::Ian?::

He smiled as a gentle mental touch brought him fully awake. ::Aye, love. Gods. I miss you!::

Across the miles between Riga and Camelot the Soulbond let Ian and Skye "touch" each other though mindspeak. Ian rose and walked over to a window to face out in the general direction of home. Under the love she sent, he could sense his wife's concern and worry.

::We're all alive and well for now, love. The combat is tomorrow, though.:: He opened his mind fully to her, grinning as her outrage flared at the peril Tav and young Stephen were in, and trying to seem contrite as she lectured him briefly over his encounter with the robbers. As quickly as it had begun, her anger changed to another mental caress.

::Things are all right here. But you should know about some events.:: Skye sent a stream of words and images, telling Ian of Pinet's visit and spar with Marcus, of Ashe's confrontation with Selia and Selia's regaining of her dragon shape. He also learned of the sword Evaynan had sent to Shane, and lastly, of Ascellon's return. ::He's sent his own Captain to Riga with some men. They'll wait on the border while the Captain travels on to join you.::

He nodded, a reflex since Skye could not see it. ::It's good to have Blue back. Hopefully, his man will reach here in time. Damn it, Skye, my hands are tied here.::

::There's nothing you can do?::

::Short of starting war between Camelot and Riga, no. I cannot act as Stephen's Champion. Neither can Xan. And Tav's move puts himself in danger as well.::

::Ian, is there something else? It's this thing Tav has done, isn't it?::

He sighed. ::I'm not sure, Shurrukai. I have a suspicion, but I may very well be wrong. So I can only wait and see. I best get some rest now, and you should too.:: He enveloped her in his love. ::I'll be back, my Firedragon::

::Damn well better be!:: she sent with a last light touch. ::Or I'm coming to . haul you back!::

*********

It was entirely too bright and sunny a day. There should have been dark ominous clouds, perhaps a rumble of distant thunder. Ian scowled. The sun should not shine on a day when a good man and a child might meet their deaths.

Timmons came over to stand beside Ian on the side of the field. "I've briefed the men. They all know what to do when the time comes, Captain."

"Good. It may not come to it, but if we have to, we will make sure Xan and Robert at least stay alive." He looked around as if checking to see what Rigans might be nearby, but as he did, he also assured himself his men were standing close by Xan and her son. If Tav and young Stephen fell, then the plan was very simple. He would open a way to the Road and the men around Lady Xan and Robert would shove the two forward into it before they could protest. It wasn't the most elaborate plan he'd ever conceived and he doubted Xan would be pleased with him. Her displeasure didn't concern him, just her and Robert's survival.

Gryff pointed. "There's Tav."

They watched as Blackhawke's squire made his way across to the pavilion flying the Hawke colors and spoke quietly to young Stephen. Then Ian looked over to where Pinet stood talking with Brakis, his eyes narrowing,

"What is it, Ian?" Xan had caught his look.

Ian reached inside his tunic and brought out a red crystal hanging from a chain. "Brakis' brother had this when I fought him. A black magician used it to give Bornek power, and if Blackhawke hadn't found and slain the mage, I might have lost. I wonder if Brakis would resort to using magic in this?"

Xan's lips tightened and she turned back to look out at Tav and her son. Ian mentally cursed himself for giving her something else to worry over. He knew that if Xan had had her way, it would have been her out there facing Pinet, just as he himself would have gladly done. Then the trumpets blew, the Herald gave the proclamation, and the combat began.

The mood of the party from Camelot darkened as Baron Pinet pounded away relentlessly at Tav without even a blow landed in reply from the squire. It was obvious Tav was staggered by the fierce attack, and Ian's men called out encouragement while waiting for the next round, combat with swords, to begin. Xan's jaw was clenched and her sword hand flexed as she kept her eyes on the two. For his part, Ian tried to detect any use of magic lingering over the combat area, but couldn't detect any as yet. If Pinet had not been helped by magic, then Tav had to be facing certain doom. The half-elf tried not to let his concern show on his face as he looked away and began scanning the area around the field, nodding to Timmons and Gryff as they moved closer to their assignment.

Ian had one hope. He wasn't sure if it was realistic, but since he had seen the written proclamation the previous night, an idea had taken root in his mind and grown, despite it seeming far-fetched.

He turned back to watch the combat, extending himself once more to search for any sign Pinet was being helped by outside forces.

07/2001


Ties of Blood and Honor VIII

Xan, Ian noted with a muffled sigh of exasperation, had wandered away from the rest of the party. He motioned Timmons over. "Send three men to guard her back, Timmons." The sergeant nodded, caught the eye of one of the other guards, and with a hand signal and a nod in Xan's direction, sent the men after Lady Blackhawke.

"It's not going well, is it, sir?"

Ian glanced over at Tav and Stephen. The young man had taken quite a beating with the quarterstaffs and to Ian's trained eyes, the blows had knocked a bit of the wind out of Tav's sails. A hiss came from Timmons as he no doubt noticed the same thing. "Should I take Robert somewhere else, sir?"

"No." The half-elf looked over to where the boy was watching his brother. "If Tav and Stephen fall, not seeing it will be just as hard as if he did. No, Robert is Hawke and Xan's son, and he would not take kindly to being rushed away while his brother dies here. Just make sure that if it does end badly, the men are ready to get him away immediately."

Timmons nodded silently and stepped back to where Gryff stood by Robert. Ian turned his attention back to the field where Tav and Pinet were starting the combat with swords. The Baron was just as proficient with a blade as he was with the staff, and while Hawke's Squire was doing better, he was still obviously getting the worst of it. Ian saw with relief Xan had moved back to their location and went over the odds of being able to get all three of Blackhawke's family to safety if Tav should fall. Even moving with the speed of a half-elf, it might very well be he could not save all three with the distance between them. Xan had asked him to protect her sons; the choice had already been made for him.

So he watched as Tav and Baron Pinet fought, feeling a mixture of pride and dismay at how bravely the younger man faced what seemed a hopeless situation. Pinet, to give him his due, was an excellent warrior, and so far had conducted himself with honor. He would win the Blackhawke title, and under terms Tav had brought up. It was a bitter draught to swallow.


The round drew to a close, and Ian had half turned away when a gasp from the crowd drew his attention back. Tav was down, a crossbow shaft in his leg. Xan was already looking for the source, but the flash of light as Brakis beheaded the archers told Ian all he needed to know.

"Oldest trick in the book." growled Timmons. " Kill your agents to cover your tracks."

Ian nodded, then motioned towards Robert. "A bit more protection I think, Sergeant."

"Aye, sir. Close ranks!" The men from Camelot drew in closer around Robert and the boy protested, then listened as Timmons spoke quietly. "You can still see the field, lad. Your brother's alright; he got the bolt out of Tav's leg like a veteran."

Ian stared across the field at Pinet, waiting to see if the man would do the chivalrous thing and offer to continue the combat on the morrow. There was no honor in a victory won through such treachery. Of course, if you were Brakis, revenge most likely took precedence. Even as the thought crossed Ian's mind, he felt a sudden trace of magic on the field, and his eyes narrowed as the Baron accepted a sword from the hand of Brakis. Whether a dupe or a willing conspirator, Pinet fell far now in Ian's estimation.

Tav returned wielding two scimitars, a tactic Blackthorn had seen the young man practice a few times. And for a time he not only held his own, but scored some hits on his opponent as well. The Camelot men cheered Tav on, then fell silent as the Squire slipped in the grass and Pinet landed a solid blow to the side. The trumpets sounded, Tav withdrew to his tent with Stephen, then after a short rest returned to face a round of combat with maces. They'd barely begun when the Squire seemed distracted by something overhead long enough to miss blocking a hit from Pinet. Ian looked skywards to see what had drawn Tav's attention, then gave a slight smile.

"Timmons, I believe it's not going to last much longer. Tell the men to look sharp!"

In truth, Pinet was battering Tav once more, knocking the younger man to one knee. When the horns blew signaling the end of the round, Stephen helped the Squire back to the tent, then stood despondently outside it as Tav entered it alone. The crowd buzzed with speculation that the combat was over. Surely the wounds Pinet had dealt out must have finally taken their toll. The noise grew as the minutes passed and Tav still did not emerge. Across the field, Brakis was smiling as he whispered something to Pinet that seemed to momentarily take the Baron aback. Ian frowned, then looked over to Lady Xan. Together, the two moved towards the Blackhawke tent.

07/2001


Ties of Blood and Honor IX

Blackthorn and Lady Xan moved through the crowd towards Tav's tent. They were almost there when young Stephen, who had been keeping himself busy by putting Tav's twin swords away, looked up and saw them approaching. He held up a hand, eyes pleading with his mother to let him deal with this. Then he turned and to enter the tent and see why Tav had not come forth to answer the trumpets.

He never even made it through the tent flap. Ian frowned as Tav nearly bowled the boy over as he came out on the field. Stephen handed the Squire his staff and then stepped away as Tav started across to meet Pinet once again. Ian's eyes narrowed watching that progress; something was different about Tav's bearing. He seemed stronger, his steps sure. When the signal to begin the combat was given, even though Pinet took a strong defensive stance, Squire's staff lashed out lightning quick with no warning and rammed into first his opponent's throat and then nose.

Ian grinned. He looked over at Timmons, and with a calm voice, gave the order for the Camelot men to be ready. He and Timmons began to drift closer towards Stephen while Gryff kept close to Robert. Xan was already headed in the direction of Brakis. By now, the crowd noise was falling as the onlookers were stunned by this change in Pinet's fortunes and a short time later Ian could clearly hear the blow that shattered the Baron's leg and his cry of pain after. He turned to watch the rest of the match, and so saw the blow that next crushed the right hand, then the look on Pinet's face as he saw who he now faced.

"BLACKHAWKE!" Pinet's voice was a mixture of despair and fear.

"Bloody well right, you fool." Ian murmured as he started once more towards where he'd last seen young Stephen. "May your family forgive you for the ruin you have brought upon them, the same ruin you would have seen befall milord Hawke's." Then he cursed as all hell broke loose on the field and he lost sight of Blackhawke's son. As he rushed towards the tent, the sound of two gryphons attacking Brakis and his men drowned out his voice as he called for the boy. He could see Timmons off a short distance to the right, and the two fought their way through the crowd.

Then suddenly the way was clear, and Ian had a clear view of Stephan as the boy lifted a loaded crossbow, and aimed across the field, and let fly. The half-elf turned to watch the flight of the bolt as it sped through the air and caught Brakis in the heart. Finally, an end to that menace!

Stephen had been knocked on his back by the recoil and it looked like he would have a black eye. As Ian walked up, Timmons helped the boy sit up. "Well shot, Master Stephen! Next time, set your feet a bit wider and you'll stay afoot, but well shot indeed."

"Did I get him?"

"Aye, lad, you got him." Timmons pointed at a figure walking back towards them. "And here comes your Da."

Ian grinned, and as Lord Blackhawke strode into the tent of his Squire, the Black Watch of Camelot kneeled as one to their liege.

**********

"Ian?"

"Hmmm? Yes, love?"

Alone, in their bedchamber, Ian and Skye lay watching daylight creep through their window. He'd been back from Riga a few hours now and already Camelot was settling back into normalcy of a sort. They'd hardly slept all night, what with first celebrating his safe return in each other's arms and then exchanging the events of the past week in Riga and here. Skye smiled as Ian told of the reunion of Xan and Hawke in the middle of the tournament field, then Ian listened intently as she voiced her worry over the sword Shane had been given by Evaynan. By that time most of the night was gone, so Skye had laid her head across his chest while he gently stroked her hair. Now she sat up and looked down at her husband.

"Why haven't we gone after the girls? Why haven't you ever been able to find the time to fetch them home?"

He shook his head. "I don't have any answers. It seems every time I start the search, some new crisis arises, and I have to put it on hold. That Welshman, Merry, was my best chance, and I lost track of him when Talor attacked."

"Exactly! Ian, did it ever occur to you that all that is just too damn coincidental that happens every time?"

Now he sat up to stare at her. "What are you driving at, that someone is keeping us from bringing those girls home?"

Skye didn't answer right away; she sat and watched as realization and then anger played across his face. "Her. It's Her doing!"

"Yes, I think so, love. But why, or to what end, I have no idea."

Ian nodded. He took Skye back into his arms. "Neither do I...
But we're damn well going to find out."

07/2001