Hake was just behind him every step, the sly old bastard stabbing in here and there when he could but mostly making sure to stay out of the way. Wouldn’t do the old fella any good to get in front of Nobul Jacks when his mad was up.
The swinging came to an end with a roar, but not one from Nobul’s lips. It came from further down the wall, a feral cry; Nobul couldn’t tell if it was animal or man. The Khurtas that were left backed away, not taking their eyes off him but moving as quick as they could.
Nobul stood watching, wondering what the fuck Amon Tugha had unleashed on the city as the weather beat down, soaking him through to the skin. Hake stood beside him, rain tamping off his helm, running off his beard. If he had any advice he was none too keen to share it.
A beast walked from the gloom. Nobul recognised the figure and tightened his grip on his hammer. He recognised it from the day before, from the Khurtas on the plain singing their war challenge. A challenge Nobul had accepted. Their leader had been scary enough from a distance, and now close up even Nobul felt the bite of fear. If this thing had ever been a man it wasn’t any more. It must have touched nearly seven feet, face a mass of scars so gruesome Nobul could see sharpened teeth through its cheeks. Rings and chains and all sorts of other shit were pierced through its flesh and even its eyes had a hint of the animal about them.
Over one shoulder was slung the biggest hammer Nobul had ever seen and it gripped the haft in a hand the size of a keystone. It snorted from ruined nostrils, sending steam and spume out into the rain-filled night.
Nobul had come close before, on more times than he cared to remember, but he knew now, beyond doubt, this was where he’d die.
The twisted face bent into what Nobul assumed was a smile. The creature hefted the hammer, holding it in two hands, and beckoned Nobul forward.
He took a step.
‘Sure you want to do this?’ whispered Hake from the corner of his mouth. ‘That’s a mighty hammer he’s got there. Makes yours look like a bell ringer.’
Nobul glanced at his own hammer, then at the one held by the beast.
‘It’s not how big it is. It’s what you fucking do with it,’ he replied, before walking forward to meet his end.
The giant’s grin grew wider, the flesh of its face contorting, showing more teeth between lacerated cheeks. Its eyes opened wide, black as its soul, but Nobul didn’t care for any of that shit. He’d stared into the hells before. They held no fear for him.
Nobul rushed in as the beast lifted its hammer high. At the last second he sidestepped, swinging his own hammer one-handed as the huge war maul crashed down. The maul smashed splinters from the walkway just as Nobul’s hammer caught the beast in the ribs. It was a solid blow, bringing a grunt from the giant but no more. Its own hammer came up fast and Nobul had to duck to avoid having his head caved in.
Another swing and their hammers clashed. Nobul felt the jarring impact through to the joints in his shoulders, gritting his teeth against it, muscles screaming, back taking the strain. The giant Khurta held him with that grimace, leaning its head forward and gnashing its teeth. Nobul let go his hammer with one hand and punched the bastard in the jaw. It was like hitting an anvil but it did enough to put the beast off balance.
He pressed in, swinging again, managing a hit to the shoulder, but the Khurtic war chief just shrugged it off, lifting its massive hammer one-handed and bringing it down again. Nobul turned in time, feeling the ground quake underfoot as the huge maul struck.
Before the beast could raise its weapon again, Nobul planted his foot on the head of the maul, pressing his weight on it and striking out with the butt of his own hammer. It smashed into the beast’s exposed mouth, shattering the front teeth and sending blood shooting onto his hand. The Khurta let go of its hammer, grabbing Nobul by the wrist. Its grip was tremendous, and he felt bone and sinew grinding together. He couldn’t stifle a cry of pain as the beast forced him to drop his hammer.
The Khurta roared, making to bite his face, but Nobul reached out with his free hand, jamming a thumb in its mouth, grasping the flesh of its cheek and dragging it away. He pulled with all the strength he had left, bellowing in its face, clenching its torn cheek in his fist and feeling it tear in his grip.
Another roar, this time of pain, and Nobul was flung across the walkway, his head striking a block of stone. All he could hear was the beast’s booming stride as it came for him and he desperately shook his head to clear the fug. He looked up in time to see two massive hands reaching out for him.
Desperately he scrambled out of the way, slopping across the rain-soaked walkway on his hands and knees. He knew how fucking stupid he must have looked but none of that mattered now. Seeing the massive war maul lying on the ground, he reached out, one hand grasping the haft as he rose to his feet. The beast was almost on him. Nobul roared as he lifted the maul … all of about three inches. Its weight was incredible, and he barely had a chance to realise he’d fucked up before the beast smashed a balled fist into his face.
Black.
His eyes flicked open. Everything was spinning but he was still alive. And it was still fucking raining.
Move. You have to fucking move or you’re dead.
Nobul rolled aside as the massive war maul smashed a chunk from the paving slab he’d been lying on. He staggered to his feet but stumbled, the rain washing some clarity into his head, but not quite enough.
A hand gripped the back of his leather jerk, hauling him back. He could hear the scraping of that war maul on the broken pavement as the beast hauled it up for one last strike.
Nobul felt fury. He was going to die here. He’d expected it all right, he was going to die sooner or later, but now it had come he was fucked if he’d take it lying down.
The beast turned him around, wanting to look in his face as it killed him. Nobul’s head struck forward, grasping its hand, biting into its thumb. Flesh burst and blood spurted into his mouth as the Khurta roared. Nobul’s teeth ground on bone and he tore his head back, a massive thumb coming away in his mouth. The Khurta reeled back, fury in those black eyes as it raised its hammer, but Nobul’s legs were already pumping. He grasped the haft of the huge war maul, throwing his weight behind it, putting the Khurta off balance. The giant stumbled back, losing its footing as Nobul came down on top of it, the haft of the war maul coming down over its throat.
Nobul gritted his teeth, pressing down as the Khurta stared up. All his weight was behind the weapon as he pressed it down, straining with all his might, spitting fury to the last. The war chief’s face was furious but Nobul could see it weakening. That only made him push down all the harder, squeezing the life from the ugly bastard.
There was a choking sound as its tongue lolled from that torn mouth, the dark eyes glassing, and Nobul felt it go limp beneath him. He pressed down one last time, making sure the Khurta wasn’t gonna get up again and he didn’t stop until he heard his own victory roar in his ears.
Breathing hard, feeling the thrill of being alive, Nobul stood to see the Khurtas watching. Even when he spat the thumb of their war chief from his mouth they still looked at him with hate. There was no fear or respect here. These Khurtas were not about to flee.
Hake was at Nobul’s side now, holding out his hammer.
‘I think we’re fucked,’ said the old man, as Nobul grasped the weapon, feeling the rain washing over him, feeling his heart beat with the ecstasy of the kill.
‘Come on then, bastards,’ Nobul said, ignoring Hake’s uneasiness and taking a step forward. ‘Who’s next?’