by C S Boyack
After he calmed the horse, he led it around the outcrop to where the cave opening should be.
James used both feet to push a boulder out of the way so the wagon could pass.
"We gotta talk about that crazy old bastard out there."
"Later. Lend me a hand and lets see what's left inside."
With more light, two stacks of mortar shells revealed themselves. James approached them and used the span of one hand. "My guess is these are thirty-two pounders."
"Where'd they come from?"
"I don't remember them. My father made me watch the roads while he worked, so I never really got inside the cave. All I knew about were the explosives in the wall."
"Well, let's get this wagon, then get the hell out of here."
"Not so fast, I want everything. We can get the mortars and shells in the other wagon and live in this one."
"We can't even lift one o' them guns."
"We may have to back up to a ledge then slide them in. good idea."
"What are we going to do with them. Do you even know how to load and fire one?"
"I do, but not with any skill. We never know what the journey requires. If nothing else, we can sell them for a lot of money. Some aristocrat somewhere would probably love them for his estate."
The wagon provided a wealth of items. A shovel to help clean up a ledge so the guns could be pushed inside the original wagon. Tools of various kinds, and weapons.
Dan claimed the lieutenant's original pistol and saber. James found his father's weapons in one of the drawers under the floorboards. These opened from the outside of the wagon and held extra powder horns, ball molds, and weapons. His father's cutlass had a perfect basket hilt in the shape of octopus tentacles to protect the hand. A double barreled pistol appeared to be fifty caliber, and it was rifled. It would be more accurate than the smoothbore muskets the guards carried.
By the end of the evening, everything was outside the cave and ready to travel.
"James, that crazy old man is cooking the lieutenant's head in that pot."
James moved beside the fire then sat down. "Where are you from, originally?"
"Malatook," the old man answered.
"And what is your name, if it's polite to ask?"
"Slaver called me Tom."
"That's not a good name for man from Malatook. You must have a name your father gave you."
"Also Malatook."
James moved away then motioned to Dan. "Malatook is a large island in the southern sea. The natives are fierce warriors, cannibals, and nobody dares go there. The old man must be something special to be named Malatook too. They take new names after they reach manhood."
"Somebody had to go there, or he wouldn't be here."
"True. Slavers are a desperate bunch, and must have risked it."
Dan moved toward the fire. "Mal, can I call you Mal?"
The old man nodded.
"Why you gotta do that to the poor lieutenant?"
"'Tenant, boss man. Powerful enemy. Make me strong to own tsantsa."
"He isn't hurting anything," James said. "He isn't hurting us."
"Well it ain't natural," Dan said.
"Which brings me to my next point." James filled his clay pipe then used a twig from the fire to light it. "Your sister and I have an understanding. It isn't formal, because I never spoke to your father. I have to rescue her, or die trying. You don't.
"We're bound to get bloody on this journey, and if the war starts, and if the Earl releases her, it's going to get pretty ugly. Mal and I can handle the wagons. You should take a ship then get your father out of here before the war starts."
"So you're going to keep him around and run me off? Is that what you think?"
"He's here of his own free will. I'm here of my own free will. I want to make sure you have the option. That's all."
"Well, I'm not going and that's that. Besides, my father wouldn't leave without Bonnie."
"No, I don't suspect he would." James sat his pipe on the ground then walked to the wagon. He opened one of the drawers then pulled out two wooden swords. "My father taught me with these. We practiced every night. You and I should do the same."
"Now you want to play swords?"
"Not play, practice. I'm rusty, and I'll wager you could use some practice too. Pistols are wonderful, but after you fire them, they're useless. In the time it takes to load one, someone sticks a bayonet or a sword through you. Now come on."
They practiced until a distant owlcat hooted down the ridge. James was easily able to disarm his friend, then showed him several tricks to keep him from doing it. They put the weapons away then started looking for food in the wagon.
With no time to cook, they settled for dried meat and shared a raw potato.
By firelight, they turned their attentions back to the wagon. James threw twigs and feces out from the rat's nest then gave it a through sweeping using pine boughs. Dan rummaged through the outside drawers and cleaned them out.
"Hey, look at this," Dan said.
James opened the shutters on the side of the caravan then looked outside. "That's a swivel gun. I'd forgotten about it, but my father used to mount it on top at night. There should be some balls for it somewhere. See if you can find them. They ought to be a couple of inches across, but are too small to be explosives. Might come in handy one day."
The evening ended with everyone deciding to sleep outside until the caravan aired out. Dan climbed on the driver's seat then mounted the swivel gun atop the caravan before going to sleep.
The next day, they were able to reach the main road and get part way to Loremont before camping once more. This time the meadow was larger. Other travelers filled the sites to the south. James directed them to camp near the trees on the north side of the road.
While gathering wood, Dan wandered close to the edge of the forest. A woman stood and aimed a bow at him. "That's far enough," she said.
"Sorry to disturb you. I mean you no harm." Dan held his hand forward then took a step.
The woman released her arrow. The string slapped her wrist and the arrow tumbled off into the trees. "Shit!" she cried.
James came running. "Hold now. We mean you no harm. We're just camping. Sorry to disturb you." He placed an arm on his friend then backed toward the fire ring Mal was building.
The woman backed into the forest then ducked behind a stone outcrop.
"That woman's crazy," Dan said.
"Seems so. Let's get some hot food and start our practice. Mal knows how to cook."
"Yeah, but what's he gonna cook? That's my concern."
They talked as they sparred.
"When we get to Loremont, I want to get any supplies we might need. Then we leave town. I'll ride back and see if we can withdraw any of the Earl's money. If it works, so much the better. If it goes bad, I'll be riding out in a hurry."
"I can have the swivel gun ready to cover your retreat."
"Good idea, but no. If I'm being chased, I'll ride past like I don't even know you. Maybe the soldiers will ignore you too."
Mal's idea of supper involved boiled potatoes and corn meal. Dan's face revealed what he thought of the meal.
"It's a damned site better than no meal at all," James said. "Besides, he makes a good cup of coffee."
"I suppose. Speaking of no meal at all." Dan loaded a tin plate then filled a tin cup with coffee. "Can you hit anything with one of those muskets?"
"I'm fair. Why?"
"If she tries to shoot me again, stop her." He left the fire and headed toward the outcrop.
He stopped at the ledge and sat the dishes in plain sight. "It's lousy food, but it's hot. I'll come for the dishes tomorrow morning." He retreated back to the comfort of the fire.
"Very kind of you," James said while loading his pipe.
"She ain't even got a fire. Just seemed right. That's all."
They sat in silence for a while. James spoke while he stared into the fire. "My father did terrible things. He did them
voluntarily, out of some misguided sense of loyalty. In the end he recognized the truth of it.
"He wanted to save me from all that. Now here I am."
Dan said, "That may be true, but you didn't choose this."
"I almost wish I had. That way, I'd know more about how to do it."
"You remembered the caravan. He must've told stories. Maybe more of it will come back."
"Not much hope, mate. He told me some things, and I'll have to figure the rest out as we go."
Before James finished his pipe, Mal turned toward the dark forest and one of the horses nickered. Dan stopped filling his own pipe then placed his pistol across his lap.
The woman marched straight toward the fire with their dishes. She wore a filthy oatmeal colored corset dress with the hem torn out. Her hair was caramel colored and full of weeds. She scooped up the other plates. "Where's the water?"
"Why?" Dan asked.
"Least I can do is clean this up. The coffee was good."
"There's more if you'd like some," James said.
"Water barrel's on the back of the covered wagon," Dan offered.
The woman added some water to a pail then found a rag to scrub with.
"Where you coming from?" James asked.
"Loremont. Why?"
"That's where we're going. Wondered if there is any news."
"Nothing ever happens there. It's a nice place for the right sort."
"Why did you leave?"
"Cause I'm not the right sort."
"Maybe you can tell us the best places to buy supplies, or which taverns water down their rum."
"That, I can tell you." She sat the plates on the wagon seat then joined them beside the fire. "Sorry about earlier. I was mad and scared all at once."
"What do you have to be afraid of?" Dan asked.
"Everyone." She folded her hands and looked at her feet. "It's tough for a woman. I'm willing to work, but the dairyman has enough children to run the farm. The baker has children to bake the bread. Even the stable get's shoveled out by someone's son. That leaves the taverns."
"Taverns are good places," James said.
She pulled up the front of her dress to keep her bosom inside. "You would think so, but you don't know it all. I made some coin by hustling drinks to patrons. The tavern keepers all think you have something else to help them turn a profit. Not a profit for me, them. They pay just enough that you get desperate.
"Here's your pay, Fala, but I subtracted that beer the patron spilled. Oh, and I subtracted that cup o' broth you had. Good luck paying the rent on that. Oh, there's one more thing you could do to earn a bit extra. In the rooms upstairs. Well mine ain't for sale. And that's when I started walkin."
James sat his pipe back on the ground. "So. Fala, is it?"
The woman nodded.
"Are you telling us you walked here from Loremont?"
"Yeah."
"Any trouble along the road?"
"Not that I saw."
"Why don't you stay in our caravan tonight. It doesn't come with a cost, and you can lock the door. We're pretty happy outside, since there's no trouble around."
"Thank you. I haven't slept in a real bed for a week." She ducked into the darkness then returned with her bow and one single arrow. She put her only possessions into the wagon then retrieved the dishes to put away.
Dan looked sideways at his friend.
"What was I supposed to do? You're the one who fed her."
They awoke to the smell of woodsmoke coming from the caravan chimney. Travelers across the road gathered their horses to make an early start.
Fala opened the door and brought a hot frying pan down the steps. She placed fried potatoes and bacon in front of the men before returning with a pot of coffee. "I'll wager you'll find that better than last night," she said. "Used salt and everything."
"It's much better," Dan said.
"We're going to Loremont, but I hate to just leave you out here. Where are you going?" James asked.
"Nowhere in particular. I was just mad."
"A two day hike, all because you were mad?" Dan asked.
"Yeah, what of it?"
"You're welcome to come with us, but we won't force you. We'll eventually head into Prelonia."
"Nice country, Prelonia. I might as well take you up on it. I can earn my keep."
"Not with that bow, I hope," Dan said.
Fala pulled up her sleeve. An angry black and yellow bruise covered her forearm. "No. Not with the bow. Had four arrows originally. Now I'm down to one, and haven't hit anything yet."
"They take some practice, I hear," James said.
"I can feed horses. Cook, clean, gather wood. Whatever you need."
"Sounds good enough to me. Dan and I drive the wagons. You can ride wherever you like."
"And your slave?"
"He's not a slave. He's a free man who wants to help. His name is Mal."
Fala nodded toward him and said, "Mal."
"I help," Mal said.
And with that, they broke camp then headed for Loremont.
Chapter Five
Loremont was a bustling city. An old keep, surrounded by a wall, sat in the center of town. It was now the source of city affairs. The rest of the city grew around the keep and had no walls.
They drove to a stable then parked. James divided up their gold. "Find us enough to get us deep into Prelonia. Maybe something more than corn meal and oats. Let Fala help."
"Where you goin?" Dan asked.
"I need to find that bank and check the roads. I'll ask for news then meet you back here."
They all walked out together into an open market. Anything they might want was displayed in booths along both sides of the street.
Mal tugged at James' sleeve. "This." He held forward a large orange tuber.
"That's food for animals. Too woody for us to chew," James said.
Mal thrust it toward him again. "This."
"Fine." James paid the vendor, who was a bit put off that someone would only buy one. He was used to selling them by the cart-load. Mal dropped it inside the feed sack he constantly carried.
They went past shops with live poultry, home made jewelry, and rugs of various quality. Mal tugged at James' sleeve once more. "This."
Mal thrust forward a leather bag with a shoulder strap.
"I need to get moving. Buy Mal whatever he wants. He doesn't seem to want anything very expensive. Maybe even a pair of trousers and a shirt. I'll meet you back at the wagons."
Mal dumped his collection of bent nails, weeds, and bugs on the ground. The store keeper winced at the sight of the lieutenant's shrunken head. He carefully reloaded his possessions in his new bag.
Fala bought some dried fruits and beans, and arranged for the vendor's daughter deliver them to the stable for her. Dan bought some lead ingots, with the intent they could pour lead balls for bullets.
Dan spotted a tavern and headed that direction. Fala glanced at the rooms upstairs. "Not that one. There's a nice place around the corner."
"Food and rum?"
"Of course. They make a good thick stew." She led them to the place where they enjoyed a hot meal and drink before heading back. Mal found a knuckle bone in his stew then added it to his bag.
James was already back at the wagon, and had the items from the shops stowed away inside.
"Find what you needed?" Dan asked.
"As well as possible. Looks like we're ready to go. I want to make camp in Prelonia somewhere."
"Is that so the Hollish soldiers can't chase you across the border?" Fala asked.
"Dan? What have you been telling her?"
"Well, you decided she could join us. Figured she ought to know what we're getting into. I bought some lead at a good price. The caravan has bullet molds on board."
"Maybe you can use them tonight while I'm out."
"Sounds good. Let me change the horses. These guns are heavy, and all the extra horse does is trail behind."
"Let's keep
him fresh. It's all downhill into Prelonia, and I might need him to run tonight."
"Aye aye. Let's get moving then."
They backed the wagons around then headed east once more. The roads wove their way around various hills and mountains. Steep slopes held the road like a rope wrapped around a turnstile. North slopes were cold and frosty while the south slopes were open and green. James reached back into the caravan then handed Fala a blanket she could use when it got too cold. "Are you okay keeping our business to yourself?" he asked.
"There are worse things in life. How'd you like to be that woman? All bricked up in some tower somewhere. I hope you can rescue her."
"That's the goal, but it's a nasty business before we have the chance."
"Well, I don't feel sorry for any of them. We all do the best we can, but nobody wants to help anyone. Those milkmaids and bakers, let your war take them all. How does anyone ever get enough to buy their own cows when she can't get work in the first place?"
"Cows? Is that what you want?"
"No. It's just an example. It's to the point where the only way for a regular person to get ahead is to steal it from them that has it. It ain't like they got it honestly either. I know for a fact that the biggest bakery in Loremont burned out the previous owner then took the whole thing over when those folks had to leave."
"For a fact?"
"You learn a lot selling rum to drunks."
"True enough. Rum tends to loosen the tongue. Spot us a sunny meadow. We dropped into Prelonia several miles ago."
After they unhitched, James disappeared into the caravan. When he emerged once more he wore a dusty coat and a knit cap. "Just a common woodsman, right? My good coat was a little too nautical to blend in this far from the sea." He dropped his bicorn hat on Mal's head as he passed.
Mal puffed up like he'd just been given command of his own ship.
"Saddled the horse for you," Dan said. "You be careful now. That Earl said it was his personal bank. What's that even mean?"
"Must mean banking is one of his businesses."
"If they don't give you the money, get the hell out of there before the soldiers start asking questions."
"We are working for the Earl. Maybe I should tell the soldiers and have them help me for a change."
