Greywolf

  Claws tore at Greywolf’s back as long fangs like daggers bit down on his right shoulder, Artifact plates shattering under the pressure like thick glass. Screaming in pain, he whirled about and plunged both of them into the women's shadowy forms. The creature’s powerful back legs knocked him to the floor as the creature pushed off him. The floor smacked him hard, Greywolf’s shoulder feeling like it was on fire as he gasped and rolled to his knees, the katana still in his left hand with the sword tip resting on the ground.

  Oh, shite. Not far from the two shadowy figures, a Shadowcat large as a panther was stalking back and forth as if deciding whether to attack again or not. It was grey skin over bones without any flesh, its fangs as long as the Artifact dagger sheathed in his belt. All Shadow creatures hated touching a person's shadow form worse than a real cat hated water, and the two women's shadows were beside him on the left where the katana was partially covered by their feet. But it knew he was wounded, and even though it also knew Greywolf was a Shadow-walker, it suffered the terrible hatred all Shadow creatures had against the living who dared invade their realm. He didn't think it was going to give up.

  It stopped pacing. The Shadowcat snarled and bounded towards him, his hand gripping the katana tight, keeping it hidden until it got close... the Shadowcat tensed to leap... Now, whip the sword up and brace!

  The Shadowcat impaled itself on the blade. The katana was ripped from Greywolf’s hand as the Shadowcat slammed into him and knocked him over as it rolled into a ball, frantically trying to rip the sword out with its claws as Greywolf scrambled away best as he could. He pulled the knife from its sheathe as the creature stopped clawing at the katana and staggered towards him, screaming as it approached. Greywolf rolled to his knees as it leapt again, his chest plates smacking against the sword hilt, shoving it farther in as he thrust the Artifact knife into its mouth.

  It bit down on his arm but the fangs went past on either side and the plates were holding, so hooking his ankle around its back leg, he pushed off, knocking the Shadowcat off balance as it chewed on his arm. Both Greywolf and the Shadowcat screamed as he shoved the knife as hard as he could up into its skull.

  The Shadowcat shrieked, dissolved into a grey mist, and disappeared. The katana dropped to the floor and Greywolf dropped with it, gasping with both his left side and his right fighting over which hurt the worst. Stop whimpering, you're not out of the woods yet. He rolled into a sitting position and looked at the arm. The plates were a mess, but they'd held just long enough, and he didn't think the arm was broken. Okay, move the knife to your right hand. Now, pick up the katana and try to swing it.

  Shite! Bad idea, bad idea. How are you going to save Wysper like this... Wysper! To Greywolf’s right, the Tartaros warrior had gotten closer, and he had his knife up as if he was about to stab her. Wotan's blood, there's only one thing left that I can do. Holding tight to both weapons so he didn't leave them behind in the Shadowlands, Greywolf moved behind her and turned so he was facing her back. Then ran at her shadowy figure as a gateway formed in front of her. He raced through it and out of the Grey...

  Slamming into the warrior as color returned to the world. He was moving much faster due to the difference in time and knocked the warrior off his feet as Greywolf stumbled and fell onto his injured shoulder, both weapons knocked from his hands as he yelped in pain. They skittered away across the floor as the African woman screamed, "Muzen, help!"

  Greywolf struggled to sit up as the warrior got to his knees. "Where in Tengri's name did you come from?" His eyes widened. "You're the Shadow-walker Muzen wants."

  The clash of steel and the shouts and screams of men drifted up from the floor below as Greywolf snarled back, "And you must be the spy, Redhunter. Why are you trying to hurt Wysper?"

  Stolen story; please report.

  His hands were empty with his knife close to the African woman's feet, and he looked her way as he stood up. "I don't have any grudge against the girl," Redhunter said, moving to retrieve his knife, "but my orders are to kill her so Muzen's defeat will be that much greater—”

  The African woman spun like a dancer and clipped Redhunter across the side of his face, knocking him to the floor again as she bent down and picked up the knife. She held it out like she knew how to use it. "You would betray our employer, after all he has done for us?"

  Behind Redhunter, the bolt holding the door closed glowed blue a moment and slid to the left by itself, the door silently swinging open as Redhunter rubbed the side of his face. "Zanzabel, you're a fool if you continue working for him. Muzen will use you before throwing you out like a rag when he's got no more use for you. Besides, all the other temples in Bukhara are rising up against him, and I was told that if I didn't help them, I'd be executed along with you and all the rest of his loyal retainers. This way, not only do I get to live, but I'm getting a healthy portion of blood-corn I can sell to the Lords of Khor. After tonight I'm going to be a wealthy man."

  Muzen strode into the room, holding the Artifact Battle-axe in his hand he must have taken off one of the Chosen. "What a shame you shall not live to enjoy the rewards of your betrayal."

  The large, bare chested guard slammed the door shut and bolted it once more as Redhunter whirled around. "Muzen, you're supposed to be downstairs, being pummeled into submission."

  The High Priest gave Redhunter a cold smile. "I believe I can live with your disappointment. Can you live with mine?" With a savage motion he hurled the Battle-axe at Redhunter's chest. Ribs cracked as the axe blade embedded itself into the warrior's chest, flinging him backwards as he hit the floor with a thump. Redhunter’s hands clawed at the weapon feebly for a few moments as he spit out bloody froth. Then his arms flopped to the sides and his body went limp as blood began pooling around him.

  Greywolf used his feet to propel himself away from the corpse as well as Muzen, who turned towards the guard and spoke to him in the Sasnayam language as he pointed at the door. The big man clapped his meaty hand to his chest and faced the door with his enormous scimitar in both hands as Muzen turned back towards them. "Greywolf, we do not have much time. Several decades ago I spent many months crafting a Gem of Return, which will transport anyone within its radius who bears Celestial blood, to a secret room in Tesiphon." He pulled out a blue stone the size of an egg from his pocket as he grimaced. "To think I almost left it behind, believing I would never need it."

  Zanzabel stepped in front of Wysper, her hands on her hips. "After all my years of service, you are going to just abandon me to the Crimson Horde?"

  He glanced over his shoulder as something thumped against the door, then back again. "Of course not. The back blast from this spell will disintegrate everyone in this room, and hopefully bring this building down on my enemies, though I cannot be sure of that. But I am sure that neither of you will feel any pain." She gaped at him in horror and Muzen shrugged. "I told you I was ruthless."

  Zanzabel staggered back into Wysper's arms, the pale girl's expression sad, and yet also calm, as if she was ready to die. Greywolf struggled to his knees. "Muzen, I'm not going anywhere with you."

  He raised one painted eyebrow as another thump, louder this time, rattled the door. "Did I say you have a choice? Once we are in Tesiphon, I will keep you safe and secure while I investigate this plot against me. Then, once it is crushed, I can spend some time molding you into the assassin I want you to become."

  "I'm not letting Wysper die. If you begin an invocation, I swear I'll attack you."

  Muzen chuckled as the door rattles again. "With what? Foul language? You are in no condition to fight Zanzabel, let alone me."

  "Papa taught me one attack I'm only allowed to use as a last resort. Put away the gem and escape out the window or I swear I'll use it." Muzen gave a derisive snort and Greywolf added, "I'm not bluffing."

  "Of course you are. While Asena would never bluff, your father is the master of lies and deceit... and you are clearly your father's son." He held the gem out with one hand as he opened his mouth to begin the invocation.

  "You're wrong," Greywolf snarled back at him. "I'm Asena's." Instead of forming a gateway into the Shadowlands, he reversed the process as his papa had showed him and became the gateway himself.

  The wolf halo absorbed most of the strength from Greywolf’s body and leapt across into the real world.