Dark nights

Captain Barnes walked by the city gates and made his way to the sturdy wooden guardhouse, it was dead of night and no one sane walked the streets except Barnes, and he did it because he had to; it was his job as Captain of the city Watch.

Heavy cloak hung from his shoulders and he did his best to cover himself as much as he could with it, it was always cold this far north and thin layer of snow always covered the ground no matter the season.

Securing his silversteel sword on his hip he took the ladder and ascended up to the battlements, he didn't like going up there because of the howling winds that penetrated even the thickest clothing but he did it anyway.

There were guardsman up there and he had to make sure they were actually on watch and not tucked in and sleeping by the warm braziers. He did this every night and it made him well liked amongst the city Watch who appreciated his willingness to freeze his ass off in their company.

It was a bit strange how much things like that meant to the guards. For example, his predecessor was quite disliked because he enjoyed warm beds and wine more than security of the city, and in the end that probably became the reason for his early "retirement".

Now he rests five feet underground after he mysteriously suffered dozen stab wounds six years ago, when one of the bandit raiding party's penetrated the city walls.

It happened in part because of leniency of the guards who were by some strange circumstances distant cousins of the Captain and thusly enjoyed higher wages than other guards, and in part because the Captain at the time forbid closing of the gates at night time. There were rumors it was so because he loved to visit local inn outside the city, and everyone knew that young barmaids down there offered more than just drinks to their customers, all for the right price of course.

That nights raid was bloody business and more than hundred bandits entered the walls, but in the end the city stood, local defenses were activated and the large group of said savages was eventually subdued and slain.

Some bandits were killed by Barnes who formed and led the Watch in counter charge after the gates have been breached and the rest was hunted throughout the night; unfortunately some of the bandits must have slipped away in the chaos because only two days later his former Captain was found dead in his bedroom.

And everyone agreed that some surviving bandit killed him out of retribution for death of his clansmen.

Shaking himself from the bloody memories Barnes looked up and reached the top of the ladders where he heaved himself up on the battlements and continued his tour of the city walls.

It was a quiet night and full moon shone brightly down on the snow covered rooftops of Normsworm. It was a small city with less than five thousands souls behind its walls and Barnes loved the city. It was nothing special: small, boring and so distant from the Capital that almost no one ever came here.

But it was his, not because he was born here but because he adopted it. He loved it, he loved the people, the snow and harsh winters, but most of all he loved his wife and son who slept down there in the city.

Safe and sound, thanks to the high walls that surrounded the city and the watchful guardsman that patrolled them.

Passing by the glowing brazier he continued his way to the shadowed part of battlements where he recognized the broad back of blond haired watchman who dutifully gazed onto white scenery below them.

"How goes there Uther." He asked the man as he took a stand by his side and slapped him lightly on the back. "All quiet?"

Turning in his direction Uther frowned and continued to watch the woods beyond the walls.

"Aye, too quiet Captain, I don't like it."

Now it was Barnes time to frown, and as he did so he brushed the snow from the battlements and stared in the distant woods below.

"What do you mean, something troubling you?"

He knew the man for a few years now, he was a native to these cold parts and experienced tracker before he got a daughter and decided to settle and find some safer employment in the city.

It was more than once that Barnes used Uthers skills to find culprits of various misdeeds, and in time he learned to trust the mans intuition.

"It's far too quiet, no owls fly, no foxes that I have seen and frost sprites are all flying west. And then there is the silence sir. I don't like it."

"The silence?"

Uther nodded. "Aye, I can't hear the dammed thing, and not for the lack of sound, I barely heard you approach Captain. Like the air itself is heavy, muffled."

"Ever experienced something like that before?"

"Only eastward, in the woods. Nothing ever came of it then, but it was unpleasant."

Barnes just nodded and slapped him on the back once more, then he took the sleek ivory horn that hung from his belt and blew four loud signals in quick succession.

Sound pierced the quiet air as Barnes stared across the rooftops looking for the other guard stations situated across the walls and down below in the city.

One by one fires lit up in each and every one of them and they each signaled back by the way of three similar horn signals.

It was a signal that Barnes developed himself, and it was meant to be used only in situation that required heightened awareness of entire City watch, no matter what kind of situation.

The only one who was allowed to use it was himself and few of his vice captains, and Barnes usually signaled it before unannounced drills and whenever he felt one of his watchmen was being idle.

Few torches started to move through the streets, and down below him Barnes could already hear the grumbling guards who were waking up and donning their equipment in anticipation of another drill or inspection.

Barnes was known for loving those.

Turning back to his companion he noticed barely recognizable sigh of relief from Uther before bearded man nodded in approval and turned back to his quiet study of local woods.

"That should keep them busy for a while, and give me some piece of mind, stay safe Uther."

Without any further conversation Barnes made his way to the next watch point.

Only forty minutes and three inspected guard stations later Barnes heard the horn signal.

It might have been nothing, just paranoia or strung nerves of an irritated guard, it might have been a call from one of his vice captains or simply a call for suspicious shapes in the woods that more than once turned out to be only foxes or wild boars.

It might have been nothing, but for some reason Barnes shivered in cold sweat and fear snapped through his mind as he twisted in direction of the horn.

One long signal, blown with as much air as lungs could hold. He stood frozen.

Then another one sounded, as long and loud as the first one.

This time Barnes could hear commotion from the guardsman on the streets and he even noticed few lit candles in civilian houses below.

Then the third horn sounded and howls filled the night.

Werewolves.

Barnes unsheathed his sword and sprinted to the nearest ladders, all the while yelling at the guards on top of his lungs.

"FORM SQUADS, FORM SQUADS AND MAN THE WALLS!"

Another horn blast filled the air and Barnes could practically hear the panic in its faltering note.

Skidding last few steps Barnes grabbed the ladder and froze once more as yet another horn sounded and was immediately snuffed out.

They breached the City walls.

Barnes didn't stop to think how, he had a job to do. Grabbing the railing he half descended and half fell down to the street where he was immediately welcomed by a squad of guards.

Pointing at one of them he immediately started to give out orders.

"You there lad, run to the barracks and mobilize everyone who is still asleep, form squads of five, two for pike men, two to wield swords and one for bow, go, GO!"

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

He turned to the others as the boy sprinted away.

"You two, start waking up the townsfolk, arm everyone, pitchforks, torches, knives I don't care! Is that clear? You there, get to the other side of the city, relay these same orders to others and hurry. Start evacuating civilians towards southern gates, and you, you will go to the gates, form a line of twenty and hold it, no one goes through except civilians."

Looking at the trembling remainder of watchmen he bellowed.

"FORM UP!"

In seconds they stood in formation and held their short swords ready, still afraid, but ready.

"The rest of you are with me, do you understand. We are going there.." he pointed to the northern part of the city from which sounds of fighting could already be heard.

"… We are going out there and we will stop or slow down the enemy for however long we can."

He continued before anyone could sound the protests.

"Wall has been breached, they are on the streets among your people, so we will go there and we will die if we have to, and if anyone tries to disobey my orders I will gut him myself. Now FORM THE FUCK UP, AND FOLLOW ME!"

His sword in hand and with dozen watchmen around him he stepped toward the sounds of fighting, dying and howling.

…

Werewolves didn't form packs, they were solitary creatures. Isolated and cursed individuals who turned insane and slaughtered everything around them each night or whenever they lost control.

Except here it was not so, they were part of a pack, and they came in hundreds.

Barnes didn't know how or why, he just knew he had a duty to uphold.

They were already inside the walls which meant that he had to evacuate as much people as he could before it became too late.

Walls were breached only from northern gates and he suspected that the only reason why the city wasn't completely surrounded was because the enemy needed overwhelming numbers in one place to scale the wall in the first place.

Small grace in that, but it did gave him an opportunity to save some people.

Another important factor was that werewolves didn't fucking form packs, except here they did. And that meant that someone was leading them, and judging by the state of things that someone knew what he was doing.

No fool would siege a fortified city without being completely certain in its victory, and given how enemy "commander" knew his business, Normsworm was as good as doomed.

If it were anything else Barnes might have stopped it, but werewolves were already behind the walls.

It was epidemic in motion, in only couple of hours they would slaughter and turn everyone until attackers far outnumbered the defenders. And fighting creatures that could leap from rooftop to rooftop on city streets was next to impossible.

Therefore the evacuation.

It was a weak hope, but if at least some manage to escape the city and hit the hard road south they would at least stand a chance.

Partly because they would leave the death trap that Normsworm had become, and partly because sun would be only few walking hours away. From there they could get to next village and organize defenses and their way south to other cities.

But much of it rested on Barnes actions tonight.

He already discarded the chance of getting out of this alive.

Whit that thought on his mind he dodged to the left as snarling and salivating beast slammed next to him.

It was somewhat taller than Barnes and its elongated canine head rested on thin yet muscular frame with long veiny arms and legs that ended in wicked claws.

Snarling with rage and bloodlust it slashed its way towards Barnes who slammed his buckler into its muzzle and ran it through the hearth with his sword.

It shrieked and howled in pain before falling on its back where it twitched once and died.

Winded and covered in sweat Barnes ripped his sword out of the creature and whipped the sizzling blood from silvery surface of the blade.

Taking a moment to catch his breath he turned towards remaining guards. Unlike him they didn't have silver forged blades so they had to rely on ordinary steel weapons that were smeared in wolfsbane extract.

While wolfsbane did the job it was still far from perfect, and they were slowly running out of the bloody salve.

What little they had left would be enough though, it had to be.

Without any warning three more beasts sprinted out of nearby alley and slammed into raised shields. First two impaled themselves onto pointed pikes and then started to claw at the shields before being cut down, while the third werewolf ducked under and tried to bite below the slashing blades, snapping at exposed feet of city guards.

It was quickly fended off when one youth slashed at its face and the beast yelped and retreated a few steps back into the sight of an archer who put and arrow through its skull.

"Form up lads!"

Barnes yelled and took his place at the head of the squad.

Slowly and with weapons raised they retreated back and out of the ally, towards the city square and in the direction of southern gates.

Half of the northern district was in flames and soaring fires illuminated the night.

And it was per Barnes order that it was so.

The enemy came in overwhelming numbers, and there were much more werewolves than Barnes initially thought.

Aside from numerous isolated groups of werewolves that roamed the city Barnes also received reports which mentioned larger pack of werewolves led by a beastly varg rider who coordinated and led the monsters.

And while Barnes couldn't have done much about it personally he did try to halt the enemy's advance across the city.

From what he had seen so far it was obvious that whoever led the monsters had a very limited control over them, and since there was no real tactics and intelligence to the attacks Barnes concluded that the pack leader could only guide his wolves in a rough direction.

Sentries on the battlements reported no enemies beyond the eastern and western walls and that the only direction of attack came from north gates only ascertained this theory.

But the infection was quickly spreading throughout the city and already more howls echoed inside the walls.

And if not for the fire, the city would have already fallen. Whoever the enemy was he would not get the city nor its citizens, only ashes.

It was not only the city that was burning, local woods that surrounded it were also set to flame in hopes that the fire would slow down the werewolves if they tried to flank the fleeing citizens.

And even though the woods were still half frozen and wet, the fire was slowly spreading over the landscape.

Spread thin as they were. there were not many guards who could be put in charge of the arson, so Barnes recruited wiling civilians and small groups of them were already throwing oil and spreading fire over granaries and improvised wooden barricades.

As flames roared around them the group carefully made their way back to the south gates.

They progress was suddenly halted when one of the guards sagged and started coughing up blood.

Barnes approached him and kneeled to his side while the guard wheezed between breaths.

"Ahhh I'm sorry captain, it seems one of them got me."

Shifting his gaze to the guards bloodied and ruined arm Barnes studied the deep gashes made by the bite.

"It's all right lad, none of this is your fault."

Already shaking the boy looked at him apologetically with slightly glowing eyes, few tears rolled across his cheek.

"Will it hurt much sir?"

Barnes hugged him closer as the boy shook.

"It's all right now lad, it's all right."

Buried in his arms the young guard whimpered.

"I'm so sorry Sir."

Soothingly Barnes hugged him harder and softly whispered.

"Shhh, it's alright, it will be over soon, it's not your fault."

The blade was quiet as it pierced the flesh, and the body in Barnes arms shuddered softly as life left it.

Quiet and grim Barnes got up and followed the others who were waiting for him close by, their heads turned away from the sight.

….

The impact pushed him back into his comrades as claws pierced his shield and huge maws slammed shut mere inches from his face, slobbering him in blood and bile.

Barnes groaned as more weight pressed on him and pushed him farther back, holding his shield with both hands he strained and pushed at the same time as other guardsman pierced the monster from the sides.

Shrieking, the werewolf fell back and away while two guards followed it for a few steps, stabbing it over and over again, until it fell and didn't get up.

Shaking, Barnes kneeled and took a few ragged breaths, turning his head he looked over at the gates.

Last of the civilians were gathering beneath the gates with wagons and some smaller livestock in tow, and what remained of the guards stood in defensive half circle some fifty meters around them.

It was the last exit point from the city.

All of the other gates were shut down, streets were burning and the walled city was slowly being filled with suffocating smoke.

Surrounding forests were also set ablaze, further complicating any flanking attacks from roaming packs of werewolf's, and if Barnes could have peeked over the wall he would be able to see long column of people moving south, protected by few of the youngest guardsmen.

As it was, Barnes could only hope that some civilians managed to get to safety.

Thoughts of his wife and son crossed his mind and he reluctantly pushed them away.

He had a duty to uphold, and he feared that such thoughts would break him if he dwelled on them.

He took solace in ignorance.

If they manage to survive this night then he would die happy knowing that empire would protect them, and if they died….

Well, then soon enough, when his soul parts from this world they will be together again. He would find out the truth quickly enough.

One of his men approached him.

"Captain…"

Barnes sighed and stood up without looking at him.

"I know."

Blood dripped from his shaking hands and sizzled on contact with the pommel of his sword.

Deep gashes yawned on his forearms, shoulders and his right thigh.

Hours passed since he was bitten and it wouldn't be long now.

Limping, he turned towards the guard and took note of his mangled arm.

Grimacing with pain, the guard stared back at him with glowing red eyes, veins bulging black on his neck.

"I took the Wolfsbane sir, just a little bit too late unfortunately."

Barnes coughed and fine spray of blood escaped his mouth.

The guard opened up his palm and offered small black vial to Barnes.

"It's the last of the extract sir. It will burn at first, but later on…" he grimaced again "… well, it will burn anyway."

It was poison of course, it might have saved him two hours ago but at this late state of infection it was same as drinking Blacktails venom.

"How are my eyes, friend?" Barnes asked him.

The guard took a minute to study him and answered quietly.

"They are fine Captain, just fine."

Barnes nodded, took the vial and staggered towards the gates.

He could already feel the bloodlust boiling under his skin.

As he took careful steps towards the gates he could hear howling behind him, getting louder and more numerous, soon enough the final wave of beasts would be upon them.

"Oh no, no, no, no…"

Hearing the words he stopped and turned towards the shaking woman to his left.

"no, no, no, no…"

She held a young boy in her hands, and he stood paralyzed and pale as death, staring at Barnes with wide, terrified eyes.

Warm brown pupils stared at him, innocent and scared. Boy held his bloodied hand close to his chest and Barnes studied the fresh bite and slow trickle of warm blood, his mouth filled with water and he clenched his teeth as he kneeled by the boy's side.

"Here."

He took the woman's hand and placed the small vial in her palm.

She looked at him with disbelief before quickly uncorking the bottle and applying it to the boys wound.

Knelling beside the boy she turned to Barnes.

"Thank you, you saved him, thank you, thank you…"

Barnes only nodded as she grabbed the boy and made for the gates.

"We won't forget, thank you, you saved us…"

The guard stopped next to Barnes.

"That was….noble of you sir. I hope you don't survive the night."

Barnes was quiet before he answered.

"Me too."

With that he stood up and approached the gates as last of the civilians rushed through.

Recognizing his subordinate he spoke.

"Is that you Uther?"

Winded and covered in sweat the man turned to him and flinched when he met his eyes.

"A..Aye Captain."

"Are you bitten?"

Uther paled as he looked at Barnes wounds and replied.

"No Captain."

"Good."

Barnes nodded in approval and handed him his sword, which Uther took with shaking hands.

"You are the Captain now."

Uther looked at him in horror.

"I.. I cant."

"Did your family make it outside?"

"Yes."

"Then go, protect them and the city."

Uther looked past his shoulder at the burning streets.

"But, I can't, the city..." He turned to the gates. "…If the gates fall."

Barnes strode to the nearby guard and liberated him from his weapon, now weighing the battered axe in his hand he turned to his friend.

"The gates won't be breached, and the city is outside…" he gestured to the column of people. "…out there, in the wild road surrounded by beasts and monsters. Go protect them."

"But sir…"

Barnes didn't wait for him to finish, he pushed him through the gates and then turned to the mechanism that opened and closed the gates.

With one decisive strike he cut the thick ropes and huge metal gates slammed shut, with thick metal grating falling down after them.

"Go!"

Barnes yelled and then turned to the approaching howls.

He took long strides towards the first line of guards, and just as he approached them, beasts swarmed from the streets.

Huge Varg was leading them, looking like a cross between a bear and a wolf, the hulking beast roared and charged forward.

On its back rode a beastly rider, covered in animal leathers and wielding long, rusty spear.

He blew the thick black horn that looked like it was made from a huge fang, and hordes of Werewolf's charged after him.

With that piercing sound filling his ears, Barnes felt the rage, he let it fill him and saw red fall upon his eyes.

With a savage roar he threw himself towards the rider and felt the blood wash over him.

Instinct and reflexes took over, and what little sanity remained in his mind directed Barnes towards his enemy.

He slashed the monster with his axe, when the weapon was ripped from his hands he hit it with his hands, and when he was crushed beneath the Varg he ripped it up with fangs and claws.

Soon after that Barnes was lost to the rage, and everything turned into flashes of blood, fur and gore.

…..

It was noon when first rays of sunshine manage to break through the thick smoke that hung over Normsworm.

And it was some time later that Barnes woke, naked, wounded and covered in blood.

He woke inside of burned out house, near the half collapsed cradle where his son used to sleep.

There was a broken black horn near his feet, and his hands were red with blood as he clutched the blankets from the cradle. They smelled sweetly to him, smelled of tender meat, addictive and delicious.

Bitter tears stained the blankets as Barnes rocked back and forth.

Small laugh escaped his lips as he clutched the blankets tighter.

Next to the cradle there was message, written in haste on yellow paper.

It said:

"I'm taking Richard

horns from the walls,

heading south.

Survive, Find us."

Barnes laughed louder, weeping. Because they were alive, and because they wouldn't be if he came after them.

Someone stopped behind him, rough voice, coarse, more like an animal than man.

"Captain." It said.

Barnes turned to the former guardsman and looked past him, outside, where hoard of ragged figures stood waiting in the gloom. Cursed horde of beast men, with him as the leader.

"Where do we go Captain?"

Barnes dropped the blanket and stood up.

"North. We go north, where the enemy is."

…..

Far away to the south, in the throne chamber, one black clad figure whispered quietly in King Leonards ear before silently creeping away and blending into the shadows behind the throne.

Taking a long breath, imposing figure of King Leonard sighed and looked at the small iron crow in its hands.

"And so it begins."

He said, and put the crown on his head.