by Martin Owton
“Get fed and then get some sleep,” ordered Granna.
“We should try and get Celaine out tonight,” said Edith as the deposited their gear in their tent. “The camp’s nearly empty. The Duke’s house may not even be guarded.”
“We still have nowhere to take her,” said Aron.
“Kusso will help us,” said Edith.
“Are you sure?” asked Maldwyn.
“He was bringing me here when we ran into the enemy,” said Edith. “I saved his life. He’s my friend.”
“Then we should talk to him,” said Aron. “See what ideas he’s got.”
“I’ll find him after we’ve eaten,” said Edith.
They ate a rich beef stew and fresh bread by lamplight in the mess tent then Aron and Maldwyn lingered at the table while Edith went in search of Kusso just as the promised rain arrived.
“What are you thinking?” asked Maldwyn.
“That we can’t hide Celaine here, and we have no plan to get back down the coast,” said Aron. “You’ve been in the forest, you know how easy it is to get lost. I don’t want to go in after her until we’ve got a very solid idea of how we’re going to get her home.”
“I agree. It could easily make things worse. But we’ll see what this Kusso has to say.”
“Yes,” said Aron. “I also want to see how much Lord Merrek’s gratitude is worth.”
“You trust him? I thought you regarded the House of Caldon as your bitter enemy.”
“I did, but it’s hard to hate a man whose life you’ve just saved.”
A bedraggled Edith came back into the tent. “I can’t find him. Lots of the camp is dark and I can’t see the scouts’ tents.”
“He’s probably asleep,” said Maldwyn. “As we should be.”
“We’ll find him tomorrow,” said Aron.
“Do you have any of the mushrooms left?” asked Edith.
“There should be, we bought a good quantity in Keshan,” said Aron.
“I want to see if I can reach, tell that we’re close,” said Edith. “Then have a look at how the house is guarded.”
“Just don’t make any specific promises about when we’re coming for her,” said Aron.
He went to beg hot water from the cooks and they hurried through the rain back to their tent where Thomi, Jirg and Haas were already asleep. There Aron pulled out the oilcloth bag of mushrooms they had bought in Keshan and selected a half-handful to steep in the mug of hot water.
“It’s early yet,” said Aron. “She may not be asleep.”
“I need to do it now,” said Edith. “If I wait much longer I’ll be asleep myself.”
Aron, struggling to keep the weariness at bay himself, passed her the mug. She drained in with a wince at the taste then lay back on her bedroll.
“Hold my hand,” she said.
Maldwyn settled down beside them and within a short time was asleep. Aron heard Edith’s breathing alter, he gently squeezed her hand and closed his eyes.
Deep in the night Aron woke from fractured dreams of crawling through dark narrow caves to Edith calling his name.
“I found her. She’s still in the house. They’ve really hurt her.” She said in a choked whisper. “She’s in a bad way and wasn’t making much sense. I tried to tell her we’re near, but I don’t know that she took it in.” Aron held her as she buried her face in his chest.
After a while she raised her head, wiped her eyes and continued. “There are people downstairs and in the bathhouse. There are the two guards at the front, but the bathhouse door is unguarded.”
“That’s our way in then if we have to,” said Aron. “Did you reach your mother?”
“No. I ran out of time.”
“No matter. It can wait until we have Celaine.”
Aron lay back and closed his eyes, Edith’s hand still in his.
***
The trumpet woke them at the usual time in the morning and they arose for breakfast. After the meal Edith went in search of Kusso, Aron and Maldwyn returned to their tent where Granna and Captain Elthorn sought them out.
“Lord Merrek wants to see you,” Captain Elthorn said to Aron.
With a nod to Maldwyn, Aron left and followed Granna and Elthorn through the camp to the inner compound. The camp was much quieter than when Aron had first seen it, with lines of tents unoccupied and closed up. An air of subdued mourning hung in the damp air.
Lord Merrek himself was relaxed and well-scrubbed, clad in fresh linen shirt and dark woollen trousers. He offered watered wine and fresh bread and cheese which Aron accepted.
“Granna tells me that we owe you twice over for our relief,” he said. “In addition to keeping the demon in the cave, I understand it was your idea to break the conjuring circle with the water skins.”
“That’s correct, my lord,” said Aron. He glanced at Granna who nodded in support.
“Then we owe you more than I can measure,” said Lord Merrek. “My Lord Claran will live, I’m told, and with the shaman removed we stand a chance of holding on here. This fortress would not have withstood the demon. What can I possibly offer you to express our thanks?”
Aron took a deep breath. “There’s a girl in the Duke’s house who arrived just before us. She is Lady Celaine of Nandor. She was kidnapped by bandits and sold in Keshan. We came north to fetch her back. The tall fellow with me is Maldwyn, Earl of Nandor, the archer is Lady Edith of Nandor.”
Lord Merrek’s eyes opened in surprise. “And who are you?”
“I’m the blademaster of Nandor.” Not actually true, but I will be.
“I knew you were no ordinary soldier,” said Granna.
“That’s quite a story,” said Lord Merrek. “How did it come about?”
Aron told the story of Baldwin’s death and Celaine’s abduction, carefully skirting around his absence, and their journey to Keshan.
“How do you know Lady Celaine is here?” asked Lord Merrek.
“We saw her sold and carried onto your ship in Keshan, my Lord. We haven’t seen her since we arrived, but I can’t imagine where else she would be.”
“And you would like her returned. Very well, I shall enquire of her. Is that all?”
“Passage back to Keshan would be appreciated, my Lord.”
“That is easy to deliver.”
Lord Merrek went to the door and spoke to someone beyond it then returned.
“Do you know who was responsible for this outrage?” he asked.
“A cousin of Earl Maldwyn, who would inherit the title in the event of his death,” said Aron.
“Audacious, but an all too common story,” said Lord Merrek. “You will pursue him?”
“To the ends of the earth,” said Aron.
“I heard what you did to Lorcan,” said Granna. “Were you at the Academy?”
“I was.”
“I suppose there’s no prospect of convincing you to stay with the company,” said Captain Elthorn. “We could certainly use a man like you.”
“I regret not, Captain,” said Aron. “There is much to be done back in Nandor. Not least hunting down cousin Tancred.”
There was a knock at the door and a woman stepped into the room.
“You wanted to see me, my Lord?” she said. Despite her plump matronly appearance, Aron thought there was a hard look to her face.
“Yes, Ashwin. I believe you had a new girl by the name of Celaine join the house recently,” said Lord Merrek.
“That’s right, my Lord. She is still adjusting to the life. It can take a while.”
Aron forcefully suppressed any reaction her words, imagining the cruelties involved in the adjustment.
“Did she claim to be nobly born?” asked Lord Merrek.
“She did, my Lord. It’s not uncommon. They think it means they’ll get better food and bedding. They’re invariably lying.”
“But in this case it is true,” said Lord Merrek. “She is Lady Celaine, sister of the Earl of Nandor.” He pointed to Aron. “This man is the blad
emaster of Nandor, and you will release her into his care.”
Her face froze for a moment then she inclined her head. “Very good, my Lord.”
Lord Merrek turned to Aron. “Passage to Keshan will be arranged on the next ship.” He reached out his hand and Aron took it. “I don’t feel that this pays even half my debt. If I can assist you with anything at all in the future I expect you to call upon me.”
“A pleasure to serve with you, my Lord,” said Aron. Then he followed Ashwin out into the compound.
“I’ll take you straight to her,” said Ashwin, head down.
“First I need to find her brother, my Lord of Nandor and her sister, and bring them to her,” said Aron. “She will need her sister.”
“Very good, sir. I’ll be at the House. “I didn’t know she was noble, sir.”
“You didn’t. Those responsible will pay.”
Aron left her and walked back to the company area feeling as if a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders. Lord Merrek’s gratitude had rescued them from what would have been a very hard road.
All five of the Nandor party were waiting for him when he reached their tent. Edith and Maldwyn leapt to their feet at the sight of him.
“What did he say?” asked Edith.
“Lord Merrek has given us back Celaine,” said Aron.
“Thanks be to Martis,” said Thomi.
“Thanks to Aron,” said Maldwyn. “His efforts that have brought this. The Demon slayer.”
“She’s up at the Duke’s house now waiting for us,” said Aron. “Edith, she’ll need you.”
Aron, Edith and Maldwyn walked swiftly up to the inner gate then to the Duke’s house where Ashwin was waiting at the door.
“This is Maldwyn, Earl of Nandor and his sister Lady Edith,” Aron said to Ashwin. “Would you take us to Lady Celaine.”
Ashwin curtseyed deeply to them. “I didn’t know she was noble, sir,” she said to Maldwyn.
“Just take us to her,” said Aron.
Ashwin took them inside to a ground-floor room at the back, not upstairs as Aron expected. As they approached the door Aron prepared to confront his worst fears.
The room was dominated by a bed, large enough for two or three. Woollen coverings softened the bare wooden walls, a small stove warmed the space and an untouched tray of food sat on a table by the bed.
Celaine sat up and shrank back against the end wall. Aron did not recognise her. Her hair was cut short, her cheeks hollow and her eyes, filled with fear, stared manically but did not track them.
“Celaine!” Maldwyn stepped towards her but Edith got in ahead of him. Celaine tried to retreat further with a whimper but had nowhere to go. Edith caught her in her arms and cradled her, tears streaming down her face.
“There’s nothing useful we can do here. We’ll leave them for a while,” said Aron, pulling Maldwyn out of the room.
“The Lady Edith will be staying with her sister until we leave,” said Aron to Ashwin. “See that she has everything she needs.”
“Yes, sir,” said Ashwin, still not meeting his eye. “I’ll make sure that happens, sir.” She left them at the door and went through another door at the end of the corridor.
“I wouldn’t have known her, and she didn’t know us,” said Maldwyn. “What are we going to do? She’s been grievously mistreated.”
“Care for her here until there’s a ship to take us to Keshan.”
“What about the people here who’ve hurt here? That woman?”
“We can do nothing here. We have been offered a clear path back to Nandor, and for Celaine’s sake, I think we must take it with no distractions. There are others more culpable, those we will pursue.”
They walked out of the house, feeling oppressed by what had passed within it. Looking out to sea, Aron saw a sail on the horizon.
“That’s our passage home,” he said.
“I’ll be happy to leave,” said Maldwyn. “Nandor won’t seem too quiet any more.”
“Not words I ever thought I’d hear you say.”
“That was before I saw the demon.”
***
“How is the Lady Celaine, my Lord?” asked Thomi. They were sat in their tent back in the company compound.
“She has been grievously treated,” said Maldwyn. “They hurt her badly.”
“Is she going to pull through?” asked Haas.
“It’s hard to say,” said Aron. “Lady Edith is with her now in the Duke’s house. She’ll stay there until we board the ship.”
“We’re all finished here then?” said Thomi.
“Captain Elthorn and Granna heard the story along with Lord Merrek,” said Aron. “We need to speak to them to arrange formal release from the company.”
“And get paid,” said Thomi.
“That too,” said Maldwyn.
Haas and Yirg exchanged glances and looked awkwardly at Maldwyn.
“My Lord?” said Haas. “Me and Yirg were thinking to stay with the company awhile. ‘Tis good money they’re paying.”
Maldwyn looked at Aron. “What do you think?”
“They’ll come back better soldiers, if they come back.”
“I’m coming back,” said Haas. “I’ve a sweetheart in the town. If I stay a year, I can buy us a place.”
“What about you?” Maldwyn asked Thomi.
“I want to go home, my Lord.”
“Very well then,” said Maldwyn. “We’d better seek out Captain Elthorn.”
***
“If I can’t persuade you to stay, then I suppose I have to pay you,” said Captain Elthorn.
He got up from his map-strewn table and went to an iron-bound chest at the back of the tent. Drawing out a key from his tunic, he opened it and took out a cloth bag that clinked when he laid it on the table.
“Twelve silvers a month wasn’t it?”
“Yes, Captain,” said Aron. “Two of the men we brought with us wish to stay.”
“That’s four of you then? One man-at-arms, yourself, my Lord of Nandor and Lady Edith, the archer.” He reached into the bag. “A very competent archer by the accounts I’ve heard.”
“Yes,” said Aron. “You knew.”
“She’s not the first woman to serve with the company. Possibly the youngest and the first archer, but we’ve had several woman soldiers.”
“I’m surprised,” said Maldwyn.
“If they’re competent, and don’t cause trouble among the men then there’s no reason to turn them away,” said Elthorn. He counted out a small pile of coins and pushed them towards Maldwyn. “Caldon lost the bulk of their household troops. There’ll be plenty of work for the companies if any of you want to return. You remain members of the company until the end of the month, so you can use the barracks when you get to Keshan.”
Maldwyn gathered up the coins and, thanking Captain Elthorn, they left him to his maps.
“It’ll take Caldon a long time to recruit and train the troops to cover their losses,” said Aron.
“Are you thinking it would be a good time to try and free Darien?” said Maldwyn.
“It’s a thought, isn’t it? They’ve little alternative than to withdraw troops from there to reinforce here.”
“They could hire more mercenaries.”
“They could, but they already have most of them, and I’ve no doubt the companies will take the chance to raise their prices.’
They looked down to the wharf where a mule train was unloading its cargo of silver ore onto the ship that would carry them to Keshan.
“That’ll take all their silver and more.”
“I wonder what the Exiles will do when they find out,” said Aron. “I’ll need to write some letters when we get back.”
“Are you thinking of leading a revolt?”
“It’s tempting, but no. I’ll happily offer advice to anyone who is though.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I hope you’ll stay in Nandor.”
***
“She’s sleeping now
and I got her to eat something,” said Edith, her voice tight with emotion. “But they hurt her really badly. She’s been beaten, drugged and raped several times as far as I can make out. She knows me, and I’ve told her we’re taking her home.”
“Does she want to see us?” asked Maldwyn.
“I’ve told her you’re here,” said Edith. “I’m not sure she took it in.”
“If she’s been raped then I could understand how the sight of any man would upset her,” said Aron.
“But we have to get her onto the ship,” said Maldwyn.
“There’ll be a cabin for the two of you,” said Aron. “We’ll be with the cargo like on the way up.”
“I’ll stay with her tonight and make sure she’s ready to travel tomorrow,” said Edith. “She’ll come. She wants to go home.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Aron nearly cheered aloud as the ship approached the towers that guarded the entrance to Keshan harbour. It would have been a weak cheer; despite the sailors’ assurance that the weather was calm for the time of year, Aron had been sick from the moment they left Cuiport. He had been able to spend very little time in the cabin before the nausea drove him up on deck. Celaine at least knew him, and had gripped his hands and whispered “I knew you’d come”.
Her words gave him some hope for her recovery, but still it tore at his heart every time he looked at her and the anger grew against those responsible. She spent a lot of time sleeping and when she wasn’t, she sat in silence holding Edith’s hands. Sometimes she wept, but most of the time stared at some distant horizon only she could see; her gaze disturbingly similar to the haunted look of the poor lost souls that Aron had met amongst the Darien refugees.
Maldwyn came to join Aron at the rail to watch the sails being lowered, the harbour chain opened and the ship towed to its mooring by a ten-oared longboat.
“Will we go to the barracks or stay at Barty’s inn?” asked Maldwyn.
“Barty’s would be more comfortable,” said Aron. “But I don’t know if we can afford it. We have to buy passage back down the coast, and I’ve little idea of how much that might cost.”
“We know what it cost to get here.”