What Exactly Is Reality?

by D.P. Allen

  Mike realized that he hadn’t done the same training with his horse, so he might be the one in trouble if the need arose to fire from its back. He thought it might be OK as the horse was obviously battle trained. It hadn’t spooked when he blew up the powder keg fairly close to it, but the Spaniard who rode it didn’t have any firearms and may have controlled it while Mike was busy looking elsewhere. Another thing that only time would tell.

  With that Marcel gave the command to form a column of four and wheel right. Mike sat there for a moment shaking his head and looking to the side spotted Erman who smiled as he made the sign of the cross as a blessing. Mike thought he might need more than a blessing on this trip.

  Mike said to himself, You people are just full of surprises. Who has the high tech culture? I’m not sure that it is me anymore. He then kicked his horse to trot to the front of the column. As he positioned himself beside Marcel, the smaller man pointed to the side and Mike looked to see the Elders sitting on a cart.

  Mike called over his shoulder, Eyes right All of the Protectors faces snapped to the right except the right most in each row and Mike saluted the elders as he passed. That showed proper military procedure and a show of respect for the leaders of the city in front of the entire population.

  Then Mike and Marcel followed by six rows of four riders headed towards the gates to the north road. They were cheered and saluted at each gate and finally got out of range of the last cheers from the bluffs after they passed the last serpentine. They were now in the land that hadn’t been explored by people from Tif’n in remembered time.

  Indian country thought Mike. To the troops he said, Hope for nothing, but expect anything from here on out.

  Chapter 35

  Over the river and through the woods

  They went about 10 miles the first day, traveling at a rather slow and cautious pace. The open ground through which the road traveled quickly gave way to heavily wooded hills. When they approached any spot where visibility was limited by the terrain, they’d come to a halt with troops watching in all directions while a group of four moved ahead to make sure the way was clear.

  On several occasions they surprised herds of deer and other harmless creatures, but at one turn, the riders returned at a full gallop with what looked like a large wolf in pursuit. Mike charged the wolf and the wolf made a hasty retreat into the woods. It wasn’t sure what it faced, but it knew it was a large creature that didn’t fear wolves, so was probably not something to antagonize.

  Mike had briefed the troops on noise discipline before they started, so they hadn’t fired at the wolf. Rifle shots carried way too far and Mike didn’t want to alert any enemies as to their location. Firearms were to be used as a last resort only. Anything else was to be avoided. Mike was to make the decision to use firearms unless it was an immediately life threatening situation.

  The first night as they set up camp in a steep sided draw next to the road, Mike suggested a six man watch to be set and relieved every two hours. He and Marcel to be on call at any time to respond to an emergency. The sheer sides of the draw would make being seen from the sides and from the cliffs above nearly impossible as the walls were carved into the slopes.

  This left only the road end and a very steep and narrow path at the opposite end to require security. They planned on cold camps as much as possible as a fire or smoke could give their position away. Piles of brush were prepared at both ends of their campsite that could be lit quickly if a large predator decided to investigate though.

  Marcel said, I guess we’ll have to take over your bodyguard job unless your ladies have smuggled themselves along.

  What do you mean? asked a puzzled Mike.

  That was one of the best kept secrets in the government center, replied Marcel. We were told by Mir’ami that we could guard the center and we could guard you outside of the center, but your rooms were off limits to even us unless she or one of the other ladies called for help.

  They took turns sitting in an alcove armed with a crossbow, where they could watch your room and sound an alarm if needed. She said that it let them feel useful, but she knew that you would object to them possibly being in harms way. Thus we were sworn to secrecy. Please don’t tell Mir’ami that I told you or I’ll never hear the end of it.

  Why doesn’t that surprise me? said Mike. The secret is safe with me my friend, If I should “accidentally” find out what they’ve been doing while I slept, it will be on my head and not yours. By the way, remind me never to anger the ladies. Their definition of lady seems to differ somewhat from mine.

  They both laughed quietly and then rolled up in their “tent/blankets” and slept through an uneventful night, awakening a couple of times to roars and growls far away and then drifting back to sleep.

  The sun rising found the troop ready to move and now that they had developed a march routine, they moved much quicker. By noon they had reached the first side road. This was an identically sized road of the same material, joining seamlessly so that it wasn’t apparent which road was built first or which was the primary road.

  Mike had already decided that they would turn onto the side road as they knew that less than another hour on the original would have them in the Spaniard controlled city of Corde’. They spent the next nerve wracking but uneventful day traveling the new road. At one point, the road crossed a river on a several mile long causeway that looked like there may have been a lake here at one time.

  That made Mike very uneasy. They were in full view of any observer for miles to both sides, but he deemed it better to cross as a single unit quickly rather than send scouts miles ahead to inspect the far end of the causeway. The scouting party would be too far away to support if it ran into trouble. On the second day they found something that did not bode well. At both edges of the roadway where it passed through a stand of very thick bushes were packs and clothing strewn as if thrown down by running people.

  After setting security in all directions, they investigated the scene. The packs had been torn open and gone through by small animals looking for edibles, but it didn’t seem to be the scene of a massacre. Due to the clothing having its insect repelling qualities, which also seemed to prevent the growth of mold or mildew, the time the articles had lain here was hard to determine.

  One of the Protectors drew Mike’s attention to the bushes to the right side of the road. There, about 10’ from the road where the remains of some very torn and chewed clothing. It appeared that these clothes had been inhabited and a large carnivore had torn them to get at the flesh beneath. The tatters were of the silver and burgundy worn by minor officials such as Allas and his family.

  Now, thought Mike, Which one were you?

  Prodding through the remains, Mike found remnants of what had once been a few bones to mark the life that had once breathed within the clothing. They were quite chewed as if by the scavengers that came after the big predator had eaten its fill. As he lifted the tatters, a medallion fell out. Marcel identified it as the one that Moff always wore under his shirt. He had acquired it from Allas as a sign of his authority and people suspected, as payment for some favor done.

  The position of the remains in relation to the scattered personal articles gave Mike a pretty good idea of what had transpired here. Some predator had made an appearance and the people had panicked, some dropping their burdens in the stampede. Moff, being a complete coward had probably frozen in place, unable to run. The predator would have chosen the animal that didn’t stay with the herd as easy prey and feasted after dragging the corpse into the brush. Basic survival of the fittest and the way nature worked.

  Mike estimated that the group was only a day or so away from Americus, or as the Elders called it Mericu, so probably the survivors had reached there with tales of their trials and tribulations. Mike doubted that they would have traveled farther than the first safe haven that would accept them. They probably were there now unless Allas thought he could improve his lot by continuing to At'lan. Mike assumed that a smalle
r community under a more minor Royal would give Allas a much easier way to start his old intrigues versus the capital and home of the Rex.

  Satisfied that they had learned all they could here, they mounted and the column continued toward Mericu. They traveled much faster than a group on foot could manage, so Mike estimated that they would arrive at the outskirts of the town before sundown. He didn’t plan to enter or even make his presence known. He wanted to find a location where he could observe the activities and conditions in the city.

  Three hours later the group halted just below the crest of a hill. The scouts reported that the city was just beyond. Mike dismounted and found a concealed position with a good view.

  Chapter 36

  To Grandma’s house we go?

  Mike had a very good view of the city from his vantage point above it in the bushes. He wasn’t more than 500’ from the edge of the buildings, so he could see every detail through his binoculars.

  What he saw didn’t make him happy. He handed the binos to Marcel and asked him if he could identify any of the family crests on the banners in front of the numerous tents set along the road by the entrance to the city.

  Marcel confirmed his fears by identifying the Crest of the Royals who had owned Tif’n as well as the three others from the cities now under Spaniard control. There were also crests representing the Royals of Alb'ny and Mericu. It looked like they had finally run out of food in Alb'ny and then overflowed to this city.

  Probably word had been sent to the other exiled Royals that they should join for an attack. Mike didn’t know where they planned to attack, but he was betting they would go after Tif’n before they tried any of the Spaniard held cities.

  They knew about the Spaniard weapons and the damage they could cause, but wouldn’t know about the new defenses at Tif’n. It would appear the easier prey to them. Little did they know that the defenses there had made mincemeat of the first Spaniard land attack and that was before the defending forces were rearmed with carbines. This was going to be very humiliating at best for the Royals and the death of many of them at the worst.

  Mike knew he should return immediately with this knowledge, but he wanted to know when they would move as much as knowing that they were preparing. He decided that he would have plenty of warning before they actually left because the Royals had to have their pomp and ceremonies before they did anything.

  As he watched and counted, he suddenly smiled and pointed out a familiar face to Marcel. It was their old “friend” Allas, walking and talking with an older Royal. Marcel said, That is Harod, suspected to be the father of Allas. It looks like Allas is ingratiating himself to the Bar’n of Tif’n.

  The Protectors did patrols around the entire city looking for crop conditions to estimate the possible food reserves available here. The results were bad. The Royals seemed to strip an area like a horde of locusts. They had no concept of rationing and didn’t care if the normal citizens starved. Mike thought that the cities would be much better off without the Royals.

  He hadn’t thought of a campaign of conquest before, as he was a soldier, not a “conquistador” or conqueror as were the Spaniards. He thought of one now. Liberating the people from their overlords would benefit them immensely. Even the Spaniards treated their subjects better.

  Two mornings later there was a commotion among the Royals as about 50 carts began lining up on the road. The younger Royals walked their mounts to positions in front of their family carts, onto which the older Royals were boarding. At the rear, which was at the other end of the city were the baggage carts, perhaps 75 strong. These were manned by servants of the families and probably contained all of the “necessities of travel” required by the Royals.

  Mike would have enjoyed setting an ambush and depriving the Royals of their servants, tents, food, etc., but didn’t want to let them know that their preparations had been discovered.

  A final tally showed about 400 mounted Duche and another 200 Royals in carts. They didn’t use regular citizens as soldiers, so the only ones of these were the about 600 servants and cart drivers. They could not be counted as combat troops, only as a mass of bodies that could be abandoned as the Royals desired.

  He and the Protectors mounted and did a forced march back to Tif’n, covering the 70 or so mile distance in only a little over two days.

  Chapter 37

  I’ll huff and I’ll puff...

  The Elders listened intently to the description of the approaching Royals, who Mike estimated would arrive sometime within the next three or four days.

  Hue said he would meet with Mike after the meeting to plan the defense. As commander of the defenses, he was the official commander and mike was his “advisor”. Hue also knew who had the most military experience and knowledge, so he used his advisor as much as he could.

  The meeting with the Elders decided (to Mike’s silent agreement, despite his personal feelings about the Royals) to meet the Royals at the first gate and try negotiation rather than simply wiping them out as one of the guildsmen had suggested. It was obvious by the way the recommendation was made that they expected negotiations to fail, but they wanted to attempt to save lives if possible.

  Mike also felt the same way with probably more passion than anyone else here. He had trained to take lives, but all of his training had emphasized that killing was a last resort and usually meant that some diplomat had screwed up.

  Chapter 38

  Sorry, we don’t allow that here.

  A large canopy with a table and a dozen chairs was placed about 200’ from the North Gate as the gate facing the serpentine was now known, being located within the city‘s territory and separated from the main Royal force by the North Gate. The other gates were now formally named the Middle Gate and the City Gate.

  It was decided that a small delegation of Royals would be allowed through the gate, but the remainder would be forced to camp in the serpentine and any overflow on the road north of the serpentine. The camp’s security would be left to the Royals although the walls along the road had been inspected to make sure no predators would be running amuck within the camp.

  The serpentine defenses would remain hidden unless needed. If called upon, they could decimate the Royals within the serpentine at a moments notice, or make their presence known at a psychologically correct moment as a bargaining piece.

  A group of Watchers would meet the column at the gate and advise them to set up camp and as to how the delegation would be allowed to pass through the gate. It was decided that the three Elders, Erman and two of the guildsmen would represent the city while the Royals could choose six of their number as their delegation. They would be allowed two Duche as escorts each, bringing the number of Royals within the walls to eighteen.

  Hue and a platoon of his Watchers would be an honor guard to escort the Royals to the canopied area and to act as security for the proceedings. Hue would welcome them and announce the requirements from the wall and the gate would not be opened until the delegation was ready to enter and be closed as soon as they were within.

  The double gates were set on hinges and swung easily. They used cables that went through pulleys on the walls and back to teams of “guinea pigs” for closing. In this way they could be closed even with a horde of Royals trying to hold them open. Once closed, the cables had locks that were applied that wouldn’t allow the cable to be released by pressure on the gates.

  The bottom of the gates had a large crossbar that could be slid into position. Closed and locked, they were actually stronger than the walls surrounding them. It was decided that because of the closeness of the Royals to the wall, the firing ports would remain closed. The hill mounted fire bolt ballistas could cook anyone directly in front of the walls.

  Mike and the protectors would not be visible, remaining behind the Middle Gate as a mounted reaction force along with two platoons of Watchers. All of the walls except the North Gate wall would have their normal compliments of defenders as well as the manned positions on the hi
lls and within the harbor.

  The North Gate wall would have only the animal crews to open, close and lock the gates and Hue with his “Watchers”. That would require fewer people to get away from the wall should the need arise to drop fire bolts close to it on the serpentine side. All other citizens would go about their normal duties within the city areas with none being allowed to “spectate”.

  All was now in readiness for the slowly advancing Royals. The first few minutes of meeting would be decisive. If the Royals didn’t agree to the arrangements, they could either sit outside the gate until they agreed or left. If they turned violent, they would be roasted, but that option would not be used unless all else failed.

  The Royal column was spotted from the hills the next day, but it was the following before they entered the serpentine. The leading group of Duche rode on oblivious to the trap they were in. They didn't stop until they came out of the last serpentine and found the closed gate.

  The leader ordered the gate opened for the Royals in an imperious voice, but the only result was that Hue stood up on the wall directly over him. Hue looked down on the pompous young man and asked who wished to visit Tif’n. The Duche seemed to be speechless as he tried to decide whether this “non person” dared to question a Royal or was actually that stupid that he didn’t recognize his betters. The Duche once again ordered the gate opened and again Hue asked him who wanted to enter and what was their business here.

  I will have your blood on my lance for this show of disrespect for your betters. said the Duche.

  Hue made a big show of looking around and then asked where his betters were?

  The Duche was now becoming livid as he shouted to open the gate and stand ready for punishment.

  Hue replied quite calmly, You want me to open the gate so you can kill me? If you were in here and I were out there, would you open the gate so that I could kill you?