The Black Sword Trilogy: The Poacher (8 page)

“My Lady, they’re going to attack!” He called out.

“Keep your undies on!” Terri replied.

The Wolfen formed into nearly perfect squares, stood perfectly erect and then began to howl all at once.  It was a deafening roar that filled the air, making everything around Kenner and the fort seem to shake and rumble.  It seemed more than just a sound, Kenner thought.  It had a physical quality that seemed to wrap around and hold everything in a tight grip.  Along with the howling, Kenner began to hear a continuous tone and his ears began to hurt as if some object were being pushed into them.  Then just as suddenly as the creatures had begun howling, they stopped, leaving the ringing in Kenner’s ears.  He looked out of through his opening in the wall and was surprised to see that the Wolfen did not appear to be attacking.  Instead they seemed to be pulling back to positions just out of arrow range and settling into defensive positions.

“Do they do that every night?” Kenner asked in shock.

“Yup!  Every evening at pretty much the same time.” Terri told him.

“What does it mean?”

Kenner then felt Terri’s hand pat him on the shoulder.

“It means we’re done for the day.  It’s the night shift’s turn now.”

             
Kenner slowly and carefully stood up.  But when he saw that none of the creatures seemed to be even looking in the direction of the fort; much less shooting, he left his position and followed Terri.

“What now?” He asked Terri.

“Dinner.” He brightly replied.

Chapter Ten

             
Even in the quickly waning light, Captain Krall could still see the distant city from the window of his quarters.  From this vantage point, it looked like a tiny collection of shapes behind the river; which looked not unlike the line on the map that represented it.

“Can I, at least assume you evacuated the city?” He asked.

“I’m afraid not, sir.” Sergeant Holly answered.

Captain Krall turned and glared at Holly angrily.

“And why not?” He asked, barely containing his voice below a scream.

“Our last Captain didn’t think it necessary and the last two attempts I’ve made have met with no success at all.”

“What seems to be the problem?”

“The Mayor has stated that he will not be ordered about by, what he refers to as ‘jumped up toy soldiers,’ sir.”

“Oh has he?” Captain Krall stated.  “I want four of your cavalry ready to leave in ten minutes.”

“But sir, it’s starting to get dark.”

“Then get some blasted torches!”

              As the last light of day began to fade, the soldiers got a fire going in the center of the courtyard.  As several of the new soldiers began seating themselves around it, Rosta, the cook started kicking at them.

“No congregating around the fire!  You’ll just make yourselves targets.”

“Why not?” One soldier asked.

“Because he said no!” said Sergeant Holly coming out of the Captain’s Quarters.  He then pointed at two soldiers and ordered them to saddle five horses.  Next he turned to Terri, who was standing near Kenner.

“What was your count today?” He asked.

“I lost count after ‘Hill Boy’ came up.”

“Hill boy,” Kenner responded.  “That’s original.”

“As far as I’m concerned, Terri can call you any name in any language.” Holly said sternly.  “So how did ‘Hill Boy’ do on his first day?”

Kenner looked at Holly with a hint of anger, but then softened when he saw the Sergeant give him a friendly wink.

“Not bad.” Terry answered.  “He’s certainly not in my league; but he killed his fair share today.”

“That’s good.  He needs to be killing as many of those foul beasts as possible.”

“Give us a couple of days Sergeant, and Terri and I should be able to clear out that whole field.”

“Do you hear that, Terri?” Holly asked with a hint of humor in his voice.  “This young man’s got some salt.”

“He does indeed, Sergeant.”

Sergeant Holly then patted Kenner on the shoulder.

“Hold on to that confidence, lad.  When all else fails…hold on to that.”

As Sergeant Holly walked away, Kenner turned to Terri.

“What was that supposed to mean?”

“Knowing Sergeant Holly; any number of things.”

              With the horses saddled and bridled, Captain Krall, Sergeant Bobbra and three cavalry riders readied themselves to ride to Cordras. 

“Sergeant Holly!” Captain Krall called out.  “It may sound a bit redundant, but you’re in charge until I get back.”

“Yes, sir!”

Captain Krall and his company then raced out the back gate.

             
After being served bread and gravy onto their metal plates, the soldiers filed into the barracks.  Each one selected an empty cot and settled down to their meal.  The barracks was the long building lined along one of the walls of the fort.  Inside was little more than wooden cots with straw piled on top of them and lined against the wall.  Opposite the back wall, were doors at ever three feet so that the soldiers could get out of the barracks quickly.  At the far end towards the back of the building was a large, wooden barrel.  When one soldier went and filled a cup, the others followed suit.

“Help yourself.” Terri told Kenner.  “You get one ration a day, just like the rest of us.”

After they had all started drinking, the company started talking amongst themselves about where they had been and what they had done to be sent to this posting.  The older soldiers were “regulars” who had joined of their own free will and been posted there; some nearly as long as a year.  They were meant to be posted at the fort for one year before being given thirty days of leave to go wherever they wanted and do whatever they wanted.  Then they were to be posted somewhere else.  The new soldiers were all petty criminals given the option of joining the Army of being more severely punished.

             
As they talked and laughed, they noticed a tall soldier with a dark expression get up and pour more ale into his cup.

“Oi!” Said Terri.  “What makes you think you can have a second ration?”

“Is there anyone here going to stop me?” He asked in response.  There was a wild look in his eyes; as if he hoped someone would confront him.  He sat down on his bunk, still glaring at Terri.

“We’ll let you get away with it once,” Terri told him, “but not twice.”

“And how do you intend to stop me?” He challenged.

“Because there are a lot more of us than you.” Another soldier answered from out of the dark.  Kenner looked and saw at least twenty of the soldiers standing and holding their spears in the dim light.  The wild look dimmed from the man’s eyes.

             
As the men continued to talk; eventually, one of them asked Terri, “So what did you do to get sent here?  You don’t look like a regular soldier.”

Terri laughed and finished the last few drops of ale in the cup.

“I seduced the daughter of one of the elders of my village.”

“I didn’t realize that was illegal.” Kenner said.

“It is when you’re not quite what the elder had in mind for a husband for his daughter.”

Kenner, at first seemed confused by the answer.  But then, looking at the expression in Terri’s eyes, the truth suddenly occurred to him.  He then nearly choked on his ale as he started to laugh.

“I think hill boy has figured it out.” Terri said smiling.

“Figured out what?” Another soldier asked.

Kenner wiped his mouth looked at Terri who winked at him.

“You’re a woman, aren’t you?”

“Right on the first try.” She answered.

Several of the new soldier reacted with shock while most of the older ones laughed along with Kenner.

             
“That’s not funny!” The tall soldier interrupted.

“Why not?” Another one asked.

“It’s unnatural.   It’s an abomination!”

“Really?” asked Terri.  “What’s nature’s way?  Babies born with no arms or legs or blind?  Women dying at childbirth?”

“If that’s the will of the Great Lady, yes.”

“The will of the Great Lady?  What if I told you that the Great Lady has a masculine side?”

“That’s blasphemy!” The soldier said when he bolted upright.

“That’s enough!” Sergeant Holly said from one of the doors.  “Sit your ass down!” He shouted at the tall soldier.  “I don’t care what you believe or which spirit you pray to.  But you will not disrespect that soldier.”

“But she shouldn’t be a soldier.” He spat back.  “Even if it were legal for women to be in the Army, they should be wives and mothers…”

“She is here!” Holly shouted.  “And I’ll take one of her over a hundred of you.”

             
Captain Krall rode so hard towards the city; his escorts could barely keep up with him.  In less than half the time it would have normally taken to ride the distance, he and his company found themselves crossing the bridge and into the city gates.

“Who goes there at this hour?” Asked a man in uniform.  It was similar to a
soldier’s uniform; except that it had no emblem on the breast plate and a red sash across the chest.

“I’m Captain Krall, commander of the fort.  I must see your Mayor and your Chief of Police immediately.”

“That may not be possible, sir.” Answered the policeman.  “I’m afraid the Mayor has retired for the evening.”

“Then wake him up!  This is an emergency!”

             
Several stable attendants took charge of the horses, and then Captain Krall and his escorts began moving quickly through the city towards the City Hall; which they could discern from it being the largest building in the city.  Once inside, they found the courtroom and waited.  Half an hour later, a short man with brown, curly hair and wearing a house robe entered the same courtroom.

“I suppose you’ve got a very good reason for getting me out of bed at this hour.” The Mayor said angrily.

“Why have you refused to evacuate this city?” Captain Krall growled back at him.

“Who are you?” The Mayor said indignantly. 

“I’m Captain Krall from the fort.  Answer my question!”

“First of all, I don’t answer to you.  Second, there are certain procedures you must go through before evacuating this city; not the least of which is that a committee of at least five members of the City Council must be sent…”

“I don’t have time for this!” Krall interrupted.  “There are three thousand Wolfen on the other side of the Wall that could attack at any moment.  If they do…”

“That’s your problem, not ours, Captain.  Now if you’ll excuse me…”

“If those creatures attack…”

“Then you’ll simply have to defend us, won’t you.”

“I have fifty six men!”

“And I’m sure they’ll all do a fine job.  Goodnight Captain.”

“Stop him!” Krall shouted.  Two soldiers then blocked the Mayor’s path.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

             
The Chief of Police then entered the courtroom.

“What’s going on here?” He asked, sounding confused.

“Chief!” Krall barked.  “I am Captain Krall, Commander of the defenders at the North Wall.  According to article seven of the Constitution of Walechia, I am declaring a military state of emergency!”

“You will do no such thing!” The Mayor spat.

“Each and every city,” Krall continued, “has an emergency evacuation plan in which every citizen can be evacuated in less than two days.  As military commander, I am ordering you to put that plan into immediate effect.”

“You have no authority…”

“Oh yes, he does!” The Chief said, cutting off the mayor.  He then addressed Krall.  “Do I have your permission to activate the reserve guard?”

“Absolutely!  And I’m leaving you in full command of them.  I want this city completely empty within the next two days.”

“Where are we evacuating to?” The Chief asked.

“Post number one is less than twenty miles away and has one thousand soldiers.  Try to get there as fast as you can.”

“It will be done, sir!”

“And whatever you do, stay on this side of the river until you get to Post One!”

             
As Captain Krall began to leave, the Mayor shouted at him one last time.

“I’ll see you hang for this Krall!”