Legacy of the Darksword - Margaret Weis [124]
“Allow me, Your Majesty,” said Scylla, and advanced, barehanded, on the Technomancer wielding the scythe.
“Be careful, Scylla!” the darkrover shouted, using Mosiah’s voice.
The jaws of the hunterkill dribbled blood and saliva, its claws were red, blood smeared its black fur. I glanced over at its prey and was sorry I did. Hastily, I averted my gaze from what was left of the Technomancer’s body. It was covered with blood and daisies.
“That scythe can drain a person of Life,” Mosiah cautioned.
“I don’t know why you think that would affect me,” Scylla said, flashing Mosiah a grin and a wink.
She advanced on the Technomancer, watching his movements, and suddenly kicked out her leg in the path of the swinging scythe. Eliza covered her eyes. I watched in horror, expecting to see Scylla’s leg hacked off by the vicious blade.
The blade struck her combat boot and shattered, flying apart in thousands of tiny sparkling shards as if it had been brittle and fragile as ice. I could not see the expression on the silver-hooded head, but I could guess that he was staring at his weapon in astonishment. He quickly recovered, however, shifted his hands to use the scythe’s handle as a club, and tried to jab Scylla.
She struck out with the heel of her boot, catching the Technomancer full in the nose of his silver-hooded head. I heard a sickening, crackling sound and thought at first it was the silver armor’s defensive shield activating. A smear of blood blossomed on the silver hood. The sound had been the man’s nose breaking. He toppled over backward. A kick to the head while he was on the ground finished him.
“What’s going on in there?” a voice shouted from outside the cavern. “Is everything all right?”
“More Technos,” said Mosiah. He had retained his darkrover shape, his eyes glowed red and hideous. “They must be the ones guarding the teleporter. They’ll be here quickly. They’ve got a hover barge! Go!” he urged, waving bloody claws at us. “Take Father Saryon and Joram and go! I will deal with these.”
Saryon was on his knees, bending over the unconscious Joram. Eliza was at her father’s side, holding his hand. I wondered how we would manage to carry him with us, for he was a tall man and muscular.
“I won’t leave Joram,” said Saryon firmly.
“Nor will I,” Eliza said. Tears streamed down her face but I don’t believe that she was aware of them.
“Smythe has the antidote to the poison.” Saryon’s gaze went to Eliza. “Do you know where the Darksword is?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Then we must find it and give it to him. It is the only way to save your father’s life.”
“He may not keep his end of the bargain,” Scylla cautioned.
“Perhaps he will,” Saryon said bleakly. “He must.”
“We must carry him away from this place,” Scylla urged. “We should not leave him here for them to find. They might take out their wrath at your escape on him.”
She touched Joram on the forehead. Her deft hands glided smoothly over the broken skin, wiping away the blood.
Joram opened his eyes, blinked, as if he were looking into a dazzling light.
“The guards aren’t answering. Something’s wrong,” came the voice from outside the cavern. “I’m going to go check.” .
“Go!” Mosiah snarled. He bounded over to hide in the shadows near the cavern entrance.
“I can make it,” Joram said, fending off all offers of assistance. “I don’t need any help.”
As it was, he stumbled when he tried to rise, but Scylla was there, her strong arm and shoulder supporting him.
“Reuven,” she called, “take hold of him from the other side.”
I did as she commanded. Hastening to Joram’s side, I caught hold of him around the waist. He glowered at both Scylla and me and for a moment I thought he was going to defy us.
“If you don’t allow us to help you, sir,” Scylla said quietly, “you will not move ten paces from this spot. When you fall, your daughter will remain with you, as will Father Saryon. The Technomancers will catch them and that will be an end to all which you have struggled to protect. Is that what you want?”
Joram’s forbidding expression dissolved. He shook