Free Asgoleth The Warrior: A Modern Tale of Sword And Sorcery (fantasy fiction books) by Bill Kirkwood Page A

horn of a dead horse. He took a long refreshing drink and upended the remaining water over his aching head. He grinned as the water eased his parched throat and feeling much better now he strode forward into the darkness. Soon he stood in the shadows just beyond one of the smaller city gates.
    The gate was guarded by Akonite sentries who were grumbling to each other because they could not join in the carnage within the walls. In the mood they were in he would have to fight his way through them and while he had no objection to killing Akonites, he did not want to draw any attention to himself until it could no longer be avoided. He decided to scout around and try to find another entrance. Keeping to the shadows he worked his way around the city walls until at last, he saw a spot where the walls had been breached.
    Many bodies lay sprawled among the rubble, evidence that the citizens had not given up easily, but of living men there was no sign. Swiftly he glided forward and swarmed over the broken masonry with scarcely a sound to mark his passing. He found himself on one of the cities broad streets which were lit dimly by the glow of the fires that burned elsewhere. In that lurid light he saw many drunken soldiers but they were too busy carrying heavy sacks of plunder to notice his silent form.
    Blending with the shadows and moving with stealthy ease, he made his way through the ruined city and as he went a cold fury began to build within him as he beheld the atrocities that the people had suffered at the hands of the Akonites. Horribly mutilated bodies lay everywhere and the sights fired the flames of his fury.
    He was a seasoned warrior, well used to the sight of bloody, violent, death but what he was seeing now was the result of cold, cruel, butchery. These Akonites were indeed as wicked and depraved as they were said to be.
    A noise from a doorway attracted his attention and he stealthily edged nearer. Peering within he saw two Akonite soldiers cruelly torturing an old man with hot coals.
    ‘Tell us where your gold is hidden old one and we will let you live.’
    Said one, an ugly brute with a long, badly healed scar running down the right side of his face. His companion, a slim, dark skinned rogue, laughed as the old man tried to wriggle away from the glowing coal he was lowering onto his skinny chest.
    ‘Tell us you old fool!’ cried Scarface. ‘Why suffer like this when you don’t have to?’
    The old man cried out in pain as the burning ember scorched through his torn shirt and crisped the frail flesh beneath.
    ‘Damn you both!’ he cried. ‘I am an old man and I have no gold but even if I did I would tell you nothing. You are naught but a pair of filthy cowards.’
    The Akonites laughed again, they were enjoying their sport. The slim one picked up another coal in his metal tongs and held it in front of the old man’s face.
    ‘Oh I think you will tell us you Torran pig. You just need a little more encouragement.’
    He began to lower the coal then stopped and stared in horrified amazement at the length of bloody steel that had just leapt out of his chest. He gave a strangled cry of horror then slumped to the floor as Asgoleth tore his blade free. Scarface gave a startled curse and leapt backwards drawing his sword as he did so. He saw a huge warrior facing him and a grimace of fear appeared on his face. He knew their laughter had masked any noise this killer might have made in his approach and because of their carelessness he was now going to have to fight or die where he stood.
    With a wild cry he leapt into the attack hoping to startle his enemy enough to make him drop his guard a little but it was to no avail. The other parried his swinging slash with ease and then came into the attack himself. Their blades clanged and rebounded and met again with flickering speed as each sought a weak spot in the others defence. Scarface soon learned that his foe was no beginner and fear filled his cruel heart and fired him