Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 The Saga of Nowy Poland Book 4: The Wizards of Nowy Warsaw

   By Invid Fan (c)2014

   Chapter 2

   Left...Right...Left...Right...

   Kasia no longer felt.  There was no pain.  No exhaustion.  Just unending
numbness.  One foot went in front of another, eyes half focused on the
backs of the strangers before her.  Where were they?  How long had it been
since the last rest?  She couldn't say.  Neither did she care.

   Left.

   Right.

   "Camp!  Camp!"

   The cry came from somewhere up ahead.  Instinctively, the stream of
refugees pressed to the left, up against the moving wagons.  Kasia saw the
uniformed rider coming down the road.  Liuz's arm snaked around her waist,
pulling her against him.  The horse passed within inches of her body, rider
keeping up his shouted command.

   For a brief moment, she wondered what "camp" meant.  It was not
something that had been said before, memory of life before this march slow
to return to her.  Her brother was standing still, as were those around
her, Liuz's arm preventing her from moving forward.  The wagon beside them
WAS moving.  As she watched, the team of oxen began to move off the road,
pulling the Tabor with it.  Slowly, the war wagon rolled off the road into
the field.

   "Come on," Liuz said.  His arm left her waist, taking her hand.  She
shook her head, trying to clear it, her body automatically following his
lead as they followed the wagon.  Those around them did the same.  The
woman who had shared their water stayed close, her two children with her.

   "Everyone stay where you are!" The voice was unfamiliar.  However, it
was male, authoritative.  She felt those around them almost sigh in relief
at hearing an order from someone who knew what they were doing.  She was
just reminded of Dad.  The image of him that morning flashed before her
eyes.  She shut them, the sight mercifully vanishing.

   "They're circling," Liuz said.  Kasia opened her eyes.  The wagons were
slowly being positioned in the field.  It took a few minutes, some of the
animals not used to the small movements needed.  As each wagon stopped, the
two drivers dismounted and began un-harnessing the animals.  There were
wide gaps between the wagons, but even the appearance of security reassured
her.  One of the drivers of the Tabor got back up on it, standing on the
seat.  He raised his hands.

   "You'll camp in the wagon circle!"

   He lowered his arms.  Kasia seriously hoped there would be more
information than that.  The people moved forward as the animals were moved
into the ring, feed and water bags appearing.  Kasia hefted the almost
empty canteen by her hip.  She had refilled at that stream they had passed
awhile back, as had everyone who could even as the caravan kept moving. 
Still, they had to ration.

   Her brother gently tugged at her hand.  She walked beside him into the
ring.  Twelve wagons, she counted, made the border, only one of them a war
wagon.  The animals were at the far end of the circle, looking as tired as
she.  Liuz led her around the edge, away from where the others were
settling.  It would be crowded in here, she realized.  Especially once
sleep came.

   With a sigh, Liuz let go of her hand, letting both his packs slide off
his back onto the ground.  She did the same, dropping her sack as well
before peeling off her canteens.  Liuz unhooked their father's tool belt,
dropping it onto his packs.  He then slid down beside them, leaning against
the largest pack.

   "Finally," he sighed.  Kasia sat down beside him, letting out a sigh
which mirrored his.

   "But we have to do it again tomorrow," she groaned.  He reached over,
fingers slipping under her loose hair to tickle the nape of her neck.  She
giggled.

   "That's better," he said, his hand slipping down her back a bit before
moving away.  "We'll deal with tomorrow, tomorrow."

   Her attention was diverted to Urszuli.  The woman was sitting on the
other side of Liuz.  Too close, to Kasia's mind.  The woman had started to
annoy Kasia for reasons she couldn't quite understand.  Maybe it was the
attention she was paying to Liuz.  Kasia hadn't minded when some of the
older girls around the neighborhood had talked to her brother, so why did
this bother her?  She didn't think the older sister, Roda, would have
gotten the same reaction from her.  Roda, however, like her brother Rafal,
did not seem to be paying either of them much attention.

   "Attention!"

   The male voice came to them again.  Kasia saw half the drivers gathered
around the side of the Tabor, its side now open forming a ramp, revealing
an interior packed with supplies.  Some of the men were talking, heads
close.  The speaker lowered his hands.

   "We know you all have had it rough!  We'll do what we can, but we must
conserve our strength!  It will be a long journey!" A groan rose from the
crowd.  It quieted as he raised his hand.  "Eat from what you brought!  We
will set up a cooking fire with a grate.  A water barrel will be set up. 
Take only what you need to drink.  We will also provide bread, cheese, and
fruit to each of you." The groans turned to a relieved sigh.  The man
looked them over.  "I know you are all exhausted, but we need firewood. 
Any who are strong enough, step forward."

   Groaning, Liuz rose.  Urszuli grabbed his leg.

   "Stay!  You need your rest!"

   "We need wood," he replied.  Kasia glanced at the two kids.  They stayed
seated.  Letting out a disgusted sound, she began to stand.  Liuz put a
hand on her shoulder, stopping her.  "Stay here.  Guard the packs."

   Her eyes slid to the family beside them as she nodded.  Made sense. 
They were all in this together, but...

   Turning, Liuz knelt down, slipping a small hand ax from its holder on
the leather belt.  He removed the cover from the head as he stood, tossing
it down on the packs.  Giving her another nod, he began walking towards the
drivers.

   Kasia looked around the camp in the fading light.  They were mostly
women, children.  A few old men.  A half-dozen boys were walking to join
her brother, as were two grey haired men.  Liuz was right to have her stay
here.  While she did have some skill, both from watching their father and
doing some carving on her own, she was not the strongest person, even for a
girl.  The boys would be much more useful.  Or so her tired self
rationalized things.

   "Your brother handles himself well."

   Kasia looked at the adult woman beside her.  The gaze Urszuli was
sending after her brother was...  unsettling.  Both children seemed to be
ignoring their mother.  Kasia could think of no other reply than to shrug.
Urszuli turned her gaze to the girl, smiling.

   "How old is he?"

   "Twelve." The woman's eyes widened.  She glanced again at Liuz, now with
the group of men and boys.

   "Just that?  He looks older."

   Kasia frowned.  What the hell was the woman talking about?

   ****

   Dinner was, while not filling, at least nourishing.  True to her word,
Urszuli compensated for the sibling's water by giving each two sausage
links, cooked well.  Liuz added some carrots from their bag, again sharing
with Urszuli's family.  It was only one carrot each, but still...

   Kasia leaned back against her packs, eyes on the fire.  Her empty plate
lay in the grass beside her.  It seemed wrong to waste water to clean it.
Maybe if she left it on top of her pack, she could give it a quick dunk the
next time they passed a stream or pond.

   "It's...  Kasia, right?"

   Kasia looked up.  The brown-haired Roda looked down at her, hands
clasped by her waist.  Kasia shrugged.

   "It was when I woke this morning.  So much has changed..."

   "I know." Roda looked around, then back at the girl.  "They say we're to
do our necessary things anywhere out beyond the wagons.  Would you...?"

   It only took a moment for Kasia to understand.  The idea of being out in
the dark alone, exposed, with Elves and monsters all around sent a shiver
through her body.  She nodded, standing.

   "Sure."

   They walked out of the circle.  One of the wagon drivers, face craggy
and rough in the flickering light, gave them a long look as they passed. 
Kasia unconsciously moved closer to the older girl.

   "Mom's making a fool of herself."

   Kasia was startled more by the fact Roda was talking to her than by what
she was saying.  She wasn't sure the girl had said a dozen words to her all
day.  She glanced back at the wagons, while at the same time keeping an eye
out for monsters in the dark.

   "What do you mean?"

   "I mean she's being so obvious." Roda stopped, then moved a few feet
away from Kasia before lifting up her dress and squatting.  Looking away,
Kasia squatted as well.

   "Obvious?"

   "About your brother.  She knows her situation, and she's desperate."
Roda paused.  "I don't blame her.  I don't.  She has to do something."

   "I don't understand." Underwear moved out of the way, Kasia relieved
herself.

   "She's a woman alone.  No skills, no way to support us, nor are we able
to support her.  She needs a man.  Any man."

   Kasia's eyes doubled in size.  The woman wanted to MARRY Liuz?  That was
stupid!

   "But...!"

   "I know, I know.  She's not thinking."

   "Why isn't she forcing you on him?" Kasia glanced at the girl, violating
toilet etiquette.  "I mean, you're around twelve, right?"

   "I'm sure it will come to that," Roda said dryly.  "Once this doesn't
work.  But that won't help her." She paused, glancing over at Kasia.  Even
in the dark, the eight year old could see the haunted look in her eyes. 
"See, the only thing she does have of value, she's afraid the men will just
take."

   A shudder went through her body.  Kasia glanced back at where that
driver had been, the look on his face appearing before her.  Roda nodded.

   "We're still young and flat enough not to worry, surrounded by women
more desirable.  If Mom does not find a man to protect her..."

   "My brother will protect you.  I know that." Indeed, he had already
helped them more than she would have.  "But..."

   "I know.  As I said, Mom is a fool."

   ****

   The two girls returned to find most of the people laid out on the
ground, with or without blankets.  Carefully, they stepped around the not
yet sleeping bodies.  Liuz had their blankets out beside the packs. 
Urszuli sat facing away from him, Rafal already on the ground curled up in
a thin blanket.  Roda gave Kasia a quick, undecipherable look before
walking towards her mother.  Kasia moved quickly to her brother.

   "I think we'll be up early," he said.

   "Too early," she agreed.  Kasia watched as Liuz stripped off his shirt
and pants, getting down onto the blanket as he pulled the other three up
over him.  Not needing to be told there was no room for them to sleep
separately, she lifted off her dress, keeping her back to the rest of the
camp.  Laying it on the packs to keep the dirty clothing from getting any
worse, she pulled the rag doll from her pack.  Silently, she slid down
beside her brother.

   "You didn't bring a doll for me," he said.  She snuggled against him.

   "You're a big boy now."

   She was asleep before he could answer.

   ****

   Left.

   Right.

   There was more conversation around them.  More life, as if the people
were adapting to this new existence, the never-ending trudge down this
road. Liuz stayed quiet beside her.  Her brother had never been one for
pointless conversation, talking just to talk.  Neither was she.  Kasia
liked to listen.  Understand those around her.

   She thought she now understood Urszuli.

   The woman was walking in front of them, even with the drivers of the
Tabor.  Her conversation with them was light, idle.  Kasia could see her
plan, though.  The one nearest had been the man seemingly in charge the
previous night.  If the widow wanted security, who better to get close to?
The man's replies seemed to be short, almost curt.  Married, Kasia thought.
He's married, or too recent a widower for him to be interested.

   She actually felt sorry for Urszuli.

   The pounding of hooves sent her up against the Tabor.  Hussars rode by,
single file, not slowing as they charged up towards the head of the
caravan. There had to be at least a hundred, their polished armor shining
in the midday light.  There were many soldiers around now.  She had seen
them off at the edge of the woods.  There were trumpets, too.  Horn blasts
came to them randomly from seemingly every direction.  Why they were
sounding alert, and to whom, she didn't know.

   "Damn!" Roda's voice came just as Kasia felt the girl stumble into her
back.  As overburdened as she was, Kasia felt her own balance wavering. 
For an instant, she had the image of her falling into the woman before her,
the entire line of walkers falling forward, only to be trampled by those
coming up from behind.  Liuz's hand grabbed her arm, even as Roda seemed to
catch herself.  Liuz looked behind Kasia.

   "You OK?"

   "Twisted my ankle." Kasia turned her head as her feet regained their
rhythm.  Roda had an arm around Rafal, obviously limping beside her
brother. For the first time, Kasia saw concern on the boy.

   "This isn't good, Sis."

   "I know."

   "Can you keep going?" Liuz asked.  Roda nodded, grimacing.  He gave her
a curt nod.  "We'll look at it when we stop."

   ****

   It didn't look too bad.

   Kasia gently felt around the reddening and swelling ankle as Roda kept
it up on Liuz's pack.  Her dress was pulled up to her knee, revealing a leg
dusty from the road.  Her mother sat beside her, hugging her but otherwise
somewhat useless.  Roda had been right that she had no skills.

   Or, maybe, she was embarrassed at not having been beside her daughter.

   "We have to keep you off this," Kasia told Roda.  She wet one of her
socks, placing it on the ankle.  "I don't know if this will do any good."

   "I'll help her," Rafal said.  "Do you want to trade packs, Sis?  Mine is
lighter."

   "No.  That's fine.  Ouch." She flinched a bit.  "Sorry.  I've never hurt
my ankle before."

   "I have," Rafal said.  "Stepped on a rock.  Even bled!"

   "I think we'll be moving again soon," Kasia said, eyes going to the
wagons on the road.  The drivers seemed to be done watering the beasts.

   "Where's your brother?" Urszuli asked, a touch of anger in her voice. 
"Why isn't he here?"

   "Because he's there." Roda pointed towards the tree line.  Liuz was
walking towards them, hand axe in one hand, a wood stick in the other. 
Kasia rose, running towards him.

   "What did you find?"

   "This." He held up the stick.  It was somewhat straight, widening a bit
at the top.  "Have her stand, we'll see if it'll work."

   Roda was rising even as the two siblings approached, the wet sock
falling to the ground.  Her mother and brother stood on either side as she
balanced on her left leg, right foot kept off the ground.

   "OK, let's see." Liuz placed the stick against her right side.  The top
extended up above her shoulder.  "That's too long, obviously.  Kasia, get
the saw and marking tool." Pulling the stick away, he flipped it around,
placing it back next to Roda.  The girl's eyes were glued to his face.  His
own gaze not leaving his work, Liuz took the small iron rod and used the
pointed end to make a mark.  He moved away, handing the tool back to Kasia
and taking the small saw.  He began shortening the stick.

   "We'll have to get some padding on the top," Kasia said, starting to
rummage around in their packs.  Roda shook her head.

   "I'll be fine."

   "No you won't." She pulled out a towel she had stuffed in her pack for
some odd reason.  Getting the twine out of Liuz's pack, she watched as her
brother placed the now shorter crutch under Roda's armpit.  He stepped
back.

   "Take a step."

   Roda tried, right hand gripping the crutch as she put her weight on it.
She shook her head, grimacing.

   "Doesn't feel good.  How do I hold it?"

   "She needs a handle," Kasia said.  Grabbing the bit her brother had cut
off, she placed it against the side of the crutch.  "Maybe here?"

   "Hand me the twine," Liuz said.  Kneeling, he marked the crutch, using
the saw to cut out a small notch.  Placing the handle, he considered, then
cut a similar notch in the smaller stick.  Satisfied, he took the twine
from Kasia and began to wrap the thin rope around the two sticks.

   "Is there a problem?"

   Kasia looked up to see one of the drivers coming towards them.  Urszuli
stood, hands on her daughter's shoulders.

   "My daughter has a twisted ankle.  We're taking care of it."

   His eyes shifted to the crutch.  Kasia saw them widen a bit, moving to
take in her and her brother.  He nodded.

   "Good work.  Nice to see someone who knows what they're doing.  It's
still a few hours until we camp.  If you can't walk, we'll see if we can
squeeze you in a wagon somewhere."

   "Thank you, Sir." Roda's voice was soft.  The man shifted his eyes to
Urszuli, then turned to return to the wagon.

   Kasia wasn't sure she wanted to know what such a ride would cost.

   ****

   Kasia awoke to the sounds of a horse.

   She opened her eyes, lifting herself up slightly, blankets still snug
against her as Liuz slept.  A rider had entered the camp.  An officer.  He
dismounted as one of the wagon drivers rolled out from under the Tabor,
hair disheveled.

   "You in charge?" the officer asked.  The man shrugged.

   "Until I'm told otherwise.  What's going on?"

   "You're to take a census." He held out sheets of paper.

   "What?" The man took the papers, almost grabbing them.  "What madness is
this?"

   "Not madness.  Orders.  You're to take a census of all in your wagon
circle.  You're circle 11, by the way.  You're to group them by family
name, noting any skilled workers, and send it to the Royal Camp as soon as
possible."

   "Royal Camp?  Whose orders?"

   "His Grace."

   Kasia's breath caught in her throat.  The King!  He wasn't dead!  Or
they found a prince!  The officer held up his hand.

   "No questions, I don't know any more than you do about this.  I do what
I'm told." He looked around the sleeping camp.  "Any strong workers here?"

   "Only us drivers.  It's all women and kids."

   "No carpenters?"

   The man paused at that, eyes going to where Kasia lay.  She reached a
hand down to shake her brother.

   "There's a boy with a tool belt.  Seems to know what he's doing."

   Kasia reached behind her, grabbing her dress as the Officer started
towards them.  She slipped it on while staying covered by the blanket as
Liuz came awake.  They both looked up at the soldier.

   "You know woodworking, boy?"

   "From my father."

   "Your sister?" the Officer asked, eyes going to Kasia.  She pressed
against her brother.  He nodded.

   "Yes." Liuz paused.  "I'm not leaving her." The Officer nodded.

   "Wouldn't expect it.  Get your stuff, go to the road.  Flag down the
next wagon to pass.  You've been drafted."

   ****

   To be continued

   ****

   Edited by Packrat

   Tech advice by Ivan

   ****

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