by Henry Vogel
“After them! You stay with the men, Raoul,” Windslow shouted at him. “I’ll get back to the airship and take off! Aloft, I may be able to block their escape!”
Beyond the door, I found just what I needed—stairs going up. I kicked the door shut in the face of Raoul’s charging men and then sprinted up the stairs. I hoped the next door I came to would open on the first try. Two flights up, the stairs ended at a landing with a door. The hinges squealed like dying animals but the door opened.
I charged through the door and onto the top of the fortress wall. It stretched out before me, bathed in silver moonlight. Silhouetted against the moon, I saw something which buoyed my spirits even as it doomed Queen Elaina and me. A dark shadow moved away from the Aerie—it was the Pauline flying away.
Callan and her father were safe—but the queen and I were trapped in the Aerie!
Chapter 34
The queen stirred and attempted to straighten up. Perhaps the cold, fresh air was breaking through the drugs and fatigue affecting her mind.
“You can put me down, David,” Queen Elaina said.
“You remember me, Your Majesty?”
“Yes, or at least some things about you,” she replied. “I remember your name and know that I can trust you.”
That would be more than enough for now, especially when I heard the door I’d kicked shut just a moment ago crash open.
“Can you run, Your Majesty?” I asked. “I am going to need to keep my sword arm free.”
“Yes, I can,” the queen answered. As I swung her to her feet, she continued, “You’re more than Callie’s bodyguard, aren’t you, David?”
“I’m her husband,” I said as I took her hand and began running along the wall toward the next tower.
“And Edwar and I approved?”
“Yes ma’am. You and His Majesty have been very kind and welcoming to me.”
“Good for us,” Elaina said, beginning to pant at the exertion. “That little airship you were watching—Callie and Edwar are aboard? I assume it was also our way out of this fortress?”
“It was, but only if we reached it before Windslow and Raoul arrived,” I said. “If we didn’t, my orders were for them to leave us behind.”
“Why would you give such orders, David?”
Shouts erupted behind us as Raoul’s men spotted us.
“A kingdom must have a monarch and an heir,” I said, running faster and pulling Elaina with me. “That airship carries both.”
“I can see why I approved of you, David. You’re a very practical man,” the queen said as we reached the door into the tower.
To my relief, the door opened easily and we ran inside the tower. To my consternation, there was no way to bar the door from the inside. Drawing my knife, I jammed it under the door. Perhaps it would slow down our pursuers for a few extra seconds.
The tower had stairs, but they only went up to the top of the tower. That was out of the question. We’d be trapped at the top of the tower and make easy targets for airborne crossbowmen. Even worse, there was no other door out the other side of the tower.
“I’m afraid this is where I must make my stand, Your Majesty,” I said.
“After watching you fight, I have full confidence in you,” the queen said.
I sighed. Boost was our only hope—and likely my death sentence. “You must run from the tower as soon as I clear a path for you.”
“And what of you?” she asked.
“Chances are I’ll be dead.”
The tower door shook from a sharp blow. I raised my sword and prepared to defend my new family one last time.
Chapter 35
The door rattled from another blow. On the other side of the door, Raoul exhorted his men to try harder.
“David, I’d rather not lose my son-in-law before I’ve had the chance to remember him.” Elaina said. “Would you mind being a bit more practical and little less heroic?”
“Uh, sure,” I replied.
“Good. Come over here with me.” She backed up to the wall next to the door hinges. “When the door swings open, it will block us from view. We can hope the men will see the stairs and assume we climbed them. That will give us a chance to run out the door.”
I joined her as the door shook again. “What happens if they don’t take the bait? I mean, it is one of the oldest tricks in the book!”
“Either you’ll get your chance to die heroically or, more likely, I’ll choose to surrender,” the queen said. “Whatever I decide, you will obey my commands.”
I lifted my sword in salute. ”As you say, Your Majesty.”
Another blow struck the door. My poorly balanced knife was holding much better than I’d hoped, but now I needed the door to swing open. I wrenched the knife from under the door, standing up just ahead of the next blow. The door jamb broke and the door was flung open. We were hidden from sight by the door, but it threatened to smash into my face as well! I caught and held the door handle, saving my nose in the process.
Raoul’s men charged into the tower and their footsteps continued toward the stairs. We waited for the men to reach the far wall before slipping around the door and out onto the fortress wall. I felt just like one of the heroes in the adventure vids from my childhood! Unfortunately, one of Raoul’s men followed the same script and looked toward the door as we ran through it.
“Your Highness, they’re behind us!” the man shouted as he set off after us.
And just like that the chase was on again, with Raoul and his men trailing us by no more than thirty feet. I pulled the queen along with one hand and sheathed my sword with the other. I could draw it again if need be, but expected I would need a free hand to open a door before I would need to swing my sword again.
Coming from the courtyard of the Aerie, I heard the roar of steam engines driving an airship into a climb. Windslow must have reach Stubb’s airship and was bringing it to join the chase. Her Majesty and I had to get off of the wall soon. If we didn’t, we would be easy targets for Stubb’s airborne crossbowmen!
Chapter 36
The roar of the airship’s engines deepened and I could detect movement in the darkened castle courtyard. The Kestrel rose from the shadows and powered into the moonlight.
“You can’t get away from us, Rice,” Raoul called, as he chased Queen Elaina and me across the wall. “Our airship will cut you off before you reach the other tower. Even if it doesn’t, our crossbowmen will cut you down!”
“Do you really want to be responsible for starting a war between Tarteg and Mordan?” I called back, picking up speed in the hopes of proving him wrong. “Callan’s uncle, Lord Garrett, knows you are working with Windslow! If we don’t return, you can count on Tarteg paying the price for your actions.”
“Why would I care what happens to a country which turned its back on my mother and me?” Raoul shot back.
“What did you expect would happen after your role in Callan’s kidnapping was exposed?” I asked over my shoulder. “You’d be welcomed back as the unconquoring wannabe hero?”
“I’m going to rip your heart out with my bare hands, Rice!” Rupor screamed over the engine noise from the approaching airship.
“Is it wise to taunt Raoul like that, David?” Queen Elaina asked between gasps for air.
“Most definitely. Raoul makes his worst mistakes when he lets his emotions get the better of him,” I replied. I decided not to mention just how much fun it was, as well.
Screaming in wordless rage, Raoul put on an unexpected burst of speed and pulled away from his squad of men. The men sped up, trying to keep up with their enraged leader.
Unfortunately, the queen slowed down, unable to keep up the pace I’d been setting. Her chest heaved and her breath was ragged.
“I can’t keep going,” she gasped. “Leave me! Escape and return to Callan.”
The Kestrel swung up over the castle wall, little more than a hundred feet behind us. The helmsman steadied the airship ten feet above the fortress wall. The ma
ssive vessel bore down on the two of us, already flying twice as fast as we could possibly hope to run. Windslow was perched at the bow of the ship, pointing at me with his sword and directing the Kestrel’s crossbowmen.
Our eyes locked over the distance and a grin stretched over Windslow’s face. “It’s the end of the line, bodyguard. Prepare to die!”
Chapter 37
I tensed, ready to risk Boosting again. I had kept my Boosts short so far today, but between the fight in the mine and the fight in the fortress, I was pushing my body harder than I had in months. Even Boosted I doubted I could block the two-dozen quarrels which would be flying at us shortly. I could, however, put my body between the crossbowmen and the queen. Windslow raised his arm. No doubt, dropping it would be the signal to fire.
“Stay behind me, Your Majesty!” I said, stepping in front of her. “I’ll protect you as best I can.”
Raoul and his men had stopped their pursuit, not wanting to put themselves in the line of fire. Windslow grinned, nodding in approval. Raoul’s head swung between Windslow and me, his eyes wide in frenzied rage.
“Don’t kill him, Windslow!” Raoul yelled. “Rice must die by my hand!”
“Don’t be foolish, boy!” Windslow called back. “It doesn’t matter how Rice dies—just that he ends up dead!”
Windslow raised his arm a bit higher—for added effect and drama, I suppose—and posed for just a second, his eyes locked on mine.
With a roar, the Pauline crested the outer wall and struck the bow of the larger airship. Windslow and his crossbowmen staggered as the deck heaved beneath their feet. Ragged twangs sounded as the crossbowmen’s fingers twitched and they fired involuntarily. Unaimed quarrels flew in all directions. One quarrel pierced a crossbowman’s leg. Another one of the quarrels slammed into the shoulder of one of Raoul’s squad. The rest of the squad dove to the ground, leaving Raoul the only one of them standing.
Nist worked the Pauline’s controls and flew straight along the wall toward us. In the little ship’s wake the helmsman of the Kestrel fought to bring the larger airship back on course. I could see Martin and the soldiers standing at the rail, ready to toss ropes to us.
“Lovely to see you again, Raoul!” I shouted as the Pauline passed over his head. “As always, I’ve enjoyed watching your plan fail in such a spectacular fashion!”
Raoul broke into a run, waving his sword and shouting curses I couldn’t hear over the Pauline’s engines.
On the Pauline, Martin yelled, “Are you ready?”
“Yes!” I shouted, wrapping an arm around the queen. “Throw me a rope!”
I saw a subtle change in Martin and his movements became more fluid and graceful. He was Boosting to make his throw more accurate!
“Hold on tightly, Your Majesty,” I said, pulling the queen close against me with one arm. Her arms wrapped around me, careful not to interfere with my free arm.
Martin threw the rope and it landed right in my free hand. I grabbed hold of the rope and we were yanked into the air.
The next tower on the wall was less than a hundred feet ahead of the airship. Having little choice, Nist spun the wheel and steered the Pauline over the edge of the Aerie’s walls. A two-thousand-foot drop yawned beneath us as Martin and the soldiers hauled on the rope. Queen Elaina buried her head against my chest, unable to bear to watch as we were pulled to the ship. The few seconds we dangled in the air seemed unending, but end they did.
Hands caught us as we reached the airship and the two of us were pulled to the safety of the deck. Right after we reached the deck, a crossbow quarrel struck the airship. Looking back, I saw Raoul climbing on board the Kestrel with Windslow. Ropes had been thrown to him and his squad on the wall.
Raoul, rage still written on his face, was giving chase!
Chapter 38
The air hummed as another quarrel flew past me, driving deep into the deck with a resounding thunk. Several other quarrels missed the airship entirely, their passage marked by sound alone.
“Your Majesties, Callan,” I said, “you need to get into the cabin, now! That goes for you too, Tristan.”
Tristan shepherded Callan and her parents below deck and out of immediate danger from the crossbow fire.
“Everyone find something to hold onto!” Nist yelled. “I’m going into a steep dive.”
“Good idea, Nist,” I said. “Raoul has a lot more men and firepower than we do. What can Martin and I do to help?”
“I’m stuck at the wheel and can’t dodge incoming shots. Can you put up something to block them, instead?”
Nist hadn’t finished talking before Martin and the soldiers began piling supply crates up behind Nist. The wall was only a few feet high when one of the soldiers cried out as a quarrel buried itself in his chest.
“Carry that man below deck,” I told two of the soldiers. “If Tristan needs your help to setup a surgery, stay below and help him.”
The two soldiers nodded and ran to carry their wounded comrade to our doctor.
Then the deck tilted under us as Nist put the Pauline into a dive. The engines roared and the little airship began picking up speed. Caught by surprise, the Kestrel was slow to respond to Nist’s maneuvers. We began to pull away from the larger airship, but the other ship’s altitude meant they could continue firing down on us. The next two volleys missed us entirely, but by then the Kestrel’s helmsman had pointed the ship’s nose down. We had gained a few hundred feet, but Raoul and Windslow were back on our tail!
“They’re following us, Nist!” I yelled over the whistling wind and the roaring engines. “Have you got any idea how to get out of this?”
“If we can get the pressure up in the boiler, we can just outrun them!” Nist said. “We used up a lot of pressure coming up to ramming speed back at the wall. And until now, everyone has been busy pulling you and Her Majesty safely onboard the Pauline!”
“Martin—” I began.
“I’ll deliver the orders to the men below, David!” Martin called as he ran toward the cabin door.
A crossbow quarrel hit one of the boxes piled up behind Nist. Another quarrel clanged off of a brass fitting. It looked like Raoul’s men were getting a feel for the range and elevation.
I went back to dragging crates close to the wall we were building to protect Nist. The crates were heavy. I’d definitely need Martin’s help to add any of them to the stack. And just like that, Martin returned and we lifted the crate together, adding it to the wall protecting Nist.
Meanwhile, Raoul’s crossbowmen were getting organized, firing in rotation and, now that they were getting the range, keeping us under a near constant barrage of crossbow quarrels.
Martin and I rushed to finish building a wall for Nist before Raoul’s crossbowmen really got the range figured out. Then it was too late. The next volley rained down on us and one of the quarrels struck the crate between the splayed fingers of my left hand. In a rush, Martin and I added the crate to the stack then leapt over the wall of crates, seeking shelter from the crossbowmen.
Midway through our leap, Martin grunted in pain. When we landed on the deck, I glanced at Martin, who was still lying on top of the crates. A quarrel had buried itself in his shoulder. I pulled him down behind the crate wall, propped him against it, and started to examine his shoulder. With a sigh, Nist collapsed next to us. Despite the wall we had built, a quarrel stuck out from between his shoulder blades.
With no one to man the controls, the Pauline leveled off and slowed down. Raoul’s airship, still under the control of her helmsman and emulating the bird of prey it was named for, dove toward us from above!
Chapter 39
“Do something, David!” Martin gasped. “You need to find a way to keep them off of us for a few minutes while the boiler pressure comes up.”
Another rain of crossbow quarrels fell around us. If I stood in at the wheel for any length of time, I was sure to be shot. I thought I might be able to pilot the airship while crouching low enough that the wall of
crates would protect me. It was worth trying, at least!
I scurried to the airship’s controls, grabbed the wheel with one hand and the aileron controls with the other. Keeping my head down, I worked the ailerons and put the Pauline back into a dive. I was sure we were at least a thousand feet from the ground, but I couldn’t both keep my head down and see what was ahead. At some point, I’d have to stand up to look and risk ending up like Nist.
“Martin, what are the chances you can get Nist down to Tristan?”
“Absolutely none,” Martin said through gritted teeth.
“I didn’t think so,” I said. “Different question—can you get below deck and send someone back for Nist?”
“Yeah, I can do that,” Martin said. “What about you?”
“I’ll stay here, pilot the ship, and hope we get out of crossbow range before we crash into a mountain.”
“Aren’t you the cheery one?” Martin asked.
Another volley of crossbow quarrels hit the deck and the crates piled up behind us. The sound of the last quarrel striking wood hadn’t faded when Martin jumped to his feet and ran for the cabin door. He threw the door open and dove through a split second before the next volley clattered on the deck where Martin had been standing.
Right after the next volley, two of Garrett’s soldiers dashed through the door and up to join me on the deck.
As they carefully lifted Nist between them, one of the men asked, “What can we do to help you, sir?”
“Go back to stoking the fire,” I said. “Outrunning the other airship is our best chance of survival.”
“Yes, sir!” the soldier said, waiting for the next volley to pass. When it did, the two soldiers dashed off with Nist. Despite their burden, they were through the cabin door and safely under cover before Raoul’s men could take any further shots.
