by John Olsen
Two minutes passed, and Gavin was about to shake Draken awake but decided to risk going into a trance himself to see what had brought them out here. It would leave them both unguarded, but he justified to himself that he could pop in, and then back out if he wasn’t needed.
He slipped into a trance and found himself on the ground with the wolf’s teeth pressed against his neck. A quick glance around showed men with bows aimed at the wolf. One of them said, “Don’t fire yet. If he wanted the boss dead, he’d be dead already.”
Gavin felt the position of familiar limbs, and clothing covered his body. The body of another man. Control of another human had been banned as an abomination centuries ago as part of the Accords, and now Gavin was in violation of the Accord through no fault of his own. The penalty for turning humans into puppets was death. Was this how outlaws were made?
Gavin whispered to the wolf. “I’ve got him now, Draken. He’s wearing the crystal.”
The wolf backed off two steps, and sat, indicating it would not attack. Gavin had seen this exercise before in training and knew when Draken ended his control of the wolf. He prayed the men hadn’t noticed.
Releasing control at this point would be a disaster. The man he controlled already knew everything.
Gavin stood up, careful to keep his hands out in the open. He glanced around and saw several men, all with their eyes on him, on the man Gavin controlled. He wore a dagger at his hip, and a horn bow lay across his back. Neither weapon was useful against so many. He had to buy a little time for Draken to arrive because he couldn’t back out without being noticed. They were committed, for good or ill.
He walked over to the wolf and knelt, giving it a subtle hand signal to stay as he looked at the crystal, delaying as long as he could.
The same man spoke again, and asked, “What’s the word, boss?”
Well, that tore it. Gavin didn’t know whether the man expected a code word or a command, but whatever he said would give him away. A few more seconds and he would have to choose between fighting or quitting the trance. Perhaps there was a third option. He stood and turned to face the man. “I’m not your boss.”
They took it all in stride as if this was normal. “Well, you ain’t Baron Stoutheart, neither. That’s for sure. Now you let him go, or the wolf gets filled with arrows. Your friend won’t die with the wolf, but it won’t feel none too good for him.”
Good. They assumed the wolf was still under Draken’s control.
Gavin figured he had nothing to lose by introducing himself. “I’m Baron Gavin Stoutheart. It appears you worked for my dead father.”
There was a murmur among the men, as if unsure of their next step.
From back in the trees came Draken’s voice. “The last I knew, Adrian Albin was set to be hung for his crimes, yet here he is, whole and healthy. I mean, other than the fresh bites from the wolf. Sir, go ahead and let him go, and bring the horses up. These men won’t kill us. At least not if they have any brains left.”
How was an insult like that supposed to help? It wasn’t the greatest endorsement Gavin had ever heard, but he complied and pulled back from controlling the man, apparently named Adrian Albin. He trusted Draken implicitly, even if he didn’t always care for the man or his methods.
Back in his own skin, Gavin stood, then led the horses around a small hill into a glade. The strange men had set up a camp with shelters made of canvas and boughs spread over frameworks of wood. Beneath the framework were tents scattered around a central fire pit. An animal roasted on a spit above the hot coals. The site resembled a temporary hunting camp more than anything else.
The man he had controlled faced Draken. “Mboli Draken. The last I heard, you were disgraced in the king’s court and told to never return.”
Draken said, “You killed a noble over politics. One of the king’s trusted men. You don’t come back from that, Adrian.”
“You set him up to issue a dueling challenge, Draken. You knew as well as I did he was abusing his position, just like most of them do. Then you forced me to kill him when you couldn’t. Arguing that he deserved to die got you banished.”
Draken said, “If I had died then, it would have been with honor. It was your choice to act. Thus, we both fell from grace.”
“At least you were on good terms with Baron Stoutheart. You became his trusted lackey. He turned me into his personal spy puppet, kept out of sight. I haven’t had a bed with a real roof over it for years.”
Gavin tensed, still not knowing whether they would flee or fight.
The two men approached and embraced like old friends, slapping each other on the back. Draken said, “It’s been a decade. I had no idea you were alive. Have you been out here this whole time working for Baron Stoutheart?”
“Well, working for him isn’t exactly accurate.” Adrian tapped a finger against a steel collar with a crystal embedded on the inside surface. “This was one of the conditions of my release from the king’s personal dungeon. It turns out I had certain skills the good baron wanted to use, and he bought me from the king before the trial. Without that, I would have hung. King Vargas worked deals under the table when it suited him, despite his public statements about crystal slavery. The thing won’t come off without the skills and tools of a blacksmith, but I haven’t tried to remove it.” He glanced up to the sparse tree canopy for a moment. “It’s a long story I can’t tell right now.”
Draken glanced from Adrian to Gavin and back, and then said, “I suppose the news hasn’t made it here yet.”
Adrian gave him a disparaging look. “Really? You wound me. We’ve known of the incoming army for several days. It’s good to meet you, Baron Gavin Stoutheart. I hope it is, anyway, as my life is, quite literally, in your hands.”
Gavin stepped forward to clasp hands with Adrian and asked, “If you knew about the invasion, why are you still here?”
“Ah, a quick wit. Your father asked us to camp in the woods near the main road until we received instructions, with a particular warning to not move until necessary. I’ve found it important to listen and follow instructions to the last detail when I depend on someone’s good will for my life. There is always the chance he survived the attack. Now, to save you the trouble, I’ll give you the more accurate introduction. I am Adrian Albin, chief spy for your father, and all-around scoundrel, at your service. My men here are the best at what they do.”
Gavin looked across the ragtag gang. “And what is it they do?”
“Would you like to be an honest man or a knowledgeable one? I’m happy to handle your dirty work however you would like, sir. Your father preferred to know everything. You strike me as more the honest type.”
The man was exceptionally compliant. Cordial, even. Something was wrong. Normal people didn’t open up with cheerful acceptance when people show up unexpectedly as they had. Gavin felt him through the link, a short push away from where he could take complete control again. The man had nothing to lose and might go either way to become a dedicated follower, or to free himself from his new master and vanish.
Gavin recognized with a start how easily Adrian and his men could overpower him, Draken, and the wolf if they wanted to. In fact, they had already shown they could and had chosen to spare them. Gavin mentally ticked off his options and threw out all but one as likely to end in death, probably his. He pulled the crystal from around his neck, swung it around his head once and dashed it against a boulder. Shards flew through the air in all directions.
He took in the gaping mouths all around with a quick glance. “So, how about we have a serious conversation now that we’re on level ground?” It was a huge gamble to throw away his best leverage, but the crystal was his worst handicap at the same time.
Adrian fell back onto the ground and laughed, pounding the dry grass with a fist until tears leaked out the corners of his eyes. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, “I hope you’re this shrewd about everything else you do. You’re going to need a lot more help than we can give you.”
Gavin stared, concerned at the extreme reaction, and he shook his head. Had the crystal driven Adrian mad, or was this something the baron had done to him? Maybe he was like this to start with. “I’m not looking for an army to fight the invasion. I’m working to get everyone out of the way. I need to get them to safety.”
Adrian said, “You’re not like your father. What happened to all your training? Aren’t you supposed to act like a Gerald Junior?”
Draken tilted his head and sighed. “You see before you an expert at avoiding anything his father wanted him to do.”
Gavin glared. “Are you and your men a resource that can help save people, or not?”
Adrian said, “Ah, there’s the Stoutheart fire. We can help you, but I’m not sure you’re ready to own and direct a spy network.”
Gavin shrugged with noncommittal agreement. “Since you seem to be on my payroll already, we can start simple for my sake. Tell me what you know about this invasion, and how we can stay ahead of it.”
Time was short, but Adrian and his men filled in whatever details they could on the invasion and its progress into Riland from the north.
Gavin felt his brain was about to overflow following their discussions. The details of his father’s orders left him wondering at his father’s plans. His father knew the schedules for trade routes, as well as harvest times for various crops on both sides of the border. Had he planned to give the information to King Vargas at the Baron’s Council? Had he expected this invasion?
Their discussions ended with Adrian laying out what he could offer. “We keep no written records, but everyone here has skills to draw on, and a memory trained to notice and store details.”
Gavin said, “What skills? Hunting and trapping?”
“No, nothing so mundane. We know poison, camouflage, language and dialects, as well as creating mechanical contraptions and traps.”
Gavin tossed a twig into the fire. “How about my father’s goals? If you’re such clever spies, what was he up to? Why all the preparation?”
Adrian said, “I have suspicions about his plans, but they are unconfirmed. He was always careful not to tip his hand, but he was looking for weak spots in the kingdom. Our best option is to concentrate on King Ithan and his resources as he follows you. My scouts will continue to track his progress from a distance.
“He won’t have enough wagons to put every man controlling a war animal into a trance and haul the men around, but military men are used to a tough regimen. They do a lot of leapfrogging. At last count, he had nearly fifty big war animals: wolves, mountain lions, several types of bear, all of which must stop to hunt. He even has some moose, but they’re grazers. You’ve got a slim chance to stay in front of them if he’s denied local supplies. Otherwise, they’ll run right over you.”
Draken interrupted. “I’ve seen their makeup. He has about five hundred men as well as the animals. They’ve taken provisions from at least one of the border watchtowers. It won’t be the men slowing them down.”
Adrian smiled and raised his eyebrows. “The armies in the last war were larger, but then most of them died. It seems we have both full disclosure and agreement. I think we’ll get along splendidly. You missed one little detail, Draken. Around a quarter of those animals were captured from our side when King Vargas died. I don’t know how he did it, but he must have taken them by surprise to take that many. It’s like they didn’t even fight back. Given the number of crystals they had at the gathering of barons, King Ithan must have sent a large supply of crystal pairs home for safe keeping rather than trust his men with them in the coming battle. He’s cocky, and he thinks we’re falling into chaos.”
Gavin said, “From what I’ve heard, he’s right. There may be no organized resistance between him and the capital.”
Adrian held up a finger to correct Gavin. “He may have had no resistance yet. We can help you give him something to worry about.”
Gavin recognized Adrian’s motivation to hurt the advancing army, and Adrian’s men were the only ones in a position to do anything. He couldn’t do much with his odd collection of farmers, ex-soldiers, castle guards, and merchants. At least they had a chance of outrunning the invaders if Adrian found a way to leave some difficulties in the army’s path.
As they prepared to sleep for the night, Gavin asked Adrian, “Why have you offered to help? Nothing holds you or your men to me.”
“You’re right. We’ve never sworn to you. According to the slavery laws, I haven’t sworn to anything, despite all the swearing I’ve done while wearing this collar. But this is home. We’ve seen how King Ithan operates. He’s heavy-handed, and he’ll destroy a lot of families. We’re here for the people, for the barony, and for Riland. You are the best option I’ve seen, thus far, for making a difference. I also have some personal matters to resolve, and I’m happy to travel with you to handle them.”
Draken said, “That’s not enough. I know you, or at least used to, but I don’t know your men. Devotion to king and country is great, but I need more than that from you, and so does your new baron. Your crew doesn’t look like selfless types who serve out of the goodness of their hearts.”
Adrian’s eyes twinkled as he smiled and turned to Gavin to plead his case. “Draken doesn’t accept the humanitarian angle. He always could see though my arguments. Most of the men also have family members in the dungeons of the capital to ensure their good behavior. They’d like to fix that. You’re filling a hole in the power structure as a baron, so you’re becoming influential. Friends in high places can help friends in low places, particularly if my men end up as heroes in your employ.”
Draken’s digging turned up an answer that seemed disturbing but genuine to Gavin. He could work with that. He retrieved the crystal pair he’d taken from the bear and handed it to Adrian. “Here, use this. Nobody in our wagon train can make as good a use of it as your team can if you’re going to be out scouting and causing trouble.”
Adrian nearly dropped the crystals as he set them down and scooted over to the other end of the log. “If it’s all the same, I’ll have one of my men take it. I’ve had enough of crystals.” His hands shook as he sat and stared at the crystals. It was no wonder using crystals on people had been outlawed.
“Pick someone. I’ll leave it up to you.”
Adrian nodded. “Alright, then. I figure we may be able to help here and there to slow down the Graven Kingdom’s army by making it harder for them to get supplies from the locals, and by chasing away big game. I have some other ideas kicking around in my head as well. The least we can do is buy you more time to get non-combatants out of the way.”
Before turning in, Draken pulled Gavin out of earshot of the others. “I hope you know what you’re doing, trusting him. I used to trust him with my life, and I think he’ll help us. I agreed with your choice when you broke the master crystal, but giving him one of our few remaining crystal pairs is risky. It’s one you could use yourself once we find something to wear the other half.”
Gavin stretched out and crawled between the layers of his bedroll. “I’ve learned a lot about how to tell when I can trust someone to do the right thing. I’ve always known who would help me escape your training and who would turn me in. I’ve trusted you, even when I haven’t liked what you’ve made me do. You’ve helped me by pointing out how to watch my adviser’s reactions, and I’ve practiced. I already know you. I may not always understand what motivates you deep inside, but through it all, your duty and dedication show the honorable man I’ve always known. If you trust Adrian, I trust him, too.”
Draken held a hand up to interrupt then dropped his hand. “I have to speak with Adrian before I sleep. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
The next morning, Adrian sent half of his men out in various directions, while the rest shouldered packs of camp supplies in preparation to join the refugees. They would have to speed-march to make up lost ground as the men had no horses. It would be a long and difficult day.
Gavin as
ked Adrian, “Where are the other men off to?”
Adrian ticked things off on his fingers. “They’ll visit outlying settlements and warn them to leave. They’ll keep an eye on the advance of the army to warn us what they’re up to. Some of them ran ahead last night to lay some groundwork before your group gets to Greenvale. Based on what you told me, the refugees will arrive there today, and it will be better if that is not a complete surprise. I have to keep the boys busy or they’ll get into trouble, and if they’re going to cause trouble, I want it to be in our favor.” The way Adrian grinned, Gavin wasn’t sure how serious he was.
Gavin saw a welcoming party approach as he neared Greenvale with his new recruits. They didn’t look very welcoming in the evening sunshine.
The homes and shops at the edge of town showed sturdy post-and-beam construction framing their plastered walls. The only buildings showing signs of age stood empty, silent testimony to the losses of the war years before.
His caravan sprawled outside the town where the people still trickled in to set up camp, arriving in a stream over the past hour or more. He wanted to join the camp for some much-needed rest, but the group approaching looked like it wouldn’t wait.
Adrian pointed with his thumb. “The one who’s about to explode is Baldwin Baker. He’s been in charge of the town and surrounding land as the reeve under your father’s direction for years.”
Gavin rode forward to intercept the group and dismounted.
He needed to calm or distract the approaching man and his entourage for the sake of his caravan, and for the people who lived here. Gavin wanted to ask how Adrian managed to keep all those details in his head, but the reeve marched forward and demanded, “What’s the meaning of this? Are you in charge of the rabble ruining our fields?”