the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 8 - Unsure what is going on?  Start with the first chapter of The Chronicles of the Midlands: The Slave Warrior

 

The dock had been cleared.  Workmen and fishmongers and sailors were escorted from the area that the ‘Midnight Hour’ had been tied to.  A line of the local guard had to keep the populace back, the crowd getting noisy.  Frightened horses were calmed and brought off the schooner by the shifting gangplank, not the hoist that had brought them aboard.  The medics swarmed onto the ship and two patients were taken off, seemingly under guard, one walking, one not.

Officers gathered around the limping woman being supported by a dark green dressed servant.  The prisoners were taken from the ship, Laun saluting the Major at the head of the squads as the official exchange happened with several medics trying to fuss over Laun’s wounds.  She had a few words with the Major and he stepped away, an eye on the Rosemond soldiers that was cold and hard.

The ship was put under guard, the crew and wounded taken to the military compound on the shore of the Southern Ocean.  Liam was in the care of some of the best medics in the Midlands army, but no one really was hopeful.  Gut wounds were nasty, and Laun put a hand on his forehead as they parted, his fever making him delirious and not knowing who she was.

The Commander of the garrison met them in the yard of the military compound by the non-commissioned officer’s quarters.  He was trailed by several high ranked men, one of which a naval Captain.  The Commander saluted Laun and was pleased that she saluted back, not waived or giggled as many women did.

“Highness, it is an honor to host you, even under such circumstances.”

“You are kind to take us in unannounced, sir.”  Gem was at Laun’s elbow and saw that she was wavering.  She supported her Mistress and stared at the military men.

The Commander got the hint and turned, motioning to the non-com’s building.  “We have rooms available here until I can find more appropriate accommodations, Highness.”

Laun smiled, her tiredness showing in her eyes as she said, “I am certain that this will be good for my stay.  Thank you for finding us something so quickly.”

He took her hand and walked at her pace into the building, the medics talking in low tones behind them.  The rooms were not large, but Laun had been afforded three of them in the building, all of them with a view and access to a dirt and tile deck that led to the ocean beach below.  Laun smiled and tightened her grip on the Commanders’ arm before she was surrounded by the medics in the relative privacy of one of the rooms.

The wounds were looked after, no questions about how she had received them answered by she or Gem.  Hazalam had the children as Laun was poked and cleaned and prodded and bandaged.  The mass of medical people finally left after they were satisfied that Laun was going to sit on a large chair on the deck and watch the ocean until they said she could move about on her own.

Laun was hurt and tired from everything that had happened and, for once, she agreed and followed the directions of the healers who had been with her.  She was wrapped in a blanket and set on a chair, a footstool keeping her almost laying down.  She listened to the rhythmic waves flowing on the beach below, the shore birds almost drowned out by the roar and splash.  The sun was not too warm and the salty breeze was cool.  Laun fell asleep in the afternoon sun and let sleep take her for quite some time.

There was a scrape on the stone and tile.  Laun did not move but was awake, listening.  Footsteps.  A few more scrapes, wood on tile.

Gem’s voice was low and was hard to hear over the ocean.  “I told you she is not taking visitors, Mayor.”

The male voice carried better.  “I came to offer her rooms at my home.  A soldier’s room is no place for the Princess.”

There was the wood on tile sound, a scrape and tap and footsteps.  “Please.  My Mistress is resting.  Perhaps this...”

Laun had opened her eyes.  The sun was reaching for the horizon, fingers of clouds bright against the sky below it.  She saw the Mayor of Hamlis, cane in hand, Gem trying to keep him from approaching.  Laun did not move but she took in a large breath and waited.

He bowed slightly, the cane keeping him from leaning too far to the side.  “Your Highness.  I am happy you have survived your ordeal.”

Laun swallowed and licked her lips before she responded with, “Not as well as you have yours.”

He looked down at his leg and nodded.  “An unfortunate run-in with a horse.”

Laun moved her head, the top of the blanket slipping slightly from her.  “I would think your red scarf had not been careful.”

He blinked and looked as though he wanted to step back.  “I-I have no idea what you are talking about, Highness.”

“As you will.”  Laun made motions under the blankets and Gem helped Laun to move her legs from the footstool, sitting up.  “I meant no offense.  I am tired and I doubt if I will be moving from this chair let alone the compound for a while.”

“I-I took the word of your arrival under such horrible circumstances and sent a messenger to the Palace.”

Laun smiled, but tiredly.  “That is good.  That will tell the person who tried to kidnap me that they failed.”

He looked stricken.  “I thought it was a random group of bandits, Highness!  I did not know...”

Laun did not have her hands free or else she would have motioned to dismiss his comment as she said, “There are many things you would not know.  Before you send another messenger out on my behalf, Mayor, please check with me and my people.”

He bowed his head slightly, tipping a little until the cane caught him.  “I understand, Highness.”

Laun’s gaze went to the colorful sky, the completely flat horizon.  She saw some ships coming towards the shore, towards the Hamlis harbor.  When they had been able to make it to port and get word to the local garrison, Laun had a sense of relief.  It had been short lived with the way the local guard had taken control of the ‘Midnight Hour’, Gem having to speak for Laun when her own voice failed her.

“Mistress, shall I bring you some food?”  Gem was still physically between the Mayor and Laun, but subtly.  She knelt to let Laun see her without having to move too much, a light hand on the blanket.

Laun focused back on her girl and tried to nod.  Her neck was stiff and her back had been in a slightly bad position while she had been resting.  There was a flare of pain and Laun gritted her teeth.  It cooled and Laun said, “Food and drink.  Something hard if the medics will let me.”

“Highness, I have an excellent cellar full of-”

Laun had sat up more, her head turned fully toward him.  “Thank you for the offer, but no.  I do not know why you are trying to get me to move from the compound, but I am not going.”

He shrugged and said, “Your comfort is all I am concerned about, Highness-”

There was a growl from the open doorway.  The compound Commander was there, several of his aides coming outside into the golden sunset after him.  “Cori, I thought I smelled you here.”

The Mayor turned his head, the white of his hair catching the colors of the setting sun, turning him golden.  “This is not a proper place for her Highness.  She should be in my home, being taken care of by healers and servants who know-”

The Commander seemed to get just a little taller as he said, “She requested to be in with the garrison at the academy.  You are not to weasel your way back into the good graces of his Majesty by trying to pamper her.”

Laun watched as the Mayor seemed taken aback, though it was only on his face.  “Her Highness is all I am concerned about, Listas.  Leaving her here alone on the beachfront... Anything could have happened to her!”

Arms went across his chest as the Commander said, “With a battalion stationed here and half the marines in the Midlands within a call of her voice?  I request that you leave, Mayor.  Now.”

There was no arguing with the military man.  The Mayor made a small bow to Laun and limped past the soldiers, not even a glance to the Commander in recognition.

The Commander came to Laun and went to a loose attention.  “Ma’am.  I will make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Laun smiled and tried to not let any of the pain she felt show through, though she was not as successful as she wanted.  “Thank you, sir.  I am sorry I am such a problem.”

He shook his head and said, “Not a problem, Ma’am.  Perhaps a challenge.”

Laun laughed lightly.  “My reputation has spread, I see.”

He bowed his head and Laun could see a little glint in his eye.  “General Alsen has mentioned that he would buy your commission to have you in his command, Ma’am.”  Laun heard the slight hesitation as he carefully chose his words.  “He highly respects you for your sight and talents.”

Laun bowed her head slightly, making her back twinge again.  She leaned forward to try to relieve some of the stress, her hands having to keep the blanket close to her when the cooling evening air slipped in.  “It is good to hear that he thinks of me so.  We have been in close quarters together, and I am happy to know I made an impression.”

One of the men with the Commander raised an eyebrow, but Listas plowed through any innuendo with, “He told me of your role in keeping the King from harm the night of the assassin attack.”

Laun blinked.  “I did what needed to be done, sir.  I’m just sorry they took the men’s lives they did that night.”  Laun felt Gem’s hand press into the blanket.

He nodded and said, “Ma’am, just on that alone, I would welcome you within our ranks.”

Laun had to think on that for a moment, her gaze going over the men behind Listas.  “If I had the proper training, perhaps.  I do have the Fourth Logistics at my command.  I should have rank so I can bully them more.”  Laun winked and he laughed.

Hazalam came around the clutch of military men, a baby in either arm.  “Mistress, they heard your voice and would not stop fussing.”

  Laun had some help from Gem to push back the blanket and Laun had both babies in her arms.  She was happy that the medics had padded the cuts and piercings well.  Ash’s hand reached for Laun’s face but kept patting her chest on the flower.  Sable was kicking happily, pushing herself into Laun’s cuts on her side.  Laun saw smiles from several of the men around them as she made animal sounds and talked at her children.

Sable kept putting her fingers together and then to her mouth.  She would then pat Laun on her chest, only missing the gold rings still through Laun’s nipples because of the halter Laun had on.  The baby did it several times and was getting frustrated.  Laun hit on what it was as Ash started to pat and nuzzle into Laun’s breast on the other side.

“Oh, baby.  Hungry?  Both of you?”  Laun mimicked the gesture Sable did and the baby grinned, making her mewing sound.  Ash pulled on the tunic and forced her face into Laun’s breast.

“We should leave you, then, Ma’am.”  The Commander started to salute when Laun shook her head at him.

“They eat solid food now, Commander.  I am feeling well enough that, if it is about time for evening meal, I would join the ranks in the mess hall.”

He blinked and turned to his aides.  “Second seating is underway?”

“About to start, sir.”

Hazalam and Gem already had the babies, one for each, as Laun stood from the chair.  She was unsteady.  Commander Listas moved forward and offered a hand, Laun placing and using him for stability until she could comfortably walk on her own, but not letting go of his hand, just in case.

The deck facing the ocean was walled off on either side of the building.  The strong shadows from the setting sun made them look quite formidable before Laun and her escort went into and through the non-com’s barracks.  The one Sergeant they passed as they went through the building looked guiltily surprised and snapped to attention.  Laun smiled and nodded to him, knowing the orders were to clear the building’s corridors while Laun was in residence.

It was a several section mess hall and kitchen building that they headed for.  The Commander had to return salutes along the way, Laun nodding to the men as they passed.  The sun was almost a quarter of it’s glory when they arrived at the mess, The door opened and was held by a soldier on his way out as they went in.

A call to salute went through the first common hall as the Commander stepped in.  Several of the men kept at attention until Laun saluted, too.  There was a wave of whispers, even though it looked like all the men were just paying attention to their food.  It smelled strongly of men, not all pleasant to her nose.  Laun made a hand gesture and Gem went with Ash to a table that did not have as many people at it.

“Highness, the officers mess is just through here...”

Laun tilted her head and said, “I am not sure I can walk too much further, sir.  I can eat in here as well as in there.  Unless you do not wish me to be with these fine soldiers?”

He shook his head and his eyes went wider.  “No, Ma’am.  It’s just, with your titles-  It is more usual that you would eat with us.”  He motioned to the door to the officer’s mess.

Laun turned and put both hands on his.  “You are kind to remind me of my position.  If I were to eat with you, would you prefer to have me at your side in there?”

His mouth opened and then closed.  He narrowed his eyes and looked at her tilted head, the bland look on her face.  “Alsen warned me about this.  Ma’am, I have not supped in this hall for over twenty years.  Let’s see if the food is as bad as I remember.”  He motioned to the table Gem had claimed and the group moved as one to the benches.

The soldiers at the table stood, their backs as straight as the benches and table would allow them to be.  Laun nodded to them and they relaxed, but did not sit.

“Please, at ease men.  There’s still enough room for all of us, even with the officers.”

There was a suppressed smile on the soldiers as they sat, moving in together slightly.  Laun was sat first, the officers sitting in ranks around her.

The babies were on the floor behind Laun, Gem sitting on the floor with them, Hazalam standing directly behind Laun.  He was in the same dark green as ever, matching Gem, but he seemed to be more imposing than Laun had remembered.  He had been very attentive since he had been back at her side.

They had been able to talk some as the ‘Midnight Hour’ was brought back to Hamlis.  He had not liked the deal Laun was going through and had left Salam-Dir just a few hours after they had.  Hazalam had stationed himself near the Sand Castle, the horse he had brought stabled at one of the Capitol City inns.  He had watched during the night, noting the man who had come to visit, and the patrols that went out after he went in.  He also saw several small groups of people slowly walk past, looking at the Sand Castle, but not stopping.

Following them had not been hard.  The river was obvious and he could spot the schooner if he had any line of sight to the river.  He had lost the ship when it had gone through Hamlis as he had spent all of his money in the Capitol City for entrance and the stable.  Hazalam had spotted what he thought was the ‘Midnight Hour’ and had followed it back up stream, learning it was not the same ship and heading back down river.  Liam’s ship was in the cove at that point and he had seen the men along the road, someone looking like he was carrying a child among them.

It was only after he had found the ship, and Gem at Liam’s side, that he knew that they had taken Laun.  The two assassins had done as much as they could for the owner of the ship before the men had arrived back with the supplies.  Hazalam and Gem tracked the bandits, knowing that Laun was reasonably safe when they saw her laying on a bedroll with a cape around her, the leader of the bandits looking like a formidable protector against the other men.

The men left by the bandits were easily found and easily eliminated.  A guard from the crew was posted on land, just in case they had relief come from the main band of bandits.  That had given Gem an idea.

The plan had come together, as the sailors led by Gem and Hazalam knew the bandits would not be leaving before first light.  The two assassins had sent bird-calls through the woods to Laun, hoping that she would hear and understand.  They waited on the only road leading to the ship and the Rosemond men walked right to where they were supposed to.

Laun was unhappy that Hazalam had gone against her orders, but she was also glad he had.  She knew that it was a sense of duty that had drawn him, but also the love he had for Gem.  Laun saw the looks between them, and even with Hazalam standing behind her, Laun could feel him turn to look at Gem.  She knew that there was an unsaid commitment between the two assassins.  He may love Laun as his Mistress, but Gem he held in his heart as a Wife.

The timid soldier who placed the metal plate on the table in front of Laun looked apologetic and scared that she would object to what was there.  Laun smiled up at him and thanked him before asking for some bread for the children.  He saluted as he backed up and almost ran to get what she had asked for.  Laun waited as the plates were put on the table, watching as one of the Lieutenants elbowed a Captain to stop eating.  The serving soldier came back with a bowl with bread and some hard boiled eggs for the children and shy smile on his face as Laun thanked him again before handing it back to Gem.

Commander Listas had seen immediately that she was waiting until all at the table were served before eating.  It had been something that the General had been impressed about the Princess; her willingness to wait or even go without to make sure all were taken care of before her.  Listas saw it first hand and in the small gestures she made towards the lower ranked men.  She treated all well, even better than he did, if he let himself compare for more than a moment.

The last plate was down and Laun picked up her knife, cutting the smallbread on top of her gruel into pieces before eating some.  The officers around her followed her lead and they all started to eat as the first bite went to her mouth.  The few unranked soldiers at the table tried not to watch in open amazement.  They had never seen the officers be that tightly reined in by a civilian, let alone a woman.  One of the soldiers had finished and was not sure if he should leave or not, not wanting to bring attention to himself by standing from the table.

Laun saw the discomfort of the man and cleared her throat a little after taking a sip of the black tea that had been placed before her.  Several of the officers turned and the unranked solders seemed to jump slightly.  Laun caught the young soldier’s eye and smiled at him.

“What did you do to your wrist?”  Laun had an open look on her face and did not blink as the soldier tried to come to attention while sitting.

“Ma’am, it’s nothing.  Ma’am.”  He put his hands down below the table but Laun had seen the bandage, and the red marks that had been on the back of his hand indicating an infection.

“Did you cut yourself while cleaning the battalions’ weaponry?”

He blinked and glanced around the table, all the officers now looking at him.  “How did you know I work in the armory, Ma’am?”

Laun’s hand went to her shoulder, indicating his own.  “Armorer’s apprentice, I would say, with the stain on your shoulder.  It’s not bad, but that burn never will come out.”

His hand went over where he leaned the still hot pieces of metal as he went from anvil to forge or tempering pit.  There was an apron of thick hide between he and the metal, but the heat still came through.  “If I had known you were going to be here, Ma’am, I would have changed into my Blacks.”  His head went down slightly, trying to not see the officers looking at him.

Laun laughed.  “Soldier, if your Commander had his way, I probably would not have left the non-com’s barracks.”  Laun turned and winked at Listas, who had the beginning of a grin on his face.  “I am just a country girl and I don’t think much of dressing up just to eat.”

She picked up a spoonful of the chicken and barley gruel and motioned to the soldier in acknowledgement before putting it in her mouth.  She had only tasted the small breads before and had a pained expression on her face as she swallowed.  The Commander took a spoonful of it himself and forced it down.  “Yup.  Just as awful.”

“Do they burn it on purpose?”  Laun tried to scrape the taste off her tongue with the roof of her mouth without any success.

One of the other younger soldiers pushed the salt cellar across the table towards her, a small grin on his face.  “Try with some of this, Ma’am.”

The Commander grabbed the salt and looked in, checking for something.  He offered it to Laun and then took some for himself, the salt cellar making it’s way down and around the table.  The salt did help some, but the burnt taste lingered even after draining the tea.

The young soldier was still at the table, watching Laun.  “No wonder your wound is not doing well.  I know I would not be able to heal with that to eat.  You are quite brave to come here for your rations every day.”

There was some laughter among the officers, many of whom had taken a bite of the gruel and nothing else.  Laun ate more, some slipping from her spoon down her chin.  The salty stuff went past the cut on her chin and she stopped moving.  She clenched her hands and her jaw.

“Ma’am?”  The soldier with the cut on his hand started to rise, seeing the pain on her face and body.

Laun swiped at her chin with a fist, dislodging the gruel.  “It’s just pain.  I cut my chin on someone’s knife this morning.”  She looked at him and smiled slightly.

He sat back down and then stood up at attention.  His arm raised for a salute and he asked, “If I may be dismissed?”

Listas made a sloppy salute to the young man, Laun nodding when she saw the soldier’s eye flick to her.  He stepped away from the table, soon to be followed by the other unranked soldiers who had been caught at the table.

Laun finished the gruel that had been set for her.  She drained several more mugs of tea and water trying to get the taste out of her mouth.  The Commander also finished his portion, an unsettled stomach sending burps up to tell him it had not been a good idea.

“Why the hell do we make the men eat this?”  Listas turned to the aide next to him who shrugged in response.  “Schedule a meeting with the cooking staff and quartermaster.  It’s no wonder our men are caught off compound most nights.  I think it is the food that makes them leave, not for the ale.”

Laun laughed.  “Sir, you cannot coddle them, but please, do something about this?  I haven’t had much worse.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Listas said.  He glanced back to the children who had eaten their fill of the bread and eggs and were now looking like they were tired enough to sleep.  “May I escort you back to your quarters?”

Laun nodded.  She had to carefully stand as she could feel some of the bandages across her back had slipped or had bled through.  The dark fabric of the tunic did not show that the piercings had bled enough to soak the tunic, and then dry some, scabbing and pulling as she moved.

The babies would not go into their baskets.  Gem and Hazalam each held one of the twins as the group went through the torchlit paths back to the non-commissioned officer’s barracks.  There was a small group of men near the outside door of the building, all of them standing at attention as the group came near.  The salutes were crisp, their eyes straight ahead.

“Reporting for duty, Sir!”

Laun watched as the Commander saluted back.  “You two on this door.  You two on the door on the other end.  You two...”  He looked at Laun and then back at the last two men.  “You two are to come with us and guard the beach access.”

Several of the aides to the Commander held back, the group going into the barracks smaller than before.  The two soldiers were stationed outside the rooms on the tiled deck, the almost full moon making the few metal pieces on them glint and glow.

“Highness, this has been an interesting day.  I hope that you can rest.”  Commander Listas bowed over Laun’s hand and then came to attention, his salute strong as he held it.

Laun saluted and smiled at him in the lamplight.  “Thank you for your work and diligence, Commander.  I hope you get some rest, also.”

There were nods for the rest of the men with the Commander before they left.  Laun sat on the bed in the room and felt very tired.  She heard the footsteps of the officers as they left, a few mumbles indistinctly coming to her.  Then there was quiet.

“Bed.  To sleep.”  Laun had more tiredness go through her.  She did not care which room she was in.  She did not care which room her assassins were in.  They just could not be in the same room together.

She felt the need in both of them, and Laun could not think about being with them without the guilt of Liam’s wound pulling at her.  He had given her the gift of release, something she had not been able to give herself for over a week before that.  Then he was cut down in his own ship by men sent to take her.  The thought of sex brought with it the sense of dire consequences.  Laun did not like that, did not want that.

 

Onto Chapter 10 A dip in the ocean brings anger from the Commander