by James Wisher
Col reached down the front of his tunic and pulled out his bronze medallion. “Squire Col, I’m the last survivor of the order. Everyone else died defending the castle.”
The soldiers all sheathed their weapons at once. “Squire, thank the Light! Dealing with a beastman invasion’s a little outside my area of expertise. I’m Sergeant Smyth. How’d you escape?”
Col took a breath. Time for a leap of faith. “I had a mission.” He motioned Rain to stand beside him. “This is Princess Rain. My last orders were to get her out of the kingdom and to safety.”
The soldiers all took a knee. “Princess, we’re so glad to see you safe.”
Rain placed a hand on Smyth’s shoulder. “Thank you, please rise.”
Col smiled. That was the most regal he’d ever seen her. “We headed for Rel first, but it’s overrun. Beastmen are everywhere south and west of here.”
“Don’t we know it, sir. We’ve killed three scouting parties in the past week. If they come against us in any numbers this little town won’t last an hour.”
Col took in the defenses, or more accurately the complete lack of defenses, with a glance. “I see your problem. Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“Sure, we’ve converted the only inn into a command post. The locals spend most of their time out fishing, but a few stay in town to help out.” The sergeant turned to his men. “You three get back on patrol, I’ll take our guests to the inn.”
They walked deeper into the village, following the sergeant to the inn. Pike’s Cove was a charming place, one and two-story buildings with cedar siding and tile roofs. The occasional trickle of smoke came from the chimneys. If not for the threat of imminent destruction this would have made a nice place to spend a few days. The inn had a red tile roof and two stories; it looked like the biggest building in the village.
The sergeant reached for the door, but Col stopped him. “Let’s keep it quiet about the princess. The fewer people that know she’s here the safer she’ll be.”
“Right, sir, mum’s the word.”
Inside the common room sported the usual collection of tables and chairs, several of which the solders had pushed together and covered with maps. Along the back wall rested a bar, behind which stood a one-armed man with a long beard. He glanced over at them when they entered and, apparently not seeing anything worth his time, went back to polishing the bar.
Col made a beeline for the map table, eager for more information about the enemy forces. He was doomed to disappointment. Beyond marking Rel as fallen and the location of two skirmishes with beastman scouts the map held no useful information. It took all of two minutes for Col to update the map with what they knew, which amounted to precious little when you looked at it.
Col leaned back in his chair and sighed. The sergeant looked at him. “What now, sir?”
“Supper if you have anything to spare. When the fishermen bring in their catch we need to find someone to take us to Celestia. I suppose you know who’s trustworthy?”
“Yes, sir. Truth is they’re all good lads mostly. One or two like a drink more than they should and another couple enjoy a fight, but none that aren’t loyal to the crown.”
Col smiled. “Sailors that like to drink and fight, perish the thought.”
The sergeant laughed, having the same sense of humor as all the men-at-arms he’d dealt with over the years. “The cook has fish stew going. I’ll fetch you a couple bowls.”
Col moved to an empty table a safe distance from the maps and Rain joined him. “He seems nice.”
“Most of the men-at-arms I’ve met over the years are loyal and tough as boot leather, with a rough sense of humor. I’m not sure if the recruiters look for men like that or if they grow into the personality. Either way ten men like him are worth a hundred farmers in a fight.”
“You seem pleased to find them here.”
“Princess, you have no idea. If I had to explain the basics to another amateur I was going to explode.”
The sergeant emerged from the kitchen with two steaming bowls.
The smell of cream mingled with fish and herbs set Col’s mouth watering.
“Won’t you join us?” Rain asked.
He shook his head. “I’ll eat later with my men, but thank you for the invitation, Highness.”
The sergeant took his leave and when he’d gone Rain said, “He seemed uncomfortable.”
“Nobles have that effect on commoners, don’t take it personally.” Col tucked into his stew.
When he came up for air Rain said, “You seem comfortable enough with me.”
He wiped the broth from his lips and smiled. “I’ve had weeks of practice. We didn’t do so well at the start of this little adventure.”
“You hated me.” Col started to argue, but she held up a hand. “It’s the truth and I don’t blame you. When I look back at who I was before the attack I find I hate myself a little.”
Col reached across the table and took her hand. “It’s who you are now that counts and I like that person a great deal.”
* * *
Rain stood in the front of the fishing vessel Col had chosen to carry them to Celestia. They’d been traveling for the better part of three days. The wind blew her hair back from her face and the stink from the hold away from her nose. She smiled at how much she’d come to rely on the squire. Three weeks ago she wouldn’t have trusted him to choose his own socks, much less the best way to get to Celestia. He’d shown himself to be competent, far more competent than Rain herself. The few times she’d traveled out of the capital she’d had dozens of soldiers and servants to tend to her every need, and they stayed at the finest inns or the mansions of nobles. This journey had been a revelation to her, and not a good one.
“Princess.” She turned to see Col approaching from the back of the boat where he’d been speaking with captain. “Everything all right?”
She nodded and looked out over the calm, blue water. In the opposite direction she could still see the shore. “It doesn’t seem so dangerous out here.”
“It isn’t. Sailors discovered the safe zone extends two hundred miles from shore. Any further out than that though and you run into trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
Col shrugged. It seemed there were a few things he didn’t know about the wilds. “No one knows. No ship that sailed that far out has ever come back. The rumor is that a monster-filled island sits in the center of the lake and if anyone gets too close the monsters attack.”
A shiver ran up her spine; more monsters, fantastic. “Ever think you’d like to sail out there and see what sort of monsters you might find?”
He grinned. “Nope. There’re plenty of monsters on dry land to deal with. Never saw much point in sailing out to find more.”
“Do you still plan to leave as soon as we reach Celestia?” By the Light she sounded needy.
The cocky grin softened. “I’m not planning to throw you off at the dock and sail away. At some point I have to come back, but it won’t be until you’re settled. Besides, I’m hoping whoever’s in charge over there can offer me some help. After all, they have an army and I’m just one person.”
Rain smiled when he repeated her own words back to her; he’d been listening. She couldn’t say why but that made her feel good. Her tension went away a little when he promised not to leave her at the docks. Maybe Celestia wouldn’t be so bad.
* * *
The Dark’s might coursed through Zarrin and he sent it spiraling into the stone watchtower from which Rel’s archers harassed his beastmen. The three-story tower crashed to the ground killing the archers on impact. The darkcaster never would have believed the battle would drag on for weeks.
He would have sighed if he still had lungs that functioned. The running battle through the night city reminded him of the old days when he fought beside his master to crush their enemies. Over nine hundred years had passed since his master fell in the final battle yet it could have been yesterday in his memories.
Despite the resistance he’d sent out his scouts weeks ago to try to locate the princess and her guardian without noticeable success. Well, now that he’d dealt with this final batch of fighters he’d look to finding her again. It wouldn’t be difficult; her celestial blood would call to him like a beacon. If they still traveled alone he’d have no better hope of killing them than he had last time.
Zarrin shook his head and walked away from the battlefield. Even if he couldn’t kill her at least he could find out where she was so he could send more beastmen to finish the job. He focused on the Dark and tore a black circle in the air. He stepped through and emerged in the courtyard of Castle Finegold. A couple minutes later he reached his casting chamber and settled on the floor within his protective circle. He willed his spirit free of his host and drifted above the corpse. It became clear to him that he’d need to prepare a new host soon; this one would crumble to dust if he left it again. No matter, it had served its purpose.
He focused on the princess and in moments felt a tug toward the lake. He allowed the feeling to guide him onward, closer and closer to his target. Soon he hovered over a fishing boat off the coast of the fallen Kingdom of Kenten. She’d made it this far already? If Zarrin had delayed even another day she would have been off the coast Celestia and almost beyond his reach. He thanked the Dark for his good fortune and dove toward the boat.
Zarrin passed like mist through the deck and entered the crew quarters, little more than a small room with hammocks hanging from the wall. He found the princess and the boy sleeping in two of the hammocks, two more hung empty. That meant at least two unprotected humans were somewhere on the boat, perfect. Zarrin left the crew quarters and went back up on deck. He found one man at the tiller and a second in the rigging.
It would be too difficult to control the body in the rigging so he jammed a spectral hand into the man’s chest and stopped his heart. The sailor gasped and fell into the water. The second man rushed to the rail and looked for his shipmate. Zarrin slipped into his body and in seconds had complete control. A quick search revealed an oil lantern the boat used to send signals. Zarrin smashed it on the deck, drew the man’s long, curved knife, and struck the bent steel lantern until he got a spark. The oil burned across the deck, scorching his feet. Zarrin’s dead host didn’t register pain, so he lurched toward the crew quarters knife in hand. He’d end this chase right now.
Chapter Seventeen
A splash woke Col. He rolled out of his hammock and fumbled for his sword. Still half asleep he strained to hear anything over the rush of the hull across the water. It sounded like someone had fallen overboard, but no shouts echoed in the night.
The thump of a heavy tread reached him. Something was wrong. Neither of the sailors moved that clumsily. He got his sword free from its sheath in the dark cabin.
Col kept his focus on the door as he eased over beside Rain. He shook her with his free hand. She groaned then rolled over. Damn it! After all they’d been through you’d think she’d be a lighter sleeper. The thumping stopped and Col’s instincts screamed that someone stood right outside the door.
He shook Rain again, harder this time. “What?” she mumbled
“Get up, we’ve got trouble.”
Rain rolled out of her hammock and fumbled around for her shoes. While she groped in the dark Col stepped closer to the door. A light shone under it, too bright to be moonlight.
The door creaked open and in the light of the burning deck a silhouette stood in the opening. He couldn’t make out many details, but the one that mattered was the glitter of firelight on the edge of a long, curved knife. That told Col all he needed to know.
“Grab our packs, Princess.”
“What’s going on?” She still sounded half asleep.
“The boat’s on fire and one of the sailors is trying to kill us.” Col rushed forward to meet the deranged man in the cabin doorway.
“What?” She was awake now.
“Grab our stuff! I don’t want to lose everything if the boat goes down.”
Col lunged and drove his sword through the sailor’s chest, a slight ooze of blood the only sign he’d done any damage. The dead fisherman slashed at him and Col fell back, dragging his sword free as he went. His opponent didn’t have good reflexes, but if two feet of steel through his chest didn’t faze him he didn’t need them.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Rain stagger under the weight of both their packs. Col slashed at the dead man, opening his throat and half severing his head.
The dead man lunged at him again, showing no sign of difficulty. He was through the door now and the narrow confines of the cabin wouldn’t give Col much room to maneuver. He waited until the dead man lunged at him again, stepped out of the way, and hacked his arm off at the elbow. The knife clattered to the deck.
Col stepped in, hoping to press his advantage.
The dead man didn’t seem to realize losing an arm should throw him off balance. He lunged at Col when he got close, knocking him to the deck. The dead thing’s nails scratched against Col’s jerkin as it dragged itself toward his face.
Col gathered his legs under his opponent and pushed with all his might. The living corpse flew a few feet and landed on its back. Before it regained its feet Col leapt up and drove his sword through its stomach, pinning it to the deck.
The dead man flailed, but didn’t have enough leverage to pull the blade loose.
Col stomped on its arm and motioned Rain out and up the stairs. When she’d gotten safely past Col followed. He took a pack from the overburdened princess and they went up on the flaming deck. The fire had spread to the boat’s sails, which burned like an airborne bonfire. The only place not in flames was a small area around the tiller. Col took Rain’s hand and rushed through the flames to that small oasis.
Rain held his hand in a death grip. “I’m scared.”
Col grabbed the tiller and wrenched it toward shore. “You and me both. Don’t worry; we aren’t that far from land. Things could be worse.”
Her eyes about bugged out of her head. “The ship’s on fire, there’s a still-moving corpse pinned to the deck like a bug, and I can’t swim. How could things be any worse?”
“There could be sharks.”
She stared at him as the flames crept closer. He looked back and raised an eyebrow. Rain fought the smile and lost. She laughed and tears ran down her face. He didn’t know if the laughter had turned to sobbing or if she managed both at the same time.
When she brought herself under control the shoreline loomed a few hundred yards away and the fire almost tickled their toes. They needed to jump for it. Col looked around; they had to be here somewhere. A second later he found one of the bumpers that kept the hull from rubbing on the dock a few feet away. He snatched it off the deck, burning his arm. He squeezed it and found it still held air.
“Take this and don’t let go.” He handed her the bumper. “We need to jump for it.”
She thrust the it back to him. “I told you I can’t swim.”
“The bumper will hold you up, all you need to do is kick for shore. It’s that or burn to death. I’ll be right there beside you. Please trust me.”
* * *
Please trust me, he said, and Rain found she did. She didn’t know when it happened, but Rain found herself confident Col would keep her safe no matter what. She took his hand with one hand and clutched the bumper with the other. They leapt and splashed into the water.
Col’s hand slipped away and she flailed with her free han
d. She smacked something in the dark then Col’s arm slipped around her, pinning her arm to her side.
“Calm down, Princess, I’ve got you.” He spoke right beside her ear, his breath warm on her neck.
Her racing heart slowed and she found the bumper held her above the water easily. As long as she had it she was safe.
“That’s better. I’m going to switch my grip to the back of your shirt. When I pull you need to kick your legs, I’ll guide us to shore, okay?”
“Okay.”
The arm around her slipped away and for a moment she felt alone, abandoned, like her only lifeline had vanished. A second later he tugged on the back of her shirt. She sighed and kicked her legs. Of course he hadn’t abandoned her, he’d promised.
Rain had no idea how long they splashed through the water before Col said, “Put your feet down.”
She did and her feet sank into the soft mud of the lake bottom. They’d made it to land. They staggered out of the water and up the shore. In the dark she couldn’t see much, instead she clung to Col’s arm and a few steps later he guided her to a soft, dry bed of pine needles. She collapsed, grateful for a place to rest. Col stood beside her, staring into the distance.
“What do you see?”
“The boat, it stopped moving. It must have hit the shore.” He sat beside her and put his arm around her shoulders.
Not long ago she would have bristled and slapped him for the presumption, but now, leaning against his solid form, she felt safe. “What now?”
“Dawn isn’t far off. When the sun rises I need to see if I can recover my sword, then we’ll head out. It can’t be over two days’ walk to the border of Celestia. We’re almost there.”
She shook her head. It didn’t seem possible they’d come this far. That first night, under the pines, she’d been certain the beastmen would find and kill them. At the time she might have welcomed it, but now, having seen her people struggling to survive under the harshest circumstances imaginable, her death wish seemed weak and selfish.