Sergun's Mission Read online

  ‘We believe they came over the mountains. If they found a way across that’s dangerous for us all.’

  ‘I’m sure the government will send troops where need be.’

  ‘I’m sure they will sire. We prosper and normally feel safe.’

  It was tempting to spend a night and rest in the afternoon in the town but he knew he would find inns further along his route. The sooner he arrived in Edge City the greater time there would be to plan the next move. Hersh didn’t have the same stamina as a horse and he was able to travel faster.

  He didn’t want to sleep on the ground if there was a tavern nearby. The village was called Far End and it was approaching nightfall as he arrived. All he wanted was to eat some hot food and sleep in a bed. As he approached he saw the gentle blue lights of crystals which lit it at night. The crystals were mined in the Blue Mountains far in the south of Tharne. There were only two tall buildings: one was sure to be the temple, the other he hoped was the tavern.

  He found the stable lad and handed the reins to him. He told the boy to take good care of the horse for an extra reward the following day. The tavern was far from full unlike good city drinking places and conscious of the weaponry he carried Sergun strode up to the bar and smiled and ordered a beer and food. He sat with his back to the wall not far from the counter and looked around. He didn’t desire local company. It wasn’t lit well inside and he was unable to make out the faces of any of the others in the room at first except for the bar lady.

  She bought over hot chicken soup and half a loaf of bread with a pint of beer. He thanked her and asked for a room for the night and she told him there would be one available. The soup was good with plenty of seasoning, the beer calmed him in such a small quantity but too much made him vicious. He wanted an apple tea for his final drink and though it wasn’t as good as at home it was drinkable. A cake filled him up nicely and the lady called out when he said he would like to see the room. A young girl slightly older than the stable boy came to see him. She made eye contact for a moment and looked at the ground like he was a horrific sight.

  ‘I’ll show you the room sir,’ she said.

  He picked up his pack and followed her up the narrow stairs. She wore a long brown skirt so the only flesh he visible was her pale ankles.

  They turned right and along a narrow dark corridor and she opened the door for him and went inside. She knelt next to the bed and lit a candle. He put his pack by the end of the bed and said the room looked suitable.

  ‘The candles are free sir.’

  Her face was pretty with long straight dark hair, freckled cheeks with a wide nose. Her eyes were blue and her lips were small and pink. She smelt good. He tipped her a coin, she thanked him and left the room smiling. She reminded him of Leryal from home, the daughter of their maid Athena. He pulled down the wooden bar. He took out two knives and placed one beside the bed and the other under his pillow. He checked the window, lifted up the covers and used the light from the candle to check how clean the sheets were. He was happy to find they were fresh.

  He slept well and voices outside finally awoke him. The shouted words were not he realised coming from outside the door but the window and as he peered out he saw a small market. His back and body felt rested by sleeping in the bed and his stomach experienced no illness from the food. It was a good start to the day. In a couple of day’s travel, he would arrive in the biggest town before the effective end of the Kingdom. He wondered how many men would be travelling with him to the Keratha capital and when he remembered where he was going he was glad he hadn’t dreamt of them.

  He asked the landlady to pack some food and paid her. He gave another coin to the young serving girl and she was delighted and beamed shyly at him before running away. He gave an extra coin to the stable boy after checking Valiant was cared for. The boy was happy and thanked him respectfully. The sun was up and it was pleasant enough for him to roll up his jacket sleeves. He avoided the market as much as he was able and led his horse on foot to the far side of the town before he mounted. The path was quiet with fields of winter crops. It was a peaceful journey and the fields reminded him of home. Leaving his wife while she was with child wasn’t a good feeling. Their servants were sure to care for her and the mission was unavoidable.

  Light rain fell, and he put a hat on. As evening approached there was no sign of the rain lessening so he found shelter under some trees a short distance from the path. Tying Valiant to a tree, he sat on his blanket and eventually slept.

  He awoke unexpectedly to voices and a crack of branches. It was dark, no moonlight was visible. He tensed and reached for his sword. Slowly and silently he withdrew it from its scabbard and made no other movement. It was many years since he’d used his sword in combat. The sound of the voices grew nearer. Noisy fools. At least two of them. Did they want his horse, his possessions or his life? Was it the Raiders he’d heard of? His eyes were now accustomed to the darkness.

  It happened fast. Valiant stirred. As Sergun stood he struck forward with his sword at half power and cut the closest attacker’s sword arm. He dropped his weapon and yelled. He avoided the second man’s lunge and sliced into his leg. He fell. Sergun stabbed his armpit, his attacker dropped his sword and yelled.

  He disarmed, tied them and left them injured but alive. They were not worthy of being killed. They were local ruffians not Raiders. His years of fighting and training made his encounter easy enough.

  He stayed the next night in a tavern, not wanting his sleep interrupted by rogues. In the morning he roused the stable master and intended to stop only once before he arrived in Edge City. The northernmost city of Tharne was a formidable defensive point at the northwestern edge of the lands; The great river which it bordered wasn’t fordable in any place close by; to the east lay an abundance of treacherous swamps where swamp lions and hot fever flies lived in abundance while to the west mountains grew into impassable giants. The militia defended the city but there were also several regiments of government infantry. The great walls were visible from over ten kilometres away and were as impressive as the capitals. He stopped once to let Valiant and him drink and to eat the food the girl gave him: it was an incredibly sweet pastry which tasted as though a whole bag of sugar was crushed into it. He passed more carts and wagons the closer he got to the city since he had passed the main track to the capital.

  The militiaman who guarded the gates looked like he had just come from a parade; he wore a clean grey uniform, a shining metal helmet, and a sword. ‘Get down from your horse,’ he ordered as he signalled to the guard post.

  Sergun dismounted and kept his hand away from his sword. The young militiaman appeared half his age. ‘I come on government authority if I might show you my pendant.’

  A senior armour-clad man stepped out of the guard post and repeated the words, ‘government authority?’

  He appeared to be eating a late breakfast or an early lunch.

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘Now sir. You have military weapons and it’s not allowed.’

  ‘I’m here on Minister Thorne’s authority. Perhaps you should see the pendant?’

  The older man whose hand was still on his sword hilt stepped forward but stood far enough away he felt safe. The man peered and asked Sergun to take it off.

  ‘Looks genuine enough. We should have been told to expect you, don’t get many men out of uniform carrying such weapons. Former soldier, are you sir?’

  ‘I was once a soldier.’

  ‘Will there be any action here then? What unit did you fight in?’

  ‘Just a few troops and I will be travelling for a talk. I was in the army for over fifteen years of service. I led the First Division when I fought in the Deep East War.’

  ‘Oh,’ the man replied. ‘It explains why you carry a lot of tools for talking Sir. General Sergun.’ He stood up straight, saluted and smiled.

  ‘Well,’ Sergun saluted back. ‘Sometimes talking doesn’t work and we need to try another way.’


  The sergeant grinned. ‘That’s right sire. Talking’s good for women but nothing settles an argument better than a good sword or spear.’

  ‘I won’t argue with you.’ Sergun said as he got back onto Valiant.

  ‘A good fight to you sir.’

  ‘A good day to you both,’ Sergun said as he nodded to the men and passed between the gates.

  3. Edge City

  He was surprised at the number of people inside the gates. Militiamen in their grey uniforms but families, traders, and people in so many different colours and types of clothing. He’d grown used to his quiet farm and life. He enjoyed the few days of peace travelling to the city and now it was time to meet his fellow travellers and to face going not only into the Keratha territory but their capital. He shuddered. Some people still didn’t like the Galls but Sergun would rather go to their territory unarmed than accompany a regiment of armed men into the alien's territory.

  He bought a hot meat pasty from a vendor as he walked his horse to the government buildings, and avoided the other offers coming to his ears. Not all were pleasant. The city had grown since his last visit; there were many civilians present and fewer soldiers. He remembered the wide avenue and walked towards it. It wasn’t as open as it once was, and now there were many stalls. He had not been to Edge City in years since his wife preferred to visit the capital.

  He understood why people flocked to the cities after the poor village he stayed in; the choice of shops and places to live, the feeling of security and safety from so many people being close by, the variety of trades available, and knowing the army and militia were close by helped. Many of the taller stone buildings were impressive. The city also had a sewage system and clean running water. There was little chance of Raiders entering and if they somehow managed to they would be killed soon after. The smell of different foods cooking and various herbs excited his appetite and filled his head with many ideas of what to eat. The pasty helped but he was still hungry.

  There was a cosmopolitan mix of clothing styles among the peoples of the city, southerners in their colourful robes and distinctive accents, male adepts in sombre dark outfits, wealthy easterners in their elaborately decorated cloaks, and more sturdy Galls than he had seen in years, not all in military uniforms. He took his time walking. Many women and girls wore prettier dresses than his wife and he pictured her wearing many of them. No women flirted with him, he realised his beard wasn’t in fashion and knew he appeared a little worn. His clothes were those of a traveller and not fashionable in the city. The richer ladies out on the streets were looking for someone less rough than him. He realised he looked like a mercenary with his weapons and large horse. He laughed at the impression he was giving and headed for the Minister’s Palace.

  The Minister’s Palace was a walk which took him deeper into the city. Down a long straight road, there was the mighty far wall beyond which lay in one direction the Keratha and the other the Raiders’ lands; neither were friends of Tharne. The gates to the palace were guarded by six well dressed and armed soldiers in black trousers and purple tunics who looked alert and well-presented than the militia on the first gate. He showed them his pendant and told them he was expected. They knew of his arrival and saluted him. He saluted though he wasn’t in uniform. He walked to the stables first, the master greeted him and stroked Valiant. Sergun took his equipment and aimed for the entrance. He knew he shouldn’t creep via the kitchens so strode to the front door of the officer’s quarters which was guarded by more uniformed men. They challenged him but without aggression. He slowly showed them his pendant of authority and told them he was expected.

  A civilian dressed in fine clothing greeted him. He was slender and his attire looked brand new. His face looked as though it had been polished. He stared at Sergun and showed distress at his rough attire. ‘Sir, can I help you?’

  ‘Yes, I hope you have a very good room for me and lots of good food to eat.’

  ‘Why.. of course. Who are you, Sire?’

  ‘I’m Sergun Arash, former General of the First Division. I am expected by Minister Thorne.’

  ‘Here?’

  ‘Yes, or are you to be the one who halts my mission?’

  ‘Of course not sire,” the man said, consulting a piece of paper. ‘Travelling on horseback is a rough way to reach here. It’s understandable you’re tired. Welcome to Edge City officer’s garrison.’

  The man called to a male servant who smiled at Sergun and said he would show him to his room. There was a staircase so wide a wagon would fit. The hallways were huge and the walls were covered in paintings. It was impressive but he had no wish to live in such a place.

  ‘By all the Gods! It is you!’ An officer shouted.

  He walked fast. The man was dressed in a General’s formal uniform of blue tunic and trousers with black boots. Six white lines, three on each shoulder signified his high rank. His clothing was immaculate. There was a long sword in a scabbard attached to his belt. His face was overweight as was his body, but he appeared powerful. His eyes were blue, his hair short and black and he was pale skinned. He was happy to see Sergun.

  Sergun wondered who he was. The man looked confident and was only slightly shorter than him.

  The man saluted. ‘Habit! It’s a great honour to see you again sir. You were among the finest fighters and leaders ever in our history.’

  Sergun was proud to hear such words and didn’t want to hurt the man’s pride. ‘I served with so many fine men. My memory of those times is not precise.’

  The man looked hurt but only for a second and then beamed. ‘I was Captain Kall who served under your command at the battles of Veras, the fields of blood and the last year of the wonderful Deep East campaign. The best moments of my fighting career.’

  ‘Of course and now you’re General Kall! Congratulations.’

  He did remember him and he hadn’t particularly impressed him at the time; reliable, a good man like many but talked too much. He’d put on weight since the war ended. Sergun was nevertheless glad to see an old comrade still alive and in good health.

  ‘You’ve travelled here by yourself?’

  ‘My faithful a-dog accompanied me for the first two days, but it was so dead I sent him home. Apart from people trying to sell me things at markets, I’ve had a peaceful ride.’

  ‘Edge City stands closest to the Keratha monsters and the lands of the Raiders yet apart from drunks and robbers, there’s no trouble here. The walls of this city and the depth of the river facing our enemy make it the safest place outside of the capital.’

  General Kall escorted Sergun further inside the grand building and when the servant returned to show Sergun to his room Kall asked him to meet him down in the bar when he was ready.

  He washed and dressed in his most respectable clothes – black trousers and a white shirt with a purple waistcoat. He left his weapons in the room and descended. The staircase was he decided wide enough for four horses to ride up side by side. He asked a servant where the bar was and found General Kall talking to another officer. He ordered a drink of apple juice.

  The bar was unlike any except in a wealthy area of a city or person’s home; it was lushly carpeted, warm and immaculately clean, stocked with many different alcohols from across the kingdom and beyond, even the tables and chairs made Sergun think his own crudely made. He walked to where Kall sat as he was the only person he recognised. He was invited to sit down and Kall said, ‘I was told an important man was coming along with us but I had no idea it was going to be you! I’m very glad.’

  He introduced Sergun to the other man at the table; he was major Dertal. He excused himself.

  ‘They kept it a secret?’

  Kall whispered. ‘This mission is a secret. I know where we are going but not why. Sir, do you know why you were chosen?’

  Sergun whispered, ‘I’ve a history with the err.. people we’re going to visit. They should remember me. Call me Sergun.’

  ‘Apart from a limited trade, I didn’t realise
our military had been involved with the ‘people.’ Kall said as he smiled and looked curious. ‘Please call me Kall.’

  ‘Kall, it was a mission to ensure the Keratha didn’t interfere in the Deep East War. If they attacked our lands while our armies were there it would have been disastrous.’

  ‘You kept this a good secret.’

  Sergun nodded. He winced at the memories.

  ‘You’ve been a farmer and they asked you to come back to the army?’

  ‘Not a farmer all the time; huntsman, father, and husband as well. I’ve kept with my training.’

  ‘You haven’t missed much, battle wise,’ Kall said. ‘Most of what we’ve done the militia should have handled. The Raiders don’t threaten us. Training is usually the most challenging of our times.’

  Sergun suspected it might happen after the war but the truth was he had enough of killing. He hardened his heart during the war but there was a limit to what he could endure.

  Kall explained how the army had weakened in numbers over the years but improved skills with larger guns. He was excited to visit the Keratha lands but would prefer to fight them. He admitted to feeling fear at going to their capital but Sergun confessed he felt the same.

  Sergun made the most of hot running water and took a bath. He realised it might be his last for many days. He decided not to shave his face since it would be colder the further north they travelled. The hot water from taps was a luxury his home did not have. He took good meals while at the mansion eating food which wasn’t available at his home. There was freshwater fish and seafood available in Edge City. He checked his horse was being taken care of and was happy with Valiant’s treatment.

  Sat in the bar the following afternoon Kall said, ‘we’re going away for a few days. Maybe the girl won’t be at their capital. We might have to travel far. Senior officers have access to a brothel. You’ll be able to choose anyone you like and it’s free.’

  ‘It’s a generous offer but my wife made me promise to be faithful.’