Sixty-two hundred words, new record. Not much to say this chapter, just the usual read and review.
Enjoy.
Awaking early seemed to becoming a habit for me. I got up to find most of the bed rolls in the room empty. Ymira was still snoring lightly. I wondered if she would be sick from all of the drinking from the previous night. I went down stairs and drank with my men until everyone was up. Ymira came down the stairs groggily.
"What time is it?" she asked suppressing a yawn.
"Just about time for us to make start our journey back to Jelkala," I said finishing my pint.
"Bartender, ale," she said chugging back the drink.
Where she put her alcohol I'll never know. Even thou she was drunk enough to pass out the previous night she could swig back a pint like it was a shot of fine Vaegir vodka. After she finished her second pint we headed out.
The first half of our journey comprising of the first day went fine. When the second day hit noon we ran into trouble.
"Well hello there sir," A dark haired man wearing a full set of leather armor said as he halted us.
"Hello, may I ask why you are stopping our travels and blocking our path?" I asked hoping it wasn't trouble. An arrow struck my shield pinning it to the seat and dashing my hopes.
"My friends and I," he said as several men came out of hiding, "would just like to relief you of your coin."
Without hesitation I tossed him a tiny pouch. He picked it up and peered inside.
"Four coins? Are you trying to be funny boy?" He said throwing the pouch to the ground, "you're traveling with a beautiful woman dressed in fine cloths and two covered wagons. I don't believe you," he snarled and motioned for one of his men, "Braiden, search the wagon."
A man with a longbow over his shoulder and a short sword at his side began towards our wagon.
"You merchants are all the same, greedy pigs that won't even put out a few silver coins for guards. Well I guess it works in our favor. No fight," he said smiling, "unless you want to play hero."
"That's where your wrong sir," I said innocently, "you see I do have guards. Or I guess you can't see," the man just smiled as if calling a bluff, I turned to Ymira, "in a second we're going to jump into the back of wagon behind the seat," without changing her expression she nodded slowly.
Just then the man reached the back of the wagon. As far as I can tell, Balda picked up the man and without hesitation or strain, broke his neck. I heard the thud as he was dropped and things got out of control quickly. We both hopped into the back of the wagon as at least half a dozen arrows slammed into the front seat.
"Sir what's the plan?" Balda asked.
"We've got to get out of the wagon and to cover. I've got a plan everyone follow me. I made my way over all of the bags of salt and hopped out the back running to the second wagon. I quickly talked with the driver of our second wagon.
"No Treda, you are not doing that. What about the salt?" Ymira said grabbing my shoulder.
"It's the salt or our lives. Do you want to die?" I said shaking her.
"N-no," she stammered shrinking back.
"Then follow me," I said as the wagon was getting into position. The driver cut the horses loose and sent them running. He then hopped off the side to avoid getting turned into a pin cushion. The men from the second wagon had already hopped out and helped as we tipped the wagon. We ripped the cover off and broke the wooden arches that kept up the cover. We then used it as a wall.
"Ymira I need you to stay here and keep your head down," I said loading up my crossbow and checking my quiver.
"You can't go," she said pleadingly.
"I'm sorry but I can't just send out others to cover for me. If I had chosen a different route we might not be in this situation," I said standing up a bit.
"But… What if you don't come back," she said quietly.
"I'll come back fine, I promise,"
"I'll hold you to that," she said forcing a smile.
I sent out a half dozen men with crossbows to left and I led another half dozen to the right. The battle dragged on for almost two hours. If it had half been a straight up confrontation we would been on our way in five minutes. It turned into a game of cat and mouse. Both sides were mainly using ranged weapons. A man would shoot off an arrow and get two in return. But with all the trees it wasn't always easy to hit a man. I admit I was terrified; I stood there pressed to a tree never knowing if I was going to be the next to go. I watched one of the Dumar boys get hit in the neck. It was probably one of the most terrible things I had witnessed up till that point. My father's death had been instant the Ruldi boy at the bandit camp had been probably instant. Watching that man of twenty-two lying there trying to scream but lacking the ability, had been horrifying, knowing that if I tried to go out and help would just give that archer the chance to do me in.
I knew that I had to try to stop thinking about things too much, so I left him without remorse. I crept around crawling on my belly. I found the archer hiding behind a bush keeping an eye out. I fired a bolt hitting him in the chest. He fell backwards with a yelp. I stood up and walked over to him. He made a reach for a knife but I stepped on his hand. Looking at that man lying there, a helpless look of terror on his face that should have made me reconsider what I did next. I stepped onto his neck and pressed my foot down. He tried to get my foot off to no avail. I just waited until he stopped squirming before I went back, to find the Dumar boy had stopped moving too. I let out a sigh; at least he was out of his misery. Having no medical training the most I could have done was prolong his suffering. I then went off in search of other bandits. Then I heard my men calling to me from the road.
I was just heading back when I felt a sting in my leg. Looking down there was a large arrow sticking out of my leg. I fell to one knee. Then my attacker came out from behind a tree.
"So boy you've killed a lot of my hired help. But I guess I'll kill you and then go after that pretty woman. I think that will make me feel better," he said with an evil grin.
"Don't you touch her you bastard," I snarled at him.
"Oh hit a soft spot did I?" he said laughing, "Makes the soon to be conquest all the sweeter."
He drew closer and pulled out a short sword. It took some effort but I stood up tall. I pulled out my own sword and pointed it at him.
"I'm going to kill you," I said through gritted teeth.
"Ha, you can barely stand," he said with a smirk as he charged forward.
I blocked his blow; barely. I took a swing which connected. But his damned armor protected him from what have been at least a cut. He danced about and took another swing. He managed to get around my defense and gave my left arm a deep cut. I howled in anger. I could already feel the blood loss beginning to affect my swordsmanship. Using everything I had left I delivered several wild blows. He raised his sword to block the blows. His defense crumbled a bit more after each hit. With a mighty strike I smashed through his block and delivered a deep cut through his armor. He stumbled back and I delivered a swing to his sword arm, a deep cut to his wrist that caused him to drop his sword. Before he could say anything I swung once more, a tight arc that sliced clear through the front half of his neck. He dropped to his knees, blood pouring forth from the deep gash. His eyes widened as I stepped forward and delivered a clean stab through his chest. He stopped moving and fell backwards; I let out a breath before collapsing to my knees.
It took all of my energy to get back up. I was using my sword like an old man uses a cane. I arrived at the road to find my men piling bodies. Ymira ran towards me shouting. I could barely hear her.
"Treda!" she shouted it sounded almost fuzzy.
"I-I'm fine," I managed to say falling to my knees again.
"Men!" she shouted. Balda jogged over and picked me up. The men had tipped the wagon back up. They put me up on the wagon on the seat; they already loaded most of the salt up so the floor wasn't an option.
"Y-you guys saved the salt, g-good let's get back to Jelkala and sell…" I muttered losing consciousness.
I awoke two days later. I found myself in a nice room my shirt missing and my left arm bandaged up. Sitting up I noticed that the sun was just beginning it accent. I turned to see Ymira, sitting in a chair next to me. She had her eyes closed and was snoring lightly.
"Ymira?" I said shaking her leg.
She made a weird noise and kept snoring.
"Ymira," I said a bit louder. Her eyes snapped open and she grabbed me.
"Thanks the gods you're alright!" She said pulling me in tighter.
I was surprised to say the least. I wasn't sure how long she had been waiting for me to gain consciousness. I just let her hold me for a moment. That was the first time someone held me in an embrace like that.
"Could you loosen up a bit? My arm is killing me," I said as she loosened her hug.
"Sorry. It's just, you're awake and you're ok," she said with a smile.
"Ya, it was only a flesh wound," I said standing up on shaky legs.
"A-a flesh wound? Your arm, your leg," she said as fell back on my butt.
"Ya I'm fine, I'll be up in no time. What happened while I was out?" I asked changing the subject.
"We buried several bodies, there's… and ours," she said slowly.
"How many?" I asked not wanting to hear the number.
"Five dead, seven wounded," she said shaking her head, "including you eight."
"Gods," I said "I can't belive I got five men killed."
"No it's not your fault…"
"Don't you remember what I said? If I had have picked a different route or chosen a better plan those men might still be alive,"
"How are you going to achieve your goals Treda? How are you going to get your revenge?" she asked sitting down next to me, "you can't take the blame for something out of your control."
I just let out a deep sigh. I knew she was right, but finding out you just lost some men that just days ago you were swapping stories over a pint, who are now buried under six feet of earth. It was a little hard to swallow. I thought back to my plans to gather us more money. I realized I would be just sitting in a wagon while others did my dirty work. I wanted to be part of the evil work I was going to be ordering. At least then I could put it out of my mind. I wouldn't be just putting those deeds on other people's souls.
"A couple of questions," I said putting my priorities straight, "one, how much did we make off the salt."
"We made…" she said pulling out a small book, "thirteen-thousand four-hundred and thirteen Denars."
My jaw dropped.
"How?" I practically shouted.
"Well my contacts were correct. The price was over two-hundred a bag here so we made a killing," she said closing the book, "what was the second question?"
"When will I be fit to fight?" I said motioning to my bandaged leg.
"The doctor that we brought you to said you were lucky," she said breathing a sigh, "he said that you were lucky that the arrow didn't hit a bone or you would be off it for at least a month. You should be able to walk without aid in less than a week. He said that the cut isn't too serious and should be fit to use the arm in a few days."
I was relieved, or maybe I wasn't. Sure just moments before I was thinking about how much I wanted to be part of the horrors to come, now being told that very possible I was having second thoughts. My mind just couldn't seem to work itself out. I found it easier just to shove the problems to the side.
"Come on let's get going," I said attempting to stand again.
"Eh? Where are we going in your condition?" she said quickly trying to hold me back.
"I have to go see Lord Tarchias," I said grabbing my shirt from the night table.
"Why now?" Ymira said pleadingly, "can't it wait a couple of days? So you are at least feeling a little better."
"No I want to get it out of the way now," I said slipping on my shirt and grabbing my weapons from the wall, "where is my shield?" I asked suddenly aware that it was missing.
"In the wagon its fine just a couple of arrows stuck in it."
I remembered that I had been forced to leave it on the seat when we had hopped into the wagon.
"Ok let's get going," I said using the sword as a cane again.
"Captain you up already?" I heard Balda call out as we walked down the stairs, "we've been drinking to your health. Glad to see you up and walking about, but Ymira, said you're supposed to be in bed for close to a week."
"He is supposed to, but he insists on seeing Lord Tarchias now," she said sounding annoyed and worried.
"Fine I'll go settle things with Tarchias, and head back to bed. Will that make you happy?" I asked quietly, turning to her.
"Yes it will," she said nodding.
"Fine let's go," I said heading out the door.
Tarchias was staying at the kings castles. We had a bit of trouble getting through the front entrance but after they confirmed our story they let us past, only after taking all of our weapons. Using my sword arm I helped Ymira, carry to chest of coins.
"Ah Treda," Tarchias said walking down the steps in the throne room, "what the hell happened to you?"
"We were attacked on our way back from Yalen, just a few bandits sir, nothing my men and I couldn't handle," I said leaning on the piece of wood the guards had given me to replace my sword cane.
"Damn these bandits around here. Wait unless it was an enormous horde of bandits, why would they attack an army. Just how many men do you have under you Treda?" he asked suspiciously.
"Thirty-one, well now, twenty-six," I said shaking my head.
"You had thirty-one men guarding my money. You damned fool; if these taxes were stolen it would be your blood paying for the loss. A word of advice; mercenaries might be a tad expensive to the normal man. But they are usually experienced soldiers and are useful until you can better equip and train normal men. Take for example how the different kingdoms raise their armies. Noblemen might raise sons to fight, but that doesn't mean they want their lives on the line. Instead the kingdoms will recruit peasants, and as the men train and learn they are given better weapons and armor. They will get used to being soldiers and will work for less pay than a mercenary, even thou they may be just as good if not better," he said finishing his lecture, "changing the subject how much did you collect?"
We placed the chest on one of the chairs at the long tables. I opened the lid and he inspected its contents.
"How much is in there?" he inquired.
"Exactly five-thousand-one-hundred and twenty-six coins," Ymira said handing him her ledger.
He flipped through the book, a small smile on his face.
"Good, good," he said sounding almost surprised, "you managed to get every Denar they owed."
"Is that a surprise?" I asked.
"Well usually they try to short my tax collectors. What is your secret?" he asked curiously.
"A little talk with the town elder and I was able to… persuade him to talk with the villagers to make sure everything was paid.
His smile grew and he nodded.
"Good job. As we agreed fifteen percent," he said pulling out a pouch and pouring in coins.
"Thank-you sir," I said bowing as Ymira curtsied, "well we must be off,"
"I may call on you again for another task Treda," he said watching us leave.
"It would be my honor to accept Lord Tarchias," I said as we hurried along.
Retrieving our weapons from the guards we headed back to the tavern. We arrived and I decided against going straight to resting. I walked over to one of the tables, ordered an ale and pulled out my map. I knew where the final destination was, but I was charting the stops along the way.
"Treda, I thought we had an agreement," Ymira huffed.
"I know, I know. It's just that a lot is going to happen over the next couple of week and we need to ready," I said pointing out several towns, "we're going to be stopping at these towns before heading out. But before we leave here we're going to need provisions, weapons and armor. Now before you drag me to go rest I'm going to write out a list of supplies I need you to get."
"Fine, fine," she said in defeat.
"Good," I said beginning on the list. I was not only taking my current men into account. I had to take some other things into account; new recruits, weapons, more provisions, loot, and prisoners. I sent Balda and a few other men with her along with both wagons. I then hobbled up the stairs back to my room. Upon entering I carefully lay down and slept. I awoke the next day only to spend it in bed. Ymira might just be a woman but she could be damned persuasive.
After a few days of resting I was able to leave the comfort of my bed. I went down stairs carefully and went outside to the wagons. I pulled out the second copy of the list and checked things off. The extra provisions check. Thirty-six crossbows with bolts check. Sixty board shields check. Thirty-five sets of leather armor check. Twenty-five spears check. Twenty-five sets of bronze chainmail check. We also had almost two dozen short swords that were taken from the bandits bodies. Upon inspection of the shields my jaw dropped. Each one was adorned with my heraldry. That boosted my spirit. I no longer felt like some mercenary captain running around with some band of faceless soldiers. I felt like a powerful noble leading his men into battle.
Even thou most of my money had gone towards all of the equipment and provisions I knew it would be worth it, I was only lucky that my men looted the bodies; if not for all the bows, arrows and quivers I would have spent almost everything we had. I also checked out the three new wagons. I was beginning to feel more like I was running a caravan and less a band of soldiers.
I rested for close to a full week before we were ready. I led my men to the wagons where I began equipment changes. Most of my men used crossbows. I swapped out their twenty hunting crossbows for normal more powerful crossbows. I gave each one of them a set of leather armor and a board shield. The five men (mainly from Buvran) switched out their weapons for spears and short swords; they also each got a set of chainmail and a board shield. The old equipment could be given to raw recruits. We headed out that day heading for Chaeza. As we had no one on foot we were making good time. But wagons weren't as fast as having everyone on horseback, but I barely had the funds to arm everyone, let alone get them their own horses. The Khergits could do that. It's said that the Khergit people are born and die on the saddle. I don't know how much of that is true but I had seen the Khergit fight and I have to say I believe it.
We made it to Chaeza before nightfall where we had seven men join up. A few of them had their own equipment but we armed the others with the old weapons. We camped outside the village and left at the crack of dawn. By mid-day we had arrived at Emer. We had four men join there. From there we headed to Saramish. We could have made it by nightfall, but I said we were going the long way around the forest. Nobody joined up in Saramish. It took us almost two days but we made it to Serinder, five more men, another day, seven more at Pagundur where we got some extra provisions. That put forty-nine men under my command. After Pagundur I explained what we were going to do.
"Everyone you have been talking amongst yourselves as to where we are headed next. Some hope to go back to Jelkala for a nice pint and a warm bed roll," I said standing in the back of one of the wagons.
There was happy murmuring in the crowd.
"But," I said quieting them, "that is not the case. We are heading into Swadian territory. I know that your country is at war with them. I say let us help your country. We are going to loot the village of Ibiran."
They were now sounding rather excited. I knew that the Swadians and Rhodoks had been enemies about as far back as we had written history of the two. I was using that to my advantage.
"We are heading out in a few minutes. Pack up your things we are going to war," I said hopping down and heading to the head wagon.
"Treda, are we really going to loot Ibiran?" Ymira asked as if I was lying to my men.
"Yes we are," I said watching her sadden.
"Oh," she said sadly.
"Look you might be under my command but I won't ask you to be a part of this," I said putting a hand to her shoulder.
"Really?" she asked perking up only slightly.
"Yes I couldn't force you to do something like that. I don't think I would be able to live with myself," I said smiling slightly.
"Thank you," she said as she turned from me and mounted up on the wagon.
Ymira and I traveled in silence. The men however were talking happily. We had to be careful in our travels. We took the long path to our destination avoiding the town of Uxkhal. It took almost two days but we got there. The village was a serene place. The villagers walked about their daily lives unaware of the things to come. They were gathering crops and preparing luxury items for the towns of Swadia. The town appeared very prosperous. They had large baskets of furs stacked ready to leave. Several rolls of fine silk and velvet ready to be turned into various things for nobles. They seemed to have everything, ale, fine wine, even a couple pots of honey, along with the normal things, bread, cheese and dried meats.
I had everyone ready up in the back of the wagons. As we rode up the town elder came out to greet us. His hair was white like snow and his body frail.
"Hello their traveler. Have you come to buy some of our goods? Although most of this is going to be sold in Suno, we can afford to sell some to you," he said with a smile on his face.
I turned to Ymira, "get in the back I don't want you to have to witness this."
"No I think I should," she said staying put.
I didn't want to have to continue but I did. I swung my crossbow out and shot the elder. He was only ten paces away, unarmored. The bolt slammed into his chest sending his frail body backwards like a doll.
The townspeople were just staring, then chaos. My men emerged out from the back of the wagons. People were screaming and running. I ordered my men to form a wall. The street was in panic. The men lined up and twenty crossbows bolts left in a volley. People fell like puppets that had their strings cut. The front row crouched and the new men fired. Another fifteen bolts into the crowd. Even if a few planned on fighting they weren't able to mount a defense in time. We were already in the village and had the upper hand in terms of weapons and armor.
Then I headed the charge with the spearmen. It became a swirling melee. I found myself slashing anyone who got to close. I found that in battle you lose your humanity completely. I killed the old, the men and the women. Blood spurted as I cleaved a man's head in half before slashing a woman's stomach causing her to spill her innards. Then the fires started. A few of my men grabbed torches and began to light houses up. Having tight bundles of dried straw and twigs only made the job easier for them.
We then stopped killing and began to grab people. The ones that were cowering were easy. Men were patrolling the streets with crossbows. We tied up the prisoner's hands and feet and loaded them into the back of the last wagon. We then loaded up the goods. We made the pricier items priority; loading up the fur, silk, velvet and fine wines first. We then turned to things like ale, dried meats, honey, bread and butter. We spent most of the day gathering everything. We even found that the townspeople had a couple of unused wagons near the stables. We took those and the horses and loaded up even more goods. By the time we left, the village was in ruin. Bodies littered the street and black smoke was being coughed for miles up into the air. We had thirty peasants tied up in the back of one of the wagons. We travelled during the night when we would have been campin. If we camped we would have been target for the men coming to investigate what happened at the village. The men were quiet. Not because of the horrors they were just a part of, but because they didn't want to attract the attention of any Swadian patrols in the vicinity.
"How could you do that?" Ymira asked quietly as we traveled.
"What do you mean?" I asked returning her quiet tone.
"How could you do that to those people? How could you shoot that man? How could you kill all those people, order others to kill those people," she said bombarding me with questions.
"I do what I have to, in these troubled time that means killing people," I said with a sigh.
"It's just that you killed those people without any remorse." she said tears beginning to fall from her emerald green eyes, "why did you have to kill those people?"
"I said I didn't want you to watch. I know that it was wrong to kill those people. But I also know that, that won't be the last evil thing I'm going to do. But as a man once said; desperate times call for desperate measures."
"No. I can't accept that. Yes you might have needed those supplies but you didn't need to kill those people. Why did you even bother taking prisoners? Why didn't you just let those people go?" she said tears streaming down her face and anger in her voice.
"Slaves," I said bluntly.
"S-slaves?" she said surprised.
"Yes back home we had slave traders coming in town. They pay good money for healthy people," I said almost nonchalantly.
"By the gods," she said her voice just above a whisper, "how can you do something like that?"
"I am going to do what it takes to get my revenge," I said solemnly.
"What will you do once you've gotten revenge on whomever it was that wronged you?" she asked trying to find a flaw in my plan.
"I am going to take his kingdom."
"His. Kingdom?" she asked surprised.
"Yes, I said someone in power killed my father. That man was King Yaroglek. If you had have asked me over a month ago where I would draw the line working in the Vaegir military; I would have told you I wouldn't take part in the looting of villages," I said "Now I will do whatever it takes to get the money for my cause. I will throw that bastard down the steps of his castle."
"Where will you draw the line?" she said accusingly, "you aren't even under a countries flag and you have begun to wage war. What did those Swadians do to you? They are at war with the Rhodoks. Not you, there is a difference."
"Yes but as a freelancer I have to perk of attacking who I like when I like,"
"Ha to believe you said you would change things. It looks like if you do succeed in taking down Yaroglek the country will be replacing one stupid man with another. At least he announces war with a country rather than just waltzing in and butchering a village," she said with a smug tone.
"By the gods I don't know what else to do. I was raised in the arts of tactics and war," I said giving her a bit of my younger years, "I was taught that in war the lines blur, that villages do burn, castles and towns fall under new powers several times a year. Hell the town of Dhirim is constantly switching hands between the Swadians and the Khergit. Do you think that those battles are won without bloodshed?" I asked quickly, "I know that nobody got to power with clean hands. Good gods Ymira, do you think I like doing what I did. It was my first time doing such a thing and I know that it won't be the last. You just sat on the wagon; I was the one who had to look at the faces of those people as I killed them. Hell I don't know why I killed them. I could have just forced them out. Something just took over."
"Look, Treda, I know that you aren't some sick man who needs to kill. But I just sat there watching as you just walked down the street slashing at anything within reach. You didn't hesitate you didn't slow down you just did it," she said hugging herself, "I'm scared of you."
She couldn't have surprised me more if she had stabbed me.
"I scare you?" I asked looking at her.
"Treda, have you looked at your reflection?" she asked.
"What do you mean have I looked at my reflection?" I said curiously.
"How have you not looked at your hands?" she asked inching away.
I looked down to find my hands colored red with blood, almost up to my elbows. It was becoming crusted from drying. I felt my face to find it feeling like my hands.
"Gods," I muttered.
"How did you not notice?" she asked sounding scared.
"I. I just…" I couldn't think of anything. Everything happened so fast. I shot the elder and then the volleys and then the melee. Gods I didn't even realize I was covered in blood. She thought she was scared; hell I was scared.
"Do you have some water?" I asked hoarsely.
"Here," she said handing me a canteen and taking the reins.
I splashed some of the cold water on my hands and began to rub them quickly. The blood just wouldn't seem to come off, even after it did. I did the same to my face and just sat there for a while.
"Ymira, I want to apologize," I said sincerely.
"What for?" she asked curiously.
"For not leaving you in Jelkala," I said honestly.
"What do you mean?"
"If I had have just left you, you wouldn't have had to see any of that. You'd be happy drinking in a tavern somewhere. Instead of scared, sitting in a wagon in the middle of the night with a man covered in blood."
"Look, yes I wouldn't have witness that. But I have enjoyed traveling with you. Until you found me and took me in, I was just waiting to be found by my father. I knew that I had nowhere to run and the road is no place for a lone woman. You've given me hope and happiness and for that I thank you. I just can't stand watching you kill innocents."
"Then I won't."
"Wait that easily?" she asked as if I had just told her I learned how to fly.
"I think that we can get money by stealing supplies, I will try to avoid casualties," I said raising my hand as if making a vow, "but if the townspeople fight back I will have to turn to force."
She nodded and looked at me.
"Thank you," she said smiling her eyes kind of puffy.
"I just don't want to see you cry," I said as I wiped her eyes with a now sort of clean hand.
She blushed and looked away.
"Stupid," she muttered.
I just smiled and looked forward. I had no Idea why I made a promise I might not be able to keep. But if I could just stop seeing Ymira sad I guess I could try and figure something out.
Well that's it for now. Come on let's see a review or two. I know you guys are out there.