The First Compact: The Karus Saga (The Karus Saga: Book Book 3)

by Marc Alan Edelheit

  Karus did not say anything for a long moment as he gathered his thoughts. The next part would be difficult, perhaps more so personally than anything else.

  “When I say right,” Karus said, “I mean right. We won’t put the lives of our men at risk to simply capture their leaders alive. If they choose to fight and are cut down, so be it. That is the end of it. If there is the potential to take Ord or Logex alive, without undue risk, I expect you to take that opportunity. Got that?”

  “Understood, sir,” Felix said after a slight hesitation. “They need to suffer for what they did, but our boys matter more at this point.”

  “They do matter more,” Karus said, feeling an intense stab of anger at Logex and Ord. Both men should be made to suffer for what they had done. Unfortunately, the realist in Karus knew that was unlikely. They would most probably be cut down in the fight. He looked to Flaccus, who had not spoken. “And you?”

  “I don’t much like it,” Flaccus said, “but I understand. We’ll have to settle for their deaths and nothing more.”

  “Right then,” Karus said, and glanced toward the open door that led out to the heavily shadowed street. “We have about an hour of light left.” He turned to Delvaris. “I want you to remain and oversee the movement and settling of the prisoners.”

  “Yes, sir,” Delvaris said.

  Though he tried to conceal it, the tribune’s disappointment was plain. Karus understood Delvaris’s youthful need to prove himself. In the days to come, he was certain the tribune would be called to do just that. But today was not that day.

  “I will see it done, sir,” Delvaris said.

  Pleased that Delvaris had not made a show by protesting his orders, Karus turned back to Flaccus and Felix. “I will see you both at the tavern. Now, let’s get to it.”

  Felix and Flaccus came to attention and saluted. Karus returned their salute, and with that, the two senior officers left, heading for their commands.

  “I will take my leave as well, sir,” Delvaris said. He offered a salute, then also left.

  Amarra watched the tribune go and then turned to Karus.

  “I am coming with you.” Amarra’s gaze was firm. From her look, there would be no arguing. Si’Cara, with Kol’Cara by her side, looked on with a curious expression, as if wondering how he’d respond.

  “I figured as much,” Karus said, surrendering to the inevitable. Then he became concerned. “Is the High Father asking it of you?”

  “No,” Amarra said. “With Garvin dead, I feel as if the threat has passed, at least the spiritual one. You will still have to deal with those that come from the mundane world.”

  He wanted to tell her there was nothing mundane about this world she had been born to. It was filled with strange races and fantastical creatures. But he did not voice such thoughts.

  “Just make sure you stay back and out of the way.” Karus was worried she might not do as asked.

  “Protecting me again, are you?” She was teasing him now, with a hint of a smile.

  “I’m serious,” Karus said, refusing the bait. “You’re not a trained fighter. Promise me you will stay well back from the fighting. I have a difficult enough job ahead of me as it is. I do not need to be worrying about your safety.”

  “I will sit on her,” Si’Cara said, with a strong look directed at Amarra, “if I need to. Karus, you have my word on that. The High Priestess has no business going into that tavern with your men making the attack.”

  Amarra turned an astonished gaze upon Si’Cara. “You would not dare!”

  “I am your shield, your protector,” Si’Cara said. “As Karus has said, you are untrained. I will do what I feel right to keep you safe, mistress. And that includes sitting on you.”

  “I would not doubt her resolve in this, mistress,” Kol’Cara said. “My sister is strong-willed.”

  “Thank you.” Karus gave Si’Cara a relieved look, then turned his gaze to Amarra expectantly. “I want your word, mistress.”

  “I will remain out of harm’s way,” Amarra breathed. “I am coming because I cannot bear to remain behind, to worry on your safety. I would rather be there than not.”

  “I can understand that.” Karus felt a smile tug at his lips. He glanced toward the door, feeling the pressure to be off, for surely the assault would likely now be conducted by dusk and continue well on into the darkness. That would bring its own challenges. He looked back. “Let’s get this wagon moving, shall we?”

  As they emerged from his headquarters, Karus found the street heavily shadowed. The two suns had worked their way down toward the horizon and were no longer visible. The temperature had also begun to noticeably drop, cooling things off. That was a relief in and of itself.

  Pammon was waiting with First Cohort, right where Karus had left them. The centurion had moved men up to the enemy’s abandoned defensive wall and had taken it into the legion’s keeping. The rest stood at ease, or sat on the ground, killing time as they waited for orders. A number glanced his way and knew action was in the offing. Several even stood.

  Just outside the doorway, Ugin was waiting. With him were the Anagradoom and the century assigned to guard him. Karus thought it ludicrous so many should guard one. It was a waste of desperately needed manpower. In the days ahead, Karus knew he would not be able to spare even a single legionary to watch the Vass.

  “Is it time?” Ugin asked as Pammon spotted him and jogged his way over. Karus waited for the centurion to join him.

  “What is the word, sir?” Pammon saluted, an uncomfortable look going to the hulking Vass, who seemed more than annoyed that Karus had ignored him.

  “There are about fifty men holed up in a tavern at the end of the street,” Karus said and gestured in the direction of the barricade. “We will need the rams and ladders.”

  “Yes, sir,” Pammon said.

  Ugin issued a low growl. Karus knew he could not understand Latin.

  “As we move up”—Karus pointed down the street at the nearest warehouse—“each building will need to be cleared … no surprises or anyone escaping. We will link up with the other two cohorts at the tavern and coordinate the assault from there.” Karus glanced up at the sky, which had turned a bright, almost fiery red. Kordem was still up there, circling. He turned his gaze back to Pammon. “Do you have any questions?”

  “No, sir,” Pammon said.

  “Daylight’s burning,” Karus said. “Get the men moving before we run out of light.”

  “Yes, sir.” Pammon saluted and moved off, calling his centurions to him.

  “I am looking forward to this fight,” Ugin said, rubbing both hands together. “There are some that have the will to resist, yes? Tell me it is so.” Ugin gestured toward the Anagradoom. “These elves say little. It is as if their tongues have been pulled out.”

  Karus turned to the Vass and studied him for several heartbeats. “I am not inclined to bring you with us.”

  “What?” Ugin fairly exploded, turning a number of heads with his outburst. Even though they could not understand the common tongue, it got his human guards’ attention too. The Vass’s gaze was intense, something akin to a predator eying prey he wanted to eat. “Why not? Why deny me this? I demand you explain yourself.”

  “Because,” Karus said, refusing to back down, “I do not trust you. You will remain here until the assault is over or go back to your quarters in the palace. It is your choice.”

  “You should take me.” Ugin’s tone was filled with need, almost primal. “I could be useful.”

  “Why should I bother?” Karus asked him and pointed his finger at Ugin. “Would you want to go into a fight with someone you don’t trust?”

  Ugin was silent for a long moment. His jaw flexed and he gave a low growl. “I most certainly would not go into battle with someone I had no faith in.”

  “There,” Karus said. “We can agree on something.”

  The Vass glanced toward the abandoned barricade as he scratched an itch upon his arm. He seemed to be
wrestling internally with something. He looked back to Karus, gaze once again piercing.

  “As long as I remain in this city,” Ugin said, the words almost grating as they came out, “I give my word to fight as an ally at your side against your enemies. I will do your people no harm.” Ugin paused for a long moment. “This is the least I can offer for the saving of my life. All I ask in return is to fight your enemies and mine.” Ugin stopped speaking for a heartbeat, as if the next part were difficult. “Is this bargain acceptable to you?”

  “Why do you want to fight on our behalf?” Karus wondered on Ugin’s true motivations. “It’s more than just paying me back for saving your life. Why do you want this so bad?”

  “Our race enemies are here,” Ugin said, gesturing toward the defensive wall, as if that explained everything.

  Karus did not see how he could trust him. Ugin had already misled them once. If given the opportunity, there was no doubt in Karus’s mind the Vass would do so again. Was he missing something here? No, Karus knew without a doubt he could not bring Ugin with them. It might even be dangerous to do so.

  “You’re going to have to settle for disappointment,” Karus said.

  Ugin’s yellow eyes bulged, and his fists flexed as he took a menacing step forward. “I …”

  “I believe,” Kol’Cara said, hastily stepping forward and placing a hand between the two of them, “that such an offer will be more than acceptable. Don’t you agree, Karus?”

  Karus blinked, looking over at the elf in nothing short of shock. He was about to vehemently disagree, when Kol’Cara shot him a meaningful look and shook his head ever so slightly.

  To their side, a few yards away, Pammon’s officer meeting broke up. With centurions shouting orders, the men fell in. Two centuries began advancing toward the wall, while those on it started over to the other side. A century moved for the ladders and the rams, thick wooden poles with handholds nailed to them.

  “You can come,” Karus said grudgingly to Ugin.

  “You seek to insult me?” Ugin demanded, becoming visibly heated again. The veins under his fur along his neck bulged and he took a half step forward toward Karus. “Is that it? Insults, human?”

  “I don’t understand,” Karus said, becoming exasperated. He did not need this headache. He had enough problems on his plate. “You want to fight with us. I just said you could.”

  “Ugin,” Kol’Cara said. “Karus is not of this world and does not understand the ways of the Vass. Until we rescued you, his people had not even heard of yours.”

  “Ah,” Ugin said with sudden understanding. The Vass relaxed a fraction, though his anger and rage clearly simmered just below the surface. “He is ignorant, then.”

  Si’Cara seemed amused by the comment. Though she buried it well, Karus could read the merriment in her eyes.

  “You must formally accept his offer of alliance,” Kol’Cara said to Karus, “even if it’s a temporary one at that. The Vass do not tolerate half measures. Your commitment to his proposal, or what you and he negotiated, must be complete and without reservation. Do you understand? This is very important to the Vass. They do not react well to people who go back upon their word.”

  “No, we do not,” Ugin said, his yellow-eyed gaze fixed upon Karus.

  “Very well,” Karus said, feeling none too happy. “I accept your offer, fully and … without reservation.”

  “That pleases me greatly,” Ugin said, looking toward the wall. He was clearly eager to be off. The Vass hesitated and eyed them balefully for a long moment. “If any of you ever tell my people of the terms of this arrangement, I will kill you. That is a promise.”

  Ugin stepped off in the direction of the wall. The Vass’s guards, both human and elven, followed after him. Kol’Cara remained behind, as did Si’Cara. They both shared a look, then turned to gaze on Karus in what appeared to be awe.

  “What?” Karus asked them, at a loss. “Tell me what just happened?”

  “I believe you just negotiated a fine deal,” Kol’Cara said, his gaze following after Ugin. “A very equitable deal, indeed.”

  “I negotiated nothing,” Karus said and gestured at the Vass’s back. “I didn’t want him to come and I still don’t. Now I have no choice.”

  “That’s what made it so effective,” Si’Cara said and grinned at him with her needle-like teeth.

  Karus scowled, turning his gaze in the direction of Ugin, who was already at the ramshackle wall. Most of the men of First Cohort were climbing over it, with several atop the wall. They reached back to help their comrades up. Ladders were also being passed up.

  “Why is this so important?” Karus asked, wondering why they were making such a big deal of it. “Ugin’s guard is a complete waste of manpower and the Horde is almost on our doorstep. It would be better to just give him the boot from the city and be done with him.”

  “No,” Si’Cara said, “it wouldn’t.”

  “Doing so,” Kol’Cara said, “might cause future problems.”

  “I don’t understand,” Karus said, becoming impatient. He glanced over at Amarra. She too looked mystified.

  “You wanted to form a coalition of races,” Si’Cara said. “Well … he just allied with you.”

  “I’d hardly call that an alliance,” Karus said. “He’s only one individual and it’s good for as long as we’re in the city. Once we leave, if I understand the arrangement correctly, it’s done, finished.”

  “It is a start,” Si’Cara said.

  “The Horde is coming,” Kol’Cara said. “And, though you have not come out and said it, I am thinking we may not be leaving Carthum anytime soon. The walls of the city are just too good to give up. Am I incorrect in my understanding?”

  “No,” Karus said, “you’re spot on, but I’ve not made that decision yet. We will see what happens when the dwarves get here.”

  “And Ugin just pledged himself to fight alongside you,” Kol’Cara said.

  “And he has no idea the Horde is coming,” Si’Cara added, with a sudden laugh as she turned her grin on her brother. “No one told him.”

  “He’s just one person,” Karus said.

  “But he’s a Vass,” Si’Cara breathed, “and we both think an important one at that. For some strange reason, he seems to respect you enough to take a one-sided deal. I am thinking, if you befriend him, there is the chance that something may grow from it.”

  Karus resisted a scowl as he glanced at Ugin, who was now atop the wall and gazing down the street. Make Ugin a friend … a tiger-man? For some reason, Karus thought that unlikely. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Elves, dwarves, goblins, gnomes, orcs, dragons, and now the Vass … life had become strange indeed.

  “You think I got a good deal?” Karus asked … for he wasn’t quite so sure. Ugin was clearly getting something out of the arrangement too. Of that, Karus was certain.

  “The best I’ve ever heard of,” Kol’Cara said. “You gave him nothing in return, other than allowing him to fight with your people.”

  “That’s what worries me,” Karus said. “I can’t help but feel he has motivations other than killing race enemies or fighting with us.”

  Kol’Cara grew grave and turned his gaze in the direction Ugin had gone. The elf rubbed his jaw speculatively and turned back to Karus. “We will just have to find out what that is, then.”

  Yep, Karus thought. Ugin was up to something.

  Chapter Fourteen

  There was a deep thud as the battering ram hammered against the tavern’s door.

  “Again,” Centurion Leves roared. “Come on, boys, swing like you mean it.”

  Grunting with effort, the team of legionaries swung the ram again. It thudded powerfully against the door.

  The tavern was a squat, solid, and uninspiring building with a flat roof. As the scouts had said, it was of brick construction. The brick had been plastered over for insulation and then painted. The paint had long since faded to a ghost of what it had once been. Graffiti had been chalke
d seemingly everywhere within arm’s reach.

  Large cracks were running through the plaster and it was badly in need of being scraped off and removed. In places, chunks had fallen off or entirely disintegrated, leaving the brick and mortar exposed to the elements.

  In the growing darkness, the building was not just uninspiring, it was downright depressing. At least that was what Karus thought as he looked it over once again. Yet, no matter how deteriorated the outer shell appeared, the tavern was no less a fortress than had been described. A strong, determined force defending it would have a serious advantage. Karus understood it would prove a difficult nut to crack and he was bound to lose men in the doing of it.

  Several torches had been set for light around the small square before the tavern. With the bulk of First Cohort formed up in ranks behind him, Karus stood about thirty feet from its main entrance and next to a public fountain that had long since stopped flowing. The basin was a simple square pool, five feet by five. It was filled with years of dirt and decay and had clearly stopped functioning long before the city was abandoned.

  The fountain itself was a simple block of marble, four feet in height, with a lead pipe sticking out of it. Eight shields had been leaned against the basin’s walls.

  The men to whom those shields belonged had formed the battering ram team. In the dying light, Centurion Leves stood next to them and began calling out a steady cadence, to which they repeatedly swung the ram, smashing at the door. The rest of the century stood a short distance away, ready with their shields to provide protection should any attack from the windows above materialize.

  Each hammer blow made a dull thudding sound as the ram was driven into the stout wood. Despite the degraded look of the building itself, the door seemed solid and well-built. Karus suspected it had been replaced in the last few years and, with the way it was holding up, had possibly even been reinforced too. That spoke directly to the type of people who had once called this seedy district their home.

  There was no doubt those inside were doing their best to brace the door as well. This was making the job of the ram party that much more difficult. But that was only to be expected.