Musings Chapter 5

Musings Chapter 5

Written by Virginia Leonard

Copyright 1997

     Three pairs of eyes bore down on Renfrew as he rode

into the village.  They watched him stop, giving the

signal for is soldiers to spread out. 

     Renfrew surveyed the surrounding area, his

sharp eyes missing nothing.  Shifting in his saddle,

he leaned over and whispered something into his

passenger's ear.  The child giggled then nodded her

head in emphatic agreement.

     Xena watched the exchange with myriad

emotions, rage being the most predominate.  The

total lack of concern in the child's face brought back

many painful memories for the warrior.  She had

seen the same look on the children's faces in her

village before the attack and she had seen it in the

villages before she attacked them.

     The juxtaposing memories threatened

Xena's own emotional control, driving her to do

something, anything to help these children before it

was too late.

     Xena pushed away from the stand and

started towards Renfrew but was stopped by a firm

hand on her shoulder.  Turning, expecting to see the

bard's hand, she was surprised to find that it

belonged to Adalai.

     "Don't.  Make him come to us."

     Her tone was so authoritative that Xena was

compelled to obey, but not without a look of surprise

on her face.

     "First thing I was ever taught, make them

come to you.  Puts them on the subordinate level."

Adalai paused for a moment, she could not resist

tossing a little barb in the warrior's direction.  "I'm

surprised that the great Warrior Princess doesn't

know that."

     Xena's eyes darkened but only for a

moment.

     "And how long do you propose we wait?"

Gabrielle asked.

     "As long as it takes," Adalai sighed.

     Renfrew finally gave in to the stubborn

women and nudged his horse towards the stand.

     "Xena.  Gabrielle."  He looked at the young

girl towering over him, using the height of the view

stand to its full advantage.  He was impressed; Adalai

looked every bit the part of an experienced soldier

and leader.  "Adalai.  You've grown."

     Adalai's eyes narrowed, "I should hope so."

     Gabrielle and Xena watched the two survey

each other.  Hundreds of questions came to both of

their minds, but they decided that this wasn't the

right time or place to become curious.

     "You still have your fresh mouth.  Odd as it

sounds, I miss that," Renfrew smiled.

     "Did you honestly think I would ever lose

it?  It's the only thing that's kept me alive, or have

you forgotten in your dotage?"

     Renfrew appeared genuinely stung by that

last comment.  "I don't forget anything."

     Adalai laughed out loud, "Could have

fooled me!"

     "I was told you were dead."

     "You never bothered to check, but that's ok

because I've done fine without you."

     "I see."

     "What do you want, old man?"  Adalai

asked, not bothering to hide her contempt.

     "Isn't that obvious?  This village has the

potential to become my home base.  Good location,

great logistics, easily fortified and defensible."

     "I won't let you have it."

     "And who's to stop me?  You?  One small

girl against my army?  Don't be a fool."

     Xena cleared her throat, "Chopped liver,

Gabrielle.  That's what we are, chopped liver."

     Renfrew reluctantly broke his eye contact

with Adalai and looked at Xena. "Hm, the fearsome

Warrior Princess and her amazon friend.  Is this the

best you can do, Adalai?"  He continued to stare at

Xena.

     Gabrielle took an involuntary step

backwards.  She knew that the only thing keeping her

partner from pulling the warlord out of his saddle

was the blonde headed child sitting on the pad

attached to the modified pommel of the saddle.

Renfrew knew it too.

     "This isn't going to be settled here or now

and it's getting dark."  Adalai broke the silence; she

too could feel the tension growing between Renfrew

and Xena and she wanted to avoid an open

confrontation, if she could.  "Can we agree to meet at

first light and discuss this?"

     "Yes, Papai.  I'm hungry.  And I want to see

my friends.  Let's wait." 

     Renfrew smiled at the young girl and

playfully knocked her on the chin.  "As you wish.

Tomorrow it is.  First light, right here in the open."

Gabrielle, Xena and Adalai were seated around a

table inside a small building that passed as the tavern

and council hall.  It was the only place that had

enough tables to seat more than eight people.

     There was a small crowd, most of whom

were trying to find out what was going on.  Adalai

had given a short briefing then sent the villagers  on

their way, urging parents to pay special attention to

their young ones. 

     The three women had finally been given a

moment of privacy.  "Would you like to tell us how

you know this Renfrew character?"  Gabrielle asked,

her voice dangerously soft.

     Adalai looked up from her bowl of steaming

meat pie, pausing to swallow before she answered.

"That perch on Renfrew's saddle, that used to be

mine.  I rode there for four years, that is until he

decided to leave me for dead."

     "He was told you were dead," Xena added.

     "He knew I wasn't, he was just ready to

replace me.  I was getting to old to be effective.  If you

aren't effective, you're disposable.  I became

disposable."  Adalai shrugged her shoulders, trying

to convince herself and her table mates of her

nonchalance over the ordeal.

     "What about the other children?  Did you

ever try to escape?  Go home?"  Gabrielle asked.

     "Home?!  Renfrew's camps became home.

Most of the other kids were taken from their parents

before they were old enough to remember who they

were.  Nobody wanted to run away; life is very sweet

with his band."  Adalai's comments were met with

skeptical stares.  "You have to see it to believe it.

You up for a little walk?"

                                @@@

     They relied on Adalai's familiarity of the

camp's setup, positions of the sentries and Renfrew's

enforced routines, to get close enough to see.

     "The children's area is always in the center

of camp.  The children are like pure gold to Renfrew

and his men.  They are what keeps the adults alive.

Each child is assigned a rider and caretaker.  Every

child is well taken care of but those currently riding

are given special attention, like a prize winning

horse."

     Gabrielle and Xena followed Adalai even

further into the inner camp.  Adalai pointed towards a

large canvas tent, "See that?  That's the kids quarters.

They sleep there, eat there and play there.  There's

every toy imaginable inside that tent.  Why would

anyone want to give that up?"

     "I don't understand, how could you stand to

be confined like that?"  Gabrielle asked.

     "You don't get it.  We were taken better

care of here than we were in our villages.  We had

first go on the food and were allowed to eat  ‘til we

were full.  We had every need and almost every want

taken care of.  We had guardians who loved us, held

us, played with us...," Adalai's voice trailed off.

After a brief pause, she continued.  "Each child is

given a rite of passage after they pass their riding

tests and it's considered an honor to finally be

chosen.  There's a huge celebration, lot's of food,

sweets, gifts..."

     "What about the fighting?  Doesn't that

bother anybody?" Gabrielle asked.

     Adalai chuckled to herself, "We rarely saw

any killing.  The villages we raided simply laid down

their weapons as opposed to risk injury to any

children.  Renfrew's not a cruel warlord, just

demanding."

     "He enslaves the people, confiscates their

lands and belongings then steals their children,"

Xena declared.  "How could they stand for that?"

     "Until you've been there, you won't

understand.  Don't be too quick to judge."

     Gabrielle looked at Adalai, trying to

understand the conflicting signals that were coming

from the budding warrior child.  "You carry

animosity towards Renfrew and yet you sit here

defending him.  I don't get it."

     Adalai smiled, "Stop trying.  My hatred for

Renfrew is for other reasons and I rather not talk

about it."  Adalai looked towards the large tent,

cutting off further conversation with her clenched

jaw and set expression.

     They sat there, studying the layout of the

camp and the activity around the large tent.  Xena

and Gabrielle were startled by Adalai's sudden sharp

intake of breath.  Followed her gaze, they saw the

young dark-headed boy walking in their direction.

     "Shouldn't we be getting out of here?"

Gabrielle squeeked.

     "Be quiet!" Adalai whispered before placing

her fingers to her lips.  A soft whistle, identical to

that of a nocturnal bird's cry, was released and the

young boy slowly looked towards their hiding place,

continuing to get closer.  As soon as he was in

earshot, Adalai called out in a loud whisper, "Peter."

     Peter casually looked around him, then

stepped into the shadow of the trees.  Adalai pulled

him into a fierce hug and held him for what seemed

like an eternity, finally, but reluctantly, releasing

him.  "Let me look at you.  You OK?"

     "Yeah, but you look like sh..."

     "Shhh!  Watch your mouth, it's gonna get

you in trouble."

     Peter grinned, revealing a gap where a tooth

should have been.

     "Are they taking good care of you?"  Adalai

continued.  Peter looked cautiously at Adalia's

companions before he answered.  "That's Xena and

that's Gabrielle.  Friends of mine and they're OK.

It's safe, you can talk."

     "They treat me fine.  I don't ride no more

but my voice hasn't changed and I can still sing, so

they keep me around.  Some others have left.  You

remember D'ella?  She stayed back two villages ago

and Ananias left  ‘bout three months ago.  Not many

of your group left."

     "What about you?"

     "Until my voice cracks, I'm safe.  After that,

we'll see."

     "Who's that riding Renfrew's point?"

     Peter cocked his head at Adalai.  "That's

your sister."

     Gabrielle and Xena exchanged startled

glances and Adalai sat there in stunned silence.

     Finally, Gabrielle broke the silence.  "Where

are her parents?"

     "Well they're here," Peter answered with a

tone is if to say you idiot.  "Renfrew always has his

children ride point with him.  I did it and so did she,"

he finished, pointing towards the still stunned Adalai.

     "Excuse me?" Xena asked.

     Adalai looked up, "Oh, did I forget to tell you?  Renfrew's my father."