"Garden of Blood" by Roger Zelazny (1979)

Originally appeared in Sorcerer's Apprentice #3, Summer 1979.

Plot: Dilvish and Black come to the ruins of a village where once Dilvish had spent a pleasant few days. When they find an alatar in a field of flowers near-by a magical transformation happens: they are sent back in time to when the town was invaded and destroyed. Black also is changed froma demon horse into a large dark-haired warrior. Dilvish and Black try to rescue the local priestess of the earth goddes Manata but fail to do so. They fight a savage battle which ends when they return to their time. They see that the red flowers are spirit of the invaders. Dilvish destroys them. Manata thanks them. As they ride away Dilvish can swear he hear the flowers scream as he killed them.

Monsters:

Evil Plants - the evil warriors invaders turned to flowers.

History: "Garden of Blood" was the first Dilvish story to appear in Sorcerer's Apprentice. Zelazny reprinted all the odler stories in later issues. One of the second phase of Dilvish stories, no longer concerned with Dilfar or the past, "Garden of Blood" is a fast-paced adventure in the Howard style that stands alone. Dilvish uses his sword but it is no longer described as being unsual or invisible. For this tale, the author converted Black into a man so that the two heroes could fight side by side, ala Fafhrd and Grey Mouser. Very much a story for fantasy rpgers having lots of action and a mystery or puzzle in it.

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