by Guy Antibes
A door opened onto the wall from a guardhouse and a man poked his head out. Sara shot at the man using her left hand. She missed, but the man disappeared. Willa had already secured the second rope and had slid down.
Sara followed and the Duke was on the rope even before Sara had hit the ground. The rope snapped from its anchor above while the Duke was ten feet above the ground and he fell on Sara in a heap. He clutched his ankle as Klark helped him up and into the blue four-place runabout. Willa snatched off the maid’s cap that still remained on her head and threw it away, and then she helped Sara to the vehicle.
“Where is the Duke?” Sara said. Willa had gotten up front, loading a gun. Klark carried the Duke’s pipe exploder.
She climbed up to find a false bottom open. The Duke’s face was drawn with pain.
“You too. You’re both fugitives. Quick before we’re spotted.” Klark jumped into the front seat as Sara squeezed into the secret compartment. “Be careful the last exploders are in there with you.”
Willa squinted down at them both and took one of the exploder cases and strapped it to her leg before she put on an old fashioned dress.
The Duke grunted. “Damn ankle,” he said. “It’s an old injury.”
“Damn shoulder,” Sara said as the runabout turned and bumped on a curb. “Ooo.”
The Duke laughed. “We must be related, we’re both injured.”
Sara smiled. It was such a poor joke, but she couldn’t be more thrilled with the sentiment.
“Quiet!” Klark said. They ran over more curbs and rattled over the cobbles. Sara grit her teeth as the every bump brought her more agony before they slowed up.
“Stop!” It was a man’s voice. Gruff.
“I’m taking my mother out for a drive in the country. It’ll be the last before this damned war starts.”
Sara could hear footsteps on both sides of the runabout.
“What’s these blankets for?” a male voice said, presumably a guard.
A picnic. Feel free to pull everything out.”
“I will.” The voice was truculent and rough. Sara heard soft goods fall to the ground. Something tapped the wood. But then the runabout’s boot was filled back up.
“Please,” Willa said in a quavering voice. “My son is so good to me.”
Shouting from behind them in the street. “Close the gate!”
“Close the gate!” a guard yelled. Sara could only guess what was happening.
The horses must have lurched forward as the Duke and Sara were thrown against the back of the compartment. Both of them groaned in pain. The runabout stopped. Then they heard an explosion.
“That should stop them,” Klark said. “I think I’ve broken the gate.”
“Crossbows!” Willa yelled. One shot hit the back of the carriage and then another. The runabout lurched forward again.
After an indeterminate amount of time racing through streets of the city outside of the walls, the cobbles became rougher and then they turned on to a dirt track as the clattering stopped and the ride roughened up. Sara hoped that the violent motion wouldn’t be enough to trigger an exploder.
The runabout continued violent turns. Sara wondered if she should speak between their aches and pains, but remained silent as they continued on uneven roads for what seemed like hours.
“I expected any rescue to be painful, but I didn’t have any idea it would be this bad.” Northcross said.
Now that was a better comment. Sara laughed and then grimaced.
“I’m just glad we’ve made it out of Stonebridge in one piece. I was so worried when you didn’t respond to my call this morning.”
Another bump and two more groans.
The Duke’s voice shook along with the runabout. “Goldfields wanted me all to himself. The man’s not in his right mind. I didn’t see how I’d escape out of that room.”
“My plan didn’t quite go the way I’d intended, but we’re out of Stonebridge. Now we’ll see if Klark really knows the back roads leading to the Narrows.”
Another grunt. Sara wished there was some actual light other than a pinhole or two.
“He’s quite a man, Klark Brownhill. I’m glad to have him in my service. He’s not fully trained, as you might imagine, and come to think of it, neither are you.”
“I don’t know what training is required, but he is quite a man.” Sara permitted herself a sliver of a thought of Klark and her walking the cold streets of Parth. “I’ll be glad when we’re all out of this contraption.”
The runabout slowed down and came to a stop. At last, now she didn’t have to worry about being blown up.
Sara tried to open the door, but couldn’t. Suddenly, the sunlight burned into her eyes so that all she could see was the dark figure above her. She hoped it was Klark.
“Out.” Klark put out his hand and helped Sara up. She let out a wail and Klark took her other hand. “Your bad shoulder, eh?” He grinned as he assisted the Duke to his feet.
“This is the end of the line. There are a lot of roads into the hills on the east side of Stonebridge. I never even saw a hint of pursuit, although I have no doubt the Grand Duke has plenty of men looking.” Klark said. The runabout was in a clearing circled by rocks. A stream bounded down the boulders and slid along one side to disappear through more rocks.
“A little hidden camp my brothers and I discovered while hunting in these woods. We’re fifteen miles south of Stonebridge and five miles, more or less, from the Narrows. There is a trail that leads through these rocks that will take us around any troops and put us behind Parthy lines. It’s time to reload our weapons and find some refuge for the night.”
He hopped down and retrieved blanket rolls and packs for all four of them that were hidden in the rocks. He removed the horses from their harnesses and hobbled them. He then tied down a large canvas cover over the runabout and split open a bale of hay that had been left in the clearing.
“My brothers will fetch the horses and the coach in a week or so if they can get out of Stonebridge,” Klark said as he rummaged around underneath the trees for a branch that the Duke could use as a crutch. “They won’t be happy about the crossbow bolts.” He laughed as he found a suitable branch.
They walked southeast, away from the sun, which was beginning to dip into the west. The Duke slowed their progress, but he grimaced his way along as fast as he could. Sara’s shoulder continued to throb after the punishment from their escape.
After all light had left the sky and stars began to dot the heavens, Klark stopped them. “We’ll spend the night here. It wouldn’t be wise to walk into the Parthy army in the middle of the night. No fires, but there is food in the packs.
Sarah didn’t want to walk another step. Her shoulder wouldn’t stop aching, even after Willa rewrapped it. She sat down in the grassy clearing Klark had picked. The grass was dead, of course, and the ground was cold and hard, but Sarah leaned against a tree sitting on one thin blanket and, wrapping herself in another, munched on her food and permitted a feeling of relief to wash over her.
She yearned to talk to the Duke, but didn’t want to among the group. The Duke limped to the far side of the clearing and talked to Klark in low tones. Willa had already started to snore. Sara rummaged around for another morsel and pulled out a roundish wrapped nugget of something. She unwrapped it and let the taste of chocolate fill her mouth. She smiled and dwelled on the taste long enough to slip into a dreamless sleep.
Klark touched Sara on her left shoulder. “Time to get up. We can get to the Parthy Army in an hour or two.” They ate what was left in their packs and drank some water.
As they started out, Sara’s body felt stiff and sore. Not only did she have the shoulder to worry about, but also their escape took more out of her than she realized, not to mention the new bruises caused by bouncing around in the runabout’s secret compartment.
They climbed over a few rock ridges and then made a long descent along a rough trail descending into a wooded area. Northcross still ne
eded some help over some of the terrain. Sara could sense the difference in the foliage. They had left Shattuk Downs and entered into Parthy. In another half hour, a scout in a dark green uniform stopped them in the woods.
“Halt. What’s your business?”
The Duke laughed. “We are walking in the woods. What’s your business? Do you know who I am?”
The scout shook his head.
“Take me to your leader. He’ll be anxious to see me.” The Duke limped ahead to lead the group walking behind the scout.
~~~
Chapter Twenty-Five
A Parting of the Ways
“Indeed, a bad business about Choster.” Yanna Silverthread paced in General Heathergate’s command tent. Duke Northcross, Sara and Willa sat down, resting from their trek.
“What to do about the Grand Duke?” Heathergate said. “When do we attack?”
“We don’t. Take two thirds of the army east. Perform a rolling muster as you go and put a sizeable force up each of the three passes in the Eastern Mountains and reinforce the ports. Put the entire eastern side of Parth on high alert. Your main group will assemble between the capital and the north edge of the Eastern Mountains at your Northeastern Fort. That will make Belonnia pause.
“The remaining force will bottle up Shattuk Downs. However, we will send Yanna, Klark and five hundred mounted troops under a white flag to parley. Yanna may take my ring as proof that I have reached you.”
Heathergate nodded. Evidently, the Duke ran the army when it was within the borders of Parthy.
“And the terms?” Yanna said.
“Yes, tell the Grand Duke that we will use the exploding devices to blow up his troops and his precious walls and palace to rubble if he doesn’t surrender. We will give him a little domain far to the southwest of Parthy where he can live out his life thinking about what he has lost.
“Tell them that we know of the Belonnian incursion in the East and what we’ve done. In that, the truth will serve as well as the little lie about the exploding devices. You will have two with you, if you have to make a demonstration.”
“We should get going.” Yanna left the tent with Klark at her heels.
“You might want to talk to Brownhill,” the Duke said to Sara.
Sara searched the camp and found Klark selecting a horse.
“The Duke suggested that we speak.”
Klark turned away.
“What’s wrong?” Sara said.
“I made a promise.”
“To walk the streets of Parth with me?” Sara said, relishing the prospect.
“No, to my father. He refused to help me rescue you.”
“But the runabout? The secret compartment? The supplies?” Sara furrowed her brows in confusion. She didn’t like the way this conversation was headed.
“He helped us, but at a price.” Klark turned to her and put his hands on her shoulders and lifted his chin.
“What was the price? I have money. I can pay it. Even if it is thousands.”
“Not in coin, Sara. He made me commit to three years at the shop starting the minute I accepted.”
“No. That’s like slavery!” Sara put her hand to her mouth. She couldn’t staunch the tears. “That can’t be true. We were going to be together.”
He put his arms around her and Sara whimpered as he squeezed her shoulder.
“Sorry,” he smiled “It’s not the end of our lives. Go to the Women’s College. Perhaps I don’t need to go the University of Parthy. It seems that there have been too many obstacles standing in the way.”
“But the Duke…” Sara began to say. He put his finger on her lips.
“I’ll be working for him, don’t worry. It’s not as if I’m in prison. I’ll see you in Parth from time to time. We can stay in contact.”
It wouldn’t be the same. “I’ll come to Stonebridge, then.” She fought for a solution in her mind.
“The Duke wants you in Parth with him. He still has plans for you. Brightlings is gone and your father still hates you. There’s nothing for you in Obridge since you graduated with your Firsts before you left the Women’s School.”
He spoke the truth. Sara had already cast off any feelings for Ben Featherwood. She’d visit him just before her twentieth birthday and present Brightlings to Enos. Ben certainly had the money to rebuild the manor house any way he wanted to, but even if it were a copy, it wouldn’t be the same.
“I don’t want to leave you, Klark. I love you.” Sara put her arms around him even through her pain. “I love you.”
“You probably don’t believe me, but I love you, too. I have ever since I gave you that kiss in class. You’ve been so independent flitting here and there that I never got the chance to tell you, but now, I must.” He kissed her lips.
Sara felt the pain disappear as her entire focus was on the man in her arms and she felt wonderful in his.
They kissed again.
“Brownhill, mount up, we’ve got to leave,” Yanna said.
The forces left Sara and Klark kissing in the dust. Sara didn’t care. She didn’t know when she’d see Klark again or even, if fighting broke out in Stonebridge, he might be killed or injured. He mustn’t.
“I’m scared, Klark,” she said. “I’m scared I’ll never see you again.”
He gazed into her eyes. Sara loved his eyes and his nose and his lips and sandy hair. “Don’t worry. All you have to do is use this,” he fingered the carriage that still hung from her neck, “Just whistle.”
He mounted and trotted off.
Sara grabbed the tiny carriage and blew as hard as she could. Klark stopped and waved. She waved back to see him turn at Yanna’s insistence and head off towards Stonebridge.
A Bit About Guy
With a lifelong passion for speculative fiction, Guy Antibes found that he rather enjoyed writing fantasy as well as reading it. So a career was born and Guy anxiously engaged in adding his own flavor of writing to the world. Guy lives in the western part of the United States and is happily married with enough children to meet or exceed the human replacement rate.
You can contact Guy at his website: www.guyantibes.com.
†
Books by Guy Antibes
The Power Bearer
How Norra obtained the power and the extraordinary lengths she went through to rid herself of it.
What’s a girl to do when all of the wizards in her world are after her? She runs. But this girl runs towards the source of her power, not away from it. Along the way she picks up, among others, a wizard, a ghost, a highwaywoman and a sentient cloud. Through thick and thin, they help Norra towards her goal of finding a solution in a far off land that no one in her world has even heard of.
YOUNG ADULT EPIC FANTASY
The World of the Sword of Spells
Warrior Mage
The gods gave Brull a Sword of Spells and proclaimed him as the world’s only Warrior Mage. One big problem, there aren’t any wars. What’s a guy to do? Brull becomes a magician bounty hunter until the big day when he learns he not only has to fight a war with the magicians of his world, but fight the god that the magicians are all working to bring into being. He finds out if he has what it takes inWarrior Mage.
EPIC FANTASY
Sword of Spells
Read about Brull’s beginnings and earlier adventures as a bounty hunter of magicians in theSword of Spells anthology.
EPIC FANTASY
Panix: Magician Spy
Panix has life by the tail. A new wife, a new job in a new land that has few magicians and none of his caliber. His ideal life takes some unexpected downturns and Panix finds himself employed as a spy. He has no training, but must make things up as he goes if he is to survive the politics, betrayal, war and, at the end, his own behavior.
FANTASY ADVENTURE
The Sara Featherwood Adventures
Set in Shattuk Downs, a reclusive land in the kingdom of Parthy. Sara Featherwood could be a Jane Austen heroine with a sword in her hand. There a
re no magicians, wizards, dragons, elves or dwarves in Shattuk Downs, but there is intrigue, nobility, a little magic, hidden secrets, and plenty of adventure with a touch of romance in this fictional world. YOUNG ADULT/COLLEGE FANTASY - WOMEN’S ADVENTURE
Knife & Flame
When Sara Featherwood’s mother dies, her sixteen-year-old life is thrown into turmoil at Brightlings Manor in a remote district of Shattuk Downs. Life becomes worse when her father, the Squire, sets his roving eye on her best friend. Dreading her new life, Sara escapes to the Obridge Women’s School. Seeking solace in education doesn’t work as her world becomes embroiled with spies, revolution, and to top it all off, her best friend becomes her worst enemy.
Sword & Flame - This Volume
If you were a young woman who had just saved the family’s estate from ruin, you’d think your father would be proud, wouldn’t you? Sara Featherwood is thrown out of her childhood home and now faces life on her own terms at age seventeen. She returns to the Tarrey Abbey Women’s School and is drafted to help with the establishment of the first Women’s College in the kingdom of Parthy. Now in the King’s capital of Parth, life confronts Sara as she learns about family secrets, which threaten to disrupt her life, and about resurgent political turmoil back home that turns her scholarly pursuits upside down as she must take action and use her magic to save her family and her beloved Shattuk Downs.
Guns & Flame
At nineteen, Sara Featherwood has done all she can to help establish the first Women’s College in the kingdom of Parthy. That includes a pact with the kingdom’s Interior Minister, to go on a student exchange program as payment for eliminating opposition to the college. Little does Sara know that her trip to a rival country is not what it seems and as the secrets of the true purpose of her trip unravel, she utilizes her magic to escape through hostile territory with vital secrets, but as she does, she finds herself drawn back to Shattuk Downs and must confront awful truths about those close to her.
