Bellica

by Katje van Loon

  Jourd'Juno, 2nd Primera

  Aro and Ghia prepared to leave early the next morning, before sun up. The major had slept a few hours, Ghia noticed as she went to Jules to say goodbye.

  "I thought I was coming along with you," he said, voice petulant after two days without sleep.

  "You're in no condition to go and we have to leave now, Medic. You'll join us in a few days, Yarrow said."

  He glared at her but it was weak, and his eyelids fluttered tiredly. "Can I sleep now at least?"

  Ghia smiled at him, though he couldn't see her. "Yes. Go to sleep, Jules. I'll see you within a sevenday." She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, but Jules was already gone.

  Yarrow saw the healer and major off, walking her horse out to the edge of town.

  "Ride well, Healer, Major," she said by way of farewell. Aro, already ahead, waved and saluted his superior officer goodbye.

  Ghia smiled at her and said "We will. And Yarrow?" Yarrow raised an eyebrow. "Try not to kill Jules or Caelum," she said, too soft for Aro to hear.

  Yarrow smirked. "I'll do my best. We'll see you in a few days or so, cuz."

  "Farewell, cousin." Ghia waved her hand and then rode off after Aro, clucking softly to Amora. Her mare snorted and tossed her head, happy to be on the road.

  Excitement gripped her. This adventure grew more interesting by the day. Now she had a wonderful equine friend to share it with. She couldn't wait to see what awaited her on this road.

  ~

  The road to Harbourtown was indescribably boring. Nothing but dirt road stretched interminably before them, through a brown landscape dotted with heather and gray rocky outcroppings. At least there were small hills to break the monotony and the sky was not all gray today. Had some blue not peeked through the cloud cover, Ghia would have gone quite mad.

  "Does it get any better?" she asked Aro, barely daring to hope.

  He shrugged. "Not really."

  She sighed. At least Harbourtown would be nice. At the very least, more interesting. It couldn't be more boring than this road.

  They rode along in silence for a while, the steady clop of their horses' hooves the only noise in the bleak landscape. Ghia patted Amora affectionately, and the mare tossed her head in reply, as if to say "I like you, too." The healer smiled to herself. She could not thank Jules enough for this gift. I'll have to find something equally wonderful for his birthday.

  The peace of the road did not last, however, for the noise of Aro's thoughts broke through the silence in her head. She could sense his slight apprehension of being alone with her and her strange powers, of which he'd witnessed only a fraction. The questions he held about her, too, she could hear, and that was also near driving her mad. If only he'd ask a question! It would be less irritating than this silence.

  She tried to wait patiently for him to gather his courage but patience was not Ghia's strong suit unless she was working in the hospitalis. Unable to take it anymore, she spoke. "Yes, I can."

  Aro jumped in his saddle and stared at her. "You can what?" he asked nervously, though she knew he knew.

  "Read your thoughts," she answered, with a smile. "Don't worry, Aro -- I don't pry. But whatever is on the surface of your mind can be hard to ignore, depending on how loudly you're broadcasting."

  He returned her smile tentatively. "So I was 'broadcasting'?"

  She snorted. "Yeah. Loudly. You can ask me these things, Aro," she added. "I can't promise I'll answer. But you can ask."

  "Fair enough," he said, and shrugged. "So. How do you know Anala is in danger?"

  "Start with the hard questions, huh? Well. I had a dream that told me she was. I can't explain any more than that, because the dream itself actually doesn't make much sense. But it did tell me what I needed to know," she finished lamely.

  "Oh."

  They lapsed into an awkward silence. Ghia had thought that reading minds would make social contact easier, but apparently it just muddled things more. Great. Because things are so easy for me socially already.

  "You have nothing to fear from me, Aro," she said finally, unable to take the silence anymore, and Aro started. "I consider you and Bellica Anala to be friends. I'm loyal to my friends."

  He relaxed visibly, and gave her a much more natural smile. "That does make me feel better," he said, and this time the silence they lapsed into was more comfortable.

  That night they camped at a rocky outcropping, and Aro taught Ghia the basics of taking care of her horse and the basics of campsite building. By the time they finished, she was exhausted, and fell asleep without bothering to eat supper.

  The next day they awakened before dawn and left soon after a small breakfast of porridge with dried fruits and nuts. The ground became steadily rockier, eventually forming cliffs to one side of the road.

  "I thought you said it didn't get more interesting," Ghia teased the major, but his smile was tight, and she wondered what was wrong.

  Looking ahead, she saw a cliff rose on the other side of the road as well, and they had to travel between two high rock walls. Perfect place for an ambush, Aro's thought drifted over to her, and Ghia tensed. She hadn't brought bandits into consideration when she'd decided to leave on this crazy journey, and now she was regretting her hasty departure from Mudflat. If they'd waited until the first regiment's officers had been ready to go with them, then they might have a chance against a group of bandits.

  Taking a breath, she expanded her senses forward through the ravine, seeing if there were other human minds ahead.

  There were.

  Feck. There was no way they could fight off a host of ruffians -- unless Ghia used her powers. Maybe not even then.

  What choice did she have?

  Maybe she should consult with Aro first. He was the seasoned military officer, after all, and she the healer. Strategy was his game.

  "Aro," she said--rather, sent, her lips barely moving. He inclined his head to her a fraction of an inch, to indicate his attention. "There are bandits ahead. Do you have a plan?"

  They'd reached the entrance to the ravine now, and the clop of their horses' hooves bounced off the rock walls. It was eerily quiet. Ghia suppressed a shudder.

  "How many?" he asked, voice quiet.

  Quickly she counted the minds she sensed ahead. Damn. "Twenty, mayhap more."

  Aro grimaced, and Ghia could see his answer on his face. We're fecked.

  That answered that question. Should she strike now, or when she could see the enemy -- and vice versa?

  An arrow landed on the path before them, quivering in the air. Their horses stopped, and Amora nickered nervously. Ghia automatically soothed her.

  A woman with dark hair, dressed in ragged leather breeches and jerkin, stepped out from behind the ravine wall, further on down the path. She wore a rag around her face, hiding the smile Ghia knew was there from the crinkle around her eyes. The woman raised her hand in greeting -- or warning.

  "Hail, Lady and Lord. I am the Great Sasha and I bid you welcome to my domain. However," she added, a mean glint coming into her eyes, "there is a toll for those to cross my land without permission. Pay it and no harm will come to you."

  Aro regarded the woman steadily, and Ghia tried to copy his apparent ease. "This land belongs to the sovereign ruler of Athering -- not bandit scum like yourself. We'll pay no toll."

  There was a creaking, like the sound of branches in the wind, and Ghia's eyes flickered up to see archers surrounding them, readying to let their arrows fly. She glanced back at the 'Great Sasha'. The woman stood, elbows akimbo, and said confidently: "You'll pay. Or you'll die."

  Ghia laughed. She couldn't help it. It was so ridiculous -- here she was, a half-Magi, with near-limitless power at her fingertips, and a mere bandit was making her feel nervous. She would have kicked herself had it not been so hilarious.

  Sasha glared at the healer. "Something funny, girl?" So much for 'Lady'.

  Ghia sobered and looked steadily at the bandit queen. "Yes. This whole op
eration is quite pathetic. Think you can best us? Get out of our way -- we don't wish to hurt you," she added snidely, making her voice as haughty as possible. It wasn't difficult.

  Sasha glared harder at the healer, and signalled with her hand. As one the archers released their bowstrings, and the arrows flew through the air towards the two riders.

  And stopped at Ghia's outstretched hand.

  Ghia cursed inwardly, trying to hold all the arrows in the air. It was not so easy as she had thought it would be, but she held on, determined not to show her struggle. She gave the astonished bandit queen a smirk, and then let the arrows drop to the ground.

  "What devilry is this?" cried Sasha, real fear in her voice. Her eyes narrowed at Ghia. "Who are you?"

  Ghia gave what she hoped was a merciless, feral look as she sought for an answer. She let a second pass before she replied, more confident than she felt: "Charity, the Demon Queen of Athering. Now let us through."

  She could feel Aro's eyes on her, could sense his astonishment at what she'd done. She resisted telling him she'd not even started.

  The Great Sasha, however, was not to be outdone so easily. With a shout and gesture she had a horse at her side and a bandit army behind her, and she was riding towards them with a vicious gleam in her eye. "Demons can be slain!" she shouted, brandishing a long, curved blade.

  Ghia felt a start of fear, but did not let it show. Instead she grounded and centred, letting hot energy from the earth fill her being, as she waited for the moment to strike. "Ghia," said Aro nervously, for the bandit army got closer and the archers refilled their bows. "Ghia," he said again, and again Ghia ignored him.

  Just...one...more...second....there! She was filled to capacity. She let herself out, out, out, and spoke to the air elementals, subjects of Aera, asking them to do her bidding. The tiny, almost-invisible beings gathered at her call, and came down and formed a solid wall between her and the bandits.

  A second later Sasha and her army smashed into the invisible wall and fell backwards, horses twisting on the ground in failing attempts to get up. More arrows loosed but the elementals flew to stop them, and sent them back point first on the archers.

  Some bandits tried to flee at this point, but the air that Ghia spoke to stopped them. They were held fast and gathered up, and Ghia lent her power to the elementals as they picked up the bandits and flew away with them.

  She stayed with the creatures until the bandits were hanging over the ocean, many many miles away, and then bid the little ones let go of the bandits. She could hear a satisfying splash, and the surprise of the water elementals and other denizens of the ocean. She thanked Aera and her sprites and then she was back in her body, too suddenly for her taste.

  Suffering from whiplash, she fell off her horse to the ground, where she retched for quite some time.

  After a while the world stopped tilting and she was able to sit up. Aro was crouched by her, regarding her warily.

  "Remind me never to get on your bad side," he said, and she managed a small smile.

  "Let's just hope that was the only bandit group we'll have to deal with," she said, getting to her feet. "I don't know if I can do that again."

  He only nodded, and they mounted their horses and were off again, inexorably on to Harbourtown.

  Lares

  Jourd'Althea, 3rd Primera

  It was only a matter of time, Lares knew.

  Despite their speed in crossing the channel, time had run out.

  Harbourtown had just appeared on the horizon when Lord Exsil Vis' ships had caught up to them. Lares had been ready, however, and the first ship had been dispatched with a few well-placed flaming crossbow bolts. He'd felt no remorse as the ship had fallen, burning, into the sea -- only relief.

  Soon two more ships came upon them, and Lares loosed more fiery arrows in an attempt to sink these ships as well. The crews were too fast, however, and they got the fires put out before the flames could spread.

  Merry gave the order for oars to be lowered, and the ship moved faster, away from the cannons of the approaching Vocan navy.

  They were not much closer to safe harbour, however, and Lord Exsil Vis' ships had oars, too. And more men to man them, Lares knew. Soon Merry's ship was sandwiched between the Vocan ships, and before a surrender could go up the BOOM of cannons rent the air, followed soon by the sound of splintering wood.

  Lares ran up to Merry. "I'm down to a handful of arrows, Captain, and those cannons will destroy us before we reach harbour." Merry regarded Lares expectantly, a captain awaiting news he knew he wouldn't like. "Surrender," Lares said, unable to believe his own suggestion. "It's the only way we'll survive."

  "Never," Merry said. "Death first."

  Lares bowed and acquiesced, knowing arguing with Merry on that point was useless. He turned back to the crossbow and got a few more arrows ready.

  This time he managed to get the sails of the port enemy ship, and the crew was suitably distracted by the fire for him to swing the crossbow around to concentrate on the starboard ship. He aimed carefully, and when he had the main mast's sails in the crosshairs he reached to set fire to the pitch-soaked arrow, and stopped -- something on the ship had caught his eye.

  Maurice.

  In a trice Lares had up his musket instead, and was readying to fire it at the hated lord of Voco. He moved to the railing and aimed at Lord Exsil Vis' back. His finger slid over the trigger, and, ready to squeeze, he...

  Stopped dead as Maurice turned, for the lord held his lady in front of him. Lares lowered his weapon.

  Maurice looked at Lares then, and smiled. He shoved Hope in front of him as he walked to the railing, and Lares watched in horror as Maurice held Hope over the water, his pistol held to her temple.

  He was stuck. He could not kill Lord Exsil Vis without killing Hope. Of course Maurice knew that.

  "Stout-Heart," called the lord of Voco, and Lares' blood chilled at the tone of voice the man used. "I know what you want, Stout-Heart. Think you I've not noticed how you look at my Lady? Think you I am that stupid? I'll let you take her, Stout-Heart. I know that's what you want. You can have my Lady. Just give me my daughter."

  Hope didn't even struggle in the man's grasp -- just gave Lares that same pleading look she'd given before he'd left.

  "I'll make no deal with you, Maurice," Lares shouted, finding his voice back from wherever it had run off to.

  Lord Exsil Vis shrugged, and cocked his pistol. "Then your Lady Hope dies."

  Lares felt his heart stop. Hope. God, no. Hope or Anala. A horrible, impossible choice.

  He felt his gaze sliding over to the entrance to the hold, belowdecks where Anala recovered, still unconscious. His gaze stopped as it locked with Mara's -- she stood at the hold entrance, and the look on her face said she'd heard the entire exchange.

  Tormented, Lares looked back at the Lord and Lady Exsil Vis, and saw tears running down Hope's face.

  He was sure tears were running down his as well. Hope. His beautiful Hope.

  It was easy to know what she wanted, what would please her. It was not so easy to do that.

  If doing what pleases her, kills her.... Could he live with her gone from the world? Can my heart survive?

  He stood, hovering between the two unthinkable futures, unable to decide, vision blurred by salty tears, so distracted by his emotional torture he did not notice the flash of silver in Hope's hand until it was too late.

  The knife flew from the waistband of her dress into her hand, and with one last look at Lares she plunged the dagger into her heart. Their eyes met as the light left hers, and he could see her final words to him.

  I've made your choice. Save my daughter.

  She was dead. Her body fell limply into Maurice's arms, and Lares refused to see the lord gather up his lady tenderly.

  Twin screams of anguish rent the air, and Lares realised one must belong to him. Rage and pain filled him and he aimed his musket at Lord Exsil Vis, denying the clear sight of Maurice's sorrow, the
tears that ran down the older man's face.

  He squeezed the trigger, and the rebound knocked him back. He recovered in time to see Maurice, unhurt, carrying Hope's dead body into the hold.

  He screamed again, a word that sounded like an animal trying to say "no", and reloaded, though he knew he could no longer hit the object of his hate. He aimed instead at the captain of Lord Exsil Vis' ship. A report sounded, and when Lares recovered from the recoil he saw the man fall, blood on his shirt.

  He smiled a small merciless smile, and ran back to his crossbow. Within minutes he'd emptied the flaming bolts into the two ships, catching decks and sails and sailors on fire. While the crews tried desperately to put out the flames, he took up his musket again and was firing on any sailor in range. He watched his fellow Vocans fall, but his satisfaction at their deaths did not fill the Hope-shaped void in his heart.

  Soon he was out of musket balls and he dropped the weapon at his feet, for it was useless now. That was it. They were done with long-range. They had to gain the harbour or fight on board the ships.

  He looked at Merry, sure the man knew this, and saw the captain was looking west with something akin to fear and determination in his eyes. Lares followed the line of Merry's gaze and felt a block of ice settle around his heart at what he saw behind them.

  Coming up on their rear was an armada of Vocan ships.

  Mara

  Mara came up on deck from her watch of Anala when the cannonballs had shaken the ship and burst through the hull. The sick room was sheltered in the middle of the hold and so Anala was safe. Mara wanted to help topside.

  She came up the stairs in time to hear the deal offered to Lares. While the shock of Anala's parentage froze her mind, fear gripped her heart that Lares would accept the deal. She was not stupid. She could see in Lares' face how the man felt for the lady offered to him. She also knew that if Lares accepted, she could not fight him off, to keep him from giving Anala up. She only hoped the whole crew would be able to, if she died protecting her sister.