Ties of Blood (9 page)

“That’s all very educational Darryl but what does that have to do with Thad?” Eloen said her voice wavering between annoyance and curiosity.

“I am getting to that captain. We have things we call blood ties. When my people were traveling we met many different people and we always repaid favors given us. My family is dedicated to your ancestors so at least one member of our family has served in the army for generations. The debt is more to the duchy than to your family though my family has found it an honor that I get to serve under you personally. My family has a blood tie to yours because of this debt. I also have a blood tie to each member in the unit because we have shed blood together on the battlefield. The blood tie I have to Thad though is a deeper one. I consider Thad a friend and it was because of my inability that he was allowed to be captured. My duty is to get him back or to offer my life in a chance to do so.” Eloen went to object but Darryl raised his hand silencing her. “I know what you’re going to say. I’m not doing this just out of a sense of honor. Thad is one of the few people I have met that I can say I like without reservation. He is a hope for a new world and I think it is a waste for him to live chained in a dungeon for the rest of his life. Even if there is only a small chance I will do my best to see him free, and no matter what you say I shall not be diverted.”

“I don’t see why you think you should be the only one to go off on such a mission. And I still don’t understand what that has to do with a blood cloth.” Eloen said her face pinched in annoyance.

“Captain we have different responsibilities. You have a responsibility to run the duchy once the aunt turns over the title to you. Ballard has a responsibility to guard you and make sure you return safe. I have a responsibility to serve the duchy as well as my own ties. I see rescuing Thad as serving both since there is a chance that one day he could become the next duke.” Darryl gave Eloen a slight wink causing her to blush lightly. “The tellaren, not a blood cloth is the red cloth we wear depending on what we’re doing. If were following a debt of honor we wear it on our left arm. If it’s a debt of revenge it’s on our head. If it’s a debt of friendship it goes on our left arm. If there are no debts then the tellaren is worn around the waist. Any other Katanaga would gladly help us should they not be on their own quest. Is there anything else you wish to know captain?”

The fact that something about one of her soldiers had skipped her notice for so many years annoyed her. She knew little of the Katanaga or of their traditions but it felt like that she should know more especially if one of them were under her command. “In fact there is much more I would like to know but I don’t think we have time. If it looks nearly impossible to catch up to Thad at our current pace looks like we can’t waste time here. I don’t like the idea of getting to the end of our journey just to watch your death march.” Standing Eloen made her way over to her mount and mounted flawlessly. She didn’t wait for the other to mount but spurred her horse and headed back toward the road.

She tried to keep ahead of the other two so they couldn’t see the anguished look on her face. She had acted like the news about Thad had only been slightly annoying when in fact it was all she could do not to scream at the world. She had never been one of the crying type and she still felt embarrassed about her actions back at fort when Thad had first fallen over the edge during the battle. It was more fun to make jokes, and see how much she could get the people around her to blush, than being the brunt of the jokes.

Life was so much easier before she had met Thad. She had been an up and coming Captain in her aunt’s army. Refusing the easy jobs her aunt tried to pawn off on her and forging ahead with her handpicked troops to any fight that seemed like it would be interesting. She wanted to build her own name not simply live off of the one she had been given.

The first time she had met Thad she had been in a small town that had been close to an area a large group of bandits had been attacking. She had been tasked with protecting the surrounding areas and locate the brigands so that when the queen's army arrived they could be wiped out. Instead a young man came bearing news of an impending attack with overwhelming numbers. The young man was handsome there was little doubt of that but the way he carried himself was what had caught her eye. Barely into the first steps of manhood he forged ahead and didn’t worry about his low status. When her army was about to be overrun he showed up and started casting spells that devastated the enemy and pushed them back giving her troops the chance to cut them down as they panicked from the surprise attack.

She had only spent a few hours with Thad at that time and most of that was him sleeping. He had overworked himself and he had been feverish so she had spent the night next to him. At first it was simply a simply worry over the person who had saved her troops but she couldn’t deny that when he woke flustered and stuttering that she didn’t find it endearing. He had been wanted by the queen so she had helped him escape before the queen's army could capture him. It was only a stalled effort though later he was captured and imprisoned by the queen.

Eloen had petitioned the queen to free him but many of the other members of the peerage were afraid of his power and what it could mean if he joined the movement to remove the women from power. After nearly a half a year Thad had finally been freed after being branded as a slave of the princess. That was something that Eloen didn’t like at all. The princess was nothing more than a stuck up brat as far as she was concerned and barely left the palace. She knew nothing of the real world and did not deserve the attention Thad gave her. She had to admit to herself that she was more than a little jealous of the princess. When Thad chose to accompany them to the fort to help in the defense of Farlan Eloen had needled him about his relationship with the princess but the more time she spent with the young mage the more he came to mean to her. Now he was on his way to a dungeon and all she could do was follow behind hoping for a chance to save him.

When Darryl and Ballard finally caught up with her they didn’t say anything. She looked around to their faces and saw that each of them were battling with their own thoughts. Thanks to the insights from their previous conversation she knew a little more of what was going through Darryl’s mind. As for Ballard it could be any number of things. Though he was protective of her he was probably trying to decide whether he would accompany her back home if the time came or to follow Darryl and try to rescue Thad. Eloen laughed to herself that would be just like him.

As much as she wanted to continue as the sun dropped below the horizon she knew that even if she could sleep in the saddle the horses needed to rest. The area around them had grown rockier and small mountains lined the area making them go through a series of passes and limiting where they could rest. The moon was almost full in the night sky before they finally found a place to rest. It wasn’t very large and there was no fresh grass for the horses so she was forced to use her limited stores from her pack.

As she laid down her pack and arranged a place to sleep she thought about talking to Darryl more about the blood ties but she knew in truth she had no energy left to stay awake. Promising herself that she would find the time to talk to him on the ride in the morning Eloen laid down and quickly feel asleep sure that someone would wake her when it was her turn for the watch.

Her dreams didn’t comfort her as she found herself watching Thad as he lay strapped to a table. She tried to run to him but her legs wouldn’t move. When she tried to call his name her mouth opened but no sound came out. Eloen watched as a tall man with a bald head held a serpent shaped dagger. The noise that ripped out of Thad’s voice as his heart was cut from his chest tore through her like a whip striping flesh with each strike. Thad pleaded for her help but there was nothing she could do but watch in horror as he was killed in front of her over and over.

CHAPTER IX

The days passed by with idle chatter. She tried to bring up any topic but Thad. Her dreams continued each night making her fear to sleep. Ballard had expressed concern over her ragged appearance but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him what had really been troubling her. He was the closest thing to a brother she had and she knew that he would only worry needlessly if he knew what plagued her dreams. As much of a mountain of a man he still had a soft heart.

It was only a few more days until they reached Treforge and they still hadn’t seen a hint of Thad. With each passing day Eloen's hopes died a little. If they got Thad into the fort before they could rescue him then it was almost hopeless. She had almost promised Ballard that if that was the case she would go home without challenge but every time she thought of abandoning Thad to the Ablaian torturers her blood ran cold and the images that plagued her dreams came to the forefront of her mind. More than once she had to hold back from crying when her mind wondered.

The day was almost halfway over as the sun was nearly past the apex in its trip across the sky. Though Abla was a barren country that was surrounded by mountains it made for a lovely sunset. It was one of the few things Eloen had to look forward to. Farms were spread far apart and took what little fertile ground that was available. Most the houses they passed had small farms next to their house though from the pile of stones that covered the ground around the small patches of land it had been a great deal of work to make the ground suitable to work. It made wonder why anyone would want to live in such a place.

“Look” Darryl shouted as they crested a small hill. Down below was a small town if it could have been called a town at all. Six or seven stone buildings were grouped close together one was taller than the other giving Eloen hope that they could find a place to sleep besides the hard ground. They were also running low on horse fodder and vegetables. They still had plenty of meat though most of it was goat. The thought of having to eat the stringy goat meat again made Eloen's stomach turn. What she wouldn’t give for a piece of beef or smoked pork.

If they were where they thought they were it made no sense for there to be a town. They had went five days without seeing anything that resembled a town. They couldn’t even see light in the distance but she knew that with the landscape it was hard to see more than a mile in the distance.

The sun still a promised a few hours of sunlight making Eloen desire to continue on but she knew that pushing too hard wouldn’t gain them anything. As she hoped the large building was an inn. There was also a small store next to the inn as well as a butcher. Eloen guessed that they must do a fair amount of trade as the buildings were well made and to Eloen's relief the kids looked as if they were well taken care of. She knew that seeing a few people well off wouldn’t erase the abject poverty she had witnessed elsewhere but it left her hope.

The inside of the inn opened into a great common room with long wooden tables instead of small ones for individual parties. The room was filled by numerous customers which astounded Eloen. A young man around the age of Eloen manned the front desk and gave her a cheerful smile as they approached. “What can I do for you today?”

“We need two rooms one with two beds one with a single. We would also like to have baths drawn for the rooms if that would be possible.” Ballard said curtly.

“It will take a little to have the baths drawn. While you wait I would suggest you sit and have something to eat. Miss Thera makes some of the best stew you can find.”

After Ballard paid the man the three made their way to an open spot on one of the large tables. After she was seated Darryl leaned over her and Ballard's shoulder. “Have them bring me something to eat. I’m going to run over to the store before it closes and secure our supplies.” Seeing nothing wrong with letting him go Eloen simply nodded her head.

It didn’t take long before a busty older woman made her way over to where they sat to take their order. While her clothes were simply they were made to accent her full body figure. “What would you dears like to eat?” her voice was raspy but it didn’t look as if Ballard was focusing too much on her mouth.

“Ballard I don’t think she can take your order if you don’t stop staring at her chest.” Eloen said forgetting that she was supposed to be playing the meek country girl.

As soon as she realized her mistake she look at the barmaid who simply gave her a wink and laughed. “Men are all the same dear. I don’t understand why those Farlans need to have a queen. Show a man a little skin and they will do whatever you want and thank you for it.”

Ballard face turned beet red and his hand went to cover his face. “Bring us three orders of stew and bread please Miss.” his voice was muffled but it was easy to tell that he had been thoroughly embarrassed by the situation.

As the barmaid walked away she purposely swayed her hips and willing or not Ballard’s eyes were focused on her. It was a rare occasion that Eloen got the better of Ballard’s normally stoic demeanor and she wasn’t about to let a rare chance slip by. “Getting an eye full?” Eloen said throwing her arm around Ballard’s broad shoulders.

“Nothing wrong with enjoying a nice view.” Though Ballard's voice was calm his face betrayed his true feelings.