Now a NICE, HAPPY, writer would go from the finale of Darkside and immediately start writing the sequel, and answer all those burning questions.
Too bad. I am NOT nice, and NOT happy. So here's to an evenings apocalypse and magic. Guns and swords. Knights, daemons, Apache helicopters and Sidewinder missiles. Welcome to the Wastes...I hope you enjoy your stay....
Chapter One: Utah is hell
It was shaping up to be a nice, normal trip. April was sleeping, her feet propped up on her bag. Two NET watchdogs sat in the front, staring fixedly ahead through the bus's windshields. The driver was a slave, his left bicep cut open and a radio antenna sticking into the open air, constantly broadcasting his location to the NET. Two children sat across from the NET watchdogs, staring out the window and jabbering to each other in the language of the Mormons.
Which made sense as this bust was passing through Utah, and now a days all that was left in Utah was the Mormons. April shifted slightly in her seat. The bus hit another pot hole, and she ignored it, still trying to get some sleep. Then the bus hit a land mine, the small cylinder packed with HE shooting up out of the road to windshield hight and exploding violently. The slave was killed instantly. One of the NET dogs was also ripped apart, despite his power amour, and the other knocked unconscious by the blast.
The bus's front end was flaming, shredded and tattered, the wheel's cut open. The bus continued on that path for quite some time, its momentum carrying it forward until it hit another pot hole and tipped over on its side, rolled ten times and skidded to a stop. April untangled her self, smelling smoke and feeling heat on her side. She struggled until she could see the window above her. Smoke filled her nostrils, causing her to cough and splutter.
She sat up, but her neck was caught in the strap of her bad, somehow getting her tangled. April swore, then kicking violently at the window. The bag was caught on a jagged piece of metal sticking only a few inches from April's head. She kicked the window and it gave slightly. The fire's licked closer and she kicked again. The window popped out, made easy by the multiple concussions of the bus rolling over.
April struggled her way out of the bag as the heat from the fire's started to become unbearable. She clambered out of the window, fell to the ground and rolled away from the bus. She looked at the flaming wreckage and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot again├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. Part of the bus lit up and she heard bullets go off as someone's ammo went off. Then she heard some one scream. A child. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh fuck├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, running to the bus.
She clambered onto the side that was not on fire, praying to god that the fuel was not about to go off. She saw two children, the Mormons, banging against the window, trying to get out. Flames wreathed behind them, smoke filling the glass. April kicked down and smashed the window in. Smoke billowed out and she reached in, grabbed one of the children by the arm and dragged him out. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy brother!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted, not wanting to get off the bus.
├óÔé¼┼ôGet the hell out off the bus!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted, losing patients. ├óÔé¼┼ôHis leg is trapped!├óÔé¼┬Ø the child said. April swore again and climbed into the bus again. She felt around and found the pant leg that was caught on some jagged metal, only aware of the sobbing child and the fire's heat. She got him free and pushed him out best she could, as they were a tangle of legs and arms at this point. He got out and she maneuvered to get herself out when she felt something grab at her pant leg.
She looked down and saw the NET officer who had not died. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry bastard├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, reaching down and jerking his netlink off and grabbing his smart pistol. The fires ran up around him as April climbed out of the bus. ├óÔé¼┼ôget away!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôGet away!├óÔé¼┬Ø The two boys ran away from the bus. April threw the netlink and the smart pistol and dived off the bus. She ran away, got to a safe distance then turned around to look at the bus.
The two kids, one ten the other nine, whimpered softly as the bus flamed on the broken road. April looked down and up the road, seeing nothing but the expanse of the wastes. Nothing but a few skeletons and the tips of buildings, buried under the silt that covered the World That Was. Above them was the Net, a massive web way of glittering wires that connected the World That Was. Now only the NET officers could use it.
April holstered her new smart pistol. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø the pistol said in a tinny, New York accent ├óÔé¼┼ôYou aren't my master├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have his netlink, so you have to listen to me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't listen to him much, and he had a netlink├óÔé¼┬Ø the pistol said. April rolled her eyes. Smart Pistol's were almost more trouble then they were worth. Almost.
├óÔé¼┼ôLady├óÔé¼┬Ø The ten year old ├óÔé¼┼ôLady├óÔé¼┬Ø. April looked at them ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'd like to go home now├óÔé¼┬Ø. April looked at the netlink and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôUnless you know how to use this thing├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôOur best bet is to find a Fiefdom and get shelter till the NET can pick you up. What's your names?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm Luke, and he is Mathew├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said.
├óÔé¼┼ôWere your parents on that bus?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats my dads netlink├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said. ├óÔé¼┼ôMine's too├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere wasn't much I could do for him├óÔé¼┬Ø April lied. She knew the code of Civilizations well enough. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Utah, so there has to be a fiefdom somewhere around here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew asked. April looked at the Net again ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, reciting the old adage ├óÔé¼┼ôWithout a compass, follow the Net├óÔé¼┬Ø. She looked at the web and saw the closes point that it touched down, in the west. But in the middle of the Wastes it was hard to tell were Net ended and horizon began.
├óÔé¼┼ôLets go├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, walking towards the west. ├óÔé¼┼ôPistol├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have a name?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The pistol sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy master was not one to humanize things that were not├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to call you Phil├óÔé¼┬Ø April said. Luke and Mathew were silent for most of the walk, sometimes talking to each other in their own language. April was glad she wore her boots all the time, no matter what. The silt that covered the Wastes was always getting into sneakers, no matter how new and high heels were just plain stupid.
After three hours of walking Matthiew stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm tired├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôCan we rest here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sat down in the silt, sinking slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, damn it├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôTheres a berg up there├óÔé¼┬Ø she pointed to the tip of skyscraper, still jutting arrogantly into the air like some temple. It was still silver smooth, using the methods of the World that Was. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut its far├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said ├óÔé¼┼ôits also shady├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, jerking him to his feet ├óÔé¼┼ôWe keep going├óÔé¼┬Ø.
They got to the building and April crawled inside and sat down in an ancient chair. For some reason the World That Was had more then its share of hard, plastic chairs. But she still enjoyed it none the less. Mathew and Luke crawled in after her and sat down on a sofa that was on the other side of the room from the chair. The only thing in the room touched by time was the desk, which was wood, and it had rotted away completely, leaving some bits of wood left on the floor.
├óÔé¼┼ôI'm thirsty├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour also quite a whiner├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can live ten days at least without water, seven if we keep walking├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I'm still thirsty├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure somewhere in this building there is a water bottle that has been kept around for this long├óÔé¼┬Ø she grinned mirthlessly ├óÔé¼┼ôBut these levels might just be all out├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mathew sat down and stoped complaining. April looked out the window over the Silt deserts.
The wind whipped Silt into the air, obscuring the Net and the rest of the sky. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe should stay here for the night├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôwait for the Silt Storm to go down├óÔé¼┬Ø. The night wore on, the silt storm hammering the skyscraper. April slammed the window down and let the silt batter against the unbreakable material all Skyscrapers used for both windows and pretty much everything else. She leaned against the chair, resting her head against the wall and closing her eyes.
├óÔé¼┼ôMrs├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have a bed time story for us?├óÔé¼┬Ø. April cracked one of her eyes open and then sat slowly up. ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce there were two boys who didn't go to sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo a Siltstrider came in the night and sucked their brains out├óÔé¼┬Ø. She lay back and closed her eyes. Luke sniffled and looked to Mathew. The two of them exchanged words in their own language then tried to get some sleep.
The next morning dawned gray. The Soulless rose from the Silt and began to dance softly in the air, their lights making the Silt look more colorful then it was. April blinked and looked around the room, the monochrome wall's and floors making the entire room seem black and white. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight, wake up!├óÔé¼┬Ø April snapped, getting up and nudging the pile of clothes that she assumed was the two children.
They trudged through the Silt, the semi-liquidy material sinking into their boots, dribbling around the sides. April brushed a Soulless away from her as it danced around her head. Luke giggled, cupping two Soulless in his hands as their multicolored glow lit his hand, even in the blacks and greys of the morning. The little party kept walking for a few hours as the sun rose, banishing the monochrome morning and the Soulless. The little specks of light drifted back into the Silt, dimming and going out.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere were you heading before the bus exploded?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked April. ├óÔé¼┼ôOut├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôOut of this shitty county├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere were you from? We were from Station 223├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said. April tunred around and looked at him squarly ├óÔé¼┼ôYou like to talk a lot├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut i was from Silt Lake City├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSLC!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke chimed in, his entire face brighting at those words ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat was it like? Was it beautiful? Were there temples every where? Did you know anyone? Was the lord nice?├óÔé¼┬Ø the words and questions tumbled out of his mouth like spit. A single Soulless, attracted by the noise, wafted out of the Silt and danced in front of Luke's face. He grinned, but April stepped in and slapped her hands together. The crushed Soulless fell to the ground, its light out.
Luke looked disappointed ├óÔé¼┼ôKeep your voice├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, softening her voice ├óÔé¼┼ôDown├óÔé¼┬Ø. She frowned ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't really want to talk about SLC├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI would much rather keep going├óÔé¼┬Ø. She turned back and started to walk again. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't handle kids well, do you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know when I want the opinion of a talking pistol, I'd ask├óÔé¼┬Ø April snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôI hate kids├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut why?├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThey seem lovable enough├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTry having them├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered.
They continued on in silence as the sun rose higher, casting the shadow the Net over the ground. Luke and Mathew made a little game out of it, walking at the edge of the sade casted by the Net. Liz just kept square in the middle of the massive shadows, thanking the N.E.T for the one thing they had given the planet: Free shade everywhere and anywhere. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow was SLC?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôTalking wastes breath├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't breath├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut i was made in Outpost 233, and my master used to tell me├óÔé¼┬Ø the voice changed to a passible imitation of a harsh young man shouting ├óÔé¼┼ôSHUT THE HELL UP YOU BLASTED PICE OF CRAP!├óÔé¼┬Ø. April grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôI think he told you that a lot├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI could never figure out why. I am made to be a battlefield companion, keeping my master sane with an endless stream of babble tailor made to keep you from going crazy and shoving me in your wet, slimy mouth├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôDid your makers ever thing that maybe the talking made people go crazy?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell actually├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said. April pulled the pistol out and jammed it into her pack. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil snapped, his voice muffled by the heavy cloth of the sack. ├óÔé¼┼ôApril├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy did you put Phil away?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause he's annoying!├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôA annoying, over talkative gun that should just aim itself├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut he's funny├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said. April rolled her eyes. Children were to easily amused.
The small party was only a small black dot on a massive massive wasteland of white. They had moved out of the edge of what had once been a megalopolis and into the terrain outside of this. Any houses or streets that had existed in the World that Was was covered by a mile of Silt. April looked back at the skyscrapers that jabbed out of the Silt behind them and squared her shoulders. Now was the long, hard part. Sleeping would be nearly impossible, without water even harder. They were starting to get really thirsty, feeling weaker and more tired with every step.
The Silt was also more fine out here, and if they stopped moving they would start to sink. At night of the third day of their death march, April found that splaying a blanket over the ground kept them kind of above the Silt. Usually they woke with their heads mostly above the Silt. Then April would force her way up and out, get the kids out, shake the Silt out of their clothes as best she could, then head out.
The fourth day dawned, and April was close to giving up. The Net above them seemed unchanged, and the Silt was extra deep in this area. Walking was a nightmare of almost slipping, falling, stumbling and tripping. They all toiled on, trying as hard as they could to keep going. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't go further├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke gasped. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, stopping to stoop down and grab the kid about the shoulders ├óÔé¼┼ôKeep going or we die├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mathew kept toiling, his eye's locked on the horizon in front of them. April pushed Luke, and he kept up the pace.
The sun was over head. April kept walking two more steps. Then she tripped and fell, her legs no longer capable of propelling her. Luke and Mathew collapsed as well, gasping for air. The wind blew April's hair lightly. Then she felt a shadow fall over her, dimming the light of the sun. She looked up and saw some one, standing black and silhouetted against the sky. Bright teeth glittered in the light reflected from the Silt. ├óÔé¼┼ôNeed some help, love?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes, actually├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil shouted from the backpack.
Waste
Moderator: Moderators
The intro felt really rushed. Try going into more detail about the world around them before blowing it all up. Also, when the bus blew up, I think it would have sounded better if you didnt describe exactly how the bus rolled. Instead, have them hit the land mine, the fire rear up, and then black. She wakes up, feels the heat, hears the moaning, and sees the blood.
The crossing of the silt desert could have been broken up a bit. That also seemed a bit rushed in parts.
Otherwise the story is looking good. You really like post-apocalyptic stories dont you?
The crossing of the silt desert could have been broken up a bit. That also seemed a bit rushed in parts.
Otherwise the story is looking good. You really like post-apocalyptic stories dont you?
So far so good. Fun to write, good. Nice plot i've got here, nice, nice, good, good. Well...enjoy!
For a moment everything was quiet. The man, wearing faded, torn jeans, a large brimmed hat and a button jacked that had three sparkling, golden, stars on it, one over his heart, the other's spaced equally across from that, going horizontal. His boots were actually made for crossing Silt, and were very thick and large. They were tied on by Velcro straps, and that is what April studied first. Velcro was very rare now a days, so whoever was wearing the aforementioned shoe's would have to be either A) very rich. Or, in a much more plausible situation, B) A very good thief.
The man reached down, offering his hand. April grabbed it and the man jerked her up and out of the Silt. April dusted herself off and looked around. The man's vehicle was parked nearby, a modified snowmobile. It had two pontoon's, to help it across quicksilt, but those were folded up at the moment, various supplies hanging off them. What was extended now were two tracks, made for gripping snow. Now they gripped the Silt. It must be a stealthily one, as April hadn't heard the engine while she was on the ground.
April turned around and helped the children to their feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll get water for the little ones├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, looking at the children with a worried eye. No one wanted to break the Codes of Civilization, for that would bring the entire world crashing down on your head. Children were the future of Civilization, and had to be protected. April would have ditched them earlier, if they weren't. The man walked, his large soled shoe's allowing him to stand sure, even if the shifty Silt they were in now. He opened one of the many packs hanging from the side of his rolled up pontoons and pulled out a canteen. He threw it to April, and she caught it.
She opened it and sniffed once or twice, made sure it was actually water and not something else. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't trust me, eh?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man asked, his voice sounding more then a little hurt. April handed the canteen to Luke, who started to chug it. Once he had finished he handed it to Mathew, who drank quite a bit more then Luke. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't trust anyone├óÔé¼┬Ø April said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat a wonderful world you live in├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, my name is Gars├óÔé¼┬Ø he held out a hand. April, after a moments hesitation, reached out and took it. They shook. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou folks are damn lucky├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you hadn't kept on your feet├óÔé¼┬Ø He walked to his snowmobile ├óÔé¼┼ôThen I wouldn't of gotten here in time├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYou were sent out here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. She walked over to the snowmobile, almost tripping then catching herself on the side of a pontoon. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôOur castle has a working telescope. Our scout spotted you and they sent me out├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're from a Fiefdom!├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, hoisting herself higher ├óÔé¼┼ôcan you take us there!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars slowly looked around at the Silt around them, pulling a stick of chewing gum out of one of his bags. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø he said finally ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a seat behind me. The kids could sit on the pontoons...they seem small enough├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded, looking back over her shoulder.
The two boys were scuffling over the canteen. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø April snapped, running over to them ├óÔé¼┼ôCut that out!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She grabbed them both by the back of their shirts and yanked them apart. ├óÔé¼┼ôMathew was hogging the water!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said, trying to get out of April's hold. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo I didn't!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt doesn't mater now!├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou spilt the rest!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The two boys were silent, looking at the patch of hardening silt around the canteen. The water had soaked into the ground, and now it would be safe to walk on, if anyone ever came back to this place. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, Miss├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said, looking at the ground.
April rolled her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll have plenty of water where we're going. Now get on those pontoons├óÔé¼┬Ø. She let the two boys go, and they ran happily to the snowmobile. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have a way with kids├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI never want to see another kid in my life├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I have a firm grasp of how to get them to shut up├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars shrugged and gunned the snowmobile into motion. It's engine roared to life, making slightly more noise then it was now. It sounded more like a very fast paced clicking then anything else.
The tracks started moving and the snowmobile shot off across the wastes. April was leery of the two boys being on less then safe perches, but Luke and Mathew seemed to be enjoying themselves. Gars spat his spent chewing gum over the side and he gunned the snowmobile faster. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhee!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôFaster faster!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke shouted after him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you said I have a way with kids├óÔé¼┬Ø April said into Gar's ear. He grinned and the snowmobile crossed to the edge of his Fiefdom's territory. After ten or so more minuets, when the excitement of the ride had worn off, Luke and Mathew started playing the same game they had on the bus. Where one would shout numbers at the other, the recipient would then multiply the number by itself. Luke knew how to win this game easily. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôFour!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke shouted back, then after a moment ├óÔé¼┼ôNine thousand, four hundred and seven!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mathew gaped ├óÔé¼┼ôNot fair!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted back ├óÔé¼┼ôWe haven't got that high!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Luke stuck his tung out. Mathew pulled a face, and they were back to there second favored game. Face making. April had leaned back and found this to be a rather comfortable position. Her legs stuck out and around Gar's back, her back laid against the slope of the back of the snowmobile. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. She was now safe, for the time being. Then the snowmobile hit a slight bump, and April jerked herself up and wrapped her arms around Gars to prevent herself from flying off and into the Silt.
Gars laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't know we were THAT close├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted over his shoulder. April jerked away so she was lightly touching his waste, rather then hugging him full front. She looked at Luke, who was grinning at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôTake that look of your face!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted at him. Luke stopped grinning, but was still smiling. Mathew laughed and shouted at Luke in their own language. Luke burst out laughing. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd no talking behind my back!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted.
They pulled up to castle gates. April whistled, looking up and up at the castle walls. IT was impressive, very very impressive. The castle was built out of the remains of four old skyscraper tips. Conjurers probably had to work for weeks to conjure enough water to pack in the courtyard. The walls were scrap metal, heaped on high and welded together by a mage, probably mined out of the city beneath them. The gate's were small, barely tall enough to let a tall man through. They were created from pool tables, who's legs have been removed.
├óÔé¼┼ôNice place├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, eying the towers. If the castle was ever breached then the soldiers could hole up in the skyscrapers. They probably had food and water stashed down there. Gars nodded curtly, looking up over the gate to were a guard was looking down at them, holding a M60 in generally their direction. ├óÔé¼┼ôIdent yourselves!├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou idiot!├óÔé¼┬Ø another guard shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts Prince Garher!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars covered his face with his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôPrince, eh?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked, frowning at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not like that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, right├óÔé¼┬Ø April got of the snowmobile as the two pool tables were opened inwards, creaking as they went over the hardened Silt. April walked into the courtyard, looking around. There were five guards training off to the side, swinging swords and clubs at old department store manikins. One guard swung hard and decapitated a manikin. The head rolled over the hardened Silt and clunked to the rest against the wall. Five more soldiers were firing blanks over the wall, firing at nothing but imaginary targets. A small botanical garden was built into the side corner, five layers of mushrooms, grains, wheats, tomato's and other vegetables were standing one on top of each other, ingeniously made to let sunlight into each of the levels.
Guards patrolled the walls, civilians worked the gardens and a single noblewoman watched as another woman nursed her child. ├óÔé¼┼ôLazy bitch├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered. Noble's always turned out to be pricks in the end. She looked back at Prince Gars, she couldn't think of him as just Gars anymore, who was wheeling in his snowmobile. The two children were running around, looking at everything. ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome!├óÔé¼┬Ø A large, booming voice said. April turned and saw a man, obviously noble, walking out of one of the skyscraper tips, the largest one in the place.
The nobleman wore a long, purple robe. Why was it always robes? They dragged on the Silt, cough at things on the ground and in general were a pain to wear. The man had a single blood red stone at his neck, and on it was emblazoned the symbol of whatever this Fiefdom was. In this case it was a large tear drop, surrounded by wings with a stylized machine gun underneath that. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø April forced a smile onto her face.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am Lord Newhaven├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome to the Fiefdom Newhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø. April groaned inwardly. Newhaven, she remembered from her geography lessons, was one of the border fief's of Utah. Border fiefs were never safe, happy or otherwise friendly places. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Lord Newhaven said, stopping in front of April ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your name, and what brings you to our fair castle?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy name's April├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd our bus was hit by a AV mine├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe road's are still mined, out here aren't they...├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, pretending to think about it ├óÔé¼┼ôAt least you saved the children├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, looking at the children, who were watching the soldiers practice. ├óÔé¼┼ôI see you've met my son, Garher Newhaven├óÔé¼┬Ø. Prince Gars ignored his father pointedly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you join me tonight for my banquet?├óÔé¼┬Ø April grinned weakly. ├óÔé¼┼ôKids├óÔé¼┬Ø She whistled ├óÔé¼┼ôOver here├óÔé¼┬Ø.
April walked into her rooms, the one's assigned by Lord Newhaven, and slowly rotated her head around to get the cricks out of her neck. She had been sitting straight, making forced light conversation with ten nobles, for about three hours. She had not looked at Prince Gars, who was sitting at the other end of the table, the entire time. The kids got to leave an hour earlier, saying they were sleepy. Now April just wanted a shower, and some sleep. She looked around the rooms, hoping for both.
There was a bed in the first room, with a desk opposite, a lamp hanging over the bed and a door leading into the bathroom. April walked into the bathroom, stripping off her over shirt and dropping it on the bed. She walked into the bathroom, unbuttoning the first three buttons on her under shirt. There was a ivory bucket, embroidered with nude mermaids. April snorted, but even so was tickled by the decadence afforded. She reached into the bucket and felt the warm water in it. ├óÔé¼┼ôOhhh boy!├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured, pulling of her under shirt and grabbing a sponge from the bathroom table.
Then her door opened. ├óÔé¼┼ôApril, I wanted to-├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars walked into the room, talking. April jumped, immediately covering herself with her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet out!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh I'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd knock next time, damn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø April snapped. Gars backed out of the room, averting his eyes and closing the door. April sighed, looking at the water dribbling onto the nice carpet floor. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered, turning back. Then she heard three polite taps on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a second├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grabbing her over shirt and pulling it on. She buttoned the middle buttons, and opened the door.
├óÔé¼┼ôApril├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to apologize for my father├óÔé¼┬Ø. April sighed, looking at the celling ├óÔé¼┼ôThats all right Gars. By├óÔé¼┬Ø she closed the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø Prince Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou go past the banquet hall, and through a door on the north side...and...├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked abashed ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you need to talk about it...├óÔé¼┬Ø The Price walked off down the corridor. April looked at the sponge, and threw it back into the bucket. She pulled on her over shirt, buttoned it and straighted her pants a bit more. April opened the door, looked one last time at the spilled water on the carpet.
The banquet hall had been in an old C.E.O's meeting room, on an expansive table. Windows that had once looked over a massive city were now boarded up, shuttered and closed. Fire lights lit the table, casting ominous shadows over the table. A single goblet was still on the table as April walked past. She heard a giggle from a far corner, and the rustle of fabrics. She walked past the dark corner and smiled. Noblemen and Noblewomen were supposed to keep celibate until they were married off to another great family. But you can never stop the idle rich.
April walked into the Lord's chambers, knocking lightly on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYou need me to discus our payment├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lord Newhaven looked up from his desk, which sat across from his bed. And it was not just any old bed. It was a huge, purple mattress, surrounded by wood. Not metal, not stone, hell not even plastic. But wood. The ultimate sign of wealth, wood. Massive drapes could cover the bed, but now they were raised.
├óÔé¼┼ôAh├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, standing and closing his robe. His hair was wet, probably from having a shower like April. He looked even more attractive then he had earlier. Broad muscular chest, great teeth. April hated his guts instantly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...uhh├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to pay you for the lodgings, and I need supplies and the kids need to be taken to a creche├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is a lot of things that need to be done├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, grabbing the bottle of wine that was resting on his desk. ├óÔé¼┼ôWine?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grabbing the half full bottle and chugging it down as fast as possible. She set the now empty bottle back on his desk ├óÔé¼┼ôAhh├óÔé¼┬Ø she breathed, grinning. Newhaven looked annoyed for a moment, but it passed ├óÔé¼┼ôI see you are...unused to nicety's├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou must have been stuck in...some...harsh conditions├óÔé¼┬Ø he was standing too close to April, and he reached up to brush some of her hair from her face. April's grin froze even more solid ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there any job you need doing?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI can help with the guards, work in the garden├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Newhaven placed his hand on her right hand, brining it up to chest level. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour hands are soft├óÔé¼┬Ø he lied, feeling the callouses ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...unsuited to hard labor├óÔé¼┬Ø. April's forced grin faded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI suggest├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou remove your hands before I do it for you. Permanently├óÔé¼┬Ø. April immediately regretted the words, knowing she depended on Lord Newhaven's generosity to stay alive, at least at this point. He surprised her, because most Nobles would have slapped her at that point.
Instead he frowned lightly ├óÔé¼┼ôI see that you are a blunt woman├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo I will be blunt. A fine├óÔé¼┬Ø his hand moved from where it had brushed her hair to her shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôWoman such as yourself should not...waste your time toiling├óÔé¼┬Ø. April forced her smile back on ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI think...two weeks of rations and bullets would be good for one...night├óÔé¼┬Ø she placed her hand on his hand, trying not to rip it off.
├óÔé¼┼ôTwo weeks would need two weeks├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said. April tightened her grip on his hand and heard a rather satisfying crack. Newhaven removed his hand ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose not├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll go join the guard for a while├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôTill I have paid my debt├óÔé¼┬Ø. She enforced paid with another crunch of Newhaven's hand. Then she turned and left.
The next morning April checked on the children. They had been assigned a 'nanny'. The 'nanny' in person was a grizzled veteran of the guard with a tattoo over his forehead that read ├óÔé¼┼ôRepent Or Die├óÔé¼┬Ø. His face looked like it had been carved by a very inept metalsmith, all jagged angles and scars. His left eye was a golden orb, spinning slowly under its own power. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, gesturing along with his story ├óÔé¼┼ôI stuck the man in the gut with my blade├óÔé¼┬Ø he made a stabbing gesture.
The two boys looked on in awe, mouth's open. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I twisted his guts out and they got all over my arm!├óÔé¼┬Ø the nanny continued his grizzly story. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid they get all over the ground too?├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd how!├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny said ├óÔé¼┼ôLike spaghetti, I say!├óÔé¼┬Ø. April, satisfied the two boys would be happy for now, left. She walked out of the keep, onto the pavement of the main area. She walked slowly around, looking at the guards who had just started their rounds, the farmers who had just started their hard work. And the noblemen looking like they were actually accomplishing something by watching.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted at a guard who was walking across from her position. The guard turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat you want?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, his voice low and dull from someone who had just woke up. April walked down from the doors of the keep ├óÔé¼┼ôI need a job├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAsk the Lord├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard said, looking away. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôI already did. Turned that one down├óÔé¼┬Ø. The guard looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou turned down the Lord?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, almost whispering. Then he turned hurriedly away and started to walk away as fast as he could without running.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat have you done!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars shouted. April jumped, spinning around. The youngish Price ran down the stairs at her, grabbing her shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat, what!├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, completely blindsided. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou turned him down!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said quietly ├óÔé¼┼ôYour either insane or suicidal├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOr celibate├óÔé¼┬Ø April offered. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour not celibate├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh and you can tell?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked, jerking his arms off her. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it all├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked around ├óÔé¼┼ôListen we need to get you and your kids out of here by night fall├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWha├óÔé¼┬Ø April started to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said, cutting her off ├óÔé¼┼ôMy father has...appetites too...well...├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen he is denied them things get ugly. Fast.├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars looked around, worried something would strike at them ├óÔé¼┼ôCome inside├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. April followed him, still looking bemused. They walked down the corridor, seeming to go to the banquet hall, but Gars stopped half way and moved a painting out of the way. It revealed another sleek, white corridor like all the others.
├óÔé¼┼ôCome├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said, looking around. They both walked into the corridor, and Gars closed the painting behind them. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can talk...for now├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat painting ain't sound proof├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, eying the metal paneling behind the painting. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said. They heard footsteps from down the hall. ├óÔé¼┼ôMoan├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars whispered urgently. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked. The footsteps stopped right next to them, and April could picture whoever was out there cocking an ear for another sound behind the painting. Gars mouthed the word moan.
April got it. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh god YES!├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped, crossing her eyes at the celling ├óÔé¼┼ôRight there!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars stifled a giggle, covering his mouth with his hand. The footsteps hurriedly resumed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars whispered ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go a bit farther from the painting├óÔé¼┬Ø. They walked, quietly, from the painting until they were a safe distance. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be frank├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce apon a time├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôA...person refused my father's request. My father was all smiles at the time. I heard the request and couldn't look at him for a week├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars continued ├óÔé¼┼ôAfter a week...the person who had refused my fathers request was found hanging from a pole, cut from belly to toe. And he had been living for quite a while before being hung. But after being cut├óÔé¼┬Ø. April sucked in a breath ├óÔé¼┼ôPoor woman├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôPoor man├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said quietly. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh shit├óÔé¼┬Ø April murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get those kids out. What other appetite's dose you...father have?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars chewed his lip ├óÔé¼┼ôMen, women...children├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts all the same in the end. If they are attractive and young, he takes them. And after that man was found slit up no one will go against my father├óÔé¼┬Ø.
April banged her head against the wall lightly ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get out of here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou need to get out of here├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't leave this place. If I left the Riders and the Clans would eat that dandy's here for breakfast├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey deserve it├óÔé¼┬Ø April murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôMany of the nobles here are actually decent, if silly, folks. A few have a perversion, none as extreme as my father, but still├óÔé¼┬Ø he shook his head slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't leave them├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose I'll get the kids and we can go├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTake the supplies in my snowmobile├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey will last you long enough├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded. Then she stood up on her tip toes and kissed Gars, lightly, on the cheek ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen your father dies, mabey I'll come back├óÔé¼┬Ø.
April moved the painting aside and received a nasty shock. A guard was standing out side. He smiled lopsidedly. April's mouth hung open for a moment as she looked around the painting. Then, thinking fast, she undid the top four buttons on both her under and over shirt. Then she walked out, giggling ├óÔé¼┼ôWonderful├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôWonderful!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The guard nodded slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôEnjoy your stay mam├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded. Gars walked out after him. The guard gave him a thumbs up ├óÔé¼┼ôExcellent choice, sir├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôExcellent choice├óÔé¼┬Ø.
For a moment everything was quiet. The man, wearing faded, torn jeans, a large brimmed hat and a button jacked that had three sparkling, golden, stars on it, one over his heart, the other's spaced equally across from that, going horizontal. His boots were actually made for crossing Silt, and were very thick and large. They were tied on by Velcro straps, and that is what April studied first. Velcro was very rare now a days, so whoever was wearing the aforementioned shoe's would have to be either A) very rich. Or, in a much more plausible situation, B) A very good thief.
The man reached down, offering his hand. April grabbed it and the man jerked her up and out of the Silt. April dusted herself off and looked around. The man's vehicle was parked nearby, a modified snowmobile. It had two pontoon's, to help it across quicksilt, but those were folded up at the moment, various supplies hanging off them. What was extended now were two tracks, made for gripping snow. Now they gripped the Silt. It must be a stealthily one, as April hadn't heard the engine while she was on the ground.
April turned around and helped the children to their feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll get water for the little ones├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, looking at the children with a worried eye. No one wanted to break the Codes of Civilization, for that would bring the entire world crashing down on your head. Children were the future of Civilization, and had to be protected. April would have ditched them earlier, if they weren't. The man walked, his large soled shoe's allowing him to stand sure, even if the shifty Silt they were in now. He opened one of the many packs hanging from the side of his rolled up pontoons and pulled out a canteen. He threw it to April, and she caught it.
She opened it and sniffed once or twice, made sure it was actually water and not something else. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't trust me, eh?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man asked, his voice sounding more then a little hurt. April handed the canteen to Luke, who started to chug it. Once he had finished he handed it to Mathew, who drank quite a bit more then Luke. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't trust anyone├óÔé¼┬Ø April said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat a wonderful world you live in├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, my name is Gars├óÔé¼┬Ø he held out a hand. April, after a moments hesitation, reached out and took it. They shook. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou folks are damn lucky├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you hadn't kept on your feet├óÔé¼┬Ø He walked to his snowmobile ├óÔé¼┼ôThen I wouldn't of gotten here in time├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYou were sent out here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. She walked over to the snowmobile, almost tripping then catching herself on the side of a pontoon. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôOur castle has a working telescope. Our scout spotted you and they sent me out├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're from a Fiefdom!├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, hoisting herself higher ├óÔé¼┼ôcan you take us there!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars slowly looked around at the Silt around them, pulling a stick of chewing gum out of one of his bags. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø he said finally ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a seat behind me. The kids could sit on the pontoons...they seem small enough├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded, looking back over her shoulder.
The two boys were scuffling over the canteen. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø April snapped, running over to them ├óÔé¼┼ôCut that out!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She grabbed them both by the back of their shirts and yanked them apart. ├óÔé¼┼ôMathew was hogging the water!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said, trying to get out of April's hold. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo I didn't!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew said. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt doesn't mater now!├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou spilt the rest!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The two boys were silent, looking at the patch of hardening silt around the canteen. The water had soaked into the ground, and now it would be safe to walk on, if anyone ever came back to this place. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, Miss├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said, looking at the ground.
April rolled her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll have plenty of water where we're going. Now get on those pontoons├óÔé¼┬Ø. She let the two boys go, and they ran happily to the snowmobile. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have a way with kids├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI never want to see another kid in my life├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I have a firm grasp of how to get them to shut up├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars shrugged and gunned the snowmobile into motion. It's engine roared to life, making slightly more noise then it was now. It sounded more like a very fast paced clicking then anything else.
The tracks started moving and the snowmobile shot off across the wastes. April was leery of the two boys being on less then safe perches, but Luke and Mathew seemed to be enjoying themselves. Gars spat his spent chewing gum over the side and he gunned the snowmobile faster. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhee!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôFaster faster!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke shouted after him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you said I have a way with kids├óÔé¼┬Ø April said into Gar's ear. He grinned and the snowmobile crossed to the edge of his Fiefdom's territory. After ten or so more minuets, when the excitement of the ride had worn off, Luke and Mathew started playing the same game they had on the bus. Where one would shout numbers at the other, the recipient would then multiply the number by itself. Luke knew how to win this game easily. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôFour!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke shouted back, then after a moment ├óÔé¼┼ôNine thousand, four hundred and seven!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mathew gaped ├óÔé¼┼ôNot fair!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted back ├óÔé¼┼ôWe haven't got that high!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Luke stuck his tung out. Mathew pulled a face, and they were back to there second favored game. Face making. April had leaned back and found this to be a rather comfortable position. Her legs stuck out and around Gar's back, her back laid against the slope of the back of the snowmobile. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. She was now safe, for the time being. Then the snowmobile hit a slight bump, and April jerked herself up and wrapped her arms around Gars to prevent herself from flying off and into the Silt.
Gars laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't know we were THAT close├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted over his shoulder. April jerked away so she was lightly touching his waste, rather then hugging him full front. She looked at Luke, who was grinning at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôTake that look of your face!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted at him. Luke stopped grinning, but was still smiling. Mathew laughed and shouted at Luke in their own language. Luke burst out laughing. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd no talking behind my back!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted.
They pulled up to castle gates. April whistled, looking up and up at the castle walls. IT was impressive, very very impressive. The castle was built out of the remains of four old skyscraper tips. Conjurers probably had to work for weeks to conjure enough water to pack in the courtyard. The walls were scrap metal, heaped on high and welded together by a mage, probably mined out of the city beneath them. The gate's were small, barely tall enough to let a tall man through. They were created from pool tables, who's legs have been removed.
├óÔé¼┼ôNice place├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, eying the towers. If the castle was ever breached then the soldiers could hole up in the skyscrapers. They probably had food and water stashed down there. Gars nodded curtly, looking up over the gate to were a guard was looking down at them, holding a M60 in generally their direction. ├óÔé¼┼ôIdent yourselves!├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou idiot!├óÔé¼┬Ø another guard shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts Prince Garher!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars covered his face with his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôPrince, eh?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked, frowning at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôLook├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not like that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, right├óÔé¼┬Ø April got of the snowmobile as the two pool tables were opened inwards, creaking as they went over the hardened Silt. April walked into the courtyard, looking around. There were five guards training off to the side, swinging swords and clubs at old department store manikins. One guard swung hard and decapitated a manikin. The head rolled over the hardened Silt and clunked to the rest against the wall. Five more soldiers were firing blanks over the wall, firing at nothing but imaginary targets. A small botanical garden was built into the side corner, five layers of mushrooms, grains, wheats, tomato's and other vegetables were standing one on top of each other, ingeniously made to let sunlight into each of the levels.
Guards patrolled the walls, civilians worked the gardens and a single noblewoman watched as another woman nursed her child. ├óÔé¼┼ôLazy bitch├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered. Noble's always turned out to be pricks in the end. She looked back at Prince Gars, she couldn't think of him as just Gars anymore, who was wheeling in his snowmobile. The two children were running around, looking at everything. ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome!├óÔé¼┬Ø A large, booming voice said. April turned and saw a man, obviously noble, walking out of one of the skyscraper tips, the largest one in the place.
The nobleman wore a long, purple robe. Why was it always robes? They dragged on the Silt, cough at things on the ground and in general were a pain to wear. The man had a single blood red stone at his neck, and on it was emblazoned the symbol of whatever this Fiefdom was. In this case it was a large tear drop, surrounded by wings with a stylized machine gun underneath that. ├óÔé¼┼ôHi├óÔé¼┬Ø April forced a smile onto her face.
├óÔé¼┼ôI am Lord Newhaven├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said ├óÔé¼┼ôWelcome to the Fiefdom Newhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø. April groaned inwardly. Newhaven, she remembered from her geography lessons, was one of the border fief's of Utah. Border fiefs were never safe, happy or otherwise friendly places. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Lord Newhaven said, stopping in front of April ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is your name, and what brings you to our fair castle?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy name's April├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd our bus was hit by a AV mine├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe road's are still mined, out here aren't they...├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, pretending to think about it ├óÔé¼┼ôAt least you saved the children├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, looking at the children, who were watching the soldiers practice. ├óÔé¼┼ôI see you've met my son, Garher Newhaven├óÔé¼┬Ø. Prince Gars ignored his father pointedly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you join me tonight for my banquet?├óÔé¼┬Ø April grinned weakly. ├óÔé¼┼ôKids├óÔé¼┬Ø She whistled ├óÔé¼┼ôOver here├óÔé¼┬Ø.
April walked into her rooms, the one's assigned by Lord Newhaven, and slowly rotated her head around to get the cricks out of her neck. She had been sitting straight, making forced light conversation with ten nobles, for about three hours. She had not looked at Prince Gars, who was sitting at the other end of the table, the entire time. The kids got to leave an hour earlier, saying they were sleepy. Now April just wanted a shower, and some sleep. She looked around the rooms, hoping for both.
There was a bed in the first room, with a desk opposite, a lamp hanging over the bed and a door leading into the bathroom. April walked into the bathroom, stripping off her over shirt and dropping it on the bed. She walked into the bathroom, unbuttoning the first three buttons on her under shirt. There was a ivory bucket, embroidered with nude mermaids. April snorted, but even so was tickled by the decadence afforded. She reached into the bucket and felt the warm water in it. ├óÔé¼┼ôOhhh boy!├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured, pulling of her under shirt and grabbing a sponge from the bathroom table.
Then her door opened. ├óÔé¼┼ôApril, I wanted to-├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars walked into the room, talking. April jumped, immediately covering herself with her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet out!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh I'm sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd knock next time, damn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø April snapped. Gars backed out of the room, averting his eyes and closing the door. April sighed, looking at the water dribbling onto the nice carpet floor. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered, turning back. Then she heard three polite taps on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a second├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grabbing her over shirt and pulling it on. She buttoned the middle buttons, and opened the door.
├óÔé¼┼ôApril├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to apologize for my father├óÔé¼┬Ø. April sighed, looking at the celling ├óÔé¼┼ôThats all right Gars. By├óÔé¼┬Ø she closed the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø Prince Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou go past the banquet hall, and through a door on the north side...and...├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked abashed ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you need to talk about it...├óÔé¼┬Ø The Price walked off down the corridor. April looked at the sponge, and threw it back into the bucket. She pulled on her over shirt, buttoned it and straighted her pants a bit more. April opened the door, looked one last time at the spilled water on the carpet.
The banquet hall had been in an old C.E.O's meeting room, on an expansive table. Windows that had once looked over a massive city were now boarded up, shuttered and closed. Fire lights lit the table, casting ominous shadows over the table. A single goblet was still on the table as April walked past. She heard a giggle from a far corner, and the rustle of fabrics. She walked past the dark corner and smiled. Noblemen and Noblewomen were supposed to keep celibate until they were married off to another great family. But you can never stop the idle rich.
April walked into the Lord's chambers, knocking lightly on the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôYou need me to discus our payment├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lord Newhaven looked up from his desk, which sat across from his bed. And it was not just any old bed. It was a huge, purple mattress, surrounded by wood. Not metal, not stone, hell not even plastic. But wood. The ultimate sign of wealth, wood. Massive drapes could cover the bed, but now they were raised.
├óÔé¼┼ôAh├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, standing and closing his robe. His hair was wet, probably from having a shower like April. He looked even more attractive then he had earlier. Broad muscular chest, great teeth. April hated his guts instantly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...uhh├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to pay you for the lodgings, and I need supplies and the kids need to be taken to a creche├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat is a lot of things that need to be done├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, grabbing the bottle of wine that was resting on his desk. ├óÔé¼┼ôWine?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grabbing the half full bottle and chugging it down as fast as possible. She set the now empty bottle back on his desk ├óÔé¼┼ôAhh├óÔé¼┬Ø she breathed, grinning. Newhaven looked annoyed for a moment, but it passed ├óÔé¼┼ôI see you are...unused to nicety's├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou must have been stuck in...some...harsh conditions├óÔé¼┬Ø he was standing too close to April, and he reached up to brush some of her hair from her face. April's grin froze even more solid ├óÔé¼┼ôIs there any job you need doing?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked ├óÔé¼┼ôI can help with the guards, work in the garden├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Newhaven placed his hand on her right hand, brining it up to chest level. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour hands are soft├óÔé¼┬Ø he lied, feeling the callouses ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...unsuited to hard labor├óÔé¼┬Ø. April's forced grin faded. ├óÔé¼┼ôI suggest├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou remove your hands before I do it for you. Permanently├óÔé¼┬Ø. April immediately regretted the words, knowing she depended on Lord Newhaven's generosity to stay alive, at least at this point. He surprised her, because most Nobles would have slapped her at that point.
Instead he frowned lightly ├óÔé¼┼ôI see that you are a blunt woman├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo I will be blunt. A fine├óÔé¼┬Ø his hand moved from where it had brushed her hair to her shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôWoman such as yourself should not...waste your time toiling├óÔé¼┬Ø. April forced her smile back on ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI think...two weeks of rations and bullets would be good for one...night├óÔé¼┬Ø she placed her hand on his hand, trying not to rip it off.
├óÔé¼┼ôTwo weeks would need two weeks├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said. April tightened her grip on his hand and heard a rather satisfying crack. Newhaven removed his hand ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose not├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll go join the guard for a while├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôTill I have paid my debt├óÔé¼┬Ø. She enforced paid with another crunch of Newhaven's hand. Then she turned and left.
The next morning April checked on the children. They had been assigned a 'nanny'. The 'nanny' in person was a grizzled veteran of the guard with a tattoo over his forehead that read ├óÔé¼┼ôRepent Or Die├óÔé¼┬Ø. His face looked like it had been carved by a very inept metalsmith, all jagged angles and scars. His left eye was a golden orb, spinning slowly under its own power. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, gesturing along with his story ├óÔé¼┼ôI stuck the man in the gut with my blade├óÔé¼┬Ø he made a stabbing gesture.
The two boys looked on in awe, mouth's open. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I twisted his guts out and they got all over my arm!├óÔé¼┬Ø the nanny continued his grizzly story. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid they get all over the ground too?├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd how!├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny said ├óÔé¼┼ôLike spaghetti, I say!├óÔé¼┬Ø. April, satisfied the two boys would be happy for now, left. She walked out of the keep, onto the pavement of the main area. She walked slowly around, looking at the guards who had just started their rounds, the farmers who had just started their hard work. And the noblemen looking like they were actually accomplishing something by watching.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted at a guard who was walking across from her position. The guard turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat you want?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, his voice low and dull from someone who had just woke up. April walked down from the doors of the keep ├óÔé¼┼ôI need a job├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAsk the Lord├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard said, looking away. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôI already did. Turned that one down├óÔé¼┬Ø. The guard looked at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou turned down the Lord?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, almost whispering. Then he turned hurriedly away and started to walk away as fast as he could without running.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat have you done!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars shouted. April jumped, spinning around. The youngish Price ran down the stairs at her, grabbing her shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat, what!├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, completely blindsided. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou turned him down!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said quietly ├óÔé¼┼ôYour either insane or suicidal├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOr celibate├óÔé¼┬Ø April offered. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour not celibate├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh and you can tell?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked, jerking his arms off her. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it all├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked around ├óÔé¼┼ôListen we need to get you and your kids out of here by night fall├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWha├óÔé¼┬Ø April started to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said, cutting her off ├óÔé¼┼ôMy father has...appetites too...well...├óÔé¼┬Ø he trailed off ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen he is denied them things get ugly. Fast.├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars looked around, worried something would strike at them ├óÔé¼┼ôCome inside├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. April followed him, still looking bemused. They walked down the corridor, seeming to go to the banquet hall, but Gars stopped half way and moved a painting out of the way. It revealed another sleek, white corridor like all the others.
├óÔé¼┼ôCome├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said, looking around. They both walked into the corridor, and Gars closed the painting behind them. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can talk...for now├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat painting ain't sound proof├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, eying the metal paneling behind the painting. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said. They heard footsteps from down the hall. ├óÔé¼┼ôMoan├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars whispered urgently. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked. The footsteps stopped right next to them, and April could picture whoever was out there cocking an ear for another sound behind the painting. Gars mouthed the word moan.
April got it. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh god YES!├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped, crossing her eyes at the celling ├óÔé¼┼ôRight there!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars stifled a giggle, covering his mouth with his hand. The footsteps hurriedly resumed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAll right├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars whispered ├óÔé¼┼ôLets go a bit farther from the painting├óÔé¼┬Ø. They walked, quietly, from the painting until they were a safe distance. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be frank├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded. ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce apon a time├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôA...person refused my father's request. My father was all smiles at the time. I heard the request and couldn't look at him for a week├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars continued ├óÔé¼┼ôAfter a week...the person who had refused my fathers request was found hanging from a pole, cut from belly to toe. And he had been living for quite a while before being hung. But after being cut├óÔé¼┬Ø. April sucked in a breath ├óÔé¼┼ôPoor woman├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôPoor man├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said quietly. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh shit├óÔé¼┬Ø April murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get those kids out. What other appetite's dose you...father have?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Gars chewed his lip ├óÔé¼┼ôMen, women...children├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts all the same in the end. If they are attractive and young, he takes them. And after that man was found slit up no one will go against my father├óÔé¼┬Ø.
April banged her head against the wall lightly ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø she murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get out of here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou need to get out of here├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't leave this place. If I left the Riders and the Clans would eat that dandy's here for breakfast├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey deserve it├óÔé¼┬Ø April murmured. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôMany of the nobles here are actually decent, if silly, folks. A few have a perversion, none as extreme as my father, but still├óÔé¼┬Ø he shook his head slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't leave them├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose I'll get the kids and we can go├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTake the supplies in my snowmobile├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey will last you long enough├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded. Then she stood up on her tip toes and kissed Gars, lightly, on the cheek ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø She murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen your father dies, mabey I'll come back├óÔé¼┬Ø.
April moved the painting aside and received a nasty shock. A guard was standing out side. He smiled lopsidedly. April's mouth hung open for a moment as she looked around the painting. Then, thinking fast, she undid the top four buttons on both her under and over shirt. Then she walked out, giggling ├óÔé¼┼ôWonderful├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôWonderful!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The guard nodded slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôEnjoy your stay mam├óÔé¼┬Ø. April nodded. Gars walked out after him. The guard gave him a thumbs up ├óÔé¼┼ôExcellent choice, sir├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôExcellent choice├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Build up TIME!
├óÔé¼┼ôThen I took him by the neck and├óÔé¼┬Ø the nanny said ├óÔé¼┼ôSnapped his head off├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat impossible├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôNash!├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you know what happened next?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said bluntly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHis eyes kept blinking for ten minutes afterwards!├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny said, scrunching up his eyes and looking down right terrifying. The two boys, however, were unfazed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey did not!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said, crossing his arms and glaring at his nanny.
April walked into the room, pushing the door open without knocking. The nanny stood up, reaching for his gun before realizing exactly who was barging in. ├óÔé¼┼ôEverything is under control, Mam├óÔé¼┬Ø the nanny said gruffly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's a big fat lier!├óÔé¼┬Ø said Mathew, jumping so he could peer momentarily over the nanny's shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust been telling em story's├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny said, frowning. It was a formidable sight. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut Its time for the kids to go to their rooms├óÔé¼┬Ø. The nanny looked at the window in the room, remembered it was boarded up and nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôWell I suppose time flies├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts already dusk├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it all├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny muttured ├óÔé¼┼ôGood day to you├óÔé¼┬Ø he turned to the kids ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd keep in mind what I said├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Then he walked out. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not dusk├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've only been here for an hour!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we need to get out of here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grabbing their backpack, which she had left in their room. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew asked ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause if we don't we will probably get crucified├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke snapped, standing up ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to get crucified!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNeither do I!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew jumped on the band wagon. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah yeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, opening the door a crack and looking out into the hall ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd we won't if you keep it the hell down!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The three of them walked through the banquet hall, which was empty at this time of night, but would doubtlessly be full in a few hours. So, like a beach which was calm before the storm, the hall was completely empty. ├óÔé¼┼ôI wonder if you'll be filling ME in on these situations and such!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil snapped from the back pack. April jumped ├óÔé¼┼ôShut the hell up!├óÔé¼┬Ø She hissed, pulling Phil out of the backpack ├óÔé¼┼ôOr I will have to leave you here!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJeeze├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's no one in the room├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April looked around, and spotted Luke and Mathew giggling to themselves ├óÔé¼┼ôKnock it off├óÔé¼┬Ø she cuffed Luke on the back of the head. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped, the grin vanishing.
├óÔé¼┼ôShort Story├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôLord is a pysco. Gotta leave before we get nailed to a tree├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSounds like a plan├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said hurriedly. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø April turned back to the entrance. She recived a rather nasty shock. Two gaurds stood, flanking Lord Newhaven as he staired down his nose at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôKidnapping and possessing an illegal sentient weapon├óÔé¼┬Ø. Newhaven tisked, shaking his head slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôthat is definitely a crucifying offense├óÔé¼┬Ø. April thought, for a moment, she could waste the two guards with Phil. Then she noticed the duck bill shotguns. Those would rip her to shreds before she took down one guard, and worse they would indiscriminately slaughter the children. April dropped Phil on the ground, and slowly raised her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôOw!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil moaned.
Chapter Two: Winchester
├óÔé¼┼ôNow!├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman shouted, her pistol aimed right in the middle of Squire's forehead. His mate, Kiki, was hurriedly shoving the money from their safe box onto the dusty ground that surrounded the road. The married couple had immediately launched themselves into business, running supple runs from SLC to the outer Fiefdoms. Now their business had hit a major pot hole in the road of life. That is three female robbers who were shoving their hard earned credits into their greedy pockets.
├óÔé¼┼ôPlease!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need only a little, you can keep the rest!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJack off!├óÔé¼┬Ø The redhead bandit shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire asked, looking at redhead. She fried a single shot with her sixshooter. Plastic splintered, and Squire ducked down into his stage coach, swearing loudly as he picked shards of plastic out of his now lacerated arm. ├óÔé¼┼ôSquire!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kiki shouted, jumping into the over turned stage coach after him. The bandits waited patiently until Squire slowly crawled out, one of his arms bleeding madly. ├óÔé¼┼ôScrew this!├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôSquire...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kiki moaned, starting to clamber up. ├óÔé¼┼ôStay down!├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shoved her down, a bit harder then he had wanted to.
├óÔé¼┼ôIf your done with the theatrics├óÔé¼┬Ø The blond robber said, rolling her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou want theatrics!├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shouted, eyes bugging in fear and anger ├óÔé¼┼ôTry THESE THEATRICS!├óÔé¼┬Ø he pulled a semi-automatic shotgun from below the stage coach, leveling it on the lead bandit. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh shit├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered. Squire's finger twitched, preparing to fire the shotgun into the bandits. Then, with a sound like air itself being cut, a sword buried itself in the middle of his barrel, shoeing through the metal effortlessly, and sticking out of the other side like one of those cheap 'arrow through the head' gags.
├óÔé¼┼ôWha?├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire looked up the sword, and saw a man running down the road full tilt, his boots pounding up the Silt that always covered the road in a layer of dust. He wore a bullet prove vest, made of advanced synthetics. His helmet was an ancient iron device, with a cross shaped hole in the front, embroidered in gold. His boots, and pants, were also metal, old plate mail. More accurately, old 'style' plate mail, super strong new age alloys, probably magically enhanced. A rifle was slung over his back, strapped at the waste, and a shield was in his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôTALLY HO!!!!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted at the top of his lungs, sliding to a stop before then over turned stage coach.
The stranger grabbed the hilt of the sword and jerked it out of the now defunct rifle. He whipped the sword through the air, catching the sun light. ├óÔé¼┼ôHalt knave!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted at Squire. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire asked, looking at his broken shotgun. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow dare you!├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, pointing his sword at Squire like a teacher pointing at a student with their yard stick ├óÔé¼┼ôHow DARE you force these women defend themselves so vigorously!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôHuh?├óÔé¼┬Ø the bandits chorused, looking at the man. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho the hell are you, anyway?├óÔé¼┬Ø The blond one asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy lady├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, bowing deeply to her ├óÔé¼┼ôI apologize that, in the heat of the battle, i forgot to properly introduce myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man took her hand, delicately as he could in an iron glove, and brought it to his face plate. He kissed it, as best he could without removing his helmet ├óÔé¼┼ôI am├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, slowly un-bowing, ├óÔé¼┼ôWinchester A. Arthur the IV. I am dragon slayer, daemon killer, witch hunter and righter of wrongs! I fight evil for God and her majesty, the queen of England├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should be fighting them!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He jabbed his finger at the bandits in question. ├óÔé¼┼ôI would NEVER!├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester thundered, his deep voice suddenly gaining a very deadly edge to it ├óÔé¼┼ôHit a unarmed woman├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôUnarmed!├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôThey have six shooters!├óÔé¼┬Ø He held up his arm ├óÔé¼┼ôSee!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Winchester squinted at Squire ├óÔé¼┼ôBah!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, looking away ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't NEED to see your arm to know your lying├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't even see my arm, can you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôYou probably need glasses!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat I need, and what I do not is no business of yours!├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôBut why you are aiming a weapon of war at innocent women├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôUhh├óÔé¼┬Ø The blond bandit said ├óÔé¼┼ôI really need to be going├óÔé¼┬Ø she slowly grabbed some credits off the ground ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to be at the...├óÔé¼┬Ø she dredged up her very limited experience's of knights and their lore ├óÔé¼┼ôRoyal Court├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester said ├óÔé¼┼ôI will accompany you├óÔé¼┬Ø he slid his sword into his sheath. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo need├óÔé¼┬Ø the banti said. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester said ├óÔé¼┼ôSafe travels├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, bowing. The bandit nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø. She whisted to her friends and they all started to walk away.
Winchester waited for a moment, then shot a whithering glare at Squire. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you trespass on the laws and dignity of man kind├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôThen I will find you, and kill you as you deserve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Squire watched him as he ran off, slowly. Then Squire looked down at Kiki. She had watched through a hole in the floor of the stage coach. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat a guy├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped.
├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven's aid whispered into his ear ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have our crucifix├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, turning away from April to his aid. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was melted down by Gars last week, for more bullets. Our conjurer was over due├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy was I not informed?├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven asked, glaring at his aid. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause...crime and punishment fall's under the young Lord's jurisdiction, my lord├óÔé¼┬Ø The aid whimpered. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôHang her! We do have rope, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôY-Yes my lord├óÔé¼┬Ø the aid said, looking at the clip board that seemed perpetually glued to his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce April is hanged, hang yourself├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø The aid said, but Newhaven turned back to April ├óÔé¼┼ôTake her to a cell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Two of his guards lowered their shotguns and moved forward. April sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø She said to the two children ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll think of something├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mathew was still in shock, but Luke ran forward and hugged April around the thigh. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet away from her!├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard snapped, obviously leery of striking a child. Then, once Luke appeared to not be willing to move, the guard preyed him off and his compatriot dragged April away.
April was dragged up three flights of stairs, and taken to a parapet of the highest skyscraper tip. She was sill only twenty or so feet above the ground, not even higher then some parts of the wall. But it still looked pretty high. One guard walked over to a cage, spiked and filled with a bones, and opened the door. The bones clattered out. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho was in there last?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôA woman who had dropped some silt in the recycler├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard said, shoving April into the cage. The door slammed shut behind her and April grabbed at the bars fruitlessly.
The day passed, the sun dropping, and finally night came. April was sitting with her back to the cage, feeling it slowly drift in the wind. The Soulless were out for dusk, wafting over the soft Silt outside the walls, some even sneaking through the hard Silt, wriggling through cracks and chipped area's. Guards slapped and crushed them, when they saw them, and April shivered, hoping none saw her in the cage. Soulless always knew when someone was helpless and unable to defend themselves.
Gars walked past the cage for the third time that day, his sword loosened on his hip, rifle over his shoulder. He glanced at April, and she glared back at him. Gars scratched his back, then something dropped from between his fingers, and clattered to a halt next to the entrance of the cage. April watched him go and reached through the bars, grabbing for the rounded thing he had dropped. The cage was just far enough from the edge of the parapet for her to not be able to reach it. April dropped her hand with a frustrated sigh.
Then she jerked backwards, causing the cage to swing back slightly. Then she jerked forward, and added her momentum to the cage, causing it to swing. She reached, but the crumpled pice of paper, which she now knew it was, was beyond her grasp. She added more momentum to the cage and it got closer, but creaked loudly. She grabbed the paper at the same time a guard shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The guard ran to the cage and grabbed it, forcing it to stop.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell do you think you are doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôThat chain would break, and you would DIE!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut your going to kill me in the morning├óÔé¼┬Ø April pointed out. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up!├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard snapped, turning away and resuming his rounds. April looked at the paper, uncurling it slowly and looking at the scribbles. She turned the paper on its side, squinted. Then she flipped it over, onto its back and tired to see if there was anything on the back. Then she sighed in frustration ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't nobles ever think that MABEY, MABY not everyone is literate├óÔé¼┬Ø. She crumpled up the paper and threw if over the side of the wall. A gust of wind blew it outwards, scattering a clump of Soulless in its path. April leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.
Winchester ran, enjoying the pure act of running. His feet pounded over the Silt, and he scattered the Soulless in his path. It was dawn, and everything was colored in grays and blacks, but even so he loved the sight of his world. He had been tasked with protecting the innocent, given by a desire to serve King and Country. The fact that there was neither made no difference to Winchester. Then his boot came down and something crunched. Winchester looked down and leaned down, his pack clanking as the helmet inside clattered against the ammo and canteen in his pack. He slowly pulled a flattened pice of paper out from under his boot.
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø he read aloud ├óÔé¼┼ôApril├óÔé¼┬Ø his eye's widened ├óÔé¼┼ôI will save you from my Father. Whatch the north side of the castle, before your...hanging├óÔé¼┬Ø. Winchester crumpled the note ├óÔé¼┼ôBy god!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to the open air ├óÔé¼┼ôThis could only have come from Castle Newhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He pulled out his helmet and slipped it onto his head. Then he started to run in a new direction, heading to Castle Newhaven. A lesser man would have gotten tired at this point, but Winchester wasn't even breathing hard. ├óÔé¼┼ôTallyho!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, his voice echoing over the dunes.
Gars slowly walked around the wall, one of his eyes glancing at the cage. April had read his note by now, and disposed of it, so she knew what was happening. He caught his second in command, a man by the name Fredric, eye. Fredric nodded, turning away from the practicing guards who hacked at test dummy's. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Fredric asked quietly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow many loyalists, do you reckon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout ten, mabey twelve├óÔé¼┬Ø Fredric said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe rest are all loyal to you. Especially after the incident with the aide├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Gars glanced at the slowly rotating body of his fathers aide, hung from the highest tower. His execution had been a quiet one, not for the publics eye. No one knew why he had been killed, other then two guards and Gars himself, and Gars planned to keep it that way. He needed loyal guards with him on this, not rioting civilians. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet our man in position, north wall├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said. Fredric nodded, snapping off a salute. Gars loosened his sword again, readying it for easy access.
The gallows were finished, the crowds rounded up, and the sun beating down. IT was high noon, and the entire population of the castle, somewhere around a hundred people, were gathered around the gallows, waiting for a kidnapper to get hanged. Newhaven smiled, looking over the precedings. Luke and Mathew were at his right side, Mathew whimpering softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe didn't do nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said to Newhaven. ├óÔé¼┼ôOf course she did├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe tainted your minds├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Gars's sniper looked down his sights. He had a single shot, and only one chance. April was being led out to the gallows, a bag over her head, and her hands tied behind her back. Of the two guards, one was loyal to Gars and would take the rope's cutting as a time to stab his partner in the stomach with his sword. Gars's sniper grinned. He had always wanted to- Blackness.
Winchester hated striking men from behind, but this was necessary. He dragged the now unconscious would be sniper off the wall, letting him drop to the ground. Winchester then grabbed the sniper rifle the man had been using, winced at the craftsmanship and bent the barrel into an L. Then he chucked it over the side of the wall. Then he slid his Winchester out from behind his back and sighted down its barrels at the gallows. ├óÔé¼┼ôFear not, fair lady of the rose├óÔé¼┬Ø he murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôBut you have a protector├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The bag was jerked off April's head and a guard whispered into her ear ├óÔé¼┼ôAny last requests?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, hoping to distract him from her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôUntie me and let me go├óÔé¼┬Ø. The guard thought it through a moment, then smacked her on the back of the head. Then the two guards left her, standing with a nose around her neck. April managed to slide her knife out from under her wrist band, grabbing the not sharp edge and rubbing it on her ropes. She glanced at Newhaven, who was sitting across from her, grinning merrily. She was very good at throwing knives, and so she was reasonably certain that she could nail the pig bastard between the eyes.
Newhaven gestured to the hangman, who jerked the lever down. The floor dropped out from under April right as her hand came free, and all hell broke loose.
├óÔé¼┼ôThen I took him by the neck and├óÔé¼┬Ø the nanny said ├óÔé¼┼ôSnapped his head off├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat impossible├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôNash!├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you know what happened next?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said bluntly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHis eyes kept blinking for ten minutes afterwards!├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny said, scrunching up his eyes and looking down right terrifying. The two boys, however, were unfazed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey did not!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said, crossing his arms and glaring at his nanny.
April walked into the room, pushing the door open without knocking. The nanny stood up, reaching for his gun before realizing exactly who was barging in. ├óÔé¼┼ôEverything is under control, Mam├óÔé¼┬Ø the nanny said gruffly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's a big fat lier!├óÔé¼┬Ø said Mathew, jumping so he could peer momentarily over the nanny's shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust been telling em story's├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny said, frowning. It was a formidable sight. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut Its time for the kids to go to their rooms├óÔé¼┬Ø. The nanny looked at the window in the room, remembered it was boarded up and nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôWell I suppose time flies├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts already dusk├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it all├óÔé¼┬Ø The nanny muttured ├óÔé¼┼ôGood day to you├óÔé¼┬Ø he turned to the kids ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd keep in mind what I said├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Then he walked out. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not dusk├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've only been here for an hour!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we need to get out of here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grabbing their backpack, which she had left in their room. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew asked ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause if we don't we will probably get crucified├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke snapped, standing up ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to get crucified!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNeither do I!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew jumped on the band wagon. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah yeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, opening the door a crack and looking out into the hall ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd we won't if you keep it the hell down!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The three of them walked through the banquet hall, which was empty at this time of night, but would doubtlessly be full in a few hours. So, like a beach which was calm before the storm, the hall was completely empty. ├óÔé¼┼ôI wonder if you'll be filling ME in on these situations and such!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil snapped from the back pack. April jumped ├óÔé¼┼ôShut the hell up!├óÔé¼┬Ø She hissed, pulling Phil out of the backpack ├óÔé¼┼ôOr I will have to leave you here!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJeeze├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's no one in the room├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April looked around, and spotted Luke and Mathew giggling to themselves ├óÔé¼┼ôKnock it off├óÔé¼┬Ø she cuffed Luke on the back of the head. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped, the grin vanishing.
├óÔé¼┼ôShort Story├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôLord is a pysco. Gotta leave before we get nailed to a tree├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSounds like a plan├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said hurriedly. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø April turned back to the entrance. She recived a rather nasty shock. Two gaurds stood, flanking Lord Newhaven as he staired down his nose at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôKidnapping and possessing an illegal sentient weapon├óÔé¼┬Ø. Newhaven tisked, shaking his head slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôthat is definitely a crucifying offense├óÔé¼┬Ø. April thought, for a moment, she could waste the two guards with Phil. Then she noticed the duck bill shotguns. Those would rip her to shreds before she took down one guard, and worse they would indiscriminately slaughter the children. April dropped Phil on the ground, and slowly raised her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôOw!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil moaned.
Chapter Two: Winchester
├óÔé¼┼ôNow!├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman shouted, her pistol aimed right in the middle of Squire's forehead. His mate, Kiki, was hurriedly shoving the money from their safe box onto the dusty ground that surrounded the road. The married couple had immediately launched themselves into business, running supple runs from SLC to the outer Fiefdoms. Now their business had hit a major pot hole in the road of life. That is three female robbers who were shoving their hard earned credits into their greedy pockets.
├óÔé¼┼ôPlease!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need only a little, you can keep the rest!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôJack off!├óÔé¼┬Ø The redhead bandit shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire asked, looking at redhead. She fried a single shot with her sixshooter. Plastic splintered, and Squire ducked down into his stage coach, swearing loudly as he picked shards of plastic out of his now lacerated arm. ├óÔé¼┼ôSquire!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kiki shouted, jumping into the over turned stage coach after him. The bandits waited patiently until Squire slowly crawled out, one of his arms bleeding madly. ├óÔé¼┼ôScrew this!├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped. ├óÔé¼┼ôSquire...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kiki moaned, starting to clamber up. ├óÔé¼┼ôStay down!├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shoved her down, a bit harder then he had wanted to.
├óÔé¼┼ôIf your done with the theatrics├óÔé¼┬Ø The blond robber said, rolling her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou want theatrics!├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shouted, eyes bugging in fear and anger ├óÔé¼┼ôTry THESE THEATRICS!├óÔé¼┬Ø he pulled a semi-automatic shotgun from below the stage coach, leveling it on the lead bandit. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh shit├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered. Squire's finger twitched, preparing to fire the shotgun into the bandits. Then, with a sound like air itself being cut, a sword buried itself in the middle of his barrel, shoeing through the metal effortlessly, and sticking out of the other side like one of those cheap 'arrow through the head' gags.
├óÔé¼┼ôWha?├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire looked up the sword, and saw a man running down the road full tilt, his boots pounding up the Silt that always covered the road in a layer of dust. He wore a bullet prove vest, made of advanced synthetics. His helmet was an ancient iron device, with a cross shaped hole in the front, embroidered in gold. His boots, and pants, were also metal, old plate mail. More accurately, old 'style' plate mail, super strong new age alloys, probably magically enhanced. A rifle was slung over his back, strapped at the waste, and a shield was in his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôTALLY HO!!!!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted at the top of his lungs, sliding to a stop before then over turned stage coach.
The stranger grabbed the hilt of the sword and jerked it out of the now defunct rifle. He whipped the sword through the air, catching the sun light. ├óÔé¼┼ôHalt knave!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted at Squire. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire asked, looking at his broken shotgun. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow dare you!├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, pointing his sword at Squire like a teacher pointing at a student with their yard stick ├óÔé¼┼ôHow DARE you force these women defend themselves so vigorously!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôHuh?├óÔé¼┬Ø the bandits chorused, looking at the man. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho the hell are you, anyway?├óÔé¼┬Ø The blond one asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôMy lady├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, bowing deeply to her ├óÔé¼┼ôI apologize that, in the heat of the battle, i forgot to properly introduce myself├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man took her hand, delicately as he could in an iron glove, and brought it to his face plate. He kissed it, as best he could without removing his helmet ├óÔé¼┼ôI am├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, slowly un-bowing, ├óÔé¼┼ôWinchester A. Arthur the IV. I am dragon slayer, daemon killer, witch hunter and righter of wrongs! I fight evil for God and her majesty, the queen of England├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôYou should be fighting them!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He jabbed his finger at the bandits in question. ├óÔé¼┼ôI would NEVER!├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester thundered, his deep voice suddenly gaining a very deadly edge to it ├óÔé¼┼ôHit a unarmed woman├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôUnarmed!├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôThey have six shooters!├óÔé¼┬Ø He held up his arm ├óÔé¼┼ôSee!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Winchester squinted at Squire ├óÔé¼┼ôBah!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, looking away ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't NEED to see your arm to know your lying├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't even see my arm, can you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Squire shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôYou probably need glasses!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat I need, and what I do not is no business of yours!├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôBut why you are aiming a weapon of war at innocent women├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôUhh├óÔé¼┬Ø The blond bandit said ├óÔé¼┼ôI really need to be going├óÔé¼┬Ø she slowly grabbed some credits off the ground ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to be at the...├óÔé¼┬Ø she dredged up her very limited experience's of knights and their lore ├óÔé¼┼ôRoyal Court├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester said ├óÔé¼┼ôI will accompany you├óÔé¼┬Ø he slid his sword into his sheath. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo need├óÔé¼┬Ø the banti said. ├óÔé¼┼ôVery well├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester said ├óÔé¼┼ôSafe travels├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, bowing. The bandit nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø. She whisted to her friends and they all started to walk away.
Winchester waited for a moment, then shot a whithering glare at Squire. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you trespass on the laws and dignity of man kind├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôThen I will find you, and kill you as you deserve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Squire watched him as he ran off, slowly. Then Squire looked down at Kiki. She had watched through a hole in the floor of the stage coach. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat a guy├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped.
├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven's aid whispered into his ear ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have our crucifix├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, turning away from April to his aid. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was melted down by Gars last week, for more bullets. Our conjurer was over due├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy was I not informed?├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven asked, glaring at his aid. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause...crime and punishment fall's under the young Lord's jurisdiction, my lord├óÔé¼┬Ø The aid whimpered. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôHang her! We do have rope, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôY-Yes my lord├óÔé¼┬Ø the aid said, looking at the clip board that seemed perpetually glued to his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce April is hanged, hang yourself├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø The aid said, but Newhaven turned back to April ├óÔé¼┼ôTake her to a cell├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Two of his guards lowered their shotguns and moved forward. April sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø She said to the two children ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll think of something├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mathew was still in shock, but Luke ran forward and hugged April around the thigh. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet away from her!├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard snapped, obviously leery of striking a child. Then, once Luke appeared to not be willing to move, the guard preyed him off and his compatriot dragged April away.
April was dragged up three flights of stairs, and taken to a parapet of the highest skyscraper tip. She was sill only twenty or so feet above the ground, not even higher then some parts of the wall. But it still looked pretty high. One guard walked over to a cage, spiked and filled with a bones, and opened the door. The bones clattered out. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho was in there last?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôA woman who had dropped some silt in the recycler├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard said, shoving April into the cage. The door slammed shut behind her and April grabbed at the bars fruitlessly.
The day passed, the sun dropping, and finally night came. April was sitting with her back to the cage, feeling it slowly drift in the wind. The Soulless were out for dusk, wafting over the soft Silt outside the walls, some even sneaking through the hard Silt, wriggling through cracks and chipped area's. Guards slapped and crushed them, when they saw them, and April shivered, hoping none saw her in the cage. Soulless always knew when someone was helpless and unable to defend themselves.
Gars walked past the cage for the third time that day, his sword loosened on his hip, rifle over his shoulder. He glanced at April, and she glared back at him. Gars scratched his back, then something dropped from between his fingers, and clattered to a halt next to the entrance of the cage. April watched him go and reached through the bars, grabbing for the rounded thing he had dropped. The cage was just far enough from the edge of the parapet for her to not be able to reach it. April dropped her hand with a frustrated sigh.
Then she jerked backwards, causing the cage to swing back slightly. Then she jerked forward, and added her momentum to the cage, causing it to swing. She reached, but the crumpled pice of paper, which she now knew it was, was beyond her grasp. She added more momentum to the cage and it got closer, but creaked loudly. She grabbed the paper at the same time a guard shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The guard ran to the cage and grabbed it, forcing it to stop.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell do you think you are doing!├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard snapped ├óÔé¼┼ôThat chain would break, and you would DIE!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut your going to kill me in the morning├óÔé¼┬Ø April pointed out. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up!├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard snapped, turning away and resuming his rounds. April looked at the paper, uncurling it slowly and looking at the scribbles. She turned the paper on its side, squinted. Then she flipped it over, onto its back and tired to see if there was anything on the back. Then she sighed in frustration ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't nobles ever think that MABEY, MABY not everyone is literate├óÔé¼┬Ø. She crumpled up the paper and threw if over the side of the wall. A gust of wind blew it outwards, scattering a clump of Soulless in its path. April leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.
Winchester ran, enjoying the pure act of running. His feet pounded over the Silt, and he scattered the Soulless in his path. It was dawn, and everything was colored in grays and blacks, but even so he loved the sight of his world. He had been tasked with protecting the innocent, given by a desire to serve King and Country. The fact that there was neither made no difference to Winchester. Then his boot came down and something crunched. Winchester looked down and leaned down, his pack clanking as the helmet inside clattered against the ammo and canteen in his pack. He slowly pulled a flattened pice of paper out from under his boot.
├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø he read aloud ├óÔé¼┼ôApril├óÔé¼┬Ø his eye's widened ├óÔé¼┼ôI will save you from my Father. Whatch the north side of the castle, before your...hanging├óÔé¼┬Ø. Winchester crumpled the note ├óÔé¼┼ôBy god!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to the open air ├óÔé¼┼ôThis could only have come from Castle Newhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He pulled out his helmet and slipped it onto his head. Then he started to run in a new direction, heading to Castle Newhaven. A lesser man would have gotten tired at this point, but Winchester wasn't even breathing hard. ├óÔé¼┼ôTallyho!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted, his voice echoing over the dunes.
Gars slowly walked around the wall, one of his eyes glancing at the cage. April had read his note by now, and disposed of it, so she knew what was happening. He caught his second in command, a man by the name Fredric, eye. Fredric nodded, turning away from the practicing guards who hacked at test dummy's. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Fredric asked quietly. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow many loyalists, do you reckon?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôAbout ten, mabey twelve├óÔé¼┬Ø Fredric said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe rest are all loyal to you. Especially after the incident with the aide├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Gars glanced at the slowly rotating body of his fathers aide, hung from the highest tower. His execution had been a quiet one, not for the publics eye. No one knew why he had been killed, other then two guards and Gars himself, and Gars planned to keep it that way. He needed loyal guards with him on this, not rioting civilians. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet our man in position, north wall├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said. Fredric nodded, snapping off a salute. Gars loosened his sword again, readying it for easy access.
The gallows were finished, the crowds rounded up, and the sun beating down. IT was high noon, and the entire population of the castle, somewhere around a hundred people, were gathered around the gallows, waiting for a kidnapper to get hanged. Newhaven smiled, looking over the precedings. Luke and Mathew were at his right side, Mathew whimpering softly. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe didn't do nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke said to Newhaven. ├óÔé¼┼ôOf course she did├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe tainted your minds├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Gars's sniper looked down his sights. He had a single shot, and only one chance. April was being led out to the gallows, a bag over her head, and her hands tied behind her back. Of the two guards, one was loyal to Gars and would take the rope's cutting as a time to stab his partner in the stomach with his sword. Gars's sniper grinned. He had always wanted to- Blackness.
Winchester hated striking men from behind, but this was necessary. He dragged the now unconscious would be sniper off the wall, letting him drop to the ground. Winchester then grabbed the sniper rifle the man had been using, winced at the craftsmanship and bent the barrel into an L. Then he chucked it over the side of the wall. Then he slid his Winchester out from behind his back and sighted down its barrels at the gallows. ├óÔé¼┼ôFear not, fair lady of the rose├óÔé¼┬Ø he murmured ├óÔé¼┼ôBut you have a protector├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The bag was jerked off April's head and a guard whispered into her ear ├óÔé¼┼ôAny last requests?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, hoping to distract him from her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôUntie me and let me go├óÔé¼┬Ø. The guard thought it through a moment, then smacked her on the back of the head. Then the two guards left her, standing with a nose around her neck. April managed to slide her knife out from under her wrist band, grabbing the not sharp edge and rubbing it on her ropes. She glanced at Newhaven, who was sitting across from her, grinning merrily. She was very good at throwing knives, and so she was reasonably certain that she could nail the pig bastard between the eyes.
Newhaven gestured to the hangman, who jerked the lever down. The floor dropped out from under April right as her hand came free, and all hell broke loose.
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Archangel of Death
- Posts: 854
- Joined: 28 Jan 2005, 18:15
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Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Right. Short, but hopefully good.
A shot rang out. April's hands sprang free, and she grabbed for her rope, but found it slithering away. April hit the ground, legs bending. She bit her cheek, trying to keep herself from swearing loudly . The crowd around the gallows began to scream and yell, pushing back to get away. ├óÔé¼┼ôFOR KING AND COUNTRY!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted. April stood up, then hit her head on the celling of the gallows, falling back to the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø She grunted, rubbing her head and crawling out from under the gallows. The entire plaza was in uproar. Lord Newhaven was in shock, shouting to one of his guards.
Two guards advanced on April, shoving through the crowds to get at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø April swore, sliding her knife up to her hand. The guards shoved past her, swords dawn. April turned around and looked after the guards as they advanced on Newhaven. Then she heard another scream, and blood sprayed onto the ground. A guard fell, clutching his shoulder as the stranger's blade cut through his armor. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst kill him!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars shouted. His guards turned from Newhaven, who was gaping, face beat red. April looked around ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked the air.
A shot rang out. The fair damsel fell from the rope, that would have snapped her neck like a twig only a moment later, and Winchester knew that it was time to strike. He stood up, sliding his rifle over his back and drew his piezo-sword. He switched it on, and it started to vibrate very very fast. He jumped off the top of the wall, and shouted at the top of his lungs ├óÔé¼┼ôFOR KING AND COUNTRY!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He hit the hard Silt on the base of the plaza, his knee's bending. Two guards ran after him, swords drawn.
Winchester ducked, a sword swinging over his head with a whistle. Winchester stood back up and brought his sword around. The guard fell backwards, blood spraying from a new cut as he fell back. The blood slithered off his sword, the vibrations sending it flying off. The second guard pulled out his pistol and aimed. Winchester dodged and the hard Silt blasted apart as the round smashed into it. Winchester brought his sword around again. The guard watched dumbly as his pistol fell apart.
A shot rang out. Newhaven gaped, looking as the whore dropped. But unlike his dream last night, she kept falling. Then he saw the rope, dangling and whipping from the bullet that had torn through it. ├óÔé¼┼ôGuards!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted to the guard next to him. The guard nodded, snapping off a salute. He drew his sword. Then Newhaven saw the two Guards approaching his chair. They did not look friendly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNewhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are under arrest!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôArrest ME!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôI OWN you!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø one of the Guards said, grinning evilly ├óÔé¼┼ôNow you will pay for your crimes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGuards!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, looking to the two Guards next to him. There swords were also drawn, but the Guards themselves looked at the other Guards, each of whom were approaching. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø The loyalist said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat should be do?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôKill the-├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven started to say, then the other Guard's sword was pressed against his neck. Newhaven then saw something glint out of the corner of his eye. ├óÔé¼┼ôFOR KING AND COUNTRY!├óÔé¼┬Ø
A shot rang out. Gars grinned, knowing his sniper had succeeded as April dropped. ├óÔé¼┼ôSend our best men├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd arrest my father├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir!├óÔé¼┬Ø his second snapped off a salute. Gars was sure the plan had gone of perfectly. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôFOR KING AND COUNTRY!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars shouted, looking at the madman who leaped from where his sniper had been. Gars drew his sword ├óÔé¼┼ôMen!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to the seven other Rebels ├óÔé¼┼ôLets show this nutter!├óÔé¼┬Ø . They drew swords as well and ran at Winchester.
├óÔé¼┼ôMen├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered, shoving through the now nearly deserted crowd. Running straight for Lord Newhaven, knife out. He stared at the battle between the Loyalists, Rebels and the single mad man. Blood sprayed again and someone screamed. A sword clattered to the ground. A pistol went off and the Silt cracked again. ├óÔé¼┼ôNewhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted, twirling her knife in her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôYou tried to kill me. And take the children, you sick pig├óÔé¼┬Ø. Newhaven grinned. Then he kicked April in the shin and ran.
April ran after him as Newhaven dissapeared into the main hall. She followed him in, but he had taken a turn while she was pushing through the crowds. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered, twirling her knife through her fingers somewhat agitatedly. Then she turned to the armory. She found the door locked, rather unsurprisingly. April took her knife, slid it into the lock and yanked. The lock burst out after two or three more jerks, clattering away with a rather large chunk of the door still attached. April shoved the door in, found it opened outwards, pulled it out and walked in.
She looked around at the iron swords, iron axes and a very very secure lock box, holding the castles ammo. Some armor here and there. Then she heard ├óÔé¼┼ôApril? April!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She followed the voice until she found the lock box they had put Phil in. ├óÔé¼┼ôdamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. This one had a SS lock. No way she could cut through even half a millimeter of SS, even with her knife. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe lock is SS├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted through the box. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôStand back├óÔé¼┬Ø.
April stepped back and looked at the box. Then BANG and the lock fell off, splitting in half. The bullet rammed into the celling above April's head, showering her with some dry wall. April opened the box and pulled Phil out ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can fire yourself?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôOnly when I'm not shooting things├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf your firing at a biological you need to pull the trigger├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow its time to kill a noble├óÔé¼┬Ø. Phil thought about it for a moment ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that legal?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Newhaven shut his door for his room, panting and breathing hard. His robes were slick with sweat. Never before head he been in real mortal danger, the kind that made people run in blind terror. He grabbed his chair and shoved it against the doors. Then he reached for his sword, pulling it out from behind his bed. It was pitifully small, even when compared to April's knife. He also had no idea how to use it. But now he at least had a weapon. And she was, after all, only a woman.
Then the lock to his door exploded. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven swore, dropping his sword. April kicked the door in, pistol smoking. ├óÔé¼┼ôFound him!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered, walking into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, backing up slowly away from April ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever Gars has told you...he hasn't told everything!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure he hasn't├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow many?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, tripping over the corner of his bed and falling on his back.
├óÔé¼┼ôChildren?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked ├óÔé¼┼ôMen? Women?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Newhaven's face purpled ├óÔé¼┼ôHow...dare you!├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped. April shot his left leg ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was for the women you raped├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Newhaven grabbed at the bullet wound, feeling the blood seep through his fingers. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd that├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, firing her gun into Newhaven's other leg ├óÔé¼┼ôWas for the men├óÔé¼┬Ø. Newhaven ground his teeth, pain nearly overwhelming him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd THIS!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted, aiming in between his legs ├óÔé¼┼ôIs for the children!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven reached up, as if to bat the gun away. April fired again and Newhaven screamed.
April ran out of the building, whipping some splattered blood off her face, and looked around. The crowds had dispersed, hiding away as crowds do in combat situations. The two children, however, were watching the battle with undisguised enthusiasm. The mad man in the center of the ring of Guards was putting up an incredible fight, dodging, swinging and parrying. The Guards around him were also fighting as hard as they could, but even so the man in the middle overpowered them. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to go├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grabbing the two kids and dragging them to Gars snowmobile.
Gars turned around when he heard it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted as April drove his snowmobile out of the castle. Winchester and the Guards looked at the snowmobile. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy work here is done├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sheathed his sword and walked out of the castle, leaving one dead and five wounded. Gars looked after him for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôShould we pursue?├óÔé¼┬Ø his second asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôCheck on my father. And someone make a crucifix├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The kids enjoyed the adventure. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen the rope SNAPPED!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew shouted back. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd April killed Newhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew shouted back. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôI did not kill him├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAwww├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis will make you feel better├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grinning. She gunned the engine up to full speed and the snowmobile sped over the wastes.
They stopped for the night, April folding out the pontoons on the side of the snowmobile and organized the supplies so the kids could sleep on them. Then April sat on the snowmobile, un-holstered Phil and placed him on her lap. Then she put up her feet and tried to get some sleep. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôApril├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, not opening her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôUhhh├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to go├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø April's eyes did open this time. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee my oil valve is clogged. There is a bit too much in it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour a god damned pistol├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôempty it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot with other people watching├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said quietly.
April threw him out wards. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted. April lay back again and closed her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm done now!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil shouted. April rolled her eyes and stood up, grabbing it off the ground and sliding it into her holster. Then she sat back down and sat down, closing her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can get some sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello fair lady!├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester shouted, waving as he walked into their line of sight.
A shot rang out. April's hands sprang free, and she grabbed for her rope, but found it slithering away. April hit the ground, legs bending. She bit her cheek, trying to keep herself from swearing loudly . The crowd around the gallows began to scream and yell, pushing back to get away. ├óÔé¼┼ôFOR KING AND COUNTRY!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted. April stood up, then hit her head on the celling of the gallows, falling back to the ground. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø She grunted, rubbing her head and crawling out from under the gallows. The entire plaza was in uproar. Lord Newhaven was in shock, shouting to one of his guards.
Two guards advanced on April, shoving through the crowds to get at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø April swore, sliding her knife up to her hand. The guards shoved past her, swords dawn. April turned around and looked after the guards as they advanced on Newhaven. Then she heard another scream, and blood sprayed onto the ground. A guard fell, clutching his shoulder as the stranger's blade cut through his armor. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst kill him!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars shouted. His guards turned from Newhaven, who was gaping, face beat red. April looked around ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked the air.
A shot rang out. The fair damsel fell from the rope, that would have snapped her neck like a twig only a moment later, and Winchester knew that it was time to strike. He stood up, sliding his rifle over his back and drew his piezo-sword. He switched it on, and it started to vibrate very very fast. He jumped off the top of the wall, and shouted at the top of his lungs ├óÔé¼┼ôFOR KING AND COUNTRY!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He hit the hard Silt on the base of the plaza, his knee's bending. Two guards ran after him, swords drawn.
Winchester ducked, a sword swinging over his head with a whistle. Winchester stood back up and brought his sword around. The guard fell backwards, blood spraying from a new cut as he fell back. The blood slithered off his sword, the vibrations sending it flying off. The second guard pulled out his pistol and aimed. Winchester dodged and the hard Silt blasted apart as the round smashed into it. Winchester brought his sword around again. The guard watched dumbly as his pistol fell apart.
A shot rang out. Newhaven gaped, looking as the whore dropped. But unlike his dream last night, she kept falling. Then he saw the rope, dangling and whipping from the bullet that had torn through it. ├óÔé¼┼ôGuards!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted to the guard next to him. The guard nodded, snapping off a salute. He drew his sword. Then Newhaven saw the two Guards approaching his chair. They did not look friendly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNewhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø One of them shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are under arrest!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôArrest ME!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôI OWN you!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø one of the Guards said, grinning evilly ├óÔé¼┼ôNow you will pay for your crimes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGuards!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, looking to the two Guards next to him. There swords were also drawn, but the Guards themselves looked at the other Guards, each of whom were approaching. ├óÔé¼┼ôSir├óÔé¼┬Ø The loyalist said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat should be do?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôKill the-├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven started to say, then the other Guard's sword was pressed against his neck. Newhaven then saw something glint out of the corner of his eye. ├óÔé¼┼ôFOR KING AND COUNTRY!├óÔé¼┬Ø
A shot rang out. Gars grinned, knowing his sniper had succeeded as April dropped. ├óÔé¼┼ôSend our best men├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd arrest my father├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir!├óÔé¼┬Ø his second snapped off a salute. Gars was sure the plan had gone of perfectly. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôFOR KING AND COUNTRY!├óÔé¼┬Ø someone shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell!├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars shouted, looking at the madman who leaped from where his sniper had been. Gars drew his sword ├óÔé¼┼ôMen!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said to the seven other Rebels ├óÔé¼┼ôLets show this nutter!├óÔé¼┬Ø . They drew swords as well and ran at Winchester.
├óÔé¼┼ôMen├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered, shoving through the now nearly deserted crowd. Running straight for Lord Newhaven, knife out. He stared at the battle between the Loyalists, Rebels and the single mad man. Blood sprayed again and someone screamed. A sword clattered to the ground. A pistol went off and the Silt cracked again. ├óÔé¼┼ôNewhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted, twirling her knife in her hands ├óÔé¼┼ôYou tried to kill me. And take the children, you sick pig├óÔé¼┬Ø. Newhaven grinned. Then he kicked April in the shin and ran.
April ran after him as Newhaven dissapeared into the main hall. She followed him in, but he had taken a turn while she was pushing through the crowds. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered, twirling her knife through her fingers somewhat agitatedly. Then she turned to the armory. She found the door locked, rather unsurprisingly. April took her knife, slid it into the lock and yanked. The lock burst out after two or three more jerks, clattering away with a rather large chunk of the door still attached. April shoved the door in, found it opened outwards, pulled it out and walked in.
She looked around at the iron swords, iron axes and a very very secure lock box, holding the castles ammo. Some armor here and there. Then she heard ├óÔé¼┼ôApril? April!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She followed the voice until she found the lock box they had put Phil in. ├óÔé¼┼ôdamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. This one had a SS lock. No way she could cut through even half a millimeter of SS, even with her knife. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe lock is SS├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted through the box. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôStand back├óÔé¼┬Ø.
April stepped back and looked at the box. Then BANG and the lock fell off, splitting in half. The bullet rammed into the celling above April's head, showering her with some dry wall. April opened the box and pulled Phil out ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can fire yourself?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôOnly when I'm not shooting things├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf your firing at a biological you need to pull the trigger├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow its time to kill a noble├óÔé¼┬Ø. Phil thought about it for a moment ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that legal?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Newhaven shut his door for his room, panting and breathing hard. His robes were slick with sweat. Never before head he been in real mortal danger, the kind that made people run in blind terror. He grabbed his chair and shoved it against the doors. Then he reached for his sword, pulling it out from behind his bed. It was pitifully small, even when compared to April's knife. He also had no idea how to use it. But now he at least had a weapon. And she was, after all, only a woman.
Then the lock to his door exploded. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven swore, dropping his sword. April kicked the door in, pistol smoking. ├óÔé¼┼ôFound him!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said. ├óÔé¼┼ôShut up├óÔé¼┬Ø April muttered, walking into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, backing up slowly away from April ├óÔé¼┼ôWhatever Gars has told you...he hasn't told everything!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure he hasn't├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow many?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven said, tripping over the corner of his bed and falling on his back.
├óÔé¼┼ôChildren?├óÔé¼┬Ø April asked ├óÔé¼┼ôMen? Women?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Newhaven's face purpled ├óÔé¼┼ôHow...dare you!├óÔé¼┬Ø he snapped. April shot his left leg ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was for the women you raped├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Newhaven grabbed at the bullet wound, feeling the blood seep through his fingers. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd that├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, firing her gun into Newhaven's other leg ├óÔé¼┼ôWas for the men├óÔé¼┬Ø. Newhaven ground his teeth, pain nearly overwhelming him. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd THIS!├óÔé¼┬Ø April shouted, aiming in between his legs ├óÔé¼┼ôIs for the children!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNO!├óÔé¼┬Ø Newhaven reached up, as if to bat the gun away. April fired again and Newhaven screamed.
April ran out of the building, whipping some splattered blood off her face, and looked around. The crowds had dispersed, hiding away as crowds do in combat situations. The two children, however, were watching the battle with undisguised enthusiasm. The mad man in the center of the ring of Guards was putting up an incredible fight, dodging, swinging and parrying. The Guards around him were also fighting as hard as they could, but even so the man in the middle overpowered them. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to go├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grabbing the two kids and dragging them to Gars snowmobile.
Gars turned around when he heard it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted as April drove his snowmobile out of the castle. Winchester and the Guards looked at the snowmobile. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester said ├óÔé¼┼ôMy work here is done├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sheathed his sword and walked out of the castle, leaving one dead and five wounded. Gars looked after him for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôShould we pursue?├óÔé¼┬Ø his second asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gars said ├óÔé¼┼ôCheck on my father. And someone make a crucifix├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The kids enjoyed the adventure. ├óÔé¼┼ôThen the rope SNAPPED!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew shouted back. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd April killed Newhaven!├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mathew shouted back. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôI did not kill him├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAwww├óÔé¼┬Ø Luke moaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis will make you feel better├óÔé¼┬Ø April said, grinning. She gunned the engine up to full speed and the snowmobile sped over the wastes.
They stopped for the night, April folding out the pontoons on the side of the snowmobile and organized the supplies so the kids could sleep on them. Then April sat on the snowmobile, un-holstered Phil and placed him on her lap. Then she put up her feet and tried to get some sleep. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôApril├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, not opening her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôUhhh├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to go├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø April's eyes did open this time. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee my oil valve is clogged. There is a bit too much in it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour a god damned pistol├óÔé¼┬Ø April said ├óÔé¼┼ôempty it├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot with other people watching├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil said quietly.
April threw him out wards. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted. April lay back again and closed her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm done now!├óÔé¼┬Ø Phil shouted. April rolled her eyes and stood up, grabbing it off the ground and sliding it into her holster. Then she sat back down and sat down, closing her eyes. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can get some sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello fair lady!├óÔé¼┬Ø Winchester shouted, waving as he walked into their line of sight.