Unicorns' Opal (16 page)

“Interesting,” mused Alex. “The army is forming already, although it is in secret and must remain so.”

“So it has begun?” inquired Kripp. “There are many here who would like to share the voyage to Tagaret with you then.”

“It would be much better if they prepared here and came when we needed them,” replied Alex. “It is hard to hide a great number of men in Tagaret. Tice is far enough out of the way to be easily overlooked by our enemies.”

“Why not hide the army up here then?” questioned Kripp.

“That is along the lines of what I was thinking,” nodded Alex. “Can it be kept quiet?”

“I am sure it could be,” answered Kripp. “Mind you, there are a lot of troublemakers here in Tice, but I think that is because they have nothing to live for other than making trouble. A few good officers brought in would shape these men up in no time.”

“It would mean making regular runs with your ships again,” cautioned Alex.

“As I said,” grinned Kripp, “I am quite wealthy. Besides, if it is coming to pass, Oscar’s money can be used. Seeing as you already know Larc, you will know where to find the money.”

“Larc grew up in my village,” smiled Alex. “I know him well. He is already aware of what is happening.”

“Will I ever get to meet the lad?” questioned Kripp.

“He is with me now,” admitted Alex. “Although, I am not sure which one he is.”

“It sounds like I will be sailing with you then,” declared Kripp. “When do you want to leave?”

“Tomorrow morning if you can arrange that,” replied Alex.

“We will be ready,” assured Kripp.

Alex bid Fram’s son farewell and headed for the Tice Inn. Jenneva had secured three rooms and Tanya was waiting for Alex to show him the way. She led him upstairs and pointed to his room and then returned to the room she was sharing with Niki. When she entered the room, she noticed that Niki was gone. She removed her sheath and tossed it on the bed and pulled the chair over to the window. It was too early in the day to go to bed and if Niki was taking a bath, she would have to wait her turn. Jenneva had warned them not to go out exploring the town and Tanya didn’t know what to do with herself.

Tanya plopped down on the chair and leaned out of the window as she gazed at the sprawling frontier town. Alex had indicated that they would be leaving in the morning so this was the only view of Tice she was likely to get. Not that there was much to look at, Tanya chuckled to herself. She continued to gaze out of the window and gasped when she saw Niki emerge from the inn. Tanya had assumed that Niki was taking a bath and she mentally kicked herself for not keeping track of where her roommate had gone.

Tanya jumped out of the chair and bolted for the door. She grabbed her staff as she exited the room and raced down the stairs. As she exited the inn, she saw Niki turn off the street several blocks ahead of her. She ran down the center of the street towards the intersection that Niki had turned at. When she paused to look down the cross street, she realized that everyone was watching her. She saw Niki a block ahead of her and starting walking swiftly after her instead of running.

Niki did not appear to be in any hurry as Tanya followed her and soon Tanya had slowed to a stroll so she would not catch up to Niki. She was curious about what Niki was up to. The redhead appeared to be looking at the shops and homes as she walked, her head swinging from side-to-side as if she was searching for something in particular. Tanya stayed about a block behind Niki and tried to determine what the girl could be looking for.

Tanya tensed as Niki entered an intersection and four men who were leaning against a building suddenly headed towards the redhead. Tanya started to pick up her pace, but the men looked towards her and changed course. Instead of bothering Niki, the men were heading towards Tanya. Tanya adopted a scowl and moved to go around the men, but one of them grabbed her arm and spun her into the arms of another man.

“Let go of me,” demanded Tanya. “I don’t want to have to hurt you.”

The men erupted in laughter and Tanya saw Niki turn and stare in her direction. Niki made eye contact with Tanya and took off running. Tanya tried to wiggle free of the man’s grip, but he just laughed and grabbed her around her waist.

“So little girl, are you going to start hurting me now, or would you rather play nicely,” laughed the man holding her.

The other three men began to gather in front of her and Tanya sprang into action. She moved her hips to one side and brought her staff up hard behind her. The man holding her grunted and she felt his arms fall away from her waist. She reversed the staff and brought it up under the chin of one of the men in front of her. A resounding crack split the air as the man was lifted off his feet and collapsed backwards. Tanya let her legs buckle and her knees hit the street as she swung the staff in a low arc and connected with the next man’s ankles. As the man toppled to the ground, Tanya rolled away from him and jumped to her feet. The last man was charging her with rage in his eyes. He pulled a sword out of its sheath and attacked her. Tanya shoved the end of the staff into the man’s stomach and then twirled around in a complete circle bringing the staff around to crack against the man’s head.

A crowd had gathered to watch the short display and Tanya tried to peer through it to find Niki, but could not. She broke into a run and the crowd swiftly parted to let her through. She heard a great roar of laughter behind her as one of the men tried to get to his feet, but she ignored it as she tried to find her roommate. When she reached the next intersection, she could find no sign of Niki.

***

Arik and Fredrik sat in the common room of the Tice Inn eating a bowl of hot stew. They looked up as the door flew open and rose to their feet as Niki raced in.

“Niki,” called Fredrik, “what were you doing outside? We were told to stay here at the Inn.”

“It is not my fault,” blubbered Niki. “I didn’t want to go out, but I had to. Don’t tell on me. You promised to protect me.”

“I didn’t promise,” Arik stated. “There is a reason we were told to stay here at the inn. You cannot pick and chose what orders you will follow. You could have gotten hurt out there.”

“I only went out to follow Tanya,” scowled Niki. “She is up to something devious and I wanted to find out what it was.”

“Tanya is out too?” questioned Arik. “Where is she? We must get her back here before she gets in trouble.”

“It is too late,” declared Niki. “She picked a fight with a bunch of men. I just barely made it back here without them knowing I was with her. I could have been hurt.”

“Fredrik,” ordered Arik, “take her to her room and get Alex. I think we will have to go rescue Tanya and I want Alex with us.”

Niki raced up the stairs at the mention of Alex’s name and Fredrik followed to summon Alex. Arik looked towards the kitchen and saw the innkeeper staring at him. The innkeeper immediately turned and fled back into the kitchen. The door opened again and Arik wished he had his staff or sword available. A man with a mess of red hair entered the common room and looked around as Fredrik hurried down the steps with two staffs. He tossed one to Arik.

The man stood in the doorway staring at Arik and then Fredrik. After a moment, he shook his head and closed the door. The innkeeper came out and greeted the new arrival and the man ordered an ale and took a seat at one of the tables. Alex came down the stairs and nodded to the new arrival as he approached Arik.

“I heard that Tanya is in trouble,” Alex said softly. “Do you know where she is?”

Arik shook his head as the door opened again and Tanya stepped into the inn. Tanya did not appear to be in a hurry or battered in any way. Alex motioned her over.

“What are you doing out of the inn?” questioned Alex softly. “I thought it was clear that Tice is not a town to be out alone in.”

“I am sorry, Alex,” apologized Tanya. “I won’t go out any more.”

“I thought you had better sense than that, Tanya,” frowned Alex. “We were just going out to find you. When I tell you not to go out, there is a reason for it. I do not speak just to hear myself. You are not the one I expected to break the rules.”

Tanya huffed up and glared at Alex. “I said I was sorry,” Tanya scowled. “I know how to take care of myself. Do you think we learn your lessons just for the exercise? Do you really think I cannot handle a few offensive men without the help of the great Alexander Tork? We agreed that we would follow your orders in battle, but that does not mean you own us. I said I was sorry and that is the best you are going to get.”

“How many offensive men?” pushed Alex.

Just then the front door banged open and the four men piled into the inn. They spotted Tanya and rage filled their faces.

“Four,” Tanya answered meekly.

Alex pulled his sword and stepped between Tanya and the four new arrivals.

“Out of our way,” growled one of the men. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“Take it outside,” shouted the innkeeper. “I will not have your fights in here. Get out.”

“I am afraid it does concern me,” Alex stated grimly. “The girl is traveling with me and I will not see harm come to her.”

“Then we will just have to cut through you to get to her,” sneered another of the new arrivals.

“Perhaps,” smiled Alex as he remembered Tanya’s stinging words. “Perhaps not. If you are willing to step outside and take her on one at a time, I will stay out of it. Otherwise, you will have to go through me and I play for keeps.”

“Stop,” shouted Kripp from his seat as he slammed his ale on the table. “Are there not enough of us dying already? What has the girl done to offend you?”

“Stay out of this Kripp,” scowled one of the men. “It is none of your affair. I would think you would take the side of your own people and not strangers anyway.”

“Perhaps I am doing just that,” Kripp said as he stood. “I know you men and, while you are a bit on the wild side, I don’t fancy watching you die.”

“Die?” laughed one of the men. “I don’t think so. We just wanted to teach the lass a lesson in manners, but if her friend wants to make it more serious, that is okay by me. There are four of us and only one of him.”

“Yes, four to one,” nodded Kripp. “Pretty poor odds from where I sit. Perhaps you should go get some more of your friends to even up the odds.”

“What you think we need help?” laughed one of the men. “You are going daft in that empty warehouse of yours, Kripp. There isn’t man alive that could take the four of us.”

“Not even Alexander Tork?” questioned Kripp.

“Hah,” spat one of the men. “Tork is a legend, but we said alive. Tork died in the Collapse.”

“I am sorry, Alex,” Kripp said shaking his head. “I tried my best to warn them, but I guess there is no talking to some people.”

“Thank you for trying, Kripp,” nodded Alex.

The men were looking at Alex curiously now, not sure if Kripp was trying to put one over on them.

“My offer still stands for you to try the girl one at a time,” Alex offered. “It is the last time I will make it. If you will move away from the door, the girl and I will step out into the street.”

“Are you really going to let her fight alone?” whispered Arik.

“It is what she wants,” nodded Alex. “She is right that I did not give her enough credit for her skills. She can handle herself fine.”

The four men backed into the street and Kripp hurried to exit the inn right after them to make sure they were not setting up an ambush. Alex led Tanya outside and Arik and Fredrik followed. Alex and Tanya stopped in the middle of the street where many people had gathered because of the commotion.

“Would you care to borrow a staff?” Alex asked the men.

“Are you really Alexander Tork?” questioned one of the men.

Alex just nodded.

“Perhaps we were a bit hasty then,” smiled one of the men. “We didn’t really mean any harm.”

Two of the other men nodded their heads and backed into the crowd, but the man who had originally grabbed Tanya glared at her and asked for a staff. Alex nodded to Fredrik and Fredrik tossed the man his staff. The crowd formed a circle and Alex backed up to become part of it.

Tanya stood warily as she watched how the man gripped the staff. It was obvious to her that the man was more skilled with a sword than a staff and she devised her attack accordingly. She stood with her feet spread apart and the staff before her with its tip resting on the ground. She appeared at ease, but Alex could see the tenseness of her muscles. The man charged at her with the staff behind him as if he was going to swing it at the top of her head. Tanya slid her hands down the staff slightly without moving it and waited. As the man got within range, Tanya powered the end of her staff upward and smacked into the man’s hands. His staff went flying from his hands. As soon as her staff made contact, she slid her hands forward and reversed the staff so that the other end rammed into the man’s stomach. She heard him grunt as she twirled to her left, allowing the far end of her staff to drop towards the ground. As she completed the circle, her staff snapped into the man’s legs and knocked him to the ground. Before the man could recover, she extended the far end of her staff to press gently against the man’s throat. The man looked up at her in a daze and the crowd broke out in applause. Tanya slowly backed away from the man in case he decided to continue the battle.

Alex walked over to the man and extended his hand to help the man up. The man accepted the help up, but tried to push away from Alex as he gained his feet. Alex held the man’s hand firmly and pressed his mouth close to the man’s ear.

“I know you feel humiliated being beaten by a mere girl,” Alex whispered, “but before you do something foolish, listen to the crowd. It is not laughter at your defeat that you hear. It is applause for her display of skill. Her skill is rare for a person of any age, but even more rare in a girl so young. Now is an important time for you. You can allow yourself to be humiliated or you can join them in her praise. You will appear good natured and bold for being the only one to have challenged her. The choice is yours.”