The Enhancer by McCullough Teresa; Baxter Meg

Author:McCullough, Teresa; Baxter, Meg [McCullough, Teresa; Baxter, Meg]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2009-03-09T04:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

"Cannons! They're firing cannons!" MorToak said. He leaned out the window and shouted to the driver. "Stop the carriage."

MorToak sprang out of the door and climbed up onto the carriage box. He scanned the coastline.

"Have they hit anything?" he asked the driver.

"I can't tell -- maybe that big, gray house over on the bluff."

Meeral, standing next to the carriage, craned her neck in the direction the driver pointed but could not see over the trees.

"Yes." MorToak said. "I see smoke." He jumped down and flung himself back into the carriage. He shouted to the driver, "Get over there. Fast! Take the shortest route."

Meeral, afraid they would leave her behind, reached out her hand. He grabbed it and pulled her in, letting her tumble awkwardly next to him.

"Hurry," he shouted, then, almost to himself, "How could Kaldoat have prevented this? I'm supposed to see that Pactyl is defended."

"Did they hit the Duke's Palace?" Meeral said, not sure where the Duke lived.

"No. They might think they did but it's further down the bluff. They hit a large house that looks like a private home or boarding house. Lucky shot for them, unlucky for us. They don't have good aim with a cannon."

The horses slowed down as they began climbing a hill. MorToak stuck his head out the window but pulled it back quickly when the branches brushed the side of the carriage on the narrow road.

"Perhaps I should have picked a more experienced commander than Kaldoat," he muttered. "He spent all that time training enhancers to make arrows go further, but what good will that do? They couldn't even get near those ships." He hit his fist against the palm of his hand and leaned forward as if to hurry the carriage.

"Isn't Colonel Kaldoat's responsible for defending the city?" Meeral asked.

"Yes, but King ParToak sent me. I'm in charge. I picked Kaldoat because he was highly recommended."

"Isn't he doing a good job? Could he have known this would happen?"

"He's good with his men, has them well under control, but he's young -- not comfortable around anyone who isn't a soldier -- gets a bit bullheaded." MorToak's eyes met Meeral's as he added, "as you know. Maybe if he listened to more people . . . That woman enhancer that died . . . " His words trickled off.

He sat back in the carriage as if he realized he could not make it go faster. Meeral dismissed the idea of enhancing the pull of the horses on this narrow winding road. They were already going dangerously fast.

"A more seasoned commander might have anticipated this," he said. "Though I have no idea how we can stop being target practice . . . "

Suddenly the driver shout "Whoa! Whoa!" The carriage lurched from side to side and came to a halt.

"Why are you stopping?" MorToak shouted. As he opened the door Meeral saw the look of dismay on his face. He spat out the words, "Gurkon's Gut"

He reached the horses in rapid strides. Taking hold of the bridle of the lead horse he held it until it stopped prancing and tossing its head.

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