Champions of the Apocalypse (6 page)

Ulric stood and nodded to Lord Galan.

“Father,” he said and then turned to the rest of the assembled party.

“Our current standing force consists of thirty two full-time warriors with another hundred fully trained in the reserves should they ever be needed. We have ten warriors plus forty reserves operating alongside our brothers in the Guild and a similar number from the Brotherhood. The combined army is close to three hundred and so far all objectives have been completed. We have cleared the farmlands and discovered three Raider outposts on the outskirts of the Wastelands. The Brotherhood has sent most of their forces into the Wastelands, where they say they have leads on Raider supply posts.”

“Are you sure we can trust the Brotherhood during these operations?” asked Maria, one of the female warriors.

“We can never trust them but whilst they are away and helping us in the field they are not at home plotting,” replied Galan.

“I don’t understand?” asked Bernard, a gruff, seasoned fighter with a long, dark beard. “How are they able to travel into the Wastelands and we cannot? Are they not affected by the sickness?”

“We are talking the Brotherhood here, aren’t they already mad?” asked Maria with a laugh.

Several of the other warriors joined in with the laughter but stopped when they realised Lord Galan was silent. He scratched his chin whilst looking to his children.

“A good question and one I am working on,” answered Galan.

Synne and Ulric looked at their father but gave nothing away with their expressions.

He placed a large map on the table and several of the warriors helped stretch it out so they could all see it.

“Now, to the real task at hand, the Contest. As you know, each of the Houses in the League and the Brotherhood will send a party of no more than five warriors to the arena. I have received word from three of the three of the great Houses of the League who say they will pledge their support to our faction. Only six groups may enter and as is the law, the current leading House guarantees us a place in the final six groups.

“I don’t understand, what if more than six Houses wish to enter?” asked Elgar, one of the younger warriors.

“A good point. If any House wishes to take its place with the Thirty it must challenge ones of the Houses already selected. It isn’t a perfect system but it does reduce the chance for large numbers of warriors being lost and it turning to a bloodbath. A maximum of three groups from the Brotherhood and three from the League may enter. This keeps the sides even and the chances equal,” said Galan.

“What about the rules for the combat? How does it work and who determines the winner?” asked another.

Galan waved a hand indicating Ulric to explain. He leaned in over the table and spoke slowly.

“The Contest is pretty simple. The six groups meet at the allotted place, usually the ruins in the Black Mountains where they face off against each other in a circle. At mid-day the battle starts until one group remains. Anybody can yield and leave the field, if so their team forfeits and they may not return to the Contest.

“Ulric, what if one group refuses to yield?” asked Arthur.

“Then they must be killed or they remain in the Contest. Only one group can be victorious and whoever wins becomes the leader of the alliance between the League and the Brotherhood.”

 
Lord Galan nodded his head in agreement before grabbing a tankard and downing half of it on one go.

“We already have two groups on our side, that gives us half the warriors in the Contest. Once we defeat the other fifteen our two allies will yield and we will continue as rulers whilst the Brotherhood will be placed firmly where they belong. We should come out of this stronger than ever before,” said Galan with a grin.

“It is a good plan, father, assuming we prevail of course,” replied Synne.

“In all of the past Contests our superior training and co-operation has left us as the winners. The inner rivalries and competition in the Brotherhood means they usually turn on each other in minutes. With your brother Ulric, and his best warriors at his side, how could we ever lose?” asked her father with a telling look.

As the rest of the group at the table continued discussing the Contest, Synne leaned over to her father.

“I have been training for two years now, I must be part of the Contest,” she pleaded.

“No my, daughter, I cannot risk both of you at once. Ulric is the most experienced warrior we have and he has already chosen his four strongest and most seasoned fighters.”

Synne looked hurt and turned to her brother for help.

“Father is right, sister. Your training is coming on well but you have never been in battle. The Contest will pit the best warriors of each major House. At the last battle only three remained and the rest were either dead or maimed for life,” he said whilst looking casually to his left where Galan’s mute guard stood.

Lord Galan brought his fist down to the table, indicating that the meeting was over. As the warriors stood to move from the Hall, some took their equipment and left whilst others stopped for a moment to speak with Galan.

A great horn blared through the town, the very noise penetrating the walls of the Hall. It was loud and continuous, its sound dominating the entire Hall. Three of the warriors who had just left came running back inside, their weapons at the ready.

“That is the warning!” shouted Ulric as he stood and reached for his sword.

Another warrior ran inside and collapsed to the ground with five arrows sticking out from his back.

“To arms!” shouted Galan as he stood.

Two retainers stepped forward, one with his helmet, the other with his chest armour, a specially crafted breastplate with armoured sections around the neck. Another warrior appeared at the entrance and then turned around and forced it shut, quickly helped by those still inside. As they moved in the horn went silent and was replaced by the din of fighting and screaming.

“There are hundreds of them out there, Raiders inside the walls!” cried the most recent arrival.

The rest of the warriors rushed to the door and reached it just in time for the main entrance to burst open. Through the gap rushed a group of Raiders, all armed and all intending to kill. Without hesitating Ulric and his three nearest companions rushed the door and held off the attackers, whilst the rest fought the small number that had made it inside. All of the attackers wore dark robes that made it hard to see what they were doing. Ulric stabbed the first in the chest with his sword and then kicked and pushed the others back to the door. The man to his left took a spear in the stomach and crumpled to the ground, only to be replaced by another warrior. As Ulric stabbed again a section of the Hall’s wall ripped open to reveal another party of Raiders, all of them armed with two-handed swords and large axes. Synne, Galan and the mute guard Gratus were the closest and with great care, they inched forward, each of them protecting the flank of the man next to him. The largest man in the new group stepped forward, swinging a massive two-handed sword. Galan parried his attack and tried to strike back only to receive a heavy blow from another man’s axe. The weapon struck him hard in the chest but failed to penetrate his armour. Gratus rushed ahead but one swift strike from one of the Raiders sent him flying backwards and to the floor.

“Ulric!” shouted Synne and she lifted her sword and tried to protect Galan.

Four of Galan’s warriors rushed forward and forced a defensive wall in front of Galan whilst Synne pulled him backwards. One of the Raiders managed to slip past and reached within a few feet of Galan before Synne struck him down with a savage cut to the man’s arm.

“Fall back!” cried Synne.

The four men at the front stayed close together and as a group moved slowly backwards, they tried to stave off the repeated sword and axe strikes. One of the warriors flew back as one of the largest Raider sent him flying. With a gap in the line, the man swung a two-handed sword and took the head off the closest warrior and within seconds, the defensive line consisted of just two men. Synne rushed forward and tried to tackle them but was knocked back by an axe-wielding Raider.

 
The defenders managed to hold back one of the breaches but as they pushed the enemy back outside, a dozen torches landed on the outside of the building and quickly caught alight. The warriors fell back but none were able to tackle the blaze as there were even more Raiders trying to make their way in.

Several more warriors arrived and the inside of the Hall erupted into a furious melee. Swords, maces and axes swung but the increasing number of Raiders quickly outnumbered the defenders. Another section of the wall tore open and more Raiders rushed in. Ulric, Synne and Galan retreated to the centre, but the numbers of the Raiders had already reduced the defenders and it was only a matter of time before they were totally overwhelmed. The small number of warriors retreated to huddle around Ulric, Galan and Synne as they fought in the centre of the room. The large Raider knocked another man to the ground before bringing his blade down onto Ulric. With precision timing, he dodged to the side and slashed against the man’s shoulder. The cut should have felled the man but instead the blade slid against some kind of arm and tore open part of the robe.

Synne stabbed forwards with her sword into the man’s chest but his hidden armour easily glanced the blow to the side. One of the rafters dropped down and struck two of the Raiders as well as the massive man with the hidden armour. The small group disappeared in the dust and smoke, and left Synne choking. With the disruption caused by the collapse, the small group of defenders were given a chance.

“Father, we need to get you out of here!” shouted Synne.

Two Raiders jumped past the debris whilst the rest tried to drag the big warrior from the burning wood. Ulric stabbed the first into the chest whilst one of his youngest warriors flipped the second onto his back whereby Synne finished him off on the ground.

“I know that man, I’ve seen him before somewhere!” shouted Ulric.

“You two, clear a gap in the wall, we need to get Father to safety!” Ulric ordered as he fended off more attacks.

The two men moved quickly to work, each of them hitting away with their weapons to create a gap large enough to escape through. As Galan moved backwards and towards the breach they were making, he spotted movement on the floor. Looking down he found Gratus, his mute bodyguard squirming on the floor. He reached down and turned him over. The wounded man looked at him in an odd manner. He tried to say something but as always, it was just a gurgle from the man with no tongue.

“Gratus, come on, we are getting out of here!” shouted Synne as she blocked the attacks of another Raider who took his chances in the fight.

The smoke was becoming thicker and it wouldn’t be long before they passed out from the effects. Galan reached down to help Gratus, he noticed something in the man’s hand, it was an icon of some kind. He tried to touch it and then in a split second spotted the glint in Gratus’ right hand. Before he could moved the mute warrior plunged a thin, curved dagger into the collar of Lord Galan. The blade pushed in deeply and a great spurt of blood indicated he had struck a critical blow. Ulric spotted the attack and turned around to help.

“Father!” he cried as he clambered over the bodies.

The large Raider was now on his feet and with a roar he pushed ahead, moving directly for the mortally wounded Galan. As he swung with his mighty two-handed sword, Ulric jumped in and grabbed it around the grip. He punched the man hard in the face, breaking his nose and sending blood in a fine spray across his cheeks.

The hole in the side of the Hall was now big enough and two of the warriors were through and calling to Synne to get Lord Galan out of danger. With great effort, she and Maria dragged the man to the gap and started pushing through the breach. Behind them the last five warriors fought off five times their number, but with each parry or block another of them was felled by a blow. Ulric, still engaged with the mighty Raider continued a separate battle which none of the other Raiders would become involved in. By the time Galan was safely out of the building, only Ulric and Synne remained. The remaining warriors were, either safely through the breach, or had perished in the fight. Ulric punched the Raider several more times and then slammed him against the wall. He turned briefly and sighed with satisfaction as he noted his father was out of the building.

“Synne, go!” he cried before turning back to the great brute.

More of the ceiling collapsed and Synne was forced to jump backwards to avoid the debris. From her position, she could see the two warriors hacking away, Ulric was faster and more agile but the Raider was massively strong and his armour was almost impossible to break. An arm pushed through the break in the wall.