ssage out of the caverns. To reach it, we must use that passage.” Markaeus pointed his finger directly across the room. “Farther on, we must pass a guard station. I slipped inside unseen when the sentries were on the north patrol, but there may be no way past them now.”
“Maybe we should try the main entrance, then.” Charles suggested.
“No, there are even more guards at the cavern entrance.”
“We may as well surrender,” Haegen said. “I’ll simply go back to the children’s chamber and await my birthingday. Perhaps I can find some way to resist taking Vindrake’s bloodbond.”
His forlorn tone tore at Charles’ heart. “Hold on, here. I’m not giving up. If I get you to that passageway, can you get away from here on your own?”
“We can make a run for Laegenshire. I’ve been there before, and I have a few supplies for the journey. My bread is ruined from the water, but the cheese should be good enough.” Markaeus patted the rucksack beneath his soggy cloak. “But won’t you be going with us?”
“I’ll try, boys, but if the guards stop me, you keep running. Okay? For now, let’s make a plan. I don’t have my favorite weapon with me, but I do have a few tricks up my sleeve. Or a few cans…”
*****
Taking advantage of the still-tolling bell, Graely motioned the other three to crouch with him beside the cavern entrance. Removing one of the bundles of special fiery noisemakers Charles had secreted for him in Montana, Graely handed the small bag to Naegle, along with a box of tiny wood fire-starters, motioning with his hands. He’d hoped to save the “firecrackers” and “matches,” as Charles had called them, to aid them in their retreat, but perhaps they’d have enough left for that purpose at the end.
Naegle inched his way up the rocky precipice over the opening of the cave. Reluctant to waste his precious supply, Graely hadn’t afforded his men much practice. So he hoped Naegle could properly time the lighting and throwing of the miniature sticks with the deafening bang. Lying on his side, Naegle wedged his foot under a rock, stretching his upper body above the opening. A tiny flame flared at the end of the fire-starter. As he touched the fire to the wicks, the noisemakers sizzled and smoked. Graely held his breath, counting in his head. One. Two. Three. Four. Naegle bent his body down into the cave opening, swinging his arm in a wide arc and throwing the bundle inside. Five. Six. Seven.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shouts and screams erupted with the bangs. The head guard burst from the opening, scrambling to make the sharp turn on the rocky ledge while his attention was still riveted on the exploding noisemakers. Beside him, Morvaen lunged at the guard knocking him off the ledge to fall screaming and flailing to the waters below. With his cries of alarm covered by the commotion within the cavern, another guard ran outside through the opening, unaware of the danger awaiting him.
Naegle, having dropped down the opposite side, engaged the sentry who’d turned that direction. Unfortunately, Naegle’s guard was massive and would have been much more suited to battle Morvaen. Yet, catching him by surprise with his eyes better adjusted to the dark, Naegle stabbed his side and sent him to the ground.
Three more sentries rushed from the cave, jostling one another as they ran. With his short sword drawn, Graely took aim at a guard with a grey cap. Ramming with his shoulder, he tried to push the guard off the ledge as Morvaen had done. But as Grey Cap toppled toward the edge of the cliff, he grasped Graely’s hair. Grey cap hit the ground rolling, hefting Graely after him, propelled by the painful pull on his roots.
“Umph!” Air thrust from Graely’s lungs on impact. A sharp rock dug into his brow bone. Toppling over the edge, the guard grappled for a hold on the rocky cliff, one hand remaining firmly attached to Graely’s hair. The rocks scraped Graely’s face and chest as the struggling, screaming guard dangled in the air, suspended only by his grip on Graely’s hair.
The relentless rocking weight pulled him further over the edge of the cliff, until Graely lifted his sword to swipe blindly at the offending hand. The heavy mass released as Graely’s sword severed hair, scalp, and hand to break the connection, and the guard fell screaming to the ocean. But Graely’s upper half hung over the cliff and, even without Grey Cap’s weight, he felt his body slipping over the edge.
Clank! He jammed his sword at the sheer rock, desperately searching for a purchase.
Clank! The blade bounced off, and he slipped further.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Clunk! The sword jammed into a rocky crevice below him and held fast. He pushed against the blade hilt straining to hold himself steady, his muscles trembling with the sustained effort. Hanging upside down as he listened to the progress of the battle on the cliffs above, the blood rushed to his head. His vision narrowed. I’m going to black out.
On the ledge, someone rammed a boot into his calf. He heard a yell and a thud. Then came a clash of metal, another shout, and a body rolled over the cliff to his left. Someone grabbed his boot, but he jerked until the offender released him.
“Hie!” Morvaen’s voice floated down. “Kick me again, and I’ll simply leave you here.”
Graely’s feet were lifted and his body scraped its way back up onto the cliff. Abandoning the blade, which was wedged tight, he let himself be dragged up to the safety of the ledge.
“You’ve been scalped.” Morvaen bent over, examining his head.
“Yes, I wanted to test my blade’s edge.” Graely didn’t bother to explain his rueful remark. He sat up, probing tentative fingers against the raw bloody skin and finding a great chunk of hair missing as well.
“We need to press on before we lose our advantage. Your head and face are bleeding, and your eye is swelling. Perhaps you should remain behind and meet up with Ochraen and Flaeren by the air intake.” From Morvaen’s expression, Graely knew he must look terrible.
“I’ll be fine.” He couldn’t stay outside for the same reason he’d refused to remain behind when the rescue team was formed. He couldn’t stand back and let someone else attempt to rescue his son from Vindrake’s clutches.
Worster ripped off his tunic and tore it into strips, helping Graely bind his head. “Of course you must come, Graely. Only let us take the lead, now. Kaevin will not wish us to rescue him and lose his father in the process.” Worster mumbled as he worked, casting Graely a mournful gaze, no doubt due in large part from having lost his own father in the last battle against Water Clan.
“Hurry!” Naegle rasped. “I hear voices returning to the entrance from within the cavern.”
Pushing the pain of his injuries to the back of his mind, Graely strove to clear his thinking. He edged behind Morvaen through the cavern entrance, noting the smoke billowing out from the passageway. Morvaen stopped, turning to place his hand on Graely’s shoulder.