by R. E. Steele
Emperor Argos had been adamant in conquering everything he could. The fortunate thing for him, and unfortunate thing for others, was that the places he took tended to be rich in gold. They paid for themselves and turned a profit. Part of the reason Nikolos’s forces were so well equipped, was because of this gold. It was often said that the gold of the Kalarian Empire was like the rays of a rising sun, the symbol of Kalare. Roxanna’s name meant dawn, which made Vasilis wonder if that also had something to do with Nikolos’s interest in her. Was she going to be the dawn to Nikolos’s rising sun? Vasilis scowled at the very idea. Not if he could help it!
Obtaining the gold was not going to be an easy task, but Vasilis and his brother had a plan. Vasilis would disguise himself as a carter, along with several of the men, and go in under the pretext of transporting the gold. Their paperwork was forged to resemble that of a pass the gang had managed to obtain. That pass was the kind given only to those the Kalarian royal family trusted most. If the paperwork wasn’t quite up to snuff however, Theodoros would be there with several of the other men. They would pretend to fight with each other, to create a distraction. That way, the Kalarian guards would be too busy trying to break up the fight, to pay much attention to the fake pass.
They put the plan into action. Vasilis pulled up in his disguise and presented his pass. It might not have gone over so well had he not had a great amount of cheek to go with his costume. He could look a man boldly in the eye as he swindled him. Vasilis even managed to crack a friendly smile. This proved to be enough assurance, and the guard waved them through.
Vasilis and his men then made for the safe, loaded up the gold, and left without any trouble. Their passes weren’t even checked again. So, they went down the road, and back to their own camp, with the Kalarian soldiers thinking they had given the gold to the right people. The humble appearance of the cart even added to the success of the scheme.
“Where are your guards?” asked the captain.
“Oh, they’re around,” said Vasilis. “But no one needs to know that other than ourselves. That Lystra Gang won’t bother with a humble farmer’s cart when there are greater pickings to be had.”
The captain laughed at the idea. Vasilis laughed too as he headed back to his camp. Nikolos really needed to find guards who weren’t so easily dupped. Perhaps Roxanna could serve as an inspector to prevent the same thing from happening to him. Suddenly, it occurred to Vasilis just what Roxanna could do.
Chapter 13
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
~ Psalm 37:7
Roxanna heard cheers when Vasilis returned. She was aware of what Vasilis has set out to do, and had to admit to herself, she was rather surprised that he had succeeded. Stealing gold right out from under the nose of Nikolos’s soldiers, who were no doubt among the best, seemed outside of the realm of possibility for someone as careless as Vasilis. Coward she no longer considered him. That had been unfair of her. He didn’t lack for courage, having faced Nikolos himself to ensure she was freed. But her impression that he was unthinking was justified.
She saw proof of this as he came in. He waved his peasant’s hat with as much exuberance as one would expect from a common farmer. He was in no hurry to change his coarse clothes, and laughed and enjoyed himself as much as the others, his wild hair sticking out in all directions. He seemed perfectly content with his humble appearance, having no interest in distinguishing himself from his followers.
Roxanna, who was watching the procession from her tent, glanced at her own reflection in the nearby mirror. Her hair was neatly braided and coiled into a bun on the back of her head. Her gold headband sat perfectly over the neat wings of her red hair. Her dress hung in perfect folds of red wool, neatly trimmed with light brown ribbon, approaching gold in color. Her brown leather boots had not a speck or scuff on them. Even her state ring shown after much polishing. Like most times, she looked perfect, and usually, she was content with her appearance. But right now, she felt a touch of envy that Vasilis could be so happy, despite looking so humble. It was as if he didn’t care what the others thought of him.
His lack of care for his appearance remained even when it came to her. He summoned her shortly after his arrival. She didn’t like to be ordered about by anyone, and he wasn’t of sufficiently high rank to do any such thing to a lady of her status. But she was in his camp, and he wasn’t formal in his request, so she let the insult pass. She still wished he would have taken the trouble to sponge away the sweat from his labors first. At the very least, he needed to wash his face. But he didn’t care, and he seemed to ignore her disapproving look.
He offered her a seat and a drink of water sweetened with berry juice. The seat she took, but the drink she declined, not being thirsty. He on the other hand, gulped down his without hesitation. After being on a raid, she supposed he would be quite thirsty. Once his thirst was quenched however, he got straight to the point.
“I have a job for you,” he said.
“Oh?” she replied.
She didn’t think he had anything for her to do in his camp. While she was concerned the work might be beneath her dignity, boredom was taking its toll on her. She was at the point where she was at least willing to listen to his suggestion, even if he had little regard for the importance of preserving one’s rank.
“I want you to be my advisor concerning the wellbeing of the camp,” he said. “Let me know how the people are doing, what conditions they are living in, how their spirits are holding up.”
“Oh,” she said again.
She hadn’t expected that kind of offer. This was something she could do quite well. As a queen, she had been taught to pay attention to the wellbeing of her people. Her parents had encouraged it as the right thing to do. She also saw from history that those rulers who didn’t heed their subject’s happiness, often found themselves overthrown. As proud as she was, Roxanna wasn’t the sort who liked to elevate herself at the cost of others.
“But doesn’t Theodoros do that for you?” she asked.
“Theodoros is a numbers man,” said Vasilis. “He keeps track of supplies, and plans our journeys, but determining the moods of others is not his forte. That was always my task. But I miss the little things. You were trained as a leader, and I doubt I’m wrong in thinking that you have learned to pay attention to what your subjects think.”
“You are not wrong,” she said.
“Then will you accept?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “I see no reason why not.”
His grin was enough to melt even her hardened heart. Why was it that she found his easy-going ways both irritating, and attractive? But it was best not to indulge in those feelings. She was a queen, and she had no idea what he was. Even setting that aside, he lacked the ambition she felt necessary in the man who was to be her husband. She didn’t want to be a nag. She wanted to be a wife.
Roxanna set about her new job with a zeal that seemed to surprise Vasilis. She spoke to the people of the camp, and soon had a number of projects going to improve conditions in it. The cooking fires were moved away from the sleeping tents, so those within wouldn’t be smoked out. A sturdier fence was put up around the camp to keep pests out. She also had the tents set up in a way that they formed little neighborhoods, with a fire in the middle, where the inhabitants could sit, talk, and work.
All her improvements were well received, and the people were happier. But Roxanna soon ran out of obvious enhancements to make, and her mind began to drift back to Oreias. This made her moody, and she began finding small faults in the work she didn’t do herself. A tent wasn’t set up perfectly square, the fire wasn’t centered, or some other such annoyance that was usually beneath her notice, caught her attention. This ate into her popularity, as many began to find her nitpicking annoying.
It didn’t help either, that Vasilis had put Estella to work on the same tasks as T
heodoros. Roxanna didn’t approve of the relationship that was obviously beginning to form between Estella and Theodoros. They got along like two peas in a pod. But Theodoros’s rank was questionable. Roxanna didn’t think him a fit husband for her sister. Deep down, she was also rather jealous, though why that was, she would rather not know. Instead, she tried to focus on finding a way to leave the Lystra Gang, and get Oreias back.
Chapter 14
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement.
~ Matthew 12:36
Vasilis watched Roxanna’s progress with mixed feelings. At first, she was happy, and he was happy too. But when she ran out of improvements to make, her need to control kicked in again. As a result, he told his people to give her plenty to do. Bring her any annoyance they had that they found too troublesome or time-consuming to solve. But after a while, they were reluctant to seek her help. She fussed over every little detail, to the point that she became worse than the original problem.
Still, at least she now had something to do, rather than sitting in her tent all day, stewing over thoughts she shouldn’t dwell on. He didn’t think she was the type of monarch who sat idly by, while her subjects did all the work. But she was obviously concerned about lowering herself in any way, probably because of the situation with Oreias. Add to that a sort of natural pride she already seemed to possess, and she had done a good job of acting like a haughty monarch without meaning to. Now she was too involved, and Vasilis had to reign her in sometimes to preserve the peace.
It was with some relief that he went on a scouting mission for another raid. Theodoros went with him.
“So, how do you like Roxanna as my advisor?” asked Vasilis, when they were well out of hearing of the camp.
“She is good when she is sufficiently occupied,” said Theodoros. “What she did in those first few weeks, was leaps and bounds beyond what we would have done. It’s when she lacks purpose that she causes trouble.”
“My thoughts exactly, though better put,” said Vasilis. “How about the other two?”
“Oh, they are excellent,” said Theodoros. “I do believe Estella and I would be just as happy in an accounting house as in a palace.”
Vasilis laughed. “I take then Celena is doing well too.”
“Yes, for as quiet as she is, she is no wimp,” said Theodoros. “Given time and encouragement, I think she might prove to have as strong of fortitude as Roxanna. Celena is just too shy and diffident to show it yet.”
Vasilis didn’t know whether he would go quite that far, but he had to agree that Celena was no milk toast. She seemed to be thriving in her new position. The children of the camp adored her.
“So, do you think you and Estella will settle down one day, in an accounting house or in palace?” asked Vasilis.
Theodoros laughed. “I can’t say where we will live, but yes, I think we will settle down in the near future. Our natures are so alike, that I hardly think we will find anything to disagree about. I can see us being very happy together.”
“I can too,” said Vasilis. “I just wonder when you will pop the question.”
“I should ask you the same thing,” said Theodoros.
“Me? What do you mean?” asked Vasilis.
“You and Roxanna,” said Theodoros. “We all know you like her. Given your lack of interest in formalities, I’m surprised you haven’t asked her yet.”
“She would refuse,” said Vasilis. “I’m not a prince or a king, or in any kind of position that she would consider worthy.”
“For now,” said Theodoros.
“And I shall remain so,” said Vasilis with some irritation. “Besides, our personalities are so different, we wouldn’t suit each other. We do not share the same traits that you and Estella do.”
“That may not be such a bad thing,” said Theodoros. “I find you complement each other well. Each of your strengths make up for the other’s weaknesses.”
Before Theodoros could say more, Vasilis silenced him. Some Kalarian soldiers were walking by, and they didn’t wish to draw attention to their hiding place in the bushes.
“So Nikolos knows where the queen is?” asked the first soldier.
“Not exactly, but he knows she is somewhere in the area,” said the second. “She has allied herself with the Lystra Gang. But that’s not the most interesting part.”
“What is then?” asked the first soldier.
“It seems the Emperor suspects the gang is led by Vasilis of Achlys,” said the second soldier.
“Isn’t he supposed to be dead?” asked the first soldier.
“Nikolos never knew for certain whether he was or not,” said the first soldier, who seemed to have a source close to Nikolos. “The Emperor didn’t kill him when they fought each other directly, and no body was found in the aftermath of the conquest.”
“Until now,” added the first soldier.
“Aye, though even the Emperor is hesitant to say for certain,” said the second soldier. “Regardless, it seems the two old allies have teamed up again. If the Emperor can find the gang’s camp, he can solve many of his problems in one fell swoop.”
“Two birds, one stone, as the Emperor likes to say,” said the first.
The soldiers then walked away, continuing their aimable chat.
“So Nikolos is starting to suspect who you really are,” said Theodoros. “How did he?”
“I think he recognized me when we freed Roxanna and her sisters,” said Vasilis. “I saw recollection in his face, when the visor of my helmet stuck. But I didn’t think he would be able to get so close to the truth. It’s been five years since we last crossed blades.”
“You should have told me,” said Theodoros reproachfully. “This isn’t something you should have ignored. You keep losing because you fail to pay attention to important details.”
“Yes, yes, I know,” said Vasilis in irritation. “We will have to see how close they are to finding the camp.”
Vasilis and the others then began looking for clues. What they discovered was problematic. While the camp hadn’t been found yet, it looked as if it wouldn’t be long before it was. The Kalarians had added urgency in their hunt too. Roxanna alone was an important enough prize to encourage diligence and speed. Add to that Vasilis’s capture, and their zeal was doubled.
“We will have to move the camp,” said Vasilis. “We have no other choice.”
Chapter 15
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
~ James 1:19
Vasilis and others returned to the camp as fast as they could. Once they reached it, Vasilis ordered that the Lystra Gang prepare to leave. Roxanna was surprised by his urgency, but when she heard that Kalarian forces were close to discovering the camp, she no longer questioned his haste. It was one thing if the gang’s scouting party was discovered. It was quite another if the home base was. Women, children, and the elderly called the camp home. If it was captured, the loss would be much more devastating.
But Roxanna still had to stifle a grumble as she helped pack. She felt that Vasilis should try to take a stand against Kalarians, attack them before they found the camp, so as the keep them at bay. It would have been better than moving. But she supposed there was some strategic merit in Vasilis’s decision. If imperial soldiers were constantly attacked in one particular area, someone was was bound to figure out the camp was there. Once that was ascertained, the Kalarians could throw a large enough army at them, to crush them.
She hoped however, that Vasilis had spine enough not to move camp every time a Kalarian soldier came sniffing around. Vasilis could test himself and his men against the enemy by remaining in one place for longer. He could move now, while the urgency was great, but fend off the Kalarians next time, so he would know how well his forces could defend their position. They seemed capable enough of small hit-and-run attacks. Perhaps that was the weakness that kept Vasilis
from trying to retake Achlys, a lack of good defense.
But Roxanna kept her opinion to herself. She knew she would not persuade Vasilis to go along with her wishes, if she told him her opinion on the matter. In fact, he would probably think she was calling him a coward. She was still tempted to think as much, but she knew it wasn’t true. He had shown great courage when he rescued her. Yet she couldn’t help but think that in this case, he was being weak.
But he wasn’t the only one who was uneasy. The feel of the camp was something akin to controlled panic. Clearly, the Lystra Gang feared the Kalarians more than they let on. She didn’t want anyone to be hurt. Far from it. But had she been in Vasilis’s place, she would have tested her strength against the Kalarians before moving on.
She knew her opinion wouldn’t help her popularity with the gang. She had been treated with respect from the first. They took pity on her, for they seemed to think she was a terrified girl, grieving the loss of her kingdom. But when she kept herself aloof, she knew they thought her haughty and arrogant. Her obvious disapproval of their popular leader hadn’t helped either. Then her escapade that led to her capture by Nikolos, really damaged her reputation among them. She could understand why. She still blushed with shame at her foolishness in that incident. But she wished they would see that their leader was lacking.
Her improvements to the camp had regained her some popularity. Even now, many came to her for advice on how to pack this delicate article or that. But what she had gained, she lost in some measure when she wanted to control everything. She knew why the gang members didn’t like it. She didn’t like being nitpicked herself. But she couldn’t help it. She didn’t know when to stop.
She got herself into that same pickle when it came to the packing. No one could seem to get the cargo into the wagons just right. Trunks weren’t stacked perfectly square. Barrels weren’t lined up in exact rows. Ropes weren’t tied with neat knots. It was all very frustrating, and even more so when she saw the darkening faces.