Elves: Once Walked With Gods Read Free Page B

mood. Get the blood flowing. Give us energy. Get our feet going and our courage together.’
    ‘Good idea, Arshul,’ said Haleth. ‘It’s about time this hell hole heard the beauty of Balaian song. A chorus of “Break the Chains”?’
    ‘We won’t be able to hear them coming.’
    ‘You won’t hear them anyway, not even if every beast in the forest fell silent and the sun dried the rain,’ growled One-Eye. ‘Sing, you bastards. And keep your eyes open.’
    Tentatively at first, but growing in volume, the battle chant rose. And with every word, Arshul felt warmer and stronger. He surprised even himself.
‘Blade aloft and arrow nocked
Break the Chains!
Break the Chains!
Armour bright and soul alight
Break the Chains!
Break the Chains!
Enemies hear and cower in fear
Break the Chains!
Break the Chains!
Shake them, break them, bring them down
Break the Chains!
Break the Chains!’
    Warm fluid sprayed over Arshul’s face. He looked left. The one with the white face was in front of Jinosh, his fingers buried in Jinosh’s neck. Arshul brought up his blade. The white face dragged his fingers clear, the filed nails tearing out flesh. Jinosh screamed and fell forward. Arshul moved his blade to strike. The white face dropped to his knees. Feet ploughed into Arshul’s chest, driving him back onto the sodden ground.
    Arshul saw a blade flash. Another man cried out, clamping his hands to his midriff. Arshul was disoriented. He saw the TaiGethen’s feet lift from his chest. Noise exploded all around him. He heard the thud of bows but not the sound of a hit. Arshul tried to scramble to his feet. The elf was inside the ring. A blade came at him but he moved so fast the edge carved empty air.
    An archer dropped his bow, tried to get a knife. A palm slapped up into his nose, snapping his head back, smashing bone high up into his head. Haleth was shouting. Arshul made it to his haunches. The elf struck again, short sword taking a second archer through the eye.
    ‘Cast!’ yelled Haleth. ‘One of you bastards. Cast!’
    ‘At what?’ shrieked a mage, his voice tattered by fear.
    Every swordsman had turned now. And the elf had gone, springing up and out of the circle, using a vine to speed his progress. Arshul watched him, gaping because he could do nothing else. In the cloying confines of the rainforest, the elf moved without impediment. A creature at one with his environment. He brought his legs into a tuck, unwound it as he landed, spun and delivered a ferocious kick into the back of One-Eye’s neck. The big man crumpled, head flopping on his shattered vertebrae.
    ‘Turn, turn!’ yelled Haleth. They weren’t listening to him any more. The group scattered. ‘No! Stick together.’
    The pale face appeared again, as if stepping out of nowhere. He lashed his fingers across the face of a running mage, tearing out his eyes and sending him crashing into a tree. The TaiGethen pounced on another, landing two kicks more quickly than Arshul could follow and delivering a killing blow to the heart with his blade.
    Arshul began to back away. The elves were intent on those in front trying in vain to escape.
    ‘Stand with me,’ hissed Haleth.
    But the fire drops of terror were turning Arshul’s heart to ash and he shook his head.
    ‘No. You’ll be next. Alone I can hide, escape.’
    ‘You will never escape them alone.’
    ‘I can try. I’m sorry, Haleth.’
    Arshul clung to the threadbare remnants of his will and moved quietly away.
    ‘Stand, you bastard!’ roared Haleth. ‘Craven scum. Worthless piece of shit. Stand! Anybody. Stand with me!’
    Haleth didn’t come after him. Arshul knew he wouldn’t. Too much pride. Too much belief in the crew he had assembled. Look at that faith now. Being picked off, one after another. So Arshul, a very quiet man, a man used to leaving no trace, crept further away.
    The screams of terrified men, so like their womenfolk when all was said and done, echoed through a mist that rose from the