by John Migacz
CHAPTER 55
Balthus, Adrianna and the trio got a late start leaving Freetown. Dropping off the bandits’ stolen goods at Lancer Headquarters took most of the morning as Balthus found a willing audience for his tale of the carriage attack.
The party was in high spirits as they headed north. The road was wide enough to ride three abreast, the trio in front with Balthus and Adrianna in the rear leading the pack animals. After an hour, they slowed to a walk and Bo dropped back to talk with Balthus. Adrianna handed the pack-luse reins to Balthus and joined Janelle and Rory.
“How far is this Brightmoor Castle?” asked Bo.
“About three days ride at the speed we’ve been traveling,” said Balthus. “We stay on this road for another day, then ride northwest through farms and forest. The trails are well used through the forest, so we should make good time. We’ll stay at an inn tonight then camp for the next two nights.”
Bo nodded and grinned.
“You must be anxious to get home,” said Balthus.
“Well, I’ve been away from home for almost seven months now and I’m overdue for a long visit with the wife.”
“Young love at its finest!” Balthus was quiet for a moment. “Ah… If you find it hard to wait, Lad, there will be some comely and willing wenches at tonight’s inn…”
Bo stared but Balthus refused to meet his eye. Bo shrugged. “I think I will pass on that, Balthus. Thanks anyway. If I even think about another woman, my wife will know.”
Balthus glanced Bo’s way. “So, the more things change the more they remain the same, eh?”
“No, that’s only the society my wife and I come from,” said Bo. “There are many different cultures across the galaxy with many different ideas about sex. I know of one world where the women are the ruling group and men are mere sex toys. Most cultures have evolved to the point where men and women are equal.”
Amazement wreathed Balthus’ face.
“No, it’s true,” said Bo. “It doesn’t take any great strength to use our weapons and most of the labor is done by machines.” He shrugged. “Men and women are equal.”
Balthus shook his head, and then sighed. “If you think men and women are equal, Lad, you’re in for a rude shock. Men have never been equal to women in anything except strength of arms. Women are mentally the stronger and have more endurance than they let on. They are the most forceful and devious creatures the Great Maker ever created. They’re not very loud and showy about it, and that’s another one of their strengths.” He snorted. “Equal? Wait till you have been married a while longer, then you’ll learn.” Under his breath Balthus added, “I hope so, for your sake.”
Bo rode in silence for a while, then asked, “What’s at Brightmoor Castle? Anything special?”
Balthus scratched his beard. “No. It has nothing special about it. It is near the center of the kingdom, but that’s about all. The Duke – Duke Astard that would be – is a tolerant man, close to fifty. He used to be quite an armsman and won the King’s Tournament Championship three years in a row about a decade back. He fancies himself quite a lady’s man as well.” Balthus snorted. “Claimed he knocked off more virgins than he did men on luseback. He sets a good table, though, and is very loyal to the Crown. All in all, I’d say he is a wonderful Duke, and I don’t like him at all.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know. We get along fine. We never had words the few times we met, but there is something about him that I just don’t like. I couldn’t tell you what it was if hot coals were poured in my pants.” Balthus shrugged. “Sometimes people just hit me that way.”
Bo nodded. “It’s still that way where we’re from. Sometimes it is hard to overcome that first impression – especially when people in the Alliance have such different appearances.”
“Different how?” asked Balthus.
“Well, due to gravitational and, um, ah, let’s just say that some are very squat and compact and some are very tall and thin. People have different colors due to their diet and the air they breathe.”
“We have people of different colors here on Ravar also.”
Bo smiled. “I bet the colors don’t range from orange to green to blue, as well as the white, brown and yellow shades.”
Balthus looked at him to see if he was pulling his leg.
“Truly,” said Bo.
Balthus shook his head. “Ah… That must be something to see.” He glanced at Bo. “But you say they are all human?”
“Yes, they have different outsides, but the insides and blood are pretty much all the same.”
Balthus nodded and smiled. “It’s as I thought.”
“What is?”
“Well, what it comes down to, is, everyone’s life is the same. King, beggar, people on different worlds, and certainly mine. We come into this world, take that first breath of life, then continue until we release that last breath. Anything we do up to then should be enjoyed to the fullest. If more folks would realize that plain truth, there would be fewer problems in this, or any world.”
Bo digested this for a while and then smiled. “Balthus, you are definitely a unique character.”
“He’s a character all right,” called Adrianna from the front.
“Hey! I’m sure you mean sterling character.” Balthus smiled. “Enough of this dillydallying. Let’s make some time.” With that, he spurred his luse to a gallop and the rest of the group followed suit.
They traveled along the King’s road to the inn Balthus had mentioned, arriving well before dusk. As the group reined in at the stable, a girl of about ten with a very pronounced black eye rushed out of the door.
“Good day to you, Sirs and Madams. Welcome to The Fat Boar Inn.”
“Well, thank you for your kind welcome,” said Balthus as he dismounted. “You shouldn’t welcome fists to your eye as quickly though.”
“That was Bil Danos. He’s a jerk and I gave him one right back, too!”
“Good for you, Lass. Are you all alone here?”
“Yes, Sir. I sleep in the loft. Sometimes Bil helps me but he’s usually never around.”
Balthus turned to Adrianna. “Go get us settled in and I’ll help – what’s your name, Lass?”
“Selona, Sir.”
“And I’ll help Selona with the luses.” Adrianna nodded and walked to the inn, followed by Rory and Janelle.
“I’ll help too,” said Bo.
“Sirs, you don’t need to help. I can do it myself. I’ve been doing it forever!”
“She’s too little to be taking care of these big animals,” said Bo.
“She’s been around them her whole life, but…” Balthus glanced at the little girl as he unsaddled the pack animals. “Selona, have you ever ridden a luse?”
She shook her head, hair whipping her face like a luse tail. “No, Sir. I’d like to try, but the master doesn’t own any and I would never ride a customer’s luse.”
“As I thought,” muttered Balthus. “Bo, leave off when you finish Rory and Janelle’s mounts. I’ll attend to mine and Adrianna’s.”
Bo pushed open the inn door. It was a cheery place with whitewashed walls and ceiling, reflecting the light from three hanging, clear-oil chandeliers. The polished floors and simple wooden furniture gave the room a homey feel. The main hearth held a spitted roasting boar and Bo’s mouth watered at the aroma. He smiled. The uncluttered life he’d been living on Ravar was giving him a better appreciation for the simple things. He grinned as he realized he was thinking like Balthus.
Rory was the only patron in the common room and sat with a mug of ale in his fist. He gestured to Bo and filled another mug. Rory handed Bo his drink and they clinked mugs.
“Eternal Vigilance,” said Bo, sitting down.
“Eternal Vigilance,” responded Rory, taking a sip. “Where’s the big guy?”
“He’s finishing up with the luses. You’d better po
ur two more,” said Bo as Janelle and Adrianna came down the stairs. Rory obliged and the women joined them.
The innkeeper hurried to their table, wiping his hands on a towel. “Sorry folks, but dinner won’t be ready for another half hour at the least. Can I get you something else in the meantime?”
“Well, if you’re going to make us wait,” said Adrianna, “I guess we’ll have to see if we can drain your inn of ale.” She handed him the empty pitcher.
The innkeeper smiled. “You’re welcome to try, my lady, but we are well stocked. I will keep the pitcher full though, if you’d like to have a go.” He hurried off to fetch another round.
“Where’s Balthus?” asked Adrianna.
“He’s taking care of the luses,” said Bo.
Adrianna looked toward the door. “He’s certainly taking his time about it.”
“Don’t hurry him,” said Bo. “We rarely get to talk to you alone.”
“Yeah,” said Rory, then grinned. “When Balthus is here, you never get a word in edgewise.”
Adrianna took a long drink, then smiled. “Well, he does that because he knows that I’d rather listen than talk. I was pretty shy as a child and some of that still remains.”
“Were you born around here?” asked Bo.
“No. I was born north of here, at the foot of the Ligour Teeth Mountains. My parents were netweed farmers.”
“Do you get to visit home much in your far-flung travels?” asked Janelle.
Adrianna stared into her mug. “No. Actually my parents died in a fire when I was six. I lived with my grandmother until I was ten, then she died.”
“I’m sorry, Adrianna,” said Janelle and placed a hand over Adrianna’s. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“That’s all right. The memories have so faded they don’t bother me much anymore,” she said, forcing a smile.
“What did you do after your grandmother died?” asked Bo.
“Well, I begged or stole food. I did small jobs around different villages until I met Balthus.”
“You’ve been on your own since you were ten?” asked Rory.
Adrianna nodded.
Bo raised his mug and toasted her. “No wonder you have such strength.” Muttered agreement flowed around the table.
Adrianna blushed. “I’d better go see what’s keeping Balthus. It’s not like him to miss his drinking time.”
Bo raised his mug again, as did the others. Adrianna hurriedly stood and made her way to the door. She missed seeing the grins on their faces.
Adrianna walked out the door just as Balthus and Selona trotted into the courtyard. Selona, riding Adrianna’s mount and beaming a gigantic smile, waved as she reined in at the stables. Adrianna joined Balthus as he dismounted. “Couldn’t get enough of riding, eh?”
Balthus grinned and helped Selona dismount from Adrianna’s luse. Selona jumped down, then continued to jump up and down.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she cried over and over. She clasped her hands together and continued to jump up and down.
Balthus smiled and put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from jumping, then knelt to be at her level. “I’m glad you enjoyed the ride. You learned very quickly.” She lunged at Balthus and hugged him around the neck. Balthus was taken aback at first, then returned her hug. Reaching into his purse, he handed her five coppers.
“Give all of them some groats. I know they’ll be in good hands with Selona caring for them.” He rose, placed his arm around Adrianna and walked to the inn, leaving behind a grinning little girl.
“Making new friends, I see,” said Adrianna.
“I think I got more out of it than she did.”
Adrianna glanced back at the still beaming child. “I’m not too sure about that.”
They finished a dinner of roasted boar, tubers, leens and many mugs of ale. All of the other patrons had either gone to bed or left for home.
“You know, it will seem awfully boring around here with the three of you gone,” said Balthus, refilling his mug once again.
“I’m sure the Dieya will keep you occupied in one way or another,” replied Janelle. “Speaking of the Dieya, can you tell us anything about him, I mean, now that you know he isn’t from around here?”
“I could tell you some stories that sound more like tall tales than truth,” said Balthus. “Stories of the Black Sorcerer have been told around campfires for generations.” He paused and stared off into the distance, his face taking on a puzzled expression. “Say, how is that possible if Dieya is human like the rest of us? Are you incredibly long lived?”
“No,” said Bo. “The Dieya Corps sends their people on ships that travel faster than light. It causes a time displacement that, ah, well ah...”
Balthus stared at him.
“There he goes again,” said Rory.
“Let me try it, Bo,” said Janelle. “The Dieyas live on a ship that travels very fast. It travels so fast that time actually slows down. What is months to them is actually years to you.”
Balthus sat there with a perplexed yet amused smile on his face. “You mean a ship can travel so fast that it can outrun time?”
“Yes, I guess that’s one way of looking at it,” replied Janelle.
“You people do live in a confusing, strange world… and it sounds interesting as hell.” Balthus closed his eyes. “So many incredible things…” He opened his eyes and looked at Janelle. “But you were asking what we knew about Dieya. Well… He is a loyal supporter of the Kingdom. In my father’s youth, he played a large part in the ‘Dark Wars,’ as the war with the Torbu is called. Evidently, without his aid the whole area would have been overrun by the blue bastards.” He took a long swig from his mug. “Lady Janelle, I feel you are looking for something more on a personal note than old tales,” he said with a wink. Balthus knew he was right when a blush crept up her neck.
He grinned and continued. “We spent little time with Blackie, but found that under his focused layer he has a wry sense of humor and would be a good companion on a long trek – if you could get him past his single-minded hostility to the Kraken.” Balthus gazed into his mug. “I remember when he dispatched the Krill. There was murder and hatred in his eyes, I tell you that.” He took a long drink and emptied his mug before continuing. “He’s one you’d not want as an enemy and it could be difficult to be around someone that singularly focused.” Balthus snapped his fingers. “Oh! That reminds me. I know something I wanted to ask you. Do you folks have sex and babies the way we do here?”
The trio smiled at the question. “Yes Balthus,” said Janelle. “Technology hasn’t improved on that too much yet.”
“Were you worried?” asked Rory.
“No, it’s just something that Dieya said once when I mentioned his mother. He said he never had a mother.” Balthus laid a finger alongside his temple. “And as I remember, the Arvari call him ‘Laere-Tere’ in their language, meaning ‘man not born of woman.’ I wondered where that came from.” He grabbed the pitcher to refill his mug and realized the trio was staring at one another.
“Could the Dieya be a Cantarion?” asked Bo.
“It certainly would explain his hatred,” answered Rory, attempting to pry the ale pitcher from Balthus’ hand.
“All right,” said Balthus, relinquishing his grip. “You have knocked hard on my curiosity bone and I want to know what you are talking about.” The trio glanced at each other for a moment then the men’s gazes fell toward Janelle.
“All right, I’ll take a crack at it,” she said. “Back before we had the dim gateways, humans emigrated to the stars on ships. One such group of colonists found and settled a planet called Cantar. It seemed like an ideal world for a while until none of their women became pregnant. The doctors found that there was a rare element in the atmosphere that caused infertility in women. The only way they could increase the population was by gr
owing the baby in a sealed environment instead of in the mother. The donors would supply the necessary components and the doctors would grow the infant in a glass-like container.”
Balthus and Adrianna exchanged looks.
“I know this sounds strange,” said Janelle, “but believe me it’s true. Anyway, human infants are born small and undeveloped because they need to pass through the pelvis of the mother. This leaves the mother spending a lot of time doing childcare, and on Cantar, they needed that time for building their colony.
The colonists found that if they let the infant grow for twelve months instead of the usual nine, the mortality rate was very low, the children learned more quickly and were much brighter than the average human. They raised their children in a crèche, with the whole community taking turns as teachers. Their entire culture formed that way due to a simple element in the atmosphere.”
Balthus held his mug out to Rory. “Fill it to the top, my friend. It’s going to take a lot of ale to get that tale down.” Rory obliged and Balthus took a big swallow. “I imagine that ended any taboos on sex then? No daughter sent to live with an aunt for nine months or so? No socially outcast unwed mothers? No child born with the stigma of bastard? Sounds like some of it might be a good idea.”
“Yes, Cantarions were known to be emotionally well-balanced.”
Balthus paused with his drink halfway to his mouth. “Were?”
Rory nodded. “The Kraken found the planet several decades ago. They pounded it until there was nothing left but molten rock.”
Balthus slammed his mug back on the table and stared. “I can see where Dieya’s hatred comes from, and I can’t say as I blame him.” He nodded. “That would account for his dedication.” He pushed his mug away. “You know, I’m beginning to dislike these Kraken the more I hear about them.” There were nods around the table.
“Well this party certainly has gotten sour!” said Adrianna.
“You’re right, Lass,” said Balthus. “I ask what seems to be a simple question and things get buggered up. Excuse me, all.” He lowered his head for a moment, then raised it and smiled. “I would like to make amends. I see that our fine innkeeper has a lute in the corner. I suggest I sing and play a few happy tunes to put us all back in good humor.”
The sound of scraping chairs filled the room as everyone rose but Balthus.
“That’s all right, I’m a little tired…”
“…It’s been a long day...”
“…Early start tomorrow…”
They all burst into laughter at Balthus’ crestfallen face.
“See Balthus, you cheered us up without having to sing,” said Bo.
“It cheers me to think of him not singing,” said Rory.
Adrianna stood behind Balthus, then leaned down and put her arms around his neck as the trio walked toward the stairs and the safety of their rooms.
“But I’m not tired yet,” muttered Balthus as he played with his mug.
Adrianna whispered in his ear. “I bet I can make you tired…”
Rising quickly, Balthus bounded up the stairs and bypassed the trio. He looked back at Adrianna. “Well? What’s keeping you?”
The rest of the trip to Brightmoor Castle was uneventful with one exception. Adrianna awoke at dawn the first morning on the road and found Balthus gone from his bedroll. She dozed until she realized he had been gone too long to be on a simple call of nature. Rising quietly, she saw Bo and Rory still sleeping, but Janelle’s bedroll empty. She heard a slight noise some distance away and walked toward the sound.
In a nearby meadow, Adrianna saw Balthus and Janelle facing each other in the middle of the field, quietly talking. Suddenly, Balthus lunged at Janelle’s throat only to be flung violently over her shoulder. He smashed hard onto the ground.
Janelle leaned over and helped Balthus up. They resumed the same pose, but this time Balthus’ lunge was in slow motion as was Janelle’s response. At one point, Janelle stopped her actions to demonstrate a handgrip. Facing each other once more, Balthus lunged at her throat and once more he went flying through the air.
Adrianna winced hearing the thud. She had wondered how long it would take Balthus to ask Janelle about the fighting style she’d used on Oldwick. When it came to any new martial art or weapon, Balthus had to be at the forefront. She winced as Balthus again hit the ground hard.
She returned to the campsite to prepare breakfast. She had a feeling Balthus wouldn’t be up for it.