Back to Chapter 6
The other two messenger teams came back, also with all their members and with extra supplies purchased.
The morning meeting was going on when the teams arrived. A small cheer was led as they came in, their packs and cloaks dragging on the stone floor beside them. The riders were tired and looked like they had all been riding hard through the night. The meeting was opened to the reports of the messengers and it was mostly happy reports made.
There had been a road washed out for one of the teams which delayed them. The other had been delayed after they had been stopped at the gate into the Capitol City, the guard suspicious when multiple teams had come through saying almost the same thing. The soldier of the team was able to convince the commander of the watch that all had been real and that it was just a precaution because of weather and possible rebels. After most of a day.
The salt pigs that each of the messengers carried back to the keep were heartily accepted by Orgia, the few oils and spices brought back also with an open hand. They had not taken much with them as far as monies went, but the salt and oils were going to help keep the household running for just a little bit longer.
One of the protector teams handed Laun a small pouch, a few baked goods inside. Laun saw the grey ribbon and the claperless bell sewn on the end as the tie of the pouch. Laun nibbled on one of Marie’s travel cakes and offered some to those around her until Geralk was able to take the last, and the pouch with the sewn coded message in it. There was a finger under Laun’s bottom lip for a flash, a responding one back from Geralk, telling her he knew it was to be kept secret, whatever the message was.
The morning meeting went on, Falmir making an announcement that he hoped that he and the new Council Commander would be able to head back to the Capitol City within the next few days. Dreng nodded and added that he loved the household, but he needed a change. Before more babies arrived. There was laughter and the meeting started to break up.
Falmir made his way to Laun’s side and waited as people came to her with bits of things they needed her opinion on. She was able to direct some things to others and said an outright no to one plan for creating more living space near the Grey. She also had a bow and a hand kiss from Jan, a tired but happy smile on his face.
Jan made a small bow to Falmir as he backed away, Falmir nodding back. The flow of people approaching Laun had stopped and Falmir offered his fist. They started to walk, going out to the courtyards and through to the road.
“The meeting in the morning seems to get things done around here. If I could, I would do the same in the Palace, or at least at the Estate,” Falmir said in a slightly loud conversational tone as they walked along the road.
Laun was taking the pace slowly, her father keeping step. “I started that on the way back from the Festival last year. It lets everyone know what needs to be done. I hear what others think is important.”
“That one...page? Wardsman, I guess, has many ideas, but not all of them are good.”
Laun smiled and her tone was light as she said, “We have to keep him to three ideas at meeting a day. And, yes, most don’t work. He has hit on a few.”
They walked along, passing wild grape vines that were being trained up sapling poles. A fresh cord of wood cut from a downed tree from the latest storm was being stacked along the road, almost ready to be taken to the drying shed. It was still dry that morning but the clouds to the West promised some rain, pushing the harvest of one of the fields a little sooner than they wanted, but the moisture would most likely rot things in the field if they didn’t.
The tall oak stump they had been at the night before was ahead. It was not secluded, but they could see the road and the clearing around it well. Laun was hoping that Famir just wanted to talk and not continue with his advances from the night before.
A patch of slightly dried-brown grass was near the stump. It looked like some of the horses or livestock had been through with as close it seemed to have been cropped. Laun smiled at Falmir’s formal motion to the grass and he helped her sit on the ground.
He sat and then sprawled on the ground. He grimaced once as he made himself comfortable, a hand going to the bandage under his tunic. “You could have gutted me like a stag last night.”
Laun moved her leg slightly, the hem of the skirt pulling up just enough to show a strap around her calf. “We don’t need the meat that much, sire. I could finish the job, if necessary.”
Falmir chuckled and put his hand a few finger widths away from her leg on the ground. “I want to make sure that you and I are right between us before I go. I was an idiot last night.”
Laun put her hand on his and lightly wrapped her swollen fingers around one of his larger ones. “As Lady Hellon would say, it was a horse a piece. We had not really talked enough, and we both have drives that are hard to satiate. I think I got that from you, sire.”
She giggled and he laughed. “Thorn, Sweeting, you also got the Hawkwell stubbornness and our damned nose. I have no idea where you got your smarts for you have completely overshot both me and the old man.”
“And I am only eighteen.”
“Fuck, that’s right. Still lots of time to take the Midlands from me.” He laughed but she did not. She looked out to the road, a slight wind blowing a small plume of dust up from the road. “It’s a joke. I know you don’t want it. Hell, for a while there, I didn’t want it.”
Her voice was soft as she said, “Not what you expected.”
He nodded and flexed his finger with her hand around it. “Things are different. Still have to get the old man back and make sure that Lady Engrid has left.”
“And the mercenaries sent back. And the trade imbalance straightened out. And the payments-”
He raised his hand in surrender, saying, “Maybe I’ll just get the old man to get everything done and I’ll take the credit.”
“I think he would notice.” Laun kept looking out into the road. A few clouds were going through the sky and the sunlight coming down that morning was moving with slight shadows flowing along the open clearing and road. Her eyebrows were pinched together and a slight frown turned the corners of her lips down.
“What’s troubling you?”
She shook her head. “Trade imbalance. Not the Kingdoms, but the households’. With the extra two hundred or so people, we don’t have enough to get through the winter. And I think we ran through all the ransom before I came back.”
“I knew that’s how you got everything. Well,” Falmir’s voice was serious as he thought outloud. “As a Princess of the Realm, you do get a stipend from the treasury.”
“How much?”
He closed his eyes briefly before saying, “Damned if I actually know. Something like a thousand silver a month.”
Laun turned to him and said, “Thats generous. That is enough to outfit the Protectors and get a few wains of grain to start.”
“Always thinking of protection.”
“It kept us alive and safe.” Laun turned back to the road and nodded to the soldiers going towards the keep. They saluted and Falmir raised his hand in acknowledgment. “Safe from my own countrymen.”
Falmir sat up and put her hand to his lips. “No longer, Princess. We are now on the same side and no one under my command will attack or harass your people.”
“Thank you. I am feeling better about some things.” She pulled on her hand and he let it go. “Others, we still need to work on.”
He cleared his throat and put his hand back on the ground. “I should go...”
Laun shook her head and put her hand back on his. “In the daylight, things are clearer to me. Father, I have grown to love you, even though you can be a downright bastard sometimes.”
He had a big grin. “Yea, sounds like me.”
“Love isn’t the same as trust, sire.” Laun turned and looked him in the eye. “We both need to work on each other’s trust.”
He nodded, the grin shrinking slightly. “I understand. There are things I know you do, that I would trust you to do. But... you are right. We need to trust each other for things to be right between us.”
Laun’s head tilted slightly and she smiled. “It is easy for me to forgive. It takes a while for me to trust at this point. I hope that you will be able to trust me as much as you trust anybody.”
“Well, I know to trust you to do your research. I had one of the messengers bring back a law book for me.” His grin was big again.
Her eyebrow went up and she said, “Oh? Which one?”
“One on inheritance laws. You did miss one thing about the compromise you had us make.”
Laun had a flash of embarrassment go through her. “There are so many books...”
He laughed. “You made us make Dougal the first heir to the throne. Now I like the boy and all. I was with him through some of that damned colic when he was a baby. But he is not the direct line, even though Tressa was my sister.”
Laun looked at her hand on his hand. “The sovereign of the Midlands can claim a bull frog as the heir if they want. I knew that one. I don’t want it. I just want to be left alone here.” Laun looked around and smiled for a moment.
“If it is within my power, It will be a very long time before you are even considered, sweet Thorn.”
Laun blushed and smiled at him. “Thank you, your Majesty.”
Falmir laughed. “At last! That is the first time you have called me that!” He pulled his hand from hers and grasped her leg through her skirt.
Laun put her hand on her chin and squinted at him. “I could call you old man like you do Dreng-”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Falmir bellowed. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to him, feeling a slight stiffness in her as he did so. “Trust me, little one,” he said into the top of her head. She relaxed in his embrace, her shoulder under his armpit. He moved his hand slowly off her leg. He waited for a moment, hovering above her belly before she pushed his hand to her, sharing a kick from inside.
They talked a little more, mostly on how to get supplies to Salam-Dir, though there were a few back-and-forths between them about their tastes in partners. They were both laughing at some of the pairings they would make for each other when a protector ran past.
“Ayaa! What’s wrong?” Laun called out as strong as she could and it made the man turn and start for her.
“Lady! There are messengers from the Capitol City at the barricade. One of them says he carries the voice of the King!”
“The hell he does!” Falmir stood and started towards the main road.
“Go to the keep and get horses for the King and I, as well as as many people as you can. This is not going to be pretty.” He made a running bow and headed towards the keep again.
Laun thought. The people she wanted with her were scattered in the lands. She had not heard birdcalls before the protector had gone past. She had not been paying attention to anything outside of Falmir and could have missed a call.
She headed for the soldier’s encampment. Her body complained about the pace, but she would not let it be in control right then. The guards went to attention and she stopped, saluting as best she could.
“Please, Private, Officer of the day to me.” He nodded and ran, his gate duty partner staying at attention in her presence.
It seemed seconds passed before Lieutenant Senri was running towards the gate. “Highness? What do you need?”
Laun took in a deep breath and said in a quiet command voice, “Your King needs an escort and honor guard to go with him to the barricade. I have sent for horses, but he has gone on foot. There are messengers at the gate and one claims to have the voice of the King.”
Senri had a slightly sour look on his face for a moment. “As you command, Highness.” He turned and started calling out orders.
One of Laun’s feet decided to cramp and she sat on the ground next to the gate. She could not move her legs around well enough to get to her own feet and she was certain she looked comical trying to get to her own sandal. “Princess Laun? Do you need assistance?”
One of the soldiers that had seen the Lieutenant running and had followed offered a hand. “Thank you. My foot cramped and I can’t get to it. Pathetic.” Laun shook her head and had a wistful smile as she looked up.
A camp stool was found and Laun was sitting, one of the soldiers pressing into her bare sole as Senri came back. He had two squads with him, all of them strapping their polished uniform pieces on as they ran. Laun thanked the young soldier and he put her sandal back on for her.
Laun could hear horses on the road. They were called for and a mount for Falmir and an escorting officer was sent ahead. Laun decided that she could not ride and so the escort took the horses and, with a little reorganization, went after their King.
She might not be able to ride, but she could set a second front for the household. She felt, with Falmir’s reaction, that it was not going to be a nice reception for the messenger. Launs thoughts went along the line that the messenger was just the scout and that more damned forces were coming at them. Senri was still there as he could not really leave his post. He offered her an arm and they went into the camp and to the mess tent.
The usual banter for the Princess was quiet as word had spread about the King needing military escort on the lands. Laun was given a formal salute by everyone in the tent as she entered, her salute as good as she could make it before Senri called out to be at ease. A bench was cleared for her and a hot mug of tea was in her hand.
“Thank you. I have no idea what is coming to us in the messengers, but we have to know it may be bad.”
The Lieutenant nodded. “Ma’am, if there is a conflict, I follow your orders.”
She smiled and rubbed the top of her belly. “Good to know. There are a few things, if I may, that I would like to have done. I know you and your men will be able to, Lieutenant.”
He snapped to attention and called out, “Ma’am, yes, Ma’am. What is your order?”
Laun smiled. They had conflicted while at the Hawkwell estate, but Senri was a soldier and knew who was in command on her lands. “First, I need runners...”
Soldiers were dispatched at Laun’s whim, verbal messages usually of one or two words for specific people given to them. A squad of soldiers was sent to the fields to help get the grain in faster as many of the people out there were protectors and may need to be used, soon. The healers were alerted and word was sent back that they were ready and that Nan was out of bed and walking to her own room with Jake and the baby.
Grey and blue dressed servants found Laun and Hazalam was leading them. A few of the household staff were among them, looks of grim determination on their faces. Hazalam stayed with Laun after the others were sent to get two major things done at Laun’s orders: Clear Hellon’s Hill of the things that could not be rained on and set up yet another tent, but closer to the barricade just for the messengers.
Both Edgar and Fount found Laun as she used a charcoal stick on a piece of pulp paper to show the soldiers the basics of the Salam-Dir lands. She did not know all of the defenses herself, but she wanted to make sure that if she said a certain area, they knew what she was talking about,
“Love, we heard that you were here directing things.” Edgar put his hand on her shoulder and her slightly blackened hand went to his.
“I do not know what the messages are or who they are from. But when someone says they have the voice of the King and he was sitting next to me, that makes me nervous.”
Fount put his hand over hers and Edgar’s on her shoulder. “Anything you need.”
Laun nodded and started talking crypticly as far as the soldiers were concerned. “We need the yellow and blue and get Dreng and his escort into it. It is too late for Falmir right now, but see if there is one that might fit him, too. Gather them at the burnt house and wait for the clear call. Edgar, go to the trading post with a short squad, mix protectors and soldiers. Ha-” Laun turned to her man and pointed. “Quail, get the strongmen and wrestlers from the troupe and make sure they know they may be needed. Set the acrobats to the trees.”
Fount went to deal with the clothing and Dreng. Senri looked confused, but motioned several of the men around him to follow Edgar when asked for a few armed bodies. Hazalam followed Edgar out and the mess tent was quieter and emptier.
“Highness, What was that about?”
Laun looked at the Lieutenant levelly and said, “Making sure the Hawkwells are safe and that the Salam-Dir lands are secure.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” He stood at a loose parade rest near Laun and continued to relay her orders as pieces of information started to come back to her.
Geralk came huffing in, the pouch clutched in his hand. “Laun! Two companies of pure Rosemond troops!”
Laun nodded to herself, a hand going to her eyes. “I knew it. Is the message dated?”
Lieutenant Senri spoke up, saying, “What message? Troops?”
Geralk waived his fist with the fabric message and said, “She must have made the messenger wait for her to finish. There are Rosemond troops known to be massed over at Nestwood, thought to be close to three hundred. Marie said that their commanders are getting orders from one of the Rosemond council, not from the Midlands.”
“Crap.” Laun pounded on the table a few times in her frustration.
“How did you get this information?” Senri’s voice had a hint of anger to it.
Geralk threw the round pouch fabric with an intricate lined pattern on it on the table next to the rude map of Salam-Dir. “Our Lady has many resources.”
“We need to delay them. With that many troops, we know that they will try to attack. But if we can just delay them until Falmir and Dreng can take control in the Capitol City...” Laun pointed at Geralk and said, “A three or four line missive in her hand would do it.”
“Laun?” Geralk sat next to her. “Who do you need my hand to be?”
Laun did not lower her voice as she gave instructions to her master of lists. She had seen him be able to copy someone’s hand before, and with the correspondence she had, burnt and otherwise, from the Lady Engrid, if the seal Laun still had was good, it would be convincing.
As Geralk was leaving the tent, Laun called to him. “If you can find Gem, tell her she needs to reappoint herself as Engrid’s servant.” He nodded before he left, a mission in his step.
The Lieutenant was not the only one who was quiet as Laun turned back to the fabric message on the table. Laun could hear the held breathing of the men around her. She picked up the mug and found that the tea left in the bottom was cold and slightly sludgy. She held it up towards the tent steward and said in a quiet voice, “May I have some more? With honey, if you have some?”
The mug was gone and it gave many of the rest of the men permission to talk low amongst themselves. Senri stepped forward and looked like he wanted to talk. Laun turned to him and tilted her head while looking at him, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“Your Highness, may I speak?”
Laun nodded and motioned to the bench. The officer took the opportunity to sit, but once on the same level as Laun, words were not coming out.
“You have need to know about the message. I understand that.” Laun held the fabric and started to pull on the grey ribbon to pull it out of the little holes along the edge. “My resources may not be as wide as Falmir’s or as devious as Lady Engrid’s, but I do have some. This resource-” Laun pulled the ribbon out all the way and started to tie it around her hair. “I trust this resource with my life, and have several times. They risked much to get the message to us. With the information, we may be able to do something they would not expect.”
“You are full of surprises, Highness. Anything I can do for you?”
Laun put her hand on his arm lightly. “Senri, be a good officer and look after your men. I hope it does not come to this, but we are still at war.”
His hand went to hers and held it there for a moment. “We are soldiers, but we are support more than anything. Cooks and medics and supply. How can we be of most use?”
Her hand went to the map and she looked at what she had drawn. It was missing parts, and she started to draw those in. “I do need sentries and runners in one place that is a direct line from Nestwood. There is a place here,” Laun pointed to an area near the Grey Waters, “that has a potential to be a weak spot. There are some harvestable things out there, so the men can be doing multiple duties, but I would like to have some people there, just in case.”
Senri nodded and he stood. He made a perfunctory bow to her and left. The tea was back in the tent steward’s hand and Laun made a point of smiling and touching him as he handed it to her. He smiled back before leaving for other duties in the tent.
The thoughts that were cascading through her mind were overwhelming Laun. From an almost lazy day trying to find the boundaries with her father to being at war, her mind was reeling, but was mostly handling it. If it wasn’t for Marie, they would not know numbers of their enemy, or where they were. Laun put a finger on the coded embroidery and tried to remember the teachings from Geralk. It was all in context and she had to start from the beginning. She stopped after a few minutes when she could not remember enough to get the message past the first few symbols.
Her body was kicked from the inside and she suddenly had need to find the privy. She swung her legs over the bench away from the table and found that her back was not happy, too. She gritted her teeth and stood. The soldiers in the tent stood as she did, saluting. “At ease, men. If I could have an escort to the privy, I would be grateful.”
Several of the standing men started forward, stopped and then one man stepped forward, bowing slightly. “My honor, Highness.”
They walked through the close tents, her hand on his arm for balance. There were more clouds and the wind had moisture in it. It was refreshing, but the soldiers around camp that were not preparing for whatever was coming from the messengers were preparing the camp for the next storm.
The privy was a large tent, a curtained off area with bathing tubs on one side, a set of benches and large lockable chests in the center and the dug pits behind another drape on the other end.
Laun tried not to laugh when she saw the faces of the men in the center in various forms of dress as they came to attention at the sight of their Princess. Laun called at ease and modestly turned to the tent wall to allow those men who had not been able to cover themselves in time to do so. Her escort went to the latrine area, some voices clearly coming through as he tried to clear the men out.
“Don’t rush because of me,” Laun called. She heard more rumbles from the men behind the curtain, but also some good natured ribbing from the men in the center.
“Just pull your pants up and come out, Senn! If you can’t rub one out with an actual woman in here, you aren’t going to-”
“Fuck you!” came the response and there was laughter thruout the tent. The men who had been over the pits came out and Laun’s escort motioned to her. It was rudimentary, but there was a low half-bench over the pit, a wood and canvass cover in sections that was lowered over the pit when it was not in use. Laun was shown how to use the rope and pulley system and the soldier stepped out. Laun thought she only had to pee, but her insides decided that was the best time to empty. She felt a slight pain as her bowels moved, but it felt much better in just a little time. She was reaching for the common rag when she heard a clearing of a throat at he curtain.
“Highness, um... Would you prefer these?” A hand was around the curtain, a few of the paper flowers in the man’s hand.
Laun laughed and said, “Yes! Thank you!”
The Corporal’s eyes were on the ground as he came forward, his eye glancing for a moment to the knife strapped to her leg, his hand outstretched to her. She took one of the papers and said, “You are very thoughtful. Thank you.”
He turned but did not leave, keeping his hand with the other paper flower close to her, if she needed it. She did not and as she was standing and settling her clothing around her, he reached into a barrel and took a scoop of a light green powder and tossed it into the pit before the lid was closed.
Laun liked the system and put some of the details away for possible use in the keep for later. She waddled out behind the Corporal and the men were all much more dressed. A cloth was offered to Laun and she stood at one of the raised basins, cleaning her hands and face.
A small commotion was outside the tent and Laun turned in time to see the form of Hunter push his way through to the inside of the tent. “I couldn’t find you at the mess-”
Laun saw a few critical stares at the large man from some of the soldiers. “I am fine. Just the needs of the body being taken care of. Regardless of my reputation, I still need to shit.”
There was a call from one of the men of, “But it doesn’t stink!”, making the tent sound with laughter.
Laun raised her hand and said, “I wouldn’t go that far.” There was more laughter and she put her hand out to the ex-Sergeant. He took it, a small kiss on her knuckles before supporting her out of the tent.
“I had to find you. Word is that Falmir is not letting the messengers in. There are six different messengers and it is not just one that says he has the voice of the King, two of them do.” Hunter held his head so that his low voice would not carry too far, making it look like he was telling her lover’s talk instead of war intel.
Laun nodded and kept walking back to the mess tent. “I have sent some of the servants to make a tent for all the messengers. It should be securable. We should send word to his Majesty-” Laun felt a slight shock through Hunter’s arm. “Yes, I just called him that. There is now an understanding and with the negotiations and all that...”
He stopped and they faced each other in the narrow walkway. “I am not a soldier any more, but the Midlands means just about everything to me. What do you need me to do, my Love?”
Laun put her hand on his cheek and said, “I will need you to go back to Nestwood.”
He blinked and then nodded. “I’m sure you will tell me why, but I will do so.”
Laun started walking again and continued to talk. “There are two companies of Rosemonds’ fighters there.”
“I’m good, but I am not that good.”
She giggled and then said, “I need you to find your uniform again. You will need to be the escort for Gem and the message I am sending with her.”
They walked in silence until they were at the mess tent again. Hunter stopped and would not go in. “I gave up my rank. I can’t-”
Laun put her fingers on his lips. She drew her fingertips along the light stubble on his upper lip and said, “If I have to re-commission you, I will. I need your knowledge of the Nestwood and your strength to make this work. Please...” Laun drew her hand down to his chest. “Trust me.”
He nodded and drew her into him. They kissed for a moment and then he stepped back, bowing before leaving her.
Laun closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath. She pushed the tent flap back and heard the call to attention. She saluted and went to the bench where she had been before.
Lieutenant Senri was there, looking at and marking on the map, having made a few notations while waiting for Laun to return. He sat back down as she sat and pointed to the Grey Waters.
“This is thick but not too wide as far as streams go.” Laun nodded. “It has barriers across it now, but it looks like a place that could be sapped easily for them to get through.”
Laun nodded. “That was my thought, too. That is why I wanted the men here.” She pointed at a close place on the map, their hands brushing.
He moved his hand to over hers and quietly said, “I am having very inappropriate thoughts right now, Highness.”
Laun put her other hand on his and said in a low tone, “Not the time or place, but I would be willing when the all clear is sounded.”
“Thank you, Laun.”
They talked more about placement of men as Laun sipped on tea. A runner from the barricade came in, a message from Falmir for Laun. It took a moment for him to catch his breath, but he finally said, “Highness, the King has let in the messengers. They are being put in the tent you arranged. He asks for your assistance for interrogation.”
Laun closed her eyes and sighed. She nodded and held out her hand to the soldier. “Please send word to his Majesty that I shall be with him shortly. And tell him with bells on.” The soldier took her hand and bowed over it, a slightly confused look on his face. He left, obviously running as soon as he was outside.
Laun put her hands over her face for a moment. She tried to concentrate on the moment, the now. A few deep, slow breaths in and out calmed her and let her think about what she was going to have to do. She scrubbed her hands over her face and then blinked at the light that seemed much brighter in the tent when she opened her eyes.
“Lieutenant, I am damned if I am walking. If I could have one of the men get me my palfrey from the stables-”
Senri snapped his fingers and one of the closest men jumped up and saluted before running out of the tent. “Anything else, Highness?”
She smiled and nodded. “A camp stool, several lengths of rope... And a belt.” Senri’s head tilted a bit but he nodded before standing to get what she wanted.
Next, Chapter 8
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