《The Paladins》


 Chapter 1 - Jerico

    Jerico watched the river flow, the half-moon¡¯s reflection sparkling atop its waters, and from its darkness the creature emerged. Despite his training, despite discovering the crossing they¡¯d used to harass the nearby village, the paladin felt his confidence falter.


    ¡°Be with me, Ashhur,¡± he whispered as it swam toward him, its eyes gleaming yellow. He could only see the top of its head, a brief stroke of its arms, and the curve of its spine. Every inch was matted with wet fur, and it shone slick in the moonlight. One of its strokes pushed its head fully above water, and he saw rows of teeth before they sank below. It was those teeth that had devoured three children and their mother two nights before. Water dripped from its long claws as it stepped upon the shore. It was those claws that had torn the entrails from their bodies so it might feed.


    A wolf-man, bastard creation of the god Karak and an unwanted relic of a war centuries past. It approached on two legs, its body hunched, its muscles taut and frightening. Jerico wondered how useful his platemail would be against those claws and teeth. The armor would do nothing if the creature grabbed his head and ripped it off his shoulders. He watched from the cover of trees that grew to the water¡¯s edge, his right hand clutching the handle of his mace. Slung upon his back was his shield, which he kept there, deciding he needed at least one surprise come the fight.


    At the Citadel, he¡¯d been trained to face all opponents with honor. An ambush, or stab in the back, was considered shameful. Jerico wondered if the same rules applied to the wolf-men. He¡¯d never fought one before, only heard stories of their savagery.


    Before he could decide, the creature stopped, and he heard sniffing.


    ¡°Man?¡± it growled, and Jerico felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. ¡°Where is it you hide?¡±


    With that nose, it¡¯d only be a matter of time before it found him. Cursing his stupidity, he stepped from behind his cover, mere feet to the side of the wolf-man. It turned, and even with its hunched back, it still towered over him. His weapon shook in his hand as those yellow eyes narrowed when meeting his own.


    ¡°Leave now,¡± Jerico said. ¡°The village is under my protection, and I will kill you if I must.¡±


    The wolf-man laughed, its whole body shuddering. Its voice was deep and gravely. Jerico slipped his left arm back, grabbing the leather straps holding his shield. A single tug, and he¡¯d have it at the ready.


    ¡°You want us imprisoned in the Wedge,¡± said the creature, referring to the vast land beyond the river. ¡°You wish us to starve and die. But there is food here, human. Food¡­¡±


    It lunged, accompanied by a thunderous roar. Jerico stepped to the side, avoiding its charge. His mace connected with its chest, but hit so much muscle and hair it only tore free a small chunk of flesh. The creature¡¯s claws slashed his armor, scraping the metal with a horrific screech. Jerico swung again, this time aiming for its head. The wolf-man moved with amazing speed for its size, ducking underneath the attack and then grabbing his wrist. With its greater strength, it held his weapon back, leaving him defenseless. Its drooling teeth snapped inward, aiming for his neck.


    Jerico pulled the straps. Down came the shield, its steel shining a soft blue as he cried out to his god. The wolf-man¡¯s teeth snapped against it, and he felt his arm jolt at the contact. The creature howled, blood spurting from its nose.


    ¡°Back!¡± he cried, ramming with his shield. His heart hammered in his chest, and his eyes felt wide as saucers, but he¡¯d survived the initial confrontation. The light of his shield grew, its power equivalent to the strength of his faith. The wolf-man released his arm, instead protecting its eyes from the light. With it dazed and on the defensive, Jerico tried to finish it off. His mace came in for the side of its head, but his confidence soon turned to panic. The wolf-man batted it aside with an arm, howled, and then attacked. The muscles in its legs were powerful, and it closed the distance with such speed he didn¡¯t have time to brace himself.


    The creature shoved aside his poorly positioned shield and then rammed into his chest. Jerico flew back several feet, halting when he hit a tree. The air blasted from his lungs, and his vision swam from where his head struck the bark. Blood trickled down his neck.


    ¡°Your towers stop nothing,¡± said the wolf-man as it stalked toward him, blood from its nose dripping across its teeth. ¡°We come to feast, foolish man, and we are greater than you humans. We are not dogs. We are not orcs. You cannot stop us.¡±


    Jerico held his mace and shield before him, but his legs felt rubbery. He tried to focus, to anticipate the attack, but all he could do was stare at those yellow eyes and wonder how painful his death might be. Would he be alive when it ate him? His weight leaning against the tree, he vowed to fight until the wolf-man had no choice but to lop off his head.


    ¡°Greet me with open arms,¡± he whispered to Ashhur as the wolf-man crouched down, preparing another lethal charge. But instead of leaping, it tilted to the side, and a pained howl escaped its throat. Dark fire swarmed across its body, and blood soon followed. It turned to run, one of its legs twisted at an awkward angle, but then a sword punched through its skull.


    His armor was dark, the fire on his blades darker, so when Darius pulled his weapon free, he seemed a shadow blacker than the night itself.


    ¡°Ashhur won¡¯t need to take you yet,¡± Darius said as the blood sizzled in the fire of his blade. His blue eyes twinkled. ¡°And you can thank Karak for that.¡±


    Jerico slung his shield on his back and then rubbed his forehead. A chuckle escaped his lips.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were following me.¡±


    ¡°Neither did the wolf.¡±


    He suddenly felt ashamed for showing weakness before his rival, so he pushed off from the tree and fought through his grogginess. Gingerly, he touched the wound on the back of his head, but it felt shallow. He¡¯d have a knot there for several days, but that was better than being a wolf-man¡¯s meal. Jerico joined Darius¡¯s side, and together they looked at the corpse.


    ¡°Do you still think the villagers are liars?¡± Jerico asked.


    ¡°Of course, but not about this. Even liars tell the truth from time to time.¡±


    ¡°Such cynicism.¡±


    Darius laughed. He shook the crusted remains of blood off his weapon and then sheathed it. With its fire extinguished, it seemed Jerico could see easier in the darkness.


    ¡°It¡¯s merely truth, Jerico. I see the world as it is, you as how you want it to be. Doesn¡¯t take a scholar to know which of us will be right more often.¡±


    Jerico used his foot to roll the wolf-man onto its back. Its mouth hung open, and even dead, those rows of teeth gave him chills. He absently ran a hand along the deep grooves of his platemail.


    ¡°Did you hear what it told me?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I did. Who knows how many it meant. A pack could be five, or five-hundred. I suppose I should have left it alive long enough to question¡­¡±


    Jerico pointed to the river. ¡°We could cross and find out.¡±


    Darius laughed.


    ¡°Into their territory? Are you mad? I¡¯ve never considered you paladins of Ashhur the brightest of men, but I figured you would at least have more sense than that.¡±


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    Jerico shot Darius a wink.


    ¡°Ashhur calls the simple ones to do his work. We tend to accomplish more. Besides, if we go in the daylight, we could catch them sleeping. If they¡¯re crossing the river to hunt, they mustn¡¯t be too far.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯ve killed only four. That isn¡¯t a pack. That¡¯s hardly anything. This was a lone hunter, nothing more. Now, will you help me bring it to town, or must I do everything myself?¡±


    Sighing, Jerico grabbed one arm, Darius the other. Together they dragged it across the leaves, through the forest, and to the town of Durham, so the people might see they had nothing left to fear.


    *


    The Citadel loomed before him, looking tall and proud in the twilight. As the sun continued to fall, an uneasy fear set over him. Spider webs of cracks stretched higher and higher throughout the Citadel¡¯s foundation. Fire burst upon the grass around it. Bones fell from the sky. As a great roar shook the plains, he heard a terrible crack, and then¡ª


    Jerico¡¯s eyes snapped open. His heart pounded in his chest. Despite the chill of autumn, his body was soaked with sweat.


    Again? he wondered. What is it, Ashhur? What is it you need to tell me?


    For the past week he¡¯d had the same dream, and always it felt like it ended unfinished. Dread settled over him come the morning, and at least twice he¡¯d thought to return to the Citadel to ensure everything was in order. But with Durham threatened by wolf-men sneaking out of the Vile Wedge and across the river to feed, he couldn¡¯t dare leave his assigned post.


    As his senses slowly returned, he realized what day it was and groaned. He stayed in a small room of Jeremy Hangfield, the town¡¯s wealthiest occupant, the room freely given in exchange for protecting them from the various menaces of the wild. They were far from the great city of Mordeina and her guards, patrols, and roads. Here there were outlaws, bandits, and now, creatures of the Wedge. But fighting wasn¡¯t his sole duty, though sometimes he wished it was. Instead of putting on his armor, he donned his only pair of clothes that weren¡¯t bloodstained, a simple white tunic adorned with the golden mountain, symbol of his god. He clipped his mace to his belt but left his shield, feeling silly carrying it when not in armor.


    His congregation was small, and they gathered in the town square. When he¡¯d first come, nearly half the village had shown up, out of curiosity more than anything. As the days passed, his numbers had dwindled, now just a faithful twenty or so. Wishing he could be fighting wolf-men instead, Jerico preached best he could, often relying on songs to break the monotony. As he neared the end, he saw Darius watching him from the back of the crowd.


    ¡°Ashhur be with you all,¡± Jerico said, ending his final prayer. As the crowd dispersed, Darius remained behind, his arms crossed over his chest. He wore a brown tunic with a black belt, the drab colors making his long blond hair stand out all the more. A smirk spread across his young face.


    ¡°Sometimes I wonder if Ashhur hopes to convert the lazy of Dezrel,¡± he said. ¡°Men who would be happy for an hour¡¯s sleep every third day, guilt free.¡±


    The comment stung. Twice Jerico had caught someone drifting off beneath the shade of a tree during his sermons.


    ¡°I guess I could scream and holler as if the world were on fire,¡± Jerico said. ¡°That just isn¡¯t my style.¡±


    Darius seemed unoffended. Jerico had witnessed the man¡¯s services, always held the day after his. The dark paladin was a far more animated spectacle, speaking with a passion he could never hope to match. He¡¯d cry for strength, denounce cowardly sacrifice, and demand obedience in the face of a chaotic world. ¡°Order,¡± Darius would shout at the top of his lungs. ¡°Bring this world Order!¡± Handsome, energetic, and passionate, his sermons gathered fifty to sixty men every time, a fact Darius never let Jerico forget.


    ¡°Your style should be what works,¡± Darius said, tossing Jerico a waterskin, for he knew how draining such a performance was. ¡°Not what you feel like. Perhaps you should attend a few more of my sermons. You might learn something.¡±


    Jerico drained half of it, then handed it back with a muttered thanks.


    ¡°How did Bobby take the news?¡± he asked, referring to the father and husband of those killed by the wolf-man.


    ¡°Come,¡± said Darius. ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡±


    Together they walked down the dirt path, out from the village center. Wood houses sprang up on either side of them, fairly large due to the abundance of nearby lumber. At the end of the path was a post marking the entrance to the village. Hanging from ropes tied to its wrists was the body of the wolf-man.


    In daylight it looked less fearsome. Its fur had dried out, much of it caked with blood and dirt. Flies buzzed about it, and it stank something unholy. All of its teeth were gone, and along its chest were at least twenty punctures new to Jerico.


    ¡°You let him mutilate the corpse?¡± he asked, though he already knew the answer. He just hoped he might somehow be wrong.


    ¡°Do you know a better way to move on after the death of a loved one?¡± Darius asked, lifting an eyebrow. ¡°Here is his beloved¡¯s killer, and though it is dead, I still gave him a chance to exact his revenge. It accomplishes nothing, and after a while, Bobby learned this as well. So I told him to take its teeth, and fashion a necklace so he might never forget.¡±


    ¡°Bobby is a gentle soul,¡± Jerico said, his stomach turning. He ran a hand through his red hair, his fingers gently touching the knot on the back of his head. It felt the size of his thumb. ¡°He once paddled his daughter, then came to me to ask if it were right. Meanwhile, half this village wallops sense into their children at the slightest mistake. How could you let him do this?¡±


    ¡°Because he spoke to me of wanting to die,¡± Darius said, yanking Jerico closer. ¡°Would you counsel him love and forgiveness for the beast that ate his family? Would you promise him a better life in the world he wants to kill himself to enter? I gave him a desire for vengeance, and through that, a desire to live. You would have him remember his loved ones. Instead, I have him remember their murderer, and as long as he thinks of it, he is not wallowing in sorrow for himself and his family.¡±


    Darius let go of his tunic.


    ¡°Bobby¡¯s organizing a group of men to go into the Wedge,¡± he said. ¡°They want us to go with them.¡±


    ¡°Will you?¡±


    The dark paladin shot him a wink.


    ¡°I gave him his desire for vengeance. Do you think I¡¯d abandon him after that? Question is, will you come with us? I never am certain, given Ashhur¡¯s rather womanly tendencies. You¡¯d scout for more, yes, but will you come for revenge?¡±


    Jerico glanced into town, trying to decide. Of course Ashhur frowned upon revenge, but still, the entire safety of Durham might depend on their success. Besides, if something went wrong, many lives would be in danger. Could he turn his back on them?


    ¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± Jerico said. ¡°But perhaps it should be done.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re just beasts,¡± Darius said, slapping Jerico across the back. ¡°Filthy, vicious beasts. We¡¯ll put them down, just like any other rabid animal.¡±


    Looking at the hulking form suspended by ropes, Jerico couldn¡¯t suppress a shudder.


    ¡°Any other animal?¡± he muttered as Darius walked away. Before he could decide for certain, he trudged back to the village. The streets were barren, for with autumn speeding by, the men and women were harvesting every bit of nut, fruit, and grain they could find or grow. He realized Bobby had not been there for his sermon like he usually was, and this fact squirmed in his gut like a snake. Needing to talk to him, he found the man¡¯s home, and sure enough, he was there instead of out in the fields with the others.


    ¡°Morning, Jerico,¡± Bobby said. He sat on his porch in a small chair, his shoulders stooped and his leathery skin pale. His eyes had a glazed, distant look to them. In his lap, he held a necklace of teeth.


    ¡°Missed you at the square,¡± Jerico said, leaning against the house. ¡°Something the matter?¡±


    ¡°Sure is.¡±


    ¡°Care to talk about it?¡±


    Bobby finally looked at him as his fingers worked over the sharp edges of the teeth.


    ¡°Darius said you¡¯d try to talk me out of going,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯m only here to listen, friend.¡±


    ¡°He said you¡¯d say that too, but it¡¯d be a lie.¡±


    Jerico rolled his eyes. ¡°Lying¡¯s not my style.¡±


    Bobby grunted and looked away. He cut himself on one of the teeth, but if he felt it, he didn¡¯t let it show. Faint smears of blood started to spread across the yellow and white.


    ¡°I heard her screaming,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯d gone outside to piss, you know. That¡¯s all. And then, as I¡¯m coming back, I hear her screaming. Just Susie, not my little girls or my boy. Do you think that means they died quicker? Maybe in their sleep? It didn¡¯t¡­it didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Tears rolled down his face. Determined to remain true to his word, Jerico kept silent, letting the man say what he clearly needed to say.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t even eat them, only my wife. Killed them for no reason, that fucking wolf. But Susie was alive when he was¡­eating. And it left me alive too, just looked at me and laughed. That damn thing laughed. I don¡¯t know if the one you killed was the one that came here. I¡¯ll never know. But I¡¯ll kill every last one I can find and hope each one is that bastard. And I¡¯ll laugh every time I kill one, Jerico.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jerico said. ¡°But this isn¡¯t right, and you know it.¡±


    Bobby looked up, and Jerico saw a rage there that frightened him.


    ¡°You think I care about what¡¯s right? I¡¯ve lived right my whole life, and look what it got me. Someone ought to do something, so I will. No one else needs to see what I saw, and there ain¡¯t anything you can say to convince me otherwise.¡±


    Jerico stepped back. He felt helpless, overwhelmed by the man¡¯s grief. What could he tell him? That Ashhur worked in mysterious ways? That it was her time, her fate to have her belly shredded, her flesh ripped and swallowed while she was still screaming?


    ¡°I¡¯ll pray for you, Bobby,¡± he said.


    ¡°Thanks, Jerico, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll do much good.¡±


    He stood and carried his blood-stained necklace into his house. When he shut the door, Jerico stood there staring long after. A hundred thoughts swirled through his head, but one in particular struck him with such certainty he knew he couldn¡¯t deny it.


    He couldn¡¯t let this happen again.


    His armor and shield were waiting for him in his room. There was a reason he carried them with him, a reason every paladin dressed for war. This was one of them. Come dusk, he¡¯d join the rest. Come the night, they¡¯d venture into the Vile Wedge, the land of orcs and monsters.

 Chapter 2 - Gary

    Gary Reed kissed his wife to cease her protesting.


    ¡°I¡¯ll come back, I promise,¡± he said, his hands brushing through her long hair.


    He knew she wanted to believe him, but her tears fell all the same, and he wiped one away with his thumb.


    ¡°You better,¡± she said.


    Taking his sword, he left his home and walked to the town center. Fifteen men gathered there, a third of them holding torches. The rest held knives, pitchforks, and the occasional sword. They surrounded Bobby, who lifted a torch high above his head.


    ¡°It means a lot,¡± Gary heard him saying as he neared. ¡°Can¡¯t tell you all just how much, but it does. My Susie would be damn proud, I do know that. We can¡¯t let anyone else get hurt.¡±


    ¡°Damn straight,¡± shouted an older man named Trent, the closest thing Durham had to a blacksmith.


    ¡°We ain¡¯t sheep for them to hunt,¡± said another, Gary recognizing this one as a fat farmer named Gruss.


    ¡°But you are sheep!¡± cried a voice separate from them all, and the crowd turned. Darius approached them, wearing his full plate armor, which seemed to soak in the light of the setting sun, giving it a frightful look. Painted in white across his breastplate was the face of a roaring lion. He kept his greatsword sheathed on his back, and Gary was thankful. He¡¯d seen the dark paladin draw it only twice, but both times the fire that glowed upon it had made him uneasy. There was something unnatural about it, as if instead of giving light it stole it and hid it away.


    ¡°Sheep,¡± Darius continued, for none dared challenge him. ¡°That is, until you take up arms, as you have. This land belongs to the strong. It is weakness that lets men ignore the dangers about them, causes them to remain quiet in the face of injustice, to turn blind eyes to the chaos of this world. Tonight you do more than make his Susie proud. Tonight you do yourselves proud, your families, and your entire village! Let the wolf-men fear our wrath!¡±


    The rest cheered, and Gary joined in. He still clung to his youth, his only child still in her second year, and he keenly felt the call for strength and pride. His sword shook in his hand, but it was from excitement, not fear.


    ¡°To the river!¡± cried Bobby, and the rest took up the call.


    ¡°To the river!¡±


    Gary followed, imagining the cheer he¡¯d receive if he were to behead a wolf-man. Bobby insisted there would only be one or two nearby, three at most. With the group of them, plus the dark paladin at their front, they would crush any of the monsters they encountered. Gruss liked to brag about the time he beat down two men from Ker unarmed, and Trent would go on for days about the jeweled bracelet he fashioned decades ago for an elven queen (whose name changed depending on how drunk he was), but who could top the bravery of him facing down a wolf-man and plunging his blade through its eye?


    At the town¡¯s edge, a man slipped into the group beside Gary, remaining at the back. His red hair was long and well-cut. He wore silvery armor, heavy plate that made Gary feel naked in his simple farmer¡¯s clothing. At his hip swung a flanged mace, its grip leather, its metal dark. Across his back hung his enormous shield.


    ¡°Coming with us, Jerico?¡± Gary asked the paladin of Ashhur, unable to contain his excitement. ¡°That¡¯s great. The wolves don¡¯t stand a chance now.¡±


    Jerico glanced down at his breastplate, and Gary saw the thick scratches across its front, dulling the shine. Some of Gary¡¯s excitement faded, replaced with a cold fear in his belly.


    ¡°I pray they don¡¯t,¡± said the paladin, his face grim.


    They arrived at the river. Gruss had agreed to let them take his boat, which he used for the rare trip south to sell extra crops to Ashhur¡¯s paladins at their Citadel. It seated four, but only Darius and two others crossed the first time, not wishing to overload it because of his heavy armor. Back and forth the boat went, taking several minutes for each trip. The river was wide and slow, its waters cold from the mountain streams that fed it. Gary hung back with Jerico, feeling safer at his side.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be able to kill them, won¡¯t we?¡± Gary asked as his nerves continued to grow. He felt fine when moving, as if filled with a sense of purpose, but now that he stood at the edge of a dark forest, watching a small boat travel back and forth across the Gihon, he felt his confidence falter.


    ¡°Darius and I killed one by ourselves,¡± Jerico said, smiling at him. ¡°And with all of you here, we can handle many more. But do not hope for combat, nor a chance to be a hero. Pray we all come home safe, and that your village will never see another one of those wicked creatures for many, many years.¡±


    Gary shifted uncomfortably on his feet, and he stared at the leaf-strewn ground.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want to be a coward,¡± he mumbled.


    The paladin put a hand on his shoulder, and when he looked over, his eyes were kind and unafraid.


    ¡°I know you well enough, Gary, to say there isn¡¯t the slightest chance of that.¡± He pointed to the shore. ¡°Our turn.¡±


    Darius was organizing men into groups of five on the other bank when they beached.


    ¡°Jerico,¡± he called, seeing their boat arrive. ¡°Care to lead a smaller group, or would you rather remain up front with me?¡±


    ¡°Four groups should be enough,¡± said Jerico. ¡°Give me the smaller, and I shall watch our flank.¡±


    Darius pointed at Gary, the paladin, and a third bearing a torch. As he neared, Gary recognized him as the eldest son of his neighbor, a good lad named Dirk. He wasn¡¯t even fifteen yet.


    ¡°What in the Abyss are you doing here?¡± Gary asked him. ¡°Your pa know you¡¯re out?¡±


    Dirk blushed and refused to meet his eye.


    ¡°It won¡¯t hurt none,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°This ain¡¯t a deer hunt, boy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Jerico said, pulling his shield off his back. A soft blue-white glow came over it, and immediately Gary felt his anxiety sliding away as it bathed over him. ¡°Stay at my side at all times, Dirk, and keep your torch raised high. The wolf-men hate fire, and the light will hurt their eyes.¡±


    ¡°Fight with honor!¡± Darius shouted. ¡°I have their trail, and they will not dare run from our challenge.¡±


    Darius led the way, four of their strongest at his side, three wielding swords, one dual-wielding a torch and dagger. The other two groups marched behind and at either side. Jerico let them gain a bit of distance, then followed.


    Gary felt his stomach twist into knots as they walked deeper into the Vile Wedge. It was said that the elven goddess Celestia cursed the land after the Gods¡¯ War, ruining the soil and stripping the land of wildlife. Gary didn¡¯t know if this were true or not, for this was his first time within. The grass was a pale yellow, though that could have been because of autumn¡¯s arrival, not any curse. There were no trees beyond the edge of the river, instead long, sloped hills looking barren in the growing moonlight. A thousand campfire stories ran through his head, and try as he might, he couldn¡¯t banish them. The Wedge was rumored to hold all kinds of villainous creatures, from orcs and goblins to the various animal-men, all twisted and formed to fight in the Gods¡¯ War. The wolf-men were one such creation, and of all the stories, he knew at least they existed. He¡¯d seen the corpse tied at the town¡¯s entrance.


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    Deeper and deeper into the Wedge they traveled. Dirk grew increasingly nervous, but strangely, that made Gary feel better. His pride refused to let him show fear to a young boy approaching manhood.


    ¡°Maybe they¡¯ve turned tail and run,¡± he said.


    ¡°You sure Darius knows where they are?¡± Dirk asked. ¡°I don¡¯t see no tracks.¡±


    Gary had looked himself and saw nothing in the light of the torch and Jerico¡¯s shield.


    ¡°Too many men ahead of us marching over them,¡± Jerico said. ¡°Trust him, and the others.¡±


    The river was but a distant shimmer when they heard the first howl of a wolf. It cut through him like a knife, and for the first time it seemed like Gary realized where he was, and what he was doing. He looked to his sword, an old relic passed down for four generations. He hadn¡¯t even sharpened it before coming out, ignorant of the proper way and not thinking to check with Trent. Men from the other three groups were certainly thinking something similar, for he heard them muttering among themselves.


    A second wolf howled, this time from the opposite side.


    ¡°Careful, Darius,¡± Jerico whispered. It did little to help Gary¡¯s already crumbling bravery.


    They followed the lead groups into a gap between two gentle hills, their slopes hardly taller than a man. Their pace had slowed considerably, and Jerico lessened the distance between them and the others. When the howls came again, they echoed all around them. Gary swallowed, his mouth feeling stuffed with cotton. Beside him, the torch shook in Dirk¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Just two,¡± Jerico said. ¡°Either side of the hills. Don¡¯t panic. Stay with me, always with me.¡±


    Several of the men on the right cried out and pointed. Gary looked but saw only the hill. Another howl sounded, this one directly behind them. He spun, his knuckles white as he gripped his sword. The grass was empty. Someone from the lead group startled and was swiftly ordered quiet. More and more howling, and this time it was the men on the left who pointed. Gary caught sight of a dark blur, and he couldn¡¯t believe how fast it glided over the hill, vanishing on the other side.


    Their groups halted, each one facing a direction. Moments later, Darius arrived and grabbed Jerico by the arm.


    ¡°Surrounded,¡± he whispered. Gary stared back to the river, pretending he didn¡¯t hear and almost wishing he couldn¡¯t. Blurred shapes approached, hovering low to the ground. His heart crawled up his throat.


    ¡°How many?¡± Jerico asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Seven? Nine?¡±


    ¡°We need out of here, Darius. We aren¡¯t prepared, not for those numbers. Such a large pack¡ª¡±


    The wolf-men howled, and it came from all sides, merging together so that Gary couldn¡¯t begin to know how many there were. He imagined hordes of the creatures, enough to blot out the eastern grasslands, snarling and howling while drool dripped from their fangs¡­


    Jerico grabbed his mace, and Darius drew his greatsword. Dark fire bathed its blade.


    ¡°We hold!¡± Karak¡¯s paladin cried.


    ¡°To the river, Darius, we must flee to the river!¡±


    ¡°No! We hold, all of you men, hold, we will hold!¡±


    He rushed to the front, leaving the three there to defend. Jerico stood before them, his shield raised.


    ¡°Cry out if any come from the side,¡± he told them. ¡°Gary, stand firm, and watch for an opening. When you see it, do not hesitate. Do not be afraid. Kill it, and live.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can,¡± Gary said. The dark shapes grew more pronounced, three wolf-men running at horrific speed toward them.


    ¡°You will,¡± Jerico said. Somehow a smile was across his face, and for the first time in their whole trip, he looked calm.


    The wolf-men howled just before colliding with their forces, hoping to break the spirits of the defenders. Jerico stood firm, his legs planted and his shield in place. The three approached side by side, and in unison they lunged. Gary watched, feeling as if his feet were buried deep into the ground. Dirk, however, let out a cry and swung his torch. The rightmost wolf-man, having focused on Jerico, howled and turned its head away. Its slash went wild, and then it dug its claws into the earth to slow its momentum.


    The other two slammed into Jerico. Gary expected him to fly back, unable to endure such power, but then the light of his shield flared. The wolf-men cried out in pain, and then it was they who fell back, one staggering on two legs, the other falling to all fours and snarling. It shook its head as if to clear away a fog. Jerico gave it no reprieve, stepping in and bashing its skull with his mace. It hit with a crack that made Gary¡¯s stomach turn.


    The one that had sailed past returned, this time more carefully. Dirk waved his torch back and forth at it, as if shooing away a stray cat. At first Gary feared he¡¯d been injured, seeing something slick on his clothes, but then realized the boy had lost control of his bladder. He couldn¡¯t blame him. From up ahead, he heard constant screams of pain, snarls of wolves, and chaotic orders combined with pleading.


    ¡°I¡¯m no beast scared of fire,¡± the wolf-man snarled at Dirk. Gary nearly felt his own bladder let go. The creatures could talk? Why had no one told him they could talk? Bobby had said it laughed at him, but he¡¯d thought him hallucinating, caused by sorrow to hear strange things. The creature¡¯s voice was deep, grumbling. He realized the intelligence they must possess if they could communicate in such a way. Bobby had made it sound like they¡¯d gone to hunt mindless monsters. But this¡­this¡­


    The corded muscles in its legs tensed, and then it lunged. Dirk struck it with his torch, but he was young and outweighed thrice over. The torch bounced off the wolf-man¡¯s chest, causing no harm. The two rolled to the ground, Dirk¡¯s arms pinned, the wolf-man growling, its bared teeth reaching for Dirk¡¯s exposed throat.


    Gary stabbed its side before it could. His sword sank halfway to the handle, then snapped when the creature twisted. Claws slashed across his face, the pain immense. Blood blotted the vision of his left eye, and he clutched it with a hand. Be brave, he told himself as the wolf-man jumped off of Dirk. He saw only teeth. The dead one hanging in their town had had its teeth ripped out, he realized. He¡¯d never have come if he¡¯d seen them like he saw them now.


    Its jaw closed on his shoulder; its weight slammed him to the ground. Warm blood spilled across his chest. He screamed.


    ¡°The Abyss take you!¡± Jerico cried, smashing its body with his shield. Gary saw the light stab into it, as if the glow were a dagger capable of cutting flesh. It released its grip on his shoulder, and he let out an involuntary gasp. Down came the mace, catching the retreating wolf-man across the snout. Teeth flew, and its blood sprayed across them both.


    ¡°We will feast!¡± it shrieked. Jerico¡¯s shield shone brighter, and amid his delirium, Gary thought he heard the paladin chuckle.


    ¡°No,¡± Jerico said. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡±


    The wolf-man charged, struck his shield once more, and then fell. Jerico¡¯s mace smashed the bones of its face, and it stayed down.


    ¡°Dirk?¡± Gary asked, trying to stand. But Dirk was fine, and he grabbed Gary¡¯s arm and helped him up.


    ¡°To the river,¡± Jerico told the two as he turned to the battle beyond. ¡°Run, and don¡¯t stop.¡±


    ¡°Ashhur be with you,¡± Gary said, leaning some of his weight on Dirk.


    ¡°You as well.¡±


    They stumbled west, between the hills and toward the Gihon. They¡¯d taken no turns, the path Darius led them on perfectly straight, and soon they saw the river in the distance. Gary¡¯s shoulder burned, and every breath he took felt like fire in his lungs. Dirk didn¡¯t look much better, but guilty as he felt for burdening his wounded friend, Gary knew he could not run without aid. They glanced back only once, the torches looking like glowing dots in the distance.


    It seemed like an eternity, but they reached the river and the waiting boat. Dirk helped him inside, then prepared to push it into the water.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Gary said. His head felt light, but damn did it feel good to sit down. He clutched his shoulder and wished the pain would go away. Dimly, he wondered how badly the creature had scarred his face.


    ¡°No,¡± Dirk said, realizing what he wanted. ¡°Please, no, we can go¡­¡±


    ¡°We stay.¡±


    Dirk sighed, then shook his head.


    ¡°Fine. You¡¯re right.¡±


    They watched and waited for the first to show. A minute later, three men appeared, two relatively unscathed, but the third limped along in their arms, his left leg mangled and missing its foot.


    ¡°Hurry,¡± Gary said, beckoning them to the boat.


    ¡°We thought you¡¯d leave,¡± said one of them.


    ¡°Never. Push us off, and then get in, Dirk. This boat¡¯ll float with five.¡±


    Out on the peaceful water, it seemed the fight was a hundred miles away. If not for the pain, Gary might have convinced himself it was a horrible, horrible nightmare. When they reached the other side, one of the men helped him out, and he lay against a tree beside the other wounded man.


    ¡°The others,¡± Gary said, pointing back to the Wedge. He felt sleepy, and knew if he closed his eyes he¡¯d succumb to it, but this was important. ¡°You must¡­you must go back¡­¡±


    Dirk was crying, his face wet with tears, but still he went to the boat and started to push.


    ¡°No,¡± said a larger man. Jacob Wheatley, he realized. Jacob was always quick to argue, more temper than sense. But he seemed calm here, and he eased Dirk out. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±


    He stepped into the boat, angled it, and began rowing.


    Time grew slippery. Gary remembered the first boat returning, weeping men disembarking. He heard muttering, names listed off. Counting the dead, he realized. He wondered if they counted him or not. More men appeared, though he didn¡¯t remember their arrival. The water splashed the shore, and he wished to dip his hand in it. Suddenly he was thirsty, very thirsty.


    ¡°Gary?¡± someone asked. He opened his eyes, not remembering closing them. A young face hovered over him, blurry and unrecognizable.


    ¡°Get back,¡± he mumbled. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡±


    ¡°Gary, it¡¯s Dirk. You got to stay awake. Gruss says you got to¡­¡±


    Darkness, filled with the sound of water. Something touched his shoulder, and the pain awakened there. He opened his eyes and saw Jerico kneeling before him. White light shone from his hands, which pressed against his shoulder. His drowsiness faded, and the pain, which had been all encompassing, shrank down to something he could endure, something he could comprehend. Carefully Jerico wiped the blood from Gary¡¯s left eye with his bare thumb so he might see.


    ¡°Stand, Mr. Reed,¡± he said, taking his hand. ¡°You have a wife and child waiting for you.¡±

 Chapter 3 - Jerico

    When the light of morning shone through his window, Jerico winced. Every part of his body ached, and it felt like a pack of giants banged drums inside his forehead. He¡¯d stayed up late into the night, praying over the wounded and offering them healing magic. Between him and the town¡¯s midwife, an old woman named Zelda, they¡¯d sewn, bandaged and kept as many alive as possible. After that, the entire village had gathered in a prayer of remembrance, for they had no bodies to bury. Under the cover of stars, they mourned those the wolves feasted upon.


    ¡°Seven men,¡± he muttered, rubbing his eyes. ¡°We lost seven men. I hope you¡¯re happy, Darius.¡±


    He felt guilty saying it, but he also felt better. At least alone in his room he could grumble, mutter, and let his frustration show. Once in his armor and about the town, he had to be all forgiveness and prayers. Sometimes he enjoyed taking up his mace and smashing the head of an outlaw. At least he wasn¡¯t pretending about anything there.


    But of course he also knew he wasn¡¯t being fair. Darius had taken them out to deal with a threat to the town. None of them could have foreseen how serious it¡¯d be. After the battle, he¡¯d spoken with all but Darius, who had stayed quiet and away from the others. Three wolf-men had attacked from the back, two from each side, and three more from the front. A pack of ten so close to the Gihon and the towers that guarded it? They¡¯d killed six of the ten, and injured the remaining four. Given how unprepared they¡¯d been, it could have been far worse.


    ¡°Jerico?¡± asked a voice on the other side of the door, followed by a gentle knock.


    ¡°I¡¯m awake,¡± he said, sitting up in bed and stretching his sore muscles. The door opened, and in stepped his host¡¯s pretty daughter, Jessie.


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± she said, turning away and blushing when she saw Jerico wore no shirt. He chuckled, tossed on his tunic, and then asked her what was the matter. Something bothered her, he could tell. It was written all over her face.


    ¡°It¡¯s Bobby,¡± she said, struggling to meet his gaze. Her eyes kept flicking to the floor, and her hands clasped behind her. ¡°He¡­he hung himself last night. My father wishes you to pray over his body before we bury him.¡±


    The words knifed through Jerico, but despite the pain, he wasn¡¯t surprised. He¡¯d seen the lingering sorrow and death in Bobby¡¯s eyes. Last night¡¯s excursion hadn¡¯t brought him the satisfaction he¡¯d hoped for. Instead, seven of his friends had died, and many more suffered greatly. Again he thought of Darius, and wondered how the paladin was taking the news.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there shortly,¡± he said, sliding off the bed and reaching for his armor. Jessie started to close the door, then stopped. Her green eyes stared at him, and seeing the question aching to be asked, he prompted her to speak.


    ¡°Will Bobby go on to the golden land?¡± she asked. ¡°Killing yourself¡­my father¡¯s always said the gods hate men who die a coward. Killing yourself¡¯s a sin, and to die sinning¡­¡±


    His hand clasping his cold breastplate, Jerico stopped and frowned. He tried to decide what to say, what measure of truth would comfort her, and what he even knew himself.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he said. ¡°I dearly hope so. He was a kind man. I¡¯ll pray for him, and pray that he¡¯s with his family in the hereafter. Surely Ashhur can fault no man for missing his loved ones as much as Bobby did.¡±


    ¡°Darius said he deserved Karak¡¯s punishment.¡±


    Jerico pulled his armor over his head, shifted it, and then walked over to kiss the girl on the forehead.


    ¡°He speaks out of hurt,¡± he said. ¡°Pay him no mind. Now go, and tell your father I¡¯m almost ready.¡±


    She smiled weakly, curtseyed, and then was gone. Jerico sighed.


    ¡°Damn you, Darius,¡± he said, tightening the straps on his armor. ¡°For once, couldn¡¯t you know better?¡±


    It seemed half the town had gathered at Bobby¡¯s home by the time he arrived. Jerico¡¯s host, the tall Jeremy Hangfield, stood in the center, clearly in charge. He was a distant relative of a noble in Mordeina, and owned more land than the rest of Durham combined. Thankfully, the corrupting influence of his wealth never went beyond him and the tax man. The people treated him as their leader, lord in all but name.


    ¡°There you are!¡± Jeremy said, spotting him near the back of the crowd. ¡°Come, Jerico, come! Darius has refused to pray over him, but Bobby was a good man, and he deserves no worse than any one of us here.¡±


    The way parted before him, and he stepped to the porch of Bobby¡¯s home. Inside, he saw a rope lying on the floor, having been cut from the rafter it¡¯d been tied to. Wrapped in a blanket was Bobby¡¯s corpse. His parents, their backs hunched, their skin deeply tanned by the sun, sat to the side, surrounded by their friends. Not far away, he saw the parents of Bobby¡¯s dead wife, and they looked too drained to cry. They¡¯d lost all their tears the days before, suffering for the fate of their daughter and grandchildren.


    Jerico knelt before Bobby¡¯s parents and took their hands in his.


    ¡°Is there anything you want me to say?¡± he asked.


    The father looked at him, his eyes puffy and red.


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t his self when he did it. You know that, right? He¡¯d never¡­he¡¯d never do this¡­¡±


    ¡°He was already dead,¡± said the mother. ¡°Died when Susie did.¡±


    He kissed both their hands, stood, and then looked to the crowd. Some wanted comfort. Some were there to support their friends, and couldn¡¯t care less what he had to say. A knot grew in his stomach, and his tongue felt layered with sand. What could he say to them? He knew so little. At the Citadel, they¡¯d taught him the words for funerals, what to say for the passing of men, women, and children. They¡¯d never trained him to deal with the looks they¡¯d give him, the near desperate desire for relief and comfort.


    Jerico gave them what he could, and it felt like exposing a piece of himself as he spoke. He told them of Bobby¡¯s kindness, talked of the love of his family, and the grace he¡¯d accepted from Ashhur. He said not a word of his suicide. Let the gods deal with that. When he finished, he gestured to Jeremy, who stepped forward, three men with him. They lifted Bobby into their arms and carried him out. They would bury him in the fields, forever to be a part of their village and their way of life.


    Afterward, Jerico mingled, accepted compliments for his speech, and then searched for Darius.


    He found him outside the town, sitting with his back to a lone tree growing atop a hill. The wind blew, and it felt wonderful against Jerico¡¯s warm skin. Speaking to the public always made him flush and feel like his neck were on fire.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t there for the burial,¡± he said as he sat down beside him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t deserve it.¡±


    Jerico sighed. ¡°Whether he hanged himself or not, he trusted both of us, and at least you could have¡ª¡±


    ¡°Not him,¡± Darius said, shooting him a glare. ¡°I don¡¯t deserve to be there. He was hurting, and I led him out into the Wedge in hopes of aiding him. Instead, I made things worse. One of those that died was Bobby¡¯s best friend, Peck Smithson. How could he endure that?¡±


    He leaned against the tree and thudded his head against the bark.


    ¡°I led us right into that ambush,¡± he said, his voice growing quieter. ¡°The tracks were so obvious a child could have followed them. I should have known something was wrong. The people of this village aren¡¯t fighters. They¡¯re farmers, shepherds, and herdsmen. Now more are dead, the village suffers for the lack of hands, and the one I sought to help spent the night hanging from his ceiling by a rope.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you really messed up, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    At Darius¡¯s glare, Jerico chuckled and smacked his shoulder.


    ¡°If our gods agree on something, it¡¯s that we¡¯re all human, and all make mistakes. Let it go, Darius. You did what you thought was right. Next time, don¡¯t let your guilt keep you away. I¡¯m tired of dedicating all the burials around here. Oh, and don¡¯t give a damn sermon about the punishment awaiting a loved one who died mere hours before.¡±


    ¡°You would have me lie about my beliefs to make them feel better?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d have you show a measure of tact and talk about anything else in the world for the next few days. Surely you can grant me that?¡±


    Darius sighed. ¡°Very well. The least I could do for what remains of his family. It¡¯s not like I want it to be this way, Jerico. The rules we live under are harsh, and not everyone will meet them, but truth is stone, unbending, unmoving. That is the way of Order.¡±


    Jerico stayed silent, not wanting to discuss theology. Instead he gestured east, toward the distant river.


    ¡°What do we do about the wolf-men? From what I gathered, it was a pack of ten that attacked us. That, plus the raids across the river worry me to no end. They¡¯ve found a gap in the towers, and Durham¡¯s right there in the way.¡±


    ¡°We killed more than half,¡± Darius said. ¡°And that was with them having the advantage. Do you still think they¡¯ll press us?¡±


    ¡°How do we know it was half?¡± Jerico asked, voicing the fear that had been nagging at him. ¡°We were within the Wedge only a little while. How many might be gathering? We could have stumbled upon a single hunting party, not the entire pack.¡±


    Darius shook his head. ¡°That can¡¯t be. That would mean a pack of fifty or so, maybe more. It¡¯s been years since any packs of that size. The elven scoutmasters keep them thinned and at war with one another, and someone that strong usually finds an arrow in their neck.¡±


    ¡°Except the elves are gone,¡± Jerico said quietly. ¡°We cannot take any chances. Let us request aid from the towers, together.¡±


    ¡°We can handle this,¡± Darius said, his stubbornness and pride returning.


    ¡°Whether we can or can¡¯t, I¡¯d rather we err on the side of caution. Trust me on this?¡±


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Darius sighed.


    ¡°Twice now I agree to your demands. I must be bothered by this more than I thought.¡±


    ¡°Good. It¡¯s a welcome reminder you¡¯re as human as I am.¡±


    Jerico gave him an exhausted grin, and the dark paladin relented to his good humor.


    ¡°Write your request,¡± Darius said, standing. ¡°And I will sign it.¡±


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± asked Jerico.


    ¡°I have a family deserving my apologies,¡± said Darius. ¡°Not that it¡¯s your business.¡±


    Jerico leaned against the tree, closed his eyes, and enjoyed the weather. Slowly he felt his tension drain away, and once renewed, he returned to Durham to write his letter to the lord of the Towers.


    *


    Redclaw waited at the head of his pack for his scout to return.


    ¡°He will see little in this daylight,¡± said Bonebite, his most trusted warrior. His fur was faded with age, but he¡¯d feasted upon more fallen foes than anyone else in his pack.


    ¡°The orcs are slow and stupid,¡± said Redclaw. ¡°They will not expect us to attack while the sun burns the sky.¡±


    Bonebite snorted. ¡°Does the mighty Redclaw need the help of surprise to kill a few runty orcs?¡±


    Redclaw bared his teeth, both smile and threat. Bonebite had once vied for the position Redclaw now held. They¡¯d fought for the honor, but instead of killing him as was custom, Redclaw let him live.


    ¡°Wolf should not kill wolf,¡± he¡¯d declared, his first law of the pack. He¡¯d killed plenty enforcing the rule, but none in the pack were intelligent enough, or brave enough, to point out the contradiction. Bonebite had resented him for the longest time, but Redclaw treated him like the proud warrior he was, and after a time, the wily old wolf had accepted his role, and appeared to even appreciate the younger warrior¡¯s skill and leadership.


    ¡°Whenever we fight, we must win,¡± Redclaw said, turning back east and squinting in search of his scout. ¡°Why let orcs fight fair against us? They deserve nothing. They are food.¡±


    ¡°The fight weans out the weaklings,¡± argued Bonebite.


    Redclaw glared at him. Bonebite¡¯s snout was covered with scars, his nose nearly white with them instead of its original black. One scar ran straight across his eye, the hair around it never growing back.


    ¡°Even our weaklings are stronger than the best of man and orc,¡± he said. ¡°One day you will fall, Bonebite. Would you have me hail you a warrior, or a weakling, when we consume your flesh?¡±


    ¡°Neither,¡± said Bonebite, and he let out a laugh. ¡°I will be too tough and dry by then. You will choke.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll moisten your flesh with the blood of men. Now quiet. I see my scout.¡±


    ¡°I see only the fire in the sky.¡±


    ¡°Then your eyes already succumb to the weakness of age. I hope the rest of you is not the same.¡±


    Bonebite growled but said nothing. Racing along the plain came Redclaw¡¯s scout, running on all fours. His tongue lolled out the side of his mouth.


    ¡°They¡¯ve come from a hunt,¡± said his scout, the aptly named Swiftheel. He panted and reached out his hand. A nod from Redclaw and Bonebite gave him a dried stomach full of water.


    ¡°Better,¡± growled Swiftheel after drinking. ¡°The orcs are tired, and will soon be fat and lazy from eating. The time is right.¡±


    ¡°How many are they?¡± asked Redclaw.


    Swiftheel let out a little yip, as if amused his pack leader thought their numbers would matter.


    ¡°Four times I counted to fifty.¡±


    ¡°Has their camp been moved?¡±


    ¡°No, they stay in the ravine. They must feel safe there.¡±


    Redclaw let out a howl, alerting the rest of his pack.


    ¡°Their safety is their doom,¡± he snarled. ¡°We will seal both sides. Tonight we feast on the flesh of hundreds of orcs, brethren! With me! To the bloodshed!¡±


    He raced off on all fours as over a hundred more gave chase behind him. The distance was a little under three miles, but they crossed it swiftly. In the cool of night they could run forever; it was only the fire in the sky that made them pant. If they had not been outnumbered, he might have held the raid at night, but he had to hit them unprepared. He had ambitions far greater than the Wedge could offer, and to fulfill them, he needed a pack large enough to endure. When the howls sounded across the land of humans, he wanted them to know fear.


    The ground steadily grew rockier, and Redclaw slowed his pack. Up ahead was the ravine, dipping down into the land like a great scar. The orcs had built a wall at either entrance, but the camp was new enough that they had not yet reinforced it, nor built rudimentary towers to keep watch at its top. He didn¡¯t know why they had encroached his land. Perhaps they fled one of the other orc tribes, or they had been scattered and forced their way by the other vile races within the Wedge, the hyena-men with their short, thick claws, or perhaps the bird-men with their cruel beaks.


    Whatever the reason, it didn¡¯t matter. They¡¯d come into Redclaw¡¯s ever-expanding territory, earning their fate.


    A quick growl, and Bonebite veered to the side, leading half his pack to curl around the ravine and assault from the rear. Redclaw slowed his pace, wanting to give them time to set up. They would hit at once, crawling over both walls and shredding their camp before the orcs could organize a defense. They came from the west, using the depth of the ravine as a shield against watching eyes. No one kept watch, a stupidity that might explain why they had been forced to flee in the first place. No doubt an orc or two stayed at the walls within the ravine, but they would have only a moment¡¯s notice when the wolf-men came rushing in.


    Redclaw stood on his legs and lifted a hand. The rest of his pack pulled up, and he heard their panting. A few nipped at one another, clearly on edge.


    ¡°Calm,¡± he growled. ¡°Save your bites for the orcs.¡±


    They endured the daylight and waited, every muscle tense. When the signal howl came from the opposite end of the ravine, they answered in unison.


    ¡°For the blood!¡± Redclaw cried, leading the charge. They stormed into the ravine, toward the wooden wall blocking their way. It was designed against other orcs, no doubt who they thought their greatest enemy. But the wood was thick, rough, and it yielded easily to their claws. Cries of warning came from inside, but no spears thrust at them, no cowardly arrows sailed through the air. Redclaw scaled the wall, paused atop it, and scanned. Orcs were scurrying about, grabbing swords and shields. No line had formed yet, though it seemed like the greatest force gathered in the center, no doubt where their tribal leader hollered in panic.


    Three orcs were below him, the spineless lot abandoning their posts in flight. With a push of his enormous legs, Redclaw dove upon two of them at once, his claws shredding their flesh. He let out a howl, and he felt himself falling into the wild warrior beast that lived deep within him. The planning done, the fight begun, he allowed himself to give in.


    At first, it was too easy. They raced through the many tents, clawing and biting at any nearby. Mostly it was the old or weak, those unable to fight. Hiding inside the tents, they acted as if they would be safe there. They were not. Blood soaking his fur, Redclaw killed everything that moved, and he drank his fill. From the far side, he heard the roars of Bonebite¡¯s group, and more worrisome, howls of pain. The orcs had finally begun to fight. Furious that he had missed the initial confrontation, he tore through the tents, calling for his pack to join his side. Forming a wedge of nine, they thundered toward the large center of the camp, where the orcs had chosen to make their stand.


    Redclaw dove into where they were thickest, unafraid of their thin spears and cruel swords. His claws were sharper, his muscles greater. Even the orcs, tall and strong compared to most races of Dezrel, were puny compared to him. He descended upon one, tore out its throat with a quick snap of his jaw, and then spun to his right. He slashed at the wrist holding the blade swinging at him, and the blow lost all strength when it hit, the blade unable to pierce the thick hide beneath his black coat of fur. A quick swipe, and the orc fell back, blood gushing from its torn throat.


    All around he heard the sound of fighting, and at his side were his trusted pack, tearing into the orcs as if their armor were butter, their weapons toys. Still, the orcs were stubborn, and their spears were the worst. Redclaw caught sight of one of his best warriors howling, a spear embedded deep in his breast.


    ¡°Back!¡± he cried. ¡°Circle!¡±


    They began running, both his group and Bonebite¡¯s merging together in a river of fur and muscle. The entirety of the orc camp huddled in a circle, everyone else having been massacred. Redclaw guessed at least sixty within, maybe more. They kept their shields high, and their spears poking past the front lines. Deep within, he heard the angry cries of an orc chieftain.


    Redclaw led the circle, the rest following his lead. He dipped them closer, then pulled away, never letting the orcs know for certain where the ring would stretch or shrink. The nervous orcs at the front lashed out several times, always missing, always finding their arms grabbed or their weapons snatched from their hands. Once they fell into the circle, they never stood again. Trampled under the pounding feet, they could only cry out until dead.


    Redclaw howled, and his pack took up the call. The orcs looked ready to break. He could smell the fear on them, and it was strong. His next howl was an order, and his pack obeyed with perfection he was immensely proud of. Leading the way, he lunged into a gap of orc shields, batting aside a wild thrust of a blade. He didn¡¯t fight the outer wall, instead shoving through, trying to crack their ring. The rest of the wolves did not attack as the orcs expected. Instead they continued to circle, pouring into the gap opened up by Redclaw. They cracked the orcs like an egg, pushing deeper and deeper into their center. He had almost reached their chieftain when the orcs on the opposite side, realizing they were no longer surrounded, turned to flee.


    The battle belonged to the wolves.


    Redclaw drank the blood of their chieftain as the rest of his pack hunted down the fleeing orcs. Only the hyena-men could run faster than his kind, he knew. The slaughter would be complete. He stood atop the dead body and roared his victory. Bonebite joined him moments later, sporting a fresh new scar across his chest.


    ¡°Lucky bastard,¡± said Bonebite, seeing Redclaw¡¯s eyes analyzing the wound. ¡°I tore his head off for it.¡±


    ¡°Gather our dead,¡± Redclaw told him. ¡°It is time we honor them.¡±


    Twelve wolf-men had died in the attack, a far cry from the two-hundred dead orcs. Many others were wounded, but his people were strong, and he knew they would endure without complaint. They gathered the twelve together, laying them in a line side by side. Redclaw scanned them, searching for the strongest. Recognizing the corpse of a young, hot-tempered wolf-man that had gone by the name of Bloodgut, Redclaw walked over to it and then knelt on all fours. He was the one he¡¯d seen struck by a spear.


    ¡°To our glorious dead!¡± Redclaw cried out, plunging his claws into Bloodgut¡¯s chest and tearing out his heart. He shredded it in his teeth, the blood sweet across his tongue. With that, the rest descended upon the bodies, all strength of the pack preserved and redistributed throughout. The twelve were not enough to sate their hunger, though. Each wolf took the body of an orc, some still alive, and flung them over their shoulders.


    ¡°Let us return,¡± Bonebite said, two orcs across his back. ¡°My pups will be hungry.¡±


    They walked back on just their two hind legs, the journey much longer. They walked in victory, though, so they bore their aches and the light of the sun in good humor. At last they reached their camp. Only the pups remained, those not strong enough to fight. The women had come with them on the attack, and they had performed well during the slaughter. Redclaw dropped the orc he carried. His two pups approached, their arms lightly touching the ground for they were still learning to walk upright.


    ¡°Eat well,¡± he told them, proud of their size. Already he knew they would outgrow him. Come the day they feasted on his remains, they would fight amongst each other, the winner sure to be a great and powerful pack leader. Maybe they would surpass his accomplishments. He hoped they would.


    As the rest arrived, Redclaw saw that it was not just children at the camp. A smaller wolf-man waited in the camp¡¯s center, kneeling on his haunches in a display of humility. Redclaw recognized him as Yellowscar.


    ¡°Why have you come?¡± Redclaw asked him.


    Yellowscar averted his eyes, his ears pulled back against his skull.


    ¡°Rotfur crossed the river,¡± said Yellowscar. ¡°He went against our wishes, and he feasted on the blood of a human woman. The second time he crossed, he never returned.¡±


    ¡°Damn him,¡± growled Redclaw. ¡°Better the humans took him, for that fate is better than what I would have given.¡±


    ¡°It is worse,¡± said Yellowscar. He pressed his stomach flat against the ground. ¡°A group of humans ventured into the Wedge, led by two terrible men, one with a sword of fire, the other a shield of light. We killed many before they could retreat, but we lost six of our own.¡±


    Redclaw felt anger flare through his veins. He¡¯d led an assault on two hundred orcs and lost twelve, yet Yellowscar and the rest of his scouts lost half that to a mere party of humans?


    ¡°They will know we are coming,¡± Redclaw growled, his voice deep and dangerously quiet. ¡°They will send for men from the towers, armed with metal skin and cowardly bows. You let Rotfur¡¯s bloodlust go unchecked. I said watch, and see if the waters are safe to cross. You fail me, Yellowscar.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Yellowscar said, his snout pressed to the dirt.


    Redclaw grabbed him by the neck and hoisted him to his feet.


    ¡°Wolf does not kill wolf,¡± he said, staring into Yellowscar¡¯s eyes. ¡°You will pay back your mistakes. When the men come down the river, you will be ready, and you will be the one at the front of the attack.¡±


    ¡°I understand, pack leader.¡±


    Redclaw dropped him and ordered him away. His rage still beat through his veins, and he knew his vow might be tested should the young scout remain in his sight. Fearful for his plan, he looked back at his pups. They deserved far better a home than the Wedge. Beyond the Gihon there was plentiful game, creatures they saw rarely. Deer, with meat so soft. Rabbits, which squealed when biting into their tender flesh. Streams, with water clean and light on the tongue¡­


    ¡°We will escape your prison,¡± Redclaw growled to the west, imagining the legion of humans that would quake with fear at the sound of his howl. His words were a promise, a vow to which he had sworn his entire life. ¡°We will escape your blades. It is we, the wolves, who will feast.¡±

 Chapter 4 - Robert

    Despite the respect his men showed him, despite the importance lauded on him by the nearby villages, Sir Robert Godley knew his position was an insult, the best King Marcus Baedan could think of for one of his station.


    ¡°The seer says this winter will be a harsh one,¡± said one of his lieutenants and closest friends, a slender man named Daniel Coldmine.


    ¡°Who, that old crone in Dunbree?¡± asked Robert, staring out the window of the great tower overlooking the Gihon. ¡°She also said I¡¯d fall for a lovely lass come my fortieth birthday, but she¡¯d only betray me. Been a decade past that, and still no lass.¡±


    ¡°Maybe she meant King Baedan,¡± Daniel said, joining him at the window, a smug grin on his face. Robert chuckled. Perhaps Daniel was right. He looked down at his portly body, remembering a time when it had been all muscle, his heavy fingers calloused from the daily wear of his sword¡¯s hilt. But that had been before the disastrous defeat at the hands of the elves years before. They¡¯d chased their kind out of Mordan for good, but at the southern bridge leading to Ker, the elves had sent their greatest to make their stand. The magic they¡¯d wielded was immense, godlike powers he still saw in his nightmares. Boulders of ice the size of houses had crashed through his ranks, and fire had rained from the sky, each piece of burning hail bigger than his fist.


    ¡°Baedan¡¯s no lass,¡± Robert said. ¡°He¡¯s just a spineless bigot, Karak curse his name.¡±


    Daniel pointed to where smoke burned in the far distance inside the Wedge.


    ¡°A hunting party, perhaps?¡± he asked. ¡°Orcs? Or have the hyena-men finally learned how to make fire?¡±


    ¡°No matter,¡± said Robert. ¡°It¡¯s too far away. I won¡¯t lead what few men I have in a hopeless chase of distant smoke.¡±


    ¡°There was a time when we would have ridden across those dead plains on a hundred horses,¡± Daniel said, a wistful look coming over his face. ¡°The damned creatures feared the very sight of the Gihon, our boats and our towers. What happened?¡±


    Robert turned away from the window and leaned against the stone. Closing his eyes, he sighed. During that disastrous attack against the elves, he¡¯d pulled back his men, refusing to continue. They¡¯d lost thousands trying to kill a mere ten. There would be no victory, no revenge. The fight had lasted another six hours, and when Marcus heard of his retreat, he blamed him for the deaths, as if his cowardice had allowed the elves to endure as long as they did. But Robert was also the hero of Dezerea, and it was his strategy that had burned the elven capital to the ground. Unable to punish him how he wished, instead Marcus had sent him to the wall of towers.


    Year after year, the king had denied requests for supplies and soldiers. Their boats grew worse, their weaponry chipped and dull no matter how often they polished and shined it. They¡¯d been forced to beg donations from the nearby villages, for Baedan¡¯s coin was not enough to feed them all. Their role in patrolling the river, protecting the lands from the various creatures of the Vile Wedge, ensured the local populace aided them whenever they could. Robert¡¯s muscular body had thickened as the tedious years rolled on. His calluses had vanished, his black hair grown long and gray, and his finely honed reflexes had faded away into the dusty corners of his mind.


    ¡°You want to know what happened?¡± Robert asked. ¡°I was put in charge. That¡¯s what happened. Marcus will bleed us with the patience of a spider, until at last we are so weak something gets through. He doesn¡¯t care how many die, so long as he can strip me of my title and exile me in shame.¡±


    Daniel grew quiet, and he looked to the distant smoke with new worry.


    ¡°We¡¯re not so thin,¡± he said. ¡°We can stop whatever those savages send at us.¡±


    ¡°Here, perhaps,¡± said Robert. They were within his study, and he walked across the room and gestured to a map of northern Mordan. Drawn in exquisite detail were the towers placed alongside the Gihon at thirty to forty mile intervals. The distance grew the closer they came to the Citadel, for the paladins aided them in guarding the lower section of the Gihon, where it met the Rigon, forming the lower V part of the wedge. Robert gestured to the various towers, all named after the colors they were drawn in.


    ¡°Tower Red and Silver are at a tenth of their full capacity,¡± he said, pointing at the two nearest to theirs. ¡°Green is down to a single horse, and I have none left to send. The best I can hope for is a wealthy farmer donating one to us. Gold¡¯s foundation is cracking, and no matter how often I request a mason from Mordeina, Marcus only responds with vague promises. At the far end, Violet is all but unmanned, the paladins of Ashhur graciously patrolling its waters for us. Most of our troops lack training, don¡¯t try to deny it. We¡¯re a rotting fence penning in a herd of bulls. One of these days those bulls will realize it, turn their horns our way, and smash through.¡±


    ¡°What of the Blood Tower?¡± asked Daniel. ¡°How are things there?¡±


    Robert forced himself to smile. Blood Tower was his, the base of command for the entire wall.


    ¡°Blood has the finest soldiers Mordan could hope for,¡± he said. ¡°And I hear they won¡¯t quit no matter how terrible their situation becomes, and never will they let the creatures cross the Gihon.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I thought,¡± Daniel said.


    Someone knocked at the door, and Robert ordered them in. A younger lad, an orphan volunteered into their service from a nearby village, stepped inside, bowed his head, and offered a small scroll. Robert took it and dismissed him.


    ¡°More promises and gifts from Mordeina?¡± asked Daniel, his voice thick with sarcasm.


    ¡°No,¡± said Robert, furrowing his brow. ¡°It¡¯s from Durham.¡±


    ¡°Durham?¡±


    Robert pointed on the map. It was an unnamed dot in the lengthy space between towers Bronze and Gold, not far from the river.


    ¡°Says wolf-men have been crossing the Gihon. Damn fools, they even went into the Wedge to try stopping them. They killed six, but say at least four remain. Now they want our help in case there¡¯s more.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like they¡¯re capable of handling this themselves,¡± Daniel said.


    Robert handed him the scroll so he could read for himself.


    ¡°They went into the Wedge and found monsters,¡± Robert said, returning to the window. ¡°Nothing surprising about that. It says only a single wolf-man actually entered their village, and it was slain. Starvation probably drove it across.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s far from either tower,¡± Daniel said, glancing back at the map. ¡°I guess our boats don¡¯t go there except maybe once a month. Still, worrisome that there¡¯d be so many bunched together.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re probably lying about the numbers they found, just to get us to help them.¡±


    ¡°I doubt that. It¡¯s signed by two paladins. Shit, one¡¯s Ashhur, and one¡¯s for Karak.¡±


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    Robert raised an eyebrow. He yanked the scroll out of Daniel¡¯s hand and scanned the bottom.


    ¡°Tan my hide,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°If something can get a paladin of both gods to agree, I¡¯d say it¡¯s serious.¡±


    ¡°Damn it. Two paladins, and they can¡¯t defend themselves?¡±


    ¡°Those two might be the only reason they killed the ones they did,¡± Daniel pointed out.


    ¡°Fine. If you¡¯re so overcome with boredom, take a squad and go. It might do some good to instill a bit more faith in us. And give Sir Lars an earful when you pass through Bronze. That¡¯s his stretch he¡¯s supposed to be guarding, and don¡¯t let him tell you otherwise.¡±


    Daniel struck his breast with his fist and bowed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you of all my legendary conquests when I return,¡± he said, grinning.


    ¡°You¡¯re not much younger than I,¡± Robert said, laughing. ¡°I¡¯ll be impressed if you even get blood on your sword.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps not younger, but I¡¯m not as fat, either,¡± Daniel said, ducking out the door before Robert could respond with the rightful blow to the head he deserved.


    *


    The week passed, and the people of Durham moved on best they could, given their losses. No wolf-men crossed the river. Jerico and Darius resumed giving their respective sermons, though Jerico noticed his numbers had grown by fifteen or so, while Darius¡¯s dwindled. No doubt many still bore grudges at his pain-fueled condemnation of Bobby¡¯s fate. All the while, they waited for the message they¡¯d sent upriver by way of tower Gold to be received, and the response to be given.


    On the eighth day, as Jerico toiled in the field, he saw a man in silver armor approach from the distance. Straightening up, he stretched his arms and waited.


    ¡°Jerico?¡± asked the man as he arrived. He was older, with a white, well-trimmed beard. His small eyes looked Jerico up and down. ¡°Or perhaps I am mistaken?¡±


    ¡°I am he,¡± Jerico said, offering his hand.


    ¡°Strange to see you half-naked and working a field.¡±


    Jerico chuckled. ¡°On days with nothing to preach, I like to help with what I can. It is the least I can do for what they¡¯ve given me.¡±


    ¡°You bring them truth and salvation. The least they could do is feed you and give you a roof over your head,¡± said the man.


    ¡°Might I have your name?¡± Jerico asked, the man seeming familiar, but only a little.


    ¡°I am Pallos. I¡¯ve come from the Citadel to observe your progress.¡±


    Jerico laughed. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve done about a quarter of this field, and should have another quarter done by sundown¡­¡±


    Pallos¡¯s glare showed that he was not amused.


    ¡°Right. Sorry. I¡¯m actually glad you¡¯re here. Let me go tell Jeremy he¡¯ll need to send someone over here to replace me, and then we can return to the village.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± said Pallos, saluting with a mailed fist. As he walked away, Jerico wondered just how far Pallos had his sword shoved up his ass. Of course, such thoughts were hardly worthy of a paladin, but as he hurried to where Jeremy overlooked the rest of his workers, he figured that Ashhur might not only forgive him, but probably agree over the matter.


    Pallos sat in the shade of a tree not far from the village square, drinking from a waterskin. Jerico joined him, having taken a quick detour to his room to throw on a shirt. It felt grand while out in the field working, but once at rest, his body slick with sweat, the air turned uncomfortably chill.


    ¡°I hope you had a pleasant ride here,¡± Jerico said, sitting down beside his superior.


    ¡°Pleasant enough, though I must apologize for my mood. I have lost a dear friend; we all have. That is why I have come.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± asked Jerico.


    Pallos leaned his weight against the tree, and he looked rather uncomfortable about the whole matter. His eyes watered, but the man¡¯s self-control was too great for such displays of emotion.


    ¡°Mornida died of a sickness. Sorollos has replaced him as High Paladin. I¡¯ve been traveling north informing all of our men in the field.¡±


    Jerico crossed his arms and frowned.


    ¡°A good man,¡± he said. ¡°Though I doubt I knew him as well as you. But we are strong, and will endure the loss.¡±


    ¡°Sorollos is a young man, but his faith is great. Still, I miss Mornida¡¯s leadership. But enough of that. He is with Ashhur now, and we have worldly matters to discuss. I spoke with many villagers before coming to you, Jerico, and what I heard distresses me greatly.¡±


    Jerico knew where this was headed, but he asked anyway.


    ¡°About what?¡±


    ¡°Your friendship with a paladin of Karak. What is his name, Darius?¡±


    His mouth felt dry when he responded. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°We knew he was here when I positioned you in Durham. You were to counter his doctrine and free the villagers from his lies. Instead I hear of you befriending him, even spacing out your sermons so the people here may attend both.¡±


    ¡°I thought it best to let them hear both our doctrines, and let them see the truth of Ashhur¡¯s wisdom by comparison.¡±


    ¡°Serving Ashhur is a choice, Jerico.¡± Pallos frowned at him, and Jerico felt like he was back at the Citadel, being reprimanded for a wrong answer. ¡°People cannot serve both Karak and Ashhur, and it is foolish to give them the chance to do so here. Karak¡¯s darkness will not be defeated in such a way. You do not stop the charging bull with flowers. You kill it with a sword.¡±


    ¡°Darius is a good man, Pallos. He worries about this village as much as I.¡±


    ¡°Good man or not, he serves a lie, and in his ignorance, he will damn the people here. Challenge him. Watch your friendship crumble when you stop acting as if his beliefs are worth hearing.¡±


    Pallos looked at him, honest sadness in his eyes.


    ¡°He serves Karak, and come a time, Karak will call him to betray you. That is when you will see your worth to him.¡±


    Jerico turned away and refused to acknowledge him. The silence dragged on, awkward and uncomfortable. At last, Pallos put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently.


    ¡°Do not be mad with me, Jerico. I am old, and have seen the evil this world fosters. I only say this because I fear the hurt that will befall you. But let us talk on other things. Your shield¡­is it still your beacon? I would very much like to see it.¡±


    Jerico welcomed the excuse to leave his presence, if only for a little while. He seethed at such condemnation of someone like Darius. Sure, the man had his faults, but didn¡¯t everyone? But he¡¯d been there beside him, bleeding and fighting for the safety of the village. He called the men to be strong, the women to be faithful, for all to follow laws that, while strict, often seemed fair. They were both young, and they understood the trials each of them endured, and what it meant to stand before a crowd and speak from the heart on matters of faith. Betray him? Never.


    In his room he retrieved his mace and shield and carried them back to Pallos.


    ¡°Incredible,¡± said Pallos as Jerico held the shield aloft. The blue-white glow swirled over it, not as strong as it¡¯d been on the night fighting the wolf-men, but nothing he would be ashamed of, either.


    ¡°And your mace?¡± he asked.


    Jerico held it closer, so he could see it held no glow, no power. Pallos drew his sword, its blade swirling with the light of Ashhur, showing the strength of his faith.


    ¡°When I first heard of this during your training, I didn¡¯t believe it,¡± Pallos said, sheathing his sword. ¡°Even coming here, I thought it would have faded over to your mace. Ashhur has granted you a strange gift, Jerico. Never have any of us encountered a paladin¡¯s shield becoming his beacon of faith over his weapon. I hope you study it closely to learn its reasons, its limits.¡±


    Jerico set the shield down by the tree.


    ¡°It¡¯s a big hunk of metal that glows. I think I understand it well enough.¡±


    Pallos shook his head.


    ¡°You should show more reverence to the gifts of Ashhur. The people here study the way you speak, the way you act. You are an example to them, and if you show such callousness toward the miracles of our god, then you will instill them with the same.¡±


    Jerico felt his neck flush.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± he said.


    ¡°Come now, I am no teacher, and you no wet-nosed pupil. You are a good man, and I expect greatness out of you. I would not have sent you here if I did not. There are a hundred villages, all needing to hear the word of our god. But Ashhur expects something special from you. I only pray you are prepared for it.¡±


    Pallos stood, and he brushed the dirt from his armor.


    ¡°I must be going,¡± he said. ¡°There are others who must learn of Mornida¡¯s death.¡±


    Before he could go, Jerico stopped him.


    ¡°Wait,¡± he said. ¡°You see, I¡­¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Pallos asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been having dreams,¡± he said. ¡°The same one, really, and it comes with greater frequency.¡±


    The old paladin tilted his head. ¡°Well, tell me, and perhaps I can interpret.¡±


    ¡°I see the Citadel. The lower walls are cracking, and then the surrounding field bursts with fire. It¡¯s raining, but instead of water, bones fall. I hear a sound, like the roar of a beast, and then I awake.¡±


    Pallos looked troubled by what he heard.


    ¡°Perhaps you dreamt of Mornida¡¯s death,¡± he said. ¡°It is always a troublesome time when our leader falls.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Pallos gestured to the distance. On the other side of the square, Darius was gathering men and women for another sermon.


    ¡°Perhaps it is Ashhur warning you of his presence. The Citadel is strong as ever. But to be in the company of a dark paladin¡­you must expect some of his shadow to fall upon you. Stay safe, Jerico. I hope to see you on my return.¡±


    Jerico watched him go as Darius¡¯s speech grew louder and filled with fire. He listened for a little while, then went back to the field. More than anything, he wanted the monotony so he might think over what he¡¯d heard, as well as calm the turmoil growing in his breast. It was only an hour later that he realized he¡¯d not once mentioned the wolf-men that had attacked their village.

 Chapter 5 - Daniel

    Leaving tower Bronze, Daniel felt an immense sense of relief. Their boat drifted along the center of the river, slow and deep enough they could relax and let the Gihon carry them. Daniel sat in the back, dipping his fingertips in the cold water to keep awake. Not that he needed the help. An argument with someone as stubborn as Sir Lars was easily enough to get him worked up and ready to hit something.


    ¡°Unsupplied as I am, you want me to patrol twenty miles south to help protect some...simpletons stupid enough to go into the Wedge?¡± Lars had asked. He was shorter than Daniel, but still outweighed him by plenty. They¡¯d bickered in his study, him wearing a family breastplate that enhanced his rotund physique.


    ¡°At least those simpletons aren¡¯t afraid of what they face,¡± Daniel had shot back. Lars had flustered red, and he¡¯d tugged at his long blond mustache while trying to find words to say. During many battles with bandits in the south, as well as the initial skirmishes with the elves, Lars had earned a reputation as a cautious leader. To those with enough alcohol to loosen their tongues, he was a coward, and that cowardice had eventually landed him his position in tower Bronze.


    ¡°Sir Godley might be a sour, quiet sod,¡± said one of his men as they drifted along, ¡°but I¡¯d take him any day over that fat weasel Lars.¡±


    There were twenty of them, and they all shared a chuckle. The jest was in good nature, but Daniel knew he couldn¡¯t let the man get away without reprimand.


    ¡°If you¡¯ve got the energy to waggle your tongue, you can grab some oars and do a bit of rowing, Jon,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯d hate you to end up as fat as Sir Lars.¡±


    More laughs, but they got the point. Jon took to rowing, knowing he¡¯d have to be a fool to try and escape the rather lax punishment. The oars dipped in and out of the water, the sound rhythmic, relaxing. Trees lined either side of them, growing tall with their roots crawling down into the river. Worn stone surrounded both sides, soft rock and dirt half the height of a man. The sun set, the moon rose, but so flat was the river they continued along, two men at the front using poles and lanterns to make sure they had no surprises.


    ¡°How far?¡± asked Jon, a man who had refused to give his last name upon enlistment. Daniel figured him a former bandit or thief, but whatever the crime, he was willing to let it be forgotten so long as he served faithfully, which he did.


    ¡°You mean until we¡¯re there, or until you stop rowing?¡± Daniel asked.


    ¡°Either¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°We should be arriving soon. Keep your eyes peeled for a wooden dock. They should have one, from what I gathered before we left. They rely on a lot of supplies coming up and down the river, given how they¡¯re in the middle of nowhere. And put your oars down, Jon.¡±


    The man did, and he stretched his back while letting out a pleased grunt.


    ¡°Getting shallow,¡± said one of the men with the poles up front. ¡°Might consider pulling off lest we hit something.¡±


    ¡°Rather sleep with a roof over my head,¡± Daniel said. ¡°Keep your eyes open and your lanterns west. And hand me one of them, will you?¡±


    Several others joined the search, their shifting rocking the boat enough that Daniel lost the grip of his lantern. It fell to his left, hit the boat, and then rolled off the side. His fingers seemed an inch away the whole while it fell to the water.


    ¡°Shit,¡± he muttered, peering off the side. As his eyes lifted, he saw a yellow pair meet his own, then vanish.


    ¡°Gregory,¡± he called out, keeping his voice calm.


    ¡°Yes, sir?¡± asked Gregory. He was a young man, but he was strong, and more importantly, had a keen mind. Both Daniel and Robert had wondered how Marcus had erred in letting such a man end up at their towers.


    ¡°Look east,¡± he said. ¡°Keep it quiet, and don¡¯t make it obvious.¡±


    ¡°What am I looking for?¡± asked Gregory. He put his hands on his back and acted as if he were stretching. The boat continued drifting, many of the men still shining lanterns and searching for the dock, or at the least, distant signs of the village.


    ¡°If they¡¯re there, you¡¯ll know.¡±


    Gregory swore. His hand ran through his brown hair, and then it fell to his side, where his sword should have been. It was not. All their gear was stowed in three chests placed equidistant from each other along the center of the boat.


    ¡°Eyes watching us,¡± Gregory said.


    ¡°How many?¡±


    Daniel leaned his chin in his hand and stared east as if he were bored. Yellow eyes peered at them, and they had a hungry look that sent shivers up his spine.


    ¡°At least six pairs. Maybe more. They¡¯re wolves, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    One of the men near them heard and glanced back, worry crossing his face.


    ¡°Wolves, sir?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Shut your mouth, right now,¡± said Daniel. ¡°That¡¯s an order.¡±


    The man nodded and obeyed.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± asked Gregory, lowering his voice to just above a whisper.


    ¡°If there¡¯s that many, they aren¡¯t here to watch. Can¡¯t armor ourselves, otherwise every man tossed overboard drowns.¡±


    ¡°I say pass swords around, low and out of sight. And we need to do it fast. I see the eyes no more.¡±


    ¡°Have they left?¡± Daniel asked.


    ¡°No,¡± said Gregory, kneeling beside the closest chest and removing the latch. ¡°They went into the water.¡±


    ¡°Pull back your lanterns,¡± Daniel ordered his men, and they did so. Gregory started sending swords down the boat, arming the east side first. ¡°Take what we¡¯re giving you, and don¡¯t act up about it. We got eyes watching us, and Ashhur knows how intelligent they are, and how much they can understand. Jon, Letts, you keep watching for a dock, any dock. Everyone else, scan the river.¡±


    Daniel drew his own sword and laid it across his lap, comforted by its weight. If the wolf-men assaulted their boat, there were advantages for either side. The wolves would have surprise, and they¡¯d close the distance without fear of arrows or defensive formations. They¡¯d be slowed by the water, though, and vulnerable trying to climb into the boats. Assuming they tried to climb them, anyway. They were strong, and if they were many, they might be able to overturn their vessel. If that happened, the soldiers would be easy prey.


    ¡°Wait for a signal,¡± Gregory said, a sword at his side and a torch in his hand. ¡°A wolf pack won¡¯t attack until they get a signal.¡±


    The night had gone unnaturally silent. Even the men of the boat were quiet, no longer joking, calling out what they thought might be a deer, stone, or dock. No, they were watching, waiting, cold steel in their hands. Fighting wolf-men without armor, they faced a horrible challenge. Those claws could shred their skin like cloth. Those teeth could rip their limbs from their bodies. Daniel had fought wolf-men plenty in his years guarding the Wedge, but never like this, never ambushed helpless upon the water. And why were they there? The implications were just as frightening as their current situation. To have so many near the Gihon, watching, patrolling even¡­


    From the far bank came the howl, and with that, the water on either side of their boat erupted with claws and teeth. The wolf-men lashed out at them, clawing at the wooden sides and hoisting their bodies upward. With their dark fur wet and matted, they were blacker than the night, just flashes of yellow eyes and eager claws.


    Daniel saw two paddling at the rear of the boat, and he lunged with his sword at the first. It lashed up at him, but its paw went wide. His blade slashed its arm, and it yipped in pain, its swimming no longer enough to keep pace. Daniel grinned at the thought of its blood pouring into the river. The second grabbed hold of the rudder, its claws easily sinking in. When Daniel tried to stab it, its teeth snapped back, and startled, he nearly lost his sword.


    To his right, a wolf-man lunged high enough to grab the side and pulled itself up. Gregory struck it with his lantern, the light blinding it. His sword pierced its chest, and kicking it off, it fell atop another wolf-man trying to climb in.


    ¡°The lantern!¡± Daniel cried. Gregory tossed it to him. Swearing, Daniel caught it near the bottom, where the heat was greatest. Gritting his teeth to ignore the burning of his hand, he shone its light into the eyes of the wolf-man climbing the back. It snarled, its eyes shut, and then he flung the lantern. The metal struck it in the face, the liquid and fire spilling across its snout. Down it went into the water.


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    Whirling, Daniel took in the battle before him. The boat rocked unsteadily beneath his feet, both sides buffeted by the many bodies either climbing aboard or falling away. He couldn¡¯t count the wolf-men, they were both too many and too hidden. His men were dying. Blood soaked the floor of the boat, mixing with puddles of water. They fought bravely, though, and he felt his heart swell with pride. So far none had panicked, and they stabbed and bled in the darkness like true warriors.


    ¡°Beat them back!¡± he cried, joining Gregory¡¯s side. The two slashed at another wolf trying to grab the side, slicing off three claws before it slipped away. With a scream, one of his men went tumbling off the boat, his weak thrust missing, his arm grabbed and pulled. Where he fell became a dark thrashing of water, and then they saw no more. Two more men died, a wolf-man making it into the boat and slashing wildly before soldiers dove upon it, accepting its claws to pierce their blades through its heart. The screams of their pain echoed across the river.


    The boat suddenly lurched eastward, accompanied by a deep thunk. Again came a lurch.


    ¡°They¡¯re guiding us to the Wedge!¡± someone shouted.


    ¡°The poles!¡± Daniel roared. ¡°Grab the poles!¡±


    They had four poles to push and guide the boat. The first two they plunged into the water snapped as wolf-men grabbed hold of them and bit with their strong teeth.


    ¡°Stab the water!¡± Gregory cried, rushing to the east side and thrusting downward, where several wolf-men had gathered, no longer trying to climb and instead swimming with their heads low and their bodies pushing.


    ¡°We hit ground we¡¯re dead,¡± Daniel said, grabbing another of the poles. ¡°Now push like your life depends on it!¡±


    The wood groaned in his hand, he heard the yelps of the wolf-men at their side, but at last the pressure relaxed. Once more the boat angled not to the Wedge but instead the opposite side.


    ¡°I want off this damn river!¡± Jon shouted.


    ¡°Amen!¡± cried Daniel.


    The last of the wolf-men along the eastern side fell back, the last two poles touching bottom and pushing. Several others grabbed oars, and they rowed toward safety. There was no dock, no landing. They rammed their boat along the rocky shore and then rushed onto dry land with shaky legs.


    Exhausted and shivering, Daniel looked out to the river. He saw pairs of eyes watching him from the far side, but not many. It seemed no others gave chase.


    ¡°They coming after?¡± asked Jon.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look like it,¡± said Daniel. ¡°But we have a long night to go. Get our gear, all of you. Let¡¯s put some armor on. If they decide they want to fight, by god, we¡¯ll give them one.¡±


    While they unloaded the chests, he took count of their losses. Of their original twenty, only eleven remained, counting himself. Nine men, dead or lost along the river. He did his best not to think of it, instead issuing orders and gathering up those who were left.


    ¡°How will we find Durham?¡± asked Gregory, sliding up beside him.


    ¡°We¡¯ll follow the river south,¡± he said. ¡°Worst comes to worse, and we passed Durham during that mess, we¡¯ll eventually reach tower Gold.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have much food.¡±


    Daniel nodded toward a pair of bows his men were unloading from one of their chests.


    ¡°We¡¯re in the wild now,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ll hunt if we must.¡±


    ¡°While we ourselves are hunted?¡±


    He looked east, those yellow eyes still watching.


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll see who is the better hunter,¡± Daniel said.


    *


    It was all a dream. Jerico knew it was a dream, knew with a certainty that frightened him, for normally that understanding would spur him awake. Instead, the vision continued, with a power and clarity that deepened his fright.


    Before him loomed the Citadel, the great tower of Ashhur. Behind it were its docks, and they burned. At its gates he saw a hundred of his brethren. They cried out the name of their god, and their swords shone with the light of their faith. Fighting them were legions of undead. They reached beyond the limits of his vision, for he felt like a raven flying over the battlefield. The undead fell by the scores, but still they came. Jerico¡¯s heart soared at his brethren¡¯s skill. They would win. Despite the numbers, they would overcome the dead, for they were strong in faith and full of song.


    The ground shook, a lion let loose a great roar, and then the Citadel fell.


    It crumbled into pieces, its lower foundations breaking at the sides. As it fell, the top half tilted to the right, the heavy dark stone slamming into the ground and tearing free huge chunks of earth. The sound was deafening. Even in his dream he felt his ears ache, and the shockwave of its fall thudded into his chest. The army of paladins below felt it all the more keenly. The light of their weapons, once bright and unshakeable, dwindled. The undead let out a cry, and they charged anew. This time they did not fall so quickly. This time, the paladins did not sing out songs to their god. One by one they fell, until the undead crushed them beneath their feet. Jerico cried out in despair, but he could do nothing, only watch.


    He felt an emotion wash over him, and it was not his own. It was a terrible ache, so deep, so overwhelming, that it took him a moment to realize he felt Ashhur¡¯s sorrow.


    And then he awoke. He lay in his simple bed in his guest room. Sweat covered him. He felt tears in his eyes.


    Do not fear the road you must travel, a voice whispered to him. Only know that you do not travel it alone.


    Alone. The word hit him like a sledge. The vast bulk of his order had died. How many might remain? He thought of the dead he¡¯d seen, and he wondered who commanded them. What nightmare was this? The Citadel, fallen? It¡¯d been prophesied to never fall, for if it did, so would end the order of paladins. And it couldn¡¯t end, it couldn¡¯t, couldn¡¯t¡­


    He felt Ashhur¡¯s presence with him, and indeed, believed it was his voice that whispered softly. Deep in his heart, he knew he should feel at peace with such a presence, but he felt only fear and sorrow. His friends. His brothers. His teachers. Dead. So many dead.


    Despite all this, he felt a keen sense of exhaustion. He fell back atop his bed, and by the time his head hit the pillow, he was already asleep.


    *


    When Jerico awoke, he remembered the dream, and the passage of time did little to help. As the morning light bathed him, he wished for the images to leave his mind. He¡¯d hoped it would reveal itself a dream, or a possible future to avoid. But all he remembered was a sense of immediacy that denied that hope. He¡¯d felt Ashhur¡¯s sorrow. His home was destroyed. The Citadel had fallen.


    He heard a knock at the door, then Jessie call out to him.


    ¡°Breakfast, if you¡¯re ready, sir,¡± she said.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he said, still feeling lost in a dream. He had to get back. He had to see the wreckage for himself, or he might never believe. Besides, who else might be in danger? What of the younger students, had they died in its collapse? And who had led this army? So much he didn¡¯t know, didn¡¯t understand.


    He dressed in his platemail, and he packed his things. Preaching in the village could wait. There were more important things to do.


    ¡°Are you leaving us?¡± Jeremy Hangfield asked as he sat with him at their table.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I must,¡± he said. Jeremy stared him over, and he felt uncomfortable as he ate.


    ¡°You look ill. Is something the matter? A flu, perhaps?¡±


    ¡°Ill,¡± Jerico said, and he shook his head as if his mind couldn¡¯t fathom basic conversation. ¡°Ill news from home, perhaps. Thank you, Jeremy. You have been a good host.¡±


    ¡°A shame,¡± said Jeremy. ¡°Before you go, Darius wished to speak with you. He said it was urgent, but wouldn¡¯t tell me what about.¡±


    A strange guilty feeling came over him. Had Darius received a similar dream? How much exaltation would have been in his? Could any paladin of Karak weep for their fall?


    ¡°Perhaps I will see him before I go,¡± he said, with no intention of looking.


    After excusing himself, he gathered up the rest of his things and hoisted his pack onto his back, over his shield. Jessie was waiting for him at the door.


    ¡°Will the Citadel send someone to replace you?¡± she asked. The question stabbed straight to his heart.


    ¡°I fear not,¡± he said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you. Are you sure you must go? How else will I talk to Ashhur?¡±


    Jerico sighed. She was staring at him from the corner of her eye, as if afraid to meet his gaze. With how haggard and drained he felt, he couldn¡¯t blame her. He put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead.


    ¡°Even if I go, Ashhur will always remain. Take care, Jessie.¡±


    He left their home and trudged south. He¡¯d need supplies later, but he had enough to live on for now. The Citadel had given him plenty of coin, and he¡¯d spent little of it. There would be many villages along the river, and he¡¯d buy what he needed from them. He didn¡¯t want to remain in Durham anymore. He felt guilty for abandoning his post, but how could he ignore such a portent sent in his dreams?


    Darius spotted him passing through the town square, and inwardly he cursed himself for not going around.


    ¡°Jerico!¡± he said, hurrying over. He wore his armor, and it shone in the light.


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± Jerico said, trying to keep the conversation quick and simple.


    Darius looked as if he¡¯d been slapped.


    ¡°Leaving?¡±


    Jerico nodded and continued walking. Darius recovered, and he jogged to his side.


    ¡°You can¡¯t leave,¡± he said. ¡°How could you? The people here need you.¡±


    ¡°The wolf-men are dead, and I¡¯ve done what I can to spread Ashhur¡¯s word. Besides, what could you care about that?¡±


    Darius pushed himself into Jerico¡¯s way, forcing him to stop.


    ¡°Soldiers from Blood Tower arrived several hours before dawn,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ve taken up lodging in several houses, and I¡¯ve told them not to say anything about what happened.¡±


    ¡°What happened? Start making sense, Darius.¡±


    ¡°Wolf-men assaulted them upon the river. They lost nine men and had to beach a couple miles outside the village. Right now they¡¯re pretending it didn¡¯t happen, and they are the full contingent Sir Godley originally sent.¡±


    Jerico started to think over the matter, then shook his head and pressed on, his shoulder bumping into Darius¡¯s.


    ¡°The village is safe enough,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re here, as are the soldiers now.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Darius grabbed his arm and pulled him back, forcing him to face him. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but whatever it is, you need to snap out of it. At least twenty wolf-men attacked their boat. They¡¯re watching the river, preventing reinforcements. That¡¯s not normal, Jerico, and you know it. They¡¯re planning an assault. Every single person here is at risk, and I expect a paladin of Ashhur to be brave enough to stand and fight them.¡±


    Jerico yanked his arm free and glared.


    ¡°You would call me a coward?¡± he asked.


    ¡°I call you nothing. I just wonder what it is that could make you abandon the people who need you most. You said I was wrong to avoid Bobby¡¯s funeral, and you were right. Yet now there will be a hundred funerals, assuming any live to bury their dead. Would you be absent from them all? And for what? Tell me what is so damn important!¡±


    Jerico thought of the Citadel¡¯s fall, thought of the undead swarming over his brethren. And then he thought of Jessie, sad little Jessie, being shredded by a pack of wolf-men. His clenched fists shook, and he tried to know what was right. In the end, he closed his eyes and asked Ashhur. He received no answer, but in the momentary calm, he felt his guilt overcome him. These people needed him. If Darius was right, and so many were massing along the river¡­


    ¡°I¡¯ll stay until the village is safe,¡± he said.


    ¡°Good,¡± Darius said, smiling. ¡°Now care to tell me what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Jerico didn¡¯t want to imagine the dark paladin¡¯s reaction, whether it would be sadness, rejoicing, or indifference.


    ¡°Some other time,¡± he said as together they walked back to Durham.