The Grim Wanderer (19 page)

‘Yer goin’ ter taste Rhungari
steel
,’ Forgrun growled. ‘Then foul mouth,’ he thrust his axe at Remar, ‘I be goin’ ter silence thy treacherous lyin’ tongue.’

As if the bulk of an angry Forgrun was not intimidating enough, Bodran was following close behind with an axe in each hand. The Brother of Gromm had removed his black shirt to reveal a muscular torso covered in swirling white tribal tattoos. Bodran emanated menace, with a stare that was death itself.

To see how the bandits looked at the Rhungars in terror, almost brought a smile to Taem’s face. Suddenly – now he was no longer alone – Taem felt very powerful indeed.

As the townspeople murmured between themselves with a sliver of new hope, the Aborle and the Rhungars took up position either side of Taem. There was no longer an arrogance about Remar’s appearance. He glanced anxiously at the Rhungars – both were in such a psyched up state that they were baring their teeth and growling.

‘Four against twenty,’ Remar said hesitantly, ‘the odds are still against you.’

‘I assure you,’ Taem said – and he himself was surprised at how strong his voice sounded – ‘the odds are well in our favour. If you run away now, you can still live.’

‘And I offer you,
boy
,’ Remar spat, ‘a life as my slave! Or if you’re lucky,
death.
’

With Remar’s yell, the bandits drew their weapons and advanced towards the companions.

As smooth as silk, Baek drew and loosed an arrow from his silver-yew bow. A bandit crumpled over, wincing at the arrow embedded in his stomach, as he slumped to the white flagstones. Forgrun could barely contain his built up aggression so, with a nod from Taem, the Rhungar let out a mighty war cry and charged at the bandits. Taem ran with Forgrun, and Bodran sprinted in front, so keen was he for a noble death. By the time Taem and the Rhungars reached the enemy, another bandit had fallen with an Aborle arrow through his throat. Forgrun’s axe thudded into a bandit chest. The force of the weighty weapon’s blow hurled the dead brigand straight to the paving slabs. A second opponent swung at the Rhungar horizontally. Forgrun’s axe smashed into the bandit’s heavy sword swing. The bandit hollered in pain, as his sword flew from his grasp. Forgrun swung his axe back, driving his axe-spike through the bandit’s neck.

Taem obliterated his first enemy with a downward strike, through the skull. No hesitation. He glided to the side, dodging an enemy swing. Taem dropped a bandit with a diagonal slash, bottom right to top left. He brought his blade back across his body, blocking to his right, as a third enemy rushed in to attack him with a broadsword. That was close, Taem thought. He had to move faster! Their swords clashed, and on Taem’s follow up movement the bandit fell clutching his ruptured stomach.

Bodran run through the bandits, hacking and smashing. With a hunger for death, and a ferocity Taem had never seen. Bodran was not a skilled warrior, but his savage rage took the terrified bandits by surprise. The Brother of Gromm felled three bandits with his whirlwind of axes.

Baek had shot another foe before battle was joined and, as he now ran into close combat range, the Aborle drew his broadsword. He spun his bow, with its steel caps on either end, whipping it into a bandit’s face, stunning him. A moment later the Aborle thrust his broadsword into the bandit’s side.

But Baek could not pull his sword out from the dying foe, and he had to defend himself against new adversaries! Baek abandoned his sword, leaving it embedded in the bandit’s body. He swivelled as two lumbering brigands charged him. Lashing out with his bow, Baek rapped one bandit across the knuckles. The thug whimpered in pain, dropping his cudgel. The Aborle snapped round to face the second adversary. He was too close! Baek just managed to evade the swing of the bandit’s cutlass, jumping to the side. As the Aborle moved to dodge the second enemy, the other brigand jumped on him from behind. The bandit grabbed hold of Baek, and squeezed the Aborle’s chest in a massive bear hug. Baek gasped as the crushing arms constricted. He convulsed and fought, frantic and breathless, but could not break free.

‘Don’t forget to breath, you dandy!’ The oaf snarled, as Baek wormed in his grasp. ‘You broke my hand – so I’m gonna break yer chest!’

Baek squirmed and kicked out as he choked for air. The Aborle’s hands spasmed, and he dropped his bow as he began to black out. The cutlass-armed bandit moved in, bringing his sword up to the Aborle’s neck.

Suddenly Forgrun was there. The Rhungar’s massive bulk shoulder-barged into the cutlass-armed bandit, sending him sprawling to the ground. The downed bandit looked as if he had been hit by a mine cart. Baek, who was still being squeezed from behind, stamped down on his other attacker’s foot with the last of his strength. The bandit winched in pain, and his grip loosened. The lapse allowed Baek to break free of the enemy’s grasp. As Baek struggled free he ducked, and the Rhungar came in and cracked the bandit square on the chin with a mighty punch. The bandit’s eyes shot blank and wide as he tumbled back.

Like lightning, Taem threw out one of the most powerful techniques of The Way of the Sword. Estellarum followed a full clockwise circle around Taem’s body and over his head, to build up momentum. The mighty strike cleaved right through a bandit.

The handful of remaining bandits fled the scene, overwhelmed by their opponents. Taem could not see Remar anywhere. The bandit leader must have slipped off into the shadows once he realised the fight was going against him.

A hope filled cheer erupted from the crowd as the bandits ran for their lives. Baek picked up his bow and notched an arrow, covering the two grounded bandits. One was unconscious, and the other lay hunched up clutching his chest and struggling to breathe, both had been taken out by Forgrun. The Aborle glanced to Taem, looking for the go-ahead. Taem knew Baek wanted to shoot the bandits, and perhaps they even deserved to die, but the Sodan shook his head.

Baek relaxed the tension on his bow, but kept his arrowhead fixed on the enemies, until townsmen came to take the prisoners away to get locked up in the Sheriffs’ Office.

Townspeople rushed to untie Falman and break his family out of the back of the caged wagon, as Forgrun retrieved the Aborle’s broadsword, wiped it clean of blood, and handed it back to Baek.

Bodran was muttering and snorting in anger. He had failed to meet his death tonight.

‘Me debt ter yhee be settled, me Aborle friend.’ The Rhungar bowed.

‘Thank you, Forgrun Krojan,’ Baek slid his sword back into its sheath, ‘son of Dugan, of clan Ironstone. You are a Rhungar of your word,’ the Aborle lowered his head in respect.

Taem paused to gather his breath and his thoughts. He saw the dead bodies that now littered the town square. He looked from the dead bandits to the blood on his forearms and it made him feel cold. He had killed men. He had taken life. And it had been easy. Too easy. These were evil men – but they were still men. Nevertheless, they had attacked him, and he had acted for good. They had died in combat. And surely, because they were trying to kill him, he was justified in killing them? Taem looked to the Sodan Code. He asked himself, had he acted with honour?
Yes.
Had he fought with valour?
Yes.
Had virtue been in his heart?
Yes.

Taem wiped his sword clean of blood, held the flat of the blade up, dipped his forehead to meet the blue metal, and closed his eyes.

‘I thank the Light for shining on my blade,’ Taem murmured, before sheathing his sword and going over to Baek, Forgrun and Bodran.

‘And yhee Taem,’ Forgrun clasped a giant hand on the man’s shoulder. ‘I still owe yhee debt under Kaladim. One day, I do save thy life.’

‘Thank you, my friends.’ Taem smiled. ‘Truly, I am fortunate to have loyal companions such as you.’

Baek touched his hand to his heart and dipped his head. Bodran grimaced with disappointment that he was still alive.

‘Aye,’ Forgrun said, ‘but next time yhee decide ter pick a fight, a bit more warning do be nice. I fin’lly found an ’alf decent beer in ye inn – derived from anc’ent Rhungari brewing methods no doubt – and Baek do come runnin’ in shouting that I be needed outside. That beer prob’ly gone ter warm now, an’ it were chilled from bein’ down cellar!’ Forgrun grinned.

Taem laughed, ‘Sorry, but I had to do something. Anyway, I was not starting a fight. I was defending the helpless.’

‘Aye! – Yhee and yer moral Sodan ways!’ Forgrun chortled, as he casually lent on his axe-shaft. ‘Call it what yhee will, but I say we be givin’ ’em a good smackin’!’ The Rhungar thumped one fist into the palm of the other. ‘By Gromm! We do smashed ‘em!’

‘I cannot disagree with that,’ Baek smiled.

Bodran held up one of his big fist’s, and grinned from ear to ear.

‘I be sure thy Sodan Code has no time fer ye undisciplined pastime o’
beer
,’ Forgrun said. ‘But, the way I be seein’ it, yhee not yet a fully-fledged Sodan Master be?’

‘With regret,’ Taem smiled. ‘I must refuse.’

‘Aye – aahhh well,’ Forgrun held wide his palms. ‘An’ yhee, Aborle? Yhee ’ave never be samplin’ ye delights o’ beer?’

‘Only wine do the Aborle make and drink,’ Baek said.

‘Well yhee be in for a treat then,’ Forgrun said mischievously. ‘Cos it be celebratin’ time!’ Forgrun put a hand on Bodran’s shoulder. ‘Nay be too glum, ye ancestors wait for yhee, but nay tonight. One more night o’ beer with thy liege before ye go ter Misty Halls.’

Bodran exhaled, and reluctantly nodded his head.

While the four friends talked a jubilant crowd of townsfolk had gathered around them, and there was much back-slapping of the town’s new “heroes”.

‘Thank you great warriors,’ said an excited old man – he had not had reason to be so cheerful for longer than he could remember. ‘Finally my prayers have been fulfilled!’

‘Really…i-i-it wasn’t…m-me that did a-a-all that much,’ Baek said shyly, as townspeople rushed to shake his hand.

‘Our saviours have arrived!’ cried an ecstatic woman.

‘The Light be praised!’ shouted someone else.

‘You are most welcome,’ Taem said to each townsperson that came and thanked him.

Where his other companions were quiet and humble, and Bodran could only nod his head, Forgrun enjoyed bathing in the new found glory.

‘Aye!’ Forgrun roared to the awe-struck townspeople, hands on hips. ‘I do be Forgrun Krojan, an’ me friends do mighty warriors be! We be smashin’ ye bandits this time! An’ we be smashin’ ’em be they ever show thine ugly mugs roun’ ’ere again!’

The Rhungar bragged, but the townspeople lapped it up, glad to hear someone was going to stand up to the bandits.

The companions were herded by the townspeople into the packed out Hand and Crown Inn, where Gomas the innkeeper insisted the companions stay, eat and drink for free. Taem saw smiles where before there had been scowls, he heard laughter where earlier he had heard moaning, and he felt how there was life once more in this oppressed place.

The companions were eventually left to sit in peace, and Forgrun insisted they celebrate by trying the best beer he had sampled so far. Gomas eagerly brought over four tankards on a tray, and placed one down in front of each of the companions.

Forgrun gulped down half of his in two big slurps, then put the tankard down on the table with a satisfied, ‘Aaahhhhh. By thunder! If only me brother Fucral be here; he be likin’ his beer! Yhee should one day be meetin’ him Taem – aye – yheed be gettin’ by very well wit’ Fucral. Aye!’

Taem slid his full tankard over to the Rhungar, whilst Baek sipped his with a contorted face, as if he had been forced to eat a sour piece of fruit.

‘It be an acquired taste,’ Forgrun said to Baek. ‘It do get better if yhee drink more.’ The Rhungar smiled.

Baek chortled, unconvinced, as he swirled the frothy beer round in his tankard. The thought of drinking the rest of his beer was turning the Aborle’s stomach. Bodran downed his own tankard and, without hesitation, took Baek’s and downed that one as well.

The townsman Falman blustered into the inn, which roused a cheer from the now merry patrons. After having a quick word with Gomas, Falman came to the table of “The Warriors”.

‘May I join ye?’ Falman said with a strong country accent.

‘Please do,’ Taem gestured for Falman to pull up a seat.

Falman slid over a chair, sat down, and beamed, ‘Thank ye friends, I am indebted to ye – but have you thought what will happen when the Bandit King hears of what took place? Morben is a foul man, of little temper. He’s likely to come looking for ye four, and… perhaps… punish the people of the town as well.’

‘Let that pond-scum come,’ Forgrun placed a palm on his axe handle, as it rested by his side.

Bodran nodded eagerly, before finishing another tankard of beer.

‘We will be ready when he arrives,’ Baek said to Falman.

‘So you’ll stay?’ Falman eye’s flickered with hope.

Taem was not sure. Hirandar’s instructions were to go straight to Dolam if they became separated. And there was the possibility of the Narg pursuit to consider. But Taem also realised he had started something here, and he could not in good conscience leave without seeing it through.

‘Of course we’ll stay,’ Taem said.