by John Hicks
*
After handing the merchant and his caravan over to the Fenton authorities Lieutenant Amelia led her force back to the Ravens base near Langdon in Velor for the winter.
This would be Olivia’s first winter with the Ravens as a soldier (last winter she had been a recruit). Five days later they were paid and Olivia, Darra and friends set off to celebrate together in the village. They visited several taverns and Olivia had to protect Darra as it was the first time she drank strong ale. Olivia had to practically drag her friend out of the last tavern and get them both back to quarters on time. That night Olivia had the dawn watch.
Later the next morning Olivia was summoned to the watch-sergeant’s office where Sergeant Crandall was waiting. ‘I thought you were out to be a good soldier, Olivia. Yet we find you are stealing from your friends. What have you to say for yourself?’
Olivia stared at the Sergeant in astonishment. ‘I don’t know what you are talking about, Sergeant. I haven’t stolen anything from anybody.’
‘Then how is it that we find these items in your mattress?’ Crandall stepped aside giving Olivia a clear view of the table behind him. There were several items on the table which Olivia recognized as Darra’s.
‘My bed, Sir? They were never in my bed. Why would I want to steal them? And who says they were in my bed?’
‘I do.’ Darra was at the door, her eyes angry. ‘I found them missing. I reported the theft to Sergeant Crandall who searched your bed. We found the items inside your mattress.’
Olivia’s head was spinning. ‘I did not steal these items. Nor did I place them in my mattress as you say.’ *Darra, are you part of this plot? Surely not.*
‘That is where they were, girl. Can you explain that?’
‘I don’t know. Someone is trying to get me into trouble it seems, Sir.’
‘Well they have succeeded, girl. We don’t want thieves here. It is a flogging and perhaps expulsion for you girl. Corporal, chain her then into a cell with her. Tomorrow you will be flogged, girl. The Captain will decide your sentence. Take her away Corporal.’
Olivia was marched out of the watch-office and along a passage and down a gloomy flight of stairs to an underground passage with a series of doors leading off it, one of which was opened and she was thrust in and the door slammed shut. Olivia stood staring the darkness of the cell for a moment then felt her way over to and sat down on the wooden shelf that was also the bed. Her mind was in confusion. Who had arranged this? How was she to get out of this fix? Was this the end of her military career before it even started?
Olivia lost track of time and was startled to hear boot steps in the passage. There was a rattle of a bolt being drawn then Olivia was blinking in light from a torch. To Olivia’s surprise it was Lieutenant Amelia. ‘Just what is this all about, girl?’ she snapped. ‘I thought you were a better than this. Stealing from your own comrades. What made you think you could get away with it?’
‘I didn’t, M’am. I don’t know who put the things in my bed. I didn’t do it M’am. But clearly someone wants you and everyone else to believe I did it and they seemed to have succeeded. But I didn’t do it, M’am. I swear by the Tree M’am. Let me go to the Tree.’
There was a silence in the cell. They both knew that an oath sworn ‘on the Tree’ would always settle the question of truth because if anyone lied while their hand was on a piece of a Whitewood Tree would have the hand burnt off. Lieutenant Amelia stared straight at Olivia who stared straight back at her. ‘Let me go to the Tree, M’am. I am innocent.’
‘If you are innocent as you claim, who would have done it and why?’
‘Ma’am, the only reason why I can think of is that someone wants me out of the way for some reason. Someone thinks I am a threat to them in some way.’
For a long moment the Lieutenant stared at Olivia. ‘Assuming that is so, any idea who it could be?’
‘I have an idea, yes. But no proof.’
‘Well?’
‘Remember the business with the wagons with the hidden compartments, Ma’am?’
‘Of course.’
‘That was the only thing I can think of that I did that was different to anybody else’s actions. Also remember neither Sergeant Crandall nor Corporal Francis reminded you of their existence. Surely they knew of those hidden compartments. Why didn’t one of them speak up? Also, during the march back to Fenton I several times saw the Sergeant speaking to that merchant. Not once but several times. Why would he have anything to say to a captive merchant? And remember that rescue attempt, Ma’am? How did they know to attack? Someone had to have been told. Do you recall that we didn’t catch the man who ran into the scrub - chased by Sergeant Crandall who then claimed to lose him in the scrub? And the stories I heard while we were in Fenton was that the merchant we brought in had friends who would get him off. I noticed during the march back that they weren’t worried, Ma’am. That’s all. I know it’s not much but it’s got me wondering.’
‘It has me wondering too,’ Olivia stared at the wall behind Olivia thoughtfully. ‘You are right about the merchant having friends in high places. They were freed within an hour of my handing them to the Fenton authorities. Then our contract was cancelled which is why I brought the cohort home early. At least they paid us for what we did.’
‘Did you show them that letter, Ma’am?’
‘The one you translated? Yes. They assured me they would ‘look into it’. Whether they really will I don’t know. Frankly I doubt it. But you’re suggestion that Sergeant Crandall and Corporal Francis are somehow involved? They have both been in the Ravens for years. But that’s not the important thing right now. What’s important is the here and now. You’re in big trouble girl. Since Mother isn’t here Captain Gordon will name your sentence tomorrow and it is sure to be harsh. It has to be.’
‘Yes Ma’am.’
‘You can expect a flogging at least and maybe be turned out of the Company. If Mother was here I could ask her to intercede for you - let you stay on. But she is still with the other two cohorts in Panson. I can speak to Captain Gordon but he is not likely to be willing to go soft.’
‘Without a trial, Ma’am?’
‘You want a trial? Well I’ll ask Captain Gordon. But he may think it a waste of time with the evidence as it is.’
Lieutenant Amelia took a last look at Olivia then turned and left the cell taking the torch with her, leaving the cell in darkness again. It was a long lonely night for Olivia.
Amelia crossed the parade ground and entered the offices quarters, moving down the corridor until she arrived at Captain Gordon’s door and knocked.
‘Come.’
Amelia opened the door and entered the room. Captain Gordon was sitting at his desk, a pile of papers in front of him. He looked up at Amelia.
‘You have spoken to the prisoner?’
‘Yes, Sir. And I am not sure she is guilty.’
‘Oh… The evidence seems to speak for itself, surely.’ The Captain lent back in his chair and stared at Amelia.
‘Exactly. It does. That’s the trouble. It is to pat for my liking. The barracks were open and empty. It would have been easy for anyone to go in and take the items and plant them where they were found. I think someone is trying to get rid of Olivia and we are falling for it.’
‘Really? And who is this someone who wants this soldier gone?’
‘I don’t know yet but I have suspicions. Just not enough proof to name. Yet.’
‘What sort of suspicions.’
‘You recall what happened in Weldfore. How we found that load of smuggled weapons and supplies.’
‘Yes. But what has that to do with theft?’
‘I think it might have everything to do with it. I think there is someone in this Company who has been bribed by the person or people who are trying to take over in Fenton so that their weaponry and supplies will get through to them. That somebody was depending on my lack of experience to get past the searches. But they were not prepared for
a new soldier to be on hand who had experience in merchant caravanning. When we met the first caravan she spoke to Corporal Francis who did not pass her message on to me. Later that night she spoke directly to me and proved herself right the next day. I had no idea there were hidden compartments in those wagons. She went straight to them. I put it to you Captain that we are in danger of ruining a very useful - as well as innocent - soldier. She is also the one who translated that letter.’
‘But there is still the items themselves and the word of Sergeant Crandall and Corporal Francis and Private Darra - who I understand is the prisoner’s friend. I see no alternative but to go ahead with the punishment.’
‘She has asked for a trial, Sir.’
‘NO. I will not go to all the trouble of holding a trial. Clear?’
‘She has also asked to be allowed to put it to the Tree, Sir.’
‘There is no tree here and I’m not sending a thief out to a Tree so she would have a better chance to escape. Is that clear?’
‘Clear, Sir.’
The next morning Olivia was brought from the cell to the parade ground and up onto the platform from where officers usually addressed the troops. A flogging frame had been erected on the platform. All members of the company present were on parade including all the officers. In the absence of the Duchess, Captain Gordon was officiating. He addressed the assembled troops.
‘We are here today to witness the punishment of a thief. The prisoner was found to be in possession of items belonging to Private Darra. Stealing from a comrade I believe is one of the worst things you can do. A soldier must be able to trust his comrades in arms otherwise how can you expect him to stand beside them in battle? Olivia you have a choice. If you admit to your crime and apologize to the Company as well as to Private Darra, your punishment will be thirty strokes. If you refuse it will be fifty. Decide.
Olivia swallowed and took a deep breath. ‘Captain I will not admit to something I did not do.’
‘Very well. Strip the prisoner and secure her to the frame.’
The guards who had brought Olivia from the cell quickly removed her clothes then fastened her to the whipping frame. It was placed so that her back was to the assembled Company. Then one of the guards unhooked a whip from his belt and looked at Captain Gordon.
‘Carry out the punishment.’ The next thing Olivia knew was a sudden searing pain across her shoulders followed by a scream. Then another, lower down. And another lower still. The pain went on and on. Olivia soon lost count of the strokes. Finally she passed out.
She was still unconscious when she was released from the frame and dragged from the platform and into the Infirmary where she was stretched out face down and the lash-marks swabbed and salved by the surgeon’s assistant. As she finished Olivia began to revive. She was given water and finally was able to sit up just as Lieutenant Amelia entered the room. Amelia froze for a moment as she surveyed Olivia‘s naked body but Olivia only later remembered the stunned look on the Lieutenant‘s face.
‘How do you feel?’
‘Awful. Has… has the C…Captain said if… I’m t…to be th…thrown out?’
‘Yes. You are to be out of the holding by sundown.’
‘W…Wonder why…why he is s…so eager to see me gone.’ Olivia gasped in pain as she shifted on the bed.
‘What do you mean?’
‘It c…could be he is in I…league with S…Sergeant Crandall and C…Corporal Francis.’ Olivia was struggling to not show the pain.
‘What… Surely… You really think there is a conspiracy?’
‘M… Ma’am, since I… d…did not steal those items of D…Darra’s s…someone had to have p…planted them - someone who wants me out… out of the way. The only r…reason anyone c…could want that would be s…someone who believes I am a t…threat to them. The o…only thing I can think of that I have d…done that is not usual s…soldiers duties was the business of the s…smuggled weapons… Un… Unless you can think of a…another reason…’ Olivia sagged back then gasped in pain as her back came against the pillows.
‘No I can’t think of one.’
‘Then they w…will get a…away with it.’
‘I hope not. Do you know where you will go?’
‘I’ll t…try for work in L…Langdon. If not then I’ll head f…for Kapatol.’
‘You can rest here for a while, Olivia, but then you must leave. I will have your personal gear brought to you.’ The Lieutenant left the room.
For an hour or more Olivia was left alone. Then Darra entered the room with a bag in her hand. ‘I’ve brought you your stuff,’ she said stiffly, tossing the bag onto the bed. She hesitated then looked straight at Olivia. ‘Why Olivia. What did you hope to gain?’
‘N… Nothing Darra, because I didn’t do it. Y…You are just being u…used to get rid of me. W… why can’t you believe me?’
‘Seeing is believing with me. My stuff was in your bunk.’ Darra strode from the room, failing to see the tears in Olivia‘s eyes. Olivia slowly reached for the bag and opened it. In it were the clothes she had worn when she joined the Ravens, her cloak, , her weapons - a bow and a quiver containing ten arrows, her two throwing knives and a belt knife and water-bottle and her pack holding her spare clothing as well as her flint and steel, and eating utensils. Olivia slowly dressed. Putting her socks and boots on was torture. She gasped with pain each time she took a step as her trousers rubbed on her lashed thighs and butt. She tried to swing the pack onto her back, gasping with pain as she did so but couldn’t. She finally had her pack on one shoulder and her quiver on the other. The throwing knives were in their boot sheaths. She slowly exited the infirmary and headed across the parade ground for the gate. At first no-one noticed her but then someone called out.
‘Hey. The thief is leaving.’
A crowd quickly gathered and started jeering her. At first it was only words but then someone threw a stone which was soon joined by many more. Most struck her pack or her back so that the pain in her back was sharply increased. Tears she could not hide trickled down her face as she passed out the gate and staggered down the road followed by the last stones.
Olivia turned towards Langdon which she knew was some four days march from Ravensnest. She wondered if she could manage it. Her back was still on fire. She had had no food since the evening meal two days back with her then friends at an inn and little to drink and was desperately thirsty. Her water-bottle was soon empty.
It was almost noon when Olivia set out. She walked slowly trying to save her strength but found she had to rest frequently. It was sundown before she was finally out of sight of Ravensnest. Several people had passed her in carts and on horse or mule. Some had looked at her curiously but no one spoke to her. As the sun went down Olivia looked for a place to spend the night. Finally she found a spot beside an old log to lie down. She gingerly sat down, wrapped herself in her cloak, stretched out on her side and tried to sleep. Her back was still paining.
Olivia woke with the sun and found her back felt less painful - until she tried to move. She dragged herself to her feet, shouldered her pack and quiver and returned to the road. Traffic was again sparse and continued to ignore her. Her back, buttocks and thighs still hurt, she had no food or water and her head hurt too. She was sure her back was bleeding again. It was difficult to carry her pack as well as her bow and quiver but she was afraid to lose them. She was sure she would need them later. She saw few people on the road. Those she did ignored her. Near sundown she came upon a stream and an open space shaded with trees that was clearly a regularly used camping ground but at this time unoccupied.
Olivia left the road and found a secluded spot behind a bolder out of site of the road where she deposited her pack and quiver then drank from the stream. Then after a second careful look round satisfied her she was alone she eased her shirt off, wincing as the cloth pulled at her wounded back. She stared at the bloodstains on her shirt then after another look around stripped off the rest of her clothes an
d slipped into the water. It was cold but was also soothing on her whip marks. After she had bathed Olivia washed her shirt as best she could. After spreading her shirt on the bank to dry weighted down with stones, Olivia put on her trousers. She thought of a fire but she had nothing to cook. Olivia listened to the rustling in the undergrowth, then gritting her teeth she slowly eased herself down onto her hands and knees and crawled into the undergrowth until she found a suitable place then she drew a throwing knife and waited.
Finally her patience was rewarded. A rabbit appeared from under a bush and froze when it saw Olivia. It started to turn to flee but Olivia’s knife was already in the air. It sank into the rabbit which quivered, rolled over and lay still. Olivia picked up the rabbit and returned to her campsite, gathered wood and went to her pack for her flint and steel. She soon had the rabbit skinned and the meat roasting over a small fire. Later, feeling better with some food in her she gingerly rolled in her cloak for the second night.
Next morning she filled her waster-bottle and set out again. Her head was no longer hurting and walking was not as painful and she back was less painful. She walked steadily along the road seeing few people at first. Later in the day the traffic picked up but no-one spoke to Olivia. By sundown she was as tired and footsore as the night before. This time there was no stream available and her water bottle was empty again. She made a rough camp at the side of the road.
The next morning she was thirsty and hungry but there was nothing to do but continue on. It was a hot day and Olivia had had no water and her tongue was sticking to the top of her mouth. At mid-morning she came to a farm gate. After hesitating she entered and asked the farmer’s wife if she could fill her bottle. The woman was frightened to see the arrows and pointed to the well in the farmyard. Not wanting to cause any trouble Olivia drew a bucket of water, drank her fill, and filled her water bottle then left.
That evening she came upon a clump of trees. However there were no rabbits to catch nor a stream. The next day was the same as the previous - at first. There was more traffic on the road as she neared Langdon. She arrived at the outskirts to Langdon. Langdon was a small town with no wall or guard -fortunately- as Olivia knew she could well have been turned away. She entered the town and made her way to the town square where she was able to slake her thirst from the public well. Olivia then headed for one of the two taverns the town boasted and ordered herself a bath (where she washed her clothes as well as herself) and afterwards a meal and a bed.
Next day she felt much better. Her back was less painful - though still tender. At breakfast she asked the tavern keeper if he knew of anyone who was hiring. He directed her to the other end of town where a merchant caravan was preparing to break camp and had let it be known it was in need of muleteers. On entering the camp Olivia was recognized by one of the drivers who had known her when with the Boris Merchant House and directed her to the Merchant who ran the caravan for the Georges Merchant House. Olivia was taken on as a mule handler and wagon driver. An hour later she was sitting with the driver of one of the wagons as the caravan set out taking the road to Kapatol.
Over the following days Olivia settled into her old life as a caravan worker. Three weeks after leaving Langdon they arrived in Kapatol. After being paid the wagon crew headed for their favorites taverns. Olivia however headed for bed - she had something special planned for the next day and wanted to be up early.
The next morning early Olivia headed for the Goddesses Temple. Alanya’s Temples are unique as they are always built around a living growing White Wood Tree. This Whitewood tree stood some six metres tall and was (when there were no services running), open to allow pilgrims to approach the tree. A pilgrim would stand in silence with both hands on the trunk of the tree. When Olivia entered the Temple she found she was alone before the Tree. Olivia dropped her bag and quiver and after taking a deep breath, placed both hands on the Tree. Immediately she felt a tingling sensation in both hands which shot up both arms across her shoulders and down her back. The aches still in her back immediately died away. Olivia felt herself quiver and her legs gave way. She sank onto her knees, her body and forehead now pressed against the Tree trunk. A door seemed to open and she was staring into a room containing a large throne-like chair of white wood on which sat a beautiful woman in a simple green and brown robe. Olivia realized it was the Goddess Alanya herself.
*Welcome Daughter. I have been waiting for you.*
*Y…You have M…My Lady?*
*Yes. I have a dangerous mission for you, Olivia if you will accept it.*
*What mission My Lady?*
*I want you to take on the role of Guardian. Gloam is active again and I need a champion on hand to face him. Will you be that champion, Olivia?*
*If you are sure I can do it, My Lady. But why me? Surely there are better fighters….*
*You will continue your training with the Ravens. I want you to stay with them. You know of the history of my previous Guardians?*
*Yes My Lady. The first Guardians worked alone and didn’t last long because Gloam had archers shoot them down. When a Guardian was attached to a castle guard or the Royal Guard they lasted longer thanks to the support they received but rivalry or political trouble arose.*
*Correct. I am hoping having the Guardian attached to a mercenary company will prevent such trouble. Such companies go from realm to realm with little trouble.*
*But My Lady, are you not aware that I have just been flogged and thrown out of the Ravens for theft?*
*Yes Olivia I know that. And I know you are innocent. Know that your suspicions regarding Captain Gordon, Sergeant Crandall and Corporal Francis are correct. Know also that you are actually the daughter of the Duchess Roxana’s sister. Amelia is your cousin. The birthmark on your left breast Amelia also has on her right breast and her mother has below her right breast. Your mother had it below her left breast, Olivia.*
*Oh... My Lady… please…. Is my mother… my parents… are they alive? Please My Lady…*
*I’m sorry Olivia. Your parents were killed by agents of Gloam who knew that you were destined to be my soldier. They sort to prevent you from being suitable for this task.*
*I… see…. My…Lady… Since I’m not in the Ravens now, should I seek employment in another Company?*
*No Olivia. Later you will re-join the Ravens. In time your name will be cleared but for now it is best you keep secret the fact that you are my soldier. I will give you your abilities and then you should find work that will get you to Panwritle this summer. That is where you will meet Gloam’s forces as well as the Ravens.*
* Very Good, My Lady.*
