‘What is that fearsome thing?’ Nessa demanded with a shudder. Susan began to whimper, while Bryony shook with terror but made no sound.
‘Perhaps it is our deaths,’ I told her. ‘Stay back and let me do what I can.’
I was facing a hyb warrior, a crossbreed of Kobalos and horse that had been designed for combat. The creature’s upper body was hairy and muscular, combining exceptional strength with speed and the ability to rip an opponent to pieces. The hands were also specially adapted for fighting. In its right the hyb appeared to be gripping five long, thin blades, but I knew they were talons that could be retracted into the muscular hand or unsheathed at will. In its left was a mace – a huge club covered in sharp spikes like the quills of a porcupine.
The lower body of a hyb was faster than a horse, with spurs of bone projecting from each foreleg, often used to disembowel the mount of its enemy. Additionally, this hyb was armoured: it wore a metal helmet that covered its whole face except for the angry red eyes. Its body, upper and lower, was also protected by the highest quality ribbed armour.
The helmet, with its elongated jaw, betrayed the true shape of the upper head, which was more horse than Kobalos. Both mouths were open now, snorting clouds of steam into the cold air. Then both throats called out a challenge, a deep guttural roar that echoed across the land from horizon to horizon. Without further ado it charged towards me, through a narrow gap between two jets of steam erupting from the volcanic rock.
I heard whinnies of fear from behind as the two purrai mounts, sensing the strangeness and malevolence of the hyb, scattered, taking their riders with them. But my horse, fortified as it was by the magic of boska, did not move a muscle.
The hyb whirled the club high above its head, but I saw through that subterfuge. It was intended to distract me, and while I looked up, the long thin talons would strike fast and low like vipers’ tongues.
It was as I anticipated, and I was ready. I charged forward to meet the attack, tail extended, and we passed each other with barely a foot between us. As the hyb leaned towards me, the sharp tips of its talons aimed upwards, seeking to slip beneath my ribs and into my heart, I focused my mind until a small bright magical shield materialized in the air and moved with me.
I positioned it so that it deflected the five deadly talons. I did not immediately strike a blow of my own but, guiding my mount with my knees, drew my sabre and followed up my advantage, catching the creature before it had fully come about.
I struck it full upon the head with the hilt of my sabre so that the metal of the helmet rang. Then, with my dagger, I tried to pierce its neck at the point of relative weakness where the helmet joined the body armour.
I failed, and we broke contact, both galloping some distance apart.
Quickly, the hyb turned and charged for the second time. This time, however, despite its agility and speed, I was even better prepared and, while deflecting the talons with my shield for a second time, struck a blow of my own.
I did not have the space to put all my strength into the scything horizontal sweep of my blade, but luck was with me.
The moment I struck, a jet of steam erupted from the ground almost immediately under my enemy. The horse screamed with pain and the upper part leaned towards me to avoid being scalded. Thus the hyb was distracted, and my sabre made contact high on the shoulder; deflected by the ribbed armour there, it found the narrow gap between the helmet and the shoulder piece, biting into the neck so that the hyb rocked sideways as it passed.
As the creature swayed and the mace dropped from its nerveless fingers, I drove my magical shield towards it like a hammer; the blow was terrible and it fell sideways, its four legs buckling beneath it. It hit the ground with a heavy thud, rolled over in the snow and lay still.
I dismounted and approached my enemy with caution. I had expected the hyb assassin to be more difficult to defeat and half expected some trick. I glanced at its lower body and saw the assortment of blades and weapons in sheaths on its flanks.
It was now at my mercy, so I pulled off its helmet and held a blade at its throat.
The hyb was unconscious, its eyes tight shut. I had no time to waste, so I sent a magical barb straight into its brain so that it awoke with a scream. The eyes suddenly opened wide and gleamed a malevolent red. For a moment I felt giddy, and the world seemed to spin; my grip loosened upon my blade. What was wrong with me? I wondered.
Just in time I became aware of the danger from the creature’s eyes. I could barely look away, the compulsion to stare into them was so strong; they had an hypnotic quality, and had the power to suck away the will so that time ceased to matter.
I regained my focus and stared instead at its mouth, which was full of big teeth. I spoke slowly in case the creature was still befuddled from that last terrible blow I had struck. ‘Listen very carefully to me,’ I warned it, pressing the knife into its throat so that I drew forth just a little blood. ‘I have been wronged and I go to make my plea before the Triumvirate in Valkarky. It is my right.’
‘You have no rights, mage!’ the hyb roared, spitting the words up into my face, its big horse-teeth gnashing together. ‘You have murdered one of the High Mages and are to be killed on sight!’
‘He attempted to obstruct me when I was in the lawful process of repossessing my property. It was a criminal act and he attacked me further. In self-defence I was forced to kill him. But I have no personal quarrel, either with you or with any other High Mages. Give me your word that you will not oppose me further and I will set you free. Then you may bear witness to my plea in Valkarky and oppose it if you wish.’
‘You are dead, mage, whether by my hand or another’s. The moment you set me free I will cut your flesh and drink your blood.’
‘Your fighting days are over,’ I said, looking down at the creature. ‘It is I who will wield a blade. It is for me to cut and for you to bleed. Soon I will drink your blood. It is as simple as that. There is only pain left for you now.’
There were screams as I killed it. Not one came from the hyb; the creature died bravely, as I had expected. It could do no less. The screams came from Nessa and her sisters, who had brought their mounts under control and returned when they saw that the danger had passed. It was almost an hour before Bryony stopped sobbing.
After telling the girls to control themselves, I led them on in silence. I thought over my fight with the hyb. What had gone wrong for the creature? Perhaps it had underestimated my capabilities – or maybe luck had played a part?