Free The Beast of Maug Maurai, Part One: The Culling by Roberto Calas Page B

to
put the manacles back on Shanks’ wrists. “They come off when you’re ready to be
a soldier,” said Grae.
    The writ from the Chamberlain
included an allowance for a horse from Geyr Froen, so the stablemaster gave
them a thin, runny-eyed draught for Shanks. The garrison released all of
Shanks’ belongings, including his hauberk, sallet helm, a breastplate, and a double-bladed
battle axe with elaborate etchings on both blades. Grae examined the armor and
the axe. “Your mail will need a good scrubbing,” he told Shanks. “And that axe
head is loose. Best tighten it.” And with that the three soldiers rode north,
to reunite with Sir Jastyn and Maid Maribrae.
    “Stay in front of us.” Grae said. “I
want you ten yards ahead. And if I suspect that you’re even thinking of causing
trouble, we’ll drag you back to Froen on a rope behind our horses.”
    Shanks was happy to comply. His hands
were still bound, but he was no longer in the dank belly of Geyr Froen. He took
in the smells of the shire, listened to the sound of birds and treasured the
warmth of the sun on his face. And he chuckled as he recalled the sound of the
crossbowman’s helmet crunching beneath his axe.

Chapter 14
     
    Children are a woman's domain until they can lift a sword .
    -- From “The Arms,” Book II
of Lojenwyne’s Words
     
    Black Murrogar halted when he reached
the Typtaenai. A young signet once told Murrogar that the name meant River of
Blood in Andraen. Murrogar had wondered how a river took such a name. Now he
wasn’t so sure he wanted to know.
     The river was less than fifty feet
across here. It raced past, curling to the southeast and out of sight. The
lanterns Thantos rescued from the baggage cart had been refilled several times,
but only four were left alight now and the oil flagon lay empty on the forest
floor miles behind.
    Murrogar waited until everyone
gathered at the riverbank then took a head count. Of the fifty-four travelers
that left Lae Duerna only thirty three remained. Most of the dead were
soldiers. Only three spearmen remained, not including the Eridian, who was
already dead in Murrogar’s eyes. The rest were ladies and noblemen, retainers
and squires. There was a hard choice to be made and as a soldier, Murrogar was
a slave to hierarchy. He thought of Ulrean’s manae and her talk of sunchasers.
Tough old woman. He took a hand-axe from the belt of the dying Eridian and
tossed it to Hul. “That maple on its side down there.”
    Hul nodded, walked to the fallen tree
and hacked at it. Murrogar searched the faces of those left. There would be
resistance to his plan. People always resisted death.
    “Did you kill my manae?” Ulrean snuck
next to Murrogar.
    Murrogar looked into the boy’s eyes.
“Aye. I sent her off. Didn’t see why an old woman should spend her last hours
in misery.”
    Ulrean didn’t flinch from Murrogar’s
stare. “Did it hurt her?”
    It didn’t seem to Murrogar that the
child was asking out of concern, but out of curiosity. “No more than this march
we forced her on.”
    Ulrean stared back into the forest as
if he might catch a glimpse of her. “That Beast,” he said. “It will kill us
all, won’t it?”
    “Not if I have a say.”
    Ulrean rubbed at is arms. “But it is
legendary. Grown men tremble when they speak of that monster.”
    “They do,” said Murrogar. “But you
know what?” He threw back his shoulders and winked at Ulrean. “Beasts tremble
when they speak about me.” He put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Can you be a
good lad, Ulrean? Can you tell me which nobles are left? I don’t know who’s
who.”
    Ulrean looked to the travelers
milling nervously at the river’s edge and nodded. “We lost my cousin, Jervik.
He was the Knight Protector of Taur.” He stared at his parents. They were arguing
on the riverbank. “Renar Quarenthic as well. And Lord Taryn Cantalian. He was
pulled out from the window of the carriage. Some of him.” The boy quieted
before