by Garry Spoor
“Lord Bollen has always been one of the people.” Daniel replied. “He was never one to throw his rank around.”
“Still, you should show him at least some courtesy.”
“Where exactly am I riding to?” Kile asked.
“Forthbar,” Folkstaff replied. “Commander Barshed is on his way there to speak with the King’s representative. They will want to know about the siege of Moran and what, if anything, you learned in Denal.”
“I’m afraid, we didn’t learn much, it was a wasted trip in more ways than one,” she replied.
Folkstaff looked at her. “I wouldn’t say wasted.”
“But then why did all those men of Perha Squad have to die when a single Hunter could have gathered the information without setting off an entire war.”
“You didn’t actually set off a war, Kile. The valrik would have come to Moran whether Perha Squad entered Denal or not. Besides, had you not come here when you did, the outcome might have been quite different.”
“Still, if feels like those men died for nothing,” she replied.
“Well, the truth of the matter is, Sergeant Wargner had no authority to enter Coopervill.”
“Then why did he?” Daniel asked.
“We don’t know.” Folkstaff replied. “We’ve spoken with Corporal Duffy as well as the other members of Perha Squad who arrived in Forthbar, but they haven’t given us any clues. According to the Corporal, Wargner felt he could end the war if he retook Coopervill.”
“But that’s ridiculous.”
“Not to Sergeant Wargner.” Kile replied.
“So, why didn’t they just send in a Hunter?” Daniel asked.
“The thing is, the situation last year did not do the reputation of the Hunters any good. The military no longer trusts us and feels, if we cannot handle our own affairs, how effective can we be?”
“So, it’s true, what Drain said. He may not have stopped us, but he did cripple us,” Kile added.
“It’s worse than that,” Folkstaff replied. “There is talk the Hunter’s Guild has outlived its usefulness. The people no longer need us, the military no longer wants us and the crown, well… the crown had very little use for us to start with.”
“That can’t be true,” Daniel said. “The Hunters have done a lot of good.”
“That’s just it, son. They have… in the past. Now there’s no longer a place for us, not the way we are, anyway. We have to change or we have to die.”
“What about this?” Daniel asked, opening his arm to encompass the outpost. “The Hunters did this. We prevented the valrik from getting into Callor. That has to count for something.”
“It does count,” Folkstaff replied. “This may be our biggest triumph.”
“Or our last crowning achievement,” Kile added.
***~~~***
18
They came for her in the night. Four nonays armed with hairbrushes and soap. True to his word, Lord Bollen sent them to prepare Kile for the morning ride to Forthbar. She was escorted from the stables, where she spent the night, to the bathing facilities which were located within the remains of the old pub.
It was no longer the place where she enjoyed her last good cup of tea while sitting beside the fire, waiting for the valrik to make their decision. That was over a week ago, and so much has happened since then. For starters, she never did get the name of the herb which the cooks used to brew that tea.
The place was stripped clean of the original furniture. Most of which went to reinforce the barricades along the Cliff Road. All that remained were a few chairs and a single table. It just so happened to be the same table where Perha Squad sat, when she informed them they had just taken over the outpost. There were only four members of the original twenty three left in Moran. They will be leaving the outpost with her tomorrow, when she rode with Lord Bollen and his men.
The nonays set the place up as a bath house. Portable tubs were brought all the way from Norfrom and arranged in neat little rows long both walls. Several of these tubs were in use and the men were far from modest with their bathing. Kile felt the need to divert her eyes while the nonays led her to the back of the room. A wall of bed sheets provided a bit of privacy. One of the nonay, the grumpiest looking one, stood guard while the other three led her through.
This was where the bar once stood, she realized, when she stepped behind the curtain. The bar and all its contents were cleaned out along with the rest of the furniture. All that remained was a bare shelf along the back wall.
The tub looked more like a cot, with a low center, although, it held quite a bit of water. It was a simple wooden frame and a canvas sack.
“Please disrobe, miss,” one of the nonays said while she sorted through a bag which sat against the wall.
Kile looked at the other two women who were watching her.
“I can bathe by myself, thank you.”
“Lord Bollen wishes you to be presentable upon your departure from Moran,” the nonays replied.
Kile was a bit hesitant. In her mind, bathing was not a spectator sport, but she was really looking forward to the bath. The last one she took was back at base camp Riley, and that was over a month ago. Caving in to her desire for comfort, she slowly disrobed. Stepping into the tub, she found the water surprising warm and soothing. This may not be too bad, she thought, but that was before the nonays moved in.
One of the women began opening an assortment of bottles, and adding the contents to the bath water. It was a combination of flowery smells. Jasmine, alyssum, gardenia, rose, lilacs, any one of these, in small doses, wouldn’t have bothered her. It might have actually been pleasant. But blend them all together, and it was an assault on her senses.
The second nonay pulled out a long wooden handled brush, which looked as if it belonged on the battlefield, not in the bathhouse. She proceeded to scrub Kile’s skin raw, using a lavender-scented soap. But it was the third nonay, armed with her hairbrush and comb, who Kile feared the most. Kneeling behind her, she pulled back Kile’s head and began raking the comb through her hair, as if she was dethatching a lawn. Kile was sure, after the woman was done, she would never have to comb her hair again. She wouldn’t have any left.
The bath continued for several hours, at least, that’s the way it felt. Only when they were sure there wasn’t an inch of skin left on her body, or a hair left on her head, did they allow her to get out of the tub. The second nonay, the one who insisted on adding every flower from the garden to the bathwater, retrieved a tightly wrapped bundle from the bag and began to untie it.
It was then Kile realized the danger she was in. It was a trap, it had to be. A well thought out trap. She was unarmed and defenseless. With no weapon, no clothes, and no one to save her, she couldn’t escape. She was facing her worst nightmare. The nonay turned and held up a long, pink, frilly, dress.
“What the hell is that?” she shouted.
“His Lordship sent this for you to wear,” the nonay replied innocently.
“I am not wearing that.”
“But his Lordship…”
“If his Lordship likes it so much, then he can wear it.” Kile said, backing toward the curtain.
“Commander, is there a problem?” someone yelled from the other side.
Wonderful, Kile thought, Sergeant Tullner. What was he doing here?
Now she really was trapped. She couldn’t run, and she couldn’t stay.
“Commander, are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine Tullner, just… stay where you are,” she shouted.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure, whatever you do, don’t come in.”
There was no getting out of this one, Kile thought. She would have to fall back to her survival training. Master Folkstaff warned them about the desire for comfort. She would have to wear the dress, because there was nothing else to wear.
Tullner paced the bathhouse floor, just outside the curtain. The grumpy looking nonay wasn’t going to let him pass, even i
f he wanted to. He had seen valrik less determined, and less frightening than this woman. If only Lord Bollen had sent them to the outpost earlier, they could have easily routed the valrik, armed only with hairbrushes.
The curtain was suddenly pulled aside and Tullner turned to see a young woman standing before him. She was wearing a long pink dress, which reached the floor, and her hair was tied up in a tight bun. Her lips were a dark shade of red and there was a touch of color in her cheeks. She was out of place in the ruins of the bathhouse and would have been more at home in the palaces of Azintar. This was not the same Hunter he traveled with over the past month. This was not the Hunter, who battled saladogs armed only with a long knife. This was not the Hunter, who charged a mountain pony through enemy lines.
She gracefully stepped forward.
“Commander, you…”
“Say one word Tullner. One word and I’ll bust you down to private before you can take your next breath,” she snapped at him. “Now, find me a pair of pants.”
Actually, this was the same Hunter.
“As you wish, Commander,” he said with a grin.
He followed her out of the bathhouse and into the courtyard.
She quickly turned on him. “Why are you still here, Tullner? Pants. Now.”
“I have a message,” he replied.
“Out with it.”
“Lord Bollen wishes to be on the road in an hour. There have been reports coming in of Uhyre still in the area. He has sent men ahead, along with the Hunters, to secure the route to Forthbar.”
“Wonder,” she said, throwing up her arms. “I can’t go out looking like this, I look like… like…”
“Like a lady.” Jax said, coming up behind her.
“Oh great, not you too.”
“You look very pretty, Miss Veller,” he said with a smile.
“I am a Hunter, not a lady. This is not how a Hunter dresses. I want my weapons, I want my pants and I want my hair back.” She said, pulling at her hair until she freed it from the tight bun.
Jax sighed. “I knew it wouldn’t last,” he said.
Kile turned to Tullner. “You still here?”
“Commander?”
“Get me my something to wear, even if you have to strip down one of the soldiers,” she demanded.
“Yes, Commander,” Tullner replied, running off.
“Is it so bad to look like a lady, once in a while?” The Captain asked.
“Why, how many times do you do it?”
“You know what I mean, Kile. You are a young woman, let yourself be one.”
“I can be a woman without looking like a painted up doll for the men to stare at,” She replied. “This is frivolous, it’s impractical. How am I supposed to ride to Forthbar dressed like this?”
“Many women wear dresses and ride horses.”
“Yes, I know, they ride side saddle, but in case you haven’t noticed. I don’t use a saddle.”
“Of course,” Jax said, shaking his head.
“And what if we’re attacked on the road? How can I defend myself when I can hardly move around in this thing? It’s restricting. Where do I put my sword, my long knife?”
“You aren’t supposed to fight. You are a guest of his Lordship. His men will defend you if the need arises.”
“Defend me, since when do I need men to defend me,” she shouted. “I can take care of myself, thank you very much.”
“But Lord Bollen…”
“And that’s another thing. Why is this Lord of yours, riding around with an assortment of dresses. Isn’t that a little strange?”
“I had to come when I heard.” Folkstaff said, coming across the compound toward them. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Oh great, why don’t we just put me on display,” Kile said, throwing up her arms and walking away. She could hear them laughing behind her.
She made for the only place she knew she would be safe, the stables. Ducking in, she collapsed against the wall. This was humiliating, she thought. At least no one could gawk at her in here.
-Well, well, well-
Spoke too soon.
“Shut it Grim, I’m not in the mood.”
-I wasn’t going to say anything-
“Sure you weren’t”
-Is it really that bad?-
He asked.
She glared at him.
-How would I know? Vir have strange habits to begin with. Maybe you should embrace the wild side of your personality, and then it wouldn’t bother you as much.-
Kile laughed. “No, I’d just be running around naked. Somehow, I don’t think that would go over too well.”
“Thought we’d find you in here.”
Looking up, Kile saw Erin enter the stables, followed closely by Daniel.
“Oh, did you come for the freak show too?” she asked.
“Hardly a freak show,” Erin replied.
“Actually, I think you look rather nice,” Daniel added.
“Nice! Nice! You think I look nice,” She shouted. Daniel quickly backed up.
“We ran into Sergeant Tullner, and he told me of your plight,” Erin said, stepping between them. She handed Kile a bundle of clothes. “I think these should be more suitable,” she said.
“Thank you,” Kile replied. “At least somebody gets it,”
Taking the clothes into one of the stalls, she started to undress.
“I’ll… step outside… now.” Daniel stammered before leaving the stables.
Erin laughed. “I heard you gave the nonays a hard time.”
“I gave them a hard time? Did you see what they did to me? They scrubbed off my skin and yanked out my hair, painted my face. They even managed to mess up my sense of smell. It’s like I have roses shoved up my nose now,” she said, pulling on her pants. “I should have been able to smell you guys coming a mile away.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“Oh, sorry, that didn’t come out right.”
“I should say not.”
“I meant… Oh, never mind,” she said, stepping out from behind the stall. “How do I look now?” she asked.
“Like a Hunter,” Erin said with a grin. “We just need to do something with your hair.”
It was a large company of men, who assembled at the gatehouse. Many of Lord Bollen’s soldiers were staying in Moran, to reinforce the outpost guard. The valrik may have been routed, but it didn’t mean they were giving up. Denal was still under the control of the Uhyre, and Moran was still the easiest route into Callor.
Along with Lord Bollen, and his personal guard, were Major Folkstaff and Captain Jax. They waited at the head of the column. Daniel and three nonays would be responsible for the wounded. It was necessary to get them to Forthbar, since Moran no longer had the facilities to treat them. Sumsor agreed to stay behind. He spent most of his career at the outpost, and wasn’t going to abandon it now, regardless of the fact his office was under a couple of tons of stone. Perha Squad, or what was left of it, was also prepared to leave Moran. Sergeant Tullner, Corporal Sandson, and privates Anurr and Lesh were eager to meet up with the rest of their men in the hospitals of Forthbar.
As the last of the wounded were being secured to the wagons, and the supplies loaded up, Kile arrived on Grim alongside Erin, followed by twenty Callor hounds. Nobody questioned the inclusion of the hounds, as their effectiveness against the saladogs was well known. Erin continued to ride on, up to the front of the column, while Kile stayed behind. She really didn’t want to ride with the officers and preferred to stay at the rear with the soldiers. It was Captain Jax who spotted her and waived for her to join them.
“I thought you would be staying in Moran.” She said when she got closer to Jax.
The Captain grinned. He was looking old and tired. The siege took its toll on the man, although he tried to hide it.
“Unfortunately, I have to give my report to the higher ups.” he sighed. “Truth be told, I’d rather battle saladogs.”
“It shoul
dn’t be that bad.” Kile replied. “So, you’re leaving Raf in charge?”
Jack looked back at the ruins. “I don’t think even Raf could screw up this place now,” he laughed.
“Will you be coming back here?” she asked him.
He hesitated for a moment. “I don’t know,” he replied, shaking his head. “I think I’ll request some time, maybe spend a week with my family. It’s been nearly six months since I’ve seen them. My wife has been nagging me to retire; maybe it’s time. I have two new grandkids I haven’t even met. What about you? You have any family?”
“Me, well, yeah, I have a brother back in Riverport.”
“Oh save us, there’s another one like you back home.”
Kile laughed. “Not quite.”
“Oh, so he’s normal.”
“Something like that. He runs the family farm. He’s married now, has a little boy of his own.”
“You ever go home to see them?” Jax asked.
“Once.” She replied. “It… didn’t go very well.”
“I’m sorry,” he apologized. “What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Kile looked sideways at him.
“That bad, huh,” he replied.
“Let’s just say, I’m not holding my breath for an invitation to Winter’s Feast.”
“Well then, if you have no other plans, you can always drop by the homestead. It might not be much, but we do put out a decent spread during the holidays.”
“Thanks, but, as you’ve no doubt noticed, chaos visits wherever I go.”
The Captain laughed. “Please,” he said. “I have seven children and fourteen grandchildren, not to mention five siblings, six nephews, twelve nieces, and a whole gaggle of grand nephews and nieces, who I don’t even know. Chaos doesn’t visit our house during the holidays, it sets up residency.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind.” Kile replied.
Leaving Moran was uneventful. No fanfare, no farewells-- the gates were opened and suddenly they were in the Callor province. Kile looked back at the long line of riders behind them, and then at the outpost. She wasn’t sure if she was sorry to leave it behind or not. Like many places she visited, it was just one more step on a long journey, but she never knew where that journey was taking her.