At the Queen_s command

Chapter Twenty-One

May 9, 1763

Saint Luke

Bounty, Mystria

T he thought of a headless body trailing them through the woods did create a sense of urgency. They pushed on into the dark until they'd crossed another large stream. They camped slightly upriver of some rapids and Kamiskwa insisted on sinking the ring into the river for the night.

Nathaniel agreed. "Wisdom in action. The ring will make magick ripples in the water. The wendigo will follow it down stream and miss us by a mile."

"That will really work?"

Kamiskwa shrugged. "In the old stories something similar has been effective. Now we need to take care of your hip."

Owen hobbled down to the stream's edge. His red coat might have made him a target, but it had cushioned the impact with his musket's stock and had absorbed many of the splinters. He pulled it off, then peeled his trousers down.

As battle wounds went it wasn't that horrible. One splinter had stabbed about an inch deep. The rest had just peppered his flesh. He drew the long one out, starting blood flowing slowly from a hole he could plug with his thumb.

Nathaniel appeared and handed him several of the fern fronds. "Chew."

Owen stripped the leaves off the plant and stuffed them in his mouth. What started as sweet became bitter very quickly. Pieces of stem crunched between his teeth, releasing more sour liquid. He involuntarily swallowed a bit and his throat burned. He couldn't ever recall tasting anything more foul.

Kamiskwa set down a hunk of moss and offered his cupped hands. Nathaniel slapped him on the back. "Spit." The frothy green mulch had the look of a freshly smashed grasshopper.

Kamiskwa packed it into the wound and smeared it around the hip. He then clapped a hunk of moss over it. Using a strip cut from Owen's blanket, he bound the leg up.

Nathaniel handed Owen a stout length of maple to use as a walking stick. "It's a good day when we kill a handful of Ungarakii and get away with only a scratch. We get to Saint Luke, someone can sew it up proper."

"I apologize for slowing us down."

"No apology necessary." Kamiskwa spread his arms wide. "We are in Altashee territory and we have slain enemies. We are heroes. Any walk is a heroes' walk, and no one will complain about its speed."

Despite their kind offer to let him sleep, Owen agreed to take a watch. The mogiqua poultice deadened the pain, but didn't do much to ease the stiffness. Owen wanted to tell himself that his stiffness was only because of the wound, but he knew better. He had marched through the Low Countries with ease, but Mystria presented new challenges. He couldn't wait until his body had adapted to them.

Owen wasn't certain he believed in the wendigo, but during the midnight watch, he did keep an ear out for splashing. In the morning, he scouted down along the shore to see if there were any footprints. He did it as quietly as possible, though his injured hip made that difficult. If either of his companions noticed, they said nothing.

Kamiskwa chose a course from that point forward which kept to trails and minimized exertion. Whenever Owen protested that they could go faster and more directly, the Altashee counted that his path enabled them to backtrack the Ungarakii. He went to great pains to point out a variety of signs and over the next four days Owen learned a great deal about tracking.

Toward the end of the fourth day, after slogging their way through a narrow part of a swamp, the three men emerged and climbed one last wooded hill. They paused at the top, giving Owen time to scrape mud off his coattails. At least, that was why he thought they'd paused; then he caught the scent of wood smoke over the stink of the swamp's black muck.

Kamiskwa smiled. "Welcome to Saint Luke."

"I thought the Altashee migrated."

"We do. This is the summer Saint Luke."

Owen's eyes narrowed. "And the name? Is your tribe part of the Church of Norisle?"

Kamiskwa shook his head. "Some are, but not many missionaries get out this far. My father just likes the name. He speaks your tongue a bit, and has confused Luke for luck. He likes that you have a god for luck."

Owen thought the name slightly blasphemous, but imagined Bishop Bumble's outrage if he knew the truth. That made him smile.

Nathaniel slapped him on the shoulder. "Just remember, Captain, this ain't Launston society."

Owen nodded, but straightened his coat. "I shall comport myself as befitting one of Her Majesty's officers."

The trio came down through the woods to the Altashee village. It had been laid out in a broad ravine with a stream running around the northern border. A long house with an arched roof dominated the center. The saplings that had been joined together to form the rafters had their branches braided together. Magick had been used because the trees bled into each other. Between them birch bark formed most of the roof and siding, save for where leather flaps allowed entry and exit.

Around the long house sat smaller structures, all domed, of varying sizes and ostentation. Made of pine and birch like the long house, these dwellings benefited from their owners' artistic talents. Images from children at play to men hunting a rhinoceros decorated them. Owen wondered if these pictures illustrated stories or might in some way serve as did a coat of arms, to identify the owner.

As they entered the camp, villagers took notice. Small children came running over to jabber at Kamiskwa. A couple took hold of Woods' hands, trying to drag him off toward one dwelling or another. He resisted their efforts and said things which had them shrieking or laughing or both.

One little girl, her green hair shining, clad in a buckskin dress with lovely beadwork, just stared shyly at Owen. He stopped, and dropped to a knee to smile at her. She returned the smile, then her eyes widened and she ran off screaming. It didn't sound like terror to him, nor was it that happy scream most children just couldn't contain.

He stood. "What did I do, Mr. Woods?"

"Your eyes. She's not seen that shade of green before. She ran off calling you 'Moss-eyes.' Not really a bad thing."

Owen frowned. "But not a good one, either."

"Ain't the worst."

A hand threw the long house door flap open and an older, heavyset Altashee emerged. He straightened up, showing streaks of hair so white amidst the green that it seemed to glow. He smiled at Kamiskwa and opened his arms. Kamiskwa flew to him and they embraced.

They parted, then the old man hugged Nathaniel. They exchanged comments and both of them laughed. Owen noticed the old man's left eye was milky-white, but saw no battle scar in or around the socket. The two men seemed quite familiar and Owen sensed the connection was more than just Nathaniel's being Kamiskwa's friend.

Finally, Nathaniel turned away and waved a hand toward Owen. "Great Chief Msitazi, this is Captain Owen Strake of the Queen's Own Wurm Guards."

Owen pulled himself to attention and saluted. He made a horrible sight, with his stockings and trousers shredded, coated in mud and with scratches bleeding beneath. Leaf litter, burrs, and bits of thorny branches clung to his jacket. His hat had faired the best, but salt stains rimmed the black felt.

The old Altashee drew himself up and returned the salute. "It has been a long time since the Queen has sent a man to me."

Owen wanted to immediately explain that he wasn't an official envoy, but there wasn't any way to do that without dishonoring the man's comment. Owen cleared his throat. "Her Majesty cherishes the friendship of the Great Chief Msitazi of the Altashee."

Msitazi laughed and made a comment that made both Kamiskwa and Nathaniel smile.

Owen opened his hands. "Did I…?"

The Chief shook his head. "Captain, I know your Queen has no idea who I am. But you are polite. I like this."

Nathaniel jerked a thumb at Owen. "You'll be liking the fact that Captain Strake here done killed hisself two Ungarakii back two-three walks of here. He'd a-killed more, but me and Kamiskwa was selfish and got a pair each ourselves."

Msitazi looked Owen up and down. "Never has your Queen sent a warrior to me. You must come inside." He turned, and reentered the long house.

Kamiskwa and Nathaniel began shucking off all their gear and piling it near the long house. Kamiskwa barked an order at two boys. They immediately plunked themselves down beside the equipment and warned others off.

Kamiskwa smiled. "Guards against curiosity. Please, Captain, take off your coat, trousers, stockings and shoes?"

Nathaniel was already stripping down, and Kamiskwa pulled off his leggings. They kicked them into a pile, adding their moccasins, and an Altashee maiden approached with a basket to gather them up.

Owen hesitated.

Woods slapped him on the back. "Don't be shy, Captain. Tain't nothing she hain't seen before."

The maiden giggled.

Owen blushed, then turned his back and stripped off his muddy clothes. Fortunately his blouse tails hung down far enough to protect his modesty. He gathered his things up and placed them in her basket, nodding his thanks.

He joined the others in the long house. Msitazi sat on a blanket with Kamiskwa at his right hand and Nathaniel at his left. Owen took up a place across from him. In the long house's dim interior the Twilight People's faces all but disappeared for eyes and teeth.

"Where did you find the Ungarakii?"

"They were in Longmeadow, Father. They were scouting for the Tharyngians."

Nathaniel nodded. "Had them a man with them, Pierre Ilsavont. Might could be he's a wendigo."

The elder sat back. "Did you destroy it?"

"Burned the head." Nathaniel shrugged. "Left the Ungarakii for the crows."

Msitazi's laughter filled the long house. "You warm my heart, Magehawk."

Magehawk? Owen killed the question on his lips. "Great Chief Msitazi, we found a ring on a corpse out there. Kamiskwa says he can feel strong magick on it. I believe that this magick could link back to a man Prince Vlad wishes us to hunt."

The Altashee closed his right eye and turned his face toward the long house's exterior wall. "I see the ring. It has a thread that extends to the dawn."

"But…" Owen frowned. Du Malphias had to be north and perhaps even west of them.

Msitazi held up a hand. "This man has the wiles of a fox. He has anchored his magick far away to deceive. Were you to track him by the ring, you would face disaster."

Nathaniel sat back. "I reckon then we're gonna be a-hunting him regular."

"Yes, of course, but we need to send the ring and the journal back to Prince Vlad."

Msitazi smiled. "I shall see to this, in honor of what you have done for the Altashee, Captain Strake. And tonight you will sleep over there, near the fire. It is a position of honor."

"You are most kind, Chief Msitazi."

The Chief's smile broadened. "I will send one of my daughters to sleep with you."

"Thank you, but I am married."

Nathaniel laughed. "Just to keep you warm, Captain."

"I think I will be fine, Mr. Woods. I have my blanket and my wool coat."

Msitazi nodded very solemnly. "That is a very fine coat. Very colorful. I like your coat."

"Thank you."

"I like your coat very much."

Owen was about to repeat his thanks, when Nathaniel kicked him in the shin. "What was that for?"

Nathaniel lowered his voice. "Give him the coat."

"What?" Owen leaned in toward him. "I can't. It's my uniform. I am on a mission. If I am caught on Tharyngian territory out of uniform, I shall be shot for a spy."

"You already been done shot at on account of that coat, Captain. Give him your coat."

Owen shot a sidelong glance at the elder Altashee. He smiled back.

"It would be an honor, Chief Msitazi, for you to have my coat."

The Altashee clapped his hands and a young woman went to fetch the coat. She returned quickly and presented it to Owen. He, in turn, handed it to Msitazi, who immediately pulled it on.

Though about as broad of shoulder as Owen, the Altashee had a bit of a belly, so the coat fit awkwardly. Still, Msitazi smiled widely, happily toying with the brass buttons and running his fingers along the gold braid.

Owen handed across his hat as well, and the Chieftain clapped his hands. The Norillian officer could do nothing but smile. Not at the ridiculousness of a woodland savage dressing up in his uniform, but from the pure pleasure the man exhibited as he got up and strutted around. A couple of women deeper in the long house made comments, and Msitazi barked back at them, but they just laughed.

That little bit of byplay took Owen leagues away. He saw himself back in Launston, recounting his adventures before the Royal Geographical Society. Well-dressed men and handsomely draped women, all the cream of society, would titter and smile as he related this moment. They would feel superior, and yet, at the moment, Owen felt anything but.

And he found himself resenting his future audience's reaction.

Msitazi clung to the jacket's blue facings and smiled. "This is grand. You will wait here, Captain, for my return. You are a warrior, and I shall not let any of the Shedashee mistake you for anything less."