Sergun's Mission Read online

  ‘My lady, no one has done any such wondrous thing for me in too long. Truly I’m grateful and in debt.’ It was no hyperbole; Jehran was in awe of her actions. She was full of surprises and if Cahir attempted to rescue him from such a place he might have killed one guard but would have alerted the others and been killed or flung into the same cell as Jehran. Cahir was brave and stupid but Sarish matched such bravery and had skills he wasn’t expecting to see in a woman.

  ‘You were tough in the woods when we were attacked. You haven’t disrespected me while I slept. Next time we need money let me arrange it.’

  ‘Agreed, you have a talent for organising it’s clear.’

  He was out of the habit of taking orders, but Sarish was a woman unlike any other. She’d saved his life three times already and not only did he feel in debt, he felt protected and liked her company. They agreed no more robberies otherwise the militia would not stop chasing them.

  He no longer saw dangling from the noose as a good route away from life. She like him was a survivor and carried within her a purpose beyond only living. She encouraged him to be positive and look forward to each day. Her confidence was inspiring. Eventually, he found work as a bodyguard which was tiresome and poorly paid (except when he saved his employer’s life), but it was honest and it meant he did not have to fear the militia or hangman. His employer wanted two bodyguards and laughed at the idea of having a female one so Sarish found work elsewhere in the town. His employer owned a gambling den and two shops. It was the gambling den which made him require a bodyguard. He waited for something exciting to happen each night but life had turned safe and boring. It would take a year to save enough to afford passage to the city where the Lord lived.

  Jehran thought more about Sarish. He was falling in love and could not find a way to say. He loved to see her as much as possible and worried terribly if she disappeared for too long. He loved watching her brush her hair and the way she gently ate the food she enjoyed the most such as aracne fruit, savouring each taste. The quick, effortless way she dressed in the morning and the small charm she kept which she touched for luck when the day was hard. He imagined being rescued by her and also scenarios in which he would rescue her, and she would love him. The greater he fell in love the less he was able to tell her. If she accepted and reciprocated then they would both be so happy. However, if she laughed or disappeared he would feel devastated. No other woman was going to be able to cheer him as Sarish could. He had not felt love during his time in the Army, lust was his all.

  He’d been in love before and married. Being a soldier ended that. Well, the war certainly did; he was away for three years and she was gone when he returned. His reputation preceded him and he couldn’t fault his wife for not wanting to be known as his any longer.

  His employer wasn’t happy he was leaving and tried persuasion, a small increase in pay and when these failed to impress he dismissed his bodyguard telling him he would find another one easily, younger and superior to him. Jehran was insulted but decided not to take offence as it was time to move on. With enough coins in his pocket to last him a week he left. Sarish waited for him with their horses at the north end of the town. She smiled at him and he mirrored her expression.

  ‘We’ve made progress here,’ she said.

  ‘Some,’ he agreed.

  ‘Come let us ride to another place and we can rest for a couple of days. Have good food and drink and plan what we will do on our next days.’

  He nodded and they rode away. He worked honestly for weeks but it did not make him feel better or purer. The excitement of the first days with Sarish had not been repeated. Two robbers tried their way with his employer but he scared them away without killing them.

  ‘Jehran are you upset? We can’t slaughter all the way to the City of Dreams, there’s only two of us.’

  ‘Slightly bored that’s all.’

  15. In Love

  They arrived at the next town at dusk. There was a choice of two hotels and Sarish selected the expensive one. They sat in the bar and waited for their food. Sarish arranged for their bags to be delivered to their rooms while Jehran waited downstairs. She’d changed from her riding gear into a black gown and her hair was down. A dark colour was around her eyes and her lips were painted. He couldn’t imagine who she was trying to impress. Their food arrived and they enjoyed it; grilled pork in many spices with roast vegetables. Wary of becoming drunk Jehran drank only a single glass of good wine. There were only two other couples eating in the bar and it was quiet. A sweet fruit pie and cream was their choice of dessert. His stomach satisfied if not his loins he relaxed. ‘The start of a short holiday,’ he said.

  ‘A good way to look at it,’ she replied. She leaned across the table and whispered. ‘I promised you three things after I saved you.’

  He hoped she wasn’t going to test his memory. He was glad when she continued, ‘I promised you your freedom and you’re free from jail, I promised you good food and drink, here we are and I promised you my loyalty for yours and I would repay it. Let’s go upstairs.’

  He was disappointed. It was too early for sleep and he had nothing to do in his room alone. He grabbed the bottle of wine and said to the barman, ‘add this to our tab.’

  The other couples looked complete and there were no single women to talk to. A lonely night with a bottle sounded the right way in the circumstances. He followed her up the stairs and as she disappeared to the right he looked to the left and said, ‘I need my key.’

  ‘No, this way,’ she replied. She opened a door and beckoned him inside which was unusual since they did not share rooms. Inside she locked the door, sat on the chair, and asked him to sit on the bed. The room was warm and smelt pleasant. Candles provided meagre light. It was evening and so the curtains were drawn.

  ‘Do you want a drink?’ he asked, showing her the bottle.

  She shook her head, smiled and said, ‘I trust you Jehran.’

  ‘That’s good, I feel the same.’

  She stared at the floor as if fascinated by her shoes or an insect, and rubbed her fingertips together. ‘I love you,’ she whispered.

  He was wise enough to reply in kind. He certainly felt affection for her, admiration and loyalty but she had not flirted with him and he thought her beyond such acts. He wasn’t ready to hurt her feelings, after all, she had done for him.

  ‘While you were working as a bodyguard, I managed to liberate a jewel from a rich lady for our noble cause. It’s worth more than you earned in those weeks.’ She said, pulling out a pale pink stoned ring.

  ‘Selling stolen jewels is dangerous and it means you will not get a good price.’

  ‘We will,’ she replied. ‘I’ll sell it in a good shop, wearing fine clothes, not as a thief.’

  He hoped it would work. ‘I made a few coins working my dull day job and helped myself to one purse,’ she said, opening her bag. She passed him the coin bag. Even without the jewel, they held enough to live on for a few weeks.

  ‘Soon we’ll have enough to take us on a ship to the City of Dreams.’

  ‘Why not by land?’ Jehran asked.

  ‘By ship, we bypass the Raiders, over land we would pass through their territory and though our skills are excellent against a group of them we wouldn’t stand a chance.’

  He nodded.

  She smiled slightly and said, ‘take off your clothes and I’ll run a bath. We both need to freshen up.’

  Feeling a little uncomfortable under her unwavering stare he stood up and did as she said. She beamed with delight and walked to the bathroom. He stripped to his trousers, hung his clothes over the chair, shrugged and removed his final clothing. He needed a bath and a shave and wondered what else the night had in store for them both.

  In the army, he became a master at quick intimacy with a woman he desired. Charm, his rank and gifts opened many a willing lady’s legs. The partnership between them as comrades meant he could not act in such a way and besides he was older, wiser and did not want to repeat
the mistakes of his past.

  She took off her gown with her back to him and surprised him by pulling out many pins from her hair. As she undid the pins and pulled her hair apart it grew and grew until the length was nearly to her waist. She stared at him with the sweetest smile and said, ‘brush it.’

  He in another life remembered brushing his mother’s hair and cautiously brushed the ends. He found long hair especially beautiful. Growing confident, he brushed harder and from the top of her head. ‘Not like that!’ She hissed.

  She showed him how to do it properly. It took a long time to finish her hair but he wanted to.

  ‘Good boy,’ she replied with a smile which was anything but sweet and innocent.

  Her back was brown and smooth. He remembered the last time he made love. She was a wench and he paid. She pulled her hair around to the front and turned around. He smiled.

  ‘Let us bathe first and then we’ll do something special.’

  They bathed in the same large tub. They held one another and made love taking time in a way he rarely had the confidence or control to when younger. He was older, less shy, more confident, kinder, and less selfish.

  They lay on the bed afterwards and fell asleep. When he awoke she was still unconscious and they were entwined. Her skin was hot and soft. The scarring went down her body as well stopping just below her hip. He did some terrible things as a soldier but was it as bad as that? Probably worse and he had not yet told her. Now wasn’t the time. There would never be a good time to tell her.

  ‘Sarish, I love you.’

  ‘I know.’

  He kissed her eyelids, her lips, ears, and neck. He kissed her in all the places he could think of and hearing her giggle and knowing she was experiencing pleasure as he was, felt like the most wonderful feeling of all. The love he now held for Sarish meant he wanted to end all their fighting and robberies. The mission she longed for part of him also longed for. But part of him argued and said she should forget about the man or pay someone else to kill him. He understood this was personal. The man scarred her for life, made her be insulted and scorned, though this never happened in his presence. He looked at her once and went to discuss it. Her response was a look of pure hatred and he understood his role in the mission was essential. Without his assistance in her goal, their partnership was over. Her desire for revenge had come before their love and to find the man and kill him was he believed the only way to end it.

  Their target lived in the City of Dreams. It was a famous, wealthy city on the shores of the eastern ocean, independent from Tharne. He might have gone there with a happy feeling of exploration, of finding a person to rob or enjoying the fresh air and fresh seafood and hotels. Instead, he was going to go there in the company of a woman he loved to find a rich man with bodyguards and to attempt to kill him. Then they would try to get away safely. Kill one wealthy man and a few bodyguards, how hard could that possibly be?

  16. The City of Dreams

  They invited Jersa and Joluna to sit with them while they ate. Sergun was again struck by Jersa’s beauty, wearing a fur across her chest meant her shoulders and throat was bare and her skin was pale and pure.

  ‘What brings you to these lands? We’re both very pleased you came but know it wasn’t for us you fought!’ Jersa said, grinning.

  ‘My lady if I’d known of your presence I’d have risked my life to save you,’ Kall replied.

  ‘That’s nice to hear. I love men fighting for me!’

  ‘We came to these lands to rescue a girl. We were told she was taken by the Keratha, but a Raider took her. Slavery of your own kind wasn’t as popular as now, was it?’

  Jersa chewed on her meat, wiped her mouth and explained, ‘males are more highly valued than us, slavery has long been in our tribes but it’s true the Keratha were not interested in so many humans before.’

  ‘Perhaps it’s fashionable for the Keratha leaders to have many slaves or there’s not enough of their kind to perform all tasks?’ suggested Kall.

  ‘Perhaps,’ Sergun said. ‘I’m glad we’re far from their lands and I hope never to see one again.’

  ‘It was a mighty fight. I didn’t expect you to defeat the Keratha warrior,’ Jersa said.

  ‘Thanks! I’m glad no one from our side needed to die to placate them. What will you do in Tharne?’

  ‘Sir, I hope I can get work, perhaps tending animals, cooking or cleaning. I’ve not had much good fortune but perhaps Tharne will welcome me.’

  Sergun winced, knowing the unsavoury work the poor often found themselves pushed into. ‘If you wait in Northtown for us I might be able to find a trustworthy man you could work for.’

  Joluna smiled.

  ‘I’ll make sure no one abuses her,’ Jersa said, protectively wrapping an arm around her friend’s shoulder.

  They sent Jersa and her companion along with two trustworthy men south the next day. They detected no signs of recent Raider tracks on the southern route to Tharne. She thanked Sergun and Kall for their hospitality

  ‘Just imagine what I could have done with her, even just for a few nights,’ Kall said.

  ‘I’d rather not thanks might put me off my supper!’ said Sergun.

  In the morning a yellow sun cast a thin haze over the city. It was a welcoming sight. The city was famed for its good food, peaceful ways, and charming women. The strong brown walls were an imposing defence. A few buildings roofs were visible from outside, but the place appeared still. They approached from the southern side which meant crossing the river gate. There were soldiers guarding.

  They had sighted the City of Dreams from a distance. Though the walls were not as impressive as those of the cities of the Gods it was the only visible human construction on such a scale they’d seen since leaving Edge City. It was surrounded by walls on all four sides though the walls to the eastern side were not as tall or strong as they opened to the bay and sea. The city was allied with three others and the four cities remained neutral in the last war. Its sister city on the continent was three day’s ride to the north situated on a large island just offshore. There was limited trade between the cities and Tharne, primarily in luxuries.

  They rode into the small town outside the walls before midday and saw the first intact stone buildings up close since they left Edge City; a small temple, Inns and many houses. It told Sergun the locals did not fear Raiders which surprised him. The ground was fertile and the place was also a port. It felt a relief to Sergun to have arrived without the loss of any additional comrades. Jannesse was somewhere in there. How to find one girl in so large a place? They would have to find a way. He was chosen firstly because of his history with the Keratha but when given a task he would work at achieving the goal until he succeeded. Kall and Captain Terrill would help him come up with a way of finding her if her name wasn’t recorded.

  At the lower southern gate to the City of Dreams were four militiamen. The northern gate was the most dangerous since the Raiders often came via that route. The lower southern was quieter but paying attention was the militia’s job when guarding the gates and walls. The militiaman was thinking of a girl who had just walked by from gathering flowers outside and how to get his money back gambling tonight. He glanced out from his cubby hole and was surprised to see many riders approaching the walls. His heart beat faster. He called to his sergeant, a gruff, big man.

  When they reached the gate the guards removed their swords from their scabbards and sounded the alarm. Sergun dismounted and spoke as gently as he could. ‘We’re a small force incapable of harming your city; we’re no enemies of yours. We’ve been hunting Raiders who kidnapped two of our girls. Now we seek to rest.’

  He explained they were officers of the Tharne army and all were under their leadership and to harm citizens of the city would be criminal. Their government would not permit such actions. The crossing gate was sealed while the guards sought advice. To the right of the main gate was a heavy door through which only a single person could pass. Through the door came an immac
ulately attired officer as intransigent as a strong wall. He would only permit Kall and Sergun to enter with their swords. All other weapons would have to be left outside. He would permit two of their men to enter the city at a time as well without any weapons, while the rest would have to camp well outside the gates. If there was any trouble from any of the men all would be accountable and expelled. ‘I assure you the safety of all within our fair city is important and you will find the chances of being attacked if you behave well non-existent,’ the officer proudly said.

  The fact that Galls were not welcome upset Sergun and he longed to put his sword through the person who made the rule. The realisation that nearly all their men and weapons were not permitted was going to make their task more difficult than he first thought. Even if they were able to find where Lord Arconis lived and kept his slaves without getting themselves arrested by the local militia.

  Sergun explained to Grer and

  Captain Terrill they would work as quickly as they could to find the location of the girl. Grer said he would wait until called which pleased Sergun.

  As the four men walked through the gate Sergun felt depressed. Sergeant Dules was a good soldier and trooper Reaf too; he was shorter than the sergeant and had short black hair, an oval face, dark eyes, and a scar on his neck. The quality of the two men accompanying them wasn’t in doubt but they had left most of their men behind and weaponry. They were in a city unknown to them and a long way from home. What if they couldn’t find Jannesse? He wasn’t an investigator, his skills were fighting and organising soldiers, yet he could not now turn around and go home. He wondered how hard it might be to find a single female slave in the city? Their handguns were left outside the walls with their troops. Their aim was a stealth mission and firing guns would not aid their cause.

  The scent of the city was of oranges and other fresh fruit. The sun which had been hidden by the city walls was a large yellow ball of pale fire. The entrance wasn’t as chaotic as Edge City nor as deserted as the Keratha capital. As they passed along the stone street they saw the larger buildings which came into view. It looked a prosperous place. Sergun was both surprised and impressed as the finest city he knew was the Tharne capital and this looked as wealthy yet cleaner and less populated.