Dawn (8 page)

“
And the only people who have done something that outrageous before,” interjected Owen, “was the Fechner Gang.”

Dawn hung on every word, both curious and scared. She was at the doorway as she had neither been dismissed nor invited in, so she chose to bide her time and learn what she could!

“
The Kulpgurie were very clear: if the Fechner Gang was ever released from prison for any reason, we were to be told immediately!” The mayor was more than a little excitable.

“
The Kulpgurie are efficient and expedient if nothing else,” her father began. “The problem is, if they were released, or had escaped, the first person that would have been told would have been our late ambassador Helen.”

The mayor grimaced at the obvious break in the information chain, “Ouch! Okay, I’ll have to inquire immediately through our other channels.”

“
Dawn?” called Llewellyn.

Dawn jumped, startled at being called. She had hoped she hadn’t been noticed and could just remain a fly on the wall. “Yes, Dad?”

“
When you were being held, one of them said they had been paid by someone named Eric?”

Dawn suddenly realized she intentionally had not been dismissed, but was a firsthand witness to more than just the animal attack, “‘Eric and his silly gang,’ I do believe were the exact words.”

The Mayor and Owen both visibly cringed; there was more than just a little fear in their eyes.

“
That would be consistent with Eric Fechner and his gang. Out for revenge from fifteen years ago,” began Llewellyn. “I had assumed, or maybe it was just wishful thinking, that when we decimated the terrorists’ base that Eric was among them.”

“
No IDs done after the rescue?” Owen asked somewhat surprised.

Llewellyn frowned, “We were a little too thorough I guess. There were all eighteen of us High Silvers, my little brother and a hundred other Silvers, and then the Shukurae brought almost two hundred of their best warriors. Between the normal actions, various parties’ love of thermobaric weapons and our own Forest Wall, it was quite a mess. We weren’t all that level-headed at the time I do confess.”

Owen nodded, understanding the level of anger that Llewellyn must have been feeling during Dawn’s rescue.

Dawn was shocked. She had no idea so many people were party to the raid. And the Shukurae, those massive but most honorable warriors, they had come to help as well. The bond between them and the Highlanders must be quite strong. Forest Wall. That was the forest that burst through the floors and walls as they escaped. She
had
to find out more about that!

“
That brings us to the point at hand,” Owen said. “We don’t know if he is alive and free, and while it’s
possible
that there is someone else named Eric with a vendetta, we need to know quickly as possible. This is all too strong a coincidence for me.”

“
I’ll have an answer from the Kulpgurie in 48 hours,” the Mayor declared.

“
An odd option is a sympathy or copycat group,” offered Owen. “I’ll have my men start digging.”

“
Gentleman,” began the Mayor formally, “let me make this clear. I trust you both immensely; you are free to use any and all means necessary. Do what needs to be done, just keep me appraised as often as things change. As a point of protocol, this order stands for one month.”

Dawn was a little shocked. The mayor pretty much gave them a free rein to handle any situation with as much force as they saw fit on their own prerogative. Things were definitely getting serious.

“
With that then, I believe we are done here. And I’m going back to bed,” said Llewellyn.

Owen let a small chortle out, “Well you do look like someone put your tail in a wringer. How bad was it? I still cannot believe you gated there and back with a passenger.”

Llewellyn smiled as he patted Dawn on the shoulder, “I don’t think I’ve felt worse in ten years, but it was worth it.”

Dawn smiled back at her father. She had no idea what he’d gone through for her, she was just glad for it. “Are you going to be healthy enough for practice in town tomorrow?”

He grinned, “Of course! You’re not getting out of going that easily.”

Sure enough, the next day Dawn found herself back in town and sitting on a fence railing while the boys practiced their swordsmanship. It was a bright day but still quite cool; summer was still some weeks away and the mountain breeze was both fresh and comfortable. May sat beside her and absentmindedly plucked away on a mandolin.

“
You know,” began May, “if you ever want to learn to use Live Steel or even just a normal sword, Llewellyn would be tickled pink to teach you.”

Dawn had never even thought about, “Learn swordsmanship? That’s seems… odd.”

“
April and I learned from him. He’s quite a good instructor and it is a lot of fun. Think of it as father-daughter bonding or something.”

“
You can do Live Steel, too?” Dawn’s curiosity was piqued.

“
Yes, indeed. Not near as well as he, but few are!” began May. “We thought it would be a fun way to meet boys. That turned out different than planned!” May grinned, “Hey look, your little friend is up!”

Dawn turned to watch and sure enough the same boy as before was back. A quick exchange between Llewellyn and the boy set the tempo for things to come and the practice bout quickly turned into a dexterous display of basic sword form as well as wide ranging travel and foot work.

“
Notice that Llewellyn is keeping his back to us. That means he is keeping
you
in the boy’s field of view,” smirked May.

She was right, of course. Just about every time things got out of line, Llewellyn would go out of his way to reorient the fight just as May had described.

“
Check that out,” May beamed, “He’s a Silver. When he gets flushed the color of his fur ripples!”

May was right again. Just as she said, the boy’s beautiful lynx like coat would shimmer in hue or darkness when the exchange became especially aggressive. Llewellyn slowed his movement to an incredibly slow rate as he lowered to the beckoning
fool guard.
Well named as a defensive position, its low angled posture implied an easy shot to the torso where none actually existed. His pupil responded by going to a high guard and both slowed to a crawl making only simple feints. Suddenly Llewellyn rushed in a blinding exchange. The first attack was masterfully parried, the second too. Well, it would have been perfect if it hadn’t been for his wooden practice sword choosing that moment to break in half. Acting oblivious to the student’s broken weapon, Llewellyn continued the press while the other back-pedaled. In two short steps, Llewellyn would be all over him! Wide-eyed the student returned to a high guard and as he did so, the handle to his wooden sword disappeared and was replaced in a flash of blue light with a Live Steel blade.

Llewellyn broke off the engagement and laughed mightily while the student dismissed his blade and collapsed to the ground panting for air. Llewellyn patted him on the shoulder, “Good job! When everything fell apart you still kept yourself safe, even if it was a little unorthodox. There is a jug of water over by the fence. Get yourself a drink; you’ve had a good day.”

Dawn rolled her eyes.
That was dirty pool,
she thought. The jug of drinking water was just below where she was sitting.

The boy removed his helmet and approached the fence. He was handsome with the black ticks breaking up his fur. The tops of his ears were black as well, and he had long cheek tufts evenly framing his face. He smiled sheepishly as he walked up, “I saw you last time. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk to you then.”

Dawn smiled nervously back, “I remember that. I messed you up and you got hit on the head. Sorry about that.”

“
That was my own fault.” He looked at the ground searching for words, “I just hadn’t seen you around before. Just that time early in the week and then in passing at the book store.”

“
I just moved in a little more than a week ago.”

“
Ask him his name already,” May mumbled under her breath.

The pair looked away from each other nervously.

“
My name is Gavin,” he offered.

Gavin

“
I’m Dawn,” she returned nervously.

“
Dawn, um, would you like to go grab a coffee or something?”

Dawn was caught off-guard by the question and said the first thing that came to mind, “I don’t drink coffee.”

May desperately tried to fight back a snicker.

I’m such an idiot!
Dawn thought in the awkward pause that followed. “Well, um, I need to go.”

“
Okay… well, maybe I’ll catch you at the bookstore sometime,” he started to turn away.

“
Gavin? Um, would you like to play a game of bocce?” Dawn offered.

Gavin brightened, “That’s like bowls, isn’t it? There is a bowling green on the north side of town. I’m supposed go with Fiona to the market tomorrow morning, so how about after lunch?”

Dawn nodded, slowly starting to relax.
Who was Fiona? Was that the girl hanging off his arm earlier?

“
Young sir,” asked May, “are you going to be at the dance tonight? I understand just about everyone will be there.”

Oh, Dawn was furious with May! Why couldn’t she just stay out of it!

Gavin nodded, “Yes, April, er, May… Yes, ma’am.”

“
Then we all hope to see you there.”

Gavin nodded again and flashed a sincere smile to Dawn as he headed back out to the field.

“
Thanks a lot!” Dawn growled.

“
Oh, you’ll thank me later. No worries there,” May laughed evilly.

“
You knew him already? He mostly knew you…”

“
I know him in passing. We grew up here after all.”

“
I’m not even sure I know how to dance,” she groused.

May brightened again, “Then we know what you will be practicing this afternoon!”

Was there no escape?

The great market hall had been transformed for the night’s festivities. The long canvas roof offered shelter from the elements, but no such protection was needed tonight. It was a bright clear night with a small chill in the air, but the mood more than made up for the mountain air. Mantled oiled lamps alternating with the pure white synthetic glow panels bathed the room with a festive glow. Food and drinks were laid out on long benches to the side for those taking a break or just choosing the sidelines, while the center of the hall was filled with the ebb and flow of dancers enjoying the night away.

April and May stood on a small platform at one end of the hall playing to the eager crowd. Lute and violin gave way to nyckelharpa and mandolin as the songs changed to suit the dancers’ whims. Once again, the strange girl Gwen came and went. Often joining the twins to play a song, she would just wander off as soon as the song was over.

Dawn got swept up into a few of the longer formal dances. Four lines of ladies formed with a single line of males in the middle. Short a few spots, many other younger girls joined to fill in the empty spaces, and Dawn soon found herself having fun in spite of herself. But fun or not, dancing could be a serious work out, and she soon retired to the benches at the far side and enjoyed a fresh drink.

“
One round of Trenchmore by twos and then all the singles for the Ghillie’s Lament,” called one of the twins, too far away for Dawn to tell which. The crowd cheered at the plan, but Dawn was quite happy to stay out of it. Last thing she wanted to do was get drafted into a singles’ dance!