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

by Marc Alan Edelheit

  The windows on the second floor were, for the most part, empty and dark. A dim flickering light, likely from a candle, glowed from within one. The rest of the windows had not been empty when the attack had begun. The enemy had initially attempted to use the windows to drop rocks and throw burning oil down on the men working at battering away at the doors. The elves had rapidly put a stop to such efforts, almost before the defenders could even get started.

  Several of the Anagradoom were positioned both in and atop the adjacent buildings, the closest of which was about twenty feet away. One had even somehow scaled the aqueduct, a towering, arched stone structure that ran over the buildings in this district. Karus’s eyes were drawn to the aqueduct, which was at least sixty feet in height.

  He spotted the elf perched at the top, a dark, kneeling figure with a bow at the ready, just waiting for a target to show himself. The position allowed the elf to shoot down into the building and at an angle too. Karus would not have wanted to attempt such a climb.

  When the assault on the door had begun, the deadly hail of missiles had seen the enemy retreat from the windows and extinguish most of the light. Occasionally, a bow twanged and an arrow would shoot into one of the darkened windows. More often than not, a cry would shortly follow.

  Elven eyesight was clearly superior. To Karus, the interior of the building was dark, nearly impenetrable, and inscrutable as could be. He could not even see what they were shooting at. But for the occasional shot and subsequent screams, he would have doubted they were shooting at anything of substance.

  Standing with Karus were Ugin and Kol’Cara. Like him, they were watching the ram team steadily batter at the door. In between blows, Karus could occasionally hear the hammering from the ram on the other side of the building as Felix’s men worked.

  “Your humans,” Ugin said, breaking the silence that had grown between them, “er … I think you call them men. Yes, that is it. Your men seem practiced.”

  “They are well-trained, drilled, and disciplined,” Karus said, “if that is what you mean. My men are professional soldiers, second to none. Many will serve the best part of their lives in the legion.”

  Ugin ran his gaze back along First Century behind them. He was silent for a long moment as he studied the ranks of men before turning back to Karus. In the growing darkness, his yellow eyes reflected the torchlight.

  “I will admit,” Ugin said, “before this day, I had not seen professional human soldiers. I’ve only ever encountered conscripts or levies.”

  “My legion is but one amongst many,” Karus said. “Our empire is vast, almost beyond reckoning. We have abundant resources to maintain and support numerous professional armies, such as the one I command.”

  “I see.” Ugin’s manner was thoughtful. “Your people have fought many wars, then?”

  “Yes,” Karus said. “We control most of the known lands on my world, the ones that matter, at any rate.”

  “Impressive,” Ugin said, then gestured toward the tavern. “What did they do to you?”

  Karus felt a stab of anger, not at Ugin, but toward Logex, Ord, and the rest of the bastards holding out. He should not be having to deal with this headache. Their actions had forced his hand, and that pissed him off.

  “We took them in,” Karus said, waving a hand at the tavern. Inside he could hear muffled shouting that sounded like encouragements and someone repeatedly crying in apparent agony. “Their people had been driven out of their lands by the Horde.” Karus fell silent for a long moment. “We gave them a place amongst us.”

  “They turned on you, didn’t they?” Ugin’s face twisted with what Karus assumed was distaste or perhaps even disgust. “They went back on their word?”

  “That’s right,” Karus said, glancing over. “And now they will pay the price for that.”

  “My people have a saying,” Ugin said. “No good deed goes unrewarded.”

  “There is much truth in that statement.” Karus absorbed that. “So, you trust no one?”

  “It is not about trust, but faith … faith in the deals we make and who we negotiate with outside of our own kind. Violate that and we have long memories. Still, we are always … let us say, cautious in any dealing.”

  Karus did not reply as he thought about the mess he found himself in.

  Ugin looked over at him. “Tell me more about what happened.”

  “We offered them shelter and a chance for safety,” Karus said. “In return they were to form a fighting unit under our command. Instead, while I was away, they broke their agreement and murdered some of my people.”

  “Murdered?” Ugin gave off a low growl as he turned his attention to the tavern. “Did they have cause to do that?”

  “No,” Karus said, “at least not in my mind. There was a sickness amongst my people. It’s gone now. Theirs were completely unaffected. They used it as an excuse and killed some of my boys, including one of my senior officers … a friend.”

  Ugin was silent for a long moment. “What was his name?”

  “Dio.”

  “How did he die?” Ugin asked, seeming almost hesitant.

  Karus did not say anything as the thought of what had been done to Dio struck home again. The pain tore at him.

  “If I am to fight at your side,” Ugin said, in a tone that was surprisingly soft with feeling, “I would like to know. How did they kill your friend?”

  “I was not here when it happened,” Karus said, the words coming out in an almost grating manner. “I am told he went to talk and reason with them, to reconsider their actions. They had other ideas and seized him along with his escort. They made demands. When the demands were not met, they slit his throat, along with those of his escort … good boys all.”

  “Bah,” Ugin said, in an irritated tone. “That is no way for a warrior to go.”

  “He deserved better,” Karus said, “but sometimes deserves have nothing to do with it.”

  “There is no reasoning with such people,” Ugin said. “It is always the way with those lacking honor. You do not know what lies in their hearts until they choose to reveal the blackness.”

  “It was my decision to welcome them.” Karus felt a wave of guilt wash over him.

  “That does not mean the fault lies completely with you.” Ugin gestured toward the tavern. “They bear responsibility as well.”

  “I am in command,” Karus said in a hard tone. “Ultimately, I shoulder that burden.”

  “That is true.” Ugin’s eyes narrowed as he considered Karus in the torchlight. “It is as you say, a true leader accepts the burden that comes with command. Doing so shows great heart and develops a sacred trust with your men.”

  Karus said nothing to that and wondered what kind of a leader Ugin was … for their conversation made him nearly certain the Vass was no common foot soldier. They were silent for a few moments, while Karus’s men continued to work on the door. Kol’Cara had said nothing. Karus had the feeling the elf was following their conversation with interest.

  “And now,” Ugin said after a time, “you will make them, as you say … pay.”

  “Yes,” Karus said through a clenched jaw. “Their leaders are in there, two men, Ord and Logex. They, along with everyone in that tavern, will die this night.”

  Ugin gave off another growl, his gaze turning toward the tavern. “Ord and Logex … Ord and Logex … you are delivering justice for injustice. There is no finer path to walk. We Vass would do the same, have done the same.”

  “Sir.” A legionary stepped up and came to attention. He saluted.

  Karus returned the salute and switched to Latin. “Report.”

  “Centurion Flaccus reports the ladders in the alleys are up and he’s got men on the roof,” the legionary said. “There is no roof access. They will begin cutting their way in shortly.”

  “Very good,” Karus said. “Kindly return to Centurion Flaccus and thank him for his report.”

  “Yes, sir.” The legionary saluted, spun, and left, heading ba
ck the way he’d come.

  “What is it you really want?” Karus asked, switching back to the common tongue and looking over at Ugin. Kol’Cara turned his gaze to the Vass as well, his eyes glittering in the torchlight. “You don’t need to fight with us. You don’t need to be here. So, I ask you, Ugin … what is it you really want?”

  Ugin gave Karus a silent look. “I gave you my reasons.”

  “Did you?” Karus asked.

  “I doubt it,” Kol’Cara scoffed, speaking up for the first time. “I seriously doubt that, Vass.”

  Ugin shot the elf an unhappy look.

  Karus decided to push when Ugin did not immediately reply. “Are you being completely honest … honorable even? Why were you on that hill where we found you? I can’t help but think it is related to your desire to fight with us, to be here in this city. What is it you are after?”

  Ugin blew out a breath that sounded like a hiss as he regarded Karus for several heartbeats, as if weighing what he would say. Finally, he spoke.

  “We are searching for something that has been taken from us, stolen,” Ugin said, “by someone … who had entered into an arrangement with a brother of my pride. It is a matter of … honor to me and my people.”

  “You did not find him?” Karus said. “Or it?”

  “No,” Ugin said, sounding unhappy, his gaze traveling back toward the tavern. “Not yet. We are still searching.”

  “We?” Kol’Cara asked, cocking his head to the side in a way no human could match.

  “I”—Ugin corrected himself—“I will keep searching. You saw my brothers on the hill … I will keep looking … until I get that which I want and am entitled to.”

  Ugin scratched at the fur on his check as he looked toward the tavern. He seemed to be considering something. He turned his gaze back to Karus, clearly on the verge of saying more.

  A loud splintering crack drew their attention. The door to the tavern had completely caved in, coming off the hinges and falling to pieces.

  Several men had been standing behind the door, clearly attempting to brace it with planks of wood. Two had tumbled to the ground when the door had given way.

  As the men with the ram stepped to the side and set it down, Kol’Cara’s bow sprang to hand, arrow nocked. He released. The arrow hissed away, smacking into the chest of a man framed in the doorway by the tavern’s interior light. He stumbled back and out of sight. A second arrow rapidly followed the first, hammering into the forehead of one of those on the ground as he sat up. The arrow’s impact made a cracking sound.

  The other man who had been knocked down hastily rolled out of the way as Kol’Cara sent a third arrow hissing into the tavern. It landed where he had just been, arrowhead driving into the wood floor. After that, the rest of the enemy that could be seen quickly stepped out of view.

  “Nice work,” Ugin said to Kol’Cara. “Very nice work, elf.”

  Kol’Cara did not reply. His gaze was still fixed on the doorway, an arrow nocked, bow ready.

  Ugin drew his massive sword, the blade hissing as it came free from the sheath.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Karus asked idly, without looking over. His attention, like the elf’s, was still fixed on the tavern. Once the door on the other side was knocked down and a few more holes made, the main assault would start and the real killing would begin.

  “I am going to work,” Ugin said in a determined tone.

  That had not been the response he had been expecting. Karus glanced over and was startled. Ugin was gone. He looked around, wondering where the big Vass had went. Karus could not see him anywhere. It was as if he had just vanished into thin air.

  “Where’d he go?” Karus asked, looking over at Kol’Cara.

  Eyes narrowed, Kol’Cara was staring toward the doorway into the tavern. After several heartbeats, he pointed. “There he is.”

  “I don’t see him …” Karus trailed off. There was a slight shimmering of the air before the light of the doorway and the hint of an outline of a sword, as well as the Vass himself. It was almost impossible to see him, but he was there, Karus was sure of it. “He can turn invisible?”

  “Not completely, no,” Kol’Cara said. “Not to elven eyes at any rate. Human eyesight is different, poorer. And he can only maintain it for a short time, maybe a count of thirty at most.”

  “And you did not think to tell me?” Karus asked.

  “It is why we kept such a close watch on him,” Kol’Cara said. “I did not want him to slip away. Besides, you had a lot to worry about.”

  “What about now?” Karus fairly exploded as the distorted air entered the tavern. “Who’s watching him now?”

  Ugin shimmered into existence just inside the doorframe. His great sword was already swinging toward an unseen enemy. He landed his strike and blood sprayed through the air. The Vass roared like a hungry tiger before he moved deeper into the tavern and was lost from view.

  Kol’Cara stepped over to the fountain and leaned his bow against the basin, along with his bundle of arrows. Inside the tavern came the sound of screaming mixed with animalistic roars that set small hairs on the back of Karus’s neck on end. The elf drew his sword, an elegant blade that seemed almost too ornate to be practical. Etched runes ran along its length. The blade glinted with torchlight.

  “You must be joking,” Karus said and gestured toward the tavern. “There are nearly fifty men in there.”

  “We can’t let him fight by himself. It would not be honorable. And you said it yourself, someone has to watch the Vass.” Kol’Cara started forward.

  Karus felt a wave of intense rage wash over him at Ugin’s senseless and thoughtless act. The assault was supposed to be simultaneous, coordinated. He looked around. Pammon was standing with Amarra, Si’Cara, and Tal’Thor.

  “Pammon!” Karus shouted to get the centurion’s attention. “Send your men in … right now.”

  “Yes, sir,” Pammon said.

  “And get word to Flaccus and Felix,” Karus called. “Tell them we’ve gone in and to get their asses moving. Got that?”

  “Yes, sir,” Pammon said.

  Karus stepped over to the fountain, where the shields of the ram party had been stacked. He grabbed one at random, then drew his sword. He hefted the shield into place and started forward toward the tavern’s entrance.

  “Karus!” Pammon shouted, clearly alarmed. “What are you doing?”

  “Karus!” Amarra called to him, her tone just as alarmed.

  He ignored them both and continued up to the door and past the ram party, who were recovering from their efforts. Centurion Leves shot Karus a concerned look and then he was by. Tal’Thor appeared at his side, as did Aven’Terol. Both had their blades drawn. It was clear they had no intention of stopping him. They were grim-faced and determined to go with him into battle. Karus had enough time to give them each a nod of thanks and then he stepped through the doorway and into the tavern.

  The common room was lit by several lanterns that hung from the walls and ceiling. The bottom floor of the tavern was one big room with a large fireplace along the back wall that served for heat and cooking. A narrow, steep staircase ran up the left wall to the second floor.

  The room was a scene of chaos. Several bodies lay on the floor by the door. One with an arrow and another with a gruesome wound to the chest writhed in agony at his feet. Karus paid them no mind, but he did kick a sword away from the one with the arrow wound.

  The room was filled with men and an enraged Vass. It seemed as if everyone was screaming or yelling. Ugin repeatedly swung his massive sword, almost impossibly fast and with terrible force too. It was like he was scything his way through the enemy. Some of the defenders drew back fearfully, while others grimly threw themselves forward and into the attack.

  Just behind Ugin, four feet away from Karus, was Kol’Cara. The elf was deftly trading blows with two men. Karus was about to move to help him, when a man came barreling down the stairs to his left. Karus turned, took two step
s forward and, putting his shoulder into the move, hammered his shield into the man’s body before he could even attempt to slow himself.

  The man crashed hard against Karus’s shield. The impact landed painfully on his arm and shoulder, which took a good portion of the impact. However painful the blow, Karus knew the man on the receiving end got the worst of it. The air whuffed out of the man’s lungs as he bounced off the shield and back onto the stairs, where his head cracked audibly against a step. The sword the man had been holding went clattering past Karus and to the floor.

  Recovering, Karus looked over the top of his shield and saw the man he’d hit sprawled on the stairs before him, still and unmoving. Farther up the stairs, another man, this one in leather armor with a sword drawn, had stopped. He eyed Karus coldly for a long moment before continuing down.

  It was Ord.

  Behind Karus, the clash of steel rang on the air as Tal’Thor and the other elf joined the fight.

  “Come on, you bastard!” Karus shouted in Common to Ord.

  “Screw you,” Ord snarled, still working his way cautiously down the steep staircase, one step at a time.

  “I am going to gut you like a fish, you slimy bastard.” Holding his shield before him, Karus started up the stairs to meet his enemy. Ord hesitated, and unexpectedly seemed to suddenly lose his resolve to face Karus. He turned and fled back up to the second floor, almost running up the steps, which he took two at a time. Karus continued his steady advance up the stairs. With the windows covered and the tavern surrounded, there was nowhere for Ord to go. Escape was impossible.

  Just before he reached the landing at the top of the stairs, a man appeared. Ord gave the man a violent shove. Wearing a chest plate and helm, he made a loud clatter as he tumbled down the stairs toward Karus. Karus dodged to the side, so he wasn’t knocked back down the staircase.

  As he was about to tumble by, Karus slammed the man into the wall with his shield and pinned him there. It took more effort than he had thought, but Karus did it. He jabbed before his opponent could recover, stabbing the man under his chest plate and down in the bowels. Karus pushed the sword deep, until he felt the inside of the man’s hipbone grate against the tip of the sword. Karus gave a savage twist and yanked the blade out, pulling the man’s severed intestines with it. Releasing the mortally wounded man, Karus allowed him to slowly tumble the rest of the way down the stairs.