The Merchant and the Menace (58 page)

“Look!” cried Flair pointing west.

Tepi the warlock fled. His mount galloped to the
hill upon which he and the Keltaran appeared.

“Amird, the Lord of Chaos, will claim your souls!”
cackled the trader.

Eidyn sprinted forward and notched an arrow. The
warlock was already out of range.

“Eidyn, save your arrow,” wheezed an exhausted
Ader. “Behold.”

Tepi laughed insanely as he reached the hill and
realized no one pursued. His mount galloped up the hill past a large clump of
gorse bush. Two small figures darted from the cover of the bushes. They
sprinted to within a few yards behind the trader. The frontrunner was the
larger of the two. He spun and braced himself. The second was the “fox”.

The “fox” leapt forward and planted a foot in his
partner’s locked hands. He flipped through the air, landing on the back of Tepi’s
huge, shaggy warhorse. A frenzy of activity ensued. Tepi waved his hands in
horror and confusion. The attack reminded Kael of a swarm of bees around a dog
that disturbed their hive. The warlock was bewildered by this creature that set
upon him.

The fox’s hands darted and thrust about the head of
the warlock. Tepi’s horse slowed and halted at the top of the hill. In an
instant the tiny figure flipped from the back of the shaggy horse, met his
counterpart, and they dashed back into the thick cover of the gorse bush. Tepi
sat howling on the top of the hill, clutching his throat and chest. The sound
lasted a few moments then the warlock shuddered and dropped to the ground.

Granu stood calmly facing Manfir. The exhausted
Zodrian’s chest heaved. He stood hunched over by the weight of the Keltaran
battle-ax.

“Avra calls for mercy, Manfir,” said Granu softly.
“Do not become that which you abhor.”

The battle rage in Manfir’s eyes faded.

“Whatever ills these men commit, they don’t deserve
to be butchered like cattle,” said Granu. “Stay your bloodlust, Zodrian
prince.”

 The ax slid from Manfir’s hands and fell to the
ground. Teeg and Eidyn moved amongst the fallen checking for signs of life.
Special care was taken with the Ulrog. All were dead except the two spared by
Granu. Ader slid from his horse and inspected the Ulrog as well.

 “Is anyone suffering from a wound?” called out the
Guide. “Kael, come over here. Are you all right?”

The Southland boy tapped his heels into his
chestnut’s flanks and trotted back to the group.

“I’m fine,” said Kael. “What of the others?”

Ader turned and inspected the group. His eyes
widened at the sight of Eidyn covered in blood. He raised his hands and
approached the Elven prince.

“Save your powers, my lord,” said Eidyn pointing to
the body of his fallen horse. “Tis not Elven blood that stains this soil.”

Ader nodded and smiled, throwing an arm around the
prince’s shoulder.

“Good,” sighed the Guide. “We cannot afford to lose
you.”

“What of you, Granu?” asked Teeg pointing to a
large welt on the giant’s skull.

Granu raised a hand to his bald head and gingerly
massaged the protruding lump.

 “Sometimes it is to your advantage to lean into
the path of a swung ax. The handle may catch you squarely, but it will do far
less damage than the ax’s head,” stated Granu.

 A low chuckle passed through the exhausted
company. Ader snapped the group back into action.

“We must be away from here. Keltaran troops roam
the Zodrian hills freely. The Guard is too busy protecting the borders to stop
small groups such as this,” began Ader. “Eidyn, gather in one of the Keltaran
mounts, and retrieve another for Prince Granu. The fewer nights we spend in the
open country the better.”

“My people must receive proper rights,” said Granu
solemnly.

“Granu, we have no time for...” started Ader.

“No matter their crimes, these men were children of
Avra. They must return to the soil and we must ask for their acceptance into
Avra’s world,” stated Granu.

Ader threw up his hands.

“Bury them. But be quick about it. Manfir, help him
while I discuss matters with our guests,” stated Ader pointing to the pair of
Keltaran.

Manfir started to protest, but Ader would not allow
it.

“Will you all begin to bridle against me? I cannot
accomplish what I need to if you all refuse the simplest tasks. You made a
pledge to me, Manfir. Please do as you are told.”

Ader strode to the Keltaran that knelt before
Granu.

“Do you know me?” boomed Ader.

“Yes... yes, Lord Ader,” stammered one and his
counterpart nodded.

“Then know this. I will ask you a few questions. I
possess the wonderful ability to read a man’s intentions. If I feel you are
lying to me I will hand you over to the Zodrian. He will not handle you quite
so delicately as your brother, Prince Granu. I’ve been at this for centuries,
and the lives of two sinful Keltaran will not matter to me in the least. You’ll
do what I say and tell me what I want to know. Understand?” demanded Ader.

“Yes, my lord,” replied the Keltaran in unison.

“Stand and walk,” commanded Ader.

They rose and fell in next to Ader. He led them
down the road and out of sight, the entire time snapping questions at them.
Kael was unable to hear what the Seraph was asking.

Granu lifted a battle-ax from the ground and pried
up the soft earth around the Keltaran dead. Manfir grimaced and followed suit.
Shortly, the men excavated several shallow ditches about the battle site. Eidyn
moved amongst the dead, salvaging arrows. Teeg rifled through the Keltaran’s
belongings for any information he might find useful. Flair walked to his horse
and retrieved the small collapsable shovel he used to dig fire pits. He stepped
in beside Manfir and shoveled dirt from the graves.

Kael intended to help dig, but as he passed the
fallen Ulrog, he stopped, transfixed. Hideous was the only way to describe
them. Small tufts of matted hair grew sporadically from a tough, grayish hide.
The rocks Kael believed encrusted on their skin were actually embedded within
it. The skin grew around and over hunks of black shale and lumps of granite.
Their huge, powerful arms were tipped with razor sharp, flinty claws. Their
large oval shaped eyes were completely black. It was as if their eyes were a
window into the oily black blood that Kael saw spill from the creature’s
wounds. Irregular shaped teeth were crowded into the mouth surrounding a
swollen, purple tongue.

“A seemingly impenetrable, unstoppable creature of
death.”

Kael started and tried to catch his breath. Teeg
stood next to him looking down. The Elf leaned over and worked Flair’s hatchet
free from the skull of an Ulrog.

“However, hit them hard enough and they die like
the rest of us.” stated the Elf.

“Yes, I guess they do,” mumbled Kael.

He stared at the nightmare at his feet for a moment
longer.

“Priests as well,” said Teeg pointing to the
Ulrog’s arms.

“How do you know that?” asked Kael.

“It has to do with how they are .... born, for lack
of a better word,” said Teeg.

Kael never thought about that. Do Ulrog come from
families?  Do they have a mother and a father?

“Are they born?” asked Kael.

“Not exactly,” stated Teeg. “They are created.”

Kael frowned. Teeg knew the young man wanted a
better explanation.

“Ulrog are a bastardization of Amird’s doing,”
began Teeg. “The Seraph joined forces with ancient Chaos and spawned beings of
his own. He never hid his dislike for the weaknesses and failings of humans. He
was trying to form a race that stood up to his beliefs of success.

“Think about it, Kael. What is an Ulrog? Incredibly
strong. Unbelievable stamina. A hide as tough as iron. They can eat anything.
They rarely need water. They follow their leaders unquestioningly. Their
loyalty is to their master and his servants. They care only for Amird’s desires
and hold none of their own. Most of all, they are expendable. Lose one hundred
and more will be produced.”

“How?” asked Kael.

 “Torn from the rock and earth of their homeland.
Molded in pits of fire. Given life by the Malveel. Their spirit force is weak.
Their life force comes from Amird and his ally, Chaos. They live but a fraction
of a human life, but as Amird’s power grows, so do their numbers,“ said Teeg.

 “The Malveel create them?” questioned Kael.

 “They channel a small bit of Amird’s will into the
Ulrog. Remember Kael, this is a creature that requires little and hardly thinks
at all. It doesn’t take much of the force of Amird to animate an Ulrog.
Besides, the Fallen One draws his power from the vast energy of Chaos. If he
continues to rally, he may be able to overrun our world with Ulrog,” stated
Teeg. “These two were not molded haphazardly. Look at the rocks embedded in
their arms.”

Kael studied the Ulrog. He noticed patterns in the
rock. Bits and pieces were aligned to form similar symbols to those carved in
the arms of Tepi. The symbols were unfamiliar to Kael, but definite in their
appearance. Additionally, the name of Amird appeared all over the two creatures
in the form of scars. The lettering was crude and irregular, but the name was
unmistakable. Teeg pointed to the stony emblems.

“These are the Chaotic Symbols, Kael,” said Teeg.
“They call upon the powers of Chaos to give their wearer power. The scars
invoke the name of Amird for strength. These were no ordinary Ulrog. Tepi
summoned priests with special powers to help him battle Ader.”

Kael heard a yip and a snarl in the distance. The
group halted their work and looked to the hill where Tepi’s body lay. A pack of
wild dogs snapped at one another and tore into the remains of the warlock.
Flair groaned and grabbed a large rock. The boy stepped toward the hill hefting
the rock.

“Leave them, Flair,” said Manfir. “Tis what the
warlock deserves.”

The boy hesitated for a moment then released the
rock and returned to his work. The dogs yelped and growled. Manfir turned back
to the grave he was digging and his eyes met those of Granu. The giant leaned
on his ax and arched a thoughtful eyebrow toward the scene on the hill.

“
Trouble dogs the wicked
.” quoted Granu from
scripture.

The duo looked at one another for a moment, then a
wry smile passed between them and they returned to their work. After a few
moments Ader walked back to the roadside followed by the Keltaran soldiers.
Granu and Manfir were piling rocks on the tops of the graves. Eidyn led several
of the Keltaran horses down the road into the midst of the travelers. Teeg
retrieved and cleaned Manfir’s blades. The Zodrian prince thanked him and
returned them to the sheaths on his back. The Elf lord hefted Flair’s hatchet
in his hand.

“Light enough to throw a fair distance, yet heavy
enough to cleave the head of an Ulrog,” commented Teeg. “A fine weapon.”

“I never used it as a weapon before,” stammered
Flair.

“An extremely successful first outing for you, I
should say,” commented Teeg. “Don’t you think, Prince Manfir?”

Manfir turned from a pack he cinched to his horse
and bowed.

“I owe you my life, Corporal Flair,” said the
prince.

“Corporal?” said a wide-eyed Flair.

“Of course,” said Manfir approaching the boy.
“During training at the Hold, a student or two are chosen from among the
recruits to help lead them. The best of the class is chosen and given
authority. Someone who stands out. You will be that man in the next class.”

“But I still need to pass the test. I’m not sure
I’ll be accepted to the Guard,” stated Flair.

 Teeg and Eidyn suppressed a chuckle and Manfir
frowned at the boy.

“You really possess no idea what you just
accomplished do you?” asked Manfir.

Flair shook his head and looked questioningly at
the group around him.

“Perhaps we should allow him to wallow in
ignorance,” laughed Teeg. “The boy will unwittingly destroy the entire Ulrog
army before the concept of fear ever crosses his mind.”

“Please don’t make sport of me,” pleaded Flair. “I
was plenty afraid.”

 “Then what possessed you to charge between two
Ulrog priests like that?” exclaimed Eidyn.

“Someone needed to do something, and I was the only
one left,” shrugged the boy.

Manfir laughed heartily and threw an arm around
Flair.

 “Thank Avra for that!” exclaimed the prince.

”We must be on our way,” announced Ader. “Is the
site to your satisfaction, Prince Granu?”

“I wish to say a few words over these men. Catra
was a friend and the others are brothers who fell under the spell of the Great
Deceiver. You may journey on if you choose. I will make up the ground and be
with you shortly,” stated Granu.

Eidyn led two giant horses over to Ader. The pair
was tethered together by a long rope.