by C. R. Daems
"A good lesson. You have to understand the risk and be willing to accept it. So, I need a reward worth the risk." She stopped to sip at the berryjuice she seemed to prefer, idly playing with a strand of her blonde hair. "When I agreed to go on this mission, I didn't understand the risks. I had a young girl's dream of adventure, with no thought of men dying or the chance of being ... raped and killed." She lapsed into silence and ordered our midday meal served in the room.
"What are my chances of surviving rape and death?" she asked, coming to stand over me, looking down at where I sat at peace on the floor. Not the kind of a question you answer without some thought, so I said nothing. She seemed to accept my silence and folded into a sitting position next to me. It was much later when I felt comfortable answering her.
"I'd say your risk of being raped is small now that you carry a knife. Your chances of injury or death are about the same as mine."
She laughed. "That means I'll probably live through the experience, but I'll be scared. All right, I think helping identify the Sirens and the experience is worth the risk. Another lesson. How do you overcome the fear? Like when we were attacked."
"Close your eyes," I said, thinking about what Dewan's Monk had taught me. "Find a place and time in your life where you felt safe or when you were happy. When you do, each day you will need to spend at least one hour there, content to think of nothing. When bad things happen, you will want to find that place. It will calm you and enable you to think clearly. For today, stay there until your ladies come to get you dressed."
* * *
Lieutenant Eaton arrived two days later with six male and two female soldiers. I was surprised to see Lutz among them.
"Lady Shelly," Eaton said, bowing low. "Duke Wetzel asked me to give you this letter. He sent eight replacements so I could send the wounded troopers home. Since dukes don't like more than ten soldiers from another domain roaming their providences, he sent Lutz and three mercenaries. They will be acting as merchants. They brought three mules, which accounts for our delay."
"Lady Shelly, I've heard you have had some interesting times with my friend Zara," Lutz said, bowing.
"You know, her?"
"Oh, yes. We served on a caravan from Oberen in the east. Except for her, I believe I'd be dead." He turned to me, smiling. "Interesting job you found."
"It was going in the right direction," I quipped. With that, he and Eaton wandered back toward the barracks.
"Oh, I'm a baroness!" Shelly said, waving the letter at me as she whorled in a circle. "And I have land."
"One step closer," I said. I imagined the title was an acknowledgement that providing me a cover story was a very dangerous task, and a show of the duke's appreciation.
"Yes, Thanks to you."
"If we don't leave quickly, the young nobles are going to be challenging me to duels for time alone with you." Shelly's value had just tripled. Before, she was a beautiful young single woman, but now she was a beautiful single woman with a title and land. She giggled and locked her arm in mine as we walked toward the castle.
* * *
We left early the next morning for Budia, a four-day trip. We were again going to come close to the Forlorn Mountains and possible Indian trouble, so each night, Eaton, Lutz, and I worked with the new troops, teaching them the Indian style of fighting. I was glad to have Lutz along. He was a good friend, although I had to admit Eaton's attitude had changed after the Indians' attack. He was not only more receptive but actually sought my advice.
"How did you wind up volunteering for this job?" I asked Lutz when we finished an after dinner workout.
"As I said, I have a good reputation, and the duke is a hard man to refuse. Besides, when I heard you were on the caravan, I couldn't resist. Nobody I'd rather have at my back. The duke didn't share what he hired you to do, but he was insistent that my crew and I watch your back. Oh, and the pay is excellent." He laughed.
Back at Shelly's fire, I found her sitting off to the side, meditating. I sat down a few feet away and sought my place of comfort. Slowly, I could feel my body extending roots into the ground, anchoring me like a thousand-year-old oak. And then they touched Shelly's thin roots and her eyes shot open.
"How?"
"I don't know, I'm still learning, but I did notice you are making good progress. How does it feel?"
"Wonderful. When I finish, I feel refreshed and my thoughts are clearer. Thank you." She stared at me for a moment. "You and Lutz are friends?"
"I was a cook on a merchant's caravan where he was the senior guard. He's a true professional and was interested in my short sword and how the Indians fought."
"Yes, I noticed. Eaton is a good swordsman, but Lutz is better. I'll wager he's here to guard your back." She smiled. "Meditation clears the mind of clutter. I love it."
"Duke Wetzel is doing everything he can to protect you and me. Somehow, he knew Lutz and I were friends."
"We'll be passing the tip of the Forlorn Mountains tomorrow. Any concerns?"
"We need to be alert, but I can't see the Indians attacking a caravan this size. Not because they couldn't take it, but because we have little of what they consider valuable enough to take the risk. Of course, I thought that before and was wrong."
"Well, I'm glad the duke sent Lutz. I do worry about you," she said as she rose and headed toward her tent with her ladies following like little chicks. She was maturing before my eyes. I settled back down, and before long the camp and surrounding area were a blue haze.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
BUDIA: Earl Purvis
We arrived in Budia in the early afternoon of the fifth day, having chosen to take an extra day rather than travel late into the night. Budia sat perched on a high plateau in the foothills. The city walls were high but not particularly thick, made to protect against Indians or large bands of mercenaries—not armies—and everyone appeared to live within the walls. The guards at the city gates seemed to be expecting us, and we were admitted with only a minor delay while Merchant Lutz paid a small entrance fee. The castle sat on the highest ground, and the walls appeared better able to sustain a minor siege. When we reached the castle, we were met by a thin old man with bright eyes. He surveyed each man and woman in the caravan, and I'd wager evaluated and categorized each correctly. His eyes lingered on me a few seconds longer.
"Welcome to Budia, Baroness Shelly. I'm Minister Cardas. Earl Purvis sends his greeting and wishes to meet with you after you have refreshed yourself. A private meeting before dinner."
"Thank you, Minister Cardas. I look forward to meeting Earl Purvis."
"Dori will see to your needs while you are here." He waved to a young girl, who ran forward.
"Lady Shelly, if you will follow me, I'll show you and your ladies to your rooms." She curtsied and awaited acknowledgement, a lanky girl no older than fourteen, but she appeared at ease.
"Lead on, Dori. We are in need of hot water and a wash after five days on a horse and sleeping on the ground," Shelly said cheerfully. Dori nodded and began walking.
This trip had been an education for me. The difference between the nobility and commoners was extreme. Guests of the ruling noble were assigned rooms larger than many commoners’ dwellings. They ate meals a commoner couldn't afford but once a year if then. They spent most of their time pursuing their own pleasures, and worse, they had a distorted view of life, thinking their nobility made them smarter and cleverer than everyone beneath them. In reality, most had their positions because of their birth and were very average people, even with their better educations. Duke Wetzel and Shelly appeared to be exceptions.
After we had washed and changed clothes, Shelly rang for Dori. Shortly afterward, we were escorted to the earl's study. Shelly had insisted I go.
"I want you at my side. Now that I'm a baroness, I guess I don't need a chaperone," she giggled like a small girl, "So you are now my companion and security. Besides, following me you are more likely to find what you are looking for."
"Yes, Lady
Shelly," I said without a smile. Although I liked her and felt we were friends, as a titled noble, she could give me orders and enforce them if she chose.
She stopped and gave me a hard stare. "Yes, I'm a noble and you're a commoner, and we can't change that, as much as I'd like to. We also can't change that you are my friend and mentor—and in charge, and I won't forget that."
Earl Purvis stood as we entered, his smile almost lost in his full beard and mustache.
"Welcome and congratulations, Baroness Shelly. I think you are now the youngest baroness on Aesona." He sounded amused. He dwarfed Shelly, standing a good eight inches taller and triple her girth. His head of curly red hair and his full beard gave him a wildman-look, which contrasted with his friendly greeting and expression.
"Thank you, Earl Purvis," she said, handing him her letters from Wetzel.
He read each page carefully and then nodded. "I know it's exciting for you to visit all of the earls, but it’s also dangerous. Some of our cities are close to where Indians and bandits are prone to raid. You may want to reconsider those along the Wild Mountains. You were very lucky at Jqedit."
"Good advice, Earl Purvis. Many died to keep me safe." Her eyes became misty as she talked.
"Zara is your companion?" Purvis asked, looking toward me.
"Zara keeps the wolves at bay." She grinned.
"That must be a full-time job, protecting a beautiful young woman who is single and a baroness. But according to the rumors she is up to the task. And you were both slaves?"
"Yes, my brother..." Shelly went on to briefly explain her capture and my negotiating her freedom, and then I was required to give a brief account of my capture and escape. Purvis was a good listener and asked perceptive questions.
We arrived for dinner several minutes late, and to my surprise, he had me seated at the main table with Shelly, his wife, and two sons. I sat next to Lady Harriette, who was very interested in the Indians and my experience with the Ojaza. From my advantage seated at the main table I had an excellent view of the guests and residents of the castle. During the meal I noticed two individuals with intermittent blue tinges: a young man, Jerrie, who Harriette said was the son of Baron Kazuko and his younger daughter, Renna, who appeared to be within a year or two of Shelly's age. I watched them through the meal and entertainment, looking for clues as to their possible intentions.
Jerrie sat between a wealthy merchant and a very attractive young woman; however, he spent most of his time talking with the merchant, much to the annoyance of the young woman. Renna spent much of her time talking to a son of a baron. Halfway through a magic performance, my head felt woolly, and when I looked to Shelly, she appeared to be staring at the table. I leaned my head close to hers and pointed to the magician—who was making balls appear and disappear—and I pinched her thigh. Her face turned toward me.
"Shelly, find your place of comfort and anchor yourself there. Someone is invading your thoughts." I leaned back and looked in the direction of the magician, periodically checking Shelly. She was cleverly rubbing her forehead with eyes closed as if she had a headache. I dared not quiet my mind, for fear of invoking that higher level of awareness and drawing their attention. I would have to work with Shelly, since this would probably happen again.
"Lady Shelly, are you unwell?" the earl asked, which brought her out of her meditation.
"A minor headache, nothing serious, My Lord," she said, excusing herself when the entertainment ended. Back in the room, her ladies prepared her for bed and departed when Shelly said she didn't need them anymore that night.
"Sirens?" she asked.
"Yes, the son and daughter of a Baron Kazuko. I believe they were trying to get into your mind—that fuzzy-headed feeling you had."
"Nothing happened at first, but as I rooted myself, the fuzziness decreased, then stopped suddenly."
"I suspect they stopped trying when it wasn't working. You and I need to work on your meditation, because I don't believe this is going to be the last time someone tries to influence or get into your mind. Now you at least know what it feels like and what you can do to defend yourself."
"That was scary. I'm ready." She immediately sat and closed her eyes. I did the same and sought my place of comfort. The room became bathed in blue light and I could see Shelly—faded on the floor in the real world and clearer in the blue … dimension. It was obvious she couldn't see me. I sat wondering how the Monk and Sirens entered another person's mind. This was a world of imagination and imagery. I needed inside her mind, so I imagined a tiny flying bug and shrunk it so small it couldn't be seen. I had it fly into Shelly's ear and into her brain. Inside looked to be bigger than the castle, bigger than the city, with thousands of scenes taking place simultaneously. As I watched, the place became foggy until I could see nothing. I left and opened my eyes to find Shelly staring at me.
"You were in my mind," she said.
I nodded. "Whatever you did blocked my view."
"What did you see?" she asked, blushing with excitement.
"I think I saw your memories, but you covered them quickly."
"I wonder if I will ever be able to see you or others on the ... that other level of awareness."
"The Cheyo Monk said only a few had the talent and that it required a lot of practice, so I would guess the answer lies in meditation. I would think you had some talent, as you were able to block the Sirens and me." I would have to discuss it with the next Monk I ran across. Knowing Shelly, meditation would be a nightly regimen.
* * *
The next day, I convinced Shelly to visit Lieutenant Eaton and Lutz. I needed an excuse to visit other parts of the castle and see the people. Sirens could be soldiers, maids, ministers, or ... We found Eaton and Lutz working with the soldiers and got a tour of the training area. It was immediately obvious that one of the two Budia lieutenants was a Siren. I didn't look too closely, but I would wager he was younger than he looked and not as physically fit. I would have loved to know how he became a lieutenant. It was almost impossible to work your way from enlisted to officer. Usually, those positions were given to sons and daughters of barons and earls.
"Unless one of you has a reason not to, I'd like to leave for Hipula the day after tomorrow." She looked at each of us, and seeing no objections, she nodded. "Day after tomorrow, at first light. I'm told it's a nine-day trip. Let us try not to make it any longer." She walked slowly on the way back to the main building. "Did that help?"
"Yes. I identified another Siren, a lieutenant."
* * *
I had no trouble from the brother and sister Sirens over the next two days. I wondered whether that meant they didn't consider the incident at the dinner important or whether they did and would arrange something on the road to Hipula. It was a delicate task Wetzel had given me: I couldn't kill every Siren I found without being discovered, but I couldn't let them discover I knew they had talent without killing them.
"It's almost funny," Shelly said as her horse was being brought to her. "I'm going to hate these next nine days, and you're going to love them."
"Perhaps there is a lesson there," I said, considering her perceived problem. She laughed and nodded. "Alright, try not to make the day good or bad before it happens. If you do, you run the risk of being disappointed if a day you thought good turns out bad, and conversely, you may miss the chance to have a good day by assuming it must be bad. Today is just another day. Good things may happen or bad things. Deal with them as they arise. You and I know even bad things can have value." I watched as she thought about what I had said. It was one of the things I liked about her—the ability to think before she acted. Eventually, she nodded.
"That could eliminate bad days," she said as she mounted. "Then I wouldn't have anything to complain about." She waved for Eaton to go. Maybe Duke Dewan's Monk was right—the Ojaza had given me a gift. A quiet mind helped clear away the distractions and bring into focus what was important, and if it weren't for the Ojaza, I would never have developed that gif
t.
We made good time the first three days. The weather stayed good, and the road was in decent condition. The land between Budia and Hipula had few settlements as there was little water, frequent periods of drought, and bands of roaming raiders. But with the size of our caravan, we had little to worry about—a caravan with royalty had soldiers as guards.
On the afternoon of the fourth day, Eaton called a halt when he was notified that a large group of riders were approaching with Earl Purvis's banner of Silver and Green. A short time later, twenty mounted men came into view with the Siren lieutenant from the castle in command.
His men spread out in an attack formation, with ten troopers on each side of us but ten horse lengths away. Their swords remained in their scabbards as the lieutenant continued toward Shelly at the head of the line.
"He's the Siren lieutenant," I said quietly, leaning toward her.
Eaton and Lutz arrived about the same time as the lieutenant.
"Baroness Shelly, I'm Lieutenant Culver. I've been directed by Earl Purvis to place your companion, Zara, under arrest by order of Duke Brodka."
Shelly’s face drained of color. "On what charges, lieutenant?"
"For the murder of Lady Hathorn in Munda."
I leaned toward Shelly. "Have Lutz guard you until I return. I'll rejoin you before you reach Hipula," I said, and spurred Greystone into a gallop before she could answer. Only Culver was within thirty horse-lengths of me, and I had caught him by surprise. When he realized what had happened, he spurred his horse after me, drawing his sword and waving to his detail.
"After her! Don't let her get away," he screamed.
As I galloped, I evaluated the land. My strategy was simple: run Greystone until she was tired but not exhausted, leave her and continue on foot, then circle back for her after the troopers' horses could go no farther. I suspected this had something to do with the incident with the Baron Kazuko's son and daughter, and that Lieutenant Culver had thought arresting me would cause Shelly to come back with him so he could find a way to kill us on the way back to the castle. I hoped to pull him far enough away to let the caravan reach Hipula before he could, so I headed back in the direction of Budia. I doubted Duke Brodka of Hipula or Earl Purvis knew anything about Culver's actions.
