Aura (25 page)

Aura rose and gave him a hug.  "I want you to know how grateful I am for your help.  I doubt if I could have ever come to this conclusion on my own."
"Take these beads with you my child and when you have doubts, or need guidance, use them.  Thorn shall show you how.  Be strong my daughter, you travel in the light of God, it is not easy to follow in his path without sometimes becoming blinded by the brightness.” 
Aura thanked the priest one more time then left.  After she was gone he turned to the cross in the room, and laying a hand on it, he spoke aloud, not sure if he spoke to himself or the icon.
"I can only begin to wonder at the strength of faith which the man she speaks of must have, to believe in what this woman has told me.  Being only human as well, I can only wonder if her telling me this story is a test of my own faith.  If it is I hope I am right, for I believe with all my heart that if you have granted this, then it is so."  He walked to the door of the room and added.  "I have never thought of the personal soul of man as a half of a complete entity, with the other half belonging to a specific woman.  Was that what we were being told when it was written that woman was made from the rib of a man?"
“Was God telling us that this meant her soul was a part of his?”  If that were so, the Priest sighed sadly in his thoughtfulness, there were many souls out there searching for their other half, only to be doomed to disappointment.  The soul would know what it searched for, but the body would not and people of this age did not have the faith it took to believe.
With this thought in mind the priest decided he would dedicate the rest of his life to researching the questions his meeting with Aura had brought to his attention.  He feared the conclusions he might come up with, but if a mere girl could have faith enough to believe, considering that she had no religious background to fall back on, why should he question?
Perhaps she was but a ray of that light that he had spoken of earlier and the one meant to guide him.  He would pray for guidance and the strength it would need to face this challenge, but later.  For right now he was tired and needed a little nap.

Two miles from where they had started Vernon's retreating force narrowly missed being discovered by the second part of the advancing enemy.
  The force was headed for what they thought should have been a battlefront and would have been, if Thorn had not talked Vernon into a brief retreat.  Thorn had ridden, with a handful of his captains, ahead of the retreating army and had seen the enemy leading his forces.  The man in charge was due for a very big disappointment.  The fighting he had hoped to join did not exist.  After seeing them Thorn felt a lot better about his chances.  He could now begin to make battle plans.  He spurred his horse to rejoin Vernon for a conference.
Vernon was in no mood to talk to his warlord.  He was on what he considered a forced retreat and he felt Thorn was to blame for it.  He noticed Thorn riding fast towards him and growled as Thorn reigned in, to take his place by his side.
"Any other bright ideas Thorn?"  Vernon snarled.
"We have sighted the other half of their forces, their leader rides with them.  He is somewhat recognizable, being a blond giant of a man."  Thorn reported.
"Really?  Have you managed to draw council from him so we know what to do next?"  Vernon openly accused from sheer temper.
"I think you better clarify that comment, Vernon."  Thorn spoke in dangerously clipped tones.  The coldness of his voice warned of the volatility of the anger beneath the calm surface.  He did not deserve Vernon’s ire. 
"Do you need it spelled out Thorn?"  Vernon sneered.  "Every time you ride off, you come back with more news of the enemy.  How much of a coincidence is this?  Is this our enemy Thorn?  Or is he mine alone?"
Thorn took a deep controlling breath before answering.  "If he was not my enemy, I would not be riding next to you.  I would ride beside him."  Thorn wheeled his horse around, getting ready to leave.  He feared what might happen if he continued to stay to hear many more insults.  Vernon was not the only man whose control was hanging by a thread.
The insulting bastard, Vernon thought to himself, how dared he ride from me without permission.  He felt a need to bring Thorn back into line.  It would feel good to take the man down a peg or two.  Thorn was taking too much on himself, assuming too much power.  For he was the Duke.  He was the leader.  He would show Thorn who held the power.
"Go to him Thorn, I need the backing of loyal men.  Not words from one such as you."  Vernon's voice taunted the retreating figure.
A murmur went through the crowd of men.  None could believe Vernon stupid enough to accuse Thorn of treason.  It went beyond anything they believed possible, and they knew their leader was wrong.  Vernon had no subject more loyal than Thorn.  The last thing that was needed at this time, within the striking force of a massive enemy army, was a dispute between the two most powerful leaders of their legion.
Vernon immediately regretted his hasty words, spoken in the heat of the moment.  He would be dammed, however, if he would take them back. 
Thorn continued to ride away from Vernon and his army.  Edwin rode at his side, and their men at arms followed.  He had been unjustly accused of treason and he refused to fight for any man who would believe him capable of such a deed.  It did not matter if it meant that he might lose his own lands in battle.  What mattered was that Vernon was one of his best friends, his Duke and his ally.  Friends did not impugn your honor, and they did not curse your name.  There were things a man could forgive and forget, things that mattered less than pride.  This was not one of them.  These were words of war.  They were words that destroyed the very foundations of all they had built their relationship on.
Vernon watched Thorn's army as they gathered to follow their Lord and he saw red.  How dared the man desert him when they were facing an enemy?  How dare he ride off and leave without a second glance?  He was the Duke.  He was the ruler here, not Thorn.
"Traitor!"  Vernon's voice rang with rage, as he gave voice to the insulting accusation he had more than hinted at earlier.  Thorn continued to ride, ignoring Vernon’s scream of outrage.  Vernon drew his sword and ordered his remaining army to attack the deserting forces.  They refused.  They would rather face the wrath of their own leader than attack the Lord Thorn’s army.  The men who rode with the Lord Thorn were known for their fighting skills.  No one doubted who the winner would be.
Vernon was beside himself with rage and he gave a yell of extreme frustration.  He dug his spurs into his warhorse’s sides and they thundered through his men, straight for Thorn, who turned just in time to meet his attack.  Thorn disarmed the fuming Duke in short order, knocking him off of his horse and onto the ground.  Vernon lay on the half frozen soil and yelled up at Thorn.
"Why do you hesitate?  Finish it, you could rule it all."
"I know," Thorn answered bluntly.  "I do not want your title, I never have.  I will never fight you again Vernon.  We have a common enemy.  We can face him together or you can stand alone, the decision is yours."
Vernon closed his eyes in silent surrender, as all the fight seemed to go out of him.  He then admitted.  "I know you never betrayed me Thorn.  I am; however, a desperate man, especially after seeing how my own men react to you.  You of all people should be able to understand what I mean."
"I know and I am no happier about it than you are." Thorn brushed the matter aside, allowing Vernon to save face.  “Now that we have settled that I suggest we get down to work.  We know where they are, and we are wasting time.  They are moving towards what is supposed to be a battlefront.  I suggest we follow them and give them a fight they will never forget.  They will be disoriented, wondering where they lost us and what went wrong with their carefully laid out plans.  They will not be ready for us.  We will rest for the night then attack in the morning, they will not expect it."
"Well, in that case, if you will give me a hand up we will leave.  You were the one that said we were wasting time unless I am mistaken."  Vernon tossed Thorn a grin.
Thorn leaned over and offered Vernon his hand.  Vernon took it and the massive cheers of the combined forces resounded over the area.  Minutes later they were following the trail of the enemy.  They would not fight today, as the troops would be able to fight better when they were fresh, but at least they were unified once more.  This day was almost over and to keep their location secret, they decided there would be no fires built in the night.  Any food eaten would be done so cold.  Thorn doubted if there would be very many men who would get much sleep.  They would either be on watch, planning the upcoming day, or too nervous.
Vernon joined Thorn at his campsite and sat close to him after they settled.  "Would you really have left me alone to fight these forces Thorn?"  It was a question that bothered him.
Thorn looked at his friend for a moment, deciding if he should tell him the truth then decided it was for the best. 
"Vernon, I would have let you lose the battle, if not the whole war.  If you had lost I would have pledged allegiance to the new rule.  The country needs peace Vernon.  The lands are empty and the graves full.  We need time to raise our families and repopulate the land.  We have lost too many men to war."
 
"Why do we not just walk over to this man's army and offer them land then?  It is what they have come for."  Vernon sniffed in sarcasm then added.  "Thorn, I do believe you are getting soft."
"Really?  Did it feel like that a while back Vernon?"  Thorn asked as he smiled back at his Duke. 
"No," he replied with a grim frown.  "It certainly did not, but honestly Thorn, you cannot be serious about what you have just said."
"I can and I am."  Thorn admitted. 
"In that case, what do you think of the man we are about to face in battle?  What have you heard about him?"
"His name is Sillgrim and his men seek a home.  A place to plant their crops, and no Vernon, I do not believe he would be satisfied to live under your rule the way he is.  His men believe him to be a man amongst men, a gift from their Gods.  Anyone would be hard pressed to keep him in line with that kind of reputation.  Unless you beat him in battle first, he will never serve.  He would always be a danger.  First, you have to show him his place, show him that he is no better or worse than the next man.  Above all, you need to show him that here, you rule."
"Teaching him that lesson is something you could do."  Vernon stated, giving Thorn credit he felt he deserved.  Thorn, he reasoned, would have no trouble keeping the man in line.
"Just what are you getting at Vernon?"  Thorn was half afraid he knew what Vernon was thinking.  He hoped he was wrong.
"The lands to the North and South of you lay barren for no other reason that there is no Lord to oversee their development.  The land is capable of supporting crops and people."
"I am not so sure I like the idea of living surrounded by an army of men whose sole reason for being here in the first place is to take our homes and land."  Thorn frowned.  Vernon had voiced the thoughts Thorn had feared.  Vernon might be the ruler who gifted the position, but Thorn was the hammer he would use to make sure those he placed under his care would stay there.
"Suppose we teach them who rules here first then we can offer the survivors land in a gesture of good will.  Maybe then we can live in peace for a while.  In the meantime, I will go to pray for the return of your wife.  You have no idea what an asset Aura can be on the battlefield.  I would have lost twice the men I did last year if she would not have been there.  We miss her."
Thorn sighed and murmured.  "Yes, Vernon, we definitely do miss her."
Thorn, in many ways, was quite surprised at just how much he still thought of Aura.  His feelings for his wife were as strong as they had ever been.   He had wondered once, if she never returned, whether he might have found her absence easier to deal with.  He actually found it was getting harder.
He curled up in his blanket on the hard ground and reminisced.  It had not been much more than a mile or so from where he had seen Aura for the first time.  He smiled fondly as he remembered how she had been.  She had surprised him with her openness and honesty, and had captivated him right from the start.  All he needed to do was to close his eyes and she would come to life before him.  Those memories were all he had for the moment and would have to sustain him.
Thorn could see her in memory, as she sat by the fire combing her hair.  He remembered the feel of that hair against his skin.  He loved how it would wind about him like silken cloth as they lay together.  He stopped his musing, forcing his mind back to the present.  This was no time to return in thought to what had been, not when tomorrow there was a battle to fight.
Wolf had padded off from his master's side earlier.  He had felt a shift in the air and knew with an unerring instinct what it was.  Aura had returned.  She had come home and she was close by.  The wolf was confused over what he should do with his discovery.  She had left him to Thorn's care and he had a new master who needed him.  Aura would have told him to go back to Thorn.  The wolf knew and understood that.  He also felt he should find a way to tell Thorn that she had returned.  Thorn, however, was preoccupied with other matters.  The wolf threw his head up and howled his indecision to the world.  It was not only mankind who had choices that needed to be made.
The decision was made for the wolf as Thorn heard his howl and gave a quick and sharp whistle for him to return to his side.  The wolf never hesitated as he raced to his master's side.  He would try to make the man understand.
Thorn only laughed at the wolf as he ran into the camp, giving off excited little yips and doing all sorts of stunts to get him to follow his lead.  He patted Wolf on the head and told him to settle down and to go to sleep.  Thorn then crawled into his own blankets and followed his own advice.  The wolf lay down beside him, setting his nose on his master's arm and sighed with a heavy heart as he did what he had been told. 
At the first signs of the breaking of dawn Thorn was up.  His orders were the first thing other members of the camp heard.  He had them prepare, in as silent a way as possible for the fight, before forming a battle line.  As the sun peeped over the horizon they attacked.
The first part of the battle was over very quickly.  Enemy soldiers scrambled for their weapons.  They were still half asleep when Thorn’s forces swooped down on them.  The waking enemy was quickly cut-down by the advancing forces under Vernon’s command.  Thorn led the second wave of the attack.  Vernon’s forces came at the encampment from the East and South.  Thorn and Edwin led their men out of the North and West.  They gave no warning that they were coming, no mercy to the enemy, when they roared into the battle screaming the name of their leaders.
The enemy forces were stunned, but it did not stop them from forming a defense and setting up a counter attack.  The leader bellowed orders at his fighting forces as he jumped onto his warhorse to join the battle.  He fought with an axe in one hand and a sword in the other, slashing and stabbing as he moved.  He used no shield to impede his attack.  His focus was centered on what he was doing, which was causing as much destruction as possible. 
Thorn had never seen anyone cause as much carnage as the man they called Sillgrim.  Nothing seemed to stop him.  No wonder his men had thought of him as they had.  Thorn gave a roaring battle cry and turned his stallion to head him off.  Someone had to stop him or they could still lose this battle.  Sillgrim screamed at Thorn as he answered his challenge.  Wolf ran at the side of his master’s warhorse, defending them both against anyone who dared to get close.  The three warriors charged and clashed. 
Recognizing a warrior of equal, if not superior strength and ability, Sillgrim struck at Thorn with his axe first.  It was his greatest weapon, the one he had the most effect with.  It struck Thorn’s shield with enough force to shatter bone and stuck solid in the Oak barrier.  Sillgrim had not expected that, but he knew enough to let it go as Thorn swung his sword at his arm.  It was either let go or lose the arm.  He went to swing his sword in defense and the wolf jumped to sink his teeth into the jugular of his horse.