The Hunted

by Andrew Wichland

  “Maybe it has something to do with that,” Freya said and pointed.

  They gaped at the large caravan moving toward the city made of both people riding mounts and vehicles.

  The grandest was a large, hovering litter with four silver, elegant pillars intricately carved with gold holding up closed silk curtains. It was being driven by a team of four of the horse-like creatures they had seen at the Raiders’ encampment.

  The people they saw were dressed like the three of them in flowing robes that shifted with their movements and the desert breeze, as well as headscarves which protected most of their faces from the sun. Most, from what Robin could see, at least, were armed with rifles slung over their shoulders.

  “That just might be our way in,” Robin said, a smile on his face. “That is, if we can mingle in and pass as one of them. Let’s circle around and come up behind them.” Again, they climbed back on their riders and pulled a tight one-eighty.

  Once they were out of sight of the city, Robin and LJ turned in the direction of the caravan. When they found the tracks of the animals some members of the caravan rode, they followed them back toward the city. Soon enough, the caravan came into sight, and when they drew close, the pair slowed to match the speed of a couple riders on the sides of the caravan.

  To be even less noticeable, the three deactivated their helmets. Robin paused when the air hit his covered face.

  “What’s wrong?” Freya asked when she felt him tense.

  Not answering, he lifted one hand from the handlebar to lower part of the fabric covering his face to expose his nose. He then took in a deep sniff of air.

  Slowly, he turned to the litter, eyes wide in surprise. “It can’t be,” he murmured. “What are the friggin’ odds?” Before they could stop him, he moved his rider to the side.

  “Robin, what the heck are you doing?” Freya hissed as he moved toward the litter.

  When he drew close, he said, “How was your journey, milady?”

  There was a brief pause. “How do you think?” a soft voice finally answered.

  A grin grew on his face. “It’s nice to see you off Anduria.”

  Again there was a pause, and then a hand suddenly appeared and whipped the curtain open. “Who are you?” Marian demanded, eyeing him.

  In answer, Robin lifted the tinted goggles from his eyes before he lowered the cloth wrapped around the lower half of his face.

  To say the look on her face was of shock was like saying the desert sand was dry. Her eyes grew so big that Robin was worried they were going to pop out of their sockets.

  “Princess Marian?” a familiar voice said.

  She turned as Robin replaced the cloth over his face.

  “Is this man bothering you?” the voice asked. Robin saw it belonged to Alan.

  “No,” she quickly answered. “It’s hot out, and I want him and his patrol to join me on the litter for now.”

  “But Princess…” Alan started to protest.

  “Now!” she snapped and withdrew behind the curtain.

  Without looking at Alan, Robin moved back to LJ. “We’re getting a ride,” he murmured, and his friend glanced at him. “While we’re on it, call me Ryuu.”

  In no time, the three were seated on the litter designed like a giant bed or sofa with various sized pillows and cushions to lounge on. Almost as soon as he was seated, Robin was enveloped in Marian’s arms, and she held him tight.

  “I was so worried about you, Ryuu,” she said into his ear.

  “Nice to know,” he said, raising his goggles and lowering the cloth again.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” Marian asked, sitting back on the cushions around them and fingering her necklace. “The last I saw of you, you were chained to the wall of a ship like a dog.”

  “Well, that’s how he treated people like me.”

  “Uh, excuse me?”

  They looked at LJ as he raised his goggles and lowered the cloth covering his face, as well. “Could one of you tell me what the heck is going on?” he asked, looking from one to the other. “Ryuu, how do you know her? Who is she?”

  “Do you want it answered in that order?” Robin asked, a slight grin on his face. Little John shot him a exasperated look eyebrows arched high.

  “Okay,” Robin said, his grin growing. “I know her because she bought me.” Blinking, LJ looked at her. “As for who she is,” Robin continued, “she is Marian, one of the last princesses of the non-magical thrones.”

  Again, LJ blinked, looking at Robin before his gaze shifted back to Marian.

  “Marian,” he continued, and she looked at him, “this is Bryan, a very old friend.” He waved his hand toward LJ.

  “Nice to meet you,” Marian said with a nod.

  “Likewise,” a still-stunned Little John said. “Do I call you Your Majesty? Your Highness? Should I bow?” he asked after a moment.

  “Marian would be just fine,” she reassured him with a smile before she turned to Freya. “And you?”

  She turned her covered face to the princess. “I’m—”

  “A friend,” Robin interrupted before she could finish, and Marian looked at him. “She’s a friend we recently picked up.”

  “I see,” the princess said, eyeing the fabric over Freya’s face. “I am curious.” She looked at Robin. “How in the name of the Gold Dragon did you escape?”

  Thinking fast, Robin shrugged at her question. “Hey, let’s just say it took a lot of digging.”

  She blinked, surprised. “And the nanites?”

  “It took some time, but an improvised EMP device later, they were no more,” he explained, and again she blinked in surprise. “After that, I linked back up with Bryan and my other friends, and we made our way to Tortuga. The rest, as they say, is history.”

  Lowering her gaze, Marian nodded. “I can’t say how happy I am to now know you escaped,” she said, looking up at him, “and I’m sorry about your sister.”

  Frowning, Robin’s mouth parted slightly in worry. “Freya?” he asked. “What about Freya?”

  She took a breath to steady herself. “I tried my best to barter for her and Tekmet to join me on Anduria, but I was told they and two others had been executed in an escape attempt,” she said with sorrow. Robin fell back against the cushioned seating, his face slack in shock. “I am so sorry.”

  Slowly, he looked at her. “Thank you for telling me,” he said softly, his voice full of grief.

  She nodded. “Now, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you on Tortuga?”

  Running a hand down his face, he looked back at her. “Because I’m looking for my brother.”

  Her head jutted back in disbelief. “Well, this day has no end to surprises.”

  Robin shrugged. “That’s what happens with triplets. Now, why are you here?”

  She shrugged with a wave of her hand. “I try to make visits to these backwater worlds. If the people get hope from seeing me, then I’ll do it—maybe even bring them to a better place, if I can.”

  “Like Anduria?” he asked.

  “I guess so,” she agreed, looking away. “The last Dragon Knight died to keep my family safe. I guess it’s my way of proving myself worthy of that sacrifice from such a brave man, like many of my ancestors have done before me. No matter how small, it always helps to see the grateful look in their eye.” She looked at them again.

  “No wonder you spoiled those kids rotten at that replica of your ancient family home,” Robin said, and she glanced his way, “or insisted I spoil them when you couldn’t.”

  “I never insisted,” Marian protested.

  “Uh, excuse me?” They all looked at Freya’s hidden face. “Don’t we have more immediate things to worry about?”

  “Right,” Marian said, nodding. “But why did you come to me—and how did you know it was me?”

  “Well, we need your help,” Robin answered, “getting into the city.” She lowered her gaze in thought as he peeked out the curtain. “And as for knowing it was you,” he continued
, looking at her again, “no two people smell the same.”

  Chapter 21

  Promises

  After Marian and Robin had enough time to sort out a plan of action, Robin and LJ once more masked their faces and got back on their riders, taking up a defensive position around the litter. Freya rode behind LJ.

  When they reached the gate, Robin held his breath as the guards questioned the caravan leader, relaxing only when they were waved through. When they were all inside the giant doorway, the three moved once more toward the litter.

  “You have to leave again?” Marian asked, drawing back the curtain to look at them. “Once more we have to part.”

  Robin smiled, lowering the fabric covering the lower part of his face. “At least now one of us doesn’t have to be carried away in chains,” he said, and she cocked a grin.

  “Do you think we’ll get lucky enough to run into each other again?” she asked. “Somewhere out there, among the stars?”

  He grinned back. “Keep those French doors in your rooms unlocked and I might find a way to drop in,” he said with a slight nod. Robin then looked at his companions and lifted one hand over his head with a circular motion. After gunning the engines, the three turned into the city down a side road, away from the convoy.

  Stopping at a corner, Robin turned in his seat and glanced back toward the caravan. The litter’s curtains remained closed as it continued on its way. When it disappeared from his sight, he revved the engine and shot down the street to catch up with the others.

  When he reached them, they sat idly, LJ looking at him with his elbow propped on the handlebars. Though his face was covered, Robin was willing to bet he had a wise guy grin across his face. When he looked at Freya, he wasn’t sure what would be behind her cover.

  “What?” he finally asked.

  Slowly, Freya turned her back to him. She then hugged herself, hands going up and down her sides.

  “Oh, Ryuu…” she started to moan. “Oh, Marian…” she moaned again, deepening her voice, while LJ roared with laughter. “Oh, keep those French doors unlocked…I might find a way to drop in…”

  Trying not to laugh, but exasperated, he shook his head, looking away from them. “Okay, that’s enough.” he looked back at them, “and you are a bad influence on my sister.” He jabbed a finger at LJ as she turned, laughing.

  Little John shook his head. “Robin, she’s beautiful, rich, has the right name, and she’s a princess,” he counted off. “Don’t you think your standards are just a little high?”

  Chuckling, Robin shook his head. “There is nothing going on between me and her,” he protested.

  “Right,” LJ said over the comms, “and that glint in your eye when you were looking at her was just a reflection of the sun.”

  Rolling his eyes, Robin gave his friend a shove, sending him off his rider and onto the ground. Still laughing, he sped away.

  Chapter 22

  Ask for a Thief

  When Freya and Little John caught up, Robin’s eyes were on a swivel behind his goggles as he scanned the crowd, many of whom were dressed like the three of them.

  More than that, though, there were sentinels on every street and corner.

  “The phrase needle in a haystack comes to mind,” LJ said over the comms. “And what’s with all the sentinels?”

  “Good question,” Robin said, pulling his rider to a stop. “Looks like they’re looking for someone,” he said when he saw them asking people to uncover their faces.

  “That means Freya had better stay out of sight,” LJ said. “After all, she’s supposed to be dead.”

  He nodded in agreement. “Freya,” he said, looking at her, “you stick close to John and keep out of sight.”

  She quickly responded, “And what’s your plan for finding our brother before them?”

  “Hopefully, the same way I found you,” he answered, looking around again. “Is it just me or are the sentinels more interested in the covered women?” as they watched the sentinels practically ignore the men they encountered.

  “So, more than likely, they’re looking for a woman,” LJ muttered, “or a very small man.”

  “Yeah.” Robin glanced over at the sound of a group of people moving. “I don’t think he has to worry about that.”

  They all turned and nearly busted a gut at the sight of a fat man in regal robes and a headdress. He walked down the street followed by several people. A few carried bags for whatever he pointed at, whether food or objects; others carried a small tent to keep him out of the sun.

  “You think he runs the show here?” LJ asked.

  “I think he wishes he did.”

  Suddenly, Robin saw a small child dressed in rags nearly falling off his body. With a hungry look in his eye, he reached into one of the food bags.

  “THIEF!” the fat man barked, seizing the boy’s arm. “How dare you steal from me? I will see you in prison!” the robed man shouted, shaking the child as he cowered under the man’s fury.

  Face hardening, Robin slowly turned to the man.

  “What are you doing?” Little John demanded.

  Before he could answer, a feeling came over Robin—the same feeling he had felt when he first met Freya.

  As he looked at her, he saw her grow still as she started glancing around. Her eyes finally came to a stop on a person who had started toward the large man in robes—and who had stopped in his tracks to look right at them. He was dressed like them with his face completely covered. Robin guessed that, if they were standing side by side, they would be the same height.

  Slowly, he turned his back to them and walked to the man. “Tell me, do you have children?” he asked in a strong, deep voice.

  The man in robes turned to the figure. “What?” he demanded.

  “I say any man who would refuse food to a starving child deserves none of his own!” he snarled, slapping the hand of the man to make him let go of the boy.

  “HOW DARE YOU?” the man bellowed, forgetting about the boy as he darted away.

  “Ask for a thief,” the figure said.

  “And you shall receive one!” Robin barked on cue as he sped close on his rider. As he passed, he stretched out one hand and snatched a bag of food from one of the men.

  In a flash, he was out of there, the man shouting an alarm as he went. After rounding the corner, he came to a skidding stop at the sight of all the sentinels turning their weapons on him.

  “Other way, other way!” he told himself, leaning the rider in a loop as he pressed the activation of the helmet ring around his neck and his head.

  As he shot in the other direction, he rolled right-side up, dodging fire from the sentinels’ weapons as he went. He turned another corner and as he sped down the street he spied a group of children like the boy in ragged clothing. He tossed the bag of food at their feet as he passed them.

  “A gift from Robin Hood!” he called.

  In the rear-view camera on his helmet, he watched the children snatch the bag and duck out of sight. Smiling, he looked up as he took another turn. His smile suddenly dropped away, however, at the sight of four sentinels taking aim at him.

  Turning the rider, he skidded toward them, drawing his blaster, and opened fire. At once, two sentinels fell with shots to the head as they fired on him, hitting the rider where he had been. Leaping from the machine, Robin rolled across the ground as the sky rider collided with the sentinels and exploded.

  After coming to a rolling stop, Robin moaned, pulling off his helmet. “I’m going to need a new ride,” he said, rolling onto his back and coming face to face with the sentinel’s cannon. Glancing around, he saw his blaster three feet away.

  “You have been deemed hazardous,” the sentinel said as he reached for the blaster. “Surrender or be terminated.”

  At a whining charging sound, he rolled and the blaster cannon fired, leaving a small crater where his head had been.

  When he came to a stop, his blaster was several feet out of reach. Focusing, he reached f
or the weapon, willing it to shoot into his hand, but it remained motionless on the ground. Again, the sentinel turned his cannon on him. Remembering what Freya told him, he reached for the blaster as he focused on it.

  The weapon gave a small twitch and then shot forward, into his hand. In a flash, he leveled the weapon and fired, leaving a hole in the middle of the sentinel’s head. For a second, the sentinel just stood there; then, with a groan of metal, it toppled back, coming to a crashing stop against the ground.

  Exhaling deeply, Robin’s eyes shot to his hand holding the blaster. “I guess being a knight isn’t the only thing that runs in the family,” he muttered before climbing to his feet and darting down a side alley. Holstering the weapon, he rested against the wall of the alley.

  “Not bad”, he suddenly heard someone say .

  Chapter 23

  Adam

  At those words, Robin whipped around, pulling out the blaster pistol at his side. Taking aim down the alley, he eyed a silhouetted figure dressed smartly in loose clothing that billowed lightly in the wind.

  “That’s not going to do you much good,” the figure said.

  “Why not? I’m a pretty good shot,” Robin countered.

  “I’m not talking about me,” said the figure, lifting one hand to point.

  Glancing over his shoulder, Robin froze at the line of sentinels coming toward them. “I see your point!” Robin barked, darting toward the figure as the sentinels raised their arms and cannons popped up. As the pair rounded the corner, the machines opened fire.

  “This way!” the man said, leading him to a manhole cover. “Get in!” he barked after lifted it up.

  Without a word, Robin jumped in, arms crossed over his chest, and landed on a cobblestone platform that came to a sharp drop into what looked like a small river below. Glancing around, he eyed the old stone walls that curved up and around him.

  The figure jumped in after him, still holding the manhole over his head, and then putting it back in place.“Let’s go!” he said, grabbing Robin by the arm and leading him down the sewer.