New Assignment Part 1

After the final sea battle, the convoy returned in bits and pieces to the yards at Quanx.  Though the day had been theirs, the Sudren Navy had suffered enormous losses. The overwhelming fire power of the Kensen fleet, once they had broken into range of their cannon, had wiped out entire crews, leaving some of the galleons virtual ghost ships. Broadsides had killed the deck crews and the Eek oarsmen abandoned their posts and went topside to do battle. Some of the ships had been caught in the maelstrom of the fires burning out of control and many had limped away with only partial crews to work the oars. Less than half the lancers remained and six of the Biathon had to be left behind as well. Those who could climbed on the passing vessels, while others jumped overboard and swam to shore.1

Bjorn's crew had actually been one of the luckier ones. Though more than half the Rangers had been killed, the oarsmen were virtually untouched and they powered the vessel out of range of the fires quite quickly. They pulled on more men as they followed the fleet back to port, eventually filling the vessel so full of survivors, they carried over capacity. When the galleon finally nosed into a slip, the oarsmen were dead tired and glad to rest.
Commander Maltac and Bjorn led the rest of the crew and those they'd picked up back to the staging area to see what the next course of action would be. 2

At the city camp men were laid out all over with injuries, some minor, others mortal. The dead were being bourn off to the specially prepared cemetery, honoring those who had died over the course of the war. More than six thousand men had died in the battle or shortly after and there was no telling how many had simply disappeared, believed to be dead. The wounded numbered in the tens of thousands, from the vessels fighting in the sea and those who fought from the shore. The most appalling note was the fact that, while the Kensen had been driven off, there were still pirate vessels ranging the sea and bands of mercenaries fighting the volunteer forces who'd come to join the army and defeat them. Reports were arriving, by messenger, from all over the sea provinces and even some in the mountains of Spinea and the north-lands, of attacks taking place on travelers and convoys. The ugly side of war was emerging as die hards and tramp forces did their best to take advantage of any lost or unguarded travelers.3

Bjorn rested through the morning, too distraught by the loss of Mika to care for food. He wanted more than he ever had before to get drunk. He wanted to mix wine and vitoman and put his mind in to blackness, and stay that way. He knew it wasn't what Mika would have wanted, but he had lost his friend and his teacher and he knew the shock would leave Korok in even more distress. The giant had wanted more than anything to learn the way of the Karuke and to travel on thought, as Mika had promised him he would. Now, there would be no more lessons. Now, there would be only memories of what might have been and the man who had opened both their eyes to some great world they had never known.4

By mid afternoon, in the hottest part of the day, Commander Maltac returned to camp and to tell Bjorn the news. He was saddened at Bjorn's mental state and tried to cheer him. "Bjorn, we are fortunate, for we will be off the sea for a while. We've been reassigned." He laughed but Bjorn looked up glumly, confused and frowned. 5

"Why are we being taken off the ship?" 6

"It's not a punishment Bjorn," the commander explained. We are going to act as guards for transporting good overland to the North. It's good duty. We'll be allowed to visit the hamlets all along the way and stay at some of the inns, while we watch out for bandits. The farmers will treat us well, believe me, I've done this duty before. They like having divisions of the Sudren and Nartac Armies nearby."7

"What about Korok?", Bjorn asked hopefully, "Well he be coming along on this assignment?"8

The commander shook his head. "No, not Korok. We're being reassigned because there aren't enough of us to keep our ship on line. There will be a whole new crew made up of young men in training, and they'll be working the lower sea. Korok, ironically, will be aboard, but not as an oarsman, but as an instructor. His expertise with the spear, the sword and the bolos has caught the attention of command. They want him to work with these new recruits, getting them ready as they predict there will still be pockets holding out all along the sea board and they don't want to face them with inexperienced troops with no training."9

Bjorn was happy for Korok, though he wished he could stay on the ship with him. He heard Korok's crew was being disbanded and his ship, one of the first and oldest Biathon was to be decommissioned and dismantled to be used to repair newer vessels. Bjorn knew Korok would be pleased with his assignment, but he wondered how he himself would do, adjusting to land duty. As he packed up his few possessions, he found the harp Mika had given him and he wrapped it carefully, reverently, promising himself he would protect this last fragment of his friendship. He gave the flute to the commander, who played the flute and he put Mika's few treasures into a small chest and buried it up the beach from the camp. He wanted to properly enshrine it later, but for now, it would be safe there. Having completed his final assignments in the dock camp, preparing for travel, he reported for duty, still deeply saddened. 10

Once they were on the way, however, Bjorn began to brighten, thinking of the trail that would take him back to the north-lands and to his master, He heard the children and the aged had practically taken over the northern plantations and he wanted to see what they were like. He also wanted to see his master again, after so long, and to enjoy a reunion with his many old friends.
As the men, less than sixty of them, moved out behind their teams flag, in the lead of a group of traders and farmers heading back from market, Bjorn kept look out, sure there would be trouble. Too many of the mercenary forces had escaped for their not to be.11

Through the early hours of the first day and well into the night, Bjorn was jumpy and on guard. But, nothing seemed to be happening and he began to relax, though only slightly, still on the watch for any trouble. As the men pointed out various places they might want to chase down some of the wild horses or take in lopers as pack animals, the commander planned a strategy. He would allow some of the men to go after horses, which would be beneficial for all concerned, but only a few of them would be his soldiers. He knew the young farmer boys were more expert at capturing run away stock and wild animals and there was no shortage of volunteers. He picked seven men and assigned them each twenty young farm workers to go after horses. He told the rest to be on guard for enemies and for Snow Lions which would be all about, as winter drew steadily nearer. Once they were into the foot hills, now that fall was in the air, he knew the Lions would be mating and growing hungry for kill to tide them over through the winter. That was the time the Lions were most dangerous.12

The second and third day passed uneventfully, until nearing the final hour of travel. Just as they came over a low foothill rocks came crashing down the sides of the mountains. Huge boulders crashed into the pack train and lopers panicked. Men ran to the safety of the outcroppings and the archers took aim for any advancing pirates or mercenaries. Suddenly, the air was filled with arrows and men came from out of the rocks screaming and racing for the caravan and the troops. They were well armed, but the rangers, angry at having been sent away from war, were more than up for the attack. They hammered down the attackers, killing and maiming with abandon and with a desire to exact retribution for their fallen comrades that turned them into fiends. Heads, arms, and hacked up bodies of the mercenaries were soon all about the foothills as they fought off the brief onslaught, then chased their attackers into the hills. Bjorn didn't bother to chase after the enemy, content with guarding the farmers and their new catch of lopers and horses. But, he wished he could be more spirited. Something seemed missing in him, as though his energy had drained away.13

Nightfall of the third day the trading caravan came to a halt and set up camp. The cooks turned out a fine meal and men went to the hot springs nearby to bathe. As the fires were built up to keep away predators and any unseen roaming bandit packs, the place took on a festive atmosphere. The men brought out instruments and began to play their favorite music from the days of battle on the sea. Bjorn joined in with his harp and was beginning to feel, atlast, more a part of the scene, when he looked up to see a new group of traders was entering camp. The caravans often joined together for added protection and he wasn't too surprised at the arrival of this one. But there was something different here. This band had its own guards. Only a Baron could afford his own army and this caravan was small, but well guarded. When the commander went to speak to the commander of the guards he found it was a wedding party heading north towards another Plantation beyond Bjorn's masters lands. Wagons carrying the wedding party members and the lady who was to wed arrived behind the guards with more following. This was indeed a wealthy caravan. The men were called out to welcome them and Bjorn hurried along with the rest.14

The final wagon pulled into camp and the leader of the caravan went to this beautifully trimmed carriage and knocked on the door. The door opened just a bit and he put his head inside, speaking to the occupants. Then, out came personal guards, a pair of ladies in waiting, and finally the lady herself. The men began to sigh and coo at her loveliness, Bjorn looked up and, and gasped, for before him was a sight he thought he would never see again. It was the Lady Lashir of the family Nortac,the bride to be.