“Bastion rides tonight with that very same gypsy girl, to rescue some of her tribe. We have heard stories that it is not all of Moldavia, but rogue groups up from the Lower Reach,” he explained. “I will travel into Moldavia and the Lower Reach soon to meet with our spies. Perhaps Bastion can also uncover more reports of them so we can find a way to stop this entirely.”
“I pray it shall not be at the expense of mine own son, Otta,” the King said.
“As do I, my Lord,” replied Otta. Then he smiled. “Perhaps the gypsy girl will protect him once more?”
“Or perhaps,” the King grumbled, considering his own experience with gypsies, “she’ll be his greatest danger...”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yana and Bastion did not go storming out of the city gates like she had expected, but rather, they followed a narrow trail through an unfamiliar part of the city. It was dark, as they traveled in eerie silence through a quiet street. The horses stepped so quietly she could only assume they had been specially trained to do so. Bastion led the way to a set of doors that swung open when they arrived, that led them into a large, decaying building. They all dismounted, so Yana did the same.
The man who had opened the doors departed, and closed the doors behind him. Once he had done so, Bastion and one of his men took hold of a wall and it swung open like a door, to Yana’s surprise. The opened wall revealed a tall tunnel, pitch black.
Bastion took the reins to Yana’s horse and handed them to one of the other riders, and then took Yana’s hand. “Walk with me,” he whispered. Yana did not like any of this, but she remembered her friends and the burning wagon she found, and pressed in with Bastion into the tunnel.
She could see nothing, and wondered how anyone else could. She could only assume they all knew this passage by heart. Down the winding tunnel, they made their way, as she clutched Bastion’s hand and set her steps carefully. It seemed slow going, and Yana could not tell how long the tunnel was.
They finally emerged into the night sky, on what she figured to be the other side of the mountain that Jedikai was embedded in. The passage opened into a trail with tall rock walls, and after winding through the rocks a bit, it opened into a meadow. Yana realized... this was the gentle valley just west of the city that was coveted by the gypsies. They had tangles with the city folk who did not welcome their presence there in the lush meadow.
The black riders all mounted, and Yana eagerly mounted as well. Her horse was perfectly well behaved, and she patted his neck in appreciation. Bastion began riding in the direction he knew to go, and Yana was right beside him. Almost immediately, the horses broke into a run.
It was all she could do to hang on at first, until she acquainted herself with the gait of Bastion’s horse. It was immensely powerful; she had never ridden a beast so grand. Her black cloak flowed behind her, as she allowed her young, lithe body to find rhythm with the horse.
Every bit of this moment, this ride, this run... was a new sensation for Yana. Streaking through the darkness with the black riders, well-armed, headed for a rescue, and straight into a fight...
it was absolutely thrilling.
They rode until near daybreak, running at top speeds most of the way. The first tendrils of sunrise were encroaching into the sky, with the morning calm introducing what seemed a pleasant smell.
Campfire.
Yana pulled her reins up and stopped. There was light ahead that wasn’t sunlight. She pulled out the telescope that she had easily stolen from the foolish gatekeepers when she entered the city, and had a look. It was in the immediate direction of where the burning wagon had been found. It wasn’t a wagon, she realized. It was the whole forest! Just as the telescope revealed this horror, the smoke of it finally engulfed them completely, leaving no doubt.
“Hurry! It’s all burning!” Yana shouted.
“Then they are all lost,” Bastion said. “Hold fast. We cannot charge directly into a forest fire! It moves too quickly!”
“Like hell they are lost,” Yana protested. She would wait no longer. She snapped the reins against the horse’s flank and launched directly for it. She was grateful the horse was obedient so as to not shrink away. She clutched the leather in her hands without any idea what else to do, looking for some signs of life.
Bastion was furious. He was unaccustomed to being defied. His men were always faithful to his lead. He was frustrated with himself for admiring her courage in spite of his anger with her. He cursed under his breath.
“Protect her at all costs,” he commanded his men. “Let’s go!” They headed after her, the horses all seeming to love the chase, trying to catch her as though even they had understood Bastion’s orders.
The smoke obscured the landscape, making it difficult to see… yet at the same time, the light of the fire illuminated what was otherwise a dark, dense forest. Bastion couldn’t believe her madness, charging straight into a burning forest. Neither could he believe he was doing it as well.
He found it fantastic.
Heading after her, it seemed they might all be charging directly to their deaths. Bastion struggled just to keep track of her through the smoke and the trees. Then he saw something she seemed to be heading for. Something moving. Two figures, silhouetted against the fire not far behind them. He headed straight for them, as Yana was almost upon them.
Yana charged up to them, and leapt off her horse before it had even come to a stop. The brush fires were nearly on them all, rushing ahead, igniting the trees as they went. Yana already knew who they were.
“Yana?” Kizzy asked, barely able to speak, coughing and choking. Yana went to speak, but instead got a massive dose of hot air and thick smoke in her lungs. She flung her cloak over the three of them and began to try and direct them to safety. They were creeping slowly through the brush, but the fire was not. It was faster.
Bastion charged up to them with his men directly behind. Fighting for his own air to breathe, he said nothing, but instead reached down and snatched Yana up by her wrist, wresting her into the air and onto his horse. She landed in front of him, her hands hanging over one side and feet dangling over the other, her cloak tangled about her. His men needed no further instruction. The two gypsy girls were snatched up just like Bastion had done, and the horse Yana rode in with was retrieved as well. They all fled the fire, each of them eager to exit the forest, horses included.
They rode hard once more, the horses winded by all the hard running and the thick smoke. Bastion led the way, Yana unable to do anything except try to keep the horse’s broad back from punishing her midsection. They splashed through a wide but shallow stream after they escaped the forest, and finally came to a halt, lowering the three gypsy girls to the ground.
Yana did not like being manhandled like that, and she was in pain, but did not care. She was so elated that her friends were safe with her, she embraced them immediately and kissed their faces.
Bastion turned to his men. “Ride the fire line as long as you can, and see if there are others you can save. Return to the city when you can do no more. The fire should burn out at the river.”
“And the caravan, Captain?” one of the riders inquired. Bastion looked to Yana.
“They are safe,” Yana said. “I sent them towards Jedikai at the first sign of fire.”
The man nodded towards her, and to Bastion, and the riders departed as instructed.
Kizzy and Nadya were sipping the water they had been given, but saying very little, as the sun finally crested. They had much to say, but they were shaken... and they were aware that they had just been in the presence of the dreaded black riders. Yana could see the fear in their faces.
“Fear not, my friends,” Yana encouraged them. “We are safe.” With that statement, they looked towards Bastion. “You remember the boy I told you about. The one who was struck by lightning? The one I helped?”
They nodded. She opened her hand toward the one black rider still among them. “Meet Bastion,” she said with a smile.
“Pleased to meet you sir,” they both agreed, comforted by Yana’s own familiarity.
“Hello,” Bastion said. He had not met these two gypsies, but they were very sweet, as they smiled at him through the ash on their faces, hiding their blushing cheeks.
“We almost lost you,” Yana admonished them, before they could say more. “I was so afraid we lost you!” Yana could feel the emotion in her voice, as her fearful energy was dissolving into fatigue.
“We were attacked,” Kizzy said. “We fought them, but there were too many. They were going to take us to the Lower Reach! We got away when the fire caught up to us.”
Bastion was fully interested. “Who were they?” he asked.
“They were Moldavians, some of them,” Kizzy said.
“But,” Nadya whimpered, finally speaking up, “but...” she choked on the words.
“Some of the men who attacked... they were gypsies,” she said in horror.
Kizzy confirmed. “Some of them were gypsies... just like us...”
________________________
The Gypsy Queen- CHAPTER 5- “Request”
Bastion and his gypsy companions made their way towards Yana’s caravan, as Kizzy and Nadya told their tale.
“They captured us all. Everyone we were traveling with,” said Nadya.
“How many?” Yana and Bastion asked in unison.
“There were seven of us. We got away in the fire, but we don’t know about the others. But they didn’t just have us,” Nadya continued, “They already had at least a dozen others we didn’t know.”
“We heard them talking,” Kizzy added. “I don’t understand too much of their language, but it sounded like they were up to something big.”
“Where were they taking you?” Bastion asked.
“They were taking us to Kaffa, sir,” Kizzy answered. “Across the Black Sea.” Bastion stiffened. He knew of Kaffa.
“There was a gypsy woman,” said Nadya. “She said they have a castle in the Lower Reach, a big place where they keep everyone they capture, before they sail to Kaffa to be sold.”
Bastion rode silently, as the gypsy girls talked further amongst themselves. Their conversation turned to lighter things, and they were all grateful for it. They traveled toward Jedikai, to meet up with Yana’s caravan. The morning sun lent its warmth to them as they traveled the meadows and hillsides towards the city, and Yana shed her black cloak.
Bastion retrieved a white shirt from his pack and changed as they rode. Yana did everything she could to watch him without him noticing. She looked on in surprise when he was finished. “You look like a gypsy man,” she remarked. Bastion smiled at that. He was indeed wearing gypsy clothing.
“It’s my favorite shirt,” he replied. “I don’t often find occasion to wear it.”
Yana opened her mouth to say more, but was unable. She was a bit flustered, in fact, and chose instead to look off into the distance, lest he catch her blushing. He was a fine looking man, and the white gypsy shirt set off a tremendous affection for him within her. Her emotions were flooding her, as she thought of him and watched him ride.
He had not hesitated to come to her aid, and that of her people. He executed their mission flawlessly. He took over masterfully. He was dangerous, and he was fearless.
Yana thought a moment. She knew no other man like him. He was a beautiful boy, when they first met, and now he was a powerful man. His power appealed to her, but it was their sticking point, too. He was based in the city, in the kingdom, and she was not. There was no gypsy man she could imagine that was anything like him... but at least the gypsy men were free to roam, as she was. They would not rule over her; she could not allow that.
Yana let her troubled thoughts wander silently through her head as they approached Jedikai. She wondered if somehow the seeming curse of dark news or dark times that always accompanied Bastion might be lifted, as cheers rose from the gypsy camp as they approached, Dimmie running up to meet them.
“You found them! You found them!” he shouted, running up to their horses. Kizzy and Nadya jumped to the ground and embraced Dimmie and the other gypsies. Music sprung up in the camp, and Bastion kept his distance, letting the gypsies have their celebration. His mind was elsewhere, considering the news the gypsy girls had brought, and comparing it to the information the kingdom held about the Moldavians. Bastion was glad for their successful mission, but this news meant that a much larger task faced him.
Yana made her way through the camp, looking for Lyubov. Finally she found her with Luba. Luba leapt up and embraced Yana, and Lyubov, the old woman, gave a warm smile. Luba wasn’t her joyful self, however.
“Emilee is gone,” she said.
“Gone? Gone where?” Yana asked, hoping she was on an errand.
Luba looked up at Bastion as well, and addressed them both. “She went to try and track Kizzy and Nadya. After you left and we broke camp, she went back towards the burning wagon. We have not seen her since.”
The dread of that was more than Yana could take, as tears began to course down her face and angry curses spilled forth. “Dilo baxt!” she spat in Romany, kicking a bundle of sticks. “Dilo prikasa!”
“Foolish girl,” she ranted. “Why didn’t she listen to me? Why such terrible luck?” She glared at Bastion at the thought of it. Bastion had no reply worth offering. It certainly was bad luck.
“Yana, come. Sit with me,” Lyubov invited her. “I help.”
Yana was alive with new angst and anger. This madness had to stop, this evil trade of stealing people. She didn’t want to sit down with Lyubov, but she sat down anyway, reluctant. Lyubov offered her a tin cup of steaming tea, and Luba urged for Bastion to join them and sit down. Lyubov pulled a small curved pipe from her bag, and deliberately prepared it. No one spoke, as they watched, and finally she set a twig into their modest fire and used it to light the herbs in the pipe.
She passed it first to Yana, and around it went, to Bastion, and Luba, and back to the old woman. They indulged it a while in silence, and Yana was grateful- it did seem to calm her. Her fury subsided, as she stared at the fire and exhaled the smoke into it, as though to expel her fears as she did. Peace settled over her, in spite of the world around her.
Bastion watched her as they smoked together and shared the tea. His mind seemed in two worlds- one churning thoughts and plans for what was ahead, and what he would do. He would have to venture to the Lower Reach. It would surely be the most difficult mission he had ever attempted. Yet beyond his worry, he just enjoyed sitting with Yana.
He watched as she sipped her tea and smoked the pipe. It seemed that she did everything with feeling, that he could feel the hot tea kissing her lips, the smoke intermingled between breaths, the rise and fall of her chest as she exhaled. Bastion had seen many women before, but never felt a woman in this way- a connection, even without contact.
Lyubov took the tin cup, and took the last sip, closing her eyes. As she finished, she reached out and struck it on a flat rock beside her, and the tea leaves splattered onto it. She looked at them a while, and took the pipe as Luba passed it to her, spent. She rapped the pipe on the rock, and the ashes spread out onto the wet tea leaves, and Lyubov looked at them further.
“Da,” Lyubov said. “See?” She motioned for Luba to come look, as she was always teaching her the gypsy arts.
Luba looked to the flat rock, and then grinned to Yana and Bastion.
“Emilee is alive. She is hiding.” Luba declared.
“Hiding? Hiding where?” Yana asked.
“I saw her early this morning in the crystal,” said Luba, patting her satchel where she kept her little crystal ball. “It was smoky and hard to see, but she was hiding.”
“And what do the leaves tell you?” asked Lyubov, quizzing her.
“Three things,” said Luba. “Life,” she began, “and heat.”
She paused, asking permission from Lyubov with the expression on her face, Lyubov nodded. Luba continued, “and desire.”
&nb
sp; Bastion looked at the rock, having no idea what he might be looking at. “You can tell all that?”
Luba grinned at him some more. “I know all sorts of things,” she said.
Bastion smiled in return. “I have no doubt of that, Luba.”
Yana said nothing, as she watched an aura begin to emanate from Luba. It was a light shade of blue, and she could see it clearly, but it wasn’t like seeing a normal light. It was something just beyond the natural, like a faint glimmer of another world. She never looked for them, auras just seemed to reveal themselves when they pleased. Luba’s energy was beautiful, and it rang of truth. Yana felt relief- Emilee was surely alive.
“You don’t fear,” Yana told them. “We’ll find her.”
Bastion and Yana wandered through the camp in the west meadows of the city. The city dwellers and the gypsies still quarreled over the land, as it nearly cultivated itself, with olives and figs and berries... and had streams running through it, with plenty of wildlife, and forested borders, except for where it approached the city walls. Tensions still ran high, as both peoples were suspicious of the other. They encroached on each other often, when the gypsies came to the west meadows, or anywhere near the big cities.
“I have to go find Emilee,” Yana told Bastion.
“Where will you look for her?” he asked, knowing the answer.
“The Lower Reach. If she didn’t get caught in the fire, she must have followed the thieves there,” she said.
“It is far too dangerous for you to go there alone. I cannot allow it.” Bastion said.
“Well now, it’s not up to you, is it?” she said, irritated.
“I will not allow you to go there alone and risk yourself. You are too important to your caravan, the people here.” Bastion insisted.
“I know it is dangerous, Bastion, but I have to go!” she exclaimed. “Why don’t you just go back to the city and your own people?” She stopped walking and faced him. She could feel the heat rising in her face.
The Gypsy Queen Page 5
