“That’s a lot of lives he’d had to save after.”
Raven laughed and winced as she grabbed her arm. “Yes, my father did a lot of heroic and charitable deeds afterward.”
“So what happened to the other four?”
Her voice cracked as she said, “They found me in the woods.”
Darius sucked in his breath in surprise, causing the Great Dane to whine and tilt its head.
Raven nodded and continued, “They found me in the woods and tied me to a tree. I guess they intended to use me as bait or hold me for ransom. It was near nightfall and the woods had grown dark. Three of the men hid nearby in the shadows while one stood with me in the open.
“I couldn’t see or hear anything but the crickets chirping all around us. Then the man clenching my shoulder yelled, ‘Come out Timothy. Lay down your weapons and we’ll let your daughter live. We’ll lie to the duke and say we killed her. Your head is the only one we must bring back.’”
“What did he do?” Darius’s blue eyes were wide under his mop of sand-colored hair.
“He came out and laid his weapons down in the clearing and backed away. The man holding my shoulder released it and went forward to retrieve them. I could tell even then that my father knew where each of the other reapers was hidden. He turned in circles as he walked forward as if keeping an eye on all of them at once and called out. ‘Release my daughter, now. There is no need for her to see her father die.’
“The man with all my father’s weapons laughed and said, ‘We don’t need her head. I didn’t lie about that, but the duke demanded we bring the scalps of both women. I’m sorry.’
“I expected my father to get upset, but instead he had a peace about him that I couldn’t understand. He said, ‘Bryan, Sam, Jasper, and Monroe, I am giving you one last chance to change your mind. If you leave right now, I won’t have to make amends for killing you.’
“The one at my side snorted and said, ‘I have all your weapons. I counted them. You may have been our captain, but there is no way you could kill us all if you’re unarmed.’
“‘Think again,’ my father said. ‘I gave each of the others the same chance and none took it because their wives and children are imprisoned. But Jasper and Monroe, you have no family. Turn off now, and I’ll let you live. ONE. LAST. CHANCE.’
“Again the woods were silent save the crickets. Then I heard a rustle to my right and saw the tension on my father’s face relax just a little. The man in front of me screamed into the shadows, ‘YOU COWARDS!’ And I saw the fear in his profile.
“Then my father withdrew a kitchen knife from his boot and it hit the man in front of me with a blunt, wet thwack. He fell to the ground. My father rushed into the shadows faster than I’d ever seen a person move. Three gunshots exploded, and I started crying. I covered my eyes, but heard the whistle of a crossbow bolt, and then a man’s scream. After a short time, I felt a hand gently press on my head, and my father’s soft voice saying, ‘It’s all right.’”
Darius eyes were full of unshed tears. “So you lost your mother?”
Raven nodded but tried to show as little emotion as possible. The throbbing in her arm had dulled.
“And your father killed all the reapers?”
“Not quite. Jasper and Monroe didn’t return to New Haven but moved off to Currituck. They began training young men to become what they call ‘reapers,’ but they are more like mercenaries.” Raven crinkled her nose in distaste. “They’ve forgotten the reaper’s first law and have become ruthless instead of humble.”
“Why did your father train you?”
“I trained myself for a time. The new ‘reapers’ never stopped hunting my father. The duke executed the families he held in prison and put a bounty on our heads. We never could stop running throughout my childhood. I think I convinced my father when I was twelve that I needed to be able to take care of myself to some measure. Or maybe he saw some small amount of talent in me. Either way, the training he put me through was grueling. He showed me no lenience as his daughter.”
“When did you stop running?”
Raven heard the faint grinding of metal behind her growing louder in its approach. She stopped and turned her head to the sound. “Your uncle died about ten years ago. I was fifteen, and you hadn’t been born yet. His mind was twisted, and he killed several of his wives. He finally died of a tumor. With no heir, your father became duke. By then, the reapers had become nothing shy of criminals. He ordered reapers to be arrested on sight but lifted the bounty on mine and my father’s heads.”
Darius looked at the road and his eyes grew wider. The scraping metal rose in crescendo and became more distinct. Raven could count them. Six. There were six automated metal horses approaching.
Even the boy could hear them.
Chapter 5
Fear is not the enemy.
The enemy’s fear is a great weapon. It will cause him to make poor decisions.
One's fear will do the same unless it is embraced.
If fear is vanquished, it will quicken one's senses and increase strength.
SIX. AND RAVEN only had two weapons. She gritted her teeth and faced the oncoming storm. A breeze picked up and rustled the leaves above her head, causing their golds and oranges to scatter around them like feathers in a childhood pillow fight. She considered hiding in the shadows, but knew it would be nearly impossible to hide the boy and his monstrous dog. The odds were not in her favor, but neither were they impossible. She had no choice but to stand her ground. Without turning her head, she said to the boy, “Run.”
Silver moonlight shined off the brass metal horses as they rounded the bend. The white of the riders’ shirts stated that without question they were Duke’s Guard. The Great Dane let out a slow whine.
He didn’t run? Raven prepared to shout at the boy, but he lay on the ground convulsing and foaming at the mouth. The dog paced around him in a circle, whining. Her heart dropped in her stomach. He’d acted like a normal kid the whole time, and she’d forgotten he’d had a problem. The metal horses stopped, gears within growing to a loud screech. Her eyes darted between the boy and the metal horses.
Steam broke through the polished brass of the horses’ joints and swallowed the guard in a cloud. Men screamed and jumped from the shrieking machines. Billows of vapor rose, sizzling off the brass. It filled the air with the smell of burning grease.
The closest of the horses fell over stiff and unmoving. Raven was flash-blinded as another exploded in a bright blaze and a shower of sparks rained down on the dirt road. The guard scrambled from the chaotic metal fury. But four brass automatons remained in a chaotic stampede toward Raven and the boy.
Her heart beat a rhythm faster than she’d ever felt. If it were a flesh horse rushing at them, she could hope to spook it or shoot it with her crossbow in hopes of making it veer. But the metal horses had no fear, no mind, made no decisions.
Forgetting her wounded arm, she lifted the boy and held him to her chest. She removed the crossbow and aimed it in the direction of the horses. Three horses ran abreast directly for her, unavoidable. The fourth ran behind the others. She pulled the trigger and buried the diamond tipped crossbow bolt in the middle one’s brass knee joint. It collapsed, sliding across the ground and tripping the horse behind it in a tangle of legs that continued to run aimlessly in the air.
The remaining two horses ran within inches of either side of Raven. If she had reached out with both arms, her fingertips would have brushed their metal sides. Heat and steam sprayed them as the two metal horses passed. The screeching grew to a thunderous crescendo. Raven squeezed her eyes shut, and the boy shuddered in her arms.
A cloud of dirt rained on them in the horses’ wake. The dirt stuck to the water droplets covering her arms and face. Another deafening explosion threw her from her feet, and shards of metal pelted her from behind, before she fell on her side. The shrapnel bit into her arms and back. She shielded Darius with her body.
Her ears rang. When the
danger had passed, she released the unconscious boy and pulled herself painfully to her feet. A large triangle of brass protruded from her thigh. She winced as she looked the boy over. The only spot of blood on him had come from her arm.
“Raven!” The voice echoed in her head, sounding hollow as if she were under water. “Our orders are to kill you and take the young baron. If you leave the boy and walk away, we’ll let you die of your injuries instead of continuing this fight in futility.”
Raven shook her head and withdrew her knife. She could hardly feel the throbbing in her leg and arm. Blood trickled over her left eyebrow. She squinted and let the droplet fall to her cheek. Six shadows approached, and the Great Dane at her side growled.
~*~
Jack Grant winced as he studied the reaper. The cream-colored flesh of her exposed arm and face were streaked with crimson. He imagined if she were wearing any color but black, she’d be covered in blood. She brushed her face with her shoulder and cleared the line of scarlet from her eye like it was sweat. Then her eyes grew wide and wild. She darted into the woods.
Bradley, the youngest recruit in his guard fired a gunshot after her.
“Hold your fire!” Jack yelled as he grabbed the young man by the shoulder. The soldier’s face glowed red from steam-burn, and his wide blue eyes were the color of fear. Jack made a measured shake of his head.
Did she leave? Somehow, he doubted it. Her face held no look of defeat, but rather the calculating scrutiny of a woman with a plan. The outline of Nikki, Darius’s Great Dane, stood over the shadowed lump in the moonlight. Watching the woods around them, and remaining keen to any sound, the guard started slowly for the baron.
Colton pulled up beside Jack, leaning toward him with a hand on the hilt of his sword. A red corded tassel fell over the back of his hand. Dutiful and stalwart, he set his jaw as he said, “I’ll take the rear.”
Jack nodded and led the group in guard formation, his pistol drawn and hanging in a tense grip at his side. No reason to point the gun at the boy or dog. The whirring of the horse’s legs beside them stopped, and the sudden absence of noise seemed foreign. He glanced over his shoulder, and counted only four men behind him. He scanned their faces. “Where’s Colton?”
The men’s faces contorted in confusion as they looked around. Finally Bradley’s voice shook as he said, “He was right behind me, I’m sure of it.”
Jack lifted his pistol and scanned the shadows at the edge of the woods. A faint ringing in his ears refused to silence as he strained to take notice of the slightest rustle. To his left, a twig snapped, and all the men veered their weapons in that direction. When no other sound but his racing heart and labored breathing came, Jack turned toward his men. “Stick together, and keep—”
Three men Harry was missing. He shuddered as he whispered, “How is this possible?”
Bradley’s clear blue eyes were filled with tears. He threw down his gun, collapsed, and covered his face with his hands. Sobs caused his shoulders to move up and down. Rupert looked at the young recruit with a sneer parting his lips and met Jack’s eyes. “What’s this about? How can this be happening, Captain?
Jack hesitated, unsure if he should be honest. “She’s a reaper.”
Smith paled. Bradley’s sobs grew to wails, but Rupert shook his head in disbelief. “The reapers are human—no better than you or I. She is just a woman, not a ghost.”
She was just a woman. Jack gave a firm nod, slapped Bradley in the back, and hissed. “Snap out of it. I don't want to die because you failed to do your job as a soldier. Pick up your weapon and keep your eyes open.”
With a heavy sniffle, Bradley stared wide-eyed at his commanding officer. Snot ran over his upper lip, and his hands shook. He bent down, picked his pistol up from the road, and nodded.
Jack and his three men faced all directions, walking as though they were surrounded. His jaw clenched.
To the right, he saw her dark form, running along as though her feet didn’t touch the ground. All the men turned in that direction, firing a deafening hail of bullets into the trees. They were overcome and needed to bring down the ghost—woman—reaper—whatever she was. Soon the thunderous bangs ceased and were replaced by repetitive clicking. They were out of bullets, Jack knew.
And so did Raven Steele.
She came out of the woods like a black apparition with streaks of blood covering her face and a sword in her hands. The red cord dangled from the end. Colton’s sword. Like a whirlwind, she kicked Rupert in the ear while bringing the hilt of the sword down on Bradley’s head. Jack took a step back and unsheathed his sword. The ring of the blade drew a quick glance of her violet eyes, and her nostrils flared. Her face contorted, took on the appearance of a wild animal.
Wasn’t she injured? How could she move so fast?
Smith stood beside Jack and drew his sword as well. Rupert and Bradley lay motionless on the ground. Jack turned to the girl who appeared to be at least five years younger and fifty pounds lighter. How could she do what she was doing? His voice cracked as he stammered, “What do you want from us?”
Her face changed. It softened and lost some of the animalistic nature for a moment. Her voice cracked as she whispered, “I just want to be left alone.”
Jack shook his head. “As long as you continue with the young baron, I can’t do that.”
Her eyes flashed wildly, like a violent sea storm. “You’ll kill him if I leave him.”
He clenched his jaw, not willing to lie to the girl, but not wanting to admit the truth of what she said, either. “I have to follow my commands.”
She shook her head. “Isn’t there a higher command than the duke’s?”
“We are a sovereign country and do not answer to the Court of Nations.”
She narrowed her eyes and stepped forward. Jack and Smith each took an unconscious step backward. She hissed, “If you answer to no one but the duke, then I have nothing to say to you.”
With a sudden leap forward, she brandished her sword. In the furious fight that followed, Jack took notice of two things quickly. One, the girl could anticipate movements better than any soldier he’d ever practiced with. And two, the girl was using the flat side of her blade. He wondered why she would make such a conscious effort to keep his guard uninjured. Before, he had assumed that the first two guards who had disappeared were killed, but now he wondered.
Her breathing grew labored, but her eyes were no less vivid. The movements of her arms never wavered in strength, and the blows she created bruised him severely. Sweat dripped from his forehead and into his eyes. She landed a blow with her elbow to the back of Smith’s head, and he fell into an unconscious heap.
“One remains,” she whispered and turned toward Jack. The way she held Colton’s sword with both hands barely hinted at her fatigue.
With Smith’s body directly behind her, a maneuver came to his mind. He stepped forward and locked swords with her. Knowing that his only advantages were his strength and weight, he forced her backward, praying she’d forget her footing. As he hoped, she tripped over Smith’s prone form. She flailed in such a motion that he was able to remove the locked swords and toss both weapons free. He caught her by the arm before she hit the ground.
The reaper gripped his wrist. He pulled her upright in a quick tug, feeling his victory. He tasted it on his tongue as he made the motion to grab her by the shoulder. In a movement faster than he’d seen the girl move yet, she gripped his hand between her thumb and forefinger, wrenching it in a direction it shouldn’t have gone. He fell to his knees for the pain and cried out.
“Sorry, Grant,” she whispered.
Through the watery vision of his tears, the dark form of the reaper shadowed the moonlight as she lifted a fist and brought it hard against his temple.
All went black.
Chapter 6
Know in whom one can trust, and in whom one cannot.
Expose wounds to one for healing; hide them from the other or die.
DRIED BLOOD
CRACKED over Raven’s crusted eyes as she closed them and drew a shallow, painful breath. Stars danced in her vision and filled the blackness behind her lids. Her knees trembled as she fought to stand. The adrenaline that kept her going to this point faded from her grasp like a vaporous mist.
“Raven?” The boy’s voice sounded unsure.
“Darius.” Her voice faltered and squeaked as she opened her eyes again. She made it to her feet.
The young baron stood next to his faithful camel-colored companion. His fear-filled eyes warmed her heart. She smiled through the pain and stepped toward him.
“Are they dead?” he asked.
She shook her head even though the action shot needles along her neck and shoulders. If she spoke, the tears would come. The look of relief on the boy’s face put her at ease and made her feel more certain about her vow to stop the killing.
“What will we do?”
With a deeper, more painful breath, Raven forced herself upright and gauged her surroundings. Through her childhood she had travelled this same road several times to New Haven with Gregory’s family. The road itself did not lead to their house. She needed to find the deer trail near the end of the woods, before they reached the farmland. It couldn’t be much farther.
One of the men behind her moaned, and her heart leapt to her throat. It was enough to make her blood start pumping again. She rushed toward the boy and his dog. “Hurry. This way.”
Each step shot a sharp sting up her leg, but she had no time for pain. She held the pace of a forced march with the boy occasionally hopping into a jog to keep up.
“Where are we going?”
“Someplace safe.” Blackness crowded the edges of her vision, framing every direction. Not now. She couldn’t afford to black out now.
“Where?”
Riot Girls: Seven Books With Girls Who Don't Need A Hero Page 64