“Samira.”

Reaching out I shove her, or would’ve. She moves with my hands and its ends up that I don’t even touch her.

[Danger. Aid. Enemy.]

Concern. Anticipation. Thirst. Hunger. Joy. Rage. Excitement.

The roiling intentions that seep into my brain are from Tenacity. She’s on her way.

Protect. Defend. Alive. Flee. Safety.

Great, now I just need to stall.

“Is there a reason you decided to do this? Or is it just because the King threw you away?”

I expect a huff of anger and only get a smirk instead. “A cute attempt to buy time, however you’ll find it less then effective.”

She’s not stupid, I remind myself.

Okay I’m done. Opening my mouth I start to tell her off but Samira moves.

In span of the blink of an eye, she readies her spear and charges toward Baba.

“She’s chosen you and this is how you repay her?”

Samira roars, “you kill her children?!”

The older warrior snorts as she rushes to meet Samira, her manifestations taking up a position a step behind her on either side. And since when did she have more than Stolid? Wait where is Stolid?

“Pray for death!” She yells.

Damnit. Why did she have to fight? What do I do? Running isn’t an option. Attacking will only have me getting in Samiras way.

The two meet in the middle and the fight begins in ernest. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. The stacatto of their strikes resounds through the shaft and my decision is made for me.

Part of my wishes I’d chosen slice of life over all of this. But I don’t have time to ruminate on that line of thought. Times up.

The first of the figures is upon me.

Drawing my sword I swing. Clack. The tip of the spear bites into the ground. A second figure leaps up and over the first. I throw myself backwards and the edge of the blade strikes the stone floor.

The swordsmen tries a series of lancing strikes as he raises from his knee. Jab. Miss. Jab. Miss. Jab. Miss. Jab. Miss.

I jump over the sweep of the spear but don’t quite make it. My face meets the ground.

This is it. I’m going to die.

Move.

Lances of pain spread from behind my eyes. It sounds vaguely of Endurance.

Move.

Rolling to my back I swing wildly. The spearmen hops backwards. It doesn’t matter, I can see the shadow of the swordsmen.

A stabbing feeling ripples through my leg.

Biting my lip I lunge forward and swing again. The swordsmen retreats. Without. His. Sword. It’s my chance and might be the only one I get.

Using my sword I push my up and draw my other sword. I lunge and swing the swords in front of me. It cleaves through his stomach and he falls apart. The lack of guts is the only thing keeping my stomach from demanding my attention.

Heh. That was awesome! I know it probably didn’t look that way but—

Don’t just stand there posing! There is another!

Damnit.

I turn, the swords already crossing but it’s too late. The weapon cracks me in the side.

“Gah.” I gasp clutching at my ribs just as I hit the ground. A sharp throb rips through me.

I think he broke my ribs.

The thin smile that stretches across his face and the wild look on his face says he knows it too.

“You are far less skilled than I was led to believe.”

The manifestation says with a giggle.

“A rumored progidy of the spear that managed to gain the goddesses favor. Oh well!.” Smiling he leans toward me. “That just means I get to play with you.”

He giggles again and bites his thumb.

A flash of recognition. Temerity. Shit. Shit. Shit!

I created him as the possible ideal soldier. One that loved fighting and causing pain. The method of the pain doesn’t matter. A true sadist.

Swing.

He steps forward and slams his foot down and my sword with it.

“Poor little prince.”

The spear comes down striking my leg. Fiery pain. Something shifts and I feel my mind stall for a moment, a split second of a cold ringing ache like the ones that accompany tooth pain.

I scream.

Peering down at my leg I see the hole in my leg created by the sword. The bright crimson blood gushing freely from the wound. But no sword.

It had been knocked away.

A bellowing howl signals Desperations coming.

“Ooh someone’s brought a beast to your execution prince! How rude!”

His foot slams into my stomach as an angry yowl peaks over the rumbling barks. Tenacity.

Concern. Anger. Protect. Hunger. Hunger.

I need to move.

Struggling forward I stop. As if I’m looking through a haze I see it. The descdending shadows of the animals. Temerity moves around Desperations lunge right into the path of Tenacity.

The spear rises. Tenacity can’t dodge. She screams. Blood sprays freely into the air. The large weasel falls.

Pain. Fear. Anger. Hate. Hate. Ha—

The impression dies off. Tenacity doesn’t move.

Temerity begins to laugh. Two snapping jaws clamp down on the manifestations throat.

I need to move. I don’t, Desperation does.

Alive. Protect. Flee. Danger. Flee. Protect. Alive.

Desperation’s disjointed communication strikes like a hammer. Its so blunt.

The canine looks over its shoulder and I follow his line of sight. Baba stands in front of Samira. A spear, either mine or Samira’s i can’t tell, in her hand. Than she jabs at my guard.

The spear strikes true and Samira roars in pain. She doesn’t however fall instead taking hold of the spear.

“Why would you turn from your gift?”

The old woman rolls her eyes and glances to the side, it holds her attention for but a moment and then shes back to glaring at Samira.

“I’ve not turned away from the goddess! I do her work! The King breaks the oath he’s made!”

Rotating she lashes out with a kick that strikes Samira in the face. Samira’s thrown from the end of the spear and on to the ground a few feet away.

She turns to me.

“Are you going to lay there and wait for death? Or will you fight Sage”

She says the word derisively.

In response i lean forward and taking hold of my pant leg I tear at the fabric. “I’ll fight. Just give me a moment, wouldn’t want to die before you can kill me.”

She nods and crosses her arms.

Wait really? I don’t remember enough about her character to know how highly she holds honor. Is she going to stab me as soon as she thinks im not expecting it? If thats the case it wont work.

I turn to where she’s in front of me but she doesn’t attack. In fact all she does is roll her eyes and take a step back. Heh. If she wants to make this easier I’m not about to complain.

Twisting the first strip of cloth wrap it about my leg a bit above the wound. A few more strips and I’m done. Now if I just had a plan.

What I wouldn’t give for another of the blast pouches. Just blow her up. A shiver runs through me as several factors leap to mind.

A rough plan forms. It’s nothing fancy, but it is effective. Guide Baba up through the shafts, out the mine, and into the methane filled latrine. Create a spark and BOOM! Babaleon isn’t a problem for anyone! It’s only that with dartite there’s no real need for torches that’s kept the thing from blowing up in the first place!

Getting there is the harder part but I’ve a plan for that one too. One I thing Desperation will be all to happy to help up accomplish.

“I thought you were going to fight.” Baba snaps, “If not I’ll end this now.”

I send images of my plan to Desperation as he moved to stand beside me. Wobbling i reach my feet and take a stance with my sword held at my side.

“Are you ready?”

She readies her sword. She’s not taking me lightly in the slightest. Perfect. Hurling the remainder of the torn cloth toward her, I yell.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Now!”

Desperation rushes forward, turns and takes the reverse edge of my sword into their mouths and rush back the way they’d come. Dragging me along with them.

As she cuts through the cloth I’m already sliding up the slope. I smirk as her face lights up with rage.

Good.

The pleasure of pulling one over on her vanishes as she begins to sprint up the slope.

Not fast enough though. With each step she’s taking Desperation takes two to three. Slowly the distance between us is growing. Despite that, its not enough to break her line of sight for more than a few moments.

Still I’d have thought she’d move faster.

Desperation drags me from room to room, every step sends pain surging through me.

Hurts. Teeth.

Not surprising. It’s not like he’s meant to pull as he’s doing.

Appreciation. Pride. Thanks.

I send the feelings back down the line into the hound.

Desperation starts pushing faster.

A warm breeze curls across my face and I glance behind me. A wall of sunlight awaits just outside the reach of the shaft.

Glancing back down the shaft I watch as Baba rounds the curve, she’s further back than before and its clear she’s starting to flag. Perhaps Samira managed to get a strike in or maybe it’s just her age. Either way she’s slowing down.

Now I just have to worry about losing her.

Danger. Enemy.

The impression comes with an image, one featuring of a handful of figures, all of them armed. The tallest among them is Danda.

Looks like my worry about out pacing Baba is for nothing.

But how did she let them know we’re coming? Did she some how get one of the pairs of working phones? I doubt it. The sea lords are more likely to pay for a favor with a service rather than another option.

Instead of slowing Desperation speeds up, his growl rumbling through his entire body. Tilting my head back I grimace. My enemy is made up of children wielding spears.

Instead of diving to the side as I expect them to they lunge toward us.

Desperation drops the sword and leaps forward targeting Danda. I jam the sword into the ground but it doesn’t stop my slide. As soon as I’ve stopped I throw myself on to my back, just in time.

Two spears descend toward my head held by two girls who’s grins stretch far to far on their face. They use the power of the impact to toss themselves into the air.

The answer hits me like a ton of bricks. Almost as if to prove the thought Desperation leaps forward snagging Dande’s head in a pair of powerful jaws and crimps them shut.

Rolling to my feet I dive toward where the girls are descending and stab my sword through the closest ones side. She doesnt’ disappear and the smile on her face grows wider. Wilder.

“Poor prince.” She whispers through blood washed teeth, the crimson fluid spillling out her open mouth.

Horror and disgust at what I’ve done find their way into my stomach. She falls limply to the ground, my sword accompanying her.

What have I done. I-I- nine hells. Clutching at my stomach I turn wretch right on to the other girl. Out of surprise she stills as she inspects the fruity bile and acid mixture that covers her front.

“Getting sick over something like this! Are you a toddler?”

She asks after a moment, the wide smile on her face faltering.

I barely hear her. Something hits me, pierces me but I don’t care. A clattering draws my attention back to my other side. Slowly I look to the childs corpse. A corpse that I’ve just made. A corpse that’s not there.

Not there?

My blade has no blood on it.

She’s a manifestation. There’s no ignoring the giddy sensation that bubbles through me. I turn to the other girl a wide grin of my own. She vanishes without a trace beneath the jaws of Desperation.

“I must admit highness.” Baba’s creaking voice comes. “I assumed that your mind would break after slaying Surrender.”

Surrender. I know the name, I know she’s part of something but I cant remember what they were called or their purpose.

Crap. My kingdom for a perfect memory.

I regard Baba cooly. “I’d prefer it not to.”

She cracks a smile and I see a flicker of something in her. Something that definitely wasn’t there before. It’s not hard to identify either.

Insanity.

“You’re not running.”

I shake my head. And why would I? The chances of getting away grow slimmer with each passing moment she’s a chance to get her breath back.

“Nor are you demanding to know why I would use this gift the goddess bestowed upon me so wastefully. Or so your guard believes.”

Again I shake my head. There’s no point. I tell her as much and she nods sagely.

“You may be right. This could be useless but I can’t let go so easily. I have to try.”

She glances to the side.

I take my moment. Kicking the said at my feet toward her faces I rush around to take her from the side. She bats me away as if not only unbothered by the sand but as if I weigh nothing.

I wheeze as I struggle to rise.

“Nine hells I want to blow you up!” I snarl though it sounds more like a weak rasp.

She chuckles.

“So many died with similar promises made. They remain unfulfilled. Do you really think you’ll be any different?”

Desperation starts forward.

Baba readies the spear and I can already see what will happen if he attacks. He’ll leap up to bring down the full brunt of his weight and Samira will run him through.

[Stop. Back down.]

The canine stops and one head regards me. I send the message again and he slowly backs away.

“You really are something aren’t you highness? Some might call my gift a blessing but I never will, its a necessity. Instead I will focus on my mission.”

She grimaces and clutches at her side as she steps forward.

“But your gift.” Baba shakes her head. “To commune with the other children of the desert! How marvelous!”

The wide smile falters. “Yet you side with your ‘king’ as if he is someone to be protected! When in truth he is the poison!”

I grunt in pain and take hold of my side as I begin to sway. My chance is in front of me. “You could have just told me that’s your goal. I can’t tell you how much I’d love to hit the bastard in the face!”

She jerks back, likely not having expected me to agree with her. She looks supremely excited and then her eyes narrow.

“You’ll turn your blades against the King?”

I nod. “It’d be my pleasure.”

She smiles, then frowns, bites her lip and finally points at me with the spear. “You're lying. Trying to keep me from running you through.”

“It might be part of the reason, but does that matter? I still hate the King. I don’t even call him father.”

“And Samira?”

Shrugging I keep my face as impassive as possible. “She’s a guard. It’s not like I’d a choice in who was assigned to me.”

It takes her a minute but she nods.

I stagger back a pace, than two and press myself against the wall. “Chances are that right now he’s sitting on that stupid throne of his his staring at my brothers and demanding they work harder.”

Baba sneers. “You’re too kind. His Royal Highness is likely killing something as we speak. It is all he’s capable of.”

Snapping my fingers I gesture at Desperation.

Baba jerks and surges to stand between us.

“I’ll not let you run again,” she exclaims.

Snorting I throw my sword to the ground. “I’ve got to take a leak. I’m heading for the latrine. Feel free to join me if you think I’m making a run for it. After that I’m going to need some bandages.”

Without waiting for her response I turn and start hobbling away.

My heart hammers in my chest and hearing the crunch of the sand I press my eyes shut ready to send Desperation the order to attack as soon as I feel the slightest hint of pain.

It doesn’t come.

Instead Baba moves into a position a few feet away but walks in lockstep.

“If you want my trust leave your beast behind.”

I nod and jerkily come to a stop. Looking over my shoulder I find the dog is half a dozen paces behind us.

“Desperation, remain here.”

The hound whines in protest.

“Sit.”

Awkwardly the dog lowers himself on to his haunches and lowers his head.

“It’ll be fine.” I add before returning to my slow walk.

His whinning dogs us the rest of the way to the latrine.

I start for the door when Baba grabs on to my arm. “Do you have ally’s in here? That Aster girl destroyed my Obedience.”

Ha! Good going Aster!.

I shake my head. I’ve no idea if someone’s in there. You can check if you’d like? But I do have to go.”

My implication isn’t lost on her. Setting herself she marches up to the door flings it open and heads inside.

Perfect! Now I just need a spark!

My excitement takes a nosedive as the realization hits me.

How am I going to make a spark!? I don’t have any metal to strike the walls with.

Times running out. Frantic I begin searching for any bit of metal, a shard of stone, anything.

Damnit, I’m going to have to slam the door closed on her and wait for the gas to take her out.

[Come.] I fill the order with as much urgency as I can muster. The dog howls and I throw myself into an ambling run. As the door closes I watch as she turns to face me her eyes narrowing. Throwing the entirety of my weight against the door I slide to the ground.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Its begins not a second later. I clutch at my ribs with each impact.

“I should have known better than to trust you! You’re just like your father!”

The world shifts in a familiar fashion but I don’t care. I don’t feel like fainting and as far as I’m concerned that’s all there is to it.

Laughing I gaze up at the hole in the door. “I’m worse than the King! He’ll tell you he’s going to kill you! Me? I’ll do it however I can!”

She yells and resumes striking at the door.

There’s no way I can explain just how pleased I am that she’s trying to jam the spear through wood just as thick it is.

Desperation reaches me and with very little prompting the dog adds his weight to my own. Literally. He lays down on top of me.

After a time the slamming stops as does the soft ‘crunching’ of the sands. Either she’s playing opossum not wholly unlikely, in which case doing nothing will solve the problem or she’s really out for the count. In which case I still shouldn’t move because she’s deifinitely faking.

Pain. Enemy. Anger. Pain. Hunger.

I recognize the faint impressions instantly. Tenacity. All of the sudden I like Samira’s chances at survival. Shit.

To make matters worse two warriors who’vve seen better days make their way to me. “Who are you and why are you sitting outside the latrine? Talk about creepy. Holy hell that things alive!”

Desperation bares his teeth at the newcomers. I twitch.

“Noin!” The other figure hisses. “Look at him! You’ve heard the stories! About a prince that’s bonded with several children of the desert! That’s him! Thats the prince!”

She drops to a knee.

“I need your help. My friends are down in the shafts, they’re injured and I’ve a friend up here. Aster. You need to find them.”

“Highness, you’re bleeding.” Noin adds as she looks up at me.

I may slap her.

They didn’t rush off like I’d hoped, in fact they are still right in front of me. Turns out however, Kida or Obedience whatever wasn’t lying. The streets were suddenly filled with people. So it doesn’t matter that Noin and her friend who still hasn’t offered her name are with me. Because a group of healers and warriors have just entered to retrieve Samira.

“You know you still haven’t explained why your sitting in front of a latrine.” Noin says.

“There’s an enemy in there. She was trying to kill me.”

“So you locked her in a toilet?”

She sounds both surprised and maybe a little ashamed.

I glare at her. “I was going to blow her up but I didn’t have anything to create a spark.”

“You don’t need a spark to use a blast pouch.”

Noins companion is quick to point out.

Of course they’ve no idea what methane is so they default back to the only explosive they know. But considering methane exposure can have long term effects ranging from depression and paranoia to heart issues and claustrophobia that will have to change.

There’s no way I’m leaving these people to suffer that. They need to be able to work!

“I suppose you are the prince?”

The speaker, a woman who looks little taller than a child says as she fips her hair over her shoulder. There’s no missing the disgusted look on her face.

I nod. “That’s me.”

“So its true, the prince is a pervert that has obsessions with bathrooms.”

OH HELLS NO!

“I am not a pervert!” And where did she even learn that word! Then again, I guess I don’t need to create them for them to pop up. Perverts are annoying like that.

“There’s an enemy in here!”

She raises an eyebrow and whistles over her shoulder. “Prince you may move now.”

As much as I’d like to move two things stop me. The first is Desperation. He’s made himself rather comforatable on my lap. On the upside his bulk is pressing down on my legs enough the blood flow is all but a nonissue. The second, well—

Hate. Anger. Defend. Enemy. KILL!

[Calm. Peace. Friends.]

Hate Friends. Kill?

[No. Follow. Friends help.]

Acceptance. Fear. Hunger.

I really am going to need to treat the animals to a special meal.

I look at the girl whos still waiting for my answer and grin. “Try that again when your not just some random warrior of the white.”

She seems taken aback before bowing her head. “Apologies, I am the keeper of the molten city, Alita.”

I shove at Desperation. [Rise.]

The canine chuffs but slowly begins to shift.

“Well Alita. If you want her she’s all yours. But I reccomend you burn Liga powder.”

She takes a step back as she pales. Of course she finds it shocking, Liga powder upon being burned releases fumes that render the mental energies of the inhaler null. In other words if I inhaled it Endurance wouldn’t have the strength to speak let alone manifest.

“A traitor?” She whispers.

I understand her surprise. Traitors came about as often as heavy rain, they just didn’t.

From behind the ring the warriors had formed around us I see Aster’s head appear and disappear. “Highness! They wont let me through!”

Raising an eyebrow I turn my attention to Alita.

She answers flatly. “We don’t know her and twenty of our warriors and all of the children are dead.”

Twenty? Dread twists in my stomach. Days in a city dining with one who’d slain children.

I’m going to torture baba so much she’s going to think its part of what she’s supposed to be doing with her days! Some one trys to free her she’ll walk to the next device and wait patiently! I’ll flay the gods be damned skin from her muscles. Scrape a layer of whatever makes up the eyeball from her eyes! Pull her nails out bit by bit and douse her in oil!

Only when it all becomes her norm will I change tactics! I’ll start with burning her little by little! Crush the tips of her fingers with clubs! I won’t stop until I’m an old man or she’s dead!

I’ll distill an acid that does little more than sting at the skin and set it to drip relentlessly on to her forehead! Slowly bury her in burning sands! Feed her—“

“Highness?” Alita asks pulling me from the volatile thought pattern I was falling into.

“That was violent.” Noin adds.

I clench my teeth. “Those who hurt kids should be doused in liquid fire!”

Desperation leans up and licks me on the cheek in support. Wait. I swear I told the canine to get off of me.

“I told you to get up.”

Desperation chuffs and grumbles.

Exhaustion. Hunger. Sleep.

“Your hardly what I would call convincing Highness.” Alita said.

“Be quiet and let Aster through.” I snap at her before turning my attention to the canine.

“If I had a knife I would so stab you! Now get off!”

A knife buries itself in the sand beside me. Finding the one who threw it is as easy as looking up. Alita’s glaring at me and the Twanlad lifting itself from my lap.

“Apologies highness, I thought you were serious.”

I don’t know if she thinks she’s brilliant hiding her small smile behind her hand or she’s trying to goad me into someting.

Fine, you want to use the poisonous bitch angle of attack? I can deal with that.

“Oh, are you still here?”

Poisonous bitch meet Indifferent royal. Point, me.

She twitches, opens her mouth, closes it and stalks off. “Make a path!” She yells.

I’d like to call it a victory but there isn’t time. As Desperation finally takes to his feet pain spreads from the wounds on my legs even as a hot liquid begins to spill over my legs.

“Highness!” Aster calls as she runs up to me but she’s staring at my legs in horror. Looking down I find that theres as much cloth thats been darkened by blood as not.

“Yeah, it didn't go well.”

She doesn’t respond, instead she turns away from me.

“We need a medic!”

The crunching of sand signals someone’s approach, I swing my head up to look. It’s Alita. Pointing at her I speak.

“I don’t like you.”

Am I slurring? I think I might be.

She turns and calls something, probably something about a medic. Because that seems like something that’d happen. One person calls for a medic, a second person shows up, almost as if they needed to confirm a medic is called for before adding their opinion to the first.

The world turns, shifts and blurs. And blurs. And blurs. Until everything has fallen into black.

I swear I hear a warbling howl then even thats gone.