Chapter 11
Mission
It was grizzly work. Randel's height made him able to reach and cut the ropes that kept the women and girls attached to the trees. The others had stepped back and covered their mouths and noses when the bodies fell into his arms. When they offered him a cloth, he refused.
"I'mused to it," he told them. And he was, but that wasn't why he refused. It seemed wrong, somehow, to cover himself when they were bare.
Over her initial revulsion, the Lieutenant went to take tarps and tents and blankets from the camp to cover the bodies. They all worked as quickly as they could. They needed to finish before the rest of the bandits returned.
"I don't want ... I don't want to leave them alone," Alice said as they finished.
"There aren't enough of us, Lieutenant," Martis spoke softly. "You have to take the lead with the Lord, both as Field Leader and a noble. You need at least two of us with you to...enforce the law."
Randel was sure that Martis had wanted to say "guard you", but had realized that wasn't an argument that would work with her. Not even close.
"He's right, LT. We can't risk one man here without backup. We don't know what could come out of these woods."
The Lieutenant's fists clenched and unclenched. "Yes. Yes, you are right. Damn. "She swallowed and turned with the familiar snap of her feet that sounded anytime she was being as Imperial Soldier as she could.
He and his two co-workers followed her out of the trees and up the hill.
"How are we going to do this, LT? Are we just going to run in and accuse the Lord and his daughter of mass murder?"
Randel flicked his eyes from Oreldo to the Lieutenant. The sublieutenant was doing what he could to subtly steer her away from her usual method of confronting suspects.
"If they're guilty..."
"But, ma'am," Martis was far more respectful, "we have no evidence that the Lord is guilty. We have suggestions from witnesses and your conversation to hold against Lady Clotilda. It's not rock solid, but she is the most-likely ringleader."
"He's right, Lieutenant," Randel mumbled. "It'll be bad enough, him learning that his daughter is ... bringing back the most horrible parts of the war. Falsely accusing him..." he raised his broad shoulders in an uneasy shrug.
"Well then, Corporal, how would you proceed?"
"M...ma'am? I don't ... I don't know about nobles, ma'am."
"But you know about soldiers, and he is one. You heard that bitch," the three men drew back at her hissing tone, "he's more warrior than noble."
"I'd tell him straight out, ma'am. But away from the daughter. If she's in front of him, she'll influence his reaction."
"He'll be compelled to defend her," Martis nodded. "I agree with the Corporal."
"Looks like we're followin' the Big Guy, then."
The Lieutenant looked down, then at the sky, then she turned - legs straight and strong, shoulders tight - to face them. "Okay. Pumpkin Scissors, we have our mission: Stop this monster who calls herself a noble and a woman and bring her to justice!"
"Ma'am!"