Waylander 3 – Hero in the Shadows By David Gemmell

Three-swords did not answer. He glanced back at Eldicar Manushan. Why was the man so terrified?

He strolled across to where the magicker sat. ‘What is it that I do not know?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘What is happening here, Eldicar? Why were so many women killed? Why are you so frightened?’

Eldicar licked his lips, then rose and moved in close to Three-swords. ‘If the human gets through,’ he whispered, ‘Deresh Karany will perform the Summoning.’

‘So he will use a demon to kill him. He has done this before.’

‘Not any demon,’ said Eldicar. ‘He plans to summon Anharat himself.’

Three-swords said nothing. What was there to say? The arrogance of these humans was beyond his understanding. He saw Iron-arm looking at him quizzically, and he knew why.

He is scenting my fear now, thought Three-swords.

As the air shimmered around her Keeva felt an icy wind swirl over her body. Bright colours exploded before her eyes. Then, as if a curtain had opened, she saw the moonlit apartments of the Grey Man appear before her. The ground shifted under her feet and she half staggered. Ustarte gave out a low moan and sank to the ground. Instantly Waylander knelt by her. ‘What is wrong?’

‘I am . . . exhausted. It . . . takes great energy. I will be fine.’ Ustarte stretched herself out. ‘So . . . little power left,’ she whispered. She closed her eyes. Waylander moved towards the door of his apartments, and two guards appeared on the pathway to the right. One was holding a hunting bow, an arrow notched to the string.

The second carried a spear. Both men froze as they took in the scene.

Keeva raised her crossbow. ‘Put down your weapons,’ she said.

For a moment it seemed they would obey her, but then the bowman drew back on the string. A bolt from Waylander’s weapon slammed into his chest. He grunted and fell back, his arrow slashing through the air, missing Keeva by inches. The spearman charged at Keeva. Instinctively she pressed both trigger studs on her crossbow. One bolt struck the spearman in the mouth, smashing his teeth, the second entered his skull between the eyes. His charge faltered and he dropped the spear. His hand went to his mouth. Then, as if his bones had turned to water, his body crumpled and he fell at Keeva’s feet.

She looked round for the Grey Man, but he had entered the apartments. She transferred her gaze to the dead man, and felt sick. The other guard groaned. Rolling to his stomach, he tried to crawl away. Keeva crossed the ground and stood over him. ‘Lie still,’ she told him. ‘No one is going to harm you further.’

Kneeling by his side, she put a hand to his shoulder, to help him turn on to his back. He relaxed at her touch and she looked into his eyes. He was young and beardless, with large brown eyes. Keeva smiled at him. He seemed about to say something. Then a bolt smashed into the side of his head, crunching through the temple.

Fury swept through Keeva and she swung on the Grey Man. ‘Why?’ she hissed.

‘Look at his hand,’ said Waylander.

Keeva glanced down. Moonlight shone upon the dagger blade. ‘You do not know that he was going to use it,’ she said.

‘I did not know that he wasn’t,’ Waylander told her.

Moving past her, he wrenched the bolt clear of the soldier’s head, cleaned it on the man’s tunic, and slipped it back into his quiver. ‘We do not have time for lessons, Keeva Taliana,’ he said. ‘We are surrounded by enemies who will seek to take our lives. To hesitate is to die. Learn fast – or you will not survive the night.’

Behind them Ustarte called out weakly. Waylander knelt by her. ‘There are Kriaz-nor within the tower. The wind is off the sea and they will scent the blood.’

‘How many can you sense?’ he asked.

‘Four. There is something else. I cannot quite fasten to it. There has been murder done and there is a tremor in the air. Magic is being cast, but for what purpose I cannot tell.’