Chasing Down Glory: The Outrider Legion: Book Two

by Christopher Pepper

  “Good to see you too, Toma,” Nerthus said. “I see the professor and the idiot,” she said, gesturing at the two sleeping Outriders. “Where's the siege tower and the ox?”

  “Out in the city,” Johan replied. “Needed a set of reliable eyes out in the city past where Captain Garrey's men have things under control.”

  “So no word on if they're back yet?” Toma asked, a note of concern in his voice.

  Johan shook his head. “No. But I wouldn't worry about the two of them until the entire city burns down.”

  “That won't be much longer,” Nerthus muttered. She fixed Johan with a fierce look. “Joh you've got to listen to me. This whole place is piked. Staying here is suicide. Come with me, back to Tethis.”

  “There are still people here who need help,” Johan said. “Besides, we can't leave until Alek and Garm get back. Then we're gone. Honest. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to the command room. I...kind of ditched the Captain to come see you.”

  “Why, Commander, I'm flattered,” Nerthus said, batting her eyes in mock courtesy. “Here Toma, hold this,” she said, handing the wrapped object to the scout. “Just don't open it or play with it.” She turned back to Johan. “Let’s go then. I've probably got some news the Captain will need to hear.”

  Captain Garrey leaned heavily on the planning table, taking in what Nerthus had to tell him. Around him, the other officers mumbled quietly amongst themselves. Nerthus and Johan stood opposite them at the large table in the command room. Nerthus was right, Johan thought. Garrey may not have wanted to hear what Nerthus had to say, but he needed to hear it.

  The Umbra had told an incredible story, from her arrival in the city with Edda and a Weaver, to their investigation into the explosions at the Craftsmen District, finding their missing people in the Warehouse District, to the treachery at Lord Titus' manor. And to give her full credit, Nerthus had come right out and admitted she was a spy, sent to find more spies in a rival city-state. If she was leaving anything out, it didn't detract from the gravity of what she had to report. Still, it was gutsy to admit to who she really was. If the situation wasn't so grim, there was a good chance Garrey would have had her arrested. But the Captain was sensible, even though the news she gave seemed to crack his confidence some.

  “Captain Else, you can vouch for this woman?” Garrey asked.

  “Yes sir,” Johan answered. “She's helped my unit out in the past.” For some reason, Nerthus elbowed him in the ribs at that comment, but he didn't understand why.

  “Was her mission the same that brought you to our city?”

  “No sir. Ours was a more...personal mission. Fugitive recovery operation. Our target just happened to flee into Bellkeep. We didn't have the means or the time to clear it with anyone.”

  Garrey was quiet for a moment before standing. “So if these reports are correct, we can count on no support from the Mage's Circle here. Nor will there be any mechanized aid from the Craftsmen's Union. The Warehouse District is completely lost to us, crawling with possibly thousands of these perverted monsters, and Gustav was able to pull it all off with the backing of our own gods damned government. Am I missing anything?”

  “That about sums it up, I think,” Nerthus said. “However, if my, ah, coworkers make it here soon there's a good chance they'll have a large number of people with them. The surviving members of the Craftsmen’s Union were gathered at our Tavern to escape the city before Gustav and Titus could get to them. That is a sizable amount of skilled, intelligent people to salvage from all this.”

  “True. Well I suppose that-” Garrey was cut off as the sound of heavy boots rushed into hearing. An exhausted soldier barged into the room, one hand holding his sword, the other leaning on a wall for support.

  “Sir! We're under attack!” he gasped.

  “The walls?” he demanded.

  “Yes sir!” the young soldier cried, clearly out of breath. “From all sides.”

  Garrey waited no time in barking out orders. His subordinates dispersed in quick, orderly fashion to their assigned posts. He hurried off with his lieutenant, leaving Johan and Nerthus seemingly forgotten alone in the command room.

  “Well, I think that's my cue,” Nerthus said, pushing a strand of hair out from in front of her face.

  “Leaving so soon?” Johan asked. “But I arranged a lovely rooftop dinner, and was hoping you'd join me. The ambiance is wonderful this time of day. Or is it night? Pike me I'm tired.”

  “You need to have a talk with whoever sets your travel plans,” Nerthus said. “But seriously, I need to get back to Tethis. The Praetorians need to hear about what has happened here. And with the evidence I've gathered, they may even take action to help Bellkeep out.”

  “Now who's being idealistic,” Johan smirked as they both hurried out of the command room. “Melcara has our leaders' undivided attention. I doubt they'll lift a finger to help here.”

  “Well it's a good thing they have you and your boys then, isn't it?” Nerthus said, an honest smile on her face. “Now lend me one of your horses. I need to ride fast.”

  “Yes ma'am,” Johan replied, saluting.

  They found the other three Outriders where they left them. Vegard and Ryker were awake now, looking bleary-eyed. The somewhat orderly stream of people seeking shelter around them had turned into a panicked rush.

  “What now?” Ryker asked, raising his voice to be heard over the din. Then he saw Nerthus and groaned. “Meridia above, it can't be good if she's here.”

  “Garrison's under attack,” Johan said. “Looks like the hammer is falling. The creatures are attacking from the walls. At least for the moment.”

  “What do you want us to do?” Vegard asked.

  “Let’s head to the courtyard. We aren't leaving without Garm and Alek, and we don't really have a place up on the walls. We'll do whatever we can to fend off any opportunistic monsters who try and prey on the civilians trying to make it inside.” Toma, Vegard, and Ryker saluted and hastily gathered together their gear. Johan turned to Nerthus. “Alright, get going with you. What’s left of our horses are stabled not far from here. Thatched roof with a blue shingle hanging. Our bags have Outrider markings on them. I'll...I'll see you later then.”

  “Yeah,” Nerthus said, suddenly hesitant. They looked at each other for a handful of seconds before she turned away. “Alright. Get out of here alive, Commander. You owe me a rooftop dinner, and I intend to collect.” She retrieved her wrapped package she had handed to Toma earlier and, with one final look over her shoulder and brief wave of her hand, Nerthus jogged out through a side door.

  “Smooth, boss,” Toma said.

  “'I'll see you later'.” Ryker snarled. “Gods your hopeless. Come on then,” he said, drawing his sword and marching towards the garrison. “Let’s go play hero some more.”

  “Now that I think about it, playing hero isn't something I enjoy,” Ryker said, sidestepping a swinging cudgel.

  “True, it’s never been your thing,” Johan said, disarming and beheading a watchman before whirling with his blade and slashing Ryker's opponent across the throat.

  “Yeah, well at least I tried something new. Remember that in my next performance review,” Ryker breathed, leaning on his sword.

  “Duly noted,” Johan said dryly, wiping his brow as he waved another handful of people through the shield wall the Bellkeep soldiers had set up to separate man from monster.

  Ryker looked at the carnage unfolding around and above them. While a sizable chunk of Knight Captain Garrey's men were engaged in a battle to control the walls leading to the Garrison Gate, the Outriders along with a small contingent of soldiers, did their best to hold the courtyard leading into the garrison itself. The once orderly line of Bellkeep citizens making their way there for shelter had now turned into a panicked rout as a mixed force of City Watch and their horrific monsters fell upon the populace from the northern streets.

  As the first pale fingers of early light pierced the night sky, Ryker peere
d at a cut on his arm that had pierced his armor. Sighing, Ryker slapped the wound once, wincing at the small spike of pain, and then he rejoined the fray. He was not having a good morning. Traditionally, light was a good omen for soldiers in combat. It meant that you survived one more night. However this time it did little to lift Ryker's spirits. All it did was show him just how many more of those inhuman monsters were trying to rip his face off.

  The sudden attack by the City Watch had driven a line of traitors and monsters between fleeing citizens and their shelter within the garrison. Those on the safe side bolted through the obstacle-laden courtyard leading of the garrison. Those on the other side of the attack, however, found themselves at the mercy of men who they may have once called friends and neighbors.

  With his gaze settling on Johan, Ryker shook his head, a mixture of disbelief, annoyance, and pride running through his mind. Johan had ordered them to break through the enemy line to form some sort of opening for people to try and run through safely. It was...ballsy to say the least. Yet despite any reservations they may have held about the plan, Ryker and the others followed their Commander without hesitation. To Ryker's surprise, the Bellkeep soldiers soon followed suit, obeying Johan's orders as if he were one of their own officers.

  And despite Ryker's doubts, Johan's quick thinking had worked. Wedging themselves into the enemy line, they had split the City Watch into two smaller groups. With Toma and a few other Bellkeep archers plinking watchmen from above, and the Bellkeep shields and spears forming a stout wall of defense, they were slowly but surely grinding away at the attackers. Ryker had noticed that the abominations would sometimes turn away from the main fight to pursue fleeing city folk. He felt ashamed to admit, even to himself, that he was a little thankful every time that would happen.

  “Toma!” Ryker called over his shoulder. “How's it going up there?”

  “Busy!” came the scout's voice. Somehow the kid had managed to scamper onto the roof of a house that was nestled up against one of the walls leading to the garrison courtyard. From there Toma and his bow has been wreaking havoc upon the still-human members of the City Watch. Ryker had always considered himself a fair hand with the bow, but he had nothing on the natural skill Toma possessed. “There's a large group of...something on the way here from the western streets,” Toma cried out. “Really large!”

  Well that was that, Ryker thought. He saw the exhausted faces of the Bellkeep soldiers near him. He could tell they were thinking the same thing as he. Fear, and the desire to run. Yet held in check by shame at their own fears, and determination to not abandon their brothers in arms. But it was a tough thing, Ryker knew, to stand there with your ass hanging out when there was a perfectly good military fortress a hundred yards behind you.

  “Sir,” Vegard said from behind, and Ryker turned. Their thoughtful medico had just finished applying a field dressing to one of the Bellkeep soldiers, and was gently pawing at his own wounded jaw. “I think it might be time to fall back. We've managed to save a lot of people, but these men are reaching their limit. Another shock like the last one will probably break us.”

  Ryker looked from the medico to Johan. He honestly had no idea what his friend would come up with next. Would he stay the hero, holding the line until the end? Or did he already have some Sir Aldir-inspired, nonsensical half-cocked plan? Ryker already felt a sigh forming within him.

  “You have great respect for that one,” the Voice whispered in his mind. “It fights with your more...hostile feelings.”

  “Yeah, you could say that,” Ryker thought, trying hard to think tersely. “Thought you couldn't read my mind?”

  “Very strong emotions bleed through no matter what,” the Voice replied. “I didn't mean to intrude.” Ryker was about to respond when Johan did something that surprised him.

  “Yeah Vee,” the Commander said, reluctance in his voice, “I think you're right.” Johan turned to the squad commander of the Bellkeep men, a tall, thin man with a notched sword and dented shield. “Time to pull back, Sergeant. We've done all we can here.”

  “Aye sir,” the weary man replied before turning to his own men and relaying orders.

  Johan looked to Ryker, an unfamiliar look on his face. Was it shame? Whatever it was, it did not sit well with Ryker.

  “We can't save everyone,” Ryker told his friend. “But Meridia's grace we sure came close, thanks to you. And Alek and Garm? They're going to be fine. Who else could carve their way back home but them? They probably grabbed a free pint at a tavern before heading back here.”

  Johan simply nodded once, his face hardening slightly, before helping a wounded soldier limp towards the garrison.

  “If you think he's so foolish, why follow him?” the Voice asked, a hint of puzzlement in its feminine voice. “Why try and soothe his feelings so? I don't understand.”

  “He's not a fool,” Ryker snapped inwardly. “He's a better man than I'll ever be. And I'll be damned if-”

  “Holy hells!” Toma's voice from above cut through Ryker's thoughts. “It's Garm and Alek!”

  The Outriders turned as one up to Toma's position. The scout had his bow in his left hand, and his right held a spyglass to his eye.

  “Where!?” Johan barked, his voice again brimming with energy. “Will they make it here before the next wave hits?”

  “They are the next wave!” Toma laughed.

  Despite himself, Ryker laughed too. “What did I tell you?” Ryker said, clapping Johan on his shoulder.

  Johan didn't respond, he handed his wounded soldier off to another Bellkeep man and began striding towards the street Toma had indicated, with Ryker and Vegard in tow. Soon Ryker could make out Garm and Alek's group, hurrying as fast as they could. Some were in wagons, drawn by horse or mule. But even in the dim light of pre-dawn, Ryker could make out the massive frame of Aleksander, and the smaller, bald figure of Garm. Around them were a grim bunch of people. Men and women, children and the elderly. Almost all of them held a weapon of some kind. And even from a distance, Ryker could tell they carried many wounded comrades.

  “Something among them is...familiar,” the Voice whispered.

  “Of course it is,” Ryker replied. “We know them.”

  “No, I'm not speaking of the golden one, nor the man of death. There is another there.”

  Ryker was about to ask what the Voice meant by 'golden one' and 'man of death' when he felt that now-familiar sensation in his head, as if two warm, soft hands were cupping his mind. His vision suddenly sharpened, and grew brighter in the dim light. Between the shapes of Alek and Garm he could now make out a man...

  “Oh, pike me,” Ryker whispered.

  Johan turned to him. “What?”

  “Er, I think I have a hunch who is with Garm and Alek,” Ryker stammered. “But we'll have to wait and see.”

  Johan simply raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. And that silence bothered Ryker more than he thought it would. They drew closer to the oncoming group and Vegard was the first to swear audibly, with Johan not far behind. Garm and Alek stopped a few paces in front of them and saluted. The man standing between them dropped to one knee. The man was bruised and bleeding from a number of wounds, and Ryker wondered how many came from the monsters, and how many came from Garm and Alek.

  “I,” Jurgund Kinnese sighed, “submit to your mercy.” Kinnese held his sword upwards, flat in his two hands. At his words, a grumbling rippled through the crowd of people that had arrived. The small, silver-haired woman who had pummeled Vegard stood behind them, her face twisted in a scowl. The brunette, the attractive mage, Ryker remembered, looked on with concern. And the grumbling in the crowd grew more agitated. There was almost a hostility brewing among them, Ryker could sense. Something wasn't adding up.

  “The man saved us,” a voice from the crowd said.

  “You've no right to take him,” a second called.

  Johan paused, scanning the crowd. This actually could get ugly, Ryker realized. But as he told the Voice in his mind, Joha
n was no fool. The Commander pulled Kinnese up by an arm.

  “We'll discuss this later,” Johan said softly, his voice acidic. The tone surprised Ryker. Kinnese as well, who visibly flinched. But Kinnese was either too beaten or just too tired to retort anything, simply nodding at his new captor. Johan raised his voice so the new group could hear him. “Follow us to the garrison. Knight Captain Garrey has shelter and warm food enough for all of you.”

  The crowd muttered amongst themselves again, but it was far less hostile sounding. Ryker was confused, and a little curious. What the hells could have happened for these people to side with Kinnese of all people?

  Ryker had long held that the gods, even the supposedly benign and merciful ones such as Meridia or Ardun, took an especial pleasure in making his life difficult. So it honestly came as little surprise when, faced with a traitor in a city surrounded by rampaging monsters, Ryker heard the faint but familiar sound of large catapults launching their payloads. He felt a small groan escape his lips as he watched three large fireballs arcing overhead, finally landing behind them among the walls of the garrison.

  “Why don't you seem more surprised or agitated?” the Phaedra asked.

  “Stick around,” Ryker sighed inwardly as everyone around him began yelling, marking orders, and moving. “This shit becomes all too common.”

  Nerthus could only slump her shoulders at the timing of it all. In front of her at the opposite end of the garrison's muster yard stood the Garrison Gate. Or at least, where it once stood a moment before. In its place was a devastated ruin of warped and twisted metal, splintered stone, and cracked, burning timber.

  Above her, on the walls that separated the garrison grounds into different yards, the sounds of combat began ringing out at a louder, more frantic pace. The shock amongst the Bellkeep soldiers at seeing the Garrison Gate go down had given the City Watch an opening to surge forwards along the walls.

  Nerthus fumed at herself for wasting her time at the garrison. In her hands was a pack containing all of her “liberated” artifacts from Lord Titus' estate. It desperately needed to get back to Tethis. If she had simply walked or ridden out of the gate when she had first arrived, she'd be out of this gods damned city and on her way home, the intelligence she had gathered would have salvaged the mission from its failures. But no, she had to linger awhile for that idiot Johan. That handsome, foolish idiot.