look in the Badgie's eyes when he stepped back and let them all go to save the princess’ life.
This enchanting, willful beauty, and the fierce, bloody-minded Badgie-a human and a Newlie who had somehow found one another despite the differences that lay between them.
Much like another odd pairing I could name. One Finn of Fyxedia, and a Mycer named Letitia Louise…
Though he could not see how one of these couplings could possibly relate to the other, he could not deny that the other was there. And there were more such unions in the world this day-some, he imagined, stranger than he knew
Come look at this, both of you,” Bucerius said, cupping his enormous hands above his brow. “I been expectin’ it, hoping it wouldn't be.”
At first Finn could see nothing against the glare of the eastern sky. Then, they were there, three small brightly colored spheres, very close together, somewhat higher than Bucerius’ balloon.
“They've caught a good current up there,” the Bullie said, clenching his fists around a heavy rope line. “Just fool luck is what it is. Isn't a balloonist anywheres who'd know it be there.”
“Anything we can do?”
The Bullie frowned at Finn. “Can't get up there, if that's what you mean. Not without tossin’ all of you out, which isn't too bad an idea. I can't dump ballast, neither. Isn't enough to do much good.”
“So we wait,” the seer said.
“They got a wind beats the Westerlies a mile. Might be we'll get us one too.”
Bucerius made no effort to pretend he thought such a miracle would happen anytime soon…
“We'll make it,” Finn assured Letitia. “We've come this far. Nothing can stop us now.”
He was well aware how absurd such words must sound, but Letitia was kind enough to say nothing at all. Even Julia Jessica Slagg kept her silence. In respect, Finn thought, of the tragedy that was about to befall.
“Bucerius says we've passed just south of the battleground, which means we're halfway, on the other side of the Swamp of Bleak Demise. Our side, and that's good. We've a way to go, of course”
Finn paused, for the sun had disappeared behind low purple clouds, and the breeze had picked up considerably, bringing the three balloons closer still. Now, the Heldessian coat of arms was quite clear on the flanks of the racing spheres.
“If the velocity of the wind remains the same at our level and theirs,” Julia said, “they will approach us less than a hundred and seven feet above us on a south-southwesterly course. In about nine minutes, I believe.”
“Shut up,” Finn told her. “I'm sure our captain doesn't need any navigational help from you.”
“No, I don't,” Bucerius said, looking somewhat appalled. “I don't, but that ugly's near right.”
“I shall say no more,” Julia said.
“Good. That's a splendid idea.”
“Finn,” the seer shouted, “over here!”
Finn moved quickly to Oberbyght's side.
“See that? In the first balloon? I'm certain that's Maddigern himself. Right below the guiding cords.”
“I don't see how you can tell.”
“Trust me. That's him, for sure. I'd know that brute anywhere”
A flash of bright light, then a thunderous roar reached Finn's ears. Something like an angry hornet whined by overhead.
“Damn ‘em all,” Bucerius said, gripping the basket's side. “It's muskets they be using. They mean to bring us down.”
Another flash, and another after that. The first shot missed, but the second tore at the craft's tangle of cords. Finn could see now that Maddigern was the sole musketeer. One of his Guardsmen would hand him a loaded weapon, and take the empty back.
Another shot ripped away a section of the webbing that held the bloated sphere intact. The balloon dipped, swayed drunkenly, and righted itself again.
“He's a better than fair shooter,” Finn said. “Next time he'll hit the bag itself!”
“No, he won't be doin’ that.” Bucerius looked grim. “He's not trying to kill us, he's trying to take us down.”
Finn showed his surprise, for he failed to understand.
“He hits the bag, we'll go up in a ball of fire,” Bucerius explained. “If he cuts enough of them lines-which is what he's doin’ now-he knows I'll have to set her down ‘fore we lose control.”
The Bullie paused. “He wants his princess back, don't you see? With us stuck down in that killin’ swamp, it's him that'll have the winning hand, not us.
“He can land enough louts to finish us off, ‘less we give her back.”
“He will, too,” said DeFloraine-Marie, tossing them all a haughty glance. “You'd best do what he says, Bullie. He'll show you no mercy if you don't let me go.”
Her words were nearly lost as Maddigern fired again. The wicker basket sagged dangerously, as cords parted with a whine overhead.
“That damn near does it,” Bucerius cursed. “Another shot an’ I got to put her down.”
“And submit to him? A stinking Badgie?” The seer's face darkened with rage. “I'll give him something to ponder, he thinks he can stand up to me!”
The sorcerer raised his hands high above his head and shouted at the wind, trembled and shook, swelled up like the great bloated sphere above. From his mouth spewed a gabble, a blabber, a meaningless jabber that made Finn's hair stand on end.
Then, to Finn's horror, the balloon next to Maddigern's blossomed into a white ball of fire, a small and blinding sun. Finn heard the horrid shrieks of pain from the craft as it disappeared from sight.
“No, don't,” Finn shouted. “Leave them be. We don't have to do that!”
The words were scarcely out of his mouth before the second sphere seared Finn's eyes and vanished in a wink.
He's playing with him, taunting him, saving him till the last…
Oberbyght raised his hands high once more, and Finn could see Maddigern clearly, his features betraying no expression at all.
Finn gripped his hands tightly together, and brought them down soundly at the base of Oberbyght's skull. The sorcerer collapsed without a sound and fell limply to the basket's floor.
Finn glanced at the Badgie once more. Maddigern knew what had happened, but he didn't move an inch.
“Get a line ‘cross her shoulders,” Finn called out. “Let her down, quickly, and let that maniac see!”
Bucerius nodded. DeFloraine-Marie's eyes widened, but she didn't protest.
“We're driftin’, losing it fast,” the Bullie said. “I can't hold her up long.”
“We don't have to. He knows that.”
The princess didn't say a word as she tossed the Bullie's blanket aside and lifted her legs over the rim of the basket. She caught Finn watching and grinned. Then the Bullie lowered her slowly away, down to the dark, tangled mass of green below.
Maddigern held off to the right, watching the princess descend. Finally, she touched the ground lightly in a small clearing, loosed the line and waved, then stood there and waited, huddled against the chill.
“We can make a couple of miles,” Bucerius said. “Can't promise much after that.”
“You'll do what you can,” Finn said. He glanced at Letitia, then turned and looked back.
“He's going down to get her. He's not concerned with us.”
“Fine. I'm concerned with us,” the Bullie said, “for there's many a craft what's gone down in the Swamp of Bleak Demise, but I never heard of one comin’ out again…”
FIFTY-SEVEN
I'll get you for this, Finn, by damn, I promise you that,” said the seer. “My head's about to split, and I expect
