Taking a tentative step in a direction chosen on instinct alone, I tried to judge where I was going. Could have been up, could have been down. Left was no better. Nor right. And then I realized I was even more lost than before.
Glitch scampered by my side, undaunted by the snow. Maybe he could help? I bent to ask him, and that chance change in angle let me see the figure moving in the darkness. Tall, broad shouldered, long coat. Thank god.
“Karnac,” I called, my voice snatched away by the wind. Taking a deep breath, I bellowed with all the force I had in me. “KARNAC. I’m here, I need you.”
Waving my hands wildly, hoping the motion would get his attention if my shouting didn’t, I must have looked a fool. But it worked, the shadowy figure froze for a moment, then changed course to head for us. Glitch glowed brighter, the snow turning his light into a glittering kaleidoscope.
Any other day, I’d have watched that with glee. Not today. Today, I stamped my way through the snow toward our Prytheen rescuer. My only thought for the light was that it would show him where we were, and maybe let me see his face.
At last, he stepped into the light. My relief turned to surprise turned to shock. The ruddy stains on his coat were new, and his hair was short, framing a face with a vicious burn scar across his left cheek.
Not Karnac. I blinked, backed off a step, trying to fit that into my mind somehow, but the shock was too great. I hadn’t even drawn breath to scream when he grabbed me.
8 Karnac
The snow felt endless, an interesting effect that I’d love to understand. Maybe some human had an answer — if I ever saw one again, I’d ask. Right now, it seemed like dawn might as well be a year away.
I’d lost the trail of whoever I’d been following somewhere after the snowstorm properly started, worse luck, and now I had no idea where they sheltered. Nor, unfortunately, where I’d left the humans. By now they’d have found out I’d vanished, and I wondered how they’d take my foolishness. My heart broke at the thought of Molly, peering through the storm from inside the station and trying to find me.
I hoped I hadn’t hurt her too much, and I hoped that I’d be able to make it back to her.
That was when I heard the shriek. No Prytheen made that noise, no human either. Loud and high-pitched, it cut through the muffling snow like a laser through butter. For a moment I thought it was a native animal, but then I recognized something about it. I’d heard this noise before, in more pleasant conditions.
Glitch! I turned into the storm, toward the sound of Molly’s companion, and ran. Making headway against the wind and snow wasn’t easy, but if my khara’s companion was in danger, then so was she. That gave me fresh strength, and I raced ahead. Strange lights flickered through the snow, getting stronger as I approached. Framed in the light, I spotted a silhouette.
Two silhouettes. One my size, a Prytheen or a giant of a human. One smaller, bundled up but instantly recognizable despite the shapeless parka that hid her face and figure. Molly. Rage flooded through me as I saw more details — he had his hand on her throat, and she kicked at him desperately. Her hands pulled at his wrist, but that was a futile effort.
When his free hand reached for the fastening of her parka, I put my head down and charged. The storm covered much of my approach, but at the last moment the other Prytheen must have heard me coming. He turned his head in my direction, eyes going wide, and flung Molly at me.
Instinct told me to dodge, get past the attack, strike before my opponent recovered. I fought that instinct, catching Molly instead and cushioning her fall. The impact knocked the breath from her, but behind her goggles her eyes went wide.
“Karnac?” she gasped. I wished I had the time to answer her, reassure her, but our foe was almost on us. I dropped Molly — she hit the snow with an oof, I winced and promised myself I’d apologize later — drew my sword and leaped to meet him.
His blade sliced through the snow, slamming into my parry with enough force to knock me aside. Strong, but no finesse. With a twist of my wrist, I dropped my blade under his and cut back up, aiming for his arm.
He should have backed off, dodging my blow and giving us both a chance to adjust. Instead, he did the most foolish thing I’d ever seen. As soon as my blade left his, he lunged.
Stupid, reckless, and damned near enough to kill me. I twisted out of the way at the last moment, my attack ruined as I jumped sideways. A flash of teeth on my enemy’s face and he was after me, sword swinging high, low, high again. Driven backward, I parried each blow, studying my opponent as I went.
Fast. Skilled. Confident, perhaps overconfident — we’d know which when the duel ended. We’d both studied the sword, though from different masters. His style was based on speed and fury, mine more measured and balanced.
“You’re good,” I said, panting breaths freezing in the air. “What is your name? I am Karnac of Clan Layol, and that was my khara you struck.”
That flashing grin again, hungry and menacing. “Ah, Layol, the ones who brought us our weapons on the front line. I am Torgek of Vindar, and if you surrender now, we may allow you to join us.”
Of Vindar. I drew a sharp breath: omitting the ‘clan’ from that sentence meant that he was in Alpha-Captain Vindar’s pack, serving the man directly. That implied Vindar was here, on Crashland, but hadn’t chosen to contact the Joint Colony, and that implied hostile intentions. I had to return to the Colony and warn Auric.
His followers specialized in ground assaults, and I was used to their scorn. Stupid, adolescent scorn, since without us to supply them, their weapons and ships would have run dry quickly. And every Prytheen, regardless of clan, is a warrior.
To prove that, instead of parrying the next attack, I beat it aside, striking with all my might. A dangerous tactic; if he’d seen it coming I’d have left myself open, but he’d become complacent.
My blade struck his and knocked it away, the shock jarring me and weakening his grip. Seizing the opportunity, I sliced sideways, aiming for his neck.
Torgek was faster than I’d expected, leaping back. Instead of a fatal blow to the jugular, I merely grazed his chin. Still, first blood. Perhaps it would suffice.
“Surrender,” I offered. “We will treat you well.”
“You think this wound will take me down? You’re too used to fighting other box-pushers, Karnac. Come on, let’s fight, damn you.”
With that, he sprung forward, thrusting for my heart with all his speed. So fast! If I hadn’t been expecting it, he’d have run me through. But I’d not expected him to take my offer, and his eyes had given away his target. I stepped aside, letting his sword pass me. His foot came down on the snow and slipped, putting him off balance before he recovered from the attack.
I launched an overarm cut at his head.
Torgek’s eyes went wide as he saw my move unfold. He might be able to pull his blade around into a cut at my side, but even if he managed, we’d trade hits. His a weak cut, mine a deathblow.
His trained instincts kicked in, twisting his arm and pulling it up to block me. Our forearms crashed together, pain shot through me, and he staggered back off balance. I stepped up close to slam my left fist into his ribs. Something cracked, all the air left his lungs explosively, and my sword opened his neck.