Chapter 3
Two weeks at sea and still she did not awaken. Her fever was finally diminishing and Belac was sure it would break within the next day or so. She was very weak. What little weight she had to begin with was decimated by the illness. She was still being feed broth and what little soaked bread they could get her to swallow. Maybe they should have just let her die. To rest with her loved ones. As Lonathe looked at her resting in the cabin, he could see how fragile she was. This was the woman who could change history? It hardly seemed possible that her ideas, her faith in humanity prevented what was said to be the largest war ever known. Was this what it felt like to stand before judgment? A foolish petitioner trying to gain favor amongst those of legend.
Lonathe gently pushed back her long black hair that kept coming loose from the simple braid Belac had done in her hair. She would sleep for at least another week. Maybe their fortune would hold, the sailors still hadn't caught wind of a woman on board. Eir was only a week away at this pace.
"Any change Sir?" Belac said from his slumped over form.
"No, not yet. Why don't you get some rest, I will watch for now." Lonathe said in a gentle tone. Not that he needed too. Belac was fast asleep almost before he finished speaking. Chuckling, Lonathe found a blanket and placed it over the boy. "Your a strange creature Belac. One day I will figure out just where your loyalty truly lies."
"Ah but that my son shall be most improbable. Young Belac holds many loyalties you cannot expect to understand all of them." Lord Raseac said from the doorway jolting Lonathe from his thoughts.
"Sir, I did not mean to intrude."
"Enough, Lonathe. We both know you wanted to see to her health yourself. You have become very protective of someone you have never met before. Curious is it not?" Raseac stated as he moved to the only free seat left in the small room.
"She is in need of help. Part of my oath is to assist any that need aid. Besides, who would imprison her in ice? No crime is worth that type of punishment. It is also my duty to ensure that you reach sanctuary. We know nothing about her. What if she is a murderer and being locked inside ice probably has not done much for her sanity. I would be remiss in my duty if I did not at least consider it."
"And her being the first woman to gain your attention has no bearing on your, ah how did you put it, duty?" Raseac looked at Lonathe with a knowing smile.
"She is a mystery pure and simple. What do you know of her. You said you knew things of her. Would you tell me?"
"You mean tell us, right Lonathe." Cam said as he sauntered through the door. "Crew says we are heading into a storm so we better hold tight. What we hold tight to I have no idea but I call dibs on the girl!" Cam dodged a well aimed punch from Lonathe. "Alright, Alright, you can have her first but seriously, who is she?" Cam looked over to Raseac as he perched on a overturned box.
"She was a legend, even in her own time. Most knowledge comes from rumors but all of them have one thing in common: sacrifice. Danger was no stranger to her, and family meant everything. They say she was charged with everything from high treason to assassination." Raseac said in his gravely voice. "The people of the world rose their voices in outrage over the accusations. She was a folk hero, a champion of the weak and powerless."
As Raseac spoke, the wind outside howled furiously. The seas could be heard beating against the hull of the boat. Cam and Lonathe shifted minutely. "Why, if the people favored her, did she end up in an ice prison?" Lonathe asked quietly.
"As I said, little truth is known of her. Less is known about her demise. I would assume her enemies were equally powerful. Her loyalty to her men at arms is still sung by the bards. Most, I daresay, have no idea of whom the songs were written about."
"What do you know about her, Lord Raseac? The true events, not the fiction created to scare children at night." Cam asked. Slowly, Raseac stroked his bearded chin.
"One of the least known of her tales, is how she sacrificed her life for the release of all of her company. She and her men were captured in an attack of the town she was said to frequent. How many men were captured has been lost to time, but the details of her captivity live on. One of the inquisitors kept a journal of her time in Hell's Gate. He wrote gruesome details of how she was tortured for three years, day and night. Racks, blades, rod, and hot iron; by the time one inquisitor finished another was preparing to begin. Her only respite was when they tired of her. To break her soldiers, they kept them all in the same room and forced them to watch as she was beaten and mutilated. Judging by her scars, I would daresay the tale is not too far from the truth." Raseac turned his gaze to the slender body resting in front of him. Silvery pale scars could be seen where the sheet and shirt had pulled from her body.
"Was her army not tortured as well?" A questioning voice asked. Cam's face was pulled together in a concentrated frown. "Such blatant cowardice is inexcusable. How could they call themselves men if a woman was being tortured in front of them and they stand and do nothing."
"Simply because she would not allow it." Raseac stated quietly.
"Wouldn't allow it? And the inquisitors listened to her?" Lonathe questioned.
"She is quite remarkable. Throughout her captivity, she refused to allow her soldiers to accept punishment. Each time she was tortured, she said naught a word of complaint. Needless to say many could not believe her strength of will. Her men jeered at the guards, throwing insults and curses. Every day, the head guard entered her cell and offered her an exchange: the lives and freedom for her men for a mere exchange of information. She politely smiled and said no."
"She must be mentally disturbed from the torture if she said no." Cam grumbled.
"Did they ever escape?" Belac's young voice whispered.
"Yes, her men walked right through the gates. The inquisitor who wrote the journal helped them. He grew fond of the Lady. One day she simply vanished from her holding cell, not even the inquisitor knew how she got away. But those are just rumors, I doubt even she will tell us her full story." Raseac gazed over at the fevered face, "My hope is that an illness will not defeat a champion of such strength and fortitude." The mood had turned introspective at that point. Lonathe looked over at Cam, similar thoughts running through their minds.
"What of her people. If she was captured surely they would have tried to assist her?" Cam asked.
"They did in fact try. I believe it was her second in command and rumored lover who lead the charge. Many men died and if memory serves me correctly, he died in the charge."
"A lover?" Lonathe asked intrigued.
"Yes, it was said that he fought like a man gone mad when she was captured. It was said that by only the sound of her voice, nations ceased fighting. After her disappearance, many of their allies fell to ruin." Raseac shrugged. "Infighting mostly, dreadful during a war. But I do believe the rest the Lady should tell you herself. There is much even I do not know." With that Raseac bid the good evening and, with a skill acquired over many years in court, directed them out without the two of them even realizing it.