by LeRoy Clary
Another image invaded his mind. In it, the dragons were as tall as a man, and scattered around them were the bodies of people slain in the attack on a city or town. Worse, they began feeding on the corpses. His eyes flashed open as he yelped in fear.
An unknown soldier said, “Easy, Sir. Just a bad dream, I’m thinking.”
Closing his eyes didn’t make the memory fade. The dragons would continue to grow in size, and quickly. He didn’t know how to train one, let alone how to control them in a crowd. The damn dragons had weighed them down when they carried the eggs, and were worse as they grew, and he’d been bitten twice. The wounds still hadn’t healed.
With his eyes closed, he centered on the real problem. Dragons scared him. Big dragons scared him even more. He’d seen them drop from the sky into an army of soldiers and tear them apart before they could run a dozen steps. Shooting an opponent with an arrow, when that man had the opportunity to shoot back, seemed fair. Using dogs to sniff a trail seemed fair. Using dragons as big as houses to rip and tear into a crowd of men didn’t.
He dozed. Late in the afternoon, a familiar sound brought him out of the restless sleep. It was the low, throaty growl of Lucky. Tyler’s eyes flew open, and he looked around. Nothing seemed out of order, but he knew an enemy was near. A small wave of his hand caught the attention of the nearest guard.
Tyler signaled for him to drop. The guard made a soft click with his tongue and attracted the other two guards as he gave them the same closed fist. All three hit the ground, confused and looking to Tyler for instructions. He held his index finger to his lips. Others who were awake nudge those next to them who snored.
Soft voices floated on the air, the separate words lost. The sounds grew louder and more distinct until they heard snatches of conversation. Then, the voices drifted off as the Cabot patrol continued.
“How’d you know, sir?” a nearby soldier asked.
“The dog. Did you hear him growl?”
“Yes, sir. I did.”
“He does that when danger is close.”
“Goes to show you good looks ain’t everything. Can I give him a pat?”
“If he lets you, sure.”
The soldier scooted on his butt closer to Lucky and held out his hand. The dog sniffed, then licked it. Soon, they were next to each other, the young soldier stroking Lucky and receiving a look of adoration in exchange that made Tyler feel jealous.
When darkness fell, they moved out, staying high on the side of the hills, making their way north. Scouts spread out in front, and Helm mentioned they’d found the log jam dam that was off to their left. They were going to pass it, and take up positions just to the north. Before dawn, they split into three smaller units, situating themselves where they could stop anyone traveling beyond the log jam to warn the other Cabots.
Tyler pulled Helm aside. “I forgot something. We also must prevent anyone from the north who wants to go south. If they find us and turn around, we’ve lost the advantage of surprise.”
Helm smiled. “Not to worry, sir. We thought you wanted us to plan it that way, so we have scouts out that way, too.”
The main attack on the Cabot compound to the south was scheduled at dawn, but there was no way to know how it went, or if it did. The waiting for something to happen after the sun came up became tense. No boats were on the river, the two roads had no traffic, and they heard nothing as they spread out in the effort to prevent anyone from passing the choke point.
Then, near mid-morning, hurried footsteps sounded on the hard packed road. More than one person. They came from the south.
Tyler looked across the River Road to make sure the men there were warned, or that they had heard the approach. All of them had arrows fitted to their bows, and were crouched down instead of sitting, the same as the men near him.
Four Cabots came into view, their uniforms dirty. One wore a bloody bandage around his upper arm. Another limped. Clearly, they had been in battle. Also, clearly, they were going to warn the others.
Helm raised his palm, telling his men to wait until they came closer to the ambush. Then, he dipped it for the signal, and arrows flew. No sooner had the four Cabots fallen than their bodies were dragged off the road and hidden. The marks in the sand of the road were swept and more sand scuffed over the blood soaking into it, and they waited again.
When the next two Cabots appeared a short time later, the entire process was repeated. When no others appeared, Helm sent scouts to the other road and to the blockade locations, with orders to return with information. They returned with news that nobody had made it past them. A two-man patrol from the north fought a short engagement on the other road, but both were killed.
Tyler hadn’t lost a man. He hoped those attacking the mines were as lucky. Later, Helm brought a prisoner to Tyler. He’d been a guard at a mine and claimed to be the only survivor. Once freed, the prisoners had overrun the guards and killed all but the one standing in front of him. That man had managed to run away. Helm confirmed there were men and women working the mine, as well as older children, who were now free.
“They went crazy,” the Cabot complained, his battered body covered in cuts and bruises.
Tyler shook his head in disbelief at the ignorance of the guard. “Crazy?”
“They were fighting each other to be the first to kill us. They pushed and shoved just so they could hit us. The attackers couldn’t stop them.”
Having heard enough, Tyler snapped, “I’m sorry if any of the slaves got hurt while attacking you. Here we have a different set of rules, but you won’t like them any better. Anyone who willingly worked as a Cabot must die for the pain they put other people through.”
“Die?”
“I won’t waste my men standing guard over you. I need them to fight your kind.”
“You can’t do that,” the guard said, his eyes wide with fear.
“Helm, will you handle this?” Tyler rose and walked away. He heard the wet sounding thump of the arrow striking the guard, but didn’t look back.
Helm caught up with him. He said, “I’ve been to the river and all the way up the hillside. There is an abandoned lookout up there that gives a view of everything. I placed three men in it. One was appointed as a messenger to run down here and report if they spot any Cabots.”
“Very good,” Tyler said. “Things are going fine. Now tell me what can go wrong.”
“If someone managed to slip through and warn the other compound, they’ll attack us from our rear. We’ll be outnumbered.” Helm had spoken too soft for any of the men nearby to hear.
“Send a pair of men to the boats on the bank. Have them push all but ten out into the river and let them float away. Pass the word that if a lot of the Cabots attack us from the north, we rendezvous at the river bank and row away as soon as each boat is filled. They can’t follow if they don’t have boats.”
“So, we run away?” Helm asked, astonished at the suggestion.
“Like the wind.”
Helm recovered and slapped him on the shoulder good-naturedly and left to spread the word. Tyler had no problem running away. Dying was what he didn’t want to do. Word filtered back that two more Cabots were dead while trying to break through their lines, but the Cabots didn’t even know there was a blockade in progress. All the Cabots had been traveling on the few roads.
Near the end of the day, the first of Bender’s men arrived and joined forces. By evening almost all had arrived at Tyler’s location and plans were made to march to the compound where the girl called Prim had initially warned them.
Tyler and Bender, as well as two of the ex-Cabots, knew the lay of the land and had been there. They knew where the compound was located, how it was defended, and all agreed that if they left at midnight, they would reach the compound before sunup and catch them sleeping.
It was worth the loss of sleep to prevent more loss of lives in battle. Bender decided to lead the group to the clearing above the compound, and attack it from the rear, but he wanted a smal
ler group to remain in the front to catch stragglers who tried escaping.
The march was single-file because the overcast sky prevented much starlight from getting to the ground. By following each other, they kept a steady pace, and with luck, Bender took them directly to the clearing. While all wore swords, Bender and Tyler didn’t like fighting close. They preferred bows and to set up positions for the men where they had clear lines of fire.
Remembering the girl, Prim, they passed the word to only fire on Cabot military. The cooks, cleaners, and anyone else would be taken alive. Prisoners of the Cabots would be freed. Others killed. It was that simple. The signal to attack would be a shout from Bender.
The sky grew lighter. But not bright enough to distinguish who was who. They waited. The sun peeked out from behind pink clouds, and everyone knew the time was near.
Bender shouted as he let an arrow fly at the single guard at the rear of the compound. At least two arrows killed the Cabot at the front. Then confused Cabots ran from the barracks, two and three at a time. Arrows rained down on them. Men screamed and fell. Others just fell quietly. More Cabots ran outside to see what was happening, and some even tried to run back inside, but the archers were too close for that to work.
Soon, more than forty Cabots lay dead. A squad formed by Helm pulled their swords and entered the long, low, barracks. They emerged shortly, swords bloody and they headed for the next building. And the next. Finally, they waved the rest to join them in the compound.
Inside the prisoner building were twenty men and women chained, ready to be taken to the mines. There were also two children, a boy, and girl no older than six, brother and sister. They didn’t know where their parents were.
Helm had taken four Cabots alive. He found there were three more mines in the north he didn’t know of, and where all of them were located. In addition, he learned of a stone mansion in the nearby mountains. It was owned by the Cabot family and was where they lived.
“That’s all we need to know,” Tyler said. He steeled himself for another march.
From the group of rescued prisoners, a girl broke free and dodged around Tyler’s men. She ran right at Tyler.
“It’s you!” Prim shouted, and ran past the guards to Tyler, wrapping her arms around him as if they were long-lost relatives. She refused to let him go, gripping his neck so hard he couldn’t draw a full breath. She wailed, “I knew you’d be back.”
He said, “We have people at the mines, too. They’re freeing the slaves, and hopefully your family.” He tried to pry himself loose, but to no avail.
Other prisoners were unchained by Tyler’s men in the blacksmith shop, most in various states of shock, injuries, and disbelief at their rescue. They were recently captured and hadn’t accepted or understood their futures as miners, but a few worked in the compound and knew well what hell their lives would become. The few Cabots still alive sat with Bender and Helm, neither of whom appeared happy.
Other prisoners reacted differently to their sudden freedom. One pompous man demanded to be returned to his home as if he had the right to demand anything. Others cried, too happy at gaining their freedom to properly react, and a few hugged anyone in sight. One woman cried because as she explained, she had nowhere to go now that her whole family was dead.
Bender stood and strode to Tyler, ignoring the girl who still refused to let go of Tyler. “It’s not over.”
“Problem at the mines?” Tyler asked, giving up on ever separating himself from Prim.
“Have you heard of the Cabot mansion? Never mind, the Cabot family owns a palace in the mountains, and they’re the ones that hired all these guards. They get all the gold people dig, and are behind all of this.”
“Okay, they’re responsible for all of it,” Tyler said, then asked, “So what, now?”
Bender nodded to the soldiers. “And why they’re called Cabots. The Cabot family started this years ago, capturing people and using them to dig their gold, and over time it spread into a full army of guards. The point is, they have a palace, but they only spend some of their time living at it. The guards say most of them live way downriver in a huge city called Aston.”
“I suppose they live like kings.”
“Better. They have gold for anything they want, but they do not have the responsibilities of being rulers,” Bender said.
Prim finally let go and stepped back from Tyler. The tracks of tears stained her filthy face. She spoke with a firm voice that drew their total attention, “Will you kill them? All of them?”
“We’re not killers,” Tyler said, trying to calm her.
“Good,” she answered coldly.
Bender said, “Why is that good? I’m confused.”
“Because they have taken so much from so many, you killing them is too easy.”
Tyler flinched at the sharpness of her tone. Her eyes flashed in anger. He said, “What would you have us do?”
She shrugged. “I had no plans for the future, but now I do. I’ll travel to the city of Aston and find them. One at a time, if I must. Then I’ll capture them bring them to the mine to dig, and put them to work for the rest of their miserable lives, just like they did to others.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Bender and Tyler cringed at the anger and drama of Prim’s statements. Neither responded because the words were so alien coming from the mouth of a thin, young girl of fourteen or fifteen, who was playing with a doll only a couple of years ago, instead of discussing taking captives. She wasn’t more than a child, but spoke like a spiteful woman of many years. She reminded Tyler of a young man in their company back in the Unity Army. He’d been quiet, said little to anyone, but on the day of a battle he’d led the charge, saber waving in the air, screaming insults, and attacking like a wild man. He’d fallen first.
Bender said, “Okay, Prim. We understand you’re upset, but look at the better side of things. Today you’re free to leave this terrible place and do what you wish. You may have still family working in the mines, and then you can all go home.”
“When do you travel to the Cabot mansion?” She asked.
“Today. Before they learn about what we’ve done here, and flee,” Bender told her.
“I’m going with you.”
“No, you’re not,” Bender said firmly.
“Are you going to put me in chains?”
“Of course, not,” Tyler sputtered.
“Then, I’m going.” Her lower lip pouted, and her dark eyes squinted with the face she made, but there was no humor in it. Her dark, limp hair was tangled. A single brown straw was stuck in it, and a smudge of dirt covered the right cheek.
Bender turned and called to the men, who in turn passed the word of a meeting to be held immediately. He climbed on top of a supply crate and waited until most of them were within hearing. The men were not jubilant, as Tyler had seen soldiers act after winning other battles. They were shocked at what they’d found. Disgusted. Angry. Fearful.
Most had taken their job with Bender and Tyler to fight for a few coins, not to get emotionally involved, but they would fight for a good cause. Yet, many had changed when they saw the reactions of the villagers who had lost people. In the few days they had been together, Tyler had noticed the men come together in ways he’d never seen. These men were not forced, or unreasonable demands made of them. They were told the truth of the mission and their questions answered by Bender or Tyler. In short, they were treated as Tyler wished he had been treated.
Bender addressed the men, “We have men freeing the mines in the north this morning, and if any require help we’ll send it. But the people who are behind all of this own a palace not far from here, and we’ll march there as soon as you can gather your belongings.”
A villager Tyler recognized called out, “Will you kill them?”
“I don’t know,” Bender said. “But, before they can flee I want to strike at their home.”
The same man said, “Just turn them over to me.”
“And me,” another
shouted.
Bender hesitated. Tyler understood why. These men were simple farmers, craftsmen, and shop owners. They were not killers, but their anger spoke for them as they saw first-hand what the Cabots regime did, and what they had done to local people, as well as those innocents traveling on the river. The act of chaining innocent people to work in mines infuriated them. The thoughts of their missing friends, neighbors, and relatives being similarly chained turned them into other than their natural, gentle beings. They wanted revenge.
But, the problem was that in a few days they would return to their homes, and face a lifetime of shame and remorse for their actions. Bender said, “For now, my only concerns are to free the slaves in the mines and to attack the core of the problem, the Cabot palace. After those things are done, we can discuss personal vengeance.”
Bender ordered them to prepare to march. He intended to attack before dark, if possible. Two more men were brought to stand in front of them. Instead of the tan uniforms of the Cabots, they wore the colors of the Unity Army. They had been captured on the river, in a small boat.
Tyler said to them, “Do you know us?”
The two expected to be executed for desertion. They slowly shook their heads. Bender said, “Why did you desert?”
“Who said we deserted?” One shot back, defiant, shoulder square.
“I did,” Bender said. “Why?”
“We’re not cowards,” the other said. “We didn’t join. They made us fight.”
The other said, “Shut up. They don’t care.”
Tyler stepped forward and held up a pair of gold coins. “You can’t make it down the river without gold or silver. Find an honest money changer and use this wisely. We are Tyler and Bender, and we may see you down there some day. Now, get back to your boat and row like hell before the Cabots catch you.”
“Cabots?” the first one said as if he’d never heard the word.
“Cabots. Trust me, you want to get the hell out of here as fast as you can row.”
They snatched the coins and spun. They ran so fast the men at Tyler’s side laughed. He wished he could have gone with them.
