The Heritage

Chapter 17

The fire sparked and sent a little shower onto Wyeth's lap. He brushed them quickly away, shifting his position on the hard ground. Kysoo had listened to his story without interruption, her large, brown eyes following his every expression. When he finally finished his story she nodded seriously and bowed her head, addressing him in a most respectful manner. Wyeth tried to hide his frustration; he didn't want the role that was thrust upon him and he didn't want Kysoo to venerate him.

It would take a long time for him to come to grips with his new identity and its attendant responsibilities, a task he was loathe to embrace particularly since his meeting with Kysoo-she had bedazzled his heart and mind.

Haito strode over and ignoring Wyeth, spoke to his daughter in abrupt sentences. Kysoo bowed and turned to Wyeth.

"My father wishes to leave now. We will be returning to Caval," she paused and chewed her lip. "He says you and the Captain may accompany us if you wish, he will find you transport to sail back to whatever part of the coast you wish."

"I- we accept. Please thank your father for his assistance." Wyeth smiled and backed away nodding. He went to Jak's side and passed on the offer as they packed their belongings on the horses and prepared to leave.

"I'm pretty sure he doesn't like us much but I'll give him this, he's a man of honour with a base of decency."

"Poke me if he shows it again." Wyeth said sarcastically.

Jak laughed and they mounted up, joining Haito and the rest of his men.

Wyeth grumbled constantly at the fact that Kysoo had to travel on foot with her father instead of riding one of their horses, particularly after the recent ordeals and her still smarting bruises, but Jak cautioned him to hold his tongue and be thankful they didn't have to find their own way back. Haito suddenly called a halt and his men immediately dispersed to perform specific tasks. Wyeth and Jak tended their horses than approached the spot chosen for a fire, hesitating until Haito signaled them to sit.

"Is all well, Haito?" Jak asked.

"We are less than a day from our village. We will camp here until my men have scouted the entire area."

"Are there many more pirates?" Wyeth wondered in surprise. "I thought you had dispatched most of them, and their leaders."

Haito Gave Jak a wary look and muttered something into his chest as he leaned toward the fire, stirring the embers. Kysoo blushed and whispered something to her father, receiving a few grunts, then turned to Jak and explained her father's reluctance to speak.

"The one called Gaspar was left alive along with a few of his men. My father chose to try what he called, the soldier captain's compassionate approach of honour."

"But we heard-"

Kysoo nodded. "He did what he felt necessary to find information, but he did not kill them." Haito looked up at Jak and muttered another short phrase. "My father says he hopes he won't regret his action."

Jak acknowledged his stare with a grim nod. "I hope as well. It was not my intention to oppose what your father- what you believe, Haito," he said, speaking directly to the man. "Our way is just different. Our beliefs call for a measure of forgiveness." The following silence hung in the air like a heavy blanket and eventually Kysoo broke the spell by chattering about what to prepare for food.

*****

The shabby group of men squatted by the stream, tending their wounds and damaged egos. Behind them, up a short hill beneath a large shade tree, Gaspar cobbled together a new eye patch, one that would stay up with out the support of an ear. He swore aloud as his good hand fumbled the knot he was trying to tie and finally he dropped the project and raised his face to the sky and roared a mighty curse.

Not only did he suffer a limp from his shark encounter, his wooden hand and the loss of sight in one eye, he now had a ragged, scabby scar where his ear once grew, the ear that held the strap for his eye patch. The Jappo had scared Gaspar more than he had ever been scared in his life and when he left without killing him, Gaspar was thankful the ear was all he lost; a few of his men were not so lucky-certainly not Donnie Hauspie.

He hollered down to one of the men by the stream to come and lend a hand and the man sulked slowly up the hill as commanded.

"Tie it tight man, I can't have the bloody thing falling down every five minutes."

The man pulled a face and yanked the leather thongs into a tight knot over Gaspar's hair, pleased with the gasp of discomfort he drew from his leader.

"Enough! Enough you idiot! Might as well have been killed by the Jappo if you're goin' to pinch my head off." He thrust the man away, adjusting the patch and struggled to his feet. "Is that scout back yet?"

"No, I hain't seen 'im."

"What about them," Gaspar aimed his wooden hand at the band of men by the river. "Are they fit enough?"

"Fit for what?"

"Fit to go to that Jappo village and pay those squinty eyes back for this!" He poked at his head and the patch slid down his face over his chin. "Damn and blast!" Gaspar grasped the strap and jerked it up onto his head, twisting it into his hair until it stayed by itself. "Where's my hat?"

"You never wore one," the man said.

"Then find me one, damnit! And then get that lot movin'."

*****

Captain Gainer listened to the messenger from Terrault with growing concern; Dar Mingus was not a name he was anxious to hear. His mission to keep a discrete eye on Caval for Jak's return had been one of boredom and frustration for his men and now he had to decide whether to concentrate on this new threat or to relocate and continue with his vigil.

"How long before they get here?"

"Traveling steadily, my guess would be another day. I left Terrault as soon as we had report of their sighting so..." The soldier shrugged.

"Dar Mingus. I've been against him before." Gainer slapped his hat against his leg and strode away, turning to gaze down the valley to where his men kept watch. He turned back to the soldier with a defeated look. "Does Primula have any other orders for me?"

"No sir. She just said observe Mingus discretely."

Gainer snorted. "Our young queen doesn't know what she asks. Keeping an eye on a man like Mingus will be anything but discrete." He squeezed his forehead and frowned then looked up with a new determination. "Ride down there and tell my Lieutenant to bring three good men back up here. You will stay with the remainder and follow Primula's order."

"What about yourself, Captain?"

"My group will ride across those hills and try to intercept Captain Staff and the boy."

"But sir, you don't know where they might be or if they're even alive."

"I have the same map Captain Staff used. I will find the village and follow from there. Primula wants them back safely and I plan to see that she is not disappointed."

Gainer's force consisted of nine soldiers plus him and his decision to split them up didn't come easily. When the selected men arrived, he gathered them about and explained his strategy. His Lieutenant expressed concern for the men being left, stating that they would be under the command of one who was inexperienced and newly promoted.

"As long as they just stay hidden and observe,there will be no danger. I told the rider to impress upon them that Dar Mingusis not to be engaged in form. If they follow my orders all will be well."