by Mark Tufo
“Home sweet home,” Haden said as we approached a knoll. At first I did not know what he was talking about; then the gaping hole in the hillside became visible.
“All of your people are in there?” I asked.
“My scouts stumbled upon it within a few hours of our insertion. It’s a vast network of caves; we haven’t explored nearly all of it.”
Serrot stood outside with a couple dozen men. Their weapons were out and they looked ready to use them.
“Serrot?” Haden asked when we were within speaking distance.
“We heard you coming and were unsure of who it was. Just wanted to be prepared.”
Haden did not seem fooled by the obvious lie. Nothing could have gotten within a mile of this place without Serrot and their scout network knowing who it was, especially a force as large as we were. This was a display of defiance. I took note of every man that stood with Serrot, because if and when trouble arose it would be from those that stood with him now.
“You can stand down. We mean you no harm,” Haden had said it as a way to alleviate the tension, but I could sense the effort he’d used to make it sound so jovial.
Serrot was not so inclined to let it go. They moved just enough to let us through without causing contact.
“So what do you think?” Haden asked as he spread his arms wide. The cavern, for lack of a better term, was cavernous. The main chamber easily housed his and our clans with room to spare. A dozen fires lit the entire area up.
“Wow!” Cedar said as she pushed through.
“I’ve set aside a portion for Dystancians on the northeastern corner for now, but I think as soon as we can begin to intermingle, the better this will go,” Haden said as he shot his thumb over his shoulder toward the opening where Serrot still stood sentry.
My mouth began to salivate as the smells of roasting venison dominated the place. Cedar had gone straight toward the cooking station and was hovering around those who were preparing the meal.
“Well, she’s sure made herself comfortable. I hope you all do.”
“What happens if you win, Haden?”
“When we win,” he stressed the words. “We’ll deal with it then.” He hadn’t answered my question and it didn’t look like he was going to anytime soon.
Chapter 13
Integration
ONCE WE SETTLED IN, I could see that last night’s fighting and the journey here had taken its toll on our remnants. Most had found an area to claim as their own and were in various stages of rest. Tallow had suggested we keep a few guards posted around our outer ring. I would have disagreed if I hadn’t noticed that a good many of the men that had been with Serrot were now the closest to our border.
“Have them do their best to not appear as if they are on alert,” I warned him. The last thing we needed was testosterone-fueled fools getting into a fight that would drag everyone else into it.
Cedar had not left the company of a group of seven of Haden’s soldiers. They were laughing and she was telling a story animatedly, her arms playing out the scenes. They would, on occasion, pull off strips of the cooked meat for her, which she would eat greedily.
As the head of the Dystancians, I was invited to sit with Haden and his group of leaders.
“The burden–oh…I mean, guest has arrived,” Serrot said, holding the leg of a cooked piece of fowl.
“Careful, Serrot. She is the leader of...”
Serrot scoffed. “The leader of a bunch of rabble.” A couple of the others at the makeshift table hid their snickers. Most looked on in dreaded anticipation.
Haden placed his hand on his sword. I placed mine over his. “Please, we do not wish to cause disruption within your ranks–especially not at your dinner table.”
“Then you shouldn’t have come.” Serrot tossed his meat stripped bone aside. His eyes burned as they looked at me. “It appears that the mighty Haden is smitten with this mongrel dog. Look how she keeps him in check.” Serrot was playing it up to those around him, looking for followers where previously he had none.
“Stand up,” Haden said with murderous intent. “I will not idly tolerate your constant criticism of my actions and directives. I was chosen as leader for a reason, Serrot, or have you forgotten?”
Serrot stood, sending his seat spiraling backwards. “I have not forgotten, Haden. But you have allowed your judgment clouded by that!”
“I apologize, Winter. This is not generally how we treat our friends. Perhaps it is time I taught my second in command some manners.” Haden pulled his sword free. As Serrot did the same, the other officers moved away from the table.
They stared at each other, Haden waiting for Serrot to make the first move. Finally Serrot broke. “I’m not hungry anyway. She’s made me lose my appetite.” He put his sword away and stormed off.
Haden sheathed his sword. “That was interesting. Sit, sit.” He ushered everyone back. “Alright, what are the latest developments? Winter, this is Gregor. He is the head of my scouts.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Gregor said. He looked from me back to Haden and then at me again.
“We are in this together now, Gregor. Whatever you need to say to me can be said in front of Winter.”
“Yes sir. A scouting team of ours was discovered by the Hillians. They were then overrun by a squadron out on patrol.”
“How would we know this?”
“They released Dyton, one of the scouts, so that he might bring a message to our camp.”
“What? Get him here–now.” Haden slammed his fists down on the table, sending a variety of objects to the ground.
Within seconds a scared looking boy was at the table.
“So they let you go, Dyton? Unharmed as well. How fortuitous.”
“Sir, they wish to discuss the terms of our alliance; they let me go in good faith. They said they would release the other three once we came to an agreement.”
“Fool.”
“Sir?”
“Did you ever for one second think that they let you go so that they could follow you back here?”
Dyton looked like he was going to choke on his own tongue. “I...I didn’t.”
“Is this the best I can expect from your men, Gregor?”
Gregor recoiled like he’d been slapped. “He’s green, sir, but he did well in our training.”
“Sir, my friends are still being held captive. They expect me back on the morrow. What should I tell them?”
“Maybe you should tell them that you betrayed your people, that would be a good start. Get him out of here, Gregor, before I have him flogged.”
Haden was deep in thought; no one at the table dared speak or move even. When he finally looked up and then at me, the crazed look in his eye made me flinch as if he’d landed a blow. “How would you like to play a dangerous game tomorrow, Winter?”
“I’d love too!” Cedar said excitedly.
The entire table of men were startled. “How does she do that?”
I shrugged. “Natural stealth. She can sneak up on people, even animals, without them knowing.”
“Perhaps you would like to become a Ranger. At least if you were out there I’d know you weren’t watching me,” Haden said to Cedar. “Tomorrow we will meet with the Hillians. You will need to dress as a Klondike. The blonde hair will be troublesome, but perhaps it will give them pause to consider.”
“You want me to walk into the encampment of the Hillians, conceal that I am a Dystancian, and pretend instead to be a Klondike?”
“Something like that.”
“For what purpose?”
“Would it not be wise for you to see the opponent you will need to defeat up close? You may hear of their plans against you. In any case, they already know where we are; I can buy some time and perhaps get my men back.”
I SLEPT BETTER than I had expected to. It’s amazing what a full belly and a measure of safety can do for you.
“We leave in five. I gathered these clothes for you.” Haden handed me a bundle.
“They may not fit perfectly but they’ll be close enough.”
“These are nice.” Cedar was running her hands down the length of her new jacket and pants.
“You’re coming, too? And when did you get clothes?”
“I’ve been up for an hour at least. Didn’t you smell the pig they’re roasting? If you don’t get up early enough you miss out on the belly.”
“Is there any left?” I nearly begged and felt pathetic for it.
“Of course.” Cedar smiled, pulling some out of her pocket.
I ate it hungrily, lint and all. I was not quite as enamored with my new clothes as Cedar was. They were stiffer and restricted my sense of movement. The collar was high and thick along with padding on the shoulders and throughout the midsection. I appeared to have gained thirty pounds.
“It protects against sword strokes,” Haden said as he watched my distress.
“It also prevents you delivering one,” I said. “What about the archers? Their uniforms don’t appear as bulky.”
“Out of necessity for that movement you speak of.”
“If I am pretending anyway, can I not pretend to be one of them?”
“You would need to leave your sword behind.”
I grunted as I fastened the buttons on the torturous jacket.
“I figured you’d see it my way.”
Serrot and four of the men from yesterday were waiting for us at the cavern entrance.
“Are you joining us?” Haden asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“It is good to have you back, my friend.” Haden gripped Serrot’s hand.
We numbered ten, including myself, Cedar, Haden, Gregor, Dyton, plus Serrot and his four men. That seemed like a lot to me for an initial meeting. Haden assured me that it was not, that sometimes as many as twenty to twenty-five from each side could sit in.
We’d not been out for more than an hour when Haden called for a short respite. He pulled me to the side with the pretense of showing me some of the fauna around us. He was mistakenly identifying plants as having healing properties that I knew would do more harm than good if applied as poultices like he suggested.
“You do know that is poison sumac, do you not?” I asked.
“I am completely unsure as to what I am showing you. I have pulled you aside to make you aware that I do not know of Serrot’s true intentions. He has brought four men loyal to him and his misguided cause. I fear he means you harm on our journey; he may strike under some pretense, or he will reveal your true identity while we are in our parlay. The potential attack I had been wary of from the beginning, but I had not thought that he might betray us during the meeting.
“What are the repercussions should he do that?”
“I will forever lose the trust of the Hillians and it will certainly endanger us all.”
“And the rules of a parlay?”
“Will be forfeit if I bring another faction unannounced to the meeting. He could potentially show me as the traitor he believes that I am, and turn us over to the Hillians, placing them in his confidence. Should they take us, we will most likely be tortured and killed. Serrot will then seat himself as the new leader where he will bargain for a truce amongst them.”
“And my people?”
“As a show of good faith, he will either deliver them to the Hillians or have them executed by the Klondikes.”
The form-fitting jacket now felt more restrictive than ever as my heart tried to beat its way out of it. “You seem calm for having so much at stake.”
“I wish to trust my friend.”
“I do not know Serrot like you do. I have no faith that he will act in your best interests, not to mention that of my people. Why risk bringing him along? Can you not order him to go back or at the very least wait here?”
“I only have my suspicions; it is not enough to justify those actions.”
“Is not the threat enough?”
“Sadly, no.”
“What if Cedar and myself were to go back?”
“No, it is much too dangerous, at this point. I have to believe we are being watched. We will do this together.” He forced a smile.
Serrot was huddled with his men, who were talking quietly amongst themselves when we returned. Gregor, Dyton, and Cedar were looking over a crude map that Dyton had drawn showing the way back to the Hillians.
Serrot stood as he watched us approach. “Did you enjoy your walk?”
“Very enlightening,” I told him, not reciprocating the enmity he directed at me.
As we walked farther through the forest, great hills appeared in the distance. Soon, they began to encroach on the forest floor, pushing our small party closer together. The hills began to rise up steeply on either side of us, leading to a narrow pass that would allow only one of us through at a time. If ever there were a place for an enemy to lay an ambush this would be it. Dyton moved easily over some rocks that had settled in the choke, followed by Haden. Cedar was just about to go over the first of the obstacles when she turned to me. She was about to say something funny, I could tell by the expression on her face, which changed immediately.
“Winter, behind you!” She was pivoting to come back to my aid.
I wheeled. One of Serrot’s men had drawn his knife and was close to pushing it through my back. His thrust burned my side as I attempted to avoid it, the sharp steel easily parting my clothes then my flesh. I moved back, my vision tunneled and expanded quickly. The man was bringing the knife back and was attempting to slash it across my face. I drew my sword and was able to deflect the blow with the flat of my blade, which I immediately ran up his forearm, severing arteries and slicing through muscle like it was butter. He dropped his knife and screamed out in pain as blood splashed the ground around his feet.
Cedar had just reached my side. I heard Haden ask what was the matter and then Serrot drew his sword. The look of shock and betrayal was evident on my assailant’s face as Serrot drove his blade straight through his own man. Blood bubbles pulsed from his mouth before he fell face forward. I had to move my feet lest he land on them.
I was breathing heavy from the short conflict; my heart was pounding. Serrot was looking at me with murderous intent; his blade dripping crimson drops on the ground. He clutched it tightly as if in preparation for further battle.
“Serrot?” Haden asked from atop the rocks.
“We had a traitor in our midst, Haden. He did not see eye to eye with your war plan. I killed him before he had an opportunity to kill our esteemed ally.”
“Is this true, Winter?” Haden asked of me.
“Doubtful,” Cedar answered.
“The man did indeed attempt to stab me, and Serrot did indeed kill him.” I said. It was the truth in its simplest form; however, it was the underlying tangle of worded webs that was the mystery. Had the man acted on his own or had he been ordered?
“Come then. He is not worthy of a burial. We must make haste to the Hillian headquarters. Stay up here with me. There are some things I would like to discuss with you, Winter.”
Without saying it, Haden had also displayed doubt in his friend.
“The five of you together couldn’t have beaten her,” Cedar said to Serrot who was wiping his blade clean on the dead man’s shirt.
“If I wanted her dead she would be so,” he told her.
We stopped once we got past the choke point so that Cedar could dress my wound.
“You alright?” She asked, pouring some water over the slice.
“I was.” I winced as she placed a poultice on my wound.
“Big baby.”
“Thank you, Cedar. If you hadn’t warned me, he would have run his blade straight through me.”
“I couldn’t let that happen. Who would I talk to about my latest book?” She was smiling.
“Just…thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Winter. Stay alive and I’ll consider that repayment enough.” When she finished, I got up and we got back to the column.
I’d been so intent on keeping track of where Serrot and his men were that when a Hillian guard told us to halt I had been caught completely unawares.
“State your business.”
The fact that we weren’t cut down immediately let me know that they’d been expecting us for some time. They’d probably seen us coming for a couple of miles.
“My name is Haden, leader of the Klondike clan. I have come to talk with your leader.”
“Mennot has been waiting for you. What took you so long?”
I could sense Haden tensing up. He was angered that a scout was questioning him. I placed a hand on his arm. The muscles under his jacket were coiled and taut. He looked to me and seemed to relax.
“My apologies. If you could please lead the way.”
When we reached the periphery of the Hillian compound, I was amazed at their organization and discipline. Rows of tents were laid out in a uniform pattern. A large tent to the right had smoke pouring from the top that smelled like cooking meat. Farther back was a tent twice as big as the food station. A ring of guards encircled the entire structure.
“How much does he fear his own men that he guards against them?” I asked Haden quietly.
“This is all for our benefit.”
The guards did not move as we approached. “No weapons of any kind are allowed within,” a large guard at the entrance to the tent told us.
“And what of Mennot, is he armed?” Haden asked.
The scout bristled.
“You are guests here and will do as our custom dictates.”
“This is a parlay. Under the articles of war we are permitted to hold on to our weaponry.”
