by Jamie Davis
“You know, these aren’t as bad as I thought they would be. When you first gave me one, I had the impression it would be like chewing shoe leather from the look of it.”
“They are surprisingly tasty at that,” Cari agreed. “I’ll have to compliment Colin at the Caravansary Outfitters on the recipe when I get back to Tandon.”
“I’ve never met him in person, only heard stories. What’s he like?”
“A very odd, little man. He has the most eclectic collection of weapons, armor, and gear I’ve ever seen. He knows his shop, though. He had me loaded up with everything I needed in only fifteen minutes or so.”
Cari described following Colin through his shop while he selected items for her. Soon, the two traveling companions were discussing various types of gear and weapons. Stefan even related a few details of the martial education he’d received after joining the Duke’s guard as a young officer.
“I trained with the traditional knight’s longsword, as is required of all nobles of my station, but I much prefer a lighter blade like yours. Since gunpowder made armor pretty much useless, speed and quickness with a weapon is as important as pure battering power behind a blade.”
“It’s the only advantage I have over male opponents. I’ve focused on increasing my speed and blade skills all my life.” She drew her rapier and held it out hilt-first to Stefan while he rode next to her. “I recently discovered how to enhance the edge grind of my blade to increase its quickness. I’m pretty proud of it.”
Stefan took the sword from her and looped it through a few practice swings on either side of the horse as their mounts trekked along the forest trail.
“That’s impressive,” he said, examining the length of the blade. “I can sort of see what you did but have no idea how I could pull it off for myself. Do you think you can do something similar with my blade if we make it to a smithy?”
“Probably, if you trust me not to screw it up.”
“If you can do for my sword what you did with your own or even come close, I’ll be very pleased with the result. I’ll be the envy of the other junior officers at court.”
“Very well, remind me when we get to the Duke’s estate. I’m sure they have a blacksmith there. If he has the proper tools and a decent grinding wheel, I’ll be able to give it the old college try.”
“You say some of the strangest things. Why would a building full of old, gray-bearded scholars have anything to do with bladesmithing?”
“Never mind, it’s just a saying where I come from.”
“Oh, back in the land of Prince Hal, Princess Mona, and the Lost Princess Cari?”
Cari laughed. If he only knew. “Yeah, something like that.”
The conversation continued through the early-morning hours. Getting to know each other better made this a much more relaxed leg of the journey than last night’s had been.
It was nearly noon when Stefan stopped them for a break in their trip through the wilderness. They’d reached the base of a line of rocky hills rising from the trees ahead of them. The main trail turned east here, angling back towards the main road.
“This is where we leave all the trails behind and cut across country. If we’re going to try to beat this assassin to the Duke’s estate, it’s our best bet.”
“Don’t worry about me, if that’s what you’re thinking. I’ll be fine. This is too important to worry about a few saddle bruises and sore muscles.”
“Suit yourself. Let’s get going.”
They rode off the main trail, heading for the line of trees. As they got closer, the hair on the back of Cari’s neck rose up, and she had a sudden feeling of dread. In an instant, she realized it was her prescience ability. There was imminent danger somewhere up ahead.
She wheeled her horse, spurring it forward at Stefan who rode just ahead of her. She veered her horse towards his mount.
At the last instant, before the horses collided, Cari dove from her saddle at Stefan, carrying them both to the tall grass that lined the road. The crackle of a musket volley sounded from the tree line at the same time she knocked Stefan from the saddle.
Rolling to her feet, Cari spotted four men running at them from the trees. All had swords out, ready for a fight, as they dropped their discharged muskets behind them.
She had no idea who they were. Maybe they were random thieves on the road, intending to ambush unsuspecting travelers. Maybe they were prospectors protecting a mining claim. It didn’t matter to her either way. They’d tried to kill both her and Stefan, and that was enough for her.
Stefan rose to his feet beside her. He had a bit of a limp from the fall, but he drew his sword and seemed ready for the incoming brigands.
Their attackers split off, with three heading for Stefan and one aimed at Cari. They obviously didn’t think she was much of a threat. The thought they’d automatically discounted her ability because she was a woman boiled her blood. It was just another man who doubted she could stand on her own in a fight.
She’d show them all the error of their ways.
Cari had to finish off her man as fast as possible. Stefan would need her aid before the three attackers advancing on him overwhelmed his defenses. She charged forward at her adversary to bring the two of them into contact sooner.
Her rush into battle surprised the man she faced and put him on a defensive footing immediately. He was younger than the others, and he stumbled over the uneven ground as he slowed and then backpedaled away from Cari’s lunging attack.
He avoided the initial attack, but fell to the grass, giving Cari the opportunity she needed. She followed him to the ground with a second lunge, this time piercing his chest, her blade finding his heart.
1,800 experience points awarded.
The hair rose on her neck again, and she dove forward, using her stabbing lunge at her initial opponent to propel her over the dead brigand’s body.
The diving dodge caused the man attacking her from behind to miss by a mile.
Cari rolled over, bounced to her feet, and darted toward the new attacker. He, too, didn’t expect her to take the attack to him right away, and he attempted to retreat.
It was a mistake.
She delivered a slashing attack at the overbalanced brigand when he stumbled over the uneven ground. He was still trying to recover from his wild saber attack when Cari’s sword whistled past his face.
The man screamed in pain and slapped a hand to his face. She’d managed to slash open his right eye, and blood welled up between his fingers and ran down his arm.
Not waiting for him to recover his wits, she charged toward him and drew her dagger. She raised her sword to block the return swing of his saber while punching her dagger forward into the brigand’s throat.
Blood spurted around her dagger’s blade, liquid warmth running over her hands and splashing across her cheek as she twisted the razor-sharp weapon and wrenched it free from her adversary’s neck.
The look of surprise froze on his face as he fell backward off her blade, his eyes glazing in death.
1,800 experience points awarded.
Two down, two to go.
By the time she’d finished off a couple of their attackers, Stefan already had a wound in his leg, and the two remaining brigands circled him like sharks around a drowning man. The guard officer limped as he tried to turn in place and keep both his adversaries in sight at once.
There was little time. She had to help him.
“Hey, fatso,” Cari called at the rotund brigand closest to her. “I just killed two of your buddies. Why don’t you try me on for size?”
The man turned towards her and his eyes widened.
She must have been quite the sight, standing there with blood dripping from her hands and weapons and splattered across her face.
Sensing his fear at the sight of her, Cari emphasized her purposeful stride as she stalked towards him raised both her bloody blades, and pointed them at him.
The fat brigand looked around for help, but his companion
had already turned to run away, realizing they were outmatched.
He didn’t get very far.
Stefan lashed out with his sword, cutting the fleeing brigand down from behind.
The sole remaining brigand dropped his sword and turned to flee.
Cari was too fast for him. She leapt forward and slashed her sword blade across the man’s hamstrings from behind.
The sharpened edge sliced through skin and sinew with ease.
The brigand’s legs collapsed under him and he fell to the ground. He scrabbled at the sod with his hands, sobbing as he crawled away through the grass.
Cari stalked up to him and kicked him in the ribs hard enough to roll him over.
The man whimpered and held his hands up to defend himself from the expected killing blow.
Cari redirected her lunge at the last instant. Instead of running him through the heart, her sword’s point stabbed the man’s shoulder and pinned him to the ground.
The brigand writhed on the grass, blood welling up around the sword. His fingers clutched at the blade in his shoulder with his free hand and came away bloody from the razor-sharp edge.
Cari leaned forward and twisted her sword.
The brigand screamed before his voice turned into sobbing pleas for mercy.
“Why did you attack us?” Cari hissed, unable to hide the anger in her voice. A distant part of her noticed her usual nausea at killing had not returned this time. She wondered if it had something to do with her temper.
“W-w-we were told to stop anyone who came along the trail today, to kill them or turn them back. Others from our band were hired to watch the main road. We were told to take the mountain trail just in case.”
“Who told you that?”
“I don’t know who he was. He was just a guy. He hired us in Tandon and gave us muskets. He said we could keep them, along with the gold he paid, if we did as he said.”
“Where is he? How long ago did he leave you?”
“He left us here this morning when we broke camp, no more than a few hours ago. He headed up the trail and left us here to watch his back.”
“Why did he want people stopped? Why us?”
“He said he was being followed by a raider captain, a woman with your description. He said he’d pay us twice what he gave us originally if we were successful in killing you and brought him your head.”
Stefan hissed in anger at the open threat to Cari. He stepped forward with his blade raised.
“Stop, Stefan,” Cari ordered, her captain’s command voice staying his hand. “We need him. He knows who the assassin is.”
The brigand stared up at Cari, a faint hope showing in his eyes. “Who are you?”
“I’m the Dread Raider Cari. Remember the name and fear it. I’ll let you live, but you’re going to help me stop a murder.”
She yanked her sword free from the man’s shoulder, eliciting a fresh series of whimpering cries from him. Cari didn’t care.
He was a dead man for attacking them. No matter what she told him, if the Duke’s justice didn’t do the job, she would. She decided it was part of the persona she was building for her raider self, though it was a side of her too brutal for her liking.
Stefan helped her bind the man’s hands behind him while she slapped a simple bandage on his wound. They recovered the brigands’ horses from the trees and placed the captured man on one of them, using leather straps to secure him to the saddle.
After they mounted their own horses, Cari turned to Stefan.
“He’s not that far ahead of us. We might be able to catch him before he gets there if we’re lucky. We have spare mounts, so we can trade off for fresh horses every few hours and move faster than he can.”
Stefan stared at her, disbelief playing across his eyes. “What was all that about you being a raider captain?”
“Look, Stefan, there are things about me you’re better off not knowing.”
“Like what? Like that ridiculousness about you being the ‘Dread Raider Cari’ or something? I’ve never even heard of that person.”
“Maybe now you will. According to all the stories, including one in particular from my childhood, it’s all about reputation with these sorts of things.”
“What sorts of things?”
“Being a raider captain.”
“Wait, you were serious? You’re the raider captain they waited for?”
“The assassin must have recognized my ship and known its previous captain. If he saw me leaving it and overheard me talking with the crew, that would explain how he knew I was coming to find Prince Timron.”
Confusion and surprise battled for control over Stefan’s expression as he attempted to process what he’d just learned about his traveling companion.
“But you’re a raider. The enemy of the Empire. Why are you trying to save the Prince?”
“Not all raiders are what they seem. Some are solo entrepreneurs. Others are working directly for the Duke of Charon. I’ve seen the letters of marque he’s given them. And at least one of us is a loyal citizen of the Empire, trying to keep the Imperial Family safe.”
“The Dread Raider Cari.”
“Exactly,” Cari said. “See, that wasn’t so hard to understand. Was it?”
She kicked her horse until it sped up to a trot, then turned and called over her shoulder.
“Come on. We need to pick up our pace if we’re going to beat this guy to the estate. I want to take him alive and find out who paid him for this job.”
Behind her, leading the string of remounts and their captured brigand, Stefan raced to catch up.
Chapter 32
The sun went down as Cari and Stefan rode through the mountains. They still hadn’t reached the Duke’s estate, but the treacherous terrain and the risk of serious injury to either themselves or the horses forced the duo to reconsider their plan to continue traveling in the dark.
A quick assessment revealed one of the horses had developed a limp as they’d picked their way along the thin game trail in the darkness since the last break. Stefan called for a stop to rest while he examined the spare mount’s condition.
“Cari, I know you’re anxious about stopping when we might be close enough to press onward and arrive tonight. But if one of the horses has already come up lame, I fear for the others and for us if we keep going.”
“I’m afraid we will be too late,” she replied. “The assassin might arrive and strike against the Prince in the night before we can get there.”
“It’s not worth the risk. I don’t know this part of the trail at all, and I could easily miss the turnoff to the valley where the estate is located. If that happens, we’ll be even later. Let’s rest for a few hours until dawn and start up again then.”
Cari stared out into the darkness then nodded. “Alright, but we start as soon as it’s light enough to proceed.”
“Agreed,” Stefan said. “Let’s set up a quick camp and see to the horses and our prisoner. The animals will be better for the rest, too. We’ll all be fresher in the morning when we start up again.”
After they settled the mounts, and tied their prisoner to a nearby tree, Cari and Stefan wrapped themselves in blankets and fell into a cold, fitful sleep. Shivering in the mountain chill, she hadn’t thought she’d fall asleep at all. Her fatigue from the long day’s travel overcame her, though, and she soon drifted off.
Rising early again the next morning, Cari discovered their prisoner had died in the middle of the night from his wounds. He lay slumped against the tree trunk, his eyes staring out of his pale, lifeless face. She had hoped he didn’t have internal injuries and bleeding, but she must have been wrong. Cari studied him for a long time, her internal emotional struggle hidden behind an impassive visage she maintained on her face. Her anger welled up at the loss of the only person who’d known what the assassin looked like.
Her cursing over the body woke Stefan.
He gripped her by the shoulders and spun her around.
“It’s n
ot your fault, Cari. People die. It happens,” he said in a soothing tone. His hand squeezed her arm in an attempt at reassurance.
She shrugged it off. “For once, I’m not sad he died. I know he was going to be executed by the Duke at some point anyway for being a highwayman. But I am pissed he died before he could identify the guy sent to assassinate Timron. Now we’re back to not knowing who the hell this guy is.”
“So, what do we do?”
Cari was already moving towards the mounts and saddling her horse.
“We get back on the road and hope we’re not too late. We can’t be far from the estate now. The assassin probably got there last night. We can pray he didn’t manage to kill the Prince in his sleep. If he hasn’t struck overnight, we still might have a chance.”
Stefan helped her saddle their horses, and they got on the trail. They left the brigand dead beside the path. Let the animals have him, Cari thought. They didn’t have time or the inclination to bury him.
Barely two hours later, as the morning sun finally crested the eastern hills, they glimpsed the estate’s buildings in the valley below, including the grand home built amidst the rolling hills beside a small lake.
Cari called out to Stefan, pointed down at the collection of buildings, and kicked her horse into a gallop, despite the fact she was scared of falling off at this speed. She managed to hold on as her mount sped down the mountain trail into the valley.
Reaching the estate’s grounds with Stefan close behind, Cari raced through the open gates of the manor house’s courtyard, reined in her horse, and slipped off to the ground before it came to a full stop.
Rodrigo, seated on a bench in the shade of a fig tree, stared at her with an astonished expression on his face. He waved to her as he ran over and wrapped her in an impromptu hug.
“Cari, you made it! We had all given up hope of seeing you again, assuming you’d been imprisoned in the capital. Well, all of us except Chance. He seemed to think you’d find a way out of any predicament without much trouble at all.”
“Rodrigo, where’s the Prince? Is he safe?”