The Beast of Maug Maurai, Part One: The Culling Read Online Free PDF

“Each man was hand-picked for this assignment.”
    “Of course, sir,” said Grae. “But I
was hoping I could make a few additions. Men I have worked with before who have
proven themselves capable and– ”
    “Heroes, all of them I’m sure,” the
Chamberlain interrupted. “But these men were hand-picked. We have allowed your
choice of a scout and your own hammer. More than this we cannot do.”
    “As you say, sir.” Grae sipped at his
wine. “It would be easier to equip the squad if I knew what was required of me.
Am I to understand that my team is to search for the Cobblethrie family in Maug
Maurai? If so, I should think you would want me to head into the forest at
once. Not ride across Western Nuldryn for a day gathering the men from their
units.”
    “Yes, I suppose it is time to address
it,” exclaimed the Chamberlain. “What is it that the Duke of Nuldryn needs from
the Standards?”  He took a breath, as if steeling himself. “No sense mincing,
eh? We need you to kill the Beast, Brig Barragns. We need you to slay the Beast
of Maug Maurai and bring back its head.”
    A profound silence settled in the
room. Grae studied the unkempt bed. When he looked back toward the Chamberlain
he was calm again. “You assigned me only seven men,” he said quietly.
    “Seven Laraytian Standards,” said the
Chamberlain. “And then there’s you and your hammer and your scout. That’s ten
Standards. A formidable force.”
     “Knights have gone into that forest
with dozens of men,” said Grae. “An entire company of Janissaries was lost in
there.”
    “Bah! Knights who don’t know how to
fight outside of tourneys. Provincial forces with rudimentary training. You’ll
have ten Standards. True soldiers. Professional soldiers.”
    “Perhaps,” said Grae, “we should find
another ten.”
    “Brig Barragns,” said the
Chamberlain. “You of all people must understand the dearth of Standards in the
West. The marquesses are cycling them to the front faster than new ones can be
trained. We need someone to slay the Beast now, this very moment. So that when
the lords of Lae Duerna Duchy start asking questions and pointing fingers, as
they most certainly will, Duke Mulbrey can look properly despondent and
apologize to them with all his heart, and then show them the head of the
Beast.”   
    Grae fought down a handful of
questions. There were a slew of inconsistencies in the Duke’s statements. Grae
was being lied to. But he was a soldier, and being lied to was an integral part
of soldiery. The idea of the assignment settled onto him slowly. The importance
of such a mission. It was suicide, of course. Certain death.
    And it was the best assignment he’d
had in years. He fought down a smile.
    The Chamberlain cleared his throat.
    “Oh, and there is one more thing we
require of  you. A minor detail, really.”
    But the intensity in the
Chamberlain’s eyes betrayed the lightness of his voice. Grae looked into those
steel blue eyes and saw Cydoen. There, reflected in those eyes was not Grae’s
own image, but that of The Headsman of Laraytia.

Chapter 6
     

Trust in Lojen, but carry a shield.
     
-- From “The Arms,” Book II of Lojenwyne’s Words
     
    The whip of a crossbow’s hemp cord
knifed through the silence and brought the travelers to their feet. The
crossbowman’s dying scream sent them running.
    They fled toward the west, stumbling
over stones and fallen logs. A dozen lanterns jangled in the night, bubbles of
light in the forest crypt. Murrogar let them run. West was the best direction
for now. He sent Thantos and Hul along the ragged flanks to keep the gentry
together and ordered the four remaining spearmen to stay close to the
Cobblethries. Three of the spearmen ran off toward the Duke and his family. The
fourth looked at Murrogar, his brows furrowed, then walked after the other
spearmen, casting backward glances.
    There were only three knights left
and Murrogar kept all of them with him. Even Sir