Waylander 3 – Hero in the Shadows By David Gemmell

Ren Tang put on his helmet and tied it below his chin. Taking several of the warriors with him he strode down the tunnel, returning moments later. ‘We cannot get out,’ he said. The stone door will not budge.’

‘Is that right, Buttock Brain?’ said Yu Yu. ‘One simple order and already you fail.’

For a moment Ren Tang stood stock still. Then his sword flashed into the air, the point hovering over Yu Yu’s throat. ‘You dare insult me?’

‘What insult?’ snarled Yu Yu. ‘You wait thousands of years and your first act is to draw your sword against the only person who can lead you out of this tomb. What animal did they join you with? A goat?’

Ren Tang snarled. The sword lanced forward. Kysumu’s blade blocked it.

A low growl came from Ren Tang, and his eyes glittered in the lantern-light. ‘You cannot beat me, human,’ he said. ‘I could cut out your heart before you could move.’

‘Show me,’ said Kysumu quietly.

Another warrior stepped from the ranks. ‘Enough of this,’ he said. ‘Ren Tang, put away your sword. You too, human.’ He was taller than most of the Riaj-nor and slightly round-shouldered. His armour was the same as that of the others – ornate helm and a torso guard of gold coins – but his ankle-length tunic was of heavy crimson silk. ‘I am Song Xiu,’ he said, offering a respectful bow to both Kysumu and Yu Yu. He looked at Ren Tang, who stepped back, sheathing his sword.

‘Why are you so angry?’ Yu Yu asked Ren Tang.

The warrior swung away from him and walked back into the ranks of the Riaj-nor. Song Xiu spoke for him. ‘He is angry because yesterday we won a great victory. After all the years of struggle and suffering. We thought it was over, and that we would have a chance to know peace. To rest and lie in the sunshine. To send for the pleasure girls and rut and get drunk. It was a glorious day. But then the black wizard told us that the spell would one day falter, and Qin Chong asked all the Riaj-nor to draw lots to see which of us would leave the world we knew and enter the long sleep. Now we are here, to fight again and die for a cause that is not our own. Ren Tang is not alone in feeling angry, human. We only agreed because Qin Chong said he would lead us. But he is dead. He fought his way across two continents, facing and overcoming dangers you could not possibly imagine. Only to die from a rockfall inside a hollow hill. You expect us to be less than angry?’

Yu Yu shrugged. ‘You didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to be here. But we are here. So let’s leave this place. I need to breathe fresh air.’

Yu Yu strode along the tunnel to the rock door and stretched out his hand. Instead of passing through it his fingers touched solid rock. ‘Oh, it just gets better,’ muttered Yu Yu. He kicked the stone. Cracks flowed across it. The door shivered and broke, collapsing to the overhang and falling to the trail below. Yu Yu gave a proud grin and swung to Kysumu. ‘Nobody told me how to do that,’ he said. ‘I just did it myself! Good, hey?’ Then he stepped out into the light. Kysumu followed him, then the Riaj-nor. The warriors milled around, turning their faces up to the sunlight. Two of them approached the body of the dead Kriaz-nor. One knelt down and dipped his finger in the gaping wound at the warrior’s neck. Lifting his hand he licked blood from the finger. ‘Recent kill,’ he said. Peeling a strip of flesh from the body he put it in his mouth and chewed upon it. Then he spat it out. ‘Tastes of fear,’ he said.

Kysumu walked away from the group and stood staring into the distance. Yu Yu joined him. ‘Are you all right, Rajnee?’

‘Look at them, Yu Yu. All my life I have dreamt of being as great as these. And what are they? Part animal, part man – and as vile as those we fight against. I thought to find great heroes. Instead . . .’ His voice tailed away.