Terrible Beast of Zor Page 9

  “Leave a few men at each to give the alarm and hold long enough to shift our army if necessary. But we will go on Danan’s word. He has never failed us.”

  Quickly the message went out, and within a short time Alcindor himself was at the pass of the twin oaks. These were two enormous trees that marked the narrow gap used as a passageway through the mountains. It had been impossible for the Zorians to storm this in the past, for here the Madrian archers could position themselves to shoot without exposing themselves.

  Quickly Alcindor and Glein arranged their men in ranks. Alcindor gave careful instructions. “Expect them to force their way through. The men in our front line will shoot their arrows, then fall back. The second line will have arrows on strings and let go another volley, then fall back. We will have three lines so that there will always be a shower of arrows upon the enemy.”

  “It’s a good plan,” Danan said. He clawed his whiskers thoughtfully. “Something may be different about their attack this time. I’ve heard about some kind of secret weapon or troops, some surprise that the Zorians are going to spring on us …”

  “We’ll meet them, whatever it is.” Then Alcindor lifted his voice, crying out, “Men, we must hold this line! We will hold!”

  A cheer went up, and the soldiers began to shout loudly, “For the name of the king!”

  “I would that King Alquin were here,” Danan said.

  “So do I, but he is not.”

  The two men stood waiting silently, and then Alcindor saw one of the advance scouts scrambling back from over the pass. The man’s eyes were wide, and he shouted, “They’re coming!”

  “How many?” Alcindor demanded, when the scout reached him, panting.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t stop. They have a fearful beast at the head of them. I never saw anything like it.”

  Alcindor saw men in the nearby ranks waver. They were superstitious, he knew, and he cried, “Do not be afraid! Hold your line!” He himself advanced, planted his feet, and kept his eyes fixed on the gap.

  Soon he could hear the sound of marching feet. He also heard voices raised in a battle song, coming loud and clear. Carefully he placed his best arrow on the string and stood waiting.

  The noise grew louder. Then he saw something move, but he could not tell what it was for a moment. Then he did see—and, stalwart as he was, his heart skipped a beat.

  A cry went up from the enemy then. “The beast has come, Madrians! The beast is here!”

  What Alcindor saw was terrifying indeed. He had never seen an animal larger than a bull, but this creature was much larger than that. It was surely larger than even the OldWorld elephants he’d heard about.

  The creature was gray with reddish eyes. Its back rose like a tower and was covered with huge armored plates. Its legs were thick as trees and had great claws that dug into the ground as it came. They were claws big enough to grasp a man. It had a long snout and a mouth full of sharp teeth.

  So this was the secret weapon that the Dark Lord has fashioned for the Zorians. It was a mutant, no doubt, from the time the earth had been torn by atomic warfare.

  “Stand fast! Make your arrows count!” Alcindor cried. “Aim for the riders if you can!”

  A platform had been harnessed to the monster’s back on which at least six men wearing armor were poised. They were archers and already had lifted their bows. Now they loosed a flight of arrows, and Alcindor saw three of his men fall.

  “Shoot!” he cried, and a flight of Madrian arrows filled the air. They were all concentrated either on the beast or on its riders—and none of them took effect. The animal’s heavy plates and the men’s body armor turned every arrow harmlessly aside.

  Again the enemy riders loosed their shafts with deadly aim.

  Alcindor knew at once that the situation was desperate. He shouted, “Keep up your fire! The troops will come in behind the creature if we let it advance.”

  The mammoth beast kept on coming through the narrow pass. Arrows struck it by the hundreds, but all were turned aside.

  And then Alcindor glimpsed the Zorian infantry advancing behind the beast. He ran forward as if daring the enemy to shoot. He put an arrow to his string and, breathing a plea to Goél for help, loosed it. “Shoot!” he ordered the men behind him. “Shoot!”

  Another line of Madrian archers shot and fell back, and a new line took their place. It was a steep pass, which was part of its advantage to the Madrians. The beast was having to climb upward as it came.

  The battle raged. A few brave men advanced to the very feet of the beast. It seized one of them with its trunk.

  At last, at close range and with an enormous flight of arrows, the men on the platform were brought down. Strangely, the beast now seemed uncertain. Perhaps it had been trained to obey the voice of one on its back, and now there was no voice to obey. The Zorians’ secret weapon hesitated, then slowly turned and lumbered back down the narrow pass.

  “We won!” Glein said. “We beat them!”

  “No, they will be back, and we did not hurt the beast at all,” Alcindor said grimly. “They’ll find some way to fight their way through.”

  “What can we do?”

  “I must report to the king. You’re in command, Glein, until I return.”

  Alcindor made a hard ride back to the city. Having thundered over the bridge and thrown himself off his steed, he raced up to the throne room. There he found King Alquin awaiting his report, and Alcindor poured it out without pausing. “And so we managed to hold, though we lost many good archers.”

  “But the beast will be back,” the king said wearily.

  “I fear so. And then, unless a miracle happens, all is lost.”

  The king summoned Count Ferrod and Ferrod’s close friend Asimov, the captain of the armies, who also had come in from the field. Asimov had not been in the battle, but he listened as Alcindor described it.

  “We must find a way to fight this terrible creature,” the king said.

  “There is no way, if what Alcindor says is true,” Ferrod said quickly. “A beast that cannot be killed with arrows is beyond us.”

  “I fear Count Ferrod is right,” the captain put in. “We can only surrender and make terms.”

  “Never!” the king cried.

  The argument became heated, but at the end King Alquin bowed his head in thought while everyone waited for his decision. Then the king looked up and said, “You are dismissed from your office, Asimov. The new captain will be Alcindor.”

  Anger flashed in the captain’s eyes, and he began to protest. But the king said, “That is all. Alcindor, our fate lies in your hands.”

  When Chief Thomor reported to Rondel what had happened in the battle, Rondel grunted. “So we did not win the victory. I am displeased.”

  Thomor shrugged. “It was just the first attempt. We destroyed at least fifty of them, and we lost only six men ourselves. They cannot keep losing troops like that.”

  “But the victory must be won quicker than this. Find some way to protect the men riding the beast. And I want the next attack made as soon as possible.”

  “There will be no stopping the beast, Rondel. And once we break through the pass and the beast is loosed among the Madrians, my men will pour through like a flood.”

  “Make it soon,” Rondel said. “The Dark Lord is impatient.”

  13

  The True Prince

  I like this place,” Alex said. “I have never known a place where I could come and feel such peace.”

  Lilith leaned back against a huge tree that arched over the river and closed her eyes. It was early afternoon, and the hot sun burned on the land. But it was cool here in the shadow of the tree, and the gurgling of the stream was a pleasant and delightful sound.

  “I love it here, too,” she said quietly.

  Lilith had never been drawn to anyone as she had been to this tall, auburn-haired youth who had come into her life. In fact, the two had grown very close during the days that he had been at the farm. N
ow she looked up at him and laughed. “There’s a bug in your hair,” she said. She leaned close and picked the bug out.

  “Did you know you have freckles?” he asked, looking at her nose.

  “I do know. When I was a little girl, I was ashamed of them. One time I made a flour paste and put it over my face. My father and mother laughed at me. Father said freckles are cute, but I hated them.”

  Alex put a finger on the bridge of her nose. “You have a cute nose,” he said. “But, yes, there are a few freckles.” Then he said thoughtfully, “Lilith, these days here at your home have been very good for me.”

  “They’ve been good for me too,” she said. “What are you going to do with your life when you leave here, Lex?” she asked suddenly. “You weren’t made to be a farmhand. You were made for better things. I’ve always known that.”

  “I may have been made for better things, but I’ve wasted my life.”

  And then Lilith said, as she had once before, “But a person can change.”

  He was about to answer, but he had no opportunity. In the distance, a rider was charging down the lane that led to the farmhouse.

  “Somebody’s in a hurry,” Alexander said. “Shall we go see who it is?”

  Lilith peered at the horseman. “It’s—it’s Alcindor.”

  “We’d better go quickly, then.”

  They ran across the field and arrived at the house just as Alcindor reached it from the road. His horse was streaked with foam and panting.

  Alcindor came down from the horse in one swift movement. “Prince Alexander,” he said, “I have bad news.”

  Lilith’s father was at the door, gaping. “P–Prince Alexander?” he stuttered.

  Alex glanced at Lilith, who appeared stunned. She could only stare at him. He said quietly, “Yes, Lilith. I am the prince.”

  “The true prince?” she whispered.

  “The true prince! Of course he’s the true prince!” Alcindor cried. “And there’s no time for idle talk. Everything has gone bad, my Prince.”

  “What’s happened, Alcindor?”

  “For some time we’ve been hearing that the Zorians have a secret weapon. Now they have launched it at us, and we’ve suffered a terrible defeat. We lost many good men, and we are going to lose more.”

  Alcindor gave a brief report of the Zorians’ “weapon”—a savage beast. He told them how the battle had gone. And then he said glumly, “I fear all is lost, Prince Alexander. The next attack the beast makes, he will break through our lines. Once he is through the pass, our men will flee. They cannot stand against him.”

  Everyone’s eyes were on Alex, who stood absolutely still. His life seemed to flash before his eyes. He bitterly regretted the wasted years and wished with all his heart that he had been different. Then he turned to Lilith. “You told me,” he said, “that a person can change.”

  “Yes,” she said quietly, still apparently trying to put together in her mind what she had heard of the prince, who lived for nothing but pleasure, and the young man she knew as Lex. “He can.”

  Prince Alexander of Madria drew himself up to his full height, and his eyes held those of Alcindor. “We will raise an army from among the people. We will put a mighty host at the pass.”

  “They will fear the beast. It is a frightening creature, sire.”

  “I will call every man in this kingdom to arms to save our country. Quick, Joss, we must have horses, and then I want to talk to all the men in the village.”

  Alcindor seemed shocked. But that was understandable, Alexander thought. Alcindor had seldom seen him do anything but enjoy himself.

  Lilith said, “I will go to the village with you.”

  In the village, Alexander stood in the center of the marketplace, raised his sword, and shouted, “I am the prince of Madria! Our country is in danger. Who will follow me to fight against this peril that would destroy our homes and our families?”

  Alcindor listened to him, astonished. Where had this new quality in the young man come from? It was the quality of leadership, and it made the men of the village pay attention.

  He said quietly to Joss and Lilith, “The prince has changed. He never cared anything about the kingdom before. But whatever it is that makes a leader, I see that he has it. His father had it like no one else I ever knew, and now I see that quality in the son.”

  They rode from village to village, stopping only briefly at each one. But in every place men listened to the prince, then joined him, some armed with bows, some with swords, some with pitchforks. The small volunteer army gathered strength as it headed toward the palace.

  “I must go to my father,” Prince Alexander told Alcindor. “Whatever happens with the beast, I must make my peace with my parents.”

  “I think that is well, and your father’s heart will be gladdened,” Alcindor said.

  The volunteers moved along with the prince in the forefront, and at one point he looked back and saw Lilith. She now wore a sword at her side! Alexander went to her at once. “Lilith,” he said, “this is not for you. Go home. Be safe.”

  She turned her green eyes upon him. “I will go with you, Prince Alexander.”

  Alex reached out his hand, and she took it. “Very well. So it shall be.”

  As soon as Sarah received the word from Alcindor, she gathered the other Sleepers. They caught up with the prince’s army, if it could be called that, as it approached the palace.

  “What’s going on?” Josh cried, riding up to Alcindor.

  “The prince has had a change of heart. This is the army he has raised.”

  “I know,” Josh said with wonder. “But will it be enough?”

  “I do not think so,” Alcindor said quietly. “But we shall see.”

  The army that arrived at the palace would be called the Army of Peasants in future histories. Some would call it the Army of Prince Alexander. But in any case, when they neared the palace, Count Ferrod met them.

  Ferrod stood before the gate, saying, “Who is this mob? Begone! You have no business at the palace!”

  Then Prince Alexander stepped out of his saddle, wearing his peasant’s clothing.

  At first, Count Ferrod appeared shocked. But when he saw it was indeed the prince, he attempted to smile, saying, “Well, well, we have been searching everywhere for you.”

  “I’m sure you have, Count Ferrod,” Alex said in an icy tone. “And I well know what you would have done with me had your men found me alone.”

  Ferrod tried to speak. After that, he swallowed hard, and then he fell to his knees. “Pardon, Prince Alex. I was misled …”

  “I will deal with you later, but now I must go to my father.”

  Alex started again toward the palace, then suddenly paused and turned back. Quickly he lifted Lilith off her horse. “Come with me. You must meet my parents.” He took her by the hand.

  Lilith gave him a frightened look, but his hand held hers tightly, and he pulled her along. When they came to the double doors, Alex glared at both guards. “Stand aside! I am the prince of Madria!”

  Quickly the two exchanged glances and stepped aside.

  As Alex and Lilith entered the throne room, his mother uttered a glad cry and threw herself into Alex’s arms. She clung to him fiercely.

  Then the prince went to the frail man who sat beside the window. His father looked ill, but there was a glad light in his eyes as Alex knelt beside him.

  “Forgive me, my father, for I have been remiss. I have led the wrong life and not followed your example.”

  “My son!” King Alquin put his hands on the prince’s hair. “You’ve come back to us.”

  Alex and his father stood to their feet, and the two embraced. Then the prince said, “I have indeed come back, and I am going to fight against Zor and their beast. I do not know whether we shall win or not, but we shall give our lives if need be to save our country.”

  Then he saw the queen’s eyes go to Lilith.

  Alex went at once to Lilith’s side. “I want you
to meet one who has helped me find myself. Lilith, my father and my mother—King Alquin and Queen Lenore.”

  Lilith would never have had lessons in court etiquette, but somehow she knew instinctively what to do. She curtsied with a graceful motion to the floor and bowed her head. “I am honored, Your Majesties,” she murmured.

  Queen Lenore went to her at once and raised her up. “How beautiful you are, child!” she whispered. “And you have been a help to our son?”

  “Yes, she has,” the prince said. “And I hope you will get to know one another better.”

  “I am sure we will,” King Alquin said, coming himself to greet Lilith and take her hand.

  At that moment Dethenor burst into the throne room, and behind him was Alcindor.

  “My prince,” Dethenor said, “you have returned!”

  “Yes. I am come back. Now, what is to be done about the terrible beast of Zor?”

  Dethenor looked at Alcindor, who said, “Unless it can be killed, we are lost.”

  For some reason, everyone looked at the prince. It was still a new thing to him, this somehow expecting him to assume the mantle of authority. He stood tall and strong with his clear eyes fastened on them and said, “Then the beast must be killed!”

  14

  Reb’s Plan

  Along with Dethenor and Alcindor, the prince was meeting with the Council to decide on what steps to take. At the same time, the Sleepers had drawn themselves apart into a room alone.

  Jake said, “What I wouldn’t give to have one Sherman tank here. That would take care of that beast!”

  “Why don’t you wish for an atom bomb?” Dave groaned. “We don’t have either one, and we won’t have.”

  Many plans of action had been brought up and then cast aside as useless. Josh thought everyone looked discouraged.

  Wash had been sitting quietly, just listening to the talk. He said, “We can’t give up. Goél’s never failed us. He’s always shown us what to do. Always. And not too late, either.”

  “You’re right, of course. He has,” Josh said, thankful for Wash’s cheerful spirit. Wash was always one of the most optimistic of the Sleepers. “What we need Goél to show us right now is some plan to get rid of the beast. And we won’t have any hand grenades or bombs to do it with.”