Lords of Freedom 2 - Chapter 10
Introduction
Lords of Freedom is an exciting trilogy that includes adventure, realistic action, surprising insights, and a touch of romance.
The serialization of Lords of Freedom book one is complete, with all 33 chapters published in the Gene Van Shaar Substack. Here is the link to all the chapters: Lords 1
The serialization of Lords of Freedom 2 (book 2 of the trilogy) is in progress. Lords of Freedom 2 includes many intriguing parallels with Joan of Arc, George Washington, Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox), Henry Knox, and the American Revolutionary War.
Lords of Freedom 2 - Chapter 10 - Allies and Friends
Jayn was amazed and thrilled with her miraculous rescue, as well as the course of events that had aligned Johann and her guards with Xan. Watching him and his wife Hon talking to Caden, she felt her breath catch in her throat. Mercedes had joined the group and it seemed that Xan and Hon could see and hear her. Jayn wondered if they were angels as well.
Johann motioned to her and led the way across the meadow toward Xan and the others. Jayn strode just behind him with Maynard and Quillan flanking her and Trahern bringing up the rear. Staring at the great black tiger, Jayn was awed and eager to meet her rescuers.
Caden pointed toward Vlad, and when Xan nodded approval, he dashed off, mounting Ash and spurring the horse into the forest and out of sight. Jayn felt a pang of disappointment. He was headed back to the city, clearly a spy now, but he hadn’t thought to say goodbye…hadn’t even glanced back in her direction.
Giving her head a quick shake, she blew out a breath, thinking that perhaps she’d read too much into Caden’s attention to her. It was about freedom, for Farland and Vlad alike, not some romantic interlude. Still though…
“Jayn.”
Xan and Hon’s duet snapped Jayn back into focus. She smiled and clasped both their hands, forming a circle.
“You are the ones Mercedes promised. I thank you both sincerely and hope you’ll linger long enough to liberate this land.”
“We will indeed,” Xan assured her. “Rescuing you was but the first leg of our mission.”
Jayn smiled as Xan put an arm around Hon and pulled her in close. What would it be like to have a man by your side, truly valiant and trustworthy, committed to you and the cause of liberty?
“Are you angels as well?” She couldn’t help but ask.
Both of them laughed, but not unkindly. “No, but the angels commission us. We are mortal beings, just as you are.”
The black tiger edged around them and sat before Jayn, nearly eye level with her. She yawned wide and placed one massive paw atop Jayn’s boot—a handshake, in effect.
“Sheba?” Jayn breathed; Johann had told her the cat’s name.
“Yes; all three of us and those assembled will aid in your quest.”
Jayn gasped, reaching to stroke Sheba’s neck. “I heard her speak…not out loud, but loud and clear…”
Again, Xan and Hon chuckled amiably and Hon said, “I had the same reaction when I first heard Sheba in my head.”
“Not everyone can hear her; you’re very special indeed, as is Caden in his own right.” Xan looked pointedly at Calla, perched in a nearby tree.
“Caden?” Jayn said, confused.
Xan nodded. “He told us he heard Calla speak to him, in his head. It threw him for a loop, but he was so desperate and determined to save you that he figured following a falcon’s lead couldn’t hurt.”
“Has Calla spoken to you, like Sheba did just now?” Hon asked.
Jayn shook her head. “No; she’s just a magnificent bird who graced me with her friendship.”
Calla cawed in the tree above.
Again Jayn gasped, looking between the falcon and Xan and Hon. “I heard her now. She is committed, to us and our cause, to the death.”
Xan and Hon exchanged a knowing look.
“Come,” Xan said. “We have a ship nearby where we can sup and talk further. From there we will sail to a place near Farland.”
As if on cue, Calla launched skyward and circled the meadow. A caw echoed in her wake as she sailed off toward Vlad.
Jayn mounted Leif in front of Johann and rode through the forest, following Xan and Hon to a nearby lake where indeed a ship was anchored. It was an impressive vessel, and two soldiers met them on the bank.
Helping with the horses, the soldiers reported to Xan that all was secure. The aromas of a cooking meal wafted through the air, making Jayn’s stomach rumble. She wondered what the man meant by secure.
“You released Barak from the brig?” Xan demanded of one soldier.
“We did sir, but he claimed to be an accomplished chef, and we knew you’d all be famished when you returned with the maiden Jayn.”
The soldier looked into her eyes and saluted smartly. Jayn returned the gesture, moved nearly to tears. Johann reached from the saddle behind to squeeze her hand.
“We kept Barak under close surveillance, but he made no shifty moves…and he is a fair cook,” the other soldier added.
Xan sighed. “Where is he now?”
“Back in the brig, safe and sound,” the first soldier attested.
Hon cleared her throat. “Supper smells wonderful. Why don’t we get the horses settled and eat; then we can deal with Barak if need be.”
“Agreed.” Xan dismounted.
“We have clean, dry clothes for you as well, on board,” Hon said, leading Jayn up the gangplank.
“What was all that about? You’re holding someone in the brig?” Jayn asked.
“We’ll tell you more about all of that over dinner, but Barak is a Vlad citizen serving at the Farland army supply camp and passing critical intel along. According to Johann, your friend Eva saw him at the Farland palace discussing the ambush with one of Dauphin Percival’s advisors.”
Jayn was silent a moment; then she murmured, “I see.”
Hon led her to one of the cabins where a change of clothes waited as well as a hairbrush, moccasins, and a supple cloak. There was a partition set up in the corner with mounted hooks and a bench for changing.
"I hope it all fits you," Hon said. "Johann and your guards thought we were about the same size."
"They're your clothes?"
Hon nodded. "Get changed and I'll plait your hair, if you'd like."
Jayn raised a hand to her tangled locks. "I'd love that, but it may be quite a job."
"I'm up for it, and I have something that will help smooth the snarls."
Once changed, Jayn found the clothes a near enough fit and was pleased with the quality of the garments, especially the moccasins. Hon tossed a pillow on the floor and motioned for Jayn to sit, and then lowered herself onto the bunk. From her pack, she withdrew a small cylinder, which she uncapped.
Pouring a small measure of its contents into her palm, she massaged it through Jayn’s hair. "This is special oil from Merker, my homeland. My mother concocted it, and it was a favorite in our city…far, far away from here…”
Jayn turned slightly on the pillow. “You miss her, your mother?”
“Terribly; she’s all right though, she and dad. Xan and I will visit…eventually. I miss my good friend Vida too—the three of us could have a grand time, I’m sure.”
“My friend Eva would finish off the tête-à-tête.”
“I’m sure,” Hon said with a laugh. “I look forward to meeting her, which I’m sure I will, given the help she gave and her alignment with General Beauregard.”
They continued chatting, and in no time Hon had Jayn's hair brushed out and smooth. She set the brush aside and handed the cylinder to Jayn.
“Keep this; I have more.”
Jayn took it and tucked it into a pocket. “Thank you. My hair feels like silk, and the oil has a pleasing smell. Your mother is a skilled herbalist.”
“She is,” Hon agreed, sectioning Jayn’s hair to start a long plait.
"Caden rather fancies you, you know?" she went on.
"I did my best to hate him,” Jayn joked, shaking her head. “He won me over though, with his easy manner. He was a gentleman even in the company of his superiors, which he paid dearly for.”
Hon nodded. “He told us about the discipline and demotion.”
“His Uncle Jaron was among those who fled the battlefield when I arrived, the day before the ambush. If only he’d lingered, he’d be with us now; I recognize the Vlad soldiers with you who stood down.
“Instead Jaron was rounded up and beheaded in the courtyard,” Jayn continued bitterly. “The battle was lost; had Jaron lingered and refused to yield, my team would have cut him down. He was simply living to fight another day.”
Hon paused in her work. “That is horrific. Prince Nigel is a true tyrant and needs to be dethroned.”
“I just wish Caden had thought to say goodbye earlier. Do you think I'll see him again?"
"Of course you will. You two will make a lovely couple...like Xan and me."
Jayn stiffened. "I don't know about that. I mean...maybe, but...."
"I know you have doubts about men in that sense, given what you've been through—not just the past few days but overall, given the war. All men aren’t like that, but war brings out the worst in many.”
Jayn nodded in agreement. She’d seen far too many good men devolve in the heat of battle.
“Caden is one of the good ones; just give him a chance."
Jayn gave a thoughtful shrug. "If we ever meet again."
“You will," Hon said knowingly, tying off the braid.
Jayn looked over her shoulder. "What's going on that you're not saying?"
"You'll see; don't lose hope." Hon gave her shoulder a friendly squeeze.
"Never," Jayn assured her, feeling a flutter in her chest.
Supper was dished out and waiting when Hon and Jayn entered the galley. Whoever this Barak fellow was, his dishes smelled heavenly, Jayn thought, as her stomach rumbled again.
Xan and the others were already seated, and he stood when they entered. Stepping around the table he took Hon’s arm and escorted her to the chair beside his. There were two other vacant place settings, so Jayn took the seat beside Johann, clasping hands with him briefly.
On the floor between Xan and Hon’s chairs, Sheba sat up, coming to attention. She stood and padded from the galley, watched by all. Moments later a whinny sounded, followed by a shout.
“Jayn!”
She stood from her chair, nearly toppling it and noting the knowing smiles all around. Elihu had whinnied and the shout was Caden’s.
She hurried through the ship’s corridor and up the stairs, stopping when she came to the rail. There, on the shore, was Caden astride Ash, leading Elihu with Calla flanking them in the sky above. The white stallion whinnied again when she called his name, as Caden reined Ash in and dismounted.
Sheba descended the gangplank and Jayn followed as a smile spread over her face. This was Hon’s secret, kept to surprise her in an astounding way. Everyone had known in fact, she realized in a rush and reveled in the knowledge that, at last, she was back among friends.
Before she could think it through, she was in Caden’s arms, hugging him close and whispering thanks. She felt his arms close in around her and then his lips against hers in a heartfelt kiss.
“We couldn’t leave Elihu behind now, could we?” he murmured in her ear.
She shook her head against his chest, heart pounding. “I thought you were gone…to spy, yes, but without a goodbye.”
He drew back, holding her at arm’s length. “Never; I’d spy, if Xan tasked me to, but not without a farewell. I mean to fight for freedom, right alongside you.”
She smiled through brimming tears then turned to the waiting stallion. She stroked his muzzle and neck, crooning and laughing when the horse blew out a breath, right in her face.
Behind them, Maynard cleared his throat. “I’ll help Caden settle Ash and Elihu in. Xan would like you to rejoin him at the table. We’ll be along shortly.”
Jayn nodded and stepped back and Maynard took the white stallion’s lead in hand. Unexpectedly, the stallion butted Maynard’s shoulder, hard enough to make him stagger. Jayn chortled, giving her guard a knowing look.
“Up to your old tricks already are you?” Maynard muttered, patting Elihu’s neck.
To Caden, he explained: “Elihu does this all the time, only to me, but he gets me every time.”
Caden chuckled as Elihu nickered, showing a flash of teeth. It was as though the stallion was laughing as well. Sheba gave a low purr and then headed for the ship, letting her tail trail around Jayn’s waist as she passed, prompting her along.
Maynard led the way to the back of the ship and up the ramp. Once the two horses were curried and settled into stalls with water and oats, he motioned Caden along, further into the ship’s lower level.
“I want to see if you recognize the man we’re holding in the brig,” Maynard said when they reached a bolted door.
Caden nodded, and Maynard threw the bolt, ushering him in first. The lone man inside was eating, seated on a cot in one of the cells with a canteen of water beside him. At once, he set his plate aside and stood, moving to grasp the bars.
“They captured you too?”
Caden furrowed his brow and then realized he was in uniform. “No; I’m fighting for freedom now.”
Turning to Maynard he said, “I do know this man, by name and face anyway. He owns one of the taverns in Vlad—the one known more for food rather than drink. He’s a fine chef, but his wife and children have been running the tavern for quite some time. No one knew where Barak went and his family wouldn’t say.”
“He’s been serving with the Farland supply camp, spying,” Maynard said with disdain. Jayn’s ambush was his doing, in great part.”
“You’re a traitor?” Barak spat.
Caden met his eye. “To tyranny, yes. I’m on the side of liberty now.”
© Copyright 2025 Gene Van Shaar