Stones of Power 01 - Ghost King by David Gemmell Read Free Book Online Page B

have heard the hissing of dead men's breath. There is no escaping it; if the old gods walk our trail, there is nowhere to hide.'
    'You talk like an old woman. What I can see, I can cut. What I can cut, I can kill. There is no more to be said. Gods, indeed! Look around you. Where are the Atrols? Where are the dragons? Where are the dead that walk?'
    'You will see, Victorinus. Before they take you, you will see.'
    A cloud obscured the moon and an owl swooped over the camp-site. "There is your dragon, Gwalchmai.
    Out hunting mice!'
    'My father angered an Enchanter once,' said Gwalchmai softly, 'and he summoned a witch woman. They found my father on a hillside -or rather, they found the bottom half of him. The top had been ripped away and I saw the fang marks on his back.'
    'Perhaps you are right,' offered Victorinus, 'and perhaps demons do walk. But if they do, a man must face them. Fear is the killer here, Gwal.' A distant wolf howled, the sound echoing eerily through the glade. Victorinus shivered and cursed inwardly. He wrapped his blanket round his shoulders and stoked up the fire, adding fresh branches to the blaze.
    ‘I’ll keep watch for a couple of hours,' he said. 'You get some sleep.'
    Obediently Gwalchmai wrapped himself in his blankets and lay down by the fire while Victorinus drew his gladius and sat with his back to a tree. The night wore on and the cold grew. The Roman added more fuel to the fire until the last broken branch was all but finished, then he pushed himself to his feet and stretched his back, moving off into the darkness to gather more dead wood.
    He put down his gladius and had stooped to lift a long windfall branch when a low, whispering sound alerted him. Still on edge following the conversation with Gwalchmai, he dropped the wood, swept up his sword and dived to the right. Something touched the skin of his back and he rolled, gladius sweeping up into the darkness that threatened to overwhelm him. The blade struck something solid and a bestial scream followed. Victorinus rolled once more as a dark shadow loomed over him, then with a battle-cry he leapt to meet his assailant. His sword plunged home, then a blow to the side of the head sent him hurtling back into the camp-site to skid across the glowing coals of the fire. The clouds parted, the moon shining her silver light upon the scene. Victorinus came to his feet - and froze . . . Before him was a creature some nine feet tall, covered in long brown hair.
    Its eyes were red, shining like fresh-spilled blood, and its fangs were the length of daggers and wickedly curved. The creature's arms were disproportionately long, hanging almost to the ground, and from the end of each of its four fingers grew gleaming serrated talons. A grey mist swirled around Victorinus' legs, rising even as he noticed it. The creature advanced. The Roman swiftly wiped his sword hand free of sweat and gripped the leather hilt of his gladius. It was the wrong weapon for this beast; he needed a spear.

    'Come forward and die!' he called. 'Have a taste of Roman iron!'
    The creature stopped - and spoke. Victorinus was so surprised that he almost dropped his sword.
    'You cannot fight destiny, Victorinus,' it said, its voice sibilant. "This is the day of your passing. Cease your struggle. Rest and know peace. Rest and know joy. Rest . . .' The voice was hypnotic and as the beast advanced Victorinus blinked and tried to rouse himself from the lethargy it induced in him. The mist rose about his shoulders, billowing like wood-smoke.
    'No!' he said, backing away.
    Suddenly an unearthly scream pierced the silence. The mist parted and Victorinus saw Gwalchmai behind the beast, raising his bloody sword for a second strike. The Roman raced forward to plunge his blade into the hairy throat. The talons lashed at him, ripping the front of his robes and scoring the skin. Gwalchmai struck once more from behind and the creature fell. The mist thickened - then vanished.
    The beast was