FOREVER KNIGHTS: #4 Battling Black Roses

Driter’s Den Tavern, Netherlands

MARDICHI

“Mardichi!” Sebastian’s voice roared into Mardichi’s mind with such ferocity that the barbarian’s alehorn clattered to the floor as he slammed a palm to his forehead to cease the throbbing the blinding sound created.

“Aw, bloody hell! Ever’time I sit down to ale!” He slammed the tankard he’d been pouring into his alehorn to the table. Launching to his feet to roar to the ceiling. “What do ye want!” He kicked a bench back sending it scraping then clattering across the room.

“Teverius.”

That little shit?

“That bloody whelp. Always in need of someone brawny to save his pasty arse!” Mardichi grumbled. Ignoring the eyes that turned on him as he roared at thin air. Stalking from the Driter’s Den and tossing the door closed so violently, the tiny tavern rocked on its floating base. Sloshing over the Lake it perched on as Mardichi stomped down the dock.

Fine. Transitioning to the giant red stallion, he moved into a lope to tear through the woods. Ducking his head and running at a breakneck pace.

He reached Tev’s hut and followed his nose to the shack in the large clearing. Glimpsing the huge group of Targue. Tev was a white blur wielding his hatchets so fast even Mardichi couldn’t see them.

Not too bad. Mardichi grunted grudgingly. His resentment instantly gone at seeing the true danger Little Brother was in.

The lad’s about to be dogfood. Ugly dog food.

Tev’s head popped up and he whistled towards the woods. Low and long.

There was a rumble and thundering of movement rattling the trees as six giant Targue leapt from the woods as though they’d been waiting for the call.

Tev did two short whistles and this Targue pack moved as a team.

His demon dogs. Mardichi registered. Mardichi groaned. I’m going to have to sort through them?

Some to kill and some to avoid? He eyed them quizzically. Trying to distinguish them. He transformed back human to better select what he fought. Running to the clearing to join Tev.

Hearing him coming, Tev tossed him a cursory scan.

Mardichi came to a stop. Locking his heels and sliding in the mud, sending a wave of dark dirt over Tev.

“Is that your rendition of assistance?” Tev demanded breathlessly. Using a forearm to do a quick swipe over his face to remove the mud from his eyes. Glaring at the barbarian heatedly.

The Targue backed up, shaking their heads.

“Quit yer crying wee lad. I’m here, ain’t me?” Mardichi found the six working together to his left so he turned right and curled his fists into tight hammers. Dropping to a knee he brought them down to crack the backs of two Targue charging him. Spines crunching, they yelped, collapsing to front paws and dragging their bellies as they whimpered. He jumped one to slam a fist down on another. Working his way through them at such a pace.

Seeing still more flooding over the bridge and around the house, Mardichi winced.

The barbarian’s shoulders slumped. Not good.

The barbarian threw back his head to roar. “Bast!”

What? The answer came in Mardichi’s mind.

“More!” Mardichi ordered.

I’m coming. Bast assured, huffing.

“Faster!”

He heard Bast grunting in his mind.

“And bring yer blades.”

I have them.

Mardichi returned to crushing the animals with his behemoth fists, as he walked through them. One latched onto his forearm and he grabbed its throat. Crushing its windpipe in a viselike grip before tossing it like rubbish.