Read Online Kormak 01 - Stealer of Flesh by William King - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: William King
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come any closer I will stick you.”
She glared. He studied the pupils of her eyes. They were wide but they looked normal. There was no glaze and she was not looking at him fixedly. Her mannerisms were normal although that might not mean anything. A Ghul like Razhak had centuries to learn how to counterfeit those.
“What’s your name?” Kormak asked. He watched, listening closely for the slightest hesitation.
“Who’s asking?”
“My name is Kormak. I am a Guardian of the Order of the Dawn.”
“Yes and I am Our Lady of the Moon.”
“I would not say that too loudly where the Old Ones might hear,” Kormak said.
“It’s daylight. They do not come out in the sunlight.” She sounded normal but he had not really heard enough to judge. He needed to keep her talking. He needed to collect more information. Sometimes the only way to tell if someone was possessed was to look for small cues in their manner. He doubted that anyone who Razhak was within would rant and rave like a lunatic. The Ghul did not seem to be that sort of demon.
“Most of them can’t. Some can cloak themselves with spells. Others can take possession of human or animal forms. Sometimes they have other gifts. They can hear or see things a long way off. Particularly concerning things that are of interest to them.”
“You sound like a Guardian.”
“How would you know? Have you ever met one?”
“You sound like what they are supposed to sound like.”
“What is your name?”
“Are you on a quest?”
“I am hunting a monster. I am trying to decide whether you are what I am looking for.”
She looked insulted and then a little frightened and she brought the knife between them. She held it edge on, more as a barrier than as if she knew how to use it. She would have had the point towards him if she did.
“And if you think I am the one you are looking for, you will kill me, won’t you?”
He nodded.
“You’ll try,” she said.
“No. I will kill you,” he said. “It is what I do. That tiny knife won’t stop me. You can’t even hold it properly.”
His voice was flat and calm and that just made it more frightening. She flinched away from him.
“You really would, wouldn’t you?”
“I really would.”
“And you’re the sort of cold bastard who would tell me that as well.”
“I am trying to get a sense of who you are and whether you are possessed.”
“Like by a demon?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not an accident you are on this road. You are looking for something that looked like a rotting corpse walking.”
“I am.”
“It looks like the nastiest beggar you ever saw, smelled worse, smelled so bad you knew it could not be anything good.”
“You’ve seen it?”
“Why do you think I am hiding here?”
“I have no idea. I am trying to find out.”
“So you can decide whether or not to kill me.” He did not say anything, just watched her. He was ready for anything or he thought he was. He was not prepared when she laughed and said, “You’re as bad as the Wolves.”
“Who are they?”
“You’ve just ridden into these parts, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“They’re who has been burning and raping and looting and killing. They’re the worst of the worst, the remnants of Jaro’s army and something even nastier.”
“Who is Jaro?”
“Jaro was the Pretender. He raised his banner here in the mountains, declared himself king. A load of the local lads thought he’d make a good one so they signed on with him.”
“The real king of Valkyria decided different.”
“Who is to say who is the real king?”
“The one with the victorious army.”
“You’re not as dumb as you look, are you? Yeah—King Sturmbrand scattered Jaro’s rebels at Hell Ford. They say he struck down the Pretender with his blade Lightning but the body was never found. Massimo, Jaro’s pet wizard, retreated into the mountains to cook up some new devilry. The Wolves appeared soon after that.”
“So you’ve got what’s
She glared. He studied the pupils of her eyes. They were wide but they looked normal. There was no glaze and she was not looking at him fixedly. Her mannerisms were normal although that might not mean anything. A Ghul like Razhak had centuries to learn how to counterfeit those.
“What’s your name?” Kormak asked. He watched, listening closely for the slightest hesitation.
“Who’s asking?”
“My name is Kormak. I am a Guardian of the Order of the Dawn.”
“Yes and I am Our Lady of the Moon.”
“I would not say that too loudly where the Old Ones might hear,” Kormak said.
“It’s daylight. They do not come out in the sunlight.” She sounded normal but he had not really heard enough to judge. He needed to keep her talking. He needed to collect more information. Sometimes the only way to tell if someone was possessed was to look for small cues in their manner. He doubted that anyone who Razhak was within would rant and rave like a lunatic. The Ghul did not seem to be that sort of demon.
“Most of them can’t. Some can cloak themselves with spells. Others can take possession of human or animal forms. Sometimes they have other gifts. They can hear or see things a long way off. Particularly concerning things that are of interest to them.”
“You sound like a Guardian.”
“How would you know? Have you ever met one?”
“You sound like what they are supposed to sound like.”
“What is your name?”
“Are you on a quest?”
“I am hunting a monster. I am trying to decide whether you are what I am looking for.”
She looked insulted and then a little frightened and she brought the knife between them. She held it edge on, more as a barrier than as if she knew how to use it. She would have had the point towards him if she did.
“And if you think I am the one you are looking for, you will kill me, won’t you?”
He nodded.
“You’ll try,” she said.
“No. I will kill you,” he said. “It is what I do. That tiny knife won’t stop me. You can’t even hold it properly.”
His voice was flat and calm and that just made it more frightening. She flinched away from him.
“You really would, wouldn’t you?”
“I really would.”
“And you’re the sort of cold bastard who would tell me that as well.”
“I am trying to get a sense of who you are and whether you are possessed.”
“Like by a demon?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not an accident you are on this road. You are looking for something that looked like a rotting corpse walking.”
“I am.”
“It looks like the nastiest beggar you ever saw, smelled worse, smelled so bad you knew it could not be anything good.”
“You’ve seen it?”
“Why do you think I am hiding here?”
“I have no idea. I am trying to find out.”
“So you can decide whether or not to kill me.” He did not say anything, just watched her. He was ready for anything or he thought he was. He was not prepared when she laughed and said, “You’re as bad as the Wolves.”
“Who are they?”
“You’ve just ridden into these parts, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“They’re who has been burning and raping and looting and killing. They’re the worst of the worst, the remnants of Jaro’s army and something even nastier.”
“Who is Jaro?”
“Jaro was the Pretender. He raised his banner here in the mountains, declared himself king. A load of the local lads thought he’d make a good one so they signed on with him.”
“The real king of Valkyria decided different.”
“Who is to say who is the real king?”
“The one with the victorious army.”
“You’re not as dumb as you look, are you? Yeah—King Sturmbrand scattered Jaro’s rebels at Hell Ford. They say he struck down the Pretender with his blade Lightning but the body was never found. Massimo, Jaro’s pet wizard, retreated into the mountains to cook up some new devilry. The Wolves appeared soon after that.”
“So you’ve got what’s
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