Refuge: Kurt's Quest (4 page)

“I wasn’t that drunk,” objected the small man.

“Then I guess you weren’t that good,” responded
the Knight.  “It’s got to be one or the other.”

“Then I guess I was that drunk,” said the
Halfling with a smile.

“And I introduce to Master Thief Xenonodes,”
said Gromli, gesturing to the Halfling.  “Not his real name, I am sure.”

“Real names have power,” said the Halfling,
looking intently through the bars at the others.  “Why would I want to give
that power to anyone?”

“I come with an offer of freedom, from the
Duke,” said Gromli.  “But only if you leave the kingdom.”

“And I’m guessing that you want me to accompany
these people, wherever they are going.”

“That is correct.  And maybe you can accomplish
something good along the way.”

“And what’s your story?” asked the Halfling,
looking up at Kurt.

And so Kurt told him their story, or at least
as much as he could tell in an hour.  The Halfling’s eyes widened at some
points, he smiled or shook his head at others, as if he didn’t really believe
what he was being told.  “And it will be very dangerous,” finished the German
Immortal.

“You don’t get the bards to sing about your
life by being cautious,” said the Halfling.  “And though I care less about
saving the world, I do care about getting rich, though money never seems to
last.”

“Then you will do it?”

“I will,” said the Halfling with a shrug. 
“Though I think the bunch of you are delusional.  Prophecy?  Savior of the
world?  But as long as you get me to where the treasure is, I’m the man you
want to get it for you.  So, when do I get out of this cell?”

“Tomorrow,” said the Knight with a smile.  “And
we will remove your chains when you are on the road.  No use taking a risk that
you might find something better to do while still in the Duchy.”

“And I think he could do with a bath and some
clean clothes,” said Jackie, wrinkling her nose.

Kurt prayed to the Goddess before he went to
sleep, but there was no return communication from the being. 
Maybe a dream
,
he thought, closing his eyes.  A presence in his room woke him from his
slumber, and he started to jump up from bed and lunge for his sword. 
I shot
the bolt
, he thought. 
So how did they get in here.

“I’m sorry if I alarmed you, General,” said a
woman’s voice as a shadow left the deeper shadows near the door.

Kurt recognized that voice, and grabbed his
lighter from the bedside table and flicked it open, illuminating the room in a
wan flickering light.  His breath caught in his throat as he saw Jackie in the flame,
the light and shadows accenting her small breasts.

“What can I do for you, Fraulein?” asked Kurt,
suspicious that he already knew her purpose.

“I think you know,” said Jackie, moving
gracefully across the room and grabbing the edge of his blanket.  She slid her
naked body in next to his and put her arms around him, then put her mouth to
his in a passionate kiss.  Kurt returned the kiss, his hands rubbing across the
smooth skin of her back.

“This is so wrong, Jackie,” he said, putting
his hands on her shoulders and trying to push her gently away.  She resisted
with furious strength, and Kurt was loath to push harder.

“And what is so wrong with it, you big oaf?”
she said, reaching a hand down to his groin.  “It seems like not all of you
agrees,” she said with a smile.

“You are my subordinate,” gasped Kurt, closing
his eyes in pleasure.

“Oh, fuck that military shit,” said the woman,
rubbing her hand on his member.  “I know you want me.  I just figured that I
might not live long enough to see anything happen if I waited on you.”

“But, you are immortal, like myself,” Kurt
gasped, then sucked in a breath. 
It has been so long.  Far too long.

“And I would be waiting till the end of time if
I waited for you, you big lug,” said Jackie in a whisper, nuzzling at his neck.

Kurt let himself go with the moment, part of
him still telling him that this was wrong, but not offering enough of an
argument to help him to resist.

The dream came in the early morning.  Kurt
again found himself in the beautiful castle in the clouds, its Eldritch
loveliness taking his breath away.  But nothing compared to the Elfin beauty
who sat the golden throne.

“I am so happy for you,” said the Goddess, her
eyes glowing.  “You have found your queen.”

Kurt detected a bittersweet quality to her
expression, and he wondered what was going on behind those luminous eyes.

“What should I do about these people here?” he
asked, knowing that he would not have much time in this dream world.

“What does your heart tell you to do?”

“I think I should help them,” said Kurt,
shrugging his shoulders.  “But do we have the time to stray from our mission?”

“You must go to their capital anyway, in order
to get a ship.  Going to another port would unduly delay you.   And the king of
this land will try and stop you from leaving once he has you within his
capital, which you must not allow.  Plus, it is in your heart to help these
people.”

“So that is my answer?”

“That is your answer.  Trust yourself, Kurt. 
You are a good man, though you worry inordinately that you might become like
those you used to serve.  There is no danger in that.  Follow your heart,
temper it with thought, and all will be well.  And enjoy your new love.  There
are great things ahead for both of you.”

And with that the dream world faded, and he
came awake in his bed.  He opened his eyes to see himself looking into the ice
blue orbs of Jackie, as the dawn light came through the windows to illuminate
the room.

“I had a dream,” she said, a smile on her
face.  “The Goddess.  And she told me you would know what to do, and to follow
you, and stay by your side, no matter what.”

Kurt kissed her on the nose, then lay back. 
“She did tell me what to do.  Or should I say she didn’t tell me what to do. 
She said to follow my heart and all would be well.”

“And does that include me?”

“Of course,” said Kurt, pulling her into an
embrace.  “Always.”  And he made love for the second time in over forty years,
and the second time that night.

Chapter Three

The next morning they were on the move.  The
Duke had called in all his levies, his men and those of his counts and barons. 
Altogether there were three hundred cavalry on the road, and four hundred infantrymen
mounted on horses or riding in wagons.  Kurt looked over the small host and
felt his heart sink.  
Too few
, he thought, seeing the mailed cavalry.

“Seems like a bloody lot of the buggers,” said
James Drake, riding up beside Kurt, Jackie along with him.  Jackie shook her
head.

And he has no idea about warfare, except what
he has picked up in his short time here.

[Can we take a kingdom with this group?] sent
Jackie over a private channel.

[I just don’t know] he replied, trying to sound
like he had some confidence, and failing.  [Maybe they have more that will meet
them along the way.]

“Hail, Kurt,” said the Duke, riding up to them,
his personal guard in tow.  “Are you ready to ride?”

“That we are, my Lord,” said Kurt, looking at
the lightly armored mages and priests that rode behind the Duke.  [And probably
less than the king has as well,] he sent to Jackie.

“And where is this marvelous beast we have
heard so much about?” asked the noble, craning his neck as he looked at the
forest around the town.

“White Paw was up before the dawn and scouting
ahead,” said Kurt, forcing a smile on his face.  “Perhaps tonight, when we have
made camp.”

“Then let us to it,” said the Duke, waving to
his standard bearer.  That worthy raised and lowered the standard several
times, and several dozen armored men started riding quickly down the road, the
advanced scouts.  The Duke rode toward the head of the column, his bodyguard in
tow, and Kurt and his companions followed, sure that they were expected to ride
with his Grace.  As they reached the front they continued on, and the rest of
the small army started off behind them.  The higher ranking nobles had the
position of privilege, out of the dust, while those of lesser stature would eat
it.

[Everyone in charge is up here with us,] sent
Jackie, looking back at the column.  [If the head is struck, the body will be
without leadership.]

[They are a medieval force,] replied Kurt in
agreement.  [No discipline on the move, probably none in the battle.]

Altogether it was a pleasant day, for those who
weren’t riding through a cloud of choking dust raised by the horses.  Birds
were singing in the trees.  No other animals were visible, and it would have
been remarkable if they had been, with over a thousand horses on the move.  By
evening they were at a crossroads, and continued straight.  Two kilometers
further there were some road markers, and the scouts were waiting at this
landmark, facing off against several hundred horsemen under a different
banner.  The Duke called a halt to the column, and rode toward the markers with
his bodyguard.

Kurt looked over at Jackie and Fenris, then
spurred his own beast forward, wondering who these people were.  When he had
gotten within earshot, he saw that the Duke was smiling and talking with
another man in ornate armor.

“Ah, this is the man we have been waiting for,”
said the Duke, turning and waving Kurt forward.  “This is the Count Kurt von
Mannerheim, who has been prophesized to deliver us from the evil one.”

Kurt felt a blush come across his face as the
description was offered, still not comfortable being called anyone’s savior.

“My Lord, this is the Duke Jeorlson, my
neighbor, who has decided to throw his lot in with us.”

“Thank you, your Grace,” said Kurt to the man,
bowing his head.

“Duke Jeorlson has prepared a campsite for us
five kilometers ahead,” said the Duke.

Kurt frowned for a moment, thinking that they
could make at least another fifteen before they had to stop for the night. 
But
these people have different priorities than do we.  And it’s no use arguing
with our allies.

That night found them camped at a comfortable
site, with nearby flowing water.  Fires were lit, and tents erected.  Kurt was
surprised to find that several large tents had been packed for him and his
party.  Camp food was good, cooks having been brought along with wagons to
prepare bread and vegetables, while many wild game animals roasted over the
fires.

White Paw made an appearance that night,
walking in with Kurt himself so that nothing would happen to the large beast. 
He let the Dukes and their principles see the wolf, and several gathered the
courage to pet the beast while White Paw set to eating thirty pounds of meat
and offal.

“He is truly a marvelous beast,” said the Duke,
looking nervously at the seventy kilo wolf.

[White Paw thanks you,] sent the wolf on
broadband, and all present who possessed telepathy oohed and awed at the power
of the creature’s transmission.

Later, in the Duke’s tent, they went over a map
of the proposed march to the capital, their own force, along with the nine
hundred men Duke Jeorlson was contributing to the cause.

“And you’re sure Hrussar will come over to our
cause?” asked the Duke of another noble whose lands they had to cross on the
third day of the march.

“He will,” said Jeorlson with a nod.  “I am not
so sure about Larrlson,” he continued, pointing at the next Duchy on the map. 
“He may not allow us to cross his lands.”

“Then we will fight,” declared Haraald with a
look of grim determination.

“We cannot afford to lose men, my Lord,” said
Kurt, looking at the two Dukes.  “Does not this Larrlson have a champion we can
engage in single combat?”

“He has a champion,” said Jeorlson with a
scowl.  “A great brute of a man who has never lost a fight.”

“Then it is time for him to lose one,” said
Kurt, looking over at Jackie.  “Are you up to it?”

“I would love to get into a good fight,” said
the woman with a wide smile.

“You would have a woman fight his champion?”
asked Jeorlson with a disbelieving look.  “She would be slaughtered like a lamb
led to the yard.”

“She is as I am,” said Kurt, reaching for his
mug of beer.  “I think you will be surprised.  And we really don’t need to get
into a pitched battle with another force before we get to the capital.”

As the meeting broke up Kurt saw their new party
member sitting by himself around a fire.  He walked up to the diminutive
Halfling and took a seat on the log.  “You have no interest in the fight we
might be in tomorrow, Master Xenonodes?”

“I’m not a fighter, not like you big people,”
said the Halfling.  “I’m a thief.  You just get me to where I can work, and
I’ll steal what you want.  As long as I get my share.”

“You have no interest in the cause we fight
for?”

“I’m only interested in what I can get out of
it,” said the Halfling with a sneer.  “If it gets you what you want,
wonderful.”

Kurt shook his head and left, going back to his
tent and getting ready for bed.  After the other night there was no question as
to how the tents would be shared.  Jackie was already in the tent, asleep on
the furs on the floor.  Or seemingly asleep.  As Kurt lay down beside her, she
turned over with a smile.  Kurt returned the smile, and his next thought was about
how much he had missed lovemaking.

*     *     *

They reached the lands of Duke Larrlson
midmorning of the next day.  The force they confronted at the border was
smaller than their own, but had the advantage of the ground.  The force was
heavier in infantry than the allied army approaching, as befitted a force on
its own territory.

Haraald rode forward with Kurt, Jackie and a
knight holding a standard of peace, the sign that he wanted a parley.  A man
rode away from the other force, three men at his back.  The other horsemen
stopped at a point directly between the forces, and Haraald reined up and held
up a hand to stop his own people.

“So, you have finally turned traitor, Haraald,”
said the younger man after he raised his visor.  “I always knew the day would
come, oathbreaker.”

“I do no more than our monarch,” said Haraald. 
“He swore an oath to defend our people.”

“And what would you wish of him?” asked the
other Duke in an angry tone.  “The Ellala give him no choice in the matter.”

“Gunson was a good man at one point,” said
Haraald, shaking his head.  “But he has treated with evil so long, he has
become as a shadow to the Ellala Emperor.”

“I will not allow you to pass my lands,” said
Larrlson, looking back at his army.

“Have you informed the King?”

“Not yet. I had hoped to talk sense to you
before sending word that would cause your destruction.”

“We’re going through your lands, whether you
approve or not,” said Kurt, reining his horse forward.

“And who is this?” asked Larrlson, glaring at
Kurt.  “He has the look of the newcomers.”

“He is no Dane,” said Haraald.  “He is of the
German people who fight the Ellala.  He is the one prophesized.”

“A fairy tale,” said the other Duke with a
sneer.  “A pretender who will lead you to your doom.”

“I propose single combat,” rumbled Kurt,
pointing a finger at the Duke.

“You, against my champion?” said Larrlson,
staring at Kurt in disbelief.  “He will kill you in an instant.”

“Not me,” said Kurt, pointing with his chin
back at Jackie.  “Her.”

“A woman?” asked Larrslon, his eyes narrowing. 
“I would not insult my champion so.”

“So, your champion is a coward,” said Jackie,
sneering at the man.  “Or is it his Lord is a coward.”

“You dare to speak to your betters in such a
manner, wench?”

“I am no wench, and you certainly are not my
better.  If you want to prove you are, then lets you and me have it out here.”

“I would call your champion,” said Kurt,
looking past the Duke to his gathered force.  “She’s quite the feisty one when
it comes to combat.”

“M’tasarl,” called the Duke over his shoulder.

A large man on a large horse separated himself
from the army of Duke Larrlson and rode forward.  They really didn’t appreciate
how large until he had drawn closer.  The horse was the largest destrier that
Kurt had ever seen, and the man made it look like a pony.

“I want you to kill her,” he said to the large
man, pointing a finger at Jackie.

“A woman?” asked M’tasarl, frowning.

“So, you’re as much of a coward as your Lord,”
said Jackie.  She spit on the ground.

M’tasarl growled and reached for his sword.

“Single combat,” cautioned Kurt, raising a
hand.  “On the ground.”

“You swear to try no tricks while the combat
occurs?” asked Larrlson of Haraald.

“No tricks,” said the older Duke.  “And you
agree to let us pass if my fighter wins.”

“Agreed,” said Larrlson, nodding.  “But I see
nothing but death here.”

For your champion,
thought Kurt, watching
as the large man got down from a horse that looked relieved to get the warriors
weight off its back.  Kurt wondered for a moment about the wisdom of trusting a
man the other Duke had just called an oathbreaker.  He shook his head at that
thought, knowing that he didn’t consider Haraald any such.

The man was now on foot, and he towered over
two hundred and twenty centimeters and had to weigh in at two hundred kilos,
and the way he moved there was very little fat on that armored body.  He looked
at Jackie as she hopped off of her mount and pulled her blades from their
sheaths.

“No,” shouted Larrlson, pointing at the
blades.  “Those are forbidden for a champion’s fight.  It is fighter against
fighter.  Not the best magical weapon wins.”

“He is correct,” said Haraald, frowning.  He
looked down at Jackie.  “We will get you two mundane long blades to take their
place for this fight.”

Jackie nodded, then sheathed her blades.  She
unbuckled the straps that held them in place and handed them to Kurt.

“You sure you want to do this?” asked Kurt, looking
down at the woman.

“I have two blades here,” yelled one of
Haraald’s men, running up with two sheathed long swords, different from the
blades that Jackie used.

“Don’t worry,” said Jackie, looking up at Kurt.

He could see the concern on her face, but from
the set of her lip could sense her determination.  The men of the two forces
started to gather around.  Kurt thought a moment about attacking while the
potential enemy was unprepared.  But he knew his allies would see that as dishonorable,
though he could only think of it as smart.

A large circle was formed about the combatants,
people from both sides screaming for their champion.  Kurt could tell from some
of the calls from his side that many thought it a mistake to pit a woman
against such a champion as M’tasarl.  He knew it was no mistake, though of
course anything could happen in a fair fight.  One thing he was sure wouldn’t
happen was that Jackie would take a death wound.  He would interfere if that
looked to be coming.