Read Online Erebos by Ursula Poznanski - Free Book Online Page B

ignores the barbarian’s objections.
    â€˜Too many for this last fight. The big battle against Ortolan. Only five or six people can be in on it, and then they’re going to win . . . a sort of jackpot. You wouldn’t believe how keen BloodWork is to do it.’
    The barbarian in question swings his fist and knocks Sapujapu to the ground with one blow. Part of the dwarf’s belt goes black. ‘Shut your faces, you idiots. You haven’t got a clue.’
    With these words BloodWork moves away from the fire. He stands at the forest’s edge; Keskorian follows him over there the way a dog follows its master.
    â€˜Can he do that? Is that allowed?’ Nurax asks agitatedly, as Sapujapu struggles to his feet again.
    â€˜Apparently. Otherwise the messenger’s gnome would have turned up long since and cautioned him. They’re always there straightaway if there’s the teensiest breach of the rules,’ Arwen’s Child declares.
    At exactly that moment something hops out of the bushes. A gnome with orange-coloured skin. Apart from that he looks just like the one from the tower.
    Ah, Sarius thinks. Trouble for the muscle man.
    But the gnome doesn’t say a word about BloodWork’s roughness.
    â€˜A message from your master. Grave robbers are looting the sacred sites. Kill them, and their loot is yours. Get started! Separate, spread out, speed up!’
    He extinguishes the fire with a gesture of his hand and disappears into the bushes.
    What do we do now? Sarius wants to ask, but now the fire is gone and hence so is the opportunity to converse. Do the others know where the sacred sites are located? Obviously not, since they are running in various directions. BloodWork is bashing his way through the thicket to the left, with Keskorian following close behind. LaCor and Arwen’s Child run to the right; Nurax, Golor and Lelant have already dashed off after the barbarians as well.
    Sarius is sticking by Sapujapu’s side so he won’t be left behind on his own. The dwarf is not exactly nimble, and at least speed is one of the attributes Sarius chose for himself. The way ahead leads into the forest, where they are greeted by darkness and threatening noises. Sarius is staying close to Sapujapu, but his own stamina is dwindling with every step. Is it because he’s a One? Sapujapu is trotting along slowly but steadily. If Sarius needs to rest, the dwarf won’t wait. Why would he?
    The stamina bar is getting shorter and shorter. Sarius is gasping, breathing fast and beginning to stumble. If he could take a quick breather . . . But Sapujapu is pulling away from him like a steam engine, and Sarius doesn’t want to stay behind by himself. So he runs, always keeping an eye on the blue bar. Then there’s a climb – it’s not long or steep, but it’s too much for him. He simply falls to the ground. His chest rises and falls in rapid, desperate breaths as Sapujapu disappears through the undergrowth.
    The sound of fighting can already be heard some distance away. Well, well – BloodWork was on the right track, and now he’s probably living up to his name. Sarius gets slowly to his feet. He’s swaying, and weary to the bone. At least he knows the direction now, and he’ll follow the battle sounds. If some grave robbers are left for him, that’s fine. If not, it can’t be helped.
    Sarius continues on cautiously, bent on conserving his energy. It’s not long before the black wall appears on his left again. He stops for a rest, and taps around on the shiny stones with his sword, hoping to once again uncover a bit of text that will help him along. The black crumbles, but behind it there’s just more black. Sarius follows the wall a short distance into the forest and tries again. He finds black stone, nothing more. In frustration he hacks away at a tree, whereupon something flies up out of the treetop and makes off with muffled beats of