Flying 91
Terra had watched the whole event closely. She could tell that something was happening between Kinesis and Phora. Phora was beyond battle weary. For him to go into a possible combat situation that reduced in strength and mental ability was not rational. �The Prince of the Keep must always be rational,� was a thought that kept edging its way into the forefront of her mind, but with a big question mark encircling it.
Noesis was thinking the same thing. He sided up to Terra. �Something is up between Kinesis and Phora,� he said. �I don�t know exactly what it is, though given that she is such an, er, how shall I say it, exotic warrior, I guess that I would do the same thing. He does seem to be acting on the loose side, though.� He rubbed his nose, for some of the smoke had made it itch. He thought he may be getting ready to sneeze.
Terra�s head turned slowly. Her eyes fixed upon Noesis�. �Would you have done the same for me?� she asked.
(to be continued)
Flying 92
Noesis held her gaze. Then, he had a funny sensation. He knew that he had strong desire for Terra. In fact, he had planned to try to kiss her tonight when they would meet to review combat strategies. He had his �battle plan� all worked out. He would make his move when discussing defense moves involving close combat. He would steal a kiss as he would do the arm twist release. �Ah, Terra,� he thought. She was the perfect combat warrior for her age; well in fact, for any age. But, this other sensation. Well, it was like that under the skin thing when Kinesis was around. It wasn�t like the desire to kiss, but was deeper. He couldn�t get his mind to reveal to him what it was. But, it was there and whatever it was made him say something that he thought he would never utter in a million years. Yet, it came out easier than his sword from his scabbard.
�Terra, I would face anything for you,� he said, clearly, precisely and with a hint of the under the skin sensation mixed in. �But, you know, we�re only teenagers, so that doesn�t mean very much,� he added, trying to conceal the small strip of gleaming sweat that was forming on the end of his nose. He tried to fake a sneeze and wipe it off. Unfortunately, the movement was so contrived that he stuck his finger in his eye. �What am I supposed to do?� he thought desperately. �I look like an idiot.�
(to be continued)
Flying 93
And all this caught Terra completely by surprise. She had thought that Noesis would scoff and say more about her bow feat of hitting the dragon, just ignoring her words like any other boy. But, what he said was about her. And him. Moreover, she felt the same under the skin sensation that Noesis felt. Worse, it was so strong with her that her face started to turn red. So, red that it radiated heat. �Surely not,� she concluded, uncertainly. �Oh, Dragons! What if Noesis could see her?� She slammed her visor shut. �What am I supposed to do?� she thought desperately. �I look like an idiot.�
�Terra,� exclaimed Noesis, �I didn�t mean to offend you. I, er, don�t know what I said to make you go into combat mode.� Noesis� eyes were in terrible squints and his mouth was drawn back exposing his teeth as if he had been punched.
Terra opened her visor. �Uh, Noesis. No, no. It�s not that. It�s just that, that, well, no boy has said anything to me as you did. I don�t know what to say. Wait, yes, I do. I�m just going to flat say it. I would face anything for you. Anything, Savager, wisps, dragons, you name it.� Terra was squinting as strongly as Noesis. Their eyes seemed to meld into a long understanding of things that words cannot say. Terra thought that her face was flaming. Noesis knew that his underarmor could not begin to cool the boiling sensation he had in his stomach. The bead of sweat formed a drop on the tip of his nose, hung there for a moment, and then splashed down the front of his chest plate.
(to be continued)
Flying 93
But, their moment was broken sharply by Pyro.
�Do you two have anything better than to stare at each other? There is still a room search going on. Why, if there had been a stone snake, I�ll bet it would have had you both.� Pyro shook his head, though there was a bit of a smirk on his face. He remembered his youth, and the out of orbit stares that Noesis and Terra had were similar to the ones he and Yare sent to each other through the mist of burning attraction. He was about to give them both some extra weapon cleaning duties, together of course, but a loud bell clanging permeated the air.
�Caravan coming in,� he exclaimed. They put their weapons in combat position and hurried out the door. Pyro led the way, Noesis and Terra in the middle, with Yare bringing up the rear.
Yare yelled to Noesis and Terra as they hurried from one checkpoint to the next. �You two know the rules. You are to stay behind the second defense positions.�
Terra turned her head slightly to yell back to her mother. �Please, Mom. Come on. You know that we are combat ready and can be at least at the entrance courtyard. Besides, isn�t this the smaller caravan sent out to the �miners� to trade for the needed minerals? That trip should be a cake walk. I would really like to see a caravan come in.�
�Sorry, too dangerous. End of story. Now, hurry up.� Yare gave Terra a small shove with her shield arm, but before she could withdraw it, Terra had smacked it with the top of her bow. Yare realized that Terra was growing up, maybe too fast. No teenager should be able to even come close to touching her that fast. �Could be,� she thought, �that Terra is not a super fast teenager, but that I am slowing down as an older female warrior. Not good either way.� They pressed on.
(to be continued)
Flying 95
Ergon led the way into Phora�s quarters. The room was unlike anything that Kinesis would have expected. It was not Spartan or full of weapons, but lined with books, maps, drawings, and numerous instruments and gadgets that went beyond her wildest imagination. Its window was open, but double lined with bars and grates. She had no doubt that there were concealed traps and combat barriers that she could not detect. The floor had a mosaic of tile made from black and red stones. There was a design of an arm wielding a sword with the structure of the Keep in the background. Underneath the arm which was positioned to strike were the words, �I dare.� There was a framed bed made of broken lances joined together to make a strong foundation. The lances were all pitch black. They must have been ones that Phora had used in battle, for there were deep gouges and teeth marks embedded in them. The bed was not too large or too small; certainly crafted for Phora�s build. Of course, it would have been the size of a pillow for Ergon. It sat against the right side wall, near the window where the morning sun would hit. The room reminded Kinesis of one of her friends back in her world. He was not a warrior by any stretch of the imagination, but a scholar of the history of ideas. �Phora is, indeed, a complex person,� she thought. �Warrior, scholar, rider. I wonder what else?�
(to be continued)
Flying 96
Ergon scan walked the room, paying careful attention to the window, probing here and there among the spaces of the black iron grates with his sword, as Hyle and Telos searched the ceiling and floor.
�Clear, room and window,� said Ergon.
�Clear, ceiling and floor,� came the reply from Telos as Hyle gave her a nod.
Telos turned to Phora. �Phora, you must rest now. You have been through far too much and it is imperative that you regain strength.� There was not only a factual quality about the way she spoke, but Kinesis noticed that there was a command aspect layered in the words.
�You are right,� said Phora. �I should have left the matter of the explosion to the three of you and the others of the guard, but I had to be certain that the Keep was safe.� Phora�s words reflected his weariness, but Telos noted the inflection he gave to the word �Keep.� It sounded as if he had changed what he was going to say at the last moment. And, she knew what word he would have spoken: �Kinesis.� She looked at Phora, then stole a sideways look at Kinesis. She was taken aback when she saw Kinesis� crystal blue eyes boring into hers. Kinesis knew also what Phora would have said. She and Kinesis gave each other slight nods of acknowledgement.
�No more talk,� said Telos, now clearly beginning to give commands. �Phora, armor off and to bed. No refusals allowed.� The tone of her message was clear.
Phora moved over to his bed and sat on its side. He pressed the hidden buttons on his armor and it sprang away from him. It did not hit the floor in a random pile, but formed a perfect ready position so that if he sat up on and leaned toward it, it could envelope him in a spoken word. He drew back the covers, white cotton sheets and a purple covered quilt. Easing into the bed, he let himself slowly down, giving a whispered sigh as his head nestled in the down pillow. He began to close his eyes.
The clanging of the caravan announcement bell resounded through the room.
(to be continued)
Flying 97
Phora sat bolt upright in bed. �That must be the miner caravan coming in. I should be there to oversee the incoming.� He started to get out of bed.
Telos put her hand on her brother�s shoulder and held him in place. �No, Phora. You may not be able to deal with some situations.�
�I may be tired, but I am able to cope with whatever may happen,� replied Phora. He began to push Telos� hand away.
Kinesis moved into Phora�s view. �Phora. What if there had been a real dragon in the target room? I think that Pyro, Yare, with Terra and Noesis could have handled the situation. Besides, it was not a real danger, but some sort of unexpected result from the power of an ancient bow. Your going there only weakened you further. I think Telos is right. You should stay here and let the Telos handle the caravan. There are others in the Keep besides you who can cope with danger.� Kinesis� bow touched lightly against her helmet as she spoke.
Phora looked at Ergon, who nodded.
�I agree. Telos is capable of handling anything that I could. And Hyle will be there with her. That is rational. But, I don�t know that I shall be able to sleep. I am always in a combat mind set. Sleep will not come easily, even though I am tired, as you say. My mind will not rest until the caravan is secure.� Phora leaned over, his elbows resting against his knees. He lowered his head to stare at the floor.
Telos motioned to Ergon a sign that Kinesis did not understand. �Hyle and I will go to see that the caravan enters safely. Ergon will remain with you. So will Kinesis, until you go to sleep. Then, she may leave with a guard that I shall send for her. That is, if she wishes to leave.� Telos studied Kinesis as one would study a boxing opponent.
�I shall remain with Phora,� replied Kinesis. She said no more, but her bow kept touching the side of her helmet as if it were giving a sign to the others that it was powerful enough to handle any power that may threaten Phora.
Telos waved Hyle to follow her. �We are going and will return as soon as the caravan is securely swept and unloaded.� Her eyes flashed something to Ergon. Then, she and Hyle left the room and Kinesis could hear their running footsteps resounding off the stone walls.
(to be continued)
Flying 98
Kinesis turned to Phora. He had the eyes of a troubled warrior, shell shocked, but unwilling to give up and retreat to a good rest in spite of the extreme weariness and mental pain. She walked over to Phora. Ergon moved closer, also. It was clear that Ergon was to stay close to Phora. Kinesis had earned Telos� respect, but not her complete trust.
�Ergon. I am going to speak to Phora a moment. I know some words that may help him sleep. They mimic the sounds of the ocean from whence I come and will take him under the waters of deep sleep. Are you willing to let me speak them to him?� Kinesis had spoken the words to Phora, but turned to see Ergon�s answer.
Ergon�s eyes were on Kinesis, but did not make eye contact. He remembered all to well the charm that she had put on him. �If he agrees, then I also agree. But, do not speak them so that I will hear. If I begin to feel sleepy, then I will have to cast you from the room.� Ergon moved his arm in a sweeping motion. Kinesis could see that one blow from that arm, even a mild one, would result in serious consequences, the likes of which she preferred not to think of.
She nodded to Ergon. �Agreed. I shall speak so that only Phora can hear.�
(to be continued)
Flying 99
Kinesis turned to Phora. �Phora. Do you trust me enough to let me help you to sleep? It will be a deep healing sleep from which you will not awaken until late tomorrow. You must trust Hyle and Telos to see the caravan in.� She took off her helmet, letting her golden hair rain down over the shoulder covers of her armor, spun sunshine etching its way onto the glossy black protection. Her blue eyes were the bits of sky in the cascade of golden clouds at a sunset at the ocean�s edge.
�Yes, I trust you, Kinesis,� said Phora. �I agree, Ergon.� Ergon nodded his head to Kinesis.
Kinesis brushed her hair so that it hung down her back. �Good. Slip into the bed covers. Lie down and fold your hands across your stomach. Listen to my words, but hear more the melody of my voice. It is the sound of small ocean waves, rippling in to the shoreline to make a swishing sound over the sand which it wipes clean with every wave. You can hear it smoothly running over the shells at the edge, washing them pure so that the glisten in the sun. The beach is warm, so warm that it soothes even the sorest of muscles. You can feel your tired muscles. The water of my voice is washing over them, cleansing them, and making them softer. Softer. They feel relaxed, so relaxed that they wish to sink into the sand. They are getting heavier, heavier, sinking into the warm sand. The waves are singing to your weary mind, a song of swishing relaxation. Each time your hear my voice, you hear a wave swish, and the more relaxed you become. Each time you trust the warmth of my voice, you sense the deep heat of the sun; your muscles will become more relaxed and will grow heavier and heavier, sinking down into the warm sand of your bed. Swish, your mind is clear and thinking of only peaceful thoughts, only of more waves coming in. Swish, the warmth is filling your body. Swish, you can sink even further into the sand. Swish. Relax. Swish. Relax. Swish. Peace and calm. Warm and secure. Swish. You are safe and secure. Safe and secure. Swish. Calm and relaxed. You can sleep now, for all is calm, secure, relaxed and in peace. I am with you. I am with you.� Kinesis� voice was barely a whisper in Phora�s ear. His eyes had closed, deep hooded and without the underlying fast movements of disturbing dreams. His body, once a loaded spring of rigid muscles ready to snap with any extra weight, had melted into the soft down mattress. His breathing was deep and easy. Phora�s lips made the slightest mention of a smile.
�Sleep well, Phora, dark rider of mystery. My Phora,� Kinesis breathed the words into his right ear.
Kinesis gently moved back. She slipped quietly over to a chair next to the head of Phora�s bed. She sat so that she could see Phora more closely, than standing. But, she sat on the edge with most of her balance on her feet, sensing every detail of the room. Kinesis� left hand was on her bow�s grip. She was at the ready. Ergon was standing at the foot of the bed. His sheer size absorbed much of the light that entered from the window. He looked at Kinesis, nodded, then scanned the room. His hand was on his sword. He was at the ready. Nothing would disturb Phora without suffering terrible retribution. Nothing would try to harm Phora without meeting a very swift death. Nothing could get to Phora without going through Ergon and Kinesis. And if it did, both knew that they would be already dead.
(to be continued)
Flying 100
Telos and Hyle reached the second defense line about the same time that Pyro, Yare, Terra and Noesis came running up.
Telos quickly barked orders. �Pyro and Yare. Upper look-over perimeter. Hyle and I will cover the lower control windows. Noesis and Terra, stay behind the second defense guard line, here.�
�Done,� said Pyro, Yare and Hyle. Telos looked quickly at Terra and Noesis.
�Done,� they hastily responded.
Telos turned to the stone wall. There was nothing there save a rack of spears. She selected the second from the left and pulled it to her a few inches then shoved it back. To the left of the rack, the stones receded making a small door to narrow stairwell which descended in a spiral. She and Hyle immediately ran down them. The stone door closed behind them leaving no trace of having been there. Pyro pulled the second spear from the right and pushed it back into place. A similar door to the one Telos and Hyle had used opened on the right side of the spear rack. There were stairs that went down, but at a sharp straight angle to the right.
Yare turned to Terra and Noesis. �These are secret passages that only the Guardians know about. Any mention of them by you to anyone at any time and you will never see the light outside the Keep.� Her voice was stern. If they betrayed the secret passageways, they would never be chosen as Guardians. That would be a fate worse than death.
�Done,� each of them said in unison.
�Good. We shall see you when the caravan is secured.� With that, she and Pyro hurried through the door which closed, some cold damp air rushing out as it quietly became part of the wall again.
(to be continued)
Flying Flying 101
Terra stared at the spear rack. She was moving her right hand back and forth towards the quiver to touch her first arrow. Noesis knew that she was thinking something that was budding to a fork in the road big, decision.
�Noesis. My mother and father went to the upper look-over level. It�s a section of shuttered armor windows that overlook the courtyard where the caravan will enter. It�s high up and reasonably safe. I�ll bet that if we follow them and go to the opposite side and hide in a wall safety nook, we�ll be able to get a good look at how caravans are processed. Moreover, we�ll be able to survey some of the weird stuff from the miners. I�ve always wondered what exactly it is that we need from them besides some of the interesting gadgets that show up at the trade fairs. What do you think? Want to chance it? We�ll have to be careful not to get caught or noticed. And, we�ll have to get back here pronto as soon as everything is finished.� Terra had her visor down, but Noesis knew that her eyes were sparkling diamonds of curiosity and mischief.
Noesis banged his fist against Terra�s helmet. �Hello, in there. Are you crazy? Talk about irrational. If we get caught, do you know how much extra duty we�ll have to do? We�re already up to our ears in penalty time already. If I have to clean and repair another set of arrows and targets, I�ll vomit. Besides, Phora would probably run me through the advanced training course. Even were I to finish, I�d likely only live a day afterwards.� He stopped. Terra said nothing. She still faced him, moving her right hand more slowly.
�You know that you�d make it through the course. Don�t give me that bull about not being up for the task. It�s not irrational, it�s just risky.� Terra gave a sort of snort of ridicule. �Going with me or not?�
�You�re going, even if I don�t,� he said with a groan, this time banging his own helmet with his fist.
�Dead center on the mark,� she replied.
�Dead is the right word to use. Why me? Why me?� Noesis leaned over and tapped the forehead part of his helmet sharply against the wall. Noesis turned to go back.
�Because we are a team.�
He reversed his move and brought himself to face Terra. �Team, huh?� He stood still for a second in deep contemplation.
�Yeh, team, and a good one at that,� said Terra.
�Dragons! You know I can�t stay here and leave you to go alone. But, it is the rational and safe thing to do for both of us to stay.� Noesis leaned back against the wall, head down.
�No time. Come with me or stay behind. Decide now.� Terra stood directly facing Noesis. Her right hand made a bit of a move toward her quiver.
(to be continued)
Flying 102
Noesis shook his head, banged his fist against the wall. �You lead, since you know where we have the best chance of hiding.� Terra gave him a quick tap on the helmet with her bow, reached over and pulled the second spear from the right then pushed it back into place. The right door swung open and the cold damp air rushed out to greet them.
Without hesitation, she went through and started descending the stairs. Noesis followed at a run to keep up. The stairs were very narrow, almost as if they had been built between walls, which, in fact, they were. They both took the stairs in jumps of two or three to get to the over-look door fast. The stairs were lighted by some sort of paint that was soaked into the steps themselves. The light was a light greenish blue, the color of one of the bigger moons on a clear, but humid night. Downwards they hurried at a sharp angle, coming abruptly to a small end square stone area and a blank wall. There was no door to exit through. Just a solid wall with some spears in a rack on the left and a hook to hang something on the right.
�Uh oh,� said Noesis. �I�ll bet if we go back up, we�ll see the same thing. I�ve got a bad idea that we have trapped ourselves. Dragons!�
(to be continued)
Flying 103
�Oh, be quiet, Noesis. Let me think and give the spears a try,� exclaimed Terra. She looked at the formation of the spears for a moment, shook her head. Then nodded. She went over to the spears and tried the pull--push maneuver on each. Nothing happened. She frowned. She lifted each spear up two inches, replacing it with a fast move of her hand. Nothing happened. Deeper frown. She twisted the spears clockwise. Nothing happened. Noesis heard her hiss through the slits of her visor. She stepped back, hands on the hips of her armor.
�Rats,� she exclaimed. �That should have worked.�
Noesis stepped forward. He stared at the wall and its fixtures of spears and a hook. �Now if I were designing a release for the inside, I�d want a quick one that I could manage one handed on the run, just in case something was close behind me. Also, I�d want a trap on the door to get whatever may have gotten in without any guards noticing. It would be different from the mechanism that let me in. So, the hook is the answer. A smart intruder following me would probably avoid the spears. How would I rig it? The door swings inward away from the hook, I would think. Hmmm. Stand back, Terra. Get over to the right and behind me.�
Noesis edged up to the hook, pressed against the right wall. With his right hand, he gave the hook a pull, then pressed himself firmly to the wall, his left hand forcing Terra back also. From overhead came down a shower of spears that hit the floor with a metallic bang, just missing them by a few inches. The spears remained for a second, with a circular twisting of the blade points against the stone floor. After a screech, grinding noise of steel on granite (the kind that gives goose bumps), they rose instantly to disappear into special small slots in the ceiling that quickly covered themselves with fitted stone flaps.
�Nope, definitely not it,� said Noesis. �That was not the right move, but I did guess right about the trap.� He could sense Terra shudder as she watched the spears retract and vanish. Had the wall spears been set for a trap, she would be dead.
(to be continued)
Flying 104
Noesis put his hand to his helmet and drummed his fingers. Let me imagine something. �I am on the run. I come down the stairs at a flat out. There may be something behind me. I think so, but I�m not sure. But, I can�t take any chances. Not much time at all. I get to this place. I reach out with my right hand and the natural fast action is to turn the hook clockwise. But, if there is something in the center of the hall behind me, there should be something on the door to get it. Ok, Terra. Head sideways to the wall and stay close to me. Press hard against the right wall and up beside me. Be ready to move. Here goes.� He gave the hook a quick counterclockwise twist.
An upside down double bladed axe with razor sharp blades, its handle end attached to the top of the door, swung from a hidden panel in the door out and up to the ceiling, returning faster to its hidden panel than a blink. Swish, slam. A click. The door swung open with a grinding noise from some of the grit that had fallen from the ceiling. Noesis grabbed Terra�s arm and pulled her through. The door closed behind them, becoming invisible as it masked itself in the stone wall. Terra felt a quick shudder of panic run through her. Noesis had been right twice. She would have been dead from at least one of the traps.
There was a spear rack to the invisible door�s left.
(to be continued)
Flying 105
Noesis and Terra huddled against the wall in half crouches. There were two guards about fifty feet to their left looking out an opened window. The window in front of them was closed and barred. The floor bent in a smooth curve as it went toward the guards. Noesis knew that they were on the overlook, for it formed a ring of windows around the entrance courtyard. The windows were a good two stories above ground level. The guards in the look-over covered the ground guards that would go out to meet the caravan. He could see that their bows were ready.
�Caravan has delivered the passwords, drawbridge down, and is entering the courtyard,� he heard a loud voice say. It sounded like Crito�s.
Noesis turned to Terra. �We won�t be able to see anything. The windows that are open are all armed by guards, you can bet on that. If we show up just for a look, ah, I don�t even want to think what your parents and Phora would do. Best we try to make it back.� He turned to the spears.
�I think you�re right, Noesis. I made a bad mistake in bringing us here. Big bad mistake. If you hadn�t come with me, I�d be dead from the traps.� Terra leaned to touch her helmet on his shoulder and gave a sigh that combined terror and relief. �I owe you an apology for not listening to your reasoning.�
Even the slight pressure of Terra�s helmet against his shoulder armor set off Noesis� heart at a gallop. He could feel the bead of sweat on the end of his nose forming. He had to get her back to the second defense level now. �No need for apologies; I was in on it as much as you were. I didn�t listen to my own reasoning, which is worse.� Noesis gave Terra an easy punch/tap against the cheek part of her visor. �Help me figure out how to get back,� he said with urgency in his voice.
(to be continued)
Flying 103
Crito watched four black armored wagons enter, each being pulled by six large, fully armored draught horses capable of speed and strength. The armor of the wagons showed battle scars of gashes, grime, what looked like dried blood and large clumps of drying caked mud. The air quickly gained the smell of a river bed gone dry �rotted mud and dried slime.
The wagons were shaped in the form of a rectangular box that had its edges trimmed off. Everyone called them rolling �coffins,� for that�s what they looked like. But, they were much, much larger than coffins. In fact, they were small mobile cargo rooms. Lots of goods and guards could fit in one. On the front was a slit window and two openings that looked like portholes of a ship through which the reins to the horses came. The sides had six steel plated windows each, and the back, three with a back door that was more like a drawbridge than a door. All opened from the inside. They were shut. The wheels were large with spokes that grew slightly larger as they approached the wheel. A closer look revealed that they were also blades that could twist in and out to rip apart anything that was touching them. The edges were made of a silver alloy strip that could be lowered as a sweeping blade. On the roofs were spikes, some of which were mounted on poles so that they could be released like hammers on anything approaching the sides. The wagons were forts on wheels.
Crito yelled to the lead wagon. �Anax! Open your hatch and come out. We need to exchange passwords and preliminary inspection to begin to unload.� Crito was at the ground level behind a massive door. He spoke through a slit, which he closed after speaking.
On the forward side of the lead wagon, a hatch door, just large enough for a man in armor, popped up a few inches then began to slide backwards along the steel runners that held it in place. An armored figure slowly emerged in a way that indicated that it was climbing a ladder to get out.
(to be continued)
Flying 107
The figure, it was in Keep armor, got to the top and signaled Crito that he was going to climb down. His shield and sword were in carry position, but available if necessary. He spoke back down into the hatch. The words could not be heard by any of the guards in the Keep. A series of steel rungs emerged on the right side of the wagon as if they had grown out of the wagon. Anax made his way to them across the top, moving carefully with each step among the spikes, and began to climb down.
He reached the bottom and turned to the door behind which Crito stood.
�Crito. Password,� Anax said.
Crito replied, �Series four.�
To which Anax answered, �Forth level, administration. Secure minerals for engines.�
�Correct. Remain there while I come out for a preliminary inspection.� Crito called back to four guards behind him and they came up in formation. All were in battle ready state.
He reached for the latches to open the door. One guard was to remain behind to close the door once they had entered the courtyard.
He flipped the safeties. With a quick turn of a long steel handle, he unlatched the door. It swung open with a smooth, steady motion.
(to be continued)
Flying 109
(Copyright, Bert Russell, All rights reserved, 2005)
Telos and Hyle were watching the wagons as they rumbled into the courtyard and ground to a stop, the horses chewing slowly on the bits. They heard Crito give the orders for the passwords and saw Anax lift himself out of the hatch, make his way across the treacherous top and climb down the rungs to walk towards where Crito was speaking through the slit in the door.
Telos turned to Hyle. �Isn�t the lead horse, right side Anax�s?�
�Yes, that�s Stomp,� replied Hyle.
�Something�s wrong. Stomp is not moving the way he usually does. He stomps his right hoof when he has to stand at rest for more than a few seconds. That�s why he is called Stomp. It�s been more than a four minutes.� She turned to a small circular, brass, hinged plate on the wall. There were other plates, but this one had three red dots over it. She flipped a released on its left side and it sprang open revealing a tube into which to speak. �Red three,� she shouted and closed the speak tube and fastened the safeties.
Down below Telos� shout came through a filtered grated opening at Crito�s door. But, Crito and two other guards were already in the courtyard. The remaining guard slammed the door shut and closed the speaking slit.
Crito and the other two guards reacted instantaneously to the slamming of the door. They went into battle formation of a wedge with Crito at the point. They quickly moved ten feet to their right. Anax still faced the door and where Crito had been standing. Then, he flipped his visor back, saw where Crito was standing, swung over his shield, drew his sword and charged. Anax�s eyes were a dusty pearl, cataract blue with the vacant stare of a dead fish.
(to be continued)
Flying 110
�Wisps!� cried Crito.
Anax and the other caravan guards were under the control of terrible creatures, Wisps. They were hardly material at all and were invisible to the eye unless special refined powders made from cattle hooves were thrown on them to reveal their presence. They had eight tentacles which could stretch as far as three hundred yards. At the end of each tentacle were four fingerlike projections with light purple, flexible suction cups at the tips. But, they were not suction cups. They were osmotic nerve endings that could penetrate skin on contact and travel quickly to the brain. Once a neural connection was established, the Wisp could control the brain of its victim and use its strengths --the brain�s mental powers, memories and its control of the physical body. When the victim was depleted of useable powers or abilities, the Wisp would withdraw its tentacle to find another victim. Depending upon how long the Wisp was attached, the victim would be left in a state of slow neural deterioration, to perish in agony after two days of screaming agony. The maximum limit for any kind of recovery to wellness was only an hour�s exposure to the torment of Wisp control. After an hour, the neural connections were beyond rejuvenation. Those who were under the control of a Wisp, though fighting for the Wisp, would prefer a quick death at the hand of a Keep friend than the horrible torment of doing things that were terrible to the very friends who would put them out of their misery. But, while under Wisp control, victims were but conscious spectators of the unspeakable acts the Wisp made their bodies do. One Wisp could control eight persons, though at eight, the multitasking showed in poorer performance of the victims. And, one other thing, Wisps cannot see very well at all, even through their victim�s eyes.
(to be continued)
Flying 110
Everything happened at once. The loading back doors of the three lead wagons were flung open with crashing bangs against their sides. Eight armored figures from each door came out at the run. The forth wagon backed up, then pulled against a side wall, its wheels grating in torment against the rock wall. The top hammer spikes were released and they struck the wall half way up to the over-look. The hammer spikes shuddered as they bit into the walls, then remained in place rather than retracting. The wagon had the strange appearance of a giant spider trying to climb the courtyard wall. Seven guards emerged from the loading door and threw a strongly built wooden ladder on the top of the wagon. The top hatch on flew open and two guards emerged and placed the ladder on the spikes so that the overlook windows could be reached. They began to climb the ladder.
The window where the ladder reached was the one that Terra and Noesis were near. The Keep guards they were watching only a short distance from them were firing their bows as fast as they could. Neither Noesis nor Terra could believe what was happening, until a first arrow crashed against the wall behind the Keep guards. It was a real battle. People would die. And they were in it.
(to be continued)