by Pwyll Duggan
"Only if they ask you to." Gets even more snickers.
Shaking my head, I hop up on the foot plate and look in the carriage. A seat on each wall, one front and one rear with room for four. A small island table is in the middle. Matching Marylou are the Twins, still matching colours in curt leathers, lovely wands at their sides, ribbons tying back their hair having the only colours, red and blue. Mish is all Amazonian Greek armour. That armoured shirt thing they wear, moulded breastplate, emphasis on the breasts. Sara is stripping and putting on her gym rat gear and tying bandages around feet and hands, huge grin on her face.
Mish, Sara, Sonya and Marylou all face backwards, backs to the horses. The Twins, Charlotte and the only spare seat face, forward. Princess Charlotte is tapping the seat next to her, staff in a holder at her side, sticking up from the floor. Her arms free robe on, large hood. White with blue trim, small pouches adorning her belt. A hip holster for a book and gloves with a metal band on her knuckles and covering the back of her hand. She leans to the table, grabs a plate of pastries.
"Breakfast Lord Walsh?" I should be used to being out maneuvered by now. I sit and take a pastry and Mish raps on the front wall and we're off.
We ride in silence until Mish starts.
"So?" Looking at Sara, who's still smiling. "Girl, don't make me hurt you." The twins are both looking on nodding, eyes expectant.
"We talked then slept."
"You mean slept together."
"We were in the same bed, yes."
"Girl..."
"What?"
"More information is required." I butt in.
"I am right here you know." And get a lots of dismissive waving hands from the front of the carriage. Okay, not wanted then.
"It worked."
"Really? You 'upped'?"
I add again. "Hey, all I did..." and Sara glares at me and the words stop in my throat.
Fine. I open the door, grab the top of the carriage and flip out and over, landing on the roof. The door swings closed from the bumpy road and I sit, cross legged among two surprised guards. I lean back onto the roof and try and enjoy the sun.
We hit the dirt track on the edge of the lake, past the clearing works going on in the Woods. Or more precisely not going on at the moment. The work looks like it's progressing well, and our dirt track is well used. The cavalry is in 4 groups of 5, one to each side, one rear and Rose with the one out front. Looking around as the scenery flies by we must be doing 30mph, horse all at a slower gallop, ambling alone quite easily.
I wave to the coachman on the reins and slide in next to him.
"We doing about 30 miles?"
"Yes, my lord, should hit Laird's domain as dawn truly breaks. Horses are druid enhanced with extra strength, stamina and night vision. Best for the Princess' outing of course."
"Awesome. Going to do some tests if that's okay. Horses good with flying things?" That gets me a look and an unsure nod.
"Yes, why?"
"Gonna check what speed I can go." And I shoot up in the air.
Flying is such a rush as I bank over the carriage and head a little out over the lake, turning to match the carriage. I have to slow down to match the carriage, just a little mental command to do so. It's like having a joystick in your head and it feels almost natural to bank and turn with it. Like running but up and down as well. If I make myself do the standing flight, like Magneto (seeing a trend yet?) I slow right down, just staying with the carriage. When I go all superman and try and go fast the terrain 'flies' by, hehehe, and I have to be pushing close to 70 or 80mph.
And my brain is off again, assessing the advantage of fast airborne recon and force projection. That is the reason for aircraft carriers after all. Add what I can carry, and I really need those fire pots Mari and Amaya are working on, and the Blessed Water items. Just because I have flight doesn't mean I have to fight stupid, or even standing still for that matter. Shit I hope no-one has dispel magic. The crash from that would go viral in no time on earth. No camera phones here to record me, thank the gods.
I fly down and match Rosie's speed as she gallops along, smile on my face, flying on my side, resting on an elbow. As I start smiling Rose just looks over at me.
"I always wondered why everything wanted you dead. Now I know. Back in your box Shielder." Deflated I fly back to the carriage and sit inside. All eyes go to me again.
"What?"
All the girls are smiling, apart from Charlotte whose head is in a book. A chill runs up my spine. I probably should have stayed outside.
"Twins, one hand over the table please." As they reach out, I hold each hand, quick white flashes going off.
"Mish and Sara next." And I do the same.
"Marylou? I'll rest and enhance Sonya and Charlotte." I get corrected by her.
"Princess or Her Highness." And she doesn't even look up.
"Sonya and Her Highness once I've rested." I lean back and wait for the Spirita to regen. At full after 10 minutes I enhance both of them and go back to waiting.
Dawn shines itself over the lake and a new day truly starts. The dirt track becomes more of a wide road. chimney smoke rises from a small village before us, dawning sunlight hitting the town. As the road turns more towards the lake and I put my head out the window, looking at the village on the small river flowing into the lake, watch the fields as the sun starts to run over them. Bright colours flair into life as the light runs over the fields. It gets reflected by something, flashing in the field, then another, then another and the field is all metal flashes.
The village just about to start is day may not make it out of its bed. A horde of snotlings and gobbers are crossing the fields, heading straight to their breakfast buffet, sleeping villagers. I kick the door open, it flying out, past the riders.
"ENEMIES!" I scream at the top of my lungs.
Time to earn my keep.
Chapter 31
Mish hanging from one arm, Sara on my back and Sonya on the other hand, I fly north to the fields. The girls scream as we pass low over the village, praying for them to wake as I drop them at the first dry stone wall. Those stone fences done around fields dotted along so many country sides, especially in England and Wales. Before they even land, I am off again, back to the carriage for another load.
Marylou is on my back before I stop, the Twins have their hands out ready. I swing both out of the moving carriage, now going alone as the cavalry is in a rush to get to the village, a horn blowing for a charge. We turn and head back, the small horde getting slower, reacting to the horn. Why are they slowing down? Marylou leans down.
"Watch the woods!"
Head to the side I see forms racing through the darkness and shadows there, all doing loping strides of something large on all fours. I go to drop the Twins on the first thatched roof facing the horde as an arrow flies out of the woods, with more following.
Red flicks her arm to the left, arrows streaking from that way and red tiny hexes form in the air, joining together slowly and spreading out into a shield wall. As the arrows impact the hexes, they turn blue as Blue casts the same, the depth of the shield doubling. They stand up tall as the shield wall finishes, hold hands and with their free hands raise their middle fingers at the woods. Yup, that always gets the point across.
Marylou has leapt off and I'm away, back for Her Highness. I fly fast and low, skirting the roof tops as people begin pouring out of the houses. The riders are still minutes away, yet the horde has stopped on the hill, waiting for something. I match speeds with the carriage and just grab the princess under both arms and pull her out, flying fast for the only stone building in the village, a hall or warehouse with an a-frame roof. Times like these I need a sniper on that roof.
I pass the river and I'm falling, fast. I rotate, covering Charlotte in my arms as my back rips thru a roof as blast thru the wall underneath it, rolling on the ground. I don't feel any pain as I channel a heal downwards, not taking any chances. As I do that batwings beat their way out of the river, a liz
ard with a long neck and a head with way too many sharp pointy teeth roars as it climbs. I see it take a huge gulp of air and my palms are out as liquid streams forth.
Twin streams of white fluid pulse from the sides of its mouth, hit each other 20 feet in front and ignite, flames rolling forward.
"Dragon." Is whispered behind me, shock in her voice.
The flames roll into my force sphere and the heat makes me throw up my hands. That's why the horde waited, they have clean-up duty. I can fly again, and I'm up, grabbing Charlotte forcibly by one arm and head out to the girls, dropping her near the twins as wings beat the air behind me.
It doesn't seem to be able to get airborne, but the village still suffers. The wings feed the fire, spreading it around, knocking anyone over who is even remotely close by. Shield up and my sword in hand I'm up and away, flying high at it, going for the dive-bomb charge. It watches me, long neck turning its muzzle towards me and I trigger Charge, coming at its wing side. At 20 feet it all stops as I fall again, hitting the ground near its body, leaving a small crater in the earth. It adjusts and a clawed foot slams down on me, crushing me into the ground.
I cough blood as it walks over me, going into the village. The shields a wreck, but it saved me, and my sword is nowhere close. I can't even feel her. I can't activate heal or my gloves as I roll out of my hole. It's left me for dead, heading thru the village, demolishing buildings and stopping for a big breath. I try and run back, past the tail and suddenly Princess is in my mind again.
I heal and call her, outside whatever the field it's projecting is. I aim, and another force sphere goes up - just outside of the streams converging point. Out shoots the liquid again, igniting and hitting the half-sphere, pointing the fire back as it explodes in white.
"Spear" I think, dropping four to the ground. I grab one and put my back into it as I throw, thinking power strike as I do. The spear gets the extra power at this end and rockets forward, going head deep in a thigh, scales facing the wrong way to protect it from me. The Dragon roars as I fire another spear as it turns in rage, this one does a glancing blow, rattling off its scales. It turns, head searching for me, horned mane flared out, red and angry. The fucking things has a collar. Wonder if it's tagged by the vet also.
Streaks of white shoot out from the twins as Charlotte is casting on the dancing Mish and Sara, who themselves are exchanging blows with some were-bears? Bear people? They seem to be holding their own as I grab both spears that are left. My minds ignore the roaring reddish horned dragon in front of me and trying to gauge the 20-foot field I have to fight against. It finishes turning its heavy body. I start whacking the spears together, going for the come get me approach. The triceratops like head glares at me as it shambles forward at me. Come on, rear up, you dumb lizard. And that's a thank you.
It rears, going for another wing beat as I send the fireball off, running after it. It impacts the ground, dirt and debris flying into the air as the flames roll out, stopping at that 20-foot mark. But the smoking dirt and debris don't stop and I'm in that, smouldering with spears out. I impact past the head, just missing the horns and skate down, spears sparking as I follow the neck down. As I reach the body, I thrust back with both, throwing everything into it. The spears skid, then slide under the scales, digging it. I use the shafts as hand holds and turn, slamming feet down on the cross guards on the spear heads, driving both in as deep as I can as it roars. Claws rake at its sides, not quite reaching me as I drive the spears deeper, grabbing one and pushing it deep.
It's beating its wings and rocking side to side, trying to throw me off, roars getting worse. I use the motion to go from driving the spear deeper to rotating it around, tearing up the base of its neck. Legs bent I pull, ripping it free, blood gushing out. All I do is then drive it the spear back down, like making a post hole for a fence. In, twist and pull out, covering myself in dragon blood as I do. Seeing the hole, I reach over my shoulder, Princess leaping into my hand.
Using both hands I thrust down, embedding her in the wound. I grab the other spear for balance and start stomping Princess down into the wound. The dragon has smashed another building and starting to almost roll onto its side, Princess is cross guard deep now. I grab her hilt and my mind melts, the world going dark as my hunger takes over. I reach down with my mind, racing along the Spirita into its body, seeing the Spirita Aqua.
“Soul Eater.”
And I eat it. Whole. Grinning as I do. The Spirita flows into me, ripped from the Dragon’s body and killing it as it leaves.
Sara and Mish are fighting the remaining were-bears when I finally look up. The worlds tinged black on all the edges, like it's cell-shaded or something. Doll takes both spears for me and I walk forward, blood roaring in my ears. Princess flies out as I throw her over and over, cleaving were-bears as they get beaten by Sara and Mish. The Twins are exchanging fire and ice with the archers, giving a lot better than what comes at them.
With Princess out I stroll past the fight, ending anything close to us, scanning the woods and the horde, just 500 feet away and all quiet. The firing from the woods stop as twin fireballs explode at its edge, Twins grinning. I leap to the top of the dry-stone wall and shout.
"What's the matter greenies? Don't want to collect the body of the Dragon? I only ate ITS SOUL!" and they hesitate just long enough for them to all die.
The cavalry charge out of the nearby field, slicing into the flank of the snotlings and gobbers. Bodies scatter to the winds and they reap through the monsters. They hit in two waves of ten, running down whatever survives the hooves of the horses and Centaurs. I breathe deep, gathering all the orbs and globes of spirita near me and spring forward, flying low and fast. I hover above the greenskins killing field, taking in the spirita as there is another roar from the woods, a Wyvern taking flight.
It has a rider and is too far away to see who or what it is, at this stage. Rosie and I both bolt north after it. I go high, flying straight as I ascend, going for the high ground. No idea if it will be faster than me, but I don't need as long to get to top speed, hoping with a dive I can keep up. I swing over the woods, hoping to drive it over the fields. It really is slow to take off as I overtake it. A fireball shoots out and I climb, burning my feet and ignoring it with a heal.
"Spear" and I get prepared. I think of a triangle pattern in my mind, rotating as it goes and place the fireballs at the corners. I twist and fire, letting them loose, hoping for a hit. The rider drops the Wyvern, folding in the wings into a dive and I throw, power attack making the spear glow as it heads down. It hits the rider’s thigh, cutting down and piercing the Wyverns side and wings to get there. It screeches and goes into a flat spin, several hundred feet in the air. Both scream on the way down, impacting the ground with a cloud of dust and wheat, high into the air.
The cavalry gets there seconds later, spears already in flight. Multiple impacts rock the body, confirming the kills of both master and beast. I watch the Commander dismount, using her mace to make sure again. Her mace points out.
"Clear the woods, we don't want any of them getting away. Paul, village fires, take Rosie and then send her back. I'll look for clues and loot. I hate Beast Masters." I grab Rosie's reins and she shoots of, not needing my guidance and I hang on as best I can.
The Dragon's blood is pooling around it as people race around, fires spreading. Rosie leaps over the dry-stone wall and the girls all at once. She slides on her hooves as I drop off one side and run to a building on the verge of collapsing. Rosie just snorts and the nearby well burst water upwards through all the people trying to fill buckets. It goes high, water falling as heavy rain, moving from fire to fire, dowsing it almost at once. Then she's off, racing back to her master.
I burst thru the broken door, hearing one, maybe more voices in the debris.
"Where are you?" I shout.
"Keep talking!" muffled voices come from a corner, wooden beams and thatching covering it. I kneel nearby, only the smoke now a problem compared to the fires and reach
down.
"I'll reach down and pull the debris off and stand under it. Come out under my body, I can take the weight." I grunt and pull, throwing the support beams up and standing under them. A lady and two very young kids crawl out. I point to the door, grunting.
They crawl then stumble out, so I let the debris fall, stepping out as it does. Straining I listen for anything else. The hissing of dead flames, crying of children and the wails for the dead are all I can hear. And the dripping of blood as I look down and the remains of my chest-piece, pushing parts into my stomach and chest. I don't even feel it, world still tinged in black and red.
I'm just starving as I walk outside and keep helping what remains of the village.
Chapter 32
"Stop moving so I can get this bit out." Sonya's complaining, again. So many times, this morning.
"I'm just drinking. It's not like that splinter hurts." Then she tugs it, I gasp, and she puts the metal splinter up and in my face.
"Oh really?" and tosses it on the pile with my dented armour and shield. Princess is stuck in the top of the dry-stone wall we were fighting around before, keeping an eye out. The walking wounded are all treated, Charlotte waiting for her spirita to regen to heal more. For a dragon attack, it didn't cost as many lives as it should. Even so some families are smaller today, with a few families never returning.
A small force of the Ducal troops are here, scouting the far woods and fields, tending the wounded and starting reconstruction. Duchess Diana has a table setup, troop commanders spread out, orders being given. Duke Marcus is tending the injured when not helping the reconstruction. The Dragon is being loaded onto a macgyvered cart set up, to take it to the palace. The Duke has promised the head will return once treated, to adorn the new town hall to be constructed.
And all thru this, Baron Laird is checking on each and every person, making sure they are alright and can survive the next week. My current female escorts are at the wall too, trying to rest or wash off the remains of the battle, only two hours ago. Sara is tossing small stones at Princess, bouncing them off her blade, trying to hit me with the rebounds. She is so cruising for a bruising.