My thanks first of all to Penny, for her help, her kindness and her creation, into which waters I tentatively dip my toes.
Also to Julia who has guided me faithfully.

Mistakes are, however, down to my account, not theirs.

This is dedicated to all those fans of Anmar who wondered what the Einnlanders did.

What happened to Princess Eriana once she came ashore

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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 © 2015 Di Wonder. All rights reserved.

It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2018 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

It should be mentioned that certain scenes, first mentioned in Penny Lane's "Somewhere Else Entirely", have been copied from that work verbatim, and only the names changed here to represent the same events from a different point of view. This has been done with Penny Lane's kind permission.

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Gylfi slid backwards across the bloody ground and fetched up with his back against the wooden palings they had so recently erected, his legs stretched out on the ground in front of him. His shoulder ached immensely from the recoil he had barely controlled when he fired that dreadful gun thing and blew away that section of the attackers.

Attackers who seemed to have withdrawn, at last.

An immense weariness enveloped him then, which was only to be expected. He focussed his eyes on his feet, just for something to concentrate upon.

He frowned at a new gash in his right boot, and then he smiled as he remembered how he got the old one.

The smile twisted into his normally serious face, and his mind flashed back to the beginning of this phase of his life.

Well, maybe not the beginning, for that would mean thinking too much and in too much detail about the old country and the rifts and arguments that led to the hasty departure of the Visund. This was the ship that left Einnland with the Princess so many moons ago, the one that crashed to shore on the Plif coastline. It was named after one of the ships in the ancient Sagas from the Homeland that were still told and retold.

~o~O~o~

«Land ho! Larboard quarter.»

We all looked in that direction, but visibility was limited. The steersman leant on his sweep and the bows swung ponderously towards what we all hoped was a beach. A gently sloped, shallow beach. If we could not locate an inlet. The storm was in danger of sending us beneath the waves and we needed a landfall as soon as possible.

Going slightly across the turbulent waves was far less comfortable, but we all knew we needed to beach our craft soon, for the storm had sprung a few planks and the bailers were losing their battle, making it ever more difficult for us to row. The mast and sail had long since disappeared.

«Cease oars … reverse oars … now row backwards for your very lives … on command … and … one … two … three … four … one … two … three … four … put your … backs in … to it … whoresons … one … two … three … four … harder … bastards … really … try … harder … whoresons … three … four ...»

Then came chaos.

Wulf and Ragnar were the leading rowers on our side. They struck their blades on some unseen underwater obstacle and the great sweeps shattered. Poor Wulf's chest was crushed by the inboard end of the oar, but Ragnar had the sense to flatten himself before the same fate could overtake him.

But in doing so, he let go of his oar and that meant that it was entangled in the next man's. And so the larboard side oars were thrown into confusion.

«Ship oars!»

With so little control, it was more than something of a surprise that we managed to come to land with less damage.

The leadsman in the prow, Goran, spotted a narrow channel and indicated it. The steersman reacted quickly and just managed to get the front to drive into that vik, aided by a larger wave than usual under the stern. Three quarters of the Visund at least gained the tenuous security of that thin strip of water before the prow drove hard into a sandbank or something. The leadsman was catapulted overboard and landed head first in whatever was there, with sufficient force to snap his neck.

Not that we knew that at the time, we were all busy picking ourselves up from where the jarring halt had deposited us.

It was delicate for me since the Princess herself had been rowing in front of me, well behind me, but we were seated facing the stern of course, and she landed atop of where I was uncomfortably lying on the broken thwart, splinters digging into my back despite the thickness of the furs I was wearing. She was half-turned and, as she struggled to get to her feet again, her left breast was thrust into my pinned hand. Before I could even react, the figure of Lars appeared and plucked her upwards and upright. It was kind of him to then do the same for me.

The next while was very uncomfortable with the after part of the ship still being storm-tossed, whilst the forepart was firmly grounded. Ominous noises of strained wooden ribs, planks and gunwales were a regular accompaniment to the many conversations and shouted orders and demands that ensued. However, the tide reached its top height and, with a great sucking noise, the bow lifted free of the cloying material and we were once more afloat, and again shipping water!

The storm raged for a little while longer but eventually blew itself out, and the motion became easier as the tide receded, leaving us finally fully embedded in the shore, if shore is the right word for the marshy ground we found all around us. The hull lurched as the water ran out from under us and we had to get used to life lived at an angle. At the height of the storm, out at sea, we had had to lighten the ship as much as possible and most of our metal objects were consigned to the angry waves – we retained some of our axes as they would be useful tools for repairs should we ever survive this, but nearly all our weapons and most of our shields were gone. Which made us very uncomfortable lest the natives proved hostile. At least our short spears had been held back from the greedy depths.

Many of us had been injured; some, like myself, with only minor cuts and grazes, several with more severe sprains and six of us with broken bones. It is still remarkable to me that only three of us died – Wulf, Goran and Klaas.

That made a round dozen who had died since we left Einnland, the most important of those being the owner, and Captain, named Balrik. He however had been swept overboard along with the original steersman and two of his three lieutenants, when that rogue wave swept inboard at the stern end in the first storm we encountered. The waves had also taken the Captain's wife and daughter and their maids, as well as another male member of the crew. The Captain had been Lars' liege lord and he transferred his fealty to the Princess on the day after the Captain met his unfortunate end.

Now we were joined (shall we say) to land, it took a while for Adin, the cook, to find his box of dry tinder; but once that was accomplished it was not long before we had some fires going and water warmed for drinks as well as treatments.

The Princess eventually gave us the inevitable speech, which started with the words: «Welcome to your new home!»

After that 'talk', which most of us ignored since she was obviously in a foul mood, awnings were rigged and some shelters were constructed, giving at least a semblance of comfort. Already, the experienced shipwrights were examining the hull and, if not actually making some repairs then at least noting where they would be required. There were some standing on sturdy wooden platforms outside of the ship, platforms made from some of the broken rowing benches and other easily lifted material. Adin organised some half a dozen of us to help with food preparation. Little Alrik, our stowaway, worked tirelessly in this period, and never failed to have his infectious and cheeky grin on display.

~o~O~o~

As soon as dawn broke the following morning, one of the only two surviving praams was launched and four men rowed away towards the rising sun to explore the coast in that direction. That way was chosen since it was into both wind and sea, and would thus be easier to return from. The sea, however, was still angry, so the job of rowing the tiny boat was made quite difficult. Nevertheless, they slowly disappeared from our sight.

But not before the Princess had shouted at one or other of her maids at least three times, and at several of us. We had grown used to her temper tantrums and took it all with, as we say, a slurp of salt water. The poor unfortunates who were the recipients of her tongue took a little longer to come to terms with it than the rest of us did. She only realised our displeasure when once she started in, unreasonably we all thought, on poor little Alrik. I suppose, now I think of it, that it was really surprising that we ALL felt the need to protect the youngster.

During that first complete day, a lot was done to make the hull more sea-worthy, just enough to get to a port nearby, if any such place existed. However, the praam returned with a big negative which would mean they would then have to try in the opposite direction in the morning. The Princess shouted at the boatmen, as if it was their fault there was no village or anything off to the east.

Finally, we settled down to an uncomfortable night.

~o~O~o~

It was on that second day, after the departure of the praam, that we heard a hail, and saw, maybe eight dozen strides inland, a wagon pulled by a very strange animal. The animal was almost frightening in its looks, and yet it stood there placidly enough, seemingly surveying us as it waited patiently.

I heard the Princess mutter to herself: «So that's a dranak!»

None of us had yet managed to find our way to that part of the marsh, but the two men on the wagon indicated that they had brought some foodstuffs for us, and they started carrying it along a twisty trail that petered out only a stone's throw from us away. They went back and forth from the wagon, creating a pile of stuff for us on several tufts of more solid ground, whilst a party, led by Gullbrand and using the mighty muscles of the larger men, Fritjof and Tor, that's Tor the son of Anders, created a wooden walkway from tuft to tuft, finally arriving at the more solid part the men had indicated to us.

Their appearance managed to calm Her Highness a little, but her temper was never far from re-erupting; this fiery temper was something that we warriors approved of, and yet we underlings cringed at – for that is what we were to her, in these circumstances, just underlings that she could snarl and snap at, and order us about with no consideration.

A direct line from us to the wagon was, as I said, around a hundred strides, but by the time one had negotiated the marsh, then it was more like three times that for any of us to reach that spot. But by then the path had been demonstrated to us all, so the Princess wanted to know why we were so incompetent that we had not found it yet.

Once the way was found to be usable, and, I have to acknowledge, once Her Highness was sure that we were all as comfortable as we could be, then the Princess, along with Lars, Gullbrand and her maids, made their way to the wagon, whereupon it became apparent that Gullbrand could speak sufficient of the local tongue to make himself understood. As was normal, for they were indeed our leaders, they made their way, making use of the wagon, to make representations to the local headman. I noticed that little Alrik was almost in tears as the party slowly disappeared, but he rallied well and, with a certain obvious brittleness to his smile, he once again settled down to help as much as he could.

~o~O~o~

As a result of all this, we spent the next days moving the Visund to the small fishing port down the coast to the west. Our ship was too large for the port itself, in that its presence inside the sea walls would have blocked any other movements of any other boats, but there was a sloped gravel beach not too far away, where we managed to drag the Visund up above the tideline, using smoothed tree trunks as rollers. We were pleased to see the tree trunks as we had begun to doubt there were sturdy wood supplies for our needs.

The working boats back in Einnland, called snekke, are all three strides wide and a dozen strides long, so we Einnlanders use a dozen strides as a basic length for most everything. A rost is about one thousand strides, which we refer to as eighty-four dozen strides, or even seven dozens of a dozen strides. The name rost actually means 'rest' which was roughly the distance a squad of soldiers would march before taking a break. At sea however, distances are slightly different. A vik is the name we give an inlet, as I think I might have already mentioned, and we learnt that the locals seemed to call these creeks or small bays; lost in the centuries that have passed since, there must have been a vik found somewhere which was nearly a rost long, so the sea equivalent of a rost is called a vika. The plural of a rost is rostir, and the plural of a vika is, for some strange reason, also vika.

The road distance we moved must have been around two rostir, certainly more than just one, but due to shallows helpfully pointed out by the locals, the sea journey was around half as long again, say about three vika.

It was funny trying to explain to the locals in the next weeks why we had two words for much the same distance. Despite living from fishing, they didn't appreciate the difference between land distances and sea distances, and our language differences meant that we were all very confused at the end of it!

Little Alrik was obviously pleased to see the party of five once again, and some of his nervousness disappeared. I don't think I was the only one to notice that, but I suspect that I might have been the only one to have noticed some heavy eye messaging between him and Geska, one of her Highness' so-called maids. I say maids but in all reality they were actually more like slaves!

This made we wonder a little about just how Little Alrik managed to get on the ship before we departed. There seemed to be something between Geska and him, but then I shrugged it off, thinking maybe they had struck up a friendship during the voyage. We had made the open water, driven hard by our full sail, when this little figure was found cowering below one of the rowing thwarts. There came a short, almost girl-like scream as he was hauled out of his hiding place and dragged to the Captain.

«Well?»

«My … er … name, Lord is …. er … Alrik.»

«And what do you think you might achieve by stowing away on MY ship?»

«Er … if it please, Lord … I wanted to see some of the world rather than just this home city of ours.»

«How old are you, boy?»

«Why, I'm er ... I'm ...» his eyes were darting everywhere so we all knew he was about to lie. «I'm eleven, Lord.»

The Captain fixed him with a steely glare. «How old?»

His shoulders slumped, and, in a small voice, he added: «Just turned ten, Lord!»

We were all surprised at that, for he looked much younger.

It being impossible to turn round, there were only two options for the Captain.

«Can you swim, boy?»

«No, Lord.»

«Then I am forced to accept you in my crew. Otherwise, I would have had you thrown overboard to swim ashore!»

And so we had a new ship's boy. We gave him the title of Ship's Wicktrimmer.

~o~O~o~

Once the Visund was relatively safe, then the five of them - the Princess, her maids, Gullbrand and Lars - all departed once more, apparently to meet the ruler of this desolate and poor country. The local headman had sent word of our presence to the capital, which we later discovered was called Simbek. The Princess also took with her nearly a quarter of our number, since it was obvious that the village was too poor to support us all.

Again, Little Alrik was sent into sadness by this departure without him. But in the days that followed, our little Wicktrimmer proved almost invaluable, doing all the little jobs that no-one else wanted to do, even slopping out the latrine barrels. He became a firm favourite of us all, even if he did cringe away from the louder and more hearty of us, and winced whenever one of us might unthinkingly thump him on the shoulder, in that most manly of gestures.

Another storm rolled in after a while, followed by a calm and then another, even greater, storm. This last one set back our repairs somewhat, as it damaged the prow on the larboard side. But without the royal temper, even this storm seemed more endurable.

We picked up a little of the local language in those seemingly unending days and weeks when we worked on the ship as best as we were able; Little Alrik putting many of us to shame in the speed of development.

Some of us helped the local fishermen occasionally for which they were grateful, and we felt we were contributing something, even if just a little. However, we all were mostly unimpressed by the populace; there were no real warriors amongst them at all. But, as mentioned, they were grateful of our help and we did what we could not to place too great a strain upon their resources.

That unimpression changed a little some ten or so days later, when a file of soldiers appeared, having been sent to convey a message to us that the Princess' group had moved on to the neighbouring, and apparently much richer country. But still these soldiers were not that much, we all felt – like their fellow countrymen, they seemed soft to us, more organised and better equipped than their landsmen, but still somewhat soft. We felt that one good charge of our Einnlander forces, they would fold and melt away.

The usual laborious process of verbal communication was as tiresome as had become normal to both sides, however, we managed to eventually understand most of what they were trying to tell us. Amongst the information they gave us, they did mention that some of our number were still in Simbek, the Princess having travelled on in the party of only five. With no more solid information, we began to feel somewhat abandoned by our leaders, but we reminded ourselves that the oaths we had given, also worked in reverse. Little Alrik took it particularly badly at first.

Life soon settled into work, help the locals and try to fill the evenings, all the while waiting for some word. We got drunk sometimes, there were the odd arguments and fights with the locals, who made sure their women were very UNavailable, but life drifted on. We did what we could to ease the burden on the village.

Little Alrik found a useful thing to do by learning to care for our clothing and now, twice every week, he went off with a dray of washing to the village and brought it back in the evening.

Until Gullbrand reappeared one day, with no advanced warning.

~o~O~o~

« … and so it has been arranged. Some of you will have to stay here, ten or a dozen of you. Something like that anyway, to get the Visund fully sea-worthy for use in the Spring. For most of the rest, there will be a fight!»

A ragged cheer rose from our bored throats, and we felt, at long last, the familiar stirring in our blood and bones.

«How will we decide who goes and who stays?»

«We need warriors, so the fittest and strongest must needs travel with me. Unless there is a pressing reason. Are there any pressing reasons for any of you to stay? The most experienced shipwrights will have to stay, of course. It is unlikely that our vessel will be used as normal in the future, but it may prove useful in our new country of Palarand, and Her Highness wishes it to be moved there once the weather improves.»

He looked around at us, and received no reply to his query.

«Very well. I need a responsible person to remain, one to be the Captain of this group. Any volunteers?»

Again, his query was met with silence.

«Very well,» he said once more, «then I shall decide. Let me see, now ...»

After a short, very pensive pause, he continued.

«Just to make it easier for us, but also on grounds of suitability, then one of the Tors shall remain here as Captain.»

There was a ripple of laughter, since we had no fewer than four men aboard called Tor, though one was little more than the ship's boy, the official one that is.

«I shall split the Tors two and two. Magnus' son shall remain here in charge, and Gunnar's son shall remain also. Hakon's and Anders' sons shall accompany me.»

Both those selected to stay looked disappointed, as would any man. But it actually made sense, we quietly acknowledged to ourselves; the ship's boy, Gunnar's son, would be too young for the task in front of us - and the man selected to be in charge, Magnus' son, was a good choice as leader, and still had his arm bandaged from injuries sustained when we crashed ashore. Gullbrand and he had a long conversation before they split apart.

What surprised us all was that Little Alrik came with us. But that too made sense in a way – the boy had been kitted out in local clothing since he was growing and none of us had any furs to spare. He was also the better amongst us with the local language – not that he was anywhere near perfect mind you – and he forcibly made a point for himself saying that he would be a natural asset by being the gofor for the party, thus lessening the exposure of our force to any prying locals.

It was obvious that Gullbrand was torn, but in the end he saw the advantages were larger than the disadvantages, so he allowed the youngster to come along.

Those who had been selected took what few possessions we had and boarded the wagons, heading first for Simbek where we were to pick up our colleagues. We picked our way over bumpy and rutted tracks, winding in and out of various boggy patches and the never straight by-way was probably twice as long as it would have been had we been able to travel directly.

We had three nights there since their year's end celebrations involved an overall feast day for everyone. In one way it was frustrating since we wanted to get on, and yet this glimpse into local traditions made many of us thoughtful. There was a stirring of our thoughts and feelings when we experienced their traditional New Year Song.

It was unlike our usual Jul celebrations but still held on the longest night. I missed the huge bonfire that we had back in Einnland on 'Yule Day' as I have now learnt the Palarandis would call it, had they had any knowledge of it. That day was, for some reason I haven't yet discovered, a feast day when only the most necessary people were on duty. Gullbrand had brought with him some Geld, some of which had been used to provide supplies for our saviour village, and the rest for us to enjoy ourselves. We nearly all did, as I believe there were only two or three of us the next day who still had a clear head; Little Alrik, of course, being one.

So, on the first working day of their New Year, we all assembled once more in a quite sparsely used grassy park area on the south side of the town - amidst much backslapping and crude banter, and wincing as sore heads reacted to too much noise. Most of the few locals looked at us askance, gathered there in our furs so unlike their own clothing. But I'd bet we were a lot warmer than they were; indeed I saw several of the locals shivering as they stood about observing us. Little Alrik had jumped up on the wagon already, as if frightened he might be abandoned here.

Gullbrand took a head count, nodded to himself and then gave a signal; it was time for us to travel on.

And so it was that two dozen and two of us climbed aboard the wagons that had arrived with Gullbrand and some so far unintroduced companions.

We set off on another journey into an unknown future.

~o~O~o~

The first thing that shocked us all was the road.

From Simbek we were travelling along a road that was better than any we had ever seen in all our lives. The roads leading into Simbek had been more what we were used to, but these leading away from there were a shock to us.

They were well built, well maintained and, it appeared, well directed. This one appeared to be as straight as a crossbow bolt. Gullbrand told us that nearly all the main trade routes were of a similar standard. Once again we had to reassess this strange place in which we found ourselves. And, on top of that, we had to accept that Gullbrand's mounted companions were apparently wagon guards, there to protect us. These soft foreigners were there to protect US?

We soon came to a junction and there we turned left, Gullbrand explaining that the road that continued straight ahead led to the main sea port of Plif, a port we might have discovered had we kept afloat for another turn or two of the sandglass on the day our voyage came to an end.

This new road was also straight – also as straight as a sword. It was heading, we were told, just a little west of south. It was about a dozen strides wide, maybe just a tiny bit more. Nevertheless, it was more than enough for wagons travelling in opposite directions to pass with ease.

Time went by as we chatted with each other, mostly speculating about what was in store for us.

By and by, we crossed a river that was little more than a stream really, and we halted there briefly.

This was the border between Plif and Palarand; to be more precise, apparently, between Plif and the region of Palarand known as Kendeven.

There were various low-voiced conversations with the officer, or maybe just leader, of the guards and then we were waved on our way. Gullbrand was mounted on a frayen, as were the others who accompanied him. At least frayen were familiar to us. Something this new country had not changed. The men were, I'm sure I have already explained, apparently wagon guards, a fact that caused a lot of private amusement amongst us. They would be about as much help in a battle as a shattered oar would be of help while rowing.

Not at all too far after the border crossing, we passed a very strange tower which had ten or so arms festooned from various spars.

«What is that?»

«I know not. Maybe Gullbrand can tell us when he next comes within earshot.»

«Look, there are men in a sort of hut there, and one has a strange tube held up to what seems to be his eye!»

We saw several others of these towers on our journey, but none of us could find any reason as to what they were for. We never saw any activity at any of them as we passed, so we assumed that they were being kept secret from us, we being outlanders after all.

«Ah, Gullbrand. What be those towers we pass every so often?»

«They call them 'Semaphore Towers'. They are used for passing messages. With that system, our hosts can pass a message from one side of their country and back within a day! And their country is ten times the size of Einnland.»

We were all shocked as the significance of that settled into our brains.

«Now we are just about half way on our day's journey and will shortly be stopping for some refreshment. We would prefer that the fewest possible people see you on this journey and thus shall park the wagons close to a door. Please try to make yourselves visible for as short a time as possible as you go from one to the other.»

Not long after that, we pulled off the road and, as warned, we were ushered quickly from the wagons into a back room of a near-deserted house, with several outbuildings.

It was this action that made us realise just how serious an undertaking this all was. The house it seemed was a permanent kitchen and had sleeping chambers that contained many beds, something else strange to us as we try to conserve heat in Einnland and so sleep in enclosed areas. There were also wash-houses and toilet facilities. We were told that there was one of these houses just about every fifty to ninety dozen strides along these wonderful roads.

This relatively sudden demonstration of the importance our hosts gave to us made the entire enterprise far more solemn than it had been. And the secrecy they were surrounding us with.

We all became quite serious.

This in turn, after the lunch break and when we were once more rolling along the road, led to serious discussions about how we came to be there. Gullbrand had told us that we were about half way through our day's journey, so there turned out to be plenty of time for us to discuss such matters.

At least half of us had been sworn to the Princess' service and the rest were made up of members of Balrik's crew who had agreed to flee the country with us. Not all his crew wished to cut their ties, despite the general dissatisfaction with the King. But we, who were closer to the Princess, were all agreed that the King's choice of husband for her was singularly inappropriate and the match would have been a disaster for both of the younger ones involved.

It was always going to be difficult to find a husband for the haughty and fiery Princess, but to choose such a pathetic specimen was more than ill-handled, it was an insult. She would have lost all her Royal privileges and become nothing but a chattel to a man who had no warrior's work, was just a merchant, had virtually no influence at court and who wasn't even strong enough to pick up a normal man's sword, let alone bear a shield and an axe at the same time. Some found him valuable in a commercial sense, but we soldiers judged a man by his weapons ability. We found him wanting.

It was obvious the King wanted no difficulties for his chosen successor, his son by one of his mistresses. No citizen actually liked the woman too well, nor did they have any fondness for the bastard the King favoured. This marriage decision of the King's was a clear attempt to make sure that his daughter and her line would be no threat to those plans.

She hastily made plans to escape and we all descended, fully equipped, on the Visund. Her Highness had travelled there in disguise, as had her maids, and there was a loud gasp from Balrik's crew when she cast off her coverings and stood proudly before everyone. Naturally, everyone's attention was on the Princess, except for some of us. Balrik had taken some loyal crew members to one side, and these had slipped all the lines except the final pair, and were busy preparing the sail to be hoisted whilst the Captain made a surprising announcement.

«Men, we are sailing away. I have, as you can see, my own wife and daughter here and we are leaving Einnland forever. I have pledged myself and my family to Princess Eriana and this vessel is her means of escape from her father's cruel rule. We know there are other countries out there beyond the horizon. We intend to make for the Great Valley, where we hope to start a new life. If you journey with us, you will be most welcome, but I cannot just sail away with everyone on board. Some of you may have reason to stay. So anyone who wishes to stay should disembark now. Be aware that those travelling with us will be travelling into exile. I doubt not that the King shall make sure that your disloyalty will be punished should you ever return here. By death, as he will call you traitors. You may choose to stay, and I shall give you Geld to help out for your losses when we go. But you have to make up your minds IMMEDIATELY. We can delay no longer and must sail before the King has a chance to stop us. So, ask yourself now, and answer swiftly. Go or stay aboard?»

He stood by the gangplank and handed out some coins to those who chose not to voyage with us.

I watched as one of the first of those ran down the dockside shouting and waving his arms. Obviously this one was warning the authorities. I thought that the Captain waited just too long before casting off, but he tried to keep his word and waited until the last who chose to go ashore had done so. We cleared the harbour even as a pursuit ship was making ready behind us.

We all decided that we would commit ourselves to the Princess and she confirmed she would commit herself to us.

~o~O~o~

We reconfirmed that commitment amongst ourselves as the wagon plodded its way towards dusk.

That night, we again overnighted in some secrecy, in a large and warm straw-filled barn on the outskirts of the main town of Kendeven, a town called apparently Kendovor.

The secrecy had its disadvantages as we could not say that the food provided us was of a high quality, and the bedding was so sparse we slept in our furs. The secrecy meant that we had no servants and we had to make do for ourselves. The little help we had were obviously not used to the task of serving hungry men, so we knew they were temporary staff sworn to secrecy themselves. Little Alrik did what he could, but we were still left wanting in many ways.

«Is this all we get?» we moaned as we saw our meagre breakfasts. «And that stench in the privy is repulsive!»

«It's just temporary. Things will be better from tonight. You will reach your new, but again temporary home tonight. You will be there some weeks so will be able to settle in for a while.»

Thus it was that we scrambled once more aboard our cramped wagons, grateful this time for the wagon's waxed-cloth roofing that kept the worst of the weather out. For the weather was not nice. Cold sleet never is.

«My Lord Gullbrand, might you ask one of those wagon guards of what substance their mantles are made, that they reject the wet so thoroughly? Our furs are good for most winds and snows, but not for rains and sleets.»

He laughed a little wryly before replying: «I need not ask, Vynil, for I already know. When first the Princess and I left you behind and travelled to Simbek, the Duke of Plif was very proud of his country's contributions to all the other nations in these parts. There grows in Plif abundant quantities of a sort of reed from which a waxy substance is obtained. That wax is used to coat their coats, if you will. It is a top covering that eventually wears away, so the mantles need recoating from time to time. Good for Plif's exports, eh? And, since the arrival of Milady Garia in Palarand, then Plif's marsh reeds are also producing increased quantities of income in the form of reedlets, with which people write on her new-fangled paper.»

«Thank you, My Lord. Do so many people here read and write then? And who is My Lady Garia, did you say?»

«Oh you will be meeting her soon enough. You all will. And I wager you will be shocked,» he said laughingly.

«But who is this woman, My Lord?»

«I will say no more – I warn you now, I will not be drawn further on this subject!»

«Very well, My Lord. Thank you.”»

«You're welcome. Now I must more fully inform you of the arrangements Her Highness has made, the full deal if you like … »

~o~O~o~

«In here!» we heard Her Highness calling. «This way!»

We scrambled out of the wagons and ran through the rain to the door where we could see the Princess was waiting for us. There were some other people there too, but we were all intrigued by an obvious and yet subtle difference in our Princess' stance and demeanour. We were followed, less hurriedly, by Gullbrand and the wagon guards – their coverings did not require them to scurry as we did.

Our attention was dragged swiftly to the Princess' companions though when Gullbrand went up to a man there and said: "Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Highness, My Lady. I have brought you twenty-six men from Plif. What is your pleasure?" Our local speech was just good enough to understand the major thrust of his statement. But there followed some brief exchange which we could not hear, nor probably understand, even if we could make out the words.

Just then, the Princess started issuing orders and we filed off in the direction she told us to, following two men of the welcoming committee who both had an air of command; one was the man Gullbrand had addressed as 'Your Majesty'.

We had all surveyed that welcoming party and took particular notice of two women at one side – both were pretty, but that may have been made better since most of us had lacked female company for many a night now. The shorter of the two was a tiny girl really, but both women were regarding us in a most calculating way. My Lord Gullbrand was standing next to them and treating both, yes, even the girl, with a strange amount of deference, as the three of them muttered to themselves. The short girl had some strange device on her back, two angled handles sticking up above her shoulder level, but we could only see her from the front so had no idea of what might be on her other side.
I glanced back as we made our way through various buildings, and saw the two women following with Gullbrand. Our way was twisting hither and there, before a final dash through the rain to a barn-like building, lit with many lanterns, brought us to what was obviously our assembly area for the evening. The open doors gave more light to the proceedings as we gathered before some crates upon which the welcomers all climbed, again those two women joining them. We all gasped a little, and murmured to our neighbours, because the short girl we could now see more clearly was carrying a pair of what looked like swords arranged on her back. She still seemed to be studying us closely, and I wasn't the only one who appreciated that there was a commanding presence about her that made us realise suddenly that she was probably older than she seemed.

«Men! Welcome to your new home of Palarand. You are all well after your journey?»

I think we were all shocked!

Our Princess had never before expressed any thoughts for our feelings, and we hastily switched our attention back to her, remarking to each other that she had changed in some indefinable way. We all replied to her affirmatively, the words forced out of us by the surprise. Our mutterings were stopped when she opened her mouth again.

«I'm pleased to hear that. Now, listen! This man, as you might guess,» she gestured, «is King Robanar of Palarand. It is he who has graciously consented to provide you a new home. No, wait! In Palarand they do not do things the way we were accustomed to do them in Einnland. For now, a simple bow will suffice, as you are yet only guests in his realm.»

There was a shuffling of feet and then we made a ragged bow to this Robanar.

«Gullbrand has told you,» the Princess continued, «of the bargain I made with His Majesty. This does not commit any one of you to follow me but I know that many of you have a desire for further adventure. There will be a chance for fighting and glory and we are promised spoils if we are successful. It will mean a long trek through mountains and an attack on a fortress in winter. All weapons, clothing, food and transport will be provided by His Majesty. In return you will become freemen of Palarand with honor to your names.

«The King fights a war against another country far away, we may choose to take further part in that but there will be no command from him nor from me to do so. Those who do not think they can join us on our adventure may remain here with no stain on their character. I know some of you are seamen and not of a kind to walk mountains, no one will blame you should you choose another path. In Palarand, I have learned, there is work waiting for as many men who can be found to do it. What say you?»

The roar we used to answer caused the two other women particularly to wince. Even though we were tired, we wanted to demonstrate to the Princess our willingness to follow her.

«So, before the King will chance you with weapons in his realm you must make an oath to him. Once that is done I will introduce the others here to you and tell you what you may expect in the weeks to come.»

We nodded to show that we understood her point, and she turned to the others on the cases, where there were a few short conversations.
Then the Princess turned to us, saying: «To show that I trust King Robanar, and that he has trust in me, I shall give my own oath to him so that you may witness. After that, he will take your oaths, this girl with the swords will translate for the King.»

That was a shock! This tiny girl could speak our tongue, but was obviously not an Einnlander! A few more muttered remarks amongst us followed on after THAT!

Then the Princess herself came down to our level, and bent her leg as she swore fealty to this new King. The girl, speaking with a strange accent, but nevertheless with clear words, kept us informed as to what was said – she then led us, in our own tongue AND in translation for the King, through our own swearing of the oaths. We understood when the King told us to rise, but this girl also translated that command for us. There was much said amongst us at these developments.

But even more was to come.

«I won't keep you long,» the Princess then said, once more up on one of the crates. «I know you are all tired, wet, hungry... and most of you definitely need to wash! This man,» she indicated the other man we had followed along with the King, «is the Captain of His Majesty's Palace Guard. Both the King and the City have armsmen and there are other bodies of men-at-arms in Palarand too. He will be in charge of any training you might need before we set off.»

Vynil grunted and called out: «We don't need training!»

The Princess actually grinned at that! «Oh, yes you do! I would not believe it myself without seeing it, but the ways of war in Palarand are very different than the kind of brawl we are used to in Einnland. You must also learn some of the local tongue, that you may obtain food and drink in the future, at the very least. Besides, you will all need to learn how to ride and I am told that will take most of the time before we can leave.»

«So what?» another man said, contemptuously. «I don't need to be shown how to swing a sword or an axe. What can these soft people teach us? That little girl, she can't possibly be of any use with those silly swords she bears. If all the King's men are like her, we'll all be a laughing stock.»

Lars stepped in front of the crates. «Torvin, you are a bigger fool than I remembered you to be. This little girl, as you call her, is a killer. She does not even need to use those swords on her back but when she tested me with them, I could not even touch her.»

That statement produced a dead silence in the barn. Every single one of us now focussed on the girl.

«I must introduce you to Lady Garia, Baroness Blackstone,» the Princess told us, trying to hide a smirk.

A number of us gasped. This was the Lady Garia we had been told about! Again we looked at her.

Again we looked back to our Princess when she started speaking again.

«Lars is right, you do not want to make her your enemy, Torvin, but if you become her friend, she will teach you things you have never imagined possible. She is to be married to the King's son Prince Keren, who is presently on a diplomatic mission for his father. See that you mind your manners around his betrothed. Oh, and remember she can speak our tongue fluently, so mind your words.»

I could see there would be some confusion to come with two Princesses present.

Princess Eriana now changed subjects. «Naturally, when I arrived in Palarand, I was taken immediately to the Palace and I have resided there ever since.»

This was more like the old arrogant Princess we had always known and there were a few grunts of «Typical» and the like, but we also acknowledged that a Princess ought to reside in a Palace, really. Her next statement however changed the mood considerably.

«Now that I have my countrymen around me, however, I intend to move to this mansion to be among you. I will share your food, your drink, your exercises and your lessons, my people.» She grinned at our upturned faces, most now showing approval. «I regret that I shall not be sharing your beds, but I can assure you that the King intends to provide you company of the kind you desire.»

That produced another roar.

«Residing with me will be two women from the Palace Guard, who will join us on our adventure. These are volunteers who will help us on our journey through countries beyond Palarand. They are not to be considered as your playthings! They are both trained swordswomen who I have sparred with myself. Leave them alone or you will feel the edge of their blades.»

She turned and beckoned up onto the crates two of the guards, who we now saw to be female.

«This one is named Danisa and this is Heldra. They are not to be considered as my maids, but naturally we will help each other as women must do from time to time. They are not to be treated as servants of the party either but as comrades in arms, since that is what they will be. Do not expect them to do your cooking or washing for you! Give them an Einnlander's welcome, boys!»

There was another immense roar, as we raised our weaponless fists into the air. We looked speculatively at Danisa and Heldra but with respect. Everyone there knew that we would have a difficult period of adjustment ahead but we could see that both these female warriors understood the risks and both were committed to the venture.

Was it my fancy, or did that Heldra hold my gaze for a little longer than usual?

«I cannot join you today,» Princess Eriana was saying, «since I have a duty in the Palace tonight. Both Gullbrand and Lars will remain to see you all settled in and I will join you tomorrow morning. With me then will be Captain Merek,» she indicated the Captain of the King's guard, «and Master Haflin, the King's Master-at-Arms.

«Now, there is hot water waiting for any who must bathe... and I expect you all to have bathed by the time I return!» Her gaze was stern, her hands on her hips. «I know you have been lazing around, drinking beer and chasing women while I have been away but it is now time for us to work, to earn our place in our new country. Am I understood?»

There was another roar. We understood our Princess, and we actually approved of this new and improved version and I for one could see already that we were going to make a good fighting unit.

«Done. Salute your new King and then you may go and find yourself places to make your beds.»

There was another fist-raised roar and we turned to follow Gullbrand and Lars, who ushered us out through the barn doors. It was then that we discovered our short spears had been impounded lest we failed to make our oaths. For they were issued back to us.

~o~O~o~

That next morning was a little embarrassing, to say the least.

Most of us had fallen asleep fairly quickly, warm food, ale and a natural relaxation as we found a comfortable billet all being contributory factors.

So when Gullbrand and Lars stirred us and told us to bathe, it was a great shock. I was one of the first to be roused, and I suddenly realised that this washing was going to be obligatory, so I might as well grab the hot water first. This was a good move on my part.

But as I scrambled into the water, I saw my furs being taken away somewhere. I realised with a shock that the robber was that Heldra woman! She had a twinkle in her eye as she went off, holding my clothing at arms length in front of her. I was sure that if she had a third hand, she would have been pinching her nose as she marched away, her body curved away from the clothing.

It was a good bath, actually, only three others of my companions joining me, and they were as amazed as I had been when their clothing was taken away.

When it came time to get out again, there were warmed towels to dry ourselves on and some local clothing was provided. The clothing was strange, at first, but we all felt better for smelling clean, even more so when we eventually returned to our companions to take some breakfast. We realised what we had been like when we got closer to the others. Yes, the smell was both rank and strong. The four of us took our meal in a far corner.

From there, we could see Little Alrik supervising some locals in how to wash and care for our furs, so we relaxed somewhat from a care we hadn't actually realised we had.

Lars and Gullbrand had given up trying to get the others to wash, and were walking around looking angry and yet amused at the same time. Most of the others were oblivious of that fact, and my curiosity was picqued.

It wasn't too long until it was satisfied.

«Good morning, countrymen!»

We all looked up at our Princess in amazement. She was cheerful! We had been mustered out in the yard, in the cold morning air.

«I see that some of you chose to listen to me last evening. And most of you didn't. Those who are bathed, please come over here.»

What was this? Please? I think that single word got everyone's attention more rapidly than anything else could have done.

We went over to where she indicated and then were amazed as a grinning Lars and Gullbrand, with some locals, brought out some wooden chests. They were followed by some more locals carrying buckets.

The others were made to strip naked, there in the middle of the yard, with the women looking on!

And we had to pour cold water over them! The first batch were shiveringly washed and then dried and clothed before they did the same to the next batch. Her Highness was enjoying this, as were the two guardswomen, but they kept their faces neutral as much as possible. Now I was no longer required, I could relax and study them more closely. I liked what I saw in that Helga girl, or whatever her name was.

It was at this moment that that other young girl reappeared, the noble one with the funny name and the swords, with her servants and some others, one a huge mountain of a man. We warriors all forgot everything else as we studied this giant. Her Highness jumped off the crate she had been using and bounded over to them, speaking in their tongue – of which we understood some words but not the sense. The Giant bowed to her and she bowed back! We all went over to where they were, even the naked ones.

«This man is called Haflin. He is King Robanar's Master at Arms,» Her Highness informed us. «He will assess each of you and then we shall determine how best to use your strengths - and find out your weaknesses.»

She looked at the expressions on our faces, and got very serious. «You may not believe you have any weaknesses, but I know better, having seen His Majesty's men - and Lady Garia there - at training. Believe me, we all have much to learn from these people.» She clapped her hands. «Now, let's clean ourselves up while these good folk stable their frayen!»

We who were dressed remained in the courtyard, together with that Danisa and that Heldra. I found myself close to the latter who smiled at me.

The Princess chatted to the other group when they returned from the stabling, and suddenly the talk got serious. The words ended when the young noble girl with her swords crossed on her back was asked something and replied: “I am.”

There was a pause and then they chatted amongst themselves as my, our, now redressed companions wandered out to join us all. When they were finally all gathered, Her Highness said: «Lady Garia will demonstrate that she can defend herself with swords, despite her small size. Who wishes to provide a test? I warn you all, these contests are not intended to provide injury to any, merely to prove a point, though if you desire to fall flat on your faces I will not stop you.»

There was a burst of laughter from us but nothing but seriousness from all the others. We became quiet.

Finally one of us was actually brave enough to step forward. Eirik was not the largest of us, but also not the smallest, and I breathed out as I realised that this was probably the best solution to a tricky situation. If a large man had done so, then the tiny girl would have had no hope. If the smallest man had stepped forward, then that might have been considered an insult.

«Highness, I find this claim hard to believe. I will test her. What blade can I use?»

A short discussion in local language with the man Merek followed and a barrel of training swords was carried out of the barn. Eirik selected a sword and faced Garia, while the rest of us formed a rough circle around them, interested to see how quickly Eirik would despatch her. The poor man had to be careful though, for it would not do to injure her. He would obviously have to hold back. Eirik faced up to her.

And the Lady Garia had made no move to unsheathe her supposed swords.

«My Lady, do you not draw your blades?»

«You haven't attacked me yet,» she replied, which forced a burst of laughter from us. My, this girl had balls, as we say.

Puzzled, Eirik pushed his sword point forward, and then, since there was no response, swiftly swung it up and down again as he lunged forward. My Lady skipped back out of the way and her hands went to her shoulders. The swords came out and we saw they were indeed steel blades. But she held the points down in front of her.

Eirik tried another hack but this time the sparks flew from a defensive X. We gasped.

«Look how thin those blades are!» I heard one of us say.

«True, but they appear strong enough to withstand Eirik's blow,» said Stine.

The contest continued as Eirik found himself unable to get through the unusual defense but was himself stabbed, lightly, twice in return.
Finally she trapped his blade underneath and pulled it from his grasp to clatter on the flagstones of the yard. She raised her blades together in front of her face in salute before lowering them.

We were all in shock.

«Anyone else want to try?»

No one was yet recovered from our surprise so it was a while before, of course, a larger one of us went forward. I had been about to do so, but Heldra grabbed my forearm and shook her head slightly. In the end it was Tor who stepped out.

«Eirik is not so strong among us. I will try. Perhaps you will tire eventually.»

«And what would you prove?» this woman asked. «That a large man has more stamina than a small woman? You don't need swords for that. Besides, by then you would be dead. These swords are my practice pair. If I had been using my battle swords, Eirik would be dead by now, since the tips of those are sharpened and will even go through leather armour. I only have to hit you once.»

Several of us suddenly realized that hack-and-slash wasn't the only way to kill someone with a sword and expressions became thoughtful.

Tor bowed to her. «The situation is not what I thought at first, My Lady. I will test you with a sword, nevertheless. I would not be a man if I did not wish to try myself against those blades.»

«As you wish. Find yourself a sword.»

Tor was much harder to get around, as he had seen what Eirik had done and adjusted his tactics accordingly. In the end it made no difference to the result, although SHE touched him only once, on the thigh.

Again, he bowed and lowered his sword.

«My Lady, I am Tor, Ander's son. I am honored to have crossed blades with you. If you have need of men to fight at your side, I will answer your call.»

Our Princess laughed at that, a genuine laugh we could tell, but then she gave us all a strong reminder of our oaths: «Hey! What about me? Will you fight by my side?»

Tor waved a free hand dismissively and grinned at the Princess. «Highness, we do that all the time. With respect, this little one is different. She is to be Queen of Palarand? She is worthy of following, as your father was not.»

The Princess cast a glance of approval at the Lady Garia. «I cannot disagree, Tor. But she will not be leading this adventure.»

«Do not concern yourself, Highness. When we are needed, there we will be. So. Who else would try their hand against the defence that may not be passed?»

Ragnar is as big as Lars but considerably hairier. He stepped forward.

«I do not care to entertain myself against such a young - and beautiful - woman, Highness. I want to try my steel against him.»

I was shocked that I had forgotten about the man mountain, SHE had so influenced my thinking for the past moments of time that even the mountain had faded from my 'sight'.

I saw a smile break out on the mountain’s face, and he said something before striding off into the barn, returning a little later with his own scabbarded sword.

He pointed at the barrel, saying something which needed no translation.

Ragnar went there and finally selected his weapon. He swung it about experimentally and grunted in satisfaction. We all took a pace back to allow these two giants some more space.

There was a clash of steel and a spray of sparks as their blades met. The two made several tentative attacks to determine the other's abilities before settling to the hard business of grinding each other down.

We often gasped as increasingly heavy blows were attempted and parried. Broadsword fighting is not a thing of beauty and the two merely slugged it out, moving swiftly on their feet whenever they had the chance. Eventually the mountain's superior experience began to tell and he landed two touches on Ragnar's torso before our man stood back and lowered his sword.

«Highness, tell him I submit. Had we been fighting for real, I would be bleeding at his feet after that second poke. I am satisfied.»

The Princess clapped her hands. «It is enough. Let us go into the barn out of the wind.»

She turned and spoke to the others, finishing her words with a strange grin that we couldn't decipher.

Inside the barn a thin layer of straw had been spread to cover the entire floor. SHE stood in the middle with the other women while the rest spread themselves around the walls. The big double doors were left wide open to admit as much light as possible.

A few brief words were exchanged amongst the women, and then SHE looked around and selected one of the local soldiers to come to her and who then saluted her respectfully in their strange way of thumping their chests. They had a quick conversation; I think she called him Tallik. They chatted briefly and the man looked worried somehow. He certainly voiced some objection as we could all tell from his tone.
We were all stunned when SHE did something at her front and slipped out of the harness holding her blades. She took out a knife from the back of one of her boots, as the man she had selected was also discarding all his weaponry.

But not as stunned as we were when the woman who was obviously her maid stepped forward and aided her to remove her skirt!

Nice legs!

Tallik was taking this seriously and so we watched attentively as he rushed this Lady Garia, hands ready to grasp.

But she sent him sailing smoothly overhead to land on his back behind her!

What? What had we just seen? Or not seen, to be accurate?

Tallik got up and tried again, so SHE chose a slightly different action and sent him sprawling in another direction.

After some further throws SHE stood and put her hands on her hips, addressing us all.

«That's what I can do,» she said. «Anyone fancy their chances?»

«He's only a boy,» someone objected. «How does that fancy wrestling work against a real man?»

«Come out here and find out,» the Lady Garia challenged.

The Princess added, «Don't make the mistake that this is just for fun, men. Lady Garia has, so I am told, destroyed the knee joint of a man as large as Captain Merek while defeating him in a bout of honour and she has killed at least two others using this combat method. You must take this as seriously as you do your sword work.»

It was Fritjof who had objected and he now stood forward, a hand removing his belt and the knife on it. We were all held in her thrall for a moment as she didn't even look worried. By all the Gods, this was a warrior woman to be respected!

«I am Fritjof,» he said. «I will try this new way of fighting, though I am not happy to be doing it with a woman. I will not harm you, My Lady?»

«It's possible you could do so by accident,» the Lady Garia conceded. «Don't make the mistake of thinking I fight like a woman, though. I don't. Neither do the men or women of the Palace Guard who I have trained.» She smiled at him. «Just think of me as small and dangerous.»

Fritjof discovered that even getting a good grip on Garia was almost impossible. Time and again he found himself on the floor of the barn with her boot against his throat or some other vulnerable place.

We were all bewildered.

«My Lady, I did not believe that such combat was possible,» he said as he stood yet again. «You would teach us this magic?»

«I can't, unfortunately. There just won't be enough time before you have to leave. This match was really just to prove a point, and that is that although you all consider yourself seasoned warriors, which you are, there are other ways of fighting you people don't know about yet. The job of Master Haflin and Captain Merek is to prepare you so that you can face Valley men-at-arms who do know some of this stuff. Presently only the men of Palarand know about unarmed combat, and when you all get back from wherever you're going I'll be delighted to teach you what I know.»

«I will be sure to return, My Lady. Any warrior would want to know more, having tasted these new things.»

Her Highness interrupted by clapping her hands. «Any more foolishness? Good. You all know the task which is ahead of us. Let me not hear any grumbling when these fine men ask us to do things we will find strange.»

There was a subdued, but nevertheless heartfelt murmur of agreement.

~o~O~o~

The next morning, when the Lady Garia arrived, we were in a rear field throwing axes at a target which had been left out the previous day. Needless to say there was not much left of it after a while but it was good exercise to warm up our muscles and really get in the swing of things.

We then did some exercises which felt like some sort of slow dance but with definite aggression in it. This was totally strange to us to control our fighting and at first we found this Tie Tschi stuff very very useless, but a few days later we started to understand the benefits.

A large number of frayen appeared just after lunch, so we understood that we would probably be doing something with those quite soon, which proved correct. But this strange young girl confused us all when she tried to explain that the animals were not to be blindly forced to do things but should be coaxed, should be treated as a comrade. Again this was totally against all our instincts and I could see My Lady getting quite impatient with us. Her face showed it in terms of tightened lines but her body demeanour did not. It was a splendid display of control, which was one of the most powerful lessons we had in those early days, a lesson that was without words and without emphasis.

But to get back to the frayen. We struggled with her words and it was only when she let out a long sigh that we finally dropped our scepticism.
«All right, you lot of doubters. Just stand still and watch. Maybe this way you will understand what I have been trying to say all afternoon!»
She then signalled one of her soldiers who simply opened one of the stable doors.

«Snep! Come!”»

We stood again amazed as one of the frayen walked out of the stable and up to her. She nuzzled it back for a little minute and then she climbed aboard his back and showed us what she could do in conjunction with the beast. We were all FAR more enthusiastic after seeing that demonstration, I can tell you.

A little later, a breathless messenger appeared, dressed in what we now knew to be Palace colours, and I'm sure I caught a flicker of fear cross My Lady's face which was rapidly replaced by an abundance of joy. She and her party made a hasty departure after that.

Our day of training ended with a demonstration, necessarily slow, of how to fall. That sounds stupid really, but was a necessity if we were to understand My Lady's art of what she called unarmed combat.

~o~O~o~

«No, no. From more in the back of the throat. Um. Growl more. er.. Grrr. Like that...»

«Gerd eeffenniggg.»

«Good evening.»

«Gerd eeverniggg.»

«One word at a time!» I said holding up one finger. «Good. Good. Good. Good.»

«Gerd. Gerd ...»

«No! Good. Good. Good. Good.»

«Goot. Goot. Goo...»

I smiled. «Better! Not 't' though – 'd'. Good. Good. GooDDDDD.»

«Good.»

Her face lit up when I showed her she had got it right. She then said it a dozen times straight off. By the end of which she was almost accent-free.

«Evening.»

«Eeferniggg.»

«blah blah ING. An 'n' before the 'g'.»

And so our language lessons went on.

We were all, slowly, picking up each others tongues and we knew that it was necessary in case of emergencies whilst fighting, but Heldra and I seemed to have clicked somehow and it was a lot more fun for me. And I believe for her.

And then one night we, well …. erm …. did it together. Horizontal language lessons seem to be the best way to pick up a language. That first night, mind you, we had little conversation. In our haste to climb into the hayloft above the deserted barn, I failed to see a scythe that had been left leaning against the foot of the ladder. I was lucky that only my boot was gashed. I scarce noticed it at the time, but I can recall every second of what happened once we got up there. … I believe I shall always smile at that recollection.

One day we were introduced to the King's son, the Lady Garia's intended. We all thought him a fine looking young man, with that important air of command about him. His name was Keren.

The days we spent mostly learning to ride, but also some of the basics of that unarmed combat stuff. We learnt to appreciate the benefits of Tai Chi. We worked out with swords, and after a couple of weeks, that mountain of a man arrived with some battle weapons. It seemed he was the man in charge of all arms, so Gullbrand had a special request or two for him which we could all see he found really interesting.

Sword work, axe work, unarmed combat, riding and frayen care, the Tai Chi as I had learnt now it was written, language, reading, writing and numbering filled our days and we all became much fitter, stronger and with more stamina than we had ever thought possible, as well as better educated. And we all developed a relationship with our animals and with our team, which we had split up into small groups, so group ties became stronger, within the team ties.

One thing that we discovered in those days was that the Lady Garia had once referred to us as 'Vikings' and it took a lot of trouble to put that right, made more difficult by imprecise translations and so on. On one of her almost daily visits, I managed to briefly mention it and she apologised for it.

The word víking derives from the feminine vík, meaning "creek, inlet, small bay". The Old Norse feminine noun víking refers to an expedition overseas, in that the seafarers would go and explore (and raid) far-off coastlines, preferably remote and undefended, in other words go and find an inlet somewhere. In the ancient tongue, it was used as in fara í víking, "to go on an expedition". So to hear that this tiny Princess had referred to us as Vikings was funny, as there is no, and never has been, a race of people called that.

«Be careful of that one, Garia. He's a rampant sex maniac. Why, when we crashed our ship onto the Plif shore, he even took the opportunity to grope my breast. And I understand he has been forging closer ties between our peoples. Eh, Gylfi?”»

I had not imagined that I could ever blush again since I was a young lad, but it seems that that was something else for me to surprised about. This training estate certainly opened my eyes to many more things than I had anticipated.

Not the least of them, we were all shocked into deep sobriety by the demonstration of those things they called 'guns'. We were very thoughtful for a long while after we saw that demonstration of destruction. We were all VERY attentive when the Lady Garia gave us instruction on how to minimise our damage when faced with these horrendous weapons.

The Lady Garia was very impressed with our short spear skills, weapons she called 'javelins' in her tongue.

And so the daily routines filled us but, as must I suppose be inevitable, we were impatient to get on with our task. So we all cheered on the day we received news that we would be departing this temporary home on the morrow.

~o~O~o~

The weather overnight had been rough, with hail followed by sleet and a short fall of snow followed by rain and wind which washed most of the snow away, leaving icy mud and sludge.

The wagons stood unoccupied in the courtyard of this Kallend estate, since everyone was in the warm and dry of the largest barn. There was applause from us already in there when the Prince, with My Lady and the Guard Captain entered. The Haflin mountain had arrived earlier as had someone named Jaxen who it seemed was a Wagonmaster. My Lady and he had a short conversation before she looked round at each and every one of us. Those who were travelling had now changed back into clothing that resembled that which we had been wearing when we arrived, but which was now considerable cleaner and less smelly! And we had swords, fine weapons, one for each of us.

In the wagons already were our daggers, short bows, axes, crossbows and 'javelins', all except the last provided by that Haflin and all of such high standard our old weapons would have looked shabby when held next to them.

Her Highness, our leader, had had her clothing adapted to the local designs, and she had across her back, fastened to a baldric, her sword.

By now, we could better understand the local language so we murmured our approval when Her Highness spoke for us all, saying: "Thank you all for what you have done for my people, Keren, Garia, Captain. Not forgetting Master Haflin! Without you we would be just refugees on a desolate shore. Now we must depart, the days of winter are short and we have a long way to travel."

She switched to Norse. «Men! Show these fine people our appreciation for what they have done for us!»

We gave out a huge roar and held our fists up high, there being too little room to wave our swords.

Lars replied for the all of us: "Highness, My Lady, to fight, for this we thank."

My Lady Garia smiled at us, individually somehow and also as a group. «It was just an idea I had. Now you all take care, hear? The Yodans may not be as big and strong as you men are but they are very determined.»

«My Lady, we will, we must return for your marriage.» The Princess then turned to us. «Get your beasts, I will be with you shortly.»

Most of us then left the barn and went to find our frayen, leaving the Palarandis, Her Highness and a handful of our companions there, standing around and apparently chatting. Heldra and I were the last to leave and I heard Her Highness explain to the Palarandis how she had chosen the final team, Heldra later explaining the bits I had got wrong.

"I have chosen who is to go and these are those who, for whatever reason, would stay behind," the Princess explained to those gathered around her. "Sigsten and Vidrik will go to Garia, Sigsten to work with Milsy." She smiled. "I understand there are similarities between fixing a ship's rigging and fitting wires to poles. He will be good at that, I deem. Continuing, Vidrik desires to become an armsman for Garia. Olof and Kjellmund will join the Palace Guard, although it is likely that one or both might end up tending Master Haflin's forges. Little Alrik will stay with Gullbrand as a manservant, though he will formally belong to the palace. Jorl, Tor – that's Hakon's son - and Folke, Orm and Knut will remain at the estate. It seems that the skills which a sailor knows may be of great use to the masons who build this new place of learning."

I was about to leave the barn when something in Her Highness' voice made me turn back to look at the group there. The Princess' shoulders had slumped. "As you all know Gullbrand will not be traveling with me. His counsel ever since we came to this land has been careful and honest." An apologetic smile. "And, I admit, I did not follow it sometimes! I am not the person I was then, and for that I have to thank Garia." The smile faded. "That is also the reason, of course, that drove my two maids away. Now I must make amends by leading my people on this adventure. Captain Merek, I have all the maps and I will follow your advice as best as I can. Now, if you will excuse me."

Her Highness plainly did not want a big departure scene and she walked out from between them without another word. Heldra and I scurried on ahead to find our own beasts. The others followed more slowly, walking around the side of the barn to the temporary awnings which had sheltered their riding beasts. There, Gullbrand stood holding the reins of Her Highness' frayen. She surprised me when she briefly hugged him before swiftly mounting and, with a nod to those watching, rode around the other end of the barn and out of their sight, where she told me off for dallying.

The last wagoneer clucked and the dranakh in the shafts briefly bleated before turning to the way out. Along the road, we had all waited for everyone to appear. Once they had done so, Her Highness raised an arm and waved it forward.

The expedition moved off, heading towards the large town. My Lady had slowly worked her way past the train, slowly because she had a guard of four men around her at all times. She reached our Princess and I could just hear their conversation. I mentally thanked Heldra for her comprehensive lessons as I could understand nearly all that was said.

"You don't like goodbyes, I take it."

"Hah! Considering the last one I made, you understand me well, Garia."

"But here you're not running away from your father, you're heading off on an adventure." the Lady Garia looked around to make sure the Prince was not in earshot. "An adventure I would definitely wish to be part of, if I could."

I realised with a shock that this little Lady Garia was jealous of us. My mind started racing as the implications of that flooded in. Every time I though I had one understood, another hit me.

Our Princess gave her a look of sympathy. "I understand, Garia, what you must be feeling. You are too much of a treasure for the King - our King - to let you fall into any danger. I wonder that he let you ride here today."

"As you say. Fortunately I know from experience that I can depend on all our men if there's any trouble. There's such a thing as being too important, I guess. Still, it is the wrong time of the year for going out much so I'm just busying myself with all the plans and gadgets I've already started going."

"And you have yet a wedding to prepare for," Eriana added with a smile. "I must admit to a certain envy that you may spend some bells in the Wardrobe, considering fine materials and trimmings. Do you yet have a design?"

"I've decided to go for something traditional to Palarand. What women wear on Earth to get married can vary from the completely covered to the almost-naked, I'm afraid, so I decided it would be best to leave well alone." The Lady Garia considered. "Do you think you'll be back in time for the wedding?"

Eriana shrugged. "The fortune of war, Garia, as you must know. If the Gods permit us to take this fortress, then we must learn what state the war has reached in those distant lands and set our own plans accordingly. I would wish to be back, of course, but I cannot give my word."
"Understood. It's hard sending people off when you know they are heading into danger."

The Princess grinned. "With these few lusty men - and two good woman warriors, besides - at my side, we do not fear danger, Garia."

"Perhaps not, but if you want to be at that wedding you'll take care of yourself, hear?"

Eriana touched a finger to her forehead. "As you command, My Lady."

They rode along in companionable silence until the walls of the old city loomed ahead. Jaxen reined in beside them.

"Highness, Milady, our ways part here, I regret to say. We will turn right, to avoid the city streets, while you must needs return to the palace."

"So. Farewell Eriana, Jaxen. We'll meet together again in the Spring, I guess."

The Prince, Captain Merek and also Gullbrand joined the Lady Garia at the side of the road as our wagons turned at the junction and headed around the city walls, bound for the Brikant road.

There was no waving.

~o~O~o~

The wagons held us back. We could have made better time had we been alone, but then we would not have had all our weapons, nor food for us and the beasts, so we all plodded along. The excellent roads were mostly unused at the moment so we saw few other travellers. Our journey was looking to get dark when we crossed an ancient stone bridge, with some more modern repairs to parts of it. The bridge took us over a wide river, but many of us could not understand the fuss about this river, for there was no discernible current in it, it all seemed placid and boring somehow.

The Princess asked that Jaxen about it, and he laughed.

Heldra told me later more accurately what they had said.
“Your Highness, that's not the river! That USED to be the river. This is nowadays just a giant lake we call the Crescent Lake. A canal at the north end, well north-east to be exact, allows access to shipping who can then navigate without strong currents to a canal just over there, behind those distant trees, which connects to the river. See them, about four or five marks distant? By using the lake and the canals, the upstream traffic can save nearly two days travelling time, and a day for the downstream traffic. And it is the foundation of Palarandi fortunes, when it comes down to it. Every so often, they open all the canal gates at each end, and let the water flow, to prevent it getting foul. That is nowadays so much easier to arrange as the Semaphore System gives a far better communication from one end to the other.”

“So where is the river then?”

“There to the south of where we are standing. There is a great loop down there, so it arrives from a basic southerly direction, and leaves in a mostly western direction, but it wiggles around a bit so my directions are not exact. It is down there where the line of trees following the canal meets that other line of trees. Almost as far as we can see today.

“The Trade Route splits here, the left fork there crossing the canal and heading over to the side of the Great Valley, where you can go up the Valley floor hugging its edge towards Plif, or go up the Valley wall and across the mountains from there to Moxgo. It was up there that we found Milady Garia. Now, as I said, we could normally see the Valley wall from here, but this dreadful weather has blocked us from doing so. All that's down the left fork. However, we will be taking the right fork, but not until the morning. That cluster of buildings over there is our overnight stop. It would be pointless to forge on today. We have a river crossing on the morrow, and a meeting with some others, so we gain nothing by pressing on for the last bell of light today. Time for us all to rest and get warm again.”

~o~O~o~

The next night we again stopped just after crossing a waterway, but this time we were able actually to see for the very first time the powerful river which we crossed on ferries. THIS gave us a flavour of the size and power of the Sirrel river, and an understanding into the thoughts and beliefs of these Valley dwellers. There were several ferries, but it still took some time for all of us to get to the far bank, and the new country of Brugan. We were fascinated by the ferries themselves, they appeared to be TWO hulls held together by a platform between them. We had prided ourselves on our knowledge of ships, but we had never seen such an arrangement before. This was something else that made us think deeply.

Our journey on that second day had had us skirting round another large town which Jaxen called Brikant, and it was there that we saw a functioning one of those strange Semaphore Towers. It was clicking and clacking away in an almost startling fashion. Another wagon joined us just after we had passed the city, and when we got to the roadhouse that night, not far after the river crossing, there were another two wagons waiting for us.

After our supper, Jaxen came to our separate room along with another man we had seen on the road with us. He also had been mounted on a frayen, and was obviously someone with a degree of authority.

Jaxen called us all together and used Her Highness as his mouthpiece: «Well done today, all of you. We have progressed well. Tomorrow we must needs make an early start, and we must force the pace a little. At around the middle of the day, I shall leave you. This man here with me is called Tiller. He is the Wagonmaster that will lead this caravan to Pradens. He has been fully briefed and supplied, so he deserves the respect of all. I hand over now to him to make himself known. In order to maintain a low profile, I shall take my leave of you now, lest I give something away to prying eyes on the morrow. I salute you and wish you all good fortune. May your Gods be with you!»

We were about to give him a rousing cheer, when the Princess quickly showed us not to. Unwarranted attention was to be avoided. We did each take the time to shake his hand, and clasp him to our breasts.

Once the leave-taking was over, the man Tiller stood before us. He had a good attitude and an authoritative tone. First impressions were therefore good.

«Good evening all. It is an honour to meet you. I am ignorant of the full details of your journeys, but I know only that many arrangements for you have already been made. We have one wagon stacked with what appears to me to be supplies for beasts and another with both normal and strange supplies for humans. At one point, once we have crossed into the Kingdom of Shald, the human supply wagon is going to break a wheel. It will have to be abandoned at the road side. I think it needs to be a wheel, since we can take the 'broken' wheel with us, and pick up the wagon again on our return. It is least likely to have been stolen if it has no wheel on one side!

«The beasts' supplies shall be stacked under the 'stricken' wagon if protection for them is required, and your party will be left there to do whatever it is you have been training for. It is anticipated that the splitting up shall take place in the early to mid-afternoon, to enable us to distance ourselves before we stop for the night. But I must now give you a warning regarding the morrow. We have a huge number of vehicles, beasts and men and there may well be a degree of confusion. Nevertheless, we who shall take the Therel Vale route shall be under some time pressure in order to achieve all that we need to do. I warn you that I shall be forcing the pace throughout the day.»

«As shall I during the first part,» added Jaxen, translated by Her Highness, somewhat unnecessarily, since we all understood his simple statement.

So it was with a far greater convoy that we continued in the morning. Indeed, another two convoys attached themselves to us to create a snake that almost filled the road from one roadhouse to the next as we rolled on! That Jaxen man made sure we were the last of the wagons, so that we were seen by the smallest number of people, and yet he also had two wagons right at the front of the column, so he was forever riding up and down the length. Some of us were allowed to ride frayen as well, but only if we were wearing the local clothes. Under the wet weather coverings (which we found to be excellent) no-one would have been able to discern our 'foreigness'!

It seemed to me, and several others in our party, that he was forcing the pace more than just a little and we found out why - not long after our stomachs had been telling us that they felt our throats had been cut!

At the start of this day, we had again changed the direction of our travel, this time heading just slightly west of north from our roadhouse, which had been again positioned at a fork in the roads. Behind us, at a half day's travel roughly, was apparently the town of Brugan, the same name as the country we were now travelling through. The route we were following was a well-used Trade Route leading to a major town called Dekarran, which was back in Palarand but across the mighty river from Palarand City. Apparently, the route we had travelled was the major route between the two towns of Palarand when the weather shut the usual ferry. Nearly four days of wagon travel! No wonder that distant ferry was considered vital.

Just as we were beginning to think it would soon be time to eat, the road swung quite sharply to the right, leading us this time the other side of north. Soon after that we crossed a quite large subsidiary river and were told that, strictly speaking, we had now passed back into Palarand, but the border post was another mark or so further down the road, since the other Trade Road joined this one very shortly. And it would be stupid to pass into one country and then pass back into the other within minutes.

Almost immediately after this, that other Trade Route angled sharply off to our left and our monster convoy split there; the lead wagons, two from the middle and ours taking this new route, all the rest keeping straight on towards this far-off Dekarran place. We could tell afterwards that it was obvious in one way which were the wagons in our party. Each had at least half a dozen frayen trailing them on leading reins, whilst the others had none or just a few. Jaxen was conspicuous to our eyes as he made no eye contact with any of us. And so our suddenly seemingly small caravan split away from the others with little or no fanfare, taking this new Trade Route. We could see no heightening of interest in any of the others and so we felt that we had done the split with little unusual activity to draw unwanted eyes.

The new road climbed quite steeply from that point. The slope, the terrain and the river all combined to make this strange arrangement of roads and borders seem quite natural. We crossed the subsidiary river once more, using a sturdy bridge as the waters tumbled and jumbled quite far below us.

A little way further on, the road described a huge curve and this came as a shock to us. We had all unknowingly got used to the roads being arrow-straight from point to point. Back home, of course, our roads and tracks wandered about here and there, but we had got used to the Palarandi directness. Ah! I can no longer refer to it as «Back home», can I? Palarand is now home.

The weather relented whilst we were lunching in a roadhouse on the outside of that first great curve. Again Tiller was hurrying us as he glanced at the weather outside. It seemed to us that he was even more urgent after he had a conversation with Her Highness. So we were quite quickly back on the road, having to wait just a little for the women to use the facilities. When we continued, nearly all the cloud and mist had blown away in the stiff breeze and for the first time ever, we were afforded views of the Great Valley, our elevation helping us take in tantalising glimpses of the Valley floor, those views restricted by the walls of this side valley we were climbing up.

There were a few more turns and twists in the road, much tighter curves, as it criss-crossed the side valley, and crissed and crossed the tumbling river. At one that swung sharply to the right, there was a large flat area, large enough for all our wagons and beasts. We know that because that's what Tiller did, pulling everyone off the road, but waving the purely goods wagons onwards, the wagons that were not actually involved with our final mission. He called out something to the wagoneer at the front, had a quick chat to the senior guard and then returned to us.

Also using Her Highness to translate, we received some startling information.

«Men, and you ladies. We have been hurrying today because I suspected we might get this opportunity. I shall send all the wagons on to our overnight stop, with the guards, and all who wish can come with me and Her Highness on a side trip. This man here is a local and will guide us. We need to hurry in order to do this before dark, but we feel it will help in your education.»

He threw out one hand and indicated the side of the valley we were in. «Up there, at the shoulder we can plainly see, we can climb up that track there, go a few marks across country, and gain a view of the entire Great Valley. At that shoulder we shall technically pass into another country, one called Smordan, but there are no border posts hereabout, there being no residents around those jumbled rocks.

«The countryside and terrain we shall pass through is likely to be very similar to that which you shall encounter later, after we part company, so it will be a good introduction for you all. For our return journey later today, we can then use our same track back for a little way, followed by other tracks to get to our overnight after crossing the crestline to get back into Brugan. If we leave now, we will have time to do all this, but only just. I repeat, we have to go NOW. All who are interested need to be mounted. All others will have to travel with the wagons.»

There was a big kerfuffle as everyone not already mounted rushed to get their frayen saddled and to scramble up onto their backs. The three women, who had been riding already, slipped off their animals and quickly disappeared behind a large rock, reappearing far sooner than any of us expected.

That ride was quite exciting, as we followed bare tracks and skirted large rocks and crossed many little streams. There was almost no vegetation up here and no flat land available to till, so we understood why it was so deserted. Tiller kept the pace up to an extent that some of us felt was becoming nearly foolhardy.

The view from that vantage point was worth it. At last, we could all put into perspective the geography and the names. From up there we could even see part of the Crescent Lake. We gasped as we saw just how enormous it really was. We took in the great bends in the river and understood why the countries were as they were.

Then came the mad scramble to get back. The guide certainly earned his coin then!

The most awkward part was getting across the crestline which took us back into the upland portion of Brugan. There was a short but steep slope where we could see some rocks had cracked off and tumbled down on the Brugan side. We dismounted for that piece and it was difficult footing for both us and the beasts; however, it was less than two dozen strides – until we got to the real problem. A pile of scree maybe three dozen strides wide that we had to negotiate. For the first half of us, it was really quite difficult, with many breath-holding slides occurring, but, for those following, quite a lot of the loose stuff had shifted and by the time we were all down, there was a distinct path plainly visible.

Not that the visibility was any more any good, the clouds had rolled back in and now it was beginning to snow really quite heavily. The light was most gloomy and many of us wondered how we were to continue over difficult terrain with darkness looming.

Then Tiller's planning came to the fore; actually we found later that it was probably Jaxen's planning, but it was Tiller who carried it out. He had with him samples of something he called a 'Beam Lantern'. Something else for us to be astounded about. These showed us the passage some dozen and more strides ahead of the leading man, and the track was wide enough for us to ride two abreast, so the leading riders had one of these special lanterns each. With them leading the way, and with every other rider in the tail holding an ordinary lamp, we found our way far more easily than any of us had expected.

Furthermore, Tiller, or maybe Jaxen, had arranged for our overnight accommodation to be in a quite remote farm about halfway between where we crossed the crestline and the small town that was down there on this upper valley floor, a town which seemed to salute the river as it poured powerfully over the lip into the side valley we had followed most of the way up. Both the river, which we learned was called the Therel, and the Trade Route went through the middle of this town, somewhat unsurprisingly called Therelis.

We went to sleep quite late that night as we all chatted about what we had seen. Our muscles had certainly had a good work out.
Our fourth day was quite boring actually. We awoke, we got ourselves ready, Tai Chi, breakfast and then we departed. It took a fair while to negotiate round Therelis and regain the Trade Route, after which we laboured our way uphill once more. At first the road was still curvy; after a long curved stretch that took us several hundreds of strides above where we had been earlier as we negotiated a steeper part of this Vale, we stopped for the midday meal.

Again Her Highness acted as interpreter when Tiller told us in our break that: «As you may have noticed, roadhouses are fewer and farther between up here. I know this was a later than usual break, but to have stopped below the steeper bit would have meant more strain for the animals to start again. This means we can have a shorter afternoon travel. We have two choices, to continue for a bell and then stop, or to continue for just over two before stopping. I recommend the latter, as we will have an easier day tomorrow if we do that, but our schedule will allow the former. It will mean a longer day tomorrow, but I repeat, it is something we could do. What say you all?»

We decided upon travelling the longer distance today. Tiller sent two men on ahead, on frayen back of course, to warn the roadhouse, and half of us went with them, Heldra, Danisa and Her Highness amongst us. Thus we overnighted further up the Vale, where the roads had once again returned to the straight versions between point and point. The weather had turned into some mixture of rain and snow, which Heldra told me was called 'sleet' in Palarandi, so we were quite wet and miserable by the time we pulled into the roadhouse. It was no longer so necessary to maintain the slight degree of secrecy, so we were more open when we arrived, and somehow Heldra and I were assigned a room to ourselves. The Princess had a twinkle in her eye as she turned away and Danisa looked at us as with a grin when she turned to go with Her Highness.

We awoke and had a good breakfast considering the roadhouse operators would not have expected such a large party at this time of year. There was a certain amount of teasing that Heldra and I had to endure but we were happy enough to be able to let it wash over us. After our usual start to the day, we left that roadhouse later than we were used to, but it was still quite early. Again, Tiller despatched those who wanted to to ride ahead to the agreed lunch stop. We ALL went this time.

Indeed we had already eaten by the time the wagons arrived, so Tiller gave us directions to the overnight stop and sent us on our way again. We were of course lightly armed so as not to be suspicious, but our full armoury was under the supplies in the wagon. We were therefore not presenting a very warlike appearance and were far more acceptable that way.

Tiller's words were once again conveyed via the Princess: «I am aware that we could actually quite easily make the next roadhouse our overnight stop, but that would make the following day's timings awkward. We need to be seen to leave this part of Brugan at a normal time, have our early lunch just on the pass itself, for it all to work to plan. We will explain our apparent lack of progress today as a wagon problem, which will then give us also a good excuse for the wagons to be so far behind the riders. It also sets up our story for when we part company, that the wagon had to be abandoned.»

So that is what we did; we all rode up to the designated roadhouse - who were a little disconcerted to see travellers. It wasn't the best one we had ever been in and we found ourselves doing some of the maintenance there as we awaited the wagons. The family head had been taken ill and was very weak, so a normal welcome was beyond their capabilities. They did assure us though that the illness was not serious enough for someone to be despatched downvale for help.

We were all aware that this would be our last night in relative comfort for a considerable time, and we made the most of the facilities on offer, feeding, washing and some clothing cleaning. The roadhouse were grateful for the business and for our help; thus it was all smiles upon our departure. Not all of us were mounted that time, as we needed some of us to check over all our equipment before we parted company later that afternoon.

The lunch stop was in a roadhouse right at the top of the pass, on the col itself, with, we supposed, excellent views to either side. But the clouds were thick there and there was a light covering of snow too. A bored group of three border guards welcomed us to Shald in general and the Nardenis Vale in particular; we explained we were passing through to a destination further inland.

And that was it. They showed no further interest in us at all, other than remarking that we were quite early to be lunching. Our explanation that we had a distance to go was accepted naturally and without suspicion.

We ate, used the facilities and pressed on, downhill now. We dropped below the clouds and had a first view of the southern crestline, which had us all searching for the least awkward crossing place. A sharp bend to the right heralded a quite steep pitch on the road but we scarce noticed it, our attention being so much on that crestline. Could we find a feasible crossing point? If not, then our mission was over before it had started.

The crestline was above an increasingly steep slope as we dropped further into Nardenis Vale, and the waterway flowing down that vale was growing steadily larger and more powerful. Then we spotted a possibility. Not a probability, but a possibility. There was a further bend to the right just ahead, and we could see no-one behind us. So we 'broke' the wagon, leaving it propped on a rock, and we transferred everything from our supply wagons, which would go on without us, for we could not take them with us across such rough country.

There was a silent wave to and from the others who were travelling on along the Trade Route and then we were alone, our mission now resting upon our own efforts.

~o~O~o~

Gylfi's eyes suddenly opened and a spurt of panic shot through him.
«How can I sleep in the middle of a battle?» he berated himself.

He started to reach for his sword when he saw Stine leaning down next to him.

«Relax, Gylfi, old friend. You have done your work. The Yodans are in retreat.»

«But who are these new uniforms?»

«Hush now brother! We are in control. Sleep now.»

So Gylfi shut his eyes once more, and his thoughts drifted back to the cross-country journey they had made to the fort and the subsequent events ...

---

Going cross country and reaching the fort

---

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 © 2015 Di Wonder. All rights reserved.

It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2018 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

Gylfi's eyes suddenly opened and a spurt of panic shot through him.

«How can I sleep in the middle of a battle?» he berated himself.

He started to reach for his sword when he saw Stine leaning down next to him.

«Relax, Gylfi, old friend. You have done your work. The Yodans are in retreat.»

«But who are these new uniforms?»

«Hush now brother! We are in control. Sleep now.»

~o~O~o~

So Gylfi shut his eyes once more, and his thoughts drifted back to the cross-country journey they had made to the fort and the subsequent events ...

«You two, take your mounts and investigate that gap there on the crestline. Find a way across. The rest of us will load up the other beasts with your supplies so that you two can travel lightly. We shall then follow you as soon as we may, once we have loaded everything and cleaned up any traces of our passage. Go now, we must be over that crest before dark, if at all possible.»

Maarku and I understood what was required, and so we went off as quickly as we could. The ground this side of the crest was trackless, which meant we had to be careful but at the same time we had to rush. We had those light loads of course which was a help. We took ropes, extra cloaks, and some sturdy wooden staves, but little else aside from our basic weapons. We knew also that, if we were successful, then we would probably need some things to mark the trail.

It took us nearly one of the roughly three bells we had left of daylight to reach the crestline at that small saddle we had espied from the road. Our stomachs dropped immediately. There was no way we could descend on the other side. The drop was sheer and probably two dozen strides in height. Maybe we could have roped down it, but there was no way we could take the frayen with us. We had frayen with us to help us cover the ground more quickly, it would be folly to have to abandon them at the first obstacle.

But we retained that in our minds as a distinct possibility.

We decided to look for some other solution.

I turned left along the crestline, heading eastwards and Maarku went the other way, both of us rushing as much as we could. I had a moment or two of concern as I found a stretch of shale and my mount slipped a couple of times on the traverse, but we struggled through and I saw ahead of me a promising outcrop on the far side of the crest.

As I approached it, I could see what looked like a safe path down the side of it into the yonder valley, so I was hopeful – provided always that there was a safe path from the crest down to the outcrop. I heard a hail from behind me and I twisted round to see Maarku waving negatively, and indicating that he would come up to me. I didn't wait for him.

Our side of the crest was getting less and less favourable the nearer we approached that outcropping I had spotted from afar.

Until we came to near the top of a recent rockslide, and our way was impossible.

By this time, Maarku had come up to me and we neither could see a way forward. A large boulder, taller than me and twice as wide, was in our way; the slope either side of it was far too steep for anything other than an avian. The boulder was a slightly different colour to the surrounding rocks so we could see that it had obviously rolled there, and we could see that in fact it had cleared a good path down to its current position from some two dozen strides further upslope.

We looked around but could see nothing to solve our problem. There seemed to be a way to descend to the upper surface of the outcropping from a little way above the top of boulder's path, a step having been created when it left its origins.

But the Gods-cursed thing blocked our way and we could not pass it. We would have to retrace our steps, descend, climb the valley floor and search for another route up. Far down below, we could see the long line of frayen approaching this wall of the valley. It surprised me just how far they were below us.

I took a thick cloak from my saddlebag, intending to tie it somehow to the rock, so that we had an aiming point from below. I approached the rock gingerly, a coil of rope and the cloak with me. Just as I got near it, some loose gravel slipped beneath my leading foot and I slid into the boulder.

It rocked. There was a distinct wobble to it.

It didn't take Maarku and I very long to spot the pile of chippings that was stopping it rolling away to the stream in the valley floor.

«If we clear that pile, surely 'twill roll down and clear this path.»

Now Maarku always see the negative side of everything, and this was no different an occasion. He used the gloomiest of his many gloomy tones: «And probably set off a slide that will bury the others!»

«Aye that is one possibility. Of many. Another is that it could clear our way. And we both know what our Princess would expect of us!”»

«Aye. Let's hope that we can do it then.»

«She knows not to stay directly downhill from us, so there is a great chance that any rock slide we set off will miss them all.»

It took us maybe a quarter of a bell to find suitable tools – pieces of rock and stone to use for leverage – and to start work. It took all of a hand of moments to achieve the objective. Looking back at it, it was quite frightening actually.

The huge rock teetered for just a heartbeat or two and then tipped over, as Maarku and I applied all our strength to the task. Its descent was accompanied by a loud roar, and what seemed to be half the face fell down with it. Barely a foot's length away from us, some of the slope was taken with it. Our frayen showed extreme nervousness so we spent a moment or two calming them. We watched in awe as the roar of the stonefall continued for a good long while.

Maarku was nearly right. The very edge of the rock stream got to within four dozen paces of our colleagues. We knew we had to send a signal to them, knowing that the Princess would have a telescope trained upon us. We gave the signal for them to wait as we turned our feet once more up the slope. Only a hand of moments were required to see that there was a narrow way turning and twisting through large rocks and underfoot hollows and pot holes down to the top of the outcrop.

«You stay here on the ridgeline where she can see you and I will investigate the other side. This would be stupid if we can't descend over there!»

«Most likely we won't be able to!»

This time Maarku was wrong. It took me a further quarter of a bell to get down to the top of the outcrop, and to see an awkward, but nevertheless feasible way down to the more gentle slope below. I went a few strides down it and discovered an extra possible bonus for us – a pair of shallow holes, not deep enough to call caves, that would be a welcome shelter for most of us this night, should they prove habitable. I signalled Maarku who in turn signalled for the others to come on. I left my animal down in that first hollow, having seen that it was solid and dry enough for a good quarter of our company. I scrambled back up to the ridge and stood with Maarku, gazing downwards.

We could see them studying the new wall from below, and watched as they altered their course across the valley to make a more direct approach to our position. We were not idle ourselves – we picked out a route downwards towards them, Well Maarku did most of that, since my animal was still down below on the other side of the ridge. I used what was to hand to make the passage up at the top less uneven, and the way down to the shallow caves better marked. I filled in some of the holes, and actually managed to clear a few of the rocks before I returned to the top.

Thus it was that I had a good view as I watched them work their way up to us. When they met Maarku, there was a brief pummel of his shoulder and then they came up, Maarku leading the way and Vynil bringing up the rear, removing Maarku's trail markers as he did so.

We were all distributed around the hollows, with the susceptible stores stashed away from the worst of the weather by the time the light finally failed

The Princess had gathered us all together for a talk that evening, before we went to our 'beds' early.

«We have done well today. I confess that I thought we might have problems getting across the crestline. Now gather round so you can see this map, and I'll explain a little more. See here, we had that early lunch on the col, the border between upland Brugan and the country of Shald, at that bend in the road there.»

Her finger pointed out that feature, and continued to do so as she spoke further.

«All these countries have an upland portion above the shoulders of the Great Valley. See here, by crossing the crestline we passed from the Kingdom of Shald (which is NOT a Great Valley country) into the upland portion of a country called Ferenis. Now see here, the crestlines are marked and the eastern side of this Ferenis upland portion has this great curved crestline between it and the uplands of Smordan. Once we round the southern side of this great curve here, we could, theoretically, be seen from our target, which is here, this sharp point jutting into the Great Valley.

«This is where the story gets a little complicated. The fortress we are aiming for is on that point, and it overlooks the town of Forguland, there, across the river. In fact, you could say it controls Forguland. For that reason it is normally manned by soldiers of Forguland, even though it is itself in Ferenis. This is because occasionally, over the ages, the great river has changed its course. Ferenis and Forguland have had this agreement for centuries, but Yod have thrown all this into confusion.

«They have invaded from here, see there's Yod itself, and have taken over this littoral to the north and west of the river – see here, it is some twenty or so marks along. The road that supplies the fortress climbs up from this littoral just about there where the Great Valley walls stretch out again. The bottom of that road comes out deep into the area that Yod has taken. They have erected some steady defences much farther along the river bank and feel themselves very safe there. Anyone would have to cross the river to attack them and they would get a lot of notice that way.

«So we take the fortress and they would have to attack uphill along a narrow road to retake it. That will distract some of their forces and would then open them up to potential attacks from the forces of Ferenis in the first instance, and possibly Forguland too. So tomorrow I want to get across to that great southern curve here and find somewhere to stay overnight. We should be able to push on quite quickly. Once we round that curve then we shall have to be more wary, and send out more wary scouting parties than the ones we will have for that traverse. The more we do tomorrow, the less we will have to do later. Now sleep as well as you can, and be prepared for some hard work in the morning. Thank you and good night.»

We passed a night that wasn't particularly comfortable, but considerably more comfortable than it could have been. It was cold, the rocks we were lying on seemed to ignore the puny heat our bodies were generating.

~o~O~o~

The next morning we started out especially early. The fact that we would prefer to be moving rather than lying on rock, no matter how padded under us it was, was a contributory factor, none of us getting very warm as we slept. I think we all shivered a lot that night, even the ones near the fires.

Another contributory factor, of course, was the Princess' desire to get as far towards our target as possible. We all had half an eye on the skies too – yesterday had been acceptable but the clouds had closed in some more overnight and they felt pregnant with snow somehow. A snow cover would be particularly bad for us, for we wouldn't be able to see the uneven terrain and might more easily step in a pothole with resultant twisted ankles or worse. Scree slopes would be hidden and could take us unawares.

Not to mention leaving a clear and undeniable track of our passage.

So it was that we set out barely after the day had broken, and after a very small, very quickly produced cold breakfast, the Tai Chi helped us get the stiffness out of our bodies.

I have to say that we achieved our objective for that day relatively easily. We soon saw that upland Ferenis basically sloped from north-east down towards the south-west, but also tipped towards the shoulder of the Great Valley. We descended from our lofty ‘caves’ relatively easily and then we headed for that great southern curve in the valley wall. We did this by simply following the contours round, going first mostly easterly and then curving round until we ended going almost due south. The curve of the valley side to our left started to pull away more and more to the east when the scouts returned to Her Highness and reported, in the mid-afternoon. They had found a comprehensive set of real caves that would do well to provide some shelter both from the weather and from prying eyes. There were sufficient trees and bushes around that we could be sure we would be almost invisible, the only danger being the flickering of our fires at night time, and the reflections of those flickers on the rock walls. The only lack was any fresh running water.

Her Highness told us to rest here while she went off with the scouts. Less than half a bell later, she returned.

«I doubt we shall find anything better than that area for a camp tonight, so we shall overnight there. I want two pairs to scout ahead a bit to make the going easier on the morrow. But do not be seen, whatever happens.»

Four of our group departed silently to scout out the lay of the land we would be passing through on the morrow, but they couldn't range too far due to the time of daylight left, so the rest of us went to these caves and set up the camp, lit a cooking fire and got some water on to boil.

Just before dusk fell 'properly', the scouts returned. They had announced that the trees and bushes abounded and would constrict our ease of passage, but that the land had plenty of folds which would obscure our presence, at least for the next hand or so of marks. A decent meal was consumed, and our private functions dealt with before we settled down to another night sleeping on a rocky ground, our second night in the wilds. Once again the rock seemed intent on sucking out our body warmth, so much so that we all paired up, which was marginally better than what we had suffered the night before.

~o~O~o~

On our third day, progress was much slower as we went far more warily. Scouts were sent ahead and we progressed like that, never exposing ourselves to any possibility of being seen, even though we negotiated our way round that great curve. I estimated that, had the ground been flat, we would have been able to see the fortress around a hand or two of marks distant.

We slipped silently over a mini-crest between two waves in the ground, and stumbled upon a wild jumble of scattered rocks. Along with two little streams. The advantages of this as a campsite were so obvious, that it was immediately apparent that we should use these facilities, and set this up as our base camp. Using the rocks themselves, and our four large shields, we were able to arrange things so that no flickering light would betray our presence. Scouts had been again sent out ahead to use the last bell and a half of light. Again with the command not to be seen.

They returned to report that there was a good collection point, about two marks from the target, which would be relatively hidden from prying eyes.

«But we must all be quiet, this night. Sound carries too well in this sort of country.»

Thus it was that we settled in to a surprisingly comfortable camp, and we discovered, by accident, something else that was valuable.

We had cut a fair amount of wood for the fires whilst waiting for the return of Sten, Stine, Eirik and Torvin. We made several piles of the cuttings and covered them just in case the skies decided to at last unload – they had remained kind to us during the day. It is a fact of a warrior's life that he learns quite quickly to grab as much sleep as he can, whenever the opportunity arises. So I decided to just have a little lie down on one of the piles of cuttings, thus keeping out of the way of anyone else moving around. I spread under me exactly what I had had under me the night before. I hoped that I wouldn't be so cold as I had been then.

I woke of course when the scouts returned – to find that the light had almost failed. And to find that I was a lot more comfortable than I had been the night before. I discussed this with Heldra and we decided that we could make a report of our ideas to the others.

«I suggest that the rock last night was so cold that it was sucking the heat from us even as we were sleeping upon it. I was a lot warmer this afternoon on the pile of cuttings, and I think those wood cuttings beneath me prevented the greedy rock from being able to suck that heat out. I for one shall be sleeping tonight on a pile of cuttings!»

«And me,» added Heldra, only to blush furiously when everyone laughed suggestively.

«No! No! I didn't mean that. I meant ….»

«Yes. We know EXACTLY what you meant, young lady,» said Fritjof with an exaggerated leer.

I squeezed her hand and signed to her to just let it go, which she did, somewhat reluctantly.

As we ate a very welcome hot meal, the scouts gave their report.

«The land is much folded and we should be able to approach quite closely, from what we can see. We would recommend that we advance to that collection point, in effect a mini-canyon, leaving the frayen and most of the supplies here. We could then use the day to scout much better, and find out what we need to.»

«Agreed. It is time that I saw for myself where we stand.» We all noted the increased air of command Her Highness was now using.

Then the conversation turned to the usual teasing banter, words that had some basis in truth but were exaggerated to make a funnier story.

Like, for instance, my reputation as being somewhat taciturn and sparse with my words.

«You, Gylfi, you are tough. You get on with it. To listen to your telling of the story of our journey, anyone would think we had just had a short stroll across a hillside or two.»

There were several grins and nods round about, and Heldra squeezed my upper arm where hers was wrapped round it.

«What more is there to say?» I queried. «We made it over the crestline from Shald into Ferenis, we crossed the valley unobserved, we camped at night, our supplies have not suffered any losses. We are here.» I deliberately made it factual and boring. And as if it was nothing.

«You don't mention the frayen we had to put down when it broke its leg in that fall when the loose rocks gave way. The rescuing of Dakig when he was trapped in that fissure. Radwan and Matz hunting those animals that we could have fresh meat. The discomfort of sleeping. The weary muscles. The unpleasantness of having to undress in freezing temperatures just to get rid of our waste. And all the other little things that the poets and saga masters would include to enthrall their audiences, shit aside of course.»

There were a few chuckles at that.

«I'm a warrior. What do I want with all that fancy fiddledeedee stuff? Dakig is here, the frayen isn't, we ate, and I had a shit.» I was deliberately goading them, of course.

There were some glances towards Heldra, as Kammon continued: «Well, maybe one day you will be a father, and you will want your son to know about your exploits. Something more than 'I walked forty marks and killed the enemy'.»

I was about to reply, when Heldra leapt into the conversation with a forceful question: «And why does his child have to be a boy? What reason do you have to discount a girl?»

And then the conversation settled down into the standard men against women statements.

That night, we had a slight twist to the conversation: «So it's alright for women to want to be men, but not for men to want to be women? Why is that then?»

It started to get quite heated when Her Highness told us to keep the volume down. We all guiltily complied. But the interruption had broken the mood, somehow and the conversation became more and more desultory.

Soon after that we drifted off to our beds, if they could be so called.

~o~O~o~

It was indeed much warmer sleeping on a layer that separated us from the rock, and many thanked me the next day. They also teased us of course, and now, at last, I realised that Heldra was beginning to accept the teasing rather than be upset by it.

We started the day as normal, Tai Chi and breakfast, but then we constructed a paddock for the frayen, spread some feed about and left them behind us with promises to return as soon as we could.

Now Danisa and Heldra saw why we had two different sized and shaped shields. They had had a clue the night before when we used the shields as windbreaks and curtains to prevent our firelight from being seen, but today we used them as drays or small wagons – but without the wheels, just tugging them along behind us, one edge attached to our waists while the opposite one dragged on the ground. It made our line a lot longer but our loads were transported with relative ease.

We took nearly three bells to reach the little canyon that the scouts had found the evening before, but the Princess declared it to be perfect for its suggested use as our advanced base. Another bell was spent in making it more suitable to our needs, and then, after a cold lunch, we stripped ourselves down to the bare essentials and went to gather information about the enemy. Danisa and Heldra were taught how to wrap a cloth around their mouths to prevent clouds appearing when they breathed out, and we all ventured out, exploring the territory. Pairs were assigned and areas of exploration were given to each.

We all returned to the little canyon just before the daylight faded and we gathered there huddling together, except for the assigned sentries, until it was fully dark, giving our reports. Once the darkness had fallen and there was no chance of any smoke being seen, nor smelled thanks to the wind direction, we lit a fire and cooked a hot meal which was more than welcome. Again we stacked shields and spare cloaks around in such a way as to prevent flickering firelight from giving our positon away.

The reports told us that first we would have to keep in the tree, well bush really, line until we were effectively behind the fort. From there, there was a relatively steep slope that led down to the fort and the vegetation had been cleared for a minimum of eight dozen strides in every direction.

The Princess then decided upon a plan of action for the morrow, explained it, and we again slept when we could, fitting in our periods of rest around sentry duties. Again the branch base for the bedding was a lot warmer than sleeping on the ground itself.

~o~O~o~

Tai Chi and a cold breakfast saw the start of the next day below lowering clouds still threatening to unload their snow stores. As a precaution, we laid trail markers to the nearest point of approach to the target. We gently eased some obstacles out of the way to prevent any noisy stumbling about. That morning we lay there and observed the enemy’s activities. On this side of the fort, there were only two lookouts that we could see, and they were obviously bored. There was a small sally-port in the middle of the wall this side, but the gates were clearly blocked by years of detritus strewn around. A wicket gate offset in the left hand gate still functioned though, as we saw someone open it, and emerge to throw away a bucket of kitchen waste.

The guards on this side of the building were changed every two bells it seemed but were very lax. So we had hopes of approaching unobserved.

The plan that the Princess drew up involved half our number stealing silently to the base of the walls in the moments before dawn, then the women pleading some excuse to get the door opened. We would then rush the door, and the remaining troops would run down the slope to add an extra shock weight to the attack. It was unlikely the defenders would expect a second wave.

So again we overnighted in the little canyon, keyed up ready for a battle in the morning.

Except it didn’t work out like that at all.

At around midnight, it snowed.

Heavily.

…

This reduced the visibility enormously, which meant that we would be able to approach far better, but we would leave tracks. If the snow held, then that wouldn’t matter for the tracks would be soon filled in, but if it suddenly stopped we would be exposed most cruelly.

However, the Princess took a very short time to come up with an alternative plan. When she explained it, we all grinned in delight. She selected the two largest men and then two middle-sized ones and then the two smaller women. We all grabbed our equipment and made our way to the launch point. Then her plan sprang into action.

The two teams of three wrapped themselves loosely in several furs and then noisily descended the slope towards the fort, announcing to the defenders their very obvious presence – except each team was disguised as a six-legged beast, grunting and making other beastly noises. In this way they approached the walls of the fort and caused a general alarm among the defenders, who could see very little of the noisy animals in the bad visibility. The loose furs draped over the teams should defeat any crossbow bolts that might be fired and it was unlikely they could use those gun things in the falling snow.

The idea was to churn up the snow near the fort walls so that any further tracks would be unnoticeable. If they sent a party out to capture these ‘beasts’, which was highly unlikely given the suddenness of the event and the hour of the night, then the beasts would simply scamper away and split into individuals wrapped in white and grey furs and thus very hard to be seen, who could either kill the pursuers or evade them. The kitchen waste pile would have to be kicked over and ransacked, as part of the plan.

After a few moments of causing havoc amongst the defenders, then the ‘beasts’ would retire up the slope, the noises gradually fading as they distanced themselves. Hopefully, the defenders would believe that the ‘beasts’ had been drawn to them by the smells of the kitchen waste.

Then, a bell before dawn, the three women and one man would run down the slope to the wicket gate, the women screaming and panicking about being attacked by strange enormous beasts. The man of one of the women had been injured and needed a healer as soon as possible. Once entry had been gained, and a foothold established after these four had dealt with their greeters and jammed the door, on signal the others would descend to join the fight.

And that was exactly as it happened.

I found myself inside the fort, in a fairly long corridor and watching in amazement as Danisa and Heldra used their unarmed combat skills to disable no fewer then eight of the defenders within the first half-moment after we were admitted. They ran forward jumping, twisting and tumbling, ducking wild sword slashes and the like and kicking out, breaking knees, and crushing one man's throat.

Then it was my turn to attack with my weaponry as the Princess behind us jammed the door open and gave the signal for the others to join the attack.

By the time they arrived, which Heldra told me afterwards was far, far quicker than she had anticipated, we four had dealt with a dozen of the enemy, and had established a solid foothold in this level of the fort. The newer arrivals then did the unenviable task of checking the doors behind us that led off the corridor. We advanced ones were now in what was obviously a dining hall, and a defender ran out of it into another room. Heldra and I gave chase as we could see he was not armed with one of those gun things.

He had run into the kitchen it transpired and we started after him when we heard a loud metallic crash and a faint grunt, followed by the unmistakable sound of a body hitting the floor and a dropped sword. We swung round a corner and saw a ferocious woman kicking the prostrate figure. We could hear her curse him for denting her pan.

She waved us away, saying “You go and kill the bastards. I shall block off the other doors into here. This one I have been wanting to hit for weeks now, the bastard. He won’t be raping anyone else. Go. Do your job. I’ll just cut his throat to make sure and then I shall gladly help you out there.”

Heldra and I looked at each other in amazement, nodded once and turned on our heels. I opened the door slowly to get a glimpse of what was happening and saw one of the defenders loading a gun in the corridor just to the left of our door. I could not let that happen, so I let out a battle cry and sank my throwing axe into his arm. The Princess saw what I had done, and threw her short spear into the gunner's mate's neck. Then she whirled, snatched up a jug of water and made sure she poured it into the mouth of the gun.

Heldra had meanwhile gone on to the next corridor and found Danisa – soon the two formidable fighters were dealing with some more defenders who had no answer to their moves and throws.

I was about to go and lend them my assistance, when I felt the kitchen door behind me swing open.

It was my turn to whirl, and then relax. I saw it was the kitchen woman, armed with both a heavy pan and also a wicked butcher’s knife dripping blood, as she emerged with grim determination etched into her face. I called the Princess over to talk to her as I went off to help where I could.

Soon afterwards the Princess called out loudly. «There are three dozen and seven of them. So far I count we have dealt with a dozen and a half. Keep count.»

«Plus one in the kitchen.»

«Two more here.»

«One here.»

«Three …» there came a grunt of effort «… no four.»

«Keep going my heroes, we have half of them already.»

And so it went.

The gutty, bloody, sweaty, tiring exercise of clearing out established defenders in a building familiar to themselves but unfamiliar to us attackers continued on its costly way.

We had an ever increasing extra weapon with us though. Several more servants were discovered who could give us information as to rooms, stairs, corridors and doors. One of them showed a pair of our men the way to the main gate, when the Princess charged them with not letting any of the enemy escape to raise the alarm. Our helpers even suggested how many men might be found where.

Confusion, sweat, noise, reactions, heart thumping and ragged breaths were our companions for the next bell as we winkled out the stubborn defenders.

«Why don’t they surrender?»

«The crimes they have committed here probably mean they will die anyway. So they will take as many with them as they can.»

A loud explosion silenced everyone for a while, then came Eirik’s voice: «Add five to the count. He missed us and got three of his own, who were creeping up behind us. He and his mate didn’t last long after firing the gun. Good thing they have recessed doorways here.»

At long, long last the hard work came to an end, and all forty three defenders were dumped unceremoniously over the back wall. We didn't care if wild animals and avians feasted upon them and the few natives kept in the fort made plain their attitudes in hoping that the wild life did.

The Princess took competent charge. «Well done boys and girls, we have achieved our task. I thank you all. Meanwhile, I can see that each and every one of you has at the least a scratch, so get that kitchen woman to heat some water for you all to dress wounds. Her name, at least her nickname anyway, is Coco. Lars, set a watch roster. We must have as much notice as possible of anyone approaching up the road; now the snow is easing, we should have sufficient notice to be able to prepare a warming welcome for them.»

Two of us, Ragnar and Sten, were sent to keep the lookout as the rest of us started tidying up ourselves and the interior of the fort; and setting defensive traps should we be assailed.

We found a hand of Forgulanders locked in a cell deep down. They had not been looked after very well and all had been tortured to a greater or lesser extent, to glean information. Their leader, Quadrant Subrish, needed no persuasion to share his information with us, once he had got over his shock at our leader being a woman.

They chatted for a hand or two of moments. Their conversation was intense. At one heartbeat, the Princess exclaimed loudly and then turned to us.

«Hey everyone! This is a remarkable coincidence. It seems that Quadrant Subrish here has a sister who lives in Lady Garia's town of Blackstone. Someone named Megrozen it appears. But he is telling me many ideas and suggestions as to how to continue and has made one very sensible suggestion. I will thrash out the details and tell you later.»

So we all kept busy, which was a good idea as the natural thing to do would be to collapse and switch off. The hard fighting might be over, but we were still in danger.

Her Highness called us all together just after night had fallen.

«Again I thank you all and thank our Gods that we have not lost anyone. As no-one has said anything, then I assume we have no serious injuries?»

We kept silent.

«Good. Right then, now the snow has stopped again, we can see down to the valley. It is scarce believable but our efforts appear to have gone totally unremarked. There are no scurryings about, nothing to indicate that we have been detected. We won't relax our watchfulness, mind you, but Quadrant Subrish has given me sufficient good information to make a plan.»

«However, first thing in the morning, we need to send someone to fetch the frayen, and the supplies we left behind there. I would prefer to just send two, but if you feel it necessary, I can allocate up to a maximum of four of you. You decide amongst yourselves and keep Lars here informed. He is the executive officer after all, so all rosters and so on must be run past him – and any changes to already decided rosters. Clear?»

We all nodded.

«Quadrant Subrish informs me that the day after tomorrow, the first of the month of Femurin, the supply column is due to arrive here. They have a complement of forty roughly here in the fort, and the supply column usually brings half that number for rotation, and half THAT number to guard the column. There used to be more but it seems that Yodan numbers have been reduced by that battle that Lady Garia was in, and also by some reverses they have suffered downriver in Joth.»

She paused.

«Those numbers are significant. From conversations overheard by the servants and the prisoners, it would appear that this littoral enclave occupied by the Yodans is home to some five hundred troops. Three hundred of them are held to defend the Ferenis end of the enclave, where they have set up a solid defensive wall and earthworks. The remaining two hundred are allocated to defending the entire occupied area, including this fort.

«Those two hundred are spread over the entire area behind their defences. Some fifty or so are assigned to wharf defence – spread over two marks of docks. We have taken out forty of those two hundred, and if we allow the supply column in tomorrow, we can surprise them and take out another thirty. And we can probably do it without alerting those below, just as we did when we took this fort. Clear so far?»

Again we could do nothing but nod our agreement. I think we could all see where this was leading.

«So we would have in the initial instance one hundred and thirty opponents, but most of those would be spread much further away. … I am aware that you are all aware that we have achieved the task that we were commissioned to do. To take this fort. And by definition that means we have to hold it until relieved. I have no right to order you to do any more, but I firmly believe we can severely damage the enemy, possibly even fatally, if we descend and take over their wharves, destroying or capturing their ships and their support for those ships. It is a gamble, I accept, and I cannot achieve it without you. So do we sit here and defend or do we go and attack them, possibly fatally to their war effort and earn even more glories?»

There was no choice, was there? Unanimously, we roared: «Attack!»

~o~O~o~

Danisa, Jerk and Vynil went off just before dawn to fetch the frayen. The rest of us, except for two lookouts, took turns to luxuriate by having a hot bath to start the day. It would have been too dangerous for us all to be unavailable in case of any attack, so we drew lots for our turn in the hot water.

As it happened, the day was without alarms. And we managed to erect some very nasty traps for any attackers. Very nasty indeed. And using mostly captured weapons.

The three returned with the frayen and Coco was pleased to have some extra supplies. Danisa particularly enjoyed the hot bath she had when she returned, and a general feeling of well being, despite our many cuts, scrapes and bruises, pervaded the atmosphere. Our determination was increased as we heard from the 'residents' of the fort of the arrogant, unthinking and indeed criminal treatment they had received from the Yodans.

The Princess and the Quadrant spent many bells staring down at the docks, using Her Highness' field telescope. They made copious notes, pointed out this and that, and discussed whatever they discussed almost fervently. They devised a plan for the morrow, to take the supply column as well as making plans for the dockside campaign. Lars was, of course, frequently involved in these discussions, he being the Princess' second in command.

We then had the debriefing of our attack and we learnt some things of use for the future, how to improve some activities. Danisa and Heldra didn't believe the claims of how our back-up forces arrived so quickly, so Ragnar went out and demonstrated using one of the big, curved shields as a sled. They were amazed (and delighted) when he descended the hundred or so strides in less than two breaths.

The day ended with a further briefing from Her Highness and we went to our comfortable berths in good cheer. Heldra and I celebrated our victory in an age-old fashion that caused some complaints from our neighbours.

~o~O~o~

Pre-dawn Tai Chi woke us all up and prepared us for the coming trials. We ran over the plans once again and some of us were required to practice a few things.

By the time that the lookouts reported the supply train starting out on the road that led only up to us, we were ready and more for them.

But we had to be patient, it would take them the best part of a bell, maybe even a little over a bell with the clumps of snow still unmelted. The lookouts reported though that Quadrant Subrish had accurately predicted their composition. Five mounted troops both before and in the trail, five wagons between these two extremes, each with a mounted soldier either side. So twenty mounted escorts, all with the old-fashioned saddles we had been told about. Some others on the wagons themselves. It looked like there were just over fifty troops in all. More than a dozen in excess of our previous estimates.

Our nerves tensed more and more as the waiting time seemed to stretch into weeks, and then we were able to actually hear the approaching column.

The portcullis started slowly to rise at the normally appropriate moment, and the column came on unheedingly.

Suddenly the portcullis stopped, only partially open. There were shouts and curses, and the column halted. The portcullis jerked a couple of times and then started upwards once more, with profuse shouted apologies and promises to work on it immediately.

The column relaxed and pressed on, the leading riders entering the inner courtyard as normal. Shouts told them that work was being done on the portcullis even as they spoke. Normal jokes were bandied about referencing how it was gone time to be relieved and so on.

Just as the last wagon was passing under it, suddenly a warning shout went up (just too late, of course) and the portcullis dropped, smashing into the rear of the last wagon and crushing two of the occupants. The five mounted troops still outside swiftly dismounted and rushed to try to help their colleagues.

Three had died before anyone realised that it was trap. The other two didn't have time to draw their swords before the crossbows cut them down.

The two men we had left outside, hidden behind snow piles and covered with the white mottled cloaks we all had, were swiftly whisked on rope hoists up to the top of the walls, leaving their targets dead and dying on the cobbles outside the gates. Then our full forces stood and shot down into the courtyard, taking out another dozen or so before anyone of them loosed a bolt at us in return. The doors round the courtyard then all slammed shut to block any retreats.

Except for two of them.

“Two of the doors are jammed. They'll escape into the castle!” I yelled with panic in my voice. This is one of the things I had been practicing ever since the plan was devised.

Sure enough, several of the enemy launched themselves into those two corridors before the two doors miraculously slammed shut behind them.

We all smiled as the plan worked - another ten or a dozen cut off from the rest. That left less than two dozen now standing in the courtyard.

We continued to pick them off from a distance, and they realised that they were hopelessly trapped in a killing field.

Suddenly, a loud bang came from the corridor under my feet.

There was a silence as our enemy were shocked into brief immobility.

Quadrant Subrish's voice then called down: “That was the file who went into that corridor. They obviously refused to surrender, so we fired one of your own guns in there. You can imagine the effect of that weapon in a locked corridor. They are now minced meat. You in the courtyard can surrender now, while you still have a chance!”

“Never, you scum! We shall conquer you all and rule over the entire valley. You are despi ….” His voice gurgled to a close as a crossbow bolt took him in the throat.

~o~O~o~

I do not glory in killing, but I cannot escape the fact that it is my job to do so. I must have faith in my leaders that I when I kill, I kill righteously.

It was therefore sickening in a way how we slaughtered them; but they would not surrender, until, that is, only two of them were left.

We then had to go into that dreadfully uncomfortable courtyard ourselves and sweep from one end to the other to be sure that we had all the enemy, and that none would be in a position to run off and raise the alarm.

Heldra was a little careless, being distracted at just the wrong moment by a shout from the other side of that blood-spattered courtyard. She contrived to allow one of those, who had said they surrender, to catch her. He had his arm around her neck and was reaching for her weapon.

“Let me out, you scum, or I'll kill this wom ...” He grunted as the wind was driven from his lungs by his body crashing into the cobbles.

Heldra just looked down into his astonished face and said: “I did not give you permission to touch me, SCUM!”

The other survivor just looked on in a mixture of wonder and worry at the way that Heldra had thrown his colleague.

...

In the end, we had seven survivors locked into the cells downstairs and forty-four more bodies were dumped out the back. The other bodies had been there for two days now, just about, and there was no sign that they had been touched by animals.

The clearing up had taken well over a bell, and despite the dead men, and the gut-wrenching experiences we had just suffered, we were all hungry; so we ate a lunch of sorts, and attended to nature, before the Princess called us all to her side for a few words.

«Well done you all. That's nigh on eight dozen of the enemy accounted for, at the cost of only a few scratches. But the job will get harder from now on. We must leave the fort to Subrish here and his few men, and the few servants that there are. The ten of you to be mounted should go and get your beasts ready when we have finished here.

«We alone, this small force have now removed half of the enemy estimated to be against us, and I expect we will remove at least a half of those remaining. As you know, we shall descend to the dock level just before it gets dark, leaving us a bell to spring our trap. We shall be loosely disguised as the returning Yodan wagon train. We must hope that they don't recognise the fact that we have better saddles than they, and shall have empty wagons. We shall create havoc before they know there is anything going on. But once they do realise, then we shall be sore pressed. Here is how I suggest we minimise that ….»

She went over the plans once more as we all sharpened our weapons. She demanded that we repeat our tasks so all knew we were as well prepared as was possible.

All too soon it was time for us to go down that hill.

~o~O~o~

Gylfi frowned, stirred, winced as flashes of pain and muscle strain shot through him, but he did not open his eyes again. There was something comfortable about just lying there and doing nothing. It was almost reassuring, in its way. Like drawing up a favourite blanket. Or spooning into Heldra's back.

He could remember mounting up, dressed in a captured Yodan flowing over-whatever whose owner had no further use for clothes, but try as he might he couldn't remember what happened next. He frowned again, or deeper, or something, as he realised that even the details of the slaughter in the courtyard seemed to be fading.

Something made him fix his mind on the gashes in his boot, and he smiled again, the frown disappearing like overnight snow in the sun on a Spring day.

---

Princess Eriana leads her troops down to the Valley floor

---

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 © 2015 Di Wonder. All rights reserved.

It uses some of the associated characters and situations that arise from the world called ‘Anmar’ created by Penny Lane, whose stories
are also copyright © 2010 - 2018 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

---

 
 
 
 
 
 

Report number: FDC 1175-02-118, FMC 1175-02-236

 
 
 

The actions performed by the Palarandi 'Einnland' Regiment (PER) during the period from 30th Marash until 3rd Femurin, in the year 1175 since the Great Flood.

In particular the second phase of this operation, from the 1st until the 3rd Femurin, and the involvement of forces from both the Ferenis Defence Council and the Forguland Military Command.

This report focusses more on the PER activities, other reports pertain to the actions of forces from Forguland and Ferenis.

 
 
 

To:
 
Their Honours
the Marshal Zetan, Commander, Ferenis Defence Council,
the Major General Gwilli, Director, Forguland Military Command

 
 

Prepared by:

Captain Forbarin, Ferenis Defence Council,
Captain Dooeen, Forguland Military Command

 
 
 

Date: 5th Femurin, in the year 1175 since the Great Flood

…

Page 1

 
 
 

Introduction.

 
 
 

A) Personnel

The 20 troops of the PER, all oathsworn to King Robanar of Palarand, were as follows:

- Captain Eriana, Her Royal Highness, Princess of Einnland

- Tenant Lars, Einnlander in origin

Guardsmen (all Einnlanders in origin):

- Dakig
- Eirik
- Fritjof
- Gylfi
- Jerk
- Kammon
- Lukku
- Maarku
- Matz
- Radwan
- Ragnar
- Sten
- Stine
- Tor
- Torvin
- Vynil

Guardswomen (both Palarandis):

Danisa
Heldra

Special mention should be made of the very valuable contribution made by FMC Quadrant Subrish for helping Captain Eriana define her plans. He, and others captured in the original loss of the fortress, were too weakened by their incarceration to take an overly active role in the PER attack on the wharves, but allowed the PER to do their job knowing the fort behind them would not fall easily.

 
 

B) Background information pertaining

The PER cross-country journey in winter conditions to their attack point is covered in the associated reports FDC 1175-02-054, and FMC 1175-02-061.

The plans of the fortress, belonging to Forguland, atop Boldan's Rock can be found in the archives.

The fall of both this fortress and the Feren territory of the littoral strip to the north of the River Sirrel to Yodan forces is described in reports FDC 1174-05-787 to 811 inclusive and FMC 1174-05-689 to 701 inclusive, and others referenced by these reports.

The fort was a necessary capture as far as Yod was concerned to ensure a lack of interference in Yodan plans for the development of the littoral. With the fort in their hands, the Yodans could relax in the certain knowledge that they would not be attacked from that direction; this enabled them to concentrate their forces and their efforts on the littoral strip.

Yod developed the captured littoral strip as a wharf/dock complex for advanced waterbourne communications downstream, saving as much as two days voyage time upriver, and a day downriver, from their capital.

Certain forces were observed to depart these facilities at various times in the months intervening, and there is reason to believe that these forces were bound for the invasion, and subsequent retention, of Joth. Information received also suggests that some of these forces actually invaded Palarand in an unsuccessful sortie at the end of Bretherin, beginning of Zuberak, 1174.

It was estimated that Yod had a force of between five and six hundred holding the entire littoral area. Yodans appear to have considered themselves safe from the river side and concentrated some three hundred plus of their forces at newly erected earthworks and defence lines at the west/south-west end of the littoral. They also employed some further estimated six hundred troops to maintain their passage across Feren territory, this task made easier by the judicious use of the river Fer for more than half the distance from Yod to the littoral in question.

No official maps exist of the alterations made by Yodan forces to that part of Ferenis, but a sketch map drawn afterwards by our forces is appended in the last section of this introduction.

The works thrown up by Yodan forces are being repaired and modified for our use against any further incursion. A separate report (or reports) of this shall be raised at a later date. (Insert report number(s) here)

 
 

C) The PER mission
was originally just to take the fort after approaching overland, the Einnlander troops being particularly suited for this task, being used to traversing mountainous and/or snowy regions in their part of the south Palumaks.

Once the fort had been taken, Captain Eriana, in consultation with FMC Quadrant Subrish, took the bold step to create a second phase to their mission, namely to attack the enemy wharf/dock area.

A fully detailed report of the successful capture of the fort in what is now referred to as Phase 1 of this mission can be found in the reports FDC 1175-02-106, or FMC 1175-02-222.

 
 

D) Sketch map of the relevant area (not to scale)

…

PER successes in Phase 1 had been astounding. The 20 warriors had been responsible for removing ninety-four of the enemy with no losses to themselves, and no serious wounds. Thus the dock/wharf defenders were severely depleted, without them even knowing it.

These remarkable results were achieved, in Captain Eriana's words, “by splitting the enemy into manageable groups.”

The same tactics were applied to the second Phase of their actions, although the field was of a very different nature.

PER forces descended from the fort loosely disguised as the returning Yodan supply train. Despite being mounted differently (the PER use modern Palarandi saddles on their frayen – see report insert report number here) and having empty wagons, the Yodan forces near the foot of the road to the fort were still surprised to be attacked. Their forces in the dock area were reduced as the normal complement was used for troop rotation amongst the fort defenders. A normal complement of some one hundred and fifty to two hundred troops had been reduced by the PER successes in the fort. The remaining Yodan troop dispersals had been keenly observed from above by Captian Eriana and FMC Quadrant Subrish.

FMC Quadrant Subrish signalled our forces from the fort, by flying the Forguland flag upside down. This message, however, was not noticed by any of the FMC forces on our side of the river until a bell or more had passed. By then, of course, FMC forces in Forguland had been keenly observing the fighting that was taking place down on the valley floor, and thus refrained from looking at the fort. Once signals had been established, and allied forces had been informed of the plans of those across the river, then responsive plans were set in train for support troops to be sent at first light on the morrow.

Upon reaching the valley floor, the leading five PER riders and the five wagons turned right and headed westwards towards the majority of the Yodan dispositions. They had with them four other warriors riding apparently as wagon guards, which helped to allay any Yodan suspicions.

Meanwhile the final six mounted PER Guardsmen, under the command of Tenant Lars, rode eastwards from the road to almost the eastern extremity. There they called a conference of Yodan troops who were still unsuspecting, believing these troops to be new Yodan arrivals. From the base of the road to the eastern extremity there were thirty-nine Yodan troops (figures calculated after the event). Sixteen of these joined in the so-called conference. The PER guardsmen then revealed their true colours and, in a short engagement, killed the Yodan forces there, surprise allowing them to kill six of the troops before any retaliation. They then split into pairs and hunted down the rest of the Yodan troops that were between them and the other PER party, these enemies being scattered relatively far apart.

Yod had a small number (eight by later count) of enslaved dock labourers in this part of the dock complex who took their chance to escape their slavery when they saw what was happening. Two Yodan troops were killed by these men and three others severely injured.

The remaining eighteen Yodans were killed by the PER party as they were hunted down with no time to gather together. PER Guardsman Radwan was wounded in these skirmishes, but was not fully incapacitated until another wound later in the desperate fighting at the defence lines. Another four dockworkers were released. They were asked if they would be prepared to do some work for the PER and all were indeed keen to do anything that might damage Yodan forces or their plans.

On orders from Tenant Lars, the dockworkers began to tear down some of the wharves, gathering heavy timbers for the construction of defensive fortifications, and rendering the wharves as impossible or difficult landing places. They also fired some ships and sunk some others where they were. One workable wharf was left intact as a means of receiving any reinforcements that might be sent across the river from Forguland. FMC Quadrant Subrish, observing from the fort above, conveyed this information to our troops here in Forguland.

This six-man troop under Tenant Lars, then continued westwards, mopping up any other Yodan troops that had been by-passed by the first troop under Captain Eriana. This accounted for a further nine. A further six dockworkers were released. These PER troop activities accounted for forty eight of the enemy, a significantly large proportion of the available Yodan forces.

Meanwhile, the larger troop under Captain Eriana, had first advanced to the narrowest gap between the water and the valley wall, establishing a nominal line at that point. Spotting only a handful of the enemy nearby, she despatched four troops, led by Guardsman Gylfi to kill or incapacitate them before returning to the line where the five wagons were turned over onto their sides, and some wheels removed to render them immobile. This created a first defensive line, cunningly crafted so that any attacking forces would concentrate at a certain apparent weak point, enabling the defenders to pick them off as they tried to get past the barricade.

Another troop of four was then despatched to mop up any Yodans they had by-passed, joining with Tenant Lars relatively soon.

Thus were another eleven of the enemy removed, making fifty nine in total. Five more dockworkers were freed making an extra force of twenty three which Captain Eriana was prompt to employ.

Yodan forces to the west of this first defensive line were alerted by now, but were far too scattered to form an immediate counter-attack. A messenger could be seen speeding away to the west/south-west.

This gave Captain Eriana, as she had planned, about one further bell of daylight to commence building more solid defences. She had foreseen this and the wagons had been partially loaded with some of the basic requirements. She had planned to use material gathered from breaking up the wharves as well. The majority of this work was done by the larger Einnlander men – Tenant Lars, Fritjof, and Tor providing the greatest service. The dockworkers were pleased to give assistance having been given the option of helping, or simply retiring up to the fort.

At the same time, urgent messages were sent from the FMC to the FDC to alert them to these events and to raise their standards of readiness. It became obvious to observers that the Yodans would have to regain the fort as a priority if they were to retain the use of the littoral. The key to Yod's ambitions downvalley was to have this advanced base, particularly now their Joth stronghold had fallen. And the key to this base was the control of the fort above.

Thus it seemed obvious that the Yodans would have to deplete their resources at the west/south-western end of their holdings, in order to remove these attackers. This reduction in defenders at that location would give Feren forces an opportunity to attack somewhere near that end of the Yodan lines. Indeed, any Feren movement would also reduce the numbers the Yodans could send to try to remove the PER. Thus it was deemed imperative that, at the very least, a strong show of Feren forces should be made to the Yodans in the littoral.

Meanwhile, orders were issued to have a force prepared to cross the river and to render aid to the PER, raised mainly from Forguland forces, but also with a troop raised from Feren forces visiting Forguland for more formal alliance discussions. Time was obviously an important factor. See reports FMC-1175-02-230 and 231.

A first detachment of Yodan reinforcements, numbering an estimated fifty troops, arrived at the PER area of activity just half a bell before dark, and they pressed forward a hasty and ill-planned attack which was held at the line of the overturned wagons. However, Yodan commanders were able to ascertain the strength of the forces opposing them and knew therefore that it was only a matter of time in the morning. They issued orders to make sporadic raids throughout the night, to weary those opposing them. This tactic was partially successful, since the PER had to remain alert throughout those long hours. However, the PER had planned their time well, building through the night their rearward defence lines.

These were so constructed as to be two roughly parallel stout fences, which had to have gates in each, for the PER to use when retiring. The gates were made such that they were as far opposed as possible, one on the waterside, one on the hillside. This created what Captain Eriana hoped would be killing grounds between the walls, and so these proved to be, but not as much as had been hoped.

Captain Eriana reports that, due to the unexpected and very welcome assistance of the released dockworkers, her men (and women) were each able to get at least three hours of sleep during the night.

The Yodan worrying tactics were hindered by the employment by the PER defenders of some so-called ‘Beam Lanterns’ which illuminated most of the area in front of the barricades sufficiently for the defenders to be able to shoot crossbow bolts accurately.

Hidden in the barricade were also two captured Yodan guns which were fired, on separate occasions, with devastating effect at the attackers. They had been lashed to the wagons and primed, awaiting only the touch of a flame or lighted spill.

It was therefore the attackers who came off worst during the night. After the battle, it was estimated that the PER took nineteen Yodans during the night. Most in front of the barricade, but some also by a daring two-man raid to capture a further gun. Guardsmen Gylfi and Dakig, went forward silently and achieved their objective without being seen, most Yodan eyes being concentrated on the lights and the barricade.

However, a further hundred and fifty troops had advanced under cover of darkness and in the morning, as soon as the light permitted, a full scale attack was launched.

The barricade withstood the first thrust, but it was being slowly pressed apart by the weight of numbers.

In hindsight, it may be said that Captain Eriana delayed a few moments too long at this first, and temporary defence line, for the barricade was sundered almost before she had time to mount her frayen and speed away from the Yodans, following all her colleagues, whom she had sent on ahead. When approaching the first set of double defence lines, her frayen stumbled on the uneven ground and the beast broke a leg, throwing her rider to the ground. Ten of the faster Yodan soldiers bayed in triumph and ran swiftly in an attempt to reach her, when Guardsman Gylfi returned to stand with her. The two met the charge alone, but three more PER guardsmen, the Tenant Lars with Stine and Maarku, raced to join them and they managed to retreat in good order, suffering some cuts, killing six of the attackers, who were surprised by thrown short spears and even an axe.

The PER group only just managed to slam the gate in the defence wall before the Yodans arrived. Several firebrands were then thrown by the defenders down onto the prepared ground outside the outer wall where lines of burnable material, doused in flammable oils, immediately caught alight. The prevailing wind carried the choking fumes from the burning rubbish into the faces of the Yodans. This delayed their ability to form up into a cohesive attacking force.

At this point, Guardsman Gylfi was noticeable by his ferocity and daring. The PER had built a small stand so that defenders could shoot down on attackers and be able to duck behind wooden protection. Other members of their troop were picking off Yodans who tried to force their way round the ends of the walls. Gylfi was the last defender to abandon that place, and he cut the supporting ropes so that the stand collapsed into the area between the walls making the footing even more uneven and difficult to pass. He was joined by one other guardsman down there on the floor and the two raced towards the hillside end just as the attackers broke down the gate and poured into the space between.

Guardsmen Gylfi and Sten turned to face the attackers and with skill and determination added to the difficult ground by dropping several Yodans to the floor. There was no room for the attackers to flank these determined defenders and the defenders were basically in control, even though hard pressed. The Yodans could not bring more than three men at any one time to bear upon the defenders.

At the moment that the two were about to escape through the next door, a Yodan crossbowman killed Sten with a shot that penetrated his eye. Gylfi, grabbed his dead colleague and dragged him through that next gate, shouting at his colleagues to fire the next embedded captured gun even before he was clear of the field of destruction. He timed it to perfection and the blast from the gun killed or wounded all twenty-three Yodans crowded in the narrow space, and raised great fear amongst the attacking squads. The walls did not allow the projectiles to escape and thus the destructive power was increased.

By now, it had been estimated that our own troops should be landing to give assistance. However, there had been a delay. File Leader Spayter was immediately relieved of his duties and is, at the time of writing, awaiting a court martial. (Refer to the separate report, insert report number here). Instead of several ships, only one detachment of FMC troops made it across the river at this time, and they landed at the prepared wharf at the eastern extremity, as far from the fighting as it was possible to be.

Meanwhile, at the west/south-western end of the littoral, the Feren forces assigned to test the Yodan defences at their earthworks end had in the dark missed the lane they were supposed to use, and were now mired in boggy ground. (See report insert report number here)

So it was that the PER gave once more a stalwart defence before using their frayen to fall back more swiftly than their attackers could, to their next defence works – which was their last. They had by now reduced the Yodan forces by more than fifty, for just the one loss to themselves. But the fierce fighting had left several others damaged, and none unscathed, and they were wearying, some quite rapidly – particularly the women who were from now on kept mainly in the rear, guarding against flanking movements from the waterside.

During the previous night, the PER forces had also had built a further pair of defence lines which were plainly visible to all, to prevent any Yodan landing on that part of the shore from being able to make an easy advance. Captain Eriana had taken a huge gamble. She trusted that the taking of her other defence lines would be so costly, the Yodans would try to avoid them if possible. This third pair of defence lines were in actual fact completely unmanned, except for a few dockworkers who had elected to stay rather than retreat up the hill to the relative safety of the fort. Prisoners taken after the battle reported that her gamble had indeed paid off, and the Yodans feared to try a landing there, which could have led to a catastrophic outflanking.

Back in the area of the battle being fought so ferociously, the shore had been protected by sunken blockships and torn wharves, so any attempt at a landing would result in only a few scattered troops being able to make ground, which would be of no great military use. Thus the full Yodan fury was directed at the third defence line, the second parallel one.

This had been prepared with more care and with several traps, it being the one furthest away from the enemy during the night. Again the enemy were led onto the traps, and several pits, with sharpened stakes at the bottom, had been dug, with a thin cover placed over them. After two of these had been discovered by the Yodans, at a cost of nine of their men, then the Yodans avoided the lighter coloured patches of ground, which made it more difficult for them to form up together to attack, and furthermore meant they were bunched together in areas to which the defenders knew the exact range. Again, several casualties amongst the attackers came about because of this. The Yodans roared in anger when they discovered that not every light coloured patch of ground was in fact a trap. Only one other had in actuality been so prepared.

The full fury of the attack was then turned upon the defensive walls, and much fierce fighting took place before the inevitable advantage of numbers began to count significantly. Several defenders were injured by crossbow bolts and they were all being ever more frequently exposed to such weapons.

Again, the attackers managed eventually to breach the outer wall of the defence pair. Again Guardsman Gylfi, this time with two others, Vynil and Matz, fought hard and desperately within the space between the palings. The bodies of the attackers they fell piled up, making the footing for further attackers ever more treacherous and awkward. Again a pre-positioned captured gun took great toll, once the three warriors removed themselves from the enclosed area.

This time however, the defenders didn’t need to make it to the obvious gate, which was in fact not a gate at all, it having been shored up as soon as the PER and their frayen had passed through as they retired to this defensive position. When the moment came, at a shouted command, the embattled defenders dropped to the ground and simply rolled through prepared flaps which were hammered shut as soon as they had been used, the people doing the securing being pre-positioned for just that purpose. Stout metal poles were slammed into the ground to prevent the flaps from operating again.

Now most of the defence was down to the men at the hillside end, who were shooting crossbow bolts into the flanks of the attackers. Sheer weight of attacking numbers began to tell however. And the Yodans were tearing down the outer wall to give them space to manoeuvre, using some of the wood to fill the spiked traps.

Such was the fury and determination of the Yodans to take these walls and the last defensive line that they could see, that they had no troops in the area behind the attackers, the area that had already been fought over. This enabled the combined ships of our forces to land unopposed just west of the original line of defence. Captain Gotahol is to be commended for spotting that opportunity and acting upon it. Our second and third ships managed to be beached up there, along with one filled with Feren troops who had been with us over there in Forguland.

Guardsman Gylfi had by this time joined the most active area and was defending feverishly the end of the wall from Yodans trying to get round the flanks.

He saw the Yodans bring up a squad of gunners, with the obvious intention of trying to concentrate these guns on a part of the final wall in an attempt to blast a hole through it. He grabbed one of the two remaining primed but unfired captured guns, snatched up a lightspill and slid on his bottom down the hillside into the pile of bodies at the foot. Bringing the heavy gun into place, he raised it up and balanced it on his knees as he lit the fuse. There was a pause before it fired and the enemy gun squad was literally blown away by the projectiles that emerged with such great force. Gylfi was driven backwards by the forces from the gun, he having no firm footing. He slid, still on his backside, across the bloody ground until his back collided with the wall.

Once the smoke had cleared, it could be seen that the Yodans had been thrown into confusion; for Guardsman Gylfi’s blast had not only removed the gunners but had also killed or severely wounded the Yodan officers, who had been gathered together directing the gunners.

It was at this moment that our forces arrived on the scene, from both directions, and the Yodans broke, many of the common soldiery surrendering immediately.

Captain Eriana later explained that she had been on the point of ordering her men to mount up and ride up to the fort, to hold off the Yodans there, when the end came so suddenly.

The final counts showed that the PER had been responsible in total for the deaths or capture of two hundred and thirty three of the enemy, for the loss of two of their number. Two men were gravely wounded and three severely wounded. All members were suffering from cuts and bruises.

These enemy losses meant that the wharf area and the fort were freed from Yodan rule, and that the Ferens could retake their littoral from the western/south-western end, as described in a separate report (number to be inserted here).

Appendices:

a) Linked reports:

a1) FDC reports:

FDC 1174-05-787
FDC 1174-05-788
FDC 1174-05-789
FDC 1174-05-790
FDC 1174-05-791
FDC 1174-05-792
FDC 1174-05-793
FDC 1174-05-794
..
..
..
..
FDC 1175-02-054
FDC 1175-02-106

..
..
..
..

~o~O~o~

Marshal Zetan finished reading his copy, not bothering with the details of links to other reports and so on. He quietly closed the page and sighed as he looked up, his mind filling in the detailed coloured picture of the actuality of the events from the descriptions he had just read. He could see that Major General Gwilli would soon finish his own copy, so he sighed again and leant back, stretching his arms and loosening his back. The two commanders had become close since the Yodan activities had enforced a higher level of cooperation between the Military Commands of the two nations.

Gwilli soon closed his version, and also stretched.

“These reports are so dry, aren’t they? I deem though that future readers would be better without the blood and gore and stench,” said the commander of the Ferenis Defence Council.

“You have the right of it, dear Zetan, but this, I must suggest, this is one of the more remarkable military reports I have ever read,” replied the Forguland Director of their Military Command.

Both men were dressed in their most formal uniforms, for they were to be seen standing together at the next formal event they would attend, in less than half a bell.

After standing up, stretching arms out and tugging jackets and the like, whilst being attended to by their manservants, the conversation resumed.

“Tell me Gwilli, what was the business with that what’s his name – Spayter, the File Leader going to be court-martialled? I venture to suggest that it must have been quite a serious matter?”

“Harrumph! Blithering idiot. Men were fighting and dying over here, but he delayed the sailing of the reinforcements because he insisted his File polish their boots. Nearly caused a disaster that man, insisting that his men must look their best for a joint operation. While others were dying for his freedom. I deem the PER would have suffered grievous losses had we been even a moment later in arriving at the scene. We could, nay should, have been there at least half a bell and more earlier.” The disparagement in the Major General's voice bordered on disgust.

“It seems you have the problem of people being promoted beyond their level of competence as well as we do. I shall think on a solution to it. Now, back to these Einnlanders. Are you happy to let our healers carry on treating them up at the fort? Those five PER people need the best care as quickly as possible, I deem, and our healers have been involved with them throughout their treatment. I wish not to suggest that YOUR healers are in any way inferior …..”

“Aye! Think not of it. Most definitely. 'Twould be folly to change now. Those two who are gravely wounded, er.. let me think …”

“Radwan and Kammon?”

“That’s the chaps. I fear your healers hold little hope, but the other three that the healers call merely ‘severely wounded’, they are likely to pull through apparently, one perchance without a limb though.”

“We are extremely grateful to these Einnlanders, of course, they have done a magnificent job. Strange chaps though they are; those beards and furs. Still, we’d best get ready for the ceremonial pyre soon. I have my speeches ready,” he patted his breast pocket, “and I need to check that the carriage we are donating to Her Highness Captain Eriana ... hmmph, I wish I knew how properly to address her … now, where was I? Oh yes, the carriage. I trust it is ready and all that. The PER lot have easily sufficient frayen to pull that and the wagons we shall give them, hopefully thus providing them a more comfortable journey back to Palarand.”

“Aye, we offered to send an escort with them but they just laughed, quite scornfully actually. Said something like: ‘Twenty of us killed ten or eleven times that many Yodans, do you seriously think that the thirteen of us left who can bear arms won’t be able to deal with a few bandits?’... But on the subject of the pyre, I hear that several of the captured Yodan soldiers have requested to be allowed to attend, to pay respects to a great fighter, even though an enemy.”

“That is true. A hand have been selected from some twenty or so who applied. They both fear and respect the Einnlanders and it speaks volumes that even their enemies wish to pay their respects. Did I hear a rumour though that the Einnlanders tortured some women?”

“Ah! That is indeed the rumour that is going about, but the truth is that one of those frightening guardswomen was married to our hero. When she saw the blood and brain matter oozing from the back of his head, she screamed and had to be held by two of them as she shrieked her grief. She fought and kicked all the way as they carried her back to the wagons they used to return up the hill to the fort. She eventually collapsed sobbing when they got her there. So it was no torture, although they did manhandle her and prevent her doing whatever it was she wanted to do. To us men, of course, it seems a total over-reaction on her part, which is perchance an argument against women in the soldiery. Maybe it was the wrong time for her, if you see what I mean.”

“I can but feel for the poor lass! But she will, in the future, be able to be proud of Guardsman Gylfi – a true hero. We have determined that the entire length of the littoral shall hereafter be named ‘Gylfi’s Rest’, that his deeds be never forgotten. It is doubly sad that he was killed in the end by a wall he helped build.”

 

 

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