“Me neither!” the man yelled back. “You don’t have to worry about us, mister.” And Braden believed him.
The pile of swords in the back of the wagon was taking up an annoying amount of space. They’d turn them over to someone who would keep them in the hands of those who’d protect the trade.
Braden waved happily at the two men who had escorted the other to the jail. They were on their way back to the warehouse. They pointed that way and Braden gave them the thumbs up.
When the caravan arrived in the Town Square, they were greeted by a buzz of activity. It looked like the citizens were ready to have a massive celebration. People waved at them and cheered as they stopped the wagon and dismounted. All of them, the Rabbits and Wolfoids included, joined the people. Braden got everyone’s attention and introduced them to the intelligent creatures of Vii, telling everyone that they had equal status with any human.
The citizens of Cameron were accepting of anything their liberators told them. They lined up to greet the creatures. Nerise happily translated for Patrice and Delavigne. Zeller spoke for the Hawkoids, Micah for the Wolfoids, and Braden for the Hillcat, which meant that Braden said nice things as opposed to the rude statements that G-War delivered in an impressive non-stop diatribe.
After the meet and greet that Braden, Micah, and the others had to do, the first wagons from the second run to the warehouse arrived with food and supplies. A man wearing torn clothing and a huge smile stood and looked at the wagon, not the supplies within but the wagon. Braden recognized that look. It was the look of a trader.
“I’m Free Trader Braden and I can always recognize a trade brother. What routes did you ply?”
“Caravan Guild. They call me Stretch. I ran between Jefferson City and here, sometimes to the farms to the northeast. I’m pleased to meet you. I’ve been locked up for three moons, I think. They accused me of skimming from my load. All they wanted was to take my wagon.” The man pointed to the wagon he’d been looking at.
Braden led him by the arm to it, before yelling at the wagon’s driver. “This your wagon?” he asked.
“It’s the one they gave me,” the driver replied, pointing to the government building.
“That’s great, thank you. The wagon belongs to this man. Turn it over to him, we’ll all help unload,” Braden finished. The driver shrugged, tied off the reins, and climbed down. Stretch maneuvered the team and wagon expertly into position where the volunteers quickly separated the food from the supplies and began cooking a feast, right in the Town Square. Braden looked at Micah. She nodded.
“We have some smoked pork we can add to the feast,” he said. Bounder and Gray Strider jumped into the wagon and looked at the smoked pork with long faces before handing it down to waiting volunteers.
‘Doesn’t matter to me,’ G-War told them all. ‘I never liked that stuff, but it was better than soybeans. Can you imagine? Me? Eating soybeans? That would signal the end of days.’ The ‘cat ran through the crowd toward an alley where they’d seen pigeons pecking at scraps on the ground.
“Is it just me or has G-War gotten unusually philosophical since we left Aadi in the desert?”
“No, it’s not just you,” Micah replied as she continued to carry bundles from Stretch’s wagon. After that, three more wagons arrived and those were quickly unloaded. The natural leaders of the town took over, many of whom had been held in the jail cells, like Stretch.
Braden and Micah found it refreshing to be able to step aside. They didn’t have the time or energy to restore Cameron to what it once was, so they were pleased to see the townspeople take responsibility for that themselves. The only thing they asked was that Braden and his companions finish off the Provincial Government. They’d seen the Old Tech firepower that they used and wanted that on their side. At least everyone was polite enough not to ask where they got it.
A commotion from the alley suggested G-War had been successful hunting the local wildlife. Bounder and Gray Strider looked like they wanted to join the ‘cat, but Micah looked back sternly. They settled for some of the smoked pork, but felt guilty and were happier sharing with the hungry-looking citizens of Cameron.
During the feast, Braden asked if anyone knew where he could buy fifty water buffalo. Ears perked up at that. There was a herd to the east, triple that size, but they’d been under the control of the Provincial Government. It had been forever since the people had any water buffalo on their dinner table. For their freedom, the former rancher said he’d make sure that the livestock was waiting when the caravan returned from Jefferson City.
Braden was torn, but only for an instant. The feelings of joy from the people that relished their newfound freedom were overwhelming. For trade. For freedom. As he’d suggested to Ava, someone has to fight for peace, otherwise the peace you have isn’t what you want. Freedom has a price, sometimes a very steep price that most people don’t have to pay. Someone would pay it, though, someone like Braden and his companions because they believed freedom was worth it.
The Road to Jefferson City
“It’s been a long time since I’ve traveled this road,” Braden said, thinking out loud. “It looks like it’s getting a little worn down. I think it could use some Amazonian attention.” He and Micah nodded, having seen the difference in the road after Zalastar had his people fix it.
They’d never seen them working on it. All of a sudden, the road was repaired. Braden had never asked how. He resolved to ask Zalastar the next time he saw him.
The others daydreamed of different pleasures as they headed north. It was a two-turn trip, so they didn’t think they needed to worry until the second turn. Plus Skirill and Zyena flew ahead, scanning the road and the road’s approaches for any signs of the enemy. They flew far ahead, not seeing anything alarming.
Patrice and Delavigne carried on a long conversation with Nerise about the virtues of gardening. The girl’s mother had always maintained a garden and had taught her young daughter a few of her tricks. The Rabbits approved.
Arnie bucked and bugled as two arrows embedded deep into his side. He bolted ahead, where more archers were waiting. Zeller screamed as she shared his pain.
Micah had her blaster out first and fired indiscriminately into the trees, while Braden tried to get Arnie off the road and into cover. Brandt saw the arrows fly from the tree line and he ran straight for the spot. He plowed through the underbrush, unfazed by the small trees that snapped as he ran over them. Men darted in all directions. The King of the Aurochs ran down those who weren’t fast enough to find cover. He gored one on his horn, shaking his head and splitting the man in half as he continued his wanton destruction of the ambush site.
Micah’s fire into the trees in front of him made him change his plan. He turned and headed back toward the road. A couple brave archers loosed arrows, but only one hit the King, in his back haunch. He probably didn’t feel it because of the adrenaline surge.
The Wolfoids and Hillcat jumped from the moving wagon, landing in a crouch. G-War ran straight for the woods, looking like an orange flash as he disappeared into the undergrowth. Bounder and Gray Strider fired lightning bolts at the two men who’d shot at Brandt. The place they’d been flashed and smoked, but the Wolfoids couldn’t be sure they hit their target. They realized how exposed they were, so they dashed after G-War. Just in time, as a small volley of arrows came their way. They dodged and dropped to all fours to more quickly reach the shelter of the trees.
Braden had to lean around Micah to fire, but stopped when he saw G-War disappear into his target area and the Wolfoids weren’t far away, either. “Into the trees!” Braden yelled. The Rabbits watched, but their job was to protect Nerise and the wagon. The Rabbits assumed that meant Arnie, too. He finally calmed, but he was hurt. Brandt stood between Arnie and where the archers had been, shielding the smaller Aurochs with his body.
Seeing the arrows in Arnie’s side caused Braden physical pain as he couldn’t abide the anguish of his friends. Too many times he’d seen them hur
t and bleeding. Too many times he’d sewn the rents in their flesh. He jumped from the wagon, ready to do anything to stop the attack. Micah landed on the ground next to him.
Braden pointed while he ran. The quicker they eliminated the threat, the sooner they’d be able to attend to Arnie, help him start the healing process.
Skirill and Zyena had flown back as soon as they heard Arnie’s anguished cry and were sharing their view of the area around the trees, but the overhead canopy was too dense. They saw men running toward horses tied to a second stand of trees, but that didn’t account for all of them. Skirill threw caution to the wind and dove into the trees, under the canopy and flew between the branches and trunks, looking to help his friends. One man this way. Another hiding beyond that tree over there.
Zyena followed her mate in, going the other direction, flying madly between the obstacles, sometimes skimming the ground as she twisted, dodged, and dove. Two more men there, and the enemy was running, trying to get away from what they thought were eagles. One risked firing an arrow at Zyena. She was too fast for him, but he was too slow for Gray Strider’s lightning bolt. It blew the man backward into a charred heap. Micah finished one man with a shot from her blaster, Braden another.
Zeller jumped from the wagon, but she couldn’t follow Braden and Micah into the trees. She had to go to her friend and trade partner. Arnie was in immense pain and it radiated through every fiber of her being.
G-War was the first to the place where the ambushers had tied up their horses. Four men were there when he jumped to the back of one horse and ran up a man’s chest before viciously slashing his face. The man was able to push the ‘cat off, but G-War was already jumping. He leapt to a second man and raked claws across his leg, before dodging away. The other two riders spurred their horses to action. G-War bolted aside to avoid being run over. He could have caught them, but it was less effort to tell Braden and Micah where the two were headed, so they could cut them off.
When they rode past, Braden took one and Micah took the other. The blasters were set to narrow beam which was all they needed to finish the lives of the two ambushers. They may have been good men, but during this daylight, they were fighting on the wrong side.
Skirill and Zyena finished their aerobatic tour of the space between the tops of the trees and the ground, confirming that there were no men hiding. G-War agreed. The last two men, both injured from the ‘cat’s attack were trying to recover enough to run, but both gave up after seeing the firepower that Braden and Micah used to finish their fellow archers.
“I have a few questions for you,” Braden said as he walked up to them, indifferent to their pain. He dragged them bodily from their horses and threw them on the ground.
Micah ran back to the road where she could start working on the injured Aurochs. Arrows needed to be removed and numbweed applied to help stop the bleeding and ease the pain. Maybe the wounds needed stitching. She wouldn’t know until she checked.
“How long have you been here?” They acted like they weren’t going to answer until G-War stabbed his claws into the calf of one man. He howled in pain, refusing to speak, but the other became very cooperative.
“We arrived shortly before you. We have an outpost just up the road and received word a short while ago of strangers with strange animals who were killing anyone from the Provincial Government.”
“Who told you this?” Braden asked pointedly. The man shook his head. He either didn’t know or wouldn’t tell. But that didn’t matter when G-War was around. The ‘cat shook his head. The man didn’t know.
“We don’t like surprises,” Braden emphasized. He wanted to know what he was up against. If the Governor deployed archers within the city, the companions would have a difficult time. “Who’s left at the outpost and what’s it look like?”
The man hesitated, just long enough for G-War to expose a paw full of claws and stab them into the man’s exposed arm. “Stop!” he howled. The ‘cat kept his claws embedded as an implied threat, but didn’t rake them through the man’s flesh. Not yet anyway. “It’s small. A tent with a guard shack on the road. There’s probably only two men left there. They said you killed fifty men.” The man squirmed, trying to get G-War to extract the claws from his arm. G-War stared into the man’s eyes, finally retracting his claws and jumping down.
‘I have it. We’ll learn nothing more from this one. Put him out of my misery and let’s go,’ G-War told Braden as the ‘cat headed toward the road.
“C’mon, G, I can’t just kill him.” The ‘cat didn’t answer. Braden shook his head, then tied the man up, despite the fact that he was bleeding from the wounds in his leg. The other man was blind, his face shredded. Braden tied him up, too. He turned the horses loose and sent them running east, away from the road, away from Jefferson City.
Braden took the weapons from the two survivors and gathered the bows and arrows from the dead before returning to the wagon. Micah had already removed the arrows from Arnie and Brandt. Zeller slowly rubbed numbweed into Arnie’s wounds. Brandt’s muscles were so thick that his arrow hadn’t gone too deeply. With the numbweed, he insisted that it was nothing more than a bug bite.
Arnie had never been injured before. He was afraid. One arrow hit his shoulder, stopping when it hit the bone. Since he kept running, the arrowhead did more damage, but none of it critical. The second arrow embedded in the cartilage between his ribs, making it painful for him to breathe. Micah couldn’t tell if it penetrated his lungs. The only thing they could do was hope that it hadn’t, expecting that he’d be frothing blood from his nose and mouth if there was internal damage.
Braden took out his sewing kit to work on the damage to Arnie’s shoulder. After the numbweed, the Aurochs was more forgiving. The humans reassured him that the damage would heal, and he’d be back to his old self.
‘Zeller,’ he cried. ‘I no like hurt. I happy with braid man,’ he continued in his simple way, but his language continued to improve the more time he spent with Zeller.
Braden talked Arnie through what he was doing as he sewed tight stitches to close the wound around the torn muscles. Braden told him about the injury from the Lizard Men, where he was out for a number of turns while Micah kept them all fed and tended to the injures of the entire caravan. The King of the Aurochs interjected with his view of that incident where he was wedged into the trees in the middle of a vicious battle. He moved in front to show some of the scars on his side, pointing out which ones were from that battle, as opposed to the ones from the Bat-Ravens, as opposed to the ones from the many attacks during his runs on the road through the Amazon. He also said how Braden and the others had always come to his rescue, throwing their small frail bodies at Brandt’s enemies.
When Brandt finished, he looked at Braden and then bobbed his head as he laughed in his Aurochs way.
“When we met you, I don’t think you had any scars,” Braden said, slapping the great creature on his well-muscled shoulder. Braden bared his chest and showed the angry crease to Arnie. “Welcome to the club, my friend. It may not be pretty, but it’s pretty exclusive.” Micah showed her neck and arms to the smaller Aurochs, laughing as if the pain wasn’t still fresh in her memory. It was, but the thrill of defeating their enemies far outweighed the temporary discomfort of a few scratches, she rationalized.
Can’t Abide an Outpost
Brandt insisted on pulling the wagon to limit the stress on Arnie’s body. Arnie insisted that he was okay and that it took no effort to pull the wagon. In the end, Braden had to step in and make the decision. Arnie would continue to pull the wagon.
“We need you on counter-ambush duty,” Braden explained.
‘You just made that word up!’ Brandt argued.
“But it doesn’t change what the rest of this trip is going to look like!” Braden replied dismissively. “That’s it. The decision’s made. We need to get going before they have an army waiting for us. That ambush was bad, but it could have been worse.” They put Arnie into the harness and he
started going before they were back in the wagon. They ran to catch up, getting pulled aboard by Zeller’s helping hand.
Brandt followed, and he wasn’t happy about it although he understood. It was better for the King to be free to attack the enemies of free trade. He agreed with Braden that trade was the life blood of their world. Without it, the people suffered and atrophied. He’d also learned to enjoy the cheerful greetings when entering a village pulling a cartload of trade goods. The people happily received them all, as equals.
Brandt looked with pride on the caravan. How far had they come since their meeting near Westerly?
Nerise looked out the back of the wagon at the King of the Aurochs, wondering about what he was thinking. She could see the look on his face change. She hadn’t been happy since her mother was taken away, and here she was, with a group like this, welcomed as one of their own. She was suddenly able to talk with her new friends, too, and amazed at what they had to say. She’d found a new home and was happy.
The Hawkoids were not pleased at all as they felt they let Braden and the others down. They missed the ambush when they’d flown ahead. They’d been watching the road and its approaches, not seeing the group of horses in the open area beyond the trees. They apologized repeatedly, but Braden and Micah maintained that they had nothing to be sorry for.
‘The way ahead?’ Micah asked over the mindlink.
Skirill and Zyena were flying side by side to give them the widest view of the road. The outpost was not far, as they learned. The Hawkoids flew around it and past it from different heights to determine exactly what they were up against. They found only one man in the shack on the road itself. He watched Skirill and Zyena as they flew past, ignoring them as they disappeared into the distance. Just another pair of birds, looking for a place to nest.
Free Trader Complete Omnibus Page 108