There was a soft but demanding knock on the door. Betram opened it to
be fronted by a woman in her early forties. She was striking with sharp
features framed by long dark hair. She stared at him as if trying to read
his thoughts.
" Yes? ". He said suspiciously.
" I have come to tend to the person that lies in this house, "
she said confidently.
There were many strangers about that were not to be trusted and he wasn't
sure if the woman was one.
" We live here alone, just me and my wife ". He lied.
At that moment Alice came up behind him.
" What does she want? ". She said suspiciously
" She says she's come to tend to someone here, " muttered
Betram his eyebrow flicking rapidly in a barely concealed sign to Alice.
" I said no person needs her help ".
But the strange woman seemed unperturbed. " The person I wish to
see needs urgent attention; the suspension medium will not be sufficient
to continue life without my assistance ".
Bertram gave a look to Alice that told his visitor everything she needed
to know.
" I come at the bidding of Reigel ".
At the mention of the name the couples concern visibly eased.
" We may have bee…. ".
" I understand, " she said brushing aside their concern. "
Where is she? ".
" Upstairs in the back room ".
Victoria nodded and moved towards them almost pushing by as they stepped
back.
" The physician is with her…. He can do nothing ".
She didn't turn. " He is unaware of the treatment she needs ".
Betram locked the door and hurried after her and Alice.
He entered the room as Victoria spoke to Malcome, who was looking at her
in surprise
" ………. and you have supplied water I see ".
" For what reason I don't know " he said anxiously. "
Something… It just seemed the thing to do ".
" It was exactly the thing to do " Victoria said.
" Good. I'm… " Malcome said, apparently pleased that
he had made the right decision. He turned and smiled at Betram then back
at the woman. She had pulled a small vial from a pocket and was placing
it at Harriet's lips. Suddenly his smugness evaporated and the doctor returned.
" What are you doing? ", he said anxiously.
" It contains a mixture of antibiotics and… " She realized
by the look on his face that the word meant nothing; it was pointless to
try and explain the function of the nano machines it also contained, instead
she said, " The potion will strengthen her ".
" Of course " he said before curiosity got the better of him.
" And you are? ".
" I am Viki Windsor ".
" You are a physician? ".
" No, but I during my incarceration I qualified as a paramedic
".
Malcome stood back, the word incarceration was vaguely familiar, but
paramedic meant nothing to him. " You have knowledge of this condition?
". He said giving up trying to think of their meanings.
" Some " said Viki thinking how little it was.
" Then you can explain what has happened to her? ".
" I was told she had serious wounds. What you see is a form of
preventative medication; what has happened is that an external life support
has been temporarily prolonging her life ".
" External....temporarily …. ". Malcome felt he was learning
a whole new vocabulary. " Can anything be done? ".
Viki pulled a small machine from her clothing and pressed it to Harriet's
cheek. She looked at a small screen on it before she spoke. " Her bodily
functions are all working, though she has serious damage to her lung ".
" That thing ", he pointed to the machine in her hand. "
That, tells you that? ".
" It is interrogating the condition of her organs, yes. As for
the tissue damage I can tell that from the extent of the antibacterial layering
".
Malcome now stepped closer, his curiosity overwhelming his suspicion.
" The scabbing? ".
" It gives that impression, actually her own blood has been modified
to encase and protect the tissue damage "
" Her blood, there was little left, most drained from her wounds.
I saw that for myself ".
Viki was examining the layering. " Yes and the damage remains,
but as she bled what little blood remained, changed and now protects ".
" There was not enough? " he said dubiously.
" That's where the water came in. The antibacterial layering also
draws moisture from the air… ". Victoria realized that she didn't
actually know how it occurred.
But she dint need to as Malcome was staying on his own known ground.
" But even if that is so, then her organs, they would have begun
to deteriorate before it was remade ".
" That's where the suspension aids her, her body has shut down
".
" I felt her pulse ".
" You felt a stimulated pulse, her heart cannot produce one. The
suspension was breathing for her ".
Malcome looked at Betram and shook is head in mystification
" But you said she had colour ", said Alice to him.
" I did " he said, " I saw the colour return to her ".
" Not all of the moisture is turned into blood, some becomes plasma.
It does not carry the same... things, said Viki, glancing up at Malcome
" …. Any moisture…… the molecules of that moisture are
reconfigured to produce a serum ". She stopped her examination and
looked up at him again. " I'm sorry… I do not mean any disrespect,
I know this is hard to understand, but you have not been trained in these
procedures ".
" Non taken " said Malcome, feeling slightly offended nonetheless.
Viki turned to look at Alice. " You have tendered her well for
what you could do, but now she needs far more ". She looked at Betram
" I need to take her to a place where that can be done. Can you get
a wagon? ".
Betram nodded but looked at Malcome for advice.
" I do not recommend her being moved, " he said firmly.
" I agree, but if she is to live it is her only hope ".
The wagon entered the fringes of the forest and came to a stop at the
edge of a large clearing. Viki looked at Betram and Malcome.
" What you are about to see may seem hard to understand, but please
do not be frightened ". She spoke softly towards what they had taken
to be an ornamental bracelet.
Before she had stopped talking an area in the centre of the clearing began
to shimmer and a large silver shape larger than a whole fleet of wagons
appeared.
The men stared in astonishment as the shape became solid.
" It is not magic, just something you do not understand " said
Viki " Please carry her " she said as she began to walk over to
the apparition, before stopping on seeing their hesitation.
" I promise you will be quite safe, please bring her ".
Reluctantly they took Harriet off the wagon and followed to an opening.
Neither wanted to be the first to step inside but eventually Betram holding
the front had no option.
With a certain amount of difficulty he followed Viki through a passageway
to a small room where a cot was set against the wall.
They laid her on it, and both men, careful not to touch anything, stood
watching as Victoria tore open a transparent bag and took out a piece of
clear thin tubing. From the same bag she next took a needle fastened it
to the tube and pressed it into Harriet's neck.
Betram winced at the sight.
Victoria connected the tube to a small machine and almost instantly Harriet's
body arched as pale pink plasma was drawn from her into the machine
Viki pulled a transparent curved lid over the girl, did several adjustments
and then looked at Malcome.
" I will need your assistance "
" I don't know what will be required of me ". He said softly.
" You just have to watch this graph, " she pointed to a screen.
" If the accumulating number decreases press this " she said,
indicating a button. " …until it returns to follow the pattern
".
He nodded uncertainly as she moved a chair beside the unconscious girl.
Without waiting for Malcome to ask any questions she took a second needle
and tube from the bag.
" In a few moments another marker will appear adjacent to that one
". She said nodding towards the screen. " It is important that
you do as I have already told you for the first, with the second ".
Malcome nodded.
Victoria assembled the second tube and sat in the chair while the plasma
ran back into it. As it began to drip out of the needle she pressed the
tube to her inner wrist; there was a faint hiss. She saw the colour drain
from Betram's face. " This isn't the best way " she said apologetically
" But the here and now doesn't permit us that luxury ".
Suddenly Malcome spoke. " Your going to transfuse aren't you? ".
" Yes " she said sharply, then she saw the look of respect
in Bertram's face and she realise how belittling it was for a respected
member of their community to be reduced to pushing buttons. " You know
of the procedure " she said in a more friendly voice.
" I heard once that in the royal houses it was once done…..
but there was something about bad..wrong blood? ". He said, beginning
to relish the position of victorias aide.
" Wrong type " she said without trying to sound as if she
was correcting him. " This machine tests both her and my blood. If
they are not compatible it will separate the plasmas. It isn't the best
option but enough for battlefield first aid ".
" And this? ". Said Malcome eagerly pointing to another screen
where the left hand side had begun scrolling a continual line of letters
so fast, that they were unreadable ".
" That's her genome… D.N.A… " She said her words
trailing off in a question as the man tried desperately to understand ".
" It's… an…instruction…fo.. " he said slowly
" That's right " Victoria said loudly, cutting him off before
he said anymore. " It's the instructions on how to build a human ".
Malcome's eyes raised but Betram never saw, he was totally dumfounded.
" The machine examines the instructions searching for things in
either of our bloods that would be detrimental to the other. There ".
She said pointing to the screen where the right hand side of the screen
had begun to scroll. " That is my genetic instruction. " In a
moment a band will appear across the bottom of the screen It will start
as green and run to red, hopefully not too much red " she said as she
looked back to the graph where a second line had begun to trace. "
In a short while I will loose consciousness. When that happens I want you
to monitor the flow rates as I have asked ".
Malcome nodded, and noticed that blood had begun to run along the tube
from Viki towards the machine.
" If you have a question, ask it out loud, you will be informed,
but not by me so do not take fright. I will be unable to respond for some
time ".
Blood was coming through the other side of the machine towards Harriet
when the genome completed. Malcome looked at it and puzzled. At the bottom
was the line as Victoria had said, but it was entirely green. He looked
at her " What's it mean when it says 'match'.
Even in her half conscious state Victorias expression showed her shock.
"It means… " She said as her consciousness slipped away "
My blood is…. her blood……… ". Then she passed out.
The cheering around him was deafening, but then like a ripple radiating
back from the gate the voices faltered.
In the silence Nicholas could hear a new sound, a squeaking, creaking squeal
of straining ropes.
The excitement of those around him ebbed into puzzlement. Now Nicholas was
certain that the sound was of straining hemp, and then the clang of metal
on metal accompanied it as heavy gear wheels locked into place.
Still he refused to believe what he knew was happening, until with a slight
jolt, he felt the floor beneath him shudder.
Muffled cheering was still erupting in waves beyond the gate, but it was
now almost silence around him on the drawbridge. Silence except for the
scream of a woman close by, then another as with a greater shudder the drawbridge
began to lift. Now people all him about began to cry out or scream.
The weight of the great planks of timber was more than doubled by the mass
of people on them, but it seem not to effect it as the bridge started to
lift higher.
The movement was slow at first, but enough to force those closest to the
gatehouse to fall forwards onto those lower down stood under the arch. The
screams of surprise changed to screams of fear as some fell and were immediate
swallowed under others feet.
Those close enough to the edges began to jump off into the water, as they
did the load decreased, and the rate of rise increased. People were piling
on top of others before any could scramble away.
Nicholas was trapped, he could move neither forward nor back, and was
being forced to lean backwards to remain upright. Suddenly he was aware
of a higher, more terrified than astonished cry. A child's head was partially
exposed between two people next him. No one was taking any notice and Nicholas
found his mind taken to the child's plight. 'Why wasn't its parent lifting
it where it could breath?' he found himself thinking. But no one did, no
one cared they were all too obsessed with their own thoughts.
In anger Nicholas thrust his shoulder aggressively between the two; they
barely noticed as he reached down and grabbed the child by its upper arms.
He dragged it up and half draped it over his shoulder.
The child gasped at last able to breath freely, then called desperately
for its parents.
The pitiful shrieks pierced his ears but his mind was now on self-preservation.
It was now almost impossible to stand on the angle the drawbridge was at,
holding the child with one hand he tried to control his slide down towards
the tower by jamming his heels into cracks between the planks, but the hold
was not enough and he too fell on his knees amongst the heap of humanity.
They would have been buried as others had but for his quick reflexes, by
stepping and standing almost uncaringly on the soft, giving and mostly silent
bodies below he sprang forward and fell amongst those now crushing under
the tower.
People were banging on the closed doors, screaming for the winch men
to stop, but their pleading was ignored.
Nicholas could do no more as those on the next drawbridge at last realized
what was happening behind them, and pushed toward the keep.
Before any relief from the crush under the tower could be felt, there was
the loud metallic rattle that a chain makes as it runs over a cog. The sound
echoed in their ears as a dreadful scream rose close to the main gate.
Nicholas could hardly move, but he twisted his head towards the gate to
see the portcullis was running relentlessly down.
Thick logs the size of tree trunks, bolted together with iron bolts flashed
downwards driving their ends, sharpened to points and sheathed in more iron
onto the crowd below.
The terrified screams and shouts from those under it were drowned by yet
more shrieks from the drawbridge, for that too had now started to lift.
Again men, women and children, old and young were falling and jumping into
the water from the sides
As it raised three men hung on to the end, Nicholas wondered why they did
not jump, as they were carried higher and higher.
People were pouring from the sides, others not able to move were pushed
onto those impaled by, and up against the portcullis.
He watched sickened as the drawbridge finally closed.
It would have only taken a few minutes from him first standing on the
drawbridge, to now as his dumfounded eyes stared in disbelief, but he felt
that it was countless hours of human misery that had unfolded before him.
The distant cheers inside the keep carried to them on the wind and the
chirping and whistles of the birds mingled with the sobbing and crying.
His shocked mind refused to take in what was happening around him. "
No. No. This is not happening ", he shouted to no one and everyone,
but the sounds around him flooded his protesting mind with reality.
He stood forced to endure the sight, and sounds. The sobbing of those who
grieved, the low moaning of those who were injured, and the continual cry's
of agony.
Now it was over the shock and terror had turned to incensed cries of
anger. Never in the whole history of Quone-Loc-Sie had the gates of the
keep closed on the people in such a manner.
It was some time later before makeshift rafts had come out to ferry
the injured, then the survivors to the shore.
Safe on the streets of the city Nicholas wandered around in a daze.
Unthinkingly he still clutched the child and she clutched him. Sometime
later a sobbing man came towards them, he cried out a name, the child responded
reaching out but Nicholas held onto her as if she was part of his own body.
The man almost had to drag the child from him, until at last his mind understood
their actions.
He released his grip and the child fell into the man's clutching arms, weeping.
Nicholas stood watching them feeling totally lost until another voice pierced
the fog in his mind.
" You… help me " it commanded with such authority that his
feet were responding before he understood.
Now he saw three men, one tending another who lay injured as the speaker
prepared to lift an improvised stretcher.
" Grab the end, " he snapped more out of frustration than anger
while leaning down. " The other end… Pick it up ".
Nicholas quickly fell to a crouch and gripped the rough handles, realizing
it was a ladder covered in cloth.
For hours Nicholas tendered to the injured, then he and the others began
to move the dead.
Darkness had long fallen when the creak of straining rope was heard
again.
Now that all had been done for those who needed it, people stood silently
in the flickering light of their lanterns; unable to help anymore, but unable
to tear themselves away from the dreadful scene.
As the drawbridge came down and found its way into the recess made for it
on the tower island, the second started to open.
Nicholas stood and watched as the crowd that had been inside the keep
poured out across the bridges, some covered in blood, others with wounded
friends leaning on their shoulders for support, and yet others, too many
others carrying the corpses of the dead.
How many men, Women and children had lost their lives behind the wall he
had no idea other than the number was great.
There was no sign of Simeon or Antour, but he hadn't expected there
to be any.
Now his mind had accepted what had happened, the despair turned to anger.
At some time, he was not sure when, he had decided that he would wreak as
much mischief as he could inside the keep before his time came to an end
too.
He ran into the keep against the flow of humanity crying as pitifully
as he could imitate, a husband searching for a lost wife. Stopping occasionally
to give a description from his mind of the fictitious woman to uncaring
guards he was through the gates, and took in the scene
Most of the crowd had left and he saw that the guard had over a hundred
men at the far end of the courtyard herding the crowd forward. They shouted
and hit with thick clubs at those who did not move fast enough for their
liking so he knew he would not pass these with his pretence of a grieving
spouse.
For that reason the buildings at the far end were out of the question;
the one to the right of him had a number of doors but these were closed,
and possibly locked. The building to his left had large arches at the courtyard
level, they were unguarded and by the faint light he thought that there
were horses inside.
Making his way quickly over, he stood leaning face to the stonework at the
side of one arch. He held his face in his hands sobbing and crying out for
his wife, but by opening his fingers the interior of the building could
be seen. It was as he surmised a stable, with a number of steeds but no
guards that he could see. He fell to his knees in a fit of sobbing and rolling
onto his shoulder; he was around the edge of the archway in a blink of an
eye.
Inside he was immediately on his feet for another, better look round
while the crowd outside passed by oblivious to his disappearance.
Safe for the moment he confirmed that the stable was empty of people, but
full of horses. Towards one corner were several empty stalls. He ran to
one and buried himself in the straw ignoring the putrid stench his burrowing
released.
There he lay cursing the idle stable boy who had neglected his cleaning
duties.
Sometime later again he heard the portcullis coming down again, then silence
A while later still, he could hear shouting and some shrieks of laughter
in the distance.
Cautiously he crept from his hiding place surprising a horse that snorted
angrily at him.
Carefully he looked into the courtyard. Torches and lanterns were set about
the place giving just enough light to see across the open area.
There was no one to be seen. The portcullis was down and maybe there
was a guard or two at the gate, he was not sure. The noise he could hear
was coming from the opposite building. It was obvious a good number of the
guard were inside celebrating as he could hear the clash of mugs and singing.
The building facing the gate was quiet but full of light. High up towards
the top were several large windows that shone with a light that did not
flicker, and gave the impression of sunlight as seen through a smoked glass.
He went back inside and checked for other exits.
There were a number and he picked one at random. He felt luck was with him,
as the choice did not lead to a saddle or feed store but to a set of wide
stairs. Nicholas crept up these, and a further three before there came a
noise as if someone higher up was coming down.
A door led out of the stairwell and he slipped through. A long bare passage
led either side of him He took the direction that would lead to the building
that had been best lit.
A number of other doors went off, but at the end of the corridor a door
bore the message. 'Private Apartments. No access without permission'.
The passage on the other side was quite different. Timber panels covered
the walls, as did on occasion tapestries. In little alcoves were small settings
of couches and other fine furnishings, but still no guards or staff. He
ventured further and higher until having just passed a curtained off alcove,
he heard a noise; someone or some group was coming towards him.
Looking around, the nearest hiding place was an alcove; he stepped back
pulled the curtain open and slipped through.
Nicholas found himself to face with a serving girl, not one pace away.
She looked at him in shock and opened her mouth to scream, but he clapped
his right hand over her mouth, and pulled her to him with his left arm.
She could not utter any noise but her hands and legs were free, and she
used them to good purpose. One hand grabbed for his hair making him push
his face into the nape of her neck to protect his eyes.
Then her feet scraped down his shins. The light shoes she wore had no hard
sole but still caused him some pain. He pushed her up against a wall, staying
as close as he could lest she find some more painful target.
" Please I mean you no harm, I only wish to remain undetected ".
He whispered as she pummelled his back with her fists, but she still fought.
" Please I am with the rebellion, if those outside are guards they
will kill me. I will not die alone and have no desire to take an innocent
girl with me ".
The attack upon him showed some hesitation; then stopped. Almost at
the same time whoever it was walked past talking casually with several others.
The steps faded away down the passage and were gone.
There was a muffled protest and a fist sank into Nicholas's ribs, reminding
him that he still held the girl tight. Releasing her Nicholas stepped back.
" I am sorry to have frightened you, but truly I mean no harm, though
you now present me with a none too small problem."
" I am no stranger to problems and trouble with you around, for
it is not the first time you have caused me to be in it Nikki Day ".
He was dumbfounded, how did she know him. He stared into her face; then
it came to him.
" Marryanne?……….. It is you, by all the stars that shine
it is you ". He grabbed her again but this time in friendly embrace.
It took a few minutes for each to relate the events that had passed
since their last meeting, or rather parting for she had been sent from the
district in disgrace after allowing him access to the Alderman's library.
" I know of the others and where they are kept". She said
" They are alive? Thank the heavens, for I feared that I would
be the last still breathing ".
" That still may be the case, " she said. " They are
locked away safely now, but their lives will be lost tomorrow, for the marshal
will waste no time in publicly execute them ".
" Then tell me where they are Marryanne, then go lest you are seen
with me, I will do all I can to free them, or join them in their fate ".
" No Nikki. I know the keep better than you can remember, and know
that there are too many places were you will fail. We will free them together
". He went to protest, but she held her soft hand to his lips.
" No do not try to persuade me to run. I was at the window and saw
all that happened. I have witnessed and been present to things which trouble
me too often, there will be no others after today ".
" So be it then " he agreed " Come, show me the way for
time now runs short ".
Marryanne walked some way in front and led him through passages and
down stairs. From the well furnished corridors back down to the dank and
cold.
They saw few for as Marryanne explained all in the fortress were confident
that the rebels were crushed and were celebrating.
Eventually they came to a stone lined passage where he was bid to wait
quietly. She walked round a corner, and he heard a male voice call out
in pleasure.
" Look what we have here, the good Marshal has not forgotten us ".
There was sickly laughter from at least one other.
" Gentlemen " he heard Marryanne say seductively. " The
officer upstairs said I should see that you poor soldiers had all you needed……….
after such a great victory ".
Nicholas felt sick as he listened on to the rest of the conversation. Then
he heard footsteps.
" No wait until we are around the corner I have no need of an audience
" she said.
Marryanne came around the corner with a guard draped all over her; he was
too intent to notice Nicholas until the last moment as his eyes rolled back
at the sight of the knife slicing across his throat.
As they lowered his body to the floor, she glanced at Nicholas and spoke
again. " He needs help". Marryanne shouted with a laugh in her
voice.
Another guard shouted an obscenity as he came quickly down the passage
and round the corner. He fell with the other.
Marryanne took Nicholas's knife and went back where he could not see. Nick
took a sword from one of the guards as he heard another voice.
" That was quick I don't beliv..". The words ended with a curse
and Nicholas leapt around the corner. Marryanne was twisting the blade from
the chest of a man on the floor. The last two guards were alert now and
drawing their swords to strike her.
Nicholas shouted to draw their attention as Marryanne backed off towards
him. He stepped by and immediately engaged the first guard.
Nicolas was not sure if it was the confined space, or just that cell
duty was given to poor swordsmen; but neither had the spirit to fight and
it was an easy task for him to keep them occupied until he saw a cell door
open.
Out of the corner of his eye he could see Marryanne stood on the edge
of the darkness calling out. Moments later by the smoky glow from the single
flaming torch to his left he saw familiar faces emerge.
Simeon's eyes were red and obviously smarting, no doubt his throat burned
as Nicolas's was beginning to.
With one hand he fought the guards almost pitting them sentenced to suffer
the oily fumes in this place of darkness and poor ventilation.
But the pity was brief as he saw the fear on Simeons face. His friend had
been beaten and whipped. Nicholas could only imagine what it would have
been like trying to block ones ears to the guards opening the door to take
one or another prisoner out; listening to the screams coming down the hall,
mixing with the laughter of the guards torturing them. How long had it taken
until it became quiet, or had the guards grown bored and finished their
cruel games to return to the garrison and drink themselves into a stupor
with the marshal's ale.
The guards seemed to sense Nicholas's anger; one then the other dropped
his sword. They began pleading for their lives, but Nicolas could only see
the fear in his friend's eyes.
and their relief as the ropes were cut from their raw wrists.
Nicholas said nothing but with a toss of his head that the guards instantly
understood they ran to the now empty cell. The door slammed behind tem and
the heavy bolt thudded home.
" Come Simeon " Nicholas said with only a trace of friendship
in his tone. " Antour is outside. Take these weapons and tell everyone
to gather more for the battle is about to begin ". Nicholas was not
conscious of taking command and he never intended to, but Simeon accepted
it without a word.
" Nearly all the guard are drunk and unaware the tables turn against
them ". He said. " We take only the strongest with us, those of
less bulky frame, or those too badly wounded to fight on the run must go
to the armoury. Barricade it, and hold it against the guard re-supplying
themselves ".
Around him the people began to move. They were a shadow of those who
entered the courtyard, but they were still alive and ready to fight.
Guided by Marryanne Nicholas led them to the garrison. The closer they
came the less any guide was needed; all they had to do was follow the noise.
" There are two entrances, " she said in almost a whisper
" One at each end of the hall ".
" Windows? " asked Nicholas.
" Large ones run the length of the Western side. They are higher
than a tall man to the sills ".
" Then they are contained, " said Nicholas knowing the garrison
was at least two floors above the stone courtyard. " They will have
no choice but to fight or die doing so. What about the Eastern side? ".
" A door in the centre of the room leads into their dormitory ".
" Can we get into there without going through the hall? "
" There are entrances at each end ". She said.
" Very well " said Nicholas " We split into three, one
will stay and secure the door on this side. Antour you will lead that group.
Simeon you take the second. We will go together and secure the dormitory.
Then I will circle to the door opposite this.
I will give the signal to enter the room, but do not leave your doorway.
It must be at you backs and close by so that you can not be flanked ".
They entered the dormitory quietly and found eighteen guards in a drunken
sleep; they were quickly subdued and tied with strips of their own bed linen.
There was a rack of arms, which were removed and distributed between the
groups. After sampling the Veldt's tiny crossbows the few bows that he found
seemed huge.
Nicholas made to the second door and stood outside staring at the heavy
iron studded timber, gently he turned the handle to open it slightly ajar.
Beyond he could see the room.
The guard were in another world, not the one that would burst upon them
in moment. His pulse was steady though adrenalin surged in his veins as
he set his stance.
He took a deep breath and kicked the door open, as he did the group surged
through and then fell back against the wall in a line, bowmen to the front.
Close by the drinking and singing stopped.
Hearing the lowering of noise Antour and the Simeon burst through the other
doors.
For seconds a stunned silence reigned, then with screams of anger a good
number of guards charged for each door.
A shower of arrows met them, and the front line of guards fell. The
charge was stopped for only an instant; long enough to fit another shaft
and the next row joined the first.
Now too close to be effective the bowmen moved sideways as those with swords
lunged forward to meet in battle.
The bowmen now took individual aim at any man who stood to fight causing
many soldiers unsure of their intentions to take cover under bench or table.
The hall echoed as steel rang against steel and although the guard had
been caught lightly armed they were well trained and for the most part prepared
to fight.
At the front was Nicholas, his sword thrusting and slashing like a fury,
alongside him fought Jacob; his father stood over to one side with a bow.
After the guards role in their capture there was little mercy shown, or
on the guards side expected. A soldier's duty was to die and many did, but
others too afraid or drunk watched, and waited for the final victor.
It took only a few minutes, maybe ten at the most then it was over.
Sixty or more guard lay dead or dying, against five of the rebels. The garrison
was theirs.
Their prisoners were tied, as they had been and taken in small groups
to the cells. While this was being done Nicholas led a group up to the main
apartments
The progress was slow, mainly for safety though several times they met
opposition and had to fight their way past. They were aided again by Marryanne,
who showed them how to outflank the ambushes by using other, or roundabout
passages.
An hour after they had struck at the garrison, they were outside the Marshals
door; it was locked.
" Fetch a ram " called Jacob, and a large refectory table
was brought from the adjacent dinning room.
Heavy thuds followed each other, vibrating down the passages. The stout
timbers began to splinter, and then there was a crack and a shower of timber
shards fell from the door as its hinges tore away.
The men holding the table dropped it quickly and fell back, expecting
a volley of arrows, but none came.
Nicholas cautiously stepped into the gap.
The Marshal was standing with his back to them at the open doorway to the
roof garden. He was dressed in the purple and black tunic of the type worn
by the guard on ceremonial occasions, and his long cape billowed gently
in the wind.
As he slowly turned they saw that he held a glass of wine. He seemed unperturbed
as he searched their faces
" Which of you is Nicholas Day? ". He said defiantly.
" I am ", said Nick stepping forward into the room.
" I underestimated you " he said calmly " I did not expect
you to have done so well ".
" Neither did I " Nick replied in all truthfulness.
The marshal turned back away and stared out in silence.
Nicholas looked at Simeon not sure what to do next, Simeon shook his
head in confusion too.
" We have the keep, " said Nicholas firmly.
The marshal appeared not to have heard as he carried on. " This
is my city, and all the lands governed from within these walls are mine.
No one shall take it from me " His voice was still calm but had a bitterness
that sent a shiver down Nicholas's spine.
The marshal turned abruptly and faced him his voice composed once again.
He spoke as if talking to his lowest servant.
" You will surrender to my guard along with all your accomplices in
the city, before the dawn of tomorrow ".
All in the room stood in silence unable to believe what they had just
heard. Simeon began to smile in amusement.
" Well, is that understood? Speak man ", demanded the marshal.
" May I point out Marshal? " said Simeon sneeringly "
That we hold the keep, your guard or a good part of it is in your own cells.
I grant you that our foothold is but large enough for a toe, but all the
same we have the advantage ".
"Fools, dammed fools ", the venom was back in his voice."
You have not won. You will never win. I grow sick and tired of your interference.
You have my ultimatum I want every single one of your rag tag band in my
cells as I have ordered or I will render this city and all these lands to
dust. I will leave such devastation that even the creatures from lands far
away will not dwell here one second ".
He strode to a cabinet in the corner and poured another drink. They watched
as he indifferently walked behind a low counter off to one side of the room.
Simeon raised his weapon expecting some trick.
" You have my terms " the Marshal said " Do as I command
". He lifted his arm as if to drink, but instead spoke into a devise
on his wrist.
" Look and grovel in fear " he said the sweeping his free arm
wide an arc towards the window.
All their eyes followed and stared at the red sky that bathed the city
laid out below in a pink morning glow.
Over the courtyard the air shimmered, and as if in a mirage something
was forming. Slowly it became a solid shape, the shape of the saucer Drakken
" We will not meet again before the executions " said the
Marshal.
Nicholas quickly looked back; the Marshal was surrounded by a pale blue
glow.
He grabbed inside his shirt for the throwing knife and let fly. The blade
flew straight and true at the heart of the tyrant, but passed through his
image and embedded itself into the panelled wall behind where he had stood.
Nicholas cursed and walked to the window where the Marshal had stood.
Round the side of the saucer a row of windows had appeared.
" What in the name of all things sacred is it? " gasped Antour.
" It is our nemesis ", replied Nicholas in hardly more than
a whisper. " Have no doubt he can do as he says ".
Facing him as he spoke, not a hundred metres away, although he could have
been a thousand miles was stood a figure dressed in purple and black.
" I fear the marshal deals the last card in the pack, " he said
solemnly.
Even though he knew it was impossible to fight the Drakken. No one else
knew the power the craft could unleash, and it seemed in the excitement
of victory that pure determination would prevail against it. Nicholas said
nothing, if they were to die then they should relish what they could, while
they could
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