Nature Abhors a Vacuum

  * * *

  They continued their pursuit just after dawn, having unenthusiastically downed a simple breakfast of cheese and bread. With the foul weather of the last few weeks finally behind them, the cloudless sky above was a welcome sight. Colt paused every half-mile or so to make sure they were still on course, and the news was good.

  “We’re not far behind now,” he explained. “The tracks are fresh so they had to stop overnight as well. If we push hard, we can catch them before the day is out.” Giving their horses full reign to blaze a trail across the wide plains, the group settled into the pursuit.

  As they sun began to sink towards the horizon, Colt altered their course a little to continue on the path he followed.

  “We’re nearly there, but they’re not going directly to Lachburne,” he explained when asked as they walked the horses for a time. “I reckon they’ve got a hidden base somewhere nearby. We’ll find out shortly.”

  Just after sunset, they came to the fallow vineyards of Lachburne, where they called a halt and dismounted, for their horses were lathered in sweat and almost exhausted. Deciding to leave their mounts here, they proceeded on foot with Colt following the trail around to the western edge of town. The smell of wood smoke permeated the air and from here at least, everything in Lachburne seemed perfectly normal.

  “If they’re here, it’s not in force,” Aiden surmised as he took in the tranquil vineyard they’d stopped in.

  “The trail continues,” Colt responded, keeping his voice low. “They’ll be somewhere just up ahead.” With that, they continued moving while keeping out of sight. Wherever they were holed up, the mercenaries would be keeping an eye out for trouble.

  The five of them threaded their way through the neatly planted rows of the expansive vineyard. It took them nearly ten minutes before they saw the lantern-lit streets of Lachburne.

  With Colt using Aiden’s lenses to follow the trail, they eventually wound their way through the streets to a large manor house on the northern side of Lachburne. It was a sprawling, single-storey affair with extensive gardens on every side. Every window glowed with warm light, and nothing seemed amiss until Colt spotted men dressed in the livery of the Steel Tigers patrolling the grounds.

  “Two men at the rear entrance, two at the front, probably more inside,” the ranger whispered after a minute of careful observation. “We’ve definitely found their base.”

  “Now for the fun part,” Pacian grumbled.

  “I’m inclined to think the rear entrance will be easier,” Colt said.

  “Perhaps a distraction would allow us to move inside undetected?” Sayana suggested.

  “I was thinking that too,” Pacian agreed. “Aiden, throw a rock at the wall when we’re in position and we’ll take the guards out as quietly as we can. When they’re down, catch up to us.”

  “Can do,” Aiden agreed, blindly feeling around on the ground until he grasped a fist-sized rock that would do the job nicely. Colt and Pacian crept forward silently, keeping low as they moved to the wall. Sayana kept a close eye on their progress, for neither Aiden nor Nellise could see them in the darkness.

  “They’re in position,” the sorceress whispered. Aiden hefted the rock, took aim at a distant part of the stone wall, and heaved it for all he was worth. It sailed invisibly through the air, leaving them in suspense as to the accuracy of his throw until it struck the wall with a loud ‘crack’.

  “I think it’s working,” Sayana advised Aiden. “They’ve moved away from the back entrance.” The sound of a scuffle could be heard, followed by the muffled grunt of someone being hit in the head. Sayana grabbed Nellise and Aiden on the shoulders and led them forward, creeping through the garden until they arrived at the door.

  Colt was disposing of the unconscious guards under a nearby bush while Pacian worked his magic on the lock. Within moments he had the door open, and with weapons drawn the small group crept inside. The passage beyond was dimly lit with a single lantern hanging in the hallway.

  They continued forward silently until they reached a door. Pacian placed his ear to it, listening for any sound beyond. Satisfied it was safe, he very carefully opened the door and led them inside.

  “Looks like a study,” Aiden whispered, stepping into the room. Two cluttered desks sat against the far wall, and another door beckoned to their left.

  “I hear voices,” Sayana warned under her breath, standing ready with one hand resting on her axe. Aiden moved towards the other door until he too could hear the muffled sounds of people talking. He put an ear to the door while the rest of the group moved into position.

  “Can you hear what they're saying?” Nellise whispered. “I can't make it out.”

  “Not quite,” Aiden replied, and was gently pushed aside by Sayana. With her ear to the door, she began whispering what she heard for the benefit of the others.

  “'...not part of the plan, Culdeny isn't important,' one man said. Another is replying... 'do you think they will simply let us walk in there with Criosa tied up, and allow us to board a ship? Securing Culdeny is paramount to our success, so follow your commander's orders.' Oh no,” Sayana added, catching Aiden's eye with her own piercing orbs.

  “What is it?” Aiden hissed, sensing something amiss.

  “The way that man is talking is very familiar... I know that voice.”

  “Who do you think it is?” Aiden asked in trepidation.

  “That man from the Gentleman's Club in Culdeny, Ronald Bartlett.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Colt swore, a little too loudly for Aiden's liking.

  “I think they heard that,” Sayana gasped, pulling back from the door and preparing her protective magicks, while Aiden drew his sword and reflexively kicked the door in before anyone could come through it. He locked eyes with Bartlett, standing in the middle of the room, with five armoured men running towards them.

  Aiden only caught a glimpse of the room beyond, but immediately noticed an ornate door directly across the twenty foot space and a hallway to the right. The five mercenaries would be on them in moments, and as he braced himself for a fight, Aiden was suddenly pulled to the side and replaced in the doorway by Colt, or more specifically, Colt's blade.

  The big ranger levelled it at the charging warriors, who abruptly changed direction at the last moment to avoid a painful collision. They parted to either side of the five-foot sword, allowing Pacian to dart through the doorway. Bartlett, on the other side of the room, bolted for the far door.

  “Hold them!” a mercenary officer shouted to his men, then followed the startled businessman as he ran down the hallway. Pacian slammed into the front door and quickly locked it, preventing the two guards on the front porch from joining in the fight.

  As this was happening, Colt charged forward, crashing shoulder-first into two of the men who fell onto the ground in a pile. Aiden followed him through, but didn’t stop to engage anyone. He ran straight between the disorganised mercenaries and set off in pursuit of Bartlett and his escort.

  Somewhere in this house Princess Criosa was being held, and it was a fair bet to assume the corrupt businessman was heading there as fast as possible to kill her or use her as a hostage.

  The hallway was dimly candlelit, not enough to make out fine detail but more than sufficient to see the silhouettes of the men fleeing before him. Aiden was closing the gap until they split up at the end of the corridor. The officer went to the right, while Bartlett continued on down the passage on the left.

  A brief moment of indecision flashed through Aiden’s mind, but it wasn't really a tough call to make – he wanted Bartlett, the man responsible for this entire situation, and the other mercenary would get what was coming to him soon enough.

  Aiden dashed around the corner in pursuit of the old businessman and saw him passing through a door at the end of the corridor. At that moment, a woman's scream pierced the air from somewhere behind Aiden, bringing him to a screeching halt.

  Torn between catch
ing Bartlett and going to the woman’s aid, Aiden froze in the middle of the hallway. The sounds of a desperate struggle nearby finally snapped Aiden back to reality, and he spun around and rushed back up the corridor. He encountered a closed door which he slammed his shoulder into, splintering the lock and throwing the door wide open.

  The room was a small guest chamber with a bed at one end, and a dresser and wardrobe opposite. His dramatic entrance hadn't surprised the mercenary officer, who had one arm wrapped around the neck of a slender blonde girl, and a sword in his other hand. Aiden had never seen Princess Criosa Roebec in person, having only heard descriptions about her from time to time, but her fine features left no doubt he was looking upon royalty.

  “Hold it right there, boy,” the mercenary ordered him, his voice sounding hollow and metallic behind his visored helm. “The lady and I are going to leave right now, and you and your mates are going to let it happen, understood?”

  “What's the matter, you afraid to fight a 'boy' like me?” Aiden chided, hoping to goad the warrior into a fight. “A real man wouldn't be hiding behind a little girl, I think.”

  “In any other situation, I'd be happy to oblige you,” the man growled, “but right now, I've got places to -”. His speech was cut off by a pain-filled shout. He flinched to one side, allowing Criosa to fall away revealing she had a bloodied piece of silverware in her hand.

  The enraged officer swiped his mailed fist, sending her crashing into the wall and to the ground, swinging his sword in the same motion. Aiden was prepared for this and managed to parry the blade, but was instantly on the defensive against the experienced warrior’s assault.

  Sparks flew from his blade as he parried each attack from the mercenary, while trying not to be pushed back into a corner. He ducked underneath a wild swing from the officer and rushed around the side. Unfortunately, he met the warrior's armoured knee with his chest, propelling him into the wall.

  Discarding subtlety, Aiden picked himself up and lunged at the mercenary, crashing directly into him and bowling both of them over. Aiden slammed his sword hilt into the helmeted head with a resounding 'clang', but it seemed to have minimal impact on the man who responded by shoving his elbow into Aiden's head.

  The mercenary then punched him in the gut and threw him to one side. Aiden’s sword went skittering across the polished floorboards and under the bed. His adrenaline pumping, Aiden tried to scramble away from the warrior but one of his legs was held and he couldn't get away.

  In desperation, he reached over his shoulder and grabbed the handle of his sceptre, pulling it out and swinging it at his opponent. The weapon impacted on top of his opponent’s head, connecting with his helm and leaving a sizeable dent in it.

  The mercenary staggered backwards for a moment until he regained his footing, but it gave Aiden the precious time he needed to get back on his feet. Holding the sceptre before him, he spoke the command word and a brilliant shaft of light sprang forth, slicing the armour protecting the officer and burning the flesh beneath.

  Roaring with pain, the mercenary charged, catching Aiden completely off guard. They crashed into the wardrobe, demolishing it as both wrestled for supremacy. Aiden was momentarily winded, and tried to push the warrior out of the way but he was held fast by a gauntleted hand.

  Panic started to set in as the young man knew he was completely outmatched by this opponent, so he started swinging the sceptre wildly, hoping to do enough damage to finish off his implacable foe.

  Aiden was in mid-swing when the mercenary suddenly stiffened, giving him hope that he'd actually done some damage to the warrior, then watched in disbelief as the mercenary suddenly dropped to the ground, revealing the rather battered form of Criosa standing behind him with a sharp carving knife in one hand.

  Aiden leaned back against the wall and slid to the ground, his breath coming in short gasps as he was flooded with relief. Out in the hallway, he could hear the sounds of battle dying down, and he could only hope his companions had managed to survive.

  He sat there exhausted, looking up at the young lady who was trembling like a leaf. She dropped the knife which clattered off the breastplate of their fallen enemy. The bodice of her elegant blue dress was torn, and the skirt was in tatters. Her silky blond, shoulder-length hair was unkempt and matted with blood.

  “Nice work with that knife, Princess Criosa?” Aiden asked, seeking confirmation. The young lady nodded silently, her sight still focused on the body of her assailant.

  “Are you injured, Highness?” Aiden continued when no other reply was forthcoming.

  “I'm... yes, a little,” she replied in a shaking voice. “I am more concerned about you at the moment, sir. Your chest...” Aiden looked down and saw that his breastplate had been torn open and his shirt was soaked with blood. Strangely, he didn't feel any pain, probably because the adrenaline from the fight was still pumping through his veins.

  “Yes, I'm sure that's going to hurt in a few minutes,” he remarked distantly. “I think we'd both better have our wounds looked at.”

  “Oh it's nothing, I assure you,” she gushed, trying to fix up her dress in places where it was a little too revealing. The entire skirt had been ripped at some point, leaving tatters covering her thighs. “One of those cads tried to tear off my dress and… that's how my clothing came to be in such a state. Their commander stopped him, however, and even slapped him with his mailed glove, informing him that I wasn't to be touched in that fashion.”

  “Who, this bloke?” Aiden asked, looking down at the fallen officer. “He didn't seem all that honourable to me.”

  “No, he is just one of their lieutenants,” Criosa informed him. “Their commander left here a few hours ago, making for Culdeny. Something dreadful is going to happen there.” The sounds of heavy footsteps approaching could be heard out in the hallway and within moments, Colt and Nellise entered the small room.

  “Your Highness,” Nellise breathed, offering a formal curtsey to the young princess.

  “Oh, please don't,” Criosa replied, “this is hardly the time or the place. Just call me Criosa.”

  “Certainly, Highness,” Nellise said, apparently not having heard the previous sentence. “Your dress... did those men try to -”

  “Tried, yes, but I'm quite alright, I assure you,” Criosa interrupted. Aiden looking warily at Nellise, seeing a familiar look in her eyes as Criosa's appearance brought back unwanted memories. Nellise appeared to be struggling to maintain her composure as she ran a gloved hand through her long hair.

  “Nellise, stay with us now,” Aiden gently assured her, trying to keep her focused. The poor woman had been thrown into this situation with hardly any time to recover, and it seemed like the constant challenges had actually done her some good, keeping her mind busy. But in all the confusion and conflict, Aiden had almost forgotten that such traumas are not so easily forgotten.

  “Are you not well?” Criosa asked with uncertainty, looking back and forth between Nellise and Aiden, trying to ascertain what was going on.

  “Nellise will be fine, because we’re safe, and nothing will hurt her ever again,” Aiden said in a soft voice. These words were aimed at Nellise, and had the desired effect of calming the acolyte and bringing her attention to the pressing needs of the moment. She looked at him with fond appreciation and a little blind faith Aiden knew was keeping her going.

  “Let me take a look at that,” Nellise said, wiping a stray tear from her face and kneeling beside him as Sayana joined them.

  “Where’s Pace?” Aiden asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Sayana answered as she inspected her wounds, “but he was okay when I last saw him.”

  “Everyone just sit back and relax,” Nellise instructed. “I shall perform a group healing. Please, Your Highness, sit down, and your head wound shall be mended.”

  “Oh, you're that proficient?” Criosa remarked, sitting down at a small desk. “How fortunate, I didn't realise Lachburne had any gifted people at their loc
al chapel.”

  “No, I'm from Culdeny,” Nellise clarified. “Perhaps Aiden can explain while I heal.”

  “Sure, it's not like I'm in terrible pain, or anything,” he muttered, with more than a little sarcasm. “I'm sorry, Your Highness, but we don't represent a large, armed force that was sent to rescue you. We're just a group of people caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, but with the right skills to make a difference. I'm Aiden Wainwright, and this talented young lady is Nellise Sannemann. Over there is Sayana Arai and Dante Colt.”

  “It is a pleasure to meet you all,” Criosa replied warmly, “and you have my deepest gratitude for your timely intervention.”

  “Timely?” Colt asked politely, having glared at Aiden since his taboo first name had been mentioned.

  “Yes, later today, they were going to move me to Culdeny after seizing control of the port. Heaven knows what they had planned for me.”

  “It's a shame I had to let Bartlett go,” Aiden mused, feeling more relaxed as the healing energies did their work, filling the air with the pleasant aroma of summer breezes. “He probably could have told us everything we needed to know. What happened out in the main room anyway?” he asked of Colt.

  “We won,” he shrugged in reply. “The ones we locked outside ran around the back, but they never came in. Not sure what happened there, but I'm guessing they probably ran off with Bartlett.”

  “We already do,” Criosa said ominously. “I overheard the cads who kidnapped me, who are even now heading to Culdeny with the intention of laying siege to the town.”

  “I appreciate your concern,” Aiden replied tiredly. “But what do you expect us to do about it? They've got a full company of a hundred men or more, and we're just five people.”

  “Six, for I would be accompanying you,” Criosa corrected.

  “You?” Aiden exclaimed, suddenly fully awake. “We just went to a great deal of trouble to get you out of harm's way, and you want to head straight back into it?”

  “Given the choice, I would, of course, prefer to remain some place safe,” she explained, “but I will not sit idly by while treasonous men like Ronald Bartlett plot to take my father's Kingdom away from him!”

  “I like her,” Sayana remarked. “You have spirit, but can you fight?”

  “I'd certainly be dead without her help,” Aiden commented. “And I'll never look at cutlery in quite the same way again.” Criosa beamed at him, buoyed by his support for her position.

  “I have been trained by experts in swordsmanship, magic, and a few other skills for most of my life, so I assure you, I can hold my own,” Criosa said.

  “Good, then you should be escorted back to Bracksford where you will be safe,” Sayana told her firmly. “I have seen more than my share of battle in these last few weeks, and I would not wish it upon anyone, especially for someone so young.”

  “I'm nearly eighteen!” Criosa protested, managing to sound a little like a spoilt twelve year-old in the process. “That is precisely the attitude my father had, leaving me at Fort Highmarch for months while he went off to wage war.”

  “And look what happened when you decided to leave,” Colt grunted. “At the first opportunity, you get kidnapped by an enemy of the Crown. Nice work there, I'd love to have you on the front line with us.”

  “Sarcasm is the refuge of the simple mind,” Criosa replied archly. “Now, I need you to come with me to Culdeny. If they haven't been attacked already, then they soon will be. They don't have the manpower or the defences to withstand a concerted assault.”

  “Funny, neither do we,” Aiden mumbled tiredly.

  “All we need to do is remove their leadership,” Criosa persisted. “They are mercenaries - without their command structure, the attack will surely falter.”

  “She's right about that,” Colt remarked, leaning against the doorway. “Once they lose the man paying their wage, they're likely to bugger off. We'd have to hit them from behind, of course, but if we go straight there, and make sure the attack is under way before we strike... you know, we could probably do it. If we time it right, we could hit them just after dawn tomorrow,” Colt mused, rubbing his unshaven stubble thoughtfully.

  “Alright, you’ve sold me on the idea,” Aiden finally stated, “but I can't speak for any of you. This is a big task, no matter which way you look at it, and we might not all make it through to the end this time.”

  “It's my duty to do as the Crown bids,” Colt responded, “and she bids me to go save Culdeny. So that's what I'm gonna do.”

  “Culdeny is my home,” Nellise said quietly. “I will do my part to defend it, and if that requires me to give my life, then I do so gladly that others might be saved.”

  “You will need me,” Sayana stated. “How else do you expect to slay so many warriors with so few of your own?”

  “I was rather hoping you'd say that,” Aiden replied, genuinely pleased she had chosen to come along. Though she still seemed wary about him, she was at least prepared to fight alongside him one more time, despite whatever risk she thought he posed to her.

  “Well, I guess you have your answer, Highness,” Aiden told Criosa with a smile.

  “Smashing,” she remarked with satisfaction. “Let us have a quick meal then embark. The longer we wait, the greater the risk to Culdeny.” The sound of something being dragged along the floor outside room interrupted their conversation. Pacian, completely out of breath, leaned against the door and behind him was the body of Ronald Bartlett.

  “I was starting to worry about you mate,” Aiden said as he approached and quickly went through the body’s pockets, hoping there might be a scrap of information. What he produced was a short note on a folded piece of paper. He read through and instantly knew he had stumbled across something important.

  “Looks like Ronald was taking orders from someone else,” he said to the others. “I think we just stumbled across an important piece of evidence.”

  “This almost makes up for the other crap you’ve done,” Colt mumbled to Pacian, who simply grinned as he caught his breath.