WARNING: This is the end.

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THE RIDDED

by Phair

Part 18

Felix trotted his horse into the villa's courtyard. He was tired from a day of rooting out trouble makers at the border. They proved themselves to be slightly more than a nuisance. If his army didn't have the arrow launcher then the locals might have had a fighting chance.

Felix's attention was immediately drawn back to the courtyard. The household staff was milling around idly. Some were taking in the sun while others were engaging in sexual acts. Still, others were snacking on fruit and food stuffs. Felix felt his temper rising at the break in discipline. It was most likely because he had sent all the villa's soldiers north to assist the regular unit that the household slaves were slacking. He would set them right.

"What is the meaning of this? Where's Abel? PIA!" The General bellowed.

He dismounted without a second thought. A young slave immediately took his horse away with the General's sword still strapped to the saddle. No other slave paid Felix any heed.

"Stop at once! Get back to work or I'll hang you all by your tits!" Felix was incensed.

"I don't think you will, Father," Dayne spoke in a somber tone as Becca helped her to enter the courtyard.

Dayne was barely strong enough to walk a few feet with Becca. The pair had to stop on the third riser of the stone stairs. Becca lowered Dayne to sit on the steps.

"What? What did you say?" The General barked and began to stalk closer. The slaves in the courtyard started to turn their attention to him.

"It seems Pia had a visitor today. The woman who raised Dayne came to barter with the mistress of the house; knowledge for comforts. Turns out that you and Pia are Dayne's parents. Dayne is your daughter. Dayne is the ridded," Becca explained.

Felix hooted a laugh. "Oh, that's rich! Did Pia kill her on the spot or did she save a piece for me?"

"Killed. Gutted. Dead, dead, dead," Dayne muttered.

"To bad. I would have enjoyed a moment or two with the one who stole Waur's sacrifice."

Dayne shook her head to clear her thoughts, "You knew? Knew I lived? How?"

"I went to check for proof of death the next day. With the others there was always a piece left behind. You know, something small like a toe or eye or hair. And the blood! It is unbelievable such tiny infants can hold so much blood. There was nothing with you though. Nothing but foot prints." Felix wiped the sweat off the back of his neck and noticed the slaves closing in around him, "I should have killed the old couple and you as you slept the next morning. Ah, hindsight! I thought Waur had bigger plans."

The slaves attacked on a signal from Becca. They used shear numbers to overwhelm the General's strength. Once they had him on the ground they tied his hands and feet.

"Waur does have bigger plans, General." Becca approached the bound man. With great care, she carved the Elosian sign for ridded into the tanned skin of his bald head. "My Dayne's hands were ruined by your bitch of a wife. So, I'll do this for her. It's fitting you'll die the way you left her to die."

Becca slapped the General's cheek lightly before she stood. Unable to resist her burning desire for revenge, she kicked the helpless man between the legs. She left him grunting in pain.

"What now?" Abel asked Dayne. "Do we go up against the army?"

"No. Too strong. We need to flee. Go anywhere. Becca, tell them," Dayne let her head slump onto Becca's shoulder after the woman settled back on the steps next to her.

"If you head to the northern border you might be able to catch up with the local warriors. That is, if you want to fight. If you want to leave this land then go through the villa's orchards. There's a seaport on the other side. It provides unrestricted travel if you have the price for passage. Take what you need from the villa and go."

The slaves stood quietly for a few moments. It took them that long to realized they were finally free to decide their own futures. After several minutes of mumblings, they started to break off into bands based on their common desires.

"What of him?" Abel was seething.

"He stays where he lays," Dayne struggled to her feet. "Let Waur choose his fate. It was good enough for me."

Becca stood with Dayne and steadied her. It would be slow traveling through the fields on foot but it would be safer than horse back. She squeezed her lover a little closer and Dayne flashed her a perfect but sleepy smile.

"It's not enough. Do you have any idea what he and his wife did to us, to me?" Abel was fighting back tears.

Becca winced at her own memories.

"Abel. Leave him. Don't waste time on revenge. Get away. Come with us or go fight in the north. But, don't die here," Dayne's voice was strained with the effort.

Abel frowned at the pair. He did not like the advise but he took it and left them.

"We should get going too," Becca whispered to Dayne and tugged her toward the field.

Dayne nodded but never took her eyes off Felix. He struggled on the ground trying to free himself. The slaves were careful to knot the ropes very tight. There was no give.

"I'll find you, Dayne. And when I do, I'll slice you from scalp to heal while you're whore watches," Felix promised has he spat out dirt and blood.

Dayne stopped and looked over her shoulder, "No, you won't. You'll be eaten alive before the next sunrise."

Dayne and Becca walked away from the cursing General. As their shapes faded in the distance and the day began to cool, Felix began to sweat. The villa became deserted fairly quickly. All that remained was the stench of rotting corpses. The smell of death surrounded Felix. He frantically struggled against the ropes again but no success. His frenzied efforts stopped the instant he heard a sudden rustle of leaves. A wolf howled nearby. General Felix pissed himself.

* * *

Becca sat with Dayne's head propped on her lap. They traveled until just after dusk. Alternating between walking and resting. When they were fortunate enough to find a natural indentation in the stone hillside along the southern end of the orchards, Becca decided they should stop for the night. It provided a comfortable pocket, safe from the elements.

"Aren't you worried about wolves?" Dayne was wrapped snuggly in several blankets taken from Pia's bedroom. "Maybe a fire?"

"No. A fire might keep wolves back but it might also attract soldiers. I think we're better off cuddling up and hoping Waur continues to watch over you," Becca spoke softly as she smoothed Dayne's hair back off her face.

"So, tire," Dayne yawned.

"Sleep, my love. I'll keep up safe until you're stronger."

Wild barks and vicious howls broke the stillness of the night air from somewhere in the distance. Becca thought she heard screaming as well but couldn't be sure. Dayne stirred slightly in her arms, then drifted back to a sound sleep. The night grew quiet again and even Becca found a few minutes of rest.

* * *

The seaport was crowded. Many of the travelers were seeking passage for distant countries and were willing to pay extra for discretion. The Elosian military was nearly non-existent. All soldiers were pulled back to the outpost camp to regroup. The occupation was in chaos since General Felix's death.

Reuben tugged at his stiff white tunic shirt as he stood in front of a run down inn. The flimsy material was nearly suffocating. He felt almost naked without a uniform or weapon. At the moment, the lack of protection was a necessary evil. The only way he could book passage to his mother's homeland would be as a civilian.

He had spent half the morning searching for the captain of a ship sailing on the morning tide. The inn was last on the list of places the crew mentioned he might be. Reuben was ready to resign himself to the likelihood he would not find the captain in time. He pushed the door open and walked into the dark, stuffy building.

"Sir, have you seen a ship's captain," Reuben asked the bar keep.

"More of 'em than stars. Buy somethin' or leave," the dirty, round man behind the counter responded.

Reuben sighed. He was sure to be stuck in this filthy country until after the next full moon.

"A room, a meal, some strong drink, enough?"

"No rooms left, the rest we have. Which ship you talking about?" The bar keep gave a wink.

"The one heading for Greece on the morning tide," Reuben felt every ache in his body protest as he realized it would be another night sleeping outside on the ground.

The bar keep laughed, "Captain's at the top of the stairs bookin' two passengers right now. Might want to run up and make sure they don't get the last berth."

Reuben raced to the stairs. His heart pounding in time with he footfalls. He wanted so much to go home. If he missed his chance by moments then he was positive he'd go mad. When he reached the landing, he was dumbstruck at the sight before him.

"Reuben?" Becca turned from the Captain to approach the soldier.

Reuben couldn't answer her. He looked directly at the Captain and begged, "I must get to Greece. I must leave on the morning tide."

The Captain slapped his belly, "We might have had a bidding war, boy, but these two got too much on you, I'm sure. Their coffers run deep. Right, Mistress Becca?"

"Captain, Reuben is traveling with us. I didn't think I needed to inform you our servant would be joining us," Becca slipped easily into the lie. "You have our down payment. The rest is payable on arrival. We'll see you on the dock at sunrise. Good day, sir. Reuben, come inside at once. You've kept us waiting far too long," Becca spoke in a stern manner as she hustled the confused soldier into the room and slammed the door.

Reuben was panting. He thought he might collapse. Becca took his hand and guided him to the fireplace. She sat him down with a firm push on the shoulders. He nodded his thanks but could not find his voice.

"Hello, cousin," Dayne coughed out as she sat up in the bed. "Where've you been?"

"I could ask the same," he managed. "Cousin?"

"How much do you know?" Becca knelt next to him and handed him a cup of strong brew.

Reuben took a long pull before he started his tale. "I sent Varna to Pia. She was up to no good."

"Dead," Dayne struggled to her feet and wobbled over to sit face to face with Reuben.

"Went to rescue Senecos. She left him alone. I was too late," Reuben blinked away a tear. "Sorry."

"He picked his sides," Becca said bitterly.

Dayne wiped her own tears away. She nodded acknowledgement of both of their comments. She reached out and took Becca's hand in her own two. Dayne was able to manage a weak squeeze but it was better than no squeeze at all.

"The villa," Reuben stopped for another swallow of the drink. "Varna, Pia, Felix; they're all…,"

"Dead," Dayne provided. She gave a small smile when she felt Becca squeeze her hands back. Better. "Why are you out of uniform?"

Reuben shook his head and stifled a burp, "Going home. Back to Greece. Renouncing Elos. Renouncing Waur."

"Your mother's people? You're going home to your mother," Dayne smiled when Reuben nodded. "You told me your mother would love a daughter like me when I was in prison."

Reuben wiped away the drool at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, "She would."

"What about a niece?" Becca asked.

"Huh," Reuben realized that his exhaustion, lack of food, and sleep were making him a bit slow. "What are you talking about?"

Dayne bowed her head and parted her hair enough for Reuben to see the scars. He moved closer and let his fingers trace the marks. When the meaning hit him, Reuben grabbed Dayne by the shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

"I knew you looked like my sister. That bastard, Felix. Dayne, you must come home with me. My mother will force my father to make it right. We do not abandon family," Reuben sobbed as he held her close. "Becca, tell her to bring you to my mother's. Tell Dayne to bring you home."

Becca kissed Reuben's cheek and Dayne's head before speaking, "I don't have to tell her. We're more than ready to find our way home. Right?"

Dayne grinned, "Absolutely! Let's go home for the very first time."

The End

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