The Heritage

Chapter 21

Eldergar pulled at his chin with dismay at the news from the rider Mingus had dispatched to the palace. He dismissed the man, commanding him to wait for a return message and summoned his minister.

"Have you heard, Oakley?"

"Yes, sire. I think Mingus has once again overstepped his authority in this matter. Your explicit instruction was to be discrete and now we hear he has slaughtered five of Primula's soldiers and still doesn't have information on the boy."

"I couldn't agree more but what good does that do now? You can be sure that Terrault won't suffer this kindly. We will now be at war again only this time with a more formidable foe."

"Tell the messenger you are ordering him back here. Make him obey, Sire."

"Make him? Pray, Oakley, how would you suggest that I make him?"

"Tell him you will rescind his commission and seize his properties."

"He'd come back all right, Oakley. He'd come back and put the sword to both of us." Eldergar blew out a loud breath and wandered to the window.

"Not if you tell him that the alternative will be a resounding defeat by Terrault because there is no one here to defend the kingdom."

Eldergar turned, jiggling his finger at Oakley. "You might just have hit the right note there, Oakley. Tell the rider to come in."

*****

Wyeth stood with Kysoo at the gate to the corral behind her house where they first met. The night hugged the earth like a velvet blanket and a mournful hoot from an owl was the only sound to break the silence. They didn't speak, watching instead, the sprinkle of stars growing thicker every moment. Wyeth tormented himself with silent speeches, none of which he could bring himself to utter until Kysoo turned and spoke his name and he blurted out his feelings, leaving them both stunned.

"Kysoo, I'm- I'm sorry I- what I said, I mean I meant what I said, I just meant I'm sorry for saying it like that."

"You make me feel embarrassed, Wyeth-san," she ducked her head and he searched the shadows for her expression.

"Kysoo, forgive me I-"

"No, Wyeth-san, don't apologize. I meant that I am embarrassed that your feelings match my own and I was unable to speak them to you."

"You do? You are? I mean- I mean-"

"Yes. I have grown very fond of you and would be pleased to keep your company for a longer while."

Wyeth reached out tentatively and took her hand, drawing her closer. They stood silent and still drinking in each other's eyes and then giggled as he owl hooted again, closer.

"He says he does not believe your words, Wyeth-san," Kysoo teased.

"Does he now. Well what does he think of this." Wyeth pulled Kysoo close and tilted her head with his finger.

"He thinks it is time for my daughter to say goodnight." They both yelped with surprise and jumped apart, turning to face the dark form in the shadows. Haito stepped forward and pointed for his daughter to return to the hut, his eyes never leaving Wyeth.

"Haito, sir. I- we-"

"Courting my daughter will be done properly, not in the dark in a pen built for animals. Your Captain and his men leave with us at first light. You will quarter with them." He turned to leave.

"Sir! Whatever happened here, and nothing did. Your daughter did nothing wrong."

"I know, I was watching all the time." Haito strode away into the dark leaving Wyeth slumped against the corral rail slapping his forehead.

*****

Gaspar's scream split the morning air in one prolonged shriek and then there was silence. Jak and Gainer shared uneasy glances and Wyeth rode off a short distance to suffer his own circumstance. Haito had ordered the soldiers to leave his village and wait in the trees above for his men to join them. They would be dealing with the pirates before they undertook their obligation to Terrault. After a restless period of time, Jak announced that Haito and his men were coming up from the village and that they should get ready to leave.

"Can you afford this many men, Haito? What about the protection of your village?" Jak asked when the leader arrived.

"The pirates will not be a problem again for some time, if ever."

Wyeth rode up, looking over the band of men that accompanied Haito. "What of those screams we heard?"

Haito turned and barked a command at his men and they immediately began running on ahead. There were about twenty, some Wyeth recognized, others seemed new and the one with the face scarf looked to be no more than a boy.

"Gaspar now has a wooden peg leg to match his wooden hand. He will suffer severely for some time until the wound heals and the stump grows used to the harness. Gaspar's sailing and pirating days are over."

"But he could still do that when he recovers," Wyeth persisted.

"Take my word, Gaijin, Gaspar is not a problem any more."

Wyeth bristled at the designation, feeling that he had lost esteem in the eyes of Kysoo's father. He nodded and pulled away from the group, riding after Haito's men.

"The boy is impetuous my friend, pay him no heed." Jak intervened. "We have more important business to attend. Our comrades need a proper burial before we chase after Dar Mingus."

"We will carry on and follow his trail. I will send a man to guide you when you are finished."

"Don't try anything on your own, Haito. Dar Mingus is no fool; he is a well seasoned soldier."

"It is your battle, Captain, we are your servants."

*****

The lathered animal stumbled sideways, blowing mightily, as the rider dismounted, dropping the reins and collapsing to the ground. He looked up at his commander and held up a staying hand while he gasped in a lungful of fresh air.

"Sir, the King sends orders for you to return immediately to Dramin. The kingdom could be under attack by Primula's army and there is no one to defend it."

Mingus scowled down at the soldier. "Could be under attack? What does that mean? Are they or are they not attacking?"

"I didn't see them, Captain but these were King Eldergar's orders."

"What about the boy he wanted so badly?"

"Sir, I am just the carrier of the King's orders, not the maker."

Mingus glared at the chiding response. "Is that a fact. Then since you seem reluctant to be involved, you can stay here and watch for our pursuers, perhaps even engage them so that we may ride to Dramin in safety."

"Sir, I didn't-"

Mingus put a boot on the soldier's chest and drove him backwards into the legs of his wheezing horse. The animal whinnied and gave a start, its hooves lifting and dropping with a devastating blow to its master's body.

"I think his chest is broken, Captain," one of the men said after examining the injured soldier.

"Leave him. We ride to Dramin and Eldergar's mythical attack." Mingus called for his mount and galloped off without a backward glance.

"I leave you my pistol, friend," the soldier said to his comrade. "There is nought else I can do. Ask for mercy when they come and if they refuse..." He squeezed the man's hand about the handle of the pistol.

The injured man pleaded with his eyes, his words an intelligible gurgle in his throat, as his friend rose and went to his horse. He gathered the reins of the rider-less animal and rode away leaving the soldier clawing frantically at the ground.