S
ticks rubbed the raw palms of her hands. Hours had passed since they battled the monster Ruger had called a creeper. Her hands burned like fire. That would pass. The loss of Ruger wouldn’t. Nor would the loss of Abraham. If Ruger was dead, she had no chance of ever seeing Abraham again.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to have a look at that?” Iris said in her naturally cheery voice. “After all, I’ve patched up all of the others requiring aid.”
“It’s only a burn,” she said flatly.
The Henchmen had reached what appeared to be the bottom of the canyon. Above was a skylight the size of a fingernail, which showed the night sky. The canyon floor must have been a mile down, perhaps deeper. Sticks wasn’t the best judge of such things.
“I’ll live.”
“Suit yourself. Holler if you need me.” Iris moved back toward the rest of the group.
The men were gathered around, grumbling back and forth. Horace’s, Bearclaw’s, and Vern’s heads were down. Vern was cursing. Fingers were being poked at one another. Without the captain, no one was there to control them.
Shades squirted away from the pack and squatted down by Sticks and Solomon. “This is going to be ugly with the captain dead.”
“Don’t say that,” Solomon said. “We don’t know that.”
“Ruger might have been the greatest sword, but even he can’t kill a thousand-foot free fall,” Shades said with his usual rugged playfulness. “I imagine that only makes your predicament worse. Sorry, hairy fella.”
Solomon shoved Shades onto his backside. “That man saved my life. Show some respect.”
Shades climbed back to his feet and said, “You are right. Ruger deserves that. It was good to see him one last time and watch him save our backsides again. Believe me when I say when I grieve, I grieve as much as you.”
Sticks sat with her legs crossed and the assault rifle across her lap. Her fingers toyed with the weapon’s carrying strap. “I should have shot the thing. Like Abraham taught me. I didn’t even think of it.”
“Everyone is blaming each other. At least you aren’t. I’ll let you take full responsibility if you like.” Shades grinned. “For a change, no one is blaming me, which is refreshing.”
Horace’s and Vern’s voices started to rise. The loud talking became loud shouting.
“You are not going to lead this expedition. If anyone is going to lead, it is me!” Horace bellowed at Melris. “You are not even a Henchman! We are going to search for the captain!”
“No,” Melris replied in his smooth voice that could penetrate a wall. “All of us are under the same order from King Hector. We are to make haste to recover the stones. Ruger Slade would have understood that. The mission comes first. We’ve been sidetracked once. I cannot allow it to happen again.”
Vern jabbed a finger at the Elderling and said, “You listen to me, you little worm, we are in charge, not you!”
With a flick of his finger, Melris hurled Vern off his feet and sent him skidding over the ground. The Henchmen’s weapons whisked out of their sheaths. They walled in Melris with shining steel bared.
Horace held his spear tip in Melris’s face. “Henchmen don’t turn against other Henchmen.”
“I’m not a Henchman,” Melris replied. His iron rod glowed in his hand. “And you err, Horace. I am in the right. You are in the wrong. The king placed me in charge of the expedition. Captain Slade understood that. Now he is gone, leaving me in charge. Though you can choose a leader among yourselves, you still have to follow me.”
Sticks quietly approached the arguing men and said, “He’s right, Horace. You know it. We don’t have a choice.”
“Then you can follow him,” Horace said. He yanked his spear away from Melris’s face. “I’m going to find the captain. Who is with me?”
Rising back to his feet, Vern said, “I am.”
“As am I,” agreed Bearclaw.
“We aren’t going anywhere without the captain, dead or alive,” Cudgel said.
His brother, Tark, nodded.
Apollo and Prospero stood gathered behind Horace. So did Dominga.
“I don’t know, Horace,” Iris said with her fingers fidgeting by her side. “It’s bad luck to split up and even worse to go against the king’s orders. “I have to stand by Melris. Methinks any other move will piss the Elders off. We need them.”
Horace stuffed his fingers into his pouch and said, “Then I’m chewing my tobacco!”
Shades and Solomon joined Iris behind Melris.
“Well, what in the Crotch are we supposed to do? We just take orders. Who do we take them from now?” Zann asked.
Horace pointed at Skitts and said, “You come with us. Zann, you can go with them.” He gave Melris a final hard look. “Henchmen don’t abandon Henchmen.”
“Henchmen are expendable. That’s why they are Henchmen,” Melris said. “I’ll warn you your chances of survival greatly diminish with your numbers divided. All of you would be wise to follow me. Believe me when I say that I know what I am talking about.”
Horace spat on the ground. He eyed Sticks and Iris and said, “I’m disappointed in you.” He turned his back and led his group into the darkness of the canyon.
Skitts carried a torch. He gave Sticks and her group one last long look before they disappeared around a bend in the rock and vanished into the darkness.
“I have a bad feeling about this.” Zann sucked his teeth. “I’m not used to being separated from my brother. It makes me feel like a dove is flapping inside my chest.”
