Wine of the Gods 08: Dark Lady (11 page)

Kurt choked.
"Swords are pretty useless in really tight spaces like that. I, umm, one knifed, one pickaxed, one kicked in the head. I have not the faintest idea if they lived or died."

Liz and the lady snickered.

Liz chewed a tender chunk of lamb and frowned. "It seems like they'd try fire first—make us use up our water fighting it, and then . . . what could they do to the river?"

"
Either dam it, up stream somewhere, or dump a bunch of cow and sheep carcasses into it. Maybe both, depending on how successful their damming operations are."

The l
ady rubbed her head. "That sounds bad."

"
We have one advantage over them, and that is you, Lady December. We need you strong enough to make a corridor to somewhere upstream, so we can attack their engineers."

"
Ah. Yes." She polished off the greens. "And with that goal in mind, I'll seek my bed early. Goodnight, Kurt, Liz."

And then she was all alone with Kurt. Well, alone at a table in a room crammed with people having dinner. His eyes flicked around the room, and he sighed.
"I'd run away with you somewhere, but then they'd really talk." His head came up and she followed his gaze. He stood respectfully, "Mr. Richover, Mayor Kline, would you join us?"

The Mayor frowned at her a little dubiously, but Mr. Richover smiled.
"I suppose under the circumstances asking if you've kept up your studies would be silly. It's good to see you again, in any case, Liz."

"
Thank you." She knitted her brows. "Goodness I didn't even think about church last Sunday."

He chuckled.
"The rocks crashing about our heads rather messed up all of our schedules, not to mention sleep. And this Lady of yours was taking all your attention, from what I've heard. The assassin was never caught?"

Kurt shook his head.
"No. And considering the number of witnesses who saw him, I think he must have had a way over or under the wall."

Mayor Kline scowled.
"We're doing well enough now. That ploy with the Dark Lady was brilliant, Prince Kurt. It has the whole town bucked up. But they're going to try an all out assault sooner or later."

Kurt
leaned on his elbows, trying to project calm and competence. "I talked to Master Byrne and Master Gaston. They've gotten every warm body possible and are training them to fight, to shoot a bow, or make arrows. But it's going to be a near thing. My messengers were sent off two weeks ago. We may get help at any time—if Vista can send troops."

"
If the Arbolians aren't blocking the roads, laying ambushes and so on."

"
Yes. There is always that problem." Kurt shrugged. "At the moment, the longer the standoff lasts, the better for us. So we'll be acting against these sappers, maybe a few raids on their rear guard, just so they don't start thinking about concentrating everyone on the wall, but we won't push. We'll wait, and hope for relief."

Mr. Richover stirred.
"I know this is a bad time to bring up the question, but . . . what sort of being is this Lady December Quicksilver?" His eyes sought Liz.

"
She is the sort of being that cares about people, that formed a fast loyalty to this town when it treated her fairly and with welcome, despite her oddities. She will work herself to exhaustion for us, fight for us, heal us . . . she cares about people. Her theology was formed elsewhere, but I would suggest that what is needed is education not judgment."

"
But she is very powerful."

"
Yes."

"
And she worships other gods."

"
No. There are people she calls gods, but she says it is just the name they use, that they are not the Creator. She does not worship them." Liz scuffed her feet. "She may well be one of these very powerful magic users. If so, I understand how they could be called gods—lower case. Perhaps what we need is a different word to use."

Mr. Richover nodded.
"I'll think on that."

Tuesday, March 17, 3493
AD

Jeramtown, Arrival

The Arbolians had moved the t
rebuchets when they abandoned their assault on the south gate. One was now east of town, the other north. When their crews started winding them down, the watch sent a message to both militia and guards. When they started wrapping rocks in tarred rags, the messages flew again.

It was getting dark, which would further confuse fire fighting.

Liz brought both horses around. She might not be much help, but she was determined that December was not going to be alone.

The lady dressed in her dark suit and mounted P
hantom. "I promise I won't overdo. I'll let Phantom do the leg work."

Liz rode Moxie, and loaded her saddle bags with wine and ba
ndages. Moxie pranced like a horse half her age, but settled quickly.

The trebuchets fired as the sun set. The lady raised a hand and pointed at the flaming rock as it fell. The fire flickered out, but the rock still fell.

"Too far away," the lady muttered.

Liz bit her lip. They'd been out all day, showing people how to seal their children in safely while they fought fires, but Liz rather thought most of the people were going be on the inside when they sealed them up.

"How about arrows? If they fire flaming arrows, you won't be able to get hardly any of them, will you?"

"
A mass volley wouldn't be too hard to cool. Let's move north. Did the other trebuchet fire?"

They craned around but didn't see any smoke. A hundred sparks flew over the wall, and the lady made a brushing motion. The sparks died.

"Hurry. I missed a lot that were behind buildings, that I couldn't see." Phantom trotted down Cooper's street to Main. And they could see smoke starting to rise in several places. The lady galloped for the nearest, and spread a hand toward the flames spreading and growing in the thatch roof, as if trying to conceal the sight from herself. The flames sank, winked out. The smoke blew away and only blackened reeds were left.

The Phantom trotted for the next spot of smoke, and the lady again cooled the flames with just a gesture of her hand. At the fourth fire, the lady was leaning on the saddle bow and gasping.

"December, stop. You aren't up to this." Liz swung off Moxie. And stopped indignantly as December started giggling.

S
he half fell off the horse and sat to pull off her boots. "I'm not channeling very well, I'm getting drunk on power." She put her bare feet on the ground and sighed in relief. "Better. Goodness. Usually I can channel from horseback." She wavered over to a raised porch and climbed it to mount Phantom. Liz grabbed her boots and crammed them into her saddle bags.

The fires were spreading, but by dismounting at each one the lady was able to
do this channeling she spoke of. Toward the end of the smoky night, they were walking, with the horses following. Moxie spooked a bit at the fires but stuck to Phantom's side.

The A
rbolians stopped firing at dawn, and in the early light Liz could see the singed and charred town. "Nothing's burning any more, M'lady.
Please
will you mount? You should eat and rest."

December wobbl
ed back to the horse. "All right. We've survived this much." Phantom knelt for her. "Hey! Who taught you
that
? It looks bloody silly, if you ask me." The horse rose with a snort, and they headed straight for the tavern. There the slate roof and stone walls were untouched, and Quail was throwing a temper tantrum.

"
She wants her own mother," Lucy handed her over in relief. "Strong willed little girl, there."

"
There now, Mommy's all dirty and she's going to get ashes and smut and charcoal all over you." The lady kissed the baby's head, making it all very true. She unbuttoned her jacket and unbuckled her belt. "Don't bother washing it, Liz. Most likely we'll be doing the same thing tonight. Maybe sooner."

They got cleaned up in stages, and Quail fed, and they all collapsed for a brief rest before the children arrived for school.

They started arriving early, herded by Madam Cordes, who was also bearing a tray of donuts. "It's a bit wild out there. I thought all the children ought to stay out of the main room so's I can just feed all the firemen and the folks that lost homes last night." She bobbed her head in the lady's direction. "They're all talking about the Dark Lady snuffing fires all night long, but one person can't be everywhere, and those rocks . . . well. They're still out there and we're still in here, and safer than they'd like." She  bustled out.

The lady polished off two donuts and a large glass of milk.
"Liz, you're fidgeting. Why don't you go scout out the state of the town and whether anyone we know was hurt."

Liz jumped up thankfully, and strode out to the main room. Everyone there was streaked with soot, most showing some attempt at clean up. Kurt was there, sleeves rolled up and a fresh scrubbed look about his face and arms belied by the filthy shirt and pants. He caught her eye and waved her over.

"Have you eaten?"

"
Oh yes, and so has the lady. How bad was it?"

"
We only lost four buildings entirely. Lots of other fire damage to roofs, here and there, but it was put out quickly, often by the Dark Lady, who apparently walked barefoot around town all night long. Wasn't she supposed to let the horse do the walking?"

"
Apparently it has something to do with fire magic. She found she just couldn't do it from horseback. It was strange, like she was drunk almost. Giddy. She's not nearly as tired as she ought to be."

"
Hmm, well, I certainly won't second guess her about magic. God knows half the town should have burned last night."

Liz shook her head.
"There were a lot of people out fighting the fires, including, from the state of your clothes, yourself."

He yawned.
"Well, yes. And we'll be sleeping in shifts today, trying to recover. If they were going to try a frontal assault, today would be a good day for it."

Fri
day, March 20, 3493 AD

Jeramtown, Arrival

December lowered her spoon as she spotted Captain
Stone threading between tables. Kurt turned to see what had caught her attention.

"
The river level dropped overnight." The Captain yawned. "And the hours are killing us. So many of their attacks happen at night, I think you and I should split it, with a lieutenant apiece, and let the youngsters have the days."

"
Good idea." Kurt yawned sympathetically. "You want the before or after midnight shift?"

Stone
scratched his cheek thoughtfully. "Before will be the least painful for me. I'll sleep all day and be raring to go after an early dinner. Swap at midnight, and with luck you can get back here in time for breakfast with the Ladies. Perfect."

Kurt glowered, Liz blushed and December swapped grins with
Stone.

"
Unfortunately, there's still the problem of the river. Got any ideas?"

"
First, fill all water containers, second, monitor the water levels in the wells, third, a corridor out so we can attack their dam." Kurt yawned again. "I just hope they're waiting again, so we can rest and decide sensibly. If they did all this sh . . . stuff as fast as they could we'd be in big trouble."

"
They still want a cheap victory. But they ought to be getting antsy about troops from Vista at least."

"
How long does it take to build a dam like this one must be?" December asked. "It has only been fifteen days since they were discovered."

Stone
smiled at the girl as she plopped his porridge down. "True. It only seems like forever. Makes you wonder what sort of hell one of those year long sieges in the history books must have been."

Kurt frowned.
"In fact, if they started the dam immediately, they still must have done a pretty shoddy job, get all the rock and fill they needed there, and then place it so it would work, and the river's got a pretty good flow . . . I'll talk to the locals, there may be some places where a dam would be easier to build than others. I mean, where's the water going to go? Are they making a lake, or diverting it or what?" He finished and still obviously thinking, excused himself.

"
That'll keep him busy all day." Stone finished wolfing down porridge, drained his glass of milk and excused himself also.

Liz sighed.
"I feel a bit under utilized."

"
Hmm, too much keeping track of me, and not enough action?" December smiled. "What you need is a sword, and some lessons."

Liz gulped.
"I think all the swords are spoken for."

"
Then I'll make one. Hmph, haven't actually made anything in days. We'll need iron and carbon, and . . . wait a bit. I know just the thing. I think. But first, some lessons, so I can see your natural balance." She led the way back to the stable yard. It was nearly empty, the improbable rows of doors had been sealed when the fire bombardment started, and many hadn't opened them up since.

"
Should you open them ?"

"
No. Especially if water is going to get tight. Losing a month or two won't hurt anyone." The lady picked through some two inch thick poles, and trimmed one down into two three foot lengths. She shaved the wood down into a fair grip, a hint of a cross bar and flattened the rest so one could pretend it was a blade.

"
Stand beside me, and do what I do. This is called a low guard, because the point is low. This is a middle guard, the sort of natural position a person takes with a sword. And this is a high guard, sometimes called the Ox, because the sword is up here by your head, like horns. See my left hand position? You don't do this unless you've got chainmail gauntlets.

"
So. Take your middle guard position . . . "

Half an hour later Liz had learned that an active lifestyle, and even pulling
horses around regularly, did not build up the right muscles for sword fighting.

"
Hopefully the siege won't last long enough to build your arm muscles up." The lady shook her head. "We all took lessons from the time we were ten years old. So even the girls grew up with this sort of conditioning."

"
All the girls?"

"
All that wanted lessons, which was most of us." She frowned. "I wish I could remember more. I sort of remember how funny it was when this bunch of bandits, thirty or forty of them rode into the village . . . but I don't remember what we did to them. We learned archery younger than that. And some hand fighting stuff that is sort of like dancing and can be useful in meditations, although I always preferred to sit to meditate."

Quail was fussing back in their rooms.

"She's spending a lot more time awake, now." Liz commented. Somehow with all her brothers and sisters, it hadn't been important or notable.

"
Yes, and I should be talking to you, and taking you places, and letting you get your hands on things, shouldn't I?" December rubbed noses with the girl. "Well, take your opportunities where you can find them, girl. Today I am not saving the World. As far as I know."

Liz chuckled and headed for the kitchens. If they needed extra hands to fix and deliver food to the walls . . .

She gained her desired opportunity to see Kurt. Unfortunately he was worried. "The water in all the wells is dropping. They only go deep enough to tap a gravel layer that crosses the river. And the river's high and dry now. The wells will be dry very soon."

When she got back to the
tavern, she helped Harv fill every vessel available with water, and then got the lady to make a large rock cistern to store more. The stable yard well ran dry before it was filled.