The Darkslayer: Book 01 - Wrath of the Royals Read Online Free PDF Page A

barking dog that dropped to his haunches. Danger still prickled the air, but it could wait.
    “So tell me, yellow-hair,” she said in a voice as polished as silver, “why did you kill my men? They had no quarrel with you … or yours.” She looked around, but there were no signs of his companions.
    “My name is Venir,” he said, “and gnolls are not men, they are beasts that we like to kill. Luckily for you, you are not a gnoll, and we don’t like to kill women, or you would be dead too.”
    “Hah!” she said. “Even if I were a gnoll woman, you wouldn’t be able to kill me.” She waved her battle axes in front of his face. Their craftsmanship was of the likes he had never seen. He found them almost as fascinating as her.
    A few silent moments went by and the tension in the forest seemed to ease.
    “I tell you what, Vee-neer . I’ll spare you and your men if you tell me what business you have in my forest.”
    “Spare us? Now it’s my turn to laugh. Hah!” he said, not hiding his chuckle. “…anyway, we are looking for some people.”
    “What kind of people?” she said, wiping blood from her lips.
    “Ones who follow a brigand queen named Jarla. If she lives in your forests you may have heard of her,” he said, not withholding an ounce of sarcasm. “I hear she mates with gnolls and has a butt like an ogre. Ever hear of her princess?”
    “You are a witty one, Venir, I will give you that. It’s been a long time since a man made me laugh.” She gave him another once over as she looked around. “It seems I’m in need of a new escort. I need to report back to this queen you spoke of.” She rolled her eyes. ”Perhaps I can help, she is very fond of me.”
    “Eh … that would nice.”
    “I suggest you watch your tongue in the meantime, yellow hair. I think you have seen what I can do to people I don’t like.”
    He nodded, not certain what to say.
    “So … why did you take them down? Royal houses are not often trifled with.”
    Her face darkened into another identity.
    “It was payback.”
    Seeing her glare, he backed off the topic.
    “So, now what?”
    “Tell your two men to come on in. I’ll take you back to my camp and feed you. But, don’t kill any more of my gnolls. Got it?”
    “I’m not promising anything ….”
    Billip and Mikkel were quiet as they accompanied their friend back to her camp. It was unsettling. Marching a more-than-capable warrior back to her own camp, containing natural enemies among the ranks, was not the best idea for survival. Chongo stayed back with the two men. Venir was oblivious to their concerns. He didn’t know why he followed, but he did, his passion overcame his reason. He didn’t notice the dour looks behind his back, but he would have done the same for them. Melegal, however, managed to evade the situation and she had given no indication that she knew of his presence.
    From the trees on the higher ground, the rogue watched them go, shaking his head in disgust.
    “Stupid …”
    Melegal wondered if he’d ever see his comrades again.

 
     
CHAPTER 5
     
    The hike became sluggish the further they went as she led them miles deep into a wide, ravine-like pass. Few words were said among them. Venir would have followed her athletic figure anywhere across Bish. He thirsted more than usual as he watched her long glistening legs pass through the brush and climb over mossy edges. He looked back at his friends whose faces were grim and downcast. They’ll be alright.
    The ravine was narrow and wet and he felt notched bows bearing down on his chest as he looked up into the thick tree branches. The singing birds became silent as the pass bottomed out before a massive hill, made up of jagged rocks and vine-like trees, rising towards a flat top. Good place to hide. She crested the hill disappearing from his sight. A foul smell began to choke the humid air. Doubt grew inside his chest as he scrambled after her as shards of rock slid down the hill, bringing sharp