X
Mike and Joe were buried beside the dirt track that led to the laboratory; the soldiers too. “Do you want to say a few words?” Carl asked as they placed the last few stones.
Matthew stood and thought for a moment. “Joe,” he began, “you were a friend, a good man, and you always had my back. For that I'll be forever grateful.”
“Mike,” he hesitated, “Mike, I'm sorry. Whatever I did, however I failed you, I'm sorry. I just wish that I could take it all back.”
The bags were stowed in the back of the car and strapped to the roof. Ben found a large fuel can and instructed Carl how to siphon petrol from the other vehicles until it was full.
They set off just as the sun was setting, slow to begin with as Carl got used to the controls. The headlights were a marvel he could never have imagined, lighting the way and allowing him to keep going well into the night.
In the end, they took a few hours sleep inside the car, it being warmer and dryer than outside, and as the sun rose they turned south, towards Draxis, where their nightmare could finally end.
Chapter 10
I
“Halt!” the palace guard yelled, stepping in front of the lead Road Train. Samuel Larson slowed the vehicle to a stop and stepped down from the cab.
“Please,” he said hurriedly. “You have to let us in. We have important news for the Baron.”
“It's okay,” the guard said. “Your scout arrived six days ago and word has already been sent to the armies in the south. Reinforcements will be here before month’s end.”
“Good news then,” Larson replied, confused but not breaking his flow, “but it's the Baron’s daughter. She's injured, she needs help.”
“Then enter, quickly, I'll call for the palace Physician,” the guard said as he directed the gatekeeper to open the two large gates.
Larson returned to the cab while they opened, taking in the columns of smoke rising from various quarters of the city where the advanced teams had no doubt begun the attack. He wondered if the Baron would still be under the impression that the attacks were just the efforts of Wastelanders, but once they were behind the walls of the palace, it would no longer matter.
Once the gates were wide enough, Larson deployed the lever and the Road Trains trundled forwards, the four-vehicle convoy moving slowly into the main courtyard.
As the heavy gates slid to a close, Larson pulled the cord to blow the whistle and the attack began.
The trailer doors opened in turn as one hundred of Alexander's finest soldiers stormed forwards, shooting palace guards left and right. There were shouts of surprise and returning fire, but within minutes, the courtyard was secure, the guards either dead or bleeding, no longer able to offer any resistance.
Alexander stepped into the courtyard once he was confident that the fighting was over, directing his soldiers to secure the gates. Once the heavy beams were in place, the soldiers formed two units and marched towards the palace, Alexander and Larson strolling behind them.
The palace had a long central corridor leading to the throne room with a selection of staterooms and offices on either side. The advance was slow going, palace guards having set up in several of the rooms, but Alexander's overwhelming numbers were more than enough to deal with the resistance.
“I want the Baron alive,” he reminded them as they made their steady advance.
Before long, they were at the door to the throne room and Alexander was surprised to find it unlocked. His soldiers entered, forming two lines that surrounded the central dais upon which the Baron's throne stood. The Baron sat there, taking it all in, two advisers to his side, but the room otherwise empty.
“Who are you?” he demanded, rising to his feet. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Come now, brother,” Alexander said, stepping forwards, “surely you recognise the family resemblance?”
II
Catrina continued northwest, deeper into the Wastelands, away from anyone she might cause harm.
The wound was no longer bleeding, but the pain made her progress sluggish, each step bringing back the tearing sensation in her side.
She had to get away though, away from everyone. She had lost them, family and friends, and it was all her fault. To be near her was death.
So she continued, forcing herself onwards, away from everything and everyone that she ever knew.
III
The Land Rover had finally run out of petrol some 20 miles from the city. The weapons and supplies were divided between the five of them and they set out east, passing fields and farmland towards Maleton, the Draxian capital.
They were still a mile from the outskirts when they first saw the smoke, rising in steady streams towards the sky. Off to the north, the first troops of Alexander's army were setting up camp, beginning to surround the city.
Dropping his pack to the floor, Matthew fell to his knees, head in his hands.
“Matthew,” Ben said. “Oh Matthew, I'm so sorry, we're too late.”
End of book 1
The Chronicle of
Benjamin Knight
Book 2
Darkest Before Dawn
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Knightfall - Book 1 of The Chronicle of Benjamin Knight Page 32