"God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day"
Psalm 7:11

*********

Gethin was standing with his dagger held at the throat of one of the boys. "You've ruined everything, damn you both to hell. Why couldn't you just mind your own business?"

"We were. Llwyd sent for me, remember?" Ian kept his voice level, his stance relaxed.

"Yes, I remember. The man told me all about the great Blackthorn when I came back last Spring, about how you caught Heryn. If I didn't have reason enough to hate the sound of your name already, just the monk incessantly saying it over and over was enough to make it happen."

Ian shook his head. "Why hate me? We've never met until the other day. Let the boy go, Gethin, you've nothing to gain by hurting him."

"I've nothing left to lose, now, have I? You've ruined it all. Why not hurt the boy, hmm? It would pain you to see an innocent die, wouldn't it? Don't try it, Lady Skye!" He tightened his grip on the boy as Skye cursed and took her hand away from her dagger. "You're just a much to blame in this as your husband."

Skye stared at Gethin, green eyes raging. "Me? What did I do to you, Gethin?"

"You saved Branwen! If it weren't for that damn monk sending for your husband you would not have come with him, Branwen would be dead , and the Company would be mine. MINE!"

"Alright. It's all Llwyd's fault, then. So let the boy go!" Skye gave a contemptuous shake of her head. "Or do you hide behind children?"

"I will for as long as it takes me to get safely away, milady." He began edging backwards towards the horses.

"Gethin, can I ask you why you have these boys digging away up here?" A note of interest from Ian caused the man to look back at him.

"For the gold of course! I heard that someone was mining north of Camelot from a man who rides for a mercenary captain named Zephyr. So, I thought, why not here? When Branwen died, I would have enough gold, I thought, to get the men who felt like me out of this backwater village and back to France."

"This was all about the Company, wasn't it? You couldn't wait for Branwen to pass to her gods on her own."

"And watch it wither away along with her? She lied to me! 'A year to regroup and recruit new fighters', she said." Gethin spat on the ground. "A year to find her daughter and train her so she could pass the Crows on to her, while I'm away trying to find employ for us all ! They were to be mine; she promised!"

"Genovefa is dead, Gethin. The White Crows would have been yours, in time."

"Aye, a company of old men, filled with pensioners from Camelot who'd rather settle in here as little more as guards, men you sent Branwen! But the mines would have helped that; I would have had gold to hire on younger men! But you've fixed all that, haven't you both?" He began moving again towards a horse, dragging the boy by the throat. "Well, bad pest to you both. You can have the Crows. I'll let the boy go when I ride past Penally, and you two can hike back with your waifs. Goodbye."

Ian's voice cracked out at Gethin in a tone he only used on the rawest recruits. "Then the White Crows should thank their stars you will never take command. You are a fool, Gethin. You would have never gotten any gold from these mines."

"I would have! I would! All I needed was more time!"

"Gethin, think man! When have you ever heard talk of Welsh gold? Coal, iron, and tin, that's all they've ever found in Wales; that's why the Romans abandoned the mines here. It wasn't worth the effort. It was a waste…as has been all you've done to take over the Crows. And as for escape, look up at the pass, Gethin." Ian pointed to where a group of riders led by his uncle had just crested the ridge to come into view. "That way is closed to you now."

Up on the hill, men were shouting, and suddenly sunlight flashed off bright steel. Gethin laughed. "I wouldn't be so sure of that, if I were you."

1/2001


Fiat Lux II - Part XIX

"There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise."
Psalm 36:12

*********

As he and the soldiers rode up into the mountains outside of Penally, Ashevathallion noticed all did not seem quite right among these humans. When they stopped for a brief rest (at the very same ruins Ian and Skye had stopped at the previous day) his suspicions were further aroused by the way four of the men ostracized the remaining two. He didn't remark on the situation, but instead watched all of them, noting the expressions on their faces as they looked at one another or spoke amongst themselves. The larger group sat apart from the other two men, but several times Ashe caught scowls or mocking grins directed at the pair, who remained quiet. When it came time for them to move on, Ashe mounted his horse and then looked at the soldiers. "Which way do we go from here?"

The four pointed to a dirt path leading off to the left, while the other two indicated they should stay on the overgrown road they had been traveling all day. Ashe looked at all of them blandly. "It seems we have a disagreement as to how to proceed, gentlemen. Who am I to trust to set us on the right way?" He didn't mention he had already seen a map.

"Those two don't know what they're talking about, yer lordship" growled the largest of the group of four. "They're men who've never even seen a battle yet. The path will take you where you want to go."

Ashe swiveled in his saddle and regarded the dissenting pair. "Well?"

"Osbern's got the right of it, milord; we haven't blooded our blades as yet; but Tathan and I grew up in these parts, and we know those mines are a bit further along on this same road."

"Well then, Osbern, I think we'll stay on this road. Never you mind, if it's an honest mistake I can forgive it. After all, it's Tathan's and his friend's native country and the rest of us are all strangers here, hey? Come ride with me and we'll talk." Ashe motioned the burly mercenary up beside him, pretending not to notice the man's sullen look. The two Welshmen he told to ride at the rear, and then they set out once again., Ashe keeping up a running one- -sided conversation on the local animals and trees as they rode. Gradually, Osbern became noticeably tense, glancing back several times at his three friends riding just behind them.

As they came round a bend in the trail the road suddenly gave a view of a valley and the party came to a halt. There were people below them, and several bodies, and in the midst of all this, Ashe saw, Ian and Skye were confronting a man holding a child prisoner. Then, as the two Welsh guards shouted out a warning, Osbern tried to draw his blade. Ashe had positioned the human on his right as they rode, and done so for this very eventuality. Both he and Osbern were right handed and wore their swords on the left side. Before the mercenary had the chance to draw his sword and bring it up and back to his left at Ashe, the elf's blade was out and across in a swift backslash at the other's neck. Osbern's head flew off and struck against a boulder as his body slumped out of the saddle. Stunned at the speed of their leader's death the other three sat motionless as the Welshmen took their weapons.

"I said I can forgive honest mistakes." Ashe murmured. "It's outright treachery I will not forgive."

Osbern's helmet clattered against the rocks as the head rolled halfway down the hill before coming to a stop.

*********

Triumph faded from Gethin's face as he watched his henchman fall. Ian took a single step closer to him and the hostage as the horsemen began their descent to the valley floor. "Let the boy go, Gethin. There's no way out."

"We'll see about that. I'm leaving, Blackthorn; if you want this boy unhurt, you'll not follow." He pulled the boy around by the collar, and keeping his captive between him and the Blackthorns, scrambled around a rock and up a small path.

Skye swore. "Ian, we just can't let him take that boy!"

1/2001


Fiat Lux II - Part XX

"Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed."
Isaiah 56:1

*********

"Does anyone know where that trail leads?" Ian looked at the freed boys, but they all shook their heads. Meanwhile, Ashe's party came riding down and once again, the first Welshman spoke up.

"It used to lead back to the village along the cliffs over the river. Rhodri here and I used it as youngsters. But it's a dead end now; landslide sheared the path clear off the hillside for about thirty yards. A man would have to fly to bridge that gap!"

"I wouldn't put anything past Gethin now." snarled Skye. "Does he know it's a wash out?"

"I can't say, Lady."

Ian nodded. "All right, then. Skye and I will go after him. Uncle, could you and your men see to the boys?"

"We've got them, Ian. Go!"

He didn't have to say it twice. Ian and Skye set off at a run on the mercenary's trail, and as they ran, they made plans.

*********

Gethin stood, staring out at open air at the far edge of a gap he knew he could never bridge. His hostage whimpered in fright and Gethin shook him by the neck. "Be still. I need to think."

"Little late for that, don't you think?"

"Damn you, I'll jump! I'll take the boy with me!" He turned; Blackthorn and his wife, of course. Couldn't they just leave him alone? The boy nearly broke away, but he only got a few steps before Gethin grabbed him again, pressing the knife close to the carotid artery. "What now, Blackthorn? How can you stop me? Are you going to blast me with magic like you did the walls of Carcasonne?" He sneered. "I know the truth about that! It wasn't you at all, was it, it was Michael Ard Rhi! One of his men told me!"

Blackthorn took a step forward. "And what makes you think I could not have done it if I wanted to? Ard Rhi wanted me to take the blame, and spread the lie." He stretched out his hand and a blue ball of light appeared resting on his palm. "And like all good lies, this one was based on some truth." He threw the light into the air, and Gethin looked up. In those few seconds, as he was distracted, Skye threw a dagger that sank to the hilt in the exposed throat. He staggered back, his own knife fallen, but his hand locked on the boy.

"IAN!"

On the edge of the cliff, as he stood about to plunge into two different abysses, the last thing Gethin saw was Ian Blackthorn's face as he tore the boy away to safety.

Then there was darkness.

*********

"…so when the villagers began falling sick he looked at it as an opportunity to kill you and make it seem a part of the general illness. He didn't count on Llwyd sending for us." Skye reached out and put her hand over Branwen's. "I'm sorry."

They were sitting out in the garden. The bright midday sun made Branwen look even paler, but she had insisted she needed fresh air. So after bundling the older woman up in as many blankets as she could insist on, Skye had asked Ashe to carry the woman out to the garden. After the short trip (which Branwen seemed to enjoy) they set her down in the chair Ian carried out for her and discussed what had happened.

"I am a fool." Branwen's eyes seemed to glisten and she angrily brushed at them. I should have seen it coming; ten years ago I would have. I think, perhaps, Gethin was right. I'm no longer a fit commander. Look at what happened! "

Llwyd shook his head. "Branwen, it happened because Gethin was an evil man, not because you were unfit. If not this way, he would have eventually tried another to take command and over your dead body."

"The brother is right, Branwen." said Ian from beside her. "His ego would have driven him to it late or soon. Move on from it."

"I plan to. Ian, can you send me a man you think would be a good man to replace me? Someone I can train, before I do step aside?"

He smiled. "Aye. And there's some others here who will be good junior officers, as well. Tathan and Rhodri, for starters."

She nodded. "What of those boys?"

Llwyd smiled. "Most of them have been taken in by villagers. Two have families to return home to, and Lord Blackthorn has promised he will see them sent home safely."

"Which reminds me." Blackthorn stood. "We have to get back home to Camelot. There's still Talor to deal with, and more children who need to be rescued. Branwen, be well, my friend." He bent down to plant a quick kiss on the cheek of his old friend, then extended a hand to Skye and helped her stand as well. The redhead kissed Branwen farewell also. Branwen held her briefly, whispering thanks for her aid, and then the women parted.

Ashe made to kiss one of Branwen's hands gallantly, but she snatched it away. "Oh no, you don't! You still have to carry me back inside. And when you kiss me farewell, milord "Great Healer", it best be longer than that and fit to get this old woman's heart aflutter!"

And then Ian roared with laughter, as he saw his uncle, Ashevathallion of the Clan of the Silver Rose, step back, and slowly, brightly, blush.

1/2001