The Grim Wanderer (6 page)

‘Oh Taem, my boy,’ Hirandar smiled, ‘that’s why it must be you! Do you think all these mighty warriors that died here ever thought they were
not good enough
?’

‘No,’ Taem shrugged his shoulders, ‘of course not. That was why they were great warriors.’

‘No, Taem, you’re wrong.
That was why they failed
. Trust me,’ Hirandar squeezed Taem on the shoulders, ‘the flames
will not
harm you.’

Taem looked into the Wizard’s bright blue eyes and saw what he had always seen, a rare kindness that could never cause harm to anyone.

‘You have helped me my whole life,’ Taem smiled at the Wizard. ‘I will trust you.’

Taem started walking towards the blue flame, weaving through the skeletons. Hirandar felt a shadow fall on her heart. The Wizard was filled with fear and dread. What if she was wrong? She wanted to call Taem back. She felt guilty that she had brought the boy here to die, guilty she was using him to retrieve the sword. Hirandar opened her mouth to shout for Taem to stop. But no sound came out, and Taem walked on towards the blue flame.

Taem looked down at all the dead skeletons, as he stepped past and over them, and was terrified he was going to become one of them. He could make out a sword lying on a pedestal behind the wall of blue flame. He moved closer to the blue flame, and was disturbed to find the flames were silent.

Please, by the Light,
the Wizard prayed to herself,
let no harm come to this innocent boy
. Hirandar felt her hands shake with fear as she watched on. Her heart was in her mouth. It was beating so hard it felt as if it would burst through her chest. For one terrified moment Hirandar almost screamed for Taem to stop, but she knew this was the way it had to be.

Taem stood next to the blue flame. His hands shook and there was a lump in his throat. He was so close the flames were baking his skin, and he had to squint his eyes. Taem could just see a sword lying amongst the blue flames. It was so hot that sweat was forming on his forehead. He edged his shaking hand towards the blue flame, and his fingers felt as if they were burning. He wanted to pull back. The heat was unbearable. But some small courage made his fingers reach out and touch the flame. Pain shot through his hand. Blue flame engulfed his hand and arm.

‘Aaargh!’ Taem screamed in terror, as the flames danced over his skin.

‘No!’ Hirandar yelled, running forwards.

‘It’s alright!’ Taem shouted, gesturing for Hirandar to stay back. He looked down at his flaming arm in wonder. The blue flames were roaring over his arm, but his flesh was not burning. The pain had gone.

‘The Light be praised!’ Hirandar gasped. She had never been more relieved than she felt in that moment.

‘I feel the flames touching my skin,’ Taem shouted, ‘but they’re not hurting!’

‘Get the sword!’ Hirandar said.

Taem reached into the oval inset, grasped the scabbarded sword and withdrew it from the blue fire. The flames disappeared and the blue light of the cave winked out.

Taem held the sword in his trembling hands and examined it with wonder. It had a simple black leather scabbard and a black leather hilt binding, but that was where the plainness ended. The crosspiece and hilt were made of the finest steel, inlaid with sparkling silver. There was a swirling pattern engraved into the silver crosspiece that seemed to have the illusion of never ending. Taem caught his breath. That shining metal was too bright! The crosspiece was not inlaid with silver, but with
zildar!
Taem drew the blade from its scabbard and gasped with amazement. It was the finest blade he had ever seen. It was of a quality that surpassed exceptional craftsmanship; it was a thing of beauty. The sword had a curved single-edged blade, the elegant weapon of a Sodan. The simplicity of it only served to enhance its magnificence. As he held it up to the light of the torch, Taem saw the blade was not made of steel, but of a metal that had a blue shine to it. Taem ran his finger along the edge of the blade, and was surprised to see that it had drawn blood.

‘Careful!’ Hirandar rushed over to Taem, and put a hand on his arm. ‘This sword is as sharp as on the day of its creation. This blade will never dull, tarnish or break. Before the Great War against the Dark, it is said a meteor fell to earth from the constellation of Alarsium. The comet was made of a strange metal never before seen. The Starmetal from that meteor was used to create a great sword, forged by the greatest bladesmiths, and imbued with the magic of old. It is this very sword, Estellarum, the Starblade.’

Taem deftly swung the sword in a figure of eight. He was in awe at how easy and natural the blade felt. Taem felt overwhelmed, a purpose of being surged through him. But he could not take his eyes off the incredible blade as he turned it in his hand, making the reflection of torch light dance along its surface.

‘This is a
very
powerful weapon,’ Hirandar nodded at Taem. ‘With this sword a man could do great service, using it to protect the good peoples of Hathlore.’

Taem dropped his head in reverence, and touched his new blade to his forehead. ‘Honour, valour, virtue,’ Taem whispered the Sodan Code.

‘This sword will make you the hunted,’ Hirandar whispered. ‘When the Dark Servants discover the Starblade has been taken from the flames, they will stop at nothing. Nowhere will be safe. You will endanger anyone you meet, and any friend you have ever known.’

Taem’s stomach churned like the sea in a storm, the thought of being hunted by Dark Servants filled him with dread.

‘Will the Maliven hunt me like they hunt Logan?’ Taem whispered.

‘It may be worse,’ Hirandar said softly. ‘The Dark Servants want this sword more than anything else in Hathlore. They will kill you just for carrying it.’ Hirandar touched Taem on the shoulder, ‘But you are not alone, Logan and I are with you. Come,’ Hirandar started walking for the cave exit, gesturing for Taem to follow. ‘We must meet Logan at Stheeman’s Hill.’

Taem and Hirandar approached Stheeman’s Hill in the late evening, three days after leaving the mountains. Taem had never been to such a large town before. It had almost two hundred buildings. The glow of lamplight was comforting and warm after a week in the wilderness. Taem looked forward to sleeping in a bed, and warming himself by a fireplace.

‘Keep the sword covered,’ Hirandar whispered to Taem as they walked towards the town. Taem made sure that his cloak was pulled over the sword at his hip.

‘The Maliven have spies everywhere,’ Hirandar glanced around the twilight countryside. ‘They could be looking for me, and they might even be looking for you. We don’t know how much they know. Keep the sword secret, always.’

Taem felt a shiver of fear as he looked ahead at the lights of Stheeman’s Hill. They no longer seemed so inviting at all.

‘The town looks busy,’ Taem could see lots of people milling down the main street up ahead.

‘Stheeman’s Hill is on the Mountain Way,’ Hirandar said, ‘the main trade route from the north to the south. It has many inns, and many traders and strangers passing through. It’s not safe here for us.’

Taem could hear the Wizard was anxious, and that made him worried.

‘Don’t talk to anyone,’ Hirandar nodded at Taem, ‘don’t even look anyone in the eye unless you have to. Anyone could be Maliven. Follow me, and keep your eyes open.’

Taem was on a knife edge as he followed the old woman through the lamp-lit town. They walked past dozens of people out for an evening stroll, and they all looked harmless to Taem. He saw rich merchants with armed guards, farmers, townspeople, travellers, shopkeepers and inn-workers. Even so, he was careful not to catch their eyes. He shivered when he thought any of these normal looking people could be a Maliven spy. Hirandar led them past shops and taverns, to the other side of town, and into the Boot and Fiddle Inn.

The two companions stepped inside, into the warm yellow glow of the common room, with its black beams, crooked white walls and red brick fireplaces. There must have been fifty people sitting at the tables or propping up the bar. After a week in the wilderness, the hum of dozens of people all talking at once seemed strange to Taem. He became anxious that any of these could be Maliven. He was suspicious of the old men sat round the fireplace, the townspeople sat talking at the tables, and some merchant’s guards in the middle of the room. Even the way a townswoman glanced at him made him wonder.

But then Taem realised that Logan was sat at a small table in the corner, with his back to the wall, watching the rest of the common room. Taem’s tense shoulders relaxed as he recognised the familiar face.

Logan gestured for Taem to come over with a dip of his head. Hirandar went to the bar to talk to the innkeeper.

‘You have it then?’ Logan had a startling intensity in his eyes.

Taem patted his side where, underneath his cloak, the Starblade lay against his hip.

‘You must show me later,’ Logan glanced around the common room. ‘But not here, too many watching eyes.’

Hirandar came over and sat with them around the table, ‘We’ll eat now, and go to our room. We can’t talk properly here.’

Taem was surprised they had to be so secretive – that they could not even say hello to each other – but he knew Logan and Hirandar would not be like that without reason.

The innkeeper served the three of them a dinner of roast beef and vegetables. And still they did not speak to each other. Taem was enjoying the succulent beef and crispy potatoes, when he realised the people sat at the next table were having an interesting conversation.

‘They say there’s trouble in the North,’ said an old man with grey hair.

‘Last night,’ a local woman said, ‘I spoke to a Sarcaedian merchant who was staying at the inn where I work. She said there’s unrest on the Border, the Shadowlands are stirring.’

‘Trouble on the Shadowborder?’ A man with a big nose laughed sarcastically. ‘Nargs invading? You’re now going to tell us that Malveous
himself
was waiting for you last night, trying to get you – whilst hiding under your bed I suppose?’

A couple of other townspeople burst out with laughter at this suggestion. Taem found nothing funny about it though. He saw the black look on Hirandar’s face, and the fury with which Logan was cutting into his beef.

‘Do you think the Grim Wanderer is going to come and save you?’ Big Nose chortled.

‘I don’t believe in childish tales of demons!’ The lady inn worker glowered at Big Nose. ‘And I know those legends of the Grim Wanderer are just stories! But I do believe that Beastmen live in the Shadowlands.’

‘I’ve heard men from the army talk about the ferocious Nargs,’ Grey Hair said, ‘but all the Beastmen are trapped in the Shadowlands. Sarcaedia holds the Northern Border, so they cannot overrun our lands. I think we’re safe from Narg raiders here.’

‘
Honestly
, you people!’ Big Nose scoffed. ‘The travellers must have great fun at our expense, telling us backwater folk tall tales about things out of the storybooks. Someone’s now going to tell us how a Baku followed them home last night–’

‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ The townswoman snapped. ‘You’re a fool to speak that name aloud!’

‘Believe what you like,’ Big Nose smirked. ‘I’ll wait till I see one with my own eyes – and not go by the word of some traveller looking for a cheap laugh!’

Hirandar rose out of her chair, scraping it across the tiled floor. There was a thunderous scowl across her face, as she stormed out of the common room. Big Nose, Grey Hair and the townswoman turned round in surprise, but soon continued on with their misinformed conversation.

Logan and Taem finished their dinners, and followed after Hirandar without a word. They found Hirandar lying back on one of the three beds in room number eight. The Wizard did not speak until Taem and Logan had entered and locked the door behind them.

‘Bloody fools!’ The Wizard snarled. ‘So ignorant these people are of the world! Content they sit, chatting away in the tavern – whilst hundreds of soldiers die every year defending The Border! Just so these idiots can continue their
ungrateful
existence!’ The Wizard thumped her fist into her palm. ‘This is why the Maliven can spread their influence so easily. Sowing the Dark One’s evil seed in the world of Men – without them believing until it’s too late. I almost wish a Narg had come through the inn door! Well, almost…’

‘Why don’t they believe Nargs exist?’ Taem stashed his travelling pack in the corner of the room, and hung their cloaks up on the back of the door.

‘Because we do our job too well,’ Logan walked over to the window, peering down at the alley behind the inn. ‘We fight and die, to keep these people safe. And that is the thanks we get. It isn’t worth getting upset about, Hirandar. It’s always that way in the kingdoms far from the Shadowlands.’ Logan pulled the curtains across the window. ‘Show me the sword, Taem.’

With the whisper of metal on leather, Taem pulled his blade from its scabbard and presented it to Logan with two hands. The Sodan Master took the blade and tried a few strikes through the air.

‘This sword is a unique wonder,’ Logan whispered, as he brought the blade up to his face. ‘Flawless and perfect,’ the Sodan Master turned the keen edge over, examining it from different angles.

Logan’s sword was a mighty Sodan blade, but the Master knew this Starblade was something else. He could feel the power of Estellarum coursing through his blood as he held the sword. Logan had never felt anything like it, nothing even came close. The Sodan Master knew this Starblade was imbued with the Light itself. And he could already feel the link between Taem and his sword.

‘This is your sword,’ Logan offered the Starblade to Taem. ‘It’s a part of you now. You must never lose it.’

‘Yes, Master,’ Taem took back his sword, touched the flat of the blue blade to his forehead, and sheathed the sword by his side.

‘And Taem,’ Logan smiled, ‘I’m proud of you.’ Logan touched his apprentice on the shoulder.

‘Thank you, Master,’ Taem grinned.

‘I never doubted you’d come back with the sword,’ Logan said.

‘It’s late,’ Hirandar reached over to turn off the oil lamp, ‘It’s a long way north to Dolam, and further still after that. We better get some rest.’

‘Good night.’ Taem reached over to extinguish the last oil lamp, and fell asleep.

Taem woke in the middle of the night, filled with a sense of unease. It was like nothing he had ever felt before. Taem felt as if he could sense evil. He felt a terrible sense of doom and foreboding, as if he was in danger. He stared up through the shadows at the beams overhead, and looked round the dark room. There was nothing untoward in the room, and Hirandar and Logan were sleeping. But yet Taem could feel something was not right. There was something Dark close by. He could feel the presence of something that could only be evil. Perhaps he was just imagining it, but the sense of dread felt too strong.

‘Get up!’ Logan roared, as he leapt out of bed. ‘Nargs!’ The Sodan Master reached for his sword. ‘Hirandar, make some light!’

The Wizard sat up in bed, and conjured a ball of white light to float above her outstretched palm.

‘Ready your sword!’ Logan shouted at Taem. ‘Nargs are coming, I can feel them. They are close!’

Taem felt a surge of terror wash over him. He could not move. It made horrible sense. Logan had told him that Sodan could feel when Nargs were close, feel their blight on the world. That was the dreadful sense of evil that had woken him. He leapt into action, hurrying to pull his clothes on, relieved Logan was there to tell him what to do. A scream echoed through the night outside. Followed by a bestial roar that was more savage and violent than anything Taem had ever heard. There were more cries and roars filling the night, from all over the town. Taem shuddered as he heard those evil cries. They chilled his soul. He wanted to crawl under the bed and hide.

‘The Light protect us,’ Hirandar murmured as she got out of bed.

‘Sounds like a full war party.’ Logan peeked out the window, pulling back the edge of the curtain.

‘How many’s that?’ Taem asked Hirandar.

‘Fifty.’ Hirandar picked up her staff.

Taem began to shake again. Fifty? They had no chance.

‘Stay close to me,’ Logan looked at Taem. ‘Do not hesitate. These Nargs are here to kill us. Follow me.’

Logan pulled the door back fast, sword at the ready. There were terrified people in the corridor, but no Nargs. Logan crept down the corridor and Taem was close behind. The horrendous roars were just outside the inn. Taem’s hands were shaking so much he had to concentrate to hold his sword. Logan reached the top of the stairs, and Taem followed him down. He kept thinking a Narg would jump out any moment. The roars outside grew louder. Taem’s heart was thumping through his chest. They entered the common room, where someone had lit all the lamps. Taem looked all over the room, searching for any Nargs. He was so glad Logan was with him. The Sodan Master did not even seem scared. Taem had never seen Logan emanate such strength, and he took courage from his confidence. There were townspeople cowering down, huddling together in a corner, praying.

‘Help us!’ A townswoman cried out, when she saw Logan. ‘There are monsters outside!’

There was a massive smash as the inn’s front door splintered, and crashed off its hinges. A terrible howl came from just outside the doorway. It was so loud that it shook the inn’s walls. Taem trembled when he thought about the Narg that made that sound. The townspeople fled for the stairs, screaming in terror. The monster’s shadow filled the doorway. Taem wanted to run away. He saw the Narg was seven foot tall, and so wide it filled the entire door. The Narg stepped into the light. Taem reared back. The creature was horrific. The Narg had the head of a bull, and the body of a huge furred man. But the creature was far taller and more muscular than any man Taem had ever seen. Its eyes were red, full of murder and bloodlust. Those eyes burned like coals in the dark. The Narg carried a great rusty axe in its massive arms, and was covered in black metal armour. It opened its fanged mouth and bellowed a bestial challenge. Taem quaked, and prayed to the Light. The Narg stepped inside, and it moved like a beast, as if it could explode into violence.

Logan took a few steps towards the Narg. Taem wanted to pull Logan back, tell him they had to run away. But the Sodan Master seemed so calm. The Narg rushed towards Logan. Taem wanted to shout for Logan to run, but he was frozen in fear. He was terrified the powerful monster would cleave Logan in two. The Sodan Master leapt to the side as the Narg charged. The creature pulled back its axe to swing. But Logan was too fast. The Sodan Master’s blade cut through the Narg’s arm, cleaved through its dark armour, and halfway through its giant chest. The Narg slumped to the floor, dead.

Taem stared at Logan in amazement. He had never seen the Master move that fast before.

‘Taem,’ Logan kept his eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the doorway, ‘stay close to me!’

Logan edged towards the doorway, and Taem followed. Hirandar was close behind. Taem watched as Logan peered out into the darkness, looking all around.

‘We must get the horses,’ Logan edged out. ‘Follow me!’