by Mike Morris
"Yes. About a dozen were taken captive."
Robert and Jack exchanged glances. "Where were they taken?" said Robert.
"Down to the hole."
"Doesn't sound like the sort of place they should be in." Robert looked up at Jack. "Go through the weapons. We'll need as much as we can carry. When we find our brothers, we'll need to arm them. Search the bodies and take all the packs of bullets and powder you can find. This scum can then lead us to this... hole."
“I’m on it,” replied Jack.
"You said you'd let me go if I told you everything," the man protested.
Robert clipped him across the face. "I said I'd let you live actually, but take us to the others and I promise I'll let you go. Fair enough?"
The guard frantically looked from Robert to Jack and back again.
Robert hit him again. "Don't look at him. He's not going to help you. They're his friends lying there dead. He wants to kill you. Just worry about making me happy."
The man nodded his head.
Robert walked over to join Jack. "Haven't found a giant hammer lying around that I could use?"
"No. Plenty of pistols though and good swords. Plus I found eight grenades that look like they still work."
"Maybe our luck's changing."
"It couldn't get any worse."
The men worked quickly. Jack tried not to think of the dead he looted. More names for the wall. More good men lost. Most likely he’d be joining them before the day was out.
He replaced the two pistols he had lost and filled all the pouches on his belt with gunpowder and shot. There were plenty of knives as well to take. It felt good slotting the cold steel into place.
Once Robert was similarly armed, the two men stockpiled an array of weapons and wrapped them in a cloak taken from a dead guard, tying it up with two leather belts. Jack slung the bundle over his shoulder. Enough for his brothers — if they could free them.
A face caught his eye amongst the dead priests. Bryan, staring into the void. He'd been so eager to go to war. Now he was just another lost soul. Another friend gone. Jack could feel the emptiness grow within him. He bent down and closed Bryan's eyes. He whispered a prayer asking God to take care of his friend and the other fallen in Heaven. At least their fight was over. He only hoped he was at peace now.
"Goodbye, my friend," said Jack as he drew a circle over himself.
Robert kicked the guard's feet. "Time to move."
The man glared at the priest as he wobbled to his feet. "The Masters will kill you when they find you."
"Then it's my time," said Robert. "Now move."
The guard shuffled forward. Robert and Jack followed. A large oak door led to a twisting tunnel, illuminated only by torches set into the wall. They traveled deep into the cliffs, along well-trodden stone.
Occasionally they heard movement in the distance. They froze in the shadows until all was silent again, Robert holding the guard, a hand over his mouth. He wasn’t going to risk a warning being called out.
As they walked, Jack thought of Lin. He hoped she’d managed to escape the chaos of the docks and reach her friends. It would certainly help the Black Dogs if the Nostros were dealing with runaway slaves as well. With enough humans to help them, they could still take Grosnar. He smiled at the thought, of Lin as the leader of a rebellion. At least he'd be able to find her in this maze at the head of an uprising. God knows how else he was going to do it.
They came to a spiral staircase. The guard stopped. "It's two levels down. You’ll see guards outside a large steel door. Your friends will be inside."
"So what are we waiting for?" asked Robert.
"I can't take you any further," protested the guard. “They’ll kill me.”
Robert leaned in so he was nose to nose with the man. "I think you can."
"Please..."
"I've had enough of this. Jack, gut this piece of shit."
Jack raised his sword. "Gladly." He stepped forward, angling the blade towards the man's stomach.
"Wait. Wait. I'll take you there."
Jack made a show of dropping the sword point. "Lead on then, friend."
They made their way slowly down the stairs, stopping just short of the landing. Robert pulled the guard back and made his way to the end of the stairs. He peered around the corner and then turned back to Jack.
"It's as he said. There're three guards." He jabbed a finger into the guard's chest. "You're going to walk us up to them. Once we've dealt with them, you can go. Any tricks and you're the first to die." He sliced the ropes that tied the guard's hands.
The guard shuffled forward, rubbing his wrists when Jack heard running footsteps coming down the stairs.
He spun around as a shadow appeared on the opposite wall. He raised his sword.
Whoever it was, they were going to regret coming after the Black Dogs.
The footsteps grew louder, closer. Jack pulled back his sword, ready to strike — and then
Lin appeared around the corner. He stopped his swing as she skidded to a halt, recognition flaring in her eyes.
"Jack," she cried and jumped into his arms.
Relief flooded through Jack as he held her, burying his head in her neck. "You're alone?" he said in her ear.
"No one would come. I tried. I..."
"Quiet," hissed Robert but it was the opportunity the guard was waiting for. He ran into the corridor towards his companions, screaming.
"They're here! Help! They..." The guard made it half way down the corridor before he jerked to a halt in his tracks. He staggered two more steps before falling.
A throwing axe jutted from his back.
Robert smiled at the guards in front of the steel door. A broadsword hung loosely in his right hand.
"My friends," he called out, as he walked toward them. "I have been killing my way through your castle and now I find myself in your good company. My apologies for what I must do."
The guards stood in stunned silence, not believing what they saw. They raised their weapons and moved toward him. Two stepped either side of the priest while the third came at him face on.
"Stay behind me," said Jack to Lin and as he took position behind Robert.
A guard jabbed a spear at Robert's feet. He skipped back, turning another guard's axe with the edge of his sword. He followed through, grabbing the man's wrist. With a heave, Robert pulled him in close and head butted him.
Leaving the other guard sprawling, blood pumping from his nose, Robert attacked the spear wielder.
The spear came in again fast. He got his sword up in time to stop a killing blow but the blade sliced through his tunic, catching skin.
Robert swung the broadsword around in an overhead blow. His opponent lifted his spear to block it but the heavy blade chopped through the wooden shaft and into the man's skull with casual ease.
Jack stepped past and engaged the third guard. He moved in quickly, hacking down at the man’s chest but the guard defended well in a flurry of steel
. Jack jumped over a low blow aimed at his knees in return and countered. His sword striking home just below the man's ribs. The guard shrieked as he died.
Jack spun around, looking for the last guard only to see Lin stab him as he was struggling to his feet.
They moved as one to stand in front of the steel door, panting, bloodied, ready as they ever would be.
"So no uprising then?" Jack asked Lin.
"They thought I was mad," she replied.
"You’re in good company here, girl," laughed Robert. "Now let's see what's behind this door."
39
713 PN
There was an irony that Lin's journey had brought her to the one place every human in the castle feared — the hole. No one she knew had ever returned from it. Growing up, it was more feared than the wrath of a Master.
Yet, there she was, standing in front of it. Even through the thick steel door, they could hear the screams of the men inside. She dreaded to think what horrors they endured
.
Jack removed the sack of weapons from his shoulder and drew his pistols. Robert did like-wise.
"Lin, when I say, you open the door," said Robert. "We'll shoot anything that isn't one of our lads."
She grasped the cold handle and moved it slightly. It was unlocked. She nodded back at Robert. She was ready as she'll ever be. At least Jack was by her side. Whatever happened, she'd never leave him again.
"Right. Here we go," said Robert. "Do it."
Lin pulled the door open and the men rushed through. Four gunshots rang out in quick succession, intermingled with cries of pain. By the time Lin followed them through into the hole, four guards lay dead on the floor and Robert and Jack battled three more. On either side, the cells were filled with Black Dogs captured in the earlier battle. Their bloodied faces stared at her as she scrambled over the dead guards, searching for keys.
She spotted them attached to the belt of a dead guard. She threw herself at them while swords clashed around her. She ignored the falling body near her as she yanked the keys free.
Lin rushed to the first cell and unlocked it. A priest was chained to the wall. She fumbled with the shackles and he fell into her arms.
"Can you stand?" she asked.
"If it means getting out of here," he replied, struggling to his feet.
"There are weapons outside," she told him.
"Better and better." The Black Dog staggered out the cell. She followed and was relieved to see the other guards were all dead.
"They've got Nial," called out one of the men near Jack. "Two Nostros are torturing him through there." He pointed at a steel door at the end of the corridor.
"Release them quickly," Jack called to Lin. He and Robert stood before the door.
"They’ll be expecting us," said Robert. "Hit them hard and fast."
"Hard and fast," replied Jack.
The door opened before Robert or Jack had a chance to move. Bale stood before them in full armor. A battle helm covered his head.
Lin screamed at the sight of him. He was the nightmare that had haunted her all her life.
Robert roared and charged. He crashed into the Nostros before the demon could react, throwing him back into the room. Lin could see Nial chained to a chair. They crashed into him with such force that two of the chair's legs snapped. The big man went flying across the room as Bale and Robert fought.
Robert stabbed Bale repeatedly as they fell onto a tabletop before rolling onto the floor.
Bale landed on top and crashed his war helm into Robert's face. Once. Twice. Three times.
Robert's knife clattered to the floor.
Jack rushed in. He hacked down into Bale's back but the sword clattered against the demon's armor. Bale swung round to deal with this new threat, knocking the blade away but Jack his pistol ready. He shoved it under Bale's chin and pulled the trigger. The boom filled the small room. Bale's head was ripped apart by the bullet. The force of the shot threw the demon off Robert.
Another Nostros cowered in the corner. Dorian. Jack moved to strike him but Nial shouted at him to stop. Jack's blade stopped inches from the Nostros's neck. The Master stared at the blade so close, could see his death reflected in the sword. Lin had never seen a Master afraid before.
She stepped into the room, mesmerized.
She removed Nial's restraints. He rubbed his bleeding wrists as he rose to his feet. She stared at Bale's dead body at her feet. It was unbelievable that the monster who had killed so many of her friends was finally dead. Half of her still expected him to rise up and strike out at them.
Dorian glared at them all from the corner of the room, still full of disdain despite the change in circumstance. Lin was going to enjoy watching him die. Too many people had died because of him. Smiling, she removed Nial's restraints. He rubbed his bleeding wrists as he rose to his feet.
Robert sat on the edge of the table, wiping the blood from his nose. Nial hugged him. "Good to see you, old friend."
"You think I'd leave you here? I'd be offended if you did," replied Robert.
"Never a moment's doubt," replied Nial.
Nial took a pistol from Jack and a bullet cartridge. In front of Dorian, he took his time loading the gun. The Master watched him as he ripped the cartridge open with his teeth and spat the bullet down the barrel. He poured the powder after it before wedging the paper into the opening. Every movement was slow, deliberate. Nial forced everything down the barrel with the ramrod. The pistol was ready.
Nial placed the barrel against Dorian's forehead. Dorian squirmed against the wall as his tried to move his head away from the pistol.
"Go back to Hell," said Nial and pulled the trigger.
More of the Black Dogs joined them. Most were wounded but they were all eager to escape.
"How many of us are there?" asked Nial.
A young Black Dog stepped forward. Lin recognized him as Erik, one of Jack's friends. A nasty gash ran from cheek to chin across his face. "There twelve of us here plus Robert, Jack and the girl. Matthew's just checking some of the other cells now in case we've missed anyone and... "
"Did you say girl?" asked Nial.
"Yeah, he did, boss," said Robert. "We had a stowaway onboard with us."
"This is Lin," said Jack. "We rescued her from Grosnar on my last mission."
Lin stepped forward and Nial lifted her chin up so her face was in the light. Lin glared back with determination. She'd earned the right to be with them.
Nial laughed. "Ordinarily, I would demand to know how you got here, young lady, but for now I'm just grateful to all of you."
"Thank you," said Lin.
A priest pushed his way through to Nial. "Boss, you've got to come and see this." He led Nial through the corridor until he stopped at the last cell. Lin and a few of the others priests followed.
A man was curled up and chained to the wall. He wore a ragged priest's uniform. Blood and shit covered the walls and floors.
"He's a Black Dog but he didn't come with us. He's been here a long time," said the priest.
The man shuffled away as Nial approached. "Hey, don't worry. You're safe now."
The man looked up. His face was filthy and his hair matted with grime.
Nial bent down. "What's your name, son?"
"Brother Nial?" A spark of recognition appeared in the man's wild eyes. "Dear Lord, is that you?"
"Do I know you, brother?"
"My name is Brendan," said the man, his voice soft and quavering. "I come from Whitehaven."
Lin gasped at the name. She tried to recognize the man who had saved her life months before and failed. She shuddered at the thoughts of the suffering he must have endured. “He’s jack’s brother.”
“Fetch Jack,” said Nial to the priest next to him before turning back to Brendan. "We thought you were dead," said Nial. “I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through these past few months.”
"Has it really only been months? Is that all? I thought I was here years. Trapped in hell for my sins," said Brendan. His eyes were wild, darting this way and that.
Nial removed Brendan's chains.
"We're going to get you out of here brother, get you back to Whitehaven. Get you back to recover." He helped Brendan to his feet and walked him to the doorway where his men waited.
"Brendan?" said Jack, his face white with shock.
"Jack? You're alive?" replied Brendan. The two men fell into each other's arms.
Tears streamed down Jack’s face. He pulled Brendan even tighter to him. "It's so good to see you. I thought of you every day."
"I saw you dying on the beach with your throat ripped out," said Brendan.
Jack's hand went to the scar on his neck. He glanced back at Lin. "Lin saved me in time. We made it back to Whitehaven."
"Thanks be to God." Tears ran down Brendan's cheeks, leaving pale streaks against dirty cheeks.
"You've been here all this time?" asked Jack.
Brendan dropped his eyes away from Jack's face. "For my
sins, I have. Trapped in this hell hole." He gestured to the cell behind him. "That cell has been my world since I last saw you. Rats my only friends. The fucking Nostros my only company."
"My God, brother, I am sorry. If I had known I would’ve done anything and everything to get you free." He grasped Brendan's head in his hands, pulled him closer.
"I know Jack. I know."
Lin watched the brothers. Amid all the madness, it was so good to see them back together. Perhaps the hole inside Jack would heal. She just hoped Brendan was strong enough to get over whatever had been done to him. No one had ever made it out of the hole before.
Erik rushed over and hugged Brendan as well. "My God. I can't believe you’re alive. You must be blessed."
Brendan stepped back. "Far from blessed. I..."
"Okay lads," said Nial. "We're burning time. Reunions can wait till we're on the ship out of here. Until then, we've got jobs to do. Everyone gather around."
Jack put his arm around his brother to support him as the other priests drew closer.
"Lin, do you know how to reach the cannon?" asked Nial.
She nodded.
"Good. Robert, Alan. Go with the girl. Scuttle the guns. Signal the Great Hope to come in and pick us up. By the time it gets here, make sure you've caught up with the rest of us."" said Nial.
"Absolutely," replied Robert. Next to him, a small man grunted his argreement.
"Jack, do you know the way back to the boats?" asked Nial.
"I do but..." Jack looked from Nial to his brother to Lin. She shook her head. He had a job to do and it wasn’t to look after her. "Yes. I'll lead you."
"Good. Then let's get to it. I don't want to spend any longer in this God-forsaken place than I have to."
Despite everything, their defeats and their injuries, the men distributed the weapons between themselves without a moment’s hesitation. Lin had to admire them for that. She glanced over at Jack, saw him watching her, a hint of sadness in his eyes. She needed to speak to him, say something, tell him how she felt. There might not be another chance. “Jack?”
He turned to Erik. "Can you look after my brother for a moment?"
"Sure," replied Erik, taking Brendan's arm.
