Free Frozen Prospects by Dean Murray Page A

bag'ligs were shorter and didn't have swords of their own. Once
they've cut him down they'll use the crossbows to kill the rest of
us.
    I'rone
cut down the first bandit before anyone else could reach him, but
the next three engaged him at the same time, and he was only able to
kill one of those before the last two attackers joined their
fellows.
    Va'del
was now half way to the battle, his lungs burning from the cold air
and his legs starting to tremble slightly from the effort of running
with ice spikes strapped to his boots.
    The
four men seemed to be pressing I'rone sorely now. He still moved so
quickly Va'del couldn't follow what was happening with his eyes, but
streaks of red were starting to appear on the Guadel's massive body
as more and more of the blows he was dodging didn't quite miss.
    Va'del
stumbled and fell down as a particularly complex exchange resulted
in one of the men reeling away with what appeared to be a mortal
wound. The teenager scrambled back to his feet just as a scream from
behind him brought his head around in time to see Betreec slump
backwards, a stubby quarrel protruding from her chest as a pair of
gurra fled back the way they'd come.
    Oh,
Powers! There was one more. He circled around behind us.
    A
flicker of motion as the bandit disappeared behind a snow drift to
reload his crossbow told Va'del where the shot had come from, and he
once again broke into a run.
    Jasmin
is still okay; maybe that will be enough.
    Questions
about whether or not Betreec was already dead, or if I'rone was
still capable of facing three men with only Jasmin's help, were
secondary to the need to run, to put his body between Jasmin and the
crossbow.
    Under
other circumstances, Va'del might have been able to make it, but not
tired and hindered by the snow. Va'del hadn't quite covered half of
the distance to the crossbowman when another quarrel sliced through
the air and tore into Jasmin.
    The
sounds of fighting from behind had grown fainter, but there was no
time to check whether or not I'rone had managed to kill his
attackers before the loss of his wives had made him nothing more
than a normal man facing incredible odds.
    Maybe
she can still heal herself.
    The
bitter wind pulled at Va'del, but couldn't disguise the sound of
footsteps behind him as he got near enough to hear the bandit
swearing at his weapon and the bulky windlass that served to ready
the crossbow for its next shot.
    Just
as the teenager felt a sliver of hope that he'd make it before the
crossbow was ready, a scruffy-faced bandit appeared above the snow
drift and leveled the deadly weapon.
    Va'del
tried to throw himself to the side, only to realize as the quarrel
flashed past that it wasn't aimed at him. A crashing sound
announced that I'rone had been hit, and then Va'del was upon the
bandit.
    Nearly
overcome as he was by rage, it was fortunate his opponent wasn't
very skilled with a sword, or Va'del would have been killed in the
first careless exchange of blows.
    Once
the bandit lay dead at his feet, Va'del dropped his weapons and ran
over to Jasmin. Oh,
Powers, she isn't breathing. There isn't a pulse either.
    Betreec
was already starting to cool, and Va'del felt his world start to
crumble as tears formed in his eyes and then coursed down his face.
    "Boy,
Va'del, come here." The words were weak and full of pain, but
recognizable, and Va'del blindly started back towards the sound of
I'rone's voice.
    "They're
dead, they're both dead. I'm so sorry, it was my fault. I should
have stayed where I was."
    I'rone
shook his head, which started him coughing weakly. "Don't
blame yourself. Jasmin wouldn't have wanted you to think it was
your fault."
    Looking
at the smooth shaft protruding from the Guadel's heaving chest,
Va'del wondered how long I'rone could last. "The gurra ran
off, and I can't carry you. Can you walk?"
    I'rone
shook his head. "Go back to the village. They'll send a group
out with a litter."
    Va'del
felt tears start down his face again. "No, I won't