Liberator

by Jones, Loren K.

  Day after day, week after week, Java and Robin became more and more integrated into the court. And the court became more and more integrated with them. After two months in court, Java looked at a stranger in the mirror.

  “Robin,” she said softly, “I’m losing myself.”

  Robin came to her side and looked in the mirror beside her. “You are still you, Java.”

  “No,” she whispered, staring at the mirror and shaking her head slowly. “I’m gone, Robin. I’m lost, and I don’t know how to find myself again.” Java turned suddenly and clasped Robin in a hard embrace.

  “Then we need to go looking,” Robin whispered.

  *

  Java and Robin approached Duke Arten and Duchess Naria later that week. Java bit her lips and studied the floor. “Sir, I need to get away from here. I need to get out. I need to find myself again.”

  “Java, look at me,” Duke Arten said softly. When Java looked up, he made a silly face.

  Java and Robin were both shocked into laughter. “What in the…?”

  “You two look so serious. Gods, you’d think you were announcing a death or something. If you feel smothered, then get out. You have an estate on the edge of town, Robin. Java, you have Link County. Or you can go just about anywhere. Go on, get out. You two are like a pair of wild falcons who’ve been mewed up too long. Fly, Java. Fly, Robin. Slip your jesses and ride the wind. But remember where your roost is.” Duke Arten stepped forward and hugged both girls, kissing each on the forehead.

  Java led a laughing Robin back to their suite. Both had begun packing when Java suddenly stopped. “Robin, I don’t want to go as Princess Java. I’m digging out my Scout standard.”

  “Then I’m digging out my plain riding robes. Honestly, Java, I never thought I’d get tired of silk and velvet.” Robin laughed, happier than she had been in weeks.

  The only concession Java took to her status were the brooches and a purse. “I still want to sleep in beds on the road, Robin. I don’t think I can take sleeping in barns and bushes right now.”

  “Uh huh, winter’s almost here. I’m not in the mood to freeze anything off in the bushes either. And, I’m in no mood to eat your cooking.” Robin grinned and laughed. Java’s only reply was to throw a pillow at her.

  Java and Robin rode side by side out of Whitehall. Java had decided to head to the one place she was fairly certain she would be treated like herself: Equintain, Lord Ahern’s estate.

  *

  Three days of easy riding brought Java and Robin to Equintain. The green pastures were mostly white with snow, and the trees mostly barren, but to Java, it looked like heaven. “Look at it, Robin. Just look at it,” Java whispered, never taking her eyes from the sight.

  Robin did look, and wasn’t impressed, but she wasn’t about to tell Java that. “It’s quite a sight, Java.”

  Java wasn’t listening. Riding slowly forward, she sat a little straighter in the saddle, held her head a little prouder, and adjusted her uniform to fit just right. Robin rode along behind her, letting Java ride first into her home.

  Java was looking about, noting the changes to her home over the years. Lord Ahern had added more pasture, and the fences were all freshly white-washed. The sight of the beautiful racehorses that Lord Ahern took such well-founded pride in brought her to the edge of tears. Then one horse in particular caught her eye.

  “Northstar? It can’t be.” Java rode forward as the horse whinnied at her and tossed his head. Dismounting, she handed Sugar’s reins to Robin before walking cautiously to the fence as Northstar strained to reach her. “Gods Above. You must be twenty-eight years old.” Java patted her old friend’s nose, then hugged his neck.

  “Hey, you, get away from that horse!” a deep voice shouted at her. “You heard me, back away.”

  Java looked over her shoulder and saw six men in ranch hand clothes running toward her with an assortment of farm implements in their hands. Stepping back, she held her hands out. “Calm down, I was just saying hello.”

  “Back away slowly, and don’t try for any of them knives. You just get on your horse and ride back out the way you came. We don’t want any of your kind here,” the leader was saying, threatening her with a hayfork.

  “And just what kind would that be, Jallan?” Java asked, smiling broadly as she finally recognized her would-be betrothed.

  “Trouble, that’s what kind. And how’d you know my name?” Jallan demanded as he stuck his chin out belligerently.

  The sight of Jallan, after all these years, still acting like the spoiled little boy she had run away from sent Java into a giggle fit. “Oh, Jallan, won’t you ever grow up?” she asked through her laughter.

  “Just who in the hells do you think you are?” Jallan stomped forward, intending to force Java back, but she stood her ground.

  Tilting her head prettily to the side, she grinned. “Jallan, it’s me. Java.”

  Jallan stopped dead in his tracks. “Java?” he asked, searching her face. Suddenly, he was on his knees. “Princess Java, please forgive me. I didn’t recognize you. I didn’t mean no disrespect.”

  “Oh, Jallan, don’t be ridiculous. Gods, I came home to get away from that crap.” Java grabbed him by the ear and lifted him back to his feet. Walking forward, she looked at the rest of the hands. “Arran, Kel, Doram, Ellis, and old Dombert. But who are you?” she asked a strapping young man who towered over her.

  “Ralf, Princess Java,” Ralf answered, grinning sheepishly.

  “Ralf? Gods Above!” Java looked up at the young giant who had sat on her knee and cried when she’d left only five years before. “Well, maybe this time I can sit on your knee?” she asked with a playful grin, and saw him blush.

  “Princess Java? Will you be staying for a while?” Jallan asked, drawing a disapproving glare from Java.

  “Stop calling me princess. I’m sick and tired of being called princess. Damnit, you’ve all known me since I was a child, or in Ralf’s case, since he was a child. Call me Java, you always did before.” Java’s petulant pout brought a burst of laughter from Dombert.

  “She’s back. I’d know that pout anywhere!” he crowed, then clasped Java into a hug. “Welcome back, Java love. Welcome back.”

  Dombert’s action was a signal to the rest of the men to crowd forward and claim a hug. Java was patted and hugged by all the hands, one at a time or together, as the opportunity presented itself.

  “Enough! Enough!” Java laughed when they threatened to overwhelm her. “Gentlemen, and Jallan, this is my friend and traveling companion, Master Mage Robin Cartwright.” Java motioned to Robin, who bowed in her saddle.

  All the hands quieted and bowed to Robin, unsure what to do. After all, Magi were at best unpredictable. At worst, they were dangerous.

  “I’m pleased to meet you at last. Java has told me a great deal about all of you.” Robin smiled and then laughed as Jallan blushed.

  “Mage Robin, we welcome you to Equintain,” Jallan said softly.

  Java giggled some more, then walked back over to where Northstar was still leaning over the fence, and hugged his neck. “Later, love. We’ll have a ride later.” She whispered and kissed his nose. To Jallan and the rest, she smiled and bowed. “Gentlemen, we’ve been on the road for three days. Why don’t we go on in and get settled, then we can catch up on what’s been happening.”

  Dombert came forward, taking over the lead from a stunned Jallan. “This way, Java love. You’re a sight for these old eyes.”

  “I’m happy to see you as well, Dombert.” Turning to look over her shoulder, she kissed at her horse and patted her thigh. “Come along, Sugar.” Sugar obediently trotted forward and slid in behind her, following in her footsteps.

  “Well now, you have her well-trained, don’t you?” Kel commented. As the senior trainer on the estate he had overseen Java when she had been around the horses.

  “She’s a scout’s mount, Kel. She always follows exactly behind me. And yes, before you ask, I did use your methods wi
th her. All the Firewalkers do. We have better luck with gentle mounts, even the cavalry.” She giggled softly. “You should see those big monsters when they start begging.”

  Kel laughed and put his arm familiarly around Java’s shoulder. Then he felt large teeth on his sleeve and looked back to find Sugar taking gentle hold of his arm. “What?”

  “Oh, I should have warned you. Nee Lah Dah Sha.” Java looked back at Sugar and Kel. “She’s trained to protect me. Let him go, Sugar,” Java said in a soft tone, and the horse obediently dropped Kel’s arm. “She doesn’t like anyone touching me except people she knows well. Even Robin has a hard time with her sometimes. That’s why Robin was holding her reins before. If I’d signaled her differently, you wouldn’t have an arm now.”

  Kel rubbed his arm and looked at Sugar. The horse looked back into his eyes as if daring him to touch Java again. “So I see. But what did you say to her? I didn’t even recognize the language, much less what you said.”

  “It’s Latté. Most of us use it when we’re dealing with our horses. It saves confusion, and not many know it well enough to counterfeit our commands.” Java kept her face forward while she spoke, hungry for the sight of home after so long.

  “Princess Java?” Ralf said tentatively.

  “Ralf, please stop calling me princess. I’m still Java to all of you,” Java said in a patient tone.

  Ralf smiled and looked at the ground. “Java, ah, I don’t know what to say. We all, umm, well, we heard rumors about you. That you’d got hurt, bad hurt. Are you all right?”

  Java laughed. “Oh, I got hurt, all right. Badly hurt a few times. But what are you so tentative about?”

  “Well, you see, we heard that you, well, you got hurt because you were… Um, that you…” Ralf stammered to a halt.

  “That I what?” Java looked to see Ralf blushing bright red, and the rest of the men looking grim.

  “That you was one of them that likes girls, Java. You know the attitude of the Cabal’s Chosen toward such women,” Dombert said straight out, glaring at Ralf.

  Java and Robin had discussed what to do in this situation, and had agreed that it was best if they kept their true relationship quiet. Java burst out laughing, glancing back at Robin. “You haven’t heard about Jah’Moke, then?”

  “What? What’s a Jah’Moke?” Dombert asked, unsure what Java meant.

  Robin took her turn laughing, then answered. “Jah’Moke is a who, not a what. He’s a Latté Scout with Randal’s Vandals. He and Java are, um, involved.” Her smile left no doubt exactly how involved they were.

  Dombert’s hand came up and smacked Ralf in the back of the head. “There, you see, you nitwit? You went and embarrassed yourself and Java for nothing but a vicious rumor.”

  “It’s all right, Dombert. We have a good idea who’s been spreading rumors about me.” Java looked back at Robin and grinned. “There have been a number of troublemakers that I’ve run afoul of. One of them got me ten lashes.” She paused as her friends reacted to that idea. “Others have caused me minor grief, such as Lord Broward.”

  “Lashes, Java?” Dombert asked in a breathy whisper as he stopped her by stepping into her way. “You can’t be serious.”

  Java looked up into his eyes, then unbuttoned her blouse. Stripping off her uniform, she turned her bared back to Dombert and flipped her hair out of the way. “See for yourself,” she said softly.

  Dombert began cursing, and was joined by the rest of the men. The telltale marks of the whip, along with scars from her arrow wounds, were clearly visible. “Java, who in the hells did this?” Dombert demanded angrily.

  “It was done at Captain Freeholm’s orders. It was caused by a woman who thought Robin and I were lovers.” Java buttoned her blouse, her eyes cold as she thought of Eva. “She lied to my sergeant and caused an incident. I broke the Code because of it, and this was my punishment. Her punishment for bearing false witness was to be dismissed, and banned from the League.”

  Robin had ridden up beside Java and looked down at the men. “Lord Broward tried to have Java’s claim as heir negated by saying that she and I were sellikkers. He said it in open court because Java wasn’t responding to any of the proposals she’d received. Duke Arten banished him to his county and named him an enemy of the duchy. Before he left, he tried to kill Java with a suicide spell. I received it instead, and killed his mage with a counter spell. Lord Broward’s family has always had an inflated opinion of themselves.” She smiled thinly. “Duke Arten gave me Lord Broward’s manor in Whitehall as a reward.”

  Every eye was on Robin except Java’s. She was busy straightening her clothes. “You see, I’ve had my share of trouble because of these rumors.” Java’s voice brought her friend’s attention back to her. “We don’t know where Eva went, but we know about Lord Broward. He’s not going to be content with his banishment. He’s going to try and cause trouble until he succeeds, or I kill him.”

  Dombert looked at her, then at the rest of the men. His craggy old face bore an expression of rage few men could stand up to. “No more of this nonsense. No more at all, and spread the word to the rest of the men. If I hear one more word…” he left the threat hanging, sure that the others all felt the same.

  Java stepped forward and grabbed his arm, making him turn and walk with her. “I don’t care about rumors, Dombert. What’s the gossip?” She grinned, seeing his smile return.

  “Ah, Java love, there’s been plenty to gossip of since you ran off. What have you heard?” Dombert’s smile was fatherly once again, but there was a hint of rage in his eyes. The next person to say anything about Java was going to get blasted.

  “I heard Jallan didn’t pine away when I left.” She grinned at Jallan’s blush. “Lord Ahern made Sarrin marry you. You and Sarrin have a boy and a girl now?” At Jallan’s nod, she smiled. “I’m glad you married her instead of me. For reasons I’ll never understand, she’s been in love with you for ages.” She smiled slightly at the look of anger in Jallan’s eyes. He didn’t dare say anything, though. Her titles aside, stories of how dangerous she had turned out to be had made it to Equintain. “I heard Morin ran off with a tinker. Is that true?” she asked, looking at Kel, Morin’s father.

  Kel frowned. “All too true, Java. And if I ever get my hands on him…” his eyes were cold, finishing his sentence for him.

  “Don’t be too hard on him, Kel. Morin and I were a lot alike. Hells, we are a lot alike. We both ran off to do what we wanted rather than doing what our fathers wanted. I was afraid I’d been disowned until Lord Ahern brought mother and father to Whitehall with him.” She smiled and pulled him close.

  Kel sighed gustily. “Maybe so, Java. But I haven’t heard from her in almost a year.”

  “Well, Robin and I are going to be traveling around a bit. We’ll ask around for her. What else?”

  Ellis laughed, then coughed. “Lord Ahern got an offer on Northstar a year after you ran off. Lord Williamson offered almost twice what Lord Ahern paid, but Lord Ahern, he wouldn’t hear a word of it. Northstar is still siring champions. One of his get, a filly off of Rivvasen, she won the crown last year.”

  “That was Florin?” she asked. When she received nods all around she cursed. “Damn! If I’d known…I bet on Gallis.” She pretended to pout as the men laughed.

  “Florin has her own colt this year by Destrin, that roan over there.” Dombert pointed to where a stallion was kicking up his heels.

  Java’s eyebrows contracted. “Lord Ahern took her out of the races so soon?”

  “Torn ligament, left hind. She can’t run at all, and has to hobble about. But she’s still a winner, and her bloodline will be winners,” Ralf said, excited for some reason. Java’s curious look was enough to get him talking. “Lord Ahern, he let me raise her, and he’s letting me have charge of her colt as well.”

  Kel cleared his throat to get Java’s attention. “Ralf is my apprentice now.” He smiled broadly as her eyes widened. “That idiot Brander started whipping Northstar one
day, and Lord Ahern ran him off. Literally. If the lord had caught him…” Kel laughed.

  “I can imagine.” Java laughed. The idea of anyone beating Northstar was ridiculous. Java quieted as the manor house came into view past the barns and stables. “Oh, Gods Above, it’s good to be home,” she whispered.

  Dombert heard her whisper and nodded. “It’s good to have you home, Java love. It’s very good to have you home.”

  Someone had seen the men run off, and then come back with two strangers. Lord Ahern was on the porch waiting, and began yelling as soon as he recognized Java. People scurried about at his orders, and soon Java’s parents were on the porch as well.

  Ambros Mountainstand hurried down the steps to run limping to his daughter’s side. “Java!” he cried as soon as he was in range, and picked her up, twirling her around. Robin quickly grabbed Sugar’s bridle to keep her out of it. “Oh, Java, welcome home. Welcome home.” He kept repeating as he buried his face in her hair.

  Java was silent. It felt so good to be home, back in her father’s arms. She hadn’t felt so protected in a very long time.

  CHAPTER 10: SURPRISES

  Home changes like everything else. Don’t be disappointed.

  Embrace the new like an old friend.

  Master Scholar Prince Stavin Zel’Andral, “Errant Thoughts”

  JAVA’S HOMECOMING WAS CAUSE FOR A celebration. Lord Ahern set everyone to preparing, sending runners to the outlying pastures to make sure everyone was there. Java took a moment and quietly told her parents the story she and Robin had given the men.

  By nightfall, the celebration was in full swing, with a group of amateurs providing music to dance to. Java and Robin were the most sought-after partners, and both laughed and danced with as many men as they could.