Torment and Terror (11 page)

CHAPTER 28

Melegal rode on Quickster with Jasper latched on behind him. Ahead, Joline rode with Kam and Erin. Venir walked, and Trinos was nowhere in sight. It had been a long day. A long life. Shoulders sagging, Melegal rode on, trying not to think about the possible terrors that awaited him next.

It’s not like there’s anything I can do about it.

Slom and Zurth were dead. He had kind of liked them. They hadn’t had much of a choice in the matter.

Scorch was gone, or at least he seemed to be. That gave Melegal little relief, however. The damage had been done. He’d never be the same again. He blinked. He could still feel those needles in his eye, and his vision didn’t seem as sharp. He smoothed over his cap.

The only thing I can trust is under this hat, and I need to protect it.

Venir moved ahead with a long and easy stride, helmet off. He had a half-smile on his face and almost seemed cheerful. Once again, the man had conquered death, with some help of course.

The same could be said of Melegal. That strange and radiant woman, Trinos, had come to his aid. He should have been dead. His blood had been spilled everywhere. His clothes were stained dark red. Yet, he breathed. He wasn’t certain whether he was thankful for it or not.

They’d been riding for a couple of hours as the suns set when Jasper said to him, “Do you have any idea where we’re going? I miss my city.”

“Into some other terrifying situation, I assume.”

Her arms squeezed him tighter. “I’m being serious.”

“So am I. You know, Jasper, maybe it’s best not to know.”

“You’re just going to follow Venir, with no questions asked.”

“We’re in the outland, doll. Survive first, ask questions later.”

She giggled.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“You.”

“I guess it comes naturally.”

“My rump is getting sore from all of this riding,” she said, shifting in the saddle. “I’m not used to it.”

“If you think you’re sore now, wait until after we bed down later.”

“Melegal,” she purred in his ear. “How inconsiderate of you.”

“I’m sure you’ll thank me for it later.”

She squeezed him again. “We’ll see.”

As soon as the suns set, the winds became chilly.

Venir led them into a grove of dead trees and got a small fire going.

With the little bit of supplies they had, they shared food and drink among themselves. Every face was long and weary. Lips were cracked. It was a haggard group. Battered and bloody.

The only bright spot was Erin. The little toddler was walking and smiling. She picked up a small piece of wood, flung it into the fire, and started laughing.

It brought a cheery grunt from Venir.

Kam started up after Erin and let it go. They’d survived worse threats than a campfire.

“Venir,” Joline said, rubbing her head. “Where are we going?”

“I want to find the others—Billip, Georgio, and Nikkel. They shouldn’t be too hard to find.”

“What about Brak and Fogle?” Kam said.

“I don’t know what happened, but if they are anywhere, they’ll be with them. It’s time we clung with a larger group. Like an army.”

“I thought
you
were an army,” said Kam.

Venir’s blue eyes flashed in the firelight. “Well, two armies. I’ll keep watch and we can move on at first light. Melegal, can you—”

“Of course I can.”

“I can help too,” Kam said, rising to her feet. “And I have a few aids at my disposal. You aren’t the only one who can take care of yourself, you know.” She walked up and leaned on his shoulder. “But I want to help.”

“Of course.”

Melegal headed over to the woodland nook he’d set up for him and Jasper and snuggled in behind her. She was in a deep sleep.

Great.

He rolled onto his back and stared into the black sky. The moons were both pale shades of red. He swatted a mosquito from his nose.

I can’t believe these blood suckers exist in the middle of nowhere.

Shifting into a more comfortable position, he sucked his teeth and winced. He ran his fingers over the scar on his belly. He could still feel the blade slipping through the skin and muscle. It terrified him. All of his blood had come out, and he’d had no way to stop it. It was the worst nick that he’d ever had. He knew he shouldn’t be alive.

Of course, Venir shouldn’t be alive either. He should have died long ago.

Closing one eye, he spied his oldest comrade settling Kam and Erin in.

He wouldn’t live much longer without that armament. And without him, none of us would. Everyone’s days are numbered. I don’t care who you are.

He closed his other eye, placed his free hand on Jasper’s back, and drifted into a deep sleep.

Hours had passed when Melegal startled awake from his sleep. He sat straight up. His cap pulsated a gentle warning, standing his hairs up on end. Spying the dim light of a few burning coals he shuffled out to the edge of the camp.

Venir was nowhere to be found. Jasper, Kam, Erin, and Joline were still fast asleep.

Bish! What is he up to now?

He remembered their journey to Two-Ten City what seemed like ages ago. Venir had gone into one of his spells and led Melegal and Mood into a wild underling chase. It was one scary and bloody day. It pretty much had been ever since.

Melegal’s head tingled. He turned and gasped.

Venir stood with his helmet on—tall, huge, muscled, and brooding.

“Must you be you?” Melegal whispered.

Taking the helmet off, Venir said, “There’s no other way to be. Besides, I’ve been scouting.”

“For trouble, no doubt.”

“It’s best I find it before it finds us.” Venir thumbed the edge of his axe. “I’ve dragged you through a lot of slat, haven’t I?”

“That’s an understatement.” Melegal looked up at him. “But you enjoy it, don’t you?”

“
I
enjoy it, but I’m not fond of what happens to the others.” He spun his axe in his hands like a top. “Except for the bad others.”

“You are what you are, Venir. An overgrown pain in the arse.”

But I’d probably have been dead long ago without you.

CHAPTER 29

Venir led the way out of the small camp. Faces were long and tired, and the warming winds were stiff. He helped Kam and Erin up into the saddle. “How do you feel?”

“I can’t really say one way or the other, but we live.”

He nodded, turned, plucked Joline up off the ground, and plopped her in the saddle. “And how about you, Joline?”

“I hate this. All of it. I miss my bed and my kitchen.”

“And I sure miss your cooking.” Venir secured the saddle bags and the rolled-up blankets. “We’ll find something suited for you yet.” Taking the horse by the reins, he renewed their journey and stayed quiet. He hoped the days wouldn’t be too long and that the water would hold.

Melegal and Jasper rode up on Quickster. The thief then asked, “How long until we find them do you think—assuming they live?”

“Don’t say that,” Joline said.

“They’re a few days out at worst, but we should find a sign of them by tomorrow I’d imagine.” He kept his eyes ahead. “We’ll be fine one way or the other. Who knows, we might have to go to the City in the Mist. I don’t think the menace has spread that far yet.”

“Oh, how I like you leading me to new places. It always turns out so well.” Melegal faded back and started chatting with Jasper.

Venir didn’t pay his friend any mind. He had more than enough to worry about, mainly getting his friends to safety. Of course, he wondered if there was such a place. It seemed that the underlings had overrun everything. The entire world stank of them. He could feel it with Helm on. He dreamed it when he slept. They were everywhere.

“You’ve much on your shoulders.” Out of nowhere, Trinos walked alongside Venir. She wore a set of amber robes and wasn’t as radiant as he was used to.

He nodded yes.

“I’ve located your friends,” she said. “You just need to change direction a little. Your instincts serve you well.”

“How far?”

“At this rate, you’ll catch up with them by late tomorrow.”

“Did you tell them we were coming?”

She looked at him with her platinum eyes. “I didn’t make my presence known.”

Venir looked down at her picturesque form. It was hard to be irritated with the woman. “Is there anything I should be concerned about between here and there?”

“Nothing you can’t handle.”

“I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about them. I think they’ve all had about as much as they can take, and I don’t blame them.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “They trust you.”

Venir wasn’t so sure about that. He wasn’t even sure he trusted himself. “So, are you going to help us route these underlings or not?”

She looked at his axe. “You have everything you need to keep them in check.”

“I’m asking for your help.”

“And you have it.”

He held Brool before him. “This?”

“And that.” She nodded at Helm where he rested in the crook of Venir’s shoulder.

“It comes and goes, you know.”

“I know that, Venir, but not everything can be predictable. That would be boring.” She let out a sigh. “I’m not sure how much help I can be anyway. My power over this world is fading.”

“Can’t you practice or something?”

“Hah. Well, I suppose I could, but no. That fight with Scorch took a great toll on me. The power I let loose, Bish took. It’s a sad thing. Liberating, but sad. I feel more like you and them. I like it, but I hate it.”

“Your words are alien to me.”

She laughed again. “Alien? That’s a statement.” She patted his brawny shoulder, tugged on his backpack, and stopped. “I think it’s time.”

“Time for what?” Venir replied as she slid the pack from his shoulders.

Trinos gathered the mystic sack out of the pack and said, “Put it in.”

He looked at his axe, then at her, and feeling compelled, he did so.

“All of it,” she added.

Feeling only a little at ease, he slid off his shield and put it in. He stared into Helm’s eyelets a moment and then dropped him in as well.

Kam and Melegal kept riding as if he wasn’t there at all. He lifted a brow at Trinos. “What’s going on?”

She rose up on her toes, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him long and passionately.

Every fiber of Venir’s being was filled with elation.

She slipped out of his grip, opened the sack wide, and placed one foot inside. “Goodbye, Venir.”

“Wait, where are you going?”

Trinos threw her other leg in, sank down, and disappeared.

Venir grabbed the sack. His eyes searched the open hole. There was nothing but a black void.

“What are you looking for, some food, I hope?” Melegal said to him.

His friends who had just ridden by him were behind him now. They had funny looks on their faces.

“Did you see Trinos, just now?”

“No,” Kam said.

“Me neither,” said Jasper.

Joline piped in, “What’s a Trinos? Please tell me it’s desert cuisine.”

As they passed, Venir stood there, alone, gaping into the sack. His memories of the tantalizing woman were growing fuzzy. He turned the sack over and shook it. When nothing came out, he shrugged and stuffed it back inside his pack.

What in Bish just happened?

CHAPTER 30

As they traveled into the face of the dipping suns the next day, a dust cloud of riders came.

“Stay close,” Venir said. He started to ease his long hunting knife out of his belt.

Standing beside him, Melegal said, “Who are they?”

Narrowing his eyes, Venir replied, “Judging by those stallions, I’d say they are jung.”

“Jung?” Melegal asked.

“Aye, a fierce group of nomads. There are thousands of them scattered all over the northern outlands. They’re clannish and not very friendly folk. I had some scuffles with them some time ago.”

“Of course you did. Uh, maybe I should do the talking.”

“Sure. Go right ahead, but don’t be surprised if you lose your tongue for it.”

“Oh,” Melegal said, tipping his cap, “great idea. You do it.”

A dozen riders surrounded them. They wore heavy desert robes, but their faces were uncovered. The jungs’ hair was coarse and black. They were well tanned and sat tall in the saddle. Every one of them had a hawkish look about him. Swords, bows, and arrows were crossed over their backs or latched to their horses.

The lead rider with hair down past his neck and a fresh wound over his chin spoke first. “You are far from the merchant trails. What is your business?”

“We’ve fled the City of Three, and we’re searching for some friends of ours,” Venir replied. “Perhaps you’ve come across them.”

“I’ve come across many things of late.” The leader nudged his horse into a walk then circled Venir’s friends. His eyes devoured the women. “But I’ve not seen any desert flowers such as these. I am a wealthy man. Name your price. Sell them to me.”

All of the women shifted in their saddles. All of their eyes were glued on Venir.

“Wealth?” Venir said. “What wealth do you speak of? I’ve met jung before who tried to convince me their grains of sand were worth more than my purse of gold.”

The jung leader let out a burst of coarse laughter. “Ha ha ha!” It wasn’t a friendly laugh. He rode his horse closer to Kam and Joline.

“Venir,” Kam said in a low growl.

He held up his hand, and with his eyes he told her to be patient.

The jung leader caressed Joline’s wavy hair. “I like this one. How much?”

“I’m not for sale!” Joline argued.

“What’s your offer?” Venir said.

“Venir!” Kam shouted at him.

“I have a good horse. A fine brown mare. Very fast,” the jung said.

“Not enough.” Venir replied.

“Two horses then.”

Venir shook his head.

“I’ve never paid more than two horses for any woman.” The jung clawed at his beard. “I tell you what. I’ll give you seven horses for all of your women. I would offer eight, but this ample one is missing a hand, and I like a woman with good hands.”

Venir rubbed his chin.

“I’m going to kill you Venir if you don’t do something.” Kam rode her horse away from the leader. “Do something now.”

“I am.”

“Am what?” she hissed at him.

“I’m negotiating.”

“Have you lost your battered mind?” Kam jumped off her horse, slipped, and fell down.

The jung fighters laughed.

Kam snatched up a stone and chucked it at Venir.

He ducked under it.

“Ah!” the jung leader said. He clutched his fist in a salute. “I like her spirit! Fiery like her hair! Three horses for that one!”

“Make it ten steeds, and I’ll throw in this old hag over here.” He gestured to Melegal. “She has a penchant for knitting.”

The jung leader slapped his knee, and the others guffawed. “You would curse me with the scrawny witch. You are a shrewd man. What do you call yourself, Stranger?”

“Venir.”

The jung grunted. “Well, Venir, I like you. Come. Follow us to camp, where we shall resume negotiations over some drinks. And perhaps”—he patted Joline on the rump—“we can have these women dance and cook for us.”

Fists on hips, Venir said, “Done.”

“Very good.” The jung leader snapped the reins and rode off at a trot. His men followed, leaving Venir and company in the dust.

“You are an oaf,” Kam said, dusting off her robes.

“Just play along, Kam. I’m buying time.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You aren’t the one who’s being sold.”

“No one’s being sold,” he replied. “Now get on your horse and let’s go.”

“I’m not—”

Kam’s voice trailed off as Venir walked away.

Eventually, his reluctant friends were in tow.

Heavy-shouldered and burdened by his thoughts, he followed the jungs.

They walked several miles before he spied the jung camp. Two jung riders led him into the camp and stopped at the opening of a large round tent with decorative orange and purple ruffles around the rim. Two sentries with long spears guarded the entrance on either side.

“Bring them in!” said the loud voice of the jung leader.

Melegal, Kam, and company slowly got off their horses and huddled around Venir.

“Let me handle the talking,” he murmured. He pushed the flap aside and started in. His first glance of the grand tent landed on the jung leader, who sat behind a table. To his right, two other men were seated.

“Billip!” Joline shouted with elation, rushing straight into his awaiting arms.

The archer’s eyes were filled with surprise.

Nikkel, wide-eyed but not smiling, made his way over and shook Venir’s arm. “We had no idea. Kark just ordered us in here for a meeting. It’s well to see you.”

Now on his feet, the jung leader, Kark, came over and slapped Venir’s shoulder. “I had a good idea who you were when we crossed you. Glad you enjoyed the game. And your timing couldn’t be better. Now we celebrate another victory.”

As everyone got reacquainted, some clay wine carafes were passed around.

Searching the faces of his friends, something uncomfortable swelled in Venir’s stomach. Nikkel’s broad smile seemed forced, and Billip hadn’t even cracked a knuckle. Something was missing.

Finally, Venir asked, “Billip, where’s Georgio?”