The Gypsy Queen (14 page)

  She wrapped her arm and hand with a scarf she had been wearing before the attack. It was in bad shape. Emilee realized she was in trouble. It wasn’t bleeding too much, but it would make a journey back to
Jedikai
terribly difficult. She took a long drink of water from her
zahato
, and ate her berries. She curled up underneath her cloaks and tried to get as warm and comfortable as she could.

  Afraid and upset, Emilee could scarcely decide whether she should laugh or cry. She could feel the terror of the wolves upon her, but also the exultant victory in defeating them. She thought of
Yana
, whos
e
teachings were
the only reason she survived. “Thank you,
Yana
,” she whispered.

  Just then, a peal of thunder rang out, and it began to rain. The canopy of the tree was shielding some of the water, but some of it pelted her cloaks, which would be soaked if the rain kept up all night. She huddled in tight.

  “Please hurry,
Yana
,” she whispered, as the rain fell.

_______________________________

The Gypsy Queen- CHAPTER 8- “Tatu”

   Smoldering ash.
Yana
and Bastion crossed over a strange mix of smoldering ash and scorched grass that seemed like it was still fighting for its life, though it had already lost. Most of the smoke had cleared since the forest fire, the burnt remains left to heave its last desolate gasp.

  The charred forest felt
somber, as though it were quietly grieving,
Yana
thought.
The moonlight cast a glow
that
should have been friendly, but seemed something more sinister instead. It only illuminated the loss of life.

  The creaks
of the wagons seemed louder as they traveled, in the absence of other noise. Bastion had the reins of the dark green wagon, as they pushed through. He sought to get through the ashen forest to greener grounds before they made camp.

  Nico rode up on his horse. He had ridden alongside the caravan in gypsy garb, to scout and watch the backside of the group.

  “Captain
,” he said, “someone is following us.” Bastion was not surprised, but did not want their plan to be undone.

  “How many?” Bastion asked.

  “Just one horse,” he replied, “but there looks to be two people on it.”

  “You sure they are following
us
?” Bastion asked.

  “Yes. Not long after we left
Jedikai
, we spotted them. We keep losing track though- they are very good at hiding.”
Yana
smiled at that.

  “Bring them to me,” Bastion ordered. “They’ll have an accounting. We’ll be making camp down by that lake,” he said, pointing. “Right past the fire line.”

  “Yes sir,” Nico said, and departed.
Yana
could not help the smile on her face.

  “They’re gypsies,” she told Bastion.

  “You know who is following us?” Bastion asked.

  “Yes.” 

  “Well, who??” he asked.

  “Gypsies,” she said with a grin.

  Bastion shook his head. He was pleased to have
Yana
with him on this quest, and tried only to think about her with him now, and the battle ahead. He did not like thinking about her departure that would surely follow.

  They made their way to the spot Bastion had chosen for a camp, and waited for Nico to catch up. True to form, they had just unbuckled the horses from the rigs and got the fire going when Nico emerged from the trees with a horse in tow, bearing two riders with faces covered in ash.
Yana
saw them come in, and walked towards them with scorn on her face.

  “You are not supposed to be here,” she said. She turned to Bastion. “Are not spies supposed to be enemies of the
kingdom
, to be punished with death?” Bastion stepped up to the horse, next to
Yana
.

  “That’s right,” he said.
“High treason from spies and enemies brings about a first-class hanging!
There’s no pardon for treason.
”

  “Well then, it’s a good thing we are only gypsies!” Luba said, hopping down off the horse. Dimmie followed and climbed down as well.
Yana
hugged them both.

  “You should not be here,”
Yana
said. “This is no place for you.”

  “We had to come help,” Luba said.

  “We want to fight for our people,” Dimmie said.

  “Gypsy warriors,” Nico said. “I did not know there was such a thing.”

  Bastion knew the gypsies well enough to know better.

  “Take a look then,” he said. “These brave souls are as much warriors as any, when it comes to those they love.”

  “We are not just here for our people,” Luba said. “We are here for
all
the people.”

  “T
hen you are warriors indeed
,” Nico said.

  They gathered around the fire for warmth- the famed and feared black riders, the gypsy children, and
Yana
, amazed at the sight of it.

  “Dimmie and Luba, you have done a foolish thing, to track the black riders into the Lower Reach,” Bastion said.

  “Yes sir,” Luba answered.

  “The last spy to track the black riders at night, well... she ended up serving with them,” he said, smiling at
Yana
.

  “Aye, one of the most foolish moments of my life, and that’s saying something,”
Yana
agreed. 

  “So,” Bastion continued, “if you want to ride with us, you’ll have to set yourself under my command as well,” Bastion said. Luba and Dimmie both looked over at
Yana
, concerned.

  “You... you’re going to let them ride with us?”
Yana
asked.

  “If they are willing,” said Bastion.

  “I’m willing, sir, Captain, sir,” Dimmie said. Luba nodded agreement.

  “You must accept my authority until I release you,” Bastion said, “and you must understand that doing so could cost you your life.” Luba looked over at
Yana
.

  “We have to do it,” she said, “We made up our minds to help.”

  “I accept, Captain,” said Dimmie.

  “I accept, Captain,” said Luba.

  “Then I shall be responsible for you, and will make the best use of your skills that I can.”

  “Thank you Captain,” Luba said. “What will be our first task?”

  “Your first task will be to find Emilee,” Bastion replied.

  The caravan arose before first light, and made their way south, staying under cover of trees and much as they could. Nico hid inside the second wagon, and allowed the two gypsy children to do the scouting, on his horse and the one t
hey arrived
on.
Yana
assured Bastion that they were fine scouts, too, capable as any. They did not expect any other encounters on their way to the Lower Reach, and Bastion figured it would help them look more authentic, especially as they approached the castle.

  The caravan arrived at the outskirts of the city after dark set in, and rambled around the edge of the forest looking for a good place to camp.   Bastion
chose a spot, and they began
setting up camp to look like a genuine gypsy pitch. Luba and Dimmie came in to help, and to report.

  “We found three pixie trees, and one cave, though we could not tell how deep it was,” Luba said. The rest of the black riders convened with them. 

  “We must be prepared and stand watch tonight,
”
said Bastion. “We are a gypsy caravan in the heart of a land that steals gypsies and villagers. We must be vigilant. Nico, you and Nathaniel will take first watch.
Yana
, I want you to take your horse and go with our gypsy warriors to search for Emilee. Everyone stay armed, and use your Romany blankets. We’ll want the element of surprise, if we are attacked. If we are not, we’ll go into the village around the castle tomorrow and scout out a way to deal with these cretins,” he said. “I’m going to see what I can tell of the castle.”

 
Yana
unhitched her horse
with excitement,
and prepared to ride. She was afraid- for herself, for Emilee, for Luba and Dimmie... but she was confident. Another effect Bastion seemed to have on her, she realized.
Yana
was always confident, but had never fought for her life, either. If she was to do it, setting her life in Bastion’s hands seemed like her best hope.

  “Take me to the pixie trees you found,” she directed the children. They took her to the first one, and
Yana
climbed up into it. There was no trace of Emilee, or anyone at all.

  “The cave we found is near this one,” Luba said.

  “Take me there,”
Yana
replied. They arrived at the cave, tucked into the bottom of a drop-off.
Yana
walked up to the entrance and peered in. The dark
,
yawning mouth of the cave offered only mystery and fear.

  “Emilee!”
Yana
called into the dark abyss. She waited. Nothing. “Emilee!” she called again. No answer.

 
Yana
’s dagger
seemed to jump
into her hand at the sound she heard above the ridge. She didn’t know what she heard, but the dagger in her hand made her feel better, as they departed the cave. They remounted their horses and went up around the drop-off carefully and slowly.
Yana
hoped that their horses would be fast enough to get them to safety if the noise was something bad.

  They came up around the slope, and headed for where
Yana
thought she heard the sound. She recoiled a bit as she found a group of rats feasting on some kind of dead animal. Several dead animals, she realized. It was hard to tell in the dark.

  “There,” Dimmie said. “There’s another pixie tree.”

 
Yana
motioned for them to follow, and headed for it.

  “Oi,”
Yana
called out softly.

  “Oi,” a voice called back.

 
Yana
’s heart soared. “Oi gitana!” she called.

  Emilee’s head popped out from the landing in the tree. The rest of her followed, Emilee’s strong form popping up entirely and tumbling perfectly down a branch to her friends.

  “I knew you’d come!” she said.

  The three riders gathered around her joyfully.

  “What are you vagabonds doing here?” Emilee asked of Luba and Dimmie.

  “We had to come help,” Dimmie said with exuberance, “but we aren’t just vagabonds anymore,” he added. “We’re black riders!”

  “Black riders?! Black riders?” Emilee broke out with a laugh.
Yana
knew it sounded funny.

  “It’s true,” she said.

  “Well,” Emilee said, “I hope you aren’t the only black riders around. I have been down into the city. We got trouble.”

  “We brought all the black riders from
Jedikai
,”
Yana
said. “We are going to try to find a way to get into the castle and stop the slave traders.”

  Emilee frowned. “Getting into the castle is not going to be enough,” she said. “The slaves are sailing to Kaffa.”

  “When do they leave?” Bastion demanded, back at their camp.

  “At first light, I think,” said Emilee.

  “Then we cannot wait. We’ll have to move now.” he said. “I don’t know how to get into the castle. I looked around it but I cannot see much. They are keeping it dark on purpose.”

  “Yes,” Emilee said,
“and I know why!” All attention turned to her, so she continued. “Did you see those buildings just behind the castle, off the east side?”

  “Yes,” said Bastion. “Four small buildings.”

  Emilee nodded. “The one closest to the wall,” she said, “has an opening that leads into the castle.”

  “How
could you possibly
know that?” asked
Yana
.

  “I watched it. I watched it all day for two days. I knew this is where you would come. This is where they took the slaves, so I knew you would track them here.”

  “Good, good,” Bastion said. “But how do you know there’s an entrance?”