The King (Telnarian Histories 3)
by John Norman[ Fantasy ]
A science fiction series filled with interplanetary adventure, rebellion and mortal combat by the author the The Gorean Saga. Third in the series, The King. This is the age of the Telnarians. Their vast, corrupt empire spans galaxies, ruling by terror, slavery, and the lash. But, their corruption and brutality could spell their downfall for, on a thousand worlds of swords and science, the savage souls of true men will not be forever chained. A heroic tide is rising--and one warrior is born to lead the barbarian horde. To recruit his legion of space barbarians, the giant gladiator Otto must win their fierce loyalty, world by world, in lethal combat against monsters, men, aliens, and the beautiful, murderous slaves--while Imperial conspirators plot Otto's assassination, and an evil warlord's brutal army prepares to unleash genocidal horror across the stars.
BLOOD ON THE SNOW
The Herul scout gingerly pushed at the headless, half-eaten horse on the sledge. He reached into the rib cage to draw the frozen corpse out of the cavity.
The leader of the Heruls looked back at the sledge. "Utinn?"
The scout stood by the sledge, not moving. There was something odd about the attitude of the figure.
"Atlar!" said the leader. A second Herul waded through the snow to his fellow. "The neck is broken," he said. "He is dead."
"Lift the axe," said the leader of the Heruls.
At that moment, with a cry of rage and power, a mighty figure, more than half again the size of a common man, rose from the body of the horse, flinging dried, cold ribs, bones scattering; springing like a hurricane, like a lion...
And Atlar, a yard of great blade emerging from his back, was lifted, impaled, in the air. Snarling, surely more animal than man, Otto held the Herul's squirming, bleeding body over his head...
