Poul Anderson - Guardians of Time

Another fire-bolt took his horse full in the breast. The animal toppled and Everard went out of the saddle. Trained reflexes softened the fall. He bounced to his feet and lurched toward his enemy. The stunner was gone, fallen into the mud, no time to look for it. Never mind, it could be salvaged later, if he lived. The widened beam had found its mark; it wasn’t strong enough at such dilution to knock a man out, but the Neldorian had dropped his blaster and the horse stood swaying with closed eyes.

Rain beat in Everard’s face. He slogged up to the mount. The Neldorian jumped to earth and drew a sword. Everard’s own blade rasped forth.

“As you will,” he said in Latin. “One of us will not leave this field.”

The moon rose over mountains and turned the snow to a sudden wan glitter. Far in the north, a glacier threw back the light, and a wolf howled. The Cro-Magnons chanted in their cave, the noise drifted faintly through to the verandah.

Deirdre stood in darkness, looking out. Moonlight dappled her face and caught a gleam of tears. She started as Everard and Van Sarawak came up behind her.

“Are you back so soon?” she asked. “You only came here and left me this morning.”

“It didn’t take long,” said Van Sarawak. He had gotten a hypno in Attic Greek.

“I hope—” She tried to smile—“I hope you have finished your task and can rest from your labors.”

“Yes,” said Everard, “we finished it.”

They stood side by side for a while, looking out on a world of winter.

“Is it true what you said, that I can never go home?” Deirdre spoke gently.

“I’m afraid so. The spells…” Everard swapped a glance with Van Sarawak.

They had official permission to tell the girl as much as they wished and take her wherever they thought she could live best. Van Sarawak maintained that would be Venus in his century, and Everard was too tired to argue.

Deirdre drew a long breath. “So be it,” she said. “I’ll not waste of life lamenting. But the Baal grant that they have it well, my people at home.”

“I’m sure they will,” said Everard.

Suddenly he could do no more. He only wanted to sleep. Let Van Sarawak say what had to be said, and reap whatever rewards there might be.

He nodded at his companion. “I’m turning in,” he declared. “Carry on, Van.”

The Venusian took the girl’s arm. Everard went slowly back to his room.