Chapter 25 - At Lordstown Gate

As they approached Lordstown, Violetta decided to give some advice to Raeyn for entering the city. Raeyn was quick to adopt the instruction and try to match the stride and the pace of Violetta while following her directions.

" Walk upright. On your feet. Do not hunch over, hunch your back like that and they’ll know right away. Once we get you in, I’ll deal with it from there. " Violetta guided Raeyn to straighten her posture with a hand against her back,

" Don’t crane your neck up or forward, shoulders should be level, not like a bow. Stop looking like a turtle about to stick your neck into your chest! Better… Better. Good! Now knees straight and straighten up your chest more. "

As they walked, Raeyn managed to walk more and more upright and proper, but it was not easy to keep that posture. A lifetime of living in a small tunnel made for bad habits, and the natural posture of a Gobbo was one that was focused on leaps, dodges and rolling into strikes that were impossible for a Mahn to mimic.

" Your head is still too small, but can you pull your ears back? Oh… you can control them? Heh… this might work. " Violetta smiled at her.

A small wooden palisade lined a narrow pass to the town, a simple gate that used the steep cliffs as a natural barrier to protect the town. Forced into the path, the ground angled downwards as the natural rock face squeezed them into this old fissure to bring them before the five guards tasked with protecting the town.

They were not like Cade or Huron. They wore thick leather armor that covered their huge bodies, they wore open faced helms with a loop of metal that protected the nose except the end of which was pointed like a spear with a raised hook on the end. In their right arms were spears, on the left were shields made of wood banded with iron, on their hips were sheathed swords. They were warriors. Raeyn felt gut twist and turn as she realized each one of them was a head or more over Violetta. The towering men had arms thicker than Violetta’s legs, and seeing as how Violetta was so much larger, she really did look like a child before them.

" Violetta. " One of them stepped forward, he had a long fur cape at his back that denoted his rank over the overs, " You have returned. What is this you bring back? "

Walking up to this muscular and powerful soldier, Violetta came face to face with him, her feet almost touching his. She looked up at him and declared by pointing at her, " I found this one out in the wilds. I am taking her in. I need the mediciant to attend to her wounds. Also, clothing and food for this half-starved girl. Captain Marsol… I also need to declare that the rest of my group is dead. "

" Dead!? " Came a gasp from one of the other four, but Raeyn did not see which.

" Explain. " Marsol ordered as he turned to Raeyn. He was bald, but where the others had hair on their heads, he had it all on his mouth and chin. The black curly mass was braided with string and made into a strange facial bush of which was almost comical to a Gobbo.

Violetta grabbed Marsol’s beard a little to pull his attention off Raeyn, " After we came across this girl, Wilde started acting strange and he decided to betray us in the depths. He killed Cade with an arrow to the eye and burned Huron alive. I fought back, but this girl saved my life. I am taking her in not as a slave, but as a sellsword. "

" That’s no girl… that looks to be an ash covered Gobbo. " Marsol stepped past Violetta and approached Raeyn and sniffed the air before kneeling to look her over closely, " Do not try to deceive through clever words - this is an adult Gobbo whose ears are ripe for the taking. She’s mature and knows too much already. Get rid of her. "

Violetta immediately said, " Fetch Lady Hightower or bring her some clothes before I lodge a complaint with General Stronghold and Lady Hissar. I will not have you spout such nonsense unchallenged. "

" ’Girl’. " Marsol addressed Raeyn, " You smell like fire. Those ears…. That beet-like face. These are traits of a Gobbo. Speak up and declare yourself or I might just end you here and now. "

" Enough, Marsol. " One of the other four spoke up, " She has asked for Lady Hightower. Don’t go around accusing Violetta of bringing the enemy to town. "

" She’s lying. " Marsol stepped back and snorted in a huff, " Nothing at all feminine or elf-like about this one, just a dirty vicious beast who rolled around in the ash. I can smell blood and burning flesh. She’s nothing but trouble. Have it your way, you volunteered for this Ryder. Bog, go with him. "

" Captain Marsol! " The other Mahn said and proceeded to follow Ryder on the summons. Was it a protest or firm agreement? Raeyn did not know.

Raeyn inched closer to Violetta and gently reached out to hug her leg and give the appearance of being a nervous and scared lost child, but Marsol’s words had filled her with anger. She remembered what Violetta said about clothing. Was the fact she had none the reason why this Mahn hated her so? But why would the guard protest if his actions were in the right?

"*If she’s a survivor from sixteen years ago then her wild state is only normal. She has not even tried to cover herself up. As disgusting as she is, have some decency, Captain.”

" Not helping, Cliff. " Marsol felt the pressure mounting as Violetta glared up at him.

" Sorry, Violetta. Sorry, filthy creature. " Marsol spared them each a quick glance, " But you will have to wait for Lady Hightower if you want to enter together. Rules are rules. After the medical examination, make your report to Wis. Consider it a request to follow up with General Stronghold. "

" I will follow the orders of my station, but I will not go before General Stronghold. " Violetta gave a slight bow.

" Wilde is responsible for the deaths of two sellswords and another slave. Compensation is demanded and this girl will join the company and be trained in our ways to cover some of our substantial losses. The General has no business in this. "

" Cheeky woman! The flames can take all you witches for all I care. Your wicked ways will never work on me. So don’t even try to play coy. You may win today, but I’ll see the Gobbo on the rack and spilling its guts in three days’ time. " Marsol pointed his large index finger at Violetta’s forehead, " Lord Maharil never should have brought women to war! "

" Captain… " Cliff whined, " This is taking it too far. "

Violetta smirked and traded one last barb, " If you won’t listen to a woman like me; listen to the voice of a woman like him. Or else you will find the Goddess’s healers unwilling the next time you are injured. "

Marsol suddenly had his clenched hand an inch from Violetta’s neck, the veins in his neck bulging and his jaw tight. This huge beast of a Mahn knew that laying a finger on Violetta would have severe consequences and that was the only thing that kept him from strangling her. It was a dangerous game to play, but Violetta was confident. Too confident.

Captain Marsol, in defeat, pulled his hand back and he looked to Cliff, " You will regret meddling, but you are right. Hunter, see to it that they do not enter. I am going to cool off before I hurt them both. "

Violetta crossed her arms and shot Cliff a look, but Cliff’s face was already turning red, " So the rumors were true… Sorry. That was a bit dirty of me. "

" She is a Gobbo. " Hunter, the smallest of the guards approached Raeyn, " The question is, why is she scorched and alive. Marsol’s examination may have been socially improper, but you better be truthful to Lady Hightower. She has no such obligations, and she will draw blood to find the truth. Once she does, any lie you told her will be dragged out of you both. "

" The Captain is not a bad man, but the Gobbo should be dead. You have obviously taught it to walk, and those eyes give it away. She understands at least most of what we say. She is terrible at concealing her reactions. "

" I know. " Violetta admitted, " She is not carrying any weapons or anything, as you can see, but I owe her my life. Wilde would have killed me if not for her. "

" And yet she bears no mark of any fight. The Captain knew much from just a close look, but your insistence on bringing one of them into the town is dangerous. We are at war with them now. "

Raeyn’s ears twitched and she pressed into Violetta’s side.

" What happened? " Violetta asked.

" The Trackers found where they took Lady Geraen. Fifty men have already departed at dawn. Did you not see them? They brought the hounds and are preparing to exterminate every last one of them for killing the emissaries and taking Lady Geraen hostage. Such savagery, they are nothing like the mischievous ones around Ratan. Marsol is right. You have taken her here only to suffer and die. "

Raeyn buried her head into Violetta’s legs and let out a little whimper. Violetta did not say anything at all. A group of five people were returning from town, of them was a woman clad in white robes and wearing a necklace with a sun-like medallion. Flanked to her sides were the guards. They had returned with Lady Hightower.