by Robin Hardy
“Counselor—” Kam dismounted and then halted in surprise as Roman joined them. “You did return!”
“Where is Galapos?” Roman demanded. A crowd of soldiers quickly gathered.
“Commander—Counselor—that cursed Sheva had him hanged!”
The revelation stunned everyone to silence. Then cries of fury filled the courtyard. Roman stood planted in shock. When Basil finally gained order around him, he demanded, “How did she contrive to do that?”
“I don’t really know, Counselor. We’d heard a rumor that the Chataine was in slavery to Sheva, so Galapos made me up to mingle with the servants. I never did see her, though. But then I hear this hubbub from the palace—I look and see Sheva and her Counselor taking Galapos to the gallows. And I watched them hang him like a criminal. They didn’t know about me, so I slipped away from the crowd and rode. The Surchatain had told me to bring word back to the Commander if he met with ill.”
Kam stopped to breathe as Basil and Roman grasped for some reason in all this. Then, unable to contain himself, Kam urged, “Shall we attack her, Commander? Counselor?”
Simultaneously, Basil shook his head and Roman uttered a short, bitter laugh. “With what?” Roman demanded. “Six hundred men against her fortress? We couldn’t take Diamond’s Head even with the number we had against Tremaine.” Biting his lip and closing his eyes, he suddenly recalled, “And Colin took forty men with him to Ooster. I should have waited to send them.”
“It’s likely that Sheva intends to attack us now, with Galapos removed. We must ready our defenses,” Basil considered. He faced Roman: “Commander, in obedience to the command of the late Surchatain Galapos, I appoint you to be Surchatain of Lystra in his stead. Surchatain—what shall we do now?” All eyes looked to their new leader.
Roman looked past those faces through the open gates to the hill country and said, “Send the women and children of the town—also my son and his nursemaid—to hiding places in the hills, and assemble every able man in the courtyard to receive arms. Then summon me from the chapel. . . . I’m going there to petition the Lord for our deliverance.”
Roman opened the chapel doors and shut them behind him deliberately. The hall was dim and still, with only two oil lamps burning before the rough wooden cross at the front. He approached it with heavy steps, grieving for Galapos, and knelt. Firmly closing his mind to the silent accusations that he was somehow to blame, he attempted to pray. “Lord God . . .” he began, and stopped.
He tried again. “Lord God, you have rescued me so many times, and how I praise you for your mighty deliverance. Now, Lord—” His throat constricted involuntarily and he could not continue.
He forced open his throat and breathed in and out. Determined, he began again, “Lord God, you are mighty to save and to deliver. Your mercy and goodness are unending. I pray now, Lord—” His voice vanished and once again he could not continue.
Sagging in frustration, he opened his hands to the cross and pleaded, “What am I doing wrong?” He sat back on his heels. “Lord, you have ordained praise, and it seems you will hear nothing but praise from me today. I don’t understand why you won’t permit me to ask for deliverance, but—so be it. Though those I love are dead, and we face in our weakness the threat of another invasion, still you are great and greatly to be praised. Our lives are in your hands, Father, and whether we live or die, you are the Lord. May your name be honored by all the earth. Amen.”
He finished and walked from the chapel, considering how to arm tradesmen and merchants who had never held a sword before.
The growing familiarity of the landscape in which the army camped that night filled Deirdre with joy. The gently rolling hills and gnarled oaks—the dry stream bed that they had crossed so many times just west of here! The following day, when the vanguard of the company caught sight of the towers of Westford, Deirdre wept profusely. “Roman, my darling, I am coming home!”
Because of her inexperience in such matters, the thought of sending a messenger on ahead never crossed her mind. Lord Troyce was aware that this was a wise precaution, but something kept him quiet. . . .
Basil knocked quietly on the chamber door. “My lord?”
Roman opened it. “I am only Surchatain. I want no title of lord.”
“Surchatain. An army has been sighted on the road from the east.”
“So soon?” Roman asked, following him to the east tower.
“Apparently, right on time,” answered Basil. “Kam said he had been held up almost half a day in Bresen trying to get by some slave traders. He feared turning around and seeing Sheva’s army on his heels.”
As Basil said that, Kam ran up breathlessly to meet them in the tower. “Roman—Surchatain—it’s Sheva, all right, leading an army. Beside her is her Counselor. I recognize him.”
“From this distance?” Roman asked dubiously, peering at the flowing mass far down the road.
“When the periphery scouts spotted them, I rode out to have a look. I’ve got good eyes; I know who I saw,” Kam replied almost angrily.
“Under the circumstances, it seems inevitable that it is Sheva,” murmured Basil, squinting at the coming tide as well. “How shall we defend ourselves, Roman?”
Kam interjected, “Surchatain—I have an idea. They’re approaching a bend in the road which is bordered by thick trees and high ground. It’s the perfect site for an ambush. At your word, we’ll hide there and attack as they round the bend. If we can just kill Sheva and her officers, her army will have nothing to fight for. We can sway them to join with you. It’s perfect, my lord—and it’s our only hope!”
Basil said, “It sounds reasonable.” Roman considered it, silently inquiring of the Spirit within him.
Kam was tense with excitement, ready to spring for his horse. “Surchatain, you must say quickly. They’ll be at the bend soon.”
“I say no,” responded Roman. “If God has chosen to give us into her hand, so be it. But I won’t return evil for evil and murder her defenseless, as she did Galapos. I alone will ride out to meet her. You will all secure yourselves within the gates, and if she slays me also, defend yourselves as best you can.”
Kam stared, incredulous. “Your mind has gone soft, Roman.” Basil inhaled a troubled breath.
Roman leveled an icy stare at Kam. “Are you refusing my command, then?”
Kam retreated. “No, Surchatain.”
“Then I will go out alone. But I am not defenseless.”
As Deirdre’s army rounded a bend and the road straightened to the gates of Westford, they saw suddenly appear on the road before them a solitary warrior on horseback, sword at his side. Deirdre melted in recognition of her husband. She opened her mouth but he held out his hand as a command to stop. They did, with some confusion in the rear.
He shouted, “Proceed no farther, lady, until you give an account for the death of Galapos, Surchatain of Lystra!”
Deirdre was struck dumb. Did he not know her?
“Would this be your husband?” Nihl whispered uneasily.
“I am awaiting your answer!” Roman shouted again.
“He has mistaken you for Sheva!” exclaimed Troyce.
In agony Deirdre ripped off the fur hood to show her blond hair and cried, “Roman!” He sat unmoved.
She flung herself from her horse and ran forward as he dismounted slowly. She fell at his feet, crying, “Roman! Don’t you know me?”
He lifted her as if in a trance. In spite of her agitation she noticed new lines in his face and strands of grey hair. “Deirdre,” he whispered.
“Roman, I’ve brought you—”
“Deirdre!” He enfolded her and kissed every part of her face.
“Roman, I’ve brought—”
“Deirdre—you’ve come back from the dead to me. I had given you up for dead. But God has returned you to me, alive and whole. . . .” This time he did not attempt to hide his tears. “But . . . who are all these?”
“Roman, I’ve brought you a Counselor and a Commander and an o
verseer and an army! There are also workers and craftsmen and even children, Roman!”
He looked distractedly on the multitude who waited eagerly by. Then he searched her face again. “Beloved . . . what has overtaken Galapos?”
“It was this.” She drew out the bill of freedom from her belt. “He died to free me, Roman. And because of him, all these were freed, also!”
Roman shook his head, reading the document. “I failed him. Utterly.”
“No, love! He seemed to have been prepared for it. Somehow, it was necessary. . . .” Silently, he struggled to comprehend it all. Deirdre said softly, “Will you accept into service these who have come?”
He took her hand and walked to meet the company. The leaders promptly dismounted. “Husband,” Deirdre said proudly, “this is Troyce, formerly Sheva’s administrator. He joined with me in rebellion after her murder of Galapos.” Troyce bowed low and Roman nodded in approval.
“And this is Sevter, overseer of Sheva’s palace. He took special care of me when I was newly arrived and weak.” Sevter bowed and Roman again nodded.
“And husband, this is Nihl, leader of the slaves whom Galapos freed. You will find much to commend in him,” she said. Nihl bowed slightly, but his eyes hardly left Roman’s face.
Roman appraised him a moment, then extended his hand. “Will you command this army you lead, my brother?”
Nihl took it. “I will, Surchatain.”
For the first time, Roman smiled. He lifted Deirdre onto his horse and jumped up behind her, signaling the army forward. Cheers and whoops from behind answered him, and Roman himself led them up to the fast-closed gates of Westford.
“Open!” he shouted to the sentries hidden on the wall. Some commotion was heard, and grudgingly the gates were opened. The army entered into the midst of a silent, fearful collection of Lystrans defiantly holding on to their weapons.
Then someone exclaimed, “It’s the Chataine Deirdre!”
“It is the Surchataine Deirdre,” corrected Roman, lifting her down and kissing her in the sight of all.
And then the walls burst with rejoicing. It echoed off the stone up into the very hills as Deirdre was surrounded by welcoming faces. She was embraced and shaken and talked to by ten people at once. Who could have believed all these people would be so glad to see her? As she laughingly received them, her eyes scanned the crowd, searching.
She met Roman’s eyes over their heads, for he had not stopped watching her, and her lips formed the words, “Where is our baby?”
He smiled from overflowing wellsprings of love. Reaching through the crowd, he took her hand. “Come with me. I’ll show you.” With others milling behind them, they departed the gates and rode out to the hills.
(The story continues in Liberation of Lystra.)
Glossary
Almetta (awl MET ta)—house maid at the palace of Diamond’s Head
Artemeus (ARE ti mus)—son of Sheva and Savin; Chatain of Goerge and former suitor of Deirdre
Arund (AIR und)—newborn baby of a slave girl who died; given to Deirdre to care for at Diamond’s Head
Asgard (AZ gard)—brother of Nihl, a Polonti
Avelon (AV e lawn)—the holy man who worked among the villagers around Westford and converted Roman’s mother to Christianity; he took the villagers to the coast when Tremaine invaded Westford
Basil (BAY zil)—the former secretary to the overseer at Westford; because he took his servants into hiding when Tremaine invaded Lystra, he was made Counselor by Galapos
Bernal (BURN ul)—sent by Varela to remove Deirdre from Lystra
Bettina (be TEEN a)—serving girl who befriended Deirdre at Diamond’s Head
Bresen (BREE zen)—trade city in Goerge which had developed a slave market; Deirdre was sold there to Lord Troyce
Brude (brood)—a merchant of Diamond’s Head who bribed Sheva for the water mill
Calle (kail) Valley—the province due west of Lystra
Caranoe (CARE ah no)—the overseer of the field slaves at Diamond’s Head
Chatain (sha TAN)—title given the son of the Surchatain as heir to the rulership; feminine—Chataine (sha TANE)
Cohort (CO hort)—palace guards who served under Karel, selected on the basis of appearance and family prestige; considered themselves above the standing army
Colin (CAWL in)—son of Deirdre’s uncle Corneus; younger brother of Jason
Corneus (cor NEE us)—the Surchatain of Seir who agreed to fight with Galapos and then betrayed him, but died in the battle at Outpost One; Deirdre’s uncle
Corona (cor OH na)—capital of Seleca, where Tremaine ruled
Deirdre (DEE dra)—the Chataine of Lystra
Diamond’s Head—capital of Goerge, where Savin and Sheva ruled, a city built on granite cliffs and considered impregnable
drud(s)—epithet for the race of brown-skinned, black-haired people from Polontis
DuCange (do KANJ)—the silversmith of Westford
Eudymon (YOU di mun)—the Counselor who served under Karel and was murdered by him; father of illegitimate Roman
Eulen (YOU len)—a renegade of Corona
Fark—a slave trader of Corona
Galapos (GAL a pos)—the Commander of the army under Karel, made Surchatain after the battle at Outpost One; Deirdre’s natural father
Gerd (G as in go)—renegade who dealt in slave trading
Goerge (G as in go)—province east of Lystra, ruled by Sheva
Goldie—alias used by Deirdre at Diamond’s Head
Gusta (GUS ta)—nursemaid of Deirdre and Roman’s infant son
Hycliff (HIGH cliff)—coastal city in Lystra where the Fair was held twice a year
Hylas (HIGH las)—citizen of Westford who used the chapel to teach his views on God
Jason—son of Corneus; Chatain of Seir; married Deirdre in a spurious ceremony and killed himself after the battle at Outpost One
Josef—slave at Diamond’s Head who taught Deirdre about God
Kam—a soldier under Galapos whom he made a captain
Karel (CARE ul)—Surchatain of Lystra who married Corneus’ sister Regina when she was pregnant with Deirdre by Galapos; deposed immediately before Tremaine invaded Westford
Karl and Joel—scouts sent by Galapos to Calle Valley to search for Deirdre
Kevin—errand boy who served under Galapos and Roman
Lady Grey—Deirdre’s first horse, a grey mare selected for her by Roman
Lewyn (LEW in)—a butcher at Westford
Lystra (LIS tra)—province ruled by Karel, Galapos, then Roman, with the only navigable river emptying on the southern coast
Marc—a soldier sent by Galapos (with Varan) to follow Roman to Corona
Merry—the kitchen mistress at the palace of Diamond’s Head
Nanna—Deirdre’s nursemaid from infancy
Nihl (neel)—leader of the Polonti slaves at Diamond’s Head whom Deirdre freed
Olynn (AWL in)—a soldier under Galapos
Ooster (OO ster)—capital of Seir, home of Corneus, where Deirdre was imprisoned four months during the siege of Outpost One
Perin and Lari—scouts sent by Galapos to Goerge to search for Deirdre
Polontis (po LAWN tis)—mountainous province north of Goerge, home of the Polonti (po LAWN tee)
Regina (re GEE na)—Deirdre’s mother, lover of Galapos; died at the hands of her husband Karel when he discovered she had altered the laws to allow Deirdre to choose her own husband
Rollet (rawl LET)—son of Tremaine; Chatain of Seir; rejected suitor of Deirdre
Roman—Deirdre’s guardian and then her husband; Commander of the army under Surchatain Galapos; made Surchatain of Lystra after Galapos’s death; a half-blooded Polonti
Savin (SAV in)—Surchatain of Goerge killed at the battle of Outpost One; Sheva’s husband
Seir (SEE er)—province northwest of Lystra, formerly ruled by Corneus
Seleca (SEL e ka)—rich province north of Lystra, formerly ruled by Tremain
e
Sevter—overseer of domestic slaves at Diamond’s Head
shekinah (sha KIGH na)—Hebrew word for the visible glory of God
Sheva (SHE va)—Surchataine of Goerge; widow of Savin
Surchatain (SUR cha tan)—title for the ruler of a province; feminine—Surchataine (SUR cha tane)
Tremaine (tre MANE)—powerful ruler of Seleca; died in the battle at Outpost One
Troyce—administrator at the palace of Diamond’s Head under Sheva
Tychus (TIGH kus)—holy man who taught at the palace of Westford during Karel’s rule
Varan (VAIR an)—soldier sent by Galapos (with Marc) to follow Roman to Corona
Varela (va REL a)—beautiful sorceress who attempted to gain power by influencing the leaders of Westford
Wence—one of the Polonti freed by Deirdre
Westford—capital of Lystra, home of Roman and Deirdre
Books by Robin Hardy
Coming Fall 2014:
If Only for This Life (Book 1 of the Sammy/Streiker Salmagundi)
Currently in print:
The Streiker Saga
Streiker’s Bride
Streiker: The Killdeer
Streiker’s Morning Sun
The Annals of Lystra
Chataine’s Guardian
Stone of Help
Liberation of Lystra
(first published as High Lord of Lystra)
The Latter Annals of Lystra
Nicole of Prie Mer
Ares of Westford
Prisoners of Hope
Road of Vanishing
Dead Man’s Token
Games of God and Men
In Extremis
All Mirrors and All Suns
The Laughing Side of the World
The Sammy Series
Sammy: Dallas Detective
Sammy: Women Troubles
Sammy: Working for a Living
Sammy: On Vacation
Sammy: Little Misunderstandings
Sammy: Ghosts
Sammy: Arenamania
Sammy: In Principle
