Rancor: Vampyre Hunter (Rancor Chronicles) by James McCann Read Free Book Online Page B

will noy die anything but.”
    “So dis means–”
    “Farewell, dear brother.” Kendil embraced Rancor and sighed. “Take with ya this.” Slipping a ring from his finger, Kendil placed it in his brother’s hand.
    “Your wedding band! What would ya one tink should she noy see it on ya?”
    “She cares noy for me as I ’ave noy love for ’er. It should be worn for love, and you, Rancor, will find da love. Go. Now, before ’tis too late.”
     
    Rellik opened the box and took out his brother’s band.
    He remembered his indecision that day, and the fear he could not overcome. How could he leave the only life he had known to venture into a world he did not understand?
    Most of all, he recalled what he had seen when he returned, too afraid to leave the only people he knew as family. The only place he had called home.
     
    Ansgar, standing on the gallows, pushed Kendil to the ground. He glared at his son and sighed, brushing a hand through his hair. First he shouted to his son, “Ya were in charge, Kendil!”, and then to his people: “Ma kinsmen, ya ’ave come dis dawn ta witness our gods’ vengeance. But woy we ’ave found is ta betrayal o’ one o’ us. We ’ave war ahead, and t’would do us much impudence ta engage our enemy before we ’ave appeased ta gods.”
    “’ow are we ta appease ta gods woy no sacrifice?” shouted a clansman.
    Kendil looked at his kinsmen, then at his father. “Ansgar, ’tis noy ma fault! Rancor poy a spell on ma dat made me ’elpless.”
    Ansgar turned to the villagers who had gathered at the gallows. Drawing his sword, he raised it to silence them, and said, “Ma people! De escape is noy me son’s burden, but ’is brother’s. Doy no blame Kendil for dis travesty, lest you shall feel de wrath a’ ma steel!”
    “We came for a sacrifice!” called another voice.
    “And so shall there be one.” Ansgar brought the tip of his sword to rest on his son’s neck. “Kendil o’ the Alsandair, we be noy a clan da blames our kin, but we be one da dies for our corruption.”
    The crowd cheered so loudly with approval that a rumble from heaven went unnoticed. But what did not go unheard was a voice that said, “Corruption? What da ya know o’ dis?”
    They turned to the cave. Standing upon its roof, Rancor stared at them. Silence again took hold over the clan.
    “Brothers!” Rancor said. “What be dis madness? Ya so bloodthirsty ya wode sacrifice an innocent man in place o’ two who only wished ta right ya wrongs?”
    “Ya must be as daft as ya are weak,” Ansgar snarled.
    “Daft? Ya are about ta ’ang ya son, because he let ma free people who acted noy different than you would in deir place?”
    “Rancor, ya confuse self-righteousness foy honor. Did ya not participate in da slaughter? Do ya now believe da because ya set two free, ya are absolved of the six ya murdered?”
    Rancor sighed, and looked at each of his kinsmen. In their eyes he saw himself and found his destiny in their damnation. “Per’aps I shall never escape ta evil within ma.”
    “I can tell you woy makes dis man unlike us,” Kendil spat. “Rancor, ya ’ave already escaped our evil. Dis clan wonders woy it is ta make you unlike us? Simply this: unlike da Alsandair, ya hates da sin within ya.”
    “Kendil is under a spell again!” This time the unknown voice was softer.
    “I see truth fa da first time since I opened ma eyes as a babe. And I know ma brother is absolved o’ our sin.”
    Ansgar laughed. “We shall test such virtue. We shall kill but one man, and you, Rancor, shall decide which.”
    Rancor bit his lower lip and stared at the sky. His brow furrowed as he whispered, “I surrender ma life. Set ma brother free.”
    “Noy! ’Tis I who should die,” Kendil said.
    Rancor leaped from where he stood and ran to the gallows. He stood before his brother and smiled. “Would it be anything less than just for us ta die together? Let’s both go ta Other World, and see woy honor waits us