"We cannot accomplish all that we need to do without working together." - Bill Richardson
"Kerenos-damned, stupid, ignorant, ******, stubborn, bigoted, idiotic, shortsighted, idiotic, skinflint, stupid, *******, stubborn…" Back in the waystation after a full day supporting a healer – male, of course – in the Holderkin village of Thanesholding, Kensie was raging.
"You're repeating yourself." Bredin smiled. He agreed with Kensie completely and was enjoying his fellow Herald's profanity-laced rant.
Kensie glared at Bredin for a moment, then grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, Bredin. I shouldn't be venting at you. I just could not believe the stupidity we saw today."
"Go ahead." Bredin said. "I feel the same way. I was just admiring your stock of adjectives and expletives. I guess that's one of the benefits of those tutors you highborn have."
Kensie chuckled. "More guard experience than Master Raab's lessons." Turning serious, he added. "But what I am going to do? Healer West can get the women back on their feet, but what will happen when he and we are gone?"
Just after Midwinter, a fire had destroyed the warehouse holding most of the village food supply. The Council of Patriarchs had decreed that, because 'the men needed their strength', the men of the village would continue to eat what they felt they needed. With less food available, there was little or nothing left for the women. The result had been starvation for the women. Two had died already, many were so weak they could barely stand, all were emaciated.
Bredin shrugged to admit he was at a loss. Kensie went on "I can just imagine what my mother would have to say about such an arrangement."
Bredin grinned again. "You said something about dull, rusty knives and your balls."
"Red-hot dull, rusty knives." Kensie corrected.
Kensie went silent, staring at the wall. His silence went on for a long time.
Eventually, Bredin asked Lacaral. ::Is he talking to Losanir?::
::Not really.:: Lacaral replied. ::He's thinking. Losanir is listening, but Kensie is working this out himself.::
Kensie came to a conclusion. ::What do you think?:: He was used to sharing every thought with Losanir and relied on the Companion to help him avoid serious disaster. Losanir sometimes kept silent and allowed Kensie to make mistakes; he didn't think the Companion would do so with something this serious.
Kensie had the sensation of an approving nod. ::You've considered all the practical options and even some of the impractical ones. Your analysis is sound. Why don't you ask Bredin?::
Since Kensie was technically an Intern to Bredin as Senior Herald, Bredin's agreement was essential, even though Bredin had assigned the review of Thanesholding to Kensie.
Kensie straightened and faced Bredin. "Senior Herald Bredin Kase, in my opinion the situation in Thanesholding constitutes a life-threatening emergency, do you concur?"
Bredin's eyebrows shot up at Kensie's formality. He braced and replied with equal formality. "Herald Kensie Poldara, I concur with your opinion. The situation in Thanesholding is life-threatening. What do you propose?"
Kensie continued to speak formally. "I propose that we invoke the Emergency Powers. If you concur, we will ask Healer Chad West to add his concurrence tomorrow."
A single Herald could invoke the Emergency Powers. If two other Crown Agents, including Heralds, registered Healers, Master Bards or local Guard Commanders concurred, the Emergency Powers could not be appealed until the Herald chose to lift them. Under the Emergency Powers, a Herald could seize property, conscript people, and give orders for any purpose. Further, the Herald did not need grounds to use the Truth Spell and his questions were not limited to a particular matter.
"Herald Kensie Poldara. I concur that we should invoke the Emergency Powers. We will ask Healer Chad West for his concurrence in the morning." Bredin had seen the expression on Healer West's face as he examined the women. He had no doubt the Healer would agree.
Formalities done. Bredin grinned. "I think it's brilliant."
::And so do I.:: Losanir added.
"I really want to ask Patriarch Elias Thane about his taxes." Kensie said.
Bredin laughed. There were loud snorts from the Companions' stable.
###
Healer Chad West grinned for the first time in three days. "Herald Kensie Poldara, I concur that the situation in Thanesholding is life threatening. I concur with your decision to invoke Emergency Powers."
"Thank you, Healer West." Kensie said.
The Council of Patriarchs looked warily at the Heralds and Healer. "What are you doing?" Elias Thane asked.
Kensie looked at the councillors coldly. "I am removing you from all authority in Thanesholding for now. Herald Bredin and I are assuming full control of the village."
"You can't do that!" The patriarch protested.
Keeping his voice level, Kensie said. "I can. The laws of Valdemar permit me to do so in a life-threatening emergency. Since Herald Bredin and Healer West have concurred, I have invoked the law."
"We reject Valdemar!" Elias Thane shouted. "Go away! We refuse to be part of Valdemar any longer!" His fellow councillors shouted and waved their fists in agreement.
Kensie stared back at them impassively. "If you choose to, you may do so. You may choose to become another Erskinhold. You may know of Erskinhold. Or rather, you may remember Erskinhold. If my maps are correct, it used to be about fifteen miles from here."
Seventeen years before, Erskinhold rejected Valdemaran authority. The Heralds cut the village off, refusing all support from the guard, cutting the roads and blocking all trade with Valdemar. Within seven months, Erskinhold was sacked by bandits based in Karse who took everything of value and razed the village to the ground. The Heralds rescued the women and children from enslavement; they were resettled in other parts of the Kingdom. The surviving men were expelled from Valdemar. King Sendar and the Royal Council decreed that no one would be permitted to build there for fifty years so that the empty place might endure as a reminder.
Patriarch Thane and his fellows went white. Kensie could see they remembered Erskinhold. "It appears you have lost your appetite for independence." He said dryly. Bredin suppressed a snicker. The Companions snorted.
Kensie picked up a paper and signed it. "This is an order to bring food to relieve the shortage in Thanesholding. My Companion will take it to Redruth. The guard convoy should bring the food in a sennight." The councillors raised their eyebrows and looked relieved. Some even smiled. Their smiles and relief turned to frowns at Kensie's next words. "The supplies will be purchased from local storesmen and transported by local carriers. Thanesholding will bear the cost."
This year's crops were barely planted and it would be moons before the earliest harvest. Food prices were at their highest at this time of year. With the roads still muddy, transport would be slow and expensive.
Their disapproval turned to horror when Kensie went on. "In the interim, I am requisitioning all food supplies presently remaining in Thanesholding. The food will be distributed first to those suffering from hunger, second to children and lastly to those whose health permits them to endure reduced rations."
The councillors knew that meant they and the other menfolk would be eating much less.
Kensie put the order in a pouch fastened around Losanir's neck and the Companion took off. Unburdened by saddle or rider, Losanir could make the journey to Redruth and back in a day. Organizing the relief supplies and, with the roads still muddy from spring rains, getting the slow transport wagons to Thanesholding would take a sennight. In the meantime, the Heralds and Healer needed to organize the food rationing.
Kensie and Bredin toured the village, finding and making note of the food stores. Jonas Karas attempted to block Bredin from inspecting the larder in his house. Bredin laid him out along with two of his hulking sons. Kensie smiled and fined Jonas ten crowns for attempted assault on a Herald. ::Taking down three at once. I believe you've done that before.:: Kensie said in mindspeech.
It took the rest of the day to complete the inventory of food and organize the rationing. They remained in the village until they were sure that all the women had had enough to eat.
When Lacaral let them know that Losanir had returned and was resting at the waystation, the two headed back themselves.
Bredin swung up on Lacaral's back. Kensie prepared to walk back to the waystation beside them. Lacaral turned and blocked Kensie's path.
Bredin smiled down and held out his hand. "Lacaral says he isn't moving until you get on."
Kensie took Bredin's hand and jumped up behind the saddle. "Thank you. Both of you."
As Lacaral made his way to the waystation, Bredin said. "They aren't very happy back there."
"They're going to be even less happy about it when I start questioning them tomorrow."
"About what?" Bredin arched an eyebrow even though Kensie could not see it.
"How the food is going to be paid for. Who has how much money. And about their taxes, among other things." Kensie sounded amused.
Bredin choked. "Oh. They're really not going to like that. Aren't you concerned about how they'll react?"
"I've thought about it." Kensie said.
"What are you going to do?"
"I think I have a plan." Kensie said.
"Which is?"
"I'll know if it's good when I see the reply from Redruth. Trust me till then."
They reached the waystation. Kensie jumped down immediately and went to Losanir. Losanir was tired but not exhausted. ::Just a good workout.:: The Companion commented.
Kensie hugged his Companion and put his blanket on before taking the Colonel's reply. He read it and grinned. "The food is on its way." He said. He handed the note to Bredin and set to work grooming Losanir.
Bredin read the note. When he read the second paragraph, he grinned and tapped Kensie on the shoulder.
###
"Horse – sorry, Companion – approaching! No rider." Private Fenske called down from the watchtower at Redruth.
Captain Tewkes-Felthan was at the gate when Losanir cantered through a sunwidth later. Guardsmen emerged from all the doors and Colonel Chase looked out of her window. A lone Companion approaching at speed usually meant urgent action.
Spotting the message pouch, Urson took it from the harness around Losanir's neck. As he opened it, the stableman threw a blanket over Losanir's back. He held a bucket for the Companion to drink. Losanir took a sip, then began pacing around the yard to cool himself.
"What does it say, Captain?" The Colonel called down.
"There is an urgent need for food in Thanesholding. Herald Kensie orders us to buy food immediately and get it on the way there." Urson called back. He glanced at the letter again. "He also says there may be trouble and requests support."
Colonel Chase did not hesitate. "Captain, take three troops and get them on the way immediately. We'll organize the food and follow. Is the Companion able to take a message back?"
Urson glanced at Losanir, who nodded his head. In a quarter candlemark, Losanir was on his way back with Colonel Chase's reply. Half a candlemark after that, Captain Tewkes-Felthan rode out leading three troops. His newest ensign rode his liver chestnut stallion at Urson's side.
###
The next morning, they checked with Healer West about the condition of the women. After the Healer confirmed the women were beginning to recover, Kensie began questioning the men. The first person he called was Elias Thane. Bredin held the coercive form of the Truth Spell on the Patriarch while Kensie asked the questions.
"How much money do you have, Elias Thane?" He began.
Kensie forced him to reveal all of his money, from the thirty crowns stored under the floorboards of his bedroom and the gold deposited with the village temple to the sum held at the bank in Redruth.
Kensie added it all up and read out the total. He looked at the official tax record. "That sum does not seem to be in agreement with what you reported in your taxes, Goodman Thane." Elias Thane's eyes widened in shock as he realized where Kensie was going. Kensie questioned the man about his taxes over the last several years, confirming that Thane had cheated on his taxes for many years, though he kept no exact records of the extent.
After prolonged questioning and some calculation, Kensie arrived at an estimate of the unpaid taxes. He added twenty percent as a penalty. "When we find out the cost of the emergency food, I will add that to your total." Kensie announced. Elias Thane looked at him murderously.
Kensie called up the next member of the Council. One by one, he and Bredin examined every male householder in the village. Due to the effort of maintaining the coercive Truth Spell, Kensie and Bredin alternated the chores of questioning and holding the Truth Spell. By the end of the day, they had levied a spectacular sum in unpaid taxes.
Unlike most places in Valdemar, the adults kept the children away from the Companions, so none of the villagers noticed Lacaral slip away while Kensie questioned the last of the village householders. When he returned, Lacaral nodded to them both and mindspoke Bredin. Bredin smiled and nodded at Kensie. Losanir winked broadly.
Kensie and Bredin mounted their Companions and rode back to the waystation. They affected not to notice the glares, mutterings and furtive gestures of the Holderkin men.
###
Ensign Halmar looked up at the sound of the Companions' hoofbeats on the path. He grinned broadly. "Herald Bredin! Good to see you again."
Bredin grinned back at the young heir of Hunberston. He swung down off Lacaral and shook the young lord's hand. "Lord Austin, good to see you! Your father consented to you joining the guard, I see."
Austin Halmar laughed. "We had a frightful row, but he gave in when I pointed out that he had served as well."
"I'm glad for you." Bredin said. With a gesture at Kensie, he added "Allow me to present my partner on this circuit, Herald Kensie Poldara."
Ensign Halmar hesitated for a moment before recovering. He held out his hand to Kensie. "Lord Kensie, Herald Bredin and Captain Tewkes-Felthan speak well of you."
Kensie noted the hesitation and correctly deduced the cause. "I am pleased to meet you, Lord Austin. Since I am a Herald now, I am no longer a 'lord'. This is my Companion Losanir."
Grateful for the opportunity to escape his minor faux pas, Lord Austin turned his attention to Losanir. "Pleased to meet you, Losanir. I understand you are Lacaral's brother." He nodded at Lacaral. "Hello, Lacaral, good to see you again." He turned back to Losanir. "I didn't get the chance to meet you yesterday, but I think you are magnificent."
Losanir pricked his ears forward and whickered. ::A very well spoken young man. Thank him for me.::
Kensie passed along Losanir's thanks. "They really appreciate it when humans recognize them as people."
"I have never thought of them as anything else. Would Losanir mind if I helped untack him?"
Losanir whickered. "I believe Losanir would enjoy your company." Kensie gestured towards the waystation. The young ensign walked with the Heralds and Companions. As he helped untack and groom Losanir, Austin told Kensie about his cousin Rikar.
The troops had set up camp in the small meadow surrounding the waystation. The kitchen detail already had started cooking, so the Heralds ate with the guardsmen. Afterwards, Bredin and Kensie sat with Urson, his lieutenant and the three ensigns around a fire, discussing the situation.
"When do you expect them to move?" Urson asked.
"I'm hoping they'll try something tonight." Bredin said. "It will give us an excuse to remove the firebrands right away."
"That Headman Thane sounds like a nasty piece of work." Lieutenant Wright said.
"He's a mean old son-of-a-bitch." Kensie agreed. "And he is the key to the village. If we can pull his fangs, the others are much less likely to make further trouble. I want him to act now, before he knows you are here. If he thinks we're alone, he'll be less careful."
Urson smiled at Kensie's tactical thinking. "You can take the Herald out of the guard, but you can't take the guard out of the Herald." He quipped.
The others chuckled. "Do you think they will come down the pathway?" Lieutenant Wright asked.
"They'll send a few that way." Kensie said. "Those will make a lot of noise to distract us. But most of them will try to sneak through on the river path." He pointed to the narrow path leading down to the river behind the waystation.
He glanced at Bredin and noticed he was staring off into the distance. Kensie smiled slightly, waiting for his partner to finish with his Farsight.
Ensign Lynnette Potter followed Kensie's glance. Seeing Bredin's stare, she began "What is he…." Austin Halmar tapped her on the shoulder to silence her.
Bredin sighed and smiled. He looked at the guardsmen around him. "They've finished working themselves up. They're getting ready to leave now."
"How long?" Urson asked.
"It's dark and the moon is only in the first quarter. I'd say half a candlemark or more."
Urson and his officers set about organizing the trap. Bredin used his Farsight to keep them informed of the progress of the mob of villagers. By the time he reported that the main group had turned off the road to sneak around to the river path, all the campfires but one were out and everyone was in place. Lacaral and Losanir hid themselves near the river. Kensie and Bredin sat by the remaining campfire, talking as though they were unaware.
Austin Halmar grinned as the last of the 'distraction' party passed him. He pulled on the twine strung between his position and Captain Tewkes-Felthan, who waited in the shadows by the waystation.
The distraction party approached noisily. They held their lanterns high, pointing them into Bredin and Kensie's eyes. Alberich had warned them both of the trick, they looked to one side while apparently facing the mob.
"Herald, we don't like what you're doing." Kensie could not see the man's face behind the lantern, but he recognized the voice as Jebdian Thane, one of the Patriarchs and a brother of Elias.
Bredin had told Kensie about the mob at Hunberston. Deliberately, Kensie imitated him by taking a long sip of kava before replying. "You want your women to starve?" Kensie asked.
"The women will be fine. We don't need your help." Jebdian snarled.
"Two dead and the rest on the verge of starvation? You have a strange way of caring for your women." Kensie kept his tone light even as Bredin warned him by mindspeech that the attack was imminent. Both Heralds shifted themselves slightly.
"They are our women. Mind your own business." A younger man snarled from behind. He charged at Kensie.
Kensie threw the cup in the man's face, blinding him long enough for Kensie to deliver a solid gut punch. The man doubled over and Kensie drove a knee into his face, sending him dazed to the ground.
Jebdian Thane swung at Bredin, who spun the patriarch around into the path of his followers. All around the clearing, the troopers descended on the would-be attackers. The guardsmen did not draw swords; Kensie and Bredin wanted captives, not dead bodies.
Along the river path, Lieutenant Wright and his troopers attacked the villagers from both sides while the Companions ran over them from behind.
In three sunwidths, the fight was over and the attackers – all twenty of them – were bound and gagged. Bredin used his Farsight to confirm none had escaped.
The troopers relit the campfires and shone lanterns on the captives, who were glaring back at them over their gags.
"So, do we take them back to the village or do we question them here?" Captain Tewkes-Felthan asked.
Kensie poured himself another cup of kava and took a long sip. "Neither." He said. "We let the village spend the night wondering what happened."
Everyone stared at him for a moment, then began laughing. Bredin slapped Kensie on the shoulder. The Companions bellowed.
Kensie scanned the group, basking in the approval. He spotted Losanir. ::Everything OK?:: He asked.
::Everything's fine.:: Losanir said. ::Nothing broken.::
Kensie's eye flicked to a villager whose arm was being bound by one of the troopers. There was a hoofprint on the sleeve at the point of the break.
Losanir drooped his ears and looked down. He pawed the ground. ::Well, almost nothing.::
###
Two candlemarks after sunrise, Bredin and Kensie led the guardsmen and prisoners back to the village. Lacaral and Losanir wore their bridle bells, which rang with each step of their elevated trot. They approached the closed gates and moved aside as the guardsmen pushed the coffle of attackers to the fore. The village watchmen gaped at the captives and shouted something unintelligible to the men waiting below.
The gates remained closed and the Heralds could hear excited shouting from inside. ::They are arguing about what to do.:: Bredin told Kensie in mindspeech. They continued to stand motionless, waiting for the villagers to respond.
After a few sunwidths, Captain Tewkes-Felthan rode up to Kensie to ask for instructions. "We wait them out." Kensie said. "By now, they know they are in trouble. They know they have to talk to us, but haven't figured out what to say."
The Heralds and their Companions stood like statues. Even their braided manes and tails hung straight in the still morning air. ::Remember doing this at the wedding?:: Lacaral reminded Bredin of their tedious wait as honor guards to the Queen and Prince Karathanelan years before.
::This is much more interesting, though.:: Bredin's smile was only in his mindvoice; his face remained impassive. ::One of the other patriarchs just threw a punch at Elias Thane.:: The noise on the other side of the wall intensified briefly as Bredin reported what he had seen to Kensie. Kensie bit his lip to keep from smiling.
After half a candlemark, the gate opened slightly and Patriarch Elias Thane stepped out.
"Do not close the gate!" Kensie barked in the command voice. The patriarch jumped slightly, then nodded to someone behind him. The gate remained open.
Elias Thane squared his shoulders and stepped forward. "What do you want, Heralds?" His voice was full of contempt.
"Guardsmen! Arrest that man." Kensie pointed at the patriarch.
Thane stood stunned as Austin Halmar cantered up and positioned his horse between Elias Thane and the gate. In moments, his troopers had bound and gagged the leader.
Those on top of the wall and standing just inside the gate froze with their mouths hanging open.
Lacaral and Losanir paced forward, perfectly in stride. As they passed the ensign and his prisoner. Kensie called out. "Open the gates!"
The villagers shuffled out of the way, pushing the gates open wide. Kensie and Bredin rode through. The guardsmen trotted through behind them.
Bredin and a group of guardsmen peeled off to the temple, where Healer West was held prisoner. "I don't have much mindspeech," the healer said "or I would have sent you warning."
As he confirmed that the healer was unharmed, Bredin assured him they had been prepared.
###
Kensie and Bredin spent the rest of the day examining the villagers, determining responsibility for the attempted attack the previous night. They levied heavy fines and sentenced nine of the village men plus Elias and Jebdian Thane and two other councillors to prison. Elias Thane received nine moons.
"But that's petite treason!" Urson protested. "That Headman should hang, at least."
"I know." Kensie said to his friend. "But I can only push so far without causing more trouble down the road. I don't think they will learn any lesson, but it's enough punishment to make them think twice before attempting to defy a Herald again. Also, what do you think is going to happen with thirteen of their men away during growing season?"
Urson thought a moment. "They won't have enough men to bring in their crops?"
"So what will they do?" Kensie smiled.
"They can't afford to lose their crops." Urson mused. "They'll have to hire men to help."
"Where will they get the men?"
"I don't know. They hate outsiders. They'll have to go to other Holderkin villages. So?" Urson wasn't sure what Kensie was driving at. He could tell by Bredin's grin that he had already worked it out.
"What will happen when those hired men go back to their own villages?" Kensie said.
"They tell their people what happened…." The last piece fell into place. "You White Demon." Urson roared with laughter.
###
The supply wagons arrived a sennight later. When they left, they took the prisoners, fines and back taxes with them.
Kensie left the village with a decree that Healer West, with an escort of guardsmen, would visit the village once every moon. The healer would have full access to his patients; interference would be severely punished. The visits would continue until the first crops were in.
Their visit done, Kensie and Bredin rode on to their next stop. As they passed the boundary marker, Kensie said "Kerenos-damned, stupid, ignorant, ******, stubborn, bigoted, idiotic, shortsighted, idiotic, skinflint, stupid, *******, stubborn…."