Conquest

Savage - Part Five

The cobbled pathway was covered in blood and mud, and it seemed wherever you stepped there was a corpse, or at least parts of one.

Savage boots made horrible suction noises with every pace, and those sent chills down his spine. He could stand the sight of blood, bowels and bones, but these sounds... those were just sickening.

The square was quiet now, bodies covering the ground in masses. Some of the surrounding buildings were burning, sending pillars of black smoke to the blue skies. The small lake in the center of the plaza was painted red, few bodies floating lifeless inside of it. The vast tree in the middle of the lake stood harmless, green and peaceful, its roots feeding of the bloody water beneath them. Sometimes Savage couldn't help but wonder if nature was as wicked as he were, despite of what the magus claims.

To his right Savage heard thumps on the ground, and he turned his head in time to see two shades playfully chasing each other, running and pouncing like a couple of pet dogs. He saw another Shadow Hound chasing after a scared crow in excitement, and a fourth one, laying on the ground, napping soundly. To see those creatures of nightmare and death, playing and resting like normal dogs, amused Savage deeply. And frankly, all the blood and death around them only entertained him more.

He passed near the one that slept on the ground, which immediately perked its ears and raised its head, growling at savage and showing his fangs. Savage stopped and looked the creature dead in the eyes.

"What?" he asked, with a gaze as cold as night. The shade quickly lowered its big head, and Savage even believed he heard a yelp of fear.

He grinned and continued walking, when another growl came behind him. He was ready to raise the Cleaver to strike the shades down, but when he turned he saw the three other Hounds gathering at a corner of the plaza. With some curiosity he started toward them, clutching the hilt of the Cleaver firmly. The three gathered around a young woman, hair torn and ragged, blood flowing like rivers from the stump of her left hand. Amazingly, the girl was alive, even if not for long. Under her remaining arm she desperately held a small thing, and Savage had to look at it twice to realize it was the body of a toddler, torn and bloody beyond recognition.

The Shadow Hounds snarled, showing their sharp fangs, their glowing eyes hungry, but Savage smiled and put the Cleaver between them and the girl, and the shades took a startled step back.

The woman tried to back away, her back scraping the wall of the building next to her, clutching hard at the dead child. She sobbed and whimpered, her eyes fixed on Savage and his blade, her face reflecting to her on the polished metal.

One of the Shadow Hounds edged toward her, gaping its large maw. Savage frowned and without a warning struck the great beast's jaw with his fist. The creature reeled and fell to the ground, then got up, shook its head and walked away, snorting angrily. The other shades glared at Savage, which didn't seem to take much notice, then followed their friend away from the two. The girl watched as the hellish creatures paced away, then her eyes met Savage's own and she swallowed.

They stood like this for a silent moment, the girl's eyes locked on Savage, to terrified to even breathe.

"I will see you soon," he said with his wicked grin, then turned away without a warning.

He marked the shades to follow him and walked away, whistling tunelessly to himself. Behind him the girl began screaming.

It has been about half an hour since he killed that child on the river bank and got to the city's gate. Half an hour to turn this city to a grave. More and more Shadow Hounds began following him, their paws surrendered no sound while treading upon the bones and flesh.