“I wonder if we can use that information to help us out of this jam?” said Sheridan, rubbing a hand over his bristly chin.
“Odd you should mention that,” said Katin as she walked back into the room. “The Shaman used this precise knowledge of the ancient texts to convince the city’s ruler that we all had a common bond in the past, and as such, you should be treated not as enemies, but as long-lost brothers.”
“Really lost brothers,” joked Cole.
“Whew, that’s a load off my mind,” said Sheridan.
“What can you tell us about the town’s ruler?” asked Tarina.
“He’s a very fat, old man with an eye for young maidens. His name is Kun, and the young warrior who escorted my brother and me to meet the ruler is his son. His name is Kyrran and he oversees the town’s defenses.”
“Are there any other settlements nearby?” asked Wendy.
Katin nodded. “There are four more in Kun’s fiefdom.”
“How interesting,” said Sheridan.
“Come again?” said Katin.
“There are five royal families in the Kurgan Empire, and here on this moon, they seem to have divided up a ruler’s span of control into five cities. I never knew the number five was so important to your culture.”
“Nor did I until you pointed it out.”
“This is all very fascinating, but can we please focus on the matter at hand?” said Cole. “Has Kun agreed to let us go on our way before General Kordus arrives?”
Katin crossed her arms. “Not exactly.”
“Not exactly, how?” said Sheridan.
“Lord Kun has agreed in principle to let me, my brother, and the two Terran women go in peace. Unfortunately, he’s more than a bit eccentric and wants to see how tough the two of you are. He has given his word to let you and Alan go free if you win a game of Kahuatal against two of his handpicked players.”
“Kahu…what?” said Cole, shaking his head.
“It’s a ball game played with sticks in which two men per side try to get a small, hard rubber ball into their opponents’ basket,” explained Katin.
“That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“The only rule that I am aware of is that there are no rules. I’ve read ancient accounts of the game in which one team beat the other to death.”
“I take it back,” said Cole. “This may not be such a good idea after all.”
Sheridan shook his head. “Besides killing your opponents, how do you win this game?”
“First team to get the rubber ball in their opponent’s basket is declared the winner.”
“And if Michael and Alan lose, then what?” asked Tarina.
“You had best win, or you won’t walk off the ball court alive,” responded Katin.
Tarina shook her head. “There has to be a better way than this.”
Sheridan raised a hand. “Katin, tell Kun that we accept his challenge.”
“Michael, why are you doing this?” said Tarina, her voice trembling with fear. “You heard her. This isn’t some rough and tumble game. They intend to try to kill you.”
Sheridan took his wife’s hands in his and looked into her eyes. “My love, they’re going to let you go free. I couldn’t ask for a better outcome.”
“I could. I don’t want you to die.”
“Don’t worry,” said Cole. “I’ve never played fair in my life. If these buggers want a scrap, then we’ll give them one, and when the dust settles, we’ll be the ones left standing.”
“You’d better be, or I’ll lay a beating on you that you won’t ever forget,” said Wendy.
Katin offered her hand to Sheridan. “Then it’s done. I’ll tell Lord Kun that you have agreed to his terms.”
He shook her hand and felt her slip something into his palm. “Yes, your highness, please do.”
“Come,” said Katin to Tarina and Wendy.
Tarina, unable to control her feelings anymore, threw her arms around her husband and held him tight.
“Go with Katin, and I’ll see you in a little while,” said Sheridan before leaning down to kiss Tarina on the forehead.
She nodded, let go, and walked away with her head held low.
Sheridan looked down at his hand. In his palm was a small, razor-sharp decorative blade. He slid it into a pocket and turned to face Cole. “So, what’s your game plan?”
His friend grinned. “As soon as the game starts the Kurgs will go for the ball, and we, my friend, will go for them, and don’t think about stopping until both of the bastards are dead or incapacitated.”
Chapter 17
A ceremonial brass horn shaped like a serpent blared loudly from the top of the tallest pyramid calling the town’s people to the arena in the center of the city. All daily life came to a standstill as everyone stopped what they were doing and made their way to the court.
Tarina clenched her jaw and glared at Lord Kun as the obese ruler, surrounded by four young maidens, lifted a golden cup to his lips and chugged down the wine. She didn’t mask her disgust that her husband’s life was on the line to satisfy the corpulent sovereign’s curiosity. She and Wendy sat behind Katin and Kobak, who were in the front row looking down on the playing field. Tarina was unnerved at seeing several large Kurgans standing guard nearby with drawn swords in their hands.
The noise from the crowd grew louder by the minute as the spectators rushed to get a good seat. A loud cheer erupted when Kun’s favorite players walked out onto the court and raised their sticks in a salute to their fellow Kurgans. The players were stripped down to their waists. Red and yellow painted stripes adorned their faces and chests.
“Jesus, those two warriors are enormous,” said Wendy to Tarina. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kurgans who stood that tall before.”
Tarina bit her lip. Wendy was right. The players looked like they had been groomed to play the sport.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure Alan and Mike have already figured out a way to get out of this mess,” said Wendy.
“This is torture. I can’t just sit here and watch my husband die,” said Tarina.
Wendy took Tarina’s hand in hers. “I’m scared too, but we’ve got to be positive. Our friends need our support.”
Tarina nodded and said a silent prayer.
A loud hiss erupted from the stands as Sheridan and Cole marched out onto the stone court.
“I don’t think we’re the odds-on favorites to win the match,” said Cole, waving a two-fingered salute to the raucous crowd.
“I think you may be right,” replied Sheridan, feeling the weight of the bat in his hands. It was heavy with a cup on the end for scooping up the ball.
When they reached the middle of the court, the guards stopped, turned around, and marched off, leaving the two Marines to size up their opponents. Both Kurgans were covered in muscles and stood a head taller than Cole.
Kyrran, Lord Kun’s son, walked out to the cheers of the spectators. In his hand was a black rubber ball.
Sheridan clenched his stick tight in his hands. “Looks like it’s game time.”
“Which one do you want?” asked Cole, staring at their opponents.
“Let’s keep it simple. I’ll take the one in front of me.”
“Sounds good. Remember what I told you; don’t stop until your arms are ready to fall off.”
The familiar feeling of fear and adrenaline shot through Sheridan’s body as he steeled himself to fight for his life.
Kyrran walked between the two teams and waved for them to move closer to him. He held the ball high above his head and looked at his father.
Lord Kun struggled to stand. Supported by his maidens, he waved at the spectators.
An anxious silence gripped the crowd.
The ruler nodded at his son, raised his arm, and then dropped it.
A loud, lusty cheer sounded from the throats of the large crowd.
Sheridan’s eyes narrowed. He waited for his opportunity to strike.
Kyrran threw the ball high
into the air and jumped out of the way. Just as Cole predicted, the two Kurgans leaped into the air to try to catch the ball in the cup on their sticks.
With a cry from deep inside Sheridan’s chest, he took a step forward and hauled his stick back. Before his opponent’s feet touched the ground, Sheridan swung his bat as hard as he could into the Kurgan’s exposed ribcage. He felt the stick strike home, shattering several of the Kurgan’s ribs. The player staggered back on his feet. In a flash, Sheridan brought his stick around and smashed it hard against the stunned Kurgan’s head, knocking him to the ground. He looked around and spotted Cole standing over his adversary, pummeling the Kurgan’s bloody head with his bat. Sheridan felt sorry for his opponent. It was hardly a fair fight, but it was never intended to be that way. He ignored his conscience and brought his stick down onto the prostrate Kurgan’s head, knocking him out cold.
A loud hiss filled the air. Outraged Kurgans threw food and yelled obscenities at the Marines.
Lord Kun, helped by his maidens, stood and brought his arms up, silencing the crowd.
Tarina tapped Katin on the shoulder. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “Your people won fair and square. I don’t think Lord Kun or the crowd expected such a quick end to the match.”
Kun looked down onto the court and shook his bulbous head. He said something to one of his maidens who stepped forward and repeated his words to the onlookers. In a matter of seconds, the spectators’ depression changed to boisterous cheering.
“What the hell did she just say?” Tarina asked Katin.
“Two more players have been called for,” explained Katin. “He’s promised the crowd your friends’ heads.”
Tarina bolted straight up and yelled, “You bastard, you can’t do that!”
A guard shoved his sword in her face.
Wendy grabbed Tarina’s arm and pulled her back down onto her seat. “Easy does it, girl. I don’t need to see your head sliced off right in front of me.”
Katin leaned back and whispered. “Have faith. Your friends will be okay.”
“How can you say that?” asked Tarina.
“Because I’ve helped to rig the game.”
Sheridan knelt while he caught his breath. The battered bodies of their first opponents were dragged off the court, leaving a trail of blood behind them in the sand.
“Looks like we’ve got some more company coming our way,” said Cole, indicating with his stick to an open door where two more Kurgans walked out.
“Any more bright ideas?”
“Well, they won’t fall for the trap we sprang on the last pair, so we should fall back to our basket and wait for them to come to us.”
“How is that a plan?”
“Follow my lead and remove any thoughts of compassion or mercy from your mind.”
“I did that for the last guy.”
“Well, do it again. These two are going to try to break every bone in our bodies before they finish us off.
Kyrran walked onto the playing field and picked up the rubber ball. He lofted it high in the air before tossing it back to the two Kurgan players.
A deafening roar filled the stands.
“Now,” said Cole to Sheridan, turning to run back to defend their basket. The two Marines came to a sliding halt with their wicker basket behind them.
“Break your stick,” said Cole, placing his bat on the ground and kicking it with his right foot until the bottom snapped off leaving him with a sharp end.
Sheridan rushed to break his stick and brought it up just in time. With their sticks held above their heads, the Kurgans ran straight at the two Marines. The one with the ball in his bat fell back behind his partner intent on using him as a battering ram.
“I’ll take the first one, you take the second,” said Cole.
When the Kurgans were only a few meters away, the lead player lowered his head and dove at Cole. With reflexes honed in war, Cole pivoted on his heel and moved to one side. His adversary had no time to react. With both hands wrapped around his stick, Cole plunged it into the Kurgan’s back. The injured player hit the ground, rolled over on his shoulder, and got to his feet. He bared his teeth and yanked the bloody stick from his back. Cole yelled as he dove at the Kurgan, taking him down to the ground. In seconds, both men rolled back and forth trying to grab hold of their opponent’s neck.
The second Kurgan saw his partner’s fate and stopped.
Sheridan braced himself. He pointed his bat at the Kurgan, waving the pointed end in his face. The Kurgan hesitated for a second before bringing his bat back and hurling the ball at Sheridan’s stomach. A split second later, the ball hit him square in his midsection, knocking him to his knees, gasping for air.
The Kurgan saw his moment to attack and lunged at Sheridan, wrapping his arms around his neck and squeezing it as tight as he could.
Sheridan dropped his stick, reached up, and tried to break his adversary’s grip on his throat. His vision began to narrow as his brain was starved of oxygen. In the back of his mind, Katin’s face appeared. In her hand was something. With mere seconds left before he passed out, Sheridan reached into his pocket and pulled out the small knife Katin had given him. He shot his hand up and thrust the blade into the Kurgan’s right eye. Blood shot like a fountain from the wound.
The Kurgan howled in pain and released Sheridan.
Free of his attacker, Sheridan fought to fill his lungs with oxygen. He rolled over, spotted his dropped bat, and crawled over to pick it up. Sheridan wrapped his right hand around the stick and got to his knees. He looked over at Cole and saw him choking the life out his adversary. Sheridan staggered to his feet and walked toward his opponent. The Kurgan lay on the ground writhing in agony. No matter what Cole had said, Sheridan didn’t have it in him to finish off the Kurgan. The man was just doing his duty. Sheridan looked up at Lord Kun, shook his head, and tossed his stick to the ground.
“He doesn’t deserve to die for your entertainment,” yelled Sheridan.
The arena fell quiet.
Sheridan helped a sweat-and-blood covered Cole to his feet.
“You’re getting soft as you get older,” said Cole.
“Combat is one thing, killing for the pleasure of others is another,” replied Sheridan.
Cole brought a hand to his eyes to block out the sun. “Say, what’s everyone looking at?”
Sheridan turned his head and looked up the spectators. The crowd got to its feet. Some began to point at something in the sky. Sheridan’s stomach dropped when he recognized the disc-shaped object hovering in the air as a Kurgan Army drone.
“Damn, it’s too late to run and hide, the buggers have found us,” said Cole.
Chapter 18
“Run!” yelled Tarina as she grabbed Kobak by the shoulders and yanked him out of his seat.
Katin jumped up and took her brother by the arm.
“That way,” said Wendy, pointing toward an exit. A young guardsman lowered his sword and moved to block their way. Wendy, with all the strength she could muster, pushed her right shoulder into him as hard as she could, knocking him over.
Tarina looked over her shoulder as the drone fired off one of its missiles. The deadly projectile hit the spot they had just vacated, blasting it to rubble. Anyone unfortunate enough to be near the explosion was torn to pieces.
Fear swept the arena. The spectators rushed for the narrow exits.
The drone pivoted in the air. A second missile struck Lord Kun’s bench, killing him and the people around him. Jagged rocks and burning pieces of debris rained down on the panic-stricken spectators adding fuel to the fire. The terrified onlookers stampeded over their fellow Kurgans who had been knocked to the ground.
Tarina saw a way out just off to her left and pushed her way past a vendor who dropped his tray of snacks and fled. A third projectile hit the arena, knocking everyone off their feet.
“Katin!” screamed Kobak, falling to the ground.
Tarina’s
ears rang. She sat up, looked back, and swore. A cloud of dust swept over her friends, blocking them from sight. Tarina stood, took Kobak by the hand, and pulled him behind her. “Wendy, Katin, are you all right?”
A dust-covered figure crawled out of the swirling cloud, coughing and gasping for air. It was Katin.
Tarina’s heart dropped when she couldn’t see Wendy. She let go of Kobak, edged forward slightly, and almost fell into a hole blasted through the stands. Tarina dropped to her knees and looked down. There was a pile of dead Kurgan bodies, but no sign of Wendy. She smashed her fist on the floor before getting back on her feet. A second drone arrived and maneuvered in for a shot. Tarina didn’t want to abandon her closest friend but she had no choice. She spun around, helped Katin to her feet, and guided her down a flight of stairs and into a darkened passageway under the arena.
“Are you hurt?” Tarina asked Katin.
“No, just winded,” replied the princess, wiping the dust from her face.
The sound of another missile strike reverberated down from above. The shattered bodies of several Kurgans fell to the ground at the entrance to the corridor.
“You two have to change your clothes fast,” said Tarina. “The drone operator zeroed in on you because of how you are dressed.”
Katin slipped off her golden bracelets and looked around for something to wear.
“Here. Help me strip the clothes off these dead Kurgans,” said Tarina to the siblings.
Kobak stood staring wide-eyed at the bloodied bodies. He shook his head, refusing to move.
Tarina tried her best to block the horrid images of the dead Kurgans at her feet as she removed their long brown robes. She tossed a set of clothes at Kobak and then helped Katin remove her gown and slip into a blood-and dirt-encrusted robe.
“Kobak!” snapped Katin. “Change or I’ll make you do it in front of the Terran woman.”
The youth turned away from his sister and removed his armor. He hesitated for a moment before slipping the blood-streaked robe over his body.
Crimson Fire (The Kurgan War Book 8) Page 9
