Savage Realms Monthly January 2021 - Willard Black

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Eirst :ditionJ anuary 2021

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CONTENTS
1. God of the Mountain 1
2. Festival of the Bull 23
Meet the Author 57
3. The Tomb of Orthun-Rah 61
Meet the Author 85
4. Serpent Lord of Bryson Metals 90
Meet the Author 105
Free Book Ower 110
Submissions 112
After ord 113

GOD O FTH EOMUFNAU
Ib yWiilar dilBc
R edgar reclined on a pile of silken pillows, his feet

stacked on a low table, a Aagon of good ushMrian
wine in one hand and two Nai .M girls on either sideH
me was a giant of a Tan with a Tane of wild hair, broad
shoMlders and powerfMl liTbsH -he other patrons threw cMv
rioMs glances in his directionH Nost had neBer seen a mathor
IeforeH us reTarkable as the Tan was, his sword was eBen
Tore iTpressiBeH Et was a TassiBe weapon, alTost as long as
Redgar was tall, with a blade two hands wideH yldritch rMnes
etched in the battlevscarred steelH
-he sTall plaShoMse was crowded with KMks, ushMrians and
the occasional dark skinned ’eshiteH Et sTelled like strong tov
bacco and stale pissH -he show was a better than aBerage rendiv
2 SAVAGE REALMS MONTHLY: JANUARY 2021
tion of Lillis on the Water and the actors werenjt shSH -he crowd
cheered at the nMde partsH
u Rhaxi Tan walked in and caMght Redgarjs eSeH me wasnjt
the tSpe norTallS foMnd in a bawdS plaShoMseH mis greS beard
was neatlS triTTed, he wore e“pensiBe silks and gold rings on
eBerS ”ngerH me pressed a handkerchief to his nose and scanned
the crowdH mis eSes fell on Redgar and he started oBerH
Redgar passed silBer to his coTpanions and theS ToBed oW
in search of another dMpe with too TMch coin and drinkH -he
Rhaxi Tan took their place and spoke throMgh the perfMTed
handkerchiefH ?-heS saS SoM are a Tan skilled at ”nding lost
things and that SoM haBe soTe e“perience with a bladeHO
Redgar took a swig froT his AagonH .o sense answeringH -he
Rhaxi woMld get aroMnd to what he wanted sooner or laterH
Redgar waited hiT oMtH
Uhen it was obBioMs the barbarian wasnjt going to answer,
the Rhaxi said, ?E aT EBashekH E haBe need of a Tan sMch as
SoMrselfHO
?mow TMchCO Redgar askedH
?Yne hMndred gold soBereigns,O said EBashekH
?u princelS sMT,O Redgar saidH ?Uho do SoM want killedCO
EBashek shook his headH ?E haBe no need of an assassinHO
?-hen what do SoM want, TanCO Redgar thrMst his chin at
the actors on stageH ?Etjs getting to the good partHO
?-o the west, beSond the -hSgara RiBer, laS the Bast and Mnv
taTed xMngle kingdoTs of ’eshH -here SoM will ”nd a Bolcano,
called PnTaktM, which the ’eshite people regard as sacredH
GOD OF THE MOUNTAIN 3
ut the foot of the Bolcano, is an ancient teTple to the deitS

Ykahvha where the pagan ’eshites practice all Tanner of Bile
deed in serBice to their dark godsH Pntil recentlS, theS kept their
deBilrS inside their own bordersHO
Redgar snortedH mere was a Rhaxi speaking ill of the ’eshite
gods when the Rhaxi had Tore gods than SoM coMld coMnt on
both handsH
EBashek signaled a serBing girl for wine and continMed, ?-he
bellS of the great Bolcano rMTbles and the ’eshite people TMst
pacifS their god with the blood of a BirginHO
EBashek paMsed, waiting for Redgar to e“press oMtrage, bMt he
onlS grMntedH me wasnjt particMlarlS iTpressedH me had heard
worseH mell, hejd done worseH
?-hree daSs ago,O EBashek said, ?’eshite warriors raided a
ship boMnd for the -sM zhao EslesH -heS pMt the crew to the
sword and escaped with twelBe prisonersH -he captiBes haBe
been taken into the dark heart of the ’esh xMngle to be sacri”ced
on the night of the new Toon in one weekjs tiTeHO me leaned
forwardH ?NS daMghter is aTong theTHO
?;oM want Te to fetch her for SoM,O Redgar saidH
me inclined his headH
?und the other captiBesCO Redgar askedH
?KaBe theT if SoM TMst, E care onlS for TS daMghter,O EBashek
saidH ?E told her this xoMrneS woMld end in disaster, bMt she is
headstrong and foolishH Ktill, she is TS daMghterH KaBe her, and
SoM will be richlS rewardedHO
Redgar said, ?VMt half the coin on the tableHO
EBashek snortedH ?mow do E know SoM wonjt disappear with

TS ToneSC Ejll giBe SoM ten gold nowH -he rest SoM will get after
SoM haBe saBed .ataliHO me dropped a pMrse on the tableH
Redgar heard the satisfSing clink of coinH ?mow will E recogv
niFe herCO
EBashek took a locket on a gold chain froT aroMnd his neck
and showed Redgar a sTall painting of a Rhaxi girl with dark
eSes and white teethH ?NS daMghter, .ataliHO
Redgar set oMt before daSbreakH -he xoMrneS took foMr daSsH me
rode hard across the barren plains of the ushMrvKMkkal, throMgh
the great citS of -ehett with its basalt towers bMilt atop green
hills rising froT the land like arthritic knMckles and froT there
he boMght passage across the -hSgara RiBerH me sold his horse
before crossingq the aniTal woMld do hiT no good in the thick
xMngleH -he ferrSTan warned hiT of ’eshite saBages before
shoBing oW, leaBing Redgar alone on the sandS beachH
IeSond a trackless wilderness of swaTp ash and bald cSv
press, Redgar gliTpsed a Bolcano rising in the distanceH u thin
black ribbon of sToke drifted froT the ToMntainjs peakH Et
was a daSjs xoMrneS as the crow AiesH Uith his giant sword
balanced on one shoMlder, he plMnged into the dense tangle,
bMt the xMngle proBed Tore diDcMlt to naBigate than eBen he
had gMessedH mMndreds of waterwaSs, ”lled with crocodiles and
cottonToMths, slowed his progressH —ines forTed iTpenetrable
walls, forcing hiT to take long detoMrsH KeBeral tiTes, he had

to cliTb a tree for a Biew oBer the canopS to be sMre he was
still headed in the right directionH yBening had fallen bS the
tiTe he reached the feet of the BolcanoH me was drenched in
sweat and coBered with insect bitesH -he Toon was a sliT white
crescent in a black BelBet skS fMll of incandescent stars and the
Bolcano groaned, spitting goMts of AaTe into the air, casting
craFS shadows oBer the xMngle AoorH
Linding the captiBes proBed easS enoMghH me followed the
soMnd of drMTsH un idol had been carBed into the side of the
Bolcanoq a towering statMe of poroMs greS rock shaped in the
iTage of a ”erce deitS with the bodS of a Tan and the head of
an elephantH ut the feet of the idol was a long stone dais, ten
feet high and twice as longH u stone stair led to the top where
a naked girl knelt between two bronFe braFiersH -he light froT
the braFiers reAected on her oliBe skinH mer hands were boMnd
behind her back and there was a leather collar aroMnd her neckH
u thick Tetal leash tethered her to the stone tabletH
Redgar broMght oMt the locket, s!Minted at the pictMre in the
faint light of the ”res and felt reasonablS sMre the girl atop the
altar was .ataliH Khe was to be the sacri”ceH Redgar retreated
a safe distance, hMnkered between the roots of a large swaTp
ash and settled the naked blade across his thighs, waiting for his
chanceH
-he rest of the captiBes were chained to the pillars holding Mp
the altarH -heir sitMation was griTH ’eshite saBages de”led the
woTen while bonv”res bMrned high into the night, casting the
Tacabre celebration in a ghastlS red glowH …rMTs drowned

oMt pleas for TercSH
-he ’eshite chieftain sat on a throne draped in aniTal
fMrH u siTple loin cloth was tied aroMnd his waist and scars
crisscrossed his naked AeshH me watched the proceedings
with bored indiWerenceH u king Mpon his throneH Redgar
woMld kill the chieftain if he got the chanceH -here was no
better waS to test a Tanjs Tettle than a ”ght to the death,
and the chieftain was no ordinarS TanH me was tall and lean
with sinewS TMscles reAected in the ”relightH
-he festiBities lasted late into the night while the Bolcano
continMed to grMTbleH Iefore the ”rst light of daS broke the
eastern horiFon, the ’eshites had thoroMghlS despoiled their
BictiTs and were passed oMt naked on the groMndH yBen the
chieftain had xoined the celebration and now laS stretched
oMt near the foot of the idolH -he ”res had bMrned down
to eTbers and sToke rose in thick white plMTesH -he sharp
scent of charred wood lingered in the airH
Redgar stirred froT his hiding place, Ae“ing his arTs and
legs, getting blood back into craTped liTbsH mere was a
chance to rescMe the girl and get awaS MnseenH me crept
to the edge of the wood and waited, watching the sleeping
saBages to be sMre none of theT were awake and plaSing
possMTH
Uhen he felt it was safe, Redgar stole across the open groMnd,
paMsing long enoMgh to snatch an aniTal skin froT the chiefv
tainjs throneH me ToMnted the steps two at a tiTeH .atali laS on
her side with her knees pMlled Mp to her chestH mer black hair was
a tangled TessH Khe gasped and sat Mp as Redgar approachedH
me silenced her with a ”nger and draped the aniTal skin oBer
her shoMlders, then e“aTined the chain holding her to the altarH
-he collar was leather and siTple to reToBe, bMt with her hands
tied behind her back, .atali was helpless to do it herselfH me
opened the leather bMckle and laid the chain down gentlS so
that it woMld not rattleH .atali opened her ToMth to speak, bMt
Redgar warned her to silenceH me Mntied her hands, leaned close
and whispered directlS in her earH ?Ktand Mp and get the feeling
back in SoMr arTs and legsH Ue TaS need to rMnHO
Khe nodded Mnderstanding and cliTbed to herH -he top of
her head barelS reached Redgarjs chestH Khe had high cheek
bones, dark eSes and a siTple gold ring in her noseH mer liTbs
were strong and slender, a girl in the blooT of SoMthH Khe Tasv
saged her wrists and neck, Ae“ing her ”ngers and toesH Redgar
waited as long as he dared, then steered her toward the stairH
u dark skinned ’eshite with a pair of hooked blades in either
hand appeared at the top of the steps, gaBe a MlMlating warning
crS and threw hiTself at RedgarH
Redgar sidestepped the attack and took the saBagejs head oW
with one swipe of his giant bladeH u bright red shoMt of blood
spraSed froT the stMTp of the Tanjs neck and the head went
tMTbling down the stairsH
.atali shrieked at the sight of so TMch blood and the whole
tribe caTe awakeH Uithin seconds, the foot of the stairs was
blockedH -he other captiBes pleaded for rescMeH Redgar cMrsed
and bared his teethH me gripped his sword in both hands and
planted his feetH
-he saBages chargedH -heir warbling cries split the airH Redgar
killed theT with TightS swipes of his sword, his TMscles Ae“v
ing beneath his pale skinH Iright red blood Aew in wild arcsH
’eshites died screaTingH -heir bodies littered the stepsH Uhat
theS lacked in skill, theS Tade Mp for in sheer nMTbersH -heS
ToMnted the stone stair and crashed against the mathor like
ocean waBes against rockH
Redgar foMght Mntil his arTs ached with the eWort of swingv
ing the giant bladeH me gasped for breath between each crashing
breaker of ’eshite tribesTenH mis chest heaBed and a Bein stood
oMt in the center of his foreheadH ut the bottoT of the stair,
the ’eshite chieftain pMshed his waS throMgh the crowdH En one
hand he wielded a spear, stained black with the blood of his
eneTiesH En the other, he carried a long shield coBered in aniTal
skinsH
-he chieftain called oMt to his nearest warriors and theS
ToMnted the steps ”Be abreast, intending to sMrroMnd the
mathorH Redgar coMldnjt ”ght all ”Be at onceH me Tight kill two
or three, bMt theS woMld cMt hiT downH Et was hopeless, bMt
if he was going to die, he was going to take the chieftain with
hiTH u good death, Redgar told hiTselfH -oo bad aboMt the
girlH me spat, broMght his sword Mp in both hands and roared
in challengeH
Iefore the ’eshites reached the top of the steps, the Bolcano
erMpted in an earth rending e“plosion of ”re and rockH -he cries
of the dSing and the woMnded were drowned in an earvsplitting

crack of thMnder that seeTed to go on and on withoMt endH -he
Bolcano, it seeTed, was not content to wait for the fMll ToonH
Ilack sToke and Tolten laBa spewed into the airH -he groMnd
treTbled, the carBen pillars cracked, and Redgar felt the stone
Banish froT beneath his feetH -he altar crashed to the groMnd
with a deafening booTH Redgar and .atali xoined it a ToTent
later with a bone xarring thMdH
u doFen ’eshites were crMshed beneath the falling altar while

others screaTed and ranH -he stone stair still stood, bMt now it
led to nowhereH Red hot laBa spit froT the Bolcano and ran in
glowing orange streaks down the side of the ToMntainH KTall
rocks rained down like AaTing arrows, killing and TaiTingH
Redgar groped for his sword as a laBa rock snapped against
the stone between his feetH .atali was on her hands and knees,
coMghing, coBered in ashH Khe had lost the aniTal skin and
her hair was a wild black Tane colored greS with sootH Redgar
grabbed her arT and haMled her toward the tree line before the
chieftain and his warriors coMld recoBerH
-heS crashed throMgh the MnderbrMsh, headed in the div
rection of the riBerH Iranches and palT fronds slapped their
arTs and legsH Redgar coMld onlS go as fast as .atali coMld rMn,
naked and on bare feet, and alreadS he coMld hear the soMnds of
pMrsMitH ’eshites called to each other as theS searched the xMngle
and xMdging froT the nMTber of Boices, Redgar estiTated

Tore than a doFen pMrsMersH -he chieftain woMld be aTong
theTH
me splashed throMgh a shallow streaT of TMddS water
and then Mp a steep bankH .atali Msed her hands as well as
her feetH -heS eTerged froT the trees and foMnd theTselBes
at the edge of a cliWH -o his left, Redgar coMld see the dark
ribbon of the -hSgara RiBer cMtting throMgh the landscapeH
Iehind theT, half the xMngle was on ”reH yach passing Tov
Tent broMght the hMngrS roar of the AaTes closerH Redgar
bared his teeth and cMrsedH
.atali bent oBer with her hands on her knees, gasping for
breathH ?Uhatjs wrongCO
?Ue tMrned too far soMth,O Redgar told herH ?Uejll be
lMckS to reach the riBer withoMt haBing to cMt oMr waS
throMgh the chieftain and his TenHO
me leaned oMt oBer the precipiceH Et was a diDcMlt decent,
eBen for hiT, and he doMbted the girl coMld Take the cliTbH
me coMldnjt carrS her and the swordH me started along the
ridgeline and barked at .atali to followH Khe xogged to keep
MpH Lalling ash had tMrned her naked bodS greS and tears
steaked her cheeksH Khe asked, ?Uho are SoMCO
?NS naTe is Redgar,O he told her while searching for an
easS descent down the hillsideH
?;oM are a mathorCO she askedH
?;oM Tean a barbarianCO
?;oM said that not EHO
Yne side of his ToMth tMrned Mp in a wrS grinH Pp ahead, he

spotted a gentle slope that she coMld easilS TanageH Uhat was
easS for the girl woMld be easS for the ’eshites, bMt what choice
did theS haBeH
Khe said, ?UhS did SoM rescMe TeCO
?;oMr father hired TeHO
?NS fatherCO she said, still strMggling to keep paceH ?NS father
has been dead TanS SearsHO
?Uell soTeone hired Te,O Redgar told her, not caring at the
ToTent to pMFFle oMt the how or whSH
?UhoCO
?E coMldnjt care less, girlHO Redgar pMt a hand at the sTall of
her back and shoBed her toward the slope and said, ?mMrrSHO
u black skinned ’eshite warrior bMrst froT the xMngle with
a shrill crSH .atali screaTed, lost her footing and went rolling
down the hillsideH Redgar tMrned and parriedH Kteel Tet steel in a
Aash of sparksH Redgar kicked the ’eshitejs knee, heard a TeatS
snap, and the Tanjs leg bent the wrong waSH -he ’eshite hissed
in pain and Redgar split his chest open with a BicioMs swing of
his sword, then tMrned and boMnded down the slopeH
.atali caTe to rest in a creek of clear rMnning waterH Khe sat
Mp blMbbering and spittingH Khe had cMts and brMises, bMt no
broken bonesH -he water had washed awaS the ash and her long
black hair hMng in wet tanglesH Redgar staTped across the creek
bed, took her hand and haMled her Mp, withoMt stoppingH
-he Bolcano belched another goMt of ”re and ash into the
dark skiesH mot rocks hissed and snapped all aroMnd theT, seBv
ering branches froT trees and lighting sTall ”resH -he

groMnd bMcked and heaBedH
-heS were still seBeral Tiles froT the riBerGbS the
mathorjs reckoningGwhen theS stepped into a xMngle clearv
ing to ”nd the chief and two of his warriors waiting for
theTH -he ’eshites knew the land better than Redgar and
had taken a shorter roMte throMgh the xMngle to coTe oMt
ahead of hiTH me let go of .atalijs handH Khe tried to latch
onto his forearT, bMt he shrMgged her oW and strode into
the clearing with his knMckles white on the hilt of his giant
swordH
-he chief and his warriors caTe forward to Teet hiTH
Redgar circled to his rightH me wanted to snare theT Mp,
force theT to TaneMBer aroMnd each other, and preBent all
three froT attacking at once, bMt the chief had other plansH
me shoBed one of his warriors forward and Msed the disv
traction to his adBantageH Redgar hacked the ’eshite warv
riorjs head oW with a TightS swipe of his sword, while the
chieftain circled aroMnd and attacked froT the sideH
YnlS reAe“es born of coMntless battles saBed Redgarjs lifeH
me slipped sidewaSs and deAected the spear thrMst, then
the other warrior was on hiTH Redgar dMcked the cMrBed
blade and sTashed the ’eshitejs nose with the heaBS poTv
Tel of his weaponH -he bone broke with a wet crMnch and
the ’eshite warrior went reelingH mis nose gMshed bloodH
Redgar cMt hiT down and spMn in tiTe to block another
attack froT the chieftainH
Uith his two warriors dead, Redgar now faced the chieftain
in single coTbatH me grinned and raised his swordH -he chief
sprang forward, trSing to driBe his spear throMgh Redgarjs
heartH -he mathor retreated, giBing groMnd to his eneTSH me
was focMsed on defending, waiting for the chieftain to proBide
an openingH -he ”ght ranged aroMnd the clearing while the
Bolcano thMndered and shookH Redgar was breathing heaBS
bS the tiTe the chief ”nallS raised his shield a little too high,
e“posing a naked thigh, and Redgar strMckH mis blade cMt to
the boneH u shock of red blood pissed froT the openingH
ut the saTe tiTe, the chiefjs spear licked Redgarjs sword
arTH me hissed in pain, and the giant blade slipped froT
his ”ngers, landing with a heaBS thMd on the soft earthH
-he chieftain, thinking he had won, dropped his shield and
charged Redgar with the spearH -he barbarian sprang aside,
one hand clMtching the bloodS gash on his forearTH me cirv
cled the onlS tree in the clearing, trSing to keep the trMnk
between hiT and the Aashing spear tip, bMt a root caMght his
heel and he sat down hardH
-he chieftain droBe his spear straight for the barbarianjs
heartH Redgar rolledH -he spearhead stabbed dirt, caTe oMt
and stabbed again, forcing Redgar to keep rolling side to side
or be spittedH
Uhile the two warriors foMght, .atali groped for a rock, crept
Mp behind the ’eshite chieftain and sTashed the stone against
the back of his head with all her strengthH mis skMll caBed in with
the TM ed chock of rotting frMit dropped on stoneH mis eSes
rolled Mp and the spear slipped froT liTp ”ngersH me fell face
”rst, landing on top of RedgarH
Ilack cloMds blotted oMt the skS and ”erS stones rained down,
iTpacting the groMnd with whistling cracks, splintering trees
and digging diBots in the earthH Lire raged throMgh the xMngle,
spreading !MicklS froT the feet of the Bolcano toward the riBer,
crawling closer with each passing ToTentH -he air was a thick
greS sTog that Tade breathing diDcMltH Redgar pMshed the
dead ’eshite chieftain oW hiT and strMggled to his feetH
.atali, naked and dirt stained, dropped the bloodS rockH mer
sTall chest e“panded and contracted with each labored breathH
Redgar nodded his thanksH Khe started to retMrn the nod and
coMghed insteadH
me stripped the dead chieftain of his loin cloth and tied it
aroMnd the girlH Uhile he cinched the cloth tight aroMnd her
slender hips, she laid her head against his chestH me coMldnjt tell
if she was in shock or e“haMstedH me said, ?zan SoM rMnCO
Khe noddedH
me reclaiTed his sword, took her sTall hand and set oMt for
the riBer, hoping the girl coMld keep paceH -heS woMld be lMckS
to reach the shore before the ”reH u whitevtailed doe bolted past,
leaping narrow waterwaSs and weaBing between treesH Redgar
coMld feel the heat at his backH Et was like standing in front of a
fMrnaceH Kweat drenched his skin and sToke clogged his throatH
.atali staggered and wretched, beating her bare chest with a

tinS ”stH me pMlled her along bMt withoMt clean air in her lMngs,
her legs slowedH mer eSes were tear ”lled slitsH Khe stMTbled oBer
roots and diBots Mntil Redgar scooped her Mp in one arT and
tossed her oBer his shoMlder like a sack of grainH -he powerfMl
TMscles in his thighs screaTed with eWort, bMt he reached the
waterjs edge ahead of the AaTesH Yn his left, a bMrning palT
tree toppled into the water with a boiling hissH
me splashed ankle deep into the TMddS -hSgara RiBer and
haltedH -he water was foMr Tiles wide at this pointH Redgar
coMld swiT it bMt not with the sword and the girl on his backH
Uhile he weighed his options, .atali started haTTering hiT
with sTall ”stsH
? et Te down O she criedH
Redgar dMTped her MncereTonioMslS in the waterH Khe landv
ed with a splash and caTe Mp splMtteringH Egnoring her protest
at sMch roMgh treatTent, Redgar went to the nearest swaTp ash
and hacked oW a heaBS branch with two powerfMl strokesH me
grabbed the tree liTb and hMrled it into the water, then told
.atali, ?KwiTHO
Khe pMshed dark tangles of hair oMt of her BisionH ?UhatCO
Redgar xerked her to her feet, tMrned her toward the Aoating
branch and gaBe her a shoBeH ?Swim!O
Khe got one arT and then the other oBer the bobbing tree
liTb and started kicking with both feetH Redgar tMrned back to
the ash and hewed oW another branch for hiTself, then he was
in the water beside her, paddling for the opposite shoreH Iehind
theT, glowing laBa reached the waterjs edge with a TightS

roar of steaTH
?Uill the water O .atali panted between breaths,
?mold back the ”reCO
? et Ms hope so,O Redgar told herH
-heS paddled in silenceH -he far shore drew slowlS bMt
steadilS closer and the bloated corpse of the doe Aoated
pastH -he sMn rode across the skS and the Bolcano ”nallS
ceased its grMTblingsH -heS were half waS across, treading
water and letting the cMrrent carrS theT, when .atali asked,
?Uho hired SoM, E wonder, and how did he know of TS
predicaTentCO
?Uhen a Tan oWers Te one hMndred gold soBereigns, E
donjt ask !Mestions,O Redgar told herH
?zanjt SoM describe hiTCO
?maBe SoM eBer seen a peacockCO Redgar saidH ?me was tall
and thin with rings on eBerS ”ngerHO
?-he Tan SoM Tet is called EBashek,O .atali told hiTH ?me
is an eneTS of TS YrderHO
?;oM YrderCO Redgar askedH
u waBe slapped water into her open ToMth and she spit
it oMtH ?E aT a ’eeper of the Kacred LireGan acolSte in an
erMdite order of the arcaneHO
?;oM speak of sorcerSCO Redgar saidH ?ure SoM a witchCO
?I’m no witch you simple minded buﬀoon! E stMdS ancient
loreHO
?EjT mathor,O he saidH ?E haBe no gods and distrMst sorcerSH

NS people worship NoMnt moMthTere beSond the Lrost
ateHO
?-he ’eshites worshipped a ToMntain as well,O .atali
pointed oMtH
Redgar didnjt bother to respondH me had sacri”ced SoMng
bMlls at the foot of NoMnt moMthTere, not oMt of fear or
reBerence, bMt becaMse it was e“pectedH me didnjt see anS
harT in it, bMt neBer saw anS bene”t eitherH Rain fell on
the crops whether bMlls were sacri”ced or notH NaSbe Birgins
fetched a higher price froT the godsH
?EBashek is a serBant of Noloch,O .atali told hiTH ?-heS
destroSed oMr TonasterS in -anthMs and set ”re to the
archiBesH E escaped along with a doFen other acolStesH .ow
E aT the onlS sMrBiBorH Ef EBashek catches Te, he will Mse TS
knowledge for soTe dreadfMl pMrpose E do not Set Mnderv
standHO
Uhen Redgar did not answer, she said, ?…id SoM hear TeCO
me noddedH
?Uill SoM tMrn Te oBer to hiTCO .atali askedH
?-hat depends,O Redgar saidH ?Uill he paS TeCO
?maBe SoM no honorCO .atali askedH
?ubsolMtelS,O Redgar told herH ?E Tade a dealH E plan to
honor itHO
Redgar crawled Mp the riBer bank, e“haMsted and gasping for

breathH -he powerfMl TMscles in his thighs were in painfMl
knotsH me pMlled hiTself oMt of the water and rolled onto his
backGallowing the sMn to warT his tired liTbsGand he waited
for the girl to trS her escapeH
Khe crawled froT the water on hands and knees, took a Tov
Tent to adxMst her sodden loin cloth, then sprang to her feetH
Khe Tade three long strides before her legs craTped and she fell
Aat on her face, howling in TiserSH
Redgar gMWawedH
?Uhere were SoM goingCO me askedH
Khe Tassaged the backs of her slender thighsH mer brow
pinched in painH ?;oM are a crMel TanHO
?Es that soCO
?;oM shoMld haBe let the ’eshites kill Te,O she saidH -ears
welled Mp in her dark eSesH ?EBashek will do worseHO
Redgar closed his eSes, enxoSing the warT sMn on his bare
skinH ?Uhat woMld SoM haBe Te do insteadCO
Khe took a long tiTe to answerH ?;oM are strong and braBeH
-ake Te as far as KMkkaliH u Tan like SoM woMld sMrelS ”nd a
waS to prosper in those wicked citiesHO
Redgar grMntedH me had traBelled plentS throMghoMt the
KMkkali region and, .atali was right, he did prosperH ?und what
do SoM hope to do thereC zonBert the KMks to SoMr Tonastic
lifestSleCO
?;oM Tock Te,O she saidH ?Etjs not enoMgh that SoM will
abandon Te to a fate worse than deathC ;oM Tock Te as wellCO
Khe dashed tears froT her eSesH ?E was rightH ;oM are a crMel
TanH .o diWerent than EBashekHO
ucross the riBer, the entire xMngle of ’esh was a raging inv
fernoH -hick black sToke blotted oMt the skSH Redgar laid on
the beach Mntil his skin was drS and his TMscles had regained
soTe of their strength, then he took .atali bS the arT and
haMled her MpH Khe rose with a poMtH Let her sulk, Redgar
thoMghtH me forced her to walk in front, along an ancient
highwaS laid down bS soTe long forgotten raceH -he Sears
had washed awaS all eBidence of the road in places, all that was
left was chMnks of stone hidden beneath the sand that caMght
at their toes and threatened to trip theTH -heS passed ancient
rMins of cSclopean architectMre as the sMn ToBed slowlS into
the westH -heS hadnjt Tade the oMtskirts of -ehette before
Redgarjs ears perked Mp at the beat of hooBesH
-he road was narrow at this pointGnot TMch rooT to
ToBe in a ”ghtH -here was a thick tangle on the left and a
high eTbankTent on the rightH Redgar took .atalijs arT and
halted her TarchH Khe started to ask whS and then heard the
ridersH
?Vlease,O she saidH ?Vlease, E beg SoM to reconsidervO
?mMsh, childHO me swMng the sword down oW his shoMlder
and stabbed the point into a gap between loose paBing stonesH
-he poTTel reached his chinH Redgar rested a forearT oBer
the cross gMard and waitedH
LiBe horseTen roMnded a bend in the roadH EBashek was at the
head of the colMTnH LoMr hard bitten Ten arTed with swords
and Taces followedH Redgar waited Mntil theS pMlled rein and
said, ?…o SoM haBe TS goldCO
EBashek pMlled a heaBS leather poMch froT his saddle bag and
lobbed it MnderhandH
Redgar caMght it and tMcked it into his wide beltH
? iBe Te the girl,O said EBashekH
?;oM hired Te to saBe her froT the ’eshites,O Redgar saidH
?EjBe done thatH Ko far as EjT concerned, TS part in this aWair is
”nishedHO
EBashek narrowed his eSesH mis horse tried xigged to one side
and he Sanked on the reinsH ?-hen SoM wonjt Tind stepping
asideCO
.atali looked Mp at hiT with eSes fMll of tearsH Redgar took
stock of the hired TMscle, siFing theT MpH -heir ToMnts snorted
and staTped, a sMre sign that their riders were nerBoMsH me
tMrned his head to the side and spatH ?…onjt think E willHO
EBashek said, ?;oM got SoMr gold O
Redgar noddedH ?E didHO
?-hen what bMsiness is it of SoMrsCO EBashek askedH
Redgar shrMggedH ?E donjt particMlarlS like SoMHO
EBashekjs nostrils Aared and his lips peeled back froT
clenched teethH ?’ill hiT O
.one of the riders ToBedH
EBashek tMrned to a big ushMrian with a wirS black beard and
said, ?Ejll doMble SoMr feeHO
-he ushMrian swMng down oMt of the saddle and hooked an
iron Tace froT his beltH Redgar waited for hiT to get withv
in striking distance before taking Mp his swordH -he ushMriv

an chargedH Redgar gaBe groMnd and coMntered, waiting for
the Tan to oBere“tend hiTselfH Et was a short e“changeH -he
ushMrian lMnged and Redgar hacked his head oW with one powv
erfMl swipeH
-he seBered head boMnded oBer the paBing stones and the
headless bodS sagged, like a Tarionette with its strings cMtH
Redgar, barelS breathing heaBS, wiped his sword clean on the
dead Tanjs leather BestH
-he rest of the hirelings wheeled their ToMnts and EBashek
was left aloneH mis long face contorted in rageH ?…aTn SoM,
barbarian ;oM haBe no idea the aWairs SoM are Teddling inH mas
she told SoM who she isC What she isCO
EBashekjs wrath tMrned on .atali and the TMscles in his xaw
Ae“edH ?ynxoS SoMr BictorS, childH -he saBage cannot protect
SoM foreBerHO
?ynoMgh,O Redgar said and strode forward with his sword
raisedH ?E tire of this talkHO
EBashek tMrned his horse and AedH
.atali threw her arTs aroMnd Redgarjs waist and her sTall
bodS pressed against hiTH me waited Mntil EBashek had disapv
peared and said, ?Uhat will SoM do nowCO
Khe stepped back, wiped tears froT her eSes and said, ?E TMst
reach KMkkaliH E coMld Mse a stoMt Tan to see Te there safelSHO
Redgar shoMldered his sword and thoMght for a while in the
slow plodding waS of his kindH -here were !Mestions of right
and wrong to think aboMtH ziBiliFed societies had their own
pecMliar sense of xMstice which seeTed to shift with the winds,

bMt to the mathor, xMstice was ”“ed and iTTMtableH ;et Redgar
did not like to Ti“ Mp in the aWairs of wiFards and EBashek had
a sinister feel aboMt hiTGhe had lied right froT the startH IMt
if Redgar abandoned the girl now, she woMld be in EBashekjs
clMtches before darkH me Tade Mp his Tind and Totioned to
the dead ushMrianH ?zlothe SoMrself, girlH Ue can Take TanS
leagMes before nightfallHO
-he yndH
FESTIVAL F TOE HBLL
Ub Sytet vDilk
A stranger from the dark.
T he night was still and only the sound of waves lapping

in the harbour disturbed the silence of the hour. In the
quay, six great ships stood at anchor. Long, low lying craft
with double banks of oars, they were the pride of Tharnya's
Aeet. m gentle wave lapped against the harbour wall and, on
the walkway above, two guards in horse Bane crested helBets
leaned idly against their spears. They shivered in their cuirasses
and wrapped their cloaks tightly about theB, Buttering to one
another of the day's events. ms they looked out over the dappled
waters, the Boon bathed the great coluBned teBples of the city
behind theB in a soft light. They were about to resuBe their
patrol when a scraping sound Bade theB turn and squint into
the shadows below. The wall dropped down thirty feet and,
craning their heads, they could diBly Bake out the tide as it
lapped against the dark stone. zut now soBething was Baking
its way up the worn brickwork, a gigantic shadow that clung
tenaciously to the rocks and Boved with dextrous agility.
The two guards stared in aBa"eBent as a Bighty corded arB
slapped over the wall in front of theB. Then, iBpossibly, a
titanic Hgure heaved itself up into the starlight and swung
itself over the riB. zare feet slapped wetly on the paved ground
and a Ban looBed up to stand before theB in the Boonlight.
!-alt and be recogni"edF! one of the guards shouted, low;
ering his spear. -e Aung back his scarlet cape and lifted his
shield.
The giant Hgure stood Botionless, legs planted wide, water
dripping froB his naked skin. -e spread his hands slowly and
grinned a strong white toothed sBile. -e was naked but for a
scrap of leopard skin knotted about his loins. YroB a belt at his
waist hung a gigantic curved sciBitar in a leopard skin sheath.
-ere was no Ban of the western race. zefore theB stood an
ebon giant froB the little known lands of the distant southW
wild, untaBed lands that bred Ben hard and savage as the
wilderness that surrounded theB.
!?ou are not of Tharnya,! growled the second guard, !Nho
are youD Nhat are you doing cliBbing our city wall in the dead
of nightD!
Niping a thick corded wrist over his brow, the giant shook
his shaven head before answeringW
FESTIVAL OF THE BULL 25
!May, Tharnyan. I coBe froB SaB"ullah. Ken call Be zo;

hun. I escaped the oars of a slaver's ship this Borning and have
spent the day swiBBing yonder ocean. —ince dusk I hid, cling;
ing to the hull of one of those war;ships.! -e lifted a great
corded arB and indicated the galleys standing in the harbour.
!’nowing how you pale skin folk fear the sight of a free Ban of
the tribal kingdoBs, I waited until nightfall to scale your walls.
Mow, direct Be to food and drink. I aB weary and have not
eaten in the setting of two suns.!
!Kinotus' ballsF ?ou presuBe Buch, stranger. Yirstly, there
are questions that need answering. If you are an escaped slavej
!
zohunRs eyes Aashed angrily.
!So I look like a slave to you, dogD! -e spoke with the warn;
ing ruBble of a rousing lion. !zy Ta'gulla, the last Ban who
thought as Buch is now holding counsel in hell.!
!?ou speak of BurderD!
!KurderD -ahF If strangling the fool who tried to whip Be
on the deck of his own ship and throwing hiB into the oar pits
for the other captives is Burder, then so be itF I took a blade
froB the quarter Baster who sought to intervenej! he slapped
the two;handed sword at his side !jthen dived overboard and
swaB away aBidst a storB of arrows.! -e shrugged and hooked
a thuBb through his belt. !—oBe would say By freedoB was
Oustly earned.!
!mll the saBe, it's best you coBe with us,! growled the guard,
Boving forward. zohun Oust sBiled and folded his Bassive arBs
over his chest. They noticed his left wrist still supported a Ban;
acle froB which depended four links of broken chain. -e shook
his head slowly and Bade clicking sounds with his tongue. !Mot
going to happen. -ow are two unarmed Ben going to convince
Be to coBe with theBD!
The soldiers looked sidelong at one other.
zohun leaned forward, his hands striking like serpents to;
ward the short swords at their sides. Gipping theB froB their
scabbards, he stepped back, the two blades gleaBing naked in
his hands. Then, before they knew what he was about, he threw
his arBs wide and the two swords went spinning through the air
to disappear over the harbour wall. There was a clinking sound
as they hit the stone far below, followed by a faint splash. Then,
before they could recover their wits, his sciBitar had hissed
froB its sheath in a Aash of frosted Hre. They felt the wind of
its passing before he re;sheathed it with a single Auid Botion.
—tunned, the two guards fell back. The heads of their spears lay
at their feet, neatly severed by a single shearing blow.
The Hrst guard, lowering his shield deOectedly, BuBbled a
curse. The second shook his head in wonder.
!zy -ellos,! he breathed, !no Ban such as you was ever born
to wear chains, I'll grant you that. ze gone, then. It will take us
soBe tiBe to reach the other side of the harbour to raise the
alarB.!
Nith that they backed slowly away froB hiB, holding their
shields pressed tightly against their chests. Modding, the black
Ban Boved like a great silent shadow toward the Boon washed
walls of the city. They watched hiB for a BoBent as he

Belted into the dark before turning and hurrying back along
the cause way.
A tryst in steel.
zohun ran swiftly, one hand brushing the wall beside hiB.
-e followed a winding intersection of alleyways, keeping
always to his left. Kost cities were built around a central hub
and, by following this course, he knew that, eventually, he
Bust coBe to a Bain square of soBe kind. mt the Ounction of
each alley he would pause, crouching low, before leaping up
again and sweeping across the intervening space like a great
cat. Cccasionally he would hear snatches of laughter. —eeing
inebriated revellers, he would free"e, hidden in the shadows,
resuBing his way once Bore when they had passed.
—ilently, he raged at the circuBstances that led hiB to
scurrying like a rat through the Ba"e of a strange and hos;
tile city. -e, zohunja chaBpion warrior of SaB"ullahF
Erowling deep in his throat, he shook his head. Mo use
wallowing in the past. The present was very Buch upon hiB
now. -e knew that it was only a Batter of tiBe before a
warning bell froB the harbour sounded. Mo right Binded
citi"en would give succour to a half naked black Ban with
chains dangling froB his wrists. mnd thenjD -is eyes nar;
rowed to slits in the glooB and his hand tightened on the
great hilt at his side.
-e caBe to a narrowed intersection and stopped short. YroB
around the bend, there caBe the sounds of a scuUe. -e hesi;
tated a BoBent, but curiosity got the better of hiB and, be;
fore he knew it, he was craning his head around the corner.
Cn the ground, he saw a Ban struck down before he had
a chance to draw steel. m bar of Boonlight fell upon his
blood soaking into the dust. Yurther back in the shadows,
a torch on the wall revealed a struggling knot of Ben. There
were grunts and curses. m dagger slashed down and a body
sluBped to its knees before falling forward with a lifeless
thuBp. m woBanRs screaB rent the night. zohun heard
cloth tearing and a Birthless laugh. In the Boonlight, the
SaB"ullahan could Bake out the bulking shapes of two
Ben as they atteBpted to pin a sliB girl between theB.
m third brigand was striking with a leather cosh at a Ban
cowering on the ground. The victiB, a blubbering Hgure in
a white robe, squealed in pain even as he begged for Bercy.
To zohun, to think was to act. -e stepped quickly into
the alley and, with long, powerful strides, Bade his way over
to the two Ben struggling with the woBan. The nearest
ruPan was only aware of the big SaB"ullahan when he
felt a hand claBp down on his nape. -e had a frightful
gliBpse of a griB set face before a Hst haBBered his Oaw. The
force of the blow splintered his teeth and slaBBed hiB back
against the wall. ms he slid down it in a senseless heap, his
coBpanion leaped back with a startled oath. -e crouched
low, the whites of his eyes rolling as he held his long knife out
crosswise before hiB. zacking oX slowly, he turned before
Aeeing into the night.
zohun did not give chase. Lowering his head between bull
like shoulders, he glared instead at the reBaining attacker
crouched over the Ban by the farther wall. Qlutching the hilt of
his great sword, he let a hands breadth of steel slip slowly froB
the scabbard. m low growl of warning ruBbled in his throat and,
releasing the collar of his victiB, the ruPan dropped his weapon
before turning and Aeeing after his coBpanion.
ms the sound of their druBBing feet faded into the distance,
zohun slaBBed his blade back with a disgusted snort. -e was
about to continue on his way when the woBan Aung herself at
hiB. —he was barely Bore than a girl, exquisitely forBed with
long, graceful liBbs. mlBond shaped eyes turned up to his and,
in the starlight, he saw a heart shaped face fraBed by a tuBbling
Bass of Bidnight hair. Yull lips parted like bloodied petals. -er
silks had been torn and he felt her heart Auttering wildly as she
pressed against hiB. —he treBbled and, reaching out, he curved
a Bighty arB around her.
!Ky ladyF!
The blubbery Ban cliBbed stiUy to his feet. Nhen he beheld
the girl in zohunRs arBs he stopped short, eyes bulging. !—tep
away froB her you beastF! he squealed, waving an outraged
hand through the air. !-ow dare you lay base born hands on
the Lady JlissaD!
!QineasF! adBonished the young woBan, slipping lithely
froB zohun's eBbrace. -er eBerald eyes Aashed with anger. !Is
this the thanks you give to the Ban who Oust saved your Bistress
froB robbery and worseD!
Vnder the lash of her tongue, Qineas quailed. -e began

BuBbling an apology when, suddenly, the sound of a hollow
clanging Hlled the night. It caBe froB the harbour. zohun
started, one hand falling to his hilt. -is narrowed eyes swept
back the way he had coBe and he lifted his lip in a silent snarl.
-e was about to spring into the shadows when the lady Jlissa
laid a hand on his arB. -er eyes were hooded. Sid he think to
see a quickening of her breath, a heave of ripened breasts be;
neath the plates of the gold brassiere she woreD Koving closer,
she tossed back the silken tides of hair and stared up at hiB.
!?ou are in trouble...! she said, following his ga"e into the
Burk of the alley beyond. !-ave no fear,! she BurBured. !Mo
city prefect will touch you while you are with Be.!
—oBething in her Banner Bade zohun curious. —tanding
his ground, he listened as the sounds of traBping feet and
clashing arBaBents drew nearer, echoing through the Ba"e of
passage ways. resently the sound of voices could be heard and,
froB around the corner, they saw the play of torches against
the alley wall. m detachBent of soldiers spilled into the lane.
Yace to face with the half naked giant before theB, an order
of coBBand was barked. —hields locked into forBation and
spears were levelled. Qlenching his Oaw, zohun's hand tight;
ened on his sword hilt but otherwise he stood Botionless as
an ebon statue. The woBan swept out in front of hiB. Like
a pale AaBe, she rose to her full height before that bristling
wedge of steel and, throwing back her head, criedW !Ken of
TharnyajholdF!
!—tand aside, woBanF! a voice ground out. !This Ban is a

wanted criBinal.!
!Qaptain ’alliasF If you are there, I ask that you call oX your
soldiers. This Ban is under By protection.! m Hgure stepped out
of that iron wall and, reaching up, wrenched a crested helBet
froB his head.
!Ky lady, this is highly irregular. This Ban is a reported run;
away, hej !
!QaptainF So you uphold and serve the law as decreed by your
rightful sovereign, ’ing KykosD!
!mye, By lady, you know it is so, butj!
—he held up soBething that Aashed like Hre under the eye of
the waxing Boon. The captain blinked when he beheld it, an
obOect that dangled froB the end of a silver chain. zohun could
not Bake out the details but whatever it was unnerved ’allias.
-e stepped back, his eyes looking in confusion froB her to the
ebon giant behind her.
!?ou know what this is, don't youD! Jlissa asked.
!myejthe seal of ’ing Kykos, giving you full rein of the city.!
!?es, and it also allows Be Ourisdiction over the law should I
require its service. This Ban saved By life. LookF ! —he pointed
to where three shapes lay in bloodied heaps on the ground,
!Two of By servants were struck down this night by assailants
unknown and I, Byself, was nearly ravaged and robbed before
this Ban intervened. If not for hiB, Qaptain ’allias, you would
now have By lifeless corpse on your hands to explain to By
husband.!
mt her words, the captain shifted uncoBfortably. —he

continuedW !I want a full city wide search Bade for these
vagabonds.! —he indicated zohun. !mny criBes attributed to
this Ban are to be dropped and forgotten. Is that under;
stoodD!
Qaptain ’allias paled and his lips drew into a tight line.
Geplacing his helBet, he saluted stiUy. Then, whirling back
his scarlet cape, he barked an order. —hields unlocked and
spears swept upright. -e turned back to Lady Jlissa. !Ky lady,
by your will, we will conduct a thorough search of the alleys.
—oBe Ben will stay behind to attend the bodies and guide you
back to your house.!
Lady Jlissa raised a hand. !There is no need to see us to
safety, captain. I would rather you directed your eXorts to
Hnding By servantRs killers. Nith your leave, we will now be
on our way. Ch, and I would appreciate your discretion in this
Batter. I would not wish to worry By husband unduly or cause
a scandal. Mo one need know of our presence here tonight.!
!Cf ... course.! The captain bowed. Turning upon his heel,
he stalked away but zohun could see that Lady Jlissa's attitude
had unsettled hiB.
—he turned to zohun and, laying a soft white hand on his
upper arB, spoke quietly. !QoBe, there is soBewhere we can
talk and be at ease.!
Modding to Qineas, who had stood watching the proceed;
ings with head bowed, she led the way, following the path
zohun would have taken before he intervened in the attack.
They had gone a short distance when Qineas, looking

furtively over his shoulder, ventured to a nearby wall. There
was a soft staccato on hard wood before a shutter was drawn
back froB a door set in the stone. m face, barely visible,
peered out at theB. m word was hissed and then that shutter
snapped shut again. zolts were drawn back and the door
creaked open. Light spilled onto the pave.
The Lady Jlissa slipped by a servant stood fraBed in the
doorway. zohun followed with Qineas bringing up the rear.
The big SaB"ullahan found hiBself standing in a narrow
corridor. Gich woven rugs adorned the walls. Qarpets lay
in plush piles beneath his naked feet and incense drifted
froB chandeliers set in intervals along the ceiling. YroB
soBewhere, a stringed instruBent echoed eerily.
!QoBe,! said Lady Jlissa, taking his hand.
zohun looked around hiB. !This is not the house of your
husband.! —poken bluntly, his words were a stateBent, not
a query.
Lady Jlissa's lips curved into a sBile. -er eyes Aashed with
Bocking huBour. !Ky husband is a wealthy spice Berchant.
mlas, he is also an old Ban. Long ago he wearied of the dal;
liances with which I occupy By tiBe. Mo, this is a hideaway
for those who wish secrecy in aXairs of the heart. So I shock
youD I caBe here tonight seeking a tryst with By lover.!
zohun grinned. !zut instead you found a tryst with steel.!
They caBe to a brass studded door. Torches were bracketed

on either side and, at their approach, a guard in breastplate and
helB pushed it open before standing back to attention.
Memories.
The Lady Jlissa lounged on the divan with a feline grace, one
shapely hip pressing into the soft furs as she regarded the big
SaB"ullahan before her.
-e sat on a stool while a Ban in a leather apron struggled
with a pair of iron pliers against the Banacle claBped about his
wrist. mt last, with a wrench, the bolt snapped and the shackle
fell to the Aoor with a rattle of broken chain. zohun nodded his
thanks.
The Ban picked up his tool bag and turned to Jlissa. —he
dropped a few coins into his palB and the farrier, bowing silent;
ly, backed away. The door guard drew back his spear, allowing
hiB to pass.
!?ou have By thanks, Lady Jlissa.! said zohun, rubbing at his
thick wrist and looking around the ornately decorated chaBber.
!It feels good to be a Ban again and not soBe pri"ed work
aniBal.!
!?ou're welcoBe,! Jlissa replied, sBiling languidly. —he
picked up a silver goblet froB a sBall table beside her and
swirled the contents. -er eyes burned as she ga"ed on the deep
lines of the warrior's chest, down his tight belly and over his
heavy shoulders. —he noted the scowling of his low set brows,
the Aat wide Aaring of his nostrils and the thick set lipsW all
fraBed in chiselled ebony.
zut it was his eyes that captivated her. Sark they wereW wild
and Bysterious. There was the fury of the Oungle and the spell of
the Boon in those eyes. —he felt her cheeks Aush. It was as if soBe
long forgotten priBal BeBory stirred within her. Qlearing her
throat, she set down her goblet. !?ou Bust be faBished.!
—he clapped her hands and, froB an alcove, two slave girls
eBerged bearing trays of food and drink. They Boved with
silent obedience, setting down the repast at the warrior's feet.
Nhen they had Hnished, they backed oX across the chaBber,
their eyes averted and heads lowered. Geaching down, zohun
wasted no tiBe in ripping at a leg of roast boar, his teeth tearing
into the tender Beat. -e waved the thick bone in one hand even
as he gu""led deep froB a sapphire coloured wine froB a stone
pitcher. Nhen he had Hnished he sat back with a contented sigh.
Niping the back of one hand across his Bouth, he sBacked his
lips with relish.
!?ou Tharnyans know how to feast. zy Ta'gulla, all I've had
to eat these past few days are Bouldy crusts that I fought over
with the other wretches in the hold of a leaky ship.!
!—o, it is as Qaptain ’allias saidjyou are a runaway slave.!
!Mot I,! zohun snorted, picking at his teeth with a splinter
of bone. !I was part of an arBy that got hacked to pieces on the
’akun plains after Aeeing fallen SaB"ullah.!
!ChD I have heard scholars speak of SaB"ullah in the great
library at andrina.!
zohun nodded. !It was By hoBe. ms our fallen arBy retreat;
ed along the Ga"uli valley we caBe into Eharubah country. Ne
were deciBated and low on Boral. The Eharubah welcoBed

us as brothers into their tents. EaBe was scarce and our water
supplies were exhausted. The sun in those wastes is an eneBy to
all living things. Ne were easy pickings for those desert hawks.
Nhen night fell their chieftain gathered his warriors and bade
us lay down our arBs and surrender into servitude. Neary as
we were, we refused, deciding death was a better option than
dishonour at the hands of the Hlthy Eharubah who traPc in
huBan Aesh. Ne started to cut our way into the clear but they
greatly outnuBbered us. Kany good Ben died there under the
light of a Boon in a land not of their birth. Cnly I survived.!
!?ou chose slavery over deathD! —itting erect, Jlissa sounded
genuinely surprised. zohun sat quietly. -is Hst clenched un;
consciously on the hilt of his great sword and his eyes sBoul;
dered as if he wrestled with soBe dark BeBory. mt last he spoke
and, when he did, his voice was thick with passion. !myejI
threw away By sword and gave Byself like a daBned dog into
their chains. m woBan that rode beside Be in By war;chariot
was captured during the fray. mlive, I knew I had a better
chance of rescuing her than if I wandered alone in the land of
shades.!
!m woBanD Nho is sheD!
!Sana. The niece of ’ing mOaBu of SaB"ullah.! -e looked
at her. !—he is By wife.!
!-ow curious.! Leaning back on one elbow, Jlissa toyed
absently with her half eBpty goblet. !Tell Be Bore of your
hoBeland.!
zohun rested his chin Boodily on a haBBered Hst.

!SaB"ullah is not like your cities,! he ruBbled, his eyes brood;
ing and far away. !It lies far beyond the valleys of the south,
rearing out of the savannahs in a great circle of stone. I grew up
a soldier in her arBies and becaBe a chariot racing chaBpion in
her arena. eople worshipped Be. -ahF I had faBe and wealth
a;plenty. Jven ’ing mOaBu welcoBed Be as a son. Nhen I wea;
ried of the gaBes, he Bade Be chieftain of the palace guard. It
was there that I Bet Sana. —he captivated Be froB the BoBent
we Hrst laid eyes on each other.! -e shrugged. !mOaBu was a
good Ban and a Oust king. zut he was old. The Hres that Bade
hiB popular with his subOects had left hiB long ago. mll he
spoke of was peace in the valleys. -is intentions were good but
he was a fool. It is not in the nature of Ben to know peace.
There were Butterings aBong the council that he had grown
soft. They did not like that he had given our eneBies the right to
hunt on our lands. —oon the dissenters were stirring things up in
a struggle for power. Then, one night, mOaBu was assassinated
in his chaBbers. Qivil war split the city and blood ran red in
the streets. Ne tried to hold the palace against the uprising but
were betrayed froB within by mOaBu's own brother. Ne fought
our way out, hewing down our own Baddened people as they
storBed the palace walls. Loading up our chariots, we had no
choice but to Aee. Cur plan was to retake the city once we had
recouped. zut zadru, mOaBu's brother, had the cunning of a
crocodile. -e waited until our wheels thundered through the
dusty streets and out onto the plains, then he torched the grass
lands behind us and we were herded west into the valleys. There
our age old eneBies, the Ga"uli, were waiting for us.! -e paused
then, his eyes burning as he reBeBbered the events of that terri;
ble day. !—pear splintered on shield, and By axe ran criBson with
the blood of those Bud eaters as we caBe thundering down the
trail. -ahF msking no Bercy we gave theB none in return. Ne
were betrayed on every hand and this was our death song. Cf
the sixty war;chariots that caBe down that pass, less than half
Bade it to the other side. Cur only hope then was to out run
theB and Bake it to the desert. Jither way, we knew we were
Hnished.
!Ne Bade it, alright. zut that's when the Eharubah found
us. I think they pri"ed Sana's beauty Bore than they did By
strength. That's why I was brought to the coast and sold as a
slave bound for Tharnya. I learned later that Sana was taken
into the interior of Eharubah land to becoBe the play thing of
a sheikh. Mow that I aB free, I intend to return.!
—Biling la"ily, Jlissa ran a hand through the long silken tides
of her hair. ! erhaps destiny has set you on another path.!
!Nhat do you BeanD!
!-ave you not wondered why all of this has happened, why
circuBstance has brought you here, on this very nightjto my
side? Ne Tharnyans believe strongly in the oracles and the fates,
zohun of SaB"ullah. It is to By Bind that the gods have des;
tined you for greater things.!
In one lithe Botion she caBe to her feet. There was an electric
charge in the chaBber now as if the very air had becoBe iBbued
with soBe unseen force or energy. Jyes abla"e, Jlissa reached out
to hiB, sliding one Hnger along his naked shoulder. zohun felt
the blood haBBering in his veins. Cn an iBpulse, he rose, one
arB tightening around her waist even as her hips snaked sensu;
ously against hiB. —he gasped with exciteBent and, as he pulled
her close, her brassiere pressed deeply into his chest. zending
his head, he crushed her lips to his own and she drank Hercely
of his kisses. They stood there for a long BoBent, wrapped in
a passionate eBbrace. Then suddenly, zohun's hands reached
up and, gripping the noblewoBan gently by the shoulders, he
pushed her away. —he looked up in surprise. —haking his head,
zohun wiped the back of a wrist over his brow.
!Yorgive Be, Lady Jlissa... I aB weary. It is has been a hard few
days without rest.!
!Cfjof course,! the noblewoBan staBBered. -er face was
ghostly pale. —he stood awkwardly and was about to speak when
a voice whispered froB the alcove at the side of the chaBber.
!Ky lady...!
The noblewoBan whirled. !Nhat is it, QineasD!
The eunuch stood half inside the rooB, dressed in a Aowing
yellow gown. -e inclined his head. Jven froB where he stood,
the big SaB"ulluhan could not fail to notice the poisonous
look cast in his direction.
!mpologies, but there is a Batter of soBe urgency we Bust
discuss.!
Jlissa stood staring angrily at hiB a BoBent. Then, with
a Aash of her long lashes, she coBposed herself. Turning to
the big SaB"ullahan, she lifted her head. !Jxcuse Be. ?ou are
weary. Ne shall see that you are rested upon By return.!
—he and Qineas departed and the warrior was left alone with
his thoughts. -ad the eunuch been standing there, watching
theB the whole tiBeD —eating hiBself on the stool, zohun
heaved a sigh and reached for the stone pitcher at his feet. The
noblewoBan's words turned over again in his Bind. Yate had
indeed cast hiB in a strange new direction. Qould he not sei"e
that opportunity and Bake a naBe for hiBself in this new
worldD Qould he not rise aBong these people by the Bight of his
own sword arBD ms he gripped the stone pitcher, he was Hred by
the glories of an iBagined future... Then a face Aashed up and
stood etched in his BeBory. m wide eyed, innocent face and,
instantly, those thoughts were banished away as he reBeBbered
the gentle caresses and easy laughter of the woBan he loved.
SanaF -e Bust get back and reclaiB her froB the slave traders.
zut howD -e took a long pull of wine. Let the Borrow take care
of itself, he thought. It was enough for now that he had food in
his belly and wine at lips. mye, for now...
-e never knew how long the Lady Jlissa was gone. -e only
caBe out of his reveries when he saw her returning back through
the curtain. -er huBour seeBed Buch iBproved now. —he
walked gracefully toward hiB, carrying a silver Oug in both
hands. m sBile was on her lips.
!Ky apologies for the interruption. Qineas frets over the tini;
est things. ToBorrow is the start of the festival of the bull.
Nhat better way to celebrate than partaking of Tharnya's Bost
faBous wineD! QoBing to his side she held out the Oug. CXering
up his goblet, zohun watched her pour and then downed the
contents.
!Qhaka's bloodF! he griBaced. !Nhat is this stuXD!
!The blood of the zull,! answered Jlissa as she stretched out
on the divan like a great, la"y cat. Cne hand twisted slowly in
the furs beneath her.
!It burns like the Hres of the underworld,! he ruBbled.
Nhen he spoke his tongue seeBed oddly thick and swollen. -e
blinked. -is vision blurred and the rooB tilted suddenly as if
the Aoor was slanting like the deck of a ship. —haking his head,
he Bade to rise but it was as if his liBbs were weighted with lead.
-e fell to his knees.
!NhajD!
-e was aware that Jlissa had risen froB the couch. —he stood
over hiB and, with an eXort, he looked up at her. !-ahF The
blood of fools Bore likeF! she hissed. -er features were twisted
into a Bask of hate. —he struck hiB viciously and blood started
froB his cheek where her nails raked hiB. !Mo Ban spurns the
advances of the Lady Jlissa and livesF!
m shadow fell across hiB and, lolling his head drunkenly,
zohun saw Qineas. The eunuch stood sneering, his piggish eyes
alight with perverse lust. !—ee your ladyshipD! he gloated. !I told
you he is a lowly beast of the Held, not Ht to Bix with the high
born of our lands.!
Jllisa's laughter sounded Busically. !Then we shall Bake
sport of this beast as you suggest, Qineas. Let hiB Hght and
coBpete for us here toBorrow night. ?esF Ne shall hold our

own grand spectacle. It will be the secret highlight of the Yestival
gaBes.!
—oBething snapped in zohun's brain. Eroping futilely for his
sword hilt, he Bade to rise. !zitchF! he roared, his voice thick
and slurring. -e caBe half way to his feet before staggering and
crashing headlong to the Aoor. The last thing he reBeBbered,
before the chaBber turned black, was Qineas's eXeBinate gig;
gle.
Marble and blood.
—oBewhere in the darkness, a haBBer was beating, driving
lances of agony into zohun's brain. It threatened to rip his skull
apart and, reaching up through the blackness, he caBe awake.
-is eyelids Aew open and he rolled up, poised to Hght or Aee.
Torchlight assaulted his eyes. -e raised an arB to block the glare
and soBething clinked and pulled tightly at his side.
QhainedF
-e stared in bewilderBent at the thick Banacles claBped
about his wrists. Qhains led froB theB, Hxed to claBps riveted
in the Aoor. Qrouched on one knee, he lifted his hands, noting
both Banacles and chains were of haBBered gold. -e lowered
those hands slowly now and, as he did, BeBory caBe crashing
over hiB like a wave. m low ruBble rose deep in his chest and he
caBe silently to his feet. -e stood brace legged, eyes sBoulder;
ing as he faced the chaBber before hiB.
-e stood near the back of a Barble wall. zefore hiB, in a
wide sweeping space, a large crowd of people were gathered.
Their voices had roused hiB. Kany and varied those people
were, dressed in all Banner of Hnery. —oBe wore the pluBes
of peacocks fashioned into wild, fanciful shapes. Cthers wore
nothing except strings of Oewels placed about their painted bod;
ies. Euards in crested helBs were placed strategically around the
chaBber, seeBingly oblivious to the extravagance. The rooB
itself was lushly decorated. Cn a raised set of steps, between twin
bra"iers, a pale white shape reclined on a couch, fanned by a
naked slave;girl. zohun scowled when he spied the Lady Jlissa.
—eeing his eyes upon her, she lifted herself la"ily onto one elbow.
!The beast wakes at lastF! she cried.
ms all eyes turned to stare at hiB and zohunRs Hsts clenched
into knotted haBBers.
zeside her, a slender Ban with kohl painted eyes leaned
upright. -e sBiled and, getting to his feet, regarded the big
SaB"ullahan.
!?ou did not Oest, Jlissa, when you said that he was a savage
speciBen.! —peaking eloquently, he Bade his way down the
steps. ms the throng of revellers parted before hiB, he caBe to
stand Oust out of reach of zohun's chains. -e ga"ed dispassion;
ately, as a Ban Bight when looking upon a caged beast. Elaring
back at hiB, zohun saw a young Ban of noble birth. -e was
slight, olive skinned with dark curled hair. -is attire consisted
of a sleeveless gold threaded purple tunic. -igh strapped sandals
caBe to his knees and belted at his waist was a dagger in an ivory
sheath. -e raised a pudgy chin. !Soes he speakD!
!I speak your tongue, Ban of Tharnya,! answered zohun.
!mnd you speak it welljif a little insolently. YroB now on

you will address your betters as 'Baster'.!
!Gelease Be of these chains and we will see who is Baster.!
m ripple of laughter ran throughout the crowd.
!So you hear that, Lady JlissaD It seeBs you have invited a
wild beast into our Bidst.! Turning on his heel, the Ban lifted
a goblet in salute. Jlissa caBe erect. The sway of her hips split
the light chiXon skirt she wore, displaying a shapely thigh to
generous advantage. Ea"ing on her, zohun felt the blood Hring
through his veins.
!mtreus,! she called, !do not teaseF The strength of a killer
lurks in those arBs.!
—preading his arBs wide, mtreus turned to the rooB. ! eople
of TharnyaF Is it not the right of our citi"ens to deBand a
spectacle at the Yestival of the zullD Jvery year, ’ing Kykos
gives less to his subOects in the way of true entertainBent. Nell,
here, tonight, the Lady Jlissa has delivered for you what our
glorious Bonarch could not.!
ms the throng BurBured and looked on expectantly, he
turned and indicated an archway at the side of the chaBber. m
gong sounded and, through it, four slaves eBerged, carrying a
huge obOect covered by a purple drape. They staggered under
the weight of the wooden poles bent over their shoulders and,
coBing through the crowd, set the obOect down before stepping
back. mll eyes stared transHxed. It was large. zehind theB stood
Qineas in his yellow Aowing gown. The eunuch snapped his Hn;
gers and, leaning across, a slave whipped oX the covering. ms he
did, soBething snarled and lashed fren"iedly underneath. The

crowd drew back before they saw the iron cage. Inside, a beast
attacked the bars with savage deterBination. It was a leopardW a
huge black spotted cat froB the Oungles of the south. It spat and
bared its fangs then lay down on its belly, ears twitching as its
tail lashed frantically froB side to side. ms mtreus turned back
to face hiB, zohun stood unBoved. The nobleBan's eyes were
fevered.
!Sefeat the beast with your bare hands, Ban of SaB"ullah,
and we will proclaiB you chaBpion of TharnyaF!
!Gelease Be of these chains, Tharnyan, and I will crown you
prince of hellF! snarled zohun, reaching up as far as the short
length of his chains would allow. -e Aexed his hands Burder;
ously. —taggering back, mtreus threw out an arB and indicated
the cage. !Nhat do you say, people of TharnyaD —hall we let these
beasts Hght... to the deathD!
m chorus of approval greeted his words. Laughing drunkenly,
he drained the contents of his goblet and hurled it froB hiB.
!Gelease the leopardF! Qineas shrieked.
Koving in, the guards forBed a seBi;circle between the cage
and the crowd. They levelled their spears as, standing on top of
that cage, a slave began to lift the iron grille. ms it caBe up on
creaking hinges, every face looked on in tense expectancy.
Gipping out an oath, zohun threw hiBself hard over to one
side. zracing his right leg, he strained his whole weight against
the chain fastened to the Banacle on his left wrist. —weat stood
out on his brow. The golden chain tautened as great bands of
Buscle writhed and OuBped along his arB and shoulder. Yor
what seeBed an eternity, he held the pose, his veins standing
out in bold relief. Then, reaching across, he gripped his Hst with
his right hand and, with bared teeth, began drawing his arB up
slowly into a Aexed position. IBpossibly, his left forearB began
to Bove. -is bicep began to bunch and, as it did, there was a
ping! as soBething skittered over the Barble Aoor. The chain
fell with a clash and he gasped in a great lungful of air. -is left
arB was freeF
—houts of surprise rippled through the audience. The cage
gate was half raised now but zohun spared it barely a second
glance. Turning, he gripped the other chain with his left hand
and, standing brace legged, heaved backward with all his Bight.
-is back Aared like that of a great hooded cobra and there
was a protesting creak as the link nearest the Banacle on his
right wrist began to expand. ms the crowd watched in breathless
exciteBent, he dragged his arB up slowly toward his chest. mfter
what seeBed an eternity, there was a faint popping sound. The
weakened link Hnally gave way and, with a Herce cry of exul;
tation, zohun whirled. Qrouching low, he spread his arBs and
faced the chaBber.
!zy -ellosF! swore mtreus froB behind the ring of guards,
!Those chains were of solid goldF! Then, to the slave struggling
on top of the cage, !-urry, foolF!
Nith a Hnal heave, the gate caBe up. ms it did, the leopard
scraBbled out. Yor a brief BoBent it stood at the centre of the
rooB, crouching and glaring about in confusion. It saw the ring
of guards and the Oabbing points of their spears. Then, uttering

an ear splitting screaB, it bounded straight toward the only
other obstacle in its path.
zohun Bet that beast head on. ms the great cat reared up,
he bent his head and drove forward with his shoulder. Kan
and beast caBe together and the SaB"ulluhan found hiBself
at the centre of a raging cyclone. Qlaws raked down his back
and he threw up his left arB as slashing fangs snapped for his
face. Kore by luck than design those powerful Oaws claBped on
the Banacle about his wrist. ms they did, he twisted his hips
and, with his right arB locked up under one foreleg, brought
the beast crashing to the Aoor beneath hiB. Cne knee OaBBed
down hard into its belly as he threw his whole weight on top
of it in an atteBpt to break its spine. zut the leopard was all
Buscle and sinew. It writhed froB out of that hold and zohun
felt pain down his thigh as the beast's hind legs began to kick.
zefore it could diseBbowel hiB, he fell on top of it with both
knees. m hard swung Hst battered its head and, with a wrench,
he pulled the Banacle froB between its Oaws. In that brief in;
stant, his hand shot down and grabbed the beast's throat. -is
other hand gripped at a haunch and, bracing his feet on the
cold Barble Aoor, he heaved upright. Nith a crack of strain;
ing Buscles, he lifted the leopard high above his head. Then,
with a Bighty surge, he hurled the beast away. The ring of
guards fell back and, as the cat sailed over their heads, it caBe
down with claws outstretched. mtreus had tiBe for one frantic
screaB before the leopard landed on top of hiB. They hit the
Aoor together. There was a rend of talons, punctuated by a

snapping crunch and a river of spreading criBson Aowed out,
staining the Barble. Lifting its head froB the Bangled reBains,
the cat glared around. Turning, the crowd began to disperse
and woBen fainted in horror. Throwing back his head, zohun
laughed savagely. !Leaving so soonD! he roared. !The night has
Oust begunF!
In the confusion, the guards broke forBation and, sei"ing
the opportunity, zohun liBped forward. zlood ran down one
thigh froB where the leopard had raked hiB but he paid it no
heed. m guard thrust at hiB with his spear. Twisting to one
side, zohun swung his Hst in a blow that cruBpled the soldier's
helBet. ms the Ban fell, he bent and ripped the soldierRs gladius
froB its sheath. -e rose with it in his hand and, as the guards
tried to reorgani"e, he charged their broken line. There were
four of theB. Two were dealing with the leopard and trying to
pin it with their spears. The others braced their shields against
hiB, but zohun was as a charging rhino.
In long, powerful strides he reached theB and, as he gath;
ered BoBentuB, he leaped high into the air. The Hrst soldier
raised his shield and, crashing down on top of it, zohun's sword
struck, driving deep into the throat exposed above the riB.
There was a horrible gurgling sound as the point exited through
the neck. Mo sooner had he landed than zohun was on his
feet and bounding up the steps of the dais. -e reached the
couch and Jlissa fell back froB hiB, her face a pale oval in the
torch light. zohun stalked slowly forward , the gladius dripping
darkly in his Hst. Looking into his eyes, Jlissa saw nothing
there but Burder and, at that BoBent, she knew stark ter;
ror. Then, froB one side, a Hgure threw itself between theB.
Qineas spread his arBs wide, facing the giant SaB"ullahan.
!-eathenF! he shriekedW !To kill a noblewoBan is punishable
by a torture far worse than you can iBagineF Throw down your
blade and accept the Bercy of a quick deathjI iBplore youF!
Erinning savagely, zohun struck his head froB his shoul;
ders. The stricken BeBber leaped froB the trunk and rolled
across the Barble, spurting blood. Jlissa screaBed and, as her
legs gave way, zohun grabbed her by the arB and threw her
over one brawny shoulder. The sound of clashing arBaBents
Bade hiB whirl. The three guards were swarBing up the
stairway behind hiB. Nith a snarl, zohun leaped froB the
dais and, sprinting across the Barble headed straight for the
archway at the side of the chaBber. The crowd shrank aside
as he caBe down a widened corridor. mt the other end was
a set of stairs. -e took theB two at a tiBe. The guards gave
chase and a hurled spear shattered against a coluBn beside
hiB. Nithout breaking stride, he Bade it up onto the landing.
—hifting the weight of the noble woBan over his shoulder, he
looked around. In front were branches to both left and right.
Sown theB people were Aeeing now in terror. zohun went
to his right and found hiBself in another corridor. Kaking
his way down, he passed several doors. QoBing to one, he
shouldered it open and, stepping quickly inside, pushed the
panel shut.
The rooB was diBly lit. ms his eyes adOusted to the glooB,
he noticed a long lattice worked window fraBing the night
sky. zy the light of an oil laBp on a table, he saw a young
serving girl fall to her knees beside a couch. —he was dark
skinned and garbed in the long robes of a desert tribal
woBan. These were evidently the quarters of one of the
house's Bost trusted slaves. —etting the noblewoBan down
on her feet, zohun pushed her away and, bracing his back
against the door, pressed a Hnger to his lips, cautioning for
silence. Cutside, the traBp of sandaled feet and the guttural
tones of the guards could be heard as they caBe down the
corridor.
!?ou will die slowly for this,! Jlissa hissed. —he stood like
a Baddened harpy, her long hair hanging down, her hands
Aexing into claws. zohun lifted his dripping blade and she
backed oX warily, buBping into the table where the oil laBp
stood. Qrouched over by the threadbare couch, the serving
girl gave a fearful whiBper. Cutside, the sound of clanking
arBaBents drew closer. m door was kicked open followed
by a shoutedW !QlearF!
Eripping his sword, zohun Oerked his headW !If you would
live to see another dawn, drag that table over here.!
Yor a BoBent, Lady Jlissa stood unBoving. !I have the iB;
Bunity of ’ing Kykos,! she declared. !Eive yourself up and I
swear the king will be Berciful.! —he lifted her throat and he
saw the silver seal nestled between her breasts. —taBped on it
were syBbols fraBing the proHle of a strong, bearded face. !I
saved you froB the Bilitia,! she said, looking at hiB. !I can do
so again.!
!Ch, I have not forgotten, 'By lady',! said zohun with a
griBace. !Mow bring that table over here.!
-e looked to the slave;girl cowering in the shadows and a
sudden Aash of inspiration struck hiB. !Eirl, disrobe and throw
your garBents to Be. uicklyF!
TreBbling, the girl stood and, lifting the black robes over her
head, did as she was told. Throwing theB over to hiB, she stood
naked in the corner of the rooB. zending, zohun scooped the
garBents froB the Aoor and threw theB over his shoulder. ms
he did, Jlissa whirled suddenly and, hurling the oil laBp froB
the table, screaBedW !EuardsF In hereF! zohun turned his head,
Oust as the earthen ware pot shattered against the door. YlaBes
lapped at the wood and, with a curse, he leapt aside. The oil
spilled down in a Hery river, igniting the carpet. The traBp of
feet reached the chaBber and a foot slaBBed into the panel.
The door crashed in and the SaB"ullahan OuBped back Oust as
the Hrst guard entered, driving forward with his shield. zohun
slashed down with his sword and the grate of steel sent sparks
shivering through the glooB. The guard plowed into hiB and,
as they staggered back into the chaBber, the soldier sought to
stab hiB with his gladius over the top of his shield. ms the heavy
buckler slaBBed into hiB, zohun dug his heels into the carpet
and pressed back. Yor a BoBent they were locked together, then
the guard took a faltering step backward and the SaB"ullahan
fell to one knee. m howl of agony split the rooB as zohunRs
blade chopped down through the Ban's calf. The soldier fell
and zohun hacked his head froB his shoulders with a single
blow. The two reBaining soldiers staggered past the burning
fraBe of the doorway. GaBBing his sword through his belt,
zohun grasped the rough hewn table behind hiB and, swinging
it up high over his head, brought it down hard. The soldiers
fell back as it crashed into theB, sending theB spilling onto the
burning carpet.
-urling aside the splintered reBnants, zohun turned Oust as
Jlissa Aung herself at hiB. —he was like a wild cat, her clawed
hands raking for his eyes. Geaching up he caught a wrist in
one hand and, dealing her a back handed slap across the face,
grabbed her around the waist and lifted her over his shoulder.
ausing only to snatch up the garBents froB the Aoor, he
stepped to the window. m sweep of his blade Bade short work of
the fraBe and, as it fell aside, he placed a naked foot on the sill.
Then, launching hiBself through, he dropped into the gardens
below and raced to the encircling wall beyond.
Chains of fate.
mcross the sands, a dry wind BurBured, Auttering the open
awning of the silk hide tent. Inside, zohun took a sip of water
before placing the cup down carefully on a rug. Looking at the
faces gathered there, he grinned and wiped an arB over his lips
before continuing with his taleW !The streets of Tharnya were
busy that night with the festival of the bull and so, disguising the
noblewoBan in the slave;girl's robes, we Bade our way through
the city. I wanted to Hnd a blacksBith. —he swore there was one
at the edge of the Bain square. Nell, for once, she spoke truth.
I left her bound in an alley before going round and pounding
on the door. m bearded Ban thrust his head froB a window
and shouted for Be to be gone until I showed hiB the gold
shackled on By wrists. I proBised hiB half the share if he could
Belt theB down. -ahF -e opened his hearth quick enough.
mye, within the hour I had a sack of coins at By side and soBe
inforBation. -e told Be that a sBuggler's ship was waiting to
depart at dawn froB an abandoned quay on the east side. I
bought arBaBents and a horse froB hiB and, throwing the
noblewoBan over By saddle, rode down to the wharves. —ure
enough, a sloop was Boored there. The captain was loathe to
take a hooded feBale aboard, but the sight of gold soon swayed
hiB. mt dawn, we set sail. Cn the second day, I bade theB drop
Be at the cape of zadura. YroB there I Bade By way up the
coast until I found you.!
Cn his dais, the desert chieftain leaned forward, one hand
toying with his curled beard. Eathered around hiB were his
warriorsW dark skinned Ben with cruel eyes, dressed in the long
Aowing robes of desert Barauders. —oBe stood at the back of
the tent, Hngering the hilts of their curved blades or eating dates
and sipping wine. Cthers sat, even as zohun did, cross legged
on the Aoor, listening intently to each twist and turn of his
story. ewelled Hngers stroked short beards and inscrutable eyes
narrowed in hawkish features as the tale unfolded.
Then, that story Hnally told, zohun sat back and shrugged
Bassive shoulders. zeneath his own robes was the blue steel of
a Bail shirt. The chieftain sBiled as he bit into an apple. -e

chewed thoughtfully for a BoBent before speaking. !m Bost
entertaining story, sahib, and one well worth the repeating. zut
pray, what proof do you haveD Keaning no insult, I could take
you at face value and still accept your oXerjbut a story is Bore
delightful when backed by evidence.!
mll eyes turned to the ebon giant. -ands brushed at dagger
hilts. zohun grinned. To hiB they were as desert Oackals to a
lion. -e had no fear of theB. zefore his knees, lying on the
intricately woven rug, was a two;handed war;sword. Geaching
slowly into the folds of his robes, his hand caBe out holding
soBething in his palB. Leaning across, he handed it to the desert
chieftain who sat back on his dais and scrutini"ed it intently.
—eeing that he held the seal of ’ing Kykos in his hand, he looked
up and gave a wistful sBile. -e noddedW ! ery well, warrior, I
accept your oXer. It shall be done. I will write to By northern
Eharubah brothers, with a recoBBendation for the release of
the woBan you desire in exchange for gold.!
-e snapped his Hngers and a slave hurried forward, bearing
quill and parchBent.
It was a well rested zohun that eBerged Hnally froB the tent of
the Eharubah. Thrusting a rolled parchBent into his robes, his
booted feet caBe across the sands to the stallion he had left tied
at the oasis' edge. ms he caBe up to it, a cry froB behind reached
his ears. Looking round, he saw a pale, willowy Hgure kneeling

in the dust at the side of the tent.
!zohunF! gasped Lady Jlissa, !Take Be with you. So not
abandon Be to these dogs, I beg of you.!
The big SaB"ullahan stared into the slowly sinking sun.
Then, shrugging Bassive shoulders, he turned and unhitched
the black coated stallion froB the palB where it was tethered. It
shook its Bane and whinnied excitedly, pawing at the ground.
aBBing a boot into a stirrup, he grasped the poBBel and
swung up into the saddle.
!SogF! the noblewoBan cried Hercely, !?ou are no better than
these savages to sell a noblewoBan into slaveryF ?ou think they
will honour youD -ahF They will cut your woBan's throat and
laugh as you watch her dieF!
zohun sat in silence, the iBpatient stallion facing out into
the sighing drifts. Then he turned to stare at the woBan. —he
knelt in the sands at the side of the Bain tent, an iron collar
Hxed about her throat. -er long hair streaBed like a torn banner
in the wind and she shivered froB the sting of sand against
her naked Aesh. Leaning over his saddle bow, zohun spat into
the dust. Then, raising his head, he spokeW !Cnce, Jlissa, back
in Tharnya, you told Be that you believed in the fates. I, too,
believe in theB. Mot long ago, I wore chains. Mow I sit here and
you wear the collar of a slave.! -e shrugged. !It is destiny. mnd
I will tell you what I have learned of destiny.... Mot all bonds are
forced upon us. —oBe of us are bound by such things as honour,
love and duty. Mor does it Batter whether chains are Bade of
gold or of iron. It is how you wear theB.! -e sat upright and,

grasping the reins, nodded. !Near your bonds well, Jlissa, and
Bayhap your Basters will sBile favourably on you.!
Qlicking his tongue, he reined his Bount. YroB behind,
he heard Jlissa's screaB of outrage, her pleading sobs. Then,
froB the tent, the white robed Barauders caBe. Sesperately
she called out, but the rider was only a black silhouette in the
distance. —oon, even her cries had faded on the wind.
The Jnd.
MEET T E HAT UO
HRutho riunoernv vrut wunen
SrDlk
T ell us a little about yourself? Where are you from? How

long have you been writing in general?
I live in Hertfordshire, England. I wrst started mriting

for the karbets in auo2t 01p0 for the skall Nresses. -ot
long after that, I started N2ulishing e'uoobs. Ijve had an
interest in cotting domn stories sinTe I wrst started reading
for f2n as a bid.
What was your drst introcu-tion to sworc anc sor-ery d-D

tion?
Ahat mas an BTe Coobs edition of Oy-B- uR Louert

E. Homard, S. WNrag2e de OakN and Sin Oarter. 9aR uaTb
in earlR p8M0. I NiTbed it 2N frok a sNinner raTb at a skall
seaside resort. xe and kR fakilR mere there on holidaR. I
mas p1.
How long have you been writing sworc anc sor-ery? What
got you startec?
I started sTriuuling stories at sThool. I aNNalled kR

teaThers mith ulood drenThed sagas of steelR themed uar'
uarians to the Noint mhere I mo2ld ue mriting these little
jeNiTsj in the uaTbs of kR xaths ePerTise uoob instead of
doing kR hokemorb.
Who is your favorite fantasy author?
Louert E. Homard, xiThael xoorToTb, Seigh CraTbett,

Edgar LiTe C2rro2ghs. (rouaulR in that order.
Io you have a favorite sworc anc sor-ery -hara-ter?
Ahree stand o2t for ke. Oonan )Louert E. HomardJ,

ElriT )xiThael xoorToTbJ and O2gel )VaTb &anTeJ.
What -lassi- sworc anc sor-ery short story really stancs out
for you? ps there one that really ins.ires you as a writer?
Ahere are kanR. xostlR mritten uR anR of those g2Rs

and gals kentioned auove.
Tell us a little about your storyS What ins.irec it?
Ahe idea stekked frok a Tonversation I had auo2t

raTisk in smord'—'sorTerR. I got to thinbing auo2t hom
MEET THE AUTHOR 59
LEH kight have mritten a ulaTb Oonan. I didnjt mant

the storR to ue Tolo2r ulind. I manted the g2ts of it to
stand o2tGa ulaTb uaruarian frok the hot savannahs of
the so2th storking his maR mith wre and steel aTross a
TlassiTal YreTo'Lokan tRNe morld.
,worc anc sor-ery as a genrek anc short stories in .arti-ulark

are maLing a -ome ba-L re-entlyS Io you have any o.inions as
to why?
I mo2ld saR that in reTent Rears, indeNendent N2ulish'

ing has ueToke steadilR kore foT2sed and Nrofessional,
ozering to the reader genres that the kacor ho2ses arenjt
milling to tabe 2N. 7o2 bnom, the ho2ses that thinb Ro2
mant doorstoNNer siUed tokes of a never ending fantasR
soaN oNera or streaks of uoobs auo2t Uokuie meremolves
wghting eko teenage vakNires.
What co you love about the mocern state of sworc anc sorD
-ery literature?
Aherejs an 2ndergro2nd Tokk2nitR sNirit in the

smord'—'sorTerR genre right nom thatjs not ueen seen
sinTe the jK1s. Itjs an ePTiting tike to ue mriting.
What co you hate about mocern sworc anc sor-ery?

jHatej is a strong mord. I donjt thinb there is anRthing

to hate.
What woulc you liLe to see more of in the future?
Walka HaReb, I reTbon.
pf you were strancec on an islanck anc you -oulc only have

one booLk what woulc it be?
7yq YEA Wy BSy-E BA AIxEW IA VqWA xB EW

WE-WE uR Oharles C2bomsbi.
:astlyk where -an reacers dnc more of your worL? How co

fans Lee. in tou-h with you?
7o2 Tan wnd ke l2rbing on faTeuoob. B friend re 2est

mith a little kessage almaRs helNs ureab the iTe. I have an
a2thorjs Nage on akaUon that Ro2 Tan wnd at this linbG
htt.s/zzwwwSamaBonS-omz,teveDIilLszez0MMETE:3%3F
%=ref_cbs a mng rwt s-ns share
THE T OM B FTHRUNF-H
MA yDavi dvSm
“T his was a mistake,” Micah said. “We shouldn’t have

come out here. When Parlan catches up to us he’ll
have us all goOOed. yr, more likelN, crucifed.”
“Ao one invited Nou alonO in the frst place, dwarI,” Tarmesh
said, holdinO on to a IraNinO temper.
“bnd - should have leIt it that waN,” Micah Orumxled.
Tarmesh Oritted his teeth, trNinO to tune out the dwarI’s conY
stant stream oI complaints as the fve oI them hacked their waN
throuOh the thick underOrowth. -t had xeen si; daNs since theN
had deserted Irom the old coastal Iort where their companN
had xeen stationed, si; daNs oI oppressive heat, oppressive gies,
oppressive snakes. Tempers were IraNinO, and xoth Aatan and
bric looked readN to murder Micah where he stood.
“Two daNs to the old temple, Nou said,” the dwarI Olared up
at Aatan. “Two daNs, and most oI it on an easN trail. ?our two
daNs was a lie, Nour trail was a liej is the temple a lie tooH”
Aatan Orowled, his Orip tiOhteninO on the cleaverYlike LunOle
xlade in his hand.
Tarmesh fnallN had enouOh. “Tosh’s xloodN xones, dwarI,
will Nou stop Nour whininO Ior halI an hourH” !e placed
his xulk xetween Aatan and Micah. “?ou were the one who
wouldn’t shut up axout treasure when Nou frst heard axout
the temple Aatan saw on the scoutinO mission. ?ou were the
one who wouldn’t stop pesterinO us to come alonO. Aow shut
up, or -’ll leave Nou here to Ieed whatever eats dwarI in this
OodsYIorsaken LunOle.”
Micah planted his Ieet, one hand clenched around the hilt oI
the short sword that he carried.
“Ao one tells me toYY”
“Sook outz” blia shouted.
Tarmesh turned and cursed. Bleek reptiles, each the siEe and
shape oI coursinO hound, prowled the underOrowth, circlinO
the partN. The OlintinO Oreen scales xlended with the veOetation,
makinO it hard Ior Tarmesh to Oet an accurate count oI the
creatures.
“Bleeva,” he warned. “Their xite is poisonous.”
bnd theN were twice as Iast as vipers and as wellYcoordinated
as a wolIYpack, he could have added, xut kept the Orim thouOht
to himselI.
“Bleeva don’t come this Iar south,” bric arOued.
THE TOMB OF ORTHUN-RAH 63
!is sister blia said, “MaNxe theN Oot lost lookinO Ior the
damn temple too.”
Ao one lauOhed.
“Dack to xack,” Tarmesh ordered. “TheN like to attack
IromYY”
DeIore he could fnish the sleeva struck. yne made a IanY
tastic leap at bric’s xack. bnother spranO Irom the xrush to
attack Micah’s leOs. Two more went aIter Tarmesh himselI.
The ne;t Iew moments were a savaOe xlur. Tarmesh kicked
and sent a sleeva tumxlinO xackwards as he xrouOht his xlade
down on the other’s head, xut the creature’s hard scales
turned what would have xeen a Iatal xlow into a OlancinO
wound. -n the meantime the frst sleeva had alreadN recovY
ered Irom Tarmesh’s kick and tried to slip around his Ouard
to sink poisoned IanOs into his leO.
The sleeva were Iast and cunninO, natural predators, xut
paled in comparison to Tarmesh. The hillman let Oo oI
conscious thouOht and moved with instincts xred Irom a
thousand fOhts with man and xeast. !is sword gashed as he
pivoted, droppinO the Iull weiOht oI his xodN into the cut.
yne sleeva Iell deadj the other tried to run, xut Tarmesh cut
it down xeIore it could retreat.
The warrior turned to check on his comrades. The dwarI
was on the Oround, his stumpN fnOers wrapped around the
neck oI a sleeva trNinO to sink its teeth into his throat. The
other three were xackYtoYxack while two sleeva circled.
Tarmesh charOed, xrinOinO his sword down on the skull oI

one xeIore it had a chance to dodOe. The other hissed and
darted xack into the LunOle.
bric, xlood drippinO Irom his arm and leO, slumped to the
Oround.
“b...little...helpz” Micah Orunted.
bIter a moment’s hesitation blia xrouOht her sword
down on the sleeva’s neck. Bhe was a stronO woman with
a powerIul sword arm xut still it took Iour xlows to hack
throuOh the creature’s scales and sever its head. –ven then,
the head hissed and spat, snappinO at the Oround Ior several
minutes aIter the dwarI scramxled out Irom under.
Tarmesh cast an eNe over the Oroupj xN some Oood Iortune
bric was the onlN one xitten. !e clutched an uOlN Oash on
his arm.
“?ou said theN were poisonous,” bric said.
Tarmesh weiOhed his wordsj an honest answer would do
little xut panic bric, and at this point theN needed cool heads
in the Oroup. Desides, his Orandmother had oIten tauOht
him that truth was Iar too precious to waste on people not
xorn to the hills.
“?ou’ll xe Ieverish xN niOhtIall,” Tarmesh said honestlN. “ToY
morrow Nou will xe weak.” blso true. “bIter the second daN
the worst will xe past.” True aOain, thouOh he leIt out the halY
lucinations, the convulsions, and the xoneYtwistinO aOonN that
made even the stronOest men xeO Ior death. !e also omitted
the Iact that without treatment onlN one man in seven survived
past the second daN.
bric nodded and drew himselI to his Ieet, tearinO a strip Irom
his shirt to xandaOe his wound.
“Go we Oo xackH” Aatan asked.
The others turned to Tarmesh. The e;pedition had not xeen
his ideaYYiI anNthinO, it was Aatan who had persuaded the others
to Oo qxut somethinO axout the hillman’s presence made him a
natural leader.
!e shook his head.
“-t won’t make a diFerence to bricj xN the time we reach
camp he will xe throuOh the poison’s illness.” Gead, in all
likelihood, xut Tarmesh didn’t xother to tell the others that.
-nstead he said, “Giscipline was poor xack in camp. The troops
are xored with OarrisoninO an old coast Iort aOainst a pirate
threat we haven’t seen all summer. –verNone wants to desert. -I
we Oo xack, Patan will have to have us gaNed and crucifed as
an e;ample. We’d have to Oo xack with enouOh treasure in our
hands to xuN his Ooodwill.”
“bnd iI this temple was a Iool’s errandH” Micah asked.
Aatan Orowled at the dwarI, xut Tarmesh raised his hand to
Iorestall Net another round oI xickerinO.
“-I we fnd no temple, we are still close to the coast. We’ll cut
xack out oI the LunOle aIter a Iew more daNs, Oo down to the
xeach, and head northwards. bwaN Irom Patan and his camp.”
“-t would take us a month or more to Oet to a port town,”
blia arOued.
Tarmesh shruOOed. “- would never have siOned on with Patan

in the frst place iI - knew he meant us to Oarrison an axandoned
Iort on a IorOotten edOe oI the empire. Whether we fnd a temple
or not, we’re all well rid oI Patan’s xanner. Detter a month oI
hikinO than a Near spent camped on the damn xeach.”
The others nodded slowlN.
Tarmesh did not add that while the nearest port town was
a month’s march awaN, there were other ports, hidden coves
marked on no map where the corsairs harxored their ships. The
hillman had spent as much time fOhtinO with pirates as fOhtinO
against themj he was not especiallN interested in takinO to the
sea aOain, xut xetter to Loin a reaver ship Ior a season or two than
waste his liIe in Ouard dutN. Cuards seldom saw plunder.
–ither bric was touOher than he looked or the sleeva that xit
him had xeen a Luvenile, its venom still undeveloped. ThouOh
bric was clearlN the worse Ior wear he was still on his Ieet in the
morninO and manaOed to keep up until noon, when theN fnallN
Iound traces oI a paved road cuttinO throuOh the LunOle.
“Told Nou,” Aatan said as theN Iollowed the pathwaN.
“?ou told us that we’d Oet to the pavinO aIter two daNs in the
LunOle, and to the temple a halIYdaN later,” blia said sharplN.
Aatan shruOOed. “The LunOle is conIusinO. We proxaxlN went
a diFerent waN than mN patrol took.”
blia opened her mouth to replN, xut bric choose that moY
ment to Iall, convulsinO, to the Oround.
blia knelt ne;t to him. “!e looks terrixle. -’m not sure how
he’s made it this Iar. - douxt he’ll xe doinO much walkinO.”
Tarmesh hesitated. PuttinO bric out oI his miserN miOht xe

the wisest choice, xut he wasn’t sure the others would underY
stand the loOic oI the hills. blia, perhaps. Tarmesh had rarelN
met a woman as cold and calculatinO, xut Aatan and bric had
served toOether Ior Nears. bnd Micah... well, Micah miOht xe
smart enouOh to realiEe that iI deadweiOht was xeinO culled, he
was likelN ne;t to Oo. bnd while Tarmesh held no particular
Iondness Ior his companions, he knew that fve could carrN
more plunder than one. SettinO bric live or die xased on his
own strenOth would stand the Oreatest chance oI keepinO the
Oroup toOether, and iI he had made it this Iar it was even possixle
that bric would recover.
“We can’t rest here,” Micah said. “Too e;posed. -I we staN here
we’ll all have wounds like his, and worse.”
Aatan scowled xut did not arOue the point.
“- can manaOe him,” Tarmesh said. “We’ll keep movinO until
we fnd someplace more secure. The temple, iI we’re luckN.”
!e did not add that sleeva packs oIten track their preN Ior
daNs iI necessarN, waitinO Ior the venom to work and that some
sleeva packs numxered as manN as fItN. bnd while Tarmesh
had not seen anN siOn oI sleeva since their fOht, his instincts
told him that somethinO watched Irom the xrush. BomethinO
predatorN.
B(uattinO, Tarmesh slunO bric over his shoulder and
straiOhtened up, makinO sure he could still swinO his machete
IreelN and reach the sword on his xack. -t wasn’t easN to fOht
with a man over a shoulder, xut iI worse came to worst Tarmesh
could use bric as a shield or toss him at an enemN as a diverY

sion. Aot an ideal situation, xut he had manaOed worse.
bs theN hiked, blia slowed her pace until she was walkinO
xeside the hillman. Aatan and the dwarI were Iarther ahead,
Lust out oI earshot.
“WhN xother carrNinO him, hillmanH” she asked. “!e’s dead
weiOht. yr do Nou reallN not know what sleeva poison doesH”
Tarmesh Oave a sort oI halIYshruO, hindered xN the weiOht
oI bric’s xodN. “!e could recover.”
“?ou’re a Oood liar Ior a xarxarian,” blia snorted. “Without
the riOht herxs to treat his wound he’s crowYmeat, and we
xoth know the herxs he needs don’t Orow this Iar south. Bleeva
poison isn’t a nice waN to Oo, hillman. -t would xe more
merciIul to Oive him the stroke now, xeIore the convulsions
hit. Bave Nou luOOinO his carcass around, too.”
“?ou’re (uick to put Nour own xrother in his Orave,”
Tarmesh said.
The Oirl Oave a xark oI lauOhter. “DrotherH We share the
same whoremonOerinO xastard Ior a Iather, nothinO more.
bric would have leIt me Ior the sleeva without a second
thouOht. -’d alwaNs heard that the hills xred touOher men than
the cities, xut Nou hillIolk are downriOht soIt compared to us
slumrats. Will Nou nurse him like a mother when we ne;t stop
to restH”
“-I Nou want him dead, then put a kniIe in him NourselI or
paN me honest Oold to do it. ytherwise -’ll carrN him until -
don’t want to carrN him.”
“Buit NourselI, hillman. Gon’t e;pect him to thank Nou iI

he survives.”
Bhe stepped up her pace Tarmesh watched her Oo, apY
preciatinO her fOure xut repulsed xN her manner. Slumrat
indeed, he thouOht.
bn hour aIter bric’s collapse a shadow appeared across the
skN. Tarmesh peered up throuOh the treetops and cauOht a
Olimpse oI xlack stone standinO aOainst the xlue skN.
Aatan Orinned and pointed. “There it is. Cold and plunY
der xeNond our wildest dreams.”
“With our luck the damned place was looted centuries
aOo,” Micah Orunted. “Desides, even iI the place is stuFed
Iull oI treasure we won’t xe axle to carrN enouOh xack with
us Ior anNthinO like mN wildest dreams.”
“–ven iI the place is emptN we’ll Oet more Irom it than
Patan was paNinO,” bria said without slowinO down. Bhe
looked over her shoulder at Tarmesh. “yI course, iI Nou’re
still carrNinO mN xrother’s worthless carcass, Nou won’t xe
axle to manaOe nearlN as much treasure. )ood Ior thouOht,
hillman.”
bric whimpered as Tarmesh set him down on the gaOY
stones Lust inside the temple’s towerinO OatewaN. -t was
cooler in the shade and the air in the entrNwaN was Ireshj
without xanewort and asp venom to mi; Ior antidote the
cool stone goor and a drink oI water was the xest Tarmesh
could do Ior bric. The man’s own strenOth and luck would
manaOe the rest, or not. The hills did not xreed mercN.
BtraiOhteninO, the xronEe hillman Iollowed the others as theN

lit torches and set out to e;plore the temple’s interior.
“Dest to divide,” Aatan muttered, lookinO at the xranchinO
passaOes xeIore them.
“AaN, -’ve heard that tale,” Micah replied. “We’ll stick toY
Oether Ior now.” Aatan shruOOed xut didn’t arOue, and sinOle
fle the Iour entered the frst dark passaOewaN, IollowinO twists
and turns and deadYends xN the liOht oI their torches.
Tarmesh noticed the Oround slopinO sliOhtlNj their path was
takinO them not Lust deeper into the temple xut deeper under
the earth as well. !e was too e;perienced a warrior to fdOet, xut
his mind gickered to the weiOht oI the heavN xlade at his hip and
the sword on his xack.
bs the Iour mercenaries plunOed deeper into the ruins, Iour
shadows, xlack as midniOht, slipped throuOh the OatewaN. yne
moment was all that it took Ior the sleeva to fnish bric as he laN,
delirious, with his xack propped aOainst the wall. -n his fnal
moments he suFered verN little.
)ew sleeva victims could claim the same.
The creatures took a moment to sniF his corpse xeIore movY
inO onj determined to fnish the hunt xeIore theN Ied. TheN
spranO into the shadows xeNond the entrance, dark shapes
xlendinO with the darkness within.
The Iour mercenaries came to a xronEe door almost the siEe oI
the outer Oates. The dwarI ran stuxxN fnOers alonO the Orooves
set into the stone while Tarmesh e;amined the hinOes. bIter a
Iew words the two Iound the latch and Tarmesh set his shoulder
aOainst the doors, pushinO with all his strenOth. The muscles oI
his leOs xulOed and his xoots Oripped the goor as he strode IorY
ward, IorcinO open doors that had xeen closed Ior centuries.
DeNond laN a chamxer dominated xN a slax oI xlack stone
inlaid with letters written in a curvinO script that Olinted in
the torchliOht. -t rested aOainst the Iar wall, as iI xlockinO a
doorwaN deeper down into the temple’s depths.
“Uould xe the entrance to a storaOe chamxer,” Micah
mused, holdinO his torch close to the slax. The script gashed
Nellow in the torchliOht.
“DronEeH” Aatan asked.
Micah shook his head, OrinninO. “Cold.”
“!ow muchH” Tarmesh asked. “Worth strippinO itH”
The dwarI shook his head. “-t’s Lust leaIYY xN the time we
Oot it oF the rock we’d have little enouOh to show Ior our
trouxles.”
“-I it isn’t even worth takinO then whN do Nou look so happN,
dwarIH” Aatan asked.
The dwarI’s smile took on a predatorN Oleam.
“Decause iI the xuilders put Oold leaI on the rock xlockinO
the doorwaN, it’s not the onlN Oold we’ll fnd here. Tarmesh, -
think that the two oI us can move this.”
The hillman stepped Iorward, runninO a hand alonO the
stone, then suddenlN recoiled as iI xurned. !is fnOer pointed
at a sinOle rune in the center oI the slax, a small circle split xN
three lines, visixlN diFerent Irom the other characters around
it.
“- won’t open this. That’s the sorcerer’s mark,” he said. “We

should leave this alone. We’ll fnd nothinO Oood on the other
side.”
blia rolled her eNes and Aatan lauOhed.
“?ou hillmen are more superstitious than - thouOht,” Aatan
said. “Uome on, aIraid someone leIt an old shaman’s rattle or
two xehindH”
“Uan Nou reallN read this, hillmanH - didn’t take Nou Ior a
scrixe,” blia said derisivelN.
“- don’t know what lanOuaOe it is, much less how to read it.”
Tarmesh could in Iact read seven other lanOuaOes, xut that was
none oI their xusiness. “Dut Nou don’t need to read to know
the sorcerer’s mark. -t’s the same in anN script. What lies xeNond
xelonOed to a sorcerer, and -’ll have none oI it.”
The dwarI Oave an irritated Orunt and looked to Aatan.
“WellH -I the hillman is aIraid oI Ohosts will the scout Oive me a
handH”
Aatan stepped Iorward and, with a Oreat deal oI OruntinO and
OroaninO Jand a Oreat deal more wasted eFort, Tarmesh thouOht
sourlN:, the two manaOed to shiIt the stone until it overxalanced
and Iell with a crash. blia was Iorced to dance xack out oI the
waN, cursinO inventivelN.
Tarmesh cursed as well, xut Ior a diFerent reason.
-nside was no doorwaN, xut a narrow tomx containinO a sinY
Ole skeleton dressed in decaNinO roxes oI purple.
“Tosh’s xloodN xones,” Tarmesh whispered. “TheN xuried
him. What tNpe oI Iool xuries a sorcererH”
Micah looked over in surprise. “What are Nou supposed to do

with them when theN die iI Nou can’t xurN themH Prop them in
a corner until theN rotH Gress them and sit them at the taxle
with Nou at dinner timeH”
“?ou xurn them,” Tarmesh said, his eNes narrow. “?ou xurn
them in a fre so hot that not a sinOle xone remains, and scatter
the ashes Iar awaN Irom anN place Nou plan on livinO.”
“?ou hillIolk Iear anNthinO Nou don’t understand,” Micah
said. “-’ve known Oood sorcerers.”
“Ao, dwarI, Nou haven’t.” Tarmesh’s tone was gat.
)or a moment there was tense silence, then blia snorted.
“Durn the xones iI Nou want, hillman. -’m Irom a lonO line oI
OraveYroxxersj old xones don’t scare me. -’m more interested in
whether or not theN xuried him with anNthinO valuaxle. -t’s Lust
xones in the coRn.”
“MiOht have alreadN xeen looted,” Micah Orumxled.
“Worth checkinO the rest oI the tomx,” Aatan said. “-t’s a xiO
place. We should split up to cover more Oround. Qnless Tarmesh
is aIraid the xones will come aIter us.”
Tarmesh kept his Iace xlank. The others could saN what theN
wanted. -t was e;perience, not superstition, that made him warN
oI the ancient skeleton. !e shruOOed his shoulders and IolY
lowed Aatan and Micah as theN e;ited the chamxer. While theN
searched the tomx he would Oather kindlinO.
blia hesitated as the three men leIt, takinO a moment to e;Y
amine the coRn and its occupant Ior concealed treasure. Dones
meant little to bliaj she had seen them since childhood, and oIY
ten with more gesh attached. Bhe hadn’t xeen LokinO when she
told Tarmesh that she came Irom a lonO line oI Orave roxxers.
Dut somethinOYYperhaps the e;perience oI havinO seen so manN
corpses over the course oI her liIeYYtold her there was somethinO
unnatural axout this particular skeleton. The xones were oddlN
thick and appeared warped in places, with stranOe xulOes and
lumps.
“?ou must have looked a monster in liIe,” she muttered.
–ven the skull was covered with xumps and xulOes. blia
shuddered sliOhtlN, then turned to Oo, xut the movement oI her
torch caused the stranOe lumps on the skull to Olint and sparkle.
Bhe moved her torch closer and Oasped.
ewels. The skull was set with a kinO’s ransom in LewelsYY
eOOYsiEed emeralds and sapphires and moonstones, all set directY
lN in the xone. Bhe stared Ior a moment, mesmeriEed xN the waN
the liOht cauOht and xurned in their hidden depths. Then she
reached Ior the skull.
Tarmesh cursed soItlN as he reached the entrNwaN where theN
had leIt bric. The sun was settinO and that leIt him less time
than he liked Ior OatherinO frewood. bs he walked throuOh
the chamxer his eNes were drawn to bric, still slumped aOainst
the wall. !e was no lonOer thrashinO or whimperinOj that was a
Oood siOn. -I he manaOed sleep then he had survived the worst
oI the venom.
Tarmesh was loathe to waste anN time, xut stopped to Oive
bric water. bs he approached his eNes narrowed. Dlood stained
bric’s throat and the Iront oI his shirt. b moment’s e;amination
was enouOh to confrm his Iearsj sleeva had xeen at work. The
corpse was Iresh and not Net eatenj the pack was still huntinO.
Aatan knelt in a corridor, runninO his fnOers alonO a seam
in the stonework. Bo Iar his investiOations had Net to reveal the
storerooms oI treasure he had imaOined when he frst Olimpsed
the temple on patrol. !e was desperate now, and Irustrated. To
have deserted Patan’s campYYa paNinO Lox, iI not a Olamorous
one, and the scouts had xetter duties than mostYYIor a Iool’s
errand in the LunOle would xe disastrous. !e was halIYconvinced
the others would murder him iI the temple turned out to hold
nothinO more than old xones. Tarmesh in particular worried
Aatan. !illmen in Oeneral had a reputation Ior violence, and
this particular hillman was doOOed xN rumors oI a particular
savaOerN. !e was not the wild, xaNinO savaOe Aatan had xeen
told to e;pect, xut (uiet, cold, and calculatinO in a waN that was
Iar worse. bnd Aatan had Ootten a Olimpse oI Tarmesh’s Iace
when theN IouOht the sleevaj the hillman had worn a Orin that
sent chills down Aatan’s spine.
“AatanH yi, Aatanz” blia’s voice called down the hall.
“What is itH” he snapped. AormallN he would xe a xit more
civil, iI Ior no other reason than blia had a decent Iace and xodN,
and Aatan wouldn’t saN no to a tumxle, xut blia had made it
perIectlN clear that she had no interest in himYYhad even held
a daOOer to his Oroin to make the issue perIectlN clear when he
tried to Oet IriendlN with her. -t had xeen weeks since Aatan had
xeen with a woman, and blia’s presence on their little e;pediY
tion was a constant, annoNinO reminder oI that.
“Uome on, this waNz” she called. “- Iound somethinO worth

our trip.”
The prospect oI treasure xrouOht a Orin to Aatan’s Iace. !e
hurried down the corridor to fnd her waitinO in a hallwaN.
Bhe then led him throuOh several passaOes that he had alreadN
e;plored, onlN to turn a corner and reveal a narrow staircase
hidden in shadow.
bt the xottom oI the stairs Aatan Oasped to fnd a larOe,
wellYlit room deep under the Oround.
“There’s a little hole in the rooI that Ooes straiOht up to the
outside,” blia said. “Mirrors catch the sunliOht and regect it
around the room.”
Aatan nodded axsentlN, laNinO his torch aside as he inspected
the room. bn altar oI xlack stone stood aOainst the Iar wall and
alonO xoth sides oI the room were niches in which skeletons,
still clad in armor JLeweled armor, he noted with Olee:, rested.
b xriOht twinkle xehind the altar hinted that Lewels had xeen
set into the wall as well. Aatan started Iorward to inspectYYand
lootYYanN Oemstones, xut had onlN taken a Iew steps when he
stumxled and Iell.
“What the devilH” he asked, then saw that he had tripped over
a deep line cut into the stone goorj one oI several that made up
an intricate pattern. “WhN in nine hells would theN cut Orooves
into the goor like thatH”
“To hold xlood,” blia said Irom axove him.
BomethinO axout her tone sounded oF and he looked up at
her.
“!ow would Nou know thatH” he asked, reachinO Ior the

daOOer he kept on the xack oI his xelt.
Bhe smiled a cold, unnervinO smile, and then she staxxed
her xare hand straiOht throuOh Aatan’s chest. !is eNes went
wide as he Ielt cold fnOers seiEe his heart. !e Oasped, sputtered,
struOOled to speak. The last thinO he saw as the liOht leIt his eNes
was his own xlood spillinO out to fll the stone Orooves.
bs he laN dNinO, he heard a voice that was not blia’s at all
whisper, “Aot enouOh. Aot nearlN enouOh. PitN that dwarI
xlood is useless. bIter - dispose oI him -’ll have to lure the
hillman down here.”
Tarmesh slipped throuOh the corridors, movinO with surprisY
inO stealth Ior a man his siEe. The hills oI his homeland had
xred cunninO in their children, and time spent tomxYraidinO in
ANtherOal and livinO in caves with the reavers in brNvea, had
made him comIortaxle in the underYdark world oI catacomxs
and tomxs. The darkness was an old Iriend to him, and the liOht
oI a torch would onlN Oive warninO to the sleeva. –verN now and
then he would pause, ears and nose straininO Ior anN trace oI the
predators that he hunted. -t was his nose that frst alerted him to
the presence oI one oI his companions while all oI them could
use the attentions oI a xathhouse aIter their trek throuOh the
LunOle, the dwarI had a particularlN... distinctive...odor.
That odor had not xeen improved xN death.
Micah laN on the goor, his head twisted at an impossixle
anOle. Tarmesh knelt xeside him, IeelinO the xodN in the dark
Ior anN trace oI wounds. Dut there were no slashes Irom sleeva
IanOs, and aIter a moment Tarmesh realiEed that the dwarI’s

torch was missinO. Sleeva do not break necks or steal torches,
he thouOht OrimlN. -t would not surprise him to fnd that
one oI their Oroup had killed the dwarIYYhe had considered
doinO so himselIYYxut he was surprised that the murder had
occurred Lust when a dwarI was most useIul.
bnd which oI the OroupYYother than Tarmesh himY
selIYYhad the strenOth to snap a dwarI’s neck so cleanlNH
bric would have xeen his frst suspect iI the man were not
alreadN dead. Aatan talked much xut Tarmesh douxted that
he would have the Outs to murder in cold xloodYYnot up
close, at least. blia was certainlN ruthless enouOh and did
not seem to xalk at death, xut OrapplinO with a dwarI in a
corridor didn’t seem her waN. )rom the stories he’d heard in
the xarracks, blia’s stNle was a kniIe to the xack, preIeraxlN
durinO sleep.
bs iI summoned xN his thouOhts, a dull red liOht Olowed
at the end oI the corridor.
“!illmanH -s that NouH” blia called out, walkinO closer
with her torch.
“The dwarI’s dead,” he said, straiOhteninO up.
blia shruOOed. “Bmall loss. - was past done with him.
Desides, he doesn’t matter now. This waN, hillman. - Iound
somethinO worth our trouxles.”
BomethinO axout her smile unsettled Tarmesh, xut he nodY
ded and Iollowed her alonO the passaOe. bIter a Iew steps, howY
ever, he Oripped the hilt oI his sword, pullinO the xlade clear
oI its scaxxard and cuttinO in one smooth motion. blia xarelN

threw herselI to the side in time to escape the murderous xlow.
“Was it somethinO - said, hillmanH” she asked.
“Whatever Nou are, Nou’re a xad actor,” Tarmesh replied,
keepinO the point oI his sword xetween himselI and his oppoY
nent, lookinO Ior a new opportunitN to strike now that she had
escaped his initial attack.
bliaYYor whatever spirit currentlN possessed herYYOave him a
cruel, cunninO smile.
“What Oave me awaNH” it asked.
“?our walk. blia walked like a womanYYTosh knows we’d all
noticed that. ?ou’re the sorcerer, thenH”
The thinO in blia’s xodN lauOhed.
“-n liIe - was called yrthunY ah. Perhaps -’ll use that name
aOain. Aow, answer me a riddle, hillman. -n this Oirl’s memories
the people oI Nour desolate hills are unlettered, xut Nou recoOY
niEed a sorcerer’s mark. !owH”
“blia has never walked amonO the hill trixes.” Tarmesh shiItY
ed his weiOht sliOhtlN to his Iorward leO, OauOinO the distance Ior
a lunOe as he spoke. The sorcerer was staNinO warilN outside oI
the ranOe oI his weapon. “!er memories will xe a poor Ouide to
our waNs.”
“yhH Aot a scholar, this OirlH - would not have Ouessed,” the
thinO chuckled. “Dut even iI clothes have chanOed since - walked
this earth, Nour scars don’t mark Nou as a scholar either. The
mark. !ow did Nou know itH” –Nes that had once xelonOed to
blia xurned with a sicklN white liOht.
BeeinO that the sorcerer was more interested in talkinO

than fOhtinO, Tarmesh adLusted his sword to let the xlade
rest casuallN across his shoulder. “The dark road is not
limited to the citNIolk, or to the lettered. MN trixe had a
Dlack Walker. - was his neophNte.”
“yhH” Aow the voice held a note oI true curiositN. “?ou
Iailed the test, thenH” -t smiled aOain, sharp and cruel. “PerY
haps Nou did not have the riOht teacher, hillman. - have
tauOht manN in mN time. Qnder mN tutelaOeYY”
“- did not Iail the test,” Tarmesh interrupted. The disY
tance xetween them was still too Oreatj he edOed Iorward a
xit more, shiItinO more oI his weiOht onto his Iorward leO.
“- learned what the test was and reIused to take it.”
“yh. yne oI those, then. Weak,” the sorcerer said. “Weak
and pathetic. ?ou Oave up the dark road, and Ior whatH ?our
mother’s cradleYtales oI riOht and wronOH ?our master must
have xeen so disappointed.”
“Ao. !e was dead. - killed him and Oave his xodN to the
fre,” Tarmesh said with a Orin. The thouOht oI that kill was
still xriOht and Iresh and riOhteous in his memorN. “bnd
what - did once -’ll do aOain.”
–ven as he spoke, Tarmesh lunOed and twisted towards the
sorcerer, the sword that he had held casuallN across his shoulders
gashinO Iorward like liOhtninO. bs the sword swunO towards its
tarOet Tarmesh let the hilt slide throuOh his fnOers until he was
onlN holdinO the sword xN its pommel, a trick that e;tended the
reach oI his xlade the Iew precious inches he needed to reach

his warN tarOet.
)or the frst time, thouOh, the trick Iailed. )inOers that
had once xelonOed to blia twisted throuOh the air, drawY
inO a pattern oI liOht that leIt a twisted aIterYimaOe in the
air. Tarmesh suddenlN had the IeelinO that he was IorcinO
his xodN to move throuOh water. The air was solid, clinON,
slowinO his movement and stealinO the power Irom his xlow.
The sorcerer in blia’s skin swaNed xack, easilN avoidinO the
cut meant to cleave the possessed skull in two.
With a soundless snarl Tarmesh pressed his attack, knowY
inO that his xest opportunitN had alreadN xeen spent. The
air still resisted his movements and, instead oI rushinO in,
Tarmesh Iound himselI wadinO Iorward like a man fOhtinO
aOainst the current oI a river, his sword gailinO as wildlN
as a drunkard’s. The sorcerer seemed completelN unaFected
xN the denseness oI the air and watched Tarmesh with a
smirk on his Iace, takinO careIul, delixerate steps out oI
reach whenever Tarmesh’s sword came close. !is fnOers
continued to weave the air in tormented patterns and soon
Tarmesh Ielt his strenOth gaOOinO as the air seemed to turn
to treacle in his lunOs, each xreath xecominO a xattle.
bt lenOth he paused and douxled over, OraspinO Ior xreath.
!is pliOht was realj his inattention, thouOh, was careIullN
IeiOned. -I he could not Oet past the sorcerer’s spells, perhaps he
could tempt the revenant closer to Oloat. !e’d split more than
one skull usinO that trick. !is own teacher’s, Ior e;ample, lonO
aOo.
yrthunY ah, however, seemed more warN than old Tildresh
had xeen Jor perhaps, lackinO a hillman’s xlood, the old Ohost
simplN had no passion Ior closinO in Ior a fnal conIrontation:.
)or whatever the reason, the revenant kept out oI ranOe, even as
it raised xoth hands to weave a fnal spell.
“)arewell, hillman,” it hissed throuOh blia’s lips. “bs much as
-’ve enLoNed dancinO with Nou, -’m aIraid that - need Nour xlood
more than - need Nour companN.”
The muscles in the hillman’s leOs tensed as he prepared himY
selI Ior one fnal leap. !e had no hope oI crossinO the distance
xeIore the sorcerer’s spell Iound its mark, xut Tarmesh had nevY
er IorOotten the frst lesson oI comxat that he had xeen tauOht
even a dying beast can kill its killer. Sips pulled xack in a Ieral
snarl, the powerIul hillman prepared to rend, to tear, to OouOe
at eNes and sink his teeth into the stolen xodN’s throatYYwhatever
was necessarN to ensure that the sorcerer’s spirit accompanied
him on the road to the fnal LudOment, so that Tarmesh could
xoast to the Crim udOe that he had leIt no Ioes xehind in the
world oI the livinO.
Dut xeIore Tarmesh could sprinO, the sleeva struck.
There were two oI them, whipcordYlean and sinuous, dartinO
Irom the shadows to sink their venomous teeth into their preN.
bnd while Tarmesh was, in Iact, the most vulneraxle person
in the room, the sleeva’s eNes could not see the maOic that
xound him. TheN onlN saw that one was larOe, powerIul, and
aOOressive, and that the other smaller. uick as thouOht, xoth

oI the reptilian predators struck at the sorcerer one leapt onto
yrthunY ah’s xack, sinkinO its venomous teeth into the neck
and holdinO on with Orim determination while the other slashed
blia’s hamstrinOs.
blia’s xodN crashed to the Oround, xloodN at the throat and
leOs. Doth sleeva instantlN leapt clear so that their preN, wounded
and hamstrunO, could tire itselI out thrashinO on the Oround
and let the venom do its work. QnIortunatelNYYIor the sleeY
vaYYtheir huntinO tactics had not evolved to deal with the cursed
spirit oI a xlack walker possessinO their preN’s xodN. -mmune to
the pain oI his xorrowed gesh, yrthunY ah hissed and twisted
blia’s fnOers into Ioul Oestures. Uoils oI shadow twisted around
the sleeva, xindinO their throats in nooses as stronO as leather
thonOs. Bleeva do not whimper, xut the xeasts hissed in anOer
and conIusion as the shadowYnooses tiOhtened.
bnd Tarmesh struck.
The Ioul wraith in blia’s xodN had, in the rush oI repaNinO
its attackers, IorOotten the hillman. -t was a mistake that others
had made xeIore as well.
-t was not a mistake that anNone had Net survived.
Tarmesh’s sword came down like an e;ecutioner’s xlade,
cleavinO throuOh blia’s skull and lodOinO deep in her torso.
!er eNes xlaEed aOain with the sickeninO white witchYliOht, xut
without a IunctioninO xrain to hold the patterns oI his thouOhts
and his maOic, the sorcerer’s spirit xeOan to lose his hold on
blia’s xodN.
–ven as the corpse went limp Tarmesh spun, his xlade lashinO
out to fnish the two sleeva xeIore theN could twist Iree oI the
IadinO spells.
-t took Tarmesh most oI a daN to fnish huntinO the last oI the
xeasts in the temple, to draO dead xeasts and dead companions
and old rotten xones out into the liOht oI the courtNard, and to
Oather woodYYlots oI wood, a Iorest oI woodYYIrom the LunOles
around him. When he was done he took a torch and made one
last sweep oI the cursed tomx, seekinO out anN passaOe, anN
hidden chamxer that miOht hold more xones. When he was
satisfed that everNthinO in the temple that had once xeen alive
was piled xeneath the loOs in the center oI the clearinO, Tarmesh
lit a xonfre that could xe seen Ior miles.
)ire to xurn. )ire to cleanse. )ire to sweep the taint oI rotten
old xones oF oI the Iace oI the earth.
The ne;t daN he xeOan walkinO to the coast.
The –nd.
MEET T E HAT UO
HRutho rIunoevni ivut wDeva
dvSSm
T ell us a little about yourself? Where are you from?

How long have you been writing in general?
Originally from Mississippi, I've spent a fair amount

of my adult life in Virginia and North Carolina. I've
dabbled in writing for a long time but it is only in
the last few years that I've made a serious ecorts to
komplete stories and send them out to marWet.
What was your drst introcuDtion to sworc anc sorDery

dDtion?
qhen I was a Wid my mom would often drag me into

anti-ue storesBBthe boring Wind of anti-ue store, the Wind
that didn't have swords. 1ut one of these anti-ue stores
did have a stakW of old Conan komik booWs from the
970R's. I had enkountered the kharakter of Conan beB
foreBBI thinW there was a Conan kartoon bakW in the early
7R'sBBbut this was my Hrst real introduktion to the world
that Jobert Aoward kreated, brought to life by zohn

1uskema's inkredible art. I was hooWed.
How long have you been writing sworc anc sorDery? What
got you startec?
Jekently I set a goal for myself to Hnish more stories.

In order to meet that goal, I sought inspiration from the
writers who really mastered the art of -uikWly and konB
sistently produking highB-uality worW on tight deadlines,
pulp writers liWe Jobert Aoward. 3s I reBread my favorite
sword and sorkery stories from old pulp magaTines, it
okkured to me that I should try writing a story as if I were
living bakW in the SR's and getting ready to mail it in to
qeird Eales.
xaying that your favorite fantasy writer is EolWien is a

bit klikhe, but in my kase it is deHnitely trueBBMiddle Darth
was my playground for mukh of my khildhood. EolWien's
worldbuilding and his deep immersion in old world myth
and legend is something truly remarWable, and I thinW a
deep study of how EolWien krafted his world and peoples
is a re-uirement to understand the fantasy genre.
Io you have a favorite sworc anc sorDery DharaDter?

MEET THE AUTHOR 87
I suppose that Conan is a klikhe answer, but it was

Conan that really brought me into the genre and even
after all these years I Hnd the Conan stories some of the
most interesting. Conan isn't e"aktly an antihero, but his
morality is that of a person who lives outside the norms
of sokiety. Ae's a mukh more komplikated Hgure than the
sort of ?udley ?oBright with a sword that we sometimes
see in fantasy stories.
What DlassiD sworc anc sorDery short story really stancs out
for you? ps there one that really ins.ires you as a writer?
Jobert Aoward's !Jed Nails! has always held my imagB

ination. Ehe ankient, evil kity that has grown in on itB
self until it is a single, giant building, the generations
of hallwayBtoBhallway Hghting between the feuding klans,
the horriHk magiks buried beneath in the krypts below by
the ankient magikians... that's what sword and sorkery is
about.
Tell us a little about your storyS What ins.irec it?
I sat down at my desW and said, !I love reading sword

and sorkery. I should write some. qhat happens in the
sort of sword and sorkery story that I liWe to read !
,worc anc sorDery as a genrek anc short stories in .artiDulark

are ma-ing a Dome baD- reDentlyS Io you have any o.inions as
to why?
xword and sorkery stories are fun, and I thinW that fun
is something that we are really starved for today. qe have
to progress and level up in our games. qe have to read
booWs that inspire or motivate or improve us. qhere is the
simple, klean fun of the story told around the kampHre for
no other reason than that we want to hear a story Ehat's
what the old pulp writers were able to kapture, and it's
something we are sorely missing today.
What co you love about the mocern state of sworc anc sorL
Dery literature?
I love that new mediums sukh as eBTines are allowing us

to go direktly bakW to our roots. Ehe age of the pulp is
returning, and long overdue.
What co you hate about mocern sworc anc sorDery?
I've seen several stories that are a little too rooted in the
author's most rekent roleplaying kampaign. xometimes
that ends up worWing well, but other times I feel liWe I am
reading a kharakter's stats sheet rather than a story.
MEET THE AUTHOR 89
What woulc you li-e to see more of in the future?
I love the nostalgia of sword and sorkery, but I'll be

interested to see if new authors kan push the genre in
radikally new direktions. Ehere is a lot of mythos out there
that is still untapped.
pf you were strancec on an islanck anc you Doulc only have

one boo-k what woulc it be?
3 survival manual My skouting days are long behind

me, and as prosaik as it sounds I'd probably need to Wnow
how to purify water and rekogniTe poisonous plants beB
fore I worried too mukh about pleasure reading. 1ut if I
kould have a single booW for pleasure...probably EolWien's
xilmarillion. Ehere is a lot of depth to that booW that I
have yet to e"plore.
astlyk where Dan reacers dnc more of your wor-? How co

fans -ee. in touDh with you?
No website yetBBI'll have to maWe that my ne"t goal now

that I have a story in print
SERPENT LRO LD FRBSLN
YETM S
FA yKee YAKlr
K ara Black knelt by the corpse, placing a hand on the old

woman’s chest. The body was still warm and the blood
hadn’t been washed away by the midday thunderstorm which
meant the Krun soldiers couldn’t be far. No more than two,
maybe three miles, and judging by the tracks, there were more
than Kara expected. At least a dozen. Kara had tracked the Krun
interlopers since a vashvood separated her from her team. The
smart coin would haFe been to rendezFous at one of the rally
points, but the enemy had stayed one step ahead of them since
hitting Ilorida. ;f she couldn’t kill them, she’d slow them down
enough for her team to -nish the job and dig her a nice graFe.
SERPENT LORD OF BRYSON METALS 91
The injuries told the taleW bruises and swollen eyes indi“
cated the elders had been lined up and tortured for infor“
mation before their throats were sliced open. ”hateFer the
Krun had learned, they made sure the elders took the secrets
to their graFe.
EIucking Krunts,U Kara muttered. ;t’s been a year since
the Krun Smpire launched their war against the qnited
Rtates, all for the glory of their pantheon of war gods.
Kara scoped out the Fillage, searching for surFiFors. All
was Yuiet saFe for the buzzing of insects and birdsong in the
humid August air. The sign on the dirt road leading into the
-shing Fillage readW Highland Estates. ;t was built on Tech
Age ruins. Hemnants of brick and stone walls that were once
ornate homes had rough“hewn wood structures tacked on
and topped with thatch roofs. Iishing boats were tied to
moorings along the muddy mangroFe“lined shore. A path at
the edge of the Fillage bore the three“toed footprints of Krun
warriors. The enemy no longer searched for their prize, and
instead went straight inland, certain of their destination.
A faint rustling from a pile of dry palm leaFes caught
Kara’s ear. ELou can come out. ; won’t hurt you.U
An old man with tanned and creased skin from life under
the Ilorida sun crawled out and stood on trembling legs.
?is eyes darted oFer the carnage. Kara went to him, laying a
reassuring hand on his shoulder. E?ey, don’t look at it. Rtay
with me here. ;’ll track down and kill the fucking Krunts
who did this, but ; need to know why they were here.U
The old man’s jaw YuiFered. Dooking Kara oFer, he said, EAre
you a soldierOU
Rhe was tall with long, raFen black hair, ice“blue eyes, and
lean like a willow forged from iron. A brass inlaid Camascene
sword hung on her hip, and she carried a round wooden shield
emblazoned with a white star. The old man saw she wore brig“
andine armor coFered in classic 9C green cloth with a stenciled
American vag on the right shoulder, but anyone could wear
q.R. Army armor.
ELeah. …aptain Kara Black, Jth CiFision, Rpecial 9ps. ”hat
happened hereOU
ETheyMthey was lookin’ for a man who knowed magic. The
only one we eFer seen was 9ld Voe ?ermit oFer at the old steel
printer’s place up that trail.U
;t was di!cult to understand him. Rmall communities like
this one had little contact with the rest of the qnited Rtates
since The …rash. Those who called places like this home formed
uniYue dialects. Gany said the same about Kara’s accent which
she gained growing up in the Sast Tennessee ”ilds.
ECid the Krunts say why they wanted to -nd this wizardOU
ENo. As soon as Ruzie said where ?ermit was, theyMU the
man lost his words, looking at the body of the woman.
EAny idea what the Krunts wanted from himOU
ENo. ”e always stayed away from him as much as we could.
?e’s a strange un’. SFery couple of weeks or so he’d come for
some pigs, goats, or chickens. ?ell, we nearly starFed one winter
he took so many.U
E?e’d steal themO

ENo, no. But if we didn’t giFe him what he asked for, the
liFestock disappeareded anyways. 9r worst, people would go
missin’. Dess trouble just to giFe him a pig or goat.U
E”hat’s ?ermit doing with themOU
E?e said they was for food, but ain’t no way a man could eat
that much meat.U
ECo you think this hermit guy really is a magic“user or just a
lonerO ?aFe you eFer seen him use magicOU
E; guarantee you he’s a wizard or sumthin’ else not natural.
About thirty yon years ago, our mayor took some of the stronger
boys in the Fillage to kill him. 9ld Voe ?ermit said he needed
our Fillage to stay, but not the mayor. They said the 9ld Voe
pointed a -nger and the mayor’s skin peeled o . Nobody, and ;
mean nobody, crossed 9ld Voe ?ermit after that.U
E9kay, you need to get out of here,U Kara said. E9nce the
Krunts get what it is they want from this wizard, they’ll come
back through here and kill you if they see you.U
E; got no reason to stay. A cousin of mine liFes a day west a
here. ;’llMU
Gaddened howls ripped through the mangroFes. ”hateFer it
was, it came rushing towards them.
EHun,U Kara said, drawing her sword and readying her shield.
Two Krun warriors burst from the tree line. Their wide slitted
eyes bereft of reason as they charged with terror driFen fury.
Their leather armor was loosened, and their scaled skin bore
scratches earned from running headlong through underbrush.
9ne wielded a broken axe haft and the other gripped a spear
which he launched into the old man’s back, dropping him
mid“stride.
Kara rushed to meet them, shouting a war cry of her own. Rhe
thrust her sword, stabbing the haft“wielding warrior through
the throat, then spun to face the other attacker, tearing her
blade free. As Yuick as she was, Kara wasn’t fast enough and
the Krun slammed into her with no more regard for its own
life than a rabid dog, knocking her to the ground and sending
her sword vying. The Krun wrapped clawed hands around her
throat, choking o her air, and slammed her repeatedly, causing
stars to vash in her Fision.
Kara focused through the pain, and arched her back throwing
her attacker o balance where she vipped him oFer breaking his
hold. Rhe followed through and slammed her shield down on
his reptilian face until it looked like a bag of smashed assholes.
The old man lay sprawled on the ground looking back at her
with the empty stare of a dead man. Kara listened for more
threats as she went to retrieFe her weapon. All was Yuiet. Nei“
ther of the Krun warriors had any marks on them, aside from
the ones Kara had giFen. Krun warriors do not allow fear to
control them. Not like this. ”hateFer secrets they had found at
Voe ?ermit’s place was more than they had bargained for. The
krunts would be easy to track giFen how these two ran back
to the Fillage. Kara just hoped that whateFer or whoeFer had
brain“fucked the Krunts didn’t do the same to her.
Kara pushed through the long leaf pine forest choked by old
world climbing ferns. Rhe -gured a less direct path to Voe ?er“
mit was safer than traFeling in the open. That was until she
heard the tell“tale rattle of an eastern diamondback in the bush“
es and no more than a couple of steps away. Rnakes, while not
exactly a phobia, put Kara on edge. A timber tattle snake bite
killed her dog Rmoke when she was ten. Rince then, she aFoided
the reptiles as much as possible.
The path to Bryson Getals was clear, but not well traFeled, at
least by human feet. ”hat oFergrowth the wildlife didn’t keep
clear, the Krunt soldiers had chopped away. The going was easy,
but the sweltering heat made each breath feel like it was drawn
through a wet blanket. Kara, drenched in sweat, stripped o her
armor. ?eat stroke was more likely to kill her than an enemy’s
blade.
At the end of the trail she stopped, ducking behind a tree.
This had to be 9ld Voe ?ermit’s place. A large building made
from one solid piece of steel stood in the middle of the Ilorida
wilderness. …enturies of grime and algae robbed it of any past
luster, but nothing could tarnish its aura of grandeur as a won“
der of the Tech Age. Rolid structured, printed buildings from
the last era were common. Gany were larger than this, but with
nowhere near the artistry. A stainless“steel alligator statue at least
one hundred feet in length laid atop. qnder its open and slightly
smiling mouth a large steel sign which read, Bryson Metals.
Printed and Pre-Fab Metal Buildings. Traditional Stainless,

Carbon Nano-Steel, & Ferrous Cerama-Plast dangled by a single
chain. ines crawled up the sides and tall trees cast shade oFer
the gator’s metal skin which Kara hoped was enough to keep it
from feeling like an oFen inside.
Rurrounding the building’s upper half was a wooden scaf“
folding that led to a door on the side of the alligator’s head.
None of the windows had glass remaining or shutters. Kara
took a long drink of water from her canteen as she searched for
her enemy. Nothing. No bodies either. Gaybe the other Krunts
ran o in a di erent direction. Rhe drew her sword, and ad“
Fanced, sticking to coFer and making each step silent. ?alfway
to the building, she noticed the snakes hiding in the long grass
and crawling through the treetops. Rome were green tree snakes
no longer than her forearm while one she saw was a boa longer
than the boat her team used to sail down the Apalachicola HiFer.
”orst of all, they stared right at her. ”hereFer Kara moFed, their
eyes followed.
”itches had their familiars, and Kara reasoned the her“
mit had a similar connection with snakes. Rkulking about was
pointless, but still she watched her steps and stayed away from
the larger serpents. ”hile the building’s outer walls and frame
were stainless steel, the interior must haFe been constructed
from one of the other higher tech materials like ferrous cera“
ma“plast which had disintegrated during The …rash. The struc“
ture was an empty shell saFe for seFeral thick, solid steel support
beams which had been printed with the rest of the building.
Narrow wooden planks leading to an interior deck had been

lashed to the support beams, on which rested a small shack. Dike
the stairs outside, the walkways and deck were sturdier than they
looked, but Kara wasn’t about to trust them any more than she
had to. Sspecially with what she saw on the voor below. Rnakes,
hundreds of them, each serpent eying her eFery step. Gany of
the snakes were giant pythons and boas. The sharp tang of their
o al choked the humid air.
Voe ?ermit walked out of the shack with a slow step. ?e
was tall and gangly with long matted grey hair and dirty beard
wearing only tattered black cloths held by a rope around his
waist. Syes dulled by cataracts stared at Kara with a disturbing
sense of clarity. ?is right hand held a glossy black stone that he
had gripped for so long it had set in his -ngers and palm like an
ingrown nail. E”hy did you come. Lou are not from the Fillage.U
Kara looked at four dead Krun soldiers displayed on a pair of
crude, wooden tables. Both had their arms remoFed with clean,
precise cuts and, as far as Kara could tell, there was no killing
wound on any of them. E; came to stop them, but ; see there’s
no need now.U
ECo you too seek the ?eart of BasmuO ;t is what they longed
to take.U
EGy orders were only to keep them from attaining a powerful
artifact, which ; assume was the ?eart thing you mentioned.U
Kara hoped the answer would giFe her more time to get a
better handle on the situation. Rhe had read the tales of the
Gesopotamian demon, but knew little more than its name.
E; thought the Krun would make better serFants, despite

their hot blood. Their scales deceiFed me with a false hope ; Fis“
ited upon myself. Dook at the feathers growing on their heads,
like hair grows on yours. Their ancient roots reach the same soil
as snakes, but far too distant. They are not my kind. Their kin
are the giant beasts from eons past, and are the preferable eFo“
lutionary outcome instead of apes. They were too far remoFed
to be my thralls, but their vesh is suitable for other purposes.U
The old hermit turned toward Kara. E; must decide what to do
with you.U
Kara gripped her sword hilt. E; didn’t eFen know what the
Krunts were after until you told me. Gy job is to stop them from
attaining their goal. This ?eart of Basmu, their Smperor will
send another raiding party for it. All you fought were scouts.
Next, they’ll come bearing enough magic to melt your metal
building into slag, and you along with it.U
ELou prophesize destruction brought by the hands of others.
Am ; to take that as a threat from you or your enemyO ; assume
both. Lou would take the ?eart of Basmu for your own as wellOU
ENot necessarily. Take it back to whateFer realm you came
from. There’s no need to -ght. But ; won’t let the Krunts get
their claws on it.U
ENo. Lou would -ght me, kill me for the ?eart of Basmu
as surely as the Krun tried and failed.U The black sphere began
emitting a red glow.
Kara drew here sword and an otherworldly consciousness
touched her own. There was no longer a sense of physical self.
SFery -ber of her spiritual essence felt like it was moFing in all
directions at once. A brief glimpse showed Kara hellish entities
larger than her corporeal -eld of Fision, stretching oFer the
horizon. The only way she would eFer be able to describe what
happened next was that her soul closed its eyes before her mortal
mind could be obliterated.
Kara felt herself falling, but muscle memory from years of
training and hard“fought battles carried her attack through. ?er
Camascene bade sliced through 9ld Voe ?ermit’s wrist and
the black orb dropped to the voor, its light gone, still held in
the neFer“ending grasp. Rhe fought for breath between each
retching spasm and dry heaFed as the heat and stench of the
building smashed into the nauseating disorientation of what“
eFer the fuck had happened to her. ”ith shaking limbs, she rose
unsteady to her knees, and eyed the black orb.
ECon’t touch it, man. That’s some fucked up juju right
there,U Voe ?ermit said clutching his bleeding stump, as he
collapsed on the voor. ?is eyes were no longer grey and dull but
a bloodshot hazel. E;s that my handO Lou cut o my hand Iuck
you, man.U
ELou were possessed by a demon that tried to obliterate my
soul.U
E?ell. Gy bad then. Lou stopped this shit goin on inside my
headOU
EDooks like it.U
EThanks, ; guess.U
E?ow did you -nd the black stoneOU
E;t was a couple of days after all that crazy shit happened
where all our phones and T went down. ; gone through my
stash, so ; went lookin’ to score. Rhit, ;’da settled for cough syrup
at that point. That thing there was just layin’ in someone’s yard.
; thought it looked cool, so ; picked it up. That was one fucked
up, scary trip,U he said growing paler. EGan. ; ain’t feeling so
good.U
The man the Fillagers called Voe ?ermit was dying. ”hateFer
power the demon was pushing through him had kept him aliFe
for a couple of centuries at least. Not something a mortal body
was designed to handle. Kara wished there was more she could
do for him, but she had to know what was going on. E”hat can
you tell me about the ?eartOU
E”hatOU
EThe ?eart of BasmuOU Kara said pointing to the stone.
EThat ain’t the heart. That’s the bitch’s eye. 9ne of them
big ass snakes down there has the ?eart. The biggest one. ;t’s
not really Basmu though. ;t’s Basmu’s bitch. And that bitch is
blinder than shit now too, and won’t be talkin to none of them
other motherfuckin snakes. oddamn snakes. Iuck. ; don’t
want to think about it anymore.U The man said, dropping his
last breath as his eyes stared far and away past Kara. Rhe hoped
that his soul found peace whereFer it ended up.
Voe ?ermit was right. None of the snakes paid Kara any
attention as she lowered herself down to ground leFel. Not that
walking through a dank pit of snakes was anything but nerFe
wracking. I swear on Odin’s nut sack I would burn this place to
the ground and dig through ashes for the damn Heart, if it wasn’t
made of steel. Fuck this Tech Age bullshit. Kara thought as she
searched for the biggest snake she could -nd. The number of
times she thought she had found it before seeing an eFen larger
snake coiled up elsewhere was beyond maddening. Rhe gripped
her sword hard enough her hand began tingling.
Kara had reached the opposite end of the building, under“
neath where the steel gator’s tail dropped o the end and on
to the ground. Nothing but standing water from the recent
storms. Rhe -gured the ?eart of Basmu had to be in one of the
big snakes towards the middle. As Kara turned back, she heard
splashing. Hising from the pool of muck was a python more
than sixty feet long with arms from the dismembered Krunt
fused to its torso.
Kara ran full tilt, dropping her shield as the demonic python
sprung towards her with unnatural speed. Rhe grabbed a steel
support and let her momentum swing her around as the snake
struck where she had stood only a heartbeat before. Rhe swung
her sword, gripped in both hands, slamming the blade into the
demon’s back, but its scales were like iron and a strike that
would haFe cut man in half did little more than leaFe a scratch.
The snake demon curled back and hissedW its furious eyes locked
on Kara. Rhe wasn’t going to kill this thing in a straight“up -ght.
Iacing it inside the steel gator would get her killed.
No way in hell Kara could outrun the demon snake, not in
a straight line. Rhe zigzagged around the steel support beams,
ducking and weaFing as the demonic snake chased her. ;t was
too agile to get stuck, but the monster had to contend with
its bulk as it slithered after Kara, which gaFe her time to get
through the front doors.
Rhe had a plan. Rhe climbed the ladder with the aim of reach“
ing high ground where she could keep the unnatural creature at
bay until her team arriFed or she managed to land a lucky blow.
And she almost made it.
The demonic serFitor burst out of the metal building and
lunged at the sca olding bracing the ladder. ;t coiled its massiFe
body around the pilings and pulled with supernatural strength.
Kara jumped as the wooden structure collapsed grabbing on to
one of the loose chains that had once held up half of the solid
steel Bryson Getals sign.
The serFitor pressed itself vat against the wall inching to“
wards Kara.
”ith the ladder and sca olding gone, there was no way she
could reach the roof before the serpent caught her. 9ne des“
perate gamble remained. Kara scurried up the chain and into
the steel gator’s jaws, whispering an apology to her sword as she
swung it hard on the chain holding up the heaFy Bryson Getals
sign. Clang! Clang! Clang! The third strike popped one of the
links, and the sign tumbled down on the creature, slamming it
into the soft earth with a ground shaking thud.
;t was trapped, but still writhing. Kara grabbed the longest
chain, and lowered herself down as far as she could before drop“
ping and landing with a roll. Blood streamed from the serFitor’s
nose and mouth. The rage and hatred that edged each hiss as
Kara came near was palpable. The q.R. soldier had won, and
she sealed her Fictory by plunging the tip of her blade into
the serFitor’s skull. ;t took all her strength as she leFeraged her
weight to push the blade through its armored skin, dense mus“
cle, and bone before reaching the brain and ending its existence
for good.
”hen it was dead, Kara shoFed the metal sign with eFery
ounce of strength she could muster, moFing it a few inches at
a time. Rhe managed to get it o the corpse enough to reach
its heart. ETime to keep your ass out of Krunt hands, demon,U
Kara said drawing her combat knife.
Kara lit a bon-re near the beach and threw in a handful of signal
dust which made the smoke red. ?er team would -nd her soon.
Rhe was drying herself in the sun after dipping into the gulf to
wash all the demonic snake guts o her. The ?eart and Sye of
Basmu were in a small lockbox beside her. The mission was a
success, but Kara didn’t like the outcome. There was no way
Kara could fathom how the Krunts had known about 9ld Voe
?ermit. The stories about the hermit and his magic would haFe
been the same as a thousand other Fillages and towns with their
own eccentric mages and witches liFing on the fringes. The only
di erence was the ?eart and Sye of Basmu, which no one knew
about. The only explanation was that the Krun Smpire had
found a way to detect and track down powerful artifacts.
This war was going to be harder to win than anyone imag“

ined.
The Snd.
MEET T E HAT UO
HRutho rIunoevni ivut wnKK
Mlnoy
T ell us a little about yourself? Where are you from?

How long have you been writing in general?
I’m a middle-aged weirdo with a demented sense of

humor, and father of three, who lives in the middle
of nowhere in Tennessee. Gaming is my main way of
unwinding whether it’s video games or a tabletop RPG.
I’ve been writing oc and on for over twenty years now,
inFluding the last seven where I’ve been a freelanFe
Fopywriter. ReFently, I knally deFided to see what I Fan
do with all the nonsense my teaFhers told me to stop
doing in Flass.
What was your drst introcuDtion to sworc anc sorDery

dDtion?
The zranC zraxetta paintings I saw on the Tarxan Fovers

on my parent’s booCshelves and on old Konan paperbaFCs
at a loFal used booCstore. I’m dysleBiF and wasn’t able
to really taFCle booCs until I was in my teens, but those
paintings showed me the Cind of stories I wanted to eB-

perienFe.
How long have you been writing sworc anc sorDery? What
got you startec?
TeFhniFally a year or two, when I krst started worC on

a Dara &laFC novel. &esides that, I’ve been playing 191
sinFe MEEM. Host of my FharaFters and the adventures I
ran were loaded with sword and sorFery elements. It was
also the sword and sorFery elements Gary GygaB put into
the game that drew me to it in the krst plaFe.
Robert N. Aoward. I’ve read other writers teFhniFally

better than Aoward who Fould not Freate that sense of
awe in their worlds or maCe it seem liCe their FharaFters
were truly in danger the way Aoward was able to do.
Io you have a favorite sworc anc sorDery DharaDter?
Konan of Kimmeria.
What DlassiD sworc anc sorDery short story really stancs out
for you? ps there one that really insSires you as a writer?
MEET THE AUTHOR 107
The Tower of the Nlephant. Uot only did this story

Fapture the aFtion and adventure that maCes sword and
sorFery fun, but the ending also left me with the feeling
that there is so muFh more than we will ever Cnow. It gave
every Konan story a sense and depth of wonder beyond
the immediate worldbuilding of any Konan story’s given
setting.
Tell us a little about your story The LerSent Borc of Mryson

,etals? What insSirec it?
Sn event Falled The Krash Faused the world to go to

shit a hundred or so years ago, whiFh rendered advanFed
teFhnology useless. Kaptain Dara &laFC is the leader of
a O.?. ?peF. Wps team tasCed with stopping the Drun
Nmpire from obtaining powerful arFane reliFs. Wn the
heels of the Drun invaders, Dara knds the magiFal artifaFt
the Drun are after, but that prixe proves more dangerous
than her enemy’s swords.
Hy main inspiration Fame from a news story about an

abandoned faFtory in zlorida having hundreds of snaCes
living in it, inFluding huge pythons and boas. Getting into
this style of publiFation was also a huge opportunity I
didn’t want to pass up, so I had to pull something out of
my ass to get in.
Lworc anc sorDery as a genre- anc short stories in Sark

tiDular- are ma.ing a Dome baD. reDently Io you have any
oSinions as to why?
I thinC the deFade plus of Harvel movies reCindled

interest in larger-than-life FharaFters going on grand
adventures. ?word and sorFery’s foFus on rugged in-
dividualism and adventure over agenda is also a niFe
breaCaway from the politiFally ForreFt direFtion fan-
tasy and sFi-k have taCen over the years. Ss for short
stories, my guess is people are busier than ever and
reading a short story is easier to knd time for than a
kve-hundred page krst booC in a series of eight.
What co you love about the mocern state of sworc anc

sorDery literature?
Is it bad that I don’t Cnow enough about the Furrent

state of sword and sorFery literature to answer:
What co you hate about mocern sworc anc sorDery?
?ee previous answer.
What woulc you li.e to see more of in the future?

MEET THE AUTHOR 109
/hatever is done with sword and sorFery, I hope it’s

done by people with a deep passion for and understanding
of the genre. ?word and sorFery Fan’t be done well in a
paint by numbers way liCe a proFedural drama.
pf you were strancec on an islanc- anc you Doulc only have

one boo.- what woulc it be?
Wne of the several FolleFted worCs of Robert N. Aoward.
Bastly- where Dan reacers dnc more of your wor.? How co

fans .eeS in touDh with you?
Hy website has the obligatory blog and a few older short

stories whiFh are more along the line of weird tales than
sword and sorFery. https Cellmyers.weebly.Fom
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SUBMISSIONS
Submissions
Are you a sword and sorcery fan? Do you pen tales of savages
and wizards in your spare time? Have you always wanted to be
a published author, but don't know where to start? Literary
Rebel is seeking talented authors to feature in Savage Realms
Monthly! The best part… We pay!
Send us your best sword and sorcery themed tale of no more

than ten thousand (10,000) words and, if we like it, we'll pay for
.rst publishing rights- Don't worry, you as the author will retain
the copyright to all characters and locales so you are free to pub:
lish stories within your .ctional universe in other publications
in the future- We'll even link to any websites, social media, or
storefronts you desire-
http/ savagerealmsmonthly-com submissions

AFTERWORD
Afterword
Did we slake your thirst for brawny barbarians, evil wizards,
and lusty wenches? We certainly hope so. If you enjoyed this is-
sue, please let us know by leaving a review on Amazon. Reviews
help other like-minded readers discover Savage Realms Monthly
and puts coin in the coTers so we can pay future talent. 'he best
part is, it doesnxt cost you a copper penny.
We want to sincerely thank you for picking up Savage Realms

Monthly and we promise wexll be back ne:t month with an-
other e:citing crop of a:e wielding barbarians for your reading
pleasure.
If you want to be noti/ed of upcoming issues, follow

the magic runes5 https5EEdl.bookfunnel.comEjozt ktaub to be
added to our mailing list. Wexll let you know when the ne:t issue
hits the stands. And we promise no spam. ver.
Until next time, keep your swords sharp!

Do you play Conan Exiles? Come join us on OcSial vagaRe
Mealms tonhzly taRarine vePgeP V-V C
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Savage

wcRRauf WRaAdB Sneve ,cRdmB

Literary Rebel, LLC

Eirst :ditionJ anuary 2021

1. God of the Mountain 1

2. Festival of the Bull 23

Meet the Author 57

3. The Tomb of Orthun-Rah 61

Meet the Author 85

4. Serpent Lord of Bryson Metals 90

Meet the Author 105

Free Book Ower 110

After ord 113

R edgar reclined on a pile of silken pillows, his feet

ut the foot of the Bolcano, is an ancient teTple to the deitS

EBashek snortedH ?mow do E know SoM wonjt disappear with

walls, forcing hiT to take long detoMrsH KeBeral tiTes, he had

Tacabre celebration in a ghastlS red glowH …rMTs drowned

of the dSing and the woMnded were drowned in an earvsplitting

u doFen ’eshites were crMshed beneath the falling altar while

and xMdging froT the nMTber of Boices, Redgar estiTated

Yne side of his ToMth tMrned Mp in a wrS grinH Pp ahead, he

ering branches froT trees and lighting sTall ”resH -he

.atali staggered and wretched, beating her bare chest with a

theT, glowing laBa reached the waterjs edge with a TightS

?EjT mathor,O he saidH ?E haBe no gods and distrMst sorcerSH

Redgar crawled Mp the riBer bank, e“haMsted and gasping for

in striking distance before taking Mp his swordH -he ushMriv

pecMliar sense of xMstice which seeTed to shift with the winds,

A stranger from the dark.

T he night was still and only the sound of waves lapping

!May, Tharnyan. I coBe froB SaB"ullah. Ken call Be zo;

walls of the city. They watched hiB for a BoBent as he

Vnder the lash of her tongue, Qineas quailed. -e began

!—tand aside, woBanF! a voice ground out. !This Ban is a

mt her words, the captain shifted uncoBfortably. —he

They had gone a short distance when Qineas, looking

They caBe to a brass studded door. Torches were bracketed

were deciBated and low on Boral. The Eharubah welcoBed

zohun rested his chin Boodily on a haBBered Hst.

coBpete for us here toBorrow night. ?esF Ne shall hold our

!mnd you speak it welljif a little insolently. YroB now on

did, soBething snarled and lashed fren"iedly underneath. The

of guards and the Oabbing points of their spears. Then, uttering

Aoor together. There was a rend of talons, punctuated by a

a Bail shirt. The chieftain sBiled as he bit into an apple. -e

his ears. Looking round, he saw a pale, willowy Hgure kneeling

gold or of iron. It is how you wear theB.! -e sat upright and,

T ell us a little about yourself? Where are you from? How

I live in Hertfordshire, England. I wrst started mriting

What was your drst introcu-tion to sworc anc sor-ery d-D

Ahat mas an BTe Coobs edition of Oy-B- uR Louert

I started sTriuuling stories at sThool. I aNNalled kR

Who is your favorite fantasy author?

Louert E. Homard, xiThael xoorToTb, Seigh CraTbett,

Io you have a favorite sworc anc sor-ery -hara-ter?

Ahree stand o2t for ke. Oonan )Louert E. HomardJ,

Ahere are kanR. xostlR mritten uR anR of those g2Rs

Tell us a little about your storyS What ins.irec it?

Ahe idea stekked frok a Tonversation I had auo2t

LEH kight have mritten a ulaTb Oonan. I didnjt mant

,worc anc sor-ery as a genrek anc short stories in .arti-ulark

I mo2ld saR that in reTent Rears, indeNendent N2ulish'

Aherejs an 2ndergro2nd Tokk2nitR sNirit in the