Part 9 (2/2)
Max swung Melody up with all the strength he had, but was pulled down a little as he did so. The horse, fast approaching the canyon wall, panicked when it felt Max slip. Attempting something between a stop and a hard right turn it slipped on the loose stone, falling sideways. Already loose in the saddle, both Max and Melody fell free of the horse as it went down, all three hitting the ground hard.
Max, full of adrenalin, leapt off the ground. He grabbed Melody's arm as she struggled to regain her footing, dragging her towards the crack in the wall. Inside, Max let go of Melody and reached for his swords, but grasped only air. Horrified, he realized the swords remained on the horse with the rest of his goods. Not stopping to think, he dashed out of the cave where the bandits had recovered from Max's surprise appearance.
The horse had managed to stand by the time Max reached it. He grabbed the hilt of one of his swords, sliding it out of its sheath. On the opposite side, a bandit slapped the horse's haunch. The horse reared, neighing in surprise, giving Max a head start towards the cave. The horse dropped to all fours and ran off, allowing the bandit to chase after Max. When Max reached the inside of the cave he spun, swinging his sword as he did so. The blade clanged against the descending sword of the bandit.
Melody yelled from behind Max. ”Knock him back!”
Max put all his weight behind his sword and thrust hard, shoving the bandit back a foot. The bandit took another swing at Max. Max brought his sword up again to block the bandit's blade, but his sword stopped short, rebounding off the air. Max managed to hang on to the hilt as the sword reverberated from whatever it had hit. The bandit wasn't as lucky, his sword sailed out of his hand, nearly beheading a second bandit who had come to aid the first. Both bandits shouted obscenities at Max, who moved back with caution and stood beside Melody, his eyes never moving from the cave entrance.
”Where did that barrier come from?
Melody stood, hand outstretched, shaking and short of breath. ”I...created...it.”
”How long can you keep it up?”
Melody breathed deeply in and out, trying to calm herself. ”Since I only have to block...the entrance...I should be able to keep it up for several hours.” The shaking slowly subsided. ”But I'll need to keep my attention focused on it.”
Max nodded as he began to feel pain all down the right side of his body. Max lifted his s.h.i.+rt a little to reveal minor cuts and bruises along his side. He didn't see any tears in his pants so he a.s.sumed it was the same for his leg. Concerned that Melody might have received injuries as well, he visually checked for any sign of blood or tears on her clothing.
”Are you hurt anywhere?”
”I think I twisted my ankle, other than that, just sore from the fall.”
Max saw that she favored her left leg, but found no other signs of injury. ”Do you need to sit down?”
Melody nodded. ”Yes.”
She started to sit, but lost her balance. Max wrapped an arm around her waist before she fell and helped ease her to the ground.
”Is anyone else coming, Max?”
”Tyco went on to the next camp. He said he would send guards back to look for us. I'm not sure they will be able to follow the tracks at night though.”
Melody nodded at Max's sword. ”How good are you with that thing?”
Max blushed, ”Truthfully, I've never actually used it in a real fight, only practice.”
Melody gave a weak smile. ”That's more experience at fighting than I have.”
Max studied the entrance. It was smaller than he had first thought, perhaps only about one and a half the width of a normal man.
”At least they can only come one at a time. I should be able to hold them off for a little while once the barrier is gone. Do you have any weapons?”
”No. I can only create the barrier. There isn't anything else alive out here to use. It's a wonder as dry as the air is that I can even use it.”
Max wore a quizzical expression. ”Huh?”
Melody gave a weak, amused smile. ”You haven't met anyone from the Children of the Immortals before have you?”
Max shook his head. ”Huh uh, I have no idea what you're talking about.”
Melody sighed. ”Well, now's not the time to go into it. Let's just say I'm not going to be able to offer much help.”
”Got it.”
Max turned to the back of the cave. ”It looks like the cave continues back into the canyon. Maybe there is another way out.”
Melody shook her head. ”Without a torch we won't get very far. Besides, the few creatures that can survive in the dead lands make their homes in these caves, most of which make the bandits outside seem downright friendly. We will have to stay here and hope the guards reach us in time. I will hold the barrier up as long as I can. After that, it will be up to you.”
Max nodded with little enthusiasm. He sat down next to Melody. There was nothing else to do now but wait. Melody kept her concentration on the barrier. For Max, time pa.s.sed slower than during one of Mr. Penna's lectures.
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
A few hours had pa.s.sed and Max had slipped into a trance-like state. The unexpected scream of a man shook him free.
”What was that?”
Melody's eyes were wide with shock. ”I have no idea! Maybe one of the bandits?”
The cave echoed with another scream. ”Noooo!”
The cry came from the bandit's camp outside the cave. Max stood and moved to the edge of Melody's barrier, next to the cave's entrance. From his limited view, he could see a few of the bandits had risen to their feet, weapons in hand. They milled around, looking just as confused as Max.
”Lacarath! Ahhh!”
The new scream arose from beyond the light of the torches. A wave of terror swept over the bandits, temporarily freezing them in place until a growl filled the canyon. The bandits dropped their weapons, scattering like bugs as they ran for their horses. Leaving everything behind, they rode off as fast as the horses would carry them. Behind Max, Melody gasped before crying out in a whisper.
”Max, the barrier!”
When the sun had set the bandits had lit torches, causing Melody's barrier to s.h.i.+mmer in their light. The dancing light resulted in Max's drifting into a trance. Now the s.h.i.+mmer flickered in and out of existence. Melody closed her eyes, concentrating; the barrier steadied.
”I don't think I can hold it much longer.”
Max remained calm, scanning the bandits' camp. ”We shouldn't need it. It looks like the bandits have left.”
Melody began to panic, her voice cracking. ”Didn't you hear the bandits? There is a lacarath out there.”
Max smirked. ”You mean the ferocious animals that prey on remote villages and feast on naughty children?” He cleared his throat, his smile gone. ”They're just legends...right?”
Melody looked grim. ”Lacarath are believed to be the predecessors of the lacarna, but I must admit, n.o.body has seen one in years. However, something sure scared those bandits away.”
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