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

by Craig Halloran

  “And you will suffer a worse fate if you don’t drop your sword, Creed,” Edmund said. “Drop it.”

  “I’ll never drop my sword.” Creed teetered into the rampart. He took a quick glimpse. The dwarves had gathered Rayal in their burly arms. They hustled her away. Creed could not see if she was breathing or not. He twisted his head toward Edmund. Standing tall again, he advanced on Edward and his men.

  Edward nodded. A Bloodhound fired.

  Clatch-Zip!

  The bolt impaled Creed’s stomach. Groaning, he said, “What did she promise you, Edmund? Any of you? What price did she pay that you would turn on your own brother?”

  “This isn’t all about her, Creed. There’s the matter of avenging Lord Grom. Many of us were very loyal to him. Including Lorda. But she is very persuasive, I admit. Never in my life did I think I’d ever delight myself in the gentle caress of a woman like that. She’s so special.” Edmund winked at Creed. “You know what I’m talking about, now drop your sword.”

  Hanging his head and fighting for breath, Creed let the sword dip. Manx’s head lay by his feet. Jasper’s eyes were wide open, glazed over and filled with shock. With raspy breath, he said, “I was born a Bloodhound, I’ll die a Bloodhound.”

  “What was that?” Edmund said.

  “I’ll die with honor. I’ll die with steel in my one good hand. Today, steel and flesh are one.” Creed sprang into action. He made a beeline for Edmund.

  “Fire!” the betrayer of the Bloodhounds shouted.

  Clatch-Zip! Clatch-Zip! Clatch-Zip!

  Crossbow bolts ripped into Creed’s body. He might as well have been stung by bees. No bolt, no arrow, nothing would stop him from avenging his dog. Gawking, Edmund pushed backward into the ranks. Creed’s sword got to the man first. With a strike quicker than a jumping deer, he cut the man’s neck open. Then, it was him versus all of his brothers.

  Slice! Stab! Glitch! No sword ever moved so fast in Castle Bloodhound.

  Creed fought on, howling like a wild dog until he howled no more.

  CHAPTER 13

  “What is on your mind, Mood?” Venir asked. He kept his hand firm on the sack. Mood lifted his hand off Venir’s hand.

  “You and I aren’t as different as we look.” Mood made an uncomfortable groan. “This is not something that I willingly admit, but you and I have giant blood in our veins.”

  Venir quickly recalled his time in the Under-Bish as well as his run-ins with giants in the past. They called him a little giant. “Is this why the blood rangers are abnormally bigger than the other dwarves?”

  “It makes my mouth taste bad to say so, but yes. There’s no other explanation for it. But we have the scent. That’s why we can find our way in and out of the Mist.”

  “I didn’t find my way around the Mist so well, as I recall,” Venir said.

  “No, but you survived. No mortal man can do that. He’d perish. Anyhow, we have a smell for one another.”

  “I never smelled anything different.”

  “You only have a bit of the blood in you. Er”—Mood clawed at his beard—“your father and grandfather, not so much either, but I knew. It’s an extremely rare thing, just part of your family.”

  “I never knew that you knew my family so well. How well did you know them?”

  “Only in passing. They were fine folk, Venir. Simple folk. Fishermen of humble origins. Remarkable fishermen. I crossed them a time or two along the silver streams. Normally, I’d move on, but they could have cared less if I was dwarf or an ogre. You come from an honest brood. As a matter of fact, I was so fond of them, I gave them Chongo to give you as a boy.”

  Venir perked up. “Ah, I always wondered where Chongo came from. He was different than the other dogs. Bigger.”

  “Heh-heh, yes, he needed to be bigger to fit in with your family. But, he’s a dwarven setter, and I knew he’d look out for you and your clan.” Mood’s head was downcast. “I wasn’t there when the underlings came, Venir. I missed them. It was a difficult error for me to live with. I was hunting one group, and the other slipped by my notice. I was too late when I got there, but you lived. I don’t know how, but you did. I think there was more to it than the giant blood in you, too. You can bury a giant. Trust me, I know. You just have to dig the hole deep.”

  “Why do you think I lived then?”

  Mood fished something out of a pouch on his belt. On the tip of his finger was a bright silver fish scale. “Remember this?”

  Venir nodded. “I’ll never forget. I almost died twice that day. Once by water and the other by dirt burial.” He gave a little shiver. “It was an unforgettable time.”

  “Aye, but Bish knows what is going to happen before we do. This silver fish, you ate it and Chongo did, too?”

  “We were both hungry.”

  “Well, the silver fish is the rarest fish in all of Bish. With all the fishermen trolling the waters, there was only one time, in my lifetime, that I’ve ever known another such fish to be caught. My own father only knew of one time before that. The ones that consumed them were given power. It manifests itself differently.” He flicked the ashes from his cigar.

  “How did it manifest itself in me?”

  “You’ve grown since I’ve known you. You’re as strong as an ogre. I figure that’s part of it.” He looked Venir straight in the eye. “You haven’t died either.”

  “I think I have the armament to thank for that.”

  “You didn’t have the armament on when you were in that dirt hole though, did you?”

  “No.”

  “You were in the hole a long time, Venir. You should have suffocated, but you didn’t.”

  Venir’s arm hairs stood on end. “What are you saying? I can’t die?”

  “No, but I don’t think you can be drowned, either. I’ve never seen the likes of that before. Call it a gift.”

  “I’m starting to think my gifts might be curses. Do you think Chongo can’t drown, either?”

  “I don’t know about that, but I’m pretty sure we can clearly see how the silver fish affected him. He has two heads and is as big as a horse. He’s the best hunter in all of Bish too, and ordinary steel harms him very little if at all. The two of you are meant for each other. Big, fast, and strong. It’s a beautiful thing to see the two of you in action.”

  Venir looked out over the dark horizon. “Do you think we can take the underlings down, one at a time?”

  “With that armament, anything is possible, even though it seems improbable. You’ll need a better plan than that, though.”

  “If I can take down Master Sinway, as I tried to do, that should scatter their ranks. That’s what I wanted to happen, but I don’t know if I’ll get that close again.”

  “Every snake has to come out of its hole. But this snake will try to get his army to do the work for him. But perhaps if you put that helmet on, and focus, you’ll be able to locate him. He’s still in the city, I’m sure of it.”

  “So, you don’t mind if I try the helmet then?”

  “No, but I think we better exercise some caution.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Come, let’s go to the dungeons.”

  CHAPTER 14

  The dwarves outside of Castle Bloodhound rescued Rayal and immediately took her to Castle Kling. She lay on the sofa in a living room with her leg broken. The dwarves departed when Ebenezer Kling, Melegal, and Cass arrived.

  Ebenezer kneeled beside her while Cass checked her wound. Kissing his daughter’s hand, he said, “Rayal, what has happened?”

  “Lorda Almen betrayed us!” she said, not hiding her anger. She let out a sharp groan. “What are you doing?” she said to Cass.

  “I’m setting the bone. It’s quite a break. Be still.” Cass rubbed her hands together. Her white hands radiated a pinkish glow. She massaged Rayal’s leg from the ankle up to the thigh. Rayal sucked through her teeth. Cass murmured. Her pink eyes rolled up in her head.

  Slightly aghast, Rayal said,
“I’m not used to this witchery. But, it burns in a good way, I believe. Father, Elizabeth is still there, in Castle Bloodhound. We have to save her.”

  Melegal caught Rayal’s attention. “What about Jasper and Creed?”

  Rayal looked him in the face with sad eyes, and gently shook her head. “They didn’t make it.”

  Melegal’s face tightened. “What do you mean they didn’t make it? What happened?”

  “We were called out to the ramparts. At least, Creed was. We accompanied him. One of his men told us that underlings were pounding at the gate, but it was the dwarves. The same ones who rescued me.” She swallowed. “We were ambushed by a flurry of crossbows. At least, Creed was. Jasper was caught in the crossfire.”

  “And you saw them die?” Melegal asked.

  “I saw Jasper die for certain.” She kept Melegal’s gaze. She could see deep in his eyes this was hurting. “A bolt struck her in the head. I’m so sorry. Creed’s body was filled with bolts when he shoved me over the wall. They were shooting from all over. I didn’t see him die, but no man could have survived that. I heard the clamor of him attacking. I swear it was him baying like a wolf. On my order, the dwarves brought me here.”

  “You need to rest, Rayal,” Ebenezer said in a soothing manner. “We will find Elizabeth. I’ll send for her immediately. I’m certain Lorda Almen, despite her ambitions, will be willing to parlay with me. Though, this is a bizarre situation.”

  “She is possessed, father. Not like some wild-eyed demon, but some other deeper, darker anger on a personal level.” She coughed. Melegal grabbed a bottle of wine from a nearby rack, pulled the cork, and handed it to her. She gulped down a few swallows and handed it back. “Thank you. One of the Bloodhounds, Edmund, was in league with her. He mentioned something about Venir murdering her son, Tonio.”

  “It never ends with that brat.” Melegal’s words were seething. “The Almens, I swear there is no good in any of them.”

  Fogle hurried into the living room. The scholarly mage had a refreshed look about him. He nodded at Rayal. “Hello. Er, is there anything I can do to help?”

  “Just try not to fall for every striking woman that crosses your path,” Cass said, “and we should be fine.”

  Melegal took Fogle by the arm. “You’re taking me to Castle Bloodhound. We need to rescue Rayal’s sister.”

  “How do you suppose that I’m going to do that?” Fogle said.

  Billip entered the room with his bow in one hand. A quiver full of arrows was on the other. “The same way you did as before. Make one of those doors in the space and take us there.”

  “I need to know where I’m going. And there should be more planning.”

  “We aren’t waiting, and we aren’t planning,” Melegal said. “Sometimes a fool has to do what a fool has to do.” He looked right at Rayal. “We will get your sister.”

  “Thank you.”

  He nodded. What in Bish is going on with me?

  ***

  Fogle summoned Inky. The bird landed on the parapet of Castle Bloodhound. Dead men were strewn over the walkway in a broad path of blood and limbs. He didn’t see any sign of Creed. With his eyes partially rolled up inside his head, he said to Melegal, Billip, and Ebenezer, “I am ready.”

  “Do it,” Melegal said.

  A portal opened up out of the thin air. There was a full view of the parapet’s walk. Melegal, Billip, Ebenezer, and half a dozen dwarves went right through it.

  ***

  Jasper’s corpse was the first thing Melegal noticed. With a lump forming in his throat, he picked up her body. “I’m sorry.” He passed her through the portal and set her on the ground in the living room. Turning his back, he led the way into Castle Bloodhound, following the trail of battle. Dead men lay in the halls. Body parts were scattered and blood was splattered from the floor to the ceiling.

  Broadsword in hand, Ebenezer said, “It looks like a dust devil of steel went through them.”

  “Spend more time with us and you’ll get used to it.” Billip notched two arrows on his bowstring.

  On cat’s feet, Melegal avoided the blood on the floor. He chased after the sound of many dogs baying. He found a spot where it looked like the last man had fallen. A pair of bloody footprints led into the kitchen dining area. He peeked around the corner. Elizabeth sat behind the farm table. Her gaze was fixed on a man who was mumbling. He gave Billip a quick nod. Billip moved around to the other entrance in the room.

  “She killed me dog. She killed me dog. She killed me dog.” A man inside the kitchen kept repeating the phrase. Melegal revealed himself to Elizabeth. He gave her a nod. She shrugged. Creed was half slumped over the table, white as a ghost, his sword still gripped in his hand. “She killed me dog. She killed me dog. She killed me dog.”

  Billip rushed over to Creed. “Great Bish! The man’s feathered like a peacock. He lives. How bad a shot can these Bloodhounds be?”

  Ebenezer entered the room and picked Elizabeth up in his arms. She kept her eyes on Creed. “Elizabeth, what happened?”

  “Is he going to die? I’ve been waiting for him to die,” she said, “but he keeps breathing.”

  Ebenezer turned her away from Creed and found her stare. “Elizabeth, listen to me. Where is Lorda Almen?”

  “The dogs ate her.”

  CHAPTER 15

  Master Sinway traveled in the drainage tunnels beneath the City of Bone. His iron eyes had a glow that illuminated the tunnel. His feet glided above the wet muck in the tunnel, and his robes made a small train in the air behind him. Elypsa remained two steps behind the floating underling. He moved at an agonizing pace. She was used to moving much quicker.

  “I sense your impatience, Elypsa. I don’t care for it. Impatience is a lack of faith. You should be more like your brothers. They had faith in me. They revered me.”

  “I revere you.” Her nimble fingers quickly braided small strands in her white hair. The underling women were gorgeous–light, lithe, and exotic, with hourglass curves that would make a normal man’s tongue salivate while his toes curled. Her dusky-gray skin had a sheen. Her tantalizing figure moved with grace and ease. “You are a titan among the underlings. Only a fool would doubt you.”

  “And you are a woman who reveres your pets and perfumes more than your men. I know better, Elypsa. Women also have doubts about their men, but so long as they are obedient, then I have no problem with them. After all, it is that or death.”

  They made a few more turns in the tunnels. Elypsa followed Master Sinway, considering what he was saying. It was true, the female underlings were full of guile and deceit. They used flattery and wile to appease their mates. But despite a male underling’s power or station, they didn’t revere them like their male counterparts. They mostly used them for their own purpose. That tended to include what one underling woman had that another one didn’t and gloating about it to all the others. Elypsa called it “gossip among the gossamer.”

  They came to a crossing where one tunnel dropped into a lower tunnel. Sinway dropped downward. His robes almost dusted the ground. He continued on, saying, “Tell me, Elypsa, do you miss your mate, Kuurn?”

  Absentmindedly, she shrugged. “Certainly. He was magnificent.”

  “Pah. You thought him weak. I could see it in those lavender eyes. So much disdain. Yet, he was one of my top magic users. His skills were almost on par with your brothers’. He’s an asset that will be missed.”

  “I can’t help that I don’t have the affection for him that I should have.” She patted the twin swords on her hips. “I like to fight with metal. I’ve been drawn to it since I saw a hammer striking steel on the anvil. It set my heart on fire.”

  Sinway stopped. He slowly turned in the air and faced her. Looking down on her with eyes that burned like molten metal, he said, “Kuurn wasn’t worthy of you. He had ability, but he didn’t have the will that could tame the likes of you. No, you are a unique creature, Elypsa.” He reached out and ran the back of his hand down her cheek. �
��When this is over, I will reward you with a mate that is worthy of you.”

  “Would it be possible for me to have a mate of my own choosing?”

  “Serve me well, and we shall see.” He searched her eyes. “You want an underling that can best you steel on steel, don’t you?”

  “Or at least an equal match.” She held his illuminated gaze for a moment, but turned away as her eyes started to water. “I need a man that will challenge me.”

  “Like the humans?”

  “I dare not!” she said. Deep inside, what he said had a ring of truth to it. The towering warriors and their skills captured a portion of her heart. She didn’t feel guilty of it either. “I am certain there is a worthy underling sword saint that I have not crossed yet.”

  “You’ve defeated every juegen you have ever met. What makes you think there is a worthy one out there?”

  “If there isn’t now, I’m certain there will be. I should have a thousand years to find him out. Perhaps our swords will meet in a hundred years or so. He’ll be young, but that only serves to benefit me.”

  “I see, but let me warn you: you put too much faith in your steel. Come. Let me show you where your real faith should be placed.”

  The tunnel opened up into an underground auditorium. A ring of stone benches, dusty from centuries of decay, encircled the center. Huge spider webs covered the walls with spiders the size of horses clinging to them. Behind the webs on the walls were paintings, coated in grime, with images of underlings doing horrible things to mankind.

  “It’s true. Underlings did live here,” Elypsa said with her eyes fastened to the macabre murals.

  “Of course. Everything is as I’ve said. I’ve been here before—many times, to say the least.” Sinway pointed to the underling workers standing in the middle of the auditorium. They took a knee and bowed at the sound of his voice. A stream of water ran through a stone channel that crossed the middle of the room. It ran from one side of the auditorium to another before disappearing in the wall. The channel of water broke off into a pool to one side surrounded by underling mages. The waters had an enchanted green glow emanating from their burbling waters. “Brethren, you may rise and resume your mission.”