by T B Phillips
The shaking had ceased, but the troops below seemed not to understand the imminent danger that closed in on the city. Max looked up from a conversation with Captain Titus. “What is it, Robert?”
Wheezing and out of breath, the oldest Esterling brother stopped to weave air into his lungs. They burned from the effort, but he didn’t have time to control his breathing on his own. “The wall has fallen!” He panted with his hands on his knees. “Lourdes is dead, and they’ve breached the perimeter. Get them aboard!”
Max shouted at the soldiers boarding Braston’s ship, “Make way!” They moved to the side and he half pushed, and half dragged, Robert aboard. He then shouted to the soldiers to double time the loading. They ran aboard the ships with as many duffels and satchels as they could carry.
Braen casually strode toward Robert, reaching out his hand with a wink. “King Esterling, I presume?”
“No time to talk, Braston. My city wall has fallen, and twenty thousand troops are funneling into the city.”
Something in the man’s casual demeanor changed, and he dropped his hand. He turned to a one-eyed man with a bandaged head and hands. “Krill! Signal the other ships! Break out the guns and prepare to repel boarders!”
Robert’s head spun as the crewmen jumped into action. They hauled up long wooden boxes and flipped open latches to reveal contraptions with metal tubes and wooden stocks. On every ship the men manned the rails, kneeling with the instruments pointed in the direction of the wall. His own men continued to board the vessels, ushered below decks as quickly as they loaded until every man was off the pier.
The Northern captain shouted above the cacophony of panic from the regular army. “Steady your aim, boys!” The first line of soldiers rounded the row of buildings that led to the pier. With swords drawn they sprinted down the wharf. “Fire!”
Robert jumped at the explosions. Every crewman aboard every vessel fired into the advancing army, dropping them one by one as they ran. As soon as one man fired and reloaded, a man behind him would stand and fire. As he reloaded the man in front was ready and thus the cycle continued. Eventually the vanguard lay dead on the pier and the second wave faltered, hanging back to analyze what transpired.
A moment of panic gripped Robert. He ran to Max and shouted over the explosions, “Where is Sarai?”
“I haven’t seen her, but I sent Titus to fetch her and the prisoners!”
“Braston! Can you hold them off a little longer?”
The bearded pirate narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong, Esterling?”
For a brief moment, Robert saw a darkness pass through the man that raised an alarm in his mind. “We’re waiting for several more from the palace, and I need to ensure they get through.”
“And my friends?”
“Among them.”
“Then I’ll go with you.” Turning to the one-eyed man, he shouted, “Krill! I’m going ashore. Cover us until I get back. If I’m not back before the troops are loaded, get the fleet out of here!”
Max stepped in front of Robert and put a hand up. “Absolutely not! I can’t allow you to do this, Robert!”
“Max. I’ll be fine. I can do more out there than you or anyone else. Now move aside and get the men aboard.”
After a moment, Reeves stepped aside without argument. “Be careful, My Liege.”
“Always.” A screech overhead announced the arrival of Arne and the pirates jumped backward as the giant eagle landed gently on Robert’s shoulder. He spoke to his feathered friend, “Go find her!” With another squawk, the great bird rose into the air and took off in the direction of the keep. Robert ran after him and Braston followed.
Braen marveled at the confidence in the boy. They raced through the streets, avoided invaders, and ducked through alleyways that would have otherwise confused the bearded captain. He caught glimpses of the massive eagle flying overhead and kept reminding himself that the Esterling prince could see through its eyes. Handy trick, that. When Robert stopped running, Braen nearly bowled him over.
“What’s wrong?” He asked with concern for his friends.
“They’re just ahead, half a block.”
Braen drew his cutlass and axe. “Then press forward, Boy! Why hesitate?”
The young man wheeled with eyes ablaze. “That’s the first and last time you’ll call me ‘boy,’ Braston.”
“This isn’t the time to argue over titles, Esterling.” Braen grew restless, eager to race into battle to save the others.
“From now on, you’ll address me as King Esterling, King Robert, or Your Majesty. Realize your place if you want me to refer to you as King Braston.”
“Again, this isn’t the time!” Pointing down the street he added, “We’re running out of precious seconds and the Falconers will find them before we do.”
Something in the boy’s face changed, causing Braen worry. “What is it?” He asked, “What are you so afraid of?”
Robert turned in the direction of their friends. “Something much worse than Falconers. I’ve dealt with those, but I don’t know how to fight these.”
The northerner felt his back straighten with alarm. “Start talking and tell me everything we’re up against.”
“Tonight, there were others with the Falconers, men and women dressed in animal skins and accompanied by large jungle cats.” There’re too many of them ahead, and they have Captain Titus and the others pinned down.”
“I’m not worried about cats.” Braen pushed by the boy and started walking down the street.
“The earthquake earlier was their doing,” Robert called after, freezing the large man in his tracks.
“Earthquake, you say?” Braen felt his hopes sink. “And they have animal companions?”
“Yes.”
“Shit. They’re just like Eusari then.”
“You’ve seen them before?”“I’ve seen something like them, and they’re more powerful than we on dry land.” He asked, “How many did you say are ahead of us?”
“I see fifteen of the beasts, but I assume there are Falconers as well.”
“Then we need to come up with a plan.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Captain Titus hurried into the keep. General Reeves had stressed urgency, and so he sprinted toward the royal apartments. The quake had slowed him a little, but he had recovered with renewed vigor when he realized that it had not been a natural phenomenon. He pounded on the Queen’s door until she answered. Concern weighed her scarred face.
“What was that shaking, Titus?”
“I’m not certain, Your Highness, but I think the walls are falling. Robert wants you to hurry and meet him aboard Braston’s ship.”
“Braston’s here?” She scrunched her nose in a grimace. She had never cared for fighting men and considered them just above pirates. “They made a deal?”
“Apparently so, Ma’am. I have to gather the prisoners.” He quickly glanced down the hall, worried that they were running out of time. “Please hurry and meet me downstairs.” She nodded and began scooping clothing into a bag. “No time, Your Highness! We don’t have time to grab valuables.”
Sarai paused and looked at the items she was packing. None of them were necessary for their escape, least of which was the silver mirror in her hand. She stared at the scars distorting her image and threw the gawdy item on the bed with disgust. “Even so, I do need to pack a few things. You go and I’ll meet you downstairs.”
He raced to the staircase and down a flight. The guards in front of the two rooms snapped to attention as he approached. “Gather all three and bring them outside. The girl too. Hurry! We have to get to the docks.”
One of the soldiers looked at the door behind him. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
“Open the damned door and let her out.” Titus pushed open the other door and the two men inside rose instantly to their feet.
/>
The older man, Pogue, spoke first. “What’s going on? We felt the quake.”
“We believe that they’re attacking tonight.” Sounds of artillery resounded, confirming his words as one of the guards stepped around Titus with shackles.
The other man, Horslei, pointed. “What are those for? Where are you taking us?”
“Braston is here to extricate us from the city, but you’re still the King’s prisoners until your trial.” Titus felt urgency as the cannonade briefly paused. “We’re running out of time. Put these on and let’s go.”
Pogue shook his head. “If they’re breaching the walls then we’ll go peacefully but without chains. Bring our swords.”
“Absolutely not!”
A woman’s voice spoke from the doorway. “Amash, if armed, do you pledge to turn your weapons over when we get to the boats?”
Horslei first exchanged a look with Pogue but answered truthfully to his sister. “If we get aboard Malfeasance alive, we’ll figure it out then.” He pointed at the soldiers gathered in the room. “But each of us is worth ten of them in a fight, so it’s in your best interest. Besides,” he pointed at Marita, smiling and standing behind Sarai, “we all know she’s the biggest badass in the group.”
Titus heard shouts from the streets below. “We don’t have time for this. I won’t shackle you, but I won’t give you swords.”
The small squad led the queen downstairs where they met up with two more soldiers and Captain Dominique. The pirate captain growled at his captors, rattling his chains in anger. When he saw Pogue and Horslei his face contorted with rage. “What’s this? I’m bound like an animal while these murderers walk free?”
Titus shoved him forward as he passed. “Move.” To the small contingent he ordered, “Get us to the ships as quick as possible.” And then he added, “The queen is your priority if things go wrong.”
They emerged into a warzone. The enemy flowed into the city but were slowed as they funneled through three fallen sections of the wall. That’s good, he thought, the bottleneck will slow their advance. From the direction of the docks, Titus heard small explosions and shouts. Luckily for his squad the soldiers ahead seemed intent on aiding in that battle and weren’t fanning out to storm the rest of the city. “We’ll have to go around the buildings on the right to avoid the soldiers. Hurry!”
They sprinted down the street with Dominique staggering and tripping once over the chains. His guards hauled him up immediately and half dragged him as they ran. “Take these damn things off and let me run!”
“Quiet, Fool!” Pogue hissed under his breath, “You’ll bring them down on us!”
“Too late.” Horslei pointed at the sky, “Their spies already spotted us.”
Titus squinted high into the clouds, thankful for the light of the fires illuminating the bellies of two large hawks circling above. “I think we’re okay. There’s only two of them.”
“Only two?” Dominique faltered and again fell to the ground. With a moan he tried to right himself, but he again tumbled, striking his head on bricks. “These chains will get us all killed if you don’t release me,” he wheezed softly, holding his hand to his bloodied forehead. “I want out of here as bad as you, and my only option is with Braston.” He held his outstretched hands for Pogue, defiant and refusing to budge any further.
“Oh, for Cinder’s sake let him loose, Alec!” Horslei pointed up at the sky and the looming raptors. “Marita, can you do something about those?”
The little girl smiled and quickly thrust him a fist with an upward thumb. She is so odd and touched in the head, Titus lamented as he went to work on the pirate captain’s shackles. With the turn of a key they dropped to the ground with a metallic thud.
“And now my feet,” the slaver ordered, and the captain knelt to comply.
A screech from above turned his attention toward the birds, just in time to witness one turn midflight and attack the other. “That was her?” He asked Amash with amazement in his voice. “I didn’t know that was possible.”
“She does a lot of things we don’t expect.” The answer came from Pogue who placed a fatherly hand on the girl’s shoulder, giving her a squeeze of approval. With his other hand he pointed at the waterfront. “Let’s move.”
Before anyone could take a step, six sleek cats sauntered into the street ahead of them. A low growl from behind revealed that nine more had circled their flanks. The animals were enormous, and each rivaled a northern sabre cat with their massive jaws. Captain Titus quickly ordered his soldiers, “Cover Queen Sarai!”
“For Cinder’s sake, someone give us our blasted swords!” One of the soldiers complied and Pogue, Horslei, and Creech joined the fighters as they formed a circle around the woman and the girl.
The beasts abruptly leapt as a unit and Titus swung his blade, catching one of the great cats in the shoulder, deflecting its bite. His own muscles screamed from the impact, having struck a solid beast. Movement caught his eye, and he watched in awe as two sword masters went to work. Amash Horslei and Alec Pogue wielded their dual blades like artists painting canvas, with deliberate strokes that colored the world around them.
The two men danced amid a flourish of steel as they spun and sliced through flesh, felling beast after beast. Pogue ducked under the jaws of one and immediately sidestepped an attack from a second. Titus watched as instinct alerted the man to a third attack from behind. Kneeling to the ground, he spun onto the opposite foot and drove his blade upward and into the animal’s heart.
Horslei fought with the same graceful technique. His fluid evasiveness rivaled the agility of the cats, dancing and weaving while biting their hides with steel. At one point the man whirled and faced two attackers from opposite directions. They flew through the air with teeth bared and Amash knelt, making a smaller target as the beasts converged. At the last moment, he crossed blades and drove both points home, disappearing beneath the massive cats with the tips of his blades protruding from their backs.
In seconds, the two men had fought off the initial attack, driving back eight of the jaguars and felling seven. Titus and his squad continued to protect the queen and the young girl beside her. “Form up,” he shouted, “prepare for a second assault!” Before the men could move, a gust of wind pinned the team up against the wall. Unable to move, he and the others were like insects in a collector’s frame. The captain felt ivy branches twisting around his arms and legs, locking him in place as he tried to speak over the sustained wind. “Marita!” He choked out the words, “Do something, dearie!”
Marita felt the tiny tendrils curl tightly against her arms and legs as her clouded mind cleared. The sudden arrival of the giant cats had terrified her, and, in her panic, she had forgotten to protect her friends and Lady Sarai. Other than Gelert, she had never seen such a massive animal. I could have protected them, was her final thought before a sudden gust of wind pressed her and her friends tighter against the wall. The pressure took her breath away, causing her to panic and momentarily lose sight of the threads woven by the Falconers. Black and brilliant specks swam in her vision as each breath drew less air than before.
She tried to reach out to feel her restraints, but they were of a different substance. Although she could feel something coursing through the veins of the branches, the sensation was different than when the girl touched the air. Her thoughts turned to her mother, standing like an apparition before her. Why can’t I feel the vines, Mama?
“Because they are of a different affinity than you possess, sweet daughter.” Her mother was as beautiful as the day she died, long auburn hair brushing her shoulders and framing her smiling face.
What is affinity, Mother? I don’t know that word.
“It means that you are sensitive to the air and the vines are of the soil, bound in carbon and the leftovers of decay.”
Marita understood her mother’s words. Over the past few months she had l
earned to master the swirling gasses and molecules that surrounded the world and reached into heaven. It made sense that the ground would have similar molecules that other emotants, like Eusari, could touch. Help me understand, Mama. She pleaded with deep sadness in her heart. Why are these evil people trying to hurt us?
“Because I sent them to find you, Marita. I was worried that they would teach you how to hate and sow chaos.”
That doesn’t make sense, Mama. They are a family to me, and I love them. I’m looking after them and teaching them to smile like you showed me. Tears fell down her tender cheeks as they talked. I even give them the sign of hope that you taught me! Marita managed to stick her tiny thumb up into the air and smiled broadly for her mother.
“Marita!” Someone screamed beside her. “Marita, don’t listen to her!” The voice of Alec Pogue drew her closer to reality.
“But it’s Mama, Alec.”
“No, dearie! Your mother is dead!”
His words confused Marita because, although she knew that her mother was passed on, he should see that Mama stood before them, wiping the tears from her crying face. She smiled at the tender touch of her fingers against her cheeks.
“Look closer at her face, Sweet Dear!”
“But she’s here, Alec.” She protested. “She’s here to take care of me.”
“She’s a Falconer, dearie! Open your eyes and see!”
Marita’s eyes focus against the spots swimming before them, resting on a vile specter. Instead of flowing auburn hair, she stared at a bald head without even an eyelash. This woman’s eyes were round and not hazel as she remembered. Two blood red orbs stared up at her, piercing the night with intensity. Something about the specter’s features were familiar to the child, as if she had seen them before.
