Liberator

by Jones, Loren K.

“Yes, though just barely. It hasn’t been confirmed by Master Sherefin yet, but I’ve passed the test against another Master. I’ll see you later. I want to see my parents first.” She smiled and turned her horse toward the river and the mill.

  Java obediently followed Robin, lost in her own thoughts. What is happening that skilled people are being denied work, so they have to live off Arten’s generosity? This is wrong. Dead wrong. I might have to go back to being Princess Java much sooner than I wanted to.

  Robin led the way into the mill yard and dismounted. A woman in flowered skirts came out, to greet them. “Yes, ladies, how may I…” she began, only to falter when she saw Robin’s smiling face. “Robin?” she whispered.

  Robin laughed and ran up the steps into her mother’s arms, burying her face in her mother’s hair. “Oh, Mama, it’s so good to be home,” she said softly.

  Terri Cartwright held tightly to her youngest child, rocking her back and forth. “Oh, Robin, we’ve missed you so much,” she said, hugging Robin as tightly as she could.

  A deep voice from inside the mill called, “Terri, is everything all right?”

  “Barris, Robin’s home!” she called back over her shoulder, then laughed as something banged and crashed inside the mill.

  Barris Cartwright came stumbling out of the mill and grabbed his wife and daughter in his massive arms, sweeping both of them from their feet. “Oh, Robbie, welcome home. Welcome home,” he said as he kissed any part of her head he could reach.

  Robin tossed her head back and laughed. “Oh, Daddy, it’s so good to see you.” She glanced back to see Java still sitting her horse, a soft, shy smile on her face. Patting her mother’s back and father’s arm, she pulled back a little. “I want you to meet someone.”

  “Who’s this?” Barris asked, seeing Java for the first time.

  “Daddy, Mama, I want you to meet my friend, Java.” Robin had written home about Java, so her parents knew what she meant by friend.

  Barris and Terri also knew who and what else Java was and immediately dropped to their knees. “Princess Java, you honor us,” Barris said, looking at the ground.

  Java made a rude sound and slid off Sugar’s back. “Don’t do that!” she laughed, sliding into their view. “Please don’t. Robin and I, well, you’re family as far as I’m concerned. Don’t kneel, or bow, or call me princess. Please.” She pulled Barris’ eyes up to hers. “Please.”

  “But, you’re the heir, and Lady of Link County,” Barris replied, unsure what to make of Robin’s lover. He wasn’t happy with Robin’s sexuality, but she was his daughter, no matter what.

  “So what? Look at me. I’m a Firewalker Scout. That’s how I want to be treated. If I’d wanted to be Princess Java I would have arrived with an escort and be ordering Mayor Grendalstone around right now.” Java laughed at his expression.

  “Daddy, I told you in my letters, Java doesn’t like being a noble. She likes being herself, not what other people want her to be.” Robin was still smiling broadly. “Come on.” She pulled her father to his feet as Java helped Terri up. “Let’s go inside and we’ll catch you up on what’s been happening.”

  Java and Robin took turns filling Robin’s parents in on what had been happening in their lives. Night fell, and Robin joined her mother in the kitchen while Barris and Java stayed by the fire.

  “Well, Java, this is some surprise. I’m afraid I had a completely different impression of you,” Barris said, sipping a beer.

  “How so?” Java asked curiously.

  “Well, for one thing, I expected some big, hulking woman. You, now, you’re smaller than Robin. Honestly, Terri and I, well, we’re not especially comfortable with Robin’s choice of lifestyle.” He held up his hand to forestall Java answering. “I know, I know. Some say it’s not a choice. But that’s not how it feels to us.”

  Java nodded. “I know. My parents had a hard time with it as well, even though Mother’s from Taskany. But Robin and I are committed to each other, just as if we were a man and a woman,” Java said softly, looking over toward the kitchen area where Robin and Terri were having a quiet discussion. “We don’t flaunt it, though. We want to avoid as many problems as we can, and just deal with the unavoidable.”

  “Wise. The fewer people who know, the better for the both of you. Now tell me why you’re skulking about, pretending to be someone else. I would’ve thought you’d be in town discussing things with Kellem,” Barris said, looking at Java carefully.

  “I wanted to see the real Linkville. To see what’s really happening, what the people are really like. Like that business today about the refugees. I came so close to feathering those two…” She paused and shook her head. “How can this be happening?”

  “It’s been four years, Java. Four long years. Many of these people hold out some hope that they’ll go home one day. They’re the ones who have problems, for the most part. They don’t want to set down roots. Those who abandoned all hope of returning to Lender’s Dale have fared better. But the ones who want to go home, and can’t, they’re a problem. Unfortunately, they cause problems for the rest as well.”

  “How so?” Java asked, leaning forward. Barris Cartwright had been a member of the town council for ten years and was a good source of information about her town.

  “The troublemakers are hard to identify. When something happens, all the immigrants are suspect. They won’t point out the real criminals, so all of them get blamed.” Barris rubbed the bridge of his nose, thinking.

  “But you’re assuming they know who it is. Things got stolen before the war, before the refugees came here. Did you always know who it was then?” Java asked.

  “Well, no, but…”

  “And are you sure it’s immigrants who are doing the stealing? I mean, if you don’t know for sure that it was one of them, then you can’t know that any of them know who it is, now can you?” Java pointed out, looking Barris in the eye.

  “Well, as to that…”

  “Those two men, Cahl and Eris. They seemed very eager to have everyone believe that Gordal was a thief, even though there was no proof. The argument that Duke Arten providing for the refugees is somehow stealing from the locals is ridiculous.” Java was warming to her subject.

  “Now, Java, wait one minute.” Barris held up his hand to catch her attention. “You haven’t seen some of these people. Some of them are so apathetic you can’t get them to do anything for themselves.”

  Java leaned forward and slid to the edge of her chair. “Barris, have you ever seen a child who has starved to death?” she asked softly. “Have you ever see a woman who has been raped, and seen her family slaughtered? Have you ever looked into the eyes of a little girl who has seen her mother murdered?” Java paused to wipe away a tear. “I’m a scout, Barris. I’ve seen all of that, and more. Can you blame someone without hope for being apathetic?”

  Barris started blinking rapidly, sitting back in his chair. “Well, no, I can’t. But how do we know what happened to them? Some are just plain lazy, Java.”

  “So are a number of people who were born right here, Barris,” Terri said from the doorway. “Cahl and Eris for two, and you know it. They think they should be getting money from the Duke instead of the refugees.” Terri came and sat beside her husband. Robin joined Java, sitting on the arm of her chair, slightly behind her shoulder.

  “Java, tomorrow you must tell Mayor Grendalstone who you really are. You can do something about those troublemakers.” Terri stared Java in the eye, daring her to say no.

  Java nodded. “But not right away. I want to listen to what’s being said in the inns and the alehouses. I didn’t think things were like this here.”

  CHAPTER 11: DUTY

  Do what you must, no matter what you want. Duty is the price of honor.

  Master Scholar Prince Stavin Zel’Andral, “The Short Warrior’s Guide”

  MORNING FOUND A YOUNG MAN ON the mill porch, asking for Robin. “Master Robin, Mayor Grendalstone, he wants to see you right away. Says it�
�s important.”

  Robin nodded and looked at Java. “We’ll be right there,” she said, sending him back to town. “Java, I think you’d better bring those brooches with you. This doesn’t sound good.”

  Java nodded, fetching her sash and affixing the brooches to it. Carefully folding it, she tucked it inside her blouse. “Ready.”

  Robin and Java walked into town, following the road like Robin had done hundreds of times before. A crowd had gathered outside Mayor Grendalstone’s store.

  “Robin, it’s good of you to come so soon,” the mayor said as soon as he saw Robin. “There was some trouble last night involving those people you brought back to town yesterday.”

  “What happened, Mayor?” Robin asked.

  “Those two idiots tried to jump that blacksmith again. He’s all right, but the little girl got hurt. The mother too, though not as bad.” Mayor Grendalstone had been walking as he spoke and led Robin into the Bed of Coals Inn.

  Robin hissed when she saw Gordal. His head was bandaged, and his arm was splinted and in a sling. A crowd was gathered at the stairs, and Mayor Grendalstone led Robin and Java up to one of the rooms.

  “Stand back, all of you. Stand back. Let Robin through,” he said as he pushed and prodded, finally clearing a path into the room.

  The little girl was laid out on the bed with bandages wrapped around her head. Her mother had a bandage on one side of her face, and her arm was in a sling. She was sitting on the floor beside the bed, crying softly.

  Robin walked forward and knelt beside the bed. Focusing her will, she invoked her most powerful healing spells on the girl and her mother. It would take time, but they would recover. Then she turned on the mayor.

  Robin growled, “Where are they?” through gritted teeth in a tone that left no doubt how furious she was.

  “This way, Robin,” Mayor Grendalstone said softly, leading Robin and Java back out to the street. Linkville didn’t have a prison, so the men were being held in a storage shed by the livery stable.

  Robin stared at them without speaking for a moment. They seemed a little worse for wear after fighting the blacksmith again. “Well, aren’t you two the big men?” she asked, her voice dripping scorn. “Big, brave men, beating a woman and child. Tell me, did you really think you could get away with that?”

  “Them’s the ones what started it,” Cahl said. “Coming here and stealing what’s rightfully ours.”

  “Oh? And that excuses you for beating a child, a little girl?” Robin’s voice was dangerously soft. Her eyes blazed with her anger, and Java gave her a curious look. Oh, damn.

  “We was just trying to get back a little of our own. That bitch owes us. The girl didn’t get hurt until that bastard father of hers broke in.” Cahl looked defiantly at Robin and sneered. “You don’t frighten me, mage or no. You can’t pass sentence on us. And Mayor Grendalstone knows better than to cause trouble.” Cahl looked at Mayor Grendalstone and spit. “Our pa will be here to get us soon.”

  “Not if you’re sentenced to the Duke’s Prison, he won’t,” Java said in a rage-softened tone. “He won’t risk losing his farm and being cast out.”

  “Ha! Only a lord can do that. Old Lord Darby, he knew Pa well enough never to risk that. And that slut, Lady Java? She’s out whoring around in Greencastle.” Cahl sneered again and caught the heel of Java’s boot in his teeth.

  “Now see here, none of that!” Mayor Grendalstone stepped forward, confronting Robin. “Robin, control your guard. I realize she’s a Firewalker, and probably knows the lady, but she has no call to do that.”

  Robin looked at the mayor, then motioned to Java. “Mayor Kellem Grendalstone, may I please present Princess Java Mountainstand, Lady of Link County, Lady of Mountainstand County in Greencastle, heir to White County and the Ducal Seat of Hiddendell,” Robin said softly, bowing to a very startled Kellem Grendalstone.

  Java pulled the sash out of her blouse and draped it over her shoulder. “Cahl and Eris, I sentence you to the Duke’s Prison for the term of five years. Any who interfere with this sentence are outlawed and outcast.” Java turned her gaze on the mayor and nodded. “Tell their father that, if he dares show his face after the way his sons have acted.”

  “You can’t do that!” Eris yelled while Cahl held his mouth and glared at her.

  “I can, and just did,” Java replied levelly, turning back to the two young men. Her expression all but smoldered with anger. “Under the laws of Hiddendell, you two have committed several crimes punishable by imprisonment. You have, in my presence and the presence of the mayor, admitted to attempted rape. You have also admitted to causing intentional injury to a child, injury that is life threatening. Be grateful that Mage Robin is here. If that child had died, I would’ve put an arrow through your hearts myself.” Java’s voice never rose above a whisper, but Mayor Grendalstone shivered at the anger it held.

  “You can’t be Lady Java,” Cahl finally sputtered around several loose teeth. “She is in Greencastle.”

  “Actually, until just a little while ago, I was in Whitehall. I went home first, and now Robin and I have come here to visit her family.” Turning to Mayor Grendalstone, she nodded her head. “Mayor Grendalstone, make arrangements to have these two shipped to the prison. I want to talk to that blacksmith.” Java turned away, not waiting for Mayor Grendalstone’s acknowledgment.

  Before Robin could follow Java, Mayor Grendalstone grabbed her arm. “That isn’t really…?”

  “It is, and I’ve never seen her this angry.” Looking back at the men, she shook her head. “She meant that, about executing you herself. She still might.”

  Mayor Grendalstone followed Robin out of the shed, asking questions as they followed Java. “…But why didn’t you say something yesterday?”

  “She wanted to see what this town was really like, before you found out who she was and made everyone behave. I don’t think she’s pleased. Not one bit.” Robin looked around, following Java’s trail by the startled people she’d left in her wake.

  Robin and the mayor found Java kneeling in front of Gordal, holding his good hand. “…Master Mage Robin has cast a healing spell on both of them. They’ll be all right.”

  “They were trying to rape Cinsha. When I got there, they had her down. I just lost my head and tried to kill them.” Gordal was whispering, tears leaking down his cheeks. “And when Dara went down…oh, Gods!” He covered his face with his good hand and sobbed. The other had been broken during the fight.

  “They’re going to prison for five years. They’re never going to hurt you again.” Java stroked his hand gently, but he shrugged it off.

  “What good does that do?” he asked, looking into Java’s eyes. “There’re too many of them to send them all to prison.”

  Java shook her head and stood, stepping carefully back. Turning to face the crowd, she let her anger show. “Haven’t these people suffered enough?” she shouted, startling everyone. She was glaring at the crowd, her eyes narrowed with rage, and her hands hooked into claws. “Look at all of you standing around, tsk-ing and pointing fingers. Who did this? All of you! All of you did this by not trying to help. You just stood back, watching and waiting for someone else to help these people. You, innkeeper,” Java pointed at a man in an apron, “these people have that room until I say they don’t. Is that understood?” The man nodded, but Java had already passed on. “I’ve never been ashamed to be associated with anyone before, but you people shame me. How many refugees have been chased out of here?”

  Mayor Grendalstone stepped forward, hands out in a placating gesture. “Princess Java, please, you don’t understand…” he began, but never finished.

  “Don’t I?” she shouted, tears trickling down her face. “I’m a scout! I sent a lot of these people into Greencastle. I sent men, women, and children who were fleeing for their very lives to safety. And what do I find that safety to be? They’re despised! Thrown away! Chased away, abused, reviled! You people disgust me!” she finally screamed, storming out
of the inn and up the road toward the mill.

  Robin pursed her lips and shook her head. “You people know me. Most of you have known me for my entire life. Princess Java doesn’t make idle threats, nor does she show her emotions very often. Congratulations.” She nodded her head and bowed mockingly. “In all the years I’ve known her, I’ve never seen her this angry. You’d all better begin praying to every god you can think of that she calms down before she orders this town burnt to the ground.”

  Robin followed Java to the mill, only to find her gone. Terri was out front, waiting for her. “Java just jumped on her horse and rode out of here like a demon was chasing her. What happened?”

  Robin briefly filled her mother in on the morning’s events, then began scanning for Java. She found her in the Firewalkers’ Compound. A short ride brought her to the gates, and face to face with the guards Captain Freeholm had left behind.

  “State your business,” an elderly woman said as she rode up.

  “I’m following Java, trying to keep her from doing anything rash,” Robin stated softly.

  “And who are you? I don’t remember the face,” the guard asked, looking at Robin critically.

  “I am Master Mage Robin Cartwright. I was a student of Master Mage Sherefin until Java and I came to Whitehall. Is she all right? She was very upset by this morning.” Robin dismounted and stood face to face with the guard.

  “Don’t know you. Java’s all right, if crying and cursing are all right. She’s inside. Sorry, but you can’t go in. Captain Freeholm’s orders. Only the Firewalkers are allowed inside.” She smiled and shrugged, pointing back the way that Robin had just come up. “Go on back down, Mage Robin. Java’s not coming back out for a while.”

  “But I have to go to her!” Robin began, but the guard cut her off.

  “No, you don’t. You have to let her alone. The girl needs to find her balance, and she needs to do it alone. Least wise, that’s what she said.” The guard grinned. “Personally, I think I’d like you helping me get my balance back.”