An Assassin's Vengeance by Tom Cleverly

Author:Tom Cleverly [Cleverly, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Envig AS
Published: 2023-04-05T16:00:00+00:00

Fight

Gilmir and Hobble almost managed to get to Shacktown before Gilmir slumped to the ground. Clouds gathered in the darkening sky, and the wind was picking up. They were at the outskirts of the city’s graveyard, and Gilmir put his back against a mausoleum wall. Hobble stood over him, leaning on his staff.

‘That stone did not help you much, did it? What’s it supposed to do?’ Hobble asked.

‘It will help, but it is not an instant cure,’ Gilmir said, ignoring his companion’s second question.

‘Guess you need food, water and rest. Or is it something more? Are you hurt? Diseased? Poisoned?’

‘Some old wounds, but nothing serious. I think you are right. Some rest, food and wine—fine wine—should fix this. How about you, what is the trick with your foot? Can you deform it at—’

Gilmir broke off his questions and indicated for Hobble to be silent. He strained his ears. Something was coming. Through the woods. With heavy steps. It was moving like a charging bull but without the speed. Going straight through bushes and branches.

‘Someone is coming. Or something.’ He nodded towards the woods. Hobble turned and lifted his staff. Gilmir got to his feet.

Out of the bushes came a man stumbling. No, not a man, a corpse. Tatters of old clothing hung on him seemingly at random, pale skin bared beneath. His left arm hung limp, probably because of the deep cut below the shoulder. Across his chest, a vicious wound displayed white bones and red-blooded flesh. The living dead came straight towards them.

Hobble rushed forward on quick feet and cracked the staff against the creature’s head, leaving a dent in its skull. The corpse stopped for a moment as if to consider the consequences of the blow. It started forward again, swinging its right arm at the halfling. Hobble jumped back and swung his staff again. This time it hit the already limp arm, not even slowing the creature.

Hobble connected blow after blow, to no effect, and the living dead kept swinging after the agile halfling who kept dodging.

‘Go for his knees!’ Gilmir, shouted. Hobble would soon tire, and the creature would eventually land one of its heavy blows ending the fight. Hobble would have to cripple him. Gilmir saw the halfling redirecting his strikes. He landed a blow to the side of the corpse’s knee, but nothing happened. This would not end well.

The two combatants came close to the wall where Gilmir stood, and Hobble moved a few steps to the side. The undead did not follow. Instead, it continued towards Gilmir and swung at him. Gilmir dodged and kicked at the creature’s knee. The blow landed solidly, but to no avail. He did not have the strength to damage the joint with a kick.

‘Hit it!’ Gilmir shouted to Hobble. The halfling would tire fast, but Gilmir was not sure he himself could evade even a few more blows before exhaustion retook him. No help came. He dodged another swing. The halfling was nowhere to be seen. Had

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