by Guy Antibes
Meldey had been the only one who hadn’t made it. Four women traveled to Belonnia and four women returned. Sara sat alone in the foyer and felt another pulse of grief for Meldey’s death. She didn’t want anyone else on her conscience, but who knew? She ignored the conversation in the parlor and just mused for a few minutes by herself.
The adventures during her last fifteen months in Parth soon would be just an entry in Obed’s histories. What would Stonebridge really be like? Klark worked there. Her friends would surround her and Belting Hollow would be just as happy without her—Sara knew she had outgrown her home. A confrontation with Ben Featherwood loomed on the horizon, but Sara would face it as if it was another battle to be fought. They had all been hard—every one.
The Duke continued to betray the relationship she had constructed in her mind and she couldn’t shake off her anger at him. She considered their parting to be mutual. Sara seemed to have the worst luck with the men she thought of as father.
~
Doctor Hedge no longer had access toThe Pretty Pennyon the Palace Grounds. Sara didn’t want to test her welcome there, so they went to a place that Linssa remembered.
Lisha Temple and Banna were already seated when they arrived. Sara made the introductions and sat next to Lisha. Banna eyed her husband sitting at the other end of the table chatting amiably with Linssa like they were old friends, which they were.
“If everyone knew of your exploits, you would be revered, worshipped even, at the Women’s College,” Lisha said. “I’m told the students who returned, a little worse for wear, from Belonnia will even admit that you made quite a splash in Okalla.”
Sara picked up the pun and cringed. How did they find out about her escape? But then the authorities were looking for a woman who escaped from the river. “And how is Master Heathergate taking it?”
“The one with the knife-spanking? Not too well. His uncle, the General, personally came to the University. Rumors are that the General is also an admirer. You do so well with the masculine ones.” Lisha said.
Sara maintained a cool face. Lisha always challenged you to stay in control. Sara could play her game, at times.
“Are you sure you don’t want to join the girls at the College? You can have your pick of classes,” Lisha said.
Sara smiled and shook her head. “The heroine of all those boys? I’d hate to make the women at College jealous. They’d never concentrate on their studies. No. I’ll take my chances in Shattuk Downs.”
Lisha sighed. “I do miss the place. It’s a backwater, but a noble backwater. I wish you all the luck you deserve. You’ll make the most of it.” She patted Sara’s hand. “You always were my best pupil.” She looked sideways at Lily, “except for Miss Evertrue.”
“Thank you, Lisha.” Lily nodded her head and lifted her goblet to her. “We were your best pupils. I always thought I’d go to Belonnia and look into their minds with Interpretive Communications. I made a glaring mistake that Sara didn’t.”
“What was that?”
“I spoke the language like a foreigner. Something I no longer do after two months in a Belonnian prison.” Sara heard the pain in Lily’s voice. Lisha would have heard it too. What could she do to help her heal? She didn’t know since Lily had changed more than Willa and more than she. Sara wondered what Lily had changed into. She still displayed the cynicism, but the force of her intelligence and the confidence that drove it had faded. Perhaps that change was something Sara shouldn’t touch. Let her heal some more, for she thought that Lily still had the strength.
After dinner, Lisha sat next to Linssa and Perry moved to Lisha’s seat.
“I’ll bet that Linssa will soon be teaching Belonnian at the Women’s College or some such. What do you think Banna?”
“As long as it’s not in Stonebridge, dear.” She patted his hand.
Hedge colored and smiled. His eyes twinkled. “It won’t be.” He leaned over to Sara.
“I found the secret to the fire liquid.” He spoke in a whisper. “Ground oil. Remember how we made percussive powder more concentrated?”
Sara put her hand to her mouth. “Oh, I forgot to tell you and you’ve wasted all of this time. Grappel used catalysts. He wouldn’t tell me what they were, but they involved changing the structure of the oil.”
“Oh and here I thought they heated it up and distilled the vapors. Only sludge would be left, but who cares about that? Maybe they do both!” Hedge laughed. “Guess where there are lots tar pits and ponds of ground oil?”
“The Gost.” She thought of the badlands—the twisted, tortured landscape that made up the western boundary of Shattuk Downs.
“Right you are as always. Guess who owns two-thirds of the Gost?”
“Who?” Sara truly didn’t know.
“The Goldfields estate.”
Sara thought of the maps she knew of the southwestern downs. She had always dismissed the vaste wasteland when looking on maps, but Goldfield’s boundaries went all the way to the other side of the Gost.
“The Emperor told me that their sources were in the Eastern Mountains and that’s what drove them to foment a rebellion in the Downs so they could take over the ground oil in the east.”
Hedge nodded his head. “Down some of the old mines in certain places, ground oil pools. Parthy miners abandoned those mines centuries ago because of lethal vapors.” Hedge slammed his hand lightly on the table in emphasis. “There were rumors of explosions of fire. I didn’t even remember until Obed and I looked up some histories.”
“What?” Sara furrowed her brow.
“We chase after the percussive powder, but cast aside the old stories of exploding mines and ground oil.”
Sara sat up straighter. “And we also discounted tar and ground oil because of the stink. No one would want to use it, but what if we took out whatever makes it stink?”
“I don’t know. Do you want to find out?” Hedge shrugged. “Not immediately or your friend the Duke will take it away in the name of the Crown. He nearly took you away and for that I’m not happy with him at all.” He raised an eyebrow.
~
Sara finished packing her trunks. Banna would take them to Stonebridge. They had to hire two freight coaches to carry all of their possessions to Shattuk Downs. Willa had finished with hers and had slipped downstairs in the early morning to load up their horses.
Despite her estrangement from the Duke, Sara procured another pistol and many cartridges from Yanna Silverthread, who visited her just before they left.
“Be careful,” she said. “Traveling on your own is a dangerous occupation for two women, even two as experienced as you are. Belting Hollow is unstable and if you don’t do something soon, the Duke will.
“I intend to end Ben Featherwood’s political career.”
I believe you, especially after your work with Meldey. I will miss her and her astounding capabilities.”
Sara could only nod as she thought of the three slashes in the tree above the woman’s simple grave.
“I would also caution you that Millis Shields is still active and I would say you are on her naughty girl list, so be vigilant, especially on the road west. Her involvement in the Belonnian affair remains a state secret until Renall and the King decide to expose her at the right time. The Duke is proud of you, Sara. You really showed him up and the Duke is not used to that. He is still working through having a young girl so thoroughly defeat him. Be patient. He’ll get over it sooner than you might think.”
Sara thought about Yanna’s words as she stuffed the weapons and the cartridges into the bag of one of the two packhorses they would use on their trip. Ben Featherwood would never change, but she had just been told that the Duke might accept her actions and that was enough for her, for now.
A mist had held up the arrival of dawn and Sara couldn’t wait to get on the trail. One more round of unpleasantness and she could start her life again. She wore high boots and slipped her knife inside.
Courtesy of Willa’s armorer friend
, both of them had new swords, both fabricated from Hanlish steel. They were thin and carried a wonderful edge. Their instructor had spent the last week helping them modify their techniques. The lightness helped Willa more than Sara, but her blade had marvelous balance being six inches longer than Willa’s. She really hoped they would stay in their sheaths for the entire trip.
She descended the stairs. Her friends stood at the bottom in their dressing gowns, ready to send them off.
“Are you sure you don’t need a guide?” Hedge yawned.
“I am. There are still King’s guards along the path. We’ll be safe enough. As far as I know, Shattuk Downs has returned to its bucolic ways once again.” Sara knew that wasn’t the truth, but she didn’t want to alarm her friends.
“There is only colic to be had in Belting Hollow,” Lily said. She put her arms around Sara. “Be safe,” she said into Sara’s ear. That was the new Lily whispering.
Sara nodded.
“Time to go,” Willa said with a squint, walking into the room.
They said their goodbyes all around. Linssa announced to Sara that she had taken a position at the Women’s College and would be moving there. After congratulating the newest faculty member, Sara and Willa left the house.
Sara turned and gazed at the hazy outlines. “I came to Parth and lived in this house and now I leave Parth from the same place.”
“The same could be said to me, although I’ve done it often enough in Lord Worthy’s service,” Willa said with a smile. “Mount up. The sooner we get Belting Hollow behind us, the better I’ll like it.”
They moved through the shadowy streets of Parth. Their horses’ hooves, at times, were the only sounds echoing off the houses. A mounted stranger appeared in front of them. Sara loosened her sword. She felt a thread of fear. Trouble begins so soon?
“Willa?” It was Plant, her armorer friend. “I’m here with Vister.” Vister had been their instructor. Another tall cloaked figure rode out from the alley.
“It’s cold sitting here, let’s get going,” Vister said.
Sara had insisted on no guards. She didn’t want another Choster on her hands. “We don’t want an escort.”
“Just to the start of the mountains, Sara,” Willa said. “I’d feel better with two men with us.”
Sara wanted to reject the offer, but Willa didn’t plead with her very often so she relented. After they exited Parth, Sara’s anxiety disappeared while Plant started off with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of stories.
By the time the mist had cleared, a bright spring sun lit up the landscape. Sara had ridden this way before, but earlier in the year when they rode past snow-covered fields, her only thoughts back then, were of saving Duke Northcross. Now she noticed the farmers plowing rows and fixing fences. Wildflowers littered the side of the cobbled road. The route looked entirely different in the sunlight while they rode at a considerably more leisurely pace.
A village that they had slid past the year before held an inn that Vister boasted of. The village of Greenswale grew up along the paved road to Seven Trees. It was smaller than Belting Hollow, but the few central buildings were two and three stories tall. Vister took them past the town center with its market in full swing and pulled up at a ramshackle building. It reminded her of Otta’s inn in Belonnia, but this appeared to be in better shape from the outside.
“Rameken!” Vister yelled out as he entered the inn. A large older man with a dirty apron ran out from the kitchen.
“Vister!” They grasped each other’s arms and hugged. “It’s been quite a while since the old days.”
“That’s why they’re the old days!” Vister laughed and Plant joined in. “You remember Plant?”
Rameken peered at the man. “I think I do. My sight’s none too good. Armorer? You were the best damn field repair man I ever saw. Right?”
The compliment brought a smile to Plant’s face. “Indeed. I’m the guy. So this is the inn that Vister boasts about.”
The innkeeper pursed his lips and squinted at Willa and Sara. “Not quite as good after my wife died. But good enough for the likes of you. Are these two ladies in your company? One of them looks to be a bit too young for you old sods.”
“We are escorting these two fine ladies to Shattuk Downs. They desire to go to the town of Belting Hollow. The fastest route is over the North Pass,” Vister said.
Plant scowled. “Right. Belting Hollow and on to Obridge. The older one has to visit a sister and the younger lass is her daughter.”
“Can they stand life on the trail? It gets a bit rough after Seven Trees.”
“I’ve traveled the Pass before, Master Rameken,” Willa said, putting her hand on Sara’s forearm. “We won’t freeze or melt before we get there.” She smiled. Sara noticed Willa restrained herself from squinting and being testy. Perhaps she, too, remembered Choster’s counsel to remain evasive.
“You’ll have to survive my rooms first.” A gangling teenage boy, nearly in rags, ran up. “Tar, take these people’s horses around to the stable and rub them down well. These men are my friends and the ladies are theirs.” The boy scampered out
“Do you think we’re in danger?” Sara said, wondering about the caution.
“You never know from here to Shattuk Downs. We won’t come here on the way back, once you’re on the path to the Downs. No names for you two, either. You heard the story. Belting Hollow to visit Willa’s sister and then on to Obridge. If anyone knew you were who you are, they might think you carry the riches of Shattuk Downs in your bags.”
“They’d be disappointed, Plant,” Willa said. “Sara only carries enough for travel. She’s got… Oh. It doesn’t matter if she has anything or not. A robber would kill us first and then look for boot.”
Plant nodded. “We’ve said enough already. Same goes for Seven Trees. There’s no need to camp out in the open, but a little caution will reduce any potential for unpleasantness.” He rubbed the back of his hand along Willa’s face. “I’m going to miss you, Will.”
“And I you, Plant. But I’ve been gone before and managed to drag myself across the threshold of your damned shop.”
They walked down to the common room. As the sun set, the farmers and village people began to fill up the place. The inn certainly had a healthy clientele. They grabbed a table while some remained open. Sara wondered about Plant.
“So you repair weapons as well as sell them?”
“I did. Don’t do it as much. I never liked portable forges and I didn’t like making horseshoes enough to go into full-time blacksmithing,” Plant said. “I like creating things, but making a hundred swords all the same never appealed.”
“If you ever want to visit Willa at her new home in Shattuk Downs, we might have something for you to do locally.”
“Maybe. I’ve never traveled to Shattuk Downs and my brother’s son helps me in the shop.” Plant rubbed his stubbled chin and looked off, thinking. “I can visit this summer.”
“Early summer,” Willa said and clutched Plant’s hand. “Soon.”
“Good.” Sara said. “It’s settled then.” Hedge would eventually want a person to make heavy apparatus. Plant might just be the man and his presence nearby might make Willa very happy.
A young woman came to tell them what choices they had for dinner. Sara left the room before the crowd became too rowdy. Her nerves were beginning for fray with the anticipation of another confrontation with Ben Featherwood. How would he take her giving Brightlings to Seb and Enos and not letting him have any control of the estate’s funds?
She hoped that Wells still lived close by. He would make an excellent manager for Brightlings while her stepbrothers properly learned to run the estate. Her worries continued to run through her head as she slipped into her bed. The sheets were clean, yet she still stared at the dark ceiling. The door opened and Willa walked in.
“You awake?” Willa didn’t wait for an answer. “My head hurts,” she said. “Plant likes his ale and Vister!” Sara could imagine her
squint in the darkness. “The singing and talking took its toll.”
“Aren’t you going to spend the night with Plant?” Sara had thought that Willa might slip out.
“He’s spending his night sitting up with Vister and the innkeeper. Did you really mean what you said down there about a place for Plant?”
“I’ve got to do something with my time and I’d like someone who’s handy with metal. Can he do gears and things?”
“The man wanted to be a clockmaker and he ended up in the army. He used to fix the clocks for Lord Worthy.”
“Excellent. Maybe he might learn how to make guns, too,” Sara said.
“What do you have planned?”
Sara paused for a moment and adjusted her covers. “I don’t know. I thought I’d write, but,” she shook her head in the darkness, “I think we’ll do something more fun.”
“I like the we. Thanks for the invitation. I’ll miss Plant enough. I tried not to think of the brute while we were in Belonnia, but he came to mind often enough.”
“A new adventure, but on our own terms, eh?” Sara felt good about her instincts in inviting him. “I think I’m finally getting drowsy. Sleep well.”
~~~
Chapter Twenty-One
Over the North Pass
At Seven Trees, Plant bought the supplies they’d need crossing the North Pass. The four of them traveled for another half day through the foothills.
“I put some bottles of ale in Willa’s packs. She doesn’t know it. They’re for the soldiers. You want to make friends along the way.”
“Choster…” Sara wanted to tell Plant that they didn’t have to bribe the soldiers before.
“He was an army man. You’re not. I know you both have those guns. Keep them loaded and ready, even with the soldiers.”
Sara remembered the two officers on the way to Dunst in Belonnia and nodded. The thought that a Parthy soldier would act the same shocked her.
