by Diane Rapp
Just as he reached the center of the hall, Donovan felt a tingling sensation on his skin. Something’s wrong! His legs felt heavy, like they pushed against an invisible river current, and he could hardly raise his arms. Even in speed time his progress slowed until he could barely move. He spotted a black box against the opposite wall and his heart sank. It’s a portable stasis generator. Jarrack trapped me inside a stasis field. Where did Jarrack find that box? Donovan flooded his body with energy and managed to inch forward, fighting against the stasis field using speed time.
“It’s good of you to walk into my trap, Donovan.” Jarrack’s scornful voice echoed from above.
It had been easy to eliminate me as a threat. Jarrack never planned to face me like a warrior with sword in hand. The coward set a trap and drew me into it, like a spider catches a fly. Donovan mentally apologized to Krystal and his girls for his arrogance and stupidity as he slipped into the gray void of stasis.
*****
Trenton felt a knife slice through his ropes and caught a glimpse of Donovan slipping a dagger into his hand. Aware that Donovan could use speed time, he grinned at the startled expressions of his weaponless guards. He caught another glimpse of Donovan entering the doorway of a nearby tower and scrambled over cobblestones toward the same entrance.
He waved as Bryant crashed through the castle gate and entered the tower after his friend. Donovan’s trail was obvious. Trenton picked up weapons piled behind the door, found the door to the main hall barred, and crept down the hall toward the kitchen. He heard Jarrack shout something about a trap. Trenton darted into the shadows.
Was Donovan caught in Jarrack’s trap? He saw a window that allowed servants to silently pass kitchen platters into the main hall and inched his way to the opening. His heart sank. Donovan stood like a statue, frozen in mid-stride, with one foot suspended. His face glowed in the blue light emanating from a black stasis box against the far wall. No one could get inside the chamber to free Donovan without being trapped in the same stasis field.
Trenton grimaced. He heard heavy feet running down the servant’s stairway and knew he must flee or risk capture. He recognized Donovan’s expression of determination and whispered, “We’ll find a way to get you out.”
Soldiers poured into the antechamber from the front door, blocking his retreat. He backed into a dark alcove and prepared to fight. He felt the seemingly solid stones at his back vibrate and long fingers grabbed his shoulder. He toppled through the secret door and with a whoosh the opening clicked shut.
Alex stood over him holding a sputtering candle. The doctor looked worried. “Did Jarrack capture Donovan?” he whispered. Trenton nodded and Alex gestured for him to follow. They walked in silence as the sounds of muffled shouts and clanging of weapons reverberated through chinks in the stone walls. Finally Alex guided Trenton into a sparsely furnished room.
“My quarters,” Alex said, handing Trenton a jug of water. “I escaped the night they captured me. I’ve been hiding in these maintenance tunnels, but I can’t find the access to my laboratory.”
“How do we get out?”
“There’s a tunnel leading from my laboratory, but Krystal has the only key.”
Trenton stroked his beard in thought. “Can we see what’s happening with the battle?”
“A set of steep stairs leads to the top of a turret. It might have been used to maintain the lighting system but cobwebs indicate years of neglect. Come this way.”
From the turret Trenton watched the battle with growing anxiety. “They won’t last the night. I’ve got to find Bryant and tell him about Donovan’s capture. The last I saw he broke through the gate.”
Alex passed Trenton a pair of binoculars from his pocket. “I think he’s inside the garrison. You might see him through that window on the second floor.”
“You got these binoculars from the spaceport?” Trenton asked with a grin.
Alex shrugged with a wistful gaze toward the mountains. “I took a few small objects I thought might be useful. I wish I’d brought more, but it’s too dangerous. People believe technology is worse than witchcraft.”
Trenton nodded. “We’ve got to be extremely careful, especially with Jarrack in control of Havenshire. Can we get to the garrison?”
“I found a maintenance tunnel that leads to the garrison, but I didn’t want to walk into a nest of soldiers.”
Trenton said, “Let’s get going. If we can’t win this battle, we can help our men escape to fight another day.”
It took hours to weave through the network of passages. Trenton felt amazed that he’d spent so much time at Havenshire and never knew these tunnels existed. Finally Alex stopped and punched numbers into a control panel. The wall swung open and the two dusty men stepped into a storage room. They listened at the door until they heard familiar voices.
Trenton asked, “Can you stay in the castle and gather intelligence? You might help us infiltrate the castle when the time comes.”
“I’m not much good on the trail and my research is in the laboratory. I’m still searching for an entrance. Don’t let Bryant’s men see me. If they don’t know I’m here, they won’t be able to talk if they’re captured. Stay safe friend and give my love to…everyone.” He shook hands and closed the wall panel.
Trenton sauntered into a room filled with astonished soldiers. He deferred explanations about his arrival by describing Donovan’s capture and the state of the battle. Bryant listened and made plans to flee from the castle.
At midnight of a moonless night, they lowered ropes from the rooftop of the garrison and rappelled down the steep castle walls. Brief skirmishes erupted as they met the enemy on patrol, but the majority of men made it safely behind their own lines.
Marasuta and Mandrake greeted Trenton with hearty hugs and listened to his report about Donovan. Marasuta said, “When Donovan disappeared we experienced a brief period of good luck, but the Lords’ troops and desert riders have us outnumbered. Since we know the king is captured it is best to withdraw and revise our plans.”
Mandrake agreed, “Disbanded our army can disappear into the countryside and eventually make it back to safety in our own territory. Trenton can lead us to Queen Krystal, so we should go to her.”
Marasuta nodded. “I’ll send word to my castle to begin fortification while we secure Queen Krystal’s safety.” The leaders left the tent to disband their followers.
It took several weeks, traveling in the dead of night to reach Trenton’s mountain retreat. He led the weary group of men along a dizzy trail high above winding canyons and then through thick forests, careful to cover their tracks in streams and over hard rock.
Weak from injury and exhausted from running, it took all of Trenton’s skill to evade capture. Supplies exhausted, cold pierced their ragged cloaks, and their heads drooped with fatigue. Trenton’s spirits lifted as they broke out of the thick trees. He knew he was home.
He stopped and signaled for silence. Vapor puffed from Spark’s nostrils as everyone gripped their weapons and stared at the jagged rocks ahead.
Trenton whistled a shrill signal and waited. A dove cooed a soft melodic tone and Trenton kicked Sparks into action. She trotted down a nearly invisible path and stopped at the face of a granite wall. Trenton swung off the saddle, stuck his hand through a thorny bush into a dark crack in the wall. They heard a clunk and scrape. Suddenly a crack in the wall exposed a narrow cave entrance.
Sparks nickered but stood waiting while Trenton stepped inside and returned with a blazing torch. He gave a hand signal and Sparks trotted through the narrow opening. Trenton handed the torch to Mandrake and gestured for them to follow Sparks inside. After sweeping hoof prints from the path with a wide broom, he scattered pine straw over the area and examined the trail. Satisfied that no one could follow their tracks Trenton entered the cavern, closed the door, and swung a metal bar to lock the entrance. As their eyes adjusted to the dim light, the men gawked at the neat barn carved from stone and lined with troughs ful
l of grain.
Sparks headed for her stall and munched sweet-smelling oats. The other animals strained against their reins to follow her lead, and their riders dutifully unsaddled the tired animals and closed gates behind the hungry horses.
Maggie and Krystal entered through the back of the cavern. “Trenton!” Maggie dropped a butcher knife and hugged him.
“Who else could whistle my signal?” He frowned at the sharp weapon lying on the floor.
“We worried you were dead and someone learned our secret.” Tears trickled down her rosy cheeks. “Four patrols rode through the canyon this week, but they failed to see past your camouflage.”
“Donovan’s not with you.” Krystal said in a quavering voice.
“He’s alive but captured.” Trenton glanced at Krystal in silent apology.
Krystal’s eyes glistened. “How?”
Trenton said, “Jarrack caught him in a stasis trap. We’re sorry we couldn’t get him out.”
“What does Jarrack want for his ransom? Can we storm the castle and free him?”
“Jarrack has Havenshire and it will take a bigger army than we’ve got to breach the castle,” Bryant said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Maggie gripped Trenton’s arm. “What happened to Alex? He allowed himself to get captured to let us escape.”
“He got away and is hiding in the castle maintenance tunnels. He’s in little danger.”
Krystal nodded thoughtfully. “I want to hear everything while you eat. Then we must start making plans to raise an army and get them out.”
Mandrake said, “You can’t be serious! Our army is scattered and we barely escaped with our lives. The enemy is hounding our trail.”
Krystal’s eyes hardened. “I don’t doubt you did everything you could. It’s good news that Donovan is in stasis and Alex is safely hidden. I take it Alex will gather intelligence.” Trenton nodded. “Good. We’ll bide our time. You all know Jarrack is evil. In time the Lords will soon realize their mistake in backing that man. You look hungry. Maggie’s got a large pot of her famous stew and baskets full of crusty buns. We’ll talk as you eat.”
3 ~ MAKING PLANS
Krystal warmed herself by the fire while her friends ate and argued.
“We must attack immediately,” Marasuta declared. “I have Samurai at my stronghold. They will fight to the death for the king.”
“My men are wounded and winter is upon us. How do you expect us to march against Havenshire in this weather?” Bryant countered.
“Donovan’s safe until he comes out of stasis, so we have plenty of time,” Trenton offered. “Why rush into a badly planned attack?”
“We’ve already done that.” Krystal nodded. “Jarrack caught us off guard and he feels cocky about the victory. We must form an effective battle plan for the next assault. What do we know about the stasis field holding Donovan captive? It can’t be wired into direct power, so how long can the box operate?”
The men gazed at her with respect.
Marasuta said, “My lady reveals wisdom. We must stop thinking about rash actions and assist the queen.”
Krystal smiled. “Thank you. Our first priority is to secure the safety of my girls. After that we’ll initiate a revolution.”
Maggie carried a tray of steaming mugs to the table. “If you’re ready to listen, we have a plan for the girls. It’s too dangerous for three girls to stay with Krystal. Individual children can be disguised, but Krystal’s face is too recognizable.”
Krystal sighed. “You’re right. It grieves me to be separated from my girls, but they’d be safer without me.” Her voice caught in her throat. She stared into the fire, and her eyes glistened with tears.
Chella rose from her chair. “I’ll take one to a small convent I visited last summer. Belva has relatives in a farming valley, and she agrees to take another. Maggie will keep the third girl here.”
Maggie said, “That’s settled. Now where can Krystal hide?” She folded her arms and eyed the men. “Do you have any suggestions?”
Marasuta stroked his chin. “As a symbol of the revolution, Krystal should stay in plain sight but untouchable.”
“Quit being a mysterious oriental and get to the point,” Trenton said.
“To guard a treasure you should place it among other well-guarded treasures.” Marasuta smiled, enjoying Trenton’s irritation.
Mandrake huffed. “So we find an army to guard her openly?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have one in mind, honorable sir?” Trenton bowed with his hands together.
Marasuta grinned. “The mountain of fire is impregnable. It is guarded by devotees of the flame who are well-trained in the art of swordsmanship.”
“You want her to join the fire temple?” Bryant sounded aghast. “They’re dangerous fanatics, who worship a strange fire god.” He thought for a moment. “If we could manage to get her inside, no one could breach the fortress inside their volcano.
“Tell me more.” Krystal said.
Bryant said, “They settled the area as miners and metal workers, but as time wore on they started worshipping a fire god. They live inside an active volcano and allow only proven disciples of the flame to enter their temple. If we could get you inside the temple, it would be nigh impossible to take you out by force.”
“Do they have leaders?”
“A high priest or priestess controls the place.”
“How do they choose the high priest?”
“By magic.”
Krystal smiled. “Good, that’s right up my alley. I spent months on a planet where I learned to control a flame with my mind. It will take some practice, but I believe I can do it again. Trenton, do we have holographic equipment and lasers stored at the spaceport?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Yes but it’s impossible to get past the desert riders who watch the spaceport,” Trenton answered.
“Impossible for an army, but I know a certain trapper who has already sneaked by those guards. You’ll easily get what I need.” Trenton grimaced but listened. “We need equipment to stage a magic show and become the high priestess of the fire temple.”
Chella gasped. “You’d join a heathen religion?”
“What better way to gain protection? My leadership might be as beneficial to them as their protection will be for me.”
Mandrake bowed. “You command and we obey, Priestess of the Flame.”
“I don’t need more titles, just protection until we build an army. We should start an underground economy, a free-enterprise black market to fund our army. That will hit the Lords in their treasuries and give peasants a reason to join our fight. I once read a history book about a group of French resistance fighters who helped defeat the Germans. Since this planet was settled by people to recreate Earth history, we’ll call our plan the Havenshire Resistance.”
Bryant laughed. “I thought Donovan was crafty, planting seeds of self-government among the Lords. I didn’t suspect he partnered an expert conspirator.”
“I won’t idly watch Donovan’s dreams die because a band of cutthroats hold him captive!”
“I meant it as a compliment, milady.” Bryant’s face turned white with anguish. “Please, don’t misunderstand. I’ll defend you and Donovan to the death. Whatever you ask, I will do.”
“I didn’t mean to lash out.” She rubbed tears away from her eyes. “Jarrack wrecked our lives, but I’m going to do something about it.”
Bryant nodded. “Trenton, tell us how to start a black market supply network without your usual exaggerations.”
Trenton grinned. “We need a list of local troublemakers who are potential leaders in each community, and we need to chart safe travel routes. I know many loyal men who are available to transport goods.”
Bryant said, “Mandrake, your penmanship is best so please take notes. Marasuta, can your stronghold accommodate trainees for our volunteer army? I hope your Samurai don’t mind training outsiders.”
“We have space and resou
rces already in place. My Samurai masters will train anyone who swears an oath of loyalty to the king.”
Krystal slipped out of the room and entered the bedroom where her daughters slept. She gazed at their faces and tears trickled unhampered down her cheeks. To protect them from discovery, she’d implant a new set of memories in their minds and hide their old memories behind carefully constructed mental walls.
With trembling fingers she clasped her amulet and entered each young mind. She devised dreams of a perfect garden where the sisters frolicked among the flowers. Those dreams would trigger their true memories. She hid the dreams behind strong barriers and said good-bye to each little girl.
When she returned to her friends, she said, “The girls are ready. Before I go to the fire mountain, I must see Donovan and learn how long he will remain trapped.”
Bryant sighed. “How do you propose to do that?”
“I’m going to visit Jarrack.”
Trenton laughed. “I suppose you’re going to walk right in and ask him politely.”
“Yes.”
“You’re mad! How do you propose getting out again?” Bryant bellowed. “We barely made it, fighting all the way.”
“Kriegen will take me. Wolves are sacred to the desert tribes; they respect anyone who walks with a wolf so Kriegen will help me get safely inside Havenshire. Besides, Jarrack won’t believe a mere woman could be dangerous to him. After all he captured Havenshire.”
“What will we do while you waltz into the lion’s den?” Trenton asked in a frustrated tone.
“Take the girls into hiding and initiate our resistance network. If I’m unlucky enough to get caught, continue without me. I’ll get word out to let you know the target date.”
“I can’t let you do this! I’m sworn to protect you,” Bryant blustered.
“You can’t stop me. I refuse to live a life in exile without knowing how long Donovan is lost to me. I’ll gladly take the risk and live my life accordingly.”