Noble V: Greylancer Read Free Page A

tension
     drained from him, like paint dissolving in water. “Who said the beings on this planet
     were immortal? I got him! The son of a bitch is nothing but a speck of dust now!”
    Suddenly, the triumphant voice turned to shrieks of pain.
    Beijrot grabbed at the silver head of the lance sticking easily a meter out of his
     solar plexus, but not before he found himself lifted three meters off the ground.
    Laughing cruelly as the helpless woodcutter twitched in convulsions was none other
     than Greylancer.
    Had not a blast lethal enough to destroy an atomic nucleus just incinerated him? And
     where had he been concealing a three-meter lance?
    “Answer me one question and I shall put you out of your misery in one blow, you filthy
     outer-space invader. Where is the other varmint?”
    Greylancer gave the lance a cruel shake.
    Fresh blood spurted out of Beijrot’s mouth. His shrieks turned into screams.
    “Still able to keep this form, are you? Never you mind. You shall suffer a painful
     death. Pray to your god.”
    Greylancer brought down his lance with one swing, splitting the woodcutter’s body
     down the middle.
    Fresh blood pelted the ground first and then the human entrails splattered down atop
     it.
    The transformation occurred a few seconds later.
    Split asunder by one fell swing, the two halves began to melt in the sun. The eyeballs,
     flesh, and bone revealed themselves as shams as they all liquefied into gray mucus
     and oozed in Greylancer’s direction. It managed to creep about a meter before halting
     its advance over the yellow earth.
    After waiting several seconds to confirm the OSB’s death, Greylancer shook the lance
     one last time. Every last drop of the gray blood spattered the ground. He lowered
     his lance and called Grosbec’s name.
3
    A voice inside Greylancer’s head answered:
    I’ll be there in a moment.
    Soon, Grosbec appeared out of the trees on horseback and pointed the horse toward
     his master.
    When his servant was but ten meters away, Greylancer spied a black shadow dropping
     down from overhead.
    “Take cover!” Greylancer yelled, too late—
    A bloody mass shot out of Grosbec’s heart, and Grosbec toppled forward off his horse.
    A steel arrow. Greylancer glanced down at the arrowhead buried deep in the ground
     and swung his lance.
    There was a beautiful clang of metal as a second and third arrow fell out of the sky.
    So he was no ordinary woodcutter , thought Greylancer, and then a bloodied voice crept inside his mind.
    My lord, the enemy is a ghost archer.
    Grosbec’s thoughts. Greylancer slapped the rear of his cybernetic horse, sending the
     steed cantering away, and darted toward his loyal companion lying on the ground.
    He also sent Grosbec’s mount away and struck down a fourth arrow.
    Grosbec’s body was already beginning to disintegrate. His pale skin was sallow and
     emitting a haze of decay.
    He must have been in one of the four houses, disguised as a visitor. I will avenge
     you in a moment.
    To a dying man, perhaps his tone sounded heartless.
    The Greater Noble stood up. He hoisted his lance above his head and threw it without
     taking aim.
    The lance vanished, leaving behind a loud buzz. Only the two vampires present understood
     that it was flying toward the OSB that had loosed the arrow that had pierced Grosbec’s
     heart.
    My lord?
    Grosbec’s shock ran through his master’s mind. A black arrow sprouted from the right
     side of Greylancer’s chest. It had struck him when he threw the lance.
    It’s all right. It missed my heart.
    Greylancer wrapped his left hand around the shaft and plucked out the arrow with neither
     wince nor shudder.
    Hurry…you must return…to the village. Iron-tipped arrow…look after the wound…or your
     insides…will decay.
    Will you survive?
    That was a question to which Greylancer already knew the answer. Among those serving
     him, the men with telepathic abilities numbered fewer than five. Grosbec was among
     the precious