by Jane Shoup
Ammey felt pitifully weak and shaky now that the confrontation was over. “Thank you.”
“They can’t go,” a young guard gestured wildly to the men. “New arrivals go in back.”
“They showed up with the daughter of the McKeaf,” Jan said wryly. “I’m relatively certain they’ll be welcomed in the inner camp.”
The squatty guard made a puff of protest, obviously disheartened by the development. “But she pulled a dagger!”
“I’ll mention it to her father,” Jan said. “Shall I mention your concern as well?”
He seethed, but remained silent.
“She’ll take her sword back now,” Samuel spoke up.
It was handed back by a guard who refused to meet her eye. She sheathed her dagger and then the sword, hoping her shaking limbs were not evident to everyone.
“You will allow that young woman to leave camp without being further accosted,” Jan ordered, pointing at the girl from the whipping post. “After she gets her back treated. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” a guard replied.
Jan Meade looked at Ammey and they began walking together. Men moved out of their way, but stared with flabbergasted expressions.
“Can you tell us what’s happened?” Garid asked when they’d cleared the throng.
“The enemy came from three sides and took the camp at Shilbridge by surprise.”
Ammey’s jaw clenched. She struggled to keep breathing and walking.
“A hefty toll was taken before reinforcements arrived,” Jan continued.
“How hefty?” Peter John asked.
“Let’s just say had reinforcements not been close, it would have been total annihilation.”
“Is my father well?” Ammey asked.
“He was not injured,” Jan replied evasively.
Ammey stopped and looked at him. “Who was?”
He hesitated. “Perhaps it’s better if—”
“One of my brothers?”
He looked away, clearly uncomfortable.
“Please tell me.”
He looked at her. “Richard.”
“Is he alive?” she asked in a small voice.
“The last I heard,” he replied apologetically.
“Ammey?” Garid asked worriedly.
“I need to see him,” she said. “Please. Take me there first.”
Jan nodded and they started forward again.
Garid was tempted to step up and take Ammey’s arm in support, but something stopped him. No matter what she was feeling, she needed to appear strong, and she had earned that right after journeying such distances and overcoming such odds. “Where do things stand now with Corin?” he asked.
“We’ve been ordered to surrender. We have a day left to comply.”
“Or?” Jansen asked in a thick voice.
Jan Meade nodded. “Exactly. Or.”
The men from Kevd exchanged looks. Their timing had either been perfect or perfectly disastrous.
The group followed Jan Meade into a makeshift infirmary. Only a short distance in, they felt sickened by the smell and the number of wounded men. Some were lying on cots, but most lay on the ground on crude bedrolls. Clothing was stained with blood, heads were bandaged, faces bruised and grotesquely swollen. They passed piles of blackened, sawed-off limbs, feet, arms and legs.
“Whoa,” Samuel said softly, not certain he could continue.
“Wait outside if you want,” Garid said under his breath. “There’s no shame in it.”
Jan stopped short when he caught sight of the McKeaf himself sitting by Richard’s bedside. He looked over at Ammey and saw that she, too, had stopped. For a moment, she remained frozen.
“Baba,” she uttered.
Lucas McKeaf stood and turned to her so fast, his chair toppled. Ammey ran to him and he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground. “Ammey! You’re alive,” he breathed. “Oh, Ammey!”
Garid couldn’t tear his eyes away from the reunion, nor could he stop reliving the many times he’d doubted her.
Lucas McKeaf set his daughter back down and cupped her face in his hands. “Where have you been?”
“Oh, baba, I’ve been trying to get home for so long.”
“But where? Where have you been? We’ve searched high and low. For months.”
“I have been east and then west and then—” She broke off and shook her head. “It’s a long explanation. It’s very—”
He pulled her back into his powerful embrace. “It’s alright. You’re back. You’re back now.” He kissed her head. “We’ll gather your brothers and you tell us all at the same time.”
She looked down at Richard. “Will he live?”
Lucas McKeaf hesitated. “Perhaps if he hears your voice.” He looked over and locked eyes with Jan Meade. “Gather my sons in my tent. And Ciro and Amador Ayala.”
Jan nodded and hurried off.
Ammey pulled back and wiped her face. “Baba, these are my friends from the village of Keved. I would not have made it here without them.”
Lucas stepped forward to take hold of Garid’s hand. “Lucas McKeaf,” he introduced.
“Garid Lourd. It’s an honor, general.”
“Thank you for getting my daughter back to us.”
“It was our pleasure, sir. She is remarkable.”
Lucas nodded and turned to the next man, offering his hand. “And you are?”
“Peter John Graves. It’s a great honor to meet you, sir.”
“Thank you. I thank you for your assistance.”
Ammey glanced at Fin. He’d been watching her, but quickly averted his gaze. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, but she had. She turned away with a sigh, righted the chair her father had upset and sat as introductions continued. She took hold of her brother’s hand. “Richard, it’s me,” she said, leaning close. “I’m here and there is so much I want to tell you.” She squeezed his hand. “Please wake.”
Jan Meade stepped inside Anthony’s tent where strategy was being discussed. Jan cleared his throat to get their attention and Anthony looked over. “Your father asks that you go to his tent.”
“Why?” Anthony demanded.
“Your sister has returned. She’s here.”
He drew back in astonishment. “What? Ammey?”
Jan nodded. “She’s in the infirmary with Richard and your father.”
Anthony pushed by him and left the tent without another word. He strode purposefully toward the infirmary, and so Jan moved on. No one could tell Anthony what to do.
Anthony walked through the tent, seeing only her.
Ammey sensed his presence and looked up to see him approaching. She made it to her feet just as he reached her. He took hold of her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Where have you been?”
Samuel realized he was holding his breath. The McKeafs were not only Game champions and war chiefs, they exuded a life force that you could actually feel. It was as if they had so much power and strength, it flowed from them, touching everyone and everything around them.
“Anthony,” Lucas McKeaf said.
“We have searched everywhere,” Anthony continued.
Lucas walked up behind him. “See that these men are settled and fed. They brought your sister. We’ll wait in my tent before she explains.”
A sad smile crossed Ammey’s face which prompted Anthony to pull her into a crushing embrace. “You’re so thin,” he said. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m alright,” she assured him.
He pulled back and looked over to see what men his father had referred to.
“These are my friends from Keved,” Ammey said. “They were on their way to the Forge when they came across me.”
Anthony looked back at her, pressed a kiss to her forehead and then released her. “Thank you for helping my sister,” he said, addressing all of them.
“She’s become a good friend,” Garid returned. “No thanks are necessary.”
Anthony led the way out of the tent and t
hrough the inner camp, which was cleaner than the outer camp. “When did you come across my sister?”
“It’s been a matter of weeks now,” Garid replied.
“Where?”
“She was making her way south, as we were. But she’d twisted her ankle badly, so the going was slow.”
Anthony stopped and waved a man over. “Find these men food and drink,” he ordered. “And a place to sleep.”
“Yes, sir,” the man replied before hurrying off.
Anthony turned back to the men of Keved, looking them each over individually. “Was she alone?”
“Yes,” Fin replied.
“Where had she been?”
“She has a quite a story,” Garid said. “But she should be the one to tell it. I can tell you we were able to confirm part of it in Daleog.”
“Daleog?” Anthony repeated, confused.
“Yes.”
“And we believe it all,” Peter John added passionately. “Your sister has great courage. We’ve only known her these last weeks, but she’s become important to all of us.”
Anthony looked at him. “Imagine loving and protecting her for the whole of her life and then having her disappear in the middle of terror and chaos. We’ve been made mad with worry and remorse. And searched! We have searched and offered rewards.”
“Sir,” a young officer said as he joined them. “We have a place for these men.”
“I thank you again,” Anthony said to the men of Keved, and then he turned and walked away.
Darious blew out a breath. “Does anyone else feel like they can’t breathe well enough around the McKeaf men?”
“Poor Ammey,” Lott murmured.
Garid murmured his agreement. He had known an explanation would not be easy, but he was beginning to see how difficult it was going to be.
Lucas walked through camp with his daughter’s arm linked through his. He felt stronger with her back. Richard would come back to them, as well. He felt it. Not only that, but there would be a way out of the quagmire with Corin. If they had to, they would promise whatever was needed and then regroup to defeat the man another day. Men watched them pass and then broke into animated conversations. A few called out asking if she was his daughter and he affirmed with a smile and a nod.
“Here we are,” Lucas said, moving to a large tent. He opened the door for her. “I’ll be in shortly.”
She stepped in and saw her youngest brother. He was taller than she was now. “Nicolas,” she cried.
“Ammey!” He rushed to her and they embraced. “Jan Meade just said you were back, but I couldn’t believe it.”
“I know. I understand,” she said, pulling away. “You are supposed to be my little brother.”
“I’ve grown, haven’t I?”
“Yes. You seem five years older to me.”
“Baba still won’t let me fight, though.”
She grimaced and shook her head. “Do not be in a rush for that.”
He leaned in to quietly admit, “I am in less of a hurry now.”
She nodded in understanding. “I just want all this to be over.”
“So does everyone, but as long as—” He looked behind her at someone who’d entered the tent.
Ammey turned to see Tom. He looked stunned. He came to her, enfolded her in his arms and rocked her back and forth. Her eyes filled and spilled over from the sweetness of the moment. It had not been the reaction she had expected from him, but it was one she would treasure for the rest of her life. She clung to him, her chest and throat aching.
Dane entered next. “Never thought I would see this,” he teased.
Tom released her, but Ammey lingered a moment with her hand on his chest, both his hands atop it.
“Do you mind?” Dane asked as he elbowed in. He and Ammey embraced carefully since his arm was braced with wooden splints and bound in a sling. “Little sister,” Dane said, pressing his forehead to hers. “I knew you were alive. “I kept telling them.”
“He had dreams,” Tom said with a wry expression.
“What sort of dreams?” she asked Dane.
“Once I had a dream that you were lost in strange clouds. It was just a few days after you left. Another time, it seemed you were a tower. There were bright green fields below and you wanted to run through them, but you couldn’t.”
Ammey recalled the very moment he’d glimpsed, but this wasn’t the time to explain. Men came in transporting chairs, jugs of wine and trays of cups, and her father followed them. She watched, growing increasingly anxious. Anthony stepped inside and asked where David was.
“They’re looking,” her father replied.
“Your hand has gone cold,” Dane commented.
She looked down at her hand, enclosed in his. Had she taken hold of his hand or had he taken hold of hers? All she knew was that her heart was pounding and she was full of dread.
“Do you want to keep your coat on?” Tom asked.
She shook her head stiffly and allowed him to help her off with it.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
She swallowed and nodded, although she was far from alright. She was somewhere between dread and panic about what was coming next.
Her father came to her with a filled mug. She took it and smelled the fragrant hot mulled wine with appreciation. “Thank you.”
“Are you hungry?”
She had been desperately hungry before reaching camp, but now her stomach was knotted. “I’ll eat later.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded. She sipped the hot brew and felt it hit her empty stomach.
“Let’s have them bring some bread and cheese,” Tom suggested.
“I”ll see to it,” Nicolas offered and then hurried out.
Ammey watched him go. “He’s grown so.”
Lucas grunted. “While you have grown smaller.”
Ciro and Amador Ayala burst into the tent. “Here she is,” Ciro exclaimed, holding out his hands. “It’s true this time!”
Ammey quickly passed her mug to Tom, because she knew her uncles’ exuberance. As expected, Amador rushed her, swept her off her feet and whirled her around. “You’ve worried us nearly to madness, girl!”
“Set her down, Amador,” Lucas insisted.
Amador laughingly set her down and kissed both her cheeks. “You’re a sight for sore eyes, firefly.”
She laughed to hear the nickname she hadn’t heard in years.
Ciro pushed in and kissed her. “Tell us everything,” he urged.
Tom handed her mug back. “We’re waiting for David,” he informed his boisterous uncles.
“Have some wine,” Lucas said to his brothers in law.
“Of course we will,” Amador exclaimed. “It’s a celebration, isn’t it? Oh, this is a good omen! I feel it in my bones. A good omen.”
David McKeaf was among the men involved in a discussion in Rehan Isolde’s tent. Jan Meade entered and worked his way around to him. “The only question,” someone was saying, “is whether we attack or wait for them to.”
Alexander Kievnall turned to Jan as he reached him. “He’s needed,” Jan said gesturing to David who stood to Alexander’s left.
“I wish I could see some diplomatic solution,” Rehan mused. “But Corin has the upper hand and he knows it.”
“David,” Alexander said.
David turned and noticed Jan.
“Your sister,” Jan said. Alexander jerked his head to him so suddenly that Jan looked at him, instead. He’d completely forgotten the talk of a courtship between them. “She’s returned,” Jan said.
“Returned?” Alexander burst.
“Ammey?” David exclaimed.
“Yes.”
David was clearly taken aback. “She’s here?” he asked. “Or at home?”
“Here. In your father’s tent. They’re waiting for you.”
David exchanged an incredulous look with Alexander and they hurriedly left. Rehan Isolde, having overheard, followed as well, saying
only that he’d return. Jan followed Isolde.
David entered the tent and reached his sister in a few strides. He grabbed her up in a ferocious embrace, just as she’d known he would.
“Good,” Anthony said impatiently. “We can get to it.” He looked at his father. “There are still important decisions to be made.”
David pulled back. “Finally,” he breathed.
“Your face,” Ammey said sadly. The cut on it looked bad.
“I’ve had it for years,” he jested. “And yours,” he said. “Still lovely. A little different though.” His smiled faded. “Where have you been?”
“Everywhere,” she replied quietly.
“Welcome back,” Alexander said to her.
David reluctantly released his sister and stepped aside.
Ammey smiled warmly. “Alexander.” As he kissed her hand, it occurred to her how strange it was that she’d considered marrying him. It was likely she would have married him in a calmer, saner time. His was a face from her past and a reminder that nothing could ever go back to the way it was. Seeing him made her heart ache.
“It’s good to see you,” he said.
His expression was intense and anticipative, which filled her with regret. Surely, he did not still harbor hopes of a life with her. “And you,” she returned.
“May we get started?” Anthony complained impatiently. “The sand in the hourglass keeps falling.”
“Yes,” Amador seconded. “Tell us everything, niece.”
“Here,” Lucas said to his daughter. “Come and sit.”
She allowed herself to be led to a chair, only then realizing how short of breath she was. She hated what she had she do. Some of her brothers sat, as did Rehan Isolde, but Anthony, David, Alexander and Jan Meade remained standing. Everyone was looking at her. Her coat was on back of her chair and she was tempted to wrap it back around her.
Her father sat next to her and reached over to hold her hand. “Start from the beginning, after you left.”
“We rode to Wydenyl,” she began in a shaky voice. “But something felt wrong as we approached. We heard a scream and smelled smoke. Zenon had me get down and out of sight.” A tremor passed through her. “Zenon and Cael were killed in front of the gate. There was no warning. It happened before I even understood what was happening.”