"Kill them! Kill them all!" shrieked an #unknown voice. Everyone turned & saw Revin's father. He had torn the lifeline ring free—as it was not real, but just made to look like one. He had recovered his knife & raised both arms over his head to throw it at Revin again.
#flexvss
Tagflexvss
"ALL HANDS!" Grip bellowed. Revin nearly jumped out of his skin. Everyone turned & looked at Revin.
"The King has landed troops across the capital. Put up arms to prevent bloodshed!"
"You expect us to surrender?"
Revin squared his shoulders.
"#Yes!" he said. "Or die."
#flexvss
Now flanked by the guards, the cavalry charge faltered. The Queen touched down & an elite detachment of marines debarked. Some surged forward taking up positions in front of Tiny's troop. Others, behind, readied crossbows.
Revin charged out yelling, "#No! Wait! Stop!"
#flexvss
Tiny exhorted the girls to #find their courage & stand firm, though they were white with fear as the cavalry approached at a gallop. The flood of guards pouring out from Vallon's Airship narrowed the street & the horses, pressed together, began to shy & falter & buck.
#flexvss
"#Damn!" David muttered under his breath after checking the schedule.
"David said a bad word!" Zaza called. "He said 'Damn!'"
"I was just…" he sputtered, turning around as the Better Angels began to march around him in a circle, chanting.
"Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn! Damn!"
#flexvss
As the gigantic airship loomed overhead, Revin heard the cavalry charge. He cast about for something — anything — he could do. Then he heard guards in line.
"They're charging! They're going to hurt our girls!"
"Our girls! Save our girls!"
They flooded into the street.
#flexvss
"Happy birthday to you!" the Better Angels sang.
"It's not my birthday," David said.
"#Cake! Cake!" they sang dancing around him frenetically.
"It wasn't last week either."
He heard the entrance chime & opened the hatch.
"Did someone order a cake?
"CAKE!" they screamed.
#flexvss
The girls sprinted across the street & formed a line. The Queen loomed overhead & began to descend.
"One-One!" Tiny called. The girls wheeled with their spears & jammed them down.
In the sexy-airship costumes, they were the best looking troops Revin had ever seen.
#flexvss #jam
Revin threw open the bulkhead, passed a spear to Tiny, & then to each girl that followed. He handed the last to Emma. He wanted to tell her she didn't need to go, but she saw his face & smiled.
"Just #relax, Sir Revin," she grinned. "We've got this."
"Go!" Tiny shouted.
#flexvss
"Don't forget, Revin!" Grip said. "Events are in #train!"
Revin looked out the cabin window & saw towlines.
"Right!" he said & dashed out of the cabin.
He gave Tiny the signal & sprinted down to the cellar.
"Let's go, girls!" she shouted & led her troops down the ramp.
#flexvss