by Brian Murray
Tanas turned in his saddle as if sensing her fears. “Don’t worry, we are nearly at the gorge.”
Megan tried to smile, but the galloping horse was hard to control and instead she grimaced. She peered over her shoulder again – they were getting closer. The ground between them was quickly being eaten up. The gap was closing. Megan wanted to scream, but she turned and stared at Tanas’s back.
***
The Dark Brethren homed in on their prey in a perfect wedge formation, with the lead soldier riding point, leaning in low against the horse’s neck. They covered the ground swiftly.
***
Megan felt panic as she could now hear their pursuers. The thundering drowned out the sound of her own horse’s drumming hooves. She focused on Tanas, her happiness in meeting the warrior who, she hoped, felt the same about her. The gorge’s entrance loomed ahead, a black carnivorous maw like a crack in the glistening rock. She felt relief; her whole body sighed. The four raced into the gorge, ignoring the perilous rocks, entering the gorge at full gallop.
The Dark Brethren were getting closer. Then . . . disaster.
***
The six men tried to close the gap but their horses were tiring fast. The northern route had been longer and the slopes steeper. Their horses had laboured harder than those of the soldiers, and they lost ground in the chase.
***
Thade reached the bridge first, on the western exit of the gorge, followed by the wagon driven by Gammel, with Dax bringing up the rear. He paused at the bridge and turned in his saddle. Behind them he saw dust rising, someone following them at a rapid pace. Too fast, he thought.
***
Megan’s horse stumbled on a shard of rock, instantly becoming lame. Megan screamed, almost falling off as her horse violently pulled up. When Tanas heard the shrill cry, he immediately turned Essie and started back for Megan. In one motion, he reached for Megan, pulling her onto his horse, seating her in front of him in the saddle. Then swiftly he wheeled around to head back through the gorge. Essie was lathering heavily and her breath was coming in ragged gasps. Tanas noticed the signs. Both he and Megan knew they could not both survive on the horse. Both would die if he stayed in the saddle. Behind them, the confines of the gorge intensified the sound of the Dark Brethren’s horses.
“Megan, grab the reins and ride, ride hard and fast. Get help!”
“NO!” screamed the woman.
Tanas shouted a command to his horse. “Go Essie, do not stop, you cantankerous animal. Get help!” In a fluid action, he slid off the back of the moving horse just before the tooth. Landing on his feet, he skidded to a stop in a cloud of green dust, turned to face his pursuers.
Megan screamed when she felt Tanas’s body weight ease off her back, as Essie moved more freely. Megan desperately tried to stop the horse but Essie would not stop. Megan anxiously peered back – and saw Tanas disappear in a cloud of dust.
***
Tanas stood in the centre of the gorge blocking the gap. He drew his swords, calmed himself and waited, rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck from side to side.
***
Well aware of the sharp rocks jutting from the rock face, the Dark Brethren changed their formation as they entered the gorge, slowing to walking pace, Halfway through the gorge, the dust started to settle and they saw that one side of the tooth’s gap was blocked by a rockslide. On the other side stood the figure of a single warrior. The man had his head bowed so the wide brim of his hat covered his face, an ankle-length coat billowed around him, and his boots were lost in dust. They reined their horses when the lead rider saw two swords drawn, casually held at the man’s side, glinting in the sunlight. The man intended that they should not pass. One of the Dark Brethren dismounted and strolled forward, grinning inside his helm.
“Bloodshed early would be welcomed. This will be quick,” pulsed the dismounted soldier to his brothers.
***
Tanas stood stock-still and waited. It was a good time for death.
***
Megan tried desperately to stop the galloping horse as it passed both Ireen and Gan-Goran. Now anger dominated her fear, as she wanted to go back and be with Tanas. She again risked a look over her shoulder and tried to see through the whirl of dust. Nothing. Then Essie slowed to a jog and someone shouted at Megan. She turned to face an older man and stared straight into his violet eyes.
***
Dax grabbed one of its reins to halt the girl’s horse and looked into her panic-stricken eyes. “What’s going on here?” he asked again.
“He’s on his own and in danger!” shrilled Megan. “Please, you must help him.”
“Who’s still there, and what danger?”
Thade walked his horse around the wagon and saw the three heavily lathered horses carrying two women and an old man. He did not recognise Ireen as her face was covered in dust and her long hair was matted across her eyes. Ireen was too winded to speak and could not get his attention.
“Please, you must help him,” repeated the girl.
“Help who? And what is this danger?” persisted Dax.
“The Dark Brethren!” shouted Gan-Goran. “Our friend, Tanas, is trying to buy us some time. He stands alone against them. Please help him.”
Gammel heard the phrase ‘Dark Brethren’ and glared towards the baron, who gave a slight nod.
The baron held Gammel’s arm as he tried to dismount from the wagon. “Do it for our children,” he whispered.
“Aye,” answered Gammel, insane rage gleaming in his eyes as he climbed down from the wagon.
“Your horse, sir,” Gammel said to Gan-Goran, who instantly dismounted for the big man with the red fiery hair to ride.
Drawing his broadsword, Gammel screamed his battle cry and charged back into the gorge.
Dax turned and watched Thade follow the blacksmith. He looked at the woman and saw relief in her eyes. With a silent curse, he too urged his horse into the gorge on their mission of mercy.
***
The six men tried with all their might to gain ground and entered the gorge, faced with dust, billowing and stinging like an angry swarm of bees. They continued recklessly, ignoring the sharp rock face.
***
Tanas breathed evenly and slowly as the Dark Brethren approached him. Stopping in front of Tanas, the soldier spoke, his words metallic and lost to Tanas in the man’s metal helm. Tanas did not care and flicked the hilt of the sword he held in his right hand. In a flash he moved, catching the sword like a dagger, and stabbed the warrior through the right eye slit of his helm. Tanas yanked his blade free and the warrior fell at his feet. Stepping over the dead warrior, Tanas rolled the sword in his hand and again held it at his side. He stopped, stood still and waited, his head bowed, blood dripping from the sword.
***
The Dark Brethren watched impassively as one of their brothers fell. They watched the warrior step over their kinsman’s body and wait. All of them dismounted and drew their weapons. No chance would be given or time lost. They needed to dispatch this nuisance and continue on their quest. All approached the warrior, fanning out the best they could in the tight gorge.
***
Tanas heard the soldiers dismount; the squeaking of metal armour against leather saddles, the tell-tale sound. Next came the sound of swords slithering from their sheaths. Tanas waited alone, knowing that death would come.
***
Thade struggled to keep up with Gammel as he raced on. Madness, he thought, galloping through the gorge at this speed. But he had seen the look in Gammel’s eyes and instinctively knew the man would not slow down to talk. Then he heard the clashing of steel on steel and Gammel’s battle cry, which this time seemed tainted with madness.
***
The six chasing men raced through the gorge, their billowing cloaks cut to shreds on the jutting rocks. Over the noise of their horses’ hooves clattering on the rock floor, they heard the clashing of steel on steel.
***
Tanas did not wait for the soldiers to form a circle around him, and attacked the first man. Cutting low and spinning, he took the man at the ankles with his left sword, then hacked high with his right, slicing the soldier’s neck in the gap between helm and torso chain mail. One down. From behind him he heard a rumbling battle cry and felt a horse rush pass him. He heard the clash of sword on sword in front of him and knew help was at hand. Without a second thought, he charged in.
***
Gammel saw one man standing against twenty or so of the black-clad warriors. He screamed his cry of death and charged. Leaping from his horse, he dived into the melee. An image of his wife and daughter loomed large in his thoughts. Taking his sword double-handed, he started hacking. He went berserk, cutting and slicing, always attacking, never defending. The worst outcome for him would be to join his wife and princess, and that was not so bad.
***
Thade arrived next and let go of his horse’s reins. Pulling his swords free, he rolled off the back of his galloping horse, landing behind on his feet next to the warrior in a long brown leather coat. Without thinking, he also started cutting and slicing but unlike Gammel, he defended himself.
***
Dax calmly stopped his horse short of the fighting and dismounted. Walking slowly, he drew his axes and studied the fighting as he approached. Now it was seventeen against four. Thade stood back to back with Tanas as the Dark Brethren began to circle them. That was their mistake. From behind, Dax hacked at them with his terrible axes.
***
A wild cut from a man to his left slashed Tanas’s long brown coat, but he remained unharmed. Battling two soldiers, one to his left, the other to his right, he remained calm, his sword flicking and darting out, nicking here, slicing there. Crouching low and twirling, he swept the legs of one of the soldier’s and sliced another behind his knee. Without mercy, he reversed both swords and simultaneously stabbed both in their exposed throats. Blood spurted from the wounds when Tanas wrenched his swords free, and splattered on the ground. Tanas rose quickly and was met immediately by two more of the black-garbed men.
***
Thade also had two men pinning him back, his two swords working harder than Tanas’s. Thade was a heavier-styled fighter than Tanas from his training as a gladiator, using his body as a weapon. His swordplay was less exact but just as deadly. Unlike Tanas, he did not try to kill both at the same time. Thade kicked one man hard on the side of his knee. The soldier fell and Thade turned his attention to the other. Crossing his arms before him, he sliced outwards with his swords, the first blade striking and dislodging the soldier’s helm, the second killing the man, hacking away the side of his head. He completed this kill before the other soldier had regained his footing. Turning, Thade shoulder charged the man in the chest, knocking him from his feet. Dropping to one knee, he slammed down with both swords, penetrating the man’s armoured chest. Thade rose quickly, jumping back, not staying in the kill position, to be faced by two more soldiers, one of whom slashed the air where Thade had knelt a heartbeat earlier.
***
Dax had two soldiers dead at his feet, and fought three more. His blood-covered short axes easily cleaved through the soldiers’ swords, armour, and chain mail. Death was instant, accomplished with every cut and hack. There was no apparent style to his fighting but he was dangerous, absolutely deadly.
***
Gammel stood alone in the centre, hacking, and received several cuts. Gripping his broadsword two-handed, he sliced the air back and forth, holding the soldiers at bay; only a brave man would step in close. One soldier did move towards him and received a smashing cut that cleaved through his helm and skull, spraying crimson and grey matter into the air. As the soldier fell, his dead body weight dragged Gammel’s lodged sword from his grip. Screaming in defiance, he surged forward barehanded. Grabbing a soldier by his breastplate, he picked him up and threw him into his comrades, but the blacksmith received several more lacerations for his trouble. Gammel did not care and grabbed another warrior. Holding him by his neck and groin, Gammel used his as a shield and charged in.
***
Dax tried to reach the blacksmith but was pushed back by the soldiers. He grimaced and started to cut a path, his axes – his Death-dealers – never maiming, always slaying.
***
The sheer number of black-clad warriors pushed Thade and Tanas back. Thade received a cut to his cheek but he killed his attacker. Tanas, with frightening calmness, continued to kill all attackers who stood before him. The Dark Brethren pushed on, holding Tanas and Thade back. The soldiers knew they had enough men, only the chasm’s confines hindered them. They made an extra effort and surged forward, forcing Thade and Tanas back, isolating Gammel and Dax.
The end was near, but then . . .
The fighting turned.
***
The six men saw the horses of the Dark Brethren left to one side and a big man with red hair surrounded by the soldiers. They saw the man pick up a soldier and throw him like a rag doll. Without hesitation, the six men dismounted and started to fight the soldiers.
***
Thade saw the extra men and though confused, felt relief when they attacked the men in black, so with renewed vigour forced himself forward. Next to him, Tanas felt the former gladiator move into the soldiers and he did likewise.
The Dark Brethren were now trapped in a vice; being pushed back by Thade, Tanas and Dax, their rear cut off by Gammel and now by the six new arrivals.
Within minutes, the fighting was over. Gammel stood over the bodies and roared. But was it a roar of triumph or pain? No one knew.
To one side of the dead Dark Brethren stood Thade, Tanas, and Dax, with blood dripping from their weapons. In the centre of the carnage stood Gammel, who stooped down to retrieve his broadsword. On the other side of the bodies stood the four remaining of the six men, their shredded cloaks billowing slightly in the cooling breeze, two of their companions lost in the pile of corpses. No one moved as they caught their breath. It was Thade who turned to Tanas and spoke first.
“Lucky for you, your friends arrived at the bridge at just the right time.”
“Aye, the gods must be smiling on me,” answered Tanas in a sarcastic tone.
Dax stepped forward and wiped his axes on a black cloak to clear the blood off the blade.
None of the six moved and they still had their weapons drawn.
One of the hooded men pointed his sword towards Tanas. “You man, do you travel with a young woman?”
Tanas did not look up but cocked his head to one side. “Who, me?” he countered, gesturing with one of his swords.
“Yes, you. Is she harmed?”
“I travel with two women and neither of them is hurt. What is it to you?”
“Have you offered them safe conduct?”
“What is it to you?” repeated Tanas now becoming agitated.
The tall man asking the questions stepped forward. “Listen to me, if you have helped my child I owe you a debt. Now answer the question.” The man stepped over bodies to stand in front of Tanas. “You are a great warrior, but when it comes to a father’s love nothing will stop me.” Another of the men joined his companion and removed his hood.
“I would suggest you answer the question.” Then he came to a realization and whispered something to the other man.
“Dax, it is good to see you again,” said the hooded man, brushing pass Tanas. “You too, Thade. That must mean my daughter is safe.”
Thade stood stock still for a moment, his mouth gaping. The taller man pushed back his hood revealing his shaven head, and smiled with relief.
Dax spoke next. “Your Highness, it is good to see you, but I am at a loss, who are you looking for?”
Tanas erupted. “Please slow down, I’m totally confused. You are Mr. Thade?”
“Aye,” answered Thade, “but Thade, just Thade.”
“And you are Mr. Chosen, Ireen’s father.”
“The Chosen to you, commo
ner,” barked General Gordonia, stepping forward.
Tanas’s hand shot up, his sword tip stopping a finger’s width from the general’s throat.
“If you do not mind, this man . . .” hissed Tanas, pointing his other sword at the Chosen, “. . . will answer my questions.”
“Yes, I am Ireen’s father,” answered the Chosen softly, his eyes narrowing.
“You are meant to be dead. She still mourns you.”
“Well, I’m a difficult man to kill.”
“Not from where I stand,” countered Tanas, waving his sword blade in the air.
“Now Mr. Thade . . .”
“Again, just Thade.”
“Yes, yes, whatever. Is this man who he says he is? I know you fought in the arena in Phadrine so you should recognise him.”
“Can you not see for yourself?”
“No, you damn imbecile I cannot see – I’m blind. That’s why I have this damn scarf covering my eyes.”
Everyone stopped then and stared at the warrior. After several moments Tanas spoke again. “Have you lost your tongue, Mr. Thade?”
“No, umm, this is the Chosen and he’s Ireen’s father.”
Tanas paused for a moment. He cocked his head to one side and beamed a smile. Replacing his swords into their sheaths, strapped to his back protruding through his coat, he held out his hand.
“Well, it is damn nice to meet Ireen’s father.”
Tanas waved his hand about waiting for the other man to grasp it. After a few moments, his mood darkened. “Is that the thanks given to the man who saved another’s daughter? The father could be a damn gully rat or god all damned mighty, but politeness does not hurt. She said you are a good man, well that has yet to be seen. If I had not stayed in this goddamned place those goddamned bodies would still be alive, and all over your precious goddamned daughter. I could have stayed in my goddamned camp when those men were attacking her . . . but oh no . . .”
Tanas turned and stormed off. Then he paused and turned back. “As usual, the mighty Tanas comes to the rescue and gets what, not even a goddamned thank you. Well, that’s it. I have had my fill. Mr. Thade, the damn maiden is yonder, her ungrateful father stands in front of you, and they are now your goddamned problem. I agreed to take her to you and I have achieved that. Goddamn . . . ungrateful good for nothing . . . son of a . . .” Tanas stomped off, cursing with every stride.
