Chapter Seven

The Camp of Durnell

The first thing Durnell said to this was, "It's a lie! Don't you see Lord Perswen! They think that we shall fall for these fake battle plans of theirs and…"

"But, if the girl's telling the truth then we have stumbled across some very valuable…"

"Girl? Good Goddess Perswen! Are you so easily fooled?" and he walked right over to Aarana and pulled her hair.

"Ouch! Stop that!"

"Ah, Durnell?" said Perswen, "Haven't you noticed her voice?"

"It is a young boy! A boy who has grown his hair long!" and then he gave a last try to prove his point and reached for her chest.

That was enough for Aarana. She kicked him in the groin, and she kicked him hard. "Don't," she hissed, "Touch me." Durnell raised his fist, his face bright red. To Aarana's satisfaction, the General was holding back tears.

"Look," said Lord Perswen, trying to calm things down, "Why don't we just have that ah, laundry maid, ah, you know. Check."

"Fine." Growled Durnell, and he turned to leave and then called back, "We'll see who's right then!"

"Sorry about him miss." Said Lord Perswen. He was a kind looking man, in his early fifties and balding. He gave her a concerned smile. She felt better. But only slightly.

* * * * *

"Well that's certainly settled." Said Gerlaine , the elderly laundry maid. "It doesn't surprise me that the General wouldn't know a lady if she jumped up at kicked him!" she laughed, "And a mighty fine kick that was too!" Aarana blushed.

"Um, Gerlaine, may I ask where I am?" Aarana said timidly.

"Oh! Goddess I forgot all about that! Well, yer at Lord Durnell's camp. Of course ye knew that, didn't ye? He'll be fightin' rebels up from the North and Scanra. A rude fellow, but his hearts in the right place. There ye go, all dressed now."

"How far is it to Trebond?"

"Oh! Is that where ye were headed! Well, we are about five miles south of the North road, but I'm afeared it would be sooner to get Galla than Trebond, we're on the East side of Tortall Lass."

"Oh." Said Aarana glumly.

"Tell a curious old woman summat, yer a lady. Now what business does a lady have stealin' a horse from a rebel?"

"I… I needed a faster way to… to get away… to get somewhere." Aarana muttered.

"So that's the way of it then?" she gave a skeptical look but said nothing more. "Well, I is better getting yous off to the General, eh?"

Aarana marched out into a green field where many of the practicing men stopped their training to look at the beautiful young woman, despite the fact that she was a potential spy.

* * * * *

"You see Perswen! This is exactly what I was worried about! Are the men training? No they are not! This is what comes of having a wo…" Durnell's comment was hushed as Gerlaine and Aarana came nearer.

"She's a woman sir and no doubt about it. About 15 I'd say." Said Gerlaine.

"So now what are they up to? Woman Warriors?"

Aarana bit her tongue, if she told them where she had come from they might contact Lord Falster and he would tell them of her Gift…

"I was the daughter of a carpenter. We lived in a small village. None survived the Cold Fever but me. That is why I was wandering and so desperate to steal that mule. I had no idea the documents were there. I swear by the Goddess." She said this in a rush, making it up as she went.

"A believable story," Darnell sneered.

"Please My Lord, will I be allowed to take my leave? I am interested in the ware bouts of Lady… Ladysia, a cousin of mine at Trebond…Village."

"Leave? Ha! I am going to be very careful with you! I must not take the chance! You could still be a spy!" Aarana could feel the stares around her.

"What Durnell means to say," interrupted Perswen, "is that it is dangerous for a young woman such as yourself to wander alone." But Perswen was fooling no one.

* * * * *

They told Aarana that she would sleep in Gerlaine's tent. Gerlaine was good natured about it and said it had been awfully lonely with no one to talk with and Aarana was grateful for that.

She spent the rest of the day looking around the camp. There were a few shacks and tents in the clearing quintins and other practice equipment was set up in small training areas. They ate at their own fires and very strict rules were set in place, that said who could socialize with whom. Thanks of course to the General.

When the sun was setting she noticed a kind of makeshift stable. She liked horses and was wandering over when a hand gripped her shoulder. But it was only Perswen.

"Aarana, I would be careful around this camp, especially with so many men about. Stay with Gerlaine as often as possible, all right?" He looked very serious, so she nodded and headed back to her tent. She could look around more at some other time. "Oh and Aarana! Thank you very much for those plans. Even if the Rebels can't actually use them while they're in our hands they'll certainly be at a lose of what to do." He smiled and she smiled back.

She saw smoke rising near her tent. When was the last she had eaten? She hurried quickly to the fireplace. Despite the fact that it was food fit for soldiers she thought it might have been the best food she had ever eaten. Except for a loaf of bread that she vaguely remembered from long ago.