After The Rabbit (Waldo Rabbit Series) (28 page)

Alice didn’t so much as spare her first victim a second glance. She ran up to the next one and stabbed him through the chest with the claws of her right hand. This one let out a scream as he died and she got a face full of warm blood for her trouble. Number three she gutted just like a fish.

On the other side of the room Gronk was just as busy. He caved heads in with his fists and she watched as he literally tore another man in half. The ones who were still alive were screaming, trying to find out what was going on. Only a couple had stumbled away, frantically searching for what she assumed was a hidden door.

Waldo was sitting on the floor, at the same spot where he’d cast his spell. Without light he could not safely direct his magic, so he would leave the fighting to them. That was fine with her as she and Gronk could deal with this lot easily enough.

Number four got his head chopped clean off.

After just a few minutes it was over. Not one of them had gotten away.

XXX

It turned out the meeting room had, had five torches. Waldo lit them all and got a clear view of the carnage. The floors and walls were splattered with blood and there were mangled bodies tossed about the room. The sight didn’t particularly bother Waldo. He’d seen worse.

In one corner Gronk had peeled the skin off the back of one of the corpses. He was happily snacking on it and drinking a keg of ale. Waldo approved, after such good service he’d certainly earned a treat.

Alice, meanwhile, had dumped out the contents of the treasure chest and was sorting through them. All the gold and silver coins got separated out and counted. That took longer than the fight had.

“We got all our gold back,” she said, smiling from ear to ear. “We also have seventy five more silver coins, and I am guessing at least twenty thousand copper ones. For all our trouble we wound up way ahead.”

Waldo noted the gold and silver was put in a purse which Alice promptly tied back around her waist. The copper coins she began shoveling back into the chest.

Waldo stood over the unconscious form of Cleptus.

“What do you want to do with him, darling?”

“Take his shirt off and tie him to one of the posts,” Waldo picked up a dagger that was lying on the floor. He noted the blade was quite sharp. “I have something very specific in mind for him.”

Chapter 23

A Morio Seal

He was choking, gasping for air.

“Wake up thief. The night grows short and I have miles to go before I sleep.”

Daring opened his eyes and spat out what was in his mouth. It took a moment to adjust to the light. When he finally did so he found himself staring into a very young, very smug face with yellow hair and eyes. He was on the floor and his arms tied to a beam. He swung his head around to either side.

Blood.

Blood everywhere.

He saw legs and arms and mangled corpses. There was Markus ripped in two. His guild, his friends, who’d been drinking and talking with him just an hour ago were nothing but meat now. Sitting among the dead there was a gigantic green skinned beast with tusks. In one hand it had a keg and in the other what looked like a hunk of skin. As he watched the monster brought the still bleeding flesh to its lips and hungrily devoured it.

Daring turned away and fought the urge to vomit.

“Is that an ogre?”

“Yes. His name is Gronk. I used my magic to make him appear as a female barbarian and as a male tough when we were in the tavern.”

“He’s eating one of my men!”

“He does that,” the White Mage said with sickening calm. “He normally eats whatever he kills. After tonight he has earned himself a reward.”

That was too much. Daring turned his face to the side and threw up on the floor.

When he was done and there was nothing left in his stomach he turned back. His mouth tasted of puke and his throat felt raw.

“Damn you, how could you have an ogre and let him do that to my boys?”

“I did tell you my attitudes were a bit more liberal, didn’t I?”

Daring then said something he hoped was the greatest possible insult to a white. “You’re a complete monster.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you not like monsters? What a terrible surprise.”

Those words were from his beautiful lady. She had been standing behind the wizard, and so he hadn’t noticed her. Now she walked out to allow a clear view.

His eyes widened and he started gagging. If there had been anything left in his belly he would have thrown it up. His beautiful lady was drenched in blood, her face, her hands, her arms, her clothes, she might as well been wearing red. But that was nothing. She had
wings
! Like some sort of monstrous bat, they stretched and contracted with her every step. On each of her fingers was a claw, there were horns sticking out the side of her head, and the fangs he thought he’d imagined were back. He even noticed a tail lashing back and forth.

Yet the beautiful face was still there. Those exotic eyes and magnificent breasts and curves were all in place. When she moved there was the same sensual roll to her hips. It was as if the gods were mocking him by leaving so much of her beauty in place, while attaching all of these hideous features.

She was disgusting.

Alice gave a knowing nod. “I can tell by the way you’re looking at me just what you think.”

“It can’t be, you’re a… a…”

She tilted her head ever so slightly. “Goddess?”

“Monster,” the word came out in a sorrowful moan. This was what he had lost everything for? This horror? He’d been cheated. If he had known the truth he would have never come near her.

“Does this change things for you?” she took three slow steps towards him. “Didn’t you say you loved me? Surely your feelings haven’t changed so quickly.” She leaned down towards him and reached out a hand with those long claws. “Don’t you still want my touch?”

“No, please,” he shut his eyes and turned away from her as much as the ropes would allow. Daring could feel the tip of one claw press against his cheek.

“Alice,” the wizard spoke.

The pressure vanished.

“I was just teasing him a bit, darling. I wasn’t actually going to hurt him.”

“I don’t care if you hurt him, just don’t kill or maim him until I’ve made my offer.”

He opened his eyes and focused on the young wizard. As incredible as it might be
he
was the least frightening one. No matter how bad the situation he was still alive. As long as you were alive there was hope. He would say and do whatever it took to get out of this.

Daring grinned and did his best to actually sound composed.

“Don’t tell me after all this you’re actually going to bargain with me?”

“No,” the wizard told him. “I will give you a choice to make, but there won’t be any bargaining. First, when we leave here you’re going to show us the way out. Don’t think you have any say there, you don’t need fingers or hands to give us directions.”

He thought of the ogre munching on his friend and shuddered.

“Right you are, lord wizard, I’ll be right proud to lead you out of here.”

“I am not a lord and I don’t care to be called a wizard. My proper title is Master Rabbit.”

He bent his neck. “As you say, Mater Rabbit.”

It was at this point the wizard brought out a dagger and began to slowly turn it in his hands.

“After we are outside the question will be what to do with you. The simplest option would be just to kill you. Since you’ve tried to murder me, executing you would only be proper.”

“I can already tell you I’m leaning strongly towards option two.”

He continued to twirl the dagger. “You were able to rob Alice without her noticing. You were also able to escape her on the roof tops and all of us in the sewers. The fact you could get so many men to fight for you when you have no rank or authority is also impressive. You are a man of some skill, and a good thief could be very useful to me on my journeys. I would be willing to take you as my servant.”

Daring let out a relieved breath. His luck was still in. He was actually going to live through this. He would play along and do whatever he was told. Then, when the moment was right, he would disappear. If things played out a certain way maybe he would even get the chance to cut the wizard’s throat before he left.

Daring bent his neck once more and tried to sound as sincere as possible. “I would be most happy to be your faithful servant.”

“Delightful,” the wizard began to tap the side of the blade against his palm. “Of course, that leaves the question of just how I can ensure you
are
a faithful servant. You’re human, which means I can’t form a Contract with you and make you a familiar.”

“Thank goodness,” Alice muttered.

“I could create a Death Seal, but that would seem a waste as I can only use the seal once.”

“I am not sure what that is, but I want to avoid anything with, “death’” in it. I will swear an oath in Wotal’s name to you. No man would dare break that oath.”
Well at least no one who actually cared about pissing off the gods
.

“Oh please, as if I would trust any promise coming out of your mouth.”

“Wotal is a vengeful one, you don’t swear oaths in his name lightly.”

“I have more faith in my magic than I do in any foreign god,” the wizard then sat down in front of him and placed the blade against his chest. “Now, hold still, this won’t take long.”

“What are you doing?” he asked nervously.

“I am going to carve a morio seal into your chest, just above your heart.”

“What?!” He didn’t dare move with a dagger hovering over him.

“It’s a very special seal, it places a curse on your heart. Unless I chant a warding once every three days, your heart will tear itself into pieces. So should you betray me or run away I simply won’t speak the chant and wherever you are you will fall dead within three days. Obviously, the same will occur if you should kill me. I think this will do to ensure your loyalty.”

Daring stared at him in horror.

“Feel free to scream as much as you like, but try not to move or we will be here all night.”

XXX

Gronk pushed the iron door open. It gave with a loud squeal from its rusted hinges. The other side of the door was covered in moss and wild grass. When they stepped outside it was still night time.

“I have never been so happy to see stars,” Waldo said.

“We all smell like sewer,” Alice complained. “And these blood stains are never coming all the way out.”

“I will buy you new clothes at the next city we visit. I can certainly afford it now.” Not only had they taken the coins, they had also gathered up all the weapons before setting out. It was a staggering number of short swords, daggers, and throwing knives.

From where they were Waldo could easily make out the walls of Norwich perhaps a mile behind them.

“You did a fine job thief. Now take us to Willmon’s Tower.”

Cleptus gave a sour grunt and rubbed his chest. He was not bound and was even armed. “It isn’t that easy. I know the sewers like the back of my hand. I’ve never been in the marshes. I only have a vague idea where the ruins are.”

“That’s still more than the rest of us have. Lead the way. I want to be as far from the city as possible when the horrible ball of fire rises.”

“Of course, Master Rabbit,” still rubbing his chest Cleptus started walking.

Gronk, who remained in his true form, followed. Alice, who appeared human once more, hung back with Waldo.

“You know, darling, you look really happy right now.”

“Do I?”

Alice nodded. “You look like the cat that caught the rat.”

Waldo stared out at Cleptus as he trudged northward. “Alice, would you like to know a secret?”

“Sure.”

He leaned over to her. “There’s no such thing as a morio seal.”

Alice burst out laughing. Waldo laughed as well as they started walking.

Chapter 24

A Bad Day

When Duke Griffinheart woke the next morning it was the beginning of a glorious day. It took less than an hour for that to change.

“What do you mean they are gone?”

The sergeant was struggling to meet his eye. “They departed last night and have not returned, my lord.”

“I left orders that they not be allowed to leave. Were my instructions unclear?”

“No, my lord,” the sergeant said in a small voice.

“Did they overpower you somehow? Did the mage use some spell?”

“No, my lord, nothing like that.”

“Then why did you let them leave?”

The sergeant’s eyes flickered all about the room. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly.

“Well?”

“The red haired woman, she… she talked to us, and asked us to make an exception. She promised they would return before the dawn.”

“And you believed her?”

“I know it sounds foolish my lord, but I couldn’t refuse her. It was as though she had bewitched me.”

The duke’s immediate instinct was to yell at the man and let him know what an absolute ass he was. And were it any other woman he would have. But when Alice had visited him last night and asked for his sword he had handed it over to her. When the sergeant mentioned being “bewitched” Theos knew exactly what the man meant.

“Were any of them carrying Lawgiver?”

When the sergeant nodded Griffinheart felt sick. “The savage had it.”

The duke was quiet for a long time. When he gave a half nod the sergeant took that as a sign of dismissal and quickly departed. Griffinheart hardly noticed. He sat there at the table without bothering to so much as touch his morning meal. The plight of the countryside being ravaged by an army of undead suddenly seemed insignificant next to his
real
problem.

Lawgiver was much more to him than a magical sword. It was a tangible symbol of his family’s honor and status. The envy of other lords throughout Lothas. It represented the strength and greatness of his house. If he appeared in public without it all would notice the absence. What was he to say? That he had knowingly lent it to a woman and she had walked out his front gate? He would die of shame. Theos would sooner claim to have misplaced it.

I will be a laughing stock to my own people.

He wanted to smash everything in sight. Silently he cursed the deceitful strumpet and wished he’d never heard of her. He damned that cowardly wizard and all of his kind as well. Not only had Rabbit brought this plague down on him, he had fled rather than face the danger. Worse, he had stolen his precious Lawgiver, deliberately humiliating him and his entire house. Theos couldn’t begin to guess the reason. He had been more supportive of the whites than the majority of his fellow nobles. What could their purpose be in shaming him like this?

Many claimed that the White Mages were deceptive and always scheming. That their order was consumed with secrets and conspiracies. He had never fully believed that. Now though, he could see all those stories were true. This theft could only be some twisted part of a much deeper game. He would notify King Leo. His grace needed to know what the whites were up to.

He was still seated at the table, consumed with thoughts of conspiracies and secret plots, when Sir Berrs arrived. The knight was in his suit of plate armor, clanking with each step. Theos didn’t notice until he had called out to him a few times.

“What was that?”

“I asked if I should have the servants bring you your armor, my lord. The men have assembled, and the crowds are gathering to see you lead them out.”

“Damn it, I’d actually forgot.”

Sir Berrs’s mouth gaped open. “You’d forgotten you were leading your forces out into battle?”

“I can’t now. Rabbit and his companions have disappeared. He used his magic to steal Lawgiver. I can’t lead my men into battle without my family’s blade in my hand.”

The lie was not much, but it was a small salve to his pride. Having a wizard use his magic was more acceptable than admitting he’d given the sword to a woman with his own hand.

“He wouldn’t dare,” Sir Berrs said, clearly in disbelief. “He must know we would never forgive him or any of his order!”

“It’s the absolute truth,” Duke Griffinheart put two fingers over his right eye. “May Wotal strike me blind.”

“What is to be done, my lord?”

“I want the city searched for any sign of Master Rabbit and his women. If they are found they are to be returned here, unharmed is possible. Getting my sword back is what matters most. I’ll not have my family name mocked.”

“What about the troops? They are assembled and ready to march.”

Theos shook his head. “Impossible. How can I lead them without Lawgiver? Every man will see that as a bad omen. They will say I am cursed.”

“But, my lord, we have to march. Every hour we do not the enemy grows larger. If we do not meet them on the field they will eventually come here.”

“Let them, they can smash themselves against our walls. No goblin force has ever taken this city. These abominations will fare no better.”

“What of the villages that will be overrun in the meantime?”

“We can do nothing for them.”

With armor clinking Sir Berrs fell to one knee. “Then my lord, allow me the honor. I will take the men out and rid the land of this pestilence.”

Theos eyed Berrs suspiciously. His father was the Earl of Warwick and he would assume the title in time. Berrs was an excellent knight with a good head on his shoulders. No doubt he could lead the soldiers well and defeat this dark enemy.

And claim all he glory for himself.