The Grim Wanderer

by James Wolf

  Taem wiped his sword clean of blood, held the flat of the blade up, dipped his forehead to meet the blue metal, and closed his eyes.

  ‘I thank the Light for shining on my blade,’ Taem murmured, before sheathing his sword and going over to Baek, Forgrun and Bodran.

  ‘And yhee Taem,’ Forgrun clasped a giant hand on the man’s shoulder. ‘I still owe yhee debt under Kaladim. One day, I do save thy life.’

  ‘Thank you, my friends.’ Taem smiled. ‘Truly, I am fortunate to have loyal companions such as you.’

  Baek touched his hand to his heart and dipped his head. Bodran grimaced with disappointment that he was still alive.

  ‘Aye,’ Forgrun said, ‘but next time yhee decide ter pick a fight, a bit more warning do be nice. I fin’lly found an ’alf decent beer in ye inn – derived from anc’ent Rhungari brewing methods no doubt – and Baek do come runnin’ in shouting that I be needed outside. That beer prob’ly gone ter warm now, an’ it were chilled from bein’ down cellar!’ Forgrun grinned.

  Taem laughed, ‘Sorry, but I had to do something. Anyway, I was not starting a fight. I was defending the helpless.’

  ‘Aye! – Yhee and yer moral Sodan ways!’ Forgrun chortled, as he casually lent on his axe-shaft. ‘Call it what yhee will, but I say we be givin’ ’em a good smackin’!’ The Rhungar thumped one fist into the palm of the other. ‘By Gromm! We do smashed ‘em!’

  ‘I cannot disagree with that,’ Baek smiled.

  Bodran held up one of his big fist’s, and grinned from ear to ear.

  ‘I be sure thy Sodan Code has no time fer ye undisciplined pastime o’ beer,’ Forgrun said. ‘But, the way I be seein’ it, yhee not yet a fully-fledged Sodan Master be?’

  ‘With regret,’ Taem smiled. ‘I must refuse.’

  ‘Aye – aahhh well,’ Forgrun held wide his palms. ‘An’ yhee, Aborle? Yhee ’ave never be samplin’ ye delights o’ beer?’

  ‘Only wine do the Aborle make and drink,’ Baek said.

  ‘Well yhee be in for a treat then,’ Forgrun said mischievously. ‘Cos it be celebratin’ time!’ Forgrun put a hand on Bodran’s shoulder. ‘Nay be too glum, ye ancestors wait for yhee, but nay tonight. One more night o’ beer with thy liege before ye go ter Misty Halls.’

  Bodran exhaled, and reluctantly nodded his head.

  While the four friends talked a jubilant crowd of townsfolk had gathered around them, and there was much back-slapping of the town’s new “heroes”.

  ‘Thank you great warriors,’ said an excited old man – he had not had reason to be so cheerful for longer than he could remember. ‘Finally my prayers have been fulfilled!’

  ‘Really…i-i-it wasn’t…m-me that did a-a-all that much,’ Baek said shyly, as townspeople rushed to shake his hand.

  ‘Our saviours have arrived!’ cried an ecstatic woman.

  ‘The Light be praised!’ shouted someone else.

  ‘You are most welcome,’ Taem said to each townsperson that came and thanked him.

  Where his other companions were quiet and humble, and Bodran could only nod his head, Forgrun enjoyed bathing in the new found glory.

  ‘Aye!’ Forgrun roared to the awe-struck townspeople, hands on hips. ‘I do be Forgrun Krojan, an’ me friends do mighty warriors be! We be smashin’ ye bandits this time! An’ we be smashin’ ’em be they ever show thine ugly mugs roun’ ’ere again!’

  The Rhungar bragged, but the townspeople lapped it up, glad to hear someone was going to stand up to the bandits.

  The companions were herded by the townspeople into the packed out Hand and Crown Inn, where Gomas the innkeeper insisted the companions stay, eat and drink for free. Taem saw smiles where before there had been scowls, he heard laughter where earlier he had heard moaning, and he felt how there was life once more in this oppressed place.

  The companions were eventually left to sit in peace, and Forgrun insisted they celebrate by trying the best beer he had sampled so far. Gomas eagerly brought over four tankards on a tray, and placed one down in front of each of the companions.

  Forgrun gulped down half of his in two big slurps, then put the tankard down on the table with a satisfied, ‘Aaahhhhh. By thunder! If only me brother Fucral be here; he be likin’ his beer! Yhee should one day be meetin’ him Taem – aye – yheed be gettin’ by very well wit’ Fucral. Aye!’

  Taem slid his full tankard over to the Rhungar, whilst Baek sipped his with a contorted face, as if he had been forced to eat a sour piece of fruit.

  ‘It be an acquired taste,’ Forgrun said to Baek. ‘It do get better if yhee drink more.’ The Rhungar smiled.

  Baek chortled, unconvinced, as he swirled the frothy beer round in his tankard. The thought of drinking the rest of his beer was turning the Aborle’s stomach. Bodran downed his own tankard and, without hesitation, took Baek’s and downed that one as well.

  The townsman Falman blustered into the inn, which roused a cheer from the now merry patrons. After having a quick word with Gomas, Falman came to the table of “The Warriors”.

  ‘May I join ye?’ Falman said with a strong country accent.

  ‘Please do,’ Taem gestured for Falman to pull up a seat.

  Falman slid over a chair, sat down, and beamed, ‘Thank ye friends, I am indebted to ye – but have you thought what will happen when the Bandit King hears of what took place? Morben is a foul man, of little temper. He’s likely to come looking for ye four, and… perhaps… punish the people of the town as well.’

  ‘Let that pond-scum come,’ Forgrun placed a palm on his axe handle, as it rested by his side.

  Bodran nodded eagerly, before finishing another tankard of beer.

  ‘We will be ready when he arrives,’ Baek said to Falman.

  ‘So you’ll stay?’ Falman eye’s flickered with hope.

  Taem was not sure. Hirandar’s instructions were to go straight to Dolam if they became separated. And there was the possibility of the Narg pursuit to consider. But Taem also realised he had started something here, and he could not in good conscience leave without seeing it through.

  ‘Of course we’ll stay,’ Taem said.

  ‘We…’ Falman said cautiously, ‘have little money… to spare ye for payment. Ye Bandit King has made times lean in these parts.’

  As Forgrun dubiously eyed the gold plated buttons on Falman’s sizeable tunic – which was also lined with an expensive velvet trim – the Rhungar began, ‘Aye, well, whatever coin yhee do have–’

  ‘We require no payment,’ Taem cut Forgrun off.

  Baek glared at the Rhungar with disapproval, but Forgrun shrugged his shoulders, and finished his tankard.

  ‘Just your hospitality and cooperation,’ Taem said.

  ‘The Light be merciful!’ Falman said happily. ‘Ye are the heroes of old, righteous and just.’

  ‘Aye,’ Forgrun muttered, and downed Taem’s beer.

  ‘Where does this Morben Sleyhan live?’ Baek said.

  ‘At a camp called the Graveldeep,’ Falman said, ‘it’s not far.’

  ‘How many men?’ Taem said.

  ‘There can only be a hundred of them,’ Falman said. ‘And you’ve already killed a score of them! But they’re vicious and cruel, with enough brute force to hold this town under their boots.’

  ‘Could they come back tonight?’ Taem said. ‘In force?’

  ‘Not likely,’ Falman said, ‘it’s a few hours walk there, then they’ve got to get back.’

  ‘Great!’ Forgrun beamed. ‘Time ter get a few beers in,’ The Rhungar lifted his empty tankard up above his head, catching Gomas’s eye, gesturing that he and Bodran needed refills with a flick of his bushy eyebrows.

  ‘Are you sure you should be drinking beer?’ Baek said with disapproval. ‘If we might be fighting in the morning, or even tonight?’

  ‘Hah!’ Forgrun scoffed.

  Bodran laughed out loud, as if that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. ‘It do make us even better fighters!’ Forgrun smashed his tankard int
o Bodran’s.

  Taem shook his head, ‘Can you organise some townsmen to set watch?’

  ‘Aye,’ Falman said.

  ‘At least four men,’ Taem said, ‘have them watch the inn.’

  ‘I’ll go now and get some men I trust,’ Falman stood up to leave, ‘before they drink too much beer.’

  ‘Good idea,’ Baek glowered at Forgrun, who just shrugged as he gulped more beer down.

  ‘I’m going to look around the town,’ Taem stood up, making for the door, ‘and plan some of the defences.’

  ‘I think I’ll come with you,’ Baek said, ‘and leave the foolish Rhungars to get drunk.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan,’ Forgrun held up his tankard, catching Gomas’s eye once more.

  It was gone midnight, as Taem and Baek took a walk round the boundary of the town, but there were still many people out and about. Taem could feel how all the townsfolk had a new spirit about them, a new hope. Although Taem and Baek could not see much in the darkness, the only defensive feature of any note was a stone wall, six-foot high, that spanned the northern perimeter. Taem realised it would be impossible to build fortifications before morning.

  By the time the warriors returned to the inn there was much noise and commotion emanating from the common room. As the two companions stepped inside, Taem saw Forgrun and Falman standing on a table, each with one arm around the other’s shoulders, stamping their feet and shouting, tuneless and dreadful, swinging tankards of ale and clunking them together. The other patrons merrily clapped and stomped their feet in time to the rhythm, joining in by relaying back the chorus, whilst Gomas played the tune on a penny whistle and someone else played a fiddle.

  ‘Gromm will smash thy enemy!’ Forgrun and Falman chanted.

  ‘Gromm will smash thy enemy!’ The crowd chorused.

  ‘Crash ’em! Bash ’em!’ Forgrun did an uppercut into each palm, in time with the beat.

  ‘Crash ’em! Bash ’em!’ The townspeople mimicked the Rhungar’s actions.

  ‘Karlstrom bless yer brewery!’ Forgrun and Falman clunked their tankards together.

  ‘Karlstrom bless yer brewery!’

  ‘Great beer! Right ’ere!’ Forgrun swung his sloshing tankard side to side, in time.

  ‘Great beer! Right ’ere!’

  ‘Odrin be king o’ all yhee see!’

  ‘Odrin be king o’ all yhee see!’

  ‘High glen!’ Forgrun shot his arm in the air. ‘Low fen!’ Forgrun ducked down to touch the table he was standing on.

  ‘High glen! Low fen!’ The townspeople laughed as they copied the Rhungar.

  ‘Decu make bad spirit flee!’

  ‘Decu make bad spirit flee!’

  ‘Yer done!’ Forgrun pointed to his feet. ‘Dark One!’ The Rhungar stomped on where he had just been pointing.

  ‘Yer Done! Dark One!’ The townsman all followed the Rhungar’s actions, pretending to stamp on the Dark One.

  ‘Nyna bless thy family!’

  ‘Nyna bless thy family!’

  ‘Long life! Nay strife!’ Forgrun roared as he hoisted up his tankard in salute.

  ‘Long life! Nay strife!’ All the townspeople raised their tankards in a toast.

  ‘What is he doing?’ Baek shouted over the incredible noise, as he and Taem stared in amazement at the Rhungar. ‘I’m surprised that table can take his weight!’

  ‘Pfynere help thy wife love yhee!’

  ‘Pfynere help thy wife love yhee!’

  ‘Don’t show! Won’t know!’

  ‘Don’t show! Won’t know!’ Many married men laughed at this one, as the women scowled.

  Claune be of’en full o’ glee!’

  Claune be of’en full o’ glee!’

  ‘Jolly one! He be fun!’ Forgrun gripped his belly and shook his hands, as if his stomach were heaving with laughter.

  ‘Jolly one! He be fun!’

  A swaying townsman meandered up to Taem and Baek, ‘My graaatitude frieeends!’ The townsman slurred his words. ‘I haaaven’t seen the towwwn this haaappy in yeeears! Thank ye!’

  ‘Joga’s knowledge doth decree!’

  ‘Joga’s knowledge doth decree!’

  They’re done!’ Forgrun twice pointed out to the square. ‘We won!’ Forgrun twice thrust his thumb into his own chest.

  ‘They’re done! We won!’ The crowd all copied the Rhungar’s actions.

  Forgrun noticed Taem and Baek had come back to the inn, and roared, ‘My friends do ’ave returned!’

  ‘Yeeaaahhhhh!’ The people in the common room cheered and clapped.

  ‘Come an’ be joinin’ me on ye table fer song!’ The Rhungar boomed.

  ‘That table won’t hold the four of us,’ Taem yelled back across the busy common room, as townsmen clamoured for him and Baek to go over and sing with the Rhungar.

  ‘Falman!’ A woman screamed from the inn’s door.

  The music stopped immediately.

  Falman leapt from the table – as a rabbit scrambles down its hole at the sight of an eagle – careering into another table of merrymakers, crashing ale tankards everywhere and making a right mess.

  ‘Clumsy fool,’ the townspeople muttered, as they wiped themselves down after their beer shower, but brightened up as Gomas brought them over another round on the house.

  ‘Yes, dearest,’ Falman said meekly, as he made his way over to his wife, dripping with beer and staggering heavily. The whole common room watched with bated breath.

  ‘Why are you spending all night in the tavern – with five traumatised children at home? How irresponsible!’ She led Falman out the Hand and Crown common room by the scruff of his neck.

  Forgrun burst into raucous laughter, and the entire common room followed the Rhungar’s lead. The whole place was in uproar. Taem and Baek dodged their way through the animated crowd, over to the boisterous Rhungar, as the music restarted.

  ‘Come on Forgrun,’ Taem said, as he and Baek dragged the Rhungar’s massive frame off the table, ‘bed time for you. We’ve got an early start tomorrow.’

  Ignoring Forgrun’s protests, and the objections of the entire common room, Taem and Baek got the Rhungar upstairs and laid him on his bed in the inn’s grandest room. They also found Bodran asleep in the corner of the common room, so drunk he had passed out, and dragged him upstairs too.

  As they hauled Forgrun and Bodran inside their room, Taem took a moment to appreciate Gomas’s generosity. The room was large and luxurious, with its own fireplace. Dark beams ran across the ceiling, which contrasted with the light walls. There were two windows overlooking the main square, and four beds spaced out around the room, all freshly made with clean blue sheets.

  Forgrun fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, snoring away. Bodran had barely woken up as they carried the Brother of Gromm upstairs. Taem and Baek sat in the chairs by the fireplace and warmed their hands on the small blaze they had just lit. The two friends talked until the firewood had burnt to embers, and dawn was just round the corner. Neither wanted to sleep, in case the bandits came in the night.

  Chapter 11 – A Feast for the Crows

  Taem Forgrun, Baek and Bodran stood on the grassy fields, just beyond the last doorsteps and gardens of Gulren. The midday sun burned bright overhead. There were a couple of hundred townspeople lined up behind the warriors, armed with pitchforks, scythes, staffs and kitchen knives. A few of them had bows, and some even had swords and spears, but most had improvised with whatever they could lay hands on.

  ‘Riders approach!’ A townsman on top of a roof shouted.

  ‘There’s somebody coming!’ Another watchman yelled, as he pointed to the Graveldeep road.

  The church bell rang out, and more townsmen rushed to join the companions. They lined up with their backs to the town, looking out over the fields that yielded Gulren its harvest of crops and vegetables.

  ‘I do see ‘em,’ Forgrun glared out over the fields, and watched the bandits spread out into a long thin line.

  ‘They
’re only seventy,’ Baek said, ‘or maybe even less?’

  Bodran’s icy stare took in the bandits. The Brother of Gromm took on a new menace and intensity whenever death seemed close.

  The bandits knew they were outnumbered many times over, so they had manoeuvred into a wide thin formation to make it look as if they had more men. Taem knew it was a tactic meant to intimidate, just as the black scarves around their faces made them threatening. The only bandits not covered by black masks were Remar and a large man striding next to him.

  ‘Is that the Bandit King?’ Taem pointed to the great bear of a man alongside Remar.

  ‘Aye,’ Dane Ruddle growled. He had returned to Gulren when he heard how the warriors had fought the bandits off.

  Morben Sleyhan was well over six foot tall, broad across the chest and with burly arms. He wore plate armour across his chest and shoulders, with a mail shirt underneath. The Bandit King had long brown hair and a thick beard. He carried a giant two-handed hammer.

  The bandit line came to a stop fifty feet from the townsmen. The men of Gulren stood firm. Taem knew the townsmen were afraid of these bandits, but they outnumbered them three times over, and the companions gave them courage. The fight in the town square had changed everything. Taem saw Morben glowering at him, Forgrun, Bodran and Baek. He could see this Bandit King’s self-assured eyes were capable of great malice, and there was murderous intent lurking in their dark depths.

  Morben said something to Remar, and the weasel of a man came forward. Taem realised some of the townsmen around him were trembling with fear, but others were shaking with barely contained rage.

  ‘Don’t you all look so brave,’ Remar sneered at the people of Gulren, ‘standing there, behind your “heroes”. My business is with these outsiders. I speak on behalf of the Bandit King.’ Remar held his hand back towards Morben. ‘He has no quarrel with you warriors, in fact he wishes you well – so much so that he offers you ten thousand gold pieces to see you on your ways.’ A sickly smile spread over Remar’s face.