As promised, here’s the next chapter in the fanfiction I set in the world of Conan the Barbarian!
In case you missed it, here’s a link to the first chapter!
And now, on to Chapter Six!
Asthara and Runi borrowed workman’s hammers from the slaves. They slid the weapons into the backs of the clothing that served as their bottoms. Kesisa chose to keep the chain as her weapon, as it had done well for her thus far.
Now the women had a decision to make and had to make it quickly — scale the eastern wall or chance the rope ladders.
As the archers appeared out of arrows, they no longer posed a threat to the climb. Other mercenaries could sever the rope ladders, forcing a climb anyway.
However, with the wounds Asthara and Runi had sustained, the rope ladder would be an easier go of it.
Runi addressed the slaves. “Every able-bodied man or woman! Use the wall to climb your way to freedom! Others not up for the climb, follow us up the ladders!”
Unfortunately, the enthusiasm to revolt against their overlords did not extend to directly assaulting said overlords. None of the slaves made a move toward the walls.
“No matter,” Asthara said. “We climb for our freedom! If they cannot follow, let them die here in the pit!”
Neither Runi nor Kesisa argued.
Looking up, Runi noted four mercenaries climbing down ropes to the Eunuch’s Ear outcropping. “We’d best make haste,” she told her allies.
The three women raced to the rope ladders and began their ascent.
Kesisa, being the unharmed one of the three, chose the eastern ladder. The other two women chose the western ladder, with Asthara in the lead.
Before Runi could even get on the ladder, a rung broke under Asthara’s grasp. It put a strain on her wound, preventing her from trying to grasp the rung again. She fell back to the ground, landing hard enough to knock the hammer loose from her waistband.
Runi moved to Asthara’s side. The fallen woman gently pushed her away.
“Nothing truly hurt but my pride,” Asthara said. She glared at the ladder. “I defeated that brute Nazarus. I will not let an inanimate object keep me in this pit!”
Runi looked up, checking on their opposition. The outcropping prevented her from seeing the mercenaries climbing down to the Ear.
However, she did see the archers on the ground level. Now armed with spears, they leaned slightly over the edge and aimed their weapons at Kesisa. Runi prayed the archers’ aim with the spears proved worse than their aim with arrows.
Asthara tried again to climb the rope ladder, but again her wounds prevented the feat.
Runi said, “I have a better way.” She pointed Asthara’s attention to the basket that hauled up the day’s limestone.
“Brilliant!” Asthara said. “If we can get it down here!”
“Let’s work on that,” Runi said. She made her attempt at the ladder. Unfortunately, the strain proved too much for her wound.
“Best leave it to the horse princess,” Asthara said.
Kesisa had made it halfway up the eastern ladder when the first spear launched at her. She twisted away from the weapon, which bounced harmlessly against the rock face near her.
Runi turned back to the slaves. Pointing up at Kesisa, she said, “Would you men cower as a simple girl defies spears to climb to her freedom?”
This time, a dozen slaves heeded the call.
Six of them raced for the ladders. The other six slaves began the arduous climb up the western wall.
Asthara flashed a grim smile, “They climb for their freedom by becoming cannon fodder for our escape.”
“Battle always brings sacrifice,” Runi said, years of bitter experience pouring into her words.
“Yet it’s never the leaders who sacrifice,” Asthara said.
Runi scoffed. “If Kesisa gets that bucket down,” she said, “you will see a leader’s sacrifice!”
Kesisa remained in place on the ladder, watching for another spear. This time, two came her way. Twisting again, she dodged the projectiles —
But the rung of the ladder to which she held broke!
Kesisa quickly reached out, grabbing the side of the ladder, and arresting her fall.
Looking back at the archers, she realized they had no more spears to throw.
Kesisa continued her climb. Her hand landed on the Eunuch’s Ear just as a scimitar crashed down on one side of the rope ladder.
The rope severed.
That side of the ladder fell, causing the remaining rope to veer at an angle.
Kesisa heard the screams of two slaves on the ladder below her.
Those screams ceased as their bodies smashed upon the pit below.
In the pit, Asthara scooped up one of the fallen spears. She moved back from the wall and looked up for a target.
The four mercenaries on the Ear came into view. Asthara loosed her spear, grunting as she upset her wound.
The spear hit beneath the Ear, helping no one.
Kesisa pulled herself upon the Ear and squared off against two of the mercenaries there. As one man moved in with his scimitar, Kesisa swung her chain at him. She struck his head with enough force to throw the man off balance. Screaming, he fell from the outcropping.
“Asthara!” Runi yelled as she dropped a second spear to the woman.
Asthara caught the weapon. This time she steadied herself before unleashing it. She struck the mercenary closest to Kesisa.
Runi and the slaves let out encouraging cheers.
Kesisa finished the man with a blow from her chain that twisted his head around, creating a sickening crack as his spine broke. The man tumbled from the Ear.
On the ground, the slaves became eager to see Asthara’s skill once more. They handed her the third fallen spear. Again, Asthara aimed and threw.
Unfortunately, her aim proved off. Hearing the disappointed moans of her audience, she said, “It’s this damned flesh wound!”
Above, the two mercenaries succeeded in cutting one of the sides of the western rope ladder. The four slaves climbing the ladder held on, though their ascent stymied for that moment.
Runi called up to Kesisa. “The basket! Use it to get us up there!”
Kesisa looked at the basket. It lay a distance from the Ear but looked like a manageable jump. She would then have to climb its chain to ground level to operate the winch control.
She would, however, be a fool to think there weren’t mercenaries at the top waiting for her. How would she even get to the controls without being attacked?
Kesisa decided on another option.
That’s it for this one!
To tide you over until the next chapter, check out some of my other fanfiction.
Or swing over to the Merch From the Shed page. Catch the sale of Two Sisters, the first eBook in the new launch of my “Shadowdance” action/ urban fantasy saga, or get a free eBook from the saga.
Until next time!
