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 5

   Liuz was tired and confused as they crossed the bridge.

   All around him was unfocused activity, shouts and movement seemingly
without cause.  Something had disturbed the camp in the night, and like
hornets in a shaken nest soldiers and civilians now swarmed looking for the
danger.

   Or, like him, fleeing the danger.

   Kasia walked beside him, holding her fabric doll as she yawned.  She had
not said much, the hard work of the past few days having taken its toll. 
He wasn't even sure if she was awake enough to understand what was going
on. This could just be a dream.  Who's to say she'd be wrong?

   His eyes flicked behind them.  Why, exactly, he and Kasia were among the
first across was a mystery.  This put them at the head of the column.  Liuz
wasn't sure he wanted to be in the front.  Oh, sure, being stuck in camp
for hours waiting for his turn to cross the river wouldn't be great, but
once across he'd prefer to be in the middle, surrounded by others.  It was
just more...  comfortable.

   He also didn't know why the hell Urszuli and her children were now
accompanying them.

   "Has anyone seen Tymon?" Urszuli asked, head swinging back and forth. 
Liuz felt a strange urge to grab a tool and tighten the joint so obviously
loose.  Roda let out a tired sigh, Liuz able to tell her expression even
just seeing the back of her head.

   "He's a few wagons up, Mom.  Don't worry."

   "I'm not worried."

   Both her children glanced at each other, then back at Liuz and Kasia. 
He shrugged.  She wasn't his problem.

   The bridge ended.  Liuz stepped onto solid ground, a weight he had not
noticed suddenly gone.  Not only were they now safe, but...  the bridge had
worked.  He and his sister had helped build something that was saving
lives.

   Father would be proud.

   ****

   Walking in the dark was scary.

   Even with her brother beside her, and the slow wagon providing a place
to hide if need be, Kasia still felt uneasy as she trudged along.  She
heard noises over the creaking of the wagons, saw lights in the distance
across the empty river.  The faint echo of trumpets from behind did not
help either.  What was happening back in the camp?  Were Elves attacking?
Was the King OK?  The young ruler flashed before her mind.  She had stood
at the back of the crowd as King James addressed the people from a wooden
stage.  Addressed...  her.  That's what it felt like.  He was talking just
to her, Kasia's mind and heart captivated.  He wasn't like the old King. 
King Lawenza had been old.  His voice, when speaking from the Palace
balcony, had been thin.  King James sounded like a REAL King.  Looked it,
too, even without a crown.

   A numbness went through her legs.  Kasia clutched at Liuz's arm while
still keeping a firm grip on her doll.  Her brother grabbed her, one arm
around her waist for support.

   "You OK?"

   She felt guilty at the concern in his voice.  He had worked as hard as
she.  Walked as far.  Yet, he now had to work harder due to her weakness.
Kasia took a deep breath, forcing her legs to keep going.

   "Legs are tired." She grabbed one of the canteens, fingers trembling as
she trusted him to keep her upright.  She took a quick swallow.  Then a
longer one.  It seemed to help.

   "It'll be OK," he said.  "We'll rest soon."

   She wasn't sure she believed him.  It already seemed like they had been
walking for hours.  If they stopped, that meant nobody could cross the
bridge until they started again.  Her resting would put others in danger.

   Put the King in danger.

   Gritting her teeth, Kasia forced herself to straighten, to put one foot
in front of the other.  She would NOT slow them down.

   ****

   "There was an attack on the bridge."

   Liuz heard the whispered gossip as he lay in the grass, the trembling in
his legs slowly subsiding.  Kasia seemed to be asleep already, doll
clutched to her chest as she lay on her side.  He doubted they'd be resting
long, not long enough to do her much good.  The sun was just peeking over
the horizon.  Surely they'd be moving again once it was light.

   "I heard it was Elves, with fire arrows," another voice said.

   "I think it was the Watu, from that city."

   "We beat them off, whoever it was.  That woman who was with the new
King. The one with the brown skin.  She defended the bridge all by
herself."

   "Where were the soldiers?"

   "Don't know.  I'm just saying what I heard."

   Liuz rolled onto his side towards his sister, away from the speakers. 
He didn't believe a word of it.  Rumors were always wrong.  A woman
fighting?  That was just...

   He paused mid-thought.  The woman next to the King at the bridge HAD
been wearing armor, and she did have brown skin.  He hadn't known what to
make of that.  Yes, those who worked in the sun had darker skin than those
who spent all their time indoors, and your skin lightened in the winter,
but how could someone get THAT dark?  There had also been something about
her eyes.  He had seen something in front of them.  Almost like circles of
glass, held up by her nose.  Why?  He didn't know.

   He also didn't know about this King.  Liuz had not been impressed by his
speech just as darkness fell.  He was too young, to start with.  Kings
should be old.  Older than his father had been, at least.  This one was way
younger.  Hell, he didn't even have any facial hair!  How could a King not
even have a mustache or beard?  It just wasn't right.

   There was a shuffling nearby.  Sitting up, body protesting, he saw Roda
sliding her seated form through the grass.  He gave himself a shove
backwards, so Kasia wouldn't be between them.

   "What is it?" he asked.  Roda lifted her crutch.

   "The handle seems loose."

   "Let me see." She swung the end towards him, letting out a startled cry
as the tip headed straight for his face.  Liuz leaned back as he hands came
up, catching the crutch.

   "Sorry!" Roda dropped her end, hands going to her mouth.  "Did I hit
you?"

   "Nope." Liuz pulled the crutch in, checking behind to see if anyone was
in danger of being jabbed.  The handle in his lap, he examined it.

   "Can you fix it?" Roda asked.  She had pushed herself closer.  "I can
probably go without it, if I had to.  My ankle still hurts a bit, but..."

   "The rope is just loosening.  If we can get some more, I can re-wrap the
handle on.  No real problem."

   She let out a sigh, hand touching his.

   "Thank you."

   "No problem," Liuz repeated.  He pushed the crutch back towards her. 
She took it, careful to maneuver it around both him and Kasia.  The end
passed an inch over his sister's sleeping head.  The two sat silently.

   "I'm sorry you're stuck with us again," Roda finally said.  "I know
we're a bother."

   "Well, you are a girl." Liuz expected to be hit after that remark. 
Certainly that would have been his sister's reaction.  Roda just nodded in
agreement.

   "I know.  And Rafal is useless."

   "I was kidding.  I don't mind you being here." Her expression showed
skepticism.  He shrugged, eyes looking across the river.  Liuz was too
tired to argue the point.

   The sound of horses began to fill his ears.  Looking back the way they
had come, he saw Winged Hussars riding towards them.  One of the men Liuz
had worked with the past two days stood, raising a hand.

   "What news?"

   The officer did not slow, but he nodded as they passed.

   "All are across!  We march again once we reach the front!"

   "Take your time!" someone yelled.  There was laughter.  The lead wagon
was not that far ahead.  Liuz lowered himself back down into the grass.  He
wanted to enjoy the next few minutes while he could.

   ****

   Kasia woke under the night sky.

   She blinked, trying to get her bearings.  Vague images of stumbling off
the road, collapsing onto the grass.  She shook her head.  Had she been
THAT tired?  Was she THAT weak?  Even as she thought that, a wave of
exhaustion went through her.

   Yes, she was.

   Kasia looked down at herself.  She was still dressed, a blanket placed
over her.  Liuz must have done that.  A bowl of stew with a spoon sat a
foot away in the grass.  Liuz, again.  She felt herself blushing.  Her
brother was too perfect.  She had to be stronger.  Picking up the bowl, her
hands barely felt any warmth.  It must have been sitting there for awhile.
Her stomach pleading for nourishment, Kasia began spooning the tepid stew
into her mouth.  It was good.  Or her hunger was just not discerning.  She
suspected both.

   Her eyes adjusted, taking in the rest of the camp.  Most seemed to still
be awake, gathered around fires in the circle of wagons.  The circle seemed
bigger, more space between the wagons.  As if there was less fear, less
need for protection.  Perhaps there was.  They were across the bridge. 
Their army was gathered around them.  Who would dare attack, now that the
new King had shown his power?

   Kasia caught the outline of Liuz next to one of the fires.  Roda was
beside him, Rafal on the other side of her.  She hadn't decided if she
liked Rafal yet.  He didn't really seem to DO anything, which was both bad
and good.  Certainly he didn't work like Liuz, or like her for that matter.
On the other hand, he didn't bother her, and did seem to care for his
sister.  All pluses.

   Her ears caught faint conversation away from the others.  Near a wagon,
the hulking form of Tymon was towering over Urszuli, her body almost
touching his as she looked up.  Kasia could not make out words, but felt
her cheeks heat as she saw the woman's small hand reach up and place itself
on Tymon's arm.  Kasia turned away, focusing on her stew.

   It didn't mean anything.

   ****

   Liuz was actually enjoying the walking.

   Most of it, he suspected, was not just being rested, but not having
endured the extra week of plodding that the others had.  Wagon travel, for
all the bumps and boredom, had its advantages and now he was enjoying the
change of pace.  He noticed the others seemed to be happier as well. 
Morale, if nothing else, was high.  He heard conversations, even singing
somewhere behind them.  People were still talking about the King, or the
Dark Hussar.  Continuations of the previous night's conversations.  Wasn't
there anything else that interested them?  Especially since it was all
rumor and conjecture.

   "I wish we had seen it," Rafal said.  He walked beside the wagon on the
other side of Roda, the four kids side by side on the road.  He leaned
forward and looked past his sister at Liuz.  "It sounds like it was great!"

   "I'm glad we didn't." Liuz paused, willing to leave it there.  He saw
Roda regarding him strangely as Rafal's eyes widened in disbelief.  The boy
shook his head.

   "Why?"

   "Because I've had enough of fighting, and just want to get Kasia
somewhere safe." He felt Kasia take his hand.  He squeezed it.  "What's the
point in fleeing from danger if you're just going to stand around and watch
other danger?"

   Rafal stayed silent.  Liuz let out a relieved sigh.  He didn't like
arguing.  Especially over something silly.

   A distant shape on the side of the road caught his eye.  Kasia's hand
squeezed his, his sister obviously also having a good view from the edge of
the road.  Tymon was standing on the lip of the roadbed, eyes looking back
towards them.  Liuz resisted the urge to wave.  Kasia had no such
restraint, her right hand raising as she turned her next step into a jump.
The man waved back.  Liuz had no idea where he had been vanishing to of
late, although obviously it was up ahead.

   "How goes it?" Tymon asked as they came up beside them.  Kasia moved
over in front of Liuz, allowing the large man to fall in beside them.  Liuz
saw a beaming Urszuli looking back for a moment.  He ignored her, eyes
going to the smiling Tymon.

   "Good," he said.  Tymon nodded.

   "Good to hear." They walked in silence for a few minutes.

   "You two are going to be coming with me tonight," Tymon finally said. 
Liuz looked at him, surprised.  Tymon nodded.  "We're going on ahead again.
It's a long trip to the coast, but we need to get there well ahead of the
others and start setting up."

   "Setting up?" Kasia asked.  Tymon nodded.

   "Cut trees, start on fortifications, build shelters for everyone. 
Winter's in a few months, everyone has to be out of the cold by then."

   "We're not sharpening stakes, are we?" Kasia's voice was dripping with
disgust.  Tymon's laugh was loud.

   "No!  No, no.  Not that.  No stake sharpening for you, my girl.  No, I
have other plans." He looked at Liuz, eyes serious.  "Liuz, I'd like for
you, and your sister, to apprentice with me."

   Liuz almost stumbled, hands going to his sister's shoulders for support.
He felt her react as well, leaning back towards him as if in need of
similar support.  He felt a bit faint.

   "R-really?"

   "Really.  I've seen you two work.  And I do mean work.  That template
you made for the bridge was brilliant.  I'm not sure if you saw Estek copy
it.  Once we're settled and I set up shop, you can really help me.  And,
naturally, I'll teach you the trade." He smiled, placing a hand on Liuz's
shoulder.  "Interested?"

   "Yes!" Kasia's shout was instantaneous.  Liuz squeezed her shoulders,
grinning.

   "That's a yes from both of us, Sir."

   "Good.  We'll work out terms and such later.  Don't worry, I won't work
you like a slave.  I'm no Elf."

   "You're certainly not!" Kasia said.  Liuz thought for a moment she'd try
and hug Tymon, but the logistics of doing that while keep pace with the
others seemed to come to her as quickly as it had come to him.  Grinning,
Liuz put out his right hand to his new Master.

   "We won't disappoint you, Sir."

   Tymon's hand engulfed his, grip strong.

   "I know you won't." Kasia held her hand out, Tymon releasing Liuz to
grip it as well.  Releasing her hand, he bowed slightly to them.  "Now, if
you'll excuse me for a moment." He quickened his pace, maneuvering himself
forward until he was beside Urszuli.

   "Apprentices..." Liuz couldn't believe it.  He had been, unofficially,
one to their father.  Father had mentioned perhaps sending Liuz to train
with another, a Master willing to be more harsh on the boy if such was
needed.  Now he and his sister were to be with someone he almost thought of
as a new Father.  They'd have a place to stay, as well.  Food.  Security.
Things he no longer had to worry about.  He felt another weight lifting
from his shoulders.

   "Congratulations," Roda said, her hand touching his shoulder.  Liuz
smiled at her.

   "Thanks." His smile became apologetic.  "I guess this means we'll be
leaving you again."

   Her eyes flicked towards her mother.

   "Maybe."

   ****

   Kasia missed walking.

   She looked out at the passing forest, the wagon for once rolling over
somewhat smooth ground.  They had left the road half a day after passing
through that small village of frog people.  She hadn't seen anyone, so
Borys could have been teasing her about the frog part.  Liuz seemed to know
about the Kikker, so frog people probably DID exist.  It was just a matter
of where.

   The wagon bounced, both Roda and Rafal letting out a yelp as it caught
them unaware.  Kasia just let her body absorb it, enjoying the feeling of
superiority.  A second bounce, the wheel on her side hitting a rock, tossed
her a foot into the air.  Her bottom came down hard.

   "You OK?" Rafal asked.  Guilt immediately flooded through her.  She
forced a smile.

   "Apart from my butt."

   "I think mine has calluses," Roda said, eyes staying on the fabric in
her hand.  She held the thread and needle at the ready, as if waiting to
see if there was a repeat of the jolts before she returned to sewing.  Her
brother let out a groan.

   "Why did we have to leave the road?"

   "Because," Liuz said, "where we're going doesn't have a road yet."

   "Then we shouldn't go there."

   Kasia resisted teasing him about that.  He was just tired, as tired of
all this travel as she was.  She too would have preferred to stay on the
road.

   Her eyes went past the pile of supplies to the front of the wagon. 
Tymon sat at the reins, Urszuli beside him.  Kasia did not like where all
this was going.  If she and Liuz were here because they'd be living with
Tymon, did that mean Urszuli, Roda and Rafal were here because they were
too?  She shuddered.  She didn't mind the two kids, but to have Tymon with
that woman...  well, she just didn't think that was a good idea.  Why, she
couldn't say.

   An order was shouted from up ahead.  Tymon pulled back on the reins, the
soldiers marching on either side of the wagons stopping as well.  Liuz
pulled himself up.

   "Leg stretching time."

   "Will you stretch mine for me?" Roda asked, eyes seeming to sparkle.  "I
don't want to move."

   "We can tie your feet together and attach the rope to a horse," Rafal
told her helpfully.  "Let the horse drag you for a bit.  That would stretch
your legs."

   Roda growled, hand smacking his thigh.  Kasia grinned as she followed
her brother off the wagon.  He let out a groan as he stepped away from the
wagon tracks, rising onto the tips of his toes, arms stretched above him.
She could hear the crack of his joints.  She followed his example, joints
silent.

   "I hope we're almost there," Roda said, coming up beside them.  "It
can't be much longer."

   "The longer it takes, the farther we are from the Elves." Liuz shrugged.
"Given that, I don't care if it takes another week."

   ****

   Kasia stood up in the wagon, ignoring the cry of surprise from the
others as Liuz grabbed her waist.  She moved forward, hands going to the
stacked boxes and barrels as the wagon crested the hill.

   The sea.

   Over green trees, she saw bluish green water.  Wind blew into her face,
the faint smell of salt carried through the air.  She closed her eyes,
letting her mind replay that moment.  She had heard of oceans.  Been told
of unimaginable expanses of water.  A part of her had not believed.  How
could such a thing exist?

   Her eyes opened.

   The sea existed.

   ****

   "Here."

   Liuz looked around.  They stood beside a stream, quite a ways east from
where the mass of soldiers and workers were gathering.  He looked at Tymon,
hand taking his sister's.  Liuz felt exposed, with no walls or soldiers
around them.  The half dozen that had accompanied them seemed
inconsequential compared to what had guarded them while traveling.

   "Here?"

   "Well, there." Tymon pointed north.  A waterfall, perhaps twenty feet
high, carried the stream down the embankment towards the ocean.  "It's just
what we need."

   "For what?" Kasia asked.  Freeing her hand from Liuz's, she walked
towards the falls.  "It's pretty."

   "For our sawmill.  We have the blades, thank Jesus and Mary.  Someone
was thinking when we left the city." He pointed.  "We build our mill with a
large wheel right about there, then a chute to bring water from up there to
the top of the wheel.  The wheel spins, gears rotate, and we have our saws.
It'll really speed up construction...  once it's built." He turned and
grinned at Liuz.  "This is top priority, after the King's residence, as
once this is done everything else will go faster.  We'll have more workers
tomorrow."

   "I didn't know you worked a mill," Kasia said.

   "You never asked.  Both of you are now sawmill apprentices, so get used
to it."

   "I already am," Liuz said.  He could see the mill in his mind, already
built and working.

   The future for him and his sister was set.

   ****

   To be continued

   ****

   Edited by Packrat

   Tech advice by Ivan

   ****

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