By Blood Betrayed (The Kingsblood Chronicles) (15 page)

“Ugh,” he managed to choke after he swallowed it. “That’s
terrible
.” He raised the pot to his lips awkwardly, and quickly drank the rest without further complaint. Almost immediately, his left shoulder began throbbing in great pain, and he found that he could again move his fingers.

Glad I am that I did not have to eat it
, spoke a strong and deep voice in his head, with no trace of hissed sibilants. The mind touch was gentle, and conveyed enough of the beast’s identity that there was no need to identify itself.

Lord Grey is behaving strangely
, Lian said.
He seemed to be trying to rush me to finish.

I thought that the Greylord was merely eager to get us underway again. Perhaps this place bothers him for some reason?
it suggested.

Perhaps. Gem, too, thought that might be the case, but I’m not so sure. Stay alert
.

The mental image of the gryphon puffed up the feathers on its neck in mock offense.
Always.
The gryphon began to form another sentence, but its head suddenly snapped toward the chasm.
I just picked up a scent, but I cannot determine its location. I can tell you that it is nearly as revolting as the potion the Greylord made for you.

What does it smell like?
Lian asked, and was rewarded with a momentary impression of the gryphon’s sense of smell. There was a metallic, slightly offensive odor, which Lian had missed beneath the stench of the draught. For Lian’s benefit, Gilaeshar had enhanced that scent and suppressed the other.

Goblins
, Gem said decisively. She was accustomed to availing herself of Lian’s senses at a much more sensitive level than the prince could. She repeated her declaration aloud, for Lord Grey’s benefit.

Goblins?
said the gryphon.
I do not know of these creatures.

Largely a nasty, brutish lot,
commented Lian.
They’ve been enemies of Dunshor since the time of Krysa the Founder. They’re humanoid, shorter than man, and use weapons and armor. Some clans raise and herd the larger species of rats.

The gryphon narrowed its physical eyes and locked its gaze on the collapsed tunnel. “Get on top of me,” it said aloud then it screamed a challenge.

From out of the tunnel streamed about two dozen giant rats, scrabbling their way up the steep incline. They varied in size from small dog to small pony. At the gryphon’s powerful scream, they hesitated, eyes rolling wide in fear. Lian hurriedly climbed aboard Gilaeshar, who lowered his foreleg to give the prince purchase.

The rats seemed to interpret this as a sign of weakness, and resumed their charge, bolstered by their steadily increasing numbers. Chittering with a din that rivaled the gryphon’s screech, they advanced quickly, flowing like a brown tide over the gravestones.

Lian drew Gem and prepared to help defend Gilaeshar. “Take off!” he shouted, then nearly lost his breath when the gryphon leapt vertically twenty feet in a single bound. It spread its wings and beat the air, climbing straight over the rats. The huge rodents didn’t stop their charge, but milled about in ever-increasing numbers directly beneath them.

With powerful strokes, the gryphon continued its climb. When it reached a height of forty feet, however, they were met with a volley of black-fletched crossbow bolts. These seemed to be aimed primarily at the creature’s wings, though some struck Gilaeshar’s body. Lian was relatively safe on his perch behind the gryphon’s neck.

The bolts had been launched from deep within the scar of the collapsed mine, so by the time they reached their target, much of their energy was spent. They managed to strike hard enough, however, to pierce the muscle and sinew of Gilaeshar’s wings, and the mighty wingbeats faltered.

Jump away from the rats before I hit the ground
, he said mentally, with enough rage to make Lian’s head ache.
Get on top of something defensible.

Lian acknowledged and positioned himself atop the gryphon’s back in time to leap onto the coverstone of one of the graveyard’s two small crypts. The impact was jarring, but he managed to keep from turning an ankle or breaking a bone. With murmured apologies to the deceased occupants, he tightened his grip on the longsword.

Quite a few of the monstrous rats were directly under Gilaeshar when he hit the earth, and they served to cushion his fall. For most of these unfortunate rodents, the tons of gryphon suddenly crushing them was the last thing they would ever know.

Instantly, ignoring the pain of the bolts, the gryphon righted and began tearing and biting the remaining rats, striking at them again and again. The unexpected ferocity of its attack took the rats by surprise, and they cowered briefly before throwing themselves at the beast.

They’re being compelled
, Gem said unnecessarily to Lian. They both had observed the unnatural behavior of the creatures.

None of the rats seemed to be heading heading his way, so Lian pulled out the crossbow, dropping behind the crypt to cock and load it. Holding Gem in his left hand, which ached but was now fully functional, he took aim at one of the larger rats. The gryphon, however, was lunging about with such speed and unpredictability that he was forced to hold his fire to make sure that he wouldn’t wound Gilaeshar.

When he spotted the first dirty form climb its way out of the mine shaft, he took aim on it instead.

The goblin never even saw the bolt before it was buried in its neck. The creature dropped without a sound, but its body made a tremendous noise as it slid back down the incline. He could barely discern goblinish shouts as those below his victim tried to avoid their comrade’s falling body, for the shrieking of the battle between the gryphon and the rats was deafening.

“That should keep them busy for a while,” he said, looping the goat’s foot on his toe and recocking the bow in one strong, sure motion. He selected another bolt, choosing to leave his Truesilver-tipped bolts alone. The
lashthirin
-steel alloy bolts flew truer and hit harder than his mundane ammunition, but they were irreplaceable.

“You may wish to reconsider your choice of ammunition, My Lord,” suggested Lord Grey. “It might also be judicious to remove me from this sack.”

Lian kept a careful eye out for more goblinish figures at the slope, but replied, “Why? Do you sense Undead?”

“I am not entirely certain what I am detecting, but I do know that I can offer you more efficient protection and service unencumbered by this sack,” the skull replied. His tone was flat and somewhat distant.

Don’t do it
, said Gem.

Lian shook his head mentally,
I’m not planning to. Something is definitely up with him.

Aloud Lian said, “Keep quiet, please, Lord Grey. You’re distracting me.” Reconsidering his choice in bolts, he loaded a Truesilver bolt onto the crossbow.
He’s trying to tell me something, but he can’t for some reason
, he thought to himself. He knew that Gem had quite a different opinion about the ancient sorcerer, so he didn’t share his thought with her.

Over the cacophony of the battle, he wouldn’t have heard the slight movement of stone on stone, but for Gem’s ability to employ her wielder’s senses far better than he could.
Behind you
, she warned.

Turning to assess the newest threat, he observed a skeletal figure emerging from the other crypt. It was attired in rusted chainmail and helm. The helmet hovered in position above its skull, as if the flesh of the corpse’s head was still there. Where its eyes had been was a dull red glow, and it was armed with a broadsword. Unlike the armor, there was no trace of rust on the weapon.

“Yield,” it spoke mechanically. Lian saw the jaw open to speak the word, yet there was no larynx to form the sound. It leveled the sword at him and advanced slowly. Behind it, more skeletons were shuffling from the opening in the crypt. These were unarmored bare bones, and moved with the dull, aimless motions that characterized mere animated dead.

He replied, “I don’t think so,” and took aim at the center of its breastplate, since Undead were frequently stopped by a strike on the place once housing their heart. He let fly and the bolt struck true, piercing the armor and driving the creature back a full step. Lian let the crossbow fall, where it hung from the strap attaching it to his pack.

It laughed, a cold, emotionless cackle, and halted its advance long enough to rip the bolt from its sternum. The other skeletons didn’t falter, however, and reached out to grasp at Lian.

Gem’s steel sang with his first strike, which shattered the skull of the closest skeleton. The remainder of its bones collapsed in a pile where it had been standing. His return stroke severed the hands of the next one, and he retreated around the side of the crypt to limit their advance.

Gem provided him with a momentary flash of the scene behind him. Gilaeshar was still tearing rats apart, but blood was flowing freely from dozens of bites. Goblins were arriving at the surface from below, stopping to load their crossbows. Lian knew that they’d attack the gryphon when they had done so, since they wouldn’t be concerned if they hit a rat or two.

Lian ran across the graveyard to distance himself from the assailants, particularly the armor-clad skeleton.
Gem, contact Gilaeshar again and tell him to flee
, he said to his blade.

Much to his surprise, the gryphon answered him directly.
You are no match for them alone. I will deal with the goblins after I finish here
. There were only two of the huge, pony-sized rats left.

There’s not enough time! By the time you manage that, the goblins will pincushion you. If you get away, will you be able to heal those wounds?
He reached the slope that dropped abruptly away from both the village and the graveyard, and began sliding down the escarpment, a little faster than he would have liked.

Yes. That isn’t a concern, as we heal very quickly. I will stay, however, for they will fire upon you if I flee.
Gilaeshar’s mind showed no fear of his probable fate.

I’ll be out of their line of sight in a second. Go, Gilaeshar. Don’t waste your life against vermin
.

The beast chuckled.
You think like a gryphon. All right, I’m off.
The entire exchange had consumed scant seconds, and Gilaeshar shrieked once again, shattering the air with his mighty bellow. This startled the two remaining rats, both already wounded by his razor-sharp talons and beak. With a speed that amazed Lian, the gryphon bounded clear of the rats, and landed amid the skeletons in pursuit of the prince, smashing and scattering them before leaping again. It ran in the opposite direction from Lian, pursued by the surviving rats.

Did I mention that we move fast on the ground, too
? he asked with another chuckle.
Stay above-ground if you can arrange it, and I shall find you again. Beware the knight. I can sense that he is powerful.

Fair wind under your wings, my friend
, Lian said earnestly.
I can already attest that I am honored to know you.

And I you, young human. Survive this day.

The goblins were still scrambling to load their bows, but only a few managed to finish in time to take aim at the rapidly retreating gryphon. These goblins fired at the beast, hoping for a lucky disabling shot. Although one bolt did strike Gilaeshar’s hindquarters, it didn’t slow the creature down. With another mighty leap, he vanished behind some boulders.

To Lian’s relief, the rats continued to pursue the gryphon, followed by about a third of the goblins. The other nine goblins had been heading in his direction when he lost sight of them. The incline ended in a gully, and he leapt across it to the opposite side, scrambling to climb up the steep opposite bank. Once over the top, he’d be able to stay out of sight for some time. The goblins, shorter and more heavily encumbered than he, would find the steep climb to be a struggle.

When he crested the ridge, he could see that the armor-clad Undead was also following him, though its pace was much slower than Lian’s. Without warning, he heard a clang and felt an immediate impact on his left shoulder that cost him his footing. He slid down the side of the ridge away from the goblins, fighting to keep his balance.

His left arm was again struck numb by the impact of the lucky goblin’s bolt, and his pack slipped from his shoulders as he skidded across loose rock and dirt. He fought the impulse to grab at it with his right hand, since he’d rather sacrifice the pack and its contents than lose Gem.

“Shit!” he managed to exclaim as he passed his pack, which slid to a stop. His own slide continued, however, until his outstretched legs hit a small boulder. He was propelled up and over the rock, and he began to tumble in earnest. After what felt like an eternity, he finally came to rest at the bottom of the ridge in a dried creek bed. His left side ached from the crossbow impact, but he could move his fingers again. His armor had held and Gem hadn’t sliced him accidentally.

Two more bolts clattered onto the rocks, but they were fired in haste and didn’t come close. He struggled painfully to his feet and limped downstream, following the creek bed as it turned right and lost sight of the top of the ridge.

No broken bones, thank the gods
, Gem said.
You need to stop scaring me so much
.

And I, myself
, Lian agreed grimly.
We lost Lord Grey, unless they somehow miss the pack
.

Gem thought it was good riddance, but refrained from comment. Both of them realized it was unlikely that the goblins would overlook the pack, since their nightvision was the equal of both elves’ and Lian’s witchsight. Daylight, on the other hand, tended to dazzle and blind them, so he’d have some advantage over his pursuers as the sun rose from the horizon.

He was fairly certain that the sunlight would not have any adverse affect on the knight, as the gryphon had called the skeletal being. He knew that it was likely to be by far the more dangerous adversary. He also knew that the Undead knight was unlikely to give up, and would relentlessly pursue him until it caught him or its sender recalled it.