Secrets in the Snow

Chapter 12

The sound of the horses' hooves hitting stone alerted to Shaemus that the stagecoach had entered the village's borders. The trio had been completely silent for what seemed like ages, listening to the steady beating of equine hooves against the earth's dirt. There had been an occasional exchange of words between the guards and the driver, but nothing of importance. The sharp clip-clop of the hooves against the polished stone road mimicked a clock counting away the seconds as they ticked by. Enclosed in a box of despair, Shaemus got the feeling of being in a funeral procession instead of a robbery. 

The blonde boy made a quick glance at the other two cramped beside him. Winnie was completely plastered against his side, staring straight ahead as if she were in a trance. Her skin looked even paler under what little light slid in between the bolts on the windows. Her sides rose and fell against his all in precise rhythm. It never increased, nor decreased. It just stayed the same, steady and deep. Stephis, on the other hand, looked as if he were struggling to lift a thousand-pound weight off his chest. Although with all the massive hunks of metal in the coach, he very well could have been. The Half-Elf tightly clasped his hands around the straps of his backpack like he expected it to sprout wings and carry him away from this awful place.

Shaemus closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the iron interior of the stagecoach. He wasn't much for religion, but he silently sent a prayer to the Saints above. He would need all the help, divine and mortal, that he could get to pull this off. Perhaps the Saints would take pity on him for being dumber than he looked. Or maybe they would sympathize with Winnie and Stephis and lead them to safety while leaving him to rot in a dungeon. He would soon find out their decision. A sharp veer to the right sent Shaemus's head to collide with Winnie's. The coach rocked dangerously on its side wheels as shouting and snorting could be heard from outside. Winnie rubbed her head in pain while Stephis tried desperately to become one with the wall. The Half-Elf held his breath as the fearsome metal contraptions inched uncomfortably close. Shaemus too held his breath, for one wrong move and the muzzle of a cannon would crush his crotch.

"Out of the way you bloody git!" The driver shouted from atop the stagecoach, "You spooked the horses!"

Shaemus could barely make out the weak apology coming from the poor soul who'd sent the royal horses into a fit. The royal guards surrounding the stagecoach were baying like mad dogs at the offender to get lost. At least, that was the nice way of putting it. Shaemus didn't even bother to try and sneak a peek at the outside through the tiny slits beside the bolts. The next sound that followed told him exactly where they were. The unmistakable creaking of brass gates and the firm royal salute that followed were only found in one place. They were here. They had made it past the castle's gates. Now it was time to take it on.

The driver took the coach downhill on a long, paved road. The trio had to place their feet on the sliding weaponry to keep it from flattening them. They were already working up a sweat before they even left the coach. The further they traveled down the road, the quieter the outside voices became. The royal guards had left shortly after entering the gates. It was now just the driver and the horses accompanying the three stowaways. Shaemus didn't have an exact map of the place, but from the scouting he had done, he imagined they were on their way to the backside of the castle. The stables were kept back there and he could only assume that if one were to unload barbaric weaponry such as the load the coach was carrying, it would be a wise idea to do it out of view of prying eyes.

Eventually, the stagecoach came to a stop. Shaemus let out a breath he had been holding as he pushed the weaponry away from his body. Now was the time to think up a plan and to think it up quick. Castle workers would come any second to open the coach's doors and start unloading. The trio was far enough back that they wouldn't be spotted when the doors first opened. However, as more and more clunks of metal were removed, their presence would soon be revealed. They couldn't just bolt out of the coach. There was too much metal in their way. There was no way they could poke and prod their way out in a quiet and timely manner. The walls were much too strong and enforced to even think about breaking one down. He would need to be an actual dragon to do that. Winnie tugged at his arm, most surely about to ask something along the lines of how they were going to escape, when suddenly the doors flung open.

The trio froze and sat as still as statues. Shaemus had been right. They were too far back for any of the workers to spot them, but this would not last forever. Winnie kept a hand covering her mouth, a firm reminder to her vocal cords not to utter a sound. Stephis's eyes were as wide as saucers. Shaemus wasn't even sure the Half-Elf was breathing. As more and more weapons were unloaded, the more Shaemus's heart began to race. He didn't have a plan. He didn't have a fucking plan to get past stage one of their mission. All the options he'd hoped they'd have were not available. Now they were all going to die at the hands of some ignorant grunts because they didn't have a fucking plan.

What happened next was a mystery to all, but a blessing in disguise to the trio. A loud bang erupted from somewhere in the near distance. A gunshot perhaps, maybe an iron forge toppled over, Shaemus would never be sure of the source. The only thing he would be sure of was the effect it had on the three's ability to escape. Shrill neighing filled the air as the trio was suddenly thrown forward. Stephis fell flat on his stomach onto the cold floor of the coach. Winnie gave a slight yelp as she caught herself on her hands and knees. Shaemus threw his hands out in front of him in the nick of time. His face was centimeters away from headbutting a cannon. Frantic shouting echoed from behind the speeding stagecoach. Shaemus tried to steady himself as the coach flew over bumps and crannies at an alarming rate. The horses (who were still attached to the stagecoach) had been sent into sheer panic at the sound of the powerful blast. With the driver having dismounted, the horses had chosen to flee, taking the coach and everything that it still held with them.

The frenzied castle workers were left far behind as the horses roared on full steam ahead. The beasts had turned a corner, continuing their race down the right side of the castle. Much of what had remained in the coach had been dislodged onto the grass below. After racing over a few nasty bumps, Shaemus thought for sure he'd be the next thing thrown out. Although, now would be the perfect time for him and his comrades to get off the wild ride. They were now out of sight of any of the castle workers. They could exit the coach before the horses were caught and nobody would know they were there. If only the horses would slow up a bit... Shaemus dismissed that fantasy immediately. The likelihood of those horses slowing was equal to that of the king presenting their wings to them on a silver platter. So, much like most things in his life, he'd have to do this the hard way.

"Brace yourselves! On three, we jump!" Shaemus called out as he shuffled his way to the doorway.

"Young man, are you insane?!" Stephis fretted while plastering himself up against the wall, "We'll break our necks at this speed!"

Shaemus held back a low growl as he stuck his head out of the coach to look around. They didn't really have any other option at this point. If the Half-Elf would roll as he jumped it might save him a few broken bones. They could either break their necks on their own account or have them broken by the king when they were hanged. Personally, Shaemus would rather injure himself on his terms.

"We don't have a choice Stephis! Say a little prayer and hope for the best! Alright, one, two-"

"Wait!" Winnie shouted while pointing to something up ahead of the coach, "Look there at that big pile of hay! We could jump in that. It'd be a softer landing than on the hard ground."

Shaemus followed her finger with his eyes to gaze upon the hay. It was a good call. The hay could decrease their chance of serious injury and give them a place to hide when the workers came through chasing their runaway horses.

Shaemus nodded and gripped the side of the doorway, "Then it's settled. We jump into the pile of hay on the count of three. Ready?"

Winnie locked her eyes on their target and gave a brisk nod. Stephis looked as though he'd rather be doing anything else but this, but nodded with a less than sure attitude. The Half-Elf gripped his backpack in one hand and held onto Winnie's left hand with the other. The blonde girl took Shaemus's hand into her own and gripped it firmly. The male Dragonkin steadied his feet, locked his eyes on the fast-approaching hay, and cleared his throat.

"One... two... three!"