Page 23 of Chained Knight

“Get down,” Naithor said, urgently, and everyone crouched. Ari shivered, clenching her jaw to keep teeth from chattering; she could peer over Majan’s shoulder, through a natural tunnel in the bushes. The sound drew swiftly nearer, coming not from behind but ahead of their small group. When the cavalcade galloped into view her right hand flew up, clamping over her mouth to muffle a sound of mixed fear, surprise—and disgust.

It was the brightly armored robots, but they had changed. Their legs were shortened and arms lengthened with insectile segments, horned helmet-heads bobbing above thickened shoulders. The sound wasn’t true hoofbeats, then, but the metallic galloping of terribly distorted things, and the worst thing was that they didn’tmovelike horses either.

Instead, their motion was a parody, part mechanical jerks and part weirdly flowing, neither in the way her gaze expected. It was vaguely akin to the jerking, twisting motion of a mechanical bull, but without the unspoken limits engineering placed on randomness. Everything about the movements was deeply, utterly wrong, and called up images of sharp-toothed gears digging into recalcitrant flesh, pistons hammering amid cringing muscles.

Even the most fevered painter of grotesqueries would have trouble capturing the utter alienness, the cringing lopsided bizarrity. They streaked past, glittering in low bruised stormdusk, and branches toss-sighed as the wind mounted afresh. A bone-white flash followed, and after a long breathless pause thunder hurried to catch up.

“They’re horrible,” Ari whispered, barely aware of speaking.

“Aye.” Jazarl had gone pale, and his cheeks and chin bore blue-tinged stubble. They all looked a little rough, and Ari was sure she wasn’t in the best shape either. Her hair felt tangled, and she didn’t even try to finger-comb.

There was no point. If this kept up she was going to be a rat’s nest on shaking noodle-bendy legs.

A wave of rain rushed earthward, the pavers’ golden tinge dimming slightly as wet spots spread. “Faster on the Road,” Darjeth said, as if someone had asked a question. “But safer in the trees. Unless…”

“Too dangerous to halt,” Majan weighed in. “And we are still too far from Gesthel.”

Alzarien was just as pale as Jazarl. “The Fox is canny, but he has his lady to care for. He may have withdrawn to the Mere. If we strike overland…”

“There is the Breach to think of, though, and the bridge may be watched.” Sarle looked at Ari as if she should know, or maybe he was simply gauging whether it was worth getting rid of deadweight. “My lady…”

More stabs of lightning-light drenched both forest and road. Thankfully, the thunder’s lagging said the true storm was some distance away, but that could change in a heartbeat. Ari found herself shifting uneasily, rocking back and forth as if to comfort a child or anxious pet.

“The Road.” Jazarl clearly felt there were no good options. “At least until we are past the Breach. If we are attacked the close-guard will carry our lady away while the others offer what battle we may. My lady Ari, will you consent to such treatment? We have no mounts; our own legs must do.”

I could just stay here, you know. Even if everything inside her went chilly and loose at the thought of running across some of those robots again, and alone. “You could leave me and?—”

“Never.” Darjeth didn’t look abashed at nearly shouting, though a few of the others gave him clearly warning looks. “What? There is no reason to gild a truth now, no matter how unwelcome. We shall carry you to Gesthel and the Grey Lady or die in the attempt, my lady Moon.”

It was either extremely chivalrous or there was a factor her theory hadn’t taken into account. “I don’t think that’s neces—” she began, but Sarle hissed another warning.

This time her view of the road was blocked, though she heard the sound approaching—neither hoofbeats nor the mechanical roil, but a softer slap-paddling. The men crowded around her, pressing close, and each looked grim, their hands resting on rapier hilts as they crouched. Being in the middle of the huddle might have felt safe, except for the weird, chilling cries.

Whatever was upon the stone pavers now moaned as it passed. Irregular shrieks rose as well, sawing painfully through rising wind and shiver-rushing rain. Ari shuddered, clapping her hands over her ears, and Majan had gone chalky, blood draining from his dark cheeks.

The hideous groaning faded, then the wet slapping sounds. She found she was physically cold for the first time since landing in this bizarre alternate dimension, and even the living warmth of half a dozen other bodies in a small space didn’t help.

“What was that?” she whispered, unable to help herself.

“The Bright King’s other servants.” Naithor’s shoulder pressed against hers, hard enough to hurt. “Those corrupted and infected by obedience to his curst Law, finding no rest. He is searching for you, my lady—as if we needed more proof of what you are.”

Look, I’m a stranger here, and I just…There were no words. The trembling was back, and while Ari didn’t quite wish to suddenly find herself on the side of a mountain highway or under an overhang during a bad mountain storm, the prospect was far more appetizing than it had been before.

At least on her own planet she knew what horrors to expect.

“Enough.” Jazarl turned slightly. “We go now. Stay to the side of the Road until we are past the Breach.” He paused. “’Tis an honour to fight beside each of you. If the worst comes?—”

“Do not summon ill luck by speaking of it.” Darjeth rose, pale hair gleaming, and as if signaled the others did too. Majan had Ari’s elbow, pulled her firmly and irresistibly up as well. “They are upon the Road, buthemay be as well. All we must do is endure.”

A few moments later they were in the rain, moving at a quick walk, Darjeth and Naithor now on either side of Ari as cool drops patted her tangled hair and bowed shoulders.

She’d never dreamed of this Bright King or his minions, and Ari was deeply grateful even if the fact called up reams upon reams of unanswered, progressively more disturbing questions. Had all her new companions been dumped here as well? From where? Were this king plus his Golden native to this awful place, mounting an immune response to expel foreign invaders?

Even if Ari had breath to ask, it certainly wasn’t the time. She simply had to keep up, and try desperatelynotto think about what she hadn’t seen running past on these very same rain-sluiced stones, moaning like damned souls.

15

AMBUSH

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