Lora of Two Worlds

Linnie didn’t come out of the Sheffield residence all day. Horn’s man, replacing Old Sheffield, the daily produce deliverer, went in at dusk and learned that the general had brought home a young lady. Couldn’t keep his hands off her. Called for water several times. Even lunch was served in the inner chambers. Sheffield liked women and pleasure, old news. The household didn’t think twice. Linnie was safe. Now they just needed her to persuade Sheffield. Lora hadn’t been idle either. She wanted to see the military prison. ”Military prison? The shire jail I might manage. The military prison, much harder.” Horn admired her courage. But he hoped his daughter would never be like her. He asked: ”You don’t trust Sheffield? Then why use him at all?” ”It’s not that I don’t trust him. It’s that he was shaken once before. He might waver again.” In truth, Lora was still stuck on Cedric Salt. He’d seemed to do nothing, and yet to be involved in everything. One of Horn’s scouts returned. Horn went out, came back: ”My man just came from the Salt family’s jewelry house. Cedric Salt left Yorvik this morning. Before dawn, the moment the gates opened. Seemed to be in a hurry.” Good news for Yorvik. At least one obstacle near Sheffield was gone. But the military prison... Horn had no way in. She couldn’t send Lyle and Shawn to their deaths. ”Then I won’t go in. Just look from outside.” She just couldn’t let it go. Lora, in men’s clothes, walked toward the military prison with Lyle and Shawn.  The prison sat behind the governor’s palace. Not heavily guarded, but hard to reach. It was in the middle of the household guards’ barracks. Maybe for that reason, Lora and her men sat in a tree for ages and only counted a few patrols. The pattern was irregular. ”This tree is too far. Wish we could move it closer.” Lora muttered. Shawn smiled wryly: ”My lady, there isn’t a single tree near the barracks. That’s on purpose, so no one can hide. Moving a tree... we’d need to ask the earth god’s permission.” The two men had just helped Lora down from the tree when the ”earth god” crawled out of the grass. Except, the earth god was three feet tall. I was seven. Lyle’s blade was at his neck. The man smiled, didn’t move. Ugly smile. Yesterday his face had been swollen. Today it was purple-green. Lora called: ”Stop, he’s not a bad man.” Lyle and Shawn had recognized him too. Otherwise their blades wouldn’t have stopped. ”Young lady, you’ve been in that tree a while. See anything useful?” ”Askar...” ”Corin.” ”Oh, right. Askar Corin. Why are you following us?” He grinned: ”Not following. Yesterday I sold myself to you. But your price was too high. Today I’m adding two more, all three of us, sold to you.” The two boys beside him, seventeen, eighteen, grinned and nodded. He was forcing a sale? Yesterday they’d traded the gold coin for food. Corin had told his people of his plan to go to the Heartlands. They couldn’t quite imagine it, but being full felt wonderful. If this young lady could truly lead them to a home, a place where old and young could eat their fill, she must be a goddess sent by the forefathers’ spirits. Lora was focused on the rescue. She didn’t want to deal with them: ”Look, I already have guards. I don’t want to buy anyone. Go home. And don’t follow me.” Lyle glared at Corin and shook a fist. They turned to leave. Askar Corin crossed his arms. His bruised, purple-green face wore a confident grin: ”You wanted to know what the military prison looks like inside. Take me in, I’m your man. Then I’ll tell you.” That temptation... was too great. Lora stopped. ”My lady, what if he’s tricking us?” Lyle didn’t like this man. Punchable face. Narrow eyes. Who knew how many schemes behind them. Corin said, with dignity: ”Askar never lies to his own people or his friends. The young lady is my benefactor. Corin would never lie to a benefactor. The household guards’ barracks often recruit wrestlers from the Sherghar, sparring partners. Live targets. Most people won’t go, being killed in practice carries no penalty. But... I’ve been.” Lora drew a sharp breath. No wonder he could take a beating yesterday. He’d earned it with his life. If he’d done that for his people, he was a hero. Corin went on: ”The warriors respect a winner. If you live, they give you the dead man’s pay.  The training ground is right outside the military prison. While waiting and recovering, they open the gate and let us in to... take care of personal needs.” Lyle now felt that those narrow monolid eyes weren’t so bad after all. ”Fine. Not here, come with us.” Lora didn’t take them to the guest house. She found a tavern, ordered a table of meat, and let them talk while they ate. Corin didn’t eat right away. He picked up a quill, clumsily, and began drawing on paper. The layout from the training ground to the prison cells. Each building between. Hmm, he holds a quill like me. I could teach him the pen. Looking at this earnest young man, Lora had a bold idea. She’d discuss it with her brothers, after the rescue. His drawing was rough, but the route was clear. This was a converted private mansion, different from a standard prison. Without having been inside, the layout was impossible to guess. ”All right. I keep my word. You three, with me. And, your name’s too long. I’ll call you Corin.” ”Then I’ll call you Yangyang!” He answered without a blink. Seamless. Lora wanted to dig a hole in the floor with her toes. ”No! You call her ’my lady.’ And you answer to me!” What was this ’Yangyang’ business, Lyle nearly slammed the table. Two roosters. Lora mopped her brow: ”Right, you listen to Lyle. No acting on your own.” Shawn went back to the guest house to report to Horn. Horn thought it over, within acceptable range. Lora could bring them in. With his knowledge of Yorvik’s peoples, his nod meant real approval. When Shawn returned to the tavern, the three Turkic youths had demolished the table of mutton. ”My lady, good news!” He couldn’t wait. Lora saw he wasn’t hiding anything from Corin, which meant Horn had approved them. That was enough. She let out a breath: ”What news? About Linnie?” ”Yes, Linnie sent word out. Sheffield’s agreed to move. He says the sooner the better, catch them off guard. Tomorrow.” Lora’s eyes lit up. She pointed at Corin’s map: ”Good. Tonight, we make our plan.”