Read Online Heirs of the Fallen: Book 03 - Shadow and Steel by James A. West - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James A. West
Tags: epic fantasy
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him?”
Nearby, Sumahn leaned against the rail, talking quietly to Daris. They fell silent at Ulmek’s approach, and the two young warriors gaped when their leader dropped a friendly hand on Telmon’s shoulder.
“I want to thank you,” Ulmek said, smiling broadly.
“For what?” Telmon’s suspicion had grown palpable.
“For making this so much easier.”
Before Telmon could react, Ulmek’s sword found a home in his guts. With a vicious sawing motion, Ulmek disemboweled the Kelren, and thrust him over the rail.
Chapter 10
The lanterns hung about the deck of the Night Blade came into view beyond a spit of land covered in lush foliage that served as natural breakwater for a shallow cove. It was just as Rallin had told. The Bloody Whore’s sails billowed, as if eager to join her anchored sister.
Word passed among the Brothers to make ready. In a hushed voice, Daris called for more speed through the open hatchway. The remaining Kelrens—faced with the threat of suffering as Rallin had—put their backs to the oars, propelling the ship to greater speed. With Ulmek manning the rudder, the Bloody Whore rounded the breakwater. Like a black swan, the ship glided through calm waters glimmering in the light of the moon.
Hunkered behind a cluster of barrels near the portside bow, Leitos searched the darkness, but could not see anyone aboard the Night Blade .
“They will stay hidden,” Rallin had warned. “Only after the proper signals are given, will my mates respond.”
He had gone on to explain those signals, and what to expect in return. Ulmek had cautioned the Brothers that they should believe little, if any, of what the man claimed. “However, we will do as he said, while expecting the worst. But no matter what happens, our task is to free our brethren….”
Now the Bloody Whore veered toward the Night Blade , rapidly cutting the distance. Halan, standing at the bowsprit, signaled the other ship with a shuttered lantern, as Rallin had said they should.
After a long moment, a lantern on the Night Blade blinked in response. Halan signaled again. More quickly than before, he received two slow blinks, followed by four rapid flashes.
“They want us to come abreast,” Halan said over his shoulder.
Again, Daris commanded more speed, and Leitos heard the sweep and splash of oars increase their pace.
Keeping low, he moved to the rail. Sumahn nodded his readiness. More Brothers shifted amid the shadows, blades bared. As Leitos went over Ulmek’s plan again, his fingers tightened around the hilts of his sword and dagger.
Over the rail, he could make out the Bloody Whore’s ram, a great bronze beak cutting a path to their target. An emaciated harridan of wrought iron stood upon the ram’s top edge, her corroded hair swept back, and mouth spread wide around long fangs. It was an ugly thing, forged by Kelren hands, but this night it would serve the will of the Brothers of the Crimson Shield.
“Make ready,” Halan called softly, drawing his great scimitar.
Leitos’s heart began to thump.
Shouts erupted from the deck of the Night Blade , then a sea-wolf cried, “They mean to ram us!”
A moment later, the Bloody Whore speared the Night Blade’s hull at the waterline, and a thunderous crash of rupturing planks and timbers spilled out over the cove.
“Now!” Halan bellowed.
Leitos leaped a breath too late, and the jarring collision sent him flying over the rail. He landed on his face, and flipped across the Night Blade’s deck.
Sumahn, Daris, and the others rolled expertly, coming up in the midst of stunned Kelrens. The peals of clashing swords erupted an instant later, but were faint under the crackling din of the Bloody Whore impaling her sister’s bowels and breaking her keel. The mangled remains of the wrought iron harridan ripped a splintery gash through the Night Blade’s deck, splitting the ship in half.
Leitos gained his feet as the Bloody Whore ground to a halt. The Night Blade’s
Nearby, Sumahn leaned against the rail, talking quietly to Daris. They fell silent at Ulmek’s approach, and the two young warriors gaped when their leader dropped a friendly hand on Telmon’s shoulder.
“I want to thank you,” Ulmek said, smiling broadly.
“For what?” Telmon’s suspicion had grown palpable.
“For making this so much easier.”
Before Telmon could react, Ulmek’s sword found a home in his guts. With a vicious sawing motion, Ulmek disemboweled the Kelren, and thrust him over the rail.
Chapter 10
The lanterns hung about the deck of the Night Blade came into view beyond a spit of land covered in lush foliage that served as natural breakwater for a shallow cove. It was just as Rallin had told. The Bloody Whore’s sails billowed, as if eager to join her anchored sister.
Word passed among the Brothers to make ready. In a hushed voice, Daris called for more speed through the open hatchway. The remaining Kelrens—faced with the threat of suffering as Rallin had—put their backs to the oars, propelling the ship to greater speed. With Ulmek manning the rudder, the Bloody Whore rounded the breakwater. Like a black swan, the ship glided through calm waters glimmering in the light of the moon.
Hunkered behind a cluster of barrels near the portside bow, Leitos searched the darkness, but could not see anyone aboard the Night Blade .
“They will stay hidden,” Rallin had warned. “Only after the proper signals are given, will my mates respond.”
He had gone on to explain those signals, and what to expect in return. Ulmek had cautioned the Brothers that they should believe little, if any, of what the man claimed. “However, we will do as he said, while expecting the worst. But no matter what happens, our task is to free our brethren….”
Now the Bloody Whore veered toward the Night Blade , rapidly cutting the distance. Halan, standing at the bowsprit, signaled the other ship with a shuttered lantern, as Rallin had said they should.
After a long moment, a lantern on the Night Blade blinked in response. Halan signaled again. More quickly than before, he received two slow blinks, followed by four rapid flashes.
“They want us to come abreast,” Halan said over his shoulder.
Again, Daris commanded more speed, and Leitos heard the sweep and splash of oars increase their pace.
Keeping low, he moved to the rail. Sumahn nodded his readiness. More Brothers shifted amid the shadows, blades bared. As Leitos went over Ulmek’s plan again, his fingers tightened around the hilts of his sword and dagger.
Over the rail, he could make out the Bloody Whore’s ram, a great bronze beak cutting a path to their target. An emaciated harridan of wrought iron stood upon the ram’s top edge, her corroded hair swept back, and mouth spread wide around long fangs. It was an ugly thing, forged by Kelren hands, but this night it would serve the will of the Brothers of the Crimson Shield.
“Make ready,” Halan called softly, drawing his great scimitar.
Leitos’s heart began to thump.
Shouts erupted from the deck of the Night Blade , then a sea-wolf cried, “They mean to ram us!”
A moment later, the Bloody Whore speared the Night Blade’s hull at the waterline, and a thunderous crash of rupturing planks and timbers spilled out over the cove.
“Now!” Halan bellowed.
Leitos leaped a breath too late, and the jarring collision sent him flying over the rail. He landed on his face, and flipped across the Night Blade’s deck.
Sumahn, Daris, and the others rolled expertly, coming up in the midst of stunned Kelrens. The peals of clashing swords erupted an instant later, but were faint under the crackling din of the Bloody Whore impaling her sister’s bowels and breaking her keel. The mangled remains of the wrought iron harridan ripped a splintery gash through the Night Blade’s deck, splitting the ship in half.
Leitos gained his feet as the Bloody Whore ground to a halt. The Night Blade’s
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