Richard Parker - Elsewhere

“Two months, I would say,” Raisa said, happily looking Samantha’s naked form over closely. “Your belly is showing nicely…but I think on a young girl like you it would show late. Yes…I’d say two more months and then you have yourself a young King.”

Samantha blushed as the older woman actually walked up to her and placed one hand on the small of her back and rubbed her stomach with the other.

“Ah…he will be big…strong. You will see,” Raisa said and with gentle pressure led Samantha to the tub and carefully helped her to climb in, mindful of the missing section of the girl’s left arm.

Samantha sighed, though moments before she felt she would never want to be wet again. The hot water quickly loosened her muscles and worked its way into her chilled bones.

Raisa smiled as the girl closed her eyes. She looked one last time at the bulge in the girl’s midsection then turned to go. “You relax…I will come and check on you after a while.”

Raisa left, but Samantha did not know or care as heat soaked into her body, causing her limbs to grow relaxed and rubbery. Moments later she was drifting comfortably toward sleep, her last conscious thought of Gwaynn.

XI

Tarina re N’dori kept her eyes on Gwaynn even as the Palmerrio army began to advance on their position. The young Prince was very calm and it was easy to see that the men and women nearby worshiped him. N’dori was sure that part of that adoration came from the fact that Gwaynn took up position directly on the front lines. And though he had great input into the preparation of the battle, once it started he allowed his General to deal with the troop movements and reinforcements while he fought with the common soldiers.

N’dori studied the young man’s profile as the Palmerrio marched closer, pounding their shields, now moving through only a light afternoon rain. She, Gwaynn and Vio were located on the very far left of the Massi lines supporting the gap which would open between the Massi and the Toranado as the later attempted to push forward and circle around the enemy. Tar Kostek and Tar Endid were on the far right near the creek with the remainder of the students supporting the Massi lines that had to hold for the plan to be successful. Tar Halstad and Myson were in the center of the Massi lines. For this battle to be won, the Massi had to hold the center without the help of the Toranado.

‘For someone so young he is very calm,’ N’dori thought admiringly. ‘For someone waiting in the front lines before an imminent battle he was exceptionally calm...no matter his age.’ N’dori was amazed at how the soldiers around the Prince benefitted from his steady manner.

“You have seen too much war,” N’dori commented and Gwaynn glanced at her, surprised. The Tarina was middle aged…thin and tall but her hair had yet to go gray and her eyes still sparkled with youth. She had a strong, square face which few would have called pretty, though handsome might have come to mind for some. She stood gazing at Gwaynn intently, the approaching army apparently not giving her the least cause of concern.

“Yes,” Gwaynn replied softly, keeping his eyes on the Solitary. N’dori smiled, most men would have kept their eyes on the threat moving ever nearer, but the Massi Prince seemed without worry.

“Have you seen war?”

N’dori shook her head negatively, and then with a sweeping motion with her arm said. “Not like this…a few small battles…a few small fights.”

“Well then,” Gwaynn answered without smiling, “you should stay close.”

N’dori broke out into a loud easy laugh and when she smiled, Gwaynn could easily see the girl she’d once been. Still Gwaynn did not smile back, and Vio who was positioned just on the other side of the Prince glanced the Solitary’s way.

“I’m staying close,” she blurted, clearly nervous. Gwaynn finally broke into a grin and smiled at Vio, though he was still slightly afraid for her wellbeing, but he said nothing until he turned back to N’dori.

“Be careful,” he advised, but before she could answer the Palmerrio troops suddenly screamed out in unison and broke into a full charge, racing across the slick and muddy field.

As in all battles, it didn’t take long before everything turned into chaos. Even though the Palmerrio struck hard and fast, the Massi lines held. The rain and dreary weather muted all colors to such a degree that the attacking Palmerrio were unaware that the Massi now had significant support from the Tars of Noble Island. The damp, gray weather also had a way of amplifying sound so that the clang of steel on steel and the cries of the wounded seemed very loud making the battle even more terrifying for the soldiers on both sides.

Vio’s heart was pounding with fear and anticipation but most of all excitement. She did not think about death or the possibility that the Black Horseman might indeed be coming for her; instead she focused on the group of soldiers who were rushing directly at her. At first they were all a blur, a mass of humanity rather than individuals, but then a large soldier broke off and came for her...personally. The two lines slammed into each other with tremendous force, loud grunts, the crashing of swords, and the ringing of steel. Fear faded away and instinct took over for Vio Valencia. She dodged a spear thrust her way, parried a blow from a long sword and then another from a kali, before she finally struck out and sliced through an enemy soldier’s neck. Time slowed for the young student from Noble, and she watched in fascinated horror as blood poured from the man’s wound. She stood mesmerized as he stared at her for an endless moment, then he dropped his weapons and thrust his hands onto the wound. He waivered slightly, staring intimately into her eyes, and then he fell to his knees in front of her. Vio’s attention remained fixed on the dying man as dark red blood oozed through his fingers and then suddenly he fell over into the mud.

Vio stood stunned, feeling elated and ill at the very same time, then she slumped over and retched up her breakfast onto the dead man’s back. She felt a hand on her shoulder pushing her back, but she went unwillingly. It was several minutes before she gained control of her stomach and straightened. At first she was unaware of her surroundings but everything came into sharp focus when she caught sight of a kali slicing down toward her face. She skipped backwards but knew instantly that she was too late. The sword was going to cut into her, kill her. Even so, she tried to raise her guard but her parry was too late. The enemy blade came down, but at the last possible second another kali appeared and deflected the razor’s edge of death just enough so that it whistled by her left ear. As it flew past the sword actually cut through a patch of her short dark hair.

“Vio!” Gwaynn yelled at her, but she’d already come to life and plunged her right kali through the ribs of the soldier who’d nearly killed her. He fell quickly and without a sound and Vio instantly moved onto another. Now fully awake to the battle, she fought and killed with the efficiency of a warrior from Noble, only vaguely aware of the vast numbers of men who were falling to the true warriors on her right. Gwaynn and N’dori were gliding, slicing and killing the enemy at such an incredible rate that soon their general vicinity was clear of any Palmerrio. The break between the Toranado and the Massi left was just beginning to widen, but for now the gap was not threatened.

As N’dori killed the last remaining soldier challenging her, she turned and watched as Gwaynn, with unbelievable speed cut through the two he was facing. He did not relax immediately after seeing the ground around him clear, but instead he swiveled to check on Vio, who was currently surrounded by Massi soldiers and also looking for any threat. Gwaynn then turned to check on N’dori, who was nearly forty yards away, but she was walking quickly in his direction and smiling joyfully.