Shades of the past ms-6

by Brian S. Pratt

  On the way into town, they fill him in on the details.

  About twenty five years ago, the Empire made a push into Madoc in an attempt to swallow up a section of fertile farmland to feed its growing populace. The army was sent to expel them back to the Empire but the fighting raged for many years until a sort of stalemate was achieved.

  Unfortunately for Madoc, that stalemate happened to be where the Empire had decided to stop anyway. A portion of the lands now held by the Empire was known as Barrowman’s Field and thus the name for the war.

  Some believe that the Ruling Council in Madoc decided to create a band of men whose job was to destroy as much of the Empire as they could to force them to draw off some of their forces defending the area known as Barrowman’s Field.

  The Black Hawk was in charge of that band. Black Hawk and his raiders somehow got through their lines and then it began. The destruction of town after town, some say they slaughtered every last man, woman, and child. They’re also rumored to have salted the fields so nothing would grow.

  Whatever the real truth is, it worked. The cry from its citizens forced the Empire to pull forces from the border to deal with the Black Hawk which allowed Madoc’s army to push them out.

  Black Hawk’s band supposedly destroyed over twenty villages and small towns, all the while staying one step ahead of their forces. They even managed to avoid direct confrontation with their mages, how no one’s ever been able to find out.

  Sometime after the end of the War of Barrowman’s Field, Black Hawk disbanded his men and was never heard from again.

  “Many thought he had died,” Uther says, winding the tale to a close.

  “But now he’s back,” James says.

  “That’s right,” agrees Jorry. “But what that’s going to mean is anyone’s guess.”

  “Thanks,” James tells them as he moves to rejoin Illan at the fore.

  “Sure,” replies Uther.

  Coming abreast of Illan, he glances over to his friend aghast at the things they just told him. He knows Illan must have heard all that was said, he definitely was close enough to have overheard the conversation.

  “Did you do all those things?” James asks him.

  He rides in silence for a minute before replying. “Yes, to a point,” he finally says. “We did destroy towns and villages, sow fields with salt and other acts of destruction. But the wanton deaths of innocents? No, we never did that. Unfortunately, in the fog of war, innocents were killed and for that I shall always feel remorse. But we did what we had to do.”

  James digests that for a moment then asks, “Why didn’t you resume your role as Black Hawk when the Empire first attacked last summer?”

  Illan glances to him and then says, “I’m getting old. Sure, I thought about it but my Alaina counseled me against it. Said it would bring back too many bad things. But I couldn’t simply stand by and do nothing so I went south to see what I could do.”

  “I left home before the fall of the City of Light. I hated to leave my Alaina, we both knew it was unlikely we would ever see each other again. She understood and sent me with her best wishes. My son offered to accompany me but I told him to stay and take care of his family.” He pauses and then says with a catch in his voice, “It seems that’s all I have left now.”

  They ride in silence for awhile before he gets his emotions under control and is able to continue. “By the time I reached the City, the Empire had already encircled it and I thought it would take months before it fell. Then the following morning to my disbelief, it was over. I worked my way to Lythylla and joined with Miller and his band, seemed like the logical thing to do at the time. The rest you know.”

  He always knew there was something about Illan. Always an air of command about him and in a crisis always knew what to do and took charge. Now it all makes sense. “After we rescue your son, what do you plan to do? Now that Black Hawk has returned.”

  “Nothing has changed,” he says. “I’m still your man and will stand by you till the end.”

  “Thank you for that,” James tells him.

  Illan simply nods in reply.

  By this time, Seastar appears ahead in the road. The sun now just dropping below the horizon, the lights of town begin to wink into life. “Where do you think we’ll find him?”

  “My son will be in the jail,” he says. Then adds, “I hope.”

  “No, I mean Lord Faetherton,” clarifies James.

  “Who knows?” he says. “Though I don’t plan to leave until I deal with him.” He glances to James and is relieved to see him nod agreement.

  Entering the outskirts, they make their way between the buildings, finally coming into an area lit by an oil streetlamp. When Illan rides into the light, his armor blazes forth and gasps are heard from those nearby on the street.

  “Black Hawk!” “He’s returned!” and other exclamations are heard in an increasing number as more and more people gather round.

  “Sir!” a middle aged man exclaims as he comes from a nearby tavern.

  Illan pauses in the street and turns toward the man. “We ride,” he says. “Brook’s Hollow at dawn. Spread the word.”

  With a whoop, the man turns and races down the street.

  As they progress through town, that scene replays three more times. Each time all Illan says is, “We ride, Brook’s Hollow at dawn, spread the word.” The crowd gathering around them grows as they progress further into town.

  When the press of people becomes too great, Illan brings them to a halt. At that, the street grows quiet. “Please return to your homes,” he tells them and then takes off his helm, revealing his features to all.

  “Illan?” some people ask in shock. Still others stand in dumbstruck amazement. Never before had anyone known who Black Hawk had been. But once they knew, it didn’t take them long to realize where he’s going. All knew of what Lord Faetherton had done and where his family lies.

  “They’re in the jail Illan,” one man cries out.

  Illan nods and says, “Thank you. Now you should all return to your homes.” He glances around at the faces he’s known all his life. Some he’s watched grow to adulthood.

  Still shaking their heads in wonder, they begin to disperse.

  Sighing, Illan replaces his helm and glances to James. Then he resumes riding toward the jail. Before they reach it, they see lined up before the front door, thirty or more men, ten of whom have crossbows. Standing before them is a man dressed regally and can only be Lord Faetherton. Illan approaches and stops a good twenty feet from him.

  “I’ve come for my son,” he announces.

  “Your time is past, Black Hawk,” Lord Faetherton says derisively. “You and those with you are under arrest for the illegal release of a prisoner.”

  “I don’t think so,” Jiron says.

  “If you don’t remove your weapons, we will be forced to fire,” he says.

  “If you don’t drop your weapons and stand aside, I will kill each and everyone who stands against me!” Illan says with utter conviction.

  From his vantage point behind Illan, James watches Faetherton’s men begin to shift in their ranks. Each has grown up with the tales of Black Hawk and the viciousness with which he pursues his enemies. Several crossbows actually dip to the ground as the men holding them begin to reconsider supporting Lord Faetherton in the face of Black Hawk’s rage.

  Lord Faetherton raises his hand and all can see it is not entirely steady as it shakes with the nervousness he’s feeling. “When I lower my hand,” he says loudly, “my men will fire. Remove your weapons and prepare to be taken into custody.

  “When your hand falls,” Illan says as he begins edging his horse forward, “everyone dies.”

  Suddenly from out of the dark to the right of the jail, a dozen horsemen appear. One is carrying a battle torn flag bearing the Black Hawk insignia. The rider in the fore says, “Thought you might be here.”

  “Ceadric!” exclaims Illan.

  “Your orders sir?” Ceadri
c asks.

  “When his hand falls, kill them all,” he says.

  “Yes, sir,” Ceadric replies and turns toward where Faetherton and his guards stand before the jail. The ‘whisking of swords’ can be heard as Ceadric and his men draw their weapons.

  Hearing that, Faetherton glances from one force to the other and judges his chances. Behind him, some of his men have already judged their chances of survival to be slim at best. Two crossbowmen and three guards break ranks and high tail it out of there.

  Standing there in indecision, Faetherton licks his lips and his arm remains up.

  To the men blocking the entrance to the jail, Illan says, “Drop your weapons now.” When they hesitate, he adds, “I’ll not ask a second time.”

  A second later, the clatter of weapons hitting the ground can be heard as, to a man, they all drop their weapons. Faetherton brings his hand down slowly. Illan glances to Ceadric and says, “Take them inside and lock them away until I decide what to do with them.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ceadric replies and then gets his men moving to collect the prisoners.

  Illan dismounts and walks toward the jail. James follows suit and tells the rest to stay with the horses.

  Faetherton stands there as Illan approaches, still maintaining an air of superiority. “You’ll not get away with this!” he states. “I am the magistrate here. You are all branded outlaws.”

  When Ceadric and the others with him hear that they all break into laughter. “Shut up,” one says when they pass by. Another spits at him and it lands on the front of his shirt.

  “Now, let’s go inside milord,” Illan says with a slight derogatory emphasis on ‘milord’. Propelling him forward, they move toward the door into the jail.

  Along the edge of the streets, the townsfolk have gathered to watch the events unfold. They knew Illan’s family is being kept inside and was hoping to see Faetherton’s blood spilled, there’s little love for the man among the populace. When they see him being pushed through the door and into the jail, a cheer erupts.

  Inside the jail, Illan has him move through the door to the holding cells in the back, James follows along behind.

  When Illan enters the holding cell area, he sees his son and family all in one cell and comes to a stop. His son looks emaciated and his daughter-in-law and children don’t look much better. They must have been given the barest minimum of food to keep them alive. James remembers him from their previous visit as a guard outside the magistrate’s office. What he sees there in the cell barely resembles the man he once was.

  Illan stops there in the hallway and stares at his son. A rage begins to develop at the way he and his family have been treated. He reaches up and removes his helm.

  “Father!” his son exclaims when the helm comes off. His wife looks up from where she’s holding their two children and a smile comes to her thin face.

  “Alric,” Illan says. To Faetherton he says, “Let them out.”

  Giving Illan a glare, he moves to the cell and removes a key from his belt. Inserting it into the lock, he opens the door. Alric pushes the door open and comes to greet his father. “Father,” he says as he gives him a hug. “Mother’s dead.”

  “I know,” he replies. “Let’s get you and your family out of here then we’ll deal with that.

  Just then, Ceadric and his men enter with the other guards and proceed to put them into the cells. To Ceadric, Illan says, “Take my son and his family home.”

  “Yes, sir,” he says and once the prisoners are securely within the cells, he and his men help them out of the jail.

  Once they’ve left and he is alone with James and Faetherton, Illan turns to Faetherton and asks, “Where’s my wife?”

  “She’s dead,” he says with some small satisfaction.

  Illan strikes out and connects with Faetherton’s jaw, sending him flying backward off his feet to land on his back. “I know that,” he replies. “Where is she buried?”

  “Over in the cemetery,” one of the guards in the cell tells him.

  Turning to the guard, Illan asks, “Where?”

  “Let me out and I’ll show you,” he says.

  Taking the key, Illan opens the cell door and lets the man out. “If I show you, can I be allowed to leave?” the guard asks.

  Illan glances at him and then nods his head.

  “This way,” the guards says and begins walking to the back door.

  Illan replaces his helm on his head and says, “You too, milord.” Picking Faetherton from off the floor, he propels him to follow the guard.

  James follows them out the back and they turn down the alley to the right. Coming to where the alley opens onto the street, the guard turns to the left and begins moving away from the jail. “Be right back,” James says as he turns to head back to the front of the jail to get the others.

  “Tell Ceadric to gather the men and bring them to Brook’s Hollow at dawn,” Illan tells him.

  “Okay,” he replies then hurries to the front of the jail. He finds Alric and his family are already mounted and Ceadric was about to take them home.

  To Ceadric he says, “Illan wants you to gather the men and have them at Brook’s Hollow by dawn.”

  “Do you know what he’s planning to do?” Ceadric asks him.

  “Yes,” he replies and when Ceadric looks askance at him for more information, remains quiet.

  “As you will,” he says. Turning to his men he raises his voice and says, “The Hawk wants us at Brook’s Hollow at dawn.” Then he kicks his horse and they ride away down the street, with cries and whoops, his men follow.

  James gets into his saddle as Jiron asks, “What’s going on?”

  “Seems we’re going to have company,” he explains. “Right now we need to catch up with Illan, he’s on the way to the cemetery to find his wife.”

  “Right,” Jiron says and they get moving.

  Illan’s group hasn’t progressed all that far down the street by the time James and the others arrive. They remain behind them as they wind through the streets toward the far side of town where the cemetery is located.

  When they get there, Illan has Jorry and Uther keep an eye on Faetherton while he and the guard proceed into the cemetery. They all watch Illan as he and the guard make their way through the headstones and crypts, toward the last resting place of his beloved Alaina. About midway through the cemetery, they come to a stop and Illan falls to his knees.

  It looks as if the guard says something to him and then Illan replies. The guard then begins walking away from where Illan is kneeling beside his wife’s grave.

  “Should we stop him?” Jiron asks James indicating the guard.

  Shaking his head he says, “No. Illan told him he could leave if he showed him where his wife was buried.”

  The guard glances toward them and by the time he’s reached the edge of the graveyard has broken into a run and looks to be fleeing for his life. “Guess he felt there might be a change of heart,” offers Miko.

  “Looks that way,” agrees Jiron. Turning to James he says, “How long should we wait?”

  “As long as he needs,” he says quietly.

  Faetherton stands there quietly for several minutes. Then when Illan isn’t making any move to leave he says, “You know you all are in a lot of trouble.”

  Jiron laughs, “I suppose.”

  “So?” Yern says.

  “If you let me go I’ll go easy on you when the time comes,” he says.

  “I doubt if you’ll live that long,” Uther says.

  “Are you threatening me?” he says offended.

  Uther looks at him and nods over to where Illan is returning, “I’m not the one you should be worried about.”

  Faetherton turns to see Illan stalking from the graveyard wearing a grim expression. The color drains from his face as he sees Illan’s hand resting on the pommel of his sword.

  Illan comes to stand before Faetherton, the others gathered around. “I charge you with the death of my wife, the wrong
ful imprisonment of my son and his family. I also charge you with the illegal seizure of power here in Seastar. How do you plead?”

  Faetherton gasps when he hears that. “How do I plead?” he replies indignantly. “Who are you to make charges against me? You, who killed with reckless abandon many years ago. You hold no authority here.”

  “Is there anyone here who has anything to say on this man’s behalf?” he asks. A silence hangs in the air as he looks to each in turn, finally settling on James, of everyone there, he’s the most likely to voice an objection. To the surprise of all, he shakes his head.

  “So be it,” he says and draws his sword.

  “Wait!” Faetherton cries, the doom of the moment finally becoming real to him. He tries to make a break for it but Jorry and Uther grab him and drag him back. Forcing him to his knees, they hold him there to face Illan’s judgment.

  “You are found guilty, the sentence is death!” he says as he lashes out and severs his head from his body. Jorry and Uther quickly back away to avoid being sprayed by the blood as it fountains from his neck.

  “Battlefield justice,” Potbelly says.

  Wiping his sword on the dead man’s clothes, Illan says, “Let’s go.” Moving to his horse, he mounts and leads them back through town and to his estate. As they leave, James glances back to the dead man and shudders.

  Arriving at the estate, they find two of Ceadric’s men standing watch in front by the gate. They come to attention when he arrives and one opens the gate to allow them through. Up at the manor house everyone’s in a flurry of activity.

  As they leave the gate behind them and make their way toward the house, word begins to spread of their return and all activity ceases. The front door to the house is open and before they arrive, Ceadric, Delia and the others come out to greet them.

  “Are they settled in?” Illan asks Ceadric.

  “Yes, sir,” he replies. “They’re in the dining room having a bite to eat, they were all quite famished. I have riders out to gather those who will have time to reach Brook’s Hollow by dawn.”

  “Good,” he says as he dismounts. Caleb and Moyil come forward to take their horses. Illan moves into the house.