“I like the plan,” Elissa said, “but can’t help notice that it leaves you free all evening to indulge in tests of manly prowess.”
“Yeah,” Chim said. “It’s a win-win solution.”
“Sir Chim!”
He turned, hearing his name, and saw Sir Wallis in his black and silver surcoat with its two-headed griffin. The young man carried his helmet under an arm, running closer with an excitement that bristled his scraggily mustache.
“What is it?” Chim asked.
“Thou art wanted at the sword ring.”
“Already?”
“I’ve been recounting your incredible skill with a blade to the contestants, and all but the most arrogant have withdrawn from the lists.”
“That ruins the element of surprise.”
Sir Willis smacked his forehead with the heel of a hand, acknowledging his thoughtlessness. Unfortunately, he forgot he was wearing his gauntlets and nearly knocked himself out. Chim steadied him as he gathered his wits once more. “I am most sorry, Sir Chim. I should have thought before letting my tongue bear me violently away.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Chim said. “I shall take the prize regardless. Now, let’s make haste. We don’t want to keep everyone waiting.”
“Aye, this way.”
Chim followed through the crowds. They came to the ring and found its center occupied by their first challenger. He wore a tan leather tunic, a helmet with a horn set in it, and gripped a short sword that flared out leaf-like near the tip. On his shield, a black unicorn reared on a tope field. The man forsook armor to attain greater agility and speed—a courageous gamble.
Striding carefully into the ring, Chim drew his broadsword and held it before him in a two-handed grip, leaving his shield hanging on his back. An official at the edge of the fenced ring lifted his hand slowly and brought it down fast. Chim expected his opponent to be unorthodox and was proved right. The unicorn knight surged forward, trying to win with a lightning strike. His sword drove for the neck region where armor usually has a vulnerable spot.
Chim deflected the sword and sliced laterally. His opponent ducked under the slash and used a spinning step to ram his blade’s tip up into Chim’s armpit. The crowd went wild, cheering. If I were wearing conventional armor instead of an off-world exo-suit, the fight would be over now. This guy is good.
As Chim fell back a pace, the unicorn knight hesitated, thinking he’d won, making his first mistake.
“It’s not over ‘til it’s over,” Chim admonished, lunging full speed to strike the man with a shoulder. The unicorn knight went flying off his feet. He hit the ground and rolled head to tail until the fence stopped him.
Dazed, he struggled to his feet, glaring at Chim with both rage and respect.
The man came back slowly, letting his blade-tip weave an obscure rune.
Chim decided to stop playing games and get serious. The crowd was primed now for a bit of spectacle. He was going to give it to them. His blade came down in a leisurely manner, giving his opponent all the time in the world to block it. But just before the swords connected, Chim activated the quantum phase inverter built into the hilt. There was a bright spark as swords struck each other, but no impact or clang.
The guardsman’s blade sliced the enemy weapon cleanly, dropping half of it to the ground. It lay there like forlorn hope. Eyes wide with fear and wonder, the unicorn knight cast aside the remnant he held, signifying surrender.
“He’s giving up, just like that?” Elissa asked.
“Sure,” Chim answered sub-vocally, “these people may be primitive, but they aren’t stupid.”
“In that case, you’ve just murdered all your fun. If he won’t fight you, nobody else will either.”
Chim thought about it a second, and turned to watch numerous warriors heading for the judge’s table. With a sinking feeling, he realized they were removing their names from the lists. “It seems you’re right,” he said. Belatedly, the rest of the crowd got around to cheering. Chim’s friends fell on him with laughter, pounding his back with admiration and approval.
“Wondrously done,” Wolfe remarked.
“Aye,” Sir Town said.
“I had all our money on thee,” Sir Willis confided. “We have gained much coin this day. Wilt thou take a share of our purse? It is the least we can offer.”
“Nay, good comrades. The joy of combat is reward enough.”
An emphatic voice parted the well-wishers, “You there!”
Chim saw the speaker, a lord in expensive clothes with a gold lion on a field of ermine as his crest.
“That’s a royalty,” Elissa warned. “Watch yourself.”
“Thou art a formidable and fearsome rogue,” the newcomer said. “Knowest thou not that thy prowess hath cost me a hefty sum? I was foolish enough to wager on our local champion. Pray tell me thy name, sir knight.”
Sir Towne hurried to make introductions, bringing himself blatantly into the conversation. “My Lord Prince, this is Sir Chim, Dragon-Lord of Rigel, Defender of Avalon, First Knight of Narnia, and Crown Prince of Whales and Dolphins.”
Chim bowed respectfully, amazed that his friend had remembered all
the fictional titles.
Sir Towne continued. “Sir Chim, this is Prince Richie the Lyon-hearted, first in line for the throne of Ungland.”
The prince inclined his head in greeting, then extended his hand. All fingers, but his thumb, were ringed with jeweled bands of gold that flashed bravely in the sun.
Chim seized the hand, taking care not to crush it. “It is an honor.” In turn, his hand was gripped firmly by the prince, who pumped and released it quickly.
“Art thou planning to joist upon the field as well?” Prince Richie asked. “I’ve a mind to regroup my losses by betting on thee.”
“It’s too late for that, I fear,” Chim answered. “Word is spreading. There will soon be few willing to take your bet.”
“Mayhap,” the prince lowered his voice, “if thou wert willing to be knocked artlessly from the saddle a time or two, it might be assumed that thy lance work were not the equal of thy sword play. Then I’d bet on thee as the odds changed to my benefit. Thou would earn the gratitude of the throne.”
“And a few bruises besides. Regretfully, I must decline, being a stranger to the lance entirely and lacking a mount as well.”
The prince shrugged. “‘Twuz just a thought. At least enjoy the spectacle from my private box—your friends as well.”
“We would be honored, noble prince,” Sir Towne said.
Elissa’s chimed in privately, “Your friend, Moe, has a great future ahead of him in politics.”
“Someone’s got to pretend to care about the masses,” Chim sub-vocalized. He used his regular voice for the prince, “Near here, I saw a dragon in a cage. It matches the likeness of my family crest. To whom, does this beast belong?”
“Why, it is mine,” Prince Richie said, “a gift from one of my father’s supporters.”
“What do you plan on doing with it?” Chim inquired.
“Why, at the end of the tourney, I shall release it onto the field and slay the creature in mortal combat, proving the primacy of my courage and strength. Oh, the songs the minstrels shall sing of me! The whole world shall fall into my shadow and be dazzled by my glory.”
“But it may well be the last dragon left in the world,” Chim objected.
“Then were best I dispatch it, and end its suffering I think.”
“So much for your plan to get the Xanian after the fair,” Elissa said. “We can’t let this happen.”
“Don’t worry,” Chim answered, “I’m thinking of something that ought to work.”
“Somehow, I’m not reassured,” Elissa said.
Chim addressed the prince audibly. “Would thou be willing to fight me for possession of the beast?”
Prince Richie shook his head side to side. “After what I’ve seen here? No. But as a favor to a friend, I shall let thee take the head as
a trophy, a reminder of my valor whenever thou shall behold it.”
“That is…most kind,” Chim said. He sub-vocalized. “Elissa, I want you to raise ship and bring it here. Land it in the middle of the tourney field. The dragon and I will be along soon.”
“Chim! That would blow our cover to the Horse Head Nebula and back again. What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking I can explain the ship in terms of local legend and make superstition work for me. Have a little faith.”
“All right,” she answered. “I just hope you know what I’m doing.”
“You know, I just wanted to have a little fun and forget the chains of duty for a while. Apparently, it’s not going to happen.” Chim addressed the prince again. “I tried to do this politely, but you leave me no choice. The Dragon comes with me. You will hand it over in the name of Elissa, the great enchantress. She has sent me to recover her pet. Resistance will not be tolerated.”
“Thou speaketh rashly,” the prince answered. “Hath not some vile spirit seized hold of thy wits?”
“Nay,” Chim said, “the enchantress herself approaches, and her wrath shall be terrible. Behold, the great pearl of enlightenment which is her sign to you!”
Chim pointed into the air. Reflexively, the prince and all those gathered around lifted their faces, scanning the sky. There was a collective in-drawn breath. Chim’s ship hung in the air, a silver-white moon framed against a few vagrant clouds. With agonizing slowness, the great smooth sphere wafted lower, making for the joisting area. Chim heard panicked screams throughout the fair grounds.
The prince paled with shock. He locked gazes with Chim. “Now I understand the secret of your marvelous sword. Magic has forged it as well as thy demon armor.”
“Damn!” Elissa’s commented. “You actually know what you’re doing. I’m amazed. This is going to work.”
“Your skepticism pains me,” Chim told her.
“Thou hast impressed me mightily,” Prince Richie confessed. “Though my heart falters in my breast, I cannot surrender the beast. Truth be known, I have not my father’s wisdom, wit, valor, nor strength of arm. Unless I distinguish myself, I will live and die in his shadow. This is my chance to engrave myself upon the annals of history. I have no choice but to smite thee or die.”
“I spoke too soon,” Elissa said.
Prince Richie drew his sword and stabbed the wind above his head. He raised his voice in fierce entreaty. “Knights of Ungland, be not unmanned, but hold fast to thy oaths of fealty. Be faithful and attend me, defending my cause!”
Suddenly, Chim was walled in with bared steel. Even Sir Towne and his friends drew swords.
Sir Willis entreated Chim to reason. “I am sorry, my friend. Though I am loathed to shed thy blood, my sword is pledged with my honor. Please, withdraw from the field. There is no dishonor in retreating before overwhelming odds.”
“Chim, I’ve landed,” Elissa said. “You can make a strategic withdraw.”
“No,” he told her, “not without my dragon.”
His sword flashed as he whirled in a complete circle. Activated, the blade sliced cleanly through all the swords in reach. The surrounding warriors pulled back, withdrawing the stubs of their weapons.
Prince Richie’s mouth hung open. He stared in pissed disbelief, then turned and ran screaming, “The beast will die by my hand!”
Chim tried to follow, but the crowd surged in, tangling up his legs, clinging desperately. “Elissa,” he called, “I’m not going to get there in time without crippling or killing some of these people.”
“We keep sliding from bad to worse,” she commented. “Don’t worry, though. You can take your time getting to the Xanian’s cage. I’m taking over.”
“You’re what?”
“You’ll see.”
Chim did his best not maim or murder anyone, so it took him a few minutes to wade through the human sea, scattering them off back and shoulders as necessary. When striking, he carefully restrained his suit’s power. His goal was unconsciousness for the insistently aggressive. He didn’t want to shatter skulls like over ripe melons.
He reached a point where he was able to shake himself free, and run for the tent where he’d seen the cage. He hoped he’d make it in time, but doubted it. He sighed heavily. All hell was going to break loose if the Xanian died because he’d mishandled things. X-class agents were not expected to make mistakes. Their authority and autonomy made fallibility an unpardonable sin.
At his destination, Chim skidded to a stop. The caged dragon now sat on the ground. Her guards and Prince Richie knelt in postures of astonished enervation. Beside the cage—Chim’s mind went agog as well—was Elissa. Remembering what she told him about her photonic ghost appearing beyond the ship, he wasn’t stunned by her presence, but by her theatrical enhancements: she glowed with a soft light that framed her luscious curves, muting fine details. She wore a gown with a fluttering hem. Her tight bodice might have been painted on, and her breasts seemed somewhat larger than usual. Her belt appeared to be made of large flat seashells joined edge to edge. Twining in a phantom wind, her hair lifted as if possessing independent life. Bare-footed, on a small mound of grinning skulls, she guarded the cage. One hand rested casually on the cross-shaped hilt of a sword nearly as big as she was. Its point appeared to pierce the ground though Chim knew it had no more substance than Elissa did this far from the ship.
It was questionable whether the on-lookers had been felled by her aura of preternatural menace or pole-axed by her beauty. It didn’t matter; for whatever reason, the Xanian was safe.
Chim stood silent as Elissa spoke, just solid enough to produce a soft whispery tone. “I have come for what is mine, good prince. Will thou oppose me?” The question came off as innocent curiosity, more ominous than any intentional threat would have been.
Prince Richie found wit enough to answer. “Oh, great enchantress. My heart lies at your feet. Ask me for thy desires and they are accomplished.”
Chim sub-vocalized a few comments. “Looks like he’s in lust with you. I think all the men are. The women look pissed.”
“Beauty has its burden,” Elissa’s tiny voice unfolding in his ear. “Jealousy is just the cross I must bear.” Her projection answered Prince Richie. “Give my servant this dragon, and I will applaud thy gracious wisdom and good sense.”
“I wouldst have given thee half my kingdom had thou asked. Take the beast. I shall tie a bright ribbon about its neck that thou may remember me fondly.”
“Thou art a great prince, my lord, and shall make a great king in turn. I must go.”
“Nay,” the prince cried. “Stay. I cannot live without thy company.”
“Do thy best,” Elissa told him, fading to nothing with a teasing smile.
Richie and his guards remained kneeling on the ground, as if their homage might draw the great enchantress back into their world.
Chim trudged forward, lifted cage and dragon, and carried both unhindered across the fair grounds to his ship. A cargo lift carried him up along the curved hull, to the lip of the cargo bay. Once inside, he set the cage down and sealed the hatch. His suit had little difficulty breaking the cage door.
The Xanian came out. She trembled with rage and hissed displeasure. “You’ve contaminated this culture irreparably!”
“No,” Chim said, “only added a new legend to all the old ones. All the elements of our masquerade already existed in the culture.”
“You showed them a modern spaceship!”
“What’s important isn’t what they saw,” he answered, “but what they think they saw—the pearl of heaven, the sea-jewel chased by every dragon.”
“That’s an Asian myth, not an Anglican one,” the Xanian objected.
“Now you’re just quibbling over minuscule details. I think it’s time you shut up and went to your room. The ship will show you where it is.” A ghostly sphere appeared, springing up from the deck and falling back repeatedly. “Just follow the bouncing ball,” Chim s
aid.
The Xanian surged off in a fit of pique.
Chim was glad to see her go. He was finally tired of dragons and all things pseudo-medieval.
“I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this from her.” Elissa materialized before him as the great enchantress, the over-sized sword balanced easily on a delicate shoulder.
Chim shrugged. “She can be annoyed if she wants to. Everyone needs a hobby. Let’s get out of here.”
“We’re already underway.” Her voice slipped back into Unglish. “Thou wert a most astounding knight, Sir Chim. I was proud to have been thy lady.”
“You still are,” Chim said. “I’m going to my quarters to get out of this rig and take a shower. Call me when the trumps of battle sound once more and banners are lifted into the sky.”
Elissa smiled as he turned away. Her voice followed him from the cargo bay. “Don’t I always?”
INTERLUDE
A new voice intruded, this one female. “Chim, we’ve noticed your tendency to be a little more trusting than is wise. You care too much for others, championing inconsequential causes while in-the-cloak. We’re not social workers. We’re not errant knights. We have to be above politics and the petty concerns of the individual. X-class agents bear the fate of worlds. Doesn’t that give you enough to do?”
“If we’re beyond compassion, we’re beyond humanity itself,” Chim argued. “A species can lose its spirit, its soul, if it’s not careful. What happens then isn’t pretty. Look at Ibis.” The planet’s name conjured a deep reflective silence. For the first time, Chim thought he was getting somewhere.
7. GHOST TOWN
“Chim!”
He ignored her, as well as the numbness in his feet. His breathing remained slow and deep. Eyes closed, hands folded in his lap—his mind filled an infinitesimally small point of a very private universe.
Agent X Page 13
