The Citadel’s battlements were similarly populated, each of the five hosting at least five guards who could be supported from above. Between each level there was a sheer rock face and at least fifty meters of open space.
“How many can you take?” Abner asked.
“At least four,” Lois said. “Anymore and they could get lucky.”
“Alright, I’ll lead them away, you need to get in there and find what you can. Come here.”
Lois fell into his arms and they embraced, their lips locking before she straightened and coughed. “If I find him I’ll kill him.”
“You ready?” Abner swept his crossbow off his shoulder and walked towards the Citadel.
He opened fire, bolts flying across the square in front of the Citadel. Two Alilletians went down with bolts in their shoulders, another tore through a thigh. The Alilletians realized what was happening and saw their target across the square. They started after him.
Abner shouldered his crossbow again and turned, taking off into the night. Lois waited in an alleyway as the Alilletians surged past. They’d left two men behind to take care of the wounded. She stepped out of the shadows, with her own crossbow drawn and shot down the two men before they could raise an alarm. Five more bolts fired in rapid succession completely silenced the injured men in the square.
She sprinted across the square, going from shadow to shadow, avoiding the watchful eyes from above. The Citadel door was watched by someone on the inside and Lois dragged one of the massive Alilletian bodies into cover. She drew her sword and in a single strike beheaded the man. His bushy red beard covered his entire neck. Grudgingly, Lois rammed her fist into his neck and lifted it above her like a puppet. His eyes were still open, his mouth shut.
Lois rapped on the door, four times, smashing her free fist against it, to sound as loud as a normal Alilletian knock. The guard flicked opened the door shutter and Lois moved the head into position, careful not to expose anything else of the Alilletian. Behind the door she heard a grunt and then the sound of the door moving inward. She pulled the dead man’s head off her wrist and drew her sword, waiting like a cobra ready to strike.
A look of shock crossed the first guard’s face when he saw her standing before him. He went to draw his axe but found her sword at his throat before he could bring it to bear.
“I don’t want any trouble, my partner killed your men. I’m merely here to talk to the Councilor.”
“Where have you been girl? We haven’t had a Councilor in charge of all affairs since Graytooth was executed in Renor.”
“I have it on good authority there is someone new taking the reins, a long-lost son of Graytooth that has recently returned to the world,” Lois said. “He resides here in the Citadel and I need to speak with him immediately.”
“Gentlemen, please stand down. I will take it from here,” a familiar voice called from down the hall.
“Who’s there?” The guards all stood now, axes in hand.
“Let her pass, men, otherwise you’ll fall where you stand.” The sound of longbows being drawn filled the hall. There was at least half a dozen. “Lois please join me in the darkness, I’m so glad you’ve finally arrived. We have much to discuss.”
21
Bestial Rage
Below him the Citadel loomed in the darkness and the only visible targets were not Barros. Zarazenih had climbed to the peak of Mount Etia, the mountain the Citadel was partially buried under. The mountain served as a natural wall to outsiders, the terrain too rugged to bring much needed siege items such as trebuchets or scaling ladders.
The climb down was even worse, a twenty-meter drop that would be enough to kill most men or a wolf of his size. Zarazenih smiled at the thought of the challenge. There was a gap between the mountain and the rampart this high up, further deterring attackers from making their advance from above.
No longer in his wolf form, Zarazenih kept only his claws and his teeth ready for the assault. He wore a loincloth around his waist, the only attempt he would use to look respectable in the presence of his father. He didn’t feel the cold, his body heat was more than enough to keep him warm in the snow. Zarazenih took five steps back from the ledge and ran forward. His powerful legs launched him well clear of the gap, and second later he hit the ground, rolling to break his fall.
The nearest guard turned, hearing the mass of humanity hitting the battlements. He started to yell, but Zarazenih had closed the distance, putting his fist through the Alilletian’s throat. The cry was cut off in a gargle of blood spilling from his mouth. His friends heard the cry and one ran to ring the alarm bell.
He had too much of a head start for Zarazenih to catch him, so instead the wolf turned his attention to the guard trying to ready his crossbow. The gap was closed between the two before the man could even raise it to his eye level. Zarazenih ripped the crossbow from his hands, the guard falling to his knees. The wolf delivered a swift kick to the Alilletian’s head knocking him flat, and raised the crossbow with one hand, firing into the back of the retreating Alilletian.
He rounded again on the downed Alilletian and rammed the butt of the crossbow into his skull. Blood fresh on his hands, Zarazenih smirked and headed inside off the battlements. He descended the massive stairwell until he reached Barros’ level. Even with the blood on his hands and the noise he had made, no guards approached at this late hour. Two guards stood outside Barros’ door, both with their axes held at their waist.
“I wish to speak with my father,” Zarazenih said. He was still approaching the door.
“Your father isn’t here boy, go home,” one guard said. He stood forward.
“My father is behind that door,” Zarazenih said. “Step apart or be torn apart.”
“Threatening us, runt?”
“Not threatening you. You’re dead men walking!”
Zarazenih leapt into the air, kicking one foot behind the other, bringing his fist down, slicing through the face of the first guard. He grabbed the axe as he landed and spun, swinging it around into the breast of the second Alilletian with such force he split in two, his shoulders departed from his body. The rest of his torso slumped to the floor.
“Barros! I know you can hear me, come out and face me!”
Zarazenih pushed the doors in front of him, slapping them open as if they’d been pushed by a hurricane. He stormed into the room, his nose flaring, sniffing for a scent of his father. There was nothing apart from the smoke from a small fire in the mantlepiece in the center of the room.
“Barros! Come out and face me!”
He heard a scream from the hallway and Zarazenih turned to find a woman frozen in shock. Her jaw hung open, her skin flushed pale at the sight of the bodies before her. She carried a plate of food with two cups of wine that could only be meant for someone of status. Zarazenih ran over to her, picking her off her feet by her throat. He could feel her blood pulsing through her veins.
“Where is the man that resides in that room?”
“I’m sorry. Who…”
Her eyes rolled back in her head, the tray slipped from her hands and clattered to the floor, spilling wine and food everywhere. A slow clap came from behind him back in the room.
“Well done my son,” Barros said. “I wanted to observe what you could do with your fury. I’m glad you did not kill the girl, but the wine has been split.”
“Barros.” A snarl rumbled from Zarazenih. “What lies have you told me? Come out and face me!”
“I haven’t told you any lie my son. I told you that you’d be faster, stronger and more powerful than any Vampire or human alive. I told you that you had an important mission to carry out.”
“Barros, your voice tricks, it does not phase me like it would mortals. Stop hiding in the shadows!”
“Or what, you’ll rip my head off?” Barros asked. “Zarazenih, my infected one, I’ve had plans for you in place since you were a small child. You were to be my ultimate successor.”
Zarazenih growled again. “Was i
t me, or was it your first son, Abner? Did you see him and dream that you could improve on perfection? I was nothing but a toy to you. What was your plan? To pit us against one another to see who would be left standing in the end? You told me I had no family, murdered by both Hunters and Vampires. You told me you were the only one left!”
“Enough of this illusion.” The mantlepiece opened and Barros stepped out from behind the fire in a fine gray fur robe. He looked at Zarazenih and smiled. “My child, you’ve grown since I saw you last. I’m so proud of what you’ve achieved.” He held out his arms waiting for an embrace that never came.
“You lied to me, Barros.”
“Embrace me, son. I am your family. I am all the family you have ever needed and the only family that has ever loved you.”
“No, Barros. My family has been put to the sword by your beloved Hunters. The ones that you wanted us to seek out and kill wherever we went!”
Barros’ face turned sour. His smile became a frown. “Who did you run to when you lost control of that pack of mutts you called a family? Who did turn to when you started to lose brothers to the Hunters? Me every time, Zarazenih. You have been my tool, yes. But I have always wanted to ensure that would you succeed. We have a working partnership and we are family.”
“Why didn’t you tell me they were going to find the den? Had I been there along with the rest of my brothers, we could have destroyed Abner.”
“You think I ordered the Vampire there to show him the way? Zarazenih, like I have told you I wanted you to -”
“Enough!”
Zarazenih charged Barros like a bull, his claws outstretched, ready to rip his father limb from limb. Barros moved backwards and out the way. He was unarmed. His speed was his only ally. Even in his human form, Zarazenih, was stronger and just as nimble, but his extra height and weight slowed him down.
“I don’t want to fight you,” Barros said.
“You don’t have a choice, Barros.”
Zarazenih continued to rain blows down upon Barros, striking with all different combinations of strikes, but the smaller man was just too fast. Uppercuts followed straight jabs and grapple attempts followed knee strikes. The wolf punched out, and overstretched, not pulling his arm back fast enough. Barros sidestepped the blow and leapt at the exposed limb.
He latched on, avoiding more strikes from Zarazenih, and twisted around, folding the arm behind the wolf’s back. Zarazenih began to panic, clawing desperately at his back. Barros smirked and wretched the arm. A kick caught him in the side, that felt as if a cannon had exploded in his rib cage.
Barros fell back, retreating once again. He held his side and grimaced up at his son. “You’ve gotten stronger.”
“We haven’t sparred since I was a child, Barros. Now I will be your end.”
Barros ducked out of the way again as Zarazenih’s monstrous fist came crashing down again. He flicked a knife out from inside his coat, a beautiful jeweled blade with a silver hilt and red runes engraved throughout the blade. Barros rolled away again and leapt to his feet, holding the knife out in front of him.
“Come on, try and take me then,” he said.
Zarazenih leapt over the velvet lounge chair and tackled Barros to the ground. The wolf howled as the knife punched through his skin into his stomach. He howled five times before Barros rolled him over onto his back. Zarazenih clawed at his stomach, howling in pain, a burning sensation filling his body wherever Barros had stabbed him.
“So it actually works,” Barros said. He sat down beside Zarazenih and placed his hand on the wolf’s head. “Be silent my son, the pain is your ally. You will rest, and you will heal. Then I will give you this dagger and for you to complete your task, all you have to do is give the blade to Abner Toldar.”
“You’re going to kill him?” Zarazenih asked.
“No, not me, but someone else will for me. Do this and I will let you live freely, my son.”
22
Old Foe
The tavern door opened and a soft breeze blew in. Abner looked up from his drink, the tip of his hat slightly rising. A man walked in, the lower part of his face covered by a red and stone rawhide mask. He was dressed in a similar fashion, rawhide red and stone vest as well as an overcoat, to keep out the cold. He had dark cold eyes and his hair was a wavy black mess atop his head.
The tavern patrons had all returned to their drinks while the man took off his mailed gloves. He did not lower the mask, but instead surveyed the room scowling at anyone that looked at him. The man watched everyone in the room and his eyes finally set on the Hunter, in the very back corner of the room, almost out of sight.
Abner adjusted the small crossbow on his leg and aimed it where the unknown man might sit. The Hunter then continued burying his face inside the tankard in front of him, while the red and stone man approached, who took a seat opposite the bartender.
“Give me ale,” he said banging a gold coin on the counter, his voice cold, dark and powerful with a distinct purr in his voice, marking him as a Renori.
“One ale coming right up sir,” the barkeep said. He handed over a tankard and took the coin cautiously, expecting a trap.
The Renori finished his drink, his back to Abner the whole time, who had no doubt that he would be facing a dangerous man. Abner saw the twin swords across his back and another at his belt. It could get messy.
Once the Renori had finished his drink he turned and stared straight at Abner. Abner looked at him from the corner of his eyes and tensed as the fighter got up and walked towards him.
Abner checked his leg to make sure the crossbow was still there, loaded and ready to fire.
“Hunter,” the Renori said as he sat down. “I’m looking for one of you. I doubt you’d know him however. He is the scum of the earth.”
“Much like you then,” Abner said. “You look like you work for the Blood Brotherhood, if I’m not mistaken. I thought we finished you off years ago?”
The assassin looked taken back. “How do you know of my past?” he asked.
“I killed a few of you when I was a boy competing at Renor’s tournament. I also have a close relationship with the one you called the Redjay,” Abner said.
“You’re the one I seek, Abner Toldar. It will be said that the Rattlesnake bought the greatest Hunter of the modern era to his knees.”
“If you know so much about me, you know you’ll have a hard time,” Abner said. “I’m a half Vampire, you can’t really do anything to me.”
“No, you can’t but I know someone that can. Bring her in!” the Rattlesnake said.
The door opened again, and two men wearing tattered Renori Vanguard uniforms struggled in with Lois, unconscious, held between them. Another Vanguard strode in behind them, with a feathered helmet and a better suit of armor marked with a four-stripe red and gold insignia.
“Laksha,” Abner said.
Captain Commander Laksha, shrugged off her helmet pulling it over her head and resting it by her side. The last eight years she had spent wandering the greater parts of Taagras had served her well. Her face was hardened in an intense glare, her skin more worn than it had been eight years ago.
“Abner Toldar, we meet again. And you no longer have your protectors. You are alone and I now have two hundred ex-Vanguard at my disposal that has surrounded this building. Resist and you will be killed. If it wasn’t for the insanely large bounty on your head I would kill you right now,” she said.
Abner took his hat off his head and casually spun it around on one finger. “Laksha, frankly I couldn’t care less about your numbers, I couldn’t care that you have me here and alone or my partner in chains. I will come with you willingly, but just let me do one thing first, as a last request.”
“What is it?” Laksha asked. Her eyes narrowed as she frowned.
“This,” Abner said.
The bolt leapt from the crossbow and buried itself inside the Rattlesnake’s kneecap. Abner lifted the table and flung it onto the already weakened assassin. He cr
umpled under the impact, leaving Abner to deal with the Vanguard.
The first rushed at him sword in head high above his head coming for a down stroke. Abner flicked his hat at the Vanguard, temporarily blinding him, ducking into his chest and throwing two quick jabs, one crushing a rib.
The second Vanguard used his sword in a two-handed grip attempting to cut Abner in half. He had seen Abner’s speed but thought he was faster. Abner grabbed his hands and stop the attacked instantly. The Vanguard begged with Abner to let him go, but to no avail as Abner twisted and heard the bones in his wrists grinding and breaking.
Once he was satisfied he knocked the man out with a single blow to his temple.
Looking for his next opponent Abner turned to Laksha. The Captain–Commander had a pistol drawn and it was held to Lois’s head. Lois rolled around when Laksha moved.
“You might be immortal Abner, but what about her? Is she?”
“You’ve only got one shot Captain; you’ll be dead by the time I’m onto you. Do you really want to throw away your life like that? Lois didn’t kill a Councilor. I did. She didn’t commit any treason,” Abner said.
“No she didn’t, but that she was there when Reiner died and that makes her as guilty as you!” Laksha said.
“I’m immortal. I can’t be killed by any normal weapons. If you kill her I will just find another girl, it makes little difference to me. You on the other hand, you only have one life to give. Like I said before, do you want to waste it?” Abner asked.
Laksha turned the pistol on Abner. “Fine. What do you want?”
“I want you to let her go, and I will come with you willingly. You will take me to face the courts and have me trialed. Just let Lois go.”
“Alright, she can go. That’s a fair trade. She’ll come for you. Men!” Laksha said. “I have Toldar inside, bring the irons.”
The Toldar Series Box Set Page 53
