by Chris Hechtl
“Especially this lady,” Ryans murmured. Deidra caught that part and glared again. “I take it you came from the East?” he asked ignoring the glare.
“Yes, my Dominus,” a woman said from atop a riding beast. He looked up to see her hefting a crossbow. She looked a little sheepish with it. After a moment she lowered the tip.
He nodded. “Good. Like I said, turn around, head to your last stop and then send word. You don't want to mix it up with what's coming down the road folks, trust me.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “We're a day or two ahead of the vanguard.”
The convoy people started to look nervously toward the road. One stood up, shielding his eyes with his hands. “I see dark smoke on the horizon,” he said then looked down to the wagon master.
“Here,” Ryans said. He pulled out a tablet and tapped at it then turned it so it faced the surprised group. Video of the Duluth raiders surrounding the Duke's castle was playing on the screen. He was amused by their gasps and wide eyed fascination. He wasn't sure if they were reacting to the siege or the seemingly magical device.
Deidra glanced his way then back to the kneeling wagon master. “Oh get up,” the princess snarled. She turned, pacing back and forth. She clenched at the handle of the knife a few times then put it back in her belt. She was glad now that the smith in the Gregor village had gifted it to her. “Go. Get thee out of my sight. Get thee hence,” she waved imperiously.
The wagon master turned to look over his shoulder. He opened his mouth to order the command but froze when he caught sight of her in the corner of his eye.
She was close to him once more. “But never. Never touch a lady like that again. Or I will be the last thing you ever see,” she said coldly. He felt her tap his crotch with the now freed knife. “And this will be the last thing this part of you ever feels.”
She turned with a whirl and left him. He stood there, cringing a little, mouth agape. Ryans grimaced; he could smell fresh urine and was pretty sure of the source. Hell, he was scared pissless now too. Ryans nodded politely to him as he held a door open for the princess.
“Nice knowing you folks,” Perry said dryly with a wave. Zara climbed in to the truck, pulling her sister in behind her. He sighed closing the door for the princess and then getting in the front.
“Well, that was fun,” he said as they pulled off. The convoy lumbered to turn around behind them. “You're just all sorts of cheer,” he sighed rubbing his brow and ignoring the fuming woman behind him.
<==={}------------>
Max tried to explain how the bluetooths work in translating and sending info to the princesses again. He explained that they were machines and took his off to point out the features. Wanda came along and noted this. She observed his antics for a minute and noted the baffled but polite expressions on the princess's faces. She hid a snicker when Zara caught her eye and then smiled and rolled her eyes a little.
“I don't think they get it,” Max grumbled in exasperation to her.
Wanda giggled a little, hand over her mouth. “That's cause you've got the thing out so they don't understand a word you said dummy,” Wanda replied. He looked down at the machine in his hand then slaps his forehead. She laughed outright at his dismay... and so did the girls. It was the first real laugh in a while.
Wanda translated the simplified explanation to them. They nodded but were still bemused by the explanation. The concepts didn't make sense to either of them. Zara took comfort in Max, treating the old bear like an uncle. He in turn was protective of her. She winced when he put his arm over her shoulders though, but recovered after a moment.
<==={}------------>
“We need to persuade them to help. To go to the castle,” Zara said when Max left. “Their wonders...”
“Would be of great use,” Deidra agreed with a nod. “But I believe ordering them would not work,” she said in disgust.
“Apparently not,” Zara replied dryly. “So other means must be used to gain their aide.”
“Don't go there sister,” Deidra sighed, hand to her brow. “Just... Don't go there. Let us lay the groundwork but the decision is ultimately up to father and mother. You know that.”
“True,” Zara sighed.
Art’ur paced, angry. Still the stubborn Emroy Duke kept to his castle, denying Art’ur his rightful due. He had tried a ruse, using an ancient trick he had heard about from the court story teller years ago. The story was of a faraway city that had been under siege for many years. The enemy had finally broken the siege when they seemingly left but left behind a statue of a horse. Within had been men who had crept out at night and opened the gate for their fellows.
He had turned it around, using carts seemingly loaded with provisions and dressed like a convoy. He'd set it up carefully out of sight of the castle walls, stuffing it with men. Their orders were to hide until the wagons crossed into the drawbridge and then hold the gate until their fellows could relieve them.
He'd even had Uuôden detail men to open a gap in the line at the gate and then chase the convoy in. From his vantage it looked authentic but the Emroy Duke hadn't fallen for the ruse. Instead the gate and draw bridge remained stubbornly closed and when the convoy reached the side of the moat the wagons stopped in confusion. When soldiers peeked out the cloth top to see what was going on and then piled out they were set upon with flaming arrows from the gate defenders. They and their fellows immediately fled.
<==={}------------>
Ryans glanced up from his book reader to see Doc coming over. “Come to check on me?” he asked.
“Why? Guilty conscience?” she asked, mouth puckering in a smile.
“Ha ha,” he joked. He turned the tablet off and tossed it on the seat. She snapped her fingers and he raised his arm up.
Carefully she checked the bandages and then nodded. “This damn crap doesn't heal,” she muttered probing a puckered wound. “You keep pulling stitches too. I should stick you in a sling.”
“Then I'd be a pain in the ass,” he smirked.
“Or your ass in a sling, or better yet a backboard,” she grinned back menacingly. He grimaced but chose to ignore the threat. He knew when it was time to abandon the field.
“So, anything new?” he asked as she poked and prodded him. “How's the LT?” She shrugged.
“Galloway is fine. Resting as comfortably as he can. Not nearly as much a pain in the ass as you,” she answered.
“I heard about you carrying Deidra. Don't do something that stupid again,” she ordered and shook her head at the futility of that particular order. He snorted.
After a moment she continued. “Depends on what you call new. From what we've got from the girls.” She turned, nodding to the two princesses. “The calendar is broken into periods and then into months.... Each has five that is Quintus...” She turned and looked over to Zara.
“Octo Quintus.” Zara replied with a nod. Her eyes were on Ryans and his chest though.
“That's eight five day weeks in a mens or month,” he nodded. “Okay.”
“We're in the beginning of early spring. Just made the seasonal cross over and missed the worst of the March mud. That means we're heading into a short but semi brutal summer period, about four months from now. Summer lasts about two months, and then we loop out for a four month fall and an eight month hard cold winter. A white Christmas with about two or three meters of snow on the ground,” she said wrinkling her nose. “That explains why they build their buildings in stone so high off the ground.”
“Oh joy,” he grimaced. “That's kinda weird. That means we're in an elliptical orbit. A seven hundred and twenty day year. Nearly twice what it is on Earth.” He bent over to reach for the tablet but she jerked him back upright.
She slapped his good shoulder. “Sit still. You'll pull the stitches.”
“You mean you'll pull them, manhandling me like that,” he griped.
“Bitch, bitch,” she said, not looking up. He winced as she touched the cut on his shoulder. “This I don't
remember.”
“Got it the other day,” he said. It was a small scratch; he'd picked it up freeing Deidra from the keep.
“What did it?”
“Guy threw a dagger or something,” he said.
“Okay. Note, don't do that. Let's get through one set first,” she ordered.
He snorted. “So, you were saying?” he asked after a moment. To tell the truth he needed the distraction from what she was doing. It wasn't just her that was bothering him though, he had an audience in the princesses and wasn't sure he liked it. Zara was staring, bright eyed, but Deidra's occasional look didn't help.
“I was saying don't do that,” she said smiling again as she re-wrapped the bandage.
“Oh you're just full of it today,” he grumbled and then sighed. She giggled.
“Maybe a little, to much caffeine maybe,” she shrugged as she finished with the shoulder. “But, as to the topic of the calendar. It's not exactly simple. We're orbiting two stars and a gas giant. So things can get hectic. Mach five storms, some wicked solar events, and the tides...” She shrugged. “Not to mention how that effects weather in general.”
“Yeah, I'd think the planet would have two summers or be too hot to support life.”
“You'd think so. I'm guessing not,” she replied. She reached for his waist.
“And what do you think you’re doing Doc?” he asked, voice rising as he batted her hand away.
“I'm checking your leg wound. Or trying to,” she said sitting back. “You mind?”
“Yes, actually I do. It's not like I drop my drawers when it suits a woman's pleasure all the time you know,” he growled.
Her right eyebrow lifted and she grinned coyly. “Why not? Come on, it's not like they haven't seen it before. Or better,” she teased, eyes full of mischief.
Doc looked over her shoulder to the girls. Zara ducked away blushing. She turned back and he was scowling.
“All right, let’s go,” she sighed, motioning to him.
“Go where?” he asked, humor finally restored.
“Over there,” She waved absently to the bushes. “Just far enough to get some privacy.”
“Gee thanks,” he sighed.
When they were finished he limped back to the fire. Lewis wolf whistled at him.
“Oh shut up,” he snarled tiredly. Doc's manhandling was tiring. Every time she checked him over it reminded him of the wounds. He got along fine as long as he didn't think of them. Lewis giggled; glancing at Doc. Doc blushed but then waved it off. She tossed the bloody bandage into the fire. That shut Lewis up.
<==={}------------>
“Did they just do what I think they did?” Zara asked. Deidra shook her head but she looked stormy.
“I don't think they did,” Deidra finally answered and then her eyes lit upon a peasant pocketing something shiny. The lad froze when he saw her looking. Her eyes glittered. “Put. It. Back,” She growled full of menace and rightful wrath.
The lad paled and pulled the cylinder out of his pocket. Gunny heard Deidra's growl and turned. He saw the boy had palmed a round and caught the kid’s wrist.
“A thief?” he demanded. The boy froze and started to shiver. The Gunny turned to the others. “Everyone who isn't a Terran get's searched. Any of you who have stolen something will regret it. I'll give you this one chance to return your ill gotten gains and don't do it again. We catch you again I'll personally stake you out in a forest,” he snarled.
The peasants in their midst froze, eyes wide and suddenly frightened. The soldiers looked up and turned on them with glares. Some hunched their shoulders turning away, others immediately turned out their pockets and rags. Items fell to the ground. Deidra snarled. So did Gunny.
“I think from now on the peasants can follow but they will no longer be welcome with us. We gave you food, water, and shelter and this is how you repaid us,” Perry said coming over. “You can follow along but none of you are to touch anything unless we tell you to.”
Hanging their heads the peasants left the fires. Perry turned to the princesses. “Sorry princess but we can't afford losing our gear.”
“I apologize for my people's misconduct,” she ground out.
“Not your fault. We'll all have to keep a better eye out,” Perry said turning to the others. He nodded to Walters and the Gunny.
<==={}------------>
“Are we seriously considering helping these people?” Perry asked in an aside to Ryans.
Ryans eyed the peasants. They had been slack in letting them have the run of the place. Gunny had tried to warn him and he'd ignored it. They probably still had a few things but he wasn't about to search them. “I'm having second thoughts. Right now I want to get the princesses to their home and then get a free pass through the Kingdom. We'll make it up as we go along from there I guess,” he said with a shrug.
“Make it up...”
“As we go along. In other words, I'm not planning anything until we have more intel,” Ryans replied with a sigh.
“Yeah, there is that. But we do need a GOTH plan just in case the capital goes south too,” Perry said.
Ryans nodded in appreciation. He understood the importance of prior planning. Having a Go To Hell plan was a good idea. “Good idea. Work on that with Waters and the Gunny but don't let anyone else know.”
“Right,” Perry replied with a knowing nod. “Loose lips and all that,” he said and moved off.
Chapter 5
Ryans tried to draw the girls out, to get them to talk about the city but the princesses were cold and distant to him. Young Zara more out of imitation of her sister. She seemed hesitant about getting over whatever was bothering them and seemed confused. He thought it was the intruding presence of a male but wasn't sure. A sullen cloud hung around the two and the Terrans were hesitant to poke their heads in lest a lightning bolt strike.
When they arrived at the main castle they were impressed. The capital city was much like London in medieval times. It was laid out like a Roman colony city, straight streets arranged in a grid north to south, east to west. Most of the buildings had walls of brick, stone, or concrete with second or third stories made up of wattle and daub and concrete or brick pillars. Even some of the roofs were slate or ceramic clay. It was an impressive lack of wood for a feudal society.
The central castle was a series of stone walls surrounding a keep that had many cylindrical towers of various sizes arranged in an octagon. The keep was elevated on a large hill, overlooking the town and surrounding countryside.
The town was enclosed with a long, thirty foot high stone wall and wide water filled moat. Three giant gates complete with gatehouses, draw bridges, and fortifications were there guarding entry and exit to the castle. The Master Sergeant eyed them with disfavor.
“Those stone things on top jut out over the wall. Nasty, they would deter anyone trying to get up and over the wall. I'm not sure we can bring the Strykers in sirs, they'd fit, but the weight on that bridge alone...” he grumbled.
Perry snorted. “Oh, I don't think that will be a problem.” He took his eyes away from his binoculars to point out a great beast lumbering across the drawbridge.
“Ironwood,” Zara commented. They turned to her. “It's a hard wood, hard to cut, very strong,” she said in way of explanation.
“I was wondering why you don't use more wood in your buildings,” Perry said. The girls snorted.
Zara rolled her eyes. “You saw the basilisk and yet you still ask?”
Perry and the Sergeant nodded. “Point taken. I'd hate to be a lumberjack with them around. Still, I'm not comfortable about having all our eggs in one basket sir. If you catch my meaning,” the sarge said. Perry gave him a look then nodded.
For the second time since their arrival they launched a UAV. The small robotic plane circled the city from above, giving them a bird’s eye view of it as they used a mapping program to generate a map of the city.
Within the town the buildings were laid out in neat orderly lines, the st
reets were dressed stone, complete with curbs and sidewalks. Dark smudges appeared to be openings to a sewer system. Some of the older three story buildings were concrete, brick, or stone. Many on the outskirts were fire brick with wooden or wattle and daub thatched second stories.
Around the outer wall were another series of roads and small houses. These roads were dirt and gravel. The buildings were smaller; two story wattle and daub affairs that felt more like slums. Laundry hung from windows and clothes lines all over the place. Black and gray smoke poured into the air, both from chimneys and from the various cottage industries.
“Early industrial I'd say. Still medieval but they've got some stuff twisted,” Sydney exclaimed, pointing to a series of water wheels along the nearby river. A grain mill was centered between giant brick and stone buildings. “Granary I bet. Flour mill,” he said looking the building over.
“Textiles too,” Ryans said pointing to other buildings. One had its giant doors open to catch the breeze. Bolts of fabric were being loaded onto wagons. One of the beasts the natives called branacks was tethered to a wagon, it looked back at the load behind it then snorted. It twitched a tail then went back to chewing its food.
They left the Strykers and other large vehicles on a low spot screened by bushes and poplar trees. Max detailed a crew to wring the last drops of fuel out of the trucks while they sat there. Perry detailed a couple guards to keep watch with the UAV. They had strict orders to bug out if a large group approached them.
The rest of the group piled into and onto the light vehicles and moved forward following the hummers. Perry watched the UAV feed as first the guards reacted and then all hell broke loose in town. Men exploded from the barracks, swarming to the gates with pikes and weapons. The drawbridge slowly creaked upward, and the wood and iron portcullis groaned as it went down. Men and women in their path screamed and ran for their lives, some trying to rush the drawbridge but as it rose out of reach the group turned and flanked the moat, running along its edge to the nearest gates.