“As a matter of fact, I am,” Andy replied, not missing a beat. “You and your buddies have my friends tied up. I’m giving you only one chance to release them before we—” Andy glanced at the field behind him, hoping to intimidate the zolt as Gelon had the other day.
“Drop your weapon!” the vulture-warrior commanded.
I can’t believe I forgot about the sentry. So much for that tactic.
“Okay. Okay,” Andy acquiesced, lowering Methuselah.
The zolt kicked the blade clear. “We’ve got company,” he announced as he forced Andy to kneel.
I hope Alden succeeded.
Andy felt coarse rope strangle his wrists before a beefy zolt hauled him up and shoved him forcefully. He staggered and just barely caught himself. The bird-man immediately followed up by planting a foot on his behind, propelling him forward with haste.
The zolt converged in a warbling mass of nasally calls as Andy’s captors goaded him across the clearing. Despite the rough handling, he distinctly heard Hannah gasp the instant she saw him.
A third post was quickly erected next to Captain Baldric. Andy’s captors released his hands momentarily, but he felt the rough wood bite into his skin as they turned him around and bound him once more. A gag, tied too tightly, quickly followed.
At least Alden’s still free, Andy thought as he tested his bonds.
A minute later, Hannah gasped again.
Andy jerked his head up in time to see zolt parading his coconspirator toward them. The captors planted Alden at the opposite end of the row, next to Hannah, initiating a chorus of shouts and jeers.
The blonde-haired maiden refused to give the enemy any measure of satisfaction and sat frozen, her jaw set. The others did the same. With no response, their bird-brained captors quickly grew bored and ambled back to their chores, but periodically they snatched glances and smirked.
The sun rose in the sky and began its descent again. Beads of sweat meandered from Andy’s brow into the gag, and he felt his tunic grow moist. A look at his fellow captives told him the others experienced equal discomfort.
With limited ability to communicate, Andy’s mind wandered. What did those guys mean when they said Abaddon would soon regain eternal life?
Dad’s voice sounded in his head, interrupting and accusing, “Quite a bind you’ve gotten yourself into.”
Andy scowled and replied, Someone had to do something. I couldn’t just wait, not knowing if they were okay or not.
“Have you considered that your impatience will now lead others to wonder the same about you?” his inneru countered.
But Hannah’s my friend, and the captain…
“You are heir to the throne, Andy. That makes you different. Your choices are no longer only about you.”
Andy remembered Father’s counsel about putting the good of the people ahead of his own. He gave a heavy sigh, then tugged at his bonds once more, drawing the captain’s attention.
“It doesn’t matter if you like it or not; it’s the way things are, Andy,” his inneru continued admonishing.
That makes me feel—
“Stifled, trapped, repressed, confined, lacking freedom?” the voice continued.
Yeah, Andy grumped.
“And so would the average soul. You must think outside the barrel.”
Outside the what? Andy questioned.
“The barrel. It’s an expression. It means to consider possibilities that aren’t obvious.”
Andy laughed, drawing a curious look from Captain Baldric and a sideways glance from Hannah.
Where I’m from we say “think outside the box.”
“Well, whether you think outside a barrel or a box, you need to understand that your choices now affect more than just you. Respect that.”
Understood, Andy relented, groaning.
“Speaking of thinking outside the barrel, you’re in a bit of a bind. Perhaps you should try doing so for yourself.”
Andy frowned, then gave his bonds another jerk.
“Like many situations, force won’t fix this problem.”
Andy scanned the campsite. They’re all preoccupied. None of them are near. But how to cut this rope… Wait! Methuselah.
The hilt instantly materialized in Andy’s hands behind the post. He carefully turned it over it so the pommel now touched the ground. He raised his arms to give the blade clearance, then thought, I need you to cut my bonds. Andy felt heat, then smelled smoke. His eyes grew large as he anticipated feeling pain, but none came. Captain Baldric looked over and raised his eyebrows as the odor reached him.
Seconds later, Andy felt his bonds loosen and fall. You’re so awesome, Methuselah!
“Well done, Prince,” Andy’s inneru praised. “Now take care of your subjects.”
Andy inventoried the captors again. Assured that none looked his direction, he tore off the gag, grabbed his sword hilt, then rolled to his side. He quickly crawled behind the captain and cut his bonds, then did the same for Hannah and Alden. But as they scooted toward cover, their movement drew the attention of one zolt and it sounded the alarm, “The prisoners are escaping!”
Hannah, Alden, and the captain retrieved their weapons from a nearby heap and joined Andy to pair off in ready positions. As the first attacker charged, time slowed for Andy and he whirled around, a tornado of destruction, cutting a swath of carnage through the zolt ranks. Captain Baldric followed, felling enemies who dared assault Andy’s back.
A bird-warrior lunged at Andy’s right flank as he blew past. The enemy’s blade nearly connected, but at the last second Andy felt Methuselah lurch, blocking the foe’s further advance. His blade then turned its edge on the assailant, eliminating the threat.
What just happened? Methuselah…
The short lapse in focus brought two more zolt within striking distance. These two he recognized from earlier, when he overheard them discussing Abaddon’s condition. They both wore scowls and their piercing black eyes told Andy there would be no mercy if he did not eliminate them. The one to his right raised its sword over its head and charged. The one to his left held its blade at waist height and bolted for him.
The unprotected midsection of the right bird-man proved a temptation Andy could not resist. The enemy neared to within five feet, and Andy started Methuselah in motion. A split second later he connected with the attacker’s ribs. The return swing found the other zolt’s neck.
Reaching the far side of the clearing, time resumed its normal pace for Andy, and Captain Baldric halted abruptly next to him. They whirled around and surveyed the scene. Alden and Hannah together engaged three foe on the opposing side but quickly bested them.
Zolt corpses littered the campsite. Only two enemies stood in the center, protecting each other’s back. The pair took ready positions, waiting.
“If you surrender, we won’t kill you,” Andy offered.
Their only response was to curl their lips and spit on the ground.
“Okay, don’t say we didn’t give you a chance.”
Andy exchanged glances with Alden and Hannah, then nodded.
“Ready, Captain?” Andy queried his partner.
“Oh yeah.”
Andy and the captain took a purposeful step forward, which Alden and Hannah mirrored from their side of the clearing. The zolt turned and began running, transforming, squawking, and screeching as they beat their wings in strong downward flaps. Liftoff never came, however, for just before their feet left the ground, Andy and the sergeant tackled one and Alden and Hannah grabbed the other. It took little effort to finish them off.
Andy had barely breathed a sigh of relief when Captain Baldric holstered his sword and asked, “Where’s everyone else?”
“Back at the camp,” Alden offered.
“You two came by yourselves?” Hannah clarified.
“Sergeant Fulk told us what happened. He planned to attempt a rescue tonight, once it got dark,” Andy explained.
“But we didn’t know what they might do to you before then, so we decided to try something ourselves,” Alden justified.
“I see,” the captain replied.
Hannah volleyed a glance around the circle.
“If any of my men disobeyed the plan of the officer in charge, there would be a stiff penalty.” The captain locked eyes with Andy. “As the future king, you must respect the chain of command.”
Andy swallowed hard. Don’t be a wimp. Don’t look down.
“You had this coming,” Andy’s inneru admonished in Dad’s voice.
“I don’t know whose idea it was, but it was ill-advised.”
“Mine,” Andy confessed.
Alden shifted and Hannah fidgeted.
Captain Baldric nodded once, frowning.
“The zolt are serious enemies. Abaddon is a worthy adversary. This is no time for childish games.”
Andy felt his face warm. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”
“This is not about being sorry, Prince Andrew. My officers need to see you as a sovereign they respect, a sovereign worthy of giving their lives for.”
“Yes, sir,” Andy mumbled.
The captain let silence fall for another minute to press his point before surveying the campsite. “We might as well grab a couple of the wild boar. They’ll go to waste if we leave them.”
Relieved to have something to do, Alden and Hannah jumped enthusiastically to the task. Andy followed, but slowly.
“Don’t sulk. Learn from the experience and move on. I didn’t say that to embarrass you but to help you rule well when the time comes.”
Andy turned to look at the officer, nodded, then increased his pace.
The trek back across the field proved uneventful with no enemy circling the early evening skies. But ten yards from the entrance to camp they discovered it was not the threat from above that should have concerned them.
Terwoo woop, oop-oop-oop. Terwoo woop, oop-oop-oop.
As one, they dropped the boars and drew their weapons, then skulked into the cave. Sergeant Ranulf, who protected the back of the group, whirled around.
“Yikes!” Hannah squealed.
The captain ducked, barely keeping his head. Recognition dawned on the sergeant and he returned his attention to the threat along with everyone else.
The smell of stew over the fire assaulted Andy’s senses, drawing a grumble from his stomach, but he ignored it. He stepped around Sergeant Terric, approaching the front.
What’s going on? What are those? More gnomes playing tricks? Andy thought as he watched unnatural animated shadows dance across the rough gray walls.
Mwhhhaaa. A high-pitched, drawn-out laugh carried from farther inside the cave.
Fulk signaled his intent to investigate, and Sergeant Hammond followed close at his heels. Ranulf disappeared into the tunnel after them. Seconds later came a wail, then a shriek and a girl’s voice demanding, “Let. Me. Go!”
Sergeant Fulk emerged first, his arms wrapped about the shoulders of a violently wriggling, blond-headed being. Sergeant Hammond attempted to hold the girl’s writhing midsection, and Ranulf barely managed her thrashing legs and feet.
“Put. Me. Down. Now!”
“Set her down,” Captain Baldric directed.
The girl from my dream!
The maiden sprang up and assumed a ready position, fists daring anyone to approach. Even in the dim light, Andy could see the fabric quality of her torn, once-yellow dress was not that of common folk. Dirt dappled the girl’s face and strands of her long, matted, golden hair stuck out at odd angles.
She’s beautiful. Andy felt his pulse quicken and failed to suppress the smile that burst forth.
“We’re not going to harm you, miss,” the captain reassured.
“Princess? Is that you?”
Andy looked behind him to see Hans scrutinizing the girl.
The maiden jerked her head back and scanned the group, trying to locate the source of the inquiry.
“Yara!” Hans exclaimed, beaming.
The healer approached and the girl reciprocated, “Hans?”
Hans reached the maiden and engulfed her in a hug. “I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you. I thought you were dead.”
When the two finally separated, both wore wide grins.
“Everyone, this is Princess Yara. Princess, this is everyone,” the healer introduced, adding a gleeful chuckle.
“I’m Andy.” His voice came out high-pitched and squeaky, betraying him. He felt his cheeks warm but pressed on, “It’s great to meet you.” He leaned in and kissed the girl’s cheeks, but as he stepped back, a goofy grin embarrassed him further.
Yara giggled, turning the heat up another notch.
Alden stopped next to Andy and imitated the greeting, but when his cheeks grew red, Andy caught sight of Hannah standing sullenly, her arms crossed.
What’s her problem?
“Looks like we have two royals to protect now,” Sergeant Hammond remarked after introducing himself, drawing a questioning look from the princess. “Andy’s the prince of Oomaldee. You two have a lot in common. You should get to know each other.”
Princess Yara looked toward Andy, raised her eyebrows, and smiled, causing the color in his cheeks to deepen. Hannah cleared her throat behind him.
Hooh-hrooo. Hooh-hrooo.
Princess Yara followed the sound and tilted her head.
Alden picked up the bird and brought it near. “Princess, I’d like you to meet Calum. He’s mending.”
The princess smiled and patted the dove, eliciting a satisfied coo.
After all the officers had introduced themselves, Hannah approached wearing a plastic smile.
“Oh, I’m so glad to see there’s another girl!” exclaimed Yara and stepped forward to embrace.
She’s so...great, Andy’s mind gushed.
Hannah’s expression remained unchanged as she stiffly reciprocated. “I have a hairbrush if you’d care to use it,” she offered, parroting the proper manners drilled into her.
“Oh goodness, I must look a mess. Yes, yes. Thank you!”
Hannah and the princess were gone only a few minutes, but when they returned the sight of Yara’s locks was a starter’s pistol for Andy’s heart.
The princess approached Hans and motioned for him to lean over. She whispered in his ear, causing another smile to explode across his face. “Of course!”
“Let’s get the princess something to eat,” Hans announced. Not having eaten all afternoon, Andy and Alden’s stomachs loudly agreed.
“Looks like we have several hungry mouths to feed!” Sergeant Terric joked, patting Captain Baldric on the shoulder.
“Glad to see you’re all back safely,” Sergeant Fulk added. The officer whom Andy had ignored shot him a look, bringing him back to the reality of what he had done. His inneru cleared its throat.
“Coming?” the princess queried.
“I’ll be right there.”
“I’ve addressed the matter,” the captain informed in a low voice, breaking the sergeant’s penetrating glare.
Sergeant Fulk nodded once before joining his fellows, who observed the exchange at a short distance.
Andy headed toward chow but kept an eye on the officers. The sergeant joined their circle and briefed them, receiving nods. The listeners returned understanding looks, allowing Andy to exhale.
Ruling will not be easy.
“Well said,” his inneru agreed.
Andy’s stomach grumbled, bringing his attention back. Hans, Alden, Hannah, and the princess sat perched on large rocks near the fire while consuming aromatic stew. As he approached, Yara caught his eye and smiled. A fluttering sensation he knew was not hunger overwhelmed his belly.