The Darkslayer: Bish and Bone Series Collector's Edition (Books 1-10): Sword and Sorcery Masterpieces

by Craig Halloran

  “I could, but I don’t think that would put an end to his flirtations. He’s got much of his father in him, and he’s at that age.”

  Jubilee stuck her chest out and said, “I’m of age.”

  “No,” Kam started, and then abandoned the idea. I’m tending to enough children that are not my own. “Let’s have this chat some other time, Jubilee.”

  “All right,” the girl sighed, “Is Venir older than you, or are you older than him? I can’t tell how old he is on account of all the scars.”

  “I have no idea.”

  Jubilee bobbed her head.

  They both fell silent.

  Kam couldn’t shrug off the sense of dread inside her. Something felt horribly wrong about Venir being gone, horribly wrong everywhere, and her stomach was always queasy. Something caught her eye on the stairs.

  Georgio was dragging Brak down from the balcony. He stopped at the edge of the stairs.

  Kam gasped.

  Jubilee’s head jerked around. “Georgio!” She jumped off the bar and raced up the stairs.

  Kam rushed right behind her. “Have you any sense of decency?” Kam said. She took a knee alongside Brak.

  “I’m all right, Kam,” the giant young man said.

  “Let go of him, you idiot!” Jubilee kicked Georgio in the shin.

  “Ow!” Georgio said. “He told me to. He needs to get out every once in a while, you know.”

  Jubilee grabbed Georgio’s arm and bit down into it.

  “Bone! Jubilee! Quit it!” He let go of Brak’s arms. Brak’s head clopped off the wooden floor.

  “See what you did?” Jubilee said, shoving Georgio away.

  “Me! You did that, Jubilee!”

  Jubilee scooped Brak’s head up and into her lap and looked into his eyes.

  It touched Kam, and she said, “Are you all right, Brak? Really?”

  “I just wanted some air, was all.”

  “Well, it’s raining.”

  “Sounds nice to me.”

  Brak’s face seemed pleasant. Almost serene. If there was one thing Kam did like about the young ones, it was that they stuck together, despite their differences.

  “What were you going to do?” Jubilee said, shooting Georgio a look, “drag him down the stairs?”

  Georgio shrugged and said, “He didn’t want me carrying him down the steps in my arms, said that would be weird.”

  Kam giggled.

  Jubilee did too. “I suppose it would,” Jubilee said. She hugged Brak’s big head. “Soon, you’ll be carrying me up and down these stairs again, Brak. I swear it.”

  “Thanks, Jubilee.”

  Kam brushed the mop of Brak’s blond hair from his eyes. “How about a trip in a wagon?”

  “Anything outside would be great,” he said, “so long as it isn’t any trouble.”

  Kam glanced up and down Brak’s mighty frame. His thick skin hid all his heavy muscle.

  “Nikkel!” Kam yelled out over the balcony rail. “Get up here.”

  “Oh, don’t bother him,” Jubilee said, “he’s probably busy kissing Shirl.”

  “Good for him,” Georgio said.

  “Shut it, Georgio!”

  “You jealous little priss,” he said, chuckling. “You like Nikkel.”

  “I am not jealous. I’m a Royal, you know,” she said, checking her carefully manicured nails. “Some barmaid can’t compete with me.”

  “Sure. Royal,” Georgio said, rolling his eyes. “Last of the Slergs.”

  “I’m going to stab you in the throat when you sleep, Georgio.”

  Georgio gulped.

  “Jubilee!” Kam exclaimed. “That’s enough.”

  Nikkel appeared at the bottom of the stairs with a broad smile on his face. “Yes, Kam!” the young black man said.

  “‘Yes, Kam’” Jubilee mocked under her breath.

  “Come up here and help Georgio take Brak to the stables.”

  Nikkel bounded up the stairs, taking four at a time.

  “Sure thing,” he said. He looked at Jubilee. “I like your nails. Very pretty.”

  Jubilee’s face lit up like the sky. “Oh, these.”

  “Yuck,” Brak said. “Can we get moving, please?”

  Georgio took him under the arms while Nikkel hoisted up his legs, “Up you go!” Nikkel said, and down the stairs they went.

  “Bone, Brak,” Nikkel said, “You’re even heavier than you look.” He cocked his head back over his shoulder toward Kam. “Not that I can’t handle it.”

  Jubilee, still standing at the top of the stairs, glared up at Kam. “I’ve got to go.” She stormed down the hall.

  Kam held her head and sighed. My head’s splitting already.

  Georgio and Nikkel, with Brak in tow, made their way behind the bar and disappeared through the door of the kitchen, toward the stables. She felt guilty for not having thought of taking Brak outside earlier, but so many things were uncertain. People murmured about the wars in the south, and they were all becoming irritated. One man, a traveling sage of sorts, had even been making a long, eloquent case for the underlings—until Billip caught wind of it and tossed him out on his ear.

  Trouble. Trouble. Trouble. It’s just as bad without Venir as with him.

  A group of figures bustled out the front door. Another group entered.

  I had better get back to work.

  As she started down the stairs, her stomach buckled. She moaned, reached for the railing with her missing hand, and teetered face-first down the stairs. She had rolled halfway to the bottom when she stopped, lying sprawled out on the steps, gasping in pain.

  Wincing, she tried to force her way up but could barely move.

  What is wrong with me?

  From out of nowhere, a pair of strong arms seized her and jerked her to her feet.

  CHAPTER 2

  Melegal made his way through the Magi Roost with his new friend Jasper gliding in behind him. He pulled out a chair in the back, askew from one of the fireplaces.

  “Have a seat,” he said.

  Jasper, dark and pouty, glanced around and eased her lithe frame into the chair.

  Melegal joined her, taking a chair with its back to the wall.

  “I’ve heard of this place,” she said, eyes darting around. “Was always curious, but I’ve never been here. Funny I wind up here now. With you, no less.”

  The tavern was more than half full, and many of the races were represented. The mages in refined robes talked in low voices, while the others boasted. A dwarf and mintaur butted heads and toasted tall tankards of ale. A pretty gal with hair as white as fine silk played a dark cherry flute while another strummed a harp.

  Melegal felt his shoulders ease.

  “Wine, Melegal?” a buxom barmaid said, sauntering up to the table with a lavish look to her clothes.

  “The best, Cherry,” he said, winking.

  “Anything to eat?”

  “Stew will be fine.”

  “And you?” Cherry said to Jasper.

  “The same, but no meat in the stew.”

  Cherry nodded, smiled back at Melegal, and headed off.

  His gaze left Cherry’s hips and found Jasper’s hard eyes.

  “Fond of that, are you?”

  He leaned forward on his elbows. “More than of stew without meat. So strange, seeing people who don’t eat meat. But if you must know, I’m most fond of those high-boned cheeks.”

  “It’s a mage thing,” Jasper said, “you wouldn’t understand.”

  “Can’t say I care to, either.”

  Melegal eased back in his seat and drew the aroma of the Roost inside his nostrils.

  Ah …There was sanctuary here, at least more so than at most places. His mind had been racing since Jaen hurled him out that window, sending him plummeting a thousand feet, which would have meant his sure death if Fogle hadn’t happened by.

  At least in Bone they don’t have such ludicrous towers.

  He thought about Jaen. The mage’s supine figur
e was a gorgeous sight—and her power was terrifying. It was something he needed to wrap his head around.

  Best you leave that alone. His face drew up again. Still, I need Quickster back.

  Jasper scooted her chair toward him. “I don’t like my back exposed either,” she said. “I was cut several times when I was younger.”

  He lifted his brows. Don’t get too friendly. Probably just another spy of Jaen’s. Guilds. Guilds. Bish, I hate these guilds. At least she has nice qualities about her.

  A tall figure ducked inside the front door of the tavern, towering over everyone in the room. Tarcot the strider. His bug eyes found Melegal’s.

  No. No. Don’t come back here. No!

  There were audible gasps as Tarcot made a bead straight for them. He stopped at the edge of the table and nodded, insect eyes blinking. Spears filled one pair of hands. The others pulled out a chair. He sat down, blocking Melegal’s view.

  “By all means, have a seat. I’m so used to dining with bugs in my face.”

  “Bugs?” Tarcot said, cocking his head. “What do you mean, bugs?”

  “It’s a compliment,” Melegal said, “for a bug.”

  Cherry returned with a platter of food, a wine carafe, and goblets. Her expression remained unfazed.

  “Something for your comrade?” she said, running her hands up and down Tarcot’s shoulders and sinewy arms. “Impressive. I hear a strider can really sweep a woman from her feet. Tall and oddly handsome.”

  What?

  “I like this person,” Tarcot said, grabbing the carafe with two hands and chugging it down. “I like this drink as well.” He rapped all four fists on the table, startling folks. “More.”

  Cherry looked at Melegal.

  He shrugged and said, “Why not?”

  “It smells nice in here for an indoor atmosphere. Not at all like a swine hole,” Tarcot said. He picked up Melegal’s stew bowl and sniffed it. “Mmmm…” He scarfed it down. “Enjoyable.”

  Great. But at least he isn’t eating bugs off the floor.

  “Tarcot, did you see your friends the wizards over there? I think they’re looking for you.”

  The strider’s head turned almost halfway around, cocked to the side, and turned back. “Boon Destroyer is busy with ample lady. We’ll reunite soon enough. Now I spend time with new comrades. We eat. We drink. Talk of dark times surrounding this odd city.”

  Melegal shifted in his chair and focused his eyes on Kam. Something was wrong about her.

  Dark times, indeed.

  CHAPTER 3

  Her back and elbows ached. Embarrassed, she reached for the banister, trying to twist from the hands that held her tight.

  “Are you all right?” a strong and well-mannered voice said.

  “I’m fine,” she said, jerking away. Head down, she was continuing down the stairs, holding her stomach, when she bumped into another man. “Excuse me, if you don’t mind.”

  “Certainly, fetching lady,” the man said with a nod. He was older, polished in speech as well. He stepped aside.

  She’d had plenty of suitors over the years, and she didn’t need another one. She stepped over his robes. Blasted men! Leave me alone.

  The man on the stairs called after her.

  “Kam.”

  She stopped in her tracks. His voice was suddenly familiar. Slowly, she turned.

  The man’s green wizard’s garb was familiar. The long brown hair and bearded face not so much, but with a shock, she recognized his large oval head and burning eyes.

  “Fogle?”

  An older man in tattered robes stepped out in front of her. He was tanned and strong, with short white hair and a thick white mustache. He winked. “And Boon, his notorious grandfather.” He bowed, but his eyes never left her chest. “At your service, Kam.”

  Kam sidestepped Boon and rushed into Fogle’s arms. Her heart was bursting in her chest, and tears flowed down her face, dripping off her chin. She felt his hand petting her hair and squeezed him tight. She hardly knew the man, but she’d missed him. Worried about him.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, breaking off her embrace. “I really didn’t think I’d see you again.”

  “Nor I you,” he said, wiping tears from her eyes with his thumbs.

  The wizard had changed. His features were hard, weathered, and handsome. There was an adventurous air about him.

  She was at a loss for words.

  “And how are you doing?” he said, breaking the odd silence.

  She brushed back her hair with the stump of her hand, saying, “Oh I’m wonderful.”

  “Kam!” Fogle said with widening eyes. “What in Bish happened? Was it underlings?”

  “I’ll explain later,” she said. “Uh … let me get you something to eat. You look exhausted.” She turned and faced his grandfather. “And you are also called Boon?”

  “Aye, I am, Kam. And I must say, you are more splendid than Fogle described.”

  She blushed. The older man had a twinkle in his eye, but he was built like a man half his age.

  “Are you spoken for?”

  “Grandfather!” Fogle said.

  “You have to be up front about these things.” Seeing Kam’s telltale blush, Boon twirled around, eyeing the surroundings. His eyes fixed on Cherry. “Why in Bish did I ever leave this city?” he mumbled and sauntered the barmaid’s way.

  “I apologize, Kam,” Fogle said, “but I don’t think he’s seen a woman in decades. Certainly not one as captivating as you, I’m certain.”

  “Fogle,” she said, taking a breath. Her cheeks became rosy. It was the best she’d felt in weeks. She took him by the arm, sat him down at the bar, and plopped right down beside him. “Tell me everything, Fogle. I want to hear it all.”

  “I’d be happy to, but what about you and your spill on the stairs?”

  As if on cue, Joline came over then with an ice pack for Kam’s head.

  Kam smiled at Joline, and then looked intently back at Fogle. “You first.”

  ***

  Fogle couldn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth to Kam. He’d never been able to talk to women in such a confident manner before, at least not from a friendly perspective.

  Am I being charming?

  He started talking, but without going into too much detail. His lips were saying one thing, but his mind was thinking another. Kam looked more amazing than she ever had. Her legs were perfect through her silky dress, and her bosom was more ample then he remembered. Even the short boots on her feet caught his attention. Everything about her stirred his blood. The curls in her auburn hair, pleasant perfume, the way her head tilted and nodded. His blood churned, and all his aches and pains drifted away.

  She squeezed his forearm. “Did you say a dragon? A black dragon?”

  “It would fill this bar,” he said. He left out the part about Cass the Druid and the impromptu loss of his virginity and their strange relationship. Maybe I’ll share that story some other time, if she asks. “So would Barton, as a matter of fact—and there are giants twice as big as he is.”

  “I …” she started, tossing her hair, “I don’t know what to say. I’m just so glad you survived all of this.” Her face turned a little green, and she hunched on her stool.

  “Are you well, Kam?” he said, steadying her.

  She fanned herself, saying, “Woo, I think it’s all the excitement. You have me all riled up, Fogle.” She smiled. “I’m fine. Just a queasiness that comes and goes. Please continue.”

  Joline filled some goblets with wine, and Fogle took a drink. Ah. It had been too long since he had had anything refined.

  “Food!” Kam said. “I bet you need food!”

  “Well, it has been a long time since I had any of your wonderful stew.”

  She snapped her fingers, and Shirl hustled back into the kitchen.

  “You’ll wait no longer. Now tickle my ears some more,” she said, smiling.

  Fogle rambled on and on, leaving out the parts that involved Ven
ir.

  CHAPTER 4

  Trinos sat on a tree stump that had been carved into a seat within the Great Bish Forest. Her arms and legs were roots and twisted vines that dug into the ground. Her body melded into the landscape of the land and was now composed of bark and leaves. Only her beautiful face showed, bright eyes glowing with life. On either side of her, the Nameless Two stood guard, waiting hour after hour.

  Where are you, Scorch?

  Bish would know. The world knew everything. One just had to be able to talk to it, and why shouldn’t she be able to talk to the world that she had created?

  Tell me where he is, child.

  There had been nothing more powerful in the world than herself and Scorch, but things had changed. Bish had soaked up their remaining power, and the pair were trapped on this world. Scorch would have wrested the power from her but for the interference of an underling named Sinway, who had butted in.

  She dug her limbs deeper into the ground. She could feel blood seeping into the world. Wars being waged. The struggle of all her creation. It had all gotten worse when she arrived, and it wasn’t so entertaining anymore. She had to put a stop to the meddler. Put an end to Scorch.

  She remained steady in her mission, through wind and rain. She’d been trying to find her adversary ever since her last encounter with him, when she had regained her strength. She had discovered many things: the underlings’ plans, the fall of the Royals, the panic of the races. She’d even located her little band of heroes. But there was no sign of Scorch.

  He hides … from me? Interesting.

  Plugged in, she could scan faces and search memories to some degree. She picked away, much the same as a miner digs for gold, exploring all over her fascinating little world. Leaves fell from the trees and landed on her face. Her glowing eyes faded to a pleasant amber sheen. Her arms and legs uprooted from the ground, and her tree husk of a body reformed into that of a stunning woman. She sat on the tree stump with a whimsical look on her face.

  Ah … I think I have an idea. I should have thought of this before.

  She stretched out her elegant arms and began tracing circles in the air. She summoned her power and cast a spell she’d been made aware of. She didn’t need words or scrolls to read from as others did, but what had been effortless did take effort now, and it bothered her. She paused in mid-circle.