“Company coming down the hill,” Toby called out. “Oh, looks like there is a whole lot of company coming down the hill. Armed for bear. Or robot dog and weirdo pilot, as the case might be.”
Scott stuffed the last of breakfast into his mouth and tossed the trash into his recycler. The ship had to have enough plastic to 3D print an entire army of little toys and gadgets after three years of recycling the stuff. Now that plastic was an irreplaceable commodity, Scott was glad he’d kept the stuff around.
He darted forward into the cockpit and slid down beside Toby. The cameras were aimed at a hillside a short distance away. It was the same hill he and Tamara rushed down to get to the ship. It wasn’t empty anymore, though. Nor was it a small band of people coming to pick up their chief on a litter.
“Holy shit. How many of them are there?” Scott asked, trying to count.
“Eighty-eight,” Toby replied. “It looks like two distinct groups of roughly equal size. See how the ones on the right have short swords instead of spears?”
“We’re looking at two groups?” Scott asked. Tamara had implied there was more than one band of humans left alive, but he hadn’t thought to ask much about the politics of the area. Were they all friends? If so, why bring such a massive group to his ship?
“I don’t like the look of this at all,” Toby said.
“But there’s Tamara,” Scott said, tapping the screen.
She was at the front of the spear-carrying group. Alongside her was a man wearing thick hides, a sword belted at his waist. Tamara was talking to him, but it looked like he was ignoring her. That didn’t sit well with her. Scott could see the fiery look on her face as he zoomed in the lens.
“Definitely not a good friend of hers,” he said. “And a hell of a lot more company than we were planning to receive.”
“You should probably go wake up sleeping chiefy.”
“Agreed,” Scott said.
Maybe Hector could sort out whatever mess was headed their way. He glanced back at the screen again, not liking the look of things there at all. That didn’t look like a group gathered to bring their injured chief home.
It looked like a small army on the road to a battle, and they were headed his way.
Twenty-Nine
Tamara kept a firm grip on her spear, working hard at maintaining just as strong a grip on her emotions. Losing control would only hurt her case, and their position was precarious enough as it was. Things were moving far faster than anyone would have guessed.
“There is the ship,” she said.
The man walking next to her made a “Hmph” noise in his throat. He didn’t seem impressed.
“It doesn’t look like a ship to me. Seems more like another abandoned tower from the old times,” he said.
“It’s a ship from the sky,” Tamara said.
His eyebrows shot up, and she wondered if she’d revealed one thing too many. But the only way to deal with people like Yaven was through power. If he thought you were weak, he would strike. Hero’s Keep had only retained possession of their home because they were strong.
With her father out of commission, that was apparently in question.
Yaven had been waiting at Hero’s Keep when she arrived, a small army at his back. The guards had refused him entrance, thank god. He had been irate about that but had cooled down once she had met with him.
His spy network had to be even better than Hector had guessed for him to get word of her father’s injury so swiftly. Yaven was all but ready to jump in and take over Hero’s Keep.
Tamara’s people would have none of it. Even if her father had fallen, it was assumed she would take over their lead. Once she had assured them he was alive and healing, their faith increased even more.
Yaven was left with little choice but to act the part of the concerned neighbor. He and his men camped outside the Keep, then traveled back to Scott’s ship in the morning.
“You say this stranger killed a dragon?” Yaven asked.
“Two, that I know of. One was slain before I met him. The other he killed in front of my eyes,” Tamara said.
“We don’t have any records of our people ever killing a dragon,” Yaven admitted.
“Neither do we.”
“Yet this stranger killed two in the space of a few days. He must be an amazing warrior,” Yaven replied.
They were nearing the base of the ship. Soon Yaven would get to see for himself. Tamara kept a firm grip on her weapon. The neighboring chief hadn’t brought a war band because he was going on a quiet romp. There might well be fighting before the day was over. Her people were ready for it, if necessary.
Tamara stopped at the base of the ship and looked up.
“Do we need to knock?” Yaven asked. The mocking notes in his voice were irritating as hell.
“No. Scott saw us coming some time ago,” she replied.
Before Yaven could make another sarcastic remark, the hatch halfway up the ship opened. Her father sat there, waving down to them.
He looked well. Better than she’d been expecting, to be honest. His cheeks had lost their pallor. His face showed no signs of pain.
Hector shifted so that his legs hung out, and Tamara caught a glimpse of bright color beneath his pants. She wasn’t sure what that could be. Some part of the treatment Scott’s pod had used to help heal him?
“I see you brought company,” Hector called down.
“Yes, they insisted on coming along,” she replied.
“To make certain you were well, Hector,” Yaven said. He sketched a half-assed bow.
Like hell. His motivation was simpler than that. Yaven had always wanted their Keep for his own people. He’d tried taking it twice in Tamara’s memory. Both times, his people had failed to get past even the outer wall. They’d been forced to retreat. The Keep was well defended, the walls hard to breach.
But like any fox, Yaven was always watching for signs of weakness. Tamara’s father knew the man’s game and was trying to display strength. She wondered just how healed he really was.
“Come down, my friend. We will share food and drink, and talk of your battle with the dragon. I am interested to hear about it,” Yaven said.
Hector turned and said something to a person who was out of sight. That would be Scott, she figured. Or maybe his dog. The idea of a talking dog took a little getting used to, but it was growing on her.
Then her father looped rope around his waist and tied it off. He slipped over the edge, cautious of his legs. She could see the wince on his face every time one of his shins banged into anything.
Slowly the rope lowered Hector back to the ground. Once he was there, he sat on the soft soil, breathing hard. Even the short downward journey had exhausted him. Tamara looked over at Yaven to see what he made of the display.
His face looked thoughtful and distracted. Would he see that as weakness, and use her father’s injury as an excuse to attack?
Then Hector stood. He rose slowly, using the ship to keep his balance. But he was at last standing. Tamara’s heart leapt with joy. She hadn’t been sure her father would ever be able to stand again. The injuries to his legs had been so severe. But there he was, weak but on his feet.
“I am told I should be resting my legs as often as possible to spare them damage. If you will come to me, Yaven?” Hector asked.
“Of course, my friend,” Yaven replied. He strode over to Hector. Tamara tightened her grip on the spear. If they were going to strike, it would happen soon.
But Yaven didn’t attack her father. Instead, he helped Hector take a seat on the ground and then sat down across from him. Yaven clapped his hands together, and two of his men rushed forward bearing fruit and a flask of water. He held the flask out to Hector, who drank and then returned it. Yaven drank from the flask next.
“Momentous times we live in,” Yaven said. “Men can kill dragons now, I hear.”
“You hear about things far more quickly than I would credit to rumors alone,” Hector said.
/> “I have my ways of gathering information. I am good to people. They return in kind. For example, I knew of your injury,” Yaven said. “But my information said you were much more gravely hurt than you seem now.”
“I heal quickly,” Hector said.
“And these?” Yaven asked, tapping fingers on the colored wraps around Hector’s lower legs. The raps made a hollow sound. The stuff looked like cloth, but it was hard to the touch. Remarkable material.
“A gift from our new friend and ally,” Hector said. Then he called in a loud voice up to the ship. “Scott, could you join us?”
Scott popped his head out the airlock door. “I would be glad to.”
A short climb down the ladder and Scott too was on the ground. Tamara noticed that he’d changed his clothing, but he was still wearing the gun on his hip.
Good. He knew enough to be armed at a meeting like this. Scott didn’t look especially impressive, but the gun might stave off a real battle. At least for the time being.
“You are the man who killed a dragon?” Yaven asked. He didn’t even try to keep the incredulity from his voice as he looked Scott up and down.
In response, Scott drew his pistol. Before Yaven could utter another word, Scott fired the gun into the ground a short distance from Yaven’s feet. Clods of earth flew into the air, showering Yaven’s legs with dirt.
“Two, actually. Yes, I am the dragonslayer you’re looking for. Now, who are you, and why are you here at my ship?”
Thirty
To Scott’s surprise, Yaven didn’t flinch away from the gunshot. Most of his men did, but their leader simply stood there, eyes meeting Scott’s. Either he was made of incredibly stern stuff, or…
“I have seen such a weapon before,” Yaven said, gesturing to the pistol Scott still held. “When I was a child. It was a relic pulled from the old ruins. My father showed me how it worked. Much like a bow, but the power inside sent a projectile much further than an arrow.”
That was interesting. If these people still had access to fragments of tech, it gave Scott hope that there might be more of it out there, waiting to be found. Even if most of the guns and ammunition were spent or ruined by time, there might be other fragments of his old world still surviving.
“Where did you find it?” Scott asked.
“It was long ago. I know not where. The weapon broke when someone fired it while I was still young. Almost blew his hand off,” Yaven said with a chuckle at the memory. “Believe me, if I knew where I could get more such weapons, I would definitely have already done so.”
The threat in his words was only thinly veiled. Scott holstered the pistol, since it was obviously stirring up Yaven’s greed. Shit, the whole of the Stargazer would be a treasure trove for anyone who won it. Assuming they could figure out how to operate any of the devices inside, anyway.
“Too bad. It would have been nice to find more such things,” Scott said.
“Indeed,” Yaven replied.
“Enough of this. Why are you here?” Hector asked.
“Chief of Hero’s Keep, I heard you were hurt. I led a party of my best warriors to see for myself,” Yaven said.
“He was waiting at the Keep when I got back,” Tamara said.
“Was he? And how did you hear about my injury so quickly, Yaven?” Hector asked.
“I have many means of finding out information that is of interest to me,” Yaven said.
“Many spies,” Tamara spat out.
It was clear there was no love lost between these people. Yaven’s attitude turned Scott off from the first words he uttered. If he was going to come down on one side or the other in this argument, he knew which way his alliance was going to fall. For all that Hector had locked him in a cell, the man had been decent since.
“You have seen. I am alive and healing. Are you satisfied?” Hector asked.
“I have seen. But I am disturbed by what I see. You ally yourself with this man, Hector, and threaten the balance of power of the entire land. How many of these gun weapons does he have?” Yaven asked. “Just the one? Or are there a hundred more in his tower there?”
Scott opened his mouth to tell Yaven his arsenal wasn’t anywhere near that large, and that it was for his use alone. But Tamara caught his eyes with a glance and gave him a small shake of the head. He closed his mouth again without saying anything.
“Afraid, Yaven?” Hector said, smiling as he came back to his feet. It was clear it hurt the man to stand, but he wasn’t letting that stop him. Hector had picked up a stick and was using it to support his weight. He took two steady steps toward Yaven. “You should be.”
There was a flicker of fear across Yaven’s face before he replaced the look with a mask of furious anger. Oh, he was scared of Hector all right. Frightened enough to be dangerous, even. If Scott could see that, he figured everyone else watching could as well.
“Afraid? Of you and a few toys?” Yaven laughed. “We shall soon see who has more to fear.”
Then he whirled and stalked away. His men fell in beside him, marching up the hill and away from the Stargazer.
“How much trouble are we facing from him?” Scott asked.
“Not much,” Hector said, easing himself back to the ground. “Those were most of his fighters he brought. We can raise twice that number. He would be a fool to attack us. All the same, have your warriors spread out to stay alert nearby, Tamara.”
“Yes, father.” She stepped away from them, barking orders to the men and women who’d come with her from the Keep.
Scott didn’t like what the man had said about the balance of power. He wasn’t trying to be a power-broker or anything of the sort. But he didn’t understand the politics binding these groups of humans together, and it felt like he was in over his head.
“You shouldn’t be standing yet,” Scott told Hector to change the subject.
“My legs are telling me that, thank you,” Hector replied, grimacing.
“But you were walking, father! It’s amazing, just like I told you,” Tamara said as she came back over. All her warriors had moved out in pairs, scouting the area around the ship.
“It is indeed. I look at such technology and wonder how many lives it might have saved over the past year. Which in turn makes me think what other secrets might be hidden inside your ship, Scott,” Hector said.
Scott’s eyes narrowed. He’d had just about enough of people trying to take things away from him when they felt like it. “My secrets are well protected.”
“No fear, my friend. There is blood and battle between us. You have saved my daughter’s life and healed me,” Hector said. “You have my friendship for life. But there are many tribes of men living in these lands. Word of your ship and its wonders will spread. Eventually, others will come and try to take these things from you.”
“Well, shit,” Scott said.
He could fight to defend the ship, but he wasn’t going to get her flight-worthy again while fending off an endless series of attacks. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out what might work. He needed breathing room more than anything else. Time and space to figure out how to get the ship running again so he could cross the continent. Was the cure even there? He had to hope so. If he lost even that glimmer of hope, then he didn’t know what he would do.
“As much as it pains me to say this, I think it would be best for my people, as well as for you, if you left this place as swiftly as possible,” Hector said softly. “I would offer you what hospitality I can for as long as you wish to stay. You’ve earned that. But the longer you are here, the more danger will come calling.”
“I think you’re right. Leaving sounds like the best plan,” Scott said. He was surprised to feel a pang of remorse as he said the words. Was he already growing attached to these people? He smiled ruefully. “Unfortunately, my ship is upside-down, and I don’t have anything close to the tools to get her righted.”
“I think we can help with that,” Hector said. “It will be a mighty feat of enginee
ring, but my people are excellent with pulley, level, block, and tackle. We lifted the stones that make up our walls using such methods.”
Scott’s eyebrows shot up. Those rocks were huge. The Stargazer was many times larger, but for the first time in a while, he had hope they might be able to accomplish something.
“It’s worth a try,” Scott said.
“I will send for my people. We begin work today,” Hector said. He glanced north, in the direction Yaven and his warriors had departed. “I have the sense that time is of the essence.”
Thirty-One
“When Hector said he was sending for his people, he wasn’t kidding around,” Toby observed from the cockpit.
“He doesn’t do things in half measures, that’s for sure,” Scott replied.
He’d offered to let Tamara and Hector stay with him in the ship after their conversation. Scott wanted to show them that he trusted them. Hector seemed to understand his intent but had declined with a smile, saying he and his daughter would remain with their people. They camped at the base of the ship.
By the time Scott woke for the day, people from the Keep were already flooding into the area. It looked like every able-bodied person living in the tunnels was down there. Hundreds of people, young and old, ran around carrying out various tasks. Small children were setting up water stations. Women and men were unloading carts full of rope and equipment. If the force the day before had looked like an army, this seemed more like a barn-raising on a massive scale.
“I think I’d better go downstairs and welcome them,” Scott said.
“Fed your dragon yet today?” Toby asked.
“No! Shoot. I’d better go see to Gorbash.” Scott cursed under his breath. He wasn’t used to having pets. Toby was great, because he didn’t need feeding. The dragon hatchling had to be hungry as hell by now. He’d fed it before going to bed, and it had curled up in its little bin again. But Gorbash was still asleep when he got up.
Toby followed Scott as he snatched another packet of hot dogs and climbed up to his cabin. He turned around and gave the dog a look.
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