Burning Tower by Larry Niven Read Free Book Online

barracks.
    â€œHurry, lass!”
    Her hair bounced as she ran. A pretty picture. “We live through this, she’ll make a soldier’s wife!” Chalker shouted.
    There wasn’t going to be time. The birds had followed Sandry’s chariot, but when the lead bird stumbled, they turned back toward their tormentors. The Lordsmen drew swords, but without spears they weren’t going to be able to hold that shield wall and still fight. The birds would tear through or around the line and be among the kinless—
    Dibantot screamed curses and leaped off the fire bell platform. He ran toward the downed bird, still shouting, and hacked at it with his big Lordkin knife. The monster fell in a shower of blood.
    Now the others had seen Dibantot. They turned away from Fullerman’s line and charged. Dibantot looked around, saw there was nowhere to go, and took a fighting stance. He shouted defiance, a Lordkin to the last, but he never had a chance. He hacked at one and then he was down, speared with those great swords the birds wore in place of wings, his body torn by kicks from their clawed feet. They turned toward Fullerman’s group. The pretty waitress and the innkeeper were handing out spears.
    â€œHold steady, lads! Get behind us, Miss!” Fullerman shouted. “Squad, kneel! Ground your spear butts!”
    Training again, Sandry thought. Training . The guardsmen knelt, shields still locked, spear butts to the ground and points held ahead of them. The birds charged. One man screamed in terror and left his post, running away. The others held, and one of the birds impaled itself on a spear. It ran right up the length of the spear to strike down the man who held it. The other three broke past the Lordsmen to pursue the running guard. One leaped onto the man’s back, and he was down, torn apart by kicking feet. The birds turned again.
    All of the Lordsmen were busy finishing off the impaled bird. Two more men were down, but they seemed to be moving.
    Sandry wheeled the chariot and charged at the birds. “Be ready!”
    â€œSir!” Chalker said. He hefted a throwing spear. “Ready, sir.”
    â€œNow!”
    Sandry wheeled the chariot to the left so that Chalker was facing the birds. “Away!” Chalker shouted.
    â€œGo!” The horses had no problems with that order. “Go, Blaze! Go, you beauties!”
    â€œPulling away,” Chalker said. He took another spear from the rack. “One’s not running very well.”
    â€œNeed another chariot out here,” Sandry said.
    â€œFiregod’s piss, we need twenty!” Chalker said, but there was a lilt to his voice.
    He loves this, Sandry thought. Come to that, so do I! Hoofbeats on the square, wind in my face, and a monster chasing behind. Fighting fires is important work, but I was born for this!
    Wheel again. Lead them around the square. Hope Fullerman has the troops formed up and ready again. He could spare a moment to look. The innkeeper and his waitress daughter were carrying the wounded inside. Fullerman had the remaining troops formed and ready. Everything was all right. “We’ll take a run past Fullerman’s troop.”
    â€œMake ready to throw!” Chalker shouted.
    â€œMake ready. Steady lads, hold on. Ready now—throw!” Fullerman ordered.
    There was a cheer from the guards, but Sandry couldn’t look back. The horses were flecked with foam now, and they were harder to control. “Steady, Blaze. Steady, Boots.” Horses liked to hear their names, and to hear a calm voice from a human. “Steady, you beauties.”
    â€œAnother one down,” Chalker said. “Two left, one’s wounded, and all that running has slowed them a bit.”
    â€œAbout time,” Sandry said. “Okay, what?”
    â€œTurn up ahead, and slow down. I’ll throw the last spear. When I throw, move again, sir.”
    â€œRight. Good tactics.” Maybe he knows