The Darkslayer: Bish and Bone Series Collector's Edition (Books 1-10): Sword and Sorcery Masterpieces
Page 1
THE DARKSLAYER:
BISH AND BONE SERIES
BOOKS 1 THRU 10
BISH AND BONE: BOOK 1
BLACK BLOOD: BOOK 2
RED DEATH: BOOK 3
LETHAL LIAISONS: BOOK 4
TORMENT AND TERROR: BOOK 5
BRIGANDS AND BADLANDS: BOOK 6
WAR IN THE WASTELAND: BOOK 7
SLAUGHTER IN THE STREETS: BOOK 8
HUNT OF THE BEAST: BOOK 9
THE BATTLE FOR BONE: BOOK 10
THE DARKSLAYER:
BISH AND BONE: SERIES 2 (BOOKS 1-5)
By Craig Halloran
Copyright © November 2017 by Craig Halloran
Amazon Edition
TWO-TEN BOOK PRESS
P.O. Box 4215, Charleston, WV 25364
ISBN eBook: 978-1-946218-35-3
ISBN Paperback: 978-1-946218-36-0
THE DARKSLAYER is a registered trademark, #77670850
www.thedarkslayer.com
Map by Gillis Bjork
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recorded, photocopied, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
Publisher's Note
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
MAP
BOOK 1: BISH AND BONE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
EPILOGUE
From the Author
BOOK 2: BLACK BLOOD
Prologue
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
EPILOGUE
BOOK 3: RED DEATH
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
EPILOGUE
BOOK 4: LETHAL LIAISONS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
BOOK 5: TORMENT AND TERROR
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
Epilogue
BOOK 6: BRIGANDS AND BADLANDS
Prologue
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
> CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
Epilogue
BOOK 7: WAR IN THE WASTELAND
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
CHAPTER 42
CHAPTER 43 (Epilogue)
BOOK 8: SLAUGHTER IN THE STREETS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
CHAPTER 41
BOOK 9: HUNT OF THE BEAST
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
CHAPTER 40
EPILOGUE
BOOK 10: THE BATTLE FOR BONE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 32
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
CHAPTER 35
CHAPTER 36
CHAPTER 37
CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 39
EPILOGUE
FROM THE AUTHOR
OTHER BOOKS AND AUTHOR INFO
MAP
DS LOGO
DEDICATION
To all of The Darkslayer fans worldwide.
“Oh, the silence, the pain-filled silence.” - Craig Halloran
BOOK 1: BISH AND BONE
CHAPTER 1
Stiff winds tore at the traveling cloaks of three lone figures marching into the setting suns of Bish. Every day was the same as the last. Hot. Miserable. Surrounded by dust devils and hungry vermin. Above, white clouds were scattered in long lines over the horizon. In front led a man bigger than the other two put together, pushing through the wind in great strides. The other two kept pace behind his broad back, heads down.
Melegal rubbed the sandy grit from his eyes. Spat dust from his mouth.
“It’s been over a week, Venir. How much farther to the alleged oasis? You said we’d be there a sunset ago.”
Venir kept going. Solemn. Boots crunching over the hard and dusty Outland ground. It had been this way mile after mile. Day after day. Venir hardly saying anything.
“Is anything going on inside that cavernous skull of yours?” Melegal tugged on Venir’s cloak. Venir jerked away. Melegal stopped in his tracks. “Will you stop, Lout!”
Venir didn’t. He kept going. His gait stiff. His footfalls determined.
“Pah!”
Melegal felt Haze’s hand wrap around his. Her lithe body pressed into his, trembling.
“I’m hungry,” she said. Her gaze held his. “Really hungry, and my feet burn like fire.”
“Ah,” he said, reaching under his robes. He placed in her hand a handful of nuts that the wizards, Fogle and Boon, had given them. “Have these.”
“Thanks,” Haze said, brushing her dark hair from her gray eyes. She nibbled them down. “Is there much left?”
“Enough, I think,” he said.
Haze’s eyes drifted over his shoulder and onto Venir.
“Your friend doesn’t seem right. Something’s missing.” She looked back. “I wish those other men were still here. The old one was interesting. Different, to say the least.”
Melegal didn’t know Fogle or Boon, but he agreed. The wizards, though odd, at least offered conversation. The pair had fire in their eyes, bright as gems. The kind of fire Venir used to have, but that was gone. In all his years, Melegal had never seen a man more sure of himself than Venir. But something had happened. That confidence was gone. He patted Haze on the rump and grabbed her hand. “I know. Come.” He shuffled back into step with Venir’s tracks.
Ahead, he noticed Venir’s easy gait was gone. One shoulder dipped lower than the other. Sometimes his fingers trembled a little. He just needs some grog to loosen him up. Oh, what I wouldn’t do for a taste of wine on my lips. This City of Three better be everything I expect and more. He glanced back at Haze. What was I thinking?
He wasn’t going to admit it, but his feet burned every bit as much as hers. No doubt he had blisters as big as his toes. Every discomforting step was a reminder that he’d had to leave Bone. His home. A great city under siege and fire. Swarmed by evil. He could have
stayed. Instead, he’d chosen to follow Venir. Two days into the journey, he regretted the decision. He didn’t even have any idea where in Bish he was. Like a giddy woman, he’d hopped into a black portal that twisted his guts out, only to find himself in the most discomforting blank and barren part of the world. After all I’ve been through, I still do something stupid. Wouldn’t be so bad if I had Quickster.
Haze pulled his arm.
“What!” he said, jerking his arm away.
“Easy now,” she said, pointing west.
“Sorry.” He rubbed her shoulder.
“What was that?” She was still pointing.
Melegal narrowed his eyes. Something hazy in the distance moved behind the cacti and bone trees. A dark shape against the sun. More than one wavering in the heat like a mirage. Something crept between his shoulder blades and tightened the muscles. He’d seen plenty of the Outlands. Sand spiders. Underlings crawling out of holes. Worms and insects bigger than horses that burst out of the ground. Give him a nice city any day.
“Uh … Venir,” he said, catching up to the big man. “Venir!” he hissed. “There’s something out there.”
Venir stopped and peered down at Melegal. His blue eyes now almost a dull shade of gray. He grunted. Eyed the horizon where Melegal pointed.
“Probably coyotes or some other desert vermin. Keep moving.”
“It’s not vermin. It looked like men. Don’t take me for a fool, Venir.”
“I’m not going to waste any time finding out whether I’m right or you’re wrong,” Venir said in a hard tone. “We need to keep moving. If something wanders too close, well, kill it.” He resumed his walk.
“You fat headed …” Melegal started, his voice trailing off. He’d gotten to know Venir plenty well over the years. The two of them usually bickered back and forth like old women. But now, the lout just shook his head and walked aside. Melegal peered over the horizon. Whatever was there, or at least what he’d thought was there, was gone. “Do you see anything?” he said to Haze.
“Not now,” she said, eyes darting side to side. “But there was something.”
Strange. On skinny tired legs, he followed Venir. Silent. Miserable. Bickering with himself. Haze fell in step behind him. She was resilient for a slender woman. Didn’t complain much either, if any at all. In most cases, the women he spent too much time with started bickering in the best of conditions, but he found Haze’s resolve refreshing.
Hours later but just minutes after the last sunset, Venir stopped in an Outland thicket of sorts. The tightly interwoven white limbs of the leafless Bone Trees jutted a dozen feet into the sky. Their bending branches made for an eerie howl in the wind. Venir cut a path through them into a small clearing. Then he hewed one of the smaller trees down with his axes. Minutes later, a fire burned with warm orange light. Melegal’s stomach groaned.
“Let me try and snare us something,” Haze said, sliding off her boots. “Ew.” She grimaced, peeling her sock off. Her feet were red, blistered and swollen.