“Really? Tell me what happened.”
“Well, that captain dragged me in front of everyone and shouted that they’d caught me trying to run away from school, and that this was what would happen to anyone who disobeyed or tried to resist them. Then he took off his belt and hit me with it a lot of times and made me stand there until they’d finished looking at everyone. Then he told me they’d all be keeping their eyes on me and that if I didn’t submit properly to Malornian rule, worse things would happen.”
“Oh, Erik.” Jaymin thought of his friend standing there, being humiliated in front of the whole school, taking a beating that he could easily have escaped from just so he, Jaymin, would have a chance to get away.
“We’ll pay them back for this, Erik, I promise. I won’t let them get away with doing that to you. Are you all right? Does it hurt a lot?”
Erik waved him away. “I told you I’m fine. And I put a smile back into Worran’s day, that’s for certain. You should have seen his face when the soldier was hitting me! Anyway, I went back to class, and later – when the others had gone out to lunch – Miss Arrin asked about you.”
“Really?” Of course, Jaymin realized, people would have noticed he was missing. “She didn’t tell the Malornians I was gone, did she?”
“No, but she asked me where you were. I told her you were afraid of the soldiers and had gone to hide, and that I was trying to go too when they caught me. She didn’t say anything else, but I could see she suspected there was more to it than that.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter anyway, since we won’t be going back,” Jaymin pointed out glumly.
“Yes, but she’s not the only one who suspects something. When I left at the end of school, two soldiers followed me. They weren’t in uniform, so they probably thought I couldn’t tell, but it was obvious.”
“Really?” Jaymin gave a worried frown. “They didn’t see you come here, did they?”
“Please!” Erik looked offended. “You know me better than that. I let them trail after me to the far side of Drall, and then gave them the slip over on the other end. They have no idea where I went.”
Jaymin leaned against a tree and sighed. “So what do we do now? We can’t go back to school, we can’t stay at Ana’s house all day, we can’t spend our days in town, and we can’t leave Drall before Sir Edmend comes back – and who knows when that will be?”
Erik nodded tiredly. “I know. We’ll have to think of something, but not right now. Let’s just go back to Ana’s house and make a plan in the morning.”
“Ana isn’t there. I already checked.”
“She’s there now. I stopped by to look for you before I came here.”
“Well, then let’s go back where it’s warm. We can talk about the hopelessness of our lives tomorrow.”
For once Erik didn’t have a joke or a witty retort. He merely nodded, and the two of them turned and headed toward town, Erik walking stiffly and Jaymin full of anxiety. Where could they go from here?
Chapter 10
Jaymin and Erik could smell the whiskey Ana was drinking the moment they stepped through the door.
“Yer uncle, ’e be a impatient one,” was her slurred remark as they walked into her little house.
“What do you mean?” Jaymin demanded, stopping short. “Has he been here?”
She nodded blearily. “Jush’ af’er Erik came an’ went. ’E dint like it none when ’e ’eard you washn’t ’ere. But ’e brung me more money!” She waved her bottle happily, sloshing alcohol onto the floor, and gestured gleefully to the corner, where a little cluster of new bottles gleamed in the firelight.
“What did Sir – what did he say?” Jaymin inquired, fighting back his annoyance at the sight of the liquor. “Did he leave us a message?”
“Oh, I ahmosh’ fergot.” Ana dug in the pocket of her patched old dress. “’ere it be.” She handed him a crumpled slip of parchment, spilling a few drops from her bottle on it in the process. Jaymin carefully smoothed it out, holding it up so Erik could read it too.
J-
The time has come. I’ll be waiting where the main road leaves Drall at the southeast end of town. Please meet me there as soon as you can.
-E
Jaymin felt a little thrill of excitement course through him. “Ana, we’ve got to go,” he exclaimed, stuffing Sir Edmend’s note in his pocket. “We may not be back tonight.” Or ever.
She was in the middle of a swig of whiskey and did not reply, except to give a disinterested wave with her free hand. They hurried out into the cold again, and Erik slammed the door shut behind them. With steps as light as their hearts, they fairly skipped down the narrow street. Erik seemed to have forgotten his soreness and Jaymin his worries.
“At last,” Erik breathed. “General Dirken must be preparing his attack.”
“I’ll have to congratulate him on his timing,” Jaymin laughed. “There couldn’t be a better time for us to leave Drall!”
“Imagine,” Erik added, keeping his voice low. “In a few more days we might be back in the palace!”
“We might,” Jaymin reminded him, “if the general’s plan succeeds. We’d better not get our hopes up too soon.” But it was hard not to. He had been waiting for so long, and now – now, at last, it seemed the time was near. Perhaps soon he could go home!
They reached the end of the street, passed the old pump, and turned right. Thanks to their earlier explorations, they knew exactly where to go. Drall was not a very large town, and it boasted only a couple of main roads. Jaymin knew right away which one Sir Edmend must have meant.
“Come on,” Jaymin urged. “We don’t want to keep him waiting any longer.” They broke into a run.
At the next corner, they had to slow down and wait for an oxcart to lumber by before they could cross. Traffic was growing heavier, and it became more difficult to keep up their pace. A flock of ragged children tore by in the opposite direction, shouting and chasing each other, and the boys had to step to the side of the road to let them pass.
It was hard to be patient when they knew Sir Edmend was waiting. After over a month in Drall, they were finally about to leave, and if all went well, they might never have to return – at least, not in disguise.
After we drive the Malornians out, Jaymin thought, I’d like to take a trip back here, and visit Ana and the people at school again – as the Prince of Alasia this time. He pictured Ana’s shock when she opened her door and saw him standing regally on her front step surrounded by guards and well-dressed servants. And how the students at Hilltop would stare when his royal carriage rolled through the gates and into the schoolyard! Miss Arrin would be speechless. Tark would be thrilled. And Worran would hide at the back of the crowd, terrified lest anyone find out he had once tried to attack the Prince of Alasia.
Jaymin couldn’t keep back a grin at the thought of it. The prospect gave wings to his feet, and he sped along behind Erik, weaving between slow-moving pedestrians, pausing only when necessary to let carts or people on donkeys go by.
In their eagerness, the boys forgot their usual caution. Rounding a corner, they found themselves careening right into half a dozen red-and-black clad soldiers who were striding toward them. Erik skidded to a stop and whirled around so fast his shoes slipped on the icy street and he lost his balance, falling against one of the soldiers, who gave a startled yell and stumbled backward. Jaymin accidentally plowed directly into another soldier, completely bowling him over, and they both went down onto the cold ground.
Before he could scramble away, Jaymin felt his arms seized from behind, and someone he couldn’t see hauled him roughly up. “Watch it, boy,” the fallen soldier barked angrily, dusting off the back of his black breeches as he clambered to his feet.
Erik had likewise been caught, but a quick jerk and a somersault almost got him clear. There were too many of them, though, and two of the soldiers pounced and grabbed him by the shoulders, eliciting a yell of pain. Erik could probably still have squirmed away; he w
as an expert at that sort of thing, but he wasn’t about to leave without Jaymin.
“Let us go,” Jaymin exclaimed, struggling to free himself. “We didn’t mean to run into you.”
“You didn’t mean to, eh? You should be more careful,” the soldier who held him from behind growled in Jaymin’s ear. He addressed one of the others, who seemed to be in charge. “What should we do, Captain? Let them go?”
“Just a moment,” exclaimed the captain, stepping up to stare at Erik. An icy breeze ruffled Jaymin’s hair and stung his face, but the foreboding that crept through him was even colder as he recognized the deep voice he had heard that morning. This was the same officer who had almost caught him at school.
“You again!” the Malornian exclaimed angrily, glaring fiercely at Erik. “Didn’t I tell you what would happen if you caused any more trouble?”
“I-I didn’t mean to,” Erik protested meekly. “I’m s-sorry I b-bumped into you. I d-didn’t see you; I was just running and I came around the corner and there you were, and I tried to move out of your way ….” He was babbling, gesturing with his arms, trying to distract their attention so Jaymin could slip away. But it was no use. The soldier holding onto Jaymin was gripping him so tightly it hurt, and Jaymin thought frantically that there was only one way this was likely to end.
The officer reached down and slapped Erik across the face, silencing his protests. “Shut up, boy. I’ve heard enough of your excuses for one day.” His gaze turned to Jaymin. “And who is this troublemaker?” He stepped up to Jaymin and bent down to stare at him closely. Jaymin instinctively pulled back, but the soldier behind him tightened his grip even more. Horror seized his heart as the man reached forward and grabbed his chin in one hand, brushing aside Jaymin’s unkempt hair to get a better view of his face.
“Hmm,” the soldier murmured thoughtfully, and a slow smile began to spread across his countenance. “We’ve searched half the schools in Alasia, and after all that, I think the prize has just landed right in our laps.” He turned to one of his companions. “Come over and take a look, Lieutenant. Don’t you think?”
He was cut off by a cry of pain from one of the others, as Erik, who was still being held by the shoulders, seized the moment of distraction and suddenly swung his whole body forward to execute a well-aimed kick to a soldier’s groin. With a deft twist and a ripping sound, he jerked free from the two men who had been holding him, leaving part of his sleeve dangling in one of their hands.
“Ohh,” gasped the man who had been kicked, doubled over in pain. “That – I think that’s the kid who attacked me and Dallan in the forest!” Apparently he had recognized Erik’s fighting ability, if not his face. Jaymin wondered briefly if Erik had recognized the soldier. He himself hadn’t even noticed, not that he could really see anyone at the moment except the captain still clutching him by the jaw.
“Don’t let him get away!” groaned the hurt Malornian, still bent double. Erik spun to the left as two of them came for him with arms outstretched. Letting go of Jaymin’s chin, the officer made a grab at him from the side. But Erik twisted and dove between the man’s legs, tripping him up and knocking him into the first two. Meanwhile, Jaymin jerked and pulled, trying desperately to break free, but the soldier who held him was gripping more firmly than ever. Suddenly, Erik seemed to burst out of nowhere, slamming his body between them and against the man’s arms. His momentum knocked all three of them to the ground, and the soldier let out a howl of pain as his elbow twisted the wrong way beneath Erik’s weight, perhaps dislocated. Jaymin wriggled free of his loosened grip and rolled to his feet, just in time to see Erik, who was already up, deliver a quick punch-kick-punch to another soldier who had been reaching for his sword.
“Let’s go!” Erik shouted, and Jaymin whirled away and took off after him, dashing down the street once more. Behind them, they could hear the metallic ringing of swords being drawn as the soldiers started forward in pursuit.
Bystanders who had gathered to watch the scene scattered as the boys sprinted across the street and around the corner. There was no time now to wait for anyone to pass. Jaymin knew that this time they were literally running for their lives. He thought thankfully of all the hours he and Erik had spent by the pond keeping in shape. That just might give them the edge they needed to get away now.
An alley opened up to their right, and they darted into it. Behind them, they could hear the captain shouting, “Some of you go around that way! Cut them off!” At least two sets of footsteps followed them in. Jaymin leaped over a mud puddle, almost slipping on the wet cobblestones as he caught up to Erik and raced for the light at the other end of the alleyway, not really sure what they would do when they got there. Beside him, Erik panted, “Follow me,” and sped into the lead once more.
They burst out into the next street and veered sharply to the right again. Beside them, a stone wall rose to about as high as Jaymin’s head. Without slowing, Erik leaped, grabbed the top, and flung himself over the wall sideways, with Jaymin only an instant behind.
They landed in the dark dirt of a garden, bare, now, except for a few leafless sticks around the edge that in summer would probably be flower bushes. A stately house rose before them, surrounded by equally bare fruit trees, and a gray cat sat licking itself on the doorstep. A middle-aged woman stood beside a basin of damp clothes, hanging them out to dry on a rope strung between trees. She glanced up and started in surprise, exclaiming, “Mercy me!” as the boys landed in her garden.
“Sorry!” Jaymin called as he scrambled to his feet and stumbled after Erik, who was already sprinting across the lady’s yard. Reaching the far end, Erik gave a quick, tentative hop to peek over the wall, and then sprang to the top. Jaymin clambered up after him, and the two of them dropped to the ground back by where they had entered the alley.
For the moment the soldiers were nowhere in sight, but they couldn’t be far away. The boys crossed the street and raced down the next one, then around a random corner to the right, then left again, earning annoyed looks as they dodged and pushed past people all the way. Glancing over his shoulder, Jaymin saw no sign of pursuit, and he and Erik finally slowed their pace to a walk. His lungs were burning, and his breath came in gasps. There was no time to rest, though. The soldiers knew who they were now, and would not give up this time. It would only be a matter of time before every Malornian in Drall was out after them.
“We’ve got to get to Sir Edmend,” Jaymin panted, glancing around. “I’m a little disoriented now. Where’s the main street from here?”
“I think it should be that way,” Erik panted back, pointing ahead and to their left.
“You’re probably right.” Let’s just hope we get to it before they find us, Jaymin added silently as the two stumbled on, weaving between passers-by, trying to get their breath back. Down the road, turn left; down another road, turn right – would this town never end?
At last they came to a wide thoroughfare intersecting the one they were on. People on horses, mules, and donkeys rode by in both directions, and now and then a cart or wagon rattled past. Pedestrians crowded the edges of the street, trying to stay out of traffic, occasionally pushing into each other to avoid a cart or wagon that rolled a little too close.
“Finally,” Jaymin sighed in relief, eying the main road the way a lost traveler might have eyed an oasis in a desert.
They turned left, heading southeast toward the edge of town, and trudged along beside the traffic, grateful to become part of the crowd. Just a few more minutes and we’ll be safe, Jaymin told himself. Sir Edmend can’t be much further. Just a few more minutes. We can make it.
Suddenly, Erik clutched his arm. “Soldiers!” he hissed. “Across the street!”
On the other side of the road, a line of about ten Malornian soldiers were marching toward them in step. They did not appear to have noticed the boys yet.
“Keep walking,” Erik whispered tersely, and Jaymin turned his face away from them. There was nowhere to hide, and running wo
uld be the surest possible way to attract attention. They could only keep going, and hope that the traffic would block the soldiers’ view of them until they had passed.
Jaymin’s dread grew with every beat of his heart. With difficulty, he forced himself to keep his steps steady and not to stare at the Malornians. Maybe this group was on a routine patrol and didn’t know about them yet. Or maybe they were only on the lookout for two boys on the run. Surely the soldiers wouldn’t take notice of them walking casually by in the midst of so many passing people.
Surely.
Chapter 11
It seemed as though the whole world slowed down, Jaymin thought, while the line of soldiers marched closer and closer. He kept his eyes straight ahead, trying to look unconcerned, trying to act like everyone else passing by. Beside him, he could feel Erik blending into the crowd in that mysterious way he had of seeming so ordinary that most people never really noticed him. Jaymin would never understand how he did it. Everyone had always noticed Jaymin.
The soldiers were even with them now. He resisted the temptation to glance their way, focusing only on the street before him, though he was keenly aware of every red jacket and pair of black breeches crawling past to their right. He even caught a glimpse of yellow on the sleeves of the sergeant in front. How could one line of color take so long to pass? Even his own feet seemed to move at a fraction of their usual pace. It was as though time itself was on the Malornians’ side and had slowed down to give the enemy a greater chance to catch them.
But eventually the last of the soldiers were out of sight, and time seemed to return to its regular pace. Jaymin breathed a sigh of nervous relief, realizing as he did so that he had been holding his breath. That had been a little too close.
Around them, the buildings began to thin out. Much of the traffic was starting to disappear down other streets. They were nearing the edge of town.
Prince of Alasia (Annals of Alasia Book 1) Page 12
