by Guy Antibes
“A woman healer from Obridge traveled with us.” She winced as Peppen poked a little harder.
“I’ve got some better really good salve that can help with the pain. She probably only could give you pain powder. A secret recipe that Nona taught me.” Peppen winked at her as he pulled a bottle out of his bag and slathered it on. “Put this on when you can. You’re healing just fine. A crossbow bolt, if I’m not mistaken.”
“I had to fight along with the rest of my forces for Obridge.” She turned red.
“You’re being modest, I know. I’ll find out all about it, perhaps before we even get to Obridge.” He smiled at her. “You’re father was very surprised to see you. He didn’t show it, but he was quite shocked that you showed up with your own little army. When all this is settled out, talk to him. I think his life needs to change and if it doesn’t…” Peppen shook his head. “I’ll leave you with that and wish you well in getting to wherever you have to go and doing whatever you have to do.”
“Thank you, Peppen.”
“Is Nona doing all right?”
“I think she is. She’ll do just fine keeping Belting Hollow together until Ben gets there.”
Peppen winced. “I’ll never be able to control that woman now!” He laughed and bade her a good night.
~~~
Chapter Twenty-Two
Midnight Retreat
Sara sat in the darkness of the coach, parked on the side of the road. She listened to whispers and muffled clankings of men in quiet retreat. She smiled. They were all going to where they needed to be.
If West thought that the Grand Duke would ignore the north, then Sara hoped with all of her heart that he was right in that one thing. It would take a while for the north to heal. She couldn’t sleep any more and stood outside, leaning against the door of the carriage, watching the men leave. All of her troops lined up to say good-bye.
She recognized Ben’s silhouette. He didn’t even turn to look at her—typical behavior for him, she thought in a flash of anger. Ben had a lot of work to do in Belting Hollow and she expected that whatever he built from Brightlings’s ashes would probably need to be torn down.
“Sara!” Natti hustled from her place in line. Sara exited the carriage to give her a hug. “I heard you were the last to convince Ben to leave, but I didn’t believe it. I’m sorry about all of this. I wanted to stay in Belting Hollow, but my cooking skills overcame their good sense.” She laughed and then stopped when a man passing by shushed her. “I heard you wiped out the rebels. We didn’t even know there were any rebels—haven’t heard a thing from up north ever since we left.”
“So you don’t know about June.”
“June?”
Sara felt her anger build. “Because Ben listened to that fool Heartfly, he left Belting Hollow open to invasion by the rebels, who burned down Brightlings with June inside. We buried her as soon as we showed up.”
Natti gasped and put her hand to her face. Tears began to drop from both of their faces. Sara could picture the first time she met June in the Brightlings kitchen and now June and the kitchen no longer existed.
She lost her breath as Natti gave her a great squeeze. “The poor girl never deserved what she got at Brightlings. Not at all.” Natti shook her head. “Ben’s got a lot to answer for, but he won’t. All of the men in this company look up to him as their leader. Not me, no how, but then I’m just a cook.” Natti gave Sara a sad smile and patted her on her injured shoulder. “You injured, girl?”
Sara nodded. “I’ve done a bit of fighting on my own. It’ll heal more quickly than the village of Belting Hollow. You’d better go. Good luck, Natti.”
“Free meal at my restaurant any time, any time. I’ve got to go. I wished I could shove a nice basket of food into your hands, but there’s none to give. Good luck on your own path, Sara” A Belting Hollow man pulled at Natti and she rejoined the silent column and left Sara watching her hustle along to catch up with the Belting Hollow contingent.
The men from Obridge began to fill the road as well. She heard whispers of relief and how much they missed their wives and families. A few of the students and professors from the Abbey College recognized her and stopped to whisper hello and quickly thank her. The mayor stopped and personally expressed his appreciation to her for convincing her father to leave. It really didn’t take much, she thought.
Soon the flood turned into a trickle and then Sara looked at an empty road. In the dim moonlight she could see the empty campgrounds of Belting Hollow and the warm feeling of accomplishment kept the cold of night away.
Her little army had disbanded. She felt glad that they would be leaving the field and the perils of war, but she’d miss them and their loyalty to her and to Belting Hollow and the North Downs. Now she would proceed alone with Klark and Willa. Lisha had already told her she’d be returning with the students since the college would be starting up again with the return of the Obridge men.
How isolated could she be? Fear began to nibble at her resolve. Her encounter with Natti saddened her to no end. She had fought her way through the tragedies of war. Choster, June—West’s death didn’t offset theirs. With Brightlings in ashes she had no choice but to move forward.
How would she save the Duke? How could four or five fight the remaining thousands surrounding Stonebridge? She realized that when looking out at the vast camps that she’d have to find a different way. Force was the appropriate tool to use at Belting Hollow and Obridge. Now she’d have to use stealth.
Klark was better at spying so now she could follow his lead. She smiled at the prospect. It was about time to rely on him as he had relied on her. Tomorrow would be another challenge. Would they ever end?
~
Sara woke to the pounding of a fist on the door of her carriage. “Come in.”
Klark jumped up into the carriage. “You know this is one of ours. It gives us another excuse to head for my father’s shop. Come on out and see our honor guard.”
The early morning sun made Sara squint. A dozen or so people stood in front of her.
“Youngman! I told you to leave.”
“You didn’t tell me to leave, you gave me a choice. We hung around for awhile and when we heard your daddy was going to leave the field, we thought you’d need some trained men at your side, so we’re back. Do you like our new uniforms?”
All vestiges of the Parthy army were gone. “You traded them?”
“No problem with takers. Some of the miner’s liked the bright colors. Kept our weapons and horses, but we even switched out the saddles. Just call us miners.” He grinned. “Miss.”
Not Countess. Good for him. Sara’s spirit buoyed.
~
Sara and Klark looked out at the sea of men as they passed them on the main road into Stonebridge. Was it barely a season ago that she had traveled over these same cobbles on the way to Parth? She returned the stares of the men. These were not the trained soldiers that abducted the Duke. Their eyes told a different story. They were sullen and unhappy.
The carriage stopped often and Klark would exit the carriage to talk his way into the city. Occasionally, men would poke their heads into the carriage. Sara wore a dress again and felt that her warrior days had ended. Willa sat with her while Sara remained silent, even when Klark returned to the carriage.
She nervously fingered her carriage whistle and smiled at Klark even though tension filled the air. On they went. Youngman purposely kept the honor guard ragged. She could hear them talking and laughing as they rode alongside. There were even bawdy remarks about Klark and Sara and she thought that they might have overacted in their parts as hired ruffians.
The closer to the city, the better the troops. By the time they reached the outskirts, they had to disembark and undergo questioning before they entered the city. These were the men Sara feared. No longer did she notice haunted looks of starving troops, but the grim faces of men whose business was war. However, Klark displayed his charm again and soon they were on the road past th
e rusted city gates and on to his father’s factory.
A weight sloughed off of Sara’s shoulders when they turned into the massive gates of the Brownhill Carriage Works.
Sara recognized the staff member she had encountered before with Anton as they wheeled into the courtyard. “What is your business?” He hadn’t lost his sense of self-importance during the crisis.
Klark stuck his face outside of the carriage. “Don’t you recognize me?”
The man’s face lit up. “Master Klark! Come down. Your father will be thrilled to see you!”
“See to my men. They’ll need a place to stay and food to eat. I have two guests. We’ll take the carriage round to the family barn.” Klark called up instructions to the driver.
The twists and turns through the many buildings of the carriage works confused Sara. Klark jumped out and slid open a huge door that glided on overhead rollers. They drove on within. Klark helped Sara and Willa down from the carriage. Smooth pavers like those in Parth paved the floor of the cavernous stone building.
He grinned. “Now we are on my turf.” His demeanor changed with a charge full of confidence she hadn’t seen in him since school days. “We can plan our next steps in comfort. Come on, this way.” He led them through an array of carriages and coaches and through a thick wooden door.
Sara stepped into the foyer of a large house. Klark took her hand and led her up a short flight of stairs. Rich paneling lined the walls with velvet-flocked wallpaper inset at intervals. The opulence put Brightlings to shame and gave Lady Worthy’s house competition. Evidently the barn entrance was situated at the back of the house. As they walked through the polished stone-floored hallways, servants would bow to Klark and he would give them a smile and bow back, laughing as if it were a big game.
A portly man, balding, but very well dressed, ran into Klark with open arms. “Klark, we thought you were lost! The last message before the Grand Duke cut off communications with Parth told us you had headed over the North Pass and didn’t return.”
“Father, I have returned. This is Sara Featherwood and Willa Waters. They’ve come with me.” Klark turned to Sara and Willa, “This is Timithy Brownhill, my father.”
Brownhill gave them a little bow and noticed the carriage necklace. “This is the one you spoke of?” He gave his son a dubious look. Evidently the gift hadn’t gone over so well with his father. That only confirmed the gesture meant a great deal. Sara found herself a little breathless.
Klark colored. “It is, Father. She’s been presented to the King and is also known as the Countess of Brightlings.”
“Countess? There is no such thing.”
“She has Goldagle blood. The last true Goldagle.” Klark held his breath.
Sara didn’t want that spread around. “It’s true Mr. Brownhill. However, my mother was disinherited long ago. The title was the King and the Royal Genealogist’s idea, not my own. I’d rather be known as Miss Featherwood. Ben Featherwood is a Squire.
“Brightlings. The yellow sport thing. Last year, I talked to the man myself when he came down to pick it up.” He looked closely at Sara. “Sythea. She wasn’t half as tall as you. That was her name. I still remember her. A pretty young thing. Too serious. Too serious for a young lady. Too highborn, even for the likes of us.” He blinked a bit. “Yes, your father bought the runabout.”
“He came through Obridge, I imagine,” Sara said. Came through and didn’t bother to visit the boys or her.
“Yes he did, as I remember, that’s where he picked up the bank draft to pay for it. Good-looking fellow. Brought his new wife. She seemed a bit young for him, but they looked very happy.”
“She died and my father was gravely injured in an accident in that very carriage. He recovered and Klark can verify that the runabout is now nothing but a pile of splinters.”
Klark laughed a bit nervously. “Indeed I have. Rebels forced them off the road. Nothing to do with us.”
“Hmm. Too bad, too bad.”
“The coach or the deaths, father?”
“Both! So why aren’t you in Parth plotting with the Royalists?”
Klark frowned. “The King is a royalist? I’d never have guessed.” His eyes brightened with good humor and he slapped his father on the shoulder.
Brownhill straightened his suit jacket. “Well. You’re aware that the Grand Duke is planning war with Parth. You drove through his army.”
“This conversation could better be held in a more private place,” Klark said looking for eavesdropping servants. “Anyway, we had little for breakfast. Perhaps you can fetch a servant.”
“Ahem. Ah, yes. Let’s retire to the parlor. That’s a cozy place.” He turned and led them down the hall to a large foyer. Through glass doors, Sara could see a carriage showroom. The Brownhill house seemed to be embedded in the Carriage Works.
The ‘cozy’ parlor was twice as large as the sitting room in Brightlings, or what Brightlings used to be. A circle of comfortable-looking chairs surrounded the fireplace. Brownhill directed them to seats. He pulled on a cord to summon a servant.
Brownhill rubbed his hands in front of the fire. A maid arrived.
“Dora, would you bring something suitable for mid-morning.” He looked at them. “Any requests?”
“I’d like some bacon and eggs,” Klark said.
Willa just shrugged.
“Do you have any chocolate in the house?” Sara didn’t think asking would do any harm.
“We have some, I believe, miss.” Dora said with a little curtsey.
“Then tea, pastries and a few pieces of chocolate.”
Brownhill shooed her out and sat down. “So what were you going to tell me?” He sat on the edge of his chair and peered at his son.
“The Grand Duke isn’t supporting the troops he’s drafted. A large contingent from the North Downs has left including the Obridge troops. No food or supplies. We had to fight our way through rebels trying to separate from the South on our way here.”
“I’ve heard there are troubles up there.”
“Were. We had to overcome them to travel south. The rebels burned Sara’s manor down.”
“No! I didn’t know it was that bad.”
“With Obridge stripped of men, the rebels tried to take the city and failed and now the men of Obridge have headed back. I’m sure their wives will be pleased.”
“Undoubtedly. What news do you have from the capital? This whole business has put us in a hard position. The Grand Duke has us making carts for his army. Carts! But what can I do?”
Klark shrugged. “Make carts. Is he paying?”
“Oh, yes, and in advance. I tell him that I need to buy materials that I don’t stock. It’s worked so far.” Brownhill looked into the fire. “I need you here with me, son.”
“No,” Klark said. “I want to go to the University. We don’t have to go through all of that here.”
“Ever since you left for Parth, I’ve had to deal with your brothers. They make fine coaches, but they can’t run the business like you and I can.”
Sara sympathized for Klark. She’d been captive to family wishes right after her mother died and she knew Klark’s greatest desire was to graduate from the University of Parthy and now, perhaps, become a spy.
“I’ll find a way to get you back.”
Anger filled Klark’s face. “No you won’t. I’m to start University in the fall.”
“The Downs will be at war for at least that long, although the Grand Duke seems to think otherwise. He’s got something on the King. I have no idea. I hate politics—bad for business.”
A maid and a footman entered the room and put a tablecloth on a game table. Soon Sara rolled a piece of chocolate in her mouth along with a bite of pastry. She felt a bit guilty eating the chocolate as soldiers were nearly starving outside the walls, but she’d been on the road for much of her stay in Shattuk Downs and the little pleasure of a piece of candy eased a few of the tensions in her mind.
~
“Two-t
hirds of our business is out of Shattuk Downs. My family isn’t very excited about the Grand Duke’s designs, but the carriage works is in Stonebridge and they don’t want any difficulty,” Klark said as he filled up a plate in the mansion’s breakfast room after their first night in Stonebridge. “My father told me he doesn’t want to have anything to do with a rescue of Duke Northcross. In fact, he hasn’t been to the palace since this has started. A lot of Stonebridge merchants have been quiet.”
“Can we walk around the city?” Sara said. “We need to get information somehow. Maybe there is talk among the citizens of Stonebridge.” She had hoped for a little plate of chocolates, but, evidently, not if they weren’t specifically requested.
Klark shrugged. “I don’t see what harm that would do. No one knows you.”
Sara laughed, “No one except the Grand Duke and Duke Goldfields and Doctor Miller. However I’d like to spend some time in the markets. Is there one close to the palace?”
“For the wealthy, but I guess Countesses qualify,” Klark said, grinning.
“I can take Willa as my companion.” Sara had finished her meal.
Willa rose from the table. “I’d like to see Stonebridge. I traveled through here a few times when I went to the School.”
“So you might know it better than I do?”
Shaking her head, Willa said with a squint and a sigh, “Most likely we’ll get lost together.”
“I’ll talk to my brothers and my father and see how they can help, even if they don’t want to.” He grinned and put more attention into his plate as the two women left.
~
Sara and Willa strolled through the aisles in a high class market with the sun driving away the bitterness of the winter cold, yet the weather still made them wear their cloaks. It reminded her of the market she visited in Parth. Sara noticed gaps in some of the display racks.
“Did you hear?” said a woman selling hair decorations. Sara looked at some ribbons for her hair.
“No, what?” Sara said.
The vendor looked to the right and then the left. “Men from the north left in the dead of night. The Grand Duke’s done nothing about it.”
