The Grey Templars: Tale of a Torturer

By Anthony Condos

Set in a post apocalyptic world, humanity now led by the religious sects, is besieged by the forces of hell. Cults of demon worshippers, Vampire Covens, Necromancers and many others in the ranks of evil forces whose only goal is submission or death. All that stands in their way are the warriors known as the Grey Templars, genetically modified warriors of God. They are blending of faith and science all in the name to save humanity.

Our story follows the adventures of one of the others in the fight against evil, the serial vigilante the Blade Wind. Follow this story of his origin right up to the present day where he hunts all evil doers; humans, demons and monsters alike, whilst dodging Templar justice. Join the ride to save the very soul of humanity in The Grey Templars: Tale of a Torturer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anthony Condos
• Release date: Jan 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463633687

Anthony Condos

My name is Anthony Condos, For as long as I’ve been able to read I’ve also wanted to be a writer, I wanted the opportunity to put my own stamp on a storyline and this is my first offering. As a martial arts exponent I find that action books don’t always depict action in an exciting believable way, often bogged down with too little or too much detail I hope I’ve got the balance right.

Book preview

Content

Copyright

Novel Philosophy

Writer’s Foreword

The Tale Begins

Treason with Reason

Family Ties

How to make a Monster

Battle Rager

A Question of Identity?

Redemption

The Blade Wind

A New Path

The Zombie

Message in a Body

The Demon Child

Deception

The Necromancer

The Morlocks

Horror in the Streets

Losing the Taste

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Contact

References and Terms

Copyright

The Grey Templars: Tale of a Torturer

By Anthony Condos

Copyright 2018 Anthony Condos

Smashwords Edition.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Novel Philosophy

The punishment for criminals must be that their crimes are visited upon them tenfold, so that they may realize the gravity of their crimes… The Blade Wind.

Writer’s Foreword

This book is a work of fiction that depicts characters taking the law into their own hands of which I vehemently disagree with. I do support our right to defend ourselves but state whole-heartedly that I believe in our law system and commend the men and women who serve us by upholding the law. So please I do hope you enjoy this novel for what it is, a piece of fictional writing, that in no way condones vigilante acts.

Thank you for reading and please enjoy.

Anthony Condos

CHAPTER 1

The Tale Begins

(One week after the Demon War)¹

The room was dark, all but a single spot light illuminated the center of the room. Within that circle of light was a man. He sat in a chair completely at rest, almost as if he had not a care in the world. He sat there quietly his hands crossed on his lap, only his eyes showed some signs as they darted back and forth as if looking for something.

The man knew he was not alone as his host flittered in and out of the light as if on some errand. He could also hear the whispers; it was as if a group of people were just beyond the light.

He couldn’t see them but he could hear them. But all he could hear was just a constant whispered chatter. Though he could hear it, it was not loud enough to be understood, it was enough to drive a man beyond crazy.

His host seemed to finally see him, as he seemed to stop for a moment then came walking up to the seated man.

My apologies for the wait, but a man in my line of work is used to taking ones time to make sure everything is perfect. He dragged over a chair for himself to sit in as he continued, Now Mr Gershone you must be wondering why I asked you here…

Nathaniel Gershone a reporter of some repute was indeed wondering what this alien wanted, for it was easy to identify that his host was of the Dan-Yeeki race. He was also wondering what possessed him to come here, he could be at home watching the game.

True you could be home but then you would miss the story of a lifetime. His host said breaking him out of his revelry.

Gershone smiled as he responded with, I know the Dan-Yeeki are capable of telepathic communication, so don’t try to impress me with parlor tricks.

The Dan-Yeeki man smiled as he said, Apologies, a habit of my sometimes arrogant race… So why not just get on with why I asked you here.

Yes, why don’t you do that! Because I’m sure I have better things to do than just sit here and chat. Let’s start with who you are? The yet unnamed man smiled coldly at the arrogant reporter as he produced three small coin sized sharpened discs and flipped them around his fingers. He then fanned them out the top of his hand. Then with a simple flick of his hand he sent them darting out to embed themselves into the chair that Gershone sat upon. Two landed in the head rest on either side of his neck, the third stuck fast in the middle of the seat between his legs.

Gershone stared back with a venomous look as he said, Just give me one good reason not to just get up and walk away! The still not yet named Dan-Yeeki man smiled as he answered with, I shall give you two. One you have just realized who I am by the skills I just displayed and I can see the greed in your eyes. The second reason is even simpler I slipped a particular neurotoxin into the water you have been sipping. Your limbs are useless you can talk, you can breathe but you cannot move out of that chair.

A nice bluff but I don’t buy it! Gershone said as he made to stand up, the smug smile he had on his face changed to one of frustration as he struggled to move his limbs. Frustration soon turned to anger as he looked at his host smile at his attempts. Anger quickly turned to fear when in a flash of movement the host was off his chair and next to his head whispering in a most sinister tone. And now Mr Gershone it is my turn to ask you a question… Who am I? With that he stepped back in front of Gershone drew a knife and threw it. The knife splintered the wood of the chair between Gershone’s legs inches from his manhood.

Who am I? Again after no response from Gershone another knife struck the chair closer to his groin.

Who am I? All Gershone said was, I don’t know… He was cut off in mid-sentence with, Yes you do, but the possibility terrifies you as much as it excites you!

The third knife flew through the air and twisted so when it struck the chair the flat of the blade slid under Gershone’s manhood so that it rested on the blade safely.

Who am I? The host asked again as he drew his hand back again.

You’re the Blade Wind! Gershone blurted out in desperation as Blade Wind’s hand started to come forward. The hand flashed forward and twisted to perform a courtly bow at Gershone as he said, Correct!

The man known as the Blade Wind sat back down on his seat as he continued, I am the Blade Wind, but once a long time ago I had another name. Once upon a time I was known as Kalidas Scar-Hara a well-respected commander of the Dan-Yeeki people… I was once a Dan-Yeeki of means with a bright future and a family; a life companion - what you call a wife - and two children a boy and a girl. And now I am a torturing and murderous vigilante feared by the evil…

He sniffed as he added, Hated and hunted by the good! A creature of neither good nor evil but a bastard child of both… and that Mr Gershone is why I asked you here. To be the first to hear the story of how I came to be what sits before you. Would you like that? Say yes and I will spare no details and you will have the story of your life… Well actually my life. He added with a smile. So, what say you?

Nathaniel Gershone was both terrified and excited, terrified of being at the mercy of this killer and yet… excited at this opportunity of a life time. He was, by both profession and nature a greedy man he would go any lengths for a story. He found people who have wanted to disappear… He asked the questions that no one wanted to answer… He exposed the truths that people wanted hidden from the world… He truly did see himself as a modern day crusader for the people and it is for this reason as well as his egocentric personality that despite his fear he said, Yes.

Excellent, well let us make you a little more comfortable, after saying this he pulled out of his jacket a small dart, barely the size of a pin. The base of the dart was in the shape of a tiny skull, he flicked it into the air to land point first in Gershone’s leg barely breaking the skin. It will counteract the neurotoxin you drank. Seconds later Gershone knew his host spoke the truth as he could once again move his limbs.

Gershone asked, You’re no longer worried that I’m going to run off? Blade Wind smiled as he replied with, No I am not. I think we both know you are not going anywhere until you get this story out of me!

Gershone chuckled as he said, You’re damn right I’m not! So where do we start?

Hmm, not to be traditional or anything of the sort but I think we must start this story from the beginning…

Fifty Years Ago

Dan-Yeeki Commander Kalidas took a quick glance over the peak of the hill that he now lay upon. He saw the enemy raiders were walking towards the bottleneck between Kalidas’ hill and the one opposite his position. Their target was a defenseless Dan-Yeeki settlement just ripe for such a raiding force intent on pillaging, rape and murder.

Unfortunately for the raiders the settlement had already been evacuated, only a few brave souls had stayed to sell the deception. Brave despite their fear, they were also confident that their military would keep them safe. Kalidas’ forces had been split into three groups; one on each of the two hills and the main bulk of the Dan-Yeeki force was hidden in the village itself.

He now studied the approaching raiders, they looked so like he and his men for they were once kin and yet so unlike he and his men for their very nature. The dan-yale superficially resembled their distant cousins the Dan-Yeeki. Neither race was overly tall averaging five foot six inches and their bodies were thin sculptured works of art. Yet there was nothing weak nor sickly about their appearances, there was a graceful strength in their movements. But it was their faces that made the real difference between the two races. While both were handsome races the dan-yale had cruel twists that showed their sadistic tendencies. Their armour added the final touch again similar to that of their kin. But being covered in cruelly edged spikes, blades and barbs left no doubt that this was a society of hedonism and depravity.

Kalidas was brought out of his revelry when he saw that the front of the enemy column had reached the front of the bottleneck. He pushed a button on the earpiece of his battle helmet.

No one moves until I give the order… Sub Commander Raizar tell the villagers it is time to play their part.

Yes sir. responded Raizar.

Kalidas once again took a quick glance over the peak as he heard the screams of the villagers. He saw the dan-yale leader study the settlement as he and the vanguard of his army approached it.

Obviously seeing nothing suspicious, Kalidas saw the dan-yale leader order his men forward into the bottleneck as he walked back to his bodyguards. It was then that Kalidas zoomed in on the dan-yale leader with the ocular lenses in his battle helmet and to his surprise recognized him. He captured an image of the leaders face and then transmitted it to the databases of his orbiting ship; Zeshi’s Folly. Moments later he heard a bing in his ear, across the vision of his left ocular lense a profile appeared. After reading a few lines of it, he pushed a button on his armours chest piece and the profile disappeared.

Gentlemen we have a priority one target, I repeat a priority one target. Kalidas said to his men.

Who is it, sir? asked Sub Commander Raizar.

The leader, his name is Chieftain Mordath Aranthian, one of the dark prince’s inner circle, responded Kalidas.

Sir, what is one of the dark council doing here? asked Raizar.

I do not know, but I am pretty certain it is nothing good. Responded Kalidas.

Sir, they are all in the bottleneck. He heard one of his men on the outer side of his formation report.

Hearing this he gave the order, Attack, remember we need the chieftain alive.

With that command the two groups on the hills, stood up aimed their Diamond Eye Rifles and fired. The valley the dan-yale were in, lit up as hundreds of red laser blasts lanced down into it. Prepared for unarmed villagers, the dan-yale were cut down as they had no ranged weaponry aside from net guns. Some tried to climb the steep hills inorder to engage their ambushers with their melee weapons. All were shot down before they made it halfway up the hills. Others at the front of the dan-yale formation ran forward to the settlement in the hopes of gaining hostages to use as living shields. As they reached the settlement, they were obliterated by the remaining group Kalidas had left hidden in the settlement, laser blasts shredding them to pieces

It was a massacre, soon all that remained were a few pockets of dan-yale resistance who hunkered down behind any cover they could find, including the mounds of their own dead comrades. Another group remaining was the chieftain and his bodyguards. Heavily armoured and hidden behind large shields which were linked by a chain to the weapons they held in their other hands. None of the bodyguards had fallen in the ambush and Kalidas soon found out why. The shields the bodyguards held, didn’t physically take the laser impacts from his men’s rifles, so much as they were absorbing them. It seemed the energy from the absorbed laser blasts would travel along the connected chain into small tubular weapons attached to the bodyguard’s melee weapons. Every so often one of the bodyguards would aim their weapons and the collected energy would burst forth from the tubular weapon attachments in spectacular blasts. Kalidas called a halt to his mens firing as it proved to be both ineffectual and deadly as the warrior next to him was quite literally vapourised as a blinding flash of light struck him. Kalidas reorganized his men, ordering the settlement group to move in and finish off the small pockets of dan-yale still trapped in the bottleneck. He then led the rest of his contingent in a charge against the retreating bodyguards and their master as he noticed dan-yale ships dropping from the sky. The chieftain must have had reinforcements held back, he surmised as he ran and saw groups of dan-yale warriors dropping from the newly arrived ships. The landed warriors were charging immediately inorder to close the one hundred meter gap between their landing zone and their retreating master. Kalidas and his men reached them first, of the fifty men that charged with him, ten allowed their rifles to recess back into their gauntlets and drew their close quarter weapons a mixture of elegant swords, axes and daggers. They then joined Kalidas in attacking the Chieftain and his bodyguards. The other forty Dan-Yeeki warriors ran past them and formed a firing line inorder to hold off the newly arrived reinforcements. Kalidas sprinted ahead of his men, drawing his sword from over his shoulder as he went. The first bodyguard he encountered swung a wicked looking axe at his head. He fainted high and then ducked low his sword slicing in for his opponent’s abdomen. The blow was not fatal as the bodyguards armour held, it did however put him down on one knee as he was winded by the blow. This allowed Kalidas to step behind him and deactivate his battle helmet. His head now unprotected, Kalidas felled his foe with a quick slash to the back of his neck, he then spun to block a blow to his back. The bodyguard had dispatched one of Kalidas’ warriors, he then swung a heavy headed mace at Kalidas hoping to catch him unawares. But Kalidas was all too aware and blocked the blow as he did a second aimed at his knee. His return blow banged on the bodyguard’s shield and he saw it shimmer with captured kinetic energy, which transferred to his weapon. Kalidas dodged as the bodyguard behind him, a dan-yale bodyguard behind was vapourised instantly. As Kalidas came in again an idea formed in his head. He launched several sloppy attacks, which the bodyguard blocked with his shield easily. As he lowered the mace to shoot again, Kalidas struck. Catch the shaft of the mace in between the crossguard and blade of his sword. He then pushed the mace back so it lay against the bodyguard’s chest plate pointing up under his chin. He reached out with his other hand and squeezed down on the dan-yale’s trigger finger. The bodyguard’s head was transformed into a bloody mist and his headless body fell to the ground. He turned to see his target Chieftain Mordath Aranthian cruelly kill one of his men as he stabbed the warrior in the stomach with his short spear and left him to writhe in agony on the ground.

Kalidas charged forward ducking and dodging between the ongoing conflicts between his men and the bodyguards. He leapt up onto and off the upraised shield of one of the bodyguards, he lunged with his sword as his leap carried him to Mordath. Chieftain Mordath a veteran of many battles blocked the blow, but only just as the tip of the blade sliced across his cheek. Although only a flesh wound, it still enraged the enemy chieftain. Howling in outrage Mordath activated his battle helmet, which swept around his face. He then attacked with a series of lightning fast thrusts and lunges finishing with a wide sweep at Kalidas’ legs. Kalidas blocked or dodged the thrusts and lunges, as he jumped to avoid the sweep he saw the trap too late. After the sweep with his weapon Mordath continued to spin and caught Kalidas in the chest with a kick sending him to the ground on his back.

As he landed on his back Kalidas continued to move as he rolled backwards.

‘Shink!’ was the sound of Mordath’s spear sinking into the ground where he had just moved from. Kalidas regained his feet quickly and lashed out with his sword at one of Mordath’s hands holding the spear, forcing the chieftain to abandon his planted weapon.

Kalidas ran forward gripped the stuck spear and levered himself into the air launching a kick to Mordath’s helmed head. The battle helmet was dented in slightly by the unexpected blow and Mordath fell to the ground. Kalidas using his momentum wrenched the spear out of the ground and thrust it down pinning Mordath’s leg as it passed through his thigh into the ground below. Kalidas finished him off with a front heel kick as the entire bottom of his foot drove the consciousness out of his downed opponent. He restrained the Chieftain with a containment strap – a thin piece of plastic that wrapped itself around Mordath’s wrists elongating as it continued creating a web of the material – locking his wrists and forearms together. As his men finished off the remaining bodyguards, Kalidas turned at the sound of an approaching craft announcing another wave of Mordath’s reinforcements.

The approaching warriors were led by two figures in the same garb worn by the bodyguards only more ornately decorated. One carried a short handled glaive, the other a metallic barbed whip. Both charged Kalidas as the rest of their group engaged his men. The glaive bearer shot out its free hand and a contraption strapped to its wrist launched a net at him. Kalidas sliced the approaching net in half with a downward stroke of his sword rendering it useless. But it left him open as the whip bearer leaped through the separating net hitting him with both feet extended. Kalidas was hurled back by the blow but managed to keep his feet. He got his sword up in time to block a glaive strike. He then proceeded to block the three follow up strikes, which had a slight hesitancy to them as if the bearer were unsure of themself. The glaive bearer came in once again, this time with a high swing intending to take Kalidas’ head off. Which it would have, had he not ducked at the last second. The glaive bearer having missed his target shot right passed Kalidas who then spun around to face any follow up attacks. But there were none, instead he saw the glaive bearer trying to cut the now conscious Chieftain’s restraints. Kalidas skipped forward and kicked the apparent rescuer away, at the same time he felt the whip wrap around his upraised forearm pulling him back off balance. He turned to face the whip bearer, he jumped in with a step in side kick. The whip bearer was sent stumbling back as Kalidas then gripped the whip and then wrenched it back. The whip bearer came stumbling forward to be met by a blow to the forhead with the pommel of Kalidas’ sword.

As his opponent’s feet shot out straight from under them to land flat on their back, he sensed someone attacking from behind. On blind instinct he reclined back from the impending attack, sword outstretched. He turned as he felt the jolt on his arm to see the glaive bearer had impaled themselves on his extended blade. As the glaive bearer fell back clutching their stomach wound. Kalidas heard a shout of rage, Nooooooo! before he felt a body collide with his own knocking him down on his back. He saw Chieftain Mordath scrambling up his body in a frenzy. He started flailing his arms but bound as they were almost up to his elbows, any blows Kalidas suffered in the main were minor, however one did manage to stun him. As he felt the hands grasp his throat, Kalidas slammed his arm down on Mordath’s forearms collapsing them and bringing his head down. The Chieftain spilled over to his left as his fist smashed into the jawline of his helm. Still abit stunned by the visciousness of the attack, Kalidas watched as the whip bearer ran up helped Mordath up to his feet. They then dragged him away as he made for Kalidas once again.

Father! We have been overrun, we must flee! he heard a young female voice announce. ‘Father?’ thought a puzzled Kalidas, he then recalled from the glimpse of Mordath’s file, he had two children. The oldest, a girl called Kityara whom he assumed was the one dragging Mordath away as the remainder of their men joined them in their flight towards a waiting transport ship. The younger child was a boy called Kityan… ‘Oh no,’ he looked over at the figure still grasping its stomach wound. He got to his feet, rushed over to the prostrated figure deactivated the battle helmet and saw a face too young for his blood to be staining Kalidas’ blade.

Kityan? he asked the badly wounded warrior. In too much pain to talk, Kityan reached out with his telepathic ability which all dan-yale and Dan-Yeeki are capable of from very young ages. ‘Yes, please help me!’ Kalidas nodded as he touched a button on his chest plate, This is Commander Kalidas we require emergency medical assistance. I repeat, we require emergency medical assistance… Kityan then barraged him with a bevy of scattered thoughts. ‘Traitor… help… going to kill me… help me… he’s going to kill me… help.’ Kalidas stumbled back as the storm of chaotic thoughts battered him. He then felt a pair of hands grab him to steady him.

Sir, are you well? he heard the voice of Sub Commander Salidas his Intelligence Officer.

I’m fine, please stabilise the boy, till the healers arrive, he ordered Salidas.

Yes sir, he heard the reply as he stepped away trying to clear his mind. ‘Did the boy think his sister a traitor for leaving him? Who was going to kill him? His father, for being captured?’

The boy’s thoughts invaded his mind once again only with a more panicked edge this time. ‘Help me… going to kill me… please…’ It was then he heard Salidas shout, Stop! Then there was the sound of a weapon discharging and the boy’s thoughts went silent.

Salidas, what did you… He started to ask as he spun around to find Sub Commander Salidas holding a pistol at his side.

Salidas! What have you done? A shocked Kalidas asked.

He was reaching for his weapon… he left me no choice, Salidas responded calmly. Kalidas looked down at the young corpse whose weapon was nowhere near his hands exposing Salidas’ lies. At the same time all of Kityan’s panicked thoughts collated in his mind. As he looked back at Salidas he said, No choice you say? Was it that? Or perhaps it was to stop him from exposing you as a traitor!

Salidas actually chuckled as he heard the accusation. The little dung heap told you that, did he?

He told me enough, your actions did the rest. Kalidas replied as he quickly reached for his pistol but only found an empty holster. Why Salidas? Why would you betray your own people? asked Kalidas.

Money for the most part, my new master rewards me generously, for what the Dan-Yeeki expect from me as my duty!

I doubt your new master would reward you for executing his son! retorted Kalidas.

True… but he would reward me for bringing him his son’s true killer… your pistol, your crime! he said as he tossed the pistol in his hand to the ground, which Kalidas recognized as his missing pistol. As he looked back up he saw that Salidas had drawn his own pistol and the two warriors at his sides activated their rifles, all aiming at him.

Well Salidas, I am impressed you managed to get two of my men to betray me as well.

Salidas snarled as he said with a venomous tone, As you should be, of the hundreds you command only these two convinced me that they could be depended upon to betray you!

But what could possibly have been your goal here? Your dan-yale friends hardly brought the numbers to defeat us. Kalidas asked as he turned away from Salidas and his men.

Salidas chuckled once again, before he answered with, "You ask the question and you are the answer. We were to obtain your datagem, I was to take your place and you would either be dead or a very special guest of my new master. As the for the lack of resources our cousins are indeed an arrogant lot, Mordath believed his bodyguards and his reinforcements would be more than adequate to