The Road To Avea

by Lynn Lorenz

  "Now, remember our strategy." Sarah faced the officers. "We'll take them by surprise. No attacks from the rear. Let's serve them fairness with their humble pie. You each have your assigned targets?"

  They nodded, glancing over to the other side of the field, each marking their target in their minds.

  "Good. I'll wager this will be over before it starts."

  Gustav strode out into the middle of the field and called the members of both sides to ready. They advanced forward in two lines one hundred feet apart. The old addler moved to the side and held up a whistle. "At the sound of the whistle, you may begin. The rules of full engagement will apply. You will fire only to stun or disarm, not to injure. Anyone not heeding the rules will face discipline. You will be allowed the standard fifteen minutes and judged on your hits. When you hear the whistle the second time, you must stop."

  Everyone on both sides tensed as he raised the whistle to his lips and blew a long call.

  Litton's men pulled their wands, but their targets had all disappeared. Avalon's men reappeared in various places on the field facing their targets. In the initial confusion, four of Litton's combatants dropped before firing a single shot.

  Stefan was startled, but not as much as Litton's team and their followers. Rolf cheered and nudged Stefan with his elbow.

  Litton recovered and the battle began in earnest. Avalon sprang into action as they flipped, dodged, leaped, and teleported, firing on the move. It was hard to keep up with them. Another three of Litton's team dropped, and all of Avalon's team still stood.

  Stefan glanced at Rolf.

  "I told you our Sarah is clever." Rolf leaned over and winked at him.

  Stefan merely grunted.

  With three Litton men still in play on the field, Gareth Watkins 'ported to his target. Dropping to one knee, Watkins' knocked his opponent's feet out from under him with a roundhouse kick. He lay on his back, and Watkins stood, holding him at arrest.

  "Well played, Gareth," Rolf said.

  Next to Stefan, Thatcher fought back a grin.

  Two Litton men were still standing. Looking around them at the untouched Avalon team, they realized defeat was inevitable and surrendered.

  Gustav blew the whistle. It was over in less than three minutes, a record in anyone's books.

  The victory yells went up as the castle's supporters cheered. Rolf slapped Stefan on the back. "She did it, Stefan. What a woman!"

  "Aye," he said. What a woman. And she'd never be his.

  "That's five you owe me." Rolf held out his hand.

  Stefan fished into his pocket, then dropped the coins into Rolf's open palm. Money changed hands up and down their sideline; they weren't the only ones betting on the outcome of the match.

  Chief Harrow and his supporters stood dumbfounded on their sidelines. His men picked themselves up off the grass and staggered back to their lines.

  "Do you think Harrow will close his mouth before dinner, Damon?" Mercy shook her head.

  "If he doesn't, I can shut it for him." Damon strode forward, slapping his hands together in obvious enjoyment. Stefan, as second, followed him to meet Harrow in the middle of the field.

  Chief Inspector William Harrow, his face beet red, advanced with his hands clenched in white-knuckled fists. "What in the name of all the One God's hell's demons was that?" he shouted. "You cheating bastard!"

  Thatcher shook his head. "No, not at all, William, not at all. It's the future, sir, whether you like it or not. I'll wager your men will be trained the same as ours within the year."

  The two chiefs stood just an arm's distance apart. Harrow's chest heaved. Thatcher looked smug. Stefan gave a nod to his counterpart, standing behind Harrow, glaring at them.

  "Phaw!" Harrow spat on the ground.

  Sarah came up behind them.

  "And her? What has she got to do with this?" Harrow motioned to Sarah with his head.

  "You remember Sarah Tallow, do you? I believe you turned her down for a position, William. She's my new training instructor."

  "Training? Her? The off-world woman trained you to do this?" He glared at Sarah. Stepping around Thatcher, Harrow was on Sarah in three long strides.

  Stefan tensed. His hand rested ready on his wand as he turned to watch. However, the last thing Sarah would appreciate was if he came to her rescue. He held and gave her the same respect as he would another officer.

  Sarah stood her ground, as Harrow towered over her. Looking her up and down, he grimaced, about to speak when his gaze found the two women on the sidelines with the team and he exploded in anger again. "Women! You allowed women to participate?" He pointed to them in shock.

  Harrow turned on his heel and returned to Thatcher. "It just isn't done, Damon."

  Stefan thought for sure Harrow would challenge the validity of the contest.

  "Times change, William. We need to change with them. Besides, there's no rule in the book forbidding women from being chosen to fight." Thatcher pulled out a small leather bound book and held it up.

  "Don't think I'm going to forget this." Harrow threw a coin purse on the ground at Damon's feet.

  "I'm counting on it." A slow smile spread across Thatcher's face.

  Harrow marched back across the field. His second gave a brief nod to Stefan. To Stefan's surprise, the man bowed his respects to Sarah and then rejoined his men across the field.

  The air cracked with their collective teleports. The change in pressure made Stefan and all those left behind wince. Another cheer went up as everyone raised his or her fists in a victory salute.

  Thatcher bent, picked up the purse, untied the strings, and emptied it out onto his palm. One hundred gold coins glittered in the afternoon light. Stefan hadn't seen so much money since the last time he'd been gambling, on the mission with Sarah. Sarah's team rushed forward and formed a tight circle around Sarah and Thatcher, as the men waited for their Chief Inspector's words. Stefan stepped backward and stood outside of the circle.

  "I can't tell you how proud I am of all of you. Sarah, I believe half of this is yours." Damon motioned for her to step forward.

  Sarah held out her hand. The officers stared as she took the money. Stefan held silent, but frowned. At last, Sarah met his eyes. There seemed to be no thrill of victory where there should have been, and he felt a pang of guilt at its absence.

  Sarah looked to her team and bounced the coins in her hand. "Looks like the drinks are on me, patrollers," she called to them.

  A cheer went up and she handed the money to Gustav.

  "See that you buy as much wine and ale as possible for the officers to add to the current stock. Is this enough to tap a barrel of ale right now?" she asked him. Everyone knew the wine and ale served sparingly at the castle came from their meager surplus funds. To have a barrel opened was a rare thing.

  "Aye, Patroller Tallow, aye, it'll do," Gustav said, in obvious appreciation of her. "Extra rations tonight for all."

  Another cheer went up among the officers.

  Stefan's eyes never left Sarah as she began to walk back to the castle, her team surrounding her. "Well done, Sarah," he whispered.

  When Gareth Watkins came up to Sarah, Stefan had to control a flinch. Watkins bowed to her, acting very much the contrite gentleman, but Stefan didn't trust him.

  "Sarah, that was most generous of you. Fifty gold pieces is nothing to turn away," Gareth said.

  She shrugged. "I have all I need here."

  "Your strategy was perfect, Sarah."

  "Well, without all of you embracing the techniques, it wouldn't mean much, would it?"

  Gareth lowered his voice and stepped closer to her, and Stefan tensed. "I'd like to apologize for my abysmal behavior the other night at the lake. I don't know what came over me. Can you forgive me?" Stefan could just catch his words.

  "Of course, Gareth. Let's not speak of it." She seemed tired as she waved it away.

  "Thank you. I'd appreciate another chance to put my best foot forward with you."

&nb
sp; "Perhaps," she said.

  Clenching his teeth, Stefan cursed himself. He knew when he decided to let her go that other men would woo her. He just didn't want it shoved in his face. Or have it be that ass Watkins.

  Rolf fell in next to Stefan as they followed the group back to the castle. "You have to admit, Watkins cuts a fine figure in his battle gear," he said.

  Stefan answered with a grunt, wishing Rolf would go away.

  "And he's the same age as Sarah."

  Stefan didn't need that pointed out--he was well aware of Gareth's age. At thirty-five, Gareth Watkins was just coming into his prime as an officer and as a warlock. Stefan had heard the talk about Watkins. He could charm a bird from the bush and part a maiden from her good sense.

  Rolf did not let up. "They look well together, his blond hair next to her dark, don't you think?" His humor had too sharp a point for Stefan's taste.

  Stefan stopped and turned to Rolf. "The blade was in, Rolf, so must you twist it?"

  The smile fell from Rolf's face.

  Stefan waved his hand at him and strode away. No matter how much it hurt, he was determined to keep Sarah safe. He veered away from the crowd, heading toward the chapel.

  He'd made his decision and now must live with it. He wasn't sure if it was the most courageous thing he'd ever done or the most foolish.

  * * * *

  Mercy knocked on Sarah's door and was shocked by what she saw. "Sarah, are you all right?"

  "Oh, Inspector Loch, what can I do for you?" Sarah stepped aside as Mercy entered.

  "I'm worried about you, Sarah. It's been a week since I've seen you in the dining hall on the day of the challenge. Are you ill?"

  Sarah sat on the dressing table chair, and Mercy took the wing chair. "No, I've just been very busy." She shrugged. "I've been eating in my room."

  "Too busy to come downstairs?" It would take more to put Mercy off so easily. "This is about Stefan, isn't it?"

  "Can you read minds without your wand?"

  "It doesn't take majik to see what's happening."

  Sarah closed her eyes. His face floated there, just on the other side of her eyelids. "I can't do it, right now. I need some time, Inspector. It just..." She shook her head.

  "Hurts too much to see him?"

  Sarah nodded. "I understand it just takes time."

  "Sometimes, aye. Are you sleeping, Sarah?"

  "Not much."

  "You should ask the healer for a potion to help you sleep."

  "Has he got one to help me forget?" Sarah smiled.

  "Aye. But, trust me, you don't want to forget."

  "I want to stop hurting." Sarah hugged herself.

  Mercy leaned back in the chair. "I told you I was married and that I have two grown sons. One is a healer and one is a magistrate. My husband died from a fever. The boys were only young men when it happened."

  "Aye, you told me."

  "I survived. I thought I was going to die I missed him so much. But I had my children to take care of, my work in the patrol, and I had to go on."

  "You're telling me to throw myself into my work to help me get over this, right?"

  "No. I'm telling you I struggled with my grief for ten years." Mercy smiled at Sarah's surprise. "I was miserable, every single day of those ten years. It was those two boys of mine, not my work, that kept me going. Each day I struggled to understand why I went on, until I met Damon."

  Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "That's what you meant about finding love again."

  "Don't give up on love, Sarah. Or on Stefan." She stood and placed a hand on Sarah's shoulder. "You must think about your path. How it led you here and why. Only the One God knows why he sets our feet on a certain road. It's only when we reach the end, we learn his reasons."

  Leaving Sarah sitting, Mercy let herself out, closing the door behind her.

  * * * *

  "Come in, Sarah. You wanted to see me?" Thatcher asked.

  It had been over a week since Harrow's men had been defeated, and Sarah had been keeping to her training schedule and her room.

  "Aye." She sat in the chair.

  It shocked Damon to see there was no light in her blue eyes and no emotions played across her once expressive face.

  He waited, his hands clasped on the desk before him. By the One God, what had happened to her?

  "Now that the officers have their training, I want a transfer."

  He sat back and regarded her. Her beautiful face was drawn and tense, and he could tell from the dark circles under her eyes she hadn't slept well.

  Was this how she'd survived as a child off-world? He had thought Stefan the master of walls until now. This woman built towers.

  If he weren't careful, he'd lose her.

  "Sarah, no one would take you before, so what makes you think anyone will take you now? Even after your success on the field last week." His kept his tone hard as he tried to dissuade her from what he saw as a rash course of action.

  "I don't care where I go, just away from here."

  "What happened, Sarah?" Damon wondered how he could repair the damage done, whatever it was.

  "I'd rather not say. It's a personal matter."

  He stood and walked around the desk. "Personal matter. Would you like to discuss it? Perhaps I can help?"

  "I don't think so, Chief."

  "You no longer want to belong to the patrol?"

  "No, I'm committed to the patrol, just not this station. You've done so much for me, but I can't stay here."

  "No, your reasons aren't good enough. I won't approve it." He turned his back on her, clasping his hands behind him, his mind thinking desperately of what to do.

  "Then I resign my commission." Sarah seemed prepared to take this all the way.

  "I won't accept it." He turned back to her. "Patrollers don't run, Sarah. They stand and fight, no matter what the odds."

  "Perhaps, then, I'm not cut out to be a patroller."

  "Damn it, Sarah, you were made for it. Don't try to tell me you're not. This is about Stefan, isn't it?"

  Sarah flinched. She stared at him for a long time before she spoke. "I can't stay here."

  "No transfer and no resignation. However, I will approve some time off for you to think about whatever is troubling you. One week."

  She looked up at him and let out a breath. "One week off. Am I free to leave the castle?"

  "Aye, but you must return in one week."

  "If not?" She seemed to float high above him, in her tower.

  "I will order your arrest on charges of desertion." He turned to her, his jaw set, dead serious.

  "I understand, sir."

  "Sarah, are you sure you don't want to talk about this? If not me, perhaps someone else? I want to help, whatever I can do."

  She shook her head. "I'll take the time, sir." She stood, bowed, and left.

  Damon stood behind his desk as his anger boiled up and spilled over. "Gustav!"

  "Aye, sir." He stood in the doorway.

  "Find Bane and get him in here. Now."

  "Aye." Gustav left.

  * * * *

  "Tandy!" Sarah pulled open a drawer.

  "Aye, miss?" Tandy appeared, hands clasped in front of her.

  "I'm leaving for one week. I'm going to the rooms in Avea to visit with Miss Luci." She pulled clothes from the drawers and threw them into a carpetbag. She went to the armoire and flung open the doors. Pulling several dresses from it, leaving her uniforms untouched, she tossed them on the bed to be packed.

  Why hadn't she thought of asking for time off? Luci had suggested it earlier. It was so simple, but was a week enough time? Would a lifetime be long enough?

  "Right, miss. Do you want me to come?"

  "No. However, I do want you to 'port me to Chester. I'll ride the coach to Avea from there."

  The bag was packed. Sarah jerked off her uniform and tossed it to the floor. She stepped into a soft wool dress, and Tandy helped her button the back.

  "Braid my hair...quickly
now." Sarah sat at the dressing table. Her reflection stared back at her. Her eyes told too much. Thatcher must have thought she'd gone mad. Perhaps she had. Better mad than continuing to feel this pain.

  "Miss?" Tandy braided the long dark hair, twisting and wrapping the long tresses around each other.

  No answer.

  "Are you coming back?" Her fingers paused in her work, and her eyes searched Sarah's in the mirror.

  "In one week. However, I'm not sure what my status will be then."

  Tandy finished the long braid. Sarah stood and picked up the bag. Surveying the room, her gaze fell on Tandy. It softened as she smiled at the little addler.

  "To Chester, Tandy. I shall miss you."

  "I will miss you, too." The tears stood in her green eyes. "What will I tell him?"

  "Tell him..." What would she say to him? I love you? What was the point? I take back my oath? She wasn't ready for that yet. Drop dead? She snorted. "Nothing. Tell him I've left. Nothing more."

  Tandy nodded, closed her eyes, touched her hand to Sarah's, and they vanished.

  Chapter 21

  Stefan stood at the door of Sarah's room and knocked. He wanted to clear the air between them, apologize, and tell Sarah that whether she took her oath to him back or not, he was not going to hold her to it. And perhaps, if she'd been generous enough to forgive Watkins his indiscretion, she might forgive him. He would settle for that.

  Tandy opened the door. Stefan hadn't realized addlers could hold so much scorn in their small faces.

  "She's gone." Then she slammed the door before he could get a word out.

  He stood, his hand still raised.

  A step sounded in the hall and Damon appeared behind him. "I sent Gustav for you. Why didn't you come?"

  "I had to see Sarah first. On a personal matter."

  "Personal, eh? What personal business could a superior officer have with his subordinate?" Damon's eyebrow rose.

  Stefan cleared his throat. "About her patrols." Damon was the one person he could never lie to. The man saw right through him every time.

  "She left, Stefan. I sent her away." Damon watched him with narrowed eyes.

  "Away? Why? I need to speak to her."

  "She'll return in one week."