by Amy Hopkins
Julianne’s weight shifted behind him. He felt the scrape of a sword being pulled from his scabbard, then a piercing scream filled the air.
Marcus roared. He kicked harder. The horse slammed through the tiny opening in the gate, slamming Marcus’s leg against the barricade, then stumbling to the ground inside the safe confines of Tahn.
Marcus rolled free of the horse’s weight, and the animal lurched back to its feet, sweating and trembling.
“Jules?” Marcus gasped.
She crawled over to him, then collapsed, rolling onto her back.
“Bitch be damned,” she gasped. “You’re insane.”
Marcus felt a laugh bubble up. “You’re alive because of it.”
“I wasn’t complaining.” She lurched up and leaned her head on his chest. “Thanks for saving my ass.”
“Thanks for being ready,” he said. “If I’d gotten there, and you hadn’t jumped, we’d both be dead.”
“It helps that I knew what you were doing,” she admitted.
The horse casually clopped over, then lifted its tail.
Marcus and Julianne bolted, rolling away and jumping to their feet.
“I suppose I deserved that,” Marcus said, face wrinkling in distaste as the horse proceeded to drop lumps of shit on the road right next to him.
Marcus clapped the horse’s rump, then looked up to the watch tower beside the wall. “What’s out there?” Marcus called.
“One fat dead bastard, and four fat live bastards,” Garrett yelled back down. “And one big prick so ugly he can’t show his face.”
“Dead?” Marcus called.
He saw Danil nod. “Jules stabbed it with your pointy stick,” he said. “Nice work. Wish I had a girl to do all my killing for me.”
“Hey!” Polly squealed
Danil winced as she emerged behind him and whacked the back of his head. “It’s really not my day, today.”
Polly just shook her head and started down the ladder. Danil followed her.
“What are you two doing?” Julianne asked.
“Can’t fight from up there,” Polly pointed out. “And those bastards look like they want in. How’d you do with the portal?”
Julianne nodded. “All closed up. At least, I think it’ll work.”
She explained that Ardie had shown her how arduous the trip through the rift was. It seemed the creatures had the same need for air as those on Irth, and that some had died from lack of it.
“So,” she finished, “Making sure they get stuck on our end should mean they just suffocate.”
Polly winced. “Poor little varks.”
Julianne pursed her lips. “I don’t think so. We haven’t seen a vark come through since the bigger ones. I think the varks were the guinea pigs—they made it through, and now the big guys are traveling through, they don’t need to send any more test subjects.”
“Where is Ardie?” Marcus asked. “You… you didn’t squash him, did you?”
“No, dear.” Julianne patted Marcus’s hand. “Annie is babysitting. Vark-sitting? Ardie is with her.”
“Ah.” Marcus tipped his head towards the ladder. “Should we go up for a look?”
Julianne responded by kneeling next to him. “Are you sure you should even be walking on this?” She tenderly touched his blood-soaked thigh.
Marcus shrugged. “It stings, but I think he just grazed it.” He bent his knees and shifted his weight. “It’s fine.”
“Right.” Julianne stood and headed for the ladder. “But if you get blood on my robes, you’re on washing duty.”
She shimmied up the ladder, leaving Marcus to wonder when he wasn’t on washing duty.
Julianne scanned the flat, open land outside Tahn. The still body of the alien she’d stabbed lay on the road, ignored by its kin. The armored man paced along the wall, occasionally making casual swipes with his blade.
“This shouldn’t be too hard,” Julianne murmured.
Garrett glanced at her, eyes wide. “Yer havin’ me on, right?”
Bette snorted. “Grow some balls, ye wee coward. She’s right.”
Garrett smiled sweetly. “Ye’ve got enough balls for three of us, me love.”
“Damn right I have,” Bette said. “Look. That one there, he might be big, but he’s a wee bit stupid. That armor is weighin’ him down. Watch him turn…”
Garrett watched as the clobbering thing reached the end of his track, then slowly and awkwardly turned.
“I bet if he had a wee stumble, he’d hit the ground and not get up. He’d be like a wee tortoise, or a big fat roach stuck on its back, legs all AHHH and EEHHH!” Bette scrabbled at the air with her hands, mimicking an upside-down roach.
“Best not piss the bastard off, me love,” Garrett pointed out. Her voice had carried through the night air, and the beast in question had slowly turned his head towards her.
It resumed its stomping progress. “The scaly things have hard carapaces,” Julianne told them. “But they’re not as protected as Ardie.”
She lifted her arm and drew a line under her armpit. “There’s a gap around here, and one here,” she said as her finger traveled down her side. “And they have nothing over their faces. If you can get something sharp in any of those spots, they’re dead.”
“So, we need to trip the big bastard, then get in close to the others?” Marcus asked.
Julianne pursed her lips. “Maybe not. I think the big one controls the others. If we take him out, his minions might—might—leave us alone.”
“Well, then,” Marcus said. “Let’s hope he leads the charge.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Polly stood at the ladder propped on the wall, hands sweaty on her spear. She touched the dagger at her belt gently.
“You’ve checked that three times now,” Danil murmured. “It’s definitely there.”
She flicked him a nervous grin. “I just want to go already.”
“Not until we get the signal.” Danil’s eyes reflected the moonlight, and Polly wondered if she’d ever seen anything more beautiful.
She eyed the wall before them, leaning on the cottage beside it. Garrett teetered on the top of the ladder, crouched low as he looked over the battlefield outside. A rope dangled from one hand.
“Am I going in blind today?” Danil asked, the white fading from his eyes.
“What?” she yelped. “Don’t be stupid. You don’t go into a real fight without using every advantage you’ve got!”
“Fair enough.” He shrugged. “I think it’d be great practice, though.”
“Don’t you dare,” she threatened. “Or I’ll sneak up behind you and stick this spear up your ass.”
He winced. “My cheeks are still smarting from Garrett’s bloody—that’s it!”
A crash from the gates signaled it was time to go. Garrett flung the rope over the wall and made sure the hooked end was secure. Then, he silently swung a leg over and disappeared.
Danil went next, then it was Polly’s turn. She tried to ignore the weakness in her knees as she climbed up and refused to look down as she wrapped her hands around the rope. In moments, her feet were back on solid ground. She tugged the rope to let Mack know he was safe to follow.
“Stay down until we attack,” Garrett whispered. He pointed at a lumbering beast not too far off, a little separated from the others. “Our job is to harry the pests, make their ugly-assed owner mad enough to follow us.”
The whites of his eyes shined in the moonlight. “Once ye’ve got his attention, then run. Run! No dickin’ about, ye hear? Straight fer the town, and fer the sake of the Queen Bitch herself, do NOT get caught in the trip-wire.”
The small party nodded.
“Off we go!” Garrett turned and ran for his target, ducking low in the long grass. Polly quickly lost sight of him.
She made to follow, but Danil caught her arm. “There’s another one headed this way.” He pointed.
“I don’t see it,” Polly whispered, eyes straining. She wish
ed the moon was just a little fuller tonight.
“Me neither.” Danil’s teeth shone in a grin. “But Bette does.”
“Oh, you flipping genius,” Polly said. With his sight-skills, he would be able to see the whole battlefield, from the perspective of anyone watching.
They scurried off, the whispering grass the only sound to give them away. Danil put an arm out to stop her.
He pointed. Polly lifted her head just far enough to see the hulking creature ambling their way.
“Face, armpits, sides,” she muttered to herself. A strike anywhere else would just slide off their hard shells.
GO!
Danil’s order bounced into her head, and she shot forwards, spear over her shoulder, ready to stab for the floppy, snouted face of her target.
“AARGRH!” Danil’s war-cry caught the beast’s attention.
It turned, just as Polly thrust forwards. Her spear slammed into the back of its head and snapped in half, jarring her arm. “Shit!”
She pulled back and used the jagged wooden end to ward off the angry glare that turned her way. Sharp, scissor-like claws stabbed forwards, and she danced out of the way.
The attack revealed jagged hooks jutting from the creature’s arms. If it got close enough to grab her, she’d be torn apart.
Polly eyed her spear—or, what was left of it. The stick was a little shorter than the beast’s reach.
“Let’s hope you’re not much faster than the old man,” she grunted.
Polly slid forwards, then rolled under an angry swipe. She came to her feet behind her opponent. The alien swung around. “Fast,” she murmured. “This isn’t gonna be easy.”
She trained her gaze on the soft spots beneath its arms. If Danil had a chance to slip in there, she wanted to make sure he could see what he was doing.
He took the chance. Polly saw his blade flash, but the beast jerked out of his way.
“Too slow!” she called to Danil.
“I noticed,” he called back, sword out as the beast’s attention turned to him.
If I can just slip under there, Polly thought, visualizing her next move.
The beast swung back, twisting to protect the vulnerable spot.
That was weird. Polly slowly moved to one side. She blew out a slow breath and pictured herself running forwards, stabbing the flaccid snout with her splintered stick.
The creature whined and spun, turning its back to her.
“Uhh, Danil?” she called. “We might have a small problem.”
“This fat bastard is anything but small,” Danil called. He danced backwards as a claw sliced out towards him. “And it’s fast, too.”
“So fast it’s like it knows your move before you make it?” Polly asked. She darted forwards, then swung back as her target rounded on her.
“Yeah. That fast.” Danil stepped back. “Wait a minute. Are you saying…”
“I am. I don’t even have to make the move, Danil. Just picture it in my head.”
“Well, shit.” Danil tried another blow. The beast dodged easily. “My mental shields aren’t much use here.”
Polly closed her eyes. She felt the wind, heard the rustle of grass. Pictured herself throwing high, towards its face.
Polly ducked as the breeze shifted, opening her eyes. The beast didn’t change its strike, claw sailing harmlessly over her head.
“It sees what we visualize!” Polly yelled. “Not what we feel. Danil… you’re going in blind, my love.”
With a flurry of motion, Danil charged and rolled, coming to his feet behind her, green eyes sparkling.
“Now this is gonna be fun.” Danil lifted his sword and let his senses absorb his surroundings.
Though Polly had taught him how to fight blind, his sharply honed senses gave him the advantage. Once she had shown him a trick, he could usually use it to best her when she fought blindfolded.
Danil took a slow breath and let it out, feeling his chest sink down. Cool air touched his skin, while the warmth of Polly’s skin just inches away soaked into one arm.
He felt a subtle shift in the air. He lunged backwards. Then, he darted forwards. His sword scraped along hard carapace. Too low, he thought.
He waited, hearing the rustle of grass as his enemy turned to face him. Again, the shift. This time, Danil angled his blade just a little higher. It clattered against hard shell, then lodged into something soft.
Screams buffered Danil’s mind. He thrust harder, twisting the sword in soft flesh. A heavy weight leaned against him, and he drew back, slipping his sword out moments before the beast thumped onto the ground.
A roar echoed in the sky. Danil snapped back into magic mode, using Polly’s eyes to see the tall humanoid monster start towards them. It took three steps, then broke into a run—headed right for them.
“Got the bastard,” Danil muttered. He kept his mind carefully clear of predictions—the last thing he wanted was to tip the asshole off about the trap they’d laid.
He turned and ran, angling back towards the gates of Tahn.
The ground shook with each clomping stride the giant took. Armor clanked, and, in the distance, Danil heard cries of warning.
“Pull yer panties up, boys! It’s comin’!” Bette yelled.
Ahead, the small group of fighters Danil had scaled the wall with were headed inside. Behind, the thundering crashes were getting closer. Danil glanced to the side. Polly ran beside him, grinning.
“You’re—you’re not even… tired?” he gasped, pumping his legs as hard as they could go.
“Tired? Ha!” Polly leapt ahead, legs like a gazelle. She turned back to check on him, and her eyes widened in alarm. “Move it, kid! It’s right on your tail!”
Kid? Danil thought. More like a tired old man. What the fuck am I doing out here?
Julianne stood atop the wall, watching his flight across the open field. Through her eyes, he saw the small figure running and stumbling, chased by the larger, heavier beast. Neither were particularly fast, or graceful.
Pride prickled him. He didn’t like Julianne seeing his desperate progress. Remembering how Polly had shown him how to run more gracefully, Danil lengthened his stride, straightened his back and timed his breath to his steps.
He saw the difference. Less stooped, he made a bigger target, but his speed increased just enough. He saw the fat rope strung across the path and jumped, pulling his legs up and praying he didn’t end up as the fly caught in the web.
He made it, stumbled, then righted himself. Inside the gates, he stopped to watch.
The lumbering Skrima followed but slowed, pulling up before the rope. It leaned forwards, bunched its legs, then jumped over the rope.
The whole village fell silent for a breath. Then, the monster took its next running step.
A second tripwire, this one a thick steel wire, caught its boot. The beast lurched forwards, toppling onto the ground with a mighty crash.
Bette’s victorious holler was quickly joined by others. Bodies rushed the flailing Skrima, climbing on it, stabbing metal and wood against the hard shell of its armor.
Danil leaned forwards to rest his hands on his knees. He saw Polly, rushing to stab at a knee joint. Her first strike slid off, but a second plunged deep, splattering crimson ichor as she withdrew the stumpy spear.
She’d stopped to pick it up, Danil realized, still dazed and oxygen starved from his frantic run.
He almost didn’t notice someone move up to stand next to him.
“You look like shit.” Julianne rested a hand on his back, and Danil’s mind flooded with gentle energy, while the tightness in his chest eased.
He knew it was a false sensation but enjoyed it anyway.
“Thanks. I love being told how handsome I am.” He nodded at the fallen Skrima. “Looks like this little adventure is done.”
“We’ve won the battle.” Julianne’s smile held a hint of sadness. “Not the war.”
“You think there’s more than one portal, don’t you?” Danil aske
d.
“Do you really believe there’s not?” Julianne asked.
He shook his head. “Not really. I’d like to pretend, though. Just for tonight?”
Julianne really smiled then, a grin that lit up her eyes. “I think we can do that.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Tansy strummed the strings of the little banjo in time to Garrett’s raucous words.
And so, did I say
On that fateful day
To the man with the little tiny dick
I said if ye dare
Then I’ll grab ye by the hair
Of yer balls and I’ll kill ye right quick
He ducked, and he rolled
And he was so bold
He still tried to sneak off to me lass
But I knew he were there
So, I grabbed his curly hair
And shoved my wee sword up his ass
Bette hooted and slapped her knee, while Tansy let out a melodious yodel.
Julianne nudged Danil and pointed. Amongst the press of bodies twisting and twirling on the floor in time to the rearick ballad, Annie and Cavill danced.
Annie had her skirts lifted almost to her knees while her quick feet stepped in time to the music. Cavill’s hands twisted in the air as he kept time with her, both of them red-faced in the warmth and grinning like children.
“That’s adorable!” Julianne exclaimed, grinning as widely as Annie herself.
“It’s pretty sweet,” Danil said. He’d only stepped off the floor a short time earlier, after Polly finally took pity on his aching feet. “Annie’s outdoing half the damn town, though. She hasn’t stopped!”
“To be fair, she didn’t have to sprint across a giant field with a big, mean monster on her heels,” Julianne teased.
Danil laughed. “That big, mean monster almost had my ass!”
“Polly would have gone back for you.” Julianne looked up as Marcus wandered over to hand her a brass cup.
She sipped it, closing her eyes. “Mary broke out the good stuff tonight,” she mused, swaying in time to the next song. This time, Tessa crooned a slow song about a young girl who was leaving her home for the first time, off on an adventure to a faraway city.