by A D Lombardo
Victor motioned Kai forward. “Prince Kai, this is our humble town. It is small, but we are growing. My apologies, the fountain stopped working last autumn. We have yet to have it repaired.”
Near the stone fountain, a few people stood trying their best to smile and look pleasant. “Please meet some local people. Your people.” The old man wiped sweat from his brow.
The frail, frightened citizens waited for inspection. They were clearly hand-selected by Bevon, who stood close by. Nervous, they continued to glance from Bevon to Kai. They bowed respectfully but kept quiet. With Dresnor’s approval, Kai stepped forward, extending a hand to each person.
“Pleased to meet you. I am humbled to visit your town. I will be staying the summer and hope to see you again during my stay.” He held onto the last man’s hand and clasped his other hand on top. “I am here to help,” he added in a low tone.
Fearful and unable to do more, they all kept bowing and smiling until Victor dismissed them. Then Victor wrapped his chubby hand around Kai’s shoulder. “Forgive my people. They are shy, you understand. They have not seen royalty in almost a decade.”
The essence of the man turned Kai’s stomach. The scene around the square solidified Dresnor’s concerns. The entire town center was surrounded by Victor’s men. Three rows deep, they stood shoulder to shoulder, armed to the teeth. A show of force. Nearly a threat, their foreign leather armor stamped with a serpent. Not the royal wolf.
“Lord Hamrin, I am here to help you and your people. Clearly, you need assistance.” Kai kept his tone reserved; he’d seen that symbol before. The serpent from his vision. He could not help what he knew. Now all he could do was be brave and wait for the outcome to unfold. If only he knew how this would end.
Trying to sound genuine, he pulled Victor away from the others. “I know you don’t want to ask for help, but let me help you. Your people will thank you for it, and I will look good to my father. I can request a few supplies and spend the rest of my summer sailing and hunting. Or better yet, go home early. I don’t want to be here. This is boring.” Kai tried to sound uninterested.
Victor’s posture visibly relaxed, and he smiled over his shoulder to Bevon. “Yes, I think we can reach an understanding. Surely we can benefit each other. As you suggest, we can make a good show of this visit.”
Kai pulled away from Victor and motioned to his men to fall in while he pushed through Bevon’s men. He needed to get them to the orphanage. “Now let’s see the rest of your town.”
Victor followed while Bevon signaled his men, and they rushed ahead. Bevon sneered at Kai and whispered a few private words to the trailing duke. Visible anger swept across Victor’s face.
Along their route, people ducked inside of their homes. Doors slammed shut. A rare few peaked through tattered window coverings. Nobody dared come out and greet the prince, less they tangle with Bevon’s men. Each citizen was gaunter than the last. Their frail faces looked like ghosts peering through windowpanes.
The shoreline still smelled of decaying fish but had been cleared of debris. Beyond the wharf, the sun’s final rays melted into the distance. “This is our shipping yard. It’s not much, but we do with what we have.” Victor nodded and walked away.
Kai gleaned the lake searching for a boat approaching. Nothing. Aid from Diu was not coming to save them. On the shore, Victor leaned against a tree speaking with Bevon. Kai hopped off the pier and looked through the trees as they neared the south side. He saw Haygan.
He tried to remember how to find the orphanage. Unfamiliar with the town, Kai attempted to recall his predawn scamper. Silently they walked until he caught sight of the lights illuminating the orphanage. Distant through the trees, it stood alone in the fading light.
Again, Kai slipped between the Hamrin guards. He hastened his pace and made straight for the orphanage. “Lord Victor,” he asked. “What is this building used for?”
“There is nothing to see there, Prince Kai. It is only the town’s orphanage,” Victor stammered. “We have but a few children, abandoned by their parents. I do my best to provide a life for them. Let’s go back to the estate. We have much to discuss,” Victor pleaded, grabbing at Kai’s arm.
Kai stopped and bit the inside of his lip. He pulled the old man away from Bevon. “Victor. Can I call you Victor? I hear you have found a copper mine and a marble quarry. I have yet to see that. Tell me, between us, have they been profitable? Maybe we can discuss how the profit of the mines can also be mutually beneficial—an understanding, just between us.”
He let the old man go and marched up the path and pushed wide the two large front doors, followed by his Kempery-men and Drew. “Children, come out. I want to meet you. My name is Prince Kai Galloway. I am here to help you.”
He noticed Alissa rise from her chair, holding a small book as she stepped around a large wooden pillar. Slowly the other children scurried from their beds and clustered around her thin frame. Across her face, he noticed the large bruise she tried to hide with her short frizzy hair.
She patted the children’s heads, softly reassuring them. “My name is Miss Alissa Grimley, and these children are in my care. It is an honor to meet you, Prince Kai.” Nervously she pawed at the hair covering her cheek.
Appalled by the condition of the home, Kai observed the thin straw mattresses and dirty threadbare sheets. Rage fueled in the pit of Kai’s stomach as he looked out through the window. It was the same window he looked through before dawn.
When he turned around, Alissa was swarmed by the cowering children, their eyes focused on Bevon and Victor near the doorway. Bevon stood arms crossed about his muscular chest, fiercely warning them with his eyes to keep silent.
Kai’s three Kempery-men stood close by, hands on their hilts as they prepared to fight if things went wrong. Kai moved toward the children and stood beside his man Albey. Behind him, he felt Dresnor’s warm hand nudge against his back. He knew they’d pressed their luck; they were surrounded. “Miss Alissa, it is a pleasure to meet you and your children. I think we need to be going. Perhaps I can come back another day before I leave.”
Before she could respond, a small boy emerged from the pack. “You promise you can help us?” The little boy pleaded, eyeing Bevon. “Can you help all of us? Even my brother?” he begged in his frail voice.
“Certainly, even your brother. Which one is your brother?” Kai surveyed the group, expecting another boy to step forward. The little boy tugged at his shirt. Kai looked down, and the boy pointed up. Slowly Kai lifted his eyes to the ceiling, following the boy’s gaze. Above in the loft through the cracks in the boards, he could see little blue eyes peering down.
Unfortunately, everyone else had done the same, Bevon included. Enraged, Bevon stepped toward the children and Alissa. “You deceiving little wench. I told you…” Rage boiled in the man’s eyes.
Before he could continue, the boy near Kai rushed forward. “Stop it. Leave us alone,” he yelled, pounding Bevon’s leg, his little fists white with fury. “I hate you!” he cried.
Bevon turned his wrath on the child, sweeping his mountain-sized arm, striking the boy. The swat was violent and heavy-handed. Kai’s heart pounded in his ears, and everything slowed. Everything crawled to a halt. He could see the look of terror on everyone’s faces. His mind played out the scene; the boy’s head striking the square post and falling limp to the ground. Blood spilling out around his little head.
No, this cannot happen!
Kai held his breath. In the next heartbeat, he lunged forward, his hand outstretched. Caught in the same time warp, his natural lightning fast movement felt slow. Outstretched, Kai’s palm cupped the boy’s head. With the release of his breath, time resumed.
The back of his hand struck the post, and it cut the skin. As he scooped the boy into his chest, he felt a warm trickle of blood run down his wrist. The pair slid to the floor against the post. Dresnor sprang to Kai’s side, pulling his sword from its scabbard.
In a panic, Victor shook his head.
“I will not give up my town, nor my fortune! This foolish boy means to blackmail me. Kill them all! If word gets out, we’re all finished!” Victor stormed out and left Bevon to deal with Kai and his men.
Out of nowhere came a right overhanded punch to the side of Tarren’s head, sending him into the wall. Bevon turned to see his son out cold slumped on the floor, Drew standing in his place.
Shocked, Bevon swung his cruel hand at Drew’s head. Drew ducked and jabbed Bevon in the ribs with his left, then sent an uppercut into his throat. Bevon gasped and cupped his throat. Drew stepped to the side and gave a swift kick that knocked out the man’s knee.
Drew pulled Bevon’s arm tight behind his back, bent in an odd angle, his face pressed on the floor. Then he slammed his knee into the man’s back and held a dagger to the base of his skull. “Yield or I’ll run you through.”
All three Kempery-men surrounded Tarren and Bevon—swords drawn. “Kai, is the boy alright?” Dresnor asked, eyes on Bevon.
“He’ll be fine,” Kai assured him. “What about Victor? He ran outside. His men will be on us.” He helped the boy stand and shuffle to Alissa.
Outside in the night came the clash of metal against metal. Bevon squirmed. “My men will kill you all. Best let me up now, runt. Sucker punching my boy was devious. You got lucky with me is all. If I’d…”
Drew pulled back on Bevon’s arm, and he winced in pain. “That’s enough out of you,” Drew barked.
Kai had always thought Drew was a large man, but beside Bevon… well, he was just happy it went the way it did. Glancing around at the children, he felt at a loss. “Now what?”
The yelling and fighting increased, and Dresnor braced the door. “I don’t know how long we can hold out! Best subdue those two before we have a fight on our hands. We need to join our men outside. I can only hope Haygan was able to bring help.”
Dresnor, Redmon, and Albey slipped outside, and Kai closed the door behind them. Several men grunted, and a few screamed. Kai watched Drew restrain the prisoners, desperate to join the action. “Go, Drew, they need your help.” Kai motioned.
In agreement Drew opened the door and Kai got his first glance outside. His men were fighting the Hamrin soldiers. Dresnor and Albey fought back-to-back, a sword in each hand. Their metallic armor glistened in the moonlight. Drew sliced down two men and joined them.
Across the field, he saw three men dressed in black slicing through Hamrin men. They wielded double-edged battle axes, slicing deep cuts through the enemy’s leather armor. They were swift, efficient fighters—one was Haygan. Their speed was unmatched by the Hamrin fighters, and together they ripped through a dozen men.
From the trees, he saw the occasional volley of arrows—Hunter Marduk and Shane. Beside them, a massive beast bound into the clearing. Kai gasped. “A black Shuk.” Its massive jaws shook men like ragdolls. Three Hamrin men charged the creature. Its enormous body slammed two men to the ground and clawed the third across the chest.
He’d heard stories about a creature the size of a horse that roamed the Zabranen Forest. Large pointy ears, thick black fur that formed a dense ridge down its back, ending in a thick black tail. Its silver eyes flashed in the night, and its sharp fangs and claws continued to rip through men. Even with the Shuk and two extra Katori men, it was not enough. They were being overwhelmed.
Behind him, Alissa screamed, and Kai turned to see Bevon break free of his bonds. Alone, Kai stood face to face with a monster; a man who would kill him in an instant, should he get close enough.
They stared at each other. The moment lingered. Kai thought of Riome’s training. He would need to be quick on his feet and attack, in short, clipped moves. His adversary was massive, but Kai knew size should not matter.
Bevon advanced.
Instead of retreating, Kai attacked. He landed several punches, and his superior speed kept him a move ahead of his opponent. Bevon countered, striking Kai in the shoulder, but Kai moved with the blow, lessening its force.
With Bevon overextended, Kai slid around behind the towering man. With all his might, Kai struck him in the spine. Bevon arched his back but swung his leg around and kicked Kai away. “You’re not as weak as you pretend, little prince,” Bevon sneered.
The children gasped. Kai’s ribs ached from the blow. He scrambled to his feet. It was vital he keep distance between them.
Bevon grunted and advanced again.
Kai twisted out of Bevon’s reach and swept the man’s bad leg. Bevon landed with a thud. Again, the man charged, a feral look burned in his eyes. Kai blocked the blow and landed another strike to Bevon’s ribs before pivoting out of reach.
The next exchange sent Kai across the floor as Bevon’s punch grazed across Kai’s cheek and connected with his shoulder.
The taste of blood filled Kai’s mouth. Again, he hopped to his feet. This time he pulled his dagger and took a stance, eyeing Bevon. There was no way to stop this man. He would continue to come at Kai until he was put down. He knew he would only get one shot with the blade, and he’d better make it count. Still, he hated the thought of killing this man.
Bevon stood, favoring his busted knee. “Your little blade won’t save you, boy,” Bevon hissed. “Don’t worry, I’ll kill you quick.”
“You talk too much,” Kai quipped, blade firmly in his right hand.
Bevon lunged. Kai charged—his only advantage was his speed. The distance shortened in an instant; Kai slid to his knees under Bevon’s grasp. His blade sliced across the man’s leg. Too low. Kai had missed the inner thigh. The sharp edge of his knife ripped through fabric and muscle. The wound gushed blood. In one continuous motion, Kai tossed the blade to his left hand and stabbed toward the man’s lower back as he slid past.
Again, he’d struck too low. The blade held fast, stuck in Bevon’s hip. Kai hopped onto both feet. Bevon stumbled forward, grabbing at the knife. “Nice move kid, but I’ve got your blade.” Bevon pulled out the dagger; blood oozed and dripped on the ground.
The blade was now in Bevon’s hands. Kai gulped. The children screamed. Bevon shook his head, dazed. Both strikes had been good hits, just not kill shots. Bevon was a strong man, and he would not go down so easy. Kai backed away. He knew there was no clean way to win a knife fight, especially against a seasoned man twice his size.
Riome would be disappointed Kai had not struck his mark. His unwillingness to kill this man put Kai at a disadvantage. He backed away toward the center of the room. The children cried and moved against the wall. The battle still raging outside, there was no one to help him. Even with his increased speed, he knew he could not disarm Bevon without getting cut.
If he did manage to get the knife, he would most certainly have to use deadly force. There would be no choice—Kai would have to kill the man, or they were all finished. The thought shook Kai’s core. He did not want this burden.
Bevon regained his footing and wagged the blade at Kai. Then he cocked his head toward Alissa and the sobbing children. “Maybe I should cut them with your blade. Make you watch,” he snarled.
A thunderous crash followed by a scraping sound rattled the barn’s roof. The children screamed, and chunks of wood fell from above. Instinctively Bevon raised his arms to block the debris. Unsteady, he dropped to one knee.
This was Kai’s chance. He dove for the knife, knocking it from Bevon’s hand. It slid across the wooden floor under a nearby bed. No. I missed the blade. Kai clenched his jaw. He could not catch a break.
The timbers overhead creaked and shook under the weight of something massive. Loud screeching sounds penetrated the air. Through the holes in the roof, Kai saw flames fill the sky. One last scrape across the timbers and something shifted, followed by a loud thud on the ground outside. A mix of shrieks and screams filled the air. The ground rumbled and shook as a massive beast stomped and attacked the remaining men. The dragon came! Kai breathed a sigh of relief.
Bevon regained his senses. Shaking off the dust, he stumbled to his feet. Kai stood his ground,
but his mind raced. “Look at you, the royal brat has skill.” Bevon moved on Kai, closing the distance.
Kai dodged the blow.
Bevon stopped frozen, blood gushing out his mouth. An arrow pierced his throat, and he dropped to the ground at Kai’s feet. Blood spewing on the floor. Shock tremored through Kai’s body. On the opposite end, Shane stood outside the glassless window, bow in hand. He nodded to Kai and disappeared from sight.
Kai looked to Alissa and the children. “Everyone alright?” He looked to Tarren, still secured to a wooden barn post, nodding in and out of consciousness. “Stay here, I will be right back.” He called running to the door.
He opened one door to peek out. The fighting had stopped, and he caught the sight of a tree-sized black dragon. The scales glistened in the moonlight. A row of horns speckled its tail and spine. Amber eyes turned to glare at Kai before it took flight and disappeared into the night. The dragon. Again, Kai was unsure how he felt about them.
Outside the field was littered with dead bodies ripped apart by the Shuk and sliced down by his men. Arrows protruded out of legs, arms, and backs. Kai saw burning trees and bushes. Black, singed grass smoldered around a pile of charred bodies, and the smell of burning flesh was thick in the air. Near the tree line, Haygan spoke to two men. Through the trees, he caught a glimpse of the black Shuk just before it was enveloped in a gray mist.
Dresnor and Albey came to his side. “Prince Kai, it’s over. We need to search the town for any stragglers.” Concerned, Dresnor looked inside. Bevon’s lifeless body lay in a pool of blood. “What happened?”
“Bevon got free. Shane saved us,” Kai explained, scanning the yard for his friend.
Dresnor sheathed his sword. “If it weren’t for Haygan and his friends, and Marduk and his son, we would not be alive. How Haygan managed to get that kind of help, I…” Dresnor let his words fade as he looked over the field.
Kempery-man Redmon approached. “Sir. We lost two men.” He shook his head in sadness.
