Home Lost

by Franz McLaren

  "I told him many of our laws had been violated here and I was the only person able to right these wrongs. Surely, this situation had been created by a phenomenal misunderstanding. I had to see the Colonel and explain the other side of the story and we must develop a plan to limit any further damage to the citizens of Sauwerdah.

  "The first and most pressing need was to get medical aid for Sergeant Wolffang. I asked Jonathan whether he could send a family member to fetch one of the hedge witches. His family could say they found the injured man and brought him here. It would be best if no mention was made of the King, his personal guard or Ler Dan soldiers. The less his family knew about the group the less danger there would be for them.

  "As Jonathan hurried away, I tried to plan for what was to come. It seemed the Colonel was adhering strictly to the ancient Wartime Code developed when orcs and goblins ruled and every surrounding territory was a threat to human existence. Many humans sought agreements with orcs and goblins hoping they would be spared the torture and death of those around them. In the end, their betrayal had not spared them, but had hastened the decline of the human population. The harsh Wartime Code was a response to those desperate times. The Code is taught to all knights as a part of history to give us a sense of our roots and to build community. No one could have suspected it would ever again be invoked.

  "I tried to remember the terms of the Wartime Code. As a knight, I have certain rights. The Colonel dared not violate those for fear of alienating my brother knights. One of these was the right to a trial, open to the presence of all knights, at which I could present my case. This would give me the chance to explain to the Colonel that these were not orcs or goblins. These were a peaceful people pushed beyond their limits. We were in the wrong here and the Wartime Code was destroying any chance of peace between our peoples.

  "I thought of what a trial would mean and realized I must protect the men with me in the loft.

  "When Jonathan returned, I explained that during the trial I would be required to be under a truth spell. Therefore, it was best I not know any plans they might have. I asked the King to understand what I was saying.

  "Before the hedge witch arrived, I explained I could not recommend he and his men seek shelter elsewhere. I could not suggest that, after the hedge witch and I departed the barn, they recover Sergeant Wolffang and make their way back to Riverford. I could not urge them to proceed cross country to avoid patrols. It would not be proper to request he trust me and I could not promise I would contact him when I was able.

  "For long moments the King stared into my eyes trying to gauge the depth of my honesty. Finally, he grabbed my right wrist and I grabbed his in a shake that was more than a promise, it was a bond between brothers. With a final squeeze of trust, he released my wrist and signaled his men to follow. Quickly, quietly he and the men disappeared down the ladder and through the rear door of the barn. My heart swelled with gratitude for having known them while it shrank with fear for their future. I watched them fade through the door.

  "As I waited alone with Sergeant Wolffang, a quiet groan of agony floated from the sleeping form.

  CHAPTER 32

  "I’d better see to the horses." Darius’ tone was quiet, thoughtful. He reached into his pack and withdrew three lengths of leather thong. Leena felt tension radiating from him as he ducked to exit the pine shelter. Silently, he squatted to tie a length between the forelegs of each mount. Thus hobbled, they would not be able to wander far.

  As the afternoon passed, the temperature climbed. The road became more impassable. Leena wondered how long they would be forced to remain here. Darius must have sensed her concern.

  "I think we will be here for a while, probably until the temperature drops again. After sunset, the road should harden with the nighttime chill."

  He resumed his place on the pine needle floor. Instinctively, she placed a gentle hand on his arm to let him know she understood the emotions tearing at him. His eyes found hers and their stares locked, only for a moment, but in that instant Leena gave her heart to Darius and knew he felt the same. Slowly, she removed her hand. There was no need to say anything. She knew they were both aware of the emotion that passed between them.

  She lay back and closed her eyes, waiting for him to resume his tale.

  "I don’t know how long I sat in the loft watching the Sergeant. I felt the life draining from him. It seemed hours, but likely it was only minutes.

  "A shadow interrupted the wedge of light shining through the door, increasing the dimness in the barn. I recognized the wispy, white hair of Marta floating and waving in the gentle breeze. She was the oldest of the hedge witches.

  "My heart sank.

  "I forgot she volunteered for this mission. Because she was on another ship, I had not seen her before today. Any hope of enlisting her aid tattered and floated away like a spirit.

  "I had known of Marta since the early days of training. No one knew how long she had been with the academy. Some say she arrived before the Colonel, others hinted they arrived together. The truth has been lost to time. She was the confidant of the Colonel and his closest friend. This relationship allowed her to avoid her responsibilities as a hedge witch, leaving younger witches to perform her duties. Over time, she assumed the role of leader of hedge witches. The position did not officially exist. She used her favor with the Colonel to create the job. She seemed unconcerned by the resentment her laziness and bullying caused among the knights and hedge witches.

  "If she consented to do anything for Sergeant Wolffang, at best it would be the minimum necessary to keep him alive. Still, there was no other course available. I called out to her.

  "'I recognize that voice. Is that you Darius? So this is where you’ve chosen to hide from justice is it? And have we a little problem Marta can fix? How badly are you hurt my young knight? Badly indeed, I hope. Can you make it down here or must I climb this ladder to wipe your snot nose?'

  "Her tone was pure venom. We had never been friends, but I had tried not to make an enemy of her either. It seems my efforts were wasted. I looked over the edge of the loft, into a deep well of hatred in her black eyes. I saw her reaching for the wand in her belt and quickly backed from her sight and shuffled quietly to the side. I knew she needed to know where I was to direct a spell at me.

  "'So you’re not as big a dolt as I suspected. Tell me Darius, what is your complaint?'

  "She obviously had no suspicion Sergeant Wolffang was in the loft. I saw no good reason to change that. I said I was tending open wounds that had become infected.

  "'And you want me to heal them, do you? What will I get in return?'

  "I saw this could work in my favor. I told her I would return to the Colonel with her once the wounds were healed. This would serve two purposes. First, she would use a spell or poultice that would work quickly. The Sergeant had not much longer to live. Second, her ego would ensure I was taken straight to the Colonel. In her mind, this would prove to the knighthood that she was better than they.

  "The idea also had the advantage of reducing the chance someone would see her, come to her aid, and share in her glory. She quickly saw the possibility of rewards for her.

  "'Since you do not have enough self-respect to face me, I’ll toss some poultices up. This is a battlefield healing pack so there are various sizes. Pick one that overlaps the wound on all sides, overlarge won’t hurt. Simply put it on the wound and wait fifteen minutes. The infection will be gone and the wounds will be healing. Once they’ve skinned over and reddened, you can safely move. By the time you make it down the ladder, the healing will be done and all trace of the wound will have disappeared. I’ll be waiting for you out in the sunlight.'

  "A leather satchel flew over the edge of the loft. She was crafty. She threw it so I would have to expose myself to fetch it. However, she had not counted on the strap. Lying flat, I extended a finger to hook the strap without exposing myself.

  "I selected a large poultice and placed it on the Sergeant’s back. Hi
s shoulders arched at the contact and I quickly covered his mouth to muffle his groan. As I waited, I listened to determine Marta’s position. I heard her shuffling below. For a moment, the door light was blocked. The shadow disappeared and all was silent below. I strained my ears, but heard only the quiet buzz of insects and the far off lowing of cattle.

  "Sergeant Wolffang stirred. I had no way of telling time. It seemed seconds and, at the same time, hours. Where was the witch? I doubted she would set the barn on fire. Charred, she would never be able to prove the body was mine. She said she was stepping outside, but where had she really gone and what did she have planned?

  "The Sergeant’s eyes opened. His hands pressed flat on the floor, preparing to rise. Lightly I pushed his shoulder to warn him to be still. Leaning close, I whispered he would be healed shortly. He was to wait here without moving until the King or one of his men returned. He nodded silent agreement.

  "I peeked under the poultice. As Marta predicted, all sign of infection was gone. Dozens of pink slashes crisscrossed the skin, but these faded as I watched. The Sergeant would live, but I knew the floggings would leave mental scars that Marta’s poultice could not heal.

  "It was time to go.

  "I removed the poultice, rolled it and stored it in the satchel. Leaving it by the Sergeant, I gave a pat of farewell to his shoulder and slid to the edge of the loft.

  "I scanned the floor of the barn and saw no sign of Marta. I felt vulnerable as I descended the ladder. My hands were engaged and my back was unprotected. Nothing happened. Carefully, I searched the lower floor. She was not here. Where could she be? She said she would wait in the sunlight, but I did not believe that lie for an instant. I expected her to have a trap ready for me when I descended.

  "I sat on a hay bale to think. If I were a conniving witch, where would I be? She could have used an immobilization spell, but how would she get me to the Colonel? She would have to ask one of the knights for help. That would be unacceptable to her. I was to be her captive. So what would she do?

  "Suddenly, I had a clear vision of her fat little legs running across the field toward town, her skirts and wispy hair flying out behind her. Of course, if she could not bring me to the Colonel, she would bring the Colonel to me.

  "Even as this thought entered my mind, I heard the muted thumping of horses' hooves approaching. After more than six weeks it would be good to see my fellow knights again, no matter what the circumstances. I stepped into the doorway to greet them.

  "I barely had time to notice there were only two riders and three horses before I was hit by an immobilization spell. I had no choice but to stare straight ahead, frozen, as Marta and the Colonel rode close.

  "'You know Darius,' he said, 'I am surprised at how resourceful you are. Under other circumstances, I might even admire you, but we need a traitor and you have been selected. It is too bad you never came back from your mission. Your friends will miss you. Marta, pass me the bag, will you?'

  "I saw the Colonel reach a hand to take a large, black bag from Marta. He dismounted and approached me shaking it out. I wondered what it could contain. He set the bag on the ground and searched me. He removed my sword, the dagger with my family crest and even the spare dagger from my boot sheath. He left my money pouch. After all, he was a kidnapper not a thief.

  "With a quick motion, the bag was thrown over my head. I felt the Colonel secure the drawstring around my ankles. I heard a horse led near then I was hefted and thrown over its back like a sack of grain. I felt him loosen the bag at my ankles and tuck my feet inside. Then a rope was wrapped around my head and tied to the drawstring. I was encased in a dark womb of strong cloth. These preparations were too elaborate for a short trip to town. I was going to disappear and I was helpless to do anything about it."

  CHAPTER 33

  "With a creak of leather, the Colonel mounted his horse. I heard the other two horses move ahead as we started. I had no idea which direction we went.

  "The Colonel used the trip to explain my fate. I do not know whether it was cruelty or whether he was trying to get me to understand his position so he would not feel so bad about murdering a knight.

  "'You know Darius, it is a shame you have to disappear. However, there are forces at work here beyond your ability to understand. Do you know I have attained as lofty a position as I ever will in the Great Wizard’s army? There are no wars. Without war, we rise in the army only as far as our fathers and their fathers before them. My father was a Colonel, therefore I will be a Colonel. You have probably given this little thought. Being the son of a noble, you will rise to assume your father’s position. For you, the army is a steppingstone, but for me it is my life.

  "'Then word comes a merchant ambassadors’ ship has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Can you imagine my joy? Here was the opportunity for a real war, not just chasing ragged bandits around the countryside. With a properly somber face, I suggested to the General that he recommend the Great Wizard dispatch troops to investigate. Of course, it was agreed and, being one of the few officers with combat experience, I was selected to lead.

  "'It was glorious sailing into Ler Dan and seeing a great army aligned against us, then to find one even larger at Oliman. How magnificent. I could become a Brigadier General at the least, with luck, maybe a Major General.

  "'Even from the ship, I could see their engines of war were primitive. Conquering this rabble would be child’s play. The trick would be to make it look like a hard-fought campaign. It meant we would have to lose some knights. Unfortunate, but war is like that.

  "'I could hardly miss the watch fires along the coast. What better strategy than to send a company of knights to open a landing? From there we could move on either town. I am certain they had a plan to move troops to any landing area. I am equally certain many of ours would die securing the beach. This would be my first step up the ladder. However, you had to make peace with these vagabonds.

  "'When the boats came out with our troops and their troops as friendly as brothers, I knew something had gone terribly wrong. I thought at first it was the Lieutenant’s doing but he proudly told me of your negotiations, which, by the way, were not authorized by the proper commanding authority, me. So you see Darius, anything that happens to you is deserved because you failed to follow orders during a time of war. We are not here to make peace with these vermin. That is the merchant’s job. We are here to make war and you failed in that.

  "'For a while it seemed I would be stuck with the results of your meddling. Then, after being stuck in Ler Dan with this wretched scum for a month, along comes the lead merchant. You know, he really does not like you very much. He is an evil little chap and I am sure he plans to make you suffer for the humiliation you put him through. So maybe I am doing you a favor after all, saving you from his revenge.

  "'He demanded a private audience with me. I knew every word out of his mouth was a lie. He had obviously robbed these people blind, used their women and abused their trust. However, his story provided the excuse I needed to counteract your meddling.

  "'I took the town too easily. If the war went as smoothly, there would be no glory. Even a Brigadier’s title would be in doubt. I had to stir the populace to challenge us. I thought the trial of their sluts and the imprisonment of their government were masterful.

  "'I have no doubt your friend the King is now plotting to raise an army to defeat me. I assume you were obliging enough to teach them the proper use of weapons and maybe even some tactics. I hope so. Because, besides adding to the evil legend you will become, it offers some challenge to our knights. Our code does not permit us to kill unresisting forces. We must have real battles and that requires some skill on their part.

  "'Ah I see we are nearly there.'

  "I heard the sound of the sea. The horse’s back tilted and stones pattered away before us as we descended a hill. The Colonel stopped talking as we negotiated the steep incline. I noticed I was regaining some feeling in my fingers. I could tell they were moving beca
use I felt the rub of cloth as they flexed. I had no idea how long it took an immobilization spell to dissipate, but I felt strength returning with every minute. My arms were starting to tingle as we stopped on the seashore at the base of the hill.

  "My stomach was on fire from the pounding it received during the trip. I wondered whether I could move quickly if I had to. I had no choice. If there was any hope of escape, I had to try. I heard the Colonel dismount.

  "'Marta, would you be so kind as to reinforce your immobilization spell? It would not do to have our young friend try something rash now we are so close.'

  "Again I was paralyzed. My heart sank. I would have wept in frustration if I were able. I heard the crunch of the Colonel’s boots across stone as he approached. His hands worked at the knots securing me.

  "'I assume you see your part in this, don’t you Darius? There can be no great hero without a great villain. This war must last at least a year if I am to make Major General. Who knows, if I can stretch it out for two years I might even make Lieutenant General. But this requires I move my forces in such a manner the tactics of the enemy are made more effective. It is a pity. We will lose so many men, but the blame will fall on you. I would not convince anyone an untrained King from a backwards country had suddenly become a tactical genius. However, a trained and traitorous knight, schooled in our ways of warfare, could easily give us a sustained and costly campaign.

  "'So how do I ensure you do not show up and embarrass me at an inopportune moment? Well, you just have to disappear. Do you know how hard that is in a foreign country? If I kill and bury you, someone could notice fresh turned dirt and dig you up. I cannot imprison you in town, it would be impossible to convince anyone you are waging a successful war while my prisoner. If I could row you out to sea and drop you with an anchor tied to you, I would. Unfortunately, to do that, I would have to pass through town. Too many people would notice the bundle and wonder what, or who, it could be.

  "'Isn’t it fortunate Marta and I spied a blowhole on one of our rides? At first we took it for a passing whale but the spout issued from the top of the cliff. That made no sense, so we had to investigate. If you could see this Darius, it would fascinate you. A small cave hides at the base of this cliff. Inside is a deep pool of water. At low tide you can walk in, but at high tide the cave is covered by the sea. The force of the waves coming in has driven an exit through the cliff itself. The pressure is relieved through the hole above. It shoots water at least thirty feet in the air.