FreeHolds Adventure, Cycle 3 Part 3c
It took over three days to reach the eastern border of Sharlok’s Hold. Despite himself Adwin found that he was less worried about Tipper’s whereabouts. At this point he had accepted there was little he could do except wait to see if she was able to rejoin them. Having his other companions with him helped, but so did having to care for the horses and keeping his attention on the road.
Though Sefla had some impressive riding skills, she had not been very adept caring for the Pwhanna horse. On the second day out of Wikkersak, Adwin had asked her about this.
She looked uncomfortable when she answered, “I rode nearly every day since I could sit in a saddle, up to about six years ago, my father’s slaves looked after the animals.”
“Slaves?”
“My father is Tannican, from Rogh Mohk Talh. He was a very wealthy Gor, likely still is.” He noted an edge of anger in her voice.
Adwin was at a loss, he had never known anyone who had slaves, “Oh… Did you want me to show you?”
She brightened a bit, “That would be really nice, Mast-,” She cut herself short, “Adwin, I mean. Yes, if you don’t mind.”
Since then, she had helped him with the animals. It wasn’t that she did not know what needed doing, it was more a case of rarely ever having done it. Adwin noticed he was more comfortable around her over the past couple of days. Since they had switched from the coach to their present rougher form of travel, she had been wearing britches, tunic, a brimmed hat with her hair bound, gloves and boots. She was just as beautiful he thought, but the change in clothing was less of an assault on his senses and imagination. It muted her overwhelming femininity.
During the past three days there had been a number of mounted patrols moving along the road in either direction. They had been stopped twice and questioned, the guards still seemed to be looking for three people from Roburns Trading Company, a woman and two men.
In Adwin’s opinion Oddam’s Greener Fields was only slightly better than his first book, the others had enjoyed it though and it had been a good exercise for Calathy, translating from Maldorn to Andalee for the other two. Certainly, it had helped pass the time.
He remembered this area well from last year. He had been impressed by the road and the numerous hedge-rowed homesteads. Last year he thought he had come out of the wilderness into civilized lands. Now he knew that most places west of here were better situated. Most of what they had travelled through over the past three days was only a couple decades old. Recent settlement encouraged by Sharlok’s resources and long term goals.
The eastern border tower was busier than he had expected. There was work underway. It was hard to tell at the distance they were from the tower but it appeared that a wall was going up and roads were being built. Rows of tents looked like they might accommodate three to four score of workers. Like the western border, the road here had been manned and people were being stopped.
There was a wagon ahead of them, it appeared to be full of food. The two women on the front bench joked with the guards, past the checkpoint Adwin noted that the Eastern Road had been broadened and levelled. The women were passed through and a young guard waved Adwin forward. He rolled up to the checkpoint, recognized the young man who had waved him forward, he had been there last year. The same fellow that had recognized Mokha from his earlier visit to the hold.
Two more guards moved out from the fortified position near the road and the young guard came up alongside Adwin, “Where you headed?”
“Willik’s Hold.” Adwin answered with a big smile. He glanced around, Sefla was close by, on the Pwhanna horse and he noted that Mokha was sprawled out over a couple of crates in back and appeared to be sleeping.
The fellow seemed surprised at his answer, he looked over to Calathy and obviously liked what he saw. The other two guards moved around the wagon, one even ducked down and looked underneath. Adwin had to clear his throat before the young guard remembered himself, the fellow blushed then asked, “Have you any arms or food destined for Lekas?”
“No.”
“Are you aware there’s been a number of troubles on the road east of here? Bandits, goblins and giant spiders.”
“We had heard there was some troubles. Something about Aramy as well.”
“Aye, rumour has it there’s a witch out that way.”
One of the guards pounded on the back gate of the wagon, “You there, sit up.”
Adwin glanced back, Mokha was sitting up, blinking and looking around with a confused expression.
“Is that everyone?” The young guard asked. He seemed curious about Mokha.
“Just the four of us.” Adwin responded. Desperate to keep the young man’s attention Adwin asked with a note of concern, “So it doesn’t sound that safe along the road ahead of us. Is there any way we could hire a couple of you guards to escort us to Aramy?”
“What? No, we’re not mercenaries.” He looked up at Adwin, obviously offended.
“I apologize, I’m just concerned with the safety of my friends.”
The guard glanced back to Mokha again, scowling now. Suddenly Sefla let out a startled cry, her horse had reared up and the lithe dancer tumbled to the ground with a cry of pain. There was a moment of surprised silence and the little horse pranced around in a circle. Sefla appeared to have hurt her leg.
Calathy nearly flew off the wagon, “Sefla? Are you alright?” One of the guards moved to help as well. Adwin sighed and secured the reins before getting down. It looked like Sefla had hurt her leg pretty badly, not broken, but she was tearing up and did not seem able to put much weight on the injured leg. The guard that had gone to help was assisting Calathy, they brought Sefla over to the wagon. Mokha dropped the gate and also appeared concerned. Adwin went to get the horse, who was more interested in prancing around, as if the two of them were playing some sort of game.
By the time he had gathered the frisky horse’s reins and was leading her back to the wagon, the helpful guard pronounced that Sefla had a sprained ankle but would be fine if she stayed off her feet for a couple of days. All three guards were now gathered around the two women. Mokha had moved to the front of the wagon, quietly talking to one of the horses, stroking its neck as he muttered. Adwin took the lead and secured the little red horse to the back. Calathy helped get Sefla settled.
“Thanks for the help.” Adwin said to the guards.
“No problem.” Said the older guard who had helped Sefla.
“We should get moving. If it’s alright?”
“Aye, you look after them women you hear?”
Adwin nodded, “Thanks.”
He looked to Calathy, who was sitting with Sefla, “Everything okay?”
“We’ll be fine.”
Adwin went to the front and climbed up beside Mokha. After they had been underway for a while, having moved off a good distance from the border, Adwin asked, “Did you recognize the younger guard?”
“Certainly. He was the lad who recognized me last year.”
Glancing back Adwin asked, “Are you going to be alright Sefla?”
“Oh, I think so.”
It was not until they stopped for lunch and Sefla hopped out of the wagon to help Calathy unload the box of cooking supplies, that he realized she had faked the entire riding accident. He did not let on that he had been fooled as easily as the guards, but Mokha had noted his brief confusion, smiled and gave him a wink.
Lunch was tasty, though Adwin and his companions were subdued. Mokha wondered out loud, “How far along do you think this road crew is?”
Adwin shrugged.
Sefla offered, “Not too far. The wagon ahead of us was full of food with just two people and no guards. I’d think if they had far to go, they’d have been given an escort.”
It made sense to Adwin, “Not to mention, if they are too far along the road then the folks from Lekas would know they were there. Likely they already do know. We’re also going to see more guards ahead of us, besides the mounted patrols.”
Calathy then said what was on Adwin’s mind, “I wish Tipper was here.”
“Me too.”
“She had agreed to starts training me to fight.”
“Well, I can show you some of the basics.”
“I’d like that. I’m feeling increasingly vulnerable the further we get from GreensBridge. I don’t even have a real weapon.” She looked at the small knife she usually carried. It lay atop the crate the kitchen supplies were kept in, along with the dirty dishes from their meal.
Sefla suggested, “Take some time now. To train. Mokha and I will clean up.”
Calathy looked to Adwin, he nodded, “Sure, I could use a change of pace.”
Adwin went to the wagon and pulled out the bundle of training weapons. He took a couple of the smaller sticks, passed one to Calathy and then started showing her what little he knew. They did not get to any serious sparing, he showed her some basic forms, especially high, low and middle guard. She practiced swinging the stick for a while and moved through the guard positions easily. Then he had her swing at him, mostly at his stick, just to get her used to the movements. She had good arm strength and more reach than he did. There was not much coordination between her arm and the rest of her body though. Tipper had been drilling him on how to move, stay aware, strike and defend, he considered getting into some of that with her, but they were already well into the afternoon.
“That’s probably good for now. We should get back on the road.”
Calathy looked a bit disappointed but sighed and said, “You’re right.”
They packed their gear back into the wagon and were heading east again shortly thereafter. Sefla and Mokha were sitting in the back, they were talking in Tannican, he assumed it was more Aggedrah stuff. He and Calathy sat close on the front bench, Adwin decided to show her how to handle the team.
A patrol passed them, heading back to Sharlok’s lands, waves were exchanged. The soldiers did not seem concerned by their presence. Adwin wasn’t sure, but thought it may have been one of the patrols that had stopped them earlier. Late in the afternoon they encountered the road crew, most were pounding the newly broadened road to compact the earth, they had a heavy barrel thing that was attached to a mule and a dozen people with broad headed mallet-like tools. Not far from where the work was taking place there was a camp. With the labourers were guards in addition to camp workers, somewhere around two score or so people were out here. There were a few wagons, a couple handfuls of mules with some other livestock for food.
Adwin took the wagon off the road before he reached the softer ground and rolled along past the work crew. There were some friendly nods and a couple of waves, the guards took note but did not stop them. It was not long before they had moved past. Adwin figured that crew would be improving the road all they way to Lekas. When they were back on the narrow track of the East Road, the ride was noticeably rougher.
If Tipper had been present she no doubt would have been complaining about the slow pace.
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