Guard, page 7
“Good. It works.” Dallas heard Dart cough. “Don’t mention it to anyone.”
She lowered her voice. “First, I thought you were using the bangle to track me, in case I just kept riding away.” She did not smile.
Dallas waited.
“Then when the knife dropped at my feet instead of stabbing me, I decided it was a protection talisman.” Misty sighed. “You have been honest with me, so I will be honest with you. If I decide to leave, I will tell you first. If you stop me, then I will be a slave, not free, like you said.”
“You are free, to stay or go.” Dallas studied Misty. “I want you to stay, but only if you want to stay.”
Misty maintained eye contact and nodded slowly.
A twig snapped. Misty watched Dart carry two saddlebags into the shade.
Dart passed one saddlebag to Misty before he placed the second on the ground and sat. “What will we do with the horses after dark? I was thinking we should take them with us, in case we need to mount and chase down the slavers if they run.”
“Not your mount,” Misty said. “Not trained to wait where you tell her.”
“Him.” Dart looked at Dallas then back at Misty. “He is a gelding.”
“Him.” Misty looked at Dallas. “Leave him here?”
“Best to take him with us.” Dallas sighed. “Like Dart said, not good being over here waiting if we need him at the next hillock.”
“I will walk up to the slaver’s horses first, while you both wait. When I deal with the closest lookout, I can release the horses. They will gallop away. That will be your signal to rush the males.” Misty tapped one of her throwing stars attached to her belt with the knuckles of her hand that held a chunk of bread. She lifted a paper wrapped package out of the saddlebags with her free hand and rested it on her knee while she unwrapped it. When she discovered thin slices of mutton, she placed two pieces on the bread. She sighed as she smelled the mutton. “Fresh.” She bit into her sandwich.
“No, better to cut their throats while they are sleeping. Then use the horses for the captives.” Dart settled on the ground next to Misty and waited for her to distribute the food.
When Misty realised what Dart was waiting for, she frowned and snapped, “I am not a slave. Make your own snack.”
* * *
Dallas came awake when Misty gently brushed her hand against the scar on his shoulder. “Time?”
There was a faint glow of orange and pink just above the western horizon. Dallas realised the sun had set at least thirty minutes earlier and backlit the clouds near the horizon.
“Almost,” she whispered back.
“Dart?”
“Saddling his horse.” Misty looked over to the next hillock when the fire flared. “Idiots! If they keep the fire burning that brightly, they won’t be able to see their surroundings.”
“Good!” Dallas struggled to his feet, still groggy from sleep. “They won’t see us approaching.”
“They will when we are close and the fire light reflects off our faces.”
“Got everything?” Dallas could not see the ground under the overhanging branches so trusted Misty attached the saddlebags to the saddles earlier. “Move over to Sweetie and Swift.”
Misty saw better in the dark than Dallas. He stumbled over uneven ground, but once out from under the branches, there was still enough starlight to see Swift and Sweetie, both waiting beside Dart and his mount.
“Silent from now on!”
Chapter 9
Dallas stopped crawling up the slope of the hillock, and listened.
Pale starlight reflected off the leaves at the end of each branch but the rest of the large oak tree remained in darkness.
The whole area under the oak brightened as wood shifted in the fire and flames flared. Then the area dimmed again as the flames died down.
He crept forward until he could see the ground under the branches and stopped again.
He located the rounded shapes of the sleeping captives, but could not see any of the slavers from where he waited, even though the occasional mumbled word drifted towards him. If the slavers stayed where they had settled before dark he was in a good position to rush forward as soon as Misty released the horses.
He slowly breathed in and out. Damp earth and horse droppings mingled in with the acrid smell of a crushed ant. At least the ant did not get the chance to bite him. Still, if one ant, then many more. He prepared his mind for bites and the following sting while he waited.
Swift stamped one hoof. The sound seemed loud to Dallas, but because she waited at the base of the hillock behind him, and downwind, he hoped the sound did not travel up the hillock to alert the slavers.
A snapping branch broke the silence.
Dallas held his breath, hoping Swift understood to remain still. He gripped his staff in his left hand while he waited for one of the men guarding the camp to walk closer.
Sparks rose in the air. The lower branches reddened as they reflected the firelight.
He let out his breath. Only wood tossed onto the fire.
Dallas released his hold on the staff and slowly reached down to move a sharp pebble under his left hip. Once removed, he wrapped his left hand back around the centre of his staff. He slowly crawled another yard up the side of the hillock, before he stopped again.
He wished he had spent more time practicing to shoot arrows when he was younger, because an extra bow would certainly help in the current situation. Then he realised he had the ability to shape ichur into an arrow as easily as shape a ball of ichur. He just did not have the practice. Another missed opportunity because he had never imagined he would have a need for it.
Starlight clearly showed a moving shadow off to his right.
He focused on the area. It was Dart, crouched over and slowly moving up the slope directly behind the sleeping captives.
Dallas rolled onto his left side, so he could raise his head slightly and look down the slope behind Dart. Only darker shadows where bushes blocked the starlight from reaching the ground. Then one lighter shadow moved.
It was Dart’s mount flicking his tail to remove insects. He waited in the marshy ground far enough away from the campfire so the slavers would not see him if they glanced down.
Still, if the gelding called out to Swift or Sweetie, the slavers would certainly hear him. As they would hear Swift or Sweetie call out. No, both Swift and Sweetie understood the need for silence.
Hopefully.
Dallas rolled back onto his stomach and located Dart again.
Dart slowly took another step forward and waited. Than another. Moving closer to the captives with each step. His face brightened from the firelight when his head rose over the top of the hillock, but he looked neither left or right.
When Dart slowly sank down to his knees to wait, his face was again in darkness. A minute later he crawled forward again and stopped.
Satisfied that Dart would soon be in position, Dallas turned his head to study the slope to his left.
He could not see any moving shadows but knew Misty was working her way up the slope towards the slaver mounts. He kept watching, slowly looking from the top of the slope down to the boggy ground, then back up the slope, certain that his eyes would pick up any moving shadow in the darkness.
He saw movement and focused on the area almost at the top of the slope.
It was Sweetie’s head.
She was further around the slope then he expected and the long grass hid all of her body and legs. Misty had to be there, just out of sight.
Dallas waited, straining to hear any sounds coming from the camp.
After what seemed like thirty minutes, but was really much less time, he heard the soft hollow thud of hoofs stamping the ground in front of Misty.
Misty had reached the slaver mounts, and they shifted position to watch her.
He crawled forward until he could see all the sleeping men. He crouched, hiding his body behind the long grass, aware his head was still high enough to be seen, if any of the males woke.
The few mounts he could see at the edge of the firelight all looked east. They had to be watching Misty and Sweetie.
Then he saw her.
She slowly walked towards the animals. Firelight reflected in her eyes, focused on the area west of the horses.
Hot breath on the back of his neck almost made he give away his position. He realised it was Swift so did not move. “Good girl.” She had silently walked up the slope when she saw him move to the top.
Misty untied the closest horse’s reins from the rope stretched between two trees. She wasted time looping the reins over the horses neck before she moved to the second horse, and untied its reins. Both horses watched her work her way down the line, freeing each horse. He knew she looped the reins over their necks, so that when they ran, they would not step on their dangling reins, but it slowed her down.
It was time to move.
Dallas hoped Misty had killed, or rendered the closest guard unconscious, before she released the horses, but did not have time to find out. He hurried forward, directly towards the first blanket covered sleeping male.
Wasting no time when he reached the male, he placed the bottom of his staff against the male’s shoulder. He released only enough ichur to stop his heart, before he hurried towards the second.
Misty let out a blood curdling yell.
The released horses tossed their heads and trotted down the south side of the hillock out of sight.
The second lookout from the western side raced towards the horses, but Misty flicked her wrist.
Dallas caught flashes of yellow light on one of her metal stars as it spun through the air towards the rushing male.
He did not see if the star cut the slaver, because the sleeping male Dallas rushed towards sat up.
Another step and Dallas was close enough.
He pushed his staff forward and sent ichur flowing through the male’s back towards his heart.
The male dropped to the ground, his blanket falling back into place over his body. He looked like he was only sleeping.
Two down, three to go.
The one that raced towards Misty dropped to his knees with a thud, his hands holding back the flow of blood from his throat.
Misty’s star did its job.
Now three down.
If she already disposed the first guard, then four were dead or disabled.
One to go.
Pounding hoofs echoed around the camp site, then faded.
The male holding his throat tried to shout a warning, which sounded like a cough, before he fell face first into the dirt. Dead.
Four down.
Even though the sound was not loud, it was enough to wake the fifth male. Suddenly, he stood, with a drawn bow ready.
Dallas realised he was one of those people who woke instantly. Which meant he was used to attacks, either instigating them or defending against them.
The male swung the tip of the arrow towards Misty, then saw Dallas, so turned his body until the bow lined up with Dallas’ chest.
Swift snorted and leapt over the first male Dallas killed, galloping towards the male before he released his arrow. The drawn bow moved towards Swift.
Dallas built a ball of ichur, the size of his right fist, and tossed it towards the male.
He followed the arc of the silver ball as it sped across the to the slaver.
When the male jumped sideways, bring his bow into the path of the ichur ball, Dallas noticed a thin line of blood on his shirt near his shoulder.
Dallas guessed one of Misty’s stars missed its mark when the male moved, and cut into his shoulder.
The male released the arrow. It pierced the ichur ball. The shaft burst into flames as it flew over Dallas’ head.
The ichur ball hit the bow. It also burst into flames.
Swift slid to a stop next to the male and raised her front hoofs.
She was too late.
The ball of ichur continued past the burning bow and struck his chest. Dallas knew the slaver did not see the ichur ball, but he saw the flames and felt the heat. He dropped the weapon before his hands burnt. As the ichur disappeared inside his chest he bent forward.
Swift dropped her front hoofs. One grazed his left ear and the other stuck his left shoulder. She landed her front hoofs in the dirt, spraying dust and leaves into the air.
The male was dead before he struck the ground.
When Swift realised he was not moving, she sniffed his body. Satisfied he was not moving, his mare stepped back and turned her head to check on Dallas.
Dallas knew Swift could distinguish his use of ichur from other mages spells, so ignored her to search the area for more slavers, leaving Misty to check the male.
No more slavers appeared so Dallas walked over to Misty.
She bent down and retrieved her star, then stood and smiled at Dallas. “That worked well.”
Dallas smiled back at Misty. “The first guard?”
Misty pointed to the south side of the oak.
Dallas located one large booted foot. The rest of his body was hidden by the tree trunk and the dark.
“Good.”
“Dallas! West!”
Dallas looked west the minute Dart yelled the warning and heard the slight vibration of Dart’s bow string as he released an arrow.
The arrow sailed through the air four feet from Misty’s face, heading west.
“Watch where you aim!” She dropped to a crouch and spun to follow the flight of the arrow Dart released.
So did Dallas. He located a black cloaked figure mounted on a horse staring at Dallas.
From the size of the small right hand holding the reins, and the small left hand cupped around a fist sized jewel attached to a chain around her neck, Dallas realised the figure was female.
The gem glowed silver.
A mage! How did he miss seeing a female slaver earlier.
A ball of ichur grew larger in her cupped hand.
He automatically raised his staff, ready to block the ichur ball when she threw it.
It was almost too late when he noticed a first ball of ichur dropping through the branches towards his head.
Swift screamed a warning.
Dallas ignored his mare.
He raised his right hand to grip the staff inches from his left hand as the ball of ichur dropped closer. He concentrated.
The silver ball hit the waiting staff and disappeared. When he was convinced all the ichur was absorbed into his staff he turned his attention back to the female mage.
She had not released the second ball of ichur.
Swift stepped in front of the mage’s mount, blocking Dallas’ view of the female.
Dallas knew Swift would absorb all the energy the mage held in her talisman, so turned to check Misty.
She held a long knife in her right hand and another star in her left hand.
“Misty, leave the mage to Swift.” Dallas glanced towards Dart.
He was busy cutting through the ropes of each captive.
“Help Dart free the women and children, before you gather as many of your throwing stars you can locate.” Dallas turned back to watch the mage. She had not moved, nor had her mount. “Dart, bring the longest piece of rope when you finish releasing the captives.”
Sweetie trotted around the fire towards Swift. When she reached Swift she moved around to the off side of the mage’s mount.
Swift did not move, but she turned her head searching for Dallas.
Dallas strode across the mage. “What is your name?”
The woman pulled on the reins to turn her mount’s head but the horse clamped her teeth on the bit and lowered her head, jerking the female forward.
“You are not going anywhere.” Dallas reached for the reins with his right hand. Once he had a firm grip he pulled them out of her hand. “Climb down!”
She did not move.
Sweetie pushed against the woman’s side with her forehead. It was enough to unseat the woman. She fell to the ground.
“Swift, watch her.” Dallas changed his staff to his right hand, and the mount’s reins to his left hand, so the staff was closer if he needed to touch the female.
She must have understood what the staff represented, because she rose to her feet and glared at Dallas while she brushed dirt off her cloak. Still she did not speak.
Dallas waited beside Swift for Dart to deliver the requested rope to restrain the female.
The female only tried once to call more ichur up from the ground.
Swift absorbed the ichur as fast as the woman called it to her hands.
Sweetie moved around her mount and touched the woman’s back with her forehead.
The woman slumped forward.
She glared at Sweetie when she realised she was fully drained of ichur.
Kurt, Eloise’s son, ran over to Dallas. “Dart said you needed this.” He held out a length of rope.
“Thank you, Kurt.” Dallas took the rope and tied both of the mage’s wrists together. Then he tugged at the rope to make sure it was too tight to slip her hands free. “Mount, or I will throw you in the wagon for the trip north!”
The female stumbled, pretending she could not mount while her hands were tired.
Dallas gripped her waist from behind and lifted.
She must have realised she would be better off riding her mount than sprawled in the wagon, because she swung her leg over and settled into the saddle.
Dallas led her mount across to the waiting women and children. Swift kept pace and Sweetie walked behind.
Dallas slipped his staff into the holder then mounted Swift without releasing his grip on the reins of the female’s mount.
He settled into the saddle and waited while Misty introduced the women and children to Dart.
Misty climbed into Sweetie’s saddle like she had been riding for years. She edged Sweetie next to Swift, on the opposite side to the mage.
