“Night girls.” Laidea called after us.
“Night, Commander.” I answered back, my face turning red again as Saratiese nearly ran out the tavern in front of me.
Left with the last two Amazons, Sae-mond arched into a sleepy stretch, and then pushed out of his chair.
“I’m off to a much needed slumber as well then.”
Laidea grabbed the boy by the wrist. “Wait.”
He looked down at her, worry shining in his eyes. “Sit.” She ordered, and Sae-mond slinked back into his chair. Hippolyta put a hand on her friend’s shoulder, already knowing what was about to be asked.
“Commander?” He asked.
Laidea took a breath, seeing no point in hesitation. “Has she been touched yet?”
“Uh…” Sae-mond hesitated, “what do you mean-?”
“I don’t have time for your games. You know what I mean.” Laidea squeezed firm fingers into his wrist. “Gragore has done things in the past.”
Hippolyta caressed her friend’s shoulder, trying to be of comfort as Laidea went on.
“Has he done it again?” Her words hovered stiff in the air.
“No.” Sae-mond shook his black curls. “At least… ” the boy faltered, “not yet.”
Laidea let go, sinking back in her chair, the tension streaming out of her. “Good.”
She lifted a heavy gaze to him. The ale was taking bold effect on her, she could feel it, and somewhere in that warm tingly hum, her emotions were fighting to get out. Climbing up her heart to reach the surface. She felt Hippolyta’s hand kneading her shoulder and she took another breath. “Good. Then go.”
Sae-mond scrambled out of his chair like he couldn‘t get out of the tavern fast enough. As soon as he was gone, Hippolyta brought her hand up to Laidea’s neck, massaging the tight muscles.
“You alright?”
“Yeah.” Laidea groaned, raising her hand to catch the attention of the heavyset server as she passed.
“Gragore won’t touch her, Laidea. Certainly he feels her to be past the age of fresh baring.”
“I don’t think it matters to him.”
The wide woman scuffled up. “What is your need, miss?”
“More ale,” Laidea said. “A lot more ale.”
The server nodded with a yellow smile. “Will ya be requiring’ anymore food?”
“No. Thanks.” Hippolyta shook her head, trying to get rid of the friendly woman.
“That sort of day, eh?” The greasy woman cackled. Laidea raised an eyebrow. “That sort of week.”
The server wiped her fingers in a stained apron. “Then I’ll bring ya two of them jugs.”
Chapter 48
Sae-mond sprinted out of Pahll-sus, staggering into the crackling leaves of the dark forest. As he stumbled through the dark, a thousand trees loomed overhead, webbing back the moon and its’ pale light. A cold sweat gripped his face as he ran, his nerves jumbling in his stomach. Or his ale refusing to settle. He wasn’t certain which, because the haze of ale still kept his pace off balance. Playing tricks on his mind. A chill caught him, raising bumps over his skin. Sucking fear into his chest. The forest had a bitter gale this night, carrying through the gnarled trees with a hiss.
In his blurry eyed visions, Sae-mond saw menacing branches pointing down at him. Accusing him. His anxieties brought regret, guilting him for the ale he’d partaken of. As he sped his wobbled pace, his toe caught under a jagged rock, tumbling the boy into the leaves like a sack of stones.
"Gods!"
He examined the sting of blood on his scraped elbow with a curse. A chilled breeze tussled his hair and he looked up. Bone fingered branches reached into darkness down the misty trail before him. With a swallow, the young man pushed himself back up, shaking the dead leaves from his tunic. The tree mangled path waited. A distant owl sounded, chilling a jump into Sae-mond as he searched out the bird. The wind whisked through the leaves overhead. The woods felt lonely. Quiet.
"Pull yourself together, boy.” A low voice crept out from ahead. A man stepped out from the shadows of a tree, revealing his barrel-chested frame.
Sae-mond straightened his posture. "Lieutenant."
The man approached with an arrogant stride, settling hard eyes on the boy. "Have you followed your order?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. The Amazons are in Pahll-sus now."
"You delivered the message?"
"Yes, sir. Word for word."
"Good." The man leaned a shoulder into a tree, crossing muscular arms. Saying nothing.
"Do I have new orders?"
The older man pulled rigid, leaning down into Sae-mond‘s face. "Hold your tongue until spoken to, boy."
Sae-mond stood silent, well intimidated as the Lieutenant stepped in closer, sniffing over him.
“You drunk?”
"Yes sir but-"
The Lieutenant grabbed a handful of Sae-mond’s hair, backing him into a tree with a skull thud.
"Sir please.” Sae-mond squirmed. “Let me explain."
The man knotted thick fingers into the boy‘s curls, yanking his head back, forcing Sae-mond to lookup at him. "Talk, soldier."
"I… I am drunk sir, but-”
He slammed Sae-mond’s head into the tree again, bringing a grimace of pain to the boy‘s face.
“But, but, it’s only because I was attempting to befriend the Amazons. Gain their trust. Loosen their lips.”
“While ‘loosening their lips’ did it occur to you that your lips might be loosened? That you might compromise Gragore‘s plan!”
“Well, I… I-” Sae-mond stammered, his head stinging, hair ripping from his scalp under the older man‘s heavy grasp. “I wanted them to trust me! I had to prove to them I would let my guard down. So I drank with them, but I told their Commander everything Gragore ordered."
The Lieutenant untwisted his fingers with a grunt, taking a few angry paces before speaking again.
"Of Bartamius?"
"Exactly as you said, sir.”
“And?”
“The Commander woman caught me off guard.”
The Lieutenant turned back around, crossing his sausage arms again. “How?”
“She asked why I would have an allegiance to Bartamius over Gragore."
"And what did you tell her?"
"I made up this great tale of woe." Sae-mond forced a desperate smirk, hoping to convince the Lieutenant. “Of how my family was killed by Gragore’s army.”
The Lieutenant broke into a gruff chuckle. "And she wasn‘t suspicious?"
"She swallowed it.” Sae-mond gave a boastful nod. “I simply tugged at her emotions, especially for her Queen." The Lieutenant put a heavy hand on Sae-mond’s shoulder. "Gragore will be pleased.”
Sae-mond smiled. “You should never have doubted me, sir.”
This revived the older man’s deep chuckle. “With your frail frame, how could I not?”
“Heh, yes sir.”
The Lieutenant‘s face dropped serious as he aimed a finger at Sae-mond. “You may be a small man, but you are a man none the less. With a man’s mind,” he pointed to his head. “Is superior to that of a woman’s. It’s the way of nature. Remember that, boy.”
Sae-mond shook his head. “Yes sir.”
“You need only prick at a woman’s heart and you can crumble her like dirt in your hand.”
“I will remember, sir.”
“Very well then. Now, you need only to keep the Amazons in Pahll-sus tonight.”
“What if they see cause to leave?”
The Lieutenant thumbed his chin stubble. “I will camp my men in these woods one more night. If you have need, lead the Amazons into the ambush early. But if everything continues according to plan, I will meet you when dusk falls on the fortress tomorrow."
"Yes, Lieutenant." Sae-mond saluted as the man turned to leave.
Looking back, the Lieutenant gave a last grin. “Keep yourself alive, boy. At least until you have delivered the Amazons.”
With that,
the portly Lieutenant disappeared into the night. Sae-mond stood staring into the black trees, smiling, his mind racing. I will soon deliver the Amazons. Me. Sae-mond the slight! Ha! Then Gragore will reward me handsomely.
Ready to head back into Pahll-sus, Sae-mond turned, a hard fist momentarily blacking his sight. He stumbled backward, clutching at his busted nose. He looked to his hands to find them warm with blood. He looked before him, but saw no one. His breath raced ragged in his chest. A tap came to his shoulder, startling him to twirl around.
“Who were you talking to?” Laidea asked coolly.
“Oh. That was the, I mean,” Sae-mond forced a smile, sniffing the blood back up his nostrils, “a man I planned to barter with.”
Laidea said nothing, instead taking a step toward him. “All the way out here?”
“Uh… yeah.” He stammered, aiming to sound light hearted. “Of course.”
Before he could say another word, the Commander kicked the air from his chest, clobbering the boy onto his back in the dirt. Stomping a heavy boot into his chest, she mashed at his already struggling air. He clasped hands around her boot, gasping, grappling to push it off.
“Trouble breathing?” She mocked.
Sae-mond gave a frantic nod, grimacing in the smother. Laidea pulled her boot back, allowing him to wheeze and claw at his chest.
“Now tell me.” She began again. “Who was that?”
The boy wavered in his reply.
“Alright then.” The Commander sank her boot again, but this time into his throat. “We’ll do it this way.”
“No….” He muffled from behind clenched teeth. “Please.”
She leaned her weight into him. “What?”
Sae-mond clawed at her boot, turning red. Wheezing. “Please.”
She let off, stepping over him as he panted. Leaning back down, she grabbed and handful of his collar, hovering his bleeding nose up even with her own.
“I’m afraid you picked the wrong woman to try to fool, soldier.” She let loose, gravity thudding him back into the dirt.
“But I-”
“Get up.”
Sae-mond wiped the blood from his nose, then turned to his side, pushing up out of the leaves.
Laidea stood in front of him, hands on her hips, waiting. As he stumbled onto his feet, he kept his eyes from her. Silent, he wiped at his nose again, the blood dripping down into the leaves.
“Ready yourself.”
His attention flit up to the Commander. “Wha… why?”
“We are going to settle this. You and I.”
Sae-mond’s eyes went wide and he took a step back, putting his palms up. “What do you mean?”
“I know you were not talking to a merchant.” She began popping her fingers in loud cracks.
“No. I swear-”
Laidea jabbed another quick and heavy fist into his face, busting his lip before he could finish his words.
“That was your last warning.” She advised, rubbing the blood splatter from her knuckles. “I’m not playing games with you anymore.”
“Alright.” He put up another palm to distance himself from her. “I’ll tell you all you need to know, just please, spare my life.”
Laidea shook her head. “That’s all it takes for you? A few jabs?”
“Just please, I can tell you whatever you need.”
“There is nothing you can tell me. I already know all I need to know.” Her tone dropped cold. “You are a spy.”
Sae-mond’s eyes flashed with panic and he kept backing away. “No, please.”
“Sae-mond, are you trying to prick at my emotions? I am a woman after all, so that should work.”
The young man turned to run, but as he did, Laidea kicked him in the back, shoving him face first into the dead leaves. Stepping over him, she squatted, ripping his head up by the hair. Leaning her lips into his ear. “Guess what?”
“No… no please.” His bleeding lip quivered.
“I heard your little plan and most unfortunate for you, I heard what you said about me.” She pried his head back further, protruding his throat. Slipping the dagger from her boot, she slid its’ razor sharp edge lightly over his skin. She could feel his body shaking beneath her, tears shining on his cheeks in the moonlight.
“I would love nothing more than to slit you open like a fresh kill,” Laidea hissed hot into his ear, “but that wouldn’t be as much fun.”
Chapter 49
Sae-mond busted through the door, tossing into a heap on the dusty floorboards, startling the Innkeeper. The elderly man yanked out of his sleep, knocking his tome records to the floor in a flutter of papyrus. A bloody Sae-mond looked up at the old man, purpled bruises swelling on his face, and the Innkeeper sunk out of his chair, hiding behind his desk. A thud of heavy boots thumped across the wooden floor and he peered up, the approaching Amazon turning his eyes to moons.
Laidea stood over the fallen Sae-mond without a word for him or the Innkeeper. There was no need for words. Her cold glare and blood spattered arms were sure to say it all. Attempting to lift himself into a crawl, Sae-mond whimpered out, keeping a tight arm around his ribs. Laidea grabbed him up by the collar, and also the splayed record tome. Gripping it between two fingers and a thumb, she glanced over the Innkeeper’s handwriting, then slid the book over to the old man. He accepted it from his hiding spot behind the desk, then the thud of her boots resumed, sounding with the scuttle of Sae-mond’s feet stumbling after. The Commander lumbered down the long stretch of dark hallway, stopping at the first door, knocking lightly.
"Commander?" Saratiese cracked the door open, still groggy from heavy sleep.
"Are you alone?”
“Um…” she yawned, noticing Sae-mond bleeding under the Commander’s hand. The young man kept his eyes far from her, but even with the hallway darkened by night, she could still hear his blood dripping to the floorboards. Breathing in deep enough, she could smell it.
“Sara?” Laidea asked again.
“No. Askca is with me.”
“I’m calling assembly and I need this room.”
Her grave words roused Saratiese and she stepped aside, slipping back into the dark room as Laidea entered, pulling the door shut behind them. Without hesitation, she flung Sae-mond back to the floor.
Saratiese looked to the woman with inquiring eyes, but asked nothing. This didn’t look like the right time for questions. Laidea pulled the sword from her back, pointing it to where Sae-mond laid in his submissive heap.
“Wake the others.” She said. “We leave tonight."
Saratiese nodded, slipping out of the room.
“Commander?” Awakened by the voices, I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes. “What’s going on?”
Laidea stood in the shadows, her blade posed at Sae-mond’s head.
"We are leaving soon. Get up."
I glanced down at the groveling man curled up in a ball, blood puddling into the floorboards as he quaked. Head down. Silent.
Moments later, the door cracked open, slipping a line of light across into the room. Saratiese slipped in, followed by the rest of our company who filed in in silence, huddling around where Sae-mond knelt on the floor. We looked to one another with questions, a collective shrug of shoulders implying that none of us knew what the young man had done. But it was apparent by his wounds, he must have betrayed us in some way. The Commander had since slid her sword back in its’ scabbard, but kept her steely eyes on Sae-mond, never once looking to us.
I dropped bare feet to the cool, wooden floor, standing next to Saratiese. Laidea made certain the door was securely locked, then stepped back to the head of our circle.
"I’ll waste no time with long words."
Uneasiness chilled into all of us. The Commander’s grave tone stood a forewarning to bad news. A cold breeze crept through the small room, and even the night air seemed to carry a sense of dread.
"Sae-mond is a spy.” Laidea said flatly. “We can trust nothing he has said."
Mur
murs sped around our company, everyone of us unsettled and worried. Every eye cutting to Sae-mond. He kept his head tucked under his arms, refusing to look up at anyone.
“So…” Belsiphiny began in a timid voice, “is the Queen-”
“I don’t know.” Laidea cut the brave off. “I don’t know the truth yet, but I intend to learn it.” Laidea swiftly kicked Sae-mond in the ribs, expelling a breathy grunt from the boy to punctuate her remark. “Hippolyta, take the company to your room.”
“Yes, Commander.” Hippolyta stepped to the door, ushering the girls out.
“I will come for you when I’m done here.” Laidea growled, bending over to grab Sae-mond up again.
Hippolyta nodded, promptly pulling the door shut.
Chapter 50
Not a full candle mark’s time melted before Laidea departed the room, splattered in stripes of blood. It caked red in her arm hairs. Coated her hands. Dirtied under her fingernails. And the moment she stepped into Hippolyta’s room, I could smell it on her. I wasn’t certain if she had beaten Sae-mond to death, but considering the Commander‘s mood, I made my own silent assumption. Not even Hippolyta dared mention it as our company left the Inn that night.
Laidea led us silent down the dusty path, heading back out of Pahll-sus and into the dark of dead woods. About a hundred paces deep, surrounded on every side by the pines, Laidea stopped. She stood, her back to us, for long moments without a word. Malaia took a step toward the Commander, but Hippolyta grasped her elbow, gesturing against it.
Getting to know Laidea so much over the quest, I knew her mind must be racing underneath her quiet. How crazed she must be over Sae-mond lying to her over the one person she cared most for. And now no one knew if Queen Perseathea was alive or dead. Or worse, beaten to such a place that she would be unrecognizable in appearance and speech. What if she couldn’t walk? Could no longer fight? Defend herself?
I’d seen such things before in GarTaynia, great warriors recovered from long seasons of capture or lengthy battle. They returned home, their bodies cut down and worthless, only fleshy reminders of who they once were. Some were carried back from battle on the shields of the fallen, the spirit of life gone from their arms and legs. Their minds confused as if stirred by a stick, returning them to infancy, unable to speak or understand. Leaving them confused. Childlike.
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