Chapter 6



Adam looked over at the maid. Beastman? What? How? His eyes snapped back to Lady Asala with a dreadful surmise. She read his glance accurately and a crooked grin spread across her face. "Yes, Prince Adam? Did you have something you wanted to ask me?"

She stood up again and turned to Teela. "You will take the other end of the stretcher, girl. And act naturally. If anyone asks you what's going on, just tell them that the king ordered you to move him. The masters -" her voice oozed sarcasm "- are all bound to be occupied shortly, when some of my comrades attack." She shot a look at Beastman. "That's when we'll move."

"Why don't we just eliminate them both, now?" he demanded with an irritable tone in his soprano voice. Adam's brain twisted, trying to wrap itself around the concept that this petite woman was really Beastman. Then the meaning of the words sank in and he looked at Teela. Her eyes were panicky, but her stance was relaxed, and her face still had a blankness to it that he found disturbing. He'd seen Teela angry, amused, worried, sad, but never just blank.

Evil-Lyn gave Beastman a contemptuous look. "Just imagine Skeletor's face when we present him with the prince to deal with himself." Adam looked back up at Lady Asala's face. Those tones were very different from the lady of the court he was familiar with. How difficult it must have been for that villainess to play the role of demure sweetness. Perhaps Man-E-Faces had a competitor in the acting department. Not that he was going to get to tell anyone about it at this rate.

Beastman's head cocked to the side. Adam could clearly see that he was failing to imagine much of anything.

"Get him onto the stretcher," Evil-Lyn ordered sharply. "And you, girl, put your com unit down on the dresser." Teela woodenly did as she was commanded, and Adam watched her mindless action with dismay.

Beastman walked over and put the stretcher next to Adam on the bed. With Evil-Lyn on one side and Beastman on the other, he didn't have a lot of choices, but he had to do something.

He rolled out of the bed towards Evil-Lyn, reaching out with his arms in an attempt to knock her over. She stepped back, laughing derisively. When he landed, he discovered that silent screams aren't very satisfying.

Beastman rolled him onto his back and wrapped a rope around his waist, tying a knot in front. Adam's left arm was trapped underneath him, but he shoved at the tiny woman that was Beastman with his right. Unfortunately, the transformation didn't appear to have affected his strength. The big shaggy mongrel slapped his hand away disdainfully and affixed each of his wrists to the band around his waist.

Adam twisted and writhed, trying to get loose from the bonds that bit into his wrists. He hissed with pain as his movements jarred his leg. Beastman snickered abrasively and stood up.

"Don't you think it's going to look odd for a tiny little thing like this," Beastman gestured at the girl's body he wore, "to be carrying a stretcher?"

Evil-Lyn tilted her head to the side, then nodded thoughtfully. "You're right, for once." She raised a hand and began to speak in a singsong voice.



"Timid girl, that quakes and quivers,

Transform now from form that shivers

Into one who'll boldly stride

And do his deeds with manly pride."



There was a flash of light, and Beastman's form shifted to that of a good-sized man in Randor's livery. Beastman surveyed himself. "It'll do, I guess."

Her eyes narrowed. "How would you like to be an ant?"

They traded snarls, and Beastman's irritation translated into malicious roughness as he lifted Adam from the floor. Adam gasped in agony as the hybrid monster dropped him onto the stretcher. He leaned down and spoke directly into Adam's face. "Now, boy, if you do anything that draws attention to us, I guarantee your little friend there won't see another day." Adam's heart froze, and he cast a glance in Teela's direction. Her eyes seemed to be trying to say something, but he wasn't sure what. "Eh?" Beastman, said, tapping Adam's left leg. Adam hissed, and looked up into the querying face. He nodded once to show he understood.

She looked satisfied, and then went across to the window. Adam hoped desperately that someone would notice an unfamiliar face, but it seemed unlikely. He struggled futilely for a few moments, while Evil-Lyn looked on with amusement and Teela stared in horror. Suddenly, he heard cries of alarm and the sounds of fighting off toward the north wall. Beastman turned toward Evil-Lyn.

"It's time," she said. "You, snipe, pick up the foot of the stretcher." Teela, face still expressionless, but with screaming in her eyes, walked woodenly over and lifted her end of the stretcher. Adam felt himself sliding toward the other end. "Beastman, get over here!"

Beastman joined Teela in lifting the stretcher. When it was level, Evil-Lyn came over with a blanket and spread it over him. "Let's get you neatly tucked in. We wouldn't want anyone to see anything they shouldn't, would we?"

Adam stiffened and flushed with fury. He glared at Evil-Lyn. "Now, now, my prince, do try to relax. Try for a drugged stupor. It shouldn't be all that hard." With that, she walked to Teela and waved the crystal in her face again. "We're going to the eastern tower, the top room. Now, move." She opened the door and ushered them out.

Adam looked side to side at the guards outside his bedroom door. They stared blankly forward, not seeing anything. He thought he knew now how Tri-Klops had escaped the dungeons. They passed through the halls, which were emptying rapidly of non-combatants as the sound of battle raged outside.

A squad of the guard rounded a corner ahead of them at a trot. Adam looked up hopefully. Maybe they would realize that there was something wrong. Evil-Lyn, in her guise as Lady Asala, took a few steps forward and spoke quietly in Teela's ear. Beastman cleared his throat and Adam looked into his face, upside down due to their positions. It was slightly disorienting. "You better not do nothing stupid," he said in a husky whisper. "Or your little friend gets it, and she won't even be able to fight back."

All plans of throwing himself to the floor or trying to kick somebody left his mind at once as he considered this notion. Under Evil-Lyn's spell, Teela would just stand there while Beastman cut her to ribbons. And with Beastman wearing the king's livery, no one would realize what was happening in time to stop him.

The squad was almost upon them, now, and Adam prayed that his expression would pass for discomfort or embarrassment, or something. The sergeant in charge waved the rest of them on, and paused to keep pace with the stretcher for a moment. It was Raon. A few years older than Adam and Teela, and he'd occasionally played with them when they were children. He gave his prince an encouraging smile. "Buck up, your highness, this'll be over soon." Adam gave him an answering twist of the lips, and Raon's face softened in sympathy, and he added, "You'll be back on your feet in no time." Then he passed on with the rest of his squad. Adam squeezed his eyes shut and tried to formulate a plan.

The situation seemed nearly hopeless.