Torment and Terror by Craig Halloran Page B

refill.”
    Venir’s voice brightened. “Aye, now you’re thinking. I believe it’s time for a celebration. I’m sure there’s some grog bottles that held up pretty well.” He marched toward the porch, side by side with Melegal.
    The Magi Roost groaned, cracked, popped, and collapsed.
    Boom!
    “Son of a Bish!” Venir exclaimed.
    “Slat,” Melegal replied.
    Venir turned back toward Kam.
    Her pretty but drained face held a blank expression. She was a tough woman, but things had taken a heavy toll on her.
    He’d never meant to put her through anything, but he felt responsible for all of her problems somehow. It had to end, whatever was going on. For her, Erin’s, and everybody’s sake.
    “That’s that, I guess,” Kam said. She looked at Venir and gave a little nod. “I’m fine.”
    “You know, a woman being fine is never a good thing,” Melegal whispered in his ear. “So don’t say anything stupid. As a matter of fact, don’t say anything at all … Stupid.”
    Kam huddled with Erin and Joline.
    Melegal huddled with Jasper.
    Venir eased away from all of them and found himself within close proximity of Trinos.
    The woman stood gazing at the heaped-up building with a spacey look in her eyes.
    Finally, Venir decided to give his tired limbs a rest and sit down. “Ah.” Gazing up at the clouds drifting through the sky, he tried to remember the last time he’d breathed without his life hanging in the balance. He looked at his missing fingers. It was that imp who had done that—the same imp who had aided them today.
    Bish is such a strange and screwed up place. He felt eyes on him.
    Trinos was looking right at him.
    “What?”
    “Nothing,” she said. She walked over and sat down beside him. “Enjoy these moments, Venir. You’ve a long road ahead of you yet.”
    “It’s always been a long road. Tell me something new.”
    “Hmmm, that’s an odd request.”
    “Who said it was a request?”
    “You’re toying with me.” She smiled at him. “It’s thrilling in some odd way. I think I like it.”
    “Most women like it, but some of them hate it.”
    “Does Kam like it?”
    “She used to, but I’m not so sure how she feels about it now.”
    “She has deep feelings for you,” Trinos said, placing her hand on his back.
    Venir felt his tensions ease. Her touch was so warm and soothing. Caring. “I’m not sure what you’re doing,” he yawned, “but it’s making me sleepy.”
    “Then rest.”
    “I’ll rest when all the underlings are dead.”
    Trinos removed her hand and frowned. “A part of me wants to apologize to you, Venir.”
    “For what?”
    “You are what you are because of me.”
    Venir shook his head and laughed. “No, I am what I am because of me. I just need to like it again.”
    Trinos lifted a brow. “So you don’t regret all the fighting and killing?”
    “Those fiends? Hah!” He made an axe chop. “A good warrior’s work is never done.”
    Taken aback, she said, “So if you could go back and avoid all the pain and anguish in your life, would you?”
    He checked to see if anyone else was around and said with a guilty smile, “No.”
    “I’m astonished. Almost refreshed.”
    “No life’s worth living that’s not worth fighting for.” He made another axe chop. “Someone has to fight the good fight. It might as well be me.”
    “You are something.”
    “That I am.” He winked at her. “That’s why they call me The Darkslayer.”

 
     
    CHAPTER 22
     
     
    “Kill me, really?” Sidebor huffed. Eyeing the keen edges on Elypsa’s black bladed swords, he added, “Don’t dull that exquisite steel on me.”
    “You are weak, Sidebor.” With the grace of a panther, she closed in on him. Her blades, like black cobras, were ready to strike. “I don’t like it.”
    “Weak?” His black blood boiled. “You think you can take me with that steel, little girl?”
    “I think I can take anybody.” She cut her blades in an X. “Easiest of all a thousand-year-old