Eldrin nodded. He stepped away and returned a few minutes later, leading a depressed looking Sasha.
"Lieutenant," she murmured, holding up a hand in a trembling salute.
"Sasha," Matilyn said with a nod, "I need you, and the other scouts as well. I need you to go skirt the perimeter of the troops below and see how many they are. I need to know what we're facing."
Sasha shook her head, "I can't," she moaned, "I can't go, Lieutenant. They'll see me. Please, I want to go home."
Matilyn winced. She felt sorry for the other woman, she knew she'd suffered a lot of loss recently with the death of Ryan Mattheus but she couldn't allow her to return home. It would be considered abandonment and was punishable by imprisonment or death.
She looked over at Eldrin for help and was momentarily surprised by the look on his face. It was so close to Sasha's, that she had to take a step backwards. Then the look was gone, and he offered an obviously forced smile, "I'll go in her place," he said, "Don't worry about it."
Before Matilyn could argue, Eldrin had jogged away, going to find the other scouts and begin the mission.
"I'm sorry," Sasha said, "I'm sorry, Lieutenant."
"No," Matilyn said, "No, you don't have to apologize, Sasha. I know it's difficult. But what we're doing, it's necessary too. Sometimes we have to keep going, even when we don't want to. Okay?"
"Okay," Sasha said, and sniffed, "It's just those men, the ones on the shore that are dead, they're really dead, you know? That could have been us. That probably will be us soon enough. We're going to die out here."
"No," Matilyn said, "We're going to be fine. You're going to be fine, Sasha. Just have a little faith. Remember, we've been blessed by the Gods. We can't lose."
Sasha considered this for a moment. She ran her sleeve over her nose and grimaced, "Redhorn maybe," she said, "But not Stoneheart."
"Stoneheart was there with us during the battle for Teirford," Matilyn said, "You were there during it. It isn't just Redhorn that's been blessed. It's all of the Guard. It's all of ARinford. We're destined to win this war."
"You don't believe that," Sasha said.
Matilyn sighed, "The truth is," she admitted, "I don't know if I do. But I know I want to believe it. Because what Lamonte is doing, it's wrong. Don't you agree?"
Sasha nodded.
"So we have to fight back," Matilyn said, "and we have to believe that we can win this war, or we might as just well surrender right now. Is that what you want to do?"
"No," Sasha said, "Of course not."
"Then you stand tall, and proud, and you fight back," Matilyn said, "and you make this your home. You make these men your family. And you stay with them till the end. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Sasha said.
"Good," Matilyn said, "I need to go check on the rest of the men. Are you going to be okay?"
"Yes," Sasha said.
Matilyn nodded and headed towards the rest of the troops. Janice was standing with the other captains, talking in a low voice. She watched them for a bit while waiting of the scouts to return. When she saw them coming back into camp she went to join the other officers.
"We're about matched," Eldrin said, "Man for man, I think we have a slight advantage, but if we do, it's not much."
Matilyn winced.
"We could try for surprise," One of the captains--Ronald Patid--suggested. "If we can catch them with their pants down, we'd have some time to take a few of them out. That'd give us a slight advantage at least."
"There's no way you're taking them by surprise," Eldrin said, "There's too many of them for them not to notice as we approach. They'll hear us coming or their scouts will see us."
"Then we fight," Janice said.
Ronald shook his head, "I don't know about that. If they match our numbers, it could be a death sentence. There's a lot of dead Arinford men already. I don't want to join them."
"They moved their men away," Matilyn mused.
"What?" Eldrin asked.
"They moved their men away from Arinford bodies," Matilyn said, "Do any of you know why?"
Janice did, of course, "Because a lot of Lamonte men hold true to their superstitions. They think it's back luck to let their fallen soldiers lay with enemies. They're afraid of risen sports."
"Let's use that," Matilyn said.
Ronald frowned, "How?"
"I have an idea," Matilyn said, looking towards the shore, "I don't think it's one you're going to like."
"This is disgusting," Eldrin muttered. Nonetheless he helped Matilyn stand a dead Arinford man back on his feet. One of the soldiers quickly used rope to attach him to the stake they'd driven in the ground. Around them, dozens more soldiers had been stood up, still frozen and quite dead.
"I know," Matilyn said. She'd taken a hundred volunteers to the shore to set up the men. It had been dangerous walking the icy trail, but nobody had complained. Nobody complained now either, even though they were handling rotting, frozen corpses in the dead of night with little moonlight to guide them.
Several people had been sick to their stomachs. Matilyn couldn't blame them. Bile had risen in her throat a time or two while she was helping to drive stakes into the ground near the soldiers. It hadn't been as bad as lifting them, but it had been close.
Once they were finished, there were nearly seventy dead soldiers risen from their sandy graves. Matilyn motioned to the group and they headed back up to the cliffs above.
It was a bit easier going back up the trail, but several times, Matilyn almost slipped. She heard a few others murmuring curses ahead and behind her and knew that they were having the same trouble. She crossed her fingers and murmured a prayer to the gods that the other path would be less icy.
Once they'd reached the top, Matilyn let out a breath of relief. She turned to Eldrin, "Are you sure it can be done from here?"
Eldrin nodded, "I don't know if I can," he admitted, "But the other fire manipulators can, sure."
Matilyn nodded. She looked around and caught Tania's eye. The other woman nodded as well, "We can do it," she told Matilyn.
"Alright," Matilyn said, "I suppose there's no time like the present. Are the other troops in position?"
Janice nodded, "They're waiting with Captain Ronald," she said, "and with Sean. When they see the soldiers begin to move, they'll start down."
Matilyn nodded and looked back at the hundred men who'd gone with her, "We've had to do something hard tonight," she said, "But it's only going to get more difficult from here on out. Once those fires are lit, we have to move fast but we have to stay silent. Do you understand?"
Everyone nodded.
Matilyn turned back towards the shore and let out a low sigh, "Alright," she said, "Alright, let's do this."
Several fire manipulators, including Tania, stepped forward. "On your mark," she said.
Matilyn nodded, "Go," she told them.
At once, the manipulators concentrated, each one trying to find their own center of willpower and spirituality, each one trying to find their Chakran. Down below, several campfires roared to life, sparked by fire manipulation. It lit up the camp of dead soldiers.
"Now we move," Matilyn said. "Let's go!"
It was nearly a mile to the other path, and Matilyn knew they wouldn't have much time. They had to hurry if they wanted to make it. The idea was to lure the soldiers into the dead camp by way of suspicion and fear, but they'd know as soon as they were closer that the men weren't alive. Then they'd turn back.
She pushed herself a little harder. After nearly fifteen minutes of scrambling, the hundred men and Matilyn made it to the other path. She could see the rest of the men making their way to the shore below. She glanced at the troops, "We're running out of time," she informed, "Go quick, but be careful."
She motioned them down, one after another. It wasn't until Janice started down that the problems began. She slipped on the ice and went tumbling over. She let out a low cry of pain as her ankle twisted beneath her. "Shit!
"
"Are you alright?" Matilyn called down. She edged closer to the top of the path.
"No," Janice said, "No, I think it's broken."
Eldrin let out a low curse and then started to run down the path.
"Be careful," Matilyn called out to him. He ignored her, rushing to where Janice was. Sean followed, and each of them put an arm under Janice's to help her walk.
"I'll heal it at the bottom," Sean said.
Janice said something in return but Matilyn couldn't hear her. Once the rest of the men had followed them down the path, she started down herself, minding her steps. She didn't want to slip as Janice had.
Everyone gathered together at the bottom of the path. In the distance, they could see the campfires they'd lit. Sean knelt down, carefully working on Janice's ankle.
"They're there," Matilyn said, "We have to move, now."
Together they hurried forward. As they approached the Lamonte camp, Matilyn saw that it wasn't completely abandoned. They'd left nearly half their force behind. She drew her sword and screamed, "For Arinford!" Beside her, she saw Eldrin and Sean both do the same.
She headed straight for a tall, confident looking man with an officers' lapel pinned to his chest. There was something vaguely familiar about him, but Matilyn didn't know what it was. She quickly struck out with her sword, hoping to catch him off-guard. He easily met her sword with his own though, and the sound of ringing steel filled the air.
Matilyn ducked back, readjusting her stance. She brought her shield down protectively as he struck forward. He turned at the last minute, avoiding the shield. She danced away from his sharp jab.
"Lamonte scum," she screamed out as she drove forward again, cutting up towards his chest. He met the blow again and they faced off over the crossed blades.
"Lamonte scum?" he said back. "Lamonte scum? How dare you! Arinford are the haters of peace, the haters of equality. Lamonte only wishes for the world to be united, to be whole!"
"Right, I'm sure it has nothing at all to do with power," Matilyn snapped back. She stepped back and lofted her shield up a bit more, eying the man. She tried to focus on her Chakran but was quickly distracted when he came in with another blow. She managed to avoid most of it, but the blade scraped against her leg in almost exactly the same place that she'd taken a blow while fighting in Teirford.
She let out a grunt of pain, but forced herself to move, countering the next blow as he came at her again. She tried once more to focus, and when she found her Chakran, she reached out. To her surprise, nothing happened.
"Can't use your sorcery on me," he taunted, "How do you like that, bitch? I'm a Priest too."
Matilyn glared at him, striking out once more with her sword, "Fuck you," she said. The more she studied him, though, the more uneasy she felt. Suddenly it came to her; "You're from Arinford!" she cried out, startled.
"That's right," he said.
"Why?" Matilyn asked, "Why would you fight for Sullivan after what he did to us?"
"Because Lamonte is right," he said, "if only more of you could see that. Arinford--"
Before he could complete the thought, an arrow struck him in the back. He fell to his knees. Matilyn quickly ended his life with a sharp jab to his chest. She looked up to see Janice nodding towards her.
Around them, the fighting continued. She knew they couldn't wait any longer, though. "Men," she screamed out. "To the ships!"
The men quickly ceased fighting and ran towards the enemy ships, boarding them in a hurry. Several Lamonte men tried to follow, but the archers kept them at bay. In the distance, the missing men were fast approaching. "Hurry," Matilyn screamed out.
Anchors were quickly lifted and ties to the shore cut as men hurried to work the oars, taking off in the ships.
Matilyn waited on the last one. Janice and a team of archers stood directly on deck, shooting at anyone who dared approach. Matilyn did her best to avoid any arrows that flew towards her, using her shield as a block.
She waited until the rest of the Lamonte soldiers had approached before calling out in a strong voice, "Today," she said, "We have granted you your lives. We were able to walk into your camp undetected, aided by the spirits of our fallen brethren, and slaughter you like sheep in the night. Yet, some of you we leave alive. Why?
"The gods do not relish killing," Matilyn called out, "They do not relish the idea of more lives lost to this foolish war. They have chosen us to take up their blades and fight for them to stop Lamonte's tyranny. We leave you alive now so you can go forward and tell others: stop the fighting. Stop the killing. Stop the war.
"Do this," she said, "and the gods may have mercy on your souls."
Matilyn let the sentence hang for a moment before looking back at her men, "What are we waiting for? Come on, let's go!"
The anchor was quickly lifted and the oars began to move them away from the shore. Matilyn stared out at the enemy troops, feeling a vindictive sort of triumph.
Beside her, Janice asked, "Isn't that one of our men?"
Matilyn followed her gaze to the shore. Her eyes widened, "It is," she said, "It's Sasha. What's she doing there?"
"She must have been caught in a fight when we boarded," Janice said.
"We can't turn back," Matilyn said, feeling sick. She saw Sasha cupping her hands around her mouth to scream out, though she couldn't hear what she said over the sound of waves and soldiers.
"We left her," Janice said in a small voice. "There's nothing we can do."
Matilyn reached over, taking Janice's bow out of her hands. She threaded an arrow and aimed at the woman below. She thought of how Sasha wanted to go home, and the promise that she'd made, that she'd be alright. She closed her eyes, "I'm sorry," she murmured. Then she opened them and let the arrow fly.
She turned her back on the fallen woman and shoved Janice's bow back into her hands, "There's always something we can do." She looked past her at the pale, still faces of her men and then headed down below deck where she could be alone.
SIXTEEN
Well Armed Friends
IT TOOK NEARLY A WEEK TO MAKE it across the shore to Lamonte. If any of the men had been experienced sailors, they might have gone faster. Seeing as they weren't though, the soldiers relaxed a little in the ships, making good use out of the Lamonte commodities.
Sean made his way to the top deck, keeping a hold on his amulet while he walked.
I hate it here. I hate it here. I wish I was home. I wish I'd never come. He loves me. I love him too. Does he know? Can he know?
The amount of emotions and feelings from the rest of the charge grew almost daily. A small part of him hated himself for using it; he'd be heartbroken if someone had access to his most private thoughts and emotions. That small, nagging part of his brain was overwhelmed and pushed back and ignored.
He didn't know how he'd function without the amulet now. It had become a part of him, more important than any limb. He felt as though it were keeping him alive.
Knowing the intimate thoughts of his fellow soldiers awarded him the ability to draw connections and bond with people in a way he wouldn't have been able to otherwise.
Tonight, he was focused on Eldrin.
Eldrin was standing on the top deck of the ship, his hands on the railing. He stared off into the distance.
"I didn't know you enjoyed the sunset, Sheldon," Sean said, approaching him.
Eldrin glanced over at him, "Of course I do," he said, "It gives me something beautiful to look at after staring at your face all day."
He smirked, but Sean didn't smile back. He scrutinized him in such an intense manner that Eldrin was forced to look away. "What do you want, Sean?"
Sean snaked a hand up to his amulet and looked Eldrin over, "I'm worried about you," he said. "You haven't seemed the same for a while now, Sheldon."
"What are you talking about?" Eldrin said, rolling his eyes, "I haven't changed at all."
"You have," Sean said, "And I think I know why. It's because--"
"You're just going in a different direction," Eldrin said, "You know, moving on. What we had, it's just.. It's just not the same, Sean. We haven't been getting along in weeks, and you never come home anymore..."
Sean sighed.
Eldrin touched his heart, "Maybe someday we can return to how things used to be. Until then, I think we could use some time apart. Maybe clear our heads, see other people, try and broaden our horizons--"
"I see a lot," Sean said, "And I know you're not alright, Sheldon. I think we should talk about it. I think we need to talk about it. If we don't, I"m afraid something is going to happen. I just think--"
"I'm fine," Eldrin interrupted, losing patience, "Alright?"
Eldrin could feel his irritation building at the other man and struggled to keep it under control. It was becoming more difficult each day to maintain his humorous facade. He was worried sooner or later, he wouldn't be able to anymore. The thought terrified him.
Sean started to say something else, but Eldrin turned his back on him, fishing his flask from his vest and staring at the horizon. Soon it would be dark. When they'd lived in Valishna, Eldrin had always loved the dark.
It was the perfect time for long walks, or quiet meditation. Whenever Eldrin had needed a few minutes to himself, he'd gone to the beach at dusk and just inhaled. He'd breathed in the sea and night.
Now though, dusk meant nothing. He took a drink, swashed the liquor around in his mouth and swallowed, "Are you still here?"
"Why don't you talk to Matilyn?" Sean suggested.
Eldrin felt his anger rise, "Talk to Lieutenant Malevus?" He turned to glare at Sean but something caught his eye. He whipped around, peering forward.
"Why not?" Sean asked, stepping forward. "Maybe she can help you."
'Do you see that?" Eldrin demanded.
"See what?" Sean asked. He took another step, join Eldrin at the helm of the ship.
"Right there," Eldrin said, pointing forward, "I think I see land, Sean." He could feel his excitement building, "Do you see it? It's right there."
Sean peered forward and then let out a long breath, "I do," he said, "It's right ahead of us. We could land tonight. If we're quick."
The Warriors of Valishna (Cartharia Book 1) Page 19