just laughed. Just when they started crying, Sir Rillion ordered their heads taken off and we threw them over the wall into the sea.’
Magnus considered it. The man of Ro was a vile worm, foolish and arrogant with none of the honour Magnus hoped he’d find in an enemy combatant. ‘I am of the Order of the Hammer. I don’t expect you to understand what that means because your god cares only for law and knows nothing of honour or courage.’ Magnus stood just inches from Castus and continued, ‘If I am to be killed, I will be killed with a roar on my lips. A small man like you can hope only for a whimper.’ He paused. ‘I want to kill you and I pray to Rowanoco that I live long enough to do so.’
Castus turned towards the corridor and bellowed, ‘This pig-fucker thinks his god is gonna help him.’
The laugh that echoed from the guard station offended Magnus and he breathed in deeply. These men did not know how lucky they were. If he were armed, he knew they would run rather than fight him, but with manacles and crossbows they were brave indeed. They were not true fighting men and Magnus surmised that their station as gaolers was due to their lack of fighting skill.
Two more Red churchmen appeared from the corridor. Each carried a smug grin of victory and a loaded crossbow. They wore steel breastplates and bore the same red tabards as Castus, two swords across a clenched fist. With their weapons levelled at Magnus, they stood either side of the cell door.
Castus drew his sword and said, ‘Take a step back, priest.’
Magnus contained his anger and stepped away from the churchmen. He was not accustomed to enemies who used bows; they were unheard of in Ranen as anything other than a hunting weapon. As a means of fighting, they were considered cowardly and dishonourable.
Castus produced a large metal key and began to unlock the cell door. His movements were slow and deliberate and his eyes remained on Magnus at all times. The door clicked open and Castus motioned for his men to cover him as he took a step into the cell.
His eyes betrayed a touch of fear as he realized he no longer had the safety of a large metal door between himself and the huge Ranen warrior.
Magnus stayed back, glaring down at the two crossbowmen standing either side of Castus. He thought it likely he’d survive the two crossbow bolts long enough to tear all three of them apart, but there was little to be gained by doing so. He would still be in a dungeon, ignorant of what had happened during his incarceration. He thought it best to let himself be taken before Sir Rillion.
‘Turn round slowly, Ranen. Keep an eye on him, you two.’
Magnus turned, exposing the heavy steel manacles that bound his hands. Castus unlocked the chain that secured him to the wall and attached another set of manacles to his feet. The two restraints were then fastened securely together with a second steel chain.
Castus pulled hard on the chain and led Magnus backwards out of the cell. One of the crossbowmen stood in front and the other behind. All three of the men of Ro were on edge, as if they expected Magnus to erupt into violence at any moment.
He was moved under close escort along the dungeon corridor. The other prisoners flashed dark glances at Castus and several nodded silently in respect towards Magnus. A heavy wooden door was opened and they began to ascend the stairs to the keep above.
Magnus thought hard thoughts. He knew that these men of Ro cared little for honour or truth and he doubted anything he had to say to Sir Rillion would change the situation. The reality was that Magnus knew he’d have to kill a lot of men to escape from the city. He would feel no qualms at killing them, but he knew it would not help Duke Hector or the men of Canarn. They would have to endure the pain and indignity of being a subjugated people. The Red church would not be gentle to those so recently defeated in battle.
Magnus disliked it that the situation called for
Magnus considered it. The man of Ro was a vile worm, foolish and arrogant with none of the honour Magnus hoped he’d find in an enemy combatant. ‘I am of the Order of the Hammer. I don’t expect you to understand what that means because your god cares only for law and knows nothing of honour or courage.’ Magnus stood just inches from Castus and continued, ‘If I am to be killed, I will be killed with a roar on my lips. A small man like you can hope only for a whimper.’ He paused. ‘I want to kill you and I pray to Rowanoco that I live long enough to do so.’
Castus turned towards the corridor and bellowed, ‘This pig-fucker thinks his god is gonna help him.’
The laugh that echoed from the guard station offended Magnus and he breathed in deeply. These men did not know how lucky they were. If he were armed, he knew they would run rather than fight him, but with manacles and crossbows they were brave indeed. They were not true fighting men and Magnus surmised that their station as gaolers was due to their lack of fighting skill.
Two more Red churchmen appeared from the corridor. Each carried a smug grin of victory and a loaded crossbow. They wore steel breastplates and bore the same red tabards as Castus, two swords across a clenched fist. With their weapons levelled at Magnus, they stood either side of the cell door.
Castus drew his sword and said, ‘Take a step back, priest.’
Magnus contained his anger and stepped away from the churchmen. He was not accustomed to enemies who used bows; they were unheard of in Ranen as anything other than a hunting weapon. As a means of fighting, they were considered cowardly and dishonourable.
Castus produced a large metal key and began to unlock the cell door. His movements were slow and deliberate and his eyes remained on Magnus at all times. The door clicked open and Castus motioned for his men to cover him as he took a step into the cell.
His eyes betrayed a touch of fear as he realized he no longer had the safety of a large metal door between himself and the huge Ranen warrior.
Magnus stayed back, glaring down at the two crossbowmen standing either side of Castus. He thought it likely he’d survive the two crossbow bolts long enough to tear all three of them apart, but there was little to be gained by doing so. He would still be in a dungeon, ignorant of what had happened during his incarceration. He thought it best to let himself be taken before Sir Rillion.
‘Turn round slowly, Ranen. Keep an eye on him, you two.’
Magnus turned, exposing the heavy steel manacles that bound his hands. Castus unlocked the chain that secured him to the wall and attached another set of manacles to his feet. The two restraints were then fastened securely together with a second steel chain.
Castus pulled hard on the chain and led Magnus backwards out of the cell. One of the crossbowmen stood in front and the other behind. All three of the men of Ro were on edge, as if they expected Magnus to erupt into violence at any moment.
He was moved under close escort along the dungeon corridor. The other prisoners flashed dark glances at Castus and several nodded silently in respect towards Magnus. A heavy wooden door was opened and they began to ascend the stairs to the keep above.
Magnus thought hard thoughts. He knew that these men of Ro cared little for honour or truth and he doubted anything he had to say to Sir Rillion would change the situation. The reality was that Magnus knew he’d have to kill a lot of men to escape from the city. He would feel no qualms at killing them, but he knew it would not help Duke Hector or the men of Canarn. They would have to endure the pain and indignity of being a subjugated people. The Red church would not be gentle to those so recently defeated in battle.
Magnus disliked it that the situation called for
Similar Books
