Chapter 20 Ricky Steps Up

The greatest gift of love
Any man can give
Is to offer up his life
To save his friends.
          The Scrolls of Thurin



    In the darkness of the linen room, Simeon held the distraught Freya and tried to comfort her as she cried. Fearing they might be discovered, he remained alert with his wolf senses active.
    After a long stretch of uncontrollable sobbing, Freya struggled to regain her composure. She took a deep breath, picked up the corner of her apron and mopped her eyes.
    “I’m sorry, I dinnae mean to involve you in my life story.”
    “I understand.” Shyness put Simeon at a loss for words. He thought, What a stupid thing to say. Better if I said nothing. What would Dad say?
    “Try again, Son. This time, use your heart, not your head.”
    “Freya, I’m already involved. Your life is important to me.” The young wolf struggled to find the right words, words he never imagined he would ever have a reason to say. His heart leaped up into his throat, pounded like a dancer’s drum and threatened to strangle him. Nervousness gave him a dry mouth and made it hard to swallow.
    “I– I can’t help myself. I– I care for you. A– a lot.”
    “Try again. Don’t be a coward. Put your heart into it.”
    “Freya, I don’t know what I would do without you. Your life means everything to me. I–  I– I love you.”
    “That’s my boy.”
    Suddenly, she collapsed into a cascade of tears. The renewed weeping alarmed him. “Did I say something wrong? If I did, I’m sorry–“
    “No, no, Silly,” she sobbed. “You said somethin’ right. No one besides my family ever told me they love me. Those words mean more to me than you can imagine.”
    “I can imagine, Frey, and I do understand, at least a little. My tribe ignored me and treated me like an outcast in my own village. Other than my family, no one showed me love, either–until I met you.”
    “We have somethin’ we share then. I love you too.”
    Moments passed as she continued to dab her eyes and recover from grief. The young gentlewolf continued to hold her and pet her cheek.
    “Freya, I could stay here in this room with you forever.”
    “Me too. The Princess and her own brave knight. You’ve made me the happiest girl in the castle.”
    To Simeon’s surprise, she crossed her arms over her chest, squeezed her eyes closed, shook her head and began to pout.
    “What is it?”
    “We cannae stay here.”
    “Why not?”
    “Jordis cannae find out, or she’ll stop us from bein’ together. That tyrant might even kill you, and I’d be losin’ you forever. I cudnae live if that happened.”
    “She’s jealous ...”
    “Yes, because of me. She has feelin’s for you, too. A girl can tell ...”
    Freya wiped her eyes with her apron, fussed and smoothed it for a moment, then reached to kiss his cheek. Still sniffling, she continued with her news. “The word around the castle says, Jordis plans to invade Wolf Territory. Badgers want revenge for the war so long ago.”
    “Solly and I guessed as much after the dinner party where you and I first met. The most wonderful night of my life.”
    “Mine too.” She stroked his cheek with the back of her paw.
    “We’re making plans,” he said. “We need to find out when this will happen, and how many soldiers will be involved.”
    “My sources say soon. The Smokin’ River, you call it the Rushin’, is an obstacle. The army will be needin’ to march before the spring snowmelt causes the river to flood. She’ll take as many warriors as she can spare. Some of the Badger Guard will stay to keep the staff in line, but they shudnae stop fifteen wolves. All the servants she considers untrustworthy will be locked up and she’ll take the extra jailers south. Some of the jailers are with us and will give us our chance to escape.
    “As the army marches out the front gate, the jailers will open up the cell doors and we’ll all escape out the back through the scoot hole in my pantry. The castle guards dinnae trust me and will chain me to the wall.”
    She poked him in the chest and giggled. “Dinnae forget to release me as you pass through.”
    “Forget you? More likely I’d forget the sky is blue. Tell me this; how do we find which jailers are on our side? We don’t want to alert the unfriendly ones. My friends are pretending to be stupid so as not to tip anyone off.”
    “So I’m told. The guards tell me some of your friends are verra good at bein’ stupid.” She laughed the bubbly giggle that captured his heart.
    It’s amazing she can still laugh after all the tears, Simeon thought. Captivity has made her strong.
    “The friendly guards all agree and have decided on a password. They’ll ask, ‘have you seen a stub-tailed rat?’ before speakin’ to you.”
    “To leave you now is the last thing I want to do, but we must,” he said and kissed her. “We’ll be missed if we stay here. And I need to discuss this news with Solly. Convincing him to go along with the plan may be difficult. He seems to think he’s in charge,” he laughed.
    Neither wanted to part, but both realized the necessity. They kissed each other goodbye, he stood to his feet, walked to the curtains and poked his nose through. No fresh scent was evident. The corridor was empty.
     The young paladin ducked through the curtains, decided to ignore the library and headed for the dungeon.

              * * *

    Back in his cell, Simeon discussed Freya’s news with Solly and the others.
    “The plan sounds plausible,” Solly admitted, “but the whole thing sounds too simple, too convenient.”
    “We’re ready to move our tails out of here,” SmokeEater interrupted from the next cell. “How do we know they can be trusted?”
    “Yes,” Solly said. “This sounds like a trap.”
    “Psst. Guard!”
    The dungeon door moaned on heavy hinges and swung open. The jailer’s toe claws made an ominous click-and-scratch sound as he strolled down the now silent cellblock. He paced down the row of doors and paused to scan each one, his paw on the pommel of his sheathed sword. Arriving at the cell where Simeon and Solly leaned together on either side of the bars, he stopped and stared at Solly.
    “Oi, Dark One. ‘ave ye seen a stub-tailed rat? They calls me Rocky. You’re the one they calls Solly.” The badger winked at Solly, turned and walked back past the cells, closing the heavy door behind him with a solid thud.
    “Did he answer your question?”
    “Yes, but I’m still going to be prepared for a trap.”
    “Of course.” Simeon looked around at the skeptical faces of the others in their cells and shook his head.
    “None of you understand, do you. Wolves are freeborn and can’t conceive of captivity. Being imprisoned is more than being in a dungeon cell. Our guards are prisoners here, the same as you. They want to be free as much as you do. The only difference is, that jailer holds the keys to our freedom. The Badger Guard holds the keys to his life.”

    In their cell next to Solly, Ricky put his arm around Simeon and guided him to a quiet corner in the back. “Play along with me,” he whispered. “Let’s talk, but I can’t let Solly overhear my plans.”
    He slapped Simeon on the back and chuckled loud enough the others would be sure to hear. “You sly fox. When do you plan to introduce your vixen to your old buddy Ricky?”
    Then, in a whisper, “When we’re out of here, Sim, you head east, I’m going south. The clan must be warned of the coming attack.”
    “Have you lost your mind? The hunters will kill you if they catch you.”
    “Simeon, Son of Cyrus, we’ve known each other all our lives. I’m not a stupid wolf. You don’t fool me. Did you plan to go by yourself? You planned to sacrifice yourself, didn’t you.”
    “No, I–“
    “You decided to go back and warn them– to turn yourself in and trust them to listen to you before they filled you full of arrows. What made you think a hunting pack would listen to an exile? Especially an outcast like you. The tribe thinks you’re a waste of fur.”
    “No, actually–“
    “Brother, if Misty is dead, my life is over. That she-wolf is the reason I live, Sim. I’ve got to find out if my sweetheart is still alive. And our innocent brothers and sisters back at home– they must be saved if we can. You can’t go, the gang needs you here. Someone needs to shepherd this pack of losers until they’re all away from this hole. We’re all aware you’re the real brains behind this pack.”
    To divert suspicion, Ricky laughed out loud. “She said what?”
    Again he slapped Simeon on the back. The slap hurt, and Simeon hoped the show was working.
     Ricky continued. “There’s more. Rosey, SweetWater, and RainDance are going with me.”
    “What– what were you thinking?”
    “The girls aren’t gangsters. They want out. This may be their only chance without LongJaw beating them or threatening to kill them.”
    Simeon winced. He, too, planned to go his own way as soon as he escaped to the outside.
    “Here’s my plan, Sim. Badger warriors are slow marchers, and they will be loaded down with gear. We’ll have no problem circling around and outrunning them. Your guard friends will need to provide a diversion for us until we’re away safe, so Solly and LongJaw won’t be able to stop us.”
    “Have you forgotten about the river, Ricky? The four of you can’t swim the Rushing. You might survive by yourself, with Thurin’s help, but the others will certainly drown.”
    “What about the badger army at the Battle of the Rushing? Springtime. High water. They came across.”
    “They must have used a ford. That was long ago. Surely the river has changed somewhat since then. One of Ragnvald’s old maps should show the river crossings. I’ll try to find the ford they used if he leaves me alone long enough. Let’s hope it’s still there.”
    “Thanks, my friend, I knew I could count on you. You’re the only one here I can trust.”
    Ricky glanced around and said out loud, “Ha, ha, you lucky buck. Sounds like a real she-mink.”
    Simeon resented Ricky’s portrayal of Freya. He thought of her as a lady and didn’t like the idea of others thinking less of her.
    “Had anyone but you said that, Ricky, I would be wearing his pelt this winter.”
    “Sorry, buddy. Our whispers must sound real to these guys. This is too important.”
    “Thanks for stepping up to this, Ricky. Without this burden, Freya and I can head north together as soon as we are able. She must reach the Copper River and the sea. I’m going to take her home and make sure she finds her family. I can’t stand the thought of losing her. I would do anything for her, like you would for Misty. After all these years, she’s given me a reason to live.
    “I love her, Ricky.”
    Ricky’s eyes widened and his mouth dropped in surprise as he stared at Simeon.
    “Are you serious? You love her? Simeon, in case you haven’t noticed, she’s an otter. Now who’s lost his mind?”
    “Not my mind, buddy. My heart.”