The following deleted scene takes place at the beginning of act 2 of Lazerin.
Elivya and Quintin arrive at the forest camp
The late summer sun pierced the shady canopy above, no trace of breeze in sight to offer relief to the laborers sweating in their tunics and covered with wood shavings. As Quintin and I rode into the campsite, the racket of axes and tools made me glad I’d chosen a location so far from the fort. Felling trees and building shelters was making an awful lot of noise.
Shouts rang out when we were spotted. Will buried his axe in a nearby stump and jogged over to greet us with an easy grin.
“Off to a good start,” I observed as I dropped from the saddle.
“Been at it since we arrived,” he said. “Some of the Bendton lads used to work the mills, so we’ve plenty of able hands.”
“How many?”
“Two hundred and seventeen, by my count. Another twenty-eight at the west camp.”
Hearing the number aloud somehow made the whole of what we were about so much more daunting. “And the horses? How did they fare?”
“Well enough,” Will replied. “Heard the studs got a bit rowdy on the way, but no losses. Master Stephan already has his lads building paddocks. West edge of the forest, right along the Therian border, just as you instructed.”
“And here?”
He glanced around, puffing out his cheeks before blowing out a heavy breath. “Well, Emir and I did what we could to get them started, and nobody here’s dumb enough to argue with Mistress Amita. But honestly, my lady? They’re…uneasy.”
I bobbed a grim nod. “Gather everyone that’s able and track down Captain Rowan, if you can. Let’s get this lot sorted.”
“Aye, miss.”
Ten minutes later, I stood atop a half-empty cart chocked near the main cookfire and waited as they trickled in, feeling the doubt slowly turn my stomach to lead. In the wake of my nightmare, the plan I had once been so certain about now seemed as fragile as a robin’s egg.
The undercurrent of uncertainty hummed louder as the crowd before me grew. A sea of dubious eyes assessed me, clearly second-guessing their decision to stay, to trust their fates and their families to my care. I couldn’t blame them. I was as green as any stripling lad, noble or otherwise. What did I know of leadership, beyond the abstract lessons of my privileged youth?
“That’s about all, my lady,” Will said, fetching up beside the cart. Captain Rowan trailed behind with a handful of cavalrymen in matching leathers. My eyes jumped unwittingly to Quintin, who offered me a small nod as Will called the crowd to order. The din of speculative chatter dwindled to expectant silence.
Not above, I reminded myself. Beside.
With Itsu echoing translation for the gezgin, I told them of the Queen’s army arriving at the fort. Quintin and I had lingered at the forest’s edge long enough to watch Reyus bring the last of his men through the gates to safety, with a sea of Persicans close on their heels. A brief description of the vast army now digging in for a lengthy siege served as sufficient reminder that no one was to stray from camp without permission.
After that, I called for carpenters, thatchers, tanners, butchers, and more, giving out assignments and delegating leadership roles to those most qualified. To Amita, I left the management of supplies and rations. Will, whose success in Bendton had proven him a resourceful and capable leader, was given charge of the laborers. I left the coordination of the hunting parties up to Emir, a task I deemed best suited to the Dacians’ notable skills.
As I spoke, the shroud of uncertainty gradually lifted from those two hundred pairs of eyes, fear and doubt replaced by a spark of common purpose. The sight of that kindling hope bolstered me and by the end, my spine held a bit straighter of its own accord.
“Everyone works,” I declared in conclusion. “No exceptions. Winter is only a few months away and we have a lot to accomplish before it arrives, so let’s get to it.”
Activity erupted around me as I hopped down from the cart. Rowan and his men shuffled over and dipped a synchronized bow.
“Captain,” I greeted.
“Lady Lazerin.”
“It seems patrols are already in good form. Your men intercepted us on the way in.”
“I doubt Persican scouts will wander this far,” he replied steadily, “but if they do, between the outposts and the patrols, we’ll have plenty of warning.”
“And if we happen to be so unfortunate?”
“We should avoid engaging at all costs. More will come looking if their men disappear. We’ll keep the perimeter far enough out to try and divert them before they get too close to the camp.”
“Fair enough. Ask Will, if you need more men to sit the watches.” I swept my gaze over the lot of them. “If anyone spots the enemy, you send a relay to come find me. Quintin here is my second.” I thumped his chest with the back of my hand. He stiffened in surprise, but offered no protest. “If you can’t find me, find him. And when you’re not on patrol, you’re helping out here. Is that clear?”
With a rumble of agreement, they dispersed and I headed for the copse of newly-felled trees in the distance, Quintin trailing a few steps behind. At the edge of the growing clearing, I shed my sword belt and Freyjan shield, wrapping them in their tight bundle and setting them atop a nearby cart. My sapphire ring, I’d long since put back on its chain beneath my tunic.
It didn’t take Quintin long to decipher my intent as I scanned the scene unfolding between the trees.
“There are other tasks, Liv,” he said. “This is hard, dangerous work.”
I rolled up my cuffs in silence and watched as groups of men set to with massive saws and gleaming axes. The trio of carpenters assigned to spearhead the construction efforts stood in conference at the center of the activity, pointing and giving direction to those around them.
After a long moment, a resigned sigh sounded at my back, followed by the rattle and creak of Quintin slipping off his baldric. He set his weapons on the cart alongside mine and dragged two long-handled axes from the bed.
“Do you even know how to cut down a tree?” he grumbled as he offered me one of the rough-hewn handles. I took the axe from him and settled it on my shoulder.
“No,” I admitted, “but I can learn.”
Shouts rang out when we were spotted. Will buried his axe in a nearby stump and jogged over to greet us with an easy grin.
“Off to a good start,” I observed as I dropped from the saddle.
“Been at it since we arrived,” he said. “Some of the Bendton lads used to work the mills, so we’ve plenty of able hands.”
“How many?”
“Two hundred and seventeen, by my count. Another twenty-eight at the west camp.”
Hearing the number aloud somehow made the whole of what we were about so much more daunting. “And the horses? How did they fare?”
“Well enough,” Will replied. “Heard the studs got a bit rowdy on the way, but no losses. Master Stephan already has his lads building paddocks. West edge of the forest, right along the Therian border, just as you instructed.”
“And here?”
He glanced around, puffing out his cheeks before blowing out a heavy breath. “Well, Emir and I did what we could to get them started, and nobody here’s dumb enough to argue with Mistress Amita. But honestly, my lady? They’re…uneasy.”
I bobbed a grim nod. “Gather everyone that’s able and track down Captain Rowan, if you can. Let’s get this lot sorted.”
“Aye, miss.”
Ten minutes later, I stood atop a half-empty cart chocked near the main cookfire and waited as they trickled in, feeling the doubt slowly turn my stomach to lead. In the wake of my nightmare, the plan I had once been so certain about now seemed as fragile as a robin’s egg.
The undercurrent of uncertainty hummed louder as the crowd before me grew. A sea of dubious eyes assessed me, clearly second-guessing their decision to stay, to trust their fates and their families to my care. I couldn’t blame them. I was as green as any stripling lad, noble or otherwise. What did I know of leadership, beyond the abstract lessons of my privileged youth?
“That’s about all, my lady,” Will said, fetching up beside the cart. Captain Rowan trailed behind with a handful of cavalrymen in matching leathers. My eyes jumped unwittingly to Quintin, who offered me a small nod as Will called the crowd to order. The din of speculative chatter dwindled to expectant silence.
Not above, I reminded myself. Beside.
With Itsu echoing translation for the gezgin, I told them of the Queen’s army arriving at the fort. Quintin and I had lingered at the forest’s edge long enough to watch Reyus bring the last of his men through the gates to safety, with a sea of Persicans close on their heels. A brief description of the vast army now digging in for a lengthy siege served as sufficient reminder that no one was to stray from camp without permission.
After that, I called for carpenters, thatchers, tanners, butchers, and more, giving out assignments and delegating leadership roles to those most qualified. To Amita, I left the management of supplies and rations. Will, whose success in Bendton had proven him a resourceful and capable leader, was given charge of the laborers. I left the coordination of the hunting parties up to Emir, a task I deemed best suited to the Dacians’ notable skills.
As I spoke, the shroud of uncertainty gradually lifted from those two hundred pairs of eyes, fear and doubt replaced by a spark of common purpose. The sight of that kindling hope bolstered me and by the end, my spine held a bit straighter of its own accord.
“Everyone works,” I declared in conclusion. “No exceptions. Winter is only a few months away and we have a lot to accomplish before it arrives, so let’s get to it.”
Activity erupted around me as I hopped down from the cart. Rowan and his men shuffled over and dipped a synchronized bow.
“Captain,” I greeted.
“Lady Lazerin.”
“It seems patrols are already in good form. Your men intercepted us on the way in.”
“I doubt Persican scouts will wander this far,” he replied steadily, “but if they do, between the outposts and the patrols, we’ll have plenty of warning.”
“And if we happen to be so unfortunate?”
“We should avoid engaging at all costs. More will come looking if their men disappear. We’ll keep the perimeter far enough out to try and divert them before they get too close to the camp.”
“Fair enough. Ask Will, if you need more men to sit the watches.” I swept my gaze over the lot of them. “If anyone spots the enemy, you send a relay to come find me. Quintin here is my second.” I thumped his chest with the back of my hand. He stiffened in surprise, but offered no protest. “If you can’t find me, find him. And when you’re not on patrol, you’re helping out here. Is that clear?”
With a rumble of agreement, they dispersed and I headed for the copse of newly-felled trees in the distance, Quintin trailing a few steps behind. At the edge of the growing clearing, I shed my sword belt and Freyjan shield, wrapping them in their tight bundle and setting them atop a nearby cart. My sapphire ring, I’d long since put back on its chain beneath my tunic.
It didn’t take Quintin long to decipher my intent as I scanned the scene unfolding between the trees.
“There are other tasks, Liv,” he said. “This is hard, dangerous work.”
I rolled up my cuffs in silence and watched as groups of men set to with massive saws and gleaming axes. The trio of carpenters assigned to spearhead the construction efforts stood in conference at the center of the activity, pointing and giving direction to those around them.
After a long moment, a resigned sigh sounded at my back, followed by the rattle and creak of Quintin slipping off his baldric. He set his weapons on the cart alongside mine and dragged two long-handled axes from the bed.
“Do you even know how to cut down a tree?” he grumbled as he offered me one of the rough-hewn handles. I took the axe from him and settled it on my shoulder.
“No,” I admitted, “but I can learn.”