CHAPTER 11

	"I think I'm getting sick."
	The swaying of the kingdom ship caused Tia to grip the rail 
tightly, and strive desperately to hold down her breakfast.
	"Again?"  Yeourg asked from the quarter deck.
	Tia shook her head affirmatively and dug her fingers into the 
wood railing until her knuckles turned white.  Despite her brave 
demeanor on shore, the last two days she had fallen apart.  Her 
tough Sojourn attitude had shattered like glass thrown on a marble 
floor. She had never stepped foot on a boat before and the 
sensations that came with sailing sent her equilibrium overboard.
	Yeourg had decided the envoy would go by ship on the Surik 
Sea as far east as possible and obtain horses in the eastern city  of   
Baiern.  They had left three days prior and  stopped once, 
overnight,  in a port just east of Surik on the first day.
	Tia turned her face toward the wind in an effort to suck in 
fresh air as Yeourg had instructed.  Yeourg, the young prince 
whom Tia admired stood conversing with the captain at the helm.  
She thought of him looking at her now and almost retched.  He had 
been polite enough the night before their departure, but had 
resisted her advances after they had finished the tea in his room.  
Finally, in a pseudo embarrassing moment he had ordered her out of 
his room.  She did not speak to him for the next day, even after he 
gave her advice when she first became sea sick shortly after 
leaving Surik.
	She was unaccustomed to rejection when it came to seduction 
and now she felt humiliated and vulnerable.  She decided she 
would not give him the pleasure of seeing her lose control again.  
After all, if she wanted a kingdom man, there was always the sweet 
young man from Aubon. Of course, he was not a prince, but the 
thought of Pahl Kempter did make her smile and almost feel better.
**********

	"Land ho!"  Shouted the crow man.
	"Where away?"  Yelled the captain.
	"East by Southeast!"  The crow man pointed.
	"Three degrees port," said the captain to the helmsman.  He 
then turned to Yeourg and said, "We approach New Swanston, 
your Highness.  If the wind stays we will meet harbor up by 
sundown."
	"Inform my men, captain, and don't raise the royal banner."
	"Yes, M'lord.  We sail under a merchant's flag as planned."
	Yeourg nodded and went below deck to the captain's quarters 
where Lorina and Tia stayed.  He knocked twice and then entered.  
Lorina sat in front of a vanity adjusting her pony tailed hair and Tia 
lay on the bed still trying to recover from nausea.  She looked pale 
and drawn despite her naturally tan skin.
	"We will be in New Swanston by sun down and the dangerous 
part of our mission will begin."  Yeourg looked at each of the girls 
meaningfully.  "The two kingdom warships that paced us are even 
now turning back to Surik to detract undue attention.  Once we 
disembark our small envoy will be alone and vulnerable.  I want 
both of you to stay near me or Jahradan.
	"I am going to speak to Jahradan and my men now.  You are 
welcome to come and listen if you are feeling up to it."   He turned 
and left.
	Tia held herself up with her elbows and said, "You brother 
thinks of us as children."
	Lorina smiled, "He's just protective."
	"I can look out for myself,"  Tia remarked defensively.
	"And that is why he invited you along," Lorina said.  "Now 
quit acting so sensitive."

	"I am not sensitive."
	"Well, are you feeling like going to the meeting?"
	Tia took a deep breath and sat all the way up.  "Yes, we'll be 
off this ship soon enough anyway."
	"Good,"  Lorina said and stood up.  "How do I look?"
	She wore a white wool cap, sailor's breeches, and a blue high 
necked shirt.  Tia smirked, "If you hid your hair you might pass for 
a cabin boy."  Both girls laughed and Tia stood up to get ready.
	"...of greatest importance that our identities remain 
ambiguous."  Yeourg was speaking to the assembled soldiers 
handpicked for this mission, when Lorina and Tia entered the main 
hold.  The ship they sailed in had been built for merchant hauls and 
easily accommodated the twenty men and supplies on board."
	"If any of you have relatives or friends in New Swanston do 
not contact them."  Yeourg stood in the middle of the men and held 
everyone's attention.  "All of you know the importance of our 
envoy and each of you has vowed his life to ensure the mission's 
success."  He paused.  "That may be required in the future.  If any 
of you has reservations you may voice them now."
	Yeourg looked around him and when no one spoke he 
continued.  "Everyone knows the plan of leaving the ship.  We will 
carry our hidden weapons and armor to the specified warehouse, 
two at a time.  The sailors aboard ship will accompany us two at a 
time and return to the ship.  After you have entered the warehouse, 
change into your traveling clothes and leave out the back.  We will 
all meet at the Key Hole Tavern one hour before midnight.  You 
will not see Jahradan or me again until then."
	The men stood and several raised one arm and shouted, "To 
success!"

	Then Yeourg and the entire team joined in and echoed, "To 
success!"
**********

	Yeourg entered the Key Hole Tavern just after the tenth hour.  
Lorina and Dellen accompanied him and the three traversed the 
smoke filled room to sit next to Jahradan and Tia.  Tia 
unashamedly gorged herself on a plate of roast ham and 
vegetables.
	Yeourg took no notice, knowing that the Sojourn had not 
eaten well in three days.  He leaned forward to Dellen and 
whispered, "How many?"
	"All but four, Captain."  Dellen replied dutifully.  As 
instructed, he refrained from using the royal title.  From this point 
forward the Prince of Nordenland would be known only as 
Captain.
	"And the inn?"
	"Secured.  The inkeep knows nothing more than the idea that 
we are rough cut mercenaries and do not take nicely to gossip."  A 
short smile creased Dellen's face.  "He may be suspicious, but will 
fear telling anyone about it."  
	"Very well,"  Yeourg said.  "When the last four arrive have 
everyone bunk down for the night.  We leave an hour before first 
light."
	Dellen nodded and made his way around the smoky room.  
He informed the men assembled of the Prince's orders and then 
took a seat near the hearth within direct view of the entrance doors.  
Unlike many in the company, Dellen knew the danger and 
difficulty of this mission.  He was an expert in his field.  A trained 
body guard and strategist in the king's army.  He had direct 
connections with and was responsible for many operations within 
the inner circle of the Magistrate.  As such, he became privy to 
information sometimes never known by the general public.
	At times he wished his lot was different.  This was not one of 
those times.  Dellen believed, without arrogance, that his 
experience and knowledge might decide the fate of his lord and his 
country.  He committed himself long ago to forfeit his own 
comfort and even his life if called upon.  He knew, that time had 
come and he accepted it.

	During the next hour the final four members of the group 
arrived.  Half of the company had already left to the inn and Dellen 
instructed the late arrivers of their room assignments.  Over the 
next two hours the remaining soldiers would go to their respective 
lodgings.
	When everyone had left, Dellen paid the barman and slipped 
out the entrance into the cool night.  He would not go directly to 
the inn.  Instead, he would accomplish a small mission only he and 
Prince Yeourg had discussed.  It would be dangerous, but 
necessary if their company wanted to make it to Bairen without 
delay.  
	Mist and fog wove through the streets like slow moving rivers 
as Dellen shuffled along a side road quietly.  He welcomed the 
fog because it masked his movements from any city watch that 
might want to enforce curfew.  The only drawback was that 
although he had been in the city before, New Swanston was 
unfamiliar and the dismal light made navigating the winding roads 
that much worse.  It would not due to become lost before he made 
his necessary connections.
	Every town had its criminal element, and while midnight was 
the best time to contact someone of that nature, it was also the 
most dangerous.  Dellen stopped at a corner and leaned against the 
moist stone brick of a fishery.  He waited patiently, knowing that 
he would be contacted in due course.
	Several minutes past and a street urchin who appeared 
seemingly out of thin air emerged like a wraith out of the fog.  He 
had straggly hair and smelled of fish, but his eyes were sharp and 
shifted right and left in an effort to see all places at once.
	"Watcha lookin' for mista'?"  The boy said just above a 
whisper.
	"Information," Dellen replied.  He wanted to ensure the young 
man that he was not here as a victim, but wanted something only 
the night merchants could provide.  And more importantly, 
something he was willing to pay for.  Otherwise, he understood,  
this boy was just a first contact to measure the difficulty of a 
possible target.

	"Can be costly," said the boy.
	"I have the funds,"  Dellen said carefully, "but I also expect a 
service."  He pulled back his overcoat revealing an assortment of 
weapons.
	The boys eyes bulged and he shook his head quickly.  "Right 
y'are, sir, follow me."
	The boy led Dellen down several alleys and twisting turns.  
Dellen could only presume that the boy wanted to confuse him so 
he remained sharp.  When they entered a dirty alley that had 
virtually no light, the boy darted quickly to his right.  Dellen had 
anticipated the move, however, and hooked the boys ankle with his 
foot causing the youth to stumble.
	"Going somewhere?"  Dellen asked as he pulled the boy 
roughly to his feet and drew a dagger in the same motion.
	"Put away your weapon," a voice demanded in the darkness.
	"Reveal yourselves and I might be inclined," Dellen said as he 
held the boy in front of him like a raggedy shield.


*******
	"You would be wise to throw all of your weapons to the 
ground and dismount."
	Three men armed and on horseback road out of the forest onto 
the trail in front of Hawk, Derek, and Pahl.  Two of the men held 
crossbows, cocked and trained on them while the third spoke.  
Hawk looked behind him just as several more riders appeared from 
their concealment blocking any escape.
	Hawk and his companions had been riding and camping along 
the road for several days.  They were only two hours west of New 
Swanston when the ambush occurred.  Hawk thought the nearness 
of the town must have caused them to become more careless and 
therefore not notice their aggressors.
	The leader noticed Hawk's indecision and said, "I won't 
repeat myself.  Throw your weapons down and dismount unless 
you like iron bolts for dinner."  His compatriots emphasized the 
last by motioning with their crossbows.
	Hawk stared at the speaker as if to measure his intent.  He then 
turned to Derek and nodded while speaking to the leader, "My 
companion is the only one with weapons.  He will leave them on 
the horse and we will dismount."
	Derek removed his dagger belt and placed it on the saddle of 
his horse.   Not knowing what Hawk intended, he and Pahl climbed 
down and stepped away from their mounts, following Hawk's lead.  
	Noticing some familiarity, Pahl watched the man who 
appeared to be the leader.  A shiver ran down his back as he 
realized with a cold certainty that this was the same gruff teamster 
who had questioned him outside of the river town.  In a flash of 
hindsight he scorned himself for not alerting the others earlier.  
Now he stood with his hands at his side in frustration.

	Two men in back rode forward, took the reins of the loose 
horses and led them past the front crossbowmen.  The leader rode 
forward and pointed at Hawk.  "You are the man called Hawk, I 
would expect."
	Without surprise Hawk answered, "I am."
	"And the boys are Derek and Pahl?"
	"Who are you?"  Derek asked stepping forward.
	The older man chuckled without humor.  "You will learn 
soon enough.  For now, it is I who will ask the questions."
	Hawk motioned with his left hand and said, "we are no threat 
to you."
	The leader raised his brow and replied, "On the contrary, I 
am a threat to you."
	As the leader finished his sentence a man dressed in traveling 
clothes with a sword at his hip stepped from behind a tree.  
"Enough!" He said as he walked forward.
	The man had long, dark blond hair and a moustache.  His eyes 
were deep brown and at this moment rich with hostility.  As he 
moved onto the trail and into the fading light recognition registered 
in Derek and Pahl's eyes.
	"Bojax!"  Pahl shouted.  "Bojax Freed."  Both Pahl and Derek 
ran forward without regard of the crossbowmen to hug their 
father's best friend. 
	"Are you all right?"  Bojax Freed asked, knowing the answer 
before the question escaped his lips.
	"We're fine, Bojax,"  Pahl said, "How is mother?"
	"Worried,"  Bojax Freed said.  "But we will talk later, first I 
must deal with your traveling companion."  The last was said with 
barely contained malice. Bojax Freed pushed past Pahl and Derek 
and stood face to face with Hawk.
	"Who do you think you are leading these young men around 
the kingdom like a vagabond?"  Pahl had never seen Bojax Freed 
so angry in his life.  He thought he would attempt to kill Hawk on 
the spot.
	"You must understand the circumstances..." Hawk tried.
	"You must understand the consequences!"  Bojax Freed nearly 
shouted.
	When Hawk said nothing Bojax Freed continued, "I will have 
you thrown into shackles in Gahlen when we return."
	Hawk gestured to the young men and said, "they cannot return 
immediately."
	"They will return!  Even if you dead body must testify it!"  
Bojax was livid with anger.  His hand fastened tightly to the hilt of 
the sword that hung from his waist.
	"Bojax!"  Both Derek and Pahl exclaimed in unison.
	He turned toward the two young men he had known since they 
were boys.  The look on Pahl's face struck him most forcefully.  It 
was older, wiser, and more understanding than he had remembered.  
In a strange, almost neurotic way, he thought the boy could read 
his mind.
	Pahl stepped forward and with a slight gesture of his hand, 
motioned toward Hawk.  "This man is as close a friend, teacher, 
and protector of us as you have been, Bojax.  Please, listen to him.  
The danger he must speak of is real, and Derek and my part in it 
are just as real."
	There was something in Pahl, that Bojax Freed would never 
again be able to describe.  He would only remember that during a 
brief instant he felt like the student and his friend's son the master.  
In subt		ler tones he answered, "I will listen, but I still intend on 
taking you back to Aubon with me."
	With that, the other men lowered their weapons, but remained 
on guard.  Hawk moved forward and taking Bojax Freed by the 
arm, led him a distance from the group.  Out of earshot he related 
the events that brought them here, leaving out the more personal 
portions of the journey and emphasizing those of their nation's 
security.
	Bojax Freed listened calmly and once again felt the 
similarities between himself and this wanderer like he had in 
Aubon.  Bojax had grown up in a harsh land without parents and 
understood the dangers that existed in the south.  He did not doubt 
the words of Hawk, but only doubted his own ability to protect the 
sons of his best friend.  For during the telling of the story, he had  
decided his course, and sought the other’s request for his help.  He 
would not ask, but he also would not let the young men fulfill this 
mission without him.
	Hawk noticed the change in his listener as he related the story.  
The magic swelled in him like a spring river during the telling and 
images of Bojax Freed's past settled through him without request.  
It was strange to see another's past without seeking it, and before 
he had finished he stopped mid sentence and placed a hand on the 
other’s shoulder.

	"You must come with us,"  Hawk said sending some of the 
magic into his listener.
	Bojax Freed barely paused and answered, "I must."
	The two men returned to the others.  Bojax Freed addressed 
the gruff teamster and said, "Mietel, you will send two men to 
Aubon.  They will seek out the Kempter's and tell them this, `I 
have found the boys and we must continue a mission of great 
importance.  They will be safe.  I promise.'"
	"What trickery is this?"  Mietel asked frowning.
	"No trickery, my friend," Bojax Freed replied.  "Any who 
wish to accompany us can.  If you still respect my leadership, you 
will.  But I will not ask you to remain."
	"We're with you, Sergeant!"  Some of the men shouted and 
then the rest repeated their commitment.  Derek and Pahl turned 
questioning looks at Bojax Freed upon hearing the appellation, but 
he ignored them.  
	"Very well,"  Bojax Freed said and facing Hawk he asked, 
"what course?"

	Mounting his horse Hawk replied, "New Swanston."