Exile to the Stars (The Alarai Chronicles)

by Dale B. Mattheis

  Later, Halric and Jeff visited the infirmary to give what comfort they could. Following that they made a round of the tribal enclaves to spread well-deserved congratulations. The sun was gone before they found time to eat. Halric nearly fell asleep at the table and staggered off to get some sleep. Jeff hung on in order to contact Gaereth, and found him preparing for bed as well.

  “That was quite a show your boys and girls put on, Jeff. I was watching from the south wall when the siege engines started lighting up. From what I could see, the Salchek couldn’t figure out where the attack was coming from and didn’t know which way to turn. They were totally unprepared when Rengeld’s cavalry hit them.

  I have to tell you it was the most awful and moving thing I have seen for several centuries. Our cavalry must have ridden down two or three hundred Salchek before they even got into the fighting. I would be willing to bet the Salchek lost six hundred effectives at a minimum.” Concern suddenly colored Gaereth thoughts. “How did Halric’s force do? From what I heard, they took an awful pasting in front of the north gate.”

  Jeff reviewed the battle and his assessment of the outcome. Gaereth gave the mental equivalent of a whistle of admiration.

  “That had to really hurt the Salchek, and not only in men lost. What a morale buster, and the second one at that! They’re never going to know what happened in the forest and are likely to seriously overestimate the number of Alemanni involved.”

  “That’s what we think up here.”

  “You feel like you are about to pass out, Jeff. Go get some sleep, and let’s chew over our next moves for a day or so before talking again.”

  Jeff fell onto his cot, clothes and all. At some point during the night he was vaguely aware of something tugging on his boots. He got up early in the afternoon with such a ravenous appetite that he trotted to the mess hall. While inhaling food Jeff tried to figure out who had undressed him, not to mention why Balko had not awakened him.

  Warming his hands around a mug of coffee, it took some time to find the ambition to search out Halric and Gurthwin. Feeling a level of fatigue that reminded him of his northern journey, Jeff set off for the meeting hall. Helwin was waiting in front of the building leaning against a hitching post. She looked so fit and ready that Jeff felt envious. Nearby, Balko had found a spot of shade to his liking and was comfortably sprawled out.

  “Are you well-rested, Captain?”

  “Better than I would have been. You undressed me, didn’t you.”

  “It is my duty to look after the welfare of my captain.” Helwin’s lips suggested a smile. “Does a woman removing your clothing bother you?”

  “No, it does not,” Jeff replied, returning her smile. “One of the finer things of life. My thanks for your assistance.”

  They walked around the compound looking for Halric.

  “What is the condition of our warriors?”

  “The wounded are resting, Captain, and I believe most will fully recover. Others have taken the opportunity to speak freely with their kin.”

  “I can only imagine the war stories they’ve been spreading.”

  “Yes sir. On my way to our meeting this morning, warriors eager to join our unit detained me at every turn. Some were familiar, many were not. Could we not contrive to form another such unit or enlarge the first?”

  “It’s a good idea, and we might do so after replacing warriors lost to us in battle.”

  Jeff stopped so he could face Helwin. She had to look down to meet his eyes but no longer thought of him as short or undernourished.

  “Our task is not going to be easy, Lieutenant. From what you said, interest runs high. There are fifty tribes in this camp. What does that mean?”

  “Yes sir, I see the difficulty. We must select warriors from every tribe or risk inciting jealousy.”

  “God forbid. We simply cannot favor one village over another. On the other hand, we will not resort to appeasement.”

  “We must select only true warriors.”

  “Or pay the price in battle. It’s going to be a delicate task. That said, if many good men and women come forward we will compose a second unit.” Jeff looked pointedly at Helwin. “In light of our conversation, how would you go about selecting warriors?”

  They had plenty of time to discuss her ideas, for Halric was nowhere to be found. It turned out he had gone to a newly established outpost near Rugen. As the day passed, Jeff became increasingly satisfied with Helwin’s appointment. She was quick of mind and able to grasp, develop, and run with ideas totally new in her experience.

  Unusually tall even for an Alemanni woman, maybe six feet seven, she had startlingly blue eyes and appeared to be eighteen or nineteen years old. Helwin’s figure reminded Jeff of Magda’s, if fuller.

  They were about to go separate ways when Jeff’s curiosity got the better of him. “In what fashion are you related to Magda?”

  Helwin wrinkled up her brow as she figured it out. “We are not of the same village… Yes. Magda is my father’s mother’s sister’s husband’s niece’s daughter.”

  “Well, that certainly clarifies matters!”

  Jeff noticed a crisp chilliness to the air as he washed up next morning. Fall was just around the corner. He counted weeks and concluded that it must be the equivalent of early September. And that means, he thought with surprise, that I’ve been on Aketti for a year and a half. Can that be right? Jeff knew it was and felt considerably sobered by the realization. He smoothed his hair in preparation for a working breakfast in the meeting hall. Along the way, Helwin joined him. Halric was relaxing with a mug of herbal tea by the fireplace and waved them over.

  “The Salchek are not eager to be taken by surprise again, Jeffrey. They are delving deep to throw up mounds of dirt and rock. And the soldiers! I judge they have doubled them around the north gate!” Halric rumbled with pleasure as he remembered the battle. “I am now fully convinced the Salchek will not attempt to seek us out in the forest.”

  The kettle of gruel simmering in the fireplace drew Jeff like a magnet. He filled a wooden bowl for Helwin and dished another for himself.

  “How far are their fortifications from the nearest point we might approach without detection?”

  Frowning in thought, Halric replied with a figure that Jeff interpreted as around two hundred yards.

  “That is a distance our best archers might reach with the new bows, do you not agree?”

  Halric’s grin would have done credit to a wolf. “Yes, Jeffrey, I believe our archers could do this!”

  “We must never allow them rest, Halric. The Salchek must always go to sleep fearing they will never awaken, fearing that a horde of Alemanni will descend like the wrath of ancient gods. I want them to tremble in their burrows waiting for an attack that never comes where they prepare for it to fall. Instruct the archers to mark off the distance their arrows must fly. When we are sure the distance is not too great, we will plan. This is how we will overcome the Salchek. Do you perceive the method I am suggesting?” Halric looked doubtful.

  “We must torment them. March and countermarch, stinging from all directions, but never, never accepting a challenge where they might crush us. You must not forget what happened in front of Rugen’s north gate.”

  “I shall not. The battle was nearly lost at the outset.”

  “They will never have such opportunity again. To accomplish our goal of tormenting the Salchek, we will form our warriors into more effective units.”

  “There is much talk about your cavalry troop.”

  “So I understand from Helwin. I believe there is much talk because we were successful.”

  Jeff thought about sending Helwin off to work on troop selection but decided she needed to gain knowledge of military organization as much as Halric. Jeff laboriously and minutely described what he could remember of brigade organization from his studies.

  “…So, then, yours will be Headquarters Company, and the rest of the warriors will be divided into regiments under their own captain
s and lieutenants. If possible, include members of two or three tribes in each regiment to insure that they continue to work together.”

  “Perhaps from unrelated tribes?”

  “As far as possible, although we must avoid mixing tribes that have not overcome their hostility to one another.”

  “I will consult with tribal leaders.”

  “That’s the way to do it. The Tribal Congress is a perfect setting.” Jeff paused to consider. “I would like you to gather the archers from every tribe to form what is termed an auxiliary unit. Depending on how many are assembled in this unit, you may choose to further divide them.”

  “And assign the archery units to work with various regiments depending on mission.”

  “Exactly, Helwin.”

  When they called it quits, Helwin and Halric had a solid grip on brigade organization. It was another crisp, clear day, and Jeff felt the need to soak up some sun and shift mental gears.

  “Will you walk with me while I debate an inner conflict, Helwin? It represents an issue of consummate importance that must be quickly resolved.”

  “It is a pleasant day, Captain. I would be honored.”

  Jeff set off across the compound at a leisurely pace, Balko trotting along well out in front on four feet instead of three. Head down, hands clasped behind his back, Jeff wandered along deep in thought. Helwin decided it was going to be a long walk. Some time later, Jeff was startled from his thoughts when Balko crashed out of the woods chasing a rabbit.

  “Where are we? Where’s the camp?”

  The look on Jeff’s face was such that Helwin couldn’t help smiling. “We have been walking north on the road, Captain, and are perhaps two miles from camp.”

  “Damn. I really drifted off.” Jeff noticed the smile on Helwin’s face and grinned back. “Thank you for keeping track of me. At times like this I might indeed fall over my own feet.” Taking Helwin’s arm, he wheeled them around. “It’s just as well we’re away from camp. What I have to say is for your ears only. We’re going to have to leave.”

  “Leave our camp and Rugen?”

  “Yes.”

  They strolled along arm-in-arm, Jeff falling silent again. Breathing deeply of the tangy air, Helwin admired leaves that were showing the first signs of autumn and was content to enjoy the day.

  Jeff halted abruptly and turned Helwin to face him. “Lord Gaereth has informed me that the Salchek are also entrenching to the south of the city. What bothers me deeply is that they are advancing salients in a most leisurely fashion. With winter nearly upon them and short of food, why would they do this? Even while speaking, I recall that a number of Salchek rode south after we attacked them on the plains. The Salchek may be arrogant, Helwin, but they most certainly are not stupid.”

  “The Salchek expect supplies from the south.”

  “Yes. Both heart and mind tell me a caravan is on its way to Rugen.” Jeff stepped out again.

  Thinking about another winter journey brought back memories, and not the good ones. He had nearly been destroyed, physically and spiritually. Would have been destroyed except for Magda. Those memories in combination with the bone-deep fatigue he had been fighting for several weeks lighted a sense of dread that was hard to keep at bay. After going over it two or three times trying to find a way out, he still didn’t see any alternative.

  “If we succeed in forming another cavalry troop it cannot be assigned to Halric as I had originally planned. I believe it fair to say we are going to need them both. This means you must oversee two troops of cavalry rather than one. Do you wish this responsibility?”

  They were into the camp’s outskirts and approaching a number of warriors, but Helwin didn’t need to think about her answer.

  “I find that I enjoy this ‘organizational’ work, and am well fitted to the task. I thank you for the opportunity.”

  That afternoon they really dug into the paper work. Although Helwin needed some coaching, Jeff quickly discovered she did in fact have a head for organizational work, and figures as well. Not long into the, to him, odious task, Jeff held out one of the ballpoint pens.

  “You will need this.”

  Helwin turned it end for end with a puzzled expression. When Jeff pulled the cap off to scribble a few words she snatched it back.

  “How wonderful!” Helwin laughed like a girl and drew complicated designs. “This comes from your home?”

  “My former home. Now it is yours. Do use it sparingly, for we only have three.”

  “I shall cherish it! I am so honored!”

  By that evening Jeff thought they would be able to form a second troop if they could speed up the selection process. There was a lot of interest, but not enough seasoned warriors were applying. Jeff smiled as he recalled the excitement generated by the ballpoint pen. To northern warriors, the pen might as well have been a magic wand.

  At the end of the day Helwin contrived a leather pouch so she could hang it around her neck. In a very important way, Jeff concluded, the pen was a more potent symbol of her authority than any title or weapon. Before turning in, Jeff and Helwin split up to pass the word around various satellite camps. It was time to do some serious recruiting.

  When Jeff approached the meeting hall early next morning, he nearly groaned. A double line of warriors snaked around the building and out of sight. He needed recruits, but not this many! Muttering, “Bloody paperwork,” he entered the hall. Helwin was waiting. She greeted him with hot coffee and a rueful smile.

  “I am hopeful that bloodshed will not result by the end of this day, Captain. Anticipation runs high.”

  Jeff just shook his head and sat down at a table while Helwin summoned the first warrior.

  That evening he located Gaereth and communicated his decision. The meeting hall had quieted and was empty except for Gurthwin, who was seated nearby in a chair similar to Jeff’s. Balko lay stretched out in a position designed to soak up as much heat as possible. Seemingly deep in thought, Gurthwin stared into a fire that cast wavering shadows about the hall and over his face.

  “We’ve been knocking the same possibility around here in the city, Jeff. Rengeld is extremely concerned but doesn’t see how he can afford the troops it would take to break out of Rugen. If the Salchek are going to attempt resupply, the caravan will have to already be heading north or never make it before deep snow. It’s going to have to be a big one, and probably well defended. While I doubt they can field another army this early on, it will still be a rough go for you.”

  “It hasn’t been an easy decision. Things are beginning to mesh here, but it’s still pretty fragile. If Halric wasn’t such a competent leader and so well respected by the other tribes, I’m not sure I could justify leaving….” Jeff’s thoughts trailed off to be replaced by such a sense of dread and emotional fatigue that Gaereth had to force alarm into the background.

  “Want to talk about it?”

  “I feel so empty inside, so very, very tired. Coming down out of the mountains last spring, I almost turned back for good. I just don’t know how much more I have to give….” After a long pause, “The nightmares are back, Grandfather. As soon as I knew I had to go, they came back. I can’t bear the thought of dying like that. Not again.”

  Gaereth felt Jeff’s pain like a knife in the heart. “Will you tell me about it? We haven’t talked much about last winter.”

  The imagery and emotions conveyed by telepathy left nothing to the imagination. The sense of abandonment and spiritual desolation was so powerful that Gaereth felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He reviewed every leader at the Alemanni camp searching for a substitute but knew it was futile. He also knew in his heart that a Salchek resupply effort was moving north.

  Feeling a wave of bitterness, Gaereth pulled farther back from the link. And now must I sacrifice my grandson on the altar of war? So many have died! How can I tell him he must go?

  “I’m sorry if I let you down, Grandfather. I’ll do my best.”

  Emotional floodgates str
aining to hold back centuries of loss burst. Remorse, sorrow and guilt flooded Gaereth and his head bent to his knees. Carl was seated nearby working on a training program for his hospital and heard a gasp. A moment later he was inundated by Gaereth’s emotion.

  Frantically wondering what had happened, Carl hurried over to throw an arm around Gaereth’s shoulders and immediately picked up on Jeff’s state of mind. The double impact was so severe his knees nearly gave way.

  Gurthwin had been keeping close track of Jeff from under bushy eyebrows. He knew that Jeff was exhausted, and the state of his mind when he and Helwin returned from their walk had been alarming. Gurthwin caught Jeff’s last thought and unabashedly tuned in. The emotional turmoil present in the three men hit with the blunt force of a hammer.

  “Peace and love be with you, brothers. Attend me.”

  Opening his mind totally, and by his example accepting nothing less from the others, Gurthwin searched their minds one by one. So stern but loving was his examination that Jeff and Gaereth felt peace steal across their minds. Carl quickly sat down before he collapsed from relief.

  “Gaereth, Jeffrey and Carl—embedded in life as it is, there is no salve or potion that will serve to erase the suffering you have experienced. Yet, do you believe all that has come to pass, and the manner of its fashioning, was contrived by happenstance? Can you not comprehend that the very gods oversee these affairs?”

  Gurthwin mentally sat back and let them mull it over. In a cooperative effort, the three men compared notes and ticked off events. The timing meshed so closely that using coincidence as an explanation grew stale. More than a few events were either inexplicable by any device or frankly amazing.

  “Even so,” Gurthwin commented. “Furthermore, is it given us to foretell the time or place of our death, or to understand what purposes in the greater scheme of things it will serve? Certainly not. Thus also our actions, regardless of motivation. When missions and people so clearly serve the welfare of freedom and peace that the intent of destiny and those who rule us all lie exposed, we as mortals should tremble with humility.