Daughter of Hauk (The Raven Chronicles Book 1) (8 page)

Chapter Nine

            
 
S
hortly after noon, the sound of a blacksmith’s hammer started to ring in the distance. A huge encampment came into view, encompassing the valley floor. They slowed to a walk and cautiously made their way through a maze of personal campsites and larger tents meant for gathering points. Here and there, Arwenna and Y’Dürkie inquired about Barek. The directions given remained the same; the large pavilion atop a hill overlooking the entire encampment. Excitement at seeing her friends again began to build within Arwenna, making the slow meandering through the camp almost unbearable. At last, the horses came up alongside the huge pavilion. She leapt off her horse and headed towards the tent, anxious to regain a sense of home.

              Arwenna made it to the tent flap first, Y’Dürkie close behind. A huge grin lit up her face as the voices inside reached her and became recognizable.

              “We’ve got to keep the infantry back until after the catapults are done firing. I want to kill the other side, not our own fighters!” Barek’s deep voice carried throughout the tent.

              “Yes, but ve are varriors! Ve should be up front! If it is our turn to die, ve shall do so in battle!” A female voice countered back in an accent as thick as Y’Dürkie’s.

              Arwenna strode in, adding “What’s wrong, Barek?  You’re tough. You can take it!”  She stood with her hands on her hips, a big grin on her face.

              “I know that, Arwenna, but I still…..” Barek stopped mid-sentence and looked up from the map table. He stared at her in amazement. “Arwenna?”  The surprise on his familiar features made her grin even more. She laughed aloud as he strode across the room and enveloped her with a big hug. She stepped back to let Y’Dürkie have her turn.

              The woman in the room looked up, eyes focusing on Y’Dürkie as she greeted Barek. “Y’Dürkie Zinkey! Vhere have you been? He,” she thrust a chin at Barek, “told us you vere dead! Ve go to var to avenge your death. How is it you are here breathink?” The woman stomped towards Y’Dürkie, hands on her weapons. Y’Dürkie stared her down, hands moving towards her own sword. Something in the posture of the pair gave Arwenna pause. There was more here than she could see. They stopped inches away from each other then burst into laughter, embracing.

              Arwenna watched the odd reunion with fascination until Barek’s deep voice interrupted her amazement. “OK, start talking! I want to know how it is you went from being executed in front of my eyes to standing here.” He folded his massive arms across his chest, waiting expectantly.

              “It’s a long story, Barek. Can I at least sit down and get something to eat or drink first? And maybe you can get Mialee in here so I don’t have to repeat myself?”  Arwenna looked at the woman who had greeted Y’Dürkie. “An introduction or two might be helpful, too.”

              Barek agreed, though Arwenna could tell he was chafing at the delay. He stuck his head out of the tent, hollering at someone to find Mialee and bring some food and drink. “Oh, chairs too. Need a few more of those.” He called out as the sound of running feet retreated.

              Arwenna looked at Y’Dürkie expectantly. “This is my grandmother, D’Mitta Zinkey,” Y’Dürkie then motioned at the pair who had led them to the camp. “This is Dreven and his daughter, Emrys. They helped us find you.”

              Dreven bowed at Barek and D’Mitta, then turned his attention back to Arwenna. “We need to return to town and finish some things. If it is all right, we’d like to ride with you when you leave. There may be things we can help you with.”  Dreven glanced towards Barek, then back at Arwenna. “With your permission, of course.”  She glanced sideways at Barek before giving a quick nod of assent.

              It did not take long before chairs and tables appeared, followed by the food and drink. A well-armed man followed the items into the pavilion. Arwenna watched in curiosity as he respectfully addressed Barek.

              “We can’t seem to find Lady Mialee, Lord Barek. She appears to have gone out for a ride. One of the horses is missing and a stable boy says she walked by with a saddle and a pack about half an hour ago.” The man excused himself and ushered the men setting up the table and chairs outside.

Arwenna and the rest settled in around the table.               With a chuckle, she watched as Barek put some food on a plate, plunked it down in front of Arwenna, and followed it with a goblet. “There. You’re sitting down and there’s food and drink. They’re still looking for Mialee and I’m not waiting any longer. Start talking!” He looked at Arwenna expectantly.

              One look at his face convinced her that any further delay wasn’t going to be tolerated. Taking a deep breath, she slowly began to tell the story of what had happened from the time Barek had left for Tanisal, with occasional interjections by Y’Dürkie. By the time she finished, the remnants of the meal were long cold and the sun had set.

              Barek’s face was a mask in the candlelight, but Arwenna could tell he was ready to kill someone or something. Hoping to distract him, she settled back in her chair and asked, “It’s your turn, now. How did you and Mialee make it out alive?”

              Barek related their escape and adventures to this point, then paused, “I’m not so sure Senyan’s who we remember any more. I had a dream while we were at that inn in Salsburg. He offered me huge amounts of treasure to walk away from you all and not try to avenge your murders. The Senyan I knew would’ve known better than to ask that.”

              Y’Dürkie started a bit. “You, too? He did the same vith me.”

              Arwenna ran a hand through her short hair, almost afraid to voice the thought in her head. “Barek, do you know if Mialee’s been having the same dreams? If he somehow got to her…..” her voice trailed off.

              Without warning, Barek angrily hurled a goblet at a wall of the tent. Arwenna reached out and placed a calming hand on his arm. “I know, Barek. It’s an awful thought. I don’t think we’re going to have any choice but to destroy Senyan, but we may be able to save her if we’re lucky. A lot will depend on how deep into her the claws go.”

              “Is there anythink ve can do to break that damn bird’s hold on him?” D’Mitta asked, trying to diffuse the tension at the table.

              Arwenna glanced at her, her mind lost in thought. “There might be. I was one of the ones they used to cast the binding spell; I may be able to break it. It’s going to take some luck, and some risk, but it’s possible.”

              “What kind of risk, Arwenna?”  Barek stared at her. “I’d rather do it the old-fashioned way with an axe or one of Lexi’s arrows if I think the risk is too high.”

              “I need to be within sight of both Senyan and Corse. And the other two that were there that day must be dead or there as well. If we can find some clerics of Hauk, I can draw off of them for any extra power I might need. The hard part will be getting within sight of all of them. It may require my finding a way into their camp.”

              Y’Dürkie’s fist slammed down on the table. “No, you vill not be doink that. I am villing to bet my life that Bohrs is vith them and I am not lettink him get vithin eyesight of you again!”

              Barek nodded in agreement, ignoring the sound of protest from Arwenna. “That one is mine. But I’m not willing to let you go in as bait or get anywhere near him either. We’ll do it some other way.”

              “What other way, Barek?” Arwenna asked softly. “A way that will get thousands killed on both sides? I appreciate the two of you wanting to protect me. And I’m not that thrilled at the idea of getting near that man again myself. But he wasn’t one of the people involved in the binding. If the situation presents itself, I’ll do what I must to break the spell. I’m not planning on running off and surrendering just to get the chance. I only want to keep my eyes open should the situation arise. None of you know what the other two people look like, but I do. I’m just asking that you watch my back during the battle so I can do what I must.” She looked at each of them in turn. “If Hauk is with me, the opportunity will happen before many innocents die.”

              “You do realize, Arwenna, that you’re going to have to put up with me or Y’Dürkie next to you at all times?” Barek’s tone of voice made it obvious to her that he wouldn’t listen to any argument.               “You’re going to be on a very short leash around us. The fact that you can break that bond is something we can’t risk the other side finding out. That,” he paused, “and I’m not going to trust the other side. They will try to get to you. Until that paladin is dead at my feet, he’s not going to be able to lay another hand on you.” Arwenna watched as               Y’Dürkie grinned a very tight smile of agreement.

              Arwenna placed her elbows on the table and cradled her face in her hands.
Better to let them win this round
, she thought
, than to spend all night
arguing over it
. Silently, she nodded her acceptance of Barek’s edict. “Fine, have it your way. Post a guard all the way around my tent if you will. I’m too tired to argue with you tonight.”  She sat back in her chair, exhaustion clearly visible on her face.

              “There’s an area back here that Mialee was using,” Barek told her as he rose from the table. “I suppose you could use it. We should look it over to see if she left anything behind. It may give us a clue or two about her disappearance.” Arwenna followed his lead, stretching as she rose out of her chair.

              Barek led her and Y’Dürkie through a flap in the back of the tent into a decent-sized room. Judging from the disarray, someone had left in a hurry. No personal items remained in the room – only some furniture and papers strewn about. Sighing, Arwenna said, “Well, I guess that answers that question. Wherever she’s gone, she didn’t expect to return for some time.”  She flopped down on the cot, failing to see the long look exchanged between the other two. Weariness began to take its toll on her.

              Fragments of conversation filtered into her mind. Barek and Y’Dürkie spoke in whispers. “I’ve got a bed on the other side of that wall. Go with your grandmother; find a bed to sleep in. If anything happens during the night, I’ll hear it.”  Barek’s voice paused. “She’s not going to go anywhere for a while. We wait for Lexi to finish doing whatever she’s doing up on that mountain you let her go to, and then we march. Arwenna needs the rest more than she knows.”  Y’Dürkie muttered something to Barek, the sound of her retreating footsteps immediately followed.

              Arwenna didn’t have to open her eyes to know that Barek stood watch over her. He knew her too well sometimes. The determined look on his face at dinner had spoken volumes about his plans for Bohrs, should he be given the opportunity. The whirlwind of events slowly overtook her and she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Ten

            
 
T
he sound of people trying to argue quietly woke her the next morning. Sitting up in bed, Arwenna wrinkled her brow in puzzlement. Barek’s voice was easy to distinguish. She had heard the other voice before but she couldn’t place where. On silent feet, she tiptoed toward the flap hoping to see who Barek was talking to.

              Moving the canvas aside a crack, she peered out to the main room. Barek’s back was to her, blocking her view of the other people in the room. “I don’t care who you think you are, she’s sleeping and I’m not going to wake her up just because a bunch of religious zealots want to say hello!  If you really want to give her the help you are professing, give her space!  The woman’s been to hell and back, and I’m not exaggerating!” He leaned over the map table, his hands balled into massive fists.

              “We know this, Lord Barek. And we have no more desire to hurt her than you do. We just want her to know we are here if she needs us.”  The other man’s voice nagged at her brain. She’d heard it somewhere before.
If only Barek would
move
, she thought,
I could put a face to the voice
. Curiosity overrode her caution and she moved the flap slightly more to try and see around Barek.

              The movement was bigger than she anticipated, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Arwenna closed her eyes briefly before stepping out from behind the makeshift wall. Barek looked back at her, searching her face to make sure she was okay. She gave him a small smile before turning to face the others in the room.

              Three elves, two women and a man, gazed at her in awe and happiness.
It must’ve been him that was doing the
talking
, she thought. With a small start, she recognized the man as the bard from the inn. His hair was pulled back this time, though, and no longer hid his decidedly elfish ears. His face was handsome enough. His hands were scarred, as if they had been in a fire or great battle some time long ago. The women bowed slightly toward her and stood quietly. Their clothing was simple, but well made. All three of them had a sunburst of Hauk embroidered on the breast of their cloaks.

              Arwenna sidled over towards Barek, standing close enough that he could help if there was any trouble. From the sound of his voice earlier, he expected some. Religion hadn’t sat well with any of them lately, and she couldn’t blame him for his wariness.

              “You want to speak with me? Very well, speak.” Arwenna spoke to the man directly, but acknowledged the women with a nod.

              “Greetings, Daughter of Hauk. We come to answer the call to aid you. Many apologies for the delay. We heard the call several days ago but only just managed to pinpoint your location. I thought we would find you in the town at first.” 

              “You almost did. We left town upon finding out some of our companions were here. I remember your performing at the inn in town two nights ago.”

He blushed slightly, “Aye that was me. I am sorry I missed you there. I’m not much of a bard. It was done more to try and locate you than to earn any kind of coin.” He offered Arwenna a smile. “If I may, this is Lian and Irini. My name is Joss.”  He started to bow again, but stopped at the look that crossed Arwenna’s face at the name. One of Barek’s hands pressed into the small of her back, steadying her as she stared at Joss in shock.

              “Joss?” She looked at his hands. “How were you wounded?” There was intensity in her voice, and her eyes searched his for some clue to a puzzle.

              Joss raised his hands and looked at them, puzzled at her question. “A raid on my village when I was younger. I hid under a house, but still managed to burn myself. I was quite clumsy as a child. Was the only one to break my arm when a bunch of us fell out of a poorly constructed tree house.”  This last was said with a small chuckle.

              Arwenna’s eyes widened as a smile began to form on her face, slowly making it to her eyes. “You were crying like a baby when it happened as I recall.”  She didn’t even try to hold back the tears. “You really should’ve been listening to the rest of us tell you boys that it wasn’t steady. We had a much better vantage point on the ground.” A grin split her face in two.

              Joss looked at her, “How would you….”  He paused, peering intently at her face. His eyes widened in surprise and recognition. “Arwenna? Is it really you?” Forgetting Barek’s looming presence, he darted around the table and engulfed her in a huge hug, lifting her off the floor and spinning her around.

              Arwenna welcomed the embrace of her lost childhood friend, laughing and crying at the same time as he swung her around, whooping with joy. Her feet hit the ground again and she took his hands asking questions on top of his.

              “How did you….”Joss started.

              “I thought everyone was killed…”Arwenna interjected.

              “Looked for you after they all left, couldn’t find you…”he jabbered on.

              “I ran through the cornfield clear to the road….” Arwenna tried to explain.

              Finally, Barek’s voice cut in. “This is all well and good, but the two of you aren’t going to get very far if you keep talking at the same time. And it’s not going to be easy for me to figure out, either!”  The obvious irritation in his voice made her pause and catch her breath. “Who is this person, Arwenna, and where do you know him from?”

              “His name is Joss, Barek. We grew up together for a short time. Our village was raided when I was six. I thought I was the only survivor.” She looked at Joss again, unable to contain her joy at finding someone from home alive and well. “How did you get here?”

              “It’s a long story, Arwenna. Yours is probably far more interesting. The short version is that we all three heard the call to aid a Daughter of Hauk. We finally managed to locate it as originating from this camp yesterday. Enough people were talking about an elf visiting the command tent that we thought we’d start here this morning.”  He waved a hand towards Barek’s looming form, “Your friend here was quite certain we were going to run off with you, I think.”

              Arwenna chuckled, daring a glance at Barek. “He’s a bit protective as of late. All things considered, I don’t really blame him much. I’m a little protective of me right now!” 

              Irini stepped forward, her voice filling the awkward silence. “If it would not be out of place, Daughter, you and I are close in size. I came with several gowns, far more than I need myself. I would be honored if you would accept some of them as a gift.”  Her grey eyes were sincere.

              Joss laughed a little. “Several, Irini?  I think you brought enough for ten women!”

              Arwenna interjected before the woman, Irini, could argue. “That would be most appreciated, Irini. It’s been some time since I was able to get anything new to wear.”

              Irini smiled and began to back out of the tent, grabbing Lian’s hand and dragging her along. “We’ll return shortly with them,” they called as they exited the tent.

              Barek muttered something under his breath, but Arwenna caught the tone of his voice. Realizing he needed some reassurances that these people weren’t there to hurt her, Arwenna cut short her reunion. “Joss, would you mind terribly if I asked you to go help your friends?  Barek and I have much to talk about yet. I promise you and I will have time to catch up later.”

              Joss nodded, looking again at Barek’s looming figure. “That sounds good, Arwenna. I’ll come back later.”  He gave her hand a small squeeze, then left the tent.

              Arwenna watched him leave, then turned towards Barek. “Alright, Barek. Let’s hear it. I know you’re dying to scold me or something.”  She folded her arms across her chest and looked at him expectantly.

              “It’s a little suspicious, don’t you think?  Having an old childhood friend just show up like this and know exactly where in camp you are?”  His disbelief was written all over his face.

              “Yes, it is. I don’t believe much in coincidence anymore, Barek. The last twenty years of my life have been a series of ‘coincidences’ and look where I am now. I’d like to believe,” she paused, gathering her thoughts. “I’d very much like to believe they are here to help us and that my comb was the reason they found me so easily. But I’m not going to risk my life, or anyone else’s, on that belief.” She glanced at Barek, relief evident on his face. “I need to spend time with him, with all of them, though. It’s the only way I’ll be able to figure out why they’re really here.”

              Barek nodded, “Agreed. But Y’Dürkie or I are still going to be close by. Not close enough to eavesdrop, but close enough to do something if things need doing.”  He paused, the look upon his face told her he had more concerns. “This locator beacon of yours bothers me, though. If it’s this easy for Hauk’s followers to find you, it may be just as easy for someone else to do the same.” The directness in his gaze told her who he was thinking of.

              “I don’t know if it would work that way for anyone else
but
a follower of Hauk, but I understand your meaning. I don’t want to give Bohrs or anyone else with him a way to locate me. Would a promise to not have the comb with me when we go into battle help ease your mind?  That or we could always make sure that one of those three we just met is near you or Y’Dürkie. That way, you both would always be able to pretty much know right where I was.”

              He sat down, considering the idea. Arwenna already knew he and Y’Dürkie had no plans on letting her anywhere near a battlefield. She’d have to do something about that beacon, find a way to turn it off and on if she ever expected to be able to slip around them and do what must be done.

              “We’ll do it your way for now, Arwenna. We’re staying put for a few days yet anyhow. Y’Dürkie and I are in agreement on waiting for Lexi to finish what she’s doing in the mountains before we pull up camp and start marching. You’ll have time to figure out if those three are friends or foes, I hope.”

              “If all sorts of people wearing a sunburst start showing up, that will be a good indication.”

Arwenna grabbed some fruit that had been left on a table and began to examine the map in front of Barek. “Why a war, Barek? This seems like a rather extreme measure.” She took a bite of the apple in her hand.

              “Originally, because you and everyone else was executed for no reason. Mialee and I were ready to burn that place to the ground in order to find your bodies and at least one cleric willing to do the necessary rite to bring you all back. Now, well, the reasons have changed but the target is the same.”

              “I don’t want you to go to war for no good reason, Barek. Too many innocent people will be killed on both sides. What reasons do you have now?  Three of us got out of there. As for Rhiannon, it was her choice to remain instead of return. Her spirit would tell you the same thing most likely. It can’t still be revenge.”  Arwenna kept a close eye on the changes in Barek’s face, reading his reaction to her words.

              “There is some of that still, Arwenna. I’m not going to let what Bohrs did to you go unpunished.”  The look he gave her was beyond furious over Bohrs’ treatment of her. “If what you were told is correct, however, Senyan needs to be stopped. I’m not willing to surrender someone I once fought back to back with to a demon lord that easily. If we can save him, we do it. If he has to die to keep this thing from coming into our world, I’ll send him as fast as I can.”  There was a determination in his face that forestalled any argument.

              Arwenna took another bite, understanding his reasons and agreeing with them. It wouldn’t be easy for any of them to kill Senyan, but the alternative was far worse. “So, what’s the plan you’ve come up with then?”

              Barek leaned over the map and pointed to different areas. “Pretty straight forward. We’re marching due south until we reach Tanisal, then laying it to rubble. I doubt they’ll let us get all the way there without a few skirmishes, but I’m not certain they’ll want to meet us head on. I’ve sent out some emissaries to Rhiannon’s clan. If we can get the dwarves to join up, they can travel through the earth in tunnels and come up within the city itself. Our main concern right now is the port,” he stabbed a finger to a place on the map. “I was hoping Mialee was going to be able to recruit the Thieves Guild within the city to start burning the docks, but we need an alternate plan now.”  He studied the map intently. “If we get the dwarven clans behind us as well, they may be able to do the task for us.”

              Arwenna reviewed the map. “You know me, Barek. I leave all the planning to you and Y’Dürkie. Just stay in range and I’ll keep you upright. Do you know if any clerics have started working on plans for the wounded? I don’t think you’re going to want all of us in the battle. We’ll need a good number to stay behind the lines and keep people alive.”

              “Vhy do ve not let you take care of that detail, Arvenna?”  Y’Dürkie answered as she entered the tent. Arwenna and Barek both looked up from the map at the sound. “You vould know more about that than ve vould. Ve do the fightink, you do the healink. It has always vorked vell for us in the past.”