Even Gods Must Fall - Christian Warren Freed Page 0,135
Weapon gripped tightly, Badron hurried to meet his destiny.
THIRTY-FOUR
Loss and Gain
Heart racing, Bahr was about to do the dumbest thing he had ever imagined in his long life. He gripped his sword tightly, as if afraid it would fail him when he needed it the most. Taking three quick breaths, he rounded the corner and prepared to charge into the mass of Goblins and the Troll. Boen’s strong hand jerked him back at the last moment. Confused, Bahr turned on his friend with venom in his eyes. Boen’s face remained impassive as he pointed.
Bahr squinted through the gathering darkness to where the Gaimosian pointed. There, amidst the angry rabble defending the entrance, stalked a slender figure no larger than a girl. Bahr squinted harder as he glimpsed her face. His heart fell. Mouth dropping open, he surged forward only to be held firmly in place.
“Not yet,” Boen whispered in his ear.
“Let me go, you bastard. It’s Maleela,” Bahr snapped back.
“Think clearly you old fool. She’s not here as a prisoner,” Boen argued.
Bahr finally succeed in shrugging off Boen’s grip but didn’t move. Reason was blocked by emotional attachment. Days of worrying over her death finally wore him down, here when he needed all of his strength. At the end of the quest Bahr found yet another obstacle preventing him from ending it all. Despair crawled into the shallow parts of his soul and he wept.
“Use the pain. It will make you stronger once we get inside,” Boen urged.
Anienam whispered from a short distance away, “We are wasting time. The Dae’shan have already begun the ritual!”
“He’s right, we need to move,” Boen seconded.
Bahr risked another glance and was dismayed to see Maleela disappear within the ritual chamber. “There’s too many. We’ll never break through in time with that Troll standing guard.”
Boen offered his most charming grin. “Leave the Troll to me. We can take care of the Goblins well enough.”
“It has to be quick, before others come down on us from behind,” Bahr said.
“Quick killing is the best. Are you ready?”
He wasn’t, but that didn’t matter. Boen used that momentary distraction to leap into an attack, stealing Bahr’s place at the head of the group. The Gaimosian bellowed an almost monstrous roar as he raised his sword high above his head. Goblins turned, startled by the sudden appearance of enemies this deep within the ruins. The Troll roared back in challenge, knowing Boen for what he was. Shoving the smaller Goblins aside, the Troll rushed to meet Boen. They collided like mountains collapsing.
Boen struck swiftly. His sword ripped chunks of sickly green flesh away. In pain, the Troll tried to swat Boen’s sword away and grasp his throat. Boen was quicker. His sword danced over the Troll’s rough hide, scoring deep wounds designed to infuriate more than kill. His only chance was to get the Troll angered enough to where it didn’t think clearly.
The beast was close to eight feet tall and five hundred pounds of muscle and anger. Boen had never fought an opponent so large, the Gnaal notwithstanding. This was a beast of the old world, a creature seldom seen outside of their mountain homes. Trolls weren’t exceptionally bright but possessed the martial skills of a Gaimosian. Boen was in the fight of his life.
The Troll swung hard, clipping Boen’s shoulder and sending him tumbling to the ground. Goblins backed away to give them room. None were in a hurry to die. Intense pain ran through Boen’s right side but he struggled through it to rise again. Lip busted, a thin trickle of blood dribbled down his chin. Madness sparkled in Boen’s eyes. This was the fight he’d been searching for. A fight where he’d either win or die. There was no alternative.
Boen lunged forward and ducked back as the Troll reached for him. He was rewarded by losing two fingers as Boen’s sword sliced through. The Troll stumbled backwards, blood pulsing from the stubs.
“Now we’re even, beastie,” Boen barked.
The Troll attacked again, abandoning caution. He barreled towards Boen. Unaware of the surrounding area, the two battled with all of their might. Sword hacked and cut. Fist pummeled and broke bone. Three of Boen’s ribs snapped like kindling. The Troll buckled as steel ripped through his right hamstring. Blood peppered the ground. Both panted heavily. Exhaustion crept in for neither had gone against such a worthy foe.
Bahr and the others fired arrows into the distracted Goblins, felling several instantly. Battle erupted as Ironfoot and Rekka burst into the Goblin