Stand Short and Proud

by Billy Wong

  "I'm sorry to hear what both of you endured. But how can you blame us for what happened centuries ago? For that matter how can you blame all of humanity? It must've been a specific person or group of people who summoned you here, and do you even know why? Considering no others have been summoned from your realm to anyone's knowledge, it seems as likely to be an accident as anything else."

  The hawk pointed its sword at her. "It does not matter! Your kind's irresponsibility caused this, drove my partner to the breaking point and forced me to lie in half-awake solitude for time untold. I have no other purpose in this world where I am trapped, except to pay you back!"

  She scowled. "My, me, I. So you're just incredibly selfish then, if not insane? I realize you suffered much, but you and the Night Emperor were only two beings. You believe the harm done to you justifies ravaging our entire world in turn? If you insist on that, we're more than willing to fight and stop you."

  "Then you children will be the first to die."

  It sprang at Meg. She tried to block and went hurtling through air from the collision of their weapons, rolled up flexing stung fingers. "It's gotten stronger!" she warned. It leapt after her, but this time she deflected the force of the blow away from her while sidestepping and just barely stayed on her feet. Patrick and Gavin charged it from one side, Christopher and Rich the other. It swept its gaze across the room, spraying bolts of energy from its eyes so that all four had to duck or dive to avoid them.

  "Is there an orifice he can't shoot things from?" Gavin demanded.

  Patrick replied, "I'm not sure I want to know."

  Christopher screamed as one hit the back of his thigh while he dove, tearing a hole in his pants and the flesh underneath. He landed on his belly, hobbled painfully to his feet. "Fall back!" Meg said as the barrage finally died down.

  "B-but I can still fight."

  "No, you won't be able to evade well enough with that wound. Any of you who gets hurt, don't push it! It's more important for all of us to survive, than for anybody to satisfy their pride."

  Clutching his leg, he spat, "I doubt you yourself would follow that advice."

  She parried a few slices from the hawk, spun past a chop and stabbed into a gap in the metal over the side of its knee. It squawked angrily. "We are more experienced, remember?" She hopped back from its ground-ripping riposte. "So you'd expect us to know our own limits better."

  Christopher grudgingly retreated past where Joel and Agatha stood aiming their ranged weapons. They had agreed to exercise patience and wait for a perfect chance to disrupt or distract the bird, as they didn't want to risk killing Don by shooting into its eyes or similar weak spots. Patrick, Gavin and Rich continued to attack alongside Meg. Gavin stumbled it sideways with his cudgel to the ankle, then Patrick ran up his back and used him as a springboard to land a resounding chop that dented its lower chest. It backed up, but as they pursued brought its sword around in a wide cut. Attempting to block, Rich had his sword broken and the new tip pushed back into his shoulder. He fell grabbing the wound. The hawk raised its blade. Meg and the others ran to help, but a beam from its mouth forced Patrick and Gavin to throw themselves aside while Meg's thrust was ignored as it glanced off a leg. Desperately Joel and Agatha loosed at its visage, which it shielded with a wing.

  Meg grabbed the injured boy and pulled him back. "Rich, are you okay?"

  "My arm, ah, I can't move my arm!"

  She helped him up and nudged him towards where Christopher leaned in pain against a stall door. "Get back. No way you can do much swinging a sword with one hand."

  "Just the three of us and the archers left," Gavin said. "Guess that's not so unexpected."

  The metallic beak opened and closed. "You will not stand for long."

  Patrick met its gaze with a smirk. "No, this just means we'll have to go all out." The Free Fangs rushed as one, making it turn this way and that in place to defend their strikes from every angle. Energy blasts showered down, blowing myriad holes in the stable floor, walls and stalls while they dodged. They heard a steed whinny as it got hit, though it was impossible to tell how bad. Gavin made the hawk totter with a whack to the back of the knee damaged by Meg, then her jumping double kick to the crotch knocked the unbalanced titan over. Patrick leapt, raised his poleaxe high and cleaved down. A harsh sound of rending metal hurt their ears as a hole gaped in its wing. "We did it! Now let's see you escape."

  It lurched upright. "Foolish children! Then you will be the first to die!"

  "You said that already," Meg said. "I guess your 'incomplete consciousness' means you stay stupid even when bonded to someone."

  Volleys of energy shot from its eyes and mouth at once, filling the room with myriad projectiles. As Meg and the boys made aiming difficult for it by dancing around and between its feet, it switched targets to Joel and Agatha. Joel dove into a stall whose door had been destroyed, but Agatha wasn't quick enough and shrieked as a bolt hit her shoulder and spun her from her feet.

  "You okay?" Meg asked, jumping in front of her to block more blasts with her sword that made the blade vibrate uncomfortably in her hands.

  The researcher groaned. "Yes for now, but you should really hurry up before we're all crippled. Or worse."

  "Working on it." She charged the bird, bellowing to try and keep its attention on her while she warded off bolts. Gavin darted in from the side and it spun to ward his stroke—darn it—but then Patrick whipped his poleaxe up into its rump staggering it. Meg closed in on its flank. Her weapon seemed a bit light for the job, but she hoped she could make up for it with finesse. She leapt high and plunged her sword into the joint of its wrist.

  "No!" it cried, swinging its gaze onto her.

  She glared her defiance into its eyes. "Yes!" She twisted the blade. Its fingers opened, and the hilt tumbled from its grip. "Explosives now!" Patrick and Gavin took off their packs and threw them atop the dropped sword, then Christopher and Rich managed wincing to do the same. Agatha touched her torch to the pitch-covered arrow Joel had nocked while everyone dashed away from the pile.

  The hawk raised a palm. "Do not-"

  Joel loosed, striking the nearest pack. It caught fire and exploded, and the others followed in a chain reaction that made their ears ring. Boom. They all choked on the smoke, warily holding their weapons up in case the bird might attack again. The smoke began to clear, enough for them to see the outline of the sword...

  "Oh no!" Joel said. "It's still intact!"

  "Hahahaha!" Their foe called it back into hand, fingers functional even after Meg impaled its wrist. She saw a spiderweb of tiny cracks in the blade, but kept quiet. Better not to warn it that she noticed so she could give it a nice surprise.

  A voice came from behind. "What is going on?" Meg glanced back to see King Rudolph standing in the door, High Knight Roland and several guards beside him. It sure took them long enough.

  "Your Majesty," Agatha said, "you have to let us stop this bird! It's no longer the would-be champion of Plasbias, as the sword has taken full control of his body. Please listen to us!"

  Roland put a hand on the monarch's shoulder. "I would hazard to guess they are not lying."

  After a moment, Rudolph exhaled. "Fine. Men, help those kids bring down the creature."

  "But don't kill it!" Rich put in. "We still want to save our friend." The guards advanced.

  "It appears to be time to take our leave." The hawk jumped into the air, taking flight albeit clumsily. Apparently the gash Patrick put in its wing wasn't enough to stop it from flying completely. Crap.

  Meg took off her pack and brought it back to throw, then realized she didn't have a good angle to reach the sword with those wings in the way. "Gavin, Patrick, toss me up there!"

  Patrick looked uncertainly at her. "Are you sure? It's flying higher..."

  "Hurry, just do it before it gets too far!"

  They both grabbed her and hurled her skyward. Getting at a level with an avian leg, she seized hold of it. "Brack!" it screeched in alarm.r />
  She threw herself higher to grab onto its thigh, then again to its rump. "Brack? What are you, turning into a chicken in your fear?" It continued to ascend while she crawled up its back, smashing through the wooden roof so splinters pricked her face and hands. Worrisome, but she had no time to think about it. Seeing the tip of the sword over its wing, she drew back her pack. Before she could throw, it snatched her in a hand and brought her before its countenance. She realized it held the blade in its beak, gasped as its squeezing fingers threatened to crush her ribs. Fighting through the pain, she flung the pack at the sword so that it hung by a strap from its crossguard, cracks visible in the base of the blade inches away. "Joel, light us up!"

  "But at that range and height-"

  Glowing energy built up in the avian's eyes, about to blast her face off. She couldn't even see Joel, and only hoped he had the arrow ready. "Just do it! I can survive... probably..." It would be dangerous to Don too, and she would miss her reinforced pack, but at this point she had scant other options. A flaming arrow sprouted in her pack. Meg waved at the bird. "Bye bye."

  "No, you..." It bent its neck downward, trying to dislodge the pack, but too late as it exploded deafeningly. The shockwave slammed into Meg, and she grimaced as pain engulfed her chest. Then she was in free fall surrounded by pieces of shattered blade. Don plummeted down beside her, human again with eyes closed, missing a hand and bleeding from multiple wounds. Though her head was incredibly light and she felt wetness leak from her ears, she stuck her arms out and hugged him to herself. Just before they hit the ground, she turned in midair so she impacted it first, him coming down atop her.

  "Meg!" Patrick called as he and Gavin ran over. She had landed a ways from the stable, since the hawk had gotten that far before they blew up the sword. "Are you alright?"

  "How far did I fall?"

  "Barely a hundred feet I think. It was pretty slow to rise thanks to my blow to the wing at least, though I could've done a better job still."

  She coughed up some blood, but waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it, everything turned out fine. The grass is soft. Besides, it makes a better story this way."

  Don stirred, pushed himself up on his elbows to look at her. "You cushioned the fall for me?" he said in a small voice. "How bad did I hurt you?"

  "Not much, an extra cracked rib or two at worst. I'm sturdy for a small person. Do you know what happened after the sword took control, though?"

  "Yes, I could see through the hawk's eyes and experienced everything it did, but not do anything about it. I'm sorry... I understand I was wrong now. Can you ever forgive me?"

  "Of course I can. I know all your misdeeds were influenced by the sword, although it wasn't smart of you to mess with it in the first place and I doubt you won't get at least some punishment. Sorry about Taryn cutting off your hand, too."

  He gazed sadly at his stump, but said, "I'm lucky just to be alive, so I'll settle for that. And I'm proud of you in a way, stopping me when I erred for the sake of this nation." Seeming exhausted, he slumped back down atop her.

  King Rudolph and company walked over, along with Agatha and the recruits. "Inspiring performance I must admit," Rudolph mused, "for such youngsters." He hadn't even seen most of it, but the bird's size alone probably made its defeat impressive.

  "Good to see our efforts to improve the military bearing fruit," Roland agreed with a nod. "I did not even need to intervene, let alone Severil or Aerilea itself."

  "I wouldn't have minded seeing Baehime again," Meg said, "but when we have a job we should do it well."

  "Baehime?"

  "It's a nickname for Saint General Julianna." It seemed she had opened up to them more than they realized, if Roland didn't know that moniker.

  Agatha gazed around at the shards of otherworldly blade strewn across the hill. "I'm not sure how pleased my superiors will be about this, but suppose saving the boy takes priority over preserving a sword."

  "So is it completely destroyed?" Meg asked. "As in, is its vengeful consciousness or 'pseudo-consciousness' gone never to trouble us again?"

  "I can't say for certain. It's possible even with it in pieces, its mind and power could yet reside in them. But at the least I would think it diminished, and obviously without a wielder to act on its behalf. In any case, we will still take what remains of it back to Ostuh for analysis."

  Meg looked around at her friends. "Well, looks like mission accomplished! Now help Don off me so I can stand short and proud again."

  #

  Weeks later, they arrived back at the fort with Meg and Don lying in the vehicle they had brought the explosives in. Behind them, horses dragged the remnants of the giant sword in a large wagon Roland had provided. Everybody waited in the courtyard, having been informed by the gate guard of their return. Covered in bandages, Meg stiffly pushed herself up out of the cart, then helped Don off. She faced the crowd with a wide smile, and recruits and veterans alike cheered. "Good job getting it done," Baxter said gazing over the group, "though I see it wasn't easy."

  "We took our share of lumps," Joel said, "but the other guy looks worse."

  Rich blinked at him. "You mean Don? Not sure that's something we should be proud of."

  Christopher chuckled. "I think he meant the sword. At least I'd hope so."

  "Yeah, no pride to be taken in beating up one of our own... though Meg might take pride in how beat up she is."

  "I do not! I'm a girl, girls don't relish being scarred up and ugly."

  "Don't lie," Gavin said, "we've all heard you admit to wearing your scars as badges of honor before, and don't try to say you were joking. It's good though, gives you some unique character compared to most."

  Patrick replied, "It's not that unique, when the captain and Julianna probably share it among others—well maybe not Baehime, considering she erased her scars when she came back."

  Meg shrugged. "Maybe she used to carry them proudly, but when you can get rid of them, why not? Nobody should doubt the warrior she is anyway."

  "That's true. Down to earth lady too, for a former monarch."

  "Why are we talking about her now, anyway?" Taryn asked as she walked in front of them. "This is your moment, your time to shine."

  Don hung his head. "Except for me. All I did was cause trouble for all of you."

  "Eh, you live and you learn. No more touching mysterious building sized swords for you."

  Meg looked imploringly at her. "If you don't mind a request from me, could you be a little lenient on Don? After all, you already took his hand."

  "I won't have him discharged if that's enough for you. Can't do much more than that given the severity of his actions and the near disaster they resulted in."

  "It's all right," Don said. "I shouldn't avoid facing the consequences of what I did. Do with me what you must." Baxter motioned to him, and led him away—just to be confined for a time, Meg hoped.

  Taryn regarded the lunch table companions who remained, and Agatha. "The rest of you, just catch up with your friends until we give the signal to go to the dining hall. It may not fit into our usual schedule, but I figure the success of your grand adventure warrants us throwing a feast for you."

  They ate and drank their fill of the fort's best provisions that Taryn treated them to amid happy chatter, the other recruits sharing in it as well. "I am incredibly full!" Rich stood up and stretching when most of the food was gone, and he'd finished all of his. "Surprised to find the rich boy can keep up with me, though."

  "He's smaller than you too," Joel said.

  Christopher burped and raised a finger. "The wealthy are used to extravagant meals." He swayed in his seat, almost falling over, from having too much ale. "So if anything, I should best the lot of you."

  "Everybody else left already," Patrick pointed out, "even Agatha. Taryn said for us to relax and enjoy our much deserved break, but maybe we should finish up and see what she wants us to do next."

  They cleaned off their plates and headed for the exit.
When they stepped out, they found Taryn waiting for them just outside. "Rich, Christopher, and Joel, you join the others in training. The rest of you, we need to talk."

  "What's the matter?" Meg asked after their friends left, though she had a good idea.

  "Have you three decided yet?" Whether they'd stay or leave, of course.

  Gavin nodded. "We were talking about this on the way back, and we have."

  After a brief silence, Taryn furrowed her brow. "Well? Not trying to build artificial suspense, are we?"

  "We aren't staying," Patrick said. "We've made some fine friends, including you, and hope we'll meet again... but Agatha offered us work with the researchers, which we figured would be more active than peacetime soldier duties outside incidents like this last one. So we took her up on it."

  Taryn grinned ironically. "Sly little fox, that Agatha, stealing talent from the Plasbian army like this? But I suppose Ostuh is your homeland anyway, so I can't be too bitter about it."

  Meg shook her hand, squeezing it hard in a display of her own strength that made the captain smile. "We wish you luck in your continued efforts to strengthen your country. By the way, did you win that duel?"

  "I did."

  "Congratulations on defending your father's honor. Before we go, though, there's one more thing I want."

  "What?"

  She jumped back and drew her sword in a flash, making everyone stare. "I challenge you to a match! We might not get another chance in a long while, so let's do it while we can."

  The tall woman raised an eyebrow. "After seeing me against the so-called Light Emperor, you still want to?"

  "All that showed is you're big and strong! Which we already knew. It hardly proves you better than me."

  "You're swathed in bandages. It's clear you aren't fully healed."

  "Don't worry your pretty little head about me, I'll make do."

  Taryn took the axe off her back. "If you insist, I'd be honored to accept a challenge from a respectable opponent."

  "Oh, you girls," Gavin said with a sigh.

  Smiling, they charged each other.