Liberator Of Jedd rb-5

by Джеффри Ллойд

  Blade spun around. The door was still empty of the enemy. They were disorganized on this side. The headless goon blocked the near window. The guardsman at the other front window was resting, reeking with blood, and gave Blade a dull and uncomprehending look of battle fatigue. Blade went to the remaining rear window, walking sideways to keep an eye on the door. Judging from the Api sounds out there, they were some thirty yards down the slope. He was sure they would attack again. The remaining officer would harangue and beat them into it.

  The guard at the other rear window was engaged in a tug-of-war. One of the Api had thrust a spear through the window and the guard had seized the shaft and was now trying to wrench it from the holder and bring it inside. But the brute Api was the stronger and was winning.

  «Hold on,» Blade shouted. He leaped forward and severed the shaft with a downward stroke of his sword. His man now had two-thirds of a spear and the working end. Blade grinned through the mask of blood caking on his face. He slapped the Jedd on the shoulder and shouted, «You do well. Half a spear is better than none, and you have the point. But be not selfish — share it with them when they come again.»

  The man managed a feeble smile and nodded. Blade turned back to the door to await the new onslaught. With misgivings. They were only three now and the Api must have near thirty left. This time, if the enemy pressed hard enough, they must win by sheer weight of numbers. Blade thought this, speculated for a moment, then forgot it. It was not in his nature to wish that Lord Leighton might find him with the computer at that perilous moment.

  The frontal attack did not come. The Api to the rear fell back down the slope. Blade peered and frowned. What now? This he did not like. He would almost as lief have them come on in strength, for he had a plan forming. If he could sally out and kill the remaining Api officer he and his two Jedds might yet win the day. But now there was only silence.

  Blade waited, his uneasiness growing with each moment. He knew what he would have done in the Api commander’s place and now he was afraid that the goon leader would think of it. The two guards left their posts and joined them. Both were wounded, weary to the bone and frightened, and he knew they could not fight much longer.

  One of them, peering past Blade to where the Api were conferring with the traitor Sesi, shook his head tiredly and said, «I like this not, Sire. The Api are no thinkers, but Sesi is a Jedd and has some brains. See how he gives orders to the Api captain!»

  Blade kept a confident smile on his gory features, but his heart sank. Sesi was pointing down the hill toward the smoking charnel pit and arguing with the Api chief. Blade nodded to himself. Yes. Sesi had thought of it. He watched as two of the Api goons broke away from the main body and went running down the hill.

  Blade and his two Jedd guardsmen waited. They were near to perishing of thirst, but there was no water in the house. Blade tried to keep up the spirits of the other two as best he could.

  He watched the group of Api on the front slope. They were gathering dry faggots and, using vines for cord, were binding them into compact bundles. Blade said nothing. He knew that the Api behind the house would be doing the same.

  The two Api came back up the hill carrying torches, flaming red and yellow and giving off streamers of black smoke. Fire from the charnel pit.

  One of the guards looked at Blade in fear. «They are going to burn the cottage, Sire. Drive us out into the open.»

  Blade could only nod. «Yes. I was afraid they would think of it.»

  The other Jedd dropped his sword and began to weep. «I have fought well, Sire, but I cannot face the fire.» He went to his knees and rocked back and forth, his features contorted and tears streaming through the blood on his face. Blade fought against turning away in disgust. The man had fought well and every man had his breaking point.

  The weeping man clutched at Blade’s knees. «Surrender, Sire. Surrender now and it may be they will spare us — at least ask for a parley.»

  Blade laughed harshly. «No parley. And if you think they will spare us you are as big a fool as I for walking into this trap. No! We must see it through.»

  It happened so fast that he could not have stopped the man even had he tried. The guard leaped up and ran out the door, his hands flung high, and screaming at the top of his voice: «Mercy — mercy. I surrender to you, Api, and beg for mercy. Sesi — you are a cornet and a Jedd and I beg you to save me. Mercy — mercy—»

  All the Api stared at the running man. Blade felt a sickness grow in him. The guard reached the Api group and they parted to let him through. He flung himself to the ground before Sesi. The young sublieutenant made a motion with his right hand and one of the Api raised his long sword and, using both hands and great force, impaled the guard and pinned him to the earth. As he was still thrashing and screaming in his death throes they cut off his head and mounted it on a spear and waved it up the slope at Blade.

  The remaining Jedd stared at Blade and said, «He was a fool. I am not. Better to die here with you, Sire, in honor.»

  Torches were being applied to the faggot bundles now Half a dozen of the Api, each carrying a flaming sheaf of faggots, ran up the slope. There was nothing Blade could do. If they ventured out to fight they would be cut down in minutes. He strode to a rear window in time to see more Api creeping up with flaming bundles. Blade cursed and chewed on his parched nether lips. Not much of a choice Go out and fight to the death, or stay and burn to death.

  But it was, at least, an easy enough choice to make.

  The Api cast their fiercely-burning flambeaus and sped away. Smoke began to seep into the house and tongues of flame were already licking up the walls and devouring the dry wood. Masonry began to crumble as the wood support was eaten away. The Jedd began to cough and swipe at his eyes. He peered at Blade through the dirty gray swirls of smoke.

  «Why do we wait, Sire? I do not intend to burn, nor do I think you will so choose. Let us go now and die like men.»

  Blade did not answer for a moment. He was peering intently out a window, shielding his eyes from the smoke and hoping they did not deceive him. It was cruel to hope and be disappointed — and yet had he not seen the glint of sunlight on metal? Behind the Api, near the charnel pit, was not the sun reflecting itself in highly furbished iron?

  He said nothing of this to the Jedd, but put an arm about his shoulders and asked, «How are you called? Your birth name?»

  The Jedd stared back with bloodshot eyes «I am Kaven and I have served Gath since I was hardly more than a weanling. And my father served Gath’s father.»

  Blade squeezed his shoulder. «Now, Kaven, make ready. For you are right. We will not stay to burn.» He said nothing of what he had seen. No point to raising hopes on what might be only an illusion. Blade shrugged his massive shoulders and picked up the lance he had captured. What was to be — would be.

  The floor was red-hot now. Walls were aflame and ready to crumple. The smoke would kill them quickly if they stayed. Blade led the way to the door.

  A high shrill of triumph came from the Api as they were seen. A score of the creatures, led by the officer, charged up the hill at them.

  Blade found a level spot and spat out a final command. «Back to back, Kaven. Fight as long as you can.»

  The man did not answer and in the next moment the horde of slavering Api was upon them.

  Blade shortened his grip on the spear and fought with it in his left hand while his right wielded the iron sword with terrible execution. His rage flamed hotter than the blazing cottage. He was in and out, thrusting and backing and cutting, standing astride the Api corpses as they piled up. Kaven too was doing his share of killing. Their backs joined, their sweat and blood mingling, they fought for life.

  Blade lost his spear. An Api died with it through his guts and, in falling, tore it from Blade’s hand. Blade bellowed in rage and swung his sword with two hands. He heard Kaven scream as he took a wound. Blade chanced a look and saw the Jedd on one knee, still fighting with his lance, his sword arm spurting b
lood and useless at his side.

  The Api leader, forgetting his weapons, leaped in to grapple with Blade, seeking to tear out his throat with the long baboon fangs. Blade drew back in time, shortened his thrust and put it into the leader’s chest up to the hilt. The beast screamed a final defiance and tried to close in, his fangs cutting and slashing at Blade’s flesh. Blade lost his sword. It would not disengage. He smashed at the long-snouted face with his right fist, a terrible blow that sent the Api spinning away with Blade’s sword still embedded in his chest. Blade stood alone, feet outspread, his big hands curved into talons, a gigantic bloody figure now fighting with only his bare hands.

  A horn blew in the melon trees. It was a short blast, raucous and brassy and lacking any tone, but the sweetest music Blade had ever heard. Gath’s men charged up the hill, an entire troop, some two hundred Jedd warriors. It was over.

  Even now he could not spare himself or rest. His plans must go forward. He took a moment to catch his breath, then standing astride a high pile of Api corpses, he cupped his hands and bellowed harshly over the clangor of battle.

  «Gath — hear me. Take the Api alive, if you can. Alive, I say! I have use for them. And do not kill Sesi! That is an order, Gath. Do not kill the cornet! I also have use for him. Do you heed me, Gath?»

  The captain Gath, his armor slightly bloodied, fought his way through the thinning Api ranks to where Blade stood. He saluted with his sword and panted, «I hear you, Sire. I obey.»

  He turned and shouted orders to his officers, who in turn passed them on to their men. The Api began to throw down their weapons and surrender and were herded into groups.

  Blade turned to find Kaven trying to get to his feet. He was clutching his right arm and trying to stanch the blood. He gave Blade a grin of joy and utter weariness. «It is good to live, Sire. And the better so because it is such a surprise. Unless I dream and we are dead.»

  Blade set about bandaging the man’s hurt. It was deep and long, the slash, but in time would heal and leave an honorable scar. «You do not dream,» Blade told him. «Nor is this a dream — you are now a captain. You will serve me as second in command only to Gath.»

  Kaven shook his head in wonder. «Another miracle, Sire. I live — and I am a captain. Are you sure I do not dream?»

  Blade laughed and turned away to meet Gath. The captain was angry and spared Blade nothing. His blue eyes shot cold sparks as he said, «I had not thought to serve a fool, Sire, when I gave you my sword and heart. But it seems I do, for only a fool would have fallen into this trap. Only a fool would have been lured to this place with but six men to protect him. Why, Sire? In the name of all that is sacred to the Jedds, and that is not much, tell me why!»

  Even bloody, nearly naked, hurt and near collapse, Blade could use his charm. A sheepish charm now, because he knew he deserved the rebuke and did not fault Gath for giving it.

  His white teeth flashed as he smiled and said, «Because I am a fool, Gath. I admit it. But it was your trusted man who led me here.» And Blade pointed to where Sesi stood, bound and guarded by a few of Gath’s men.

  Gath flushed and looked downcast in his turn. «I am sorry for that, Sire. But how was I to know that he had sold himself to Nizra? In every brook there is one fish that stinks. But Sesi will pay — how he will pay.»

  The fight was over. The Api, disarmed and sullen, were being rounded up and heavily guarded. Blade, watching this for a moment, gave brief orders concerning them and Gath passed it on. Then Gath was informed of Kaven’s new rank and the newest captain was led off to receive medical attention. Blade and Gath walked a little apart from the soldiers.

  Blade looked at Gath. «There will be no torture. I speak of Sesi now. I will question him myself, when I am ready, and I will learn all I need of Nizra’s plotting. When I have done this, you will kill Sesi. Quickly and cleanly. You will cut off his head.»

  «But, Sire! This is not the way to handle it. Sesi’s treachery was great, as much to me as to you, for it was I who sponsored him from the ranks as cornet. He must take a long time dying, be tortured as no Jedd was ever tortured before. It will serve as an example and—»

  Blade gave Gath a cold look, then reached to touch his shoulder. «Do it my way, Captain Gath. I know what I do.

  No torture. This is understood?»

  And Gath, still grumbling, said that it was understood. He also said, half under his breath, that he did not now, nor ever would, understand the Sire Blade.

  Blade grinned and said, «Then you will not understand this, either. I want Nizra taken unharmed. Where is the Wise One now?»

  Gath, still sulking a bit, would not look at him. He watched the last of the Api being led away.

  «Nizra is in his house, Sire. I doubled the guard and gave orders that he was not to leave. I know that in this I contravened your orders, but I was worried and fearful and I did what I thought best.»

  «You did well,» Blade admitted. «I am glad that we are not both fools and that you have Nizra safe. I still have use for him. For one thing, he controls the Api, all that are still free. I would have them all rounded up and disarmed. You will have Crofta’s men build a cage for them, as large as is needed, and assemble them on the northern plains.»

  Gath shook his head doubtfully. «They will serve only Nizra, those stupid beasts. When they learn that he is out of power they will desert and scatter into the forests to the south. You will not catch many of the Api.»

  «Nevertheless we will try. Now, Gath, one last question before I leave you, because I have a task that I must do alone. How came you to know of my danger? What brought you to me?»

  Gath gave him a sly look. «Chance, in part. I spoke to the lady-in-waiting of Mitgu and she told me of Sesi and his message. The lady must have been listening at the door. And then I knew all Jedd troops had been ordered out of this region, and where there are no troops the Api like to pillage and rape. So I knew it was not safe for you to wander here with so small a guard.» Gath stopped and shrugged his shoulders. «And I had a feeling in my stomach that all was not well.»

  He would not meet Blade’s eyes. Blade touched his shoulder and said, «And the rest of it, Captain? Tell me.»

  Gath looked directly at him and the skin about his blue eyes crinkled. «I have my own spies, Sire. And they have brought me reports about Sesi. For long now I have thought he was Nizra’s man, but I had no proof and so gave him leave to hang himself. So, on hearing all I heard, I myself went to call upon Nizra.»

  Blade felt sudden shock. He frowned. «You did not kill him?»

  Gath tried to look innocent, failed at it and broke into laughter. «Not I. He is well and secure a prisoner. The thing is — he may have a few cuts and bruises. Nothing that will not heal in time.»

  «That is good. I thank you, Gath. You saved me this day and it will not be forgotten. But there is one thing—»

  Gath, on the point of turning away to attend to business, halted and looked back. «And that is, Sire?»

  Blade grinned. «Next time do not leave it so long. I thought you would never get here.»

  Blade made his way down the hill alone, oblivious of the stares of Gath’s men and the defiant snarls of the Api prisoners. He went to the smoking charnel pit and looked into it, near to gagging on the sulfurous fumes and sick at his stomach. Row and crisscrossed row they stretched away, the lines of fire-blackened bodies. Blade leaped into the pit and began to search along the paths left by the corpseburners.

  It was half an hour before he found the ravaged little body of Ooma with the marks of savage torture everywhere on that once smooth and tender flesh. She had not been burnt and for this much he was grateful. He picked up the frail body and carried it out of the pit and, avoiding the hill, skirted around it and walked until he came to a melon tree growing out of the ruined pavement of a long-forgotten temple.

  Blade put her body down and stood gazing at it for a moment. One of her crude wooden combs was still caught in the dark tangle of hair. His face flamed,
he choked, and was not ashamed of the hot tears crowding behind his eyes. For a moment he was blinded by the moisture, and the old temple, the courtyard and the single melon tree, disappeared in a scalding haze. Blade gulped, cursed himself softly and began to work.

  He knelt and tore out the ancient stones with his hands. He scooped a grave in the soft earth below and placed Ooma in it. He arranged the small, twisted limbs as best he could and covered her face with a bit of his tunic. Then, for a minute or so, he stood looking down at her.

  At last he took a double handful of the earth and let it spray through his fingers onto her body. He did not speak aloud, but in his mind he said, «Goodbye, Ooma.»

  He filled in the grave, replaced the stones atop h, and left it unmarked. He would never come this way again.

  Then Richard Blade trod wearily back up the bill to where Gath and his men were waiting to march.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Two weeks passed. A week of preparation and a week on the march. Blade, encapsuled in work, sleeping but two or three hours a day, was so snared by the flow of time that he forgot it. Jeddia was burned and he married the Child Princess Mitgu who, on their wedding night, proved no child after all. As dawn broke, Blade was near exhaustion and salved his conscience by admitting that a Jedd girl of ten was like a woman of thirty in Home Dimension. Mitgu had been a virgin, had bled copiously, but if she felt pain it in no way dimmed her ardor. And when she left him alone at last and he tried to sleep he was stricken with new head pains as the computer probed for him. The pains were fierce but short-lived. Lord L had missed him again.

  This bright morning Blade, accompanied by Captains Gath and Kaven, had gone far ahead of the long column of trekking Jedds. They were nearing the valley mouth to the north, where the ascending terrain tunneled through a narrow gut and spread out in a broad and spreading plain. And there the way was barred by the Shining Gate.