The Grim Wanderer (20 page)

‘We…’ Falman said cautiously, ‘have little money… to spare ye for payment. Ye Bandit King has made times lean in these parts.’

As Forgrun dubiously eyed the gold plated buttons on Falman’s sizeable tunic – which was also lined with an expensive velvet trim – the Rhungar began, ‘Aye, well, whatever coin yhee do have–’

‘We require no payment,’ Taem cut Forgrun off.

Baek glared at the Rhungar with disapproval, but Forgrun shrugged his shoulders, and finished his tankard.

‘Just your hospitality and cooperation,’ Taem said.

‘The Light be merciful!’ Falman said happily. ‘Ye
are
the heroes of old, righteous and just.’

‘Aye,’ Forgrun muttered, and downed Taem’s beer.

‘Where does this Morben Sleyhan live?’ Baek said.

‘At a camp called the Graveldeep,’ Falman said, ‘it’s not far.’

‘How many men?’ Taem said.

‘There can only be a hundred of them,’ Falman said. ‘And you’ve already killed a score of them! But they’re vicious and cruel, with enough brute force to hold this town under their boots.’

‘Could they come back tonight?’ Taem said. ‘In force?’

‘Not likely,’ Falman said, ‘it’s a few hours walk there, then they’ve got to get back.’

‘Great!’ Forgrun beamed. ‘Time ter get a few beers in,’ The Rhungar lifted his empty tankard up above his head, catching Gomas’s eye, gesturing that he and Bodran needed refills with a flick of his bushy eyebrows.

‘Are you sure you should be drinking beer?’ Baek said with disapproval. ‘If we might be fighting in the morning, or even tonight?’

‘Hah!’ Forgrun scoffed.

Bodran laughed out loud, as if that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. ‘It do make us even better fighters!’ Forgrun smashed his tankard into Bodran’s.

Taem shook his head, ‘Can you organise some townsmen to set watch?’

‘Aye,’ Falman said.

‘At least four men,’ Taem said, ‘have them watch the inn.’

‘I’ll go now and get some men I trust,’ Falman stood up to leave, ‘before they drink too much beer.’

‘Good idea,’ Baek glowered at Forgrun, who just shrugged as he gulped more beer down.

‘I’m going to look around the town,’ Taem stood up, making for the door, ‘and plan some of the defences.’

‘I think I’ll come with you,’ Baek said, ‘and leave the foolish Rhungars to get drunk.’

‘Sounds like a plan,’ Forgrun held up his tankard, catching Gomas’s eye once more.

It was gone midnight, as Taem and Baek took a walk round the boundary of the town, but there were still many people out and about. Taem could feel how all the townsfolk had a new spirit about them, a new hope. Although Taem and Baek could not see much in the darkness, the only defensive feature of any note was a stone wall, six-foot high, that spanned the northern perimeter. Taem realised it would be impossible to build fortifications before morning.

By the time the warriors returned to the inn there was much noise and commotion emanating from the common room. As the two companions stepped inside, Taem saw Forgrun and Falman standing on a table, each with one arm around the other’s shoulders, stamping their feet and shouting, tuneless and dreadful, swinging tankards of ale and clunking them together. The other patrons merrily clapped and stomped their feet in time to the rhythm, joining in by relaying back the chorus, whilst Gomas played the tune on a penny whistle and someone else played a fiddle.

‘Gromm will smash thy enemy!’ Forgrun and Falman chanted.

‘Gromm will smash thy enemy
!’ The crowd chorused.

‘Crash ’em! Bash ’em!’ Forgrun did an uppercut into each palm, in time with the beat.

‘Crash ’em! Bash ’em
!’ The townspeople mimicked the Rhungar’s actions.

‘Karlstrom bless yer brewery!’ Forgrun and Falman clunked their tankards together.

‘Karlstrom bless yer brewery
!’

‘Great beer! Right ’ere!’ Forgrun swung his sloshing tankard side to side, in time.

‘
Great beer! Right ’ere
!’

‘Odrin be king o’ all yhee see!’

‘Odrin be king o’ all yhee see
!’

‘High glen!’ Forgrun shot his arm in the air. ‘Low fen!’ Forgrun ducked down to touch the table he was standing on.

‘
High glen! Low fen
!’ The townspeople laughed as they copied the Rhungar.

‘Decu make bad spirit flee!’

‘Decu make bad spirit flee
!’

‘Yer done!’ Forgrun pointed to his feet. ‘Dark One!’ The Rhungar stomped on where he had just been pointing.

‘
Yer Done! Dark One
!’ The townsman all followed the Rhungar’s actions, pretending to stamp on the Dark One.

‘Nyna bless thy family!’

‘Nyna bless thy family
!’

‘Long life! Nay strife!’ Forgrun roared as he hoisted up his tankard in salute.

‘
Long life! Nay strife
!’ All the townspeople raised their tankards in a toast.

‘What is he
doing
?’ Baek shouted over the incredible noise, as he and Taem stared in amazement at the Rhungar. ‘I’m surprised that table can take his weight!’

‘Pfynere help thy wife love yhee!’

‘Pfynere help thy wife love yhee
!’

‘Don’t show! Won’t know!’

‘
Don’t show! Won’t know
!’ Many married men laughed at this one, as the women scowled.

Claune be of’en full o’ glee!’

Claune be of’en full o’ glee
!’

‘Jolly one! He be fun!’ Forgrun gripped his belly and shook his hands, as if his stomach were heaving with laughter.

‘
Jolly one! He be fun
!’

A swaying townsman meandered up to Taem and Baek, ‘My graaatitude frieeends!’ The townsman slurred his words. ‘I haaaven’t seen the towwwn this haaappy in yeeears! Thank ye!’

‘Joga’s knowledge doth decree!’

‘Joga’s knowledge doth decree
!’

They’re done!’ Forgrun twice pointed out to the square. ‘We won!’ Forgrun twice thrust his thumb into his own chest.

‘They’re done! We won
!’
The crowd all copied the Rhungar’s actions.

Forgrun noticed Taem and Baek had come back to the inn, and roared, ‘My friends do ’ave returned!’

‘Yeeaaahhhhh!’ The people in the common room cheered and clapped.

‘Come an’ be joinin’ me on ye table fer song!’ The Rhungar boomed.

‘That table won’t hold the four of us,’ Taem yelled back across the busy common room, as townsmen clamoured for him and Baek to go over and sing with the Rhungar.

‘
Falman
!’ A woman screamed from the inn’s door.

The music stopped immediately.

Falman leapt from the table – as a rabbit scrambles down its hole at the sight of an eagle – careering into another table of merrymakers, crashing ale tankards everywhere and making a right mess.

‘Clumsy fool,’ the townspeople muttered, as they wiped themselves down after their beer shower, but brightened up as Gomas brought them over another round on the house.

‘Yes, dearest,’ Falman said meekly, as he made his way over to his wife, dripping with beer and staggering heavily. The whole common room watched with bated breath.

‘Why are you spending all night in the tavern –
with five traumatised children at home
? How irresponsible!’ She led Falman out the Hand and Crown common room by the scruff of his neck.

Forgrun burst into raucous laughter, and the entire common room followed the Rhungar’s lead. The whole place was in uproar. Taem and Baek dodged their way through the animated crowd, over to the boisterous Rhungar, as the music restarted.

‘Come on Forgrun,’ Taem said, as he and Baek dragged the Rhungar’s massive frame off the table, ‘bed time for you. We’ve got an early start tomorrow.’

Ignoring Forgrun’s protests, and the objections of the entire common room, Taem and Baek got the Rhungar upstairs and laid him on his bed in the inn’s grandest room. They also found Bodran asleep in the corner of the common room, so drunk he had passed out, and dragged him upstairs too.

As they hauled Forgrun and Bodran inside their room, Taem took a moment to appreciate Gomas’s generosity. The room was large and luxurious, with its own fireplace. Dark beams ran across the ceiling, which contrasted with the light walls. There were two windows overlooking the main square, and four beds spaced out around the room, all freshly made with clean blue sheets.

Forgrun fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, snoring away. Bodran had barely woken up as they carried the Brother of Gromm upstairs. Taem and Baek sat in the chairs by the fireplace and warmed their hands on the small blaze they had just lit. The two friends talked until the firewood had burnt to embers, and dawn was just round the corner. Neither wanted to sleep, in case the bandits came in the night.

Taem Forgrun, Baek and Bodran stood on the grassy fields, just beyond the last doorsteps and gardens of Gulren. The midday sun burned bright overhead. There were a couple of hundred townspeople lined up behind the warriors, armed with pitchforks, scythes, staffs and kitchen knives. A few of them had bows, and some even had swords and spears, but most had improvised with whatever they could lay hands on.

‘Riders approach!’ A townsman on top of a roof shouted.

‘There’s somebody coming!’ Another watchman yelled, as he pointed to the Graveldeep road.

The church bell rang out, and more townsmen rushed to join the companions. They lined up with their backs to the town, looking out over the fields that yielded Gulren its harvest of crops and vegetables.

‘I do see ‘em,’ Forgrun glared out over the fields, and watched the bandits spread out into a long thin line.

‘They’re only seventy,’ Baek said, ‘or maybe even less?’

Bodran’s icy stare took in the bandits. The Brother of Gromm took on a new menace and intensity whenever death seemed close.

The bandits knew they were outnumbered many times over, so they had manoeuvred into a wide thin formation to make it look as if they had more men. Taem knew it was a tactic meant to intimidate, just as the black scarves around their faces made them threatening. The only bandits not covered by black masks were Remar and a large man striding next to him.

‘Is that the Bandit King?’ Taem pointed to the great bear of a man alongside Remar.

‘Aye,’ Dane Ruddle growled. He had returned to Gulren when he heard how the warriors had fought the bandits off.

Morben Sleyhan was well over six foot tall, broad across the chest and with burly arms. He wore plate armour across his chest and shoulders, with a mail shirt underneath. The Bandit King had long brown hair and a thick beard. He carried a giant two-handed hammer.

The bandit line came to a stop fifty feet from the townsmen. The men of Gulren stood firm. Taem knew the townsmen were afraid of these bandits, but they outnumbered them three times over, and the companions gave them courage. The fight in the town square had changed everything. Taem saw Morben glowering at him, Forgrun, Bodran and Baek. He could see this Bandit King’s self-assured eyes were capable of great malice, and there was murderous intent lurking in their dark depths.

Morben said something to Remar, and the weasel of a man came forward. Taem realised some of the townsmen around him were trembling with fear, but others were shaking with barely contained rage.

‘Don’t you all look
so brave,
’ Remar sneered at the people of Gulren, ‘standing there, behind your “
heroes
”. My business is with these outsiders. I speak on behalf of the Bandit King.’ Remar held his hand back towards Morben. ‘He has no quarrel with you warriors, in fact he wishes you well – so much so that he offers you ten thousand gold pieces to see you on your ways.’ A sickly smile spread over Remar’s face.

Ten thousand gold pieces was a lot of money by anyone’s standards, more than most would see in a lifetime, enough to buy a country estate. Some of the townspeople stole worried glances at the warriors, unsure if they could be swayed.

‘Yhee hear that,’ Forgrun boomed. ‘Ye Bandit King have such fear o’ us, he do offer ‘alf his fortune ter try an’ do buy us!’

The townspeople laughed out loud, some with obvious relief.

‘Go tell your boss we will not be bought,’ Taem said defiantly.

‘Nay fer ev’ry coin o’ Aritas!’ Forgrun roared.

‘Do not be foolish,
friends
,’ Remar said through gritted teeth.

‘I do not exchange words with snakes,’ Taem said fiercely, ‘tell your Bandit King to come forward and speak for himself.’

Remar scowled at Taem, but backed away towards Morben.

‘We do could jus’ charge?’ Forgrun said to Taem, and Bodran nodded.

‘We could,’ Taem said softly, ‘and we would win. But if we do that, many of these good men of Gulren – who are not warriors – they will die.’

‘What do you propose?’ Baek said. ‘I could just shoot him dead,’ the Aborle held up his bow, ‘save us a lot of trouble.’

Bodran snorted his disapproval.

Taem put a hand on Baek’s shoulder, shaking his head. ‘I will challenge this Bandit King to single combat, and I’ll take his head off.’

‘By Gromm yhee nay not!’ Forgrun roared. ‘I will do fight ‘im! Fer Kaladim!’

Bodran smashed his axes together, and the companions could see he was eager to do the fighting.

‘No I’ll do it!’ Dane Ruddle cried, and ran towards the bandit line, brandishing a broadsword.

‘No!’ Taem shouted. ‘Come back!’

‘Yhee hot-head fool!’ Forgrun boomed. ‘Do come back!’

But Dane ran up to within a few yards of Morben, ‘I challenge you to single combat, you bastard! I’m gonna have you!’

Morben shrugged, hefted up his hammer and walked towards Dane. Dane backed towards Gulren, leading the Bandit King on, so they stood between the two forces.

‘Fool,’ Taem muttered.

‘Shall I shoot this
Bandit King
now?’ Baek said.

‘Be do it,’ Forgrun nodded, but Taem shook his head.

‘You can’t,’ Taem said, ‘and that damn idiot’s going to get himself killed.’

Bodran shook his head. If anyone was dying in combat today, the Brother of Gromm thought it should be himself.

Morben spun his great hammer, and swatted away Dane’s wild sword swing. Dane turned and swung again, Morben easily knocked Dane sideways. Dane yelled and rushed forward, hacking madly with no skill or balance. Morben casually turned the blows aside, just playing with his opponent.

‘This is not going to end well,’ Taem murmured.

‘It’s just painful to watch,’ Baek said quietly.

Morben exploded into action. He jumped forward and smashed Dane’s sword. The sword flew, and clattered to the ground.

‘Pick it up,’ Morben backed off, ‘I’m gonna take my time with you,
boy
.’

Dane lunged down and picked up his blade, and ran at Morben again. The Bandit King knocked Dane’s sword blows aside once more, as easily as if he were fighting a child with a stick. Dane hacked away, but Morben just waited for him to tire, before hurling his hammer into Dane’s sword arm. There was an awful snap, as Dane’s arm bent the wrong way. Dane screamed, dropped his sword, and cradled his ruined arm. Watching townspeople sighed, and their shoulders sank.

‘Pick up your sword,’ Morben kicked Dane’s sword towards him.

Dane stooped to pick up the sword with his wrong hand, slowed by the pain of his ruined sword-arm, and launched into an awkward assault. He was weary and ragged, but still went all out to kill the Bandit King.

‘Ye boy do ‘ave Kaladim,’ Forgrun murmured, ‘but nay more than that.’

Morben made a show of using his hammer with one-hand to fend off Dane’s feeble attacks, making his Bandits laugh by looking the wrong way. Dane tired, and his sword dropped. Morben turned casually, and swung his hammer. There was a sickening thud and crack, as the hammer connected with Dane’s other arm and ribs. Dane crashed to the floor. Townspeople cried out in despair. Morben walked up to the prone man, raising his hammer above his head.

‘Hey, Morben ye arse-bandit!’ Forgrun prowled forward. ‘King o’ ye swines, ye rats an’ ye cockroach scum!’ Forgrun pointed his axe along the bandit line. ‘If ye be fed up bullying thy boys – why nay try me?’ Forgrun had a menacing grin on his face.

‘Crows will feast on Rhungar fat tonight!’ Morben snarled, and burst towards Forgrun.

Morben hurled his massive hammer at the Rhungar’s head. Forgrun ducked low and rolled forward, underneath his adversary’s swing. The Rhungar sprang back up onto his feet. Forgrun swung his mighty axe, as a great pendulum, into Morben’s back.

The Bandit King dropped to his knees. Forgrun walked past, glaring at the other bandits. They stared back at the Rhungar with disbelief and fear. Morben toppled over on his side, eyes blank and lifeless.

‘Who be next,’ Forgrun smiled at the bandits. ‘I’ll do take yhee all on!’ Forgrun snarled, and raised his axe overhead with both arms. ‘Do come on! Ye be so
brave
at be attackin’ women an’ children, so do come on then! Which be ya want ter meet me axe next?’

The bandits hesitated for a few moments, and all charged towards the Rhungar.

‘Charge!’ men of Gulren shouted, running to meet Forgrun and take on the bandits.

A dozen bandits encircled Forgrun. The first bandit to reach him was cleaved in two by Forgrun’s great axe. Wide sweeps of his war-axe kept the rest back, but they were certain to flood him in moments. One from behind lunged at Forgrun’s exposed back with a spear. Bodran smashed his way through the enclosing circle and hurled his body in front of the spear thrust, stopping the killer blow. The bandit spear impaled Bodran through the chest. Forgrun turned to see Bodran drop limp to the ground. Forgrun went berserk, and hacked down the closest bandits. Taem and some townsmen fought through to Forgrun, and within seconds the remaining bandits were running for their lives.

Forgrun knelt down beside Bodran and clasped his hand.

‘I have me Kaladim,’ Bodran smiled. ‘Ye Gods do welcome me ter thine Misty Halls.’

Forgrun muttered something in a coarse language Taem did not understand. Bodran nodded and smiled, and closed his eyes and died.

Forgrun shot up to his feet, and Taem saw the tears in the tough Rhungar’s eyes. Forgrun glared at the fleeing bandits.

‘Bodran were me friend,’ Forgrun wiped his eyes, ‘even though he be sworn ter Gromm.’

‘It’s what he wanted,’ Taem put his hand on Forgrun’s giant shoulder.

‘Aye, tis at peace he now be.’ Forgrun murmured.

They watched in silence until the last of the bandits disappeared into the distance.

A group of townsmen called them over to where a gravely injured Dane Ruddle lay on the floor. They sent for a stretcher, and started carrying him back to the Hand and Crown inn. Taem knew it was unlikely Dane could survive his horrific injuries, but as they carried him across the town square, Taem saw two travellers coming in from the west he was not expecting to see.

‘Logan!’ Taem shouted, and motioned for the townsmen to put the stretcher down. ‘You’re alive! Thank the Light!’ Taem rushed to hug his Master.

‘And this surprises you?’ Logan said warmly. ‘It would take more than a few Nargs to finish us!’

‘Good to see you, my boy!’ Hirandar gave Taem a warm embrace.

‘Can you do something?’ Taem gripped Hirandar, and led the old woman over to where Dane lay pale and silent on the stretcher.

‘Stand back,’ Taem said to the townsmen, as Hirandar knelt beside Dane.

The Wizard closed her eyes and floated her hands over Dane.

‘It’s not good, Taem,’ Hirandar whispered. ‘Both arms shattered, ribs smashed to smithereens, internal organs punctured, blood in the heart cavity. He will die soon.’

‘Do something!’ Taem said.

The Wizard placed her hands on Dane’s ruined rib cage and closed her eyes. A golden glow shone out from Hirandar’s palms. The townspeople gasped in wonder. The Wizard spent a minute on the chest, with the golden glow of healing seeping into the dying man, and moved onto Dane’s arms. Even Taem gaped in amazement, as he watched Dane’s mangled arm, bent the wrong way, with broken bones sticking through skin, move back into position, with skin and muscle meshing together and closing over the open wounds.

‘By Odrin!’ Forgrun gasped.

‘By the Light,’ Baek murmured.

The townsmen’s faces were blank with astonishment. Their mouths hung wide open at what they witnessed – what they had not believed was possible.

‘It’s a miracle!’ The people of Gulren whispered to each other.

‘I cannot believe it!’ Another wide-eyed townswoman said.

‘This man will be very weak from the healing process,’ Hirandar mumbled to the startled townsmen. ‘He must be taken straight to bed.’

Taem realised Hirandar looked so tired she could barely stand. He put a hand on the Wizard’s shoulder, and Hirandar slumped against it, unable to support her own body-weight.

‘Such magic takes its toll,’ Logan whispered so only Taem could hear, as he also moved to support Hirandar.

‘Truly, you are a great one!’ said an awestruck townsman.

Hirandar just nodded, too tired to speak. Healing magic was difficult, complicated and dangerous. It was the most challenging type of magic, that involved drawing so much magic power through herself, she was in danger of being struck down dead, or even blown to pieces.

‘Get the lad to bed,’ Logan told the townsmen, as he and Taem helped Hirandar up and walked her towards the Hand and Crown.

‘How did you find me?’ Taem said.

‘My blue stone around your neck,’ Hirandar murmured. ‘You didn’t think I’d really let you loose, without being able to find you again?’