“Sir?” Maygren said, drawing Captain Freeholm’s attention. “We know Lanida Joris. She and our mother are friends. If she’s all right, we’ll know.”
Captain Freeholm nodded and watched Java and her party depart with a sigh of resignation. Motioning Daria to her side, she nodded after the departing company.
“Have the leeches get ready, Daria. Samantha is going to want those women near her. I’d expect rape trauma as well as pregnancy.”
Daria nodded, not taking her eyes off the receding figures. “I’ll have some dividers brought in as well. They’re probably going to want at least a little privacy.”
*
Java filled her women in on the details as they rode, not sparing herself when describing how out of shape she was.
Weldon was kinder. “Java, you have to take time to get used to this again. You were no worse out there than most new scouts. Better in a lot of ways, such as being able to recognize your own weakness. Just give yourself a few months, then you can complain about your performance.” Weldon’s smile was visible in the early morning gloom.
“I will, Weldon. It’s just so frustrating!” Java’s comment caused most of her companions to chuckle. The silent ones were the new men who hadn’t known the old Java.
At Vandalburg, Mayrie led her sisters into the room where Lanida was being held. Lanida stood, not recognizing the women who faced her until the three stood together.
“Mayrie?” she whispered. “Maygren? Maylee? How..? I thought you were dead.”
Maylee stepped forward, looking carefully at Lanida. “Mistress Lanida? Take my hands, please.” When Lanida complied, Maylee directed the combined talents of her sisters, searching for any trace of Frander. Her smile announced what she found. “Welcome.”
Lanida clasped Maylee into a tight hug, reaching out to Maygren and Mayrie. “How did you get here? Frander’s men took you away.”
“Java saved us. We escaped, and Java took us into the Firewalkers. What about you? How did you get out?” The triplets led Lanida to a chair and made her sit while she spoke.
“That damned stud, Hawk. I was tending to him, and he kicked me.” She pulled her blouse away from her chest, showing scabbed over scratches and an enormous bruise. “When I came to my senses, the amulet was just so much shattered glass. I searched the town and brought out some of my friends.” She looked at the floor for a moment, sighing deeply. “Your mother wasn’t there.”
That simple announcement caused the six younger women to pause, Java reaching out to her girls. “We’re all right, Java,” Mayrie whispered after a moment, straightening her shoulders. “Mistress Lanida, we need to find the women you brought out. Can you direct us to the area?”
“I don’t know. I lost track of where I was before that man attacked me. They were hiding in a cleft rock, near a small stream. I might be able to lead you back there, but I’m not sure.” Lanida looked at the triplets, marveling at how grown up they were. Has it really been so long?
Jah’Moke had been listening, along with Captain Wilkinson. “I know the place,” he said softly, causing Lanida’s head to snap around and look at him. “You will have to go with us, to reassure them. The terrible trio as well.”
Lanida looked at Jah’Moke, then at the triplets. “He knows you pretty well, doesn’t he?” she asked with a grin.
“That’s Jah’Moke. He and Java are together. We see a lot of him.” Maylee’s smile was broad as she remembered just how much of Jah’Moke she had seen.
“Java?” Lanida asked, looking at the triplets. Java stepped forward, bowing slightly. “I recognize you. You were with the group who brought me in.”
“And I will be with the group who finds your friends. Captain Wilkinson, it’s light enough for us to get started.”
Captain Wilkinson nodded, then held up his hand. “Jah’Moke leads, scout. I’m sending along the day patrol as well. You may need help.” His look was arch and intense, as if daring Java to pull rank.
“Yes, sir. Do we bring them back here, or take them to Firedale? I think they might do better with the triplets around them for reassurance.”
Captain Wilkinson thought for a moment, then nodded. “Firedale. If they’ve been raped, then having just women around them for a while would be best. Besides,” he grinned, “you haven’t brought in anyone against orders in a long time.”
Java blushed bright red as everyone except Lanida laughed. “Captain Freeholm will forgive me this time, sir.”
“As if that would stop you. Carry on, Scout Java.” Captain Wilkinson smiled and bowed slightly to Java, then more deeply to Samantha.
Jah’Moke led his party toward the rocky outcropping that Lanida had described, moving surely through the forest. Java slid beside him, her body tingling with the feeling of doing something again. As they approached the area, Jah’Moke signaled Lanida forward.
Whispering with his mouth just inches from Lanida’s ear, he said, “It would be best if your friends saw you first.”
Lanida nodded, moving quietly forward. At a cleft in the rock, she called softly. The response was almost immediate. “Lanida, we were so worried. We thought you’d been captured.” A woman slid into view, then stopped suddenly as she saw the others.
“I found some friends, Aris. You remember the triplets,” she said softly, drawing Aris out.
“Denelda’s girls?” she asked as she stepped forward. She looked closely at the triplets, then smiled. “Oh, yes. Who could ever forget you three. But you’re so old. Has it been that long?”
Two more women, each heavily pregnant, crept out of the shallow cave. Maygren recognized both, but it was the second that drew her attention. “Mistress Sabrina? How..? Oh, gods! What have they done to you?”
The woman’s dull eyes drew all three of the triplets to her side. “Oh, nothing. Just rape,” Sabrina answered, stumbling over a rock and into their arms.
“We have to get her to Firedale, Java. She’s in labor,” Mayrie said, looking at both Java and Samantha.
Jah’Moke spoke before Java could. “We need litters. It would be best if we carry all three of them.” Acting on his own words, Jah’Moke began cutting a small tree. The archers took covering positions as the rest of the party worked, then helped carry, four men to a litter. Much to Java’s dismay, Jah’Moke had to lead her to Firedale. She didn’t recognize the area until they were almost there.
*
Captain Freeholm had issued orders that they were to be watched for on the assumption that either Java or Samantha would insist on the women being brought back to Firedale rather than Vandalburg. Her prediction came true before the midday bells.
“Scout patrol exiting the forest. They’re carrying three litters.” The sentry shouted down, and a contingent of infantrywomen and leeches met them at the gates.
Nadine Weatheral was the lead leech, and quickly examined each woman. “These two are fine, but we need this one in the infirmary right away.” The infantrywomen quickly took the litters, while Captain Freeholm spoke to Java and Jah’Moke.
“Scout Jah’Moke, thank you for your assistance,” she said, saluting to acknowledge his salute. “Return to your town, and convey my thanks to your captain.” Jah’Moke saluted again, then kissed Java before leading his men away. Captain Freeholm walked over to where Java and Samantha were still standing. “I expected you to do this, Java.”
Java blushed slightly, then grinned. “Bad habits are hard to break, Captain.”
“Yes, I know,” Captain Freeholm said, returning the grin, then turned her attention on Samantha. “Duchess, what are your plans?”
Samantha studied the ground for a moment, then shrugged. “It depends on what Lanida can tell us about the men in Brian’s Ford. And on you and the other captains. Your contract is to keep Frander out of Greencastle. Retaking Lender’s Dale is something else.”
“I am glad you realize that, Duchess.”
CHAPTER 19: OPPORTUNITY
When the opportunity to act presents its
elf, act. There may not be another.
Master Scholar Prince Stavin Zel’Andral, “The Short Warrior’s Guide”
SABRINA’S BABY WAS BORN NEAR MIDNIGHT, a squalling boy who fought as soon as he was born. She looked at him once, then turned her face away, refusing to hold or feed him. Nadine nodded and took the boy away. Another war-orphan had been born.
The triplets explained part of her pain to Java and Robin. “She is Le’Ah. Not like you two. Like Lieutenant Skyhaven. It must’ve been torture, even worse than it was for the rest. At least they liked men.”
“Rape, in any form, for any reason, against anyone, is an abomination,” Java snarled through clenched teeth. “The worst thing to my mind is that they couldn’t even struggle. The amulets made their bodies comply willingly while their minds were screaming.” Java sat in her room with her girls around her. “I wonder how many more there are?”
Captain Freeholm was having a similar discussion. “We need to send a scout patrol in there to check Brian’s Ford. I told Samantha that we’re going to have to wait a bit, but I want someone in there tomorrow, before she and Java decide to go themselves.”
Shair and Merrit both grinned at that. “They would, too,” Merrit agreed, then cleared her throat before continuing. “Sir, I want this one.”
“I thought you might. Take Lenver and the two new scouts, Canice and Nerlin, but be very careful. We don’t know what you might be facing.”
*
Merrit and Lenver led the way with the two new Scouts, Canice Barten and Nerlin Danishport. This was the girls’ first season, having finished basic training in the spring. Each had more experience than Java had had when she first arrived in Greencastle, and had been in the field supporting the elder scouts for three months.
“Lenver, I want to split up. You take Nerlin and circle south. Canice and I will circle north. If something goes wrong, head out immediately. Don’t wait for us.” Merrit looked Lenver in the eye and received a nod.
Lenver nodded and silently led Nerlin out, heading south at a good pace. They knew they would be out for a minimum of two nights, possibly three, and had brought along supplies to last. Brian’s Ford was a good day and a half walk from Firedale, and having to travel silently through the forest was taxing. Still, they could see lights in the distance when they camped that night.
“I hate cold rations,” Nerlin complained softly.
“At least the weather is still warm. Wait until winter,” Lenver commented and Nerlin replied with a soft grunt.
Morning showed Brian’s Ford under a column of thin smoke from the fires the town’s folk had lit. Even controlled people had to keep warm and cook food. The smoke acted as a beacon to draw the scouts in, and before noon they were slinking around a back alley.
Lenver used handspeak to tell Nerlin to stay put while she checked ahead. No sooner had she slipped out of sight than she came back. “This is eerie,” she whispered, her mouth brushing Nerlin’s ear. “There’s no one here. Where could they all be?”
“Harvest? It’s a bit late, but it would explain things,” Nerlin offered, and Lenver shrugged an assent.
“We may as well circle north and pick up Merrit and Canice.” Leading out, Lenver headed around the town on the side closest to Greencastle. When she heard a faint whistle, she crouched and waited. Soon Merrit stuck her head out of the grass.
“It looks like everyone’s out in the fields north of town. I counted ten guards and one who has to be a mage. He’s wearing a robe, and is strutting around like he owns the place. Let’s head home.” Sliding back, Merrit led the patrol by the most direct route, bringing them back to Firedale early the third morning. She reported to Captain Freeholm as she bathed.
“Marta, it was weird. I’ve heard Sammy’s tales of how it is over there, but I never really believed her. Hand me the soap. There were easily three hundred men, women, and children out there, working in perfect harmony. No wasted motion. No skylarking. No nothing. They just worked, as if their whole being was devoted to the one task.” Merrit was ducking her head under the water to rinse, and Marta waited until she was listening before answering.
“Can we take them?”
Merrit snorted and covered her mouth. “I could’ve taken them with just Lenver, if it wasn’t for the mage. We need some backup on that one.”
*
Captain Freeholm called a meeting of her officers and royalty. “Java, I know you don’t like it, but you have to be Princess Java for this.” Turning her eyes to Samantha, she nodded deeply. “Duchess Samantha, as you know, I sent Merrit and Lenver to Brian’s Ford. They report only ten guards and one mage. This matches what we’ve learned from Mistress Lanida and the others. What I propose is that we take Brian’s Ford. This is your part, Samantha. You have to formally appeal to Java, Duchess to Princess, for our help.”
Samantha nodded and stood, facing Java. “Princess Java, I do hereby beg the assistance of Hiddendell to retake Lender’s Dale.”
Java stood, facing Samantha, and bowed deeply. “Duchess Samantha, it would be my honor and pleasure to assist you in any way in retaking what is rightfully yours.” Turning to Captain Freeholm, she bowed again. “Captain, under the terms of your contract with my parents, I ask you to attack Brian’s Ford, and retake this portion of Lender’s Dale.”
“As you command, Princess Java. See, that didn’t hurt.” She grinned at Java and Samantha, then asked them to stand to one side. “We have a great deal of planning to do. No offense, ladies, but you don’t have the necessary experience to take an active part in the planning of this operation. However, both of you should stay and observe. In time, you may each have to do this for your own forces.”
Over the next hour plans were laid for a fast raid. The triplets were brought in and briefed on what their part was to be, but Captain Freeholm had to put her foot down as far as Samantha and Java were concerned.
“Absolutely not! You may go, but you will remain in the back until Frander’s men are dealt with. I understand how you feel, Samantha, but you are still the duchess, and cannot be replaced. Neither can you, Java.”
Java saluted, accepting the order with as much grace as she could manage, while Samantha simply scowled at the captain. Just because she knew Captain Freeholm was right didn’t mean she had to be gracious about it.
The next morning fifty women rode out of Firedale. Merrit was in the lead, with Ari and her patrol at her shoulder. Mesta and her archers were following Lenver’s patrol. The rest of the contingent was made up of the triplets, Robin, Marian, and a group of archers. Brian’s Ford was only six hours away by horse.
*
Journeyman Mage Everit surveyed the people working in the field. “You know, Stanis, this has got to be the dullest duty in the empire. Nothing ever happens! We just make them plant, make them weed, make them harvest. It’s so easy that I’m losing my control. I’m out of practice. Even the women are getting boring.” Mage Everit turned to his guard, expecting an answer. Instead, he saw Stanis slowly kneeling as he clawed at an arrow that had sprouted from his throat.
Mage Everit began to form a shield when he was hit by a magebolt that literally ripped him in half. Maylee released the rest of the power that she and her sisters had called, sickened by what she had done.
“Did you have to hit him so hard, girls?” Marian asked, looking at the triplets with an expression of near-nausea on her face.
Maygren nodded. “We didn’t want him to do anything. We had to make sure he couldn’t get a message off to his master.” All three girls were looking a little green. They had never killed anyone with their magic before. Especially someone who was lying in two bloody pieces not twenty paces away.
Robin ignored the conversation. She was busy casting Sherefin’s spell to shatter the amulets.
Samantha came and looked at the mage, then turned away, struggling not to vomit. “Come on, girls. You need to speak to these people. We need to speak to them.”
The archers had seen to all the gua
rds, and had circled around the people in the field. Samantha stood on a cart and shouted for attention when the people staggered and started milling around as the compulsion of the amulets fell away.
“Hear me! Hear me! People of Brian’s Ford, I am Samantha Lender, the last surviving member of my family. I am here with these mercenaries to free you from Frander’s yoke. His Mage and men are dead.” She motioned for the triplets to join her. “Many of you know my magi, the Salem Triplets. If you don’t believe in me, believe in them.”
When Samantha introduced the triplets, one man stepped forward. “Girls? My Maylee? Maygren? Mayrie?” he said as he walked forward, and Samantha watched as the triplets recognized their father.
“Daddy!” they shouted together, jumping down and running to him. “Oh, Daddy! We didn’t know if you were alive or dead. Where’s Mama?” All three of them were hugging and kissing him, but his answer cut their joy in half.
“Your mother is dead, girls. She got sick, and they wouldn’t do anything for her. It’s been about two years.”
All three girls closed their eyes, briefly mourning their mother. Crying would have to wait, however. “We were afraid of that when Mistress Lanida said she hadn’t seen her.”
“Lanida? But she was just here.” Braden Salem looked around as if expecting to see Lanida next to him.
“She escaped a few days ago, and told us what was happening. Captain Freeholm sent in her scouts, and then this force,” Mayrie said, then noticed that her father was looking over her head. Turning, she saw Java and Samantha. “Come with us. There’s someone you should meet.”
The triplets led their father to the wagon. “Daddy, this is Duchess Samantha of Lender’s Dale. And this,” Mayrie said as she smiled at Java, “is our guardian, Princess Java Mountainstand of Hiddendell, Heir to the Ducal Seat of Hiddendell, Lady of Link County in Hiddendell, Lady of Mountainstand County in Greencastle, and scout with Freeholm’s Firewalkers.”
Liberator Page 25
