Read Conflict and Courage for Free Online

some way? He thinks that I can stop them? Young lady, I can
assure you that I cannot.” He grunted and shook his head. “I don’t
teach children how to kill. I may be a fencing maestro, yes, that I
admit, but it is a sport. Before the battle I had killed neither
man nor beast.”
    “You did help train the infantry. If you hadn’t, if we hadn’t learnt how to
fight we would be dead.”
    “I know this,”
Wilhelm said, his voice rising in agitation. “I know this, you
think I don’t?”
    “So what
happens next time the south attack?” Geraldine pressed.
    “The situation
would have to be grave indeed before I will raise my blade again in
anger. The south is defeated. They will not be eager to
return.”
    “The Larg will
always want the north,” said Geraldine. “The convicts too; maybe
not another invasion on the same scale. They will raid instead.
Francis and Jim are sure of it.”
    “Robert
Lutterell is not convinced,” answered Wilhelm.
    “Then he is a
fool,” began Geraldine with some heat.
    Wilhelm stilled
her with one upraised hand.
    “I see no
reason why I should uproot my family once more. We are far from the
coast. I am not the only father to bring his family inland. The
Larg will never reach here.”
    “How little you
know them,” said Mislya in a soft voice. Wilhelm jumped.
    “I don’t see
the need,” he argued, “this Vada of yours has good fighters and
surely one of them can train the youngsters?”
    “None have your
mastery,” said Geraldine, trying to be as persuasive as she
could.
    Wilhelm
laughed. “Trying to butter me up young woman?”
    “We need
you.”
    Mislya took a
step forward and another, until she was standing directly in front
of him. He shut his eyes. He could feel her breath on his skin. It
had a sharp spicy odour to it that was not unpleasant.
    “Enough,” she
declared. “We need you, I need you.” : I need you Wilhelm
:
    He stepped back
and his eyes snapped open. Their eyes met. Wilhelm was unable to
tear his gaze away. He did not want to.
    Mislya
continued to stare at her vadeln-pair as she simultaneously sent
telepathic instructions to Jsei : Go to their daga both of you.
I and my vadeln-pair have much to talk about. We will follow later
:
    Geraldine and
Jsei crept away, jubilation in their hearts. Wilhelm Dahlstrom had
accepted Mislya’s challenge.
    Geraldine was
halfway through a glass of redfruit juice when Jsei relayed
Mislya’s next message.
    : Start them
packing : was his jubilant instruction : Vada has
Weaponsmaster :
    Jsei also
wasted no time in sending the news back to Asya. Geraldine had the
more difficult task of explaining the situation to Wilhelm
Dahlstrom’s wife and family.
    Their eldest
son, also called Wilhelm, Wil for short, was the least surprised of
them all and also the calmest. His mother Unda was upset, she knew
that her husband’s acceptance of the Weaponsmaster’s position would
mean yet another move and she was not happy about it.
    “We’ve worked
so hard to get the farm, come all this way,” she complained, “and
now we’re all going to have to uproot again.”
    “I’m staying
here,” Wil announced. He looked at his heavily pregnant wife, who
smiled at him, “Jane shouldn’t travel either. No need for us all to
go.”
    “I want to go,”
announced Wil’s younger brother Eitel.
    “We’ll see what
your father says,” answered his mother, wondering what they were
going to do about their possessions.
    “Please
Mum.”
    “Father has to
go,” said Wil in a tone that brooked no argument. He turned to
Geraldine. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
    “There are
living quarters available,” she agreed, “they’re not palatial, but
are big enough for you and your four youngest children.”
    “Life isn’t
that palatial here,” said Wil. “We’ve all spent so much time
seeding and planting the cabin is still pretty rough and
ready.”
    “How long will
the journey take us?” asked Unda, “and how do we get