by C. R. Daems
"Our practice sessions came in handy, Zara. If I had tried to take on multiple attackers with a conventional approach, I would have lost. Wounding people where they don't expect it tends to shock them into either retreating or freezing," Lutz said. "At the time, I was surprised you didn't join the fight. Afterward, Shelly explained you were fighting the man with Baron Woolan, who was trained at the Trasslat Monastery. How?"
"I was trained at the Ojaza Monastery," I quipped, and couldn't help a laugh at the irony.
Later, Shelly dragged me away from the camp. "I thought I'd die when Robyn said he knew you weren't a Monk. I thought my great idea was going to get you killed. After all, he was trained at Trasslat and obviously the senior of those that were at Hipula."
"I believe I had an advantage. The training at Trasslat is gentle and formed around peace. My experience with the Ojaza was brutal and formed around hatred. They aren't prepared for a confrontation like that. A true Cheyo Monk could defeat me easily because his or her foundation is stronger, but a partially trained individual doesn't have that strength."
"Good, I'm still not ready to be a countess, much less a duchess." She laughed then sobered. "I need more knife training. I thought I was going to need it when all those soldiers came rushing through the door."
"You did the right thing keeping the knife hidden behind you. You can't fight against a sword with a knife." I spent the next hour talking about a situation like the other day, and how she would need to use deception to win.
* * *
We arrived at Trasslat early on the third day, and Sonya arranged for us to see the abbot. When we entered, Sonya went to her knees and bowed, her head touching the floor. I sat down next to her. The room was silent for several minutes.
"I'm proud of you, Sonya. You are everything a Cheyo Monk could hope for. And you did well, Zara. I remember Robyn. He spent six years here and had considerable potential. He failed because of his attitude, not talent. I can see that is a problem. Although we release candidates like that early, it makes them susceptible to temptations from cults like the Sirens."
"Did Sonya mention that you have a spy for the Sirens here at Trasslat?"
"Yes. Sonya will assemble everyone and I will interview each, starting with the current students."
"Can you determine what he or she has told anyone about my visit here? I'm concerned what they may know at Arucci and Monis, since we intend to visit there next."
"Stay the night. You will know before you leave," the abbot said.
I took that for dismissal and rose. Sonya left with me but went off to make arrangements for the interviews and our accommodations. Shortly afterward a captain approached Shelly.
"Baroness Shelly, we have a place for you and your ladies and an area for your caravan to camp," He said and led Shelly with the ladies and me following to the hut they had given me the last time.
"Cozy," Shelly said, laughing as we entered. "Better accommodations than the Sheqn. This trip has certainly been an education. Well, Zara, what do you think we should expect at Arucci? I've told Musa and Sarkis that there is a cult in this dukedom seeking power and it could be dangerous. I've offered to send them home. They have decided to stay. I'm grateful but concerned for their welfare."
"I would expect the cult to be active at both Arucci and Monis, and your ladies' faith linked with yours. If they feel you're a danger, they will feel your ladies-in-waiting are also a danger. The safest course would be to avoid those two cities and go on to Ulia or Kariso," I said, thinking the Sirens would have partial or full control based on Hipula, and that one of those two cities, probably Monis, was their base of operations. If that were the case, Shelly and her entourage would represent a potential danger—one that they couldn't afford to let live.
"What do you recommend?"
"Go on to Ulia, then Kariso. Kariso should be free of Sirens, since Duke Phipps has a Cheyo Monk."
"Why?"
"We should verify for Duke Phipps that there are no Sirens there. Besides, we will pass close enough to Arucci to confirm Siren presence. That's potentially dangerous but not as much as visiting the castle. In the open, they would be more likely to try an assassination with a smaller force we could handle."
Later that afternoon, the current students were assembled outside the abbot's hut. A few minutes later the abbot was carried out on a bed. As I suspected, she must have had a back injury when she was young, which had paralyzed her legs. She lay propped against several pillows, looking at the assembled group. One by one, they bowed and left until only one man remained. He turned pale, dropped to his knees, and then collapsed face down into the dirt. Sonya signaled to two guards, who dragged him away.
"He sent messages to Robyn at Hipula, Herron at Arucci, and Sauer at Monis that a savage with Lady Shelly's caravan was impersonating a Cheyo Monk," the abbot said without speaking. Next, the guards were assembled and one by one dismissed. And lastly, the servants of the monastery were assembled. The abbot had been very thorough, testing everyone at the monastery. That confirmed Sirens were at Arucci and Monis, if not the level of control they might or might not have.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ULIA: Earl Gallegos
We left early the next morning for Ulia, a six-day trip which would take us within a day's travel from the Wild Mountains and Arucci. The first night I had Shelly call Eaton and Lutz for a meeting.
"For the next two days and nights, I would suggest we be on high alert, as we will be passing within a day's ride of Arucci, which we know from the abbot has men and women connected with the group that tried to overthrow Duke Brodka. I believe they are a cult, which means they are organized, have leaders, and a plan we upset. They may or may not know we are headed for Ulia. But if they do, they may want to kill Lady Shelly and me because of what we know," I said, giving the reason I was proposing extra caution.
"Rather than put Lady Shelly in jeopardy, why not take an extra day and swing wide of Arucci?" Eaton said.
"Thank you, Lieutenant Eaton, for your concern," Shelly said. "It not only puts me in more danger but also the troopers and the rest of the caravan. That concerns me more than my safety, but we are on a mission for Duke Wetzel, and that requires us to find out as much as we can about each city between Calle and Kariso. Besides Duke Wetzel being my liege lord and having given him my word, this assignment impacts all of Aesona. That makes this assignment worth risking our lives. I have been a slave once and that was enough. And," she laughed, "the Ojaza admit Zara makes a poor slave. Having said that, I am willing to split the caravan into two groups: one to stay within less than a day of Arucci and the other to swing wide of the city."
"That would mean reducing our fighting force, because we can't send one group with no protection," Eaton said, frowning. Shelly sent for the cook, mule drivers, and Lutz's team—the troopers didn't have a choice—and the discussion went on for hours. In the end, Shelly agreed to stay a full day's ride from the end of the Wild Mountains and everyone agreed to keep the caravan together. I took Shelly and Lutz aside after the meeting broke up.
"Lady Shelly, I'd like to scout the area for the next couple of days. That will give us an early warning it they do sent anyone after the caravan."
"I think that's a good idea; however, I'd feel better if you took someone like Lutz with you. Eaton can assign troops to guard me," She said, frowning with concern. I grinned.
"Lutz is great in a fight, but he'd slow me down. I'm not taking Greystone."
"She's right, Lady Shelly. I used to think like many others that on horseback we could run down the Indians even if they were a day or two ahead of us. Zara has convinced me otherwise."
"Alright, but don't take any chances. Oh, forget it. I'm more likely to charge off without thinking." She laughed. "But remember, the success of this assignment depends on you."
I nodded and walked off to collect some trail food and a bow, and to change into dark clothes. When I was ready to leave, I found Eaton.
"Lieutenant Ea
ton, would you look after Greystone while I'm out scouting for the next few days?" I asked.
"Sure, I like that idea. I know why Lady Shelly wants to pass close to Arucci, but …" He didn't finish but I understood. He had lost half his command and it was still fresh in his mind. They weren't just troopers; they had been friends and comrades. I nodded.
"I understand. I'll be back in a couple of days unless I find trouble." I waved and began a slow run into the night. Ironically, I still felt more comfortable on my own in the wilderness than with people in a castle or even at the community. I still didn't trust people, and they didn't trust me—with rare exceptions like Shelly, Lutz, and Ethel.
I headed closer to Arucci to have a better chance of noticing anyone leaving the city. I stopped around midnight for a few hours’ sleep. At dawn I continued closer. The ground slowly changed from open prairie with small forests to rocky ground with hills, gullies, and smaller trees, which reduced the visibility—none while in a gully, and while I could see from a hill, the other hills hid anyone in a gully on the other side. I moved slowly, keeping me between the city and the caravan.
Toward midday I saw a detail of twenty riders angling south toward where the caravan would be the next day. I followed them, staying well back. Around midnight they made camp, but sent out several scouts … or were they assassins. If assassins, I should follow them; if scouts, I should remain with the main camp. Assassins, I decided and took off after them. The main party was there in case the assassins failed. I followed them for several hours. It was still dark when the three reached the camp and began slowly circling until they found the tents.
One sat, and I soon felt my head become clouded as the other two began creeping toward the tents. I quieted my mind and the area suddenly became bathed in a blue mist. I could see a young man sitting on a rug similar but different to the Monk’s. I screamed an Ojaza war cry and my image of a wolf charged the Siren. His head jerked in my direction, and his image of a large bear was slow to materialize. Before it had totally formed, the wolf had its jaws locked on its throat. He tried to reform into a man with a sword but couldn't seem to make it with the wolf tearing at his throat.
I could see Lutz had engaged the other two—Indian style—slashing through the first one’s leg as he passed him for the second. The second he cut on the arm, causing the man to drop his sword. A back slash to the neck finished him. When Lutz turned back to the other man, Eaton had already killed him. My Siren lay dead by then. I rose and walked back to the two men.
"What happened?" Shelly shouted as she came running out of her tent.
"Zara interrupted an assassination attempt." Lutz nodded to the dead bodies.
"Any more out there?" Eaton asked as he scanned the area.
"Seventeen, about three hours away. I think they are in reserve in case this assassination attempt doesn’t work. They will probably start out at dawn if these men don’t return."
"That’s not good. They’re on horses. It won’t take them long to overtake the caravan—by sunset," Eaton said, frowning in thought.
"Unless we disrupt them," I said, thinking. "Leave now. I'll catch up."
"No!" Shelly shouted as I walked toward the picket line, with her following. "I forbid it!"
"Would you see a lot of people killed and wounded when maybe I can avoid it?"
"As you taught me against my will, there are tradeoffs. You're the mission, so yes."
"But I could be killed in the fighting if I stay, and you could be killed, which would also impact our assignment. My way, I can control the fighting. If we let them attack us, I can’t."
Shelly was quiet while I untied Greystone. "Damn you, Zara. You take too many chances."
"I don’t think Wetzel gave us more than a fifty percent chance of surviving. The risks were always high. The trick is to assume the risk that is the lowest. Disrupting them is in this case the least risk." I swung up on Greystone. "You need to get the caravan moving."
"Just remember: if you die, I’ll probably get killed as well!" she shouted after me. It was a clever taunt, something for me to factor into my thinking.
I rode Greystone hard until I thought I had come halfway, then stopped, hobbled her, and began a slow run toward their camp. When I arrived, the camp was still quiet. I had thought to do an Ojaza run through their camp, wounding and killing as many as I could, then encouraging whoever remained able to chase me. Even if it didn’t discourage them, it should put the caravan out of their reach. But Shelly’s remark haunted me. Not me dying, but her dying if I did. I hated the alternative, and it took a long time to quiet my mind for what I had to do. I almost waited too long, as the camp had begun to come to life as I circled to the picket line. Sword in hand, I raced along the line, cutting the hind leg of each horse. I was past the last horse before the sentry realized why the horses were panicking.
"There he goes," the sentry screamed, pointing in my direction. It was mass confusion as troopers tried to saddle their horses. Eventually they realized what I had done and began chasing me on foot. I ran at a moderate pace, knowing a trooper in the best condition couldn't get close to me before I reached Greystone and then would be too exhausted to continue. I was right. By the time I reached Greystone and walked her to high ground, I could see only a few still running and they were ten minutes away. I rode at a slow trot, knowing those men had no chance of catching me. But to be overly cautious, I took a track that would lead me back to the caravan’s old camp.
As I expected, the caravan was long gone. I dismounted and ran alongside Greystone. At midafternoon I caught up with Eaton and his troopers, who were riding well behind the caravan and acting as a rear guard. I mounted and rode up beside him.
"Are they close behind us?" he asked, turning in the saddle to look.
"No, and they won’t be following." Attacking the horses was still making bile rise in my throat. Ironically, killing the soldiers wouldn’t have bothered me as much.
"How?" he asked, scanning me for wounds.
"They’re on foot," I said, reluctant to say what I had done. He seemed to understand and nodded.
"I’ve always thought the Indians were savages we could defeat easily, but watching you in action I'm glad we aren’t really at war with them. They don’t think like us, which makes them really dangerous because we assume they do." He laughed. "Thanks," he said and nudged his horse into a trot to catch up with the caravan. Shelly didn’t say anything when I rode up alongside her. Lutz scanned me from head to foot.
"Since the troopers have closed up the formation, I assume the threat is over," Lutz said, looking back. I nodded.
"Yes, but I’d still like to cover as much distance today as we can. Who knows about the Indians in the Wild Mountains? They don’t need horses," I said in anticipation of the how question. We rode in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. Shelly called a halt as the sun was setting.
"Lady Shelly, I'm going to scout the area," I said. She looked like she wanted to say something but then nodded. I headed away from the caravan in the direction of the mountains. I saw nothing suspicious as I crisscrossed the area about two hours from our camp. A little after midnight, I returned to a ridge about an hour from the camp and stayed until sunrise.
* * *
"What do you think we’ll find at Ulia?" Shelly asked that morning as she sat down next to me with a plate of hot porridge and bread.
"Hopefully, a soft bed and hot food."
"I can’t believe you said that. Are you sick?" She did a head-to-foot inspection of me then put her hand on my forehead.
"No, I think I’m becoming civilized." I laughed and so did Shelly.
* * *
We entered Ulia in the late afternoon of the next day. Even though we were expected, we were delayed while the guard checked with the castle, which sent an honor guard to escort us. When we reached the castle the minister stood waiting with servants.
"Welcome, Baroness Shelly. I’m Minister Warren. Earl Gallegos sends his apology for the
delay. The guards at the gate knew to expect you, but several caravans have been attacked over the past few months and they are rightly nervous of anyone they don’t know. I have rooms prepared for you and your ladies, and the captain will see to your troops and caravan retainers." He waved to a young girl, who immediately ran to his side. She looked to be about sixteen years old, thin and lanky with short curly blonde hair and a pleasant if nervous smile as she curtsied. "Claire will see to your needs while you are here."
"Lady Shelly, if you will follow me, I’ll take you to your rooms and get you settled," she said, looking to see who else would be going. When she saw me, she paled. "Will you require three rooms, My Lady?"
"No, Claire. My companion will stay with me," Shelly said. Claire visually relaxed, and started up the steps to the three story rectangular building. The stone building looked to have been enlarged at least twice over the centuries, judging by the variation in stones. The original stones were rounded and of different sizes and the mortar between them irregular. In the next section, the stones were rough and of different sizes but rectangular and the mortar evenly spaced. In the final section, the stones were smooth and polished and the mortar barely could be seen. We entered the newer section and were led up a blue and gray carpeted staircase wide enough for four abreast and down a hallway lined with portraits and paintings of battle scenes. The rooms were enormous as usual and Shelly’s suite included a sitting room. The clothes had no sooner been delivered than hot water arrived with soap and towels.
"Isn’t this better than sleeping on the ground and riding a horse all day?" Shelly asked as Sarkis and Musa helped her bathe.
"Yes, Lady Shelly, although you could walk instead of ride," I said with a straight face. She gave me a scorching look of disapproval.
"Baronesses don’t walk."
"Being a baroness gives you the choice."
"I hear a lesson in that."
"Are you a baroness, or the Baroness Shelly?" I said, realizing I had meant it as something to consider. Normally, I kept my opinions to myself, but Shelly had made it clear she wanted to hear my thoughts. Ironically, while they might have been of value to her, they helped me form my new self. I did not want to stand out as against tradition, but I did not intend to be one of the pack. Shelly stared at me for a long time.