The facts just did not allow her. As she thought it, it angered her. Her instinct to do what she wanted fought against the idea that she could not have something, or do something. Yet, all those thoughts led down the same path, to the same destination. The same goodbye.
“Sleep with me at the fire tonight, Yana,” he implored her. She was thankful- she wanted nothing more than that very thing. She went to her wagon nearby, and bundled some blankets they could use. Both of them were accustomed to sleeping on the ground anyway. She saw Lyubov and Luba nearby, and bid them goodnight. They both knew she was with him. When she approached the fire she saw that he had dragged a small log near it. Without speaking they set out the blankets and set up to sleep. He pressed his back up against the log, and she curled up in front of him, just as they had the first night. He knew she would want that. Yana fell asleep next to Bastion that night, to the faint glow she could still feel within him.
The next morning, they awoke and refreshed themselves, and set about a fine breakfast. They rekindled the fire, and were joined by Lyubov, Luba, Emilee and Dimmie as well. Luba offered him fresh bread that had been given to her, a sweetbread that was a rare treat in a gypsy camp. They all showed him kindness, and were careful to not ask too many questions. They laughed and talked of the belly dance the night before, and the messes Dimmie always got himself in. Emilee, always terribly curious, asked Bastion, “Will you stay with our camp a while, Bastion?”
Bastion smiled gently. “I have to return to the kingdom, dear Emilee. I have to be about my father’s business.” She didn’t notice the fallen expression on Yana’s face at that remark.
Emilee barged ahead with her comments. “I wouldn’t like that! I wouldn’t want to be stuck in the city! Better to be a gypsy!”
Bastion nodded. “Far better! But I do get to travel a good bit, as it is.”
Emilee took a bite of her bread and grinned. “At least you got to come see us dance!” They all burst into talking again, and she was quite right, Bastion thought. The memory of Yana’s mesmerizing dance last night would not soon be forgotten. Not ever.
Once they were finished, Bastion packed up his horse, and Luba brought him a few pieces of bread for his journey back. “Thank you, Luba,” Bastion said. “Look after the girls, won’t you?” he asked of her.
“I will, sir,” she smiled at him. She was the smallest and youngest of them, but certainly not the least of them, and they both knew it. Bastion reached out and took Yana’s hand, and the rest of them bid goodbye. He looked at Yana, and pulled up her sleeve. The scar was still there on her wrist, and he set his hand on it. Yana could feel it getting hot. Or was that her?
“Farewell, Yana. Please, please be careful. Guard your people, advise them. They will listen to you. Stay away from the Lower Reach.” Yana set her hand on his, upon her wrist. “You stay away from the Lower Reach too. I don’t want to have to come rescue your sorry hide again,” she said jokingly.
“Travel well, young gypsy,” he bid her. He released her, and mounted his horse, galloping swiftly towards the way he had come. Yana watched him until he was out of sight. She couldn’t help it.
Yana came back to the caravan, and set about tasks for the day, cleaning garments, organizing the camp, and whatever she could do to keep busy and keep her mind from lingering on him too long.
At lunchtime, Dimmie invited her and Emilee to go hunting for berries. They gathered up their things, and headed south of the camp. They traveled a while, finding a few berry patches along the way, and a lot of birds. Yana had all her gear with her, her bow and arrows, and her dagger... she would normally have them anyway, in case they saw an animal they could capture, or encountered a wolf or great cat. Dimmie carried a staff for that, too, as did Emilee. As they walked, Yana began to sense dread again. Laying with Bastion, feeling his arms around her, was so soothing- but now he was gone, and she hoped her foreboding was just the heartache of seeing him ride away once more.
It wasn’t.
As they turned a bend in the path, they smelled it. It was a fire, but not a campfire. Yana held them back and cautioned them to approach slowly. They came around another bend, and saw the source of the fire- a burning gypsy wagon!
There was evidence of a struggle, and horse tracks everywhere, but no people. Yana looked in horror as she saw whose wagon it was. It was her dear friends, Kizzy and Nadya. They were nowhere to be seen, and were supposed to have been heading to Yana’s camp. Yana rushed frantically around the camp, and Emilee batted uselessly against the fire trying to put it out. Then Yana’s worst dread of all came upon her. She found a remnant of fabric. It was a shoulder tunic. It looked exactly like the things that the Moldavians wore, the ones that attacked Bastion.
It couldn’t be any worse luck, that this could happen. She didn’t know for sure the fate of their friends, but she knew damn sure that she could not allow her friends to be taken or harmed. There was no telling how many men or enemies there might be involved. They might even still be dangerously close. The fire was no more than fifteen minutes old. Yana leaned her head back in anguish, looking up into the sky.
She would need help.
She began shouting instructions. “You two, quickly, grab up what you can, and RUN with me!!!
Without hesitation they did so, and were soon running straightaway back to the gypsy camp. Upon their arrival, she instructed them to tell everyone to break camp, and head for Jedikai. All of them. Next she found Lyubov, and two other elders she was sitting with, and told them of Bastion’s warning.
“Everyone who can must head towards Jedikai, and those who don’t must warn everyone and flee from the Lower Reach! I have to save Kizzy and Nadya!” She looked at Lyubov, who already knew what she would do.
“You go now,” she urged Yana. She did not want to keep her; she would look after herself and Yana’s wagon. She wanted the missing gypsy girls found too. Yana turned and ran back to her wagon.
Urgently, as fast as her hands could move, she gathered gear, slung it over her shoulder, and tied things to her horse, Kuta. She unhooked Kuta from the wagon, and leapt up onto her. She snapped the long reigns against her hindquarters, and Kuta instantly broke off in a run.
Yana charged into an all-out sprint with her horse, headed the direction Bastion had taken. Headed for the very man who always brought trouble.
Headed for Jedikai.
___________________
The Gypsy Queen- CHAPTER 4- “Ride”
“Pook!” The old man shouted. “Looky here!”
“Bah!” Pook replied. “What is it now, you old sop?” Pook dragged himself over to the outlook. It was late in the day, and Pook was tired, though he was slow and cranky no matter what time of day it was. He tugged the telescope away from old Gumi, looking out into the meadow to see what he should point it at.
Gumi pointed out at the streaking horseman approaching the city gates. It was no man at all, Pook saw, as he looked through the lens. People came and went from the city every day, so that was nothing new. It was a bit more strange to see what appeared to be a lone gypsy girl streaking across the open space so fast.
Gumi looked back to Pook. “What do ya make of it?” he asked. Pook scowled. “She sure as hell isn’t in a rush to see your smelly carcass,” Pook replied, never missing a chance to insult his friend. Gumi joked back, “Well, I bet she’d be coming to see me if she knew of my many talents!”
“Psshht! Talents?!” Pook exclaimed. “You can’t even bake biscuits, let alone keep the gate!” Pook and Gumi were the old gatekeepers of Jedikai, but Gumi was a notoriously bad cook.
“Shall I sound the warning, and alert the city of the terrible danger?” joked Gumi. Pook looked out the looking glass again, as she was nearing.
“If I know anything about women, I’d say she looks dangerous as hell!” Of course they wouldn’t sound any warning, but they were both on the move already, cackling over their terrible humor, as they shuffled down the outlook steps.
They woul
d ask her business in Jedikai. They never bothered with the normal townsfolk they recognized every day, coming and going, but their post was too dull to pass up a chance to liven it up. In moments, Pook and Gumi stood at the city entrance, flagging her to stop as she approached them.
Yana considered charging right past them, or through them, but she knew that would be bad form, and perhaps they could help. She stormed up to them in a cloud of dust and speed and fury, dismounting in one fluid motion. The old gatekeepers were taken aback as she hurriedly addressed them.
“I need to see the Prince!” she exclaimed. Pook and Gumi looked at each other.
“She needs to see the Prince,” Pook said, looking at Gumi.
“I haven’t seen no princes this month,” replied Gumi. “Haven’t seen no princes last month, neither,” he added. Pook looked at Yana. “Gumi didn’t see no princes,” he said, stating the obvious. Yana was bewildered for a second. Thinking, she tried again.
“The Captain. I need to see the Captain!” she said urgently, trying to jar these old men into some kind of helpful state.
“Captain??” Pook repeated incredulously. “There be nary a boat in Jedikai, so there’s no captains either!” Pook said, just to be difficult. “What’s your name, gypsy?” he demanded.
Yana was furious. She had no time for games, stupid old men, and least of all, a fresh dose of mistreatment or prejudice by city folk. Too smart to get drawn in, she skipped the rage and tried a different approach. She smiled, collected herself, and drew up near to both of them. “Please sir,” she implored them, looking as sweet and innocent as she knew how, “I am here to see Bastion.” She got quite close to Gumi. “Can you please help me?”
Gumi was suddenly speechless. This gypsy girl was very beautiful. Pook noticed the very same thing, and not to be outdone, he spoke up before Gumi could.
“You may find him at the King’s livery,” he offered, pointing toward it. “He arrived just a bit before you.” Yana’s eyes lit up as she poured it on. She went to Pook and gave him an enthusiastic embrace.
“Thank you so much, kind sir,” as she pulled back, not forgetting her urgency. She nodded to Gumi as well. She gave him a quick hug too, and a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you both.” She leapt back up onto her horse, as they moved out of her way, dumbfounded. Old Pook remembered himself and spoke up, “What’s your name, miss gypsy?” he asked. She gave them a sly grin.
“Yana,” she said clearly, and then bolted up the slope into the city.
Pook and Gumi looked at each other. “Well, for a half-wink I thought she came to see about my many talents after all!” Gumi exclaimed, feeling smug and fresh off the magic Yana had just enchanted the old men with.
“Hey,” grumbled Pook. “Where’n the hell is my telescope??”
Yana went tearing through the city, uncaring of anyone’s approval or dirty looks. She was careful not to bump into anyone, and she had a pretty good idea of where the livery was, as she sped towards it. Her hopes of finding him were growing into a panic. She could not stop thinking about her friends, Kizzy and Nadya. The city seemed crowded and prosperous today, but she disliked big crowds.
Sure enough, she found the livery, just west of the palace. Yana hopped off her horse, tied her to a post outside, and went rushing in.
“Halt!” shouted a man, stepping into the main doorway. “Where do you think you’re going??” he demanded with a scowl. Yana looked behind him, wanting to bypass him somehow.
“Please, I need to see Bastion,” she said.
“No one here o’ that name,” he answered. She didn’t have any more time for this. She could see that there were people in the stable.
“Bastion!” she screamed as loud as she could. “Bastion!”
“Begone, you damn gypsy,” the man said with disgust, reaching for her. Yana dodged his reach and went to move around him, which proved impossible, and it turned into an all out scuffle she was losing. He was much bigger than she. “Bastion!” she screamed desperately.
“Stop!” a voice barked with authority. They both froze, and looked to see Bastion standing before them.
“Yana! What are you doing here?” he asked. She struggled free as the man released her.
Yana’s eyes pleaded with Bastion, and without a word, he escorted her away entirely. The stable boss retreated back into the livery, and Yana shared her news. “Please, Bastion,” she implored him. “I need your help. I’m no warrior. I just can’t...” her face clouded with impending tears. “I cannot lose my friends,” she said, not sure what else to say.
Bastion’s face hardened. “We will come.” He walked toward the stable and began barking orders. Immediately the livery was in full swing. Bastion summoned any available men who could ride out, and began preparing horses. Yana stepped into the livery and marveled at the sight of him. She could only watch, as he commanded the scene entirely. He strode back to her and past her, to retrieve her horse, as she followed him out.
“What are you doing with my horse?” she demanded.
“Your horse is spent from getting here so quickly. We will have no chance to get to your friends before we lose them unless we have more speed.”
Yana opened her mouth to protest, but stopped short. He was right.
“Well then, what will I ride?” she asked. Bastion turned toward the big stable doors that had opened, and two horses were being led out by the huge man she had tried to pass. Bastion indicated them proudly.
“My two best horses.” Yana looked them over with awe. They were huge, majestic creatures. She was fully unsure she could handle them, and reluctant to ride an unfamiliar animal.
“I want my horse,” she protested.
“They are well-trained, Yana. You can do it, and you must,” he said. The stable hands were strapping on weapons and supplies without question. She didn’t like what he said, but once again, he was right. She thought of her friends who needed her right now, and girded herself for the ride. There was something in Bastion’s voice that made strength rise up within her. It banished her anxiety completely.
Yana hurried over to her horse, Kuta, and gave her a reassuring hug around her neck. A young boy approached her.
“We’ll take good care of her,” he said. She looked him in the eyes.
“Thank you,” she said. “See that you do,” she added, “or else she’ll tell on you when I return.” She winked at him, kissed her horse on the nose, and went back out to Bastion.
Bastion had made ready and mounted, and reached down to assist Yana up onto her massive horse. Yana declined his hand, and instead she deftly hopped into the air, setting one foot just right in the stirrup, and swung up into the saddle. They looked at each other for a lingering moment, as if they were squaring off or sizing each other up. The other men were coming out of the livery- four of them. Bastion tore his gaze away from the young gypsy, and organized his men, as Yana arranged herself to prepare for the run, trying to get a feel for the steed she was to ride. Dusk was already upon them, and she could feel the fear creep in... riding into the night like this, on a strange horse, in this dark circumstance.
“More people have been stolen in our kingdom,” Bastion announced to them. “We are going to rescue whom we can, and destroy their captors. Yana will lead us,” he said, motioning to her. Yana looked up at the sound of her name. She found herself looking into the eyes of Bastion and his men. She steeled herself. “They were last seen in the forest southeast of here,” she said, pointing. She looked back at Bastion. He nodded his approval, and then nodded to one of his men, who abruptly tossed a cloak to Yana.
Yana reacted and caught it, and held it out in front of her. It was a deep black cloak, warm and thick. She gratefully put it on, and then looked up at this makeshift team that was ready to ride with her into danger.
In just a flash of a moment she realized- these were the black riders. The ones she had tracked. The known assassins. The same ones that were feared by her own people, the gypsies.
Tonigh
t... Yana was one of them.
Without a sound, they all began to move out.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Otta looked out upon the riders as they departed, watching them vanish into the evening shadows. He was proud of them. He walked across the great chamber to address the King. He wore flowing robes, not as a King, but as his trusted advisor, administrator, and in fact, the King’s brother.
They had been grooming Bastion for the throne, and even more so in recent seasons, as the King’s health had been failing. He was unable to ride hard as in days of old, and was often short of breath for no known reason.
“Your son is a fine warrior,” Otta said to the King.
“They are gone again so soon,” the King remarked. “I had not even sat with him since his return!”
“Yes. They were successful in their last strike... but almost failed and lost all. I fear we must cut short his time as Captain, for the sake of the throne.”
“Failed??” The King asked.
“Two of our riders were lost. The rest of them were saved... by a gypsy girl.” He couldn’t help a bit of irony in his voice and expression, prompting the King to guess.
“Not the same gypsy girl that saved him years ago?”
“The very same,” Otta replied. “She shot arrows into their captors and gave chance for the riders to prevail.”
“Serendipitous beyond measure,” the King marveled. “I should like to meet her.” Otta agreed.
“She still looks like naught more than a child, but is a leader among the gypsies. When they return, I’ll be certain to bring her before you.”
The King nodded, even as his expression grew pensive. “We must somehow destroy these miscreants who steal people and sell them just for a bit of gold and silver. It is a horror in our land,” he said, gravely concerned.
The Gypsy Queen Page 4
