Page 25 of Chained Knight

Alzarien let out a high chilling cry as a flying chain whispered past him, shearing the helm-head from the Golden looming nearby like a red-hot knife lopping a piece of cold butter. Majan’s bow sounded twice more, arrows blooming in bright armor before the chained man made short work of another pair of robots. Darjeth and Sarle retreated, their rapiers up and relief shining visibly on both faces; the duo gave quick glances to either side in oddly synchronized fashion, found Ari, and hurried in her direction.

Oily red ichor sprayed as grinding and metal-tearing screeches outdid the thunder for a few brief moments. Another lightning flash showed a massive shadow to one side—a black paper cutout of horselike shape, standing patiently in lashing rain. One hoof lifted, pawing at the road’s surface; the thing’s tail was a charcoal waterfall and its mane dripped heavily.

The last robot gave a grinding scream when the chained man’s blade rammed through its chest. The new arrival rippedhis sword upward, and a great gout of oily reddish stuff jetted high. The tree Ari was leaning against vibrated as the wind kicked up as well, foliage splattering wildly. Cold drops showered over her. She blinked, her eyelashes freighted with rain.

He turned almost mincingly, gracefully precise despite the heavy armor—functional, even festooned with spikes—and the extra load of metal links. The chains flung in every direction retreated, wrapping around him, but he didn’t seem to notice the weight. Those burning, starving dark eyes glittered, and he stared across the road.

Straight at her. He swung into motion again, each step oddly soundless, strolling like a panther through long grass. Thunder boiled, the sky a bubbling cauldron.

It was the same face, though now much less gaunt—high cheekbones, heavy jaw, straight dark eyebrows, proud nose. Rain dripped from strings of black hair, and even in the darkness it was obvious the strands bore a faint reddish undertone.

Oh,she thought, blankly, her fingers remembering doodling those features over and over on sketchpads and in textbook margins.I shouldn’t have used true black but umber, maybe. That’s why the drawings never really worked.

Clearly the robots were no more problem. At least fifteen shattered hulks starred the road and the verge on the opposite side. Ari clutched the wet branch, and waited for doom.

16

NO SHAME, ALL HONOUR

The guys were helpingeach other upright, exchanging low questions and exclamations, wrenching arrows free of robot corpses and returning them to quivers. Jazarl seemed okay, grimacing as he leaned on Naithor but moving with relative ease.

Which was great, but Ari’s entire body turned leaden, unresponsive. The shakes were back, spreading from her bones. Her teeth chattered, then stopped as if they knew it was useless to protest.

Whatever was going to happen was beyond her control. As usual.

The chained man paid no attention to the menorthe dead robots. He slowed, then stopped in front of her, also ignoring the intensifying downpour. He spared a single glance at the branch clutched in her hands.

Ari’s fingers sprang open; she dropped the wooden bar. Its heavier end almost landed on her feet.

Looming, blotting out the wreckage and the rest of this baffling, violent world, the chained man stared down at her. Lightning painted every metal edge, running off his gauntlets,flashing on the sword held carefully down and away once more. Just as he had in the Keep.

Oh, God. Ari shrank against the tree.Please. If you’re going to, just do it. Get it over with.

The big horselike thing tossed its strangely formed head, pawing the road again with a faint chiming sound. Ari’s heart triphammered, roaring mounting in her ears.

He said nothing, just looked at her. Finally, she felt ridiculous. Her lips parted; his gaze fastened on her mouth.

As usual, all she could produce was an utter banality. “H-hello,” she managed, faintly. For last words, it was embarrassing, but what else was new?

At least it gained a response. “My lady.” Grave and quiet, but effortlessly heard through the storm-noise. “Are you hurt?”

A prosaic question, but she almost couldn’t absorb the syllables even with the aid of an invisible translator. “I…” Ari couldn’t look past him, and she didn’t precisely want to.

But she should, shouldn’t she? Figure out if anyone was wounded, though her rudimentary first-aid skills were probably worse than useless. She didn’t have so much as a Band-Aid in her pocket.

“Tell me.” The chained man took another deliberate step, a vast shadow swelling before her. “Are you harmed? At all?”

How should I know?Still, it was downright polite of him to ask. “I don’t…” Maybe getting him loose had been a rare smart move on Ari’s part. “I don’t think so.”

“Good.” His left gauntlet rose, slowly, and Ari realized he was moving very carefully, as if trying not to frighten a wild animal. “Can you ride? We should not linger here.” Each word very soft and distinct.

She would never have believed a tall man wrapped up in armor and whatnot, having just finished killing a bunch of armored robots, could sound so… well, almost tentative.

I don’t see a bicycle, my friend. “Ride?” Her brain struggled to process this new outlandishness, the invisible translator working overtime. Fat leaf-collected drops tapped the top of her head; waves of smaller driplets swept over the road, made tiny hollow noises on the chained man’s armored shoulders.

“I would not have you walk, my lady.” The chained man paused, still offering his left hand. The gauntlet looked very big, the short curved spikes on its back wicked sharp; the palm was a dark hollow, and he held it cupped as if asking for change. “Come. You need fear nothing.”

I don’t think I quite believe that.Once again, she had no choice. Her only other option was taking off into the trees, and that was a highly questionable tactic at best. “I don’t mean to be rude,” she heard herself say, slowly, in the breathless high voice of a woman embarrassed at a dinner party. “But… whoareyou?”

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