Rebels of Vulvar (Vulvarian Saga Book 2), стр. 21
“By the Goddess Queens, I hope your mother can protect you, Tobias Hart,” Idril laughed.
After traveling only a short distance, Haela guided the team off the road to attend to the veovarks. The Thivan cavalry fanned out around the gardo, Tiaaira keeping her watchful eyes upon us.
Some five hours later, after another stop along the way to rest the veovarks, the gardo rumbled through the gates of Thiva. In the city, Idril directed Haela to a military surgery as our first stop. There the medical staff gave the warriors long-delayed treatment for their wounds.
I remained at Idril’s side while a doctor treated her thigh wound. She told Idril advanced antibiotics would eradicate the infection, and her fever would soon diminish. The doctor assured Idril she would make a full recovery.
Tiaaira and her soldiers had ridden away after we had arrived at the surgery. I presumed she had been in a hurry to report my crimes and probably Idril’s interference to her commander.
I left the treatment room while a nurse bandaged Idril’s wound and found Emer near the surgery exit.
“Are you well, Emer?” I said.
“Yes, my wounds were minor,” she said.
“Thank you for rallying the others to my defense on the road,” I said.
Emer smiled. “It was the least we could do.”
“What will you do now while your city remains in the hands of the rebels?”
“I will pledge my sword to Thiva for now, until we put down the rebellion,” Emer said. “If this city will have me after I threatened one of their warriors.”
We both laughed.
“Have you family in Nisa?”
“Yes, three sisters,” Emer said. “They are metalsmiths.”
“Do they own a smithy just off the market square?” I said in amazement.
“They did, until the rebellion,” Emer said. “They now work there as slaves.”
I touched the hilt of the katana. “Your sister made this sword for me.”
“Yes, I saw the blade,” Emer said with a grin. “I recognized her work.”
Idril limped toward us, wearing a garment a nurse had provided and with a large white bandage wrapped around her thigh.
“Come,” Idril said to me. “We must have words with your mother before Tiaaira poisons the minds of the council against me. My warriors will return to the barracks once the doctors finish with them.”
Then turning to Emer, she said, “Come with us. You may stay with me until I get you situated with the warriors tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Emer beamed.
Together we left the surgery and boarded a streetcar at a stop a short distance away for the ride to my mother’s house.
11
Anax of Thiva
We arrived at the residence of the Anax, palatial by Vulvarian standards. It was an estate provided at the expense of the city for the use of its chief executive. The city council had elected my mother, Laena, to the position in my absence from Vulvar.
A male slave greeted us at the door and ushered us into a large, high-ceiling room. My mother leapt up from a couch when she saw me. She rushed forward, fell on my neck, and wept with joy. After a time, she released me.
“Tobias Hart, my son, how is it you’ve returned to this world?”
“The Goddess Queens summoned me and brought me back,” I said. “You were unaware?”
“I knew nothing about it,” my mother said. “Summoned? Why? Did not the Goddess Queens free you?”
“They summoned me for another mission, mother,” I said. “A mission which I admit I have failed to accomplish.”
“What mission?”
“The Goddess Queens sought my help in putting down the slave rebellion at Nisa,” I said.
My mother seemed to take notice of Idril and Emer for the first time.
“Idril, we feared you were dead,” my mother said.
“I might have been, were it not for your son, Anax,” Idril said. “May I present a friend? Meet Emer, a warrior of Nisa.”
“A pleasure, Anax,” Emer said.
“The pleasure is mine, Emer,” my mother said. “Where are my manners? Please, make use of the baths here to wash after your journey. My staff will assist you and provide you clean garments to wear.”
“We would appreciate a chance to bathe properly,” Idril said.
My mother summoned female servants and kindly prodded Idril and Emer to go with them to bathe and refresh themselves.
The male slave who had escorted us in brought a tray into the room, holding a bottle of Irie and two glasses. I sat on the couch beside my mother while he filled the glasses for us and then departed.
“Tell me more,” my mother said. “This is the first I’ve heard about the Goddess Queens returning you to Vulvar.”
Starting at the beginning, with the appearance of Phaerl at my door on Earth, I told my mother the entire story.
“So, you had no intention of attempting the mission the Goddess Queens gave you,” my mother said with a sage smile. “You returned to this world only for Idril.”
“I admit I only accepted the chance to return to Vulvar because of Idril’s precarious situation,” I said. “Yet, once I arrived, I had intended to do what the Goddess Queens asked of me if accomplishing both things were possible. But, once the rebels drafted me for training as a warrior, the circumstances dictated I could only undertake one or the other.”
“I understand the choice you made and why, Tobias. Yet, turning your back on the will of the Goddess Queens has complicated your presence on Vulvar. I fear they will not be so understanding.”
“Yes, I know,” I said. “That’s why, after freeing Idril, now I must attempt to satisfy the intentions of the Goddess Queens.”
“How?” my mother said with deep concern. “The rebels know you now. They will slay you on sight. You cannot return to Nisa.”
“Dabar Cooke will soon lead his rebel slave army here to lay siege to this city,” I said. “Perhaps I can surprise him somewhere along the road from Nisa.”
“I think it would be wiser for you to remain here behind our walls with the other defenders of Thiva.”
“How many warriors have you?” I said.
“Thiva has four-hundred,” my mother said. “Two-hundred warriors will