On Blackened Wings

by James E. Wisher

  “The problem is,” Talon said. “If we recognize how good a spot this is, the guards will too. Unless they’re complete morons, but I’m not getting my hopes up.”

  “Neither am I,” Jen said. “But if we have to do this, there’s nowhere else between here and the capital half as good.”

  “We’re awfully close to the city,” Rhys said. “If one of them escapes, reinforcements could be on us in a couple days. With a prisoner slowing us down that might not be enough time.”

  “Don’t worry,” Jen said. “Soon as we grab Carmichael Junior and put some distance between us and the bridge, Al Elan will find Damien and he’ll come get us.”

  “Talk about reinforcements.” Alec grinned.

  “Exactly. Once Damien gets here I don’t care who Carmichael sends.”

  Al Elan sat up. “They’re coming.”

  “How far?” Jen asked.

  “Maybe five miles.”

  “Okay. Edward and Rhys the far side, Al Elan and Alec, you’re on this side. Alec, I want you to keep an eye open for runners. Talon, you’re with me in the water. I don’t care what you do with the guards, but we need the noble brat alive.”

  “Why’d you look right at me when you said that last line?” Talon asked.

  “Why do you think?” When the chuckles died down Jen said, “Let’s go.”

  They all vanished at warlord speed. Ten seconds later Jen was up to her knees in ice-cold river water. The smooth rocks under her feet made for treacherous balance, but she’d dealt with worse. She and Talon took position on the inside of the footings. They’d make their move when the carriage was directly overhead.

  As they waited, all the things she might’ve done differently ran through Jen’s head. At the very least she could have checked with Uncle Andy. Maybe listened to Al Elan and hunted up Damien. So many possibilities.

  She gave her head a shake and sent soul force into her legs. Numb feet in the middle of a battle would be a disaster.

  Time seemed to crawl with only the rush of the river to distract her. Every once in a while Talon glanced her way, but as soon as she noticed he looked away. He clearly had something on his mind, but this wasn’t the time for a discussion.

  After an interminable wait, she finally heard the distant clatter of hooves. The group hadn’t reached the bridge, but they were coming.

  Jen tightened her grip on her sword. The last few seconds before a battle seemed the longest.

  The horses stopped short of the bridge. Had the guards spotted one of the guys? No, there was no warning shout. Probably just being cautious. Like Talon said, this was a perfect place for an ambush.

  “What is the delay?” a high, shrill voice asked.

  “Just having a glance about, my lord,” a man said. “I dislike the look of this spot.”

  “My father and future wife are waiting, Captain,” Carmichael the Younger said. “If you so dislike this stretch of country, let us leave as quickly as possible.”

  “As you say, Sire.” So softly Jen could barely hear it over the river the captain muttered, “This is the perfect place.”

  “If anyone was planning anything they would have struck while we were waiting, sir. Let’s deliver the brat and go home.”

  A bitter chuckle was followed by, “You have the right of it, Sergeant. Let’s go!”

  Jen coiled. Hooves hit the bridge followed by iron-bound wheels.

  Any second now. A piece of plank bowed directly overhead as the heavy carriage hit it.

  “Go!”

  Talon vanished, leaping straight up.

  Jen sprang a second later. She landed on the railing and beheaded a guard before he registered her presence.

  Shouts and the clash of swords from front and rear announced the others’ arrival.

  Jen ignored them, trusting her team to do what needed to be done. Her entire focus landed on the carriage.

  The driver drew his whip back in slow motion.

  She leapt from the railing, clearing a barely moving horseman by inches, before landing beside the driver.

  His head went flying. A stiff kick sent his body crashing into a guard on the opposite side.

  No one threatened her at the moment so Jen took a second to survey the battle. Edward and Rhys were hard pressed by four warlords at the rear, but were holding their own. In the front, Al Elan fought with a golden sword that cut flesh like butter. He had no trouble matching Alec’s speed as they took down guard after guard.

  Satisfied that her people had everything under control, Jen climbed up on the carriage roof and smashed a hole in it with a few swift kicks.

  A crossbow bolt shot up at her.

  Jen snatched it out of the air and hurled it into the inside guard’s left eye. He twitched once and went still.

  The only other occupant of the carriage, a fat, soft, round-faced man of about twenty, stared up at her with tears in his eyes. He wore layers of fine blue silk and enough gold to buy a nice country estate.

  She hopped down into the carriage and put the tip of her sword to his throat. “Does your father love you?”

  The question seemed to startle him out of his blubbering. Outside the sounds of battle dwindled. Good, once the guys dealt with the last of the guards they could move out.

  “You know,” he said at last. “I’m not entirely sure.”

  “You’d better hope he does, at least enough to trade you for the princess. Otherwise…” She flicked her wrist, making a thin, shallow cut in the fat under his chin.

  The carriage door opened revealing a blood-spattered Edward. “We’re good out here.”

  “Okay, grab the prisoner and let’s make tracks.”

  Jen turned back to order Carmichael Junior out of the carriage. He had a six-inch length of wood in his hand and before she could react he snapped it in half.

  “When my father’s sorcerers get here, they’re going to kill you slowly.” His pudgy pink face split into a smile.

  Jen cursed herself for taking her eyes off the man. Damien had told her about those emergency sticks. They held a soul force charge that alerted a sorcerer when released. Jen and her team didn’t have much time.

  “If you run away and leave me here,” Carmichael Junior said. “I’ll tell the sorcerers not to hunt you down.”

  Jen grabbed him by the throat and jerked his face close to hers. “If the sorcerers catch up to us, I’m going to cut you into tiny pieces so they have to bring you to your father in a burlap sack.”

  That knocked some of the confidence out of him. Jen thrust the man at Edward. “Here, take this. I hope you guys saved some energy because we need to move.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Calling them mountains might have been have been overly generous. The Mole King’s territory was a stretch of deep canyons and sharp, jagged peaks. Most of which didn’t rise above two thousand feet. It looked to Binder like the area suffered a serious earthquake sometime in the not-too-distant past.

  He hovered above the broken landscape beside the female Chain Knight that had failed to bring the Mole King to him the first time he sent her out. She had been eager to redeem herself after her failure and since he needed a guide anyway, Binder allowed her to join him.

  He could have conscripted an army of course, but with a foe that lived in tight quarters, a large force of weaklings would have ended up more hindrance than help. There was nothing here he couldn’t handle. Whether on the surface or underground, they were just mortals.

  “The entrance is there, Master.” She pointed out a cave that looked exactly the same as the dozens of others dotting the canyon walls.

  Binder stared. Someone watched them from the shadows, a gaze more curious than hostile.

  “Do nothing unless I say.” Binder descended to the cave entrance.

  The moment he landed, a slender wisp of a girl stepped out into the light. She couldn’t have been more than fifteen. She had pale skin, hair so blond it was almost white, and a simple white tunic and sandals. Had a pair of
white wings sprouted from her back, Binder might have mistaken her for a child angel, had such a thing existed.

  The girl bowed until she nearly doubled over. “Welcome to the home of the Underking. My liege bids me greet you and offer his most humble well wishes.”

  “Thank you for your gracious words,” Binder said. “My knight tells me she didn’t receive an equally warm welcome.”

  “The Underking apologizes for the misunderstanding. Your knight offered no greeting, instead forcing her way into our tunnels and making demands. Even so we didn’t respond with violence. It is not our way in any case. Had she come in peace we would have welcomed her as we welcome you.”

  This wasn’t going at all the way Binder expected. He’d come ready for blood and violence, not a polite discussion with a teenager. Perhaps that’s why the Underking sent her. He couldn’t imagine a less threatening messenger.

  “You know who I am?” Binder asked.

  “We know what you are,” the girl countered. “How may we be of use to a fallen angel?”

  So they recognized the nature of his power. This girl was no sorcerer, so someone else must have told her. Binder extended his awareness, but detected no one else nearby. A few life forms lingered at the very edge of his awareness, but none posed a threat.

  “I am the Binder in Chains and the new emperor. I require all the regional satraps to swear their allegiance to the throne. Three have done so, one killed himself, and your master and Lady Shiv refused to return with my knights. I’ll grant that Lady Shiv’s response was more aggressive than yours, but the result is the same.”

  “I see. It appears you misunderstand the nature of our realm. My liege does not consider himself one of those surface rulers, with their constant conflict. Under the mountain we live in peace, only emerging to trade the fruits of our labor. The Underking would be happy to offer you tribute in exchange for peaceful coexistence.”

  “What sort of tribute?”

  “Iron ore, gold, silver, gems. All the bounty of the earth. What is it you desire?”

  “Obedience. If your king comes to the capital and swears his loyalty I promise you no one will trouble your people further.”

  “This is a most kind offer, but my liege cannot leave the tunnels. His absence would cause chaos. It is simply impossible.”

  Binder’s annoyance threatened to bubble over. He restrained himself with an act of will. Difficult as they were, these people were clearly no threat to him. Even so, he couldn’t simply leave without completing his mission. It would be a sign of weakness which might give people the wrong idea.

  “Perhaps if you met the Underking himself and saw our home you would better understand,” the girl said. “If you wish I can bring you to him.”

  “Very well, I accept your offer.”

  “No, Master. It might be a trap.”

  Binder waved off his knight’s concern. If they were setting a trap for him it would be the last mistake they ever made.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Karrie sat on the couch in the royal apartment and made no effort to keep the hate out of her eyes as she glared at Duke Carmichael and Nathanial. For the past two days they’d tried threatening her to do what they wanted, but threats meant little when the person you were threatening knew they couldn’t really do much to her if they wanted their plan to work. Today, it seemed, they wanted to try a new tactic.

  The queen, Karrie still refused to think of her as her mother, sat beside her on the couch and squeezed her knee. “Be reasonable, sweetheart. Surely you can see that what we want is for the best.”

  “Indeed,” the duke said. “When our master arrives he will reward those who pledge their loyalty willingly.”

  “And he will punish, severely, anyone that doesn’t,” Nathanial said.

  Looked like he was going to play the bad guard. He was dressed in a high-collared red robe embroidered with silver designs on the hem. He was no archmage, but he seemed intent on dressing for the role.

  “You’re never going to convince me to go along with your stupid plans,” Karrie said. “You’ve alternately threatened and tried to bribe me for days. If it hasn’t worked by now, it’s never going to. Why don’t you just accept it and leave me alone?”

  “Little would please me more,” Duke Carmichael said. “Unfortunately, you are a powerful symbol to the people of the kingdom. If you’re seen accepting the new reality, it will make it easier to convince the ordinary people that what we’re doing is right. And it is. As I’ve said innumerable times, if we try to fight the Binder thousands will die.”

  “So you say. For all I know, you’re making all this up as an excuse to take over. And even if you didn’t, any plan that involves my father’s murder is no good.” Karrie shrugged. There was nothing more to say as far as she was concerned. These idiots could talk themselves hoarse for all she cared.

  Duke Carmichael let out a long sigh. “We tried, Audra. You can’t say we didn’t. It seems she will have to be compelled to the altar when my son arrives.”

  Nathanial grinned, seeming well pleased by the idea. He looked like the sort that enjoyed controlling others. To think she’d once considered him a good guy.

  “I appreciate that you made the effort. She is a willful child. Always has been. Takes after her father in that respect.”

  Karrie couldn’t have thought of a better compliment.

  A heavy blow landed on the apartment door and a moment later it slammed open. A panting sorcerer in blue robes staggered through. “Excuse me, my lord.”

  “I told you I was not to be disturbed,” the duke said.

  “Yes, sir, but I have urgent news. Your son’s emergency signal was activated two minutes ago.”

  “You’re certain it was Louis’s?” Duke Carmichael asked, his voice strangled.

  “Yes, my lord, there’s no mistake.”

  The duke turned to Nathanial. “Find my son and bring him back safe, along with the heads of whoever took him.”

  “Yes, my lord.” Nathanial strode out, grabbing the newcomer by the collar and dragging him along.

  Karrie locked eyes with the duke. “Perhaps we’ll have to postpone the wedding. What a shame.”

  Duke Carmichael’s jaw clenched so hard she could practically hear his teeth grinding. Karrie couldn’t decide if he wanted to swear at her or slap her. In the end he did neither, simply turning on his heel and marching out, slamming the door behind him.

  “That was cruel, Karrie,” the queen said. “Whatever you may think of him, Duke Carmichael is still a father who loves his son.”

  “If he loved his son,” Karrie said. “He’d best have him marry someone else. I swear, the first moment you leave us alone I’ll strangle him.”

  The queen’s shocked expression was the prettiest sight she’d seen in a long time.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Trying to flee at the speed of an ordinary person felt painfully slow to Jen. Unfortunately, with Carmichael Junior over Edward’s shoulder they couldn’t even run at half warlord speed. At least they’d reached the forest before any rescuers showed up. That should slow the inevitable search at least a little.

  Of course with sorcerers out of sight didn’t mean out of mind. With Al Elan in the group it was as if they had a giant beacon for the enemy to see. The whole situation stunk, but Jen couldn’t imagine anything they could have done differently, except giving up and that wasn’t in her makeup.

  Jen brushed a spruce limb out of her way and hurried down the narrow deer trail. Talon had run ahead to make sure they didn’t run into anything unpleasant. Better safe than sorry, but Jen fully expected trouble to come from behind them not in front. She glanced back again. The guys were all keeping up easily. An extra two hundred pounds was nothing for Edward. He, or any of them really, could carry the prisoner for days without stopping or getting tired.

  “They’re coming,” Al Elan said.

  She’d been dreading that announcement since young Carmichael had sent that signal. A
t least they had a little head start.

  “How many?” Jen asked.

  “Six priests—sorcerers —all quite strong.”

  She hadn’t expected weaklings to come rescue their future king.

  “What’s the plan?” Edward asked.

  The duke’s son giggled. “You’re all going to die. That’s the plan.”

  “Shut up,” Jen snarled. “There isn’t much we can do about six sorcerers. You can be sure they want this turd back alive, so they’re not apt to just start blasting.”

  “There’re plenty of other things they can do,” Edward said.

  He was right, but that changed nothing. They were stuck for now and Jen could do nothing about it.

  A minute later Talon appeared beside her. “How’re we doing?”

  “Company’s arrived,” Jen said. “Anything I need to worry about up front?”

  “Nah, I scouted five miles ahead. There’s nothing but trees, birds, and an angry squirrel that thought I wanted to steal his winter stash. Do we have a plan?”

  Jen wished they’d quit asking her that. The chapter on fighting six sorcerers in the warlord training manual was exceedingly short. It consisted of one sentence: Run, and hope they have better things to do than hunt you down.

  “They’re getting closer,” Al Elan said. “I believe they’ve honed in on us now. Are you sure you don’t want me to try and lead them away?”

  “And lose my only external soul force user? No, thank you. Talon, find an opening in the trees. Edward, give him to me.”

  Jen drew her dagger and put it to the prisoner’s throat. His gleeful smile vanished.

  A few seconds later Talon said, “Found one. It’s not big, but you can see the sky clearly.”

  “Good enough. Lead the way.”

  Less than a quarter of a mile later they stepped into a sunlit glade. She glanced up at the clear sky. No sorcerers yet, but it was only a matter of time.

  “Al Elan, can you create an invisible barrier around us so no sorcery can sneak through while I’m negotiating?”