On the Rocks

by Peter Rhodan

  "I see. Or at least I don't see, but why bring Dagobert back here?" She paused, apparently becoming quite concerned. "And what will become of us, I ask you?" She said swapping her gaze between Radovas and Arturo.

  Arturo was about to say something calming when Oween stepped forward. "Oh you will be fine Bryarna. Arturo here will see to that."

  The lady started a bit when she recognised Oween. "Well Oween, fancy you being here. Did you do the honours?" She waved at Dagobert's body. "I know that your being involved at the smithy was the main reason he charged off so quickly."

  “Was it? Ha. More fool him them. My master here is who took him down. Anyway we thought it best to bring Dagobert here just in case you wanted to bury him special. Do you?”

  “No. But as you have brought him here I guess we will do it properly. So all you men are going to leave? She asked.

  Radovas and Oween glanced at each other and Oween inclined his head for Radovas to be the one to answer. “Yes lady. You have been very gracious to us while we were here and for that we thank you even though you did not invite us to stay here nor were you given a choice in the matter.”

  She looked at the big soldier with a certain amount of surprise in her expression at his statement, then glanced around at the others before nodding her head. Arturo was a bit surprised as the man seemed to genuinely mean what he just said. Maybe he wasn’t quite the thug Arturo had taken for.

  “You need not be afraid lady.” Arturo said. “I intend letting it be known that my men and I will be enforcing proper law and order in this area. I am not a person who favours brigandage and I intend to restore a proper government to this immediate region.”

  “Really? You will have your work cut out for you then sir.” She responded and although her voice sounded somewhat relieved her face remained expressionless.

  “Perhaps. But then maybe it will not be all that hard either. Cennard get your men organised will you? I will see to Dagobert’s belongings which are presumably inside the house lady?”

  “Yes. Certainly. Please come in.” And she led Arturo and Oween inside. The house was simple in layout, being built on a design which he had gathered from Oween was a traditional Rufanig plan, constructed from a combination of stone, brick and wood as Arturo had earlier surmised before he had a chance to see it close up. Bryarna slowly showed them around the house keeping her voice measured and spending most of the time with her eyes lowered, not directly looking at Arturo which he found puzzling. The lower floor had a dining room, welcoming room, kitchen, storeroom and three rooms for servants. Of these latter nothing was seen, presumably they had tasks elsewhere. Both the welcoming room and the dining room had simple tiled floors in basic geometric patterns.

  Upstairs were the main bedroom and two other rooms one of which was used by Gennia, Bryana’s daughter and the other had been left empty. As they wandered around she pointed out things that had belonged to Dagobert, but most were of a nature that Arturo left them were they were.

  The empty room was the first room off the stairs, with Gennia’s room on the left beyond it while the main room was on the right. He looked into the main bedroom, which was full of Dagobert’s stuff strewn messily about on one side of the space while the other side of the room obviously belonging to Bryarna, was far more organised and clean in appearance.

  “Go through his stuff and keep anything you want. The rest can go to the poor.” Arturo said after a moment’s contemplation. Bryarna looked at him for the first time, but as soon as he returned her gaze she dropped her eyes again. Damn Dagobert must have been an unpleasant person to be around for her to be so cowed and subservient looking.

  “Yes domus.” She answered.

  “This has always been your room, has it not?” He asked after a further silence.

  “Yes domus.” She half muttered sounding more nervous than any time previously.

  “Hmm.” He said. He realised suddenly that she was unsure of her future and probably thought he planned to simply replace Dagobert in possession of the estate and all who lived there as Dagobert had done. He was finding the local mores a bit primitive for his liking.

  He exited the room and looked in the first room that served basically as a store room for odds and ends. He thought of the scared woman standing near him, afraid of what will become of her now, of the fate of her daughter and of the years of undoubted hell living as Dagobert’s woman. Oween’s observations had left him in no doubt the fellow was not only a bully, but had probably had beaten the woman to keep her in line.

  “This is still your house lady, and you are still its mistress.” He said turning back to look at the two women, her similarly dark haired, slim and still young daughter having joined them. The daughter was dressed in a way the made her look girlish rather than like a young woman, probably a defensive measure to protect her from being raped. Oween was standing at the top of the steps watching casually. “Please continue your role as the lady of Breansallyn. I'll let it be known that you are under my protection and if you should have any problems with anyone do not hesitate to send one of you farm labourers to me immediately at the old Rufanig fort at Derventio.” He said nodding to the lady standing near the door. Over Gennia’s head he could see Oween developing a smile change to a frown at the mention of his cousin’s place of residence.

  “Oh. Thank you sir!” Bryarna said after a moment of shocked silence, her face taking on a look of genuinely surprise. Pleasantly surprised by the look of it. Good, Arturo thought to himself. Gennia smiled and took her mother’s hand. This place treated women as second class beings and he was in no doubt it would take a lot of work and time to change those attitudes but he might as well start somewhere.

  “This is your house lady and as soon as I can I shall confirm that legally. Someday it will make a fine dowry for Gennia. In the meantime it belongs to you outright, by my command.” He said and bowed slightly in their direction then headed off to the stairs and clapped Oween on the shoulder when he joined him at the top of the stairs a moment later.

  “Come Oween, we need to chase up our men and depart.” With which admonition he led the man down the stairs then outside to where his newly acquired army was gathering together. He used a chisel found in the farm shed to split the lump of gold he had and gave half to each of the two men not coming to Dervent, namely Matholwch and Gwillam and suggested they head south out of this region. They both agreed to this course of action, but Arturo was not sure he wouldn’t see them again at some point. No matter. He would deal with such a problem when it arose.

  It was late in the day by the time the party arrived back at Ceri’s smithy. Arturo had discussed with Oween and Radovas what to do about providing accommodation for the men overnight and had decided the easiest course of action would be to fit as many in the smithy as possible and pay one of the locals to put the rest up. This proved harder to achieve than Arturo had anticipated. He did the rounds of the local farmers who had all returned to their houses with all the excitement over but was met with a considerable lack of enthusiasm on their part. Eventually one was persuaded to rent out his barn for the night.

  By the time this was organised Arturo was feeling pretty exhausted after all the various exertions of the day. Ceri had persuaded his mother to cook up a light stew for the sudden influx of warriors, something she was loath to do after the death of her husband but after much cajoling by Ceri combined with the fact the main man had been dealt with she consented and although the meal was a bit of a rush all the men were more than happy to make do with it.

  They had barely finished this when Arcadius turned up looking like a thundercloud. He had apparently caught Briffet as she was returning and had found out what she had been up to. He started berating Oween for endangering his only daughter but before he could get really fired up Arturo placed a firm hand on his shoulder and turned him round so that he was facing him rather than Oween.

  “It was my fault she was there, not Oween’s. In fact, Oween was quite vehemently of the sam
e opinion as yourself and demanded she go home which she refused. If I had not intervened they would have still been standing in the middle of the path arguing when Dagobert turned up. As it was I suggested a course of action that kept her out of much danger, or at least so I hoped, while keeping her from doing anything too rash.” He paused, allowing the other man to absorb this. “Radovas, did you see anyone else today, apart for the four of us?”

  The big soldier was clearly startled by being addressed directly but answered quickly enough. “No sir. I saw no one else there." Then in a totally unexpected piece of acting said deadpan as you like. "Are you saying his daughter was there somewhere?” Arturo was unsure if the man was really surprised or playing along as he couldn’t remember if any of them had mentioned Briffet’s presence during the after battle discussions.

  “Yes. Short of dragging her home by main force there seemed to be nothing I could do to get her to leave so I placed her in those trees off to the side of where we fought. She was determined to be there in case something happened to Oween so I didn’t really have a choice." He turned back to Arcadius. "I am sorry if you are upset at me risking your daughter sir but there it is. In the event I took care of Dagobert and she slipped away with these lads none the wiser.” He paused a moment. “I’m sorry she was involved but she is the most obstinate girl.”

  “Yes she is. She gets that from me I’m afraid. Her mother was much more biddable.” Arcadius said in a resigned tone. He looked at Oween and said grudgingly. “I’m obliged to you for trying to make her see sense Oween but I still don’t think you’re good enough for her.”

  “I know Arcadius but I can’t change how I feel. But I gave you my word I wouldn’t do anything behind your back and I won’t.”

  Arcadius nodded and left without further comment. After he had gone Oween went over and clasped arms with Radovas by way of a thank you. The next day Arturo conferred with Ceri as to where to site their first overshot water wheel. After some debate involving Oween it was decided they would investigate an area to the east of Dervent where there were a couple streams flowing down out of the mountains. First however they he would have to persuade Meries to share his fort.

  The entire group marched to Dervent and were met where the track to the village divided off to the left, crossed the “river” via a ford and ran by the fort up on the rise. Looking more closely Arturo realised that originally the main road must have been the one that ran by the fort heading north east as here and there were edge stones that marked the width of that path as having been much wider than the track to the huddle of houses that formed the town guarded by Meries and his two companions. Meries did not look happy at the size of Arturo’s party let alone the fact that it was composed of the former henchmen of Dagobert.

  “I’m not about to let Dagobert’s men wander in here with their weapons.” He said forcefully as the two groups approached other. Arturo had expected such objections and had been mentally marshalling arguments on the way over from Ceri’s blacksmithy.

  In the event the discussion took a completely different tack. “That’s alright then.” Oween said casually, jumping before Arturo could respond. “These aren’t Dagobert’s men anymore so there is no problem with them being here then.” He smiled smugly at Meries.

  “Sure they’re Dagobert’s men. Radovas there has served him for years.”

  “Not anymore my cousin. Clearly word hasn’t reached you that Arturo here did for Dagobert yesterday that Radovas and company now work for him now, just like me.” This last was said with a cheesy grin.

  Meries was understandably surprised by this piece of news. “You’re kidding right?” He said looking at Arturo wonderingly.

  “I’m afraid not. I now have the sole responsibility of this collection of ex-soldiers as well as their pay which I am hoping will not be too exorbitant.” Arturo said apparently musing on the cost of his miniature army.

  “Well I’ll be.” Meries smiled. Then he sobered. “I still don’t want a bunch of armed men roaming around here getting drunk and into trouble.” He pronounced.

  “Of course not. I have taken them into my service in a military capacity and they are now subject to military discipline.” Arturo glanced at Radovas who nodded. “It is my intention to enforce the peace and to build a force capable of defending the local communities from raids by the Scotti and brigands.”

  Meries looked dubious. “Really. And who is going to pay for this military force might I ask? The local landowners and businessmen have enough trouble paying the tax collectors from Lugowalion, and they only ask for the tax in kind. They gave up asking for coin several generations ago which is one reason there is so little about, let alone enough to be paying for you to raise an army.” Meries said not looking impressed by Arturo’s professed course of action.

  “Well initially I’ll pay.” Said Arturo. He pulled the piece of the gold out of his pouch for Meries to see before putting it back. “What happens later we will have to deal with later. Hopefully we can come to some arrangement with the people in Lugowalion. In the mean time I need somewhere to base my men, recruit and train.” He paused to look at the rundown fort over the stream. “I was kind of thinking that the fort there was quite conveniently placed.”

  “Oh were you now. What makes you think I’m going to let you just walk in and take over?”

  Arturo calmly looked him up and down before speaking again. “Have you served in the army?” He asked.

  “I might have.” Meries answered warily.

  “Well, I am going to need officers. Reliable men. Men who can be trusted to follow orders and keep their men in line. I‘ve been discussing army organisation with Radovas here on the walk over and I am going to make a few changes to the traditional Rufanig organisation to bring things more into line with the way things are run where I come from. Each ordine, for instance, is going to be composed of two companies, each led by an Ensign. A rank you don’t have. They will each be assisted by veteran called a sergeant. The cennard in command will also be assisted by a senior sergeant. Makes for a more flexible organisation and provides a promotional path that means senior officers have served at the lowest levels.”

  “If you say so. What has that to do with me?” Meries was not looking particularly impressed.

  “Well I need someone with natural leadership ability to be the Ensign in command of the first squad under Cennard Radovas here. I was kind of hoping you’d take the job.” Arturo said with a smile.

  “Now wait a minute.” Started Oween jumping into the discussion. “How come Meries gets offered a command position. What about me?”

  Arturo laughed. “But Oween, don’t you want your cousin to have a chance of steady employment and prospects of rapid advancement?”

  “But, but. But...” He spluttered then noticed the twinkle in Arturo’s eyes and shut up, hanging his head down.

  Meries appeared to consider the matter for few moments, glancing at Radovas who nodded with a smile, then he nodded as well. “It has been hard with just the three of us trying to keep the peace let alone face up to any brigands. The townspeople and local farmers have been good looking after us but a real raid by the Scotti would just roll over us. You are going to work towards doing something about that aren’t you?”

  “Yes. That is exactly what I am going to work towards. I can’t fix the Empire but I will do what I can around here. This lot may not be much yet, but they will be the start of a proper army. I can bring the knowledge of my people to bear as well. You want to be part of that?”

  Meries looked thoughtful but perhaps not convinced. He glanced at his two offsiders. One nodded and the one that looked like his son just shrugged and held up his hand in a I don’t know manner. He stared off into space for a moment before nodding to himself. And turn back to Arturo. “All right. I am sure I'll regret this but I’m in. It’s the steady employment bit I’m interested in. My lady is getting quite concerned at my lack of regular pay. The locals do their best but things have been tight aro
und here for some time.”

  “So I gather from Oween. What about you two. Interested in joining my army?” Arturo smiled at Meries two flunkies.

  “Aye sir.” “All right.” They answered after a quick glance at Meries.

  “Good. Cennard. Add these three to our roster. Meries you’re now second to Radovas. I want to inspect the fort and sort out what needs to be done to it.”

  “Sir.” Meries said, finding deference coming naturally to him in the face of this strange foreigner who acted as if he had always been in charge. The fact that Arturo had been a ship's captain for over twenty years during his climb up from a patrol frigate to the late lamented Hood meant that command came naturally to him indeed it was hard for him not take a dominant role.

  They made their way to the fort and after a cursory inspection of the falling down barracks, rotting stables and dilapidated main building, he settled for appropriating two unused rooms for his and Oween’ use, he left Radovas and Meries to come up with a refurbishment plan and headed off with Ceri to investigate the land to the east. Several hours wandering around the green but damp countryside produced several likely sites to pursue with the farm owners. Ceri headed back to his house leaving Arturo and Oween to return to the fort.

  The next day Arturo brought Oween, Radovas and Meries together. “Right. Keep working out that schedule of refurbishment. Aim for being able to accommodate upwards of one hundred men fairly quickly. After that we shall see how things are going.” He paused for a moment. “I want the men in a uniform too so think about that as well. I have gold but not unlimited amounts so something not too fancy would be good. I’ve seen a lot of people in clothes with a green blue hue to them. Is there some local dye that does that?”

  Meries answered. “Yes. It comes from the woad plant. Depending on the treatment it causes the cloth to be either greener or more blue.”

  Arturo nodded. “Good. Something common then. Okay go for the greener shade for the uniforms. Work something out with local suppliers for tunics and trousers. Talk to the tanner about footwear too.” Meries and Radovas nodded acknowledgement. “In the meantime, Oween and I have a few things to see to. We should be back by dark.”