Talon of the Unnamed Goddess, a Fantasy Adventure

by C. R. Daems

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Race to Dassel: Usurper killed, peace restored

  "I wish I were going with you, hi'Lady," Lucjan said as we prepared to leave the castle. The army was mounted and ready to move as soon as Rhiannon gave the signal.

  "I need someone I trust to remain and rule the city, let the citizens feel things are back to normal, get things running again. The people need to know that they are safe, sec'Lucjan. Hopefully, we won't be too long finding and destroying hi'Radulf and his army." Rhiannon looked to me, her signal to leave. I raised my hand to Anton, who ordered the army forward.

  Anton and I had advised Rhiannon to keep a large contingent of Granyan guards and to recruit more. The war had reduced the army to less than a quarter, although Granya now had allies, soon to be family, on all her borders. At full strength, the army's presence would preclude nobles who would challenge Rhiannon's reign. Her recent contract with the Raptor Clan should discourage adversaries.

  Rhiannon led a procession of two hundred Granyan soldiers and a hundred Talons through the city. Crowds lined the winding streets, cheered and waved at hi'Lady Rhiannon as she passed. Tadzio still hung from the gallows in the town square, as did three other nobles and Minster Lucas. They would remain for a time, a sobering reminder of the potential consequences for those who would rise up against the hi'Lord or hi'Lady.

  Soon we passed the city walls and joined Awotwi and his Jaddahan army. Awotwi rode beside Rhiannon as the Jaddahans took the lead on the road to Terni. I was glad to see them talking as they rode, smiling at each other, happy in each other's company.

  We traveled from sunrise to sunset and reached Terni late on the second night. We lodged two nights so the horses could rest. After another two days' travel, we reached Livorno and stayed two nights. At each city Rhiannon walked through the town in the daytime and talked with the citizens. Everyone seemed genuinely pleased with the new hi'Lady.

  The ride to Dassel strained men and horses. After five days of hard riding, Rhiannon was exhausted, but she didn't complain. She spent each evening talking with the warriors of Granya and Jaddah and the Talons. I had no doubt that by the time we reached Dassel, she would lead an army who would die for her. Even the emotionless Talons were in love with her. I know I was.

  "Welcome, Rhiannon, my sister. It is always a pleasure to see you." Tafadzwa greeted hi'Rhiannon as we rode into the castle courtyard.

  "I suspect you are happy to see me," Rhiannon quipped with a sly smile, "because my advisor is along, my future brother. But never mind, it is nice to be among family. I hope in the future we will be frequent visitors, just for the joy of being with family and among friends."

  "Yes, I too look forward to that day. Is that not right, Awotwi, my warrior brother?"

  "Yes, Tafadzwa. I am a lucky warrior." He looked at Rhiannon and seemed genuinely happy.

  "My betrothed, it has been a long time." Tafadzwa smiled and took my hand.

  "It has only been a few weeks," I said. Actually, it seemed like we had only left yesterday.

  "But it has seemed like years." Tafadzwa helped me down from my horse. I felt foolish, a Talon being helped off a horse, yet giddy, held in his strong arms. He took my hand as he turned toward the commanders. "You all look tired. I have had your rooms prepared for you. We can talk after you have refreshed yourselves."

  "I must go with hi'Lady Rhiannon." Tafadzwa didn't release my hand.

  "Your room is mine. She does not need you to help her freshen up. My mother and sister will look after her. Father has sent another hundred troops to me along with my mother and two sisters. Mother is looking forward to being formally introduced to you since we are now betrothed." Tafadzwa grinned and I blushed. I had to stop blushing; it wasn't becoming for a Talon.

  * * * *

  The dinner was typical fare for Jaddah, many small bowls, each with a different dish. I couldn't have named half the food. I remembered his mother from our earlier meeting with Baqir and his family. But this time I wasn't Rhiannon's bodyguard. I was the center of her attention. After all, I would be her son's wife, the mother of her grandchildren.

  "You are Talon and trained at the Talon fortress, Aisha?" hi'Lady Sauda asked.

  "Yes, Lady. I spent ten years there."

  "You had no trouble there among all those men?"

  "No, hi'Lady, no trouble." I paused, then added, "No lovers." I knew that was what she wanted to hear. She smiled and nodded with what I saw was approval on her face.

  "You are a strong woman and warrior," Sauda said. I thought it was a statement of fact until I realized the hidden question. What kind of a wife will you make?

  "Yes, I am a warrior, as is Tafadzwa. And I'm a woman. Someday I would like children of my own. You see, I love Tafadzwa as he loves me." The discussion, while somewhat uncomfortable, helped me come to terms with the situation. I didn't know how this was going to work, but I wanted to try. The questions went on for some time, with everyone paying more attention to us than the food.

  "Enough, Mother," Tafadzwa said. "You will scare my beloved warrior away with all your questions."

  "I doubt that my son. She is not the type to be scared by me…or by you. I like her." Sauda rose to leave. "May Tiamat bless you, Aisha."

  Now only the war council remained. "So, now that we have eaten and my mother has satisfied her curiosity, what brings you here with such urgency? Savona has been liberated, yes?" Tafadzwa settled back against his cushions.

  "Hi'Radulf eluded us in Savona," Anton said, "with a hundred troops. He deserted Savona several days before we arrived. Aisha and I believe he is headed for Borkum and Adorf, two Valdan towns on the East Mystic River, to raise an army. With those garrisons, his new army could number four hundred warriors."

  "The question, then, is whether he will be content to stay in the east, go back into Granya, or attack Dassel." Tafadzwa wrinkled his forehead in thought. "If I were him, I would attack Dassel. He has partial support of the citizens."

  "Yes, Anton and I believe that is likely, hi'Lord Tafadzwa," I said. It sounded funny to call him by his title.

  "And what do you suggest we do, hi'Lady Aisha?" Tafadzwa mocked me with a new title, mischief in his eyes, and made me blush again. Damn the man.

  "I say we kill hi'Radulf. That should resolve the situation and give you time to unite the kingdom under your rule." He was far too handsome.

  "That would be convenient." Rhiannon blurted. "I mean, he is not alone or seen in public."

  "No, but he will have to travel from Borkum or Adorf to Dassel. That will mean they would camp in the Ebowood forest and travel the roads," I said. "His soldiers defend castles and fight with swords. The Jaddah and the Talons are superior with bows and knives."

  "So, we assassinate him in his camp or ambush him on the road, employ attacks designed to kill him rather than to destroy his army?" Tafadzwa stroked his jaw in thought.

  "Armies tend to be quick to disengage when their leaders are killed," Anton said and laughed. "I will send out scouts tomorrow. The army will move the next day. I will leave two hundred with Awotwi and take four hundred. With the Talons and Granyan troops, that will give us over six hundred warriors. Just in case the Valdans don't have sense enough to disperse after we kill hi'Radulf."

  * * * *

  I felt guilty not guarding Rhiannon or at least sleeping in the next room, even though Leszek had Talon guards in the hallway and at the door to her room. We were in the next hallway. I had little time to feel guilty since Tafadzwa kept me wrapped in his arms. Mostly, I was lost in a magical paradise where no evil men lurked and only good, exciting things were allowed to happen. Dawn broke the spell.

  "Good morn, my love," Tafadzwa whispered in my ear. I must have dozed off, because I jerked awake, not sure where I was for a moment. Fortunately, my knives lay scattered around the room or Taz wouldn't be laughing.

  "Morn, my love," I answered as I relaxed back into his arms.

  "Waking you is an exciting way to start the
day." He lay back and laughed. I hit him.

  * * * *

  The rest of the day we prepared the army to leave. Tafadzwa spent it with the Jaddahans. Anton worked with the Talons and formed teams for assassination in the forest. Rhiannon and I spent it arguing about her role and mine.

  "If you're going, I'm going." Rhiannon pressed her lips together in determination.

  "What purpose would that serve, hi'Lady?" I searched for reason.

  "To keep you out of trouble!" She defied reason. "Besides, hi'Radulf killed my father. I want to be there when he dies."

  In the end, we both won. Rhiannon was going along and Tafadzwa insisted we stay in his party so I would be close to him. Ironically, my first concern would have to be Rhiannon. With me, Leszek, who had a perpetual smile on his face, and his eight Talons, she would have plenty of protection.

  * * * *

  We left the next day. Our scouts reported no sign of the Valdan army. We stopped twenty-five leagues from Dassel and set up our ambush. The roads from Borkum and Adorf merged five leagues down the road. Tafadzwa divided his army, a hundred soldiers on the north side of the road, a hundred stationed on the south side, and two hundred located a league closer to Dassel, in case Radulf's army broke through toward Dassel. Tafadzwa established a command post with the Granyans, which provided a mobile force, if necessary. Anton led the Talons to find Radulf's camp for the attempt at an assassination; the Talons had a blood debt to settle.

  Rhiannon and I camped with Tafadzwa's force a half league off the main road. Five days later, the scouts rode into camp, jumped off their horses, bowed to hi'Lord Tafadzwa, and reported that Radulf had been sighted on the road from Adorf. His army numbered four hundred, with their scouts out about a league down the road and a hundred paces into the forest. They expected Radulf's army would make camp tonight about ten leagues short of the merge.

  The Talons returned, believing Radulf would make camp tomorrow night, well short of Dassel, to rest his troops. They planned their attack just before dawn. Whether they killed Radulf or not, they would retreat toward Dassel, where they would ambush any pursuers. Anticipating that the hi'Lord would remain at the rear of his army, Tafadzwa split off two hundred troops; he would let the Valdan army pass and close in behind them.

  The next night I paced with frustration. My brother Talons prepared to engage our sworn enemies, and I sat in safety, babysitting. That wasn't fair. Rhiannon wasn't a baby, but protecting her was important for Granya, and my duty. And I was close to Taz. But I missed the excitement of the action.

  Just as the gray light of dawn approached, we started receiving reports. Anton appeared out of the woods. "Aisha, our brothers hit hi'Radulf's camp an hour ago. We killed about a quarter of his force and retreated. It was a hard retreat, Sister. We lost seven and another ten were wounded. We could have killed more as we retreated, but that would have stopped their following us." Dirt smeared and dripping sweat, Anton wound a cloth around a cut on his arm as he spoke. "Within the next ten minutes, those chasing us should hit the ambush."

  "Do you know if you killed hi'Radulf?" I asked. This was Talon business and Tafadzwa stayed out of it. That was good. I loved him, but if we married, I would have Talon business to take care of. He had to understand that.

  "He may have been wounded, but he was moving the last time I saw him. I believe he knows it's a trap and will retreat east to Adorf."

  "Good!" Tafadzwa said. "My warriors will cut him off."

  An agonizing hour later, a Jaddahan warrior rode in on a lathered horse with news. "Hi'Lord Tafadzwa, we have crushed the Valdan army that chased the Talons. Maybe two hundred. We killed a hundred and fifty, captured thirty, and the rest escaped into the woods. Fir'Warrior Fassi ordered us not to pursue."

  "Excellent. Tell fir'Warrior Fassi to hold his position for now," Tafadzwa said. He smiled at Rhiannon. "It is just about over, my future sister."

  Three hours later, a large force of Valdan soldiers charged out of the forest from the south, screaming war cries. Radulf rode his big warhorse in the lead and a standard-bearer galloped at his side. A second group burst through from the northeast. Leszek and I moved in closer to Rhiannon as her guard encircled her. I lost track of Taz as I focused on the fighting, watching for anyone breaking through our guards. Radulf had us outnumbered and in the kind of fighting situation that gave them an advantage.

  We had to hold until we got reinforcements. The guards surrounding us backed their horses closer as Radulf pulled his rearing steed up and motioned his warriors toward us. With Radulf in the lead, a line of them charged. The Talons broke into two lines, four behind. Four dropped from their horses, swords drawn. With no lances or shields, the Talons were outmatched. Leszek and I drew and pulled our bows, taking aim at a leading charger. One went down to our arrows, then another. The charge hit, and the kneeling Talons rolled under the horses, slashing their bellies and legs.

  Horses went down with screams. I couldn't get a shot at Radulf with Talons in the way. I dropped my bow and let two of my throwing daggers fly through the air. Leszek and I picked the same soldier. I nudged my horse ahead of Rhiannon. Radulf rode over one of the Talons, hooves slashing. He ignored me, striking my horse in the neck instead. As my horse went down, I leapt, catching his arm and yanking him off his horse. We both landed on the ground unhurt. He rolled to the side, jumping to his feet almost as fast as I did. We stood facing each other, but then I heard the thunder of horses behind me. Backing up a step, I glanced around. We were surrounded by Jaddah warriors, drawing their bows. I waved them off.

  Sword in hand, Radulf smiled. I met his eyes calmly. The time had come for him to pay for the Talons he had killed. I dropped my sword and drew my knives. This was going to be up close and personal. He charged, his sword coming down to split my head in two. I twisted, the sword whistling by my face as I stepped close inside his guard. With a swipe, I cut his throat with my right dagger and stabbed his belly with my left. He fell and cheers rang around us.

  Several warriors jumped off their horses, picking up the dead hi'Lord and tying him face down to a horse. Taz had ridden up next to Rhiannon while I was fighting Radulf and sat staring at me and shaking his head.

  "Hi'Lord Tafadzwa," a warrior said, beside the dead body. "May I present to you your predecessor, ex-hi'Lord Radulf. I'm afraid he can't accept your generous terms of surrender. He's dead." He smiled broadly.

  "He antagonized my future wife. I'll have to remember not to," Tafadzwa said. The steely tension faded from his face. Turning to Rhiannon, he said, "Your father's murder is avenged, my sister."

  Rhiannon blinked back tears but managed a shaky smile through them. "The war is over. We have work to do. Rebuilding."

  "Celebration first. Then we will think about work."

  The ride back to Dassel was glorious. For the first time in months, I felt no strain of miscalculating and losing everything. I had much to look forward to. I was bodyguard and advisor and friend to hi'Lady Rhiannon. I was betrothed to hi'Lord Tafadzwa and in love. Almost drunk with exhilaration, I joined up with Tafadzwa and Rhiannon and we entered the city.

  That night Tafadzwa held a feast inside the castle for the senior members of the combined forces and invited influential local merchants and business owners. Rhiannon's Talons stood guard everywhere. I felt out of place sitting with Tafadzwa and Rhiannon. I felt like I should be standing behind her.

  "Sister Rhiannon, I can't believe you have contracted twenty Talons for me. I am forever in your debt." Tafadzwa kissed her on both cheeks. "For how long is the contract?"

  "A hundred years," Rhiannon lowered her head shyly with an impish smile.

  "What! I sit between two beautiful and dangerous women." He laughed, then rose and the room quieted.

  "Citizens of Valda, welcome. Today you see me as a conqueror in your lands. I hope that tomorrow you will see me as a just ruler. I am a plain desert man, not interested in the luxuries and excesses of your previous ruler. In addition, trade between Valda,
Jaddah, and Granya will be easier, because we are family. My father, as you know, is hi'Lord Baqir and my future sister is hi'Lady Rhiannon." Tafadzwa helped Rhiannon to stand. He then turned to me, and helped me to my shaky feet. "I would like you to meet my future wife, and new hi'Lady, Aisha Talon. The wedding will take place in three days."

  I sat in numb silence as hi'Lady Sauda came over and sat next to me.

  "We have a lot to do in three days, my daughter Aisha. Fortunately, you have me and my daughter and Rhiannon to help." I think I nodded affirmatively. But when I find Taz alone, we will have a long discussion about making decisions and announcing them without talking to me first! I felt dizzy with shock.

  The next fifteen minutes were a blur as people trooped by to congratulate the hi'Lord and me. Someone had arranged entertainment, an illusionist with a powerful Illusion Sigil, who created a beautiful array of flying birds and other creatures. Several dancing girls moved so sleekly, they seemed not to have any bones.

  When the illusionist finished, a juggler entered the center of the U-shaped table arrangement. I sensed the presence of a strong War Sigil, which seemed strange for a juggler. Almost automatically, I activated my sigil nullifying his. He was excellent, beginning with plates, then balls, then knives from the table. He had eight in the air when suddenly he caught one drawing his arm back for a throw.

  I screamed, "Leszek!" I dived across the table and hit both Taz and Rhiannon in the chest and knocked them backward. When I looked up, the juggler stood with two daggers in his neck and four in his chest. He collapsed as I watched.