by I K Spencer
Garrick took the helm and steered the boat back to due west, yelling at the crew to get to work. For a long time they could hear the screams and cries of men as they faced fire or the slower death in the black water. For longer still they could see the ball of flame behind growing steadily smaller, illuminating the dark night until it went out as quickly as an extinguished lamp. All aboard the barge knew that the sudden darkness signified the burning vessel had sunk, with all hands lost. Anthen turned to look at Teya and saw large tears well up in her eyes, then roll down her cheeks. He had a terrific urge to comfort her but did not know what to say that would not embarrass her further.
"Do not be alarmed," the woman said, as if sensing his awkwardness. "I am a woman as well as a soldier and it does not bother me to shed a few tears. Dolonaries have families too and those men were sons, fathers, and brothers as well as being soldiers. My tears do not dishonor their memories or myself." The last was said with an edge of anger to her voice.
Anthen knew she spoke the truth but he wasn’t sure how he should treat a female warrior. He would have said something to another man.
"You had to do it Teya," he tried, hoping it was not too late. "What we are trying to do is more important than a few people's lives. Besides, in a matter of weeks, those same men would likely be storming through the border region and killing innocent peasants. You saved our lives as well as the quest. It was a great thing. Thank you."
She nodded and rewarded the effort with a small smile. The pair, eager for something to do, grabbed poles and helped push the barge toward their destination, and for Anthen and Garrick—home.
Chapter 36
During the last stretch of the crossing, the trio held council, deciding the best route for Anthen and Teya to follow. To Teya, their path seemed obvious as soon as she saw the map. They needed to cross the length of Isaencarl, then turn north once again; thus, they could either cut through the Misean Desert separating the realm from the Barren Sea or travel several extra days to the south and back again to avoid the wasteland. She had crossed the desert several times but the two guardsmen thought it impassable so did not even consider it an option. It took a lot of convincing but Teya finally persuaded them that traveling through the desert was possible. With the realization that they could cross the wasteland came a renewed hope since Cidrl, like the two guardsmen, would never even consider such a path. They now had a real chance to overtake the traitor.
A faint glow in the east signaled dawn when the barge finally reached shore. The trio had no time to deal with the traitorous and captainless crew but Garrick left them with a stern warning that they had better prove themselves worthy during the imminent war or he would personally hunt them down. Anthen doubted any of the men would be alive a month from now.
The western shore of the bay mirrored that of the Dolonarian side, a strip of lifeless earth next to the deadly water followed by a tree-covered hillside. The tired party rode up the hill in the gathering light and were greeted by the first rays of the sun at the top of the ridge.
Anthen felt a lift to his spirits to be back in his homeland and the fresh air seemed especially sweet after so many hours in the presence of the putrid waterway. He could not enjoy the sunrise fully, though, for it was time for three to become two again. For the first time in his life, the young guardsman felt dependent on another person, two actually, so parting was a new and painful experience. He had felt little upon leaving Garrick back in Gates but this time it seemed vastly different. The older man had proven himself worthy countless times in the last several days since their reunion and Anthen realized now, the legendary warrior, a hero in two wars, should never have had to prove himself to a lowly apprentice. He also realized, with no small measure of guilt, that their present situation might be substantially improved had he given Garrick a chance initially.
The three comrades dismounted to say their farewells. Garrick went to Teya first and enveloped her in a mighty hug. Her giggles as he lifted her from the ground marked the genuine affection and easiness that existed between them from the moment they had met. There were tears in both their eyes as they broke the embrace.
"When all this is finished," she said brightly, "you will come to Arnedon and we will drink and feast for a month straight!"
Garrick held her hands gently in his large fingers. "Aye and then you will come to Carael and we will stay drunk for another month." Garrick leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "You are a great warrior; I am proud to have stood beside you, both of you. If I had a daughter—"
"You would want me married with a brood of grandchildren," Teya finished for him, laughing through her tears.
"Aye and you would have me cooking for the whole lot of you," he added.
Both their smiles faded as Garrick released Teya's hands and stepped back.
"You fare well Guardsman Garrick." The strong woman’s voice quavered.
"You as well," the guardsman replied, then turned to Anthen.
Anthen felt the sting of tears in his eyes and didn't care. "I am so sorry I treated you with such disrespect. I—"
"You have nothing to be sorry for," interrupted Garrick gently. "You were shrewd to be suspicious. We knew it was impossible to gain your trust, but had faith that you would still do your duty and you have gone far beyond that. Anthen, you have far exceeded all possible expectations and I would choose no other, not even the most seasoned guardsman, to take your place."
"I think the same of you, and wish desperately that you were going with us." Anthen wanted the older man to know how much he was valued. "I could not have a better teacher, or friend."
Garrick reddened, visibly moved by Anthen's words. He hugged the former apprentice. "I will be there in spirit," he whispered, afraid that his voice would break if he spoke aloud. "You will succeed and all will be well, Anthen. You will see." He paused for a moment to gather himself, then released Anthen and strode to his horse.
"Now the two of you be careful. I won't be there to watch out for your sorry backsides." He kept talking as he turned Lance and started to ride off to the south. "You will succeed and I will stand triumphantly atop the walls of Dolonhold for a third time. I will see you both again and then, by the gods, we will have a proper time!" His voice faded as he moved further away.
The elder guardsman did not look back but kept his hand raised in salute as he rode, finally disappearing from their sight. Anthen could not help thinking that it might likely be the last image he would have of the man. The pair did not speak as they moved in the opposite direction, north along the ridge. They were both depressed about Garrick's departure and this remote part of Isaencarl did not really feel like home to Anthen.
The ridge offered an excellent view of the surrounding terrain. To their right, at the bottom of the ridge, lay the black channel, running parallel to the ridge as far as they could see to the north. To the west, after few miles of green, stretched the vast Misean Desert that they hoped to cross, broken only by the northern-most peaks of the Savior Mountains. On the other side of the mountains, the desert stretched the length of the realm of Isaencarl.
The two warriors moved on foot. Since Rorc had to carry all their gear, it was too much to ask the big bay to carry two people full time as well. Thus, finding another horse for Teya was a top priority and their first task. The barge crew had pointed out a small village a few miles to the north from where they landed and there they hoped to find a horse.
They reached the village by mid-morning. Teya and her gear remained in the woods while Anthen rode into the hamlet. The tall, strong woman would surely raise suspicion and women did not do business directly in the realm. Anthen rode amid the huts, searching for horses. The village looked very poor but there were a few workhorses about so he had some hope. They could probably find a better mount in Portal so almost any animal would do, though hopefully they could do better than a plow horse.
Spying a couple of carriage horses, he stopped in front of the small dwelling and pur
chased the better of the two, an old brown and white mare. The old man who sold him the horse, though intimidated by the tall warrior's steady gaze, was greedy enough to get nearly double what the horse was worth.
Anthen asked if there was a saddle to be bought anywhere in town but the man shook his head. He did, however, find a few supplies—cornmeal, some beans, and a freshly butchered chicken. No one dared speak to him but the guardsman felt all eyes on his back as he moved through the tiny village.
Teya did not seem disappointed by the mare. She greeted it like a dear old aunt and fashioned a fair bridle from rope. She did not want to overburden the old horse so most of her gear stayed on Rorc.
Once they were ready, the pair turned to the northwest and descended the ridge. In a short time they had passed the last vestiges of green and had entered the desert, though a comparatively small stretch of desert to cross in this first leg, with just over a day's ride to Portal. As the sun rose, they pulled their cloaks over their shoulders and used their hoods for protection against the hot sun's blistering rays.
Teya explained about desert travel as they rode. They would avoid any movement at night as much as possible, when the indigenous creatures, some deadly, were most active. Poisonous snakes, scorpions, and spiders were the most common threat but packs of wolves also roamed the barren land. She stopped often to pick up anything that would burn, explaining that fuel for their fire, a necessity to keep the nocturnal desert creatures at bay, could be scarce. The terrain was mostly flat with occasional hills unlike Anthen had ever seen. The hills looked like giant piles of rubble containing rocks the size of pebbles up to boulders taller than Rorc. In some places the footing was tricky and rockslides presented a constant threat.
After the sun fell behind the mountains, the air cooled quickly and he could feel the heat emanating from the hard ground, bleached nearly white from the endless sun. They soon halted and Teya carefully picked out their campsite, explaining they had to be careful not to camp too near the dens of the nocturnal creatures.
As promised, the Misean Desert came to life as the sun set. Anthen heard birds and saw flashes of movement in the terrain surrounding them. He saw strange lizards as well as small furry creatures and heard the ominous rattle of snakes.
The warriors soon had a small fire going and they ate the chicken, beans and fried cornmeal cakes for supper. Teya warned him to be careful where he passed his water, then she produced some netting, explaining that the person not on watch would sleep under the net, since spiders would be drawn by the light of the fire. Teya offered to take the first watch and Anthen crawled under the netting. He was far from comfortable, especially with the thought of spiders roaming through the camp, but he fell asleep quickly, exhausted from the previous night's events as well as a day and a half without rest.
Teya woke him around midnight and they switched places. She said that her watch was uneventful, then quickly rolled over and went to sleep. Anthen was surprised at how cool it felt after the scorching heat during the day and he stayed near the small fire to draw warmth from the blaze.
The guardsman thought about their situation while he kept watch. They should be in Portal by around mid-afternoon. He wondered if Teya had something suitable to wear. A woman clad in such garb as she wore would surely draw attention and Portal was a likely place for Cidrl to have left someone, or something, to watch for them. If she did not have suitable clothes he might have to go into town alone first and shop for her.
He smiled as he thought of the scowl she would display at having to behave as a woman of the realm but he also knew it would just be mock anger, to tease him. In reality, she was too cheerful and easy-going to let such a small matter get to her. Such a contrast that offered to Urvena, who had seemed to become upset over the most trivial things. Truth be told, he had thought all women tended to be overly sensitive until he met the Arnedonian.
Anthen suddenly realized that he probably now knew Teya better than any other woman he had known in his entire life, even Urvena. He had certainly spent more time now with Teya, plus, he now recognized, he hadn't really come to know Urvena well. Perhaps it was just the special circumstances though, which forced he and Teya together, that forged their bond. If he and Urvena still had a chance, after all this, maybe he could come to know her better as well. Thoughts of the maiden led to painful memories and the guardsman pushed her from his mind for the rest of his watch.
Anthen woke Teya well before dawn. They breakfasted in darkness on food saved from the previous night's supper and were on their way as soon as the approaching sun provided light enough to travel, nearly an hour before breaking the horizon. The riders continued northwest under the clear morning skies, covering up with their cloaks when the burning sun rose high in the sky. Fixing their direction was easy; they just aimed slightly north of the last peak in the Savior range. Portal lay nestled in the small strip of foothills where the mountains met the Barren Sea.
By mid-afternoon, listless from a day's ride under the merciless sun, the two warriors reached the foothills and were grateful to see the green of grass and trees after colorless wasteland. Teya remarked that they had better make the most of it for on the other side of Portal the Misean Desert would be their home for many days.
The pair halted at the first water hole they came upon, a small, spring-fed pond surrounded by fragrant pine and spruce. As soon as the horses were unpacked and led to the water, Teya walked right up to her neck in the cool, clear water.
"This feels wonderful!" she exclaimed. "Isn't it beautiful here Anthen?"
"Aye," said Anthen, pausing between mouthfuls of the cold, sweet water. After the barren wastelands, swamps, jungles, and desert, it looked especially beautiful to him.
"Could you please toss me some soap?"
Anthen did so and Teya pulled off her wet clothes with some effort and came in to shallower water. With her back to the shore, she scrubbed the soiled garments clean. Anthen tried to busy himself on shore but couldn't help stealing glances; her working muscles visible beneath the sheer underclothing that clung to her wet back.
"Would you like me to go off into the woods so you can bathe?" he offered.
Teya laughed. "It is not necessary. You have seen most of me anyway." He knew she was referring to when he cared for her wounds and fever. "You should come in."
Teya carried her wet clothes to the shore, beat the excess water out against a rock, and hung them over branches to dry. Her flimsy underclothes clung to her wet body and he caught glimpses of her small breasts and well-formed backside. He noted her muscular legs and strong shoulders, broad from countless hours of longbow practice, as she walked back into the pond.
Anthen felt the normal reactions to an attractive, near-naked female and hurried into the water after kicking his boots off and grabbing his own soap, and thankfully was up to his waist before she looked back. Teya was right; the water felt wonderful, the first water since Gates cold enough to be refreshing. He pulled the heavy, soiled top over his head, then struggled to free the wet breeches. As he scrubbed them with the gritty soap, in his peripheral vision he could see Teya lathering her long hair in neck-deep water. She rinsed her tresses, then began to move to shallower water. He felt her approach but kept his head down, trying to concentrate on rinsing his clothes.
"Here, bathe with this soap," she said, holding out her soap. "That stuff must take the skin with the dirt!" She gestured toward the gray, standard-issue soap he held.
The guardsman looked at the gritty lump of gray in his hand. It was indeed rough to the skin but the only soap he had ever known so he had never even thought about how it felt. He took the proffered soap, carefully keeping his eyes on her face.
She smiled and took his clothes and Anthen guessed she was enjoying his embarrassment. Her soap was pale violet and felt smooth in his hands. He sniffed and noted a flowery scent. He shrugged and scrubbed the trail dust from his body, then lathered his face and used his dagger to scrape away the growth that had accumulated s
ince his last shave. He was lathering his hair when Teya returned from hanging his clothes.
"Thank you for hanging up my things."
"You are welcome," Teya said as she played in the water nearby, a look of childish delight on her face. "You smell much better. What did you think of the soap?"
"It certainly smells better and doesn't burn like the other soap but I'm not sure it cleans as well."
Teya laughed. "You're just used to being scraped raw so you associate it with being clean. Here, give me the soap."
She took the soap, then proceeded to wash the middle of his back and her touch sent shivers through him.
"You missed a spot. There," she said then, with a peal of laughter, proceeded to dunk him.
Anthen stayed under a moment to rinse the soap from his hair before opening his eyes to see her legs moving away. He swam after her along the bottom and heard a muffled scream as he grabbed her by the legs and dunked her in return. She came up sputtering with laughter, then pushed him off his feet with a quick move. Anthen recovered and the two warriors began to circle each other, now fully engrossed in the competition of the mock battle.
They moved closer to shore while continuing to circle, each ready to spring at any moment. Teya moved first, attempting to hook his leg and knock him over, but he recognized the move and sent her flying face-first into the knee deep water. She sprang back to her feet and they resumed stalking each other. Anthen saw the warrior's joy of sparring on her face.
Anthen lunged this time and she skillfully flipped him into the water. Impressed, he rose and moved in again, this time taking more care. The guardsman charged again but this time he anticipated her defensive move and soon had her caught fast, her back pinned to his chest with her arms locked. She struggled for a few minutes, then relaxed.
