sense that they were not only dangerous, but that there was something wrong with them. It was like running across a sick animal in the wild. You might not at first be able to judge what the problem was, but in an instant you knew it wasn’t a healthy bear or deer. It didn’t matter if the animal was rabid, poisoned, wounded from an earlier struggle, you just knew you had to kill it as quickly as possible before it infected other animals.
Arkan’s second arrow was back to his ear by the time the first one struck one of the four men in the neck, killing him instantly. He let it fly as Calis loosed his first and two more men died. The last man began an incantation, uninterrupted by the death of his companions. They must be spell-casters! Arkan’s third arrow finished his chant.
Bedlam erupted as those nearby dived for cover and shouts of anger and fear filled the room. Brendan wisely stepped aside as the second surge of the crowd towards the door threatened to overwhelm him.
Miranda grabbed the nearest man, a very drunk teamster by all appearances, and with little apparent effort picked him up by the front of his tunic and threw him into the crowd, causing a general collapse of bodies. ‘Outside!’ she shouted at Brendan, who took no pause in turning, opening the door, and leaping through.
The two city watchmen posted at the door were turning to investigate the noise as Brendan made his exit, almost knocking them down.
‘Sir?’ asked one, a youngster barely big enough to hold the pike he’d been given.
‘Let them through,’ said Brendan, stepping to one side, followed a moment later by Miranda. Then there was an explosion of bodies out of the door, as those who had been trapped inside for days came flooding outside to scatter in all directions.
The other watchman, an elderly, toothless man, said, ‘What are we to do, young sir?’
‘Don’t get trampled,’ said Brendan.
The bellow that had begun the ruckus was repeated, clearly coming from the direction of the harbour. ‘And that, young sir?’ asked the old watchman.
‘We’ll see to that,’ said Miranda.
Brendan said, ‘You know what it is?’
She nodded. ‘Only too well.’ Her tone left no doubt that Brendan wouldn’t care for the revelation.
‘What about these blokes, sir?’ asked the young watchman as the last of the inhabitants of the inn who didn’t wish to remain exited the building.
‘Let them scatter as long as they don’t cause trouble. We’ll round them up later, if we survive what’s coming,’ said Brendan. ‘They’ve nowhere else to go, so it’s either to the wall to fight, or back here to drink. Just make sure no one tries to go out the northern gate.’ The young soldier saluted and ran off in that direction.
Nakor and the two elves exited, and Nakor said, ‘Keshian Demon Masters.’
Miranda nodded. ‘Dead?’
‘Yes,’ said the little man. ‘Our elf friends are very efficient.’
‘Well, one problem solved, and another begun,’ said Miranda. ‘Come, to the wall!’
Nakor said, ‘Yes, I can feel it,’ as if answering an unasked question.
‘Feel what?’ asked Arkan.
‘Don’t worry,’ said Nakor. ‘You’ll get to kill a lot of humans shortly!’
‘Just make sure they’re on the other side of the wall,’ said Calis, as the group broke into a trot.
The wall and main gate hove into view as they rounded a corner. Brendan sprinted the last ten yards and took the steps two at a time. Reaching the wall, he could barely negotiate the press of bodies gathered there and as he moved past Bethany and Lily, who were now stationed with the archers nearest the steps to safety, pushing through a knot of soldiers, towards his brother, he began shouting, ‘Back to your posts! There could be more than one-’
He stopped as he saw what everyone on the walls was staring at. A nearby soldier in a Crydee tabard said, ‘I pray there’s not more than one, m’lord.’
Another soldier in the city militia said, ‘One is more than likely enough, m’lord.’
What they saw was a monster, looming twenty feet above the water as it slowly walked towards the gate. The head looked like a cross between a lizard and monkey’s, but it was covered in scales and possessed fan-like ears that swept back from the side of its head. Down its back ran a ridged fin, like a sailfish. The body was roughly humanoid in shape, though the shoulders and chest were massive and each hand ended in talons as long as swords. The reek of the thing was nearly overpowering even from this distance, as if every dead thing on the sea floor had been scooped together and somehow fashioned into the creature. As it slowly rose up out of the bay, sheets of water poured off it, the sun glinting off its scales. Reaching the shallowest part of the bay, which was still deep enough for large boats to ferry cargo to the quay, the monster now walked in water barely reaching mid- thigh.
‘My gods,’ said Martin. ‘What is it?’
Far behind the thing, boats were coming into view. Brendan estimated at least fifty. He looked to the western road to Crydee and saw dust and banners in the distance. ‘Looks as if the Keshians have got tired of waiting.’
Martin said, ‘They want that thing to knock down the gates, then they plan on hitting us head-on; not a lot of subtlety there.’
‘None needed,’ said Brendan.
Martin glanced past Brendan and saw the woman moving up to his brother’s shoulder. ‘Miranda?’
‘You remember me?’ she said.
‘Yes, and your timing is excellent.’ He pointed at the massive creature approaching the city. ‘Can you do anything?’
‘It’s a water demon!’ shouted Nakor with a tone approaching delight.
‘Water demon?’ asked Brendan. ‘I didn’t know they existed.’
‘All sorts of demons exist,’ said Nakor in an almost jocular tone. ‘Water, air, earth, fire, animal, bird. Some are very smart, others very stupid. The demon realm is a very confusing place, even for demons.’
‘You sound as if you know a lot,’ said Martin, glancing at Miranda.
‘Nakor,’ she supplied.
‘Nakor,’ continued Martin. ‘What are we to do with this one?’
The creature was starting to rise up near the burned-out docks. It bellowed again and this time those on the walls crouched lower as the stones beneath their feet vibrated. The creature looked first one way, then another, as if seeking something or someone.
‘If we had a summoner, he could control it or banish it, but unfortunately we just killed whoever that was,’ said Nakor.
‘What?’ asked Brendan.
‘There were four Keshians of some order or cult.’
‘I saw them.’
‘One of them was a summoner, certainly. The other three were his acolytes or guardians.’
‘Archers!’ shouted Martin.
Those with bows rose up, nocking arrows and taking a bead on the creature.
‘Save your arrows,’ said Miranda. ‘They’ll only annoy it.’
The creature took another step, raised a foot as if contemplating stepping up onto the quay, then slowly lowered it back to the water, hesitating. It bellowed, stopped and looked around, as if confused.
‘What’s it doing?’ asked Martin.
‘It’s looking for whoever summoned it,’ said Nakor. ‘Four men, even if only one is a summoner, means very powerful skill is needed to bring it here and control it. It was conjured out there-,’ he pointed at the harbour, ‘- because it was the only water deep enough.’
‘Under the mud,’ said Brendan.
‘Even the water wasn’t deep enough,’ amended Nakor. ‘It doesn’t like being up in the air, likes land less, and hates fire.’
‘Should we use fire arrows?’ asked Martin.
‘Only if you
The summoned demon waited, looking from one side of the harbour mouth to the other.
‘What happens next?’ asked Martin of Miranda.
