Sitting atop her steed Surewind, Jozlyn at last found the clarity to focus. Her father was speaking again. “I want to make better time going than we did coming. The roads are not as safe as they once were. I expect you all to be on your guard. Should we encounter troops from Thorne, I expect you to show them the mercy that they will show us.”
That means we shoot to kill, thought Jozlyn bitterly before she mustered the courage to speak to her father. “Pa, maybe we could just stay here a while longer. Alderich did say that the rest of the unified council of Vallance would be arriving soon. Your words would be more crucial than your silence.” Her voice had come out softer than she would have wanted to sound in front of her father. She cursed herself for it.
“No, Jozlyn, we are leaving. There is nothing more to be done here.” Vaalin sniffed in disgust and turned from the town. “Let us be home and be of some use.”
Jozlyn gripped tightly to the reins of her horse as she pressed forward again. “But I think we can be of use here.” Again, she was too soft, almost pleading. Jozlyn often hated the sound of her own voice. “I think we could make a real difference.”
Vaalin’s voice rose subtly and she could tell he was close to anger again. “You are as idealistic as an Ashener, child. What you speak of is noble nonsense. We are going home, and I will not hear another word of it.”
“Yes, pa,” breathed Jozlyn.
They took a steady paced trot out of Bannar and headed northeast. About a mile out, Jozlyn stopped and looked back at the town. By all grace, it was beautiful. She lingered a moment longer, saying her silent goodbye. Even the feathery clouds over it looked like jewels on a noble crown. She felt more alone than ever, in a land where only a stranger seemed to understand her. She wiped away a single tear. It was all she could allow to caress her face. With haste, Jozlyn turned to rejoin the others.
{12}
Galvin wasn’t a very large town in comparison to other regions of Vallance. Its numbers were just over 1,200 on a good day. Still, it had its purpose and to many it was a rest stop and trading post between large towns such as Morganne, Shinteu and even Bannar. In addition, to that thousand or so, it was more than that. It was simply home.
Lianna Navor was such a person. Galvin was where she was born. Galvin was most likely where she would die. She never troubled herself about the end. There was enough to worry about today, and all the rest was merely details.
Lianna had been pondering some thought that eluded her now but would return in time. She was pulled from her search by a young man’s voice. He was still rambling on it would seem. Lianna often wondered where he found the stamina to talk as much as he did. Soon enough she would have to face him and his questions, for some things just couldn’t be avoided forever.
“And that’s why I think there is not much more to discuss, Lianna. It just makes sense. I have thought about this over and over again and I have made my choice. The only thing left is for you to choose. Just don’t make me wait much longer. I think I deserve an answer. And I think you owe me that. In fact, I-”
She could hear him, but only now and then. She walked dreamily on the side of the road. Behind her was Galvin. To her left and right was a sea of wheat, for Galvin had endless fields of it. If you were lost, it was the tale-tell sign that you were at least close to home. From this road if you kept walking, you would eventually run into Morganne, and beyond that, the Passing Plains before Thorne. Had she been traveling, Lianna would have stopped at Morganne, for she had no desire to push her luck with the perils upon and beyond the Passing Plains.
“Lianna, are you even listening to me?”
Lianna nodded absently. “Yeah, Dayne, just thinking, that’s all.” Her lips bunched up to the right of her face and shrugged slightly. There was always so much to think about. She traced her right hand over strands of wheat as they walked. Dayne was to her left. She could feel him looking at her, staring sometimes. She was never sure how to talk to him, especially now.
How many times had he asked? How many more times not saying yes would it take? She liked Dayne. She’d known him forever, before distinction newfound desire. To Lianna it was much easier when they were simply friends. Things seemed more complicated with age. Once he had kissed her, and she had let him. It was her first kiss. She had allowed it not because she wanted it, but because she had never been good at saying no.
Lianna heard him snort even through the breeze. “I thought you might say that. I swear I can’t fathom what goes through that head of yours.” He looked to the opposite side of the road as he collected himself. She could feel his temper forming. Finally, Dayne regained himself and returned his eyes to her.
Something in his big brown, hazy eyes made her feel ill at ease in that moment. They journeyed up and down her light, gentle frame, looking at her now as if she were a prize to be claimed. Her skin chilled as she tucked free strands of short hair behind her ear to distract herself from him, reluctant to return his gaze.
Her left hand began to swing the shoes they held. If she could get away with it, Lianna would have always been barefooted. She watched her small white feet as they trailed in the dust. At the corners of her eyes, she could see the pant legs of Dayne’s worn overalls. She suddenly wanted to be gone from her town, or at least away from the situation she found herself trapped in. She knew Dayne was about to regroup. He’d found his thoughts again.
Clearing his throat, he continued. “Lianna, look. I am not asking you to think about you or me. All I want you to consider is the chance of us. You know how I feel about you. Heck, you’ve known ever since we kissed. But why stop there? We should be together. I know you felt something, just like I did.” He quickly took steps in front of her, stopping her mid-stride. He put strong hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. “Lianna, I just want the chance to make you happy.”
Lianna looked up an instant, turning her head again back to the wheat. “Mmm, I don’t know Dayne.” She chewed on her lower lip, ready to taste blood in the frustration. You say you want to make me happy, but I bet I know what you really want. She tried to keep walking past him, but he would not let her go. Lianna suddenly felt bare under his gaze and alone in the world.
Lianna looked back at him for a second and immediately regretted it. It was in his eyes. She felt his intentions coming from his body as she grew more uncomfortable. It was clear that he was going to try to kiss her again. And then he did. She felt him press his body against her as their mouths met. Lianna felt smothered under the weight. This time was different. She turned her head away, trying to back out of his embrace. Everything, from the taste of his breath to his hungry grip, felt incredibly wrong.
Lianna could feel his fingers grasp tightly upon her. The anger was rising in him, cold and hungry. There was now lusting in his eyes. It reminded Lianna how very much she longed to be away from this man and how much she regretted letting him kiss her the first time. Reeling his head back, he bore hot eyes down on her. “What is it now? Am I no longer good enough for you? You haven’t got anything better to do than to torture me as you do? Years I’ve watched you miles away, and you’re standing right here. You enjoy this, don’t you? Don’t you?”
Lianna tried to squirm free of the pain. “Dayne, your fingers, they’re hurting me.”
Dayne suddenly released her. Lianna faltered a few steps. Her shoes spat dust to the air as they fell to the road. “That’s fine with me, Lianna.” He turned away from her, back toward Galvin. He kicked at a rock. Disgust poured from him like a torrid river stream. “I swear you do this with a purpose. And I hope that you know just how cruel of a woman you really are.”
Lianna fumbled for her shoes. She knew he watched her intently as she did so. How could she tell him that she just wanted to be left alone? Was that too much to ask? Lianna had seen this day coming last year when the winds were growing frigid and hungry. She had braved a walk in the cold, hoping the chill would give her clarity. She sought again for the ever-elusive solution to her situation. And whe
n that didn’t work, again she dreamed.
“And there is that damned distant look again. Damn of all hells, do you ever listen to anyone other than your own thoughts?”
“Dayne, I don’t . . . um, I’m . . .” Her lips pursed beneath her nose. Her voice was almost too small to hear, silent as a soft breeze in the night. “I just want to be left alone. Please. How can–”
Dayne cut her off impatiently. “The only ‘how’ is obvious. How can you do this to me?” He lurched forward, inches from her face. She could almost see the blood that seethed beneath his skin. “I’ve waited for you with patience. I have cared for you and loved you and this is how you repay such things? Damn of all hells! I’m through and through with you.” He spat on the ground as he headed with haste back toward town. Dayne made several quick steps before halting, kicking at dirt clods and cursing profusely.
Lianna watched him in the distance covering herself with her arms. She was chilled to the bone, flesh puckered. She never envisioned herself as a bright person. But she thought, no, she knew that this was not love. Dayne wanted her, of that there was no doubt. But it was not love in his heart that cried out for her. And if by some horrid chance that it was love, then by all the gods Lianna Navor wanted no part in it whatsoever.
Dayne went on with his tantrum for some time, much to Lianna’s dismay. He turned a final time, watching her. Again, she was naked in that gaze, just a prize to be claimed, and a notion of love that was not love. And it made her feel less than human. Sometimes in her mind, the clouds were much, much safer. With a shake of his head, Dayne finally proceeded back toward Galvin.
Lianna watched his trail as he cursed off into the distance. Were there better ways or places than this? Suddenly, her mind was no longer a big enough avenue of escape. She loved Galvin, but in her heart, she knew the inevitable truth. If she stayed, then one day she would belong to Dayne. He held enough interest in her and enough guile to wile her parents. To her dismay, they were pressuring her as well. Her parents wanted her cared for and in their eyes, Dayne was stable and that was adequate for them.
Lianna shook her head slowly. Presently, she wished she had been special. She longed to have some strength or talent which allowed her stand out. However, over the years she discovered the only thing that seemed to spark in her was an overactive imagination. Galvin was a rough, practical place and hadn’t the time for such things. She was merely required to be a quiet, beautiful prize for a man she could never love. The decision was not a decision at all.
Lianna again thought of distant places that were anywhere but her home. Would she be welcome in such places? She didn't know. Certain now that Dayne was not returning, Lianna made her way slowly home. In a matter of hours, a life with Dayne and the monotony of Galvin would become the very least of her problems. Unknown to her, soldiers waited in the distance, hundreds upon hundreds of them, armed and ready, wearing the colors of Thorne. Soon they would be on her town, without warning, and without welcome.
{13}
Private Josaph J. Pearce stood rigidly at attention, waiting for his turn to be debriefed. He was outside the office of Captain Nicolas Porter and longed to be anywhere else. Josaph had just recently arrived at Fort Mire, somehow still in one piece. The remaining journey had been long and tedious as there were many wounded in tow. Another handful had succumbed to their wounds along the way. Josaph was overjoyed that Mason had made it. Shane had not.
Josaph had just enough time to catch his breath and wits before being requested by Captain Porter. As he pressed on, his mind and body screamed for a week’s worth of sleep. As a fellow soldier led him to his destination, Josaph took in as much of his new home as was possible. It was cramped and heavily fortified, with walls stretching at least 20 feet high. There was little else in the fortress save for the essentials to endure battle. Grim was the best word to describe the atmosphere. The air was heavy with war preparations.
The door to the captain’s office opened. Josaph watched as a sergeant strode out and faced him. He was not a big man, but for some reason he felt like a giant to Josaph. His voice, as Josaph discovered, matched his monstrous breath. “The captain’s ready for you, private.”
“Thank you, sir.” Josaph saluted sharply before entering the door.
By contrast, the office of Captain Porter was quite elaborate. The captain had just about every single luxury one could have this close to the Passing Plains. A fragrant veil of cigar smoke puttered from an ashtray. A little shelf contained bottles of whiskey and scotch. His large desk paraded mementos and decorations, as did the shelves not already covered with military files and boxes. Behind the desk in a comfortable-looking chair rested Captain Porter, who was looking at some document or another. So far, he did not seem to have noticed Josaph.
The captain was a serious looking man in every aspect, from his demeanor to his attire. His sandy hair was thinning on top, and he must have been in his forties, but you could not tell it from his stature. The clarity of his features dissolved much of his age with their intentness. On his face was a rugged field of unshaven fuzz. He ran one hand over it now, rubbing at his stout chin. Some of the hair there was graying.
Josaph cleared his throat before speaking. “Private Josaph Pierce reporting, sir.” Once again, Josaph sharply saluted.
Captain Porter finally gave him a glance with indifferent, calculating eyes. He did not stand but gave an approving nod as he motioned at the two chairs in front of his desk. “At ease, Private Pierce. Have a seat.”
Captain Porter's features softened as he regarded Josaph as he sat. Josaph could see the compassion in the Captain's eyes was in fact genuine. Captain Porter seemed to be reading Josaph's thoughts as he spoke. “I’m sure you are exhausted, private, so I’ll do my best to keep this brief. Sounds like you all had yourself one hell of a time out there.”
“That is how I would sum it up, sir.” Josaph still felt uncomfortable. He thought he should have been too tired to care, but something kept him alert and focused.
“Well I have heard very few details about the incident so far, and since you were the one who took charge making it the rest of the way here I would like you to tell me what happened out there in your own words.” Captain Porter reclined back in his chair, evidently ready to soak in whatever it was Josaph had to tell him. The cloud of cigar smoke increased, giving the captain an arcane appearance.
Josaph wanted to tell him everything but something kept his mouth shut. He could not shake his sudden unease. His stomach felt queasy and he swallowed back at the lump in his throat. Where do I start? What happened out there? Hell, what didn’t happen out there? How do you explain to your commanding officer something like this? I mean, “Hey boss, guess what? We just had our asses handed to us by some of our own and then had them pulled out of the fire by the very same people you want us to kill. How’s that for a pickle?”
Captain Porter smiled, apparently picking up on Josaph’s unease. “It’s just you and I in here, private. You have permission to speak freely. I just want to understand what happened and of who is left, it looks like you would be best to know the answer.”
Josaph Pierce took a long breath as the floodgates began to open. “It was the damndest thing I have ever seen in my life, sir. We were hit fast and hard. Blind luck or fate allowed us to survive because, quite frankly, we should all be dead right now. I’m still trying to understand it and make all the pieces fit, sir.”
Captain Porter clasped his hands. His elbows rested on his chest as he reclined in his chair. Josaph had his undivided attention. “So, what do you surmise, private?”
Josaph swallowed hard again. “We were betrayed sir, plain and simple. I can’t set it any straighter than that. I still don’t understand why but it was simply an awful affair.”
Captain Porter nodded. “Tell me everything, Private Pierce. I want it all down to the last detail.”
Josaph gave him just that. He filled the captain in on their march, the attack and the slaughter that followe
d. He told the scenario of their saviors, a handful of men and women from a town he never heard of from across enemy lines. He tried to describe their fighting style and their weapons. He gave it all in a torrent of facts, and he did not stop until he was finished.
Wordlessly, Captain Porter stood from his comfortable chair. Taking his cigar in hand, he looked out of the window behind him as the smoke cloud followed obediently in his wake. “So, you are certain? You don’t believe this was a ruse by Vallance that you and your fellows were caught in?”
Josaph shook his head. “I don’t believe so, sir. Why would they go through the troubles of such a ruse? I don’t see what they would have accomplished from such a thing. Besides, the enemy we faced was not from Vallance. Their gear, their mannerisms, their methods… well they all screamed Thorne.”
“Perhaps that is what they wanted you to see.”
Josaph chewed on the notion for a moment before responding. “Maybe, sir, but I honestly feel that what they said and felt was genuine. And I know the quality of our own gear when I see it sir. The insignias they wore were that of Thorne Special Forces. I thought them to be renegades, but their commanding officer stated they were doing their mission for our country.”
“I see.” Captain Porter turned and faced Josaph once more. The cigar in his right hand had almost reached its end. It spat dying fumes of exclamation into the air as Porter looked at Josaph square in the eyes. “And do your fellow survivors feel the same way as you do?”
Josaph could only shrug at this. “I don’t know, sir. We haven’t done much discussing of anything since it happened.”
“Understandable I would think.” Captain Porter came around the desk and leaned on the corner. “So again, you are certain of everything that you’ve just told me? That it is the truth how you have seen it and to the best of your knowledge and ability?”
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