by P. G. Thomas
“What is it? I get my fill of silence from inside this house, so please don’t add to it.”
“The new recruits are to be paid soon, and the mayors will not give us the gold since it lacked their approval. I have also hired twenty-five for the postal service. They will be my captains, ride the routes, and make sure everybody is doing what they are supposed to be doing. They will also help train the less experienced riders in forest craft, first aid, and other basic survival skills. A few of them, I may even send into the smaller towns to snoop around, junior spies I guess you could call them. We have some good men, and I do not want to lose them.”
“I believe John also mentioned a raise for the watch?”
“He did but never provided details.”
“You said you confiscated more traitor gold? Have John withdraw what you need for the town watch and your postal service. We need to secure this town and to get the Earth Scouts functional. Tell John to give the watch the raise they deserve also.”
“Thank you, Earth Mother.”
“Will you be safe walking the streets back from the town hall to the post office with all of that gold?”
“Yes, Panry had spoken with the thief guilds before he left. As I understand it, he told them he would consider it a huge favor if nothing happened in his absence.”
“Did he promise them anything?”
“I doubt it, from what I heard, he made their blood run cold. The thief guilds are even watching the town watch, making sure that none do that which they should not do. They fear that even if one small girl should complain that somebody stole a copper from her, that Panry will unleash his rage upon them.”
“When the Earth Mothers return?”
“Things will return to normal, as we all have lives to live, and some just choose different paths. Until that time, we are crime free. More eyes watch you than you will ever know. Panry must care about you a great deal.”
“No, Panry wishes that Alron was slower, that the dagger flew higher, or maybe that Hoyle was faster. Panry does his job, and I don’t know if it’s my misfortune or luck that he’s now responsible for my protection.”
“Earth Mother, you cannot mean that.”
“I learned a long time ago that in one night everything can change.” Lauren paused for a second, “These new men you hired, your junior spies. Do any show great potential?”
“I think I have a few that seem sharper than the rest... I mean brighter…”
Lauren pushed away the image of the sharp dagger, “Have a training session next door. If the Earth Guards don’t let you in, see Ryan, and he’ll arrange it. Tell them there are secrets in the house. Those that find them should be promoted.”
“Earth Mother, I do not understand?”
“There has been something bothering me about Hoyle. I just don’t know what it is, but it’s in that house. Pintar, anything of value, including gold, it’s my property, which will be used to make things right, but should they find anything, please let me know what it is. I’ll also advise Erust, who seems to be the one in charge.”
“I will test them as you ask, Earth Mother.”
“Thank you, you’re a good friend. If anything should develop over the next couple of days, please advise me.”
The cook brought dinner out to Lauren shortly after Pintar left. Looking at it, she pushed it aside, “Bring me wine, ale, or beer. I want a liquid supper.”
Taking the food back, the cook found Ryan, asking him what he should do.
“Send somebody to Pintar’s. Get beer, now.” Then he went out to sit with her.
“You aren’t what I requested from the cook.”
“They’ve gone for take-out, and it’ll be here shortly.”
“I hear the dwarves build a statue of Alron? Does it include the dagger in his throat that I’m responsible for?”
“No, I believe they left that out. However, he does look to the heavens with a pained expression on his face. It seems this was the only look any could remember of Alron, which they saw so often.”
She went white
“Lauren, I’m joking with you. It’s still covered, so I don’t know what it looks like.”
Tears started to well up in her eyes, “Don’t let that be the last image of Alron that I see, as my heart couldn’t bare it.”
Reaching over, he wiped the tears from her eyes, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to distress you.” Ryan quickly changed the subject, “What other news did Pintar bring to you?”
“He told me that John buries himself in numbers. Eric, I can see burns the candle not on both ends but on three. Zack doesn’t move. Ryan, you helped me, can you help them.”
“I’ll seek them out, talk to them.”
“How do I make things right? What do I need to do?”
“You need to be you. Continue what you’re doing.”
“So many avoid me, and I know they hate me,” replied Lauren.
“They don’t hate you, as their anger is misplaced. Each thinks different things. If they had done this, if they had done that. If, if, if. It never ends. I know, I wrote the first book. I began writing it after your sister passed before my eyes. It takes years to write, even longer to read, and to live it, an eternity. They’re mad at themselves and at the universe. They’re mad, but you’re just their focal point. Each one’s questioning all that happened. All feel responsible, and any would’ve taken Alron’s place. He stayed close to you when he had to. He was an Earth Guard. I don’t know what that means, but in this world, it’s significant. He didn’t assign others to protect you since it was his responsibility. If that dagger had found its mark, if Alron had been slower, if, if, if. If anything else. If Alron was sitting here and not you, how do you think he would feel.”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m sorry, that answer isn’t good enough. Imagine that you’re Alron, and that Lauren is dead. Some mystical person from so far away, pulled into your lands. What do you think Alron would have to say?”
“I don’t know. Mother wanted it?”
“I don’t think Alron would say that, so that argument is void. What would Alron have to say?”
“I don’t know,” and Lauren began to cry.
“No, you know the answer. You have to admit it if you want to heal. You have to hear it from your lips, as only then will the truth ring true. If Alron was sitting here, Lauren was dead, what would Alron have said?”
“That he failed. Is that what you want to hear?”
“Yes, because it’s the truth.”
The cook silently set down the keg of ale and two mugs before running back to the kitchen. After Ryan had poured them both a drink, Lauren downed hers.
“So what is this supposed to mean?” asked Lauren.
“Gor told me that the title of Earth Mother weighed heavy on your shoulders. Yes, you told him in confidence, but he worries about you like we all do. Alron wore a mantle also. He was Earth Guard, but not just any; he was the best. If he were sitting here, what would he be feeling right now?”
“He would be crushed.”
“If the other Earth Mothers were here questioning him? What would they say? How would they feel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do, and you need to hear it. What would they say to Alron the great protector of Lauren, her blood still fresh on his hands? What would they say?”
“That he failed.”
“What would have happened to Alron?”
“I don’t know Ryan, and I don’t like this.”
“The truth hurts, but you need to hear it, what would they say?”
“That he failed, that Lauren was dead.”
“With the death of Lauren?”
“All was lost. Is that what you want to hear, is it Ryan, is that what you want to hear?”
“Is that the truth?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.” Ryan looked to the heavens, “Mother give her the strength, and let her utter the truth, as she
needs to hear it. Is that the truth?”
“Yes, all would be lost.”
“Lauren sits here, and Alron looks down upon you. Is this what he trained you for? Did he raise a crying coward? Your Mother looks down upon you. She didn’t select you because you could cry on command. You are Earth Mother Lauren Ironhouse. If your Mother, your clan, or protector stood in front of you now, what would they think?”
“Get out of here now. Leave me alone you bastard. Go, go far away.
Ryan drained his mug, poured another for Lauren and left. He stopped by the cook, “Let me know when she falls asleep, and I’ll put her to bed when she has calmed down.”
Going to the front room, Ryan sat down beside Zack, and scratching the large timber wolf behind the ears, he heard Zack’s rear foot thump the ground. “You’re a good friend to Lauren so go to her. She needs to know you still care. She hurts, friend, she hurts more than all the rest of us, which I know from experience. Go to her, and let her know you still care. Help her heal, and it’ll help you heal.”
John walked in the front door holding his Iron Wood staff.
“How are you, John?”
“Tired.”
“No, John, how are you?”
“I don’t know, numb?”
“You probably have most of this figured out, but you don’t realize it right now. However, you missed something. You need Lauren, and she needs you. We’re a group, and we hurt and heal as a group. When we stay divided, we weaken ourselves. Take the first step tomorrow for me, and be the bigger man, go to her.”
Wiping the tears from his eyes, he went upstairs.
Ryan stayed up for hours, watching Lauren drink in the backyard, listening to her cry, scream, and curse. Slowly the beer consumed her, and lowering her head, she slept. The cook had gone home hours ago, so Ryan went into the backyard, retrieved her, and once again, placed her in the bed. Before he left, he whispered a prayer.
While some think dreams are monochrome, Ryan knew that was an untruth, in his case at least; so much red, Samantha’s blue face, the red and blue flashing lights, red blood on the windshield, red blood on his hands, red blood everywhere. Covered in sweat, he pulled himself from the wreckage, from the nightmare. Heading to the washroom, he turned the shower on cold, staying in it until he shivered. [Situation altered. Mental threat present. Alter recall. Invalid. Delete. Invalid. Options. Alter recharge mode. Risks. Minimal. Engage adaptation.] Getting dressed, he headed out to the streets, making friends with the night watch.
Chapter 21
The next day, when Ryan finally returned, he looked into the backyard. Zack had his wolf head resting on Lauren’s lap, as she was scratching behind his one ear. John was sharing a cup of hot bean juice, his Iron Wood staff leaning against the table. Watching as both Lauren and John wiped away tears, he went to the kitchen, poured two mugs of the hot bean juice, taking one back to Eric in the front room.
“She could use your strength right now.”
Eric said nothing.
Ryan recognized the look in Eric’s eyes, or maybe it was more accurate to say that he recognized the absent stare, “So, he who is challenged by the spoken language returns.” Then in a monotone voice, he said, “Why do you return?”
“You mock me?”
“Yes, I do,” replied Ryan in the same tone.
“Why mock me?”
“Why not?”
“Earth Mother told Eric, collect all the gold. He did not, why?”
“Your sentences grow longer, your thoughts grow deeper. Do you also grow?”
“Traitors gold. All should be seized.”
“Three of the traitor guards had wives and children. If Eric didn’t care, he would’ve taken all of their gold and thrown them out into the street. That’s what you would’ve done. Eric saw no reason to punish the wives and children for the sins of the traitors. So, yes, he left them with some gold and a roof over their heads. He showed compassion, as it was the right thing to do.”
“He disobeyed her commands.”
“He listened to his heart, not his head. If he had just thrown them onto the streets, they would’ve hated Lauren. His act of compassion will benefit how others see her. He did the right thing.”
Eric paused for a second as he processed the new information, “Alron sacrificed his life. That was wrong.”
“Alron sacrificed his life so that Lauren would live. So that she could find a way to end this conflict.”
“Death to stop death? If he had lived, he could help others.”
“He took an oath to protect Lauren. It was that oath and promise that fueled his devotion. It gave his life purpose, meaning, value, and more. It wasn’t a job where he was a bodyguard for hire, where he would just find a new employer if Lauren had died. There’s a greater purpose at stake here, and the death of Lauren would mean that even more would die. He cared about Lauren and all of the people of these lands.”
“He cared that much? Forfeited his own life?”
“Where I’m from, it’s called humanity. It has many faces, many sides. Some are noble like Eric and Alron. Others are ugly and evil, but they hide from the noble ones, ashamed of what they do. Eric and Alron’s noble actions will cause others to perform similar. Good creates good, which can be shared. Evil, bad, they don’t share. If I do bad to you, then you might do worse to me. However, if you don’t see me do the bad to you, you cannot avenge it, but if I do good for you, help you, care about what happens to you, it’ll result in good spreading. Others will see that, mimicking it. Good doesn’t have to hide, and in truth, the more light of day that it sees, the more it grows and the stronger it gets.”
“It is very complicated.”
“Yes, it is. Now go back inside and think about it. I need Eric to help Lauren heal. I need him to lend her his strength.”
Eric shook his head, reached down for the now warm mug of bean juice.
“Lauren could use your strength right now.”
Eric still said nothing.
“She hurts Eric. She hurts more than you do. We need her to be Lauren. You know that, just like your sword does.”
Eric still said nothing.
“Is this how Alron would want you to act? Abandon her?”
“I have a job to do.”
“What’s that job?”
“To protect her?”
“From what?”
“That which can hurt her.”
“She hurts now, so you fail her.”
Eric turned and faced Ryan, “It isn’t a physical threat.”
“No, it’s worse. It attacks her confidence, her will, and her fire. We make her stronger. When we avoid her, it weakens Lauren. She questions too much. She’s action, John is thought, and you’re strength so lend her some. Go to her and help her stand tall. If we lose her, we lose so much more. You can bear the pain because you’ve done it before, so take some from her shoulders before it crushes her.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Then say nothing.”
“Someone needs to be here.”
“The Earth Guards are out front so are the dwarves. I’ll stay in the front room and watch the door.”
“What can you do?”
“These days I’m not sure, I’ll let you know once I’ve done it. If you’re to protect her, she’s in the backyard. Your duties will be easier to perform there.”
Eric stood, looked towards the backyard.
“Eric, when you’re done, please get some sleep. You look like crap. After you have rested, you can relieve me. I’ll stay here in the meantime.”
He headed to the backyard.
Ryan sat on the couch for hours, wondering how Eric had done it for two days, maybe it helps when you have a split personality. You always have somebody to keep you company.
[Threat present. Nature: Unknown. Location: Upper levels. Offensive options: None. Defense Options: None. Engage Armor. Modify strength. Increase speed. Enhance reactions. Modify appendage. Adaptations selected
. Implement.] Ryan moved with cat-like grace, and he was on the stairs before he realized it. Looking down at where his arm should be, he saw the sword again. Slowly, he headed up the stairs, stopping when he heard one creak. [Alter weight.] He continued, knowing that nobody was in the upper levels of the house, but was unsure of what had caused the noise. [Cloak.] As he arrived on the third floor, he heard voices coming from Lauren’s room. Moving closer, when the door opened, he saw Pintar standing there, hearing him speaking to someone else.
“The Earth Mother was right, there were…” Before Pintar could finish his sentence, he felt a sword under his neck and witnessed Ryan materialize out of nothing, having a confused look in his eyes. Pintar’s eyes went wide, “Earth Mother asked us to look for secrets in Hoyle’s house. Ryan, you know me. I am Pintar. I served you food and drinks for three weeks. My wife changed your sheets.”
“On the floor, NOW. Do not move.” Ryan shouted for help, “ERUST, TO ME. NOW!”
When the front door flew open, three Earth Guards came rushing in. Two raced to the backyard while Erust ran up the stairs. The sudden commotion caused the fur on Zack’s back to stand on end, and he sniffed the air. Eric was on his feet, checking in every direction for a threat. John was hiding under the table, clutching his Iron Wood staff. As Erust was halfway up the stairs, two dwarves also came rushing in and followed him. At the top, they found Ryan in the main hall with four people lying flat on their stomachs, and their hands behind their heads.
Pintar called to his men, “Do not say anything. This is all a misunderstanding.”
Erust refused to take any chances, ordering the four bound and gagged, then led them down to the backyard with Ryan following.