Authors: Robin Roseau
I didn't know what any of that meant.
Everyone slipped from her horse. The warriors began moving towards the demon, which had noticed and changed directions towards us. "You two, put the horses in a line, but be ready to leave," Balorie ordered, setting Varda and me to work.
We finished quickly then I turned and watched, my hea
rt in my throat. "They're real," I whispered.
The demon was closer, and I could see it. I couldn't judge distance, but even from this distance, it looked huge.
"Yes," Varda said from beside me. "They're real. You didn't believe?"
"I don't think I did," I said. "Oh my god, it's so big."
"Eight or nine feet," she said, "not counting the horns, and four to five hundred pounds. Some are bigger."
I studied it, my hand over my mouth. It was big and completely naked, the skin golden, almost
iridescent. In a way, it was beautiful and frightening at the same time. It ran on two legs and had four arms, which was disconcerting. I could see the horns. I couldn't tell how long they were, not at this distance, but they were black, projecting out of its heads in a spiral, and I thought the sun glinted off the tips.
"The horns look sharp."
"Razor sharp, but the claws are worse," Varda said.
"Varda, there are only four of them! And it's huge."
"And strong," she said. "Four is plenty. Demons are big and run fast, but their reactions are slow. Both Balorie and Malora have fought demons solo and come away without a scratch. Ping is good, and Chalena isn't bad."
I watched as the four Amazons arrayed themselves against the demon.
Balorie and Ping strode forth together while Malora worked her way to the left and Chalena to the right, separating by perhaps a hundred paces.
The demon bellowed a challenge and began loping towards
Balorie. Balorie strode forward, looking exceedingly confident, her sword at the ready, and Ping dropped back.
"Why isn't she helping?"
"She's the stopper. If it gets past Balorie, then Ping stops it. She's the fastest runner. If it engages with Balorie, which it almost certainly will, the other three will close in."
The demon bellowed again, facing first Malora and then
Chalena, then continued loping towards Balorie.
"You must stay quiet now," Varda said. "If you scream, it considers that a challenge. Let the warriors handle it, but if I tell you to run, grab your horse and go. I'll be right behind you."
I'd do whatever she said right then. I was terrified.
The demon moved closer to
Balorie, and I realized each step ate ten or twelve feet.
"It's so fast."
"In a run, yes," she said. "But slow reactions. Watch now."
Balorie
screamed a challenge, and the demon screamed back. I saw Malora and Chalena angling, closing off the escape routes for the demon, running faster now, and I understood why we ran so much in training. I would never complain about that again. If I were Balorie, I would want to know the warriors on either side of me could run.
Ping continued to hold back, and the demon lowered its head and charged at
Balorie.
I began biting my hand, trying to hold in the screams.
"It's so big, Varda. It's so big." I shoved my hand back in my mouth and clutched her with the other hand.
"I know," she said. "I was scared the first time I saw one, too."
The demon roared as it charged Balorie. She stopped, waiting for it, dancing on her feet, but just before it reached her, it sprang upwards, jumping well above her, and then it thundered past her, heading straight for us.
"Oh shit!" said Varda. "Get out of here!"
I ran for my horse, Varda a half second behind me. I freed Fleetfoot from the line and climbed on top of her. She was skittish, and she spun on me, then froze.
And I saw
Ping leap for the demon, slicing it cleanly with her sword. The other three warriors were converging on the demon. But Ping's leap took her off balance, and the demon slapped her with a backhand.
Even from here, I heard the crack of a broken bone, and Ping flew across the ground before coming to a stop.
"Ping!" I screamed.
"Oh damn it!" Varda said. "Get going!"
The demon stood, staring at Varda and me, and it screamed back. But then Malora screamed at it, and from behind the demon, Balorie screamed a challenge, and then Chalena, and the demon spun.
I tugged on
Fleetfoot's reins, but the horse stood there.
Malora ran past the demon, getting between
the beast and us. And then Balorie was on it, and Chalena, and Malora screamed at it.
The demon swatted weakly at
Balorie, who ducked and scored a slash along its leg. Then it looked at Malora, screaming at it, then it looked up the hill at me.
Then I saw it smile. It smiled!
It turned tail and bounded away, far faster than the warriors could pursue, disappearing in moments. I stared after it.
"Stay," Varda yelled at me, and I stopped fighting my recalcitrant horse.
The warriors watched after the demon for a moment, then Balorie and Malora rushed to Ping. Balorie yelled something at Chalena, who hurried to us, stopping in front of us and turning around with her sword out. I realized Balorie had sent her to protect us.
"Ping?" I asked.
"She's moving," Chalena said. "I think her leg is broken. She'll live."
"They're real," I said.
"Damned real," Chalena agreed. "Keep your eyes open. I've never seen a runner before. It may double back."
Then
Balorie hollered, "come," and Chalena told Varda and me to bring the horses.
I climbed from mine, who had calmed down, and together Varda and I led the eight horses, including two pack horses, forward, stopping short of where
Balorie and Malora were helping Ping. Chalena continued to stand watch.
Malora straightened up, staring at me.
Balorie said something, and Malora hurried to us, grabbing a first aid kit from a packhorse. "I'll talk to you two when we've settled Ping." She hurried back to Balorie, and I watched as they worked on her leg.
"Will she be okay?"
"It should heal," Chalena said with a glance. "It looks like a clean break."
Ping screamed for a moment, then she lay in
Balorie's arms, clutching at her for a moment.
"What?" I asked.
"They had to set it," Varda explained. "See? Malora is wrapping it in a splint to hold it still."
"Should I do anything?"
"Wait for us to get yelled at," Varda said. "We should have run. What was with your horse?"
"I don't know. I couldn't get him to move."
Chalena turned her head for a moment, then resumed her scan. "You two, watch for the demon. It might come back."
So we began watching, although I glanced at Ping from time to time. It took some time, but soon they had her bundled up, and
Balorie was feeding her some leaves. I knew they were for calming the pain. Malora spoke briefly with Balorie, then stood up and turned to Varda and me, stalking towards us.
"You should be long gone," she said. "Tell me why I shouldn't pronounce
immediate judgment?"
"My fault," I said. "Varda told me to go, that she would be right behind me. I got on my horse, but then
she spun around and wouldn't budge." I lowered my eyes. "Is this my fault?"
"No," she said. "But you were in danger."
"I can vouch for the trouble she had with her horse. He had the bit in his mouth, and she couldn't pull it free. I was right about to stick a dagger in his backside to get him moving, but I was afraid he would run straight at the demon."
"Sometimes the horses freeze," Malora said. "Sometimes they panic and run. If that happens again, move between the horse and the demon, and that is often enough for the rider to assert control."
"I'm sorry," I said.
"Not your fault. All right. I'm glad you're here, I guess."
Balorie walked over and put a hand on Malora's shoulder. "Your orders, Balorie?" Malora asked.
"This just became your responsibility, Queen Malora,"
Balorie said. "I manage a team, but we've got a runner."
"Right. Send someone home to spread the word. Can Ping be moved?"
"Not in haste," Balorie said.
"All right," Malora said. "Varda, can you find home?"
"Yes, Queen Malora."
"It's a half day if you ride hard," she said. "Take a horse and water and a little food. Food for your horse. Get off the plains and deep into the woods before turning for home. Can you find it?"
"Yes."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, if I may cut to the river first."
We had passe
d a shallow river an hour past.
"Ride an hour into the woods first, then turn south to the river."
"I can find it from there," Varda said. She didn't wait. She grabbed a single water skin and an emergency pack of food, and she was gone a half minute later, riding hard for the trees.
Malora turned to me. "Set up camp. Settle the horses, then set up everyone's tents, then set a fire with what you can find within fifty steps of camp, no further. Not one step further. I don't care if you find a downed tree at fifty and one half steps. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Malora."
* * * *
It was very late that night when the Amazons began to arrive. They came first from our village, and early in the morning, the entire contingent from the two nearest villages to ours. Malora stayed up the night, and I stayed with her.
She was brilliant to watch, completely in command, cool and calm and very crisp. She directed everyone, breaking the camps into groups of six Amazons, arranging them spread out in a line across the
prairie, parallel to the forest. In the morning, the leaders of each group collected with us, and I was surrounded by fierce Amazons.
Malora looked around, spotting
Omie, her sister with her.
"
Omie," she said. "I need you to stay here. Guard the camp. Guard Ping and my companion. Keep watch." Omie nodded. She looked at me. "You will tend to Ping and do whatever you are told by either warrior." I nodded. "If Ping is strong enough, they will have you watch with them. Be vigilant."
"I'll be strong enough," Ping said. "Sit me up somewhere and I can watch. Damned demon. I can't believe I broke my leg."
"You stopped it, Ping. You did your duty. You protected the companions, and you turned it. Thank you. Your leg will heal, but you'll be out of commission for a while."
"I'm due a vacation, I think.
Perhaps Serra and I could visit family."
"Of course," said Malora. After that, she gave the rest of the orders. The goal was to find and exterminate the demon.
Balorie would track it from its last known location, with Malora, Ree and Vorine to help. She turned to Vorine. "You will not engage."
Vorine nodded with a glance at her sister.
The other teams would move forward as well, watching for signs the demon had doubled back. Malora gave her commands, and ten minutes later, all the Amazons began moving forward, tracking the demon.
Omie
and I made Ping comfortable, then Ping and Omie watched. I saw to both their needs, then Omie told me I could help watch.
The warriors
disappeared into the hills before us, and other than the occasional sound of a horse reaching for a little bite to eat, the world was quiet.
That lasted for two hours. We'd heard no word from the warriors, and I wondered if the demon had fled to its own home. Then the horses began to mutter, stomping around and blowing air.
"Omie," Ping said very quietly.
Omie
moved closer. "The horses," Omie said.
"Stay alert," Ping said. "Maya, be prepared to get out of here."
"I'm not leaving you."
"You will do what you are told," she said. "Do not argue with me."
"Yes, Ping," I said.
We didn't see anything. We didn't hear anything. But the horses continued to display signs of nervousness.
I tended to Ping and Omie, and I watched for movement.
Omie
saw it first, and then she was running, right to left, screaming in defiance. And the demon, from less than two hundred yards away, stood up and screamed back.
"Maya get out of here!" Ping yelled.
I obey orders for shit.
Omie
screamed again, and then her sword flashed in the sunlight, angling for a demon leg. She slashed, but then the demon swung at her, and she ducked under the blow, rolling past the demon.
I hadn't seen the tail before. The demon swung around, the tail catching
Omie across the back, sending her flying further. She sprawled, rolled, and began to climb to her feet, but she was shaken.