Avarice Secret Unquiet CH 34

Connections Rekindled

Jormugar had been provided with reduced resources for this next foray. The tracker was displeased and was sure the decision had been made out of spite. Master Jacques was prone to this kind of vindictiveness. Only five men were allotted to accompany him this time. He hoped they could pull their weight.

He had worked with a couple of them before and knew they were capable, but the other three men's abilities were an unknown. These were serious fighting men he sought to capture, and it would possibly prove difficult given his limited manpower. It seemed he was still being punished, set up to fail. Even after the rather severe beating the young man had endured for his error. However, Jormugar would not be deterred, he was one of the best in the business. He would return with those he sought in chains, collect his gold, and return to his northern homeland.

As he left the gates of the adobe-walled compound behind, there was a part of him that longed to retire from this life after his recent mistake. To run free, and to remain permanently up North, away from the ever-changeable wiles of men. After this last job was concluded he had decided that is what he would do. Enough of poisonous men like Master Jacques. Men who he could never truly please.

His back hurt with every movement of his mount beneath him and was still red and raw. Flies buzzed annoyingly about the cuts that still seeped and ran. He swatted at them time and time again awkwardly and steered his grullo gelding northward. The men under his command followed along behind. It was good to be out in the desert again, much preferred to the fetid, dark cell he had languished in for the last two days. He kicked his heels into the willing beast beneath him and made for his next destination.

*****

Aurianne had ridden hard, never allowing Isabou to break from a fast canter. She did not stop to rest or sleep. Her mare was tired, as was she, and the archer had hoped she had understood the hastily dictated directions she had been given. Little Eirik's life hung in the balance. He no longer cried, but was quiet, slipping in and out of consciousness in her arms. Aurianne despaired at yet another life that may be taken before his time.

The lush farming settlement came into view early on the second morning. Aurianne had made the journey in record time. She kicked Isabou's sweating flank once more urging her mare to find more speed. She noted the high palisade fences that ringed the settlement and the watchful archers and guards that patrolled atop them and below. They had already seen her approach. She hoped they would not be hostile.

As she began the descent into the protected valley, her eyes caught a smudge of black on the far horizon across the wide and swollen river. She blinked again and realized there was a vast host of men encamped on the opposite bank. It would seem the settlers were preparing for war. She shivered, war was the last thing she wished to be embroiled in. Yet it seemed it was unavoidable.

Stones slid and clattered under her mare's hooves as she approached the base of the hill. She lifted her hands from her mare's reigns to signal to the guardsmen that she approached in peace. A small portal in the wall opened, and five guardsmen filed out to surround her and her exhausted mare. Weapons drawn. She could see archer's shafts trained on her from above.

"I have a small child, he needs urgent medical help." Aurianne announced to the men who had surrounded her and were now holding the bridle of her exhausted horse. One of the men opened the visor on his helmet, he was tall and lanky, with a nest of messy brown hair and clear blue eyes.

The young woman slowly lifted the small, now unconscious bundle of the sleeping boy from her saddle. The man gazed at the infant, and to his credit, he did not pause. At once taking the child from her encircling arms, and turned to tell his men to bring the woman and her horse into the compound and guard her until he returned.

Aurianne loitered in the shade of the tall wooden wall, listening to her mare's breaths at last returning to normal after the harrowing marathon. The four guards stood about her, they didn't ask her any questions, but she knew they were scrutinizing her.

Finally, a tall, very handsome man with a mop of shining brown hair tied in a loose ponytail approached her. Good, she thought, let's get this business concluded, that she might get some rest and some water for her mare. The man stopped abruptly in his tracks as he took her in. "I know you! He said rather loudly, with incredulousness.

Aurianne looked at him, but she had no recollection of ever seeing him before. However, he was not going to let her puzzle over this mystery for very long.

"You were the one that attacked us that night, trying to free your henchman, a brave move." The handsome man seemed very impressed, and with that, he waved the four guardsmen back to their posts.

"Oh, how remiss of me." He stepped forward and held out his hand. Aurianne took it hesitantly and they shook hands. "I am Renard, son of our leader here. I'm sorry I left you waiting, but as you can see, we are poised on the brink of war."

Aurianne nodded, "I am Aurianne," her mind was in a muddle, with exhaustion and thirst not helping her lucidity. "Darius is here?" She finally dared to ask.

"Why yes he is, he is safe and well. Any friend of Darius' is a friend of mine. You will be safe here, and free to do as you wish." He smiled at her, a bright-toothed grin of sincerity. "The boy you brought is in the infirmary with our best doctor."

"Will he live?"

"They can't seem to say. I'm sorry. But what I can do is offer you a room and a stable for your mare."

"Thank you, that would be most welcome Renard. Darius, where is he? I wish to see him."

"He will be over there by the smithy." Renard pointed to a large open building set under some gnarled cooibah trees.

Aurianne smiled whimsically, "yes, I should have known."

"Now if you don't mind I must see to my other duties, I will send someone to the smithy to show you to your rooms, and see your mare is stabled and fed. Also..." he said just before he departed. "We would very much love to see you this evening for dinner. I believe we have much to share."

The young woman made her way to the flat-roofed building that Renard had indicated. Isabou trailing in her wake. As she approached she could hear the shrill sound of a hammer striking steel. She tied her mount to one of the uprights of the sturdy open-sided building and went inside. She paused for a moment watching a familiar sight from her childhood and she felt anchored. The bear of a man with his unruly brown beard and mop of thick curling hair was bending a wide piece of steel for a cartwheel. The hammer expertly struck the hot metal to hit exactly where it needed to. Her childhood was full of these very visions, she spent a great deal of time at the smithy. Darius was to her a father figure, and it didn't matter that her mother had told her that the title belonged to someone else.

"Darius," she called when there was a lull in the hammering.

The powerfully built man looked up, hair hanging in his eyes like a curtain and sticking to the sweat on his ruddy skin. It was hot in the forge, even in this open-sided building.

"God's be praised it's you!" The big man dropped what he was doing with a loud clatter, and the two embraced.

Aurianne could not fight the tears that ran unabated from her eyes.

"I never dared to hope," he said, as he stood back and took her in a great smile creased his face.

"I tried," Aurianne said, wiping the tears from her clear gray-blue eyes.

"You were always brave girl... your mother? What..."

"She died after the raid, I took her home to lay her to rest."

"I'm so sorry love." He hugged her again tightly.

Aurianne closed her eyes and felt as though she had come home, as she held the smith close.

"Diana will be missed. She was like her daughter, one mighty woman."

Aurianne nodded, teary-eyed against Darius' broad shoulder.

*****

That evening both Darius and Aurianne had been invited to join Renard and his family for dinner. The doctor had reported very little progress in Eirik's condition. He lay in a coma fighting for his life. Aurianne really hoped at the very least the child would not die before the others arrived. She was afraid of Aran's and Sven's reaction if that were to occur. The last thing she needed was their reprisal.

She enjoyed the dinner immensely even though she was bone weary. She had not eaten this well since her time spent at the Bridge. She enjoyed the chatter of Darius by her side, and she found Renard's family very pleasing. They were excellent hosts and made her feel most welcome, even if they sat on the brink of war.

There was of course much discussion on the subject. It appeared that the river had flooded unusually high this year, and still showed no signs of receding. By the end of the evening, Aurianne had agreed to stay and lend her sword and bow to their cause.

*****

Stephan lay sleepless by Anna's side, the pleasant dinner with his newly arrived guest had given his already overwrought mind even more to work through. He gazed across the darkened room, taking great comfort in his loving wife's calm and measured breaths as she slumbered. He could see the many pinpoints of orange campfires far across the swollen river. How Stephan missed the nights of calm blackness as he gazed out of this very window. Soon the snow melt would subside and he would face his greatest test yet. A full-blown war. Could he truly hope to prevail? The constant worry sickened him and made his heart thunder uncomfortably in his chest. He didn't want to lead his people to death and enslavement, but there was little option but to fight.

Then there was this latest turn of events. The world was so small after all. He could hardly turn away the ailing little boy that Aurianne had brought in from the desert. It seemed though that the child may not survive the night, and if he didn't, what would happen when the fierce brothers arrived? He felt great unease at this possibility, though his body was tired and he longed for sleep. He felt his way under the bed covers and took his wife's hand. He registered the reassuring press of her fingers in his and a small smile came to his lips. In all these years with all the loss and pain they had endured Anna was still there, stalwart beside him. She gave him the reserve to carry on.

He settled down beneath the covers and closed his eyes. The problem could be solved he hoped tomorrow, he had good capable men by his side, and a family that loved him.

*****

Victor strode about the camp gazing at the turbulent and muddy river. Wondering how on earth could a desert be so full of water. There was no physical way they could ford it, at least not yet. It had already been a week since they had sat waiting to engage. The men were restless with this inaction, but at least they were well-provisioned. There was nothing else for it but to wait.

He sighed and turned about, his back to the swollen torrent. The tent of his Lord loomed before him. He didn't wish to venture there but he must, the man would be as always expecting his nightly report. He wished he had something of worth to tell him.

*****

Bennett's party had traversed the barren sands slowly and methodically, leaving nothing to chance. The oxen driven by Josh's expert touch performed above Bennett's expectations, better than the tired horses would have fared. However all the animals were tiring, but Bennett knew they were close to their destination. Familiar landmarks showed him the path, a twisted stunted tree that sat on the horizon looking like a Mr. World contender, flexing his physique for the judges, a lone boulder eroded by weather and time, a ruined settlement. He knew this harsh land like the back of his own hand.

The days were by this time in the season too warm to travel. So the party sat them out in the best shade they could find. The cart was mercifully lighter as the water supply became diminished, making it progressively easier on the beasts. During this downtime, Bennett set about testing his new recruit's abilities and trying to impress on these seven boys the seriousness of the approaching mission. They could all handle a variety of weapons well, living rough off the land had seen to those lessons long ago. They were excellent hunters and bushmen. Being family and neighbors they all worked well together already. So training them as a cohesive force was not difficult to achieve.

Surprisingly though the youngest boy Danny was a crack shot. Better than every man present, even those who had seen years of combat. The dark-haired young man seemed very aware of his uncanny ability, proud of it even. Every challenge Bennett set before the lad he excelled in. The furtive kid didn't say much, but he was surely going to be a valuable member of the group when the action began.

*****

Aran and Sven jogged by the horses. Raissa and Lucy rode double, with both Jhary and Kario mounted as well. It was the fastest method by which they could make the journey. Sven and Aran were strong and very resilient, but they had to rest in the shade during the hottest part of the day before continuing on. The group would not make the destination nearly as fast as Aurianne had.

There was no chatter as they traveled southeast. Sven spent the time in quiet contemplation for he had a lot on his mind. The strange facts that Kario had revealed to him, though highly unusual, he found difficult to dispel. The dark man didn't strike him as a lunatic, he seemed to be in full possession of his faculties. He liked to think he was a very good judge of men, later he would be interested in his brother's take on the matter. However, there were many miles to cover before then.

*****

It was two days later when the bedraggled party of travelers showed up at the gates. Aurianne went out to meet them along with Renard. He had told his men to stand down. He knew that Aran and Sven would be tense, and did not wish any chance of unnecessary hostilities. He explained to them that provided they behaved in a lawful manner within his walls, they would be treated as any other citizen. However, if they did not punitive action would follow.

Sven accepted the terms of the parlay asking about his son. He was informed that the boy hovered on the brink of death, but somehow still held on. Aran was more concerned with the host of troops encamped on the opposite embankment, and once he had discovered who the troops were even more so. It was apparent he was interested enough to stay and fight.

Sven didn't wish to involve himself in the politics of the region. Yes, the Wolf Lord was his enemy, however, he had little interest in engaging on the battlefield again. This news had firmly cemented that he could not remain here. All he wished to do was take his family back to the sanctuary of the valley and live a quiet life.

However, after what Kario had revealed to him over the spreading blackness Sven was no longer so sure of the merit of that plan. He suddenly felt like a refugee.

Sven and Raissa had been at once directed toward Stephan's large home. The impressive high vaulted room that Sven remembered from his last visit had been completely transformed into a hospital. He gazed about at the rows and rows of beds that stood empty and was quietly impressed by this settlement's organizational abilities. He was ushered behind a standing screen over in a far corner, there his son lay. The fair-headed child looked ever so small in the large bed. His yellow-lashed eyes were closed, and his tiny breaths came in ragged uneven sobs. Raissa went to her knees by his bedside her voice whispering a fervent prayer.

Sven's heart tore for his only child, for all his prowess as a leader and provider he could do so little here. He wanted Eirik to live, but looking at the child Sven knew nothing would save his son other than an unexpected miracle.

*****

On her arrival, Maya had initially been assigned to the care of a large and loving family, but the wild girl was most unhappy there, and as the weeks passed she gravitated toward a single soldier taking up residence with him. This kind of behavior from a woman in this very religious community was frowned upon. However, Maya cared little for what others thought. After the death of her parents and her abduction by her attacker, the expectations of others had little hold on her. She had chosen this particular man for several reasons, one he lived alone, and secondly he was handsome and fair. Not a replica of the man she had given her heart to, but he would do.

All in this settlement contributed to the community as a whole. Maya included. Her strengths as a brilliant seamstress were soon recognized, and to her delight, she was given free rein to use any of the available supplies to create or re purpose garments to her heart's desire. This filled the majority of her time, and her soldier helped her with the remainder. She was at least reasonably happy, as long as she kept to herself, and had a man that appreciated her.

Maya's day had started as it often did lying languorously in her soldier's arms. David was handsome and young and enjoyed Maya's gifts as much as she enjoyed bestowing them. The lithe girl opened her lazy eyes still groggy from sleep and looked about the room. She wasn't as affected by the impending war as others were. The worst had been visited on her already what did she have to lose. Her parents were slain before her eyes, and everything she had known was charred by fire and spattered in blood.

Yet, she had loved him... that same man who had run her family through. Maya often wrestled with these thoughts, they disturbed her in a level she could not understand. The realization often made her acutely uncomfortable, and yet she still grieved for his absence from her life and looked for him whenever she saw a tall golden-haired man in a crowd.

She rose and slipped quietly from the warm bed. Her man did not stir and she knew he would not arise until well after midday as he had spent all night on the watch. She had already decided that she would attempt to complete the work she had begun on a rather elaborate wedding gown. All she needed was a few more faux pearls from the storeroom. She intended to secure those this morning and complete the work while David slept. Maya may have been a free spirit, but she was very industrious with her time.

She ran a comb through her hair and dressed, her pale eyes resting long moments on the small letter A that sat at her breast. Even today she remembered him, he was still vivid in her mind. She regretted coming here but Sven had commanded it. She pulled on her clothes and left the house shutting the door with care so as to not wake her man.

The packed dirt streets between the homes were quiet this morning, as they had been every day since the enemy host had arrived to camp across the river. Many were drawn away from their usual routines, called to tasks elsewhere. Children were inside. School had been canceled. Safety was paramount in this community.

The storehouse was quite a walk from Maya's home. She didn't much like interacting with the people that guarded the precious supplies, even the thought of it made her stomach churn. The people here were nice, but she knew they either pitied her or judged her and she cared for neither sentiment. She would conduct her business as swiftly and minimally as possible and get back home as she walked briskly with her head down not meeting anyone's eyes. Her long walk took her past the large central well and the stables. In the past, she had often lingered there in the slightest hope that just maybe she may sight a familiar traveler. However, she never did.

So today it was eyes down as she hurried by. Maya had no real desire to interact with anyone. When the huge and familiar hand alighted on her arm she stopped abruptly. Her first reaction was to violently twist her body and shrug whoever it was aside. She turned and attempted to evade the man by ducking under him. The sun-tanned hand did not release her as she had thought it would, and she found her slight body spun about to face him and her wrist burning in pain.

"Maya!"

She looked up into the distinctive green eyes she had known so well. Framed in the curtain of thick gold hair.

Her mouth opened and closed wordless, and she forgot the pain ghosting on her captured wrist. Her only response was immediate. Her arms encircled the warrior in a tight hug, her eyes closing in satisfied bliss. His scent was familiar as was his heavily muscled form beneath her fingers. She had at last been reunited with her golden man.