We’d already placed a number of piles of logs and wood all around the broad, snow-covered field that covered a couple hundred yards in front of the castle. Now, each of us took our torches to a different pile and lit up a few bonfires. After we were all done, the whole field was illuminated by the orange glow. Of course, the moment we’d strode out onto the field with our torches, bright in the pitch-black night, we’d attracted the attention of the few sentries posted on the battlements of the castle, hundreds of yards above the ground. By the time we’d finished lighting the bonfires, quite a crowd of Frost Giants had gathered on the battlements. Drunk, they roared insults and threats at us—especially at Mur, whom they recognized right away—but we ignored them until the pieces of our plan was set to fall into place.
“I demand to speak to Engroth!” Mur yelled to the battlements when we’d made our way to the gates.
“That’s King Engroth to you, you piece of shit!” one of the Jotunn yelled. “What the frozen hell are you doing here anyway? You’ve been banished for life. Fuck off—before we send you to join your dead friends.”
“You’re a bunch of cowardly little cock-gobblers,” I shouted at them. “Look at all of you, standing up there, yelling insults at us, hiding behind your walls and gates like scared little children.”
“Your pet human speaks, Mur, you butthole,” another one shouted. “How cute.”
“He is no mere human,” Mur yelled back. “He is the God of Death, and he will destroy all of you!”
They all roared with laughter, hooting and howling and slapping their enormous thighs with mirth.
“You know what?” yet another yelled down. “I’m going to fetch King Engroth. This’ll make him laugh. It’ll make his evening to see just how low you’ve sunk, Mur—bringing along some human to try to help you; it’s unbelievable! You’ve lost your bloody mind, you have. Pathetic!”
We continued to trade insults while the Frost Giant went to fetch Engroth. These chumps were playing right into our hands. After a couple of minutes, an older-looking Frost Giant with an enormous white beard and a golden crown appeared on the battlements. He sneered down at us and cackled.
“What is the meaning of this, Mur?” he asked. “Were you not satisfied with the annihilation of your entire army? Do you wish for more punishment? The torture chamber can be prepared, if that’s what you’re after. As for your little human friends, well. . .” He paused to lick his lips, his massive tongue almost the size of my arm. “. . . roast human is just what we need to finish off our evening.”
“I will have your head on a spike before the sun rises, Engroth,” Mur roared. “I promise you that. Come, send out your warriors, you coward! Send them, and see what Mur is truly made of!”
“My warriors already destroyed you once today,” Engroth growled, clearly irritated now. “They won’t mind doing it a second time.” He turned his head to speak over his shoulder. “Open the drawbridge. Send out a couple of warriors to crush this rabble like the insects they are!”
“You are the ones who will be crushed. Mark my words!” Mur yelled.
We turned and jogged back to our small party in the middle of the field as the huge wheels and gears of the drawbridge began to creak and groan. We watched in grim silence as the drawbridge was lowered. We had to be patient here. As tempting as it was to launch the next phase of the plan, I had to wait for the perfect moment.
The ground beneath our feet trembled as the massive drawbridge finally touched down, leaving the gates of the fortress wide open. Five hulking Jotunn warriors emerged, gripping axes and clubs, eager grimaces of murderous intent on their ugly faces.
There would be a slaughter tonight, all right, but they would be on the receiving end.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The field was well-lit with our bonfires, so the Frost Giants had no trouble seeing us. With a roar, their jog turned into a full-on sprint. The ground beneath our feet was shaking with the intensity of their charge, but still I held out as they bore down on us. Not yet, not yet…
They came to within 150 yards. A few seconds later, it was 100. Still we held fast. At 50 yards, that was the time. I closed my eyes and blasted out my order to the undead Frost Giants and the rest of my undead troops—every single one of whom was submerged beneath the black waters of the moat, hiding right under the noses of Engroth and his warriors.
I had positioned a number of undead Frost Giants right under the drawbridge. The moment my orders entered their minds, they reared up out of the water, grabbing the drawbridge and holding it open.
Then, the rest of the army surged out of the black waters.
I opened my eyes, my heart pounding with vicious excitement and triumph. My troops climbed up and streamed into the castle by the thousands, weapons gleaming in the light of the bonfires. Up on the battlements, Engroth’s jaw dropped as sheer surprise was writ plainly across the faces of all the other drunk Jotunn up there.
“R-raise the drawbridge. Hurry!” Engroth howled.
The Jotunn inside the castle cranked the wheels to raise the drawbridge, but they were no match for my undead Frost Giants. The floodgates had been opened.
“Charge!” I kicked Fang into a charge and hurtled toward the five Jotunn, who now skidded to a halt, eyes wide and mouths agape.
War cries erupted behind me as my party followed. I drew the power of my skeletons into the chain of my kusarigama, whirling it
