Tassin smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. "That was incredible."
Sabre shrugged, pouring a glass of water. "Standard cyber capabilities."
"Don't do that. Those skills are yours. You should be proud of them."
He sipped the water, watching the servants dismantle the scaffolding. "Well, I guess I could always become an entertainer."
Tassin took his hand. "You can be whatever you want. I just want you to be happy."
"Anything will be a vast improvement on being a cyber host."
"Don't settle for anything less than what you want."
He nodded, lifted her hand and kissed it. "I won't."
Later that evening, Sabre caught Tarl unawares and emptied a flagon of ale over his head, much to the amusement of all but Tarl, who had the grace to take it in good humour. Tassin insisted that Sabre change back into the velvet suit for the dancing and take to the floor with her several times. Finally the newlyweds retired, the guests left, and Sabre escorted Tassin to her room before going to bed.
****
The following morning, Dena joined Tassin and Sabre in the sunroom for breakfast, and Tassin smiled at her when she flopped down opposite them.
"How are you this morning?"
"Wonderful."
"Good. That's how you're supposed to feel after your wedding night."
Sharmian came in, and Dena jumped up to kiss him. The young King looked a trifle embarrassed by her effusion, but took it well.
"All is prepared, Tassin," he announced. "Four thousand men are ready to march on Pradish tomorrow. Another thousand are in training, and more are still enlisting."
"A force to be reckoned with. As soon as you attack Lord Morrel, Torrian will come to his aid, and we leave for Arlin. Your wedding guests will spread the word of my return, and Torrian will come himself. He will think I will be with you."
"He is no fool. He may set a trap for you at your castle in case you go there."
She nodded. "I am expecting a trap at the castle. If Torrian does not set one, Dellon will."
"Then you must take some men with you, to counter it."
"We intend to travel there in secret. We can hardly do that with a troop of men, and if Torrian or Dellon learn of our location, a troop will not keep us safe. As long as there are only a few of us, and we stay in the wild lands, they will not know for certain where we are, although they will probably suspect that I might to go to the castle to confront Dellon. Keeping them guessing will be the best strategy, then they have no way to prepare well for either situation."
"But how will you counter the trap at your castle? Surely you will not rely solely upon Sir Sabre's skills, impressive though they are. He is only one man."
Tassin glanced at the cyber. "I hope some of my men who remain at the castle can be persuaded to join us when they see me. If not, then yes, I shall be relying solely on Sabre."
"You have a great deal of faith in him."
"I have seen what he can do."
Sharmian nodded, sipping the cup of tea Dena had poured for him. "I am tempted to make a stand with the men I have. I believe they could do serious damage to Torrian's army."
"Then you would be a fool. Torrian will bring a large force, possibly six thousand men, and you will be crushed. You must retreat as soon as he draws close, and keep him at a safe distance. He will be loath to give up the chase after travelling so far to confront you, and that will give me time to establish my rule in Arlin. If enough of my men turn against him when they learn of my return, they will join you, and I ask that you heed my generals, who are skilled at warfare. Torrian may attack them when they leave, in which case they will keep him busy."
"If none of them turn against him, I will be on my own," he said.
"Unfortunately, yes, until I can come to your aid. In that case, you must circle around and march to Arlin, where you will join forces with me."
"If all your soldiers remain with Torrian, what army will you have left to fight with? And there's Bardock."
Tassin inclined her head. "There is that. It is unlikely, however, that all my men will remain loyal to Dellon. Bardock will have to march for a month to join the battle."
"But if it happens, we will lose."
Sabre looked up. "Then we cut off the head of the snake, and the rest will die."
"Kill Torrian? That will not be easy while he is encamped with an army. Who will do it?"
"I will."
Tassin nodded. "That would be a last resort. Not because I am averse to killing Torrian, even though it will throw Pradish into chaos, but because it will be dangerous."
"Not if I use a laser. I can kill him from a kilometre away in open country."
"Why don't we do that then?" Dena asked, looking excited. "That way we can stop the war before it even starts."
Tassin shook her head. "Tempting though that idea is, it is not a good one. I did not mean it was dangerous for Sabre to kill him, I meant the consequences will be dire. He would be charged with Torrian's murder. The Pradish nobles and royals will demand his execution, and, when I refuse, they will foment war between Arlin and Pradish with the aid of Traynar."
"If I kill him from a distance, no one will know who did it,” Sabre pointed out. “They might even think it was a bolt of lightning, or divine intervention, since they’re a superstitious bunch of primitives."
"That plan will only work if Torrian is with the army that comes to Mandor. He might stay in Arlin. But finding out if he is with his army will put us in danger. We cannot risk it."
"We'll pass his army on the way to Arlin. I could spy on him in disguise."
"He'll have scouts. It's too dangerous. I need you with me, to protect me. If I fall into Torrian's hands, he'll kill me."
Sabre nodded, leaning back with a sigh. "All right. Your plan is better."
"Thank you. A fine compliment from one so skilled in the art of warfare."
"Usually, the loss of one life would be inconsequential, but in this case it would result in defeat. That's not a common scenario. People whose lives can affect the future of an entire country don't usually go into battle. Which is why you mustn't."
Tassin smiled. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I don't plan to lead any cavalry charges."
"Good, then you've acquired some sense since the last time, when you wanted to."
"That was an impulse brought on by extreme duress."
"But you would have done it," he said.
"Must we argue about this now?"
He shrugged, looking away. "I just don't want a repeat performance."
"I can't guarantee that. I would do whatever it took to save you, and you know it."
"That would be foolish."
"No it wouldn't. All I’ve done has been to rescue you. What would be the point if I lost you?"
Sabre glanced at her, then away again. "Perhaps this isn't a good time to discuss it."
"There is no discussion. That's just the way it is. If you think I'm going to stand by and do nothing while you're killed, you're a fool."
"And if you rush in and get yourself killed to save me, so are you," he said.
"Fine, we're both fools, because you'd do the same for me."
"Yeah, but I'm not the Queen."
Tassin frowned. "My title would mean nothing without you. If it cost your life to regain it, I'd rather not even try."
"I'm a lot harder to kill than you, okay? This plan isn't without risk, but I think you're the one who will need protection, not me."
"If we're going to die in this conflict, we'll do it together."
Dena sniffed and wiped her eyes. "As will Sharmian and I."
Sabre raised his hands. "This is ridiculous. No one's going to die."
Tassin nodded. "I agree. So we stick to the plan. Tomorrow Sharmian will leave for Lord Morrel's estate, and I'll set off for Arlin with Sabre and Tarl."
"I'm going with Sharmian," said Dena.
Sharmian shook his head. "No, you're staying here."
"I'll be safer with you and the army than in a poorly defended castle, which Torrian will certainly loot."
"Dena's right," Tassin said. "She should stay with you, My Lord. If Torrian captures her, he'll use her as a hostage."
"Very well." Sharmian did not appear to be particularly averse to the idea.
Sabre asked, "So, you're utterly committed to this course of action, Sharmian? You have no doubts, no remorse? You intend to see it through to the end?"
The King’s brows rose. "Of course. Why would you doubt it?"
Sabre studied him for several seconds. "It's a big step."
"I'm aware of that, but I want my kingdom free of Torrian's tyranny."
"Of course."
Sharmian rose to his feet. "I must attend to matters."
As soon as the door closed behind him, Tassin turned to Sabre asked, "Did he pass?"
"Yeah. Flying colours."
Dena frowned. "What did you do?"
"Just made certain Sharmian doesn't have a hidden agenda," Tassin said.
"How could you doubt him? He's my husband!"
"Affection can be faked, and your marriage would be of no consequence if he planned to hand you over to Torrian."
"But he doesn't, does he?" Dena demanded.
"No."
"You shouldn't have doubted him." She rose and stomped out.
Tassin sighed. "Love is so blind."
"You should have waited until we were alone," Sabre said.
"It wasn't my idea to test him."
"Dena didn't know what I did."
She nodded. "War is an ill thing. All this ugliness and death could be avoided if you would just call Fairen."
"I won't ask a boy to fight my battles for me."
"A boy with the power to achieve so easily what we must fight and many good men must die for. He wouldn't mind."
"It wouldn't be right,” he said. “Overlords only intervene in problems involving entire planets, or solar systems, not in the petty wars of countries on backwater worlds."
"Or where their affections dictate."
"My life isn't in danger, or yours, and we may not be. We can do this without his help."
"But it's not without risk, so why must we wait until we're in danger, by which time it might be too late? We've been through so much, and come so far; why must we risk it all now? If you're killed, everything will have been for nothing."
He took her hand. "Hey, have a little faith in me."
"I have the utmost faith in you. I know what you can do. You don't have to prove it."
"Is that what you think I'm doing?"
"Are you?"
"No."
She nodded, biting her lip. "Good. I'm just so afraid that something terrible will happen, when we're so close to achieving our goal."
"This is just another bump in the road, and there’s going to be plenty more. If you think all our troubles will be over once you get your crown back, you’re dreaming. I’m still got a mega-corporation after my blood, and an Overlord. This is a long way from being over."
Chapter Fourteen
Tassin gazed at the tall grey walls of her keep, her heart filled with a poignant mixture of joy and anguish. The sight of it brought a rush of homesickness and memories, blighted by Dellon's green and yellow colours flying from the battlements. She wished she could march inside and rip down the offending flag.
The journey from Mandor had been achieved without mishap, thanks to Sabre's scanners, which had kept them safe from Torrian's scouts and picked up the leading edge of the army.
Judging by the number of soldiers patrolling her castle���s battlements, Dellon had kept a sizeable force at the castle, as she had suspected he would. Torrian's colours were not in evidence, which meant he had left with his troops, to her relief. Torrian's absence would make it easier. Once Sabre had Dellon hostage, the battle would be won, essentially. Nothing had gone that smoothly since she had left Arlin, however, and she was sure something would go wrong again.
Tassin glanced around as Sabre came to her side. They stood within the forest, hidden from the castle. He cast her a smile when she slipped her hand into his.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked.
"No. Are you?"
He shrugged. "The longer we wait, the more Sharmian and Dena are at risk. I'll go at first light, while Dellon is still in bed. Once I have him, I'll order your banner raised and the gates opened, and you walk in and take over."
"You make it sound so easy."
"If all goes to plan, it will be. Just stay away until you see the banner, no matter what, okay?"
She sighed. "We don't even know how many men he has in there. It could be as many as three hundred."
"It won't matter. Don't be so pessimistic."
They returned to the campfire, where Tarl cooked the two rabbits Sabre had shot before they camped. Sabre stared into the flames while he accessed the image of the map of the castle Tassin had drawn, which the cyber had stored, and studied it again. The King's bedchamber was on the far side, overlooking the sweeping valley beyond. To reach it, he would have to scale the wall, but that did not daunt him. What awaited him inside the room was his only cause for concern.
After Tassin fell sleep in her blankets, Sabre pondered what lay ahead, and the potential pitfalls. Tarl sat opposite, huddled in a blanket, yawning. Sabre looked up as the cyber tech rose and came around the fire to sit next to him.
Sabre raised his brows. "Do you want to hold my hand now, too?"
Tarl chuckled. "Not really. Just wanted to make sure you're ready for tomorrow."
"Do I need a tune up?"
"Your attitude does." Tarl sighed. "Three hundred is a lot of soldiers, bud."
"They only have primitive weapons."
"Which, in some ways, are worse than modern ones. You'll be almost blind to them."
"I don't plan to fight them,” Sabre said. “Once I have the King, the battle is won."
"But you might have to if things go wrong."
Sabre shrugged. "I have two lasers, with a full complement of power packs, a grenade launcher and full cyber armour."
"What's your bio-status?"
"I knew that was coming."
"Yeah, you should by now. What is it?"
"Eighty-seven per cent."
Tarl grimaced. "That's not so good."
"I'll survive."
"Yeah, you probably will, but you have to win."
"I'll do my best. You just keep Tassin here until you see her banner. Don't let her come rushing in there, no matter what you see or hear."
"I will," Tarl said.
"I'm counting on you. It's important."
"When have I let you down?"
"You haven't... yet."
Tarl added wood to the fire. "I want you to know, I have only the greatest admiration for you. You... you're a real good guy, better than me. You should be proud of how far you've come, and how well you've adjusted. I am."
"You make it sound like you don't expect to see me after tomorrow."
"Who knows? I'm not nearly indestructible, like you."
"And if anything happens to Tassin, I'll kill you myself."
Tarl smiled. "No, you won't, but don't worry, I'll look after her."
"You'd better."
"Count on it. Night bud." Tarl rose and thumped Sabre on the back hard enough to make the cyber sway, then retreated quickly to the other side of the fire, grinning.
Sabre chuckled, shaking his head. "Pathetic."
Sabre crouched behind a hedge at the bottom of the castle's eastern wall, gazing up at the window high above. Dawn's first faint light brightened the sky, and dew whitened the grass. A quartet of yawning, bleary-eyed guards had wandered past a minute earlier, and the time had come to scale the wall. Rising, he walked over to it and set his fingers into the cracks between the stones, pulled himself up and slipped the toes of his boots into more cracks. Using these, and the tiny ledges made by protruding stones, he worked his way
up the wall, pressed against it.
When he reached the window two storeys above, he swarmed over the ledge and dropped down inside, where a pair of green velvet curtains concealed him. The scanners showed two life signs in a four-poster bed on the other side of the room, and another two outside the suite’s main doors, detectable through the archway that led into the lounge. The structural scanners mapped everything that was not stone, which appeared as a green grid, impenetrable. Glad that Dellon did not keep hounds in his room, Sabre opened the curtains a crack and peered out at a spacious chamber. Tapestries and portraits adorned its walls, and several rugs warmed the granite floor. A carved wardrobe stood against one wall and a dressing table with a lacy cloth on it, spread with pots and brushes, stood against another. Sabre turned his attention to the bed's occupants. A plump blonde girl lay beside the weedy nineteen-year-old King, her arm flung across his narrow chest.
Sabre pushed through the curtains and walked across the room on silent feet. Bending, he pressed his fingers to the woman's throat. Her eyes opened and widened before they glazed and closed again. Pulling her arm off the youth’s chest, Sabre moved her aside and gripped Dellon's throat, tightening his grip when the King woke with a gasp.
"One sound, and I cut off your air," he said.
Dellon gulped and nodded, his brown eyes riveted to the brow band. His thin face bore the pockmarks of a bad case of acne, and his frightened gasps through his open mouth, with its full, slack lips, stank of halitosis. He also honked of body odour, and the combined stenches offended the cyber’s keen olfactory senses. He found it hard to believe that this ill-washed youth was related to Tassin at all. Sabre dragged him off the bed, discovering that he was naked with a grunt of disgust. Drawing a laser, he held it up.
"Do you know what this is?"
The youth nodded.
"Good. Get dressed."
Sabre released him, and he grabbed a pair of royal blue velvet trousers off the floor and pulled them on. When he had also donned a rather wrinkled and smelly off-white shirt and royal blue jacket, the cyber stepped closer and jabbed him in the chest with the laser.
The Cyber Chronicles VII - Sabre Page 14
