Burden of Stones

by James Dale

  "And loud," Arrinor smiled. "If you're going to teach her cousin, teach her softly."

  "Oh, be quiet Arri," Ailicia scolded her brother, as she joined them. "Pay him no heed Anna, the first time he spoke with Faeliha, father had a headache for two days. And he can barely Mind-speak at all. "

  "I heard Iraesh' thoughts," Anna said happily, letting Jack go to give the Ailfar princess her own hug. "Well, almost."

  "That is amazing," Ailicia smiled, taking Anna by the arm and leading her away. "And it was your first time?"

  "Father and Uncle Dragon want to talk," Arrinor informed Jack as the two princess' walked off into the night.

  "I've need to see after Eaudreuil first," Jack said.

  "I'll send Belehir to tend him," Arrinor replied. "No biting him Eaudreuil," Arri warned the temperamental stallion sternly. "Or I'll tell Iraesh about that filly you were so moonstruck by in Immer."

  "You would not dare!" Eaudreuil snorted.

  "Just bite him and see," Arrinor grinned. "Come on Jack, he'll be as gentle as a lamb."

  Cilidon, Theros, General Gamrin, Duke Morgan and several captains were standing around a hastily built fire when Jack and Arrinor found them.

  "I hope you don't mind Jack," Theros said when he saw them approaching, "but we've decided to stand for this meeting."

  "Standing suits me just fine, sire," Jack agreed with a weary smile. "Does anyone have a map handy?"

  "No maps are needed," Duke Morgan replied. "Captain Eraehart knows the Ruwe Mountains like the back of his hand. Captain, would you mind sharing with the High Prince what you discussed with General Gamrin earlier today."

  "High Prince," Captain Eraehart saluted. "If I may?"

  "Share away captain," Jack sighed. "But please, anyone who survived such a ride as we shared today has earned the right to call me Jack."

  "I told you he'd say that captain," Malik grinned.

  "As you wish...Sir Jack," Captain Eraehart nodded.

  Apparently, that was as far as the Doridanian was willing to go, but Braedan let it pass. He was just too tired to argue.

  Eraehart knelt and began to draw in the dirt with the tip of his knife. "Here is the Great South Road. Here, the Pass of Galhir. General Gamrin believes Captain Khalmiya will likely set up the ambush somewhere along this ridge. It parallels the pass and can be reached by..."

  Half an hour later, Captain Eraehart had convinced Jack the course of action he'd described was the only logical plan Khalmiya and Tarsus would devise on such short notice. Jack was also convinced, almost, if Lukas a'Maeridon could find a decent place to take his shot, he might not get the chance to test the letter of Doridanian law.

  "And if Lukas misses?" he asked, playing Devil's advocate. "What then? Can they hold the Raashani until we arrive?"

  "One hundred White Horse Knights held the pass for three days against ten thousand grim'Hiru during the Great War," Morgan replied. "Two hundred men, Razorbacks and Galekindar, led by Khalmiya and Tarsus will be more than enough to hold it against the Raashani."

  "Sounds like the Hot Gates at Thermopylae," Jack nodded, finally convinced. When the gathered men gave him back confused looks, he smiled. "I'll tell you all about King Leonidas and the Spartans when we're drinking beer in Dorshev. Okay, does anyone have anything else to add?"

  "I can think of a dozen things that might go wrong," Malik sighed.

  "And after a few hours’ sleep," Marten du Gail added, "I'll probably think of a dozen more. But then, I'm a natural pessimist."

  "That's why you're my favorite, Marten." Theros smiled.

  "My Favorite Marten?" Jack laughed, wearily. When his mirth was answered by more confused looks, Jack decided it was time to turn in. "Trust me. That was the funniest thing I've heard all day."

  "More beers in Dorshev?" Theros asked.

  "As many as you can drink," Jack nodded. "Morgan is buying."

  "We pull this off," the Duke of Dorshev replied, "and none in this company will ever go thirsty again."

  "You've got yourself a deal!" Malik Gamrin said.

  "Gentlemen," Jack yawned, "if that's it, I'm off to find my bed roll to pass out for a while."

  "Who is King Leonidas?" Captain Eraehart ask curiously as Jack turned away. “Some Southern monarch?”

  "And where the hell is Thermopylae?" someone else inquired.

  Chapter Five

  Pass of Galhir

  Although Jack's night vision was sharpened by years of training, under the pale sliver of a new moon just now rising in the east, the company's bivouac appeared as little more than hundreds of indistinct shadows. Without Eaudreuil's directions to guide him, he would not have easily found the stallion in the deep, dark of the Midland Plains.

  "Are you lost Horse-Brother?" the stallion asked around a mouthful of prairie grass.

  "Not anymore," he replied. "Where's Annawyn?"

  "I am here," a voice in the dark answered. A shadow stood between Eaudreuil and Iraesh. Even if she hadn't spoken, he would have known it was Annawyn. No other shadow could have made his pulse race so.

  "I have laid out your bed roll," she said, stepping close.

  "You didn't have to...ummm, Anna, what you're doing?" he whispered as she began to unbuckle his weapons belt.

  "I will not get much sleep with your sword digging into my side," she replied casually.

  "You're going to aahmmm..."

  "Sleep beside you?" she said quietly. "Of course, I am. I think I will be safe enough."

  "Are you sure about this?” he asked worriedly. “Where is Captain Einnael?” If she disapproved of his kisses, this would get his throat cut in his sleep.

  “Einn is the captain of my guard, not my nursemaid.” she said shyly.

  “You’re sure this is…permitted?”

  "We are going to sleep, Jack Braedan," Anna replied. Even in the darkness he could sense the heat flushing her cheeks. "That is all. I have a knife if you get too…familiar. Now lift your arms. I need to remove your breast plate. "

  Jack obediently lifted his arms and Annawyn began to undo the clasps of his Ithelmere plate. In very short order, she had his armor and sword belt piled on the ground beside Eaudreuil's saddle.

  "Is it a sharp knife?" he asked, as Annawyn knelt down and opened his bed roll.

  "A very sharp knife," she replied, sliding beneath a light blanket.

  "Anna," he said hesitantly, "after all the talk today about what I can or can't ask because of the laws of engagement...do you think it's...prudent we share a blanket? What will your Uncle Morgan think?" God, forget Morgan! Einnael was going to murder him for sure!

  "Jack Braedan, the night is chill and will grow more so before dawn," Annawyn replied. "You can either stumble around in the dark looking for someone else to share a blanket with you, or you can join me. And I’m so tired I’m beyond caring what Morgan thinks. Or Einn."

  Jack stared down at the woman who had become the center of his entire life. Everything he did, every choice he made, every breath he took, ultimately revolved around someone he barely knew, but loved with every beat of his heart. Through fate or destiny or design, he had been chosen as the instrument of light against the forces of darkness, but all he cared about was basking in the warming smile of a beautiful woman with auburn hair and sea green eyes.

  "Well, are you going to stand there all night?" Anna asked, patting the ground beside her.

  Jack joined her under his blanket.

  "Lift your arm," she whispered.

  Jack wordlessly obeyed and Annawyn snuggled next to him, laying her head on his shoulder.

  "Jack?"

  "Yes, Anna?"

  Annawyn shifted her position, trying to see his face, trying to see his eyes. "Though you may only ask with your eyes and your smile and your kiss, know when the time comes...when you can finally say the words...you should have no fear what my answer will be." Anna kissed her fingers, then gently touched them to his lips. It was as much affection as she was willing to risk given the intim
acy of their present situation.

  "Good night, my pirate," she whispered, then lay her head back down on his shoulder and snuggled against him. Very soon, the sound of soft, rhythmic breathing told him Anna had drifted off. With the princess laying against him, her smell filling his head and the heat of her body warming him even through his Ithelmere mail...it was a long time before sleep found Jack Braedan.

  Jack's eyes snapped open, the seasoned soldier instantly alert, but the sound that woke him was not a harbinger of danger, only of weary men breaking camp and preparing to ride. Dawn was not far off. In the east, night struggled to hold back morning, but the horizon was beginning to glow faintly with the promise of a new day.

  "Anna?" he said quietly. "Anna, we need to get up."

  The sleeping princess stirred, but did not open her eyes. "No," she murmured, holding him tightly. "I want to stay like this forever."

  "We can sleep late tomorrow," Jack said, stroking her hair.

  "Mmmm, promise?" Anna asked, finally opening her eyes to look up at him.

  "Well, maybe," Jack replied. "We'll see how things go today. If..." He stopped suddenly. Anna had been right when she said there was enough evil without speaking into life. Today, whether the planned ambush succeeded or not, much blood would be shed before night fell again.

  "If what?"

  "Never mind," he said, kissing the top of her head. "I'm starving. Let's find something to eat."

  In truth, Jack had to struggle to remember the last time he'd eaten at all. How long had it been? Yesterday he'd been too preoccupied spending every spare second with Annawyn to think about food. Supper in the mercenary guild hall? Thirty-six hours ago at least. Just thinking about his last meal made his stomach rumble.

  "I have bread and cheese in my saddle pack," Anna replied, stretching away sleep.

  "Bread and cheese sounds great," Jack shuddered, not from the chill morning air, but from the luxurious feel of her lithe body moving against him. "I'll go..."

  "Rummage through my things?" Anna interrupted, now fully awake. "You certainly will not. I will go."

  Anna untangled herself from their shared blanket and slid over him. For an instant that seemed to stretch into eternity, the princess straddled his hips, her long auburn hair brushing against his face.

  "Pardon me," Anna whispered, playfully. Braedan could not be sure, but as she lingered above him, he thought he saw a ghost of a smile on Anna's lips. He shuddered again, and again, the chill morning air had nothing to do with it.

  Jack was sitting cross-legged on the blanket when Anna returned with a six-inch loaf of dark bread and four small blocks of cheese. She sat down in the same fashion, produced a small knife from her boot and began to slice the bread. Wordlessly, the pair sat, knees touching, as Anna divided their breakfast, then she and Jack took turns feeding each other small slices of bread and cheese.

  The first ray of the morning sun burst over the horizon as Jack fed Annawyn the last bite of bread.

  "What are thinking?" Anna asked.

  "I was thinking...that was the best breakfast I've ever had," Jack replied. Actually, he was thinking together with their passionate kisses of the day before, their shared night snuggling, and the moment where she had lingered so seductively above him, it was arguably the most erotic twenty-four hours he could ever remember.

  "Jack, the bread was stale. The cheese was hard..."

  "But the companionship was wonderful," he informed her.

  "That...was an excellent answer," Annawyn said, gracing him with one of her warming smiles.

  As Jack was trying to think of something witty, or sensitive or charming to say to earn him another smile, Arrinor and Ailicia joined them.

  "Time to go?" he asked quietly, knowing that his moment with Annawyn was over.

  "It is passed time," Arri nodded. "We have a long road remaining before we reach the pass."

  "The patrol? Did the Hammer send someone back with word on the Raashani?" asked Jack, suddenly remembering the Immermen with a pang of guilt. He'd spent the night snuggling with Anna while Ailfar scouts and several of the High King's Hammer had been searching for Kiathan. Something he should have been doing instead of enjoying a warm blanket! Damn! He'd been High Prince less than twenty-four hours and he was already letting others endure hardships while slept comfortably...

  "Cousin?"

  "What?" Braedan muttered.

  "You cannot do everything yourself," Arrinor said soothingly, as if he could read Braedan's thoughts. "Captain d'Kenna saw a task to be accomplished and judged his men the best to carry it out."

  "Yes but..."

  "Have you not done so yourself before?" Arrinor asked. "While your commanders waited comfortably for your return?"

  "Damn it Arri," Jack sighed, "Can you read my mind?"

  "I can read faces," Arri smiled. "To answer your question, yes. Squad Sergeant d'Behr returned two hours ago. The Raashani are encamped a little more than ten leagues south."

  "Ten leagues?" Jack said, rising to his feet. "After all we went through yesterday, d'Behr road sixty more miles! Let's go Arri. He may have returned a sergeant, but he's riding off this morning a lieutenant. Anna?"

  "Go Jack," Annawyn smiled. "I will saddle Eaudreuil."

  "By yourself?"

  "I am a Horsemaiden of Doridan," Anna replied. "I can saddle a Val'anna unaided."

  "Go on," Ailicia added. "She will saddle him quicker if you are not around begging for a kiss every time she smiles."

  "Ailicia!" Anna cried, her cheeks coloring red.

  "Come cousin," Arrinor laughed. "Leave the women to prepare the horses. We've more important things to…" he barely managed to duck the rock that went whizzing by his head.

  Jack glanced quickly at Annawyn, but she appeared to be busy saddling Eaudreuil while Ailicia was doing the same for Iraesh.

  "Lead the way," he smiled. "Before one of them decides not to miss."

  As they had been the previous night, Theros, Cilidon, Duke Morgan and General Gamrin were gathered with the company’s captains when Jack and Arrinor arrived. Joining them also this morning was Julian Brin, his defacto lieutenant Arrgenn Dunnahel, and a young Immerman; d'Behr no doubt, judging from his exhausted appearance. Despite his obvious lack of sleep, the squad sergeant snapped to attention and saluted crisply when he saw Jack approaching.

  "Lieutenant d'Behr?"

  "It's squad sergeant, my Lord," d'Behr said, bowing.

  "It's lieutenant now," Jack corrected, offering the soldier his hand. d'Behr hesitated briefly, then took Jack's hand, looking for all the world like he'd just been blessed by the pope.

  "Where are Kiathan and the Raashani lieutenant?" Jack inquired, getting right to the point.

  "Not ten leagues south, High Prince," d'Behr answered. "Kiathan pushed them hard yesterday my Lord. Very hard. They were weary and inattentive when we found them. We managed to approach close enough to listen to their sentries." He said the last with undisguised contempt.

  "And what did you hear?"

  "After his defeat, after you defeated him High Prince," d'Behr answered, "they, the Raashani sentries, grow uneasy with how he has changed. Some begin to...question...his purpose."

  "Changed how?" Jack asked quietly. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. The question is, are they beginning to question his purpose enough they will not fight for him?"

  "That, I cannot say, my Lord," d'Behr answered truthfully.

  "I guess we'll find out soon enough," Jack replied. "Julian, since you're here I suppose the plan is for you and the heavy horse, d'Kenna's Hammer and the Dragon Guards, to hit their rear when we catch them?"

  "Along with everyone else who has a lance or spear," Brin nodded, impressed Braedan had so quickly concluded what he, General Gamrin and Duke Morgan had been discussing for almost an hour. "Ailfar will ride the flanks and feather them until we engage. After that..."

  "It'll get damned bloody. I know." Jack concluded. "How wide is the pass? What will our front be?"
r />   "For the entire length, the Pass of Galhir never grows so wide than a dozen horsemen can ride abreast," Captain Eraehart informed him. "At its narrowest, half that. Along the ridge where we suspect Captain Khalmiya will set up our ambush... our front will likely be eight to ten at the most."

  "It's going to be tight then," Jack observed.

  "It will," Eraehart nodded.

  "Very well," Jack said. "General Gamrin, we're not going to catch them standing around talking about it."

  "No, we're not," the Razorback's commander agreed. "Captains! On me! Anyone with something to add, speak up! We ride in fifteen minutes."

  With Malik giving final directions, Jack turned to Theros and Cilidon. "How much farther, do you think?" he asked.

  "We rode more leagues yesterday than anyone has ever ridden before in a day. I am certain," Cilidon replied. "But we have at least thirty more ahead of us yet."

  Looking south, Braedan could see the Ruwe Mountains running like a jagged spine across the horizon. Snow, clinging to their highest peaks, sparkled brighter than diamonds under the light of the rising sun.

  "They look so far," Jack said quietly. Thirty leagues. Nearly one hundred miles to the Pass of Galhir. Was Tarsus and Khalmiya already there? Were they already setting their trap for the Raashani? One hundred miles before noon. And they had to arrive with strength enough to fight. Braedan calculated the distance and their remaining time against what strength would be needed to do battle at the end.

  "We'll start the first hour slower this morning," he decided. "It will give everyone a chance to loosen up. To work the stiffness from yesterday's ride. We still have time."

  "Very well," Theros nodded. "I will inform Malik. While you...you need to dress. Unless you plan on riding into battle without sword and plate?"

  "Here comes my squire now," Jack replied, inclining his head towards Annawyn, who was walking towards them.

  "Annawyn?" Cilidon asked. "Then you have the most beautiful squire in all the Whesguard."

  "Being High Prince has to have some benefits," Jack shrugged. "Which reminds me. I've been meaning to ask, who started this High Prince nonsense anyway?"