Free Knights of the Apocalypse (A Duck & Cover Adventure Post-Apocalyptic Series Book 2) by Benjamin Wallace Page B

hardly the same
people one remembered. There was no telling who they had become to survive the
harsh, new world, but it was rarely the person you had shared a beer or two
with on the patio of a Mexican restaurant. People had always grown apart when
separated by time, distance and circumstance. Now that those distances included
mutants, super smart bears or, occasionally, being forced to eat a loved one, a
friend was nothing more than a dangerous foe cloaked in love and trust. They
had to be approached with caution.
    This girl didn’t look
dangerous, but Erica didn’t like her all the same. She spoke to Jerry through
clenched teeth. “Who the hell is this?”
    Jerry kept his gaze
on the platform and spoke under his breath. “I have no idea. Maybe if we ignore
her she’ll go away.”
    The woman stepped in
front of them and looked Jerry in the eyes. “Oh my God! It is you.”
    “I’m sorry.” Jerry
put out his hand. “Have we met?”
    “Have we met?” She
laughed and slapped his hand away. “It’s me, Brae!” She threw her arms around
Jerry and giggled.
    Erica did her best to
appear as if she was looking at the girl, but her eyes scanned the crowd in
hopes that no one was paying attention to this woman that was now hugging her
husband.
    “Oh my. Nice to meet you, Brae. My name is Mike. This is …”
    “His wife, Jennifer,”
Erica finished.
    Brae let go of Jerry
and took a step back to study the couple. “Mike? And Jennifer?”
    Erica watched the
girl’s reaction. Brae looked deep in his eyes. Brae’s eyes narrowed and Erica
saw realization dawn on her face. To her credit, she didn’t miss a step.
    Brae unclasped her
arms and backed away. “Oh, I’m sorry. You looked so much like someone I knew
from before everything went to hell. And you know what that’s like. You just
want to jump all over them. I’m sorry. I am so embarrassed.”
    “It’s okay,” Erica
said.  
    The girl stuck out
her hand and shook Erica’s. “It’s nice to meet you, Jennifer. And Mike. I’m
Brae.” The smile grew back to its original size. “What brings you guys to the
castle?”
    Erica smiled, “An
armed escort.”
    Jerry laughed. “She’s
kidding. We want to be citizens.”
    “You’re going on the
quest?” Brae’s smile faded. “But, you just got here.”  
    “Quest? What do you
mean?” Erica asked.
    Brae didn’t answer.
Her gaze moved over Erica’s shoulder as a familiar and annoying laugh began.
The couple turned to see Tommy more delighted than ever.
    The knight laughed.
“So ewe drew the short straw. Eye was worried the king would jest have ewe
killed. This is much better.”
    “The king asked for
my help,” Jerry said.
    “Help?” Tommy laughed
again. “Ewe’ve been drafted, dummy.”
    “Drafted?” Erica
asked.
    “No, wait. Not
drafted. The other one.” Tommy turned to Brae. “Was it called?”
    All joy faded from
the girl’s voice and she looked away. “Conscripted.”
    Tommy snapped his
fingers and spoke. “Dat’s it. Ewe’ve been
conscripted.”
    “Conscripted?” Erica
repeated.
    “Right. It’s like
being drafted but with more punching and threatening language.” The smile faded
from his lips but the delight stayed in his voice. “But, lucky for ewe, service
is the only way to become a citizen. If ewe live .”
    Brae cocked her head.
“Tell us how you served again, Tommy.”
    The knight’s horrible
accent disappeared. “Sir Thomas to you, Brae. And my service is no one’s
business by mine and the king’s.”
    “Right,” she said.
“Sir Tommy, the big tough knight.”
      Anger flared in Tommy’s eyes for a brief
moment. It faded quickly as his smile grew back into place. “Why don’t you tell
them what you do for the kingdom, Brae?” Pleased with himself, Tommy turned and
left the trio with the question hanging in the air.
    “What’s he talking
about?” Jerry asked.
    “Never mind. He’s
just a little man trying to act big.” She waved her hand at the platform.