Kingdom Born

CHAPTER 27: Home

I had thought that I had cried all my tears out, but here I was sitting astride my second string horse overlooking the familiar high walls of Sandshore, snivelling again. I wiped my eyes on the back of my sleeve then kicked the horse into motion.

The heat of the midsummer sun beat down heavily on my head. I could no longer smell the stench of the horse so I assumed that I had to smell like it. I didn't really care. My body fell back into the familiar rhythm of the gait as he began to negotiate the steep hill leading down to Sandshore.

The merchant ship, the Wavecrasher, had been bound for the most northern city, Fars'haven, with a load a fine silks. Compared to my last journey, we crossed the wide water with surprising speed. The merchant Captain had been kind. I told him nothing but he seemed to know that right then, I needed help taking care of myself. I missed meals, he brought them to me. I sat for hours in my chamber, he could come and insist on feminine company as he walked the deck. He came to my quarters to keep me company each night. The Captain ate his meals with me, replaced his mead a powder that turned to milk when you mixed it with water. I'm sure he thought that I was depressed enough to take my own life, but that was forbidden by the Goddess. The pain I felt would have to be endured.

Fars'haven was an impressive city but it was nothing like the Northern Stronghold. Once I would have been struck with it's size and richness but not now. There were no ships heading south that didn't stop in at Coveport. The Council of Elders of Coveport had ordered every ship entering or exiting the harbour searched for the arsonist and murderess who had killed a fine upstanding citizen. By ship, my journey home would have taken less than a week but my burning of the city would not be forgotten. I was not about to stop in that hellhole again.

Carefully I arranged for my treasures to be crated and carried home. Keeping enough gold for myself to get killed, I headed into the streets of Fars'haven to supply myself for an extended journey. I bought two horses, field provisions, new heavy woollen tunics as well as leather clothes, bow and quiver full of arrows and a new light weight but finely made plain sword. I didn't even spend one night within the walls of the city before I rode out into the cold wilderness.

I ran out of supplies three weeks into my ride. One horse went lame and I had to sell him for a lesser beast. At farming villages, I bought new supplies, ate a warm meal, sometimes spent the night in a barn then rode on the next day. The distant glow of the Halls of the Dead beckoned to me when I decided to ride on through the night to pass guard posts on the outskirts of towns and cities. I took a wide swing around Coveport extending my journey by another two weeks. Now, after almost two months since the start of my journey, I was home.

The gates loomed closer. The rode way was filled with outlaying farmers bringing their fall produce to market. My stomach growled as I spied their heavily laden carts. When I approached them, the wrinkled their noses and urged their beasts ahead. A young girl glanced up when I rode up to her. "My bow and quiver for all the apples I can carry."

I swung the bow and quiver towards her. She hesitated for a moment then nodded and took them from my outstretched hand. She pulled her wagon to a halt. Urging my horse forward, I reached in and grabbed at the red fruit. I cupped my cloak and grabbed up ten red juicy apples. I bit into the first one, juice ran down my chin. I wiped it away with the back of my sleeve then leaned forward and offered it to the mount. He bit into it and chomped noisily. I offered one to my pack horse.

"May the Goddess guard your path." I blessed her, my voice raspy with disuse. She nodded and clicked her horses forward. I moved toward the side of the road and continued munching on another apple. After all these months of dried meat, vegetables and hard bread, fresh fruit was a Goddess sent treat. I wolfed down another apple before cramming them into my near empty saddlepacks and urging the horse forward.

Edla and Turin were on gate duty. "Captain?"

The expression on their faces told me that I was in worse shape than I had assumed. My last bath was about seven days ago in a high cliff falls. My hair was still short just barely reaching the back of my neck but it was greasy and felt heavy and my stomach was now rounding out into a melon shape. I didn't feel like stopping when a bath was so close. I waved at them and continued into the town.

The familiar scents and sounds of the streets were like a homecoming. Children ran about screaming in high spirits. The streets were almost crowded with merchants. I didn't feel any sense of terror from either boy or girl. Now, I had proof that Sandshore was the best place to live. I pulled the horse to stop in front of my house beside the Garrison. I stared at it, foolishly willing to see Karl standing there in the doorway but nothing came but the burning of unshed tears and lingering pain. I couldn't live there any more.

I turned the horse southward and plodded toward my mother's house. Smoke was puffing out of her chimney even on a hot day like this. I could feel the heavy cake of sweat all under my not quite fitting leather armour. I hoped she had a bath ready or even a pot of hot water. I took the horses to her small stable, stripped all the tack off them then lead each to a stall on other side of Moko's horse, Blackie. "You won't begrudge these fellas some oats will you sweetness? We's come along way." I measured out some oats, tossed in a couple armfuls of hay then picked up my pack and headed toward my mother's door.

I knocked then waited. I had no idea what day it was, she could be in Council all day. The bolt on the door was thrown back and the door creaked open. "Who..?" her words died in her throat. "Phara...my Goddess!"

"May I come in?" My voice sounded harsh and unused. It was there was little talking to do on the trail. Since the horses didn't even flick it's ears when I spoke to them, I had given up speaking.

"You're banished...don't you know what the Council will do to you?" Moko returned as she stepped back and opened the door wider.

I stepped inside and dropped my pack on the floor, "How's Kyle?"

"He's out fishing with Utan and Jimmy. They won't be back before nightfall. Goddess." She ran her hands across my short hair then cupped my chin and pulled my face up so she could look at me. "Why did you come back here before your banishment was over? It's only another four months."

"Banishment is meant to punish. I've been punished enough."

Moko looked past me into the courtyard, "Where's Karl?"

Tears threatened to start again. I walked toward the hearth.

"Phara, where's Karl?" I said nothing, "Is he dead?"

"I left him."

"Where did you leave him? Is he safe?" I nodded and swayed as the scent of delicious stew made me dizzy. Moko lead me over to the kitchen table and sat me down. "I'm sorry...Are you hungry?"

I nodded shrugging off my cloak, "Did my trunks come in?"

"Two months ago. I had them delivered to your house. I thought Karl would be coming back with the next ship after their arrival."

I could see on her face how much she wanted to talk, but I turned away unable to keep her gaze, "Can I have a bath? I've forgotten what its like to feel clean."

"I had just heated up the water for myself, but take it. I'll see if you have any clothes here..."

Moko had scented water steaming in the top the whole bath room was steamy with the heat. It felt good. I stripped off the heavy and sweat caked armour, peeled the wet tunic off my back then kicked my boots and breeches into a corner. I climbed into the tub, gritted my teeth as the heat seared through me, then sighed as the warmth began to seep into my joints and muscles. I found an cake of soap and a sponge and began to scrub away the weeks of accumulated grim and dirt. My skin was all tingly and feeling fresh when Moko returned with a bowl of soup, some soft bread and a stein of mead.

"You're pregnant!"

I was tempted to lie but then I would need her support in the months to come. I couldn't bare to look at the house Karl and I had shared. "...I'm a couple of months along now. Its just beginning to show....Its not Karl's." Moko opened her mouth but I forestalled her, "That's all there is to know."

"Is he safe?"

"Yes...he's well provided for." I reached for the soup and hastily began to gulp it down.

"Goddess, Phara...what happened?

"I took him home to his Father. I was lucky to get out there with my life."

There was a sharp rap on the outer door. Moko turned and dropped a towel beside me, "That's probably the guard come to arrest you. At least you got something to eat." She unbarred the door

Yana stepped in with a grim face, "Is Phara here?"

Moko nodded and stepped back.

Yana's shoulders dropped, "I hoped Edla was wrong. I've got standing orders that if you returned before your year was up that I was to bring you to the Council," Yana sat down at a kitchen chair, staring at me with her bright blue gaze, "You look like hell. I'll give you time to get dressed."

I ripped the bread apart and chewed on it, "That's not the procedure."

"Damn it Phara, you wrote the damned procedure! What are you going to do? Crawl out the windows? I don't think you could crawl out of that tub!"

I looked at Yana. She had begun to let her hair grow... there was something different. She had a wedding band on her left hand. "Who'd you marry?"

Yana smiled and quickly flashed our secret measurement code with her hands as my mother headed back toward the hearth, "Sal's oldest boy...Havan."

My face hurt as I smiled. I wasn't used to it. "He helps out with the fish at the docks, right?"

"Not any more. I couldn't stand the smell of fish in my bed. He's apprenticing at the smithy.
Where's Karl?"

Moko spoke up, "He has gone to the Goddess." I stared over at her. Our green eyes met and she shook her head slightly.

"Goddess, I'm sorry Phara." Yana's face was a mask of my pain.

I swallowed hard to keep my emotions in check, "Let me get dressed and I'll give you no trouble." I stood in the water and reached for the warm towel.

"You're pregnant!"

Moko spoke up, "The Council will be waiting for you to get to the chambers. I'm leaving now. If you don't want them to come down any harder than they have to, I suggest you get over there right away."

"Yes, Elder Longsword." Yana replied nodding her direction.

Moko threw her long brown cloak at Yana, "Make sure she wears it. Her hair won't be dry and it's cooling off some as the sun sets. Her getting sick won't help the baby."

"I will, Elder Longsword." Yana helped me step out of the tub. "We'll be along real soon."

Yana helped me dress as if I were a newborn baby. It felt good to let someone take over even if was for just a moment. Yana wrapped the cloak around me and pulled the hood up to cover my head. "In case I didn't tell you, I'm glad to see you. You ready?"

I nodded. Yana pulled open the wooden door and gestured me before her into the street.
The lay out of the Council chamber was quite effective in showing the authority of the Elders. Yana stood behind me as jailer and friend, her support was easily read in her expression but her duty was shown with a naked blade pointing to the ground behind my back. High Elder, Miin Stalker looked down from her seat on the high dias, her disapproval and glee were unmasked. "Why did I know that you would be back before your banishment was over?"

"I don't know High Elder." I returned tiredly, not willing to be drawn into her usual banter. I just wanted to lay down somewhere. In my old bed at my mother's house or at least in the privacy of a Garrison cell.

"Stalker, this is not a time to indulge in petty jealousy." High Elder Jaze remanded tossing the scroll of my trial back onto the desk, "You know Captain..."

"She has no title." Stalker piped in quickly.

High Elder Jaze glanced over at Stalker and shook her head, "Miin, you have made your sentiments clear and this gloating is unbecoming to someone of your stature. Any more out bursts like that would make one think that your vote is biased."

"Are you accusing me..."

"Elders!" I knelt on one knee and bowed my head to the floor, "I will explain my actions if the Council will give me leave."

"I've got to hear this." Stalker settled herself back into her chair.

Elder Jaze glared over at her, "Are there any dissents? No. Then go ahead, Longsword. And know that the Council feels the loss of your husband. He was a fine teacher to the children."

"But..." I caught Moko's harsh expression, "I am thankful."

"Get on with it."

"Shut up Miin." My mother shouted back dispensing with the usual decorum she held.
Stalker stared over at Moko then settled herself back into the chair, her arms folded across her chest. She knew all it would take would be one dissenting vote to sentence me to execution. I could see her relishing her victory in her mind. Why she hated me, I had no idea.

"We travelled to Sandshore and were captured by Misha Righthander and sold into slavery." Everyone sat up suddenly, "Karl was sent to a brothel and I was sold to a man from the Kingdom of Halsem the Just. He did not know that slavery in our lands were not permitted." I told my tale omitting nothing but the saving of Karl from the assassin's arrow. I had no idea why my mother insisted that Karl be dead but I was so tired and felt too numb to argue with her. Just speaking the words brought back all the pain I thought had abated a bit.

"My last actions as Captain of the guard were arrogant and self serving. I took the authority that was yours and used my influence over the guard to justify my actions. My banishment was meant to make me understand the error I committed. I know the severity of my actions. I can give you my word as a Daughter of the Blade that I would never act so unwisely again. I ask now to be allowed back into Sandshore, as a citizen."

There was a long pause before High Elder Jaze spoke, "We will consider the request. Captain Fisher, take the prisoner from the chambers and wait in the anteroom until we send for you."

Yana waited until I was on my feet then gestured me toward the anteroom door. The Council chambers were plain and simple compared to the opulence of Stronghold. "You've been through hell, Phara."

"I just want to go home, Yana. I want to see Kyle and then go to sleep for a couple of days. I don't think I told you that I'm glad to see you and congratulations on your marriage. You can have my house as a wedding gift."

"Goddess, Phara, you can't mean that."

"I can't live there any more. I would rather you and Havan make it into your home."

"I can't accept it...not without payment."

"Okay, give me a gold piece."

"You'll take the market value, woman, and you'll like it." She scowled at me but her blue eyes sparkled brightly.

I laughed, a happiness filled my emptiness, "I'm glad to be home."

"We'll see about that." Yana glanced around her then laid the naked blade across her thighs and leaned forward, "Goddess, Phara the Garrison just isn't the same without you. I don't know how you did it? I don't know what to do half of the time and I'm trying so damn hard to make it look like I know exactly what I am doing."

I leaned back away the wall and offered a consoling smile, "Then you're filling in nicely, most of the time I didn't know if I was doing the right thing either."

"You could have fooled me."

"Remind me to get those trunks moved out of the house."

Yana sheathed her sword and settled herself beside me on the long bench, "That Merric woman was pretty brave."

"She reminded me of you."

"Yeah, well some of those laws you mentioned were pretty stupid. A woman not being able to defend herself. What was she supposed to do? Let herself be run through?"

"Yeah."

"If that Kingdom man, Sanderson shows up here, I'd show him a thing or two. A woman to weak to stand up for herself, huh!" Yana sniffed the air with an deprecatory air.

"Enter," The messenger to the Council glared over at me, turned on her heel and disappeared back into the chambers.

"Well, that didn't take long." I rose to my feet and headed back into the chambers. I bowed lowly then walked up to the dias ready to hear their decision.

"It is true that the reason for your banishment was for you to realize that you had misused your authority and placed the town in jeopardy -- everything the Goddess has allowed us to rebuild since the Fires. You're sincerity has been noted. The judgment of the Council of Elders is to continue your sentence...in the form of a parole. ‘

‘You are to act as our Messenger to Sandshore for the remainder of your banishment. If you shirk your duties, the council will re-enforce the banishment and send you from the safety of the walls. After your parole is completed, if the Council feels that you have worked to the best of your ability, you will be allowed to rejoin the Garrison if that is your wish...as First Lieutenant. Captain Fisher will continue in her position."

"May the Goddess bless your path." I bowed lowly stunned at the Council's words. Truly, I had expected them to send me back into the wastelands for another four months or to spend my time in the gaol at the Garrison.

Stalker stood up, "Be here in the morning at daybreak."

I bowed in her direction then turned and left the chamber. Yana slapped me hard on the shoulder, "That's great news Phara!"

I raised an eyebrow and glanced over at her, "You know, I'm going to the Captain again."

Yana paused and looked at me, "When? I actually prefer assigning orders, not creating them."

"I'll probably be after my daughter's birth." I thought about Lady Margaret's predictions. However hurtful they were, they were true. To live with that kind of power. The toll must be devastating on her, to always know, to never be surprised. "Are you going to escort me home?"

"MOM!" I turned to see a handsome young man of ten and a half break away from his friends and start running toward me.

Yana shook her head, "I think I'll let Kyle do that. Welcome home, Phara."

Long red straggles of hair flapped in the wind as Kyle ran towards me. He caught me in his arms and gave me a big hug. "Goddess, Mom, I missed you. You cut your hair."

I looked at him with a deliberately shocked expression on my face, "Since when did you start swearing?"

"I'm sorry?" Kyle had grown some since I last seen him. He was going to be as tall as Karl. His grey eyes were wide with pleasure and his white teeth flashed at me. He was turning into a handsome young man. I'd have to keep the girls at bay with a stick until he was old enough to marry. "Where's Dad?"

"Walk me back to Grandma's we have some things to talk about."

I smiled down at him. I reached out and touched his sunburnt face, "I promise I won't leave you again."

He looked at me as if I had lost my mind. I kissed his cheek. "Mom...not in front of my friends!" He rubbed at the spot with the back of his sleeve.

"Come on." Even though Kyle had made a big production of wiping my kiss away, he held onto my hand tightly. He was still my baby. "How do you feel about a sister?"

He looked at me with a stunned expression on his face, "Aren't you too old for that?" My face must have been distressed because he threw his arms around me and hugged me tight. "Do I get to tease her?"

"Until she's gets too big to let you get away with it."

"Marty has three little sisters, they're all bigger than he is and he still teases them. He says that he's their big brother and always will be. So am I. Even if she gets bigger than me, I'll still be her big brother."

"Yeah, you will." Together we walked back to my mother's house. I didn't know exactly what to tell Kyle but he deserved to know that his father wasn't coming home. I just hoped the Goddess would let Kyle forgive me. These following years were going to be difficult.


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