by Amy Hopkins
Mack supervised the refugees as each picked a weapon. Most of the older people chose spears or large rocks. As she had expected, the children were excited to take slingshots. Bette sought out the little girl who had spoken to her on the ladder.
"What's yer name?" Bette asked when she found her.
“Abigail," the girl replied. "It's a stupid name."
Bette laughed. "It's no’ a stupid name at all." She looked at the long spear the girl awkwardly gripped. "Are ye sure that's the one ye want ta use? We’ve got wee slings here fer throwin’ rocks if ye’d rather."
The girl shook her head and clutched her weapon tighter.
"Ok, then. Pass it here fer a moment," Bette said. She snapped the spear in half over her knee, ignoring the child’s stricken expression. “Here.”
Bette passed the shortened spear back to her, then lifted Abigail’s arms to show her how to hold it correctly. “Ye can’t be flappin’ that big stick behind ye. It’ll ruin yer throw. Now it’s the right length, if ye hold it like this point it like so… Then, vroom!”
Bette mimed a throw and Abigail smiled.
“Do you think I’ll kill one?” Abigail asked.
Bette shrugged. “Depends on yer aim. If ye practice though…” She turned her head and spied a barrel of spears nearby. Bette strode over and grabbed a handful and took them back over to Abigail. She snapped each to the correct length one at a time.
“Aim careful-like an’ take yer time, but throw as many as ye can. I’m sure ye’ll get at least one!”
Abigail jerked her head in a serious nod, then scowled at a passing soldier who eyed the stack of broken sticks beside her.
“These ones are mine,” Bette heard her mutter quietly.
“Aye, that they are.” Pride swelled in the rearick’s chest, and she left knowing that her plan had helped at least one of the sorry band find some healing and purpose.
“Bette!” Sharne hissed from the watchtower. “That girl is what…seven years old? And you’re teaching her to fight remnant?”
“Aye!” Bette grinned proudly. “She’s got a good head on her wee shoulders. She’ll do just fine!”
Sharne rolled her eyes but let the matter drop. “They’re getting awfully close,” she said, pointing at the horde racing toward them. “You’re sure you want our guys to hold back?”
“Aye.” She waited until Sharne had given the order, then leaned over the railing to call down to Mack, “Don’t go killin’ all those remnant! Leave some fer me helpers, aye?”
“Right!” Mack saluted. “Don’t kill the ravaging monsters out for our blood. Got it, Captain.”
“Get off wi’ ye, smartarse.”
Mack slipped through the gate and closed it behind him and Bette ran to the other side of the tower to watch.
Mack joined the soldiers, who stood in a neat formation. Bette swore she could hear some unhappy muttering drift up to her, but as the horde gained ground they dug their heels in, ready for the attack.
“Now!” Bette yelled the order along the wall. “Throw yer weapons! Take the bastards down! And fer the Bitch’s sake, don’t hit me soldiers!”
A couple of spears flew limply through the air and fell well short of the remnant. One trailed the rest—thrown later, but with a strong arm and a good eye. This spear was shorter than the others…and though it didn’t take a life it grazed a leg, making a remnant flinch and stumble.
“Aye! Ye got the bastard! Throw again, lass!”
Bette held her breath as another volley of spears sailed over the wall, this time flying farther and straighter. A couple stuck in the limbs and bellies of their enemies and a smatter of cheers resounded along the wall.
By now the remnant had reached the soldiers and they fought defensively, kicking the attackers back and leaving as much space between them and the enemy as they could.
A few stones whipped out, then a few more. Juvenile cries of delight joined the celebrating women.
“Ye don’t have time fer a bloody party!” Bette yelled. “Get yer weapons ready! Throw! And again!”
Spears began to fly with regularity, the earlier success spurring them to try harder. A remnant screeched and reeled, clutching at the snapped-off spear jutting from its eye. He died quickly, but not before Bette pumped her fist in the air.
“That’s me lass! I knew she’d get one!”
Sharne couldn’t hide a smile, glad she’d been wrong about her captain’s decision to bring the children in on the fight.
In a quiet moment a voice floated up from the ground. “Sorry!”
Bette leaned over to see what Mack was apologizing for and found him standing over two remnant bodies, his spear dripping with blood. He looked up and saw her disapproving glare.
Mack shrugged apologetically. “It was an accident! He tripped and…fell?”
“And the other one?”
“Oh, I stabbed him!” Mack grinned, then motioned at the wall. “Looks like you’ve got the beginnings of a new army up there, boss!”
Bette raised an eyebrow and gestured to a spot behind Mack. Without blinking, he twirled and kicked back the remnant who had come at him while he’d been talking. The remnant prepared to charge again, then dropped dead as a spear—this one whole—pierced its chest and pinned it to the ground.
“Aye,” she replied thoughtfully. “I just might.”
CHAPTER TEN
Julianne spread the crumpled map over her horse’s flank, patting the beast as it flinched irritably. She squinted, following the lines with a finger.
"I think we’re supposed to take the trail to the left, but this part isn’t very clear."
Polly nudged her horse over and leaned down to take a look. "You know…" she began, then fell silent.
Julianne prodded her to continue.
"If we take the other path we’ll know pretty quickly if it's the right way. It’ll either curve left or keep going or turn in the other direction. If we take the one to the left it'll take a lot longer to figure out if we’re on the wrong track."
"Good point," Julianne said. She refolded the map and handed it to Polly. "You're now the designated tour guide."
Polly yelped, "Me?" She shook her head frantically. "I just made a suggestion!"
"Yes, but it's about the fortieth good suggestion you've made since we left. I don't know why it's taken me so long to put you in charge." Julianne gave her a reassuring grin. "It's all right if you end up leading us the wrong way. Just blame it on Danil."
"Hey!" Danil pasted a wounded expression on his face. "Not fair."
"Well, you know what they say about life." Julianne climbed back onto her horse. "Come on, we don't have all day."
They followed the trail and Julianne's spirits lifted when it began to curve around toward the town they were headed for. Her hopes were dashed, however, when it soon dead-ended in a small clearing.
"Well, that wasn't what I—” Polly snapped her mouth shut when Garrett gestured for her to be silent and pointed at the bushes.
Through the mess of twigs and leaves, Julianne saw what had gotten him so excited. A beady black eye watched them warily and though the bulk of the animal was hidden behind the foliage, its antlers stood tall.
Julianne immediately knew that if they could snare this deer it would not only replenish their stores, but provide them with a hearty meal to offer the next town when they arrived. She stopped herself from adding, if there's anyone left alive to eat it.
Knowing that hunting game wasn't among her strengths, Julianne simply sat quietly. She stroked her horse's neck, praying it would stay calm and not scare the target away.
Behind her, Polly carefully reached back into one of her saddlebags. She lifted the flap and dug around inside, finally drawing out a small crossbow. Polly winced at the loud click the weapon emitted as she loaded the bolt, but the buck didn't move. She raised the weapon and rested the butt against her shoulder
The twang of a fired bolt finally scared the deer, but it was much too late.
It flinched, then reared on its back legs, squealing. The sound was quickly cut off by a second bolt. The majestic beast was dead in seconds.
"That’s dinner!" Danil exclaimed excitedly.
"Oh, Danil, how wonderful of you to volunteer to help carry it," Julianne told him with a cheeky grin.
Danil opened his mouth to protest, then cut off whatever he was going to say with a groan. "Every time I open my mouth… Every. Damn. Time."
Polly giggled. "We know you like to be helpful."
The team dismounted, and it wasn’t long before the deer had been gutted, cleaned, and trussed at the ankles. Julianne winced as Marcus and Danil hung the animal from her staff, but admitted they really had no other choice.
Danil and Marcus—one end of the staff over their shoulders—led the way back down the trail toward the other fork in the road. Julianne rode beside Polly, with Garrett bringing up the rear.
"So much for my great navigational skills," Polly said ruefully.
"Those navigational skills netted enough food for a week, which ensures us a hearty welcome at the next town," Julianne pointed out.
Polly shrugged. "I guess so.”
Julianne settled back on her horse, muttering a word as her eyes began to glow. She held her magic gently, using it to sweep her surroundings rather than send it out in any particular direction.
She felt no signs of human life nearby. There was also no sign of remnant, which should have been a relief, but the total silence was unnerving.
The road they now traveled was overgrown and filled with troughs and channels where the rain had cut rifts in the dirt. Anything this poorly maintained would not have been traveled frequently.
Of course, the closest village to Kells was Anrock, which was on the other side of it. It could simply be that in this time of unrest and upheaval, travel had been limited to the larger city.
"This is no fucking road," Garrett grumbled, echoing Julianne's own musing. "I bet me arse that no one has been along here in months."
"Are you trying to jinx us?" Danil asked. "Because I for one am hoping to find the town of Kells bustling with activity and doing a roaring trade in wine and prost—” Danil stopped speaking abruptly and snapped his mouth shut.
Polly dissolved into giggles. "Oh, Danil, I can't tell you how much I love it when you pretend to be a man of the world. You ride from town to town indulging in all the vices a man should—even though I know for a fact that before you met me you hadn't gotten laid in about three years."
Danil almost dropped his end of the deer. "Polly, you're not supposed to… How could you… Oh, Bitch curse me." Danil's shoulders sagged and he dragged his feet as he walked.
"It's okay, Danil. It's not like we didn't already know that." Marcus sniggered, then lurched back as Danil did in fact drop his end.
Danil raised his hands in exasperation. "That’s it. I quit."
"You quit what?" Julianne asked. "Come on, it's not like you’re not used to having everyone know your secrets. You spent most of your life in the mystics’ temple, where everybody knows your business. Why start caring now?"
Danil shook his head in resignation. "It's not the same," he grumped. "I mean, just because a man has, you know…not been, it doesn't mean you have to talk about it in front of him."
"Then I guess it's lucky you've no longer ‘you know…not been’," Polly told him. "You’ve ‘you know…been’ recently; quite frequently, I might add. Oh, don't you go acting all offended. It's not like they can't hear you grunting and squealing."
Garrett gasped and doubled over, almost slipping off his horse sideways. He held his stomach, laughing so hard he almost choked.
"Come on," Julianne said. “Garrett doesn't need another excuse to slow down. We need to get to Kells by nightfall so I don't have to spend another night sleeping on the dirt."
"Sleeping on the dirt and listening to Danil grunt and squeal," Marcus added. He ducked Danil’s right hook.
"Would you like to ride, dear?" Polly asked kindly. "I can carry the meat for a while if you'd like to take a break. Then we can save your stamina for tonight." She winked lasciviously.
The entire party erupted into laughter and Danil couldn't help cracking a smile himself. "I do have a lot of stamina," he agreed with a sly grin.
"Sometimes I wish ye had a little less," Garrett said. “Do ye know what it's like listening ta that all hours o’ the morning when ye’ve left yer lady love back home? Who knows what she's doin’ wi’out me. She might have run off wi’ one of those wee soldier boys o’ hers." Garrett's face crumbled as he contemplated the likelihood of his darling Bette falling for another man’s advances.
Julianne rolled her eyes. "I think you're safe. I know that Bette likes her men with as much hair as a man can grow. I don't think anyone in Tahn can possibly match your prolific locks."
Garrett jerked up at that and grinned. "You're right. No one can grow a beard like a rearick can."
After some coaxing Danil finally allowed Polly to take his place. To soothe his damaged ego, Julianne insisted on doing the same for Marcus. The two women led the procession toward Kells while the three men rode behind them.
“What do you think we will find there?" Polly asked Julianne quietly.
Julianne shrugged, almost unbalancing the load on her shoulder. "I don't honestly know. I hope we find a town that is still thriving despite what's going on."
"And if we don't?" Polly asked.
Julianne heaved a deep sigh, loaded with wariness and the weight of responsibility. "Then we keep going. We traipse every damn foot of this countryside until we make sure there is not a single person hidden in some distant corner waiting for someone to rescue them."
Polly straightened a little bit at that. "That's a good plan. I like good plans."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Marcus held an arm out for the others to hold back.
"There she is," he said.
The tiny town of Kells looked as empty as the last place they had visited. Its few ramshackle buildings had been tightly shuttered, and the single street that ran through it was empty.
"There are people in there," Julianne said. "Not many, but some." Her eyes glowed white and her face creased with worry. "They're afraid, Marcus. Their helplessness and despair... It’s almost overwhelming."
Marcus nodded in understanding. He remembered the first time they had approached Tahn. The town had been under the influence of the new Dawn, and fear had soaked the air.
We saved Tahn. We can save these people too, he told himself.
"Be careful," he said aloud. "They might be afraid and feeling helpless, and that might make them unpredictable. We’ll go in with empty hands, but be ready just in case."
He felt Julianne's mental nudge of reassurance. Marcus slid off his horse and gestured for Danil and Garrett to do the same, and they walked into Kells.
They wandered down the street, seeing no one, and hearing no obvious signs of life though Julianne insisted there were people around. If not for her magic, he might have assumed the town had been abandoned like the last one they had visited.
"What do we do now?" he asked, unsure how to approach the citizens. They clearly didn’t want to speak to the newcomers in their tiny town.
Polly shrugged. "We go knock on some doors," she suggested as if she was planning to go sell cookies in her neighborhood.
"Are you sure? I'm half-afraid someone will open the door and we'll find ourselves facing a sharp blade instead of a friendly face." Marcus shrugged his shoulders, trying to rid himself of the crawling sensation down his back.
He knew someone was watching him. Probably the whole town, in fact. He didn't blame them. If a bunch of strangers had wandered into his village he would want eyes on them too.
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered. Marcus cocked an eyebrow at Julianne, guessing by the glow in her eyes that she already knew what he was planning.
“May as well try it,” she said.
He cupped his hands to his
mouth. "Hello, Kells!" Marcus bellowed. "We've come to offer assistance. We’ve brought food, and we have only good intentions. Please come out and speak to us."
Julianne grinned. "Well, that's one way to get their attention, and maybe a better one than pounding on a door. Knowing our luck, it would be a little old widow living on her own and terrified of the scary strangers."
"I don't think it worked though." Marcus looked around. Although nothing had changed, the feeling of it being locked up tightly had increased.
"Screw it," he said. "We're going to need to play this dirty."
He rummaged through his saddlebags for a moment, then stomped over to a spot roughly in the middle of the small village. Marcus dropped a tinderbox, flint, and a handful of the straw that he used for lighting fires into a small pile. "I'm off to get some firewood," he said and turned to walk away.
"What? Yer not going ta burn the place down, are ye?" Garrett asked, warily.
Marcus wheeled back, shocked. "No, you idiot. I'm going to cook dinner!”
"Oh!" Surprise and relief crossed Garrett's face. "You're going to starve them out!"
Marcus sighed. "In a manner of speaking. I'm hoping the tantalizing smell of roasting meat is enough to draw out at least one person. All it takes is one. Once they see that person fed, not hit over the head or attacked, others will follow." He cocked an eyebrow at the rearick. "Maybe you should come with me to get the wood."
Oblivious to Marcus's concern, Garrett grinned and nodded. "I understand. It's yer scrawny arms. Ye couldn't possibly carry enough firewood to cook this whole beast, could ye? No, no, no." Garrett waved his hands as Marcus tried to explain himself. "Ye don't need ta thank me. I don't mind pullin’ me weight."
Julianne clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter. Good luck with that, she sent to Marcus. Sometimes I really don't know how you deal with him.
Marcus shrugged. It's these scrawny arms of mine, he sent back. They stop me from knocking him out cold.
"Danil, why don’t you go with them,” Julianne suggested.
The other mystic looked startled but nodded and the three men left.