The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (novels in english .TXT) 📗

The noise outside indicated that theinvaders were returning from the office. “You there, have you seenPrincess Ariadne?!” She guessed they must be questioning themessenger who had been in the hallway.

“Yes, sir, I have,” the man returnedin a shaky voice. Alan and Evan both tensed, for the man wasstanding not far from the door they hid behind.

“Where?”

“She was in that office, when I cameto bring her a message. She left after that. She was in a terriblehurry,” replied the messenger.

“Where did she go?”

“Up the stairs, sir, that’s the onlyway out of here!”

A thump resounded through the door,followed by a cry of pain from the messenger. “We just came downthose stairs, you lying cretin! If you just delivered the message,we would have seen her!”

“Please, sir! I came five or tenminutes ago. I swear! She went ahead of me! I was just dawdlinghere. I knew they’d put me to work again as soon as I got back!”pleaded the messenger.

There was a brief pause, “You men, getyour asses up the stairs double quick! Find her before she findshelp! You three stay with me. We need to search this area, in casethis idiot is lying to us.”

The sound of boots signaled thehurried pursuit of most of the armed men, but as soon as they hadgone, Ariadne heard the one in the hall speak again. “If I find herdown here, I’ll kill you for lying,” he growled at themessenger.

“No, sir! I’m too lazy to lie,”answered the man pitifully. Another thump and a howl rewarded himfor his words.

Ariadne glanced at her protectors.Their swords were out, and their faces were grim. They knew thereweren’t many places to search, and their hiding place wouldprobably be the first to be examined. She put her hand on the doorhandle and nodded at Alan and Evan.

“Even if you’re truthful and lazy I…”began the invader but he was interrupted by a crash from behindhim.

The princess flung the door wide witha bang while her two men at arms rushed out. The messenger lay onthe floor less than ten feet away with four men standing aroundhim. Two of them were wounded immediately as Alan and Evan leaptforward with their swords, hacking at the necks of those closest tothem. Blood was everywhere, and the corridor was a chaotic mess ofstruggling bodies within seconds.

Despite their surprise, the fight soonbecame a deadly standoff as Ariadne watched her protectors tradingblows with the men wearing Hightower’s colors. The combatantsseemed evenly matched, and the invaders fought cautiously,defending themselves rather than aggressively pressing theirattacks.

They only need to buytime. We’ll be outnumbered if their companions return,noted Ariadne grimly. That observation disturbedher deeply, for it meant that not only was she still trapped, butit also implied that the men felt they controlled the palaceitself. They weren’t worried the palace guard might rescueher.

She needed to tip the balance in theirfavor, for time wasn’t on their side, but the only weapon she hadwas a steel bodkin hidden in her dress, a gift from Rose Hightoweryears before. She drew the blade out and held it in front of her.The weapon seemed small and inadequate in her hand when compared tothe bulky men in leather cuirasses. Each of them bore a longswordthat dwarfed her small blade, and she probably weighed less thanhalf what the smallest of them did.

Searching frantically for somethingshe could use to help her guardsmen, she almost failed to see themessenger’s next action. Both sides had ignored him once the fightbegan, but he still lay sprawled on the floor a short distancebehind the invaders. He had been badly beaten, but he rose on hishands and knees, crawling toward the feet of hisassailants.

Ariadne almost called to him beforeshe realized what he meant to do, and then she closed her mouthquickly. Moments later one of the men backed into him, trippingover the messenger to fall awkwardly on the stone floor. Before hecould regain his feet, the messenger wrapped his arms around him,ignoring the armored man’s kicks and punches as he struggled tofree himself.

The fight was over quickly after that.Alan and Evan were easily able to overcome the remaining invader,before finishing off the one that the messenger was grapplingwith.

A ghastly silence came over them then,as they stared at the carnage around them. Her two protectors weregruesome to behold, and the messenger had a frightening collectionof bruises and scrapes, one eye was rapidly swellingshut.

“What now, Princess?” askedEvan.

She stared at the three ofthem. In the space of a few short minutes Ariadne had seen moreviolence than she had since the attack on Lancaster years past. Herbrain was numb and her inner observer took note.You’re going into shock.

“We need to get upstairs first. We’retrapped here with only one way in or out. Obviously there are moreof them, and they seem to feel comfortable that the palace islargely under their control,” said a calm voice. It took a momentbefore she realized it was her own. “That indicates that my fatherhas somehow been isolated and is unable to rally thedefenders.”

“There may not be many defenders, YourHighness,” said Alan. “Most of the palace garrison were sick thismorning. Hightower’s men were here to take up theslack.”

“Do you think Hightower is trying tostage a coup?” asked Evan.

Ariadne interrupted, “Enoughspeculation, we need more information before we can makeassumptions. Take off your tabards.”

“Beggin’ you pardon, Princess, butwhy?” queried Alan.

“There are probably too many to fightthrough. I want you to put on their tabards. If necessary you can‘escort’ me past them,” she explained.

Evan was aghast, “They’re covered inblood! Are we supposed to pass as corpses?”

“Take a look at yourself,” suggestedAriadne. “You’ve got as much blood on you as they do. Who is to saythey didn’t win this fight?” She looked over at the messenger, “Youtoo. Change your colors. Put some armor on as well. That fellowlooks about your size,” she pointed at one of the deadmen.

The messenger was visibly frightened.“But, Highness, I—I’m no warrior!”

“What’s your name?”

“Harper—Gerold Harper, Your Highness,”he answered.

She smiled at him, “Well,Gerold Harper, you’ve shown as much courage today as some men do ina lifetime. For now, you are my soldier, until the