Oathtaker

by Patricia Reding

  “Yes, ma’am. That is, I had sisters. Why do you ask?”

  “Because I know a young woman who you look very much like. I think you might be sisters. Her name is—”

  “Nina! Oh, do you know Nina? So, she made it here? She survived her trip? Oh, where is she? Where is she?”

  Mara laughed as she put her arm around Erin’s shoulder. “I can assure you she’s well.”

  “And what of her child? A boy? A girl? Oh, tell me!”

  Mara slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry. Nina’s child did not survive.”

  Erin’s smile vanished. Her eyes pooled with tears.

  Mara told her how Ted and Faith had aided Nina. “When Dixon and I first arrived here in Polesk, some weeks back, we needed help with . . . a newborn, and she was kind enough to agree to come with us.”

  “I want to see her.”

  “I don’t think that’s possible,” Faith said.

  “She’s right,” Ted said. “Nina is some distance away and I’m afraid we can’t get you there just now.”

  Erin looked at each of the Oathtakers in turn. “I don’t understand. If she’s staying with you,” she pointed at Mara, “and if you’re here, then how could she be somewhere else?”

  The others laughed. It was a healthy release of tension.

  “I’m sorry, Erin. Dixon and I traveled here by . . . magic. We can’t take you back with us. Not this time, anyway. But we’ll be sure to let Nina know that you’re well. She’ll be happy to know you’re in Ted and Faith’s good hands.” Mara turned to Dixon. “Well then, are you ready to go?”

  “Yes.” He embraced Ted, then Faith.

  Mara followed suit.

  Klynn stepped forward. “Good-bye, Mara, Dixon.”

  “Thank you, Klynn. I don’t know what might have happened had it not been for your quick thinking back there.”

  “I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to meet Hattie, Mara. But for her, we wouldn’t have Erin with us now,” Faith said.

  “Hattie. I love that name. My mother had a sister named Hattie. She was my favorite aunt. I used to wish . . . Well, next time.”

  Faith smiled. “Next time.”

  “Would you all mind terribly? Could we have just a minute of privacy?” Mara felt rather a spectacle.

  “Oh, not at all,” Ted said. He ushered the others out to a chorus of “so longs” and “see you soons.”

  Dixon handed Mara her pack, then pulled his own up over his shoulder.

  She held his gaze for a long moment and grinned. “Here we go then,” she said, clasping his hands. A moment later, they vanished.

  The sights and sounds, the colors of their traveling once again took over as the Oathtakers entered into the stream of magic.

  When they came to a stop, Mara opened her eyes. She loosened her hold on Dixon’s hands. She expected he’d simply release her as well, but he did not. Instead, he tightened his grip.

  “Mara, before I forget to say it—thank you. Thank you for allowing me to accompany you. It makes me feel useful when I can be of service to you and the twins.”

  “I appreciate your help.” Again she tried to loosen her hands. Again he held tightly to one, freeing the other. She sensed he had no intention of letting go and found she quite liked it—though, truth to tell, she also feared it.

  “Right on target,” he said as he looked around.

  She looked up. They’d arrived just outside the door to their suite. She shook her hand free. “I have to go!” She couldn’t wait one more minute to lay her eyes on the girls.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  The noises that the rummaging soldiers made played on Lilith’s nerves. Although the burning pain of Daeva’s presence within her had generally waned, it stirred up into a painful presence from time to time. She felt it most intensely when outside forces irritated her, or when she was in the midst of her most murderous acts. When irritated, the force was painful, but strangely, when in a murderous rage, it became somehow—pleasant.

  The soldiers were out of order tonight. They’d spent the past several days picking off those infants they uncovered at farm sites and in small hamlets on their way, but now had time on their hands.

  Lilith smiled as she considered her progress to date. Still, she’d best keep moving. The men required constant stimulus or they became surly and belligerent. It was then that they turned on one another. Their infighting often resulted in the loss of lives, and she couldn’t afford to lose more of them.

  She sat at a writing desk that she kept folded away when not in use. Mindlessly, she sorted through various notes that Sally and Janine had sent to her over the past weeks. The presence of the soldiers she’d left at the palace unnerved them, but her sisters’ complaints lessened as she ordered more of the troops to meet up with her and the greater army.

  She would have taken more with her at the outset, but in her haste to get started, she’d not considered that as she vacated each village, hamlet and city, she’d have to leave a small force behind. It was they who saw to any necessary cleanup and who locked down the areas so as to keep information from leaking out and making its way ahead of her venture.

  Shouts from the soldiers, followed by a woman’s screams, made their way to her consciousness. She frowned. The hoodlums were beginning to bore her. She started at the sound of a rapping at the rear of her wagon. “Who is it?”

  The visitor moved back the tarp, allowing cold air to rush inside. “’Scuse, ma’am.”

  “What is it now?”

  A low growl, followed by a high yapping, sounded out.

  “Shush Pooch,” Lilith scolded as she stroked the animal she’d chosen to replace her former pet, Pompom.

  Once again, Pooch growled. The canine disliked Freeman, who now made his way into the wagon.

  “The men are terribly unruly this evening,” she said.

  “They’re bored, ma’am.”

  “Bored! They’re here to be of service to me. Their boredom is not my concern.”

  More shrieks cut through the air.

  “What is going on out there?”

  Freeman shrugged. “Jus’ the men havin’ a bit o’ sport with somma the wimmin they gathered up in Martinsville.”

  “I’m sure I don’t want to know more.”

  “Prob’ly not. ’S not a pretty sight.”

  “So why are you bothering me with this? I assume that’s why you’re here?”

  “Weeelll, seems one a the prisoners ’s ’n Oathtaker.” He watched Lilith’s expression closely. “She’s causin’ a scuffle, she is. Thought ya’d wanna know.”

  “What possible difference could that make to me?”

  “She’s threatnin’ the men, she is. Says she’ll kill ’em.” He shuffled his feet. “I tol’ ’em I’d check wi’ cha ’bout what tuh do.”

  Lilith sighed. She tried to think back to when the man’s presence had begun to bore her. Maybe it was when he’d first opened his mouth to speak and proved himself such an idiot.

  “Never mind.” She extricated her shawl from under Pooch who sat upon it, as a king upon his throne. She placed it over her shoulders, then scooped up her pet, pulling him close to her bosom.

  “Ya comin’ ’long then?”

  “Lead the way.”

  He jumped down, then assisted her. As her foot met the ground, Pooch snapped at the man’s hand. He jerked it back, then grasped Lilith’s elbow as the dog growled.

  “Never mind, pet,” she said, patting its head. “Well,” she said turning to her escort, “where to?”

  Freeman led her to the center of the camp. The cacophony of pounding boots, jingling chains, and the occasional captive’s scream, covered the crunching sound of the light ground-covering snow beneath their feet.

  Hollering and laughter filled the cold night air, which hid some, albeit some lesser, portion of the stink that typically accompanied the men. Mercifully, the smell of smoke and cooking dinners further concealed the hired thugs’ stench.

  A swarm
of perhaps twenty thickset men, all covered in capes, gathered around someone.

  “I said, ‘stay back!’” a woman cried. “Stay back, or I’ll kill you. Don’t doubt me.”

  “Ha ha ha!” the men laughed. Notwithstanding their bravado, fear laced their voices.

  “Mahlon,” the woman said, “they’re making sport of you. Can’t you see that?”

  Lilith elbowed between two men at the back of the group. Upon recognizing her, they shuffled their feet, then moved away, leaving others in her immediate presence.

  “Put it down, Mahlon,” the woman commanded. “Put it down and stay back.”

  “I will have you!” a man Lilith assumed to be Mahlon shouted back. His shaking defied the control he sought to portray, as did the jittering knife in his trembling hand.

  “That’s right, Mahlon,” one of the soldiers mocked, “she’s yours!”

  “Like we said—next one’s yours,” said another.

  “Go on, Mahlon. What’s the matter? You scared?”

  “You a coward, Mahlon? Huh?”

  “Go for it, Mahlon!”

  The daring, bold, clearly intoxicated men were having as much sport with Mahlon as with the woman they’d captured.

  “There she is, Mahlon. Have at her!” laughed another, pushing the man toward his intended victim.

  The woman jumped back. “Stop! I’m telling you—one more step and you die.”

  “Yeah, well if you kill me, they’ll just have you.” Mahlon sneered at the woman as he gestured toward the others. “What’re ya gonna do? Hold the whole army off with that little blade of yours?” He glanced at his mates and smiled, seeking their approval.

  “That’s right, Mahlon. Once I use this blade, I may be as good as dead. I know that. I’ve no other weapon. But I promise you, if you don’t stop right now, you’ll beat me to the hereafter.”

  “What’re ya gonna do? Kill us all?” he repeated, laughing nervously.

  “No, Mahlon,” she held his gaze intently, “just you.” Despite her circumstances, she remained calm. Her voice did not waiver. She held her blade steady.

  The men had dealt with similar circumstances before. Each time they eventually overcame the Oathtaker, but never without some cost to their ranks. If Mahlon didn’t cease in his endeavors, he would go down. Depending upon the woman’s skills, others might join him.

  Mahlon stood on the balls of his feet, ready to spring forward at the slightest opportunity. In his indecision, and at least partial intoxication, he rocked unsteadily, then glanced at the surrounding gang. With words and hip thrusting gestures, they urged him on.

  Lilith sighed and stepped forward. She should let them take what they had coming, but it wasn’t worth losing more of the soldiers over such foolishness. Before she made her way to the front, Mahlon rushed the woman.

  In a flash, she let loose her blade. It landed with a thud in his chest. He stopped in his tracks, then staggered back. He made to advance again, but before he could take another step, started falling.

  The Oathtaker rushed forward, grasped her blade, yanked it out, then pushed his body away. The thud, as it hit, shook the ground. Blood splattered and within moments, started to pool around the dead man’s body.

  In little more than a heartbeat, the Oathtaker had armed herself once more. She hunched into a battle position. Her eyes darted around at her captors. Her head snapped from side to side. “Who’s next?”

  Lilith watched the men. One stepped forward, hesitated, then returned to his former position. With Mahlon’s fall, the woman had checked their bravado, but oafs that they were, more would surely fall as they continued in their efforts to subdue their quarry. One more, two more, three more of them might die, but in the end, they would disarm the woman.

  Lilith stepped out from the midst of the crowd, then turned and scowled at the men. They all pulled back upon recognizing her, shuffling their feet. She turned to the Oathtaker. “That will be quite enough.”

  The young woman looked intensely at the newcomer. She started to bring her weapon down, then jumped back into a fighting crouch when one of the thugs took another step toward her.

  “I said, that will be quite enough,” Lilith repeated, her voice raised.

  The soldiers all looked downward as though suddenly enamored with whatever was at their feet.

  “Be off with you.”

  They moved away, quiet at first, but their mumblings, oaths and curses rose in volume as their distance increased.

  “And who might you be?”

  The Oathtaker lowered her blade. “I was about to ask you the same thing.” She pulled her dark auburn hair back.

  Lilith crossed her arms, set her lips, and glared.

  The Oathtaker’s eyes narrowed. “Lilith? Are you Lilith?”

  “Who else would I be?”

  “But—but—”

  “But what?”

  “It’s just that I’m . . . I didn’t . . . That is—”

  “You didn’t expect me here?”

  “Exactly! And with these—these—”

  “Cretins?” Lilith completed the woman’s sentence, disdain in her voice.

  “Well, yes. That is—”

  “They’re here at my bidding. Have you a problem with that?”

  “Oh, no!” The woman smiled, exposing a single small dimple on one side of her mouth. “I was just surprised, that’s all.”

  “Well now that you know in whose presence you stand, perhaps you could fill me in on who you are and what you’re doing here.”

  The young woman bowed. “Excuse me, Lilith, ma’am. I am Velia. Velia Bettina.”

  Lilith looked hard at the Oathtaker whose clear brown eyes flitted about, constantly surveying her surroundings. “Where’s your charge, Velia?”

  “Oh, I’ve no charge.”

  “No?”

  “No, my charge is . . . deceased. I’ve not been called to serve again.”

  “Pray tell, Velia, what brings you here?”

  The Oathtaker sheathed her blade. “I was taken prisoner.”

  Lilith smirked. “Prisoner. Surely you don’t expect me to believe that. I’ve seen you in action.”

  “Nevertheless, it’s true.”

  Lilith admired the young woman’s gumption in the face of her superiors. “How could you be taken prisoner with an Oathtaker’s blade at the ready?”

  Velia grinned, once again flashing her dimple. “Well, like I said, it’s true I was taken prisoner. It’s just not . . . Well, it’s not the whole truth.”

  Lilith waited. When the young woman said no more, she resumed her questioning. “And the rest of the truth would be?”

  “Those men, those . . . thugs, entered our village. They took some of the women captive. I could have protected myself, but thought I’d go along to find out what they were doing. So I allowed them to take me with the others.” As Velia spoke, the sound of a woman’s scream pierced the air. She winced. “What’s going on?”

  “These men are here at my bidding, as I said.”

  “But what in the name of Ehyeh could you want with such—barbarians?”

  “Not that it’s any business of yours, Velia, but they’re here to protect me.”

  “But what of your Oathtaker?”

  “Again, that is none of your concern, but I’ve released him.”

  “Oh, gracious Ehyeh! Your Oathtaker failed in his duty? Has not another been called to your service?”

  Lilith sighed. The young woman certainly was persistent. She considered what to do with her, then smiled weakly.

  “I’m sorry, Lilith. I mean no disrespect.”

  “I wonder, Velia, if you could assist me.”

  The Oathtaker bowed. “Most certainly. I am at your service.”

  “Very well then.” Lilith turned to Freeman. “See her to the wagon next to my own. Do not let any of the others near her—on pain of death.” She turned back to the young woman. “Will those arrangements be satisfactory?”

  Another scr
eam carried through the night air.

  “Certainly, Lilith, but—”

  “But?”

  “But what of the others? What of the women those thugs took captive?”

  “What of them?”

  The Oathtaker’s mouth dropped open. She took a deep breath. Could she do this? Could she remain in this place that reeked of evil? Could she stand by while Lilith allowed the most criminal of acts to go on?

  She squared her shoulders. “I understand, Lilith. I’m sure you have many things to consider in your position. Please, forgive me for questioning you.”

  “Oh, Velia, of course, there’s nothing to forgive, I’m sure.”

  Velia stopped in her tracks, holding her breath. Is that more screaming? Dear Ehyeh, will it never stop? What is Lilith up to?

  As was her pattern upon approaching a city, Lilith had ordered that Velia remain at camp with a few soldiers to “protect” her. On threat of death, the guards avoided interaction with her. Thus, try though she might, she’d gleaned no information from them. Still, she remained with Lilith’s venture. She did not like what she saw, but with her attendant power to tell truth from falsehood, she hoped to learn more.

  “Did you hear that?” she called out to one of her guards.

  “What?” the man responded scurrilously.

  Another scream sounded out.

  “That,” she said, sternly. “That scream.”

  “I didn’t hear nothin’,” he said. As his eyes met those of his cohort, he sneered. Then together, they chuckled.

  Velia watched the exchange. Everything she saw and heard disgusted her. Every day she prayed the Good One would open her eyes and reveal the facts. They might be difficult to face, but better that than to continue in the dark. Every night she sought an opportunity to see Lilith, but the woman ignored her. If she could just question her, perhaps she could catch her in the lies that would reveal the truth. But Lilith only passed by occasionally and had no time for the Oathtaker.

  Why would she want me here anyway? Why hasn’t she just left me to the men as she’s done with so many others? Why hasn’t she just killed me?