Chapter Nine

POV: Martin

In all my years from that day to this, I have never ridden an animal so swift as Flash the Unicorn. Never have I traveled a mile so quickly as the two of us did that night. The burning village lit the night as if brightly as if it were day.

"Lion have mercy!"

Running toward us was a woman, pursued by a pair of Calormene horsemen. The woman cried out:

"Help me!"

I drew my sword in one hand and my dagger with the other. The distance between us was closing rapidly. Once the woman was behind us, Flash charged between her pursuers. The dagger I threw at the the opponent on my left, catching him in the face. He fell from his saddle with a loud cry. That left the foe to my right. I swung my sword at the strap which held his saddle to his horse. The rider overbalanced and thudded to the ground like a sack of potatoes. The animal galloped onward, whinnying in protest at my having nicked him. The Calormene struggled to his feet, cursing. Flash wheeled and charged straight for him. The Calormene's sword went up, the Unicorn's horn went down. The Calormene missed. Flash did not.

The fighting over, I sheathed my sword and dismounted. The woman had recovered from her flight and had even managed to catch the first Calormene's mount.

"What is your name, lady?"

"Alice. The baker's daughter."

"Hail, and well met, Alice Baker's Daughter. Tell me, what happened here?"

"That's plain enough, innit? Filthy Calormene bandits burned my village down. How they got here, I know not, for there's a mountain range to the South that protects us from such things. They took us completely by surprise."

She remained calm, but tears once more began streaming down her cheeks.

"They were slaughtering everyone. My family-"

She sobbed for moment, but choked it back, straightened, and clenched her teeth. Now was the time for action, not for mourning, and she understood as much.

"Who is the lord of these lands?"

"Lord Starbuck of Starbuck Hall."

There was a name I recognized, and it pleased me little. Flash could see this on my face, but kept his own council.

"Can you ride, Alice?"

"Well enough in a pinch."

"Then take that horse and ride to Starbuck Hall as quick as you may. Tell them what's happened. His Lordship will doubtless send troops. We will follow their trail."

"Lion be with you," she said as she mounted and cantered off.

"And with you," we replied as we turned toward the ruined town.


Tendrils of smoke drifted high into the air as Flash and I picked our way through the charred remains of the village. The scorched corpses of the murdered villagers lay where they had fallen. Alas, we had no time to bury them. Flash was both horrified and confused.

"Why do this?"

"To try and hide their trail. Survivors would mean pursuers."

"But why enter the village at all?"

"Why indeed."


POV: Lucy

I had lost count of the days in all the time that had passed since our capture. We were now in Archenland, and seemed to be lingering here for reasons I could not fathom. Having grown weary, and seemingly sure we were beyond pursuit, our captors had chosen to pitch camp near a stream and take a day's rest. Susan and I sat under the shade of an oak tree, bound hand and foot. It had been a long time since we had been able to bathe, so I decided to try my luck and addressed the guard who stood glowering over us.

"My sister and I wish to bathe."

The guard grunted and said nothing. I tried again.

"We are filthy and wish to wash off the dust of the road."

He raised his hand as if to slap me, but the blow never fell.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Striding toward us was the man who had given Susan and me our cloaks. He was tall and well-built. His face, which had been obscured by a scarf when last I saw him, was handsome, and his beard glistened with scented oils. His armour bespoke his wealth and influence, and his left hand rested comfortably on the bejeweled hilt of his scimitar. He froze the guard in place with an icy stare.

"Lord Arinash Tarkaan made known to you his will concerning the Barbarian Queens. They must reach their destination unspoiled. Was my Lord unclear in His instructions?"

The guard bowed low, very nearly prostrating himself as he replied:

"I recall my most gracious Lord's command, O my Master, but I recall also another command of His, that the prisoners shall in no circumstances be allowed to speak unless addressed by Himself, or by You."

"It is a strange logic you operate by, breaking one of my Lord's direct commands to you merely in order to enforce one of His commands regarding another."

"O my Master, has not one of the poets said-"

The Tarkaan raised his hand.

"Silence."

His gaze shifted from the guard to me.

"I am addressing you. Speak."

Clearing my throat, I replied in the most regal tone I could muster:

"And to whom have I the honour of speaking, sir?"

"I am Vidresh Tarkaan, second in authority to Arinash Tarkaan. And you, Queen Lucy, are bold indeed considering the circumstances."

"And what exactly are the circumstances? Where are you taking us, and for what purpose?"

The Tarkaan's eyes flashed white-hot at my apparent impudence.

"That shall become clear to you in time, O most fiery of Queens. Now tell me what it is you desire so much as to risk the wrath of my soldier, lest you enkindle my wrath also."

Before my temper got us into some sort of trouble, Susan interupted:

"We wish, O noble Tarkaan, to bathe. We have not had the opportunity since we were taken captive, and are accustomed to bathing daily."

Vidresh Tarkaan's eyes softened (as most men's did) when he turned his gaze to Susan, for, dirty as she was, she still looked lovely, and had adopted her most charming smile.

"A reasonable request, and easily granted, O Gentle Queen. Soldier, you will see to their wish at once."

"Yes, O my Master."

"Moreover, you will allow them to speak to one another and to yourself until they have finished bathing."

The soldier bowed low, saying nothing, his displeasure writ plain upon his countenance. The Tarkaan bowed to us and left.

"You will bathe one at a time. The other will remain here, bound hand and foot. You, Queen Lucy, asked first, and so shall have the first turn."

I had hoped we could both go together, but if we had to take turns, I needed Susan to go first. Putting on my best frightened face and tone of voice, I said:

"Susan's the eldest. First turn is hers by right."

The guard clearly did not believe me until Susan jumped in.

"Lucy speaks true. Such is our custom. For her to go first would be a grievous insult and cause for enmity between us."

The guard guffawed.

"You Barbarians pretend you're so different from us Calormenes, but it sounds as if you two take offense as easily as the pettiest Tarkheenas. Very well, you shall have your way."

He bent and untied Susan's feet, then helped her stand. They then walked off toward the stream and into a copse of trees. I glanced about. Miraculously, no one else appeared to be paying me any attention.

"Lion be praised."

I managed to untie the ropes which bound my ankles, then followed after Susan and the guard. For all their precautions (which exhaustion appeared to have dulled of late), the Calormenes had overlooked one thing when they captured us. Susan and I had been wearing decorative hair combs. Solid gold ones with five long, pointed teeth. These combs had remained in our hair throughout the long journey. Now, I reached up and pulled the comb out. Holding it like a stiletto, I crept forward, my bare feet making no sound in the thick green grass. As I entered the treeline, I saw the guard leaning on his spear, his eyes fixed upon my sister, who sat on a rock at the stream's edge, making the greatest show she could of washing her feet and ankles. Seeing me, she stood up and approached the soldier, a beguiling look upon her face. As she drew nearer, she raised her hands and brushed her fingers through his beard suggestively. From behind, I drove the comb into his unprotected neck with all the force I could muster. Before he could cry out, Susan placed both her hands over his mouth. I snatched the dagger which hung at his waist and slit his throat. He dropped, lifeless, to the ground. Susan was pale, but her voice didn't tremble in the least as she spoke:

"Well done, Lu!"

I cut her hands free. She returned the favour. Then, together, we glided off into the shadows of the nearby woods.


A/N: I apologize for the extremely tardy upload. Graduate school has me utterly swamped, but I shall do my utmost to complete KOV as quickly as possible. Lion be with you all.