Laney crouched and started moving clockwise around Biadet, who stood still, tracking Laney with her eyes.
As Laney edged her way around, she crouched lower and lower until it seed like she would soon be crawling like a crab. Biadet stood straight, the humongous axe resting on her shoulder, her face betraying zero emotion.
Take a good look, Gabor, said Laney in a playful voice. Tell what you think. What are my odds?
The two n who had been fighting alongside Laney when we arrived, were watching with what looked like amusent. The taller one, who was called Roland, had donated his weapon to Biadet so he obviously had nothing against girls fighting to the death. Very egalitarian.
The shorter, stockier one was apparently called Gabor. He scratched his chin with a gloved hand and said, It does not look good, Im afraid, little lady. You might win this fight, maybe, one in a hundred.
This assessnt produced a very slight twitch in Biadets left eyebrow region. Im not an expert on female facial cues, but I think the general gist was that she thought the odds were a slightly generous towards Laney.
Keukeukeu, snickered Laney, running the tip of her sword over the grass at her feet. So, I do have a chance, albeit a small one. She was now circling around to Biadets rear.
Biadet switched the axe to her other shoulder and kept turning her head, but making no move to engage Laney.
My whole life, people have been telling what I cant do. Not now, Laney. Youre too young, Laney. Leave it to soone who knows what theyre doing, Laney.
It sounded like very good advice to .
Are we going to fight, Princess? said Biadet. Or just dance?
Patience, Biadet. Rember how hasty you were back in school? Rember what happened because of your impatience?
Biadet face seed to fall into shadow, even though there were no clouds in the sky. She dropped the axe off her shoulder and held it with both hands.
That girl, said Gabor, shaking his head, she would even give you a close fight, Roland. And then she would beat you.
Ha! said Roland. One of your wires must have co loose. Check your calculations, my friend, you must have missed a decimal point.
My calculations are perfect as always. She is sothing unnatural, I think.
You can calculate whos going to win a fight? I asked Gabor.
He turned to look at like he had no idea Id been standing there for the last five minutes. I see it play out a thousand different ways up here. He tapped the side of his head. The outco depends on many things. There is never a guaranteed result, but this one is as close to that as you can expect.
Youre Visitors? He seed to be talking about a special ability, which suggested to that he was also from Earth, but he must have arrived well before us. He looked like he was in his forties. One of those wiry guys who ran every morning and rode their bikes in skintight lycra and pro-biker helts through rush hour traffic.
Visitors, yes. We ca here from Hungary. Long ago. You?
Britain. Just recently.
And you are friends with monsters?
Yes. So of them. They arent all that different to us.
Gabor gave an acquiescing tilt of the head. Indeed. In so cases the only difference is better clothing. And sotis no clothing is the better option, eh, Roland?
Roland laughed so loudly I flinched away from him.
What do your calculations tell you when you look at ? I asked Gabor.
He looked up and down. You are still alive. Sotis the odds can be beaten.
I think his ability was telling him I should have been dead by now, which was a fairly reasonable assessnt.
Dont worry, said Gabor, as though he had read my mind, we also are only here because we beat the odds. Knowing you are at a disadvantage is also an advantage.
Laney had started closing in on Biadet, who was still standing in the sa place looking mildly bored.
Without warning, Laney rushed forward, her sword leading. Her footsteps were a blur as she closed in.
The axe in Biadets hands twirled from the far side, across her body, and then into Laneys path.
Laney lunged, then withdrew the blade, twisting her body so she was suddenly facing the sky and looking up and back to keep Biadet in sight. Her body continued spinning until she was upright again. Now that she had bypassed the axe slicing towards her, she lunged forward again.
Biadet flicked her wrist and brought the axe head swinging back towards herself. She caught the blade under her arm, clamping it to her side when it looked like it would shear her arm off. The handle now pointed out and Biadet used it to parry Laneys relentless blows.
There were multiple tal rings all the way up the shaft of the axe and sparks flew off them as Biadet calmly deflected the onslaught from Laneys sword.
A single clod of earth, grass still attached to one side, flew into the middle of the fray, striking Laney on the arm. Surprised, she sprang back and looked at Flossie who was slapping the dirt off her hands.
If yo want to fight like children, go do it over there. She pointed across the clearing we were standing in.
Biadet and Laney, one cool and restrained as a Goth at a luau, the other breathing hard and poised to strike like a cat, exchanged a look. There were many ways to describe their fight, but you didnt often co across children engaged in mortal combat.
One of those ogres knows where mah Dudley is, and I dont have ti for yo two to ss about. Flossie screwed up her mouth into a small hole and her eyes were two dark dots. She was seriously pissed off.
Laney lowered her sword and stood up straight. Do you mind? This is a serious grudge were trying to settle here.
Nobodys stopping yo. Just dont do it here. Youre in mah way. Go on, shoo. She tried to wave them away. They stood there, staring at her.
To be fair, they were fighting between her and the ogres. Keezy had moved them to the other side of the clearing and was talking to them (at least, thats what it looked like) and Flossie had been growing more and more anxious to find out where they knew Dudley from. But clash of the mini-titans was cockblocking her.
Laney raised her sword and pointed it at Flossie. Get out of the way, peasant.
Flossie didnt move. She didnt seem to be particularly bothered by her impending skewering. Vikchutni!
The dragon reared its head. It was behind her with Nyx tending to the wounds along its body, but now it started lumbering over. One wing was open and being dragged along, arrows stuck in it, but Vikchutni wasnt going to ignore the call.
Laneys posture shifted as she realised the dragon was under Flossies control. She took a step back, but then raised her sword higher, ready to take on all cors.
There was a thunk! as Biadet buried the axe into the turf. We can continue this later, Princess, she said, her voice as calm and even as ever. There are matters that need attending.
Laney thought it over but rather than give her ti to co to the wrong decision, I stepped forward.
Okay, while you lot sort out your available dates for a rematch, were going to talk to those ogres. I walked across the clearing towards Keezy.
The three ogres were huge and hulking. Their large, neanderthal faces showed no signs of intelligence and they clawed at the ground like they were spoiling to rejoin the fight. Strange gulping noises, intermingled with the odd grunt, seeped from their fang-filled mouths. Keezy was making soothing sounds to keep them calm, but they were straining to get past him and he kept having to push them back.
Can you ask them if they know Dudley? I asked him.
Keezy shook his head. They do not have a language beyond simple noises to indicate anger and happiness. If they have encountered your friend, I doubt it was a friendly eting.
I turned to Claire who was now beside . Anything?
She looked at the ogres. Her eyes narrowed, and then she flinched. That one keeps thinking of Dudley. She pointed at the smaller of the three.
The female? said Keezy. Can you see where she saw him?
Claire winced again. I She looked at Flossie, concern in her face.
Whatever Claire was seeing, she obviously didnt want it to upset Flossie, which suggested it wasnt good.
Is he dead? asked Flossie, her voice trembling.
No, said Claire. It isnt that. Its just She hesitated again.
Get on with it, I said, impatiently. We may still be able to get to him.
Claire sucked on her lower lip. Hes I an, in the ogres mind, when she thinks about him, hes naked.
Flossie blinked very slowly. Whats that an? she said coldly.
Yes, I said, what does that an? Naked on a spit over a fire?
No, said Claire. Naked and... doing stuff. With her. She pointed at the ogre again. Doesnt an he actually did anything, Claire added quickly. Its just what shes thinking about.
Flossie stord up to the female ogre. Wheres mah Dudley, you giant tart?
The ogre looked confused. There was quite a large discrepancy in their heights, but Flossie wasnt intimidated at all.
Fifty-fifty, said Gabor.
Laney and Biadet had paused their duel for the ti being, and Nyx was petting the dragon which was still suffering from its wounds. He had a handful of arrows he had removed from the dragons body. It seed like an opportune mont to get so healing in. I moved over to the dragon and checked its injuries. There were nasty gashes in its side and one wing was torn in several places.
You want to look after your dragon before he keels over? I shouted at Flossie.
She looked over at , her face still twisted with anger, and her expression softened. She said sothing to Keezy, then ca running over. She cradled Vikchutnis head in her arms as I healed him. I could feel the energy leave my body, but we would probably need the dragon in the near future.
It didnt take long but I felt woozy when I finished. I opened my eyes to find everyone staring at .
Yo need a haircut, said Flossie. Thank yo.
Vikchutni mooed at .
I brushed the hair out of my eyes and realised I couldnt see Jenny anywhere. A sudden rush of fear ran through .
Im here, said Jenny from behind .
Relief surged through and I let out a sigh. Jenny did the sa. Then she turned to Flossie.
Im sorry. I didnt an to hurt you, or your dragon.
Flossie was clearly struggling to control herself. Ah know you didnt an it, she said in a whisper. Youre not yourself. She rubbed her arm where the arrow had struck her. The sleeve was ripped open, but the wound was gone. She gave Jenny a long, dark look and then kissed the dragons snout and walked back towards the ogres.
Jenny shivered. I thought I only had access to your feelings.
No, mine are just the strongest, because you love so very much. I smiled at her. She didnt smile back.
Flossie was back in front of the female ogre. Wheres Dudley? Dudley. Dud. Lee. Claire was beside her, staring up at the ogre who was watching Flossie with her large, misshapen head tilted at an angle.
This went on for a few minutes with Flossie occasionally looking at Claire, who would shake her head. And then, out of nowhere, the female ogre slowly opened her mouth. Duuuuh lee.
Flossie turned to Keezy. Did she say Dudley?
I dont think so. They cant...
Duuuudley, said the ogre.
Yes, said Flossie, getting excited. Dudley. Wheres Dudley?
Duuuudley, Duuuudley. The ogre began slapping her giant mitts together and jumping from foot to foot.
Flossie started mimicking her. Dudley, yes, where? Where Dudley?
Watching them bounce up and down was kind of srising, but it wasnt getting us any closer to finding Dudley. The other two ogres were watching just as miffed as the rest of us.
Duuuudley, Duuuudley. The ogre started pointing into the trees.
That way? Dudley that way? Ah think she knows where he is!
The female ogre ploughed into the forest, leaving a trail it would be impossible to miss. The sound of crashing trees also helped to point the way.
Lets go, said Flossie. She charged after her competition.
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