Free the North! (Free Trader Series Book 5)

by Craig Martelle

  But he had something to say to the people first before they could lament the past. He stepped to the small platform before the doorway and faced the crowd. He saw every expression, from open hostility to warm acceptance.

  “Hear me, good people of Whitehorse!” he shouted in his best Free Trader voice. “The Provincial Government will soon fall. There is no worse crime against the people of Vii than to stop free trade. Without trade, everything stops and people become dependent on their masters, those who have stolen what should be rightfully traded. This Provincial Government has taken your right to self-determination. They don’t execute the three laws of trade: negotiate, agree, and deliver. Without that, all you have is theft. You’re free now. Our next stop is Cameron and after that, Jefferson City. A world without trade is a world that collapses upon itself.” Braden looked at the crowd as expressions softened. They’d been looking for a champion, but there wasn’t one remaining in the town. Maybe there had been at one point, but the government probably purged anyone who capable of opposing them.

  “Go back to the way things used to be. Traders to the Market Square! Trade among yourselves and be free. I am Free Trader Braden and know this! It is my mission in life to free the north!” The surge of G-War’s emotions threatened to knock Braden from his feet. Micah doubled over, and Zeller rushed to her side.

  Braden recovered quickly. The sound of a horse’s hooves pounding their way out of the village came to him. He nodded and Skirill and Zyena took to the sky, quickly overcoming the rider who whipped the horse into a frenzy as it ran the road north, toward Cameron. The rider crouched low over the horse’s mane as the beast ran, eyes wide in fright at the frantic pace its rider demanded of it.

  ‘C’mon back, Ess, Zee. They’ll know we’re coming, and it won’t change a thing,’ Braden said angrily. He looked from face to face, seeing a friendly smile from the large blacksmith. Braden was instantly happy. He wrapped his bow back over his shoulder and greeted the man, shaking his hand heartily.

  “Thank you for getting rid of this scum. I remember you, Braden. It seems like you might remember me, too.” The man smiled broadly, infectiously. Other townspeople crowded around them, slapping Braden on the shoulder.

  “You repaired the cart and your partner made the casks by which we were able to cross the Great Desert,” Braden said, bowing to the blacksmith. The big man beamed with pride.

  “Cross the Great Desert? But that’s not possible..” The man looked in awe.

  “Let me introduce, Micah, my partner. She’s from the south.” Micah’s hand disappeared into the blacksmith’s massive paw. “And this is Zeller, a Free Trader, also from the south.”

  The blacksmith held her hand as the two stared at each other. Braden grew uncomfortable and coughed loudly. “I think we need to get going. We don’t want to give them too much time to prepare for our arrival.” Micah grabbed the back of Zeller’s shirt and pulled her after them.

  “When will you come back this way? I have a present for you!” the blacksmith called after them. Braden didn’t know if the present was for him or Zeller.

  “We’ll be back soon, have no doubt,” Braden called over his shoulder, laughing as they worked their way out of town.

  ‘Get ready to go, you guys,’ Braden passed over the mindlink. ‘We’re in a race with a person on a galloping horse. They’ve got a lead, but they can’t run all the way to Cameron. Skirill, Zyena, maybe you two can keep an eye on them for us?’ Braden had changed his mind about letting the government security know they were coming.

  Skirill and Zyena flew north. They followed the road and soon were well above the individual on the horse. Once the companions were out of town, they broke into a run. For all Braden’s bravado, he didn’t want the Provincial Government in Cameron to know they were coming. The fight would be much less intense if they had the element of surprise on their side.

  G-War loped alongside, emanating feelings of gratification.

  “G! What are you doing to us?” Braden asked as they ran.

  ‘I know not what you mean, shallow human,’ G-War responded.

  Braden decided that he wouldn’t get a straight answer from the ‘cat, so he let it drop. He expected the Golden Warrior to be hungry in short order as well. They had no time to hunt, so the smoked pork would have to do. Maybe in G-War’s current mood, it would suffice.

  When they arrived at the wagon, the Wolfoids already had Brandt harnessed. The humans climbed aboard while the ‘cat jumped into the back with a single smooth leap. Brandt took off while they were still getting settled. He followed the path that Bounder and Gray Strider had scouted while the others were in town. They made a wide loop to the east, then north, and finally west to the ancients’ road that led to Cameron.

  Everything’s Different, but the Same

  The King of the Aurochs slowed to get the wagon from the rougher terrain road to the well-worn path beside the road of the ancients. Once there, the smooth going and a sunny day allowed Brandt to run, almost like he used to. Arnie ran behind the wagon, stretching out to match the speed of the much larger bull.

  Skirill told them that their target had already stopped at a river crossing to water the horse. Brandt added a burst of speed, hoping to catch the rider unaware. Braden watched through the Hawkoid’s eyes as the person turned, looking south. They dragged the horse out of the water and tried to mount, but the horse seemingly didn’t like to be hurried. Brandt rolled up onto the road and Arnie ran to the left side. They’d trap the horse and rider between them. Braden and Micah readied their bows.

  The rider became frantic and when it became apparent there was no escape, the individual waded into the water and tried to swim to the other side. Skirill and Zyena flew in front of the person’s face, crisscrossing before them, tracing lines in the water with their claws. With a deep sigh, the swimmer turned and headed back to shore. Brandt and Arnie helped themselves to a drink while Braden and Micah waited.

  A young girl waded out and stood between them. She looked down at the ground, tears trailing down her cheeks. “Are you going to kill me, too?” she stammered in a small voice. “Like you killed my dad?”

  Micah was crushed. She never thought of the government officials as family men. Braden exhaled loudly, throwing his head back. Bounder and Gray Strider approached as did Patrice and Delavigne. Surprise and shock seized the girl, she started panting, turned blue, and passed out. Braden caught her before she fell back into the water. He carried her to the wagon and gently put her inside. Zeller cradled the young girl’s head in her lap. Micah couldn’t look at her. Braden put his arm around Micah’s shoulders as they walked away.

  “We had no choice and I hate to say it, we’re going to create a bunch more orphans before this is over, and hopefully, the orphans won’t be our own children.” That thought sobered Micah. “Imagine a world without trade? Neither can I,” Braden said as he hugged his partner, letting her work through the anguish that gripped her.

  They heard Zeller’s voice. “Those are our friends. This is Bounder and his mate Gray Strider. This is Patrice and here’s Delavigne. The large Aurochs is Brandt and the other is Arnie.”

  “Can I pet them?” the little girl asked. Micah choked back tears, wondering at the resilience of a child who’d just lost a parent.

  Bounder put his muzzle into the back of the wagon. A small hand reached out and rubbed his neck fur, scratched behind his ears. Gray Strider leaned in next and received the same treatment. G-War rubbed against the young girl, then looked at her intently. The two stared at each other until the realization hit her that he was talking.

  “Ohh,” she said. She closed her eyes and rocked to comfort herself. When she opened her eyes again, they were clear and more aware. “I understand, Golden Warrior. Thank you.”

  The others had no idea what she was thanking him for, but expected it was something that helped her realize peace within a churning mind. Braden was sorry that he had to interrupt, but the longer they waited, the longer t
hat the good people of the north had to live without proper trade.

  “Where were you going, little sweetheart?” Braden asked, trying to sound gentle and caring.

  “My name is Nerise and I’m not going to talk with you. You hurt my dad.” Braden hung his head and turned away. Micah leaned in to pick up where her mate left off.

  “Where were you going, Nerise?” Micah asked soothingly, as only a mother can.

  “The government office in Cameron. Tell them what happened. Help them to get ready.” She covered her face in her hands and sobbed. Maybe G-War’s gentle ministrations hadn’t been as effective as they hoped, or they talked about something else. The ‘cat rubbed against her chest, purring loudly. She hugged him to her tightly, the look on his face would have made Micah and Zeller laugh if the situation had been different.

  Finally, the little girl let go and G-War quickly excused himself, to avoid an uncomfortable repeat. He still had his ‘cat dignity to maintain. Nerise wiped her nose on her arm.

  “What is your horse’s name?” Zeller asked.

  “That’s Pony, and he’s a good horse! He’s all mine, too,” she said proudly. They lifted her out of the wagon and with each of the women holding a hand, they walked Nerise to her horse, where she let go to grab the reins and nuzzle the horse’s soft nose with her own.

  ‘So, what are we going to do?’ Braden asked over the mindlink. Zeller shrugged. Micah looked at him. ‘Anyone have any ideas?’ Braden asked the companions, suddenly and fiercely missing Aadi.

  Delavigne hopped up next to her and took her hand in his as he offered fresh greens for the horse to nibble on. She looked at the Rabbit, and he flicked his whiskers at her. Pony forced his way closer to headbutt his human and the Rabbit. They both giggled at the horse’s sudden playfulness.

  ‘We would like you to come along,’ Delavigne said in his tiny thought voice.

  “Will you stay with me?” she asked innocently.

  ‘Of course we will. It is our responsibility to protect the small humans. Where is your mother?’ Delavigne asked as his mate, Patrice appeared next to him.

  “My father said she was an enemy of the Provincial Government and he had her sent away. Maybe we can go find her?” the little girl said without making eye contact. Micah’s heart twisted in her throat as she could feel that Nerise knew the truth.

  ‘Weeds, Nerise,’ Patrice started to say, holding the girl’s other hand. ‘What do you do with weeds when they get into your garden?’

  “Pull them, of course,” Nerise replied.

  ‘And then your garden grows better, doesn’t it? That’s what we’re doing here. The Provincial Government is the weed and must be pulled if the garden is to flourish. These good humans will do it, and you will be better for it, although right now it hurts. It must be done. Since coming to Vii, we’ve learned one most important fact. As long as you have trade, you have peace and prosperity. As long as you have good people who refuse to give power to the undeserving, then we are all better off. We have joined Free Trader Braden to restore trade, restore the peace, let the land brighten with new blooms.’

  Braden and Micah looked at each other. That was the most they’d heard from either Patrice or Delavigne in as long as they’d known them. Then they realized that the Rabbits were there for all of Aadi’s lessons with Ax and ‘Tesh. The old guy was rubbing off on them.

  Nerise skipped as the Rabbits led her to the wagon and helped her climb in. Braden tied Pony’s lead to the back gate and they remounted. Brandt was pleased with the new addition to the caravan. He loved human children, finding their thoughts refreshing. Arnie was indifferent to it all.

  The Wolfoids and the Hawkoids considered it business as usual since Braden and Micah had a way of gathering those with pure-hearts to them. The Rabbits put Nerise at ease as Brandt carefully moved the wagon onto the road and crossed the ancients’ bridge, continuing their journey north. The Hawkoids showed them that the road before them was clear.

  The iron fist of the Provincial Government hadn’t only squeezed the life out of trade, it also made the people prisoners in their own homes. Braden’s anger simmered. Had he stayed in the north, he probably would have been one of those taken away. He smiled at the thought of his journey, for it had given him time and the means to return and make a difference.

  “Blasters,” he said. They dug into their packs and pulled out their firepower. If they were going to face forty men, they needed more than the advantage that the companions gave them. If the enemy counted on its use of force to pacify the population, then they’d be met with something even more overwhelming.

  Braden was under no illusion that the Provincial Government was anything other than an enemy that had to be defeated.

  Cameron

  Cameron wasn’t much bigger than Whitehorse, but it had multiple roads leading to and from it. The main road to Binghamton and farther locations west ended at Cameron. The road to Jefferson City was a well-taken-care-of track to the north. The town had a few buildings of the ancients remaining, but most of the houses and businesses were newer and of quality construction.

  There wasn’t a forest nearby, so they stopped well south of town.

  “You are too far away, if you stay here,” Braden told them. “I’d rather shock the residents of Cameron than risk getting cut off. I think we need to stay together. This could be a big fight. Sure, we have better weapons, but we can’t kill them wholesale. I don’t want to kill any of them, but as Patrice so wisely reminded us, we only need to pull the weeds. Let’s find the weeds. Everyone else has to be left alone.”

  Braden looked around at the faces of his companions–human, Wolfoid, Aurochs, Rabbits, Hawkoids, and a Hillcat. They weren’t looking forward to this. Once they entered the town, there would be no turning back. They’d make many new orphans and widows. Braden insisted that they camp the night where they were. He needed to wrap his head around what he was asking them all to do.

  He hadn’t hesitated in Whitehorse and now they were on a path leading out of their control. Forty or so in Cameron followed by a hundred or more in Jefferson City. How could they manage such a fight without hurting innocent people? Without consulting his companions, he’d plunged them into a new war.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured to them all as he turned and walked away to be alone. Micah let him go. Once he realized that had he asked, they would have all agreed to join him, he’d come to grips with the situation. He was rash, but for the right reasons. If he ever wavered from that path, she’d know. They’d all know and would set him straight.

  He didn’t return until nightfall, but when he did, he pulled Micah close for a long and warm hug. He asked the others to come in so he could talk to them about what their entrance to the town would look like and where they should make their stand. He started drawing in the dirt. Even though most of the companions could never make heads or tails from his maps, it helped him better articulate the plan. There was the Town Square and the Market Square, buildings and roads…

  “There Will Be No Provincial Government”

  They walked straight up the road to Cameron. Arnie pulled the wagon so Brandt would be free to intimidate a group of people en masse if needed. The Hawkoids flew ahead to look for groups of armed men. Skirill was happy to tell Braden that there were a number of wagons and carts on the road leading into the city. Braden asked where they were going. He suspected he knew, but waited for confirmation.

  ‘They all go to a large building and area that has fences and men with weapons,’ Zyena told them over the mindlink as she saw it first.

  “No trade,” Braden whispered. “The government is taking everything and then handing it back out to maintain their hold on power. I wonder what happened to the Caravan Guild?” he asked no one as he thought out loud.

  Once the Hawkoids spotted the Provincial Government headquarters, it all became clear to Braden. The so-called officials had taken over the former security offices, where he’d been put behind bars, and expanded t
he building. That was now the center of town, both figuratively and literally. There was a great queue of people waiting outside the door, while armed men stood around.

  Braden looked at both the warehouse and the main government building.

  “Cut the head off the snake?” he asked Micah. She nodded. He looked to the others. They nodded, too. Zeller showed little hesitation. Micah had been talking with her about her swordfight, making Zeller look at it as an exercise in swordplay against evil and not that the man was anything other than an obstacle to all things good on Vii. Too many battles remained for one of their members to be incapacitated at the thought. Zeller assured her that she was fine and would be able to fight again. Micah knew that she wasn’t fine, but was encouraged by the distraction that the large blacksmith provided her fellow villager. Everyone needed something to live for, something to fight for.

  ‘We’re headed to the government building first. I’ll talk to the crowd and tell them exactly what we’re going to do, then we’ll let the government officials know what we think about them. If we can get the people on our side, then our job will be a whole lot easier. Everyone fully charged and ready?’ Braden said over the mindlink to make sure that everyone heard clearly.

  As they approached the outskirts of town, casual passersby stared as the mighty Aurochs pulled the odd looking wagon with an even greater Aurochs following. Brandt tried nodding at the people, but all they saw were his great horns. The people fled in terror.

  “And then there’s that. I guess as long as no one interferes with us, that’ll have to be good enough,” Braden said to himself. Passive support was almost as important as active support.