Wherever I Am

Chapter 3, Part 2

Ellie was eating the last of her freeze-dried dinner when we heard the sound of hoofs on the overgrown flagstone road that came to the ruins they were sheltering in. There were small windows that let light in but were way up high and more suitable as gun or arrow slits...too narrow to come in that way.

When I went out to wash out my bowl, the late summer thunderstorms showed enough to the southwest that they now blocked out the setting sun. At home, that usually meant the storms would be here in an hour or two. I wondered if the meteorology would be the same since the geography seemed to be.

I shouldn't have been surprised that others might want to shelter here. Ellie was right about this giving good protection from storms. Most of the ceiling was blackened but intact, even if the stairway had been torn down. It was about fifteen feet to the next floor, and the heavy beams and plank floors hadn't burned when the stuff inside here did.

Ellie looked over at me. I slid my rapier where it would be close at hand but hidden from view, and she did the same. Then we watched the horse and rider come into view.

Ellie knew more about horses than I did, but knew this was a beautiful bay mare that carried the shortish, solidly built man into the area where he drew rein and surveyed us.

Blond hair with a handlebar mustache and goatee, he wore a bright green beaded vest over a lacquered leather breastplate. Loose white shirt sleeves covered his arms, and billowy crimson pants showed below. A rigid leather helmet covered his head, and a leather skirt hung down far enough to protect his hips and upper thigh. A fancy tooled weapons belt and broad-toed leather boots with low heels completed his ensemble.

"I smelled your food," he said, "but I see no fire. May I join you?" He spoke with a definite accent but was quite understandable.

"Um...sure," I replied. Swift start there, Kevin.

He watched us as he tied the reins of his horse to a ring set into the inner wall and removed his saddle. Not a Western or English saddle. No roping horn, and the pommel and cantle both rose high. Maybe Ellie would know.

As he turned, I saw his curved saber, the scabbard gilded and filigreed. It looked like a museum piece. Maybe it would be someday, but right now, it was a lethal weapon. The stacked leather grip had seen a lot of use. With the clothes, my thoughts went to Asia or the Middle East, but his blond-haired and tanned face didn't follow that line. Thirty-ish, or maybe a little older.

"Got firewood?"

"No...sorry," I replied. He looked at me again, then nodded and stepped out. A few minutes later, he returned with an armful and dropped it near the center of the round chamber. I'd noticed blackened ground and some charred branches there when we came in, but our butane stove worked well for heating the water we needed for our meals.

He stepped my way, then tossed some coins on the ground where I sat. "For the privilege of your woman's company this evening." He quickly bent, grabbed Ellie's arm, and pulled her up.

I fumbled as I grabbed my blade's hilt, then drew it. "No," I yelled.

Ellie struck at him, but he pushed her, and her fist hit his armor. Not good. She wasn't thinking about her training.

He laughed, then saw my blade pointed at him.

He shoved her back to the ground and faced me. "That's good money, man. Probably double what she's worth," he said as he waved his hand at the coin.

Ellie unsheathed her rapier, and he took a step away from me while turning so he could watch both of us, flexing his sword hand.

"You are not raping me," Ellie yelled.

"Rape? I wouldn't. I provided good silver for your services."

A look of momentary confusion crossed his face, so I took advantage of that and pulled the main gauche from its sheath with my left hand.

Shock showed on Ellie's face. "What do you think I am?"

"That's obvious from your lack of dress," he retorted. "Not even decent underclothes, girl. I assume the same from him, but you're saying you're not whores?"

"Definitely not," Ellie said, letting the tip of her blade drop slightly.

"What's with your blades?"

I'd noticed a slight glow from mine in the dim light I hadn't seen when I drew them in the sunlight earlier. Ellie's did the same, a slight scintillation of changing colors amid the glow.

"Like them?" Ellie said with a smile.

"Who are you two?" He seemed flustered, his hand still flexing, wanting to draw his saber but unsure whether he should.

"Kevin Covali, at your service," I replied with a slight bow, hoping to calm that sword arm. "This is my sister, Elexus. Who might you be?"

"I am Lord Boian Toma, Primor of Suata under the Burgrave of Bacea under the Regent of the Realm of Baemardis, Cavalier of the Golden Scroll, at your service." He also gave a slight bow, his face now showing more curiosity than concern.

"Excellent," Ellie responded. "We need to travel to Baemardis. You can take us there but take your money back, please. You aren't getting anything for them." She dropped her tip completely and stepped back. I did the same.

"Covali," the man pondered. "As in Lord John Covali, Crown Lord of the Realm."

I froze. Crown Lord of what?

"Um," Ellie said. "Our great-uncle, I believe, and we were dressed like this when he sent us here, if you were wondering. We have other clothes packed but were uncertain what was most appropriate to this...um...climate."

"This climate? Where did he...did you say, send you here from?"

"That's a good question." I got a word in before Ellie could continue. I was sure he'd figure out we were clueless about this place pretty quickly, so we might as well start truthfully. "We're not sure where we are, except Lauretti told us to go to Baemardis."

Lord Boian stopped still, staring at me a moment. "She lives?"

"As of an hour or so ago," I responded.

"I saw her fight when I was a child. She held the gate, building a wall of the fallen to help shield her. No bigger than you, Maid Elexus, but it was a thing to behold, a veritable dance of death with her twin swords. Very similar to your own weapons, My Lord and Maid. Weapon Mistress to the Realm, she was and still is, it seems, though we've heard nothing of her in years or of Crown Lord John."

He dropped to one knee, drawing and placing his saber in front of him. "I am in your service, already sworn such, and I will take you to Baemardis."

"Thank you," I said, unsure what else to say, and Ellie echoed it. At the same time, Lauretti's words came back. Respect everyone and trust nobody.