Chapter 19: Old Friends and New Meetings

Airk did not know how long they had been traveling. All that flashed in his head was the sight of the ruined Galladoorn. He felt a failure as a general as only half his men remained marching down the valley.

"Hey, are you awake?"

Airk snapped out of his thoughts and turned his attention to Raina, who rode in a wagon with Larissa attending her.

"What?" he said, still snapping out of his thoughts.

Raina smirked. "Wakey-wakey, general. In case you didn't know, you're leading an army."

"And in case you didn't know, we're having a baby," Airk replied. "How's our little a**-kicker?"

"Every bit an a**-kicker like mum," Raina replied. "I can feel it. She wants to come out, and I wish she would."

Airk anxiously turned to his mother. "Mother, do you think it's time?"

"It could be soon. The child is very feisty," Larissa replied.

"I hope it is soon. I'm tired of sitting on my a** doing nothing," Raina added. "but we're not here to talk about me. What's got you daydreaming?"

Airk tried to deflect feign ignorance. "What are you talking about?"

Raina smiled slyly. "Airk, my love, when you married me I suddenly gained the power to see through bull****. Now tell me what's going on with you."

Airk sighed, admitting defeat again. "I've disgraced my father. Ever since the battle at Land's End, all I have done is bring ruin and failure to my men and to Galladoorn. Now look at us."

"My love, you're only disgracing your father if you give up," Raina replied. "So you failed. All of us fail. What matters is that we learn from our failures."

"Indeed. We cannot learn from success but failure is a true teacher," Larissa added.

Airk thought a long moment as he considered the words of his wife and mother. He would not bring shame to his father by giving up. "That's very enlightening. We're you two trading notes?"

"Funny what can pass between two women," Raina jested. "So, tell me, what do you plan to do?"

"Go and kick some Nockmaar a**," Airk replied.

Just then, Ronan rode up beside them. "Well, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on your inspiring conversation, and I'm all for it! Let's go kick some Nockmaar a**!"

It had been nearly three days since Airk and his company had escaped from a ruined Galladoorn. On an early morning, their company came across a valley and crossroads. As Airk's men trudged along, he could see two small men, almost children to his eyes, standing in the road. One had dark black curls and a dark complexion. The other of them held a baby in his arms and had brown curls.

"Excuse me, sir?" asked the taller of the little men who bore brown curls and held the child. "We found one of your babies in our village. Will you please take care of her?"

Airk removed his helmet and stared down at the two men. "Going into battle, little ones. Find a woman to take care of her."

"We thought you were a woman, Airk!" cried a voice Airk knew all two well.

Airk's head whipped around to find Madmartigan, bedraggled and caged, but still laughing at him.

"Well, ha ha ha, Madmartigan!" Airk laughed heartily. "What'd you do this time?"

"Nothing you wouldn't have done in my place," Madmartigan replied.

"I always knew you'd end up in a crow's cage," Airk chuckled.

"At least I'm not down there herding sheep. What are you doing this far north?" Madmartigan asked.

"The Nockmaar army destroyed Galladoorn," Airk answered.

"The castle?" Madmartigan asked.

"Bavmorda's troops are crushing everything in sight," Airk said glumly.

"Well, come on, let me out of here, Airk," Madmartigan replied eagerly. "Give me a sword. I'll win this war for you."

Airk was furious. The last time Madmartigan said that, he led them to slaughter. Airk was not about to take that chance again. "Madmartigan! I still serve Galladoorn. You serve no one. Remember? Sit in your coffin and rot."

Airk spurred his horse as he heard Madmartigan protest, "Wait, Airk! You need me!" and curse him after.

Airk rode up beside Raina and he turned white. He never thought he would see Madmartigan again. Part of him was relieved to see him alive, and the other wanted to kill him.

"Have you seen a ghost?" Raina asked.

"Even worse. Madmartigan," Airk replied with a chill.

"Madmartigan? Where?" Raina asked, surprised to ever hear that name again.

"In a crow's cage where he belongs," Airk said vengefully. "He begged me to free him so he could 'win this war for me'. "

"My love, I know Madmartigan is an a**hole and a fool among other things, but how many battles have we won off his sword?" Raina questioned.

"The ones he hasn't deserted us," Airk spat. "You think it was unwise of me to leave him to die?"

"My love, we are outnumbered and perhaps Madmartigan may yet have some part to play," Raina reasoned.

Airk was still furious with Madmartigan but he knew Raina was right. His men only numbered in the thousands dwindling. Madmartigan was the best swordsman there was, even if he offered allegiance to no one.

"If he survives the crow's cage, we shall see," Airk replied.

"You think he can survive the crow's cage?" Raina questioned.

"He got lucky once before. He's a survivor," Airk replied. "There were two pecks at the crow's cage. Maybe they'll be his salvation."

Raina was suddenly interested and curious and she forgot about Madmartigan at that moment. "Pecks? You mean Nelwyns? What would Nelwyns be doing so far out here?"

"One of them had a baby with him and tried to hand it off to me," Airk replied.

"A Nelwyn with a Daikini baby?" Raina asked, growing more interested. "Airk, do you think that child is the one Bavmorda's after?"

"It must be, otherwise why would the peck be so desperate to give it up to the first Daikini he saw?" Airk replied.

"Nelwyn, not peck," Raina corrected. "Airk, do you realize what this means? This means an end to that she-b**** Bavmorda!"

Ronan rode up to Airk. "Airk, we're coming up behind Nockmaar troops."

"We will ride up and flank them," Airk replied before turning to Raina and Larissa. "Mother, there's a village not a day's ride from here. You and Raina take shelter there."

"We'll be safe," Larissa replied. "It's you who needs to take care."

"I agree. You come back safe," Raina replied.

"After all this you still worry about me?" Airk asked.

"It's because I worry you are alive," Raina said smartly.

Airk and Raina's lips collided and she filled him into her arms.

"Come back to me," Raina whispered.

"Yes, my love," Airk replied.

After riding for not but a few hours, Raina and Larissa came upon a snow-covered village at the bottom of the mountains. Raina was glad to be at her journey's end as she was very weary.

"Raina, are you alright, my child?" Larissa asked.

Raina was out of breath and sweating like a fountain. Her stomach churned like a river. "I think we need to find somewhere to stop."

Larissa felt Raina's rotund belly. "My child, is it time?"

Raina nodded. "The baby is coming now!"

Larissa helped Raina into a small cottage where she waited with gasping breaths for her child. As Raina waited for her child, she only fretted.

Airk, where are you? she thought fearfully.