Between a Rockhead and a Hardcase

Rowen looked at the “Paladin” and could see the religious zeal radiating off of him. There was a time when he would have been impressed with this man, to have such an overwhelming belief in something greater than himself.

However, now he looked at the man all he saw was one of those plastic sheriff’s badges that came with a set of cap guns. The term, “Wanabe” jumped into his mind. Oh, he didn’t doubt the man’s zeal and passion. Nor did he doubt that this man, Rupert, truly and wholeheartedly believed in what he was saying.

This is what made this Wanabe more…sad. Just another tin soldier lined up by stupid children playing war.

He then looked at his wives, one by one. He also looked at the children of the…his tribe and he thought, “They should not have to learn of the realities of life this way. They should be shielded and protected by the adults.

In that moment, he felt a rage brewing up from the very base of his soul. With it came a ferocity that he felt would overwhelm him.

His mind suddenly tuned into the present and he heard Mayor Tamera saying, “Lord Knight, we are under the protection of the Emerald Queen. You are…”

“The Emerald Queen is being censured by the Church at present. Soon the righteous will dethrone her and give her kingdom over to her cousin, the Ruby King. So, don’t count on her protection. Your only hope is that you turn over your tainted at once or be considered a heretic and be purified.”

Rowen heard himself saying, “Which is more heretical, disobeying the church or disobeying the Guardians?” and he strode forward to interpose himself between Tamera and the tin soldier.

“And who are you?”

“Someone who has put these people under my protection.”

Rupert dismounted from his horse and stepped up to Rowen with his hand on his sword, “You dare stand against the Holy Church?! I demand you tell me your name!”

“I’ve no name to give a tin horn zealot like you!”

The Paladin scanned the village with his eyes then looked back at Rowen and said, “You think you can give these tainted your protection? People of Cam village, I promise a hundred Shek to any and all of you who will help me do my righteous duty!”

Rowen said, “X, if you would please?”

She nodded.

From both sides of the forest that surrounded the road on the south side of the village erupted Rowen’s troops with their rifles drawn and ready.”

If Rupert was surprised by the sudden appearance of troops it didn’t show. Because he had even a greater surprise to deal with.

The two men who were standing behind him fell away and he found himself with a knife at his throat from behind him.

He tried to shrug off the one with a knife but apparently, they were too strong for him.

Rowen smiled and said, “Checkmate!”

He then stepped closer and said, “I’ll ask you again, which is more heretical, disobeying the Church or disobeying the Guardians?”

“The Church is the voice of the Guardians!”

Rowen was surprised as the Church troops, despite being surrounded, turned, and tried to attack his troops.

Only one person from the tin soldier’s ranks threw up their arms and then said in a feminine voice, “It is more heretical to disobey the Guardians!”

The tin soldier said, “Squire, you’ll burn for this heresy!”

There was an eruption of rifle fire and the battle ended.

Rowen closed his eyes for a moment, disappointed because he wanted to avoid as much bloodshed as possible.

When he opened his eyes those that saw him that knew him didn’t recognize him for the look in his eyes. He stepped up to be right in the face of the tin soldier and he said in a low growl, “The blood of those men are on your hands. Jade…”

“Rowen, no!” Xyarra called out.

He turned his head and looked at her surprised.

She said, “Remember, your humanity is much more valuable than this worm’s life.”

He nodded and mouthed, “Thank you, X.”

He then turned to the Mayor and said, “Lady Mayor, this atrocity happened on your land in your domain. Do you wish to try the prisoners?”

Tamera stood stunned. She then shook herself and nodded.

Rowen then turned to the prisoners and singled out the one person who had the right answer and said, “You, come with me.” He then turned back to the Mayor, “With your permission, Lady Mayor?”

She nodded again then asked, “Who are you?”

“I told you, Rowen Kanati.”

“No, who are you really?!”

He motioned for her to step away from the prisoners and she followed. Once they were out of hearing range of the prisoners, except for the one he singled out, he said, “I am Lord Rowen, High Lord Magedi of the House of Dawn, I have been sent here by the Guardians themselves to correct the Church.” And he showed her his ring.

The prisoner who he singled out fell to her knee and said, “My Lord! I swear to you my fealty and obedience!”

Tamera fell to one knee too, “I pray that you are successful with your mission Lord Rowen.”

Rowen said, “Both of you must swear that you’ll keep my identity secret until the time is right.”

Both nodded.

Rowen turned to the girl, “What’s your name?”

“I’m Domonique of Challain, I was the squire to Rupert here.” And she pointed towards the clump of prisoners who were being conducted to the village’s meeting hall by some of Rowen’s men.

Jade was waiting a respectful distance from him as if to report.

Rowen said to Domonique, “A moment please. Yes Jade?”

“Master, one rider got away, I sent two troopers after them.”

Rowen nodded and said, “They should catch them in no time then. Thank you Jade, you did excellent work.”

She smiled and said, “You are too kind master.” She bowed her head then stepped away.

Domonique asked, “Who is that? I was standing behind Rupert then suddenly she just appeared there with her knife.”

“She’s my…protector. She also happens to be a master assassin. As you see, skills are not evil in themselves, it’s how they are used that determines good or ill.”

“Truly?” she had a look of wonder in her eyes.

“Domonique, you are quite young, are you not?”

“Sixteen my lord.”

“Ah, I see. Well, you have sworn fealty to me, but I want you to know, that if you choose to continue down my path, you’ll be standing against the Church itself. Is that something that you’re willing to do?”

She looked to her left as if trying to decide how to word her answer, but then she locked her eyes in on Rowen and said, “Putting aside the rightness of your cause, what choice do I have?”

“You are wise beyond your years, but I’ll never force one as young as you to follow me. Even if you chose not to follow, I will take you under my protection."

"I still choose to follow you my lord. Because of the rightness of your cause and how I wholeheartedly agree that the Church has fallen to rot. My father would turn in his grave if I do otherwise.” She then looked thoughtful and went on, “My lord, there is something that you must know. There is a caravan of slaves to be taken from Stiarra Nor being taken north to be sold to the Nordac Empire. Over two thousand in all. They will be leaving Stiarra Nor in one week.”

Rowen looked at the girl intensely for a moment, his mind digesting what she said. He then looked out over his soldiers who were beginning to line up the dead for burial. His mind started going over scenarios of rescue parties going in and putting more soldiers into the ground. He was almost overwhelmed but then he caught, out of the corner of his eyes the flash of golden eyes.

He looked over to see Xyarra nodding to him and Dana and Kit standing next to her. Then a peace fell over him and he thought, “I’m not alone, I have others with great wisdom to help me.”

He turned back to Domonique and said, “Give me every detail you can think of.”

Rowen stood on the western wall of the village watching the orange sunset through the trees of the forest. The peace of the moment made Rowen long for a time and place when he could have days of it uninterrupted.

But he knew it wasn’t his current reality. He knew that he had a responsibility.

This world was perhaps his purgatory. His was a life of purpose now and not the withdrawn life of an invalid.

He looked down into the village and saw Dana and Xyarra arguing about something, but he knew that it wasn’t a serious argument by the playful look in both of their eyes.

He looked over towards the area set aside for his elven tribe and saw Eliarra with some other women, both from his tribe and the village, skinning the bear for butchering.

He was startled by a pair of arms coming around his lower chest from behind, but he recognized those arms, so he gave himself into the embrace and said, “Hey, Kit.”

“You looked so deep in thought that I had to come give you comfort.” She said softly, her voice dripping with love.

“And you did, my wife.” Taking her hands in his.

“So, do you have a plan?”

“I thought that we discussed the plan at the meeting.”

“Yes, I know the overall plan, but what’s your plan behind the plan?”

Rowen turned around in her embrace and embraced her back and said, “What would I do without you? Yes, I have a plan. I’m going to create an army. An unstoppable army.”

“What can I do to help?” she asked while looking up at him with fire in her eyes.

“Continue being you. I want you to know something here and now. You are my first love and you’ll always be. I need you.”

He then motioned towards Dana and Xyarra and said, “I need all of you.”

He bent down and kissed her then went on, “You’re my heart. Xyarra is my intelligence. Dana is my wisdom and Eliarra, she’s my sense of family and belonging. You are all part of me. I questioned the purpose of having four wives before, but now I know. I’ll never need anything as long as I have you.”

“Well, sweetie, you have me. You have us.”

“Good. Now let us get together with the others and hash out my plan behind the plan.”

The five of them sat around the table in Rowen’s kitchen area as he was laying out what he wanted to do.

“So, with your help, Xyarra, starting tomorrow, I’m going to make a company of infantry to stay with our tribe. How many do you think we can make in the next few days, X?

“Well, if we strip down their abilities and just make them basic soldiers, I think that you can make up to maybethirty a day, keeping in mind your making of the calvary troop plus how much you’ve grown since making them.”

“But X, it hasn’t been that long since I’ve made them.”

“Yes, but don’t underestimate the power of purpose.”

Rowen nodded. He looked thoughtful as he said, “How about arming them with simple, single shot rifles. That should expedite things a bit too, no?”

“Yes, I have just the rifle in mind. The British Martini Rifle from the Zulu wars. That would do nicely. But Row sweetie, there’s one possible chink in your plan. If you’re going to divide our forces, how are you going to keep up the ammo supply. That is one of the weaknesses of your dependency on firearms.”

“I know. There’s a tv show from my world and time where they have a box that recreates things. Of course, that’s science fiction but I think that I can pull it off with runes. With your help, X.”

She looked thoughtful as she pondered the images in his head before she said, “Yes, I think we can pull it off.”

Rowen then smiled and asked, “What can you tell me about Gatling Guns?”