Kingmaker

by Eric Zawadzki

CHAPTER 28

  They descended in silence, carefully picking their way down the side of the dune.

  “Hello!” Butu called. “Who’s there?”

  No one responded, and the Turu did not move. He thumbed a bullet into his sling, and Nolen drew his sword. They nodded to each other, and spread out a little ways, Nolen leading.

  By the time they reached the bottom, Butu could see a pair of sordenu lying on the open sand, but he didn’t recognize them. Nolen drew up short as one raised his head. They did not recognize him.

  “Who goes there?” the sordenu said in a weak voice.

  “Ahjea sordenu. Are you friend or foe?” Nolen said.

  The sordenu who had spoken scrambled to his feet and drew his sword with a curse at his motionless companion. Despite the parched look to his face, the sword was rock steady in his hands.

  “We don’t want trouble, and you’re in no condition to fight us,” Butu said.

  The sordenu hesitated, turned more toward Butu. Nolen stepped in a little closer, as quiet as a snake on the sand. The sordenu turned back to Nolen, though. Just enough starlight would let them see each other.

  “Stay back!” Butu shouted, hoping he didn’t sound as frightened as he felt. “We don’t want to hurt you.”

  The sordenu crept toward Butu, eyes locked on Nolen. “You’ve sharp eyes, but you’re no match for me. Put down your weapons and surrender, and I’ll see to it you’re treated well. No one has to hurt anyone.”

  “Keep back, I say.” Butu’s heart pounded in his ears as he took up a ready stance, the sling hanging heavily from his fingers. “We don’t want a fight.”

  “Deserters,” the older sordenu said. “Run away from us, too. Run!” He shouted, and Butu nearly did.

  I must do it now!

  Butu took a step forward with his back foot and swung the sling over his head the way he had been taught. When his arm was still high above the level of his shoulder, he loosed the leather cord to unleash the bullet.

  “Shanubu!” the sordenu cried as the missile flicked past his head.

  He charged Nolen, sword held high. Nolen dodged the blow and came up between Butu and the stranger even as Butu started whirling a second shot. Half a second later, Nolen dodged again and was behind the man, and the sling bullet missed wide left.

  He has to stand still. This isn’t going to work.

  Butu dropped the sling and drew his sword even as the stranger’s blade glinted briefly and Nolen gave a surprised shout and fell.

  “Nolen!” Butu cried and charged the stranger, who had bent to look more closely at his combatant.

  “Shanubu! Two of you,” the enemy sordenu said as he flicked Butu’s overhand blow aside and struck him in the chest with his other hand, sending him sliding backward. Butu rolled to one side and leapt to his feet, ignoring the pain in his chest.

  That was just from his fist! He eyed the other’s sword warily.

  Someone on the ground groaned, and both fighting sordenu turned.

  “Amber?”

  “Nolen?”

  They looked back at each other, and then, as if by magic, the man engaged Butu. And, like magic, Butu dodged and parried his flurry of blows, dancing around on the loose sand as if it was firm ground. He felt the sting of the blade, though, at least once. Finally, his opponent stumbled on the shifting sand and Butu’s sword, caught in a parrying motion, slid past the guard and sliced something off.

  The sordenu’s sword fell from his hand and he fell to one knee, but as Butu approached to help, a dagger appeared and thrust at him, sinking into his shoulder. His whole arm immediately went numb and he let go of the blade. It didn’t fall to the ground because it was stuck in the man’s chest.

  “Stupid,” the other man said. He fell on top of Butu, who blinked past a wave of dizziness.

  “Nolen?” he said feebly, rolling the sordenu off him and lying on his back, teeth clenched against the pain in his shoulder. He could feel the blade resting there, lodged in the bone. The smell of blood filled his nostrils, and then the smell of vomit as Nolen got sick nearby. Butu felt something in the back of his throat, and he rolled over to cough.

  “Shanubu,” Nolen cursed, spitting. “Why did he have to fight us?”

  Butu barked a laugh, relieved that his friend was still alive. “Are you hurt?”

  “My arm’s bleeding a bit, but otherwise, I’m fine.” He appeared in Butu’s vision, and whistled lowly. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine,” Butu said automatically, noticing the dark strip of cloth on Nolen’s arm and missing pant leg. “Just have to do something about this dagger.”

  “Yeah, and the cut on your belly.”

  “Cut?” Butu felt faint.

  Nolen leaned in. “I’m going to get something to light.” He looked at their attacker, lying with Butu’s sword inelegantly stuck from his chest. “Is he dead?”

  “I hope so,” Butu said. “I don’t think we could fight him again.”

  Nolen grunted. “I’ll be right back.”

  Butu fought of a wave of dizziness and nausea, and then a brilliant light shone forth, banishing the darkness. After a few seconds, it faded somewhat, and Nolen appeared with a glass containing flaming camel dung. He whistled again, and Butu leaned forward a bit to look at his belly.

  “Stay calm,” Nolen said. “It looks shallow. Let’s get you out of that armor.”

  Butu nodded and did his best to let Nolen remove the breastplate. Despite the pain and blood, Butu felt strangely calm. He knew he should be panicked, or at least worried. Kids could survive just about anything, but he knew he might not be as resilient.

  How can I practice recovering from injuries? Butu thought as he let Nolen inspect the injury. I can’t very well cut myself to make sure I still heal, can I? What happens if I lose my childhood healing and hurt myself so much I can’t heal?

  “Would you stop poking around in it?”

  “It’s shallow,” he said, blowing out a long sigh. “Let me bind it, then we’ll take out the dagger.”

  I might be dying, but he sounds more worried than I feel.

  Somehow, they sat Butu upright. His whole right arm was numb, and blood oozed slowly from the wound. Nolen, who thus far had been fairly calm, started sweating.

  “I know it’s going to hurt,” Butu told him. “But just get it over with.”

  Nolen nodded and, with a pained expression, gripped the handle firmly. Just that motion set Butu’s teeth on edge.

  “On three, right? One, two...”

  Butu’s howl cut off abruptly as he fainted.