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

by Craig Halloran

The underlings aimed from spot to spot on the tower.

  What’s this? Melegal realized he was still invisible. Haha! I can use both rings together! How treacherous for my enemies? In his excitement, he lost his grip. Oops! He fastened back on. Easy, rat. You aren’t out of this yet. One section of block at a time, he climbed to the bottom courtyard.

  The underlings opened the pedestrian gate. They were giving chase after Venir.

  Melegal slipped right out the gates. Heh-heh.

  CHAPTER 34

  Mood came within a foot of burying his axes in the giant’s ankle before a dragon’s roar shattered the sky. Every face turned up. Blackie hung in the air, gliding like an ebony cloud. Boon rode on the monstrous beast’s back. The delay of battle ended. The fighting resumed, aside from Mood and the giant. The dragon landed in the rocks. From the dragon’s saddle, Boon shouted in an amplified voice. “Ogar! The underlings are your enemies! Not the dwarves! Not this day!”

  Ogar, a gray-bearded thirty-foot-tall giant chucked the dwarf aside that he was about to crush in his hands. Dark-eyed and hook-nosed, the giant pointed at Boon. “You tricky wizard! You will come back home with me! But today, I feast on underlings! I will have vengeance.” He scooped underlings up in his arms. Squeezing them tightly to his chest, he popped their bones.

  “Mood! Keep your forces fighting the underlings!” Boon said. “The giants are with you!”

  “The giants are never with us!”

  “Come! See for yourself!” With a flip of his fingers, Boon lifted Mood from the ground with an invisible hand. He dropped the dwarf down beside him. Pointing to the fighting surrounding the columns, he said, “Look!”

  Dozens of giants were battling the underlings. Metal armor rattling and steel weapons swinging, the giants swept underlings aside with fatal blows. Mood had never seen swords and axes with blades so huge. The giants that came and went often didn’t carry any kind of weapon. No man was a match for them or their thick skin. This group of titans meant business. It was war.

  “What did you do, Boon?”

  Studying the war with his bright eyes, Boon said, “I took the underlings to the giants’ castle. I dropped them off in the nursery. Needless to say, innocent lives were lost.”

  “That is a cold-blooded thing to do.”

  “I’m not proud of it, but in the end, I know this: All giants are evil. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Mood had spent time in the giant world beyond the mist. He was a prisoner there. The giants made it clear they were beyond redemption, save a few. He and Chongo wouldn’t have escaped without them. The giants were bad, but they weren’t as bad as underlings. Still, he didn’t agree with what Boon did. “Desperate times. Unfortunate measures.”

  “That’s many giants, but it will take more than that. The underlings haven’t turned loose all of their nasty tricks yet.” Mood spoke of the underlings at the furthest end of the army. They rode on the backs of gargantuan spiders that stood over twenty feet tall. He shouted down, “Aaluun! Sound the horns! Today, the dwarves fight with the giants!”

  “A fine decision, King Mood.” Boon patted Blackie on the neck. “Fly, Blackie. Unfurl your wings and fly.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m a busy wizard. I’ve got things to do.”

  ***

  Lefty fought against his bindings. Georgio’s shrieking was more than he could bear. The striders made his bonds so tight, even he couldn’t wriggle his little hands out. He wanted to cover his ears. He needed to help Georgio. What have I done? “Hang on, Georgio! Hang on!”

  The flames rose higher, consuming Georgio’s body. Black smoke rolled up in the air. The smell of crisp hair and skin became so strong Lefty’s eyes watered. His only clothing steamed and began roasting.

  Lefty begged with the striders. “Stop this! Stop this! Please! This is cruel! How can you do this? I thought you were a good race of people!”

  Kocus looked right at him and said, “I wasn’t going to burn either one of you. It was, in your words, a bluff, but you suggested it. You are stupid people. Still, the wind and sand spirits must be paid. Your friend will make good soil.”

  “No plants grow here!”

  “He’ll mix well with the sand then.”

  Georgio’s wailing stopped.

  Lefty’s heart sank. “Georgio?”

  The burning man’s feet kicked the logs away. The striders, one and all, jumped backward. Georgio walked out of the flames. His ropes had burned off. His skin was burned to a blackened-crisp. He fell to his hands and knees. Flattening out, he rolled. Finally, the last of the flames on his burning body extinguished. The marveling striders started chanting, “Hauk! Hauk! Hauk!”

  Kocus silenced them all with a wave of his hand. “This is a mighty sign from the wind and the sand! Warrior,” he said with widened eyes. “What is your bidding?”

  Looking up from his hands and knees, Georgio said through cracked lips, “Get me some water before I kill somebody.”

  CHAPTER 35

  “Look there!” Nikkel pointed at the highest spire of Castle Kling. A lone red-and-white flag had been raised. “They did it. I don’t know how, but they did it!”

  Billip slammed him in the shoulder. “Of course, they did it. Did you ever have any doubt?” They were staying in the hayloft of one of the barns that overlooked the streets. The royal knight, Hoff, was down on the ground level. He had rounded up two score horsemen but promised many more. Billip shouted down at him. “The flag is flying, Hoff. It’s time to ride.”

  Hoff led a coal-black horse covered in chain mail under the hayloft ladder. He climbed into the saddle. His eyes gleamed. “I’m ready. I have two of the finest horses ever ridden for you down here. Do you know how to ride them into battle?”

  “Of course. Do you?”

  “Hah!”

  Billip and Nikkel hustled down the ladder. The men Hoff gathered were all formidable in one way or another. They were royal soldiers loyal to their house. Each wore the colors of their house over their armor. Billip had never seen so many royals united together. He said to Hoff, “Eh, the house of Kord is among some of the riders. Have you vetted them?”

  Scratching the back of his neck, Hoff said, “There is only a handful. We shall see, won’t we?”

  Nikkel led two horses over and climbed into the saddle. With Bolt Thrower in one hand and Skull Basher in the other, he said, “Let’s cause some chaos.”

  Billip mounted his horse and said to Hoff, “I’m known for shooting, not leading men into battle. Should we wait for the suns to set?”

  “The first sun will be setting soon enough.” Hoff’s horse nickered. “Easy, brother.”

  “I thought you had over a hundred riders.”

  “I can’t hide them all in one place. They’ll join us along the way.”

  “I guess it will have to be.” Billip strapped the dwarven horn that Mood gave him over his shoulder. He touched the tip to his lips.

  Hoff leaned over. With his hand, he pushed the horn down. “Don’t blow that horn in here. Have you ever heard one of those things?”

  “Yes.”

  “Inside?”

  “I see your point. On your signal then.” He cracked his knuckles. “It’s going to be a furious battle.”

  “Ride or die,” Hoff said. “Ride or die!”

  ***

  Inside the old barn, Fogle sat with his legs crossed, fingers together. He’d been trying to connect with the ebony hawk, Inky. The link was gone. The familiar had been destroyed. “Drat.”

  “What was that?” Jubilee asked. She was standing nearby, chewing on her nails, holding Erin in her arms. The toddler looked too big for the girl’s arms. “Did you find them?”

  “No. I’m afraid not. I’ve lost the connection.” His knees popped when he stood up. “Have you checked on Kam?”

  “Cass is. I don’t think she’s going to be waking up anytime soon. It won’t be safe forever here either. Fogle, I’m scared.”

  “N
othing wrong with that. Fear happens to all of us.”

  “Not to Venir. I don’t think that man is scared of anything. Are you?”

  “I used to be. Not so much anymore.” He closed his spellbook and tucked it under his arm. “Certainly, my bowels quake before battle, and I guess some of that is fear, but whatever it is, I’m willing to face it.”

  Jubilee spun around with Erin. “So, you won’t run?”

  “If it’s something I must face, I’d say I wouldn’t.”

  “Really.” Jubilee offered a smirk. “So, if Venir wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t run?”

  Fogle stiffened. “That’s an odd question. Are you sure that you are scared?”

  “Yes. I can tell because my imagination begins to run wild. My heart races and my mind goes crazy.” She bit her nails again. “It’s weird.”

  “So, you are imagining Venir and me fighting?”

  “No, I’m imagining him chopping you in half with Brool.”

  “Why would Venir do such a thing?” he said.

  “I see the way you cozy up to Kam. Your eyes devour her. I don’t think Venir would like that. He’d probably kill you.”

  Fogle’s knees quaked. Guilt and shame stirred inside his chest. If Jubilee saw it, there was no telling how many others did. Venir was a hard man. Fogle respected him, but there was some lingering jealousy that rose to the surface too. “Is it so obvious?”

  “You aren’t fooling anybody, but she isn’t fooling anyone either. The eyes are a dead giveaway.” She hoisted Erin in the air and started spinning. “Your father’s going to beat up Fogle, little lady.”

  “Don’t say that.”

  Erin made loud gleeful giggles.

  Jubilee came to a stop. Her eyes grew big. “Venir!”

  “No need to start the teasing,” Fogle said. A bestial snort lifted him out of his sandals. He almost tripped over his robes as he turned. Venir led Chongo inside the barn. Brak was behind them. Matted in blood, paint, and gore, even with the helmet off, Venir’s appearance was terrifying. Fogle’s heart thumped so loud he could hear it.

  “Brak!” Jubilee let Erin run to her father as she ran over to Brak. “I’d hug you but, ick! You’re a scary mess.”

  Brak patted her head. “I know. It’s good to see you too.”

  Venir scooped Erin up in one arm. Cradling her, he said to Fogle, “Where did you put Kam? Did you bury her?”

  Fogle’s pale face brightened. “She lives, Venir, but she’s in a coma. We have no idea if she’ll wake up or not.”

  Venir’s expression darkened. “Take me to her.”

  CHAPTER 36

  Kam lay on a clean bed of hay with a blanket covering her body. Venir held her hand in his big paws. She was cold. Her complexion was as bleak as he’d ever seen. The only other person in the stable was Cass. “She’s alive?”

  “If barely breathing is living, she’s living.” Cass traced her soft fingers over Kam’s forehead. Magic markings pulsed on her skin. “Don’t let my ministerings bother you, Venir. They let me know if anything goes wrong. Frankly, I’m very shocked that she still breathes. You can thank Slim for that. He sacrificed much to save her.”

  “I’ve seen countless people die. She was dead when she went into the portal. I know it.”

  “She was dead for a little while. Slim’s powers revived her.”

  Venir rubbed Kam’s hands with his thumbs. “Slim is not a man in the way that we are men, anymore. He is different. I don’t think Kam would want to be like that.”

  “Do you fear that she will have bug fingers? Would that be so bad if she lived?”

  “She wouldn’t want to live if she wasn’t fully a woman. I know that much.” The guilt Venir carried that he’d fought so hard to tamp down began to resurface. Kam had suffered more than anyone because of him. She’d lost a hand, been kidnapped, got overtaken by Master Sidebor, and was stabbed to death. He didn’t want her to die, but he didn’t want her to suffer anymore either. “We can’t stay here. We need to take her somewhere safer.”

  “No, she is safe enough here. I can conceal her. You’ll just have to trust me to do this while you battle against those underlings.” She stroked Kam’s cheek with the back of her hand. “She is a very strong woman. She fights for her daughter… and you I suppose. As long as you keep fighting, I think she’ll keep fighting.” She touched Venir’s arm. “Don’t blame yourself. Bish has messed up since long before you got here. Take care of those underlings. Avenge her.”

  Knuckles rapped lightly on the outside of the closed stable door.

  “Go away,” Venir said, not hiding his irritation.

  The stable door cracked open. Melegal slipped inside. Seeing Kam, he took his hat off. He gathered himself on the other side of her body across from Venir and said, “I just found out. She lives though?”

  “It was a mortal wound, but aye, she lives,” Venir said.

  “She’ll make it. I’m sure she has plenty of coarse words to share with you. For what it’s worth, I got the flag up.” Melegal dusted a strand of hay from his sleeve. “The underlings have taken it down, however. I’ve no idea if the others saw it. Jubilee told me Billip and Nikkel are tracking Hoff. He had many riders, but I saw no signs of them on my way over here.”

  “No, we’ve got to get that gate down. I just wanted to see her again before I left.” His gaze hung on Cass. “Thank you for taking care of her. I’ll be back.”

  Venir and Melegal departed. Melegal closed the stable behind them. Fogle, Jubilee, Erin, Brak, Ebenezer, and Creed were waiting outside. Creed had been patched up enough by Cass to stop the bleeding. His severed wrist was bound up in rags.

  “How is Kam?” Brak said.

  “She’s still with us,” Venir said.

  Erin rushed over to the stable and pounded on the door. Cass let her slip inside.

  “If you like, I’ll see if I can’t track Billip and Nikkel down,” Melegal said as he placed his cap back on.

  “I’ll go with you,” Jubilee offered.

  “No, you will not.”

  “But I’ve been in this barn the entire time. I need to get out of this stale air. And away from these spiders.” Cornered in the rafters was a pigeon trapped in webbing. “They make me miss the nasty birds that crap everywhere.”

  The old stableman ambled into the room. “Someone comes.”

  Everyone spread out, concealing themselves among the stables. Jarla limped into the front entrance of the barn, using one sword like a cane. A crude cut stretched over her forehead.

  Fogle hustled over to her. “Are you all right?”

  “Don’t I look all right?”

  “I’ve seen you look better. Quick, someone get her something to drink.”

  Jubilee brought over a bucket of water and stuck it in Jarla’s face. “Drink up.”

  Peering in the bucket, Jarla frowned. “No thanks.”

  Jubilee poured the foul water onto the ground and said, “I’m disappointed you’re not dead.”

  “I feel the same about you, but I can always take care of that if I need to.”

  “Do it then,” Jubilee said. Brak led the girl away.

  Jarla gave Venir and Melegal a once-over. “I should have been dead. The underlings had me in their sights, but something led them away. I’m guessing it was the armament. I was ready to cash it in, and they all left. I managed to slip out after that. It wasn’t easy.” She glanced at everyone. “Should I move on?”

  “Of course not,” Fogle said. “You are among allies.”

  “Do you feel the same, Venir?”

  “We settled our issues some time ago.”

  A horse in the stables made a very distinct nicker. Jarla’s coarse expression lightened. “Nightmare!” She hobbled to the stable and led the grand black horse out. She hugged its neck. “How?”

  Fogle wiggled his fingers. Addressing Melegal, he pointed at another stable and said, “Oh, and your pack mule is here as well.”

  With a wry smile, Melegal sai
d, “Quick pony.” He gave a nod as he started toward the stable.

  The distinct and rich sound of a dwarven horn sent the birds out of the rafters and the spiders scurrying. Jubilee jumped.

  Venir’s blood ignited. “Hear that?” Horse hooves thundered down the streets. He grabbed his axe and helm and jumped onto Chongo’s saddle. “It’s time to take down the western gate!”

  CHAPTER 37

  With dust devils swirling around his feet, Lefty said to Georgio, “I’m ashamed.”

  “Ah, get your chin up. I’m alive, aren’t I?” Georgio gulped from a water skin. “Ah! Want some?”

  “I’m not thirsty.”

  A strange turn of events had occurred since Georgio had survived the pyre of fire. The striders, one and all, had embraced him. According to Kocus, he was a great sign from Bish and they would do anything he asked, within reason. Now, for the most part, Georgio was leading the striders toward Bone to join the war in the wasteland.

  “Look at this, Lefty,” he said, dusting his charred skin from his flesh. It flaked off, revealing pink skin underneath. “I think in a few more hours I’ll be whole again. I wonder if I can’t be killed.” He guzzled down more water.

  “Be careful. Maybe you can drown.”

  “Will you quit being such a sap? I’m alive.” He thumbed his chest. “It feels good to be alive.” He scratched his head. “I’m not very keen on my hair missing. Do I look funny bald?”

  Eyes toward the ground, Lefty managed to peek up at him. “Well, no, not really. Georgio, what happened to you haunts me. How can you go about this as if it didn’t happen? You were terrified! Do you remember screaming? I can’t close my eyes without hearing it. I know I’ll never be able to sleep again.” His face drew taut. “The horror.”

  “I must have blacked out. Bish happens. Now quit sulking. We have weapons, a small armory, and those strider women are pretty interesting. Did you see them? Very ample for bug-faced ladies. Is that twisted?”

  Lefty punched him in the leg. “You’re twisted. What is wrong with you? If what happened to you happened to me, I’d crawl into a hole and never come back out.”