The Long War 01 - The Black Guard (42 page)

The Ranen didn’t appear to be in any rush as his deep blue eyes slowly took in the twenty knights before him. He took an interest in Al-Hasim, narrowing his eyes at the sight of a Karesian prisoner accompanying knights of the Red.

Verellian and the Ranen before him looked at each other for several moments, before the man of Wraith spoke.

‘That’s a nice horse, Red man,’ he said, with only a slight accent.

‘It is a very fine animal, yes. But it’s
my
animal,’ replied Verellian.

The Ranen smiled and waved a hand over his shoulder, signalling to some more of his men who had emerged from a ruined building behind him. Bronwyn had lost count of the men of Wraith, but they now outnumbered the knights by at least three to one.

‘You’re not in Tor Fuck-weir any more,
sir
… or whatever I’m supposed to call you,’ he responded with venom.

Another man of Wraith, carrying a large war-hammer and wearing heavy chain mail, stepped forward from the gatehouse to stand behind Fallon. He had four men with him, each holding a pair of throwing-axes. The lieutenant wheeled his horse round and saw that he was surrounded.

The man with the hammer was older than his fellows and had one white eye with a deep scar across the socket.

‘No man in the Grass Sea is foolish enough to come here unannounced, Red man. Are you eager to die?’ he asked with a broad grin, causing a dozen of the men of Wraith to laugh.

Fallon drew his sword. ‘Watch your mouth, white-eye,’ he barked.

‘Fallon, sheathe that weapon now,’ ordered Verellian.

Fallon did as he was told but kept a hard stare directed through the rain at the man with the hammer. The rest of the knights formed up in a rough circle, facing outwards towards the men of Wraith. A few un-slung shields from their saddles and held them defensively, taking heed of the numerous throwing-axes held by the Ranen.

‘To whom am I speaking?’ asked Verellian, still maintaining his calm.

‘My name is Horrock. I’m called Green Blade. This is my land and these are my people,’ he said loudly, evoking a muted cheer from the rest of Wraith Company. ‘You are not welcome here, Red man. These are the Freelands of Ranen and your god has no power here.’

The men of Wraith were evidently ready for a fight. Bronwyn crouched down in her place of concealment, not wanting to become involved if blood were to be spilt. She knew that the knights would not back down, as it was the way of the Red to answer a challenge and not to yield, even when faced with overwhelming odds.

Moody was happier now that he was out of the rain and was keeping quiet as Bronwyn watched the confrontation unfold.

Verellian was stony-faced as he surveyed the men of Wraith Company. ‘I’ve been ordered to apprehend a fugitive from Ro Canarn and I plan to carry out my orders.’ He shot a glance at Fallon – as if they had received other orders they were more reluctant to follow. ‘I do not wish to fight you, but this is not your concern.’

Horrock laughed at this and hefted his axe threateningly. ‘I don’t give a troll’s cock for your orders, Ro. This is the realm of Wraith Company and you will either turn round or die. It’s simple, really.’

At Horrock’s words, the other men of Wraith closed in round the knights. Fifty or more bearded men, clad in chain mail and fur cloaks and bearing well-used weapons, surrounded twenty knights of the Red. A further thirty Ranen stood on the battlements and on top of piles of rubble, ready to throw their hand-axes when the order was given.

The rain continued to beat down on the stone courtyard of Ro Hail. The Ranen displayed an array of vicious smiles, but the Ro looked grim.

Hasim was casting glances around the ruins, beyond the men of Wraith, and Bronwyn thought he was looking for her. There was no way she could signal to him without giving away her hiding place, but she hoped that, when swords were drawn, he’d be able to find cover. The steel manacles that bound his hands were linked to a chain held like a dog’s lead in the hand of one of Verellian’s sergeants.

Horrock relaxed his grip on his axe and walked closer to Verellian. He was now within striking distance, but he did not look concerned as he locked eyes with the mounted knight.

‘Tell me something, knight. What happened to the men of Ranen who stayed in Canarn with Father Magnus?’ He spoke in a quiet and ominous voice. ‘I think fifteen of them stayed, maybe thinking you Red bastards would put up a good fight. If they died in battle, I may let you live. If not…’ He left the sentence unfinished.

Bronwyn knew that the Ranen who had not died in battle had been tortured and executed by Pevain’s mercenaries and bound Red knights. She’d seen some of them mutilated as a lesson to the people of Canarn that resistance would be unwise. Verellian knew this as well, and he paused and looked solemnly at the ground as he considered his reply.

The knight captain was about to speak, but something seemed to displease him and instead he turned to Lieutenant Fallon and directed a thin smile at him.

‘Fallon, are these men worthy…’ he began.

‘… of my steel?’ Fallon finished the question. ‘We die where we’re told to, Captain. That doesn’t mean we have to die easy.’

A blur of motion followed as Knight Lieutenant Fallon drew his sword, wheeled his horse round, and struck downwards at the old, white-eyed Ranen. The sword connected with the top of the man’s skull, making a sickening noise, and killing the man instantly.

‘Knights, we fight,’ shouted Verellian, drawing his sword and roaring a challenge at Horrock, who was backing away from the mounted knight.

The scene became chaotic as the Ranen threw their axes, clearly surprised by the knights’ sudden ferocity. Two knights fell quickly as axes hit their exposed heads, but most of those that were thrown bounced harmlessly off raised shields and plate armour.

Two axes, thrown by the Ranen behind Horrock, caught Verellian’s horse on the flanks and caused the animal to snort loudly and buckle to the ground, throwing its rider forward. Verellian fell clumsily on to the rain-soaked cobbles and was immediately attacked by two hammer-wielding Ranen.

The knight roared again, this time in frustration, narrowly avoiding the first hammer blow. The second strike caught him in the shoulder and sent him backwards into his dying horse.

Bronwyn saw Hasim deliberately roll from his saddle and pull the man holding his chain to the ground. The Karesian then kicked the knight squarely in the face and ran for cover, diving over a mound of rubble.

Fallon had advanced into the gatehouse and had already killed two of the Ranen behind him. Another was trying to pull him from his horse, but received a fatal cut to the back for his trouble.

The main body of knights were still in a rough circle, holding off the men of Wraith with desperate parrying and sword thrusts. They were severely outnumbered and, though Bronwyn thought them the more skilled fighters, it looked as if they’d be overwhelmed.

It appeared that Verellian knew this as well, and Bronwyn saw concern on his face as he got to his feet and saw his knights pulled from their saddles and killed by the men of Wraith. His expression turned to one of grim determination as he pointed his sword at Horrock.

‘We are knights of the Red and we will make you pay for each of our deaths,’ he cried.

Horrock hefted his axe and ran at the knight. Verellian parried the first blow and answered with a quick riposte to Horrock’s side. The Ranen spun with the stroke and minimized its effect, slashing his axe at Verellian’s legs. The knight jumped over the attack and kicked out, sending Horrock back a little. Verellian then launched a series of high attacks on the Ranen, who barely managed to resist the weight of the persistent blows. Verellian was a skilled swordsman and Horrock quickly realized he was outmatched.

As Fallon continued to clear the path behind them, and other knights began to gain the upper hand, a further volley of throwing-axes, better aimed than the first, was directed at the knights. Three fell quickly, their blood spraying across the ground and mingling with the rain. Another two were thrown when their horses received wounds, and Verellian was caught in the back by a glancing blow.

Bronwyn had seen combat before, but this was brutal and somehow dirtier and less noble. Men hacked at each other with axes and swords; blood flowed into the gaps between the flagstones. She saw the remaining knights fighting desperately and the bodies of dead men, both Ro and Ranen, littering the courtyard.

Verellian was hurt but didn’t stop attacking Horrock, the dent in his armour depriving his thrusts of some of their power. Horrock now parried his blows more easily and his own ripostes drove the knight backwards.

Another throwing-axe hit Verellian, catching his hand and causing him to drop his sword and cry out in pain as two of his fingers were severed. Horrock responded quickly and his axe hit the knight’s chest, buckling his breastplate and sending him to the ground.

Bronwyn watched, wide-eyed, as Verellian looked up. His face was wet with the rain and his expression was one of pain and resignation as he looked across the courtyard towards Fallon. His knights were nearly all dead and the Ranen were closing in on his adjutant. Fallon met his captain’s look and paused for a moment, realizing they had lost. The way behind him was clear of Ranen and Verellian nodded across the battleground, signalling that he should ride to safety.

The few remaining knights of the Red were surrounded and pulled from their horses to meet a violent death on the cobbles; only Fallon remained, astride his horse in the gatehouse of Ro Hail.

‘Ride, you pig-fucker,’ Verellian shouted across the courtyard.

Fallon took one last look at the dying knights and at the remaining men of Wraith before he wheeled his horse and rode under the gate, his longsword still in his hand as he retreated from the ruined city.

Men of Wraith began to pursue him, but on foot, and he quickly left them behind. Only Knight Captain Verellian remained alive in the soaking-wet courtyard. The knight of the Red was badly hurt, but Horrock’s axe blow had not penetrated his breastplate more than a few inches and, although blood was visible, the wound was not fatal. Of more concern to the man of Ro was the wound to his hand, and he looked at the bloodied stumps where two of his fingers had been. Then he rolled on to his back and began to laugh loudly, the rain falling heavily on his face.

Al-Hasim was still crouched behind the mound of rubble in front and to the left of where Bronwyn and Moody were concealed. He peeked out to where the men of Wraith were delivering death blows to anyone who had not yet fully expired. Bronwyn thought he was talking to himself, maybe trying to think of the best approach to the Free Company men. After a minute of contemplation, the Karesian stepped out.

‘Captain Horrock Green Blade,’ he said loudly across the courtyard.

Several dozen blood-soaked Ranen turned towards him, brandishing axes and growling challenges. Horrock waved a silencing hand at his men and stepped over the still-laughing form of Verellian.

‘Identify yourself, man of Jaa,’ Horrock commanded suspiciously.

Hasim raised his eyebrows and pointed to William of Verellian. ‘Don’t you want to deal with him first? Kill him or make him shut up? He’s not a bad man for a knight… honourable, clever… still a knight of the Red, though.’

Horrock pulled a small hand-axe from his belt and threw it with tremendous strength towards Hasim. The axe hit the ground between his feet with a resounding thump.

‘I said,
Identify yourself
. Don’t make me say it again,’ he said in a manner that did not encourage dissent.

Hasim raised his hands and smiled nervously. ‘I’m Al-Hasim, called the Prince of the Wastes. I am friend to Magnus Forkbeard and Lord Algenon Teardrop.’

The names were clearly known to the men of Wraith and all turned and looked through narrow eyes at Hasim.

‘Those are strong names to be throwing around, Karesian,’ said Horrock. ‘Why are you riding with these men?’

‘I helped Duke Hector’s daughter escape. The knights in Canarn wanted her back, so they brought me with them to find her.’ Hasim was talking quickly, as if he thought these men would kill him if they didn’t like what he said.

Horrock nodded. ‘Well, let’s get out of the rain and discuss it, shall we?’ He glanced up at the black sky. ‘Stone Dog,’ he called to one of the Ranen behind him, ‘go fetch the girl and that stupid big horse from the old bakery.’

The Ranen he’d spoken to was young and lithe, in stark contrast to the burly men around him. He had two throwing-axes in his belt, neither of which he’d thrown, and a vicious-looking, hook-pointed Lochaber axe in his hands. Bronwyn didn’t move as he walked towards her place of concealment.

Stone Dog approached the hole through which Bronwyn had observed the fight and leant forwards to peer into the darkness. ‘Hello, sweetness,’ he said with a grin. ‘Are you going to come out like a good little girl or am I going to have to come in after you?’

Moody made an unimpressed sound and Bronwyn glared at him. ‘You come in after me, little boy, and I’ll make you bleed,’ she shot back.

Several of the nearby Ranen burst out laughing. Al-Hasim looked across at Horrock and chuckled.

‘She’s not too ladylike, I’m afraid,’ he said to the man of Wraith.

‘Evidently,’ replied Horrock. ‘Stone Dog, stop flirting with the young noblewoman and get her out here.’

Hasim smiled and walked over to the young Ranen. ‘Allow me,’ he said to Stone Dog.

‘Be my guest.’ The young man of Wraith didn’t appear offended by Bronwyn’s words.

Hasim leant casually against the wall next to the broken section. ‘Bronwyn, my dear, would you mind coming out, so I can get my sensitive arse out of this fucking rain?’

Bronwyn suddenly felt rather foolish, as a kick to Verellian’s head rendered the knight unconscious and his laughter stopped.

* * *

It took over an hour for the courtyard to be cleared of bodies, and the rain didn’t stop. Twenty knights of the Red and half as many again of the Ranen had been killed, and several more had received near-fatal or crippling injuries. The injured Ro were despatched quickly and the injured Ranen taken indoors, down a steep set of stairs that led to intact basements where Wraith Company had made their home.