Novel 3. The Last Autumn

On the road, the Lady Mary, tall, thin and albino-looking because of her snow-white skin and blond hair, approached Armando. The guardswoman leaned towards Armando, holding the reins with one hand and placing the other on the saddlebows, and asked:

— How are you feeling, don?

— Better, — replied de Gorazzo.

— I'm about... physical well-being.

— I have a headache. And my heart is aching, — the don admitted after a brief hesitation. Lady Maria, open, sincere, and good-natured, was the only Imperial for whom Armando had any sympathy. Except for the ghost of her sister Jana, of course. Maria was also really good at medicine.

— That's fine. — The lady nodded gravely. — I'll brew something for you tonight. Drink it before you go to bed, okay? It'll make you feel better.

— Would I wake up in the middle of the night if something happened? — De Gorazzo grinned sadly.

— Don't worry, you'll wake up. — The girl's answering smile seemed faint, inexpressive, but Armando still thought that Maria was very beautiful. And that the blue Guard uniform should suit her better than the black mercenary jacket. That was a good sign. If his thoughts were beginning to revolve around women, then Don de Gorazzo was becoming the same old self. As a warm-up, Armando tried to imagine the pale lady in a dress. Or one undershirt. Or no undershirt. It worked quite well...

The day's journey was shorter than usual. Captain Valria ordered to make camp as soon as the sun touched the horizon. Gathering her companions around the fire, the elfess seated them in a circle, then stood to her full height and walked back and forth. Coughing into her fist, she said:

— We all did a good job back at the fortress. I'm not the only one, as usual — everyone did a good job.

Master Carlon gave a deliberately loud snort. The sharp-eared girl ignored him just as defiantly. She put her hands behind her back and continued:

— The operation against the aliens was paid for in advance by the Duchy of Elvart's treasury, and the "Bright Heads" Company is entitled to additional rewards for success. But Lady Maria, for example, is not a member of the company. Maybe she'll be honoured separately, I don't know. The Duchess didn't say. Anyway, I've decided to honour the squad myself.

— Will you pay double your wages? — the magician suggested.

— No way! — The elfess lifted her chin. — Money is boring. It comes and goes. We need something memorable. First, I wanted to promote everyone. Make Dallan a company lieutenant, Green a sergeant, the rest corporals. Make Maria an honorary sergeant, no pay, but no obligation.

— But? — The mage squinted.

— But that would be having to memorise new addresses! — The captain shrugged. — I'm used to Dallan being a sergeant and Green being a corporal. I'm going to get confused in combat. No, I've got a better idea.

She knelt down in front of the plump saddlebag that was her seat, unzipped the flap. She took out a cloth bundle, unfolded it. Smiling ear to ear, she said:

— Here you go.

— What is it, Lady Valria? — Maria asked with polite curiosity.

On a shabby rag were several light discs the size of the palm of my hand. Each disc had an eyelet through which a scarlet thread was threaded. It looked as if the discs were meant to be worn around the neck.

— They are medals for saving the world, — Valria explained, still smiling. — One for each of them. This one, the biggest one, is mine. The others are the same. Take whichever one looks at whom.

— Are they... wooden? — Master Carlon took one of the medals, held it up to his eyes.

— Yeah. But see how each one has a notch in the centre? You could put a diamond or other gem in there and make the medal really precious. I've also included the option of a gold wire pattern around the edge.

— So you made them yourself? — Armando asked incredulously. He, too, took the medal from the rag and examined it properly in the scarlet sunset light. The smooth wooden roundel was covered with surprisingly fine carvings. The centre of the medal was an image of crossed swords, and the edge was covered with an intricate vegetal ornament that resembled intertwined vines of grapes. On the reverse side was a stylised image of a smiling face wearing a hat and with a long elf ears. De Gorazzo shuddered, involuntarily thinking of Vittoria. Well, no, the captain couldn't have known her way of signing, it was just a coincidence. Besides, the face was carved on all the medals.

— No, I bought it at the shop on the way. — Valria twitched her ears irritably. — Of course I did. I've been working two nights in secret while everyone else was sleeping instead of sleeping myself.

— I didn't know you could... create things, — master Carlon said with a strange intonation, clearly unable to take his eyes off the wood in his palm. — Excellent work, especially if you just carved it with a knife.

— My father is a woodcarver, and not one of the worst. — The girl's voice had a familiar note of smugness in it. She squinted her eyes and lowered her ears like a satisfied cat. — I spent the first fifty years of my life with him. It's the elf's custom — a child lives with one parent for half a century, half a century with the other, learns the professions of both. Then he chooses one or learns a third. I chose my mum's way, but my hands remember.

— I just can't get used to the idea that you have a creative side to you, — the mage grinned, tucking the medal into his pocket. The rest of the squad took the roundels apart as well. Sergeant Dallan put one around the neck of Corporal Green, who didn't seem to understand what was going on. — I thought you only knew how to break things.

— Well, I like to break more, — contrary to the usual, did not take offence at the magician's teasing Valria. — Well, the solemn part is over. Now let's have a quick dinner and I'll be on my way.

— Where to? — the mage frowned.

— Get back. I want to make sure we're not being followed. I'll check the direction to the alien base on the plain first. We're dangerously close to it, and the outsiders know about the attack. I have no idea what their search capabilities are. But I suspect it's extensive. Then I'll look from the gorge. It's unlikely the fortress garrison will be able to reach us now, but it's a long shot...

— You've been on a scouting trip by yourself recently, — the silent Dallan suddenly intervened in the conversation. The sergeant walked over to the elf, taking her hand. — No more. I'm with you.

— I'm sorry, but I'm still the captain. — Valria said the words very softly, almost affectionately. — No one in the squadron has my experience, not even Carlon. Any companion would just be a nuisance. Just... if anything, save me again. Deal?

The sergeant pressed her lips tightly together, but said nothing. Letting go of Valria's palm, she nodded.

— You're in charge. — The elf looked at the black-bearded mage. — Move west as usual, I'll catch up with you during the day. If I'm delayed, don't wait. When you reach the river on the Erdo border, cross it at once.

But the captain did not have to catch up with the troop. The girl burst into the camp at dawn, driving her Snowflake at a gallop. She dismounted in front of the campfire and threw the reins to Maria, who was standing on the watch. She put her palms to her lips and bellowed, panting:

— Wake up! Alert!

Armando stumbled out of the tent without jacket or boots, clutching his sword in hand. He turned his head round, his mind stiff from sleep. The only other people around were company members, equally agitated and half-dressed, except for the guards.

— There's an armed detachment a few hours away, — the elf said, still catching her breath. She spoke in chopped-up sentences, gulping for air. — I saw their camp. A dozen and a half men. And dogs. Went round in a circle, checked the tracks. They're coming from the direction of the alien base. Not exactly behind us, but in the same direction. I couldn't get a close look at the camp, the dogs got in the way.

— Do you think the dogs picked up the trail on the way out of the gorge? — The mage standing next to Armando was hurriedly fastening the hooks of his jacket.

— I don't think so, — the pointy-eared girl shook her head. — Putting dogs after someone isn't as easy as people think. And anyway, I've peppered our tracks. It's just logical to assume we'll be heading for the river crossings, so that's where they're going. Maybe there are other units on other routes. I didn't expect them to react so quickly, or I would have checked sooner.

— Why would they come after us? — De Gorazzo lowered his grandfather's sword, unsure of what to do with it — the scabbard had been left in the tent. — Just to avenge the portal?

— A lot of why. — Master Carlon looked at the Don as if he were an idiot. — To interrogate — who we are, how we found out about the portal, who we're cooperating with, who sent us... The outsiders don't know yet that the Empire has unearthed part of their plans.

— Yes, that's right. — Armando squeezed his eyes shut and patted his cheek. The herbal infusion Lady Maria had brewed for him before bed had been very strong — despite girls promises, the don was still not fully awake. — I'm sorry.

— It was important to get to the river first. — The golden-haired elf took a deep breath, finally calming her breathing. Her ears perked up. — We have a half-day head start, tops. I've seen packhorses in the camp, and they can keep up the pace as well as we can. Once we cross, we'll slow down. We'll clean up our tracks there, too. Not before. Now, we leave at once. Don't worry about camouflage. Speed comes first.

They turned camp and trotted at a trot, occasionally cantering. Valria let Snowflake rest on the spare horse. The elfess herself kept looking up, searching the sky for something. Armando thought that the captain was afraid of alien flying machines, like the one Charcoal had died fighting. It soon became clear that he was only partly guessing.

— Maria, have you read a lot of books, have you read any about animals? — Valria asked out of the blue, turning to the pale girl riding beside her.

— Of course. — The white-skinned lady looked at the elf with slight surprise. — Both about real and mythical beasts....

— Then tell me, are there any birds that can soar all day without moving their wings?

— Yeah. Northern albatrosses, for example. They nest on islands and all along the coast.

— Anything else?

— Well... — the girl guard covered her eyes, remembering. — A desert condor. It lives far beyond the southern steppes.

— Are there any around here? — the captain continued to inquire.

— No. I don't think so.

— And I couldn't remember any too. — Velria pulled on the reins and dismounted. She took out her rifle from the leather case behind her saddle, added powder to the shelf in two movements, lit the wick from her waistband. She raised the gun, took aim as if at the clouds...

— Bang, — the gun rumbled, spitting out a plume of flame and a column of white powder smoke. Elf lowered the weapon, waved her palm in front of her face to disperse the smoke. She grinned:

— Gotcha.

Only now did Armando see the black dot falling. It flickered against the cloudy sky and disappeared from sight, touching the ground far to his right. Valria jabbed her finger at it:

— Come on, let's take a closer look.

— What about the rush? — Master Carlon asked the captain.

— It's important, — the girl didn't explain anything. But her tone was so serious that the mage refrained from asking any more questions. The group changed course. Ten minutes later they saw Valria's "prey". The big brown bird was lying on its belly with its right wing stretched out to its full length. The left wing was only a stumpy stump, probably torn off by a rifle bullet close to the torso. It took Armando a few moments to realise that the bird was not real. The dark plumage had been painted over the smooth matt body, the beak was a crude imitation, and a piece of metal frame protruded from the wing stump.

— Did you know? — Sergeant Dallan asked briefly as the squad stopped at a respectful distance from the bird.

— No. — Valria slowly shook her chin. — I was just thinking back at the fortress — aliens have flying machines. Our necromancers use reanimated birds for scouting, so maybe the aliens have a mechanical analogue? I've been watching the sky all the way, and yesterday I spotted a strange bird. It flew a few times in the distance, and today it circled above us all day. It never flapped its wings once. So I thought I'd take the sin out of it...

— It looks like a kite, — said master Carlon. — In the south, they were flown by wealthy families on festive occasions. In the form of birds, dragons, ...

— It's a spy, — the elf interrupted him. — It didn't attack us, so it was watching us. Yesterday it flew over the plain, and today spotted our squad and tailed us. Now its masters know what crossing we have chosen. It's too late to change plans, other ferries and bridges are too far away. All we can do is pick up the pace.

— Shall we examine the trophy? — Lady Maria suggested it. — Perhaps I'll realise something...

— Screw it. — Valria slapped herself on the thigh. — Stay away. Maybe it's exploding...

Changing horses, the party reached the ferry crossing before sunset, and there was no one waiting for the fugitives. They must have been ahead of the pursuit. The group crossed the river, glancing warily at the darkening sky, and rode away from the shore in the fading twilight. It was then that Valria declared that she and Armando must return. Because she had a plan to maximise the head start by delaying their pursuers across the river. Maister Carlon and Sergeant Dallan looked at each other and sighed heavily. But they didn't argue or ask for details.

Left alone with de Gorazzo, the elfess winked at him, playfully inquiring:

— Don, are you good with a carpenter's drill...?

Chapter 3

The cloaked figure waved at them from the edge of a small grove, and Valria, who was travelling first, raised her palm in greeting. A couple of minutes later, the former royal bailiff and the elven woman rode into the company's camp, tucked among the trees. A cauldron hung over the fire in a freshly dug pit, but the water was not yet boiling. Corporal Green took the reins from them, hissing contentedly from beneath his deep hood. He was always glad when he saw Valria after a separation, even a short one. It was as if he feared that the girl would one day run away. In fact, as de Gorazzo had noticed, the lizard-man was almost more attached to his captain than the green-eyed Dallan.

— I love you, too. — The elfess patted the lizard on the shoulder and, smiling, walked past. Asked: — What's for dinner?