Pioneering on Jord by Allan Joyal

Author:Allan Joyal [Joyal, Allan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-05-29T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16: Just Ahead of the Sheriff

“Ron,” Borlan shouted again as he got within twenty feet.

“You have my attention,” I replied.

“Soldrin heard some men talking. Wrektor isn’t going to wait for nightfall. He plans on attacking while we are moving goods across the river,” Borlan said worriedly.

“Did the people he was talking to say when?” I asked.

“No, but they seemed confident that they could make it happen,” Borlan said.

I looked over at the Baron. “I’m afraid we won’t be able to continue the chat. Do you know where Joel is?”

The Baron pointed over Borlan’s shoulder. “I believe Joelia is coming right now.”

I looked past Borlan to see the young woman running towards us. She was carrying a rather large pack and had a male companion carrying an even larger pack following her.

“Time, time, ask me for anything except time,” I muttered. I turned to look across the river and cupped my hands around my mouth. “Lydia! The merchant is planning another attack. We need to start loading now!”

I could see someone wave from the bluff. I looked at Borlan. His companions were carrying packs that appeared mostly empty. “The raft should be on its way,” I said. “Head down the dock and be ready to load it quickly.”

Corwar waved to me. “We heard. We’ll stay here until the raft is ready. The mule doesn’t like the water, and I don’t want to try to hold him on the dock if we don’t have to.”

I nodded as Joelia ran up. Her companion headed directly for the dock, but the young woman marched up to stand in front of the horse. “Father!” she said with exasperation. “Did you have to come here?”

“He was only trying to watch out for your safety and happiness,” I said as Baron Ruflin’s horse shifted. “Fathers like to do that sometimes.”

“I can care for myself!” Joelia snapped. “Now everyone will know I’m a girl.”

“Woman,” I said absently looking at Joelia. She had returned wearing a flowing skirt that reached her ankles and a corset over an ivory blouse. Her hair was unbound and flowed over her shoulders as she glared at her father.

“A kept one!” Joelia snapped at me. “None of the others will respect me now!”

“Why?” I asked. “I haven’t asked everyone, but I know from things that have been said that Heather and Aine were both accepting the support of their parents before we ended up on Jord. The others respect them. We will consider how you act, not who your parents are.”

Joelia turned to look at me. “You heard?” she asked.

“That Wrektor has decided to return as soon as he can organize a small force,” I replied. “We are going to have to rush the transfer of material. But one merchant hasn’t arrived.”

“Which one?” Joelia asked.

“The one who we traded the sled to,” I replied. “He’s supposed to have thirty barrels of grains as well as some farming tools. We can’t leave without that.”

“Which merchant?” Baron Ruflin asked.

I shrugged. “I never caught his name. But he knows we plan on leaving at midday.

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