The Cyber Chronicles VII - Sabre

by T C Southwell

  "Let's go. You tell the guards to stand down, and do exactly what I say, or you die, got it?"

  Dellon nodded, and Sabre wondered why he was being so co-operative. It might be cowardice, but it seemed too easy. Gripping the back of Dellon's collar, he frog-marched him through the lounge and made him push open the brass-hinged oak doors. They emerged into a narrow corridor with bare grey stone walls, where the sleepy guards snapped to attention, trying to salute and hang onto their spears at the same time. The pair, clad in faded green and gold livery under chain mail, their helmets bearing tufts of yellow feathers, gaped at Sabre when he followed the King, reaching for their swords.

  "Hold!" Dellon yelled, too loudly for Sabre's liking.

  The guards froze, and Sabre wondered if they were Tassin's men, or Dellon's. "Queen Tassin has returned,” he informed them. “Spread the word, and tell your comrades that if anyone tries to attack me, I'll kill the King. All those who wish to keep their heads should reclaim their loyalty to the Queen and help me take the castle. They'll be rewarded. Go."

  The soldiers backed away, then loped off, their mail jingling. Sabre headed for the broad staircase that ran down the wall on his right, trundling Dellon along by his scruff, the laser pressed to the back of his head. They encountered another two sentries at the bottom of the staircase, whom he advised of the Queen's return and sent trotting off to spread the news. Making his way through the grand, banner-hung entrance hall, he headed for the tall doors that led into the courtyard. The pair of sentries that guarded them pushed open the portal at his command, retreating.

  Emerging into the cobbled courtyard, he glanced at the scanners. Fifteen men patrolled the ten-metre tall battlements that enclosed the yard, and a quartet guarded the main gates. A few spluttering torches still burnt in wall sconces, but the sky had brightened to pale pink. He could just make out the forms of the soldiers on the battlements, and the cloth-draped laser cannons he had installed four years ago. Dellon’s colours, a rampant yellow panther on a green field, flew above the gatehouse, steps leading up to it.

  Marching Dellon to the middle of the courtyard, he stopped and shouted, "Queen Tassin has returned! Make one hostile move, and Dellon dies. Take down that flag and run up the Queen's colours, now!"

  A full minute of stunned silence fell before a man on the battlements went to the main flagpole to take down Dellon's banner. Sentries emerged from the gatehouse to gape at Sabre, and he pointed the laser at them.

  "Go and stand over there by the wall. You men on the walls, come down and join them."

  They descended the steps, one soldier trotting ahead towards a door on one side of the courtyard.

  "Stop!" Sabre bellowed, and the man froze. "Where do you think you're going?"

  "To fetch the Queen's colours."

  "Right. Make it quick."

  "Yes, sir."

  The man vanished through the door, and the rest of the soldiers joined the sentries, muttering. The man on the battlements struck Dellon's colours and joined the group, and Sabre glanced around at the door through which the other soldier had left, wishing he would hurry up. The lack of resistance made him uneasy, and he wondered at Dellon's continued silence. Was it possible that the skinny boy was too cowardly to even protest, or was something else afoot?

  Sabre waved the laser at the soldiers. "One of you, open the gates."

  A grizzled veteran headed for gates, and Sabre jammed the laser's muzzle into the side of Dellon's head, making him wince.

  "The rest of you, remove your swords and armour."

  A sergeant stepped forward. "Sir, we're the Queen's men. We'll help you."

  The red light that flashed in Sabre’s mind told him the man lied. He did not want to reveal his ability to sense lies just yet, however. "Right, and I should just take your word for it. Throw your weapons over there by the wall, and be quick."

  As the men threw their weapons down with a clatter, the soldier returned with a piece of cloth and trotted up to the battlements. The portcullis rattled up, and Sabre glanced at the open gates, his brows drawing together. Everything was going too smoothly, and his suspicion grew more acute. No inkling of rebellion showed on the soldiers' faces; not even a hint of resentment or anger, and the King was far too compliant. Something was not right. If this was a trap, it was quite an obvious one, but it could only be one if his hostage was not Dellon. He shook the King and pressed the laser harder against his head.

  "You are Dellon, aren't you?"

  "Y-yes."

  Sabre raised his voice to address the soldiers. "Is this your King?"

  They nodded, and one replied, "Yes, sir."

  The warning light flashed in Sabre's mind again, and he swung towards the man who stood by the flagpole, preparing to run up the Queen’s colours. "Stop!"

  The man lowered the flag he held and stepped back, and Sabre cursed, wondering what he was going to do now. They were all lying, including the pimply youth he held hostage, who was probably the cook's cousin. He had double checked by asking the men because the youth's agitation was such that the cyber was unable to be certain he was lying. Now he was sure. He was in a trap, but it was not intended for him and would not spring until Tassin came, which she would only do when her banner was raised. He shoved the scrawny young man away and drew his other laser, wagging it at the wide-eyed youth.

  "You can go and join them. I know you're all lying."

  Sabre glanced up at the battlements again, where the soldier was attaching Tassin's flag to the lanyard. "Hey! You! Drop that and get down here, now!"

  The man continued to tie the knot, fumbling in his haste. Sabre shot him, and he collapsed with a grunt. Now Sabre would have to take the castle on his own, or escape. He wondered how many men were hidden in the fortress, cursing Dellon's duplicity. A great many men would have to die, and he did not relish the prospect of killing them. If he made his escape, however, Tassin would be in grave danger, for Dellon would send troops to hunt her down and kill her. They would be on the run again, back to the almost identical predicament they had been in when they had fled from Torrian four years ago, only now Sharmian would be doomed, too.

  The plan to take the King hostage had seemed like a good one, even though he did not know what Dellon looked like. Tassin's description had been detailed, and he had thought it would be enough. The youth he had found in the King's bedchamber bore a close enough resemblance to fool him, however. He should have asked him if he was the King, then the cyber would have picked up on his lie, but he had gone on the assumption that the youth in the King’s bed who matched his description was the monarch. The cyber would have checked. Once again, he had failed where the cyber would have succeeded, through his human ability to make mistakes. He signalled to the soldier by the gate, indicating that he should rejoin his fellows. Sabre kept his weapons trained on the men, and waved them towards one of the doorways that led off the courtyard.

  "Get going, inside."

  Sabre needed cover; he was too exposed in the open without a human shield. Realising that someone else could run up the Queen's colours after he had quit the courtyard, he wagged a laser at a man at the back of the group.

  "You! Go and fetch that flag. Try to raise it, and you'll die like your friend. Run!"

  The soldier raced up to the battlements, and Sabre watched him while the scanners tracked the men who headed for the door. His heart rate and breathing quickened, and a rush of adrenalin heated his muscles and made his hands shake. The cyber’s battle schematics appeared in his mind, mapping the courtyard and all the potential foes in it, their weapons and the potential trajectories of missiles they might fire. Twelve more life signs appeared, some on the battlements, who must have emerged from the keep where the wall joined it. Others appeared at windows and doors that faced the courtyard, and blue lines on the cyber’s blueprint indicated their lines of fire. Sabre shot the soldier who was heading for the flagpole, then dropped and spun to strafe the new life signs as vicious hisses filled the air. Arrows bu
zzed over his head, several hitting the soldiers behind him, who scattered, racing for their weapons. Three of his shots hit their targets, and two archers slumped in windows and one on the battlements. Another volley hissed from the remaining men, and Sabre dived aside.

  Arrows ricocheted off the cobbles beside him with tinny clinks as he hit the ground and rolled, shooting five more men. Two bolts hit the walls with crackling pops. Nine soldiers reclaimed their weapons and charged him from behind. He spun, cutting them down with a sweeping lash of blue light. Rolling to the wall, he jumped up and ran towards a door, eager to quit the rain of arrows. A tug on his arm told him that he had been hit, and he glanced down at the black crossbow bolt that protruded from it. Ducking into the doorway, he turned and fired at the flagpole, shearing it off with a sizzling crack.

  Pressing his back to the wall just inside the door, he glanced up and down the empty corridor. If none of the men in the courtyard were Tassin's, it could only mean that Dellon had already incarcerated them. He sprinted down the passage, heading for the dungeons. Any form of reinforcement would do, even unarmed men. A man stepped out of a doorway ahead and tried to ram a spear through his gut. Sabre leapt over it, kicked downwards as he did so and snapped the shaft. He fired point-blank at the soldier, blowing away his face an instant before he hit him. The corpse sprawled, and Sabre sailed over it as arrows hissed after him.

  Three thudded into his armoured back and one glanced off his scalp, ripping a gash. Four men leapt out from behind a corner, swords raised. Sabre jumped aside, aimed and snapped off four shots without thinking about it. The cyber had started to override him, speeding up his reactions to milliseconds as it spotted enemies and predicted their movements. He let it guide him, shooting men who tried to charge him from the side or leapt at him from doorways and corners. Arrows whizzed past, and more thudded into his armour, one slicing through the skin of his biceps.

  Sabre leapt down the dungeon stairs three at a time, the hail of arrows momentarily cut off. A soldier thrust a sword at him from a doorway, and the blade skittered off his abdominal armour. His right hand snapped around and fired in the instant he passed the door, felling the man. Two sentries waited at the bottom of the steps, crossbows aimed. The bolts thudded into his chest armour, and they fell as he fired. He reloaded and loped down the passage to the cells.

  Pausing outside the first, he peered in through the barred window at the top of the sturdy oak door. The shadowy forms of men moved about inside, assuring him that it was occupied. The old-style lock required a large key to draw back the thick bolt that fastened it, and he had neither a key nor the time to find one or burn through the door. The corridor was narrow, but he moved to the opposite side of it and pushed off the wall. Reaching the door in a bound, he leapt at it, channelling all his power and momentum into his right leg. His foot hit the door square in the centre, smashing it inwards with a terrific bang and clatter of splintered wood. A dozen men gaped at him in the guttering light of a smutty torch, several rubbing bruises where bits of the door had bounced off them.

  Sabre pointed a laser at them. "Are you Queen Tassin's men?"

  Most of them nodded, and an officer, judging by his commanding demeanour and the silver braid on his sleeves, stepped forward. "Has the Queen returned?"

  "Yes. Arm yourselves and free the rest."

  "She's truly alive?"

  "Yes, now hurry up!"

  The officer glanced back. "The Queen!"

  The men boiled out and charged down the corridor to take the dead sentries’ weapons, and one dashed back with a bunch of keys to open the other cells. Sabre leant against the wall to snap off the arrows that protruded from his back. Blood ran down the side of his head and dripped from his elbow, but neither wound was serious. His bio-status was eighty-four per cent, still good. He cursed the habit he had picked up from Tarl and pushed himself away from the wall, heading for the stairs as more men emerged from the cells to join him. He had to find Dellon.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Tassin chewed her lip as she stared at the distant castle. Her horse stamped and tossed its head, champing at the bit. Tarl sat on his mount beside her, both of them hidden just within the forest's bounds by a veil of leaves. Her heart had leapt when Dellon's colours had fallen, but the flagpole had remained bare and her tension had grown with every passing moment. Then the popping cracks of distant laser shots had reached them, and her heart had turned to lead. Something had gone wrong yet again, and she longed to race to Sabre's aid. Glancing at Tarl, she glimpsed the worry in his eyes before he noticed her attention and cast her a confident smile.

  "We must help him," she said, frowning.

  "Nope. We stay here and wait. He's more than capable of dealing with a few primitive soldiers."

  "They have laser cannons. They could use them against him."

  Tarl shook his head. "Sabre told me they face outwards, and can't be turned around."

  "That was four years ago."

  "Then they've probably forgotten how to use them."

  Tassin gazed at the open gate, biting her lip again. A group of riders clattered over the drawbridge, and Tarl cursed.

  "We've got to get out of here. They're coming for you."

  "But Sabre -"

  "Bugger Sabre, he can look after himself. I'm the one who has to look after you, now come on!"

  Tassin glared at him. "I will not run like a coward."

  "Damn, but you're a stubborn bloody female! You can't take on that lot, and they have orders to kill you on sight, I'll bet my left arm on it. Let's go!"

  The soldiers, led by three armoured knights, thundered closer, and Tarl's horse cavorted as he tugged on the reins. Tassin drew a laser from the folds of her skirt, and he gaped at her.

  She said, "We can fight them. We have better weapons!"

  "Where the hell did you get that? Did Sabre give it to you? He's an idiot! Put it away!"

  "I will not abandon him!"

  Tarl reined his horse closer and reached over to snatch the weapon from her.

  "Hey! Give that back!" she yelled.

  "No."

  Tarl tucked the laser into his waistband and grabbed her horse's reins, ignoring her growl of rage. Yanking the beast's head around, he spurred his mount into the woods. He angled away from the approaching troops, who followed the path that led into the woods further down. Tassin tried to pull her reins from his grip, jerking her horse's mouth, and it half reared in protest. Tarl hung on.

  "We have to help him!" she shouted. "Let go!"

  "No way. I promised I'd keep you safe. If I don't, he'll kill me."

  "If you don't let go of my horse, I'll kill you!"

  "I'll take my chances."

  A thud made Tarl glance back, amazed to find that Tassin had jumped off her horse. She scrambled to her feet and ran back towards the castle. Tarl pulled his horse to a skidding halt and swung it around, cantering after her. The Queen dodged behind a tree when he tried to grab her, and he yanked his horse to a stop and jumped down. He caught her as she made a dash for it, jerking her to a halt. She slapped him, making his ear ring.

  Tarl swore. "What the hell do you think you're going to do, apart from get yourself killed?"

  "Help him! You have a laser, you can help him too!"

  "He doesn't need our help!" Tarl glanced around and cursed as the horses galloped off after the mounted group that had vanished into the forest down the road. "Great! Now we're on foot, being chased by mounted soldiers!"

  Tassin tried to pull free, but he hung on, twisting her arm until she hissed with pain.

  "Let me go! When Sabre hears of this, you'll be sorry!"

  "I'll be even sorrier if you get killed. Come on, we've got to hide."

  "I will not hide like some -" Tassin broke off as he swung away, dragging her after him.

  "They'll backtrack those horses right to us. We need to get away from here, and fast," he said.

  "Let me go, you oaf!"

  Tarl hauled her through th
e forest, and she cursed as she tripped over roots and was forced to duck under branches. Soon she panted, and he glanced back as hoof beats approached. He looked around and headed for a huge, spreading oak whose knobbly, twisted trunk offered easy access to its branches. Stopping beside it, he yanked her closer and tried to shove her up the tree, but she fought him, kicking his shins. He swore as her fingernails raked his cheek, then slapped her, making her gasp.

  "How dare you?" she demanded.

  "Get up the bloody tree, or I'll knock you out and carry you!"

  She raked him with a scornful look. "You couldn't!"

  Realising that she was probably right, Tarl gripped her waist and flung her up the tree, forcing her to grab it. He scrambled up after her, shoving her from behind. Tassin squeaked in outrage at his rough handling, but could not turn back while he pushed her, and he forced her to scramble into the branches.

  When they were high enough that the lower branches hid them from view, Tarl found a fork and wedged himself into it, pulled Tassin close and clamped a hand over her mouth. She clawed at his fingers, mumbling muffled curses. He caught her hands and pinned them to her waist in a crushing grip, holding his breath as the cavalrymen passed below.

  ****

  Sabre headed along a corridor towards a thudding sound, rounding a corner to find a group of Tassin's soldiers trying to break down a stout door. They used a wooden statue as a battering ram, and bits of its smashed head littered the floor. Not bothering to waste time asking what was inside, Sabre fired at the lock, then kicked the door open to reveal a room full of swords and armour. The men crowded in, grabbing weapons, and he left them to it, continuing his search for Dellon. There was an unpleasant possibility that the King had left with Torrian, but he doubted it.

  A man leapt from a doorway beside him and tried to impale him with a sword. Sabre smashed him aside with a back-handed blow, the soldier's helmet saving him from a crushed skull. The sound of running, booted feet made Sabre swing around and raise his lasers. The group of Tassin's men that had armed itself from the armoury appeared around the corner, and he lowered his weapons as the soldiers ran up to him.