Liberator

by Jones, Loren K.

  Java referring to Robin as a mage caused the girl to become even more visibly nervous. “And them, lady?” she asked, nodding to Samantha and the triplets.

  “Fried pheasant,” Mayrie said softly without opening her eyes.

  “Bison for me, medium,” Maylee said softly.

  “Pork, cooked through, please,” Maygren muttered.

  Samantha nodded and pointed to Mayrie. “Pheasant for me as well.”

  Robin said, “Bread, honey-butter, and whatever vegetables are available and beer for all,” as she waved her hand to encompass their whole table, drawing a glance from Java.

  “As you wish, Lady. As you wish.” The serving girl fled, leaving Java to give Robin a quizzical look.

  “Bread, beer, and vegetables?”

  “Yes, beer. I let Emily know as well. There is something going on, I can feel it, and it involves wine,” Robin answered. “And vegetables because we need them.”

  “Robin’s right, Java. The wine here is different. And the innkeeper just went into Lord Wintches’ estate. He is a vintner, and there is something going on up there. Something we can’t see.” Mayrie opened her eyes to look Java in the eye. “There’s a Master Mage there. He’s shielding something. Or someone.”

  “Then so are you. Can you put a magical shield around this inn? Or at least the dining room?” At Mayrie’s nod, she said, “Do it.”

  “Why not just you and Sam, Java?” Robin asked.

  “Because that makes Sam a target as well. This way it looks like we are simply protecting the entire patrol,” Java said, glancing about the room.

  Java looked at Emily and nodded once, touching three fingers to her lips. Sergeant Whitehall leaned back in her chair and stretched and said in a loud voice, “My, it’s good to be off that horse.” Her comment was a signal to all the Firewalkers to be on the alert.

  General conversation slowly resumed in the dining room as the Firewalkers began eating, observing courteous behavior as their captain demanded. The Firewalkers were a civilized mercenary company.

  After their meal, the innkeeper returned and led them to their rooms. Java was impressed by the size of the “small” beds. The large bed that was normally in the room was easily large enough to accommodate all six of them.

  “Best behavior, girls. No jumping on the beds,” Java said softly.

  “Now what would make you think of that, Java?” Samantha asked with a grin.

  “Because she wants to jump on the beds,” Robin answered, drawing a smile from Java.

  “Oh, yes. But we won’t. Instead,” turning to the triplets, she stopped smiling, “I want you three scanning. Try to get a good look at Lord Wintches without alerting his mage. Use the big bed, as planned. Robin, will you check out the inn, especially the beds? I want to see if anything’s different from an hour ago.” Java kept her voice soft. The best spy was a servant with sensitive ears.

  Robin nodded and composed herself on one bed. Samantha and Java busied themselves laying out clean clothes for all of them. Finally, Robin sighed and opened her eyes. “No change from my first scan, Java.” She yawned, then laid back in her bed. “You know, this is the best bed I’ve ever slept in. It’s a lot better than I had at home.”

  “These beds are as good as I had at home,” Samantha commented. “This inn serves royalty. I wonder exactly why the innkeeper is so nervous? Mother never got this sort of treatment.”

  Java shook her head as she looked at Samantha. “Your mother was a known quantity, Sam. Duchess Neldan was famous. Or infamous. I’m a nobody from nowhere, jumped up from a servant through pure luck. I probably make the nobles nervous because I wasn’t raised as one of them. They don’t know what to expect of me. Having his lord nervous is making Caran nervous.” Java reclined on her bed, staring at the ceiling.

  “I know what I’d expect in a case like this,” Samantha said softly. “I would expect a commoner who’d become a noble to lord it over everyone, just to prove she can. You’re higher ranking than anyone else in this city. By rights, you could have simply ordered the lords to do whatever you wished. Or I could have.” Sam sulked a little. She had been trying to get Java to use some of the prerogatives that came with her rank. “After all, Wintches doesn’t own the city.”

  “What?” Java sat up and looked at Sam, her knitted brows drawing a smile from Samantha.

  “Lord Wintches doesn’t own Forestfall. Not like Linkville belongs to you. The flag at the gate is Lord Sanless’. Didn’t you know that?” Samantha asked blandly.

  “No, I didn’t know that,” Java replied sarcastically. “Why should I? It never mattered to me before. I was never going to meet the lord, so why bother knowing one from the others? Although, Lord Garas was very nice to me when I was in Greensboro. I guess I should learn, shouldn’t I?” Java shrugged, holding her hands out to her sides at shoulder level.

  Samantha made a very rude noise that she knew Java disapproved of. “Java, we’re going to have a long talk tomorrow once we’re on the road.”

  They were interrupted by the triplets bursting into laughter. “That old fart!” was the only coherent sentence they uttered for several minutes as they rolled around, holding their sides.

  Finally, Mayrie wiped the tears from her eyes, but her grin threatened to split her face. “That bastard was going to drug you and seduce you, then blackmail you with the fact that you’re not a virgin anymore!” Mayrie dissolved into gales of laughter again.

  “The mage was keying the wine to you personally.” Maygren took over, speaking in a breathless tone. “That’s what the innkeeper was doing. He filched your hairbrush from your pack and took it to the mage. He was focusing on the wines. It never occurred to him that you’d drink beer. Ladies of quality do not drink beer.”

  “Ladies of quality do not have Le’Ah lovers, either.” Java smiled and walked over to kiss Robin. “I think we can ignore Lord Wintches. He seems to have run afoul of his own prejudice. Since I’m not a virgin, and haven’t been for a very long time, he’s out of luck.”

  The night passed quietly, with the exception of a few giggles from the triplets as they continued to monitor Lord Wintches. Morning came in softly with the sound of a cock crowing in the inn yard.

  Java sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her girls were all awake and preparing for the day. Robin scratched at her hair with an expression of distaste on her face.

  “Do we have time for baths this morning, Java?”

  “I’ll ask Sergeant Whitehall. I don’t see why not.” Java slipped out of the room and found Emily. At her nod, Java returned to the room long enough to retrieve her towel and kit.

  All her girls smiled and quickly joined her. The bathing room was empty, and they took turns pumping water into the troughs.

  “I would have expected hot water to be ready first thing in the morning at an inn this size,” Samantha remarked.

  A startled gasp from the doorway caused all of them to turn. Innkeeper Caran stood there with his arms full of firewood, transfixed by the sight of Java’s bare back. His eyes focused on her scars, the telltale web of the lash, and the white puckers of her arrow wounds.

  “Get the hells out of here!” she snapped, driving him back as fast as his legs would go, firewood clattering and banging on the floor in his wake. Java shook her head and collected the wood with Maylee’s help.

  Robin was sitting on the side of a trough, holding her sides as she laughed. “I’d love to hear what he’s going to tell Lord Wintches!” she gasped.

  “So would I. Let’s get all the water heaters going. The rest of the patrol is going to want to bathe as well.” Java began stoking a water heater when a hesitant tapping at the door drew her attention. “Yes?”

  The green-eyed serving girl entered with more firewood. “Lady, please, let me do that. Caran, he’ll hide me if he finds out you loaded the heater y’self.” She looked frightened by the prospect, so Java stood aside.

  “What’s your name, child?” Java asked softly, trying not to frighten t
he girl.

  “Anny, lady. Anny Lestersen.” The girl shrank away from Java, so she kept her distance.

  “Here, Anny. Let me help you.” Maylee offered, and the girl seemed more comfortable with another ‘servant’ than with Java or Robin near her.

  Java retreated to sit beside Robin, listening while Maylee questioned Anny. “Is Caran your Pa, Anny?” Maylee asked, shoving a log into the water heater’s firebox.

  “Pa? Oh, you mean Da? No, I’m indentured to him. My Da, he put me up as promise payment for a cow.” Anny took the pump handle and worked to fill the other water heaters in the room.

  Maylee looked at Java and shrugged. Samantha slid up beside Anny, directing the water to another heater. “Isn’t illegal for Caran to hide an indentured servant?” she asked, telling Java indirectly that it was.

  “Indentured does what they’s told. I don’t know if he’s s’pposed to, but he does.” Anny was working constantly as she spoke, and Java slipped into the first warm tub, maintaining the illusion that she was a noble.

  A look passed between the women in the room. Innkeeper Caran was in for an unpleasant surprise. Anny’s plight was having an effect on all of them, but especially the three poor girls. The triplets turned toward their friends, and the identical expressions on their faces told Java, Robin, and Sam that they were going to handle this problem alone. Java’s nod was all the response she needed to make.

  Robin, Samantha, and Java were back in their room packing, making sure nothing was forgotten, when the shouting started. Innkeeper Caran was yelling at the top of his voice, but they couldn’t make out what he was saying. Fearing the worst, especially since it involved the triplets, they hurried down the stairs. All the Firewalkers were present, laughing at Caran as he stood in the center of the room.

  “…You can’t! This is immoral! Lord Wintches will hear of this!” He was standing with his back to the stairs, shouting at the triplets.

  “What’d they do?” Java wondered aloud.

  “They gave the girl the money to buy free with, for services rendered.” Ari answered. “Caran thinks she bedded the three of them.” Ari’s smile said what she thought of that.

  Java giggled, then stepped into the room. “That’s enough!” she shouted, bringing the argument to a close. “Caran, does the girl have enough to buy free with?”

  “Well, Lady Mountainstand, that’s the question. Ill gotten, that money is, and I won’t have it. Dirty sellikkers! Corrupting an innocent young girl.” Caran was wide-eyed with indignation, and didn’t put a rein on his mouth.

  “As opposed to you beating her? Immoral? The triplets may have their faults, but loving young girls isn’t among them. Now you? What are your faults, Caran?” she asked softly, an edge of anger in her voice. “Did you intend to take her virtue before you released her?” Java was advancing across the room, stalking toward Caran like he was a dangerous opponent. “What of you filching my hairbrush to give to Lord Wintches? Did it seem immoral for you to steal from me?”

  “Lady, I did no such thing…” Caran began, but Java interrupted him with a raised hand.

  “You did. You ran to your master the moment you left us yesterday. Did you miss the fact that my party includes several magi? Magi far more powerful than Lord Wintches’ mage?” Java looked at Robin and smiled, then let her gaze drift back to Caran.

  “Run to your master now, Caran. Run as hard as you can. Explain to him how you have just insulted me, and my magi. Explain to him why Lord Garas will be receiving a complaint from me concerning the application of law in Forestfall. And while you’re at it, explain to him that I’m far better protected than his little mage can overcome.”

  Caran backed away from Java, his mouth working, but no sound emerging. He kept shaking his head, trying to deny her words. “The girl is free. Give her the papers.” Java settled her hand on one of her knives, accentuating the fact that she was dressed in Scout standard, knives and all.

  A woman came forward and threw the papers on to the floor. “There, now get out! I don’t care who you are, get out!” Tears were running down her cheeks, and her angry shout made Java’s ears ring.

  Anny came forward and picked up her papers. “Lady?” she held out the papers to Java.

  Java looked at them, surprised to see that Anny had only owed thirty-one coppers. The signature was in the proper place, freeing Anny to go home. “Go home, Anny. And here, give your mother this.” Java placed a silver royal in the child’s hand, and Anny scampered out of the inn, papers and silver in hand.

  Java turned away from the innkeeper and his wife. “Sergeant Whitehall, are we ready to leave yet?” Java looked at Emily with begging eyes.

  “We are, lady. Troop, mount up. Let’s get out of this Gods’ forsaken hole.” Sergeant Whitehall led the way to the stable, and then out of town.

  The troop rode out of Greencastle before the day was through. The Border Guards had been warned to expect them, and passed them after checking Java’s brooch. Whitehall was only three days’ ride away.

  CHAPTER 4: WHITEHALL

  When all you can do is sit and stare, try to keep your mouth closed.

  Ancient Wisdom

  WHITEHALL, THE CAPITAL CITY OF HIDDENDELL, gleamed like a snow sculpture in the sun. A turn in the road had hidden it from the riders until the trees suddenly dropped away, revealing the city in the Lost River valley.

  “What in the world..?” Java began before her voice failed. Whitehall was the most beautiful city she had ever seen.

  Emily Whitehall sat her horse beside Java, tears sliding unheeded down her face. “Home,” she whispered. “Finally, home.”

  Java reached out, groping for Emily’s hand. “I never would have believed it, Emily. Never.”

  “No one ever does, Java. Not until they see it like this,” Emily replied softly in a voice full of love, turning a dazzling smile on Java. “Come on, we can make it to the palace in time for supper.” She kicked her horse into a gallop, riding toward the city of her birth.

  Java and the rest followed at a more moderate pace, only catching up with Sergeant Whitehall at the city gates. “…I don’t care what he’s doing! Tell your commander to get off his fat hairy ass and get out here!” she was shouting at the guard at the gate.

  “Now, look, bitch, I don’t care who you’re escorting, you don’t talk about Captain Corban like that!” the guard sergeant was shouting when he was interrupted by Captain Corban.

  “Emmy! Emmy, you’re home!” he shouted as he ran up to Emily’s side and pulled her out of her saddle. “Oh, Emmy, wait until Mama sees you!” He was swinging her around in circles as he buried his face in her hair, drawing laughter from his little sister.

  Java and the rest of the patrol sat their horses, speechless for many reasons at the sight of this big, handsome Captain of the Hiddendell Royal Guard swinging their sergeant around and kissing her.

  Emily began patting his shoulders. “Stevy, put me down! There are people watching!” She was laughing so hard that tears were pouring down her face as well. “Stevy, stop it!”

  “Emmy, what are you doing here?” Captain Corban asked of the little sister who had run away to be a mercenary.

  “I’m escorting Duchess Samantha of Lender’s Dale, and Lady Java Mountainstand of Link County to see the duke. Didn’t they tell you to expect us?” She was smiling broadly and dragging her brother over to the troops.

  “Yes, but, where are they?” Stephen was looking curiously behind the troop.

  She laughed and grabbed him by an ear. “Right here. Java, this ill-mannered lump is my big brother, Lord Captain Stephen Corban of the Hiddendell Royal Guard.”

  Java swung easily down out of her saddle. “I am pleased to meet you, Lord Captain Corban,” she said, bowing slightly. “Please allow me to present Duchess Samantha of Lender’s Dale.” Java signaled Samantha to dismount.

  Samantha walked up to the captain and curtsied deeply. “I am pleased to meet you, Lord Captain Corban.” Her eyes were w
ide with interest, and she kept them focused on Stephen. “Sergeant Whitehall didn’t tell us that her brother was so handsome.” Her smile was coy as she continued to stare at Stephen.

  “Emmy?” Stephen asked in a puzzled tone as he looked at his sister.

  “Java, show him the brooch or he isn’t going to believe it.” Emily held her brother’s arm tightly, smiling at her friends. It had been years since she had last visited home.

  Robin rode forward and handed Java her case. Then she brought out the blue and gold sash she had sewn in secret and draped it over Java’s shoulder.

  Java turned a dazzling smile on Robin when she saw the sash, then pinned both of her brooches onto it, the Hiddendell sapphire and topaz above the Greencastle emerald. Then, in a move calculated to shock the Guards, she added the skull and dagger above them both.

  Captain Corban stood transfixed. “Lady Mountainstand, forgive me. I didn’t realize…” his voice trailed away as he looked at Samantha. “Duchess?”

  Samantha grinned at the captain, then at Sergeant Whitehall. “Does he do this often, Emily?” she asked with a wink at Stephen’s confusion.

  “Only when he drops his privates and steps on them, Duchess.” She slapped his arm, getting him to look at her instead of Sam and Java. “Stevy, we really should go inside before it gets dark.”

  Captain Corban shook himself and cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I suppose we should. This way Duchess Samantha, Lady Java. I will escort you to the palace personally.” He bowed, then led off, walking through the gate. He started glaring down at his sister after a few steps. “You did that on purpose,” he accused softly.

  Emily laughed, clutching his arm. “No, it just worked out this way. Don’t let it bother you. Java is a scout, and Samantha is becoming one. They’re not impressed by men who want to kiss their butts.” She leaned closer and whispered, “Although Sammy seems to like you.”

  “Emmy!” he whispered back fiercely. “She’s young enough to be my daughter.”

  “Well, it isn’t just for show that she’s wearing a Firewalker uniform, Stevy. She’s one of us.” Her arch look drew a scowl from her brother.