Queen of Swords 7


    With his human preyying dead on the wet cobblestones at his feet, cknail hurried back towards Saeter and the other scouts. He broke out into a quick run so it only took him a few minutes to find them. Thankfully, they hadnt gone far and were just around the corner from where theyd fought Zelenas hirelings.


    When he turned thest corner and Saeters form came into view, cknail let out a deep rxing breath. He was relieved that his master hadnt managed to get himself into trouble while hed been gone. He''d sort of been expecting his master to have picked a fight with a troll or something. He had no idea how or why a troll would show up in the middle of the city, but if one did he was sure Saeter would run into it.


    Im back, cknail called out as he rejoined the rangers. He didnt want to startle them and get shot in the chest by an arrow.


    Did you find anyone? his master asked with obvious interest.


    Yep, I found-ss two stupid humans the hobgoblin started to reply.


    However, he was unexpectedly cut off by the shrill sound of a distant whistle. The first st of noise was soon followed by several more, and they formed a pattern cknail recognized. It was the signal that enemies wereing down the road. Even the humans beside him, with their tiny useless pink ears, apparently heard it, because they turned to look in that direction.


    Time to go. Quickly, get back to the road! Saetermanded everyone, as he broke out into a jog.


    Together the group of rangers dashed back towards the main street that led to Heradspound, and the lookout there that had just signaled them. As they ran cknail risked a quick look around.


    The sun had now reached the apex of the sky. It was still cloudy overhead so it wasnt all that bright out, but there was enough light to strip most the shadows from the tight corridors that Saeters group were running through. The sunlight had also finally started to dry the wet ground, and the puddles were evaporating.


    Saeters group soon arrived near the warehouse where they had stationed the sentry earlier, and they came to a cautious stop. One of the scouts peeked out at the street from around a corner, but the roadway seemed clear. Carefully, he led the others to the entrance of the building. cknail listened carefully for signs of an ambush as well.


    He didnt hear anything at first, until they got close to the doorway, and then he heard a slight shuffling noise. There was at least one person concealed on the other side of it. He was just about to hiss a warning, when he got a good whiff of their scent.


    The hobgoblin rxed when he didnt smell anyone around who wasnt a member of Herads band. Sure enough, a secondter a familiar face stepped out of the doorway and greeted them. It was one of the rangers Saeter had sent out earlier.


    Good, you''re back. We need to get out of here. Zelenas men are moving in force now. Theres easily a hundred of the scuming down the road. The misbegotten bastards will be here in just a minute or two, he told them.


    Any word from Herad about how the preparations are going? Saeter asked him gruffly.


    No, and I dont care. Were not here to buy her time, if she even needs it. We were just told to stop anyone trying to get a look at our defenses until the main attackes, and its bloody well here now, the other man replied impatiently.


    Saeter grunted in vague agreement before replying.


    Fine then, lets get going. Tell the sentry to get his ass down here so we can leave, he growled.


    The other rangers soon arrived and the entire group quickly retreated down the road towards the base. The group of about a dozen rangers and the hobgoblin dashed towards safety.


    As they ran, cknail could hear noise from behind them, and it made him more than a little anxious. It definitely sounded like people were chasing them, and he didnt like being the hunted one. He threw a nervous look over his shoulder, but the road behind them was still empty. The clutter of hoofs on stone and the thud of boots were very clear in his ears, though.


    He could also hear quite a bit of activity from up ahead, and he really hoped it was the rest of his tribe. It would be awkward if it was a trap, because then hed have to make a break for safety and leave everyone else behind. The reason for all the noise soon became obvious however, and it wasnt a trap.


    The wide cobblestone road that led to Herads base was full bandits, and a tall wooden barricade now stretched all the way from the building on one side to the building on the other. It was a little taller than a human man, and had been hastily constructed out of mismatched wooden panels.


    Herad herself was out front overseeing the work as her minions finished assembling the wall. Her idea of supervision seemed to involve an awful lot of screaming and insults.


    Move faster youzy vermin! If you dont start moving your fat asses faster then you wont have to worry about the enemy, because Ill kill you fucks myself! she yelled savagely at the workers.


    The bandit chieftain then noticed Saeters group returning and turned towards them.


    I take it that your arrival means that Zelenas finally attacking? she asked Saeter as they walked up to her.


    Arge force of what certainly looks like Zelenas men ising down the road right behind us. Theres no sign of the mercenaries yet, though. How are things going here? Saeter replied.


    Well enough, the barricade isnt pretty, but it should do the job. The demolition crews have also finished copsing buildings across the other ways in, Herad answered.


    We sure are making a mess, one of the other scouts murmured to himself.


    Before Saeter could respond to Herad, her expression hardened and her hand dropped towards her sword. Thankfully she was no longer looking at Saeter though, but gazing past him instead. Both cknail and his master hurriedly turned to see what she was gazing at. It was probably important.


    The hobgoblin growled softly as he took in the figure of a lone horseman on the empty road behind them. The rider hade to a stop well out of bowshot, and he was too far away for the hobgoblin to see details, but he seemed to be scrutinizing Herads barricade.


    The first enemy has arrived. Looks like you two got here just in time for the big fight, Herad remarked.


    Oh, joy-ss, cknail hissed sarcastically. He had seen human battles before, and being stuck in the middle of one was among thest ces he wanted to be.


    The bandit chieftain then whistled sharply to get everyones attention. cknail winced as the noise painfully pierced his skull. Ugh, he hated it when people whistled.


    Alright everyone, get to the other side of the wall. The pathetic fools were about to ughter have arrived! Herad yelled loudly enough for all her nearby minions to hear.


    There was no gate in the barricade, so Saeters group followed Herad into a nearby building. The door was shut and locked behind them, and then arge bookcase was jammed up behind it for good measure.


    With that done they stepped out of another door and into the area behind the barricade, where they would supposedly be safe. The hobgoblin was d they had a wall, but he thought it would probably be safer to be somewhere that wasnt about to be attacked.


    A slight smile appeared on Herads face as she surveyed the scene before her. Her men were rushing around to put the finishing touches on the wooden barricade that loomed before them.


    cknail thought this was a good time to give her his gift, because it looked like things were going to get very busy soon and he didnt want to forget. He found that when people tried to kill him it was usually very distracting.


    Oh great-ss mistress, I have a present for you! he announced loudly to catch her attention.


    Herad turned around and scowled at the hobgoblin. He gave her a hopeful grin in return.


    Youd better not be about toy some dead rat you caught on the way back here at my feet, she remarked coldly.


    Hes a hobgoblin not a cat, Saeter interjected dryly.


    Herad just huffed impatiently for cknail to get to it. The hobgoblin hurriedly pulled the scroll case out from where hed tucked it into his belt and held it out in front of himself where she could see it.


    I dont think youve started writing or even reading, so what in all the hells is that? she asked curiously as she reached out and took it from him.


    Maybe its hobgoblin poetry, one of the scouts whispered to the man beside him, which caused him to snicker quietly. cknail ignored them.


    The vile and smelly-ss traitor gave it to the stupid human-ss assassin I killed. So I offer-ss it to you as proof of my kills, he told Herad excitedly.


    What traitor? Herad asked with sudden anger as her eyes narrowed dangerously.


    Her expression didnt get any better when she opened the scroll case and started reading. In fact, it got much worse.


    Umm, you know the man. The um pink one with the tiny ears and nose, cknail stuttered in reply.


    Herad looked up from her reading and scowled at him again. cknail cringed under her scrutiny. Why was she angry at him? Maybe he should learn peoples names after all. Why did all humans have to look so simr?


    Hes the one who smelled kind-ss of rusty all the time-ss, the hobgoblin added hopefully.


    He was disappointed; Herads scowl grew deeper, but thankfully she turned away from him and towards his master. Surely he hadnt been the only one to notice that smell? Humans sure had bad senses of smell.


    Saeter, I dont suppose you happened to see the bastard cknail is talking about? Herad asked.


    Um no, sorry, Saeter replied carefully.


    Herad groaned in uncharacteristic frustration, and eyed cknail irritably again. The hobgoblin gave her a nervous smile back.


    Fine, whatever. Dont worry about his bloody name, then. Tell me exactly how you got this scroll! shemanded the hobgoblin.


    cknail immediatelyunched into a rambling exnation on how hed tracked the super dangerous eight foot tall assassin through the streets and then killed both him and the traitor in an extended knife fight. There may have been a vicious pack of dogs, or harpies, as well.


    He left out the little unimportant details though, like the pouch of gold.


    Well, it seems like you handled the situation right, Herad told the hobgoblin. I can figure out who in all the hells the traitor was after I deal with the small army that is about to attack us. Now get back to work. I want you both to join the defensive line, but dont forget to keep an eye out for anyone trying to sneak around it.


    Yes, oh great-ss mistress, cknail replied respectfully.


    He thought it was a good idea to make sure that he was back on her good side. Herad wasnt impressed, though.


    Shut your pping trap and move. Im busy, She growled back as she turned away dismissively.


    You heard the boss; lets get going, Saeter told the hobgoblin.


    The pair then hurried away from the irate bandit chieftain and went to find a good position. cknail started to head directly for the barricade, but Saeter stopped him and pointed out a nearby roof with easy ess by an exterior stairway.


    It was just off to one side of the barricade, was within easy bow shot of it, and had a clear view of the street. The building was also tall enough that anyone below would have trouble scaling it to get at them, so they made their way over to it.


    By the time they reached the rooftop balcony the horseman had disappeared. The road in front of Herads barricade was now empty.


    Maybe he got-ss scared and went home. Im very scary; people-ss run from me all the time, cknail remarked hopefully.


    Not likely, his master chuckled in reply.


    Saeter and the hobgoblin werent the only ones getting into position; dozens of Herads bandits were also nearby and getting ready. The barricade was too thin to at the top to stand on but tforms had been set up behind it for people to climb up.


    Most of the tforms were just stacks of crates or barrels that had been piled up behind the wooden wall. There were also one or two carts that had been dragged over. The makeshift footing looked effective though; the bandits standing on it could easily hit anyone that tried to get over the wall in front of them.


    Men armed with a variety of weapons, including spears and bows, were positioned all along the barricade to defend it. As cknail looked down thest few men got into position and the sounds of activity died down. A sudden stillness then fell over the area, as everyone waited for the enemy to show themselves. There was nothing more to do but wait.


    They didnt have to wait all that long. Within minutes there was a tter of hoofs as several new riders appeared at the end of the road.


    One of them held a long banner. There wasnt quite enough wind for it to unfurl, so cknail couldnt make out the symbol on it, but it still looked more than a little impressive.


    As all of Herads minions watched, the horsemen talked among themselves and observed the barricade that was blocking their way. They didnt seem very impressed by it.


    A deep keening noise suddenly rippled though the air as one of the riders raised a horn to his lips. The eerie wail washed over cknail and caused the hairs on his skin to rise. When the noise died down cknail didnt feel any better, because it was quickly reced by the sound of pounding footsteps, and quite a lot of them.


    As cknail watched the horsemen cantered off to the side of the road, and a rough looking mob of men came down the street past them.


    cknail gulped nervously as he gave up trying to count them. There must have been hundreds of them! Certainly, there were more of them than he had fingers and toes, anyway.


    They look like normal Daggerpoint riffraff. Zelena must be holding her real soldiers in reserve, Saeter remarked matter of factly.


    cknail eyed his master skeptically. There were even more enemies than he could see? They already outnumbered Herads band!


    They look more than scary enough to me. Lets find somewhere safer to be, like the forest! cknail whined.


    Bah, stop being a coward. Fighting isnt all about numbers, Saeter replied scornfully.


    As the wave of armed and angry looking humans descended upon the barricade cknail got a better look at them. They did seem to be nothing special. Most of them wouldnt have stood out if cknail had seen them walking down the street. Of course, this was Daggerpoint so that just meant they werent armed with anythingrger than a short sword or arge club.


    By contrast Herads men were better armed and shinier. Almost all of them had helmets, and many of them had weaponsrger than just short swords. A few of them even had chainmail shirts and shields. None of the attackers had that sort of equipment. There were still a bloody lot of them though.


    cknail was brought back to reality by the sound of Saeter pulling his bow string back. He looked over just in time to see his master release an arrow at the approaching enemies, and a loud twang sound echoed past him as the bowstring vibrated.


    The projectile sailed over the heads of the first few advancing attackers, and then mmed into the throat of an unlucky man several ranks back. Instantly, the man copsed and then disappeared as he was trampled underfoot by the rest of the mob.


    A victorious roar went up from the rest of cknails tribesmen as they celebrated the kill. It was quickly matched by a chorus of bloodthirsty cries from the wave of heavily armed thugs that were bearing down on the wall. Now that they were within bowshot the mob picked up speed as one by one they started breaking out into full out sprints.


    The attackers looked eager to strike back and spill some blood of their own. cknail was going to have to do his best to disappoint them. He clenched his fists nervously as the violent maelstrom of noise from the young battlefield below washed over him.


    The first shot had been fired. The first death had been dealt. The battle that would decide the fate of Herads Band and all of Daggerpoint had begun.


    cknails stomach grumbled; he wished hed brought more snacks. Maybe he could loot something