Wall of Spears

by Duncan Lay

  ‘We have received no such orders. Nightsoil only comes out when the food goes in. We can only open the door with the castellan’s keys,’ the guard said. ‘You’d better be on your way.’

  Sendatsu slowed down, letting his shoulders drop in disappointment, yet still getting almost within touching distance before stopping.

  ‘But I was promised a silver coin for this!’ he whined.

  ‘None of our business. Come back with the castellan and his keys if you want your money,’ the other guard sniffed.

  ‘But how will I feed my children?’

  ‘On scraps, like the rest of us,’ the first guard growled and reached out to push Sendatsu.

  But Sendatsu was too fast. He grabbed the guard’s arm, locked the elbow joint and twisted him around before ramming his head into a stone wall. The guard collapsed in a clatter of armour and the second one opened his mouth to shout a warning — but Sendatsu pointed at him, gathering his limited magic and releasing it, stopping the man’s voice for a few heartbeats. He had used it on a crying Cheijun a few times, when his son seemed beyond words and its surprise almost always worked.

  The guard’s shock at nothing coming out delayed him for long enough to allow Sendatsu to pounce on him and drive stiffened fingers into his throat. As the man fell, choking, he used his foot to bounce the man’s head off the stone flagstones.

  Mai and Cheijun clutched each other while Gaibun and Mildrith hurried down to join them. Sendatsu put his face to the tiny barred window in the heavy wooden door.

  ‘Asami!’ he hissed.

  Noise from inside the room resolved itself into three faces: his mother, Retsu and then Asami.

  ‘Sendatsu! I knew you would come,’ his mother cried.

  ‘We don’t have much time. Asami, can you open the lock?’ He thought she looked a little pale but it was hard to tell in the dim light. But she stepped forwards anyway and, a moment later, the lock rasped open. Sendatsu and Gaibun grabbed the door and swung it open, revealing the three relieved faces.

  ‘My son!’ Noriko hugged him close. ‘I told them you would come for us!’

  ‘My son!’ Retsu grasped Gaibun by the hand. ‘You have taken a terrible risk coming for us.’

  ‘It was worth it,’ Sendatsu said, looking at Asami. She did not look well but he opened his arms anyway, only for Gaibun to grab his hand.

  ‘Don’t begin this again. I do not have the energy. Not if you want me to use magic to get us away,’ she said tiredly.

  ‘We have much to talk about,’ Gaibun said. ‘Sendatsu knows everything, and I owe him a debt. But it will all wait until we are safely away.’

  ‘What is she doing here?’ Noriko hissed, pointing at Mildrith, who stood awkwardly at the back of the corridor.

  ‘She is helping us. It is a long story but we have a plan. Huw and Rhiannon are freeing the others and then we shall all meet by a secret entrance,’ Sendatsu said hurriedly.

  ‘Lead on then. We are wasting time,’ Retsu said.

  ‘This way.’ Mildrith waved them back the way they had come. ‘We have another cell to free.’

  They returned to the servants’ passageways and then hurried after Mildrith. Sendatsu had to carry Cheijun, Mai rushing to keep up, while Gaibun helped Asami along. Noriko had her arm around the limping Retsu.

  ‘I see you found a way to pass the time while here, Mother,’ Sendatsu said wryly, seeing how close the two of them were.

  ‘I assure you, Sendatsu, that I will treat your mother with honour,’ Retsu said stiffly.

  Sendatsu chuckled. ‘I cannot begrudge anyone happiness. Do what you think is right to make up for the injustices of the past.’

  ‘We shall,’ Noriko said firmly, ‘when Retsu is Elder Elf.’

  ‘Everything will change then,’ Retsu agreed.

  Mildrith led them through the passages with unerring accuracy, Sendatsu again using Mai and Cheijun to allow him to get close enough to the guards to silence them before they could raise the alarm.

  Soon they found themselves running down passageways with five clan leaders following, including Lord Ichiro, the father of Sendatsu’s dead wife.

  ‘I know you dote on my grandchildren but shouldn’t you have brought warriors instead?’ he asked as they hurried along.

  ‘We shall explain it all later,’ Sendatsu assured him. ‘We need to get back to rescue my father from Sumiko. She was the one who brought the Forlish into Dokuzen.’

  ‘Hurry! These guards are checked every turn of the hourglass. Who knows when the castellan will be back here?’ Mildrith hissed.

  ‘Isn’t that the human who greeted us when we arrived here?’ a clan leader asked. ‘What is going on?’

  ‘Questions after escape,’ Retsu said firmly.

  But it quickly became obvious that was going to take longer than they wanted. Retsu was limping heavily, while all the clan leaders were still stiff and sore from the beatings they had endured. Sendatsu had his arms full of his children and no strength or breath to help the others but he was most worried about Asami, for Gaibun was almost having to carry her along.

  Mildrith urged them on. ‘Not much further.’

  Sendatsu was just beginning to hope they had completely got away with it when, from deep within the castle, a bell began to toll, swiftly followed by others. Down here the noise was deadened but unmistakeable.

  ‘Keep going. It’s another fifty paces, then take the left turn and a hundred paces to the nightsoil gate,’ Mildrith said.

  Even Retsu found a burst of energy and they rushed around a corner to see a worried-looking Huw and Rhiannon waiting there with Uffa, Cadel, Bowen and the rest of the clan leaders.

  ‘I have to go. I shall try to send them in another direction,’ Mildrith said immediately.

  ‘I think you should stay with us,’ Gaibun said.

  ‘Don’t be a fool. I can do you far more good by confusing the castellan. Besides, my son will help you get into the city,’ Mildrith dismissed him haughtily.

  ‘We are out of time. Let’s go,’ Huw snapped.

  Sendatsu led the way out of the door, to where their donkeys and nightsoil cart were waiting patiently, screened from the gate by the huge stinking pile.

  ‘Everyone get in.’ He helped them up into the cart until it was filled, only Uffa, Cadel, Bowen, Rhiannon, Huw and himself left. Bowen had found a huge, dirty sheet and they used it to cover the top of the cart. If anyone looked under it, they would instantly discover the escapees but it was better than having a cart full of people ride out through the gate.

  ‘Go and distract the guards, lead them away. Then we’ll get out fast,’ Sendatsu told Uffa. ‘Once we’re in the city, we’re just one more nightsoil cart.’

  ‘How do I do that?’ Uffa asked.

  ‘You’re the king’s son! They will do whatever you tell them!’ Sendatsu said.

  Uffa looked uncertain but a peek around the nightsoil pile told Sendatsu there was no getting out easily. The bells were still ringing and the pair of guards now had their spears pointed inside. Not even the sight of small children was going to save them this time.

  Uffa cleared his throat and, with a small push from Sendatsu, ran out from behind the pile and across to the guards.

  One guard recognised him instantly. ‘Lord Uffa! What is happening?’

  ‘Prisoners are escaping! We are needed by the main gate! Follow me!’ Uffa cried, his voice cracking a little. He sounded more uncertain than commanding but the two guards followed him anyway as he ran off.

  ‘Now!’ Sendatsu waved and jumped onto the side of the cart as they rattled towards the gate. Rhiannon whispered to the donkeys and they picked up speed in response, the others running alongside.

  ‘Stop!’ someone bellowed.

  ‘Keep going!’ Sendatsu yelled unnecessarily. He glanced over and saw a squad of guards rushing towards them, crossbows in hand.

  ‘Stop or we loose!’ one yelled.

  Sendatsu looked at Rhiannon. ‘Get ready to send t
hose wild,’ he called.

  ‘Already have!’ she shouted back.

  ‘Wait! There is no danger here!’ Uffa ran to intercept the group.

  At that moment, half-a-dozen of the Forlish loosed their crossbows. But instead of concentrating on the donkeys or the cart, the bolts flew in all directions as their guide vanes dropped away. Some bounced off the castle walls, others flew straight up in the air or skidded along the ground — but one hit Uffa in the forehead and sent him flying backwards, instantly dead.

  ‘Aroaril!’ Sendatsu cried.

  ‘The king’s son!’ the Forlish cried, ignoring the cart to rush over to where Uffa twitched out his last on the cobbles.

  ‘What happened?’ Gaibun cried from the other side of the cart.

  ‘The Forlish killed Uffa with a crossbow,’ Sendatsu said grimly.

  ‘Perhaps he is not dead,’ Huw said hopefully.

  ‘He’s dead,’ Cadel said. ‘Nobody could survive that.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Retsu’s voice called out.

  ‘It means we need to get moving. Everyone in the cart!’ Sendatsu called.

  They squeezed into the already crowded cart, forced to throw aside the filthy sheet as there was not enough room to hide everyone under it. Instead they had to rely on speed and rattled down the back streets. People had come out of their houses to see what the commotion at the castle was about and were forced to jump aside as the cart rattled past, the donkeys running with their ears pinned back.

  ‘How are we steering this thing? There are no reins!’ Huw shouted.

  ‘I’m telling the donkeys where to go. But that means you need to watch out for me, because I have to concentrate on them,’ Rhiannon warned.

  ‘Asami, can you help us?’ Sendatsu asked, touching her shoulder.

  In response, she wearily stood, the others trying to make room for her.

  ‘Help me stay upright and I’ll see what I can do,’ she said.

  Sendatsu caught a glimpse of Gaibun, over the other side of the cart, glaring at him as he embraced her, holding her up. But there was no time to worry about that.

  The cart took a corner at speed and only the weight it was carrying kept both wheels on the ground. The donkeys were hardly running like racehorses but they were moving faster than Sendatsu had ever seen a donkey go before. He had no idea how long they could keep this up.

  One more corner and they were back on the main road heading down to the lower city, the castle beginning to recede in the background.

  ‘Maybe Uffa’s death distracted them and they’re thinking about that, not about escaped prisoners?’ Huw said hopefully.

  Before anyone dared reply, horn calls replaced the bells and they could see cavalry spilling out of the castle gate, thundering down the road.

  ‘I had to say it, didn’t I?’ Huw groaned.

  People were running out of the way, the donkey cart making them dodge, but the sight of the cavalry making them disappear.

  ‘Hold on, everyone!’ Rhiannon called and the donkeys picked up even more speed. The cart shook and rattled, its heavy wooden wheels threatening to break apart at any moment.

  ‘Is this safe?’ Retsu shouted.

  ‘Safer than waiting for the cavalry to carve us into pieces!’ Rhiannon called back. ‘I’m holding everything together — you worry about the cavalry.’

  The donkey’s stubby legs may have been blurring as they galloped along but the cavalry was drawing closer, a dozen men in armour with long swords and angry faces spurring their horses on.

  ‘Why so few?’ Cadel wondered.

  ‘You’re complaining about it?’ Huw said incredulously.

  ‘That was all that was ready,’ Sendatsu guessed. ‘They’ll be saddling up another one hundred horses right now but they won’t be able to catch us. We just have these to worry about.’

  ‘And any guards in the lower city,’ Huw pointed out.

  ‘We’ll worry about this lot first!’

  The cavalry was gaining rapidly, the leading troopers pointing their swords at Cadel and Bowen, who were on the back of the cart.

  Sendatsu glanced to the side, where shops and stalls were blurring past them.

  ‘The potter. Can you do something about it?’ he shouted into Asami’s ear.

  ‘If I’m not deafened!’ she replied, then pointed at the shop, with its mounds of huge pots for storing water, wine and grain. Instantly the wood holding the display together collapsed, spilling pots of all sizes right in front of the cavalry.

  One trooper tried to jump over a rolling pot and misjudged it, hitting the ground in a clatter of metal and a snapping of bone, the screaming horse bringing down the rider behind it as well. The riders on the far side managed to jump, dodge or kick aside the rolling pots but four of the six on the near side lost their mounts, falling to the cobbles, most with bone-crunching force. Only one was trying to get back into his saddle as the road bent to the left and they were lost from sight.

  ‘Hold on!’ Rhiannon cried as they went over a small rise, the cart leaving the ground and flying through the air for several moments before touching down with a crash. Sendatsu swore he could see a wheel beginning to disintegrate, only for the wood to knit itself back together, the nails tightening before it had a chance to splinter into nothing.

  ‘Ironmonger!’ Sendatsu looked up and nudged Asami.

  Instantly she responded, scattering barrels of hatchets, mattocks, horseshoes and a dozen other items across the road. This was less successful — one horse lost its footing and slipped, spilling the rider, while another trod on something sharp and pulled up in the space of a stride, catapulting its rider over its head. But the others kept going, jumping and skipping past the rolling objects.

  Despite Rhiannon’s best efforts, one was close enough to take a swing at Cadel. He ducked and the trooper’s sword bit into the wooden side of the cart. Cadel sliced upwards, his blade aimed not at the trooper but at his horse. Struck in the mouth, the horse screamed and reared, hurling the trooper into a baker’s.

  On the other side, Bowen blocked a blow with ease, then the trooper flung himself at the cart, landing on a pair of shouting clan leaders. Before he had a chance to strike a blow or even get his balance, Bowen grabbed his shoulder and flipped him off the back. He hit the cobbles hard and rolled under the hooves of one of his comrades.

  ‘They’re trying to get past on the left!’ Huw shouted at Rhiannon, as a pair of troopers spurred their horses wide, staying clear of Bowen’s and Cadel’s swords.

  Rhiannon glanced over her shoulder and clicked her tongue. Instantly the donkeys swerved to the left, the cart swaying out until it struck the forequarters of one horse, forcing the beast to screech to a halt. The other trooper urged his horse wider but Rhiannon’s donkeys followed, forcing him wider still — until he looked up to see a terrified stallholder ahead. The trooper tried to jump over the tables out the front but landed heavily, he and his horse flipping head over hoof.

  ‘Watch out!’ Rhiannon roared as the donkeys swerved back, hooves skidding a little, forcing Bowen and Cadel to grab at the sides and low gate on the back of the cart to stop themselves being thrown out.

  Sendatsu looked down to see Mai cuddling Cheijun, clutched tight between Retsu and Noriko.

  ‘This is fun! More!’ Mai laughed.

  ‘Faster! Faster!’ Cheijun agreed.

  Sendatsu exchanged a look with his bemused mother, then jerked back to what the troopers were doing as a sword carved out a chunk of the cart right next to him.

  Asami clenched her fist and the trooper’s horse suddenly forgot to gallop. For a moment it tried to run on two legs, then they folded and down it went.

  ‘How many left?’ Retsu called.

  ‘One!’ Cadel shouted.

  This rider had survived all they had thrown at his comrades but was now outnumbered and backed off as Cadel and Bowen waved their swords at him. Rather than end up like the rest of the squad, he reined in his horse.

  �
�We showed them!’ Cadel crowed.

  ‘We’re away!’ Gaibun grinned.

  ‘Not yet,’ Rhiannon said grimly.

  They all turned to face the front, seeing a barrier across the road, a jumble of tables, seats and stalls, whatever could come close to hand. Behind it a dozen guards waited, spears poking out.

  ‘What do we do?’ Huw asked.

  ‘Grab on tight!’ Rhiannon howled, steering the donkeys towards where the barrier was highest.

  The guards responded, clustering there with spears bristling.

  Sendatsu looked down at Asami, at the dark shadows beneath her eyes, her pale, sweating skin, and listened to her harsh breathing and dared not ask her do any more.

  Then he felt the astonishing push of magic as Rhiannon made the donkeys turn abruptly, the cart skidding around, only magic keeping the creaking wood together and holding the wheels on. Now she was steering for the lowest part, where a timber stall leaned sideways. With a nod from Rhiannon, the stall slid further down and around, until it made a ramp up and over the barricade.

  Gaibun fended off a spear thrust, while another spear punched through the side of the cart, missing Lord Ichiro by a hand’s breadth. Then the donkeys charged up the ramp Rhiannon had made and jumped over to the other side, their speed and momentum dragging the cart after them. The wheels hit the stall ramp, tossing the whole thing up and over, lifting the cart into the air. The donkeys stumbled a little on landing, while the cart crashed down heavily, sending everyone into each other and flipping Cadel and Bowen onto the shouting clan leaders. Again, the cart only held together with magic as it raced away again, the donkeys barely skipping a beat.

  A hurled spear soared towards the cart but Sendatsu flung himself at it, knocking it away with his sword before it could skewer anyone. Cadel helped push him back up and off a groaning clan leader and he made it back to the side of the cart in time to stop Asami falling.

  ‘How much further?’ he called to Huw.

  ‘See for yourself!’ Huw pointed to where the gate loomed.

  This was the busiest part of the city but the crowd divided for the runaway cart propelled by four stamping, snorting donkeys. The crowd saved them, forcing the guards away from the path, the sheer crush of people and animals preventing the men in red tunics from getting close enough to do more than jab uselessly at the cart with spears from afar.