Part III
Chapter 10
Ranger Duty
"Would you like a ride?"
Connie glanced at the rider in the skitter that rudely cut in front of another, causing it to crash into a hedge and dump its occupants. Since they had been following her for the last few blocks, heckling her, it was a relief she did not have to do anything to bring attention to herself. They were town bullies that had returned from the draft years earlier and had not done anything useful with their lives.
"Well, Lieutenant Neda. Time off for good behavior?" Connie asked.
"I volunteered for transportation duty until my squad is assembled. I understand you enlisted in officer's training with the Queen's Rangers. With your predilection for trouble, I came to make sure you got to your training safely and on time."
Connie grabbed Neda's wrist to be hauled aboard the hovering skitter.
"So, why the Rangers?" Neda asked.
"I thought it would be a good use of my time until I need to return to my side of the wall." The image of a specific ranger came to mind but Connie refused to acknowledge to Neda that there was any other reason.
"It is a very good choice. With what you've learned in Morwea Woods you'll make a good ranger. My brother is
our commanding officer."
"Our?" She grinned at Neda. "What's it like to have your brother ordering you around?"
"I got over that when I was an ensign on sister's flag ship. She didn't want to show favoritism so I wasn't spared getting the dirty jobs. The first week I didn't sleep more than four hours a day. When I asked for reassignment, it was granted. Mother took one look at me, rings under my eyes and so skinny my clothes hung, and reamed Kendra for being too hard on me. I didn't sleep or eat because I was sea sick all the time, not because of Kendra."
Connie laughed. "I've never been on a boat before."
"Who was the kid that gave you a ride? He looks awfully like…"
"Prince Jario. He's one of the cousins' mother rescued. His heart is good."
"I didn't get close enough to notice. It's darn amazing how much you picked up. Must be in the blood," she grinned.
"What worries me is Jennifer. She's Besardo. That means there's others around."
"Another reason why I'm here to pick you up. You don't have to worry about your mother, Connie. She's been taking care of that compound since she arrived with you and the others."
"Mother said Jennifer is just like her mother."
"You know, her mother was called Princess Rose, by her sisters. Mother said she was beautiful but had thorns she was not afraid to use. Mother hated it when they would visit during the summer and fall. The royal families from both sides of the wall get together twice a year, the big summer festival is at Omwell. The fall gathering is at Castle of Obella, built into the cliff face overlooking the River of Orbella. The weather is beautiful there in autumn. Castel of Obella is known for their wines and olives."
"Castle Omwell?"
"Yes. It's my favorite castle. I would like to eventually be Royal Captain of the Armsman. We all had so much fun there, and still do. It was intended that you meet with the family during your two years and learn about your bloodline - the good and the bad, however you changed that plan. It turned out for the better, if you ask me."
"Is my father really dead?"
"I would have thought with your sensitivity you would have known the truth of that. Yes. You probably already know we have some very stubborn members that don't take orders or advice very well."
"And they don't live very long," Connie said, "but they manage to pass on it on to their descendants."
"Even in a protective enclosure the enemy is everywhere. You can never let your guard down. Throughout my childhood I remember always hearing that."
"What kind of a life is that where you have to always be afraid?" Connie asked, feeling conflicting emotions of her childhood.
"There's a difference between living in fear and living in awareness. There's nothing in this world or the others that I touch, that is not without a message or warning if I should need it or look for it. Don't you find that also?"
Without hesitation Connie knew she was right. "That's true. Since I've become aware of my responsibility to myself and those that I've pledged to protect, I have a different perspective to how I view what comes my way. Just where are we going?" Connie asked, as they turned toward the mountains.
"Well, what better place than a rangers' wilderness educational compound to start your ranger duties? We'll be a few weeks early so we can familiarize ourselves with the place before the new recruits arrive. The trainees are usually draftees that re-upped, requesting assignment to the rangers. For the first six months they'll learn to recognize and live in the forest comfortably with the various life forms that take residence there, even the shadow people. Rangers are protectors of all that live in the forests."
"Sounds like my introduction from Ramla then Rozene."
"In some ways the same. Civilians have a romantic view of rangers and here is where that idea is squashed. In addition to forest life, we'll teach them animal handling, how to track, how to infiltrate a poachers camp, how to recognize a poacher. Most of them already know this. Those that know train those that don't. The purpose is to mix talents so that we get a well-balance team."
"How far is this place?"
"A day and a half from Endalls transportation station. It's remote. We'll be at the air terminal in a few more minutes. I want to be sure that we're not expected. You've had someone tailing you since you got on the bus."
"I felt him. Another took his place when I left the compound."
Neda banked left and brought the air cart down into a city that was settling for the night. She hopped off the craft and went to use a public phone. A few minutes later she was back.
"I called the station to see if all transportation is on time. It wasn't the same person that was there yesterday. Since it's a small station, I'm guessing they don't have a whole lot of employees and this one had a midland accent."
"Not going to the station then?"
"No. The road is probably watched too."
"Just how far can this thing travel?"
"A lot further than a civilian craft would. With no stops and not having to wind around the usual transportation roads, I would say we'll get to our destination late tonight."
"I wish I knew I would be riding in an open craft. I would have dressed warmer."
"Well, it just happens this convertible has a removable top stashed in the sides."
Neda slowed the craft and directed Connie on how to get their sides and roof in place. Once that was accomplished, Neda pushed the craft a lot faster. During her four years away from air carts, a lot of improvements had been made. Connie was settled comfortably in her seat watching the scope for any trouble heading their way.
"Neda, we've been picked up by something."
Neda glanced at the scope. "A homing device. I guess whoever has been tracking us has quite a network of spies." She pressed a button and the homing device reading went dead. "I'm sure they know where we're heading. Not many people are aware of the ranger training camp up in Nigwa Mountains. It's a sanctuary for wild animals. It's really the only area where wild animals can say this is their territory without having to worry about our lot hunting them or bothering their way of life."
"I heard one of the guards call Nigwa the jewel of the Royal Family."
"It's protected by the Royal Family because of a pack made many centuries ago between the forest spirits and the civilians of that land. King Ogar and Queen Nefru honored their peoples' wish and made it a protected Sanctuary. The wall is another result of a pack to keep hunters from disrupting others way of life."
"Shapeshifters."
"Exactly. Shapeshifters exist on both sides of the wall, but on one side they are free to be who they are without retribution or fear. We'll head to the far corner of the Nigwa Sanctuary and walk in."
It was a long flight for Connie to remain vigilant over the scope and for Neda to be alert to currents and fuel that was running low. She assured Connie there was just enough to get them to the sanctuary, something she planned as a back up.
"Never go anywhere without more than one backup plan," Neda told her.
* * *
"There's a signal coming in," Connie said softly. Her voice sounded as tired as she felt.
"It's an all clear but…" Neda started to laugh. "Brother has been worried about us."
Lights below them blinked a few times then went out. Neda began to drop altitude. It felt like a fast elevator down with Connie's stomach making a slower decent.
Neda hopped out of the air cart and grabbed a man who looked much older than her but they were definitely related.
"This is Connie, our distant cousin that's been causing problems since she was drafted. Connie, Major Pili. Our commanding officer."
"Greetings, Cousin Connie. I'm glad you joined the officer corps in the Queen's Rangers. Between her and I, we'll be giving you officer training along with your ranger training." He looked at his sister affectionately. "It's my pleasure to tell you Neda, you've been promoted to captain. Connie, you'll be starting off as a 2nd lieutenant. This is a testing ground for new rangers. Don't trust any of them and always make sure you're covered. We've been infiltrated by gangs before and found out after they made it into camp. Usually spies are weeded out before they get here through a background check but nothing is perfect." He waved the two before him to a small cabin that was hidden by trees and a cliff face that rose as a dark wall behind it.
"We'll spend the night here. Connie, I understand you bonded with a litter of chadie's."
"Yes, I did," Connie answered.
"Good. It will help you with learning about the creatures that live in the sanctuary."
"I haven't been here before, have I?" Neda asked puzzled.
"Father brought us here when Joesif made his transition. You were about five I think."
"Transition? I've heard that before," Connie said.
"It's when a shapeshifter becomes comfortable with his or her two personalities and can move between the two comfortably."
"I'm not a shape shifter," Connie said quickly.
"Not all rangers are." He tapped his nose. "There are some of us that can smell out one. Not all shapeshifters know they are until they are over their youthful foolishness, as mother calls it. The two years of draft has many reasons and one is to find those that are gifted in seeing, healing, and shape shifting, and guide them to the right mentors. Many gifted are feared by their families because they are different and learn quickly to hide their abilities."
"And then there are some who regardless of how hard the Queen's Registrar guides them to the right posting, they decide to pick their own," Neda said.
Connie did not even blush. It gave her more confidence in herself that she was able to chose her own way and learn more than what she thought she could have learned had she been in the Castle of Omwell with Marian.
"Is there a prince among the group that's coming up here?"
"Prince Sven, why?" Neda asked with her brother looking at her suspiciously.
"One of the girls I met on draft day, Mariam, said she met a prince who was going out into the field for two years. Knowing how small my world really is, I thought I would ask."
"Sven didn't tell me he had a girlfriend."
"Why would he tell you?" Neda asked. "You're his older brother and now commanding officer. If he tells anyone it will be me… and he didn't say anything to me."
"I like Marian. She defended me when she didn't know me. She also told me about the world and what to expect."
"Sounds like a nice person. I'll be looking her up to make sure she's alright for little brother, though," Pili said.
Neda nudged her brother. "That is so like you. So who is this Marian?"
"Wouldn't you know more than I on her background? She spent her two years at Castle Omwell."
"It's not that easy. Unless asked, nosing in a family members business, such as the draftees sent to Castle Omwell, will get my name passed up the ladder of family members until it reached a point where the reason why I was nosing in another's territory is forgotten," Pili said, "but the fact that I was nosing about would not."
"Well, she said she comes from a merchant trader family," Connie said.
"Did you believe her?"
"Yes. She's a woman that can keep secrets and I would guess she had heard many when working in the castle. Now, Rachel, who served with her, she's a shrewd woman that can use a secret to get what she wants, but she's not mean."
"Rachel? Isn't she the one that you traded places with?"
"Yes."
"It's late. You two are bunking up in the female officer's cabin. Good dreaming."
"Good dreaming to you, brother," Neda said.
"Good night, Major Pili," Connie said.
"I'm tired," Neda said.
Neda walked through the front door and headed to a side door. Four beds were in the room.
"Are any of the beds taken?"
"No. We're the only training group up here this winter. If it were summer, it would be crowded."
Both unpacked and made their beds. The cabin was cold so Neda started a fire, making sure the chimney chute was opened and the spark barrier was up.
Connie smiled at the memory of Ramla and Malinda teaching her how to start a fire without getting her hands dirty. Her memory of them brought a warm feeling and comfort knowing that when she thought of them, they knew.
"This is one of the cabin's designed by Haegen. The heat from the fireplace is spread through the floor, which raises and keeps the interior from frost," Neda explained as they went into the bunkroom, far from the heat fireplace.
"I'll let you know tomorrow morning if it's any better than the cabins I've been sleeping in for the last three years," Connie said.
Neda laughed, having wintered in cold places throughout her life.
Continued