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

by Craig Halloran

  The royal lord swallowed. Every moment with Sinway made him uncomfortable, but this was the first time the underling had lost his composure. The entire floor shook beneath Sinway’s feet when he spoke. Ebenezer held the underling’s gaze for a moment then tore away with tearful eyes that burned.

  “Your people did this?” Sinway stood a head higher than the towering Ebenezer. With his billowing robes, he seemed like a giant. “Why would you betray me?”

  “I swear all of my servants are within the castle, even the soldiers from the walls. I swear it, Master Sinway. We have no part in this.”

  “Men did this. You are a man. You are part of the slaughter.” Sinway’s eyes slid over all of the people in the room. Elypsa stood beside her betrothed, Kuurn. Several of Ebenezer’s own guard had been summoned into the room. They formed a half circle around the throne and remained at attention. Their perspiration and shifty eyes were full evidence of their fear. Manamus Kling remained rigid at Ebenezer’s side with downcast eyes.

  The master underling fanned out his fingers. “Rebellion is a natural thing. The only way to stop it is to destroy it. For every underling that died in the streets, so shall die one hundred of your own citizens.” He clenched his fists. “We’ll start here.”

  Ebenezer stepped forward. “Master Sinway, my men had no part in this. I—urk!” An unseen force crushed his neck. Eyes bulging, he froze.

  “Have your men remain at attention,” Sinway said, “unless you would rather die in their stead?”

  “Spare my men, Sinway. They’ll take the sword for me as I would take a sword for them.”

  “Nay, Lord Kling.” It was the captain of the Kling guard, a man known as Cletus. “We swore to die for you and for this house. Do not rob us of our honor.” He kneeled. All of the soldiers did.

  “Nobility. Honor. A pity.” Sinway cast an order to his soldiers. “Arise, juegen. Finish them all.”

  Ebenezer watched in horror. One by one, his men were skewered by a juegen sword tip that split the spine. All eight men collapsed. He squeezed his eyes shut. His body trembled.

  Hovering at his ear, Sinway said, “It makes you angry, doesn’t it? Vengeful? How do you think I feel when my very own are assaulted? My anger burns just as much as yours. I’ve been merciful, but today that mercy ends. I want these renegades brought to me! The slaughter, the burning, the ravage will not stop until I have them!” He eased back into the throne. “Commander, what have you learned about these rebels? Certainly they left a trail.”

  The commander knelt again. “Only one man was seen. He moves like the wind and strikes with an axe as big as me. Our brethren whisper of the Darkslayer, master.”

  Master Sinway’s brows buckled. His fingers dug into his palms. “There will be no word uttered about the Darkslayer. There is no such thing. Squash the rumors. They are not true. You have your orders. Depart.”

  Once the room cleared, Elypsa was the first to speak up. “Master Sinway, the man they described is the one I encountered. He is of the flesh. Mortal. I can kill him. I almost did. Let me hunt him.”

  Ebenezer sensed a shift in Master Sinway’s demeanor. He’s concerned. Well, I’ll be.

  “No, Elypsa, you shall stay with me and help manage the demise of the fine citizens that shall be slaughtered. If this man cares so much for these people, then he’ll have to stick his neck out. Be patient. You’ll have your chance, and we’ll rid ourselves of this worm forever.”

  CHAPTER 42

  “We’ve certainly got a bloody mess on our hands now.” Melegal had just slipped back inside the Drunken Octopus after scouting the streets with Nikkel. The young black man had a long look on his face, which was rare. “They round the citizens up by the thousands. They’re gathering them up and putting them to death at week’s end. They’ll be tormented in the meantime. Welcome to Bone.”

  Venir sat with his bloodstained forearms resting on the table, shaking his head. He felt every eye on him. He didn’t feel guilt stirring in his gut but anger. The time for war had come. There would be casualties. Plenty of innocent lives had been lost, but even more would fall prey if they didn’t take a stand against the underlings. He leaned back, head high. “Then I guess it’s high time we got that gate open.”

  “We need more men,” Billip said.

  “There’s hundreds of thousands in this city. Certainly, plenty of them are willing to fight.” Venir gave Creed a look. “What about you?”

  “I’ll give you every sword I have left, but that’s only a few dozen or so.” Creed turned to Rayal. “Your father wants a hand in this. I have no way of getting word to him, though. He comes to me. We can’t afford to wait. Can you get word to him?”

  “Perish the thought. My father moved me out of the castle for my own safety and lodged me in another house. I found myself in my current predicament when Elizabeth snuck away because she wanted to go back to Castle Kling.” She glared at the younger version of herself who sat at the bar, petting the cat. “If I wasn’t so certain she was my sister, I’d swear she was part underling. But anything is better than being near that Master Sinway.”

  Venir was on his feet. He and Melegal crowded the woman. “Did you say Sinway?”

  Taken aback, she said, “Yes, why?”

  “He’s the one we need,” Venir replied, “but we need a way into Castle Kling. Where’s Altan Rey?”

  “Ahem.” The mage had transformed into an underling and stood on the steps that led upstairs. “Now that we know where the leader is, I think I can get close, but I’ll need some volunteers. Able men willing to die for our gain.” He made his way down the steps with his woman on his arm. “As for the House of Kord, I believe I can get you several volunteers from them, and I know of many others.”

  Venir was leery of Altan, but it was time to gamble. He said to Rayal, “Can you vouch for this house?”

  With a look of aversion in her eyes, she said, “I know of the House of Kord, but I don’t know many by name.”

  “I do,” Creed said. “I know Altan’s face.” He walked up to Altan’s partner and held her chin. “I know this lady too. Ashlyn, isn’t it?”

  The woman nodded. “I know where there are two hundred men and horses ready to fight. But who will lead them?”

  Hoff stepped up. “I’d be honored to. Just take me to them, and tell me when and where to be.”

  Venir pondered his options. If he took the gate, a sea of underlings would swarm them all. If he could get inside Castle Kling, he might be able to hunt down Master Sinway and end him. It was another one of those times when he wanted to go it alone and end it once and for all. He caressed the edges of the eyelets of the helmet.

  Melegal tossed back a goblet of wine. “A couple hundred horsemen might be enough to start a war, but it’s not nearly enough to finish it.”

  Venir gave Melegal a perplexed look. “Are you feeling well? You don’t sound like yourself, General.”

  Billip slid into the conversation. “He’s been sharing the most absurd thoughts that I’ve ever heard coming from his lips. Perhaps someone has taken the form of our friend.” He glanced at Altan Rey. “Like this one.”

  Melegal refilled his goblet. “I assure you that it’s me.” He tossed Billip a small purse filled with coins. “See?”

  Billip’s eyes widened at the sight of the sack of metal. “This is mine. Blast it! It’s him. I’m going to get you one day, thief.”

  “As strange as the advice coming from Melegal sounds, he’s right. We need to gather up as many able bodies as we can. Not hundreds, but thousands.” Venir started to pace around the tavern. The boards creaked under his feet. This place had been his home on and off for years. He couldn’t let it all perish at the hands of the underlings. “Once the slaying starts, it’s not going to stop until it’s finished. Not to mention there are tens of thousands of underlings on the other side of that wall. No—we need to strike hard and strike fast.” He faced the others. “Is everyone willing to do what needs to be done?”

&n
bsp; No one said a word, but there were several looks and nods of assent.

  “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s take it to these fiends and take our city back.” Venir picked up Brool and buckled on Helm. “Fight or die.”

  One way or another, fiends, here I come. Fight or die.

  CHAPTER 43 (Epilogue)

  Pall the Blood Ranger had walked everywhere all of his life. But moving within the morally devastating maze of the Mist, he felt as though he’d walked ten lifetimes. Stalwart and strong, he surged ahead, dragging one body behind him and the other on his shoulder. Both Georgio and Lefty were wrapped up in the balfrog’s flesh. The monstrous beast had killed them both, suffocating them inside its bowels as they tried to fight their way out. Pall had spent little time with the two dead men, but he’d liked them. They were young and brave.

  He marched over the dusty ground, barely able to see his hand in front of his face. He didn’t need his eyes. He needed his nose, ears, and superior instincts. He’d been inside the Mist more than once during the centuries he’d been alive. It was a place where time and space were contorted. It hid one world from another. It was sanctuary to some and death to others.

  He came to a stop with his toes hanging over the lip of a ravine, where the wind howled beneath his feet. Beyond the whistles came a faint gurgle of a liquid that burbled. He climbed into the canyon, stirring the shale-like rock beneath his feet in a descent that seemed to take hours.

  “Ho-ho! I’m glad this is my final trek into this place.”

  His husky body maneuvered to the bottom of the ravine and into a garden spot illuminated by the cotton mist above. Vibrant life surrounded him. Tall trees kissed the clouds. Lush bushes and vegetation surrounded him. He let out a sigh.

  “I’m not sure why I left the last time, but I guess I still had work to do. Perhaps it’s done now.”

  He pushed through the reeds, coming to a stop at a creek bed. Kneeling, he scooped up some water and drank. Then he sat for hours, maybe days, taking in the view. The ground lived, but nothing else. Rocks bigger than men were covered in a rich, brick-red moss. Fruit so bright in color that it seemed to glow hung from the trees. It was comfort. Peace. He patted the two bodies that were wrapped up in balfrog skin.

  “I guess it’s time, then.”

  He scooped both bodies up in his powerful arms then walked over to a milky-green pond of foamy water and waded in. Neck deep, he stopped. One by one he peeled the layers of balfrog flesh away from the young men. Their bodies were intact. He faced a willow-like tree that lorded over the pond with branches like arms. With watery eyes and a nod, he said, “You boys better do right by me. Bish, you aren’t even dwarves, but I like you.” He said to the tree, “Whatever I have left in me, I offer to them. Take me for them.”

  The waters bubbled like a boiling pot. Pall let the bodies go. They floated on the top for a moment then sank in a burble. Inch by inch, Pall’s body hardened, going from flesh to stone with his eyes frozen on the Mist. The willow’s branches came to life. Two great, leafy arms lifted Georgio and Lefty from the waters and set their dripping figures on the bank. They spasmed and started coughing.

  ***

  Lefty’s eyes popped open. He beheld a shambling tree plucking a stone shaped like a man from the murky green waters and setting it gently in the garden alongside many others. Lefty spit the pea-soup-like water from his mouth and caught a glimpse of Georgio, covered in murk and staring back at him.

  Looking around while blinking the sludge from his eyes, Georgio said, “Where in Bish are we?”

  Lefty shrugged. “I don’t know, but it looks nice.” He watched the tree settle back into the waters. It moved no more. There was a feeling of sadness within him as though he’d lost something dear. Finally, he asked his friend, “How are you feeling?”

  “Hungry.”

  BOOK 8: SLAUGHTER IN THE STREETS

  CHAPTER 1

  A black dragon circled over the Black Columns. Lowering, it vanished behind the pinnacle it circled.

  Chongo’s left head bayed. Kam’s hand fastened around the dog’s harness. Her heart raced. Her daughter, Erin, slept slumped over her shoulder. The dwarven army nestled in the Black Columns stirred. Ballista triggers mounted in the rocks clicked back. Chain armor rustled, and leather squeaked beneath it. The hard eyes of the dwarves were fixed on the sky. Every calloused hand was filled with a piece of steel or iron. “It can’t be, can it?” Kam said, not realizing she was talking to herself.

  Suddenly, a cry went up from the dwarves. The dragon emerged in the channel between the great rocks, gliding through like a big bat. It bore down on Kam and Chongo, yellow eyes drilling holes right through them. Its wings bent, slowing its speed, and it landed softly twenty yards away on all four feet.

  Chongo’s paws clawed at the ground. He huffed and groaned. Kam tugged on the harness. “Easy.”

  The dwarves, carrying spears with points that could pierce a fly’s eyes, surrounded the dragon. The dragon let out a gust of hot air that stirred hair on the nearest beards. Overhead, Mood called out, “Dwarves, stay your weapons. The dragon is a friend.”

  Kam tore her eyes away from the yawning maw of the dragon. Mood traversed the rocky ledges with familiar company. “Boon.”

  The elderly bald wizard gave her a wave and a wink. He shuffled down to ground level and gave her a long, warm embrace. “You feel as ample as ever, handsome Kam.” He held her fast for another long moment. “Yes, ample. Did I ever tell you about my wife?”

  Breaking off the hug, Kam said with wide eyes, “No. Aren’t you dead? I’m pretty sure I remember burying you in the dust.”

  “Heh-heh-heh,” Boon laughed with an ornery flicker in his eyes. “I’ll not die so long as I have moments like this to live for.” He patted her waist with his hands. “It’s good to see you, Kam.” He patted Erin’s back. “And this little one too.” Chongo licked his face with a slobbering tongue. “Blecht!”

  “Was that worth living for too?” Kam laughed.

  Wiping his face on the sleeve of his robe, Boon said, “Not so much.”

  The dwarves quailed at the sight of the dragon, Blackie. Three figures were climbing down from the black dragon’s saddle—two smallish women and a huge man that towered over the dwarves.

  Kam’s eyes became misty. “Brak!” She handed Erin to Boon and ran to Brak. Then swallowed up Brak in her arms the best she could. She hugged his rock-solid body with all of her might. “I’ve missed you.”

  Brak awkwardly petted her head. “I, uh, missed you too.”

  “Good Lords, Brak,” Jubilee said, “do you always have to be so strange?”

  Wiping her tears, Kam said, “Jubilee!” She croaked out a wet laugh and hugged her. “Missed you too. I… I’m so glad to see all of you.” Her throat tightened. All the faces of so many of her friends came back in a haunting way. She was scared to ask what they knew. She hadn’t seen any of them since before they battled Scorch. “Is this all of you?”

  “No,” Jubilee said matter-of-factly.

  “Are you going to tell me who else I could be expecting?”

  “There’s just this one dragon and its girlfriend, creepy druid lady, Cass…”

  Kam’s eyes fell on Cass, who was standing among the sullen-eyed dwarves, toying with their beards. The albino woman appeared to have skin as soft as rose petals and hair as white as cotton. Her gestures were grace and laughter. Fogle had spoken little about her, but it was clear the druid was a temptress and heartbreaker.

  “I’m strange and you’re ornery,” Brak said to Jubilee. “Kam, Fogle is with us, him and a healer called Slim and a woman, Jarla.”

  Kam’s blood froze. The encounter she’d had with Jarla in the Magi Roost was unforgettable. She searched Brak’s face. He looked away. “Tell me more.”

  “I’ll tell you more. Jarla is the nastiest—murmph!”

  Brak clamped his hand over her small mouth. “It’s a long story, but we are all well. Jarla, uh, rides with us…so
metimes.”

  Jubilee kicked Brak in the shin and broke free. “‘Jarla rides us’ is what you really meant to say! She’s nothing but a sword-swinging harlot with a heart of steel.”

  Cass sauntered over. “Did I hear someone mention my name?” She extended her hand to Kam. Her brow perched when Kam offered her stump. “Oh my, it’s a good thing you have other notable assets.” She shook the stump. “I’m Cass.”

  “Kam.”

  “I have to say, Venir and Fogle certainly keep good company with fair women. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “So, Fogle is well?” Kam asked Brak.

  “I imagine he and Jarla are riding things out, awaiting our return,” Cass interjected with a smirk. She sauntered away to Chongo.

  Rubbing the goose bumps on her arms, Kam said, “She gives me willow bumps.”

  “Yes, she’s spooky.” Jubilee kneeled down and relaced her boots. “Fogle’s fine.”

  Brak’s head moved on a slow swivel. “I see Chongo, but I don’t see Father.” He looked down at Kam. “I dreamed about him.”

  “Don’t worry about Venir, Brak. He’s right where he wants to be.”

  “He’s in Bone, isn’t he?”

  She nodded. “At least that’s where he is supposed to be.”

  “I want to go back to Bone,” Jubilee added. “They have the best food there.”

  Brak grinned and patted his stomach. “Indeed. There is that one place that makes the most delightful biscuits. Georgio and I would stuff our gullets all of the time. I bet he’s in there with Venir, isn’t he?”

  Tears streamed out of Kam’s eyes and dripped down her chin.

  Catching her by the elbows, Brak said, “What happened, Kam?”

  “Georgio and Lefty are dead.”