Creep: Venari, #0.5

The Book:

Angus Rutland has been to war and now it’s time to go  back home. Battle has changed him and he knows that life is going to change for him in Red Fern too.

And he’s absolutely right.

It’s just not going to change in the way he has planned. Angus expected independence from his parents, a house and maybe a new career. Instead, he’s found himself up to his neck in monsters, treachery, and an invading army.

This novella is a deliciously dark fantasy set in Lou Yardley’s monstrous world of Venari. Dive right in for monsters and gore!

THE AUTHOR:

Lou Yardley is an author. And a weirdo. She's sorta part Deadite and part Hobbit. Sometimes she feesl like she's four goblins in a trench-coat masquerading as a human.

Up until recently, Lou Yardley has lurked mainly in the horror realms, but now she's taking her first gore-coated steps into the world of dark fantasy. Rather than just write one fantasy book, she's creating a whole world... and a dragon's hoard's worth of books.

Give her a follow and find out more at the following links:

Website: www.louyardley.com

Ko-Fi: www.ko-fi.com/louyardley

Patreon: www.patreon.com/louyardley

Instagram: www.instagram.com/louyardleyauthor

YouTube: www.youtube.com/louyardley

Vimeo: www.vimeo.com/louyardley

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/lou-yardley

Twitter: www.twitter.com/louyardley

Facebook: www.facebook.com/louyardley

Creep

A story from the world of Venari

Lou Yardley

howdy@louyardley.com

www.louyardley.com

Copyright

Published by

Lou Yardley

www.louyardley.com

Copyright © 2021 Lou Yardley

Cover illustration © 2021 Neil Fraser,

Neil Fraser Graphics, www.neilfrasergraphics.com

Back cover layout and interior design © 2021 Lou Yardley

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted at any time or by any means mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior, written permission of the publisher.

The right of Lou Yardley to be identified as the author of this work

has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright,

Designs and Patents act 1988.

First published October 2021

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places,

events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Dedication

For Max and Robyn x

A Note from the Author

Hi reader,

Thank you for taking a chance on this story. Your time is valuable and I appreciate you letting me take up some of it with this little tale.

Before you dive in, I wanted to give you a small explanation on what this is. I wrote Creep to tell the backstory of a rather mysterious character from Banished. While this is a connected/origin story, you don’t need to read Banished to understand it.

I hope you enjoy it!

Blood, guts, and hugs,

Lou

Venari

CREEP is part of a small series that introduces the wonderful, if monstrous, world of Venari. The books can be read in any order, but there are little nuggets of fun that will be enjoyed if read chronologically.

Books in this series:

Banished - Book 1

Everfrost - Book 2

Creep - prequel (can be read at any time)

What’s next?

Lou is currently hanging out in Red Fern with all the monsters (some human, many not). The next set of stories will be part of a series called The Rise of the Fool. Please keep an eye on Lou’s social media pages, Ko-Fi and Patreon for more updates!

Stay in touch:

Website: www.louyardley.com

Ko-Fi: www.ko-fi.com/louyardley

Patreon: www.patreon.com/louyardley

Instagram: www.instagram.com/louyardleyauthor

YouTube: www.youtube.com/louyardley

Vimeo: www.vimeo.com/louyardley

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/lou-yardley

Twitter: www.twitter.com/louyardley

Facebook: www.facebook.com/louyardley

Chapter One:

Returning Heroes

No-one ever tells you about how much horses shit, and the one walking in front of Angus Rutland with a high ranking officer perched on its back appeared to be going for some kind of record. There were mountains of the stuff landing in its wake. What in the gods had that animal been eating? By pure luck, Angus had managed to avoid most of it, but a couple of bits had made a beeline for his boots. ‘At least it’s only on my boots,’ he thought, remembering another poor soul who had taken a turd to the head, the thought making him laugh as he walked. Another thing they don’t mention when you go to war is how much walking is involved. Angus felt like he’d covered every inch of Venari since enlisting.

Angus had jumped at the chance to join the army when the call had gone out. At seventeen, he thought it was time to prove his worth, and what better way was there than fighting for the Queen? He just hadn’t thought about what joining the army would entail. Money was sparse in his family, so his ill-fitting armour and outdated gear were borrowed from or donated by neighbours. Even so, after two months of wearing and carrying them, they now felt like they belonged to him. They certainly smelled like him.

There had been some fighting though and Angus had put what little experience he’d had to the test. They’d laid siege to a settlement called Moonwich for reasons he still didn’t understand. Then again, he supposed it wasn’t his job to understand; his job was to walk, wait, and fight. And then do some more walking. And waiting. And walking.

After his army had waited outside Moonwich’s walls for the opposing army to grow tired and hungry, Angus’s battalion had struck. Under the cover of night, they’d infiltrated the settlement, killing those who got in their way and taking things as souvenirs. The spoils of war! one of his comrades had proclaimed. Looking back at those moments now, he smiled with pride. The Queen now had control of Moonwich, as was her birthright. He’d been to war, he’d done his part. Most of all, he’d proved himself. Now they were heading home to Red Fern, and he had enough gold in his coffers to buy his own house. His parents would be proud.

Life’s going to be completely different after this. I can’t wait to get home, Ivonor Symkin said, catching up to Angus. Prior to going to war, neither had known the other, but now they were as thick as thieves. Ivonor was a little older than Angus, and had taken him under his wing as if he were his younger brother. He also teased him as if he was his little brother too. As an only child, Angus had enjoyed every moment.

Me neither, Angus replied, tiredness creeping over him. In fact, he’d never felt so tired in his life. After all the walking, the fighting, and more walking, every muscle in his body wanted to take an extended nap. Can’t wait to get some proper sleep.

Same here... Ivonor said and then he hesitated. The next words came almost as a confession. Sleep’s not coming too easy at the moment.

Yeah, the ground’s not soft enough, Angus said with a laugh.

No, it’s not that. It’s just... whenever I close my eyes, I see them. The faces of those I killed. I know we were doing the Queen’s work, but those faces won’t go away.

You’ll feel better when you get home, Angus said.

I don’t think so. Ivonor replied. I’ll just be having sleepless nights in more familiar surroundings. Does it not bother you?

I hadn’t really thought about it, he confessed, wondering what this said about him. Should it bother me? I mean, we were sent to Moonwich to do a job and we did it. We should feel proud, not remorseful. It’s not like it was cold-blooded murder. That would be something else.

I suppose...

That’s the spirit. And you’ll feel much better when we get back. You’ll see. Even as he spoke the words, Angus wasn’t sure if they were true.

THEY CONTINUED THEIR walk, following the incontinent horse, for several more miles. Just when Angus thought he might be destined to march forever, he saw it in the distance. The walls of Red Fern. Home. Even from this distance away, he was sure he could see people. It looked like the whole city had turned out to welcome them home. Feeling pride swell in his chest, Angus smiled and looked at Ivonor.  

Looks like they’re throwing us a party, he said, watching as a similar smile spread across Ivonor’s face. Their earlier conversation now seemed far away and almost insignificant.

I challenge you to a drinking contest, Ivonor said.

A contest? HAH! I can drink you under the table.

Nah, I think I’m in with a chance. I’m feeling thirsty.

Calm yourselves, men. Lieutenant Colonel Ariana Vimelk said, and even on her horse, neither of them had noticed her approach. She was their commanding officer, so they each slapped a serious expression on their faces. There will be plenty of time for that once we’re through the walls, but for now, you’ve got to look and play the part.

I don’t understand. Angus said, forgetting to address her by her title. Usually, this would result in some kind of painful discipline, but Vimelk was in a good mood. They all were.