Richard Parker - Elsewhere

Lacombe nodded and was about to speak his thanks but Captain Gaston had already wheeled his mount and signaled his men to move away and continue on their patrol.

Lacombe was pleased and concerned at the same time. It would be well if the Temple Knights were severely weakened, but a well-trained, disciplined army would also present some challenges during his eventual escape following the death of the traitor. In the end he just sighed and spurred Sunwind into a fast trot, suddenly anxious to arrive in Manse and get a lay of the land. He just hoped the young Tarina would not recognize him before he was ready to make his move.

ǂ

They appeared outside the main walls of the city amidst the dirt and squalor of the Parma poor, much to na Gall’s dismay. To Travel from Massi to Cassinni was not an easy task even from the very tip of the finger. The distance to cover was great, almost as far as the trip from Koshka to Light, and so her accuracy suffered. na Gall followed the men through the bridge and would have collapsed in the mud if not for Bock, who stepped forward to support her.

“Eh now!” a loud voice shouted to their left and in a flash Lonogan’s right kali was out and though he was still hampered by the weakened Traveler, he spun about to see who was challenging them. na Gall glanced weakly around and noticed that all five of her bodyguards were now armed and ready to protect her. She smiled inwardly. Gwaynn’s training was beginning to show dramatic results.

The mud rat that yelled quickly realized the danger and disappeared down an alley without uttering another sound.

“I need food and rest,” na Gall said just above a whisper.

“Your home is near?” Lonogan asked, glancing about, his expression slightly alarmed. They were currently in an area which appeared to be best avoided by any but a well trained army.

na Gall laughed lightly. “No, I’ve missed my mark. Let’s head northeast.”

Bock nodded. “Let’s move quickly. I’m not a fan of the smell.”

They made their way rapidly through the muddy streets, keeping a watchful eye on the many locals who curiously peered in their direction. But they needn’t have worried. Though they’d arrived in a very unsavory quarter of Parma, the Massi soldier’s demeanor as well as their weapons signaled to any bent on robbery that it might be best to avoid the group and look elsewhere. Despite na Gall’s weakness they moved along quickly and within a quarter of an hour they were beyond the worst of the ragged poor. They came upon the main road that led from the lower wharves to the heart of the city, and na Gall, who continued to lean heavily on Lonogan as they walked, pointed to the north. They weaved their way through a warehouse district and into the center of Parma where Lonogan managed to hire a carriage. Twenty minutes later they came to a large, solid looking house that was surrounded by a high brick wall and protected by a thick iron gate. The latch was locked but a man appeared on the porch before Bock could become too impatient.

“Elbert,” na Gall said quietly then sagged against Lonogan, who effortlessly hoisted her into his arms and watched as the old man slowly approached the gate.

“Hurry man!” he yelled and the old man paused. “Get a move on Elbert,” Bock added, “Jess needs rest and food.”

At the sound of his name, the man moved forward once more and stopped just out of reach on the far side of the gate. He eyed Lonogan and the rest of the men, soldiers obviously, but then his gaze moved to na Gall.

“Jessie? Little Jessie,” he said suddenly concerned and quickly moved forward and opened the way.

“Come, come,” he said and noticed the worry on Lonogan’s face.

Bock carried the Traveler up the wide stairway in front of the house and onto the large open-air porch before angling her body and entering the house. There, a tall woman with a narrow but handsome face, watched his progress nervously.

“Set up a perimeter,” Lonogan ordered his men and then turned to face the woman who stood waiting. “She needs food,” he told the woman, but she just smiled and nodded.

“Bring her in here and place her on the settee,” she instructed. Bock did as he was told and placed na Gall gently down. Despite her height, Lonogan was surprised to find that the Traveler seemed very light, and it was hardly an effort to carry her. He even felt a twinge of regret as he pulled away from the warmth of her body.

na Gall, who was awake and still alert, smiled widely up at him.

“Mama,” she said softly. “This is Lonogan Bock…General Bock of the Massi.”

Bock straightened up, surprised and half turned to the older woman. He bowed slightly. “Ma’am.”

“Miranda. I’m…” she began but stopped as a servant brought in a large drink filled with a thin pale liquid.

na Gall drank without hesitation and when it was gone she handed the glass back to her mother.

“Apple juice,” she said to Bock and then smiled. “Any peach juice mother?”

Her mother smiled at her before looking quizzically toward the maid, who shrugged and left the room once more. Another servant, a tall, painfully thin man, brought in a tray of bread and cheeses. He set it before the Traveler and na Gall immediately began to eat without comment.

“Welcome home Jessie,” Miranda na Gall said and patted her daughter softly on the shoulder.

“Miranda…” Bock said mostly to himself. “Miranda na Gall…the cellist?” Miranda nodded and Jess beamed. Lonogan looked down at Jess as the Traveler stuffed food into her mouth at an alarming rate.

“Your mother is Miranda na Gall, the cellist?”

Jess nodded, but did not answer because her mouth was full of bread, so Lonogan turned back to Miranda.

“I had the pleasure of hearing you perform in Solarii…four years ago now I guess it was. You were wonderful,” he added and then his eyes went wide and he turned back to Jess. “Your father is General Clark na Gall?”

“Retired,” Miranda corrected, frowning at her daughter who continued only to nod and eat. “Although you would never know it by the amount he travels these days. He’s in the west, reviewing the Palmerrio borders with General Keadle. Our neutrality in the conflict is creating a lot of tension with our neighbors.”

“Mother,” Jess began and swallowed the bite of cheese she still had in her mouth. “Where’s Owen?”

Miranda shrugged. “He’s around,” she answered then turned to Lonogan. “Her brother. I apologize. I believed I raised her to have better manners.”

Bock smiled and Jess huffed. “Mother!” she spouted, but then went back to her eating.

“Slow down child,” Miranda said but lowered herself gently and sat by her daughter’s side.

Jess continued to eat rapidly, her every instinct telling her that her body needed nourishment…and fast. She only paused to deliver one-word answers to a comment or question and looked up relieved when Katty, the maid, returned with large glass of a thick yellow juice.

“Peach?” Jess asked between bites and Katty nodded. The Traveler took it and quickly guzzled the full contents.

“I have more,” Katty, who was young, maybe a few years younger than Jess, said with a laugh. “I’d not wanna be around when all of this decides to exit your other end.”

“Katty!” Miranda shouted but Katty just raised her eyebrows and smiled then turned and departed quickly. Jess laughed and Bock tried to stifle a grin in an attempt to spare the feelings of the elder na Gall as she turned pink in the cheeks.

“I apologize again…what you must think of us,” she muttered.

“Oh mother,” Jess stated, “we’re at war. We’ve been living in the dirt and mud with danger and death all around, a little joke is hardly going to offend either of us.”