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by Zari Reede


  “No,” I asserted. “They possess a queen’s cart and horses, which means we have bigger problems. The necromancer has surely reached the Cyclops fortress by now, and we may be too late to help. We must find a way to Nestere.” I stopped and looked back at the firelight through the trees. Dammit! We needed horses and the queen’s Clydesdales were the best and only mounts to be found in the Carpathian forest.

  “Okay, we must return to get the mounts and my cloak. Maybe they haven’t broken every clay ball and vial. Some potions may be salvageable, but please don’t wake the brigands,” I instructed with a glared warning.

  Max made no commitment, but fished deep in his pants for something. It reminded me of my discomfort, and I halted his pursuit to step away into the forest to relieve myself. I sighed with pleasure, and I heard Max laugh.

  “I guess you will think better of it, before downing all those shots and traipsing through the forest,” he chided me with humor.

  When I stepped from the bushes, he was fastening his own britches, and I experienced a moment of envy at his ability to find relief so easily. I brushed passed him and led the way back to camp. Holding my breath, I stepped back into the open.

  I frowned when I saw the sleeping, pock-faced man with the sack that held my cloak and potions wrapped in his grimy knuckles.

  I entertained the notion of kicking him in the balls and using Max’s knife to cut off his hand, but reminded myself of greater issues.

  Max chose that moment to dive and roll behind the cart. The frightened horses rolled their eyes to the back of their heads as they jumped and whinnied. The pock-faced man started and leapt to his feet, and I recanted my earlier plan. With all my might, I kicked him between the legs, watching him fall back to the ground. Grabbing a log beside the fire, I swung it down hard on his head. Using his own dagger, I darted close and slit his throat, then cut the rope, releasing the bag. As I turned, another bandit drew his knife back to skewer me in the chest, but before he could, a loud noise sliced the air, vibrating through me. The bandit collapsed forward, and I rolled, dodging his sharp blade. Three more such noises rang out and I pushed the limp body off me, wiggling free.

  The camp was littered with the lifeless bodies and my bewildered expression found Max holding a piece of metal in his hand. Smiling, he tilted it to the sky and blew on the smoking tip.

  “Good girl, Pocahontas. She’s a five-shot derringer and you saved us a shot by taking out that last one.” He winked at me then crossed the camp and pulled me up into his arms for a hard, wet kiss. I felt the urgency from the adrenaline rush we both shared, knowing the kiss was more for life-confirmation than titillation.

  I looked at him in awe. “What’s a derringer?” I panted. “Are you a wizard on your world?”

  “Ummm, not exactly, but a good many have called out, Oh God, in my presence.” He smiled, wiggling his brows, but I knew not his jest. “I’ll explain later. We better grab the cloak, food, water, and horses and hightail it out of here before we attract unwanted company.”

  Considering the time we traveled with the bandits, we must be somewhere near their headquarters by now, and I longed not to meet more of their brethren.

  “Let’s get the hell outa Dodge,” he suggested, popping me soundly on my rear and chuckling at my surprise. Another time, I would ask about this Dodge place the Earthlings dithered on about.

  We rode a few hours, picking our way through the darkness and then camped for the night.

  Chapter 41

  The Brownie

  We arrived at the Cyclops fortress. My throat was parched so and my head ached, unaccustomed as I to being outside. I dare nae ask the necromancer for some water to quench my thirst and wet a kerchief for my neck. Oddly, the gates were wide open. There were, however two Cyclops blocking the way. Dull-eyed and dopey-looking, they were. A string of drool hung from the lower lip of the one on the right. The one on the left had misbuttoned his jacket. Nae like the usual alert, impeccably dressed warriors of the queen. The guards failed to react as we drew closer and closer.

  “Hmmm, the potion seems to have worked too well. The idiot sister of the queen must have gone overboard with the dosing,” Liotte murmured to himself. To the guards, he called out, “Stand aside! Your new ruler awaits to attend me.”

  The doubleton looked befuzzled for a few seconds and then shuffled to the side. Liotte urged his steed forward. At the Cyclops’ royal manse, one of the demon-filled corpses bided its time.

  “Speak. What of Rapunzel?” the Necromancer demanded.

  Liotte unceremoniously tossed me to the undead. The smell of putrid flesh filled my nose, and I bare managed not to gag. Then the necromancer slid off his horse. One of his dead entourage took the mount. Liotte raised his hand, and the corpse paused. “Fetch me a rope,” he said as he gripped the back of my frock, twisting it tight.

  “Word has it she came in through the window of the queen’s throne room and was not seen again. The usurping Cyclops sister is questioning the few faithful Cyclops alive. The foolish creature had her bespelled followers kill most of those loyal to the true queen. I was, however, able to prevent the slaying of Queen Fodjes, the offspring, and two guests. I assume you wish to interrogate them. I believe they were witnesses when your princess disappeared.”

  The dead’s voice right made me shudder. It sounded like a nightmare given speech.

  The corpse returned with a rope which the necromancer fashioned into a noose. He slid it round my neck. “Take me to them,” he commanded the demon. “And you, Brownie,” he said. “Best you keep up.” He turned to follow and jerked hard on the rope.

  I near fell and hung meself.

  Before we reached the rooms, a female Cyclops intercepted us. I ken from the orders she gave she must be the queen’s sister. “I’ve questioned the servants and I believe I know what happened to Rapunzel.” She faked a brave face for Liotte, but I ken fear.

  “Well?” Liotte asked as one foot staccato-beat the stone floor.

  “She too Blinked. Many have.” Her twitching eye betrayed her emotions.

  “Blinked? No!” the necromancer snarled and, despite their larger size, the Cyclops cringed. “I want to speak to the queen immediately.” He strode down the hall, but turned. “You, Madam Cyclops, newly queen, you should be marching your troops to war.”

  The Cyclops woman fingered the axe that hung round her waist. “I thought perhaps I would send out a small party first to test Rhineguard’s defenses.”

  “It matters not what defenses exist, you daft ox. A part of our bargain was that you lead an attack on Rhineguard. Sending a few scouts while you lounge on your newly acquired throne is not waging battle. Do not deny me my due, woman, or I will see you beneath the stone of Nestere, cleaning excrement from the dungeon floors and you will never see light again.”

  “Pardon me, great lord, but I need more potion to keep the men under control until my sister is dead. Your creature insisted on allowing you an audience with her.”

  Interesting, that tidbit was to meself. Rare is it that someone with innate magic like the necromancer would also practice potion-making. Himself is even more dangerous than I ken.

  “I have no more potions for you. If you are truly meant to lead, then you will find your own devices. I suggest you complete the tasks at hand or disobeying soldiers will be the least of your worries.” The necromancer nodded at the dead. One of the hideous things grasped the Cyclops woman’s arms with his fleshless hands. She did not scream, but turned white as the bones clutched her.

  We left the queen Cyclops’ evil twin trailing behind us as we navigated the stone corridors to the guarded doors of Queen Fodjes’s chambers.

  “Open the doors!” Liotte demanded.

  The guards unlocked the doors and pushed them wide.

  In a swirl of gray, the necromancer entered, pulling me behind. No one was inside.

  “Search the place!” Himself demanded.

  The undead swarmed in, but found not a trace of a soul
. A set of curtains fluttered as a breeze blew in from an open window. Himself rushed to it, and I clung to the noose, trying to keep up and catch my breath. He spied the rope ladder and bellowed, “They’ve escaped, you fools!”

  Beyond words, Himself turned and glared at S’nik. He let his eyes roll back into his head and before the order could pass his lips, the chief undead pulled his sword and split her head in two. Blood ran down the sword and dripped onto the rich carpet gracing the queen’s chambers.

  S’nik lay still on the flagstones at my feet. I wondered if Himself would target me next, and I stood ready to transport out of reach. Apparently, the necromancer used telepathy to relate orders to his minions, so I wouldn’t be awarded much time to react. I wasn’t sure what purpose I held as a prisoner now that Rapunzel had Blinked, so my knees wobbled at the prospect of the bloody sword taking aim to me wee head.

  “Now what to do?” Himself mused as he paced the flagstones. His wrinkled hand stroked his grizzled, pale face, while his black eyes searched the ceiling. He froze at the window, peering out, calculating where the queen might have escaped.

  Methinks the woods are a good distance, and they couldn’t have gone so far, so soon, and I’m thinking Himself knows this too. The new queen has slain most of the current Cyclops force and the undead army spreads like fire across the entire valley.

  “They have to be still here or somewhere in the Carpathian forest,” Himself announced. “If it’s so, the first brigands they passed would seize them.” Everyone knew of the Cyclops queen’s power. Without her guards, a large force of brigands could easily seize her for ransom. Was Fodjes brave enough to take a stand? I suppose she was between her own Scylla and Charybdis.

  Himself spoke with force, “We leave for Nestere. Release the first wave of undead on Rhineguard. We will join them anon. Drag the brownie along behind the horse. Maybe she will remember how she transfers. I have ways to prompt her to cooperate with my experiments.”

  My noose tightened, and I feared I wouldn’t make the long journey to Nestere by foot.

  I closed my eyes tight and imagined my return to the bosom of my family. I hoped with all my might, even though the distance was too great from the Cyclops castle. It was my only and last hope to save my wee life. Short transports from room to room, or wee distances had been my life’s gift. Teleporting a longer distance was possible if it was to be with my family, or people I called my own. I visited Rapunzel at Nastere in this manner, even when she started to feel alien to me. My connection to the Carvinalee family and Rhineguard always brought me home, but if this worked, it would be the longest transport of my life.

  Chapter 42

  Jim

  I tried to keep pace with Fodjes, but that woman was fit. I grasped Sammy’s hand, as we trotted behind the queen and little Nostril, who seemed not to be bothered by the jostling pace. Green, crystal light sources lined the wall at periodic distances, but Fodjes informed me we would be in total darkness soon. I hoped they would shine for the length of our mysterious journey.

  Sammy was showing signs of fatigue, so I motioned her to ride piggyback. I ran to catch up with Fodjes and Nostril. “Hey, where are we going?” I asked in an elevated whisper, worried the echo would radiate somewhere in the castle overhead.

  “We travel to my people on the border. There we will regroup and gather an army to battle the necromancer and his undead.” She breathed evenly, but the pulse at her throat quickened as her heart rate increased.

  “Not that I am complaining. You saved our as--butts back there, but do you think we can keep up this pace?” I winced at my own whiney tone.

  Sammy clung to me like a leech throttling my throat with her arms and pinching my diaphragm with her legs.

  The queen whipped her head, sending her hair flying into an arc. “Are the little ones slowing you down? Would you rather we leave them and save our own hides?” she sneered back at me.

  “No, I didn’t mean it that way. I would lay down my life to protect the girls. Is there a time in which we might reach our destination, by any chance? I don’t like being left in the dark, literally.” I knew I sounded like Sammy on a long car ride. Are we there yet? How many more miles? I need to pee! Dammit, I really did need to do the latter.

  “My apologies, Jim.” She sighed and slowed her pace. “Of course you would fight, and I appreciate that you included my daughter. I am edgy. My sister never hid her envy of my reign, but I never fathomed she would seek an alliance with the necromancer--not now. Perhaps my sister should have been first born. She may be a better queen than I. An opportunity to advance presented itself and she seized it. She was willing to do whatever it took to be with the one she loves. I have danced around diplomacy for years. I am saddled with a king who I don’t love and that would betray his own queen and children!” she growled, and I flinched. I would not cross Fodjes if my life depended on it.

  “I admire your passion and diplomacy. You are a good queen and leader of your people. For what it’s worth, if I’m stuck on this rock, there is no one else I’d rather be in cahoots with!” I crouched long enough for Sammy to hop off my back, then collapsed against the wall to catch my breath. Sammy bounced on her toes, eager to follow, so I motioned her to go on, calling out, “Taking a breather. Catch up in a few.” I grabbed one of the lighted crystals to steady myself, and the wall gave way. Stumbling into a corridor, I scraped my forearms against an opposing wall, triggering a trap door. I turned and lunged back at the doorway, but it closed in an instant, separating me from Fodjes and the girls.

  “Sam, Sam!” I cried out, adrenaline firing my core.

  I couldn’t lose my baby girl. I clawed at the wall and struggled to find a light. My fumbling was rewarded with a dull glimmer farther down the corridor. I waited for a moment, unsure what to do. Hearing nothing from beyond the wall, I felt around for a latch to reopen the door. Finding nothing, I moved toward the light.

  Chapter 43

  The Brownie

  I took a great gulp of air and closed me eyes. Willing meself to nae heed Liotte’s last commands to his minions. I tried to fill me mind with family and me great desire to care for them. Instead of the princesses, the image of wee Sammy filled me head. “Poor Little Miss--Blinked away from Mums,” I said to meself with worry.

  “Stop her!” I heard the necromancer yell.

  The noose snapped tight and, for a moment, I thought me done for. Then the pain vanished, along with the rope round my neck, and I found meself in darkness.

  “Winni!” a wee voice piped out.

  To my surprise, Little Miss stood before me. The Cyclops queen held her hand and the hand of a wee Cyclops girl, younger than Sammy and a tad taller. Then all three gasped in horror, staring at something behind me. I whirled round and saw the telltale webbing spread over a gap in the tunnel wall where we stood. One arch-spider, as big as me, made a clattery sound. Others answered its call and the web sagged with the weight of a multitudinous amount of the creatures.

  The brave queen thrust me behind her with the wee ones and drew two concealed knives from her boots. “I will keep them busy. Take the young through the passage.”

  “But what about Daddy?” Little Miss asked.

  The queen turned and yelled down the tunnel, “Jim, hurry. We have trouble!” There was no answering call or the sound of footsteps approaching. “Jim!” the queen shouted once more.

  Sammy tugged my hand. “We’ve got to find my daddy!”

  “We will, Little Miss, but first we need to save ourselves.” I was amazed the web didn’t break from the weight of them. I had never seen so many. “There are too many, Queen! Thee nae can fight all!”

  Two braver arch-spiders crept within arm’s length. The queen’s blades flashed and sang. Green ichor sprayed as the heads of the arachnids flew off. Their bodies followed their heads down into the abyss beyond.

  “I don’t plan to battle all. Go!” The Queen edged to the opening. She parried another attack. This one, smarter, scuttled back o
ut of reach. The queen slashed again, aiming for the threads that anchored the web to the opening. I ken her plan. It was a bright one, but she’d need help. I searched the tunnel for some sort of weapon. I surveyed the rocks strewn on the ground, but none sharp enough for me. The two girls hugged each other with their backs against the wall. The wee Cyclops was dressed an exact miniature of the queen. I eyed the boots then ran over and felt inside the tops. Yes! Knives! Small, but wickedly sharp and perfect for me.

  “You two run ahead. I will help the queen.”

  Brave Sammy shook her head. Even trembling with fear, she stood tall. “I want to help and I won’t leave my daddy.”

  I had nae time to argue. The arch-spiders filled every space on the web, and I saw one lash out, cutting the queen. She winced, but did not pause her attack for even a thrice. I turned back to the girls. “Throw rocks at the spiders. Stay well back and mark ye nae hit me nor the queen.”

  While the queen kept the beasts at bay, I clambered up the top of the web, avoiding the sticky strands and sawed through the ones anchored to the stone. Rocks flew around me, one smashing into the eyes of the closest spider. The web was stout. I’ll give that to the great beasts. They wove a grand weave, but with two thirds of the anchoring threads severed, soon the spiders would need to choose. Remove themselves or stay and risk a fatal fall. I put my trust in the queen and the wee ones to keep the spiders busy.

  “Oh no!” the queen shouted.

  I risked a glance. Those tricksful things! One of the smaller spiders ran between the queen’s legs and rushed the wee ones. When the distracted Cyclops turned, two more followed. I caught the queen’s eye and we exchanged a nod of kenning. Readying my blades, I transported meself the short distance to the wee ones. Three spiders, one for each of us. The wee ones kept hurling rocks and took out the forelegs on the side of one of them. It limped weakly in circles and keened.

 

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