by LeRoy Clary
The sword lived up to its reputation as it nearly severed the head. The momentum carried the Wyvern forward, but I didn’t watch because another was nearly upon me. Only my training brought the sword into the cocked position again in time to defend myself. I slashed it along the side and prepared for the next.
It also flew low and fast, but well before it reached me, a shadow from the corner of my eye swept down and plucked it from the sky in its great talons. It was Kendra’s dragon. As it flew upward, it snapped at the head of the Wyvern. The dragon shook the Wyvern violently and allowed the dead animal to fall to the desert floor as it swerved to attack another Wyvern.
The attackers turned and fled; the dragon in pursuit. It caught up with one, and an aerial battle followed. The smaller and quicker Wyvern twisted and turned to elude the heavier dragon until it made its final fatal mistake and the dragon’s mouth seized it.
Kendra’s dragon returned and circled above us as if daring any of the Wyvern to return. None did. As I turned to face the others, I found another dead Wyvern on the ground; dark blood pooled near its chest. Will wiped his blade on a scrap of cloth as casually as if performing a weekly cleaning of his weapon.
None of us were hurt, which seemed a miracle since the attack had come so suddenly and unexpectedly. It should not have been a surprise. Any of us should have anticipated the Young Mage retaliating or sending the Wyverns to kill us. At the very least, we should have expected he would try to draw us back to Kaon even if it included making us so angry at him we acted from that instead of rationality. If it did happen, if we reacted with emotion, we’d blindly charge the city of Kaon to get our revenge, exactly what he wanted. I was still berating myself when the princess cleared her throat, drawing our attention.
Elizabeth said softly, “The Young Mage sent them to kill us or lure us back.”
It was not a question. None of us tried to deny her assessment. Kendra said, “It won’t be the last attack on us. He knows where we are.”
Will kicked the dead Wyvern in frustration. “The next attack will be with men. He knows our location and will have an army waiting for us at the gates of Dagger. There will be others before then, probably small bands of bounty hunters seeking huge rewards.”
“How do you know that?” I found the words tumbling from my mouth without thinking.
“Because, it’s what I’d do,” he said simply. “His plans are already laid, and men are moving into position as we hesitate. There will be more than one ambush. Too bad, we won’t be there.”
Elizabeth said, “To avoid them, we have to move quickly and unexpectedly. Also, I want each of you to think of this while we’re riding. What will his next move be? Let your minds run free. Come up with something the Young Mage will not expect.”
Her foot was in her stirrup as she said her last words, and she pointed her horse to the river before swinging her other leg over. We followed at a more sedate pace. However, from the expressions, all wore, her feelings were very little different than ours. Fear had transformed into determination and anger.
For myself and my planning, I’d thought we might catch a boat and sail downriver to Dagger and depart just before reaching the city and cut across to the southern part of the bay where a boat could be chartered to Landor if the passage was not to be found on another.
That idea demonstrated how poorly we were prepared. If the Young Mage had notified the Council of Nine in Dagger, which we were sure he had, they would not only have armies posted and waiting for us at obvious choke points like those narrow passages that connected the lakes, but they would also send out scouts who would provide information on our arrival date as well as where. If they were good scouts, we might never see them and blunder directly into the ambushes.
The Wyvern could fly and keep track of us from a distance. They only had to fly within sight a few times a day to know our exact route—and from that our destination and probably plan could be anticipated. We had no choice but to continue and quickly. Speed seemed our only ally.
Anna came into my mind, *I’m scared.*
I considered trying to lie, to tell her all would be alright, but couldn’t do it. Even if she didn’t detect the lie, it was one. *We all are.*
*What’s going to happen?*
Even a sorceress who claimed to see the future couldn’t answer that. Anna was a child, no older than fourteen, and probably younger. But she deserved the truth or at least a version of it. *We are going to try and evade the traps they will set. Maybe we can outrun them. And don’t forget, there is a dragon looking out for us.*
She turned in her saddle and flashed me a smile that was as insincere as it looked. She was scared but controlling it, as we all were.
That only left one train of thought for me to consider, and probably everyone else. The Young Mage assumed we were going to Dagger, our path pointed right at it and the Wyvern had certainly told him that, but our true destination was far south of there. Instead of traveling along the north bank of the river as expected, or on one of the many boats, we should cross the river and ride far to the south until we could reach the ocean. However, we should continue our present course as long as possible. That would give him less time to react when we changed.
How far south we should travel was a question I couldn’t answer. The Brownlands extended there, even more, barren and bleak than the featureless ground we rode on.
I also didn’t know what the others were thinking, and hopefully one had a better idea. It wouldn’t take much to improve on the little I had.
CHAPTER FOUR
We arrived at the bank of the river without incident. While it was technically a river, a dozen dams spread the water into a chain of lakes which were often called “pearls” by the locals. A string of pearls, the old legends said. Water is more valuable than pearls in the Brownlands.
Maybe it was not technically a river anymore, but a lake stood before us, wide and without a current. The far side was lost to sight, but several boats traveled up, down, or from side to side under sail or oars.
I said, “If nothing else, we need to find a boat to cross.”
Will agreed. He turned to look behind and down the river before saying, “If we can get across, our chances of avoiding them improve from slim to barely possible. Our pursuers will naturally be on this side, thinking they have us trapped between the lakes and the Brownlands north of here.”
Being more direct and grounded, my sister pointed to a shack near the water’s edge with a poor excuse of a dock leaning to one side. Tied to the dock were three boats. One was large, wide, and without a sail. A cargo vessel. It probably carried farm goods to market in Dagger. Since there was little current, its means of propulsion was questionable, but easily answered by asking.
She said, “Maybe we can at least get a suggestion from whoever lives there.”
We turned and rode in the direction of the hut, the only structure in sight. A gruff old man wearing a wide straw hat emerged from the shack before we could dismount. He snorted, “Got myself three strong sons, inside, each with a bow and arrows fitted. All aimed at you. Get out of here while you can. We don’t want no trouble.”
Both Will and I urged our horses to move back a few steps. Kendra and Anna turned theirs to the side to pull respectfully away. However, Princess Elizabeth drew herself up taller and said in that tone I hadn’t heard from her often, “Sir, nobody in the five kingdoms speaks to a royal princess in that manner. You will apologize our I’ll have your head removed from your shoulders. You will immediately kneel before me, or I will lose my temper and you will lose your head.”
“W-what?” He turned to look behind him as if to have someone explain what was happening. He had just threatened us, and the woman was ignoring it.
Her voice grew stronger, if not louder, “I am Princess Elizabeth of Dire on a diplomatic mission to meet with your king.” She dismounted in a smooth motion and approached him in a few long strides. “And you are not yet on your knees.”
“
Princess,” Will raised his voice as he leaped from his horse and chased behind her as if to stop her, but I saw he was really just establishing her power. “Please spare that poor man’s life. He does not know who you are, and he means no insult.”
Before all the words were out of his mouth, the man had dropped to his knees; his head bowed in respect. She stood before him for the space of a few breaths, then said, “Arise. I need information and perhaps service. And if you do have three strong sons inside with drawn bows, you had better order them to stand down before I send my men inside to take the bows away and spank them.”
Will moved to his left as I moved right to flank her on the other side. Neither of us had a bow, but we had drawn our swords. Kendra moved ahead to shield Anna.
*He’s being honest with you,* Anna said. *And he’s scared.*
She could tell that? I would investigate if she could tell what others thought later. *How many are inside?*
*Three. Not that I can tell that by myself, but I can see he tells the truth.*
The old man called in the direction of the shack with a surprisingly strong voice, “Come on out. Leave your weapons inside.”
Two men came out first, and a third reluctantly. The last one held a knife at his side, which he tried to hide.
Will caught the attention of the third one and took a couple of steps closer to him. In a curious tone, he asked, “Is this it, son?”
“Is it what?” the young man snarled with a curl of his lip.
“The day you die,” Will spoke softly, calmly, and without emotion.
All three of the sons matched their father in that they were dirty, smelled of old fish, were oversized, rude, and quick to fight. It only took a glance to see all four were related. The color of their hair and beards, the slump of their shoulders, and a hundred other similarities stood out.
They were poor and lived at the edge of nowhere, probably because they were either outcasts or outlaws. But they were not highwaymen or thieves. Fishermen, from the smell, combined with sweat. Not as unpleasant as it might sound.
Will said evenly to the youngest again, “Well, is it?”
The knife fell to the dirt from limp fingers. Will said to him, “Retrieve your knife, so someone doesn’t step on it and cut their foot. Treat it as well as it treats you.”
“You talk funny,” the last man to emerge said as he scooped up the knife and wiped the blade on his leg.
Will nodded. “When I served my king, I trained many young insolent men like you to fight in our wars. All of you think you are tough because you can whip the boy who lives down the road. The problem comes when you have to fight the man in another army, one stronger and better trained.”
“I can whip both of my brothers.” He swung his arm to indicate the other two who were only marginally friendlier. Tension filled the air. The youngest boy wanted to fight, to prove himself. He took a small step in Will’s direction. I expected Will to dart ahead a step and slice the boy with his sword. It was clear the young man had never faced a sword and didn’t understand how far a lunge, an extended arm, and the length of a sword could reach. From where Will stood, he could run the boy through before he could move another step.
Instead, Will held up his other hand, palm facing the young man as a silent order to stop advancing. “Are you looking for a fight? Can we do it without weapons?”
The young man was taller than Will and far heavier. He nodded quickly, a grin spreading as he insolently let the point of the knife fall into the dirt again.
Will tossed his sword to Elizabeth, who caught it by the hilt. He placed his hands on his hips and said, “You’re going to lose and it’s going to hurt.”
“I can beat you,” the young man replied, dropping into a wrestler’s pose. “You’re half my size.”
Will snorted a genuine laugh. He said, “It isn’t often an untrained buffoon like yourself can win against an opponent who has trained daily. But, I’m not in a mood to fight today. Kendra, would you mind stepping up here and embarrassing this boy?”
She was moving as he spoke. I suspected she had anticipated what Will was going to do. She walked directly up to the young man and pulled up to a stop toe-to-toe, to his total surprise. His size and reach were reduced because she stood so close, but he didn’t realize he’d already allowed her to strip him of his advantages.
She said sweetly, “Are you ready to fight me?”
I’d fallen for that trick too many times. He began to nod when he should have attacked instead. Before his chin reached his chest to agree he was ready, she struck. Her left knee shot up. Not to his groin because most men reflexively protect that area, but to just above the kneecap of his right leg. She did it fast. Hard. As her body delivered that knee, the natural motion of the strike turned her from her waist, and as she turned, her left fist, not the one he was watching, struck him squarely on his breastbone.
The fight was over. He simply didn’t know it yet. Her right fist struck the same place again as he gasped for breath from the first blow. The second punch drove all the air out. Her left knee drove into his right thigh again. The leg collapsed, and he fell and rolled, gasping for breath and holding his right leg with both arms. Kendra gently placed the heel of her boot on his nose.
“Give up?” When he didn’t answer fast enough, she applied a little of her weight.
“Okay! You win. But you cheated.”
She stepped back, reached her hand down and helped him to his feet. He stood on his left leg and balanced awkwardly because the feeling wouldn’t return to the other leg for a while. I know because she’d put me down that way a few times and I still resented the instructors the King’s Weapon-Master had been assigned to teach her that. Not many could stand against Kendra and none who were untrained.
Will said, “Now then. We’ve all enjoyed the entertainment, but we have a spot of business to discuss.”
The father perked up at the mention of business.
Will said, “That flat-bottomed boat, over there. Is it for transporting things? I don’t see any sails or oars.”
The father said, “It’s a barge. We use a rowboat to pull it.”
“Will it carry a horse and rider?” Will asked.
“I suppose.” He looked at the horses and us. “Never done it. Maybe one at a time.”
Will said, “That’s good enough. Now I know we didn’t get off to the best start, but I have another question if you don’t mind answering. Why do you live way out here?”
The old man jutted his chin in the direction of Dagger. “They accused us of stealing and killing a man down river. We’re hiding. Shit like this wouldn’t happen when King Fry was still alive. A man could get a fair hearing back then.”
“So, you don’t like the Council of Nine?” Will continued.
The old man spat.
Will said, “This is your lucky day.”
“How so?”
“You have a chance to slap the face of each one of the Council of Nine by helping us—and we’ll pay you generously to do it.”
He glared at Will as if not believing him.
Will said, “Friends of our have started a revolt and taken control of Vin. The rightful heir is Prince Angle, and he is fighting to retake the throne. Now they march on Trager to raise an army while we are going to see what we can do about restoring Dagger’s royalty to the throne. We need a barge-ride across the river.”
The old man stuck his hand out to shake with Will. “I’m called Coffin. We can get you across if’n you aren’t in a hurry. One at a time. But no pay. We don’t need to take money for doin’ what’s right. Or to give a little back to those that took from us.”
The son who had been the victim of Kendra said, “Hey, I want to be paid.”
“Shut up, or I’ll have them sic that little girl standing all by herself on you next time. We’ll see if you can fight a child and win.”
All eyes turned to Anna.
“Pa, you got to be kidding. Look at her!”
; “Look at the one half your size that put you down. We can talk about money or that little girl kicking your butt. Besides, I got a feeling the little one is twice the fighter of the one that took you down without breathing hard.”
Everyone laughed—everyone, but Kendra’s opponent. The boy spoiled to prove himself and had only made himself the butt of jokes. However, Kendra moved to his side, a look of sympathy on her face. She turned and scowled at the older man for berating him, then turned back to his younger son and said, “Listen, you didn’t stand a chance. Professional soldiers trained me to fight, but I’ve never had to knee anyone in the leg twice. The rest all went to the ground with my first bout of blows. You had me worried for a moment because you stayed upright.”
“Hear that?” he snarled at his smiling brothers. “Any of you want to try taking her on?”
She turned to them and said, “He’s right. Either of the two of you wants to stand up to me as your brother did?”
Their eyes shifted away.
Kendra has always had the knack of empathy and drawing people to her side, especially victims. With a few words, she had smoothed over the incident and made the loser feel like he’d accomplished something unique. It reminded me of one of my instructors telling me words can take a man down almost as fast as they can build him up—and far faster than any blow.
Will attempted to take charge of the conversation again, “We’re fighting the same enemies. Can we cross the river with your barge, or should we look elsewhere?”
The old man snapped, “Jess, you and Tang, will row. Wiley, you help them get a horse and rider on the barge. Keep them horses calm on the passage, or it won’t work.” He turned and pointed to me. “You there, walk your horse on to the barge and keep it settled down, understand?”
I considered hobbling the horse, but it couldn’t swim if I did. If the horse bucked or panicked and went into the water, it could swim for a short distance, so no hobbles or it would drown. I looked at the animal with some affection. It was shorter than horses in Dire, with a longer, molted coat. The overall color was tan, but black and darker shades of brown were there, too.
