by Zari Reede
Half the queen’s army was injured. Two more Cyclops collapsed under the weight of bones and putrid flesh. One corpse clung to the queen’s waist like a macabre sash. Another scaled the bone belt and wrapped rotting fingers around her throat. Queen Fodjes fell.
“No!” Sammy screamed.
The Little Miss’s hands glowed and she slung her magic at the enemy. Did nae hurt them, but drew their attention to us. I held the little Cyclops back. Both her knives were held ready and she fought to get to her mother.
Suddenly, one by one, the green light in the undead horde’s eyes was extinguished, and the army collapsed. The remaining Cyclops took nae chances and anon dispatched the still forms. I did nae understand exactly what happened, but I reckoned someone on Earth kenned how to pull power from Ortharos. Himself would not be pleased.
Chapter 50
The Witch
I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, as I basked in the afterglow of Max’s lovemaking. If I had only known how pleasant the act would be, I would have taken a lover ages ago. Although reluctant to rise, we needed to keep moving. The fifteen-minute break did not satiate us, but we shared enough pleasure to inspire more exploration after this siege ended. I dug back into the cloak, and pulled out two of the damaged, blue capsules. Max popped one in his mouth, before I could even warn him of the consequences. To my astonishment, he was not the white Camargue I expected, but a great black bull. The pill created an illusion for people looking upon us, so hopefully no one would suddenly think to make a roast of him, before we reached Nastere.
“Oh Max, I knew you were a great stud, but look at you. What a bully.” I giggled.
We would appear to the world as livestock for approximately thirty minutes. We needed to make it to the stone wall around the moat before then. I could use what was left of a half-smashed levitation capsule to lift him to the ramparts, but was not sure about how safe it would be. I only had a few crushed, leaking spells left in my cloak, and the last intact transport spell was to see us back to the council chambers. I crossed my fingers that this got us in. I looked up at the sky, giving a silent prayer to my Maker. “Good luck, my prized bull.” I leaned down and brushed a kiss over his black nose. I popped the capsule into my mouth and descended into the valley. I felt and acted like myself, while walking under the illusion of the glossy, white Camargue horse. I traipsed along, and when I flipped my hair back, I knew my mane billowed in the wind. It was a free feeling. I was used to walking under the flurry, but I wondered how Max fared. He had no idea I was a horse, and may not know that he appeared to be a grand bull. When he spoke and heard the resounding moo, he would get it. I laughed hard, though a great whinny flew through the air instead. I ran quickly toward the foreboding stone structure, noticing the bit of lightning, quickening in the sky overhead. A storm was coming.
The lightning was high above and did not strike the ground. Maybe it would pass us by. The last thing we needed was to get wet. Too much rain and the flurry would dissolve.
I sighed in relief when we reached the stone wall without notice. Only a skeletal army protected the keep. A horse and a bull traveling together would have been an odd picture under normal circumstances, but I was sure Liotte was away and the running of the keep was probably not well-manned. We stood flush against the wall, until the flurry faded. Max’s facade faded several minutes before mine. As I waited, I heard his whispered obscenities.
“Geez, Louise! You couldn’t have told me we were going to play Farmer Brown?”
I tried not to laugh, for fear of drawing attention with my whinnies. As I faded back to myself, I shushed him sternly.
“You wish us killed? We must cross the moat, and ascend the ramparts to breech the castle!” I complained.
“You never said we would be farm animals,” he whispered as he scowled.
“I was not a farm animal,” I replied, simply turning from him. “We don’t have time for complaints. Time is of the essence. This capsule will levitate us up to the ramparts. It will appear we are climbing. If the magic is strong enough, it will lift you. If it fails, hang on to a stone ledge and I’ll try not to leave you hanging.” I shrugged my shoulders, indicating this was all new ground for me.
“Geez, thanks Princess.” His tone dripped with sarcasm.
Chapter 51
Jim
Fate dumped me in yet another crap scene. We were bookin’ it like the hounds of Hades were on our tail. Liotte pushed the great beasts to their limits, riding over the open field at a tilt--I mean my ass was about to fall off. Mr. Dead rode bareback. Hurt ass--not great, but injured jewels were bad. I wanted more kids or at least the pleasure in trying to make them. That thought led me to thinking of my little one. I had to trust that she would be safe with Frodjes.
From the looks of the others, my ride and my rider were freshly dead. I took a deep breath, then wished to hell I hadn’t. Dead things reek! The horse’s mane was still there. I and my fellow rider grasped it, dead guy’s oozing hands ahead of mine. One big ass mo fo for sure. Bits of the horse’s spine gleamed white. A cockroach emerged between a vertebrate and scuttled up the undead’s hand then burrowed into the wrist. I gulped.
“So dude, you need a hundred cans of Raid.” Hey, I thought talking might distract me. The corpse’s hand released its grip and slapped my shoulder forcing me to turn and face it.
“What do you speak of, Flesh?”
Nice, new nickname. One of the worst I’ve ever had. I watched a maggot drop from its nose cavity. The nose itself had rotted away or had been eaten. I swallowed hard.
“You know, Raid kills bugs dead?” The undead’s face froze. “Guess you don’t get TV commercials here.” I managed a weak smile.
The thing threw back its head and laughed. I watched the flesh on its jaw split and thick yellow fluid spill out.
“You amuse me. When I am free, I will kill you quickly.”
“If it’s all the same, I’m not into the whole kill gig.”
“All others will die slowly. Liotte, the slowest.”
Dissention in the ranks. Yeah! I could work with that. “So, you are pissed that Liotte interrupted your eternal rest?”
“Fool!”
The undead kicked at the horse. Bits of it dropped off as it trotted faster. I clung to the ears of the mount to stay astride and tried to ignore the way my fingers sank into the rotting flesh, but lost it when one ear came off in my hand. I projectile vomited off to the side. When the contents of my stomach were ejected and only the taste of bile was left, the undead spoke again.
“Liotte pulled me from the demon realm. It should not be possible, and yet he did. He trapped me in this rotting corpse and I must obey him--for now.”
“Bummer.”
“I feel the chains weakening and, when my bonds ease, I will break free. I will return to my realm, but not until I exact my revenge.”
“Okay, well, Liotte sucks and I am all over venging the hell outa him.”
“Your approval is gratifying.” It laughed again, and I heard more flesh tear.
I kept saying to myself, Jim, you will not hurl, you won’t, as I tried to master my gut.
Chapter 52
Mindy
“Rapunzel!” I screamed over the howling wind.
She waved her arms in a veritable dance, chanting in a foreign dialect. She weaved her energy through the sky as she drained magic from Ortharos. I repeated her name over and over, hoping to penetrate her glaze-eyed stare. I felt a bond growing between us and I hoped she would heed my pleas. We must stop her before every form of media in the Crescent City descended upon us. Mom, Harry, the prince, and Sir Reggie held fast to the chimney and each other, fighting the wind from pulling them off the roof. I turned to them when there was no noticeable response from ’Punzel, and threw my hands in the air. I had visions of helicopters, newscasters running from their vans, across the yard, and sniper units lining the bushes of Harry’s estate. I was not keen to have my head in the crosshairs of every ISMAT rifl
e.
“Any ideas?” I yelled back at the huddled group.
Harry shook his head ruefully, looking hangdog about asking ’Punzel to fix the phone lines. He had always been a science geek and worked mostly on theory and experimentation while head of ISMAT. His assistant, Gunther Rex, handled the business side during his time in office. I waved my hand at them, as if to say never mind, when Sir Reggie inched toward the fire princess. As he passed, clinging to the slippery shingles, I saw he held a small silver pen in his hand. Unsure of his motives, I ventured toward him to stop a possible attack. He stepped on the ledge above ’Punzel, bringing him eye to eye with the princess. He waved his hands before her, but she made no response. He brought the pen toward her face and when I feared he might stab her, he flashed a beam of light into her eyes. It was a miniature flashlight!
When ’Punzel paused, Sir Reggie spoke. Words flowed out like music from his melodic, baritone voice as he rocked the light to and fro. I could hear him murmur, breaking the sudden silence as he hypnotized her. Who would have thought a common magician’s trick would work and how did Sir Reginaldo know? I thought the little man had no powers of his own, but clearly we had underestimated him.
When we finally got off the roof and to the car, Mom peeled out of the drive as she turned onto the country highway. As we headed back into the city, Harry rode shotgun with the prince between him and Mom. ’Punzel, Reggie and I squished in the back and, though Reggie no longer needed his pen, he continued speaking in soothing tones to a wiped out ’Punzel. It was cute the way he stroked her hair, like she was a frightened new colt. I tried not to worry, as we headed back to the only safe house I knew, ISMAT. The plan was to stop by Max’s and pick up the walkie-talkies I saw on the desk in the TV room. We would then park a distance from headquarters and send Harry and Mom in for negotiations. Once the details were decided, he would radio.
Chapter 53
The Brownie
We awoke and broke our fast, then the queen honored us by allowing us to travel upon her cockatrice. ’Tis a rare and dangerous creature. Though scales adorn its body, the head is much like a cock’s. The beast master rode in front, and Little Miss and I were strapped behind. Though odd, dark goggles hid its killing gaze, I still shuddered when it turned toward me. I sighed in relief when it soared homeward after delivering us to the Rhineguard Winter Palace. Little Miss clung to me hand as we rushed to the throne room and delivered our news.
The king listened as we unfolded the recent events before him. “I will present the problem to the mainland, where so many minds will work on a solution and ask for troops.” Scrawling ink across a yellow piece of vellum, the king then dripped wax, sealing it with his ring. “Princess Rapunzel is on Earth, but what of Princess Phrysia? Lady Clarina informed us of her visit to the council. She said the princess addressed the council and was rebuffed.” He motioned an imp, who took the message and skittered off.
The queen cleared her throat. “Her maid disclosed that Phrysia arrived with a gentleman to her keep last eve. Many flasks needing washing, so we know she has armed herself well with potions, yet the girl knew not where she went or who accompanied her. I fear she plans to attack the necromancer alone.” Thunder shook the palace as great lightning bolts etched zigzags across the sky. The queen crooked her finger at me. I took Little Miss’s hand and approached. “Oh, Winnalea, I am so glad you are back! The palace has fairly fallen to ruins!”
I cast my eyes and used my senses to check. While the lintels were not dusted as well as I would have them, and the window behind the queen was smudged, there were no major gaffes.
“Queen, you need ken this.” I tried to be diplomatic.
The queen wrung her hands. “What is it? Are you harmed? Do you need a spell of respite?”
“I am nae bonded to thee. I am now bonded to Little Miss and her family.”
The queen shed one tear, ’twas touching--for the queen. Vain she is, and many a morn I spent magicking her hair in an elaborate updo and neglecting my important duties as keeper of the home. I proffered a kerchief.
“I ken you shall find a new brownie anon, one more skilled with bouffant and top knots than I.” While I cherished my time with the family Carvinalee, the dear princesses are grown and the king and queen grow old. I am young for a brownie. I have missed being amongst youth. Little Miss and Mums will require much help as they grow to ken their powers. I was sure I would be sorely needed. The queen’s lip stuck out like a ledge. I ken now where Princess Rapunzel got her pout.
“I will miss you, Winnalea,” she pronounced before indulging in her bubbly drink.
Sammy tugged my hand. She had been a good lass, Little Miss. Being still and silent doth nae come easy to the bairns and I ken she was anxious to see her parents.
“What is it?”
“I need to find Daddy and get back to Mommy, Winni. They need me.”
Unease nagged me too. Little Miss was right. I did feel needed elsewhere, and we had seen no sign of her da, since the disappearance in the tunnel.
Chapter 54
Mindy
Harry left the walkie-talkie on as he and Mom went through the doors of ISMAT’s seemingly normal law office. We’d fashioned a thick rubber band around the one walkie-talkie, holding the talk button down, and placed it inside his tweed sports coat. Hopefully, no one would mistake the device for a weapon. Though most agents carried a standard issue gun, an ex-chief walking through the double doors packing might set off alarms.
I wouldn’t be able to warn Harry and Mom without ISMAT hearing my chatter, but I would be able to listen to the pre-meeting and determine when the coast was clear. The stop at Max’s had been simpler this time, since I hadn’t locked the door. It was curious that Max hadn’t returned. Everything was as we left it. I’d snatched the two-way radios we needed and pocketed a pistol and extra ammo from his nightstand, just in case. I wondered if somehow Max might be with Jim and hoped he could help protect Sammy.
My heart lurched at the thought, but I smothered it and moved forward. Scribbling a note for Max, in case he returned, I reminded myself, if I did my job right, my family might return to me safely.
Mom’s clogs thumped on the marble tiles. The receptionist spoke briefly and then there was a long pause. I was sure she was dialing the current chief’s secretary with their request. After several minutes, they got buzzed through. I worried for my Mom and Harry. This could be considered treason, but we didn’t have a lot of time or choices. I hoped the chief would listen to reason.
I heard Helga, Chief’s secretary, greet them coolly. Then I heard a gruff “come in,” from the chief. Metal chairs scraped as Mom and Harry took a seat in what I presumed was the Chief’s office. There was a nervous shuffling, as Harry possibly prepared his documentation and theory lecture. Geez, the chief would eat them alive if this continued.
“If I might start, while Dr. Meltzer organizes his new findings about the ORB Blinks, I would like to explain what has occurred since my daughter, Mindy, played the role of negotiator here yesterday.” Mom’s calm, confident voice and her directness would be their only saving asset.
“Mary Katherine Benoit, this most certainly concerns ISMAT and, though you may be the mother of an AWAL agent, that doesn’t give you leave to discuss current matters. Now you best go home, contact your daughter, and advise her to turn herself in.” Chief’s stern voice made me shiver with dread. This wasn’t starting off too well.
“AWAL is a term that means absent without authorized leave. You gave Mindy permission to negotiate with the hostile ORB and she was successful in calming that ORB. Rapunzel currently acts like a normal being, just like you and I. Mindy saved your ass, so you owe her the right to plead her case.” Mom’s voice was like nothing I had ever heard. I would love to be a fly on the wall and actually see the chief’s expression.
“N--Now see here, Mary Katherine,” Chief stammered and missed a beat.
Mom had really thrown him for a loop by the spinning of the story. Har
ry used the moment to chime in. “She’s right, and if you’d let go of your pride here and work with us, you might just save the world. This is an election year for God’s sake!”
Harry’s quick-wittedness left Chief speechless. There was nothing but silence. I bit my nails as I waited for what seemed like an eternity. After what must have been a long stare down, I heard the chief press the intercom button--click. “Helga, get the council together in the main meeting room in fifteen minutes. I want all agents on alert and at their posts in five!” he bellowed. “Where are they?” he asked Harry and Mom.
“Not so fast, Chief, I want to hear you announce to the building and agents that, under no condition, will my daughter, and the ORBs she protects, be harmed.” Mom was no nonsense, and I wanted to cheer for our team. I grinned from ear to ear as the ORBs in the Fury hooted. After the chief made an official statement over the intercom, Harry called out happily, for us to enter the building.
We resembled a trick-or-treat quartet as we crossed the threshold of ISMAT. Holding my head high, I led Princess Rapunzel, in her green velvet finery, Sir Reginaldo, the dwarf, wearing his Ray-Bans and sheared sweat pants, and Grlecc, the Prince Cyclops, still adorned in his denim overalls. I looked down at my rumpled blue, button-down shirt and black pants. I look like a homeless woman. I was usually, at the very least, clean. Under normal circumstances, I would have cared, but my list of needs recently re-categorized themselves. A tad self-conscious, I smoothed my hair as I walked past the throng of agents lining the upper gallery. They looked over the railing, surveying the pseudo law office. The enormity of what I did weighed heavy and the first stirrings of chivalry surged forth. I actively took part in changing an unfair system and protected those beings who deserved the right to life. The fine hair at the nape of my neck lifted and the energy raised goose bumps before I actually saw myself glow. I had teleported as far as California with Winni in tow, so I tried to keep my mind on our current destination, the conference room. At worst, I would teleport there. Floating above the checked marble tiles, I steadily moved toward the conference room. Agents cocked their weapons and, with alarm, I assessed my co-workers. How quickly they turn, I mused. I found myself on the opposite side of good in their minds. Trading teams, I posed a threat to ISMAT and Earth. This angered me, and I struggled to tamp down the fury I felt for their dim-witted assumptions.