“We’re about eight days away from rejoining the army, if it’s still where we left it,” Imelda said. “Given the news about the changing battlefront, it could take us longer to return, and there’s no predicting when we’ll get back to the city.”
“When we get back and have some certainty, I’ll write to Merle and Aristotle, and see if they can dispatch Bethany to Goldenfields. In the meantime, I’ll think up a reason we need her to be sent here,” Allisma decided.
They made good time crossing the open prairies until the seventh day of travel, when they were preparing to turn their course to the east. “What is that cloud of dust?” Alec asked Imelda as they rode out in front of the command.
Imelda studied it as their horses walked briskly. “It must be cavalry, but I don’t know why anyone would be out here,” she answered as she continued to watch the other group on a course that appeared destined to converge with theirs before too long. She left the formation to take a closer look at their neighbors.
Several minutes later she returned and told Alec to move to the center of their soldiers. “Whoever that is, they aren’t riding in any of our formations,” Imelda announced with concern to Armilla and Nathaniel. The other group was considerably larger than their own, and still unidentified. “We’ll leave Alec back here and send a couple of scouts out to discern just who is riding out here in the middle of nowhere.”
Alec accepted his required safekeeping, remembering his own time as a member of the Goldenfields Guar and how carefully he had tended to the safety of the Duke. They continued to ride along warily as the scouts left them to gather knowledge about the other contingent.
Within two hours the scouts returned. “They are from Bondell, they say,” came the report.
“Ask them to send an officer over to explain what they are doing all the way out here,” Imelda told the scout. The trip back was much more direct and a small delegation of riders arrived an hour later.
“Why are you riding out here?” Imelda asked, as Alec remained discretely in the background. “This isn’t on the way from Bondell to the battlefront, or anywhere else for that matter. And weren’t you supposed to have arrived at the front a long time ago?”
An officer unfamiliar to Alec answered. “We sent a contingent to the front a while ago, but the rest of us were delayed because a plague struck the city. We needed to overcome the epidemic and tend to its aftermath before we were strong enough to ride. Then we found that we don’t have very good maps, and so this journey has already taken much longer than it should have,” he explained. “Do you have any extra water with you, by any chance?” he asked. “We’ve been on half rations for four days now and don’t have much left.”
Imelda answered. “We are going to be at the river tonight, and you can have all the water you need. You’re going to be behind the lines you know,” she added, a thought starting to form.
“Who is your commander?” Alec asked, jostling up to the front. “Is the prince’s chamberlain with you?” he probed; he believed their story, but still wanted to confirm some facts that would prove their veracity.
“Our commander is Rashrew, and the prince’s chamberlain is not with us. He is back in the castle where he belongs, I expect,” the man answered.
Alec remembered Rashrew, a man from a local village militia who had fought with Alec to help Prince Mahogan when he was besieged by Oyster Bay. “Tell Rashrew I remember when we fought together at Saltcrust, and I hope he remembers Renda from that battle. I’d like to hear what happened to her.”
The officer from Bondell was puzzled by Alec’s familiarity with the names of officers from his nation.
“Perhaps you can meet him and speak when we arrive at the river tonight?” Bondell’s officer replied. “May I tell him what acquaintance you are?”
“Let him know it’s Alec the healer,” Alec answered. “Return to your companions, and we’ll see you at the river.”
They rode on through the late afternoon, and arrived at the riverside before sunset. “We need to go tell the force from Bondell that there are supply boats coming down river, and we don’t want to be seen,” Imelda said as she sent a group of soldiers to intercept the other army.
They set up camp above the banks of the river and waited for the arrival of the forces from Bondell. Soong up eard the arrival of the horses and the leaders from Bondell’s expeditionary force entered the center of their camp.
“Good lord, it is Alec! He’s the greatest warrior I ever saw. He’s the best there ever was! He’s a tremendous healer, too!” a voice announced, and Alec recognized the arrival of Rashrew and others. Rashrew came over to shake Alec’s hand, unaware of the healer’s status as the crown protector of the Dominion. Nathaniel and Armilla looked at one another wordlessly, while Alec motioned for them not to act.
“Rashrew, welcome to our camp. We’re delighted to see you. Come have a seat and tell us how you came to be here, and we’ll plan our actions for tomorrow,” Alec said.
The group was introduced around, and then Rashrew gave a detailed account of the troubles that had disrupted Bondell’s plans for assistance to Goldenfields. “We were determined to return the favor you gave us when you helped us battle the forces from Oyster Bay. But a plague came in off a ship from the south. It killed many birds first, and then made our people sick. When they grew stronger, another group of folks grew ill; this happened three times and lasted for months. We finally determined to bring who we could, but those who knew the way best weren’t able to come, and we’re not certain exactly where we are. Thank goodness we’re with you. It’s a miracle that in the middle of nowhere we’d run into someone we actually know!”
It did seem like a miracle to Alec as well, and he wondered what it foreshadowed. “You are behind the lines of battle,” Alec explained. “We’ve been on a mission that is complete, and we’re returning to the front. We understand from a recent message that the battle has grown more intense, and so we hoped that we could attack the rear of the lacertii forces to disrupt their actions.”
“In the morning we can direct you on how to reach the Goldenfields forces safely, or you can ride with us to attack the lacertii later in the day,” Imelda spoke up. “Either option is available and understandable, if you’d like to think it over and discuss it with your commanders.”
Rashrew looked around, his eyes glittering with excitement. “Good Lord! We’ve got an opportunity to attack tomorrow? We’re with you,” he exclaimed. “After all the delays and all the problems of getting here, there’s not a rider among us who would wait a day longer to be part of the war to help our friends in Goldenfields.”
“I presume you’ll be commanding again,” Rashrew said to Alec. “It will be like old times to fight for you again. We’ll ride wherever you ride.”
“Well,” Alec paused, “I believe that actually Imelda is in charge of this action. I’ll be back in the field. Imelda will give you a front seat to the hottest action though, have no doubt. Isn’t that so, Imelda?” he asked.
Before Imelda could agree, Rashrew’s lieutenant spoke up. “But you’re the best warrior in the army, we were told. Why aren’t you fighting for us?”
Alec looked at Imelda, who looked at Armilla. Nathaniel spoke up. “Alec is too special to risk in this battle. We’re saving him for when we really nd him,” he explained.
“No, that’s not really it,” Armilla admitted. “Alec is now the crown protector, the ruler of the Dominion, and we have to keep him safe from danger. He’ll remain with bodyguards while the rest of us go out to the front lines to battle.”
“Thanks a bunch for your honesty!” A junior office blurted out, disbelieving the likelihood that Alec was a ruler behind enemy lines. “If you don’t want to tell us, you don’t have to. Just please be civil enough to tell us the truth,” the lieutenant said. “Don’t get all smart about it.”
“Go pick out any member of our detail, and ask them who is the ruler of the Dominion,” Imelda said with a smile.
The lieutenant got up and left the circle. “So, are you serious about this?” Rashrew asked. Alec nodded. “How could that be? Why would a leader go ride around Bondell fighting battles, and then ride behind the lacertii with only a few guards? That doesn’t make sense.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Alec agreed. “I’ll explain it all someday, after all this is over and we’ve got peace again in the Dominion. You can come to Oyster Bay and we’ll talk about it in the Royal Palace.”
Rashrew looked dubious. “Go collect your lieutenant and head back to your soldiers to tell them they will ride to battle tomorrow,” Alec instructed him. “We’ll get together in the morning and outline directions for everyone, then move out.” He stood up and stuck out his hand for a hearty farewell handshake, as the folks from Bondell took their leave.
“Will this work?” Armilla asked after the visitors had left.
“I’ve fought with the militia from Bondell, and they put up a good fight,” Alec answered. “I think that this will work fine for everyone once we have the enemy in sight.”
Soon everyone turned in for the evening, anticipating a busy day after sunrise. “Alec, what would you say to taking a half dozen riders and swinging out to the west to go around the battle front, so you could go straight to the Dominion forces while we fight?” Imelda asked him when she awoke him the next morning.
Alec’s face took on an expression that gave the cavalry rider her answer. “Well, it was just a thought,” she said. “In that case, let’s get everyone ready and go visit your friends from Bondell to move them out of camp. The sooner we go the better.”
Before the sun even cleared the horizon the Oyster Bay forces and Imelda were passing the pickets for Bondell’s tents. Several women and men were up already preparing to ride as the visitors arrived at the command group’s camp fire.
“So we really should call you ‘your majesty’?” Rashrew greeted Alec, as the officers gathered together. “Messner said all your riders believe you’re the ruler of Oyster Bay; I’m glad to think that such a good candidate is on the throne, but I’m worried that you’re not in Oyster Bay actually sitting on the throne. You’re definitely going to have to explain to me why you’re ut here in the wilderness.”
Alec promised again to tell his story, then instructed all eyes to turn to Imelda, who discussed the plans for finding and attacking the rear of the lacerta forces. “We don’t want to spend weeks and months chasing down lacertii units in Goldenfields,” Alec cautioned. “If there’s a safe opportunity to allow them to surrender, let them go on the condition that they immediately head back up the river to their own lands and never return here.”
A few heads shook slightly at such a suggestion, and then Imelda continued the discussion about tactics and signals. After twenty minutes the outline of the plan was finished, and the forces dispersed to mount and prepare for battle.
“You’re the head of the Goldenfields cavalry,” Alec said to Imelda. “Shouldn’t we think about protecting you just as much as me?”
“If you say something like that again, where Armilla or Nathaniel can hear it,” Imelda hissed in a quiet voice, drawing close to Alec, “I’ll give you another scar or two to match the last little souvenir I gave you. You’re not going to cheat me out of this chance to fight in a great battle that will be remembered and talked about and relived for the next two generations.
“Don’t worry, I understand your feelings. And just for the record, you couldn’t lay a sword on me without suffering three marks in return,” he smiled, and leaned forward to give her a kiss on the cheek as everyone watched to see what the two of them were discussing so intently.
“I’ll be careful, I promise,” she said, as she tugged at the tight leather thongs that laced the front of her battle gear in place, unconsciously letting her fingers stroke the faint scars left from her recent wounds. “Now go stay with Armilla until we are back. I’ve got an army to pull together.”
Alec watched her ride off to speak with the Bondell leaders, and he rode Walnut back towards the smaller camp of soldiers from Oyster Bay. “I can’t blame her for wanting to go to battle,” Alec told Armilla, Kinsey and Nathaniel when he returned. “I want to fight as well.” All the riders were mounted and starting to move away from the camp.
“No, Alec,” Nathaniel immediately said, speaking loudly to be heard over the rumbling hooves of the departing force. “Just because she gets to fight doesn’t mean we have to let you swing your sword too.”
“I don’t think he’s letting her fight,” Kinsey said. “I don’t think he could stop her from this adventure.”
Nathaniel put his finger on his nose, and Alec grimaced. “Where’s Armilla?” he asked, seeing that his bodyguard had vanished.
“She won a bet, and she gets to go to battle, while I stay with you,” Nathaniel said.
“You might as well go too, if you want,” Alec said. “I’ll stay out of trouble, I promise. Kinsey, you can go too.”
Kinsey spoke up first. “The bloodthirsty spitual ingenaire, now that’s a commonplace occurrence! I’ll stay here with you.”
“I promised I wouldn’t leave you alone,” Nathaniel replied.
“I’ll be with Kinsey; I won’t be alone,” Alec answered him. He urged his friend to join the rest of the warriors who were now past them and drawing further away.
Nathaniel looked longingly at the disappearing riders. “Go on, I’ll be fine with Kinsey,” Alec urged. “We’ll ride out west away from the battlefront and work our way around to the Goldenfields side.”
The expression on Nathaniel’s face made it clear that he was torn. “Alright! I’m going. I am; this is not to be missed! You be good. Kinsey, make him listen to you!” Nathaniel said as he spurred his horse and left his friends to catch up with the others.
Chapter 35 – Return to the Battlefield
“He talked himself into it,” Kinsey said with a shake of her head, her ponytail swinging vigorously. “They all caught this bloodlust. I could feel it everywhere in camp.”
Alec wondered about so many people getting caught up in the desire for the glories of war. “Wait a minute. What about Yula? And where’s Allisma? They never wanted to be warriors,” he exclaimed with certainty.
“Those two didn’t want to go to war, but they didn’t want to be left behind, so they’re riding with the Guards, and I’m sure they’ll keep their heads down,” Kinsey answered. “How are we going to find everyone at the end of the day, Alec?”
“I have no idea,” Alec replied. “I wondered that myself as they were was leaving. If they really send the lacertii fleeing, we’re going to be in the path of an oncoming rush. That’s why I thought we should ride out west and try to get around the end of the lines.”
“You know more about this than I do,” Kinsey said with nonchalance. “You lead and I’ll follow.”
Alec pulled Walnut’s reigns, and grabbed Kinsey’s as he passed her, pulling her mount around to travel in his direction. The land they were re-entering was a gently rolling, treeless plain, except in the valleys and stream courses where more moisture collected.
“When did you know you were an ingenaire, Kinsey?” Alec asked as they gently rode away from the empty camp site.
“When I ha first woman’s month, I think my powers began to emerge,” she replied. “I started knowing how people felt just by being around them. I punched a lot of boys!” she giggled. “Our priest was the first one to have an inkling of what was happening, and he arranged for me to travel to Oyster Bay with my father. When I was tested on Ingenairii Hill, I was invited to stay, and I never went home again. I never left Oyster Bay after that, until the troubles happened.”
“You know what I remember more vividly than anything else from all the time I was on the Hill?” she asked, and proceeded to answer. “I remember the night at the sand pit when you healed Cassie,” Kinsey said.
“Oh! Were you there?” Alec replied. Other than being with Bethany, he hadn’t thought about that night
in a long time.
“There were many of us there who you didn’t know, but you were only there with Cassie at first, and then you went off with Bethany. And then amidst all the screaming and panic you were back, and I felt your spirit. You were like a bright, flashing beacon when you were healing Cassie and attending to her soul. Every Spiritual ingenaire on the Hill must have been able to feel that,” Kinsey recalled. “You seemed to rise up as a statue dedicated to the purest form of Spiritual power, and I knew I wanted to follow you to see what you would do next.
“I had heard about you before that, of course. But that was the first time I had any inkling about what you were,” she said.
“You heard about me?” Alec asked as he slowed Walnut’s pace so that the two of them rode side-by-side.
“Sure. There was talk about you as Aristotle’s special project, and the apprentice suffering all the pranks, and then after you suddenly revived the Healer house and showed up at the apprentice’s ball in that uniform, with Cassie on your arm,” Kinsey explained. “You made such a great story. No one knew anything about you, hardly, besides the rumors.”
Alec thought about people gossiping. “People always talk, don’t they?” he asked, as she nodded. “We talk about the stupidest things, and it ends up meaning so much more than it should,” he pondered.
“Once upon a time I thought that fighting the lacertii would be the “Great War”. All the people of the Dominion would unite and fight together against an enemy that was clearly evil, and we’d have a happy ending. It didn’t turn out that way at all, though. We probably had as many people killed fighting among ourselves during the uprising as the lacerta have killed, and now I’m sorry that so many of the lacertii have to be killed when it seems they’re just doing what their leaders ordered,” Alec lamented. “And so many people got killed because some folks just talked too much about having power and controlling things, and they talked themselves and others into murder and trouble.”
“It’s almost lunch time,” Kinsey said much later, after they had ridden for several hours.
The Lifesaving Power: Goldenfields and Stronghold Page 39