Steve McHugh - Born of Hatred

"Then I'm glad you're on our side," Sky said. "But this is the life we lead. We kill to keep those we care about safe. We trade in our own futures to ensure that others get to have them. How many times have you taken a life to save another? How about a hundred or a thousand others? You're too hard on yourself."

"I'm just tired. It's been a long few weeks. You and your team take care tomorrow, okay?"

Sky hugged me tight. "You, too. Don't go doing anything crazy."

"You need the ghouls dead. I'll make sure that any in that town are gone before you meet the lich."

"I know you will," she said and kissed me on the cheek. "Get some sleep, Nate. Tomorrow will be a long day, too."

I watched Sky walk away and waited as the darkness of night came and the tension rose inside the camp. Sky had been positive that the lich wouldn't launch another attack so soon. That he wouldn't risk losing anyone else. But even so, there was a nagging doubt inside my head that he could do something. That doubt stayed with me as I fell asleep on the comfortable chair next to the large table.

When I woke someone had placed a thick blanket over me, I shook it off as the crisp morning air woke me fully. There was already a lot of commotion in the courtyard-Crow warriors and Army soldiers working side-by-side to prepare for the coming fight. Tala and Wapi were walking around with Sam, who appeared to have taken the job of protecting them to heart. My Winchester rifle was in his hands. I wasn't going to have much use for it and I was glad he had something important to do that would keep him busy.

Sergeant Roberts appeared with a cup that he placed in front of me. "Good morning, sir."

"Nathan will do."

"Not today, today you're in charge. Everyone here knows it. I can't call you Nathan in front of the men, it's too familiar. So, I'd best get used to calling you sir, sir."

I smiled and picked up the cup. "Tea?"

"You're British, so I thought it would be nice to have some. No one else here drinks the stuff."

"Uncouth ruffians, the bloody lot of you," I said, which made Sergeant Roberts laugh.

The humour soon faded; Sergeant Roberts and I shook hands. "Good luck today," he said.

"Keep everyone safe," I told him, before drinking the rest of my tea and handing him the cup. "I'll see you all in the town after we clear it out."

Sergeant Roberts saluted and left me alone with my thoughts as I got ready. I'd told the woman who had wanted to kill me that I was coming back to burn down their town and piss on the ashes. I aimed to keep that promise.

I leaned forward in the saddle, patting Valour's neck to calm her as the Crows tribe joined me. The town of Kilnhurst was close by-we could see it clearly as we waited on top of the hill to the south.

Sky had taken her men to the big house outside the town. One of them was going to throw a ball of fire into the sky-our signal to begin the assault.

Chief Blacktail sat next to me on his dark brown horse, his twenty warriors behind him. I hoped it would be enough. It would have to be. "I wanted to talk to you about the deputy we spoke to back at fort Pennywise. The one my son wanted to kill."

"Is he dead?" I asked.

Chief Blacktail shook his head. "We left him there, tied up in the jail. I felt it best to let him live."

"By now people will have wondered why they haven't heard from him. They're probably out there searching for him. Maybe they found him, maybe they took him back to town."

"Does he still need to live?" Chief Blacktail's son asked as he rode up next to his father.

"If you find anyone in that town who doesn't surrender, make them. They brought this on themselves."

The boy's smile was cruel and evil. Today, he fought side by side with the army to eradicate a mutual threat, however uneasy that made them both feel. But I wondered if one day someone from that same army would be coming back here to end him because he'd become a problem to the local communities.

The flare-like bolt of fire shot into the sky and Chief Blacktail raised his rifle into the air. "To the glory of battle," he cried and urged his horse on, followed immediately by his warriors.

I rode with them for a short time, the anticipation for the battle ahead almost palpable between the men. As we reached the town, everyone slowed and I nodded toward Chief Blacktail, who returned the gesture. I rode off alone toward my planned entrance.

A few minutes later, I entered the town itself and got down from Valour, tying her to the nearest hitching post. I hoped she'd be safe this close to the edge of town.

As Valour sated her thirst at the trough, I removed my Jian and ensured that my throwing knives were secure on the sides of my belt-three on each side.

I patted Valour on the neck and she stopped drinking. "I'll be back for you." I loosened the reins slightly-one quick tug and she'd be free. I didn't want ghouls or barren getting hold of her.

She nudged me with her head and I rubbed her nose until she went back to drinking. I fished a few apples out of my saddle bag, acquired from the fort's larder, and tossed them into the water. She snatched one immediately and set about crunching it into a fine paste.

The cold air whipped up around me as I walked further into the town, tossing around loose grit and earth. It was cold today, even with the sun out, and the building clouds gave the impression that the sun wouldn't be a permanent thing. Darkness was rolling in from the east. It would get here soon, but hopefully not soon enough to cause any problems for the assault.

The town was abandoned. Doors were open and the contents inside that I could see were thrown about. I stepped up onto the sidewalk and pushed a door all the way open with the toe of my boot, exposing the mess inside. Blood had been smeared on the walls; there'd been a fight here. A big one.

Something moved further inside and I readied a ball of fire, just as something barrelled into me from the side, sending me sprawling onto the ground outside. I flung the fireball at my attacker instead, but it was already dashing aside as doors opened all around me, and barren flooded out onto the street.

I rolled back to my feet and caught the first two barren with a blast of fire, which threw them back against the nearest wall. They tried to get up, but the fire quickly spread over them and ended their fighting days.

Three more barren charged at me, dying before they got close, as I lashed out with a whip of fire and severed their heads. That left five more, while the ghoul that had hit me initially prowled around behind them, waiting for its moment to strike.

A plume of fire left my hands, engulfing the five barren and incinerating them where they stood. The ghoul dove aside before the flames reached it, sprinting toward me with cruel purpose.

I unsheathed the Jian in preparation for his attack, but the window nearest to me shattered and a second ghoul flew toward me. It was too fast to avoid, and slammed into me, knocking us both to the ground as the sword fell from my grip.

The second ghoul sat on my chest, pinning me down, and unhinged its jaw, showing rows of razor sharp teeth as it tried to bite me.

I took hold of the second ghoul's jaw with both hands and forced its head to one side, using air magic to blast it off me. The ghoul flew through the air, straight into the first ghoul.

I didn't wait to watch what happened and dove for the Jian, grabbing it as another barren came charging out of the nearby house. A blast of air removed its legs from under it, sending it tumbling to the ground, where I finished it with a sword thrust to the back of the skull. I twisted the sword with a sickening crunch, removing it just in time to see the two ghouls get back to their feet.