"What is your plan?" Max asked.
"Easy. This tunnel I was telling you about is roughly forty yards long and in the middle of the path. We dug a chamber underneath it last year to ambush a snobby carriage or two, and we scooped out some hiding spots on the walls inside. Even got a trapdoor at the entrance. We were waiting for a real score, since we could probably only use it once before word spread. This here is our best shot. What we need is a distraction that will slow the stagecoach long enough to take it over."
He swigged his canteen. "Now a member of my group, Briscane, is knowledgeable regarding Manticores. He seems to think he can lure the one we been hearing over to the path at the proper time, and then irritate the beast enough where it will cause a big to-do. I'm checking on him now, seeing if I think it's an honest shot. I know a lot of things have to go right here, but if we pull it off, we will be running the coach in disguise and can figure a good time to make a move." Blunderbuss cracked his knuckles, looking at them for a response.
"Which part are we involved in?" Max asked.
"I'm thinking you Kin go in the chamber underneath. My boys will be in the hidden slots on the sides. The Manticore's distraction comes, and they'll ambush the soldiers behind, freeing you up to hijack the stagecoach. Anything happens, things are probably best you be with them, with your links and whatnot."
They peered back at him as he rubbed his nose with a handkerchief. "All right, then. Pick out your size, and I'm going to check on how Briscane figures he can lure in the Manticore to our favor." He trudged off.
The Kin began probing the pile of Nightlander uniforms. Shelby found one close to her size. The suit looked like it would fit easily over her garb.
Emily paced over to Shelby and Riley, carrying a bundle of the dark clothing. "Let's go change in the tent. The fellow standing in front said no one was using that one, and he would keep a lookout for us." She motioned to one of Blunderbuss's men, a husky man with a toothy grin.
"Actually, gals, we'll stand watch," said Max as he walked toward them.
"No reason to have one of these goons leering instead of us protecting you," said Stuart.
"Great. We'll do the same for you," Shelby said as she sorted a stack from the pile.
"Ah, we will be done by the time you get out," blurted Stuart with a grin.
The girls entered the tent, leaving the boys to change into the Nightlander uniforms directly in front. Shelby assisted Emily with the back of her shirt, fastening a stubborn button while Emily looked at the ground.
"I know how important this all is," Emily said softly. "But when I think of the odds, I have this paralyzing sense of helplessness. I'm scared I may die in this place and never see my family again." She wiped a tear from under her eye.
Riley pulled a boot on. "We all get that feeling, Emily."
"I don't," said Shelby.
"What do you mean?" Riley gazed up from her boot.
"We're needed here. This is why we were born, to defend Azimuth. Did you read the parchments on Wintress's wall? We were born on Azimuth, and moved to Earth to protect our identities. I would rather be doing everything I can to fight this evil, save lives from death and slavery, than sitting at home, watching television with my drunk father." She snapped a button through and strode to the entrance.
Riley and Emily stood motionless, gaping at her.
"We are responsible. Now is our time to grow up and understand we could be all that's left to defend our people, the children of Azimuth. We need to put our selfish fears aside and forget the past. We must learn our lives are worth fighting for. So much is at stake." She nodded once and turned out the opening.
The maturity in her voice surprised even Shelby. She was still adjusting to her growth since passing through the mobile portal with Mr. Dempsey. She thought of him and winced, wishing he were with them.
"Hey," Max said as he and Stuart joined her. "Everything okay?"
"Sure." She adjusted one of the gauntlets around her wrist. "Why? What's up?" She tried not to stare at him. Max and Stuart looked really good in their armor. The dark suits fit them well.
"Dawn is almost upon us," said Stuart, eyeing the lightening sky. He had sketched a copy of the three triangles on his outfit again in charcoal. It was nearly invisible. "We don't have much time to get this plan in gear. The link said tonight, right?"
"Prior to sundown," said Shelby. "And we have a lot of ground to cover."
Blunderbuss strode over, his gangly figure moving with purpose. "Good news. Briscane's father and grandfather worked at the animal grounds. They gave him a bukkehorn that hunters used to lure the Manticore. He's been looking for the dang thing the last half-hour and finally found the horn. The Manti we been hearing isn't far, and my best trackers are out with Briscane to lead it into the tunnel. This'll be dangerous, but will cause mayhem." He chewed on a toothpick.
Shelby nodded.
"Okay now. Our valuables are buried, and we are ready to trek to the Gida Path."
Riley and Emily emerged from the tent. "We look pretty scary, huh?" Riley asked as they studied each other in their new gear. "Reminds me of being on a Goth cheerleading squad!"
A short, stout man approached them with well-groomed steeds. "Sappy is my name. I tend to the horses here. You will be riding these to the tunnel." He handed one of the reins to Shelby.
They mounted the chargers. Shelby was glad to be back in a saddle. Reaching the Gida Path on horseback would take far less time than on foot.
Blunderbuss trotted up with a detachment of his centurions, complete with Nightlander garb. "My fifteen best swordsmen will station in the walls inside the tunnel. Garrick is my second in command here. He will lead you in. The rest of us will ride ahead of the shaft. A turn is a mile or so past it. When all goes well, we will meet you there. Simon will stay behind. Let's move out."
Simon sprinted up to the Kin. "I want to come, but Blunderbuss won't allow me," he said sheepishly.
"A child's blood will not be on my hands," said Blunderbuss, and his steed ambled forward.
"Good luck to you," the boy said.
"Stay safe, Simon. We'll see you soon," Shelby said.
Max's horse cantered over and the Kin muffed Simon's hair. "Take care, little man. We'll be back."
When they left the camp, the sun was well above the horizon. They galloped to the Gida Path in time to catch the bukkehorn's echo, which sounded much like the Manticore's cries. Soon, the louder sound of the Manticore itself resonated. It was close.
Shelby's horse twisted its ears in the direction of the Manticore and nickered, but Shelby pressed the mare onward.
The ground flashed by as they rode. Trees whizzed past. When they arrived at the entrance of the tunnel, the sun stood above the treetops. Ten of Blunderbuss's scouts were waiting, sweaty and breathing heavily.
One of them said, "We took care of a Nightlander patrol that was sent ahead of the stagecoach. All is clear."
The Kin and fifteen soldiers dismounted.
Blunderbuss nodded. "Okay now, Garrick will take you into the shaft. Godspeed to you." He took their horses and raced through the passage with his men.
"Let's head in and station ourselves," Garrick said. He lit up a torch as they filed in.
Garrick was a stout man with a moustache and beady black eyes. He wore a pointed hat, but a friendly smile. They walked for a few minutes before he stopped and inspected the walls.
"Here." He motioned toward the wooden panels.
The Centurions began pulling out planks from the wall. Garrick knelt down in the middle of the shaft, brandished a blade, and wedged it into an area of the ground. He lifted a board and popped up two more.
"Okay now, judging from the sounds of the bukkehorn, we estimate less than a half-hour before the stagecoach arrives. I suggest we relieve ourselves before getting in, in case it takes a little longer."
The men did so against the sides of the corridor as the girls exited the tunnel. After a few minutes, they returned.
<
br /> "If all goes to plan," Garrick said, "Briscane will lead the Manticore in first. He is doing his best to keep ahead of the coach so he can lure it in at the right time. When the carriage enters the tunnel, the men above will drop the trapdoor. That'll block out the rest of the troop from the shaft. We have archers posted in the trees to keep them busy, but they'll race up the sides to get to the exit. We will also set some traps outside to slow them down. You've got only a few minutes to take over the stagecoach and race down the path to meet Blunderbuss."
Garrick wiped his brow and continued. "The Manti should be inside, blocking the coach's way. The troop in front of the coach will be preoccupied by the Manti. We'll exit the walls and engage the ones in back. That's your cue to come out and capture the coach. Briscane will forge ahead and lure the Manticore out, which will clear your way. Hopefully, the Manti will attack the Nightlanders that arrive from the sides as well, but it may just take off into the woods."
"Good luck," said Max.
"We'll need every ounce of luck, laddie."
The Kin descended into the ground, and Garrick placed the planks over them as they nestled in.
Shelby rested with bundles of hay beneath her. She admired Blunderbuss's preparation.
"They are loose and will pop right up," Garrick said to them from over the covering.
The Kin lay in two groups. Max settled next to Shelby, their swords positioned at their sides. His hand found hers and gave her fingers a light tug.
She gripped his in return, her heart hammering against her chest. Despite her earlier cool, nerves kept her tingly now.
"Everything will be okay," he whispered.
"You are present once again to save me, right?"
"Always. We've got this. It's just like a game back home. We were down, ten-nothing, and rallied to win in the fourth quarter. This is our comeback."
They lay in silence for some time, their controlled breathing the only sounds. Soon, the eerie cries of the Manticore hurt their ears. A few minutes passed, and the bukkehorn and Briscane's voice from above added more noise.
"Come on now, Manti. This way," Briscane shouted from atop, followed by a bukkehorn blast.
The frantic sound of pounding footsteps echoed overhead, accompanied by the blare of the bukkehorn again. Then it came. The tunnel reverberated with a cacophony of fanfare, succeeded by a deafening roar.
"Here now, Manti. Come in a bit more," Briscane said from directly over them, with a blow of the bukkehorn right after. The trumpets blared again in response. The Manticore was almost on top of them.
Shelby tensed without realizing she had stopped breathing.
The floorboards groaned and pushed down. At one point, they touched the tip of Shelby's nose, and she gasped. A heavy, hoarse panting followed each creak of the floorboards. The Manticore was right above them.
In the distance, the sound of hooves pounding the path emerged. Shelby took a deep breath as she readied herself for the ambush. Her grip on Max's hand tightened.
The whips of the stagecoach's driver snapped through the tunnel, the hooves smacking down. From beneath, the clamor was thunderous. Shelby resisted the urge to cover her ears. They were coming.
"Hah! Hah!" the driver shouted.
She heard a loud swooshing grate and then a crash. Several voices hollered. The trapdoor had been dropped.
Her pulsing blood thundered in her ears. She was terrified, yet her resolve wouldn't let her do anything but wait.
"Whoa," yelled the driver, the coach screeching to a halt above them.
The Manticore's roars doubled in volume as voices screamed atop. The stagecoach rumbled to a stop. Nightlanders pounced from the carriage and engaged the Manticore. The beast bugled again, and bit by bit, the Nightlanders fought it back. At some point, the black-garbed warriors would be between the Kin and the Manticore.
Shelby tensed, waiting for the signal.
"Now!" shouted Max.
They all pushed the floorboards up and sprang into the shaft. Garrick and his men popped out from the sides and engaged the Nightlanders from behind. The sound of swords clanging echoed in the tunnel.
Riley picked off the driver with her slingshot and gave a rallied whoop when he came crashing down off the coach. Shelby charged to the front with Max, and Emily strung her bow and fired off two arrows with uncanny speed. The bolts knocked a pair of Nightlanders off the top of the carriage. Shelby swung her blade, catching a Nightlander under the throat. A wide, red mouth split across his neck, and he dropped.
Stuart forced the stagecoach door open. A Nightlander emerged and took a swipe at him. He ducked, and then blasted the Nightlander with his hand-cannon. Stuart entered the cabin as Shelby and Max leapt to the head of the carriage. Max grabbed the reins.
Up ahead, the Manticore thrashed wildly and threw Nightlanders ferociously into the wall.
At the exit of the tunnel, the bukkehorn erupted, and the Manticore raised its bloody maw and bounded down the shaft. The sound of trumpeting roars followed.
Shelby's heart pounded so hard she noticed little else. At one point, she remembered a Nightlander trying to stab her. She cut him down, sticking her blade clean through his chest.
She glanced behind, where Riley and Emily hopped on the back of the coach. Emily gave her a thumbs-up.
"Now," she said to Max.
"Hah!" Max snapped the reins.
The stagecoach propelled forth and raced down toward the Manticore. The wheels rumbled against the planks beneath them. Horses brayed and swung their heads. Shelby leaned forward, her rapier at the ready. Once they exited, Nightlanders might be waiting for them.
They burst from the tunnel, but the Manticore had stopped in front. Max pulled in the reins and the coach halted. The Manticore turned and placed its fiery gaze on Shelby and Max. Soft rumbles came from the beast as he growled. The creature stood and held its glare.
From the right side of the shaft, several Nightlanders bounded in on horseback. They halted at the sight of the Manticore. It grumbled and then lunged at the Nightlanders, clearing their path.
Cold sweat rolled down the nape of Shelby's neck.
"Hah!" Max shouted again, and the coach thundered forward. "Here we go!" He smirked and glanced over at her. "Told ya we'd do it."
They sped down the Gida Path, Shelby's heart racing with the carriage.
Zach sat on a thick branch and stared down the Gida Path. Morgana was stationed across the way, perched on a tree, her arrow nocked and at the ready.
Before long, the sound of hooves rumbled down the trail. He motioned to Morgana, who nodded. His body tensed, and his heart pounded as he aimed the arbalest at the path.
A score of Nightlanders came into view, with several un-mounted horses trailing them.
Brodeur slid up next to Zach. "Blazes!"
"What do we do now?" said Zach. "We expected a smaller group of scouts and archers. I count at least thirty of them."
"Hold tight. Maybe they're passing through. We can't battle this many, so let's see what they are up to." Brodeur pulled out his bow.
Zach motioned to Morgana to stand down, and she nodded.
The troop arrived at the turn and halted. Horses neighed and tossed their heads, tramping the ground. One of the soldiers dismounted and shouted out some orders.
Beside Zach, Brodeur drew in a deep breath. "Wait a minute. I know that spidery build anywhere. Stay here."
Before Zach reacted, Brodeur hurried down the tree and scampered over to the troop. Zach raised his arbalest. Morgana set her aim on the crowd of Nightlanders.
"Blunderbuss!" Brodeur shouted.
The lanky soldier squinted and walked closer to him. "Brodeur? What the blazes are you doing here?"
"I can't believe the Centurions have joined Malefic, you long-limbed traitor." Brodeur spat on the ground.
"Traitor? We are working with the Kin to ambush a stagecoach carrying the Assembly, you fool. We can use all hands on deck!"
"The Kin? Well then no
w, we had plans of our own to take the coach at the turn. Four of us are here."
"Four of you to take out the coach and scores of Nightlanders? You are as brave as I remember, Brodeur." Blunderbuss chuckled and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures."
They embraced one another heartily.
"Come, we must be quick," said Blunderbuss.
Throg crept up next to Zach with a concerned expression, panting. "I picked up voices. What's happening?"
"That is Blunderbuss."
Throg smiled as he watched the two men break their embrace.
"Looks like the Centurions have chosen sides."
The two men spoke a few moments as several Centurions approached Brodeur and slapped him on the back. Brodeur then motioned to where Throg and Zach were stationed.
Zach frowned.
Brodeur shouted up to them, "Throg, it's Blunderbuss. He is working with the other Kin. They have a plan in action to overtake the coach."
Zach glanced at Throg, who shrugged. "Better go check things out."
Throg began to work his way down from the tree.
Zach gave the scene one last glance before following him. He landed hard on the ground, then trotted over to the others, warily looking around. After the things he'd seen, he wondered if these people really were trustworthy.
Blunderbuss said, "If they pulled this off, the Kin should be coming down the path in the stagecoach soon. A regiment of Nightlanders will be in hot pursuit, though."
Throg nodded. "We cleared a trail leading back to a hidden cave. If the Nightlanders aren't too close, we can steer the coach to the area without them knowing for some time. We may be able to pull this off." He turned to where their fourth was hiding. "Morgana, come on down. You're safe!"
She slipped down the tree and ran over, relief in her eyes. "Brodeur, you scared me half to death, walking over to a horde of Nightlanders like that."
Brodeur grinned.
Throg showed Blunderbuss the trail, and they made their plans.
"I will position some archers in the treetops to provide cover," said Blunderbuss. "Now we have to wait and pray the plan comes to fruition."
The Silver Sphere Page 22