Chapter XII

Tourth

I strode after Wren. I was practically on her heels when she stepped out the door into the courtyard. I grabbed her shoulder. She was not going to walk away from this so easily. Not after a comment like that. She didn’t know what I had done, what I had witnessed, why I truly left for war. I had to set her straight.

“Tourth!” A familiar voice from hazy years past stopped me mid-motion, my hand resting on Wren’s slender shoulder. Suddenly I was encased in a bear hug. I released her as I was lifted from my feet with my assailant’s enthusiasm. “Where have you been hiding all of these years?” Hiller demanded as he pounded on my back.

Then before I could respond, he had stepped back to examine me at arm-length. “You look thin.” In the dim light of the torches, I could just make out the familiar planes and angles of Hiller Pendraco’s handsome face. “We last heard of you before the battle of Catorna in the south. When we didn’t hear of you afterwards, we gave up hope that you had survived that massacre. Philon even sent out a few scouts a year back to see if they could find you, but they returned with nothing. Where have you been keeping yourself?”

“Right here,” I rushed to say. Hiller had always been the talkative one of the Pendraco clan. If I didn’t speak up soon, he would continue his narrative without any assistance from me, especially if he was excited. From the sparkle in his eyes, I could see that he was just that. “I returned home and settled back here.”

Hiller frowned. “And you didn’t send word to us?”

“There was no need. We were safe and well enough.”

“This is hardly well enough,” Iscarus pointed out as he appeared at his brother’s side. The years had been kind to him also. His lean frame showed no signs of abuse or malady. “I saw Kat, Tourth. She has been without adequate food recently.”

“Last winter was rough,” I admitted. “This year will be better.”

“Aye, it will,” Hiller said. “We will see to that.”

“Wren told us of your troubles with Orac’s local Enforcer, and Philon sent us to straighten you out.”

“You don’t need to…”

“Nonsense,” Hiller thumped me on the back. “What are family friends for? If your father, may he rest in peace, hadn’t supported father in the Turantian conflict, we would have lost half of our holdings. We are just returning the favor.”

“My Lord.” A strange soldier approached us. Suddenly realizing that he was speaking to three nobles, the man immediately clarified. “My Lord Hiller, the horses are being moved out to the temporary corral. The men need to know where they are to set up camp.”

Hiller turned to me. “Where do you want us, Tourth?”

“If they bunk three to a room, they should be able to fit into the old barracks,” Dardon suggested, joining the conversation. “Wren has already offered her room. She says she will bunk in the old keep.”

“She shouldn’t need to do that,” Iscarus protested. “There has got to be a way that she can still keep her room and bunk us all.”

I watched the exchange wondering when I had lost control of the situation. Only hours before it had been Dardon, Svhen, and me, completely in control and certain of who we were and what we were doing. Now, looking at the chaos around me, I had no clue how many men were here. I was afraid to think of how we were going to feed them all during their stay. Didn’t Wren realize the consequences of her request for help?

As though answering my question, Wren joined us. She avoided my eyes, meeting Hiller’s instead. “The provisions are stored, the horses bedded down for the night, and your cook is rearranging the kitchen to suit his needs. Svhen says he has organized a watch rotation from the volunteers. If there is nothing else, I am going to head to bed. There is a lot to be done tomorrow.”

“Indeed there is,” Iscarus agreed. He grinned my way. “We have a strategy to plan.”

“You should be able to keep your current sleeping arrangements,” Hiller told her. “I will speak to my men. If I remember the barracks well enough, those rooms are plenty big enough for sleeping four men apiece.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I will not see four men squeezed into one of those rooms just so I can have one to myself. I will be more comfortable out in the open. I have missed sleeping outdoors.”

“And if it rains?” Hiller asked, looking doubtful.

She smiled. “I wouldn’t be much of a bounty hunter if a little rain hurt me. If you would excuse me gentlemen,” she said with a bow. “I need to sleep.”

Hiller and Iscarus bowed in return. I nodded although she didn’t bother looking my way. Dardon walked back toward the barracks saying he needed to make sure no one stole any of his gear, and the soldier followed him.

“Where did you find her?” Iscarus asked. The awe in his voice did strange things to my stomach. If I didn’t know better I would have identified the feeling as jealousy. Even stranger since all I wished at that moment was to shake some sense into her head.

“She appeared one day a few weeks back, and asked for a roof over her head in exchange for her services.”

Hiller frowned at me. “Is there a man you need to find?”

“Not as a bounty hunter as a huntress.”

“A blessing for you, Tourth,” Iscarus muttered. “Well, I am off to find my bed. See you on the morrow.” He turned toward the barracks, but Hiller remained.

“What is wrong with you, Tourth?” he asked. “You have changed.”

I refused to look at him, turning to stare at the broken castle gate instead. “War changes men, Hiller. Some men grow into heroes, other monsters. I thought I was of the former and found I was the latter.”

Uncharacteristically silent, Hiller stood motionless beside me. “You are not alone in finding that Tourth.” Another span of quiet fell between us. A wolf howl far outside the walls only interrupted it for a moment. I hoped that Hiller would leave me, but he didn’t.

“What did she say to you?” he asked suddenly. “When you came out of the keep, there was anger in your eyes and it was directed at her.”

I took a deep breath. “Wren says I should speak of what I am hiding to someone.”

Hiller moved, shifting his weight. “She is right.” Then without a farewell, he lumbered off into the night, leaving me standing alone in the darkness.

My anger was gone. His words had drained it away. That didn’t mean I was ready to take Wren’s advice. She didn’t fully understand the depth of my sin and I had every intention of keeping it that way. I took a deep breath of cold night air and held it before releasing it again. Then I walked toward the barracks, ignoring the dull ache in the center of my chest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wren

I woke the next morning and left the castle by way of the back door. Passing the sentry with only a nod, I headed toward the clearing that I had discovered Tourth pacing only days before. I needed to think and that was as good a place with the grounds and walls soon to be crawling with guests.

On the journey the day before, I had spoken in length to Iscarus and Hiller about the state of the defenses of Iselyn Castle. They had grabbed onto the idea of rebuilding the defenses. Apparently Hiller’s men had been doing just that at the outposts along the shared border between the two valleys. I fully expected to find a flurry of activity when I returned, and I felt I needed time alone with Deus before I confronted Tourth again.

The morning was cool, crisp, and sunny. The strange combination of bright warmth of the sun on my head and the slight bite in the air was invigorating. I raised my face toward the sun and breathed out praise to the Creator. High above me on the breeze, I spotted one of my falcons. It looked like Elsu, the black male, bringing a message from Ilara. I smiled. Even more to praise the Lord about.

I waited for Elsu to join me before stepping into the shadow of the trees. Following the path Tourth and I had covered on our way out from where I had discovered him. Without the sun kissing my head and shoulders, the air grew almost cold. I laced up the front of my leather jerkin while Elsu shifted uneasily on my shoulder, wings partially spread. Once I stopped adjusting my clothing, he stroked my ear in thanks and settled back onto his perch.

“Sorry, Elsu,” I whispered, not willing to break the quiet around me. I reached up to stroke his chest in return.

The branches were low. I held a few of the aside so that we could pass, mindful of the falcon’s head rising above my own. Within minutes, we stepped from the crush of foliage into the clearing. Deep green shadows broken by speckles of morning sunlight filtering through the canopy above our heads greeted us, inviting us to explore their hidden depths.

I circled the area, careful not to disturb the ground cover more than necessary. If Tourth returned to this place in the near future, I didn’t want it to be too evident that I had been here. Spotting a perfect perch halfway up one of the trees, I decided that would be where I would spend my morning devotional. I signaled Elsu to leave my shoulder. He did with a flurry of wings and a slight rebuke at being shooed away so soon.

After a quick climb, I settled on the branch. Pressing my back against the rough bark of the tree, I balanced there. Elsu settled two branches above me and began preening as I drew out my worn copy of the word of Deus. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and began to prepare my heart.

“Almighty God, thank You for Your grace. Its depth and width are unbounded. Without it, we would all be lost. Please, Father, open Tourth’s eyes to the overwhelming abundance of Your love and mercy. Show him that You can heal the deep pain within him. Meet him and show him Your face. You are not just a God who guides his children, chastising them when they need correction, but You are also a God of forgiveness, a gift that we need more than any other because we are a fallen race.

“Have I pushed him too hard?” Remembering his anger from the night before, I frowned. “Please guide me, Father. I am not infallible. I am sinner like all others. Put the words in my mouth that will penetrate his defenses and bring him to you. Use my actions to speak for you. I am your vessel. Please use me.”

I turned my thoughts to the preparations going on back at the castle, the work and the plans to reclaim Tourth’s title and authority. I prayed for success. I asked for wisdom, and I pleaded for the souls of the men and women of the valley. After spending time petitioning on behalf of each of my siblings, I asked for a blessing on my time in the word before closing my prayer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tourth

I woke to voices out in the courtyard. Rolling from my bed, I grabbed my sword and was halfway to the door before I realized that the voices were raised in teasing banter, not alarm. I suddenly remembered the events of the night before and closed my eyes against the memory.

Returning to my bed, I sank back down on it, returning my sword to its sheath. Running my hands through my hair, I tried to turn my mind to my morning prayers, but the door burst open before I could focus. Dardon strode in and crossed to stand over me.

“Lord Hiller wants to know if they can cut down the grove north of the upper meadow to use for a new front gate.”

“There is wood enough stacked behind the smoke house,” I reminded him without really looking up. “What does Hiller care about the gate?”

“They already used that in the repairs to the gatehouse.” Dardon ignored my question and sat down next to me on the bed. “He also wants to know where he can get thatch to re-thatch the roof of the stable.”

“What?” I pushed myself to my feet, reaching for a clean tunic. “The stable roof is the least of our worries. If he is so eager to give his men work, they should work on the outer wall.”

“That is what he said you would say. They are already working on that. He was wondering where would be the best place to get more stone.”

I pulled my tunic over my head and grimaced at Dardon. “It seems he still knows me well.”

Dardon just grinned. “He and Lord Iscarus asked me to request that you join them at the front gate. They have some plans that they want to run by you before they commit to them.”

“I wonder why they are bothering to ask.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could catch them. I looked over at Dardon to find him frowning at me. Shame quickly filled my chest. “That was wrong of me, Dardon. Pray don’t tell them what I said.”

Dardon nodded. “I can understand how you feel threatened, Tourth. Just remember that they are only here to help.”

I nodded. “Have you seen Wren yet this morning?” I asked as I reached for my sword and belt.

“She left past the rear sentry an hour or two ago. I suspect she will return when she is ready.”

“When she does, could you let me know. I wish to speak with her.” I buckled the leather straps of my belt and reached for my leather jerkin.

Dardon studied me for a minute as I laced the front. “Don’t go scaring her off, Tourth. We need her.”

“I doubt anything would frighten her off, Dardon, unless she wanted to go.”

He frowned at me as though disagreeing.

“Come. Show me where Hiller and Iscarus are waiting. The sooner we can get to work the better.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wren Romany - © 2009 Rachel Rossano

Chapter XI

Tourth

Svhen’s cooking lay heavy in my belly. With Arthus on the road to the capital, not to return for two weeks, Svhen had taken over the cooking. Although I had only been eating mashed turnips and ground lion, I was counting the hours to Wren’s return. Anything was better than a turnip boiled until it fell apart and then mashed beyond recognition. I had nothing against turnips, but I liked to be able to identify the vegetable on my plate before I tasted it. At least the lion meat had been well cooked and seasoned, though a bit burnt. Dardon had side tracked Svhen with knife target practice. Wren had taught them a trick and they were determined to master it before her return.

I shifted my position, glancing hopefully down at the road winding past our gate. The stone beneath me was cooling from the heat of the day, seeping away into the coming night. The eerie shade of the light right after sunset but before complete night always played tricks with my sight. With my gaze I traced the track to where it disappeared beneath a grove of trees.

Wren was due back today and I had been watching the road since first light. It hadn’t been an intentional action. It was strange actually. Whenever I paused to think or breathe, I found my eyes and thoughts wandering in her direction. I had to struggle to focus on my tasks.

“Any sight of her?” Dardon asked. He capered up the crumbling stairs and joined me on my perch on the wall directly over the gate.

I shook my head. “She could have been delayed.”

He nodded.

We sat in silence for a while. “If she doesn’t show, I am cooking tomorrow night.”

I shot him a glance before smiling slightly. “What would you make instead, practically raw carrots and red mutton?” Dardon’s usual fare was barely cooked.

“I can’t stand seeing food being tortured the way Svhen does it.”

“And not cooking it properly isn’t torture to your captive consumers?”

“Why don’t you take a turn?”

A movement in the trees near where the road emerged from the copse caught my eye. “I thought you wanted to live. Did you see that?”

“What?” Dardon leaned forward and squinted into the night.

Darkness had fallen completely now. There was hardly any starlight from the partially cloudy sky and the moon was hiding behind a particularly thick cloud. Something moved again. It was too far to hear anything, but something was definitely emerging from the trees and it was larger than a single woman on a horse.

“The Enforcer?” Dardon asked.

I peered. “No, they are moving too openly.”

“Should I warn Svhen?”

“Yes, but don’t do anything until you know who it is. Someone might be with Wren.”

“Who could it possibly be traveling with Wren unless…” The thought must have occurred to him at the same time it blossomed in my own mind. “She wouldn’t betray us,” he protested.

“Unless she had no choice.”

“No.” Dardon’s voice was hard with conviction. “No, Tourth, she would never betray us even if it meant her life.”

I wanted to believe the same, but I couldn’t. I ignored the gut feeling that concurred with Dardon, and reached for my sword hilt. “Go warn Svhen.”

Dardon disappeared into the night creeping silently down the stairs in the direction of the kitchen. I stalked off in the other direction. I wasn’t about to let someone enter our gates unchallenged. I took the longer route, stopping at the stable to gather my bow and quiver from the stable wall, before reaching the ruined gate. One of the doors was propped closed, blocking half the entrance. The other, however, was long gone, sacrificed to kindling last winter because it had been beyond repair. I swore to myself that I would start building the replacement tomorrow if we survived that long.

I took up position in the gap, spreading my feet solidly into an archer’s stance. Whipping an arrow from the quiver, I slipped it into place as the sounds of horses approached. Svhen, sword in one hand and torch in the other arrived at my side a moment later. Voices came out of the darkness, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying above the roar of the burning torch beside me.

Almighty, Father, protect us. My brief petition was all I could manage before the first horse came into the light.

“Who goes there?” Dardon demanded from somewhere above us. He must have taken a position on the wall above the gate.

“Hiller and Iscarus Pendraco request lodging for the night.”

“Who?” Dardon demanded.

A cold fury rose in my chest. That meddling woman. I half wanted to demand she present herself so that I could strangle her.

“Where is Wren Romany?” I demanded, lowering my bow and letting the string fall slack.

“Pardon?” The soldier, armed in full gear, looked down at me in confusion.

“Where is Mistress Romany? I know she is with your party and I demand that you tell me where she is.”

“Tourth?” Svhen’s questioning voice came from behind me, but I ignored it.

“Fine.” I glared up at the new arrival. “See that you tell her that I want to speak to her in the keep.”

The soldier looked a bit taken aback at the force of my demand, but he saluted me. I turned on my heel, threw my bow at Svhen and stalked past him into the courtyard.

“Are we to allow them shelter?” Svhen asked.

“What is going on down there?” Dardon’s voice demanded from a distance. “Oh, I wouldn’t recommend you take another step until I know what Tourth wants us to do with you.” He was clearly speaking to the soldier I had just left. I didn’t care. She had done just what I had told her I didn’t want done. I had expressly informed her I was not asking for Lord Eyrant’s help and she had ignored my order. I was going to…

Svhen’s large hand on my upper arm brought me up short. “I get that you are angry, but what are we to do with those men?” he asked.

“Let them in,” I growled. “And see that Wren finds me immediately.” I shook myself free of his grasp, strode across the courtyard, and entered the ruined keep, slamming the door behind me. As soon as it had latched, I swung around and smashed my fist into the side of the nearest crate. It fell over and something broke in its wake with a satisfying tinkle of glass. My fist throbbed, but I wasn’t finished. Kicking the next closest thing, I rolled up carpet, I swore at the empty space. Why couldn’t people just follow my instructions and stop meddling. I shoved another crate over on its side and perched on it to wait for Wren.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wren

“He wants to see you immediately.” Svhen looked worried, an expression stronger than any I had seen cross his face before. “He is really angry at you.”

I nodded. “I expected as much.” I slipped the tack from Brone’s back and placed it in its place. I walked around where Svhen was leaning on the stall door to fetch the brush.

“You knew he would be angry?”

I nodded. “I did something that he explicitly told me he wasn’t going to do himself.” The rhythmic act of working the brush over Brone’s coat was soothing. I had missed this in the two days I had spent in Sedlyn Castle. Brone seemed to agree.

“Why did you do it then?”

“Someone had to.” I glanced at Svhen before turning my attention to Brone’s hooves. “If I let him, he would fall on his sword and take you all with him.”

“He wouldn’t deliberately harm us.”

I pinned him with a look over Brone’s glossy back. “What about himself?” I came around to the gate and looked up at him. “I know he fiercely protects Arthus, Dardon, and you, but does Tourth make an effort to protect himself?”

Svhen’s light colored eyes held my gaze for a few moments before he looked away.

“He wasn’t always like this,” I observed, “obsessive in his pursuit of helping others without consideration for himself.”

Svhen shook his head. “That isn’t a completely bad thing.”

“No it isn’t.” I turned and stroked Brone’s silky nose. He lipped my hand and snuffed my wrist before nosing my shoulder affectionately. I rubbed the side of his neck and then turned back to Svhen. “I am not concerned about the actions as much as I am concerned about the underlying mentality.”

He nodded. “Guilt.” We held each other’s gaze for a moment before he stepped back, holding the stall door open for me. “He is in the keep.”

“Thank you.” I moved past him, pausing after he closed the stall behind me. “If I haven’t come out in an hour, come and fetch me.” If I hadn’t gotten Tourth calmed down by then we would both need a breather. I usually could calm anyone down by then, but Tourth was an unknown.

“Will do,” Svhen replied and then preceded me out into the noisy courtyard.

The Pendraco brothers and their cohort of forty men were working out the details of their accommodations with Dardon. At my suggestion, they had brought their full gear straight from their camp on the eastern border of the Sedlyn lands. A heavy wagon, now parked in the center of the courtyard, laden with four month’s supply of provisions for forty-five men came also. Thankfully Dardon had taken over the organizing of them and their gear because Tourth was going to be keeping me busy for a while.

I crossed the courtyard, dodging horses and weaving through provisions to reach the door to the keep. The heavy oak, though beaten and weathered was still stout enough to require a good shove to get it open. Without hesitating I stepped over the sill and into the darkened space beyond.

I let the door fall closed behind me while my eyes adjusted to the dimmer light and quiet. One lantern sat high on a stack of crates, covering the area in grotesque shadows. As the heavy door eased into its place and the latch slide home, my eyes fell on the ruined remains of a splintered crate only a few feet inside the room. The light caught at the ragged edges of the splintered wood, casting them in sharp relief.

“You are late.”

I didn’t look at him. By the sound of his voice I placed his location to the left of the door, but I didn’t turn to face him. Instead, I picked up a fallen book, lying open among the dirt and splinters.

“Arthus isn’t going to appreciate the destruction of his property.”

“You had no right.” His low tone burned at my ears as it rippled over me, seething with fury. I had hoped that a bit of time to himself would have cooled his temper. Apparently it hadn’t. It had only simmered down to lava. “I allow you to dwell under my roof, trust you with my confidence, and you return the generosity by disobeying my orders.”

“Orders?” I kept my eyes on the book as I straightened to my full height, stroking the leather of the binding.

“Yes, orders. I clearly told you my intentions and you cannot claim that you did not understand them.”

“Yet, they were not orders,” I pointed out. “You simply outlined your plans and reasons. I have plans and reasons of my own.”

“To undermine my authority?” He moved closer, keeping to the shadows and moving between me and the door.

I had to clamp down on the instinct that I had honed over the years. With a deliberate step I moved away from the door, giving him room to block my exit. The move made me nervous, but it was necessary. I had to make it clear that I trusted him.

“No. I seek only to protect you and the others.”

“I don’t need your protection. We did well enough on our own before you came.”

I frowned as I set the book on top of nearby crate. “You and I both know that isn’t true,” I replied softly. “You were starving. You told me as much yourself.”

“We would have found a way.” The confidence was forced, shaky and crumbling. He stepped closer. “I don’t know how but we would have found a way. We did not need to ask for help.”

I turned to face him at last. “Why is the thought of asking for help so unwelcome, Tourth? It isn’t as though you had no friends to ask.”

He turned away before I managed more than a brief impression of his features. “I don’t want to discuss it.”

I took a deep breath. “You must.”

“Why?” He turned and stalked up to me. Fire burned in his eyes as he towered over me.

If he thought that would intimidate me, he was very wrong. My brother Aiden had always been the master at intimidation but he had never been able to make me flinch. The key was to see beyond the fire and posture and look at the heart. Aiden hurt in ways I could not help. Tourth, however, knew the healer and cure but he could not see the way. For some reason he blinded his own eyes, wallowed in his pain, and punished himself up for something that he needed to let go of. “It will eat at you until you do.”

“I do not need a confessor, Wren. I am beyond that.” Anger lingered in his voice, but it was no longer directed toward me. He turned and retreated into the shadows, away from the door.

“No one is beyond redemption, Tourth,” I replied. Then without waiting for his reply, I slipped out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wren Romany - © 2009 Rachel Rossano