Tempest Rise (revised edition 10/2013) (Treborel) (5 page)

"A
Sraeb.”  She whispered, as a shadow flitted across her eyes. She pointed off to the right. A few meters in the distance he could see a large, sleeping creature, nestled in the tall grass of the small clearing they had been looking for.

"Did you bring your knife?" Cap asked quickly, reaching for the crossbow on his back.

"What?" Kendra stared at him in disbelief.

He smiled mischievously
, and said, "I thought you might like to show me how well you can defend yourself."

"
Alright, Woodsman. If you're so skilled with these creatures, then how about fetching me the herbs it's sleeping so comfortably on." She answered, insulted by his smart reply.

Following her gaze, Cap squinted in the windy blackness. Spying the patch of herbs, he berated himself for his foolish teasing
and headed for the clearing.

"No, wait!" Kendra whispered urgently. She had not really expected him to obey her
command. Kendra fought back the vision of what would happen if the sraeb awoke. Not allowing the growing anxiety to increase any further, she bit her lip and watched.

Glancing back, Cap motioned for her to stay still. Moving around the edge of the clearing to where the
sraeb slept under a large evergreen, he pulled his laser pistol from his belt and stepped forward. Gazing across the clearing to Kendra's shadowed form, he flashed a wicked smile. Cursing him under her breath, she prayed the fool didn't get himself killed. Kneeling down on one knee, his pistol ready, Cap snatched a handful of the leafy herb and stuffed it inside the front of his shirt. Not sure of how much Kendra needed, he repeated the process several times. As he started to rise, he noticed a small thin object protruding from the back of the beast's shoulder, a crossbow bolt.

Realizing an injured
sraeb was ten times more likely to attack a slow moving human over the quick Elk it usually ate, he leveled the pistol at the creature's skull. At this distance, the beast would die instantly. As his finger squeezed on the trigger, Cap noticed a slight movement. Jumping back quickly, expecting the massive animal to rise, Cap waited. When the animal remained still, he realized the movement had come from three small forms nestled against the sraeb. Cubs!

If he killed their mother, they would starve, or fall prey to another sraeb.
Hesitating, Cap knew there was no possibility of raising the cubs in captivity. Sraebs grew crazed in the first few hours; even in specialized surroundings, they would throw themselves against the walls of the confinement over, and over again, choosing death over imprisonment. The answer was clear. He would have to kill them all. He cursed the idiot that had attacked the female, and with a crossbow no less. Only a fool would shoot a large female at this time of the year before checking for offspring. 

Glancing over the
sraeb to where Kendra nervously waited, he hated to do this in front of her. She would most probably hate him for it. Then it occurred to him, perhaps she could help. Motioning for her to come forward, he waited silently as she approached. One glance at the wounded sraeb and Kendra motioned for him to move back. Unsure whether he had made the right decision; Cap slowly did as she asked, his weapon ready. Bending over the large creature, Kendra gently dug her fingers into the thick, dark, gray fur at the base of its neck.

Then she slowly placed her other hand lightly
on the top of the beast's head. The animal reared instantly, roaring with alarm. Cap shouted for Kendra to run, as he desperately tried to locate her in the darkness. The cubs screamed in fear and disappeared into the turbulent forest. Holding on with all her might, Kendra called upon her
strength
to calm the animal. In one swift movement, the creature fell silently at Cap's feet. Climbing off the beast, Kendra sighed with relief. 

Cap appeared next to her, and asked urgently, “Are you
alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." Kendra answered, casually turning to examine the beast.

"Did you know that was going to happen?" Cap demanded, grabbing her arm and spinning her around to face him.

“I wasn't sure . . ." Kendra started to explain.

"Why didn't you warn me? I almost blew the sraeb out from under you." Cap snapped at her. The incident had frightened him more than he cared to admit.

"It's
alright." She smiled up at him and reached for her boot. “I brought my knife." She waved the weapon in his face, as her laughter filled the silent clearing. Turning back to the sraeb, she pulled the bolt from its shoulder, and handed it to Cap, ignoring his angry scowl. "The wound is pretty deep, she must have tried to get it out herself, and drove it in until it struck bone.” Kendra explained, still smiling as she placed a healing touch on the wound. "She'll sleep until morning. The cubs should be back by then." Turning back to Cap, her amusement disappeared, as she noticed how pale he had become. "Are you alright?"

"Do you realize, one swipe of its claw and it could have taken your head off?
” “ He answered quietly, realizing how pretty she was.

"If you hadn't insisted on pulling that little prank of yours, I never would have known about the injury.
She was in such a deep sleep. I couldn't feel her pain."   Kendra scolded him.

"I could have taken care of it myself. I just didn't want to leave the cubs to starve." Cap answered, shoving the bolt in his belt.

"When are you going to get it into your thick head, I’m not some helpless little girl that needs your protection!” Kendra spat, tired of his paternal attitude. "If I didn't think I could handle it, I wouldn't have tried!"

They stood glaring angrily at one another for several seconds
, before Cap conceded with a grin. "I surrender. You obviously knew what you were doing. We're both still alive." He held out his hand as a peace offering. "Just give me a little warning next time, okay?"

"Are you going to make any more cracks about my
dirk?" Kendra frowned her attitude softening.

"I'll do my best to keep my mouth shut." Cap promised, still waiting for her to take his hand.

Placing her hand in his, Kendra smiled up at him, relieved they had come to an understanding, "Will you help me find this clearing in the morning? I want to make sure the cubs return."

"First thing after breakfast
,” He promised with a smile.

Still holding hands
, they left the clearing and returned to the lodge. Katar was asleep in the high backed chair, and a meat broth was simmering on the stove.  Cap insisted on finishing the broth, while Kendra caught some much needed sleep. 

As
the dawn arrived, Bosen woke, strong enough to have the infection healed. This began a pattern of eating, then working to heal his broken bones every few hours. Cap had designated himself as Kendra’s assistant, attending to her every need. Katar watched, amused by his friend's infatuation with the young Empath.  He’d never seen him like this before. When Cap was near Enda, he stumbled over himself, clumsy and nervous. It wasn't so with Kendra. As they worked together to heal Bosen, Cap became more confident and relaxed. The more time they spent together, the more Cap showed his true self.

That evening Hanlin appeared, rested and hungry. Cap and Kendra were inseparable. By the end of the third day,
Bosen was fully conscious, and anxious to tell the others what had happened that day in the ravine. Kendra left them alone and went to clean the dinner dishes so they could talk. Able to sit up, Bosen ate the hot stew Eades had made, and told his story between mouthfuls, to them.

"
Commander Connor was asking a lot of questions about Borel, Eades and the Queen's Guard." Bosen began. "I answered some of them. Then he began to get particular, I couldn't understand what he really wanted, much less answer most of his questions."

"What was he asking?” Katar frowned.

"At first, he was just curious about the city patrols, and the sraeb. Were there any problems with them so close to the city walls? Then he started asking about the night patrols and the harbor fleet. I told him I'm just a blacksmith. Yes, my father was the Kings Valet, and I grew up in the palace, but I wasn’t into politics and such. He didn't seem to understand, the questions just kept coming. Finally, I told him he should be asking Eades those questions, not me. I also said, if he didn't lay off, I'd start asking some questions of my own." Exhausted, Bosen leaned back on the pillow, as perspiration began to bead on his balding head.

"Why don't you rest awhile? We can finish this later." Cap suggested.

"No, Cap, it's too important. I may not be the smartest man here, but I love Treborel. You and Katar are like brothers to me. Commander Connor has something specific planned; I may not be able to figure out what it is. But the three of you, with your military background should." Bosen pulled himself back up onto the pillows and looked to Katar for his support.

"Let’s hear what he has to say.
” Katar answered quietly. Eades nodded his consent, concerned about Connor's inquiries into Borel’s defenses.

Bosen
looked back to Cap, noting his concern. "I'm alright." Bosen smiled weakly at him and continued. "After my challenge, he got real quiet. We found some tracks and narrowed in on a big male. He was in the middle of a thicket. Commander Connor went around to the left, and I took the right. I was going to flush it out to him. Only Connor took a quick shot into the brush with that damn crossbow of his and sent the sraeb right into me. I figured he panicked. Well, it was on me before I could react. Its jaws dug into my shoulder for only a second.  I managed to reach my pistol and fired point-blank into its side. It turned and crushed the weapon as I held it. I’m pretty sure it was going for my entire arm, but somehow it missed. The shot just infuriated it; it threw me about three meters. I just kept thinking Connor would snap out of it and help me, but he never came. I knew you weren’t far Katar, so I grabbed the nearest thing, and started swinging, hoping to keep it off me long enough for you to arrive. I don't remember anything after that." Glancing back at Katar with a tired smile, he added, "I understand I owe you my life. It’s not the first time, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Eades told me about the ruckus at the base camp. It sounds like the Commander wasn't very apologetic about sending that sraeb at me."

"You think
Commander Connor drove the sraeb in your direction on purpose?" Hanlin asked, from his seat at the side of the bed.

"I don't see him standing here telling me otherwise."
Bosen answered angrily.

Cap turned on Katar, unable to control his fury. "I told you he was dangerous.  He's an evil bastard! I say we find him
, and force him to explain himself. For all we know that maniac could be planning an invasion."

Katar answered him calmly, hiding the feelings of apprehension building inside. "William is too afraid of his own shadow
ever to conceive of an aggressive action. Besides, Treborel has proven its defensive capabilities. The canyon from the harbor and the Chasm are heavily armed and patrolled from above, constantly. They are the only entrances into Treborel. No aggressive force is going to get through either access alive.” Katar explained. Confident Treborel was in no danger.

"Maybe it's not William. Maybe Connor is working for someone else." Cap growled
. His dislike of the Commander turned to hatred, as the vision of Bosen and Katar fighting for their lives, flashed through his mind.

"This conversation is over.
I don't want to hear any talk about Connor.  As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter what he, or anyone else has planned. We've been warned.” Placing his hand on Cap’s shoulder, Katar added, "Bosen survived. That's what's significant. Whatever Connor is up to, whether he's working for William or not, we'll be ready."

"I’m going back to Borel when the soldiers arrive." Eades spoke quietly from the end of the bed, "I think the Queen should be informed. I want to increase security at the palace."

"I'll contact the palace on the Comm link, and I'll have the patrols increased at the Harbor and the Chasm. “Katar confirmed and headed for the galley. 

Hanlin rose slowly
, and followed him saying, "I believe it is time to approach King William. He should be informed of your falling out with Commander Connor. It would be wise to settle for an unbiased explanation, for now. Possibly a misunderstanding?"

Katar spun to face him and said angrily, “Perhaps William should be informed of his
Commander's lack of compassion, and our concern over Bosen's interrogations."

"It would seem wise not to stir the fire." Hanlin returned, softly.

Sighing, Katar frowned at his Advisor, knowing  Hanlin was right. Although he did not believe Treborel was threatened. He couldn't afford to offend William by slandering his Commander. Katar nodded, and said, "Alright, put through a Comm link to Bantor. I'll try to come up with a plausible explanation as to why we abandoned his Commander in the middle of the mountains."

Arriving with more stew, Kendra ordered
Bosen to rest. At Hanlin's insistence, they moved Bosen into the Advisor's small room at the back of the lodge. There the soothing seclusion would encourage him to sleep.