Space Knights: The Arrival by Gregory Samuelson (buy e reader .TXT) 📕

out of here. I’ll cover you as long as I can. I can keep them from chasing after you. Go or we’ll all be caught and killed,” he declared bravely.

Chorus looked at him with surprise and worry. He knew what was coming down the road and what might happen to Trance. How could the boy hold off an army and let them get away? It couldn’t be done. “You have to come with us. If you stay you’ll be killed.”

Trance stood his ground and said very calmly, “The Lord helped me defend your house from those ten knights. Maybe he’ll help me survive the rest of the day. I’ll be okay. You need to go or we’ll all be surrounded.” Chorus gave in and the two hugged. Chorus then turned and helped his family into the wagon that resembled a minivan pulled by two Clydesdale-sized robot horses. Martin wanted to stay with his friend, but Trance persuaded him to go with his family. The Markems were finally ready to go.

Trance stood bravely and waved as the wagon was maneuvered out of the barn and started down the road for freedom. He turned and wiped a tear as he decided what to do. First he needed to check his weapons for defense. He went back in the house, collected all of the arrows he could find and then retrieved the hunting spears. He removed the scabbard for the sword he had recovered and put it on. He also retrieved the mace, then ran out and checked the road. The wagon was almost completely out of sight and his heart beat faster as he looked the other way and could see the battle coming closer.

He suddenly felt alone. He was used to this sensation; on Earth he often went off by himself. He just felt more at peace at times when he was off by himself. However, this time he was in mortal danger off by himself. What should he do, and where should he go? He headed to the barn to plan out his escape, and hopefully to keep the Boulthorians from following the Markems. Suddenly he heard a noise behind him near the house.

There near the house were two Boulthorian knights with torches. They hadn’t even checked out the house. If they had they would have come across their fallen comrades. It appeared that they were there just to burn the house down. Rage filled Trance as he saw them and without hesitating he turned and shot them both down. He didn’t have time to celebrate his success because four other Boulthorian knights had seen him, so he had to swiftly leap back into the barn.

Several arrows struck the barn and a couple even zipped into the barn behind him. Trance sprinted to the back door of the barn and looked out to see if anyone was out that direction. He made up his mind to head for the forest that bordered the farm. If only he could make it there he could get away.

He quickly noted in his mind a route to go and ran out and toward the large ditch that ran along the nearest field. As he raced that way he spotted more enemy knights headed his way. Trance turned and fired a number of arrows at them. He didn’t take the time to see if he hit anyone or not. He turned and ran until he reached the ditch and jumped into it. The ditch was empty and dry and perfect for him to race down. As he sprinted along the ditch toward the forest a volley of arrows came down behind him.

He ran on and stumbled. He got back up and stopped. A Boulthorian knight with an ax had jumped down into the ditch just ahead of him. Both of them stood for a moment and looked at each other in surprise. The Boulthorian knight had expected his quarry to be a trained Althorian knight, yet here in front of him was just a lad.

“Stop!” yelled the Boulthorian knight as he looked smugly at the boy. If the boy had the stupid notion of taking him on he would be killed in just moments.

Trance knew that this knight could kill him in an instant, but he was blocking his escape route and was preventing him from going in search of his family. “Let me leave in peace. I don’t want to fight, I just want to leave and find my family,” Trance said as calmly as he could. He really didn’t want to fight at the moment. He had been lucky at the house, but now he felt the impact of what he’d done. God forgive me for what I’ve done, he prayed, and help me. If he’d have to fight this man, he might go down, but he’d go down swinging.

“I don’t think so,” sneered the knight, as he looked the boy up and down. “I saw what you did back there at the house. You shot my friends like a professional archer. You’re going to be my prisoner.”

“I don’t think so. Just let me go. All I want is to do is get out of here,” said Trance, getting nervous and wondering what was going to happen next.

The Boulthorian knight was getting angry and decided that this was it. He prepared to take the boy down. It would be quick and painful. “You’re not going anywhere. The only place you are going now is the grave.” The knight raised his ax and started toward Trance.

Trance dropped the bow and drew his sword. He wasn’t quite expecting the weight of the weapon but got it raised. The knight approached him and he swung the sword to meet the ax. Surprisingly he fought the knight rather well and caught him off guard. The knight was not expecting this. They fought for a couple minutes when Trance saw his opportunity and drove the sword into his opponent. Both were surprised, Trance couldn’t believe that he had