Conflict and Courage Page 20
Something else was worrying Hilary.
“Gsnei said that I would have to learn to use a sword.”
“You’ll have to fit in at least some arms practice. Everyone has to learn, even me.”
“I’ll be hopeless.”
“Weaponsmaster Wilhelm won’t let you out on your own until you can defend yourself but that won’t be today or even tomorrow. Get settled in and get some sleep. Faddei will bring Gsnei round when he’s ready.”
On her way out Laura turned to ask a final question.
“Before you left Settlement, did you hear about the recent raids?”
“I don’t think so. Were they very bad?”
“Two attacks; one in Argyll and another south-east of here, just within Vadath’s borders. Luckily a Lindar was on patrol near the latter and ran them off. In Argyll though I believe whole families have disappeared. They only take the people, never the livestock.”
“The pirates are becoming a big problem,” said Hilary.
“A giant headache,” Laura agreed. “Jim Cranston warned them, he suspected some of them would turn to piracy but so many ignored him. Now, I really must go. I’m glad you’re here. I think you’ll do well and it will be good to get to know you.”
Hilary, comforted by Laura’s parting pronouncement, decided that bed, hard and spartan as it looked and felt, was the best thing for her. Tired out from the journey, she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. Gsnei too was exhausted and when he pushed open the swing doors and tip-pawed over to his own divan, he laid his head between his forepaws and collapsed in an untidy heap of legs, paws and tail.
Over the next weeks Hilary wondered again and again at the massive change Gsnei’s appearance had made in her life. Gone were the ordered hours and duties of the Settlement medical facility. She was, as Laura had prophesied, kept busy every waking moment. If she wasn’t tending to ailments and injuries she was teaching, if not teaching, she was being taught herself, mostly by the Lind Talya with whom she and Gsnei became friendly and if that wasn’t enough, she had to attend the scheduled weapons practices held by Weaponsmaster Wilhelm or another of his team.
Doctor James welcomed her as a fellow physician and not an intern barely out of medical school. As her confidence grew, so did her competency and, by the end of winter, he was able to leave her in joint charge of the Holad with Talya when he went north to Holad domta Winston, warning her that he fully intended that next time she would go in his stead.
Hilary took a deep breath and got on with it.
: You do well : said Gsnei and Hilary basked in his praise.
They did manage some leisure time and explored the countryside, Hilary’s eyes bright with interest and a hitherto unknown sense of adventure.
By then, Hilary wouldn’t have traded places with anyone else on the planet and she looked back at her earlier resentment with a great deal of amusement.
Tina Charles shared Hilary’s sentiments one hundred per cent. She and Daltei settled in better that anyone or anylind had hoped. She was still rather quiet and reserved, although she did speak her mind when the occasion warranted. Daltei’s well-meaning exuberance had been tempered slightly but not by very much.
Tina and Tara struck up a firm friendship, the younger girl had a maturity and depth of feeling that Tina lacked, sheltered from life by her strict religious upbringing. Tara’s Kolyei was also older than Tina’s Daltei and Kolyei treated him much as a big brother would to Daltei’s secret gratification.
Tina would have been surprised if she had listened to a conversation between the two men responsible for weapons training within the Vada.
“Tina and Daltei are settling in well,” said Ross.
“More than well,” said Wilhelm with satisfaction. “She is a natural. I’m teaching her moves that I normally only teach to the cadets in their final year. By the time she reaches that stage she might well be challenging me!”
“The future Weaponsmaster when you retire then?” teased Ross.
“Perhaps. She will have the skills of that I am in no doubt, but will she be mentally able, mentally robust enough for the task? I train them. I watch them leave with their Ryzck for the first time. I train them when they return. Some don’t. The Larg are not the only enemy. Have you ever seen these huge cat-like predators in the northern mountains? Every time I hear that a vadeln has died, I see them in my mind’s eye, remember them as the fresh young teenagers they were. I say to myself, did I do enough? Could I have trained them better for the trials ahead? Did I miss a weakness and not train them to compensate and so cause their deaths?”
“Every trainer has such thoughts,” said Ross. “I do myself, but you must remember that without you it would be far worse.”
“I know,” Wilhelm answered, “but it doesn’t make it any easier and Tina, if she was in my position … I think it might well destroy her.”
Tara was settling down as well.
“How’s it going little sister?” asked Brian, “managing all right?”
“It’s pretty much as I suspected,” answered the cautious Tara, “I don’t like the sword lessons but the rest isn’t too bad.”
“It’ll get better, at least it’ll stop aching so much.”
“It’s not that,” Tara answered, “I just don’t like it, every time I hold a sword I start remembering.”
“Why did you come?” was Brian’s reasonable question, “Mother and Father didn’t think you would ever accept training. I was surprised myself when your name was added to the roster.”
“Jim persuaded me and Kolyei agreed, he said that the southerners weren’t the only dangers.”
“You’re not the only one to dislike weapons-work,” Brian consoled her with a brotherly pat on the head, “Emily ‘frinstance but she sees the sense of it now. Even though she’s a Holad student she still attends arms practice.”
“And talking about Emily,” teased Tara looking up at her ‘big brother’.
Brian coloured.
“She’s a friend,” he answered a little too fast.
“Like that is it?”
“Sofiya finds Ilyei attractive,” he explained.
“Would you accept some advice?” asked Tara.
“Go on then.”
“Take it slowly, very slowly. Emily’s still mourning Thomas even after all this time. She’s frightened of getting too close to anyone. Be her friend, yes, but don’t try to take it further. You’ll know when Emily’s ready and warn Sofiya that, even if Ilyei likes her, he won’t do anything until Emily is.”
“How long?”
“Will you have to wait?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know, years maybe. Now don’t press me. Emily’s my friend, I’m a friend of you both and I don’t want to see either of you hurt.”
“Has she said anything?” pressed Brian.
Most people confided in Tara at some point, it was part of her make-up but Brian should have known better than to ask and the look Tara gave him said as much.
“Be patient,” she advised, “what will be, will be. We’re all too young to be thinking of permanent attachments.”
“You and Peter a case in point,” he teased.
“Peter Crawford is twelve years old,” she answered, refusing to rise, “he’s a little boy. His voice hasn’t even broken yet. Give us a few years.”
Brian laughed.
“I think,” Tara added, “that those of us paired with Lind grow up quicker than those not so lucky. At fourteen the Lind are adult and think like adults, mind-linked as we are, I think it influences us, matures us earlier but not so early that Peter and I should make a commitment, no matter how Kolyei and Radya feel about each other.”
“I’ll wait,” Brian promised, “but Emily doesn’t actually dislike me does she?”
“No. She’s just not over Thomas yet.”
Brian smiled to himself; at least he had gotten that much out of Tara. He would bide his time.
* * * * *
Asya waddled across the daga.
“I am most uncomfortable,” she complained. “I wish ltsctas would decide now is the time to join us.”
She looked jealously at Laura who sat in the doorway cuddling her new son Thomas.
“I’m sure it will be soon,” comforted Laura, “and patience is a virtue.”
“Not much virtue in what I feel,” Asya snapped. “Where is Faddei?”
“I’m not sure,” temporised Laura, knowing that he was keeping well away from his irritable mate.
Asya gave Laura one of her looks and flounced away in high dudgeon.
: Watch out : Laura warned Faddei : Asya is looking for you :
: Thrice blast it : he sent back and Laura became aware of him rising to his feet and making his way towards the river. Unless Asya felt in need of a bath he should be safe there. She found the journey to the bathing pools easy enough but in these last days of her pregnancy, the trek uphill back to the stronghold pretty nigh impossible.
: Don’t get too comfortable : advised Laura, chuckling to herself as she placed Thomas in his crib. : It shouldn’t be long now. Talya is saying that the little ones are on their way :
Faddei did not reply, concentrating as he was on finding a hidey-hole.
Unable to find Faddei, Asya decided to go and see Talya.
“I cannot find Faddei,” she complained, “he has closed his mind to me.”
“You and Faddei do want a family?”
Asya growled.
“Pregnancy is only way I know to have ltsctas.” There were no native egg-layers on the planet.
Asya lay down with a heartfelt sigh and manoeuvred her bulk into a relatively comfortable position, “my back hurts and they give me no peace. Always they kick and squirm.”
“A good sign my dear Asya,” said Talya, “soon they will be born and running you ragged with their antics.”
“I prefer that to this,” Asya sighed as she laid her head down to rest.
The little ones were born that evening.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 22 - INTERREGNUM 1
Years 3 to 10
Tara and Kolyei completed their cadetship and, as predicted by Janice Randall, they did not choose the Vada as their future. At the end of the seventh winter after they had arrived on the planet, they returned to domta Winston, spiritual home of the Holad for a rest and to plan their future together. For Kolyei, as Tarmsei (Susa of the Afanasei Lindar and Kolyei’s greatest friend) could have told anyone who was interested enough to ask, had itchy paws. He wanted to explore, learn what was beyond the next hill, the furthest river, even as far west as the great western sea. Tara’s great dream of writing down the histories and traditions of the Lind was unabated, a dream that Kolyei had come to share. The following summer they set out west into the rtathlians of the Lind, accompanied by Emily and Ilyei, now qualified medics and Brian and Sofiya who had been granted extended leave of absence from the Vada. His wish to accompany them had surprised many, because hitherto all Brian’s energies had been centred on his and Sofiya’s careers. With them went Hilary Templeton and Gsnei, on a special mission to find out the healing properties of certain fauna and flora specific to the western side of the continent. The party was completed by a retired vadeln-pair called Liam and his Lind Aiya, glad of the chance to be useful, since he had been badly injured during a fracas with some pirates three years earlier and forced to retire from active duty.
In Argyll, a continuing trickle of families moved out to colonise the islands but not so many as made more than a tiny dent in the growing population. The colonists prospered. The sudden death of Robert Lutterell from a heart attack in year eight caused hardly a ripple. They continued to extend the cultivated land, but did not forget the threat from the south. One never knew where and when the southern pirates would attack. Stone defensive keeps were built along the shores of both Argyll and Vadath, the former manned by small regular Garda units.
Vada numbers increased and the vadeln-pairs became renowned. Their combat skills, honed to a fine art by Weaponsmaster Wilhelm and Weaponsecond Ross were second to none.
At pack Ratvei, the tiny human settlement prospered, led by Gerry Russell and his adoring wife Jessica who took time off from their horse-breeding programme to tend their growing number of offspring.
In the Kingdom of Murdoch, Lord Regent Sam Baker consolidated his power base and planned how he was going to extend his grip on the realm. Baker had assassinated Lord Bryan Brentwood, who had amassed power and riches with his monopoly of the slave trade. To keep the peace between the varied members of the Conclave he arranged a series of betrothals between his own and the other noble children. As Regent of the young King Elliot, he was the most powerful man in the Kingdom. In the tenth year after they had arrived on Rybak, he turned his avaricious eyes towards the Lordship of the only man who was secure enough in his own position to dare defy him, Lord Pierre Duchesne.
Aoalvaldr the Larg perfected his own plan for revenge and began to sound out selected pack-leaders. As he continued his campaign of subversion he gained a following from the packs and the Largan and his immediate circle began to take notice. Aoalvaldr’s time was coming.
* * * * *
CHAPTER 23 - VADATH
The first warning arrived in a letter from Lord Pierre Duchesne.
He returned hotfoot from Winter Conclave at Fort and lost no time in passing the news north across the water.
Jim Cranston and Larya were visiting Francis, Asya, Laura, Faddei and their assorted offspring at the stronghold when the messenger pair ran in, the rider tumbling out of the saddle in her agitation to deliver the slim packet that held Pierre’s letter.
It was addressed to Jim.
“From Duchesne,” he said recognising the coded glyph, slit the edge open and extracted the thin pages of closely written sheets, “wonder what he’s writing about, I wasn’t expecting anything for weeks?”
He read it aloud.
“I put pen to paper this night with a heart full of dread of what is to come. This morning I returned from Fort where Lord Baker rules in all but name. As you suspected, the Larg are growing ever more restless and he is under pressure to take part in what they are planning. I greatly fear that he can do nothing else but agree to their demands.
The Larg will attack Argyll at midsummer, supported by three regiments of Baker’s infantry. It appears that the Largan will not take no for an answer.
I do not fully understand why they insist on an attack now. It seems however that a major requirement of a young Larg’s passage into adulthood is that he be blooded in battle. With the arrival of man on the planet, their traditional enemies, your Lind friends are, in effect, out of reach and as there is only one route north, the human settlers of Argyll have been selected as the target.
From what Baker told us, the Largan feels that if he does not agree to an attack the packs may well turn on each other so great is their desire for a fight.
Baker, much as I dislike the man, is in a no-win situation. He doesn’t, I think, wish to help the Larg but if he refuses to help them they might well turn on us, treaty or not.
At least I can warn you, although I do not know for how long. I am sure Sam Baker has doubts about my loyalty, thank the stars he has no proof as yet.
He intends to crown young Elliot very soon and will take the opportunity that such a gathering presents to consolidate his power base.
I try to keep my distance but it is growing more and more difficult. The Kingdom is awash with suspicion and distrust; each Lord has his own agenda. Sam Baker intends to stamp this dissent out. He has drawn up a list of marriages between the children of us Lords and believes this will bind us together. My two eldest sons are to be betrothed at the coronation ceremony and I am ordered to bring them with me when I attend. I fear that I will be ‘requested’ to leave them at Fort when I return home as surety for my good behaviour. As you can imagine, I am not overly enamoured with the idea. Jacques is only eigh
t and Jean two years younger.
I dare not take the boys to Fort with me and I am sure the day is fast approaching when I will be forced to flee.
Will you of Vadath give me, my family and my people sanctuary?
My other news is of Anne. She is pregnant again and ill. This last visit I did not manage to speak to her, which fills me with trepidation as to her future wellbeing.
Heed my warning.
D.”
“That’s the lot,” said Jim.
“Quite enough too,” growled Asya.
“Do you believe him?” asked Francis.
“He’s not been wrong yet,” was Jim’s answer, “I’d better warn the Lindars, get them moving west at winter’s end.”
“Leave the Vada to me,” said Francis.
“And I believe,” continued Jim after a pause whilst he mentally conversed with Larya, “that as usual, my mate is ahead of me. The Council in Argyll will know by nightfall.”
Francis chuckled. “Duchesne?” he ventured.
“I think it’s time our young friend paid another visit to Duchesne’s castle.”
“He won’t like that. The passing out parade of the final year cadets is scheduled for next week. Cherry and Baltvei are part of the graduating class.”
“It can’t be helped. I need someone down there. Letters take too long, if things are moving as I think they are, I need to know immediately.”
“I’ll speak to them,” promised Francis, “they’ll understand. You staying here?”
“No, we’d best get back, speak to Fernei face-to-face. He might know something. Also, Tara, Kolyei and the others are due home any day now and I promised Janice Randall that Larya and I would be there.”
“Louis and Ustinya?”
“Give them the week,” decided Jim, “it’ll take time to arrange a ship south anyway.”
The stronghold bell pealed out and Francis got to his feet, “Asya reminds me that I have a class this bell,” he said. “Care to join us?”