and as a result, he''s earned himself a reputation among the other nobility. He does not trust easily and yet¡­" she walked around me, appraising me with her eyes.


    "I am told he thinks quite highly of you. Perhaps even confides in you¡­"


    I leaned forward and set my wine down on the Table. I didn''t know where this was going, but I didn''t like it.


    "My Lady," I said. "I think you misunderstand our relationship. Lord Blackthorne is my Lord. He gives an order and I obey. Nothing more. We are not and never could be friends - not when our ranks are so far apart."


    Xandria paused in front of me, her tongue darting out to wet her lips. She leaned forward, so close that I could smell the scent of candle smoke on her.


    "Has he told you that you resemble someone he used to know?"


    The question caught me off guard.


    "I''m.." I try to recover but Xandria''s mouth is already tilted into a smile.


    "He has." She chuckled and brushed a nail across my cheek.


    "It''s funny, I didn''t see it before. But now, In close proximity the resemblance truly is uncanny."


    She withdrew her hand.


    "You really are just like him."


    I froze even as a memory tugged at my mind.


    "You remind me so much of someone I used to know," Blackthorne had said. "At times It feels like I am speaking to him."


    I met the Inquisitor''s gaze and asked the question she had been waiting for me to ask.


    "Who?"


    Her eyes danced with triumph.


    "I will tell you," she said. "But the information is conditional. First, I want something from you, Will of Blackbriar."


    She smirked at my frown.


    "Nothing like that. I want you to befriend Blackthorne. Listen to his council, and watch what he does. I want to know what he''s thinking, but more importantly - I want to know any plans that he makes. Do that and I will reward you."


    "Aren''t you already privy to that information?" I asked. "You''re on his war council."


    Xandria''s lips thinned.


    "There are many on his council, himself included, that¡­ resent my presence. They see it as interference from the Inquisition, and thus a criticism of their own capability. The reality is much less appealing, I''m afraid. I am hunting something - something that the Inquisition has long feared."


    "It has to do with the eyeless corpses, doesn''t it?"


    I had asked this question for two reasons and in several seconds her reaction told me everything I needed to know.


    Not only had she been sent here to investigate the occult happenings surrounding the war. But she had also known the details of our encounter with the Shadow Kin before I had made my official report.


    That could mean two things. Either my story had been overheard at the cookfire by someone outside of our company. Or someone in the 3rd was already leaking information to the Inquisitor. Neither was a welcome thought.


    Xandria hadn''t contradicted me, but neither did she answer.


    "What are they?" I asked her at last. "The corpses. Why do they cut out the eyes?"


    The Inquisitor was quiet for so long that I thought she might not answer. Then she brushed the hair from her face and said:


    "Warnings."


    "Warnings to whom?"


    She laughed lightly.


    "My, you are bold. But you overreach, Blackbriar. If you want information from me then I expect the same in return. Tell me, did the Shadow Kin speak to you? What did they say?"


    "They said they wanted to eat us. Referred to us as meat and said they wanted more for ''the host''."


    She leaned forward and that same light blazed in her eyes.


    "And," she said impatiently. "Did they say anything else? Were they looking for something?"


    I played dumb.


    "Looking for something? What do you mean, Lady?"


    Xandria exhaled through her nose and leaned back. For a moment she shut her eyes. Then her smile returned.


    "Very well," she said. "I will uphold my end of the bargain but only if you promise to consider my offer. We could make a good team, you and I. If you were to make something of yourself, the Inquisition would be more than willing to take you in. With the proper ability, you might even find yourself in my position one day."


    Her smile was snake-like. I smiled back though it never reached my eyes. She seemed not to notice.


    Xandria glanced to the side and after a moment she began speaking.


    "In the time when the God King''s reign was still young, he claimed an apprentice. He was a powerful Magus and the Radiant Lords'' closest confidant. He was charismatic, charming, and quite popular among the nobility."


    She laced her hands in her lap.


    "He was also one of Hadrian''s dearest friends. The two of them grew up together and they were inseparable. He used to joke that they were long lost brothers and it was¡­ apt."


    "Was?"


    Xandria looked at me then, and her expression was calculated.


    "What I will tell you now shouldn''t be repeated to others. There are those who would cut your throat just for speaking his name."


    I nodded and waited for her to continue.


    "The God King''s Apprentice was many things, and one of them was arrogant. He believed he alone knew the will of the Radiant Throne, and so he began to carry out small acts of defiance. Little things at first, things that could be overlooked. But eventually, he crossed a line from which he would never return - at least not in the eyes of our Lord and Master."


    At my expression she tutted.


    "Oh, what he did I will not tell you. Even that information is forbidden to most."


    "Then what was his name?" I asked. I didn''t know why I felt I needed to know but something was nagging at me.


    Xandria arched an eyebrow.


    "Did I not just tell you that speaking his name in front of the wrong people would get you killed?"


    "Yes, Lady," I said. "And yet I still want to know."


    Amusement glittered in her eyes and her smile returned.


    "There is a fine line between boldness and madness," she said.


    "But I will tell you."


    She leaned back, crooking a single finger at me. Hesitantly I stepped forward and she wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and pulled me close. Her lips brushed my ear.


    "His name," she breathed. " Was An'' Duin."


    All around us, the candle flames began to flicker. Several went out, trailing smoke into the air. A cold breeze stirred through the air, whipping my hair around. Only Xandria seemed unphased by this sudden change. Just as soon as it had happened the flickering stopped and the candles that had gone out relit themselves.


    I swallowed.


    "So," she said, rising and dusting herself off. "Now you know. Take care Will of Blackbriar and... do think about my request. There is much the Inquisition has to offer."


    I left the tent feeling uneasy for more reasons than one. I didn''t know how to feel about what she had told me. On one hand, it could just a story - something the Inquisition used to make the populace fear defying the God King.


    On the other, it might mean that the history of Kadia itself was tangled in the roots of all of this.


    I was certain of one thing, however. Xadria had been asking after the Book of Souls. I didn''t know what it was or why she might want it, but I knew that something powerful falling into the hands of the Inquisition could mean serious trouble.


    This was turning out to be a dangerous game, and I didn''t like being a pawn. It was time that I began to reclaim some of that power.


    But first, I was going to need better gear.

 Twenty Four: The Hunt

    "Good," I said, as I strode the line. "Again."The soldiers before me brought their spear shafts up and stepped forward, thrusting high and then low.


    I stopped my pacing before Jorgen and pushed his spear higher with my hand. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Maintain stance," I told him. "Again."


    One of the soldiers down the line swatted at the flies buzzing around his head. He gave me an irritated look and let his spear shaft dip.


    "Forgive me Sarge," he said, "but why the hell are we out here drilling while the other companies get to rest? Not even the rest of the 3rd are practicing drills during designated leisure time."


    I noticed a few of the others nodding their heads in agreement.


    "A fair question," I conceded, rubbing at the back of my neck.


    "Jorgen, why do you think we''re drilling?"


    Jorgen glanced up, looking positively alarmed at being called on to speak. He stood at attention, hand twisting nervously around his spear shaft.


    "Because we''re under-leveled and under-equipped sir- er I mean Sergeant."


    I nodded.


    "That''s the crux of it but there''s more to it." I gestured to the man who had spoken.


    "Hade is it? And what was your profession before you joined the 3rd Auxiliary three months ago?"


    Hade scratched at his beard, looking a bit sheepish.


    "I was a grocer Sarge," he said.


    "A grocer. And you Jorgen?"


    "I was a farm hand before the Army," he admitted.


    "Right," I said, thinking of my retail job back on Earth.


    "And I was a¡­shop assistant."


    "But for one reason or another, you were levied into the Army and the option to choose a soldier class appeared to you - as it did to me. That makes us different than them,"


    I gestured towards the rows of wagon supplies, the polished high-quality armor, and the well-rested men now lounging near the tent of Lord Blackthorne.


    Hade followed my gaze, frowning doubtfully.


    "But Sarge, we''ll never catch up to them. They''re real soldiers - men at arms that is. And we''re¡­" he trailed off.


    "Well. We''re us."


    I shrugged and pulled my canteen from my belt, downing a gulp of water. They weren''t technically wrong. Most of the companies in service of a Noble House looked down on the 3rd for one reason or another. It had been a fact of life for most of the Auxiliary and accepting it was simply common practice.


    I aimed to change that and it would be no easy task.


    "You''ll have your work cut out for you," Gills had told me. "But you have my support in this."


    The men glanced up, and I turned in time to see what I''d been waiting for.


    "If you make me do anything like this again, I''ll have to kill you." Wheezed Kato as he and Draxus hauled over a set of heavy wooden crates. Kato set his down in the grass and groaned.


    "I swear my back will never be the same."


    Draxus set down two crates with a heavy thump, rolling his eyes at Kato.


    "The order you requested." He said. "This should be all of it."


    "What did you trade the Smith?" asked Kato. "Your soul?"


    A shit ton of teeth and a favor was the real answer, but I kept that to myself.


    Stooping, I pulled my hunting knife from the sheath in my boot and used it to pry open the lid of one of the crates. Hade whistled as he looked over my shoulder.


    "That''s a good quality spear that is," he said appreciatively.


    "I''m glad you think so."


    I lifted one from the box, testing its weight. Then I tossed it to him. He was so surprised he had to drop his own spear to catch it.


    Item: Reforged Steel Spear, Common, Upgraded


    Hade made a few swipes through the air and smiled appreciatively. When he made to hand it back I shook my head.


    "It''s yours now," I said.


    Thirteen pairs of eyes blinked at me in surprise.


    "We can''t afford these," said Jorgen. He patted the flat purse at his belt. "I have barely 2 silvers to rub together, and I can''t be the only one."


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    "They are already paid for," I said. "They belong to you. As do these."


    I pried the lid of the second and third boxes, letting them fall to the grass.


    Item: Padded gambeson, common


    Item: Chain mail Hauberk, common


    "These are for us?" asked Hade, eyes wide. "But they''re brand new. You can see the Smith''s mark and everything."


    The soldiers of my squad began to chatter excitedly as they pulled out the new equipment, examining each piece.


    In truth, it was far from the best gear. It was accessible in mass and more importantly, it hadn''t cost me an arm and a leg. Still, it was better quality equipment than any squad in the 3rd could expect. Or at least it had been.


    Nestled amongst the armor was a cloth bundle, marked with a note from the Smith.


    I pulled out the bundle and unwrapped it, examining the contents with a careful eye.


    Item: Steel Bassinet, common, upgraded


    Item: Reforged Silver-Steel Bastard sword, Rare, upgraded


    I stood and pulled the helmet onto my head. There was no doubt that there was a better fit. The inside had been padded with dark fiend leather, and the eye slits in the visor had been reshaped for better visibility.


    I drew the sword and studied it. Sure enough, as I turned it in the light I could see the sheen of crafting magic. The newly forged Silver-Steel gleamed in the light of the sun. The hilt was the same wrapped leather but the pummel had a new detail.


    I ran my thumb over the engraved letter B and smiled. I was a soldier now, and it was high time that I embraced that fact.


    "Wash and eat," I told my men. "Then gear up and be ready to move by noon. We''re going to earn our dinner tonight, boys."


    ***


    "My Lord Dacon," I said, wrapping an arm around my waist and bowing in the fashion of the North.


    "It is good to see you well."


    The Count''s Son turned in his saddle, grinning to Ser Robert who sat stoically beside him.


    "Who taught him that? I dare say Blackbriar, if I was a woman I''d be thoroughly charmed."


    "His ascension from country bumpkin to courtesan is something to behold, My Lord," Said Kato from beside me. He sketched a bow of his own.


    "I believe Courtier is the word you''re looking for," said Draxus


    Kato tapped his chin.


    "Nope," he said, slapping me on the shoulder. "Will did, after all, whore himself out for a new set of armor. Tell me again what you promised?"


    "Will of Blackbriar and his squad have agreed to accompany me on my hunt," said Lord Dacon. "Truly, I couldn''t be in better hands."


    Ser Robert looked dubious, but other than shooting me a look of evident dislike, he said nothing. Jorgen''s eyes widened when he spotted the Count''s heir mounted on his armored courser.


    He tried to bow, helmet nearly slipping off his head.


    "Your grace," he said. "It''s an honor. I''ve never met a member of the nobility before.... Er that is, I never thought I would."


    Dacon raised his eyebrows.


    "Who is this fellow? Looks a bit young."


    "Jorgen''s a good sort," I said, dropping a hand on his shoulder and giving It a fond shake. In his ear, I muttered.


    "Dacon is a Lord. Only Duke''s are referred to as your grace."


    Jorgen''s cheeks burned.


    "So my Lord, are you going to tell me what it is we''re hunting?" I asked the Dacon. The Count''s son gave me a sly smile.


    "Only if you can keep up, Blackbriar."


    Ser Robert took with him six mounted knights to serve as Dacon''s guard. Behind their horses, my men marched double time.


    I strode briskly beside Dacon''s courser as he rode, thankful that I had managed to raise my endurance stat.


    "You''ve heard the rumors about the bog no doubt," said Dacon.


    I grunted in agreement and Dacon sighed.


    "Not at all exaggerations I''m afraid. The swamplands of the south have long been an odd place. One that cultivates strange natural magic. I would have liked to have a Magus with us, but it''s my understanding the last one has yet to be replaced."


    I recalled the first battle I had ever been in. It had been a desperate night against the Goblin Horde and the war riders. When the Rock Troll showed up, I had thought that was the end.


    An Image of the Mage''s broken body lying twisted in a tree flashed into my mind and I shook my head to clear it.


    "Why is it that a replacement Magus hasn''t been sent to the front lines?" I asked.


    "We''d lose less men if we had the support of a magic user."


    Dacon adjusted the reins in his gantlets.


    "My guess is that it''s simply too dangerous. Strange thought, I know. But those born with magical affinity inherit a life of status fairly early on. By the time they get to the academy, their lifestyles are often comfortable, lavish even. A Magus who makes a name for himself has very little reason to want to go to war. Why leave such a nihilistic way of life?"


    He glanced at me, shrugging.


    "In a way, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. There was a time during the God King''s ascension when all Magus of the academy served a term in the service. It bred discipline, if nothing else. But things have¡­ changed since then."


    "I see."


    Several paces ahead one of Ser Robert''s forward scouts made a signal. Lord Dacon slowed his horse to a walk. Behind me, the men of my squad formed up, spears at the ready. Draxus came to stand beside me.


    "What''s the hold-up?"


    "The Count''s man thinks he''s spotted some Montser sign. Might give us a better idea of what we''re dealing with."


    Lord Dacon dismounted and stooped to examine the furrows in the ground. I scanned our surroundings for any potential threats.


    The trees were stark and low-hanging. lichen hung from the branches, covering anything in a blanket of light green. Frogs and insects chirped a steady rhythm.


    After a moment Dacon rose and followed the markings twenty paces until he ran into a tree. The bark was rough, scraped clean as if by a deer''s antlers.


    Then again, the scrape marks were at least ten feet high.


    Dacon returned to his courser and swung back into the saddle.


    "There had been rumors circling in the border towns," he said.


    "Rumors of a beast that''s been haunting this bog and killing anyone within a several-mile radius. At first, it was only travelers and merchants who frequented the main trail. But recently, they say this creature has been terrorizing the local villages. Lord Blackthorne has tasked me with hunting this beast. That is why I asked for your aid."


    "And you''ll have it, my Lord," I said. "A deal''s a deal."


    We returned to the path shortly after, but this time Dacon let the horses walk. All the while he scanned the surrounding area, searching for signs.


    "Any idea what it might be?" I asked him.


    Dacon bit the inside of his lip.


    "It''s hard to tell. By the marks on the trees, I''d guess the beast was horned. It could be a minotaur, though they are usually found in colder climates."


    As we rode deeper into the bog the path became narrower. The stagnant swap water seemed to be the perfect breeding ground for insects that liked to bite. I slapped a mosquito that had managed to reach me through my trousers and grimaced.


    Preoccupied with the mosquito, I failed to watch where I was going and managed to lose my footing. I stumbled, throwing out an arm to catch my fall.


    "Is this a new method of bowing?" asked Kato. "I rather like your style."


    I scowled at him and was about to shove to my feet when I caught sight of what had made me stumble. I had stepped in a hole several times the size of my boot. Or more accurately, I had stepped into a footprint.


    A large one.


    "I''m no tracker," said Draxus. "But I believe Blackbriar just stumbled into exactly what we''ve been looking for."


    Dacon reigned in his courser and gazed down at the tracks. Beside him, Ser Robert made a noise in his throat.


    "My Lord," he said. "I do believe you''ll get the hunt you had been hoping for."

 Twenty Five: Red not Black

    The tracks led us deeper into the bog where the trails were thin and the horses had to high step to avoid sinking into the mud.The tracks were deep but every so often the trail would come up short in the water''s edge, only to resume several yards ahead.


    "I think we have to consider that this beast, whatever it is, can travel on both water and land."


    I gestured to the imprint in the mud. "Look at the area between the claws. The feet looked webbed."


    Hade lifted his spear, poking at the water with the blade. A swarm of flies burst up and startled him. Kato laughed.


    "Everything in this place is out to get us," he grumbled.


    "I fear you may be right, Will," Said Lord Dacon. His eyes scanned the line of the water.


    "Ser Robert believes, as do I, that the monster we''re hunting is a fiend."


    "A fiend?" I feigned ignorance.


    Draxus''s brows drew together, but he didn''t call me on my bluff.


    Lord Dacon swatted a fly away from his open visor.


    "Fiends are rare creatures as they aren''t known to mate as heavily as many other monster breeds. They are mostly independent unless they are mating - in which class it is advisable to steer clear. They are also cunning."


    He glanced up the trail.


    "In fact, There is a very good chance that it''s already aware of our presence."


    Draxus glanced at me as the party moved forward. He moved in close, matching his stride with mine.


    "What are you up to Blackbriar?" He growled, one brow arched. "And don''t lie to me."


    I glanced around at him.


    "Just trust me," I said. "And follow my lead. Something is up, and I aim to find out what."


    The giant nodded and I signaled silently at my men to halt. The movement went mostly unnoticed by the riders ahead.


    "My Lord Dacon," I called. The Count''s Son glanced around, seeming to realize I was no longer walking alongside his horse.


    "My Lord we shouldn''t delay," said Ser Robert, shooting me an angry look. "If we want to return to the main body before sundown we must find the beast within the hour."


    Dacon glanced from his Knight to me and, upon seeing my expression, his brows drew together.


    "My Lord," I said. "What do you know of Fiends and their hunting patterns?"


    "Hunting patterns?" he mused. "Well, I know they aren''t nocturnal and prefer their prey alive before consumption. They also tend to favor attacking live prey rather than scavenging carcasses. Why do you ask?"


    Draxus and I exchanged a look.


    "I think that there is a chance this trail has been laid deliberately. I think the Fiend may be luring us deeper into its territory."


    "Nonsense," Ser Robert "The Monster sign is fresh, even a seasoned tracker would know as much."


    "That''s true," I said. "But have you considered the possibility that there might be more than one Fiend?"


    There was an uncomfortable pause. Ser Robert made a derisive snort. His horse danced in place, eager to be moving again.


    "Tell me, Will of Blackbriar," Said the Knight, his voice dripping with sneer. "Just how many hunts have you led."


    "None."


    A few of his men chuckled.


    "So what is it that makes you think you''re qualified to question the methods of my men? My squad has been tracking this threat since before we entered the bog, believe me when I say that we do not require the input of a scrawny youth with no hair on his chin."


    Draxus stepped forward but I threw out a hand to catch him in the chest.


    "Is this how you let your men speak to a friend, My Lord?" he asked Dacon.


    Lord Dacon gave me an appraising look.


    "I believe Will is more than capable of handling himself." Said the Lord. Ser Robert glanced at him in surprise but then his face hardened.


    Draxus reluctantly stepped back. I nodded my thanks and squared my shoulders.


    "If you must know, Ser Robert I do not believe I am more qualified than you or you men. But I have noticed what you''ve failed to realize."


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    I paused long enough for the Knight to smirk.


    "And what might that be?"


    "That the footprints we are tracking have changed not once, but twice. There are two different sets here, one smaller and with four toes, the other much larger and deeper, but with three."


    That wiped the smirk from his face. The Knight shifted in his saddle and exchanged a look with one of his men. He didn''t seem to notice as my own squad shifted around us, idling near the water''s edge.


    Dacon was frowning, gazing between Ser Robert and me.


    Kato loitered by the back of the group, yawning loudly as he stretched his neck. He gave me a subtle nod and I turned my attention back to the Knight.


    "Tell me Ser Robert," I said. "When did you realize that the Fiend we are tracking is mating?"


    I saw the moment Ser Robert''s face registered understanding, saw his hand twitch for the hilt of his sword before dropping back to his saddle.


    "What is it you mean, boy?"


    I stepped forward.


    "Why is it, that when Lord Dacon was ambushed and dragged into the tunnels that your men didn''t go after him? Your lord, who you are bound by oath to serve until your death. And you left him to die?"


    Ser Robert''s mouth turned down at the corners.


    "Have You gone mad?" he asked flatly. "I will hear no more of this pointless slander. My Lord,"


    He turned to Dacon, but the Count''s Son had gone completely still, his face turning calculated.


    "It was you who suggested this hunt, Ser Robert," he said. "I was led to believe your men had thoroughly scouted the area and yet Will and his men spot what you could not in a matter of hours?"


    "The boy is lying."


    Dacon shook his head.


    "No, I don''t think so."


    He rested a hand on his sword. And leveled his fierce gaze on the Knight.


    "How much did they pay you?" His voice was cold, all trace of the boyish Count''s Son had slipped away, to be replaced by something hard and calculated.


    "My Lord, you cannot-"


    "I asked you a question man, and I will not ask again." Said the Count. His voice was calm but his eyes held steel that booked no argument. s?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Ser Robert spat on the ground, his face twisting.


    "More than enough," he snarled. "More than your father ever paid in the years I''ve served him. Putting my neck on the line to follow some welp into battle? And for what?"


    The six riders behind him were stone-faced and unmoving. So, they had been in on it too. I hadn''t counted on that.


    Dacon smiled, but there was no humor in it.


    "I should have realized," he said. "Rumor came to me that Evander was killed in the field and I thought it strange. He was a warrior of some renown, and I was told the body was never recovered."


    Draxus made a sound in his throat.


    "You believe his own men were hired off to kill him?"


    Dacon shrugged, plate rattling.


    "I don''t know. Truthfully I''d suspected foul play from the beginning though¡­ not from my own men."


    Ser Robert drew his sword.


    "It was never personal, Dacon. Some of us just wanted a life away from this place. Away from death, and the constant threat of violence. Sure, you can make a name for yourself with a combat class. But no one ever talks about what comes after. Is a man truly meant to serve until his death?"


    "No."


    Ser Robert and Dacon looked around at me as if they had momentarily forgotten why I was there.


    "I pondered this question myself for days after the death of my friend. I wanted to know what it all meant¡­ what the point of it was. Because life as a soldier can feel fucking bleak some days. But there is a point to it, at least there should be."


    Ser Robert spat again.


    "And what is your glorious answer," he asked, sneering.


    "To change things," I said simply. "Right now humanity fights just to survive so that those on the inside of the borders can live peaceful lives, untouched by war. But what if some of us want to do more than just survive? What if we aim to change things - to end the cycle of suffering and madness? Like the God King promised too in all the stories."


    "You blaspheme," snarled Ser Robert.


    "Maybe. You can hang me for it later."


    At my signal the men who had been surrounding Ser Robert''s mounted knights stepped forward, bristling their spears in a half moon. Ser Robert shouted in alarm, trying to draw his sword but his horse reared in panic, and he was thrown from the saddle.


    One of his men managed to draw his sword and twist in the saddle, chopping down at Jorgen who bore down on him with a spear. From beside him, Hade stepped forward and speared him in his unprotected armpit.


    The man fell sideways out of the saddle. The remaining five wheeled their mounts, panic in their eyes. Another horse reared and the rider dropped his weapon as he held onto the saddle. My men brought him down in seconds.


    The others broke and fled, spurring their mounts as they cantered down the path and deeper into the bog. Ser Robbard watched them go, cursing as his own riderless mount bolted into trees.


    He had fallen badly, and it was clear that one of his arms was broken. He tried to rise from the muddy ground but I kicked him in the chest, putting the point of sword at his neck. Even in defeat, he was condescending as ever.


    "You''ll learn soon enough," he said. "This war is no place for idealists."


    "I''m a cynic," I said and then struck him in the temple with the pummel of my sword. He fell back to the mud, dazed.


    "Bind him," I said to Hade. The soldier nodded and stepped forward with two others to restrain the Knight.


    "My Lord," I bowed to Dacon who was still sitting in his saddle, his face somewhere between grief and anger.


    "What would you have me do? I could kill him now."


    Dacon shook his head as if he were waking from a dream. He glanced around at the bog and then at the prone figure of Ser Robert.


    "The man practically raised me," he said. "When my father was too busy or to uninterested to train me Ser Robert always volunteered. Hell, he used to bounce me on his knee around the cookfire."


    He made a whistful sound.


    "You have to wonder if was all an act. If he truly despised me and my entire household the whole time. Part of me wants to know if it was all an act. Part of me is afraid to know the answer."


    He blinked and shook his head.


    "Without mounted men, there is no point in continuing the hunt. I expect Ser Robert''s men were planning to turn tail and run the second we encountered the pair of fiends."


    "It''s likely," said Draxus grimly. "Would have left nothing but corpses behind."


    Dacon nodded.


    "Tie him to the back of my horse. We''ll return to camp where he''ll be put on trial for treason against his lord. Then and only then, will we deal with the Fiend infestation."


    He looked at me then and I saw a weary gratefulness in his eyes.


    "This is the second time you''ve saved my life, Blackbriar. I dare say I owe you."


    I smiled.


    "I''m counting on it, my Lord."


    The Count''s son laughed but it faded quickly.


    The unconscious Knight was stripped of his armor and bound tightly behind the Lord''s saddle. The horses had bolted and so we were left to slog back at our own pace.


    Jorgen wandered up beside me. He had his spear held out in front of him, wiping the blood from the blade with a cloth that came away red. His face was pale.


    "I''ve never killed a man before," he whispered. "Monster''s yes, but.." he swallowed. "It doesn''t feel the same."


    I put a hand on his shoulder.


    "I know. It''s not easy and I don''t think it''s supposed to be. We''re soldiers but we aren''t mindless pawns. We make our own decisions on who to follow - that includes you. All of you."


    I raised my voice to be heard by my men. Kato and Draxus turned to look. Hade exchanged glances with the others and then nodded to Jorgen. The young farmer''s hand turned back to me. His face was serious.


    "We''re with you Sarge," he said.

 Twenty Six: Execution

    Ser Robert did not go quietly. He had it in his mind I think, that he would stand tall in the end. That he would hold his head high in defiance as the executioner read off his crimes.


    He had been flogged already and his back was a mass of scars and torn flesh. Every soldier in the Kadian Army, save for those on sentry duty was in attendance. I stood among my men, shield planted in the ground and hands resting on its top.


    Draxus and Hade stood to either side, an honor guard of sorts.


    The executioner paused after each listed crime, giving Ser Robert time to process what it was he would be executed for. The Knight''s face was stoic right up until the soldiers came to get him.


    Men from Dacon''s own regiment gripped him under the arms and began to drag him forward. It was then that his mask of stoicism slipped.


    There were stages of a man facing his doom. First came the bluster, followed shortly by the anger. He cursed Lord Dacon as he passed him, he spat, he sneered and he swore. Then came the excuses.


    So many reasons and none of them mattered a shit.


    Hundreds of faces looked on, and most were cold and indifferent. Some were even openly hostile. Ser Robert''s eyes searched them all, looking for someone, anyone who might be on his side.


    That''s when the tears came.


    The Knight blubbered like a baby as they dragged him unto the hastily made platform. Rough shorn boards tore at his pant legs as he tried to resist. He made appeals to the executioner who''s face was a mask beneath his black hood.


    He made appeals to Lord Blackthorne and when that didn''t work he made appeals to Lord Dacon.


    One of Dacon''s Knights stepped forward and spat on him then. The glob of spit hit him in the face and trickled downwards towards his dishevled beard.


    "You dare to speak to him?" She snarled "You traitor, you oath breaker. A clean death is too good for you."


    Throughout it all Dacon showed little emotion. He sat in a chair beneath an awning, surrounded by his household guard. There was no trace of the gentle young man who had laughed and joked with me just yesterday.


    Dacon was every inch the Count''s Son as he looked on.


    Ser Robert''s body was chained to the platform, his head laid across the block. He fought so hard that it took several men to restrain him. As the executioner lined up his axe Ser Robert pissed himself.


    I forced myself to watch the axe as it arced downwards. Blood sprayed and the head rolled across the platform, coming to rest facing away from the crowd.


    The executioner bowed to the Lord.


    "Is justice done to your satisfaction my Lord?" he asked Dacon. The Count''s Son inclined his head once and the executioner began issuing orders for the removal of the body.


    Ser Robert would get an unmarked grave. Such was the treatment for traitors. The crowd started to come alive but before the masses could move Lord Dacon stood from his chair.


    "There is a matter which I wish to address," he said, striding forward.


    His guards moved with him until he stood before the platform, hands clasped behind his back. He was wearing fine clothes in the colors of his household and new dark leather boots that reached his knees. His ornate sword was belted at his waist and he drew it in one fluid movement.


    "Will of Blackbriar," he said, voice carrying. "step forward."


    It was so unexpected that it took me a moment to register the meaning of the words.


    "I- my Lord?" I said uncertainly. Lord Dacon''s face was serious, his gaze intense.


    "Step forward, soldier. That is an order."


    I handed my shield to Hade and stepped forward, coming to stand before the Count''s Son. Before him, I couldn''t help but feel a little shabby, aware of the hundreds of eyes now on me.


    Lord Dacon glanced over my shoulder towards where Lord Blackthrone stood. The Spear of the King gave a small imperceptible nod.


    "Kneel," said Lord Dacon.


    I knelt, unsure of what to make of this. S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Will of Blackbriar I, Lord Dacon of the noble house of Basset, hereby name you Ser William Blackbriar, Knight of the realm. You will uphold the honor of my household, your name, and the throne. Do you swear this oath forthwith?"


    My stomach fluttered with nerves and I liked my lips, suddenly aware of the eyes on me.


    "I do," I said.


    Dacon inclined his head. Then he touched his sword to either of my shoulders.


    "Arise, Knight of the realm. I welcome you to the fold, Ser William."


    I stood in the presence of Nobility in another world, having just been Knighted by a Lord and all I could feel was shock.


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    Then movement caught my eye. The 3rd Auxiliary stood with their hands clasped behind their backs. Gills stepped forward from among them and to my shock he placed a hand across his heart and bowed at the waist.


    It wasn''t customary to bow to a Knight but Gills honored me today. And he did it in plain view of the other companies. I saw men shift on their feet and heard the beginnings of muttered conversations.


    The tides, it seemed, were shifting. And somehow I had just become a more powerful piece on the board. This would complicate things.


    Lord Dacon sheathed his sword and held out a hand to me. Hesitantly I took it and we clasped forearms. He pulled me close, lowering his voice so that only I could hear.


    "You have just shifted the balance of power Ser William," he said. "You are the first commoner in Kadian history to be Knighted by a Lord."


    His eyes met mine.


    "Welcome to the table."


    ***


    Status updated:


    Class: Soldier


    Rank: Knight


    Level: 17


    New Trait activated.


    Trait: Heavy Armor


    Level: Bronze


    My system window updated as I pulled my chainmail over my padded gambeson. A heavy armor trait might be useful if I could get my hands on a full set of plate. No easy task, and an expensive one.


    I had gotten new boots since the Shadow Kin had seen fit to bite through mine, and they were still stiff and in need of breaking in. Still, they were good quality leather and the steel plates woven into the top provided a boost in armor.


    I buckled Iron Fang to my waist next to my sword and tucked my helmet under my arm. Outside my tent, my men finished their meals. Jorgen stood so swiftly that he knocked his bowl of herb pheasant flying.


    "Ser William," he said. "We''re at your command."


    I arched a brow, fighting to keep the smile from my face.


    "You don''t have to call me Ser, you know."


    Jorgen frowned, his face serious.


    "Of course I do. You are a sanctioned Knight, which makes you one of the highest ranking men in the company, right beside Lieutenant Gills."


    I sighed.


    "Can''t anything be simple?"


    "The simple answer is no," Gills stepped into the light of the cook fire, his hair slightly disheveled. Moments later I noticed Vera step out of the same tent, a self-satisfied smile on her face.


    "The burden of command weighs heavily on you I see," said Kato, slurping a spoon of pheasant.


    "I''m glad you volunteered to lead latrine duty," said Gills. Scribbling a note on his parchment.


    Draxus snorted.


    "He already smells bad enough, why make it worse?"


    "Have jokes now, do you?" Asked a much more sober Kato.


    I turned to Gills as the two of them bickered in the background.


    "My men and I will take watch tonight," I said. "Which quadrant of the camp are we covering?"


    Gills considered this, pulling at the hairs of his beard.


    "We have enough men on for rear watch tonight, but I was asked by Lord Blackthorne to send a few more soldiers to patrol the South Eastern perimeter. Apparently, they could use the assistance."


    I nodded and gathered my men. I had thirteen soldiers under my command, and all of them were now armed and equipped properly. I had already made a list of additional supplies, upgrades, and equipment that could be used to better supply my men.


    Additionally, I would make it a point to ask Bjorn about Trait specialties. If my soldiers were able to level up and gain trait mastery, it would change the course of how we fought on the battlefield.


    I turned to see Astrid, her recurve bow in one hand and quiver in the other.


    "I''m to patrol with you tonight, Ser William," she said. I rubbed the back of my neck and pulled my helmet on.


    "Can we please stop with all the Ser?"


    "I''m afraid not. Knights are always referred to by their title. It is a rank, and that rank is often earned in the heart of battle and bestowed by one of Noble blood."


    "At least call me Will," I muttered as I walked past. My men rose from the fire, handing off their empty bowls and cutlery to Vera and thanking her for the meal. It was a bit of a ritual in the 3rd, and some men were even superstitious about it.


    "Eating Vera''s food gives you a boost of stats," Insisted Kato one night.


    "Or at the very least it provides a placebo, which is just as good."


    We made our way through the encampment to a place where the mobile defenses had been stood up. Crude wooden blockades had been erected near the gap in the palisade wall.


    Four soldiers stood on guard and the one with the crossbow hailed us.


    "Ser William," he said, and I sighed inwardly. "You''re a welcome sight. My boys and I were meant to stand watch tonight but between the recent bout of food poisoning, and the losses at the battle we''ve been stretched thin."


    "Aye. There was a¡­ running bet among some of the men to see if harvested Monster meat was edible. A foolish endeavor I know, but what can you do?"


    He sighed wearily.


    "Needless to say they''ve learned a valuable lesson and will be shitting their brains out for the foreseeable future."


    "Unfortunate, that."


    Jorgen stayed close by while I sent Hade and four others to walk a parallel patrol pattern. The other men I set at intervals, with a lookout mounted on the raised platform behind the palisade.


    The watch was largely uneventful. Several mounted messengers checked in and out of the camp gate. At one point a drunk soldier had wandered over to one of the staked torches and pissed on it until it went out.


    This earned him a cuffing from his sergeant and a forced apology. The sentry watched the man walk away, bemused.


    "I swear the discipline is always the first to go in times of war." He murmured.


    "Have you seen many campaigns?" I asked.


    "Oh aye. I served under Lord Blackthorne back before he inherited his fathers titles. A good man, a solid leader. I''ve followed him ever since."


    Draxus approached from the inside of the camp, carrying with him a large water skin. He refilled our canteens and I thanked him.


    "Have you seen Vera?" he asked. "Gills was asking for her earlier, but she wasn''t in camp. I thought she might have gone to get the morning supplies early."


    I glanced up at the stars.


    "This early?"


    Draxus shrugged.


    "Was worth a guess. She could have gone to the stream to bathe before the men wake up. If you see her let her know Gills is looking for her."


    I sipped from my canteen, watching as Draxus walked away. The night was long, and the sound of snoring men could be heard. A cooking fire crackled nearby.


    I frowned, unable to shake the feeling that something was off.


    "Jorgen," I want you to do something for me. Jorgen, who had been trying not to nod off standing up, suddenly sprung to attention.


    "Anything Ser William," he said, scrubbing the sleep from his eyes.


    I gestured with my chin.


    "I want you to survey Ser Connel''s men and see if a man named York is around. If the sentries question you just tell them that you have a message for him, and leave before they return."


    Jorgen looked confused but to his credit, he didn''t hesitate for long. The spearman jogged off into the night and I waited, leaning against a barricade. Several long minutes passed and I found myself shifting on my feet, nerves tingling.


    Finally, Jorgen strode back into the light of the torches.


    "Sorry Ser William, but I couldn''t get ahold of him. Camp guards say he went out for a piss earlier and hasn''t returned."


    I swore.


    "How much earlier?" I asked.


    Jorgen looked confused.


    "I don''t know Ser, I didn''t ask."


    The Sentry glanced over at me.


    "Everything alright Ser William."


    I forced myself to maintain my calm as I turned to him and nodded.


    "My men will stay here," I said. "Hade and Jorgen will accompany me while I attend to a.... private matter. Will eleven men be enough?"


    The Sentry nodded.


    "More than enough. But Ser William If you don''t mind me asking, what''s¡­"


    I turned and was already striding away.

 Twenty Seven: A Reckoning

    "The stream flows this way," said Hade, gesturing down the bank toward the large creek.The sky was lighter with the promise of a morning soon to come. I had followed the uneven tracks that York''s boots left In the damp earth. Beside the trail, a silver flask had been cast to the side of his trail carelessly.


    I picked it up and scented cheap spirits.


    "He''s drunk," I said. "But he''s also alone. Now''s our chance to corner him."


    Jorgen hesitated.


    "Ser William," he said. "York is a bastard, but isn''t he under the protection of Ser Connel? Lord Blackthorne wouldn''t take kindly to us roughing him up. There could be repercussions."


    I scrubbed a hand over my face, blinking away the fatigue. I was tired from the night''s watch, but I couldn''t deny that Jorgen had a point. Blindly rushing in wasn''t an option here - I needed a plan.


    There were laws against certain behaviors in times of war. Simply giving York a beatdown or turning him in wouldn''t be enough to discourage his behavior. Men like him knew only one universal language, and it was not one of words.


    As it was I could see two paths unfolding before me. One led to the 3rd being penalized for my actions tonight. And the other¡­.


    "Hade," I said. "Circle wide and come in from the left when you see him. Jorgen, you''re with me. Don''t harm a hair on his head. Just, help me restrain him. Understood?"


    Hade nodded and headed off into the trees to loop around. The sound of the stream over rocks was louder now. I could see the water in the early morning glow.


    I locked eyes with Jorgen, whose face grew hard with determination.


    I nodded once and together we stepped out of the trees and onto the bank of the stream.


    The creek itself was small but clean water flowed from downhill and over moss-covered rocks toward the still water of the bog. It was one of the few places that the Army had found to safely refill canteens and water skins, as clean water was scarce in the bog.


    Near the bottom, the stream widened. I heard the sound of a shout followed by a splash and that''s when I spotted two figures.


    They were wrestling in the shallows. York had his trousers unbuckled and was shouting something. He raised a hand as if to strike Vera but before he could she drew back her fist and with surprising percision, punched him in the eye.


    York''s head snapped sideways and Vera shoved herself to her feet.


    She was still fully clothed but her dress was soaked through, and her eyes burned with hate and anger. York had recovered and he spat in the water.


    "You stupid bitch," he growled. "I''ll make you regret that."


    He stumbled towards her, water sloshing around his boots. Vera flinched back balling her hands into fists. Then over his shoulder, she caught sight of me. Her eyes went wide.


    "Will?" she only had a moment to breath the question before I slammed into York with all the force I could muster.


    Cold water doused my boots, flowing through my chain mail and soaking the clothing beneath. The rocks scrapped and clinked on my armor as York struggled.


    He was the bigger man, but I had the advantage of surprise. York wasn''t wearing armor and his unbelted trousers clung to his legs. He swung at me, fist bouncing off my helmet hard enough to make it ring like a gong.


    I gripped him by the back of the tunic and shoved him down in the water. He spluttered and kicked.


    Jorgen was beside me in moments, helping me pin him as I reached into my inventory for rope.


    Hade came charging out of the woods to the left, coming up short when he realized he was late.


    "Shit, Sorry Ser." He said.


    "Help me hold him," I grunted as York struggled beneath me. Twice he managed to slip a meaty hand free of my hold and swing at me. My armor protected me from the blows, so I ignored them and focused on binding his feet and wrists.


    York shook his head, flipping wet hair from his eyes.


    "You''ll regret this Blackbriar," he said, smiling with bloody teeth. "Ser Connel won''t stand for this. I''m a man at arms in service to a Lord. The likes of you can''t touch me."


    "Gag him," I said to Jorgen, ignoring Yorks''s snarl of rage as he tried to jerk his head away from Hade.


    I turned to Vera.


    "Are you alright?" I asked her. Vera was standing nearby, wet hair tossed over a shoulder. Her face was calm, but I could see the tension in her clenched fists.


    "I''m fine," she said. "He was too drunk to do any real harm. Where is Gills?" she looked around and I hesitated.


    "He''s not here," I confessed. "I didn''t tell him where I was going, or anyone else for that matter."


    Vera frowned.


    "Why?"


    I met her gaze.


    "Because if Gills was here he would have killed him, and then he''d be swinging from a tree for murder by sun up."


    Vera swallowed and nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear.


    "I know him well enough to know the truth of that. He''s a gentleman, but he has no tolerance for weak men that prey on others." She spat at York.


    "What do we do now? Surely we can''t just let him go?"


    "I don''t intend to."


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    I watched as Hade managed to wrestle a strip of dirty cloth into York''s mouth. The soldier had murder in his eyes, and I knew this cycle had to end today. I couldn''t break the man, not in these circumstances. So I would have to break his spirit.


    "He tried to bite me," said Hade, jerking his hand back. He and Jorgen wrestled the soldier to his knees and turned towards me.


    "What do we do with him?" asked Jorgen. I swiped wet hair from my eyes.


    "We take him back," I said. Hade looked doubtful but he followed my orders, he and Jorgen began dragging York back towards the camp. Vera fell into lockstep beside us.


    She kept cutting glances at me and York, her eyes worried.


    "Thank you," she said after a while. "For coming for me. But I must ask - what is it you plan to do?"


    I stared straight ahead.


    "You''ll see."


    When we came in sight of the blockades, those on watch hailed us. The remainder of my squad stepped forward to help restrain York. The Sentry jogged over to me, eyes sweeping across my sodden clothes, then Vera.


    "What happened here?" he asked.


    "No time," I said. "Will you go and fetch the Lord''s messenger? Lord Blackthorne usually wakes early to train, and have the messenger tell him that Will of Blackbriar needs his council."


    The Sentry hesitated for a moment and I saw the doubt in him. I straightened my spine and met his gaze.


    "That is an order, soldier."


    "Yes Ser William."


    The Sentry said something to one of his men before turning and jogging in the direction of Lord Blackthorne''s banners. The sun was peaking out from behind the trees now. We had drawn the attention of more than a few soldiers milling about during morning activities. Heads turned towards us and several men pointed at York.


    "What''s going on here?." The familiar voice made me grit my teeth. It was the last person I''d wanted to encounter.


    Ser Connel emerged from his tent, his sheathed sword in one hand. He was wearing a loose-fitting linen shirt and his hair was still mussed from sleep.


    At the sight of me, his lip curled.


    "Blackbriar," he said the name like a curse. "I should have known you were somehow involved. Can''t say I''m surprised."


    I said nothing, internally willing the Sentry to move faster.


    Ser Connel''s eyes fell on York, tied, gagged, and soaking wet and his brows drew together. He gripped the hilt of his sword, knuckles white.


    "What is this?" he said. "Return my man to me at once, Blackbriar, or suffer the consequences."


    "It''s York who will suffer the consequences," I said. "He attempted to dishonor a member of our company. For that, he''ll answer to Lord Blackthorne."


    Ser Connel stormed forward half drawing his blade from its sheath. I stepped back, hand going to where Iron Fang hung at my belt. Before I could react the female Knight of Lord Dacon''s company stepped forward. She was tall, taller even than Ser Connel. She held him in her steely gaze and shook her head.


    "Ser William is a Knight," she said. "For a Knight to draw on another is an act of aggression. Once blades are drawn it cannot be undone. You know this, Ser Connel."


    A muscle spasmed in Ser Connel''s jaw as he glared at me. Slowly he slid his blade back into its sheath and stepped aside.


    "I will not countenance this," he said to the female Knight. "You and I both know that peasants'' blood is as thin as water. He is no Knight, and neither I or mine will recognize him as such."


    "And what of my Word, Ser Connel?" rang a deep voice. "If I say that Will of Blackbriar is a Knight of the realm, would you dare to contradict me?"


    Lord Hadrian Blackthorne strolled through the crowd, flanked by two of his household guards. He was stripped to the waist, chest still glistening with the sweat of a hard morning''s work.


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    Ser Connel had the grace to look abashed.


    "No my Lord," he said, bowing. "Your will is not for me to question."


    "No," agreed Blackthorne, coming to a stop several feet away. "It is not."


    He glanced between me and York, still held fast by my men. His face darkened.


    "What is the meaning of this, Ser William?" he asked. I heard the note of danger in his voice and bowed.


    "I must apologize for the early hour, Lord," I said. "But it was brought to my attention that this man intended to commit assault against one of noble blood. I am, by Kadian law, bound to uphold the oath I swore to Lord Dacon. I cannot permit such a thing."


    Ser Connel waved a dismissive hand.


    "He wastes your time my Lord. This woman is not of noble blood, she is a common cook. This matter is an internal affair and can be settled with due haste. Allow me to investigate this claim and if discipline is necessary I will carry out the sentence myself."


    "Forgive me Ser Connel," I said. "But it is you who is mistaken. Vera is the daughter of a Baron, and to lay a hand on her could be considered treason."


    "Treason?" Ser Connel looked incredulous but I saw his stance shift with uncertainty.


    "This cannot be true," he blustered. "You falsify these claims."


    "I do not. The men under your command do not conduct themselves as soldiers should. I rather expect that is a reflection of your company''s leadership."


    Ser Connel''s ears turned scarlet.


    "You insolent-"


    "Peace Ser Connel," said Lord Blackthorne, exasperated. He turned to me.


    "You had better explain yourself, Blackbriar, and without delay."


    I bowed my head.


    "Yes, my Lord."


    I launched into a quick explanation of the events at the stream. Blackthorne listened intently, his face never showing any sign of emotion. When I was done he called for York to be brought forward and his gag to be removed.


    The angry soldier told a much different story, claiming that I and my men had targeted him at Vera''s behest. I clenched my jaw as he pointed in accusation.


    "He is nothing more than a brawler my Lord," said York. "A common tavern brawler without a lick of respect. He jumped me, he did. He and his minions there. I wasn''t even armed and they threatened me, Lord. I was afraid for my life."


    Blackthorne stepped forward and examined York more closely. The man seemed nervous under the gaze of his Lord, averting his eyes to the ground. After a Blackthorne drew back.


    "You seem relatively unharmed," he said. "Aside from the shiner dealt to you by the 3rd''s cook."


    At his glance Vera flushed.


    "And your breath stinks of spirit. Have you been drinking?"


    York flicked a nervous tongue over his lips.


    "I¡­ the night before my Lord, but I assure you-"


    Blackthorne held up a hand.


    "I''ve heard enough. I''m afraid Ser William is correct, Ser Connel. Vera is of noble blood, even if she is unlanded and untitled. If your man did indeed attempt to commit this crime, then he must answer for it."


    Ser Connel hid his surprise well. The only thing that gave him away were his eyes, which darted to York and narrowed.


    Lord Blackthorne blew out a breath.


    "Ser Connel, as one of two aggrieved parties it is within your right to suggest action. What do you propose?"


    Ser Connel smiled triumphantly, stepping forward.


    "My Lord I ask that York be returned to my company. I am fully prepared to investigate this matter and dole out whatever disciplinary action my company sees fit. It is, after all, an internal affair. I ask for your leave to handle this as gentlemen."


    Blackthorne turned to me.


    "Ser William," he said. "You are the other party, and thus it is within your right to suggest action as well. What do you propose."


    I bowed and stepped forward. For the second time in 24 hours, I felt the heavy gazes of those around me. I wasn''t entirely sure of my choice, but I couldn''t afford to hesitate now.


    "My Lord," I said. "I seek request, no, I demand satisfaction on behalf of the Lady Vera and the 3rd. Laws may change in times of war, but the need for discipline does not. I trust my Lord wholeheartedly, and ask that he allow me to challenge Sergeant York in a duel."


    There was a silence. Even Blackthorne looked partially taken aback.


    Ser Connel recovered first, clearing his throat.


    "Ser William is a Knight, My Lord. A Knight facing off against a common soldier? It is simply unprecedented."


    Blackthorne looked amused.


    "Did you not just claim that Ser William was not in fact a Knight and that you and yours would never recognize him as such?"


    Ser Connel spluttered.


    "I.. My Lord I spoke badly."


    "I would say so."


    Blackthorne straightened.


    "And Vera, what is your will in this? You too are an aggrieved party."


    Vera glanced at me and held my gaze. After a moment she nodded.


    "I agree with Ser William, my Lord," she said.


    "Very well, Blackbriar. I accept your request as the best course of action. York will be held by my men and given the chance to rest, eat, and sleep off his intoxication. At sun down tonight you will have your duel. How do you wish to settle things?"


    I leveled a gaze at York, who was glaring at me, a cruel smile playing across his face. He was level 24, and had the advantage of size and experience over me. He believed he had all but won.


    "I request a duel of fists my Lord," I said. "Since I am, after all, a common brawler."

 Twenty Eight: Hard Lessons

    Gills found me in my tent at sundown.I could tell by the look on his face that he was angry. I opened my mouth, but the veteran cut me off.


    ¡°You should have told me,¡± he snapped. ¡°If it involved Vera you should have come to me - I have a right to know.¡±


    I pulled on my boots, taking time to think. Gills stood in silence, fists clenching and unclenching.


    ¡°I thought I could trust you,¡± he said. ¡°I wanted to trust you.¡±


    ¡°You can trust me.¡±


    I rose to my feet.


    ¡°Gills, you do have a right to know. But the reason I didn¡¯t tell you is because I knew what you¡¯d do - what I¡¯d do in your place. I didn¡¯t want to see you hanged for some bastard with no scruples.¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°I¡¯m your second now. You have to trust me to lead. For yourself, and for the sake of the men. We must be united on this.¡±


    He held my gaze for a moment then huffed a breath, shoulders slumping.


    ¡°I understand why you did it,¡± he said. ¡°But you¡¯re taking York too lightly. The man¡¯s been a career soldier for almost as long as I have. He¡¯s big, he¡¯s strong, and he¡¯s 7 levels above you. What were you thinking?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a gamble,¡± I said. At his look, I sighed.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a big fucking gamble. But something had to be done. The 3rd has been looked down on, ridiculed, or at best ignored by the other companies in the Army. It¡¯s time we started to make our mark.¡±


    Gills shook his head but he didn¡¯t contradict me.


    ¡°Why are the young so idealistic,¡± he muttered as he followed me out into the empty air. My men stood around the cookfire waiting for me. As I walked, Hade and Jorgen took up beside me like an honor guard.


    I snorted.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you two have something better to do?¡±


    ¡°No, Ser.¡± Said Hade flippantly.


    ¡°No point in trying to talk him out of it.¡± Draxus stood with arms folded, waiting. Beside him Kato and Bjorn looked on. Kato looked somewhere between amused and exasperated.


    ¡°And to think, I was really starting to like you Blackbriar. Now I¡¯ll have to bury you.¡±


    He sighed theatrically and I rolled my eyes.


    ¡°All of you have better things to do. Now scram.¡±


    Kato laughed.


    ¡°If you think that every soldier in the standing Kadian Army doesn¡¯t know about your little duel and is planning to watch then you¡¯re an idiot. The rumors have been spreading like wild fire. Bets have been made, men have been drinking. Why, it¡¯s the spectacle of the fucking season.¡±


    I grimaced as I began wrapping my wrists with strips of linen.


    ¡°How do I always end up the source of a bet?¡± I asked. Kato slapped me on the shoulder.


    ¡°Because my dear Knight, you are predictably unpredictable.¡±


    ¡°Why does nothing you say ever make sense?¡±


    ¡°Makes more sense when you¡¯ve had a drink. Or ten.¡±


    A horn blew in the distance and I looked up. The nerves were already prickling at my stomach like shards of ice, and the best I could manage was a grunt as Gills asked.


    ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    The crowd was dense around the center of camp. Those not on watch had gathered around to see the spectacle. Some were sitting on the ground, while others stood and waited. A few soldiers sat on tree branches high above, trying to get a better look.


    Heads turned and fingers pointed in my direction as I approached. Draxus caught my shoulder and leaned towards me.


    ¡°He favors his left leg,¡± he said. ¡°Puts his whole weight on it when he lunges.¡±


    I met his gaze and nodded.


    ¡°I hope you know what you¡¯re doing.¡±


    So do I. I almost said it but in the end, I could only manage another grunt as I made my way through the crowd. Hade and Jorgen walked with me, pushing their way through the press on my behalf.


    At the center of camp, the ground had been cleared of debris. A thick circle had been drawn in the dirt with a branch and It was at least fifteen feet across both ways.


    The gleam of the setting sun on armor announced the arrival of the Lord¡¯s. Lord Blackthorne stood atop the raised platform that had been used for the execution. He waited and the excited murmurs of the soldiers died away as they turned to attend their Lord.


    ¡°This,¡± said Lord Blackthorne, his voice ringing out over the camp. ¡°Is a sanctioned duel. The rules are simple. No man or woman may interfere in the combat once it has commenced. There will be no outside help. The duel will continue until one combatant is unwilling, or unable to fight. If an opponent submits, it will be up to the winning party to decide whether or not to accept this submission.¡±


    He glanced first and me, and then at York.


    ¡°Do the combatants agree to these terms.¡±


    ¡°I do my Lord,¡± I said and York repeated the same.


    Blackthorne gestured with a hand.


    ¡°step forward.¡±


    The crowd began to murmur again. Soldiers turned to look at me as I passed. A sea of eyes and faces. Some smiled, others scowled. I kept my eyes forward, locked on where my opponent now shoved his way through the crowd.


    York swaggered to the edge of the circle as if it were made for him. He, like me, had his wrists wrapped with Linen strips. He was shirtless, and the bulk of him was impressive. He was built like Draxus, though his neck wasn¡¯t nearly as thick. He stood at least a head taller than me and his eyes seemed to dance with sadistic light.


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    As he bounced from foot to foot, cracking his neck, I realized something about him I hadn¡¯t before.


    York was a performer. He was a man who adored the attention he received and enjoyed the power it gave him. He was a competent soldier and was likely a good fighter to boot. But he was proud, and there was a chance I could use that to my advantage.


    York took a swig from a canteen and swished it around his mouth, spitting onto the ground.


    I stepped to the edge of the ring and rolled my shoulders forward and backward, loosening my arms. York smirked when I pulled my tunic over my head and tossed it to the ground. A few soldiers in the crowd laughed.


    I understood why. Next to a man York¡¯s size, I was small. My build was lean, but my shoulders and arms had grown since joining the army. I had never been a big guy, and yet, that had never mattered where I grew up.


    I stretched my legs and then my back, bouncing from foot to foot to warm up my muscles. I was going to need any advantage I could get.


    York stepped into the circle, and he smiled then. A cruel smile - the smile of a predator cornering injured prey. My palms were sweaty and I wiped them on my trousers. There was a time for fear, and it wasn¡¯t now.


    I drew in a breath, feeling the air expand in my lungs. Then I blocked out the sounds of voices as I squared my shoulders and stepped into the ring.


    Lord Blackthorne leaned on the sheathed blade of Dawnbringer, hands draped across the handle. All around the circle grew hushed. Newly lit torches crackled and the sound of insects drifted up from the swamp.


    In other circumstances, it might have been peaceful.


    ¡°Ready,¡± called Lord Blackthorne. His face was calm in contrast to the Count¡¯s Son, who stood beside him. Dacon¡¯s shoulders were tense and his eyes betrayed his worry. The sight almost made me smile.


    I waited in tense silence until Blackthorne dropped his arm.


    ¡°Begin!¡±


    York lunged so quickly that if I hadn¡¯t been expecting it, he might have caught me off guard. Air stirred my hair as his fist whipped past my ear, retracting just as quickly.


    I managed to dodge another jab, but had to dance away from a third.


    Damn, he was fast. I had assumed my own size and natural agility might give me the edge of speed, but as it was I was barely able to track his movements. I dodged to the side, raising my fists to deflect a blow aimed at my chin.


    York¡¯s teeth were gritted in a brutal smile as he dropped back to circle me.


    ¡°Where all that bluster?¡± he crooned. ¡°Not so mouthy now are ya boy?¡±


    He snapped out another jab, and as I dodged aside I saw his weight shift. The hook clipped me on the cheek. Even as I turned aside to distribute the momentum, the blow still made my head ring.


    I tried to dance back, nearly stumbling as I moved to get clear. I could taste the salty tang of blood on my tongue.


    York backed off, switching his stance and rolling his shoulders. He was toying with me now, wanting to draw out the fight.


    I tracked his movements, looking for weaknesses.


    ¡°Come on now lad¡± he mocked. ¡°Don¡¯t go soft on me now. It was you who asked for this beating, was it not? So come and take it like a man, eh?¡±


    I snorted.


    ¡°Your attempts at bait are weak, as is your manhood.¡±


    Several soldiers in the crowd laughed. York¡¯s smile slipped. With a growl he came for me and this time I was ready. I stepped forward ducking beneath his punch and up under his guard. His face twisted in surprise the moment before I struck.


    My uppercut slammed into his jaw so hard his teeth clacked together. I felt the impact through my knuckles all the way to my elbow and snarled with satisfaction when his head whipped backward.


    My celebration was premature. As I went in to follow up, York recovered. I dodged his first punch but the second caught me in the ribs. I stumbled back, trying to put distance between us, but York only followed. His smile was back now, curling his lips and making him appear almost devil-like.


    It was then that the disparity in our base stats would become painfully apparent.


    His attacks came faster, and with no pauses in between. I managed to block three but was caught by the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth before I could recover. I was backed up against the edge of the circle now, only feet from the crowd.


    In moments York had closed the distance, his eyes burning with triumph.


    My ribs and sides burned where I¡¯d been struck.


    Skill Activated: Iron Blooded


    ¡°Ah,¡± I said. And I smiled.


    York stepped forward, snarling like an angry bull.


    It was his own size that did him in.


    My boot connected with the inside of his left knee and he stumbled.


    He tried to arrest his fall with his other leg but his boot slid in the mud. I saw the moment he realized that I had set him up - saw the triumph in his eyes drain away.


    Then I came for him.


    My fist caught him in the nose and knocked him back. He hit the ground hard, trying to break his fall with his arm, but I kicked it out from under him. York snarled and tried to rise to but my knee caught him in the head.


    He coughed, strings of blood dribbling from his nose and mouth. He tried to crawl away on his hands and knees but I followed landing a kick to his ribs, and then another. York fell to the mud, wheezing as I planted a boot on his back.


    ¡°I submit,¡± he wheezed. His eyes glared hatred even as he said the words.


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    All around the faces looked on in silence. Among them Ser Connel, Gills, Vera, and the 3rd watched. It would be easy to end things now, to call my win and walk away. But even as I thought it I knew it was impossible.


    York was the type of man who would hold a grudge and wait for his time to strike. It wasn¡¯t enough to break his body - I had to break his spirit too.


    I had to send a message.


    Reaching down I seized the Sergeant¡¯s thick wrist and pressed down with my boot, holding his torso in place. I twisted his arm up and back until his growl turned into a whine.


    ¡°I submit, Blackbriar,¡± he said through panting breaths. ¡°I said you win.¡±


    ¡°I do not accept the terms of your submission.¡±


    With one sharp movement, I jerked his arm backward. York¡¯s eyes bulged as his shoulder dislocated.


    I twisted his wrist the other way, hearing the pop as his elbow followed. Only then did he scream.


    His good hand scrabbled at the mud but I simply walked around him, slamming my heel into his hand and hearing the snap of bones bones.


    The sound of his scream made my stomach twist, but I kept my face a cold mask. There could be no weakness here.


    I let him crawl away then. He glanced over his shoulder at me, face bloody and eyes wide with fear.


    ¡°Leave me alone,¡± he said through a mouthful of blood as I approached. ¡°I give up. You win. You win Ser William.¡±


    I gripped his boot and drew him backward, his arm bent at an odd angle. When I had dragged him to the center of the circle I gripped his hair and drew his head back.


    ¡°Say it,¡± I said coldly. ¡°Say it loudly so that they can hear you.¡±


    Tears of anger and humiliation gathered in his eyes. For a moment he clenched his jaw and I reached down, twisting his thumb backward. He cried out and the tears spilled over.


    ¡°I give up¡± He sobbed, shoulders shaking. ¡°I submit, you win Ser William.¡±


    I released him and stood, meeting Blackthorne¡¯s gaze. There was approval in his eyes but I wasn¡¯t in the mood to receive it.


    ¡°I am satisfied my Lord,¡± I said.


    Blackthorne inclined his head.


    ¡°Ser William of Blackbriar is the victor.¡±


    I turned my back and strode for the edge of the crowd. Men parted for me like water. I searched the faces until I found who I was looking for.


    Sharp blue eyes met my own. The healer tilted her head at me but there was no weariness in her eyes. Instead, there was something else¡­ approval? Calculation? I was too tired to tell. The exhaustion of the long night and the following day weighed on me like a blanket.


    Without a word, I turned and strode for my tent.


    The Healer followed me, her steps quickly overtaking my own as made my way into the camp. Wordlessly I held the flap of my tent open for her, and she stepped inside.


    ¡°Let me see you,¡± she said, raising a hand. Her palm was warm against my cheek. I felt the tickle of her magic as it healed the the soreness in my jaw. I tried to hide the sudden trembling of my hands but she saw them and glanced up at me.


    ¡°Sometimes,¡± she said. ¡°Sending a message is necessary.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    I didn¡¯t want to look at her - didn¡¯t want to think about what I¡¯d done.


    ¡°William.¡±


    The sound of my name on her lips made me look around. Her head was tilted to the side, thoughtful as she gazed at me.


    ¡°You are not a cruel man,¡± she said. ¡°You are simply inevitable. I¡¯ve watched you come up against odds and circumstances that should have defeated you time and time again.¡±


    Her fingers traced the side of my jaw.


    ¡°You are a stubborn force of nature.¡± She said. ¡°But don¡¯t waste time mourning what you are.¡±


    I swallowed and nodded.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I rasped. ¡°Or at least I know you¡¯re right in theory. But in practice¡­¡± I let my voice trail away.


    The Healer made to drop her hand but I reached up and took it in mine.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± I asked her. Her face was heart-shaped and her eyes vibrant as she studied me.


    ¡°Joanna.¡± She said at last.


    I held her gaze and smiled.

 Twenty Nine: The Untree

    The pavilion for wounded soldiers was located on the west side of camp.As I approached, the soldiers sitting outside looked up. One of the men jumped to his feet, his expression hard.


    ¡°Stop right there,¡± he said. ¡°You won¡¯t get any further. Ser Connel has commanded us to stand guard.¡±


    I stopped in front of him and stared him down.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here for York,¡± I said. ¡°In fact I wish him no further harm. I¡¯m here to speak with Ser Connel.¡±


    The soldier eyed me dubiously, gaze snagging at my empty waist. I was unarmed and unarmored and that seemed to give him pause.


    "What do you want with him?" he asked.


    I tilted my head.


    "That is between me and Ser Connel."


    One of the others scoffed.


    ¡°Go and warn him,¡± he said to the soldier that had stood. The man kept his eyes on me and I noticed his hand on the knife at his belt.


    ¡°Ser William will Wait here,¡± he said.


    I stood in the morning light, listening to the sounds of birds and bog insects as the sun rose. The soldiers watched me with a new kind of wariness - that of prey noting the presence of a predator.


    They were not the only ones. My presence here had caught the attention of more than one of the men at arms nearby. Soldiers began to talk amongst themselves, some even poking heads out of their tents to get a better look.


    I ignored all this and waited with hands clasped behind my back. At last the soldier returned.


    ¡°You have ten minutes, Blackbriar.¡± Said the voice from inside the pavilion.


    Ser Connel himself was standing at the side of a cot in which a man lay. His arm, face, and hand were heavily bandaged and his chest rose and fell with the rhythm of sleep.


    York looked somehow worse than when I''d left him. The entire right side of his body was bruised, and his face was crusted with dried blood.


    ¡°The healers did what they could," said Ser Connel. "But he¡¯ll need to sleep it off. Even then We don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll recover full use of his right arm.¡±


    Ser Connel gazed down at the sleeping form of York, his eyes sad.


    ¡°You¡¯re related,¡± I said. It was more a statement than a question and Ser Connel¡¯s back stiffened. I waited for him to deny my words, but he didn''t. At last he sighed.


    ¡°My late sister''s son,¡± he said. "And her last legacy in this world. What a waste."


    His eyes were distant, glassy.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± I said.


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    ¡°I don''t need your apologies, Blackbriar. My sister is long gone, and York is...what he is. He isn¡¯t a good man, not by any stretch of the imagination. But he¡¯s her blood.¡±


    He sighed then, shoulders slumping in a rattle of plate. His eyes were bloodshot and I realized that he must have stayed at York¡¯s side all night.


    ¡°I want to know why,¡± he said finally. ¡°You could have killed him - should have some would say. Why didn¡¯t you?¡±


    I stood in silence for a moment, watching York¡¯s chest rise and fall.


    ¡°We are not enemies, Ser Connel. And I wouldn¡¯t have us be rivals - not if there was an alternative. There are enough things in this world that want to kill us without us turning on each other.¡±


    Ser Connel grunted, shaking his head with a bitter smile.


    ¡°The Optimism of the Young. How I wish things were that simple."


    ¡°Maybe,¡± I turned to face him. ¡°I¡¯m young Ser Connel, and I recognize that I have much to learn. But I know what it¡¯s like to lose men¡­ to lose friends to this war. I need allies, not enemies.¡±


    Ser Connel turned to me then. His mouth opened like he might say something, before falling closed again. He blinked several times.


    ¡°We could never be friends, Ser William,¡± he said. ¡°But as for allies¡­. That remains to be seen.¡±


    I nodded, knowing that was the best compromise I could expect. I let the silence stretch for a few minutes before I asked the question I had come to ask.


    ¡°What will you do with him?¡±


    The Knight pulled off a gauntlet with a clink of plates. He rubbed at his face with his hand, rolling his eyes to the ceiling as if seeking answers.


    ¡°That I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°But it¡¯s clear to me that York is not suited for Army life. I¡¯ve put in the appropriate paperwork with Lord Blackthorne and given his injury, it¡¯s likely he¡¯ll be discharged. From there it will be up to him."


    He lifted his helmet from where it sat on a nearby chair and tucked it beneath his armor.


    ¡°Your message has been received, Ser William. For now, I have to ask that you give my men space. York was not well-liked among the company, but he was one of ours nonetheless. What transpired in the circle was¡­ regrettable. But,¡±


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    He hesitated for a moment then sighed.


    ¡°It was likely necessary. Had he been any other man I would have held the whip myself. But they say that blood blinds you."


    His eye grew distant for a moment. Then he shook himself.


    ¡°Take your leave Blackbriar. If we meet again, let it be on the field of battle.¡±


    ***


    The Army moved at a snail''s pace.


    Men and horses rode no more than three wide, unable or unwilling to risk the bog¡¯s more treacherous terrain. The deeper we went, the more dense the foliage became. The smell of stagnant water and the buzz of flies was an ever-present curse.


    My boot stuck fast in the mud beside the trail. I grunted in annoyance as I had to stop and lean back to pull at it. It came free with a squelch and I nearly toppled backwards.


    ¡°How much longer until we¡¯re out of this Throne forsaken swamp?¡± Grumbled Kato, as he pried his own boot of the quagmire.


    Gills wiped the sweat from beneath his helmet before jamming it back on.


    ¡°Another day, maybe two if we keep having to stop to get the supply wagons unstuck.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to keep up the pace,¡± I said. ¡°I can¡¯t see Lord Blackthorne ordering us to halt and make camp in a place like this. Too many unknowns around and the terrain is less than ideal for a defense."


    "And then there are the rumors," said Draxus, grabbing a hold of Jorgen as he slid precariously in the mud.


    ¡°What rumors?¡± Kato glanced between Draxus and I.


    I raised a brow.


    ¡°Have you been sleeping under a rock these past few days? There have been reports from every patrol that¡¯s returned. It''s the talk of the camp.


    They say that at night there are things in the bog that intentionally lead men astray in the hopes of confusing them. We''ve already lost more than one soldier during patrol."


    ¡°Lost them?" Kato looked incredulous. "How do you lose an entire man?"


    Jorgen had managed to recover himself and came to stand beside us.


    "My gran used to tell stories about the swamps," he said "tales of men entering and never coming out again. They say that in some places the mud is so thick it can swallow a horse hole."


    "Your Gran sounds a bit odd," said Kato.


    Jorgen lowered his voice.


    "Ser William, Do you think that it could have something to do with the Occult?¡±


    I glanced around us, making sure no one else had overheard.


    ¡°Maybe," I confessed. "When I spoke to the Inquisitor she said something about it being a warning. The question is, a warning of what?¡±


    Draxus shivered.


    ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯d rather not know.¡±


    A man was making his way back down the column of soldiers. He was young and dressed in the bright livery of the House of Basset. He passed a squad of men from the 3rd and ended up having to stop to wait for them to pass.


    "Don''t look now," said Kato. "But I think the lad''s here for you."


    The young boy bounced to a stop in front of me, and bowed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been asked to fetch Ser William,¡± he said, breathlessly. His eyes slid to me, and then nervously away.


    ¡°Lord Dacon requests your presence. He says there is something you need to see.¡±


    With that ominous message, he bowed again and started his run back towards the front of the line.


    ¡°I Wish I had his youthful energy,¡± mutterd Gills. ¡°Would be useful in more ways than one.¡±


    ¡°Oh I dunno, but by the shaking of Vera¡¯s tent each night I¡¯d say you¡¯re doing just-¡°


    Gills slapped Kato in the back of the head and made the younger man grin.


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± he said, throwing his hands up in surrender. ¡°I was just joking boss man.¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t wait up,¡± I said. ¡°Whatever it is, it¡¯s unlikely to be good news."


    I collected Hade and Jorgen and then began my way forward trek through the line. Soldiers turned to look as we passed. Some refused to move out of the way, leaving us to slog through the edge of the water to get around them.


    The line of men snaked far into the distance. I could see the bristling spear points and blue and gold banners of the Basset Household long before we reached them. At a small divet in the road, the female Knight stood beside her horse. She was leading the beast through a thick quagmire of mud on foot.


    At our approach, she glanced up and dipped her head to me.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± she said. ¡°Lord Dacon waits for you by the Untree.¡±


    ¡°The Untree?¡± I asked.


    The Knight nodded serenely.


    ¡°You¡¯ll know it when you see it.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t wrong.


    As I continued down the row of House Basset soldiers, the shadow of a large tree came into view. It was dark, its surface nearly black in the dim light. Gnarled leafless branches twisted up towards the sky like the spines of some great beast. The trunk was wide enough to conceal a horse, but it was the bark that made me look twice.


    At first, the texture seemed rough and uneven. But when I looked closer I saw the subtle shapes of creatures in the wood. Bones, I realized as I studied them closer. The bark had been absorbing bones of all shapes and sizes. They had integrated into the bark as if melded there by some unseen force.


    My skin prickled.


    Beside me Jorgen sucked in a breath as his eyes fell on a skull, half buried in one of the roots. It looked human. I tore my eyes away and stepped forward.


    ¡°Lord Dacon,¡± I said, bowing. The Lord turned to me, sweeping a glove through his fair hair. He was troubled, I could see it in the set of his shoulders. But he kept his tone light as he greeted me.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said. ¡°My apologies for summoning you so unexpectedly. I¡¯m afraid I find myself in need of your help yet again,¡± He laughed, but the sound was forced.


    His household guards stood at attention beside him, but even they seemed tense. One of the men kept glancing down, his face pale.


    ¡°My Lord?¡± I asked. Lord Dacon pointed towards a small divet in the ground between a copse of thick dark roots. After a moment I stepped forward to look.


    Bodies. Tens of them, no, dozens of them, lay at the base of the tree among the gnarled roots. Arms stuck out at odd angles. I could see the bleached white of bones poking through the bark. They seemed fused into the roots as if the Untree was consuming the bodies of the dead.


    I took a startled step back.


    ¡°What is this?¡± I asked, and I heard the horror in my own voice. Lord Dacon¡¯s face was grim.


    ¡°They were brought here,¡± he said. ¡°Brought to the Untree, in order to feed it.¡±


    ¡°Brought here?¡± I swallowed. ¡°By what or who?"


    Dacon nodded.


    ¡°That is the question.¡± He gestured to the tree.


    ¡°Look closer,¡± he said. ¡°Some of the bodies are old, maybe weeks or even months old. They could be villagers or travelers who had attempted to pass through the bog and met their grisly end. But some of them are fresh.¡±


    ¡°The disappearing men,¡± I breathed, as I studied the corpses. Flies buzzed around the mass of flesh and bone.


    ¡°They all ended up here? But how? What¡¯s taking them and¡­depositing them here? Is it the tree itself?¡±


    Dacon shook his head.


    Untree¡¯s are foul things but they aren¡¯t inherently evil. What¡¯s more, they don¡¯t possess the ability or magic necessary to lure unsuspecting soldiers to their doom. No, this is the work of something with much more agency."


    ¡°My Lord,¡± said Hade from beside me. ¡°We should inform Lord Blackthorne at once. If this has anything to do with.. with what the 3rd encountered before..." his voice trailed off.


    Dacon let out a breath and rubbed at his temples.


    ¡°Lord Blackthorne has his hands full with the utility and organization of the march. He¡¯s asked me to assist him in this matter. I¡¯m to investigate, the source of this disturbance and, with my company, eradicate it. I could think of no better man to have at my side.¡±


    I bowed my head.


    ¡°You honor me.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps. Gather your men and I will meet you further down the line.¡± He glanced overhead, eyes scanning the sky through the dark branches.


    ¡°We¡¯ll need to move quickly if we don¡¯t want to get caught out in the bog at night. With so many men we won''t have the element of surprise, but we''ll have the advantage of numbers."


    Dacon watched me walk away. I turned to Hade, whose face was grim.


    ¡°A man-eating tree,¡± he muttered. ¡°I thought I¡¯d seen it all.¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, what we¡¯ve seen likely only cracks the surface.¡±


    I pulled off my helmet to mop at the sweat on my face.


    "Gather Kato and Draxus," I said. "I''ll need them on this."


    Hade glanced at me. "And where will you go, Ser?"


    I placed my helmet back on my head, sliding it into place.


    "To make a plan."

 Thirty: Hidden in the Mist

    The mist was thick in the light of day.It swirled around our bodies as we cut our way through the bog. Behind me, my men fanned out with their spears held at the ready.


    Kato¡¯s foot slipped and splashed into stagnant water. I cut him a look, then realized he couldn¡¯t see my face beneath my visor.


    I raised a hand and signaled for the men to stay silent.


    What I had learned about fiends from Gills, was that they were highly adaptable creatures. Able to live in any climate, fiends made their homes in areas they knew well. A fiend¡¯s hunting ground was a dangerous place to be, and we were in the heart of it.


    I was careful to place each step as I walked, eyes darting between the ground and the mist around me. A tree loomed out of the fog and my gaze was drawn to its bark. Claws had worn thick gouges into the bark.


    We were on the right path.


    Looking ahead I could see the spears of the men of House Basset bobbing along. Lord Dacon¡¯s men were less subtle with their heavy plate armor. They clanked and rattled at every step like a pair of pots and pans.


    Draxus rolled his eyes to the heavens when one of the men slipped in the mud and fell with an almighty clatter.


    ¡°Waste of time,¡± he muttered as he passed me. I was inclined to agree.


    Lord Dacon¡¯s knights had insisted on accompanying their Lord into the field. I could understand their reasoning, especially after having suffered a traitor among their own. But when I had suggested they remove their plate and travel in light armor the idea had been dismissed.


    It became quickly apparent that moving across the bog undetected would be impossible. As the sound of Lord Dacon''s men faded forward I turned, intending to signal for us to follow.


    Ahead I saw the mist rise and stir as a shadow shifted. It could be a soldier or an animal but I wasn¡¯t willing to take the risk.


    I signaled for my men to halt. My breath was loud in my own helmet as I scanned the spot where the movement had been.


    Carefully with my free hand, I drew my sword.


    ¡°Signal to Lord Dacon¡¯s men,¡± I whispered to Jorgen. "Let them know we''ve made contact."


    The soldier saluted and took off at a careful lope. As he disappeared into the fog I signaled the men to move forward. We advanced in a half moon, weapons raised and ready.


    A sound cut the air. I turned in time to see the mist ebb and flow inward as if it were suddenly filling a vacated space.


    I saw the attack coming in the moments before it happened.


    ¡°Wall!¡± I shouted and my soldiers answered the call. Men moved into either side, forming a bristling square. Of steel.


    The Fiend paced just outside of our line of sight. I caught only glimpses of it. Glowing eyes in the fog and a pair of thick horns that looked like they could gore a man where he stood.


    My pulse was racing as I waited for an attack that never came. After a long and tense moment, the creature faded back into the mist. I let out a breath. S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It should have attacked,¡± Muttered Draxus. ¡°Fiends are territorial.¡±


    ¡°Not if It¡¯s luring us in.¡±


    We remained in formation, unwilling to expose ourselves to an enemy that could be lying in wait. After a moment Jorgen returned.


    ¡°I can¡¯t find them, Ser William,¡± he said.


    I frowned at him.


    ¡°Can¡¯t find them? What do you mean? It¡¯s a mass of men at arms some eighty men strong. How did you miss them?¡±


    Jorgen swallowed and shook his head.


    ¡°They aren¡¯t there sir. Just their footprints in the mud and then they just¡­ stop.¡±


    Just stop? What the hell was he talking about?


    Keeping my eyes forward I ordered our line to move back and to the left, towards the spot where the main body of men should have been. There were footprints in the mud and moss, scores of them.


    I followed the tracks with my eyes and saw the place where they stopped. The ground beyond was pristine and untouched.


    ¡°What the fuck,¡± whispered Draxus from beside me. ¡°This can¡¯t be right."


    He stared around at the ground, searching.


    "You can¡¯t lose track of eighty men in ten minutes, it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Yeaah¡­¡± I said, chewing on the inside of my lip. ¡°It is."


    Draxus turned a question gaze to me but I was already stepping out from the shield wall with my sword raised. He shouted a warning the moment before the Fiend struck.


    Separated from my shield wall I was vulnerable.


    The beast was horrifying to behold, ten feet tall, horned, and snarling. It bore down on me with a roar that was loud enough to rattle my ears.


    I held my ground despite my instinct to run. Then I waited.


    The beast panted, glowing eyes boring into me. I studied it closely, and noted the furry body and the glowing markings carved into it¡¯s skin. There was something to it, a strange sheen of something that seemed to shimmer around it.


    I lifted my blade and gently but firmly pressed the sword through the place where its stomach should have been. The monster didn''t react.


    The Silver-Steel cut through the illusion like a knife through butter. The image warped around the blade before eventually scattering away into the mist.


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    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ not real?¡± Kato sounded amazed.


    ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°And neither are the disappearing footprints. Look,¡± I stepped forward and held the flat of my blade at chest level, cutting through the illusion. The air seemed to pulse and shimmer, and then the mist dropped away.


    Before us, the tracks continued on into the distant tree line.


    ¡°Sorcery,¡± I said. ¡°Someone or something is fucking with us.¡±


    ¡°We need to find Lord Dacon."


    There was an urgency in Draxus''s voice and I could guess why. Whatever was manipulating our surroundings would be doing the same to his men. If Dacon¡¯s company got lost in the swamp or worse, if they were lured into a trap - the battle would be bloody.


    Reluctantly, I agreed.


    We trudged forward as fast as we dared in the low visibility.


    The prints led us forward and to the right, around a small pond covered in algae. There were the telltale signs of a struggle here and there. Strange circular marks on the ground and the deep imprint of boots as the men made a stand.


    Strangely, there were no bodies here.


    Draxus and I exchanged a look just as Hade came up beside us. His armor glistened with condensed mist.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said. ¡°The presence of sorcery is making the men nervous. If we don¡¯t rejoin the main body soon..¡±


    He trailed off but I got his meaning. We were sitting ducks out here. Fifteen men against an unknown threat with the disadvantage of magic and terrain. The odds weren¡¯t great. I thought for a moment and then shook my head.


    ¡°We press on,¡± I said. ¡°We have to rejoin Lord Dacon¡¯s men, that is our priority.¡±


    Hade hesitated but I held his gaze, trying to convey confidence I didn¡¯t feel. After a moment the soldier nodded and turned away to relay my orders. Draxus caught my eye.


    ¡°Are you sure this is the right course?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I admitted, dropping my voice so the men couldn¡¯t hear. ¡°But I see little alternative. If we retreat now do we have any guarantee that we won¡¯t be picked off? Whatever is doing this is trying to control us. It wants us confused and indecisive. I plan not to let it have its chance.¡±


    We continued on and I let Draxus and Kato take point as I scanned the mist for any sign of something unusual. No more spectral fiends came for us, but I couldn''t shake the feeling that we were being watched.


    Then I spotted the first body lying face down in the shallows.


    I splashed in beside him and gently rolled him unto his back. When I saw the corpse had eyes I let out a breath.


    ¡°Sorry, soldier,¡± I said as lowered him gently back to the water. I brushed his eyes closed.


    ¡°What killed him?¡± Asked Kato.


    I examined him carefully.


    ¡°I see no wounds. It looks like he.. Drowned but that can¡¯t be right.¡±


    Draxus crouched beside me, water lapping at his boots.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°No indication of any kind of wound or even blood loss. It¡¯s almost as if he just dropped dead.¡±


    ¡°Could have been a heart attack,¡± said Kato from beside us. ¡°Man could have seen his own reflection.¡±


    Draxus gave him a hard stare and Kato threw up his hands.


    ¡°Poor taste, I know.¡±


    Something caught my eye. I leaned down, lifting the soldier''s neck and turning it to the side. There were tiny marks hidden behind his ear. It looked like two pricks the side of my pinky nail.


    ¡°Bites?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Looks like stings.¡± Said Draxus. ¡°What could¡­¡±


    Several paces away the water rippled.


    ¡°Get out of the water!¡± I shouted, at the same time I stood and turned to face the threat. I had a moment to glimpse a mass of dark green scales before the creature rose from the water.


    It struck at me, and the force knocked me stumbling. I felt the wet bank beneath my feet and struggled up, sword held out to strike. The creature had already dove back beneath the water, its scales rippling in the dark water.


    After a moment, the water went still.


    ¡°What,¡± I said through panting breaths. ¡°Was that.¡±


    Draxus grabbed me by the arm and helped me back onto solid ground.


    ¡°Basilisk,¡± he said. ¡°And where there is one there are usually more.¡±


    ¡°Lovely. Any idea how to kill them?¡±


    ¡°They hate fire,¡± said Kato. ¡°At least that¡¯s what the stories say.¡±


    ¡°The stories?¡± I turned to look at him. ¡°You¡¯ve never encountered one before?¡±


    Kato and Draxus exchanged a look.


    ¡°As far as we knew they were extinct. The basilisk was one of the most hunted monsters before the time of the God King. Its fangs alone are worth a fortune, never mind the venom.¡±


    At the look on my face, Draxus shook his head.


    ¡°Blackbriar,¡± he warned. ¡°I know that look. Hunting a Basilisk is dangerous business.¡±


    ¡°So is everything else we do,¡± pointed out Kato. ¡°We might as well make some coin.¡±


    I shook my head with regret.


    ¡°It¡¯s too big a risk, and even if it wasn¡¯t we¡¯re running on borrowed time. Finding the Count¡¯s Son is our first priority. We can make a stand with more men, but by ourselves, we¡¯re too exposed.¡±


    Kato blew out a breath and nodded.


    ¡°Then we go on.¡±


    We reached a spot where the terrain grew uneven and sloped downwards. We had our footing, careful not to slip and fall. I watched the water to either side of us, noting the ripples just beneath the surface.


    The basilisk was following us.


    ¡°Are basilisks capable of illusion magic?¡± I asked. ¡°They say some old beings have sorcery in their blood.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think so,¡± said Draxus. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s possible but as far as I know basilisks are beasts. This all seems far too calculated for a creature. Even one as old as a basilisk.¡±


    I grunted.


    If sorcery was involved it could mean the presence of a magic user. I remembered the Goblin shaman who attacked Lord Blackthorne on the field of battle. I knew there were monster races capable of sorcerey, but this somehow felt different. Isolated.


    I was so lost in my own head that I nearly walked into the back of Draxus when he stopped.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked. He pointed and I followed his gaze. The mist was stirring again among the trees. Shadows seemed to sway to and fro. I gave the signal for my men to ready themselves and drew my shield up.


    What stepped out of the fog wasn¡¯t at all what I¡¯d been anticipating. The tall shadow form resolved itself into a black-cloaked man wearing a familiar silver mask.


    A Darkblade.


    I blinked in surprise.


    ¡°Blade, Where is your mistress?¡± I called.


    The Darkblade came to a stop, watching us impassively through the dark holes of his mask. He made no attempt to answer me.


    ¡°They take a vow of silence.¡± Said a voice.


    I jumped and whirled to see Xandria standing beside me. I hadn''t heard her approach and yet she was only feet away.


    She was wearing reinforced leather studded with steel. One of her daggers was in her hand, and I saw black Icor crusted along the blade.


    ¡°From the moment the Inquisition takes them in at thirteen they train." Said Xandria. "From that moment on they won¡¯t speak a word. It''s just their way."


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± I started.


    ¡°Impressive?¡±


    ¡°I was going to say lonely.¡±


    Xandria¡¯s shoulders rose and fell.


    "Darkblades are merely a tool, as are we all in the hand of the God King. His radiant majesty wields us against Kadia¡¯s enemies.¡±


    It seemed more like the God King suggested others fight his battle but I decided to keep my doubts to myself.


    ¡°Why are you here, My Lady?¡± I asked Instead. ¡°I was not aware Lord Dacon requested your presence.¡±


    Xandria laughed. ¡°The welp doesn¡¯t know what he needs. I warned him not to wander into the bog alone but he insisted that he could handle himself. Thus is the pride of men.¡±


    She glanced back towards the water where the soldier still floated face down.


    Draxus shifted beside me. I could sense his anger without turning to look.


    ¡°Tell me, my Lady,¡± he said, the derision in his tone sharp. ¡°Was it you who ordered the hanging of those villagers? Or was it the man you serve?¡±


    Xandria tilted her head, smiling fading.


    ¡°Mind your tongue, son of none,¡± she warned. ¡°Or I might have cause to take it from you.¡±


    Draxus smiled coldly.


    ¡°That is your way, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Xandria did something then that surprised me. She flinched as if she had been struck and averted her gaze. Her throat bobbed minutely before she turned away.


    ¡°We should keep moving,¡± she said briskly. ¡°My second Blade will guide our way."


    I watched her stride away, silent bodyguard following behind. I turned to Draxus.


    ¡°What was that?¡± I asked in a low tone. The giant shook his head, jaw clenched.


    ¡°Later,¡± was all he said before striding forward after the Inquisitor. With no other options, I nodded to my men.


    ¡°Stay sharp,¡± I warned Hade in an undertone. ¡°There is something about this I don¡¯t like.¡±


    The soldier arched a brow at me.


    "Ser."


    I scratched at my chin, eyes on the back of Xandria''s head.


    "It feels too convenient," I said.


    Hade shrugged.


    "It is the Inquisition''s duty to hunt the evils of this world. They say for the Darkblades it''s a compulsion. Something they can''t resist."


    As if sensing my gaze the Blade turned his head slightly in my direction and I glanced quickly away.


    "Is it true they can read minds?"


    Hade''s shoulders rose and fell again.


    "I don''t know Ser William," he confessed. "But I know they give me the creeps. The way they move all silent and all - it''s unnatural."


    He wasn''t wrong. There was something about this situation that didn''t sit right with me. And I intended to find out what.

 Thirty One: Battle of the Bog

    As the swamp trees grew thicker, the trail became harder to see.The ground was all but marsh now and the way ahead grew treacherous. I cast around us, every ripple in the nearby water making me tense.


    The young basilisk had attacked so quickly that I hadn¡¯t even had time to register its level. If hit-and-run tactics were its method of attack, then it could strike at any moment.


    Draxus skirted a rock and, on the pretext of adjusting his helmet he leaned forward to whisper.


    ¡°Where is her other Darkblade? She said that he would guide our way but I haven¡¯t seen him.¡±


    I glanced to where the Lady Inquisitor led the party, shadowed by her silent protector. Draxus was right, there was no sign of the other man. But that wasn¡¯t what troubled me.


    Xandria had claimed that she was hunting something - something even the Inquisition feared.


    Her presence here could only mean one thing. Whatever it was she was hunting was close.


    ¡°I Don¡¯t know,¡± I whispered to Draxus. ¡°Stay vigilant.¡±


    He nodded and stepped away.


    I was in the process of scanning the water line for the fifth time when My Hud flashed. I blinked in surprise. A new notification was visible in the corner, beneath the Quests Icon.


    It was marked with the word Urgent.


    Quest Update available


    Quest Updated: Find the Book of Souls before the Inquisition


    ¡°Fuck.¡±


    Kato gave me an odd look and I realized I had cursed aloud.


    ¡°This damn place,¡± I said. ¡°Things just keep getting more and more complicated. Nothing is ever straightforward."


    "Welcome to the Army," said Kato glumly. "It''s a permenant fixture, I''m afraid."


    Several paces ahead Xandria slowed to a stop, her gloved hand held out to us.


    ¡°Listen,¡± she said, jerking her head toward a nearby slope.


    I gave the signal to halt and listened hard. Sure enough, I could hear the faint sound of men doing battle.


    "Lord Dacon''s men," I said. "Sounds like they made contact, let''s not delay."


    The men moved around me but the Lady Inquisitor remained still. Her brows were furrowed as her eyes landed on me.


    ¡°Blackbriar," she said hesitantly "The Count¡¯s men can fight their own battle. Right now, the Inquisition has more pressing matters."


    Like finding the Book of Souls.


    "For now you and your men will accompany me. I have need of you."


    She made to turn, as if the matter were settled.


    I clenched my jaw, knowing that I now stood on a knife''s edge. To refuse her would mean making an enemy of the Inquisition, and it could also mean giving up my chance at being the one to claim the book.


    Even without knowing its purpose, I could guess that the item was both powerful and dangerous.


    But, If I turned my back on Lord Dacon and forsook my oath as a Knight, it could have dire consequences. I was beginning to understand why Lord Blackthorne hated politics.


    I blew out a breath and squared my shoulders, preparing for the inevitable.


    ¡°My apologies Lady,¡± I said, bowing my head. ¡°But as a Knight, I¡¯ve sworn an oath to protect the nobility of the realm."


    Xandria''s lips turned downward.


    "I''ve given you an order, soldier. I expect it to be followed."


    "Forgive me My Lady, but the orders of Lord Dacon trump even your own." I held her gaze. "My men and I will take our leave.¡±


    I turned away.


    It happened in an instant. One moment I was striding away, the next I was on my knees as pain lanced through my skull. It felt as if my head was being squeezed in a vice. The pressure made my eyes ache, and I began to grow dizzy.


    I was aware vaguely of the coldness of the water now sloshing around my legs. Voices murmured all around me, incoherent. I tried to open my mouth to scream but no sound came out. Spittle dribbled from my mouth and down my chin.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough," said Xandria. Her voice seemed to cut the air like a knife. "Release him."


    Slowly the pain began to recede like the tide. I was left trembling on my knees in the mud.


    The Darkblade had stepped forward, his gloved hand outstretched towards me. Even as I looked it fell back to his side, disappearing beneath his cloak.


    Mind Mage, I remembered Lord Blackthorne calling them. Was this their power? With a faint spike of panic, I wondered if the Darkblade could read my thoughts. I glanced up at him, but the silver mask was as impassive as ever.


    Draxus stepped between us, fury etched in every line of his body.


    ¡°I would suggest,¡± he said through clenched teeth. ¡°That you leave, Lady Inquisitor.¡±


    I blinked and realized that he wasn¡¯t alone. The men of my squad stood around me in a wall of bristling steel. Their faces were pale but determined as they faced off against her on my behalf. I rose unsteadily to my feet.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± I said quickly. ¡°Stand down.¡±


    We couldn''t afford a standoff with the Inquisition, not now.


    Draxus hesitated and for a moment I worried he would argue. But in the end, he nodded, jaw clenched and the men¡¯s spears lifted.


    The Inquisitor eyed me appraisingly. She was no longer smiling.


    ¡°You have a strong mind, William. It is an admirable thing in this age that favors men of brawn. But I warn you, do not overstep again. My Blades are neither kind nor patient, and they are trained not to accept insult to their master.¡±


    She looked like she wanted to say more but the Darkblade turned its masked head towards her. She glanced at him briefly and I saw something in her eyes.


    My gaze lingered on her as she turned and began striding away. I had taken Xandria for a sadist, the type who enjoys causing pain and suffering to others. But the way she had flinched when Draxus questioned her, and the look on her face just now.


    It was as if the Blade had been warning her to keep quiet.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    All at once pieces began to click into place. I remembered the way she had spoken to me in the tent when she had told me of the Inquisition¡¯s mission. Her eyes had always strayed to the front where her Blades stood guard outside.


    ¡°She¡¯s afraid of them,¡± I whispered.


    ¡°What?¡± Draxus turned, his brows drawn together. I shook my head and blinked away the lingering pain.


    ¡°No time now,¡± I said. ¡°But we need to talk later. Me, you, and Gills. It¡¯s urgent.¡±


    Draxus hesitated, face troubled. Then he nodded. I picked up my shield from where it had dropped in the mud. A thick coating of grime now lined it, and I wiped it away with a glove.


    Then I turned to face the direction of the sounds of battle.


    The men of the House of Basset were making a valiant stand. The small Army had split into three formations and now faced off against a monster straight from nightmare.


    Basilisk: Level 34


    "Holy shit," breathed Kato from beside me.


    This creature was no illusion. It was massive, at least the size of a train and its fangs glistened red with blood. Bodies floated in the water around it. Dozens of them.


    Lord Dacon shouted orders to his men, pointing with his sword towards the beast.


    From the second formation arrows and crossbow bolts rained. S?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Most bounced off of the creature''s dark green scales but a few found their mark in the flesh of its mouth. The snake swung its head back and forth and Lord Dacon shouted something I couldn¡¯t quite catch.


    A command? A warning?


    Moments later the serpent dove forward, splashing water and mud as it went for the soldiers. It swallowed one whole, metal and bone crunching.


    It managed to get its jaws around one another, shaking its head from side to side and snapping the man''s neck.


    As soon as the soldiers began to rally it retreated, coiling back beneath the surface of the water.


    Dark green scales churned the surface of the water.


    ¡°What are we waiting for Ser?¡± said Hade. His face was a bit pale but he looked determined. ¡°The men are ready to follow your lead.¡±


    I bit the inside of my cheek. We couldn¡¯t just rush blindly in and hope to live. Not against a monster of that size.


    ¡°We need to lure it out of the water,¡± I said. "On land, the men may have a fighting chance. Any ideas?"


    "You want us to bait a monster like that?" Draxus shook his head. "Blackbriar, you''re a madman."


    "We can Lure the beast unto land, but how do we plan to keep it there?" Asked Hade. "It simply retreats any time it sees a threat."


    "Not if we catch it," I said slowly.


    Draxus looked at me as if I''d gone mad.


    "You want us to catch a giant fucking snake? And just how do you propose we do that?"


    I glanced around at our surrounds.


    "We''re going to need a tree," I said. "And a whole lot of luck."


    ***


    Minutes later Draxus sprinted across the marsh and into the melee.


    I watched his armored form weave between men, tapping shoulders and pushing aside blades.


    We had done our part. It was up to him now to convince Lord Dacon to take the chance.


    At last, he reached the spot where the Lord stood. The Basset household guards closed ranks at his approach.


    When Draxus pointed to where I crouched behind a tree they hesitated and reluctantly parted to make way.


    ¡°He could reject the idea,¡± said Kato. ¡°Though I don¡¯t see much of an alternative.¡±


    ¡°I hope not.¡± Hade and two of the other men heaved on the rope, grunting as the counterweight trembled and lifted from the ground.


    ¡°The squad¡¯s used most of the hemp rope in our inventory, and forgive me saying so Ser William but the shit ain¡¯t cheap.¡±


    I grimaced. He wasn¡¯t wrong. It had taken a sixth full length of hemp ropes tied together to create our little trap, and it was far from perfect. Everything relied on Lord Dacon''s willingness to cooperate.


    Even then I couldn''t help but worry something would go wrong.


    ¡°Hold it steady,¡± grunted Hade. Another man stepped forward and grabbed the end of the rope. The soldier wound the end around a nearby tree with a thick trunk and pulled it tight.


    ¡°There!¡± said Kato, pointing towards Lord Dacon¡¯s forces. ¡°Looks like Draxus was successful. That gives us two minutes tops."


    Kato was right. My heart began to pound in my chest as I saw Lord Dacon¡¯s head turn towards us. Then he gave the order. Slowly the rank of soldiers started to move backwards.


    Their formation was tight and cautious, their movements slow.


    I waved a hand at Jorgen who held an unlit torch clutched in his hand. The young soldier had his visor up and at my signal he shifted his weight, readying himself.


    The basilisk coiled on itself, rearing up and out of the water. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I leaned forward, teeth gritted.


    ¡°C¡¯mon take the bait.¡±


    The soldiers in formation shifted into columns, flowing backward while the rear ranks kept their shields up. It was an impressive display of military discipline.


    For a moment, I thought the ranks might make it clear before the serpent struck. I was mistaken.


    The strike was fast and devastating.


    One soldier was too slow to throw himself out of the way, and the massive jaws closed on his leg. The snake jerked its head and he was flung up into the air like a doll. It opened its jaws wide and I watched with revulsion as its throat bobbed.


    ¡°Throne on high,¡± said Kato grimly. ¡°This is what we¡¯re up against?¡±


    The soldiers were close now, their retreat more hurried and desperate than before. I could feel the fear in the air as my own pulse began to hammer in my ears.


    Everything hinged on this moment.


    ¡°Ready,¡± I called above the clamor of rattling armor and pounding of boots. Jorgen raised the torch, which was now lit, and waited for my command.


    Behind me Hade and the others readied themselves, slack rope in hand.


    I glared at the basilisk, willing the serpent to take the bait. The creature turned its head, watching through yellow-slitted eyes as the soldiers backpeddled. The water splashed and rippled as its coils moved undulated.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± I hissed. ¡°Take the bait.¡±


    The basilisk threw itself forward. Its speed was terrifying. For a snake the size of a train, it moved with surprising agility. It slithered back and forth, trees swaying and bending as it came.


    Its eyes were alight with a wicked glee. A hunter, cornering its prey.


    I rose from where I had crouched behind the base of a nearby tree. The serpent was so fixated on the prey before it, that it hadn''t seemed to notice anything amiss. Its massive bulk slid through the mud, gathering speed as it hunted.


    I darted to where Hade and the others stood. Picking up the slack rope, I prepared myself. I waited for several long moments as the Serpent bore down on Lord Dacon''s men. Then, I saw my moment.


    ¡°Pull!¡±


    We heaved.


    The counterweight, a boulder that we had managed to roll into place, squelched from the mud.


    At the sound, the snake whipped its head around. It was already too late. The rope snapped closed around the point just behind its head. As the noose tightened I let out a sound of triumph.


    ¡°Yes,¡± I growled. ¡°We¡¯ve got-¡°


    The rope went taught. One moment I was standing on my feet the next I was being jerked sidewards as the serpent began to thrash.


    I hit the mud hard, the impact jarring my shoulder.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± called Hade as the enormous creature thrashed again.


    Its giant coils slammed against nearby trees, uprooting them.


    Where was Jorgen? I shoved to my feet, trying to wipe thick mud from my visor. When that didn¡¯t work I ripped off my helmet and tossed, it bouncing away.


    ¡°Jorgen!¡± I shouted over the sound of trees shuddering and men shouting. ¡°Light the pyre!¡±


    There was no answer. Hade called to the men, as they struggled from the mud. They braced their feet leaning back as they wrestled to hold the beast in place. The rope strained and creaked.


    Lord Dacon¡¯s soldiers had formed a line and were advancing on the trapped beast. It was too soon.


    ¡°Jorgen!¡± I called again but my voice was lost in the confusion.


    Then I saw it. The torched arced through the air and landed on the pile of moss behind the creature. It sputtered and went out.


    Had I been wrong? Was the moss too damp to catch? Then a trail of smoke went up, and the moss began to burn.


    With nowhere to go the basilisk tried to coil in on itself defensively. Its head was stuck fast, held in place by our rope even as it strained.


    The soldiers of House Basset were as effective as they were deadly.


    The columns spit off into two and advanced. Within minutes they had blooded the beast. I saw Draxus among them, jabbing with his spear.


    It was death by a thousand cuts. Black Icor slicked the ground. I stood among my men as the basilisk shuddered and went limp.


    When the body finally registered as dead I went to retrieve my helmet from the ground. Draxus got there first, lifting it from the mud.


    "I stand by my earlier assertion that you are a madman, Blackbriar."


    He handed me my helmet and a grin broke out on his face.


    "Lord Dacon says you get first loot."


    I strode across the field to where the Lord now stood, surrounded by his guard. When he saw me approach he nodded.


    "That was quite the plan, Ser Willian. I didn''t take you for much of a tactician but I must admit," he glanced back at the dead snake.


    "I am impressed. In thanks, I want to offer you and your men the right to first loot."


    I bowed.


    "Thank you, My Lord. That is generous."


    Kato and the others wasted no time. As the men argued about which part of the monster was the most valuable I scanned it''s body, looking for any drops.


    The ground was black with Icor but in the mud, I spotted something odd. I stooped, running a hand across the lid of a small black box.


    It was smooth to the touch and the silver clasp was open. Carefully I lifted the lid.


    Quest completed: Find Book of Souls before the Inquisition.


    Heart hammering I shoved the box into an empty spot in my inventory. I looked around, searching for anyone who might have seen but no one appeared to be looking in my direction.


    "Will."


    The sound of my name made me jump and whirl. Kato arched an eyebrow. His was covered up to the elbow in black icor but he held something in his hands.


    It was a long sheet of scales he had cut away from the basilisk.


    "The scales at the base of the neck are the strongest," he said. "Use it to make yourself some armor."


    He deposited it in my hands, and I grunted at the weight of it.


    Item: Heavy Snake Scale, Legendary.


    "A Knight in snake-scale armor," said Kato, smirking. "Now that is the stuff of legends."

 Thirty Two: Secrets

    Four hours after our triumphant return to camp we sat by the fire.Our clothes had been washed and now hung on a line nearby. Steam curled off of the fabric as they dried.


    It felt good to be dry again. After scrubbing myself clean of mud in the wash basin, I had put on new clothes and went to visit the Smith.


    The man had been happy to see me, and that joy grew to wonder when I pulled the snake scale from my inventory.


    ¡°Incredible,¡± he had said, reaching for it. His hands paused and he licked his lips.


    ¡°May I?¡±


    When I nodded the Smith had hefted the scales in his hands, running a practiced eye over them. Then he laid them on the counter and brought out a set of tools. He tapped at them carefully with a small hammer, then used a small pair of tongs to pry one of the scales free.


    ¡°Basilisk scale eh,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°I have never seen its like before. Oh, I¡¯ve heard stories indeed, but to see the real thing.¡±


    He whistled.


    ¡°The things I could make with this.¡±


    "I need gauntlets," I said. "Thick ones and heavy armor if you can manage it. I have the coin to pay upfront."


    The Smith nodded eagerly, his attention still mostly focused on the scales as I placed my order.


    I had walked back into camp in time to hear the start of Kato¡¯s story. Now I was lounging on a supply crate listening to the exaggerated tale be retold.


    "I swear it gets less and less accurate every time I hear it."


    Draxus was sitting on the ground nearby, his elbow propped on his knee as he read his book. I tilted my head to see the cover.


    ¡°The fair maiden¡¯s voyage?¡±


    He cut me a glare.


    ¡°I prefer stories with happy endings.¡±


    ¡°Well, it certainly beats real life.¡±


    Gills swept in beside me and took a seat on the edge of the crate. He had several pieces of parchment in his hands and kept rifling through them. S?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I raised a brow.


    ¡°Payroll,¡± said Gills. ¡°The loot you boys brought back will be enough to feed the third for a good long while. It¡¯s hard to believe,¡± he laughed and shook his head.


    ¡°Thank you, Will. Since you¡¯ve arrived I¡¯d say the 3rd¡¯s luck has changed for the better. The only problem is that we lack the infrastructure to support this new flow of income. I think it''s time I consider hiring on a quartermaster.


    I smiled.


    "Not a bad problem to have."


    Gills nodded.


    ¡°That said,¡± he dumped some of the papers in my lap. ¡°I think you should consider branching out.¡±


    I lifted the parchment, smoothing it out in my lap. Tight black script in several neat rows was scrawled across its surface. It was an order form and there was an amount at the bottom.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± I asked, frowning.


    ¡°Well,¡± Gills scratched his beard. ¡°It¡¯s typical for Knights to have their own coat of arms. And if they have men under their command, then those men should also wear their livery. It¡¯s only proper.¡±


    He tilted his head at me, amused by my surprise.


    ¡°What do you know of Ceris?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it,¡± I said, carefully. ¡°It¡¯s a large southern city surrounded by white walls. They say that the city has never known snow."


    Gills nodded.


    ¡°It is also a wealthy city. Not as fancy as some of the larger Kadian cities, and not as aristocratic as the capital. But In a place of that size, there is bound to be a good tailor with the proper experience. As a Knight, you¡¯ll be expected to present yourself at court.¡±


    The thought made my stomach twist.


    ¡°More politics,¡± I grumbled and Gills laughed. ¡°You better get used to it, lad. At this point, they¡¯ll be singing about your feats in taverns.¡±


    I groaned and laid back against the rough wood of the crate, draping an arm over my eyes. I listened to the sound of voices for a while as the 3rd laughed and ate together. There was a companionable silence between the three of us.


    Occasionally the sound of gills muttering a number or Draxus turning a page was soothing. I checked my notifications window, and seeing it was empty, decided to look at my stats. I was level 18 now and steadily rising.


    My base stats were high enough that I could hold my own against stronger foes. I would have to test my limits soon if I really wanted to know what I was capable of.


    Skills were my most powerful asset, which meant a focus on completing Quests would be the most beneficial.


    Only¡­ no new Quest had appeared to me since I had found the Book of Souls. Was that intentional?


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    I rubbed at my face.


    ¡°You alright?¡± asked Draxus, leaning his book on his knee. ¡°You¡¯ve seemed distracted."


    I sat up.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about the Lady Inquisitor,¡± I said. ¡°About everything that happened in the bog.¡±


    Draxus face darkened.


    ¡°She¡¯s a puppet of the Inquisition,¡± he growled. ¡°Nothing more.¡±


    I grimaced.


    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure. I have no doubts that she¡¯s dangerous, and I wouldn¡¯t trust her if I had a choice. But there is much more going on that I don¡¯t quite understand.¡±


    Gills glanced up from his ledger, listening.


    Draxus looked skeptical but he waited to hear my theory.


    I licked my lips.


    ¡°What if there is¡­ unrest inside the Inquisition itself? They serve the God King, but does that mean there aren¡¯t different sects of the organization?¡±


    Gills considered it.


    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s possible. The trouble is that outsiders don¡¯t know much about the Internal workings of the Inquisition itself. They are an old order, and they guard their secrets well.¡±


    ¡°They have their own branch in every major city,¡± said Draxus. ¡°I suppose it¡¯s entirely possible that each sect has created its own subculture. Maybe If we get lucky they¡¯ll start eating one another.¡±


    I snorted and rose to my feet.


    ¡°I should get some sleep,¡± I said. By this time tomorrow, we should be out of this cursed swamp.¡±


    I started to turn away when Gills caught my arm.


    ¡°There¡¯s someone here for you,¡± he said. ¡°I think you¡¯d better go.¡±


    I frowned.


    ¡°At this hour? Who¡­?¡±


    I trailed off as my gaze landed on Lord Blackthorne¡¯s messenger. I sighed.


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t keep him waiting.¡± I said as I strode for the edge of camp.


    The messenger waisted no time in pleasantries.


    "Come with me," he said briskly, before walking away.


    I followed him out of range of the talk and laughter of the 3rd. We passed a row of sleeping soldiers and turned right along the back of some tents. It was dark out, and only the flickering of the staked torches shed light on our surroundings. I frowned when I saw we weren¡¯t going in the direction of Lord Blackthorne¡¯s tent.


    ¡°Uh,¡± I said uncertainly. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going the wrong way?¡±


    The messenger didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he turned and slipped between two tents, disappearing into the darkness. I froze, suddenly aware that the only weapon I had was in my boot.


    I was armorless, and what was more, I was alone. Before I could react a man stepped from the shadows.


    ¡°My apologies for the unorthodox meeting spot, Ser William,¡± rumbled Lord Blackthorne. ¡°But I wanted to speak with you in private where I knew we wouldn¡¯t be overheard.¡±


    I relaxed my stance and bowed, unsure of what to make of this.


    Blackthorne was dressed in plain dark clothes, and his great sword was nowhere to be seen. The sleeves of his tunic were rolled neatly to his elbows and I realized with a start that it was the first time I had ever seen him look so¡­ human.


    ¡°Walk with me,¡± said Blackthorne. He clasped his hands behind his back and strode off along the row of tents. I jogged to catch up with him, falling into step as we rounded the corner.


    ¡°I heard you had your first encounter with a Mind Mage,¡± he said. I grimaced as I remembered the pressure in my head. The pain had felt like being stabbed in the eye with a hot needle.


    ¡°There were¡­ Differences between the Lady Inquisitor and I, my Lord.¡±


    Blackthorne boomed a laugh.


    ¡°That¡¯s putting it lightly. Listen Blackbriar, you tread new territory here. Most men who are Knighted are from wealthy families. Some are distantly related to nobility while others are sons of famous craftsmen or council members. To have a peasant elevated to that status is, well, unprecedented.¡±


    He fell silent as a pair of patrolling sentries marched past, stopping only to bow to their Lord.


    He rubbed at his oiled beard. ¡°Lord Dacon may have honored you, but he has also put you in a precarious position. You have been thrust into our world without any preamble, but you¡¯ll be expected to know the ways of the Kadian Upper Echelon all the same."


    ¡°Do you mean at the court in Ceris my Lord,?¡± I asked.


    Blackthorne nodded.


    ¡°The Lord Governor of Ceris is¡­an extravagant man. Excess and wealth have long been the motto of his household. That said, he makes it a point to collect people and it¡¯s rumored that he has a Mind Mage in his employ.¡±


    I frowned.


    ¡°I thought all the Mind Mages worked for the Inquisition.¡±


    The torchlight flickered on Blackthorne¡¯s features, giving his face a serious cast.


    ¡°All Mind Mages born in Kadia must be registered,¡± he said. ¡°That is the law. But not all are taken to the Sanctum to train as DarkBlades. Most untrained mages have weak powers and aren¡¯t particularly dangerous¡­¡­¡± he trailed off and I sighed.


    ¡°But this one is.¡±


    He nodded and rubbed at a scar on his finger as if it pained him.


    ¡°I have never had dealings with her myself," he said. "but it¡¯s my understanding that she has exceptional ability."


    He glanced at me.


    "Of course, I¡¯m telling you this because I believe that whatever secret you are hiding might be at risk of being exposed if you don¡¯t learn to guard your mind.¡±


    My heart lept into my throat.


    ¡°What are you referring to my Lord?¡± I managed past the slamming of my heart against my rib cage.


    Blackthorne shook his head, a small smile on his lips.


    ¡°I have no interest in learning your secrets Will of Blackbriar.¡± He said. ¡°You are a loyal soldier and a capable one. If I believed you were dangerous you¡¯d be long dead.¡±


    I remained silent for several seconds as I tried to think of a suitable response. When none came, I asked:


    ¡°When you say guard your mind, do you mean there are ways to stop Mind Magic even if the user has no magic affinity?¡±


    Blackthorne seemed amused at the change of subject but he didn¡¯t remark on it.


    ¡°Shielding your mind from the probe of a Mage is something most of high society are taught at a young age. Without the skill, our courts would become vulnerable to spies and manipulation. It is a talent that can be taught, though it must be practiced.¡±


    He arched a brow at me and I nodded.


    ¡°It requires discipline but I believe you have the proper foundations already.¡±


    He held out a hand, and one of his household guards stepped forward to deposit something into it. It was a folded piece of parchment with an official household seal.


    ¡°Come and see me at least twice before we reach Ceris. My guards will allow you access to my tent if I am not immediately available.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, my Lord,¡± I said taking the parchment and tucking it carefully away in my inventory.


    Blackthorne looked as if he wanted to say more and I saw the war behind his eyes. With a spike of fear, I wondered if he already suspected that I was not who I seemed. His assertion that I had a secret was vague, and I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if that was intentional.


    At last, Blackthorne straightened and I nearly sighed in relief when he bid me good night. As I trudged back through the encampment my head was swirling with thoughts and worry.


    How could I learn what Lord Blackthorne knew without asking him outright what he had meant?


    I didn¡¯t dare, not when my secrets were the difference between life and death. Only days ago I had seen a man executed for treason, and I knew a more grisly fate awaited me if my origins were discovered.


    The shout of a sentry drew my attention, and I stopped short. There was a commotion on the western side of camp despite the late hour. From this distance, it was impossible to tell what was going on.


    A man in messenger¡¯s livery hurried past and I caught his arm. He turned, annoyed.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked him. The man¡¯s sneer died on his lips when he realized who I was.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said. ¡°Forgive me I didn¡¯t recognize you. I¡¯m to Inform Lord Dacon that the Lady Inquisitor has returned to camp, and she¡¯s brought with her a prisoner.¡±


    The excitement in the man''s voice made my stomach drop.


    ¡°A prisoner?¡± I asked even though I could guess the answer. The man nodded, white teeth flashing in the firelight.


    ¡°An Otherworlder,¡± he said. ¡°A real Heretic. Rumor has it she''s a witch. Do you think we''ll get to see her burn?"


    My hand dropped to my side, suddenly numb.


    "I don''t know," I said. The man shrugged. "Well, I best be getting on. Have a good night Ser William."


    The messenger jogged away in the direction of his Lord¡¯s tent and I was left standing in the dark.

 Thirty Three: Burning Plains

    I stood on a Rocky hillock overlooking the Burning plains, hand shading my eyes.The dusty hills of the plains rolled out for miles in every direction. Sparse shrubs and tufts of dry grass were the only foliage visible. The Kadian Army had officially crossed into the Southern lands.


    ¡°It¡¯s larger than I thought it would be,¡± I said. ¡°So much open space.¡±


    ¡°Wait until you see the frozen wastes,¡± said Gills. He shrugged his shoulders, adjusting the fit of his new pouldrons.


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope we never have to,¡± said Draxus. ¡°The monsters of the wastes are notoriously vicious.¡±


    ¡°This is true,¡± Bjorn leaned on his axe, gazing out across the plains. ¡°But adversity makes a man strong, and strength is a-¡°


    ¡°If I have to hear one more time about the virtue of fucking strength,¡± said Kato. ¡°I will end you.¡±


    Bjorn lapsed into moody silence. The heat, it seemed, was putting us all a bit on edge. It had been relentless since we had left the cover of the swamp. Still, I was glad to be rid of the endless flies and mosquitoes.


    The sun climbed its way down the sky, heating the cracked earth. In the distance, a dust cloud swirled.


    ¡°You think that dust cloud has any chance of turning into a sandstorm?¡± I asked, gesturing with my chin. Gills glanced around and squinted. Then he frowned.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think dust clouds run linearly,¡± he said.


    ¡°Shit.¡±


    Draxus grabbed me by the shoulder, pulling me to the ground. Beside me, Gills did the same to Kato. Bjorn crouches, gripping the shaft of his axe between two scarred hands.


    ¡°It¡¯s an Ork scouting party, he said.¡±


    ¡°They shouldn''t have made it this far inland yet,¡± whispered Gills. ¡°The reports say-¡°


    ¡°Fuck the reports,¡± hissed Kato. ¡°Those are Ork Outriders right in front of our eyes. At least of Dozen of them."


    Sure enough, the dust was only half a mile away now and I could see the outline of bulky armored figures riding red armored beasts. The beasts themselves had thick legs scaly legs and tails that ended in wicked-looking barbs.


    ¡°What are they,¡± I breathed. Turning to look at Gills. His face was grim.


    ¡°Sand Drakes,¡± he said. ¡°If the Outriders are here that means that the host isn¡¯t far off. Maybe a few days at most."


    This was grim news. The reports of the Ork movement had pinpointed the location of the Host at least several weeks out. The reality appeared far less optimistic.


    ¡°This is why I hate scouting,¡± muttered Kato. "Always bad news."


    ¡°We need to send a messenger back to Lord Blackthorne,¡± I said. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to march double time if we want to make it to Ceris before the Host arrives.¡±


    Gills grimaced.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like the idea of trying to outrun thousands of bloodthirsty Orks, but I don¡¯t see a choice. If the Outriders have made it this far that means the outposts have fallen.¡±


    He didn''t finish his throught but by the looks we shared I knew he was thinking the same thing. If the outpost''s had fallen, then Ceris was the only thing standing between the Southern Lands and the Ork Host.


    ¡°They¡¯re slowing down,¡± said Kato. ¡°Look.¡±


    The patrol of outriders had reigned in their mounts and I watched as their leader made some kind of signal.


    ¡°You think they saw us?¡± Asked Draxus, worried.


    Gills shook his head.


    ¡°At night maybe, but their eyesight isn¡¯t as strong in the day. No, It looks like they¡¯ve spotted something to the SouthEast.


    The Leader of the Outriders was bigger than the rest. He swung his horned head and and wheeled his beast around with a vicious tug on the reigns. The rest of the Outriders followed and I could hear the distant rumble of their language. I didn¡¯t understand the words but I could guess the meaning.


    ¡°Refugees,¡± I whispered, pointing to a small copse of shrubs in the distance. Horror was reflected in Gills''s face as he followed my hand. A small group of humans burst out of hiding and began to run. Like hounds scenting prey, the Orks followed after.


    ¡°No,¡± I whispered as one of the women fell, sprawling in the dust. A man in ragged clothes turned and, upon seeing her, he changed direction. He dashed back to her holding out his hand to her. She got to her feet and the two of them turned to run. It was too late.


    The first Ork decapitated the man in a single swipe of a long and jagged sword. As the head fell in the dust, the woman screamed. One of the Orks reached down from his mount and plucked her off the ground as if she weighed nothing.


    He tossed her to one of the others and the brute gripped her by the arms, lifting her. Her feet dangled and kicked in empty air. One of the men still running turned back at the sound of her screams. It was a mistake.


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    A rider bore down on him in a cloud of dust.


    The Ork grabbed the man by the neck and, with terrifying strength, he yanked. With a horrible sound, I would never forget as long as I lived, the man¡¯s spine separated from his body. The empty husk of meat slid lifelessly to the ground. in a spray of blood and viscera.


    My stomach churned with a mixture of fear and anger. Jaw clenched I gripped the hilt of my sword, but Draxus caught my hand.


    ¡°We have no chance,¡± he said. ¡°If we intervene now we not only give away the strategic position of the Army but we end up as slaves, or worse.¡±


    I ground my teeth but I couldn¡¯t find the fault in his logic. My knee-jerk reaction was to save these people for their fate, but I knew that Orks weren¡¯t mindless like Goblins. Upon seeing soldiers they would kill everyone, even those they now tied to the back of their saddles as prisoners.


    Three men and one woman.


    ¡°They¡¯ll be made to work hard labor,¡± said Gills, grimly. ¡°But they¡¯ll live. That means we might have a chance, however slim, of rescuing them in the future.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t count on it.¡±


    Draxus slid backward down the hill on his stomach.


    ¡°The Lord Governor of Ceris isn¡¯t known as a man who takes risks on the field of battle. In fact, he doesn¡¯t take to the field of battle at all.¡±


    I tore my eyes away from the slaughter and began crawling after him, away from the lip of the hillock.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t Lord Blackthorne outrank him?¡± I asked.


    Draxus grimaced.


    ¡°Yes. And the Lord Governor will like him even less for it.¡±


    We stayed low as we darted back towards the small camp to join my men. Hade was standing watch and hailed us as we approached.


    ¡°Pack up,¡± I said. ¡°Get the men ready to march.¡±


    ¡°Moving out so soon Ser William?¡± asked the soldier, puzzled. ¡°But the lads just got a fire going. We were planning on cooking up a few sausages just to¡­¡±


    His voice faded when he saw the look on my face.


    ¡°Orks,¡± I said in way of explanation. ¡°A patrol of Outriders. Unless you have designs on watering the ground with your blood I suggest we prepare to move in ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°Right you are Ser.¡± Said the soldier hastily, and he turned to begun calling orders.


    It had been the right decision to promote him to Sergeant. I saw how the rest of the men respected him, and despite his general inexperience, he had proved himself both steady and reliable.


    If I was to grow my squad, I would need more men like him.


    Our march back towards camp was only a few hours long, though it felt like more under the heat of the sun. The baked earth absorbed the warmth and reflected it back, making the temperature just about scorching.


    I sensed the relief in my men the second the camp came into view.


    The patrol on active watch intercepted us as we reached the bottom of a hill.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± said their leader, and I recognized him as the Sentry several nights before. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again.¡±


    ¡°And you,¡± I said. ¡°Though I wish I brought better news. I¡¯m to see Lord Blackthorne.¡± I pulled the folded parchment out of my breast pocket and held it up so that the wax seal was visible. The Sentry¡¯s eyes widened and he nodded.


    ¡°Understood. We won¡¯t get in your way.¡±


    I ordered Hade and the men to make camp with the 3rd. They would need food in their stomachs if the army were to march out.


    Gills and I made our way to where Lord Blackthorne''s banner flapped in the warm wind.


    Two household guards stood at the entrance and one of them gave me a nod of recognition.


    They stepped aside and I ducked into the tent. Lord Blackthorne glanced up from the parchment he had been writing on, quill half raised above the paper.


    At the urgency in our expressions, he set it back in the Inkwell and sat forward.


    ¡°Gentlemen,¡± he said. ¡°What news? Did you make contact with the outpost?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we didn¡¯t make it that far my Lord,¡± said Gills. ¡°We spotted Ork outriders a mile to the south of our position. A dozen of them, by my count.¡±


    Blackthrone went still, his face going momentarily blank. Several seconds passed before he pushed back his chair and rose.


    ¡°Show me,¡± he said briskly.


    The veteran bowed his head and strode to the war table. The maps were old parchment, yellow and curled at the edges. Gills examined the camp marker carefully and then placed a finger on the page.


    ¡°Our scouting party was camped around here, Lord. We sighted the Patrol between here,¡± he slid his finger further south and tapped. ¡°And here.¡±


    Blackthorne blew a breath through his nose and closed his eyes briefly.


    ¡°So the outposts are already lost,¡± he said softly.


    Gills hesitated for a moment his hands twisting in his tunic. The Lord¡¯s brows drew together.


    ¡°Speak plainly, soldier.¡± He said.


    Gills licked his lips.


    ¡°My Lord, there appeared to be a small group of refugees fleeing the Host. By the state of their clothing, I would guess that they were villagers along the southern front. Some were killed and others taken as slaves.¡±


    Blackthorne made a sound of disgust.


    ¡°A barbaric practice,¡± he said. ¡°The Orks grew bold years ago, we should have marched south and crushed the tribes before they had a chance to unite.¡±


    He dropped back into his chair, rubbing at his temples.


    ¡°I will order the men to move,¡± he said. ¡°They won¡¯t like it but we have little choice. It is now absolutely paramount that we reach Ceris in two days'' time.¡±


    Gills bowed at the waist.


    ¡°As you command, Lord.¡±


    Gills turned and strode for the exit of the tent but I stayed where I was. The veteran hesitated then nodded to me before exiting. Blackthorne arched an eyebrow in question.


    ¡°I wish to ask something of you, my Lord,¡± I said.


    Blackthorne steepled his fingers and nodded for me to continue. I hesitated for a moment, but in the end, I knew that if I didn¡¯t ask, it would haunt me.


    ¡°The prisoner,¡± I said. ¡°The Lady Inquisitor intends to see her burn?¡±


    Blackthorne gave me an appraising look.


    ¡°I would expect so,¡± he said. ¡°However I may disagree with the Inquisitions methods, it remains their Throne given right to deal with heretics how they see fit. There will be a trial for her once we get to Ceris. Beyond that, I cannot say.¡±


    ¡°But is there nothing you can do?¡± I asked, my voice more accusatory that I intended. I bit back the rest of my remark before I said something I would regret.


    Blackthorne showed no sign of offense. Instead, he studied his hands, thinking.


    ¡°You know little of politics,¡± he said. ¡°But I will place you in my shoes, as it were. The Crowned Prince named me Spear of the King. A frivolous title, and yet one that holds weight. Before my untimely promotion, I was but a minor Lord of an Eastern castle. Some would argue there are more qualified men who should have inherited the title. And more powerful men than I. The Duke of North, for example.¡±


    He leaned forward, elbows resting on his desk.


    ¡°The news of my promotion angered many of the nobility. Including, I suspect, the Count of Basset. He was the last to hold this title, after all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why he didn¡¯t come to your aid?¡± I asked, surprised. ¡°He holds a grudge against you.¡±


    The Lord shrugged.


    ¡°Perhaps. Though it was through your efforts that his son rode to our aid. For that, Ser William, I am infinitely grateful. Alas, I have gained many enemies over a decision I dare not refuse. My position is precarious, and to defy the Inquisition and make an enemy of the Archon would be a foolish decision.¡±


    Grudgingly I nodded my understanding. I could understand Lord Blackthorne¡¯s position, even If I didn¡¯t like the outcome. Still, the idea left a bad taste in my mouth. If this woman, this Witch, really was an outworlder then that meant she was from Earth.


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    The idea of simply allowing her to burn her alive was hard to swallow.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± I said stiffly. ¡°Do I have your leave to go?¡±


    Blackthorne looked almost regretful.


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, I bowed and turned on my heel. As I exited the tent I thought I heard him murmur something.


    ¡°Just like him,¡± he said, wistfully.

 Thirty Four: Ceris

    Despite learning about the Bastion of the Southern Lands, nothing could have prepared me from the sheer scale of it.Ceris was gigantic, a two-tiered city surrounded by high walls of white stone. A castle parapet stood in each corner, banners flapping in the wind. The city itself was a sea of rooftops and streets, but at its center rose a tall domed building.


    ¡°The House of Refuge,¡± said Gills in way of explanation. ¡°Home of the Lord Governor¡¯s household and the court of Ceris. I¡¯ve heard of it, but I¡¯d never thought I¡¯d see it for myself.¡±


    He glanced ahead, where the long line of soldiers of the Kadian Army snaked steadily into the distance. The heat was grueling. We had all but drank our canteens dry, and the water supply on the pack horses and mules was growing light. I was anticipating replenishing our stock from the wells in the city.


    The further the Army drew to the Ceris, the more apparent the effects of the war became. There were tents set up sporadically around the walls. Refugees in tattered clothes watched our path with hollow eyes. A few children played in the dust nearby, and their clothes hung off of their thin frames.


    One of them saw me looking and waved. I waved back. When he saw my snake scale gauntlets his eyes grew wide.


    ¡°What happen to them?¡± I asked Draxus. The giant was using the last of the water in his canteen to splash his face and head beneath his helmet.


    ¡°Hard to say. I would have thought the city would have tried to admit them rather than leaving them to fend for themselves.¡±


    Gills sighed.


    ¡°The Lord Governor isn¡¯t known for his generosity.¡±


    I was beginning to suspect that this Lord Governor cared more for the flow of coin through his city than the lives of the people who lived within it.


    The guards standing high on the walls looked like insects from where I stood below. A bell was rung, and the Portcullis was raised with a clatter of metal and chain.


    Lord Blackthorne stood at the head of the Army, dark cloak drifting in the wind. From out of the gate came a procession of robed men, followed by household guards in the Dark Blue of Ceris.


    One of the men stepped forward and bowed to Lord Blackthorne. The two of them spoke at length. I tried to catch their words but the wind carried them away.


    After a long moment, Blackthorne nodded and swept a hand out.


    The man in blue stepped forward and raised his voice to be heard over the wind.


    ¡°Welcome to Ceris,¡± he said. ¡°The city of the South. Our great jewel is open to you, we only ask that you obey her laws and respect her culture. The Lord Governor welcomes you into our city with open arms.¡±


    Many of the soldiers cheered as excited murmuring swept through the ranks. The mood had shifted from tired and hot, to anticipatory of comfort for the first time since the front lines.


    The thought of spending some of my hard-earned coins in the bathhouses and scrubbing free the grime of the road filled me with anticipation. Perhaps there would even be time to explore the city itself.


    We started forward and I stared up at the iron spikes of the Portcullis as we walked beneath them. It was hard not to feel like a mouse in the shadow of this city. Everything here felt larger than life.


    People watched us as we made our way through the cobbled streets.


    They hung out of windows and stood in doorways and alleys. Some were wide-eyed, and many waved. But I couldn¡¯t help but notice a few hostile faces among the crowd. So, we were not entirely welcome here.


    That would be worth taking note.


    The Garrison building was long and stood just outside of the second wall. There was a long cobbled courtyard in which we were instructed to set up camp. I patted Gills on the shoulder as I set down my pack.


    ¡°I have a date with the bathhouses,¡± I said. ¡°Unless you have need of me, I¡¯ll be back this evening.¡±


    Gills nodded and, glancing around, drew closer.


    ¡°Mind yourself around here,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t know this city and I have a feeling not all of Ceris¡¯s citizens are pleased with our arrival. If you must go, I would recommend going armed.¡±


    He gave me a significant look. After a moment''s hesitation, I decided to ket Iron fang on my belt, though I removed most of my armor to be scrubbed and cleaned by the washerwomen.


    The Streets of Ceris were vibrant with activity. I was drawn towards a market stall by the smell of cooking meat. My stomach growled as I looked over the selection of small meatpies on display.


    The stall¡¯s proprietor, a short plump man with ruddy cheeks, smiled at me.


    ¡°I have an offer you can¡¯t refuse young master,¡± he said eagerly. ¡°Three pies for the price of two. Only six coppers for the lot.¡±


    I pulled out my purse and was about to hand over the coin when a smooth feminine voice said.


    ¡°Funny, I heard you offer the patron before a copper penny a pie. Yet you overcharge this man and call it a deal.¡±


    Azure eyes met mine as I turned. Joanna leaned against a nearby wall. She was wearing her Healer robes and her veil partially concealed her face. Yet by her voice and stance alone, I had no doubt of her identity. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


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    I turned back to the proprietor, eyebrow raised. The man shot Joanna an irritated look, then tried to cover it with a smile.


    ¡°My apologies sir,¡± he said. ¡°A man must, after all, make a living. Life in Ceris can be challenging for many.¡±


    Joanna snorted but didn¡¯t otherwise respond. I paid a copper for each pie and stepped away from the stall. I held one out to Joanna.


    ¡°Spoils of war,¡± I said. She smiled and took it.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be setting up camp with the other soldiers?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be doing the same with the other Healers?¡± Her lips twitched and she bit into the pie.


    ¡°I¡¯m heading to the bathhouses,¡± I said. ¡°I have it on good authority that I stink.¡±


    She arched one golden brow.


    ¡°Yes, the Bath Houses offer many different¡­. Services. All of which are quite renowned. I was heading there myself before I saw you about to get swindled."


    "My thanks."


    I brushed crumbs from my hands, eying the signs along the road.


    The path to the Bath Houses led us downhill toward the center of town. Here, the towns folk were more richly dressed, and I noticed more guardsmen patrolling.


    I saw a few eye my road-worn clothes as I passed. Eventually, one of the Guardsmen stepped out from the shadow of a building.


    ¡°You, boy, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    He stepped in front of me, halting my progress with a hand to the chest.


    ¡°You know the rules. Gutter rats aren¡¯t allowed in Center City. Now scurry off before I have a mind to take my club to you,"


    Joanna frowned.


    ¡°This man is a Knight of the realm,¡± she said. ¡°You will address him as such.¡±


    The Guardsman looked me over and laughed.


    ¡°And I¡¯m the Duke of the North,¡± He spat on the ground by my boots. ¡°Be gone, both of you, before my patience runs out.¡±


    ¡°Ser William!¡±


    I was saved a retort by the sound of heavy boots on stone. I turned to see Ser Connel striding towards me, still dressed in road dusted plate. The Knight pulled up his visor and gave the Guardsman a withering look.


    ¡°Unhand him, sir.¡± He said. The Guardsman¡¯s eyes widened and he hesitantly withdrew his hand from my chest.


    ¡°Ser Knight,¡± He said, bowing his head. ¡°I was only doing my duty. The Lord Governor is quite strict in his policies regarding the center city. This street rat is not immune to the law.¡±


    ¡°Street rat?¡±


    Ser Connel looked momentarily lost for words. ¡°Are you blind man? Read his stats.¡±


    The Guardsman hesitated and his eyes went momentarily vacant in the way that I¡¯ve come to associate with people checking the system. Then his eyes went wide. He stepped aside, bowing at the waist. His ears were crimson.


    ¡°My sincerest apologies Ser Knight,¡± he said. ¡°I had no idea¡­.¡±


    ¡°Uh,¡± I said, now at a complete loss of what to say. I cleared my throat.


    ¡°Yes. Well. Don¡¯t let it happen again.¡±


    Joanna smirked.


    ¡°Of course Ser, yes Ser,¡± the man fumbled as we strode past.


    ¡°Thank you Ser Connel,¡± I said and the Knight waved a hand. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet Blackbriar. Lord Dacon has requested a favor from you. He asks that you meet him in the town square tomorrow after sun up. He has someone he wishes you to meet.¡±


    I hesitated then nodded.


    ¡°Please tell him I would be honored.¡±


    Ser Connel frowned.


    ¡°I¡¯m not a messenger, Ser William. You can do as much yourself.¡±


    He cut a glance at Joanna, eyes lingering a few moments to long on her chest.


    ¡°Lady Healer,¡± he said.


    ¡°Ser Knight.¡±


    Ser Connel turned on his heel and rattled away, the feather on his helmet bobbing. Joanna snorted.


    ¡°What a strange man,¡± she said.


    ¡°Tell me about it.¡±


    I held the door to the Bath Houses open and Joanna stepped in first. I was greeted instantly with the scent of soap and perfume. The interior was open and a cool breeze blew through. There was a wooden Podium behind which sat a woman. Behind her, a burly man wearing Iron knuckles stood guard. He eyed me and gestured to my dagger.


    ¡°No weapons.¡± He grunted.


    I hesitated and the woman touched a hand to his arm.


    ¡°We can make an exception for a Knight,¡± she said warmly. ¡°We only ask that you keep your weapon sheathed at all times. This establishment runs on it¡¯s reputation, after all.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    I brought out my leather purse and the woman¡¯s smile widened.


    ¡°And what can I do for you, Ser Knight? Perhaps I can interest you in some of our¡­more exotic options. We have amassed quite a collection, I can assure you. Women from all corners of the world or men, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re into.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said, aware of Joanna¡¯s eyes on me. ¡°Thank you. I require a hot bath and a cup of wine. Nothing more.¡±


    The woman arched her eyebrow but she didn¡¯t contradict me. I paid a silver and a half and was led to a small room with wooden shelves. There I stripped off the clothing of the road and wrapped a linen towel around my waist.


    I was led through a hall of stone columns and silk veils. I could hear the laughter of women somewhere nearby and the sound of plates clinking.


    The servant led me to a quiet corner where a small bath steamed. I was given an extra set of towels, a glass of water, and a goblet of red wine.


    Next, the Servant brought out a small dish of scented soups and herbs which he placed near the water.


    ¡°For your hair,¡± he said pointing to a soft-looking soap at the corner of the dish.I thanked him and he bowed before departing.


    I sighed as I slid into the warm water. I leaned back against the cool tile, letting the warm loosen the tightness in my muscles. It felt good on my soreness, and I found myself relaxing fully for the first time since I had first joined the Army.


    Taking a bar of soap that smelled vaguely of rosemary, I scrubbed myself clean. Steam swirled off my skin as the layers of dirt washed away.


    Next, I ducked my head below the surface and scrubbed at my hair. Rivers of dirty water slid down my skin and the result was satisfying. When my hair was clean I reached for the goblet of wine and froze.


    A notification had blipped at the edge of my gaze. I focused on it, and the Quest Menu popped open. Excitedly I scanned the new text that appeared.


    Perquisites almost met, Quests 1/2 completed


    New Quest: Locate the Winds of Autumn and hand over the Book of Souls


    I wiped water from my face and read the text again, frowning. Perhaps it was a play on words. I turned the phrase over in my mind a few times but couldn¡¯t make sense of it.


    I lounged in the bath until the water cooled and my goblet of wine was empty. At last, having to admit no success making sense of the cryptic message, I rose from the bath and wrapped a clean Cloth around my waist.


    I lifted Iron Fang from where it lay and turned to go.


    A flicker of movement caught my eye. I turned, preparing myself, but what I saw wasn''t what I had expected.


    Joanna had risen from a bath several paces away, and begun wrapping herself in a towel.


    She turned towards me and for the first time I saw her face without the Healers veil. Her golden hair was long and tumbled down her back and around her shoulders. Her cheekbones were high, and her face heart-shaped.


    She was, without exception, one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen.


    Full lips quirked upwards as she seemed to note my appraisal.


    ¡°Bold of you, Ser Knight, to admire me so openly.¡± She teased.


    ¡°I did not expect to see you here,¡± I said.


    She nodded.


    ¡°The Bath Houses of Kadia are open to everyone. The patrons tend to behave themselves, so women and men are allowed to mingle.¡±


    She threw her hair across one shoulder and her eyes combed my body, stopping at the V of my hips.


    It had been a long time, and without intending to, my body responded to her. I turned away to hide the evidence of my arousal and tucked Iron Fang into the waist of my towel.


    Joanna swept past me and I could have sworn I saw a smirk gracing her lips.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± she said.


    I watched the sway of her hips as she walked, and decided I quite liked the sound of my name on her lips.


    I examined the clean clothes in my inventory and sighed when I noticed the edges of my tunic were frayed. I dressed and pulled on my boots before standing.


    I was a Knight, and it was time I saw to being outfitted like one.

 Thirty Five: Knifes Edge

    I rose with the dawn and dressed, leaving my sword and freshly cleaned armor behind.The camp in the courtyard was mostly silent and the sentry¡¯s turned their heads to watch my path.


    Lord Dacon stood apart from his guard, his gaze fixed on the horizon beyond the wall.


    ¡°It¡¯s magnificent isn¡¯t it?¡± He asked.


    ¡°It is my Lord. But I don¡¯t think you called me here to watch the sunrise.¡±


    Lord Dacon smirked.


    ¡°No indeed. Come, and walk with me. I have somewhere I¡¯d like you to see.¡±


    With that, he turned and strode away, followed closely by three of his household guards. I followed after, walking at his side.


    ¡°No doubt you¡¯re aware that your change in status comes with not a few caveats,¡± he said.


    ¡°You are expected to not only act the part but to look the part as well. Court expectations may seem frivolous to you and I couldn¡¯t fault you for that. However, I believe that you will play a much larger political role than you might think. And impressions are everything.¡±


    We turned a corner and the Guardsman on patrol bowed to Lord Dacon.


    ¡°What makes you think so, My Lord?¡± I asked, genuinely curious. Dacon seemed to consider the question.


    ¡°It is rare for one to manifest Gifted powers so quickly. Many don¡¯t find that they possess skills until they surpass level 30. You however, gained power before you reached 20. That is not only impressive, but it is a strong indicator that your true power has yet to be tapped into.¡±


    I glanced around, recognizing the path I had taken toward the bathhouses. Instead of descending into Center City, however, Lord Dacon led us out and onto the wide main road.


    ¡°And you believe that will make me a target.¡± I guessed.


    Dacon nodded. ¡°Not so much a target perhaps, but there will be a lot of scrutiny on you moving forward. Tonight, a banquet will be held in order to honor Lord Blackthorne¡¯s ascension to Spear of the King. You will be expected there, and will likely be a hot topic of conversation among the court of Ceris.¡±


    I grimaced and Dacon laughed at the expression.


    ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it Will, believe me.¡±


    We stopped outside of shop with a painted green door and a brass bell. Several moments later the door opened and a man with bushy eyebrows bowed so low to Lord Dacon that his hat toppled off.


    ¡°Welcome my Lord, you are most welcome indeed.¡± Said the man excitedly. ¡°Please come in, I have much to show you.¡±


    His assistant held open the door and Dacon turned to his guard.


    ¡°Wait outside,¡± he commanded them. ¡°Assure that no one enters the premises until we are done here.¡±


    Then he stepped inside, and I followed after. The shop window was filled with mannequins of all shapes and sizes dressed in elegant clothing. On the wall, cloth of all colors hung on wooden spools. A seamstress worked in the back room, stopping her work only to bow to Lord Dacon.


    The Tailor beamed at us.


    ¡°I was delighted to hear you would be coming my Lord. Why, I have just the thing for you. The finest silks in your household colors? Or perhaps a new jupon with custom gold thread embroidery? I think you¡¯ll find our selection to be quite extensive.¡±


    Lord Dacon waited for the Tailor¡¯s excited chatter to die away before he turned and swept out a hand.


    ¡°I am not here today for myself, but for a dear friend. This is Ser William, a Knight of the realm. I want you to cloth and outfit him for his appearance at court.¡±


    The Tailor¡¯s eyes slid to me, and he blinked a few times as if he only realized I was standing there.


    ¡°I¡­. Yes of course,¡± he said quickly. ¡°Ser William, eh? I¡¯ll have to take your measurements of course, and the timeline is, well, a bit accelerated. But nothing I can¡¯t do, no sir.¡±


    I was ushered into a back room and made to stand on a stool where my measurements were taken by the seamstress. Then came the parade of clothing.


    ¡°It is,¡± said the Tailor, carefully choosing his words. ¡°Typical for a knight to have his own colors and coat of arms. May I ask what your preferred colors are?¡±


    I hesitated. I hadn¡¯t given this much thought and the question caught me off guard. I thought of the banners that flew on the battlefield. Lord Blackthorne, with a horse on black and red, and Lord Dacon, with his household blue and gold.


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    My Banner and coat of arms needed to be something unique and recognizable. It would send a message and set the stage for how I wanted to be viewed - both as a man and a soldier.


    The Tailor waited with quill in hand. Finally I turned my head.


    ¡°A black boar,¡± I said. ¡°On a field of Gold.¡±


    The Tailor glanced up at me then, his eyes appraising. ¡°A strong choice,¡± he said thoughtfully. ¡°And a good one. A boar is often underestimated, but they are dangerous creatures if riled. They can kill a man as surely as any beast or monster.¡±


    He nodded, quill scratching the parchment. ¡°Understood Ser William. I can assure you that your livery will be ready by sundown. In the meantime please feel free to peruse my shop.¡±


    I hesitated.


    ¡°How much will this cost me?¡± I asked. At the hesitation in my voice the Tailor laughed.


    ¡°Forgive me Ser Knight, but before he left Lord Dacon had already paid the bill in advance. He said in no uncertain terms that his friend was not to pay a copper.¡±


    An hour later I left the shop with four new sets of clothes in my inventory, and a new set on my person. I was wearing a russet brown tunic with dark trousers and a gilded silver belt. All in all, I felt like a new man.


    What¡¯s more, I felt like a man others would respect. The Guardsman treated me differently, glancing at me and nodding as I passed.


    It wasn¡¯t until I turned the corner into a back street that I felt a strange pressure at my hip.


    ¡°Sorry sir,¡± said a young boy as he bumped into me. His face was friendly, if a bit dirty and he smiled apologetically. He made to turn away but I grabbed his wrist and held him fast.


    ¡°I think,¡± I said as he stared up at me wide eyed. ¡°That you have my coin purse.¡±


    The boy¡¯s face grew sheepish and he pulled my leather purse out from under his tunic where it had been concealed.


    ¡°Sorry sir, I didn¡¯t mean no harm, honest. Don¡¯t call the guards on me.¡±


    I paused, thinking. It was possible that the boy was a lone pickpocket, but I had learned when I first arrived in this world that pickpockets were often part of a much larger organization.


    If I played my cards right, I might be able to use this to my advantage.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± I said. ¡°If you help me in return.¡± S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The boy gave me a wary look. Passersby were starting to stare and I drew him to the side undercover of the building.


    Reaching into my purse I gave him a silver coin, and watched his eyes grow round.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for something called The Winds of Autumn. Have you heard of it?¡±


    The boy let out a squeak and his eyes darted around nervously.


    ¡°Begging your pardon sir, but it¡¯s best not to speak his name in the open. They say he has eyes everywhere and I don¡¯t want no trouble.¡±


    He? So the Winds of Autumn was a man and a dangerous one. Interesting.


    ¡°I need to get a message to him,¡± I said. ¡°Can you do that for me?¡± The boy nodded his head.


    ¡°Wait here, sir.¡±


    He darted away down an alleyway, disappearing around the corner. I leaned against the wall, arms folded and trying not to look out of place. As the minutes ticked by, I wondered if I had just made a stupid mistake.


    The boy could have just as easily have taken the coin and left me here to wait. But after nearly half an hour his scruffy head peaked back out of the alleyway.


    ¡°I have a message for you, sir,¡± he said. ¡°He says you are to meet him in the garden maze on the grounds of the House of Refuge at midnight.


    I paused, waiting for more.


    ¡°Is that all?¡±


    The boy shook his head. ¡°He says if you¡¯re late, he¡¯ll kill you, sir.¡±


    ***


    I arrived back to the courtyard with minutes to spare. Ser Connel waited impatiently beside a dark carriage pulled by tall grey horses. He was dressed in his own livery, a tower on a field of green and nodded to me as I approached.


    ¡°About time, Blackbriar. I had assumed you¡¯d gone and gotten yourself offed in some alley.¡±


    No, I thought. That was for tonight.


    ¡°My apologies Ser Connel. I made a visit to the Tailor.¡±


    "I can see that". Ser Connel eyed me thoughtfully, his eyes snagging on the black boar pendant that clasped my dark cloak to my shoulders.


    I was wearing a black military coat, embroidered at the neck and wrists in gold stitching. Knee high black boots with silver toes seemed to pinch my feet every time I walked. There was no doubt that the clothes were of a fine make, but I felt out of place in them. An imposter among men of rank.


    The footman got down from the rear and opened the door. I stepped in and ended up having to wrestle my cloak when it caught on the door.


    ¡°Damn thing,¡± I muttered, sweeping it impatiently aside. Ser Connel seemed amused. The carriage pulled past the second wall and continued up the cobblestone path towards the domed House of Refuge.


    No doubt, the irony of the palace¡¯s name was the fact that its own people were barred from the safety of the city.


    ¡°It feels a bit ridiculous to be going to a dinner when there''s a war on,¡± I said finally, breaking the silence. Ser Connel glanced at me.


    ¡°It¡¯s the calm before the storm,¡± he said. ¡°Enjoy it while you can lad. Once the Ork Host arrives, the siege could last for days.¡±


    I grimaced.


    ¡°How many Orks are there?¡±


    Ser Connel shrugged.


    ¡°Our reports are several weeks old, but the rumors say that four of the six tribes have united. If that¡¯s the case, the numbers would probably be somewhere around six or seven thousand.¡±


    ¡°Seven thousand?¡± I said incredulously. ¡°Just how many men does Ceris¡¯s garrison hold?¡±


    Ser Connel shrugged again.


    ¡°Maybe fifteen hundred, at most. Our forces under Lord Blackthorne¡¯s banner bring that number up to two thousand.¡±


    My stomach plummeted as I considered those numbers. If these numbers were anywhere approaching accurate we could be facing nothing short of a slaughter.


    Ser Connel sighed.


    ¡°Now you understand our predicament. Still, siege warfare is an entirely different beast. Ours is a war of attrition, now. Our Scouts will harry the host, wearing them down until they reach the walls. Ceris itself has a ballista and an entire company of archers. The Ork''s will not find it easy to take the city."


    I had my doubts but with no other choice than to await the coming storm, I lapsed into silence.


    The carriage drew up in front of the House of Refuge and moments later the footman opened the door.


    I kept a hand on my sword as I stepped out of the carriage, noting my surroundings. Lord Dacon, his knights, and his household representatives stood before the steps to the great hall.


    Blackthorne and his retinue waited at the steps. I bowed to Lord Blackthorne in the courtly fashion, cloak swirling around my shoulders.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± I said. Blackthorne looked me over once and nodded his approval.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said. ¡°I had rather hoped you¡¯d join us. You are about to entire a nest of Vipers. Are you quite prepared?¡±


    I grimaced.


    ¡°I doubt it, My Lord.¡±


    Blackthorne grinned.


    ¡°The right answer,¡± he said. ¡°My only advice is this. Don¡¯t let them bite you. And whatever you do,¡± he leaned in. ¡°Don¡¯t drink the wine.¡±


    He swept past me up the steps and I blinked, processing what he had said. The wine? What did he mean?


    I followed after him and together or procession faced the tall brass double doors that led to the mouth of the beast.

 Thirty Six: To Meet A God

    I stood against the raised balcony, arms draped over the stone railing. Below me, the banquet was in full swing. Men and women dressed in opulent finery mingled together. A violinist played a measured tune from the corner, and servants carrying silver platters of meat, cheese, and fruit paced the room at regular intervals.


    Lord Blackthorne and Dacon stood at the head of the room, making conversation with the city¡¯s upper echelon. The third servant of the night swept up the steps to offer me one of many vintages of wine.


    I politely declined.


    ¡°Is the party not to your Taste Ser William?¡±


    The voice was smooth and sultry, and I glanced around to see a woman in a tight and flowing purple gown standing beside me. She had high cheekbones and her face gave off a sharp, almost hawkish appearance.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid you have the advantage over me,¡± I said. ¡°You are?¡±


    ¡°They call me many things, and not all of them kind. Though the name I answer now is Violet.¡±


    I bowed my head.


    ¡°Violet,¡± I said. ¡°To answer your question I find the party¡­ distasteful. There is a war coming, and we have only days to prepare. Refugees are camped outside the walls between the Ork host and city garrison and we¡¯re expected to drink wine and nibble on cheese.¡±


    Violet seemed amused by my answer.


    ¡°Spoken like a true soldier. Though you are correct - at least in principle. The Lord Governor is a man who covets power.¡±


    She gazed down at the gilded chair where the Governor, a round man with beady eyes, sat sipping from a goblet.


    ¡°He collects people like he collects extravagance,¡± she said. ¡°If he sees something of merit, he wants to own it.¡±


    ¡°Does he own you?¡± I asked, turning to face her. The gentle probe that had been pressing at the corners of my mind halted and slowly withdrew.


    The Mind Mage hesitated for a moment and then smiled.


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± she said. ¡°That was rude of me. I often probe the minds of others without thinking about it. A poor habit, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the Inquisition frown on the use of unsanctioned Mind Magic?¡± I asked.


    She made a humming sound.


    ¡°What the Inquisition is¡­ aware of my presence here, and has been for some time. They have sent more than a few representatives to try to recruit me. I am simply not a fan of their methods.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Mind Mages had a moral code.¡±


    She smirked pushing away from the stone railing.


    ¡°Not all of us are willing pets of the God King,¡± she said.


    This caught me by surprise, but I did my best to school my features.


    ¡°Some would consider that heresy,¡± I said.


    ¡°Perhaps.¡±


    The silence stretched between us before she said.


    ¡°There are many of rumors floating around about you, Will of Blackbriar.¡±


    I did my best to look bored even as my heart hammered.


    ¡°What kind of rumors? I¡¯m afraid the one where I took down a basilisk with my bare hands is a bit exaggerated.¡±


    She laughed.


    ¡°They say that you were early to manifest your gift and that your power might grow one day to rival that of the nobility.¡±


    I glanced at her, looking for some kind of sign I was being mocked. But her face was somber and thoughtful.


    ¡°Many will not like that, I think.¡±


    ¡°How do you deal with it?¡±


    The question seemed to surprise her. She studied the people below and smoothed her hands on her dress.


    ¡°You endure,¡± she said finally. ¡°You find those that you can trust, and you forge alliances. Many will covet your power, and some will seek to take it from you. Never let them see how it affects you.¡±


    Her words lingered in my mind for long minutes after she descended the stairs. I watched her make her way through the wealthy patrons of Ceris towards the Lord Governor. She bent low to whisper in his ear and he laughed merrily.


    I glanced out the balcony window, seeing the moon high in the sky. It would be time to meet with the Winds of Autumn soon enough. I had my sword belted at my waist, though I wished I had thought to bring my chain mail.


    I watched Lord Blackthorne speaking with the Lord Governor, his hands clasped behind his back. Lord Dacon seemed preoccupied with a young woman in fine clothing, who I could only assume was a lady.


    If I wanted to sneak out unnoticed, now would be the time. I did a quick scan, noting the household Ceris guardsman standing at the base of the steps. He had his back to me, but I would have to be careful not to make any noise.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    I stepped back until my boot heels bumped against the wall. Lifting an arm behind me I reached my fingers for the latch.


    ¡°Wine Ser Knight?¡±


    I nearly jumped out of my skin as the servant ascended the steps, holding out a tray of goblets.


    ¡°Uh, no thank you.¡± I recovered. The man bowed his head I waited until he had descended the steps before trying again. My fingers slid along the glass before finally brushing against the latch. I pushed upwards and heard it click as it came away.


    I cast one last glance at the back of the oblivious guardsman before swinging a leg over the window sill and unto the terrace beyond.


    The wind outside was cooler now that night had fallen. It stirred my hair and whipped my cloak out behind me. I closed the window as softly as I could crouch. Down in the gravel below, a patrol of two guardsmen tromped past, torches glowing in the night.


    When they finally rounded the corner I gripped the sill, lowering myself softly to the ground. Getting back up was going to be a challenge, but I didn¡¯t have time to think about that now.


    I bent low, boots crunching on gravel as darted forward towards the entrance of the House of Refuge Gardens.


    The glow of a torch announced the presence of a guardsman moments before he rounded the corner and I was forced to duck behind a set of exotic plants as he passed.


    The moon was high in the sky now, and the moonlight cast strange shadows on the entrance of the hedge Maze. I cast one final glance before I stepped into the darkness. The scent of freshly trimmed leaves was strong. The soft grass muffled the sound of my boots as I walked, hand on my sword.


    I reached a place where the paths converged and paused, studying each one carefully. Then I took the rightmost path. In the light of the moon, I could see several paces ahead of me. I loosened my sword in its sheath, and positioned my body sidelong, to make myself a smaller target.


    My HUD opened and the Quest indicator appeared. It was pointing behind me. I stopped walking and slowly turned.


    A figure stood only ten feet away, his face shrouded in shadow.


    ¡°Are you the Winds of Autumn?¡± I called. The figure didn¡¯t answer. I spread my feet in a fighting stance and tried again.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Do you always talk to yourself?¡± The voice was so unexpected that I had my sword halfway out of its sheath before I registered where it had come from.


    A man was lying across of the top of the hedge, an arm propped beneath his head. His hair was the color of fire and his ears were tapered into gentle points. One boot draped idly over the edge as he turned to peer at me.


    I glanced behind myself, looking for the dark figure but I saw nothing.


    ¡°There was someone else here,¡± I said. s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The fire-haired man tilted his head and for the first time, I saw that his eyes were slanted like a cat''s.


    ¡°There is no one here but you. I¡¯ve watched your progress this entire time, Will of Blackbriar. That¡¯s what they call you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    I glowered at him, jamming my sword back into its sheath.


    ¡°You¡¯re the Winds of Autumn,¡± I guessed. ¡°And if you saw me why didn¡¯t you reveal yourself sooner?¡±


    He sat up, dusting off his hands and sending leaves scattering to the ground.


    ¡°That¡¯s a thing they call me,¡± he admitted. His accent was smooth and lilting and reminded me of something back on earth. ¡°My name is August. Though, those who still worship me, and you must understand they are very few, know me as the God of the Autumn Winds.¡±


    I blinked at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re a God?¡±


    The doubt in my voice made him smile.


    ¡°Was a god, is much more apt. These days I am reduced to little more than a lord of thieves.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡±


    I turned to leave and nearly ran into him. August was standing before me, tall, and wispy, his eyes dancing with amusement.


    ¡°Well don¡¯t leave just yet,¡± he said. ¡°You still have something you¡¯re supposed to give me.¡±


    I stepped back, keeping a healthy distance between us.


    ¡°Right now I have no reason to trust you,¡± I said. ¡°Tell me now why I shouldn¡¯t just leave and report you to the guards.¡±


    August sucked on his cheek.


    ¡°Because the guards don¡¯t know you¡¯re here.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes.


    ¡°You sent a message that if I was late you¡¯d kill me.¡±


    ¡°Ah! I didn¡¯t mean that literally. He laughed and rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°I¡¯m off to a bad start. Let me try again, William, I need something that you have in your position. For it, I¡¯m willing to trade you two pieces of information. Do you accept?¡±


    ¡°How do I know the information will be of any value to me?¡±


    August considered this.


    ¡°Because they are questions you¡¯ve already asked me. Well, not in this timeline, but you have asked me in the past. I think. It¡¯s complicated.¡±


    ¡°Timeline?¡± I rubbed my head.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure we haven¡¯t met before,¡± I said.


    August shrugged.


    ¡°We haven¡¯t, not yet. Though the older I get, the harder it is to keep track.¡±


    At my glare, he winced.


    ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not making any sense. You and I have yet to meet, strictly speaking. But we will meet in the future, and when we do you¡¯ll ask me to tell you two things. The first is that you should trust your hunch about the City. The second is that the signs were correct. He is coming again, and the red moon will rise.¡±


    August nodded as if proud of himself, and looked at me expectantly.


    ¡°What,¡± I said slowly ¡°The fuck does any of that mean exactly?¡±


    August shrugged.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know really. You were very specific in what you wanted me to say back then.¡±


    ¡°Back then?¡± I thought you said we hadn¡¯t met yet.


    August nodded enthusiastically, green eyes glowing.


    ¡°Yes, Exactly.¡±


    I let out a long exasperated breath as I stared at the blip on my Quest screen. The active quest was blinking at me urgently and I glared at it. It hardly felt like a fair transaction but If I wanted to unlock my next skill, I had little choice but to comply.


    ¡°What¡¯s stopping me from just leaving with the book?¡±


    I asked August. He frowned.


    ¡°Well nothing I suppose, but crossing a god wouldn¡¯t be the smartest of ideas. You already have plenty of enemies. Or uh, at least you will.¡±


    I folded my arms across my chest.


    ¡°I want something from you. I¡¯ll give it to you, but only on my terms.¡±


    Warm wind swept by me, blowing leaves in a swirl around my head.


    ¡°Very well,¡± said August. ¡°Ask, and if it¡¯s within my power, I will grant it to you.¡±


    I considered this for a long moment. Then I nodded.


    ¡°If you¡¯re a god then I want a boon. Give me a blessing, some sort of power and we have a deal.¡±


    August regarded me for a long while, his cat eyes amused. Then finally he stepped forward. I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword but the god only lifted his hand between us. Tiny purple balls of foxfire glowed at his fingertips. Slowly and without breaking eye contact he lowered them to my chest.¡±


    At first, I was worried the fire might burn me. But as I watched the balls of fire went out one by one. A warm tingle ran through my body and I shivered involuntarily at the feeling.


    Bonus Skill: Mark of the Wind. Your agility and overall attack speed is increased by 10% during battle


    August stepped back.


    ¡°Satisfied?¡±


    I nodded, rolling my shoulders to dissipate the odd tingling feeling.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°You kept your end. Now I¡¯ll keep mine.¡±


    I reached into my inventory and drew out the metallic box. The top was smooth with no markings or carvings on its surface. The material was dark, the kind of black that sucked all light from around it.


    August held out a hand and, after a moment, I placed the box into it.


    He held my gaze and nodded once, before smiling.


    ¡°Until we meet again, William.¡±


    And then, he simply blinked out of existence. I stood for a moment staring at the dark spot in the hedge maze where he had disappeared. Then I turned and jogged back through the maze. I took only one wrong turn, but it took me several precious minutes to backtrack to the entrance of the maze.


    I made a quick scan for guardsmen and then darted back towards the palace. I was about to scale a tall oak nearby when I caught a glimpse of the sky. It was bright, lit with the orange glow of morning.


    I cursed myself. Had I been gone for so long? How would I explain my absence to Lord Blackthorne? But even as the thought flooded my mind I began to smell the smoke.


    And that was when the alarm bells began.

 Thirty Seven: The Long Night

    I met with the other Knights in front of the House of Refuge. The carriages were already parked out front, the doors held open by anxious-looking footmen.Ser Connel spun towards me, looking agitated.


    ¡°There you are, man,¡± he said. ¡°I was searching for you. Lord Blackthorne issued orders to arm yourself and gather your men. You are to report to the wall South of the gate. With haste,¡± he added, before turning to issue orders to a set of guardsmen.


    I recognized the dismissal.


    Pulling myself into the nearest carriage I began unfastening the clasps to my coat. By the time the horses clopped to a stop I was already stripped down to my trousers and bare foot. I sprinted through the square and into the courtyard, boots in hand.


    Gills greeted me halfway through.


    ¡°Will,¡± he said, his eyes serious. ¡°What¡¯s going on? We heard the bells but nobody will tell us anything, not even the guards.¡±


    ¡°Orks,¡± I said shortly. Gills''s face fell. ¡°I thought we had days,¡± he whispered. ¡°I thought we had time to prepare.¡±


    There was pain in his voice.


    I dropped my boots and cloak down on top of my pack and grabbed my armor from my tent. As I began pulling on my Troll hide tunic I asked him the question that had been nagging at me.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on, Giller?" I asked. "And don¡¯t try to hide it from me I can see it in your face.¡±


    Gills swallowed and gave a pained smile. There was a reluctance in him that was hard to read.


    ¡°Vera,¡± he murmured eventually. ¡°Her and I... we didn¡¯t get enough time."


    ¡°You¡¯ll see her again,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m sure she understands that-¡°


    ¡°She¡¯s pregnant,¡± Gills blurted. I paused halfway through pulling on my chain mail.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Gills nodded and tears stung his eyes. He ripped a hand through his hair and let out a breath.


    ¡°I mean to marry her,¡± he said. ¡°When all this is over. But I need your oath that no matter what happens we cannot let this city fall. We can¡¯t let-¡° His voice cracked and he looked away jaw clenching.


    I stepped forward and gripped my friend''s shoulder. We stood in the courtyard as men ran around us and fire lit the sky beyond the walls.


    ¡°You have it,¡± I told him. Gills met my gaze and nodded solemnly. Then the moment passed and I went back to armoring.


    I was fully equipped only minutes later when Hade and the others came clanking into the courtyard. Bjorn and Astrid followed close on their heels.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± said Bjorn, nodding his head. The Berserker wore dark blue and black warpaint smeared across his face. His axe, a legendary weapon, was clutched in his hand.


    ¡°You''re with me,¡± I told him. ¡°Where are Draxus and Kato?¡±


    ¡°Already on the wall Ser. They were pulled earlier to share the watch with the City guard.¡±


    I grunted and turned away.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to pick them up as we go.¡±


    The sound of the bells was an ominous symphony of war. We jogged through the streets past houses whose doors had been boarded up, and shops that were now closed and locked.


    The silent streets were in contrast to the earlier vibrancy of the city. Out of the darkness appeared tight groups of refugees. They fled up the cobbles streets carrying little more than cloth sacks and camp supplies.


    They passed quickly, but many nodded to us as they went. One woman pressed a rose into my hand and murmured.


    "Fight well Ser Knight."


    "They honor you," said Astrid. "They know we will fight for them and keep them safe."


    I grimaced.


    "Let''s keep moving."


    Along the southern wall, a set of sheer wooden steps led up the battlements. Hade puffed from beside me. s?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Fuck me for saying Ser William, but your endurance stats are much higher than my own.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll get there,¡± I said. Then grimaced. ¡°Something tells me we¡¯ll have our share of experience points before the siege is over.¡±


    Jorgen looked a bit pale at the thought. We made our way across the wooden planks of the walkway and up the stone steps leading to the battlements. Several soldiers wearing kettle helmets and carrying long bows marched by.


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    They barely spared us glances.


    At our arrival, a group of soldiers turned to regard us. One of them shouted to a man leaning over a crate filled with torches. The man twisted around to squint at us. Then he grinned.


    ¡°Will of Blackbriar, as I live and breathe.¡± He stepped over, took my hand, and began pumping it enthusiastically.


    ¡°Oh, the boys will love this. We had a bet running on whether or not you were a myth or the real thing.¡±


    His eyes landed on my snake scale gauntlets and widened.


    ¡°Is that what I think it is? You defeated a real basilisk?¡±


    I could see the eagerness in the other men''s faces as they listened in with rapt attention. Inwardly I sighed, but I allowed none of my discomfort to show. Right now, the men needed all the morale they could get.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± I said. ¡°And I''m here to test my strength against the Host. About time I added a few Ork horns to a mount in my tent.¡±


    The soldiers laughed. I scanned the stats of the man who had greeted me.


    ¡°First Sergeant, is it? I¡¯m Will, and these are my men. We¡¯re here to help you man the walls - whatever the hell that entails.¡±


    ¡°Aye, But you can call me Locklan Ser William. I¡¯ve guarded these walls since I was barely sixteen. I was lucky the guard took me in - kept me out of trouble.¡±


    "Our job is to spread out along the walls and keep the watch. If we spot anything unusual we call it out. If the siege begins, well. The men of the garrison will join us, and it will fall to our forces to hold these walls."


    "Fair enough."


    As my soldiers got settled I stepped to the edge of the parapet. Beyond the wall, the burning plains stretched out into the horizon. At first, I didn¡¯t register what I was seeing. Then, the true scale of it hit me and my eyes adjusted.


    Fires, hundreds of them, spread across the desert like an ocean of flames. From their flickering light, I could see the Orks.


    Hulking brutish creatures with horns like a bull. They stood at least eight feet tall and their bodies rippled with the corded muscle of a race bred to one purpose. To kill men.


    The host itself was massive, stretching away into the darkness. War beasts prowled, armored outriders sitting on their backs. Behind them, crudely built siege towers were being pulled by herds of oxen and what looked like¡­


    ¡°Human Slaves,¡± breathed Hade from beside me. ¡°Throne, they really are monsters.¡±


    He was right. Two lines of human slaves were shackled together behind the oxen. Even from this distance, I could see that they were worn ragged, with torn clothes and dirt-smeared faces.


    Every once In a while the sound of a whip cracking could be heard, and the slaves would flinch. The Host came to a grinding halt in the distance.


    The dust settled over the plains, stirred by their passage.


    The sound of a beast''s growls could be heard and moments later a large Sand Drake came barreling out of the dust and smoke.


    The beast came to a stop on a small hill not 50 paces from the walls.


    On its back sat an enormous Ork. His Horns were long and curved at the ends. Scars marked his body and when I looked closely I could see human skulls tied to his saddle.


    He threw back his head and bellowed into the air. A long drawn-out sound pierced the night like a blade.


    When he was done, he reigned in his mount and paced it up and down the wall.


    ¡°Where is your leader?¡± he said. His speech was halting and guttural, but the meaning was clear. I saw the men around me tense with uncertainty.


    ¡°Tell him that we have a gift for him." growled the Ork and that we would treat with him."


    He gestured one hand backwards and moments later I saw shadows In the dust.


    Through the glow of the torchlight, silhouettes became visible. Two red-skinned Orks marched forward, holding between them a chain.


    On the end of the chain stumbled four human prisoners, a woman, and three haggard-looking men. I clenched my jaw as the chain was yanked and they were sent stumbling forward.


    ¡°I am here,¡± came the clear voice.


    Blackthorne stepped unto the parapet.


    He was dressed for war in dark armor, his red and black cloak swirling out behind him. He held his unsheathed great sword propped over one shoulder, and his eyes were cold as ice.


    At the sight of him, the men seemed to draw strength. Blackthorne squared his shoulders.


    ¡°State your terms, brute. And I will hear them.¡±


    The Ork tilted back his head to study Blackthorne with dark shark-like eyes. The beast shifted in place, lashing its barbed tail as if impatient to get on with it.


    ¡°You are the one they call sun sword, no?¡± asked the Ork in his guttural tones.


    Blackthorne nodded.


    ¡°I am he.¡±


    The Ork jerked his head and made a deep rumbling sound that I only just realized was laughter.


    ¡°Very well. Here are our terms, sun sword. Lay down your arms. Submit to my father the Khan the four tribes. He is known as the killer of men, he who rips the earth, breaker of mankind, chain of¡­¡±


    And the tirade of grisly names went on for what felt like minutes.


    ¡°A bit tedious, isn¡¯t it,¡± Muttered a voice beside me. I turned and saw Kato and Draxus climbing the battlement steps. Draxus pulled on his helmet and adjusted the straps.


    ¡°Ork Khan¡¯s gain a new title with every notable foe they defeat or kill.¡±


    "How do they keep it all straight?"


    Still, That didn¡¯t bode well for us. The Khan himself would be an experienced and leveled warrior. Chances were, he was Gifted too - or at least the Ork equivalent.


    At last, the son of the Khan finished his chant of names and gestured towards the human slaves.


    ¡°Surrender now, and you will all be honored among slaves. Defy us, and this is the fate that awaits you.¡±


    He turned his horned head and gave a signal. I had guessed it was coming, but the sight still churned my stomach.


    The Ork holding the chain pulled it taught, sending the slaves stumbling to the ground. Then the second Ork came forward, a long curved dagger in his hand. He gripped the woman by the hair and tilted her head back.


    Red fountained from her neck as he sawed.


    The sound of meat and bone against metal set my teeth on edge. Several of the men along the wall let out gasps of horror.


    When he was done the Ork lifted the head into the air and bellowed. The war cry was echoed by those in the war camp in the distance. The sound was deafening.


    "What say you, sun sword?"


    Blackthorne clenched his fist so tightly that the leather of his gloves creaked. Then he let out a breath and lifted his chin.


    "Humanity will not surrender to the likes of you. Play your games, but when we meet in the field of battle, know that it will be your head."


    Blackthorne turned away but I could see the tension in his shoulders. His face remained calm as ever but rage smoldered in his eyes.


    ¡°I guard the northeast gate,¡± he said. ¡°I leave this section of the wall to you Ser William, and you First Sergeant Locklan. Even now the men of the Ceris garrison are marching to the walls. Do not lose heart. They may outnumber us, but ours is a war of patience and mark my words.¡±


    He turned and spat over the wall, surprising me.


    ¡°We will have our vengeance.¡±


    Then he turned and he and his household guards were faded down the steps.


    The remaining slaves were killed in a similar fashion their blood spilling across the cracked earth.


    The Khan''s son rode back and forth several more times, before circling the headless corpses and riding back into the night.


    "Bastard''s," said Draxus through gritted teeth. "Fucking, barbaric savages."


    "So what happens now?" I asked Locklan. The man''s face was set and grim. He glanced out towards the sea of fires.


    "Now, Ser William, we wait."

 Thirty Eight: Tides of War

    Quest Completed: prerequisites met 2/2 Quests Completed


    New Skill unlocked: Bastion - When Iron Blooded is active, you can absorb a percentage of the damage being dealt to you. When the meter is full, you can release the stored damage in a blast of AOE energy


    Interesting. I read through the text again, considering my options.


    Skills were invaluable, and if they could stack, or at least compliment each other, then I would see a steady increase of power of time.


    That coupled with the fact that each had several upgrade slots made me think that my skills would scale with me as I leveled.


    I closed the window and leaned against the parapet wall. I was chewing on a strip of dried meat from my inventory, ignoring the leathery taste. It was better than nothing, and all I had on me.


    Hours had passed since the Khan¡¯s son had pulled his bloody stunt. The corpses of the fallen slaves still lay uncontested on the ground.


    Every once In a while I would scan the faraway war camp, looking for any signs of movement. The war beasts prowled the perimeter of the camp, red scales flashing in the flicker of flames.


    One look at their fangs told me that a Sand Drake was more than capable of shredding a man.


    Whether armor would be enough to stop these beasts if they made it through the wall, I didn''t like to guess.


    I pulled my canteen from my belt and drank sparingly. My men and I would be on the wall indefinitely, and I was uncertain when there would be time to refill them.


    Glancing up at the tower to my right I could see the group of soldiers now manning the ballista. It was one of four such weapons and our greatest edge against the Host.


    They were also, I suspect at least, the main reason the Host had yet to advance. Each ballista boasted a long wooden shaft the length of a man, with a barbed steel head.


    It was made to shred through beasts and Orks like wet paper, and I was glad of the reassurance.


    Runners had been set up from the Garrison building in the center city, all the way to the wall itself. For now, well-rested soldiers were our greatest strength. The Orks had the numbers and their strategy would be to tire us out, wear down our men, and let the fear fester.


    To that end, we kept the watches on the wall brief. I was fresh off my third hour-long rotation of the night. Draxus stood nearby, leaning on his spear as he gazed across the plains.


    ¡°It¡¯s always the calm before the storm that puts me on edge." he confessed. "Once battle starts it¡¯s chaos, but it¡¯s measured chaos. Only you and the man beside you trying not to fucking die. But this¡­ this uncertainty..."


    He opened his canteen and lifted it to his lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s torture. Wish I had something stronger to drink."


    ¡°Yeah, I know that feeling.¡±


    I stood, trying not to look at the corpses as I grabbed my shield from where it leaned.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to do the rounds. Someone has to make sure Kato doesn¡¯t fall asleep.¡±


    Draxus nodded, but his eyes were far away. He was lost in that place he always went before a battle.


    A cool breeze whistled through the eye slits of my helmet, stinging my eyes. I strode from point to point on the wall, checking on my men and making sure each was alert.


    It helped them to see my presence, to see the lack of fear in me. Or at least the confidence I showed them. Morale, I''d come to learn, can be the deciding factor in a battle.


    "To follow you, men have to trust you," Blackthorne had told me. "They need to believe you''re worth dying for. Then, it''s your responsibility to try and keep them alive. You''ll fail, it''s inevitable in battle. But you never stop trying, Blackbriar. That is the burden of a leader."


    First Sergeant Locklan stood between two ensconced torches. At my approach, he turned his head and nodded.


    ¡°Ser William.¡±


    His face was half shrouded in shadow, and the light of the dancing flames gave him an eerie cast. I stepped up beside him and gazed out towards the distant enemy.


    The smell of smoke was faint but ever-present. Locklan rubbed at his bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°It¡¯s too quiet,¡± he said.


    "Isn''t that a good thing?"


    He was frowning. ¡°I don¡¯t like it. Orks can see well in the dark, far better than us, It doesn¡¯t make sense for them to wait until morning to launch their attack. With the daylight, they''ll be at a disadvantage. And our archers and ballista will make them pay for it."


    He sighed. "I guess it just doesn''t make sense to my mind."


    ¡°Maybe they aren¡¯t in a hurry,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s not like we have anywhere to go. We¡¯re trapped here, and they know it.¡±


    Locklan grimaced.


    ¡°Not a cheery thought, that.¡±


    We stood in companionable silence, two men facing down a storm. I thought of a dozen things I could have said, all of them more hollow than the last.


    The truth was that we knew what we''d be facing. We also knew our odds.


    There was a whistling sound form somewhere below followed by a soft thunk.


    "Did you hear that?" I asked, reaching for my sword. Locklan didn''t reply.


    I glanced over at him in time to see an arrow protruding from his eye.


    His body swayed forward, and I lurched to catch it. I was far too late. He tumbled forward, his hip striking the wall - and then he went over.


    I was already shouting an alarm as I tugged my sword from its sheath.


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    There was a soldier, one of Locklans men, several paces down the wall. He turned towards me, mouth open in surprise.


    The grappling hook caught him full in the chest. Barbed hooks ripped through armor and with a gurgling scream, he was slammed backward into the side of the parapet.


    I swore, darting forward and bringing my sword down on the rope.


    The rope itself was thick and the angle of my swing took away much of my sword''s power.


    I had to hack at it for a good thirty seconds as arrows whizzed by my helmet to bounce against stone. Finally, the rope came away, and I heard the roar of an Ork warrior as he plummeted fifty feet toward the ground. S?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The siege had begun, and it shouldn''t have been possible. Dozens of men had stood watch, myself included. And yet there had been no sign of the host approach.


    Now, we we caught off guard and in the open.


    I checked the pulse of the soldier impaled by the grappling hook. He was already a corpse, the red of his blood leaking over stone.


    Moments later the alarm went up.


    Lifting my shield to cover my body I risked sticking out my head to glance straight down.


    Shadowy figures of Orks hugged the wall.


    There were many of them, far too many to count. But how? Was the city already breached?


    I sprinted back towards my men, waving my sword to Hade.


    The soldier turned, and I could see the fear in his eyes.


    ¡°They''re at the walls!¡± I shouted. ¡°Send word. Send a messenger to the garrison. We need reinforcements now.¡±


    Another grappling hook whistled through the air, catching on the lip of the wall.


    Draxus tried to hack at the rope but a volley of arrows made him duck behind the battlement wall.


    ¡°How the fuck?¡± he asked between panting breaths. ¡°We¡¯ve been on watch all night. Dozens of men all looking out for any sign of a threat. This¡­ shouldn¡¯t be possible.¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°It isn¡¯t. Even under the cover of darkness, there is no way we wouldn''t have seen them, not when¡­¡±


    I trailed off. Draxus stared at me.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It was when they killed the prisoners," I said slowly. "That whole display was a fucking distraction. They wanted us to let our guard down. Every eye was on the Khan¡¯s son."


    Draxus swore viciously.


    "It will take the garrison ten minutes to get here, maybe more. We thought we''d have advanced warning. Will, it''s your call but we need to decide what to do."


    I met his gaze and held it.


    "The only thing we can do. We fucking hold the line until reinforcements arrive."


    I rose, lifting my shield up to catch an arrow whizzing towards my face. It stuck in the wood, quivering. I could hear the shouts of city archers as they tried to fire back.


    The angle was too steep and every time an archer would lean out far enough to get a shot, an Ork arrow would catch him in the chest or neck.


    More grappling hooks crashed against stone all around us. The ropes went taught as the Orks began to ascend.


    ¡°No time!¡± I shouted to Draxus as he lifted his sword to try to cut at the rope.


    We were already on borrowed time. There was only one way this fight was going to go. I turned to my men.


    ¡°Form up on me!¡±


    Hade shouted commands and all around me my men pressed in. I could smell the oiled leather, and sweat. Feel the fear leaching off of them. Right now they needed me to be their leader - and so I became him.


    ¡°We hold here,¡± I called, grateful for the steadiness of my voice even as my heart hammered in my chest. ¡°We hold here until the garrison arrives. We give no quarter. Show no mercy. If we die, we die among the bodies of our enemies."


    I turned my helmet, catching sight of the pale faces of the city guard. There were less than a dozen of them, and without their First Sergeant to guide them, they were terrified.


    Still, they hefted their swords and shields and prepared to face off against whatever came over those walls.


    I caught the eye of a wide-eyed boy, no older than sixteen or seventeen. I nodded to him, and he nodded back.


    ¡°You¡¯re a man today,¡± I told him. ¡°Stand with me, soldier. For your mothers and your brothers. Can you do that?¡±


    His lips trembled but he squared his shoulders and gripped his spear. ¡°Yes, Ser William.¡±


    And then the time for talk was over. From the flickering light of the ensconced torches, the hulking shadows of Orks climbed out of the darkness.


    ¡°Ready!¡± shouted Draxus. The line of men around me tightened. When the first head appeared, A spear thrust caught the Ork under the chin. He gurgled, releasing the rope and tumbling back downwards.


    The second learned from the mistakes of his predecessor. He raised a buckler, deflecting the spear blade, and made a grab for it.


    I stepped forward, stabbing him through the open face of his helmet. Blood ran thick over my blade. The Ork slumped forward before slowly sliding off the wall.


    An arrow dented my helmet, knocking my head to the side.


    ¡°Shields up,¡± I called down the line. No sooner had I said the words than barbed arrows flew out of the darkness to bury themselves in shields. Hade stumbled as one bounced off his chain mail. There was no respite.


    Moments later an Ork clambered over the wall and onto the battlements.


    Up close the beast was massive. His eyes were red, his horns black and curved into wicked points. He bellowed a war cry lifting his Axe over his head. Three spears caught him in the chest and neck.


    ¡°Well, that was dramatic,¡± said Kato as the dead Ork crumpled.


    N sooner had the words left his mouth than another took his place. This time two Orks made it onto the battlements. One managed to stab at me with a sword. I caught the blade on my shield, stumbled and only just managed to dodge the second thrust.


    I tried to slash at him, but the Ork had the advantage of the reach. He stepped backward and avoided the slash. More clambered over the walls, a growing tide of enemies.


    I caught a glimpse of tusks before an Ork warrior bore down on me. He crashed into me with the force of a speeding train.


    The line buckled as I was forced backward, boots scrapping on stone.


    I caught the sword blade on the lip of my shield and managed to score a slash along the Ork¡¯s thigh. It bought me the time I needed to right myself.


    Kato shoved forward with his own shield and together we pressed the growing tide Orks back toward the edge of the wall. I dug my feet in as we shoved with the rest of the line, grunting and snarling. I could hear the blood rushing in my head from the effort of simply holding ground.


    ¡°Push,¡± I growled as the men around me heaved.


    ¡°Spears.¡±


    My men lifted their spears and, as we had drilled many times before, thrust forward and high. Orks grunted as blades bit deep into red flesh. Two of them dropped, but it was far from enough. We were being pressed from the front and sides now, elbows banging into each other.


    A sword hacked at my shield, sending splinters flying.


    I cut at the Ork¡¯s unprotected neck and had to turn my head aside as blood fountained. A man to my left screamed as an Axe blade slammed into his shoulder, splitting him open from neck to chest. He fell and my men rushed to close the line.


    ¡°We¡¯re being pressed back,¡± Roared Draxus from somewhere to my right. I tried to look, tried to catch a glimpse of my friend but all I could see were horns and red eyes.


    Another man fell, his body adding to the pile now growing at our feet.


    And they kept coming. I hacked off the sword arm of an Ork, only to nearly lose my head as another stepped in to thrust at me. The blade scrapped my helmet as I leaned aside. Blood trickled into my eye.


    I blinked as the salt stung my vision. My soldiers rallied, shifting formation from a line to a defensive grid. I took my place among them, even as I feared the worst. We were being pressed slowly and inevitably backward, and the numbers were overwhelming.


    Jorgen stumbled to one knee. I could see blood trickling down his mail, but I couldn''t tell how serious the wound was. An Ork warrior stepped forward, looming over him.


    Jorgen faced his end with face uplifted, and I saw no fear in his eyes. Had I led him to this? Had I led us all to this? The thoughts tasted bitter on my tongue.


    Skill Activated: Iron Blooded


    Skill Activated: Bastion


    I blinked even as the blood continued to trickle into my eye. I had been given one chance. I stepped forward and in front of Jorgen, lifting my shield and catching the blow meant for him.


    It was strong enough to make my arm ache but there was no time for regret. I stabbed and slashed, blade skating of armor as I tried to drive the Ork back.


    "Get up soldier," I called over my shoulder. Jorgen was staring at me with wide eyes. I cut down one Ork, and took a brutal blow to the side of my helmet. My ears were ringing from a blow that might have killed me.


    Instead, a blue bar had appeared in the corner of my HUD below my vitality. I snarled.


    "Come on you fuckers!" I screamed. "Come on then!"


    I could barely see from the steady drip of blood in my eyes. Barely hear anything but the sound of Ork bellows and growls as they came for me. I managed to cut down two of them but was quickly overwhelmed.


    Battered to my knees, bleeding and panting I checked the status of the blue bar. It was full.


    "Will!" called Draxus from behind me. I could hear the urgency of his voice as my friend tried to fight to my side. It was useless. There were too many Orks between us. I spit blood and turned my head.


    "Stay back," I told him. "And hold unto something."


    Then I raised my shield and, as an Axe swung down for my head, I slammed it against the ground.

 Thirty Nine: Iron Will

    The reaction was instantaneous.One moment, I was kneeling on the ground while the sound of battle raged around me. The next, I was bringing my shield down with all the force I could muster.


    My HUD indicator flashed.


    Then the shock wave hit. The force of the blast nearly blinded me.


    An invisible force struck the Orks in front of me, slamming them into the parapet wall. Two of them were sent flying, careening out into empty air.


    Draxus had managed to brace but even he was knocked backwards off his feet. There was no time for hesitation. I rose and strode forward, my blade held out in front of me. An Ork was fetched up against the wall, his leg clearly broken in the shock wave. He growled and tried to crawl away on armored elbows.


    The blade of my sword punched through his neck and out the other side. Blood sprayed. Another Ork had risen, stumbling in a daze. I hacked his head from his shoulders in two grisly strikes.


    By now, my men had recovered. The remaining Orks rallied but they were disorganized, confused by the crumple of their line. I came at them from the side even as my men held their own against the onslaught.


    My sword was sticky with the crimson blood of Orks. I hacked everything that came before me. Arms, legs, heads, horns. It was all the same.


    A crude Ork spear stabbed at me, and I stepped aside, bringing my sword down to chop at a hand. It came away still clutching the spear. For the first time tonight, the tide of battle began to turn.


    Orks still climbed the battlements, but they were quickly met by spears and swords. Those who managed to survive were shoved against the wall -crushed by our shields and stabbed to death.


    The squeals of dying Orks were like that of pigs.


    I slashed and stabbed, my newfound agility making every strike that much faster.


    I thought of the refugees.... of the slaves who had been slaughtered like cattle for the sake of a distraction and blood sport.


    I stood with my men and we gave the red beasts of the sands no mercy. And then as quickly as it had begun, the battle was over.


    The garrison arrived moments later, a sudden tide of dark blue surcoats and drawn steel. They surged forward in a mass, overwhelming the last of the assault force and pressing them back. It was over - we had held the line.


    Suddenly the exhaustion hit me like a wave. My vision began to spin and I stumbled to the side, bracing a hand against the stone.


    Draxus stepped out from the crowd of passing soldiers. His hair was disheveled, and he had lost his helmet.


    ¡°Throne Will, What the bloody fuck did you do?¡±


    I glanced up at him and saw something in his eyes I¡¯d never seen before. Wonder and¡­ was that a hint of fear? The thought unnerved me. I lifted my visor and tried to wipe the sweat from my face, only to end up smearing blood.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I confessed. ¡°I used a skill I¡¯ve never used before. It was.. stronger than I''d expected.


    "An understatement."


    I tried to respond, but my words were slurred and my lips felt strangely numb. Draxus brows drew together.


    ¡°Will,¡± he said as I stumbled forward. He caught me. The sounds around me faded away. Someone was calling my name, but I couldn¡¯t quite recall why that was important.


    I wanted so badly to rest. My mind began to drift, a boat on a stormy sea.


    Strong hands gripped my shoulders and held them fast. I gazed up into a pair of calm dark eyes. They were familiar.


    ¡°William,¡± said the voice, and there was a resonance in it. I blinked, trying to clear my mind.


    ¡°William, look at me.¡±


    I did. The dark eyes were intent, but not unkind.


    ¡°You did well,¡± said Lord Blackthorne. ¡°You stood as men and defended the city against a force far larger than your own. You are a hero, Blackbriar. Mark my words. But you need to let it go now.¡±


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    ¡°Let what go?¡± I tried to say the words but they came out all tangled together. Blackthorne seemed to get my meaning.


    ¡°Let go of the skill spell. It is Draining your life force at an alarming rate. It will kill you if this persists.¡±


    A bolt of fear went through me, but it was distant. I could feel the vitality draining out of me as my body grew weaker and weaker. My lips felt cold and numb.


    ¡°William, you need to trust me. Let it go.¡±


    I did.


    The force that had been building inside me receded like the tide. Sound returned to my ear with a pop and I blinked at the first rays of morning light on the horizon.


    ¡°My Lord?¡± I asked Blackthorne uncertainly. The Lord smiled.


    ¡°You will have to learn to have better control over your mana well. You nearly depleted your own reserves of physical energy, a thing that will kill you just as sure as the blade of an Ork.¡±


    I glanced around. I was seated with my back against the parapet wall, and Lord Blackthorne knelt beside me. My men stood nearby, Draxus and Bjorn among them.


    ¡°Is the battle won my Lord?¡±


    Blackthorne nodded, but his expression shifted with displeasure. There was something weighing on him.


    ¡°The Ork¡¯s may be brutes," he said. "But they are far from stupid. It is my belief that the Khan wanted to avoid a drawn-out siege. He believed by overwhelming our forces on the wall he might be able to send enough Orks to open the gate from within.¡±


    That caught my attention.


    ¡°They intended to take gatehouse?¡± I asked.


    Blackthorne nodded.


    ¡°And they knew our forces would be split. Over on the west side of the wall, my own men were besieged by Orks that had managed to climb the walls of the tower parapet. This strike was calculated.¡±


    I blinked, trying to clear the fog from my mind. My body still felt fatigued, but my faculties were slowly returning to me.


    ¡°My Lord, How would the host know where our men would be stationed and when?¡±


    Lord Blackthorne drew a weary hand across his brow. He looked tired, more so than I had ever seen him before.


    ¡°I believe, and Lord Dacon agrees with me, that there is more going on here than meets the eye.¡±


    I met his gaze.


    ¡°You think we have a mole.¡±


    ***


    I made it into camp with the help of Draxus. Gills emerged from his tent moments later, and when he saw me slumped and battle worn, his face grew pale.


    "What''s wrong with him?" He asked, rushing to my side.


    "He''s mana fatigued," said Draxus.


    "I''m fine." growled, but neither of them paid me any attention.


    "Call a Healer," said Gills, taking my arm and throwing it around his own shoulders. He led me to my tent and helped me sit on my cot.


    Draxus returned moments later with Joanna in toe. She took one sweeping look over me and turned to the two men.


    "Out," she commanded them. Draxus arched a brow, but he and Gills turned to go.


    "Here if you need us, eh?" Said Gills, nodding before ducking out of the flap.


    Her fingertips were warm as they graced the edge of my cheeks. She lifted my head gazing into my eyes.


    "Mana fatigue," she muttered. "You''re lucky to be alive. I can make something for you, but it will take time. You''ll need to rest in order to restore your strength."


    I shook my head.


    "I can''t rest. The siege -"


    "Will not begin in earnest until sun sets in the evening. Even if the Orks were to attack in broad daylight the alarm bells would be enough to wake the dead. Now,"


    She gave me a stern look and I grimaced. s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Stubborn man," she muttered softly as she knelt on the ground and began pulling supplies from her inventory. The words were growled, but there was a slight smile on her lips.


    I watched her work as she brought out a mortar and pestle and several herbs. Beneath her healer''s vale, her eyes were calm and focused. The sea on a clear day.


    "Why did you become a Healer?" I asked her suddenly. Joanna didn''t look up at me, but her lips twitched.


    "At the Academy, I studied many different kinds of magic. I had an affinity for some, but I felt drawn to the magic of life. There is more to healing than one might think - a sort of synergy between life and death."


    She dusted off her hands and brought out a small vial of oil, pouring the now powdered herbs within. She swirled the contents and then focused. A warm glow emanated from her hand and moments later the vial upgraded into an item.


    Item: Minor potion of Mana Rejuvenation


    Joanna handed me the vial and arched a brow.


    "All if it," she said. I smiled. The potion was bitter and oily but I felt its effects quite instantly. Warmth bloomed in my stomach.


    "Thank you," I said to her. "Your choice of profession was a good one."


    I wasn''t sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me, or if the Healer''s cheeks actually turned pink.


    "Why did you decide to become a soldier on the front lines?" she asked. "You could have been stationed anywhere. Somewhere less....perilous."


    The question caught me off guard. I hesitated, caught between the lie I knew I needed to tell and the desire to tell her the truth.


    I knew better than to tempt fate.


    "I wanted to level," I said. "Grow my strength and be able to hold my own on the field of battle. Kadia isn''t any less dangerous within the borders. The enemy is just a different kind."


    "Human," she guessed. I nodded. "Mostly. Thought there are still monsters in the countryside."


    "What is Blackbriar like?"


    I considered that. I remembered the green signpost with the street name. The way the cicadas sang in summer.


    "Quiet," I said. "But in a way that was peaceful."


    "Do you ever miss it?"


    I hesitated.


    "Sometimes."


    I laid back on my cot with the clink of armor. I wasn''t willing to remove it, not when at any moment alarm bells could be rung. But I had to admit that the down pillow beneath my head was comfortable. The pleasant warmth in my veins was spreading.


    We spoke for a while more, and I listened to her tell me more about her life. Her father had been cold and aloof, and her older brother had a dangerous ambition.


    My eyelids started to drift closed. The last thing I saw before I drifted into sleep were those eyes - like molten saphire.

 Forty: The Depths

    I awoke to the sound of someone knocking on my tent pole.Opening my eyes, I saw that the chair across from my cot was empty. Gills stood in the entrance, his face a mask of worry.


    I sat up quickly, wincing as my new bruises stretched.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked him. From the light outside I could tell it was still day, but Gills was agitated by something.


    ¡°There is trouble in the city,¡± he said. ¡°Last night there were reports of refugees going missing. Just this morning a body was found by the entrance of the sewer.¡±


    I blinked away the fog from my brain.


    ¡°Orks?¡±


    Gills shook his head.


    ¡°I doubt we wouldn¡¯t have heard of it if eight-foot red skinned beasts were somehow prowling the inner city at will. No, this is something else.¡±


    I rose to my feet and grabbed my helmet from where it lay next to my cot. There was a sizable dent in the metal where the blow of an Ork had almost killed me.


    ¡°And I suppose they want us to take care of it.¡±


    Gills nodded.


    ¡°The garrison is occupied defending the walls, and with the looming siege, well, you might have the only squad that can.¡±


    I sighed and pulled my helmet on, fastening the leather clasp under my chin. Gills hesitated long enough that I raised a brow at him. Then I realized he couldn¡¯t see my face.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± I asked him.


    Gills glanced through the entrance flap at the armored men moving past. Then he lowered his voice and turned to me.


    ¡°There is something going on here that I don¡¯t like,¡± he said. ¡°The Inquisition has been poking around recently, asking questions to the men. It seems like they are looking for someone, though they won¡¯t say who.¡±


    My stomach knotted with tension but I kept my peace.


    ¡°Sounds like the Inquisition alright."


    ¡°I suppose..¡± Gills didn¡¯t look convinced but he followed me out of the tent to where my men rested in the courtyard. Draxus looked up, and a smile lit his face.


    ¡°Had me worried there Blackbriar,¡± he said. ¡°I thought you might have been a goner.¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± I slapped him on the shoulder as I went by. Draxus grimaced.


    ¡°Go easy, you knocked me six ways to Sunday only hours ago.¡±


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    I rubbed the back of my neck.


    ¡°I¡¯m still learning how things work. Next time I¡¯ll hit Kato instead of you.¡±


    ¡°Do my ears deceive me?¡± said Kato, rising from the box he had been sitting on.


    ¡°Or was I just threatened?¡±


    The arrival of Ser Connel was announced by the obnoxious rattle of his plate.


    ¡°Lieutenant Giller,¡± he said, his lips twisted In distaste.. ¡°I have been directed to advise you that the 3rd is needed to reinforce the defenses of the main gatehouse. And Blackbriar,¡±


    He directed an equally distasteful stare in my direction.


    ¡°You are to take a small squad and descend into the sewers to deal with whatever threat you may encounter. Since this morning two bodies have been found by the sewer entrance in the city center.


    He hesitated.


    ¡°Watch your back, Ser William," he said at last. "There is speculation that whatever is inhabiting the lower cisterns might have been there a long time. The sewers are likely its hunting ground, and you''ll be at a severe disadvantage.


    I buckled my sword unto the belt at my waist.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    I chose Draxus, Kato, Hade, and two other men from my squad to accompany me into the sewers. The rest of my men joined with Gills and began their march towards the front gate. I watched them go, framed by the light of the dying sun.


    We had repelled the Ork assault force, but that had only been the beginning. Now, we faced the threat of true siege.


    ¡°They¡¯ll be alright,¡± said Draxus, putting a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Right now we need to focus on ridding the city of the threat within. If corpses start to pile in the streets it could begin to foster disease.¡±


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    I nodded and turned away.


    ¡°Then we should get moving. Check your inventory for extra torches. We¡¯ll need the light when the sun goes down, and I don¡¯t fancy crawling about in the dark if someone happens to drop theirs on their own crotch.¡±


    ¡°That was one time,¡± grumbled Kato.


    The main street leading to the square was as silent as ever. A wind blew a few stray leaves, tumbling over one another. I was reminded of the fire-haired God who had given me his blessing only yesterday.


    The God King¡¯s followers taught that he was the only god in all the lands, and to believe in another was heresy. It was obviously a lie, but I couldn''t help but wonder why.


    We turned between the shadow of two houses, coming out into a small alcove to the right of the square. Here, a gutter led towards a sloping storm drain set into the ground. There were iron bars over the entrance and when I peered inside I could see only yawning darkness.


    Nearby, the stain of old dry blood was painted on across stone. The trail led towards the sewer drain and disappeared beyond the metal grate.


    I held out my torch as Draxus struck his tinderbox. The spark caught and flared to life.


    I held the torch over the drain entrance and peered straight down. There was a rusted ladder to one side of the man-sized hole, but it was long enough that I couldn¡¯t see the bottom. I swung my shield onto my back and fastened it there before stepping forward.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first,¡± I said. Draxus and Hade, you follow. Kato will bring up there rear.


    I ignored Kato¡¯s snort, wrapping my fingers around the metal bars of the grate and pulling. The grate creaked and came away with a screech that set my teeth on edge.


    The sound echoed down into the sewer and I grimaced.


    ¡°Smooth,¡± said Kato. ¡°If you were going for the whole entrance by fanfare.¡±


    I leaned the grate against the lip of the sewer and stepped up and over, swinging my leg around until it connected with the metal rung below. Draxus took my torch as I lowered myself down. The smell of rust and musty air hit me like a wave as I descended.


    Halfway down I had to stop to adjust my grip on the bars. There was some corrosion there, some kind of sticky fluid that clung to my gauntlets. When I finally reached the ground far below it was dark. Looking up I could see Draxus¡¯s face framed by the glowing ring of torch fire.


    I held out a hand and moments later Draxus dropped the torch straight down.


    I caught it by the shaft and turned about, hand Iron Fang.


    The tunnels inside the sewer were wide enough for two men to walk shoulder to shoulder. There was a small gutter in the ground and water tricked through it and down a small slope into empty darkness.


    Moments later, Draxus dropped down beside me. He had forgone his spear for a short sword, and his shield was slung across his back.


    ¡°Nothing like the damp and dark,¡± He muttered, stepping forward and examining the tunnel. The stone brick was worn and covered in what seemed like some variation of moss. As his torch flickered across it, the moss glistened.


    ¡°It¡¯s wet.¡±


    ¡°Well that¡¯s generally what happens when you¡¯re surrounded by water,¡± said Kato as he came clanking down the later. Hade and the two other soldiers took up positions as Kato pulled out his own torch.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said ¡°Let¡¯s kill this thing. Preferably before it kills us.¡±


    ¡°What monsters typically live in sewers?¡± I asked as we made our way forward.


    ¡°It depends. Sewers can be a damp and dark breeding ground for all kinds of nasties. Bogarts, mutant rats, shambling mounds you name it.¡±


    ¡°Shambling what?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t want to know.¡±


    The tunnel floor sloped downward and I had to brace against the wall to keep my angle. Draxus paused and held up a hand.


    ¡°Do you feel that? It¡¯s a cool breeze.¡±


    Kato and I exchanged a look.


    ¡°What breeze?¡± I asked. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice¡­¡± No sooner had the words left my lips than a tiny shiver went through my body as If my neck had been doused in ice water. I blinked.


    What the hell had that been? I glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed, but nobody seemed to react. In fact, Kato was studying something on the ground, his back to me.


    ¡°I think,¡± he said, dropping to a crouch near a cluster of small white mushrooms. ¡°That these are corpse mushrooms.¡±


    There was a pause.


    ¡°They''re what?¡± I asked, coming to stand beside him. The carpet of mushrooms was growing out of a mound against the sewer wall. I had originally taken that mound for algae, but as I looked closer I saw the white of bone.


    Unbidden, the image of the Untree flashed in my mind. The corpses twisted and piled together as the tree devoured them whole. The thought was chilling.


    ¡°So said Draxus, voice echoing off the walls. ¡°Whatever it is, It¡¯s killed before today. And more than once. Look."


    He gestured deeper into the tunnel, and I realized that he was right. Corpse mushrooms grew from mounds scattered around the tunnel. Some were as small as rats. Others were much longer and vaguely humanoid.


    "Keep your guard up," I told Draxus. "The last thing we want is this thing to get the drop on us. Hade, you take the rear. If you see anything call it out."


    "Aye Ser."


    Our pace was slow and careful as we descended deeper into the sewers. Twice the tunnels branched off in different directions and each time we followed the trail of mushroom corpses deeper into the sewer.


    The wet algae on the ceiling shimmered and danced in the firelight of the torches. I watched it uneasily, but it didn''t seem to move or even react to our presence.


    After a moment a faint tapping sound echoed through the tunnels. It was soft and rhythmic and it was difficult to tell which direction it had been coming from. Draxus had his hand on his sword, gazing into the darkness.


    "Sounds like scratching," I said. "It could be rats."


    Draxus shook his head. S?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Whatever is making those sounds is far larger than a rat. It''s also far quieter. At this point, we should assume it''s aware of our presence here."


    After a moment, the tapping ceased and the tension dissipated. We continued forward and rounded a corner where the tunnel widened, and the channel of sewer sludge seemed to grow deeper. I hopped the channel, holding out a hand to help Kato across.


    When he landed he straightened and his eyes grew wide.


    "Throne on High," he muttered, stepping forward. "What is this?"


    I turned and my eyes snagged on the writing on the walls. It was jagged and curving, written in a language I couldn''t Identify. It was the same as it had been back in that cave with the cursed bear and those eyeless corpses.


    My swallow was audible, even to my own ears. Draxus lifted his torch and brought it closer to the crudely carved letters. As the light of the flame made the shadows dance, something about the carving caught my eye.


    "Look," I said, pointing. "It looks like some sort of mural."


    Draxus frowned, leaning closer to study it.


    "I can''t make sense of it," he said. "This language is like nothing I''ve seen and the mural doesn''t make any sense. It''s just a depiction of a man and a dear." he pointed towards the figure of the dear, its curved horns and skull face immortalized in stone.


    A chill that had nothing to do with a breeze went through my body.


    "Draxus," I said slowly. He turned to face me, and the shadows under his eyes made him look almost like a corpse.


    "What type of Monsters wear deer skulls."


    Draxus''s brows drew together and he turned to face the mural again. I saw the moment my words registered to him. Saw his eyes widen and his throat bob in the half-light.


    "I only know of one," he said.


    The silence was oppressive as we waited, all eyes on him.


    "Wendigo."


    Somewhere down the distant tunnel, the tapping began again.

 Forty One: The Rot Within

    There was something very wrong with the tunnel ceiling. The sludge that we had seen at the entrance of the sewer was thicker. It hung, glistening, and wet on large sticky strands that dripped to the ground.


    Kato prodded one with his sword and made a sound of disgust as it splattered to the stone.


    We moved silently now, communicating only through gestures and signals. The Skinwalker, wherever it was, was likely aware of our presence. It would use the darkness as an alley, and try to separate us. So we moved within a few arms lengths of each other, two checking behind and the rest ahead.


    My boot slid and I had to throw out an arm to catch myself. A trail of red slime now coated my boot and I grimaced. Whatever this stuff was there seemed to be more of it than there had been before.


    It felt more like walking into the lining of a giant stomach than a sewer. If it hadn¡¯t been for the smell, I might have had my doubts.


    It grew stronger the longer we followed the steam of water and sludge. Draxus held the torch in one hand, and his blade in the other. I let him lead, careful to keep my own sword and shield at the ready.


    As the light bounced off the walls I saw more of the strange runic writing on the walls but now there was more. Great slabs of black stone stood in pillars at the side of each wall, and the ceiling widened out to a long narrow hall.


    As we passed, the symbols on the pillar seemed to shift. I blinked and studied them closer, but none seemed to move under my gaze. It was only when I turned away that I saw them moving in the corner of my eye.


    There was something fundamentally wrong about this place. The same feeling I had gotten from the cave with the cursed bear. The same I had felt that night before the Shadow Kin found us.


    A cool breeze ghosted across the back of my neck again and I turned. I could see Hade¡¯s face in the flickering light - set but determined. There was nothing behind but the darkness of the tunnel and the odd runic pillars. I turned back in time to see Draxus hold up a fist for a halt.


    Wordlessly we dropped into ready stances, shields raised and blades at the ready. A moment passed. Then two. Finally, I heard it.


    It was faint, almost too much so to hear. But every now and then the rasp of words would echo off the walls. Whispers, and what they said I couldn¡¯t quite tell.


    I signaled a question to Draxus.


    How many?


    Draxus signaled back.


    One.


    I frowned and stepped past Kato, laying a hand on his shoulder as I passed. Standing next to Draxus I could hear the faint whisper a little more clearly. The voice was deep, that of an older man - and it was coming from somewhere up ahead.


    Slowly I stepped forward towards the bend in the tunnel. Torchlight flickered, casting my shadow on the wall. Bracing myself, I rounded the corner and saw¡­.nothing.


    Draxus frowned and the half-light made the shadows of his features deeper. Then I heard it again the faint rasp of someone speaking. It felt closer now as if I were hearing it through the walls.


    We continued on slowly but carefully until we reached a fork in the path. The two tunnels looked nearly identical. And if it wasn¡¯t for the sounds of the whispering, I might not have known which to take.


    But it was plain now, the sound of voices and the gleam of eyes in the dark. I advanced even as my pulse began to rise. The adrenaline of battle was already coursing through me as I prepared for yet another fight to the death with an unknown threat. Draxus circled to the side, lifting the torch high and casting light for feet ahead of us.


    Kneeling on the tunnel floor was a man. He had been a soldier once, of that I was sure. Beneath the blood and the grime, I could see the dark blue of his surcoat - the colors of Ceris.


    His hair was dark and greasy and he was turned away from us, facing the wall. As he began to mumble to himself I realized that he was the source of the whispering we had heard earlier. I signaled to the others to wait at the ready before I slowly approached.


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    I wasn¡¯t foolish enough to let my guard down even as I neared the man. He remained on his knees, rocking gently backwards and forwards, forehead resting against slime-covered stone.


    ¡°Soldier,¡± I said softly, and yet my voice echoed off the stone. The man didn¡¯t seem to register my presence. I tried again.


    ¡°Soldier, why are you down here? What company do you belong to?


    This time the man did react, his head twitched to the side as if he¡¯d been struck and he turned his gaze on me.


    He was hollow-cheeked, the look of someone who hadn¡¯t eaten in a week. His skin was sallow and drawn against the bones of his face. When he saw me he showed no reaction of surprise or relief. Instead, he merely glanced at me and looked away.


    ¡°He can¡¯t see me,¡± he muttered to himself, fingernails digging at his dirt-smeared tunic. ¡°He can¡¯t see me.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s gone mad,¡± Draxus''s hesitant words echoed off the tunnel and into the dark. The man again showed no reaction to the presence of the others. He just kept rubbing at his eyes with his hands and muttering to himself.


    ¡°He can¡¯t see me. He sees with your eyes.¡±


    A creeping feeling of dread began in the pit of my stomach. The man was clearly unwell, and it was hard to gauge just how long he¡¯d been down here. But there was something about his words that rang a warning in my mind.


    ¡°Who?¡± I asked him, leaning forward.


    The soldier stopped muttering and looked at me again.


    ¡°He who is seen and unseen. Don¡¯t let him in. He sees with your eyes. DON¡¯T LET HIM IN. DON¡¯T DON¡¯T¡­.¡±


    His voice rose and he began rocking back and forth. Then without warning, he stuck his fingers into the sockets of his eyes. There was nothing I could do to stop him. I jerked forward to grab his arm but it was already too late. Eyeballs burst in his fingers and the soldier screamed.


    ¡°Throne on high,¡± whispered Hade. His own eyes were wide with horror as the man mutilated himself.


    Blood welled over his fingertips and down his wrists.


    Kato muttered something under his breath and made the sign of the saint. Draxus shook his head, a muscle feathering in his jaw.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t leave him like this,¡± he said even as the soldier began to whisper again, rocking back and forth as tears of crimson.


    ¡°We have to put him out of his misery.¡±


    I swallowed, reluctant to move. But I knew the truth of his words. To wonder in the dark and madness forever was no kind of fate. What¡¯s more, the soldier wasn¡¯t stable enough to follow us in or out of the tunnels. In his current state, we couldn¡¯t be sure what he would do, or if he could follow simple instructions given by myself or Draxus.


    There were only two options ahead of us, and both made my stomach twist. I remembered Lord Dacon putting an injured Knight out of his misery. Of that sadness and burden in his eyes as he lifted the blade.


    It was a weight only a leader should take on.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    I approached the soldier as he rocked back and forth against the wall. He gave no visible reaction to my naked blade. I swallowed hard and readjusted my grip.


    ¡°He can¡¯t see me now. Can¡¯t see,¡± he chattered to himself.


    ¡°He can¡¯t see,¡± I confirmed past the lump in my throat. ¡°You¡¯re safe now.¡±


    The soldier continued to mutter even as blood dripped down his cheeks and onto the stone below with a slow patter.


    ¡°Be at peace, brother,¡± I said. Then, before I could think or even feel, I brought my blade down on his neck.


    His severed head in the ground and rolled several feet before coming to a stop. Red blood painted the stone wet and crimson.


    I forced myself to look away, flicking the blood from my blade.


    Draxus swallowed but gave me a firm nod.


    ¡°It was the right thing.¡± He said. Hade grunted.


    ¡°Aye Ser William. No man would want to be reduced to a puppet of madness.¡±


    ¡°The real question is how did he get down here,¡± I said, studying the body. ¡°And why.¡±


    Draxus shook his head.


    ¡°No one can say with any certainty but the man himself, and well, he wasn¡¯t of sound enough mind to be answering questions.¡±


    I turned to Kato.


    ¡°Did what he said mean anything to you? About eyes, and seeing and¡­¡± I trailed off and shrugged. Kato stuck a tongue in his lip and shook his head.


    ¡°The ramblings of a madman can¡¯t really be taken as points of fact,¡± he said. ¡°If what we¡¯re fighting is some sort of Wendigo or its variant, it¡¯s possible that the creature could have some sort of fear skill. A skill that can eventually drive a man mad.¡±


    ¡°Is that likely?¡± I asked, uneasy. Kato grimaced and shrugged.


    ¡°It¡¯s not unheard of. But if that¡¯s the case, we should consider backtracking. Taking on a creature that dangerous on our own would be asking for trouble. We¡¯d need more manpower, maybe twenty men to corner and kill it.¡±


    I grimaced and lifted my visor to rub at my face. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The question is if we can afford to wait that long. If this thing, whatever it is, is killing folk in the night then we can¡¯t take the risk that it strikes again.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± sighed Draxus. ¡°At this point, I don¡¯t see we have much choice.¡±


    I glanced at each man among us, looking them in the eye and making sure they understood the threat. Only determined faces greeted my gaze and I nodded, satisfied.


    ¡°Then we continue on.¡±


    We left the corpse of the mad soldier behind and began our descent down a small slope In the tunnel. At the bottom more slabs of dark stone lined the walls, runes shifting and glimmering.


    Draxus raised a hand as if he was considering touching one, then thought better of it and let his hand drop to his side. We were nearing the heart of the sewer now, where the rush of the underground river could be heard from somewhere far ahead. Kato stopped so suddenly that I almost ran into him.


    ¡°What is it?¡± I asked, annoyed. Kato glanced around, his face uncharacteristically serious.


    ¡°Did you feel that?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Feel what?¡±


    ¡°The cool breeze.¡±


    Kato and I exchanged a look. Something was going on, and I didn¡¯t like being in the dark. I turned to Draxus.


    ¡°When you felt it earlier, did you see anything unusual?¡±


    Draxus shook his head.


    ¡°Neither did I. But I can¡¯t shake the feeling that we¡¯re being followed.¡±

 Forty Two: Root of Evil

    The tunnel opened out into a large circular chamber.The ceiling was high and vaulted, and the stone old and worn.


    Torchlight bounced off the walls, revealing towering obelisks with more strange writing. As I stepped forward my boot snagged on something and I looked down.


    At the center of the chamber was a raised mosaic of red and black tile. The pieces looked as if they had been shattered and formed into some sort of pattern. I squinted at it, trying to make it out.


    ¡°What is this?¡± Kato whispered, his voice echoing across the walls. I had no answer.


    Draxus circled the chamber with his torch held high. As he moved, tiles shifted and cracked under his weight.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost like a church,¡± he said. His eyebrows were drawn together with worry.


    ¡°But it¡¯s all wrong. There should be an alter here, a covenant to the radiant throne,¡± He gestured with his blade.


    ¡°And the ground would be ordained. Lined with runes of holy power.¡±


    He turned on the spot, his frown deepening.


    ¡°Something about this isn¡¯t right.¡±


    I could hear the rasp of Hade¡¯s voice through his helmet as he tilted his head, gazing up and around at the chamber. He tapped my shoulder.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said ¡°Look.¡±


    He pointed towards the wall at the far end of the room. It took me a moment to realize that what I had mistaken as shadows were actually wooden steps set into the wall at an interval. They were short, and the boards looked worn with decay. But there was no doubt that the steps led to a platform high above.


    ¡°A viewing platform?¡± I muttered. ¡°For viewing what?¡±


    Draxus grimaced.


    ¡°It might be worth investigating. This chamber is a dead end, and it¡¯s possible there might be something up there¡­ a doorway perhaps?¡±


    I made my way across the floor, tiles creaking under my boots. When I reached the wooden steps I examined them carefully. After a moment I braced my foot, testing my weight on the wood. It was solid enough and didn¡¯t move under my weight.


    Still, with the amount of moisture in the air I¡¯d have to keep a lookout for rotted boards. The steps went at least thirty feet in the air, and a fall would be enough to break bones.


    Wood creaked under my boots. I hugged the wall with my body and placed each step with care. The further I ascended the more I began to realize just how old this place was must be.


    The stone was aged, cracked, and covered with a light dusting of moss. The steps were dusty, each step sending up a small cloud as I set my foot down. Finally, I reached the last step and hesitated before climbing onto the platform.


    I walked to the edge and looked down.


    Far below, the two torches danced and sputtered and from their light, I could see what I hadn¡¯t before.


    The mosaic tiles were not arranged in a pattern so much as they were depicting a scene.


    The outside of the circle was made up of black tile that framed the silhouette of some large being. The being itself was large, its frame taking up half of the mosaic on its own. It was a creature with red skin and long black horns. There were two sets of arms attached to its torso and in its hands were clutched the images of men.


    Torn, bloody, and broken men. But that was far from the most disturbing part. What caught my gaze and chilled me to the bone were its eyes. It had four eyes, one set right above the other. But they were no longer eyes, but bloody weeping sockets.


    I stepped back from the edge, nearly stumbling as I felt for the wall.


    ¡°Ser William?¡± questioned Hade. I could hear the concern in the soldier''s voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s a mosaic,¡± I said. ¡°Depicting some sort of scene. Whatever it is - it isn¡¯t human.¡±


    Draxus turned his face up towards me, his face grim.


    ¡°Can you describe this.. Creature?¡±


    I nodded numbly.


    ¡°Dark red skin, black horns. It has four arms and four eyes but the eyes are¡­. They aren¡¯t there.¡±


    There was a weighted silence. Then Kato shifted on his feet.


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    ¡°Throne,¡± he mumbled. ¡°It¡¯s a demon. That¡¯s what the Inquisitor has been hunting all this time, isn¡¯t it? She was looking for this - whatever this is.¡±


    He gestured around at the mosaic.


    I descended the steps faster than I had climbed them. By the time I reached the bottom a cold sweat had broken out on my neck, but not from the exertion.


    ¡°I need a straight answer,¡± I said, coming to stand in front of Kato and Draxus. ¡°I know it¡¯s blasphemy to ask what I¡¯m going to ask, and I ask for your discretion. But if we¡¯re in danger of encountering a¡­ an entity then I need to know.¡±


    I sucked in a breath of the stagnant air.


    ¡°What is a Herald, and why is the Inquisitor so afraid of it? What are the warnings? What do they mean?¡±


    Draxus opened his mouth but I thrust out a hand.


    ¡°Tell me what you know, and omit nothing.¡±


    My friend looked torn. For a moment he bit his lip, glancing back towards the mosaic. The others watched us in silence, expressions neutral.


    ¡°A Herald is exactly what it sounds like. They are demonic constructs - harbingers of the rebirth of demonic poltergeists.¡±


    ¡°Demonic poltergeists?¡±


    Draxus swallowed and nodded.


    ¡°I wish I knew more but the truth is I¡¯ve only ever heard the stories my father told around the fire on the nights he thought I was asleep. We¡¯ve all heard stories of the God King, and his triumph over the demon lords of the seven circles. But what the scriptures fail to mention is that demons can¡¯t be killed - not really. They can be slain and removed from the mortal earth. But their essence, their blight still remains.¡± s?a??h th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Hade made the sign of the saint, and I saw several of the men do the same.


    ¡°So the Inquisitor could be hunting this¡­ this demonic poltergeist?¡±


    Draxus scrubbed a hand over his face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Even as mere entities, demons are powerful. If she truly is hunting a creature then the warnings she was referring to could be related. Will,¡± he shook his head.


    ¡°If this is a church, then it could very well mean that someone has been worshiping here. There are candles around the edge of the circling, and some of them still have soft wax.¡±


    He trailed off but I got his meaning.


    I swore under my breath. It hadn¡¯t been what I wanted to hear, but it was what I expected. The mosaic, the candles, even the platform. All items seemed to point towards some sort of ritual.


    I shook my head, jaw clenched.


    ¡°I see no other option,¡± I said. ¡°We have to report this to Blackthorne without delay.¡±


    ¡°But Ser William,¡± Hade hesitated, the shadows under his eyes stark. ¡°What about the beast of the sewers?¡±


    I shook my head.


    ¡°This is big,¡± I said. ¡°Bigger even than us. First, we¡¯ll have to deal with the threat beyond the walls. This information is good to no one if we¡¯re all slaves or corpses. But after, we¡¯ll need to deal with this more internal threat. Cultists in the city are a bad omen.¡±


    Draxus grunted his agreement. Kato sighed heavily.


    ¡°Why is everything so fucking complicated?¡±


    He made our way back through the tunnel, pausing now and then to listen for any odd sounds. Occasionally, the sound of scraping and clicking could be heard, but it was hard to tell if it was more than the rats we encountered in the sewer.


    Eventually, we reached the body of the dead soldier, and my stomach churned at the sight. Part of me knew it had been necessary - knew that the soldier''s mind was long gone. But that knowledge made it no easier to swallow.


    ¡°We should remove his body from the sewer,¡± I said.


    Kato frowned and shook his head.


    ¡°The corpse mushroom has already claimed him. Moving him now would release spores, and the side effects can be¡­ unpleasant.¡±


    I grimaced, torn for a moment between action and inaction. Then grudgingly I nodded and stepped past Kato.


    We reached the fork of the tunnel but something made Draxus pause from several paces ahead. He signaled a halt, and I was instantly on alert. I motioned for Hade to watch our rear and stepped up to where Draxus stood.


    The giant nodded his chin towards two lumps lying against the wall. Bodies and each of these was fresh. I could see the pool of crimson spread beneath them. The spores of the tiny white mushroom had already taken up residence. Even as I watched the carpet seemed to slowly move, devouring the body.


    The attack came suddenly and without warning.


    Had It not been for the Mark of The Wind, I might have died right there and then. As it was, the boost to my speed stats saved me.


    There was a flicker of movement from behind. I turned, sword raised in time to see it lunge for me. I jerked sideways and the skin-walker landed on the stone, long claws scraping.


    It was a nightmare creature, with long shaggy legs, and the head of a dear skull. Two points of red light burned from the eye sockets, as it cocked its head on one side.


    I brought up my shield, intending to absorb the oncoming blow but the creature surprised me by dodging Hade''s spear thrust and skittering sideways onto the wall.


    It climbed like a spider, head twisting all the way around to watch me.


    "Keep it in your sights!" I called. "Don''t let it get behind us."


    One of my soldiers stepped forward, trying to spear the beast with a few rapid thrusts to the torso. The skinwalker twisted and, in a grotesque movement, it seemed to flow around the spear shaft.


    There was no time to react. I had managed to take only a single step forward before the skinwalker snapped the man''s neck and turned. It bounded off into the darkness of the tunnel, its head still twisted at an angle to watch us as it went.


    I didn''t realize I was panting until I spoke.


    "Fuck," I said, breath coming in and out in the bitter air.


    Hade jerked his visor up, peering into the darkness with his spear raised.


    "It was following us," said Kato. Even he seemed shaken. "How the hell didn''t we notice it?"


    Draxus glanced upwards and I followed his gaze to the ceiling. The crimson slime trail had been disturbed. On the roof of the tunnel were a set of footprints.


    "It''s been watching us this whole time," I breathed, and even as I said the words they struck me.


    "It could have killed us at any time."


    "It could have tried."


    Even Draxus seemed unconvinced. I adjusted the grip of my snake scale gauntlet as I clutched my sword tighter.


    "If it''s hunting us, I doubt this is over. It''s entirely possible that the Wendigo is buying its time."


    "Join the Army they said," muttered Hade. "There will be money and glory in it. I should have known better."


    "Oh, I intend to get a share of both." I squinted into the darkness, a muscle in my jaw working.


    "Up until now it''s been toying with us - biding it''s time to strike. We''re in its territory on its terms."


    I shook my head.


    "If we aim to become the hunter and not the hunted, we can''t let it get the drop on us again."


    I glanced at the body of the soldier now lying in a crumpled heap on the ground.


    I would hunt this creature down and I would take its head. And then, I would find out how to deal with the rot within Ceris.

 Forty Three: Time of Fire

    I sprinted through the tunnels, boots pounding on slick stone as I ran. My shield, still strapped to my back, bounced against my shoulders with a racket that could have raised the dead.I didn¡¯t care, because right now I was just trying to stay alive.


    Behind me, the sound of the creature was soft but persistent. The clicking of claws on stone. The rasp of panting breath.


    Several times the back of my neck prickled and I resisted the urge to look back at the monstrosity now following me. I was almost there, I could see the alcove where the shadows crouched, where my men waited for me to bring the monster into our midst.


    As I approached I saw the shadows stir. I whipped past them in a rush of air at the same time Draxis relit his torch.


    ¡°Now!¡± I heard Kato shout and there was a clamor as armored men rose to their feet. I skidded to a stop, nearly going down as my boot caught a wet patch of slime. My sword was raised in a forward guard as I faced the beast.


    The Skinwalker let out a hissing sound, flowing forward towards me in strange and jerky movements. I fumbled with my shield but the clasp on my back was stuck. It wouldn¡¯t come free and I had precious little time. With a growl I stepped forward, slashing for the creature''s head.


    It made an odd jerky movement and swiped at me. Claws clanged off my snake scale gauntlet, screeching at as they raked the armor. The bade of my sword caught the skinwalker in a pale bony leg. The creature shrieked and leaped back, skittering sideways like a demented crab.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let it get away!¡± Draxus raised his torch in one hand, blade in the other. Hade stabbed at it with a spear and the Wendigo twisted its neck all the way around to look at him.


    Kato made a gagging sound.


    ¡°Fuck me, that¡¯s creepy.¡±


    The creature dove off the ceiling and between the legs of Draxus, who nearly toppled over trying to turn. It was on Kato so quickly I almost didn¡¯t see it happen. Kato went down hard in a crash of armor. Tried to stab at the skinwalker but it moved deafly aside, raking its claws down his face.


    Kato cried out and I ran forward with a battle cry, swinging my sword for its head. The blade shattered part of the skull mask. I caught a glimpse of a face beneath, bloated and grotesque. Then the creature lifted a clawed hand and let out an unearthly shriek.


    The sound was so sharp that it made the air vibrate. There was a stabbing pain in my ears, followed by the warmth of blood down the side of my head. My ears were ringing and I could hear nothing.


    I watched as Draxus opened his mouth to shout soundlessly. Then moments later my mind caught up with the moment. The Wendigo charged me, hitting me high in the chest with its horns and knocking me sprawling. The wind went by in a rush. My back struck stone and pain blossomed from my chest.


    My ribs were badly bruised, maybe even broken. I snarled, bringing up my sword, and stabbed at the creature''s neck and shoulders. The blade shimmered red as Iron Blooded activated. The skinwalker fought, clawing at my sides and chest with claws that would have shredded me had it not been for my chainmail.


    Black icor slicked the floor beneath us. I could see the shimmer of torchlight behind me as Draxus approached. I met his gaze and nodded.


    ¡°Do it,¡± I said. Then I held on to the beast.


    It screamed when the fire first touched it. Then it writhed as it caught flame. I gripped it by it¡¯s horns, ignoring the heat of the flames as I tried to force it down. My boots slid in icor and blood. I grit my teeth as the wendigo screeched again, a sound loud enough to pierce the skull.


    Then it began to twitch violently. I lost my grip on its horns, gauntlets slick with icor. The skinwalker tried to crawl backward, only to be impaled on Hade''s spear and held fast.


    ¡°Burn,¡± I growled through gritted teeth. ¡°Burn you abomination.¡±


    At last, the twitching shudders stopped and the deer skull mask fell to the floor with a hollow clatter. I watched the creature slump to the ground, its level indicator going dark.


    As the flames began to flicker and die I strode forward, stomping the skull viciously until there was nothing left but antlers and charred dust. The air smelled of burning skin and hair and I lifted my visor to spit on the stone.


    Draxus was kneeling next to Kato, his face drawn and serious. My friend law on his side, a hand over his face. There was blood on his fingers and a glimpse through them made me grimace.


    The skin of his face was shredded, hanging off in ribbons under his fingertips. When Draxus tried to reach for him Kato slapped his hand away, teeth clenched. I pulled a minor health potion from my inventory and uncorked it.


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    I turned to Hade, whose expression was grim.


    ¡°Hold his hands by his sides,¡± I said. The soldier swallowed but nodded. He stepped forward and gripped Kato¡¯s wrists, forcing his hands down by his sides. Draxus held his shoulders still.


    ¡°Peace brother,¡± he said, as Kato¡¯s breath rasped in and out. His open-faced helmet lay beside him, metal still red with blood. His face was shredded, the white of bone visible beneath. He was bleeding heavily, and I¡¯d have to move quickly to stop the flow.


    I lifted the bottle over Kato¡¯s head and watched his one good eye focus on it and widen.


    ¡°This will hurt,¡± I told him. ¡°But you need to stay conscious.¡±


    Kato blinked once and I took that as acceptance. I poured the contents of the potion over his face and the reaction was instantaneous. His skin began to steam where the liquid hit him and Kato jerked, arching his back against the pain.


    Draxus murmured to him, holding him still by the shoulders as the potion worked. The bleeding began to slow. The skin was still loose and torn but the damage looked much less dire than it had been only moments ago.


    Hi eye however remained torn and bloody.


    ¡°He needs a healer Ser William,¡± said Hade. I nodded. ¡°We need to go back to the surface. Take his arm.¡±


    Together we half carried Kato back through the tunnels towards the base of the long later. I could see the stars high above in the sky. And smell the faint scent of smoke. Somewhere out there, a battle for humanity¡¯s freedom raged.


    We helped Kato up the ladder but it was slow going. He was tired from blood loss and could do no more than shuffle slowly upwards. At last, he gripped the edge of the grate and pulled himself up. I guided him with a hand on his back.


    ¡°You¡¯ll be fine,¡± I told him. But the light of the distant war I could see that he was already looking sickly. The wound had been more than superficial, but something told me that it was festering far too quickly to be normal.


    I turned to my remaining soldier.


    ¡°Get him to camp,¡± I said. ¡°Ask for Joanna, and accept no other healer but her. Am I understood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Ser.¡±


    I watched the man walk away with one of Kato¡¯s arms slumped over his shoulders.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be alright,¡± said Draxus, but even he seemed unconvinced. ¡°He has to be.¡±


    I grunted and turned towards the front gate. Fire blazed in the sky. I could hear the distant clamor of battle met and my own blood began to hum.


    Hade turned to face me and it took me a moment to realize he was waiting for orders.


    ¡°We need to rejoin the squad,¡± I say. ¡°That is our first priority. We locate the men, deal with any immediate threats, and then we find Lord Blackthorne.¡±


    Draxus nodded, his face hard.


    ¡°This is bigger than us,¡± he muttered. ¡°Far bigger. What we found in those tunnels.. I don¡¯t know how long the rot has had to take hold. But it may run deep.¡±


    I caught his meaning and cold dread wormed its way through my veins.


    ¡°You think it extends to the top? To the House of Refuge?¡±


    Draxus shrugged. His eyes were tired.


    ¡°I can¡¯t say. All I know is that we are in the thick of it, and there is no going back - not now.¡±


    I nodded and rolled my shoulders. My ribs still ached from the blow I¡¯d taken, and one of my pouldrons had bent where the tip of the horns of the creature had pierced metal.


    There was a time for mourning. A time for speculation. Hell, even a time to challenge one''s own beliefs. But now? Now was a time of fire, and before the night was out my blade would be red with the blood of my enemies.


    So I took that first step and led my friends out of danger and into the heart of the siege. The fighting on the walls was thickest where the siege towers had made their landing. Hulking figures of dark metal and rotted wood. Orks poured out the doors set into the towers, whooping and snarling with the taste for blood.


    They crashed against a wall of shields as men fought to hold the line. Among them, I saw Gills shouting orders pointing forward with his bronze-tipped spear. The light of the blazing fires lit him from behind, and he looked almost like a god of war.


    I raised my sword and charged forward, pushing through the ranks of soldiers towards my own men, now fighting side by side with the city garrison of Ceris. One of the Orks paused on the way out of the tower. Its beady eyes swept the crowd and landed on Gills. He threw back his head and bellowed, snapping up his arm to catch a white-tipped arrow on his shield.


    The others seemed bolstered by the cry of this larger Ork, and their efforts redoubled as they slammed into the organized line of soldiers.


    ¡°Gills!¡± I tried to shout over the melee, but my voice was lost. His head was turned to the side as he encouraged the men. He couldn¡¯t see the danger coming. Fear stabbed at my insides as the large Ork waded his way between his fellows, dark eyes glittering.


    ¡°Gills!¡± I shouted again, more desperate now. It was a mistake. The veteran turned towards me and as he did his face lit up in a smile. Then he seemed to register the horror on my face and turned.


    The giant Ork loomed over him, his dark ram-like horns were the size of a man''s arm. Gills had only a moment to raise his shield before the crippling blow of a Warhammer struck him full-on.


    I cried out as my friend tumbled backward, crashing into the men behind him. He didn¡¯t rise and that¡¯s when the fury swept through me. I charged the Ork, even as he turned. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Class: Ork Raider Boss


    Rank:29


    Several of the men nearby tried to stab him with spears only to have the shafts splintered by the whirling Warhammer. One of the men managed to step back, but the other caught the hammer in the side of the helm. Metal crumpled inwards.


    The line wavered as men''s courage failed them. They faced a foe far larger and stronger than them. The Ork seemed to delight in their fear, sharp tusks gleaming in a viscous smile.


    "Would none challenge me?" he mocked in halting guttural speech. The line of men shuffled but none dared step forward to face him. The Ork''s around them laughed, deep whooping sounds as the men cowered.


    "I will face you."


    My voice managed to carry even over the sounds of battle all around. The Ork Raider swung his head, dark eyes peering through the forest of spears. They landed on me, and he made an amused sound in his throat.


    "Small man," he said. "But brave. Foolish, perhaps. Come, and I will make you piss blood."


    He twirled his Warhammer in his hand, metal catching the light.


    "What do they call you, little man?"


    A sea of faces turned towards me, some human, others Ork. I stepped forward, past the line of men, and into no man''s land.


    "They call me Will," I said. "Will of fucking Blackbriar."

 Forty Four: Man vs Beast

    Around us, the battle still raged, but in our small pocket, there was stillness. Both sides, Ork and man, hesitated.The soldiers parted for me like the tide as I stepped forward into the space between our lines.


    The Ork Raider boss flipped his warhammer in his hand a few times, before jerking his head to his brethren. He growled something in their own guttural language and I watched as the Orks withdrew.


    Both sides watched with intensity as I lifted my sword and shield before me.


    The Ork was massive, and now, standing fifteen paces away the fear began to twist my insides. I clenched my jaw and lifted my chin. Now, was not the time for weakness.


    I could see the fear in the men''s eyes as they faced off against a foe with much greater numbers. The Ork¡¯s may be a barbaric people, but they were far from stupid. Their objective was to wear us down physically and mentally and pray upon a city that had become vulnerable.


    To the men, these barbarians were larger than life. Creatures of nightmare that came to take their city, burn their homes, and take their children as slaves.


    I would have to prove to everyone watching that mankind would not go quietly - but instead in a sea of blood and fire.


    The Raider boss bared his fangs in a sign of intimidation. I spat to the side and slammed my visor shut.


    ¡°What are the terms of your challenge?¡± I asked him. My voice rang in my helmet, sounding loud and metallic in my ears.


    The Ork made a guttural sound that I had come to recognize as laughter.


    ¡°Until you are dead, human.¡±


    ¡°And no others will interfere?¡± I asked. I gestured with my chin behind him at the line of wary Orks.


    The Boss didn¡¯t even bother to turn.


    ¡°None will interfere,¡± he agreed. ¡°Not while one of us yet draws breath.¡±


    ¡°Then I can promise you the same.¡± I raised my voice to be heard across the wall. ¡°No man will interfere on my behalf. We will fight until one of us is nothing more than a corpse.¡±


    I rolled my neck from side to side, trying to loosen stiff muscles. Draxus tried to catch my eye from somewhere in the sea of armored faces but I kept my eyes forward. I knew the risk - had known before I had stepped forward to accept the challenge.


    My men needed to see that the Orks weren¡¯t infallible. That even their strongest warriors could be bled and killed like any other mortal creature. Today, I would make a statement that I hoped would echo through the men now guarding Ceris.


    The Ork Boss waited for me to begin circling him before he dropped into a lazy stance. His movements were mocking, unconcerned. Like a parent humoring a child. I stepped forward carefully, watching the range of his long arms as I made a few experimental sword jabs.


    The Ork hefted his Warhammer and I danced back, shield high. Several of the Orks laughed.


    I had only moments to register when the bout actually began. One moment the Raider Boss was standing, his posture relaxed. The next he was bounding forward in long strides and bringing his Warhammer up and to the side. I stepped right, then left as the follow-up swing whistled past.


    One blow from that hammer would be enough to crack my bones. And I had no doubt that the raid boss wouldn¡¯t end it quickly. No, my only chance was to learn his patterns and attack when he made himself vulnerable.


    I lifted my shield and grunted, feinting forward as if I might attempt to charge him.


    The Ork jerked his guard back up, only to growl in frustration as I circled him again. I kept my right foot forward and, body sideways to present a smaller target.


    We were each eyeing each other, each searching for the opening that would be the other''s undoing.


    This time I struck first. The Ork boss reacted instantly, side-stepping my stab at his unprotected throat and bringing up his hammer to jab for my face. I moved aside, but the end of it still clipped my helmet. The blow sent me stumbling back and the Raider took no time in pressing his advantage.


    I saw him coming moments before I heard him. The Ork charged me, lethal horns lowered. I threw myself to one side, only barely managing to lift my shield in time to catch the follow-up blow from his hammer.


    Wooden splinters tore from my shield. The impact made my arm go numb to the shoulder. He was strong, much stronger than any opponent I''d fought before.


    I leveled my sword and attempted to stab at his eyes through his helmet. The Raider Boss made a deep-throated sound of amusement as he leaned out of range.


    ¡°Come human, let us end this game. Lay down your arms and I will take you as my personal slave. There would be mercy for your men."


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    His dark eyes glittered with malice.


    ¡°There is no dishonor in defeat,¡± he said.


    I cracked my neck.


    ¡°Then there will be no dishonor in yours.¡±


    The Ork Boss snorted his amusement and lifted his Warhammer. The time for talk had come and gone.


    He lowered his head and charged again, and I dodged aside as before. But this time, I had measured my steps.


    As he turned to swing his hammer around, I was ready for him.


    Rather than attempt to absorb another powerful blow to my shield I brought my sword up and forward, thrusting the point past the hammer¡¯s shaft.


    The blade slipped under the Ork¡¯s vambraces and pierced the pink flesh at the inside of his wrist. Unable to arrest the momentum of his swing, I saw the Ork¡¯s dark eyes widen as the blade bit deep, severing the tendon in his arm.


    The hammer sagged in his hold and I used that opportunity to rush in for a killing bow. I was fast, but I had anticipated that my stunt would be enough to have him off balance. I was wrong.


    The Ork lifted his giant hand and cuffed me hard enough to send me to one knee. Blood slicked the handle of his Warhammer as he tried to lift it, only to grunt in pain as his arm spasmed.


    I pushed to my feet and clenched my jaw. The situation was precarious.


    With Iron-Blooded active, the extra damage might be enough to end this. And yet, I couldn¡¯t risk getting too close within reach of those giant hands.


    Before I could decide my plan of attack, the Ork Boss made the decision for me. He shifted his weight suddenly, releasing the Warhammer with his bad arm and letting it clatter to the ground.


    Without the weight of the hammer to slow him, he was fast.


    He lunged at me, and as I tried to sidestep my lack of reach did me in. His good hand closed around the lip of my shield and yanked me off balance. I had only enough time to tuck my chin as the punch landed full on.


    Metal crunched into bone. I felt my nose shatter, blood gushing over my lips and chin. Moments later the pain followed. My eyes watered even as I released the strap to my shield and stumbled backward out of range.


    Blood flowed freely down my front and I snarled as I watched the Ork toss my shield over the wall.


    It had been my only defense, and now I was vulnerable to a much stronger apportionment. I had just lost my main advantage.


    The Orks whooped in amusement, while the soldiers of Ceris stayed grimmly silent. I focused, forced to suck lungfuls of air through my mouth.


    I drew my now shieldless gauntlet across my body, raising my sword in a guard.


    The Raider Boss lunged at me mockingly, satisfied when I danced away. The Orks growled their excitement, and I could sense that the mood in the air had shifted.


    Ceris Banners whipped in the nighttime air. I was aware only of my opponent, of his heavy breathing, and of the growing pool of blood slowly gathering at his boots.


    Would it be enough? I had no way of knowing. As it was, I could either wait for the inevitable or take back control of the fight.


    I advanced. The Ork moved surprisingly quickly for a creature so large. It dogged my flurry of strikes and lashed out with a fist, forcing me to duck aside. I managed to score a small cut along his calf before he lowered his head and slammed his horns into my chest.


    My shoulder hit the wall with a crash and my sword dropped from my fingers.


    I stumbled back as he came in swinging with fists, fumbling with the hilt at my belt.


    All I could see were horns, tusks, and rage-filled eyes before he was upon me. I was lifted from my feet and slammed into the ground with enough force to crack ribs. A large hand wrapped around my helmet, obscuring my vision. Metal creaked as my head was jerked upwards and slammed back against the stone.


    My ears rang.


    I ripped Iron Fang from its sheath, bloody fingers nearly losing my grip.


    I stabbed blindly, feeling the satisfying crunch of the blade through meat and carteledge. The hand withdrew from my vision and stared up into the face of my enemy.


    The Ork drew back a fist and I jerked my head to the side, hearing the crunch as his fist connected with a stone. I reached up, gripping a horn, and jerked his face towards me. We struggled for long moments, me snarling and spitting blood, him growling and jerking his head to free himself from my grip.


    I brought Iron Fang around muscles screaming as I shoved against his strength. Had he not been bleeding so liberally, I might have lost this desperate struggle.


    But as it was his movements became slower, his panting deeper. The point of my dagger drew closer and closer to his eye even as it bulged. He tried to jerk his head back, but with a roar of effort, I pulled his head forward and onto the knife blade.


    Blood gushed over my gauntlet as his eye popped. The Ork let out a high squeal, like that of a pig, as my knife drove slowly and inexorably forward. Then with a sudden release of tension, the resistance fell away.


    My knife blade slipped into his brain, and the Ork slumped to the side. I scrambled to my feet raising the bloody knife at the line of Orks. It still had a bit of eyeball on it.


    "Is this your fucking best?" I shouted to them. Blood sprayed in a mist as I spoke and I was forced to spit on the ground.


    The Ork''s shifted, eyes darting between the corpse of their leader and the line of men now watching them from behind me. It took only a glance to see that the mood had shifted.


    The posture of the men of Ceris was no longer fearful and hesitant. Faces were hard, and eyes harder. There was a predatory eagerness now as the men, my men, looked out at their red skinned foe. S?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Advance," I said calmly. "And send these fuckers back to hell."


    In the moments after the massacre, I found Gills leaning against a wall. A trail of blood trickled down his temple but he looked otherwise unharmed. He glanced up at my approach and grinned.


    "Will of fucking Blackbriar, huh?" He snorted and I couldn''t help but smile.


    "Had to make my point."


    "But did you have to do it so recklessly?"


    I considered this.


    "Yes." I said. Gills scoffed but at the serious expression on my face, his eyebrows rose.


    "The soldiers of Ceris may not follow a man, but they will follow a legend," he said, thoughtfully.


    "They will follow the man they believe will lead them to victory," I said.


    He leaned his head back against the stone.


    "And you''re that man?"


    I shrugged.


    "If not me, then who?"


    "Ser William," I turned to see Hade wading through the soldiers towards me. His face was splattered with the blood of Orks, but his eyes burned with a newfound determination.


    "The NorthEastern wall is besieged. A battle messenger just arrived. The Orks have overrun northern ramparts."


    He came to a stop in front of me, chest rising and falling as he waited for my answer. I stood and turned to face the crowd of soldiers. Ork bodies lay twisted and mangled on the blood-soaked stone.


    Every face that stared out at me had the same grim determination that I now felt. There was expectation in their eyes, as they gazed at me. And I knew with a sense of dread that I now carried the weight of man made myth.


    There would be no taking it back.


    "I mean to reclaim the Northern wall," I shouted to the sea of armored faces before me. Who stands with me?"


    A hundred spears raised in the air. Men of Ceris and the city guard. Men of the 3rd Auxiliary. My men, who would follow me into battle. The tide had just shifted, and it would never go back.


    There might be a day when I would come to regret my decision here. But there was no time to dwell on it.

 Forty Five: Second Siege

    I used the last of the health potions in my inventory to heal my broken nose. The potion itself did nothing for the pain but the steady flow of blood slowed to a halt in moments.Draxus splashed water from his canteen over my hands, and I wiped the sweat and blood from my face. My helmet had seen better days. The side had been dented in, and the visor was bent inward at an angle. I grimaced and placed it back into my inventory.


    I would need it repaired, and soon. But now I had much more pressing concerns. My HUD flashed, indicating new notifications. I had risen two levels over the past few days, and with the boost to my base stats, it might just be enough to carry me through the night.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I called to the soldiers gathered along the wall. ¡°Gather round.¡±


    I waited until the clamor died down and all eyes turned expectantly to me.


    ¡°Lord Blackthorne¡¯s men are overrun and have need of reinforcements to bolster the wall. Lieutenant Giller and half of the 3rd will remain here to ensure the south side of the city remains secure. The rest of you are with me.¡±


    I reached out, helping Gills to his feet. The Veteran regarded me with a cool expression before nodding.


    ¡°The men will follow you,¡± he said. ¡°I only request that you spend their lives wisely.¡±


    I hesitated for a moment before nodding. He was right, even if the delivery stung. The Siege went badly, and my actions here had the potential to shift the tide of battle. What I needed now was a level head and a plan.


    s?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.I turned to Draxus.


    ¡°I need a Shield,¡± I said. ¡°A sturdy one.¡±


    ***


    The night was long and the moon was fully visible. It was by its light that my men and I were guided through the city and towards the Northern Wall. The ambiance of war was loud enough to carry through the city. The shouts of men and crash of metal were interrupted only by the occasional discharge of a ballista bolt as it hurtled through the air towards the enemy.


    A rumble shook the ground, and a flare of orange light was enough to illuminate the silhouettes of men struggling on the wall. The ramparts had been overwhelmed by enemies. Orks climbed over the walls on crude ladders and brought with them death.


    In the press of men and desperation, it was hard to make out where Lord Blackthorne might be. I scanned the wall and shared a look with Draxus. There was worry in his eyes that I knew was reflected in my own.


    At the bottom of the steps leading to the ramparts, I called a halt to the men and ordered them into two columns.


    ¡°We will need to strike hard and strike fast,¡± I said. ¡°Our objective is to press the enemy back long enough for squad A to retake the tower. Squad B, led by Draxus, will hold the wall and aid Lord Blackthorne''s troops. Squad A, I¡¯ll take point. Stay with me and, when I tell you to brace you do so without question.¡±


    I met each pair of eyes.


    ¡°Am I understood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Sir William.¡±


    The sentiment was echoed by each and every man along the line. I nodded and turned to face the front.


    ¡°Shields,¡± I called and heard the creak of metal and wood as men readied themselves for battle. Some made the sign of the saint. Others prayed to the God King. I sent up a prayer myself, though it wasn¡¯t to he who sat on the Radiant Throne.


    Instead, I sent a brief prayer to the August, the God of the Autumn Winds. I might have imagined it, but I could have sworn I felt a sudden breeze stir my hair, gusting a few leaves along the stone around me.


    Then we began our advance. Draxus and I took point, shields raised and swords at the ready. The air smelled of copper and sweat. Smoke stung my eyes, and I was forced to blink to clear them.


    We were halfway up the steps now and I could hear the clash above. Draxus''s breathing was loud in his helmet. I tried to catch his eye but he was focused, eyes hard as he stared above us. Waiting for the enemy to appear. Waiting for death to come for us.


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    We weren¡¯t long in waiting. We had nearly reached the top of the steps when we encountered our first threat. A line of men in dark blue livery buckled under the onslaught of Orks.


    Their Sergeant turned, trying to call for order but his head was cleaved in two by the blow of an axe. It was then that the line truly began to deteriorate. Some men broke and turned to run, abandoning their fellows. Those who had chosen to stay behind were valiant but were quickly overwhelmed by the Host''s numbers. Men screamed as bones were broken. The body of a soldier was picked up by an Ork the size of a car and hurled screaming over the wall.


    Many of the soldiers that had tried to run were killed in a matter of moments. But one man managed to make it all of fifteen strides toward us before a giant chain swung through the air towards him.


    Its coils wrapped itself around his neck and I saw his eyes go wide. The chain went taught. It was his own momentum that broke his neck. His body flew forward, feet leaving the ground as his head took the brunt of the force. The sickening crack echoed through the air like a gunshot.


    The Ork who had thrown the chain calmly began reeling the body in, like a fish on a line. His giant hand closed around the man''s head and lifted him into the air. The Ork examined him and to my horror, I saw the eyes of the soldier move.


    ¡°Throne he¡¯s still alive,¡± hissed Draxus.


    I turned to one of the archers.


    ¡°Shoot him,¡± I said. ¡°Put an arrow in his eye.¡±


    There was the creak of a bow as the man stepped forward. Moments later, the twang of an arrow whipped past and buried itself in the eye of the soldier. The man slumped. The Ork, furious at being deprived of his new toy bellowed in frustration and turned to look at us.


    He barked a few commands in his language, and the Orks around him took notice. A sea of dark hostile eyes swept over us and I knew we had only moments before the Host came for us in earnest.


    ¡°Stand your ground,¡± I shouted to my men. ¡°Stand your ground and go down in history not as men, but as legend.¡±


    The answering roar of affirmation was enough to light my blood on fire. Even Draxus joined his shout with the others as the first line of Orks crossed the distance between us.


    For long moments it was almost silent, the eye of the storm as it passed overhead. I could see in great detail the horns of the beasts before me, the blood on their weapons, and the blood lust in their eyes.


    Then they were on us, and there was no more time for thought. The initial wave of Orks hit hard and fast. With my new round shield, I managed to take the brunt of the blow of an Axe. In the corner of my vision, the blue meter for damage taken ticked higher.


    The Ork stepped back, intending to swing at me again, but the eagerness of his companions drove him forward unto the point of my sword.


    The Ork snarled then squealed as he was pressed forward, trapped between my blade and The Orks now clamoring for a chance to spill out blood. I swung my shield, knocking his body aside and sending him crashing into the Ork behind him. Moments later the tip of a crude spear whipped past my ear, drawing blood.


    ¡°Press forward,¡± called Draxus over the sound of battle. The men behind us braced us with their shields even as the second wave of Orks hit. I kept my shield up and my head tucked behind the rim, only emerging to hack and slash at my enemies.


    An Ork swung a two-handed blade at me and I twisted my torso aside, hacking at his arms. One came away with a spray of blood. Another shoved him aside and hammered at my shield with a metal gauntlet. My blade took him in the eye moments later.


    The fight was brutal and slow going. The men behind us thrust their spears at the enemy, and every once in a while one of my archers managed to strike an Ork where it hurt. Twice I had a beast lunge at me, only to fall moments later with a white-tipped arrow in his throat.


    At last, we reached the center of the wall where the sea of bodies became thick. Some of the corpses were Orks, but far more were bodies of men. To advance we were forced to press onward, stumbling over the corpses of those who had fallen before us.


    Once I thought I heard the cries of a wounded man from somewhere among the piles of corpses. But when I looked again, I couldn¡¯t be sure. Hell of a fate, to drown in a sea of corpses. Not one I would wish on any man.


    I caught an overhand strike on the lip of my shield and thrust my sword into the ribs of an Ork, twisting and withdrawing it with a satisfying squelch. All around, the colors of the bodies began to stand out to me. Many were wearing the colors of Ceris. But there were a few mixed in that wore the Black and Red.


    Lord Blackthorne had been here, and by the look of it, he and his men had beaten a retreat. But what could make a man as powerful as Blackthorne call a withdrawal? The answer nagged at me. I cut through the tick arm of an Ork, blade glowing red as Iron-Blooded boosted my max damage.


    The beast dropped to a knee and I swung my sword, managing to sheer one of his horns in half as he jerked aside. A horn blasted in the distance beyond the wall. I tried to turn squint through the haze, but the smoke was far too thick to see through.


    Draxus shouted something over the sounds of battle. I cut at an Ork and was forced to withdraw my sword as his spear thrust for my arm.


    ¡°What?¡± I asked him.


    Draxus turned his head I could see his eyes moving rapidly in the slits of his helmet. He made a slashing movement through the air with one hand and gestured at the wall. When he spoke I was only able to catch fragmented words.


    ¡°Horn. Coming, don¡¯t let¡­¡±


    A roar echoed through the night followed by the sound of a ballista being fired. The projectile whipped past and to my growing horror, I realized just how close the shot had been.


    At that moment, I knew with dreaded certainty what Draxus had been trying to tell me.


    That horn had signaled one thing. Outriders were coming, and with them came the Sand Drakes.

 Forty Six: Jaws of Defeat

    Stone cracked beneath talons as the Sand Drakes began to climb. Draxus and I called orders, reforming our columns into two lines that faced the outer wall and our new enemy. It was impossible to tell how many Outriders would come over that wall, but I knew that these moments would be crucial.


    The squad manning the ballista loosed another projectile, this one stirring the wind as it whipped by only a dozen feet from us. There was a crash as the large bolt struck stone and bounced away into empty air.


    Then the first of Sand Drakes appeared.


    The first thing I saw was its scales. Deep crimson armored plates wound from head to barbed tail, forming a carapace that I doubted any normal weapon could pierce. Its bone eye ridges clicked together and golden slitted eyes regarded us with a sword of hunger.


    One of my soldiers lunged forward, and I shouted at him to stay in formation. I was too slow. The soldier stepped forward and lifted his spear, face set in a snarl.


    Faster than I would have imagined possible from a beast of its size, the Sand Drake twisted its head around and opened its jaws. Dozens of rows of needle-like teeth flashed in the torch light.


    The soldier''s head was ripped from his shoulders, blood spraying in an arc.


    ¡°Hold your ground!¡± shouted Draxus, shield braced. The Sand Drake climbed up and over the wall, its scaly forelegs gripping the ramparts. On its back sat an Ork in black armor wielding a spear.


    I turned, cutting my sword through the air towards the creature. My archers, who had been waiting for the signal, rained arrows down upon our new foe. Most pinged off of the Drake¡¯s heavy-scale armor, but two managed to find the thigh and arm of the Ork Rider.


    He bellowed in rage, yanking on the reigns and forcing the Drake forward. The creature arched its back, and I saw what was coming moments before it happened.


    ¡°Down¡± I shouted, gripping Hade by the back of his neck and forcing him down. The Sand Drake¡¯s tail slashed through the air where our heads had been only moments before. Most of my men had time to head my warning, but one, a Ceris soldier, hadn¡¯t been so lucky.


    His decapitated head bounced around across the stone and his corpse crumpled moments later. The Outrider gave a whooping war cry and urged his mount forward. The Sand Drake leaped forward, snapping at speer shafts and swords, and jerking his head from side to side, sending men flying.


    ¡°Steady,¡± I called to my line. ¡°Drive it back. Don¡¯t let it gain any ground.¡±


    The Outrider raised his spear over his head and shouted something, laughing as he did so. I heard it before I saw it.


    The scrape of claws on stone, the skittering of rocks bouncing down the wall. Another Sand Drake emerged from beyond the wall. This one had scales as red as blood. It snapped at Hade¡¯s spear as the soldier tried to jab at its eyes. The wood snapped clean in half.


    Draxus had already turned to face the new threat, reforming his men into a wedge formation. The second Outrider spurred forward his mount. I saw a man in Ceris blue get bitten in half as blood sprayed. A crossbowman who had been cranking back his bow was struck moments later by the tip of its barbed tail.


    Entrails spilled across the ground. The man screamed, dropping to his knees. All the while the First outrider raised his spear over his head and laughed. Laughed at the bodies on the ground. At the destruction. At the cold inevitability with which my men drew together, huddled against the threat of a greater foe.


    A spark of something caught in my chest and I turned my head.


    ¡°Give me a spear,¡± I growled. One of the soldiers, an older man with silver in his beard handed his over and drew the short sword at his waist. I nodded to him.


    ¡°When I give you the signal I want you to tell the men to Brace,¡± I told Hade, gripping the soldier by the shoulder.


    His eyes were filled with concern as he glanced between me and the two Outriders that now pinned us between them on the wall.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he started, but I turned away. There was no time for it now.


    ¡°Cover me,¡± I told the soldiers in front. ¡°Don¡¯t let him see me until I give the word.¡±


    Wordlessly my men closed ranks, shields raised to block me from view. I heard the jaws of the Sand Drake snap, followed by the visceral scream of a man who had just lost his life. My hand was sweaty in my gauntlet. Every breath came made my ribs twinge with pain.


    I walked between the shadow of my men and caught glimpses here and there of the Sand Drake we now faced. Behind I could hear Draxus shouting orders followed by the twang of bow strings. My friend was trying, and I¡¯d have to trust him to hold his own side.


    The wind shifted and the Outrider turned his head. I saw my moment clearly and stood. My men parted for me like the tide.


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    I stepped forward, readjusting my grip on the spear shaft before twisting my body, one arm held out in front of me. The Outrider turned back, his dark eyes finding mine. I didn¡¯t hesitate. I drew back my arm, and with all the strength I could muster, I hurled the shaft.


    It flew through the air, turning once before it hit its mark. Not the Sand Drake, whose armor would have protected it from hard. The spear was intended for its rider. The Ork twisted in his saddle, bringing his own spear shaft across his body to send my projectile spinning to the stone.


    He sneered, baring his tusks in triumph. That was when he spotted me. I had started running the moment the spear left my grip. Boots slapped stone, and my arms pumped at my sides.


    My round shield was held in front of me like a battering ram. I had eyes for only one thing. The blue meter is in the corner of my screen. The Sand Drake reacted more quickly than its rider. It turned and arched its head back like a snake intending to strike. I dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the death bite of its powerful jaws.


    Then the moment I had been waiting for came. The Drake shifted backward on its hind paws and arched its back. The whip through the night air was my only indication it was coming. I raised my shield at an angle and ducked my head.


    The impact was enough to knock me sideways. The barbed tail had missed my face by mere inches. For all intents and purposes, I was lucky to be alive. My risk had paid off.


    As the blue meter on my HUD flashed I braced my shield with my free hand and threw back my head.


    ¡°Hade!¡± I roared. ¡°Brace!¡±


    I had no time to look behind me to see if the soldier had followed my orders. I was closing in now and the Outrider lifted his spear back to strike. I drove my shield forward with the roar of a battle cry.


    This time I was ready. Instead of releasing the power all at once as I had before, I instead concentrated on pushing the blast forward and outward. The blow struck like the sound of a giant gong.


    A blue blast of energy slammed forth, knocking the Sand Drake back on its hind legs. The rider was blown backward, spear falling from his armored fist. I saw his beady black eyes widen as he realized his impending fate.


    The Sand Drake had reared knocked back by my blast. It had been tipped off balance and began its inevitable tumble backward with an ear-piercing shriek. The Outrider tried to free himself from the saddle but his armored legs were pinned in place by leather straps.


    I turned away as the Drake and its Rider tumbled back over the wall.


    My men had dropped into low stances, shields braced over their heads as if anticipating a storm. It might have been comical if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that several had been knocked completely off their feet.


    I grimaced.


    ¡°My apologies,¡± I said. ¡°I still don¡¯t know how to control it.¡±


    Hade helped a spearman to his feet and the man shot me an awed look. I recognized him as the young man who had stood with me on the wall only yesterday.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± I asked him.


    ¡°Eric Ser William.¡± The boy blinked in confusion as I strode past.


    ¡°Eric,¡± I said absently as I watched the scene unfold before me. Draxus and his men had managed to lodge a spear shaft deep into the throat of the second Sand Drake. The creature was now choking violently, shaking its head from side to side in an attempt to dislodge it.


    Even as I watched Draxus''s men surrounded it, stabbing at its eyes and now unprotected throat. It was over in a few visceral moments. The second the Drake fell to the ground with glassy golden eyes, Draxus men surged forward.


    Together they dragged the Ork from his saddle and put him to the sword. Eric came to stand beside me, watching the grisly work with grim determination.


    I considered him as all around me the men took a moment of brief rest.


    "How old are you?" I asked him,


    "Eighteen Ser."


    I arched a brow. Eric flushed and ducked his head.


    "Seventeen Ser."


    I nodded in approval.


    "Younger than half the men here. And yet, you held your ground when we faced off against the odds. Not many could say the same, Eric. You should be proud."


    The young man''s ears turned red and he glanced down.


    "Just doing my duty Ser William," he said.


    My thoughts were interrupted by a blood-spattered Draxus. The giant nodded to me, wiping his blade with a cloth.


    "We should strike now while the irons hot. I wouldn''t be surprised if reinforcements were already on the way."


    I glanced around at my soldiers.


    "They won''t be pleased to miss out on this much monster material. But I agree, we can''t afford to delay. Finding Lord Blackthorne is our top priority.


    Draxus tugged a hand through his hair, his expression weary. I could hardly blame him. the exhaustion of the past few days weighed on my mind even as I struggled to stay focused.


    "That''s the part I don''t like," said Draxus, casting around us. His eyes came to rest on the corpses wearing the red and black of the Blackthorne house colors.


    "Something forced Lord Blackthorne to make a tactical retreat."


    "It could have been the outriders," I ventured squatting down next to the corpse of a soldier.


    Draxus shook his head and pulled his helmet back on.


    "You don''t understand," he said, coming to stand beside me. The worry in his dark eyes was enough to cement my unease. I waited for him to go on, and after a moment he did.


    "Lord Blackthorne doesn''t retreat, not really. He''s known for his bravery and prowess in battle - one of the many reasons the Crown Prince himself sought to elevate him to Spear of The King. It''s an honor that can only ever be earned on the field of battle."


    I frowned and rose to my feet, dusting off my hands.


    "There is something else at play here," I said. "I''ve sensed it since we entered the city. But I''m in the dark. A man playing chess without being able to see the pieces."


    I shook my head.


    "We need to find Lord Blackthorne and tell him what it is we found. I have a feeling that this, all of it, goes so much deeper we realize." s?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Draxus nodded wearily and tucked the bloodied cloth back into his inventory. He sheathed his now clean blade and pulled something from his belt. It was a bascinet made of dark metal.


    Hesitantly I reached out and took it, examining the piece.


    Item: Helm of Aegis, Legendary. Deflects 1/3 of all magical damage dealt by the wearer


    "It was a drop from the Raider Boss you defeated."


    I arched a brow.


    "You didn''t think to tell me earlier when my helmet got all but smashed in?"


    Draxus grinned. "You were busy."


    "More like he wanted the loot for himself," muttered Hade under his breath.


    Draxus snorted.


    I turned the helmet over in my hands.


    The dark metal was smooth and polished, enough to see the outline of my reflection. I stared at it, only seeing my own dark gaze staring back at me. For a moment, I thought I saw something shift in them. I blinked and it was gone.


    I wiped the sweat from my eyes and hesitated a moment before pulling the new helmet over my head.


    The inside was lightly padded, and the fit felt almost perfect. Beyond the tower to the right fire arrows lit the night, cutting through the darkness like a knife.


    It was in that direction that Lord Blackthorne lay, and with him - the answers I needed.


    "Ready the men," I said. "We take the tower."


    I met his gaze.


    "Together."

 Forty Seven: Losing Ground

    It was by the main gate of the city that the fighting was thickest. Fire arrows lit the night air, hissing as they found their mark among the soldiers in defense of Ceris.In the flicker of firelight, I could see the black and red uniforms of Lord Blackthorne¡¯s men¡­though I could see no sign of the man himself.


    The battlements were teaming with Orks. They clambered up ladders, climbed grappling hooks, and poured over the wall like an unstoppable flood. Behind the melee lay the tower - our destination.


    The fighting was thick and desperate. Already I could feel the telltale drain of energy on my body, though it was nowhere near as bad as before.


    I would need to learn how to properly use and conserve Mana. In long battles, it could mean the difference between life and death.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to lose the wall!¡± Draxus shouted over the clash of battle. ¡°We need to act now or Ceris will be overrun.¡±


    I nodded and lifted my shield across my body.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s push the fuckers back.¡±


    The Orks were so focused on their prey that they hardly noticed our arrival. A squad of soldiers was being pressed hard, back towards the stone steps by the overwhelming numbers of the host.


    I signaled my men to follow me at a jog, shaking my head to clear the exhaustion that now pulled at the corners of my mind. We were close now, only thirty paces. Twenty.


    One of the Orks glanced up and his black eyes widened. He opened his mouth to grunt a warning to his fellows, but we were already on them.


    We slammed into the host with a crushing force. My shield was held in front of me, and my momentum slammed Ork in front of me into the sword of a nearby soldier. Together the man and I hacked wildly, sending blood in arcs as we brought the hulking beast down. No sooner had he fallen to the side than another took his place.


    I ducked my head to the side as a sword stabbed past. I heard the grate of the serrated edge against my pauldron. I was shoulder to shoulder with the men around me and there was no room to flinch away. Instead, I heaved my shield forward and brought it down with a crunch on the Orks lead knee.


    The warrior bellowed in pain and I took the opportunity to thrust my sword at his throat. He gurgled and hot stinking blood splattered across my front. An Ork Axe buried itself in the head of the soldier behind me, crunching metal.


    I tried to retaliate with a slash to his arm but the line of soldiers was suddenly jostled and I was carried nearly off my feet in the press. I shoved back against the press, turning my head to shout at my men to stand firm.


    That¡¯s when I saw it. The telltale glimpse of red scales. My first thought was an outrider, but the Sand Drakes that climbed over the walls were much too small for a rider. What was worse - they moved quickly.


    The momentum of our charge had carried us deeper into the melee and now, our formation was pressed from from the front and sides.


    There was nowhere to turn, nowhere to go. Our maneuverability had been cut in half. I had only enough time to shout a warning to Draxus before the Sand Drakes reached us.


    Class: Juvenile Sand Drake


    Level: 20


    Razor teeth snapped at my arms. Had it not been for the snake scale gauntlets that now housed them, I might have been down a limb. The Sand Drake clamped its teeth over my gauntlet and jerked its head to the side, dragging me off balance. I fell, losing my sword among the press of boots and armor.


    The weight of the Sand Drake was crushing. It tore at my gauntlet with its powerful jaws, claws raking at my chain mail. The Pressure on my bruised ribs made me cry out. I curled my free hand into a fist and slammed it into the side of Drake¡¯s head.


    Once, twice. Then it released me. I saw a spear shaft bounce off the Drake¡¯s armored hide. Saw Hade¡¯s mouth move as he shouted to me. The Drake whipped its barbed tail and a man lost his arm at the elbow. I fumbled, hands searching among boots for my fallen sword.


    A man¡¯s armored leg knocked into my helmet, leaving me momentarily stunned. My fingers found the hilt of my sword and I snatched it up and managed to rise to a knee before the second Sand Drake struck. It tore the head from the shoulders of a nearby spearman, crunching metal and bone.


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    A golden eye flickered and landed on me. Downed prey, and vulnerable¡­ or so it thought. The Juvenile Sand Drake darted between my legs, knocking soldiers over in its attempt to get to me. I gripped my sword and waited until I could see the white gleam of its fangs. The glisten of the saliva along its purple tongue. Then I rolled aside.


    Rising to one knee I anchored my bodyweight and gripped the sword with both hands. The Sand Drake skidded to a strop on stone, head whipping towards me. I stabbed forward and into its eye with all the force I could muster.


    The Drake went rigid, body arching as its tail lashed. There was a stinging pain, followed by a line of hot blood that ran down my chest to soak the shirt beneath my armor. There was no time to take stock of my injuries. With a roar I shoved forward, throwing my body weight forward and behind the thrust. My sword blade met resistance, metal screeching on the armored socket of the eye. Then something gave way.


    My sword sunk hilt deep into the eye socket, punching out the other side of the Drake¡¯s head with a spray of blood. The creature jerked twice, tail lashing back and forth. Then it went still.


    I stumbled to my feet, breathing hard. I planted a boot on the corpse of the Sand Drake and heaved my bloody sword free. Then I turned back to the battle.


    Draxus was pinned up against the side of the rampart, wrestling with an Ork that held a wicked-looking cleaver. There was blood smeared across his face, though whether it was his or not was impossible to tell.


    The Ork saw me moments before I struck. He released Draxus, raising his free arm as if he might block my swing. I sheered his hand in half. Draxus finished him off with two sharp stabs to the center of his chest.


    ¡°Nice of you to join us,¡± panted my friend. Sweat mingled with blood to run in scarlet rivulets down his neck. Moments later Hade was at my side.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± the men need direction. We¡¯re being pushed back.¡± S?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I set my jaw.


    ¡°Where is Lord Blackthorne? Has there been any word?¡±


    Hade grimaced and adjusted his grip on his spear shaft.


    ¡°Only Rumors Ser. They say a messenger arrived from the inner wall, and told him something, I don¡¯t know what, that had him racing for The House of Refuge with half his household guard. I don¡¯t know much else, Ser William. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°The House of Refuge?¡± I turned, scanning the city but I could see nothing but the dark silhouettes of buildings, and beyond them the rise of the second wall of Ceris.


    I turned back to survey the battle. Hade was correct. It was chaos from end to end on the wall. The sea of soldiers in armor and livery met the powerful red tide of the host as they slowly but inevitably pushed us back towards the steps leading down to the city.


    It would only be a matter of time before the Orks completely overran our position. I glanced around, willing for something, anything to catch my eye. Something did. My gaze snagged on the now abandoned Ballista sitting atop the tower. The soldiers that had been manning it were likely killed when the Orks overran the walls.


    From my current position, it was impossible to tell if the weapon was still in working order, but from the vantage of the tower top my archers would be able to fire uncontested, and without fear of hitting their fellows. That, and I would have the vantage to send a signal to where Lord Dacon and his men were stationed. It was worth the risk.


    Without delay, I flicked the Drake blood from my sword and caught Draxus''s eye.


    ¡°I need eight men and the archers,¡± I told him. ¡°The rest I¡¯ll leave to you and Hade to hold the line. Wait for my signal. If you can hold for that long we might have a fighting chance.¡±


    Draxus grimaced.


    ¡°Will¡­¡± he started but I shook my head.


    ¡°Trust me on this, brother. If I fail here the city might not last the night.¡±


    Draxus looked torn for a moment before he sucked in a breath and set his jaw.


    ¡°Alright.¡± He said. ¡°Retake the tower and light the signal fire. We¡¯ll hold until we see it lit. That¡¯s all I can promise you.¡±


    We clasped forearms.


    I stepped away from the man I had learned to call brother and trepidation filled my chest. I would light the signal fire and call for reinforcements, but how long would those reinforcements be in coming?


    Was Lord Dacon even now besieged on his own side of the wall while Lord Blackthorne and his men hunted unknown shadows in the night?


    I felt a surge of anger at the thought. What could cause a man to abandon his men at a time like this?


    But I knew the answer even as I turned away to gather my men. Even as I raised my sword in the air and called the archers to me.


    It was all coming together now, piece by piece. There was rot within the walls of Ceris. Rot within the Kingdom itself. How long had it been allowed to fester? And just how deep did it run?


    My men rallied to me, Jorgen and Eric among them. The young soldier gave me a serious nod, his too-large helmet tipping over his head.


    ¡°Ser William.¡±


    I turned my mind away from darker things and back to the present. I needed to regain control of this battle, and I would start by taking back the high ground.


    ¡°Soldiers in the front, archers in the back. Keep up, stop for nothing.¡± I looked around, meeting each gaze with steel of my own.


    ¡°And give them hell.¡±


    The men closed in around me and we surged forward past the mass of struggling soldiers and Orks. We stepped over corpses, wound our way past where the fighting was thickest, all the way doing our best to stay alive.


    My arm was numb from the blows my shield took. My sword was wet with blood in the light of the moon. It was madness. It was chaos. And yet, for the first time, I was forced to admit that part of me felt more alive than I ever had before.


    There was something in me that had been growing over the past few months. Something I was beginning to recognize as more than just acceptance.


    Hunger.

 Forty Eight: Striking Back

    I took the tower steps two at a time, bloody sword held out before me. We had caught the Ork¡¯s in the tower partially by surprise. The sturdy wooden door had been bared and barricaded, but Eric had let me in on a secret. There was a second door around the outer face of the castle - one that could be accessed with a key.


    Since we hadn¡¯t possessed the key, it had fallen to me to pick the lock. Not an easy endeavor when Ork arrows bounced off the stone walls all around me. Finally, the rusted lock had clicked and the door had swung inward. Jorgen, Eric, and I had managed to kill the two Orks at the bottom of the stairs before they had time to react. Now, it was just a matter of speed.


    The Ork at the top of the steps raced downwards, axe in hand. When he spotted us he growled low in his throat and lifted his weapon in an overhand blow.


    I closed the distance between us in a few strides, gripped him by his horns, and yanked him forward.


    Jorgen leaped to the side with a curse as the heavily armored Ork crashed down the steps with a resounding clamor. There was no time to find out if he had survived - I knew my men would make short work of him.


    I rounded the top of the and spotted an Ork near the door. This one was ready and as I approached he drew back his arm and hurled his spear. I snapped up my shield in time to knock it aside.


    I was on the Ork as his sword cleared its sheath. Sparks flew from my sword as my stab was defected. The Ork bellowed and charged me, lowering its head. One of the horn tips caught me in the lip of the helmet, dragging my head aside.


    I slashed blindly, felt my sword tip connect with sinew, and stabbed. Moments later Jorgens spear struck the Ork in his unarmored armpit, killing him instantly. I arched an eyebrow at Jorgen who grinned.


    ¡°I think I¡¯m starting to get the hang of this Ser William,¡± he said. My men lined up behind, weapons out, and faces set. Behind them my archers waited on the stairs, bows knocked. There was a score of them in all. Enough, I hoped, to turn the tide of the battle in our favor.


    I pressed my shoulder against the side of the door, staring across at Jorgen and holding up a hand.


    The soldiers surged forward to either side of the door, waiting for my signal. I listened.


    I could hear the sound of battle out on the wall but there was something else¡­. Something closer. The heavy rasp of breathing and the sword of clinking metal as armor shifted. There were Orks on the tower roof and more than a few.


    I threw out the signal for enemy number unknown and waited for my men to nod their affirmation.


    Then I began counting down. Eric stepped forward to grip the Iron ring of the door. Jorgen shifted forward, spear ready.


    I began to count down.


    Three.


    Eric ran a nervous tongue across his lips.


    Two.


    I could hear my own breathing in my helmet.


    One.


    The young soldier yanked open the door and stepped quickly aside. I shoved off the wall and Jorgen and I led the men into the breach.


    For the second time that day, the Mark of the Wind saved me. I saw it activate on my HUD and I had mere seconds to duck as the hatchet whipped by my head to bury itself in the wood.


    Six Orks stood between us and the signal fire, weapons raised and tusks bared.


    I charged forward using my shield as a weapon. I slammed the rim in the face of one Ork and stepped aside to avoid a spear thrust. Beside me Jorgen ducked under a hammer swing and jabbed his spear forward, dispatching another with deadly precision.


    My men were on the Orks in moments and the skirmish was quick and bloody. I lost only one man, stabbed in the neck by a short sword. But in the end, we were able to overcome the enemy. I wiped my blade on the body of the nearest Ork and turned away.


    ¡°Well, it looks like they made short work of the ballista,¡± said Hade from several paces away. He examined the machine, frowning at the hacked wood and severed rope.


    ¡°How bad is it?¡± I asked, pulling off a gauntlet and tucking it under my arm. Hade shook his head.


    ¡°Ser William, I haven¡¯t the foggiest idea of how to fix the damn thing. Maybe with a few engineers and a day or two. But¡­¡± he shook his head and I sighed inwardly. It had always been a long shot.


    ¡°Archers, take up your positions,¡± I said. ¡°Eric and Hade are with me. I need to get this signal pyre lit. The rest of you spread out and stand watch. I want the alarm sounded the second you see the enemy on the steps.


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    ¡°Aye Ser!¡± came the echoing answer. The Archers moved to their position, adjusting their quivers and preparing to fire. I turned back to the signal pyre.


    It was set in a brazier at least fifteen feet above. The pyre itself had only been accessible to those who wished to light it via a ladder and platform. The ladder now lay in pieces on the ground, shattered by Ork blades. I ground my teeth and gazed upwards.


    Eric made a sweeping motion with his hand.


    ¡°Do you think we could sort of just¡­ chuck a torch up there, Ser?¡± he asked hopefully. I scratched my chin with my now bare hand.


    ¡°We could, soldier,¡± I said. ¡°But there is no guarantee that the wood will catch. See that there?¡±


    I pointed at the small ceramic pot held in a mounted bracket above the pyre. Eric squinted and nodded.


    ¡°That¡¯s oil. It would have to be poured manually over the wood in order for the pyre to catch evening, and maintain its burn.¡±


    Eric goggled at me as if I had imparted some great wisdom.


    ¡°Only, how will we do that Ser?¡± he asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Well,¡± I said slowly, catching Hade¡¯s eye. ¡°We would need someone small and brave to scale the outside of the tower. They could in theory, shimmy their way up the side of the brazier and, well, pour the oil.¡±


    Hade was trying hard not to smile. Eric looked back and forth between us before it dawned on him. His face paled.


    ¡°But I¡¯m afraid of heights Ser,¡± he said weakly.


    I grinned.


    ¡°Then it¡¯s the perfect time to wring that fear out of you.¡±


    Five minutes later Eric¡¯s blonde head bobbed as he carefully placed his feet and hands. His legs were trembling, but his face was a mask of youthful concentration. I watched as he scaled the outer portion of the tower, the night wind stirring his hair.


    The only sound was the twang of archer arrows and the occasional shout of the men below. Eric tested his newest foothold before tentatively stretching up to grip the end of the brazier.


    Carefully, he lifted himself up, pushing off with his right foot and leveraging his body up and over. Hade let out a soft sigh of relief as the boy¡¯s blonde head poked back over the edge of the Brazier.


    He was smiling now and I nodded my approval.


    ¡°Go on lad,¡± I said.


    Eric scaled the edge of the brazer, boots scuffing against rusted metal. Once he slipped only his grip and upper body strength kept him from plummeting to certain death. At last, he reached the oil pot and plucked it out of its bracket. Moments later I heard the sound of liquid being poured.


    ¡°It¡¯s done, Ser William.¡± Came the soldier''s voice. I nodded and lifted my own lit torch.


    ¡°Ready?¡± I asked him. There was a pause and the sound of shuffling. Then an answer of affirmation.


    I waited a few more beats for good measure before stepping forward and tossing the torch straight upwards in the air.


    Eric¡¯s hand shot out and caught it, juggling it wildly before he managed to grip the right end. Hade snorted through his nose.


    Moments later the hiss and roar of flames indicated that the plan had been a success. The light grew, and with it I could see much more of the battlefield. While the fighting over the gate was the thicket, from my vantage I could now see the other sections of the city.


    Gills and the 3rd bravely held their own against the remaining stragglers that had attacked their side of the wall. Meanwhile, the Eastern gate seemed to be under heavy assault. Even as I watched, several outriders poured over the walls. One of them, an Ork in black armor with a flaming spear clutched in one fist, raised a hand. A bolt of fire shot from his hand, catching two soldiers in the chest and sending them flying backward in a spray of orange sparks.


    One of them tumbled backward off the wall, while the other fetched up against the ramparts and did not rise again. Smoke curled from the Orks fist. I swore.


    He was a Fire Magus. And one trained for battle.


    "What is it Ser William?" asked Hade, following my gaze.


    "Trouble," I said. "We need Lord Dacon''s reinforcements. And more than that, we need Lord Blackthorne here. An Ork Magus is a powerful foe, and not one common soldiers are equipped to handle."


    I bit the inside of my cheek, thinking. One of my archers glanced up.


    "They are retreating Ser William," he said. "We have the bastards on the run."


    Relief surged through me. I leaned out from the parapet as far as i dared and caught site of Draxus holding the line with his men. The Orks were indeed faltering. Where there had been a brutal confidence to their movements before there was now hesitation among them. Even desperation.


    I saw the moment their line wavered and broke. Draxus thrust his blade in the air, roaring his triumph. The men surged forward and, with the help of the archers on the tower, the Ork Host was pressed back.


    Most of the beasts fought hard, unwilling to be taken down. The few that turned and ran were shot in the back with white-tipped arrows.


    Ork''s clambered back over the walls, filing down the ladders and back to the safety of the ground below. Or at least, they tried. Draxus and the men chased down those fleeing like hounds on a rabbit.


    Several soldiers shoved at the ladders, pushing them out and away from the wall, causing the Orks to fall squealing like pigs towards the ground.


    Others managed to chase and skewer the Orks with spears before they could descend the walls. I watched all of this with cold calculation. There could be no mercy in this war - it was a lesson I''d learned well over the past few months.


    I was a soldier, and war was grim work.


    Eric dropped down beside me and I clapped him on the shoulder.


    "You did well lad," I told him. "You have the makings of a good soldier."


    Eric stood a little taller under my scrutiny. I resisted the urge to smile, knowing how it felt to be a bow praised by a man he admired. S?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "I think," I said slowly. "And Hade agrees with me - that you would make a good addition to my company. I understand you''re employed with the city guard, and life as a soldier might not be what you pictured for yourself..."


    I met his gaze.


    "But the offer is there should you choose to accept it."


    Eric''s eyes lit up.


    "I would be honored Ser William, Ser," he stumbled, then flushed when he realized he''d said the honorific twice.


    "Then consider it official."


    I ruffled his hair and turned away, aware of Hade''s eyes on me. The soldier arched a brow, joining me as I made my way to the stairs. He was silent for several heartbeats, his face troubled.


    "You said Company Ser William," he said at last. "Not Squad."


    There was a weighted pause in the air and I let it pass.


    "I did."


    Hade sucked in a breath and then let it out again.


    "You play a dangerous game, Ser, with forces far greater than your own."


    I raised a brow.


    "Are you opposed?"


    Hade chewed on his bottom lip, thoughtful.


    "No," he said at last. "Whatever decision you make, the men and I... we''ll follow you. I just hope for all our sakes, that it isn''t to the gallows."

 Forty Nine: Dark Roots

    I found Draxus at the base of the Tower, giving orders to the men to clear the wall of corpses. The Bodies of dead Orks were lifted and heaved over the walls, tumbling fifty feet to the ground below.It was hard work, but it was necessary. Looking down, I saw the glassy eyes of more men than beasts along the wall, and the embers of anger that had been burning in me flared once again.


    I knelt on the stone, drawing my hunting knife from my boot and gripping an Ork corpse by the horns. I set my jaw and began to saw. Eric paled a bit and looked away, but Draxus watched with a cold detachment.


    Finally, I wiped the blood from my hands and stood.


    ¡°Give me a spear,¡± I said. Hade cast hastily around on the ground until he found the crude iron spear on Ork. He handed it over, his face wary. I took the rough wooden shaft in my hand then, gritting my teeth, I slammed the horned head of the Ork onto the blade. Old Blood dribbled down the wood, thick and slow.


    Eric made a retching sound, and even Jorgen looked a bit taken aback. I handed the spear to Draxus.


    ¡°Mount them along the walls,¡± I said. ¡°I want to send a message to the second wave of what awaits them when they climb the city walls.¡±


    ¡°You have become more ruthless, I see.¡±


    The voice behind me made me turn. Lord Dacon mounted the steps with his household guard in tow. His Knights led a contingent of men that bore the obvious signs of battle.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± I said, bowing to The Count¡¯s Son. The young lord looked amused. ¡°When are you going to start calling me Dacon?¡±


    The Lord swept a hand through his fair hair and though his eyes were playful, I could see a caution to them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done well here,¡± he said. ¡°Though I am not surprised. Ser Connel and his men hold the Eastern gate but I fear I have grim news.¡±


    Lord Dacon paused, allowing several crossbowmen in his household livery to march swiftly past, before closing the distance between us. His eyes flickered over Hade and Draxus and he took my shoulder guiding me away.


    ¡°How much do you trust the company you keep, Blackbriar?¡± he asked me as he drew me to an alcove along the wall. His household guard loitered nearby but kept a respectful distance.


    My brows furrowed as I considered his words.


    ¡°My men?¡± I asked. ¡°Most, I trust with my life. But I can only speak for the soldiers I¡¯ve fought alongside in battle.¡±


    I hesitated.


    ¡°My Lord, It was hinted to be by Lord Blackthorne that we may have a mole in our midst. I understand how - certainly intelligence of the Army¡¯s movements could be gathered and passed on to the enemy. It¡¯s the why that I can¡¯t fathom. What motive would a human have to betray their own kind to these¡­ these beasts.¡±


    ¡°I fear the reality of our situation is much worse.¡±


    Lord Dacon¡¯s smile had faded, and for the first time, I noticed the deep dark circles under his eyes.


    ¡°The the past year there have been strange happenings in these lands. Even my father has noticed the sudden disquiet. Monsters behaving erratically, men going mad, and the awakening old beasts¡­..¡±


    He trailed off, eyes distant and serious.


    ¡°These are all signs, William. Signs that the nobility know to recognize.¡±


    I swallowed, dragging a tongue across my dry lips. There was part of me that already knew the answer, but I needed to hear it from him.


    ¡°The signs,¡± I said, meeting his gaze. ¡°What do they represent.¡±


    Dacon¡¯s face grew hard, the lines etched in shadow making him appear suddenly older. He glanced out along the walls, at the distance host beyond the wall. They would come again soon, of that I had no doubt. The first wave had only been the beginning.


    ¡°The return of Demon Kind,¡± said Dacon at last. ¡°The evil that the God King defeated all those years ago - it has begun to rise again. You must understand, what I speak here is blasphemy. And the Inquisition would have us both beheaded come morning if they knew. But I know the old signs. There are three you must look out for.¡±


    His grip on my shoulder tightened until I nodded my head. There was a feverishness about the young Lord that I had never seen before. Torchlight flickered off the whites of his eyes, giving him an ominous cast.


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    ¡°First comes the restlessness of beasts and monsters. We¡¯ve begun to see that over the past six months. Strange unexplainable circumstances. The Goblins venturing this far from their nests. Monsters behaving unlike they have before. If the old texts are anything to go by it¡¯s only the start.¡±


    A prickle of cold unease wound its way down my spine.


    ¡°And the other signs, My Lord?¡±


    Dacon nodded, closing his eyes briefly.


    ¡°The second sign is the madness in the hearts of men. There are signs - jealousy, greed, and hubris among them. Men will betray men, and those whole rules will fall to corruption. And that will herald the third sign.¡±


    I could hear the rasp of my own breath in the cage of my helmet. Loud and metallic.


    Lord Dacon brought his gaze back to mine.


    ¡°The Red Moon will rise again.¡±


    Goosebumps erupted down my back and arms and I gave in involuntary jerk that Dacon didn¡¯t seem to notice.


    The Red Moon.. It was the same thing the God of the Autumn Winds had told me. One of the two pieces of information he claimed that I would want to know.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the empty slot in my inventory where the Book had been, and my new God-granted boon, I might have dismissed the whole experience as a fever dream.


    But now, I didn¡¯t dare. It was all flowing together now, a river punching through the wall of a dam.


    ¡°What role does the Inquisition play in all this?¡± I asked. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine that Xandria is here by chance. She¡¯s been hunting something... something demonic.¡±


    Lord Dacon¡¯s expression shifted and he nodded thoughtfully.


    ¡°My only guess is that she was sent by the Archon. The Inquisition always knows more than it lets on.¡±


    He hesitated then said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to tell you not to trust Xandria. But believe me when I say that her kind is the least dangerous when it comes to the Sanctum itself. There are many types of Inquisitors, and I would counsel you to be wary of the ones who mean to call themselves your friend.¡±


    He gave me a significant look and I furrowed my brow.


    ¡°What-¡° I started, but was interrupted by a boom and a flash of orange light. It was followed moments later by a blue shockwave.


    Lord Dacon¡¯s head jerked around and he swore.


    ¡°The Magus of the city has met resistance,¡± he said. ¡°I did not expect the Orks to have a magic wielder of their own.¡±


    I blanched.


    ¡°There was a Fire Magus,¡± I said. ¡°An Outrider in black armor.¡±


    Dacon¡¯s face paled.


    ¡°Urksol, the Firebrand,¡± he said, his voice hard. ¡°If he has joined forces with the Warlord then this city is in greater danger than I thought. Ser William, I need you to find Lord Blackthorne and the Lord Governor. Pass a message along from me personally. Tell them,¡±


    He leaned close and whispered in my ear. When he drew back, I saw the desperation in his face, and that alone filled me with dread.


    ¡°Promise me this, Blackbriar.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± My voice cracked, and I was already shaking my head.


    Lord Dacon¡¯s eyes softened for only a moment before he drew himself up.


    ¡°I am your Lord and your superior. You will obey my Orders, Ser William, or you will find yourself stripped of your rank.¡±


    ¡°My Lord there has to be¡­.¡±


    ¡°There is not. Find Blackthorne. Deliver my message to him and give him my warning. I can trust only you with this, William. Don¡¯t fail me.¡±


    I clenched my teeth, caught between what I wanted to do, and what I now knew I had to do. This was the life of a soldier - the life I had chosen. And yet, I couldn¡¯t help but feel like the tide of events was sweeping me in a direction I didn¡¯t want to go.


    At last, I nodded and turned to walk away.


    ¡°Will,¡± Draxus tried to catch my shoulder but I shrugged him off.


    ¡°We won¡¯t be staying for long,¡± I told him. ¡°Gather the others, the original squad. I¡¯m going to need them if we¡¯re to make this work.¡±


    Draxus dark eyes searched mine.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. ¡°What did Lord Dacon tell you?¡±


    I shook my head, suddenly feeling the pull of exhaustion.


    ¡°That there is evil in the Kingdom,¡± I said. ¡°And that its roots run deep.¡±


    "Well," said a voice from behind me. I turned to see Kato leaning against a nearby wall, naked sword held loosely in his hand. He had a bandage wrapped around one side of his head.


    "It sounds like shit just got a whole lot more complicated."


    ***


    We crept along the empty alleyways to the city, keeping to the shadows and moving low and fast. There were seventeen of us all told - 15 men, myself and Eric trailing along behind.


    "I feel much like a bandit in the night," whispered Jorgen to my left.


    "Bandits wouldn''t be nearly so noisy," said Draxus.


    "Well it isn''t our usual gig," said Kato, sticking his head out to peer around the corner of a building.


    "What we need is focus. Mother always said to keep your eye on the-"


    "If I have to hear one more fucking one-eye joke," growled Draxus. "I''m inclined to pitch you off the wall into the oncoming Host and be done with it."


    Kato grinned and promptly hiccuped. I narrowed my eyes.


    "Are you drunk?"


    "Not at all Ser Knight," he said hastily. "Just a bit of eh, hair of the dog. Helps with the pain."


    I snorted.


    "The blast of magic came in that direction," I gestured past the row of houses along the second wall.


    "If that''s the case, we might be walking into a breach in Ceris''s defenses."


    Hade grimaced.


    "And you want us to join that battle Ser William? And fight a... a magus?"


    "No."


    Most of the men looked relieved but Draxus narrowed his eyes slightly, dark gaze tracking me as I turned my head away.


    "No, we have one objective. We find Lord Blackthorne and we deliver the message. Anything else can wait."


    "Are we just meant to ignore the citizen''s cries for help if the city is overrun? Just stroll on by and leave them to be raped, pillaged, and slaughtered in the streets."


    There was a steel to Draxus voice that made me grimace.


    "No," I said firmly. "But our objective remains the same. We deliver our message and, if we encounter enemies along the way, we put them down."


    A slow smile spread across Draxus''s face and he nodded, leaning back into the shadows.


    "That I can get behind," he said.


    "Cutting a path to the Spear of the King?" said Kato, gnawing on his lip.


    "Sounds badass."


    "And dangerous," muttered Hade.


    Another burst of firelight lit the air, this one close enough to illuminate us where we hid in the shadows. I blinked the flare from my eyes and sniffed the air.


    "Smoke," I said.


    Kato rolled his eyes.


    "Yeah, there''s a Fire Magus running around the city."


    "No."


    My eyes were drawn above his head to the distant line of buildings and houses on the horizon. I lifted a gauntlet and pointed and the men followed my gaze. S?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fire."


    And even as I watched, Ceris began to burn.

 Fifty: Freedoms Price

    The flames rose high into the air, and with them came the screams.The smoke was thick enough to stick in my lungs as I drew in breaths. Draxus peered around the corner of a building and into the street beyond. The speed with which he retracted his head told me what I needed to know.


    Enemies lurked somewhere beyond and that complicated things. Hade darted from the shadow of a nearby building and came to a stop beside me, eyes scanning for threats.


    ¡°We¡¯re about three blocks away from the main square.¡± Said the soldier, nodding his head in the direction of the road. ¡°We¡¯d be wise to avoid it.¡±


    ¡°Agreed.¡±


    I grimaced as the flare of fire magic lit the air once more.


    ¡°My concern is with those flames. The city has its own wells and cisterns, but I doubt that will be enough to put out these spreading fires.¡±


    ¡°If we find Lord Blackstone then we find the city¡¯s water Magus,¡± said Draxus. I nodded grimly. At Jorgen¡¯s signal, we slunk deeper into the shadows, muting the gleam of sharpened steel under our arms.


    I could see the silhouette of two Ork warriors and moments later their barking guttural tongue became audible. They seemed to be bickering about something and even as I watched one of the Orks cut a hand through the air and hissed something that sounded a lot like a curse.


    The second grunted in response tensing his large shoulders as if he might lunge. Then they both went still.


    I heard the sound of claws on stone. Leather creaked and moments later two mounted outriders came into view.


    The Orks dropped to one knee, horned heads bowed towards the newcomers.


    It didn¡¯t take me long to recognize the Black Armor and flaming lance of the Ork that Dacon had referred to as the Firebrand.


    He sat atop his mount, a giant Sand Drake with scales such a deep red that they appeared almost wine-colored. It jerked its head from side to side, darting out a tongue to taste the air.


    I ducked my head, hoping the gleam of my eyes hadn¡¯t been visible as the creature looked my way. Beside me, Eric seemed to hold his breath. My own heart was pounding in my chest as I waited, tense as a drawn bowstring. If he spotted us now, we¡¯d be lucky to make it out of this alive.


    ¡°Look how they run,¡± growled the Firebrand from atop his mount. I risked a glance up and saw his horned head turned towards the road. I could hear the distant shouts. Somewhere a baby cried, frantically hushed by it¡¯s mother.


    My stomach twisted with a mixture of trepidation and worry.


    One of the Orks lifted his head and said something I couldn¡¯t understand. The Firebrand tilted back his head and laughed, a deep throaty sound that vibrated the air.


    ¡°Just so,¡± he said, amused. ¡°Tell the Kahn that he will have his revenge. But only once their War Chief is broken, and with him any hopes of their resistance.¡±


    Urksol gripped the reigns of his mount and nudged the creature forward. I was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he turned his head back towards the Orks.


    ¡°Kill them,¡± he said. ¡°Leave only a hundred survivors. After all, we will need someone to rebuild the walls.¡±


    He rode away with the other outrider, the Sand Drakes, barbed tails disappearing around the side of a building. The Orks rose from where they had been kneeling in deference. One of them barked something, and I heard the returning howls of at least a dozen others.


    Draxus gripped the hilt of his sword so tightly that the leather of his gloves creaked. Somewhere several houses down there came the slow and steady crash of heavy bodies against locked doors.


    I gritted my teeth, thoughts racing. To delay our mission now was a gamble - but could I really afford to ignore the city''s plight?


    I had my orders. But orders weren¡¯t everything. There came a time when a man had to choose for himself.


    ¡°Ready yourselves,¡± I growled into the darkness. There was the flash of sharpened blades in the night. Every one of my men knew our mission and knew the cost. But I could feel the sense of relief in the air as Draxus held my gaze and nodded.


    ¡°We wait,¡± I said, under my breath. ¡°Wait until they are in the houses.¡±


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    ¡°But the civilians¡­¡± Jorgen trailed off.


    ¡°If we rush them now, we die,¡± I said. ¡°This is all about timing. We wait for them to rush to the houses, then we come for them. Herd and trap them like animals and kill them before too much harm can be done.¡±


    Draxus nodded his ascent, and his eyes went cold. Waiting was harder than I was willing to admit. The sound of Ork laughter, the crash of heavy bodies against stone, and the ever-present wailing of a baby nearby.


    Every sound set my teeth on edge and the agony of waiting, of not knowing, made it that much worse.


    Draxus shifted his weight and peered around the corner. Then he looked at me and nodded.


    ¡°Move out,¡± I hissed and the men obeyed. Hade and I took the lead, slipping into the street and checking both directions before motioning to the men to follow.


    I could hear the sound of screaming, and the crashing of furniture inside. There was no time to delay.


    ¡°Move fast, and once we¡¯re inside bar the doors. I want no survivors to tell the tale.¡±


    Jorgen saluted with the flat of his blade and fell back with the others. We stepped into the cobbled street and saw the damage immediately. A man lay face down in a puddle of dark liquid. A nearby cart had been overturned, its contents scattered. The door to a housing building was hanging off its hinges, wood splinters laying strewn across the stone.


    It creaked on the steady gust of wind.


    We approached with muffled footsteps, swift but cautious. Inside the landing was a flight of steps and a trail of red made by the steady drip of blooded steel.


    I nodded to Jorgen and Eric who moved forward to bar the door. Silently, I ascended the steps with Hade and Draxus in my toe. Wood creaked beneath my boot but I dared not pause.


    There was a scream coming from somewhere above. A woman¡¯s panicked scream. There was no more time for subtly. At the sound of our approach, a door in the hallway burst open An Ork had his Axe halfway raised when my sword took his head off. I was already moving past when the head hit the ground.


    The scene before me was chaos. Two Orks knelt over a woman, binding her with thick rope. A man cowered in the corner, arms over his head.


    There was a baby in a wooden crib near the far wall. It was squalling, and the Ork was closing in, spear raised over his head. The father didn¡¯t even seem to register the danger. Growling I lurched forward, slamming my shield into the Ork and driving him into the wall. He tried to turn, throwing back his head but my helmet took the brunt of the blow.


    I raised my sword up and around the rim of my shield and stabbed like a madman. The Ork grunted with each pierce of the blade, body, and head jerking. Behind I could hear the sounds of carnage as my men slashed and hacked at the other Ork.


    Blood stained the soft carpet, spreading out across the floor. At last, the Ork feeble resistance gave way and the corpse slumped sideways.


    I drew back, letting it crash to the floor with a thud. Something caught my eye and I glanced down to see a small pair of wide eyes peering at me. I knelt to see a child, no older than five or six huddled beneath the frame of the bed.


    I glanced around, and, seeing the Orks were all corpses I held out a hand to her. She shrank back.


    I realized too late that my snake scale gauntlet was covered in blood. I withdrew it hastily and stood.


    The father was still huddled in the corner, his arms wrapped around his knees. He was wearing his night clothes and his eyes were large and terrified. Is set my jaw.


    ¡°Your family is safe,¡± I said over the sound of the babe. ¡°But you need to get your wife an children and get out of here. Retreat to the inner gate and don¡¯t delay.¡± S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The man didn¡¯t even seem to register my words. I turned away, disgusted.


    The woman was on her feet, holding the baby against her chest. Although her face was tear-stained, there was a determination in her eyes.


    ¡°Thank you Ser William,¡± she said. ¡°We have you to thank for our lives.¡±


    I hesitated.


    ¡°You know me?¡± I asked, confused. The woman smiled.


    ¡°Many know of Will of Blackbriar. The first peasant to be named a Knight? It is a story that children will be told for the next hundred years.¡±


    I felt my ears redden and turned away. Would she feel the same if she knew how close I had come to abandoning the outer city to it¡¯s fate?


    ¡°You should flee,¡± I said. ¡°The inner gate is the safest place for you, though I cannot guarantee your safety."


    The woman nodded and knelt by the bed. She held out her hand and hesitantly, the little girl took it. She crawled out from beneath the bed and her mother shielded her eyes from the corpses.


    "Markus," said the woman, her voice hesitant. The man glanced around, blinking.


    "Is it over?" he asked, voice barely more than a croak. The woman shook her head.


    "Not yet. We have to run, Markus. We can''t stay here they''ll find us. Ser Willaim says we must-"


    "Ser William?" the man looked around and when his eyes landed on me his face crinkled in disgust.


    "He and the Kadian Army were supposed to protect us. "And now what? We lose our homes all because you and your soldiers can''t do their jobs? Some good you are."


    He tried to spit on the wood, but the spittle only dribbled down his chin, soaking his nightshirt.


    The woman''s face paled as Draxus stepped around me. He towered over the man, glaring down at him as if he were an insect.


    "And your job," he growled. "Was to protect your family. And yet here you sit cowered in the corner like a frightened rabbit while your wife at least fights for her life. What are you then, if not a worm?"


    The man''s face twisted and I saw a flicker of ugly anger. It disappeared as quickly as it had come. Grudgingly the man lowered his eyes and Draxus nodded slowly.


    "Please, forgive my husband," said the woman, holding out a hand to him. "He is frightened and looking for someone to blame."


    "Do not speak for me woman," snapped the man. He rose from the floor and dusted himself off, still not looking at Draxus. The tall warrior stood by, arms folded across his chest.


    "Markus," said the woman slowly. "I only meant-"


    The man brushed by Draxus, shooting me an angry look before snatching a satchel off the ground. He began stuffing things into it.


    "We''ll do as you advise," he said grudgingly. I nodded and turned as Hade burst into the doorway. His spear was bloodied.


    "The building is clear, Ser William." said the soldier, still panting from exertion.


    "What are your orders?"


    I sucked in a breath and then nodded.


    "Evacuate the people," I said. "Collect anyone you can. We need to get them to the inner walls, and soon. Lord Blackthorne will be where the fighting is thickest. I expect we''ll meet him soon enough, where we''re headed."

 Fifty One: The Fall of Ceris

    When we rounded the corner of the main road, the gate came into view. It was lowering, the teeth of the portcullis nearly halfway to the ground. We would never make it, not even if we ran.


    A cry of anger and desperation tore from my throat.


    ¡°Wait!¡± I shouted, desperate to be heard. ¡°Hold the gate. There are people here!¡±


    The guards atop the inner wall hesitated. I could see their pale faces from the flicker of growing firelight. There is fear In many of them and even hesitation. I can use that. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I am Ser William, Blackbriar,¡± I said, projecting my voice to the top of the wall. Behind me, my men, and the crowd of townsfolk we¡¯ve amassed on our flight through the city stand huddled together. Markus¡¯s wife stands nearby, rocking her child against her.


    ¡°They¡¯ll let us in,¡± she whispers. ¡°They have to let us in.¡±


    ¡°Ser William!¡± calls a soldier from atop the battlements. His shadow shifts and I see a veteran soldier wearing the pins and livery of a Captain. A Captain of the Guard?


    ¡°Captain,¡± I say, relieved. ¡°The City wall has been breached. Is Lord Blackthorne with you? I have come to deliver these people to the safety of the inner wall. Efforts may still be made to reclaim the walls, but-¡°


    ¡°I must stop you there,¡± called the man from above. He shifted and I saw the shadow of something in his eyes¡­ a sort of calculated coldness.


    ¡°I have my orders, Ser William.¡± He said. ¡°I am not to open the gate for anyone, man woman, or child. I have a responsibility to those who live in the inner city and my orders are clear. The gate remains closed.¡±


    There was a silence, broken only by the dismayed whispering of those around me.


    I gritted my teeth, anger flaring as I fought to suppress my own rising dread.


    ¡°And who would give such orders?¡± I asked, already knowing the answer.


    ¡°The Lord Governor himself.¡±


    There was no apology in the Captain''s voice, no note of regret. He stood tall, hands clasped behind his back as he delivered a death sentence to half of the city he had once called home.


    I glanced out across the street, seeing the flare of firelight in the distance. The shapes of people and families running for the perceived safety of the inner gate.


    ¡°Captain,¡± I said, hearing the desperation in my own voice and hating it. ¡°These are the people of Ceris. My men and I can assure you that no enemies breach the gate. You spoke of duty, but do you not have a duty to the citizens trying to seek shelter within your walls? If nothing else have mercy on them.¡±


    The Captain only shook his head.


    ¡°I have my orders, Blackbriar. I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯ll have to find another way.¡±


    ¡°We have orders from Lord Dacon,¡± growled Draxus, stepping up beside me. ¡°Where is Lord Blackthorne? Surely he would not sanction the actions that condemn hundreds to a meaningless death?¡±


    ¡°Lord Blackthorne,¡± the soldier sneered. ¡°Is not in command here. Now take your leave soldier, and perform your duty as you see fit. I will do the same.¡±


    He turned and disappeared beyond the wall. No amount of shouting, cursing, or threats made him return, though I tried. At last, I turned away, half-blinded by rage. Draxus shook his head, eyes wide with disbelief.


    ¡°Who would order this¡­¡± he whispered. ¡°Who would¡­¡±


    I could see his own disbelief reflected in the faces of the townsfolk.


    ¡°What are we to do?¡± asked an Elderly man. He clutched the hand of an old woman, and the two of them drew closer together.


    ¡°Our homes have been burned, our goods taken. There is nowhere to go.¡±


    I saw the panic begin to manifest and knew that the mood of the growing crowd was now balanced on a knife''s edge. They were betrayed by the man they had assumed would protect them in times of war. All for the illusion of his own safety.


    Why had we come to Ceris? As fodder to stand between a fat nobleman and his own guilded palace. I blinked shaking away the rage and focused. Right now, I have only two objectives. To find Blackthorne and deliver these people to safety by any means necessary.


    ¡°Move out,¡± I said to my men and the townsfolk. There was a ripple of uncertainty. ¡°Where will we go?¡± asked a man, I recognized as Markus. ¡°You want us to go back into a city teeming with bloodthirsty Orks? We¡¯ll be slaughtered.¡±


    I turned on him.


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    ¡°You are free to do as you wish. If you want to die on the blade of an Ork, be my guest. To everyone else, I offer the only thing I can. An escort to the outer city and a chance, however slim, of escape. Stay with us, and you might have a choice at survival.¡±


    Markus gritted his teeth but looked away. His wife smiled at me and nodded.


    ¡°We thank you, Ser William.¡± She said. ¡°For your bravery and your commitment to us. It¡¯s more than can be said of our own Lord.¡±


    She surprised me by turning and spitting towards the gate. Several of the townsfolk mimicked her action, turning hateful glares at the men along the walls.


    ¡°This won¡¯t stand,¡± I said. ¡°He¡¯ll be brought to justice.¡±


    The woman smiled again, but the doubt in her eyes was easy to discern. Like many, she knew that the Noblemen of Kadia played by different rules than the rest of us. He would likely get no more than a slap on the wrist for his actions today, and never mind the pain and deaths it caused.


    I motioned to my soldiers and we took up a loose formation around the refugees. At my orders, we began to move as quickly as we could. Through houses, avoiding main streets, and pausing to allow any struggles to catch up with the main group.


    It was slow going and every wasted second made my palms slick with sweat. Twice a nearby explosion of flame made me jerk, expecting at any moment to be facing down the Firebrand himself.


    There were bodies in the streets.


    Men and women. Even a few children, the sight of which made my stomach drop. None of them should have died. The city should have been evacuated, and the people given a chance to migrate to safety deeper with Kadian borders.


    My own thoughts were reflected in the faces of the men around me. In them, I saw sorrow, pain, and most notable of all - anger.


    I made my decision then, as we climbed through an alleyway littered with bodies and buzzing flies.


    For better or worse I had been granted power, chosen as a gifted, and marked as a man of legend. And I intended to use it.


    ***


    By the time we reached the central building, my men were exhausted. We had encountered several groups of roaming Orks, one of which had been led by an Ork Raider Boss that had nearly been the death of Draxus.


    I pounded on the heavy wooden door and called out, praying I¡¯d be heard.


    At the sound of my name, there was a fumbling inside, and the screeching of something heavy across floorboards.


    Then the wooden crossbeam was removed and the door swung open.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± Ser Connel looked relieved and he swung the door wider, he and his men stepping back to allow the refugees inside.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a sight,¡± he said, tiredly. ¡°The men and I were preparing for another fight. What¡¯s¡­¡±


    He trailed off when he saw my expression.


    ¡°Where is Lord Blackthorne?¡± I asked. Ser Connel hesitated then jerked his head towards the back room.


    ¡°He¡¯s in there.¡±


    I stepped past him and into the main room. Soldiers lined the walls, some leaning against it, others slumped on the floor.


    There was an air of quiet exhaustion to them - an atmosphere born of men who believed that they would die before the night was out.


    The room beyond had been a sitting room once. The furniture had been moved, shoved against the far wall. On a long table lay Lord Blackthorne. Three healers in veils crowded around him, and among them, I saw a flash of blue eyes.


    "Hand me the tongs," said Joanna, her voice calm but stern. One of the other healers produced a pair of small metal tongs and passed them to her. Joanna leaned down and I saw the damage for myself.


    Lord Blackthorne had been struck by the shaft of a spear. The plate of his armor had been melted around the shaft, fused in place. And, I realized as Joana gripped a piece and peeled it away with a squelch, fused to skin.


    Blackthorne bit down on a leather strap, breathing hard through his nose. Blood trickled down the table and onto the floor with a steady drip drip drip.


    "You must remain still my lord," said Joanna as she held a hand over the Lord''s wounds. Soft white light glowed light the room. I shut my eyes against it, and when I opened them again it had faded.


    Lord Blackthorne''s chest rose and fell. His bleeding had stopped, and even as I watched new pink skin began to sprout from the sight of the burn.


    Blackthorne''s breathing slowed. He spat out the leather strip and rose to a sitting position.


    Joanna turned and her eyes found mine. Beneath her veil, her mouth curved at the corner.


    "Ser William," she said. "It is good to see you alive."


    At the sound of my name Lord Blackthorne turned his head. There were dark circles under his eyes. He slid to the edge of the table, boots resting on the ground.


    "Thank you," he said to Joanna. "I feel myself again. At least for now."


    Joanna huffed a laugh, veil fluttering.


    "If you want my opinion my Lord, you should stay and rest. You were halfway to death less than an hour ago, and you''re already approaching mana exhaustion. If you press yourself any further...."


    "I''m well aware."


    Lord Blackthorne stood with a grimace and one of his Knights lurched forward to support him. Blackthorne waved a hand at him.


    "William," he grunted. "I must speak with him alone."


    Joanna hesitated before sighing and gesturing to the other healers.


    "Come," she said. "There are many other injured and we have our work cut out for us."


    She paused before me, her ocean eyes sparkling with something fierce. There was a silence between us, one that I longed to break - though I didn''t know how.


    "I am glad you are well, Will of Blackbriar," she said at last. Then she strode from the room, followed by the other healers.


    Lord Blackthorne watched her go, his expression caught between weary and amused.


    "She is fond of you," he said thoughtfully. "More so than I would have guessed."


    Heat flooded my cheeks and I glanced away.


    "Is that such a bad thing?"


    Lord Blackthorne considered this, teeth worrying at his lip. Then he shrugged.


    "It is... complicated. And for more reasons than one. There are things about Joanna that you do not yet know." At my expression, he straightened and ran a hand across his face.


    "There is much you don''t know," he said. There was regret in his voice. Regret and the sort of weariness only a man who has seen countless battles might experience.


    "That is my fault. There were things I didn''t understand... things I should have shared with you. Only, I couldn''t be sure back then."


    "Speak plainly my Lord," I said, my voice devoid of the patience I once felt.


    "Or speak not at all."


    Blackthorne arched an eyebrow, but his expression held more approval than irritation. He nodded and reached for a tunic that was folded on the table beside him.


    "You are owed that much, and more," he admitted, pulling the shirt over his head.


    He winced as cloth scraped his wounds.


    "So I will do as you request, Blackbriar. I will tell you the story of how the God King came to be. And when I am done, when your curiosity is sated, then I have only one request of you."


    I lifted my chin.


    "And what might that be, Lord?"


    Blackthorne smiled grimly.


    "That you join me in the hunt.¡±

 Fifty Two: The Man Who Became God

    When the room had emptied and the door shut behind us, I gave Lord Blackthorne the message I had been bidden to carry. The Lord¡¯s brows drew together, his expression unreadable as he glanced at me. Then he sighed.


    ¡°William,¡± he said. ¡°I have an obligation to you now to warn you that the knowledge I¡¯m about to impart to you is forbidden, even to many in the Inquisition. Lord Dacon belives, as do I, that you are trustworthy enough to know the truth.¡±


    He held my gaze.


    ¡°But I cannot make the decision for you. If you so choose, you can walk out of that door and remain a Knight in service of the realm. But if you stay, then you become a part of this. What say you?¡±


    I lifted my chin. There was no other option for me. Living in ignorance might be enough for some, but If I were to send my men to fight an die for a cause, then I owed it to them to understand that cause.


    ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± I said.


    Blackthorne nodded his approval. Moments later, he began to speak. His tone was low and urgent, a man reciting a grudging truth.


    ¡°Of his true origins we can only ever speculate,¡± Blackthorne said. He laced his gambeson at his waist, wincing when the fabric pulled over his still-healing wound.


    ¡°But what we know from the scriptures and from the history texts, is that he first arrived in Kadia sometime after its founding. Back when the land was split into duchies, and noblemen ruled fiefdoms like their own kingdoms.¡±


    He opened his inventory and pulled out a silver flask. He raised it to his lips and took a long pull. Then he handed it to me and I did the same. The sharp sting of liquor burned my throat on the way down, filling me with a rush of warmth.


    I handed the flask back and Lord Blackthorne set it on the table, his hands braced on either side.


    ¡°I will spare you the tedious details. Only know that for humanity, this was a time of strife. Monsters roamed the lands freely, killing and eating men they encountered. The only safe places for humanity were Bastion cities, of which Ceris is one.¡±


    ¡°Bastion cities?¡± I asked as he handed me the flask again. ¡°Is that why the walls are so high?¡±


    Blackthorne nodded.


    ¡°Ceris is old, and it is one of five such cities within Kadia. When the God-King first appeared, and he went by the name Enais at the time, he was young. The texts claim that he had a presence even then - a sort of way about him that men respected and women admired. Enais was a man of the people. When he saw someone in need, he would often lend his aid.¡±


    He took a swig from his flask and shook his head.


    ¡°He was charismatic, arrogant, and somewhat brash. It wasn¡¯t long before the local Lord began to notice his presence and invited him into his household. Enais was, if nothing else, a cunning man. He knew gaining the favor of those in power would grant him some of his own. And so he learned the game of court. He watched, waited, and listened. He began to forge alliances and in time, he earned the right to join his Lord¡¯s company as a man at arms.¡±


    I arched a brow in disbelief.


    ¡°The God King was a soldier, Lord?¡±


    Lord Blackthorne shrugged.


    ¡°If the histories are to be believed then he served many roles over many lifetimes. But the strangest thing about Enais, at least back then, was the fact that he never seemed to age. That, and he was strong - unnaturally so. It became clear on the battlefield that Enais was a soldier of exceptional skill. One not only gifted but with a natural affinity for Ether magic.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s an Ethermancer¡­¡± I muttered. ¡°A Magus with power over light and life itself? Forgive me Lord, but Isn¡¯t that something the academies claim isn¡¯t possible?¡±


    ¡°As far as we know, it isn¡¯t.¡± Said Lord Blackthorne. ¡°At least, not for a human.¡±


    This gave me pause. I watched Lord Blackthorne¡¯s face in the half-light and knew without the shadow of a doubt that he was serious. I licked my lips.


    ¡°You think the God King isn¡¯t human?¡± I asked carefully.


    Blackthorne smiled, but it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes.


    ¡°Tonight, Ser Willaim, we are heretics. Know that if what was said were to leave this room, we would both burn on the divine pyres, and the Inquisition would dance on our graves.¡±


    He took one last swig from his flask and placed it back in his inventory.


    ¡°What Enais is, I couldn¡¯t tell you. But he is certainly not human - at least not anymore. It was a fact the Nobility of Kadia would come to realize quite late.¡±


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    Lord Blackthorne laced his vambraces, eyes distant. I waited for him to go on.


    ¡°You have not met him, not yet. So I will tell you. Enais¡¯s power lies not only in his martial and magical affinity - but in his ability to influence others. He is persuasive and cunning, and if you ever find yourself in his presence you would do well to guard your mind like I have taught you.¡±


    My eyes widened.


    ¡°Is he a Mind Mage, Lord?¡±


    Lord Blackthorne shook his head.


    ¡°No, he is not, and for that, we should all be grateful. Being in the presence of the God King has an effect on most mortal men. It is easy to lose your wits and give in to the compulsion to obey him. It was this power more than anything else that gained him the influence he needed to overthrow the Lord he served, and eventually, turn his gaze to the Kingdom itself. No one had the power to oppose him back then. And after a bloody war that lasted no more than a few years, Enais took the Kadian throne and declared himself King.¡±


    Blackthorne paused when a knock came on the heavy door and a messenger hurried in with a piece of parchment. He read the note, brows furrowing. Then nodded.


    He muttered something I didn¡¯t catch to the messenger who bowed and hurried out of the room. When the door shut behind him Lord Blackthorne turned back to me.


    ¡°Where was I? Yes, Enais took the throne and declared himself King. At first, the Nobles who had supported him were pleased. At least they were right up to the point when Enais declared his own divine right to rule - and proposed the nobility served him not as a King, but a God.¡±


    I arched a brow.


    ¡°That seems.. Bold.¡±


    Blackthorne snorted.


    ¡°It was unheard of. I firmly believe that if the signs hadn¡¯t appeared then and there, Enais would have had to put down a rebellion himself then and there. But the signs of three had begun to appear, and for humanity that spelled disaster. You are familiar I¡¯m sure. Most hear the stories as children.¡±


    ¡°My father told me many stories by the hearth,¡± I lied and the Lord merely nodded.


    ¡°Many believed the stories were nothing more than myth. Or perhaps they did until they began to appear in earnest. The restlessness of beasts has been at the heart of this war since it began, six months ago. Since then, the madness has begun to fester. I sensed it when we first entered Ceris,¡±


    His eyes met mine and held them.


    ¡°And I believe you did too.¡±


    I swallowed, remembering the feeling on uncertainty and unease I¡¯d had when we first entered the southern city. Perhaps in a way, I had known. Slowly I nodded and Blackthorne turned away to lift his greatsword from where it rested, leaning against the wall. Dawnbringer was as magnificent as ever, gleaming in the candlelight.


    Blackthorne strapped the sword to his back, leather sliding over plate. s?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The God King alone has a power even the Demon Lords of the Abyss fear. His Ethermancy, his eternal light, is their bane. When the Red Moon appeared in the sky, and the Demons began to pour from hell itself, it was he and he alone who saved humanity. That is why he is necessary, even now. The threat of old Demonic invasion keeps us all subservient to him - for he is the only thing that stands between us and that infernal darkness.¡±


    I blinked, as thoughts slowly began to come together. A realization struck me and I shook my head, wondering how I hadn¡¯t seen it before.


    ¡°You hate him,¡± I said.


    Blakcthornes shoulders stiffened. His eyes grew hot with anger.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, his voice a boom that made the door rattle in its frame. I took an involuntary step backwards and he blinked as if he realized what he had done. His shoulders sagged.


    ¡°No,¡± he said, in a softer tone. ¡°I have never loved Enais as some do or worshiped him as my God. But I do respect him - at least in part.¡±


    ¡°And his son?¡± It was a risk to ask the question, especially after I had seen Blackthorne''s reaction to my words. But I needed to know, and I knew if I didn¡¯t ask now I may never get the chance.


    Lord Blackthorne''s fists clenched so hard the metal of his gauntlets creaked. He drew in a breath and held it, a muscle ticking in his jaw. Then at last he blew it out and lowered his head.


    ¡°Should you ever have the misfortune of meeting the Crowned Prince of Kadia, then I pity you. Since he was a boy he has reveled in hurting others - like a child pulling the wings of a butterfly. He has the arrogance of his father, but none of the grace or diplomacy. He seeks only to manipulate others for his own sick amusement. If you ever find yourself caught in that trap, I recommend you take your own life.¡±


    I opened my mouth in surprise but found I wasn¡¯t quite sure what to say. Blackthorne closed his eyes for a brief moment and exhaled again.


    ¡°My fianc¨¦e was one such unfortunate. Xandria was different at the time, you see. Nothing like the creature she has become. But years of manipulation, torture, and misplaced affections have made her his tool.¡±


    He shook his head.


    ¡°I wish to speak of it no more. The Kahn has a weakness, one born more of culture than anything else. He has a need to be seen as strong, and thus he joins his armies on the battlefield. I know the feeling well,¡± his lips curved upwards.


    ¡°As I too lead from the front. Urksol is dangerous, and what¡¯s more, he is experienced as both a Magus and a warrior. Even now I have men tracking his movements through the city. I wish to lure him deeper into the town center, and from there, launch our attack.¡±


    ¡°You believe we can bring him down, My Lord?¡± I asked him, eyebrow raised.


    Blackthorne shook his head.


    ¡°Even if I was at full health and rested the task would be difficult. No, what I aim to do is weaken him. The Kahn rules on the illusion of power, and others follow out of fear. I mean to take that fear from him.¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°Break the illusion and the other Orks will circle like sharks in bloody water.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne smiled, white teeth flashing.


    ¡°That is the goal.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡± I asked him. ¡°My Lord, you say you were aware of the rot within the city when we first arrived. But I wonder if you know how deep it goes.¡±


    I recounted the events from the sewer, and what the others and I had found. The presence of the Skinwalker had been strange enough but what we had discovered within that strange chamber had been enough to make me shiver at the memory.


    Lord Blackthorne''s lips pressed together, his throat bobbing once.


    "Then the rot runs deeper than I thought," he said. "I knew we had a mole in the city but I never imagined that Ceris would house some sort of Sect. Make no mistake, the worship of the Dark Old ones is a rare practice. But where it persists, darkness always festers."


    "So," I said grimly. "We hunt the Firebrand. And then?"


    Blackthorne clapped me on the shoulder and I saw something in his gaze I hadn''t seen before. A sort of fondness - a brotherly affection. Though whether it was aimed at me or his old friend I couldn''t be sure.


    "Then," said Blackthorne. "We pay a visit to our old friend the Lord Governor."

 Fifty Three: Death Comes

    Class: SoldierRank: Knight, 3rd Auxiliary


    Level: 20


    Trait: Swordsmanship


    Level: Silver


    Trait: Heavy Armor


    Level: Bronze


    Strength: 30%


    Vitality: 26%


    Damage: 29%


    Endurance: 26%


    Agility: 27%


    I reviewed my stat window as I tightened the straps of my shield and readied myself for the battle to come. My sword gripped loosely in my gauntlet, felt lighter with my additional boost in strength.


    I would need it before the night was out. The smoke was as thick as the glow of flames rising all around us. The fire was a beast, devouring buildings, consuming bodies, and filling the city with the scent of burning flesh.


    Around me, my brothers ready themselves for war. Draxus tilted his head, looking up to the sky and the blackness beyond.


    ¡°The night¡¯s gone on too long,¡± he said, voice rough from shouting and smoke.


    I leaned against the wall beside the high window, watching the shadows move in the streets beyond.


    ¡°It¡¯s almost morning.¡±


    ¡°And whether we¡¯ll live to see it is a fucking gamble.¡± Kato strode into the room, his sword on his hip and a new helmet jammed onto his head. It was several sizes too large and shifted as he moved. No doubt it had been scavenged from the dead.


    ¡°Any sign of movement?¡±


    I shook my head and Kato swore. We had been posted up in this building for an hour, and the men started getting restless. The tension in the air was thick and judging by the way that Draxus kept glancing at me he felt it too.


    ¡°Everything hinges on this plan working,¡± he said, jaw clenched. ¡°We can¡¯t afford any mistakes or men will die.¡±


    I grimaced as I thought of the soldiers on the wall, of Lord Dacon and his message.


    ¡°Men have already died,¡± I said. ¡°And more will follow if we don¡¯t end this.¡±


    Draxus only grunted. For a moment it was silent, the only sound the distant crackle of smoke and whistle of wind through the timbers of the old abandoned house.


    ¡°What will you do after all this?¡±


    The question caught me off guard and I turned to look at my friend. He leaned against the wall, arms folded across armor.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Draxus tilted his head.


    ¡°You¡¯re a Knight and a gifted one,¡± he said. ¡°If you play your cards right then within a year or less you could become landed, maybe even titled. You collect and sell enough loot and monster materials, and you might set yourself up for a comfortable life away from all this.¡±


    His tone was wistful. I turned back to the window, pondering.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted, and it was true. I hadn¡¯t taken the time to consider a life outside of the Kadian Army. Since I had first arrived in this world, surviving had been my only concern. I had moved from goal to goal, guided by circumstance, and of course, by the quests in my notification window.


    ¡°What about you? If we survive our service in the Army what do you think you¡¯d do? Where would you go?¡±


    Draxus fiddled with the hilt of his sword, a smile on his lips.


    ¡°I¡¯d settle down,¡± he said. ¡°Find a nice woman to marry, maybe buy a farm. I¡¯d live in some far-off place where the monster count is low and the folks are friendly. And I¡¯d raise a family.¡±


    I arched an eyebrow at him.


    ¡°You have no designs to reclaim your title or lands?¡±


    Draxus¡¯s lips thinned.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ complicated.¡±


    A candle flame sputtered and we both glanced at it. Draxus searched for the words. At last, he said.


    ¡°There was a time in my life when I would have made enemies with the bastards that killed my parents and took my home. Traitors, they called my mother. But I knew it was all lies.¡±


    A muscle ticked in his jaw.


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    ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t bring that pain¡­. That burden on my family. No, what¡¯s done is done. It¡¯s better to let it go than allow the world to fester and turn.¡±


    There was wisdom in his answer, I supposed. But somehow it felt.. Unsatisfying. As if it was something left unresolved. I thought about the Inquisition, of the crowned prince and the God King himself.


    Unbidden the sight of bodies hanging from a tree flashed in my mind and I blinked hard, trying to clear my head.


    If I survived this war and earned myself land and wealth would I walk away from this conflict? Could I do as Draxus had done and turn the other cheek? Somehow I doubted it.


    I opened my mouth to say as much but a flicker of movement on the opposite rough caught my eye. In the gloom, I could make one one of my archers crouched on a nearby rooftop. As I looked he caught my eye and pointed down the road.


    The sound in the city had shifted. I could hear the clank of armor, the grunt of the Ork language faint but growing. The time had come.


    I held out a hand to my men, signaling silence. The house Blackthorne archers began to shift on the roof, crouching on the eves and reading quivers of arrows. Each movement was slow and measured.


    Draxus shifted minutely, hand dropping to his blade. Any moment now our enemies would come into sight. I could see their swaying shadows darting across buildings. There must have been twenty of them, maybe more.


    The archers strung their bows. Their sergeant met my gaze, hand raised and ready to give the signal. I waited.


    Orks came into view. Dozens of them, horned heads casting evil shadows on the stone walls all around. They were bloodied, and one of them was laughing. In his hands, he held something large and round. He tossed it to one of his companions, who caught it with a grunting laugh.


    It was a human head.


    Bowstrings creaked as arrows were drawn to ears. The sergeant awaited my signal, my chest rising and falling.


    I waited until the Orks had passed beneath us. Waited until they spotted the bodies in the ground all around them. Watched as their expressions changed from amusement to recognition. For it was not human bodies that lined the streets, but Orks.


    ¡°Fire.¡±


    I said the word so calmly that the archer sergeant almost didn¡¯t seem to register at first. Then he blinked and dropped his arm. Bowstrings twanged in the night.


    Arrows glinted, cutting through the air as they arced down towards my enemies. The sharpened points buried themselves in the chinks of armor, in exposed throats, eyes, and arms.


    I turned away from the window and signaled to my war party. We tromped down the steps of the building, all subtly abandoned. Heavy boots crashed on wood, armor clanked and jingled. At the bottom of the steps, Hade wrenched open the door.


    My war party steamed out into the night like a flood through a dam. The night air was full of the howls and snarls of injured Orks. The first volley of arrows had sowed the seeds of confusion.


    The Orks had begun to rally, their crude shields raised as they scanned the rooftops. Their rear flank never saw us coming. As an Ork archer fumbled with a black bow Jorgen caught him through the stomach with a well-placed spear thrust.


    Our momentum carried us past and into the fray. I took a swing at an Orks unprotected leg, crunching his nose into my shield as I went by. A yellow tooth skittered along the stone, coming to a stop near the boot of one of my soldiers.


    It was crushed moments later in the trample. The Orks had begun to rally now, trying to form a ragged line to face us. But as they did so, the archers rained arrows from above. Orks howled and fell to the stone.


    Their corpses joined those of their brethren on the ground by my boots. The streets ran red with the blood of Orks, and I was at the heart of it. I caught an axeblade on the lip of my shield and thrust forward and up.


    My blade pierced the meat of the Orks arm, and with a growl, he dropped his blade. Draxus took his head off moments later.


    It was a slaughter.


    Pressed from both sides the Orks did the only thing they could. They attempted to retreat, huddled together in packs as they pressed against the walls of the buildings. A few broke from formation to rattle at the barred doors.


    It was useless. There was no way out, I had made sure of that. Arrows took the stranglers down. The Orks kept their mishappen shields raised in a ragged shield wall. Among them was the Ork I had seen only moments ago laughing as he played with a human head.


    He was a brute of an Ork, tall, broad-shouldered, and mean. One of his black horns had been sheered off, leaving nothing but a few inches of stump on one side.


    My men advanced with me, weapons raised and faces grim. This was the business of war, and there would be nothing but blood before the night was out.


    The skirmish didn''t last long. Pressed against the walls of the street with nowhere to go, the remaining Orks made their useless stand. They died badly, many wounded multiple times before they eventually collapsed and were set upon by my men.


    Only one horn remained, his yellow teeth bared in a rictus of defiance. He stumbled as Hade''s spear caught him just above the knee. A blow from my shield was enough to send him slamming into the street.


    His sword skittered across the cobbled stone. He tried to reach for it but I planted my boot on his wrist, grinding it into stone.


    The Ork turned to look at me, and in his eyes, I saw real fear. He raised a hand towards me.


    "Wait," he said, his speech halting an unfamiliar. "I can give you-"


    My blade passed through his mouth and he gurgled blood as it punched out the other end. I leaned on the hilt, holding his gaze as he died. I would be the last thing he saw.


    Nearby, the human head of a young soldier lay fetched up against the wall. The hair was plastered to the forehead with blood and grit.


    "You''ve been avenged," I told him, as I crouched down. I reached out and gently closed his eyes. He had been somebody''s son. Somebody''s father, maybe. A husband, a soldier, and who knew what else.


    That was the thing about war, it was indiscriminate. Sometimes it was calculated. Sometimes it was random. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I wiped my blade on the tunic of an Ork before sheathing it again. My men walked through the corpses of Orks, putting down the ones who had managed to survive with a squeal of blades.


    One tried to crawl away but he was dragged back, his throat slit as he was thrown on the pile of bodies.


    I turned away at the sound of boots on stone, raising my shield reflexively. It was only Eric, returning from his post at the end of the street.


    "Ser William," he said, coming to a stop before me. His chest was rising and falling rapidly, eyes lit with fevered light.


    "The Outriders are moving Ser," he said. "The Firebrand comes."


    Equal parts thrill and trepidation gripped me. I met Draxus''s gaze and nodded.


    "It''s out of our hands now," I said, turning back to face the empty road. The Orange glow of fire grew ever brighter as our doom approached. Kato whipped his blade through the air, spraying an arc of blood.


    "Just know that if we die here Will, I''ll fucking kill you."

 Fifty Four: The Firebrand

    Boots pounded against the cobblestone and echoed off the surrounding houses and into the night. My heart was hammering. I felt the burn of each breath in my lungs. We were out of time.


    We sprinted towards the end of the street and I wondered if we¡¯d make it. Would we die this way with our backs to the enemy as we fled?


    Draxus turned his head towards me, and I could see the haunted look in his eye.


    ¡°Keep moving!¡± I shouted over the noise.


    Jorgen stumbled and I caught him under the arm. A shadow flitted across the ground before us. That was all the warning I had. I shouted to Draxus, voice an incoherent shout of alarm before the Sand Drake rounded the corner before us.


    Draxus skidded to a halt, boots spraying stone dust as he tried to arrest his momentum. High above him, the Sand Drake craned it¡¯s head back. It¡¯s a golden snake-like eye glimmering with triumph.


    A black tongue lulled over sharp bloody teeth.


    ¡°Scatter!¡± I shouted to my men. They were scrambling now, struggling to regroup as I whipped past. The Sand Drakes head descended like a striking serpent. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    I slammed into Draxus with enough force to send us both sliding across the stone. I was rising to my knees before my body could register the shock.


    The Sand Drake made a sound of frustration as the outrider on its back yanked on the Reigns. Draxus rose to his feet, holding out an arm to me as his chest rose and fell.


    ¡°You feast bastard,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t do that shit again.¡±


    ¡°You can bitch later,¡± I told him. ¡°Now, we run.¡±


    Hade and the others had already turned back the way we had come.


    One of my archers shot an arrow at the Outrider, but the Ork merely leaned sideways, as the shaft whipped past his head.


    These outriders were different than the ones we had encountered on the wall. Like their master, they were heavily armored, and their mounts were large and fully mature.


    Their long-bladed lances were curved with a wicked point at the end that served only one purpose.


    To gut a man.


    ¡°Move!¡± I shouted. ¡°Back the way we came!¡±


    Behind us, the outrider barked something and the Sand Drake lurched forward like a cat after prey. We sprinted back the way we came. Hade shouted something and I turned to see one of the soldiers had slid in a patch of blood.


    He went down on hands and knees, scrambling. He managed to rise to his feet moments before the jaws closed over him.


    The Sand Drake shook its head, armor rattling in its blood teeth. I heard the soldier''s bones snap, heard the resulting high-pitched scream of agonized terror.


    Then the wet tearing of flesh.


    It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this. Damn it, where the hell was Blackthorne? Where were the rest of our allies?


    Then I saw the thing that would make my heart drop. A giant Sand Drake with scales the color of wine was clambering over the charred wreckage of a building ahead.


    Claws splintered wood as it came for us, half crawl half lope. On its back was the unmistakable figure forged in fire and blood.


    The Kahn who had united the clans. The Ork who had nearly defeated Lord Blackthorne in battle. Urksol, the Firebrand sat in his saddle, one armored gauntlet draped over the horn.


    He tilted his horned head to the side as my men and I skidded to a halt for the second time. I swore, glancing over my shoulder to see the other outrider closing in from behind.


    We were trapped between the jaws of two giant beasts, and I was to blame.


    20 Minutes Earlier¡­


    ¡°I hope you know what you¡¯re doing,¡± grumbled Kato as I slid the sewer cover back into place. Within, the refugees are now huddled below with enough torches and supplies to last them the night.


    Initially, Draxus had opposed the idea, but as the situation in the city grew more desperate, he reluctantly agreed to the necessity. With the skinwalker that haunted the catacombs gone, the sewer was a much safer place to be than the city''s surface.


    Ceris had become a war zone.


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    I wiped the sweat from my brow, only succeeding in smearing Ork''s blood across my face.


    I lifted my helmet back on and rose.


    ¡°He¡¯ll come,¡± I said. ¡°Lord Blackthorne himself sent word. He has to come.¡±


    It had been a mantra for the past half an hour, and even now I had my doubts.


    When the siege began the Lord Governor and his court had retreated behind the second wall, all while his allies manned the battlements and fought the war for him.


    There had been no word, no messengers or aid. The Lord Governor and his personal guard remained aloof from the chaos of the main city.


    And now we were hanging our hopes on the goodwill of his Magus. I gripped the hilt of my sword, hand damp with sweat.


    There were too many variables, and I didn¡¯t like it.


    One of the archers on the roof, a scout I had placed only minutes earlier, whistled softly. I glanced up, as Did Draxus, Kato, and several others.


    ¡°Steady,¡± I said, as Draxus reached for his blade. ¡°Let¡¯s hear him out.¡±


    Out of the smoke came a shadow, and that shadow materialized into the shape of a man.


    My own grip on my sword relaxed a bit as I recognized the robes of a true academy-trained Magus.


    So he had come after all.


    The robed figure came to a stop, smoke swirling around him. He was short, with dark skin and clear blue eyes. Those eyes darted between me and my men, careful and calculating.


    ¡°I will speak to the Knight Ser William and no other,¡± the Magus declared. His voice was deep and heavily accented.


    I stepped forward, clapping Draxus on the shoulder as I passed. My men watched wearily, ready for any threat.


    ¡°I am he,¡± I said.


    The Magus took me in, eyes snagging on my worn boots before rising back to my face.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said. ¡°The peasant made Knight. So it is true what they say.¡±


    To my left Hade stiffened, taking an angry step forward.


    ¡°And you must be the Water Mage of Mediocre talent,¡± I said, calmly. ¡°And here I thought you were a coward.¡±


    There was a moment of silence, where even Hade seemed taken aback. Then the Mage grinned.


    Slowly he stepped forward and came to stand before me. He held out a hand.


    ¡°They call me Aroden,¡± he said. ¡°Truly it is a pleasure to meet Will of Blackbriar.¡±


    I blinked in surprise but took his hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll admit I didn¡¯t have much faith when Lord Blackthorne said he sent word to you. We¡¯ve had no contact with anyone inside the second wall. The Lord Governor won¡¯t even allow messengers through the gate. We assumed¡­¡±


    ¡°You assumed correctly.¡± Aroden¡¯s voice was grim.


    ¡°I know you may not believe this but I will speak the truth plainly. The Lord Governor has lost his reason. Since news of the Host marching on the south, he has been.. a different man.¡±


    The Magus¡¯s lips thinned.


    ¡°In the first days following the news, the changes were subtle. He is known to be an eccentric man, and so his shift in mood went largely unnoticed. That was until he began to have.. episodes. He would isolate himself in his quarters, sometimes for days. There was no way to reach him or send a message. Anyone who attempted to contact him would be sent away by his personal guard. Then came the paranoia.¡±


    Aroden swallowed and licked cracked lips.


    ¡°His mistrust of us was clear. His guards watched us like birds of prey, and it wasn¡¯t long before the accusations came. The Lord Governor may have started with a loyal household, but what he has allowed to fester within his court¡­.¡± Aroden shook his head.


    ¡°Anyone who questioned our doubted him is long gone. He has surrounded himself with sycophants and would listen to no reason. Not in the war council months ago, and not now even as his city burns.¡±


    ¡°And you¡¯re here to set it right?¡± The skepticism in my voice was plain.


    Aroden laughed harshly, voice echoing off of the surrounding buildings.


    ¡°Do not mistake me for a hero, Ser William,¡± he said, eyes crinkled with mirth.


    ¡°I have no wish to face the Firebrand. Bravery is the jurisdiction of better men. No, what I offer you I do so not because of some misguided sense of duty. The school of water magic is much more subtle you see. In a fight between elements, it is almost always sure to lose.¡±


    He tilted his head, eyes gleaming in the half-light.


    ¡°But water magic is not weak. It is simply, in essence, adaptable. In a battle between a Fire Magus and a Water Magus, one would expect the Fire Magus to win. And for that, they would likely be correct. In direct conflict, fire magic is the superior force¡­¡±


    ¡°Unless,¡± I promoted, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.


    ¡°Unless,¡± Aroden conceded. ¡°The approach is much less direct. With time to prepare, and with a focus on quantity. Well,¡±


    She smiled, white teeth gleaming in the firelight. I rather thought it made him look like a shark.


    ¡°You will have a much different outcome.¡±


    ¡°So in other words you¡¯re offering your help indirectly,¡± Growled Draxus. ¡°With no guarantee that you¡¯ll follow through and keep your word? You must be fucking joking.¡±


    Aroden''s dark eyebrows rose but he didn¡¯t challenge Draxus¡¯s statement. Instead, he kept his gaze locked firmly on me.


    ¡°Tell Lord Blackthorne that I will do as he commands.¡± He said. ¡°But not because of any threat of his. No, I do so for a much simpler reason.¡±


    He made to turn away, smoke swirling around him. I frowned and took a step forward.


    ¡°What is your reason?¡± I asked to his retreating back. Aroden turned his head just enough that I could see something I hadn¡¯t before. A thick scar around his neck. Made no doubt, by the chafing of iron on skin.


    ¡°Revenge.¡± He said. And then he vanished into the darkness


    ***


    The Alleyways of Ceris were a maze. In the darkness, it was impossible to see more than a few dozen meters in any direction. My men had their guards up, weapons ready as we rounded the corner.


    The backstreet was empty of any enemies, but I now faced an even larger problem.


    There were three branching paths leading into darkness and only one would take me where I needed to go - back through the courtyard. The other two.. It was impossible to tell where they would lead. We were short on time, and so, with no other choice, I made the call.


    The men filed into the far right lane, one on the lookout and two behind. Draxus nodded to me as he passed, and I let him take the lead.


    We ducked down the alleyway at a steady jog, careful to check to either side of us as we went. The backstreet was narrow, the ground stinking of old beer and piss.


    ¡°Well, at least we know we¡¯re near a tavern,¡± muttered Kato.


    We reached the end of the alleyway, stopping before a gap where a narrow cobbled street ran between houses. Draxus stepped forward, intending to peek around the corner. I saw the shadow and had only seconds to pull him backward before the Sand Drake appeared.


    It was tasting the air again, tongue lulling over sharp blood-stained teeth. It was hunting us, and as prey, we were little more than mice.


    For a moment I thought we might have gotten lucky. I saw the rider shift in his saddle, pulling on the reins and steering his mount aside. Perhaps there was a chance, however slim, that he might not have seen us.


    Then I saw the gleam of white as he raised his horn to his lips.


    I turned, heart slamming in my ribcage.


    "Run!"

 Fifty Five: The Shadow Self

    The Kahn watched us with dark eyes, his head tilted in amusement. Beneath him, his mount advanced slowly, unhurried. I could see the sick gleam in the gold eyes. A predator that had cornered its prey.


    ¡°You must forgive my Outrider his manners,¡± said the Firebrand. His voice was deep but unexpectedly clear - as if common was his native tongue.


    ¡°It is.. distasteful to allow our mounts to indulge in the consumption of flesh. Once they get a taste they are easily addicted and harder to control.¡±


    Behind him, the Outrider dipped his head and yanked the reigns of his mount causing the creature to reluctantly prance backward.


    My men and I stood back to back, shields raised and weapons bristling. My pulse thudded in my ears. Any moment now, I expected death to come. But the Firebrand seemed in no hurry.


    From beside him, Orks came from the shadows. Their ranks blocked any hope of escape for those who might want to try their luck fleeing around the Outriders.


    There was truly no way out. The Orks jeered, many of them making vulgar or obscene gestures. Urksol seemed unmoved as he listened to his people chant and growl.


    ¡°They wish for me to make you my slave,¡± he said, leaning back in his saddle with a clink of armor.


    ¡°To tie you behind my mount and make you crawl in the sand like a dog.¡±


    He made a grunting sound in his throat, half laughter and disgust.


    ¡°I won¡¯t bow to you,¡± I growled. ¡°You claim yourself a warrior and yet you sit upon your saddle in that fancy armor and watch as real men do your work. I name you coward, Firebrand.¡±


    Hade shifted beside me, scared eyes sliding from me to the Khan.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Hissed Draxus but I ignored him.


    Urksol seemed unimpressed.


    ¡°Why do dying men always spout such drivel and call it wisdom? I care for conquest, boy. Not personal glory. Pride is the bane of power.¡±


    ¡°Ironic,¡± I muttered and Kato snorted loudly enough to be heard.


    The Firebrand waved an armored hand and the Orks lapsed into reluctant silence.


    ¡°Have you no response?¡± He asked, amused. I grit my teeth even as my eyes swept the rooftops, looking for any sign of movement.


    I had to keep him talking.


    ¡°You speak of the pitfalls of pride and yet your warriors call you Firebrand? You are a brute playing king and your power is false. Look around you right now and tell me there is an Ork among your host that you trust with your life.¡±


    Urksol didn¡¯t bother to look. I watched the dark eyes through the slits of his helmet narrow minutely in thought. A flicker of movement caught the corner of my eye and I forced myself not to look.


    There was someone on the rooftops.


    ¡°And what of your leaders?¡± He asked, at last, gesturing grandly around him.


    ¡°Your Governor cowers inside his walls like a frightened rabbit, terrified of the fate that awaits him. How easily he spends the lives of his loyal men and how willingly you march to your deaths.¡±


    He sighed, shifting forward. I was too slow to react, too slow to call out as the firebrand raised his hand palm outward and pointed it at the roof. The archers that had been gathered there had no warning. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    There was a sound like a snake''s hiss and the the world went Orange. Flame bloomed from his palm fountaining towards the archers who were now huddled on the roof preparing to launch their ambush. The flame engulfed them and men screamed as the armor melted.


    The air was filled with acrid smoke that made my eyes water. Two charred corpses slumped forward, tumbling off the roof and into the street below. The sight made my stomach roil. The soldier''s helmet had been fused to his skull. His face was melted and charred, his eyes had burst in the heat.


    His mouth was open, twisted in a rictus of agony. The Firebrand lowered his hand even as men screamed and flailed. One fiery figure threw himself from the rooftop in an attempt to escape his fate, only to break his legs with a grisly crunch.


    ¡°Throne above,¡± muttered Hade. I could see the skin around his eyes pale. Sweat slicked my own palms, as much from the heat as with a newfound sense of dread.


    The red Skin around Urksol¡¯s eyes crinkled in calm amusement. Did he enjoy this? Or was it all a show for the Host that followed him?


    I didn¡¯t know, and right now I didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Cover me,¡± I whispered to Draxus. The soldier shifted slightly beside me, dark brows drawing together.


    ¡°Will, listen to me. She said it was a last resort. We don¡¯t know-¡°


    ¡°I know,¡± I said, trying to assuage his fears. ¡°But what choice do we have?¡± Draxus''s eyes darted around at the corpses on the ground and to the Host that now barred our path. The still smoldering flames cast the ominous shadows of the horned beasts that would be our end.


    He clenched his jaw so hard I thought his teeth might crack. Then he nodded.


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    ¡°Do it,¡± he said.


    The Firebrand sighed, head tilted back towards the heavens as he breathed in the smell of burnt flesh.


    ¡°Oh, how you rail against your fates, toy soldiers.¡± He said mockingly.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you understand how futile it all is? Your Governor has what we want. We¡¯ve come to claim it. You could have simply handed it over and none of this,¡± he gestured to the corpses now smoking on the ground. To the half-charred man with broken legs now crawling across the stone on his elbows.


    ¡°Need have happened. Humanity always seems to relish the hard way. Truly, it is a shame.¡±


    Urksol leaned his great horned head downwards and barked an order. Then he raised his voice for us to hear.


    ¡°Kill them, and take the Knight prisoner. I will make him crawl behind my Drake. And when the heat of the plains finally defeats him and he begs on his knees for water, I will give him the water of my loins.¡±


    Urksol slapped at his codpiece and the Orks howled in bloodthirsty amusement. Tusks and teeth gleamed in the knight as they readied themselves. Our death had come. I swallowed my fear and gripped Draxus by the shoulder as I ducked behind the shield wall.


    ¡°Give me a minute,¡± I said. ¡°I only need one.¡±


    Draxus grunted and began shouting orders. His own sword was held ready, still crusted with the dried blood of his foes. I would need to trust my men now more than ever.


    ¡°See how he runs!¡± Shouted Urksol into the night. Shouldered through the press of men, trying to make room.


    It was tight, but somehow I found the room to take a knee. I fumbled with the latch of my visor even as I heard the sounds of howling Orks surging towards us. Finally, the latch came free and I lifted my visor, exposing my face to the Smokey air.


    It smelled of burned meat and smoke. I knelt in the middle of my men, surrounded by all sides by a sea of enemies. From my inventory, I grabbed the small blue bottle in my gauntlet. The ranks of men around me surged and for one heart-stopping moment I almost lost my grip on the bottle.


    The liquid inside the vial was electric blue.


    Item: consumable - Mana stimulant


    SYSTEM WARNING: approaching mana fatigue. Consuming Mana stimulant may cause injury or heart failure. Chance of lethality: 67%


    Gritting my teeth I swiped the system warning from my HUD and uncorked the bottle.


    My men shouted all around me. Blood sprayed, as blades met flesh. There was no other option.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Joanna,¡± I said as I threw back my head and tilted the vial contents down my throat. The taste was at once acidic and sickly sweet. It raced down my throat and into my stomach, burning like spirits all the way down. The sounds of battle faded away.


    I was aware of each breath in and out of my chest. Aware of the sound of my own blood as it moved through my body. Then the burning began. It started at my core and spread through my veins like wildfire.


    My chest spasmed, muscles pulling taught as I opened my mouth to scream. No sound came out. I began to tremble as my limbs grew cold. I could feel the stimulant burning its way through my veins, a pain like any other.


    I was on my knees now, head pressed against the cobblestones as I willed the pain to end. Was I dying? Dear god was I dying?


    My heart became sluggish in my chest and then stopped. I coughed violently, speckles of blood littering the stone before me. It was all over and I was a fucking fool.


    Absurdly I thought of Joanna as my vision grew dark around the edges.


    Her grip on my wrist as she met my gaze. The hesitance on her face when she pressed the vial into my palm.


    ¡°Use it only if you must,¡± she¡¯d said. ¡°Will, you promise me. You must understand the cost.¡±


    Another cough wracked my body, and my shoulders slumped as my head grew light. I fell unwilling into darkness.


    There was nothing but void. There was no sound, no smell. Only darkness.


    As I drifted downwards I wondered what it all meant. Was this truly all I had? Would I die on my knees before a hated enemy? The thought filled me with sadness.. and.. inevitably.. with fury.


    I blinked.


    I knelt atop a pool of water so dark that I could see nothing in its black depths. The water was cold, lapping at my trousers, and before me, I saw my own reflection.


    It was at once me, and not me. A man with short dark hair and hard eyes. My jaw was firm and my brows thick. Even as I stared that image shifted. Eyes are sometimes black, sometimes gold.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± I asked the reflection. My words echoed in the darkness, mocking me as they rebounded back.


    The figure in the reflection smiled. Goosebumps erupted down my arms. I tried to jerk away, to move, but I was held in place by some invisible force.


    There was something in the water. Glowing golden threads that spread out from my reflection like spiderwebs in the dark water. Threads of fate.


    The words of the God of the Autumn Winds rang in my mind.


    ¡°You and I have yet to meet, but we will meet in the future. And when we do, you will ask me to tell you two things.¡±


    In the future¡­ in..


    ¡°Shit,¡± I said as I stared around me. My reflection stared back, unperturbed.


    ¡°Damn you,¡± I growled. ¡°Answer me. Who are you? What are you?¡±


    But my time was up. I could sense the lightness in my body as I began to rise back out of the darkness. The strange paralysis was gone, as was the sense of cold numbness. I could feel it again. Feel the hard stone on my knees, feel the burning in my veins.


    I felt the kick in my chest as my heart restarted and went into overdrive.


    I slammed back into myself with the force of a hurricane. My heart cantered in my chest, pumping with it blood and pure adrenaline.


    ¡°Will!¡± Came the distant shout. Kato was kneeling beside me. There was true fear in his eyes.


    ¡°I thought we lost you.¡±


    I blinked, shaking my head.


    ¡°How long was I out?¡± I shouted over the sounds of battle. Kato frowned.


    ¡°Seconds,¡± he said. ¡°Why? What did-¡°


    ¡°Later.¡±


    I rose to my feet, feeling the surge of strength coursing through my veins.


    Iron Blooded activated


    Bastion activated


    My soldiers were pressed from all sides. They fought valiantly, standing on their own in a sea of enemies. I could see the desperation, and taste the bitterness of defeat as another soldier fell to the mad Host.


    My sword was in my hand before I registered drawing it. I stepped forward, shoving through the press of armored bodies to take my place at the front.


    Orders spilled from my lips. I told my men to hold firm. I told them that I stood with them and that I wouldn¡¯t let us fail. Not now, and not ever.


    I hacked at anything before me, my blade glowing red with the increased damage. Enemies were indistinguishable to my eyes. My heart thumped in my ears, Orks died to my blade, and I knew nothing else but the song of war.


    And then, there was nothing left to kill. Hade slumped on his spear beside me, chest heaving wildly as he struggled for breath.


    The men turned, eyes still wide and terrified. Ork bodies lay torn and mangled before us. We had survived the first wave. My triumph died the second I heard his laugh.


    Urksol the firebrand titled back his horned head and bellowed into the air. The sound was one of pure mirth as he regarded us with cold eyes.


    ¡°Very good,¡± he said, clapping his gauntlets together. The sound echoed off the walls, mocking and hollow.


    ¡°Another pointless display, but impressive nonetheless.¡±


    He tugged on the reigns of his restless Sand Drake and it shifted enough to allow him a clearer view.


    ¡°Tell you what,¡± he said, his voice thoughtful. ¡°I will give you something you do not deserve. A mercy, or a chance at it. But you Ser Knight,¡± and he pointed at me. ¡°Must choose this fate. Either I slaughter your men to get at you, or I can end you all with the mercy of a fiery death. It will be glorious, no?¡±


    And he bellowed a laugh again. Was he mad? All around the remaining Orks shared their leader''s mirth. So many had fallen to our blades, and yet many more had taken their places.


    It felt hopeless, but I knew better than to waste my time with despair.


    ¡°Fuck your choice,¡± I said and spat on the ground between us.

 Fifty Six: Wrath of Man

    Perhaps it was madness that made me laugh. S?a??h th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.Surrounded on all sides by the grimness of death. Mangled bodies of allies and enemies lay before me. Since arriving in this brutal world I have seen my share of violence.


    I had walked the path of battle, and like every soldier, I had come to know its cost.


    Flame bloomed before me, a wave of deadly heat that threatened to devour me whole. I could feel the heat before it reached me.


    ¡°Brace!¡± Shouted Draxus from behind. Metal clattered as men threw up their shields, hunkering down against impending impact. The Firebrand snarled his victory, as the flames swirled towards me.


    Item Activated: Helm of Aegis.


    I smiled and this time the Firebrand caught it. His eyes narrowed through the slits of his helm. Then, they widened. I saw Urksol turn his head, and saw the tightness in his body even as the flame bloomed around me.


    He shouted orders, wrenching at the reigns of his mount. He was far too slow.


    The heat was sweltering, enough to singe the hair from my brows and make my dry lips crack.


    If it hadn¡¯t been for my helmet, the fire would have seared the flesh from my bones. As it was, I had the time I needed to make the only move available to me. I lifted my shield, legs thrown wide in a fighting stance.


    Then, I did what I had only done once before. With all the force I could muster I slammed the shield forward and outward.


    There was a whoosh of air and fire before me scattered. A force of blue energy swept forward, rattling windows as it passed. The Firebrand saw it coming and raised his lance.


    A shield of flame sprung before him. Then the shockwave struck. The force rocked me backward boots skidding on the stone as my hair whipped in the sudden gale.


    Windows shattered, Orks were knocked into buildings like rag dolls thrown by the hand of an angry god.


    The power struck the Sand Drake full-on, and the beast staggered, knocked sideways by the sheer energy behind the blow. The shield of flame protected Urksol from the blast, but his mount was unsettled, jerking its head from side to side as it tried to right itself.


    The Firebrand growled something that sounded like a curse, but the animal was heedless. It thrashed as it tried to turn and its great barbed tail lashed out.


    Two Orks fell to the ground screaming, eviscerated. I swung back towards Draxus and found him already nodding to me in understanding.


    It was a chance, however slim. An opening that we had no choice but to attempt to exploit. I opened my mouth to call for the advance, to signal my men towards the sliver of freedom that had now opened up to the side of the Firebrand himself.


    So I didn¡¯t see the lance coming. I saw Draxus¡¯s eyes widen, and saw the horror reflected in Hade¡¯s face as he looked past me. I had only the time to half turn before the flaming lance Firebrand struck.


    I closed my eyes, clenching my teeth in anticipation of pain. None came. There was only the sound of my heavy breathing inside the metal of my helmet. A rasp, in and out, in and out.


    Had I died already? It didn¡¯t feel like death.


    I opened my eyes.


    Before me stood a man from legend. His dark hair was swept back from his forehead, his eyes brimming with unnatural power.


    In one gauntleted fist, he clutched the burning black lance that would have ended my life. The blade was inches from my chest and I swallowed as I realized how close I had come to being impaled.


    The man¡¯s lips curved upwards.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take it from here, Blackbriar,¡± rumbled Hadrian Blackthorne.


    The sound of steel on steel made me look around, back the way we had come. Soldiers were climbing from the rooftops on ropes, dropping to the ground, and surrounding the Sand Drake.


    On the other side, I could see the Orks reeling to face a flanking threat. They were now caught between the jaws of Lord Blackthorne''s split force. The ambush had worked.


    ¡°I have to apologize for my delay,¡± said Blackthorne casually, turning to face the Firebrand who now watched him with guarded eyes.


    ¡°I had a few matters to attend to, but I don¡¯t make a habit of leaving my men to the wolves.¡±


    Urksol titled his head, his expression calculated.


    ¡°The Black Horse,¡± he said. ¡°I know that symbol. Lord Blackthorne, is it? I know of your family and their deeds. But you will find they mean nothing here - not when you face one such as I.¡±


    The Firebrand jerked suddenly forward in his saddle, throwing out an arm and causing an arc of flame to spin toward Lord Blackthorne like a whip.


    I took an involuntarily step backward, but Blackthorne was unperturbed. He lifted the black lance and, with precision, began to whirl the shaft in the air.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    The fire dissipated with a hiss of air. Blackthorne held the lance out to one side and spun it faster with a single hand. The wind began to stir. Tendrils of power curled forward and I dug my heels in against the sudden pull.


    I was being tugged forward towards the Lord in front of me, his cape whipping in the wind.


    Lord Blackthorne glanced at me, and his eyes brimmed with power.


    ¡°Stand back,¡± he commanded. I had only a few seconds to obey, turning my body against the pull of the tide of magic and taking two steps backward. Then another.


    It happened in a flash. One minute Blackthorne spun the shaft, tendrils of magic pulled towards him where he stood. The next, he took a step and whipped his arm forward. The lance left his grip with such force that the remaining windows in the street shattered as it passed.


    Urksol barked a word, flinging his hands before him in a wall of orange flame.


    But Blackthorne hadn¡¯t been aiming for him. The black lance slammed into the Sand Drake¡¯s chest, burying itself so deep the point erupted from its back.


    The animal let out a scream that rattled my helmet. It swung its head, golden eyes rolling. And then it tumbled forward, crashing into a nearby house.


    Urksol shouted in alarm as the beast fell. I saw him try to free himself of the saddle, eyes wide with panic as his mount tumbled sideways. One of his armored boots was stuck, caught in the leather strap that held him in place.


    A spray of dust went up from the broken houses. The Sand Drake death throws crushed several Orks, one sent flying backward into the darkness.


    I turned back to my men.


    ¡°Press forward!¡± I called. ¡°The Firebrand is down. Don¡¯t let him escape with his life.¡±


    My men joined me, and together, shoulder to shoulder like brothers, we flanked Lord Blackthorne as he stalked towards the dead Drake. He reached up, gripping the hilt of Dawnbringer and drawing the sword from the sheath on his back. The weapon gleamed, dancing with golden light.


    The Orks were in a full-on panic now. The organized vicious host that had stood against us only moments before was devolving into a teeming mess.


    Ork Raider bosses shouted orders in their thick language, but their voices were lost to the growing chaos.


    Several Orks raised their weapons, shouting as they rushed towards us. Blackthorne brought Dawnbringer before him, and, calmly and methodically, he sliced the charging Orks in half with the arc of golden energy.


    Entrails splattered the ground. Orks squealed like dying pigs.


    Lord Blackthorne stepped over the steaming corpses.


    ¡°Keep your guard, Ser William,¡± he said in warning. ¡°Urksol may have been taken by surprise but he is no less dangerous.¡±


    I relayed orders to my men to spread out, and together we made a half-moon formation to bristling steel.


    We advanced with a measured pace, searching the dust for any sign of movement or flash. Should flame come, we had only moments to react before we were engulfed. What¡¯s more, magic flame seemed unlike normal fire. Judging by the speed with which it spread and the way it clung to things that shouldn¡¯t burn¡­


    It was a risk, and no one knew it better than Blackthorne. As we approached the carcass of the fallen beast, the Lord¡¯s pace slowed. He brought his blade up before him, gaze scanning the settling dust.


    Some of the Orks had broken and fled. Others had been injured when the Sand Drake fell. One Ork lay partially crushed beneath the meaty forepaw of the Drake.


    He wheezed a cough of blood, eyes wide as we approached. I killed him with a thrust through the eye.


    Blackthorne made a gesture nodding to the cloud of dust now hovering before us. I nodded my understanding and circled my hand in the air.


    Hade split off from the main force with Jorgen and Kato, and the three of them circled hard right. They came to a stop before the cloud of dust, waiting.


    Blackthorne shifted his grip on his sword and, raising a finger to his lips, he stepped forward into the shroud.


    I signaled both groups forward. The thick dust clung to the air, making it hard to breathe. It coated everything, painting the landscape in white and grey.


    There was a corpse on the ground before me. Was it man, or Ork? I couldn¡¯t tell. The body of the Sand Drake was curled half back on itself, blocking the entrance of the street where it had fallen. I saw the barb of the tail resting on the ground, still covered in a sheen of gore.


    There was a flicker of movement at my side and I whirled, nearly taking Eric¡¯s head off as he stepped forward. The young soldier''s eyes widened.


    ¡°Fucks sake, careful,¡± I mouthed, the sound barely leaving my lips. At the expression on my face, the boy flushed.


    He pointed towards the body of the Drake and made a motion with his hand. I frowned, unsure of the meaning.


    I followed his gaze. Eyes trailing along the ridge of the creature''s spine. A leather harness strap wrapped around its chest, looping through the saddle. Which was now empty.


    I signaled my men to halt and spread out, heart pounding as my eyes searched the gloom around us.


    I could see the shadow of Lord Blackthorne from somewhere up ahead. The glow of his sword was a dead giveaway of his position. Apparently, that had been his intention.


    The first Raider boss burst forward in a swirl of dust and Blackthorne pivoted, bringing the blade down in a blow that cleaved open the Orks skull.


    Blood sprayed several feet in the air and the Ork fell to the ground with a clatter of armor.


    Blackthorne waved a hand before him, trying unsuccessfully to clear the dust in the air. On the right, Hade, Jorgen, and Kato, advanced around the animal''s front. They were searching, eyes darting between ahead and the ground.


    I saw a lump on the ground near the creature''s back and gestured with my sword. Blackthorne glanced around and grimaced. He stalked forward, lifting his sword to strike.


    Dawnbringer glimmered with lethal power. No strike came. Instead, Lord Blackthorne set one boot on the lump and shoved it over. It was nothing more than a cloak thrown over a body.


    Blackthorne lowered his sword.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone,¡± he said, his voice cutting through the air. I lowered my own blade.


    ¡°How do you know?¡±


    Blackthorne nodded towards the saddle. Tentatively I stepped forward.


    The saddle was empty.


    But that wasn¡¯t all. On the far end, still held to the Sand Drake by a leather strap, was a leg. It appeared as if the leg had been hacked at the knee, white shards of splintered bone protruding from the flesh.


    A trail of red blood led away from the beast¡¯s corpse and into the street beyond.


    A horn sounded in the distance.


    ¡°It¡¯s the signal for retreat,¡± said Blackthorne. His dark eyes looked weary.


    ¡°You took a stimulant, did you not?¡±


    I hesitated for a moment, and he cocked an eyebrow.


    ¡°If you¡¯re concerned that Joanna would face prosecution for giving you what is widely considered an illegally crafted item, I wouldn¡¯t worry.¡± He said.


    ¡°That she gave it to you though¡­¡± his eyes grew thoughtful.


    ¡°She must be either quite fond of you, or wish you dead.¡±


    I rubbed the back of my neck, unsure what to say. Lord Blackthorne blinked and shook his head as if ridding it of thought.


    ¡°Good,¡± he said. ¡°Then you still have some fight left in you before you crash. I¡¯m going to need you, in the hunt to come.¡±


    He tilted his head, dark eyes glittering.


    ¡°What I will ask you to do might be...unsavory to some. We¡¯ll be confronting men - perhaps killing them, though I hope violence can be avoided. I need to know if you¡¯re up to the task.¡±


    I glanced around at the corpses on the ground. Some men, some Ork. Half the city was no more than a burned-out husk¡­ a shell of its former self. So many had died, and there was one man to blame.


    I gripped my sword hard enough to make the leather hilt creak.


    ¡°I¡¯m with you, My Lord.¡±

 Fifty Seven: The Devils Due

    The sun finally breaks the horizon, bathing the city in a soft yellow glow. Mist and steam drifted towards the sky as the water mage did his work on the remnants of the burning city. The siege is over.


    But the battle within Ceris had only begun.


    My men drag away the corpses of Orks, piling them into carts to be burned. The people of Ceris watch with dazed expressions as we perform the grim work.


    Among them, I see Markus¡¯s wife. She stood tall, her hair in a tight bun and her expression fierce. When her eyes fell on me her face softened just an inch.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± she said. ¡°I believe I speak for all of Ceris when I thank you for what you and your men have done for us. Many soldiers would have fled in the face of such odds. But you and yours did not, and for that, you have more than my thanks.¡±


    She hesitated for a moment, eyes flickering towards the people. There were a few encouraging smiles thrown her way, and only her husband, Markus, seemed to disapprove.


    ¡°You have our loyalty,¡± she said suddenly. The proclamation caught me off guard. I was saved from conjuring a response from thin air when she continued, her face determined.


    ¡°There is a rumor that you mean to start your own Company in the Kadian Army. If this is true, then I, and others like me would like to pledge ourselves to your service.¡±


    I was stunned to momentary silence. I could feel the weight of eyes on me - not only that of the villagers but those of my men, and of Blackthorne himself.


    The Lord stood with his hands resting atop his mythic great sword, waiting for my response.


    His expression showed no sign of anger but I had learned early that Lord Blackthorne was a hard man to read.


    I would need to measure my next words carefully.


    ¡°I thank you,¡± I said. ¡°For your loyalty and for your offer of commitment. But I must admit I lack the funds to sustain a full company. You and your families would be better off within Ceris-¡°


    ¡°Pardon me Ser William,¡± said a man I didn¡¯t recognize. He was older, with a thick beard and a sun-tanned face. But the set of his shoulders was determined.


    I quickly scanned his stats.


    Class: Gaurdsman


    Rank: Veteran Gaurd


    Class: 28


    ¡°We understand the cost of war, all of us.¡± He said, his voice carrying to those around.


    ¡°We may not have been soldiers at campaign. But there are among us some retired guardsmen that still have fight in us. There is not much left for us here in the city. Many homes were burned, and livelihoods lost. We would, if you will allow it, join you and your men. We can sustain ourselves and our families for the first few months, and after that, we should be able to claim supplies. What say you?¡±


    I ran my tongue over my dry lips as I thought. The decision was difficult, and yet.. I could see the merit in it.


    After a few minutes of consideration, I posed a counter-question.


    ¡°Very well,¡± I said. ¡°Let¡¯s say I accept your offer. You would require equipment and basic travel necessities like tents and food provisions. Additionally, I would need a quartermaster to keep track of the inflow of monster materials and drops.¡±


    Markus stepped forward, his eyes glittering in a way that I didn¡¯t like.


    ¡°I am.. er.. at least I was a merchant of trade and goods within the city. I would be happy to take the post and lend my experience to your cause.¡±


    Draxus shifted beside me, and I could sense his unease.


    ¡°Markus,¡± I said. ¡°We meet again. Tell me, do you have any experience with bookkeeping and ledger work?¡±


    Markus licked his lips, his expression eager.


    ¡°Of course Ser Knight,¡± he said. ¡°I have been in the business of trade for over a decade.¡±


    But I hadn¡¯t been looking at Markus. I had been watching his wife. I saw her minute flinch, saw her look down at his words.


    An honest person, then. Married to this man? I resisted the urge to sigh.


    ¡°Very good.¡± I was acutely aware of the eyes on me as I continued.


    ¡°Tell me, what is the value of Kadian Silver in the southern isles?¡±


    Markus blinked, his face twitching slightly. He smiled uncertainly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± he said, nervously. ¡°The value of silver is-¡°


    ¡°Do you know the answer?¡± I interrupted him, gazing past him towards his wife. Her lips had curved upward ever so slightly and at my question, her eyes rose to meet mine.


    ¡°I believe so, Ser William. In the Southern Isles silver is abundant, as the King owns many silver mines. If you were going to purchase something from the isles here in Kadia, and I¡¯d advise against it, it would be wiser to use Gold marks, or Bronze Pennies if you possess them.¡±


    I smiled and she returned my smile, shy. Markus was staring between the two of us, brows furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°Why would you advise against it?¡± I asked.


    The woman blinked.


    ¡°Ser?¡±


    ¡°You said you would advise against buying goods from the isles here in Kadia. Why?¡±


    She nodded.


    ¡°Because merchants from the Isles tend to overprice their goods. They are verbose people, outgoing and friendly. But they are expert salesmen, and never to be underestimated. Should you negotiate with one, I would recommend you know your price before you begin.¡±


    ¡°Kara what nonsense.. is.. what..¡± muttered Markus, his face a mask of irritation.


    ¡°You must forgive my wife Ser William. She is but a woman and not well versed in these things.¡±


    I ignored him.


    ¡°Kara is it?¡± I asked. The woman nodded clasping her hands before her.


    ¡°Kara Donvier Ser William.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Will.¡± I nodded to her. ¡°I name you Quarter master and head of supplies. Go with Jorgen,¡± I gestured to him. ¡°And seek out a Lieutenant named Giller. Tell him I sent you, and why.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Markus was struggling to comprehend this sudden turn of events.


    ¡°Ser William, you cannot be serious. A woman as a Quarter Master?¡±


    I turned my cold gaze on him.


    ¡°I do not suffer fools, Markus Donvier. That is your name, is it not? The name you took from your wife¡¯s family. Their heritage is well known in Ceris I hear. So a man must come to wonder why a woman such as her is married to a worm like you. I cannot imagine it was by choice.¡±


    Markus flushed a deep crimson and Kato barked a laugh.


    Kara¡¯s eyes widened in surprise but she didn¡¯t contradict me. Instead, she turned and followed Jorgen back down the Main Street, her youngest child in tow.


    The merchant had the wisdom to step back into the crowd, keeping his head low. But I could see the anger smoldering in his eyes and wondered if I hadn¡¯t just made a mistake.


    ¡°Watch him,¡± I murmured to Hade. ¡°I have a feeling he might be trouble.¡±


    ***


    ¡°We meet again, Captain,¡± called Draxus from beside me. His head was craned back, eyes fixed on the man now standing on the wall looking down.


    The Captain¡¯s face was stoic. He stared down from his group of soldiers, dislike evident on his face.


    ¡°I thought I made myself clear, Soldier. I have orders that the gate remains closed. Spare us your threats and tend to your own wounded.¡±


    He made to turn away.


    Lord Blackthorne stepped forward black cape swirling around him.


    ¡°I see,¡± he boomed. The soldier''s eyes widened.


    ¡°And would you turn me away?¡±


    The Captain¡¯s throat bobbed, and he turned his head as if speaking to someone.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± he said, clapping a fist over his chest and bowing his head.


    ¡°I must beg your pardon. But I am but a soldier, and my Lord and Master have given me no uncertain orders. The gate must remain closed.¡±


    ¡°Lord and master,¡± Blackthorne¡¯s lip curled.


    ¡°Is that what he calls himself now? Captain, I will not ask again. I am a Lord, and appointed Spear of the King by the Crowned Prince of Kadia. You dare to defy the will of the God King?¡±


    The Captain¡¯s eyes bulged slightly, his tongue darting across his lips like a lizard.


    ¡°My Lord Blackthorne,¡± he said in placating tones. ¡°You must understand-¡°


    Lord Blackthorne turned away meeting my gaze and nodded at me.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough. Break it down.¡± He said.


    My men stepped towards the wooden door set beside the portcullis. It was thick and reinforced, but it would lead to the guard house.


    I raised a hand, signaling to my men who clutched a heavy wooden beam. Sweat glistened on their necks and brows as they hoisted the wood up and forward. The Captain watched all this with wide eyes.


    ¡°My Lord Blackthorne!¡± He shouted, alarm evident in his voice.


    ¡°I cannot allow.. you are not sanctioned to¡­ this is treason.¡±


    ¡°You dare speak to me of treason!,¡± Lord Blackthorne''s voice was a rumble, its magical amplification carrying it across the courtyard and beyond.


    ¡°You and your master who stood by and watched your city burn? Flee now, captain. For if I or mine get our hands on you, your men will find yourselves swinging from the noose before the night is out!¡±


    The rage in his voice surprised me, but I felt it mirrored in my own chest. The Lord Governor had played the part.


    Had lured us under false pretenses and when the time came to make good on his promises, he hid with his court inside the House of Refuge. All while his people died, and Ceris burned.


    The heavy beam struck the door with a resounding crash, and it shuttered on thick iron hinges.


    ¡°Again!¡± I called.


    The Captain¡¯s eyes were wide, and for the first time, I saw real fear in them.


    ¡°Stop!¡± He tried. Several of the archers along the wall drew their bows, aiming them at lord Blackthorne.


    His own bowmen, carefully hidden among the surrounding rooftops dropped them within seconds. I saw a crossbow bolt take a man in the throat, his body tumbling backward off the wall with a heavy crash.  S?a?ch* Th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    The beam struck the door again, this time with a splinter of wood. We were making progress, however slow.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    It took three more strikes of the heavy beam for the door to finally give way. Wood splintered, metal hinges tore from the stone, and the door fell inwards.


    My men and Lord Blackthornes poured into the breach and there was a brief skirmish as the gatehouse was taken. Minutes later, the portcullis began to rise.


    Blackthorne¡¯s face was cold as he turned to me.


    ¡°Kill any resistance you encounter. Capture if you can but spare no one. These are traitors'' Will. Not soldiers.¡±


    I nodded, grimacing as I readied myself for battle. As the metal gate rose I followed the tide of men forward, flanked to either side by Kato, Hade, and Draxus.


    What I saw left me numb.


    Bodies littered the ground inside the wall. Men, women, children, soldiers there was no discrimination. They lay in puddles of blood, propped against the sides of buildings, or draped over rooftops.


    Dead. And all of them without eyes.


    ¡°What the fuck,¡± whispered Kato. Lord Blackthorne¡¯s eyes were chips of ice as he turned towards the steps that led to the battles.


    ¡°Fetch me the Captain,¡± he said. ¡°Kill the others.¡±


    His soldiers sprang to obey. The clash on the wall didn¡¯t last long. Minutes after its end, the Captain was dragged down the stone steps by the back of his neck, and thrown at Lord Blackthorne''s feet.


    As the man gazed up at the face of his death, I saw tears leaking out of the corners of his bloodshot eyes.


    ¡°Why?¡± Growled Blackthorne, his voice trembling with barely concealed fury.


    ¡°There was no choice,¡± the man said, head shaking from side to side.


    ¡°He sees through our eyes. Don¡¯t you understand? The Lord Governor knows. He alone understands. The master speaks through him. For that is his mandate. He is-¡°


    Lord Blackthorne brought Dawnbringer down on the soldier''s head. The body spit in two, spraying a fountain of blood to either side.


    The swarm of flies, which had been feasting on the bodies only moments before, rose and descended on their new target.


    My stomach lurched but I clenched my teeth against the wave of sickness that washed over me. The bodies had been dead since we left the palace.


    But there hadn¡¯t been any signs then, had there? My mind was racing and it was only Blackthorne¡¯s presence that steadied me.


    ¡°William,¡± he said and I looked at him. ¡°We have to get to the House of Refuge. There may be survivors there, though I doubt it. If the Lord Governor is attempting a summoning¡­¡± his jaw clenched.


    ¡°Then we stop it at any cost. Listen to me, once we enter that palace we stop for nothing or no one. Trust your instincts, and guard your mind. Promise me this.¡±


    I swallowed, nodding. Then I drew air into my lungs and hardened my heart. There would be no mercy today - not for those who deserved none.


    I let out the breath and with it any inhibitions. Then I follow Lord Blackthorne past the bodies and up the steps towards the Dome of the Palace.


    The silence is eerie.


    As one we ascended the stone steps towards the palace doors. They stood ajar and within was nothing but darkness.


    There was a scream from somewhere within. A howl of agony unlike any other. And the voice of a woman.


    Lord Blackthorne gestured for his men to open the door. The soldiers sprang forward, gripping the edges and swinging the heavy doors open on creaking hinges.


    A gust of air struck me. It smelled of rot and decay.


    My sword and shield were raised and as I stepped inside my eyes adjusted to the lack of light.


    Xandria stood over the corpse of a guard, wiping one of her Mythic daggers on his tunic. At the sight of us, she turned.


    Her eyes were wild, her face sprayed with blood.


    ¡°Finally,¡± she rasped. It sounded as if she had been shouting. The man, presumably the one who had screamed, now slumped lifelessly to the floor.


    Xandria was accompanied by her two Darkblades, each of which stood silent guard, their swords out and low. They dripped with fresh blood, the light beyond the doors reflecting in their soulless masks.


    ¡°You took your sweet time Hadrian,¡± said Xandria conversationally.


    Lord Blackthorne didn¡¯t answer, nor did he lower his sword.


    ¡°What have you found?¡± He asked her. The Inquisitor''s eyes flashed with irritation.


    ¡°Corruption,¡± she said. ¡°Code Black. I wasn¡¯t certain before, but now,¡± she gestured around at the hall. ¡°Well, can there really be any doubt?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s him?¡± Asked Blackthorne. ¡°You¡¯re certain?¡±


    Xandria¡¯s eyebrows rose and she laughed, a hoarse cruel sound.


    ¡°That old fat fuck? Dear throne no. It¡¯s her, Blackthorne. The Mind Mage. It was her from the beginning I suspect.. but then, what can one expect if they allow a wolf into their home?¡±


    Cold was creeping up my spine at her words. The Mind Mage.. the one I had spoken to at the party. Violet, had been her name.


    A muscle ticked in Lord Blackthorne''s jaw. He turned, boots squeaking on the polished granite.


    ¡°Where?¡± He asked Xandria. The Lady Inquisitor smirked.


    ¡°The Throne room, where else?¡±


    Lord Blackthorne nodded to his men.


    ¡°Form up,¡± he said. ¡°We end this here and now. None leaves that throne room alive.¡±


    ¡°Yes, my Lord!¡±


    Echoed off the halls.


    ¡°Will,¡± Blackthorne turned to me. ¡°Take point with me.¡±


    I did as I was bidden, exchanging looks with Draxus and Kato as we took our places. What lay beyond those doors, we couldn¡¯t know.


    Yet we would face it together, like men.


    Xandria let out another bitter laugh.


    ¡°You would bring him with you?¡± She asked, eyeing me coolly. ¡°Knowing what he might be?¡±


    I frowned and opened my mouth to ask what she meant but Lord Blackthorne waved a hand.


    ¡°I trust William,¡± he said. ¡°More so than I trust you, or your thrice blasted Inquisition. So far your investigation has been less than useless. Gone are the days when the Inquisition had the power to root out the festering disease and cut it out like a cancer. Now you all wait for the Army to do the dirty work for you, and never mind the consequences.¡±


    Xandria stuck her tongue in her cheek, her expression calculated.


    ¡°Hard to do when the rot comes from within.¡±


    At her words, one of her Darkblades jerked his head towards her. Xandria paled and the blood drained from her face. Her lips twitched and trembled slightly before she turned away.


    Lord Blackthorne didn¡¯t miss it. His frown deepened and something flashed across his face. Anger? Regret?


    But then he blinked, and the mask of the cold Lord had returned.


    ¡°Do not hesitate,¡± he called to his men. ¡°For you stand with me. And our enemies will fall at our boots.¡±


    Then at his signal, the second set of doors were yanked open.


    No guards rushed to meet us. No secret army waited within.


    The throne room was strangely empty and our boots echoed off the walls.


    At the head of the room sat the Lord Governor himself. He was a robust man, large jowls spilling over the color of his doublet. His pudgy hands gripped the arms of his guilted chair, and he blinked at us as if he had never seen us before.


    ¡°Lord Blackthorne?¡± He asked, his voice halting. Beedy eyes darted between the Lord, myself, and the soldiers behind us.


    ¡°What is this!¡± He snapped, chair creaking as he sat forward.


    ¡°You dare to draw weapons in my presence? This is an act of war, Blackthorne and I will not tolerate it. Guards!¡±


    ¡°Your guards are dead,¡± said Lord Blackthorne. His voice was surprisingly calm, but beneath the surface I sensed his anger lurking.


    ¡°Dead?¡± The Lord Governor¡¯s bushy brows met and he shook his head, jowls quivering.


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible,¡± he muttered. ¡°Is this a coup? You wish to take my place as Lord of Ceris do you? Well, you¡¯ll be disappointed. The God King would never sanction such a thing.¡±


    The Lady Inquisitor¡¯s laugh rang through the chamber. Her heeled boots clicked as she strode past Blackthorne.


    ¡°Do not speak his Radiant Majesty¡¯s title, you fucking heretical pig. Look at you, lounging in your own filth. Unable to see that you were disposed of months ago. You don¡¯t rule here, and you never really have. Not since you allowed IT into your home.¡±


    The Lord Governor bristled, eyes brimming with anger.


    ¡°You dare!¡± He shrieked, slapping the arm of his chair.


    ¡°The Inquisition has no foothold here. I could have you whipped for your insolence, woman. Remember your place, and remember it well!¡±


    Xandria yawned.


    ¡°Take him,¡± she said to her Darkblades.


    Lord Blackthorne reacted in surprise but before he could protest, the Darkblades stepped forward. Their black cloaks swirled around them, undulating like liquid.


    Their silver blades were raised before them and from behind their masks came a chant. An ominous sound that filled me at once with wonder and dread.


    Light burst forth, rippling down their blades and casting a glow across the granite tile. They advanced as one, and the Lord Governor shrank back with a shriek.


    But not before a shadow stepped to his side.


    ¡°Ah,¡± said a voice that carried through the hall. ¡°The Inquisition. You truly are parasites and persistent ones at that.¡±


    Violet stood behind the gilded chair, her arms resting atop it. Her chin was propped on her arms, and her smile was coy. There was no fear in her and that alone was enough to give me pause.


    ¡°Xandria!¡± Called Lord Blackthorne, all formality forgotten. It was too late.


    One of the DarkBlades shifted and his foot froze misstep. The pause was sudden, as was his sudden stillness.


    In the wake of Blackthorne¡¯s shout, the room was silent. I raised my sword, shifting my grip and readying myself to charge the woman now standing behind the chair.


    That¡¯s when it happened. The Darkblade jerked suddenly, the movement unnatural and violent. Then light emanating from his blade went out.


    His arm jerked upwards and the fingers twisted, snapping like splintered wood. The man tried to scream but was unable to, held in place as blood poured from beneath his mask.


    Violet¡¯s lips drew into a wide grin and she spread her arms to either side.


    The Darkblade¡¯s mask crumpled inwards with a sound like a crushed can.


    A blast of energy was released followed by a scream so loud and piercing that it rattled my very soul. My hands flew to my head as my vision flickered.


    A psychic scream. Dear god, I¡¯d just witnessed the death of a Mind Mage.


    ¡°G-¡° Xandria had taken a sudden step forward, but just as fast she stopped in place, eyes wide with panic. Lord Blackthorne moved quickly, raising DawnBringer over his head and calling forth a strike of power.


    That arc of golden power dissipated by the time it reached the throne.


    Violet snorted.


    ¡°You are all but spent, Hadrian Blackthorne,¡± she said, biting her lip in amusement.


    ¡°A shame. I would have preferred not to kill you. But these things can¡¯t be helped.¡±


    She threw out an arm and made a sudden twisting motion. The soldier next to Blackthorne''s head exploded.


    ¡°Fuck,¡± shouted Draxus, diving to the side in a clatter of armor. ¡°Don¡¯t let her focus on you.¡±


    The soldiers reeled in uncertainty. Blackthorne shouted orders but that was lost in the chaos as more soldiers began to seize, convulsing as blood sprayed from their eyes and mouth.


    ¡°Charge the throne!¡± I shouted. ¡°To me!¡±


    My men rallied as best they could. Blood mist filled the air, thick and metallic. I saw Lord Blackthorne charge forward, Dawnbringer raised. A blast of Psychic energy sent him skidding backward, only barely able to keep his feet.


    She shouldn¡¯t be this strong. I tried to scan her level but I was repelled, the force enough to make my vision shudder.


    Growling, I grabbed the spear from one of the panicked soldiers, the man blinking in surprise. Then I cocked back my arm and threw it.


    The spear clattered harmlessly off the wall near Violet''s head but it was enough to draw her attention. Her eyes flicked sideways towards the noise and I acted. Shedding my shield I sprinted towards the throne, sword raised for a two-handed strike.


    I ascended the steps to the dais, roaring as I brought my blade to bear. Violet jerked in surprise, her eyes widening when she saw me.


    Then of its own accord, my body froze. I strained, teeth bared as I fought the invisible force that now held me. I might as well have fought a stone wall.


    Violet grinned viciously, satisfaction written in every line of her face.


    ¡°Now now, Ser William,¡± she crooned. ¡°That¡¯s no way to treat a lady.¡±


    Only my eyes could move. I glared at her, anger blazing through them as I tried to convey my fury. My killing intent.


    Violet waved a hand and a soldier that had charged with me collapsed in a spray of blood.


    I made a sound in my throat, half howl, have bellow. My men, she was killing my men. And I was helpless.


    Suddenly the Lord Governor let out a sound. It would have been impossible to hear over the noise if I weren¡¯t standing only feet away.


    The man jerked, far quivering as his eyes bulged. Violent¡¯s unnaturally wide smile made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.


    ¡°Oh,¡± she said softly, her eyes rolling back in ecstasy. ¡°He¡¯s ready.¡±


    Ready? And then as I watched, the Lord Governer began to change.


    His bulging eyes popped so far out that they tumbled from his face, held in place by strings of nerve.


    His mouth, open in a scream was forced wide. A dark clawed hand forced its way out, gripping the side of his jaws and forcing them wider until they cracked.


    His skin stretched like a grotesque balloon, splitting at the seams and weeping crimson blood. From the pile of meat and viscera, climbed a creature.


    It stepped from the skin of the Lord Governor like a man might discard clothing.


    It was tall, with long limbs and a skull made entirely of metal. Its eyes were black holes, and its body.. its dark body seemed to be an imagination of faces. Skin stretched, mouths, open in screams. The creature smiled as it saw me staring, revealing two rows of sharp white teeth.


    Then, it winked out of existence.


    ¡°No!¡± Roared Lord Blackthorne from somewhere. ¡°Get-¡°


    There was a flash of dark light and a burst of energy. The feeling of it made my flesh crawl, made me want to crawl beneath a log and never come out.


    It was unnatural. It should not be. My teeth gritted so hard I thought they might shatter. I threw myself against the invisible wall that held me fast, as the screams of men dying filled my ears.


    Violet watched me struggle with relish. She reached out a hand, stroking fingers along my face.


    ¡°For you, William I will end it soon. Don¡¯t struggle. It will be better for everyone.¡±


    Then I felt it. The foreign presence in my mind. The pressure was intense and immediate. Remembering my lessons from Lord Blackthorne I guarded myself against it, emptying my mind of all conscious thought.


    I focused instead on my breathing. Steady, and unending. The shouts and clashes behind me tugged at my thoughts threatening to distract me. But I breathed in and out, pushing even that from my mind.


    I felt the icy claws of the Mind Mage skittering across my inner defenses, searching for any weakness.


    I must keep my calm. I must keep my-


    ¡°William!¡± The shout was enough to penetrate my concentration.


    Draxus? Or had it been Kato. My fucking friends.. my men. I should be there.


    Growling I thrust the thought away, but not before Violet had exploited my weakness as she slipped inside my mental defenses.


    I retreated quickly, throwing up barriers of concentration as I went. Trying to slow her. But her presence in my mind was powerful. It was unlike anything I had experienced, even in when the Darkblade invaded my thoughts.


    Pain lanced through my skull and I breathed hard through my nose as my eyes watered. There was a steady ache gathering behind my eyes.


    I could feel Violet¡¯s invasion, feel her pulling at my thoughts, ripping at them to get at me.


    ¡°Look at you,¡± said her voice in my mind. ¡°So strong, so resilient. And yet you serve the wrong master. Your false God is nothing more than a shining vale of deceit.¡±


    Her words echoed in my head as I retreated further and further into my mind. She pursued me with loving relentlessness, relishing the flashes of fear I knew she now felt.


    ¡°Pointless,¡± she whispered to me. ¡°So pointless. But you peons are all the same. Marching to your deaths like cattle. Always on your knees for the slaughter.¡±


    Rage ignited in me and I stopped my flight. Holding fast in the walls of my mind as she approached. I tried to shove back but was met only with pain. My nostrils flared, eyes bulging as the pressure built. Dear God, It hurt. But I couldn¡¯t stop. Not now.


    I shoved back against her and Violet let out a noise.


    ¡°There there,¡± she crooned, lips pouting. ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡±


    She had seen the tears leaking from the corners of my eyes and mistaken them for tears of sorrow.


    ¡°My eyes,¡± I whispered in my mind.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Her voice was crooning, inviting as she tore down my defenses. Ripped apart what made me.


    ¡°My eyes,¡± I growled. ¡°They¡¯re stuck open.¡±


    Violet laughed in my mind, the sound like a thousand crawling spiders.


    ¡°Where will you run?¡± She asked. ¡°There is nowhere to go. And when I have you I¡¯ll make you regret it.¡±


    I threw a memory from my old life in front of her like a shield and she swept it easily aside.


    ¡°I know what you are,¡± she said ¡°I am the same. Or was, once? An outworlder. Someone to be feared, and hated. That is the way of things, no?¡±


    I didn¡¯t respond. Suddenly I felt again. The air was cold and dark. My boots splashed as they struck water. It sloshed around my ankles as I froze in place inside my mind.


    In a dark doorway, Violet stood, her eyes glowed red like that of a demon.


    She advanced on me, holding out a hand and I felt an iron grip close around my throat. Somewhere outside of my mind, she had control. Or so she believed.


    As I fought for air I saw Violet¡¯s triumph reflected in her eyes. Her painted lips quirked as she held me fast.


    ¡°I wanted to spare you the torment,¡± she said. ¡°But you had to make it hard.¡±


    She punctuated the last word with a jab of mental pain that made me sag in her grip, falling to my knees. Cold dark water sloshed around me.


    Violet¡¯s eyes slid from mine to the water. Her smile faded slightly as she inspected her surroundings.


    ¡°A mind palace,¡± she said, expression thoughtful.


    ¡°From you? Well well William, you are so full of surprises.¡±


    I coughed a response. Violet arched a brow.


    ¡°What? Speak up, darling.¡±


    ¡°Not me,¡± I said. Violet stared at me uncomprehending.


    Then I looked down. And her gaze followed.


    My reflection stared back at her as I panted for breath past the pain. Violet¡¯s brows drew together as she studied it.


    ¡°What¡¯s..¡± she said.


    Then the me that wasn¡¯t me, smiled.

 Fifty Eight: Dark Legacy (End of Book 1)

    The water rippled.As if a single drop of liquid had fallen three rings appeared, spreading slowly outward.


    Violet froze. Her mouth was half open, locked in an expression of horrified realization.


    Her eyes began to move, and the drifted up to me, bulging with terror.


    Then the surface of the dark water shifted. A hand sprang out from the depths, tanned and dripping. It latched into her ankle. Another burst forth, and grabbed her thigh.


    Violet screamed her body suddenly unfrozen as she turned backwards the way she had come. Her feet began to sink beneath the water, dragged slowly towards her. She tried to kick, spit flying from her lips as she screeched.


    There was something in the water passed the hands that now held her. Something that terrified her to her core.


    ¡°Noooo..!¡± she screamed. ¡°No I¡¯m not¡­ you can¡¯t be real. You can¡¯t be him¡­ it''s fucking impossible!"


    She was babbling now as he knees sank below the waterline. She began to thrash madly, twisting, clawing at the hands that now dragged her further.


    ¡°Help me,¡± she said, her eyes bulging with raw fear. She reached out towards me, wet fingers only inches from my face.


    I watched her with cold eyes.


    ¡°Drown,¡± I told her. ¡°For the men you killed. For the lives you stole. I sentence you to death.¡±


    Violet shuddered violently, water splashing as she tried to claw her way towards the doorway and back into the light. The darkness around was heavy. I felt its weight as I watched her die.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    She cursed me. She pleaded with me. She babbled in mindless terror as she was slowly and inexorably dragged beneath the surface.


    Then her cries became terrified high-pitched screams.. before she was lost beneath the surface.


    I came up like a man taking his first breath.


    Plummeting upwards so fast I was nearly knocked off balance as I slammed back into my conscious mind.


    I had dropped my sword, my empty hands still raised above my head. The throne was empty, and behind it Violet still stood.


    Her eyes were locked in distant fear, her mouth gaping open like a void.


    Black water spilled from within, tumbling down her chin to soak her front.


    Calmly I drew Iron Fang from its sheath at my waist and gripped it in both hands. s?a??h th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.


    Then I drove it into her neck. She fell sideways in a spray of dark water and blood. It leaked over the Dias, spearing past my boots and dripping down the steps towards the throne room floor.


    I turned, still holding the knife and I was met by a room filled with the remnants of disaster. Nearly two-thirds of the soldiers that had entered the palace with us were dead.


    Bodies lined the floor, blood spraying ever inch of stone in a grotesque work of art. When I saw Draxus, Kato and Hade still standing, I breathed a shaky sigh of relief.


    Lord Blackthorne was slumped over the arms of Draxus, breathing hard. Blood trickled down his face into his eyes. But he seemed relatively unharmed, if not exhausted.


    Xandria leaned against a nearby wall. Her arm was nothing more than a mangled stump. Her teeth were clenched, eyes wide as she stared at something across the room.


    I saw the dead Darkblade and knew his death had been the work of a demon.


    It was as if the second Darkblade had been turned inside out. The skin was where skin shouldn¡¯t be. Bits of bone and viscera surrounded his corpse like an arc. And in the center of what had once been his chest.. was a large spike of black stone.


    It pulsed with unnatural energy.. the same that had been on the tunes in the cave beneath the city. The very same that I had found in the pit where the Cursed Bear attacked us.


    Xandria tore her eyes from the sight and turned towards me. She took one look at the dark liquid pooling around my boots and laughed.


    The sound bounced off the walls, bitter.. perhaps even mad."


    ¡°Hadrian,¡± she said, wiping blood from her face. ¡°What the fuck have you done.¡±

 Epilogue

    There was a funeral for the dead of Ceris. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.Wagons carried bodies out of the city in droves. Some were soldiers. Some were Orks. Still others were innocents who had been caught up in this war.


    I stood at the sidelines while the priests of the Radiant church blessed the pyres, saying prayers in a language I didn¡¯t recognize.


    Draxus and Kato stood to one side near Gills, who had an arm around Vera¡¯s shoulders.


    She smiled at him and I saw some of the tension leave my friend''s shoulders. Perhaps there would be enough time for a wedding.


    Inwardly, I knew better. The signs had been correct. The time of Demons threatened to come again.


    In the aftermath, I had pulled Lord Blackthorne aside and asked him the question that had been nagging at me.


    ¡°The creature that.. came out of the Governor. Was that¡±


    I had trailed off but Blackthorne had understood my meaning.


    ¡°A Herald,¡± he concluded, nodding grimly. ¡°Yes. It killed half of the room before fleeing through the city. Its manifestation can only mean one thing.¡±


    ¡°The Red Moon will Rise again,¡± I said, without thinking.


    Lord Blackthorne had given me a strange look then, one more calculated than friendly. Since then he had been more reserved and I couldn¡¯t help but feel that he was actively avoiding me.


    The thought made me uneasy but at this point, there was nothing to be done. When the bodies were burnt and the prayers concluded, I returned to the new Army encampment behind the city walls.


    Hade hailed me as I entered, striding past a group of wounded soldiers being attended to by healers, and gesturing towards the ridge line.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said. ¡°The head healer has asked me to give you a message.¡±


    He held a crumpled piece of parchment up in the air. I waited expectantly.


    After a moment of silence, I arched a brow.


    ¡°What does it say?¡±


    Hade cleared his throat.


    ¡°I ah, don¡¯t know Ser. I can¡¯t read.¡±


    Sighing I took the note from him and scanned its contents. Then I nodded and tucked it into a pocket.


    ¡°Thank you, soldier,¡± I said. ¡°Go and get yourself some food. I know you¡¯ve been taking watch for the past few days, but you need to recoup your strength.¡±


    Hade bowed his head.


    ¡°Yes Ser, thank you.¡±


    I watched the tired soldier march off for a moment before turning and exiting the way I had come.


    The day had been hot, but the burning plains were finally beginning to cool as the sun drifted toward the horizon.


    I found Joanna there, standing with her back to me as she surveyed the land before us.


    I joined her, propping a boot up on a nearby stone and watching the world turn.


    She was the first person to break the silence.


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    ¡°I used to come here,¡± she said. ¡°As a girl. It wasn¡¯t always this way. There used to be more than just scorched earth. Back when¡­ back when things were different.¡±


    I gazed across the sparse plains.


    ¡°And how long ago was that?¡± She pursed her lips.


    ¡°Too long.¡±


    ¡°Who are you really?¡± I asked her suddenly. The question filled the space between us, heavy with implication.


    Azure eyes find mine. They are the storm at sea, and I am but a man adrift.


    ¡°And if I tell you what will you do with that information, Will of Blackbriar?¡±


    For that, I have no answer and she knows it. Her face softened and she stepped towards me, surprising me when she undid the fastening of her veil to reveal her face.


    It¡¯s the second time I¡¯ve seen her face unadorned and it feels somehow intimate.


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± she said softly. ¡°I do not keep my identity from you just to spite you. There are.. greater forces at play here than I. The game of politics is a dangerous one, and trust is scarce.¡±


    ¡°Are you a spy for the prince?¡± I asked her bluntly. Joanna¡¯s eyebrows rose in amused surprise.


    ¡°And if I was? What then?¡±


    I stepped closer to her, closing the distance between us. She tilted her head towards me, eyes sparkling with gentle challenge.


    ¡°You do so love to answer questions with questions,¡± I told her.


    ¡°Only because I know it annoys you.¡±


    I smiled despite myself and I watched her bite her lip, pleased with herself.


    ¡°Give me something tangible,¡± I said. ¡°Something real.¡±


    Joanna¡¯s eyes never left mine as she studied me with an intensity I had never known before. Then she reached a hand up and cupped the back of my neck, drawing me down towards her.


    Her lips met mine and for as long as I live I will never forget their taste.


    ***


    ¡°Ser William,¡± I turned, expecting to see Lord Blackthorne as I returned to camp. To my surprise, it was Ser Connel who greeted me.


    I nodded to him, trying to hide my disappointment.


    ¡°Ser Connel, what can I do for you?¡±


    The Knight came to a halt only a few paces away. Hang fidgeting with the hilt of his sword.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid it has to do with the Witch,¡± he said. ¡°The Witch that the Inquisition captured.¡±


    I arched a brow.


    ¡°I thought she was handed over to the Inquisition in the city,¡± I said carefully. ¡°That she was to be burned.¡±


    See Connel¡¯s face was troubled as he watched several rows of soldiers tromp by.


    ¡°That¡¯s just it,¡± he said. ¡°The Inquisition in Ceris.. have all been killed.¡±


    I frowned.


    ¡°Were they killed in the attack?¡±


    Ser Connel shifted uneasily.


    ¡°We can¡¯t be certain,¡± he said. ¡°But rumor from the townsfolk claim that noises could be heard from inside the church. Strange noises. When the soldiers went to check, the bars of her holding cell had been bent open.¡±


    He paused.


    ¡°They were bars made of blessed steel.¡±


    I rocked back on my heels, letting out a breath.


    And I suppose Lord Blackthorne is hoping i¡¯ll chase her down for him?


    See Connel was spared a reply by the sound of boot steps from behind.


    ¡°Actually Will, I was hoping you¡¯d join me on the hunt.¡± I turned to see Gills striding towards me, followed by what looked like half of the 3rd.


    ¡°But only after we take care of some.. more local business.¡±


    It took me a moment to put the pieces together.


    ¡°You¡¯re planning to go after the Firebrand?¡± I asked. ¡°That¡¯s a bold move. One might even say, a reckless one.¡±


    ¡°Not just me,¡± Gills pulled the piece of wheat he had been chewing on from between his teeth and gestured towards the camp.


    ¡°Orders came in from on high. We were striking a counterattack, now while the iron is hot. What I want to know, is if you¡¯re with us.¡±


    My old friend waited, and I realized for the first time the significance of his request. Here now in front of everyone, Gills was acknowledging me as an equal and an independent party.


    It was a significant gesture, and one I knew would cause ripples in the Army hierarchy. Already I could see some of the other Knights watching me with weary expressions.


    I waited a few beats, letting the silence linger. Then I looked ar Gills and grinned.


    ¡°Yeah, alright,¡± I said.


    The Veteran rolled his eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s our boy,¡± said Kato, stepping around gills to jostle my shoulder.


    Ser Connel looked like he¡¯d rather be anywhere else. He made a noise in his throat and turned away. I heard him mutter something about improper mode of address before clattering off towards his men.


    ¡°So, we¡¯re going on the offensive,¡± I said. ¡°And then what?¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll see.¡±


    Gills hefted his legendary spear, its lethal bronze tip gleaming in the setting sun.


    I was going to say more when a system notification popped into my vision. I stared at the tiny blip for a moment, my heart thudding in my chest.


    A notification of this kind only meant one thing.


    I excused myself on the pretense of ducking back into my tent for supplies. There in the confines of my space, I opened the Quest tab.


    New Quest available: prerequisites 0/8


    New Quest: Find the Witch


    I sighed.


    ¡°Never a dull moment.¡±


    ** I am told some readers don''t read chapter notes so I wanted to add in that if you don''t want to wait for book 2 the start is already available on Patreon and I will be dropping a chapter a day there. Royal Road will get the first chapter in a week. Thank you everyone, and looking forward to sharing more of Wills story!

 IB Update & New Book!

    Dungeon ApocalypseThe Apocalypse has just begun but Zade, three drinks in and one girlfriend down, has bigger problems.


    Stranded on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, he¡¯s forced to battle arachnid warriors and a giant Kraken just to survive. And that¡¯s only the beginning.


    The Multiverse has collided with Earth, rendering the world into a hellscape of Dungeons and Mythic Beasts.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Now the survivors must navigate the Underground, a vast network of subterranean cities and dungeons that are each governed by their own rules.


    For many, being forced to battle for survival is a nightmare. But for Zade, this new bloody profession opens doors he could have never imagined.


    Hey all, good morning.


    Thank you for waiting patiently for the release of more Iron Blooded I have great news. Edits for book 1 have been completed and IB is now available for preorder on Amazon.


    My tendinitis has mostly improved and we''ll be rolling back into book 2 both on Patreon and here on RR very shortly.


    In the meantime I had backlog for a second story that will be running along side Iron Blooded - Dungeon Apocalypse! Every wondered what a system apocalypse might look like if it started on a cruise ship? Please consider checking it out if it sounds like your speed, every little bit helps.


    Thanks so much for your support and I can''t wait continue Will''s story with you all. This community has been simply incredible, and I''m grateful to be apart of it.


    -- Reece B Sea?ch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 (B2) One: Across the Plains

    Blood oozed between my fingers, dripping down my mail and onto the floor.Every breath was agony, and yet I knew I couldn¡¯t stop. Not now, not when I was so close to my goal. My HUD flashed a warning as my vitality slowly drained away. I gritted my teeth and pressed on, my boots leaving bloody footprints back the way I had come.


    Ahead, the great gilded door stood before me. Runes of power pulsed and hummed along the edges of the stone. The power was palpable - a weight in the air that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.


    It was madness, I knew. But I refused to turn back now.


    Pressing my shoulder to the door I drew my sword with my free hand, chest rising and falling against the pain.


    ¡°This ends now,¡± I growled into the cold air. And then I stepped within.


    *** [Present Day]


    The heat of the burning plains was relentless and unforgiving.


    I tore a piece of monster jerky off in my teeth and chewed, grimacing at the taste.


    Around me, the men of the Kadian Army¡¯s forward unit hunkered down to rest. The pursuit of the Ork Host had gone on for 6 long days, and now we were closing in.


    I gazed across the dunes of the plains, spotting a small cloud of dust in the distance.


    ¡°The scouts have returned,¡± I told Draxus, swallowing my last bite of jerky and rising to my feet.


    My friend grunted and drew an arm across his brow, glancing at the sky.


    ¡°Three hours until nightfall,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ll have to stop to rest sometime.¡±


    ¡°So will we.¡±


    I ran an eye over the temporary camp, noting the dark circles under many eyes. It had been a hard run and the longer it dragged on, the more haggard the men became. My only consolation was the knowledge that the beaten and broken Host, which had begun to fracture since their leader''s defeat, was just as worn down.


    Instinct had told me to press that advantage, though I knew it came at a cost. The sooner the Firebrand was a corpse, the better.


    The small cloud of dust materialized into the two figures as the scouts drew closer. Eric and Astrid strode towards me, the latter covered in a thin layer of what looked like tan mud.


    When I arched a brow the northern Archer shrugged.


    ¡°Camouflage,¡± she said simply. I didn¡¯t contradict her. Of the hundred or so men under my temporary command here, half of them were made up of the 3rd Auxillary. Twenty of them were my own, and the rest were a few squads wearing the livery of Lord¡¯s Blackthorn and Dacon.


    ¡°So,¡± I said, nodding to Astrid, and picking my helmet up from where it lay. ¡°What¡¯s the verdict?¡±


    Astrid bit her lip, brows creased.


    ¡°It¡¯s both better and worse than we thought,¡± she said, hefting her bow on her shoulder. Sea?ch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The Host has indeed fractured, and with their loss of leadership that was expected. But there are¡­ other factors we hadn¡¯t anticipated.¡±


    Draxus moved beside me, restless on his feet.


    ¡°And those would be?¡±


    Astrid grimaced.


    ¡°The Khan¡¯s son.¡±


    I swore turning away and gripping my helmet so tightly my knuckles turned white. This had been exactly what I¡¯d hoped to avoid. Even with Urksol defeated, if his son managed to rally the now splintered Host, we would have trouble on our hands.


    ¡°How many?¡± I asked, turning back to face Astrid.


    ¡°At least Five hundred, maybe Eight. The Orks suffered heavy casualties during the siege, and several of the Tribes split of from the main body. But still¡­¡± she trailed off, the grimness in her expression reflecting the mood in the small circle around me.


    All eyes now turned to me. I gripped my helmet in both hands, staring down at the dark metal. A faint sheen of purple power coated the metal, marking it as a legendary Item.


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    Before me, two paths of action branched.


    I could press forward, preserving our momentum and confronting the remnants of the Host. That seemed madness, but only one other option remained. Retreat.


    ¡°Well,¡± said Kato with a sigh. ¡°This complicates things.¡±


    Draxus adjusted his sword belt on his waist, face grim. ¡°We can''t risk a direct confrontation,¡± he said. ¡°Not now. Our only chance would be to hit them while they sleep.¡±


    ¡°Easier said than done when the Host knows we¡¯re coming,¡± Kato stuck his tongue in his lip, scratching at his eyepatch.


    ¡°Damn thing still itches.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s only been a week,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Quit messing with it.¡±


    ¡°Eye eye Captain.¡±


    Draxus let out a long-suffering sigh.


    I lifted my helmet onto my head, leaving the visor open as I surveyed the sky.


    ¡°There might be a way,¡± I said at last. Kato and Draxus looked incredulous. Hade looked like he might puke across his boots.


    ¡°Is it really worth the risk, Ser William?¡± the soldier asked, shifting nervously from foot to foot. ¡°Even now their numbers far exceed our own.¡±


    I nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not debating it. I believe the danger lies in the risk of letting them go. If the Khan¡¯s son gains a foothold here, he could very well end up rallying the Tribes to his cause once more. In its current state, Ceris wouldn¡¯t last the week. When it falls, the southern lands will be next.¡±


    There was another reason, a reason I wasn¡¯t keen to advertise. Lord Blackthorne had pulled me aside only moments before my departure. His face had been pale and gaunt, the results of several days spent in the tents of healers trying to undo the damage he had suffered.


    His tired dark eyes had met mine, and once again I had felt the rift that now lay between us.


    ¡°I have a job for you, Blackbriar. If you¡¯ll take it.¡±


    I had rocked back on my heels, unsure of what to make of the nature of that request.


    ¡°I will, My Lord,¡± I said cautiously. Lord Blackthorne had wiped the sweat from his brow with a strip of linen. I remember then that he looked less like a warrior of legend and more like a man then I had ever seen him.


    That alone unsettled me, though at the time I was unsure why.


    ¡°Back in the streets, when you and your men faced off against Firebrand. He said something then, something that¡¯s stuck with me.¡±


    Blackthorne coughed and turned to the side to spit flem. I waited, pulse racing.


    ¡°He alluded to the fact that he wanted something the Lord Governor had. Enough that he would lead his Host to walls of a city that has stood for hundreds of years.¡±


    I had frowned then, unsure of what he meant.


    ¡°I thought the price he spoke of was the city itself.¡±


    Blackthorne snorted. ¡°What use would an Ork host have for a city? No, they live their lives on the move, the host is a machine made up of Tribe¡¯s that run on glory and bloodshed.¡±


    It made logical sense but as I remembered the events in the House of Refuge my stomach turned over.


    ¡°What do you think he¡¯s after, my Lord?¡± I asked.


    Lord Blackthorne closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again he seemed somehow stronger.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he had said. ¡°But I want you to find out.¡±


    ***


    The light of the half-moon was the only thing to guide us. Four hours later we crouched in the tall dry grasses of the plains, staring out at the Host encampment. The men were sweaty and exhausted, having just spent the past few hours running in armor.


    It was a gamble, but I hoped it would pay off. There was a solid thud and a soft hiss of pain from somewhere behind.


    ¡°No torch was a bold choice,¡± grumbled Kato as he strode up beside me. His unsheathed sword was covered in a strip of dark cloth, hiding the gleam of metal while remaining in hand.


    Mine was the same. I had ordered all of the men to use the remaining cloth, repurposed from spare cloaks and blankets, to wrap their boots and pad their armor.


    The result looked odd enough, but it served its purpose. I rose slightly from my crouch long enough to risk a glance to the far right. Somewhere ahead, Astrid would be making her move.


    I watched as a warm breeze stirred the grass around us, looking for any sign. It was long before I spotted movement on the edge of the Ork camp.


    Four dark figures bend low, darting their way from shadow to shadow. I tensed, sweaty hand gripping my sword as I waited for their approach.


    Four Ork Sentry patrolled in pairs, heavy boots stomping the Earth. I could hear their strange guttural language drifting on the breeze as they went. The light of their torches cast strange shadows on their red skin, and I was reminded of just how large and formidable they truly were.


    Astrid stopped at the edge of the firelight and knelt. The other Archers, still in the grass, took up positions behind her. I watched as she raised her bow and sighted down the shaft. I licked my lips.


    A single mistake could mean the difference between being the hunter and the hunted. But Astrid was well aware. She shook her head, hood falling back as she took aim. I saw her mouth move as she said something.


    Then the arrow lanced through the night. It took the Ork in the eye, and his head jerked back. Another arrow found his companion''s throat and I watched with tense shoulders as one of the archers darted forward with a small knife and finished the job.


    The soft thud of the body made me wince and I held my breath. When nothing happened I released it and waited for Astrid¡¯s signal.


    She turned and was about to raise her hand when a second pair of boots on cracked Earth made her freeze. Deftly she pulled an arrow from her quiver and turned. An Ork Raid boss had strode from the camp clad in little more than leather armor.


    Focused as he was on what was in front of him he failed to glance to the side as he made his way towards the grasses edge. Astrid remained still, watching him come to a stop only ten feet away. There was a pause and then a splatter of liquid.


    ¡°Shit way to die,¡± muttered Kato even as the two arrows Struck him in the neck and behind the knee. The Raider Boss¡¯s knee buckled and he let out a grunt cut into a gurgle as the knife opened his throat.


    ¡°And that,¡± said Draxus approvingly. ¡°Is why you don¡¯t fuck with Astrid.¡± He gave Kato a significant look. The one-eyed soldier only grinned.


    ¡°Fear is for the weak.¡±


    ¡°Focus,¡± I growled, and the two of them lapsed into silence. I watched as Astrid and her crew dragged the bodies into the tall grass. The Orks were heavy and it took several long minutes for them to complete their work.


    I watched the edge of camp, tensing when I saw the flicker of torches. Another Ork had come and this one was flanked by several soldiers. A patrol? The lead Ork pointed towards the hills and snarled something I didn¡¯t understand.


    The soldiers, dressed forward, took off at a trot.


    ¡°Shit,¡± I hissed. ¡°It¡¯s a scout patrol. And they¡¯re headed right for us.¡±

 (B2) Two: Knives in the Night

    Draxus shifted beside me, alarm written on his features.¡°Are we compromised?¡±


    I watched the Orks for a moment longer before shaking my head. They weren¡¯t moving with the urgency and intent I¡¯d expect of a camp under attack, and the alarm hadn¡¯t been sounded. That left only one option.


    ¡°It¡¯s a scout patrol,¡± I whispered. ¡°They don¡¯t know we¡¯re here. They¡¯ll pass by us before heading West.¡±


    I exchanged a look with Draxus and Kato.


    ¡°Lay low,¡± I hissed. ¡°And do not engage unless I give the order.¡± I gestured to the men all around. Thirty of us in the grass. ¡°Spread the word.¡±


    Soundlessly Draxus slunk away, careful not to disturb the grass as he went. The other soldiers, many of my men, and some of the 3rd crouched down and heeded my orders to lay still.


    Fifty paces away the Ork Patrol reached the edge of the grass. Their weapons were sheathed and they moved quickly. Five of them in all.


    I lay on my stomach in the grass, watching their silhouettes approach in the moonlight. We were too exposed, and yet I couldn¡¯t risk giving the signal with the Orks so far.


    They were forty paces away. Then Thirty. I could hear the heavy tromp of their boots against the Earth and the grunts of their heavy breathing. Twenty paces.


    A wind picked up, stirring the stalks of tall grasses. A soldier shifted somewhere nearby. As he moved, his boot struck another man''s helmet.


    My heartbeat throbbed in my chest. One of the Ork¡¯s head jerked around his hand going to his weapon. I could see the gleam of his eyes in the moonlight as he scanned his surroundings.


    He grunted something in his language to one of his companions who turned in a half circle, looking back the way they had come. His boot was so close that I could smell the stink of sweat and blood.


    Slowly I drew the dark cloth from the blade of my sword, readying it for battle. The movement drew the eye of the Ork above. He looked down, his horn head tilting in surprise. I saw his eyes widen, and that¡¯s when I gave the signal.


    I exploded from the underbrush driving the tip of my blade through the hollow of the Orks throat with viscous efficiency. The only sound he had time to make was a gurgle as he slumped forward, drowning in his own blood.


    I saw other shadows rise from the grass. Heard one of the Orks manage to grunt a warning and half draw his iron sword. His head hit the grass with a muffled thump moments later.


    I guided the body of the dead Ork down to the ground, pulling my blade free with a squelch. Several feet away Draxus did the same. We waited in tense silence, listening for the sound of any alarm.


    When none came I released the breath I¡¯d been holding and slowly stood. The Ork that had been on watch at the camp entrance now lay dead, an arrow through one of his eyes. Astrid emerged from the darkness and nodded to me from beneath her hood.


    ¡°Close call,¡± she mouthed. ¡°Sloppy.¡±


    I arched a brow and she smirked. One of the other archers gestured to the edge of the camp, now bathed in the soft glow of firelight. I nodded and signaled to my men.


    Hade tapped the shoulders of four men and led them down a nearby grassy slope. I watched as their helmets bobbed, disappearing in the tall grass. They would circle the camp, looking for any sentries or stragglers before we had the misfortune of encountering them.


    I wiped the red stain from my blade with the strip of cloth and tossed it aside. Then, I sheathed it and drew Iron Fang.


    We need to move fast to remain undetected. My men took their places along the grass line, only the tips of spears, and gleam of eyes visible. Astrid took point.


    As we stepped into the ring of firelight she led the way, bow at the ready and arrow nocked. We moved to a group of dark tents, fabric flapping in the breeze. There was a cooking pot boiling nearby, water bubbling.


    We moved past several Orks sleeping in the open on the bare grass. Their snores were cut short as we ended them, quickly and without mercy. Blood pooled on the dry earth, and with it went the life of my enemies.


    Astrid skirted the edge of a tent up ahead. She was about to turn the corner when she froze, gazing at something I couldn¡¯t see. I didn¡¯t have time to wonder.


    A cry cut through the air. Male and unmistakably human. A man begging for his life. Orks grunting snorting laughs could be heard, echoing in the night air.


    We had found the Khan¡¯s son.


    I crept to Astrid¡¯s side and leaned around the corner, Iron Fang clutched tightly in my fist. He was unmistakable. An Ork a foot taller than the others, with black horns that curved like that of a Ram.


    Memories danced in my mind. Or blood spilled on the Earth. Of laughter and mockery. The Khan and his son had delivered a blow to humanity that day, in more ways than one. I intended to pay them back for every life lost in Ceris.


    ¡°Ser William.¡± The voice was low and urgent but I was loathed to look away. Not when he sat there amongst his followers, drinking from a horn of ale and laughing.


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    A human was strapped to a board spread-eagled. His hands had been nailed in place, blood oozing from the wounds. He had been a soldier once, that much was evident in the stained livery he now wore. Blue and gold.. One of Lord Dacon¡¯s men.


    I clenched my fist at my side as I watched him take heaving breaths, his head hanging low.


    ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Said Astrid in my ear. She was right, I knew she was. But it didn¡¯t hurt any less.


    I forced myself to turn away.


    ¡°We find him,¡± I said. ¡°And we kill him. Then we deal with his son.¡±


    We slunk through shadows like thieves in the night, avoiding any Orks that we saw. A sentry passed by us, snorkeling and scratching at his chin as he walked. As we checked the contents of each tent in the central camp my heart raced faster.


    We were running out of time. Any moment now one of the Orks might discover one of the bodies we had left behind. Or worse, the soldiers that now lay in wait.


    I could feel the tension in the cloaked figures around as we drew back another tent flap and found nothing but a few low-level orks lying on their sides. I turned away, sinking my teeth into my lip.


    Had I miscalculated? I¡¯d assumed that Urksol, now wounded as he was, would be laid up in one of the tents surrounded by healers. Now I was beginning to fear he wasn¡¯t here at all.


    A thought occurred to me but I quickly dismissed it. If the Firebrand was dead, I doubted the Orks would have stopped to make camp. Even exhausted as they were, they wouldn¡¯t have risked it.


    That meant he had to be here somewhere.


    I turned to Astrid, seeking her eyes in the semi-darkness.


    ¡°We¡¯re thinking like humans,¡± I told her. ¡°We¡¯re looking for him in the wrong places. Orks value strength, right? Without it, the Firebrand would be treated as little more than a common soldier.¡±


    Astrid bit her lip in thought then nodded. One of the other Archers waved a hand to get our attention and pointed towards a tent set apart from the others. A few moments later the murmur of rough voices drifted across the camp.


    Though I couldn¡¯t understand their raspy language, I could sense the intent behind the words. There was anger there, and maybe a little impatience. Moving from shadow to shadow, I rose from my crouch to peer around the edge of the tent.


    Two Orks stood, arguing amongst themselves. One, the larger of the two, cut a hand through that air and pointed at the tent. The other shook his horned head but fell eventually silent. After a moment he grunted in agreement. I saw the other Ork turn for the tent entrance. Saw the gleam of metal in his fist.


    ¡°Stay put,¡± I told the Archers. I tapped Astrid¡¯s shoulder and pointed to the Ork now standing guard twenty paces away.


    ¡°Can you take care of him?¡± Astrid nodded and pulled an arrow from the quiver on her back. At the same time, I stayed low, slinking around the side of the tents in front of me until I had a clear view of the entrance flap.


    I¡¯d have one chance to make the distance, and I had to pray I wasn¡¯t seen. I held my breath, waiting between heartbeats. Then I heard the twang of a bowstring and I sprinted forward.


    The Ork twisted in surprise at the sound of the bow and the movement caused the arrow, aimed at his throat, to miss its mark. Instead, it stuck him in the collar bone and the Ork made a growl of pain. I was on him in seconds, ducking under the massive hand that tried to grab ahold of me, and slamming my knife into his unprotected armpit. Once, twice, three times.


    He fell with a rattle of armor that made me clench my teeth. Movement flickered at the tent entrance. I looked up in time to see a hatchet flying for my head. I dove aside, landing hard on my elbows. The Ork from within the tent had returned. He took in the scene in one glance and lifted his head back, lungs expanding to release a bellow that would raise the alarm.


    This time Astrid¡¯s arrow did its work. It punched through the side of his neck and clean through, whistling as it passed into the night beyond. The Ork gurgled, his cry nothing more than a wet rasp.


    I gripped him by the horns, savagely wrenching his neck until my muscles strained with effort and I heard the meaty snap. I lowered his lifeless body to the ground. Chest still heaving I turned towards Astrid.


    I could see the shine of her eyes in the darkness. She nodded to me and I nodded back. I had to do this, and I needed to do it alone. Readjusting my grip on Iron Fang, I ducked through the flap of the tent.


    It was the stench that hit me first. Of rot and sour sweat¡­ the smell of the dead or dying. This was not an Ork Khan on the mend. Urksol was dying, and he did not go well.


    The Ork lay in a pile of rags, Mighty chest rising and falling like weak bellows. His tusks were yellow with crusted spittle and his sallow eyes watched me as I entered. There was little reaction other than a slight shift of his red shoulders and a coughing sound.


    I realized moments later that it was a laugh.


    ¡°The Irony of the moment is not lost on me, Blue Shield,¡± he said. ¡°One of your kind saving me from an assassin only to kill me yourself? What luck.¡±


    He hacked again, and spit dribbled down his chin. It was red. I glanced down and in the candle light, I saw the state of his wound. Urksol should have already been dead. The stump of his leg below the knee had blackened and maggots gnawed the eroded flesh.


    I grimaced, unable to hide the disgust on my face. Urksol only grinned.


    ¡°Have you lost your nerve, human? Are you spineless after all?¡±


    I stepped further into the tent and let him see my face. Let him see the cold resolve in it as I approached. He let his head fall back.


    ¡°No,¡± he rasped. ¡°No I see it in your eyes. You¡¯re a killer, aren¡¯t you? A killer of Orks. And one day, you¡¯ll be a killer of men. Mark my words.¡±


    I pointed the knife at him, watching as his eyes flickered across the blade.


    ¡°I want only one thing from you,¡± I said. ¡°And that¡¯s information.¡±


    The Firebrand grinned.


    ¡°And why should I give it to you? What¡¯s stopping me from burning this tent down, you along with it?¡±


    It was my turn to laugh.


    ¡°You have no Mana left. You¡¯re spent, and your power is tied to your vitality. You could no more conjure a fireball than I can.¡±


    It was a guess but at the shift in the Khan¡¯s eyes, I saw I had guessed right.


    ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°I offer you what you don¡¯t have now. A clean and swift death at my hands. Unless you prefer to rot?¡±


    Urksol drew his lips back from his tusks and rasped a sound, closing his eyes.


    ¡°So you¡¯re a fool,¡± he said. ¡°You offer me death. I¡¯m already dying. The threat of your blade doesn¡¯t sway me, and I don¡¯t desire a clean death.¡±


    ¡°Oh no?¡±


    I strode forward, forcing a smile to twist my lips. I flipped Iron Fang in my palm and made him watch as I lowered it towards his wound. The tip sank into decayed flesh and the Khan let out a soft groan of agony.


    I held his gaze.


    ¡°I don¡¯t threaten you with death,¡± I said. ¡°If I wanted to threaten you I would leave you here at the Mercy of your fellows. Then I¡¯d kill your son. Without him to defend you what do you think they would do to you? All those Tribes that you subjugated? All those challengers you broke in the circle. Do you think they would have mercy on you?


    I twisted the knife and Urksol hissed through his nose.


    ¡°Or do you think they would cut off your other leg and make you¡­ what was it you said? Crawl like a dog?¡±


    When the Firebrand''s dark eyes opened again I saw in them something I never had before. True fear.


    I had guessed right, now I only had to drive the point home.


    I wrenched the knife out suddenly, raising it with vicious intent.


    ¡°Wait,¡± growled Urksol, anger and fear warring within his tired gaze. ¡°Damn you Blue Shield, wait.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I waited, glare cold.


    ¡°A swift death, and I die with my blade in my hand. A true warrior.¡±


    I waited a few long moments before nodding. Then I sucked in a breath.


    ¡°You came to Ceris for a reason, you and your Host. I want to know why. I want to know what it was you were seeking.¡±

 Three: Hidden Depths

    The candles in the tent sputtered, yellow flames dancing.


    The soft drip of blood from the end of my blade was the only sound, other than the heavy rasp of the Kahns¡¯s breathing. Urksol¡¯s black eyes held a reluctant respect as he shifted his weight. He grunted in pain, lips pulling back from teeth.


    ¡°So,¡± he growled, watching me with intensity. ¡°You want to know why? Because human, it is the will of the Gods that it be so. They granted me power, gave me the right to rule over my people and claim dominion of this land. It is by their will your city fell.¡±


    I snorted.


    ¡°Is it their will that you sit in a pile of your own filth and wait for death?¡±


    Uksol smiled, his sharp teeth stained red.


    ¡°If that is their price,¡± he said. ¡°Then I would pay it willingly. You humans follow the will of men ¨C weak men who cannot see beyond their wants and earthly desires. Some grow fat and lazy, never knowing the true joy of battle.¡±


    ¡°There is no joy in battle,¡± I said. Urksol¡¯s eyes glittered.


    ¡°Is there not? Are you to tell me you have never felt the rush of the fight? The surge of bloodlust and the satisfaction of seeing your enemies broken before you?¡±


    I kept my silence and the Firebrand only coughed a laugh, his gaze knowing. I tightened my grip around my cursed iron dagger, knowing that every moment spent inside the tent was a risk to myself and my men. And yet, I needed information.


    ¡°Who are your Gods?¡± I asked. ¡°What do they want with mankind.¡±


    ¡°Want? Who am I to know the whims of beings such as they? They who created the heavens and the earth and ruled over them with iron hands. No, it is not mine to say, Blue Shield. As a cub, I was touched by their hands and guided by their Will. A tool to be brought against the great enemy.¡±


    ¡°The God King,¡± I guessed, feeling my own unease rise. Urksol surprised me by making a hissing sound and lifting his head weakly in order to spit a glob of blood between us.


    ¡°Cursed one,¡± he growled. ¡°False King. Mankind knows not what it bows to but he is no God, of that there is no doubt.¡±


    A chill that had nothing to do with the weather was creeping up my spine, filling me with unease. I had heard that sentiment before, though it echoed much more mildly. I glanced behind me where the tent flap swirled in a soft breeze. I was running out of time and yet I needed to know.


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    ¡°What do you know of Enais?¡± I asked, fighting to keep the Urgency from my voice.


    Ukrsol¡¯s horned head dropped back to the rags, his breathing labored. Even that had taken something out of him.


    ¡°He is,¡± he rasped. ¡°An Oathbreaker. An enemy of many Gods. He is not himself a God, nor is he a mortal man. He is something else entirely. That¡¯s what we,¡±


    He coughed again and I could hear the fluid in his lungs.


    ¡°That is what we strove to find. There were records of your False King once ¨C though most of those were taken by your inquisition, burned, amended or otherwise lost to time. That and to reclaim what was taken from us all those years ago.¡±


    I narrowed my eyes.


    ¡°Taken?¡±


    Urksol drew in a shuddering breath and tilted his horned head. His eyes were weary and his breathing grew more strained.


    ¡°The Artifact,¡± he said, eyes drifting closed. On my HUD I could see the indication. He was close to dying, much closer than I assumed. By the sound of his labored breathing, I knew I had only moments.


    I drew closer then, staring down at the Ork I had once called enemy.


    ¡°What artifact? I asked. ¡°What did you find?¡±


    Ukrsol¡¯s hand shot out, closing around my wrist. With one swift movement, I let go of my dagger, catching it in my free hand and pressing it to his throat. My heart was thumping in my ears but the Firebrand did not react. Instead, he seemed to be drawing me in, his red lips pale and trembling.


    ¡°Do you hear them too?¡± he asked, his eyes unfocusing. ¡°Do the Gods speak to you, human?¡±


    I was losing him as the fever of death took him. I wrenched my arm from his grasp, leaning over him. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Tell me,¡± I said. ¡°Tell me what you found.¡±


    The Khan¡¯s head turned from side to side.


    ¡°I hear them,¡± he said, uncharacteristically soft. ¡°They speak through me and give me purpose. And their purpose gives me power.¡±


    I stared at him for a long moment, uncomprehending. Then, slowly it began to make sense.


    ¡°You receive Quests..¡± I said, barely more than a whisper. I waited for his response, every nerve on fire. If this was true.. if this was real. It might change everything.


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Urksol at last. He let out a sigh and then as I watched his body began to convolse. His head jerked from side to side, yellow foam forming at the corners of his mouth as his eyes rolled.


    I knew what I had to do. I reached forward, gripping his horns to hold him still. His lance was nowhere to be found so instead I grabbed the hunting knife from my boot and placed it in his fumbling hands.


    ¡°I am,¡± he wheezed. ¡°ready.¡±


    His gaze was dull, pleading. I grit my teeth. I still wanted answers¡­ and yet¡­


    I drew the knife across the Firebrand''s throat, letting the blood spill down his chest. He joked for a moment, drowning. But it was overly quick. His eyes went glassy, his limbs still.


    Urksol The Firebrand Corpse flashed across my vision. It was done. It was over, my enemy was slain. A glimmer of something drew my gaze. The Firebrands horn, which I had been gripping tightly in my freehand had come away. It was dark, twisted like that of a ram. And even as I turned it over in my hands an Item message appeared.


    Item: Ruinous Horn. Item 1/3 ingredients needed to form: Unbroken Blade, Mythic


    Was this what I think it was? I didn¡¯t know Mythic Items could be forged. I had always assumed that the Item itself was a drop from fighting a Monster with Legendary status. This changed things.


    I tucked the Horn into my inventory and took a last look at Urksol the Firebrand. He was dead, but the trouble was far from over. Now, I had to deal with his son. The question was ¨C how?


    I wiped the blood from Iron Fang and turned, striding towards the entrance of the tent. I was looking down, lost in thought when I ducked through the flap. And that was why I failed to see it coming.

 (B2) Four: Blood Price

    This time my speed wasn¡¯t enough to save me. The blow of the axe struck me in the shoulder knocking me sideways and into the dirt. The pain came moments later, leaving me breathless as I scrambled to find my fallen Dagger.


    Four Orks stood over me, and the one that had struck raised his axe over his head.


    ¡°No,¡± the voice was calm, low, but unmistakably human. I looked up and saw him standing among them. He was tall, bald, and inside his dark hood I could see the curve of pointed ears. August? No, this creature was different. His skin was pale, his eyes narrowed to catlike slits.


    At the sight of me, his lip curled in distaste.


    ¡°If you kill him now any information dies with him.¡±


    A gleam of metal in the firelight caught my attention and I spotted Iron Fang in the dust by the boots of one of the Orks. I needed to get to it. I resisted the urge to look around for Astrid and instead focused on the Orks in front of me. One leveled a spear at my neck, another two stood behind me. A fourth had his arms folded, standing by the side of the cloaked elven figure.


    I couldn¡¯t afford to make a show of looking for Astrid, I just had to hope that she was somewhere nearby. A sharp blow to the side of my head made my vision dance. One of the Orks behind me had struck me with the butt of his staff.


    A pair of dark boots came into my vision, followed by the smell of smoke as the elf, or whatever he was, knelt beside me.


    ¡°What is your name?¡± He asked. His voice was like ice but I knew better than to underestimate him. I defended my mind the way Lord Blackthorne had taught me, heart pounding as I waited. No mental barbs came. So, he wasn¡¯t a mind mage.


    The elf lifted his head and said something in Orkish. It was strange to hear the words from his lips but I had no time to ponder it. I was stuck again by the but of a staff catching myself on my hands in the dust.


    ¡°we¡¯ll try again,¡± he said calmly. ¡°What is your name, human?¡±


    I mumbled something. He tilted his head, pale eyebrows drawing together.


    ¡°Speak up, vermin.¡±


    I lunged. It was a poor attempt, but it was all I had. I knocked aside the spear pointed at my chest, lunging forward with my hand outstretched. Several Orks were caught off guard and for a moment I thought I might succeed. But then, faster than the eye could see, the cloaked figure moved.


    Shadows seemed to pool around him and he seemed to distort, flowing forward faster than should have been possible. In an instant his dark boot had slammed down pinning my arm to the dirt only inches from the hilt of Iron Fang. Moments later I felt a rib crack under the heavy kicks of Orks from either side. I curled into a ball, unable to free my trapped hand. I could hear the snarls of Orks above me, hear the sigh of the elf as he reluctantly ordered them to stop.


    I was panting, my lip split, and one eye quickly swelled shut under the beating. Pale fingers wrapped around my chin, wrenching it upwards so hard my neck creaked. His hands were as cold as ice, as were his eyes, that now watched me like a snake.


    I glared at him through my one good eye and he laughed.


    ¡°Such spirit,¡± he said, amused. ¡°It¡¯s a shame you serve Enais. Such a waste of a vessel such as yourself. You could be¡­ so much more.¡±


    I tried to spit at him but only succeeded in spitting on the ground between us. He arched an eyebrow, lips curving.


    ¡°I do so wish to break you,¡± he said. One of the Orks said something and his eyes glinted with a momentary flash of irritation as he glanced up and away. He said something in Orkish and made a gesture, to which the Ork nearest him responded with a grunt.


    That seemed to irritate him.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be,¡± he hissed. ¡°I have a spy amongst those at Ceris. He would have told me if¡­¡± he glanced at me and his eyes narrowed. Then he continued speaking in Orkish.


    While he talked I moved my free hand from beneath me and began to inch it forward, towards my knife. I let my head droop toward the ground, and let the tension in my shoulders loosen. Just a little farther. My fingers encountered the leather edge of my boot.


    I groped further, fingers closing around the hilt of my hunting knife. I lay still, waiting as my mouth filled with the copper tang of blood. Then my HUD flashed.


    Iron-Blooded: Active


    I wrenched my knife from its sheath. The blade glowed red as I punched it through the knee of the elf. I expected a spray of blood. A scream of pain. But none came. Instead, shadows pooled from the wound and when he looked down at me, his eyes went completely black.


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    The very sky around us seemed to darken and I got the impression I had made a terrible mistake. There was no time to double-think. I wrenched my hand from under his boot, feeling the sharp sting of pain as one of my fingers dislocated.


    Then I was snatching up Iron Fang and scrambling away on hands and knees. I had lost my hunting knife in the frey, the Ork who I had stabbed was fumbling with it, hands slick with blood.


    ¡°Now!¡± I said, hoping and praying that my guess had been right. ¡°Now, Astrid!¡±


    There was a whipping sound and the air around me stirred. An Arrow with a glowing blue tip whistled by me, lancing straight for the shadowy figure. He stepped aside with that same flowing speed but the arrow struck the Ork behind him, killing the creature instantly.


    Astrid stepped out of the shadows, drawing another bow from her quiver. One of her archers ran forward, grabbing my arm and helping me to my feet. There was the snap of more bows, and another Ork went down.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± said the Archer nearest me, uncertainty casting his features.


    ¡°Do we call the alarm?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice.¡± Astrid let fly another arrow and dropped her hand to her hip where her brother''s horn was buckled to her belt. I caught her hand.


    ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°We can¡¯t fight that thing. He¡¯ll kill us and then he¡¯ll kill most of the men. He¡¯s some kind of Magus.¡±


    ¡°Then we run?¡± she asked, her tone incredulous.


    ¡°We retreat,¡± I amended. ¡°And we live to fight another day.¡±


    ¡°What of the Kahn?¡±


    ¡°Dead.¡±


    Astrid hesitated but a lance of shadow spun out of the darkness and struck a tent beside us, spraying us in dirt. Orks were beginning to rouse in the camp. I could hear the sound of raised voices. It was time to go.


    The archers and I turned and ran. We darted back the way we had come, vaulting cookfires and scattering embers. Some of the coals rolled towards the blankets and tents of groggy Orks. Smoke began to fill the air.


    We had only moments before the alarm was truly raised and I knew we had to make it count. An Ork warrior threw aside the flap to his tent and stubbled out, blade half drawn. I kicked him in the knee and drew Iron Fang across his throat as we passed.


    We were pelting for the edge of the camp, heedless of our surroundings. I saw one of the archers go down, a lance of shadow sticking from his back. We couldn¡¯t afford to stop now. We were nearing the edge of the firelight where the darkness and the safety of numbers waited.


    A deep guttural below echoed in the night.


    It was the Khan¡¯s son rallying his troops. And he sounded angry.


    We made it out of the ring of light only to nearly run head-long into a bristling wall of spears.


    ¡°Whoa, Don¡¯t skewer the boss man,¡± said Kato, throwing out an arm. He stepped from the tall grasses, Looking me up and down.


    ¡°What happened?¡± he asked ¡°Is the Khan dead?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± I confirmed. ¡°But his son isn¡¯t. Listen there is no time for explanation. We¡¯re going to have to rally the men and beat a retreat, double time. We stop for nothing.¡±


    ¡°What about the ambush?¡±


    ¡°Forget the ambush.¡± Those words came not from me but from Draxus who now stood staring in horror over my shoulder.


    ¡°They have a fucking Magus,¡± he breathed. ¡°An elven Magus.¡±


    Kato needed no further prompting. He stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled, shouting at the men to get moving. Hade nodded to me and rallied my squad to form up around me as we prepared to run.


    There was confusion in the ranks of men, I could see the uncertainty in the sea of eyes now watching me. That uncertainty didn¡¯t last long. A long tendril of shadow raced across the ground becoming solid as it sheered off the heads of several men.


    ¡°Fall back!¡± shouted Kato from behind as I reached into my inventory. The men needed no further prompting. I found my shield and pulled it onto my arm, wincing at the pain of my dislocated finger. I had bigger problems right now ¨C like leading my men out of this death trap with the least amount of casualties possible.


    ¡°Archers in the front. Shield men, with me.¡± I called, and the soldiers responded with practiced efficiency.


    The men flowed around me, some falling back while others stepped forward to take their place. We retreated quickly using the grass for whatever cover it provided as we trekked back the way we had come. I hailed a young level 15 soldier with eager eyes.


    ¡°Find the others,¡± I said. ¡°Rally them and have them meet us at the crossroads. Tell them to delay the ambush and not attack. You hear me? Do not engage.¡±


    The soldier nodded, an oversized helmet flopping on his head. He was just a boy, so much like Eric only days ago. But I couldn¡¯t afford to spare him.


    ¡°Good lad. Go.¡±


    I released his shoulder and watched as he retreated into the night, short sword in hand. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder if I hadn¡¯t just sent him to his death.


    A roar sounded in the distance, one that sent a ripple of fear through the men. Tall grass stalks swayed around us as we double-timed forward.


    ¡°Sand Drakes?¡± Said Draxus, his eyes wide. ¡°They¡¯re sending Outriders after us.¡±


    A laugh sounded somewhere from behind. I kept my own expression neutral as I directed my men. Draxus frowned around at Astrid, a dark eyebrow raised.


    ¡°Something funny?¡±


    ¡°You have nothing to fear from Outriders,¡± she said. ¡°At least not tonight. One of Ser William¡¯s first orders was that we cut the saddles, harnesses and equipment of any rider we found. Then we had only to cut the rope on their cages.. and well¡­¡±


    Draxus¡¯s eyes widened and he listened more intently. The Sand Drakes were shrieking, but there were shouts in the distance. Shouts not of men, but of Orks. Kato grinned, teeth flashing white in the darkness.


    ¡°You cheeky bastard, you set their own dogs on them. Bold.¡±


    I didn¡¯t return his smile. My stunt might buy us some time, but I had no illusions that we were in deep water here. And the fate of my men may hinge on how I handled this situation. Beating a retreat might work for now, but if the Khan¡¯s son pursued us in earnest, and I had no doubt he would after he discovered the corpse of his father, we would be pressed hard.


    I could only hope that the event of his father''s death was enough to further rattle the tribes and upset the balance of power within the Host itself.


    Then there was the matter of the Magus himself.


    Once again I was left with more questions than answers.. but one thing was certain.


    Lord Blackthorne had been correct in his assumption. The Ork Host had marched upon Ceris for a reason, and that purpose was one that had been demanded of them by some other force. These Gods that the Khan had referenced. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What did that mean for humanity? And the insinuations that the God King himself was something other than human¡­ the thought was heavy with implication.


    ¡°Ser William!¡± I turned my head and saw Hade jogging alongside me.


    ¡°Soldier?¡±


    But Hade¡¯s eyes were beyond me, beyond the row of soldiers now moving about us. I followed his gaze and what I saw made my heart drop. Behind us, shadows rose in dark tendrils, staining the sky the of blackest night. The magus was coming for us.

 Five: The Crossroads

    When I was in grade school I remember sitting in history class listening to stories of ancient battles fought long ago. Of brave men who fought against insurmountable odds for the sake of king, country, and familial ties. History had been my favorite subject and the tales of those battles had captivated me from a young age.


    Now, that reality is a bit more grim than I could have imagined.


    ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± I call to my men at just above a whisper. ¡°Keep moving.¡±


    In the light of the moon I hope I¡¯m right, but I¡¯m far from sure. We race through the tall grass in formation, trying to keep low and out of sight. Behind us the war horns of the enemy blare into the night, followed by the whoops and grunts of the Orks that would gladly eviscerate us if they had a chance.


    Kato¡¯s trick with the Sand Drakes had bought us precious time as the Orks fought to subdue their wild beasts. I doubt I¡¯ll forget the sounds of crunching iron in teeth, nor the screams of an Ork who had ventured too close to the compromised cages. The front lines were a wild place, and though monsters could be tamed within reason, wild beasts were still wild.


    It was an important lesson, if not a nauseating one. A rustle in the grass to my right made the men beside me jump. I spun towards the disturbance, heart in my throat. But no shadow Magus tore from the darkness. Instead, I recognized Jorgen¡¯s wide-eyed stare. The tip of my blade wavered.


    ¡°Throne, I almost took your head off,¡± muttered Kato, sliding his own blade home in his sheath. I put a hand on his shoulder and steered him forward after the backs of the men running bent double in the grasses before us. Jorgen fell into step. He was breathing hard, the sound a metallic rasp in his helmet.


    ¡°No sign of them,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°I got as far as the edge of the ridgeline,¡± he jerked a thumb over his shoulder. ¡°But from what I could see the unit has all but cleared out. My guess? They circled North East.¡±


    ¡°Shit.¡± The curse slid through my teeth before I could stop it. It seemed we were on our own for now. Even if the others had managed to circle back for the crossroads, it would take precious time. Time I knew we didn¡¯t have.


    Draxus grunted in annoyance. ¡°The two pack horses are with the others. If anything, they¡¯d have known to follow your orders to dispatch a messenger to the main camp. They¡¯ll send word.¡±


    Kato snorted.


    ¡°Hedging our bets on the competence of the Army? My my, how far we¡¯ve fallen.¡±


    Another horn blast made us all grimace. Behind us a flare went into the air, illuminating everything in an orange glow. I glanced around to see a giant fire arrow cutting through the sky. It seemed to hang there for a moment, the light enough to illuminate our surroundings for dozens of feet.


    ¡°Oh hell,¡± I growled. ¡°Move!¡±


    The shouted command cut the air like a knife. I saw the men in front of me react. Some turned their heads to follow the arc of that arow. Others responded by ducking behind shields or throwing themselves to the side. It made little difference. In the light above, what little cover the grass provided was all but a moot point. And that wasn¡¯t the half of it. Where there was light, there was also¡­


    A scream to my right split the air, cut off moments later with a wet squelch. A dark spike of shadow protruded from the throat of a soldier not ten paces away. It seemed like a solid thing, and even as I watched, the spike slid from his throat and snaked towards another. My pulse slammed in my veins.


    This was a bad situation. Caught out in the open with reinforcements miles away and a Magus that could attack from a distance? If I didn¡¯t act, we were going to find ourselves picked off by the dozens. Another soldier was gutted by a shadow spike, and another.


    Finally, the fire arrow sank back towards the ground, falling end over end and going out. The darkness was only a temporary reprieve. My eyes fought to adjust as I scanned the line of the lands around us. Grass, nothing but rolling plains¡­ until¡­


    I gestured to with my sword towards a copse of trees about a fourth of a mile to the North East. It was small, an oasis among a sea of waving grain. But it provided us with two advantages we didn¡¯t yet have ¨C height, and cover.


    Draxus followed the thrust of my blade and I saw him reach the same conclusion I did.


    ¡°We need to spread out,¡± he said. ¡°Into columns. It¡¯s our best bet to avoid getting picked off.¡±


    I pressed my tongue against my teeth, hating the idea but knowing he was right. Damn it all, why is there never any time.


    ¡°Draxus, take your collum to the right. Kato scatter left.¡±


    Jorgen raised a brow. In the flare of the next fire arrow I could see the whites of his eyes.


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    ¡°And you sir William?¡±


    I set my jaw. ¡°I take the middle.¡±


    As the light of the second fire arrow flared, my men split into columns. We ran, scattered like insects in the grass as the magus hunted us. Only once in my life in this new world, I¡¯d come face to face with a Magus. And that had been terrifying enough. This¡­ this was something different entirely. ??????????¦Â¨º?


    Darkness bloomed in the sky behind us. I could see the silhouettes of the men ahead of and beside me as we moved, feel the weight of desperation. We had to get to higher ground before the Orks caught up with us. We may have had the advantage within the walls of Ceris, but on open ground, they would run us down like dogs.


    I felt the weight of the power in the air moments before the Magus struck. Shadows lanced through the grass straight for the soldier two paces ahead of me.


    With a roar I tore forward, shoving the man forward and out of the way. The spear of darkness passed through the empty air between us, and as it did I felt the cold sting of something unnatural brush against my arm. Pain bloomed and when I looked down I saw blood flowing freely from a deep gash along my arm.


    ¡°Ser William!¡± Jorgen¡¯s voice rang out in the darkness. He and several other soldiers had slowed in the half light. I could see their figures, lit against the burning orange glow. The glint of their armor was clearly visible.. and If I could see it, so could he.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop,¡± I shouted, waving my free hand at them. ¡°Keep moving damn it.¡±


    The soldiers standing beside him lurched into action, galvanized by my orders. Perhaps it was something in my tone, but for whatever reason Jorgen hesitated. His eyes dropped to my arm and the blood now pouring freely from the wound. He opened his mouth as if to say something. That¡¯s when it happened.


    There was the weight of power again, the smell of an electric charge in the air. Then before me as if in a scene from a dream the Magus appeared. He rose from the shadow, half man, half darkness.


    I was still moving towards them but It felt as if I were running through resistance. Too damn slow.


    I thought even as I stumbled towards the scene. The Magus raised his hands, a dark nimbus of power pulsing outwards. Jorgen had the presence of mind to jerk away, but it did little to protect him. A spike of shadow pierced him through the chest and he crumpled to the ground like a puppet with his strings cut.


    My ears were ringing. All I could do was stare at the body of my friend as horror raced through me. What followed next wasn¡¯t grief. It wasn¡¯t pain. It was something else entirely ¨C something dark.


    Wrath.


    I barely felt the increase of speed as the mark on my skin burned. Barely felt it was the Magus turned, lashing out with shadows that grazed my cheek as I ducked aside. No, I was focused on one thing and one thing only.


    said the voice in my head that wasn¡¯t entirely mine.


    The Magus backpedaled, white teeth bared in a snarl as he flinched away. I lifted my blade, thrusting forward for his face. I wanted his blood ¨C wanted to make him pay for every death my company suffered. But my blade met empty air as shadows swirled. With a roar I reached out with my gloved hand, snagging my fingers through shadow as if I might grab hold of him.


    The darkness slid through my hands like sand and dissipated.


    For a moment I stood there, chest heaving as I vibrated with anger. With the need for carnage. For.. blood? I blinked and the sound returned to the world with a pop. Someone was shaking my shoulder. I turned to look. Draxus?


    ¡°C¡¯mon Will,¡± growled the warrior. The light of the next fire arrow shone in the darkness of his eyes. His brow was creased, not in anger but concern. ¡°Will, you have to snap out of it.¡±


    I blinked again and shook my head like a dog ridding itself of a troubling flea.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± I grunted. ¡°I saw¡­ I saw Jorgen go down and I-¡°


    ¡°No time.¡±


    Draxus jerked his head towards the clump of trees and brush on the rise ahead.


    ¡°We need you,¡± he said. ¡°Stand with us again, brother.¡±


    I nodded, and clapped his shoulder, joining him and the remaining men as we scrambled up the bank. It was steeper than I had gussed at a distance. In armor we were weighed down, and the soft sand of the plains crumbled beneath out feet. Twice I slipped, boots digging deep in the dirt. But each time Draxus or another soldier caught me.


    That was how we¡¯d make it out, I thought as Kato¡¯s face loomed above me. He stuck out his hand and I took it. We would survive together because we were brothers. Kato heaved and I pressed with my legs, muscles screaming as I scrabbled up the last of the bluff. As soon as I crested the small hill I turned to help the others carry Jorgen¡¯s body. The weight was heavy, and the men beneath me struggled to hold him up.


    ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± I roared as I heaved upwards. His body was still warm. ¡°C¡¯mon.¡±


    At last every soldier had made it to the top of the blight and I gave orders for those with shields to take from and center. It was then and only then that I turned to the body of my friend. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I should have never agreed to this,¡± I told him. His eyes were closed and a trickle of blood ran from the mess of his breast plate, and down the channels of his armor to the ground.


    ¡°The fault is mine. It¡¯s always mine.¡±


    ¡°Always so dramatic,¡± Kato¡¯s voice pulled me out of my reverie. I turned toward him, my temper flaring anew but he took a step back and raised his hands.


    ¡°Easy killer, he¡¯s still very much alive. The would is deep but it struck his shoulder, not anything vital. If we can get the men to stop the bleeding we might just-¡°


    I turned back to my friend¡¯s body and stared. Sure enough his chest rose and fell. It was minute but it could only mean he was alive.


    ¡°Do it.¡± I ordered even as a horn sounded again. It was close, and this time it was accompanied by the telltale snarl of waring orks. They had come, at last. And they were angry. I killed their chief, I stole their dignity. And that damned Magus was with them.


    I tore my sword sheath from my belt, and tossed it aside.


    ¡°Give me a fucking shield,¡± I snarled as I turned to face the oncoming horde. Draxus grimaced.


    ¡°Will, your arm.¡±


    ¡°I said, give me a fucking shield.¡±


    In the years after, I would struggle to remember the events of that night.


    But the story would be known throughout Kadia. Sung in songs around fireplaces, whispered in taverns far and wide. The carnage that followed would be known as the Battle of Barren Hill. And though casualties on both sides were high, we stood our bloody ground. Inch by inch, mankind repelled the enemy. Until the ground was soaked with blood. Until my men were covered with it and I could see them only by the whites of their eyes.


    Until the horn that sounded from the East brought a manic grin to the faces of my friends. And at the crack of dawn in the middle of the burning planes, Kadian reinforcements arrived.

 (B2) Six: Battle and Blood

    The sound of the horn was our salvation ¨C and it almost came too late.


    My arm had grown numb from swinging my sword. I grunted from the effort of lifting my shield, as the Ork in front of me charged. His tusks shone bright in the ring of torches as he grunted, lifting an axe with a blade the size of my head.


    I hunched, forced to duck down as I deflected the blow. The sharp crash of metal on metal was enough to make my already numb arm rattle in its socket. The Ork snarled, beady eyes squinting in rage when he saw me still standing. One of the soldiers beside me lunged, spear shaft aimed for the monster''s heart.


    The Ork knocked it aside, bringing up his axe in a sweep that nearly took the man''s head off. I twisted, boots digging into loose dirt as I firmed my stance. My sword stroke passed halfway through the orks skull with a wet snick. The beast¡¯s squeal was cut off as his body went limp. Then it tilted backward.


    ¡°Shit,¡± I hissed as the grip of my sword was wrenched from my tired fingers. I made a half-hearted lunge for it but was too slow. The muscled body of the red ork tumbled backward down the bluff, knocking another Ork warrior off of his feet. The moment of reprieve was temporary.


    For the last few minutes, we had held the tide of orks with nothing but a tight formation and higher ground. But the reality of our situation was beginning to set in. Red orks are a massive breed of monsters, known mostly for their physical strength and brutality. On the wall of Ceris, fighting these monsters had been intimidating enough. But outside of a siege on an open plane with nothing standing between that brutality but our own armor, flesh, and bone? This was something else entirely.


    The light of the moon shone off the eyes of the orks in the darkness. A sea of them, and they weren¡¯t slowing for anything. Hands stretched out from the line, jerking me back into formation as the next wave crested the bluff. Without a sword I only had time to grip the edge of my shield, swinging it forward like a battering ram in an attempt to knock my enemy off balance. The ork stumbled but recovered quickly, hefting an iron clad club and swinging for my head. I ducked behind my shield but the sheer force of it slammed into me, knocking me sideways onto the spearman next to me.


    The line swayed as men adjusted.


    ¡°Shit,¡± I swore for the second time, fumbling in the dirt as I struggled to rise. The spearman blinked down at me, eyes wide.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said, holding out a gauntleted hand. ¡°Forgive me, I d-¡°


    His words were cut off in a crunch of metal as the ork with the club staved in his head. I ducked away, shielding my visor from the spray of blood as I scrambled back through a forest of armored legs. Weapon, I needed a goddamn weapon. In a haze I remembered the cursed dagger at my belt and managed to snatch the hilt at the same time I felt the crushing weight.


    A boot had landed on my back, pressing me into the dirt and squeezing the breath from me. Above me, the ork loomed, his beady eyes triumphant.


    ¡°Little man,¡± he grunted, his gravely voice heavy with accent. ¡°I will crush your bones.¡±


    I growled into my helmet, trying to twist around to face my attacker. All I could do was struggle in the dirt, weighed down by the strength of the ork and my own armor.


    I wrenched my arm through the dirt, plate scraping against the plate. Slowly, painfully slowly, I got it beneath me.


    ¡°Die,¡± growled the ork and I saw out of the corner of my eye as he rose his club high.


    ¡°Why,¡± I growled as I heaved against the ground with all my might. ¡°Don¡¯t you.¡±


    I manage to shove myself over, jerking away from the club as it descended its deadly ark. Dirk sprayed in every direction, plinking against my armor like rain. Some made their way through the slots of my visor, and I spat, blinking away the grains of sand pricking at my eyes.


    I reached down, ripping the Iron Fang from its sheath and plunging the blade into the groin of my attacker. The ork jerked, bloodshot eyes bulging as the knife bit deep into the flesh. He opened his mouth to let out a soundless scream even as the club tumbled from his hand. Then a familiar blade bit into his neck and out the other end.


    ¡°Brutal,¡± said Kato, admiring my handy work before kicking the orks body back down the bluff. The clang of armor and angry cries of orks indicated he had knocked more than a few off their feet. ???????????????S?


    ¡°Remind me not to piss you off, good man,¡±


    I rose to my knees, taking my friend''s proffered arm and allowing him to pull me up. For a moment we stood there, two brothers in a sea of battle and blood. Then I nodded and turned away. Turned back to the tide of enemies that were hellbent on killing us.


    ¡°Just another day,¡± I grunted, retaking my place in the line. The soldiers around me laughed and one, a grizzled veteran with grey in his beard, handed me a short sword. I nodded my thanks. So far we had managed to hold our ground but there was something bothering me. The Shadow Magus hadn¡¯t made an appearance since he had struck at Jorgen. Fear perhaps? But no, that didn¡¯t make sense.


    What reason would a magus have to fear a bunch of soldiers? No, there was a reason the Magus was biding his time. And I could only guess at what it was. I risked a glance backwards to my archers and managed to catch Astrid¡¯s eye. She tossed her braid over one shoulder, tilting her head in question.


    I mouthed to her, hoping against hope she could make out my words. I waited for her solemn confirmation before sliding my visor back into place. If the orks had the presence of mind to swarm the bluff and surround it, they would have been in a prime position to cut us off. I had anticipated that action and instead had ordered my archers to guard the sides and flank of the formation, picking off straggling orks that strayed from the main body.


    The thick and dense brush around the hill itself was our best weapon. Orks that tried to cut through it were slowed and vulnerable to my spearmen and archers. More than once I¡¯d see orks lunge forward attempting to circle us from the side. Well-placed arrows dropped them where they stood, and the bodies began to pile, creating further obstacles.


    Still, the threat of the Magus and the Chief¡¯s son was far from idle. At any moment the winds of this frenzied attack could shift and become more calculated. If that were to happen, the battle would become a meat grinder.


    I stepped forward, stabbing at the throat of an ork to my right, and hacking at the exposed thigh of another. In the corner of my vision, I could see that my Iron Blooded ability was active. True, my blows dealt my enemies more damage. But I was also aware of another risk ¨C one I hadn¡¯t understood until Ceris.


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    The power came from somewhere. And the source was me.


    ¡°You have to learn to control your mana well, Will.¡± Lord Blackthorne had told me. The seriousness in his eyes let me know the severity of his statement. Since I first manifested an ability, I have been using them without any training or direction.


    I thought of the first time I had unlocked Bastion. Of the power that had spread from my shield as I had slammed it down into the stone. If that power had been more directed, more controlled.. then what could I accomplish?


    I deflected a strike on my shield''s edge and stumbled, jostling as the line dipped. I regained my footing long enough to catch a spear strike on my blade, knocking it aside. The iron blade of the ork spear whipped by my head, scatting off my shoulder pauldron. Sparks cut the night as I stepped forward and stabbed him in the eye.


    Power, that was the crux of it all. Power in its many forms¡­. And those without it.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ser William?¡± A voice, distant but strong carried across the battlefield. I made to turn my head but there was no time. An ork rushed me, screeching as it lunged. I caught the sword strike just barely, my shield arm screaming with effort as I shoved back. Who could be calling me now?


    ¡°Here!¡± I shouted as I swung my blade at my attacker. He moved back, barring his fangs. There was a murmur of voices from behind, and I caught a glimpse of Astrid striding towards me. There was no time to look. Astrid tried to force her way through the ranks, but the men were too tightly knit.


    ¡°I have a message for Ser William,¡± she called, her voice almost lost to the clash of battle. ¡°Pass it along.¡±


    Soldiers bent their heads to one another, whispering, shouting, even laughing. My heart swelled with dangerous hope.


    I thought, even as the doubt crept in.


    ¡°Ser William!¡± The soldier beside me, a spearman with a mustache leaned towards me. The sound of heavy battle died around me.


    ¡°The reinforcements have arrived from camp. The Magus is with them, and he wishes to draw the other Magus out. To challenge him on the battlefield. He requests you prepare yourself because when the horn is sounded the tide of the battle will shift. He needs you, your men, ready for battle.


    I blinked, relief flooding my veins like cold water.


    ¡°Tell the bastard we¡¯ve been ready,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°And tell the messenger to ask him what took so long.¡±


    My last two words were drowned out by the sound of the horn. Not the low guttural rasp of the ork war horn. This one was smooth, crisp, and familiar. The men cheered and I couldn¡¯t help but join them.


    ¡°About damn time,¡± said Kato.


    ***


    Before that day I had never seen two magus duel to the death.


    Back then, I had only stories told by veterans around the fire at night. Many Magus develop an ability at a young age, and from the moment that power manifests, they are set on a path they can¡¯t divert. Discipline, training, natural ability, and skill determine how powerful a wielder will be. From then on, they have simply to manifest, and be placed in a school of magic.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t all,¡± the Veteran had said, as he dried his boots by the fire. ¡°Some say the Magus are blessed. Touched by the hand of the God King himself, and granted abilities beyond our ken. Perhaps that¡¯s why society elevates them the way they do.¡±


    ¡°Treats them like gods more like,¡± grumbled Draxus under his breath. ¡°If the intent was to spoil them as children and send them off to the academy to become war machines then mission accomplished.¡± I had pretended not to hear him, though a few other soldiers had shot him looks at the obvious blasphemy.


    ¡°If you¡¯d ever seen them fight you wouldn¡¯t be so quick to condemn then,¡± said the Veteran, leaning back as he watched the fire crackle. If the old soldier had been offended he hadn¡¯t shown it. Instead his gaze was distant, recalling some memory only he could see.


    ¡°They truly are glorious on the field of battle. Terrifying, mind you. But glorious.¡±


    I had only ever seen one Magus from a distance, and that had been my first day with the 3rd Auxiliary. That Magus I had learned, had been nothing more than an apprentice. Even then his power of storm and lightning had been impressive to behold.


    At the sound of the horn, the orks had hesitated. Some still darted forward, carried by the momentum of their charge. But their blood lust was a mistake, and they were quickly cut down by my men as confusion spread among their ranks.


    Silence spread across the plains, cut only by the pounding of hooves in the distance.


    An ork bellowed something in their guttural tongue and I saw the reluctance in the front ranks as they eyed us. They knew that if they kept hammering our meager forces, eventually their numbers would win out. Still, the cost was high judging by the red-skinned corpses now piled at the bottom of the bluff. And they knew now that reinforcements had all but arrived.


    For a moment it seemed as if the assault would continue. Then an ork wearing a thick iron helmet shoved his way to the front, knocking smaller orks out of the way. He was massive and the way he carried himself tugged at grim memories. I recalled standing along the wall, watching as human captives were killed before us.


    My stomach dropped as I stared into the slits of that thick dark helmet. It was him, the Chief¡¯s son. I heard a few gasps down the line as my men came to the same realization. Draxus stepped forward, shield raised.


    ¡°Hold,¡± I said, throwing out a hand. Draxus shot me an incredulous look. I understood his anger. This was the ork not only responsible for killing human slaves but also for facilitating the attack that led to the storming of Ceris. My first inclination was to step forward and make him answer for those crimes in cold steel. And yet, something stayed my hand. A caution born of instinct.


    The Chief¡¯s son tilted his head, seeming to take me in. I noticed that the ranks of orks around him had stilled. Still as if waiting.


    ¡°Fall back,¡± he growled, and his voice was deep and cold. At first, I thought I had misheard him. Even the orks around him shifted, restless and uncertain. Finally, another warrior turned, clapping a fist to his chest.


    ¡°Chief,¡± he said, his voice low. ¡°Why retreat? We have these rats on the run. Why not push them? Break them and avenge your father. He would not hav-¡°


    The orks words were cut off as, without warning, the Chief¡¯s son turned and split his head from his shoulders. The orks nearest the fallen warrior shied away, weary of their leader''s bloody sword. The orks head bounced along the ground, rolling to a stop between our two lines.


    ¡°I said fall back,¡± snarled the new Chief. This time there was no hesitation. Slowly and reluctantly, the orks began to shuffle back into the night. I watched, sword raised and heart thumping as one by one, the horde disappeared into the shadows.


    ¡°They¡¯re retreating,¡± said Draxus. His brows were furrowed as he scanned the night air. ¡°That ally horn must have intimidated them.¡±


    ¡°That or they know something we don¡¯t,¡± said Kato. The warrior flicked blood from his blade and raised a brow above his one good eye.


    ¡°Either way I¡¯d say we¡¯re lucky to be alive.¡±


    The words stung, but I accepted them without complaint. In the end, I had agreed to take on this mission. And though we had accomplished what we¡¯d set out to do, it wasn¡¯t without a price. If there had been any doubt in my mind about what path lay ahead, there was none now. To survive in a world this harsh, we needed an edge. And I knew exactly what steps had to be taken.


    ¡°We hold for now,¡± I called to the men. ¡°When the reinforcements arrive then we..¡±


    In the end, it was pure luck that saved me. As I turned my boot caught on a loose root in the sand and I stumbled forward, nearly losing my feet. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. Darkness bloomed from within the center of our ranks. Shadows snapped out, spikes spearing several men near me. Armor crunched, and soldiers cried out in pain and alarm.


    A line of fire lit itself long on my cheek as a shard of shadow tore across my face. I stumbled, dropping to a knee even as my own voice shouted Astrid''s name. From the center of the concentration of the shadows, I saw him. The strange man seemed somehow inhuman. His eyes, the color of cats, were fixed on me. Then one of Astrid¡¯s arrows whizzed by, hissing at it passed through tendrils of darkness.


    Moments later, the Kadian horn sounded again ¨C this time much closer.


    The Shadow Magus hissed, eyes narrowing in anger. Then he turned and stepped into the center of darkness. Moments later, he was gone.


    ¡°Will,¡± Kato dropped down to his knees beside me. I saw Draxus shouting orders to the others, warning them to stay on their guard. But the charged tint to the air was gone. The Shadow Magus had retreated with the horde. Likely to regroup for the battle to come.


    Kato studied the wound on my face until I slapped his hand away.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, ignoring the tremor in my own voice.


    ¡°That,¡± said Kato, nodding approvingly. ¡°Was an assassination attempt. But it¡¯s going to leave a wicked scar.¡±


    ¡°How about that? Draxus leaned on his shield. His armor was splattered with ork blood but his face was determined.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d say they were afraid of you. The only question is why?¡±


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 Seven: The Standoff

    As the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, the reinforcements crested the nearby hill.


    Never before had I been so happy to see the flapping banners of Lord Blackthorne''s regiment. My men moved among the dead searching for any soldiers wounded who yet live. I crouched beside Jorgen, placing a hand on the other man''s shoulders as his breathing turned labored.


    ¡°Hang in there, soldier,¡± I told him, reaching down to grip his hand.


    ¡°I need you to stay conscious until the healers arrive.¡±


    Draxus strode over, his eyes flickering briefly over the injured soldier.


    ¡°We¡¯re out in the open Will. If we want to get him to the healers then we¡¯ll have to rejoin the main force. Moving him is risky.¡±


    I ran my tongue along the inside of my mouth, tasting metal.


    ¡°I don¡¯t see that we have much of a choice.¡± I glanced towards the battlefield. Several Knights in heavy plate sat astride tall chargers, and next to them was a man in blue Magus robes. The sight of him made my heart a little later.


    ¡°The Magus is here. But why isn¡¯t he attacking? The orks are on the retreat.. it would make more sense to press the advantage while he can.¡±


    I scanned the battlefield and slowly shook my head.


    ¡°Too risky. For one, some of the Sand Drakes have likely been recovered, and outriders on open ground are a real threat. What¡¯s more, it¡¯s entirely possible that the Shadow Magus is biding his time.¡±


    ¡°Baiting us?¡± Draxus raised an eyebrow. ¡°To what end.¡±


    ¡°Not us,¡± I said. ¡°The Magus from Ceris.¡±


    I pointed and the warrior followed my finger, lips pulling downward. After a moment he sighed and bent down to help the others attempt to lift Jorgen. The soldier let out a low whimper as he body was lifted from the ground. I winced as red leaked from his tunic, watering the earth with red.


    ¡°Looks like they are sending a messenger,¡± Kato gestured with the tip of his blade. His messy hair was tousled with blood and sweat, and somehow the bastard still managed to smirk.


    ¡°Perhaps they¡¯re thinking of trying for peace.¡±


    ¡°Peace,¡± I growled, the word more like a curse than anything.


    ¡°With the red skins? That¡¯s a fool''s errand.¡±


    Kato shrugged stabbing his sword into the ground and leaning on it as he watched the lone horse and rider gallop from the ally line and down the hill.


    ¡°It depends on whether or not Lord Blackthorne is with them. The Magus on our side is powerful, but his affinity is for water if I remember correctly. Not exactly the most intimidating power, mm?¡±


    He gave me a significant look. It was a fair point. I rose to my feet, dusting the dirt from my hands. In the corner of my vision, the charging meter for my Bastion ability blinked. It was more than 2/3¡¯s charged, but by now I had grown to recognize the signs of mana fatigue. If I was going to use it, It would have to be a last resort. Spending all of my mana energy up front would leave me vulnerable, and if we had to face down the Magus again, I was going to need more than my wits.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, gesturing to the others. ¡°Form ranks. We need to get across the distance and rejoin the main body. I¡¯d rather not be caught out in the open if things pop off.¡±


    We made our way across the fields as the son rose in the sky. Several riders moved to intercept us, but at the bottom of the hill I saw the tension in their faces ease. That was strange, were they anticipating enemies?


    One of the Knights, a man I¡¯d never seen before raised his fist in salute. His armor was of a make I hadn¡¯t seen before. His gambeson was think and lined with fur, the metal places woven in at the shoulders, wrists and chest. At his side was a strange single-edged sword that looked more like a long thick knife than a blade meant for battle.


    When his horse drew nearer, he reigned it in and gestured to the other riders to do the same.


    ¡°You must be William,¡± he said, staring down at me as I approached. By now I had become wary of men in fancy armor that addressed me on horseback. I gave him my best appraising look, as I came to a halt.


    ¡°Who wants to know?¡±


    The Knight tilted his head at me, as if in surprise. I took his momentary confusion as an opportunity to read his stats.


    The level alone was enough to raise an eyebrow. This guy was strong, and by the looks of it he wasn¡¯t from around here.


    ¡°Who wants to know?¡± he laughed and I caught a hint of an accent in his tone as he replied.


    ¡°So you¡¯re as bold as they say. Forgive my manners Ser William. They call me Ulfric, and as for who wants to know,¡± he crossed studded leather gloves over his saddle horn.


    ¡°That would be Kel Westfall, the Lord of the Black Mountains and the man poised to become the Duke of all the North. He¡¯s taken some interest in you, young Knight. Many would consider it an honor.¡±


    I eyed him with caution and turned to my men, catching Draxus¡¯s eye.


    ¡°Get the wounded to safety,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll join you in a moment.¡±


    The soldier hesitated, eyes sliding between me and the mounted riders. But after a moment he gave a reluctant nod and led the men past. I watched the soldiers go, noting the weariness in them. Many walked with shoulders slumped and eyes downcast. It had been a harsh few weeks, and suddenly I felt my patience drain away.


    I turned back to face Ulfric, standing tall with my back straight. I made a point of looking him in the eye and holding his gaze.


    ¡°Ser Ulfric, is it?¡± I asked, letting a note of steel creep into my voice. ¡°I may be newly Knighted, but even I know that a Knight-Captain doesn¡¯t often leave the side of his Lord. I take that to mean you were sent here on business from the North. I don¡¯t know what the business might be, but I¡¯m certain it doesn¡¯t involve me.¡±


    I paused, let the silence stretch between us as the Knight watched me. One of the readers leaned over and muttered something in a language I wasn¡¯t familiar with. Her eyes were cold, and judging by the smirk on Ulfric¡¯s face, I could guess the words had been kind.


    ¡°So,¡± I said, ignoring them. ¡°Say what you want to say, and then take your leave. I¡¯m a soldier, and in case you haven¡¯t noticed there''s a bloody war on.¡±


    Ulfric leaned back, leather creaking as he regarded me cooly. There was no anger in him, and the lack of it made me feel uneasy. Instead, he was completely at ease, as if amused by the outburst of a child.


    ¡°Ah, Ser William,¡± he said, his accent making the words sound almost poetic. ¡°I see you are not a foolish man. I would assume as well, that you would be considered reasonable. Yes, your assumption is correct. Lord Westfall has sent me here on business, but that is not for the ears of a commoner. We have heard rumors of you. Rumors of the country bumpkin turned Knight in the middle of a campaign.¡±


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    His smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°A farce, some might say. Then again in the south, anything is possible.¡±


    The other two knights laughed and the woman twirled a dagger in her palm. I watched the blade jump and move narrowing my eyes. Though it was faint there was an aura around the blade ¨C one that kept it rotating at a balance point as she moved it. A gifted then.


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    ¡°So, what do you want?¡± I asked bluntly, all pretense at civility fading.


    Ulfric lifted a hand, reaching inside his tunic. I tensed, and half lifted my shield in preparation for an attack. It never came. Instead, Ulfric pulled out the last thing I had expected. It was a small square of parchment, folded twice and stamped with a blue wax seal. He held the letter out to me, eyes glittering.


    ¡°My master bade me give you this,¡± he said. I hesitated for only a moment before striding forward and reaching out a hand. At the last moment, Ulfric dropped the letter and I had to stumble forward to catch it. One of the other riders snorted.


    I stared at the seal for a moment, eying the Rams head sigil. Then I broke it open and smoothed out the letter.


    The handwriting was black and scrawling, and by the looks of it, official.


    I read the damn thing over twice before it really started to set in. The worn parchment crinkled beneath my fingers as I clutched the missive in a death grip. My eyes kept snagging on the words


    ¡°Ser William!¡± I glanced up and saw a soldier in the black and red of Lord Blackthorne¡¯s household rushing towards me. He came to a stop, hands on his knees several feet away. The mounted Knights and I stared at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re needed at the helm,¡± he wheezed, glancing up at me with wide eyes. ¡°Magus Ferris requests your council before the battle is met. He said something about a¡­¡±


    His voice trailed off when he saw Ulfric.


    ¡°Knight-Captain!¡± The soldier sprang to a salute. ¡°My apologies, I didn¡¯t realize.. that is¡­¡±


    He trailed off, glancing between the two of us. Ulfric replaced his false smile and tugged on the reigns of his horse.


    ¡°Never mind, soldier,¡± he said as he turned. The other riders followed him. ¡°Ser William and I were done speaking, at least for the time being. We¡¯ll be in touch soon, I would wager.¡±


    He cast me a last glance of his shoulders before kicking his heels into his horse. I stood for a moment, still clutching the missive as I stared after them. Lord Blackthorne had warned me that there was a bigger game afoot. The Duke¡¯s declaration was likely a jab, and one that came from a higher authority than I would have expected. Still, an order from a man who wasn¡¯t present wouldn¡¯t hold much weight.


    I wracked my brain, trying to remember the vague procedure Gills had taught me as I filled out basic paperwork for gear and weapons. There would be some sort of recourse¡­ perhaps an appeal?


    ¡°Ser?¡±


    I blinked, my mind hurtling back to the present as the soldier called my name. The lad was young and nervous by the looks of it. I hastily stowed the missive in my inventory and gave him my best confident smile.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said. ¡°Take me to him.¡±


    Magus Ferris himself stood on the hill apart from the other soldiers. His blue robes were cinched around his waist with a satin sash, and his arms were clasped behind him. I mounted the hill and he turned, his eyes widening slightly when he saw me. It was no surprise, I hardly cut the stately figure covered in ork blood and holding a short sword that didn¡¯t quite fit the scabbard at my hip. I kicked myself for not retrieving my sword earlier, but it was too late now.


    ¡°Magus,¡± I said cautiously. Ferris inclined his head.


    ¡°Ser William. I understand we have you to thank for the salvation of Ceris.¡±


    I cleared my throat.


    ¡°I suppose I had some hand in it. Although Lord Blackthorne-¡°


    ¡°I am in your debt.¡±


    The Magus surprised me by bowing low, hands clasped over his chest. It was a formal gesture and one that had never been directed at me. I stood awkwardly, unsure of how to respond.


    ¡°My family has resided in Ceris for as long as I can remember. Though I came from humble beginnings ¨C my father was a carpenter ¨C I was lucky enough to have been blessed by the God King¡¯s will. I spent much of my young life at the academy, and returning to Ceris years ago was¡­ a blessing. When I heard about the attack I knew we were in dire straights. You and the rest of the Kadian Army fought bravely to protect our home and for that, you will always have my thanks.¡±


    The sincerity of the statement surprised me. I nodded once and the man smiled. He looked young, I thought. Perhaps no older than I was.


    ¡°I hope your family fared well after the siege,¡± I said. Ferris nodded, his smile fading.


    ¡°Better than most. It will take the southern jewel a long time to rebuild. At any rate, I didn¡¯t request your presence for idle chit-chat. You must be tired and thirsty. Allow me.¡±


    He conjured a glass from his inventory and, with a flick of his wrist water filled it. When I accepted the glass it was cool to the touch and the water was clear. I lifted it to my nose and sniffed experimentally. Ferris chuckled.


    ¡°It is an odd thing, I understand. But I can assure you the water is completely safe. It is, after all, a product of my affinity.¡±


    I raised a brow.


    ¡°And where does this water come from?¡±


    The Magus bit his lip and thought then lifted a hand palm upwards.


    ¡°Water is in every living thing,¡± he said. ¡°It is in the plants, in the ground, and even in us. If I want to draw moisture from something.. say the air, I have but to direct my will and concentrate it¡­¡± He made a sweeping motion with his fingers. Soft droplets of water plinked against my armor, before the air grew still again.


    ¡°Wow,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s.. impressive.¡±


    Ferris laughed. He had a strange sing songy laugh that felt somehow contagious.


    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. A water affinity is hardly the most.. martial of magical skills. In truth, you would be correct in a general sense. Luckily, my master was nothing if not a skilled practitioner. Believe me when I say I can hold my own.¡±


    I shrugged.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen firsthand how dangerous Magus can be. The question is, are you equipped to handle the Shadow Magus? I don¡¯t mean any disrespect, and I¡¯ll be the first to admit I don¡¯t know the first thing about magic. But there isn¡¯t any doubt he¡¯s dangerous.¡±


    Ferris nodded, scratching at his smooth chin.


    ¡°I saw enough when I arrived to know he¡¯s a skilled Magus. That he has academy-level training I have no doubt. Though I do question the source..¡± He drew in a breath and seemed to realize he was rambling.


    ¡°Apologies, Ser William. To answer your question yes and no. In terms of skill, I am more than equipped to deal with him. My training was long and hard, and my master was the best practitioner of my affinity in the last few hundred years. However, I drained much of my mana putting our fires in the city, and it would take me days to regain it all. No, I didn¡¯t come here to fight. When your messenger arrived in camp with such urgency I knew you had either succeeded or failed. Lord Blackthorne made it clear that meeting the orks in battle on the open plains was a last resort.¡±


    He glanced again at the blood on my armor and grimaced.


    ¡°Yours was meant to be an assassination mission, not a full on skirmish.¡±


    I raised my eyebrows at the rebuke.


    ¡°Could you have done better?¡±


    He conceded the point with a slight smile.


    ¡°No, perhaps not. Regardless, the Lord¡¯s Dacon and Blackthorne have asked me to present the Chief¡¯s son with a ceasefire agreement if-¡°


    ¡°Ceasefire?¡± I stared at the Magus incredulously. ¡°You want to offer a ceasefire to the beasts that stormed Ceris, slaughtered it¡¯s people, and burned the city to the ground? You want to offer a ceasefire to the ork that cut the throats of innocents while we stood by on the walls forced to watch?¡±


    My anger seemed to surprise him, but I was beyond caring. The Magus held up a calming hand and after a moment I took an irritated sip of water. The cool liquid soothed my dry throat but I wasn¡¯t in the mood to thank him.


    ¡°You are correct of course,¡± said Ferris. ¡°And for the lives you lost I do apologize. But in truth, there are other matters in Kadia that the army must attend to. The rebuilding of Ceris will be long and hard and that alone is a monumental task. More importantly, the appearance of a herald is troubling news indeed. The Kingdom needs to conserve its resources, and that includes soldiers such as yourself.¡±


    I gave him a sullen glare.


    ¡°And what reason would the orks have to agree to such a treaty? They are beasts of conquest and war. And they love taking slaves.¡±


    Ferris grimaced.


    ¡°They are a society of war, yes. However, their position is weaker than you might think. The red-skinned orks hail from many tribes, and each of those tribes are at odds with one another. Historically, they only unite when a single War Chief stakes his claim and is able to subjugate the others. Barbaric perhaps, but effective. It was for this reason Lord Blackthorne sent you to kill the Firebrand. Wounded and vulnerable, his death was the nail that split the wood.¡±


    The Magus lifted a hand, robe flapping as he gestured towards the ork camp. I squinted in the dawn light and saw a group of figures moving in the distance. A large band of orks ¨C but they weren¡¯t moving towards us.


    ¡°They¡¯re leaving,¡± I said, shoulders slumping as I watched.


    Ferris nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Yes. And they are unlikely to return. Those that remain and follow the Chief¡¯s son are likely to turn on him if he makes the wrong decision.¡±


    ¡°And you think him choosing to fight us would be that decision.¡±


    Ferris smiled.


    ¡°You are no mere brute, Ser William. I¡¯ll give you that. Perhaps Blackthorne was right to bet on you, despite the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Thanks¡­I guess.¡±


    The sound of hooves made me turn. The messenger was riding up the hill. He pulled to a stop in front of the Magus, dust billowing out ahead of his steed. The horse''s mouth was lathered, a testimate to how fast it was pushed. A hasty retreat?


    ¡°Magus,¡± said the soldier, dipping his head.


    Ferris inclined his own. ¡°Speak.¡±


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    ¡°The Chief has accepted your offer and agreed to meet with you. However, he requested a¡­well.. he demanded a condition.¡±


    Ferris arched his brows.


    ¡°And this condition is?¡±


    The messenger looked from the Magus to me. And then he pointed.


    ¡°That attends.¡±

 Eight: The Hand thats Dealt

    The meeting took place in the center of the plains, at a place between the two gathered armies.


    It wasn¡¯t hard to see the toll that war had taken on both sides. The lines of human men were dust-covered and worn out from constant travel and battle. In comparison, the line of gathered orks had been thinned considerably in the events during and following Ceris.


    Those that had chosen to remain with the Chief¡¯s son looked to number only a few hundred ¨C enough to match the force that the reinforcements had sent. It had been a long campaign, and we now had a chance to end it.


    Magus Ferris chose several veteran soldiers as guards, and motioned for me to join him as he prepared to descend the hill. I had taken the time to see that Jorgen was cared for, and allow one of the healers to close the wounds on my face and arm. Though they no longer bled, the pink line of the scars were tender to the touch, and would no doubt take days to heal.


    Removing the scabbard that no longer fit my weapon, I settled instead for sheathing the short sword in my belt before slinging my shield over my back on a leather cord. Iron Fang was strapped to my left him, within easy grabbing distance if things got ugly.


    Knowing the nature of the orks, I wanted to be prepared for bloodshed. Peace talks or not, there wasn¡¯t any telling what the outcome would be.


    ¡°Are these all the men you¡¯re taking?¡± I asked, nodding to the four veteran soldiers that stood alongside Ferris. The Magus nodded.


    ¡°I was hoping you might bring a trusted man with you ¨C one you know is handy in a fight and not liable to run.¡±


    I arched a brow.


    ¡°Why Magus Ferris, are you expecting violence? And here I was lost in the beauty of your speech about peace and justice for all.¡±


    A ghost of a smile flitted across the Magus face.


    ¡°Yes yes, the irony isn¡¯t lost on me Ser Knight. Make no mistake, peace is the overall goal ¨C and one Kadia sorely needs if we¡¯re to survive what¡¯s to come in the next few seasons. But I have no illusions of how this meeting might go. Better to be prepared then dead, my master would say.¡±


    I nodded my agreement and glanced over my stats.


    My Mana level was low, but the charge for my Bastion ability was over halfway. If push came to shove, I might be able to force it. Thought the consequences of that could be dire. I needed more control over my Mana Well and I knew the best way to learn was to ask Lord Blackthorne himself. Then again, whether or not I would even stay a Knight was up in the air.


    Draxus strode towards me, his sword sheathed and a spear clutched in his fist. He had wiped most of the ork blood from himself, but dried blood still coated his armor like paint. He¡¯d torn off the sleeves of his tunic and his bare muscled arms made him look like a berserker.


    ¡°A peace talk?¡± he asked, incredulous. ¡°Is this Magus insane? This is a war not a parlay.¡±


    I glanced towards Ferris who was leaning over to speak with one of the administrators. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°He isn¡¯t a fool,¡± I said honestly. ¡°He knows Kadia is in a precarious position. The appearance of the herald has nobility spooked and after what we saw In Ceris I can hardly blame them. The sooner this war is over the better.¡±


    Draxus toyed with a bandage on his arm and let the silence stretch between us. Then he glanced up and met my gaze.


    ¡°So are you going to tell me what that was about? Back there with the Northern Knights?¡±


    I fought a grimace and rubbed absently at the new scar on the inside of my arm. I was loathed to worry my men ¨C not after we¡¯d been through so much in recent days. But I knew the greater truth. One way or another they would find out and it was better if I bit this in the bud here and now.


    ¡°I was given a missive,¡± I said. ¡°A letter from some Lord of the North. The Duke¡¯s Heir, apparently. It was a request that I be¡­ dismissed from my post. My best guess is that news of Lord Dacon knighting me has spread through the Kingdom, and some are questioning that choice. Lord Blackthorne did say there might be unforeseen consequences.¡±


    Draxus sucked in a breath and to my surprise he spat on the ground.


    ¡°The bloody North,¡± he grumbled, pulling the bandage on his arm tighter with more force than seemed necessary.


    ¡°The Duke is a powerful man, some might even say one of the most influential nobles in the Kingdom. But rumor has it he¡¯s gotten old and his children have taken to bickering over who gets to succeed him. If the accounts are anything to go by none of them are qualified for the post. A spoiled nest of vipers, that lot.¡±


    I studied him with an intensity that made him look up.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You sound as if you speak from experience,¡± I said, keeping my tone light even as I watched him intently.


    ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better I¡¯d say you knew the North better than you let on.¡±


    Draxus flinched and looked away. I could tell by the set of his shoulders that he didn¡¯t want to talk about it. Before, I might have avoided pressing on this particular wound. But after all we¡¯d been through I felt compelled to settle my suspicions.


    ¡°I¡¯m not condemning you,¡± I said. ¡°Know that I view you like a brother, and will always have your back. But When I ask, I want an honest answer. When the Lady Inquisitor spoke to you in the swamp she said things.. things about your past. She seemed to know your family or at least know of you. Who are you, Draxus? And be straight with me.¡±


    There was a silence between us that seemed to stretch for uncomfortably long. The Magus continued to speak with the administrator, no doubt having the terms to the ceasefire written out. I wondered absently if orks could even read. Then, finally, Draxus spoke.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said. ¡°I haven¡¯t been entirely honest with you. My father¡­. He was a Knight in the Duke¡¯s court. We aren¡¯t nobility, but our blood was mixed from old noble stock. As a result my father was gifted and the Duke recognized his skill with a blade and his growing power. Took him on as a squire when he was only sixteen and well¡­ the rest was history.¡±


    Draxus didn¡¯t smile.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°I¡¯m guessing it didn¡¯t end well.¡±


    The warrior shrugged.


    ¡°For a time it did. My family was elevated, our living made comfortable and our reputation whole. The Duke seemed to love my father like a brother. But one day it all went.. south. I don¡¯t know why ¨C hell nobody does. But one night the Inquisition came for him. They accused him of treason¡­ among other things. The trial was short and he was hanged the next day. As for my family''s reputation,¡± He gazed off into the distance.


    ¡°I imagine that died with him.¡±


    I allowed a few beats to pass before I reached up and rested a hand on his shoulder. My friend blinked around at me, his eyes still distant.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss,¡± I said. ¡°And for that of your family.¡±


    Draxus nodded, throat bobbing.


    ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now. Anyway, Northern politics are complicated. If one of the Duke¡¯s children has some sort of vendetta against you then it will be a complicated thing. If you ask me though, Lord Blackthorne isn¡¯t going to give you up without a fight. You¡¯re one of his best assets.¡±


    I snorted. ¡°Let¡¯s hope your right.¡± Then I stretched my back, sore muscles protesting.


    ¡°Fuck the North,¡± I said. ¡°And Fuck war.¡±


    Draxus finally grinned and I saw a flicker of his old self return.


    ¡°Aye, fuck the North.¡±


    ***


    The field was all but silent as we made our way to the meeting place. Behind us, the standard of the rearing horse flapped on the hill above. Lord Blackthornes banner, and one I had fought under for this entire campaign.


    The orks had no standard. Instead, the new Chief had been brought a rough-hewn log to sit on, and the two orks at his back looked mean and ready for battle. They were armored in dark iron, and each had rams horns that curved around their ears to formidable points. One had a strong of something that looked suspiciously like human ears slung around his torso. Charming.


    ¡°Be on your guard,¡± I told the veteran soldiers.


    ¡°Aye Ser William.¡±


    Draxus stood on the other side of the Magus, his spear gripped tightly in one hand. From the way he eyed the orks I could tell he was tense. I felt the same. The shadow Magus stood at the edge of the ork host, dark robes billowing like smoke. His arms were clasped behind his back but I could see his catlike eyes glinting from at least two hundred feet away.


    Magus Ferris leaned close to me and without moving his lips said.


    ¡°Will, keep an eye on him. If he moves from that spot, tell me. And be prepared to react quickly.¡±


    I grunted an affirmation and kept the Magus In my sight as our party came to a stop. Magus Ferris stepped forward.


    ¡°I assume you are the famous son of the Firebrand,¡± he said, his voice carrying. ¡°I am Magus Ferris, blessed by his majesty the God King to serve all of Kadia. It is my understanding you called upon us to negotiate. So, state your terms.¡±


    The Chief¡¯s son eyed the Magus cautiously, and I saw a hint of mockery in his eyes. He leaned forward on the stump, tusks jutting out.


    ¡°Magus,¡± he said in his heavily accented rumble. ¡°I thought the human Magus were all fat and lazy but you are thin as a reed. Tell me human, does the God King not feed his pets?¡±


    Draxus shifted beside me and I resisted the urge to glance at him. Magus Ferris clasped his hands behind his back, his face serene.


    ¡°Insults are cheap, as is your wine if you think to goad me. Pettiness aside if you have terms state them now, otherwise we¡¯re wasting precious time.¡±


    The large ork made a rucking sound that I had come to recognize as laughter. He turned his head and said something to one of the others and the creature barked in affirmation.


    ¡°Very well, Magus,¡± he said, slapping a knee. ¡°You wish to discuss terms. Here are mine. Your human city has long been a blight on our lands. Once your people flourished and pushed our borders. You assaulted our towns and villages and took what was not yours. I seek reparation from what was taken.¡±


    Ferris sucked his teeth.


    ¡°Yes, I am aware of Kadia¡¯s bloody history. Though neither you, or I were alive during the time of the expansion of the kingdom. In fact many generations have passed since that time so if you are hoping to appeal to my better nature I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to do better.¡± He gestured at the ragged line of orks behind.


    ¡°Your father may have had the following he needed to wage war on the south but you do not. I desire a ceasefire as much as you do but let us not waste time.¡± Ferris pulled something from his belt, and I saw the flash of metal within.


    One of the ork guards jerked forward but The Chief held out his hand to steady them. The sackcloth bounced on the dirt at his feet and the ork stared down at it. Carefully he scooped it up and upended its contents. Silver coins hit the dirt, followed by a helmet of exquisite craftsmanship and a knife with a ruby in the pommel.


    I tensed as the ork laughed.


    ¡°A bribe?¡± he asked, his smirk evident. ¡°Is Kadia so desperate?¡±


    The Magus shook his head.


    ¡°The bribe isn¡¯t for the ceasefire. Peace is in your best interest, brute, for the alternative is your swift annihilation. If you refuse humanity will hunt your kind to extinction, even if it takes us years. What happened at Ceris will not be easily forgotten. But¡­¡±


    He paused for emphasis.


    ¡°If you take what is offered in exchange for information¡­ then we can walk away from this transaction satisfied.¡±


    Draxus leaned towards me.


    ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± he whispered. I glanced away from the pacing Shadow Magus long enough to answer.


    ¡°It has to do with what I told him about the Firebrand ¨C what he said to me before he died. There is something bigger going on.¡±


    The Chief¡¯s son snapped his teeth together, seeming to consider the offer. Then he nodded his head.


    ¡°I accept your terms,¡± he said. ¡°So, what is this information you seek?¡±


    Magus Ferris didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°The Shadow Magus,¡± he said. ¡°What is his name and how long has he been with you?¡±


    The ork shrugged, toying with some of the silver coins. I watched them flip over in his hand.


    ¡°I do not know his name. Only that he came to my father many moons ago. He offered a trade and my father accepted.¡±


    ¡°What kind of trade?¡±


    The ork glanced up and his eyes narrowed. He turned his head again and barked orders. After a moment of hesitation his guards retreated, leaving the Chief¡¯s son alone. When the ork guards had gone far enough the new Chief sighed.


    ¡°The trade was that of assistance,¡± he said. ¡°My father was born a shaman but his power was never great. The Shadow Magus told him of another power ¨C one beyond war. He said that if my father pledged his life to the service of one greater than he, that he would be rewarded in power and stature.¡±


    ¡°So your father had help wrangling the ork clans?¡±


    The ork nodded, horned helmet clanking.


    ¡°He was given enough wealth to purchase the assistance of the outriders, and his power grew. It took him six years to subjugate the clans. A feat that hadn¡¯t been performed since the time of the old rules. He built a mini-empire¡­ and then your kind came and tore it down.¡±


    ¡°It was you who attacked Ceris,¡± said Ferris cooly. ¡°Your decision cost the lives of hundreds if not thousands. You¡¯ll get no sympathy here.¡±


    The ork bared his tusks.


    ¡°I have no desire for your fickle sympathy human. You call me brute but you us, your people are just as barbaric. Parasites on the land eating up all in your path. My mother was killed by human raiders and perhaps it was this that set him on the path.¡±


    Ferris allowed a brief silence before he pressed the Chief for more.


    ¡°What do you know of this Magus? Who does he serve?¡±


    The Chief grunted in annoyance.


    ¡°Little. He keeps mostly to himself and wanders often. When he is present he makes many demands, most of which my father gave him. I, however, am.. less inclined. As for who he serves? He speaks of the Dark God. The one who blessed him with his powers.¡±


    ¡°Dark God?¡± Ferris eyebrows drew together. He appeared puzzled, and a brief glance around the circle of humans showed much the same reaction.


    ¡°There is no Dark God. Are you certain he wasn¡¯t referring to a demon?¡±


    The ork shrugged again.


    ¡°I do not know. All that I know is that he worships this Dark God and that his hatred and the hatred of his followers for your God King is powerful. Perhaps it has something to do with that.¡±


    The ork tilted his head, watching as some of the veterans made a sign to ward off evil.


    ¡°I grow weary of this conversation,¡± he says. ¡°I accepted the terms of your treaty but I have a demand of my own.¡± His dark eyes slid to me and my skin went cold.


    ¡°His head.¡±


    There was a pause that stretched on longer than I would have liked.


    Magus Ferris glanced to me and then shook his head.


    ¡°Out of the question.¡±


    The Ork stood so suddenly that several of the veteran soldiers flinched back. My hand dropped to my sword but the Chief made no move to close the distance. Magus Ferris hadn¡¯t so much as twitched. Instead he stared up at the Ork, eyes cold and unblinking.


    ¡°He is responsible for the death of my father,¡± growled the Chief¡¯s son. ¡°By his own hand. My right is vengeance and I will have it.¡±


    ¡°I will not give you Ser William.¡±


    ¡°Then I will settle for your head.¡±


    Wind picked up around the Magus, and I watched as water swirled around him, pulled from the air itself. Some of that water solidified and A large ice shard slammed into the ground between the orks large sandled feet. The threat was evident.


    ¡°You may try,¡± said Ferris calmly. ¡°But it will end badly for you.¡±


    The ork Chief stood for a moment, chest rising and falling as he glared hatred at me. A muscle bulged from his neck and after a moment he spat an insult in orkish.


    ¡°You,¡± he said, gesturing towards me. ¡°I curse you, William. You are thus marked an enemy of ork kind. All brethren that look upon you will be compelled to spill your blood. Every ork, goblin, hobgoblin, and hag will hunt you. There will be no rest for you if you enter our lands, not until your head roasts over and open fire and your body drain it¡¯s lifeblood into the earth.¡±


    I glared back, on the cusp of saying something of my own. That¡¯s when my HUD flashed a notification.


    A sinking feeling tugged at my gut. I had no idea how significant a curse was, but judging by the grim expression on the Magus¡¯s face, I knew it was far from good.


    ¡°Are we done here?¡± asked Ferris, water still swirling about him. The Ork only spat on the ground and turned away. He waved a hand in the air, and as we watched the ork host turned and began to retreat across the plains. The Shadow Magus was the only one left standing, his eyes fixed on Ferris.


    ¡°Well,¡± said Draxus, that was eventful.


    ¡°I would say so. Ser William, did something appear to you? A message of any kind.¡±


    I nodded.


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    ¡°It said I was cursed.¡±


    Ferris swore under his breath, surprising me.


    ¡°I thought so. An ork alone shouldn¡¯t have the power to cast a curse¡­ though I suppose if his father was a shaman that would explain it. Still,¡± he shook his head. ¡°I would be careful if I were you. Inside Kadian borders, you should be safe, as the monsters that roam in our lands are often checked. Outside of those permiters though.. you might find that you have a harder time. It¡¯s entirely possible certain monsters will be able to sense and even be drawn to your presence.¡±


    Draxus barked out a laugh.


    ¡°So, it¡¯s just like every other day in the thrice blasted army.¡±

 Nine: Rebirth

    The southern Kadian sun beat down on my back as I crossed the rubble-strewn square of Ceris.


    In the weeks since the siege, the patrons of the city have worked tirelessly to repair their city. Though the outer walls are mostly intact, the fire damage within the outer city was extensive. It had taken days for Magus Ferris to put out all of the fires, and now the burned-out husks of houses and shops stood out stark against the blue sky.


    Two men carrying thick wooden beams exited an alleyway, and I stepped aside to allow them to pass. One of them looked up as they passed, his sweat-stained brow rising in surprise.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said, dipping his head. His fellow glanced around, and when he saw me his back straightened beneath his heavy load.


    ¡°Are you really him?¡± he asked, coming to a halt. Unsure of how to respond I could only nod. The man beamed.


    ¡°God King bless you Ser William. Thank you for your service. If it wasn¡¯t for you and the Lord¡¯s Blackthorne and Dacon, we might have lost the city.¡±


    I watched as the two men disappeared around the corner. Suddenly I was aware of the scrutiny of others. Those gathered in the square had turned to look. Whispers passed through the crowd like a tide. From a nearby upstairs window, a young boy leaned over the balcony and pointed a finger at me.


    ¡°Is that him mumma?¡± he asked. His mother appeared in the window behind him.


    ¡°That is him,¡± she said, ruffling his hair. ¡°Ser William of Blackbriar. They say he¡¯s a commoner just like us.¡±


    I dropped a hand to the short sword on my belt and winked. The boy¡¯s eyes widened and I suppressed a chuckle as I turned away. It would appear that my reputation was growing. Whether that was a good or bad thing remained to be seen.


    Across the square were a few outlying merchant buildings that had survived the fire. My eyes scanned the signs, searching for the shop I was looking for. The Armory shop stood at the end of the row, its tall windows gleaming in the sun. Through those windows I could see a display of weapons, armor pieces, and shields on racks, and even more along the walls. A woman and man stood in the center of the shop, speaking with a man behind the counter.


    The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with grey is his beard. His hands were loose at his sides, and his shoulders had the slump of a man defeated.


    ¡°Please sir, we just need a few more weeks. With the process of rebuilding the smithy has had an influx of requests for horseshoes, nails, and work tools. Then there is the surplus of regulation arms and armor that the city guard needs to replace those that are damaged and lost. We only ask that you allow us the time to- ¡°


    ¡°You¡¯ve had more than enough time!¡± snapped the man behind the counter. He was bald and his mustache wriggled on his lip as he curled it in disdain.


    ¡°The state of the city is not an excuse for shipments to be late. Late orders mean less coin at the end of the month. At times like these, I can¡¯t afford to take a dip in profits.¡±


    The broad-shoulder man, a smith by my guess, twisted his hat in his hand.


    ¡°I do understand that,¡± he said, glancing to the woman beside him. She wore a thick leather apron and a worried expression, but as he looked to her she rested a hand on his arm.


    ¡°However the reality is that we simply don¡¯t have the time. The Lord Governor- well, his office anyway, requests these orders be filled pronto. They aren¡¯t even paying full price which means that times are lean and we have no choice but to take on additional work to make ends meet. If our shop was fully stocked we might be able to rush the orders, but with my wife and I?¡± he shook his head.


    ¡°Then there is the matter of quality.¡±


    The shop owner narrowed his eyes and sniffed disapprovingly.


    ¡°Late work means late fees,¡± he said. ¡°Don¡¯t expect me to pay more than half price on goods that aren¡¯t delivered on time.¡±


    ¡°Half price?¡± the woman clutched her husband''s arm tighter.


    ¡°Sir I understand your frustration, but please understand we are doing all we can. These days we work into the night and sleep very little. With two little ones at home¡­ well these are hard times.¡±


    ¡°Your hard times are none of my concern,¡± sneered the shop owner. ¡°Either you deliver the goods on time, or you get half price. The rules are the rules.¡±


    For the first time, he seemed to notice my presence. His eyes narrowed further as he scrutinized me. I¡¯d had time to rest and visit the bathhouse to have my blood-stained clothes laundered. My hair was still wet and swept back off my forehead. When his gaze came to rest on the black and gold cloak clasped around my shoulders his face smoothed.


    ¡°Ah,¡± he said. ¡° a gentleman..¡± his eyes glazed as he checked my stats, then widened in surprise.


    ¡°A Knight.¡± He smiled warmly, turning away from the smith and his wife who still looked defeated. ¡°Welcome into my shop, where we sell the best arms and armor in Ceris. I can assure you my inventory is quite stocked if you care to have a look Ser¡­¡±


    He raised his eyebrows expectantly.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± I said cooly, not bothering to smile. The smith and his wife gaped around at me, and even the shop owner seemed taken aback.


    ¡°Ser William¡­ William of Blackbriar?¡±


    ¡°The same.¡±


    The shop owner was practically rubbing his hands together. I stepped forward, coming to stand beside the Smith and his wife. The man was comforting his wife, his brow furrowed with worry.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright Bella,¡± he murmured, rubbing his wife''s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll make it work. We have to.¡±


    ¡°Pardon us Ser William, we¡¯ll be out of your way in a moment.¡±


    The couple turned away but I held out a gloved hand.


    ¡°Wait,¡± I said. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    The Smith turned back, looking confused.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Uh Rodric Ser, if it please you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me ser. My name is Will.¡±


    I stuck out my hand and after a moment, the smith took it in his own. The strength of his handshake made me smile. This was a man who worked hard for his living, and it showed in the muscles on his arms and the callouses on his hands.


    I glanced from the smith to the weapons on the wall. The shop owners smile widened.


    ¡°Is there anything that catches your eye Ser Knight? I¡¯d be happy to-¡°


    ¡°Are these pieces yours?¡± I asked, purposely interrupting the shop owner as I gestured to a set of armor along the wall. Etched into the metal high on the shoulder was the letter R. Rodric¡¯s brows rose.


    ¡°Yes Se- er that is, yes Will. These pieces were all sets forged and tempered by my wife and I. The steel is locally sourced, and the leather comes from hunters and tanners in Niidhelm.¡±


    I nodded, looking it over thoughtfully.


    ¡°It¡¯s impressive work.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± The Smith seemed to swell with pride and his wife chuckled. ¡°Now he¡¯ll get to tell all of his friends that a Knight complimented his work. He¡¯ll have a swollen head for weeks.¡±


    The shop owner cleared his throat.


    ¡°Ser William, sorry to interrupt but I had a piece in the back that you might be interested in. A coat of mail from the Southerland.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I said, turning my cold gaze back on him. ¡°I don¡¯t think I am.¡±


    The shop owner flushed a bit, his eyes dropping.


    ¡°I.. if there is something I¡¯ve done to offend you please let me know. I¡¯m certain we could work something out.¡±


    ¡°Work something out?¡± I turned to face him and kept my expression frozen. ¡°These good people came to you with the hope that you would do just that, and you turned them away to pad your own pockets. Tell me, are you one of those men who gains to profit in a crisis? If so, you aren¡¯t the type that I or any of mind would associate with.¡±


    The shop owner''s flush deepened and he stuttered.


    ¡°I¡­ I was only protecting my business.¡±


    ¡°No, you were protecting your bottom line. Every other shop in the city has contributed In some way to the rebuilding of the city. Merchants supply donations and coins, workers like Rodric take on extra work, the guilds and unions supply laborers and help front the cost of materials. Tell me, what are you doing to aid your city?¡±


    His silence was answer enough. I turned away.


    ¡°Rodric,¡± I said as I headed for the door. ¡°If you have a moment I¡¯d like to make you and your wife an offer.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Well, it certainly was a bold move.¡± Illiana, Markus¡¯s wife sat in the common tent of the 3rd auxiliary, her quill poised over parchment. Beside her Giller leaned against the desk, watching as she jotted down a new set of figures.


    I did up the ties to my gambeson as she worked. The new fabric was a little stiff, but it had been worth it for the price and quality. I glanced at Illiana.


    ¡°The question is if you think it¡¯s worth it.¡±


    She bit at a nail, smearing a bit of ink on her chin. I had given her the role of quartermaster for my new company, and the new mother had more than risen to the challenge. Her mind for math was shrewd, and her numbers were always precise. With the guiding hand of Gills, I had come to see her as an asset.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said after only a moment of hesitation. ¡°The upfront cost of supplies and materials is substantial. But the overall gain is significant enough that I would deem the investment worthy. Having a smith that works for and with the company and provides priority armor at a reasonable cost? That adds up quickly.¡±


    Gills grunted his agreement.


    ¡°Not many companies in the army have their own smithy. Hell, some of the nobility can¡¯t even claim as much. It¡¯s a smart move, but you and your men might have to live lean for the first few months.¡±


    I nodded, belting Ironfang over my new gambeson.


    ¡°That was to be expected. We¡¯re a new company, after all. And after the cost of supplies to sustain ourselves, we¡¯re likely to be broke, even after collecting trophies after the battle.¡±


    ¡°Not exactly broke.¡± Illiana tapped her quill against the page, swearing under her breath when she blotted the ink. ¡°We have enough for basic supply and arms and armor. Then there is a separate fund set aside for medical supplies, boots, and..¡± her eyes drifted over the page. ¡°Brothels?¡± she frowned.


    Kato snorted from his chair and she turned to glare at him. I rolled my eyes. The two of them were like oil and water, and Kato seemed to have a particular knack for pissing her off.


    ¡°You can cross that off the list,¡± I said. ¡°What men choose to do with their own coin is their business, but I won¡¯t have debauchery in the company budget.¡±


    ¡°Why, you absolute saint,¡± said Kato with fake admiration. ¡°Next you¡¯ll go all devout and join the Inquisition.¡±


    I ignored him, flexing my arm my arm and making the leather of my new bracers creak as I tested them. I couldn¡¯t deny the quality of the leather and steel. These arms and armor were a grade above common. Rodric was a skilled smith, and knowing that he might have the potential to craft and forge higher-level items made him a strong asset.


    If I was going to make my company strong, we would need better training and higher quality gear. Then there was the matter of my own training.


    The murmur of voices outside made me glance up. Moments later the guard posted outside lifted the tent flap, and Draxus strode in. He had shaved his head and grown out the beginnings of a beard. Dressed in his new armor he looked very much the part of a warrior as he strode towards me.


    ¡°I just had word from the scouts,¡± he said in a way of greeting. ¡°Hade and his company have just returned. It¡¯s the talk of the camp.¡±


    Relief flooded me, and I nodded.


    ¡°Took them long enough. I was worried when they failed to meet us at the crossroads. Did he give any explanation as to why?¡±


    Draxus strode past me, snatching up a goblet and pouring himself a drink.


    ¡°At first it seemed that he was directing the men to avoid any ork stragglers on the plains. Those that broke off from the main force would have been a threat to a few dozen men wandering alone. But then as he tells it there were.. complications.¡±


    He took a swig of wine and I exchanged a look with Kato, who raised the eyebrow over his one remaining eye.


    Draxus sighed, slapping down the goblet and smacking his lips.


    ¡°Please, do help yourself,¡± I grumbled as he poured himself another. Wine was expensive and hard to come by in the events after the siege but judging by my friend''s reaction he needed it more than me.


    ¡°It¡¯s the Witch,¡± he said finally, drawing the attention of everyone in the tent. ¡°She was spotted traveling north days after the city fell.¡±


    A thrill of something shot through me, followed by a flash of uncertainty. The woman that the Inquisition had called a witch was far from innocent ¨C that much was clear by the scene of carnage surrounding the iron cage that the Inquisition had kept her in. Then again, I couldn¡¯t be sure of the circumstances of her capture. One thing was certain- she was an otherworlder, and if that was the case we had more in common than I would have liked.


    I brought up my Quest screen, staring at the text as I took in this information. I was meant to hunt her.. but did hunting mean killing?


    ¡°How can he be sure it was her?¡± I asked into the ensuing silence. Draxus grimaced.


    ¡°On the account of the carnage left in her wake. Five dead, in total. It¡¯s occult magic, no doubt about it. Then there is the fact that several towns folk recalled seeing a woman of her description fleeing the town the same night of the deaths.¡±


    I watched his throat bob as he downed the second goblet.


    ¡°Something bothering you?¡±


    The warrior grunted.


    ¡°I¡¯m loathed to do the inquisitions dirty work for them,¡± he said. ¡°But if she really is a witch carving a path of destruction, then in the absence of an Inquisitor they¡¯ll send the Kadian army after her.¡±


    He was right, and if I wanted more information about the only otherworlder I¡¯d ever encountered then I¡¯d have to act quickly.


    ¡°Where is the Lady Inquisitor?¡± asked Kato, sitting up more in his seat. His white shirt was open, baring his chest to the world. ¡°Did Blackthorne finally scare her away?¡±


    ¡°Lord Blackthorne,¡± growled Draxus, shooting his friend a look. ¡°And as I understand it she left to report to the Archon. And for us that could be either very good or very bad.¡±


    It was my turn to grimace. Draxus¡¯s dislike of the Inquisition was a sentiment I shared. Both the Lady Inquisitor and the Darkblades had been a thorn in my side, and I knew better than to trust them. Though my relationship with the Inquisition as strained, My stunt against the mind mage in Ceris had only furthered the rift between us. Did she know what I was?


    I blinked, trying to dispel the memory of that strange place deep within my mind. That dark water and the reflection within¡­


    A knock at the tent pole made me glance up for a second time. The guard of the 3rd auxiliary stuck his head in.


    ¡°Ser William,¡± he said. ¡°A messenger was sent for you. Lord Blackthorne requests your presence in the war tent.¡±


    I snatched up my borrowed short sword and slid the naked blade into my belt. Draxus toasted me with the empty goblet.


    ¡°Good luck,¡± he said. ¡°And try not to make too many political waves, mmm? We have enough on our hands.¡±


    I smiled. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°No promises.¡±

 (B2) Ten: The Plight of the North

    The sun was high in the sky by the time I crossed the camp.


    Lord Blackthorne¡¯s men had become accustomed to my presence and many greeted me with nods and salutes as I passed. The guard in front of the war tent stepped swiftly aside as I approached, folding back the canvas and allowing me to duck in.


    The interior of the war tent was much the same as I remembered. Desks and shelves covered with books and scrolls sat in the corners, and a large bear rug sprawled across the ground. I glanced at it, reminded of the cursed bear I had fought in the caves all that time ago. This bear wasn¡¯t nearly that size, but there was no doubt in my mind that it would have stood taller than most bears from Earth.


    At the far end of the tent was a long table, at which at least a dozen people were seated. I recognized Ser Connel, Lord Dacon, and several other knights under their employ. Then my eyes snagged on the Northern Knights and it was all I could do to keep from narrowing them.


    ¡°Ah,¡± said Lord Blackthorne, seemingly oblivious to the hostility that flowed between us. ¡°Here he is. Ser William, this is Knight Captain Ulfric. He works in service to the Duke of the North. Knight Captain, this is-¡°


    ¡°Forgive me, my Lord,¡± said the Knight Captain coldly, rising to stand in a jingle of mail. ¡°But I was under the impression that this council was for Knights only. There is sensitive information contained in the letters of the Duke, and my explicit orders were to ensure some level of discretion.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne frowned but before he could respond Lord Dacon turned his gaze on the Knight Captain.


    ¡°Ser William was Knighted by a Lord of the realm, and as such he is endorsed by my house. What right do you have to challenge him, Ser?¡±


    I resisted the urge to smile instead schooling my face to cool impassivity as I approached. Ser Connel gestured to the seat beside him and I took it gratefully. Ulfric and his two companions watched me with barely disguised disdain.


    The Northern Knight held up a hand, inclining his head slightly at Dacon¡¯s words.


    ¡°Truly I mean no respect to your noble house my Lord,¡± he said, his rich accent filling the room. ¡°It is only that the rest of the Kingdom.. view things differently. Knighthood is a sacred order, one appointed by his Radiance the God King himself. To serve within that order is the highest of honors and not bestowed lightly. Certainly, this William must have performed great deeds to be honored with a temporary knightship. However,¡± he made an apologetic gesture that seemed almost mocking.


    ¡°This appointment would not stand in any other kingdom or province court. Without official process and ordination, William of Blackbriar is not recognized as a Knight.¡±


    ¡°A technicality that holds no real value. I can assure you, Knight Captain, that my authority supersedes your own. It is well within the power of myself and my house to appoint him and so I have done.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps within your Lord father¡¯s authority yes,¡± said Ulfric, a little too casually. He smiled like a man scolding a child, which only seemed to anger the young lord further. ¡°But not within your own I¡¯m afraid. As I stated before my Lord the power to ordain a Knight lies with the Order itself, and the heads of house.¡±


    Dacon pressed his gauntleted fingers to the table, leaning forward with fire in his eyes. Before he could answer Lord Blackthorne held up a hand.


    ¡°Peace, Dacon.¡± He said, his tone weary.


    ¡°The Knight Captain is technically correct, though I would remind him that his customs in the north do not extend to every province. Ser William is, under my authority and the house of Basset, at least a hedge Knight in our employ. If you doubt his credentials you have but to look at his service record. The man¡¯s honor is without reproach and his deeds even less so.¡±


    ¡°Here Here,¡± said Dacon moodily, swiping a goblet from the table and gulping the contents. Watching him I had the sneaking suspicion the young Lord was drunk.


    Ulfric bowed his head, but I saw the shadow of dissatisfaction flicker across his face.


    ¡°As you say, Lord.¡± He said stiffly. Blackthorne nodded and turned his attention back to the table in front of him. In the center was a map larger than I¡¯d ever seen before. All of Kadia was outlined in red ink, and to either side of it were several other labeled kingdoms and an island with a coat of arms I didn¡¯t recognize.


    ¡°Now then,¡± Blackthorne clasped his hands in front of him and regarded the Northern Knight with the patient look of a father.


    ¡°What urgent news from the Duke would have him sending one of his most loyal men this far south?¡±


    Ulfric glanced at me again but seemed to realize he was out of options. Grudgingly he reached into his tunic and pulled out a rolled missive. As he passed it to Lord Blackthorne, I saw the same Rams head seal I¡¯d seen before.


    ¡°The Duke might have come himself to see his old friend,¡± said Ulfric. ¡°But he is¡­ indisposed. It seems all the healers in the North are useless in determining the cause of the illness. His Grace¡¯s health is waning and he turns to his allies in a time of need.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne¡¯s face was grave as he accepted the note and pried off the seal with a knife. The war tent fell silent as he read. Lord Blackthorne¡¯s eyebrows drew together as he scanned the missive. Wordlessly he passed the letter to Lord Dacon.


    ¡°This is indeed troubling news,¡± he said as the young Lord scanned the words.


    ¡°It would appear the southern front wasn¡¯t the only territory to suffer increased monster activity. The frost trolls and the giants of the north have never lived in harmony with humans, but I¡¯ve not known them to attack strongholds before.¡±


    The Knight Captain grimaced.


    ¡°Neither have I, my Lord. Though the north offers no shortage of dangers, the hostility of local creatures and monsters has risen drastically. We¡¯ve done what we can ¨C erecting walls around stead-holds, increasing the number of armed men under the banner of loyal thanes. The Duke himself has even seen to opening his own coffers to aid in the building and repairing of old outposts long forgotten from the old wars. Still, our position is precarious at best.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± said Blackthorne. ¡°And the Duke fears a succession war between his children. The timing of such a conflict would devastate the realm, no doubt. Troubling indeed.¡±


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    Ulfric stiffened, and I noted his companions had similar reactions, though the woman was better at hiding hers. The young male Knight actually let out a sound of disdain that earned him a glare from the Knight Captain.


    ¡°Kel Westfall is the one true heir to the throne of the north,¡± said Ulfric stiffly. ¡°Of that, there can be no doubt.¡±


    ¡°And yet there is.¡± Lord Blackthorne leaned back, lacing his hands behind his head. From beneath his linen shirt, I saw the edge of a nasty scar ¨C as testament of what he had endured in Ceris.


    ¡°Knight Captain I understand your position, and your loyalty to your lord is admirable. But the Duke has not claimed an official heir. As to why he would do this I cannot be sure. But if he had intended his eldest son to rule, he would have mandated it.¡±


    ¡°Surely you can¡¯t be serious!¡± the outburst came from the young Northern Knight to the right of Ulfric. All eyes in the war tent landed on him. The Knight seemed to realize to whom he was speaking because he quickly lowered his eyes.


    ¡°I mean no offense my Lord,¡± he said. ¡°But the law of succession is clear. Lord Westfall is the eldest son, and he will be named Duke in the untimely event of his father''s passing. The North is a land of traditions.¡±


    Blackthorne barked a laugh.


    ¡°Traditions is it?¡± he asked, amused. ¡°Your own sitting Duke fought a war of succession amongst his siblings. I would know, I was there. And his message to me is clear. He wishes to subvert the same fate and who could blame him? Kadia must stand in unity. If another Herald were to arise..¡±


    He trailed off as Dacon tossed the letter unto the table.


    ¡°And what news of my father?¡± he asked, glaring around at the Northern Knight. ¡°He departed not a month ago to aid the call of the Duke. Yet I see no news of him mentioned.¡±


    Knight Captain Ulfric¡¯s eyebrows drew together in confusion.


    ¡°The Count?¡± he asked, perplexed. ¡°Forgive me Lord but I have heard no news of him. Perhaps in our travels, we passed his company and were unaware.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Blackthorne was stroking his short beard in thought. ¡°My own messengers have not reported word from him in weeks. It is unusual, to say the least, but I¡¯d rather not jump to conclusions.¡±


    Lord Dacon¡¯s jaw worked.


    ¡°Surely nothing could have befallen him. He had two whole companies of men and some of Castle Basset''s finest Knights. Perhaps he is distracted by this political storm brewing in the north.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps.¡± Lord Blackthorne looked dubious but seemed not to want to press the issue.


    ¡°I will gather my men and leave at once,¡± Lord Dacon made to stand but Blackthorne held out a hand. ¡°Wait, Dacon. I understand your haste but you must understand our situation. I agree that the army must move north if we are to protect the interests of the land. At the same time, leaving the city undefended as it is rebuilt would be to leave its people vulnerable to attack. Ceasefire or not, we can¡¯t be certain a threat won¡¯t return. That responsibility would lie with you.¡±


    Dacon hunched his shoulders, jaw working as he processed this information.


    ¡°My Lord, respectfully my place is with my Lord father.¡±


    ¡°Your place,¡± said Blackthorne, his eyes hardening. ¡°Is with your people. You are the heir to Castle Basset. And when your father has passed, and I pray that it is no time soon, you will carry the mantle and responsibility of his title. Abandon your people now and you send a message. Tell me, what kind of man do you want to be?¡±


    Lord Dacon turned his face away, glaring off into space. After a long moment, he let out a breath and nodded.


    ¡°Very well,¡± he said. Then he turned his eyes on Ulfric. ¡°But just know that if any harm has befallen my father there will be retribution.¡±


    With that, he rose, armor clattering as his Knights rose around him. He swept out of the tent, only stopping to give me a nod, which I returned. I watched him disappear through the tent flap.


    ¡°How youth breeds arrogance,¡± sneered Ulfric as he watched the count¡¯s son depart. I dropped a hand to my sword.


    ¡°Careful Ser Ulfric,¡± I said. ¡°Mind how you speak about a Lord.¡±


    Ser Connel grunted his approval from beside me.


    ¡°Yes, Knight Captain. Do hold your tongue.¡±


    The young knight beside Ulfric smirked as he eyed me.


    ¡°You let this commoner speak to his betters this way my Lord? Forgive me, but what of the rules of decorum? In the North, his tongue would have been cut from his head.¡±


    ¡°This is the south,¡± said Blackthorne calmly. ¡°And if you insult my man again I will have you dragged from this tent and whipped like a dog.¡±


    The threat hung in the air and, unable to resist, I gave a smirk of my own. The young Knight¡¯s face twisted in anger but before he could retort Ulfric slapped a hand to his chest.


    ¡°Forgive my Squire,¡± he said, waving a hand. ¡°He is merely passionate. We are simply unaccustomed to the laws of the southerlands and its¡­ informalities. Ser Brandon himself has spent seven years under my tutelage, and many would consider him one of the finest up and coming swordsmen in the North.¡±


    ¡°Ser Brandon,¡± Lord Blackthorne arched an eyebrow. ¡°The son of¡­..¡± he turned a questioning look to Ulfric who nodded his agreement. ¡°The very same my Lord.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne grunted.


    ¡°At any rate, we have only one additional matter to discuss before I pen the Duke my answer. There have been reports of a Witch that has fled north from the Inquisition. She was detained in this very city, but troubling reports have reached me that she is terrorizing local villages. Did you come across her in your travels south?¡±


    Ulfric shook his head.


    ¡°No my Lord, for if I had she would be long dead. A pox on all Witches and otherworlders. May his light burn them to ash.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne sighed, propping his elbows on the table and rubbing at his face. I saw my opportunity to speak and took it.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± I said. ¡°If I may?¡±


    Blackthorne gestured for me to continue.


    ¡°The army will have to travel north and doing so is likely to cause a commotion. There is no way for a body that large not to attract attention. I propose you allow myself and a small contingent of men a chance to investigate this Witch and bring her to justice.¡±


    Ser Brandon snorted, but I ignored him.


    ¡°Mmm,¡± Blackthorne seemed to consider this. ¡°Perhaps. I will need you and your men close at hand when we cross the border into the North. However, I might be able to spare you a few days. In the meantime though, the army will prepare to march. We will leave in two weeks time.¡±


    Blackthorne stood, and we hastily stood with him.


    ¡°This meeting is adjourned. Ser Ulfric, I will pen you my reply shortly. In the meantime feel free to take refreshments in the commissary Pavillion.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lord.¡±


    As we filed for the exit flap a worried Ser Connel pulled me aside.


    ¡°Watch your back with them,¡± he said, nodding towards the backs of the Northern Knights. ¡°They do things differently in the North. All about traditions, and outdated rules, that lot. I may have once thought as they did¡­ but I¡¯ve come to respect you Ser William. And regardless of what they say you are worthy of the title Knight.¡±


    With that he moved past me and left me standing there, hands at my sides like a fool. A soft laugh made me glance around. Joanna leaned against a nearby tent pole her arms folded across her chest. She was wearing her healers robes and her vale fluttered gently in the breeze. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°It seems that wherever you go you earn both friends and enemies, Ser William. I can¡¯t help but wonder what kind of man you will become.¡±


    I arched an eyebrow at her, amused by her amusement.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you already know?¡±


    The crinkling around her eyes let me know she was smiling.


    ¡°Perhaps. But power changes men in unpredictable ways. And you, Will of Blackbriar, are beginning to hold influence.¡±


    I scoffed but when she didn¡¯t laugh it sobered me.


    ¡°If the North had it their way they would strip me of any title and authority.¡±


    Joanna picked at a nail, glancing up at me.


    ¡°Yes and why do you think that is? Tell me, why would the heir of a Dukedom bother to threaten a Knight of no real consequence? Could it be he fears what you represent?¡±


    I furrowed my brow, thinking.


    ¡°That a common man could become a Knight?¡±


    She pushed off of the pole.


    ¡°That a common man could become a Knight and earn the respect of nobility and the people. That is what frightens him. And it should. The nobility have ruled with an iron hand for far too long.¡±


    I folded my arms across my chest.


    ¡°Careful, some would call that treason.¡±


    ¡°Only the smart ones.¡±


    Her azure eyes drifted down my torso appreciatively, settling lower.


    ¡°The button of your pants is undone.¡±


    I glanced down and the sound of her laughter rang through the air as she departed through the tents. I watched the sway of her hips, stuck between amusement and irritation. One thing was certain however. Joanna was correct. In the landscape of politics, my position was changing, and it was high time for me to do something about it.

 Eleven: Company of the Black Boar

    The sun was high in the sky and sweat trickled down my neck and torso as I took up position again.


    ¡°Good,¡± said Lord Blackthorne. He had a training sword at the ready and barely seemed to be breaking a sweat as he circled me.


    ¡°Your speed has improved but mind your footwork. If you want to raise your swordsmanship to gold you¡¯ll have to avoid abandoning the basics in times of trouble.¡±


    He was right. In my time in battle, I¡¯d learned a lot, but some of those skills had become bad habits. I was used to fighting in a shield wall with men behind and on either side of me. As a result, I was sometimes careless, leaving openings I otherwise wouldn¡¯t have in a more open skirmish. Lord Blackthorne, the quality sparring partner that he was, made me feel each mistake with the sting of a practice sword.


    I shored up my footing, distributing my weight and keeping the blade in a guard position. Blackthorne continued to circle, watching intently. He struck quickly, and the speed and strength of his level were immediately obvious.


    I caught two of his blows on my blade and managed to redirect one before I was forced to backpedal.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let me control the fight.¡± He said, pressing his advantage. I gritted my teeth, locking my retort behind them. Blackthorne was a Lord, and however much he may favor me, knew better than to test my luck.


    I blocked another strike then stepped forward, ducking under a blow and spinning for an opening I thought I¡¯d seen. Blackthorne blocked it with ease, sending me stumbling.


    ¡°A good attempt,¡± said the Lord thoughtfully. ¡°I believe I have a better sense of your style. Right now you are more on the offensive, trying to press and harry your opponent with the intention of overwhelming them. A sound tactic if your opponent is less skilled than you, or if you have the advantage of surprise. However, its effect is limited. You have a tendency to overstep and that puts you off balance.¡±


    He gestured with the tip of his practice blade and I grudgingly acknowledged his point with a nod.


    ¡°However in battle, you are much the opposite. You are on the defensive, holding your position and then repelling and pressing back against oncoming attack. In other words, punishing an enemy''s aggression.¡±


    I stopped to consider this and a picture began to form in my mind. Lord Blackthorne was right. In a shield wall, battles were often fought blow for blow. Up close and tight, the pacing was relentless but the ability of the defender was¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s about control,¡± I said. ¡°As you mentioned earlier. If you can control the pace, the environment, and the tempo of the fight then you can take advantage.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne nodded his approval. His dark hair, which was usually swept back, had flopped over his forehead, giving him a much more human look. He was wearing a white shirt rolled to the elbows and a pair of plain black pants tucked into boots.


    I myself had started out with a shirt, but once I had started to sweat I had quickly discarded it.


    ¡°So,¡± I said, readying myself again. ¡°Where does mana control come into all this?¡±


    Blackthorne patted his core with his free hand.


    ¡°A worthy question. Do you know how your core is responsible for stabilizing the body? How when we strike we do so with more than just arms or shoulders, but back, hips, and legs?¡±


    I nodded, remembering Kato¡¯s early lessons.


    ¡°Mana is, in essence, a part of our entire being. Only Magus and the gifted contain it, but if it flows in your veins you have the power to control it. It takes years to gain mastery over your mana well, but the sooner you start the better. Right now the way you use mana is sporatic. You draw upon it when you use a skill and simply release it ¨C no precision, no guidance, no control. As a result much of that free-flowing power is lost, dissipating like that.¡±


    He snapped his fingers.


    ¡°I want you to learn control.¡± He straightened and took in a deep breath, chest rising and falling.


    ¡°Breath with me,¡± he said. ¡°Feel the movement of your core.¡±


    Puzzled, I straightened, training sword resting limply in my hand as I took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. At first, I felt foolish, but after a few more times I felt my aching muscles relax a bit.


    ¡°Good,¡± said Blackthorne. ¡°Now I want you to feel your core. Picture the source, an energy well filled to the brim with mana, waiting to be drawn upon. Recall the feeling of drawing on a skill, and hold that memory in your mind.¡±


    I tried to do so, thinking back to the time I had first used bastion on the wall. A trickle of warmth flooded my core and I blinked at the unusual sensation.


    ¡°Can you sense it?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne seemed pleased. ¡°Then that is a start. When we join Blades again I want you to partition your mind. Concentrate on that center. On that feeling.¡±


    I attempted to do as instructed, but it was easier said than done. I knew Lord Blackthorne was only using a small fraction of his power, but even so, he was quick and intentional with his strikes. I struggled to look inward and split my focus between my mana well and my sword form, especially when pressed.


    After a couple of long minutes, I stepped back, breathing hard.


    ¡°I¡¯m thinking too much,¡± I said, as I wiped an arm across my brow. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to feel the core¡­ the mana well I mean, while I¡¯m focused on fending off attacks.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne considered this, pressing the tip of his practice sword into the grass and leaning on it.


    ¡°True,¡± he said. ¡°Learning to partition your mind is no easy feat. Essentially, you must split your attention at will. Many believe that this is about controlling the ebb and flow of thought, but I would argue that thoughts are not something to be wrangled. Instead, try not to concentrate so hard. Focus, but allow your mind to wander between the feeling in your center, your arm, and by extension your blade.¡±


    I lifted my sword into a guard, and this time I focused on controlling my breathing. I let my chest rise and fall, reaching inwards for the knot of energy in my core. Lord Blackthorne gave me a few minutes before he withdrew his training sword from the ground and circled me again.


    I faced him, lifting my blade to center guard and counter-circling. When he came at me I went on the defensive in an attempt to buy myself time.


    I parried once, twice, then stepped aside as Lord Blackthorne lunged. It was then that it happened. The heat in my core surged, tingling through my limbs towards my arms. It reminded me of the feeling I used to get when I sat in an awkward position to long as a kid, and my legs fell asleep.


    Time seemed to slow minutely. I was suddenly more aware of everything. The sway of the sparse desert grass. The smell of the wind. Of my own sweat. The tip of the practice blade coming towards me¡­


    I moved without thinking, thought giving way to motion. In one fluid movement I had stepped up and inside of Lord Blackthorne¡¯s guard, knocking his own sword aside and bringing mine up towards his chest in a cross slash.


    Blackthorne twisted, and with incredible speed, moved his torso out of the path of the blade. For a moment we stood there, breathing hard. Then I realized what I¡¯d done.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± I said, alarmed. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ it wasn¡¯t my intention to¡­ what was that?¡±


    But Lord Blackthorne¡¯s eyes glittered with amusement as he smiled.


    ¡°That, Ser William,¡± he said, bracing his blade over one shoulder. ¡°Was a mana-based technique. What is your current level?¡±


    I eyed my stats.


    ¡°twenty one, as of today.¡±


    Lord Blackthorne whistled. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Level 21 and already unlocking techniques? That is rare to say the least. Most gifted do not unlock the ability to use techniques until level 30. But you, as ever, seem to be the exception. Fascinating. It almost makes me wonder..¡± He trailed off, glancing to the side as a man in black and red livery approached. The soldier leaned over to mutter in his Lord¡¯s ear and Blackthorne sighed.


    ¡°The duty of a Lord never ends,¡± he says. ¡°Forgive me, but we¡¯ll have to cut out training session short. I have something I must attend to.¡±


    I bowed as Lord Blackthorne turned and left the small field, heading in the direction of the war tent. A flashing notification on my HUD made me open my menu.


    Techniques eh? Interesting I closed my HUD and turned away, spotting Kato, Draxus, and Hade approaching as I did.


    ¡°How is he?¡± I asked, knowing that they had stopped by the healer''s tent to check on Jorgen.


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    ¡°You¡¯d know yourself if you went to visit.¡±


    I looked away and heard Draxus slap Kato on the back of the head.


    ¡°Sorry, sorry. I was only saying.¡±


    Kato was correct. I had avoided going to see Jorgen over the past few days, knowing that if I saw him in his current state I would feel that same rush of guilt that seemed to plague me these days. Draxus punched my shoulder.


    ¡°He¡¯s fine, Joanna says he¡¯ll make a strong recovery. The worst of it has passed, but right now he has to rest and heal. She¡¯s a fine healer.¡±


    I nodded, trying to wrestle a smile.


    ¡°She is at that. I¡¯m¡­glad.¡±


    ¡°Oh stop with the whole self-flagellation routine. What happened on the plains wasn¡¯t your fault. There were far to many variables for you to control.¡± Cracked his neck.


    ¡°Besides, Jorgen himself said that he¡¯d rather us celebrate our victory than mope. We did, after all, drive out an ork attack and negotiate a ceasefire.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s we?¡±


    Kato grinned at me.


    ¡°There¡¯s the Will I know.¡±


    ¡°I think we could all use a few drinks tonight. I heard from one of the locals that there is a tavern still up and running with barrels on tap.¡± He raised a brow at me. ¡°Care to join us?¡±


    I flipped my practice sword from hand to hand, thinking.


    ¡°Maybe you''re right. It¡¯s been all work lately for the men. Go ask Kara for the budget for some food and drink, and then gather the men. I have an announcement to make that they¡¯re going to want to hear.¡±


    ***


    The company was good and the beer was high. Or maybe it was the other way around.


    I was drunk and, from what I could see, so was everyone else. The Tavern we had found ourselves at, the Prancing Pony, had mostly survived the Ceris fires. The owner had propped the doors open, and stacked tables in the courtyard, stringing up a set of small lanterns and setting out old barrels as stools.


    Since it was one of the few places still open, patrons had flocked there by the dozens. Business in a bar, it seemed, was good no matter what world you were in.


    The serving girl came around and Kato draped an arm across the back of his chair, giving her one of his famous grins.


    ¡°More ale?¡± she asked, holding up a clay jug.


    ¡°Always, my good lady.¡± Kato held out his mug and watched in satisfaction as the golden liquid was filled to the brim.


    I took a large bite of chicken leg, grunting in annoyance when grease dripped down my chin. The food was delicious, and although Vera¡¯s cooking was legendary, there had been a scarcity of fresh meat in the army supply.


    ¡°How is Vera?¡± I asked Gills as he shoveled roasted potatoes into his mouth. The veteran glanced up and swallowed before smiling wryly.


    ¡°She is well. The road is a.. hard place to raise a child. But she¡¯s tough and she¡¯s determined to see it through.¡±


    Gills took a swig of ale, his eyes distant with thought.


    ¡°You know,¡± I never would have thought I¡¯d have the chance to be a father. I¡¯ve always wanted it ¨C many men do. But I never thought I¡¯d truly get the chance. Thanks be to the God King.¡±


    ¡°Or to stamina, anyway,¡± Muttered Kato into his mug. Draxus snorted and I fought to keep my face neutral as Gills shot him a withering look.


    ¡°Oh the arrogant stupidity of youth.¡±


    Soft music drifted out from the tavern, and I watched as some of my men laughed, sang, and otherwise enjoyed themselves.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see the men in high spirits,¡± said Gills. ¡°It was good of you to spread out a little coin ¨C let them have a night to themselves.¡±


    I took a swig of ale, the cool liquid washing down the remnants of any food.


    ¡°They¡¯ve earned it as far as I¡¯m concerned. Besides, I have my reasons.¡±


    Gills set down his fork, eyeing me with interest.


    ¡°Ah yes, your mysterious announcement. Care to tell us what you are planning?¡±


    I swiped a cloth napkin off the table and wiped my lips, giving him a sly grin. Gills rolled his eyes.


    ¡°Have it your way then.¡±


    A commotion at the gate to the courtyard made me glance up. Two city guards had stopped a small group of people. The guards crossed their spears and barred the men and women from entering.


    ¡°Go back,¡± said one of the guards. ¡°This place isn¡¯t for the likes of you.¡±


    ¡°I believe that¡¯s my que.¡±


    Taking a last swig of ale I stood and strode, or more accurately, I stumbled towards the guards.


    ¡°Gentlemen,¡± I said, waving a hand. ¡°There is no need for concern. They are with me.¡±


    The guard glanced around, and upon seeing me his eyes widened.


    ¡°You know these people, Ser William?¡±


    He hastily withdrew his spear, standing aside.


    ¡°My apologies for the confusion, I would have never-¡°


    ¡°Easy man,¡± I said, slapping his shoulder.


    ¡°You were only doing your job.¡±


    Rodric, his wife, and about twenty men and two women stood outside the gate. They glanced around in confusion, taking in the sight of my soldiers eating, drinking, and being merry. Rodric inclined his head awkwardly.


    ¡°Ser William, we did as you asked,¡± he said, gesturing to a small handcart behind him. A black cloth lay over the cart, covering the contents within. The cart made a soft metallic rattle as the wooden wheels hit a hitch in the stone.


    ¡°I wanted to thank you,¡± said Rodric, holding out a large calloused hand. ¡°For the job offer and for having faith in us to arm your company. We are honored, Ser William. Absolutely honored.¡±


    I shook his hand and returned his smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re a great blacksmith smith Rodric, and a good man. Having a level 30 smith will be an asset to the company. I thank you and your wife for your hard work as well.¡±


    I released his hand and stepped back, raising my voice.


    ¡°And I thank all the volunteers for coming this evening. Please, come and join us. Food and drink is on me.¡±


    Rodric¡¯s eyes lit up.


    ¡°Awfully generous of you,¡± he said. ¡°I do love a good beer.¡±


    His wife sighed as he trundled off in the direction of the ale barrels but the crinkles at the corner of her eyes told me she was pleased.


    ¡°He¡¯s so happy, Ser William.¡± She said. ¡°Rodric and I had it hard.. even before the siege and the fires. He is a good smith and always has been but he lacked the money and prestige to really make it on the market. It¡¯s more about who you know, in the mercantile guilds you see. I knew all this before I married him of course.¡±


    She tucked her hair behind her ear.


    ¡°And I wouldn¡¯t change a damn thing. The man is a gem and a better father I¡¯ve never seen. I know your company is small and the pay will be modest at first. But it¡¯s a good opportunity you¡¯ve given him.¡±


    I inclined my head, touched by her words.


    As the other men and women behind her filed forward tentatively, I saw my soldiers welcome them. Plates of food were brought out, beers were poured and the revelries continued. I leaned against a lamppost enjoying the warmth of the night and the comfort of a blessedly full stomach.


    Kara approached, holding two mugs of ale. She passed me one, which I took gratefully.


    ¡°The bill won¡¯t be cheap,¡± she mused, gazing over the rim of her drink towards the boisterous tavern. ¡°But I see the merit in it. The men needed a boost in morale. Still,¡± she glanced at me.


    ¡°Are you sure you know what you¡¯re doing?¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± I swirled the cup''s contents. ¡°That old question. The answer is yes and no. My decision here is an investment, and investments have risk. However,¡± I nodded towards where Rodric and his wife now stood, arms around each other as they swayed to music.


    ¡°I believe the risk is well worth the reward of success.¡±


    Kara considered this then she nodded.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done as I asked?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    She reached down and pulled a small pouch that clinked as she passed it to me. I passed her back the empty mug and gave her my best reassuring smile.


    ¡°Let¡¯s make history.¡±


    The small band in the tavern belted out a jaunty tune and my soldiers danced, drank, and laughed together. I saw Astrid step up onto the dance floor, whisking the serving girl into her arms and swinging her around to the music. I gave her a mock salute.


    By the time the music came to a close everyone was flush-cheeked and in high spirits. I took that opportunity to make my move. Stepping unto a nearby table I called the attention of all gathered there. Those outside turned to look at me, and those in the tavern stood up, filing out to hear my news.


    I looked around at the upturned faces and swallowed down the prick of nerves in my chest. I had thought this through long and hard. I knew what had to be done.


    ¡°Gentlemen,¡± I called, spreading my hands. ¡°And ladies.¡±


    Astrid raised her cup.


    ¡°I welcome you to a night of celebration. It has been a long road for the Kadian army, and tonight we honor the fallen in the best way we know how. By living for them, and honoring their noble sacrifice. For Throne and Country. For family and honor.¡±


    ¡°And for coin!¡± shouted Kato and I resisted the urge to toss something at him. A silence had fallen over the crowd and I saw many glazed eyes lost in remembrance. The good times, the bad. For better or worse this was the life we had chosen. The life of soldiers.


    ¡°So again I welcome you, both old and new. Tonight marks a special night ¨C one you are bound to remember. Many of you have fought in the Auxiliary. Underpaid and underappreciated as men at arms, soldiers, and knights under the banner of lords gain all the glory. Still others are here because you lost your homes and your livelihoods in the siege of Ceris. You are trying to rebuild but times are hard, and taxes are harder.¡±


    ¡°Aye!¡± shouted one man from the back. There were a few chuckles. I allowed a small smile.


    ¡°Tonight I offer you a choice I hope you will consider. I won¡¯t sugarcoat it. The life of a soldier is a harsh one. Long marches, dire odds, and no certainty of victory at the end. The training will be hard, and I will ask much of every single one of you. In the end, I can offer you three things. I can offer you a fair wage and a place to sleep.¡±


    I glanced at Kato and Draxus. ¡°I can offer you brotherhood, and men that will stand beside you even when hell rains down around you. And I can offer you freedom. The freedom to roam, the freedom to explore, and more importantly, the ability to grow. This is what my company has to offer.¡±


    Kara stepped forward holding a piece of parchment paper and a quill and well of ink. She set them down on the table beside where I stood and stepped back. I climbed down, striding across the stone to the handcart and gripping the fabric. I tugged it free, revealing sets of carefully crafted arms and armor. There was a collective gasp.


    ¡°If you join my company, you will receive basic arms and armor. You will receive your first month of pay in advance, and share tents with your brothers and sisters. Our first few months will be lean, as many of you are yet untrained. But I can promise you that within a few months, you will be leveled and ready to take on greater challenges.¡±


    I stared around at them, at the sea of eyes filled with a mixture of hope and trepidation.


    ¡°So I ask you,¡± I said, lowering my voice for dramatic effect. ¡°Who stands with me?¡±


    The silence stretched on so long that I began to wonder if I¡¯d made a terrible mistake. Perhaps I¡¯d been too drunk, and the speech I¡¯d delivered had come out as nonsense. Then the first cheers started. Men stepped forward, grabbing the quill and signing their names under the company banner.


    Some where men I¡¯d fought with in the auxiliary. Others were former citizens of Ceris. Guardsman, hunters, and other combat classes had lost their homes and livelihoods.


    Kara watched with wide eyes from beside me.


    ¡°Forty one,¡± she said. ¡°Forty one men have joined the Company of the Black Boar.¡±


    The number made me smile. It was a start, and a good one.


    ¡°Throne,¡± said Kara, making the holy sign. ¡°We¡¯re going to need a bigger supply cart.¡±


    As the lanterns sputtered low I took the time to meet my new men. I clasped hands, clapped shoulders, and learned the names of those who had placed their lives in my hands.


    ¡°You want to turn a rag-tag group of shop guards, hunters, and city patrolmen into soldiers?¡± Draxus shook his head, but his dark eyes sparkled with amusement. ¡°It¡¯s bold I¡¯ll give you that.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s necessary,¡± I said. ¡°Fifteen men isn¡¯t enough to make a difference. If we want to have a chance then we¡¯ll have to train hard, recruit where we can, and turn a profit on the march.¡±


    ¡°Like a mercenary company.¡±


    I grinned.


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°Does Lord Blackthorne know?¡±


    ¡°In a manner of speaking.¡± Draxus cocked an eyebrow but didn¡¯t otherwise press me. I was about to take another drink when the bladder I had been ignoring let out a protest. Sighing, I excused myself and stepped into a nearby alleyway.


    I had just finished zipping up when movement caught my attention and I glanced to the side. The alleyway was dark, and the light of the lamppost barely illuminated more than a few feet around me. I squinted into the darkness and saw it again.


    Movement in the shadow. Slowly and quietly I drew Iron Fang, and stepped forward, aware that I was wearing minimal armor.


    I was certain I¡¯d seen something but there was always the chance it had been a dog or some other animal. A cool breeze wafted through the alley way, bringing with it a strange sweet smell. One I¡¯d scented before. Rot?


    Something bumped against my boot and I glanced down, heart thundering until I saw it. A rat and a large one. It was lying on its side, jaws open and eyes glassy. Blood trickled out from beneath it¡¯s body, staining the cobblestones.


    Just a rat then? It must have been a dog or a cat that killed it. I examined the body for a moment before sliding Iron Fang back into its sheath.


    I was only being paranoid. I stood there for a moment, staring into the deep darkness of the alleyway. Then I turned and rejoined the revelry.

 BIG NEWS: Its Official - Iron Blooded One is on KU and Audible!

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 (B2) Combat Fitness

    The air was filled with the heavy tromp of boots striking the earth. The Company of the Black Boar had found its rhythm.


    Sweat gathered on my neck, trickling down my chest and back as I ran. The South was always so damn hot, but at least in a few weeks, we¡¯d have the opposite problem. Two columns of twenty men jogged behind me, with Draxus and Kato close at hand.


    Every day for the past five days we had been training as a company. Running, sparing, drilling in formations, and practicing the shield wall. Many of the recruits were green, and their lack of combat knowledge showed as they struggled to adapt to wearing arms and armor. Those that had been former city guard at least had some experience and were able to help the others learn the basics.


    I knew how it must look from the outside. Hell, I¡¯d heard the whispers every morning as I lead the company on our morning run.


    ¡°They aren¡¯t even soldiers,¡± One man wearing Blackthorne¡¯s livery had said, watching us jog by with a sneer. ¡°Just a bunch of hunters, shop guards, and washed-up city patrol. What is Ser William thinking?¡±


    It was a sentiment shared by many of the other companies in the standing Kadian army. Men loved to underestimate other men. While I was indifferent to most of the pointless muttering, my men weren¡¯t entirely unaffected.


    As we jogged back down the path and into camp I saw some of my men glare at a group of soldiers sniggering around a campfire. One of them pointed towards the last of my recruits, an older man I¡¯d come to know as Anders. Their laughter echoed through the camp, drawing the attention of others. I made it a point to note those involved as I called for halt.


    In front of the tents, Vera waved at me with her ladle in hand. She had one hand over her stomach, where the tiniest of bumps was now visible.


    ¡°You¡¯re just in time, sir William.¡± She said, stirring the contents of the bubbling cookpot. The smell made my stomach growl.


    ¡°Is that breakfast stew?¡± I asked, and she smiled. ¡°It is indeed. Over some rice and with a fresh egg cracked on top it will be hearty and loaded with protein. Some of your boys are in need of it,¡± she added, lowering her voice and nodding towards a scrawny youth towards the back.


    ¡°Not the most well-fed bunch.¡±


    ¡°Or in some cases, overfed,¡± said Kato, reaching for the ladle handle eagerly only to have his hand slapped away.


    I gave them both a look.


    ¡°Everyone has to start somewhere. I wasn¡¯t exactly cream of the crop when I first joined the Auxilliary either, but nobody complained about a rookie with no experience and a whole lot of luck back then.¡±


    ¡°Yeah but you killed a troll on your first day,¡± said Kato. He had given up trying to steal a taste of stew and instead thrown himself down on the nearest stump, peeling off his socks with a grimace. Vera made a disgusted sound as the sock in question came away with a wet squelch.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you take that somewhere else?¡± she snapped. ¡°You men really are disgusting.¡±


    ¡°You love us,¡± Draxus patted Vera on the back before producing something from his inventory and handing it to her. ¡°Besides, K and I got you to think. Thought you might like it.¡±


    Vera blinked, looking somewhere between suspicious and surprised.


    ¡°You¡­ got me something?¡±


    Draxus nodded and she reached up and took the parcel in her hands. When the linen bag fell away she was left holding a small wooden box that looked as if it had been hand-carved. Her eyebrows met in confusion until she flipped the lid and her jaw dropped.


    ¡°These are¡­. Where on earth did you boys find this? This is a proper collection of spices. Southern, Eastern,¡­¡± she trailed off and made a sound In her throat. ¡°Is that Navarian seasoned salt? And these dried herbs¡­¡± she brought some crushed herbs to her nose and inhaled deeply. Then a smile split her face, so wide that it infected everyone around her.


    ¡°You boys shouldn¡¯t have,¡± she whispered, closing the box and holding it in her arms like it was a child. Kato grinned.


    ¡°Does that mean you forgive us?¡±


    Vera shook her head, but her smile remained. ¡°Oh Go on then.¡±


    In a few minutes, wooden bowls were filled with rice, steaming stew and fresh eggs purchased from a local farmer. I helped pass the food around and the men of my company accepted it gratefully. I came to stand by the fire, blowing on my own bowl to cool the meal. It was then that I overheard the tail end of a conversation.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of it anyway?¡± said a recruit, stabbing his spoon moodily into his bowl. ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re real soldiers anyway, and every man in the camp seems to know it.¡±


    ¡°They think we¡¯re a joke,¡± said another older man I¡¯d come to know as Anders. ¡°I know it¡¯s just a bit of teasing but¡­ maybe they¡¯re right about us. We¡¯re not cut out for this. We never have been.¡±


    A few of the new recruits echoed that sentiment and I stared into my bowl, at my own reflection in the yoke of the egg. I looked different after my days in the campaign. Gone was the baby fat around my cheeks. Any trace of my soft earth life was gone. My jaw was square, my dark eyes heavy-set and hard. Stubble lined my chin, and the soft pink line of a scar ran across the right side of my jaw. A testament to my run-in with the shadow Magus.


    I knew how the men must feel. Knew what it was like to be the underdog ¨C the one everyone underestimated. The only difference on my end had been confidence and a little bit of blind luck. Slowly, I set the bowl down on a stool and cleared my throat.


    The men of my company glanced up. Some sat on stumps or logs around the fire. Others lounged on the grass or stood between the tents. A sea of eyes turned towards me, and I saw a mixture of emotions. Worry, self-doubt, and even hope. I could work with hope.


    ¡°Alright,¡± I said, straightening my shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ve heard some of your doubts. I know how you must feel. The life of soldering is new to you, and there is a lot to learn. On every side, you¡¯re surrounded by men with more experience, better gear, and reputations as the army''s finest. These are men at arms or soldiers trained in the capital who have been taken in service of a lord. Strong fighting men.¡±


    I paused for emphasis, glancing out of the corner of my eye toward the group of soldiers that had mocked us moments before. They were sitting still, heads tilted to the side. Good, they were listening.


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    ¡°However,¡± I said, letting the word hang in the air. ¡°You have something that even they do not. That is ¨C purpose. You are not a man at arms that fights for money. You are not a Knight who values glory and the fame of his name. You are men and women who have seen the worst of war, and have instead chosen to rise up against it.¡±


    I pointed at the youth who had first spoken.


    ¡°Kaiden, is it? Your mother said that you faced down two orc invaders that broke into your home, defending your mother and sister and sustaining a nasty injury in the process. I¡¯ve seen your scars, boy. Who would call you a coward?¡±


    The youth flushed but seemed pleased at the compliment. I turned to Anders.


    ¡°Anders your story is known among the merchants of Ceris. You ran into a burning building to help save a woman and her dog trapped inside. Not a car for your own safety, no hesitation. You did what needed to be done and you¡¯ll always carry the mark of that.¡±


    The old guard ran a hand along the puckered burn marks on his arm and nodded to me gratefully.


    ¡°And you, Vesper. Yes, I know your name.¡± I added as the soldier flushed. ¡°You were one of the guards who stayed with me on the wall and fought despite overwhelming odds. You shook in your armor when you saw an orc up close for the first time but you stood your ground even when others broke. Seventeen years old, and you held the line.¡±


    The youth¡¯s shoulders straightened a little bit.


    I looked from man to man, holding each one''s gaze. These were my men, and I needed them to know I knew them.


    ¡°Every single one of you bastards, and ladies,¡± I added, winking at Aster who let out a laugh with the other female archers. ¡°Are here because you did what needed to be done when it mattered most. You stood your ground, you grit your teeth, and you fought for your family, your homes, and your land. are who I want beside me when I hold the line. are the men I would trust to guard my back. You lack formal training, yes. You¡¯re under-leveled compared to most. But that is why we train, gentlemen and women. We train harder, we train tougher, and we train to win.¡±


    The mood around the camp had picked up. Even Vera had stopped stirring her pot to stare at me, her eyes bright with something. That something was hope. I stooped, picking up a small golf ball-sized stone and balancing it in my palm. Slowly, I reached for the burning center of my core.


    The sniggering from the nearby campfire had stopped, but I wasn¡¯t satisfied. Not yet. Not until I had driven my point home.


    ¡°So,¡± I said staring down at the stone even as I felt a tingle erupt down my arms. ¡°The next time some old boys try to tell you that you aren¡¯t fit to be a soldier¡­ tell them Will of Blackbriar said they can fuck off.¡±


    I punctuated the last two words with a flick of my wrist, turning and launching the stone towards the seated soldiers and the cookpot bubbling over the campfire. The stone, infused with a small amount of my mana moved faster than I would have thought possible and I realized too late that I may have underestimated my own power.


    The rock glowed blue and, with a sound like a gunshot, punched completely through the cookpot, shattering it in a mini explosion of metal shards and hot liquid. There were a few howls of dismay, several soldiers diving for safety over the very logs they¡¯d been sitting on. One of the men had been caught in the leg by hot porridge and was now hopping comically up and down, boot clutched in his hands. Even as I watched, the soldier slipped landing on his back in the dust.


    This time it was my men who were laughing.


    ***


    ¡°You¡¯re just in time Ser William,¡± said the matron behind the counter of the bathhouse. She smiled at me as I slid a few coins across the counter, and signed my name into the ledger at the desk.


    ¡°We were just getting ready to shut down for the night, but for you,¡± her eyes slid down me appreciatively. ¡°We can always make an exception.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m just here for the bathhouse services,¡± I said and she faked a pout. ¡°Oh very well. You Knights an your honor, mmm?¡±


    I rubbed at a sore spot on my shoulder as the Matron had one of her assistants fetch me a towel and refreshments. It was late and the moon had already risen into the sky by the time I had made it into Ceris. I had forgotten my short sword and instead had buckled on Iron Fang as a precaution. The weapon had been my constant companion and one that had served me well.


    I thought as I stripped behind a curtain and set my clothes and armor aside. But upgrading gear meant money, and that was something that I had much less of than I¡¯d like. Armoring and kitting my men had been well worth the expense, but it had quickly eaten through any of the funds we had earned through hunting monsters in the swamp lands and beyond.


    Rodric was a skilled smith and had been able to upgrade some of my preexisting gear. My troll skin coat had gained stats in resistance, and my snake scale gauntlets had been fitted with new internal leather. Increased grip strength meant increased damage, and I was eager to try it out on the next unfortunate monster I came across.


    I swept the curtain aside and strode the length of the bath hall towards where my attendant stood, eyes down. The man bowed his head and gestured towards the fragrant bubbling tub set into the limestone.


    ¡°Your water is ready, ser William as are your soaps. Would you care for additional refreshments? Wine perhaps? Or some food and drink?¡±


    I thought of my dwindling supply of coins and sighed.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary tonight but thank you.¡±


    The man smiled and departed, and I waited until I heard the heavy door at the head of the hall shut before I whisked off my towel and set it aside. On top, I laid Iron Fang close enough that I could reach it if there was trouble.


    The water felt amazing as I slid in. Warmth instantly relaxed sore muscles, and I felt some of my stiffness begin to ease away as I scrubbed myself with soap. The bathhouses were a luxury I was going to miss on the road.


    I took my time there, letting the warmth of the bath seep deep into my bones and wash away my weariness. Then, after I had scrubbed myself clean I focused and brought up my stat window. Water dripped in a steady rhythm from my wet hair as I examined my progress.


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    I had managed to gain to levels since the battle in Ceris, and my swordsmanship trait was now on par with Kato¡¯s. What had drawn my attention however was the new section for techniques. There I could see the counter-strike technique I had learned days ago, along with an upgrade tab. I focused on the tab and it opened. Text scrawled across my vision, and I sat back as I read over the information.


    I slicked my wet hair out of my eyes. Combined? That was interesting. So far the skills that I had unlocked via quest prerequisites had by far been my most powerful asset. The traits that I learned gave me some bonuses as well, but if I wanted to grow my strength I knew I¡¯d need more.


    The ability to learn and upgrade techniques, and even eventually combine them seemed like a useful skill. In the end, it all came down to learning careful mana control.


    ¡°Blackthorne was right,¡± I muttered, reaching for my wine goblet before realizing I hadn¡¯t ordered any brought to me. I sighed. Tight belt indeed.


    For the better part of an hour, I lounged in the bath, until the night grew quiet and the candles beside me began to sputter. The water had long since grown tepid and reluctantly I rose from the water and reached for my towel.


    That was when I heard it. The noise was faint, so much so that I wasn¡¯t sure if I had really heard it at all. I paused, hand hovering over my towel as I listened. It wasn¡¯t long before it came again. A faint tapping noise from somewhere¡­


    I rose from the water as slowly and quietly as I could. Wrapping a towel around my waist I lifted Iron Fang off the tile and gripped the handle.


    Something wasn¡¯t right. I could sense it, though I wsan¡¯t sure what it was that was making my scalp prickle. Was it just unease? The last of the bathhouses patrons had left shortly after I¡¯d arrived, leaving me alone. My attendant was likely still in the front room, and if I called for him¡­


    My thoughts trailed off as my mind honed in on the sound again. Tapping.. no it was a steady rhythmic clicking that sounded a lot like. A memory jogged my mind, and In an instant, I¡¯d drawn Iron Fang and dropped into a crouch.


    I had heard that sound before, albeit at a smaller scale. The sound my childhood dog made whenever he had needed a vet visit and a nail trim. The sound of claws on tile.


    Slowly I stepped beyond the curtain, which gently swayed in the breeze from a nearby high window. Staring down the bathhouse hall, my eyes jumped from point to point. It was quiet ¨C almost eerily silent now.


    Most of the bath pools had been drained and emptied, and the candles around the edges of the room had long since gone out. Darkness gathered at the far end of the hall. And it was in that darkness, that something flickered. I stared into the shadow, my pulse thundering in my ears as I gripped the handle of my dagger tightly in my damp hand.


    There, in the depth of that darkness, two large red eyes stared back.

 (B2) Thirteen: Dead Man Walking

    My feet slid as I ran, the combination of water, soap, and fragrant oils threatening to be my downfall. Behind me, I could hear the clatter of claws on tile, and the heavy breathing of that thing as it followed me. Ahead, the heavy wooden door of the bathhouses loomed closer. I grabbed ahold of the iron handle, but to my frustration, the door didn¡¯t budge.


    I pounded on it trying to alert the Matron, my attendant, or anyone that might be nearby of the danger. There was no response. With a snarl I launched myself against the door, hammering the wood with my shoulder. The heavy door remained stubbornly in place and I was forced to give up.


    How long had it been since I had last seen the attendant? It couldn¡¯t have been more than an hour. Had the Matron and staff gone home for the night?


    No, I realized. The bathhouse door could only be locked from the outside. That could only mean that locking me in had been intentional.


    The sound of heavy panting behind me made my heart race. I had checked the stats of the beast in the shadows. And what I had seen had been enough to chill my bones.


    I had seen this before, but only once. The shadowkin, those unnatural beings that had swarmed us on that fateful night in the swamp. Creatures of the abyss. Demons.


    I turned slowly, keeping my grip on my dagger firm even as my heart thundered. If I was going to die, it wouldn¡¯t be with my back to a threat. In the coiling darkness, two red eyes stared back at me. They never blinked even as they drew nearer and nearer.


    ¡°Come on then,¡± I growled, voice echoing off of limestone and marble. ¡°Let¡¯s not draw it out. You try to kill me, I try to kill you.¡±


    From the darkness stepped a paw. It was large ¨C larger than that of any dog I¡¯d ever seen, and the red eyes gave way to an unnatural face. It was a dog¡­ but not. Its fur was shaggy and black, its face and muzzle covered in what could only be described as a skull mask. Bones encased its body, white and shining in the candlelight. Bone armor?


    A tongue lulled from its mouth and the creature tilted it¡¯s head at me. The gesture was so oddly human, that it unnerved me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me,¡± came a sharp feminine voice. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me.¡±


    I froze, pulse-pounding as I took inventory of the room. I had thought I¡¯d been alone, and as I risked a quick look around, I could only confirm that fact. And yet the voice I¡¯d heard was unmistakable female. I turned back to the monster in horror.


    It opened its jaws, white teeth gleaming. The sound had come from it¡¯s throat.


    ¡°What the hell are you?¡± I hissed, raising Iron Fang. I didn¡¯t know what manner of abomination this creature was, but I was certain that it was incredibly dangerous. This time, when the monster opened its jaws it was my own voice that it parroted back at me.


    ¡°What the hell are you?¡±


    Red angular eyes watched me as if waiting to see what I¡¯d do. I clamped my jaw shut and moved slowly sideways, circling towards a nearby pillar. If I was going to fight this thing, I needed every advantage I could get.


    The dog-thing watched me move, turning only its eyes, then its head as I slowly slunk sideways. I studied it as I moved, searching for any visible weaknesses. Its bone-plating covered most of its sides and chest, but there were chinks in that armor. It¡¯s eyes were an obvious target, and maybe it¡¯s underbelly.


    The problem was going to be it¡¯s teeth and those razor-sharp claws. Without armor, it would shred my skin like wet paper, and I¡¯d be lucky if I lived long enough to bleed out.


    The demon dog came on faster than I would have expected. One moment it was watching me, still and eerie. The next, it expanded into movement.


    I barely had time to duck behind the nearby marble pillar as it lunged for my head. Razor-sharp claws swiped the air where my head had been only moments before. Dust sprayed as its claws sunk into the pillar, sending chips of marble flying.


    I ducked again as it snapped at me and ended up throwing myself across the floor in a roll. As I came up, I slashed at the creature''s leg. My cursed dagger bit deep, spraying blood across the tile. Not red blood.. but black.


    There was no doubt left in my mind. What I was facing was a demon. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end as the demon dog threw back its head and uttered an unearthly howl. Then it turned those crimson eyes back on me. I swore and threw myself aside as it leaped for me. Powerful jaws filled with razor teeth snapped inches from my ankle as I rolled, snatching up an empty clay jug from beside one of the bath pools and hurling it.


    The demon dog swiped a paw, batting the jug aside in a splinter of hardened clay. It prowled towards me, red tongue lulling like some sort of grotesque puppy. I risked a glance away, scanning the room in search of anything that might give me an advantage. Alone in nothing more than a towel, I was already dancing with death. What I needed was an edge.


    An idea began to form in my head, as stupid as it was desperate. The Demon doge lunged for me and I jerked back. Lines of fire drew themselves across my bare chest as the claws shredded my skin. I could feel warm blood trickling down my chest but there was no time to examine the wounds. Curling my free hand into a fist I struck out, slamming knuckles first into the side of the dog''s head.


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    Pain jolted through my wrist as my fist connected with the side of its head. The demon dog''s head snapped sideways and I used that opening to drive my blade towards it¡¯s exposed throat. At the last second the beast recovered. A heavy paw slammed into me, knocking me to the floor. My wet body slid across the tile and I scrambled to my feet, nearly losing my grip on my blade.


    Blood wept from my chest, splattering in droplets across the tile. The hound, for that¡¯s what I now knew it to be, tilted its head, wide nostrils flaring. It dipped its head and lapped at the crimson droplets on the ground between its paws. My blood. It was drawn to my blood.


    Without hesitating I turned and ran. My bare feet slapped the tile as I sprinted back toward the way I had come. As I had expected, the blood-crazed hound tore after me like a hunting dog unleashed on prey. My heart was hammering and the wounds on my chest stung like wildfire.


    I vaulted into an empty pool, sliding as I landed and almost falling as I sprinted forward. The hound¡¯s claws clacked against the tile as it followed at a relentless pace. I couldn¡¯t outrun this thing, not like this. I was a fish in a barrel, and sooner or later it would catch me.


    I was banking on it sooner. I could hear the panting of the beast only feet behind me, and feel the heat of its breaths on the back of my legs. I gauged the distance between me and the pool for a moment before turning my head.


    I thought.


    The hound¡¯s red eyes burned with the joy of the hunt. I watched its muscles bunch as it prepared to leap, saw those jaws open wide.


    I jerked aside so fast my feet slid on the tile, and I momentarily lost my footing. The hound sailed past me, carried forward by it¡¯s momentum. At my sudden chance in direction, the beast tried to twist but it had already committed to the charge. It slammed into my filled bath in an explosion of water and spray. Suds cascaded over the lip, flooding my legs as I forced myself to my feet.


    The hound thrashed, momentarily off-put by the lack of solid ground beneath its paws. That was when I struck. Abandoning all self-preservation I threw myself on top of the thrashing form, landing on top of the dog and bearing it down with my weight. The animal was heavy, and my added weight was enough to force its head beneath the churning water.


    I lifted the dagger over my head, gripping it with both hands as I plugged it down again and again. Black blood oozed out, mixing with the water. The hound let out a muffled scream, one more eerily human than animal.


    I didn¡¯t slow my attack. Not when the thrashing beneath me threatened to knock me off of the creature''s back. Not when my vision went grey from the pain in my chest. In the end, it was the demon dog¡¯s jaws that pulled me off. Teeth sank deep into my forearm as the beast twisted. I registered the pain for only a moment before I was wrenched sideways, plunging into the black water.


    Bubbles frothed around me. I could no longer tell which way was up or down. Instead, I reached for the warm core within me. Mana blossomed in the darkness. Bright vibrant blue outlined the blade of Iron Fang and in that light, I saw the outline of the creature. Could see the bone mask of its face as it released my arm.


    I thought, as ribbons of blood trailed through the water. A notification popped into my Hud. Iron-blooded was now active, and my damage was increased. Finally.


    Gripping the dagger with both hands I plunged it forward. The resistance of the water might have slowed my strike, but with mana behind it, the blade ripped forward and plunged straight into the eye of the beast. The demon dog jerked back in the water, Maw opening in a silent inhuman scream. Bubbles drifted up from its jaws but I kept my grip on my dagger, determined to see it through.


    I thought, even as my lungs began to burn for air.


    ***


    The guards broke through the heavy wooden door with a clatter, sending chips of wood splintering from the lock. Evan waved a hand, gesturing for the haggard looking Matron to step back.


    ¡°Move aside,¡± he grunted and leaned back. With a heavy kick, he sent the remnants of the door crashing inwards. The six guards rushed into the room and Evan drew his sword, ready for anything. They had heard the shouting and the sound of a scuffle and Evan had assumed the worst.


    The Matron had been sitting at her desk, seemingly oblivious to the whole situation.


    ¡±Is anyone in there?¡± Evan had asked, alarmed. ¡°We heard a commotion and there have been reports of some sort of disturbance. Someone screaming.¡±


    The Matron had appeared confused, her painted eyebrows drawing together.


    ¡°Only a Knight,¡± she¡¯d said. ¡°Only Ser William.¡±


    That was all Evan had needed to hear. The door wasn¡¯t even locked. When the Matron had tried the key it hadn¡¯t budged.


    ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t understand,¡± she¡¯d said, horror dawning on her face. ¡°It¡¯s bared¡­ but how?¡±


    Evan knew how. He¡¯d been a member of the guard for seventeen years, and in that time he¡¯d only seen it once before. The door had been barred by magic. He had sounded the alarm then, convinced that whatever was happening in that room was dangerous. The men with him, six of his most loyal, had set about trying to break the door down. For all they had tried, the thing had remained stubbornly shut. That was until¡­


    The resistance on the door had disappeared and with a single kick, Evan had managed to knock it open. Now he and his men rushed in, weapons ready as they scanned the room for any sign of threat. The bathhouse was a mess. Shattered clay and glass littered the floor like fall leaves. He could see smears of red on the tile ¨C blood.


    In the center of the room near a frothing black pool of water knelt a man. Black and crimson ribbons of blood flowed down his leanly muscled form. His wet hair made a steady drip drip drip on the tile, the only sound in the room.


    ¡°Ser William?¡± asked Evan, his own voice uncertain. When one of his men started forward he threw out a hand for him to wait.


    The Knight turned his head, and his dark eyes seemed to register them for the first time. There was something in them, a depthless anger that made Evan¡¯s skin prickle. That was when he noticed it. On the ground before the knight were the remnants of some sort of animal. It was a large black dog but there was something about it.. something unnatural.


    ¡°Throne above,¡± whispered one of his men, lowering his sword in horror. ¡°Is that what I think It is?¡±


    Evan turned towards him and the soldier pointed with his blade, eyes round.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories about those things. Demon dogs that witches summon can summon and sick on their enemies. Death hounds, they call them. Oh they are bad luck, bad luck indeed. They say that when one comes to hunt you, they won¡¯t stop until you kill them. The thing is, they are crazy hard to kill.¡±


    Hard to kill? Evan took a step forward and then another. Ser William blinked, and the cold anger in his eyes seemed to recede. He looked down at the corpse, then at himself covered in blood.


    ¡°Soldier,¡± he said, finally addressing Evan. Evan straightened under the knight''s gaze. ¡°Yes, Ser?¡±


    ¡°Fetch me some clothes and some wine.¡±


    The guardsman blinked in surprise.


    ¡°Ser?¡±


    Will rose to his feet, blood and water streaming down his body and onto the floor.


    ¡°First, I¡¯m going to have a drink.¡± He said. ¡°And then? Then I¡¯m going to find out what this thing is, and who sent it after me.¡±


    One of his men, the one who had spoken before, made the sign of the saint over his breastplate.


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    Ser William turned to him, his dark eyes glimmering with something between callousness and amusement.


    ¡°He might,¡± he said, staring down at the ruined corpse of the hound. ¡°But I sure as hell won¡¯t.¡±