Slacker shouted, “Fall back.”
We turned and ran for the ramp that took us up to the top of the head-high ridge. Emma and Anna were watching from there, just as I’d told them not to do. Slacker reached the top first and counted his men and us until he was satisfied we were all safely up there. Two men removed the blocks under the boulders poised at the ramp, and they rumbled into place, blocking it. He indicated with a wave of his arm where each should go to mount our second defense.
I still had eight arrows.
They advanced slowly and spread out. Until we revealed ourselves, they had no idea of where we were. As they moved from the bright sun to the dense shade under the trees, their eyes were temporarily blinded. Slacker called softly, keep your voices down and only fire when you have a clear shot. No misses.”
To my left, a rebel that had been kneeling stood up and drew his bow. In the same motion, he released the arrow he held ready, then dropped out of sight again, but not fast enough. I heard the grunt of the man as an arrow from our side struck his shoulder. Another stood, and a pair of our arrows took him. That made nine of them wounded or dead. Almost twenty-five percent of their force. A good officer would retreat and continue to battle another day.
Not this one. His young voice sounded strong as he urged his men closer. Two more were hit. The officer rallied them for a charge to overwhelm us. Slacker waved his arm for attention and motioned for us to fall back again, quietly. The attackers wouldn’t follow for a while because they didn’t know we were leaving, and their charge might not happen right away. All that gave us time to disappear into the desert.
We followed the others out into the emptiness and vastness of soft sand and spread out to confuse any pursuit. The sand prevented anything faster than a walk, and before we reached the first low hill, my thighs burned, and my breath came in short pants. Suddenly, a squad of Vin soldiers stood ahead of us. They had been hiding behind the sand hill we’d just climbed, waiting to trap us.
The young officer must have split his forces, and the men ahead were there to prevent us from retreating, thwarting our plan. They were close to us, a sword in the hand of each as they charged the few steps between us. There was no time for bows, so I pulled my blade and stepped ahead of Anna and Emma.
As always when working with magic, I whirled a little wind and made sure it lifted sand. Not that I always made mini-tornadoes, but in case I wanted to use magic, I had to make sure it was available—especially since Kendra had freed the dragon. Thinking of her dragon made me realize it couldn’t help us in close hand-to-hand fighting like what we faced.
Two uniformed men ran at me side-by-side. Confident of my skills, I used small-magic to tangle the feet of the one to my left, so I didn’t have to fight a pair at the same time. The other rushed ahead, and as his blade slashed in my direction, a deft twist of my wrist deflected it. It was a move I’d used in practice a thousand times and one that didn’t require any thought. Just reflex.
Ordinarily, I’d have then turned my wrist after the initial parry and use the other’s momentum to help me as I flicked my blade, not a full swing, but enough to make a wide slice of his upper body that couldn’t be avoided. The sharpness of my sword would cut an arm or chest, and it would cut deeply.
Not this time. As my blade touched his, a high-pitched keening sounded, loud and piercing. My sword vibrated in my hand. Not shaking, but a small movement so slight it was not seen but felt. The noise was so unexpected, the vibration to unusual, I paused, confused.
The soldier I’d crossed swords with did the same.
We wore the same confused expressions to anyone looking our way. We were stunned at the sensation, the sound, and each other. Instead of attempting to slash my blade across his body, I waited defensively but made no move to attack. He did the same.
The rest of the fighting took place off to my right, far enough away to ignore it. There were too many questions swirling around in my mind to kill this man because he might have the answers to some of them. I considered tripping him with magic, having a bee attack and fly inside his tunic, or temporarily blind him with a flash of light.
I declined all use of magic for the moment. In the placement of his feet, the way he clutched the sword, and his clumsy movements, I knew all I needed about his lack of skill. In contrast, I’d spend part of almost every day in Crestfallen under the watchful eye of the King’s Weapon-Master or one of his stern assistants. Since the sword was the weapon of choice among gentlemen, officers, and most soldiers, at least half my time had been under their instruction.
A flick of my wrist would probably flip the sword from the hand of my opponent, and in the space of a single breath, I could strike him three times with slashes of my blade. However, I didn’t want to harm or kill the man. I wanted to speak to him.
He stood as limp as a wilted daisy in the heat of summer. His shoulders slumped, his face was slack, his blade held low as he studied me as I studied him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Princess Elizabeth
As a princess, I had always set myself apart from most daily interactions with commoners, a bane to all royalty. Their gossiping, friendliness, companionship, and bickering was missing from our dull lives. As such, others on the ship who knew their place in society tended to avoid me, so I didn’t hear rumors circulating on the Gallant unless one of my few acquaintances shared them. The other method of communication was with the ship’s purser, who again cautiously approached from my side as if trying to decide how to proceed.
I turned and presented a welcoming smile as he stood taller at my table in the dining room, obviously nervous.
“Princess, I’m sorry to disturb you, but the captain has asked me to assure you of the safety of our ship and that he will perform a thorough investigation of the incident before reaching port.”
“I have no complaints about safety,” I said, confused and ignoring the heads turned to listen to my every word as if I had something important to say. “I also have no idea what you’re speaking about.”
He swallowed and lowered his voice as he leaned closer. “Haven’t you heard? Two more of our passengers are missing from the ship.”
“Missing?” I asked far too loudly; then recollection rushed back to me. I’d forgotten about Will and his discovery of Soren, the traitor on my staff, and the man who had paid him. Innocently, I’d reacted as if I knew nothing. Nobody watching me, and my surprised reaction could believe otherwise.
He finally decided to get directly to the hard part and spat the words, “One of them is a member of your entourage, Princess. It is the man named Soren.”
“What?” I demanded so harshly all eyes were now on me. “Where is he?”
“We do not know, Princess.”
“Speculate.”
“We’ve searched the entire ship, and he is not aboard.” The purser’s expression and sweat flowing down his forehead said more than words.
“Search again.” I stood and marched, not walked, out of the dining room and out into the brisk morning air. I had a role to play for the crew and passengers. I also felt like the food I’d eaten was going to be spilled over the side. My head felt light, my legs unsteady. A hand took mine. It was Lady Grace.