The Undead Hordes of Kan-Gul (23 page)

“How can anything that was dead ever truly be content? They belong in the afterlife, not forced to serve here with you.”

Kan-Gul ignored him. “Being content is not really enough to keep warriors—alive or dead, for that matter—loyal to you. They need further incentive. A bonus, if you will, that will keep them only too happy to stay and serve me.” Kan-Gul strode over to the closest Chekhal and placed his hand on the warrior’s shoulder. “A curious effect of reanimating these dead warriors has been that they apparently have other needs apart from the ingestion of living souls.”

“Such as?”

Kan-Gul’s smile grew as he drew up the articulated armored plate that covered the Chekhal’s lower abdomen and groin, exposing the flesh underneath. Ran was horrified to see the Chekhal’s genitalia.

“You will note that for an undead warrior, death seems to have gifted it with an unusual physical ailment: nearly permanent rigidity.”

Ran stared at Kan-Gul. “Nearly permanent?”

“There is a cure for it, albeit temporarily.” Kan-Gul’s eyes flicked over to Yuki, and his smile grew. “Perhaps I will see if Kancho’s daughter has the ability to satisfy the unearthly cravings of my Chekhal warriors. She can start with the dozen I have here with me and later on attend to the thousands back at my castle.” He sighed. “If nothing else, it will no doubt provide me with hours of entertainment.”

Now Kan-Gul stared directly at Kancho. “Imagine that, Murai: your daughter’s every orifice filled with the undead seed of my men. How much dishonor would that bring upon your house?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Kancho’s reaction was immediate. The older warrior lifted his curved blade and ran directly at the sorcerer, swinging his blade overhead and down, determined to cleave the evil sorcerer in two. Ran watched him rush Kan-Gul, and then it was as if time started to slow down. Ran felt himself breathing and his pulse quickening as the older warrior seemed to take a long time to close the distance between where he stood and Kan-Gul’s position.

The sorcerer wore a nasty smile full of pleasure, and there wasn’t a hint of surprise. Ran realized that Kan-Gul had deliberately baited the older warrior. He didn’t care about Kancho or his daughter. He wanted Ran now that Jysal was dead. Everyone else was just a distraction.

Ran tried to shout a warning, but even the words took forever to spill from his mouth. It wouldn’t have mattered. Kancho was beyond reason. Yuki had been the reason he’d dishonored himself in the first place. She’d been his entire reason for being. To hear the possibility of his only family being tortured in such a way had robbed him of common sense and any wisdom he’d gained from years on the battlefield.

The Murai adherence to their code of honor dictated that Kancho strike down Kan-Gul. The sorcerer knew this. And now he was exploiting it.

Kancho took another step in half-time and started to bring his sword down right at Kan-Gul. The sorcerer looked up at the descending blade; the smile he wore never wavered. For an instant, Ran wondered if Kancho would be able to carry through with this strike.

Then the sword simply stopped moving.

So did Kancho.

“Men are so often victims of their egos, wouldn’t you say, night stalker?” Kan-Gul walked around the frozen Kancho. “Let us look at the example before us. Here we have a warrior who by all accounts is ferocious. He’s a veteran of many conflicts, and his skill with the sword is obvious. Talented. Some would even say wise, filled with experience. And yet, despite all of his successes, he is still vulnerable to me playing his ego like a violinist plucks strings. It took but one little idea that his daughter would be ravaged by the primal lust of my undead warriors to get him to willingly abandon all restraint.”

“It’s his only daughter,” said Ran. “She is the only family he has left.”

Kan-Gul shrugged. “You’re making excuses for him now? Surely you know the dangers of ego. Surely your masters taught you how to manipulate it to your advantage when it comes to gathering information or dealing with a warrior who would be, by any other standard, a formidable challenge?”

“They did. And I do.”

“Those who claim to be immune from the vulnerability that ego infects us with are most often the first to fall prey to its insidious tendrils. They creep about the mind, destroy the spirit, and rob us of our ability to remain detached from vanity, idol worship, and whims of desire in all its forms. This is the advantage that sorcerers and other mages have over warriors: our minds need to be sharp, objective, and flexible in order to master the forces of magic. The art is demanding and full of traps and pitfalls that ensnare those of lesser discipline or lesser imagination. Most often it seduces them and blinds them with the promise of power and prestige while robbing them of everything they hold dear, until they are driven insane. This is how the lineage of sorcery protects itself; only the very best should ever be able to ascend to its highest peaks and wield power nearly equal to that of the gods.”

Kan-Gul regarded the Murai in front of him. Kancho might have been frozen, but Ran could see that he was still trying as hard as he possibly could to bring the sword down on Kan-Gul.

The sorcerer continued to smile. “Even now—trapped as he is within the spell—the Murai is determined to strike me down. He has no hope of doing so, but his ego will not let him abandon the quest to kill me. To do so, he believes, would be giving up—surrendering—to a lesser foe, someone beneath his stature.” Kan-Gul shrugged. “As much as he is trapped within my spell, he is simultaneously trapped within the cell of his own vanity. I find the human brain such a fascinating topic of study. Don’t you?”

Ran shrugged. “Perhaps.”

“Bah.” Kan-Gul waved him off. “You do as well. It’s one of the things you Shinobujin are so adept at playing with. You think I can’t see through your legends? The ability to vanish in the night. The nearly supernatural physical abilities you are supposed to be able to do at will? Tell me, can you truly turn invisible? Can you really disappear in the blink of an eye?”

Ran smiled. “Why would I tell you my secrets?”

“We’re making conversation.” Kan-Gul leveled a finger at Ran. “Here’s what I think: I think your invisibility isn’t so much the idea that you are able to actually disappear as it is the subtle manipulation of physical boundaries of human awareness combined with an innate understanding of how the human brain works. Couple that with this discussion of ego and you have the perfect recipe for being able to vanish. And more importantly,
make
people think you can vanish. If their minds are already predisposed to the notion that you
can
, then when you employ your techniques, you are even more convincing.” He clapped his hands. “It’s rather ingenious, if I do say so myself.”

“Thank you.”

“Especially so, when dealing with warriors like our friend here—proud men who are convinced of their own imperviousness and skill. To be bested by a fighter like yourself, who refuses to limit himself to the parameters of some ancient code but rather utilizes anything necessary to get the mission accomplished—well, it would be rather insulting to them. So the very legends that you have created are perpetuated by your opponents as a means of explaining away their failure at being able to deal with you. Sheer brilliance!”

Ran sighed. “Glad you approve.”

Kan-Gul’s smile disappeared. “Can you imagine actual invisibility, though? Truly not being physically present? What would that be like.”

“I didn’t know that ability exists,” said Ran.

“Oh, it does,” said Kan-Gul. His body shimmered for a moment, and Ran frowned. He could see the landscape behind the sorcerer. He could see right through him. Then, in another blink, Kan-Gul’s body was back and solid.

“I could teach you how to do it. Imagine that. You wouldn’t have to rely on psychology and physical limitations. You could actually become invisible. You could become the most accomplished Shinobujin of the ages. And all I’d ask is for your help from time to time in dealing with the variety of unpleasant things I am distracted by. Your rewards would be extraordinary. Anything you desired.”

“Attempting to appeal to my ago after a lengthy discussion on the very ills of it probably isn’t the most compelling argument you could offer up,” said Ran. “You’re not dealing with a Murai, after all.”

“Indeed,” said Kan-Gul. “But even those of us who are aware of the pitfalls sometimes need to take a break from constant vigilance. After all, what good is treasure and fame if you can’t enjoy them every once in a while.”

“Perhaps I’m not motivated by those things.”

Kan-Gul’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not, are you?” He paused. “So what does motivate you, Ran? Is it honor? A different form of honor than the yoke worn by your friend here. And what about friendship? Does that motivate you? Loyalty to comrades you’ve battled alongside. Is the Murai important to you?”

“Challenge,” said Ran. “Challenge motivates me. When I was studying, all I could dream about was getting out into the real world and confronting the things I’d been training to fight against. The crucible of the everyday world is where I find all the motivation I’ll ever need. It’s through challenge that I expect to relish life to the fullest. Anything else—anything easy—wouldn’t be living.”

Kan-Gul stayed quiet for a moment. “You are an interesting specimen, shadow warrior. When others quest for glory and treasure, you only care about how strife makes you a better person. Intriguing.”

“So you can understand why your offer of employment does not exactly tempt me.” Ran eyed Kancho. The determination was still there, but he’d moved only a fraction of an inch farther on.

“Indeed,” said Kan-Gul. “However, I still hold your friend and his daughter captive. Your decision will affect their fate. Are you comfortable knowing that turning me down will result in his death and her eternal suffering?”

Ran sniffed. “I’ve only known him for a few days. As for the girl, she means nothing to me.”

“Easier said than done,” said Kan-Gul. “And I don’t know that I believe you anyway.” The sorcerer waved his hand, and Kancho immediately sped up with his cut. A look of surprise and delight spilled over Kancho’s face. But it was short-lived. Even as he resumed normal speed, his downward cut ran into an invisible wall. Inches away from Kan-Gul’s face, the blade stayed where it was.

Kan-Gul laughed and moved his face even closer to the edge of the sword, taunting Kancho. “Do it, Murai. Make the cut. Strike me down, and all of your pain will vanish. All the Chekhal will go back to the afterlife. Do it now. Use all of your strength, all of your will. Cut me down!”

Ran watched the agony etched in Kancho’s face as he tried to do what Kan-Gul commanded. But the exertion was futile. He could not move the blade any farther. Sweat erupted from Kancho’s pores. His eyes winced, and he gritted his teeth.

“Yes,” said Kan-Gul. “Do it. Kill me . . . ”

Blood seeped out of Kancho’s pores now. His lungs heaved as he strained to finish the cut. And still he could move the blade no farther. Blood ran down his face, spilling into his tunic and staining it a dark maroon. His legs started to buckle. And yet he would not give up. He would not quit.

Kan-Gul laughed. “You cannot kill me, Murai. I am beyond your ability. Your spirit is impressive, but no match for mine.” He sighed. “Alas, our time is finished.” He waved his hands and Kancho’s sword suddenly moved again, but the momentum was so great it arced through the air and stuck right into the ground.

Kancho, surprised at being able to move again and unable to halt his momentum, stumbled forward and nearly impaled himself on the pommel of his sword. At the last moment, he avoided it by twisting and falling to the ground. He shifted and tried to stand back up. Reaching one hand toward his sword, he looked at Ran, and Ran saw only sadness. Resignation.

Kan-Gul eyed the man on the ground before him. “You are exhausted, Murai. There’s nothing left to give. And you have nothing left to take.” The sorcerer pointed a single finger at Kancho’s chest, and Kancho seized up, clutching at his heart.

Yuki rushed to her father’s side, crying as she tried to cradle his head in her arms. He reached one hand up and managed to stroke her face. Ran saw a single tear escape the side of his eye as he smiled at her. “Do not fear death.”

Ran knelt next to him. Kancho’s eyes turned to his. “It was an honor . . . to fight alongside you . . . ” His head lolled to one side.

Still.

Ran placed his hand over Kancho’s face and closed his eyes. Then he stood and faced Kan-Gul. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Didn’t I? What good was he to me? He would have tried to kill me if I had let him live. Better to slay your enemies than have them sneaking back into the cracks until a later date.”

“He was a good man. And a brave warrior.”

Kan-Gul nodded. “He was indeed brave. And I cannot fault him for wanting to rescue his daughter. In his stead, I would have done the same. But it still cost him his life in the end. Be thankful I at least granted him an afterlife. Even now my Chekhal are thoroughly displeased by that act.”

Ran could feel the murmur of energy moving through the ranks of the Chekhal. Clearly they had been hoping to feast on Kancho’s soul. “Thank you for not doing that.”

Kan-Gul held up his hand. “There is a trade-off for everything, so don’t be so quick to thank me. Kancho’s daughter will have to atone for her father’s sins.”

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning she has a lifetime of agony ahead of her.” Kan-Gul gestured to the Chekhal. “They desire her. Can you feel their energy even now? It builds and builds. They need relief, and she is just the vessel for that relief.”

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught Ran’s attention. He turned and saw Yuki picking up her father’s sword. Ran held up his hand. “Yuki, don’t try to attack him. It won’t do any good.”

Kan-Gul laughed. “She is truly the daughter of a Murai. I admire her spirit as well. But the night stalker is right. Put the sword down. You know you cannot strike me down.”

Yuki’s eyes looked like dull stones. But she didn’t try to attack Kan-Gul.

Instead, Yuki turned the sword over and in one swift move threw herself forward onto the blade. Ran heard the sound of the folded steel punching through her abdomen and into her heart. Blood spewed everywhere as Yuki’s body slid farther down the blade. She gasped but once before going utterly still, falling into the trampled grass near her father’s corpse.

For the first time, Kan-Gul looked shocked. “Why on earth would she do such a thing?”

Ran frowned. “You said it yourself. She is the daughter of a Murai warrior. Better death before dishonor. Had she consented to your twisted demands, she would have brought shame upon her family name. This was the only escape for her.”

Around them, the Chekhal shifted and moved and grumbled. They had been robbed of not one but two victims.

Their displeasure was evident.

“Your undead minions don’t look all that pleased with this most recent turn of events.”

Kan-Gul shook his head. “No. They are not. I will have to come up with an alternative that will satisfy their cravings. In the meantime, I need to decide what I’m going to do with you. You’re not going to be stupid enough to try to attack me the way the Murai did, are you?”

“No,” said a voice behind Ran. “But I will.”