The Walls of Westernfort

by Jane Fletcher

  It was now impossible for her to see Dani and Ash as enemies. She could not understand how two such decent women had become ensnared in heresy, but she knew who was to blame. When she thought of the leaders of the heretics—the fiends whose lies had corrupted Dani’s soul—Natasha felt seething anger. Losing her own life was a small price for the honor of executing them. Her only regret was that she would not get the chance to explain things to Dani.

  Natasha stared at the red glow flickering over the ceiling. With the grace of the Goddess, all things were possible. Was it too much to hope that, with the leaders gone, the heretics would see that they had been deceived, and Dani might escape the fate of the wicked? The final triumph of the mission, one to outstrip all Natasha’s hopes, would surely be if Dani would rejoin the faithful. And then maybe, after death, she might meet again with Dani in the light of Celaeno’s love, when all would be understood and forgiven. It was something to pray for.

  *

  Five days later, they reached the entrance to the wide canyon that split the mountain range. The flat bottom of the rift valley was easily five kilometers wide. On either side, the cliffs rose sheer. The vegetation had increased to a sparse woodland of evergreen shrubs, which had little effect in breaking the force of the elements. For the first time, it was snowing in earnest, and the wind was rising. It was not a night to spend in the open. Fortunately, Ash had spoken about another outpost close by.

  The building was at the bottom of a gentle hollow and partially concealed by bushes. It was a timber construction, like a scaled-down version of the deserted longhouse where they had met. The smell when they entered confirmed that one end was normally used as stables. The main room was small but dry, and a pile of chopped wood was ready by the fireplace. When Ash checked the stores, however, the news was not so good. The chest contained only one small bag of oatmeal.

  “A lot of people stop here,” she explained. “We’re one day’s ride from Westernfort. Usually, this post is well stocked, but someone else must have been through recently.”

  “Any chance of getting to Westernfort tomorrow?” Rohanna asked.

  Ash thought for a moment. “If we were all fresh, and the weather was mild, we’d make it. But we’re going to have knee-high snow tomorrow, and none of us are in top form after the trek we’ve had. It will have to be the day after.”

  Cal made a watery gruel from the oats and the last of their food. Nobody spoke much as they sat in the firelight, sipping the thin, tasteless liquid and listening to the wind. There was no likelihood of having anything else to eat until they reached Westernfort, and the weather outside was turning into a blizzard. Natasha was worried by the thought of being snowbound. Yet Ash was confident that the storm would blow itself out by morning, and experience had shown that her judgment was dependable.

  Natasha’s thoughts skipped ahead to the next few days. They would soon get to Westernfort and complete their mission with as little delay as possible, although it would be nice if they could get at least one decent meal first. Rohanna had not spoken about her plans for the executions. Doubtless, the details would depend on the circumstances they found in Westernfort, but with three Guards and three targets, it would only be fair if they were allocated one each.

  Natasha had played with this idea before, wondering which of the three leaders she would most like to execute personally. Not that it took much thinking about. It was Kimberly Ramon who had forced Ash to desert, contaminating a good woman with her own evil. Killing her would put an end to the songs about the bold Ranger captain. Furthermore, Ramon was a soldier. The risk and the glory would be much greater in tackling her than in killing an old woman or an Imprinter, regardless of how much those two might deserve to die.

  Natasha glanced toward Rohanna and sighed. Chances were that she would be assigned a supporting role while the two older Guards carried out the executions.

  Dani misinterpreted the reason for the sigh. She grinned at Natasha and joked, “Finished already?”

  Natasha remembered her surroundings. She stared down at the unappetizing dregs in her bowl. “I don’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed that there’s so little of it.”

  Dani laughed and was about to say something else when they heard the whinny of a horse over the wind, followed by clinks and a voice. The first thought to go through Natasha’s mind was Oh, no. After coming so far, we can’t have been caught. Yet Ash was clearly unbothered. She jumped up with a broad smile and raced toward the stables, pausing only to grab a lantern on the way. Her arrival at the far end of the building was followed by much excited shouting.

  Dani had evidently seen Natasha’s expression of dismay and guessed her fears. She reached out to grasp Natasha’s shoulder. “You aren’t going to meet any live Guards this close to Westernfort. Don’t worry. They’ll be friends.”

  Within seconds, Ash returned to the room, leading three strangers. All were dressed like her, in the modified Ranger’s uniform. Their shoulders were dusted with melting snow.

  “Do you mind sharing your fire?” one asked playfully.

  “Only if you’ll share your dinner,” Dani answered.

  The three were clearly very familiar to both Dani and Ash, and their greetings were the casual teasing of reunited friends. Even without understanding all the overtones, Natasha found a broad smile spreading across her face. And the thought of food made her more than well disposed toward the newcomers.

  Before long, everyone was settled by the fire, and Ash was preparing a more substantial meal. The oldest of the newcomers looked to be in her early forties. She was the tallest by a good few centimeters, with a light, firm build. Despite her informal manner and the absence of a badge denoting rank, she was obviously an officer of some sort. While the others continued their joking, she considered Rohanna, Cal, and Natasha with shrewd eyes.

  Rohanna had also noticed the attention they were receiving and ran through a quick introduction. “I am Rohanna Korski. This is my partner, Calinda Rowse. And that is our daughter, Jess.”

  The officer’s astute gaze took in the three women. Then she smiled and said, “And I am Kimberly Ramon.”

  Part Two

  Keeping Faith

  Chapter Nine—The Enemy Stronghold

  The battle to disguise her reaction to the name absorbed all of Natasha’s self-control. She was so concerned with keeping her face impassive that she completely missed the introductions for the other two. The evil fiend she had come to kill sat less than two meters away, chatting amiably like a normal human being. And what was I expecting? Natasha derided herself. Cal’s words in the tavern came back to her, Smile. Remember, she’s our hero.

  Rohanna and Cal also appeared to be taken aback by the newcomer’s identity, and Ash was noticeably subdued. Fortunately, Dani was doing enough talking to make up for everyone. Most of the conversation passed by Natasha as noise, but she got back in touch in time to hear that some people called Jenny and Madra were doing well and had finally decided to have a child; Tanya was still determined to join the Rangers, and Shelly was keenly awaiting Dani’s return. At that news, Dani groaned melodramatically before going on.

  “And what are you doing back in uniform, Kim?”

  “The uniform, yes.” Kim adjusted to the change of topic. “We wondered where you were. Chip wanted to send out search parties. I wasn’t busy and fancied some fresh air—or thought I did—before the snow started. This old uniform is the best clothing I have for tackling the wildlands.”

  “That’s a weak excuse if ever I’ve heard one. We think she just wanted to play at being a Ranger again,” another of the newcomers said, grinning.

  Kim raised her eyebrows at the teasing but did not dispute the words. “So what happened to you? We were expecting you by mid-November.”

  Ash cleared her throat. “Er...I’m afraid to report, ma’am, we ran into problems, and I made some questionable decisions. It—”

  Even before Natasha could step in to dispute Ash’s self-criticis
m, Kim interrupted. “It’s easy to question decisions with hindsight. But I’m not captain anymore. I wasn’t expecting a formal report; you’ll have to save it for Chip. But I can tell you straight off, both she and I know that if you had problems getting here, then with any other guide, there’d be five new little piles of bones out in the wilderness. So just give us the heroic version of the story, and we’ll all applaud in the right places.”

  Ash’s face showed a mixture of gratitude and relief. She ran a hand over her cropped hair. “Well, I guess the problems began when Jess and Dani were ambushed by Guards.” She launched into the tale, aided by the others. Dinner was cooked and eaten by the time they had finished, and the fire was burning low. The group settled down for a last round of news before sleeping.

  “So what else has happened in Westernfort while we’ve been away? How’s Gina?” Dani asked.

  The three new arrivals hesitated, their smiles gone. “Well...” Kim began reluctantly.

  “Bad news?” Ash said.

  Kim nodded. “I’m afraid Gina—”

  “She’s been ill?” Dani did not let her finish.

  “She was,” Kim said gently. “I’m sorry. Gina died three months ago. I should have said sooner.”

  Dani’s lips twisted in pain, and she hid her face in her hands. After a moment of hesitation, Natasha put an arm around her shoulders, yet it felt wrong to be offering comfort for the death of someone she had been planning on killing.

  “She’ll be missed.” Ash’s eyes had also filled with tears.

  “She is. Lynn took it hard. She feels that she failed, but even an Imprinter has limits to what she can heal.” Kim shrugged with one shoulder. “Gina was seventy-eight. She didn’t do too badly.”

  “Was it another stroke?” Ash asked.

  Kim nodded in reply. She spoke a little more, describing the details of Gina’s last days. In listening, Natasha was aware of her own contradictory impulses. It was impossible not to be moved by the anguish of the others, yet Gina had been the source of the heresy, the one who had incited hatred of the Goddess. Her death was long overdue, and any true daughter of Celaeno should have felt only joy in learning of it.

  Kim finished talking.

  “I’d have liked to say goodbye,” Dani mumbled through her hands.

  “It’s hard. But I think Gina felt we were making more than enough fuss as it was.”

  “I can imagine.” Dani sat up and wiped her eyes. For a few seconds, she fought for control of her lower lip. “Anyway, isn’t it time for sleep?” It was obvious from her face that she would not fall asleep easily. Natasha guessed that Dani wanted the privacy of darkness to deal with her grief. She discreetly removed her arm from Dani’s shoulder and was rewarded by a quick half smile of thanks.

  Natasha’s head was also in far too much turmoil for sleep. Once the lanterns were out, she lay wrapped in her blanket, staring at the dull red glow on the ceiling and trying to sort out her thoughts. Naively, she had expected Kim Ramon to be like the sinister villains of street theater. The Chief Consultant had conceded that the woman had many admirable qualities, yet Natasha had blithely assumed that she would easily see through the transparent mask to the evil within her soul. If it was a mask.

  The memory of Ash’s face when Kim had refused to let her blame herself for the problems on the trail came to mind. Kim might no longer have been the captain of the Westernfort Rangers, but from that one small exchange, and from her tone and expression as much as her words, Natasha knew that Kimberly Ramon would always command the loyalty of those who had served under her. Natasha thought of the popular officers in the Guards—the ones who had not relied on military discipline to cover for their own weaknesses, who had led by encouragement, and who were trusted because they in turn trusted their subordinates. At last, Natasha could begin to guess why somebody like Ash had willingly followed her captain and deserted.

  The mission was unraveling in Natasha’s head. She realized she was grateful that Gina was already dead, despite Dani’s grief. Now the number of people to kill had been reduced by one. Even though striking down the founder of the heresy might have been to the glory of the Goddess, Natasha no longer wanted any part in it. Yet, two women were still left to kill, one lying just a few meters away—sleeping, breathing, warm blood pulsing through her heart. For the first time, Natasha desperately wished that she had never volunteered for the mission.

  *

  The search party had a spare horse with them, a well-laden pack animal. The supplies were left in the outpost, allowing everyone to ride if they doubled up. However, the horses could not carry the extra load for the whole journey. The day was spent taking turns riding and walking. Natasha found it painfully arduous, even though preferential treatment was given to the women who were worn out from the trek across the wilderness. Night fell long before they reached Westernfort. The wind was freezing against her skin.

  Natasha realized that they had made it to their destination only when they stopped. Thick clouds obscured the moons, and a black cliff reared up close by. Cascading water was the loudest sound, but rumbling beneath it were the soft grunts of many drowsy animals. Natasha slipped from the saddle and looked around. No one was in sight, apart from a few hostlers who took charge of the horses. No lanterns shone in the darkness. In the absence of light, she could just make out buildings looking like rough barns. Cal had said that Westernfort might not match their idea of a civilized town, but Natasha had not been expecting anything quite so basic.

  “Where do we go?” she asked.

  “Up,” Ash replied cryptically and pointed to the cliff.

  Natasha tilted her head and spotted a pair of lanterns. They appeared to be floating in midair. Then her eyes adjusted to the darkness. A hundred meters above them, the face of the cliff was broken by a broad chasm. A waterfall spouted at one side. The opening was undoubtedly natural, but the bottom was too regular, and now that Natasha looked more closely, she could see that a barricade had been built across the entrance. Its shape was outlined by lamplight glinting on a thin coating of snow. The two lanterns hung on either side of a gateway in this wall.

  A pathway up had been carved into the vertical side of the cliff. The rest of the group was heading toward it. Natasha and Dani followed. The cutting was scarcely an armspan wide. As they got higher, Natasha was grateful for the darkness so she could not see the drop over the side; she was even more grateful that someone had taken the trouble to sweep the snow away from underfoot. She kept as far from the edge as she could, to the amusement of Dani, walking beside her.

  “Don’t you like heights?” Dani asked.

  “Heights are okay. It’s falling I’m not keen on.”

  “No one’s been killed on this path yet.” Dani paused before adding cheerfully, “Except for a couple of hundred Guards, of course.”

  Natasha clenched her teeth. The Chief Consultant had spoken of the losses received in the attack on Westernfort. They were brave women who died heroically for their faith, she wanted to say, but could not. They deserve respect. In a flare of anger, she fixed her eyes on the approaching gates—unguarded, as if the heretics were flaunting their invulnerability. But then a voice called out an irreverent welcome from above.

  “Dani...back so soon?”

  Dani laughed and shouted in reply, “Try saying that as if you’re pleased to see me!”

  Natasha looked up. The faces of several Westernfort Rangers were smiling down at them from the top of the wall. The Guards would have posted sentries outside the gate, with swords drawn. The heretics had posted theirs where they could have the greatest military, rather than visual, effect. You can show respect by taking your enemy seriously. Natasha’s anger faded. She was about to enter into the heart of the enemy stronghold. She needed to show the same respect.

  The party passed through the gateway. Natasha stopped in surprise. She had been expecting the sides of the cleft to draw in, with a few houses close by and maybe the opening to some caves. Instead, she
found that she was standing at the mouth of another valley. In the darkness, it was impossible to tell its extent, but it was clearly far larger than anyone would have guessed from below. The lights of a fair-size town shone about a quarter of a kilometer away.

  “As elected leader, may I welcome you to Westernfort.” The tinge of self-parody marked Kim’s voice. She continued talking to Rohanna and Cal. Natasha hurried to catch up so she could also hear what was being said. “It’s rather late. We need to sort you out somewhere to sleep. The full introductions can wait. I’ll get someone to show you around tomorrow. I’m afraid the accommodations won’t be luxurious. We’re getting a bit cramped here. The population is now over seven hundred. Which is why we’ve started a second settlement.”

  “Another town?” Rohanna asked sharply.

  “It’s under development. The site isn’t as strong as here. So it will take a few years’ work to make it fully defensible. Fortunately, the Guards have been leaving us alone. Some folks are living there already. We won’t be moving anyone in midwinter, but come spring, more will go, and we’ll probably ask you to join them. We’ve renamed the place Ginasberg.”

  “I’m sure Gina would have been pleased by the honor,” Rohanna said.

  “And I’m sure Gina would have said something rude.” Kim laughed. “But she might have been secretly pleased as well.”

  After a few minutes, they reached the first of the buildings. The houses were solidly constructed, with proper doors and windows. The road was unpaved but level. From what Natasha could see, Westernfort was as substantial as many towns in the Homelands.