Author's note: Disclaimer as usual - hate these things. Thank you for the wonderful reviews. I didn't think anyone would be interested! You have sparked my creative bug, and it's on the move. I hope not to shove the romance down your throats, but evolve it more naturally. I love Dom and Neal's bantering though - it's great.
Chapter 2: Preoccupied
I lost myself in the fighting. Standing by my Lord Raoul as Scanrans attempted to storm Steadfast, all I thought about was what new strategy did the enemy have in mind, or where would the second wave hit. I worried about the other outposts along the Vassa river and Tortall's border, wondering how many others were under attack with the blasted tactic of King Maggur. Men died every day, on both sides. My squad had been lucky so far. Three had injuries that were quickly patched up by healers. Other companies suffered greater losses. Keladry was right - they did need every fighter here, even though Steadfast was much more prepared than Haven.
Curses, I thought, now I'll be thinking and worrying about her and Haven instead of Steadfast. And it's not even daybreak. A lot of good that will do for your people. I had managed for about a month with keeping her plight out of my mind. I don't know why the urge to keep it at a distance was so fierce, but some instinct prompted me to hold her at bay - at least for the time being.
The day promised to be a mix of hot work and cold air. It was nearing the end of April, but spring was barley beginning up here in the north. I walked over to the well just outside the officer's barracks and drew up a bucket of water. Bracing myself, I plunged my head it, the icy shock clearing the cobwebs from my sleep. Water streaming from my hair, I shook like a dog before slicking the wet strands back. Hoof beats made me look up to see a courier thunder up to headquarters across the parade ground. That meant another meeting later on with Lord Raoul.
Sighing, I walked down to mess hall. Even with my head-bath, my concern for Haven and it's occupants wouldn't leave me. After working with so many nobles, I had forgotten how pleasant it was to work with the regular people. Keladry understood their worth. That is why they respected her, even as a noble. A groan escaped me as I sat down among my squad at the breakfast table. Fulcher glanced sympathetically at me.
"Rough night sir?"
I grabbed a half of the small loaves of bread they served at every meal. "More of a rough morning."
Wolset didn't help. "I heard some news about Haven. Seems our Lady knight is doing quite well for herself. Been teaching even the children how to use weapons - tikes about seven and up."
Shaking my head, I speared a piece of ham. It must kill her, I thought, to see the necessity of teaching even children how to slay their own kind. But it must be done.
Annoyingly talkative, Wolset continued. "She's put down one loudmouth of a man called Valestone who questioned her honor without using the whip, just threw 'im in the stocks during a fight for a few hours."
That sent a murmur through the group at the table. Some commanders were famous for using the whip on malcontents. I for one saw no benefit from it. Beating only bred more bitterness and future headaches. Yet another thing Keladry understood. I smiled.
"Plus, Wildmage Daine visited and changed the animals. They've got double the protection now - along with those birds of the lady's."
If she can't get men, she'll make do with what she has. A true sign of resourceful leadership. I finished eating and picked up my plate. I'm just glad she has some reinforcements, no matter what species.
About to head out to the practice yards, I was intercepted by a messenger from Lord Raoul. The courier from earlier must have had more urgent news than I had thought.
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I should have stayed in bed.
Lord Raoul had greeted me with one of the most grim faces I had ever seen in the years being his sergeant. Sitting at his desk, papers in neat piles, he was as still as stone. Glancing about the room, I noticed a cup of tea had spilled on the side table, as if it had jumped from its saucer. Looking back at Lord Raoul, I could see his clinched fist.
"Sir?"
Lord Raoul growled. "Giantkiller has fallen."
Supreme silence hung over the room. Curses would not suit this situation. I needed something far more powerful than words. For the first time I wished I had inherited some of my family's Gift. Giantkiller, the spearhead into Scanran territory, opened the path to...
Despite my best efforts, I cursed aloud. Not just for the men at the fort, but also for Keladry. She wouldn't know in time that Haven was now vulnerable. The gods wish to taunt me, I seethed. They want to toy with my concerns. Why now? Why her of all people?
Lord Raoul nodded, probably thinking that only Giantkiller was on my mind. The other truth hadn't hit him yet. Before I could say another curse, he broke in.
"Our orders are to stay on first alert. We don't know where the Scanrans will hit next, but we know their pattern."
"Sir! We can't!"
Startled at my own outburst, I stood at attention, waiting for reprimand.
"And why can't we?"
Because she needs me - needs more men. "Because Haven has been left wide open for attack. Knight Keladry -"
I was cut off by a particularly harsh curse. Lord Raoul's fist crashed down on his desk, sending a pile of paperwork sliding to the floor.
"We're locked down for the next six days. No one in or out unless for emergency. I can't even send word to Vanget."
I couldn't help commenting on Keladry's behalf. "I doubt he would spare any soldiers sir."
The larger man sighed. "As soon as I can, I'll send warning to Vanget. From what I've heard about Haven, they've been able to defend themselves quite well in the past. We can only pray they will last long enough for Giantkiller to be rebuilt, or reinforcements arrive."
I sent up a prayer for Keladry to any god watching this chaos.
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The response from Vanget was exactly the one I expected. He had no men to spare, but Haven would be able to hold it's own for the time being.
How long is for the time being? I sarcastically wondered. The rest of the war? They can hold their own for only so long. The enemy will find out about Haven soon enough.
I went through my daily routines, not really thinking about my actions. My attention to some duties became a little lax, but my men understood. When I informed them of Giantkiller's fall, they knew my thoughts were on Haven and took their orders quietly. One small advantage of commanding the King's Own was that the men learn not to ask too many questions. Lord Raoul kept me up to date, and no word of Haven's distress came through. There were attacks, but they were only men - no killing machines.
We, however, came under one heavy attack. Four days after the lock down was released, three machines attacked the southeast wall and front gate along with five squads of Scanran soldiers. Steadfast was build with an odd five walls and two gates, though the back gate was really only for horsemen and foot soldiers. One machine made it halfway over the gate before our mages could properly spell it into flames. the other on the southeast wall, managed to get all the way over and wreaked havoc on the walkway. My old wound ached at the sight of it. Keeping the archers in line, I glanced over my shoulder.
Lord Raoul calmly issued orders in his amazing commander's voice. Tossing chains across the thing's neck, soldiers managed to hold it down for the second needed for him to crack it's head open with his war hammer. The haunting call of, "Mama?" floated up and vanished. I gritted my teeth.
How could any human being do such a thing to children? How could they take an innocent soul and force it to do such evil without feeling at least some bit of loathing for themselves - unless this Blayce wasn't even human anymore. How I longed to put him in one of his own creations and burn him into a lump of iron. Perhaps that is why Keladry was teaching her youngsters how to fight, to give them a chance against becoming one of those creations.
In my frustration, I let loose a particularly vicious arrow down into a man's neck. He tumbled to the ground. Cursing under my breath yet again, I focused on another victim to take out my inner turmoil.
This would take at least another three days to clean up. Haven's good luck could not possibly hold out that long. Not with so many scout patrols probing past Giantkiller. I had to get in touch with Keladry - or at least get Lord Raoul in touch with her. When I shot again, I realized I was shooting at backs. The Scanrans were retreating. The third machine had been shoved from the wall with long pikes. In a miraculous stroke of luck, it had fallen backwards, breaking the equivalent of its neck and loosing the spirit. Looking over the fort, I gave my signal whistle. All my men shouted back. My luck apparently had not run out quite yet.
Wolset met me coming down the steps of the walkway. Grinning, he sported a new cut on his right arm, wrapped in a makeshift bandage.
"We got 'im sir! My Lord cracked that thing open like a nut!"
I smiled halfheartedly, my mind still miles across the land. The corporal's smile faded.
"If I may ask, sir. Why are you so worried about them at Haven? I know you've got family there, but they can handle themselves."
That startled me and made me feel guilty. Most of the time I had been thinking about Keladry and the safety of the camp, Neal had only been a sideline. Why was I so concerned? Covering my hesitation, I clapped him on the shoulder.
"I know they can, but we've left them on their own for far too long. Something's bound to go against them. We know that, but those in charge just don't seem to understand entirely."
Wolset nodded before continuing with whatever task he had been assigned.
Lord Raoul approached me from the general direction of headquarters. I took some comfort in the fact that I wasn't the only one worried about the other outposts. He carried a map and muttered to himself. About to pass him, I stopped when he called.
"Domitan, get your squad together midmorning in three days. I'm riding for Mastiff as soon as this mess is cleaned up."
I gave him my best salute. "Yes sir!"
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It's a good ride to Mastiff. We didn't arrive till mid afternoon. By then we had received word that the inevitable had arrived. Haven had been destroyed.
I wanted to curse, but all the ones I knew had already been overused. Lord Wyldon, two companies, and Keladry with hers, had left the same morning as we had. A blessing and curse that the Lady knight had not been at Haven. She would never forgive herself for what happened, I knew as much. They say her face was stone and her eyes like ice when she rode out.
It was the boy Tobe who brought the news. I talked with him in the infirmary and gotten the details. They had three killing machines attack simultaneously. The refugees weren't able to handle more than two, and by then the soldiers had broken in the gate.
For a moment I wondered why Scanran would spend so much effort on a refugee camp before I remembered what powered the killing machines - human souls. My mouth was dry at that realization. Keladry would do something to avenge her people. I could only hope she wouldn't go too far.