A fi?re glowed within a well-blackened fi?replace, and a ceiling-hung lamp provided what light there was. Half a dozen shaggy heads turned away from a game of throwbones as Tova pushed the leather curtain out of the way, thereby allowing a wave of cold air to enter along with her.
“All right,” the chieftain proclaimed loudly. “Grab your weapons and make sure they’re loaded. . . . There’s only four of them, so even a group of worthless scum like yourselves should be able to handle the situation. Watch the heavy, though. . . . He could give us some trouble.”
There were grunts of assent, followed by the sound of someone’s fl?atulence, and gales of laughter as fi?ve men and one woman prepared themselves for battle. “Stay out of sight until the cart is right outside or I call for you,” Tova instructed. “And don’t kill anyone unless I tell you to. . . .
Who knows? Maybe we can ransom one or more of them. Understood?”
The brigands had heard the lecture before, but such was the force of Tova’s personality that there was a minimum of grumbling as they took up positions to either side of the door, and she went out to stand in the middle of the road. The lead riders were almost upon the bandit as Tova hooked her thumbs into the leather belt that encircled her thick waist. That put the norm’s hands in close proximity to the twin single-action revolvers that protruded butts forward from their cutaway holsters.
Rebo and Phan pulled back on their reins as the roughlooking woman appeared in front of them. The bridge was tended by monks, or so they’d been told, but there was nothing godly about the creature who stood before them. Strands of gray-brown hair hung from under a cone-shaped fur hat that was bald in places. The woman’s canvas coat bore multiple patches, one grubby knee was visible through a hole in the baggy pants that she wore, and her boots were caked with mud. “Hold it right there,” the apparition ordered loftily. “How would you like to pay the bridge toll?
Cash on the barrelhead? Or with some of whatever’s on that cart?” The vehicle in question had arrived by then, which meant that Norr was only fi?fty feet away, and in a good position to witness what transpired next.
“How much is the toll?” Rebo asked reasonably, hoping to pay a few gunnars.
“Five cronos,” the bandit replied unhesitatingly. “Or, half of what’s on the cart.”
The runner’s hands were on the saddle’s pommel only inches from his guns. “That’s absurd,” he countered. “Step out of the way . . . We’re coming through.”
“No,” Tova responded levelly. “You aren’t.”
That was when the six ruffi?ans emerged from the hut to form a semicircle behind their leader. The threat was obvious, and the bandit chieftain knew she had the upper hand. Especially since the heavy was still on the cart and in no position to interfere. “Get down off those animals,” she ordered. “You and your friends will be walking from now on. And watch where you put those hands.”
“No.” Phan had been silent up until then. Now, as the other runner spoke, Rebo realized that she had thrown her cape back over her shoulders. But, before he could wonder why, Phan spoke again. Her voice was pitched low, but every word was distinct. “Tell your people to return to the hut. Do it now, and I’ll let you live.”
Tova was surprised. She was expecting trouble from the heavy, or the man with the hard eyes, but not the play pretty in the cape. Not that it mattered since it was time to go for her guns. The thought left her brain, but never arrived at her hands, which made an instinctive grab for her throat. Because that’s where a six-inch-long throwing spike protruded from her larynx. Though not fatal in and of itself, the injury was a shock and prevented Tova from issuing further orders. That was unfortunate since all the members of the band had been told not to kill anyone without their chieftain’s express permission. The problem was rendered moot by the fact that three of them were dead by then, spikes protruding from their eye sockets, each having been thrown by Phan.
That was when the Hogger went off and one of the remaining bandits was snatched off her feet. Both of the surviving brigands fi?red weapons of their own. A rifl?e slug went wide, but pellets from a sawed-off shotgun struck Phan’s angen and caused the beast to shy sideways. Rebo pulled the Crosser, and was in the process of bringing the weapon into fi?ring position, when Phan lifted one leg up over her animal’s neck and jumped to the ground. The remaining bandits both stood motionless and bug-eyed as the woman marched straight at them. Norr felt the bottom drop out of her stomach, and had already shouted, “No!”
when the runner whirled. Heads jerked sideways, and sheets of blood fl?ew, as two carefully honed knives sliced through leather, wool, and unwashed fl?esh. There was something beautiful about the movement, and something horrible, too, since there had been no signs of further resistance from either victim. Three long seconds passed as a cold breeze rumbled across the plain, tugged at the no-longer-legible sign that dangled in front of the hut, and sang through the durasteel cables that kept the bridge aloft. And it was then, during what felt like a short eternity, that Tova managed to remove the spike from her throat. That proved to be a mistake, however, since once the plug was removed, a quantity of blood spurted out of the hole. But there was still time for revenge. Or so it seemed to Tova, because her world had slowed, and it now seemed as though there was time for everything.
In spite of the fact that both of the bandit chieftain’s hands were slippery with blood, she still managed to pull both pistols and was busy hauling the hammers back when Phan realized how exposed she was. Rebo saw the movement, initiated what promised to be a lengthy turn to the right, and knew he wouldn’t make it in time. Not before at least two shots had been fi?red at Phan.
But it wasn’t to be. Both Norr and Hoggles had exited the cart by then and come forward to help. Though still reeling from the manner in which Phan had executed two of the bandits, Norr was in a perfect position to see the bandit leader remove the spike, and knew that no one else could stop the woman from fi?ring. The sensitive took two steps forward, twisted her staff in order to unlock it, and pulled the vibro blade free. Power fl?owed as she thumbed the switch, the sword sizzled as it swept through the air, and Norr barely felt the momentary resistance as the blade passed through Tova’s neck.
The bandit’s fi?ngers jerked convulsively, followed by two loud reports as the pistols fi?red. The bandit’s head made a soft thump as it hit the ground and rolled away from the cone-shaped hat. Despite its considerable size, there was nothing more than a gentle rustle as Tova’s body swayed and collapsed.