3 rotten fruit Read online

  The warriors, on the other hand, swung mailed fists and axes held high on the haft. Reiner saw Pavel reeling back from a fist to the shoulder. An axe sheared off a bandit's arm at the elbow.

  'Fall back!' shouted Reiner.

  The Blackhearts and the bandits ran up the stairs, leaving their dead and wounded behind, the Northmen hot on their heels. A bandit went down, his skull crushed as he turned to flee.

  The men emerged into a corridor and ran across it into the kitchen.

  'The table!' cried Reiner. 'Block the door!'

  But before they could drag the heavy oak board more than a step, the painted berserks were upon them again, and the bandits, in full rout now, ran out of the kitchen door. Reiner and the Blackhearts followed, inches ahead of the Northmen's blades.

  As they burst into the yard, Reiner was momentarily afraid that they had run into more Northmen. The place was full of men in blood-caked armour. But then he recognized Manfred and Groff in the crowd. The knights raised a shout as the Northmen roared out of the kitchen, and a fierce battle erupted as the two sides slammed together.

  Reiner was happy to observe from the sidelines, as were the bandits and the Blackhearts, who sucked in deep breaths and mopped at their wounds.

  After it became certain that the knights would be victorious, Hals turned to Franka and gave her a curious look.

  'What meant ye,' he asked, 'when y'said "fortunately you wasn't a man"?'

  'What?' said Franka. Reiner swallowed nervously. The girl was turning bright red. 'I... er, I, well, I merely meant that I am but a boy.'

  Hals scowled. 'When I was your age, laddie, I was twice as likely to fall for a woman's wiles.'

  But before he could pursue the question further, the last of the Northmen fell and Manfred was striding their way, glaring.

  'Hetzau, what is the meaning of this?'

  'My lord,' said Reiner as he thought how to answer. 'We are most glad...'

  'Never mind that, villain. I...'

  Behind the count, Groff suddenly raised a cry. All turned. Servants were carrying Udo's body into the garden. Groff hurried forward and took the boy in his arms. 'Who has done this?' he cried. 'Who has slain my son?'

  Manfred glared at Reiner. 'Hetzau?'

  'My lord, you wound me.' said Reiner. He crossed to Groff and bowed. 'Lord Groff, the sorceress came to free your son so he might assassinate you, but he refused. They slew him for it.'

  Groff looked at him with grateful eyes. 'He resisted then?'

  'Yes, my lord. I only regret we were not able to stop them.'

  Manfred gave Reiner a cool look. 'Regrettable indeed. And who are these gentlemen with you, who were yet not enough to save Lord Groff's son?'

  Reiner swallowed. 'My lord, this is Captain Loche, leader of the noble woodsmen who helped you hold the castle this night.'

  Loche touched his forelock to Manfred. 'M'lord.'

  'A leader of bandits, you mean,' said Manfred, ignoring Loche. 'Who you recruited against my orders.'

  'I thought your lordship might be pleased to find yourself alive at the outcome.'

  'I am never pleased to be disobeyed.' He turned to the captain of his retinue. 'Strieger, arrest these outlaws, and all who have remained on the field.'

  'What?' said Loche, surprised.

  'But, my lord,' cried Reiner as the knights began to surround the surviving bandits. 'They have saved your life. You must admit that. You would be dead if not for their help.'

  'That may be,' said Manfred, 'but certainly they aided us not out of any loyalty to the Empire, but only to save their own skins. They are still outlaws. They must still hang.'

  'Hang? My lord!' Reiner was sweating now. 'My lord, it took all my gifts to convince these men to come to your aid. I promised them that you would be grateful - that you might even reward them for their service.'

  Manfred raised an eyebrow. 'Ah. Then they have no one to blame for their fate but you, who promised things it was beyond your power to grant.' He motioned to Strieger. 'Take them. In these troubled times the laws of the Empire must be firmly upheld.'

  As the knights took the bandits in tow, Loche shot a look at Reiner that pierced him to his soul. 'Y'dirty liar,' he rasped. 'I hope y'rot.' He spat on Reiner's boots. The knights jerked him forward and marched the bandits out of the garden.

  Reiner hung his head, more ashamed than he'd ever been. He felt like a trained rat who had led his wild brethren into a trap. He wanted to tear Manfred's throat out, but - more shame - he was too much of a coward. He valued his life too much.

  Franka put a hand on his arm. It didn't help.

  THE NEXT MORNING the Blackhearts were locked back into their coach and Manfred and his knights continued south to Altdorf. As they rode from Groffs castle, Reiner and the others peered back through the slotted windows. Hanging from the battlements were scores of bandits and cultists, mixed together as if the hangmen had made no distinction between them - rotting fruit hanging from a stone tree.

  Reiner's heart clenched when he saw Loche's massive body swaying among them. He closed his eyes, then sank back in his seat. 'And that, my lads,' he sighed, 'is fair warning of how Lord Valdenheim will deal with us when he no longer finds us useful.'

  Pavel nodded. 'The swine.'

  Giano shook his head. 'We dead soldiers, hey?'

  'There must be a way out,' said Franka.

  'But how?' asked Hals.

  And so the endless conversation began again, all the way to Altdorf.

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