Disclaimers are at   .

"Mishal?"

"Owww."

Gygr kneeled by the young woman. "Mish? You okay?" Gently she lifted the girl by her shoulders. "Mish?"

"Uh, yeah. What was that?" She stood unsteadily on her feet, held in the firm strong grip of the warrior.

"Sounded like a cave in. Here, sit down." She helped Mishal sit and examined her for broken bones. "Nothing broken. How ya feel?"

Mishal stretched her shoulders and neck tentatively, "fine. Nothing hurts, except," she put her hand to her knees, "my knees." They were badly skinned but what little bleeding there was had already stopped. "Gods, that was scary."

"Yeah," Gygr looked in the direction of the cave in. "Look, stay here. I want to check it out."

"Yes." She pulled her legs to her chest and held them with her arms.

Luckily both torches were still lit and the Commander took one to investigate. The cave in was quite far back. The entrance was blocked by boulders and rocks that sat precipitously close to a steep decline in the path. Won’t take much for those to loosen. Gods, we gotta get outta here. She raced back to her friend and helped her up. Shouldering the saddlebag and waterskin she handed Mishal the other torch “Come on,” she lightly pushed the girl ahead of her and they continued down the tunnel. Although the drawings could still be seen over their heads and now along the sides of the tunnel they did not stop to look more closely.

Mishal knew something was wrong. Gygr was pushing them to move quickly. “Why are we going so fast?” The young woman stopped and leaned against the tunnel wall breathing heavily. Gygr noticed Mishal’s lips and fingers were turning blue.

Gods. She’s got a bad heart, too. “Sorry,” the warrior had not realized the pace was causing the girl to tire so quickly. “The rocks could come down on us if there is another cave in. Because we’re going down. I just want to get us to a point where there’s a turn or something that can stop anything coming down. Didn’t realize I was uhm . . . going too fast for you.” The warrior pushed pebbles with her boot concentrating on the placement of each one.

“Oh. Well, just give me a minute,” the young woman smiled as she drew in deep breaths, “I have no desire to end up as road kill . . . by a rock.”

The warrior chuckled and when Mishal nodded she was ready to go they began the trek down the tunnel at a much slower pace. The warrior kept her eye on the girl to assure herself she did not become over tired.

Hades, now she knows about that.  Mish slowed her pace to that of the Commander. Now she’ll go too slow and we’ll be caught if those rocks come down. “Uh, you know we can go a little faster.”

“No, no. We’re doing fine.” Gygr continued in the lead taking time to again look at the wall drawings left by who knows whom, who knows when.

Mishal grabbed the warrior’s arm and pulled her to a stop. “OK. So you know. Big deal. We can go faster, you know. Between the rocks coming down on us and going faster I think the rocks will do more harm. And to both of us.”

“What are you talking about?” Pretty lame Gygr.

“So I have a little problem with my heart. No big deal. And the aura’s. Again, no big deal. It’s a part of me. I know nothing different.” She stepped in front of the warrior, “so I’ll set the pace. I’d rather have a few hours of discomfort because I went a little to fast to get out of here than be dead because you’re scared I’m going to die of exhaustion.” She began to walk and nodded her head forward, “come on.”

Gygr couldn’t help but smile. And I was worried about her?

The pace Mishal set was not as slow as the warrior would have liked, but faster than she had thought it should be.

At one point Mish turned her head, "at least it’s downhill. Uphill is a killer,” she smiled and turned forward again.
 

Bris turned at the commotion in the stable. An unsaddled and unbridled Hannibal stood anxiously as Yoshi and Gustav tried to calm him. “What’s going on,” the old warrior patted the animal's neck and Hannibal nosed the familiar smell in the chest.

“Gygr and Mish went out late yesterday. Now Hannibal’s returned without them. Something must have happened.” Yoshi gave orders to a passing soldier who ran to obey them. “We’ve got to go find them.”

“Do you know where they went?” Bris placed a bridal on the white stallion.

“Uh, no, not really. Do you?”

“Yeah. Gygr wanted to investigate the caves west of here.” He saddled the horse and led him from the stable. “Get a few . . .” Twenty mounted soldiers rode up and joined the three. “Never mind.” Bris chuckled to himself. She’s got them well trained. Quickly Yoshi and Gustav mounted the horses the stable boy had quickly saddled for them. “Come on let’s go,” Bris had to get out of there before he completely lost himself into a fit of hysterics. Gods. You’d think this is a life or death situation. I guess to them it is. They don’t know Gygr like I do.

“So, how’d you end up at, what was it? Number Four?”

“Oh. Well, my master started having some business setbacks. The people around him, who were by the way stealing him blind, got him to believe it was because I was cursed. I don’t think he ever really believed it. But as it turned out, it didn’t matter. He nearly lost everything before he figured out his associates were the cause of his problems. He had to sell nearly everything to save his business. I was among the last to go. I don’t think it was because he had any feelings for me. I think it was just that no one wanted to buy a slave who was cursed. Finally, he sold the rest of us to a merchant who sold us to the mines. That was last year.”

“Uh.”

“So, how’d you end up here?”

“Unfortunate timing, abominable judgment and inadequate competence.”

“Excuse me?” Mish stopped and turned to the Commander. “That’s not what I heard.”

“Yeah, well . . .”

“Yeah, well?” She touched the warriors arm. “All I’ve been hearing is how great you are. How you took beatings so others would be spared. That isn’t a sign of someone being inadequate.”

“People are still dead.” She tried to pull away but a light hand held her as if by magic.

“And people are still alive.” She looked into sky bright eyes and tried to make them believe. “I’m sorry about your friends,” a tear escaped the young woman’s eyes and slowly slid down her cheek. “But one thing I’ve learned is, we all die, Gygr.”

“They died because I didn’t protect them,” the warrior hissed.

“They died because they were in a situation that caused them to be killed. It is not in your power to protect everyone. Gods, please don’t ever think you have to protect me. That’s my job, Gygr. I am responsible for me. I am responsible for my life, my own protection. Just as your friends were responsible for their own. If you can’t accept that then you must not have much faith in those you care for.” She turned to continue down the tunnel.

“What do you mean?”

Mishal turned again to the now pale woman. “I mean you cared for your friends. You enjoyed their company, you derived some benefits from being around them. Maybe those benefits included learning something you never knew before about people, or yourself. They became a part of you. A part you found great difficulty loosing. But,” she again placed her hand on the woman’s arm, “you really didn’t loose them, Gygr. They are here,” she lightly pressed the woman’s chest, “and here,” and gently rubbed her fingers over the warrior’s forehead. “You may think you’ve failed, but as long as they are with you, you didn’t. What they gave you is still there.You just have to remember it and them.”

The young woman stepped closer to the tall warrior, “you must believe that people do things for their own reasons. Your friends did not require your protection. Yes, it would have been nice if you could have prevented their deaths. But you can’t be everywhere, Gygr. You can’t always be around to protect those you care for. It is unreasonable. And it diminishes their memory.”

“Diminishes?

“Yes. Diminishes. Blaming yourself diminishes them. What you are really saying is they did not have the sense to protect themselves. What you are saying is only you have that ability. What you are saying is they should have looked to you as their savior. What you are saying is without you they were incapable fools.”

“No. No.” Gygr held her head with her hands and slid down the wall. “No. I  . . I didn’t mean that.” She looked into pale eyes, “really. I just thought . . .”

“You thought you should have been there for them.”

“Yes. I should have.”

“You were Gygr.” Mishal sat beside the warrior and placed her arm around the wide shoulders. “You were there when they were your friends. You were there to enjoy their company and for them to enjoy yours. You were there to laugh and cry with them to comfort them and lighten their mood and let them do the same for you. And you were there to say goodbye.”

Gygr shuddered.

Mishal whispered in the warrior’s ear, “Gygr. You didn’t fail anyone. You didn’t even fail yourself.”

The warrior pulled her knees to her chest and rested her head on her arms. Mish saw her body shake and the quiet sobs coming from a physically strong woman who found emotions difficult to deal with. The young woman opened the saddlebag and removed some items, opened the waterskin and pushed it into Gygr’s hands. The warrior drank after wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand.

“Here, we may as well eat something.” Mish handed her a piece of cheese and half a loaf of bread keeping the other half for herself. They munched and Gygr slowly regained her composure.

“So,” the warrior sniffled, “how do you learn all this stuff about people.” She turned her head to the small woman beside her.

Mishal smiled, “just watching and listening really. And Master Mileticius had a vast library of scrolls which I was able to read. He was actually a very nice man.”

“Ah.”

“Ah?”

“Ah, you’re a scholar then.”

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far. I know a little about a lot of things, but scholar would really be stretching it.” Mish laughed and Gygr found herself joining her.

The warrior’s head went up, “you hear that?”

Mish didn’t moved and rolled her eyes trying to listen to what? “No, what do you hear?”

“It’s coming from down there,” she pointed to the tunnel and lifting the torch began moving forward again. Mishal hefted the saddlebag, waterskin and took the other torch and followed. Gygr turned, “here, I’ll take those,” and shouldered the bags as they continued.

“I hear it now,” the young woman turned her head. “Sounds like,” she shook her head, “thunder?”

“Yeah, that’s what it sounds like to me too.”

The women continued down. The air began to cool.  “Smell that?”

“The ocean.”

“Got that right, Scholar,” Gygr smiled. “Got that right.”

“What did you call me?”

“Uh, Scholar.” Gygr stopped and looked at the young woman, “you mind?”

“Nn . . . no.” Mishal shook her head. Scholar? If only.

“Come on, I can feel the breeze. This tunnel must end at the north coast of Doria.” She hurried forward, “look Mish, stars.” Gygr ran forward and disappeared. “Ahhhhhhhgghh.”

Mishal followed quickly and found herself falling into darkness.
 

“Must be this one. There’s Hannibal’s saddle and bridal.” Bris dismounted and entered the large cave. Yoshi and several others followed with torches. “Yosh, you take the left, I’ll take the right. Gustav make a perimeter. We don’t want to be surprised.”

“Right,” both replied at the same time.
 

Damn. That hurts. The warrior felt something land beside her. “Mish?”

“Ulgh.”

“Mish?”

“Yes. It’s me. Hope you weren’t expecting someone else.” The young woman sat up and looked around in the darkness. Above her she saw stars. “Well, at least we’re outside.” She shivered and rubbed her arms.

“Yeah. Ahhhggh!,” Gygr tried to sit up.

“What?”

“Damn, think my leg’s broken.”

“Excuse me?”

“What?”

“What?”

“What did you say?”

“What.” Mishal leaned toward the voice that seemed to be getting upset.

“What?” Gygr held up her hand, “never mind.”

“So, what do we do now.”

“I’d say start a fire, but it seems we’re on a beach and I doubt we’ll find much, if any wood.”

Mishal stood and looked around until she found one of the torches which luckily had not gone out. “I’ll look around.”

“Right.” Gygr pulled herself into a sitting position trying to keep her left leg as immobile as possible. She unclasped the scabbard from her back and unbuckled the armor, pulling it off and setting it behind her.

“Found this,” Mishal dropped small pieces of driftwood into a pile beside the warrior, “I’ll look for more.” She looked at the Commander, “how are you?”

“Fine for now. Thanks for the wood.” The warrior rummaged through the saddlebag, which had fallen beside her, and pulled out the flint.

Mish returned with more wood and the other torch and thrust them into the sand. With both lit there was enough light to examine the warrior's leg. She untied the boot and carefully pulled to remove it.

“Cut it off,” Gygr handed her a knife.

Carefully Mishal slit along the sides of the boot and pulled the leather from the quickly swelling leg. “Gods, Gygr the bone is . . . I can almost . . . it’s going to break the skin.” She swallowed.

“Yeah, hey get me some dry seaweed if you can.”

Immediately the Scholar got up to gather the stuff she’d seen not too far away. “Here.” She dropped it into the warrior’s hand.

“Perfect.” Gygr quickly scooped sand making a small pit and placed the seaweed and driftwood into it. She struck the flint and immediately the dry seaweed caught.

“Okay, now to my leg,” the warrior bent over. “You’re gonna have to set it.”

“Set it?”

“Yeah. When I tell you, pull on my leg. Hold my ankle.” She waited as the young woman’s shaking hands were wrapped around the ankle. “Good,” she smiled, “you’re doing good Scholar.” Mish smiled back. “Now when I tell you, pull real heard, but steady until you feel the bone go into place.”

“Back in place?” She licked her lips, “how will I know.”

“You’ll know,” she grimaced in pain. “Don’t worry about that, you’ll kinda feel it.” She looked at the shaking woman and smiled, “ready?”

“Maybe I should be asking you that.” She softly shook her head, “but yes, I’m as ready as I’ll ever get.”

“Do it.”

Mishal pulled as steadily as she could while Gygr held herself in place with the heel of her other leg firmly embedded in the sand. Tears came to the warrior’s eyes and she looked up to see the Scholar also had tears on her cheeks.

It seemed to take an eternity, but Mish finally felt the bone settle back into it’s rightful place and sat back on her heels. “Gods.”

Gygr lay back, her head on her armor, “that was . . . very well . . . done . . . Scholar. Thank you.” She took a few breaths then pushed herself to her elbows, “now remove my sword from the scabbard.”

Mishal did as she was told.

“We’re going to use it as a splint. There are some leather ties in the saddlebag to bind it.”

The young woman searched the bag for the ties, “but they’ll cut into your leg, they are so narrow.”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about that.”

“No.” The Scholar ripped the bottom of her tunic into several wide strips. “I’ll use this.” She gently slipped the scabbard under the warrior’s leg and tied the cloth strips securely around the leg and scabbard. When she looked up Gygr was sleeping. “Good. You really need to sleep.” Mishal spent the night keeping the fire well provided with fuel to chase the cold that had settled on the small camp.

Yoshi sent a runner to find Bris when she came across the cave in. “I’m not sure we should try to clear it.” She looked at Bris for confirmation.

“Think you’re right. Who knows if they are okay on the other side. They may be clear. They may not be. Better not to take the chance.”

“So?” The captain leaned against the wall crossing her ankles, “what should we do?”

“Let’s go down the other tunnel and see where it takes us. They may meet, or possibly end up in the same place.”

Yoshi pursed her lips and thought about it. “Only four of us will take the tunnel. The rest should probably go around the hill to see if there is access from the other side.”

“The other side is the cliffs.”

“Maybe it goes down to the beach. I thought Perimedes said there were small beaches along the cliffs.” Yoshi hoped she’d heard correctly.

“Gods, let’s hope so.” Bris turned, torch in hand, “I’ll take Pledil, Felco, Mandt and Picola. You take the rest and the horses.”

“Right,” Yoshi turned then stopped, “I’ll keep the guards out though, just in case.”

Bris nodded and pointed to the three men and one woman who would accompany him into the tunnel.

“Tella,” Yoshi spoke with a small woman, “keep guards posted.”

The woman nodded, her short dark hair bouncing on her head. “As you wish, captain.”

Mishal fed the fire and huddled near it checking on Gygr every so often. She became concerned when light perspiration appeared on the warrior’s face, neck and arms. Then things got worse. It began to rain, lightly at first, but a cold drizzle directly from the north. The fine spray seeped into every crevice and pore, into every fold of clothing and every depression in the sand forming puddles. There was no where to go. The tunnel opening was at least three body lengths up and nothing to climb to reach it. As if I can climb and carry Gygr too, oh yes. Mishal snickered to herself as she added more wood and watched as it snapped and smoked as the flames hit the wet spots.

Gygr shuddered and her teeth chattered as she rocked her head back and forth. Mish wasn’t sure what to do.

“It’s Wilem.” Cristov breathed hard leaning over, his hands on his knees.

“What?” Gygr stopped her sword kata and waited until her friend could continue.

“He had . . . some . . . kinda fit . . . or . . . something.” He took one long deep breath and continued, “he fell over. Started shaking and everything.”

“Where?” Gygr settled the sword in her scabbard at her back and pulled her friend by the shoulders, “where, Cristov?”

“Far field. He was lifting logs with some of the others to work his upper body.” Before he finished Gygr had turned and was running toward the furthest field on the compound. Traditionally this was where the weight training was performed. It offered lots of space, fresh air and plenty of natural objects to work with; rocks, logs, and a small cliff with draping vines strong enough to hold a 300 pound man.

Bris, Tang Te and a physician was on the scene when Gygr arrived, Cristov not far behind. She spied Menden, Pestro and Stycos laughing off to the side. She wondered where the fourth member of the gang, Bythop, was hiding. He certainly wouldn’t want to miss this.

Wilem had stopped shaking and was helped up and led from the field, all the while protesting that it was nothing, he was really okay and wanted to continue. Harsh words from Bris and light words from the physician helped him decide otherwise.

Gygr followed and heard a hiss from behind her, “he’s cursed you know?”

She turned quickly and slugged Stycos in the nose breaking it, again. “If anyone is cursed it’s you idiots,” she looked at the four who had converged behind her. “And if you want trouble,” she drew her hands up into fists, “I’ll be more than happy to oblige.” It was no idle threat. She looked at the four and smiled. The young woman turned and quickly followed after Wilem leaving the adversaries behind and for the moment forgotten.

“He’s not really cursed is he Bris,” Gygr knew there was no such thing, but wanted confirmation from the one person she trusted implicitly.

“No Little One, there is no such thing. Wilem has an illness. Our physicians believe his body becomes confused and cannot decide what to do, so it tries to do everything at once. He has not had a curse placed onto him.”

“Will he still be able to fight?”

“I don’t know Little One. Do you not think he would be killed if this happened during the games?”

“Yes, he will,” Gygr lowered her head. She knew Wilem loved the training and pushed himself almost as hard as she pushed herself to become the best. “He will be disappointed.” She turned and walked back to the compound working on the sword katas all that night till dawn.

Just as she strolled from the grass the scream tore through the quiet morning. She ran to the dormitory and stood at the open door. Cristov screamed and screamed and screamed. Hanging from a beam Wilem’s body slowly rocked back and forth in a tiny arc.

“Cristov, Cristov,” she yelled at her friend, “Cristov.” Finally she grabbed him around the shoulders and held him tight. “Cristov,” she whispered into the crying man’s ear, “Cristov.” She held him a long time not noticing when Bris and others pulled a bench to cut the body down. Not recognizing the two were alone. She held him and rocked the man back and forth. She wanted to cry.

Mishal stroked the woman’s forehead, and whispered to her, “it’s all right. It’s all right.”

The rain continued a bit harder than before and the young woman settled the saddlebag over the warrior’s chest to at least try to keep her from getting wetter and colder. I should have done that sooner. What are you thinking Mish? As the rain came down harder the fire began to sputter and finally died out unable to overcome the wetness. Now Mishal was in the dark, clouds hiding the stars, and the cold and the wet. Can this get worse? Don’t even think it.

The warrior began shivering and Mishal lay down beside her throwing her arm over the woman’s neck. “Think warm thoughts Gygr,” she whispered, “think about how hot the desert is.” Soon she felt the woman’s breathing slow and knew the warrior was asleep. Mish soon followed her into Morpheus’ embrace.
 

“Bris,” Mandt turned to the man behind him, “I hear rain.”

“We’re close then. Felco and Picola, go back and get some skins. They’ll be cold.” The two nodded and began the trek back down the tunnel. “Careful Mandt, don’t go any further. We’ll just wait here.”

The tired men slid down the wall and sat.

“Should be dawn soon, eh Bris.” Mandt ran his fingers through short hair.

“Yes.”

“What are we waiting for Bris,” Gygr whispered.

“Dawn.”

“Oh.” She settled with her back to the rock, then looked up to her mentor. “Why?”

“So we can see.”

“Oh.” She turned around and looked over the huge rock, “what are we trying to see?”

“The enemy.”

“Oh.” She again rested against the rock. “That would be Menden, Stycos, Pestro and  . . .”

“Yes Little One. Quiet now.”

At the tap on her shoulder Gygr rose and peeked over the rock. Menden and his friends were led by Terris one of the trainers. Gygr had to stifle a laugh. They were like a heard of elephants. She could hear Terris try to keep them quiet, but they either didn’t care or didn’t hear. Gygr figured they just didn’t care.

Bris put his finger to his lips and smiled. “Ready,” he mouthed. Gygr nodded and her blue eyes sparkled in the morning light. She watched at the five approached the trap. Terris stopped and moved a few steps back when he spotted it. The others just tromped ahead. When Styco, who was last reached the right spot Gygr threw the knife, severing the rope, that held the bent tree, around which the net was fastened. Four young men screamed as they were caught up into the net and bounced high above the ground. Below them Terris, Bris and Gygr laughed.

“Okay let’s go.” They moved forward and Mandt stopped.

“Hey, it’s about half a body length down.”

“Do you see Gygr or Mishal?”

“Yeah, they seem to be sleeping. Gygr has her leg splinted.”

“Well, let’s get down there.” The men jumped down onto the soft sand.

Mishal heard movement behind her and grabbed Gygr’s sword. When she heard a familiar voice, she rose and ran into Bris’ open arms. “Oh Bris, I’m so glad you found us. I was so scared.”

“Shhh, shhh, Little One. You are safe.”

“Gygr broke her leg. Then it rained. The fire went out. Then she got very cold.” The young woman began sobbing into the friendly shoulder.

“Bris,” the old gladiator turned in time to see Picola toss a fat saddlebag into the sand then follow herself. “Got the stuff. Felco and Tella are returning to Number One. They’ll send a party here. Should be a couple of hours.

Mishal already had the bag open and was covering her friend with a thick bearskin. “It’s okay,” she whispered to the still sleeping woman, “Bris is here and he brought help.” She kissed the warm cheek and stroked the warrior’s forehead.

Bris cleared his throat, “Mandt, Picola, gather wood. Let’s get a fire going.” He turned to the pit that still held the remains of the washed out fire of the night before and cleaned it out. Somehow Picola found some dry seaweed and Bris tossed it into the bottom, then added smaller pieces until he had enough to start a decent fire.

The fire warmed Mish, who was beginning to shiver again. Picola filled a pot with water and settled it over the fire while Bris pulled mugs and added tea to them. When the water was hot he filled the mugs and passed them around.

Mishal settled beside the warrior. “Gygr, wake up. I have some hot tea for you.”

Bris and Picola kneeled beside the women. “Why don’t you go sit with your back to that boulder and we’ll carry Gygr so you can be comfortable.” Picola helped the tired girl to her feet and get snug against the huge stone. Bris and Mandt carried the warrior to her side.

“No, please let her lean against me.”

“She will be very heavy, Little One.”

“No. No. She’ll be much more comfortable.” She stroked the woman’s arms and held her close. “Gygr, wake up.” Mish whispered. “Please now. Time to wake up.”

Bris checked the Commanders leg and satisfied himself it was well set and no skin was broken.

Tears filled the young woman’s eyes, “Oh Bris, why won’t she wake up?”

“Little One. She is a very tired warrior. She has not been taking care of herself. Let her sleep. It will help her body repair itself. Hold her chin up and we will give her some tea.” To Mishal’s utter delight once the tea hit the warrior’s lips she began to drink. “See? Just give her time.”

Mishal rocked her friend and whispered into her ear. She stroked her forehead, used her fingers to comb the warrior’s unruly hair. And she held her tight.

The young woman refused to eat when food was offered by Mandt. And it was just past midday when they heard horses splashing through the surf from the east. Tella and Yoshi led a party of a dozen with four saddled horses for the waiting rescuers. Hannibal snorted and tossed his head as he approached his fallen mistress. “She’ll be all right Hannibal,” Mishal stroked the stallion’s face.

“We brought a litter,” Yoshi and the others dismounted and began the task of attaching the litter to Hannibal’s saddle. Several bearskins were laid across it and Gygr was lifted onto the structure.

“Would you like to ride with her or walk beside her?” Yoshi asked.

“She will hold her,” Bris led the young woman to the litter and she settled herself so that the warrior’s shoulders lay against her lap. “Let’s go.”

When you consider there were over four thousand people at Number One eagerly awaiting the return of their injured Commander the place was pretty darn quiet when Yoshi led the small party into the compound. As the warrior was quickly taken to her quarters a tall, skinny man turned to a compatriot, “see. She is the defiler. Almost killed our messiah. If we don’t take care of her soon . . .”