~ The Return ~
by Tas
Disclaimers: See Part 1
The Return
By
Tas
Part 15
"We'll swing into the cove, Lady, I can't give ye more than an hour to get off. Less would be best. There be a land jetty we'll swing up to. Should be able to land you dry. If'n our luck holds no one will know you're here."
"Thank you, Mardrone," Tristian responded softly.
"Nay, Lady. Thank you," the ship's Captain smiled shyly as his crew swung the ship snuggly up against the jutting land mass. They were off loaded and the ship moving on its way within the hour."
"Scout's out, okay furballs, do your thing, let's move people," Maria commanded in a low voice. "Alex, you and yours remember, we're supposed to go home. No heroics."
The majestic gray wolf padded up and laid a warm muzzle in her hand.
Maria grinned, "See you down the trail."
The four beasts vanished into the night.
Tristian sat Shadow in a negligent lounge as the scouts moved into place and Shadow followed the leader.
Tristian sent her senses out cautiously, expecting at any minute to find resistance. She connected immediately with a powerful node pulsing quietly in somnolent repose. She touched it, probing gently and felt the swirl of gentle mage energy reach up to test her. She lounged as the tendrils of power surrounded her touching, tasting, testing until she was recognized and the node roused filling her suddenly with a joyous rush of energy.
"Whoa," She bolted upright, unprepared for that reaction as power flooded her every pore.
"Hold," Maria commanded gently and Brianna sent out a mindcall to their friends. A simple signal if picked up that would not be understood but the wolves would know it well and hold their position.
They waited quietly as Tristian struggled to control the wild energy coursing through her.
She called for Altair, bringing the soothing touch of her bondmate swirling into the seething torrent of power and the nodes linked in joy, releasing her as the focus and allowing her a chance to sense the needs of the node. She touched it again and this time was not overwhelmed, she sealed it now, claiming it the Mother's Own and the node responded in childish glee as she released it to find its brethren.
"Continue," she murmured. Maria moved them on and Tristian reclaimed her mindlinks settling their concerns and sending them off again.
They made their way through the thick undergrowth moving carefully up hill, their goal for the night the top of the rise. There they would make camp until morn.
Tristian called the wolves in and the small group sat easily hidden in the forests growth until the slinking black shadows of their scouts drifted into the camp.
"Got some human scent off to the east," Deidre reported. "Past the three mile limit but I can smell it on the wind."
"Got some due south, in our path as I remember," Trina added helpfully. The other two caught no unusual scent but game was abundant. Tristian's probe had all ready connected with three other large nodes and she marveled at the power of the land.
They continued in silence for a week and a half, their silent scouts giving them more than enough warning to avoid detection by the occupants of the land. Tristian's bond continued to extend and she began wondering whether she had the right landmass.
"Something's not right," She told them one evening. "These mages tap the land, I've seen that in Dyan. But the nodes I'm finding have been untouched for generations. They're so excited that someone is here the first node almost knocked me on my butt." She paused and looked around. "Any of you find a village or something."
"Off to the west is human scent." Alex mumbled around her supper. "Big village from the smells. Wanna go?"
"I think so. We need more information than the land can give me." She nodded, "In the morning we'll change tracks and follow Alex. Two of you scout the village and let me know what to expect. Try not to get yourselves skinned."
Loshe made a face. "That is such a disgusting practice. It's not like I'd take your skin and hang in on my wall."
"Cause ours aren't as pretty," Tinder shot back quietly. The women settled quickly, morning comes much to soon on the trail.
Three days saw them sitting in the forest shadows moving onto the village stealthily.
"I need to go in." Tristian announced.
"Not alone?" Puck growled.
"Aye." She held up her hand. "But, two pair of you can wander in from the other gates. I'll take the main gate and see if I cause a stir. While I'm doing that, four of you slip in and insinuate yourselves among the people. Objective. Where is the king? How does he get his power?" She reviewed the faces as Maria and Megan jumped up followed by Puck and Ceil. "Good enough. Shit goes tits up get your asses home. Megan you got this lot in the city, Brianna, the rest of them."
"Let me go with you," Alex pleaded. "I can go in my shiftshape and be your pet. Should make some kinda reputation for you don't you think?"
Tristian chuckled. "Not exciting enough yet?"
"Tristian, I've never been more scared in my life these past two weeks. Would have peed myself many times in this shape. But...I want to go."
Maria smirked, "All this do gooding can be damn addicting."
The four newcomers shifted guiltily and Alex sighed. "It is. I...I feel good. About me, about what I'm doing with my life." Her friends nodded sheepishly.
"Alright," Tristian responded on a soft laugh. "Come along little wolf, let's go see if g'ma's home."
The women smiled at the well-loved children's tale. Although in the version four of them had heard, the wolf ate the idiot child.
Tristian donned her pack and settled her weapons. She then trudged over to a muddy brook and splashed gleefully, splattering her clothes in muck.
"Eeeyew," Alex sniffed. "How come I get the messy human?"
Tristian proceeded to roughen up her appearance so she'd at least look like she'd been hunting for a few days. She opted to leave Shadow behind and the two women blended into the verdant depths of the woods.
"Are we sure she's not a wolf?"
"No," Tinder deadpanned. "Do you wanna ask her?"
"Uh...that would be no."
"Smart girl," Trey responded in amusement.
Tristian and Alex entered the front gate with out being stopped or challenged. The guards did move back as Alex drew abreast and she snickered internally. Tristian was far and away more dangerous than this little wolf would ever be.
The village was...quiet. Odd in the extreme since it was a fairly large village but the noise was muted. No loud chatter could be heard in the square, no one laughed, and no sound of children could be heard. Tristian made her way to a likely tavern and entered, holding the door open and sweeping a knowing glance across the room. The tavernkeep eyed her warily and looked down at the wolf but kept his mouth shut.
She grabbed a table in the back of the room seating herself to view the entire room. Alex curled up under it making sure her tale was tucked out of the walkway.
"What ken I bring ye?"
"Your plate, ale, stew and water for the wolf, and a loaf of your bread."
"With honey," Alex sent.
Tristian bit her lip to stop the grin. "With honey, just slice in down the middle and pour some in."
"Be right back." Their server nodded nervously and moved to fill their order. They were half way through when the sounds of hooves could be heard and the despair around them rose even higher.
The door burst in and six swaggering soldiers pushed their way to a table rudely shoving the occupants out of the way.
"Well," Tristian considered, "Maybe it's the right land after all."
"Keep! Keep! Damn your hide man, you've thirsty men here. Let's have some service."
"Hmmm," Tristian read from Alex, "Raw soldier butt, my favorite."
"Stop that you," Tristian chided. "It's alright if you laugh at him, you're just a big dog. I'd start a fight."
"Okay," Alex sighed.
The largest of the group looked around the room sneeringly. "Alright, you folks know the drill, we'll be leaving in an hour. Have the people set up in the square. King Dronar needs more bodies and we need to come further and further out so double the shipment. I hate being out here."
Another growled, "And bring out the kids. He prefers kids and gods know you people breed like rabbits. Make us look for them and we'll tear this place down around your ears."
"And Keep, include the big silent one in the back in your homage payment."
Tristian left a snarling Alex near the gate. "Follow us, bring the rest, I'm going with them."
She'd order the other four out of the village but wasn't really surprised to find a struggling and cursing Maria being dragged into the square. She made her way to the waiting people and caught her before she fell on her butt.
"Hey there," Maria greeted her cheerfully, "come here often?"
Tristian grunted and hauled her upright by her collar. "Remind me to beat you when we get home."
"Got it. I'll make a note."
The people were so docile the guards quit watching by the time they left the village.
"So, what's this all about?" Tristian murmured to a neighbor.
"Ye picked a bad time to visit, lass. Sorry ye got stuck with us."
"Where are we going?"
"To the palace, the King." The man's eyes darted around. "They say, the King needs the blood sacrifice for his magics. He uses this land as a breeding ground and we supply fuel for his evil will."
"Considered fighting back?"
"Shhh," a woman hushed them. "They'll hear and kill us."
Maria stared at her in astonishment. "Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what's going to happen anyway?"
They stared at her in confusion as Tristian muffled a snort. She sent a query for the closest troops and found none. "How longs this been going on?"
"Half me life."
"Same King?"
"Only one we know. Been here since forever but he never gets older and he treats us well until he needs sacrifices. Been bad this year. Talk says he's been beaten, twice, so he's really stirring the pot."
"What about his mages?"
"Ah...talk is, they call to the land, he draws from them." He looked up curiously, "Ye got a lot of questions."
Tristian shrugged, "I'm a nosy kind of girl."
"How far's the palace?"
"Three days once we clear the highlands. Seven from here."
"So, you guys wanna go back to your village or continue on?"
They stared at her.
"Gotta make a choice, time for us to leave. If we disappear they may take it out on you. If we kill them, you can go back and wait for the next bunch to finally be sent out."
"Yer mad. They're the best in the land. Ye can't kill them ye crazy girl."
"So, you want me to just disappear? Okay?"
"NO. Take us with you. Please. They don't know what villages are being taxed so they'll never know these came here."
"Okay."
Tristian made her way forward with Maria right behind her. "Hey, ugly. I gotta pee."
"Piss in yer pants. Won't matter, we only needs you dead, not clean."
She pulled him off his horse and he smiled. "Brave girl, to bad you're gonna be a hurting girl soon."
"Ya know...I've always hated being called a girl," she remarked casually and kneed him in the groin, a left to his jaw brought him upright and she reached out and snapped his neck.
His five companions saw this in shock and they charged. Four snarling wolves leapt and took the men out of their saddles. Alex's jaw clamped on a tender throat and then snapped shut. Her victim gurgling his last breath. Women swarmed through the woods and shortly, the path was clear again except for Tristian who stood looking at the villagers. "Go home. Live the best you can."
And then she was gone. There were no bodies and very little blood. The next rain would remove all signs. The people mumbled of spirits and trudged back the way they came.
They reached the descending slope that would lead the down from the highlands after four days of silent travel. Tristian's eyes blinked as she stared out across a valley that spread out below them and reached across to the horizons. She stared in shocked at the armed camp of Vostle. Armed camps as far as the eye could see literally filled the valley floor.
"Goddess bless," Ceil breathed. "That's...that's more people than I can begin to count."
"He's got over seven thousand people cluttered in that valley," Tristian remarked having estimated the group strength of each camp. "I need to know how many are here willingly." She also needed to know why the node probe did not breach the valley. Something was stopping the bonding and to know that, they needed to be down there.
"We enter, try to look like competent troops. We'll just be one more set of scouts returning with news."
"What's the news?"
Tristian thought a bit, "Rumors that someone is launching a massive offensive. Seems the villages picked up on it from traders."
"Shaky but...what the hell."
"Alex, you four stay in your shiftshapes and mingle with the horses. I'll send you out at night. For now, we'll try to bluff our way in."
They descended openly without trying to hide. The people in the valley saw them and then returned to their own concerns.
"Halt. Whom do you ride with?"
Tristian swiped a name from the thoughts around her as the people came up with their own ideas on who these women must belong to. "Lessa's Raiders."
"Where are you coming from?"
Tristian eyed him coldly. "When you start to look like my Commander, I'll treat you like my Commander."
A grizzled old timer sauntered up grinning, "Best watch your tale boy. She be the type to catch Les' eye. Happen you twist the wrong tail, you're gonna wish your momma and daddy didn't do the deed that one time." He cackled at his own wit and shuffled off.
Tristian smirked. "Move boy, Les don't like to wait, and we don't keep her unhappy."
He grudgingly gave ground as the party moved forward.
Tristian could now feel the shields surrounding the valley nodes. They were spotty and not well maintained but she would need to guide the bonding rather than allowing the nodes to find their own way. Still. The valley nodes were free and she could seal them inside the shield and use them to break through. But...not yet. "Maria, find me this damn palace and then we're out of here. I've one more thing I need to check."
They camped as they found clear space and moved on silently causing no problems in the camps. Occasionally they were challenged but no one wanted the take on the formidable women that rode as wild as the wolves that came to their hand.
The palace itself was situated lower still in a natural bowl of the soil. The massive courtyard was filled with people hanging from the beams erected to support them. Men, women and children groaned weakly. Channels were carved into the floor in keeping with the slope of the soil and led to a reservoir filled with a dark substance. The wolf's hackles rose and Tristian's senses recoiled at the smell of blood that hung over the palace.
"Shit," Trey whispered in horror.
*****
"People of Vostle, hear me, King Dronar, Ruler on the known world. We have conquered the lands that surround us and now...we move to conquer the unknown. This then, is the start of our final campaign. The ships are ready, you have your orders, rejoice with me as I raise the blessings of our true god. The screaming began as soldiers fell out and surrounded the bound victims. Slowly, torturously, they made bloody slices on the now hysterical bodies.
Tristian felt the mages' touch to the nodes and the power rose, guided by their hands it coiled and pooled beneath the palace. King Dronar strode arrogantly through the screaming, bleeding masses of flesh and mounted his Dais. He raised his hands out in supplication and called on his god. The node power seared and burst forth in an angry red as it circled his powerful form in a show of domination.
"Yes, See, I am your King and our god comes to my call."
Blood collected in the channels and flowed slowly to the pooling reservoir.
Now Tristian felt the power of the King as he pooled the dark forces from the agony and misery of the tortured. He glowed with a dark eerie light of the damned and reached down for a dipper passing it through the reservoir and drinking greedily of the blood of the innocents. Power flared off of him and the node magic recoiled. Held in place by the mages but refusing to touch the unnatural energy in its midst. "Hear me now," he projected, "I am the King. Stand beside me and live, against me and you will serve as fuel for my god."
A building of power and a clash of lightning, the node magic was released and the King sagged into his chair, his aura still bristling with the touch of the mage. "Prepare, we leave in one month and we will not return until the world is mine."
"Move out," Tristian ordered softly to find they'd been surrounded by a flange of women eyeing them coldly.
"Follow me," the leader ordered. "Unless, you'd rather visit our king."
Tristian nodded and the company fell in while the women took guard positions around them. They were led to the farthest corner of the valley, away from the palace and relatively clear of others.
"Dismount," the gruff order came.
Again Tristian nodded and the company stood down.
"Keep your beasts under control or we'll skin em alive."
Alex sat on Tristian's foot while the rest of them attached themselves to a nearby warrior.
"Come."
They were led into an entrance in the caverns camouflaged well by the natural brush of the surrounding flora.
"Enjoyed the show?" A sharp voice asked them pointedly.
"I've seen better," Tristian remarked casually. "Less bloody too."
"I understand you're one of my squads. Been out in the north high country. So, Commander, report."
"As I told the boy, when you look like my Commander, I'll treat you like my Commander."
"You also told the boy you rode with me," Lessa stated coolly.
"I lied," Tristian growled.
"What shall I do with you?" Lessa asked, eyeing her sleek form appreciatively. "What shall I do with all of you?"
"Letting us go, comes to mind," Ceil muttered.
"Silence," a guard rasped swinging a staff at her.
Ceil snapped it in half leaving an astounded guard staring at her broken stick.
Tristian turned to her with an amused stare. "Be nice."
"Awwww," Ceil pouted.
Lessa appraised them further. "Tell me Commander, you're in a large cavern, surrounded by over thirty women. What would happen if I ordered them to kill you all?"
"You would die. All of you." Tristian rasped softly. Bringing murmurs of anger around the cavern.
Lessa smiled in amusement. "You know...I almost believe you. Why are you here? You don't belong here and unlike foolish boys, I know you aren't common mercs. So, Commander, why or I'll just turn you in to our...King and see what he has to say."
Tristian studied her for long minutes before answering. "We're here as a scout force."
"For what purpose? To join him?"
"To kill him." She snarled. Alex's lip lifted in response and a low growl escaped her throat. Tristian's hand ruffled her fur and she settled.
The women in the cavern laughed heartily.
"That's a good joke, Commander. Pretty funny." Lessa's eyes snapped in anger. "I think you were sent as spies. To see how loyal his troops are to him."
"He doesn't care," Tristian responded evenly. "It doesn't matter, magic will push you to fight, magic will force you to continue when there is no way to win, magic will fight this war. You, all of you, are puppets, and the master is neither concerned with your loyalty, nor cares about your well being."
"How do you know this, if you aren't his spy?"
"I," Tristian paused to let that sink in, "am not an idiot."
Lessa studied Tristian again then turned to her guards. "Take them to the large chamber, get them food and drink, leave them free to move but confine them inside. Leave me, I must think."
The warriors stood poised for action when Lessa turned to Tristian. "Please, let me think. Does a single day really matter?"
Tristian nodded and the company followed quietly.
They were fed well and left to themselves. Being pragmatics at heart, the warriors napped knowing their senses were more than sufficient to warn them of danger. The four wolves curled up into a ball of tangled limbs, and the women sprawled out on the available flat tops.
*****
"Lessa" Arina growled. "They're spies. Who else could they be? They're sleeping we could kill them all right now and Dronar will never know."
"Arina, if you stepped into that chamber, you would be dead before you even knew they were awake. I looked into her eyes, Arina. I felt the truth of her words. She did not lie. Not to me."
"You're a fool. We've come so far and we're so close."
Lessa laughed. "Close? We haven't a chance. Even with the agreements we have between other companies, we're outnumbered and out magic'd. We need help and they are here. What else can we ask for, Arina? Alwyn has finally provided the chance; I'm going to take it. I have no choice."
"Les," Arina faltered. "Les, are you sure?"
"Yes," she stated with conviction, her belief shinning in her eyes.
"Then, let us go see our new friends." Arina acceded with a smile.
"Thanks, my friend." Lessa squeezed her arm gently.
Arian held her back, winking, and walked softly into the chamber.
"You wanna die now or wait until I get up?" an amused voice mocked her. She spun and gazed into laughing brown eyes as Maria Delgado uncoiled her tall, slender frame and stretched. Maria grinned, "Well?"
"Uhmmm, not...no...not now."
"Good call, Tristian hates to have her naps interrupted."
Lessa came in chuckling softly, "I did warn you, Arina. Like the mule, you just have to be shown, huh?"
Lessa gazed around at the deceptively reclining forms and the somnolent sleeper on the front table. Knowing instinctively that, even now, that one was the most dangerous of all. "Can we talk? It's necessary and we can help."
"Tristian, how come every place we go, someone can always help?" Ches complained good-naturedly. "Just once, I wanna be the helper, and not the doer."
Tristian handed her some cheese.
Ceil laughed, "Aye, sib, have some cheese with that whine."
The women laughed softly and Tristian uncurled her powerful frame standing to face Lessa, "So...talk."
Maria clucked at her, "Forgive her, she never learned that lesson about being polite. Let's get comfortable and you can tell your tale and we'll tell ours."
"We hired on as mercs," Lessa stated baldly. "I'll not lie about that, it's what mercs do. We never counted on the blood baths, the tortures or laying waste to the land for a madman's dream. We've...had second thoughts."
Arina chortled, "Try fourths, fifths, and sixths."
"Well you get the point. I know quite a few of the companies here and...with subtle questioning, found that I could raise a quarter of these to rally against Dronar. Problem is, it's not enough and that's where we were when you all dropped into our laps. The old man you passed new you weren't mine and he sent word. We figured Dronar heard about the plot and was after my head. But...the fact remains, we are inside. No matter how many people you bring, you will still be outside."
"Not quite," Tristian laughed gently. "But I get your point. I admit that all the help we can get will be necessary. At the moment, I can raise four thousand fighters. The reason we came in were many but I'd hoped that not all here in the valley were fanatics."
"That's still a small crew, they're almost double your numbers."
"True but," she grinned, "we're not all just fighters." She turned to the pile of wolf fur. "Alex, can you get out from under there?"
The pile groaned but the large gray wolf eased out and padded over to Tristian. "I think it's time to show them. With Dronar's plan to ship out in a month we've no time to waste."
Alex sniffed, and shifted.
Arina tripped over her feet backing up and fell into a pile of outraged wolves, who also shifted and glared at her. "Clumsy human," Deidre chided her in amusement.
Ceil rolled over in laughter at the priceless look of utter shock on Arina's face.
Alex smiled, "My people have also offered to help. All of us are shapeshifters but not all are wolves." She went on to explain and Lessa began to discuss the upcoming plans with gleeful animation.
"What now?" Lessa inquired.
"You will need to find some kind of banner that will mark those who fight with us," Tristian warned.
"I can pass the word that all will wear black. Either an arm band or headband."
"It will do." Maria agreed.
"All that's left is to get us home. We've got a pick up point off the northern jetty but we'll miss the first ship. They've arranged for one to stop once a week after that to check for us."
"I can get you on board one of ours. It sails to Altair for trade. I often send squads out for information retrieval."
"When?"
"Let me check." Arina rose to call a guard. She passed quick orders and returned to her seat.
"Tristian, we're gonna be cutting it close."
"I'll destroy his damn armada. That will give us the time we need. I can wait till we're out to sea and then flame them all."
"Bad plan," Maria put in. "You did that in Dyan. A bit suspicious don't you think?"
"A calculated risk?"
"It will put him on guard and we sure as hell don't need anything else against us."
"The only other option is to port us home from the ship and that will cause all kinds of talk."
Ches considered this and then added. "So take the damn ship with us." She laughed, "We can let them go once we get there, it will take them weeks to return and they're merchants. It's not like they were going to fight anyway."
Tristian considered and sent her gaze around the room. Her Commanders nodded in agreement. She scowled. "Done, but the first thing I'm doing when we come back is sinking his armada."
"What a baby," Maria cooed, "Don't pout, it's unbecoming."
Ches laughed, "I never understood that saying. Becoming what?"
Maria shrugged, "How would I know? I just repeat em. Go ask Tal, she probably looked it up."
They were in Dyan in two days and Sidell had already passed the word that they were leaving in a little over three weeks. Whatever preparations had been made would have to do. She also went ahead to Newberg and the people there were told that the attack would take place within the month. They were quite content to follow along. Theirs was a history of great alliances with Dyan. Following now was as ingrained as eating. They would wait for their mages and come when it was time.
With two thousand troops at each site, mages prepared and linked with the Consort, the arrival spots had been chosen previously and they would land in groups throughout the valley. Tristian was surrounded by the warriors chosen guards. She needed to break the shields and complete the bond but since she would not be calling for the master nodes, she didn't expect to encounter the same power feed as before.
"Company!" Tristian mindsent, "On three."
The air above the valley sizzled with electricity and Lessa ran outside. A shiver of anticipation ran up her spine. "They come, she shouted, raise the banner, do it now." From the far side of the valley a black pennant rose and flittered in the breeze, across the valley floor, more were raised. Men and women dug out the scraps of linen saved for this day.
The mages of the palace ran outside in consternation, looking around them for a threat. Dronar screamed for information and the air roiled as sound cascaded across the sky. In a burst of blinding flashes, Dyan arrived. Above the sounds of battle a clear voice raised, "For Dyan, For Freedom."
Tristian called for the nodes and they rushed to her summons like bees to honey filling her with power as the mages tried to tap the energies. Tristian called for a bond and the node power merged to a single strand of concentrated energy, she sent it barreling back outside the valley shattering the pathetic shields that had them contained and reached for the other side of Vostle. The power surged, joyous in its homecoming, again she called for the bond, binding the nodes to Dyan and sealing the power to the Mother's Own. Mage energy flared around her as her mages battled to keep her safe until she could defend herself. Soldiers screamed in agony as unfeeling blades ripped through muscle and sinew with equal abandon
Finally, Tristian rose, and pulled her sword. As the dance began the warriors moved outward leaving her room to maneuver as she cleared a path to the palace, the mages, and the man who would be king. Her guards protected flanks and rear as she carved a deadly swath through the mass of humanity in her way.
"Alwyn bless us," Arina breathed as warriors and shapeshifters fought side-by-side, leaving nothing in their path unless marked with a black band.
"Hey guys," Maria laughingly called to them. "Waiting for an invitation?"
The women laughed in delight and ran screaming into the melee.
"Come on, Shelvern, lift your butt," Alex exhorted, "Up, Up, damn dragon's worthless on the ground." With an effort he was aloft and his brethren, seeing this, flocked to join him. Alex snorted, "Now go, do dragon stuff, just don't harm our people or Tristian will hang your hide from her bedpost."
Panic ensued as the dragons swooped, opening deadly claws and raking through frail human bodies with deadly results.
"Hey," Maria hollered, "Watch that damn tail!"
"Sorry," Shelvern's low boom sounded across the land.
"A dragon," Arina blurted, "that's a dragon."
"Point," Maria called out laughing. "That's one for the girl."
Horses ran rampant through the high grass kicking, biting, and trampling their way through. The warriors rushed after them, fighting to get closer to the center where the final battle would take place. They were still out numbered but as the shadows grew long, the remaining troops fell back to the palace bowl and Tristian called off the attack.
"Fall back, set up camp. Ceil set a ring of guards around this place, no one in or out." She looked around, "Maria, where the hell are you?
"Right here oh blind one."
"Set out scouts, get us some food, we've got hungry people who deserve to be fed."
"Aye,"
"Alex," Tristian shouted, "Alex!"
"Okay, I'm here," Alex replied limping up.
Tristian glared at her, "Trey, take her to the healers and find me one of the others."
"Puck!"
"Yes, oh bellowing one?"
"Settle the mercs."
"Commander," Trina panted running up.
"Settle your people, we've set out to hunt but if you've other things you need they'll have to provide it.
"Shelvern went fishing. He'll bring back enough for everyone."
Tristian tried to shake the image of a dragon with a fishing pole from her mind.
"The rest of you, collect these bodies." She looked out in the harbor to ensure the massive fleet was totally destroyed and smiled grimly at the burning wrecks.
"Tristian," Mardi ran up. "We need more healers, ours are over taxed and our mages pretty tapped out.
Tristian nodded and called to Jax. Two-dozen healers were ported in.
Slowly order was brought to the chaos on the field as the night darkened and fire pits highlighted the eerie landscape.
"Damn I'm tired," Ceil muttered dropping into a limp pile.
Puck hobbled up. "We lost over three hundred. Considering the odds, I'm thankful the damage was that low."
Tristian nodded, but numbers were one thing. Families another.
"I've got the Commanders from each company headed this way and Deidre will stand in for Alex. She took a nasty sword hit saving one of our youngsters but Jax got to her in time. She's pouting cause she can't play no more." Puck relayed as she joined the limp bodies on the ground.
Tristian snorted and extended her long legs comfortably.
Lessa came up with twenty people around her all chatting excitedly about the battle.
"Did you see that dragon?" Arina exclaimed in wonder.
"Who could miss them?" Another laughed at her. "Thought the world had ended when one of the stuck a claw down and damn near cleared the area around us. Got us back our second wind I'll tell ya or I wouldn't be sitting here tonight swapping tall tales."
"Them damn horses, I've never seen the like. T'was like they could think."
"They can," Maria inserted dryly, "pouring herself a glass of ale. They're shapeshifters, all of them, and they're our friends so you be nice to them no matter what shape their in."
A low whicker of approval sounded and changed as a man stepped into the circle. "Thank you for those words, sometimes, our own have trouble accepting us."
Maria shrugged, "People is people, it's the heart that counts and your people have good ones."
And that pretty much summed up Dyan's attitude. They did what they needed to do, that was good enough for them."
Tristian sat silently letting the ebb of her bondmate soothe her aching body and heal her slight injuries. She could still feel the thrill of excitement flowing through the bond as the energies soared and linked through the Mother's womb. She smiled, the difference between these nodes and Dyan's were incredible. Dyan's were staid, dignified, and familiar with the bond and their responsibilities. This land was like a child with new friends and it reached out eagerly for acceptance. She heard the soft drone of her commanders but remained in the limbo of her bondmate for a needed moment of peace.
"She alright?" Lessa asked curiously.
"Aye, just napping," Maria replied. It was a much easier answer to give than the truth.
"She always glows like that when she's napping?"
Ceil chuckled, "Ahhh, it's just Tristian. She always had to be different."
Lessa could see she would get no information from the women and changed the subject.
*****
"Alright," Puck spoke evenly, "from the numbers we've lost about three hundred people today. Most of you know that's incredibly lucky but lets not forget, all of them had someone at home waiting for them. The good news, we took down more than half of the original forces in the valley. With you all joining us, I'd say they've got less than three thousand people."
"So where are they?" Tristian's voice asked.
"Good question. The answer is, beats the shit out of me." Puck looked around. "We saw them fall back into the palace, at the time, it didn't seem like many since they were staggering in but now...they couldn't possibly fit three thousand people in there."
All eyes turned to the mercs who shook their heads. "Not us," Lessa declared. "We weren't honored enough to be allowed entrance in to the palace."
"Speculate," Tristian commanded.
"Caves? You saw our cavern; it goes back quite a bit. These hills are honey combed with tunnels. Maybe there's one beneath the palace."
"Possible," Tristian considered. "I know mage energy wasn't used to move them so those people are here somewhere. Where is the question?"
"I hate caves," Ches said with some heat. "I hate small dark, damp, slimy places."
"Ches," Ceil chided, "You want more cheese?"
"Alright, if they don't come out, I want all the wood you can gather. We'll enter the obvious entrances and build fires."
Maria grinned, "Smoke?"
Tristian nodded, "Smoke. The thicker the better." She looked around, "I'm going in through the palace. I want to clear that damn reservoir he's got and see what's in there. You all will be responsible for your people, keep them alive. Deidre, your people will split and double up with my warriors. Our Commanders will keep you alive. Maria, set me a team, twenty at best, two mages. I want someone to be able to get them out if I get into trouble."
"Uhmm," Lessa murmured, "Not to put a fine point on it but...who's gonna get you out?"
"I'll worry about that when it happens."
"Let's stay sharp, they may come pouring out of the hillsides in the morning hoping to over run us. No drinking, keep guards up, keep your eyes and ears opened. You're dismissed."
Tristian rose and made her way to her tent.
*****
She stood at the path leading to the palace, twenty warriors at her side when a commotion began behind them.
"We're coming with you," a man shouted. "If'n they're in there you'll need help and we're coming."
Arina stood next to him daring her to deny them.
"Puck!"
"Aye, Commander."
"Secure this path, kill anyone that disobeys my order."
"Aye Commander."
Brianna moved up and the warriors dropped into place as Puck stepped forward. "Little man, Tristian does not care to have her orders ignored. When you're in charge you can make the decisions. Until then, do what you're damn well told to do," Puck ended in a roar and the crowd scampered back. "I better see smoke coming out of the damn hillside before the sun gets much higher or you'll wish I left you to Tristian." The crowd scrambled.
Lessa laughed and shook her head at a sheepish Arina. "You will learn. I just hope you aren't dead when it happens. Come on, let's go make smoke."
*****
As Tristian's crew entered the palace courtyard the ground trembled and quaked. The warriors stood firm. Power rose around them and a sheen of red surrounded the grounds sealing them inside, away from help.
Tristian moved forward to the reservoir and murmured a gentle spell. The blood of the innocents turned into the cool cleaning waters of the Mother. She sipped and then drank deeply, reveling in the power of her bond.
They moved forward and the palace doors burst opened. The warriors prepared to defend but it appeared to be an invitation. Tristian crossed the threshold shattering the wooden barricades with a word and the women stepped into hell. Along every open wall space hung a body, mutilated and bleeding, many still alive. Here she felt again that dark rush of energy, tainted with hate. They moved forward and she extended her bond sending the magics of the Mother outward easing those suffering into her embrace. Now, she felt the first stirrings of fear and the probing of the mages trying to break her link with her bondmate. She followed the scent of magic. Leading her warriors down, down, deep into the bowels of the cavern. And still they passed mutilated bodies, fresh victims, obviously many of those that followed their King into the palace. She eased their passing as she continued her search. They entered a narrow corridor. She took the lead into the stygian darkness. A low grumble alerted her and she froze, the warriors acting on instincts honed by years of practice stopped dead, blades at the ready. She raised a shield barely in time as a blast of searing flame filled the corridors. A gentle murmur sent a ball of light floating down the corridor lighting the darkness. A dragon, shackled to the wall, snarled an snapped at its chains as it sent another wall of flame at them.
Tristian used her gift to see the beaten husk of a man in the dragon's heart. She moved forward slowly, keeping her shield up until they were eye to eye. And then, she showed him home. The dragon whimpered as memories buried made their way to the surface and the shapeshifter changed. Now inside of her shield the mage had no hold on him. She knelt and touched his forehead clearing the taint that bound him to the King. They moved him gently to the side and continued on hoping he'd wake and find his own way. Tristian was not ready to test the shield around the castle. They now entered a large cavern. A pack of snarling wolves attacked and she dropped them with a spell again clearing the tainted bond and leaving them to follow their own paths. Yelling attackers poured into the cavern and the blades danced again as the warriors moved into position. Blood splattered, the sound of bones breaking, the strangled gargle. All sounds of death that these women had heard so many times and then the cavern was clear.
The fear and panic she could sense clearly now as the mages were almost hysterically searching for power.
The screams started then, screams of agony, of untold pain, of a hurt that could never be healed and it echoed into the caverns, around the rooms, down the corridors as the sound rose into a crescendo, sending shivers of fear down the backs of these women who had faced fear before...and won.
She let her mage sense draw her forward, ignoring the sounds that threatened to drive them mad and entered the final chamber. A large anteroom. The cavernous floor was covered in bodies, live bodies. In the center rose a column of stone and on the flat top surface stood King Dronar and his mages. The screaming from the floor could now be understood as a black shadow covered the bodies the screams intensified building into mindless shrieks as the carnivorous insects burrowed into the flesh, eating their way though the obstacles in their path. Tristian was proud of her warriors. Even here, in a chamber of ultimate perversity, they held strong, alert, angry. She raised a hand.
"Stop her you fools," Dronar shouted, "Stop her, now, hurry."
They tried but without the nodes they were nothing and Tristian cleared the cavern in a blazing inferno that scoured both victim and victor alike.
"Nooooo, Master....help me." Dronar cried out in fear.
Tristian waited. Above everything else, she still didn't know what he was. She could feel the power but not the source, her patience honed by years of battle, she merely waited.
Dronar chanted, he pleaded, he cried and finally, he fell on his mages, cutting them open as he fed off the pain. He dove his face into a still bleeding abdomen and drank deeply and now, Tristian felt the power respond. Tristian called her bondmate and Dyan answered, merging neatly, the three master nodes answered the summons of their bondmate. Tristian glowed a burnished silver-blue that pulsed in wild arcs with the untamed power of Vostle. King Dronar stood, no longer cringing and weak. He exuded power, his eyes glowed and he was filled with the red haze of anger. "SO," his voice boomed through the cavern, deep and hollow as if coming from a vast distance. "She has found her bitch," he laughed madly. "And you think to stand against me?"
"PUNY MORTAL," Dronar spat.
Tristian merely cocked her head.
He raised his fists and struck out at her. Her shield held but she felt the power behind the blow.
Angry, he called for his master again, and the power grew. It filled the air, filled the cavern, the air turned thick with power and the mad king laughed. "YOU CANNOT DEFEAT ME"
The energy was so overwhelming she wanted to crawl out of her skin and then, a gentle voice touched her, "call the bond, Tian. I will guide it. Call the bond." Trusting that voice, she did.
Dronar roared in glee. "YES...call the bond...call the power that no mortal can control and save me the trouble of killing you myself. CALL BONDED ONE...call for your death.
The nodes answered rushing for the bond, racing for the joining, reveling in the merging, the power grew, it filled the cave, filled her soul, and continued to build as every node from Newberg, to Riger, to Baylon, to Altair, to Vostle answered the call. The power built but Tal's gentle hands shaped the power, guided the energy, protected her sire and settled it gently around her.
"NOOOOOOOOOO," Dronar roared..."NO mortal can control the power. THAT IS WHY I USE THE UNDEAD...." he struck her again but Tal was there, adjusting the shields, deflecting the energy. And then a flicker of light appeared, and Tristian smiled at her guide.
"Hear me, bonded, he must be returned to the Mother."
And now Tristian knew why she couldn't sense the source. The source was the Mother, the dark side of the Mother, freed by madness.
"I'm here, Tian, we will do what we must, together."
Tristian stood tall, a murmur threw the warriors out, another sealed the cavern and she called for the final bond. The nodes answered filling the cavern absorbing the energies hovering and claiming it for their own.
Dronar screamed, "NOOOOO," this cannot be."
A flicker of gold burst into a radiant haze that reached out for every nook and cranny filling it with the cleaning touch of the Mother. And through it all Tal shaped, pushed, urged, and manipulated the power around her sire as Tristian wielded energies never meant to be held by a mortal's hand.
She raised her hands and gathered the power, as Dronar chanted, his being diminishing as she watched. She held the power as it built and finally released it hitting him squarely in the chest holding it on him as he screamed. She watched his body melt, skin and blood oozed down to the ground and still she held it. The remnants smoldered and burst into flame, the ashes swirled and dissolved the clothing deteriorated until only smoke remained which was also claimed, until every essence in the room was again returned to the Mother's care and that which had been stolen so long ago was returned. The power focused, the air shimmered blue, and the power vanished leaving a vacuum that filled with the harsh crack of air. Tristian collapsed and the shields dropped.
Warriors scrambled lifting her quickly but gently and the mages ported her out to the healers. The rest of the warriors rushed out through the winding corridors, urging the now groggy wolves to follow, they reached the entrance to the palace never noticing the aftermath of the building's fate after the magics wielded in it. Never seeing the jagged strips of soil, torn from the ground in large gashes, never hearing the shouts of joy. They had only one mission, find Jax.
"Put her down," Jax barked, dropping to her knees and feeling the uneven thudding of her heart, the shallow breathing, the pale chilled skin."
"Blankets, get me the herb for weak hearts, get me some wet linens and get her out of these clothes."
A wave of Brianna's hand had her stripped, a warrior stumbled in her haste and set a bucket of water down almost in Jax's lap, linens appeared in mid air as Jax reached for them. "Get me some drinking water."
Jax got her clean, warm, swaddled in blankets, the herb helping and her heart beat steadying as her skin flushed. Tristian blinked groggily and croaked..."Bri,"
Brianna dropped to her knees placing her ear directly over Tristian's lips, "Bri...home...mage...center....me...Tal...now....Jax too."
Brianna nodded she rose to her knees and looked to Puck, "it's yours," she turned to Ceil, "pick her up," as Ceil complied and before Jax could squawk, Brianna had them at the door of the mage center where a hysterical Sidell pounded on the door to no avail.
Sidell turned, "It's sealed."
"Ceil, move Tristian to the door," Ceil complied and the door burst open. "In the shielded room Ceil, hurry, Jax move your ass."
Sidell moved to follow and six warriors jumped her holding on for dear life as she struggled, a mage blast had her clear but not before reinforcements had arrived. With the Mage Center shielded, she couldn't port into it and she couldn't rid herself of the warriors. She shattered the air dropping them but they held on continuing to crawl on her determined to follow their orders or die trying.
They found Tal convulsing but a small dose of the herb soon had her relaxing. Jax checked her over gently and pronounced her merely exhausted and needing to be put to bed. Brianna lifted her and the party made their way to the door as the ground shook and the air shattered in a resounding boom.
"Now what?" Ceil muttered moving a bit faster. She found the warriors grappling with Sidell. Emma and Aurora had just used the magics but the stubborn women weren't giving up. Many were down but they kept coming.
"Stand down," Ceil bellowed bringing the women to their feet in formation. "Goddess bless you idiots had better have a reason other than drinking. They remained in formation, faces impassive. "Remove yourselves, you're confined to the barracks until this is cleared."
Sidell was now wrapped equally around both precious bundles sobbing softly, calming now that she knew they were alive.
"Sidell," Ceil murmured gently, "Walk with us so we can put them to bed."
She nodded shakily and they stumbled forward. They tucked them both into the master bed leaving them to sleep.
"Sidell," Ceil touched her gently, "Come on, get up there with them." She lifted her up and placed her in the center of the bed. Tristian and Tal immediately covered her with protective grasps. "Sleep, Sidell, they'll do better with you there."
*****
As Brianna ported them out, Puck turned slowly taking in the damage to the valley caused by the incredible display of power. Gouges of dirt had been moved, the palace was merely a pile of stone, great cracks ran through the valley, trees were down, rockslides had rained down around the hillside. Puck sighed. "Call our people in. Let's see if we're missing anybody." She turned to Trey who had been at Tristian's side. She looked green, her eyes glazed with unseen horror. They all looked like that.
She knelt and touched the woman's shoulder. "Hey," she called gently. "Did you guys find the rest of the army?"
Trey shuddered and her whole body shook. Puck hugged her gently seeing much the same reaction in the rest of them. "Okay, I only need to know this? Will they be coming after us?"
Trey shook her head, jerkily. "No...never again."
"Alright, easy now." She looked up, "Deidre, get me a healer, get me several." Puck left them in the healer's care and moved through the survivors.
"Well, Puck," Lessa looked at her with a grin, "That...shit, that was incredible."
Puck smiled weakly, "Which that?"
"All of it. An all day battle which we won, and a mage battle that...I can't even describe it."
Puck laughed softly, "Well, we aim to please." She turned to find her people, "Tinder, send out the scouts, find the villages or as many as you can, pass the word, the King is dead."
Tinder saluted and rounded up those still mobile and functional sending them out. The mercs made plans to move on once the ships returned, and Puck set camp for the night to allow her mages to rest. Some of the folks from Newberg complained even after she explained that the mages needed to rest.
Alex ended it when she hobbled in and snapped, "Then walk dammit, those mages saved our lives and our world. We helped, yes, but I don't think that's grounds for saying we're more important. So quit your bitching."
Two days later Riger came home, they brought the bodies of their fallen comrades with them so their families could say farewell. It was a sweet and achingly heartbreaking moment and although the cost was low, it was ultimately too high.
*****
"Alright," Puck looked around in amazement at the warriors facing her. Women she'd worked with, bled with, drank with and slept with. "One of you explain! Why were the warriors attempting to subdue the Heir?"
Emma slammed into the room. "I want to hear this also," She barked glaring around the room.
The warriors held their implacable masks but one stepped forward. "We were ordered to."
"By whom?" Puck roared having already checked with her acting.
"By Taledyn, Commander."
"She is the Heir to the Heir, what were you thinking?"
The woman hesitated and then offered, "She is her sire's Heir."
"Let me get this straight," Emma growled. "An eleven year old child, told you, supposedly grown adults that she wanted you to hold her mother back no matter what?"
"Aye."
"Aye," Emma hollered, "What the hell kind of answer is that?"
"Leader," a low voice rasped.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING UP?"
"Please, Emma," Tristian replied tiredly, "softly if you please."
She looked up at the women being reprimanded and smiled softly, "I'd give you all medals but that would probably send the wrong message, eh?"
"No need, Commander. We would not wished her to have seen...," the woman faltered.
"Aye, and for that you have my thanks. You'll also be glad to know that Sidell forgives you." Tristian rose and stood tall, "You are dismissed, and you have my eternal gratitude."
"And you, our undying respect," the first woman responded clasping her arm firmly. The women filed out each exchanging a warrior's clasp with their Commander.
Emma stared at her in shock and Puck just stood there. "Come on you two, walk me home."
"What the hell was that?" Emma asked huffily as they practically carried her back.
"You didn't ask them why."
Emma scowled, "Okay smartass, why?"
"Because it was very possible that Sidell would have entered that room to find Tal's brains splattered across the wall."
"Goddess bless," Emma invoked as they put her down on a chaise. Sidell came in with a drink and settled herself against her lover. As their equally tired daughter came in and snuggled into the pile. "Where's Ardy?"
"Class. Unlike others we know Ardyn loves to study."
"I liked tactics and strategy just fine," Tal defended herself.
Sidell just ruffled her hair.
"You awake yet?" Tristian asked gently.
"Aye, you want to hear it?"
"Aye."
Emma sighed in exasperation. "Sidell, when you take over, start a new mandatory class. Warrior speech, a translation class for non warriors."
Sidell giggled, the first laugh she'd had in awhile.
"Hardy har," Tristian smirked. "Our Leader, the comic."
"When you bonded with Vostle, the power changed." Tal began looking up at her sire.
Tristian nodded in encouragement.
"So, I entered the bond to see what happened. While in there, I got to playing and I figured out that the energies flow like water." She looked up again and smirked at Tristian's grin. "I started to experiment but...I can't call and manipulate at the same time." Tristian smiled fully. "That was it," Tal concluded.
"So you felt the final conflict?" Tristian asked.
"Aye, shivered me spine it did."
"Tried to crawl out of my skin," Tristian confided.
"Really?"
"Really."
"Sidell," Emma wailed. Her daughter chuckled.
"Tal figured out how to manipulate the energy flow of the Mother."
"Got that," Emma confirmed.
"She also found that you can't wield the power and manipulate the power at the same time."
"Why?"
Sidell looked to her lover and her daughter. "It takes too much concentration to do both and you run the risk of losing control." Tristian answered her mate's silent query. "Understand, Emma, unlike a mage gift which is called from the self, the Mother's power is everywhere and it has its own power. All we do is gather it and guide it. Equate it to sitting an unbroken stallion. Can you ride it and watch what it's doing at the same time?"
"Ahh."
Sidell took up the tale. "Once Tal was through and she returned, she still maintains the bond which gives her an awareness of what's happening at any node site, or...what's happening to any node in the bond. When Tristian faced the King, she called the node and Tal was aware of the energies swirling around it. From what they said, this was pretty bad, very powerful, and more then potentially harmful. Possibly more power than Tristian's ever seen wielded by another."
Emma stared at her. "They said that?"
Puck snorted.
Sidell ignored them. "So, seeing that her Sire was in danger and knowing Tristian would need the full bond to defeat him, she also knows the full bond actually controls the mage rather than the other way around. The full bond, especially now with the new lands, would also kill her. Tal decided, with her newfound skill, to help. She needed a safe place to enter the bond where there would be no interruptions, thus the mage center. With her gift, she can set a shield that we can't break, not because of the power but because of the type of power. And that's what happened. And, it worked but from the looks of them, I'd say barely." Sidell finished softly finding the two of them asleep. She brushed her hands over both of them and sighed. Turning to her mother she asked, "You understand the part about the warriors?"
"Now."
"So do I. I don't like it, but I do understand." She smiled gently, "Any other questions?"
"Did they really say all that?"
Sidell laughed sweetly, "I've loved her forever, I've become very adept at reading the REST of the story."
Epilogue
The day dawned bright, birdsong filled the air and an expectant hum filled the colony of Freelock. People bustled to and fro gather in the center square as the Colony Hall filled with Leaders of the other Holdings and villages, Elders of Dyan, and, and anybody else that could manage to get inside.
Across Riger, telecomms had been set up to broadcast the upcoming ceremony and the people happily chattered as the day's events unfolded.
Emma du Aulstet cast an amused glance at her daughter as Sidell fiddle with her dress. "Stop already, you look fine, perfect. What's got you so flustered."
Sidell turned to her in aggravation, "I hate being up in front of all these folks. Why couldn't we have sent a missive?"
"Oh no," Emma chortled, "This is too big of an occasion to send out in couriers. The people would revolt."
"Good," Sidell muttered, unwilling to calm down. "Let em revolt, they can go find somewhere else to live."
Emma laughed softly and gathered her flustered daughter in her arms. "Settle down. You are more than ready for this." She hugged her gently and smiled, "I am proud of you, Sidell, very proud of you. I don't think my life would have been filled with half the joys I've experienced if not for you."
Sidell's eyes filled with tears as she returned her mother's hug. "And I'm proud to call you mother." Trying to lighten the mood she looked up impishly, "Soooo, you ever gonna get around to finding me a second parent?"
Emma chuckled and released her offspring. "I don't know, your birthmother has always held my heart. Even after we lost her I've never been tempted." She smiled softly, "But I've all of you to keep me company and I'm in no rush. Now, quit stalling. Your mate is probably pacing and if we don't hurry she'll disappear and we'll never drag her back out."
Sidell laughed in agreement and followed her mother out the door.
*****
Emma strode smartly onto the Common Hall floor. A stage had been erected and she took her place at the center. "People of Riger," Emma began. "It has been my honor to have led you this far into our history. We have come a long way together. Riger is once again a united land, well," She chuckled, "there is that little matter of Mhyr but, we'll get there eventually." She turned on the stage and looked out at her audience. "I've thought long and hard about this and my decision has been made. I'm tired of being in charge and I'm blessed with having an Heir fully capable of taking my place. She, in turn, is blessed with a mate that has more than proven her ability to defend our Leader and our land."
She turned to the front doors as they opened wide, "Join me, Riger. Welcome now, our new Leader and her Consort. Welcome the Royal Couple as they take their place in our history, welcome Sidell du Aulstet and Tristian Mardred."
Finis
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