The Way to Freedom: The Complete Season Two (Books 6-10) (The Way to Freedom Collection Book 2)

by H. M. Clarke

  “We should have been met by some of the watchers by now.”

  “Watchers?” Peana asked.

  “The Watchers are those that guard the approaches to Daegarouf.”

  “And?” Dearen asked after Asnar hesitated and stopped speaking.

  “They are to assess the intentions of visitors by stopping them. Visitors who are welcomed are allowed to pass through. Visitors who are not are….eliminated.”

  “So, what does it mean that we haven’t been stopped yet?” Dearen asked.

  “I don’t know. Everyone is stopped. Maybe they have seen me with your group and they are letting us through unhindered. But I do feel that we are currently being watched.”

  ‘Adhamh?’ Dearen glanced up through the trees to the sky, trying to see if she could get a glimpse of any of the Hatar.

  ‘Yes?’ the Hatar’s voice slipped into her mind with ease, like it was a natural thing for it to do.

  ‘Do either you or Trar see anything in the forest around us?’

  After a short interval, Adhamh answered her.

  ‘There are a group of six figures coming towards you from higher up the path.’

  ‘Do you think they are Pydarki?’

  ‘I would say that it is a good probability that they are.’

  ‘Huh? I’ll take that as a yes.’

  Dearen turned to the rest of the group.

  “Adhamh has just told me that there are people coming down the path towards us.”

  ‘Kral and I are going up to keep an eye on them. Kral wants you to be careful.’

  ‘Trar, tell Kral that he’d better spend more time looking after himself. Just be careful. Remember that mind bolt that hit Adhamh.’

  ‘He’s already warned us about that.’ Trar replied. ‘We’ll call if these people don’t look like they are going to be friendly.’

  ‘Okay, Trar.’

  “Tayme and Trar are flying up to get a look at who is coming down to meet us.

  Lieutenant Peana pushed his way past some of his men and Hauga to dismount next to Dearen. His horse took the opportunity to take a nibble at some of the nearby blackberries. Peana glared down the path as if expecting the approaching group to suddenly appear.

  “They are not with us just yet Dalon,” Dearen said. “But it won’t take them long to get here.”

  The lieutenant did not reply to her but looked back at this men. “Jack and Hanton. Split the men and position yourself defensively on either side of the path. These people may be friendly but we don’t want to leave anything to chance.”

  “Lieutenant, they will know how many men are supposed to be here,” Asnar called out as if addressing someone who was a little slow.

  “That may be, but we will not be taken by surprise again. The Captain had reason to distrust the Pydarki and your attitude has shown me that his distrust in your people may be justified.”

  “I think I agree with you Lieutenant Peana.” Dearen heard the words leave her mouth and now knew in her heart that she did not trust Asnar. Not now.

  ‘Dearen-‘

  ‘Hauga. Do you trust Asnar? Truly?’

  ‘Not like I once did.’

  ‘Then let’s see what presents when the six Pydarki coming down the mountain meet up with us.’

  ‘Yes, Cearc.’

  “We’ll wait here for them to reach us,” Dalon said. “We might as well give our legs a rest and a stretch and make ourselves comfortable while we wait.”

  ‘They come.’

  Adhamh’s cryptic words popped into Dearen’s mind just as the Pydarki made their presence known a short time later ahead of them. They made no effort to hide or disguise themselves but walked straight and tall towards them.

  Dearen moved to go meet them but Lieutenant Peana placed a hand on her shoulder and held her back.

  “Let me go forward. I don’t know what your relationship is with the Pydarki, but they come under the rule of the Empire, and they have to accede to any military request.”

  ‘Let him take the lead for now Dearen. Once we met with someone in authority, then we can make our request known.’

  Dearen glanced back at Hauga and gave him a small nod. It made sense and it would let her slowly make the Pydarki aware that a bareskin is now the Dymarki Cearc.

  “Okay, Dalon. You take the lead, but I’ll be just behind you.”

  Peana nodded and began to walk up the path towards the approaching Pydarki. Dearen stopped just behind him and was surprised to find Asnar right behind her.

  ‘Don’t interfere Asnar.’

  ‘I won’t. I don’t think Raga would let me even if I wanted to.’

  It was then that Dearen noticed Raga’s tall form come up behind the Pydarki.

  Dearen gave him a knowing smile.

  ‘Raga. Keep an eye on him. Make sure he behaves himself.’

  ‘Yes, Cearc.’

  Once they made half the distance between them the group stopped and waited for the Pydarki. The Pydarki group was taking its time travelling towards them, probably still assessing them and wondering why they are here.

  Lieutenant Peana stood a little ahead of the group as the six Pydarki approached them. Dearen stood at the front of the main group. Asnar stood in between the two standing as if he wanted to leap on anyone that said anything that he thought out of place.

  ‘Or anything that might place him in a bad light.’ The thought came unbidden to Dearen’s mind. It was as if she was now seeing the Pydarki truly for the first time. He was not concerned about her, he was not concerned about the Dymarki and he was not concerned about the bareskins.

  He was only concerned about himself and is upset that his pet bareskin and her Dymarki are not doing what he wanted them to.

  The strangers stopped a few paces ahead of Lieutenant Peana. They were silent, staring at them all, taking in the sight of three different peoples (four if you include the Hatar’le’margarten) travelling together. Finally, the shortest of the Pydarki stepped forward and gave Lieutenant Peana a slight bow.

  “Welcome strangers. You have entered into territory held by the Pydarki of Daegarouf. We wish to know what business brings you to our home.”

  The tone was soft and polite. Dearen’s eyes switched from the short Pydarki to Asnar. Asnar was still, waiting for Peana to respond, to Dearen it seemed as if he expected a greeting from his fellow landsmen and was a little put out that he wasn’t acknowledged. What is going on here?

  “I am Lieutenant Dalon Peana of the sixth battalion. We are searching for our missing Captain. He was coming to Daegarouf to talk with someone and we have come looking for him.”

  The short Pydarki nodded at his words and then looked past the lieutenant to the rest of the group. “That would explain the Suenese and the Hatar’le’margarten above. But the Dymarki are not looking for your Captain are they?”

  “No. They have come to talk to the Pydarki Council.”

  Then the Pydarki’s eyes focused passed Dalon Peana’s shoulder and drilled into Asnar.

  “I see you travel with Asnar.”

  Dalon began to turn to look at Asnar but stopped himself.

  “He joined up with us a few days back. He is known to the Dymarki.”

  After a slight hesitation, the Pydarki stepped back to stand with his fellows.

  “Though we know nothing about your missing Captain, you are Suenese and the Dymarki are known to us. We will take you up to rest and eat and we will inform the council of both your respective requests.”

  “Thank you. The thought of food is most welcome.”

  The Pydarki gave Lieutenant Peana another slight bow and then gestured to the group to follow them up the path.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “It’s nice to have something decent to eat for a change,” Tayme contentedly sighed as he reached over to dish out more stew from the pot. Next to the pot was a leg of roasted venison with roasted vegetables and at the far end of the table was a platter of meat left a little on the raw side for the two Dymarki w
ho were both happily helping themselves to it.

  ‘At least some of us are happy,’ Dearen thought.

  ‘Trar and I are happy as well. The Pydarki have given us deer to munch. We haven’t eaten in a few days and were getting a little peckish.’

  ‘Okay Adhamh, then it looks like only Peana and myself are the only ones not happy.’

  ‘You haven’t met with the council yet. You have no reason to be annoyed.’

  ‘I know, but I expected a little more acknowledgement from the Pydarki than what we got. I am the Cearc.’

  ‘You have to remember that to the Pydarki you look just like a Suenese. They don’t know who you are because they haven’t been told.’

  Dearen dropped her spoon letting it clatter to the table top and leaned back in her chair as Tayme started eating from his newly filled bowl. She had been moving food around in her bowl for the last fifteen minutes without eating any of it.

  ‘But they’ve not acknowledged Hauga or Raga. Asnar had told us that the Pydarki are going to support the Dymarki in claiming our homes back. What they have shown us so far does not look like support Adhamh.’

  ‘The Pydarki also come under the subjugation of the Suene Empire. Do you think the Pydarki are going to leap for joy at the sight of Dymarki when there is a Suenese Military officer with them?’

  Dearen pulled a face. ‘Okay…you have a point.’

  ‘Wait and see what happens when you, Hauga and Raga go to meet the council.’

  ‘You know Adhamh is right Dearen,’ Hauga cut in. ‘You have to learn patience.’

  ‘She has never been,’ Adhamh replied.

  ‘So we need to move patience up to the top of our list of things for Dearen to work on then.’

  ‘Sounds good Hauga.’

  Dearen closed her eyes and shook her head.

  ‘I see you two have been talking about me.’

  ‘We have just been comparing notes Dearen.’ Hauga looked down the table at her with a big chunk of dripping meat sticking out from his mouth. ‘If Adhamh is going to be staying with us now then I have an extra claw to help get you into shape to be the Cearc.’

  ‘Get me into shape?’

  ‘There is more to being Cearc than leading us into battle and telling us all what to do.’

  ‘I know that…And you are right. I do need to learn. I need to learn how to be a good leader, ruler and I need to learn more of Dymarki culture and history. And Adhamh can help me to regain my memories back.’

  ‘Wait… memories back? Do you believe me now when I say you are Kalena and to me is the best, most precious friend that I could ever have? We are family.’

  That comment surprised Dearen. Surprised at the fact that an answering feeling of happiness rose from her stomach at Adhamh’s words.

  ‘Yes, Adhamh. I do believe both you and Kral. But for the time being, can you still call me Dearen?’

  ‘Of course, I can.’

  The joy in Adhamh’s voice was infectious and the melancholy depression that Dearen was feeling had lifted away from her. The smell of the food on her plate now assailed her nostrils and Dearen began to scoop up the meat and vegetables onto her spoon and eat.

  Across the table from her, Lieutenant Peana was just finishing his own plate of food. His men sat at the opposite end of the table from the Dymarki and were also busily eating their fill.

  “Why are they making us wait?” the Lieutenant said pushing his now empty plate away from him.

  “They are probably gathering members of the council to meet with us. After all, we have to assume that they don’t all live in a big room waiting for people to come and visit them.”

  Peana gave Tayme a scathing look before turning to the man seated at the table behind him.

  “Asnar, is Kral right?”

  The Pydarki dropped his spoon and wiped his mouth with a cloth before he turned to look at Peana.

  “He is right. The council will need time to gather. They have their own jobs and responsibilities that they will need to be drawn from.”

  “We really haven’t been waiting all that long, and at least they’ve fed us and gave us a place to wash up and sleep,” Tayme said as he reached over to the serving dish to scoop more stew into his bowl.

  “You really have a bottomless hole for a stomach haven’t you Kral.”

  “Kalena, I’m not saying anything against your camp cooking, but this is the best food I’ve had for months. I’m going to eat as much as I can hold because you never know what tomorrow may bring. And I don’t want to meet tomorrow on an empty stomach.”

  ‘You never want to meet anything on an empty stomach Kral,’ Dearen heard Trar say.

  Lieutenant Peana sat back in his chair. “If they have to gather the council, then we might be here for a while. I think this might be a good time for any of us who can to get some shuteye. Tayme, since you want to eat you can take first watch.”

  Tayme nodded to the Lieutenant, unable to speak because his mouth was full of stew.

  ‘That sounds like a good idea.’ Dearen thought to Hauga.

  ‘ Go to sleep Dearen. I’m going to be up for a bit. I’ll wake you if something interesting happens,’ Hauga replied.

  ‘I am going to sleep as well Hauga. Will you keep an eye on Asnar?’

  ‘Yes Raga, though I don’t know what he can do here. Asnar is being treated like he is a stranger rather than one of their own.’

  ‘Even more reason not to trust him.’

  ‘Okay, cubs. I’m going to grab a nap.’

  ‘Yes, Cearc.’

  Dearen rose from her chair and followed Lieutenant Peana to the row of bunk beds pushed against the far side of the room.

  Peana flopped into a bed in the middle and Dearen laid down on the bed closest to her and within moments was sound asleep.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  A gentle tap at the door warned the occupants that the time they had been waiting for had arrived. It was time to meet the Council.

  Tayme had woken not long before the soft knock and he had no idea how long he had slept for. He now sat up in bed, using the wall as a backrest and had been busy trying to wake Trar so he could have someone to talk to. A few bunks down, Kalena was just beginning to stir under her blankets. He caught himself watching her and quickly turned away. Hauga must have mentally woken her. Unable to stop himself, Tayme’s gaze slipped again to Kalena’s bed and his eyes hungrily drunk in the sight of her. Every time he looked at her, his feelings swirled around as if caught in a maelstrom. And when she went missing it was as if someone had cut his heart out and threw it in the mud. But now she was back, and Tayme knew that he was never going to let her out of his sight again. He loved her, had always loved her. Now, if only Kalena could remember him and what they once had… Tayme pulled his gaze away again. It did no good to torment himself. She had broken it off because as Hatar Kalar, they had no guaranteed future together. But now things had changed.

  Hauga and Raga sat quietly together at the table. Hanton sat with them, the tracker was drawing on the table with a piece of charcoal with either Hauga or Raga making corrections. Hopefully, the stuff will wash off. The Pydarki might not take too kindly to their guests damaging their tables.

  The rest of the Suenese were still asleep. Since Hanton was occupied it was up to him to wake Lieutenant Peana. Tayme sighed and swung his legs off of the bed. Luckily he had his shoes on otherwise his bare feet would feel the shock of the freezing cold floor seep through to the bone.

  Moving around to the next occupied bed, Tayme bent to gently place a hand on the Lieutenants shoulder.

  “Lieutenant Peana? Lieutenant?”

  The Lieutenant’s eyes sprang open before Tayme had to shake him.

  “Lieutenant, there is someone at the door.”

  Peana looked up at him and then gave a nod. Tayme stepped back to give the man room to get up.

  “Go get the door and see what they want.”

  “Yes, Lieutenant.”

  Tayme rose and let
himself have a bit of a stretch as he walked across the room to open the door. Outside stood two young Pydarki. Both gave him a slight bow before the taller of the two spoke.

  “The council is gathering. They will give you a short while to prepare and make yourself presentable. One of us will be back to escort you.”

  Tayme gave them a brief nod as he replied.

  “Thank you. We will be waiting.” He then politely closed the door and turned back to the room.

  “We’d best get prepared. They’ll be ready for us soon.”

  “Right then. Let’s get to it,” Peana said as he slid out of his bunk. “Dearen, you’d best get a wiggle on, after all, this is mostly your show.”

  Tayme watched as Kalena yawned and ran a hand through her sleep tangled hair.

  “You never know lieutenant, they may be able to tell you where your missing Captain has gone. If he’s passed through their land, then they have probably run across his tracks.”

  The lieutenant just shrugged in response as he pulled on his jacket and started to button it.

  “Dearen. I want you to reconsider what you are about to do.”

  Tayme shifted his view to the Pydarki now sitting up in his bunk. The man did not look good. Still half asleep but with black smudges under his eyes and a gray pallor to his skin – he looked like he was rising from his grave.

  Raga turned to look at the Pydarki with bared teeth. His implicit meaning was unmistakable.

  “Asnar, our mind has not been changed from since we last talked about this. We are going to go to the council and ask for the help that you have promised us they will give.” Kalena stood up and stared hard at the Pydarki. “If you have been telling us the truth, then this should not worry you. Unless there is something you’re not telling us?”

  The Pydarki glared at Kalena a moment before turning away from her. He gave her no reply.

  “Then it is settled. Hauga, Raga, you can accompany me and help present our case. As Elder Council Members and Clan Leaders, you will need to present me as your Cearc. Then we can present our case for them to live up to the support they have promised us.”