“She’s good, you know,” Cougar Blue whispered to his best friend and captain, Ravon, as they watched two women fighting; the blue eyes from whence he was named following their every movement. “Her follow through is excellent.  The only flaw I see is that she’s a bit hesitant with her head blows.”

“She wouldn’t be in combat,” came the whispered comeback. “She’s hesitating because the challenger is slow with her blocks.  If Queen Tessla didn’t hesitate, she’d decapitate the wench, and these challenges to her rule aren’t to the death.  A sword-witch can heal many things, but I doubt they can put her head back on.”

Cougar grunted in agreement and continued to follow the battle intently.

“You’re not the First Sergeant here, Cougar.” Ravon reminded him quietly.

“I still enjoy a good bout.  It’s interesting to see how they mix the magic with the sword work.  But when it comes to straight sword work they’re no better or worse than we are.”

“Good thing we have guns and they don’t,” Ravon remarked sourly.

Cougar snorted, leaning forward, elbows on knees, intent on the fight.  Steel rang on steel as the Queen blocked a cut to her left arm.  Suddenly the other woman’s sword arm shuddered and her sword dropped from limp fingers.

“Nice,” Cougar breathed.

“Good.  We don’t have to deal with a new queen possibly choosing a different meritrix than you.  You’re looking a bit too macho, Cougar,” Ravon hissed as the crowd around them leapt to their feet, cheering.

Cougar sat up and crossed one ankle over the other, tilting his head to one side.

“The more you admire this woman, the harder it’s going to be to kill her.” Ravon admonished him quietly.

“It’s already hard.” Cougar flipped his long black hair over his bare shoulder then gracefully leapt over the stone wall that encircled the arena to the dirt floor below as several women gathered around near them to critique the fight.  Ravon followed.  They exited through one of several arches ringing the arena floor, dodging the well-wishers pouring in to congratulate Queen Tessla on retaining her crown.

Both men were in excellent physical condition; muscles hardened by years of military training.  Yet they kept their heads down, not making eye contact with the sword-wielding women around them and kept their normal forceful stride to short gliding steps.  As they walked they passed other men dressed as they were, or actually undressed.  All had long hair, no shirt or shoes, and white gauze pants that barely concealed anything.

“Head for the royal garden,” Ravon whispered. “I have news about the fleet.”

 

 

     All three thousand residents of New Charleston had turned out to see them off on their latest raid.  They knew that Ravon’s Raiders would come back with enough supplies to supplement them through the winter.  No one went hungry in New Charleston or the neighboring area.  Captain Ravon made sure of that, which is why New Charleston was one of the fastest growing towns in Dixie.

The dust of the two hundred and fifty men on horseback and the accompanying wagons, some of which were empty, rose in the air around the cheering crowd, settling back on the log cabins and clapboard homes that made up the town, but no one cared.  All the men had swords strapped to their sides and many had various firearms as well.

The people cheered for their favorite warriors amongst the men.  Calls of “Love you, Locan, our favorite Barbarian” mixed with “Make ‘em pay, Lee” and “Drum ‘em outa town, Dakota.”

But the loudest chant of all was “Rip ‘em up, Ravon! Our Rebel Prince!”

Cougar rode in the middle of the company, sitting stiffly at attention in the saddle, red and black painted face strictly forward.  That was, until they rode past the well appointed cabin with the meticulously tended yard at the edge of town.

     Two of his sons, Mink and Little Crow were jumping up and down screaming “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” as the company rode smartly past.  His wife, Prairie Wind was standing at the side of the dirt road with his third son, Badger on her hip.  As Cougar passed her she reached out her hand and caressed his moccasined foot.  The bright red and black beading that decorated the boot was a testimony to her skill and her love.

     He smiled down at her warmly and she blew him a kiss.  Her face betrayed no sign of the fear that was constantly with her whenever he left on a mission.  The bulge of her waistline was just beginning to show.

     “Hey, First Sergeant!” The newly appointed Sergeant Anise called to him. “What are you doing?  Trying to start your own tribe?”

     “I’ll remember that remark the next time we’re in the practice ring, Sergeant.” Cougar tossed back at him, a slight grin on his face.

     The youth grimaced.  His dark hair was draped over his vivid green eyes, sticking to the red and black paint, making him look all of his seventeen years young.

     The other new sergeant, Rickert, burst out with a loud guffaw.  He was of the same age, with bushy blond hair and golden brown skin; his coloring just as light as the other was dark.

     “Shut up, Golden Boy!” Anise barked at him. “You haven’t won a match against him yet either!”

     “And he never will,” Cougar chuckled.

     When they had left the cheering crowd behind, the Captain dropped out of line, waiting at the side of the road until Cougar passed, then he pulled back in.

     “Captain.” Cougar acknowledged him.

     Ravon turned his face toward him.  Cougar noted absently that the Captain’s green eyes really stood out again the all black paint on his face.  It was fiercely effective, though he had always wondered why the Captain wore all black when the rest of them wore the red and black of Ravon’s Raiders.

“Our two new sergeants giving you any problems?” The Captain asked calmly.

     “Not at all.  Just high spirits.  They remind me of the two of us not that long ago.” Cougar said as he matched his horse’s gate with the Captains so their conversation would be private.

     Ravon shook his head. “Twenty years ago,” he sighed and rolled some of the stiffness out of his shoulders.

     “That long, huh?” Cougar grunted.

     “Give or take a few.  How’s that servant I sent over working out.”

     “Good.  She really needs the work and Prairie Wind really needs the help right now.”

“I notice that Prairie Wind is carrying again.” Ravon remarked casually.

     Cougar smiled. “Well, if you’d quit taking us out on these long boarder raids, then maybe she wouldn’t welcome me home so enthusiastically.

     The Captain chuckled. “She welcomes you home that enthusiastically anytime you’re gone more than eight hours.  You can’t lie to me after all these years.  You walk around with that smug smile on your face and that hitch in you step every morning.”

     Cougar’s grin broadened even further. “Can I help it if I’m a very happily married man?”

     “No, you can’t help it, but it’s not what General Garrik likes to see.” Ravon’s lip curled slightly. “The General doesn’t believe in marriage.”

     Cougar snorted in disgust. “The General doesn’t know what he’s missing.  Ah, my friend, may you find someone, someday that will make you scream her name, then you too will believe in marriage.”

     Ravon laughed, then sobered. “I see that Mink is still in the house.  You need to place him before someone makes an issue out of it.  How old is he?” Ravon asked.

     “He’ll be six next month.” Cougar sighed.

     “Already!  I am getting old.” Ravon looked grim. “You know it has to be done.  And it can’t be the one in town since you’ve acknowledged him as your son.  Especially if you want him to come back to us and be in Ravon’s Raiders where we can keep him safe from most of the General’s debauching.” Ravon allowed himself a brief glance at Sergeant Anise. “We went into the boys dorms at four.”

Cougar followed his glance and bowed his head in defeat. “I remember.  All right.  Soon as we get back I’ll start asking around.  Or do you have someone in mind?  You know the lieutenants’ better than I do.  Who would you say, now that Locan and Dakota have joined with Ravon’s Raiders?”

     The Captain thought about it a moment. “Captain Tyrone has been recruiting some good men.  I can have them checked out.”

     Cougar stared out at the tree covered horizon as the rhythm of his horse caused his black braids to slap against his bare chest.  He rarely wore a shirt.  He found that the multitude of white scars that crisscrossed his chest worked wonderfully as an intimidation factor against enemy and young recruit alike. “He is an arrogant s.o.b., but he’s good,” he said finally, when he could speak without any emotion breaking through.

     “I’ll take care of it,” Ravon assured him. “Mink won’t end up like...some of the others.  You have my word.”

 

 

     They took up seats in an archway overlooking the large well manicured garden.  Several fountains splashed lightly nearby.  The alcove afforded them a long view of both the corridor and garden.  Then they took pains to arrange their hair to drape artfully over their muscular chests, sitting casually as if taking in the morning coolness. 

     Captain Ravon’s vivid green eyes shrewdly scanned the area around them before speaking. “Lieutenant Lee smuggled me in a message along with this morning’s food delivery.  The fleet will be here in three days.”

     Cougar made no comment as his eyes scanned the peaceful garden now slated for destruction. 

     “You know what the successful completion of this mission means for us.  We have to finish it.” Ravon’s voice became harsh.

     “I’ll finish it,” Cougar replied coldly. “Have I ever failed to finish an assignment?”

     “No.” Then Ravon said thoughtfully. “Except for the time when we were six and you tried to steal a watermelon from Lieutenant Sherman’s garden and got caught.” A half smile crept onto Ravon’s face.

     “Only because you spiked on me.” Cougar retorted heatedly but the grin on his face negated the venom.  Then his brief mirth was replaced with a cold distant stare. “And I won’t fail this one.  I will kill her.” Cougar Blue studied his friend’s face. “You just do your part, Captain.”

     Ravon’s face was grim. “I gave you my word.  But it stays between the two of us.”

     “I remember.”

     “Smile.  The Queen and your latest paramour are walking this way.” Ravon warned as he pasted a slight smile on his face.

     “Shamnel?”

     “Who else?”

“You know, Shamnel’s skills have increased dramatically since she started sparring with the Queen.  Queen Tessla’s been quite generous with her time recently to help Shamnel.”

“Spoken like a true First Sergeant.  The Queen’s pretty free with your time as well when it comes to Shamnel.” Ravon added sarcastically.

“I don’t mind.  We discuss weapons, and I like watching her practice.  I just wish I could train her.  She would benefit from more one-on-one training.  Which the Queen obviously saw.”

“Because you pointed it out to her.  We’re here to take down their government, not build it up.” Ravon snapped. “Now I know why you never wanted me to promote you.  You’re a first sergeant balls to bones.”

Cougar ignored the jib. “And Shamnel doesn’t make me do anything...like some of your women do.”

Ravon shrugged. “I can handle it.”

“That’s not the point and you know it.  Anyway, I’m just saying that for a ruler, Queen Tessla’s not that bad.”

“You still have to kill her.  You have the opportunity as her meritrix.  She chose you, not me.”

“Thanks to your big nose.”

All Ravon could do was glare at his friend, as the women were getting within ear shot.

Cougar responded by tilting his head and smiling dreamily out at the garden, but he wasn’t seeing the pristinely manicured garden of the palace.  He was seeing a much smaller vegetable garden.  One planted by his own hands.

 

 

     “Daddy!  Daddy!” The little raven headed boy yelled as Cougar grabbed him up before he could tread on the tender shoots struggling to grow toward the spring sun.

     “Little Crow, do you want to go hungry this winter?” Cougar barked at his son.

     “No, sir,” the little boy slurred as he stuck his fingers into his mouth, momentarily cowed by his tall angry father.  But then his excitement over came his fear. “But the Cap’n’s here!”

     “You think I couldn’t see him ride in from here?” Cougar chuckled.  Leaning the hoe against the shed, Cougar settled the young boy comfortably on his hip and strode between the rows toward the log cabin that was their home, his moccasined feet sinking into the freshly tilled earth.

     “But Momma said...”

     “To fetch me.  We’re going, Little Crow.”

     Cougar sighed and allowed his son to slide to the floor as he entered the front room and spotted the tall, imposing figure of Captain Ravon talking to his oldest son.  Mink’s blue eyes were glowing with excitement.

     Ravon straightened as he saw Cougar, his long black braid slapping lightly against his black leather jerkin. “He’s been placed,” he announced bluntly.

     Cougar nodded.  Little Crow sidled over to the fireplace and grabbed a hold of his mothers worn buckskin skirt, fingers still in his mouth as he stared with wide dark eyes at the Captain.  

Cougar’s eyes followed him, glancing at his wife.  She ducked her dark head and pretended to be very interested in stirring the contents of the large black kettle hanging over the fire.  Her stomach was so swollen with child that she could barely bend over.  Badger was cooing quietly in his cradle.  Cougar’s heart went out to his wife, but he did not let it carry to his face.  He was certain she would not be able to hold back her tears if he showed any sympathy to her.

     They would cry together later.

     “Mink’ll go to the boy’s dorm in Vicksberg where Tyrone’s Terrorists are stationed.  I’ve spoken to Captain Tyrone.  He’s agreed to accept Mink as a Pony Boy once he turns eight, as long as he shows promise.  He’ll be trained up by a Lieutenant Jeb.  I have received several positive reports on Lieutenant Jeb’s conduct.”

     “Captain Tyrone.  He’s a fair man.” Cougar commented, more for his wife’s sake than his own.

     “Yes.  He doesn’t hold with a lot of the extra curricular activities General Garrik pushes and neither does Lieutenant Jeb.” Ravon reiterated for the same reason. “Then Ravon’s Raiders can pick him up once he turns fourteen.  If that’s what you want.” The Captain said gently.

     Mink ran over to his father. “I’m gonna be one of Tyrone’s Terrorists!  And then I’m gonna be a First Sergeant, just like you!”

     Cougar’s face froze for a moment.  Then he forced a smile as he knelt down and hugged his son. “That’s great, son.  I know you’ll make a great warrior.  Now go say good-bye to your mother.”

     Cougar stood as the boy ran to his mother. “I wasn’t expecting this so soon.”

     Ravon nodded. “I know.  But we have a new assignment.  We’ll be gone for about two years, so I knew you’d want Mink taken care of.”

     Cougar turned at the small gasp from his wife. 

     “Two years?” He queried.

     “Now that the fleet is finished, the General wants to use it to attack a country called Necolom, down across the Caribbean Sea.  He wants Ravon’s Raiders to act as spies and infiltrate it ahead of the fleet.  We’ve got a year of prep work, then two years in the field.”

     “Spies?” Cougar absently began rocking Badger’s cradle. “Why us?  Wouldn’t it be better to find some women to do the job?  Necolom is one of the old Corporate Countries, isn’t it?  All those people down there were genetically changed.  Therefore, it’s run by women.” Cougar stated.

     “It is.  By a queen...and an army of sword-witches.  Women who are not only as strong as we are...but they have some kind of magically abilities.  That’s why we can’t send a women, she would be spotted too easily; besides the fact that the General doesn’t trust a woman to come back.”

     “He should be worried about us coming back,” Cougar muttered.

     “You’re a loyal sergeant...right Cougar Blue.” Ravon smiled knowingly.

     “Yes, sir, of course I am.” Cougar stated immediately. “Loyal to you.”

 

 

     “Blue?  Blue!”

     Cougar allowed himself to be pulled out of his reverie by the insistent female voice at his elbow.  As he looked at her he kept the dreamy look on his face.

     “Did you forget?  I’ve agreed to allow Shamnel to escort you to the ancient weapons museum today!” Queen Tessla teased.

     Cougar maintained his smile. “I didn’t forget.  How could I forget that I get to spend the entire day with someone so intelligent and lovely?” He allowed his gaze to drift to the other woman who rolled her eyes.

     “Spare me the meritrix platitudes, Blue,” the Queen snorted. “You are not like those other simpering fools, so please do not try to impress me like that.  Or Shamnel.” She crossed her heavily muscled arms over her chest.

     He bowed his head. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”

     Ravon chimed in with the platitude along with Cougar, softening his voice and lowering his eyes.  Through his thick eyelashes he assessed the new woman.  She was young, still in training, but rumor had it she was very powerful.  He wondered why the Queen was allowing Cougar to go with the woman.  He sighed.  It didn’t really matter.  She’d be dead soon along with the rest of them.

     “Raven, I do not believe you are all that passive either.” Shamnel teased him.

     A predatory look sharpened his gaze for a brief moment before the teasing tone in her voice registered in Ravon’s brain.  He smiled and raised his head, looking her in the eye. “And I believe that you could get us into a lot of trouble.  We must behave as we must.” He glanced at the Queen who gave him a wry smile.

     Shamnel sighed. “I know.  I apologize.  Come, Blue.  The sun is moving faster than you.”

     “Why the hurry?” Cougar grabbed her around the waist and pulled her closer to him.

     She placed her hands on his shoulders to stop him. “I have again been assigned to the Lipzen company for the summer as a currier just as I was last year.  I leave tomorrow and I will not see you again until the fall.”

     “Where is the Lipzen company stationed that you won’t be able to come visit me?” He leaned forward to kiss her but she leaned back out of range.

     “On the southern most edge of Necolom.”

     “I’m glad,” Cougar breathed.

     “What did you say?” She frowned.

     “I’m sad,” he covered quickly. “I will miss you.”

 

 

“Okay.  I can see your point about taking out the Queen and her guard as a priority since their social structure maintains that those people are the best of the best.  But how, exactly, are we getting into the palace, Captain?” Cougar asked as he plopped down into a chair in Ravon’s office.  He dropped some papers on Ravon’s desk and then settled back. “I read the report you gave me.  We don’t exactly look like their men.  Too much muscle.”

     Ravon silently shuffled through some of the other papers on his desk. “After going over these preliminary reports that have been smuggled out, I can find only one way to get to the Queen.  We’ll have to become meritrixes.”

     “Meri-what?” Cougar repeated.

     “Meritrixes.  Play-toys for the sword-witches, specifically.  Most of the meritrixes are stationed in the palace because the main barracks is attached to it.  There’s a heavy duty screening process, but once a man is chosen to be in the palace no one pays a great deal of attention to him after that.”

     Cougar raised his eyebrows. “Sex slaves, you mean.”

     “Whatever word works.” Ravon replied calmly.

     “Ravon!  I can’t do that!  I can’t go against my vows to Prairie Wind!” Cougar stated, leaning forward in his chair, appalled that his Captain would even ask him.

     “I need you Cougar.” Ravon replied, absently rubbed his hairless chin. “All Necolom men have the curse, as we call it here in Dixie.  Anyone who gets five o’clock shadow would be killed instantly.  Do you know how many men the General has allowed to be trained and positioned in his army that have the curse?”

     “It’s getting better!” Cougar sputtered.

     Ravon sighed. “Twenty-five.  And I’ve recruited all of them for this mission.  Do you know how many officers have the curse?”

     “No!”

     “Four.  Five counting myself.  And all of them are under me.  That means two to go into the palace: you and I; two to secure the university: Sergeants Anise and Rickert; and one to get messages back and forth; Lieutenant Lee.  The rest of the men I can only trust in minor roles because I didn’t train them.” Ravon leaned forward. “I need you at my back in this.  I need you with me in the palace.”

     “Why me?  Why not one of the others?”

     “Because they can’t handle the things you and I can.  The palace is getting bored.” He picked up another report. “They are starting to acquire a taste for...the harder stuff.  That’s why the current search for men made of sterner stuff than their normal men.  Though Sergeants Rickert and Anise have been to a couple of the General’s parties they are too young, and I don’t want to put them through what we might have to handle, that’s why I’ve assigned them to infiltrate the university.  And as you know Lieutenant Lee’s wife was recently murdered; I don’t think he’s recovered well enough to handle the palace either.  It has to be the two of us.  I can’t do it alone, Cougar.”

     Cougar shook his head. “No.  No way.  Find someone else.  I’m not doing that!”

 

 

     The sun was beginning to set.  Cougar was standing on the balcony in the Queen’s room when he spotted a crowd gathering around a platform down on the plaza.  Two heavily muscled sword-witches were dragging a man onto it.

     “What’s going on?” He muttered.

     The Queen drifted over and glanced out. “Public castration of a rogue male.” She grimaced. “I think the practice is barbaric.”

     “Then why don’t you stop it?” Cougar growled, allowing more venom into his voice than he intended.

     Queen Tessla glanced at him and he quickly wiped any trace of disgust from his face. “Politics.” She explained simply. “Most of the upper ranking sword-witches want to keep the practice as a deterrent.”

     “Politics.” Cougar repeated. “Politics is what keeps good people from doing what they know is right in order to keep the peace.”

     “I agree, but what can I do that will not result in challenge after challenge to my crown?  Our laws allow for anyone to challenge if they think I’m becoming weak.  My hands are tied, and as long as you never become a rogue male, you do not need to concern yourself.” She smiled. “You are under my protection, Blue.  Be content.”

     The man’s screams began to float up to them on the ocean breeze.

     The Queen narrowed her eyes slightly.  Cougar froze.  He knew she was scanning the colors of his aura for deception.  He stopped his hand from drifting to his thigh.

     Cougar forced a smile to his face. “I am content,” he said, placing a note of teasing into his voice. “Very content.”

     “Good.” Her eyes focused back on his face. “But I think that I am jealous of the time you spent with Shamnel today.  I think we will skip dinner tonight.” She ran her finger lightly over one of the many scars that crisscrossed his bare chest, then took his hand and led him over to her bed.

     “What ever you wish, Your Majesty,” Cougar answered, trying to shut the screaming out of his head.

 

 

     Cougar watched as the young Sergeant Rickert gritted his teeth while an old woman slit open his leg.  Sweat dampened down his bushy blond hair but he didn’t make a sound.  Placing her hand on the wound, she sealed the edges before he lost any more blood.  Rickert took a deep breath as the pain receded, looking at the gapping hole in his thigh.  He examined it curiously.

     Cougar glanced over at Ravon. “I can see why you want this to stay just between the six of us.  She’s one of them, isn’t she?”

     “Genetically altered, yes.” Ravon confirmed. “There are a few scattered amongst the United Tribes.  This woman used to be one of General Garrik’s slaves.  Now she’s mine.”

     “If the General ever found out...”

     “But the General’s not going to find out, is he?” Ravon sternly glared the five men sitting there.

     “Not from us,” Rickert stated firmly.

     “You don’t have to worry about us, Captain,” agreed Sergeant Anise, brushing his dark hair out of his vivid green eyes.  “We’re all loyal to the Rebel Prince.” The other four men grinned and nodded their consent.

     “And that doesn’t leave here either!” Ravon stated firmly. “If the General begins to doubt our loyalty...we’re all dead.”

 The woman took a small round medallion and slid it between the muscles of Rickert’s thigh.  He gritted his teeth again, then relaxed as she sealed up the wound completely.

     “Walk!” She ordered him.

     He pulled up his blue jeans, buckling his belt with swift sure fingers then stood gingerly and placed weight on his leg.  He grimaced. “I can feel it in there.”

     “Walk!!” She ordered again.

     He did a couple of laps around the room, limping slightly.

     “You’ll get used to it,” Ravon assured him, flexing his right leg. “I hardly notice it now.”

     “I don’t know about this.  I feel numb,” the youth complained.

     “Sergeant Rickert, these sword-witches can detect your moods and your lies as easily as I can detect your bad breath.” Ravon countered.

     Anise snorted which earned him a whack on the arm from Rickert.  His dark hair fell back over his eyes as he counter punched.

     “Shut up, Spook!” Rickert snapped.

Anise laughed at him, then sobered. “It does feel weird, Captain.” Anise stated, rubbing his thigh. “Like the effect of some of the drugs the General gives out at his parties.”

“That’s exactly what it’s doing, Sergeant Anise, dampening down your emotional responses.  It’s only temporary.  After we take the capital, my slave here will take them out.” Ravon explained. “You’re next Lieutenant Lee.”

An older blond man stood, his face was worn and lined though he was younger than Ravon.  Lee dropped his pants, then sat back down.  The old woman cleaned her knife, then sliced deep into the Lieutenant’s leg.  The Lieutenant’s face paled but he gave no other sign that he felt the pain.  She quickly healed the edges and slid the amulet into place, then closed the wound. 

The lines on his face softened.

“You’ll need to let your hair grow out,” Ravon commented on the Lieutenant’s short cropped blond hair. “Most of the men in Necolom have long hair.”

“That’s not a problem,” Lee answered solidly. “So this thing stops us from feeling.”

“No.  It tempers it.  You will still feel.  This amulet smoothes out our emotions so that our auras are constantly a color consistent with one of their passive men.  But let me warn you right now, strong emotions will swamp the effect, so your main job from now until we sail is to study the Necolom language and to practice controlling your emotions.  No matter what is happening around you, you must be able to bury it.  Especially you, Ensign Ethan since you’ll be going with me into the palace.” Ravon gestured towards a shorter but compactly muscled middle-aged blond man who raised his eyebrows. “Unless you’ve changed your mind, Cougar Blue?”

Cougar shook his head. “No.  I haven’t changed my mind.  Ethan, how is your wife dealing with this assignment?”

Ethan shrugged. “She’s not thrilled, but I might get a promotion out of it.” He rubbed his smooth face. “After all these years of service—it would be nice.  This could put us in a better position that will be safer for her.” He glanced covertly at Lee.

Cougar caught the glance and a flutter of fear stabbed at his heart.

 

 

     Cougar went in search of Ravon.  He found him hunkered over a bleeding man just outside one of the many bedrooms in the palace.

     Ravon swore. “I don’t understand how they can call this fun!”

     “The General does.  Don’t...” Cougar warned.

     Ravon took a deep breath and the anger slid from his face.  Cougar counted fifteen lashes across the man’s back.

     “We’ve got to find someone to heal him.  He won’t survive this.” Ravon stated calmly as the man started to shiver. “He’s going into shock.

     “I know someone who will.” Cougar sprinted off down the white marble corridor.

     He returned with the Queen.

     She swore as colorfully as Ravon had, then quickly placed her hands on his back.  As she moved further down the skin was left smooth and healed.  Finally the man collapsed in relief at her feet.

     “Take him to the dorm,” she ordered them. “And tell the Chores Mistress that he is to have two days rest for this...this breach of etiquette.”

     “Yes, Your Majesty,” they both muttered.

     Ravon shouldered the man and they gently led him away as the Queen pounded on the door in front of her.  It opened as they rounded the corner.  Cougar paused, peaking back.

     “Your Majesty?” A woman queried.  The Queen shoved the door open revealing two women: one younger than the other but both with long dark hair and pale white skin.

     “I might have known.  It had to be the two of you that left my servant out here to bleed to death!” Queen Tess raged.

     “We did not leave him to bleed to death.” The older woman argued snobbishly. “We told him to go the palace Healer.  Did he not?  If he did not, it is not our fault he cannot take direction.”

     The Queen’s eyes narrowed at the insinuation. “You wounded him to where he could not move!  Pack your bags and be gone by sundown,” the Queen ordered them.

     The woman laughed lightly. “For playing rough with a male?  I think not.”

     “He was a servant, here to clean your room, not a meritrix.  And you will leave.” The Queen’s voice dropped. “I rule here.”

     “Until the next challenge,” the woman sniffed.

     “Until defeated!  Are you saying you wish to challenge me?” Queen Tess laughed.

     The look on the woman’s face soured. “No.  But you will not be queen forever.  Perhaps my daughter, Jet, will be the one to take you.”

     “Jet is not a sword-witch and never will be.  She cannot tell one end of a sword from another.  I could kill her in an instant.  You think too far above your station.”

     With that the Queen spun and strode off down the hall in the opposite direction of Cougar so he caught the woman’s last words before she closed the door.

     “Perhaps it is time for this country to stop hiding behind swords.  My girl is more powerful than you know.” 

 

 

Cougar gently wiped Prairie Wind’s sweaty brow as she bit down hard on the piece of leather in her mouth. “Once more, sweetheart,” he encouraged as he helped her lean forward and push, his arm a solid bar behind her back.  She grunted, her muscles strained to their limit as evidenced by the uncontrollable shaking of her legs.

     “Yes!” came the word of victory from the mid-wife.  She caught the small body as it slid free from Prairie Wind, cut the cord and began to clean the child off.

     “It’s a girl,” she pronounced sadly.

     Prairie Wind collapsed into Cougar’s arms.  He took the leather from her mouth and kissed her.  “It’s all over, hon.”

     She smiled at him and tenderly brushed her fingers across his cheek.  “Until the next time, my love.”

     He tightened his grip on her.  It amazed him and touched him to the very core of his being how strong she was.  How she blessed him with the gifts of her body time and again, creating life, carrying it within her, and then sending it out into the world.  How she withstood his repeatedly going into battle without complaint, though his death would mean disaster for her and the children left without his protection.

He smiled.  He was pleased that the child was a girl.  A duplicate of her mother to grow in grace and beauty.  He kissed Prairie Wind again, smoothing down her long dark hair then laying her down gently on the birthing bed.

“Show me,” he ordered the mid-wife as she seemed reluctant to hand over the child.  He peeled back a corner of the towel she was wrapped in and took his first look at his daughter.  Her tiny face was a brilliant red and she had a wild shock of coal black hair.

“She must be mine.” Cougar stated firmly. “She already wears the colors of Ravon’s Raiders.”

Prairie Wind laughed at him.  “Of course she’s yours, fool.  Only a child of yours would stop mid-way in her journey to check out the inside of my womb,” she teased, referring to the twenty hours of hard labor that she had just endured.

“It’s not exactly your womb that I keep visiting,” he whispered in her ear. “But I do wish I could visit it for twenty hours.”

Prairie Wind slapped his face lightly. “Vulgar man,” she whispered, her voice filled with affection.  Then she captured his lips with a passion he didn’t think she could have after such a difficult birthing.

“Give her to me,” she demanded of him.

Cougar relinquished his claim to Prairie Wind, sliding the infant into her arms.  Prairie Wind checked the girl’s fingers and toes.  Cougar felt a swelling in his heart as a tiny hand curled around his calloused finger.

     “She’s perfect,” he breathed. “I think Jasmine is the right name for her.”

     “I must take her outside to breathe the air and clear her lungs.” The mid-wife demanded.

     “Of course.” Cougar replied, passing the child to her.  She quickly exited the cabin.  Then to his wife he said, “Rest.  I’ll start cleaning things up.  Then I’ll wake Little Crow and let him know he has a little sister.”

She smiled weakly at him, her eyes drooping with exhaustion.

     “Sleep, dear heart,” he whispered again as he lovingly began the task of cleaning the remnants of his daughters entrance into the world from his wife’s body.

     Just as he finished massaging fragrant oil into the muscles of her abdomen, she sat up violently. “Where’s my baby?” She demanded.

     Cougar realized with a start that the mid-wife had not returned.  Immersed as he had been in his ministrations, he hadn’t noticed the passage of time.  His hands began to grow cold.

     “I’ll find her,” he assured his wife as she began to sob.

     “I want my baby!”

     As Cougar headed for the door, the mid-wife entered.  Her hands were empty.

     Prairie Wind started screaming.

 

 

“It’s begun,” Ravon whispered to Cougar as he leaned against a marble statue and gave a “come hither” smile to several sword-witches as they walked past.  They laughed and kept walking. “I gave Lieutenant Lee the go ahead to start taking out the sword-witches in the outlying areas.  The fleet will be here just after sundown.  You need to get the Queen alone before then and do this.  If she mounts a defense...”

“She won’t,” Cougar sighed.

“Cougar.  If you want me to...” Ravon started to offer in response to the dullness in Cougar’s eyes.

“No,” Cougar countered the offer firmly. “She is an honorable woman and warrior.  She dies by my hand or not at all.”

“All right.” Ravon relented as he spotted one the women doubling back. “I’ll start with this one and work my way into as many bedrooms as I can until the fleet gets here.  By then Lee and his platoons should be here to back us up.”

Cougar nodded as the woman stepped up to Ravon.  Sticking her finger in her mouth, she sucked on it, then traced a wet trail down Ravon’s chest with it.  His grin faded from his eyes leaving them hard and cold as she took his hand and led him away.

 

 

As Cougar massaged the Queens shoulders, digging into the thick tissue with his thumbs, he began mentally walking through how he was going to end her life in a few short hours.  He had killed many people over his lifetime, but never had he know his intended target so intimately.  He had no doubts about his ability to do it.  What he feared was what it was doing to him to go there.  He was very grateful for the amulet.  It helped to numb him to what he was about to do.

She sighed as Cougar dug into the cords around her neck. “You have such strong hands.  I shall miss you.”

Cougar froze. “Where am I going?”

The Queen kissed his fingers. “Shamnel.  She has not said anything yet, but I believe you will serve her well.”

“Why would I not stay with you?” It had caught him off guard, but it didn’t really matter now, he reminded himself.

“I feel...” she paused. “You will think me silly.”

“No.  Never.  Tell me,” he encouraged as he switched to using the heel of his hand.

“I feel like my time is already over.  Maybe it is all the challenges I have had to face lately.  That is why I have been spending so much time with Shamnel.  Your suggestions are already bearing fruit.”

“You feel she is your successor?” He inquired curiously.

She rolled over. “You must tell no one, Blue, especially her.”

“I would never,” he assured her.

“Give me your word,” she insisted.

“The word of a meritrix means nothing,” he retorted flatly.

“Your word means a great deal...to me,” she said sincerely.

He could see the honest regard for him in her brown eyes. “Then I give you my word.  I will tell no one.”

She smiled at him then rolled back onto her stomach.  The companionable silence between them lengthened.

“Blue, have you ever been in love?”

Immediately Prairie Wind’s face drifted over his thoughts.  Cougar swallowed hard, hoping that his feelings wouldn’t override the amulets protection. “No.  I’ve never had that privilege.”

“Somehow I find that difficult to believe, though I know that you tell the truth.”

Cougar let out the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

“You seem to understand women so well.”

“I had sisters,” he said calmly.  Stick to the truth as much as possible, he thought.  He was so caught up in trying to temper his emotions that he was startled by her next words.

“Blue, what do you dream about?” The Queen inquired quietly.

He didn’t respond immediately as he tried to think of a safe answer.  Cougar felt the walls closing in on him.  This intimate conversation was not conducive to his plans. 

“You may speak freely with me.  You know this.” Tessla encouraged him.

His thoughts raced to his home, his family. “I have always dreamed of having a place where I can have a garden.  Someplace safe where no one can trample it.  Where I can spend endless summer days tending the tiny plants, helping them to grow.  Then in the fall I can sit back and feast on the fruits of my labor.”

“I would never have taken you to be a farmer, Blue.  You never cease to surprise me.”

Cougar allowed a sad smile to creep onto his face. “So, your turn.  What do you dream about?”

The Queen took her time answering him.  Finally she said, “An end to evil.”

     Cougar paused, then continued manipulating her flesh. “What would you do to achieve that goal?” He asked nonchalantly.

“Anything,” she replied calmly.

“Who would you sacrifice?”

The Queen rolled over again to face him, sitting up this time. “Anyone.  Including myself.  But does that make me evil in turn?”

Blue sat next to her, brushing back her short red hair.  When he realized what he was doing he pulled his hand back. “I don’t know.  Maybe.  But I certainly have no right to judge you.”

The minute the words left his lips he wished he could take them back.  He had said them from his heart, but wasn’t that exactly what he was doing by killing her?  Judging her as evil by the standards of someone far more evil that she would ever be.

“I think that we will all have to be judged by our actions in the end,” he finished. “And we’ll all have to pay for them.”

“With no chance for redemption?” She queried.

“I don’t know,” he whispered sadly. “I can only hope so.”

    

 

Cougar staggered into Ravon’s office.  He looked haggard and his left arm was bleeding from a slash across the forearm.  Ravon leapt to his feet and was at his friend’s side in seconds.

“Cougar!  What’s happened.” He helped Cougar find the chair and sit, then he knelt beside him.

“They killed her.” Cougar whispered woodenly.  His blue eyes were hazed with pain.

“Who!  Who killed who?” Ravon demanded angrily.

“My little girl.  They killed my little girl.”

“Cougar...did Prairie Wind give birth?” Ravon inquired, his heart sinking.

“Yes.  It was a little girl.  A perfect...little girl.” Cougar’s voice cracked.

Ravon swore, then grabbed a handkerchief from his desk drawer and dabbed at the wound on Cougar’s arm.  Cougar didn’t seem to notice.  Ravon could see it was self-inflicted; a red stripe next to several other white lines.  He had been present for the making of several of the others.

“Cougar, I’m...” Ravon stopped.  Sorry seemed like such an inadequate word. “Why?”

“Too many girls.  General Garrik’s law about maintaining the ratio of more men than women so he can keep control of us.  There are too many girls in New Charleston, so the mid-wife...killed her.” Cougar was shaking with grief but he still didn’t allow the tears to fall.

“This is my town!” Ravon growled. “I make the rules here.  I will speak to the mid-wife.  This won’t happen again.  To any of my men.” He stood abruptly.

“Tell that to Lee!” bellowed Cougar, leaping to his feet. “This may be where Ravon’s Raiders bunks but it’s not your town!  Lee’s wife was raped and murdered in his own home while we were on the boarder fighting the United Tribes and no one here stopped it.  And you still don’t know who did it!”

Ravon glanced away.

“You do know.” Cougar hissed, catching the look in his friend’s eye.  He grabbed Ravon’s arm violently, digging his fingers into the muscle.  Ravon did not flinch from his friend’s pain. “If you know, why don’t you do something!” Cougar exploded.

“I can’t.” Ravon stated firmly. “So drop it.”

“Bring him to justice!” Cougar shouted, shoving his friend backwards.

“I can’t!” Ravon shouted back, a note of desperation in his voice. “I can’t touch him.  It’s political!”

“The General’s politics,” Cougar spat out the words.

“Politics.” Ravon repeated. “Yes!  My hands are tied.  Political connections and favors are what’s keeping the peace right now.  That’s what I’m doing...keeping the peace.”

“But at what cost?  Lee’s wife.  My little girl...” Cougar said softly.

“The price is high, I know.  I’m...”

“Ineffective.” Cougar said flatly. “Because you’re dodging your real responsibility which is not to us, but to your country, to your people.”

Ravon winced.  Then his heart froze as Cougar pinned him with a look so venomous that it was almost as if his eyes now contained the blue flames of hell.

“If you don’t kill the General...I will,” Cougar breathed.

“You’d never get close.” Ravon said quickly trying to quickly figure out a way to dissuade his friend and keep him alive.

“But you can.  You’re his son,” Cougar hissed.

“One of many!” Ravon reminded him. “And low on his list!”

“But the people will follow you!  They trust you!  Kill him and take control of Dixie, Ravon!” Cougar stormed around the room, too angry to stand still.

Ravon shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Then when!”

“Have you forgotten the United Tribes on our western boarder and that the Northern Gang Alliance may be fractured, but they’re still a viable threat?” Ravon sighed. “Not enough of the people will follow me just yet.  If I move too soon...we’ll have a blood bath and our enemies will pick our bones clean.”

“Then we take this mission!  We come back heroes!” Cougar argued fiercely. “No other company has had the successes we’ve had.  No one else brings back the spoils like we do!  The people have learned to trust us!  To trust you!  You’re becoming a legend.  They call you the Rebel Prince!  The General can’t kill that!”

“Cougar, you’re exaggerating!”

“I am not!  And, you underestimate your influence; you always have!”

“If my influence was that great Lee’s wife wouldn’t be dead and neither would your daughter!” Ravon yelled.  His own impotence angering him beyond reason.

Cougar stopped as he took in his friends rage. “Why do you think I follow you?” Cougar asked quietly.

Ravon paused then swallowed, his hands growing cold. “I don’t know.  I’ve often wondered about it.  You’re a better swordsman than I am.  You’re better at relating to people.  I’ve never understood why you’ve turned down promotion after promotion.  Become captain of your own company; you’d be good at it.”

Cougar too hold of his friends shoulder. “Because I look at the bigger picture.  I have known since we were children that you were destined to be a great man.  And I have always wanted to be a part of that; as the one who stands behind you and kicks your ass when you need it.  Your best friend.”

Ravon frowned. “You will always be my best friend.”

Cougar looked at the rough beams of the ceiling searching for the right words. “We can’t keep living like this, Ravon!  Right now the General’s influence is greater.  But you are changing it.  The people of New Charleston have aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, half-cousins.  The General has tried to erase family ties and replace them with his own but it’s only serving to make those bonds more precious!” Cougar spread his hands, then clasped them together into a fist.

“Please, Ravon!  You’re the only one who has a chance to change it!” Cougar begged him, his voice breaking again. “Step up and stop this...stop running from who you were born to be.  Be the leader you were born to be.”

The pain in his friend’s eyes was more than Ravon could bear.  He was silent for a long moment.  He knew Cougar didn’t completely understand what it might take to pull off a coup against the General, nor did he care right now.  His pain was too great.  But Cougar was right.  It wasn’t the First Sergeant’s job to make the tough decisions—it was his.

“All right,” he agreed solemnly. “If all goes well, when we return, I will move against him.  I swear it.” Ravon met Cougar’s gaze without flinching. “I swear it...on your daughter’s grave.  But I can’t do this alone.  Our best chance at success...is if you help me take the palace.  Ethan’s good, but in a battle—after all these years you and I think with one mind.  You know it’s the truth.  Prairie Wind knows it too.”

Cougar sat as his friend’s words sunk through his anger.  Then he seemed to collapse inward.  Ravon caught Cougar as he slid onto the floor and held him silently as his friend finally allowed the gut wrenching sobs to explode from his body.

 

 

Cougar gazed at the women in the bed next to him.  Though the sun had only set an hour ago, she was deep in an exhausted sleep; worn out from the hours of love-making Cougar had put her through, a slight smile on her face.  He carefully slid from the bed and padded, naked, to stand on the balcony looking out to the ocean.

Back in Dixie it had seemed so easy to agree to become a spy, infiltrate the palace, and kill every sword-witch he could before the fleet landed.  He hadn’t expected to admire any of them.  He hadn’t expected the Queen, herself, to take a fancy to him; hadn’t expected her to be a better ruler than the General.

He felt dirty.  He’d made a lie out of his marriage vows with this woman and it was only going to get worse.  As the cool ocean breeze flitted over his body he could just barely make out the outlines of multiple ships coming out of the darkness into the bay.

It was time.

Soon the Dixie army would land and begin the burning, the raping and the tortures that the General lived for and encouraged in his men.  And he was expected to do his share.  He was becoming the kind of man General Garrik prized in order to participate in what was possibly a futile attempt to take him down.

For a brief moment, he looked down at the plaza far below.  It would be such an easy thing to hop over the railing and be done with it.  But if he took the easy way out what would happen to Prairie Wind?  To the boys?  If the Queen were not taken out, would Ravon be able to take the palace?  The city?  And if the Captain failed, all hopes of his deposing the General were gone.

He closed his eyes and saw again in his mind the tiny mound of earth that lay silently behind his cabin. 

No.  Ravon was their hope.  He could not fail his friend, his wife.  Or his people.

Straightening, he made his way back to the bed.

 

 

As Ravon came around the corner, padding softly on the white marble floor, he saw Cougar finishing off one of the Queen’s guards, blood covering his hands and splashed on his pants turning them pink.

“Is she...” Ravon asked.

“Yes,” Cougar replied grimly, his eyes a dull blue.

Ravon simply nodded.  Now was not the time for questions.  They had a long night ahead of them.

“Let’s go.  Lieutenant Lee’s platoons are already in.  They’ve finished with the barracks and are now sweeping the rest of the palace.  We’re to meet him in the kitchen.  He has horses for us, a change of clothes and our weapons,” Ravon explained quickly.

A dull boom suddenly sounded outside.  Cougar’s ears registered the sound of a cannon.

“Wait,” he said as Ravon started to sprint down the corridor.

As Ravon turned, Cougar took the knife and sliced a line next to the white scar that represented his daughter, then they headed for the battle.

End.