Lyyl and the archer, whose name he discovered was Tay, arrived with each of them pulling the dead pirate behind them by his feet. Three of their number were gathered around the warrior that had fallen in the early moments of the attack. His name had been Clin. Lyyl approached the circle brusquely.
“We’ll take him with us,” he said without any hint of sorrow. There would be a time for that. That time was not now. For most of these young warriors, this would be their first time losing a friend. It was vital that Lyyl demonstrate the appropriate way to react. The battlefield was no place for a wake. “Take the others to the trench, and make certain that they are well covered.”
The trench had been dug several days previously in preparation of this night.
The bodies were dragged off. Lyyl took a blanket away from one of the dead pirates and ordered two of his people to wrap their fallen brother in it. He purposely selected both a male and a female for this task. He wanted to thoroughly establish the fact that women would be expected to perform the same tasks as the men. They secured the body with strips of cloth torn from other blankets.
When all of the work had been completed, he gathered everyone around him and had them kneel. “Take heed, all of you. There was no reason for Clin’s death except his own actions.” The members of his team were silent, but they sought each other’s eyes to judge reactions. Lyyl continued. “A javelin is used for killing at a distance. That is its purpose. That is what I instructed Clin to do. Instead, he panicked and tried to use it as a stabbing weapon. It is not a lance, it is a javelin. He forgot his training, and he died because of it. The man that he failed to kill from a distance could have gone on to kill one of you.” He looked at each one of them individually. “Remember that.”
Lyyl took an accounting of the provisions that the pirates had carried with them. The amount of blankets, food, spirits and water told him that they would probably have been expected to stay at their posts for two or three days at a time unless they spotted reinforcements approaching the crossroads.
“Stay here,” Lyyl ordered while pointing at eight members of his team. He handed his javelin to a short, stocky boy of some seventeen summers. Lyyl had caught sight of him in the brief and deadly battle. He moved like a warrior and had displayed courage. “Take over as team leader, I’ll be back at daybreak.” Lyyl sought out the eyes of every other team member to ensure that they all understood who was in charge. He then turned to Tay and the other two warriors. “We will take turns carrying our fallen brother.”
Approximately five miles from the site of the crossroads ambush was a medium-sized farm that had been operated by the kingdom for the purpose of providing food for the city. It was a sprawling complex that included dozens of outbuildings for storage. Lyyl and his three subordinates approached one of the larger structures. It was constructed from denuded logs and fastened together with pegs. Its construction identified it as almost ancient. It was still dark, and the moons were both now covered with clouds. As they grew near, Lyyl tried to spot the lookouts that should be posted. He saw two in the tree line. They had heard the group’s approach and had stepped out to see who it was. Dry sticks snapped beneath their feet.
Tay whispered beside him. “Why don’t they just beat a drum?”
Lyyl laughed inwardly. She was right, though. The sentries were there to alert the warriors inside the storage sheds if the enemy were to approach. A trained military team could have spotted them and taken them down silently.
Inside the big shed, the smell of silage was competing for dominance over the odor of sweat and dirty feet. Snores were coming from everywhere, as were other sounds consistent with a large group that was trying to sleep. They had laid Clin’s body out by the tree line before approaching. Lyyl looked around for the telltale striped blanket that would be covering Geo. He was the other senior warrior in their group.
Lyyl found Geo with his head in a corner. He was doing his utmost to best his fellow warriors in the art of snoring. Lyyl shook him. He jumped and reached for his knife. Then he recognized Lyyl. Lyyl beckoned with his head toward the door. Geo sighed and nodded, then pulled on his trousers and boots, and followed him to the door.
Outside Geo yawned widely. “So, tell me what happened,” he said.
Lyyl reacted to Geo’s yawn with one of his own. “Well, they finally did send a team to watch the road. We were able to overcome them. It might keep them from seeing reinforcements approaching for a few days. That is, if any reinforcements actually come.” His eyes dropped slightly. “We lost a man. Clin.”
Geo nodded. “I don’t want to seem callous, but I’m not surprised. He always got too excited during training. Thought he’d last longer though.”
“He fought well. Killed one of the pirates. His courage was not lacking, only his experience. Stars, most of our people were plucked from farms and ranches right after the war. Few of them have gone through our level of training.”
Lyyl was referencing the practice of sending youths to military training starting at the age of ten summers. They would attend normal school with the younger children then leave their classmates and report for a half-day of military exercises. Five years later they left their homes for the military barracks. From that day onward they were warriors.
Geo looked around the darkened buildings. He could see that it was getting lighter. “I wonder how long it will take these…pirates…I still have a difficult time with that word, to figure out that most of our people have fled to the surrounding areas. I wonder if they know about the other kingdoms.”
Lyyl shrugged. “I don’t know why they are still here. They looted most of the areas to the north, leaving only the structures. Do you think they mean to conquer us? Could they have that many fighters?”
Geo spat. “We just don’t know enough about them. Well, you should get in a few hours of sleep while you can. It seems that dawn is approaching, so you have successfully robbed me of my last few minutes of peace. I’ll wake you at noon, and we can put together some kind of plan.”
***
Toria had always awakened before the sun rose. That was just part of working on a farm. This morning she had gotten up, dressed herself and nibbled on a few pieces of fruit that she snuck from the dinner of the night before. Then she stole through the castle hallways and out into the streets of Olvion. She had been in the city before and knew the area that had always been set aside for the military to stage in when they were preparing for war or practice. She easily located the wagons and burdenbeasts, which she knew would be used to provide support to the warriors. She wrapped a light blanket around her head like a hood, and tried her best to seem as if she belonged there. She saw several dozen people loading supplies and pitched in to help. Those around her thought she must have been contracted like they were otherwise there would be no reason for her to be there. A few thought it odd that she was not familiar, but they decided that was someone else’s worry.
When the military marched out, she just followed like the dozens of others who did not have a place on the wagons to ride. She made it a point to strike up conversations with several people close to her age. Before long she was laughing and joking and talking like the rest of them.
By the time the procession stopped for the night, she thought she had pulled it off. She was unloading cooking supplies from one of the wagons when she literally ran right into Geraar. He had been standing behind her watching when she wheeled around, and her nose went right into his chest. She backed up intending to apologize until she saw who it was. Then she just stood there and gulped.
With his hands on both hips, the young warrior tried to put a stern expression on his face. He had been passing by the rear of the caravan hoping to sneak a snack from one of the wagons when he saw her. At first he thought he should be angry. This was, after all, a dangerous military action that they were embarking on, and she was an unauthorized civilian. For some reason he was unable to muster up that reaction. He marveled at her tenacity, and recalled the many times
on their trip from the charon ranch to Olvion that she had impressed him with her confidence.
While the four men in their group were just trying to keep up with each other, this young woman was a sting-fly’s nest of activity. When a halt was called for water, food or to check hooves, the men would seize upon the opportunity to get off the saddles, stretch and sit in some shade. Toria, on the other hand, would be climbing trees, throwing stones, practicing with her knives and a dozen other activities. She seemed incapable of sitting still.
Geraar thought of all of the women who served ably as warriors right alongside their male counterparts. Certainly this youth was as capable as they were, maybe more so, as she had already drawn blood against a Grey One, a very dangerous enemy.
So now here he was with her nose buried into his chest and trying so very hard not to smile. She backed up and recognized him. Her expressions gave her thoughts away. First her face reflected surprise, then guilt and finally, defiance. So typical of her.
“So when did you hire out to support this military excursion?”
She scratched her nose and looked around. “Uh, yesterday?” She looked hopeful, thinking Geraar might actually believe that she had a legitimate reason to be with them. Then she caught the smile that was seeping through his forced stern expression. “Well, I couldn’t stay behind by myself while Tag and…and you went off without me. Besides, my father gave me instructions to find my cousin and return to the farm with him. Well, Lyyl is somewhere near Aspell, and Father never said anything about me not leaving Olvion to find him.”
Geraar rubbed his chin as he pretended to consider the worth of her reasoning. Then he grabbed her by the wrist and started pulling her along behind him.
“Wh…where are you taking me?” she sputtered.
Geraar kept walking while he spoke. “I might accept your reasoning if it were just me, Lady Toria.” She winced at the use of the title. “But I am a warrior of Olvion, and this is a military combat formation. My duty requires me to bring this to the attention of my superiors.”
Toria tried out various arguments on him to try to get him to reconsider his course of action, but she saw the set of his jaw and the slight squint in his eyes. She had seen the same expression in her father many times when she had pushed his patience too far. She tried prying his hand off of her wrist, but he was surprisingly strong. She had met few men and boys near her age whom she could not overpower when they tried to impress her with their strength, but no matter how she strained and pulled, his hand was like a vice on her arm.
Taggart and Vynn were off to the side of the forming camp when they saw Geraar approaching with Toria literally in tow. Vynn just cut his eyes in Taggart’s direction and raised his brows. Taggart shrugged.
“Lord Vynn,” Geraar said as he saluted, “I’m afraid I must report an unauthorized person in our camp.”
Vynn was chewing a piece of dried meat. He looked at her for an uncomfortably long time until he was able to swallow it. He then turned to look at Taggart again. “I assume you knew nothing about this?”
Taggart shook his head. “The last thing I heard about her was when Meena told me she didn’t answer her door this morning. We both thought she was pouting.” Toria reacted with a frown to his words. He ignored her. “Now that I think about it more clearly, I realize that I should have suspected something like this.” He looked at her sternly. “Do you realize the situation you have put us in? We have few enough warriors as it is. Now we have to have four of them escort you back to Olvion tomorrow morning. Your willfulness might very well cost us lives in the long run.”
Toria was surprised at his tone. For the entire time she had known the big man he had always been friendly and jovial. Now he was actually showing a temper. The change in him made her think that maybe she had gone over the line again. She was used to going over the line. Her father’s patience had been tested more by her than by all of her brothers put together. She was aware of that, and she always regretted the problems that she had created for her parents.
No one seemed to understand her, however. She did not willingly cause difficulties for the people around her, but she had always felt like she was driven. Something inside of her had always compelled her to discover her own limits instead of having others set them for her. She had always been certain that she was meant for something grand, and glorious in her life. Here was this amazing adventure happening right in front of her, and she was being asked…no, told to be a good little girl and just stay where it was safe.
“I am really sorry for disobeying you, and I did not mean to cause any problems,” she said. She briefly dropped her eyes in mock shame. Then they snapped back up again to look at him directly. “But I need you to try to understand me. I am always being told what to do. I have had an entire lifetime of doing as I am instructed, and it is strangling me! The only time I have ever felt fully alive was when I was with you on our journey and we were attacked. Yes, I could have died, I know that, but I didn’t. I have never before felt like that in my entire life. I want to feel like that again. I need to feel like that!
“I was supposed to meet Lyyl in Olvion, now we know he will not be coming back until this situation is resolved. How long am I expected to wait alone in Olvion? A season? A summer? How long will it be before there is someone available to take me back to my parent’s farm? You know me Tag, do you really think I will not start out on my own before long?”
Taggart considered her words, and decided she was right. If left alone she would definitely find a way to sneak away from the castle, and strike out on her own. She continued.
“I look around myself in this camp, and I see dozens of women not more than one summer older than me. They are warriors. Do you think any of them are more competent than me? I have never met any other woman and only very few men who were as strong as I am. You have seen me in combat. You know I can fight.”
Vynn was finding himself amused by her spirit. “You have been in combat? Against who?”
Toria’s dark eyes flashed as she looked to him. “Not against who, against what.” She pointed at Taggart. “We were attacked by five Grey Ones on the road. He threw one down then got involved in fighting the other four. The one he threw got up and was going to stab him from behind with a sword. I killed him.”
Now Vynn laughed. “You killed him? A Grey One, all by yourself. What did you kill him with? A stick?”
She felt her temper emerging, and forced herself to give an icy yet quiet reply. “No, I used my knives.”
“Your knives?” Vynn chuckled again. “Against a Grey One with a sword?”
Taggart put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Uh, she did.” When Vynn gave a look of confusion, he explained. “No, really, she did. She is actually very good with the Tooth and Claw. With a sword also, for that matter.”
Now Vynn looked impressed. So was Geraar even though he’d heard the story before.
Toria saw their expressions and grew hopeful. At least they knew she wasn’t a helpless little girl that needed to be protected. That was a thought she could not abide.
Vynn considered the matter for a moment then spoke. “Perhaps we are thinking about this backwards. Instead of losing warriors maybe we are gaining one.” He looked at Taggart. “I know you have made promises to her parents, and I am prepared to commit people to taking her back if you insist. Here’s a proposal: We allow her to stay on. I will assign a warrior…say this young man here, what is your name, Warrior?”
Geraar snapped to attention again when he realized he was being addressed by his superior. “Warrior Geraar Da ‘Aylon, Lord Vynn.”
Vynn nodded. To Taggart he said, “Yes, I put her with young Geraar here. He teaches her things such as how to be an effective sentry, scouting and reading a trail. We don’t lose any warriors, and we have an effective guard to help protect our camp. We will keep her out of any combat situations, of course. As much as we can, anyway.”
Taggart considered the idea. He was not happy about bre
aking his word to her parents, but he could not ignore the truth of her words. She would not sit idly in Olvion for seasons at a time, and she was right about her abilities and her age. The scenario set forth by Vynn would at least give her an opportunity to learn some things that could help keep her alive. The argument that most swayed Taggart was the fact that the effort to free Aspell, and thus Dwan, was going to need every fighter that was available. Toria could help that effort if only by standing sentry duty to free up a warrior for combat.
“Your proposal has merit.”
Toria drew a sharp breath and held it. It was happening. She didn’t want to do or say anything that might cause them to change their minds, so she remained perfectly silent.
Taggart fixed her with a stern glare. “Don’t expect any celebrations. You will be allowed to stay only if you follow any and all instructions that this warrior gives you. You might even learn some things from him if you keep your mind open. Defy him one time, and you will find yourself walking back to Olvion.”
Vynn pointed to Geraar. “I expect you to give her good instruction, Lad. Now go on, and get her started on her education.”
Geraar snapped to attention and saluted again. Beside him Toria did the same.
When they were gone, Vynn looked back at Taggart. “So she really went shield to shield with a Grey One and was victorious?”
“Absolutely. Don’t be misled by her brashness, she has astonishing physical abilities. She’s right about her strength, but what impressed me about her was the speed at which she can move. She opened that Grey’s throat while he was still raising his weapon. The only thing that I have seen that is quicker than she, is a Mountain Child.” Taggart was thinking back to the time that Tinker had been attacked by a serpent. The poor predator barely made it to safety and left behind a good portion of scales and skin. Thinking of Tinker pulled at his heart. He missed his little friend terribly, and wondered about her, hoping she was safe, and back in her mountain home.
The Coastal Kingdoms of Olvion: Book Two of The Chronicles of Olvion Page 18
