The progress on the buildings was amazing, as the carpenters set about their work. By the end of the second day, the frame of all three buildings was finished and workers were sectioning off rooms. Within a week all the buildings would be complete. Other workers had started the construction of the arena, and it was magnificent. There would be seats enough for hundreds of spectators. Ana was well pleased So pleased,in fact, that she talked Lashir into loading up a carriage with delicasies and setting off to the Rugis estate to break the good news to Rugera. 1
2
Some of the children tagged along, and Bradley eager to see how well his baking and cooking was received loaded in a big basket of freshly baked bread, meat pies and dessert samples and piled into the carriage as well. Bidding everyone a fast farewell, the enterage set off to Rugis Estates, unaware of what was waiting for them.3
4
5
Rugera had slept fitfully through the night, becoming more and more apprehensive at his decision. From the first second he’d seen Bartok in the woods he’d known of the evil the man represented, Bartok being a legendary mercenary for hire, and had barely resisted his first inclinations to kill him. It would have been easy, as the man was unaware as he watched him there in the woods, hunting for any small game which would make up a suitable meal. But, he had, instead, pretended not to know who the man was and led him back to his home. There he had fed him and his men and allowed them to spend the night, intent on seeing what their intentions were. When he’d found Bartok’s only desire was to get back to the grass sea and be able to buy enough supplies to build a place for his men and himself, he had birthed the plan. Now, as he considered what he was about to do, he began to feel doubts and no small amount of fear. What if something went wrong? What if someone found out what he was about? 6
By morning he, free of the narcotic effect of Vitoemin and wine he nursed a bad headache, partly from the drugs and partly from awareness of what he had done. Perhaps there might still be a way to stop it, he thought. If he could slip into Bjorn’s castle and steal the chest of gold, he could pay the Kensen off and be done with it. He knew Bjorn had left on a hunt and he might be able to pull it off, if he set out that day with haste. After all, Bjorn lived well above the settlement and had left the gold in a small shed unguarded. Bjorn wouldn’t miss the gold for some time, he reasoned, since he’d never seemed very interested in it anyway. And, by the time he did discover it missing, Rugera would be sure he’d never tie him to its disappearance. 7
Rugera forced down some food along with a strong pot of tea and was about to set out when there was a knock on the door. Opening it, expecting to see Bartok and his decrepit companions he was shocked when he found Ana, Lashir standing there. Some of the young Elos children and Bradley too had come along for the trip and they spilled into the room with the bounty Ana and Lashir had brought along. Ana bounced through the door behind them, “Ah, Rugera,” she waved a hand. “Greetings sir, wait till you hear the news we have for you! We brought you some vine victuals and an abundance of sprits and wines, sir.” She laughed and threw back the covers on several of the baskets. “And, wait till you hear what we good folks have planned. We’re going to hold the Chili games here in the North-lands and you, Rugera, of the Rugis estates will be the game master.” She paused, looking up at him to see his reaction. When it didn’t bring about the excitement she expected, Ana was puzzled.8
“Isn't it wonderful Rugera?” Lashir chimed in. “It’s an idea Ana and I had to help rebuild your estate. And, it will bring new life to the entire Northern province.” She went to him, taking his arm. “Come and look at all the good things we’ll be having.” 9
Ana bubbled along with the news as she unpacked the delicasies,we’ve convinced the council to have the championships of Chili, and a general holiday for all the workers. They’ll all get to see the games and meet one another and everyone will have a good time. The occasion will no doubt become a tradition in the north-lands. And, with the addition of the new buildings in the settlement, oh wait till you hear of the new hostelries we’re building, there will be plenty of business. People will be able to leave the fields for jobs in the village, serving the guests. We expect many will want to come north in the summer months, to escape the heat of the southern provinces and Spinea Range will be just the place to go.” Ana pulled out a bottle of wine and drew a cork screw from the basket. “And, wait till you taste the spring wines we’ve been putting away all summer.” She laughed at her humor, “just right and ready for the fall celebration.” She waved the cork screw, and then set to work on the cork. 10
Rugera stood frozen. What had he done? The mercenaries would descend on the rangers and the rest of the workers while they worked at their tasks and take them totally by surprise. And, they wouldn’t even try to be subtle. That wasn’t their way and they wouldn’t be concerned with what happened to him when the sovereign heard of his treachery. His anger and stupidity would surely bring about the death of his friends. And, he would be totally to blame for the ruin of the Northern provinces. His mind raced desperately. He had to do something, but first of all, he had to get Ana and Lashir out of here before Bartok and his men should return unexpectedly and find them. 11
“Rugera, what is wrong, are you ill?” Lashir asked. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost?” She was smiling but concern was beginning to show on both hers and Ana’s faces. While they stood wondering, a young Elos girl came to Ana and tugged at her skirts. Ana looked down and smiled as the little girl said something in Elosian. Then she frowned. 12
“Now that is odd, Lashir. The children said they saw Yellow people.”13
“What are Yellow people?” Lashir asked confused.14
“Oh, that’s the name the Elos have for the Kensen.” She looked back to the little girl and shook her head. “Don’t worry little one, there aren’t any Yellow people here. Our armies have driven them all away.”15
Rugera sprang forward to the window. He glanced about, but saw no one. Then, spinning to Ana, he shouted, “You’ve got to get out of here! You must leave now!”16
“What?” Lashir asked. “What is wrong with you Rugera? We just got here. We brought you all manner of good things and the best tidings and you order us to leave?” 17
“I’m telling you Lashir, you and Ana have got to leave immediately. There are Kensen here.”18
“I don’t see any Kensen”, Ana said, stepping to the window. “Where are these men?”19
“I don’t know for sure where they are, but they have been here and they might come back at any time.” Rugera rushed to the door and opened it. The children were standing in the courtyard outside his home, pointing off into the woods. Ana walked over and looked outside. Lashir did as well. “If you are here when they come again, they will take you prisoner, perhaps even kill you,” Rugera screamed. “Please Ana, Lashir, go!” 20
Lashir turned to Rugera, stormy faced. “What have Kensen been doing here on this estate Rugera? You know to even have contact with them and not report them to the army is considered aiding the enemy. You fool; you could be executed for this. If you haven’t reported Kensen sightings and they have come right to your home, I surely will. Come Ana.”21
“Not until I know what is going on!” Ana said, “What have you been up to Rugera? I know you too well to think this was all just a coincidence. You are as wise on the streets as any alley cat. You must have been plotting and I want to know what this is all about.”22
“It doesn’t matter Ana,” Rugera screamed hysterical now. “You and Lashir must leave immediately before anything can happen!” 23
“Very well, but if you’ve endangered the people, you will answer for it,” Ana stormed. She headed towards the door, but had only taken a few paces when the door suddenly exploded in and the hooded men entered.24
II25
Bartok and his cohorts moved into the room, smiling. Their dark hoods tossed back, their sallow skin took on an eerie glow in the shade of the house. Their slit like eyes sparkled almost with a reptilian appearance and their jagged teeth completed a truly ghastly image. Three more Kensen flanked them outside the door. The children had scattered at the sight of them and were gone into the woods. Of the elves, only Bradley and Ana remained. The Kensen looked at them like insects. Kensen had always hated any elves, no matter what type they were. Bartok stepped out and eyed Ana and Lashir and turned to Rugera.26
“Good work Rugera, you just made my job considerably easier. Look at the prize you have brought to me. “The Lady Nartac herself, bride of the great Melki of the Northern provinces, and, if I’m not mistaken, the newly acquired Elf of Lord Maltac of Sudra.” He sneered at Ana.
Bartok laughed, “I thought this was going to be difficult. It’s going to be the easiest victory any general ever had. I’ve scouted your little estate sir and the reserve up north. All the men of your estate, the reserve and Melki’s northern estates as well, hard at work, building for this celebration they have all been talking about. My men report the whole population of male slaves seems to be there. I only have to wait till go they're asleep at the work sights, and slip in with my men, three hundred or so will do. They won’t expect anything and my men are all trained assassins. We’ll kill all of them without much struggle. And, we’ll have women and children to sell as slaves. And, you two foolish women have all the aristocracy of both Nartac and Sudra on their way here to these stupid games they love so much. I can take them all hostage. Any of the men who fight will die and the rest will bring me a high ransom. 27
“You intend to do all this with a few hundred men?” Rugera scoffed. “You are a brave and stupid man, Bartok.”28
“Bartok,” Lashir said, suddenly. “You have allowed Bartok into your home? Even by Kensen standards, this man is considered one of the worst. “You traitor, Rugera! When my uncle hears of this he’ll have you beheaded and then, you sir!” She pointed at Bartok, “will find out what it means to take on the army of Nartac. 29
Bartok stepped up to Lashir smiling cruelly. “ Silence you stupid woman. Your uncle will hear when I decide to tell him. I’ve been taking on the armies of Nartac for years! And, for your information it isn’t a few men. There were nearly three hundred thousand men left behind by the Kensen. Now, many have died, but there remains more than fifty thousand scattered about the forests of Spinea, hiding, waiting for this moment to come. Now, you’ve delivered it to my very doorstep. Once those rangers are out of the way and any other men who might fight, I’ll move on Quanx. I’ll leave enough men here to take guards out who will come with your stinking royalty and then I’ll hold them captive while I take over the city. Without an army to stop me, and there will be none, with all the richest and most powerful under my thumb, I’ll take the fleet. Then, I’ll invite the Kensen up. Lured in by all those slaves and all the booty to be had, they’ll walk right into my trap.”30
“Trap? What are you talking about, Bartok?” Rugera asked.31
“One thing you and I have in common Rugera, is a hate for the Kensen Empire.” Bartok stomped across the room to Rugera. “They left me and all my people here when they fled. They didn’t even try to get us transport. They left us to fend for ourselves and for three years that,s all we’ve been doing. Robbing and stealing from whoever we could. Us, the finest mercenary force in all the grass sea, reduced to such petty existence. Well, now they’ll pay. And, I will have the greatest victory of all. I’ll have Nartac, Sudra and take over the Kensen forces. When the Kensen arrive they’ll find themselves facing a flotilla bristling with all manner of weaponry, manned by my men, not the Sudra navy. I’ll blow the entire lot of them out of the water before they have any idea of what happened. What a coop, I couldn’t have planned it so well.”32
“You are mad, if you think you can take on the armies of Nartac and Sudra with any amount of men!” Lashir said. “My people would rather die than to surrender to you.” 33
“All the better my dear, because I still have you and that is all I need!” Bartok crowed. “Seize her”34
The men grabbed Lashir but before they could do the same with Ana, Bradley who had stood by unnoticed till now, hurled a piece of explosive red stone at their feet. The explosion rocked the house. At the same time, Ana slung a dagger underhanded into one of the men who held Lashir, catching him in the chest. The man groaned and folded. In the confusion Rugera pulled the sword from the other mans scabbard and hacked his head off. He spun on Bartok. “Ana, Lashir run!” 35
Rugera moved to meet Bartok swinging his sword which Bartok coolly parried. Bartok swung his sword neatly in an arc, ripping a jagged tear across Rugera’s chest. Rugera went to one knee and jabbed out, catching Bartok in the side. Bartok screamed out in pain and driving the hilt of his sword down, crushing Rugera's head. He toppled to the floor dead. 36
Ana and Lashir ran towards the door but the men guarding outside blocked the way. They started at the women but before they could reach them, Bradley, like a small tank, crashed into the three of them, his arms stretched out, his powerful body exploding through the door carrying them with him. He was on his feet in a second hurling himself into them again, sending them flying like ten pins. Then, he raced over and grabbed Ana and Lashir up. He carefully set them on the seat of their carriage. Ana reined the horses and the carriage shot off. Bradley turned to fight a rear guard but the men were still lying about the road in no shape to fight. In a second he raced off down the road, his speed matching the carriage and he leaped aboard. The Kensen regaining their feet, started for their horses, when Bartok came to the door holding his side. “Let them go, they can’t get to the rangers in time to warn them anyway. Come over here and help me tie up this wound. He grabbed up one of the bottles of wine and poured it across the wound. Gritting his teeth he hissed. “Damned elves.” 37
His men dressed Bartok’s wound while he drank wine and vitoemin to kill the pain “We’ve go to move fast.” He thought. “We’ll still beat them to the village. When I’ve subdued the rangers and the rest of the men, the rest will go as planned. 38
So intent on his plan was he that Bartok hadn't noticed that high above him elves astride great blue swans circled. 39
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