Casimir's Journey (13 page)

The next day, Hadden felt himself able to rise from bed and dress. He went out to the crude stable behind the dwelling and tended to Shadow. It seemed that Catrin had looked after his horse, as well. Shadow seemed as happy to see him, and he brushed the stallion, talking in murmurs that really didn’t make any sense, but felt right.

Later in the afternoon, a rider from Lord Maddox arrived. It was Roysten, a man from his own second company.

“Hadden! Good to see you back among the living!”

“I didn’t realize I was so close to leaving it.”

“Gave us all a right turn when you tumbled to the ground. Looks like the old dame managed to drag you back, eh?”

“Yes, the old dame did,” said Catrin dryly, approaching them from the hut.

Roysten whirled around, the color high on his cheeks. “I meant no harm!”

Catrin laughed. “I know you did not. You may have him back now.” She gestured at Hadden. “He’s right as rain, and fit to return.”

“Lord Maddox is most grateful,” Roysten said, offering up a small leather purse. Hadden was surprised. He hadn’t realized Maddox valued him enough to pay for his care.

Catrin took the bag and tucked it into her kirtle. “Please sent my thanks to Lord Maddox. If you both will step inside for a time, I have some provisions to see you back to your camp.”

“You are too good to me, Catrin,” Hadden said.

“I told you, I appreciate you keeping the bandits from our little village. We can ill afford to have them raid us, and I believe they do not because of the presence of Lord Maddox and his cavalry.” She turned and walked back to her hut leaving Hadden and Roysten to follow.

Within the hour, both were mounted, saddlebags filled with food, and riding from Catrin and her hut. Hadden looked back and saw her watching them, arms crossed. He felt queer for a moment, as though he’d forgotten something, but the feeling passed.

“So tell me what I’ve missed,” he said to Roysten.

Roysten launched into a detailed recitation of the doings of the members of their particular company. Hadden was glad to hear that outside the normal foolishness, he had no major issues with his men to manage as a result of his absence.

“What of the bandits? Have we found any trace?”

“No, more’s the pity. They are like spirits at times. It’s as though they blend into the trees themselves.”

“Well, most of them have lived in this area their entire lives. There are many of the border villages who will not offer any information on them as they benefit from their thievery.”

Roysten spat. “And it’s been a hard year. The grain hasn’t been as plentiful as in years past, so I figure we’re in for a long summer. There will be plenty looking to put aside what they can, whether they have a right to it or no.”

Hadden reached across and clapped Roysten on the back. “All the better for us, man! We’ll not be short of work.”

Roysten made a rude noise. “Some of them poor devils. I have a hard time feeling a lot of anger other than the chase they lead us on.”

“Don’t speak that too loudly. The king wouldn’t agree.”

Roysten spat again. “Well, the king is not here. Not that the man’s not got his own troubles.”

“What do you mean? Don’t stint on news. I’ve heard nothing the whole time I was under Catrin’s care.”

“He just lopped the head off the future king.”

“What?”

“Them girls of his, they’re hiding a mystery, or some such. He wanted them to tell him the truth, and being girls and princesses to boot, they wouldn’t. So he told the whole kingdom they was welcome to try and solve the mystery. Do you not remember this?” Roysten looked shocked.

“Vaguely. Though truly, when I first awoke, I knew not my own name or even how I came to be there.”

“You were lucky we were near her. Sure you’re all better?”

Hadden nodded. “I feel fit as can be. So, the princesses are being princesses and deviling their father. Didn’t one of them have a betrothed that tried to solve the mystery?”

“He did, but he didn’t solve it, and that’s how the king came to take his head.”

“Wasn’t it the prince of Ethion? There’ll be hell to pay for sure.”

“All the more reason for us to be on the border, you ask me. Maddox is a jumpy as cat. Once word reaches the King of Ethion that King Aland’s killed his son, we’ll be facing more than local bandits looking for some extra bread.” Roysten was gloomy.

“They’ll work it out,” Hadden said. “Kings always do. It does them no good to be at war with one another.”

“This was the Crown Prince, though,” Roysten argued. “That’s a bit more important than just a border dispute. He was also to marry Princess Thea, the eldest, which would have made him king of both Gallivas and Ethion. Mark my words, this will not end well.”

“Then it’s a good thing I am returned, though I still think neither country wants war.”

“I hope you’re right.” Roysten seemed determined to think the worst. Hadden laughed to himself. It was always so. Roysten tended to be the voice of gloom regardless of how much the sun might shine.

“Aren’t I always?”

His only answer was a grunt. That meant that the conversation would go no further. He and Roysten spurred their horses. Hadden felt the need to return quickly. He would not let Roysten know, but the death of a Crown Prince would indeed add to the tension between the two nations. He wanted to speak to Maddox as soon as possible, to assess what this would mean for the command and his company.

Within the day, they had returned to the camp, and Hadden went immediately to the command tent.

“Hadden! Good to see you’re still among the living. I wasn’t sure the old woman was up for it, but I am man enough to admit when I’ve been wrong.”

“She was a good choice and a good healer. I thank you for your concern to my welfare. Honestly, thank you for making sure I continued breathing.” He grinned at Maddox.

Maddox waved a hand. “Think nothing of it. You saved my life, and I value my own skin above all!” He laughed. “Did Roysten bring you up to speed on what is happening?”

“He told me the bandits have not been found, my men have not disgraced me or themselves too badly in my absence, and he fears a war with Ethion.”

Maddox looked up, his face grim. “I know he’s a grumbler of the first class, but he is not far off with his concern. Never seen such as this. A Crown Prince beheaded over some chit’s shoes. King Markellus is not going to stand for that. We just don’t know what his response is yet. As soon as Prince Casimir was beheaded, his body was returned to his family. The king sent messengers to all of us along the borders to be wary and watchful. King Markellus may have a kindly disposition, but when his family is wronged, he does not forgive easily. I don’t mind telling you, Hadden, I am concerned. We won’t discuss it with the men, but I want you to be as watchful as can. Any bandits we come across we will need to question carefully. They may be more than they seem.”

Hadden was silent. He didn’t realize how serious this was. To see Maddox, who epitomized calm in chaos, express concern made a frisson of fear crawl up his spine.

“I’ll be alert. What shall I tell the men if they ask? You know they gossip like women.”

“Tell them we are watching carefully, and who knows what kings do? We’ll double our patrols, and those not on patrol will be put to work. This is a good time to make sure all our equipment is in good repair, and those not working at that shall be practicing drills I want the smiths to work another shift as well. We need as many bolts as they can make, same with pikes. Get them on it.” He turned back to the table behind him. Hadden could see it was piled with parchments.

“Yes, sir. Anything else?”

“No. Let’s get this moving so if the worst should happen, we’re ready. We also need to have our messengers on the move between the five commands so that we don’t act like a dog with too many heads.”

Hadden nodded. “Yes, sir. Have you spoken to the other companies?”

Maddox grinned as he looked up. “What, do you think we all collapsed in a heap merely because you were not here to move us all along? Yes, I have. Go to your men. Let them see you’re still alive.”

Hadden grinned back at his commander. This was why Maddox was so successful with men of all classes, in spite of his noble lineage. He stood on no ceremony with anyone. “Yes, sir.”

Maddox turned back to his overflowing table as Hadden left the tent. He felt grateful that such a fine man had such trust in him. In spite of the obvious concern and outright fear Maddox had given voice to, Hadden was happy. Happy to be back where he belonged. Picking up his stride, he headed to where second company was likely to be.

Once he reached the encampment, he was met with the cheers of his men. He sat around the fire with them, talking, laughing, and working to allay the fears that Maddox had been right to suspect. Everyone was talking of the beheading.

“I don’t care how beautiful a girl might be, she’s not worth losing your head over!” One of the men said defiantly.

“Ah, you say that now,” Hadden laughed at him. “Wait until that special lady steals her way into your soul. Then you will have a different tune for us all.”

“No, no, no!” The man protested. “Fine she is, my girl, but my head? And I am not even waiting on a kingdom.”

“Well, not being fortunate enough to have a girl willing to tolerate me, I’ll have to take your word for it.” Hadden said, still laughing. “Mayhap you can offer some advice to me on how to get past
hello
with the fairer sex.”

As he’d hoped, the conversation moved to women, the getting of women, and how to keep them. Deepening evening heard the conversation move to the bawdy. Normally, Hadden might stop the talk, but he let it go. They would all be working hard tomorrow. Better to allow for a bit of levity tonight. He sat back a little, letting his men steer the conversation, joining in from time to time, but mostly hanging back.

Finally, he stood. “Damp the fire and settle in. I spoke with Lord Maddox when I returned, and he has a list we’re all going to have to get through on the morrow.”

The promise brought good-natured grumbling, but no real complaint. He stayed until the fire had been banked and then returned to his own small tent. There was not much to it, but he was glad to see that his men had set it up for him in preparation of his return. He appreciated the privacy. It was not easily found in the king’s army, but Maddox insisted each company commander have their own space, however small.

He sat on his cot and removed his boots, feeling tired for the first time. He stripped down to his undergarments and stretched out. Finally he felt right again. He’d been off since he first awoke in Catrin’s hut, and the feeling was finally dissipating. The world felt right again.

As he contemplated the events of the day, the face of the woman he’d seen in his dreams the night before wandered through his thoughts. Who was she? He closed his eyes, hoping to keep her with him. She looked sad. He couldn’t say why he thought so. Behind the sadness, he could feel…love? He shook his head. Where had that come from?

“You must have been deep in fever dreaming,” he muttered to himself. Turning over, he closed his eyes and shut out thoughts of anything, much less dark haired, beautiful women. He needed to focus on more important things tomorrow.

Try as he might, she didn’t leave him be in his dreams.

Hadden came awake suddenly, hand clasping the knife he slept with under his pillow. His heart pounding, he scanned the tent. He couldn’t explain why, but he felt certain someone had been in the tent. Scanning the small space again, he leaned back, knife still in hand.

Since returning from being ill, he had not been able to sleep. Dreaming of the same sad woman night after night did not help, but camp was unsettled as well. He could not shake the unease that the current situation brought.

He didn’t want to think about the coming warfare. He turned his thoughts to the woman in his dreams. He knew of no one who looked like her. His thoughts were interrupted by one of his men poking his head through the tent door.

“Lord Maddox wants to see you. He says in his tent immediately.”

Hadden got out of bed, nodding at the man as he did so. He hurried into his clothing and left within minutes of being summoned. He stopped at the door of Maddox’s tent and waited for the sentry to announce him. He could hear Maddox within, and the sentry opened the tent flap. Ducking his head, he entered.

“That was fast, Hadden. Good. I need you to scout on the other side of the border.”

“Begging pardon, sir, but why?”

Maddox whipped his head up from the documents he was studying to look at Hadden. “Are you still suffering the effects of your head injury? What do you mean, why? We’ve been tasked with surveillance of the border, and what or who may be on the other side. We do as we are told. There is no
why
.”

“Will it not be considered a hostile act to be in Ethion? We have not been invited.” Hadden normally would not have questioned Maddox in this fashion, but Maddox was not behaving normally.

“It might be, if you are caught.”

“But, sir, at this point in time, as you have said yourself, we are not at war or even in hostile negotiations with Ethion. This would not be seen in a positive light by King Markellus.”

“We do as we are told.” Maddox’s face was tight. Hadden could tell that he was angry, but in spite of that, he didn’t think that anger was directed at him.

He didn’t want to make things more difficult for Maddox, in spite of his unease. He nodded, letting Maddox know that his questions were at an end. “Where will I be, and what, specifically, unofficially,” he grinned as Maddox looked up, “Am I looking for?”

Maddox smiled back, a tight, grim smile. It made Hadden suddenly glad that he had taken this tack. “We need to see, unofficially, of course, if there are troops arriving at the border. It would also be very nice,” he said with heavy sarcasm, “If you could let us know whether or not the bandits are involved in any such maneuvers. And the quicker, the better.”

“Am I to be in the open or more hidden?”

“You make the call. I trust you to assess the situation properly.”

Hadden nodded again. He preferred the autonomy. It would allow him to gauge the situation without worrying he might be breaking orders.

“Once you have a sense of the countryside and any movement of troops and bandits, then you are to get back here immediately. I need to be able to send word to the Earl Marshal so that he might apprise the king.”

“Mayhap the king should not have been so hasty with the axe.”

“Do not speak treason!” Maddox slammed his hand on the table. “It may be that your comment is not completely off the mark, but it is not for us to say one way or the other. Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly, sir. When do I leave?”

“This evening. Take Roysten with you. He’s a dour old sod. Should you be in a town, he’ll draw a complaint out of the happiest of maids.”

Hadden laughed aloud. “I am sorry, sir. I don’t make light of the situation. It’s merely your description is so very apt.”

“I’d forgotten—you rode here with him, did you not?” Hadden was glad to see that Maddox had a genuine smile.

“In record time, no less. I was most eager to be back with my men,” Hadden said earnestly.

Maddox laughed harder. “He’ll be a fine companion to you. Take what you need from the quartermaster.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll check in with you before we depart.”

Maddox nodded, and Hadden left the tent. He didn’t feel good about this, but at least he would not be going alone. Roysten would be company. The fact that he would grumble the entire time was not relevant.

Or at least Hadden could tell himself that now.