Rise of the Shadows Read online

  “Grab my hand,” Raiya said, as she dug her feet into the heavy read clay ground for support.

  Mendris made sure he had a good grip with his left hand before he swung his right hand up to grasp her forearm. He made up over the edge before a Bogval tried to jump across from the edge and missed. The gully was only about fifteen feet deep and if it had landed before Mendris got over it would have easily been able to jump up and pull him down.

  “Damn, that was close.” Mendris said, clambering to his feet. “Lead the way. I’m sure that won’t stop them for long. We need to make it to the duke’s fast.

  They ran into the wood with Raiya leading the way. Through the wood there was not so much as a path as there was a general direction to the other side. They hopped fallen trees and scraped through brier bushes and ducked under low leafy limbs. The wood was mostly flat with an occasional dip. They stopped in one such dip to rest and check their wounds.

  “Are you alright?” Mendris asked. “You hit the ground pretty hard back there.”

  “Yeah, it just knocked the wind out of me. How are you?

  “My old wounds keep reopening because we’re out of salve and bandages, but I’m good.”

  “It’s not that far now, but we have to climb down into the next gorge and follow the river to the right until we get to the crossing and the entrance up to the top that is partially hidden by a boulder.”

  Mendris nodded. “Lead the way.”

  They made it to the gorge with little trouble. No Bogval or beast interrupted their journey. They crossed over the makeshift bridge of loose planks that shifted as they made their way over. Behind the boulder was a set of very old stone steps.

  “This used to be the provincial seat hundreds of years ago and the duke built upon the ancient ruins,” Raiya said.

  Mendris remembered the stories his father had told him. Originally, Paulan and the neighboring Strose had been one kingdom, but it had fallen when the all of the royal family had succumbed to a terrible disease. It was said the shadow clans had originally served that king, and on his death, they’d started their own tribes. He wondered if his own forefathers had served here.

  The several-story stone structure sat in the middle of a vast clearing. Trees were strategically left standing to provide shade and obstacles from a barrage of arrows from the other side of the gorge. There was indeed a wall along the gorge side, but it sat back from the edge, concealing it from view. The wall grew in height as it slithered its way around the outline of the property.

  Raiya stopped at the gates and waited as Mendris examined the structure.

  It seemed strange to Mendris that they hadn’t seen any security guards yet. Did the duke think he didn’t need any or were they hiding deeper in the estate? He wasn’t sure, but it was time to find out. “Let’s go talk to my old friend, Holbert.”

  …

  The duke’s courtyard was void of activity. Just like the exterior perimeter, there were no guards and grass started to grow on the ground, which told Mendris that the place has been empty, or in ill repair, for some time.

  “What do you think happened here?” Raiya said, as they entered into the first door they saw.

  “Bogvals.” It was the only thing that made sense to Mendris. Why else would the estate be in such a state of disrepair? One didn’t declare himself a duke and then live in a hobble. With the money Mendris had sent him, Holbert could afford dozens of workers and a proper security force. Heck, Holbert had known hundreds of sailors, good fighting men, who’d gladly take up the mantle of hired thug for a few coins.

  “Must be,” Raiya said.

  “It’s too quiet,” Mendris said as they moved further into the courtyard. They still hadn’t seen any signs of life.

  “I have only been here a couple of times. His people have villages and huts spread throughout the territory, but there are always people here at the compound.”

  They entered the first door they saw to the residence. They followed a corridor to the end with two choices to go. “Right or left?”

  “I don’t know.” Raiya said. “I entered through the main doors on the other side the last time I was here.”

  “Right it is, since it seems to go towards the front and maybe you will recognize something as we go.”

  The duke’s residence was dark, and a dank odor permeated the air. They walked down the corridor and turned left then another right. Voices started to assault their ears. A loud angry conversation took place. Mendris recognized the voice and quickened his pace.

  “I don’t care!” The duke screamed at the top of his lungs to the empty hall. “Bogval be damned. I’m not leaving until the devil himself arrives.”.”

  Mendris and Raiya slipped into the room. The duke stood on the dais in front of his chair. It looked like he’d been pacing back and forth while ranting to himself. He looked gaunt and pale. The life of a duke hadn’t been kind to Holbert

  Raiya stormed in to confront the duke. “So, this is what you have succumbed too? A coward alone in the dark.”

  The duke turned and looked at Raiya in shock. “Who are you? What are you doing here? Don’t you know it isn’t safe here? He’s coming.”

  “Who’s coming?” Mendris asked.”

  Duke Holbert turned his head and spotted Mendris. His face lit up in a look of relief. “Mendris, I am so excited that you are finally here. My people are cowards and couldn’t contain the Bogval problem. But you are here, so I can now leave. Those creatures have been kidnapping my people for months. Many have died in the process. Most have left. I sent the last of my guards to protect the remaining village. I knew that was what you’d want.”

  Mendris ignored the duke’s words. He couldn’t trust anything that Holbert said. He’d lied so often before. He was tempted to just kill him to avoid listening to any more lies. “Why should I let you go? What’s stopping me from just killing you or leaving you for the Bogval?” Mendris said with anger clear in his voice.

  “Because I can explain.”

  “Why should we believe a word you say?” Raiya asked.

  Mendris looked at his companion. She had one hand on her sword and looked ready to run the duke through. “I’m sure you know Raiya?” Mendris said

  “Yes, yes but of course I do. She was here last year. Yes, last year. It is really great to see you Mendris. I’m sure you have many questions and want to burn me at the stake, but I will save you the time. I am a terrible friend and a low-down scoundrel but I can and will fix it. I can. I will. Come with me. Please come with me.”

  The duke got up and led them into a room. It was clearly his office where all his important papers were kept.

  Mendris shrugged and motioned for Raiya to come along. He was not convinced that this backstabbing son of a Kulthurian dog could make it right. Although the thought of burning down the estate and staking him to the nearest ant hill was in his thoughts the entire trip—the Bogval were not and that had changed everything for him. He still wanted to torture the duke but not if it meant putting any that stayed on the lands in harm’s way. Maybe he’ll just kill him and be done with it.

  Duke Holbert went straight to a cabinet and removed some papers. “It might not forgive my wrongs, Mendris, but you may understand. I knew this day would come sooner or later. I stayed so I could give you these. Fear of you originally made me buy this place and hire guards, but even I knew that those measures would not stop you, since it doesn’t even stop the Bogvals. They killed a lot of my people. It just helped me get through the day.”

  “Why did you not pass along the money I sent?” Mendris said with one fist clenched and the other hand waving around.

  “I would love to say greed,” The duke said, “and in some ways it probably was, but change is coming. The king put a bounty on all shadow warriors. At first, I was just afraid to pass your money on. I didn’t want to go anywhere near your people, but then I had to do something with all the money. Soon I realized what the king was up to and I bought my way into his good graces. There are greater things afoot and in some way I did you a favor.”

  “I don’t care about your nonsense,” Mendris said grabbing a chair and placing it roughly down before he took a seat. “Just be honest with me.”

  The duke gulped down air as he took a deep breath. “It’s all yours.” He handed Mendris the documents. “You can kill me if you wish and I welcome the peace. What is coming will be worse than anything you faced Mendris.”

  “The Bogval?” Mendris said, as he scanned the documents. “What is this about? No fight. No groveling?”

  “No! Not. Not Those beasts, although, I don’t travel much anymore because of them—and of course my fear that you would catch up to me and strap me to a tree for the Bogval to come take me away filled me with terror, but that isn’t the worse of it. No. Not what you should fear. As for the documents, it’s all yours. Take it all. My lands are yours and I will take you to the gold. More than what you gave me. It’s all yours.”

  “Duke, you have gone mad.”

  Raiya stood listening to the whole conversation and concurred with Mendris that the duke has lost his mind. Or something worse than the Bogval has him terrified. But what could be worse than Bogval snatching people in the night? She didn’t know but Mendris seemed just as confused.

  “Perhaps the duke is tired and needs to rest,” Raiya said pulling out a chair. “It probably has been a long day.”

  “Yes. Yes. It has been a long month actually and I have not slept in days.” The duke sat down and rested his head in his arms. He lifted his head after some time and pleaded. “I know I said you can kill me, but it would be nice if you could just banish me from this Bogval infested lands.”

  Raiya stepped over to Mendris and nodded towards the documents.

  Mendris returned the nod. “He just gave me all his lands and just now told me that he will hand over all the gold and then some.”

  “I still don’t trust him.” She scanned the documents. “They were already signed?”

  “It appears so.” Mendris rolled up the documents and tucked them in his pack that was strapped to his back. “All this is mine? I suppose I won’t have to kill you after all.”

  The expression on the duke’s face showed relief mixed with dread and something else that Mendris could not recognize.

  “I guess you better tell me about this Bogval problem you’ve been having? What has brought them this far over the border?”

  “Mendris, I don’t have much to offer except that it’s been almost a year since the bogval started raiding the area. First people were going missing and we had no idea as to what the cause was. A person here and another a couple weeks after. But then a few months ago, they started showing themselves. Taking people in broad daylight.”

  “Where they taking them? Do you know?”

  “No. We sent parties out looking for where the Bogval were bringing the captured folk, but most of those parties never returned and it got harder to get anyone to venture too far away from the compound.”

  Mendris walked to a window and looked over the Bogval cursed lands. “So, all your people just ran off.”

  “They were good people. Mostly families and I don’t fault them. After the soldiers were virtually wiped out on those excursions, who could blame them. I stayed to give you the documents and I’m afraid to leave this place but must leave. As I said before there is one small village left and the soldiers protecting them. But I refused to leave. I needed to be here when you arrived.”

  It seemed that the duke had gone mad. Perhaps it was the threat of the Bogval, or his guilt but it was clear he wasn’t in his right mind any more. “Are there any animals left in the stables?” Mendris asked.

  “Half a dozen horses and a few chickens. I ate the goat last week.”

  “OK, I need two solid horses and a pack for four days.” Mendris said as he stood. “We need to travel to Edowood.”

  “The country from here to Edowood is infested with Bogval,” The duke said.

  “I imagine it is, but we still must go.

  “Mendris, may I retreat to my chambers?”

  “Go ahead Duke. Go get some sleep. You need it, since you will be leaving in the morning.”

  “Thank you. Thank you.”

  …

  Early the next morning, before the sun rose, Raiya and Mendris prepared a couple of horses and took some provisions for the trek north. They also prepared another horse for the duke and packed saddle bags with enough provisions to get him to Strose.

  It took Mendris threatening to just kill the duke if he didn’t leave the compound. The duke was a battered and broken man that feared the Bogval. Although he wanted to leave, his fear paralyzed him. Mendris almost felt bad for the man.

  “Mendris it’s still dark and the Bogval are out there.” The duke said with a bit of whine.

  “Well, the Bogval need to be dealt with but before we can do that, we need help. I need you to redeem yourself and go to Strose and find me some good people to manage the lands but most important thing is for you for you get out of Paulan and not return.”

  “Okay Mendris, I will go and do as you asked, but heed my warning old friend. What is coming will test you far more than anything you have been through so far.”

  “What is coming?” Mendris asked frustrated over the lack of the duke’s forthrightness. “Stop telling me of this impending doom and not saying what it is. Just tell—” Movement across the compound near the stairwell they had taken caught his attention. “For the Gods, Duke get back inside. Raiya, we got Bogval!”

  Raiya came out of the stable ready to do battle. “How many?”

  “Hard to tell. I saw one by the stairs we took and two more over by that shed near the residence.”

  “Think they saw us come up that way?”

  “They followed us, or they may have found it on their own”

  “Mendris, I don’t think they would find those hidden steps on their best day. They must have seen us at least disappear into the cliff.”

  Mendris nodded and charged off into the darkness, as he gulped down a potion. The sun still an hour until it lightened the sky so they could see clearly. He headed for the shed, which was in the deepest shadows. He barely got it when a bogval tried to take his head off with its hammer. Mendris ducked as the hammer tore a hole into the side of the shed. Wood splintered around them. Mendris spun while stepping under the righthanded swing getting away from the beast other hand. With lightning fast speed, Mendris completed the spin while removing his short blade and drove into the sternum of the bogval which was at his eye level. The blade sunk in as it howled in pain. He twisted the blade as he tore it downward and out. The bogval collapsed with a thunderous thud. Another tree being felled in the forest.

  Raiya made it to the halfway point to where Mendris was fighting another bogval. A seven-foot-tall muscled crossbred beast with greyish-blue skin. It tried to grab her in its huge hulking arms. It was not lost on Raiya that people have been going missing. The bogval have been taking more people than they have killed. She could feel the potion course through her veins. Igniting a fire deep inside her. She leaped straight up into the air, as the bogval grasped at nothing but air. She flipped over his head as she crossed both swords to both sides of the beast’s neck. The head crashing to the ground just after she landed.

  “Shit, I hate these giant heaps of horse dung.” She said as she ran towards Mendris who had three beasts running down his position.

  Mendris stood and saw Raiya dispatch and run towards him. He turned but it was too late, as a rather large bogval knocked him to the ground. Mendris lost the grip of his blade and it skittered away from him on the rocky surface of the courtyard. Mendris with the potion’s magic in him provided him amazing strength but the bogval easily overcame him and pinned him to the ground and growled some indecipherable sounds that Mendris was sure meant, if only I could kill you. Mendris caught a glint off to his right and smiled at the beast. He stretched out his arm off to the right and opened his hand as the sword Raiya tossed him spun in slow motion—the timing just right. The hilt hit his palm hard but he made no waste of time. With no room to swing he pulled it in and switched hands as the blade sliced effortlessly through the flesh of the bogval.

  They were big and powerful but were too focused on one task at a time. Being aware of the battlefield around them, and planning tactically seemed beyond their reasoning. No match for a shadow warrior who could see several moves ahead, like in the game of kings. The bogval tried to hold onto Mendris but his grip loosened, allowing Mendris to roll to the left just in time to see Raiya’s other sword pierce through the bogval’s head. Another approached Raiya from behind, but Mendris muscled himself up to a kneeling position and threw a throwing spike, catching the attacking bogval in the right eye. It stopped and shook its head, but it only slowed him down. Mendris removed a pouch from his belt and slammed it to the ground. A bright flash and a thick cloud of smoke engulfed him and Raiya. When the smoke cleared, they were gone. The remaining bogval stood in the courtyard with a not so pleasant scowl, but it would not be there for long as an arrow penetrated its throat and collapsed in a heap.

  Raiya and Mendris looked up from their hidden position and saw the duke on a balcony with a bow in his hands.

  “Well, at least he was good for something,” Raiya said, as they made for the door to the residence.

  “I think that that may be all of them.” Mendris backed into the open doorway with his swords drawn. Once clear Raiya slam the heavy oak door shut. “The gods were crazy creating such vial beasts.”

  “I sometimes wonder,” Raiya said, “if it were the gods that created them at all. None of the gods are that cruel to give the strength of ten ox and the intelligence of a toddler.”

  “Now, it is you that have too much faith in their abilities.”

  The duke rounded the corner a bit too fast for the shadow warriors and almost lost his head. “By the black depths of the Durano sea, I thought I was in trouble just now.”

  “You were,” Raiya said. “Did you watch to see if there were any more waiting in the shadows. They may be slow to think but they understand staying alive.”