As I rode away Dathan’s words came back to me
" 'May yea wither and rot in your own fecal filth yea treacherous bastard.' "
Understandable, to turn up after so long then leave him in the path of a madman like Jael. Not very nice! But then I knew Jael very well; his sense of honour might allow him to cause pain or injury to Dathan but not to kill him. I knew Dathan equally well; he’d rat on me first chance he got and thereby fulfil the role I’d set him. I hoped he’d understand why I was acting this way once things had reached their conclusion, I doubted he would though.
I set off Westward away from Ishmir and Jael, riding for perhaps an hour through the frozen land, the crunch of snow and ice accompanied by the jingle of my horse’s accoutrements.
Time to turn back, to describe a great loop South by East. My path easy to spot, but an hour from Dathan.
Gods it was cold today, still a little misty. But then I’ve always liked the winter, the sight of the land blanketed in white disguising blemishes, ice and snow crystals sparkling in the sunlight, beautiful.
I rode for another hour and a half no sense hurrying myself, my route circuitous describing a rough semi-circle hopefully terminating in a position just South of Dathan’s town, whatever it was called, I’d not asked. I stopped to get my bearings. Yes, Dathan’s town off to the North. A little further on to the East of me stood a convenient stand of trees with a good view of the town and of the vale leading up and over the sheltering hills against which the town lay. Good enough, the trees would provide shelter from the wind and camouflage for my mount. Three or four hours waiting in the cold, no fire, the smoke might draw attention. I’d told Dathan I had a thirty-hour lead, not so, it was merely ten. Six or seven had gone by since then so Jael would be along quite soon.
My camp was basic in the extreme, the cold biting and a reminder that I was indeed a warm blooded living creature. In the town I saw people moving, going about their pitiful little lives.
As the day wore on and darkness began to fall I thought back over my dealings with Jael. A typical Edomi, he was tall, muscular, his skin red, the colour of blood, his eyes yellow, beautiful really in a strange kind of way, like amber. Unfortunately he was also a warrior priest, a fanatic in the service of the Edomi god, Athar god of the Sun, and god of purifying flame. The flame of the crusader, no exceptions, accept him or burn. Jael’s beliefs were extreme even for the Edomi brotherhood, a real zealot.
How had I become involved with him? Well I’d met him originally in a military capacity. I was a mercenary commander in Ishmir, a large sprawling Ezari city. Jael was high up in the cities Edomi mission, a pseudo-religious military organisation. We’d clashed a number of times in the military council held by the Duke with his staff. I’d gained my position at council due to ability and hard work, Jael by influence; the Duke wanted the Edomi brotherhood’s aid in a little war he was planning. I never forgive an insult, nor do I allow an enemy to go unpunished.
In addition to our professional encounters I’d met Jael in a more unusual way, you see he likes to gamble and as luck would have it so do I. I’d taken him for quite a lot of coin and being the buffoon he is he’d accepted a task I’d suggested he perform in order to pay off his debt. I’d convinced him that a minor noble named lord Thrake was causing me trouble and that a little visit in the night might cause him to desist. The fool believed me! I was amazed, he really is an idiot. But anyway, he set of in the wee hours and entered the house of lord Thrake, Jael was disguised of course but that didn’t matter; unfortunately for Jael, Thrake was in the midst of an affair of the heart with the Duke! Jael caught them In Flagrante Delecto so to speak. Jael back pedalled rather quickly I understand but unfortunately the Duke’s men caught him trying to escape, and it wasn’t long before the Duke had him up on charges of burglary and assault, both trumped up of course, but enough for him to be chucked out of his church, an exile to boot. The Edomi brotherhood will not stand for scandal you see. Even so twenty of the Brethren believed his story to the extent of following him. Time for me to leave Ishmir for a brief journey to visit friend Dathan thought I.
Did I know the Duke and his chum were there? Oh yes. Everything worked perfectly apart from the loyalty of Jael’s men.
As darkness began to fall, the temperature fell with it. Not a night to be out and about. Ahead of me the town was highlighted by the warm glow of lamps from frosted windows, the wind whipped around me, and my horse began to shuffle in his place, obviously cold and uncomfortable. I couldn’t blame him.
Now, how to deal with Jael? That was my quandary. I had a simple plan, but Dathan needed to play his part first. I needs must wait for the right time. Full darkness was upon me by the time I saw the silhouettes of the column of horsemen breast the low hill and head into town. I counted twenty-one horses. Good, they’d arrived. I watched them enter the town and move out of sight, I was sure they’d make their presence known. While they moved into town I moved further into the trees and built a fire. Out of the wind, shielded by low bushes, which incidentally also blocked the town’s view of the glow. If anyone saw the fire light they might be suspicious, but it was a risk I had to take, it was just too cold. Lighting the fire was another matter, I was forced to give shadow a nudge to get a flame going, but a fire is a fire is a fire. Especially to a freezing prince and lord of shadows such as myself.
I waited for several hours, cold, hungry. My horse was bathed in the glow of my small fire, although little warmth seemed to reach him. Not long now Jask I thought, that’s his name by the way. Time to move. I limbered up, forcing blood around my frigid body. I checked that Jask was securely hobbled, and then a brief weapons check, a long knife and a hatchet, both secure. I moved off down the hill towards the town. Hard work in the snow and l was leaving an obvious trail back to my makeshift camp, but it couldn’t be helped. Or could it, a little pattern induced snowfall would help. A mere tweak. Large flakes began to fall, those falling on my face melted. I brushed away a huge one that got caught in my eyelash.
As I reached the closest building, I heard the sound of shouting and glass breaking emanated from the central portion of the town. Jael was angry then! Not only Dathan but the entire town were to suffer for my actions it seemed. Pity.
I slipped in between two houses, drew forth the hatchet and knife and moved forward carefully, in order to watch the street from the shelter of the alleyway the houses formed.
The street was quiet and partially lit from a window with a shutter half closed, the light flared orange, reflected off the freshly fallen snow. No one around. I moved on, turned left then right, heading towards the centre of the community. A shutter clanged shut has I passed by, wise, stay indoors whoever you are, thought I.
Noises came to me, shouting, some screaming and breaking glass. Dathan's place was off to the East somewhere; I'd try there once I'd seen what was happening in town.
It was a little warmer here, more sheltered and warm bodies even separated from me by a wall had raised the temperature hereabouts some. I heard voices moving toward me, they'd round the corner in a second or two, I looked around for a convenient hiding place, nothing! No, wait, a doorway in shadow. Good! I moved quickly to the door, positioned myself as best I could, held my breath.
There were two of them, Edomi warriors, crimson skinned, yellow eyed, and I knew they'd be completely hairless although they wore helmets so I couldn't see their heads properly. They carried swords at the ready, blood was smeared along the length of the left-most fellow's blade.
So it seemed that they meant business. Some unfortunate had suffered, possibly died for me. Sad, but then the victim was mortal so he'd have only lived a few score years in any case. As the two Edomi moved beyond me I step out behind them, I moved forward quickly and buried my hatchet in the neck of the Edomi with the ensanguined blade, he fell with a grunt. His fellow spun, his mouth opened ready to shout an alarum, but I had already moved in, my empty right hand covered his mouth, muffling any screams, the knife in my left entered his abdomen just below the ribs and sought his heart, found it, A startled look appeared in his eyes. Why do so many people seem surprised when death finds them? He remained upright for a second then jerked slightly and began to slide earthward as his eyes glazed over. I let him drop and turned to the hatchet bitten fellow. He was still alive, barely, my strike had severed the carotid, he'd be dead very soon I knew. I let him have his last few moments. Moving the bodies was pointless as I'd leave an obvious trail in the snow, so I simply retrieved the hatchet, cleaned the blades of both weapons on the cloak of one of the nameless dead and moved on.
I continued without serious problems for some minutes before I spotted Jael. He was in the company of five of his followers; they were putting a ramshackle hut that was no doubt someone's home to torch for some reason. A weeping woman knelt in the snow next to a bundle of rags and flesh that had probably been her husband, a garish ribbon of red flowed into the snow from the dead man's ruined throat.
At Jael's feet crouched the familiar form of Dathan, short stocky with hair in disarray, the norm for him, but his hands were bound behind his back and his face bore dark welts, a great split had opened in his left cheek where he'd probably been struck with a weapon butt. He'd live but he'd undoubtedly bear the marks of this day for some time. I stepped back, no use walking into a fight with six skilled warriors, I'm good but I'm not my father!
So to my task, find the rest of Jael's men, kill them. Simple? No not really, but Jael only really had a chance of taking me on with his little faction in tow. So I intended to take them away from him too. I backtracked and circled the town square looking for more Edomi to kill.
I spent an hour lurking and took out another four Edomi for the cost of a gash to my left bicep, I'd killed six of them by now, which left fifteen enemies including Jael. My seventh and eighth proved to be a problem, why they insisted on going around in pairs I don't know. As I moved up to tackle number seven I heard a voice raised in alarm in the distance.
"FAIRHN SCHUILDH!" came the cry.
"Blood and Death!" in the Edomi tongue.
A body had been discovered obviously! Only a matter of time really. Unfortunatelly the cry had come from behind me. Number seven and his annoying companion number eight, turned about-face and spotted me. After a moment of shock, they moved in to attack, my death on their miniscule minds, they shouted out an alarm in their guttural tongue. Not too long before help would arrive, so move and strike. I slid in, swayed to the first man's right and struck at his weapon arm with my axe having feinted toward his head, he attempted a parry as I'd anticipated and I felt the satisfying thud as the axe hit home. He dropped his sword and cried out in pain, from the look of the arm it was broken.
Meanwhile his companion a tall stocky powerfully built individual tried to encircle me. I stepped back and sidestepped bringing myself just out of range and hurled my knife at him. Unfortunately he knew his business and brought his shield into play. My knife skittered off into the dark somewhere. He moved in cagily, his eyes keeping my whole body well in view, he was a warrior of some ability I knew. He was also armoured and had a shield, I had neither.
I had a choice, run for it or fight this man and hope help didn't arrive before I took him. I had to kill him and number seven. I made as if to hurl my axe, by reflex he raised his shield. My chance. I rushed in and kicked down with all my strength at his knee. A crack, followed by a scream. He fell, and as he did I moved forward and struck several times at his neck and head with my hatchet. He lay still, his blood running across his flesh, indistinct against his skin of crimson. I turned to number seven, he back away crying out for aid. No mercy for you my Edomi fanatic. Aid was near though, running feet, help for this Edomi fool. Close but too far, even so I needs must hurry. My hatchet struck him full in the face, I struck again when he was on the ground to make sure, then ran for it.
Behind me I heard shouts of anger and confusion. Time to move, time to think.
A hotbed of rogues this. Yes. They may have considered themselves holy crusaders but I've seen their like everywhere. Murderers, sadists, you name it I've seen them all. Pleasing really to play at being the hero. The fact that no one here would have been in any danger had I not entered their lives was neither here nor there, a mere quibble in fact.
Off and on went I, a left turn a right, scuttling through a narrow alley, sideways on. Too narrow really, I scraped the skin from my chest as I passed through, annoying. After a while I paused and regained my breath. I listened. Sounds of pursuit... some coming my way. I crouched down out of sight, in an alley behind a stack of firewood. I didn't mind hiding from my enemies by the by, they'd not live to tell anyway. Eight down thirteen to go.
They'd be more wary now, and probably go around in larger groups. So be it! I will not allow an enemy to live long enough to become a real threat.
There they were four of them flaming brands in hand. I crouched down further and let them pass.
Cold.
My exertions had raised a sweat and I was now hiding in a dark alley leaning against an ice-covered stack of wood. I realised that I'd freeze to death unless I got myself into shelter; I couldn't afford to sit still any longer. I stood and in a slightly jerky gait moved around back.
I found it! The door. It was unlocked, as I had anticipated. Isn't the pattern wonderful? Entering the building I found myself in a darkened room, shutters fastened tight, so much the better. I stood still a moment to get myself used to the reduced illumination. A dark grey blur of furniture and a fireplace met my eyes. Good. I moved over towards the fireplace. After some jiggering I managed to start a small blaze, luckily the owner of the property had stocked up on firewood indoors too. I knelt in front of the growing blaze and thawed out.
An hour went by with no real changes, apart from my restored sense of well-being. Time to move again.
Or not. As I limbered up and was satisfied I'd be able to move with some fluidity, I heard Jael's voice in the street, shouting.
I moved to the shuttered window nearest the noise and through a chink looked out.. He stood amidst four of his men, at his feet squatted Dathan, tired and bloody. At Jael's back I saw a reddish glow, a flicker. Had he set fire to this piss poor little town?
He called out again.
"Brannan, come out." His words came with the usual Edomi burr, making Brannan sound like Berr-a-naan.
"You've done well, I give you credit for your skill, but it is time to face me. I have nothing to lose, no honourable way to go on. If you do not come to this one's house I will kill him and everyone in this... muklaak. "
Jael gestured at Dathan as he spoke, the word 'muklaak' I assumed referred to Dathan's charming little community, although I must admit it wasn't a word I knew. Strange, he must have been moving around repeating his performance in various locations, he certainly didn't know I was here or he'd have come after me.
I was interested in Jael's motives. Very. Eight of the Edomi were missing. The settlement appeared to be aflame and Jael wanted me to come forward. Illogical. Come out or I burn the town that's already burning? A hint of panic then. He was afraid I'd slip away, an option to be true, but no, Jael needed to be dealt with.
Why not? I'd let him have his chance. A little reconnoitre first though. I slipped outside, luckily the door gave out to a position not visible to Jael. I circled around to a new position and facing away from Jael with hands cupped I called out an answer.
"Still the fool eh Jael? Very well I'll come, you'd best be ready to face me."
Then I moved back the way I'd come and beyond. I carried on moving until I'd found my way to the nearest burning building. Not the whole town then, a house and a lean to cum barn were aflame. Perhaps I should have brought a bow myself, too late now though. Gods the stench, what was it, I looked inside and saw the bodies. The Edomi, I'd taken out were arranged in a row and had been drenched in oil, they burned like it anyway. I moved on and spotted the others. A pile of ten, fifteen maybe, men, women and a child, at least one child. All dead, Jael had meant it when he'd said he'd got no honourable way out.
I pushed the image away, shadowlings, mortals, dead soon anyway.
I skirted the settlement looking for likely positions for snipers.
I moved in a crouch circling away from Jael, aiming ultimately for the burning town square. This whole thing was my own fault I knew but I'd be damned if I'd admit it to anyone but myself, Jael would pay for his insolence, he already had, but as far as I was concerned he hadn't suffered anywhere near enough.
If I worked this properly I might even come out of this a hero. I grinned at this thought. Brannan the Slayer, deliverer of the muklaak whatever that meant, not a pleasant word by Jael's intonation.
Several minutes of creeping around paid dividends as I heard voices, Edomi. Two in number at least. Carefully I edged myself to the corner of the next building and was in time to see an Edomi enter a small side door. The building he entered had a commanding view of the square and the now burned out barn, on sentry duty maybe.
Should I go in and take them out, or should I use my brain. I decided it'd be best to use the latter; I do sometimes think things through you know, in this instance I gave myself too much credit unfortunately.
A few minutes waiting then I moved on, outside the door to the left away from the square, more shaded that way, less visible. I called out in Edomi, "Caghlaa arrey!"
Change Guard! Would they fall for it? My Edomi isn't particularly fluent. Movement from within! Excellent, a single set of footsteps, the door opened and a youngster stood before me. Red skin amber eyes. An enemy still. I moved forward quickly as he turned his head away from me to look for the source of the voice. He fell with a muffled thud into the snow his blood creating a Rorschach effect in the snow. A voice from within questioning, I wasted no time I rushed in. The room was lit only by a small fire and what light filtered in from the open window shutters, open to allow an unblocked view.
Damn it there were two Edomi inside. They were already standing and had swords in hand. Shit! Thought I. The room was smallish about 15 feet by 12. There was a table between me and the Edomi to my right and a stool to my left, close enough to set towards my left most foe. While I took this in the leftmost Edomi started yelling an alarm and came right for me. Shit again. The right-most bozo ran around the table, trying to come in from behind.
I quickly kicked the stool toward the man in front, he flinched as he dodged, this gave me a second to close with him, I swung backhanded with my hatchet, aiming towards his head; I nicked his cheek but didn't cause any serious harm. He backed off then, readying himself for my attack.
Behind me the other fellow was closing, I spun and threw my hatchet at him. It caught him in the shoulder then flew off behind him, he grunted but came on without slowing. Bastard! He lunged in with his blade straight for my stomach; I swayed away but stumbled over a heretofore unseen stool. I nearly fell, but I managed to avoid doing so only at the expense of a wound to my left hip. The Edomi's lunge had me through the flesh of my left side immediately below the floating ribs. A fiery sensation began, to be followed by a greater pain later I knew.
A difficult position, an opponent on each side. I grasped the blade that had so inconsiderately invaded my flesh and moved in towards it's owner. He seemed surprised, especially as he couldn't use the sword to attack. I struck him a blow to the head with my sword hilt and simultaneously grabbed and spun him about. He now shielded me from his comrade. Lucky for me since he was now within striking distance. My blow had unfortunately knocked my shield senseless. A dead weight he was more a burden than an advantage. I pushed him away towards the other Edomi and jumped back, I succeeded in getting further away but the sword wound was ripped wide by the suddenness of it. Gods that hurt! A red haze began to creep across my sight now, anger like I have seldom felt. These scum, shadowling filth, how dare they assail me so! Ignoring the pain and the freely flowing blood I engaged the man in front of me. He thrust at my throat I parried and riposted towards his stomach he parried but I switched and cut across his weapon arm. Redness flowed into his shirt. Good feel the pain bastard! He almost dropped his blade when he fell back, I followed, he cut at my head I parried and launched a thrust to his throat he dodge wildly and his blade somehow swung wildly across my face it's tip slicing my forehead as it passed, but I skewered him with a beautifully timed thrust through the heart. He fell at my feet his eyes staring in disbelief at my blade. I withdrew the blade and moved to his unconscious comrade and cut his throat.
Now to deal with Jael and the remaining five Edomi.