The Toldar Series Box Set

by Matt Mememaro

  “Do you know how many Hunters I’ve killed?”

  “No, nor do I care,” Gunthos said.

  “For your information in my life time I have killed seven hundred and ninety-four of your colleagues. I will be quite happy to make it seven hundred and ninety-six if you shoot at me again. Now we are nearly there, keep quiet,” Dravian said.

  The Vampire led them down into a damp hollow that reminded Abner of his underground lair. A gnarled old tree stood lodged into the side of the rock, hanging over the entrance to yet another cave. The Hunters dismounted and tethered their horses to the nearest rock. Dravian looked up into the tree line above them before looking down into the cave.

  “We haven’t been spotted yet, what are you going to do?”

  “Follow Abner,” Gunthos said as he shoved the Vampire forward with a push in the small of his back.

  Abner pulled his crossbow from his back and checked the ammunition barrel. He looked at Gunthos who nodded and ran to the cave entrance, pressing his back against the cold rock. Abner ducked to the opposite side.

  “See anything in there?” Gunthos asked.

  Abner shook his head. He then raised his right hand, with three fingers extended and looked at Dravian. “You come in straight after me.”

  “I’m not going in there,” the Vampire said.

  “You’ll do as you’re fucking told if you want to live,” Gunthos said.

  “Go!” Abner said.

  He heard a shuffle from behind him as Dravian was thrown forwards after him. The larger footsteps could only be Gunthos, storming in through the breach. Abner ducked down behind the first rock he saw, the cave lighter than expected. Light from further down the tunnel arched around the corner and illuminated a small circular pond in the center of the generous corridor. Gunthos and Dravian slid down beside Abner.

  “What do you reckon? Push on up?” Gunthos asked.

  “Stay here with him, I’ll let you know when it’s clear,” Abner said.

  “Why do I always have to be the babysitter?”

  “You’re good at it,” Abner said. He winked at Gunthos before vaulting over the rock.

  Abner kept his head down and crossbow outstretched, keeping an eye on the light coming from the next room. No shadows and within a matter of seconds Abner could see into the next room. He signaled for Gunthos to move up, keeping his crossbow trained on the room before him.

  The interior of the next room was filled with luxurious items such as long fur rugs and rich silverware. It gave off the smell of rich mahogany and many leather-bound books lined numerous shelves around the room. Abner looked over at Gunthos and nodded before moving into the room. He could see a golden statue of a wolf in the center, and several indents dug down into the ground, giving a human enough room to kneel in.

  Something moved in one of the grooves. Abner spun on his heel and raised his crossbow. A naked man with hair down to the small in his back, his hands out in front of him as he moved forward once again, worshipping the wolf. Abner pulled back on the crossbow sending a bolt at the man, not allowing him to even fight. The bolt slashed through the man’s throat, a gurgle escaping his throat.

  “We’re not alone here,” Abner said.

  Dravian darted forward to examine the body. He turned the man over onto his back and took a step back. The Hunters gathered around the corpse as well, a terrifying sight filling their vision. Abner’s kill was more wolf than man. He had a long snout, covered in fur and his ears were elongated, higher placed on his head compared to where they should have been.

  “Just as I suspected,” Dravian hissed. “The Erdia Arrzara are experimenting on their own fanatics to see if they can spread the virus without biting their victims.”

  “Humans follow the Ghosts?” Gunthos asked.

  “Of course, Gunthos. You humans will follow anyone or anything if you think it’ll give you the slightest bit of power or control over your peers. As far as I understand the cult of the half-breeds, is small but they now easily number in the dozens,” Dravian said.

  “And now we’ll have two more masters to serve!”

  Abner heard the scraping of weapons along the cold rocks, and the general grumble of discontent from numerous people around him. Gunthos drew his sword as well, turning in half circles, attempting to keep the two dozen followers of the Ghosts at bay as they moved closer. Most of the mutated men carried daggers, however some had grown claws to several inches.

  “Do you want any mutant Vampires to join your cause, Dravian?” Gunthos asked.

  “I want nothing to do with this,” the Vampire said. “They are impure.”

  “Guess it’s up to us Ab,” Gunthos said.

  The first Erdia Arrzara swung his knife at Abner’s face. He ducked under the strike, his sword going through the mutant’s knee. Abner rose, the blade rising with him and with it, the Erdia Arrzara’s head split in two. Gunthos’ enormous hand broke a nose before he decapitated another mutant. Within five seconds, three of the mutants were out of the fight, without a sign of slowing down.

  “Do you want to continue?” Gunthos asked. The blood splatter from the first mutant ran down his face. Mutants in the front row looked at each other questioning their intentions. “I haven’t even gotten started!”

  “Wait for the Masters,” one of the Erdia Arrzara said.

  “What is that going to accomplish?” another asked. “More of us will die and the Masters will be at risk.”

  A howl came from outside the cavern. The Ghosts had returned. The Mutants looked around at each other with an uneasy gaze. One licked his lips, his brow wrinkled, conflicted as to wait for his Masters or to take the Hunters on.

  “We need to get out of here now,” Dravian said.

  “We’re not going anywhere with a Ghost out there. Our best chance for survival is in here,” Abner said.

  “And you do realize those things come in here, don’t you Hunter?” Dravian asked. “Our best chance of survival is outside.”

  The Ghosts let out another long howl, and this time the Erdia Arrzara turned to pay attention, forgetting the Hunters. As one, they tore out of the room, leaving the Hunters and Dravian, all three perplexed.

  “What in the fuck just happened?” Gunthos asked.

  “Now is our chance to leave,” Dravian said. “Lead the way gentlemen.”

  14

  Strife

  “We need to destroy this place, while we still have the chance,” Abner said. “The Ghosts have called those things outside and if we can dislodge their operations here, we might just get one step closer to wiping them out.”

  “Yes, but if we burn it, what’s to say the Ghosts won’t take up residence somewhere else?” Gunthos asked. “We need to get outside and see what is going on.” He turned to grab Dravian.

  “No, I’ve changed my mind. I’m staying here,” the Vampire said as he ducked away from the Hunter. “Unless the monsters are feeding on your corpses I am not leaving.”

  Gunthos stepped through and grabbed Dravian by the ear, swinging the Vampire around, nearly taking it off its feet. “Listen here you piece of shit! You go about killing Hunters indiscriminately and now you’re afraid of a wolf or two? What kind of creature are you. Now get the fuck out there or I’ll shoot you where you stand.”

  Dravian raised his arm and broke Gunthos’ grip. He stepped back and raised his arms in the air behind his head. “Shoot me.”

  “Yeah alright,” Gunthos said. “I hope you’re not a burner.” He brought the crossbow sights to his eye and let loose two bolts. They found their marks and tore through Dravian’s right knee and hand. The Vampire howled, clawing what he could of the bolt out of him, but the damage as done. “Oh good, you’re still alive. Now you don’t have a choice.”

  The Vampire howled again and his gray, weathered skin showed through, his eyes turning red. Its claws sprung out from its finger tips as he made an attempt to move towards Gunthos. The bolt had exploded in its knee and it gave way. The Vampire fell, defeated
, but continued to crawl it’s way towards Gunthos. Gunthos laughed, levelling the crossbow again, sinking another bolt into the Vampire’s other knee.

  “The Butcher, beaten by my hands! What a day, Ab.”

  “Indeed,” Abner said. “I think there’s only one thing to do with him now.”

  “No, no, no. It is a cursed life they lead. Do not throw me to them,” Dravian said.

  “I’m sure we can live that,” Gunthos said, his massive hand wrapping around the head of the Vampire, pulling the monster to its feet. “Let’s go Ab. Light it.”

  Gunthos limped towards the door, dragging Dravian on his backside behind him. Abner lifted his crossbow and shot around the room, loosening ten bolts around the shrine. He shot two more into the floor near his feet. He drew his sword and struck both bolts with the blade. They sparked and immediately began to burn, the Fyndfire on the bolt serving as the fire’s fuel.

  Abner grabbed a bolt and threw it onto the wooden table, centered near the fire place, the rug the other bolt laid upon was already well alight. He readied his crossbow again and turned to follow Gunthos outside.

  The Mutants were frantic, some had fled into the distance, but others remained, jaws slack, weapons held uselessly by their sides when the Hunters emerged. Gunthos threw Dravian in front of him, a dirt covered heap. One Mutant cocked its head and stepped forward, before Abner put a bolt in the ground in front of it.

  The howling started again. From out of the night mist, a Ghost approached, it’s wet snout sniffing in the air, its dark red eyes, darting back and forth searching for the intruders in its territory. It spotted the Hunters and started towards the den.

  “Gunner, where are the horses?” Abner asked.

  “We’ll we’re fucked.” Gunthos said. Another Ghost had come into view, white hackles on its back raised as it stalked its prey.

  “We’ve killed them before,” Abner said. He drew his sword again, clasping it in his right, keeping his crossbow trained on the first Ghost.

  “There’s two you fools,” Dravian said. “They’ll tear you apart before you can make a mark. Get me out –”

  Gunthos’ boot connected with the side of the Vampire’s head. “Shut the fuck up! You ready Ab?”

  “Let’s do it,” Abner said.

  He pulled back on the trigger, unleashing a volley of bolts as the Ghosts made their simultaneous attacks. Abner’s first volley weren’t directed at the wolves, but rather most found their mark, punching a whole in a Mutant as they lumbered forward. The Ghosts were unphased by their losses and leapt over the still warm bodies of their fanatics.

  “We can’t get backed into a corner!” Abner said as he leapt out of the way of the snapping jaws of the first Ghost. He began to run out into the open, leaving Gunthos behind.

  “That’s where you’re wrong kiddo,” Gunthos said as he flung himself back inside the den.

  The Islander continued to fire at the Ghost as it tried to fit in the doorway, its jaws snapping on nothing but air. In a matter of seconds, Gunthos had turned the Ghost into what resembled a pincushion, a multitude of bolts protruding from its head. Unrelenting the Ghost tried for a final push, but a final bolt from Gunthos found itself firmly within the beast’s eye. It dropped to the floor, a pool gathering around its mouth as blood trickled from the dozens of bolts Gunthos had filled it with. A lucky kill.

  “Abner, where are you?”

  The young Hunter continued to fire over his shoulder, as he evaded the Ghost at every turn, the beast’s breath hot on his back. Each bolt did nothing to the Ghost, Abner’s inaccuracy proving to be his downfall. He continued to run, with no sight of Gunthos or the den, the rugged landscape before him was all that filled his thoughts. Abner ducked under an exposed tree branch and leapt over a small stream, doing anything he could to throw the Ghost off his trail.

  A horse neighed in the distance, Abner hoping for his horse slowed and dropped to the ground, the Ghost, sailing overhead. He picked himself up and started off again, the lumbering giant, quickly gaining speed. The trees began to split and Abner found himself once again in the open, the den still nowhere in sight. His crossbow had run out and all he had was his sword and Vampire instincts.

  He heard the horse again, this time closer and suddenly crossbow bolts filled the air. Abner dropped to the ground, grass flying into his face, the wolf overtaking him once again, however this time it didn’t stop. It ran at the Hunters attacking it, now forgetting the lesser threat of Abner. Abner rose to find three Hunters, all on horseback, shooting down the Ghost. It charged one, the Hunter not moving from his post. The Ghost collided with them, the horse going down with a squeal before suddenly falling silent, the sounds of ripping and barking filling the night air.

  The Hunters cried out in alarm, their crossbows emptying into the Ghost, before Gunthos leapt from his horse onto the beast’s back, ramming his sword through its spine. It released a final howl before it died, slumping in a heap in defeat. Abner crawled to his feet, rushing and dreading the efforts of the Ghost before it died.

  Gunthos stood silent, his head dipped, over the body, paying his respects. Lois and Gareth however were on the ground beside their fallen comrade. As he drew level with them, Abner looked down at the scarred and mutilated body of Alex. The young man’s face had been ripped to shreds, a tooth had torn off in his cheek.

  “Fuck!” Gareth said. “We took too long to kill it, we saw it coming.”

  Abner felt his chest come up in his throat. He didn’t need to run and now this war had cost another friend. A rage washed over him at his inability to kill the beast by himself. “It’s a war of attrition, they’re bred to kill us and I’m sick of it! We can’t keep doing this to ourselves!”

  “Ab, Alex knew what he was getting into,” Lois said. “We all did.”

  “The boy is right, Lois. I lost my brother, and we’ve lost plenty of others. We can’t just keep running around all over the countryside trying to take them out one at a time. Their den here was clearly a point of their operations, but we need one swift strike to cut off the head of the snake,” Gunthos said.

  “If you can find me the opportunity for that one quick strike, Gunner, we’re taking it. Anything to end this sooner rather than later and to preserve our own lives,” Abner said.

  “Right then what do we do with Alex, we can’t leave him here?” Lois said.

  “We’ll head back to the Huntrey where we can give him a proper burial, it’s the least he deserves.”

  15

  The Infected One

  The cries of his brothers echoed through the air as he ran back towards their home. The smell of smoke lingered in the air, yet no storms had passed through the area. There should have been nothing to start a fire, and for one of the few times in his life he was worried. It had been an age since he had seen his brothers, and the constant threat of the Hunters placed them in peril.

  But surely not, not at their home. They were untraceable. The Erdia Arrzara would have provided little protection from the more than human Hunters, but if more than a few of his brothers were present they would have presented enough force to repeal any Hunter attack.

  Moments later, the source of the smoke came into sight. Through the darkness, the orange, raging flames, danced on the corpse of what he had once called home. There would be nothing left to salvage. He stopped running, pausing to rear his head and throw it back to summon and almighty howl, calling any brothers left to his side.

  Specks of white in the distance began drawing closer as those that had heard the first cries raced to also rescue their kin from whatever had befallen them. The fire grew as he came closer to the den, and the familiar, yet sweet stench of the Vampire blood filled his nostrils. A Vampire here? The scent was fresh and needed investigating.

  Hunters, Vampires and all those of the foul blood needed to be eradicated. His brothers had whispered they were created through its use, but as long as his purpose was clear, it did not matter.

  Finally, he stood o
utside the den, a smoldering ruin of what it had once been. The Vampire stench evident, a sole Vampire, unconscious meters away from the flames flicking into the sky. His brothers joined his side and once again, he felt at home. He sat and began to shed his snow-white fur, feeling his ears slide down the side of his head. His muzzle began to recede into his face, stopping his breathing momentarily as it gave way for a more suitable one. Four legs became two as the tail that kept him balanced sucked into his lower back. Claws became fingers and moments later a human sat, cross legged, in place of the wolf.

  “Zarazenih, we came when you called but we were too late.” Another wolf was changing into its human form. The mouth had shifted first, leaving the rest of the changes to unfold naturally.

  “There was nothing you could have done Borajon, the Hunters clearly had help from that foulblood.” Zarazenih pointed at the Vampire, still prone by the den. “Bring him to me.” He closed his eyes, shading himself from the flames.

  “Is it possible the Vampires did this themselves, my brother?” A second wolf had joined them.

  “We will soon find out Tailion. Do any of our faithful remain?”

  “I pray that they perished in the fire trying to save our home.” He twirled one of his locks around his gnarled finger, a small chunk missing from the middle, lost during a fight with his brothers. “Until death do we serve, they swore. If they fled we should hunt them down.”

  “There’s no time for that, brother.” Zarazenih opened his eyes as the Vampire was thrown at his feet. “Wake him.”

  Borajon flicked his long silver hair over his shoulder and knelt down to the Vampire’s level. He grabbed the fiend by the face and brought its neck to his lips. He bit down and the Vampire’s eyes snapped open, a drawn out shriek escaping its mouth.

  Zarazenih counted to twenty in his head before raising his hand. “That’s enough. Let him go.”