Will kicked off his blanket and began crawling toward the now-loose tent wall.
“Where are you going?” hissed Sven.
“He’s in our squad,” said Will, unable to think of another reason.
He heard Sven spit in the darkness. “That jackass deserves it. He even beat you up in the lockup. You think you’re the only one that heard them drag him out? You ain’t. Nobody else is going to go after them. Don’t make trouble for yourself.”
“What would your excuse be if it was me?” asked Will, but he didn’t wait for a reply. Lifting the edge of the tent, he slipped out and followed the men dragging Dave’s squirming body away from the camp.
The men taking Dave weren’t gentle as they hauled him along between them. They’d gone barely twenty feet before one of them dropped one end of the bundle, and they angrily kicked their victim several times before lifting him back up. They probably want to take him far enough away that no one will hear, thought Will. So, if I’m going to do anything, I better do it now.
Too scared to think any further, Will charged forward, tackling the man holding Dave’s legs from behind, knocking him prone. Jumping up quickly, he swung at one of the men on the left and felt his fist connect with something. Someone was cursing, and Will got several more punches in before something hard hit the side of his head. As he fell, he realized that there were more of them than he had thought. Eight, nine? I’m screwed. Hands caught him as he struggled to rise, and someone slugged him in the gut hard enough to take the fight out of him.
They let go of him then, and Will fell to his knees, expecting more blows, but when he looked up, he saw two more people had joined the fight. One was of an average size, but the other was too big to be anyone but Tiny. The two were outnumbered, but Dave’s abductors weren’t prepared to deal with a giant.
Tiny picked one of them up with one arm and threw him into a tree before wading into the rest of them. The big man took a lot of blows, but nothing seemed to faze him, and with every swing he sent someone else to the ground. The man with him was no stranger to brawls either, and as Will got to his feet he realized it was Sven. By the time Will rejoined them, it was almost over.
And then they heard the sound of whistles, and Will saw several lanterns approaching.
“Run for it,” yelled Sven. “They can’t see who we are yet.”
“What about Dave?” asked Will as everyone began to scatter.
Sven pulled him along. “He’s tied up, it ain’t like they’re gonna think he did it to himself.”
The tent wasn’t far, and as they reached it Tiny bent down and held the side up for them to enter. Will and Sven shimmied under it, but a voice yelled out before Tiny could follow. “You! Stop, right there!” Tiny dropped the tent flap, and Will and Sven could only listen from their bedrolls as he was taken away.
Looking around the tent, Will doubted anyone was actually asleep, but everyone was making a good show of it. Sven whispered to him, “They’ll come in here in a minute. Just pretend to be asleep. Ain’t nobody gonna say otherwise.”
Will frowned. “How do you know?”
“Trust me. Soldiers hate snitches more than anybody. Remember that when they start asking questions,” answered the older man.
Sven’s prediction turned out to be accurate. Moments later, men with lanterns men with lanterns threw open the front flaps of the tent and walked down the center, checking to see who was present and who wasn’t. They woke the corporals first and then dragged everyone outside for a roll call.
Amazingly, everyone had somehow managed to sleep through the entire event without hearing a thing, even Corporal Taylor. Will felt a strange mixture of awe and surprise as the normally honest corporal lied with a perfectly straight face about what he had seen. Will did his best to emulate the corporal’s example when they got to him.
“What’s that on the side of your face, trainee? A bruise?” asked Lieutenant Latimer.
“Yes, sir,” said Will.
“And you still say you weren’t involved in a fight?”
Will shook his head. “I got it during the drills earlier. I moved wrong and caught a shield with the side of my head.”
The lieutenant looked at Corporal Taylor. “Is that so, Corporal?”
“Yes, sir. It didn’t seem serious, so I didn’t report it,” lied the corporal.
The questioning didn’t go on much longer after that. Dave was released, and ironically, he was the only one who truly hadn’t seen anyone, although from the look he gave Will it was obvious he knew who had come after him. Tiny refused to say who had helped him, claiming it had been too dark, and naturally none of the abductors identified themselves.
It was then that Will discovered how quick military justice could be. The men took Tiny to one of the training pells and tied his hands together on the other side of it. They brought out a whip and he was given two lashes. According to the lieutenant, that was leniency on his part. The appropriate punishment was three, but he deducted one lash since Tiny had been acting on behalf of a squad mate.
Will still felt it was unfair, and he felt guilty that night as he watched the big man struggle to find a comfortable sleeping position.
Chapter 39
The next morning Will examined Tiny’s back. The big man had a scar from his previous time before the whip, and it appeared he would get another from the previous night’s punishment. Since he didn’t have any freshly boiled water to clean the wound, he accompanied Tiny to the chirurgeon’s tent to make sure it was well taken care of.
As they were about to enter, Will caught the sound of a woman’s voice and paused. He and Tiny exchanged puzzled glances, as neither of them had seen or heard of a woman in the camp before that moment.
“What is he thinking?” protested the woman. She sounded young. “He should at least send Nerrow’s men here. They’re going to need more men to hold the pass. Doesn’t he realize we have no magical support either?”
“My apologies, milady,” answered a deep male voice. “You know I agree with you, but it isn’t my place to second-guess His Majesty’s judgment.” Will thought the man’s voice sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it. “I have two teams scaling the mountains via separate routes. They’re experienced mountaineers and scouts. We should know more about Darrow’s disposition in Barrowden soon.”
“It won’t matter much if he sends the entire army to Thornton. Even a modest force will be too much for us here,” argued the woman. “Eighty-percent of the troops here are green, and our numbers are pitiful.”
“At least we have you, milady,” said the man. “He wouldn’t risk you here if he didn’t believe the intelligence regarding Thornton to be extremely credible. It’s highly probable that Darrow’s incursion into Barrowden is just a diversion.”
“That diversion may well roll over us and sack Branscombe,” countered the woman. “If he won’t send men he could at least send a few sorcerers.”
“At least Baron Fulstrom will be with us.”
“Fulstrom is old, and his elemental is minor. If the Patriarch sends one of his cardinals, or even a couple of his more modest clergy, we will be entirely outclassed.”
Afraid they would be discovered eavesdropping, Will decided to make some noise before entering. “Don’t worry, Tiny. They’ll fix you up better than new.” The conversation inside ceased, and after a count of ten Will opened the tent flap.
A man wearing a full mail byrnie, as well as a breastplate and greaves, exited the tent. Will had never seen the man close up, but he recognized him immediately as Sir Kyle Barrentine. Sir Kyle was one of Baron Fulstrom’s knights and the captain of Company B. Will and Tiny both snapped to attention and saluted, placing a fist over their hearts.
“At ease, men,” said the captain. He left without looking back, and Will and Tiny waited a moment before entering the tent.
Will’s eyes went wide with surprise when he stepped inside, and he stumbled deliberately, hoping to cover his reaction. The woman in the tent was a sorc
erer, as evidenced by the two elementals hovering invisibly over her shoulders, one of water and the other of earth. Her hair was tied back and hidden beneath a simple yet elegant wimple, but despite the covering, Will spotted a small, black wisp of hair sneaking out beside one temple.
Two startling sapphire eyes locked on Will as he straightened up from his mock fall. “Are you all right?” she asked. “Is it your leg?”
Will chuckled nervously. “No, I’m just clumsy. It’s my friend.” He gestured at Tiny.
She indicated a low bench beside a table. “If you’ll sit here. What’s your name, soldier?”
Tiny sat. “John Shaw, if it please you, milady.”
The woman waved her hand dismissively. “None of that, Mister Shaw. I’m just a nurse. You’ll get me in trouble if someone hears you treating me like nobility. I’m afraid Doctor Guerin is away today so it’s just me here. Are you the poor fellow who was punished last night?”
Will stood by quietly, watching as she lifted Tiny’s tunic and examined his back. She’s obviously lying, but why? The woman seemed familiar to him, but he couldn’t place where he had seen her before. With the gown and wimple, he couldn’t see much aside from her face, but that alone was striking enough that he didn’t think he could have forgotten such a beauty.
Tearing his eyes away from her, he looked around the interior of the tent, noting several empty cots. To one side was a portable, wood-framed screen, and at the base he saw a shadow cast by someone’s feet. Looking closer, he caught a glimpse of mail sabatons. Will lifted his eyes and caught the woman staring at him. “Uh, is there someone…” he began to ask.
She smiled. “It’s just a patient. I put the screen there to give him some privacy.”
More like a bodyguard, thought Will. Who is she?
The nurse went back to cleaning Tiny’s wound, keeping up a continuous, light banter to set the big man at ease while she worked. Will didn’t pay much attention to it. He was too busy studying her without being caught staring. Then he heard something that brought his mind back to the present. “You haven’t told me your friend’s name,” she said to Tiny.
Will met her eyes again. “William,” he said simply.
“Mine is Isabel,” she replied, then her lips turned down slightly as she frowned. “What happened to your cheek?”
He covered his cheek self-consciously with one hand. “Nothing much. Just an accident when I was small.”
“Looks like it was pretty bad, judging by the scar. What were you doing, trying to impress a girl?” she asked.
“Uh, no. It was just a fall…” he lied, “…caused by my own stupidity really.”
Her eyes twinkled mischievously. “That’s very modest of you. Most would brag about something foolish, or claim they got it saving a damsel in distress.”
Will shook his head, but her attention was already back on Tiny. “I think this needs a few stitches. Can you bear a little pain for me Mister Shaw?” she asked. Tiny nodded, and she looked up at Will. “Would you mind helping? I need someone to hold the edges together.”
He nodded and moved forward while she brought out a curved needle and thread. Just before she started, Will pinched the skin gently together.
Isabel smiled. “Yes, exactly there. You must have read my mind, William. Have you stitched someone up before?”
“No,” he lied. “It just seemed like the best place to start.”
Tiny was a good patient; he flinched slightly when the needle passed through his skin, but otherwise held still. Isabel’s fingers moved quickly, and she deftly closed the cut on the big man’s back with tight, neat stitches. Will moved his hand as she finished each stitch to make it easier for the next.
When she was done, Isabel tied the last knot and clipped the end of the thread. Then she stood and stretched. “You did well, William. You didn’t seem squeamish at all. Most people get nervous when they see blood or needles.”
Will shrugged. “It’s never really bothered me.”
Isabel wrapped a long strip of linen around Tiny’s torso several times before instructing him to put his tunic back on. “Be sure to come back in the morning so someone can check it and change the bandage.”
Tiny thanked her and they started to leave, but she put a hand on Will’s arm at the last moment. “What company did you say you were in?” asked Isabel. Then she added, “I have to report on everyone that receives treatment and what unit they’re in.”
A horn sounded and Will darted outside, pulling Tiny along. “Sorry, we’re late for breakfast!”
Tiny looked at him strangely as they hurried along. “I think she liked you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Will, glancing back at the medic tent. Isabel had finally gone back inside. “Go on to the mess tent. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
The big man seemed reluctant, but after a moment he relented and went on by himself. Will took a different route, and once he no longer in sight of the medic tent, he circled around to approach it from the back side. He stopped once he could hear Isabel’s voice. His hearing had gotten substantially better since Tailtiu had healed him. At fifteen yards, it wouldn’t be obvious to anyone watching that he was eavesdropping.
“Danner,” said Isabel, her voice firm.
“Yes, milady,” answered a male voice that Will presumed was that of her bodyguard.
“Find Lieutenant Stanton. I want to know that soldier’s full name and how he got here,” she ordered.
“The big one, milady?”
“No, the other one,” she replied.
“Begging your pardon, milady, but William is a common name. Without knowing what town he comes from or his company, it will be difficult,” said Danner.
“He’s from Barrowden,” said Isabel confidently. “I can’t remember his surname, but he’s probably in the same company as the man I stitched up. I believe he said his name was John Shaw.”
“May I ask why you’re interested in him?”
Isabel paused before answering. “He isn’t supposed to be here. After you find out his name, tell the lieutenant I want to see him. In person.”
Will left after that, rather than risk being seen if her bodyguard stepped out too quickly. His head was swirling with questions that had no clear answers. Why was a noblewoman posing as a nurse? How did she know he was from Barrowden? The thing that bothered him most was wondering why she seemed so interested in him. Had she seen something unusual when she looked at him?
He vividly remembered his grandfather’s warnings about being caught as an unlicensed wizard. They’d accuse him of being a warlock. It hardly seemed fair, since he hadn’t the faintest idea how to do anything useful with his magic.
He found his place in the mess hall and ate with mechanical efficiency, lost in thought. Sven and the others tried to draw him out, but he remained quiet through breakfast. Once or twice he looked up and saw Tiny watching him, but the big man didn’t say anything.
Later that morning he received another surprise when someone from the company digging near their section recognized him. “Will!”
He knew the voice. He ran up the mound of earth and saw his cousin standing near the top. “Eric!” The two embraced.
“What are you doing here? I heard Dad was given an exemption, but I didn’t know you were here,” said Eric.
The others from his squad were staring at him, and Will saw Corporal Taylor frown. He had too much to say to simply blurt it all out. “We need to talk,” he told his cousin. “Can we meet later? After supper?”
“Where?”
“How about by Company B’s latrine?” suggested Will. It wasn’t an ideal spot, but it was one of the few places he was allowed to go on his own during his severely limited free time.
Eric understood. “Sure. See you there tonight.”
They parted and Will returned to digging. Corporal Taylor walked over to him. “Who was that?”
“My cousin,” he answered. “I haven’t seen him since before Barrowden wa
s burned.”
“I bet you’re glad to see him,” said the corporal amiably.
Will stared at the earth. “Yeah, but I have a lot of bad news to give him.”
“Take your time when you see him then. If anyone asks why you’re gone so long, I’ll tell them you have the piles,” offered the corporal helpfully.
“Thanks,” said Will wryly.
That evening he rushed over to the latrines as soon as he was free, though his feet felt heavy as he did. Eric was there ahead of him, waiting. His cousin waved when he spotted him. They hugged once more and then Eric pushed him out to arm’s length. “We heard about Barrowden a few weeks ago. How bad is it?”
The food in Will’s stomach felt like a rock. “Really bad. They burned the whole village.”
“What about Mom, Doug, and Sammy? They got out, right?” There was desperation in Eric’s eyes, though he was doing his best to control it.
“Sammy is safe,” said Will. “I didn’t get there fast enough to help the others.”
Eric’s face was dark, his eyes swelling. “Then Mom, and Dougie?”
“They died trying to protect each other,” said Will. “Your mom got one of the raiders with your dad’s crossbow.”
His cousin crouched, putting his hands on the ground as though to steady himself and hanging his head. “How much did you see?”
“It was mostly over before I got there. There was smoke everywhere. It was hard to see, but it looked like they died quickly without much pain. I grabbed Sammy and ran to my house.”
“And your mom?”
“We got out before the soldiers got there, but the old man died trying to keep them from following us.”
The two cousins remained together for half an hour, but most of their time was spent in silence as Eric was no longer able to speak clearly. Will sat beside him, feeling numb and dead inside. The only comfort he could offer was an arm around Eric’s shoulders.
When Will finally returned to the tent, the first person to approach him was the last one he wanted to speak to. Dave grinned at him. “I saw you with your girlfriend over by the latrines. When will the happy day—” The thief stopped when he saw the expression on Will’s face.
The Choice of Magic Page 31