Fractured Loyalties

by Greg Alldredge

  “To survive?” Lane looked over her shoulder at the three moving to greet him.

  Rachel whispered to him, “It’s only three,” finishing with a wink.

  “Remember your turn is coming.” Tied off and ready to fight, Lane walked to the center of the two men and one woman waiting to prove their mettle.

  This time Lane immediately crouched into a fighting position. He quickly estimated who would charge first and the best defense given the situation. He must be getting old; he miscalculated.

  The woman charged first. Lane’s combination became useless, given the order of attack was different from what he’d anticipated, the three were in close proximity to one another and ready to overwhelm him, now on the defensive.

  The woman jabbed with both of her hands toward his midsection. Lane thought it a strange attack in the briefest moment he had to think about it. He stepped on her knee. Using all of his force, he launched himself into the air, somersaulting over the man that charged him from the rear. Flying overhead, he had a moment to slap both palms of his hands over that attacker’s ears, sending the man to the ground in pain.

  One man and a woman remained. They looked at one another and with a nod each understood, broke the rules and started attacking with their legs.

  Backpedaling in defense, Lane used his arms to block the different attacks until he saw an opening. His quick retreat caused both attackers to overreach. The closest, the woman, left her right foot overextended and exposed. Lane took advantage of her mistake and ran the outside of his sandal down her shin and onto the bridge of her foot. Using her foot as a pivot point, he spun, and power-slapped the edge of his left hand into the man’s carotid artery, sending him to the ground unconscious.

  He turned and inspected the woman who still stood but limped severely. He was surprised she was still willing to fight. He knew her shin and foot must be killing her. He kept his guard up. He knew there was nothing fiercer than a wounded animal. He spoke to her in a soft voice, “There is nothing shameful about leaving a battlefield when wounded.”

  He waited patiently for his words to sink in, keeping a reasonable distance in case she charged. He assumed she realized he wasn’t going to take the finishing blows. She put her hands in front of her, stood as straight as she could, and bowed to him, signaling her surrender. Lane bowed back then moved to help her out of the pit. While Lane assisted her, others came and helped the two downed men to the side.

  “Impressive as it was, it’s still too fast. We will need to work on it. Trainer, let’s see what the loudmouth can do.”

  Rachel sniggered through her missing teeth. “I guess it’s my turn.”

  “I guess it is, good luck,” Lane said as he moved back to his position.

  “You’ve got some pretty impressive moves for an old guy, but wait to see what I’ve got.” Lane marveled at where she found the material straps to wrap around her knuckles. She was in it to win, no matter what damage it did to her body.

  Chapter 10, Zorra Villa:

  “Father, I’m not sure now is the best time to be researching a new beer.” Zorra was having trouble getting her father to listen; she always had a hard time getting her father to listen. More often than not, he would be tied up in various experiments to create a better brew. Beer making was his life. Currently, her voice echoed through a giant copper vat, reaching the man hidden deep inside.

  “You don’t understand. I’ve been looking at how some of the stronger drinks are made. I think I can take some of our ales of lesser quality, run them through a process and make them more palatable, thus increasing our sales immeasurably. Even if they don’t taste better, we will be able to sell them quickly and for a great profit, thus giving us more gold to spend on the things we need.”

  “Right now, Mother needs you to stand by her and lead the city. We are under attack from several sides. Right now, we don’t know who our enemies even are!”

  His head popped out from the great boiler he inspected. “Have you spoken to your mother about this? She really has a head for such things, politics and all. I would rather stay down here and create my masterpieces of alcohol.”

  Zorra resorted to playing his little girl. “Daddy, the world is falling apart around us. Don’t you think you should come help try to save it?”

  “Oh dear, I am doing my part by staying out of the way down here. Go talk to your mother. She’ll know what to do.” He waved at Ollie who stood behind Zorra. “Take care of my little girl, you hear?” He disappeared back into the vat. His command might have been directed at Joti and Sonja for all she knew.

  Zorra spun on her heel, fists clenched to her sides. “Come along, you three. I doubt we will find help here. The meeting will start soon. Mother wants me there.” Ollie stepped up beside her, Joti and Sonja a respectable three paces behind.

  “I’m not sure I feel comfortable crashing this meeting. I would guess several of those in attendance think my family is behind the attacks.” Ollie’s voice cracked a little under the stress of the past few days.

  As they left, she heard Noel Brewer shouting orders. “I want to load up the last failed batch of stout. The kettle is ready to light a fire under. If we are going to boil something, let's go big!”

  Zorra growled under her breath, “They can pack sand up their asses for all I care. You are my husband. I think you’ve an insight into the thinking behind your father, and the possibility of these attacks.”

  “You know I told you, I don’t think this is his fault. Poison isn’t his style, and I’ve never heard of such a weapon that caused the destruction in the market.”

  Zorra made a sharp turn, down a seldom-used hall. “We’ve one more stop.”

  “Does your family know what you’ve been doing?” Ollie asked.

  “No. Did you tell your family everything?” Zorra still hadn’t told Ollie the facts behind Brett’s death. He might be her husband, but she still didn’t fully trust him. She was not ready to put Della’s life in his hands. “Some secrets are better held close to the chest.”

  She also never informed him about Della’s spy and the actions her younger sister involved herself in. She knew Della ran with a dangerous crowd, but Zorra needed to worry about her own set of problems. The chances the green-eyed man had escaped the blast remained slim. After the explosion, Sonja did her duty and secreted Zorra away. What little she glimpsed of the platform below shone devastation, the dead littered her view from above.

  She came to a massive wooden door that was obviously heavier than most of the entries in the home. A guard stood outside, which was fortunate, because Zorra knew the door was too heavy for her to move. She doubted if she and Ollie could move it working together.

  Inside she found who she looked for: the court enchanter, who had been working on the cause of the explosion. “What have you found? Be quick about it, we have a meeting to attend.”

  “Yes, Zorra, as you wish.” The old man began to quickly lay out his findings. “At the blast site, we found a large amount of this black powder. I’ve never seen it before. No one in the manor has seen it. I don’t know if it is the source of the blast or a byproduct. I am sorry, I am still investigating.” He bowed when he finished.

  Zorra pinched the bridge of her nose. “In other words, you don’t know shit more than you did yesterday. The family expects results. If you can’t find them, we will find someone more suitable for your position.” Before the man answered, Zorra reversed direction and headed the way she came.

  “I am sure he is trying everything he can. Remember the blast killed over eighty people that we know of. The work he does might be dangerous.” Ollie struggled to keep up with his wife, nearly breaking into a jog.

  “He needs to work faster. We had an attack in one of the safest places in the city, with a weapon no one has ever seen. We’ve no idea where this magic will strike next.”

  “I understand, but—”

  She cut him off with a wave of her hand. She motioned for the guards to let them into the
grand hall where her mother had called a meeting of all the noble houses aligned to the city within a day’s hard ride. Joti and Sonja would need to wait outside. Only the house guards would be providing security in the hall.

  Zorra knew word would be sent out covering the decisions made as soon as the meeting finished, but she found it encouraging to see so many of the free-homes made an effort to attend. A full fifty families sent representatives. Zorra wasn’t happy to see she was the first of the ruling family to show, nor that the entire gathering stopped talking as soon as they saw Ollie file in behind her.

  An orderly stood waiting with her chair pulled out to sit. Since no one made an effort for Ollie, she pointed for him to take Brett’s vacant chair. To the hells with the old ways. Brett is dead. She was not surprised by the intake of air as Ollie sat.

  She would tell Ollie the meaning later. Right now she decided to sit in silence with the rest of the assembly. That silence broke when her mother, the mayor, walked in with her oldest brother Jo in tow. Those in attendance stood, out of respect for the woman. Zorra only wished her father came to show his support. Her remaining younger brother and sister also proved to be no-shows.

  The mayor smiled to both her and Ollie. That lightened Zorra’s heart. It was her unspoken signal her mother approved of him being there. Her mother, Meghan, reached for the gavel to open the meeting.

  A voice called out from three seats down and across from Zorra. “Does the mayor think it is wise to allow a member of the opposition to sit in this meeting?” Zorra knew who spoke without looking. It was the leader of House Miller. They had long been a thorn in the side of Zar.

  “Do you want us to exclude you?” Zorra blurted out and immediately regretted it. She caught her mother’s scowl at her impudent words but grew heartened by her brother's snicker of satisfaction.

  Meghan, always the stateswoman, spoke softly. “Whatever do you mean, Master Miller?”

  Miller stood and pointed directly at Ollie. “That we were at war with that less than a week ago! How do we know he isn’t behind the attacks?” Miller made his charge and scanned the others in attendance, seeking support.

  Zorra grew ready to leap across the table and rip the man’s throat out, not so much for Ollie’s sake but for the accusation against her family. She felt Ollie prepare to stand, but she grabbed his arm. A quick glance at her mother and Jo, and her older brother relaxed her anger. They both smiled. She knew they were up to something.

  Her mother spoke in such a smooth voice after the insult she just received, Zorra had no idea how she maintained her composure. “Miller, I am glad you spoke up before the meeting. Something needs to be discussed before we begin, so as to not be on the official record. I was going to speak to you in private, but since you want this out in the open… Guards, help Miller to his seat.” Two of the house's private guards stood behind the man who so recently acted boldly. He sat before they forced him to sit.

  “Do you plan to keep control of the city through threats now?” Miller asked quietly, still seeking support from those around him.

  Her mother smiled. “You misunderstand. This is no threat. This is me maintaining order during these proceedings. If I were going to threaten you, it would be something like this: Guards, one more outburst from this man against me, my family, or this city, and you will take him out and throw him over the edge. Do you see the difference?”

  Miller nodded.

  “Good, now answer these questions: How many ships do you sponsor?”

  Miller answered, “Thirty.”

  “And how many people do you employ in your operations, all together not just guards?”

  “Over six hundred.” Miller puffed out his chest. They commanded a sizable force if he needed it, but Zorra smelled the trap her mother laid for Miller.

  “That is a mighty force. I am sure you are proud of them.” Meghan pulled out a piece of paper from a file she had carried in with her. “Tell me how many ships and men did you send to aid our forces against the aggression in Shakopee?

  Miller remained silent.

  “Harpy got your tongue? I can help you out if you wish. None. You sent none of your ships and none of your men to help out our neighbors and our friends in their time of need.”

  Miller sat in silence.

  “No comment now?”

  Zorra looked around at the others in attendance. She found anger in the eyes of many.

  Her mother continued, “Let’s look at some of the other free-homes. These are estimates, and I will not bore you with all of them, but everyone on this list—each and every free-home—sent at least thirty percent of their houses to help with the defense. Even the smallest house, the Tailors, sent over fifty percent of their people to join in the fight. Yet you sent zero.”

  Miller continued to sit in silence.

  “It seems the discussion has ended. I will hear no further outbursts from you, understand?”

  Miller nodded.

  Meghan pushed her chair out and stood behind Ollie. “A week ago, this man was brave enough to walk into an uncertain future, offering his life to end the war. My daughter did the same. I know several of you suffered greatly in defense of Shakopee, and I feel for each and every sacrifice made in the name of freedom. We are still under attack. Not one of our houses, villages, towns, or even cities can win this conflict alone. We must stand together and fight! I will not bide people talking poorly about this man. He is a member of my family and will be given all due respect, or my guards will show you the cliff.” Her last words were directed at Miller like a bolt shot.

  Zorra felt her heart swell at her mother’s words. She was a fantastic public speaker. In that respect, her father was correct: she was a leader.

  “Now if we can get down to business. All indications point to the slavers being the ones behind the attacks.”

  That was news to Zorra. She had heard nothing of the sort. What did her mother play at?

  “We have reports of increased attacks on outlying villages and farms, the slavers collecting all in their path, murdering those too weak, young, or old. It is our duty to protect those aligned with our cause.”

  Zorra heard assorted grumblings coming from those around the table.

  “I know your concerns. Summer is coming, we have crops to plant and harvest, there is work to be done. Trust me, I understand your fears, but we must all stand together, or we will surely fall separately! None of the free-houses are strong enough to fend off an attack alone. Our power comes from our unity. Our strength is in our combined numbers.”

  Zorra found more and more heads nodding.

  “The pirates have been a pain in our ass for many years. Now the slaver raids are adding to the cost of not only doing business but our very survival. I am gathering a force of ships. I am glad to announce that the Millers will be providing fifty percent of their forces to create this fleet.”

  “Fifty percent, that is outrageous!” Miller blurted out. Zorra watched as the two guards placed a hand on each of his shoulders, pushing him into his chair.

  “Yes, it is, but here is the truly outrageous part. Your free-house will provide everything I ask for, or the city and all the free-houses will be forced to examine our contracts. Please don’t think for a moment the city can’t open its own mills. We will undercut each and every price you try to sell at. I will sell at a loss to put you and your house into the dirt. You will start picking up your share of the risk, or you will hold no house to call your own.”

  “Who will lead this fight against the raiders?” a call came from down the table.

  Meghan stood. “I will be leading this fight myself. My oldest son, Jo, will be in charge while I am gone.” She glared at Miller, sitting down from her. “I hoped Miller would join me from the deck of one of his many ships.”

  All eyes in the room fell on the leader of the Miller clan. Zorra felt a slight pity for the man, even if he was an ass. The pressure had to be enormous.

  Left little choice in the current environ
ment, he slightly nodded.

  “Good, it’s time the Millers had some real skin in the game! This will give some power to your constant complaints.”

  Zorra fought the urge to cringe. She had never experienced her mother away from home for more than a night. This was going to be a new undertaking for her and her younger brother and sister, and Jo… Jo had never been placed in charge before. She hoped he was up to the challenge. Her biggest concern, however, remained her mother’s goading of a dangerous man and having that man in her fighting force, controlling half her fleet. She hoped her mother knew what she was doing, trusting such a serpent with her life and the success of such a massive operation.

  Zorra reached over to squeeze Ollie’s knee under the table. She felt his tension. He flinched when she touched him. She thought it an odd reaction. She scanned his face with a quick glance, and he caught her eye and cracked a smile, but his creased brow announced his true feelings. She sensed his worry.

  The meeting limited the communication the two could share. They would need to discuss their thoughts at great length tonight. Tonight might be the first night they were able to be alone since their wedding. This was nothing like how she thought her honeymoon would be. That line of thought opened her own anxiety. So much had happened the last few days, she had forgotten her duty to her husband and her city. She must lie with her husband to consecrate the wedding and truly end the war. She remained happy no one forced the archaic issue, or at least everyone had been too busy dealing with death to think about it.

  Sonja prepared her for the pain involved, and the blood, but her words only increased Zorra’s feeling of dread over the impending encounter. She needed to wipe the sweat off her palms on her dress, while a sense of dread sank into the pit of her stomach.

  Before she spiraled deeper into her thoughts on the matter, the meeting was interrupted by a blast that shook the foundations of her home. Paint and plaster rained down on the table from the ceiling. She could tell the enormous explosion came from much closer than the last one. By the looks on everyone’s faces, they arrived at the same conclusion. Except for Miller, he dove under the table before Zorra even glanced in his direction.