Liberator

by Jones, Loren K.

  Ari and Morgan rode up beside Java as they were preparing to leave. “This is exciting, going all the way to Whitehall. Do you know what Duke Arten wants, Java?” Morgan asked.

  Java shook her head. “No, but Sam thinks it’s just something she calls ‘clearing the cobwebs’. Duchess Neldan used to bring in people to scandalize her court all the time, just to keep the nobles on their toes.” Java laughed, happy at being back with her friends for any reason. She looked down to where her dog, Ah’Lan’Ah, was scampering under Sugar’s hooves and giggled. Ah’Lan’Ah seemed as eager to go as any of them.

  Java and her escort left Firedale and headed back to Hiddendell with Arandar warming their backs. They were all in high spirits at the prospect of returning home after more than four years in the field.

  Emily Whitehall was the happiest member of the group. She was really going home. Home to Whitehall, and her family. She spoke expansively, telling Java about the city where she’d been born.

  “Whitehall is a beautiful city, Java. After it was destroyed during the revolt against Blackmoore, the city was rebuilt. The duke and his city planners laid it out carefully before they did much building. I was told by my teachers that they went as far as making a sand-table version of the valley and building a model city to see how it would look.”

  Java, who had seldom had much contact with her, found Emily to be a very nice, soft-spoken woman. She nodded encouragement and murmured appreciatively to keep Emily talking. After one long pause, Java asked, “How long has it been since you went home to see your family?”

  Emily shook her head slowly, as if considering her answer carefully. “I’m anxious to see my family. And anxious about seeing my family. There were some bad feelings about why and how I left. I’m nearly thirty, and it’s time I consider retirement. I have to make sure I have a place.” She grinned at Java, then winked. “Might see if my old boyfriend is still around. And available.” She put her right hand on her belly and her smile turned tender. “Might be nice to be a mother.”

  Java smiled as she reached over and touched Emily’s hand. “You’d be a wonderful mother.”

  Ari spoke softly to Java later that day. “Don’t worry about Emily, Java. She’s been saying that for years. But she’s all Firewalker, just like Merrit. She’d never be happy retired and sitting in her kitchen having babies.”

  Java smiled and nodded. “Sounds familiar.”

  *

  Larena delivered Java’s letter before the day was three hours old. Jah’Moke took it, then looked at Larena.

  “What is it?” he asked as he looked at Java’s seal.

  “I’m sure she explains it in the letter, but she was summoned to Whitehall by the duke. She’s already on the road west.”

  Weldon had wandered over when he saw Larena talking to Jah’Moke. Hearing what was going on, he nudged Jah’Moke and said, “Read it.”

  Jah’Moke broke the seal and read the letter aloud. At the end he said, “Don’t let the chance at happiness pass you by.” He looked at Larena and asked, “What does that mean?”

  Larena looked at Weldon, so he answered. “It means that if you feel the need to be in a woman’s arms,” he grinned at Larena, “she understands. In simple terms, have fun.”

  Jah’Moke shook his head. “I cannot do that.”

  Larena put her hand on Jah’Moke’s shoulder. “Bad things happen, Jah’Moke. You could fall to an unlucky arrow any day. And so could she. It isn’t safe anywhere right now.” She squeezed his shoulder to make him look at her. “Stay true if you wish. If you can. She’s just saying that if you don’t, she’s alright with it.”

  Jah’Moke shook his head. “Java is the only woman for me.”

  *

  Greencastle was all but deserted close to Lender’s Dale. Deserted farms, sometimes clusters of five or more, dotted the landscape, but Lone Pine was the only town. As the days passed they began seeing more farms, and soon villages. Sergeant Whitehall led them through most of the villages without stopping for more than a few supplies.

  Samantha rode forward as they left yet another village behind as Arandar was setting behind the distant hills. She maneuvered her horse in beside Emily and asked, “Sergeant, why can’t we stop at an inn? We don’t have to sleep in our tents.”

  Emily just looked at her for a moment, considering her words carefully. “Duchess, how many people know you’re alive right now? How many people know what you look like?” she asked softly.

  “I don’t know. The Firewalkers, the Thunderfeet, the Vandals, my cousins. Why?” Samantha had learned through hard experience that none of the noncoms ever asked a question without a reason.

  “What do you think would happen if we stopped in every town and let them know who you are?” Sergeant Whitehall asked, looking closely at the young duchess.

  “I don’t know. I’m sorry, Sergeant, but I don’t know what you’re driving at.” Samantha looked Emily in the eye and shrugged.

  “Duchess, do you think the twenty-three of us, even with Robin and the triplets, could protect you if some large force of men decided that the Duchess of Lender’s Dale would be worth some ransom? Or Lady Mountainstand? Do you want to see us all dead?” Sergeant Whitehall let Samantha consider her words for a moment, then continued. “The safest way for us to travel is as a group of mercs rotating home, not as an escort for Duchess Samantha and Lady Java. And that means we act the part all the time.”

  “Oh, didn’t think of that,” was the only thing Samantha could think to say. Her expression clouded over for an instant, then she looked at the women around her and a small smiled curved her lips. I think I’m safe. But there was a trace of worry in the corner of her eyes now.

  Days turned into a week before they began seeing larger towns. Once they were past the city of Overlook in Cotton County, Sergeant Whitehall began allowing them to stay overnight in inns or taverns rather than their tents, much to everyone’s delight. This was after they began hearing stories about bandits. As Captain Freeholm had said, men took advantage of the fact that the Guard was on the borders.

  As one day was coming to a close, they heard shouting in the distance. Sergeant Whitehall stopped her patrol, then called the cavalry to the front. “Five abreast, lances. Fast trot. Archers, on me,” she ordered, and the cavalry advanced toward the sound. “Duchess Samantha, Lady Java, to the rear. Let us deal with this.”

  *

  Arran Leress led his men into the village of Drover’s Point at a run, shouting at the top of his lungs. They had been very successful so far and had taken three towns already. If this keeps up, I’m going to have to buy a farm and retire. He smiled with satisfaction as his men raided yet another place with impunity. With thirty men, his was the largest armed force in this part of Greencastle.

  The bandits charged into town, shooting arrows at any who dared show their faces. The village store, the inn, and the smithy were the only places there was likely to be any real coin, and they concentrated on them. The owner of the store, the mayor by chance, fought against them, managing to kill one of the bandits. This earned him a belly full of steel, and the chance to see his daughter raped before his eyes closed for the last time.

  Women and children were screaming, and the few men in the town were fighting back, but Arran knew he had little to worry about. All the able-bodied fighting men were gone with the Guard, leaving only oldsters and youngsters to oppose him. He was standing in the center of the town, contemplating what he was going to do next, when the drumming of running horses came from the east.

  The cavalrywomen saw the bandits among the town’s folk, and charged. Bandits went down with heavy lances in their bodies, screaming like the women they had been chasing.

  Sergeant Whitehall and her archers followed close behind the cavalry, shooting at bandits left and right as they passed.

  But Java had stopped her girls at the edge of town, wheeling Sugar in front of them to block their path. “We don’t go in with them.”

  “But, Ja
va..!” Samantha began, but Java cut her off.

  “Don’t! Ready an arrow, but we do not go into town. You’re too important, Samantha. We can’t risk you.” Java’s eyes were bleak as the screams continued.

  Ah’Lan’Ah whined and stalked back and forth in front of Java and the girls. Her loyalties were torn between Java and the rest of the patrol. The fact that Ari and the rest continued to defer to Java made her consider Java to still be the “alpha” of her pack, but she wanted to be with the others.

  Java finally noticed her puppy and said, “Go on, girl. Go to Ari.” Ah’Lan’Ah took off like an arrow, drawing their eyes up the road.

  “Java! Look!” Mayrie pointed into the town, and Java cursed.

  Arran and ten of his men had broken loose and were headed out of town as fast as their feet would carry them. He didn’t know who these mercenaries were, and he wasn’t about to stay to find out. Running down the road, he saw six more mercenaries blocking his escape.

  Java and the girls had readied their short bows as soon as Sergeant Whitehall had called for the archers. Acting almost in unison, they drew and shot. Four men went down with the first volley.

  Java called, “Surrender! You cannot escape!”

  Arran’s answer was to shoot an arrow at Java, only to see it deflected away. His action drew a second volley, three of which hit him. The remaining men turned to flee back through the town, but the cavalry had returned. In moments, all the bandits were dead or dying.

  Java kept her girls from entering the village until Sergeant Whitehall signaled it was safe. Robin rode ahead, her steady gaze telling Java as clear as words that she was determined to help, and was in full control of herself.

  Samantha chafed at the restriction. “Java, they’ve seen to the bandits. We can help.”

  Marie spoke softly and said, “This place looks like Brian’s Ford.”

  Maylee whispered, “Please, Sam.”

  Maygren finished the thought softly. “We don’t want to see a village so much like home after a raid.”

  Samantha looked at her friends and was chilled by their expressions. Nothing frightened the triplets, normally, but now their expressions made them look like terrified children. She nodded slowly but nocked another arrow anyway.

  Finally, after almost an hour, Java led her girls into Drover’s Point. The Firewalkers and town’s folk had cleaned up, but there were still numerous places where a patch of mud marked someone’s death. Java closed her eyes in pain when she saw women crying, holding onto bloodied remnants of cloth.

  Sergeant Whitehall was issuing orders, and the people were obeying as if she was a noble. Slowly, order was reestablished.

  “Scouts,” Sergeant Whitehall called, waiting until Java faced her, “go to the inn and do what you can. That’s where most of the wounded are.”

  Java saluted and led the way. Entering the inn’s common room, they faced horror. The bandits hadn’t been discriminating about who they had attacked. Men, women, and children all showed signs of violence.

  The triplets linked and began using the healing spells that Sherefin had taught them, backing Robin. Java took Samantha by the hand and led her to where the less seriously wounded were being bandaged up.

  An elderly woman looked up as Java and Samantha approached her. “Who are you?” she asked warily.

  “We’re here to help. We’re from one of the mercenary companies that Duke Kaster hired to keep Frander out,” Java answered, carefully not giving any details.

  “Well, if you’re mercenaries, then I guess you must know a bit about caring for wounded. Start over there.” She pointed to where a young girl sat cradling her arm.

  Java went to her knees and said, “Let me see,” in a gentle tone as she looked at the girl. She hissed in shock when the child moved her hand. A sword or knife stroke had cut into her biceps, though not too deeply.

  “Sam, I need bandages and a sewing kit. Hurry.” Turning back to the girl, she looked for further signs of trauma. The girl’s eyes were dull with pain, and her face was ashen, but she wasn’t injured anywhere else. Except her heart.

  Sam was back in a moment. “Here, Java. Do you need anything else?” Samantha asked, handing Java the sewing kit first.

  Java nodded. “I need that stuff Sherefin makes to stop the wound from being infected. Then I need your hands to hold the wound closed.” When Sam had washed her hands and Java’s, she doused the sewing kit as well. “Match the skin as well as you can, Sam. Gods Above and Below, I wish I’d paid more attention when I was in the leech’s tent.” Java began sewing the child’s arm back together, making the smallest, most delicate stitches she could.

  Samantha sighed. “It’s hard to believe this is happening. I never thought this sort of thing could happen so far from the war.” Samantha looked around the room, her eyes bleak at the sight of the carnage.

  Java shook her head, never taking her eyes off the girl’s arm. “Captain Freeholm warned me. She said this always happens. As soon as the Guard is gone, the scum rises to the surface. Well, at least none of them are ever going to harm another child,” she commented as she finished sewing and bandaging the girl’s arm and looked around. More than a dozen people were there, and she began bandaging whoever she could. Samantha aided where she could and comforted those who were beyond their meager talents to save. Not even the combined power of the triplets was sufficient in some instances.

  In the end, the town lost twenty people. The mayor’s widow and surviving children begged Sergeant Whitehall to stay, but in the morning, they rode on with the promise that they would send aid from the next town.

  Samantha looked back to see women and children standing in the road, watching them go with fear in their eyes. “Java, I never want to see anything like that ever again.” There was a quiver in Samantha’s voice Java had never heard before.

  “I don’t want you to, Sam. But I remember what you told me about Lender’s Dale, about the people Frander controlled. At least these people had a chance to fight back.” Java kept her eyes forward, refusing to look back.

  “What will they do now, Java?” Mayrie asked.

  “Go on with their lives as best they can, the way people always do. Maybe Lord Panishin will help them.” Java looked at her charges. “We’ll send him a message from the next town.”

  CHAPTER 2: THE GREENBRIAR HOSTEL

  There’s always one.

  Ancient Wisdom

  THE RIDE CONTINUED, WITH MILE AFTER dusty mile passing beneath their horse’s hooves. The next town turned out to be Greenbriar, a good-sized city just across the border into Forest County, and Sergeant Whitehall had to wait for permission for the armed party to enter.

  Samantha looked at Java and sighed. “You know, Java, you could make this a lot easier. You’re a Lady of Greencastle. And not just a lady, you are the Lady of Mountainstand County. You could just order them to let us in.”

  “No, I can’t,” Java said patiently. “Sam, we don’t do things that way. The whole idea is to be inconspicuous.” Java looked at Samantha to see if she was listening.

  “Inconspicuous?” Sam asked with a squeak in her voice, and a look of total disbelief on her face. “Java, twenty-four armed, mounted women in mercenary uniforms are not inconspicuous. We are about as conspicuous as you can get.” Samantha suddenly grinned as she remembered something. “It’s kind of like being in a parade.”

  Java nodded her agreement. “A parade is a good analogy. How many faces do you remember from a parade? How many do you really look at? All these people see is a bunch of mercs. They don’t see you. They don’t see me. They see us. It’s like you being treated as recruits. Who cares about a couple of scout recruits when you’re looking for a duchess?”

  Samantha nodded, then spoke with a distinct tone of distaste in her voice. “But still, having to wait like…”

  “Commoners?” Java interrupted. “Sam, we are commoners. All of us, except you. And right now, being a commoner is better than being a duchess, because no
body cares about us.” Java stared into Samantha’s eyes, looking for understanding.

  Samantha made a sour face, then relented. Once they were allowed into the city, Sergeant Whitehall related their story to the Guard commander. He wasn’t inclined to believe her but sent a heavy patrol out to check anyway.

  The Mercenary’s League maintained hostels in most of the larger cities, and Greenbriar held one. The Guard commander provided a guide, and soon Java and her group were ensconced in comfortable, if spartan, quarters.

  *

  “Java?” Sergeant Whitehall said softly as she knocked gently at the door of the room that Java was sharing with Robin, Samantha and the triplets. “The local League officials would like to have a word with you.”

  Java quickly buttoned her blouse and opened the door. “Official, or curious?” she asked with a grin.

  “Yes, to both. Officially curious, and curiously official. It’s just a suggestion, but you might want to wear those brooches. They seem to be the easily impressed types. And your pin.” Sergeant Whitehall touched the skull and dagger pin on her blouse. “They like to know who they’re talking to.”

  Java nodded and retrieved the box containing her jewelry. The two ducal brooches were nestled in the blue and gold velvet, along with the pin. “I hate this thing,” she whispered to the sergeant.

  “I remember,” Emily replied, recalling the weeping young girl who was led from the forest that day. Java had grown immeasurably since then.

  Java pinned both brooches and the skull pin to her blouse, then ran a quick brush through her hair. “Ready.”