Chapter 23 – Miss Linton’s Story
I left
Lieutenant Griffin in charge and took a well deserved rest. I awoke shortly
after noon to check on our progress. We were still moving by the engines, so we
were making good progress. I then checked in with Miss Linton about Miss
Jordak’s condition. She said that the woman was resting and should pull
through.
With that, I
went back on deck to discuss the plans for our return with Griffin, Chronto,
and Kumlik.
“We are three
days out and it will take as many to get back,” I said. “What do you suppose
we’ll be sailing into?”
“I am sure that
Reytik knows we are gone by now.” Chronto said. “He has probably deduced where
we have gone, but hopefully he does not know the means by which we’ve
traveled.”
“If he does not
know about our ship,” Kumlik said, “he will figure he has at least a month to
act against us.”
“True,” Lieutenant
Griffin, “ but I’d think he’d want to act sooner than later, before our men or
Borlak have a chance to strengthen their positions.”
“I agree.” I
said. “Should we fly over the city at night, what do you think we will be able
to determine about their situation.”
“If Reytik has
pressed the issue,” Chronto said, ”there will be ample evidence that can be
seen in the dark.”
“For the sake
of argument,” I said, “let’s assume that Reytik has acted. I am guessing it
would take him about a week to round up the troops he needs.”
“I think that
that is a safe assumption.” Chronto said.
‘So, when we
arrive, he will be in the early stages of his assault.” I said.
Lieutenant
Griffin said, “If he plans on a siege rather than an assault, he may be just
leveling buildings to create a kill zone.”
“Kumlik, What
time do you think we will arrive in the area of Ceraunius?” I asked.
“We should have
a decent view of the city on the evening, two days hence.” He said.
“Well,” I said,
“that is when we’ll know if we are siege breakers, reinforcements, or avenging
angels. Let us plan for all three options and we can select the most
appropriate when the time comes.”
We spent the
rest of the afternoon and on into the evening posing different scenarios as to
what and where Reytik would act. Then we would devise plans to counter his
moves. We finally broke for dinner when Miss Linton came in to our makeshift
war room.
I asked her how
Jordak was faring, to which she replied that she was progressing admirably and
would be ready for visitors sometime tomorrow. I said that that was wonderful
news and that I was curious to hear the lady’s story. I then asked how she was
doing.
“Well, I was
never in any real danger,” Miss Linton said, “until we were a day from
Palamnus. That is when we were ambushed by Deyak. Fortunately, you came to my
rescue before anything happened.”
“It is also
fortunate that we have made the friends we did in Ceraunius.” I said.
“Otherwise, we would still be trailing you and who is to say what would have
happened.”
“I was
wondering how you came by this magnificent vessel.” She said.
I then asked, “Did
you learn anything about as to why you were kidnapped and why this Deyak tried
to take you from Jordak?”
“Reytik does
not deal with most desert tribes and especially those led by women.” Miss
Linton said. “Therefore, Jordak’s tribe could only get their necessaries at
extremely inflated prices. Jordak assumed that we were in league with Reytik,
so she captured me to use as a bargaining chip in order to obtain better
treatment for her people.”
“As she soon
found out,” she continued, “we are not in league with Reytik. Then, a day out
of Ceraunius, one of Deyak’s men, a spy in Jordak’s camp, tried to carry me
off. The attempt failed and the man was killed.”
“Yes,” I said,
“we found his body as we were tracking your flight across the desert. Please
continue”
“Well, Deyak is
from the Trinythios region,” Miss Linton explained, “and that is a state that
is well known for hiring out its soldiers to the highest bidder. They also fear
the spread of the democracy movement. Because Jordak is in favor of democracy
as well as an interloper upon Trinythios territory, the ruler of Trinythios
could solve three problems by attacking our party. First, he could get rid of
Jordak’s tribe; second, he could get a recalcitrant minor noble out of his
hair; and third, he could strike a blow against democracy. He also had the
added bonus of being paid a hansom sum by Reytik.”
“At least he
achieved his second goal.” I mused.
“Indeed he
did.” Miss Linton replied.
“How did your
capture by Deyak come about and why was Jordak not killed on the spot?” I
asked.
“The man that
Jordak killed did not make his rendezvous with Deyak,” she said, “so he assumed
‘Plan A’ had failed. Of course, Deyak had planned or expected ‘Plan A’ would
fail. He knew where he wanted to attack and he had overwhelming numbers.
Jordak’s men were shot down before they could act.”
“As for why
Jordak was captured instead of killed,” she continued, “Reytik wanted to make a
public example of her. If she were taken, I fear her fate would have been worse
than death.”
“I believe
that.” I replied. “That same fate may await us, if we do not make it back to Ceraunius
in time.”
