The Anialwch Connection
Chapter 25
It had been a nice day, so Celyn had decided to go on a ride. Normally she would have waited for someone to ride with her, but her father was away from the palace, so she had prepared her own camelus and headed out to the desert. She thought she would be back by mid-day when her father was supposed to return.
She had still been within sight of the palace when she spotted a man on a camelus in the distance. As he drew closer, she could see that he had red hair. It was rare for someone from Lochfowk to enter Anialwch territory, and when it happened, it was usually a messenger.
He had guided his camelus toward her and she came alongside him, thinking he might have a message from Kenyon.
He looked at her. “Are you Celyn?”
She nodded, bringing her camelus to a stop as he did his. “Do you have a message for me?”
“Yes.” He leaned toward her, lifting his hand.
Too late, she had realized what he was going to do. He hit her hard on the jaw, knocking her off her camelus. When she hit the ground, blackness had surrounded her.
She woke to a painful jaw. She was on her stomach with her hands tied behind her back. Footsteps crunched across the dry ground and a boot kicked her over on her back.
“It’s about time you woke up.” His voice was gruff and he spoke in the language of the Lochfowk. He shifted his musket to the other hand and reached down, untying her robe and opening it to expose her camisole and bloomers.
She brought her knees up, holding them tightly together. This kind of thing didn’t happen in Anialwch and she had never heard of it happening in Lochfowk. The weight of her body caused sharp rocks to dig into her hands.
The man began unbuttoning his trousers with one hand. She gasped and tried to roll away from him. He kicked her on her back again.
“No!” she gasped.
“I won’t,” he said. “Not if you do as I say. I only want you to know how easy it would be for me and how hopeless it would be for you.”
“What do you want?”
“I just told you.”
He reached down and grabbed her by the robe, tearing one sleeve as he lifted her onto her camelus. He pulled the robe shut and tied it. Then he tied a piece of long rawhide to one of her ankles and brought it under the camelus, tying it to her other ankle. If she fell, she would be dragged under the feet of the camelus. He was making it clear that he didn’t care if she stayed alive.
He grabbed the lines to her camelus and began leading her toward the mountains. She would have asked him where they were going but it was obvious that he wasn’t going to tell her anything.
She wasn't sure she could contact Donte from that distance, but she closed her eyes, concentrating on him. For a moment she thought she connected, but it was brief. She tried to focus on Kenyon. She had never been able to do it before. After a while she found him. He was working in the barn. She flew in and landed on a rail. He glanced up, noticed it was only an avialae, and continued forking hay. She flew and landed on the handle. He laughed and continued working, but she stayed on the handle. He frowned. “Celyn?” He offered a hand and she hopped onto it. He looked down at her. “I don’t have a clue what you want, but I’ll get Donte.”
She left the avialae and Kenyon, once again in search of Donte. This time she found him at the pond, his head in his hands. She immediately connected with him. He must have realized she was trying. She found an avialae and flew slowly over the camelus, so that he could see her bound hands. Her captor looked up when the aves flew by him, but dismissed it. She flew higher, trying to give Donte their location. Suddenly she lost the connection. What was Donte doing? Frustrated, she began to cry. Surely Donte understood she needed his help. After a while, she tried again. Once again, she connected with him immediately. This time she held his attention for a long time. He had to know she needed help now. Exhausted and afraid she might fall asleep and fall from the camelus, she opened her eyes and breathed deep breaths. Her jaw ached and the rawhide cut into her ankles and wrists. It might be days before Donte could reach her. She wasn’t sure she would be alive that long, but she intended to try.
The camelus plodded on until they reached the foot of the mountains. There, the man removed the cord from her ankles and pulled her off the, but left her hands tied. He released the animals and they continued on foot. At least she no longer had to worry about falling from the camelus. Before long, it became obvious that having her hands tied behind her back was affecting her balance.
The man removed the rawhide from her wrists. “Walk ahead of me. If you try to get away, you know what will happen. Follow the trail.”
She followed the trail. When they came to a level area, they stopped and he made camp. Far in the distance, she could see the palace. It was little more than a white spot in the desert. The man told her to sit on a log and, once again, he tied her hands behind her back and her feet together.
A little later some men joined them. It was clear they were waiting for something to happen, but they said nothing that would explain why she was being held captive. From their conversation, she concluded that her captor’s name was Ewan and they kept referring to something called a Cabal as if it were some kind of government. They didn’t appear to be concerned that she was listening. The only reason she could think of that they wouldn’t care is that they intended to kill her before she could talk to anyone. She didn’t have a clue why they had captured her until they mentioned Donte. It soon became clear that they were expecting him.
She had enticed Donte into their trap. There was nothing she could do about it at this point except refuse to contact him. Was he already on the way? They apparently thought so. They were slurping down their hot drinks and talking as if they enjoyed the prospect. She couldn’t understand why they would want to hurt Donte until she heard the name Ness mentioned. Apparently, Donte had disrupted their plan to take over the Lochfowk government. They spoke of something called the Nyumbani operation and how it was a failure due to Donte. They all looked at her. She had helped Donte find the Nyumbani raiders, but so had Kenyon. Actually, Kenyon had only been there, but he did save Donte’s life. They didn’t mention Kenyon, though. She and Kenyon had also been present when Donte had denounced Ness. Apparently, they wanted Donte out of the way so someone named Kia could complete their mission without disruption. They appeared to be confident that their plan was going to work this time.
The men kept watching her and she didn’t like the look in their eyes. Ewan had promised not to harm her if she did as she was told. Surely, he wouldn’t allow one of the men to rape her. She tried to keep her face down and not look at them.
***
When the cabinet summoned him, Gerritt didn't know what to expect. Things had been quiet for a while and the militia had been training with the two Anialwch men. He entered the meeting room to find all cabinet members present. He sat in the chair they indicated and listened as they explained the little they knew about what was happening with Donte and Beier. They were understandably upset because Donte had not taken the time to meet with them and had, yet again, run off to personally settle a problem in another colony.
Gerritt sighed. "I understand your concern, but it sounds like Donte is best fit for this mission. He and Celyn work together in ways I don't completely understand. You're saying he has Beier and Kenyon with him. While that removes Beier as his replacement if something goes wrong, Beier's presence could also ensure his safety."
Cariel looked at the others as if something else had occurred to him. If that was the case, he must have decided not to divulge it.
Gerritt persisted. "Have you contacted Anialwch about sending Bergen militia there?"
Cariel nodded. "The Anialwch militia think they can handle it."
It was no surprise to Gerritt that Anialwch would rather address the situation than bring in an inferior militia. "What do you want me to do?"
Cariel glanced at the others before returning his attention to Gerritt. "We want you to have the militia ready to go if they request our assistance."
"I'll do that. Is there anything else?"
Once again, Cariel looked at the others as if he wanted to say something, but he finally shrugged. "No. We want to be prepared...." He shrugged again.
To Gerritt, it was obvious that Cariel wanted to talk to the cabinet privately, so he stood. "Let me know if you need anything else."
Gerritt left the room wondering if he had said or done something to make them uncomfortable with his skill. He wasn't a Mascot. Maybe that was it. He stopped in the hallway and looked back at the meeting room as something else occurred to him. Maybe the cabinet didn't trust Beier. That seemed unlikely. They had been working with him when Pieter was Ruler of Bergen. But they had also chosen Donte over Beier against Peiter's last request.
Gerritt left the building. He could do no more here and the cabinet wanted him to prepare the militia. He didn't think Anialwch would request them, but he'd be ready if they did.
Beier’s dedication to Donte was puzzling. As far as Gerritt knew, Beier didn’t believe in the Prophesy, yet Beier protected Donte and Celyn as if Purlieu couldn’t afford to lose them. He had been distressed when he learned that Donte lay in Nyumbani near death. He had accepted the temporary position of ruling Bergen in Donte's absence because he knew he could do the most good there. Beier wanted to be at Donte’s side and Gerritt was certain that he felt some degree of responsibility because he hadn't been with Donte when it happened. All that, Gerritt understood, but he still felt there was something more.
***
Nieke stood outside the walls of the palace, her attention focused on the two men who meant the most to her. Donte and King Neirin were discussing how they could rescue Celyn. Neirin and his men had been searching for her all morning. They had arrived earlier than expected and found her gone. They didn’t know until the arrival of the rescue team that she had been abducted.
King Neirin frowned at Donte. “Of course you have my permission to do what ever is necessary to rescue Celyn. All I am saying is that the Ruler of Bergen shouldn’t be putting his life in danger when he can order his militia to do it.”
Donte smiled and shook his head. “But it is perfectly understandable for the King of Anialwch to lead his men?”
Neirin grimaced. “That is different. She is my daughter.”
Donte looked at him for a moment. “She is my friend and she is my partner in The Prophesy. We will both survive. It is our destiny. The people of Bergen understand.”
Nieke wasn’t so sure about that. Probably those who believed in The Prophesy did, but the rest might think he was needlessly risking his life - again. His near-death experience hadn’t taught him to be more cautious. Instead, it had reinforced his belief that he was invincible - at least until after The Prophesy. Maybe he was. From what she had heard, he shouldn’t have lived, but he did. Here he was, ready to risk his life again in the same way. Those trying to assassinate him might not fail again.
Donte looked at Nieke. “You can fly the shuttle while Beier and I watch to see if we can locate the area where they went into the mountains. When we do, I want you to stay with the shuttle until King Neirin and his men arrive. We’ll try to make sure you have a clear path to lead them up the mountain to join us.”
“Yes Monomi.” When Donte was not present, he trusted her to lead. Otherwise, she was merely one of the troops.
King Neirin met her gaze and smiled. He knew she felt rejected. She lifted her chin. Donte had given her a job and she was going to do it to the best of her ability.
Donte looked at her. “If you give King Neirin your communication medallion, you will be able to relay information between us and direct King Neirin to the shuttle. That way he and his men can leave now.
King Neirin nodded. “It is a good idea. He accepted the medallion and waved to his men to follow him. They headed back out to the desert. They knew the general location.
Donte’s crew climbed into the shuttle and Nieke navigated it along the base of the mountains. When they saw two camelus wandering free at the base of the mountain, they slowed. Donte’s guess was right. They had abandoned the camelus and entered the mountains on foot, but which way had the camelus drifted, and how far?
Donte instructed her to land the shuttle and the men split up, searching in each direction for tracks. She waited until the men found the tracks and converged and started up the mountain before she contacted King Neirin. After that, all she could do was wait.
***
When Celyn heard sudden activity in the camp, she looked up. All the men but Ewan were leaving the camp. Ewan’s attention was focused on the desert below them. Celyn followed his gaze and gasped. A shuttle was gliding along at the base of the trees. It stopped and sank below the trees.
Donte had figured out where they were and he was there to rescue her, but he didn’t know he was being led into a trap. Or did he? Donte wasn’t a fool. He would be wondering why they would capture her and more than likely draw the conclusion that they wanted him.
Ewan untied her hands and gave her a canteen. She drank the tepid water. It was wet and she was thirsty. That was about all she could say. She handed it back to him and he untied her feet, motioning for her to continue up the trail. Her sandals were not meant for climbing. They were already falling apart.
The next time they stopped to rest, she tried to contact Donte. It was easy, so he must have been nearby. Yet no attempt had been made to rescue her. She stopped trying to contact him. Donte was out there. She was certain of it. Why didn’t he do something? Was he waiting for darkness? Of course. Both Donte and Kenyon could see in the dark. She had camped enough with Donte and Rianne to know Donte could track almost anything. Those skills combined with the fact that he could sense their presence meant that he would eventually find them. She needed to be ready when he arrived.
Donte stopped each time Celyn contacted him. The scenery looked the same from above the trees. He had no way of determining exactly where she was. If he knew which avialae she was using, it would have helped, but there were many aves flying over them at different times. He wasn’t close enough yet to sense their presence.
They started up the mountain, moving slowly so they wouldn’t lose the trail. They were well into the mountains when Donte detected the first man. They were being watched.
Donte stopped and gathered the others for a conference.
“I think I know why they captured her. I think we are being led into a trap.”
Paden frowned. “What do we do?”
Beier grinned at Donte. “Spring it.”
Donte nodded. “I’m sure the man I have detected is not the only one. They wouldn’t make it that simple.”
Dour stared at Donte. “What do they want?”
Kenyon groaned. “They want to kill Donte.” He looked at Donte. “You should go back to the shuttle and let us handle this.”
Donte looked at Kenyon. “I know he is using her for bait to get me, but if I don’t show up, what do you think he will do to her?”
Kenyon groaned again. “When I get my hands on him….” He shook his head. “If he has touched her….”
Donte squatted and examined the trail. “As long as they know I’m out here; Celyn is safe. Don’t let them push you into something impulsive.”
Paden squatted beside Donte and looked around. “How far ahead do you think they are?”
“One is right over there.” Donte canted his head to indicate the location. “Don’t look.”
“I meant Celyn and her captor.”
Donte looked at him. “It’s hard to say, but we have several advantages.”
They all looked at him. “What?”
Donte smiled at Kenyon. “We can see in the dark and they can’t. Celyn, Beier and I have the aves gene. We can tolerate the cold. They can’t. They’ll have to build a fire. When they do that, we’ll find them.”
Kenyon grimaced. “That means we’ll have to wait until dark.”
Donte shook his head. “It would be safer for me that way, but we don’t have to wait.”
Kenyon gave Donte a sour smile. “Haven’t you had enough excitement for the year?”
Donte gave him a wry smile. “Not nearly.”
Beier chuckled. “I’m up to some fun and games too.”
Donte sobered. “We can’t afford to take prisoners. We don’t have enough people to watch them and complete the mission. We can’t take the chance that they might get away and warn the others. If you fire your laser, make sure you hit your target. Otherwise, you’ll give away our position.” He studied the trail. “I think they will stay on the trail. They will have snipers positioned nearby, so be careful. I’ll stay on the trail and alert you when I sense one nearby.” He looked at Beier. “I trust you know what to do.”
Beier studied his face. “Why don’t you let me take the trail, Monomi?”
“They want me. Their attention will be on me.” Donte looked at the others. “I can detect them before I get within musket range. I’ll alert you and wait until they are neutralized before I move forward. Stop when I stop.”
“I’ll take care of that first man,” Kenyon said, and ghosted into the forest.
They all waited for Kenyon to signal that he had eliminated the threat. Donte didn’t need a communicator medallion to know. One minute he felt the presence of the man and suddenly it was gone. He was only aware of Kenyon and the rest of his command. It was a sickening feeling, knowing when the life slipped from a person.
When Kenyon returned, Donte instructed the others to fan out from him. He continued up the trail, stopping now and then to study the trail and make sure Celyn was still with the man.
When he felt another presence, he stopped and squatted, tapping his medallion. Off to my left, up in a tree.”
For a moment there was silence. Beier responded. “I see him.”
It was impossible to know how many men were out there. Apparently, they were taking no chance on missing him – at least they thought they weren’t. It was as if they didn’t know he could sense them. Maybe they didn’t. Maybe they only knew he and Celyn worked together. That meant that if they didn’t get him, they would eliminate her. They wanted him, though. He would do his best to make sure it looked possible.
At one point, he paused and looked back down the mountain to see King Neirin’s men approaching on their camelus. He alerted the men in his command to wait for Neirin and his men to catch up with them. That would give the snipers an opportunity to move up the trail. More men on his side meant more men to separate from the enemy. It was getting more complicated.
Another thing troubled him. They must be nearing the Lochfowk border. King Neirin’s men would have to stop there. They couldn’t cross the border. He tapped his medallion. “Nieke?”
She immediately responded. “Here Monomi.”
“Can you contact Adriaan and patch me through?”
“Yes Monomi.”
Donte moved off the trail, searching, as if he had lost the trail. When Nieke finally patched him through to Adriaan, he explained their situation. “Could you get permission from Commander Cadha on the Baigh for King Neirin and his men to cross the border into Lochfowk territory?”
“Let me try.”
In a few minutes Adriaan came back. “No go. She says an Anialwch militia is not to cross the border into Lochfowk without permission from Chait. I explained the situation and she said it was an issue for the colonists to settle in their own way. She said she felt certain you could handle it.”
Donte sighed. “Did you hear that, King Neirin?”
“I heard,” he said in an exasperated tone. "What’s your plan?”
Donte thought about it for a minute. “Paden and Dour, are you familiar with this trail?”
“I am," Dour said.
“Can the two of you circle around and try to come out ahead of them?”
“Yes Monomi.”
“I’m going to try to get the attention of the snipers. When you hear firing, get going as fast as you can.”
“Yes Monomi.”
Beier spoke. “I don’t like the sound of that, Donte.”
“Then get up here and help me.”
Within a few minutes, both Kenyon and Beier were at his side. Donte squatted and pointed at the ground. “Act like we’ve found something to make us back trail. Paden, Dour, get behind that stand of trees and get ready to move fast. Let me know when you’re in position.
When Paden said they were in position, Donte turned and started walking back down the trail, Kenyon and Beier on either side of him.
After a few minutes Donte felt the presence of a man moving toward them. He readied his laser weapon and waited until the man was almost within musket range before he turned, starting back up the trail. The man stopped and Donte moved toward him. When Donte looked at him, he was lifting his musket. Donte gave him time to aim, hoping he would sense the instant the man began pulling on the trigger. He did. As the man fired his musket, Donte dropped, rolled and fired his laser. The man fell.
Donte stood as both Beier and Kenyon raced to him. “That should bring them down.”
Beier grimaced. “That was a fool trick. What if you had misjudged his response?”
Kenyon gave Beier a wry smile. “Beier, aren’t you getting a little insubordinate? I thought you were ready for the fun and games.”
Beier looked at Kenyon and snorted. “I meant that I was ready to take risks, not Donte.”
Donte stepped off the trail and the two men followed him. He squatted. “They’ll be along in a minute.”
“How many?” Kenyon asked.
Donte shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.” He sensed King Neirin’s men coming up behind him before the enemy began to move toward them. When he could determine how many, he tapped his medallion. “Spread out. There are six of them and they’re moving this way fast.”
Soft Science Fiction
