Resistance

by Alex Janaway

  She stepped closer to him and studied his face. He looked better, his eyes clearer, more focused. ‘You okay?’ she asked.

  He nodded.

  ‘Yes, I just wanted to speak to you. I needed to tell you. I won’t let you murder us all.’ Cade saw the faintest flash of reflected light and threw up her arm in reflex just in time as she felt the sting of something sharp cut across her forearm. A blade. He grabbed her raised arm and thrust it back over her head, aiming to bury the weapon in her throat. She twisted just in time and the blade buried itself in her shoulder instead.

  ‘You bitch! You murdering fucking bitch!’ he screamed. Cade’s knees buckled as he pushed down on the blade. She gripped his arms trying to force them away. Then Meghan was on his back, her arm wrapped around his neck. He reared back and pulled the blade with him in a spray of blood.

  ‘Fuck!’ cried Cade, clutching at her shoulder in agony.

  Gwillem continued to backpedal, taking Meghan with him and smashing her into the cave wall. Meghan crumpled to the ground and he turned to strike her. Ignoring the pain, Cade scrambled up and fumbled for her boot, pulling her own blade free. She ran up to Gwillem and plunged it into his back. He howled and spun, backhanding Cade in the face. Her head whipped round and she staggered away. He was hot on her heels and threw himself upon her. She fell hard to the floor, the wind knocked out of her. His hands were around her throat and she couldn’t breathe. She tried to pry his hands away but it was no good. As a pounding filled her ears, she thrust her left hand into his hair and pulled it back. His face, ugly and flushed, lifted a little. She felt spittle from his open mouth drip on to her cheek. And she saw his exposed neck. Her knife was still in her hand. She stabbed again, once, deep and hard into his throat. His eyes grew wide and his grip tightened. As her vision began to swim, she yanked her knife free and plunged it in once more, a wash of hot blood gushing over her hand. Finally, Gwillem’s grip on her throat weakened and she was able to push him away. In the dim light he looked distracted, a little surprised. Then he collapsed on to his side, his lifeblood pulsing away and pooling on the cold stone beneath, and was finally still. She staggered to her feet.

  ‘Meghan?’

  Cade saw her still slumped against the cave wall. She scrambled over.

  ‘Meghan?’

  She did not answer.

  ‘Hey!’

  Cade leaned in close and cradled her cheek, pulling her face towards her. Meghan’s eyes were open but unfocussed. She wasn’t reacting. ‘Hey,’ Cade whispered. Then she looked down and saw the blade buried deep in Meghan’s chest. ‘No …’

  Cade collapsed to the floor, and felt a stab of agony in her shoulder. She put her hand to it again. It was hot and wet.

  ‘Hells, Meghan, you had to be a hero.’ She had damned well saved her life too. Another debt she never asked for and could never repay. Cade replaced her knife into her boot and then reached up and pulled Gwillem’s weapon out of Meghan’s chest. It was a single piece of metal, misshapen, wicked sharp ridges tapering to a sharp edge, a makeshift shank. She threw it away and it clanked somewhere in the dark.

  Cade stood and staggered out of the cave.

  ‘Ah, damn it,’ she cried, as dizziness forced her to lean against the wall. She heard someone walking towards her up the path.

  ‘Hey Cade. You’re la–’ Issar stopped. His mouth open.

  ‘I look that bad, huh?’

  ‘What the hell happened? Are you okay?’ He grabbed her shoulders.

  ‘It was Gwillem. He …’ Cade felt another wave of dizziness and her legs started to buckle. She felt Issar’s arms around her, taking her weight.

  ‘It’s okay. It’s okay,’ he soothed.

  She allowed him to take her to the side of the path, propping her up against the rock face.

  ‘We’ve got to get going, we’ve got work to do,’ she protested, weakly.

  ‘Not like that, you don’t, you’re covered in blood,’ said Issar. ‘Where’s Meghan?’

  ‘In the cave. Gwillem killed her. I killed Gwillem.’

  ‘Oh, my life …’ whispered Issar.

  ‘Doesn’t matter,’ said Cade. ‘We’ve got to get everything in motion.’

  ‘Cade, you’ve been stabbed.’

  ‘Nowhere vital. Trust me, I know about these things. Just bind me up.’

  ‘Cade–’

  ‘Just do it!’ she hissed.

  Issar swallowed hard.

  ‘Alright,’ he relented. ‘Give me a minute, I’ll be right back.’

  He headed up the track and disappeared into one of the other cave mouths. Cade leaned back and closed her eyes. She tried to block out the pain. It would get worse when the excitement of the fight dissipated. She didn’t have time for any of this. Damn Gwillem! His mind had gone. And now his insanity had taken the life of someone she had grown close to. Meghan had cared. Cared too much. It was not Cade’s damned fault that Jessene had died. That was all on him.

  ‘Here,’ said Issar. She opened her eyes. He was carrying a pot full of water and had some pieces of cloth draped over his shoulder. ‘Can you raise your arms?’

  Cade lifted up her arms, feeling the sharp tug of the knife wound.

  ‘Gods Below!’ she moaned.

  ‘Almost there.’ He undid her tunic and tugged it over her head.

  ‘For fuck’s sake, Issar!’

  ‘Sorry, Cade, sorry,’ said Issar. He took a piece of cloth and dabbed it into a bowl of water, cleaned carefully around the wound and then rinsed the cloth in the water. She wiped her face with her hand as he did so and it came back darkly stained with Gwillem’s blood. It was then that it hit home. She started to shake.

  ‘Cade? You don’t look good.’

  ‘Uh-huh. Don’t feel it either.’ She was going into shock. She had seen it plenty of times before. She focussed on her breathing. Slow. Even.

  Issar bundled up a piece of dry cloth.

  ‘This is rough and ready I’m afraid. Hold this.’ He pressed the cloth against the wound. ‘Keep it pressed tight.’

  ‘I know,’ she muttered, placing her hand on the cloth. Issar set to wrapping more cloth around her shoulder and over to the other side. She let go when it tightened on her hand, and allowed Issar to finish off.

  ‘Put this on.’ He lifted up another tunic. ‘Looks a bit big for you but it’ll have to do.’

  ‘Fine.’

  With a bit of fuss, he got it over her head and uninjured arm. With a lot more fuss, swearing and pain, he got it over the injured one and down over the rest of her. Cade drew her legs up and braced her back against the rock. She slowly raised herself off the floor. Teeth gritted, she pushed herself into a standing position. She leaned back, puffing her cheeks and slowly blowing out the air. Issar handed her a beaker of water and Cade took a sip. Nice and slow.

  ‘Issar. We need to get going.’

  ‘Right. You good to walk?’

  ‘Yeah. Just let me use your shoulder.’

  She placed her right hand on him and together they moved off.

  ‘We’re late for the Accounting,’ she said.

  ‘It’s already started,’ said Issar. ‘That’s why I came looking for you.’

  Cade stopped, took her hand from his shoulder and turned him around to face her. ‘You mean they started without me?’

  ‘Yes. Devlin’s got it. Everyone knew what we had to do.’

  ‘But I should be there!’ she exclaimed.

  ‘Only to watch, Cade. You came up with the plan. Others have to see it done. You’re the brains, remember.’

  ‘Now I know you’re taking the piss.’

  Issar laughed and firmly placed her hand back on his shoulder. ‘Come on, everyone should be through the Downside Gate by now.’

  As they continued up, they walked through the abandoned settlement towards the gate. It was an eerie feeling. They followed sounds of shouting and arrived at the Downside Gate. It was wide open. There were the six dwarves on the ground. All of them were dead and
divested of their weapons. Five humans lay together, side by side. She stopped to inspect them. Who the hell had time to tidy up? They had crossbow bolts buried in them. None of the five were part of her inner circle, just foot soldiers.

  ‘Let’s keep going,’ she said.

  She was walking a little easier now that the shock was wearing off, so she let go of Issar.

  Together they moved on to the chamber where all of the mining equipment was gathered. The place was a wreck. Carts had been overturned, racks had been emptied of anything that could be used as a weapon. There were more bodies too. The noise was greater here, filtering down the tunnel leading to the surface.

  ‘Looks like we missed all the fun,’ she said.

  Her pace quickened. She had to see for herself. Had this really happened? As they moved towards the exit, the light wavered as black figures swarmed past the opening. The nearer they got, the louder the noise. And there was cheering, excited chatter and someone trying to shout orders.

  She emerged into pandemonium.

  All around her, the folk of the mine were celebrating; hugging, crying, laughing. Some just stood there, blinking in the light.

  ‘Cade! Cade!’

  She turned and saw Devlin forcing his way through the crowd. He was carrying an axe. Behind him followed a couple of her crew armed with crossbows.

  ‘Devlin.’

  His smiling face, flushed with victory, took in the bandages and he faltered.

  ‘Cade. What the hell’s happened?’

  ‘It was Gwillem,’ Issar said before she could answer.

  ‘Gwillem?’ said Devlin shifting his gaze quickly between the two of them.

  ‘He killed Meghan,’ added Issar.

  ‘Oh, damn. Cade. I’m sorry.’

  Cade shook her head. ‘What happened? We good?’

  Devlin didn’t skip a beat. His manner shifted, turned business-like. ‘You saw down below. We hit them at the shift change. The workers turned their weapons on the guards then led the charge to the Downside Gate. It was already open and we took them on the hoof.’

  ‘Losses?’

  ‘You saw them on your way up. We lost a few more up here. Geir organised a defence but we were too many.’

  ‘Did any get away?’

  ‘None that we know of. I sent runners down the trail and a group to the Upside Gate. I reckon we got them all.’

  ‘We’d better had, or this will be shortest party in history.’

  She looked around at the celebrating mass. People climbed over piles of rock, brandishing picks and shovels. Hundreds of humans, all experiencing the thrill of freedom. There would be time for celebration later.

  ‘We need to get this lot organised. Get the wagons ready to roll.’

  Devlin nodded and turned to their companions. ‘Have the leaders rally their people and start scouring up what they need. Search the Upside Gate for food deliveries. Then get back to the wagons.’

  Issar sketched a crude salute and he and the others moved off.

  ‘This way,’ he said to Cade, taking her gently by her good arm. They pushed their way through the crowd. On seeing Cade, there was renewed cheering and someone clapped her on the shoulder.

  ‘Fuck, watch it!’ she shouted, feeling faint again.

  ‘Out of the way! Come on!’ said Devlin, placing himself in front of her while Issar stepped forward to cover her injured left side.

  They worked their way through the crowd to the track leading towards the plateau. Waiting for them were the half-dozen wagons that they used every day for deliveries. They were already crewed, and full with the usual shipment of ore-laden rocks.

  ‘Everyone’s ready to go,’ said Devlin. ‘I’ve got the usual folk driving the wagons and in the back of each one will be two of our best fighters. I got hold of most of the guards’ crossbows and other weapons, but not all. Some of our people weren’t ever going to follow our rules. Still, it’s gone better than we could’ve hoped.’

  ‘If you say so,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, one more thing. We got Geir. A bunch of guys were about to rip him apart but our crew got to him just in time.’

  ‘Good. We need him.’

  They reached the first wagon. Miriam sat on the driver’s bench grinning broadly at her. Standing next to it was Geir, covered by another of their people.

  Cade walked up and stood before him. He looked up at her, his face inscrutable.

  ‘You want to live?’ she asked.

  He nodded.

  ‘Then you do exactly as I say. We are headed for the plateau. We are going to take it. You will smooth the way. You try anything and I’ll stab you in the throat.’

  Geir’s face turned a little red, his eyebrows knitted together. He nodded again.

  ‘Get him on the seat,’ ordered Devlin.

  As the dwarf climbed aboard Cade turned to Devlin.

  ‘No turning back,’ she said.

  ‘Never was,’ he replied.

  She looked down the line of wagons.

  ‘Still not that many of us to take plateau,’ she said doubtfully.

  ‘They’ll be enough. We’ll have the element of surprise and the dwarves are too thin on the ground.’

  ‘Just don’t dawdle.’

  ‘I won’t. I’ll get everyone organised here and then I’ll bring the reinforcements.’

  ‘We take the plateau, we take it all,’ she stated.

  ‘I know, Cade. Just take care of yourself.’

  ‘I’ve had worse,’ she muttered. ‘Issar. Help me get up.’

  She walked around to the back of the wagon. Geir’s watcher reached down to take her good arm but it hurt nonetheless. She bit back on the tearing pain and climbed aboard, Issar giving her boost from behind. She settled herself and, using her free hand, slapped the wooden floor beneath her.

  ‘Let’s go!’

  Miriam flicked the reins and the wagon jerked forwards, the pony settling into its familiar stride.

  Cade looked at her companion. A man with jet black hair and a missing earlobe.

  ‘Krste?’

  ‘That’s right, boss.’

  ‘You know how to use that?’ she asked, indicating the crossbow.

  ‘Sure do.’

  She flicked her head towards Geir.

  ‘Anything looks or feels wrong–’

  ‘He dies first,’ Krste finished for her.

  ‘Good.’

  She settled back and closed her eyes. She was tired, and everything was starting to seize up. For a moment she thought about Meghan. Goddammit. Then her tiredness overwhelmed her and she slept.

  ‘Boss.’

  She cracked open an eye. Sunlight bathed her face.

  ‘We’re here.’

  She blinked a few times and then got her bearings. They had left the track leading from the mountain and were starting to cross the plateau proper. She shifted her head to check behind her, and regretted it immediately as her shoulder protested.

  ‘Boss, you’re bleeding pretty bad,’ said Krste.

  She looked down on her front. It was stained red in a long irregular line running from her shoulder.

  ‘You any good with stitching, Krste?’

  Krste shrugged. ‘Done my share, not the most delicate though,’ he said, raising a hand of thick, grubby fingers.

  ‘Do me a favour. When we are finished here, go find someone who knows about medicine and shit.’

  ‘Will do, boss.’

  They were approaching Vidar’s complex, having skirted around the central buildings. There were a few dwarves going about their business, and some humans too. Clearly, nobody had gotten word to the plateau. As the convoy reached the main warehouse, Geir nodded at a pair of guards who were strolling by. They saluted and carried on.

  Arriving at the entrance, Miriam applied the brake. Cade watched her place a hand behind her back to loosen a knife tucked into her trousers. Krste had his crossbow kept low, beneath the side of the wagon.

  Young Evan walked out from the b
uilding, accompanied by a couple of others. He spotted Cade in the back and hurried over.

  She stood up and got her legs over the side.

  Evan blanched when he saw her.

  ‘Don’t faint,’ she growled. She pointed at him to stand still and she gripped his shoulder for support and jumped down.

  ‘What we got inside?’

  ‘Usual. Two guards at the steps and two watching us working.’

  ‘Fine.’

  Cade raised her good arm and everyone started to climb off the wagons. They were covered from view between the wagon and the warehouse and weapons were carried without subterfuge. Krste and the other man carrying a crossbow came over to her.

  ‘Krste, can I have that?’ asked Cade, gesturing to his crossbow.

  ‘Boss?’

  ‘Your bow. Give it to me. You still got a knife?’

  ‘Yes,’ he replied, handing over his weapon.

  ‘Then go sit up front, just behind the dwarf. Keep an eye on him. When we start, slit his throat.’

  At that Geir turned to face her and opened his mouth to shout. The briefest cry of surprise sounded before Miriam leaned forwards and drove her thin-bladed weapon sideways into his ear.

  ‘Or not,’ said Cade, as the dead dwarf tumbled sideways out of the wagon on to the ground. She took the weight of the crossbow, cradled it in the crook of her arm, and strode towards the entrance. The others forming up around her.

  The two guards saw them come in and raised their weapons.

  ‘Take ’em down,’ she ordered and several bolts flew. As the dwarves staggered backwards, others hurried forward to finish them off.

  She continued on to the stairs as the fallen were stripped of weapons.

  ‘Want support?’ asked Miriam, running to her side.

  ‘No. Clear the building but keep it quiet, we don’t want the barracks alerted.’

  The party, almost a score in number, turned towards the warehouse floor.

  She climbed the steps steadily, deliberately. There was no need to rush.

  On reaching the top she met Vidar walking out of his office towards the balcony.

  ‘What the hell’s going on?’ he said, not noticing the crossbow Cade now held level against her hip.

  She pulled the trigger and the bolt struck him in the belly. Vidar staggered backwards, a look of surprise and confusion on his face. Cade dropped the crossbow and walked towards him. He kept his feet and retreated, his arms questing behind to find the doorway. As his fingers found the frame, he spun round and moved inside. Cade leaned down and retrieved the triangular blade from her boot. Vidar made for his desk as Cade followed closely after. His hand closed around the dagger he had threatened her with weeks before. She lashed out and sliced his hand. He yelped in pain and the dagger fell to the floor.