by John Hicks
*No.*
The Raven turned to face them as Amelia and Olivia entered the tent. ‘Olivia, I’m sorry we have to rush you into this. I’ve only just learnt who you really are and now I’m pushing you into this without getting to know you. I’ll try to make it up to you later. For now stay with Amelia. She’ll see you through this. Ready, people?’ The Raven exited her tent with her officers streaming out behind her.
Olivia walked with Amelia behind the Raven and her other officers – all, Olivia noted without their swords. She commented on this to Amelia. ‘The Prince does not allow visiting officers to wear swords at his table. In case of trouble.’
‘Oh….’ Olivia was silent for a moment then whispered, ‘Amelia I don’t think I’ve ever felt so scared in my life. I’m afraid I’ll do something wrong or say something I shouldn’t.’
‘Never been to a formal dinner?’
‘Actually yes I have been to several with my foster-father but they were with merchants and their families, not royalty.’
‘Relax then. It’ll probably be little different to what you’ve seen. People will understand… and I’ll stay with you.’
They were met at the entrance to the Prince’s command tent (which had been turned into a dining room for the occasion) by one of the Prince’s aides. He apparently was required to prevent weapons going into the tent for Olivia saw him flick his eyes to each left hip, checking that they wore no swords. When Olivia came up to him, he spoke curtly, ‘No weapons allowed, Private. I’ll take that for now.’ He held out his hand for the bag. Olivia shook her head. ‘This is the White Rod the Goddess gave me, not a sword, Lieutenant,’ she replied. The Aide stiffened; stared at her a moment then turned and announced their names to the already well-filled tent.
Olivia saw some faces turn their way as the Raven’s party was announced. However when she was announced ‘Private Olivia, the Goddess’s Guardian’ all eyes swung onto her. Olivia only just managed to stop herself from scuttling back outside. She took a deep breath and followed Amelia down the length of the tent to where the Prince was greeting his guests. As she waited Olivia became aware there was a second source of evil (aside from Captain Gordon) in the tent. A man was standing to one side staring at her with barely suppressed hatred on his face.
‘Ah… Duchess. I want to thank you for the excellent work your Company did today…..’ the Prince smoothly greeted the Ravens officers in turn as they were presented to him. Olivia was last to be presented. As she waited Olivia examined the Prince. He seemed to be calm enough but Olivia sensed a determination within him. She sensed he was out to get what he wanted. Finally it was her turn.
‘So, ahh… Private Olivia. You are the one who stopped those worm-things and Gloam’s other nasty things today. How long have you been Alanya’s Guardian?’
‘About five weeks, My Lord Prince. The Goddess instructed me to keep my appointment as Guardian secret at first so I could get close enough to aid this battle.’
‘I see. You did a good job, Private. However I have decided it would be better for you to be attached to my personal guard from now on. It would not do for the Goddesses Guardian to be attached to a mercenary company now would it?’
‘That is not the Goddesses wish, My Lord Prince,’ replied Olivia politely but firmly. ‘She is convinced it would be better for a Guardian not to be attached to a Royal Guard. No doubt you are aware of the problems that arose when the last Guardian was attached to the Valor Royal Guard? The Goddess wishes to prevent those problems from happening again by attaching me to the Ravens Mercenary Company since Mercenary Companies move from Kingdom to Kingdom as needed without becoming tangled in politics.’
‘Really,’ said the Prince. It was clear to Olivia that Prince Shaun was not happy at this but also knew he could not be seen to be trying to over-rule the Goddess. ‘Very well,’ he said finally. ‘No doubt She knows best. Come people, let us be seated and celebrate our victory.’
‘A moment please, My Lord Prince. Who is that man please? The one in the blue shirt and black trousers who is trying to slip away… yes YOU! Come here.’
The man turned to run but Olivia reached out her right hand which was suddenly holding the Rod. The Rod glowed with power then the man was surrounded with a white glow. He rose of the ground and drifted across the room to where Olivia and the Prince were standing.
‘I DEMAND YOU RELEASE ME AT ONCE,’ shouted the angry man. ‘My Lord Prince make this fool woman release me at once.’
‘Private Olivia what do you think you are doing,’ demanded the Prince. ‘That is the Duke of Avensvale, one of my advisors.’
‘Perhaps he is My Lord Prince but he stinks of Evil. I wonder - yes! He has been invaded and taken over and is now controlled by a demon serving Gloam. OUT demon,’ The Rod flared up and the White-fire surrounding the man immediately flared up. The glow became stronger as Olivia concentrated. The man screamed in pain and fell to his knees as a black cloud appeared above the man. The cloud became denser and denser and pushed out against the wall of white-fire imprisoning it. The white-fire moved from the man and surrounded the demon squeezing him tighter and tighter until both the demon and the fire disappeared. Olivia put the Rod into in the table and approached the Duke.
‘How do you feel My Lord Duke?’ asked Olivia. She helped the Duke to his feet then into a chair and looked him over. She noted he was very thin and his clothes were very loose on him. ‘My Lord have you been eating properly?’
‘No,’ the Duke replied. ‘And thank you for removing that… that thing. I couldn’t do anything to stop him. I was helpless. My Lord Prince I apologize for the damage I have caused you and your cause. But I am now returned and am here to serve you.’
‘I am pleased to hear that,’ replied the Prince. ‘We will speak more on this later. For now everyone please take your places at the table.’
‘Your pardon My Prince,’ said Olivia calmly. ‘There is another one here with a Demon inside him.’
‘There is?’
‘Yes. Captain Gordon. Step forward please.’
Captain Gordon stiffened and then started to step away from Olivia. What are you saying Woman? Is this another one of your tricks, thief? Keep your toy away from me. Hear?’
Olivia did not reply but called the Rod from the table to her hand and pointed it at him. White-fire spat out and surrounded him. The man howled and a black cloud appeared above the man. The White-fire condensed around it and compressed until both cloud and fire disappeared.
Captain Gordon groaned and staggered. Olivia caught him as he began to collapse and guided him into a chair. He covered his face with his hands and breathed deeply then slowly lowered his hands and looked at Olivia.
‘Thank you Private, thank you. It’s gone – I am in control of myself again. That was awful. I couldn’t stop myself from what he did - that smuggling of weapons into Weldfore - I must apologize for the way you were treated, Private. It was not right. But I could do nothing. It was terrible…’
‘That’s alright Captain. So long as you’re free now. How do you feel?’
‘Tired. Hungry.’
‘Err… Private Olivia,’ said Prince Shaun.
‘Yes My Lord Prince?’
‘Are there any more here who are invaded like these were?’
‘No, My Prince. At this time I can say your forces are clear of the enemy’s demons.’
‘Then let us celebrate our victory. Tomorrow we must seek out where he has run too.’
Olivia slid the Rod into the bag, took a last look at Captain Gordon then turned to the table as all present sought their seats. She knew that the lower you were in rank the further away from the head of the table you sat. As she was the lowest rank present she headed for the far end of the table but Amelia reached out a hand and stopped her. ‘Cousin, please sit with me.’ She indicated the vacant chair beside her to her left. Olivia hesitated a moment then sat down beside Amelia.
‘Thank you Lieu… Amelia.’
&nbs
p; ‘So it is true? She is your cousin?’ Lieutenant Davon was sitting on Amelia’s right.
‘Yes she is,’ replied Amelia calmly. ‘Her mother was mother’s sister who has been missing for twenty years.’
‘She told you this, Lieutenant?’ queried Captain Beverly.
‘Yes,’ replied Amelia.
‘How can we be sure what she says is true?’ asked the Lieutenant.
‘She bears the same birthmark both Mother and I bear,’ replied Amelia.
‘Are you sure it is not a false mark painted on?’ pressed the Lieutenant. ‘I heard of a case where a man tried to pass himself off as the long-lost son of a rich man some years ago.’
‘Quite sure,’ replied Amelia. There were no further questions from the lieutenant as food arrived.
*
At the head of the table, Prince Shaun questioned the Raven. ‘What do you know of this woman, Duchess? Where does she come from and who are her parents?’
‘Actually I know very little myself at the moment Highness. She apparently joined my Company last year while I was here and went through basic training without trouble. Earlier this year she was a member of a half-cohort led by my daughter which was contracted to the Weldfore government to patrol roads and search for smugglers. When they stopped a merchant caravan it was Olivia who found the hidden compartments holding military weaponry and supplies. When they returned to Ravensnest, Private Olivia was accused of stealing, flogged and thrown out by Captain Gordon who commanded in my absence. When I returned to Ravensnest, my daughter told me of this, including the fact that Olivia bore the same birthmark we both do. However Olivia had gone by that time and we had no idea where.
Six days ago I was informed by my daughter that Olivia had reappeared driving one of the wagons that delivered supplies to my Company. Olivia asked to speak privately with my daughter and while with Amelia said she had gone to the Tree in Kapitol and there been healed of her whip marks by the Goddess. As proof of this Olivia showed her now healed back to my daughter. Amelia insists it is completely clean of whip marks. Olivia told my daughter she had been told by the Goddess that she was the daughter of my missing younger sister and knew of the existence of our birth marks even although she had never seen either my daughter nor me uncovered.’
‘Very interesting,’ said the Prince thoughtfully.
*
It was well after sunset when the feast ended. As the guests left the tent some were rather unsteady on their feet. Olivia helped Amelia support Lieutenant Davon, as he was somewhat under the weather.
After they arrived back at the Ravens camp and delivered Lieutenant Davon to his tent, Olivia was stunned when she was shown a new tent set up for her next to Amelia’s.
‘But I don’t want to put anyone out of their tent…’
‘You’re not,’ assured Amelia. ‘It was taken from the loot collection. One of Danglish’s officers probably owned it. Now you go and get a good night’s sleep. Mother will want to see you tomorrow. We have much to talk about. Good night, Cousin.’
Olivia smiled. ‘Good night, Cousin,’ she replied.
On entering the tent Olivia found it furnished with a camp bed, fold-up table and two fold-up chairs and a portable wash-stand. On the table a candle was burning. In one corner were her weapons. Next to them sat a storage chest. Curious, Olivia opened it. Spare candles, blankets and several changes of uniforms lay ready for her. *It certainly will be different to sleeping on the ground* Olivia thought as she undressed.
As she drifted off to sleep Olivia thought of all that had happened and realized she had finally found her family. Silently she reached for the Goddess. *Thank you My Lady. Thank you.*
*You are welcome, Daughter.*
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