Operation Honey Trap vs The Emperor of the Apocalypse-Chapter 197: A Test of Endurance

"There’s a couple of oars here, Niko," said Wolf helpfully, as the boat stalled completely.

"We’ll be faster swimming boys, string your boots around your neck and let’s go!"

Niko was first out of the boat, swimming while holding his sword out of the water as much as possible. The other three men were quick to follow him in, as the stalled boat was caught in the current and drifting further in the wrong direction.

Delphi saw them through the binoculars and set off at a run.

"Girls, grab the horses and let’s go pick up the men!"

Alton had already spotted them jumping in the water and joined the girls, mounting his horse on the fly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Nobody will be crossing those two bridges for quite some time," he said with satisfaction.

"Probably months," laughed Delphi. "The Emperor will be hopping mad about that. I recall he was always very proud of that new bridge. I think his father inaugurated it, or his grandfather, something like that."

"It was his great-grandfather," said Alton awkwardly, and Delphi remembered that that man would be a relative of Alton’s too... Probably his great-great-grandfather, she thought.

"Building a bridge doesn’t make you a good leader," she said indignantly.

"I don’t disagree," he replied. "Hopefully the problem of how to successfully lead the People is ours soon enough."

"Democracy?" she asked.

"That’s a deep philosophical discussion for another day when the problem is within our reach and we’re not riding for our lives," he laughed.

Niko, Brenner, Wolf and Baer dragged themselves out of the water onto the riverbank where they lay panting on their backs after battling with the strong current.

Alton climbed down the tangled bank to where they lay and stood over them.

"Unfortunately even heroes don’t get a rest today, men," he announced.

The four men groaned and dragged themselves to their feet.

"Well done, lads. Amazing work. Baer, you’re a legend. Great driving Niko. Shame about the engine failure, but never mind, you got everyone out alive and that’s the main thing..."

"Barely," muttered Brenner as he squelched up the slope, slashing angrily at blackberry brambles with his sword as he went.

"Some brisk riding and you’ll be dry in no time, Brenner," called Alton cheerfully.

Brenner scowled at the older man’s back.

Arrie gave Wolf a quick congratulatory hug before he mounted up.

Niko looked hopefully at Indy. She remained on her horse but gave him a shy smile, and he was more than satisfied with that.

Opal reached over and squeezed Brenner’s hand. "Nice work Bren."

He raised one side of his mouth in a crooked smile. "It was pretty wild."

"No time for chit chat team. We can regale one another with tales of valour over a nice warm fire after we ride hard for about eight hours through the night."

Everyone groaned in protest, but Alton and Delphi had already kicked their horses into a gallop and taken off.

After a couple of solid hours of riding without a break, Delphi rode up alongside Alton. "I guess you weren’t joking about riding hard for eight hours, huh?" she panted. "I think we’d better stop and let the horses have a drink?"

"Just a short break," said Alton, who was riding at the front of the pack, carrying a lantern.

After a very brief stop, letting the horses drink from the river, they were back cantering the horses down the dark empty road through the bush. Some of the roads in this area were extremely steep, forcing the horses to a walk, but still testing their stamina.

After another two hours of the same, Indy rode up alongside Delphi. Her wrist was in a lot of pain now, but she wasn’t planning to share that, knowing what was at stake.

It was also that time of the month, which was adding to her discomfort after hours of hard riding.

"Delphi," she gasped, "I have to admit I’m struggling. Any chance of another short break?"

To be honest, she felt like she was about to keel over. Her wrist throbbed like buggery, she had awful cramps she couldn’t do anything about, and she was so exhausted she was starting to feel faint.

Delphi nodded. "Alton, another short break needed please," she called ahead to him.

"Alright," he said shortly. "Next river crossing where we can water the horses."

"Thanks Delph," whispered Indy, dropping back to ride behind Loveday again.

Arrie was feeling the strain too. She whispered to Indy while the horses drank their fill.

"I’m starting to feel faint," she confided.

"Me too," agreed Indy. "I have blisters on my inner thighs. They’re agonising... I have cramps too... And I hurt my wrist when I fell from my horse..."

Big tears started to trickle down her cheeks, and she brushed at them with embarrassment. She very rarely cried, especially not in front of others.

Arrie looked at her with concern, knowing Indy must be in a lot of pain to be crying.

"Shall we get Loveday to look at your wrist? She could strap it for you. That might help. She’s got some painkillers too."

"Let’s go troops!" Alton called urgently.

Indy shook her head vigorously. "No. I’m okay. I can hold on until we stop for the night. Everyone’s feeling it, not just me."

Arrie squeezed her hand, "if you need to stop for some first aid, just do it. Don’t suffer in silence."

"Thanks Arrie," Indy gave her a weak smile and hobbled off to climb back onto her beast of torture.

"You doing okay?" Brenner asked his sister. He knew if he was feeling the discomfort, she wouldn’t be in good shape at all.

She shook her head tiredly. "No Bren. Everything hurts. I have blisters from the reins. My back aches and I’m starting to fall asleep in the saddle."

He pulled out a chocolate bar and handed it to her. "Eat this. It’s dark chocolate. The sugar and caffeine should help wake you up a bit."

She looked at him gratefully, tearing open the wrapper straight away and inhaling the chocolate.

He laughed. "Hang in there. You can do it."

She sniffed despondently and nodded at her older brother.

The next stretch of riding seemed interminable to Indy. And it didn’t even come to a merciful end after two hours. Alton just kept on riding.

She could see that the blisters on her thighs were bleeding right through her combat pants now. Her wrist had swollen to twice its normal size and was starting to colour up. She really didn’t think she could go on for another two hours, even with a break to water the horses.

She started to sway in the saddle, her head dropping backwards, then popping back upright as she startled awake.

All of a sudden Niko was riding beside her, peering at her in the dark.

"Are you okay Indy?" he asked with concern. "You look like you might be falling asleep?"

She looked at him in confusion, not sure where she was for a minute.

"General, need a short break please," called Niko.

"We’ll stop at Jordan River," he called back. "Hold on until then, Lieutenant."

Niko looked at Indy. She wasn’t going to last that long.

"Ride with me," he said to her. "We’ll rest your horse and swap across to him after a few kilometres."

He knew she was done when she didn’t even protest and just reached out her arms to him.