‘Stay close to me, child, and guard my back,’ I whispered into Thorne’s ear. ‘I’ll kill the one with the spear first.’
I ran straight at him. He was big and strong but clumsy, and I parried his spear-thrust with ease. When my blade found his heart, his eyes opened wide in pained astonishment and he collapsed at my feet. Thorne despatched two to my rear while I concentrated on wounding as many of the others as possible. I had killed their leader, and that was enough. I simply wanted to drive them away from the castle. Moments later they had fled, most of them bleeding.
‘Now for the battlements,’ I said.
We entered the castle and climbed the narrow spiral steps cautiously, alert for danger. The battlements appeared to be deserted but the fire was still burning there, and I could sniff someone’s presence – one person: male; young.
Was he waiting in ambush? As we approached the fire, I realized that he was capable of no such thing. He was lying against the wall, gagged and bound from head to foot – a boy of no more than fifteen. I knelt beside him and he flinched as I cut through his bonds, regarding me with wide, terrified eyes.
I returned my blade to its sheath, then pulled him up into a sitting position and took the gag out of his mouth. His face was dirty and covered in bruises, his left eye swollen. But despite that evidence of mistreatment he was good-looking, with blue eyes and fair hair.
‘What’s your name, boy?’ I asked.
He flinched again when I spoke. He was watching my mouth, probably appalled by the sight of my teeth.
I meant the boy no harm, but it gave me satisfaction to see fear in another’s eyes. It was a confirmation of who I was. I liked to instil terror and respect.
‘W-Will,’ he answered, a slight stammer in his voice.
‘Well, Will, what did you do to deserve being treated like this?’
‘My father is a knight. I was snatched by these bandits, and those escorting me were slain. They’re trying to ransom me, but my father can’t afford what they are asking. He owns extensive lands, but they are tenanted by many poor farmers and he has little money. Tomorrow they are planning to cut off one of my fingers and send it to him.’
‘Your parents must be very upset. It is a terrible thing to abduct a son in this way.’
‘My mother passed away three years ago in a plague that swept through the northern lands. But, yes, my father loves me very much.’
‘Well, you’re free to go back to him, boy,’ I told him. ‘But leaving this stronghold is not a good idea at the moment. There are men down there who would cut your throat as soon as look at you. Where is your home?’
‘It’s to the north, on the County border. No more than five hours on foot.’
‘Does your father know where you are being held captive?’
‘He may, but they’ve told him they’ll kill me if he or his men attempt a rescue.’
I nodded, then peered down over the battlements towards the open gate. A group of armed men were gathered just beyond it, looking up towards us. It was time to close the gate and deter any who might be foolish enough to venture in.
‘Stay here with the boy, Thorne,’ I commanded.
I walked down the steps and crossed the yard, stepping over the bodies of the three we had killed. Words would be wasted on such men. Despite the loss of their leader, no doubt they’d fill themselves with drunken courage and attack before dawn. However, I might be able to frighten them off, so without slowing down, I fingered the bones on my necklace and began to chant the words of a spell under my breath.
It was a pity to use up more of my magical store, because I’d need it later, but it was a spell of illusion and not too costly. Besides, I knew it well and routine makes for economy. It was the spell called Dread, and I saw the eyes of the bandits widen and their faces twist with terror. By now, to them, my face would appear daemonic, my hair transformed into writhing snakes with venomous forked tongues.
They had fled before I reached the gate, so I closed it and shrieked at their fast disappearing backs. I had no means to lock it, so I gripped it firmly in both hands and uttered another short spell to bind it shut, at least for a while. I knew it would not withstand the force of the kretch or a band of determined witches. But the former was too big to get up the narrow steps to the battlements, while the latter could be killed one by one as they ascended.
That done, I returned to the castle. I expected the kretch to arrive before dawn.
All the prey that I hunt I will eventually slay. If it is clothed in flesh, I will cut it. If it breathes, I will stop its breath.
WE DID NOT sleep that night and I was ever-vigilant, sniffing the darkness for danger. But we did not go hungry. There were fresh animal carcasses on the battlements, and we roasted half a pig on a spit over the fire, then shared it amongst the three of us. I was aware that from now on we would have to ration our food and prepare for a siege. At present it was difficult to estimate how long we might have to stay here.
The boy was taciturn, nervous and fearful, but that did not lessen his appetite. While remaining silent, he listened to our conversation with rapt attention – though terror still twitched across his face. His eyes were continually drawn towards the leather bag, which seemed to hold a terrible fascination for him. It may well have been because of the strange sounds that occasionally escaped from it. Despite the large green apple and the rose thorns, the Fiend gave the odd faint groan or a rustling hiss, as if letting out a breath.
‘Well, Thorne,’ I demanded. ‘In my absence did you continue with your training tasks?’
Thorne smiled at me. ‘Every day without fail I repeat the mantra that you taught me. I am the best, the strongest and the most deadly,’ she said, her voice hardly more than a whisper. ‘Eventually I will believe it. It came true for you – one day it will come true for me!’
‘Do you still practise with blades every day?’ I asked, glancing at Will and delighting in the fear that flickered in his eyes in response to my question.
She nodded, then swallowed a mouthful of pork before continuing. ‘Recently I have been practising throwing my blades. I’m still some years off achieving my maximum strength. Until then, I shall continue to kill my enemies from a distance. When I am taller and heavier, I will move in close! You taught me that too.’
‘That’s wise. You listen to what I say and act accordingly. I couldn’t have wished for better pupil!’