00.1 - The Blood Price Read Online Free PDF Page B

crash as predator and
prey slammed together in a lethal embrace.
    “At them!” Amaleth roared, and the air rang with battle-screams as a black
tide of corsairs swept onto the burning enemy ship. They leapt onto the elven
ship’s narrow port hull and clawed their way up and over the rail, slipping and
stumbling on the bodies of the dead as they charged at the closed ranks of the
Lothern Sea Guard.
    Malus found himself carried along in the rush, roaring and shouting along
with the rest. When he reached the rail he leapt as hard as he could, and landed
on the far deck with a jarring thud. With a start, the highborn realized he
hadn’t yet drawn his sword. He dragged his blade from its scabbard just as the
mob of corsairs surged forward again, and he was shoved toward the Lothern
shield wall.
    The enemy spearmen were all but completely hidden behind their tall, oval
shields, and they held their weapons in an overhand grip, ready to stab downward
at exposed faces and throats. Malus smashed full onto a foeman’s shield,
throwing off the warrior’s aim enough that the answering spear thrust missed his
head by inches. The highborn let out a scream and fumbled for the spear haft
with his left hand. He seized the ebon shaft and pulled it towards him, then
chopped at the hand holding it. The sword bit into fingers and wooden haft, and
the spearman screamed in agony. Malus smashed the pommel of his sword into the
warrior’s face and the spearman recoiled from the blow.
    Screaming incoherent curses, Malus forced his way into the spear wall,
lashing wildly at the warriors to either side of him. He smashed a spearman’s
jaw and opened his throat with a vicious cut, then struck the helm of the
second. The warrior he’d driven backwards collapsed onto the deck, and the
highborn nearly fell with him. He drove his sword into the fallen warrior’s
neck, then lurched forwards once more to discover that the enemy formation had
melted away around him. Malus saw that most of the warriors were falling back
towards the ship’s main mast, which had now caught fire as well. He gave chase,
howling like a madman.
    The first warrior he reached glanced behind him a moment before it was too
late, and turned to raise his shield against the highborn’s killing blow. The
enemy’s spear lunged at Malus, glancing off his breastplate; he feinted at the
spearman’s helmet and then swung low, chopping into the side of the warrior’s
knee. The spearman fell with a shout and the highborn literally ran over him,
charging for the next enemy in line. As he ran, a hard blow rang off his
shoulder blade, nearly unbalancing him, and the distraction almost cost him his
life. At that exact moment the next warrior spun on his heel and thrust his
spear at the highborn’s midsection. The tip struck him squarely, just above the
navel, and lodged in a chink in his armour. Without thinking he hacked at the
spear haft with his sword and it splintered before the keen steel point could
drive into his midsection. The spearman dropped the broken weapon with a curse
and fumbled for the short sword at his side, but Malus kept on coming, driving
the point of his blade into the warrior’s left eye. Dead instantly, the body
collapsed, taking Malus’ sword with it. He stumbled, nearly wrenched off his
feet before he could drag the weapon clear.
    The next thing Malus crashed into was the ship’s mast. The retreating
warriors had fled even further, retreating towards the bow. Burning ash and
pieces of flaming rope fell all around him as the highborn leaned against the
splintered trunk and tried to catch his breath. Druchii with dripping blades
rushed past him, chasing after the foe.
    Bodies littered the deck all around him. A dead spearman looked up at Malus
with glazed eyes, his handsome features spattered with red. Wisps of pale hair
fluttered in the sea breeze. So like us, he thought, shaking his head, and yet
so foul. And just like that, he