Page 22 of These Violent Delights

Uncle Tank looked souras he made his way up to the battlements.Climbing stairs hurt his knee.He stood next to her silently, looking out over the landscape.It was overcast, but there was warmth in the air.They were expecting the caravan at any time.

After a while, she asked, “Why didn't you train me as a soldier?”

He raised a brow.“When would I have time?Your mother did some things I disagreed with, but she raised you well.You had every bit of history, strategy, politics and trade knowledge she could cram into your head.She knew what was coming.Every minute was spoken for, and nothing was wasted.”

Zelda looked back over the wall in silent disagreement.

“It would have been stupid to train you as a common soldier.I can have hundreds of those.It would have been a waste of your brain and abilities.”

When she still looked moody, he added, “That, and you have scrawny arms.Any ordinary soldier would mow you down.”

She laughed.Her uncle was something else.

“You're worried about how you performed during the battle?”he asked shrewdly.He looked thoughtfully over the landscape, considering the problem.

“What we need is a liaison.I've seen you connect to the castle and you don't have the attention span to pay attention to it and the battle.No one does.And yet, the castle is our greatest weapon.You need someone to stand beside you and help you direct that weapon.”

She finally looked at him.“Who?”

“I’ll work on that.Also, we should do some drills.After all, no one rises to the occasion.We fall back on our level of training.”

She'd heard him say that before, and it was a good thing to remember.

“It will also give you time to explore the castle’s capabilities.You’ll feel more confident when you know how it will perform in battle.”

It was a good plan.“I like it,” she said, feeling better.

“Good.I'm starving.Let's get some dinner.”

The caravan arrived just as the townspeople were finishing dinner.Excited, Zelda ran outside, hopeful that everyone had made it back in one piece.If the shipment had been successful, it could solve so many problems.

To her delight, she found that everyone was safe, and the carts were laden with food.Ozzy was there, talking to Quill as he unhitched a sheep in the castle courtyard.The castle was being used as storage, as it was the most secure location.Sheep and wagons lined up in orderly rows, and the townsfolk had come out to help unload.

Quill saw Zelda and called, “Lady Zelda!Great timing.I wanted to introduce you to someone.Pella, meet Lady Zelda.”He gestured to a young woman holding her daughter's hand.The woman had healing bruises on her face.

Zelda frowned.“You were hurt?”

The woman looked startled.“No, my lady.This happened before.It's nothing.”She put her hands on her daughter's shoulders.“This is Yada.She summons shadow beasts.Cave bears, actually.”She cleared her throat nervously.“Quill says that you’re hiring mages?”

“Yes, I am!”Zelda said enthusiastically.Quill had done exceptionally well.“I'm so happy to meet you both!”

She looked around and spotted Steward.“Steward!Madame Pella and her daughter Yada will be staying with us.Please give them a hot dinner and set them up in a guest room.Yada is our new mage in training.We will negotiate wages later, but put them on the books.They get room and board, of course.”she smiled at Pella.“Does that sound good?”

Pella looked overwhelmed.“Yes, my lady,” she stammered.Looking dazed, she followed Steward into the castle.

“You get a bonus,” Zelda told Quill happily.“How would you like to be the official caravan master?”

“Thank you.I'll have to think about that,” Quill said slowly.He hadn't realized he was getting paid for this, and now a bonus?He thought he'd been getting food for his tribe, a necessary and dangerous chore.It was startling to realize he'd been working for lady Zelda all along.

“Tell me about your trip.Did everything go smoothly?”Zelda asked.

Quill snorted.“Definitely not!”He filled them in on the details, including what he knew about Pella and her daughter, which wasn't much.Pella was quite closed mouth.

“It was a good thing we found them, too.I didn't like relying on a four-year-old, but those cave bears saved our lives.We were attacked a second time, and they had planned better.The crossbows helped, but Yada summoned two cave bears who tore through the briar wolves.”His grin faded as he talked about it.“She was pretty shook up.I doubt her mother is going to let her go on another caravan trip, at least while we're fighting with the Beast Queen.”

Zelda frowned.“No doubt.”No one expected a child to fight battles.This might have been a one-time deal.It did prevent a catastrophic loss however, so she was very happy about it.“Still, good work all around!I'm sure you're tired, so I'll get out of your way.”

They worked out what was needed for immediate distribution and went their separate ways.

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