Strange Bedfellows Chapter 4.c

Shara couldn’t decide whether to jump for joy or hide behind her husband.  Her own countrymen were riding out to surround them.  If she could make it known who she was, they would rescue and protect her.

But protect her from whom?

She didn't need protection from Kalus; he would sooner die than let harm befall her.  Perhaps King Tyso, but riding off with her father's men hardly seemed like a good idea when he had only one castle left and no way to escape King Tyso's army.  That would likely put her in more danger than remaining with Kalus.

Plus, she didn't only have herself to think of; she had to think of the baby growing in her womb.  She had to protect her baby.  She might've only discovered its existence the previous night, but for some reason, she just couldn't stomach the idea of any harm coming to the child.

Besides, she was her father's only descendant and thus the only one who could birth a legitimate heir to the kingdom.  King Tyso surely knew this, and thus she would be in danger no matter what happened.  That's when a sickening thought occurred to her: if King Tyso found out, he might force her to marry him just so she could bear his son to technically be a legitimate heir.

She shuddered.

"Are you okay?"  Lyra whispered to her, putting an arm around her in a comforting fashion.

"I...  I don't know."  She whispered back.

Shara quickly considered her options and realized that perhaps the safest course of action would be to stay where she was, hidden as she was.  King Tyso might find out If she tried to escape.  She could see him accusing Kalus of treason for hiding her, and then executing him for it; maybe Lyra too.  And her baby...

She didn't know what would happen, but if they didn't force the herbs that led to a miscarriage down her throat, the child would surely have an 'accident' before he or she was able to walk.

She couldn't let that happen.

All this went through her head in a matter of seconds, and she had made her mind up by the time the group's retreat was fully cut off.  Kalus and his council all had swords but no armor, while the horsemen had spears, bows, and all were wearing chainmail armor.  They surely wouldn't be able to fight their way out of this.

"Hold fast or become pincushions."  The lead rider said.

No one moved.

The lead rider was wearing chainmail, though it looked like some of the rings had seen better days.  His short gray bread combined with his wiry face looked tired, though not from lack of sleep.  He looked world-weary despite his eyes looking sharp and bright.  He looked familiar to Shara, though it took a moment for her to remember him.  He was one of her father's generals and in charge of much of the army.

He might recognize her.

"Who might you be, lagging behind your army so badly?"  The man asked.

"Commander Lucien Kalus, at your service."  Her husband said with a bow.

For some reason, Shara was shocked to learn that Lucien was her husband's first name; she had grown to think of him simply as 'Kalus'.

The lead rider gave him a nod of respect.  "I am General Ardroben, and you are the architect of so many of our defeats."

"None of which came easily."  Kalus replied, and Shara didn't get the sense that he was being insincere.

"Aye, but defeats nonetheless."  The general replied.  "And yet some would call you the savior of the cities you have conquered.  Some say they are better off now that when our own king ruled.  Less crime and chaos, and also more prosperity and order"

"Illuminar is not a God of confusion, but of order."  Kalus quoted from the Book of Light.

General Ardroben nodded.  "Blessed be He."

"Blessed be He."  Everyone present chorused, from both sides.

"You have put me in something of a dilemma Commander Kalus."  The general continued as he tapped his finger on his saddle horn.  "On the one hand, I have the brightest and most able enemy commander within my grasp.  On the other hand, I shudder to think what the rest of King Tyso's men will do to our fair capital city without you there to restrain them."

"Then your decision depends on your outlook."  Kalus replied.

"Oh?"  General Ardroben said as he adjusted in his saddle.

"If you believe the war is lost and Tyso's victory is inevitable, then releasing us to minimize Tyso's collateral damage would be the right move.  But if you believe that victory is still possible, then detaining me and my men is the only logical choice."

"I see now why we lost."  The general chuckled as he shook his head.  "Even when surround and separated from your army you keep your head and offer a choice that -- should I release you -- tells you something about our army's strength.  You are a cunning one Commander Kalus, I'll give you that."  He cocked his head to one side.  "Though by all accounts you are honorable too; those two traits don't often occur in the same man."

Kalus inclined his head in respect.  "I do have one request regardless of which you choose."

"Oh?"

"Let my wives go."  Kalus indicated Shara and Lyra.  "Tyso forced them to marry me, and while I did not choose the matches, they are among the best of women.  Should you detain us, I ask that you let them return to their father's houses with their horses and what provisions your generosity and situation will allow.  They should not suffer for my king's actions."

The general looked at the women properly for the first time, and Shara thought she saw his eyes widen when they fell on her.

"I do believe we've met."  General Ardroben finally said to Shara.  "A handmaiden to the princess if I'm not mistaken?"

"Yes sir."  She gave him a respectful curtsy.  He was certainly high enough in her father's court to know that the princess was supposed to hide among the handmaidens should something happen.  Perhaps he recognized her?

"And how is the princess?  We've had no word of her since her castle fell."  The general asked, but something about the way he said it and the way he was scrutinizing her spoke volumes.

He knew.

He recognized her as the princess.

"She was doing well and was safe the last time I saw her."  Shara replied evenly, then put a hand over her womb.  "Her health had changed, but for the better not the worse."

She hoped he took her meaning.

She couldn't exactly just say 'Oh by the way I'm pregnant' without being obvious about it.

"That's good to hear."  General Ardroben replied, though he tapped his finger on his saddle horn again.  Shara hoped that he recognized her situation and let her stay with Kalus, which is why she'd said that the princess was safe.  As much as she loved her parents and wanted to see them, it might not be safe for her identity to be known.

"Our fate is in your hands General."  Kalus said.  Unless Shara missed her guess, he actually looked slightly nervous.

"General, he's an enemy commander and we should--"  One of the general's men started to say, but the general raised a hand and he fell silent.

The general scrutinized them for several seconds before speaking.  "You rightly say that your fate is in my hands, but the fate of my city will be entirely in Tyso's hands should I detain you."  He shook his head.  "I cannot believe I'm doing this, but you are free to go."

At this, the general's men lowered their weapons.

"But promise me this."  The general continued.  "Do your best to protect the inhabitants of the city from your king's depredations; I would not have it in the hands of such a tyrant."

"I give my word."  Kalus nodded.

The general nodded and started to turn his horse, but then stopped and looked back at Kalus.  "I won't insult your honor by asking you to betray your king, yet consider this: he straddles the line between what is barely tolerable to Illuminar -- blessed be He -- and what is repugnant to the God of Light.  When he crosses that line -- and he will cross it -- will you stand with the God of Light or with your king?"

"There is no force in heaven above, nor Saidow's lair below, nor in the Ten Kingdoms around us that would make me knowingly violate the commands of Illuminar."  Kalus replied evenly.

General Ardroben frowned slightly, but nodded.  "I suppose that will have to do."  He made a motion to his men and they rode their horses away, clearing the path for Kalus and company to return to their own army.

Shara released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

That could've gone much worse.

In fact, she wasn't sure how it could've gone better.  If the general had indeed recognized her, then he would get word to her parents who would know that she was safe.  If he was perceptive, they would know the kingdom now had an heir, or at least might have one if she was carrying a boy.

The question was, what did she do now?

She and Kalus had unfortunately had a rough start, but he was a good man.  Possibly the best man she knew and he was also her husband.  As much as she wanted to be returned to her family, the idea of being parted from Kalus didn't have much appeal anymore.  She was virtually certain that he would be a good husband, and he would be an excellent father too if how he treated his men was any indication.

Plus there was Lyra.  Shara had never considered sharing a husband before -- it wasn't likely as a princess -- but she felt the corners of her mouth pull up when she thought about sharing Kalus with Lyra.  The horsewoman was a genuinely good and kind person and would be a good co-mother to Shara's own children.  In fact, she rather wanted the blonde's more carefree nature to be somewhat adopted by her own children since she was much more reserved.

So what should she do?

* * *

Lyra could feel her heartbeat returning to a more normal rate as the men rode away.  How her husband had handled them though...  that was threatening to make her heart rate go up again.  Certain parts of her might be wet even without the rain.  She bit her lip, knowing there was no time for that right now.  She wished there was though.

She took a deep breath and reigned herself in.

Now wasn't the time.

Without delay, everyone mounted up and caught up to the rest of the army.  It wasn't hard since they were moving slowly since the rain was slowly turning the ground into a muddy mess.  The wagons carrying the baggage were bringing up the rear, with the rearguard protecting them.

As Kalus drew level with the rearmost baggage carts, several of the men gave him respectful nods.  One of them in particular scrutinized him.

"My brother is lying dead back there."  The man nodded his head towards the clearing where the army had been ambushed.  "It's good at least someone thinks the dead deserve a burial."

The men around that fellow nodded in agreement.

Kalus gave them a respectful nod in return.  "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."  He said with a deadpan expression.  "We were doing reconnaissance of course, and nothing more.  The King forbade burying bodies, so of course we were doing nothing of the sort."

"Of course."  The other man replied with a barely concealed smile, then looked around.  "You hear that boys?  Commander Kalus was just watching our backs; there was no digging."

The other men all grinned at each other and nodded.

Kalus gave them another respectful nod of the head then tapped Tornado with his heels, after which the warhorse started forward in a manner that suggested he was dying for a good hard run.  His entire party followed him forward, Lyra again wishing that the two of them -- and maybe Katia too -- could spend some time alone in a tent.

The rest of the morning passed uneventfully.

The rain tapered off mid-morning and the sun came out, turning the wet and soggy morning into a warm and humid afternoon.  They exited the forest about lunchtime and the king had called for the army to make camp only an hour later once they had put a good distance between the forest and the army.  Everyone was relieved since marching in hot humid weather was miserable.  Lyra wasn't too bothered since hot sweaty days were normal on her father's ranch, but she certainly didn't complain.

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