Part 41

Greza looked into the eyes of the man that had her by the throat.  He had said that he’d do horrible things to her.  She would rather die than let this man touch her. 

She tried to break free but every time she moved he would squeeze hard enough to make stars appear in her vision.  He’d strangle her before she could do anything to hurt her.  Never had she felt so weak and powerless. 

Suddenly the man screamed out in pain and his grip loosened.  She immediately knocked his hands off and kicked away from him. 

Greza hit the ground and rolled to a crouching position.  Then she saw what had saved her.  A crossbow bolt was sticking into the ground from where it had passed through the giant’s leg.  A bloody hole marked its passage. 

On the other side of the border station was Onata with her crossbow. 

He gritted his teeth against the pain and fell to his knee. 

Greza didn’t wait one more second and ran to her horse.  She jumped up and spurred the horse into a gallop.  She sped past the guards and met up with Onata.  They didn’t wait around and galloped as far from the Imperial border as they could before their horses needed rest. 

When they finally slowed down Onata turned to her.

“Who was that man?”  She asked.

“Don’t know, but I can’t take him,” Greza said.

“Never thought I’d hear you say that.”

Greza looked down to her hands and saw that they were still shaking. 

“You alright?”  Onata asked.

Greza shook her head. 

Onata hadn’t heard what he wanted to do to her and despite living under the threat of rape all her life, she had never come face to face with it.  The reality was far worse than her imaginative fears.

Onata rested a hand on her shoulder.

“It’ll be alright,” Onata said. 

Greza tried to manage a smile, but failed. 

They rode hard the rest of the trip back to Ekonia. 

The sight of the monolithic fortress looming over the cold moor made her happier than she had been in days.  She was finally home. 

They were shown up to the Duke’s office immediately.  Upon entering the room she saw her Duke with all captains and advisors standing around a table.  They were gesturing wildly and talking so loud that she had heard them from down the hall.

Apparently things weren’t going well. 

Tempest saw them first and nudged Verin.  The Duke looked up and for a second she saw what looked like a smile on his face.   

“What news do you bring?”  Duke Verin asked. 

Onata hurried over and handed him the message.  The room fell silent as he laid the message on the table and they all gathered around. 

After reading it one of the captains, a clean shaven man in full armor began to pace around the room. 

“Even with us, the Red Dragons and the Varandi, we still won’t be enough,” the captain said.

“Our troops are better.  We have veterans.  When was the last time the Imperial legions actually fought?”  Verin asked. 

“This is still suicide,” the captain said. 

“That’s why we’re taking our payment and using it to hire more mercenaries,” Verin said.

“Mercenaries hiring mercenaries?  We’re going to lose money on this.  Why sell our sword arms if we don’t earn a profit?”

“Because I’m not in this for the money.  All of you and the soldiers will be paid like always.  This is something different,” Verin said. 

“Yes, your dream of vengeance,” the captain said.

“I’d watch your tone,” Tempest said. 

The captain didn’t look at Tempest and only continued his pacing.

“If you think this war is suicide, then you’re free to leave.  I’ll write letters of recommendation and there’ll be no ill feelings,” Verin said.

No one spoke up for a while.  Eventually the captain spoke.

“Hell, Verin.  You know this is suicide.  I know its suicide, but I’m still with you.”

“Gentlemen and ladies, this is the time.  This is what I’ve been waiting for all my life.”

Everyone nodded in understanding except for her.  She had no idea why they were doing this.

“You two,” the Duke said, pointing to her and Onata.  “I’ll send for you later.  I’ll want your full report.”

“Of course, my Duke,” Greza said. 

They saluted and took their leave. 

As soon as the door was closed behind them, Onata sighed and leaned against the wall. 

“Now we have two days off.  I’m going to go take a hot bath,” Onata said.

That did sound nice, but what Greza really wanted was her own bed.  She waved goodbye to Onata and walked down to her room.  Once inside she stripped down and tossed all her gear at the foot of her bed and promptly fell asleep. 

She woke up a few times but didn’t mind because it reminded her how good the bed felt. 

After a few hours of sleeping, she wasn’t sure how long but the sun was down, she went to the bath room and took a hot bath.  She felt like a real person again and not some savage animal.    

Just as she was getting comfortable on her bed with a book she heard a knock at the door.  It was a guard telling her that the Duke would like to see her now. 

“Should I go find Onata?”  Greza asked.

“He just told me to find you.”

She thanked him and closed the door.  She threw on her boots and black uniform jacket and hurried up the stairs to the Duke’s office.  The guard opened the door for her without a word. 

Greza had expected to see a room full of officers.  Instead, the only person she saw was the Duke.  He was sitting at the table with a glass of wine. 

“Greza, come in,” he said without looking up. 

She walked in and the door closed behind her, almost startling her. 

“Please, sit,” he said, pointing to a chair next to him.

Was she in trouble?  She looked around but didn’t see any guards. 

She hadn’t been alone with the Duke since that time in the library. 

Greza walked over to the chair beside him and sat down, hands folded in her lap.  She kept her back rigid and at attention. 

“Greza, it’s obvious that you’re well educated.  You’re sharp, intelligent, clever and something everyone says about you; you’re honorable.  Those are all traits I’ll need soon.”  Then he looked up from the maps and looked right at her.  It was all she could do to not look away.  “Greza, what did you see in the Empire.  Do you think I’m crazy?”

“No, my Duke.” I don’t believe you’d go to war if you didn’t think you could win.”

“And what if I told you that the chances of victory were slim at best?”

“Then I’d say that you’re following the path you were meant for.”

“Of course, the Path of Light.”

“You are the Victor.”

“For the last time, I am not.  The Victor was killed.  I am still alive.”

“And who were your parents?”

“Don’t know.”

“Where did you come from?”

“Don’t know.  But I do know that I have all my fingers.”

“I can’t explain that yet.”

He laughed again. 

“I didn’t ask you here to discuss your delusions.  In spite of your misguided belief in me, you’re one of the smartest people in the Company.”

“That can’t be true.”

“You believe I’m some lost prophesized hero, but you can’t believe you’re one of the smartest people I know?  Please, tell me what you saw in the Empire.  Tell me about the security and this Governor.”

She recounted every detail she could remember and he listened.  Occasionally he’d stop to ask a question or two, but mostly he let her do the talking. 

As she talked she knew that she had to say something.  He hadn’t believed her last time she told him about being the Lost Victor, but she had to keep trying.