Zurth snatched a vase off a nearby table and slung it at Cappy’s battle-glazed eyes.
The old soldier slid his head to the side and halted his swing. “Coward!”
Slom sprung from underneath the table and plowed into Cappy’s back. The rogue and the soldier tussled on the floor, locking hands on wrists. Slom had a dagger in his hand, trying to drive it into Cappy’s throat.
Cappy kicked at the half-orc’s ribs. “Get off of me, half-beast!”
Slom forced his superior weight down on the pinned man. The dagger’s tip closed in on Cappy’s fat neck.
Melegal caught the glimmer in Scorch’s eyes. Men were about to die, and this was little more than entertainment to him. Perhaps this is what he wants. He probably caused it all. He’s just as sick as the Royals.
“Oh, I’m not sick, Melegal,” Scorch said, still eyeing the battle. “Far from it. And I didn’t cause this. Cappy’s temperament lacks refinement.”
A thousand tiny spiders raced up and down Melegal’s spine. He reads my thoughts. Bone!
Scorch chuckled. It would do you well to get used to it. You’re an interesting man. Rail thin but durable. Still interesting.
Wringing his cap, Melegal shouted back in his mind, Get out of my head!
“As I said, you’ll have to get used to it.”
Melegal put his cap back on his head. His worries eroded.
“What just happened?” Scorch said, eyeing him.
Melegal slid his cap back off. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
“Screw you, half-breed!” Cappy spat in Slom’s face.
The rangy rogue put all of his strength and weight behind his dagger. Cappy’s arms gave out. The blade sunk into his neck.
Slom leaned back and mopped the sweat from his eyes. “I didn’t think he’d ever shut his mouth.” He pulled his dagger out and wiped it clean on Cappy’s sleeve.
“Thanks,” Zurth said, pressing a tablecloth to his wound.
“That hat,” Scorch said to Melegal. “Let me have it.”
“Get your own.”
Scorch beckoned with his hand for the hat.
The dark cap tried to pull free of Melegal’s grip. It stretched out his arms and then dragged him over the floor toward Scorch.
“Just let go of it!”
“No!” Melegal shouted back, with his boots dragging over the floor. “You have enough. Get your own!”
Scorch jerked his arm back, ripping the cap free from Melegal’s fingertips. The thief sat on his knees, scrawny chest heaving. “Give it back,” he gasped.
Scorch twirled it on his finger, eyed it, and took a whiff with his nose. “It’s a sorry looking thing, yet it tingles.” He placed it over his golden mane. His azure eyes brightened. “Ah! I like it.”
CHAPTER 38
In the early dark of morning, Fogle reentered the back door of the Magi Roost into the kitchen. The last few days he’d been lying low and doing a little self-exploration. Making his way over to the cabinets, he grabbed a pouch of coffee grinds. With a flick of his finger, the fires to the stove came. His eyes found a buckskin satchel on the table.
They shouldn’t be leaving this lying about.
He picked up the decanter. It was the one filled with Everwater. A mystic stream of fluid that never ran out. He refilled the coffee kettle with it, found a stool, and sat with his head down. I’m an arse. He’d almost gotten Venir killed. He’d sent the man into the middle of a tower as a distraction and rationalized that the man could not die. That the warrior would be fine. There was some truth to that, but Venir had suffered greatly on the gamble. The man had died. Suffocated by Kam’s father, Kavell. Fogle had learned that while eavesdropping on the two of them. He’d felt an inch tall afterward.
He sighed.
Joline and Jubilee were the only ones he talked to, and there was little of that. Joline said they wanted to find Melegal and Jasper before they departed into the Outlands. He’d agreed to help, but he hadn’t had any luck with it at all.
I don’t even know why I’m here. They don’t need me.
On cat’s feet, someone pushed through the pair of swinging doors between the kitchen and bar. Venir’s silhouette filled the room.
Great.
“Who’s making coffee?” Venir said.
Fogle formed a spell on his lips. He could conceal himself until the man passed by. Show a little backbone, Fogle. If he kills you, he kills you. “Help yourself,” he replied, rising up from his spot.
Venir turned the key on one of the oil lamps. The growing flame brightened the room. “Any sign of Melegal?”
“No,” Fogle said. Venir wasn’t armed. He wore a brown tunic and was only equipped with hands that Fogle had seen him crush walnuts with. “I have ways of letting him know what happened if he ever comes around.”
Venir leaned back on one of the kitchen counters and crossed his arms just above the waist. “Kam’s informed me of the same thing.”
The sound of Venir saying her name stung. “Venir, I can easily find my grandfather. I can tell you where Billip and them are, or at least get you close to them. Besides, you know the Outland better than anyone.”
“What are you saying, Fogle?”
“I feel it’s best that we part ways.”
Venir bobbed his chin. “Is that what you want?”
Fogle readied the coffee grinds. “As I said, I feel it’s best.”
“It would increase my chances of survival.”
Fogle’s neck tightened as he twisted around to face Venir. He swore the man’s brooding face was smiling. He rubbed the back of his neck. For some reason he felt like he was a hundred years old. And he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t been thinking about what Venir and Kam had been doing. “I erred.”
Venir pushed himself off the table and said, “What’s that?”
“Venir, if you want to throttle me, you would be in your right. I was arrogant.” He cleared his throat. “And I’m ashamed to say, I let my loins get the better of me. So much to the point that I wanted you out of the way. Even dead. And you’ve been nothing less than a friend.”
“You know, that would be the second time you tried to kill me.”
“And over a woman on both accounts.” The coffee’s aroma began to strengthen. “Honestly, it’s time we parted ways.”
“Don’t get all crossed over, Fogle.” Venir dropped his big paw on Fogle’s shoulder and squeezed. “Plenty of renowned men have fallen between the heaving breasts of many women. It’s just how we are.” He slapped Fogle on the shoulder, jostling the man hard. “But if you ever set me up again, I’ll have to kill you.”
“I won’t,” Fogle said, rubbing his shoulder. “At least not without your permission.”
“Good.” Venir eyed the pot. “Is that ready yet?”
“Almost.”
“So you’re going to ride it out with us. Into the Outlands?”
Fogle frowned. “It seems awkward.”
“Better to feel awkward among company than to die alone.” Venir picked up the coffee urn and poured a mug of the steaming brew. He took a drink. “It’s good enough. Strong.” Venir turned and headed back out of the kitchen. “Go ahead and do what you sorcerers do so as to leave a note to Melegal. We’re heading out at dawn.” Venir vanished through the swinging doors.
Fogle poured himself a cup of coffee. The first sip burnt his lip. “Ow! How in Bish did he drink this swill?” He poured it into the sink. Why does he want me along, anyway? I can’t even look Kam in the eyes. It will be impossible. He thought about Cass. That wispy-haired albino druid. This is her fault. Dragon-loving wench. You really know how to pick them, Fogle.
He pulled his small spellbook out from underneath his robes. He opened and closed the worn leather tome several times until it expanded and filled his lap. He stuck his nose down in it.
Maybe I should conjure up my own woman.
CHAPTER 39
“Look at how they move. So well organized. So methodical,” Scorch
said. “How can one not have admiration for them? They are far more determined than the other breeds. Why shouldn’t they be rewarded?”
“They’re evil. They destroy everything,” Melegal said from his chair.
“You have to admire their consistency,” Scorch replied.
Melegal shook his head. Over the past few days, he, Jasper, Zurth, and Slom had been staring at one of the Tower’s great windows. Its transparency was gone, replaced by live and detailed scenes from all over the City of Three. He saw the underlings taking control of the Nest. Swarming and attacking in the wards and districts. He even saw battles miles distant from the grand city itself.
“Aren’t these big screens a marvelous invention?” Scorch said while pointing his finger at the oversized glass. He flipped from one landscape to the other. “I have to give these local sorcerers some credit for this one. It’s no wonder they’ve been able to control things for so long, until now.” He took a sip from a golden goblet of wine. “Ah, I just remembered something. Watch this.” He snapped his fingers, one-two-three. More windows came to life with new views.
“Oooh,” Slom, Jasper, and Zurth said in unison. They all sat in plush chairs that reclined back and were stuffing their faces with food. Fascinated by the imagery, they’d hardly moved in days.
“I knew they would like it,” Scorch said, fanning himself with Melegal’s cap. “Why, sir, can’t you enjoy it?”
“Those are real people dying down there. Innocent blood being spilled.”
“So?”
“It’s sick.”
“It’s always been this way, has it not? It’s no different, except now the underlings are in control. And they should be.”
“If you are so fond of them, then why don’t you keep them company instead of us?”
Scorch cocked his head. “Hmmm, you do raise a good point. After all, the underlings are a bit canned. One dimensional. They don’t offer the same surprises that your kind offers. They’re very predictable.”
“Yes, if you aren’t one of them, they’ll kill you.”
“It’s called extinction, but it won’t happen to me,” Scorch said. He placed the cap back on his head. “My, this is a marvelous device. You had no idea what you wielded with this, did you?”
“Certainly. Now let me have it back.”
“Oh, I can’t do that. Then I wouldn’t know what you were thinking. And I like knowing what you’re thinking. It’s been very entertaining, picking your brain. You have been a wealth of knowledge compared to all of the others.”
Melegal sunk back into his chair. He’d felt ghostly fingers digging around inside his head. He couldn’t eat or sleep on account of it. The presence of Scorch was probing his mind. Chiseling away one tiny bit at a time.
“Oh, don’t clam up now, my clever friend. You have as much to gain as the underlings from all of this.”
“There is not much that I require.”
“Oh! Look at that!” Zurth blurted out with a mouthful of dried meat. He pointed at the screen. “That’s crazy!”
The view was of one of the wizard towers. The top had erupted in a bright explosion. Human bodies streaming with entrails were being hurled out of the windows and splattering on the ground.
Slom started chuckling.
Jasper twisted her head around and caught Melegal’s eye. She eased out of her chair and took a place by his side. “Sorry. That isn’t right, is it?”
“Not when the underlings are winning,” he said.
“I know, but some of them are dying. It’s just amazing to see it like this,” she said. “I knew they kept a watch on things, but I didn’t know that the wizards had power like this.”
“They don’t, but he does,” Melegal said, eyeing Scorch. The omnipotent man had gotten up and stood before the screens with his hands behind his back. Melegal wanted to slip a blade into his back.
“I heard that,” Scorch said without turning.
“Well, if I had my cap back, you wouldn’t have to hear any of it at all.”
“Tut-tut. However, your plan to stab me wouldn’t do you any good anyway.”
Slom and Zurth took a quick glance back at Melegal then reattached their eyes to the screen.
“Besides, you need to think about your other friends and comrades.”
“What other…” Melegal stopped himself. He’d tried to hide his thoughts and memories, but it had done little good. “You have us. Can you leave the rest out of it?”
“Oh, I can’t do that. It seems part of the rest of you is a bit of a problem.”
Melegal knew he was talking about Venir. Of course he is. “I don’t comprehend how you have any problems. You have the power to do whatever you want.”
“That, my pencil-necked friend, is beyond your comprehension.”
“What’s a pencil?” Jasper whispered to Melegal.
He shrugged his narrow shoulders. “Fine, Scorch. We’ve been entertained long enough. Now what do you want your henchmen to do?” He glanced at Cappy’s corpse. It had been picked clean to the bone by blood worms. The foul creatures had been tossed out of the windows for fun by Zurth and Slom two days earlier. “It’s getting stuffy in this place.”
“Why be in a hurry? Can you not enjoy what I have to offer? Great food and entertainment. Why don’t you go and have a tussle with your little mystic concubine? She’s always thinking about it.”
Jasper chewed on her nails and made a sheepish grin.
“And these gruesome fellows are both thinking about her, and she’s also entertained thoughts about them,” Scorch continued. “Something’s bound to give. Enjoy.”
“One doesn’t enjoy things he’s forced to do,” Melegal said. “I like having the freedom to do what I want when I want to.”
“My way is better. Just give it a try.”
“I’d rather stick a needle in my eye.”
A needle as long as his arm appeared out of thin air. Scorch clasped it in his hand and ran his fingers over the edges. “That can be arranged.”
CHAPTER 40
Maintaining a low profile, covered in traveling cloaks, Venir led the way, with Kam, Joline, and Erin in tow. Joline rode on the back of Quickster, with Erin in her arms. Kam walked by his side.
“How can you stand the thought of splitting up with them?” she said, rubbing her shoulders. “We need to stick together.”
“We’ve always done it this way. Brak knows where the rendezvous is, and Fogle will keep them all safe. This is what we used to do when we took scalps from underling heads.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Too big of a crowd will raise suspicions. Besides, they’re looking for all of us. We can’t have them snatching us all at once.”
“If you say so,” Kam said with her eyes drifting up to him. “I just don’t want to be separated from my family any more that I have to be.”
Venir swung his arm over her shoulder. “I’ll do my best to keep us all together. I promise.”
“That’s good enough.”
The City of Three, unlike Bone, didn’t have a massive perimeter wall and hundreds of guards posted. Instead, there was a series of low-lying stone walls and lots of horse patrols. A pair of Royals patrolling on horseback galloped toward them just as they broke past the last barrier. They wore dark brown tunics, and curved swords hung on their hips. One carried a spear.
“What business do you have outside the city?” the soldier said. His square jaw jutted, and he spat tobacco on the ground.
“We’re going to stay with family in the City of Mist,” Venir said, stooped over a bit. “We’ve lost everything.”
“You’ll never make it. Stay in the city.”
“And be run through by the underlings or have another tower topple over on me? I’d rather bake to death in the dust.”
“You’re a big fellow. You need to stay and fight,” the soldier said. He had an irritating tone about him as he circled them and kept glancing at Kam. He nodded back to his comrade with the spear.
“We’ll have to search you.” He eyed Venir. “Are you armed?”
Venir lifted up his cloak, revealing his long hunting knife. The armament was secure inside the sack, resting between his broad shoulders in his pack.
The other soldier hopped off his horse, holding the spear. He began rummaging through Quickster’s pouches. He ran his hand along Joline’s knee.
“Do you mind?” she said, pulling away.
“You’re awfully fit for an older woman,” the soldier said, licking his top row of teeth. He started running his hand up her leg. “I suppose you’re a widow now.”
“That’s not your concern,” Joline said, pushing her cloak down. “Please, go away.”
Venir’s jaw muscles clenched. He was beginning to regret refusing Fogle’s offer to move them outside the city with one of his portals. He’d had enough of that already though. “Please, leave my mother alone. She’s a difficult woman at best, sir.”
“I can see that,” the soldier shot back. “But we make the rules out here.” He pointed his spear at Venir. “Not you. Am I clear?”
“Clear enough.”
“Good, now let’s have a better look at what’s sitting on that saddle, milady,” the soldier said to Joline.
Joline slapped him hard in the face.
“You old wench!” The soldier grabbed her by the back of her hair and started pulling her out of Quickster’s saddle.
Joline started screaming and fighting to keep her hands wrapped around Erin. “Unhand me!”
Venir’s legs coiled to spring. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a green glow coming from Kam.
“Enough of this,” she said. A tiny green missile shot from her fingertip and popped the soldier in the head. He dropped hard to the ground.
The other soldier’s sword started to scrape out of his sheath. Venir closed in, pinning the man’s hand before the sword was clear out. “You made a big mistake today.” He jerked the man out of the saddle and knocked him out with one punch. Whap! “Is everyone all right?”
The Darkslayer: Bish and Bone Series Collector's Edition (Books 1-10): Sword and Sorcery Masterpieces Page 56
