Ultimate Collection

THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

VOLUME I

A. R. Williams

ULTIMATE COLLECTION VOLUME I

Cover design by A.R. Williams; Image licensed from DepositPhotos.com/Zamurev

Duel on Hakkojji Bridge Copyright © 2010 by A. R. Williams; Blossoms Weep, Spiders Fall Copyright © 2010 by A. R. Williams; The Blessed and the Damned Copyright © 2011 by A. R. Williams; Demon Song Copyright © 2011 by A. R. Williams; The Dragon Brood War: It Walks Among Men Copyright © 2012 by A. R. Williams; The Bone Game Copyright © 2012 by A. R. Williams; Sword and Sorcery Adventure: Winter’s Cold Heart Copyright © 2014 by A. R. Williams; As the Crow Flies Copyright © 2017 by A. R. Williams; The Untamed Sword Copyright © 2018 by A. R. Williams;

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

All characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Contents

THE UNTAMED SWORD

DEMON SONG

WINTER’S COLD HEART

BLOSSOMS WEEP, SPIDERS FALL

THE BLESSED AND THE DAMNED

DUEL ON HAKKOJJI BRIDGE

IT WALKS AMONG MEN

THE BONE GAME

AS THE CROW FLIES

About the Author

THE UNTAMED SWORD

THE UNTAMED SWORD

Rebellion is as old as the desert sands.

When a series of riots break out in Dammar Muna, Konn is assigned the task of protecting the sheik’s niece, and protect her he will, even if his life is forfeit. A trained and skilled fighter, Konn stands in the way of those who oppose the sheik.

But as rebellion turns to revolution, and chaos reigns, the task of telling friend from foe grows more difficult, and the age-old question arises as it often does during revolutions—whose side are you on?

1

Dammar Muna’s square white-bricked homes sat in the desert like ancient bones. Through the midday heat Konn looked welcomingly at the sight of the mountains, just beyond the village, where the palace lay. It would never be home for him, these desert sands, but the palace walls offered comforts that he sorely needed at the moment.

The trip east had been long and difficult. Sheik Al Ashab pushed his men through the rough desert days in order to reach Nyss Athrr before the people there destroyed an ancient relic that had been discovered in a tomb of some sort. The mask of Amra, the spider god. It was nothing more than an old, leather mask from what Konn could tell. Hardly worth the effort to save it.

The Sheik seemed pleased with his new acquisition though. He rode at the center of his lords looking happier than Konn had seen him look in the past six months. He joked with his brother Abdul Hakeen, exchanged pleasantries with his niece, Nasira, and even talked for some length of time with General Bokor who had a strange witch-woman named Xeveria following behind him like a shadow.

All was well. Just a few more miles and they would be back at the palace and blissful rest. Konn began to think about which one of his ladies he would like to visit first. He smiled as he conjured up the delights that each one offered in his mind.

I can tell what you are thinking, just by the way you smile, Rahaman said, riding up next to Konn. Which woman did you decide upon tonight?

Actually, I was still deciding.

If I know you as well as I think, then surely it will be Zada.

Konn thought about it. Zada’s nice. She’s got good hands.

When are you going to settle down like an honest man and stop stealing the hearts of all these women?

Konn shrugged. I don’t know. Maybe when one of them steals my heart. Maybe when I grow bored and tired of adventure. Maybe when I’m old and useless. Or maybe never. Until then, I’ll keep enjoying the fruits of bachelordom, life has too much to offer to settle down.

Time is a thief, my friend. A man needs many children to see him through his twilight years.

I don’t know if I’ll live that long. I don’t want to be old. Maybe one day I’ll meet the man who will beat me in combat. But I haven’t met him yet. Konn thought for a moment. I guess, if I live to be an old man I’ll consider having children then.

Rahaman chuckled. Having children will challenge a man in ways even combat can’t do.

Maybe you’re right. What made you marry so young?

Rahaman beamed proudly. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was the one for me. When I looked into her eyes, I knew I could have no life if she wasn’t in it.

"I can’t imagine spending all my life with a single woman, nor all of my coin."

Rahaman laughed and patted the bag that held the dimars he had earned while on the sheik’s quest. He had not spent more than a few of the small gold coins stamped with Al Ashab’s image. My wife will count the days I am gone and the coins I should have earned while I was away.

Konn shook his head. I don’t see the need to give her all of the coins.

That’s why you are still single and broke. While, me my friend, am married and rich.

Konn was broke, but he didn’t think marriage would solve that problem. He gazed back at the long caravan of soldiers that were still far behind them. The line seemed to stretch for miles.

Rich or poor, Konn said gesturing at the men who came after them, I’m glad I’m not at the end of that line.

That we can agree upon.

As they rode into the city, Konn felt a queer feeling overtake him. Something was wrong.

Instantly he became more alert. His instincts had saved his life on more than one occasion, even if he didn’t know what they were trying to warn him about at the time. He scanned his surroundings, looking for trouble.

The streets were empty. Even in this midday heat, people would be about; traveling to and from market, drawing water from the well, praying outside on woven mats. Yet, no one was around.

Those around him had not noticed yet. Sheik Al Ashab continued conversing with General Bokor. Prince Abdul Hakeen and Nasira talked with her maid-servant, Atia.

Off in the distance, coming somewhere in the direction of the market, he could hear shouting. The noise grew louder the closer they approached and now others became aware of the disturbance too.

The sheik sent three men ahead to see what the commotion was about. The guards returned with word of an old woman, standing at the center of the market, disparaging the sheik.

She should be killed at once, General Bokor stated. The guards turned their horses around to do his bidding.

Sheik Al Ashab called them back. He would hear what the woman had to say before casting judgment on her crimes. On they rode, the sheik solemn, General Bokor slightly agitated, Abdul Hakeen stoic.

The road widened as they neared the market. The sheik’s army continued to wind its way through the city. All along the route beggars lay in the streets and alleys in tattered clothes, beggar bowls held out as they pleaded for coin or food. Some were former soldiers, an arm or leg lost in combat, some were those born blind at birth or pretending to be, some were children who had no home, no family.

There were always a lot of beggars in the poorer sections of Dammar Muna. Now, their numbers seemed to have tripled. They blended as one. They bowed their heads as the sheik passed, raised their call for aide so that their voice and need could be elevated above the others, raised empty beggar bowls, their thin arms outstretched.

Water, one man cried. Water!

I haven’t eaten in a week, shouted a woman as the sheik came close. I have children. Help me, please!

The sheik rode past them with his head held high and ordered one of his men to pass out dimars. The coins were tossed into the dirt as the man rode past, the gold twinkling, as it touched sunlight then disappeared as it landed in a cloud of dust and sand.

The quickest beggars sprawled into the dirt after the coins before the slower ones could even retract their bowls.

One man just lay unmoving in an alley, his head pressed against a house, his thawb gathered about him as though he had caught a chill. He had dark, cold eyes and absolutely no interest in the coins the sheik’s man had thrown to the ground. His gaze met, and held, Konn’s for a bit too long.

Konn gritted his teeth as he noticed more like him among the beggars. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, not yet ready to act, not yet ready to scream a warning that might not be unnecessary, even though the hair on his arms began to stand up in warning.

There were more like him though, they were everywhere. Scattered about in no great numbers to make it seem they were fewer than there were.

All of them hid among the poor. All of them had watchful, conniving eyes. Men who didn’t seem to belong. Men with thawbs almost intact, who did not lower their gaze in shame when looked upon. Men who were not broken or thin from hunger or thirst. Men who were too clean to be beggars, men who were undamaged in mind or body.

Sheik Al Ashab came to a halt in the center of the market. The Riders of Shen surrounded him as the crowd became too thick to push through. The villagers had gathered around an old woman in numbers that felt like the entire city had come to hear what words she had to speak. Konn couldn’t see her, but he could hear her voice as the crowd quieted in the presence of the sheik.

The old woman, unaware of who was listening, continued on in her staccato drone. The sheik dismounted, walked into the crowd. His personal guard went with him, as did his brother Abdul Hakeen and General Bokor. The crowd parted, the silence grew, and only the old crones voice carried on the wind.

She was a small, shrunken woman with white hair and fiery eyes. Her arms were thin, but firm, and lined with the vessels that carried life’s blood throughout the body. The rags she wore were so worn that they couldn’t be called rags.

"The sheik deserts his people! He absconds in the desert, searching for artifacts that help us not. We need water! We need food! The wells are dry and the crops burn black beneath the sun.

"Yet, the sheik brings back old relics that brought damnation to the nations that had them. He brings sin back to our doorsteps. He brings damnation back to our homes! He has deserted the old gods just as well as his people.

He brings drought! We have not had rain in one-hundred and twenty days. A plague shall fall on us all from his doing.

At last the old woman noticed Sheik Al Ashab standing among the crowd. She pointed at him, unafraid, her wiry hand shaking in condemnation. There he is. He has returned from evil lands with his evil trinket.

Bring her to me, Sheik Al Ashab ordered his men.

Two guards did the sheik’s bidding. They shoved people out of their way, grabbed the old woman and pulled her over to the sheik.

It is against the law to tarnish Sheik Al Ashab in this manner! General Bokor said stepping forward. You will be whipped for your insolence.

Sheik Ashab raised his hands for calm. That will not be necessary, he said. Let me talk to the woman, let me hear her cares.

She speaks the truth! a voice yelled from the crowd.

Yes, cried another from the opposite side.

Konn could not see who voiced either comment. He searched the crowd, looking for the likely culprits.

I want none of your pity, the old woman hollered. She spat on the ground. You are cursed Sheik Al Ashab.

Yes, he has cursed us, someone hollered. The sheik’s men surrounded him in a tight circle as the crowd came closer.

We need water! We need food!

This time the entire crowd responded to the words. More than five hundred voices rose up chanting, hollering. The crowd pushed in and the soldiers pushed back as best they could, but the numbers were too many.

We are cursed. He has cursed us!

The old woman howled in sudden agony and lurched forward. An ivory handled dagger protruded from her back. She collapsed into one the guards’ arms who had dragged her before the sheik, clutching at her back trying to remove the blade. Murder, she cried. Murder!

Her eyes locked on the sheik’s. She pointed and hollered as blood ran down her back. Murder! Murder! Murder … He has murdered me.

A shout of fear erupted from those around the woman. Some repeated her shouts and pointed at the sheik’s guards. Those closest to her tried to escape back into the crowd. Some surged on the guards. Others tried to come forward to see what the ruckus was about. A wave of people shoved in, got thrown forward, or knocked sideways. Some were unable to move against the mass of bodies that pressed in on them and were carried in the tide of people that moved forward.

The old woman and the two guards who had grabbed her were engulfed by the crowd. The guards surrounding the sheik pushed uselessly against the tide of bodies. Finally, they managed to get him back on his horse. General Bokor mounted his own horse and drew his sword. He slashed down on any person that he didn’t recognize as being one of the sheik’s men. That only angered the crowd further. The shouts grew louder. Everyone rushed in all at once and there was nowhere to go.

Konn cut down any who came too close to him, Rahaman was by his side doing likewise. Together they cut a thin path into the crowd that begin to close as soon as it was formed. There were too many of them.

Nasira appeared in the corner of Konn’s eye. She kicked savagely at a man who was trying to unhorse her. More men grabbed at her legs trying to pull her down.

Konn rode into them, sword slashing. He cut Nasira free and then grabbed the reins of her horse. Get on, he yelled.

She shook her head, stared into the crowd. My father, have you seen him?

We can worry about that later, Konn screamed. He thrust with his sword at a man trying to strike him with a rock. The blade went through the man’s left eye and out his cheek.

Damn it, girl. Get on or I’ll toss you to the crowd myself.

Nasira looked around, there was no sign of her father.

Get on, now!

Konn moved closer. Nasira put her hand on his shoulder to steady herself, then lunged across to the other horse. Once completely settled, she wrapped her arms around Konn’s waist.

She called helplessly for her father until her voice broke. It was Sheik Al Ashab who heard her cries, gained Konn’s attention as he slashed down on another person.

Konn, the sheik yelled. Konn!

Konn looked up at him, concerned for his safety. The sheik pointed. Get her out of here. Get her to safety. Go! Go!

Konn kicked his heels into his horse’s flanks. The beast took off running regardless of who was in its way. Konn mowed through the crowd, his sword slashing left and right. Behind him, Rahaman followed, his curved scimitar cutting down whoever got in his way. He was followed by Atia, Nasira’s maid servant, a frightened look on her face.

At last, they broke free of the crowds, their horses charging forward down the dusty streets.

There’s a safe house in the city. We’ll take her there, Rahaman shouted.

Konn nodded and followed Rahaman’s lead. They left the shouts and the chaos behind them as they disappeared into a maze of twisting roads and identical dwellings.

As they reached the safe house, they all gazed back upon the city. Even now they could still hear screaming coming from the marketplace, and worse, it seemed to be spreading.

Konn pointed. A black plume of smoke rose into the sky. The city is burning, he said. They stared for a moment longer, then Konn herded them inside and closed and barred the door behind them.

2

Konn held his hands out to the fire, testing the warmth. He still wasn’t used to how the heat of the desert could turn so cold at night. He threw two more logs into the fireplace and watched the flames slowly engulf them. The bedroom grew warmer and the light from the flames created a nice glow on the adobe walls making it feel very comfortable indeed.

That should do it, milady, Konn said, half turning around. How was your bath?

Nasira smiled at him. She stood in the doorway, slowly twisting a strand of her long, black hair around her index finger. Not as good as at the palace, but it will do.

Nasira gently closed the door behind her. She sauntered into the room and sat on the bed, then looked around with bored disinterest. The streets are quiet at last. Do you think my father and uncle have finally calmed the insurrection?

Konn rose, peered out the slats in the window. The evening was growing darker along the horizon and a few houses had even lit wall torches to help light the streets. Konn looked down on them, taking what note he could from the height the third floor provided.

It was true, the streets were finally empty. The rioters must have spent the last of their rage. That could mean several things. They may have had their fill of violence for the moment or they may have won and went back to their homes. Konn could not let go of the thought of the men he had seen. Had they caused this?

It’s calm, for now, my lady. That doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to return home.

When do you think I’ll be able to do that? She asked tilting her head in such a way that it accentuated the curve of her neck.

We will leave when the sheik calls us back. No sooner.

Nasira strolled across the room. The patterned silk thawb she wore hung loosely off her shoulders, barely covering the hint of breast lying just beneath the thin fabric. Her nipples poked eagerly forward.

She brushed past Konn trying to get to the window and the scent of coconut oils filled his nostrils. Konn reached out and gently took her by the waist, pulled her back. The warmth of her body radiated against him.

My lady, it’s not safe.

Oh, she said, entangling herself deeper into his arms. She tilted her head back, her lips opened, her breath hot on Konn’s neck. Her eyes met his, dared him to take what she was offering. Can they see me behind that wooden curtain.

Konn reluctantly disengaged, walked to the door and opened it. This should be left open, just in case Rahaman needs me.

You are needed, she said, by me. Her gaze held his, her eyes dark and warm. Her mouth parted. She slid her hands down the length of the thawb. Do you not find me attractive?

Konn looked back at her, nodded. I have my duties, my lady.

He stepped into the hall.

Please, don’t go, Nasira said.

She slumped on the bed, defeated. I need someone to talk to. To take my mind off … She waved her hand at the room and its accoutrements or lack thereof. … all of this.

"At the palace, I have plenty of things to do. I have a lot of people to talk to. Here it’s only you, Rahaman, and Atia. She’s my mother’s age. Please don’t go."

Konn stepped back into the room, relaxed into a watchful parade rest. Nasira studied him. He studied her. She seemed to enjoy the attention.

Do you have many women at the palace?

This was not where Konn wanted the conversation to go. A few, my lady.

A few? How many is that?

More than one, but less than too many.

Do you love them?

If love were involved then there would be only one.

But how do you know? With so many?

Konn cleared his throat. My lady, the night grows late. I have my duties and I must take my leave.

No, please. Please don’t go. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. Will you stay?

I will, if you need me to.

Good. Thank you. I do. Nasira rubbed her fingers together. Do you think they’re still alive? My father, my uncle, my cousins.

She had tears in her eyes. She wiped them away.

Truthfully, she said, Do you think they made it through the assault? It’s all I can think about. And these walls don’t help.

Konn walked over to the bed and sat beside her. From what I can tell, your father is an excellent tactician. And even your uncle, the sheik, is well known in my country for his fighting prowess. He is surrounded by hundreds of men with the sole intent of keeping him safe. As for your cousins; the prince is escorted by his own legion, and the princess has two hundred men guarding her night and day. So, yes, I think they are alive.

Nasira smiled sadly and sidled closer to him. She touched his hand, her tiny fingers small against his much larger ones. Konn didn’t retreat from her touch. He wanted to see how far she would take this little game. And she was beautiful.

Nineteen. A girl well into womanhood who had been protected all her life by her position and status from discovering how much of an affect she had on men; protected from the dance that men and women played with each other so that one day her marriage could secure an alliance with a neighboring state. In the palace, any man caught succumbing to her game would immediately be put to death. But they were not in the palace.

I’ve watched you from afar, did you know that? When you practiced in the courtyard with the other men.

She ran her fingers along his hand, then up his arm. She gazed into his eyes, studying his expression.

Konn grinned at her. That was not the touch of an inexperienced woman.

"You’re a lion. So fierce, so strong, so proud. The other men are like boys compared to you."

Her hands traced their way up his arm.

I know nothing about you. Tell me about your home, Konn. Does … does ice really fall from the sky?

Konn laughed a deep, hearty laugh. Nasira pulled away, perhaps unsure why he laughed so.

For someone who has never spoken to me directly, you know quite a bit, girl.

Nasira laughed with him. She fluttered her eyelashes, and moved in closer, her breast coming to rest against his arm.

I did tell you I admired you from afar. Didn’t I?

She wrapped her arms around his bicep. The scent of coconut oil was strong and enticing. Once again, she turned her lips up for him to kiss her. This time Konn answered her challenge.

Their lips met. Konn’s arms tightened around her, pulled her into his body. She shivered in his arms, as her tongue made little snake like thrust against his own. When they finally broke apart, Nasira gently bit his bottom lip and pulled on it as their mouths parted.

More incredible than I hoped, she said.

Konn grinned.

And much more experienced than I would have imagined. Konn suspected that someone had failed in protecting Nasira from the dance of men and women and she obviously knew about the effect she had on men. Had she been practicing with the palace guards?

A loud thud came from downstairs. Konn was on his feet, sword drawn and ready in less than a heartbeat.

Konn? Nasira asked, fear in her eyes.

Konn raised a single finger and placed it against his lips. Stay up here, he whispered, then he turned and slowly crept to the door, his body prepared to react to whatever he might encounter.

If anyone had passed by the room he would have either seen them or heard them. He was cautious nonetheless. The warrior who assumed he was safe would soon find himself dead.

Konn peeked into the hall. Two lanterns spaced evenly apart provided some light. The door to the room directly opposite was slightly ajar. It was where Nasira took her baths. The hall was clear. Konn stepped into it and pushed open the door to the other room.

Atia jumped back and away from the door. Her face dropped in fear as she saw Konn’s raised sword. Bathwater remained in the tub, the bucket to drain it discarded on the floor next to a used towel. Atia’s room was on the second floor. How long had she been watching them?

Konn motioned with his head toward Nasira’s room. "Go wait with the girl, but do not engage in