“Come into the house. You smell like a cesspool. A bath and fresh clothes are waiting. Then some food, and I want to hear all about it.”
She eyed the stitched gash running from the edge of his forehead to above his ear. “How did you get that?”
“A fluke accident. The battle was over when a stray Narthani cannon shot hit a carriage I was near, and a piece of wood hit me.”
With his arm around her shoulder and hers around his waist, they walked into their home.
Three days later Yozef came home from his shops and found Maera sitting on the same swing, this time with pursed lips and an expression that elicited a Whoops, what did I do wrong? thought. Yozef was ten feet away when she snapped, “You somehow forgot to mention exactly what you did during the battle!”
“I told you I advised and helped with artillery.”
“Yes, but you didn’t say you were at the front of the fighting and could easily have been killed! Denes wouldn’t give me any details, but Carnigan told me everything.”
Traitor.
“You were supposed to stay back and not get that far forward. You’re too valuable to our people to risk yourself that way! And what about our baby, who would never know a father! I can hardly believe you were so irresponsible.”
Yozef sat down beside her on the swing and placed a hand gently on her knee. She’s acting mad at me, but it’s because she was worried. She really does care for me. He patted her leg.
She didn’t respond, just sat there eying him angrily.
“That was my intention, as I promised,” said Yozef. “But when Denes and his men attacked the Narthani infantry, our artillerymen were confused in all of the chaos. No matter how much we’d practiced or how hard they’d tried, it’s totally different in the middle of a battle. It looked as if the Narthani might stop the attack, which would have meant we failed and likely many more of our men would die before we could withdraw.”
“Why did it have to be you?”
“Because I was there and saw the danger and opportunity. Believe me, it wasn’t something I wanted to do or planned. Once minute I was scared and trying to stay back, and without thinking, the next minute I was with the guns and even more scared.”
Maera was silent, then seemed to relax. The angry set to her face melted away, replaced by confusion and softness. She placed one hand over his on her knee. They sat that way for several minutes.
“I’m still angry with you,” she said, with more resignation than fury. “And I don’t know what you should have done. Just please don’t do it again.”
“Believe me, Maera, I’ve no desire to be a hero, and if I never get near a battle again, no one will be happier than me.”
She leaned her head against him, and they didn’t speak for the next hour, both holding tight to the other.
She’s never said she loves me, but then, neither have I said I love her. What a pair we are.
During the next two sixdays, there was sporadic news of the retreating Narthani army, which withdrew into safer confines deeper into Eywellese territory. Thirty miles of Eywell province were more a no-man’s land than firmly in Narthani control. The clans shadowing the Narthani inflicted several hundred more casualties in an endless parade of ambushes and night attacks, always keeping under cover and retreating on horseback whenever the Narthani tried to counterattack. As many clan casualties resulted from accidents and friendly fire as from the Narthani.
The greater news was how Stent and Hewell took the town of Parthmal and the Narthani garrison by surprise. They allowed Eywell civilians to leave the town with what they could carry and then burned the town. All of the 150 Narthani, mainly guard units and support staff, were killed, to a man. Any supplies and stores the clansmen couldn’t take with them by horse or commandeered wagon were burned. They confiscated close to six hundred muskets, either those of the fallen Narthani garrison or intended replacements for the army, along with eight cannon, which were never fired during the surprise assault.
Also freed at Parthmal and from a foray to the outskirts of the Eywell capital at Hanslow were several hundred Narthani slaves brought in from other conquered peoples, ex-Preddi, and Morelanders captured in raids. The Morelanders returned to their villages and families, and the foreign slaves and ex-Preddi were taken to Orosz City to decide their futures.
What Now?
Evening meal was finished. He and Maera sat on the veranda swing, watching the last light in the east fade. Elian and a servant girl finished cleaning up and left them alone. The faint squeak of the swing, the wind in trees around the house, and the distant breaking of waves lulled their senses for half an hour.
“What’s going to happen, Yozef? With the Narthani. They’re coming again, aren’t they?”
He put an arm around her. “Yes. I’m afraid so. We pushed them back, but they weren’t defeated, in spite of what many of your . . . our . . . people believe. I think they were surprised and withdrew from uncertainty and caution, more than feeling defeated.”
“What’s next? Do they come again like before? Try to force a battle again? Use their navy to attack clans anywhere around Caedellium? How could we stop them?”
“This time, the Narthani allowed the clans to gather, but if they attack from the sea, a clan would be overwhelmed before help could come. I’m sorry, Maera, I just don’t know what they’ll do next. What I do know is that the clans have to prepare for anything, as hard as that may be. One good result of the Battle of Moreland City is that most clans should now not be able to use the excuse that all of this will pass them by. Hopefully, the clans can unite in ways they haven’t done before.”
“That’s also what Father believes, though he doesn’t know how it will happen. What about you? We’ve all come to think of Yozef the Mysterious coming up with new ideas. Is there anything you can do?”
“We need more cannon. There’s no way we can fight the Narthani on even terms as long as they have such superiority in artillery. I’ve got to find a way to cast bigger barrels than the swivels.”
Maera smiled and hugged him. “I’m sure you’ll find a way. You always do.”
He frowned, sat back, and released her. “Don’t say that, Maera. I’m not a miracle worker. Yes, I know things not known on Caedellium, but it’s dangerous to start thinking I have answers to every problem.”
She saw that he was upset at her comment. Culich and Diera had cautioned her not to press her husband too hard. Somehow he managed to solve problems, even when others hadn’t realized the problems existed, but he was loath to assume responsibility. It had bothered her at first. Her father grabbed responsibility with both hands; Yozef pushed it away.
“Remember, Maera,” Diera had warned, “the important thing is not how you expect Yozef to behave, but what he accomplishes. The Word tells us to judge by deeds and not words.”
She worked hard to remember, although it wasn’t always easy.
He put his arm back around her. “I don’t know what’s coming. All I can say is I’ll do what I can to protect you and the baby.”
She unconsciously put a hand on her stomach. “I’m afraid for our child. What kind of future will we bring it into?”
“I wish I could be more reassuring. Your people are strong. Great sacrifices might be needed, but somehow I believe they’ll rise to whatever is required. As fearful as I often am, I somehow intuit that great events are coming and that, in the end, there’s hope.”
Yozef sighed, looking over the sea. “And here I am, working on ways to kill people, when what I really want to do is give Caedellium what knowledge I have. I want to work on the university, write up more notes to share, establish more trades to help the people. It’s a version of the conundrum of the quill and the sword. I subscribe to the belief that the quill should be more important. The quill may be mightier long term, but the sword wins short term. Maybe the belief should be more that it takes the sword to protect the quill, I don’t know.”
“Or maybe it’s both and not either,”
Maera said, hooking her arm into his and pulling him closer. “Father says all we can do is our best. If it’s both quill and sword, then I believe you’ll do what you can with both for all of us.”
Major Characters
Abulli, Omir. Buldorian mercenary from different clan than the Adalan’s.
Adalan, Adel. Buldorian mercenary. Second-in-command to cousin Musfar Adalan.
Adalan, Musfar. Commander of Buldorian mercenaries.
Akuyun, Okan. Commander of Narthani mission to conquer Caedellium.
Akuyun, Rabia. Wife of Okan.
Bakalacs, Feren. Hetman of Farkesh Clan.
Balcan, Mamduk. Narthani religious prelate.
Beynom, Cadwulf. Scholasticum student. Son of Diera and Sistian. Friend and employee of Yozef.
Beynom, Diera. A medicant. Abbess of St. Sidryn’s abbey. Wife of Sistian.
Beynom, Sistian. A theophist. Abbot of St. Sidryn’s abbey. Husband of Diera.
Bolwyn, Elton. A medicant at St. Sidryn’s abbey.
Bultecki, Teresz. Hetman of Bultecki Clan.
Dyllis, Saoul. A medicant at St. Sidryn’s abbey.
Erdelin, Memas. Narthani colonel.
Eywell, Brandor. Hetman of Eywell Clan.
Eywell, Biltin. Son of Brandor Eywell.
Faughns, Brak and Elian. Elderly home staff couple of Yozef.
Fitham, Petros. Elderly theophist at St. Sidryn’s abbey.
Fuller, Filtin. Skilled worker and friend to Yozef.
Gwillamer, Cadoc. Hetman of Gwillamer Clan.
Harlie. Name given by Yozef to alien artificial intelligence created to interact with Yozef.
Hewell, Lordum. Hetman of Hewell Clan.
Hizer, Sadek. Narthani Assessor reporting direct to Narthani High Command.
Kalcan, Morfred. Narthani naval commander.
Kales, Wyfor. Abersford citizen. Tutor to Yozef for blade fighting and occasional bodyguard.
Keelan, Breda. Wife of Culich. Mother of Maera.
Keelan, Culich. Hetman of Clan Keelan. Father of Maera.
Keelan, Maera. Eldest daughter of Culich and Breda.
Kennrick, Pedr. Advisor to Hetman Culich Keelan.
Ketin, Erkan. Narthani colonel.
Kolsko, Yozef (a.k.a. Joseph Colsco). California chemistry graduate student who boards an ill-fated flight to a conference and meets an unimagined future.
Linton (Merton), Bronwyn. Widow owner of farm near Abersford.
Metin, Nuthrat. Narthani colonel.
Mittack, Hulwyn. Hetman of Mittack Clan.
Moreland, Anarynd (a.k.a. Ana). Friend of Maera Keelan. Related to Moreland Clan hetman.
Moreland, Brym. Father of Anarynd. Cousin to Moreland hetman.
Moreland, Gynfor. Hetman of Moreland Clan.
Orosz, Tomis. Hetman of Orosz Clan.
Stent, Welman. Hetman olf Stent Clan.
Puvey, Carnigan. Physically imposing member of abbey staff. Friend of Yozef.
Tuzere, Nizam. Narthani civilian administrator.
Vega, Denes. Magistrate and sheriff-equivalent in town of Abersford. Commander of Abersford fighting levy.
Vortig, Luwis. Advisor to Hetman Culich Keelan.
Vorwich, Longnor. Keelan Clan boyerman (district chief) of Abersford and St. Sidryn’s area.
Watchers. Name given by Yozef to alien creators of Harlie and whose spaceship destroyed Yozef’s flight to Chicago.
Zulfa, Aivacs. Brigadier. Commander of Narthani group troops on Caedellium.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my wife, Kathleen, for encouragement, tolerating my sequestering away for endless hours writing and revising, and for reading drafts. Thanks to editors Felicia Sullivan and Patricia Waldygo for contributions and teaching me those things about writing and grammar that I didn’t learn in school and for encouragement. Cover by Damonza.com.
To Readers
An advantage of electronic publishing is the ability to correct errors, oversights, inconsistances. Please email me with any such comments at [email protected]. I promise to read all emails, though I won’t be able to answer personally every one. Maps of Anyar and Caedellium are available at olanthorensen.com. Also, if you enjoyed the story, please leave a comment/review on appropriate venues. And, of course, if you want to know what happens next, Book III, is projected in September, 2016.
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[O1]I understand this is considered proper form, but I also understand that using the plural when gender is unknown/either is now considered accepted in writing, and normal in everyday speech. To me, “himself or herself” looks and sounds awkward.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1: Worry
Chapter 2: Who Is Yozef Kolsko?
Chapter 3: The Sword
Chapter 4: Self-Defense
Chapter 5: Narthani
Chapter 6: The Pen
Chapter 7: Maera Visits St. Sidryn’s
Chapter 8: Disappointments
Chapter 9: Life
Chapter 10: An Outing
Chapter 11: Maera’s Dilemma
Chapter 12: A Trip to Caernford
Chapter 13: Meet the Hetman
Chapter 14: Lingering in Caernford
Chapter 15: An Unexpected Proposal
Chapter 16: Moreland in the Crosshairs
Chapter 17: Culich and Yozef
Chapter 18: Defense of Dornfeld
Chapter 19: Preparations
Chapter 20: Wedding
Chapter 21: Settling In
Chapter 22: Secrets
Chapter 23: Raid into Moreland
Chapter 24: Going Awry
Chapter 25: What If?
Chapter 26: Ephemeral Joy
Chapter 27: Invasion
Chapter 28: Moreland City
Chapter 29: Committed
Chapter 30: Ambush
Chapter 31: Turn the Tables
Chapter 32: Take the Guns!
Chapter 33: Victory?
Major Characters
The Pen and the Sword (Destiny's Crucible Book 2) Page 42
