Free Princess Rescue Inc by Chris Hechtl Page A

fight. But Zara... Zara
wasn't as much of a warrior as her older sister. And little Balthazar... the
lad was supposed to be here as a page to begin to learn the art of war but that
was now out. The succession must be protected at all costs. She knew the Duke
was right but blast it! Deidra realized that arguing with Duke Emroy was
futile. The Duke would do his duty, it was he who had ordered that they leave
and if necessary he'd bundle them up like overstuffed packages and drag them
out. The men he sent along to guard her would be sorely missed here.
    “At
least keep your men here. We can move faster without so many,” she urged. But
the Duke merely shook his head. “Please you'll...” he held up a hand. She
sighed and looked to Zara. Zara was adjusting her royal red and purple dress,
her gold leaf tiara slipped as she bent over. She caught it and adjusted it as
she straightened.
    “Are
we not leaving? Should we not leave at first light?” Zara called. The Duke
shook his head.
    “Then
we must away now in the cool night so the mounts will not overheat,” the golden
haired Balthazar urged them to follow orders, looking at the grooms and guards
as they prepared the royal coach.  Balthazar like his siblings had reddish
gold hair, a trademark from their mother. His crown slipped and he adjusted it.
He was right Deidra thought the whelp had been paying attention to the groom's
lessons.
    “Get
thee hence your Majesty,” Emroy said interrupting Deidra’s thoughts. She
returned her attention to him. His eyes were troubled but firm. “Your parents
would never forgive me if I let you linger overlong so go and in good health.”
He pulled her into his arms for a quick hug and then released her as she
gasped. “Now go and give my love to my wife and children. Tell them I will see
them when I may,” the old Duke said.
    He
turned immediately as a steward rushed up. Deidra bit her lip, realizing Duke
Emroy was busy, ordering his men and women to gather as much as possible into
the security of the walls. The Duke didn't need her distracting him at this
critical time she realized. The town below was lit with torches and lanterns as
people bustled about securing the fortress. No one would sleep this night. Zara
looked at the golden coach, stroking the branack , leading it. The grooms
finished with the tack as her sister and younger brother boarded. “Coming?”
Deidra demanded.
    “Coming!”
Zara said. She climbed aboard and looked back as the driver clucked and flicked
the reins. Her door slammed shut and locked. She looked out through the rear
window at the people running about. Some of the guards were headed out through
the gate to the wall. Hopefully they would be able to hold off the savages.
    “They'll
be fine,” Deidra said. “I for one am not so sure about us. I do not like the
idea of being in this contraption,” she said with a growl.
    “You'd
rather be mounted aye,” Balthazar teased tugging on her braid. She reached out
and flicked his nose.
    “Mind
your manners squirt,” she said and turned to the window. “Tis a long ride and a
most unpleasant one.”
    <==={}------------>
    The
Terrans used nvgs to get around the knights, footmen, and pike men racing to
the wall. It was hard staying off the one decent road in the area. The scout
LAV's up ahead gave them plenty of warning of a group though. The master
sergeant called back, he told them they must have been spotted on that trail,
and it looked like some of that raiding army had followed them. Perry and Ryans
looked at each other, eyes bleak. They knew what that meant.
    They
passed a walled city in the dark. Doc and their historian/linguist Ben Jarvic
recorded the lighted medieval town and castle. “I hope they're prepared,” Doc
muttered. She was sitting in the back of the hummer, Perry was driving. Ryans
sat in the passenger seat, helping to navigate.
    “No,
they're not,” Ryans said quietly taking a quick look.
    “How
can you tell?” she asked, looking