Free The Grim Wanderer by James Wolf Page A

was more savage and violent than anything Taem had ever heard. There were more cries and roars filling the night, from all over the town. Taem shuddered as he heard those evil cries. They chilled his soul. He wanted to crawl under the bed and hide.
    ‘The Light protect us,’ Hirandar murmured as she got out of bed.
    ‘Sounds like a full war party.’ Logan peeked out the window, pulling back the edge of the curtain.
    ‘How many’s that?’ Taem asked Hirandar.
    ‘Fifty.’ Hirandar picked up her staff.
    Taem began to shake again. Fifty? They had no chance.
    ‘Stay close to me,’ Logan looked at Taem. ‘Do not hesitate. These Nargs are here to kill us. Follow me.’
    Logan pulled the door back fast, sword at the ready. There were terrified people in the corridor, but no Nargs. Logan crept down the corridor and Taem was close behind. The horrendous roars were just outside the inn. Taem’s hands were shaking so much he had to concentrate to hold his sword. Logan reached the top of the stairs, and Taem followed him down. He kept thinking a Narg would jump out any moment. The roars outside grew louder. Taem’s heart was thumping through his chest. They entered the common room, where someone had lit all the lamps. Taem looked all over the room, searching for any Nargs. He was so glad Logan was with him. The Sodan Master did not even seem scared. Taem had never seen Logan emanate such strength, and he took courage from his confidence. There were townspeople cowering down, huddling together in a corner, praying.
    ‘Help us!’ A townswoman cried out, when she saw Logan. ‘There are monsters outside!’
    There was a massive smash as the inn’s front door splintered, and crashed off its hinges. A terrible howl came from just outside the doorway. It was so loud that it shook the inn’s walls. Taem trembled when he thought about the Narg that made that sound. The townspeople fled for the stairs, screaming in terror. The monster’s shadow filled the doorway. Taem wanted to run away. He saw the Narg was seven foot tall, and so wide it filled the entire door. The Narg stepped into the light. Taem reared back. The creature was horrific. The Narg had the head of a bull, and the body of a huge furred man. But the creature was far taller and more muscular than any man Taem had ever seen. Its eyes were red, full of murder and bloodlust. Those eyes burned like coals in the dark. The Narg carried a great rusty axe in its massive arms, and was covered in black metal armour. It opened its fanged mouth and bellowed a bestial challenge. Taem quaked, and prayed to the Light. The Narg stepped inside, and it moved like a beast, as if it could explode into violence.
    Logan took a few steps towards the Narg. Taem wanted to pull Logan back, tell him they had to run away. But the Sodan Master seemed so calm. The Narg rushed towards Logan. Taem wanted to shout for Logan to run, but he was frozen in fear. He was terrified the powerful monster would cleave Logan in two. The Sodan Master leapt to the side as the Narg charged. The creature pulled back its axe to swing. But Logan was too fast. The Sodan Master’s blade cut through the Narg’s arm, cleaved through its dark armour, and halfway through its giant chest. The Narg slumped to the floor, dead.
    Taem stared at Logan in amazement. He had never seen the Master move that fast before.
    ‘Taem,’ Logan kept his eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the doorway, ‘stay close to me!’
    Logan edged towards the doorway, and Taem followed. Hirandar was close behind. Taem watched as Logan peered out into the darkness, looking all around.
    ‘We must get the horses,’ Logan edged out. ‘Follow me!’
    Logan turned left and hurried away, towards the stables, Taem ran after him. As he stepped out into the night, he heard more spine-chilling cries. They seemed to come from all directions. A great shadow loomed out of the dark. The giant Narg loomed over Logan. This Narg seemed even more sinister than