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The man laughed. “Sure you are. You and that little slut there together couldn’t kill a bug.” Before the oaf finished the sentence the warrior had caught him with a roundhouse kick to the temple knocking him to the wet ground. Gygr over spun and slipped falling on top of him.

“Here now Blue, he’s down let’s be goin.” Lisi tried to help the big woman to her feet.

“Got some trouble there Lis?” Officers approached.

“Uh . . .no Gus, just gots one had a bit too much.” The girl continued to try to pull the warrior to her feet.

Gustav and Zia beside him recognized their Commander slumped over a body on the ground. Gustav checked the man’s throat, “he’d dead.”

“Oh gods,” Lisi sat in a puddle beside the inebriated woman. “He attacked her. She just kicked the bloke.” The girl looked from one officer to the other hoping they believed her. “Honestly.”

Gustav and Zia pulled the warrior to her feet and she tried to take a swing at them. “None of that now soldier,” Gustav said in his best commanding voice.

“Who you callin a soljur.” The commander pounded her chest with her fist, “I’ma gladiator.”

“Okay, gladiator. Get on out before Gygr sees you.” Gustav winked at Zia.

“Come on Blue, we gots to go now.”

“Gygr!” Gygr spit. “Damn bitch thinks she knows evything.” She belched.

“Blue, ya shodunt be sayin such things bout yer commander now.” Lisi tried to pull the warrior toward the room she rented from Paula. “Come on now.”

Zia blocked their passage, “you saying Gygr’s not a good commander?”

“No, she ain’t sayin notthing of the sort,” Lisi pulled on the warrior’s arm.

Gygr stood as tall as she could, “damn straight. Now let us pass.”

“Why?”

“Why? Cause we gotta pass to get to the room, idiot.”

“No,” Zia moved closer, “why is she a bad commander?”

“Who?” The warrior was having difficulty following everything.

“Gygr.” Zia smirked. “You said she wasn’t a good commander. Why do you say that?”

“I said that?” She swung around to face Lisiana, “did I say that?” The young woman reluctantly nodded her head. “Then it must be true.” She patted Zia and Gustav on their shoulders and pushed them away as she continued toward the Governor’s Mansion.

“Blue, you can’t be goin there. That’s the headquaters.” Lisi tried to pull the woman back, but was grabbed around the shoulders instead. Gygr pulled the girl close and strode into the great hall then up the stairs and around the balcony that overlooked the hall. She pushed the doors to the bedroom open and they slammed against the walls with a loud bang. Lisi cringed then stared in open mouthed wonder at the size of the room. The large bed stood to her left and directly across from it a big window overlooked the town and the wharf. Since the house was on a hill the tsunami had done no damage to this structure.

Gygr slipped off her scabbard and armor and fell flat on the down filled bed. She was asleep before her head touched the covering.

Lisi stood at the door, mouth still open, staring at the intricacies of the woodwork around the top of the ceiling and along the baseboards of the walls. To her immediate right was a small desk with a leather chair behind it. Further in she could see tall clothes closets and the opening of another room at the far end. Her fingers travelled lightly over the silky soft covering on the bed as she passed to inspect the other room. Inside was a large metal tub along the far wall and a porcelain pot in the corner across the good sizedl room.

She returned to the bedroom and lay on the bed. Softest bed I ever been on. Gods. Lisi had not realized how tired she was and soon was sleeping beside the warrior.

Istri entered with a tray with the Commander’s morning meal and stopped in her tracks. Gygr lay on her back snoring while a young woman lay beside, her arm thrown over the older woman’s chest and a leg over the warrior’s own.

“Now what did she go out and do with that poor young thing,” the cook mumbled under her breath as she settled the tray on the desk. As the warrior and her friend slept Istri had the tub filled with hot water she had been boiling since before dawn. She closed the door as the last man left with his empty buckets just as the warrior opened her eyes.

“Uh,” she rubbed her temples, “ahhhhlch,” and stuck out her tongue. “Gods what . . .?” She turned to see Lisi slightly snoring beside her. “Damn, what did I do?” She thought. “Did I?” She looked at the girl again, “Nah, I wouldn’t have. Did I?” Get a grip Gygr. You still have your clothes on and so does she. You didn’t do anything. Thank the gods. She blew out a relieved breath and gently lifted the girl’s arm and leg and slipped out of the bed.

She bathed and dressed in a clean tunic and sat at the desk eating from the tray Istri had left. She picked up her armor and scabbard from the floor and put them on, finished the last of the goat milk and stepped out of the room bumping into Istri in the process. “Uh. . .”

“What did you do with that girl last night?” Istri stood before her, hands on her hips and foot tapping against the floor.

“Nothing.” The warrior moved to leave only to have Istri block her way. “Really, Istri, nothing happened.”

“And I’m supposed to believe that?”

“Believe what you will, it’s the truth.”

“Well, why didn’t you?”

“What?”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Istri . . . I uh . . that’s none of your business.” She tried to get away again. “Istri let me pass, I have work to do.”

“And what do I do with the young one in there,” the cook jerked her head toward the bedroom.

“Feed her, give her have a bath and let her go home.” Gygr stepped quickly to the side and strode down the stairs. “Oh,” she called from the hall below, “be sure to tell her Blue says thank you for a wonderful evening.”

She walked to the clearing the forces had begun using for training and met with her officers. “So, how was your evening,” Zia raised a brow.

“Fine,” Gygr looked at the woman. Gods. Does everyone know? She nodded to Gustav who fell into step beside her.

“How was your evening?”

“Fine.”

Tron and Yoshi waited for the two at the top of the hill, “hey, Gygr, have a nice night?”

“Yeah, Commander, how’d it go?”

Gygr stopped and held up her hands palms out. “Okay, what’s the big deal I invited a girl . . .” She shook her head, “oh never mind.”

“So,” Yosh whispered, “was she good?”

“Nothing happened Yosh.” She lengthened her strides.

“Yeah, sure.” The major called after her.

“Really nothing happened,” Gygr yelled back, and 200 pair of eyes were immediately looking at her. The commander’s neck reddened. “Are we ready to start with this exercise or not,” she yelled at the troops.

Istri lay the tray on the desk and glanced at the still sleeping girl. “Okay, but keep it quiet. I don’t want to wake her.” Men entered with steaming buckets and after emptying the tub added the clean, hot water.

When Lis opened her eyes and was surprised at the brightness of her room. Not my room. Oh gods. Blue. She turned and sat up looking around for her friend. She’s gone and left me to face the Commander alone. Never would have thought she’d do that. She saw the door move and froze.

Istri entered and glanced around the room seeing the figure sitting on the large bed. “So you’re up.” The woman bustled around the room picking up the cloths Gygr used to dry herself and had left on the floor, “good. Got a bath ready for you and something to eat.”

Lisi didn’t move for a moment. “Bath?”

“Yes and Gygr said to tell you that ‘Blue says thank you for a wonderful evening.’”

“Gygr?”

Istri chuckled, “so what happened last night?” If she couldn’t get the real info from the mouth of one horse mouth she’d try the other.

“Last night?” Lisi slipped off the bed, rubbed her face and stretched. “Uh . . . nothing happened last night. Except Blue got drunk.”

Istri chuckled again, “been a while since the commander did that.”

“Commander?” Lisi thought she’d been with Blue. This woman seems to think I was with Gygr. Gygr? ‘Gygr said to tell you Blue said thank you for a wonderful evening.’ Gods. Blue is Gygr! She swallowed and sank to the floor to sit down.

“Hey, you all right?” Istri was at her side in a flash.

“Uh . . . yes, I just didn’t . . uh, yes.” The woman helped her up and led her to the bath.

The warrior worked the soldiers doubly hard, mostly because she was angry with herself, but also because she knew Jauka would be coming at some point. She wanted her troops ready. They may have had little experience, but they would not be untrained. This day she began a new series of maneuvers and strategies that would be used when they were out in the battlefield. At midday she allowed a short rest and had the troops fed while she went over the new plans with her officers.

The two hundred continued until darkness forced them to stop. “Tomorrow, Yosh and Gus take fifty each and begin training your battalions. Keep working until they can do those maneuvers in their sleep.” She marched to the HQ and entered the huge hall, “oh and Quella is bringing horses, arms, supplies and food over from Alaistria over the next month. See that the horses are given to those who already know how to ride. If necessary set up separate cavalry units.” She entered the kitchen where Istri already had a large meal prepared for the hungry officers. “And Tron,” she dug into the stew the cook placed before her, “take the other hundred and start training them in hunting warfare.”

“What?” All three officers looked up at once.

“It’s something new.” She swallowed another mouthful of stew, “I was reading a scroll in the library about hunting when I thought of it.” She sopped the last of the stew with her bread and stuffed it into her mount.

“You mean,” Gustav waved his spoon, “hunting, like hunting, hunting?”

“Yeah,” Gygr began her second bowl of stew and nodded as she chewed and swallowed the hunk of meat in her mouth. “I based it on hunting techniques. You pursue the enemy as if it’s a deer or bear,” she spooned another mouthful, gravy dripping down her chin, “and try to pick them off one at a time.” The warrior wiped her chin with the back of her hand and continued, “should demoralize them more than anything. But it sounds promising. I want to try it.”

Yoshi nodded, “yeah, getting them one at a time will take forever.” She cleaned her bowl with the last of her loaf and stood. “I’ll have the hunters talk to us about it.” She shrugged, “who knows maybe if it doesn’t work we’ll at least be better hunters.” Everyone laughed. “Later,” Yosh waved and left.
 

Stefan stopped the party beside a small stream and sent several out to hunt as the others prepared the camp. “We’ll spend the night here and continue in the morning.” She watched as the pit was dug for a fire, wood gathered, and the pots filled with water ready for the fire. The horses were unsaddled, rubbed down and staked out to graze in a small clearing.

“Are you tired Mishal?”

The young woman looked up at the tall dark soldier, “uh yes, thank you.”

Stefan became the acknowledged leader of the MGs. She had kept moving throughout the day wanting to find a defensible spot to stop. This was perfect. They had water, sweet grass for the horses and, being on a slight rise, an excellent view of the surrounding area. The recent rains had allowed the desert brush to explode into new growth and the little party was surrounded by it.

The food was good. Pelese’s mother had been a cook for a wealthy merchant and learned the trick of how to make anything taste like it took hours to put together. Stefan settled beside Mishal while they ate. “Are you okay?”

Mish nodded. Who are all these people? Who am I? What am I? They treat me like royalty. Am I? That tall red-haired woman, who was she? They said I know her? Why don’t I remember?

A tear escaped onto her cheek and Stefan set both their bowls aside to hold the now sobbing girl. “Shhh,” she rocked her and held her close, “don’t worry, you’re safe with us.” The crying continued for a while longer until Stefan  realized the young woman was asleep. Genlty she lifted her and nodded to Pledil who opened the large skin on which Mish was placed. Stefan covered the girl then returned to finish her meal.

The night was cold. It was the tail end of November and Stefan couldn’t wait for Spring.. It was difficult for her to sleep on cold nights. Funny. My home country is sometimes very cold and I didn’t mind it there. Wonder why I don’t like it here? Maybe because you don’t want to be here. Well, actually that’s changed. She glanced at the young dark girl sleeping near the warm fire. Yeah, that has most definately changed. But she belongs to Gygr. “She’s no longer a slave.” True, but the Commander cares for her. “She would never interfere with Mishal’s happiness.” And you can make her happy? She doesn’t even know you. “Well, she doesn’t know herself either,” Stefan rose and suddenly became aware she had been talking to herself. She looked around and sighed in relief when she saw everyone still sleeping. The tall dark soldier took a walk around the perimeter nodding to the guards on watch as she did so.

A piercing scream rang through the camp and Stefan raced back. Soldiers, some with swords in their hands surrounded Mish’s bedroll and the dark woman had to force her way through. The young woman was screaming and crying, Stefan quickly knelt beside her and held her tight. “Shhh, it’s okay.” She rocked the woman and nodded for the others to go back to sleep. Stefan lifted the girl onto her lap and held her like a baby, rocking and speaking softly into her ear.
 

Two days later Quella’s first ships arrived and within a week over a hundred horses were available for the new cavalry. “Where’d he get them? They don’t have to be broken, some even seem battle trained,” Tron stood beside Gygr as yet another ship was unloaded, this time of food, arms and other supplies.

“I’ve learned not to question Bris or Quella about it. All I get is some reference to Jauka and mumbles.” Gygr turned and headed back to her office in the HQ. “I want to show you the new maps Kelt made.”

Inside a large table stood in the middle of the office and the two looked over several maps. They were large and some areas were very detailed. “As you can see there are hills bordering the road from Doak as well as the one north of here to Hyr. That’s where we’re going to put our hunting soldiers. They won’t be mounted, they won’t have to be. With all the trees and cover they can do a lot of damage before anyone even spots them.”

Tron nodded, “and when they are spotted?”

“We send in the cavalry.” The commander smiled.

Tron, Gustav, Yosh, Kelt and an new lieutenant, Dakkan stood around the table going over the maps with their Commander. “Okay, Kelt’s made copies for each of you. Don’t loose them and whatever you do don’t let them fall into Jauka’s hands.” Those around her nodded, “Yoshi you take the area south of here toward Doak. Gustav the north, toward Hyr. Tron you and your men will practice the new maneuvers against them.”

“What?” Both Yoshi and Gustav yelled at the same time.

“I said Tron is going to practice against you.” She looked at each of them, “the hunting fighters have to have practice. And your troops need experience. We’ll combine the two.” She turned to the new lieutenant, “Dakkan, I understand you grew up in Doria and know the land well.”

The young man proudly stood at attention, “yes Commander.”

Gygr surpressed a smile, “good. I want you to get together with Kelt and locate caves where we can cache supplies. Kelt will mark them on the maps with some innocuous symbol.” She turned to each man, “can you do that?”

“Yes commander. Actually there are several caves below the HQ.”

“What?”

“There are several . . .” she stopped him.

“Where?”

“In the tunnels.”

“Tunnels, Gustav did you find tunnels?”

“No.”

“We used to play in them as kids.”

“I thought you were a farmer or something?” Yoshi looked up and down the young man as if seeing him for the first time.

“No. Why would you think that?” He turned to Gygr, “my father was one of the original mine owners. This house belonged to Palacia one of his partners. We lived in Knaub, just east of here.” He jerked his head toward the east, “Jauka enslaved us all when he decided to take the mines for himself.”

“How long were you in the mine?” Gustav had a new respect for this young man.

“Five years. My parents and little sister all died there,” he cleared his throat, “but I swore I’d kill Jauka for what he did to all of them.” A tear fell to his cheek and he quickly wiped it away. “So,” he regained control of himself, “whatever you need me to do Commander I’ll do.”

The tall warrior smiled, “let’s take a look at those caves.”

The storeroom had shelves against all four walls. The young lieutenant walked quickly to the farthest wall and pointed the torch toward the corner. “See there’s a latch there.” He pulled it and pushed against the shelves until they fell away like a large door. “And here’s the tunnel.” He entered and flashed the torch back and forth as the others followed. When everyone was in he said, “and you close it by pushing it back,” as he did so.

The tunnel was dark and dank. “Is there a way to lock the uh. . .secret door,” Gygr looked over the smooth surface of the back of the shelving that was the secret panel.

“Not that I know of. Course we never wanted to lock it.”

Gygr nodded, “where do they go?”

“All over. Look here,” he pointed to three slash marks at waist level. “We put those there so we wouldn’t get lost.” He reddened, “it’s scary when your a kid.”

Gygr chuckled, “tunnels can be scary even if you’re not.” They continued down the tunnel until they came to a door. Gygr and Gustav working together pushed the creaky door open on rusted hinges. “Damn, stinks in here.” As more entered the room with their torches it became obvious why.  Three partially mumified bodies were curled in a corner.

Dakkan took one look and hurried from the room. Tron found him vomiting further down the tunnel. He passed the boy a waterskin he had grabbed on their way. Gratefully Dakkan washed his mouth out then took a good swallow. “Thanks.”

“You know them?”

The young man nodded, “that’s Palacia, his wife and . . . my friend Trelden.” He slid down the wall and hugged his knees against his chest. “We always wondered if they got away or not.” He chuckled, “I guess now we know, huh?”

Tron patted the young man’s shoulder and went back to the others. Gygr and Gustav were trying to overcome another door that was in the wall on the right. “Another door?”

“Seems so.” Yoshi leaned against the far wall, arms crossed, watching the two with their shoulders to the door trying to force it open.

Tron noticed something and smiled at Yoshi, “you gonna tell them or should I?”

“You’ve got the rank,” she smiled.

“Yeah, but Gygr would never hit you,” he raised his brows.

“Don’t count on it.” She took in a deep breath, pushed herself from the wall and rested her hands on the shoulders of the two door attackers as she cleared her throat. “May I assist?” Yoshi fanned her hand indicating she wanted the two to move away, then grabbed the rope handle and pulled as hard as she could. The entire door gave way and Yoshi found herslef on top of Gygr with the door on top of her the rope still in her hand. “Damn.” Beneath her Gygr started to laugh. “Glad you thought that was funny,” the major pushed the door from her and slowly stood. She offered a hand to the commander and helped the woman to her feet.

Gustav was already inside with a torch. “Gods.”

Gygr grabbed a torch and followed. “Gods.”

Tron and Yosh looked at each other and rushed in getting momentarily stuck in the door as they tried to enter at the same time. “Gods,” they said in unison.

Dakkan glanced at the remains and quickly moved toward the opening and looked over Yoshi’s shoulder. What he saw stunned him. Neatly stacked from floor to ceiling were bars of gold glistening in the torchlight. “Gods,” he whispered to himself.

“Dakkan, Kelt, I want a map of the tunnels. Detailed.” Gygr turned to the group, “where’s Kelt?”

Yoshi and Tron returned to the tunnel to look for the man. They went past the secret door and continued until they saw the light of a torch. Inside a room Kelt stood with his mouth open. “Kelt?”

“Look,” he pointed his torch inside revealing bars of gold stacked from floor to ceiling. “Gods, I can’t believe it.”

“Well that makes two. Let’s get back and see what the Commander wants to do with it.”

Dakkan showed them how to open the secret door from the tunnel and Gygr had each of them do it to make sure they remembered. Then they returned to the office and again went over the maps. Kelt and Dakkan would begin a thorough investigation of the tunnels the following morning and set up a simple system to follow so they would not get lost.

“Yoshi, Gustav I want you both to leave before dawn. By the way, Darsilo has pigeons for each of you. They are trained so they should help us stay in contact with one another. Get together with him before you leave to learn how the system works.” They nodded and departed talking excitedly about the treasure in the caves, “And another thing.” Gygr stopped them, “what was found in the caves is not to be discussed outside of this room.” Everyone nodded and the officers left. She spoke a little longer with Tron before dismissing him.
 

Stefan was awakened by Hannibal’s uneasiness. The stallion was snorting and dancing from side to side. The tall dark guard slowly settled Mishal onto the skin covering the ground and rose. As she did so she could feel the activity of others waking. “Shhhh,” she gave each a fierce look. The guards began to rise slowly to look at what had their leader’s attention.

Approaching the camp a massive wildcat slowly turned it’s head giving the humans a cursory glance then continued toward the horses. The cats tits, heavy with milk, hung from her body swing from side to side as she continued toward her prey.

Slowly the guards began gathering weapons. Most opted for their bow, and several already had an arrow notched ready to fly. Mandt tossed Stefan her bow and quiver and the large woman settled an arrow and pulled the string back.

Mishal woke and seeing the tense guards, slowly rose to see what had their attention. When she saw the cat her eyes widened. It’s a mother.

Stefan watched the predator approach the mounts. Hannibal danced away from the offending smell of an enemy approaching as the cat sank to the ground. The guards watched the predator gird it’s rear legs, seeing the muscles bunch, it’s eyes on the target. Hannibal.

Everything happened at once. The cat leaped toward it’s prey. Mishal yelled, “nooo.” And the arrows flew toward the predator.

The cat fell to the ground three arrows protruding from her side. The mother pulled herself painfully to her paws and slowly retreated.

“Why did you do that?” Mishal pulled Stefan’s arm forcing her to face the young woman. “It was a mother. She has cubs somewhere.”

Stefan looked down at the teary eyed girl and took a deep breath. “I have an obligation to protect Hannibal. And I will do so at any cost.”

“Hannibal?”

“The one you call Bright White Cloud.” Stefan turned to the others, “break camp, let’s get going.”

“What about the cubs?”

Stefan looked at the worry in the young gray eyes. “We’ll follow her.”

As the cat lost blood and strength Stefan worried she might not make it to her cubs. They followed the rest of the night then by the bright light of the sun. By late afternoon they had lost track of the mother. But it didn’t matter. Two cubs frolicked beneath green shrubs, play fighting. Their mother lay, breathing heavily beside it. The cubs took a few moments from playtime to cuddle their mother, then went back to their mock battle.

“Oh, the poor thing,” Mishal slid from Hannibal’s back and approached the dying animal.

Quickly Stefan jumped from her mount and stopped the young woman. “When they’re injured they are more dangerous.”

“But she’s dying?”

“Yes. She is. And she’d gladly use the last of her enegy to kill you to protect her cubs.”

Mish raised her brows, “yes, of course. That’s what I’d do, too.”
 

Gygr was pleased with the reports Tron sent on the effectiveness of the new gygrella’s as they called themselves. Yoshi and Gustav’s troops were becoming more adept in listening and looking for the telltale signs of an ambush. Their sword work was improving and the cavalry was learning how to use their mounts in close quarters, somehting that would be invaluable should an all out battle take place.

The warrior had not seen Lisi since the night she’d become drunk and had been too busy to return to the tavern. She found herself thinking of the young prostitute almost as often as she thought of Mishal.

With the incoming ships the taverns and the brothel were busy. A second tavern had opened and they both prospered. The new tavern owner had come from Alastria. He was a quiet, sullen man who said little and never associated with anyone else. He’d tried to open a brothel, but found the women working at Paula’s were happy with her set up. The man decided to buy women from Panadol and El Sofar to start his business. Within a week of his brothel opening he was forced to close.

“Belacius, there is no slavery in Doria. The women are free to pursue their own interests or business endeavors.” Bris, as the new mayor of Port Emilie broke the news to the man.

“They’re my property,” the man yelled. “You have no right to take my property.”

Calmly Bris continued, “in Doria we have every right. As long as you are here you have no human property. They are free the moment they set foot on Dorian soil.” Bris stood and looked into the eyes of the angry man. “They are free. There is nothing more to discuss.”

The women he’d purhased, now being free, began working with One-Legged Paula. When they had learned of their freedom none wanted to stay with Balecius. Paula expanded her brothel and gladly shared her drinking customers with the new tavern down the street.

Balecius, an already angry man, became livid and his hatred of Gygr and the Destroyers exploded in a rage more than once. The man would avail himself of the services of one of the women he’d brought from Alaistria and she invariabley ended up needing the services of a healer. After the fourth, and most viscious assault, Paula refused to allow him near any of her girls.

Bris had been hearing of the assaults and the final one, the viscious beating of a fourteen year old, prompted him to take action.

Gygr intitiated new laws. Paula was not pleased when she learned prostitutes had to be over the age of 18 years. She argued with Gygr. “Commander, some of the customers want young girls.”

The commander sat in the large chair in her office. “No.”

“But . . .”

“No.”

“Well, some like boys. I was thinking of hiring some boys. Would that be all right?”

“As long as they are over the age of 18 years.”

“But?”

“Paula,” Gygr stood and leaned over her desk toward the woman. She must have been beautiful when she was younger. “These new laws are meant to protect them. We can’t have grown men beating up children. And I won’t have children put into those positions.” She raised a brow, “are we clear?”

Paula nodded. “Absolutely commander.” Then the woman smiled, “if we had rules like that years ago, I’d still have my leg.” She smiled and grabbed the wooden crutch that lay beside the chair.

“Uh . . .Paula, . . . uh how’s Lisi?”

“That girl,” the woman dropped the crutch to the floor and leaned back into the chair. “Do you know she’s actually talking to the girls about forming a guild?”

“Guild?”

“Yes,” she shook her head, “for prostitutes.” Paula chuckled, “she’s already requesting one day off each week and wants all the girls to have the freedom to refuse certain customers.”

“Don’t they have that already?”

“Only those that have been around awhile. Lisi, Anaticia, Selin, Proguet, and Tasha. But they’ve been with me for ages.”

“Paula, I don’t see that as being a problem. So they get one day a week to rest up and have a personal life. That should make them more eager to get back to work so they can make money to spend on their day off. And as far as the customers go, the new laws will make assaulting anyone, including a prostitute illegal. The girls know who the abusers are. They should be allowed the freedom to either accept or reject anyone.”

“I still don’t like it. Some of my customers enjoy that kind of thing.”

“And I know of some girls do as well,” the commander leaned back in her chair. “Charge more. If they want it they’ll pay for it. That makes the girls happy and the customers won’t feel,  . . . inhibitied by their more rough proclitivities.”

Paula raised her brows, “yes a couple of the girls don’t seem to mind.” She leaned over and once again grabbed the crutch then pulled herself up from the chair, “Gygr, been nice talking to ya.” She smiled at the tall warrior. “You know Lisi has a meeting with the girls every day during the midday meal. Even Bull, my bartender, attends. I think they’re up to something.” She nodded and hobbled from the office.

“Up to something?” Good or bad?

As more ships made port, sailors availed themselves of the brothels services. Once the new laws were understood there were few problems. Almost. Once the sailors understood that Dorian soil meant freedom there was an immediate increase in the population and a subsequent decrease in the ships entering the port. With the loss of sailors to go to Doria Quella and Bris were desparate to find transport for the supplies.

The gold the officers had found below the HQ became invaluable. It was used to purchase ships. Discussions over dinner began to take on the guise of a corporate meeting. Gygr, Bris, Quella and Eadwar, via pigeon, discussed setting up a ship building operation in Doak. Almeco purchased seven ships over the following month. The Destroyer Navy purchased two which were anchored near the north end of the Finger of the Destroyer, as the peninsula that formed Emilie bay was now being called. The northern half of the Finger of the Destroyer was given to the Navy. Over the course of time Gygr wanted a fleet of ships protecting Doria and that would be their homebase.

In mid December Gygr and her officers were again going over maps and battle tactics when Lisi forced her way into the room. “Blue, Jauka’s coming,” she bent over, hands on knees gulping in air.

Gygr gently led the girl to a chair and gave her a mug of water, “get your breath first.”

Lisi took deep breaths and drank the water, “gots a custmr, says Jauka’s building up his army near Panadol.” She swallowed more water, “says he’s real angry ‘bout there being no slavery in Doria.”

“How does your customer know?”

“His brother is a soldier with Jauka. Was pressed to service and hopes to sneak away when they get here.”

“Did your customer know when Jauka plans on attacking?”

Lisi shook her head, “that’s all he said.” She looked up at the tall warrior standing over her, “Blue we’ll all be safe, right?”

“Yes Lisi. Thanks for letting us know,” she showed the girl to the door and whispered, “and I want you to know I haven’t been by because I’ve been busy.” She winked and Lisi smiled, then ran out of the hall back to work.

“Okay,” she leaned over the maps, “we’ll have to evacuate Emilie.”

“Evacuate?”

“Yes.” The warrior turned to her majors, “Gus, Yosh, get to your troops and have them in position by nightfall. Tron the hunting soldiers . . .”

“Gygrella’s,” he clarified.

“Yeah, whatever they call themselves, I want them divided into squads of 13 and supplied with maps and instructions that their only orders are to harrass the enemy.”

“Commander they haven’t landed yet. It could be weeks, even months.” Tron tried to be the voice of patience.

“Evacuate the townspeople to Knaub.” She looked at Tron, “and I don’t care if we have to wait a year, I want everyone out by the end of the week.”

“Quella, were taking over your ships.” Gygr sat behind the desk and played with her knife. Cristov’s knife.

“What? Gygr you can’t do that.”

She held her hands up to him, “Quella, if I don’t Jauka will.” She waited as the words sank in. “We have lots of sailors, and with the arms you brought in we can fit your ships with catapults and even a ramming point. We have men who will row so we don’t have to rely on the winds.” She stood and walked around to the front of the desk where she leaned against it. “We have to start now though, we have no idea when he’ll come.”

Quella nodded, “I have three ships on the way to Panadol, one just left this morning. Do you want me to call them back?”

“That’s up to you. You have decent captains onboard. Maybe they’ll have an idea or two.”

“Gygr, I once said I’d do anything for you. And I want you to know that still goes.” The young man, who now sported a mustache, hugged the surprised woman.

“Quella . . . uh . . . thanks.”

Two of Quella’s captains decided to return to Emilie. The one who didn’t lost his ship and he and his crew were enslaved into Jauka’s own navy.

Yoshi, Tron and Gustav continued training and when they had time hunted and smoked the meat, storing it in the caches Dakkan had located and Kelt had marked on the maps. Yoshi chuckled each time she looked over her map. Kelt had made symbols for everything, cache, tall trees, taller trees, hot spring, large boulder, and there were symbols that meant absolutely nothing. “To confuse Jauka in case they get one of our maps,” he’d smiled.

“No. I ain’t leaving.” Lisi, hand on her hips faced the commander.

“Lisi it’s going to be dangerous here. Jauka’s troops . . .”

“They’s men. Men’s men. No different if Jauka’s or yours. I ain’t leavin and nothing you can say will make me change me mind.”

None of Paula’s girls left Port Emilie. A few others stayed as well. Belacius, a goods merchant, the smith and the tanner and his employees. They all anticipated making lots of singli from Jauka’s army.

Gygr and the rest pulled back to Knaub to wait. “Commander,” Darsilo stood before the woman as she leaned over her maps. “Dozen pigeons were stolen in Emilie.”

“Stolen?”

“Yes.”

She stood straight and rubbed her temples hoping the headache would see fit to diminish if not go away completely. “There’s nothing we can do about it now.” She nodded and the falconer left.

Two days later Yoshi sent word that they had seen Jauka’s ships in port. “Good.” Gygr had done everything she could to prepare her troops. It was up to them now. Within a week she began receiving reports of scattered fighting, Jauka’s troops losing many to the new gygrellas. Then she began receiving reports of desertions by the tyrants soldiers.

“Why did you desert?” Gygr questioned one who had made it with several others to Knaub.

The frightened man swallowed. “Didn . . . didn’t want to get killed fightin for Jauka.”

“Why not? You joined his army.”

The man shook his head and curled his lip, “yeah, it was either that or see my family slaughtered like pigs. Jauka gives no choice.”

“Why did you desert in Doria?”

“The whore I was with said I’d be free here. Could join you if I wanted. Said you won’t kill us if we fought with you. I’d rather fight with you against Jauka.”

“A whore?”

“Yeah, at One-Legged Paula’s. Real nice girls there.” The man smiled remembering his time with Tina.

Everyone she questioned told basically the same story. They were pressed into service. Threatened with either the deaths of their family before their eyes or enslavement in the army if they had no family. Being an army slave brought with it a terrifying and horrible existence, beginning with the severing of an achiles tendon so they couldn’t run away.

When Darsilo received a message from Emilie he ran it to his commander.

Jauka on his way to Doak tomorow dawn.
A freind.

“Can you believe it?”

“We have no choice until it’s found unreliable. Send a message to Yosh advising her. And to Tron to head in that direction, now.”

The information was reliable and the first time Jauka’s troops met the Destroyers the latter lived up to their reputation. Those who dropped their swords after the battle were taken prisoner. Those who surrendered before the battle were welcomed as deserters. Haodol already had three companys on their way west to take any prisoners back to Number One and their new lives as tunnel diggers.

Jauka and his top officers barely got away with their lives and returned to Port Emilie. “Damn, it’s like they knew. They’re slaves not soldiers.” He threw his armor into a corner and paced, “damn the gods.” His voice echoed through the room into the hall and up the stairs. “I want patrols out. Hunt them down. Kill them one at a time if you have to, but I want them dead. And I want Gygr.” He brushed his fingers through his hair, “I want more troops here. By the end of the week I want 10,000 men here.” He stomped from the room.

His officers looked at each other and shrugged.

“Ten thousand?” Gygr was stunned. Dakkan stood beside her and read the note over her shoulder.

“That’s what it says Commander.”

“Damn,” she paced the office in the old mansion Dakkan had called home as a child. “We’re going to have to start incorporating any deserters into the army. Contact Gus, Tron, Hal and Yosh tell them I want them here day after tomorrow at dawn for a meeting. Send messages to every outpost informing them of the impending invasion. “Jauka wants a fight he’ll get it.”
 

Stefan and her party had stopped in Tillymoss for a few days just to have beds to sleep in and decent food for a change. Not that Pelese didn’t satify. It was good enough, just not plentiful enough. Then they moved on to Tang Te Lake where the house Gygr had commissioned was completed. Mishal moved in and as her personal guard so did Stefan. The rest of the guards became a part of the Tang force.

The two cubs followed Mish and Stefan everywhere. From the first day when they were fed raw quail from the women’s hands they’d found their new mothers. Mishal named them Light and Dark based on the color of their paws. Stefan just hoped the paw colors didn’t change as they grew older since both were female.

Mishal had been very quiet on the trip from Emilie. In Tang she seemed to change. She suffered through headaches that sometimes debilitaed her, but for the most part she appeared to Stefan and the others to be much happier. She worked with Jonni planting seeds and when they were big enough not to get trampled, would plant them where the new forest was planned. Stefan was encouraged when the Scholar remembered Alden and Jonni and the discussions they had had about the forest of trees and cacti. She was also worried the young woman would also remember Gygr.
 

By dawn on the given day Gygr’s officers arrived in Knaub. Tron brought a package. “Was dropped in the road about four leagues north of Emilie. Came with this note,” he passed it to the warrior as he pushed the rolled carpet from his horse onto the ground. It unrolled to reveal a leg.

“Note says, ‘Now she’s no-legged Paula.’”

They all stared at the limb. “Guess now we know who sent the messages,” Dakkan said softly. The young man looked up into his commander’s eyes with tears in his own, “she was a nice lady.”

“Well, if they’re calling her no-legged Paula then she’s still alive.” Gygr strode into the delapidated house and into the room she used as an office. “We have to make plans for the invasion.”

The five talked, argued, discussed, yelled and finally called it a night when Istri threatened them with her whip. “Protective woman.”

Gygr nodded. The officers now sat on the porch drinking the weak ale the local tavern owner offered. “That she is.”

“What do you think our chances are Gygr?” Dakkan was a little lightheaded this being his first drink of anything stronger than cider.

“He’s only got one place to land. That’s Emilie. Gonna be a bitch getting ten thousand troops through there in anything less than a month. The roads leading north and south are narrow and surrounded by hills. There is no road leading directly here from Emilie. They’d have to go through dense forrest. Everything is in our favor.”

“Everything but numbers.” Tron took another gulp and wished it was stronger.

Yoshi, with Jili leaning against her chest, was glad to have some time to herself with her love. Later, but still . . . “We can probably even use that to our advantage.”

“How?” Dakkan stood a little wobbly on his feet.

Gygr chuckled and the others smirked at the young man. “By making them fall all over themselves trying to get away from us.” She took another swig and was happy to learn Mishal and the others had arrived at Tang Lake safely. “They have only two half decent ways out of Emilie. Keep them squeezed between the hills on both the north and south roads and they’ll fall like lambs to wolves.”

“Exactly,” Yoshi finished her mug and rose pulling up Jili with her. “With that pretty picture in my mind I’ll leave you.” She bowed, “see you tomorrow Gygr,” wrapped her arm around Jili’s shoulders and walked toward the room Jili called home.

Tron and Gustav carried Dakkan into the room they would share in the house as Gygr strolled through the small town. Wonder how Mish is doing? Wonder how Lisi is? Gods. Poor Paula. That was gutsy though. Is that why they all decided not to evacuate? “So they could spy? Perfect set up. Get information from officers while soothing their passions.” Does that mean they were all caught? Have they been killed. “Is Lisi alive or dead?” How can I find out? “Damn.”

“You’re going to what?” Yoshi was livid. “No, not in this lifetime Gygr. We need you here not off galavanting through the woods.”

“Gods, Yosh you make it sound like I’m going to pick berries.”

“I agree with Yosh, I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Tron leaned over the desk nearly touching the Commander’s nose. “I say no.”

“Lucky this isn’t up for a vote. I’m going. End of discussion.”

“Gygr.”

“Commander.”

“Now Gygr, let’s not . . .”

“I said end of discussion.”

“Then allow me and some of the gygrellas to go with you.” Dakkan’s head hurt but he at least had his wits about him. “You know, till you get in. Just in case we meet up with some of their troops.”

“Smartest thing any of you has said this morning.” She turned and smiled at her people. “Do it Dakkan. We leave after sunset. The rest of you,” she looked at each one, “know what to do.”

They had no contact with any of Jauka’s men. By dawn the party of a dozen were on the outskirts of Emilie on a hill overlooking the town. “Gods they already have ships disembarking.”

“How many troops do you think each ship carries, Commander,” Zia whispered.

“Don’t know. Why don’t you count? At least then we’ll have a better idea of how long it will take to tranport 10,000 men from Alaistria to Doria.”

They had brought some of the smoked meat and waterskins and watched the wharf and town as they waited for the sun to set.

“Seventy-eight.”

“Seventy-eight what,” Gygr raised a brow.

“Seventy-eight soldiers on that first ship. But they also had supplies so next one might have more.

The commander smilied, “good job Zia.”

The warrior waited until well after dusk before she pulled off her armor and replaced it with the armor of a deserter. She added the hated helmet. Then had Zia cut her hair. "Jauka's men wear it short," she'd explained..

The others watched her leave, their hearts banging so loud in their chests each thought they would be the cause if their commander was captured.

Jauka had added corrals for his horses and the warrior skirted them. The night was not bright, the moon only being at a quarter and waxing. She stepped out into the town from behind the privys and sauntered toward the tavern as if she belonged there.

 Inside Lisi was entertaining several officers. She worried about Paula and hoped the woman hadn’t informed on them. And she worried about how she was going to get messages to Blue since Paula was the only one in the place who knew how to read and write.

Gygr entered the tavern and leaned over the bar. Bull recognized her and she winked. He winked back and gave her a mug of ale. “How’s Paula,” she asked softly.

“Haven’t seen her for four days. She’s in there,” he nodded toward the Governor’s Mansion. “Needn’t worry . . .,” he stopped as a woman sidled beside the warrior.

Gygr didn’t recognize the girl. She was pretty and well built. Very, very well built. Gods didn’t realize they came that big. The warrior swallowed as the woman leaned across the bar.

“Two more ale, Bull,” she said to the man then glanced at the soldier standing beside her. She saw red hair over the forehead and was momentarily caught up in the bright blue eyes. “Gods, your Gygr,” she yelled.