Free Princess Rescue Inc by Chris Hechtl Page B

to him as he turned away from the sight. “I
thought they had a supply of food and water inside?”
    “Oh
they do. The castle is typically built on a well or cistern. No, I can tell
because there aren't any hoardings on the battlements. And they don't have many
people on the battlements either. Maybe one or two, which is about right for a
peace time castle garrison. Normally the garrison is about a dozen fit men.
Also people are still coming and going in and out of the city. But not for much
longer,” he said pointing. A rider just came up the road from the wall. “It
looks like the shit just hit the fan,” he grimaced, observing the rider on a
six legged beast riding hell for leather through the gates. The rider looked
torn up, which meant he was all the desperate wall defenders could spare. That
was definitely not good.
    “Ah,
Hoardings?” she muttered asking out of curiosity.
    He
smiled. “Wooden covers over the tops of the battlements. The roofs were made of
slate or some other flame proof material if possible. They extend the wall up
and out so they can drop oil and rocks on anyone attacking at the foot of the
wall, and fire down upon them as they approach,” he explained.
    “If
you say so,” she said dubiously and then nodded and shrugged putting the
description aside.
    <==={}------------>
    They
found a nearby hollow and went to ground just as the sun began to rise. The
master sergeant caught up with them in the dawn light, pulling bushes behind
his LAV to hide the vehicle tracks. Perry nodded in approval. Perry and the
sarge yawned but started to set a perimeter. Ryans intervened however, waving
them aside. He had the civilians who had ridden the entire time in comfort set
up the perimeter while the drivers and military group on watch stood down for
four hours.
    Perry
reluctantly agreed with a second yawn. A few of the civilians made mute
protests, but were cut off by Ryans glower.
    At
lunch the entire group was awake. Ryans noted Doc was off on a rocky rise,
belly down with a pair of binoculars. He decided to go up to see what she was
doing. She started as he crawled up next to her. Perry followed and laid down
on her other side.
    She
handed Ryans the binoculars. “It seems like they got in.” She pointed to a
platoon of raiders chasing a golden coach. The creatures pulling it were
galloping full tilt for their lives.
    “Damn,”
Ryans turned to look upon the nearby village. Black oily smoke was pouring from
the huts. One burst into flames. He could just imagine the sound of screams and
whimpers. He shivered a little, partially in fear but more in helpless rage.
He'd love to go down there and empty his pistols into the bastards right now.
    He
spotted a raider slitting a boy's throat in an entryway and grimaced. Another
on a local beast used a bow to cut down people as they tried to run into the
fields. He caught sight of another pair molesting a terrified woman. They
ripped her clothes off and forced her down into some bushes. She was sobbing
and thrashing as they laughed and spat in her face. One forced a kiss before
they were out of sight. He looked away as Perry took the binoculars.
    Perry's
jaw hardened at the sight before them. “Loot, rape, pillage, and burn. Yeah,
war is hell,” he said, watching the men take turns with the woman. When the
last was finished he straightened at the base of the whimpering pile of rags
and then casually drew his sword and stabbed downward, then wiped it off,
sheathed it, and then took a piss. He was casual about it, taking his time.
When he was finished he spat and then tied the drawstrings of his breaches as
if nothing about what he'd just done concerned him in the slightest. The entire
sordid event was casual, like he had done it every day of his life.
    “Damn,
Bastard. I'd love to have a Barrett right about now,” Perry growled.
    “We
got one unpacked with us boss, but I'd say drawing attention our way is a bad
thing,” the sarge murmured beside