Most of all she sought to escape the cruel laughter and mocking smile of the man determined to break her at any cost. A man who would see her strung up in chains, just like the ones she had freed so many slaves from over an endless Summer riding under Eloquin's black banner, embracing the High Hunt as a fearless Squire of War. How bitter it was to know she would end those days of dark glory as little better than a slave herself, owned by a sadist who had always hungered for her tears, her submission, at any cost.
23
Dream at last she did, curious and pleasant. It was not a faerie tale, however, but the rustling of tiny branches, leaves unfurling in the sun.
She sensed them, then. The smiling faces of onlookers gazing at her with awe as she reached out for the heavens, unfurling her limbs, blossoming beneath heaven’s gentle gaze.
Hushed murmurs caressed her limbs as the youths decided to set up camp but feet from her bowers, animated voices she could feel crackling with excitement, awed by the most sacred of arts.
Flasks of liquid were drunk, and so quickly did chatter fall to slumber, free of the furious couplings she sensed from so many animals nearby.
Time passed, and she felt the quiet tread of footsteps, two individuals not given in to slumber’s promise.
Muffled cries and grunts.
The crack of wooden clubs against groggy flesh, cries quickly muffled, sleepy excitement replaced with fear.
The pair of hulking figures methodically clubbing and restraining all the tree’s admirers, even the girl who had so carefully planted and watered her, but hours before.
A single flash of light. One of the two figures shouts, pounding down with bone cracking force. A struggling figure crumples to the ground, and is still.
Choked sobs. “Alex!”
Mounts untied, stumbling figures, hands bound, mouths muffled, forced to ride.
Harsh calls, and two other figures are sensed, one radiating the strangest of auras, all of them conversing in soft murmurs as they make their way north at a careful clip.
“Jess!”
Jess awoke with a cry, heart racing in panic.
Alex, Jera, the entire expedition. Betrayed and held captive, their captors heading for the Velheim border at that very moment, and she didn’t even know if poor Alex was dead or alive, only that he had been viciously clubbed.
Assuming there had been any truth to it, assuming it hadn’t all been a dream.
“Twilight?”
But he was gone. Providing safe passage for a young family in desperate need.
Jess was on her own.
“As if there was any choice other than to take it seriously. By all the hells!’
Swallowing down her panic, she forced trembling hands to still. Quilted gambeson, shirt of mail, steel breastplate and helm almost as fine as the ones she was reported to have lost, in a mission that she couldn’t even remember. And it didn’t matter. Not now.
Boots of dead tanned leather, reinforced with iron greaves. Plated gauntlets last of all, after longsword strapped to back, saber and mace secured to her belt, and she was phased not at all by the looks she received dashing down the hallways, racing for her commander’s quarters. But first she slammed her palm against her shieldbrother’s door, the portal lurching open, lock popped effortlessly, no wood able to bar her entrance.
Groggy eyes met hers. Alarm, outrage, then grave concern flitting across her shieldbrother's features as a startled Jacob hid under the covers. “Jess? What’s going on?”
“It’s Jera and Alex! It was a trap! The guards took them captive and met with others. they are heading for the Velheim border even now!”
Malek frowned. “Jess, are you sure? Bloody hells, of course you are, or you wouldn’t be kitted up and in a panic, breaking down my door, no less.”
“Malek, please. We have no time!”
He grimaced and nodded. “Get going, Jess. Reach Eloquin if you can. I will kit up and get Neal and the others. Whoever is willing to come.”
Jess trembled with relief. “Thank you, shieldbrother.”
He flashed a bleak smile. “I don’t suppose you know where the hell we are going? It’s not like brilliant Alex bothered to inform the less talented mages that attend his classes.”
Jess nodded. “Don’t worry, I can find the tree.” She closed her eyes and smiled. “Yes. Jera still has a leaf in her hair. I can find her as well. Count on it.”
Malek scowled. “Jess?”
“No time!” And as fast as she had ever run, oblivious to the panicked stares sent her way, Jess ran for Commander Eloquin’s private rooms, pounding his door as hard as she could.
Almost as fast as she could blink, the door lurched open, and she was sent spinning, arm wrapped behind her, Eloquin’s powerful frame holding her tight
By all the gods. So potent. So fast.
And he caught her gaze then, unguarded, Jess losing herself in those fascinating, terrible ice blue eyes. Her lips hungered for that which she could never have.
Blushing, she turned away, even as Eloquin eased his warrior’s grip, gently stepping back.
“Report, Calenbry.” His voice, dryly amused, and Jess dare not look at the woman covering herself in the chamber beyond, lest she and Lady Vaila both die of embarrassment on the spot.
“It’s Alex, Jera, their band of friends. They’ve been captured, sir. Betrayed by their guards. Even now they have been bound and muffled, heading towards the Velheim border as we speak!”
Eloquin’s gaze pinned Jess to the spot. Terror, not desire, coursed through her veins now.
“Explain.”
Jess swallowed, forced herself to speak. “Alex thinks we are trapped in eternal summer. He went north, where he thinks one of the linchpins is to be found...”
“Bloody fool!”
Jess flinched. “He… he and his friends wanted to make an expedition of it. Not to tamper with it, he’s too smart for that. But to study it. To understand it. Honestly, sir, I don’t even think Jera believes there is any truth to that, we all just drink too damn much and all the days blur together and none of the professors bother with weekends, every day is training and studying unless you’re like me, and...”
“Silence, Calenbry.”
Jess swallowed and stilled her tongue.
“Calm yourself. Clear and concise. Where did this happen?”
“A day’s journey north, sir. They set up camp by the ash tree Jera planted, and they were ambushed and captured by their own guards.”
Eloquin frowned. “And how do you know all this?”
Jess swallowed, staring at her boots. “I dreamed I was the seedling Jera had planted for me. I grew into a tree, and everyone was excited to see me blossom so fast, so they set up camp, and since I was the tree and they were right by me, well, I sensed what had happened.”
Eloquin frowned. “This is a stretch, even for you, Calenbry.”
Jess swallowed, heart racing. “I know, sir.”
A breathless pause. “Are you certain?”
Silence.
“Calenbry!”
“No sir,” Jess whispered. “Not completely. But I am half certain. And if I am right? We can save almost a dozen lives. The lives of my friends.”
Eloquin flashed a cold smile. “And if you are wrong, it is but a few days hard training through brush and woodlands for your fellow Squires.”
Jess nodded. “That’s what I was thinking, sir.”
Eloquin nodded. “You made the right call. But we will do this correctly. I see you are fully kitted, save for back and limb plates of cuir bouilli.”
Jess nodded.
“You will now calmly and quickly go to each Squire’s quarters and tell them we have a meeting at the stables, to equip themselves fully and come with haste. You will take this wing, I will take the one below. Am I correct in assuming that Malek has already informed Neal?”
Jess saluted. “He is doing so now.”
“Excellent. He knows the drill. Now get going, Calenbry, a
nd bring the rest of your armaments to the stables. You can finish kitting up there.”
Jess swallowed. “Thank you, sir.”
His gaze hardened. “If you are right, we will have to fly like the wind if we are to intercept before Velheim steals a dozen of our most talented students. Get going!”
“Yes sir!” And Jess raced like the wind, knowing exactly where the Squire’s quarters were on that floor, paying no mind to who they were or were not sleeping with, stupefied expressions turning grim and serious as she explained the situation as quickly as she could, before darting off to the next room.
“And what is Mord’s toy doing about at this hour?”
Yellow-grey eyes glaring down at her from a pockmarked face, massive teeth showing in a feral smile.
Jess hissed and stepped back as Ubel seemed to step wholecloth out of the shadows.
Of course, that was impossible.
Odd, how dim and quiet the corridor Jess found herself in, the bustle of those few Squires she had awakened, kitting up as often as not with the help of their lovers, had faded to the softest of murmurs.
“I asked you a question, Plaga whore.”
Ubel. Hands squeezing the hilt of the messer strapped to his side. Glaring at her. So filled with malice and spite.
Jess’s hand coldly wrapped about the hilt of her saber.
Ubel snarled.
Good. He knew just how deadly she was with it.
Far too many people had died to that blade already, Jess striking in the draw as fast as most men could blink.
And Ubel’s blade and buckler were before her in the instant.
Jess hissed and stepped back.
“You aren’t the only one who's fast, Calenbry. Remember that.”
Jess flashed the coldest of smiles. “I am on Squires' business. That’s all you need to know. Unless, of course, you care to blacken your dagger for once, and do your master proud?”
Mocking laughter. “There are far more worthy causes than Eloquin to blacken one’s soul for, girl. You are a fool not to realize that.”
Jess forced a calming breath. “Than if you will not join us, I will be on my way.”
“You will keep your mouth shut!” Ubel snarled, “about things that do not concern you.”
Jess scowled. “I know you are playing dark, twisted games. You seem to assume that I care. As long as they don’t affect this school, I could care less what idiocy your clan dips its feet into. But if you threaten me again… one of us will fall.”
Her heart pounded even as she trembled with pent up fury, her saber ignored in favor of the longsword spun out of its split back sheath in an instant, blade held at angle overhead, the vom Tag guard perfect for cleaving into her foe in a heartbeat, her dread turning to blackest hate, a fierce desire to quench a nagging threat, once and for all.
Ubel laughed, discordant sound echoing oddly through the shadowy corridor. “Not nearly the terror I hope to inspire in a wench, but entertaining nonetheless. I see why Mord hungers for you. You will whelp strong get.” He flashed a mocking smile. “Very well. Play your games, Calenbry girl. If you mind your own affairs, I have no reason to slice your throat.”
Jess’s eyes widened, speechless with fury, even as Ubel spun about, re-sheathing his blade, laughter following his shadow.
“Jess, are you alright?”
Jess spun around, noting a concerned looking Erica, fully kitted already, gazing at Jess curiously before smiling, helping Jess to resheathe a longsword far, far easier to draw than put back into its specialized sheath.
“I am dying to know why you are practicing sword forms when we should be racing for the stables to hear Eloquin’s message.”
Jess grimaced, gazing toward Ubel, but he was long gone, the now brightly lit corridor quiet, as if he had never been there at all.
Jess frowned, shaking her head, panicked anxiety for her friends once more coming to the fore. “You’re right. We need to get down the stables on the double.”
“Jess, can you tell me what’s going on?”
“Alex and Jera. All their friends. Dire peril,” was all Jess would say, saving her breath, making it down to the stables in time for a smiling Malek to help her finish kitting arms and back in plates of boiled rawhide, last minute preparations taken care of even as Eloquin made his presence known, measuring each and every Squire present with his steely gaze.
“You have all been gathered here for the sake of our own. The king has not cried havoc, no missive demanding a dagger’s due has been scribed. Rather, it is for the sake of your own peers, your fellow classmates that you are here, and for no other reason. If you forsake this mission, no shame or censor will you receive. You may return to your quarters and suffer no repercussions. If you choose to embrace the call, do so only because your heart compels.”
Eloquin turned his gaze to Jess. She swallowed, throat dry, so many pairs of eyes focusing so intently upon her.
She cleared her throat. “Hello, brothers and sisters of the blade. Thank you for coming out at this hour, forsaking your bed’s siren call.”
Jess swallowed, looking for the right words.
Several Squires frowned.
Mortant, a dark-haired burly Squire, shook his head. “Spit it out, Jess. Why are we out here in the middle of the night? I, for one, have sweet company I’m eager to get back to, if this isn’t some dire emergency.”
Lucas smirked. “I know Sulia well enough, Mortant. She’s a kind girl, and she’ll be just as happy to see you tomorrow, so long as you have copper in your pocket and some sweets from the cook.”
Several Squires chuckled at this.
“Jess?” Neal’s voice. “It’s time to tell us what’s going on.”
Jess nodded, forcing herself to say what must be said. “I had a dream. I think, I think my friends are in trouble. Dire trouble. Alex, Jera, and almost a dozen of their friends, off on a wild lark to explore the edges of Summer. Their guards betrayed them. They are being forced towards Velheim’s border even as we speak.”
Neal frowned. “That’s bad, Jess. How sure are you of this?”
Jess grimaced. “Fifty-fifty. I could be a deluded fool, in which case, if you follow me, expect a wild goose chase for a few days and a flask of Calenbry Red for each of you by way of apology when we are done. But if I’m right, and we do nothing, we lose a dozen of our fellows, future battle mages of Erovering, to the hands of our enemies.”
“Bloody hells.” Malek whistled. “You know which side I’m on, Jess, drunken dream or no.” Without hesitation, Malek stepped behind her, hand on shoulder, showing his support.
Lucas frowned. “Wait a minute. You’re no mage, Jess. However damn impressive your knack with wood is, you’re no seer. And don’t start, Neal, I already know we owe her a hell of a lot more than a simple thank you. But still, how do you know all this, Jess?”
Jess swallowed. “When I was asleep, I dreamed I was a tree.”
Erica gazed at Jess, deadpan. “You know Jera and her friends are in trouble because you dreamed you were a tree?”
Jess shrugged. “Sort of. You know how I like to plant ash trees after we... you know.”
Mortant laughed. “Plant our ash spears in the hearts of whatever foes dare cross us? Poetic, if you ask me.”
Lucas nodded. “Damned poetic, that. All right, Jess, what’s the point?”
Jess shrugged. “The point is that I forgot I had a little seedling nestled in my hair. Nestled for days, thank goodness the little thing seemed content enough.”
More than a few Squires blinked and frowned at that.
“She’s a Druid, don’t look so bloody surprised,” Erica snapped, glaring at the few Squires grumbling already.
“Anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to give it to my friend Jera, to plant when she headed north. Wild-goose chase or no, the northlands have plenty of open plains and untilled soil perfect for an ash seedling.”
Neal frowned. “It’s pretty much abandoned because a lot of it
is scrubland, far too arid for most crops, with raiders no one wants to admit crossing over and striking at will.” He flashed a cold smile. “At least such was the case before we came along. Only the Calenbry barony is densely populated this far north; your family’s lands being surprisingly fertile, and as your father is an excellent tactician who trains his serfs and freemen well, banditry doesn’t happen northeast of us, like it does dead north.”
“True,” Malek said. “Even the border lords credit less frequent incursions to Arthur keeping his territory so secure. Their manors are outright keeps, that far north, so raiders just pass them by, and bandits daring Calenbry lands further in end up dead, like as not, once word reaches the baron that raiders are nibbling at his serf’s heels. He considers it good practice for his pike levies, once he corrals slavers to the spot of his choosing.” He sighed. “I hope he lets Jess and I join in, next time we visit, if any fools dare to trespass.”
Erica grinned. “He was our master’s battle-brother, not that long ago.” This said with a bow to their commander.
“That land was dead, just a generation ago. Interesting how the soil only springs to life when the Calenbry Clan claims it,” murmured one of the quieter Squires.
“We are getting off topic.” Everyone stood at attention when Eloquin spoke. “Calenbry, finish your report.”
“Yes sir. Anyway, when I went to sleep yesterday afternoon, I dreamed I was a tree. The very tree Jera planted. I grew rather tall, overseeing Jera and her friends as they, well, admired me. They set up camp early, and somehow two men were able to club and bind each of them before they could react, and all of these students were trained in at least basic defensive magics, from what Alex and Jera have both told me! So something allowed them to get a drop on a dozen student mages.”
Squire of War Page 25