"I can start marking up a suggestion of moving time; who, how often, the route, all of that," Stini said.
"Great," Matilyn said, "I expect it to be ready by tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow morning?" Stini repeated, looking shocked.
Matilyn raised an eyebrow, "Is that too soon? That's when we'll be returning from this upcoming mission. I want to get a move on as soon as possible. I can order someone else to work on it if you're not up to the task."
Stini puffed up, shaking his head, "Of course not. I was merely surprised. I will have it ready for your approval when you return."
"Great," Matilyn said, standing. "Then I think we're done here. Thank you, Lieutenant."
"Of course," Stini said, with another salute. "Good luck tonight, Commander."
Matilyn nodded and then swore under her breath that she wasn't going to need it.
It didn't take long for Matilyn to get ready to go with the troops. She made sure her sword was clean and sharp and the large dents were out of her shield. This didn't take more than a few minutes.
Cori had gathered all the soldiers going the night in a group together near the center of camp. Matilyn joined them when she was ready was greeted warmly by everyone there. She felt her spirit lift a little at their excitement of having her ride out with them. It was a nice mix with the adrenaline of the upcoming battle.
After a quick speech by Cori that outlined the path they'd be taking, they headed out. Rather than hurrying, they kept their pace slow and steady so they wouldn't burn energy. Cori had ordered silence in the group in case Lamonte sentries were nearby.
Three hours felt like a long time to be quiet. Rather than dwelling, she used the silence to her advantage; she thought of battle-plans, ran numbers in her head, and considered all the possibilities of Stini's cave. It would be perfect--assuming they could widen the opening. There was always the possibility they wouldn't fit all their men inside, or Lamonte would see them, though.
Matilyn would have to plan a meeting with the rest of the officers when they got back to camp. She should have done that right away, but there hadn't been time.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a hand on her arm. Matilyn looked over to Cori and the two exchanged a nod. Cori held up a hand for the troops to halt in their marching.
"Let's go take a quick peek," she told Matilyn in a low whisper. Matilyn nodded and the two of them went ahead of the rest of soldiers, trying to catch up with the sentries.
Janice looked disappointed about being left behind but said nothing. The camp they were attacking was set inside a basin much like the one their camp was in. It took Matilyn and Cori nearly thirty minutes to reach the edge of the basin. There were no sentries to be found.
There were a few men and women moving around the camp below, but for the most part, everyone was sitting around the middle of the camp, eating and singing songs. There were tents pitched but no individual campfires.
"Where do you think their sentries are?" Matilyn asked Cori.
"Right here," a male voice said in a low, gruff voice. Matilyn looked around just in time to see a sword coming at her face. Then there was darkness.
FORTY-TWO
The Argument of Your Praise
MATILYN WOKE TO A SPLASH OF COLD water in her face and a demanding voice, "Wake up!"
She forced herself to open her eyes despite the aching, throbbing feeling in her head. The world swam before her before she could focus again. She tried to move but she found herself incapacitated.
"No point in trying to fight that bitch. You're not going anywhere." Matilyn focused on this voice and forced her mind to clear. There was a tall, Lamonte soldier standing over her, leering.
"You look like an intelligent sort," the man said, crouching down in front of her. Matilyn realized her hands were tied behind her. "So here's what we're going to do. I'm going to ask a question; you're going to answer. Pretty simple, right?"
Matilyn tried to get a look around for some sort of feel for the environment. Sharp pain suddenly exploded on the left side of her face, "That was a test," the soldier told her. He lowered his fist and smiled. "I asked a question and you didn't answer. Every time you do that, it's going to get a little bit worse. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she said slowly. Her voice sounded thick to her ears but she tried not to focus on that or the pain. She tried to focus on the background noise to figure out was going on. In the distance, she heard screaming. Immediately she thought of Cori and wanted to be sick.
"That's a good girl," The soldier said. He smiled a little, "Now I found you sneaking around my camp that makes me wonder who you are. Obviously Arinford, right?"
Matilyn glared at him and said nothing.
"That's alright, you get that one for free," he told her, "I already figured that much out. Who else would be sneaking around like criminals? What I want to know is why. I thought all Arinford soldiers were busy defending Arinford. That's the word. That you're headed into Mastin."
"And you're a pig," Matilyn said.
"You're calling me a pig?" The soldier asked, sounding genuinely shocked, "You sneak around like a little thief when you should be home in your kingdom, and I'm the the pig?"
Matilyn said nothing. She'd noticed a figure over the soldier's shoulder and was trying to bring him into focus. He looked out of place.
"Never mind," he said with a shake of his head, "I know that Arinford soldiers don't think right. Why are you in Lamonte?"
"Picking flowers," Matilyn said snidely. The soldier lashed out with his fist again, and this time she felt her cheek rip open in a gash.
The soldier looked at her calmly when she screamed. After Matilyn had gained control of herself, panting heavily, the soldier switched tactics, "What are you called?"
Matilyn opened her mouth, her mind racing as she thought. Suddenly she felt the air leave her lungs as the soldier drove a heavy blow into her stomach, "When I ask a question," he told her calmly, "I want an answer immediately. You take too long. Now, what is your name?"
"Ronnie Templin," Matilyn said quickly, panting more. She could feel sweat mixing with blood.
The soldier nodded, "See? It's not so hard to answer my questions, Ronnie. There's no pain when you answer my questions. What is your rank in the Arinford Guard?"
"Scout," Matilyn said, "I'm just a scout. They send me out to scout places. That's all I do. Please."
The soldier contemplated this for a moment, stroking his chin with a long finger, "And what is you are scouting for? I was told by one of the commanders that the attacked had stopped after your lot attacked our last castle. They said you had a lack of men, that you retreated to the shore to attack our port city."
"We're hunting Samuel," Matilyn burst out, "one of our officer's family was killed by him and even though we were ordered home, he can't let it go."
"Commander Samuel Frien?" The soldier repeated, looking surprised.
Matilyn nodded, "We were part of the the battle against his men," she explained, licking her lips. They tasted like salty blood. "He escaped though, and we've hunting him since."
"What a waste of time," the soldier said with a laugh, "I did not realize how stupid Arinford troops could be. And to think, he was right under your noses this whole time." As quick as a flash, he drove out, bringing the back of his hand against Matilyn's face in a smack. She screamed in pain, 'I want to know everything you know about the Arinford troops."
"I don't... I don't know anything!" Matilyn wailed, "I'm just a scout. They signed me up two months ago. Please! I don't know anything."
The soldier watched her, expression ruthless. He picked up a dagger, tossing it from hand to hand for a moment then just as suddenly brought hilt down against her left hand. Matilyn cried out again, as she heard the small bones crack. She let her head fall forward as she cried.
"Tell me what you know," he repeated.
"I don't know anything," she repeated in a small voice, "I don't have anything to tell you."
/> With a snarl, he launched into a series of swings at her, both with his hands and the hilt of his weapon. Matilyn cried out again and again at the beating until she fell into a half-conscience fogged state. She kept repeating, "I don't know. I don't know."
After what felt like forever, the beating stopped. She opens her eyes to a hazy image of the soldier still in front of her. He was smiling.
"I'm sorry I had to do that to you, Ronnie, but I had to know if you were lying. Now, be quiet while I go check on the progress of your friend. My men need their rest."
As soon as the soldier was gone, Matilyn forced her eyes open the rest of the way. She tried to focus on healing but was unsuccessful. She groaned, biting her lower lip till it bled. It brought a little clarity back into the world.
She tried to wiggle her hands and found the ropes too tight. Her wrists were chafed from her instinctive struggling during the assault. She let herself hang loosely and considered other options. She was still in her uniform but her jacket and weapons had been stripped. He had left her boots. She wondered about her position and turned her head just enough to see the pole her wrists were tied around.
With that in mind, she tried to stand. If she moved slowly, she was able to get to her feet, sliding the rope up the pole with her. It was painful with her broken hand and she had to keep herself rom screaming. Once she was on her feet, she sagged against the pole, breathing heavily. She tried to get her emotions in check.
Before she could, she heard two voices in the distance. They were getting louder as they approached, "Mine said she's a scout. Yours said she was working for a map making guild. Which do you believe?"
Matilyn felt her spirits sink. She quickly tried tugging at the rope with her wrists but it did little good. She tried to move and found she could slide around the pole, though it was painful. She strained her ears to try and listen.
"Neither of them," said a second, unfamiliar voice, "They're both lying which means they're not fresh recruits."
"You think there's something going on that we're missing?"
"Let's find out."
Matilyn groaned under her breath as the two stepped around the corner and came into focus.
The soldier who'd been there earlier approached with the other one in tow, "You lied to me and I told you not to do that. I'm going to teach you how to be honest."
He swung the dagger down and towards her chest, obviously intending some real damage, but Matilyn had been expecting this. She swung herself around, positions her hands accordingly. She prayed to the gods at the same time. The pain in her hands was excruciating, yet she ignored it as the sharp blade of the knife ripped through the rope, freeing her.
"Damn it," he cried out, lunging at her. Matilyn quickly ducked back, defensive. The second soldier caught up to the first and the two started to slowly advance on her. She glanced side to side, calculating her odds.
The first soldier shook his head, "Stop now, and I will go easy on you. Make us stop you and you're going to wish you'd died."
"Make me wish then," Matilyn spat out. She crouched backwards. When the second soldier lunged at her, she dropped down, rolling to the side. With her right hand, she yanked a dagger out of her boot. It was small but sharp.
"I thought you stripped her weapons," he snarled at the first one, bouncing back to his feet.
"She had a sword!" The man scowled angrily, advancing towards Matilyn again. He paused to exchange a look with his partner. They both nodded.
Matilyn prepped herself. At once, the two jumped at her, one on either side. Matilyn pivoted on one foot, slashing out with the dagger. It ripped open the wrist of the one let left and he fell back, screaming. The second one grabbed hold of her, trying to wrestle her to the ground.
With adrenaline pumping, Matilyn fell to the ground with him, her injuries screaming. He grabbed hold of her wrists, trying to make her drop the blade. She spat up in his face, bringing a knee up into his groin. He winced, letting his hold drop for a moment. She used that moment to her advantage, pulling her wrists free and slamming the dagger into his throat.
He collapsed on top of her, his eyes widening in sudden, brief shock. She quickly shoved his body aside, just as the first soldier made a dive at her. Matilyn brought her foot up and her boot connected with his face. He fell atop her and immediately began to slam his fist into her face.
Matilyn took the first blow and then grabbed his bleeding wrist and twisted. He howled in pain, bringing his knife up to attempt to slash her face. Before it could, Matilyn rolled with him, forcing him off of her. Both of them leaped to their feet.
"You want to know who I am?" Matilyn taunted, adrenaline rushing through her, "Commander Matilyn Malevus. I led the attacks on your men, and I danced in their blood when they died!"
The man lunged at her again and this time drove her to the ground. The two of them rolled around in the dirt, each trying to control the other. Matilyn shoved him off of her again, trying to roll to her feet.
The soldier allowed her but quickly sprinted to his dead comrade, yanking the blade out of his throat. He approached Matilyn again. The two of them moved in a circle, each trying to find the right opening. Marilyn could feel her heart beating wildly. The soldier made his move first, driving her to the ground once more. They wrestled around again but soon he had the dagger poised above her throat. Matilyn had his wrists clamped with her hands but the dagger inched closer and closer.
"Do you know who I am?" he spat down at her, "I'm the man who's going to kill you."
"Not today," a voice suddenly interrupted. Both Matilyn and the soldier looked around in surprise. Janice was standing a few yards back, bow in hand. She let an arrow fly without a second of hesitation. It took the soldier in the eye. He didn't even scream as his body fell limply against Matilyn's.
Disgusted, Matilyn shoved him off. She seized her small dagger from his hand and kept it ready, "Janice?"
"Commander," Janice quickly sprinted forward and then halted, looking ill, "What they'd do to you? You look terrible."
"No time for that now," Matilyn said, "We need to get out of here."
Janice nodded, "Our men have already attacked. We almost destroyed their camp. A small group got away but once you're back in the base, safe, we'll go after them."
"Good," Matilyn said, "Good thinking, Janice. You saved my life." She doubled over suddenly panting.
"You need medical attention," Janice said, her eyes wide, "Let's go. Where's Lieutenant Cori?"
Matilyn shook her head, "I don't know. They were holding us in separate areas. We need to find her."
"I'll get someone looking," Janice said, "You need to get to a medic. I can't heal anymore, remember? Try and heal yourself, come on, you can do it. We don't have any Priests with us."
Ignoring the advice, Matilyn straightened, "I think they came from the left and straight back," she told Janice. Before the archer could argue, Matilyn started heading in that direction.
Janice quickly caught up. She opened her mouth, caught the look on Matilyn's face, and only kept pace beside her.
The area they arrived at was much like the one that Matilyn had woken up in. There was a large pole cemented into the ground and no other clear landmarks. There was a figure slumped on the ground, tied to the pole.
"Cori!" Matilyn sprinted up to her, pain forgotten in her worry. Cori was not moving. She had blood covering her front and dozens of lacerations.
Janice knelt down beside Matilyn and the two of them quickly untied her, "Come on Cori, wake up," Matilyn gave her a gentle shake.
"Commander... Matilyn... I don't think she's..." Janice started to say, as she put two fingers under Cori's throat, feeling for a pulse.
"She's just unconscious," Matilyn said desperately, "She'll be fine. We just need to get her to a medic."
Janice shook her head, "She doesn't have a pulse, Matilyn. She's dead. We need to leave. You're going to pass out. You've lost too much blood as is."
"We're not leaving!" Mat
ilyn screamed. "She's been through enough! We can't just leave her!"
Janice glared at Matilyn for a moment and then pulled Cori's body up. She hefted her over her shoulder and grunted, "Let's go." She looked a little silly with a woman her size over her shoulders, but Matilyn had never been less inclined to laugh.
It took another two stops and four hours before Matilyn and Janice made it back to camp. The soldiers who'd accompanied them had already made it back and were waiting for Janice and Matilyn. It was already getting light outside.
Sean was the first to reach them, his expression beyond worried. He quickly embraced Janice and then Matilyn, forgetting his professionalism for the moment, "We thought you two were dead. Everyone did."
"No," Matilyn said, her entire body shaking, "Janice saved my life out there, and then again on the way back. Multiple times."
Janice looked embarrassed. She glanced away, "She needs a medic immediately. I did the best I could in patching her up, but she lost a lot of blood."
Sean nodded, taking Janice's support place with an arm around Matilyn's waist. He led her to one of the medical tents with Janice following. Many of the camp trailed behind.
When Matilyn was laid down one of the medical tables, she closed her eyes, falling into a daze almost immediately. She could hear voices around her and she could see some lights but most of it was just beyond her grip of comprehension. She let herself float away from the pain while being aware that someone was working on her injuries.
"They were torturing her," Janice's voice broke through Matilyn's rest and she opened her eyes. It was brighter outside, hinting at the time that had passed.
"How long have I been out?" Matilyn asked. Her mouth felt like cotton.
Janice considered, "About three hours. Two medics worked on you, they managed to repair most of your larger injuries."
Matilyn nodded. She no longer felt the bandage on the side of her face. She let out a relieved sigh, "How's Cori?"
"She didn't make it. Remember, Matilyn?" Janice said.
The Warriors of Valishna (Cartharia Book 1) Page 46