He noticed a flash out of the corner of his eye and turned. Coming from the north, just topping Jappen’s Hill, was a large group of riders. Each man had a short bow and a saber. Jessie sprang to his feet, bumping his head on the roof. “Ow!” he shouted and rubbed his head. He remembered cavalrymen from Fort Casum warning everyone in the area to be on the look out for raiders. He grabbed onto his emergency pole and slid down to the ground. Up until now the only emergency was when his parents called and he had to get down and be home in a hurry.
He hit the ground and took off running faster than he ever had in his life, mostly because it was down hill. He had to warn everybody. His breath came in gasps by the time he was half way to his house. Joel Kaneim was plowing a furrow with his mule. “Raiders are coming!” Jessie called to him and kept going while the man plowed on. He ran past Joanni Koppler. “Raiders are coming!” She ignored him too, but he kept running straight into the village and shouting, “Raiders are coming!” Nobody paid him any mind, except his parents.
“Jessie Joe Dusavil, you stop making a spectacle of yourself right this instant!” his mother scolded, all red-faced an angry.
His father grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around. “You listen to me boy. Folks around here are weary of your pranks. It isn’t right to keep trying to scare people and it sure isn’t funny.”
Jessie was trying to catch his breath. Frustrated, he pointed to the north. “I was in my fort, I saw them coming. Really, I’m not joking.”
His father looked him in the eyes, like he could read into his head and know the truth. “Alright, I believe you saw something that scared you, let’s go see what it is.”
It was not the response Jessie hoped for but it was the best he was going to get, so he grabbed his father’s hand and started running, which was not easy since his father was way bigger and did not seem to be willing to move faster than a brisk walk. By the time they reached the peak of Holly’s Hill, the raiders were so close there was not going to be much time to warn the folks below.
His father stood with mouth agape and blinked six times before even taking a breath, and then his brown eyes narrowed, like they were doing a quick assessment. “We better get back,” he stated softly, and pushed him toward the village.
Jessie and his father ran down the hill, both of them shouting, “Raiders are coming!”
By the time they reached the village, Samwin Jenkonna, with gray in his hair and beard, was telling everyone who had a bow to go get it, which included just about everyone over nine years of age. The women were calling the little ones and gathering them in the community house. It too was made of logs but was big enough for the whole village to meet in. Cana did not have a mayor but most people kind of looked to Mister Jenkonna when trouble was about to pay a call.
“Sam, I counted twenty men on horseback, each with a short bow and saber. We’ve been harvesting a week now. I’m not letting these men have our food,” Powel Dusavil stated firmly.
“None of us want to give our food away, but it may come to that. Go get the rest of your family and your bow and arrows. Food we can replace, our families we cannot, and know we will not abide these thieves harming our loved ones,” Mister Jenkonna replied.
Jessie turned at a shout from his mother. She had his sister in her arms and was running toward the community house. The raiders were charging into the village, people were screaming and running. There was no time to get his bow before his father picked him up like he was a sack of corn and ran along with the rest of the folks into the community house.
The raiders swept into the village, some of them dismounting and entering people’s homes and Jessie could hear things being broken and smashed. Everyone who had a bow was at the windows ready to let fly at any raiders who came near the community house. Two of the riders lighted torches and tossed them into Jessie’s house, Miss Canndie’s, and old man Konnover’s as well, all were soon burning in flames. These men did not come to steal, they came to destroy everything we have, Jessie realized. There were more raiders than there were men in the village.
“Do something!” Jacob Kyler shouted as a torch was tossed into his log house.
Mister Jenkonna was shaking his head. “Only if they threaten us here, those things out there can be rebuilt. If we start shooting arrows at these men, they might just burn down this building with us in it.”
Jessie stared out the window and was surprised when an arrow flew into the throat of the raider about to toss another torch into Jacob’s house. A second raider died when an arrow flew into his ear and the point came out the other ear. A third one died with a miniature crossbow bolt in his right eye.
“Who is shooting those arrows?” Mister Jenkonna demanded to know, except even Jessie could see the arrows were not coming from the community house.
He glanced back out the widow and blinked, not sure of what he was seeing. A man on an ashen stallion, leading Royal Guardsmen right into the village, and wearing polished chain mail, a forest green sir coat, and light green pants. On his shoulders was a falcon with a lightning bolt clutched in its talons in a sky of blue. Over his heart was the emblem of the royal hawk in flight, matching that on his green lacquered helmet. His sword belt was black with a double row of diamonds studded around his waist. This was a Ducaunan Royal Knight of the Realm!
The lead raider charged at the Knight, who took up the challenge, his great sword at the ready. They closed, and quicker than Jessie’s eyes could follow, the raider’s blade was brushed aside and his head flew off and hit the ground rolling. The knight charged at another raider, who managed to shoot off an arrow, which the knight brushed aside with a flick of his sword and then went on and decapitated his opponent. Royal Guardsmen swung their broadswords against the sabers of buckskin-clad horsemen and it was the raiders that fell from their saddles. Arrows were bouncing off the chain mail of the Guardsmen. The battle lasted about a quarter of a mark. Eleven raiders were dead and fourteen wounded and taken captive.
Jessie was the first to leave the community house, he ran around a couple of bodies and right up to the Royal Knight of the Realm. One of the biggest men Jessie had ever seen was standing next to him, wearing a brace and bandages, and saying, “You really should consider having lightning bolts on your hilt and scabbard, Sir Daniel. As for the attack plan, it worked out rather well, but often times even the best plans have to be improvised during an engagement.”
This was Sir Daniel, the one who battles yetis and Aakacarns! The Knight’s eyes seemed to take stock of everything around him. They settled on Jessie for an instant before focusing back on the other man. “Sergeant Keenan, it was your plan, a good plan, and I merely executed it. I’ve learned not to discount any advice you give, so I take your word about improvising being necessary in battle. Now, see to the needs of the villagers, and let me know if any of them have been injured.”
Sergeant Keenan saluted. “It will be as you say, Sir Daniel,” he replied and then walked away.
Jessie marched right up to the Knight. “I told them the raiders were coming but know one believed me.”
Sir Daniel looked down at him with eyes that made him feel like confessing everything he ever did wrong, but then the Knight smiled. “Might it be that you are the prankster of your community?”
Jessie swallowed hard. “Sort of, that’s why no one believed me. They didn’t believe me about the panther either.”
The Knight stared off into the distance and then came a mighty roar. Nobody could miss hearing that. “You have good eyes and will make an excellent scout, but you need to build up trust in others so they will believe your report. A man who spends his time fooling folks should not be surprised when they don’t believe anything he says.”
It was the first time anyone spoke to him as a man. Jessie kicked a pebble, being just a little uncomfortable. “I played a lot of jokes. It might take awhile to get people to believe me.”
His father came up and stood beside him, so did Mister Jenkonna, and Jacob. �
��Please don’t take offense to anything my son tells you. He’s just a lad and a little too fond of pranks.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Sir Daniel, your exploits are well known around here. My name is Samwin Jenkonna. The exuberant lad is Jessie Dusavil and this is his father, Powel,” Mister Jenkonna made the introductions, his deep voice strong and sure.
“Thanks for the timely rescue,” Jacob stepped up to say.
While they were speaking a pair of Teki came up along with two Accomplisheds of Aakadon. Jessie leaned a little closer to his father and away from the Aakacarns. They probably were not too bad or Sir Daniel would have vanquished them.
“Well met, I’m pleased we arrived in time to save lives, if not some of your homes,” the Knight replied and then looked right at Jessie’s father. “There’s good metal in your son. He was right about the raiders and the panther. Be assured Jessie has not offended me in any way,” he said right in front of everybody. “In fact I believe he is going to build a reputation of being trustworthy and reliable. Young man, am I wrong?”
Jessie was so thrilled he could burst. “No, Sir Daniel, you are right as rain.”
---------------------------
As Daniel led the procession toward the hill fort, he truly wanted to be heading directly north to the Foothills, but as Ruth once told him, “What you want matters little.” He had fourteen captives and could not take them with him, so here he was about to pass through the wooden gates in the log wall. General Tallen was one hundred paces ahead and to the left along with his Aid, Lieutenant Benettle, but what Daniel saw as he entered the compound was the building Twi had shown him, the one looking like a command post. He waved up at the panther still hidden in the tree far above and slightly to the north of the fort and received a nudged at his mind in acknowledgement. He also sensed in the building the presence of four fellow Knights of the Realm, having shaken hands with them in the past and therefore fulfilling the requirement of touch. He sensed three hundred fifty-seven men within the fort, two hundred eleven of which he had healed after the Battle of Bashierwood. The rest of the people he had no prior physical contact with and so only sensed them in a generic way, including one in the command post with Tallen.
“Greetings, Sir Daniel, welcome to Fort Casum,” Captain Johannan called out and snapped a salute, with every man in sight following his example. He was also in the Battle of Bashierwood, although not one of the wounded.
“Well met,” Daniel replied, returning the salute.
The door of the smithy was open revealing a man busy making horseshoes. Going by the uniforms, the fort was manned by the cavalry in their green with gold trimmed uniforms and the regular army with their unrelieved forest green. Daniel felt pride in the detachment of Royal Guardsmen riding in behind him in their green and gold uniforms, all looking a bit worn but still grand. Not one of his men had been injured in the skirmish with the raiders, although the fifteen who had been healed of their wounds from the earlier engagement still wore their bandages. His pride in them was not based on how they appeared but their courage and how they comported themselves and followed his lead with minimal complaining. Sergeant Keenan had assembled a strong unit.
Captain Johannan faced the son of the Duke, “Greetings to you Lord Ducalin.”
Jonah responded with a nod of the head, “Well met. I trust you can accommodate us for a few days.”
“Most certainly, my Lord,” Johannan replied, and then his gaze swept to the fourteen captives and the bandaged guardsmen. “You have seen action. We have several good Aid Providers should their services be required.”
Sergeant Keenan rode forward. “Aid has been provided to those of us who were wounded and yes, we have seen action. These men were caught attacking the village of Cana. Three homes were burned to the ground and one scorched, but we arrived in time to save the good people.”
“Would you be so kind as to take charge of the captives?” Daniel asked, already knowing the answer. The Captain was looking at the Pentrosans like a fox trying to decide which chicken in the coop to go after first.
“Most assuredly I would,” Johannan replied and then called out. “Sergeant Trothus, take these captives to the holding cells.”
Rym Trothus, a compact man, had a neatly trimmed beard, but no mustache, making him look more like a sailor than a cavalryman. He was one of the horsemen Daniel had healed in Bashierwood. “Leopard Squad!” he called out, and raised his arm, swinging his hand in a circular motion.
Twenty men responded to his summons and stood ready as Sergeant Keenan directed the captives to dismount. The prisoners were led away, the horses were not, all fourteen mounts were going to replace horses lost during the sasquatch attack. The one Daniel slept through, he reminded himself. The other eleven horses belonging to the raiders were given to the people of Cana along with the short bows, arrows, and sabers.
Lieutenant Benettle exited the command post and walked straight over to where Daniel was dismounting Sprinter’s back. “Sir Daniel, I am pleased to see you,” the red-haired officer greeted with a salute, which was promptly returned. “General Tallen asks that you accompany me to his conference room.”
Daniel nodded to his parents, Jonah, Simon, Samuel, Silvia, and David, each acknowledged him and came forward. “You can come too,” he told them. “Sergeant Keenan, see to the men.”
“It will be as you say, Sir Daniel,” Keenan replied, and he along with Corporal Carlin went to work.
Daniel followed Benettle toward the command post and noticed two people shy of those invited to come. Silvia and David had stayed put, no doubt because Samuel had been included. It was they who were going to miss out on the opportunity to be involved; Daniel wanted Samuel in this meeting. The Lieutenant led them across the wood floor to a back room where six men sat staring as Daniel entered with his entourage. There were only two empty chairs at the table so he hesitated. He and Jonah were the highest ranking people standing, yet two Accomplisheds of Aakadon could not be disrespected, and Daniel was inclined to offer the seats to his parents.
Sir Carlo was the first to rise and come greet him, followed shortly by Sir William, Sir Laurence, and finally Sir Tomas. “It is good to see you,” Carlo stated while slapping Daniel on the back.
“I am pleasantly surprised by your arrival,” Laurence added with a firm shake of the hand.
William eyed the people Daniel brought with him, giving the pair of Aakacarns the longest gaze before refocusing on him. “Yes, surprised to see you in deed, and with such distinguished companions.”
All of the Knights greeted their fellow Knight of the Realm with a smile except Sir Tomas. “Last I heard your task was in the Swamps of Append, what has brought you this far north?” This was a man who took an assigned task very seriously and had little patience for those who failed to do the same.
Daniel was about to introduce his parents and give answer to the question, but Jonah stepped into the conversation. “Sir Daniel has fulfilled his task most admirably, the items stolen are in my possession, one of the thieves has been convicted and executed, and we are now in the process of bringing the rest of the perpetrators to justice. We came here because the remaining thieves are believed to be headed this way.”
It was a fairly good summation and Daniel did not feel the need to elaborate. He really wanted to be on his way, so decided to move the meeting along. “My forward scouts,” human and furred, he thought to himself, “Informed me of an impending attack on the village of Cana. We engaged the raiders, killing eleven, capturing fourteen, and they are in your cells even as we speak.”
Sir William’s eyebrows seemed to climb his forehead. “You and your guardsmen engaged the raiders. Have you had the opportunity to question them?”
The gray bearded man at the table came over to join the discussion. It took Daniel a moment to recognized General Malcus, who had been clean shaven the last time they met. “I have not spoken to them directly, but I believe they are elite cavalrymen from Pentrosa,” Daniel
responded.
Samuel came forward “If you want, I can question them. No one can speak falsely to an Accomplished of the Eagle Guild.”
General Tallen did not hesitate to accept, “Your assistance is appreciated and would save us time getting the answers we need.”
“Agreed,” Sir William quickly affirmed.
“Take me to them,” Samuel replied.
The question of who was to sit where no longer mattered, everyone was following Lieutenant Benettle to the holding cells. When they arrived at the interrogation room, one man was tied to a chair and had to be wondering if the sharp tools and heated coals were about to be used on him. The right side of his face was bandaged. All of the raiders had been injured but Daniel was not inclined to heal them, so had Ursen Vallun set their broken bones and sew up their wounds. The raider took one look at the pair of Accomplisheds and screamed. An orange glow, only the eyes of an Aakacarn or Aakasear could see, surrounded Samuel, and a beam shot from the former Teki’s left hand, striking the forehead of the captive. “You will stop shouting and answer my questions.” The man obeyed immediately. “What are your name, rank, and affiliation?” Samuel demanded of him.
The man was wide-eyed with fear yet he did not hesitate to answer. “Corporal Clive Pennet, Viper Squad, Second Legion, Sutten Guard.”
Sir Laurence was grinning as if had just won a prize at a Teki carnival. “I told you so. San, here is your proof.”
The General did not respond to the Knight, but rather focused on the captive. “Who is your commander and did your leaders get away?”
The man made no reply until Samuel said, “Answer the questions.”
Pennet’s eyes locked onto Daniel. “Captain Trellon led our squad personally. He went saber to sword against the Ducaunan Royal Knight of the Realm and lost his head almost immediately. Sergeant Kallum shot an arrow, but the Knight sliced it out of the air with a casual flick of his blade and then decapitated him. No one from our squad got away.”
To Be Chosen (The Maestro Chronicles) Page 46
