Shani reloaded her pistols as Carter watched the entryway of the engine. The engineer kept the coals burning as he focused on keeping the train moving as the conductor watched the pair of gunslingers. The lithe elf took a deep breath and looked to the others for a brief moment. Pania had been gone a long time, and Shani was starting to worry.
“Panny’s been gone a long time,” Shani mused as she looked to Carter. His face held it’s stoic nature, but there was concern in his eyes. “I’m goin’ back ta check on ‘er.” She holstered her shooting irons and began to walk toward the coal car, stopping only as the conductor began to protest.
“But what about us,” he announced more than asked in a nervous voice. “I’m no gun fighter. And no offense to the reverend, but two gun hands are better than one.
Shani looked to Carter with a grin then back to the conductor. “I figger thet Reverend Stewart here is better ‘n ten gun hands.”
Carter dismissed the comment with a small chuckle, then turned his attention to the task at hand. “What do you plan on doin’, Miss Shani? There could be more o’ them thralls in the passenger cars.”
“Inside, sure,” Shani called back as she climbed onto of the coal car. “Them thet ‘re turned won’t be able ta walk in the sunlight. I’m hoofin’ it on top o’ the train. Maybe I kin hear some fightin’ an’ peg where Girly girl’s at.” She offered a wave of her hand and began to climb onto the car as Carter murmured a silent prayer. Hopefully, it would be seen fit to grant the righteous the might to put down this evil once and for all.
Shani climbed from car to car, moving slowly so as not to lose her footing. The train rumbled along the tracks, keeping it’s speed constant as the engineer continued to stoke the fires. Shani hoped that her treacherous walk would not be met with unneeded peril. She was not surprised as she saw one of the thralls crawling onto the roof of the first passenger car.
“Ya know,” Shani shouted out as she drew her Colts. “This’d been a whole lot easier ifn ya jist kept yer butt in the train. Now ya gotta come up here an’ start yer fussin’, an’ I’m jist gonna have ta kick ya off o’ this here train.” The thrall only grinned with glee as he began to approach Shani. She took note of the look in this one’s eyes, nearly vacuous, but holding some intelligence. Not fully turned, but kept to protect the vampire mistress during the light of day. “I kin tell y’all ain’t too bright,” Shani huffed as she raised her pistols.
Two reports sounded out, striking the thrall dead centre. The creature clutched at his chest and fell to his knees as Shani advanced. “Yer ticket ain’t valid on this here train,” she said as she gave the thrall a boot to the head, and watched as he fell to the ground. Shani didn’t stop to see if he’d fallen under the wheels or not. She had a purpose and that was to reach the car that Pania was in.
Shakily, she continued her long walk, unimpeded by any other thrall. She didn’t need any further interruptions. As she neared the caboose, she took note of the windows. These ones were heavily blacked out, but not boarded up. A good chance that she could shoot the windows out. As she checked her pistols again, she caught the sound of steel on steel, and a smile formed. The elven bard had more than once surprised Shani, and now she heard the sounds of a definite duel. It was time to even the odds.
*****
Pania raised her rapier and parried an incoming blow from Ya’Row’s gladius. Ya’Row seemed frustrated, anger more than evident in her eyes. Blow for blow, Pania parried like an expert swordsman, each thrust giving her more and more confidence. The elven vampire, however, was becoming more and more angry.
“How?” she cried out as she swung out at Pania, only to find the bard’s rapier ready to push aside the assault. “No one has ever been able to resist my charms! How is it, a young snipe such as you are able to do so?”
“I’ve go’ talent,” Pania smirked as she moved into her defensive stance. “I also read me ‘istory. At one time, I wanted ta be just like ye. I wanted ta learn how ta be the swordsman tha’ ye’d b’come. I wanted ta rise in the ranks an’ become tha’ which ye ‘ad. Fer years, ye were my hero!”
“And now,” Ya’Row responded with a sickening sneer. “What do you think now?” She thrust her blade forward, only to find the bard’s rapier easily stopping the attack. “Now that you know how the magistrates backstabbed me. They’d only do the same to you!”
“Oh, I’ve no doubt there ‘re them tha’ would b’come jealous,” Pania retorted with a laugh. “Bu’ the diff’rence is, instead o’ givin’ up, I’d prove ’em wrong. It’s all ’bout faith. An’ in truth, Cassandra, I dunna want ta be you. I want ta be better ‘n you!” As though Pania’s remark needed further exclamation, the report of a pistol sounded out, followed quickly by the shattering of glass. The bard smiled as she knew that Shani wasn’t far, proving her guess correct as she overheard the exuberance of the elven gunslinger as she gave out a few war whoops. Sunlight streamed into the caboose, forcing Ya’Row back. Another report from Shani’s pistols shattered another window, and Ya’Row had to retreat further.
“Time ta turn the tides on this here little adventure,” Shani shouted out as she managed to kick in the door to the caboose. “We got us a vampire ta destroy!”
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