Servants and Followers (The Legends of Arria, Volume 2) (41 page)

“
I know.” Basha
grimaced and blushed, remembering a few embarrassing minutes he had
experienced in his own lifetime that he had never wanted anybody
else to see. “No one should have that kind of freedom when it takes
away from your own
,
disturbing your privacy
.” He
remarked.

“
Does the Old Man, or
Nisa even, have your best interests at heart?” Monika
asked.

“
Probably not
always,” Basha said, looking away, “If they knew I would be risking
my life like this and never told me
…
they could have at least warned
me
.
”
Basha grimaced and sighed. “I don’t know what to think
anymore.”

“
And what if Nisa was
the Old Man’s daughter?” Gnat asked, getting involved in the
conversation. Everyone stared at her. “Nisa did tell me that she
had heard about the Black Sword from her father, and Basha, you
said--”

“
Eeewww...” Oaka
said, shaking his head. “Imagine a
3,000
year old man or something like that sleeping with Brigga, with a
daughter coming out of it.”

“
Don’t even think
about it.” Basha said, shuddering and shaking his head. “Let’s not
even talk about this stuff anymore, it is disturbing.” He
said.

They heard the flapping of wings, and
looked up to see Fato returning. “What is going on here?” The
falcon asked, and then seemed nonplussed as everybody else started
laughing helplessly. Fato rolled his eyes and sighed.

Janus sat on the barrel, and waited for
an hour, watching the castle doors as people, mostly guards but a
few guests and some servants as well, walked in and out of Coe
Aela’s keep, conversing with each other or just going about their
business, until one person in particular came out through those
doors. Janus sat up straighter and watched as she shaded her eyes
from the sunlight, and came towards him, wobbling a little bit as
she crossed the front bailey. He stood up and went towards her,
meeting her halfway as she seemed about ready to collapse.

“
They didn’t suspect
me,” Nisa whispered, leaning towards him as he wrapped his arms
about her to keep her upright. “Or at least I don’t think so.” Nisa
whispered.

“
How are you?” Janus
asked.

“
Fine, thank you,”
Nisa said, glancing up at him. “It could have been worse.” She
sighed, pushing herself away from him. They had gotten to know each
other better yesterday and last night before the guards had come to
take her away, but Nisa didn’t trust him completely yet. “I need to
get out of here.” She said.

“
I don’t think that’s
possible, or at least not yet.” Janus said. “The guards are going
to be watching us even more closely than before. If a servant,
especially a woman, tries to leave Coe Aela in the next few days,
they will probably kill her before she gets out of the
gate.”

“
They are getting
away from me.” Nisa insisted. “I need to catch up with them.” She
sighed. “I have not exactly been the best bodyguard in the last
couple of days. I had to stay behind to help Sir Nickleby and fend
off the Black Wolves, and then I was informed that I should go on
ahead, to Coe Aela, to infiltrate the castle and wait for them to
come. I missed whatever happened in Coe Anji, and now they have
this girl Monika, the falcon Fato, and the Black Sword with them. I
am a complete wreck, I have messed things up so
completely--”

“
They got away,
Nisa.” Janus said, gripping her by the shoulders and staring her in
the face. “I don’t know how, but with Gnat by their side, they got
away. And at least they have the Black Sword with them. I think it
is for the best.” Janus said. “You had to let them go on sometime
without you, and with what you have done for them, I think they
will be ready to face whatever lies ahead for them.”

“
But it is not
enough, Janus.” Nisa whispered, and shook her head as she looked
away from him. “I have to be certain.” She said.

“
Then wait.” Janus
said. “Wait just a few more days, and then you can go. With me by
your side, and all of the servants of Coe Aela.”

“
What are you talking
about?” Nisa asked, turning to him.

“
This is the final
straw for the servants’ rebellion.” Janus grinned. “With the way
Goga, Fobata, and Goga’s guards treated the servant women, they
will not tolerate this any longer. They will be ready to stand,
fight if they have to, but they will march out of Coe Aela, and go
all the way to Coe Kiki. And you can catch up with them, your
group. They are going to Coe Kiki, are they not?”

“
Yes, but they will
be too far ahead of us, Janus.” Nisa said.

“
Perhaps not. They
are on foot?”

“
So are we.” Nisa
said.

“
Ah, but they will be
stopping there at Coe Kiki, and perhaps at other places along the
way,” Janus said, wrapping his arms about her, “If they need
supplies or if they need to rest. Though we will be a large crowd
of people, with elderly and young alike slowing us down, we may
have horses. And that will make traveling easier for you.” Janus
said.

Nisa groaned and threw her hands up in
the air, but it was the best chance she had at this rate. And
perhaps she did not mind so much if Janus was with her.

“
Pack everything you
need!” Goga cried, striding through the barracks of Coe Aela as his
men rushed about, gathering weapons, clothes, and sundry items into
their packs. “We should have been gone by now! We leave in an
hour!” He sniffed. “Be prepared for several days’ worth of travel.
I don’t care how long it takes! I don’t know when we will be coming
back to Coe Aela, but I am not coming back without the heads of
those youths.”

“
Are we going to kill
them?” Hava asked, turning to Goga.

“
I would much rather
kill them.” Goga shrugged, wiping his nose. “Makes things easier.
Fobata wouldn’t like it, I’m sure, but that’s why we are in this
mess.” Goga turned to one of the soldiers who did not seem as busy
as the others. “You, go to the kitchen and confiscate as much food
as you can.” Goga said, gesturing. “Take three of the men with you,
and don’t be afraid to use a little force if a servant tries to
stop you.” Goga smiled.

“
Sir!” One of the
guards cried, coming up to Goga. “We need more horses. Currently we
have only twenty--”

“
Confiscate them!”
Goga cried. “All of the horses in the stables, confiscate them! We
will pay back their owners later!” He shook his head. “Why can’t
you men think for yourselves?” He asked.

The guard nodded, and went off again.
“I don’t understand how they could have escaped,” Goga muttered to
himself, pacing back and forth with Hava still following him.
“Everything was locked up tighter than a drum, and everything was
being watched--wasn’t everything being watched?” He asked himself,
staring straight ahead.

“
Sir, I’m sure you
did your best.” Hava said.

“
My best wasn’t good
enough.” Goga said, shaking his head. “This cold is bothering me. I
want them back, I want the Black Sword back.”

“
Were you--” Hava
blinked. “Did you have the Black Sword with you?” Hava asked. “I
thought you would have, or should have, given it to Lord
Fobata.”

“
The Black Sword does
not belong to him. It belongs to me.” Goga said, striding away from
Hava. “I found it, I should keep it.”

“
But sir, Lord Fobata
is your lord, he--”

“
He and I are
equals!” Goga cried, turning to Hava. “He was just born to a better
station than me because he was born earlier than me!”

“
What do you mean by
that, Captain Goga?” Hava asked.

“
He is my brother.”
Goga said, turning away.

“
You are--brother to
the Duke of Coe Aela--” Hava gasped, realizing now why Goga was no
ordinary captain of the guards, why he was allowed to be
insubordinate and untouchable to Lord Fobata--an equal on almost
every level to the lord, except one. No wonder Goga hated
Fobata.

“
And I should have
been the Duke of Coe Aela.” Goga hissed, striding away from Hava.
“I would have been a better Duke than him!” Goga cried.

The guards in the barracks didn’t even
flinch at hearing Goga’s treasonous words—men loyal to Goga, but
not to Fobata, perhaps? Hava shivered, wondering what could make
this instability he had found here in Coe Aela even worse.

“
Your Grace?” Marlo
the steward called, ascending the winding staircase to the tallest
turret of Coe Aela. “Your Grace? I hope you’re up there.” He
muttered, his knees protesting.

“
Yes, Marlo, I’m up
here.” Fobata’s voice called back. “Sorry you have to walk up here
after me. Do you want to wait until I come down?”

“
No, your Grace, I’ll
come up to you.” Marlo said, still continuing. “Good exercise.” He
muttered. Marlo reached the top and sighed, collapsing on the last
couple of steps, watching Lord Fobata gaze off towards the distant
mountains in the south. If he peered hard enough, Marlo could see
the dot receding towards the horizon.

“
I sent the gruelmoff
to Doomba.” Lord Fobata said, leaning against the windowsill. “To
tell him of what has happened. He may know already, but sometimes
he doesn’t always know what exactly occurred.”

“
What do you know of
Doomba’s sight?” Marlo asked, thinking about Janus and the secrets
that they shared.

“
He sees much, but
not always enough,” Fobata shrugged. “I’ve heard tell he sees the
possibilities of actions, of what might happen, but he doesn’t
always see the result of what does actually occur. It’s as if there
is too much for him to see, when it comes to the possibilities of
actions.” Fobata sighed. “I wish I had such sight.” He
said.

“
I have taken an
account of all the servants, after Goga released the last female
servants,” Marlo said, continuing on with business as he did not
wish to hear anymore about Doomba when it frightened him. “To be
certain that none were missing, and I have accounted for nearly
everyone--except for Gnat.”

“
Gnat?” Fobata said,
slowly turning around to face Marlo.

Marlo slowly nodded. “I believe so.
She’s gone, my lord. Probably with those youths.” He muttered the
last.

“
Gnat. I saved her
life.” Fobata said, turning around to face the south. “I saved her
life when she would have been killed, died, and I gave her a home,
here. I provided her with food and clothing, training and education
in a useful manner, as a servant, for all of these years. She was a
servant, but she was well treated compared to other servants. She
should have been happy. She should have been pleased with her lot
in life, when it could have been a lot worse.” Fobata said, shaking
his head. “A lot worse. I saved her life, and this is how she
repaid me? Gnat was probably the one who knocked Goga out and stole
the Black Sword for the Knights.” He whispered, stunned by this
last thought.

“
Are you sure, sir?”
Marlo asked. “Goga said that it was an older woman--”

“
Gnat was probably
the one. Goga was probably sick or drunk, maybe both, before he was
knocked out by her, and it messed with his head.” Fobata said,
waving Marlo’s interjection aside. “He interviewed all of those
other women for nothing, and now we might just have a riot on our
hands, thanks to him.” Fobata muttered, shaking his head. “Goga
never knew when it was best to act. Gnat,” Fobata addressed thin
air now, holding out his hands. “How could you do this to me? I
could strangle you right now if you were here with me,” Fobata
continued, gesturing, “But you’re not, so--you betrayed me. You
betrayed everything I stood for, what Coe Aela stood for. How could
you run off with those ruffians, those Knights of Arria? It makes
me sick,” Fobata thumped his fist down on the windowsill. “You were
like my own daughter. Marlo, I’m tired,” He said, addressing his
steward now. “I’m tired, and I want to be left alone now. Can you
go back downstairs?”

“
I will try, my
lord,” Marlo said, disappearing down the staircase.

Fobata sighed, leaning against the
windowsill. Gnat was gone now, the last remnant he had of his past.
Though Fobata’s eyes were fixed upon the south, they sometimes
gazed northward, in the direction that another one had taken so
long ago. His mind could not abandon the path of wistful thinking,
the hope that she might return to him after all these years.

Fobata ran out of Coe Aela’s castle,
his face shining and bright, his hair still upon his head, and with
a slimmer chest. “Kala!” He cried, arms extended.

“
Fobata!” Kala cried
back, awkwardly descending from her horse in the front bailey. She
allowed her cousin, second or third or fourth in generation, it
made no difference, to embrace her tightly on the ground before she
pulled away from him.

“
What happened to
you?” Fobata asked, looking down at her belly.

“
It’s called getting
pregnant.” Kala remarked as a servant led away her horse. “You
should try it sometime.”

“
It would ruin my
figure.” Fobata laughed, patting his stomach. “Still, you look
good. Pregnancy certainly does agree with you.” He
remarked.