by Brandon Barr
He’d also called her a teenager as if the title was a big pussy zit in the middle of her forehead.
The man was a walking cheese grater, and she was clearly his favorite block of cheddar to grind.
Payetta stroked She Grunts who was tucked against her chest. Ahead she saw two overloaded horse-led wagons moving along on the path. The lead cart was led by one man, while the second cart had a woman driving it with children sitting on top of a stack of barrels and sacks at the back of the wagon. In the dimming light, she couldn’t make out who they were until they had reached her.
“Whoa,” called the driver of the first cart. His horse slowed to a stop beside Payetta. The man’s hard lined face peered down at her. “Missed you at Sumarice today.”
She took a deep breath. It was Aryn the blacksmith, one of the more intellectual, smartass farmers she always butted heads with. She forced a thin smile. “Heading for greener pastures I see,” she responded.
The creases in Aryn’s face deepened and immediately Daeken’s words gut punched her in the stomach.
“Dammit,” she snapped. “Ignore my bitchy comment. You have every reason to leave. I’m sorry for being an ass.”
A light sparked to life in Aryn’s eyes. “I appreciate that,” he said with a cautious smile, then looked north in the direction his wagon was headed. “The decision to leave hasn’t been easy, but there’s a large group of us meeting up to travel together this evening. Your husband and the stranger with him convinced a good many farmers to stay and fight. I was nearly one of them.”
Payetta’s brows twisted in knots. “Farmers are staying to fight?”
Aryn nodded. “Your husband and the stranger—Daeken was his name—they made a good case for taking up arms.”
“Then why the hell are you leaving?” she retorted with a sharp scowl. Daeken’s words be damned, Aryn wasn’t making sense.
The farmer looked back at the second cart where his wife sat. “I hate to say this, but I don’t think we have a chance against the mage and the number of men he’s brought. I’ve heard the stories of what some of the mages can do, and if you pair that with a large army of men, we would need triple their numbers to have a chance.”
Payetta crossed her arms and gave a smug smile. The secret of her power was already out amongst the enemy side, what was holding her back from letting the farmers see it? If Aryn was right about Meadowlanders coming to help her and the Brigade fight, then they would all know the truth soon enough.
“So if I told you I was a mage, you’d join?”
Aryn laughed. “You’d be the last person in this valley I’d trust with that kind of power,” he shook his head, all humor departing from his face. “I’ll be honest with you Payetta, if Justen were leading the Heroes Brigade, or Ferren, I’d have another reason to consider staying to fight. But for reasons I don’t understand, they’ve allowed you to lead the Brigade, and if you’ll take a little criticism, you’re a hot-tempered, cocky little snot who insults me and the other farmers every time you request our help.”
Payetta took in a lungful of air and snorted it out her nose. “Fine. I am cocky. I have a temper. My snottiness is debatable but I’ll go ahead and give you that too. I know I’m a black sheep around here. I’m not a farmer, I’m a fighter. I don’t talk or walk like a lady. I’m crude and speak what’s on my mind. I understand that pisses you and most of the other farmers off. So take what I’m about to say for what it’s worth.”
She took another deep breath then released it. “I do care about your family. I care about your life. And I want you to know that’s why I’m here willing to fight and die for people like you. I could live off in the woods with Justen and have a boring, trouble-free life, but that’s not me. I couldn’t stomach standing by and allowing what happened in our village to happen to another community.
“I get that not everyone has the mindset I do. And that’s a good thing. We need fighters and farmers. But when things get real crappy, we need farmers to be fighters until we get that shit off our land. That’s where I’m coming from. I’m sorry for being an asshole to you all these years. I’m probably always going to be a hot-tempered cocky little snot in your eyes, but if you can see things from my angle, and I can see things from yours, then we can shake hands at the end of the day after we have it out.”
Aryn leaned back, his hands loose on the reigns. “I hear you, Payetta. I may not share the hope you have for winning this fight, but I believe you’re right. Sometimes farmers need to fight.”
He stuck out his hand and smiled. “I can see where you’re coming from.”
She took his hand and gave it a firm shake. He still was ignorant of her magic ability. If he knew she was a mage, would that change his mind? It might, but for some reason, she didn’t want to coerce him further. The questions she sensed he was wrestling with were outside winning and losing against Titannus. Whether she was a mage or not, he could still die in the fight. He had children, something she didn’t have to think about.
She let go of his hand. “Have a safe trip. If I ever travel north, I hope you’ll warn them about me.”
He smiled, the corners of his eyes creasing. “I’ll give them a full report.”
Aryn rode off, his family in the cart behind him gave her dubious looks. All except for the littlest child. The girl waved at Payetta with a smile adorning her lightly freckled face.
Payetta waved and smiled back.
***
Justen was in shock at the number of farmers who’d arrived at Ferren’s house. The inside of the little cottage was filled, leaving the majority of men and a few women standing outside. Hope was in the air. The sight of so many volunteers had created a firestorm of energy.
The members of the Heroes Brigade were being accosted left and right. Brodie, Jax, and Flinn had each quietly asked if it was all right to mention Payetta’s magic ability. He’d told them to wait until she arrived so he could talk it over with her. He had no doubt she’d enjoy revealing her talent to the farmers.
There wasn’t any good reason to keep it secret any longer. Titannus had seen it. And although it would startle the farmers, they needed to know of it before going into battle. The realization that they had a mage on their side couldn’t hurt their confidence.
“Where’s our fearless leader,” huffed Old Ferren. “She’s never one to be late for a meeting—especially one where we’re planning an attack.”
“Daeken said she’s coming, but had some kind of delay in the forest, but he wouldn’t say what. She’ll be here. Trust me.”
A devious spark lit in Ferren’s eye. “I’ll still give her a hard time.”
Justen raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Ferren loved lighting a fire under Payetta.
“I counted almost seventy volunteers an hour ago,” said Justen.
Ferren’s eyes sparkled with pride. “At least a dozen more have arrived since then. With the nine of us, we may break one hundred before the night is out!”
A cry erupted from outside. Justen turned swiftly. The door swung open, and then his mouth fell open. The room collectively pressed backwards at the sight and a dozen more cries of alarm sounded about the room.
Standing in the entryway was Payetta. But she was not alone. Her hair and shoulders were covered by a black moving mass of winged creatures. It took Justen a moment to realize the mass was a horde of bats clinging to her. In her arms was She Grunts, and standing on two legs about her feet was a small army of field vermin—rats, shrews, ground squirrels, mice.
Payetta stood there, grinning madly. Justen noted the prideful gleam in her eyes at the fright she’d just caused.
“Welcome friends!” she called. “Follow me outside. There’s not enough room for all of us in old Soggy Bottom’s house! And watch your feet—these little guys will rip your toes off if you get too close.”
Justen looked on in shock. How was she controlling so many animals? Outside the sun was half hidden behind the western mountains and the sky was lit with red
and orange. The bats that had adorned Payetta’s head took flight and flew in a ring around her. He strode up to Payetta and the little vermin skittered away at his approach.
“What’s this?” he gestured toward all the animals. “Last I knew you could only control two animals…”
Her hand darted out and seized him by his cloak. She pulled his head down towards her and kissed him hard before answering, “Turns out that it’s a bad idea to piss me off. Something was different at practice today—I can’t explain it, but it’s tied to how I feel. The energy inside me is beyond what I’ve ever felt before, like it’s stampeding inside, rattling through my bones. My old limits are long gone.” She frowned. “Did Daeken tell you what happened today at the hideout?”
“No.”
“I’ll tell you later. Right now, we have an army to rally.”
***
Payetta looked out at the farmers lit by the waning sun. Her blue glowing eyes assessed the mix of fear and excitement that lined the shadows on every man’s face.
“As you can see, Titannus isn’t the only mage in the Meadowlands. I’ve been using my powers to protect you ever since you’ve known me. The men of the Heroes Brigade have done the same with sword and bow.
“You’ve come out this evening with hay forks and butcher knives because you want to save your farms and protect your families, but not just that, you care about your neighbors—their land and their families. That’s why Justen and I are here. That’s what the Heroes Brigade is all about. Keeping the good in and the bad out. Titannus wants to drive us out of this beautiful valley. Are we going to let him?”
A loud chorus of “No’s” rose up from the crowd, the most enthusiastic coming from members of the Heroes Brigade.
“I promise you this, I’m going to go head to head against Titannus and I’m going to need your help. I know my sharp tongue and hardass attitude has earned a bad reputation among most of you. Some of you would rather push a stone out of your pisser than pass me on the road. But I think after this is all over, and our families and land are safe, and we’ve all had our fill of looking at Titannus’s bloated body hanging from the bell tower at Hargstead, then we’re going to consider ourselves friends. And Justen and I are going to keep watching over your woods for more of the same stink as Titannus, but first things first. We’ve got a war to fight.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
In the shadows of the bell tower, Percy watched and waited. His fingers gripped a longbow tensely, an arrow fitted to the string as he searched for a chance shot at the one target that could change the tide of the war. Life was growing more miserable in Hargstead and he knew nothing of what was taking place beyond to the north or south. A grisly scenario played out in his mind and he asked the question: what if Hargstead was the last remaining defense?
There was only one way to survive. Kill Titannus and then make a stand against the remaining raiders. Mayor Brundig had asked Percy if they might open the village gate and flee for the forest. Percy had scoffed at the idea. He’d warned the mayor they’d be cut down long before they reached the woods, and it was possible that might be the case, but the true reason he’d disliked the mayor’s cowardly plan was that it would leave himself looking the fool instead of the hero.
He had to prove to everyone that he was competent and right all along and that the fools of the Heroes Brigade had been wrong.
A squad of eight raiders stood a distance away, keeping watch on his section of the wall. Percy had glimpsed the mage talking to these men several times before, and each time it had proven to be only an illusion. Titannus’s tricks had drawn many of Percy’s men to fire arrows at his phantom presence, and on every occasion, it had cost his men their lives. In total, the mage’s illusions had left thirteen men dead, but he knew the mage did not use his magic at all times.
Percy glared out the square tower window, waiting for his prey.
During one of those incidents that left four of his men dead, Percy had glimpsed a figure moving in the shadows at the edge of the torchlight, well beyond where the eight raiders and the illusion stood. A pale, ghost-like man with long white hair. Only an expert shot with a longbow could have a chance at hitting a target at that range.
A smug smile touched Percy’s lips. He was the best shot in all the Meadowlands, and if he could make a bullseye of the mage’s ear canal, he’d be a damned immortal legend.
The dark brought a pale moonlit glow upon the raiders standing watch. Replacements came and relieved four of the men, and Percy bided his time, patient as an owl waiting high in the tree tops for a mouse to scurry along in the shadows below.
And then Titannus arrived, his long white hair hanging down over the front of his cloak—a nice glaring target that almost glowed in the moonlight. Percy took careful aim, his hand steady. Titannus paused at the shadow’s edge to glance at his men huddled together around the torch stake. Percy was certain this was the man and not his illusion.
The bowstring thrummed softly as the arrow pierced the night air. It happened so fast, one moment Titannus stood at the rim of light and dark, facing the tower, and then the arrow passed through his body as if his form was a vapor.
Percy’s eyes widened.
A ghost-like face rose up from just outside the tower window. Percy’s mouth gaped open in horror.
Titannus’s eyes loomed like a pale phantom only an arm’s length away.
Percy stared in shock as he realized the mage was levitating three stories up. He thought of turning to run.
It was his last thought before Titannus took over his mind.
***
Daeken sat huddled over a roaring fire with the nine members of the Heroes Brigade. At their backs, the throng of farmers listened with intense quiet as Payetta and the Brigade discussed the night’s planned attack. Shepherd sat on a rock, tucked between Daeken’s legs, his nose pointed up at the stars. The boy’s presence gave Daeken an added sense of determination. The stakes were higher now. It was as if he were already living life as a father again.
He’d already arranged for Shepherd to stay with Ferren’s wife while he left to fight. This time, before he left, he’d give the boy a harsh word about staying put.
Daeken watched the farmers’ faces as they listened to the plans being discussed. He had expected more fear and concern in their eyes, but instead, he was encouraged to see the hard-set edge of grit and determination. The attack Payetta put forth was simple and reasonable. Considering they had little information on what was happening in South Meadow, they would move in on Hargstead under the safety of Payetta’s black-winged spies which she’d currently released, along with all the little field creatures.
Daeken had seen more than a few disappointed farmers staring off in the direction where the vermin had fled, no doubt disturbed to see the troublesome animals released. If Payetta wasn’t careful, thought Daeken, she might find herself accosted as the resident pest control in the Meadowlands.
The rest of Payetta’s plan was to reevaluate the situation once they knew more of Hargstead’s fate and where precisely Titannus and his men were stationed.
Whatever animosity existed between Payetta and these farmers who had come out to fight was now gone. She had been winsome enough, in her blunt, bullish way, and now that they saw her for whom she was—a mage who earnestly wanted to help save their farms and families—there was no room for disliking her, no matter how prudish one was.
Daeken scratched Shepherd’s sandy brown hair as Justen stood to close the meeting. “I want to make this perfectly clear, our single greatest weapon is Payetta’s magic. She can protect us as we fight and she is able to go toe to toe with Titannus. That means our highest priority is to protect her. Be vigilant, listen for your instructions from a Brigade member, and always remember that if the fight is too fierce, fall back to Payetta’s position. She is our queen bee and as long as she is safe, she can help us as we engage Titannus and his raiders.
Payetta cracked Justen’s buttocks with a smack
of her hand, then stood up beside him holding She Grunts. “This handsome rogue is right. Stay near me and I’ll do everything within my power to distract, hamper, maim, or kill any raiders you’re engaged with.”
Her gaze drifted down to Daeken’s, and she locked eyes with him for just a moment, a slight smirk edging her lips. He could practically hear the words written on her face, How do you like my shit now?
Payetta turned her attention back to the farmers huddled around, a wild energy beaming from her face. “We’re going to hit Titannus and his men quick and hard, kill as many of the murderous brutes as possible. If we can’t take back Hargstead tonight, then we’ll fall back here to Ferren’s house and pound them again tomorrow. We’re not going to fight fair, we’re going to fight to win. Are you ready men?”
Old Ferren jumped to his feet, and howled, “ARE YOU READY?!”
Shouts and whistles rose up from the farmers.
Daeken felt his blood warm at the sound. Shepherd turned and looked up at him. On the boy’s blank face he thought he saw the trace of a smile.
***
Payetta led the march toward South Meadow, entering the strip of woods that separated the South from the North. The bats she controlled fanned out ahead of her, searching in their strange way, hearing the forest just as much as they saw it. Scampering directly in front of her were the little field animals she’d released while discussing strategy around the campfire.
Some of the farmers had hooted in delight when she retrieved the creatures. It hadn’t been hard to regather them, most were no further than the first dark rock pile or hole in the ground.
The small army of farmers followed behind the Heroes brigade in a long snaking line. The moonlight faded in and out as a storm front reared its head, the first traces lightning flashes lit the sky to the west.
The smell of coming rain was thick in the air.
“What happened at the hideout?” asked Justen, “Daeken said you had some kind of trouble.”
Payetta frowned and quickly thought of how she might describe the incident without making Justen too upset at her. For one, it might do well to leave out the Titannus part…