The letter that Garia receives causes her to question what it is the Beings are doing, but other more urgent matters require her attention. It seems the Einnlanders need to know the effects of firearms, and it so happens the Kallend estate is the perfect place to show them.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

115 - Fire in the Hole

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2011-2014 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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Garia struggled to focus on the sheet of paper in front of her. It was in a wobbly hand-writing and in English, a language she had not seen in any written form for eight months or more. Eventually the words crystallized and she read the short note while Robanar glanced between Garia and Keren with increasing curiosity and frustration. She finished and looked up.

"Sire, I think you ought to hear this. It might mean some changes to our plans."

Robanar nodded assent and she began.

“

Prince Keren suggested I write this letter to you, as we share something in common. I am also from Earth.

My name on Earth was Marilyn Baker and I lived in Chicago, Illinois. Here I am known as Maralin of Shicargo and that seems to satisfy the Jothans.

We share something else in common as you can see from my different names. I am now a man and advisor to His Grace Duke Wallesan. On Earth I was a woman and one in trouble. Here I have decided to make the most of the second chance given me and will assist His Grace taking back his city as it seems I have a talent for warfare.

If I had known I was not alone I might have done things differently but since I did not I have given my fealty to His Grace.

Prince Keren has made His Grace and myself aware of the dangers I face from Yod and we will make sure I keep a low profile. He suggests a meeting with his father but I don't know when that will be.

I understand that you are now a young woman soon to marry the Prince. I congratulate you and wish you well for the future.

If you wish to correspond with me I would not object. It will be one way to keep up my English, which is beginning to get rusty from lack of use. I understand you know more about this strange world and our part in it and I would be interested to learn more.

Maralin.

”

Robanar grunted. "Another one! Thank the Maker that Keren found out about... him... before Yod did! What say you, Keren? Describe to us what happened."

"Father, it was when I first went to Thorn. We were talking about the Yodan firearms we had both experienced and one of Duke Wallesan's captains mentioned that a levy of his from their southern town had recognized the Yodan weapons and named them guns. I showed mild interest but said that this person would likely be in danger should Yod discover their knowledge and I desired to meet them when I returned through Thorn on my way home. I tried not to display any anxiety or undue interest, in case any from Yod should learn of his existence.

"On the way home Maralin was waiting at Wallesan's residence. It seems he was found the night of the evacuation of the city and, like Garia, had no memory for several days. As a man of about twenty-two or so he was inducted into the levies in Galdarin and immediately began making a difference. Father, they now have their own camouflage, which looks as though it could be very effective in the winter fields."

"So, a seasoned warrior before he came to Anmar, then?"

Keren shook his head. "Apparently not, father. Maralin worked in kitchens, sometimes as a cook of some standing, at others merely serving at table. Then she began a relationship with a man of ill-repute who plied her with... noxious substances, from what I understand. Garia? Drugs, he called them."

"Yes, Keren." Garia sighed. "I can guess most of the rest. No wonder she or he jumped at a second chance at life! My own situation was somewhat different but I am comfortable here, Sire."

Robanar had a frown. "I understood that there were only two here from Earth, Garia. Yourself and Yves Perriard."

Garia shook her head. "Sire, I have no idea who else might be anywhere else on Anmar, in Alaesia or even in the Valley. There just could be us... three or there could be many. How would we know?"

She didn't want to go into too big a discussion about the Beings, especially with Merek and Kendar in the room. Besides, she didn't really understand what was going on in any case.

She continued, "I don't know what those who sent us hope to achieve so I can only guess, but at this time I can't explain Maralin's presence at all."

"Supposing he is here to help Joth get their city back?" Keren suggested.

"There is that," Garia said doubtfully. "As always, Sire, I doubt we will get any serious answers to these questions."

You might not but I'm going to try! The Beings must have had some reason for bringing him here and I want to find that out, even if I can't pass that information on. There's so much about this whole mess that is such a mystery!

Robanar stared carefully at Garia. "You said once that you had some kind of communication with those who brought you here, Garia."

"Nothing that I'd care to talk about, Sire. Mostly just weird dreams."

Robanar realized there might be unwary ears in the room and understood why Garia was being reticent and nodded.

"If you learn anything, you shall inform us?"

"As you command, Sire."

"Good. Now," Robanar adjusted the direction of the conversation, "let us consider what this new person might mean for the coming changes. Keren? You have spoken of such matters to Wallesan, I take it?"

"Aye, father. I explained the Council of the Two Worlds and suggested that he might wish to co-ordinate efforts between our two countries. It would be unwise for one to release some knowledge that the other had determined held some danger. His Grace understands this."

"As you say. I will write a letter to Wallesan explaining our thoughts in detail and requesting a meeting." He smiled at a thought. "It may be that your own wedding will provide an opportunity, Keren. I doubt not that rulers from along the Valley will attend such an important event. I have already anticipated that I must needs spend some time describing our thoughts and our present strategy at such a gathering." He turned to Garia. "I regret, Garia, that your wedding will be the occasion for statecraft but it was ever so. Gatherings of all the leaders are always rare events and much business is conducted at those times. We shall ensure that you and your new husband will not be distracted by any of these matters."

"Thank you, Sire." She thought. "If I want to write a letter to Maralin, do you want to see it before I send it off?"

"No, my dear! Your letters are between you and the person you send them to. I doubt not you will have many questions for each other, and will speak of many matters of no interest to any on Anmar."

"That's probably true. Thank you, Sire."

"Garia." Keren leaned forward. "May I look at the letter? I was present when it was written, but I have not seen the document itself. I am interested to see your language as it written."

"Sure, Keren. There's nothing to hide. Here."

Garia handed the letter to Keren and he held it up to one of the parlor lamps to study it better.

"The writing looks strange to me," he commented. "You have shown us your letters, remember, some months ago. I do not recall anything that looked like this."

"That's because it is handwriting," Garia explained. "The Valley script is no different, Keren. That's just what happens when you write with a pen and ink. The letters are different shaped but we know what they are."

"As you say, Garia." He handed the letter back and Garia gave it to Merizel to file away. He added, "At the time you showed us those letters, you said that you would teach me some of your tongue. Would you still do so? It seems to me that Anmar has more than one English speaker on it now."

"Hah! I had almost forgotten suggesting that, Keren. What with several attempts to kidnap me, learning to ride and to use swords, endless meetings, traveling to Blackstone and back and getting betrothed, I'm not surprised, really. Are you sure you're still interested?"

"Aye, Garia, I am."

Robanar grunted. "It is winter, and while there are many decisions which will have to be made it seems to me that this may be a useful thing to do, Keren. We have the time. If you so desire to learn Garia's tongue then I shall not object."

"Thank you, father."

Garia shrugged. "I don't know how much time I can spare but, so be it. In fact, we're already slipping some English words into the Valley tongue, if you hadn't noticed. It still surprises me when someone in the palace says 'okay'."

Keren grinned. "It is a natural feature of any tongue, that they will acquire words from other tongues. Still, it is English that is my present desire."

Garia held up her hands. "Okay!"

Keren grinned again.

* * *

Keren and Garia had their arms around each other, the first opportunity since his return. They were standing in the cloister of one of the quieter courtyards, so out of sight from most eyes. Near the other end of the same cloister stood Feteran and Jenet, in much the same proximity, although since they were older they did not feel the same need for public displays of close bodily contact.

"Are you going to ask the Beings what is going on, beloved?"

"If I can, Keren. It isn't like just knocking on the parlor door and entering, you know. I have no control over whether or when I meet the Beings or even if I remember such meetings afterwards. Of course I'll ask if I can! I was surprised to hear about Maralin but I shouldn't be, really. We have no idea of the Beings' plans at all, remember, I'm just guessing what my own part was supposed to be."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. It was just the thought that if Maralin is out there then so could others, that Yod might get their hands on."

"I know that. I'll do what I can, but I'm not promising anything, you know I can't."

~o~O~o~

Several days later, Merek had a sensitive request for Garia, during one of the regular Council meetings.

"Milady, I have received several requests from those at the Kallend estate that they be given some further information about the guns we have acquired. Since they will likely be facing them at the end of their journey, they desire to understand these new weapons."

"That's a good idea, I think," Garia replied. "I would guess we'd have to fire the things so the Norse would understand how they worked."

"Milady," Parrel added, "For some weeks now we have been anticipating some testing of the captured weapons. The Kallend estate is isolated enough we could probably use it for our test firings."

"Oh, you want to make a party of this. Sire?"

Robanar considered. "What you seem to be suggesting is that all interested parties travel to the Kallend estate and some test firings of the weapons would take place in front of all. Is that so? If so, how many would attend? Would we need to keep such a meeting secret?"

"Sire, that is about what I meant, yes. We only have a limited amount of captured powder and we have no idea what state it is in. If we use it up, then as many people as need to know about the guns have to be there when we do the firing, Sire. As for keeping it secret, passers-by may hear some noise and see some smoke, that's all. Yod already know we have captured some of their guns and nobody local is going to be able to make a gun or the powder without spending years in experiments. I don't think that's a problem, Sire, so long as we can keep people off the grounds while we're doing it. I'm more concerned about accidents than loose talk."

"Anybody else have thoughts on this matter?"

Hurdin said, "While I do not desire to witness these experiments myself, Sire, except perhaps out of idle curiosity, there is one person who may, and that is Guildmaster Horran. I hear he will shortly arrive in Palarand from the north. Lady Garia has said previously that this powder would be of great use for mining purposes and I'm sure he will be interested."

"Sire," Garia added. "If we're including Horran, then we ought to have some chemists as well. Can you offer some names, Master Gerdas?"

"Of course, Milady. Leave it with me, I will give you a list of perhaps five or six who should attend."

"Thank you, Master Gerdas." She turned to Merek. "Captain, I trust the guns and powder have been kept in good condition?"

"Aye, Milady, to your own instructions. The guns have been greased and wrapped in cloth and the powder bags sealed in wax packets to prevent damp. They are stored in a place we know to be dry and reasonably fireproof. All may be provided at a day's notice."

"Then we shall make such a demonstration," Robanar decided. "Merek, you shall organize this meeting with Garia's advice and when all those who would come may attend. I will also attend this demonstration, I think. If we are to be at war with Yod then I must understand what the men of Palarand will face on the field of battle."

"As you command, Sire."

Robanar grunted. "Good. Now, let us move on. Lady Merizel, what must we discuss next?"

"Sire, the extension of the semaphore system to Brugan."

"Aye, Merry. Now, it seems to me that the physical aspects of the extra towers would be no different than if they had been on our own lands, do you not agree? The problems will come with the operators, who would not be under the control of Palarand. What say you all?"

~o~O~o~

"Guildmaster Horran!"

"Good afternoon, My Lady - or should I say Guildmistress? With the reorganization of the Guilds I know not what to call people these days."

"Come in, please and take a seat." Garia turned to her maids. «Odgarda, some pel for the...» and then switched languages to some words the maid had now learned, "...Guildmaster, please." Turning back to Horran she said, "Call me whatever you wish, Master Horran. As far as I know they are still using the old ranks and titles. May I present Lady Merizel ...or should I say Journeywoman Scribe Merizel, who is my personal aide and secretary. Without her I would struggle to manage my many meetings and events."

Horran bowed to Merizel and took a seat on Garia's settee, looking around him with interest.

"This is the first time I have been in the domestic part of the palace, Mistress Garia. I find the decoration in your quarters to be interesting. Not as opulent as I expected, perhaps."

"This suite used to belong to Princess Elizet, Master Horran. The King moved me in here after the first kidnap attempt, way back last summer. None of this is my idea, though I don't object to it."

"The first kidnap attempt?" Horran smiled. "And I was stupid enough to assume you were but a spoiled noble, Mistress Garia. Since then I have learned different, of course."

"Well, yes. When I first arrived nobody took me seriously so I had to try and show them I could do what I said I could." She smiled back. "Most of those doubters now believe, but there are still one or two holdouts." Her expression became more serious. "What can I do for you, Guildmaster?"

Horran spread his hands wide. "From time to time I must needs come to the Hall of the Guilds to discover what may have changed among the guilds, as you will readily understand. Normally I remain north of the Sirrel, as there are no mines in the Valley itself, the ground being but river deposits. At the Hall I found a note asking me to speak with you concerning some... substance? which may be of interest to the miners. I will also take the opportunity to tell you what I found when I visited Blackstone last year. I deem I am the most recent to return to Palarand from there and what I saw impressed me greatly."

Garia looked concerned. "You were able to get across the Sirrel, then?"

"Only by traveling the trade road and coming through Brugan and Brikant, as it happens. The ferry was not operating from Dekarran because of bad weather."

"The long way round, then."

"Aye, Mistress Garia." Horran grinned. "You are now going to tell me you have plans to build a bridge from Dekarran to South Slip."

Garia grinned back. "One day, perhaps. The unlikely we can do right away, the impossible takes a little longer. On Earth there are bridges over rivers as wide as the Sirrel, but it will be fifty years or so before we have that level of expertise here. If your men fancied a challenge we could consider a tunnel instead. Tell me about Blackstone first, please. I think the substance you mentioned will need some extra thought."

"As you wish, Mistress." Horran promptly surprised Garia by blushing. "I made a fool of myself when I first arrived, I regret. As when I met you, I made assumptions I should not have. Captain Bleskin soon put me right, however, and I began to see what changes you had made in so small a place while you were there. By the Maker, some of those women are sharp! Even the younger ones, it seems, are bursting with schemes and notions. The whole town fairly bustles with ideas and energy and it makes me proud to be part of it, I can tell you!"

Horran's face grew by turns embarrassed and annoyed then. "Do you remember my assistant, Brathan? He were at that meeting you and I held at Dekarran and he journeyed to Blackstone beside me. I discovered that he had been cheating the Miners' Guild of funds behind my back! He had told me that we were paying that mason Bezan who is doing all the organizing and it were only when we reached Blackstone that I discovered Bezan's contract was with the town! He'd run by then, and managed to avoid capture at that fancy new roadhouse of yours, even though they used the new semaphore to send a message! I were distinctly unhappy at that, seeing as how I'd already found Moriskin dipping into the coffers. When I got back to Tranidor - but everything in its time, Mistress. Where was I? Oh, yes. Brathan. He'd been uncivil to almost everybody and it seems that he knew he were about to be found out."

Horran took out a cloth and wiped his forehead with it before continuing.

"I was interested to see your town and the coal workings. My, there's a lot of coal there, isn't there? It's the reason we turned up our noses at Blackstone before, of course, but that doesn't excuse us, does it, Mistress? Somebody ought to have taken note of what the locals were doing! Anyhow, Bezan and Yarling between them have a solid plan made out and I understand there is a goodly supply of coal already flowing, even though we are still in the depths of winter."

"Did you notice any developments while you were there, Master Horran?"

"Too many to tell, Mistress! It seemed to me the whole town were being reorganized, though of course with the mines behind the town and only one road out it were necessary. I doubt not your steward keeps you informed? Captain Bleskin is of course known to me by name and I must say he does a good job for you up there. The dinner he gave me was something to remember, I'll tell you! I understand you have plans to open shafts elsewhere on your lands, Mistress?"

"We do, there is good potential up Blackstone Vale and the seams can also be seen on the western side of Bray Vale, so I expect many more pits to eventually join those already started. We're even thinking of exploring further east, between Blackstone and the Chaarn road."

Horran rubbed his hands together and smiled at her. "More work for my men! Those steam engines of yours will really help us get the black stuff from the ground as well. It seems I have much to be indebted to you for, Mistress."

"I'm pleased to be of assistance."

"So, when I returned to Tranidor I heard about what happened when your party arrived back there, Mistress! Of course, His Lordship were nowhere about, him having gone to Dekarran with you to 'ave His Grace's judgement. The streets of the town were full of the story, though, and I'm glad the miners of Palarand were able to be of assistance to you. I had a word with the Countess while I was there and we soon straightened out some of the differences we had. Of course," he looked apologetic, "we were partly to blame and I admit that. Still, all's right in the end, don't you agree?"

"As you say, Master Horran."

"And then there were Holville! I spent some time in Tranidor so it were a while before I passed through Holville again. Maker, they've made some changes there! I completely agree with what you did there, Mistress, the whole thing were completely ungoverned. And making Halkor a baron, that were a master-stroke, if you'll forgive the word. He's just the man to make sure everyone works together and get the job done. I've met Halkor a time or two at guild dinners, so I know him slightly, he's a good man."

"We had to do something, Master Horran. The different armsmen who had been sent there wouldn't work together and there was no direction at all."

"Aye, well, that's all been changed now, hasn't it? Oh, and I spoke to those miners who wouldn't work on the new town. A lot of them weren't guildsmen, did you know that? I told them that the guild system was changing and they'd make more coin working for Halkor than they ever could on their own, and most went in and signed on there and then. Not a difficult decision to make with winter about their ears!"

"I have to thank you for that, Guildmaster. You didn't need to do that for people not your responsibility."

"Looked at one way, Mistress, neither did you, after you first passed through," Horran pointed out.

Odgarda came back with a tray of pel and they busied themselves with their drinks for a while. When they had finished their drinks Horran leaned forward.

"Now, lass, there's a particular thing I must needs ask you about. It seems that Blackstone is building something called a railroad to get the coal to Tranidor and eventually all the way down here, is that right?"

"Well, you're right, Master Horran, but it will be three to five years before much gets done, I would guess. Until then it will have to be wagons and barges as usual. What did you want to ask about?"

"See, the extra demand we already have for metals from the Telar is straining the supply of wagons and dran