Anelie woke in darkness.
She blinked, getting her bearings. The inn. She was in her room at the inn. Nude, on top of her blankets.
With her hand between her legs.
Well, that confirmed the fleeting images she still had from her last dream. Allowing herself a sad chuckle, Anelie spread her thighs a bit, removing her hand. She wiped the two wet fingers on the fabric as she sat up.
The dream had not been about Shanna.
She knew that. There might have been other dreams that night, now forgotten, involving the brown skinned goddess, but the last had featured a trim, light skinned beauty. Who, she couldn't say. She couldn't picture her face, at least not now that she was awake. The girl's touch had been gentle. Loving...
Anelie shook her head. There was no point torturing herself like this. Not now. She had a job. A mission. Feeling sorry about her lack of companionship was not going to make it any easier, so she had to stop. Accept. Woman up.
Be who she was.
Anelie slipped off the bed, not bothering with a light. That day's clothing, only worn once so far on their journey, sat on a stool. Grabbing the panties from on top, she slipped them on. Then slipped them back off, remembering she was surrounded by at least some luxuries that morning. Walking to the open window, she saw the water basin outlined in the pre-dawn light, a sponge beside it. A sigh of feminine pleasure escaping from her lips, she wet the sponge and began to wash.
****
The common room was empty. That was to be expected. Anelie was usually the first one up, mental clock insisting she wake early. Unless it was a rest day. Somehow, her body knew to adjust its schedule, for which she was grateful. One of the many reasons she liked her body.
Noise came from the inn's lit kitchen. Adjusting her uniform, Anelie made her way across the room. Through the doorway she saw Jaromira cross her view. Lewy's wife wore a simple purple dress, a full white apron tied across her front. Her black hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, functional, giving her face a somewhat severe look. Reaching the doorway, Anelie stopped, a hand on the frame.
"Morning, Jaromira."
"Good morning, Lady." Jaromira gave her a brief nod, hands in a large glass bowl. A wave of incredible scents came to Anelie. She straightened, eyes wide.
"This can't be breakfast!"
"No, Lady." Her voice was harsh yet amused. "As long as we had access to a kitchen, I figured I'd bake a couple days worth of bread. That Felek lad found a shop that sold rye flour and other goods while he was out, and it was delivered after you retired." Anelie now saw the trays of round bread cooling. Jaromira must have started the dough rising hours ago. She also realized what Jaromira was mixing.
"Cookies? You're making cookies?"
"I have time, and they bake quickly. They'll last longer than the bread on the road, not that stale bread dipped in stew isn't still good enough for soldiers."
"I've just decided to promote Lewy."
"Good." Jaromira began forming the sticky dough into balls, placing them on an empty tray. "Now, if you'll forgive me..."
****
Anelie walked out into the yard, warm cookie in hand. The morning air was cool, almost cold compared to the kitchen. She shivered, enjoying the change.
Klocia pushed herself away from the wagon, coming to attention as Anelie approached the horses. They were milling around, peacefully. As Anelie watched, one let out a stream of piss. It was a good thing horses were beautiful and useful, or few would tolerate them. She let her hand run down the side of Bogdi's mount as she passed.
"Lady," Klocia said, saluting. Anelie returned it, smiling. Noticing the girl's eyes on the cookie still in her hand, she lowered it.
"Want some? Fresh made." She broke it in half, handing the smaller piece over. Klocia looked at it, uncertain.
"Um... thanks, My Lady." She took it, fingers brushing Anelie. Anelie lifted hers up, taking a bite. She closed her eyes.
"Mmmm... cookies for breakfast. I could get used to that."
"I've seen Lady Jaromira moving around through the kitchen windows for hours. I don't think she went to sleep."
"That's the kind of dedication I like." Anelie put the rest of the cookie in her mouth, licking her fingers. "I wish her luck trying to sleep once we're on our way, though."
Klocia shot her gaze away as Anelie looked at her. Knowing, or at least having heard rumor, of the girl's feelings made Anelie... excited. She shouldn't be. Her own "crush" had been, was, no laughing matter, and neither should the girl's. Shrugging, she leaned back against the wagon, eyes on the far gate and the town beyond. After a few moments, Klocia leaned back beside her.
"You doing OK?" Anelie asked. She wiped her hands on her pants.
"Um... Yes. Yes, Lady Anelie. I'm doing well."
"We've hardly given you any training yet."
"That's OK, My Lady. You've taught us a lot!"
"Not as much as I would have liked." She looked at the blonde teen. "It's not like I can send you home if one of you can't cut it. It would be a long walk."
"We'll be fine, My Lady. We'll do our jobs."
"It's me doing mine I'm worried about." She looked up into the sky, the stars no longer visible. "I wish Shanna was leading this."
"I... I think you're a great commander, Lady Anelie."
She heard herself in that voice. Heard countless conversations with Shanna over the years. Was this how Shanna had felt? Had her endless praising, worshiping... Anelie mentally shook her head to clear it. What was done was done. Shanna had not chosen her. She had to move on.
"I need you, all of you, to be honest with me, Klocia. Tell me when you have problems. Obey me without question, of course," she added, grinning, getting the same in return, "but I want to know where you think you're weak. Where we need to build you up."
"We will, Lady."
"Good." She looked off into the distance. "I know I'm hard on you. Harder than I am on the men, really. Probably why the other girls couldn't hack it. But I want you to succeed. I want women warriors. An army of Dark Hussars worthy of Shanna."
Klocia stiffened beside her at the same moment Anelie noticed the movement. Someone was approaching the gate. She leaned forward, eyes focusing. It was a female Kikker. In fact, it was...
"It's the girl who brought us here," Klocia said. Yes, Anelie saw. It was. She grinned at her companion.
"Your eyes are as good as mine. Let's see what the she wants."
The Kikker girl stopped a few feet from the gate, obviously seeing the two Poles approaching. Anelie tried to remember her name. Olay? Ofay? She hadn't really been paying attention. As Shanna had said many times, if as Commander you're not sure, fake it.
"Hello again," she said, stopping two paces from the gate. Klocia set herself beside her, hand on her sword pommel. Unnecessary, but Anelie liked the instinctive-ness of the action. The Kikker stepped back another half pace. "What can we do for you, this early in the morning?"
"I..." The girl licked her lips. "I need to talk to Issa."
"He's asleep, if he knows what's good for him. Who knows when we'll sleep in real beds again. What do you need?"
"P-please." She bowed her head. "Please, take me with you."
"What?" Anelie shook her head. "No. Of course not."
"I have to go with you!" The girl grabbed the gate, webbed hands wrapping around the wooden struts. "Please! Take me!"
Klocia stepped forward, drawing her sword. The Kikker jumped back, as if struck. Anelie folded her arms across her chest.
"We are not some escort service for runaways. Go on! Scat!"
Klocia raised her sword. The girl turned and ran.
"That was a little much, Klocia," Anelie said, eyes following the retreating teen. The soldier shrugged as she re-sheathed her sword.
"If she was that serious about it, she wouldn't have run."
"True." The door to the inn opened, Lewy pausing in the doorway to say something to someone still inside. Anelie put her hand on Klocia's shoulder. "Come on. The day is starting."
****
They rode through the eastern gate just as the bottom of the sun rose above the horizon. There was no gawking crowd to see them off, the town just on the verge of waking. Neither were there teen girls. Anelie had kept an eye out for her, certain she would try again as they set out. Again, if it had been important, if she had been serious...
Felek let out a contented sigh beside her.
"I honestly don't know which I enjoy more," he said. "stopping for a well deserved rest, or setting out again."
"Staying there was a good idea," she agreed. "The civilians needed it." Anelie caught one of his eyebrows raising. She ignored it. "I don't know how often we'll be able to do it."
"We'll play it by ear. The longer we go, the less we'll be able to do it. We got a good price for the rooms, but what silver and gold we have is better spent on food."
"Do I want to know what those eggs came from?"
"Probably not. They were good, if a little greener than chicken eggs." Felek looked around as they crossed a wooden bridge over a small stream, tributary to the slightly larger one running through the town behind them. "Any predictions as to our course?"
Anelie scoffed.
"The road only goes east, so that had better be the way. If we're turning around, I'll be pissed."
"There's always cross country," Felek said happily. She growled as he looked behind them. "Ruta! Direction check!"
"Straight ahead!"
Anelie let out a relieved sigh. Sooner or later the path would turn difficult. Later would be better.
****
"Stop!"
Anelie reined in sharply at Ruta's cry. Felek's response was even faster, his mount turned and heading back towards her almost before her shout had ended. Anelie followed down the other side of the column, frowning as the startled Issa brought the wagon to a stop. Her eyes swept the countryside.
"What is it?" Felek asked, hand on his sword. Behind the wagon, Bogdi was ordering the recruits off to either side of the column. Ruta just shook her head.
"It's..."
"What?" Exasperation came through Anelie's voice. Ruta shook her head harder, as if to clear it, both hands clutching her necklace.
"North."
"North what?"
"We have to head north. From here."
Anelie blinked. Turning, she looked at the roadside. Tall grasses filled the wide field.
"Here."
"Yes. We must go north."
"There's no road, Ruta." She turned to the blonde. "Not even a trail."
"Are you sure, Ruta?" Felek asked. "I mean... maybe we're to turn north at the next fork."
"It has to be here. I can feel it, Felek. She wants us to turn here!"
Exactly who, or what, was guiding them was still unclear to Anelie. She was not the most religious or spiritual of people. That this magical necklace was the entire point of this quest did not make its silly demands any easier to swallow. She looked around again. Maybe, somewhere...
"Lady!" Cyla's cry brought her head around. The recruit was off her mount in the field, eyes on the ground.
"What is it?" Tapping her heels into Toria, Anelie rode over.
"It's a wagon trail." Cyla pointed down. "Overgrown, but it's here."
That almost made it worse. They might have to actually do this. Now that she knew it was there, Anelie could make out the two ruts. They were deep. Old. Unused in who knew how long. She followed the trail north. Yes. She could see where it entered the distant forest.
"You're SURE about this, Ruta?"
"Yes." Her voice came from beside her. Anelie looked down, surprised to see Ruta standing there. "She wants us to go this way to find her."
"Has she seen fit to tell us how far away she is?"
"No." There was definitely annoyance in the girl's voice. As well there should be. Anelie dismounted.
"OK. Short break, then we head down the trail. Lewy, take a patrol up to the tree line. Make sure this thing actually goes somewhere."
****
The trail, once they were a ways along it, was better than Anelie had feared. Not much, but a little. A single wagon width wide, it meandered on level ground past various low hills and other obstacles. It was not totally unused, from what her experienced eye could tell, but most traffic seemed to have been unmounted.
As noon approached, Anelie let herself drift back along the column, drawing even with her sister-in-law's wagon. Adanya held the reins, the kids sitting on either side of her. Anelie peered into the back of the covered wagon.
"I still don't understand how Jaromira can sleep with this bouncing."
"I assumed it was some Polish trait," Adanya said, smiling. Zuza leaned forward in her seat, looking around her mother.
"She was up all night! She's tired!"
"I know!" Anelie grinned at the girl. "I've eaten the cookies to prove it!" Both kids giggled. The wagon hit a bump, James grabbing his mom's arm. He looked at Anelie.
"Can we stop soon?"
"In a little bit. I don't like this spot." She glanced up the hillside on her right. They were between two hills, with no visibility. The tree line closed in on them from both sides.
"You feeling OK, Honey?" Adanya transferred the reins to one hand, putting an arm around him. He shrugged.
"I'm OK."
The bang of wood cracking rang through the air. The wagon jolted to the left, both kids screaming as their hands flew to their mother. Adanya pulled back on the reins hard, trying to both hold her son while bringing her second hand over to give her a better grip on the leather reins. Anelie moved her own mount forward, reaching out to grab the harness of the lead pair of horses. It wasn't really necessary, all four horses experienced enough to know something was wrong. The wagon stopped.
"Halt!" Anelie yelled, looking up at the other wagon. "We have a problem!"
"Adanya!" Bogdi was there, reaching out to take James from her side. The boy transferred his grip to him. "You OK?"
"I'm fine." She tried to look over her daughter. "What is it?"
"Wheel broke," Klocia said, dismounting beside the wagon.
"Wheel or axle?" Lewy asked, dropping down beside her. They both knelt.
"Just the wheel, I think, Sir."
"Wonderful. Well, at least we can fix that." Lewy stood, looking over at Anelie. "Shouldn't take too long."
"Good." She let her gaze take in the wooded hills again. "Klocia, you girls do a quick sweep around us, then get back here and set a perimeter. I'll take the kids, Bogdi. We'll visit with Ruta."
"Sounds good. Dismount!" His command rang out up and down the trail. Anelie took James once she was on the ground herself, depositing him on his feet before helping Adanya and Zuza off the wagon. Jaromira apparently exited off the back, not a word of complaint said. She came to stand before the family.
"Well, that was a good alarm. Should we do lunch, Lady?"
"Cold sandwiches. I'm not happy here."
****
Anelie and Felek held the now removed wheel between them. They had come with spare wheels, naturally. Two, one per wagon. To need one so early was disheartening.
"I THINK we can fix it," Felek said, dropping to one knee, hand running along one of the broken spokes. "It will give us something to fuss over for the next few nights."
"Why didn't we bring four?" She watched as a four of the stronger soldiers lifted the corner of the wagon up, Lewy rolling over the new wheel.
"It would have meant fewer supplies. Everything is a trade off." He stood. "Worst case, we go down to one wagon and use that team for pack animals."
"I don't want to think about that."
"Me either."
"We're being watched."
Felek nodded. She raised an eyebrow at him. He shrugged.
"It feels like it, at least. Someone's here, and any large armed band is going to attract attention from those who don't want trouble with such a group." He looked up the hillside. "We won't be bothered."
"I don't like it."
"Good. It's your job not to like it." He smiled as he said it, but Anelie heard Shanna in his voice. "A worried solder is a watchful soldier."
She let out a dismissive sound, eyes again sweeping the woods. Felek stood.
"I'd be more worried, frankly, about our magical guide."
Anelie looked at him, shocked. Her eyes flicked to Ruta, sitting on the side of the road with Adanya and the two kids. He shook his head.
"No. Not her. Whatever's talking to her."
"What IS it, exactly?" she asked, lowering her voice. "Shanna didn't say."
"We don't know. It's not what Ruta thinks, but she's not really talking about it any more. At least not to me."
"Then how do you know..."
"It's not the Virgin Mary."
Anelie blinked.
"She thinks..."
"Vision of a beautiful woman appears before you in the middle of the night after you've prayed to Mother Mary, what do you think she's going to think? That was her first guess, and she really doesn't want to be talked out of it."
"That..." She glanced at the blonde girl. "Mary. Mother Mary. I..." She suddenly had more confidence in all this. This wasn't magic. It was God. The difference between the two was huge. Anelie looked at Felek. "Why haven't you said? Told everyone?"
"Because we don't know. His Grace..." Felek shook his head. "Let's just say there is a lot going on here, and we're not sure what is coincidence and what is related." He paused, looking at those working on the wagon. The wheel was being man-handled into place. "For example," he said softly, "I'm to look out for those Elves who sent that message to the Queen."
"We're heading farther away from Elven territory."
"We've turned north. We're still closer to the Orlan River than I'd want to be if I were Elven refugees. Where did you find the body?"
Her mood darkened.
"Northeast of the Fort."
He nodded. "Exactly."
"Fuck."
"Welcome to my world."
"HELP!"
The female scream came from behind them, back down the trail. It was faint. Distant. Kikker.
Not their problem.
Anelie was up and on Toria before she even knew she was doing it, the grey stallion rearing up as it felt her energy. She grabbed her helmet from its hook on her saddle.
"Rearguard, with me! Bogdi, I want the wagons moving, now!" Shoving the cone shaped helmet on her head, she kicked into Toria's sides. The stallion bolted forward. She reached the trail at the same time her men did, six Hussars forming up around her. Reaching down, she loosened the strap on her sword.
It had been ages since she had allowed her mount to show what he could do. She grinned in spite of herself. They tore down the trail, any worry of rocks or holes in the ill-kept roadway forgotten. She tried to remember the terrain they had passed. Was this bandits? Or...
Coming over a small rise as the trail curved, she saw them. A half dozen spear armed Watu encircled a Kikker girl. She was on her knees in the tall grass, brown arms held behind her back, bare breasts thrust forward.
Anelie drew her sword without even pausing.
"FOR POLAND!" She charged down the road, the cries of her men mixing with hers. The bandits, short black furred bodies clad in leather, scattered. "Let them go!" She ordered. She saw no bowmen, nothing that could endanger them now that the creatures were on the run. She was almost disappointed. The idea of running them down anyway crossed her mind, but left just as quickly. They had to get back to the wagons.
Anelie reined in beside the quivering teen. The girl looked up, yellow eyes blinking swiftly.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
Anelie blinked herself. It... it was the girl from that morning. She looked back down the trail, then at the teen, frowning.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I have to come with you!" Ofure staggered to her feet, grabbing Anelie's leg. "Please! You have to let me!"
"Why?"
"The Polish woman in my dreams told me to!”