by Henry Vogel
“I thought you were some kind of super swordsman, Rice,” Raoul said. "Use your boost thing!”
I drove my sword at a trog’s face and he dove to the deck.
“I won’t use the Boost unless the situation gets really bad,” I said.
Raoul swung on his line, kicking a trog in the face.
“This isn’t really bad?” Raoul asked. “ How can it get much worse, man?”
The sound of ripping fabric came from above, answering Raoul’s question. A trog had hit the airship’s envelope rather than its deck. Trying to steady himself with his spear, the trog had torn a long gash in the airship’s envelope. The unpredictable gyrations had thrown the trog off, but the damage had been done.
Hot air gushed through the gash and the Pauline lost altitude rapidly. I hazarded a look below. Our flight had taken us over the city of Faroon.
We were going down into a city full of trogs!
Chapter 59
I wrenched my attention back to the deck of the Pauline. Two of the remaining trogs had caught their balance and were advancing on Raoul and me. With Boost I could take all five trogs by myself, but the city was bound to be far more dangerous than this. I had no choice but to save my Boost. At least the two trog airships had returned to the aerial battle once it was obvious we were going down inside the city.
I dodged a trog spear thrust then sliced open the trog’s arm with my counter. He dropped his spear and fell back, howling. Turning to face the other way, I ducked under Raoul’s defense and thrust my blade through the chest of the trog he’d been fighting.
Leaving my sword in the dying trog, I charged the unwounded trog. His footing still unsure on the rolling deck, the trog managed to regain his balance just as I barreled into him. Legs churning, I drove him backward and over the railing.
As I returned to retrieve my sword, Raoul cut the throat of the last unwounded trog. The remaining trog, blood dripping from his wounded arm, jumped from the airship as we passed over a tall building.
Callan searched for a place to land the airship while Tristan tended to Nist. Running to the bow, I scanned the city for a defensible place to land.
“Callan,” I said, pointing, “there’s a walled garden over there! Can you land inside the walls?”
“I can try,” she replied.
“But I can do it,” Nist said, “if someone can help me stand at the controls.”
Tristan easily lifted the smaller man and braced him at the wheel. Callan came to my side as Nist worked the ship’s wheel and ailerons. Just when I thought Nist had overshot the garden, he twisted the ailerons. The little ship nosed up then dropped into the garden.
Guttural trog shouts came from streets all around us. We were stranded in the city of the trogs!
Chapter 60
The Pauline’s deflating envelope was still floating above the garden wall, visible to every trog in the area. We had bare minutes before the trogs found us. As much as I hated to leave it, we couldn’t hide with the airship. Parts of its superstructure rose above the garden wall. Even after the envelope deflated, the ship would be easy to spot.
“Everybody out and into the house!” I said. “We’ve got to find some sort of defensible location before the trogs find us.”
The house wasn’t what we needed—it was too close to the airship—but it was all we had at the moment. I’d see what we had to work with inside and then take it from there.
The calls of trogs sounded much closer as we ran into the house. Someone—probably the trogs—had been here first. Smashed furniture lay all around, dashing any hope of using the furniture as a barricade. The ground floor was too open for our small number, anyway.
“Upstairs!” Raoul said, heading for the stairs.
“No,” I countered, “we’d be trapped up there. The trogs could just starve us out or decide to burn the house down around us. We have to find another place to hole up.”
I looked out the windows on the front of the house. The street before us was clear for the moment.
“Does everyone see that alley over there?” I asked, pointing out the window. “That’s where we’re heading. Raoul, take point. I’ll take rear guard. Raoul, if you find a place to hide, do not wait for me! Go to ground and keep the princess safe!”
“Leaving you to die at the hands of the trogs?” asked Raoul. “I can live with that.”
“No, David,” Princess Callan said, “we’ll get out of this together or we won’t get out at all!”
“We don’t have time for a debate, Highness!” I said. “Please shut up and let me do the job I swore to do!”
Callan’s cheeks reddened—whether in anger or embarrassment, I couldn’t tell—but she nodded. Then we ran for the alley.
We were halfway to the alley when five trogs rounded a corner and spotted us. The trogs began yelling and gave chase. We ran into the alley, finding it clear. Our hope for escape only lasted for a few seconds. Another trog patrol entered the far end of the alley. Behind us, the first patrol blocked the other end of the alley.
We were trapped!
Chapter 61
Shouting and waving their spears, the trogs bore down on us from both ends of the alley. I looked for doors but found none opening into the alley except on the other side of the trogs. The only way out of the alley was to go through the trogs—or over them!
“Callan,” I said. "can you climb to the roof?”
Before she could answer, a rope dropped in front of her.
“Climb the rope!” a boy’s voice called. “Hurry!”
The trogs would reach us before everyone could climb to the roof, but with some teamwork, most of us could get away. I charged the trogs on my end of the alley, calling over my shoulder, “Raoul, hold off the other trogs while the rest climb the rope!”
Grabbing the rope, Raoul sneered. "I do not die so commoners can survive! It is the place of commoners to die so I can survive!”
I slashed at the leading trogs, slowing their charge, then ran back to the princess. I’d have to stay close to her so I could guard her from both groups of trogs.
“Climb, Highness!” I said.
“No, David,” she said. "I can fight! Just give me—”
“Dammit, Callan, if I’m going to die, let it be protecting you, not your corpse!” I said, shoving the rope into her hands.
Callan’s face fell and, without another word, she began pulling herself up the rope.
Nist held the rope out to Tristan, “You’re next, Master.”
“No, Nist, I’m too old, too fat, and too slow. I’ll get us both killed if I go next!”
I never heard Nist’s reply.
Boost!
I rolled under the closest trog’s spear, gutting him as I came to my feet. I charged into the trogs behind the one I’d just killed. Dodging, spinning, slashing, and thrusting, I drove the first squad of trogs away from the rope.
With these trogs on their heels, I rushed at the other squad. I passed Nist, who stood white-faced, guarding the rope as Tristan labored to climb it. On the roof, Callan and the boy heaved on the rope, trying to speed Tristan’s ascent.
At least Callan was safely on the roof! Raoul was nowhere to be seen. I’d be lying if I said I was surprised.
The trogs before me lowered their spears, as if expecting me to attack from below as I had with the first squad. Instead, I leapt up and pushed off the wall, surprising the trogs. Their spears tangled as they tried to raise them. Taking that opening, I barreled into them, slicing a throat, slashing a shoulder, piercing an eye, forcing them to fall back.
Once again, I broke away from the squad I was fighting and ran back toward the rope. Nist was scampering up the rope just out of reach of the regrouped first squad. One trog drew his spear back, preparing to throw it at Nist. I drove into the trog at a full run, running him through before he could impale Nist.
“David!” Callan called, “Climb the rope!”
It was too late. Both squads of trogs had reached the rope. S
pears jabbing, the trogs backed me against the far wall. I was cut off from the rope!
Chapter 62
Spear points bristled around me, jabbing and thrusting. I dodged and ducked, slashing and stabbing, keeping the trogs at bay. Even facing the unimaginative trog attacks, I knew I had little time remaining. I’d dodge when I should have ducked or, if I was lucky, hang on long enough to suffer Boost burnout, but the trogs would get me in the end. It would be worth it as long as Callan was getting away.
She wasn’t, of course. Several people moved on the roof opposite me, manhandling something to the edge of the roof.
“David,” she called, “we found a rain barrel! Be ready to climb the rope!”
They shoved the barrel over the roof edge and it dropped on the trogs. Two trogs fell when, with a crack, the barrel burst on top of them. Water gushed, washing aside the trogs at the bottom of the rope. My path to the roof was clear! I leapt across the alley and pulled myself up the rope. A spear clattered against the wall as I rolled onto the roof. The boy yanked the rope up behind me as Nist dragged me away from the edge of the roof.
Safe for the moment, I released Boost—and didn’t black out. It was a pleasant change of pace. The fight must have been shorter than I had realized. Or maybe I was adjusting to the Boost. That was a point for the techs to figure out, if they ever found a safe way to reach me.
Nist helped me to my feet and we moved away from the alley full of frustrated trogs.
“I don’t suppose Raoul is off scouting for a hiding place?” I asked.
“Is he the jerk who came up the rope first?” the boy asked.
Astute lad. I liked him already.
“Yes,” I said. "And thank you for your help. We would have been captured or killed without it.”
The boy smiled, “Teach me how to fight like you do and we’ll call it even!”
“We’ll talk about that later,” I said. “Do you have a safe place to hide?”
“Yeah,” he said, heading across the roof. "Come on!”
There were so many twists, turns, ascents, and descents that I was completely disoriented by the time the boy led us into a small cellar. In the corner, a pale young woman lay huddled on a small bed.
“I need your help finding a doctor,” the boy said. "I think my sister is dying!”
Chapter 63
Tristan crossed to the bed, knelt beside it, and pulled back the blanket covering the young woman. He grimaced as he examined the deep wound in her side.
“Nist, I’m going to need my medical kit and supplies,” he said. "Boiling water would be useful, too.”
“Your supplies are on the Pauline, master,” Nist said.
“The boy should be able to lead you back to the airship,” Tristan said. "You’d do that wouldn’t you, boy?”
“My name is Milo,” the boy said, “and I’ll do anything to help Kim!”
Callan knelt next to Tristan, asking, “You’re a physician?”
“I am.”
“You never told us that,” I said.
“My life has been rather busy since you dropped into it, lad,” Tristan said. "Besides, you never asked. Would you please go with Nist and Milo and keep them safe.”
“Highness, may I have your permission to accompany them?” I asked.
“Of course, David,” Callan said.
Nist described the house where he had landed the Pauline.
Milo nodded, “I know where that is.”
Once we were back on the rooftops, Milo asked, “Is that woman really a princess?”
“So they tell me—and I have no reason to doubt their word,” Nist answered. "She is Princess Callan, daughter of your king. This is David Rice, her royal bodyguard.”
“Yeah?” Milo said, looking at me. "I’d take your job in a heartbeat. I’d guard her royal body real close, if you know what I mean!”
Based on his size, I’d originally estimated Milo’s age to be ten. After this revelation, I revised it up to thirteen or fourteen. He must be quite small for his age.
Nist tried hard to smother a laugh, not succeeding particularly well, “Her Highness is quite beautiful.”
Milo pointed across a several rooftops, “Is that the house where you landed.” Nist nodded and Milo continued, “If we get these supplies, do you think Kim will be okay? Is the old guy a good doctor?”
“His skills are legend among the tribes of the desert,” Nist replied.
Milo spun around, “He’s the guy they call the Desert Doctor?”
“That he is!” Nist replied. “Your sister is in excellent hands.”
We moved parallel to a wide street, waiting to get as close to the house as possible before dropping to street level. Then I heard trog voices from the street below.
“Quiet!” I hissed, pulling Milo and Nist to their knees.
I crawled to the roof edge and looked down at the road. A squad of trogs prodded a man with their spears. The man’s hands were tied behind his back and he faced away from me, but I’d have recognized him anywhere.
The trogs had captured Prince Raoul!
Chapter 64
Raoul jumped as a trog poked his backside with a spear. The other trogs wheezed. Laughter, I assumed. Another poke, another jump, more wheezing.
“The jerk got caught,” Milo whispered. "Serves him right for running off.”
“I should just leave him to his fate,” I sighed. “It’s what he would do to me.”
“But you’re not going to leave him,” Milo said. "Because you’re not like him.”
“No, I’m not going to leave him,” I said. “Rescuing Raoul should draw trog patrols this way. You two, get the medical kit then go straight back to the hiding place. Don’t wait for me. I can find my way back there, I think.”
“The Spare Prince doesn’t deserve this,” Nist said.
“I’m not doing this for him. I wouldn’t be worthy to wear this sword if I just walked away,” I said. "Get going!”
Bent low, the two ran off. I stalked the trogs from above, waiting until Nist and Milo were long out of sight.
I jumped at the squad below. My slashing blade decapitated the rearmost trog. His head bounced off the street as I tucked and rolled with the landing. I ran another through as I rose to my feet in the middle of the squad. Whipping the blade around, I stabbed into the gut of a trog behind me. That was enough for the two remaining trogs. They ran, leaving Raoul standing above three trog corpses.
“You!” Raoul spat, his hatred of me battling across his face with his relief at being rescued.
I guess Raoul wasn’t very happy to see me. His hatred won. Raoul’s face turned red and he gave into his rage. Hands still tied behind his back, Raoul lowered his head and charged. I was really tired of dealing with Raoul. Stepping into his charge, I put all of my strength and weight behind a right cross. The pommel of my sword smashed into Raoul’s temple and he collapsed at my feet. It wasn’t very sporting to hit a man whose hands were tied, but it was very satisfying!
Cutting off a piece of a dead trog’s loincloth, I stuffed it in Raoul’s mouth, gagging him. Shouldering Raoul, I found stairs to the rooftops in a nearby alley. Twenty minutes later, I lugged Raoul into the hiding place.
Callan’s and Tristan’s eyes widened when they recognized Raoul, but I had other worries.
Nist and Milo weren’t back!
Chapter 65
“Where are the other two?” Tristan asked.
“We had to split up,” I said, dropping Raoul in a corner. "I thought my rescue of the Spare Prince would draw any trog patrols, leaving Nist and Milo clear to go after the medical kit.”
“The trogs did that to Raoul?” Callan asked, eying the lump on the side of Raoul’s head.
“No, I did.”
Callan’s left eyebrow arched, so I added, “Raoul took exception to being rescued by me and tried to attack. So, I smacked him on the head.”
“Hard?” she asked.
“Very.”
“Good,”
she said. “And now you’re going back out to find Nist and Milo?”
“That’s the plan.”
Callan rose on her toes and kissed me lightly on the lips. "Be careful.”
“As you wish, Highness" I said. “Do you mind tying Raoul before he wakes up?”
Callan was happily pulling knots tight around Raoul’s wrists as I left. Soon, I was up on the rooftops, running back the way I had come. Trog shouts and calls echoed through the city, but none of them were anywhere near me. Had the trogs been frightened off by their losses in this area or were they stalking the area in silence? Whatever the reason, the silence allowed other sounds to carry. That’s how I heard Milo’s voice.
“Give that back!” Milo cried. "It’s not yours!”
A rough voice answered, “Anything I can take is mine, kid. This bag of medicine will be worth a fortune.”
“No. I need it for my sister. She might die without it!”
“Sister, eh?” said the voice. "Tell you what, boy, take us to her. I’m sure we’d all like to meet her. And if we like what we see, maybe we’ll give her some medicine. I wouldn’t want to lose my new plaything too quickly!”
Coarse laughter rose from several throats.
“Leave the boy alone!” Nist said. "You wanted the medicine and you have it. Take it and go!”
I came over a rooftop and saw them on the next roof. Four men surrounded Milo and Nist. Nist stood between Milo and the man holding the medicine kit. Nist also held one hand to his head as blood seeped between his fingers.
“I’m getting tired of his lip,” the rough-voiced man said to his men. "Kill him!”
Chapter 66
There was no way I could reach Nist before the gang killed him, but there was also no way I was going to let Nist die.
“Kill him,” I called, running down the roof, “and you’ll answer to me!”
My arrival surprised the gang. Seeing me charge down on them, sword drawn, gave rough-voice’s men pause. They turned to their leader for instructions.