Princess Rescue Inc (70 page)

“Yeah,”
Ryans sighed again. “Too bad we couldn't catch the damn thing. If it could be
domesticated it'd be one hell of a bomber,” he said suggestively. Deidra was
staring at him in shock at the very idea.

Perry
laughed over the link. “You’re full of ideas. Me, I'm all for killing it.
Trying to stand next to one of these critters on the ground is scary enough.”

The
princess's eyes widened. “An ancestor of mine tried many years ago.”

“What
happened?” he asked amused.

She
frowned. “He didn't live long.”

“Um...
Oh. Okay. What about the young? Raise them up right?” he asked.

She
cocked her head in thought. Her hand absently brushed through her bangs. “I
believe he did that. It is possible but they tend to become mean as they grow
older,” she smiled grimly. “But to get to the nest you would have to get
through the parents.”

He
chuckled. “Yeah, I don't suppose they breathe fire too?” he asked, hoping and
dreading the answer. She shook her head in a negative. He sighed in relief.
“Ah, well, that's to the good,” he said nodding. She nodded in turn.

“The
mountain nomads to the north of us use a similar beast. They are much smaller
and easier to handle,” she explained.

He
looked confused. “They can fly one?” he asked suddenly intent.

She
shrugged. “If you're small and lean. Child like. Most of their riders are
female,” she said. She smiled at that triumph of the sexes. “Their beasts are
the size of a...” She pointed to him then taller.

“About
the size of a horse then,” he said nodding. She looked confused and then nodded
when the translator finished. “Ah.” He nodded again. “Something to see another
day I suppose,” he smiled.

She
nodded. “Once, when I was very young the clans passed overhead. It was like a
rainbow. They blocked out the sun. Father had his hands full dealing with the
mess,” She shook her head.

Ryans
caught on right away. “Droppings?” he asked amused.

She
snorted and wrinkled her nose. “And the raids they did,” she grimaced in
memory. “They didn't take much, but a few took small children,” she said
looking away.

He
sighed. “Yeah, Nomads live off the land and rarely recognize the claims of
others,” he said. He nodded turning to the wagon master. “So men, soldiers I
take it?”

The
master blinked. “No um, some from the guards of Dominus Byron, but most are new
to war sir.” He nodded. “A handful of knights, those out wandering or in need
of good deeds to make a name for themselves with the court.” He held up a
slate, “food, both for men and animals. And of course the armor for the
beasts.” He waved to indicate the four fractious creatures tearing at the
carcass.

“They
seem to be like komodo dragons,” the corporal said coming up behind them. They
looked over to him. He was carrying a missile launcher. His partner came up
behind him with a spare tube. “Mornin' folks. Nice time to go hunting.” He
looked up to the dragon. “As long as you’re the one doing the hunting, later.”
He tipped a finger to an imaginary hat then walked off to a nearby clearing.

<==={}------------>

“You
know, I always thought the reason you folks had stuck to a medieval society was
due to a lock on society by the upper class, and periodic warfare,” Ryans
motioned to the great beasts. “That sort of knocks that thought aside. No
wonder even your villages have moats and walls.” He snorted as one of the beasts
raised a frill and began to caw.

Deidra
nodded. “It is much safer to be behind stout stone walls. Wood is a poor second
choice,” she said, shaking her head. “Though had we your weapons...” she said
ingeniously. They had all seen the corporal take down the dragon. It had been a
spectacular explosion that had lit the skies around the area... and rained bits
all over the clearing and the awed men and women below. Fortunately no one had
been seriously hurt. Splattered yes, hurt no.

Ryans
nodded. “Yeah, I can imagine. I'm glad we didn't run into many of those out in
the woods. The
basilisk
was bad enough!”

Deidra
shivered a little then smiled. “Most of the predators near a town or village
have been driven off.”

He
nodded. “I can't blame you a bit. Despite being on a totally alien world, your
people have done wonders surviving and thriving.” He watched one of the great
Titans snort then scratch at an itch. A handler hurried over with a pole to
scratch it before the beast yanked the wagon it was tethered to around like a
toy.

“So
what do you call those anyway?” Perry asked. “The war ones not the others,” he
clarified. Pendragon had only said equestrus or equestres and not named them.

The
princess cocked her head. “The caravan animals are bos. The others are bestrum
barrus of course. Or titan barrus as the southerners say,” she said airily. She
cocked her head at them as the translator did its magic. Bestrum meant war,
Barrus meant elephant. Ryans and Perry exchanged amused looks.

“Ah...”
Perry looked bemused, rubbing the back of his head then tugging on one ear. “I
hate to break it to you, but that's
not
a Terran elephant,” he said
carefully. She looked at him, eyes twinkling a little. He smiled. “Honest
in-jun princess, Terran elephants aren't
nearly
that big. And they're
mammals. Four legs.” He held up four fingers. “Big ears,” He tapped his ears.
“Long trunk snout and a short whip like tail. They also didn't eat meat.”

She
blinked at him then to Ryans who nodded. “Call these native elephants. Or titan
barrus or hex elephants or Titans, or something.” He shrugged. “Elephants for
short,” he smiled to Perry who nodded.

She
seemed to wiggle a little then shrug. “If you say so,” she finally replied,
slightly exasperated. The gaijin loved to put names on things, names that
really served little purpose.  Names that set them apart from Patria
animals. She cocked her head to them. A guard cleared his throat.

Ryans
caught the anxious look. “I believe your escort is trying to politely keep you
on schedule,” he murmured smiling. The princess sighed giving the hapless guard
a dirty look. Perry rolled his eyes, fortunately out of her range of view.
Still she knew from Ryans' look he had done something and turned to him, eyes
glittering slightly. He froze and then relaxed. She tilted her chin upward. He
seemed to straighten under her regard reflexively. The guard did as well.

“I
shall be about my duties. As
you
should be,” she said regally. She
turned a gimlet eye on each of them then left in a huff.

Perry
waited until she was out of earshot and then chuckled softly. “Quite a handful,
one hell of a spitfire. You've got your work cut out for you.”

Ryans
gave him a dirty look. “Don't remind me,” he growled and then sighed.

<==={}------------>

They
heard a scream and braying cry and spun in place. Ryans felt the hair on the
back of his head go up and a sinking sensation in his stomach. One of the
lighter war beasts was loose, it had slammed the guard and grooms to the ground
and was trying to chew on one of them. Its claws raked at the shrieking man's
body. It was muzzled, so it couldn't bite.

Deidra
was down, knocked clear or she had fallen out of reach. Men were scrambling.
Perry and Ryans leapt in. Ryans lunged in, grabbing the beast's headstall as it
turned on the fallen princess. “Oh no you don't,” he snarled. He bore down on
the head with his full weight and strength. The muscles in the neck were ropy,
but another handler threw his weight on the other side. Its head slowly sank to
the ground.

It
tried to buck but they bore down harder and more men came to their rescue.
“Well this is fun,” he muttered.

“Stand
clear so I can shoot it,” Perry called, having helped the others pull the
fallen victim to one side. Ryans grunted as the creature cawed. “Skull is as thick
as yours and sloped. You’re not going to penetrate with that pea shooter,” he
ground out between gritted teeth. The thing shook its head and it was all he
could do to hang on and keep bearing down. Perry grimaced.

Men
and boys were using shepherd crooks to hook to the rings on the animal's
harness, and then driving the long spiked end of the crooks into the ground.
Lines were tossed over it and tied off. Perry helped two men pull the fallen
man clear. “Medic!” Perry screamed looking around and then whipping off his
belt to use as a tourniquet.

“This
is Five I need a medic at the convoy stat. Trauma, victim is a young adult
male, mauled by a creature,” he said, touching his bluetooth then patting the
man's shoulder.

“It's
okay, we've got him,” a boy said pulling at Ryans' sleeve.

“You
sure, I don't want that happening again,” Ryans snarled then slowly let go. The
animal tensed and rumbled, but didn't move. He could feel the raw energy as it
built up for a tantrum and then let it go as if letting go steam. It even
hissed like a steam kettle. He backed away as the boy shielded its eyes. He
backed up and then fell beside the princess. “You okay princess?” he asked
reaching for her.

She
blindly grabbed him and held on, sobbing. He sighed rubbing her back, using his
sore left arm to prop them both up into a sitting position. His whole body
shook like hers did, but his was more from muscle fatigue than lingering fear.
Perry looked over and grimaced. “No fair, you always get the girl,” he joked.
Ryans snorted. As Deidra calmed down she opened her eyes and noticed the blood.
She started to become concerned, possibly readying herself to scream so he
hastily assured her it was not his.

She
looked over to the guard. He was torn to ribbons, body covered in a blanket. Perry
was standing to one side looking grim. “Sorry ma'am, there was nothing we could
do.” He sighed waving the rushing medical team off. They slowed abruptly then
walked, taking in the scene. She nodded and gulped.

Perry
and Ryans helped her to her feet. She yelped when she put weight on her right
ankle and arm. “Seems like you twisted it in the fall,” Perry observed.

“Oh
well, here we go,” Ryans said, lifting her up into his arms. Instinctively her
arms went around his neck. She settled against his shoulder, eyes closed. She
seemed to relax, to take comfort in the gesture of support.

“Princess
rescue inc rides again,” Perry snorted. Ryans glared.

“I
heard that,” Deidra murmured. Ryans rumbled a chuckle. He carried her through
the town gates, through the town and up to the castle. He managed to make it up
the various stair cases, despite the looks of the staff, to her quarters but
was winded when he was done. For once he didn't give a shot about propriety,
his own feelings or of what message he was sending.

“Glad
I got my Wheaties,” he joked as he set her down. She still clung to him
fiercely, not letting go. In his attempt to set her down she knocked his
bluetooth from his ear.

“Never
let me go. Don't leave me,” she started to say, crying once more and clinging
to him fiercely. Zara arrived, face puffy. She took one look at him and
stumbled back eyes wide.

“It’s
not mine. The guard's,” Ryans said looking over to her as he stroked Deidra’s
hair. She looked torn and gulped. “I guess I need to freshen up. The princess
too, seems I got it all over her,” he sighed. “Sorry about that princess,” he
said. He looked around for his bluetooth then found it. He explained again.

Zara
nodded as a lady in waiting arrived wide eyed. “Hey,” he said quietly. He
patted Deidra’s head then stroked her fine, soft hair. “Hey,” he said again,
this time softer. She sniffled. “We need to get cleaned up and I need to answer
the call of nature. I've managed to hold it this long, but you’re squishing my
bladder and it's crying,” he said. She sniffled again, tightening her grip.

Zara
giggled. Deidra looked up to him and then over to her younger sister. “I'm not
going far, just going to go get cleaned up and stuff, I'll be back to check on
you in a moment. Okay? Let your sister and your friends get you out of that
bloody outfit and sorted out. You'll feel better. Where's Doc?” he asked
looking up to Zara.

Fresh
pain and anguish flashed over her face. She looked away, biting her lip. He
grimaced. “Never mind, I'll find her. Princess Zara your sister has a sprained
ankle and wrist. Right side. Be gentle please. Hopefully they aren't broken or
torn. Ask Doc to check when she's got a moment,” he said. He sighed in relief
as Deidra’s grip loosened. He patted her hands. “I'll be back.”

“Promise?”
she asked eyes locked to his.

“Sure
thing,” he smiled reassuringly. Zara came in as he moved aside and hugged her
sister. Deidra closed her eyes and sobbed once more, rocking in her sister's
arms. He sighed as he made his way out. He hadn't expected that, hadn't
expected Deidra of all people to go to pieces like that. She'd been a rock
throughout the trip. Apparently she'd let her guard down when she'd gotten
home, relaxed, and the sudden fright had broken through her control.

He
rolled his shoulders and flexed his arms. Courtiers were in the hall, they had
got a lot of looks from them as they had passed through the town and castle.
Some questioning, some approving, he'd ignored them all. Now he noticed them
and then shrugged. “Nothing to see here folks, the princess is okay. Her guard
was killed saving her from one of the war beasts and she's a little overwrought
and banged up by the experience. Move along,” he said motioning to them. Some
nodded and moved off. Others turned to one another and began to murmur. He
sighed as he made his way past them to his quarters. “Sue what’s going on?” he
asked tapping his bluetooth.