Lord Alric nodded his head. “One of far too many half-sisters, Princess. Father gave her permission to use the name, though I’m not sure he should have.”
“Darla is a close friend of mine, Lord Alric,” Java murmured. “We went through training together, and she was a member of my patrol for years. She was with me when we found Duchess Samantha. She is a woman to be proud of.” Java looked Lord Alric in the eye as she spoke.
“I was not aware of that, Princess. We’ve never heard from her,” Lord Alric replied, carefully. He did not want to make her mad, but a bastard sister was hardly the proper topic for a party.
Lord Garas and Lady Kenley entered then and called them to order. “Honored guests, children, please join me in a toast to our friendship. Now that the succession in Hiddendell is assured, we are all much more secure.”
Java raised her glass with Lord Garas, as did all the others. “Indeed, Lord Garas. On behalf of my friends and family, I thank you for your welcome.” She bowed to the lord and his family, smiling broadly.
“Enough seriousness,” Lady Kenley said loudly. “I hate serious parties. Princess, with your permission, I would like to dispense with titles. We all know who we are.”
Java smiled brightly at that. “I would be very pleased by that, Kenley. Saying lord and lady all the time gets annoying.”
Sana quickly came to Java’s side and clasped her arm. “Java, you said that you and Jah’Moke still haven’t formally declared your bond. What are your plans for the wedding?”
“Once we get permission, I’m going to let Naria and Caloo’Ah handle the details.” She grinned impishly, looking over at Marta. “Marta thinks there’ll be less trouble that way.”
“Who is Caloo’Ah?” Cherry asked, looking past Sana.
“Jah’Moke’s mother. She’s a formidable woman, and I don’t want to have to deal with her. That’s Naria’s job,” Java said with a grin.
Marta stood with Garas and Kenley, watching Java, Jah’Moke and Robin interact with the younger lords and ladies. Smiling softly, she looked at her hosts. “She’s come a long way.”
“I have a hard time recognizing the young girl who visited Greensboro. Can two years make such a difference?” Garas asked, keeping his eye on Java and his daughters.
“A year with Naria can change anyone, Garas,” Marta replied, grinning broadly. “She told me she almost had to use a horse whip on Java and Robin a few times. Java still has a nasty habit of pulling knives on obnoxious men in the court.”
Kenley burst out laughing at that. “Indeed! Oh, how I would love to see her pull a knife on some crashing bore like Danny. He has far too high an opinion of himself.”
“Now, Kenny, be nice. Danny has received one lesson from the story that Java told us. Let it rest for a while. I was somewhat surprised to hear that you were taking over Link County for her. And who is this Shair Skyhaven? I don’t think I’ve never heard of her,” Garas asked, looking to Marta to provide the details that Java had skipped.
“She was my Lieutenant of Scouts when Java joined us. Java loves her and didn’t want to lose her, so when I agreed to see to Link County for her, she asked Shair to see to Mountainstand. Shair was ready to retire from the company. At thirty-six, she was far too old to be leading the Scouts in the field. Her replacement is only twenty-five.” Marta was watching Garas’ eyes and saw his thoughtful expression.
“And Kaster gave her the title without a fuss?”
“She was entitled to a much higher title by birth. She renounced it to join me when I first formed the company,” Marta said, smiling at his expression.
“Still...Oh, never mind. Java isn’t even a noble bastard, and look where she is. What can you tell us about Jah’Moke...?”
* * *
Java saw the captain talking with her hosts and smiled. Captain Freeholm was comfortable with just about anyone. Turning back the conversation around her, she listened as Robin held the younger generation spellbound with her story of how they had found Samantha.
“...so we crept through the forest, listening to the strangest sound. Some damned fool was crying! Right in the middle of the forest. Java slid in close and pulled her bow to full draw, but didn’t let go. After seeing that the boy was alone, she slid forward and knocked him on the back of the head.” Robin turned to grin at Java. “Then we tied him up and took him back to camp. Captain Freeholm took him off for questioning while we went to clean up. One of the Archers, Dannett Hadden, wanted to keep him as a pet. You know, a toy boy. You should have seen her face when she found out that Sam was a girl! She was caught between outraged embarrassment and lust, and didn’t know whether to laugh or scream!” Robin finish, making her audience laugh.
“Why didn’t you shoot her, Java? We’re glad that you didn’t, of course, but you didn’t know who she was at the time,” Alric asked, looking at Java curiously.
“I don’t like to kill, Alric. Not if I don’t have to.” Java looked the young lord in the eye as she spoke. “The boy I saw through the trees didn’t look to be much more than twelve or thirteen. I couldn’t just shoot him in the back. Now, if it had been a full-grown man, or even a young Scout, he would have died right then and there, no questions asked.”
“It is fortunate that your sense of honor is so restrictive, Java,” Alric said, bowing slightly.
“All Scouts have honor,” Jah’Moke said. “If Sam had been in our territory or the Thunderfeet’s territory, she would have fared much the same. It was luck that Merrit was there and recognized her. Otherwise she would have been sent to a prisoner camp with the rest.”
“You would have held your arrow? It’s strange to hear a hired killer say he wouldn’t have killed,” Calvin commented, then bent over suddenly when his sister elbowed him in the stomach.
“My apologies, Jah’Moke. Cal isn’t fully house-broken yet,” Sana said, her face set in a disapproving scowl.
“I take no offense at his words, Lady. I was a hired killer, as was Java. That does not mean that we killed indiscriminately. We served our captains and the dukes by keeping Frander out of Greencastle.” Jah’Moke was wide-eyed at the misunderstanding these people had as to their nature.
Java stepped in before there could be any further misunderstanding. “We have been called a necessary evil. I disagree on that. Necessary, yes. We are professionals, no less than a saddle maker or blacksmith. What we do, as with what they do, can be done by just about anyone. We just do it better, with less waste. But we are not evil. Death is our business, not our pleasure. We leave that to men like Frander.”
Alric looked at the floor and sighed. “Maybe I should be nicer to Darla. I thought that...Well, what I thought seems to be wrong,” he said, shaking his head.
Sana patted his arm. “Later, love. Java,” she said, changing the subject, “tell us more about the duchess.” Her eyes glittered as she asked for gossip.
The men looked at one another and slipped away, taking Jah’Moke with them. “This is the part where wise men flee,” Calvin said softly. “Once they get going, we’re going to be ignored. I apologize if I was rude, Jah’Moke. I have never met any mercenaries before.”
“I took no offense, Calvin.”
Ferdin wedged his way in, looking at Jah’Moke with his head tilted to the side. As the youngest, he was always being left out. “Jah’Moke, is it exciting to be a warrior?”
Jah’Moke nodded, then shook his head and shrugged. “Exciting and frightening. And very dangerous. Java was almost killed several times. I have my share of scars as well.”
“Almost killed? But, she looks all right,” he said as he looked over his shoulder, his eyebrows drawn tight as he tried to reconcile the woman he was seeing with someone who had gotten hurt.
“Java has two arrow wounds in her chest, one on her right thigh, and one in her right arm. She has also had knives and swords used on her a number of times. Being a Scout is very dangerous,” he said, looking the young man in the eye. “She received the two in the chest at th
e same time, when Frander surrounded the Firewalkers.” He went on to detail the battle that had almost killed Java, and told them of the fate of Java’s friend, Cindra Ashland. “She died from a single wound.”
All the men looked at one another, then back at Jah’Moke. “We didn’t know any of that,” Dennin said softly. “I thought she was...I don’t know. That she was just out there, sitting on the border. I didn’t know she was really a fighter.”
“She is among the best of fighters. When she first visited Greensboro, she bested the Guard’s instructors in hand-to-hand combat, knives, and sword.” Jah’Moke looked at the lords and saw them nodding. They had heard the story from their father. “Her skill with a bow is as good as any Archer in either of our companies. She is faster than I am, and more agile. That is why she receives so much respect among the mercs. She has earned it the hard way.”
“But, to fight for gold..?” Ferdin asked, looking slightly put out.
Jah’Moke looked him in the eyes before answering. “Even your Guardsmen get paid.”
“But they fight for respect, too. For honor,” the young lord said, stepping closer to Jah’Moke.
“As do I. The honor of my clan is as important to me as the honor of your house is to you. The major difference between mercs like Java and myself and your Guardsmen is that we did not have a real choice. Java’s lord had picked out a husband for her that she did not like, so she ran away. When she left her home, she carried ten coppers in her pouch. It took her fifteen days to reach Linkville and apply for acceptance with the Firewalkers.
“Your Guardsmen are accepted based on their family ties. Java and I were accepted based on our abilities. Your Guardsmen are paid from the day they join, and their gear is given to them. Java received no pay for the first six months that she was a member of the company. All that she earned went to pay for her gear. My clan paid for my gear when I joined the Vandals. But let me ask you this; Who would you rather have by your side? A Guardsman who was accepted and given his rank because of who his father is, or a merc who has earned his rank through his skill?” Jah’Moke looked at each of the men around him and saw them considering his question.
“But Guardsmen are sworn to protect us,” Ferdin pointed out, receiving nods from his brothers.
“As would be a merc who you hired. Our oaths are binding, gentlemen. Java was punished several times for breaking the Mercenaries Code. A code of conduct that she had sworn to obey.” He paused, looking at each of them. “Have you heard the story of Java’s Brooch?” Receiving nods from each man in turn, he nodded. “Have you heard the story of Java being lashed for breaking the Code?”
“Lashed?” Ferdin whispered, while his brothers stood shocked speechless.
Jah’Moke told the story as bare fact. Seeing the disbelieving looks on the faces around him, he nodded to where Java was standing with the young ladies. Her hair was tied up, showing her neck. “Look at the back of her neck, just to the right of center. That thin white scar is the top of a twenty-inch lash-mark. Java could have honorably taken the brooch that Duke Kaster gave her and rode out of the camp after that, but she let her oaths to Captain Freeholm bind her there.”
Dennin cursed, then looked at Jah’Moke. “You said she had been punished several times. What else did they do to her?” he asked aggressively.
Jah’Moke smiled. “Nothing so serious.” He told the lords of Java bringing Merrit in, and the triplets. “Her punishment for bringing in the triplets was to be made their guardian. Trying to control three fourteen-year-olds is not something I would wish to experience.”
Dennin and Calvin grinned, then poked Ferdin in the ribs. “Handling the twins was bad enough. And there were three of us. I see your point, Jah’Moke. I’m afraid that our understanding of what mercenaries are has been severely slanted. You have presented us with an entirely different picture.” He looked at his brothers and received nods of understanding.
Ferdin cleared his throat, looking at his brothers before speaking. “Not to copy our sister, but what is Duchess Samantha like? I mean as a person?”
Jah’Moke began by detailing Samantha’s good points, then countered it with her bad points. He had the lords holding their sides as they laughed when he detailed some of Samantha’s adventures with the triplets.
* * *
Java looked over her shoulder when the lords began laughing. Jah’Moke seemed to be telling them a good story. Robin tapped her hand and grinned. The ladies had all heard tales of Java, but were curious about Robin. “Robin, how did you wind up as a mercenary Mage? Not many ladies would do that,” Sana was saying, looking curiously at Robin.
“I’m not a lady by birth, Sana. Java and I are like sisters, and I went with her to Whitehall when Duke Arten summoned her. After they adopted her, there was some trouble with Lord Broward. I received my title because of that.” Robin did not elaborate.
The ladies were not content with her short answer. “Who are you, Robin? And why did Duke Arten ennoble you?” Sana asked, looking into Robin’s eyes.
“I’m the youngest daughter of the miller in Linkville. I was a student of Master Mage Sherefin before the war, and went with her to the Firewalkers’ camp when she was called for. Java was my patrol leader during the war, before we found Sam. I was ennobled after I fought off a suicide spell that had been sent to Java, but I received. I had to kill Master Mage Ansen to break free. Duke Arten gave me Lord Broward’s manor in Whitehall as a reward, and named me Lady Mage so I could keep it.” She finished looking in Sana’s eyes.
“Really?” Sana said, looking at the other ladies. “And what do you do now? I don’t mean to be rude, but how do you earn your money? A manor is an expensive thing to keep up.”
“She keeps me out of trouble, when she can,” Java said, smiling broadly. “I gave Robin full access to my accounts with the Gold Merchants. As she said, we’re like sisters. We share everything.” She glanced over her shoulder toward Jah’Moke and smiled. “Almost everything.”
Cherry looked outraged, but Sana and Jemi simply laughed. Java smiled at Robin and her hosts. “With two counties, I earn far more than I could hope to spend. I also spend a lot of time at Robin’s manor hiding from being proper.”
* * *
Marta watched the young ladies laughing around Java and smiled. Kenley noticed the smile and nudged Garas, and nodded toward Marta. Seeing her smile, he smiled as well. “You’re very fond of her, aren’t you, Marta?”
Marta looked back at her hosts and smiled sheepishly. “Java is one in a million. She became such an integral part of the Firewalkers that losing her to Naria and Arten infuriated the entire command. It was only our oaths and the fact that she kept sending us letters that kept us on the border. I’ve never had a child of my own, but Java is close.”
CHAPTER 2: RETURNING TO WHITEHALL
Make new friends whenever you can. Enemies will always present themselves.
True friends are harder to find.
Master Scholar Princess Sharindis Zel’Andral, “Travels with Stavin”
JAVA LEFT FOREST HAVEN AFTER THREE wonderful days, promising the ladies invitations to her wedding. It was a full day’s ride to the city of Riverview and the bridge over Lost River, the border of Hiddendell. The border Guards passed them without incident, though the lieutenant in charge inspected Java’s brooch carefully to ensure her identity. He then knelt with the rest of his men.
“Welcome back to Hiddendell. Welcome home, Princess Java.”
Java was a little choked up as she passed the guards. These men, these Hiddendell Guardsmen, were her men. That fact was just now sinking in.
Robin came to her rescue. “We are all honored by your welcome, Guards.”
The ride to Whitehall took four more days, and Java found herself being inspected like a prize thoroughbred by noble and commoner alike in the towns she passed through. Finally, Whitehall’s white walls came into view.
Alarm bells were ringing in response to the appearance of the large force o
ver the rise, and Java saw the gates close. She shared a laugh with Marta and Robin.
“They’re just going to have to open them again,” she said, grinning broadly.
Stephen Corban recognized the Firewalker uniforms, and then Java in the lead with Robin. All the women could hear him shouting for the gates to be opened, and he was waiting for them when Java reined Sugar to a stop in front of him.
“Princess, welcome back! Welcome home!” he shouted, then stepped forward to lift her down from the saddle. “Java, I’m very happy to see you again,” he whispered when he had her close. “And you too, Sugar,” he said as the horse stuck her nose between them.
“I’m happy to see you too, Stephen.” Turning, she motioned Marta and Jah’Moke forward. “You know Captain Freeholm. And this is my betrothed, Jah’Moke Cawfy of the Latté. Are Arten and Naria here?”
Stephen’s smile was as wide as his face as he said, “Yes. I sent a runner as soon as I recognized you. They’ll meet you at the palace if they don’t come out here instead.” Stephen’s grin was infectious, and everyone was in high spirits as Java headed for the palace with Marta, Robin and Jah’Moke.
Maren stepped up to Stephen as Java walked away. “Captain Corban? I am Maren Kelven. Emily sent along a packet of letters for you. She sent something else as well, but I’ll wait until we’re in private to give it to you.” She grinned, and winked, telling Stephen what it probably was.
“Very well,” he said, smiling. “Your women are going to have a hard time finding accommodations. There aren’t that many inns with room right now.”
“We’ll make do. We always have in the past. Robin has offered to put twenty of us up at her manor.” Maren was grinning as she thought of that. Shair had told her stories about Robin’s manor and she wanted to see the truth for herself. Especially the girls.
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