Revolution (Cartharia Book 2)

by Spencer Reaves McCoy

  He thought right then he'd marry her. Anyone he could listen to for hours was someone worth keeping around. He had too. It was three years later when he'd proposed. Everyone had said they were too young, but they didn't care. They'd married, and they'd stayed married.

  They tried for years to have children. For a while, they thought it wasn't going to happen. They had just accepted this when his wife found out she was pregnant. Stini was overjoyed. He'd enjoyed his childhood, and he couldn't wait to pass on what he'd learned to a child.

  The child had looked just like him. He remembered that first day when he saw his son. He remembered the blueness of his eyes, and the dimples in his cheeks. He'd held him, and it had felt like the most natural thing in the world.

  His daughter had come later, and she was as beautiful as the sky. He fell in love with his children, and he didn't think anything in life had mattered as much. He still didn't.

  Then Samuel Frien had killed them. His wife had spoken up, he'd begged her not to, but she'd never been able to stand injustice. She'd spoken up, and Samuel Frien had killed her for speaking treason against her king.

  That was right after he'd killed his children, his beautiful, precious children. That was the day he realized that someday he'd have to kill Samuel.

  Now, he was being offered the chance. He'd missed it once before, when Matilyn had ordered men after him, but he wouldn't miss it again.

  Stini took a sip of his water, and grimaced. He'd forgotten for a moment that he'd given up on alcohol for the time being. Maybe that was better though. He hadn't been drunk when he'd loved his wife, or when his children were born. Maybe he shouldn't be drunk when he avenged them either.

  "You're not going to do it, are you?" Matilyn asked Samuel, her arms folded across her chest, "You're not actually going to listen to Stini? It's some sort of trap, Samuel."

  Just like Stini had planned, they'd found the mock camp. They'd invaded it and found one lone man. They'd questioned him, and received the missive he'd brought for Samuel. It was addressed to Commander Frien; Stini hadn't heard of Samuel's promotion.

  Samuel shrugged, "We'll set our own," he told her, "If they had the men they're claiming, they would have attacked us already. You said yourself, Stini has it out for me. You think he'd risk it this way if there was another option?"

  Matilyn shrugged, "Perhaps," she said, "He was upset when we didn't kill you during that first attack on your men. Maybe he doesn't want to risk that again."

  "Or maybe he knows this is only chance at revenge," Samuel said, "I'm going to fight him, Matilyn. We can't afford to get caught up in some sort of battle here. We need to be in Arinford. Troops are waiting there for our leadership."

  "So we let it go," Matilyn said, "You said yourself, they probably don't have the men they're claiming. There's no reason for us to be drawn into this."

  "You think he'll win, don't you?" Samuel asked, amused.

  "No," Matilyn said, "But I don't think it's a chance worth taking. He's upset. You killed his family--"

  "I did what I was ordered to do," Samuel said, "You think I liked it? I didn't have a choice. I follow the Good King's orders, same as any Lamonte soldier."

  Matilyn shook her head impatiently, "I'm not talking about what you should or shouldn't have done, Samuel. The Gods know we all have our own burdens to carry. I'm just saying that you killed his family. That's how he sees it. He's going to fight like hell to kill you."

  "I'm not going to die out there," Samuel said. "But I'm not going to walk away either. Let him have his chance."

  Matilyn sighed.

  "If I do die," Samuel said, smirking, "You can take over for me. You've always wanted to be a battle-master, right?"

  She glared at him.

  "You can organize the manipulators, wait in the shadows," Samuel said, "If he tries something, take them out. That's an order, Malevus."

  Matilyn frowned at him, "Fine," she said, "But I want you to know that I disagree with this."

  "As you've made very clear," Samuel said, "Anyway, how is Ra'sha adjusting to camp life?"

  "Better than I expected," Matilyn said, "She seems to enjoy it, actually. I'm surprised. I would have thought with how much time she spent in her manor, that she'd find traveling to be uncomfortable and unpleasant. But she keeps the soldiers entertained with stories and information about the rest of the world."

  Samuel nodded, "Good. I've been working with her on swordsmanship. She's not the best, but she's a hard worker. We'll make a soldier out of her yet."

  Matilyn smiled. In truth, she was pleased about having the other woman along, despite the circumstances. They usually spent their evenings together, eating canned meals beside the fire and talking about a wide variety of subjects.

  There didn't seem to be a subject that Ra'sha was unfamiliar with. They exchanged tales about Terifille and Arinford and even of Lamonte. Sometimes Samuel would join them and the three of them walk talk into the wee hours of the morning. It reminded Matilyn of the times that her, Penny, and Eldrin would spend together.

  Of course, now Samuel was planning to risk his life in a duel with Stini. The thought nauseated her. She had cared about Stini. They'd never been best friends, but she cared about him the same way she would any of her soldiers.

  More than that, she understood both sides of the situation. She understood Stini's anger. He'd lost his entire family to Samuel. It made sense that he'd want to avenge them. He'd want closure. He'd sought it for so long. His wife, and his children, gone. Samuel, though, as he'd said, had only been following orders. It was a horrible thing to happen, but like Valishna, sometimes horrible things had to happen to create the world they wanted.

  The thought of one of the men dying caused her great pain. She didn't want to lose Samuel. She didn't want to lose anyone.

  That didn't seem to be an option though. So she decided to accept it for what it was and do her best to ensure everything went to plan.

  "Go get ready," Samuel told her, "Choose the manipulators with care. I want men that can handle themselves out there."

  "Yes sir," Matilyn said, snapping off a salute. Samuel nodded to her, and they took off in separate directions.

  She already knew who she'd choose. Sullivan had set them up with a good sized military division, full of manipulators. Matilyn had been impressed with the skills she saw. She sought out a dozen men now, taking mostly flesh manipulators. Despite her dislike for fire manipulation, she chose a few of those too.

  When she had her men and women with her, she went to find Samuel. It was time for the duel.

  Samuel's archers and manipulators waited on the hilltop overlooking the place where he and Stini had agreed to meet. He walked alone to the center, to meet the approaching man. Stini's flesh manipulators had left earlier in the morning, while it was still raining, to hide in strategic locations around the site.

  "Commander Frien," Stini called out as he approached Samuel. He expected something to flash in the man's eyes. Some sort of recognition for him; but all he saw was confidence and arrogance.

  "Battle-Master," Samuel corrected. "Good morning, Commander Stini. Are you ready to do this?"

  Stini nodded and extended his hand forward. It infuriated him that the man didn't remember him. He'd killed his wife, and his children, and he'd just forgotten. He could use that anger though. "May the Gods' favor grant victory," he said. He had to force the words out. When they shook hands, Stini remembered the way Samuel had looked on that day, so long ago.

  Both reached for their hilts, drawing their swords. The sun breaking over the horizon glinted off the shiny metal while both men strafed side to side looking for the first opening. Samuel swung the first blow. He had taken Stini for a slow man, but he quickly dodged the weak strike.

  Stini swung his sword, striking Samuel in the breastplate. Not hard enough to penetrate, Stini pulled back, bringing his weapon up for a block. Samuel recoiled backwards and met his steel against Stini's.

  Stini jumped backwa
rds, unexpectedly, and motioned for Samuel to come in. Blade drawing high, he obliged, bringing it down with a crash against Stini's. He picked up off the blocked attack and swung to the side, which was also parried by the other weapon. He picked his blade up again, kicking into the dirt and swung again at the same angle, only to be blocked again.

  Samuel pulled the sword back, throwing his other fist forward, striking Stini in the jaw. Stini shook his head and lurched forward, his shoulder colliding with Samuel's.

  He let out a growl.

  Samuel pulled in both his arms and pushed Stini off him, propelling him a few feet backwards. Stini adopted a new guarding stance and waited for Samuel to attack. He didn't have to wait long as Samuel's weapon was back to delivering blows against his own.

  "Don't just stand there, fight me!" Samuel yelled.

  Stini flashed him a grin; a hard, violent smirk, "I've already won."

  Samuel frowned and badgered his blade against him harder. He had to be wearing the Arinford man down, he thought. Even though Stini showed no signs of surrender, Samuel figured he would soon cave to the devastating blows.

  Samuel had let up for a few seconds; Stini caught a breathe while removing his left gauntlet and dropped it to the ground. Samuel was right; the defending commander was beginning to lose his strength. He needed to signal his men.

  Behind scores of trees, multiple flesh manipulators began focusing on the archers above. It took only a few minutes for them to realize they were protected by Matilyn and her men.

  Stini glanced to the hills above where the archers should have begun to fall. Maybe they didn't see my signal, he thought, defecting more blows from Samuel. He soon gave up that hope.

  Samuel picked up speed, his blows coming faster and heavier. Stini tried to hold his ground but he was forced to give an inch at a time, his heart hammering in his chest. His strength was fading fast, and eventually Samuel was able to drive the sword from his hands.

  Without a weapon, Stini had no chance. Within moments, Samuel had him knocked to the ground. He placed a boot to his chest and his sword to his throat.

  Stini had known this was a possibility. He supposed he should feel afraid now, with the threat of death so very imminent but he felt only relief. Relief, and a blessed sense of happiness for the impending peace that would soon overcome him.

  Samuel lowered his sword to his side, but kept his boot firmly in place.

  "Kill me," Stini snarled up at him. It couldn't end this way. Not after what it had taken to get here.

  "I'd rather not," Samuel drawled out, "Your life means nothing to me. No, you're going to remember this, and you're going to remember it well. I want your men out of here. I want them to leave the people of Lamonte alone."

  Before Stini could respond, Samuel took his boot off the other man's chest and turned his back on him, preparing to walk away. Stini rolled over, grabbing his sword from where it had fallen. It was a cowardly thing to do, attacking a man whose back wars turned, but Stini never hesitated. He leaped to his feet and ran towards the departing battle-master, driving his sword as hard as he could towards his back.

  His aim was too high, though, and the blade glanced off the side of Samuel's face instead, leaving a long, red wound. Stini was already preparing another attack but Samuel reacted quickly, raising his sword to block Stini's. Almost instantly, he was disarmed again. Despite his bleeding face, Samuel was the very definition of calm. He was stronger; a much better swordsman that Stini had ever considered being.

  "There," Samuel said, "You've had your little bit of revenge. Now go home, soldier."

  "You killed my family," Stini said. The words were torn from his lips. He was pleading for something but he didn't know just what, "You killed them all."

  Samuel knew though, Stini realized. He'd known from the start.

  "And how many families have you killed since?" Samuel asked, not unkindly, "We're the same, you and I. In a different world, we might have been friends."

  He kicked Stini's sword away from him, sheathed his own, and walked away.

  Before he could get far, Rose Kalles suddenly appeared. She ran at Samuel, her sword flashing in the sun. He didn't even have a chance to draw his weapon before she was attacking him. The first blow slid off his armor, but the second found a crack and slid into his side.

  Samuel blinked. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected this at all. He fumbled for his sword, but he thought it was too late. This woman, she was going to kill him.

  Before she could though, he saw Matilyn running at them. She had her sword drawn high. She called out, and Rose whipped around.

  "No!" Stini screamed out from behind them. "No! Kalles! Get back!"

  It was too late, though. Both men watched with a kind of horrified fascination as Matilyn slammed her sword into the woman's gut. Rose's fingers twitched and her sword fell from a suddenly lax hand. She moaned.

  Stini forgot all about Samuel, his family, and his revenge in that moment. He thought only about Rose, his Rose, the woman he'd come to care for. He ran to her.

  Matilyn backed away.

  "You killed her!" he screamed up at Matilyn, "You killed her!"

  But he saw she wasn't dead yet.

  "Stini," she whispered.

  "No," Stini said. He was aware in some dim part of his mind that Matilyn and Samuel had sheathed their weapons again and were leaving, accompanied by the flesh manipulators that Matilyn had brought. His men ignored them, coming to crowd around the dying lieutenant.

  "We'll get you a priest," Stini said. "Medic! I need a medic!" he screamed this into the morning air.

  "Stini," she said again, softer, "Please."

  Stini lowered his face to look at hers. "What is it, Rose?"

  "Take care of them," she whispered. "Take care of the Lost."

  Stini brushed a strand of hair from her face and then leaned down, gently resting his lips against hers; their first kiss, and their last. "I will," he murmured against her mouth. When he drew back, he knew it was too late. The light had left her eyes. She was gone.

  A tear dripped down and landed on her face.

  Stini watched Aeliana from the far side of the camp. He'd just told her about Rose's death. It had been a difficult thing to do, for both of them. She hadn't cried, but he knew she would. It would be a private thing, as it usually was with her.

  Carl was comforting her, he saw. Part of him wanted to join them, to be one of them, share in the grief, not bottle it up inside where it could fester. That wasn't who he was though, so instead he had a drink.

  Then he had a second drink, then a third. By the time he was done drinking, he was drunk. None of the men bothered him about it.

  Battle-Master Marius had sent another missive, one that had just arrived. He looked down at it. He saw that he'd crumpled it up without thought. He considered for a long moment and then smoothed it out to reread.

  "Commander Stini,

  Despite our original misgivings, your troops have excelled beyond hope in Lamonte. The reports that you've sent have been very helpful in securing key strategic points. With information provided by your scouts, we have managed to locate and take out several of their lead officers, including several commanders.

  I know that you did not ask for the position of Commander; that it was thrust upon you, without choice. I know that the last time we spoke, I saw that you had a mission to carry out; a responsibility. I denied your application for relocation, for demotion, and for discharge.

  The guard here is admirable of your work. King Parnell himself has taken notice. He has decided that due to your prestigious leadership that if you wish for discharge, you will be granted such.

  I wish to impart on you the importance of maintaining a strong front right now. You are needed.

  I hope that you will make the right choice for Arinford.

  Sincerely,

  Battle-Master Leonore Marius."

  The letter had preceded a formal document signed by the hand of the King. It had sa
id that if he still wished, he would be granted his request for discharge immediately.

  He could go home.

  FIFTY-TWO

  You Are Come Home

  FOR THE NEXT WEEK, PENNY SPENT HER time speaking with everyone who had helped to set up the safe-house, offering her thanks and gathering information.

  From what she understood, since their arrest, the regulations in the city had increased ten-fold and anyone caught violating them was punished at extreme rates.

  Shops were forced to close at six in the evening and were not allowed to open until nearly mid-afternoon. Nobody was allowed out in the streets without written permission to travel to and from work. The shores were still banned completely. All the paper, ink, paint, and other craft supplies were shut down.

  All children between the ages of three and sixteen were required do start taking citizenship education classes with Lamonte soldiers. At the age of sixteen, they were being mandatorily recruited into the Lamonte military for a minimum of ten years.

  Penny was disgusted by what she heard. She could only imagine the types of indoctrination that the children would be getting in classes taught by Lamonte soldiers. Not to mention the teenagers who would learn to become ruthless killers.

  There were also several stories about extreme violence. There had been a fourteen year old girl who had snuck out past curfew to meet her boyfriend. The soldier that caught her had beat her so badly that she was left paralyzed. She had over nineteen broken bones and needed over fifty stitches. The healers that took care of her said that it had used the complete energy of four of them just to keep her alive.

  There were other cases that were just as bad, if not worse. There had also been numerous reports about soldiers abducting people for interrogation.

  Penny thought about the metal shoes and winced every time she heard it.

  After a nearly a week, Alicia approached Penny and told her that there was someone who wished to speak to her.