Ghoulslayer

Chapter Twenty-Five A Test of Faith

King Galan rode hard through blood-filled streets, howling orders as the city toppled around him. Ancient towers and sprawling manses were pulled to the ground, and as the traitors fled in panic, his men cut them down. It was brutal and merciless, a massacre the like of which he had never witnessed before. For a moment, he wondered if he had gone too far. Had he become the kind of tyrant he had always sworn to oppose?

Nia saw the hesitation in his eye. ‘This is the only way,’ she gasped, plunging her spear into another back and wrenching her drake round to face him. ‘When people hear of this victory they must quake. They must be horrified and appalled by the fate of these people.’

Galan nodded. They had discussed this many times on the road to the capital. He was old. And without an heir. If people believed they could turn on the crown without fear of death, the kingdom would not survive another year. This was his last chance to show what became of anyone who tried to claim independence. And yet… As his soldiers tore down statues and performed far worse atrocities in his name, his battle lust left him. ‘To the tower,’ he said, pointing his spear at the building that dominated the whole city. ‘Once I find the ringleader and introduce him to Rancour, in front of the whole city, our message will be clear. And then we can finally rest.’

He ducked as, in the next street, a huge temple collapsed, pulverised by one of his war engines, sending a writhing tower of dust up into the hazy summer heat. A powerful sense of purpose rushed through him. The wounded rebels were all fleeing to the tower at the centre of the city. Once he reached that building, he would ascend. He was sure of it. He would breach that central keep and butcher everyone inside, and then the Great Wolf would crown him not just king, but immortal Wolf Lord.

He glanced at Nia, grinning despite the carnage boiling all around him. And Nia would be his eternal queen. This was why they had come – not just to quell a foolish rebellion, but to reach this point and be elevated to a new life.

He grabbed Nia’s arm. ‘I can feel him riding with us.’ He pointed his spear at the tower, and his voice trembled. ‘He’s in there, I know it. Today, we will walk at his side!’

She stared at him, her eyes glistening.

And they rode on, killing with more fury than ever before.