By Blood Betrayed (The Kingsblood Chronicles)

by Houpt, David

  He replied, “I don’t think so,” and took aim at the center of its breastplate, since Undead were frequently stopped by a strike on the place once housing their heart. He let fly and the bolt struck true, piercing the armor and driving the creature back a full step. Lian let the crossbow fall, where it hung from the strap attaching it to his pack.

  It laughed, a cold, emotionless cackle, and halted its advance long enough to rip the bolt from its sternum. The other skeletons didn’t falter, however, and reached out to grasp at Lian.

  Gem’s steel sang with his first strike, which shattered the skull of the closest skeleton. The remainder of its bones collapsed in a pile where it had been standing. His return stroke severed the hands of the next one, and he retreated around the side of the crypt to limit their advance.

  Gem provided him with a momentary flash of the scene behind him. Gilaeshar was still tearing rats apart, but blood was flowing freely from dozens of bites. Goblins were arriving at the surface from below, stopping to load their crossbows. Lian knew that they’d attack the gryphon when they had done so, since they wouldn’t be concerned if they hit a rat or two.

  Lian ran across the graveyard to distance himself from the assailants, particularly the armor-clad skeleton. Gem, contact Gilaeshar again and tell him to flee, he said to his blade.

  Much to his surprise, the gryphon answered him directly. You are no match for them alone. I will deal with the goblins after I finish here. There were only two of the huge, pony-sized rats left.

  There’s not enough time! By the time you manage that, the goblins will pincushion you. If you get away, will you be able to heal those wounds? He reached the slope that dropped abruptly away from both the village and the graveyard, and began sliding down the escarpment, a little faster than he would have liked.

  Yes. That isn’t a concern, as we heal very quickly. I will stay, however, for they will fire upon you if I flee. Gilaeshar’s mind showed no fear of his probable fate.

  I’ll be out of their line of sight in a second. Go, Gilaeshar. Don’t waste your life against vermin.

  The beast chuckled. You think like a gryphon. All right, I’m off. The entire exchange had consumed scant seconds, and Gilaeshar shrieked once again, shattering the air with his mighty bellow. This startled the two remaining rats, both already wounded by his razor-sharp talons and beak. With a speed that amazed Lian, the gryphon bounded clear of the rats, and landed amid the skeletons in pursuit of the prince, smashing and scattering them before leaping again. It ran in the opposite direction from Lian, pursued by the surviving rats.

  Did I mention that we move fast on the ground, too? he asked with another chuckle. Stay above-ground if you can arrange it, and I shall find you again. Beware the knight. I can sense that he is powerful.

  Fair wind under your wings, my friend, Lian said earnestly. I can already attest that I am honored to know you.

  And I you, young human. Survive this day.

  The goblins were still scrambling to load their bows, but only a few managed to finish in time to take aim at the rapidly retreating gryphon. These goblins fired at the beast, hoping for a lucky disabling shot. Although one bolt did strike Gilaeshar’s hindquarters, it didn’t slow the creature down. With another mighty leap, he vanished behind some boulders.

  To Lian’s relief, the rats continued to pursue the gryphon, followed by about a third of the goblins. The other nine goblins had been heading in his direction when he lost sight of them. The incline ended in a gully, and he leapt across it to the opposite side, scrambling to climb up the steep opposite bank. Once over the top, he’d be able to stay out of sight for some time. The goblins, shorter and more heavily encumbered than he, would find the steep climb to be a struggle.

  When he crested the ridge, he could see that the armor-clad Undead was also following him, though its pace was much slower than Lian’s. Without warning, he heard a clang and felt an immediate impact on his left shoulder that cost him his footing. He slid down the side of the ridge away from the goblins, fighting to keep his balance.

  His left arm was again struck numb by the impact of the lucky goblin’s bolt, and his pack slipped from his shoulders as he skidded across loose rock and dirt. He fought the impulse to grab at it with his right hand, since he’d rather sacrifice the pack and its contents than lose Gem.

  “Shit!” he managed to exclaim as he passed his pack, which slid to a stop. His own slide continued, however, until his outstretched legs hit a small boulder. He was propelled up and over the rock, and he began to tumble in earnest. After what felt like an eternity, he finally came to rest at the bottom of the ridge in a dried creek bed. His left side ached from the crossbow impact, but he could move his fingers again. His armor had held and Gem hadn’t sliced him accidentally.

  Two more bolts clattered onto the rocks, but they were fired in haste and didn’t come close. He struggled painfully to his feet and limped downstream, following the creek bed as it turned right and lost sight of the top of the ridge.

  No broken bones, thank the gods, Gem said. You need to stop scaring me so much.

  And I, myself, Lian agreed grimly. We lost Lord Grey, unless they somehow miss the pack.

  Gem thought it was good riddance, but refrained from comment. Both of them realized it was unlikely that the goblins would overlook the pack, since their nightvision was the equal of both elves’ and Lian’s witchsight. Daylight, on the other hand, tended to dazzle and blind them, so he’d have some advantage over his pursuers as the sun rose from the horizon.

  He was fairly certain that the sunlight would not have any adverse affect on the knight, as the gryphon had called the skeletal being. He knew that it was likely to be by far the more dangerous adversary. He also knew that the Undead knight was unlikely to give up, and would relentlessly pursue him until it caught him or its sender recalled it.

  Chapter Eight

  “Two of the greatest deities are Sineh, Goddess of the Night, and Rula Golden, the Sun God. Sister and brother, Sineh and Rula are traditionally depicted as adversaries. Rula Golden is said to possess radiant beauty beyond description, while Sineh’s face is ever hidden in darkness. Sineh is unusual in that she has no particular dwelling place, but can be found whereever there is Night.”

  -- “Day and Night” a secular text on the gods, author unknown

  Lian was confident that the goblins had abandoned their immediate pursuit. Even an unusually tall goblin was only about four feet tall, and there was no way they could have kept up with him. Some goblin clans bred huge wolf spiders as mounts that would have been able to run him down him easily, but this clan evidently didn’t boast such resources. Rats were suitable for tunnel work, but weren’t capable of long-distance excursions.

  For which I’m very grateful, he thought. To Gem, he said, I’m going to head into Greythorn. We might be able to gain some assistance in dealing with the knight creature.

  Gem said, I can feel my power beginning to revive. By nightfall, I should be able to contribute some magical support. You must be exhausted; can you elude him until then?

  Mind the boulder, it’s loose, she finished.

  Thanks, he said, choosing an alternate rock to climb across. Actually, after drinking that brew of Lord Grey’s, I feel great. Barring an accident today, I should be able to put some distance between us.

  The Undead knight was indeed still trailing them, for Lian could hear the jingling of its chainmail, as well as the occasional rockslide that marked its progress. Legends told of Undead warriors pursuing their prey across seas and through wastelands, finally arriving to break down the door months later, long after the victim assumed that he’d shaken his stalker.

  Lian didn’t intend to make that mistake, and hoped that nightfall wouldn’t reveal additional non-corporeal hunters. Sunlight usually kept such creatures at bay, unlike the corporeal knight, but they’d make up the distance quickly when darkness fell.

  He was descending into the forested hills that comprised most of the Kin
gdom of Greythorn. He was apprehensive, for the Dunshor merchants who dealt with the coastal city of Mola reported that Greythorn Forest was home to a variety of monsters, including basilisks and even more dangerous creatures. Apparently, the infestation increased the further south one traveled into the wood, and he was approaching from that direction.

  One thing he had heard mentioned on several occasions was that the ruined city of Greythorn itself was empty of such creatures, though the reason for this was never forthcoming. One merchant had remarked within Lian’s hearing that it was almost as if the Mola villagers were actually secretive about the subject.

  At the time of the rebellion, Greythorn was ruled by the Vampire King, Kolos Agathi. Kolos had reigned for almost a thousand years before the rebel army laid siege to his capital. Greythorn had long been a small kingdom, whose population lived in constant fear of the king’s Companions. These ten men and women, vampires all, traveled about the country enforcing Kolos’ will. Kolos held tight rein on his Companions, however, and thus minimized the depredations that vampires usually inflicted upon their environment. The people of Greythorn were oppressed, yes, but they were healthy and their land prospered.

  Kolos banned all other vampires from his lands, and personally accompanied his army in vampire hunting. He fed only on the willing or the condemned, and he obeyed his own laws when choosing who was to go under the fang.

  According to Lian’s studies, Kolos seemed like a fairly decent ruler. He kept taxation and crime under control—especially the latter, for a death sentence in Greythorn was a particularly terrifying deterrent.

  Greythorn had, however, been the optimal rebel base of operations, with the seaport at Mola and a mountain chain separating it from the Venturi Plain, where the Theocracy armies would amass. Evan and Adrienne had decided it should be the first land to be liberated from Theocracy rule.

  They hadn’t counted on Kolos’ strong resistance.

  The vampire king cost the rebellion dearly before they finally defeated him and his Companions, reducing Greythorn City to ruins. Only five of the vampires, including the king, were accounted for by the end, and it was assumed that the six remaining Companions had fled into the Villas Swamp or points beyond.

  The people of Greythorn welcomed their liberation with mixed emotion, for while they had not necessarily loved their ruler, they knew enough of other lands to understand that he could have been far worse. Greythorn did not turn out to be the staging area that Evan had anticipated, but he was able to proceed with his plans anyhow.

  Lian’s father never spoke of their experiences in Greythorn, and Adrienne, usually quite willing to discuss the Rebellion and the events surrounding it, was unusually hesitant to mention the vampire-ridden land as well. He’d gathered from speaking to some of the men who’d served Evan at the time that the events in Greythorn were best left undescribed.

  Lian and Gem were only about sixty miles from Greythorn City, and the Villas River was easily forded this far south. Toward the coast, the Villas became increasingly wild until it reached the swamp, where it spread out and nearly stagnated. Game would be plenty, assuming he could avoid predatory animals and monsters.

  With the strength provided by Lord Grey’s draught, Lian felt like he could travel all sixty miles without resting, and he resolved to take advantage of the extra vitality to put as much distance as possible between himself and the pursuing Undead.

  Taking no breaks, he reached the edge of the forest before midday. He looked back, but he could no longer catch a glimpse of the knight. He wasn’t foolish enough, however, to think that it had stopped chasing him.

  He found that Greythorn Forest was aptly named, for its thick undergrowth largely consisted of a long-thorned bush sprinkled liberally with grey spines. These had barbed points that broke off easily when they stuck in Lian’s clothes. He attempted to avoid them, keeping to game trails whenever possible.

  His passage through the forest attracted a fair number of hungry mosquitoes and biting flies. He sang a simple spell his mother had taught him that didn’t require much power, and the small insects were kept at bay. The soft, melodic charm was effective against most small bugs and vermin, by virtue of rendering him unappetizing to them for a time.

  Lord Grey’s brew remained effective, and Lian traveled all day without rest. As evening neared, Gem reported what sounded like someone sobbing above the normal noises of the forest. They had seen a few animals, including a stag of heroic proportions, but no monsters or people.

  It sounds like a man—a really big man—crying, she said, “showing” him what she perceived. The sound was mournful, like the sobbing of a heartbroken child, despite the deep timbre.

  We’d better find out what’s going on. Can you perform any magic yet? he asked, changing course to approach the sound.

  Are you sure that’s wise? This could be a lure, employed by some monster to draw you in. And yes, I can manage a few small spells, though I’m not as recovered as I’d like.

  I think that a siren call would be that of a woman or child, don’t you? asked Lian reasonably.

  Gem had to agree, but admonished, Be careful anyway.

  They located the source of the sobbing in a clearing, and Lian drew Gem silently. In the hollow, the source of the cries was squatting over the still form of a brown bear. The weeping creature had its back to Lian, and was so involved in his sorrow that he hadn’t heard their approach.

  Even hunkered down, the head of the creature was a good three feet above Lian’s, and its shoulders were nearly six feet wide.

  Gods, it’s an ogre, exclaimed Gem, as she prepared a stunning spell. Ogres were immensely strong and difficult to kill. They were also fairly stupid and usually quite aggressive.

  Lian began to back away, but inadvertently brushed against one of the ubiquitous thorns. It snapped off, making little sound, yet the ogre whipped around, gaining its feet with a speed that Lian would never have believed possible for such a huge creature.

  Shit, thought Lian to the sword. Gem agreed grimly.

  The ogre picked up a rock, and Lian became acutely aware that he’d lost his crossbow along with the rest of his gear. Holding up his left hand, Lian said, “Peace. I mean no harm.”

  The ogre was a male, approximately the age of a human teen. His face was wet with tears, and mucus was freely flowing from his nose. With his free hand, he wiped some of this onto his arm. Beyond the ogre, Lian noted that the bear, a big male grizzly, had been felled by at least two arrows.

  “You has no bow,” the ogre said in halting Dunshor. “You not hurted my b-bear?”

  Lian said emphatically, “No.” Indicating the bear, he continued, “It was your pet?”

  It nodded, face contorting in grief. “Uh-huh. Him is my bestest friend in the world. I think he be dead.” The ogre dropped its rock and settled back down to cry some more.

  Now there’s something you don’t see every day, observed Gem. I don’t think the bear is quite dead, though. Its aura hasn’t faded completely yet. One of Gem’s otherworldly senses allowed her to see, albeit dimly, the life force of those around her.

  Lian sheathed his sword and walked closer.

  Lian, have you lost your senses?!? she exclaimed. With its speed, the ogre could snatch Lian up and snap his spine before Lian would even be aware of the attack.

  “Can I look at your friend?” he asked gently as he approached, keeping his hands at his sides.

  The ogre looked up, with no hostility on his wide face. “Okay. Somebody shotted him.” He rubbed his huge fingers through the bear’s fur gently. His hand was the size of Lian’s entire chest.

  The bear was a fairly young male, and had lost a large amount of blood. His breathing was shallow, and his wounds were still seeping.

  “Is your bear friendly?” Lian asked, while judging the degree of injury that the creature had sustained. The arrows seemed to have missed vital organs, and the bear was merely bleeding to death.

  The ogre nodded vigorously.
“He be my bestest friend. He ‘n I catches fishes ‘n deers ‘n pigs ‘n stuff. He won’ bite you ‘less I tells him to. But he be dead now, ‘n I have no friend at all.” With that, the ogre began sobbing loudly, pushing his face into the bear’s fur.

  Can you heal those wounds? Lian asked Gem.

  Well, yes, replied the sword hesitantly. But it will deplete my magics again severely. The animal is pretty close to dead, Lian. Of course, I’ll do it if you want me to.

  I want you to, replied the prince, his sympathy for the ogre’s plight clear in his thoughts.

  “What’s your name?” Lian asked as he joined the ogre in caressing the bear’s side. From what he could see of the more shallow wound, the arrow was barbed.

  “T-t-teg,” replied the ogre, sniffing mightily. “I be called Teg. He name be Snarl.”

  “Snarl isn’t dead, yet, Teg,” Lian said, preparing to jump over the bear in case the ogre reacted badly.

  “He be not dead?” Teg replied incredulously, his huge eyes wide. He shook the bear’s head gently and said, “Snarl, waked up, Snarl.”

  “He’s really hurt, but I can heal him,” Lian continued. “Will you let me?”

  The ogre nodded so hard that bits of the dirt crusted in his matted hair dislodged. He hugged the bear’s head to his chest with a gentleness that was as unexpected as the ogre’s speed had been.

  You’ll need to draw me and then pull those arrows out, boy. I hope you know what you’re doing.

  We’ll have to see, Gem, Lian replied, drawing the sword and laying her down beside the bear.

  “You is not gonna hurt Snarl?” the ogre said warily, clenching one cask-sized fist. He relaxed when he saw the sword on the ground.

  “I promise, but I have to get those arrows out of him first, okay?” he said. The ogre nodded, then winced as Lian yanked the two shafts from the bear’s side. Fresh blood welled out of the wounds, and Lian inspected the arrowheads. They were probably human make, and seemed to be free of filth. That meant that the healing spell should have enough curative power to prevent infection, and he wouldn’t have to waste valuable time looking for astringent herbs to brew potions for the bear.