Free The Undead Hordes of Kan-Gul by Jon F. Merz Page A

bunch crisscrossing each other. Ran wondered if that meant there were fewer animals that lived here. Perhaps Kan-Gul had scared them all off.
    Or perhaps there was a more evil reason for the game trail’s existence. If someone got lost in these woods, they’d be tempted to do exactly what Ran and Jysal were doing now: stick to the only likely path through the forest in the hopes of finding civilization.
    And that would make them far easier to ambush.
    We’re being led exactly where he wants us to be led , Ran thought. Well, if that’s his game, we’re not going to play it . He turned and waved Jysal up to him.
    “What’s the matter?”
    Ran explained the situation and then pointed through the trees. “I think we’re going to take a different direction now.”
    “Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”
    Ran nodded. “Absolutely.”
    Jysal’s eyes widened again. “I think they might disagree with you.”
    Ran’s hand went for his sword, but Jysal stopped him. “No.”
    As Ran turned, he saw what she had seen behind them and on either side of the game trail: more beasts exactly like the one Ran had just killed. And they didn’t look nearly as nonchalant as the first one had.

CHAPTER NINE

    “Don’t move,” said Ran, slowly drawing his eyes across the multitude of beasts before him.
    He heard Jysal snicker. “What on earth gave you the impression I had any intention of moving?”
    “Fair point,” said Ran. He’d foolishly resheathed his sword after dispatching the first beast. He wished he had it back in his hands now. But the movement of drawing the blade would no doubt spur the beasts to attack them. And Ran didn’t want to draw them into that sort of action. The odds were not good they’d survive.
    But the beasts seemed uninterested in attacking right away. What were they up to? They hemmed Ran and Jysal in on either side and then straddled the game trail behind them. In front of him, Ran could still see the game trail, and it was free of any of the beasts. He thought back to what he’d been pondering: the obviousness of the game trail. It had led them here to this point before Ran had considered that it could be used to ambush them very easily. And now, upon reaching that conclusion and resolving to go off into the bush, the beasts had shown up.
    Shepherds.
    Ran almost grinned at the realization. It was already too late to do anything about it.
    “Jysal.”
    “Yes.”
    “They’re not going to attack us if we stay on the game trail.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Think about it,” said Ran. “They only showed up when we thought about going off the trail on our own. They’re here to make sure that we don’t leave the trail and keep going forward.” He pointed behind them. “See? We can’t go back. And either side of the trail is hemmed in.”
    “You really think so?”
    “I’m betting our lives on it, apparently.” Ran put his hand on his sword, but none of the beasts moved. Their eyes never left Ran, however. Ran could have pushed the issue, but he chose not to. Better to let them think he was being compliant for now. That way, when the time came to escape, they’d be surprised.
    He hoped.
    “We’re going to keep walking on the trail. Do you understand?”
    “We don’t appear to have much choice in the matter.”
    “Not unless we want to end up as dinner for these guys,” said Ran. “Otherwise, no, we don’t.”
    He felt Jysal’s soft touch on his back. “I trust you, Ran. Remember that.”
    He nodded. “All right then. Let’s keep moving.”
    Ran might not have drawn his sword, but he kept his left hand on the scabbard as they walked. Ahead of him, the game trail climbed slowly through a copse of trees that shrouded the area ahead in deep shadow. Ran frowned. Not being able to see clearly made him wonder what might be waiting for them. He slowed down and glanced back again at Jysal. “Can’t see ahead. It’s dark under those trees.”
    But even as he said it, Ran