The Ardoon King

by Samuel Fort

  Chapter 34: A Minor Detour

  “What did you say, Annasa?” asked Captain Bavenmore.

  “We’re going south, to the town of Cash.”

  The man’s face was almost comical. “But Annasa-”

  “There are things there the king’s Ardoon friend needs to retrieve.” She looked over her shoulder and nodded toward Sam, who was riding beside Thal, two rows back in the squadron. “It is very important to him. We’ll continue our trip east, to my husband, as soon as that is accomplished.”

  “Would not a troop detachment suffice for that purpose, Annasa?”

  “No,” she replied firmly. There was almost nothing in the world that would prevent her from going directly to her husband. This was an exception. She intended to personally escort Sam and the tools of his religious trade to Nebraska. The ceremony would be conducted the day she arrived.

  She wondered what the ceremony would entail. The Christian priests she had seen on television and in movies drank blood from special gold, cups, consumed human flesh, and used bronze platters to sacrifice money to their gods. She’d never tasted human flesh. The idea was oddly appealing. Presumably one of her Peth would have to be sacrificed for that purpose. She was sure one of the Ordunas would volunteer.

  Captain Bavenmore was at a loss. “Annasa,” he said, “we should raise our antenna and radio Lord Disparthian. We should advise him of our change of plans.”

  The girl laughed. “Why should we do that? What is it to him? Besides, I was in the area recently and there are not threats there, I assure you. Further, we cannot spare the batteries.”

  Bavenmore nodded. Lord Disparthian had assured him that the queen would race to the east to be at the king’s side. Yet she was diverting the entire squadron to the south for what seemed like the most inconsequential of tasks. Of course, she did not know the king’s life might depend on her squadron reaching the king’s site as quickly as possible. Valuing his own life, Bavenmore had no intention of revealing that grim reality to her. The enraged assassin queen would probably slice his head off.

  No, the best thing to do – the only thing he could do – was to ensure that the squadron traveled to Cash and then back to the originally planned route as expeditiously as possible. That, at least, was within his power.

  A weird roar echoed through the valley.

  “That sounds like one really pissed-off whale,” said Fiela, looking south.

  Thal, on the horse to her right, said, “That is exactly what it sounds like. But I do not think whales are native to Colorado.”

  “Could be a land whale,” Fiela mused.

  “A land shark?” Thal offered.

  “That does not sound like a shark,” replied Fiela, missing the joke.

  “Oh, Fiela! Truly? Tell me, what does a shark sound like, then?”

  “They roar, don’t they?”

  “Underwater?”

  “No, only when they surface. Surely you saw them in movies? They always roar when attacking a boat or swimmer. Captain Bavenmore,” she said, turning to the man to her left. “The sound is coming from the direction of a strange structure on the opposite edge of the town. It is only a few miles away. We’ll need to investigate.”

  “Annasa,” said Bavenmore, “Shouldn’t we radio Lord Disparthian? If we encounter trouble, his forces-”

  “No. Diz is on a separate mission. We will handle this on our own. Provide a troop as an escort for Lady Thalassa and the Ardoon, Sam. While we are traveling to Cash they can go to Sam’s home to retrieve his belongings.”

  “I am your guardian,” objected Thal, overhearing this. “I will be no use to the Ardoon.”

  “It would be best if you went with him,” Fiela said, turning toward her. “I would not have your life put in danger needlessly.”

  “Nor I, yours,” Thal retorted, giving the girl a stern look.

  Fiela stared at her and said without turning, “Captain, assemble the detail, please.”

  “As you say, Annasa.”

  When they were out of earshot, Fiela whispered, “Thal, don’t be like this, not now, okay? I am an adult. I don’t always act like one, I know. But I am. Please do not prevent me from doing the one thing I was born to do. The one thing I was created to do. Something is going on in Cash. You know it, and I know it, and Ben knows it. We don’t know what, though. This is an opportunity to find out.”

  “It may be dangerous.”

  “There is no force better equipped to protect me than this one.”

  “Ben told me to take care of you.”

  Fiela shook her head. “You know that he didn’t intend for you to physically protect me. That’s ridiculous. Anyway, you are too valuable to the king to be killed as a spectator. You tell me always to think rationally. Now you must. If combat is necessary, protecting you will be a distraction and only increase the likelihood that I or my Peth will be injured or killed. Further, I cannot guarantee your safety. In all ways the logical thing is for you to go with Sam.”

  The other woman lowered her eyes to the snow-covered road. A moment passed. “You’re right. I’m not being rational. A hypocrite is a poor role model.”

  Fiela let out a loud breath. “Then you will do as I…as I request?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank you, Thal.”

  “Conditionally.”

  “What?”

  “First, you must place your safety above all others.”

  “Fine.”

  “And you must return here, to this very place, before nightfall, if that can be done safely.”

  Fiela’s eyes went wide. “Gods! I am to have a curfew? In the field?!”

  “Just so.”

  Fiela tilted her head back and groaned. “Fine!”