by Henry Vogel
Comprehension dawned on Bane, “Yes!”
Turning to his men, he ordered, “Recall everyone! We’re going into the cellar!”
We ran into the main building as his men spread word of the retreat. There was a trap door in one corner. It opened into a storage cellar, just as I’d hoped. I sent Rob and the princess into the cellar first.
“What of you, David?” asked the princess, concern in her eyes and voice.
“One of us guards you and one of us guards the entrance. Don’t worry, I’ll come down once everyone else is safely below,” I told her, offering a confident smile.
After they had moved out of sight below, Bane gave me a sly grin. “Maybe Wonder Boy is the right nickname for you after all. Less than two days on the planet and you’ve already got the beautiful princess panting after you! You are a fast worker.”
“Shut up!” I growled.
I was saved further jibes as Bane’s men began piling into the building. They wasted no time in jumping into the cellar. None of them showed a bit of concern for me as I waited for everyone to enter the cellar. By the time the last of Bane’s men had jumped into the cellar, the howling of the trogs was deafening. Bane leapt down, leaving me to climb down the ladder and shut the trap door. I stayed on the ladder, sword in hand, ready to defend the door.
The doors to the building crashed open and heavy feet trod across the floor. A minute dragged past as we listened to the trogs searching the trading post. Then footsteps stopped above the trap door. It was flung open and a trog thrust his spear at me.
Boost!
I grabbed the spear and pulled. The trog tumbled to the floor below and Bane’s men fell upon him. Above, two more trogs took his place.
Our battle for survival had begun!
Chapter 25
Adrenaline blazed through my veins, giving me the strength and speed I needed to kill quickly. Our precarious position gave me the incentive to kill ruthlessly. Unless I could convince the trogs their attack wasn’t worth the cost, I would fall. I’d suffer Boost Burnout or dodge left when I should have dodged right, and that would be it for me—and everyone else. The trogs would take the ladder when I fell. Once they controlled it, trogs could drop straight into the cellar. After that, it wouldn’t take long for them to crush the remaining humans. There was no way around the terrible math of our predicament. If the trogs were willing to spend enough lives and take enough time, they would slaughter us all—even the princess.
Blood and snarls and screams filled my senses and time no longer had any meaning to me. I’d killed seventeen trogs and dragged four more into head-first dives to the cellar floor. Those four were killed before they could stand, but one of those trogs had still managed to kill two men despite lying on the floor. My implant said I’d been Boosting for nine minutes, three times longer than any known record. How long could I keep this up before I burned out?
Guttural shouting from above rose over the din of battle. A powerful voice cut through the shouts. Silence fell and the attacks ceased. I overrode my implant’s safety protocols before it could turn off Boost. I knew I’d black out immediately after Boost shut down and I couldn’t afford that. Besides, the attack could be renewed at any time and I had to be ready.
In the silence, we heard the sound of an airship engine above the trading post! Airmen could attack the trogs from above, never having to come within range of their spears! We waited to hear the cries of dying trogs. And we waited in vain. The engine droned on, fading as the airship passed overhead without stopping.
“Huuuuuumans,” the powerful voice called. The faces below me went white, terrified by something I didn’t understand.
“No warrior death for you!” the voice continued. “You die, like beasts!”
A trog slammed the trap door shut then we heard them piling heavy objects on top of it. A few moments later, the smell of smoke wafted down to us. The trogs had set fire to the building!
I dropped the override on my implant’s safety protocols and it shut down Boost. I had just enough time to feel my heart stop beating before darkness overwhelmed me.
Chapter 26
I woke up. That was a surprise. My aching body hadn’t killed me after all. I was lying on a dirt floor and, despite stiff, aching muscles, I felt comfortable. It was as if something was right in my world. Warm liquid splashed on my face. I opened my eyes and looked into the princess’s tear-filled eyes. And now I knew what felt so right—my head lay cradled in the princess’s lap. I smiled.
“Hi,” I croaked.
Princess Callan’s lovely green eyes focused and she gasped, “David! You’re awake!”
A dazzling smile lit her face, drawing an answering smile from me. I would give anything, do anything, to keep that smile in place.
Rob and Bane stepped into view, towering over us both.
“Welcome back, lad,” Rob said, smiling. “Good form, not dying!”
Bane’s eyes flicked to the princess, “Did you know your heart stopped when you stopped Boosting?”
I nodded. I’d remember that feeling for the rest of my life.
Bane continued, "My men performed a little CPR—something I teach everyone in my crew—while I fashioned a makeshift defibrillator using the Onesie. That’s why you’re still alive.”
Bane held up the disassembled Onesie. “I don’t know where she managed to hide it,” his eyes roamed appreciatively over the princess’s formfitting clothing, “but she did.”
“After your heart started again, he said you shouldn’t try to Boost again anytime soon,” the princess said. “On this subject, at least, the raider and I agree.”
“As you wish,” I replied. Then another thought entered my head. It seems odd now, but at the time I felt as if it was the most important question in the world. Maybe it was my brain overreacting to my near death experience, but I asked, "Why did everyone look so scared when the trog leader spoke?”
The three of them exchanged glances, perhaps wondering if I had suffered some sort of brain damage.
“Trogs have never spoken human languages,” Rob said. “It’s generally assumed they’re too stupid to learn it.”
“Trogs have never organized an army, either. A hunting party is about the best they can do,” Bane added. “Perhaps their leader is some kind of trog genius!”
“When we get out of here, we’ve got to warn the northern countries!” Rob exclaimed. “It’s only a two day march to the border of Mordan!”
“No, we don’t,” Bane said. “We’ve got a deal. You go to the Southern slave markets and you behave along the way. Just like your princess promised!”
“What?” I cried.
“He was going to let you die, David!” the princess whispered. “I couldn’t let that happen! I promised him nothing he wasn’t going to get, anyway. They outnumber us ten to one. We were going to the slave markets one way or the other. At least this way, you’re alive.”
“You don’t think I destroyed that Onesie out of the supposed goodness of my—” Bane said, stopping as a deep thrumming sound reached us.
The airship was back!
Chapter 27
We all looked up, as if we could see through the floor to the airship droning above us. No one spoke as our ears strained to catch any change in the engine’s roar. We heard the engine shut down!
Minutes dragged by and we tried to make the airship crew find us by our force of will. Then we heard a thump from above! It was followed by another, and another after that. The sound of wood scraping against wood carried down to us. The debris of the trading post was being cleared!
“Hey!” I shouted. “We’re in the cellar!”
Two dozen voices roared as everyone else took up the shout. The sounds from above stopped, then renewed. More and more thumping and scraping came from above. More airmen were joining in the work.
Half an hour later, the sounds from above ceased. Footsteps stalked to the trap door. With the creak of hinges, the trap door opened and too-bright light bu
rst upon us. Uniformed men began dropping into the cellar, each with a sword drawn and ready for action.
Princess Callan gasped, “Tartegian airmen!”
“Your betrothed?” I asked.
Nodding, she rose to her feet, in the process transforming from the frightened young woman who had cradled my head into royalty. The regal bearing of a princess settled over her like a second skin. One of the airmen spotted her instantly.
“Prince Raoul!” the airman called. “She’s here!”
“Raoul?” I asked.
“Rupor’s younger half-brother,” Rob answered.
More men dropped into the cellar, forming a wall of swords between Bane’s men and the trap door. They were followed by a compact, energetic man about my own age.
“Callan?” he called.
“I’m here, Raoul,” she said. “But beware, most of these men are raiders and slavers!”
“I only want the princess, her companions, and your leader,” Raoul said, his eyes sweeping the ranks of men. “If the rest of you surrender, you have my word I’ll release you when we leave!”
Bane must have Boosted, because he leapt over the line of Tartegian airmen and had a dagger at Raoul’s throat before anyone could react!
“Coincidentally, I also only want the princess, her companions, and your leader,” Bane said. “Surrender or your prince dies!”
Chapter 28
Prince Raoul’s men milled about, uncertain of what to do. Martin Bane pressed his dagger against their prince’s throat, nicking it.
“Do as I say or you’ll be wearing the blood of your prince!,” Bane growled.
“No!” Raoul gasped. “Don’t risk our future queen’s life. Not for the Spare Prince!”
Bane laughed, “Bravely spoken, Spare Prince, but your men know what Mommy will do to them if they let you die! There’s not a man among them foolish enough to cross the queen.”
I filed "Spare Prince" away for later and whispered, “There’s got to be something we can do! If I Boost, maybe I can—”
“No!” Callan responded. “I will not allow you to kill yourself for no reason.”
“She’s right, lad,” Rob added. “The raider captain has your same abilities. If Boosting didn’t kill you, he’d kill Raoul before you got close.”
Within the circle of airmen, Prince Raoul stretched his neck, as if inviting Bane to slit it, then said, “Men, I order you to disregard any threat to my life and rescue Princess Callan!”
“Belay that!” commanded a voice from above. “If necessary, another woman can be found for Prince Rupor, but we cannot find another prince of the realm. Mister Bane, name your terms.”
“No, Admiral Hamlan!” said Raoul. “No terms! No surrender! The men must—”
“The men must follow my orders, Your Highness,” said the admiral. “Mister Bane, I accede to your terms. You, your men, and your captives may leave unhindered, provided my men are unharmed and you release the prince safely.”
“Agreed,” said Bane, “though I’ve thought of one addition to my demands. I will also take your airship.”
“You may take the airship’s skiff, Mister Bane,” Hamlan said. “along with my guarantee of safe passage.”
“That’s quite generous of you, Admiral,” Bane said, “but how many men will your skiff carry?”
“A dozen.”
“I have rather more than a dozen men with me,” Bane said. “I don’t suppose you have a spare skiff or two?”
“No, I do not,” Hamlan said.
“And do you have a spare prince, Admiral?” Bane said. He flashed a grin at his men.
“Very amusing, Mister Bane,” Hamlan said.
“I thought not,” Bane said. “And that’s why I’ll be taking your airship.”
The admiral sighed, "You leave me little choice. We have an accord.”
Keeping his dagger at Prince Raoul’s throat, Bane backed into a corner, then ordered the Tartegian airmen to ascend the ladder. Bane’s men followed, took the weapons from the airmen, and established a perimeter around the trap door.
“After you, princess,” Bane said. “Your guards will remain here, of course.”
“I will not—” Rob began.
“I gave my word, Rob,” Princess Callan said. “You will not gainsay it!”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” I asked Bane. “You said you wanted to sell me at auction, also.”
“That was when I needed to replace my ship. Thanks to the Spare Prince, I have a brand new Tartegian warship,” Bane replied. “Princess, ascend if you please?”
Princess Callan gave Rob and me one last look, then climbed the ladder. Raoul and Bane followed behind her.
The trap door slammed shut and, with thumping and scraping, debris was piled atop it. The airship engines roared to life, then faded as Bane flew away with the princess!
Chapter 29
As soon as the airship’s engine faded away, we heard men begin clearing the debris from the trap door.
I asked Rob, “What’s the deal with this ’Spare Prince’ nickname of Raoul’s?”
“Later,” Rob said. “We have more important things to do.”
“No, we don’t,” I said. “We can’t make plans until we know the situation above. So tell me about Prince Raoul. It may be important, later.”
“I suppose it might, at that,” Rob said. “Do you recall me saying Raoul is Rupor’s half-brother?”
“Yes.”
“When Prince Rupor was three, his mother died of a debilitating illness,” Rob said. “The Tartegian nobles gave their king little time to grieve before pushing him to remarry. For the good of the kingdom, of course. King Damon gave in, marrying the first suitable woman presented to him.
“Next, the nobles pressed Damon to have another child, to insure the succession if something happened to Prince Rupor. Again, he gave in. When Raoul was born, Damon is said to have told his advisors, ’Congratulations, you have your spare prince.’ Alas for Raoul, the name stuck.”
I contemplated what it would be like growing up with such a nickname as the last of the debris was cleared from the trapdoor. It was opened and we climbed out. A Tartegian airman led us to Admiral Hamlan.
Rob asked, “Where is Prince Raoul?”
“Still on the airship,” Hamlan sighed.
“Bane lied? Shocking,” I said.
“Actually, Bane didn’t lie,” Hamlan said. “He allowed the prince to slide down a line just as the airship was getting underway. A crewman called for Bane and he walked away just as the prince began sliding. I guess Bane assumed His Highness would continue down the rope. Unseen by those aboard, Raoul slipped into an open porthole.”
“This is the man all of you call the Spare Prince?” I asked.
“Perhaps all of Tarteg has misjudged Raoul,” mused Hamlan, “not least his father.”
“It was bravely done,” said Rob, “but Prince Raoul is only one man. He won’t be able to take over the airship alone. Are there more Tartegian airships in the area?”
Hamlan shook his head, “No, our southern squadron is scattered, searching for your princess. Nor are there any animals to ride. I fear we’ll have to walk out of here.”
“If you’ll loan me a dozen of your men, Admiral, we can build a vehicle,” I said. “Rob and I can be pursuing Bane in just a few hours.”
Hamlan looked at Rob, who said, “If David says he can do it, I believe him.”
“Very well, but some of my men must ride with you,” Hamlan said.
“There won’t be room,” I said. “Besides, you need to find a way to warn people about the trog army.”
“Hardly an army, and they’ve been dealt with,” Hamlan responded.
“You dealt with several hundred trogs?” Rob asked.
“Several hundred?” scoffed Hamlan. “More like two dozen.”
“Their leader must have kept them under cover when the airship flew over the trading post the first time,” I said. “Rob, fill him in while I
get the men started.”
I left Rob explaining the trog situation to the admiral and called the airmen together.
“Listen carefully,” I said, and watched their eyes grow wide as I explained my plan.
It had to work. If it didn’t, the princess would be lost to me forever!
Chapter 30
Three hours later, Admiral Hamlan looked at the result of our work and said to Rob, “He’s crazy, right?”
“Not at all,” Rob replied with confidence. "I’m sure this... What is it, David?”
“I’ve been calling it a sand schooner,” I said. "The wide wheels will allow it to ride on top of the sand and the sail will catch this desert wind and drive it forward.”
“But that is hardly more than a frame with wheels, two seats, and a sail!” protested Hamlan.
“It was important to keep the weight down, sir,” I said. "And, with the wind that’s been blowing for the last couple of days, it’ll be fast.”
Rob and I climbed into the seats on the frame, the sail flapping loosely in the wind. I trimmed the sail, it filled with wind, and the sand schooner began to roll. The airmen raised a cheer as the admiral shook his head in disbelief.
“Good luck,” Hamlan called. "and do bring my prince back in one piece!”
The sand schooner cleared the ruined buildings of the trading post and, catching the full force of the wind, picked up speed quickly.
Rob said, “Incredible! It does work!”
I cocked an eyebrow at him.
“You didn’t think I would express doubts in front of Tartegians, did you?” he asked.
Soon, the sand schooner was sailing along at a steady twenty to twenty-five kilometers per hour. At that speed, we might not gain on Bane’s airship, but wouldn’t lose much ground, either. I taught Rob how to handle the schooner, allowing us to take shifts at the helm and avoid having to stop for rest.
Racing over the dunes, we sailed beyond the sunset and into the night, steering as much by instinct as by moonlight and the light from the planetary ring. A few hours past midnight, our instincts failed us.