Des'Tai: Book Two

117: Tyron

As we mounted our Weavers, I shot Rune a sceptical look. "This feels too easy."

"Would you rather we'd been chased with pitchforks and beheaded by King Crazy? Because I know I sure as hell prefer this alternative." He reached back and patted the compartment door. "Safe and sound. Mission accomplished."

I looked up towards the castle and an uneasy churn gripped at my stomach. I know that both Artemis and Faye had commented on how simple Linux would be to get in and out from, but the absence of trouble we'd faced left me in disbelief.

Oren was an arrogant bastard, but the lack of security around a World Orb was staggering.

I could hear Artie's words in my head. "An Elder of the Crowns main role is to guard the Orb and serve their King or Queen. I imagine that the Elder of Seran, now powerless, will not be there. It should be easy pickings but remain on the side of caution, regardless."

Rune activated his helmet and with a light sigh, I did the same.

We drove down the cobbled street, our Weavers silent. There was no sign of the shouting Baker as we slowly rolled past the modest shop; in fact, it wasn't until we reached the bottom of the hill that we came across another person.

At the entrance of the western bridge stood six Kings Guards, all facing in our direction, hands poised on their weapons, faces straight and serious. The uneasy feeling in my stomach grew, setting off the alarm bell in my head.

I knew it had been too easy, damn it!

Rune's voice breezed through the mic. "Let me do the talking."

Like anything Rune said was going to get us out of trouble, if anything he was going to make it worse.

We slowed to a stop a few metres away from them and Rune lifted his hand to switch his mic from inside to out. "Good evening, chaps," Then he nodded to the one female guard, "And chapette. Would you be so kind as to let us cross the bridge? We're in a bit of a hurry, you see."

The shortest of the men stepped forward, his arms crossed loosely against his armoured chest. "And why would we do that?" He asked.

"Because it's what bridges are for – crossing."

Two of the men moved around to my side, their eyes locked on to me and the Weaver I was sat on. I gripped at the handles, my thumb hovering over a button tucked beneath the cover.

"Take off your helmets." Short Guard commanded, his hand dropping to rest at the hilt of his sword. "And get off the Weavers, too."

"Could I ask you why?" Rune cocked his head to one side. "We're not doing anything illegal; a touch of sightseeing in the land of our Iasa."

The female stepped forward, a long metal staff in her hand. "So you don't know anything about the two males caught sneaking IN and OUT of the castle tonight?"

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I knew exactly where this was going, and now I was going to have to do the one thing I came here not to do. Kick a Kings Guards ass.

She swung the staff from one hand to the other, never once taking her eyes off Rune. "Cameras caught you coming in through the training grounds doors and leaving by a grate in the castle walls. How the hell did you know about the tunnels?" She spat the question before glancing toward me. "We can do this two ways, neither of which will be easy," another Guard sniggered, "One, you tell us what you stole or two-"

Rune cut her off. "Or two, you'll beat the answer out of us? Oh c'mon, sweetcheeks, you got to do better than that. That's not going to scare us." He looked at me and pointed his thumb at her. "They don't even know what we stole."