Homage and Honour

by Candy Rae

  “I trying to do my best,” said Beth, echoing Rhian’s thoughts.

  “I know you are,” answered the patient Rhian although that was not what she was thinking, “but you must concentrate.”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  Rhian looked at her. Beth stood still, the very picture of how a cadet should look, neat and tidy as always, too neat and tidy, too quiet.

  “Don’t you like it here with the Vada?” she asked at last.

  “Very much, “it’s just that …”

  “What?"

  “It feels wrong.”

  “Wrong? In what way?”

  Beth lifted troubled eyes to Rhian.

  “You are teaching us to fight,” her voice was hesitant, “you know where I come from?”

  Rhian nodded. Perhaps this was the root of Beth’s problem. “Continue.”

  “You are teaching us how to fight and to kill,” Beth stopped for a moment as she searched for the words, “you think the South are preparing to attack us again? The cadets are talking.”

  “It is a distinct possibility,” Rhian contented herself with this guarded response.

  “Then, if that happens, I will have to fight them. I have a sister in Murdoch, a father. I would have to fight and kill them!”

  “So you think that if you pretend that you can’t fight we won’t ask you to? You have been pretending?”

  Beth nodded, “not altogether, I do find it difficult Weaponsmaster.”

  “Not as difficult as you are making out. Is that it?”

  “Yes Ma’am.”

  “You are not the first vadeln from Murdoch Beth. We will never ask you to fight against your family. Would you have a problem defending men, women and children against the wral and the gtran of the mountains or against the pirates?”

  Beth shook her head.

  “Or the Larg?”

  “No,” Beth replied.

  “So it’s fighting against your family you are worried about?”

  “Yes Weaponsmaster.”

  “I understand Cadet.” Rhian debated, could she tell Beth more, should she? She decided she must.

  “I am telling you this in confidence,” Rhian said, “I do not think that Murdoch will attack the North. Like us the king is worried about the resurgence of the Larg. I have access to intelligence that you do not. I can, with confidence, tell you that you will never have to raise your sword in anger against any of your kin and if I am wrong in my surmise and Murdoch does join with the Larg to attack us, I will personally make sure that you have duties elsewhere, probably in the northern mountains. Does that put your mind at ease and will you do your best with the training now that I have told you? Is there anything else bothering you?”

  “I don’t want to end up with a Ryzck either. It’s all the other cadets talk about, to finish their training and to be old enough to join.”

  “But you don’t see yourself there, I can see that. Your upbringing doesn’t help either. Well, you don’t need to make up your mind until you are older. There are plenty of other opportunities, the Holad for instance. Many of them serve with the Ryzcks but others provide much needed medical care throughout the lands.”

  “In the rtathlians too?”

  “Even in the rtathlians and if you don’t want to study medicine,” Rhian continued, remembering the extent of Beth’s academic ignorance, “there is the Express messenger service in Argyll and of course the Supply Stations can always use extra staff. My advice to you is to work hard during your junior cadetship and then make your decision. What does Xei say about all this?”

  “He wants me to be happy but I don’t think he’d be content to hide away from danger.”

  “The Lind,” sighed Rhian, “it’s part of their make-up, they feel that it’s their primary duty to defend their pack-mates, their pack-range and everybody else. Remember that, it might distress Xei if you refuse to rise to your responsibilities as he sees it.”

  “That’s what makes it all so difficult.”

  “I know, but choices come to all of us. Do your best for now. I’m here if you need to talk. Ranolf too, even Danel will help you if you ask.”

  The Stronghold bell peeled out. Out of the corner of her eye, Rhian could see the first members of her next class approaching the salle.

  “Take the rest of the day off,” she instructed, “think about what we have discussed.”

  Rhian’s salute was a dismissal.

  Beth copied the action realising that she should, by rights, have instigated the gesture. She about-turned and marched away.

  As Rhian mentally prepared herself for a gruelling bell with the seniors she wondered if she should speak to the Susa’s second about Beth then decided to keep her counsel. The man was perfectly capable of managing the day-to-day running of the Vada but was not the most approachable or understanding when it came to problems amongst the cadets and he had a barely concealed contempt for the Militia. Rhian would wait for Susa Lynsey and Bernei’s return.

  * * * * *

  Beth’s three friends were not unaware of the problems their fourth number was experiencing and one of them had come up with a plan to take her mind off her problems.

  “What are we going to do?” asked livewire Tana long before breakfast on the rest day following Beth’s lesson with the Weaponsmaster.

  It was a rhetorical question, Tana had already decided.

  “Today is a ‘rest’ day,” complained Hannah who had been woken by Tana’s vigorous shaking and who found her friend’s unbounded energy difficult to cope with on occasion. “It’s called a rest day so that we can rest and recuperate from the exertions of the tenday.”

  Hannah lay back on her pillows (of which she had no less than four) with exaggerated care and a touch of the theatrical.

  “It’s absolutely gorgeous out. Let’s not stay here, it’s beautiful out, warm and sunny and winter’ll be here soon enough.” Tana’s voice was all-persuasive.

  Hannah looked sceptical.

  “We could go outside into the woods. Ryzcka Ranolf said we might as long as we went in groups and stay together,” continued Tana.

  “Need to get permission,” said Jess from behind Tana as she poked her head through the cubicle door, “but sounds like fun. We could have a picnic; get bread and cheese in the town on the way out.” Tana of course, had already briefed Jess about her plans and both girls knew by now how best to persuade Hannah to get up.

  “Don’t forget the bottles of gingrootbeer,” vouchsafed Tana who was partial to the fizzy drink made from the sweet gingroot. It was a root native to Vadath and in Tana’s eyes immeasurably preferable to the blander beverages of south-eastern Argyll.

  Hannah watched them both out of jaundiced eyes.

  “Oh come on,” urged Tana, “say you’ll come.”

  “I’ll come,” grinned Hannah rubbing her eyes awake. “Where’s Beth? We mustn’t leave her and Xei out. She’d be upset.”

  “Gone to see Ryzcka Melody,” said Jess.

  “What about?” asked Tana with interest.

  Jess shrugged, “I just took the message. Something about a friend of hers coming for a visit.”

  “A friend of Beth’s?” snorted Hannah in disbelief. “Here in Vadath?”

  “I think she met him when she first arrived here,” vouchsafed Jess, “not that she talks about anything that happened to her before she met Xei much.”

  “A boyfriend?”

  “Hardly,” was Jess’s withering answer, “I think he’s with the Vada and Beth did mention something about him retiring soon.”

  Hannah looked disappointed.

  “Never mind all that,” said Tana the impatient.

  “I’ll go get permission,” offered Jess.

  “And I’ll get the haversacks ready,” agreed Tana, “and you, Hannah,” she continued with mock severity, “will fill the water bottles then go to the Holad and get the first aid kit. They won’t let us past the gates without one.” Turning to Jess, she added, “it’s a pity that
your Uncle James has left. He could have told us the best place to go.”

  “He only waited until me and Mlei got here and were settled in,” Jess replied, “he’s not too well these days and wanted to travel west whilst he still could.”

  What neither mentioned was that Jess’s Uncle James had left for the west a very ill man indeed and although the medics had said he could manage the journey to Siya’s rtathlian, he was not expected to survive the winter.

  Knowing this, Siya had been at her most urgent that she return home. Most vadeln, whether Lind or human could not live without their life-partner and Siya wanted to be with her pack when the time came.

  This was the other reason why Tana was proposing the picnic, to take Jess’s mind off these sombre thoughts.

  Once Jess had left to seek the required permission, Tana explained this to Hannah.

  “Keep your hair on,” grumbled Hannah, “I never said me and Kolyei weren’t coming, did I?” She said this with a good-natured grin. Hannah rarely lost her temper, was placid and easy-going, in direct contrast to the mercurial Tana, the shy Beth and the serious Jess.

  In fact, the four were, in character, as different as they could possibly be, which was probably why they were such good friends.

  “We’re going then?” asked a quiet voice from behind Tana.

  Tana jumped and turned round. There stood Beth, an interested Xei looking over her shoulder. His blue eyes began to sparkle as he realised what was happening. A visit to the woods! Like many Lind serving with the Vada, Xei missed the trees of his rtathlians.

  “Jess’s gone for permission,” smiled Tana. No first year cadets were allowed to leave the Stronghold without permission, a throwback to previous, less peaceful times. “I’m going to fill the haversacks.” She made a lunge and picked Hannah’s off its hook. “You help Hannah with the water then go with her to the Holad. We’ll meet you both outside the big practice field.”

  She was away before Beth had a chance to draw another breath, sneaking a ‘long arm’ into Beth’s cubicle and grabbing her haversack as she passed it by.

  Tana ran towards the cookhouse. By vuz it is hot, she was thinking, a scorcher, as Jess would say.

  The cookhouse was in a ferment. It was not just the Quartet who intended to take advantage of this first rest day since training had begun.

  The first two tendays of training were by tradition a full twenty uninterrupted, those in charge calling it ‘an object lesson’, to demonstrate to the cadets that they were, as their ancestors would have put it, ‘in the army now’.

  Tana stood in the queue waiting her turn for the pre-packed picnic lunches the cooks had thoughtfully prepared; the last twenty days had been hard going and everyone wanted a break. She thought that if she, who was used to military discipline, had found it hard, Jess, Hannah and more especially Beth must have found it even more so.

  In front of her stood two final year cadets, Tana recognised the four rank stripes on their tunics. She had only the one white stripe, which denoted her lowly status as a first year. The tallest of them smiled and turned to face her, “it’s always the same,” she said, “everyone who can, gets out, usually on a picnic. The cooks know this and are ready for the onslaught. They’ll expect us to stay away ‘til past suppertime too so don’t come back too early. Be back by Eighth Bell though or next time you want to go out you’ll find your request refused.”

  “Thank you,” said Tana.

  “Where are you going?” asked the girl. Her companion ignored Tana.

  “Picnic in the woods I think,” Tana answered.

  “Go up to the high mound in the middle,” the girl advised, “where the monuments stand. There’ll be a breeze and the flies won’t be so much of a problem.”

  “Where are you going?” asked Tana, greatly daring.

  “Most of us’ll go to the river where we can swim. The sun is too hot inland, still it’ll be cool enough on the mound if you really want to go there.”

  The two seniors moved forward, were served with efficient haste, then it was Tana’s turn.

  “How many?” asked the harassed cook’s assistant, eyeing the haversacks hooked on Tana’s shoulders.

  “Four.”

  He spied the single white bar that marked Tana out as a first year.

  “Got your water bottles?”

  “Yes.”

  “First Aid Kit?”

  “Yes.”

  The man was piling packets of food in front of her as he talked.

  “Good enough. Don’t sort it out now, do it later. Just get them into the sacks. There’s more to come after you. If you want anything else get it in the market on the way out. The stallholders know this is the first rest day, they’ll be waiting. Don’t forget your coin.”

  “Thanks,” smiled Tana, shoving the packets into the haversacks willy-nilly.

  “Off you go then.”

  The now laden Tana sped off to the practice fields where her three friends were waiting, their Lind beside them and she spied Tavei approaching from one of the drinking fountains that were dotted around the Stronghold.

  All were eager to be off.

  “Help me redistribute all this,” Tana announced, placing the bulging haversacks on the ground, “I’m not carrying it all!”

  The redistribution of the edibles was easily accomplished, each girl carrying her own food and water bottles, Hannah good-naturedly offering to take the First Aid Kit.

  “We’ll get some meat pastries at the market for our friends,” announced Jess, jingling her purse. She knew how much Mlei loved them. His face brightened immediately.

  “Ginger Juice for Tana,” he suggested, crinkling his hairy face in a grin.

  Tana laughed, “I’d like that,” as she settled the straps on his shoulders. “Shall we head off now, please?”

  The other seven agreed. The four girls mounted in a hurry and made for the guardroom where they were signed out by a severe looking guardswoman.

  “Where you heading? I need to note it down.”

  When Jess told her the Mound was their destination she nodded, “I know the spot. Like it there myself. Don’t forget now, be back by Eighth Bell.”

  “We won’t,” answered Hannah as she remounted Kolyei and settled herself on his back. None of the four Lind were wearing harness, this was rest day after all and after twenty days hard riding practice even Beth did not feel the need.

  They walked down the dirt-packed road through the civilian area that circumvented the Stronghold proper, Mlei and Jess in the lead, continued past the tilled fields and out towards the woods.

  : It will be nice to be in the lian again : ‘said’ Mlei to Jess.

  : We’ll go to the woods beside the farm our first long leave and we might even manage to domta Gyneya :

  Mlei was content. He missed the woods of his rtathlian. Family was of great importance to the Lind.

  The woods that circled the Stronghold were pleasantly cool after the unsheltered fields. The eight sauntered through the trees, following the stream that meandered down from the monument mound. As they progressed along the almost indefinable path, each girl and Lind was wondering what they would see when they reached the top.

  All four Lind had decided to rest under the trees.

  Their hairy coats began to undulate in the breeze as they climbed.

  Hannah, too, intended to lie down and rest, a decision shared by Beth. These two were the least used to heavy manual labour and although Hannah found the more domestic chores of Vada life easy enough, not so the weapons and riding practices. They were both weary after their first twenty days training.

  As Tana had said more than once, chores used quite different muscles to sword-practice.

  Jess had come out of the two tendays in better shape than Hannah and Beth having worked on the farm. This was not to say that she didn’t get tired and muscle-achey on occasion but she bounced back overnight. Jess intended to spend the first bell atop the mound exploring.

  Tana, af
ter a term spent at Settlement had sailed through the arms-practices with ease. She had, however, taken many a tumble during the riding classes in which Jess shone. Jess, farm bred, had scored there. She had been riding horses, ponies, and even Mlei when he came to visit since the day she was able to sit upright. She sat on Mlei’s back, relaxed and comfortable, at one with his movements.

  There were over forty new cadets in this year’s crop and added to this were a few of mature years. The more deep thinking were wondering if this had to do with the re-emergence of the Larg; it was as if the Lind knew that there was fighting ahead, like in the old days. Before mankind had arrived on Rybak, the Lind had not thought in terms of years but of seasons, hot and cold. Most hot seasons, the Larg had attacked the North. The planetary year was made up of ten months of forty days each, five of summer and five of winter.

  But the eight were not thinking of battles to come as they reached the top of the mound. As one, the four Lind made for a shady spot under the big-branched allst trees beside a merrily tinkling stream. They were followed by Hannah and Beth in short order.

  * * * * *

  Tana and Jess walked over to the monument stone dedicated to one of the first vadeln-pairs, Jim Cranston and his Lind Larya. It was a simple stone made of a grey-white marble with three words deep-chiselled on its face – Jim and Larya.

  Tana looked disappointed.

  “It’s not very, well … big, is it? I was expecting something different.”

  “More flamboyant?” queried Jess.

  “Well, yes. The statue of them above Settlement is huge! They are so famous. They led the North to victory, not once, but twice.” She was tracing out the words as she spoke. “Are they buried here?”

  “No, in the rtathlians to the north,” vouchsafed Jess.

  “Why was the stone placed here then?” asked Tana. “It looks like a grave-marker.”

  Jess shrugged. “I don’t know. Uncle James said nothing much, just that I should visit. He seemed to think it was important that I did.”

  Tana peeked behind the stone, observing that it was set in very close to the rock that made up the tip of the mound. “Yuck, it’s covered in slimy moss.” For no reason that she would afterwards fathom, she leant forward to investigate the back of the stone. The sunlight had reached the narrow crevice between stone and rock and Tana frowned as her brain registered what lay revealed. Her excited voice broke into Jess’s musings.