If Guinevera had tossed her off the roof half an hour ago, the battle would already be over.
Garth toyed with the ripped fringe of his coat for a moment, then burst out with, Venera, I am so, so sorry!
What? She shook her head, uncomprehending. Things arent so bad. Or do you mean? She thought of Bryce, who might be lying twisted and broken at the foot of the wall. Oh, she said, a twisting feeling running through her.
He had just opened his mouthdoubtless to tell her that Bryce was deadwhen the noises outside changed. The gunfire, which had been muffled with distance and indirection, suddenly sounded loud and close. Shouts and screams rang through the open windows.
Venera ran over, and with Odess and Eilen craned her neck to look up the shaft of the courtyard. There were people on the roof.
She and Odess exchanged a look. Are those our? she started to say, but the answer was clear.
Sacrus is inside the walls! The cry was taken up by the others and suddenly everyone was running for the doors, streaming past Garth Diamandis who was speaking but inaudible through the jumble of shouts.
Venera paused long enough to shrug at him, then grabbed his arm and hauled him after her into the corridor.
The whole population of Liris was running up the stairs. They carried pikes, kitchen knives, makeshift shields, and clubs. None had on more than the clothing they normally wore, but that meant they were formidably armored. There were one or two soldiers in the mixprobably the men who had been guarding Jacoby Sarto. They were frantically trying to keep order in the pushing mass of people.
Garth stared at the crowd and shook his head. Well never get through that.
Venera eyed the window. I have an idea.
As she slung her leg over the lintel Garth poked his head out next to her and looked up. Its risky, he said. Somebody could just kick us off before we can get to our feet.
In this gravity, youre looking at a sprained ankle. Come on. She climbed rapidly, emerging into the light of flares and the sound of gunfire. Half the country was struggling with something at the far end of the roof. Venera blinked and squinted, and realized what it was: they were trying to dislodge a stout ladder that had been swung against the battlements. Even as that came clear
to her, she saw the gray crosshatch of another emerge from the darkness to thud against the stonework.
Withering fire from below prevented the Lirisians from getting near the things. They were forced to crouch a few feet back and poke at them with their pikes.
A third ladder appeared, and suddenly men were swarming onto the roof. The Lirisians stood up. Venera saw Eilen raise a rusted old sword as a figure in red-painted iron armor reared above her.
Venera raised her pistol and fired. She walked toward Eilen, firing steadily until the man whod threatened her friend fell. He wasnt deadhis armor was so thick that the bullets probably hadnt penetratedbut shed rattled his skull for sure.
She was five feet away when her pistol clicked empty. This was the gun Corinne had given her; she had no idea whether it took the same caliber of bullets as anything the Lirisians used. Examining it quickly, she decided she didnt even know how to breach it to check. At that moment two men like metal beetles surmounted the battlement, firelight glistening off their carapaces.
She tripped Eilen, and when the woman had fallen behind her, Venera stepped between her and the two men. She drop-kicked the leader and he windmilled his arms for a moment before falling back. The force of her kick had propelled Venera back ten feet. She landed badly, located Eilen, and shouted, Come on!
Moss straight-armed a pike into the helmet of the other man. Beside him Odess shoved a lighted torch at a third who was stepping off the ladder. Gunfire sounded and somebody fell, but she couldnt see who through the press of bodies.
She grabbed Eilens arm. We need guns! Are there more in the lockers?
Eilen shook her head. We barely had enough for the soldiers. Theres that. She pointed.
Around the corner of the courtyard shaft, the ancient, filigreed morning gun still sat on a tripod under its little canopy. Venera started to laugh, but the sound died in her throat. Come on!
The two women wrestled the weapon off its stand. It was a massive thing, and though it weighed little in this gravity, it was difficult to maneuver. Do we have shells? Venera asked.
Bullets, no shells, said Eilen. Theres black powder in that bin.
Venera opened the guns breach. It was of a pointlessly primitive design. You poured black powder into it and then inserted the bullet and closed the breach. It had a spark wheel instead of a percussion trigger. Well, then, come on. Eilen grabbed up the box of bullets and a sack of powder, and they ran along the inner edge of the roof. In the darkness and confusion Eilen stumbled, and Venera watched as the bullets spilled out into the air over the courtyard. Eilen screamed in frustration.
One bullet spun on the flagstones at Veneras feet. Cradling the gun, she bent to pick up the metal slug. A wave of cold prickles swept over her shoulders and up her neck.