Chapter 13

  The clash of steel rang through the hollow space, bouncing from wall to wall making the melee seem far greater than it was. A bolt sprang from a crossbow, hitting a Therudi in the shoulder between his pauldron and chest plate. An arrow hit the man who’d fired the bolt in quick retaliation, taking him in the neck. Torvund’s ax sank into the shield of a black armored soldier and stuck, the steel biting deep into the wood. The two began a pulling match to rest control from the other. Esker, for his part, fought with an arming sword pulled from one of the fallen soldiers, his injury hampered him but he had enough skill to stave off death.

  Twin beacons of light shone in the cavernous room. A man, clad in black armor and scarlet cape threw arcs of bloody light that hammered a shimmering wall of power that surrounded the Therudi Huntress. She stood, her hands clasped, silently whispering as sweat beaded on her forehead. Genine stood by her side, a long knife in hand, taking swipes at what looked to be the officer on the horse from before. Tatsum stood with her, trading blows with the man, his long sword against an arming sword and shield.

  Ag and Marus surveyed the room from the stairwell leading down to it. The room made the entryway chamber look small, a vaulted space that only seemed half finished. Countless chains and hooks hung from the darkness above. Many of the thickest holding a massive circle of some sort of bronze metal. In the room’s center was a massive pit, as black as pure night and an evil air emanating from it.

  At least a dozen black armored soldiers fought the seven that remained of their company, soon to be six by the looks of the Therudi that had taken the bolt.

  “Come on.” Ag growled. “Payback time.”

  Marus’s face twisted with an evil smile and drew his sword. “About damn time.”

  They raced down the stairs and lept into combat, each picking their opponent. Ag charged towards a second soldier trying to get behind Torvund, his long handled blade out and ready to strike. The man saw him coming and twisted to face him, his sword coming up to block. Sparks flew but Ag pulled his blade in and made a horizontal slash at the man’s midriff. He danced back, avoiding the blow but stepping forward immediately to make an overhead swing.

  Ag slapped the strike aside and jabbed, letting his back hand carry it farther. He had reach

  on the man but this soldier was no new recruit. With an ease that spoke volumes of his experience, he batted Ag’s strike aside with his armored gauntlet and hopped forward to make his own lunge. Ag wheeled back, the unexpected retaliation setting him off balance. His opponent pushed the advantage, launching two more swings, one at his head the other at his thigh.

  Ag deflected the head strike but caught the swing at his leg just a hair too late. The sword sliced through his pants and into his leg just above the knee, not a deep cut or a fatal one but a painful distraction nonetheless. He rammed the but of his weapon's long handle into the man’s face. The soldier fell back, blood spurting from his nose and probably wishing he’d not gone with a kettle helm which didn’t protect his face.

  With a yell of anger he charged forward, his sword swinging wildly. He managed to cut across Ag’s chest, slicing through leather but bouncing off his chainmail. Ag pushed in close to the man, grabbing his weapon just below the blade and jabbing into the man’s gut. The soldier's chainmail did a good job of keeping the blade from spilling his organs onto the floor but couldn’t keep the tip of the blade from giving him superficial stab wounds.

  The man’s sword arm was pinned between them so he resorted to punching Ag in the face. He got a few solid hits in, making stars appear in Ag’s eyes before Ag managed to get his blade up and stab through the man’s neck into his skull. The soldier’s eyes glazed over and he fell back, blood spurting from his neck. Ag let him fall, turning to look for another opponent. The second man who’d faced off with Torvund was dead at his feet but the big man seemed in bad shape. His side was soaked in blood and a nasty gash on his forehead was leaking blood into one of his eyes.

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  Ag trusted the big man enough to let him go on his own, choosing instead to help Esker. The man, while a decent fighter, was obviously outmatched with one arm out of commission. Ag bowled into Esker’s opponent from behind knocking him to the ground in a clatter of armor and weapon. He stabbed down but the man rolled aside, swinging awkwardly up at him and missing. Esker kicked him in the face, sending the man rolling farther in a daze. Ag was on top of him, pressing his blade lengthwise into the man’s neck. They pushed, one against the other, but Ag had the weight and leverage on the soldier and his blade slowly made its way to the man’s neck. When it pressed in he jerked it sideways, slitting the man’s throat.

  “Thanks.” Esker gasped.

  Ag nodded and turned once more to scan the melee. Most of the combatants were either dead or wounded, the black armored soldier mostly left bleeding out on the stone floor. The lieutenant was losing to Genine and Tatsum, backed to the edge of the pit he made a wild charge, a last-ditch effort to break free. Tatsum managed to bash him on the side of his head with the pommel of his sword sending the man stumbling to the side. Genine came in, her thin knife stabbing under his arm between breastplate and pauldron. The lieutenant went rolling, coming to a stop in a heap of black armor and blood. Tatsum had his blade at his neck before he could rise.

  “Surrender!” The Therudi bellowed.

  The man snarled and lunged forward, pulling a belt knife free but Tatsum had killed him before he’d had a chance to retaliate. The man’s head rolled across the floor and into the pit, a trail of blood all that was left of it.

  All grew still and Ag suddenly realized the sorcerer was gone. “Quickly!” Nacine barked. “He’s gone up, whoever is fit to fight, follow me.” She had sunk to one knee, obviously, her fight with the mage had cost a lot.

  Esker began to move forward but Ag stopped him. “You aren’t fit to fight.”

  The holy man frowned. “Sure I am, I survived that fight didn’t I?”

  Ag smiled. “Sure, with my help.” He gestured to the pit. “See if you can get that closed. I don’t know what’s down there but it's got an evil air and makes my skin crawl.”

  Esker nodded. “I’ll help the wounded then see what I can do.”

  All told there were only four that began the chase up the stairs, Ag, Marus, Nacine, and Genine. Esker got to work treating Torvund and the fallen Therudi warrior. The huntress and Tatsum stayed with them, watching the doorway for any new arrivals.

  They crept up the stairs, as quickly as they could without making too much noise. The carved stone was well worn from years of use but no fault could be seen, no crack or chip that foretold the tower's fall. They reached a landing just below the tower's base and Genine paused, staring down a long shadowed hallway.

  “Nacine.” She whispered and the Therudi huntress stopped, turning to face her. Genine pointed down the hallway. “Tentso.” She said, “He’s in a cell down there.”

  They all turned to look at her. “Who?” Ag asked.

  “Tatsum’s brother.” She replied and began moving quickly down the hallway.

  There were indeed cells along the hallway, their iron gates closed but not locked or hanging open. All were empty and cold save one—a pale form huddled within one, chains around the wrists attached to hoops in the wall.

  “Marus, get the door,” Ag said.

  The dark-haired man eyed him. “What makes you think I can pick a lock?”

  Ag gave him a sardonic look. “Look at you.”

  Marus scoffed but moved to open the cell. He produced a set of picks and quickly had the door open. Genine rushed in, cradling the Therudi who lay in a crumpled heap.

  “Is he even alive?” Ag asked.

  His question was answered when the emaciated body heaved a shuddering breath and his dark eyes snapped open. Genine sobbed in relief and held him closer. “Imperial.” Nacine snapped. Pick his manacles then help Genine get him to the others. You and I will finish this.” The last was spoken to Ag.

  “Shouldn’t we have at least one more?” Ag asked. “I don’t much like our chances with just the two of us against a red captain.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Nacine replied, her tone impatient. He’s likely exhausted from our duel below and I’d rather get to him before he manages to call more stone skin to his side.”

  With that, she turned on her heel and headed for the stairwell. “I guess this is it.” Ag sighed. “Tell Esker to say a prayer for me.” He took a firmer grip on his weapon and followed the huntress. This was it, the end of the job or the end of it all, what a way to end it.