Sentinelspire - Mark Sehestedt [131]
Sadness filled Chereth's face. Genuine regret. But then his eyes hardened. "This is your final word, then?"
"Not mine," said Berun. "The words of the Oak Father. I am merely his hand. I am vengeance."
" 'I am vengeance,' " said Chereth. "Those are the words of Kheil the killer, not Berun, son of the Oak Father."
Lewan could see his master's gaze turning inward as he considered the old druid's words. But then Berun blinked, his eyes cleared, and he said, "It seems then that Kheil must become the son of the Oak Father. Berun Kharn kienelleth. Hope must become vengeance."
"Then I have no choice," said Chereth. "I am so sorry, my son. I must destroy you."
The druid took in a breath, raised his staff with both hands-
And a dark shape hit him. The half-elf went down under the dead weight. Eyes wide, Lewan saw that it was one of the druid's dark creatures.
But quite dead. Broken and bloody, in fact, its throat a mangled mess. Not cut, it had been ravaged by teeth.
"Oh, no," said a hoarse voice. "That bastard is mine."
An even larger form dropped down from the ledge at the edge of the roof, then stood up. What was visible of his skin showed greenish gray under the floating lights, but he was covered in a black wetness that Lewan knew was blood. More coated his heavy blade and the hand that held it.
It was Sauk.
Chapter Forty
The half-orc had not only killed one of Chereth's dark creatures-he had scaled the tower carrying the dead weight, then thrown it on the druid. Sauk stood near the edge of the roof, covered in gore-much of it his own blood. His skin was a collage of cuts, scrapes, and scratches. He bled from a deep gouge on his left shoulder.
Sauk fixed his gaze on Berun, who still knelt on the ground. "On your feet, you bastard. Your skulking little lizard killed Taaki." He hooked three fingers like claws and raked them across his face and heart. "Now I'm going to eat your heart. Dam ul dam. Blood for blood."
Completely unhurried and seemingly unconcerned, Berun pushed himself to his feet. He still had the knife in his hand, but it hung in a relaxed grip at his side. "Talieth…?"
"Doesn't matter," said Sauk, and he approached Berun. "All that matters now is you and me."
"You dare!" Chereth crawled out from under the dead weight of his servant and regained his feet. Blood from the dead creature smeared his robes, and he trembled with rage. The lights drifting over the roof flared brightly and took on a red tint. "Ebeneth!"
The foliage around Sauk erupted, vines snaking forward and branches grasping for him. But the half-orc was prepared. He leaped away, and when the plants came too close, he slashed at them with his blade, cleaving vines and sending leaves flying. Dodging the first assault, he tried to charge the druid, but more plants rose up to block his way and try to trap him. Sauk slashed and jumped. A few meager creepers managed to grasp one leg and arm, but he ripped away.
Chereth raised his staff and pointed, as if directing the attack. More and more leaves and branches surged after the half-orc, driving him away. Sauk cut and punched and kicked his way out of them, but he was being steadily forced toward the ledge.
Berun raised his knife and charged the old druid.
But Chereth saw him coming. He took one hand from his staff, held it palm upward before his face, and said, "Naur telleth!"
A burst of flame erupted in Chereth's palm, painting his manic features in a devilish light. He curled his hand into a fist, thrust it outward, and the flame shot straight for Berun.
Berun put his forearm in front of his face and tried to dodge, but the flame followed him and struck his midsection. Berun screamed and fell.
"Master!" Lewan called out.
His blistered torso smoking, his face twisted in pain, Berun pushed himself onto his feet and looked to Lewan.
Lewan took one step forward and tossed the hammer. It tumbled end over