Hunter of Legends (Fate of Legends Series Book 1)

by Clayton Wood

  Kris glared at her, clearly still eager to pick a fight. But the stranger said nothing more, her arms still crossed over her chest. Gammon strode forward past her, as did Sukri. Kris and Hunter followed, and Hunter glanced at the stranger as he passed. She was rather pretty up close, in a strange sort of way. But there was something…off about her.

  Her eyes followed him as he passed, not so much as blinking.

  They continued onward down the trail, putting their weapons back on their packs. Sukri checked her map again, scanning it briefly. Luckily, she and Kris seemed less pissy than before, so Gammon didn’t have to knock anyone out. For the moment, at least.

  “Should only be a half-kilometer ‘till we reach the carriage,” Sukri notified them. “Based on the survivors’ estimates.”

  “Then it’s grab and go,” Kris stated eagerly. “We’re gonna win this Trial easily!”

  “Always obsessed with scoring,” Sukri muttered, but she too looked pleased. Thankfully Kris let the comment go. Gammon, for his part, quickened his pace, forcing everyone to keep up with him again. Hunter supposed it was just as well…the less time they spent in the Fringe, the better. He hardly wanted them at each other’s throats again.

  “It’s getting late,” he observed. Indeed, the shadows thrown by the trees around them were getting longer, the sun beginning to plunge toward the horizon. “We should hurry back once we grab the thing.”

  “Agreed,” Kris replied. “Last thing we need is to get stuck here at night.”

  The dirt road curved to the right, and then they saw it: a carriage by the side of the road, tipped over on its side, maybe a hundred feet away.

  “Bingo,” Hunter exclaimed. Everyone turned to give him funny looks.

  “Huh?” Kris asked. Hunter grimaced.

  “Figure of speech.”

  “I’ll search the carriage,” Sukri stated, placing her map in her pack. “You guys stand watch.”

  “Yes master,” Kris grumbled.

  They walked up to the carriage, and Sukri hopped up onto its side, pulling the side-door up and swinging it open. She peered inside, then lowered herself into it, vanishing from sight. Gammon turned away from the carriage, peering off into the woods. The big guy retrieved his hammer from his pack, holding it in one hand. Kris hastily did the same, and Hunter followed suit. He peered at the carriage, noting trails of maroon that had dripped down the side door. The window had been smashed…and that wasn’t all. Two of the wheels were broken, the front wall crumpled inward. Whatever had attacked the carriage must’ve been incredibly strong…and it very well could be nearby still. Watching them.

  “I got a bad feeling about this,” Kris muttered, scanning the forest. Hunter nodded, doing the same. He saw only an endless expanse of trees and bushes, their branches swaying slightly in a warm breeze. Something was bothering him though, something he couldn’t put his finger on. He peered through the forest, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, the leather grip of his hammer feeling slick in his sweaty hands. Then he realized what was wrong.

  There was no sound.

  No birds, no insects, no nothing. Just the rustling of the wind through the leaves.

  “Come on Sukri,” Kris called out. “Hurry it up in there.”

  There was no reply.

  “Sukri?” Kris pressed, glancing back at the carriage. Hunter did the same, a trickle of fear running through him. What if something had been waiting inside the carriage? What if it had gotten Sukri?

  “I’m going after her,” Kris decided. He set down his hammer, climbing up on top of the carriage. Hunter swallowed in a suddenly dry throat. What if whatever was inside the carriage was waiting for them, ready to take them out one-by-one as they went to check on each other?

  “Kris,” he warned.

  And then the carriage door burst open.

  “Shit!” Kris exclaimed, backing away to the edge of the carriage and nearly falling off. Sukri’s head poked through the carriage doorway.

  “It’s not here,” she declared, shaking her head. She boosted herself up onto the side of the carriage, then hopped down to the ground. Kris stared at her incredulously.

  “What do you mean it’s not here?” he demanded.

  “Go check for yourself,” she offered. “It’s not inside the carriage.”

  “You gotta be kidding me,” Kris grumbled, kneeling down and peering into the carriage. “Shit.”

  “Come on,” Sukri urged, starting a slow walk around the carriage. “Maybe it fell out somewhere.”

  “Or maybe it’s not here,” Kris retorted, standing up and shaking his head. “Shit!”

  “Maybe you could actually, you know, help?” Sukri grumbled. Hunter hesitated, then joined her, scanning the surrounding vegetation. He didn’t see anything…just pieces of wood that had been broken off the carriage, scattered on the forest floor. And a whole lot of dried blood.

  “Come on guys,” Hunter urged. “We’ll have a lot more to worry about than your arguments if we don’t hurry up.”

  “That’s for sure,” Kris grumbled, hopping down from the carriage. “This place freaks me out.”

  “It’s the area,” Gammon spoke up, still standing guard, scanning the forest. “When the people in the carriage died here, their fear imprinted into everything around them.”

  “Or maybe it’s because of all the goddamn blood,” Kris shot back. “And the fact that we’re in the goddamn Fringe.”

  “It’s not here guys,” Sukri interjected, shaking her head in frustration. “We’ve searched all around the carriage.”

  “Maybe it fell into the woods,” Hunter reasoned. “We should expand our search area.”

  “Good idea,” Gammon agreed. “The farther you guys get from the scene of the murders, the better off you’ll be.”

  They did just that, fanning out in all directions, scanning the forest floor for an ornate chest…or its morbid contents. There was a thick layer of forest litter on the ground obscuring things…and the fact that it was getter darker by the minute certainly didn’t help.

  “There’s nothing here guys,” Kris called out, clearly frustrated. Hunter had to agree with him…the chest couldn’t have been thrown far from the carriage, and he’d already checked a good thirty feet from it. Which meant that someone must have taken it…or that it was never on the carriage to begin with.

  “I’ve got nothing either,” Hunter admitted. “You got anything Sukri?”

  “Think I would’ve kept it to myself if I had?” she shot back. Hunter had to smile at that.

  “Yeah, stupid question,” he replied. He glanced back, seeing Gammon still near the carriage, scanning the forest methodically. The big guy had been right, as usual. Now that Hunter was farther from the carriage, the fear he’d been feeling had faded away. The land really had been affecting him…and he hadn’t had a clue it was happening. If it hadn’t been for Gammon, Sukri and Kris would’ve killed each other by now…and Hunter would’ve freaked out and ran.

  I have to get better at this, he thought. He hated the thought that his emotions could be manipulated so easily. First Trixie, now this. Hell, who knows how often he’d been manipulated since he’d gotten to this bizarre world, his emotions being controlled while he remained utterly oblivious? The thought was sobering…and reaffirmed the importance of becoming a Seeker. Thorius obviously knew how to control his emotions and to sense when they were being manipulated. The Master Trainer had offered to teach Hunter those skills, and since Hunter was going to be here for the rest of his life, he’d be far better off learning them.

  “This is pointless,” Kris grumbled. “I’m fifty feet away and I haven’t found shit.” He stopped, shaking his head. “It’s not here, guys.”

  “He’s right,” Sukri agreed. “For once.”

  Hunter sighed, turning around and walking back toward the carriage.

  “What now?” he asked.

  “It’s getting too dark,” Sukri replied, glancing at the sky. Her jawline rippled. �
��We need to get back before it’s too late.”

  “Agreed,” Gammon said.

  “Great,” Kris muttered. “So what, we just come back empty handed? You know what that means, right?”

  “If it’s not here, it’s not here,” Sukri retorted. “Would you rather be dead?”

  “Alright, fine,” Kris grumbled. “You volunteering to be disqualified then?”

  “Knock it off,” Gammon interjected. “We got here first, and we didn’t find it.”

  “Damn right,” Sukri agreed. “The other team probably won’t find it either…and since they haven’t even made it to the carriage yet, if they try to find it tonight, they won’t make it back alive.”

  “Granted,” Kris conceded grudgingly.

  “So that means we’ve still got the advantage,” Sukri reasoned. “Either the artifact is somewhere around here, or it’s gone for good. And if that’s the case, the other team won’t find it, and we’ll both return to the guild empty-handed.”

  “What then?” Kris pressed. Sukri shrugged.

  “I don’t know, but if we prove we made it to the carriage first, they might say we still won.”

  “That’s a big if,” Kris countered. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not ready to lose my one chance at becoming a Seeker on a maybe.”

  “Then we’ll come back tomorrow,” Gammon decided. “We can start early, and still beat the other team, assuming they’ve given up for the night and gone back too.”

  “Or we can stay here and die,” Sukri added. “We need to move it.”

  She began walking back toward the dirt path, and Gammon followed, catching up with her easily. Kris sighed, trudging after them, as did Hunter. They stepped back on the narrow path, following it away from the carriage…and back toward the Deadlands. Kris shook his head.

  “This is such bullshit,” he groused. “We got to the carriage first. It’s not our fault the thing wasn’t there.”

  “The mission was to retrieve the artifact, not find the carriage,” Sukri countered. Kris glared at her.

  “Thanks for the pearl of wisdom, oh wise and fearless leader.”

  “You know, you don’t have to be such a dick,” Sukri retorted. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately.”

  “Don’t blame me,” Kris grumbled. “It’s the forest, remember?”

  “Yeah, well the forest wants me to kick your ass,” Sukri shot back. “And I’m starting to agree with it.”

  “Remember what I said about knocking you guys out?” Gammon interjected.

  “Yeah yeah,” Kris grumbled. “Actually, I’d prefer that. At least then I wouldn’t have to listen to her…”

  A massive shape burst out of the bushes to their right, slamming into Kris, sending him flying headlong into the forest floor.

  “Shit!” Sukri swore, stumbling backward, fumbling for her hammer. “Guys!”

  A huge, black thing stood there on the path, blocking their way. A massive creature over seven feet tall, covered in thick, armored plates. Two pairs of arms hung from its sides, its four hands clenched into fists. It turned toward them, black eyes glaring down at them.

  Holy…!

  Hunter backpedaled, reaching behind himself for his hammer, but he couldn’t reach it. He shrugged off his pack, reaching for his hammer with trembling hands. The Ironclad shoved Sukri backward with one hand, then stomped toward the fallen Kris, still lying dazed on the ground. It reached down for him, grabbing him by the wrist and picking him right up off the ground. Kris cried out, his feet dangling over a foot above the forest floor.

  “Kris!” Sukri cried, rushing forward and swinging her hammer at the thing’s back. It bounced right off, nearly throwing Sukri off her feet.

  “Help!” Kris shouted, kicking at the thing’s chest frantically. His boots bounced off its armor harmlessly. “Guys!”

  Gammon rushed forward, swinging his hammer in a wide arc. It struck the Ironclad in the middle of its back, shoving it forward. The beast grunted, catching itself, then turning around, swinging one armored fist at Gammon’s chest. The blow knocked Gammon backward, and the big guy fell onto his butt on the dirt path, his hammer falling from his hands.

  The Ironclad turned back to Kris, still suspended in the air. It grabbed Kris’s arm with another hand, squeezing so hard it made Kris howl.

  “Kris!” Sukri shouted, swinging her hammer again. But the Ironclad stepped into her swing, grabbing the shaft of her hammer. It yanked backward, tossing the hammer – and Sukri – through the air with ease. She landed on the forest floor with a thump, her hammer falling from her hands.

  Hunter glanced at her, then at the Ironclad, gripping his hammer in both hands. He stared at the massive thing, remembering how Alasar’s soldiers had been brutalized, highly-trained men being slaughtered one-by-one. He hesitated, his heart hammering in his chest.

  “Help!” Kris yelled. The Ironclad turned back to him, squeezing Kris’s arm so hard it was turning purple. It let go of Kris’s wrist then, grabbing his elbow with the other hand. It snarled, then jerked its hands, snapping Kris’s upper arm like a twig. The horrible sound echoed like a gunshot through the forest.

  Kris shrieked.

  “Guys!” Sukri screamed, grabbing her hammer and sprinting toward the Ironclad. Gammon pushed himself up from the ground, grabbing his own hammer and rushing the thing. The Ironclad ignored them, glaring at Kris, suspended by his broken arm. Jagged bone stuck out of his flesh, marrow dripping from the ends.

  Then the creature gripped Kris’s arm on either side of the break, and tore his arm off.

  Kris howled, staring wide-eyed at his severed limb. Blood sprayed from the stump in pulses, splattering on the forest floor. The Ironclad tossed Kris’s arm aside, then turned to the fast-approaching Sukri just as she swung her hammer in a tight arc, striking the back of its knee. Its leg buckled, and it dropped Kris, landing on its knees.

  “Get Kris!” she shouted at Hunter.

  Hunter complied, running up to his fallen comrade. Kris was lying on his back on the forest floor, staring wide-eyed at his bleeding stump, his face as pale as death. Sweat beaded up on his forehead, trickling down the side of his face.

  “I got you,” Hunter said, looking down at the wound. It was still spurting blood, the sharp end of Kris’s arm bone jutting out of the rust-colored flesh. Hunter grimaced, putting his fingers into the bleeder and pressing down hard. Kris’s flesh was warm and wet, slick against Hunter’s palm. He glanced back at the Ironclad, watching as it rose to its feet. Sukri swung her hammer again, but the monster caught the hammer in mid-swing, tearing it out of her hands. It turned the hammer around, swinging it right back at Sukri’s head…just as Gammon’s hammer slammed into the back of its skull.

  The Ironclad stumbled to the side, its hammer missing Sukri’s head by mere inches. It caught itself, then dropped the hammer, facing Gammon. Gammon stood before the monstrosity, nearly as tall as it was, clutching his hammer with both hands.

  “Kill that asshole!” Sukri shouted.

  The Ironclad swung one huge fist, punching Gammon in the belly. Gammon grunted, taking a step back, then swinging his hammer at the thing’s head. It burst forward, ramming Gammon with its shoulder, shoving the big guy backward. Gammon stumbled, then caught himself, slamming the butt of his hammer’s handle into the Ironclad’s forehead. It took the blow without flinching, gripping the handle and ripping the hammer out of Gammon’s hands, tossing it to the side. Then it reached out with all four hands, gripping Gammon’s shoulders with one pair, and his forearms with the other.

  Hunter heard Kris groan, and looked down, seeing blood pouring from between his fingers. Kris’s eyes fluttered, his breath coming in short gasps, his skin slick with sweat. Hunter swore, pressing harder on Kris’s stump, being careful not to cut himself on the sharp bone.

  “Guys,” he called out. “Guys!”

  Gammon grunted as the Ironclad pulled on his arms, yanking them to the sides. He grit his teeth, his muscles go
ing taut as he struggled against the creature’s powerful grip. Then he jerked his head forward, slamming his forehead into its face.

  His head bounced back, and he stared at the Ironclad, looking dazed.

  The Ironclad headbutted Gammon back, slamming its armored forehead into Gammon’s nose. Gammon’s head snapped backward, and the Ironclad headbutted him again, blood gushing down Gammon’s nose and mouth.

  “Hunter, help!” Sukri cried, picking up her hammer and swinging it wildly. It struck the back of the creature’s knee, causing it to buckle. The Ironclad fell backward, landing on its back. Gammon fell on top of it, looking stunned.

  Hunter glanced down at Kris. Blood was merely trickling from his wound now. His face was as white as a sheet, his eyes staring upward, his mouth slightly open. He was barely breathing, a gurgling sound coming from his throat.

  Shit.

  “Hunter!” Sukri shouted, grabbing Gammon’s arm and yanking backward, trying to pull the big guy off the Ironclad. Gammon slid halfway off, clutching at his face with his free hand.

  Hunter cursed, grabbing his hammer and standing up, rushing toward them. He skid to a stop before the Ironclad, swinging his hammer like an axe, aiming for the thing’s grotesque face. But it intercepted the blow, blocking the strike with two of its armored forearms. The hammer bounced off, the ricochet tearing the handle from Hunter’s hands. He stumbled forward, then felt the thing’s hand wrap around his ankle. It jerked his leg forward, and Hunter lost his balance, falling onto his back on the packed earth. The air exploded from his lungs, the back of his head bouncing off the ground.

  The Ironclad let go of Hunter’s leg, shoving Gammon off itself and rising to its feet. It turned to Sukri, who let go of Gammon’s arm…just as the thing punched her square in the face.

  Sukri dropped like a stone.

  The Ironclad glanced back at Hunter, then grabbed Sukri by one ankle, lifting her upward until she was dangling upside-down above the ground. It gripped her lower leg with another hand, and her thigh with another.

  And snapped her lower leg in half.

  Sukri let out a blood-curdling scream, her leg bent at an impossible angle. Gammon roared, pushing himself off the ground and rushing the beast, throwing himself at the Ironclad. He slammed into it, shoving it to the side. It dropped Sukri, somehow managing to keep its balance, then shoved Gammon backward. The big guy planted his feet, then kicked the thing in the chest, knocking it backward again.