In The Beginning by Gail Daley (top 100 books of all time checklist .TXT) 📕

my inner ear as the world slowed and sharpened around me. My mind processed the increased information from my enhanced perception in stride, operating far beyond normal capacity due to the thought acceleration enhancement. I could hear Lia’s heartbeat three steps behind me drumming out of control from adrenaline, and the scent of her mint perfume mixed with a fresh layer of sweat. Nothing escaped my notice as we moved; I heard the creak of a floorboard two doors down to our left, smelled the burned bacon wafting up from the stairwell ahead of us, and saw the slight warping due to age of wooden floorboards beneath my feet.

When we rounded the final corner to the common room I quickly scanned over the guards in the corner. I could tell immediately that my suspicions were correct; Both men tensed up when they recognized me, looking at each other with sideways glances. Keeping my face neutral to not alert the guards I continued through the lobby, slowing my pace to allow Lia to walk next to me. I reached down and laced my fingers into hers and pulled her close, trying to offer her some small comfort as we walked out the front door.

The cool morning air was refreshing against my face as we exited the building. A lone guard standing only a few paces to our left did a double take as we walked by, taken off guard by our sudden appearance. My count from before proved accurate as I recounted the soldiers outside: Two to our right on the patio, three grouped together across the street, and a final three patrolling towards us from the left. Looking down the marbled street I could see wagons pulled up to block traffic, two blocks away on either side. Eleven on two...not the worst odds.

As we continued down the stairs to the street, a man with slightly more ornate armor than the rest approached from the group opposite us. Whereas the rest of the men wore unadorned steel armor, this presumed captain had a breastplate etched and painted with a crest I had seen multiple times around the city of Yoria: an ornate golden throne superimposed atop a crescent moon shaped stained glass window. He stood a full head taller than me with close cropped salt-and-pepper hair and silvery grey eyes, wielding a spiked mace and a tower shield emblazoned with the same Yorian emblem.

“You there!” He barked out, his voice thick with gravel. “Stop where you are!”

I took one final step off the curb into the street and stopped. My battlefield bravado was fully upon me now as I presented a friendly, confident smile. “Good morning! How can I help you, good sir?” The clinking of metal and soft scuffing of boots told me that the two guards from the lobby had joined the door lookout, and the three had approached within five paces. The two men from the patio had stood from their chairs as we passed and were now moving up as well, circling to my right.

“By order of the Golden Throne, you are to immediately accompany us to the capital city Yoria to await judgement!” The man spoke slowly with a voice that seemed accustomed to command.

With an overexaggerated grimace I sharply inhaled. “Oooh, that’s going to be an issue. You see, I have plans to travel to Lybesa. I’ve heard it’s lovely this time of year, and I don’t want to miss out on the sightseeing.” Pulling Lia closer behind me, I casually turned to observe the men to our rear. They each stood with a hand on their military standard longswords, eyeing us cautiously. The rest of the men in front of us were armed the same way, save for the two guards flanking the captain who held large crossbows. “Perhaps I can come visit the throne later?”

The captain glowered as his eyes flicked down to look at Lia. “Girl, step away from this man, or you’ll be charged with obstructing the will of the Throne!”

“No! He hasn’t done anything wrong!” Lia’s voice was loud but shaky as she hollered back at the captain. He looked surprised by the response.

“We have orders to bring this man in alive. That same courtesy does not extend to conspirators,” the captain bristled. Lia refused to move, staring out at him defiantly from behind my shoulder. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, he grunted. “Have it your way.” Motioning to the men positioned behind us the captain hollered, “Take her to the wagons. She’ll stand trial after this one.”

Turning calmly to Lia, I placed my free hand on her shoulder. “It’s time,” I whispered softly into her ear. “Just do your best, Lia. I believe in you.” She nodded, her face changing from one of fear to hard determination. One of the three guards positioned behind us approached slowly.

“Come with me, girl,” The man called out to her, extending a hand to grab her shoulder. Lia lunged towards him, grabbing his arm as she twirled to face me. In one swift movement she curled forward and yanked down hard on his trapped limb, which sent him flipping over her back to land stunned on his side against the hard marble. I heard the breath get knocked from his chest and the faint crunch of bone as one of his ribs fractured. Without missing a beat, Lia sent a vicious kick at his head, knocking him onto his side where he landed in an unmoving pile.

A grin spread across my face as I watched the scene unfold in slow motion. Taking one final centering breath, I exhaled hard and snapped around to survey the field. Two to the right, close to flanking Lia. Three more, fifteen paces to the left. Two at range with lever crossbows, behind the commander. As my adrenaline kicked in time slowed to a crawl as I analyzed my options. Disable the flanking group. Run wide to draw the crossbow fire, opening a fifteen second reload window