Editing The Hounds of Winter, Chapter Four: Train of Events
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[[Image:TWOW_Ch4_Map.jpg|400x300px|right]] | [[Image:TWOW_Ch4_Map.jpg|400x300px|right]] | ||
| − | '' | + | ''Thursday, 20 Feb 1870''<br> |
''Dining Car, Belgrade bound train''<br> | ''Dining Car, Belgrade bound train''<br> | ||
''Thirty miles southeast of Budapest''<br> | ''Thirty miles southeast of Budapest''<br> | ||
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Frozen with her breath caught in her throat, Josephine watched as the Russian landed in a perfect roll and bounded to her feet on the grassy shoulder. A mounted rider waited for her there with another horse held by its reins. The train carried Josephine farther away with each passing second and as she watched, the Russian mounted the waiting horse and wheeled off toward Budapest. <br><br> | Frozen with her breath caught in her throat, Josephine watched as the Russian landed in a perfect roll and bounded to her feet on the grassy shoulder. A mounted rider waited for her there with another horse held by its reins. The train carried Josephine farther away with each passing second and as she watched, the Russian mounted the waiting horse and wheeled off toward Budapest. <br><br> | ||
| − | Josephine returned to the dining car to find Quentin still gone. She made no show of worry but merely gathered up their papers and asked for tea to be sent to their compartment. Genuine newlyweds or not, it would be uncouth to be seen in public joined at the hip or to express overt concern over a momentary absence. He wasn't waiting in the compartment when she arrived. She closed the door, pulled her watch from her pocket and checked the time. Ten minutes since they'd parted company. They'd already discussed contingency plans if they were ever separated. Quentin knew to make his way to Bucharest. He had funds to buy another ticket or hire a horse and ride. He'd roamed the world over to rescue his sister. He's capable of rescuing himself. When the tea arrived without Quentin, she poured herself a cup, organized the notes and papers she'd gathered, and waited for his return or | + | Josephine returned to the dining car to find Quentin still gone. She made no show of worry but merely gathered up their papers and asked for tea to be sent to their compartment. Genuine newlyweds or not, it would be uncouth to be seen in public joined at the hip or to express overt concern over a momentary absence. He wasn't waiting in the compartment when she arrived. She closed the door, pulled her watch from her pocket and checked the time. Ten minutes since they'd parted company. They'd already discussed contingency plans if they were ever separated. Quentin knew to make his way to Bucharest. He had funds to buy another ticket or hire a horse and ride. He'd roamed the world over to rescue his sister. He's capable of rescuing himself. When the tea arrived without Quentin, she poured herself a cup, organized the notes and papers she'd gathered, and waited for his return or the next station, whichever came first. <br><br> |
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Eyes and nose stinging from the brine and vinegar, Quentin grabbed the rim of the barrel and slammed backward in a headbutt. The Prussian's nose gave way with a wet crunch and he stumbled back, grabbing his face. Shaking the wet from his eyes like a dog, Quentin threw a blind punch. The agent pulled his hands from his ruined nose but couldn't block Quentin's blow to the gut. He folded over the American's fist and Quentin slammed him with a left hook. <br><br> | Eyes and nose stinging from the brine and vinegar, Quentin grabbed the rim of the barrel and slammed backward in a headbutt. The Prussian's nose gave way with a wet crunch and he stumbled back, grabbing his face. Shaking the wet from his eyes like a dog, Quentin threw a blind punch. The agent pulled his hands from his ruined nose but couldn't block Quentin's blow to the gut. He folded over the American's fist and Quentin slammed him with a left hook. <br><br> | ||
| − | With a roar, the Prussian tackled Quentin into the side of beef. Both saw the cleaver at the same time. A fast flurry of punches and jabs ensued as they fought for its possession. They were too close, too tangled together. Neither could get a purchase. | + | With a roar, the Prussian tackled Quentin into the side of beef. Both saw the cleaver at the same time. A fast flurry of punches and jabs ensued as they fought for its possession. They were too close, too tangled together. Neither could get a purchase. I'll fix that, Quentin thought. He gouged the Prussian's eye with his thumb and the man howled and jerked back. Quentin freed the cleaver and swung the dull end in a vicious arc onto the Prussian's right wrist.<br><br> |
A sickening crack. A howl of pain.<br><br> | A sickening crack. A howl of pain.<br><br> | ||
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<br><br><br> | <br><br><br> | ||
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| − | Return to '''[[The Hounds of Winter, Chapter Three: A Cautious Waltz]]''' | '''Jump to [[The Hounds of Winter, Chapter Five: | + | Return to '''[[The Hounds of Winter, Chapter Three: A Cautious Waltz]]''' | '''Jump to [[The Hounds of Winter, Chapter Five: TBD]]'''<br> |
Return to '''[[Victoriana: Gathering Storms#The Story Thus Far|The Story Thus Far]]'''<br> | Return to '''[[Victoriana: Gathering Storms#The Story Thus Far|The Story Thus Far]]'''<br> | ||
Return to '''[[Victoriana: Gathering Storms|Gathering Storms Main Page]]'''<br> | Return to '''[[Victoriana: Gathering Storms|Gathering Storms Main Page]]'''<br> | ||
Return to '''[[Dr._Penguin%27s_Iceberg#Victoriana|Victoriana Campaign Index]]'''<br> | Return to '''[[Dr._Penguin%27s_Iceberg#Victoriana|Victoriana Campaign Index]]'''<br> | ||
Return to '''[[Dr._Penguin%27s_Iceberg|Dr. Penguin's Iceberg]]''' | Return to '''[[Dr._Penguin%27s_Iceberg|Dr. Penguin's Iceberg]]''' | ||
