From Chapter Two: Googenhench's Pane

 

In the light of a single torch I ran, knowing I had to be quick. Every step steeled my resolve further. I would never wear this wizard’s chains again, even at the price of my very life.

At the entrance to Baelbozurg's treasury stood two guards, armed with short swords. Both were Grogens, nearly blind and with charred, half fleshless skulls. As they saw me approach, they jerked to attention and held out their weapons. I rocked on my heels, making them unsure when I might spring out and fight them. They responded in sickening, twitching motions devoid of grace or intelligence.

I swung my torch at the first one's body, and as he lowered his sword to block it, I swiftly arched my torch away and brought it down against his head.

There's some fire for your head! I exclaimed, bringing the thick flaming wood down again and again as the other Grogen stumbled forward to swing at me.

The first one had fallen to his knees. It was all he could do to hold on to his sword, much less swing it. The other stabbed at my ribs, but I quickly batted the sword from his grasp with my torch. Suddenly I tumbled after and picked the sword up in my left hand, which had always been my better hand. I threw the torch to the floor and the Grogens shamelessly bent their heads to the fire, no longer caring to fight me, so long as they could blaze up their brains in the flames. I kicked the torch down the hall and they scurried after it.

 

I knew they would be back, perhaps with more Grogens. So I spoke the magic word and indeed a panel of the wall withdrew and the blackness yawned ahead of me.

 

I walked into the room and could already see by the light of a sculpture of a cat with glowing eyes and a cuneiform tablet with letters that glowed. In that dim light I could see a small, handsome windowpane. When I touched the pane it shimmered by its own light and I could dimly see distant landscapes in it.

 

I glanced about and saw heavy bags of gold. I emptied one and placed the pane within it. The gold I could not carry, but I needed money for my escape. A small coffer by the gold proved to contain a handful of extraordinary jewels, cut with dazzling facets. These I tucked away into my bag. I was now ready to leave.

I darted into the corridor with short sword lifted. It was good that I did because four Grogens waited there for me. I put down my bag and placed my back to the wall. They lurched forward, but their gait was clumsy and jerky. I pitched my sword into the ribs of the closest and kicked him away as his blood spurted. I parried a well aimed swing and lopped off another's head. Not pausing, I threw my back to the other wall, forcing the remaining two to shift their position. The first one came forward too uncertainly, and I delivered a stroke that severed his sword arm. The last one I met with a lunge and he soon could only defend himself. In a few moments a well placed stab dispatched him and I snatched up my bag and headed to the courtyard.