Ch. 6

 

6

In the market the narrow street was crowded to near bursting and having a group of three in the center of it all, unmoving as they were, was only causing more pushing and impolite remarks.

The sole woman of the group stiffened as the two men stared, dumb struck. If she had known she would be examined so closely she’d have gone on her own. Alas, as it was too late, she stood her ground and spoke to wake them from their shock.

“Is it so shocking to see a woman do something besides sit at the hearth side?” Gwendolyn chewed the inside of her cheek, “Don’t answer that, I know it is. Perhaps you’ll come to know that I am not wholly normal.” After enduring her own nerves and their silence of the men long enough she lost what patience she had, “Speak when you’re spoken to or leave. Either would be preferable to this silence.”

The one she’s come to know as Vincent Carroway woke suddenly from his untimely trance, “Beg your pardon, just surprised is all. I doubt this is news to you but the public was told Lady Rosalyn was an only child.”

“Yes, even I, who had known her in our younger years, never heard of any sister.” The other she remembered as Maxwell, his shock seemed to fade away slower.

“You knew me, or at least I knew you. When I was born my parents were told I would be an unnatural child. Instead of killing me as instructed they had me raised by field servants. I knew both of you by sight as well as name but I was much too lowly for you to waste your precious time with. You are the famed Maxwell Aili.”

“You’re full of surprises. This man here…” Max made to introduce Spinner but Gwendolyn cut him off.

“Vincent Carroway, or so I heard.”

“Actually, Spinner is preferable.”

“There, we’re all properly introduced, may I return to what I was saying? I used to watch you and Rosalyn playing. I knew she was my sister but I had sworn myself to secrecy. I remained a servant and kept a protective eye on Rosalyn as all older sisters should.”

Max’s eyes grew wide as a memory was recalled, “You’re the one who saved her form drowning.”

“I am. I also saved her from a drunken boy’s sword.” The scar seemed to gleam at the slight mention of an ordeal long ago. “Perhaps you remember the night, Maxwell, I’m sure it scared your memory as it did my face.” Gwendolyn’s voice had grown hard and foreboding hinting at rage long past but not forgotten.

Spinner began to look around uncomfortably, “I just remembered there’s something I must do at headquarters. Until later Max and lovely meeting you Lady Gwendolyn.”

“Please, call me Gwen.”

Spinner bowed his head with a smile, “Gwen,” and left at a quick pace.

Max’s eyes grew cold, “Bringing that up around me friend was uncalled for. It’s not a memory I wish to bring back from the dead.”

“Dear Maxwell, my most sincere apologies. I had not meant to cause any harm.” Gwen bowed deeply, sarcasm pouring out of her every word and move, “Please, let us walk so I may show my shamed face to all. It is the very least I could do.”

Max was confused by Gwen’s sudden return from long ago memories but he walked with her to a more secluded area. After their quick reopening of wounds better left as scars they remained silent until Max’s guilty conscience was too unbearable to ignore.

“I hadn’t meant to do any harm, I didn’t know alcohol could control me like that.”

“Yet you did and instead of her gaining a lovely scar to remember you by I did.” Gwen sighed deeply, “For a long time I wanted to repay you with an equal gift but soon I forgave you despite my sinful desires. Besides, I had other things to worry over.” They sat down on the edge of an elegant fountain inside the rich man’s quarter.

“I recall you saying you were born an unnatural child.”

“Mhm, I’m what is called Song.”

“Song?”

“It is something best left only described to one man and you are not he.” When Gwen had first noticed the signs of unnaturalness and had questioned the local wise woman about her predicament she left her home, surprisingly with a group of highly religious and helpful mercenaries.

They had known a man once who had taken in a woman also requesting to have the knowledge of weapon use and, after hearing Gwen’s problem, they decided to take her to him for lessons.

At first Lex, the man they had taken Gwen to, refused to teach her anything except her proper place as a woman but her relentless badgering and stubborn refusal to go away made him decide to teach her. But only on one condition would he teach her, she had to sing every night a group of mercenaries stopped by so they would have proper entertainment.

She agreed without a thought, for she sang every night just to keep herself occupied, and they began her lessons the following morning. At first she was weak, slow and lacked any skill except for archery with a small bow but she persisted, gaining strength, speed and skill out of sheer determination.

Gwendolyn stayed with Lex and his wife for three years learning whatever he could teach her. When mercenaries did stop she would sing songs of victory, winning beautiful ladies and drinking until the morning sun cleared the tallest trees. She became well known throughout the mercenary world for her voice and the almost sure victory, beautiful ladies and much ale that came after she sang to them and they began to go out of their way to hear her.

After she would sing she would go to any empty chair and sit with the men, talking and drinking right alongside them. By the end of her three years she had her own chair among the highest table of the most highly respected mercenaries and although she did not take up the mercenary flag she did become one of them.

When the silence had gone on long enough to play against Max’s patience he said whatever was on his mind, “Be glad you weren’t taught magic. I’ve found it to be, if anything, life changing.” Max’s eyebrows creased, “I would have liked to avoid the change.”

“What, don’t like being on the throne? Wait, don’t answer that, I know why. Too much responsibility, leaving no room to roam from woman’s room to woman’s room,” the bitterness in Gwen’s voice struck some cord in Max that had either just come into existence or had lain dormant is whole life.

“I may be sitting on that damned throne but what power is it you think I hold? The tyrant of a High Mage has kept me from any sort of influence since the day I propelled him across the room! The only thing I have concerned myself with it the finding and saving of Rosalyn. It was my fault she was taken by that damnable man and now I find out she had broken free and remained just out of his grasp for two years. But how much longer can she last? I have to find her, as he told me to and as I have felt I must do. It is my duty, I love the woman.”

If Gwen was touched in any way by Max’s outburst she showed nothing but contempt, “You last saw her when she was six, what could you know of love? The only kind of woman you could manage to love is a w***e and that’s only when you’re f*****g the poor disease ridden sod. Don’t preach to me about love, you know nothing of it. All you know is your tower of wealth.”

“You two bicker like cross lovers.” Having been only a couple inches apart, getting closer to emphasize every point they thought they had, Gwen and Max had taken no notice of Spinner’s return.

“Spinner,” Max stepped quickly away from Gwen with one last glare, “When did you get here?”

“Not very long ago, I came back to get you. Apparently some urgent thing or another needs your attention.”

“The High Mage took all your power, eh?”

“Gwendolyn,” Spinner interrupted Max’s retaliation, “could you meet us at the gate around midday tomorrow? Make sure you as much as possible. You do have a horse, right?”

“I do, but…”

“Great, until tomorrow,” Spinner grabbed Max’s arm and hauled him away.

“…But which gate?” She rolled her eyes then wandered off.

By the following morning Gwen had her belongings packed, gear bought and ready to go but where to go was still a mystery. She went to the head quarters of the King’s Guard, knowing she had better clear up the misunderstanding soon, and asked the first man she saw for Spinner. He looked her up and down then shrugged, “Right this way, Ma’am.”

Headquarters was a miniature city about one third the size of the whole city taking its place on the far side furthest from the main gate.

The locals often chose the topic of the headquarters’ placement when unfavorable circumstances riled the common man into speaking its mind. It was not the hierocracy that made the city, town or land but the people, so is it not the people who would need the protection from the best the army could offer? The most important thing to a king should be his people not his own skin so the King’s Guard to represent that by guarding that which is most important to their ruler. But, as most royal and noble think, they believe themselves to be the most deserving so they reserve those considered the best for themselves and let the people squabble for a meager chance of survival.

“Sir, there’s someone here to see you if you’ve the time.” Spinner looked over his shoulder and a look of shock flashed across his face as Gwen brushed past the escort, scowling at no one and everyone for the stupidity of proper procedure.

“Lady Gwendolyn, I hadn’t known you were coming. Thank you Soldier that will be all.” The young soldier saluted briskly then turned on his heel to leave. “I do remember saying we’d meet you outside the gate at midday.”

“Yes well, there is more than one gate into this city.”

“’The gate’ generally means the main gate.”

“I’m not from around here, excuse me if my lingo isn’t up to par with the locals.”

“Ah, my apologies. Why didn’t you ask yesterday?”

“You were in a bit of a hurry. Couldn’t have said ‘good bye’ if I wanted to.”

At this Spinner slightly flushed but recovered himself quickly. “Well, it’s the main gate. Do you have everything ready?” She simply gave him a look of annoyance. “I thought you would, only making sure.” Spinner’s eyes traveled around the room trying to avoid Gwen’s arched eyebrow and caught sight of the map he had been studying before she had come.

“I’m working on planning the best route to take where Lady Rosalyn had last been seen along with her male companion Neil. Max told me his name, how he knows I have no idea.” He looked out the corner of his eye to find Gwen standing next to him, her arms crossed beneath her breasts, studying the map.

“Where was she last seen?” Pointing to a small patch of woodland just outside the King’s furthest and last province Spinner watched what sort of reaction she might have.

To his surprise it was only a deeper scowl but her voice remained steady, “So if she was last seen here,” Gwen placed her finger where Spinner’s had been moments before, “I’m certain this is where she’s going.” Her finger slid over the map to a point on the wall because the map didn’t reach far enough.

“I’ve got an idea of where you mean but I don’t understand why you would think that.”

“Two things.” Gwen walked away from Spinner and sat on the desk kitty corner from where she had been. “One, when Rosalyn was born a wise woman had said she would be, ‘The creator of a truce that was not before the Fall.’ Naturally it’s safe to assume she meant the Gamic race and their mingling with Sin.” She stopped and stared at Spinner’s confused expression, “Didn’t you study history of the Gamic in school?”

“I was only in school for a couple of weeks. I could sit still by my own order but on someone else’s? Nix.”

Gwen closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. After a moment of thought she waved a hand to dismiss the subject. “Another time I can give a lesson. The second thing that brought me to my conclusion is the man she travels with. The name ‘Neil,’ I believe, is a cover name. I have reason to believe he is none other than the legendary Beau.”

“Wait one moment, you’re saying the infamous Beau is traveling with Lady Rosalyn and they’re going to the Wing’s Chapel?” Spinner shook his head, “They are only running from the High Mage. The man is Neil, a simple woodsman who happened upon Lady Rosalyn on her way to the High Mage. There’s enough mysticism in this, we don’t need to add more.”

“Believe me or not, it’s still the most likely destination. If I have to go alone I will, you can go wherever you damn well please.”

“Perhaps we should send for Max, he can break the tie.”

“Very well. If he thinks I’m right, three people will start out on the right foot. If he thinks you’re right, one person starts out on the right foot.”

“You’re more stubborn than a mule.”

“I’ve lived this long, I’ve come to trust myself.”