Commander

Chapter 3

Nella ran down the stairs, her boots thudding loudly against the wooden stairs. “Nancy, what’s all that noise outside?”

But Nancy was not in the living room. It was Phoebe who was curled up on the rocking chair. The moment she spotted Nella, she jumped to her feet and lowered her gaze to the ground.

“Commander,”the little girl greeted. “My mother is outside. Your brother, too. There’s a crowd out there. I do not know what they speak of, but they are all fussing over a stranger.”

Nella laid a hand on her shoulder. “You shouldn’t be jumping like that until your wounds are properly healed.” She lifted her and gingerly placed her in the rocking chair. “I’ll go see to the clamouring outside. Don’t move an inch.”

She walked out onto the platform. Nancy stood to a corner, leaning against the wall. Nella came to stand beside her. “Morning, Nancy.” She nodded a greeting in her brother's direction. “Kael.” He grinned in response, making her almost smile.

Nancy straightened and bowed slightly. “Morning, Commander.”

Nella acknowledged the greeting with a nod, but she was looking straight ahead at the commotion in front of the manor. Some of the soldiers were there trying to control the crowd, who were pushing forward in an attempt to see something. Then her gaze landed on the stranger who stood out in front of the noisy crowd.

He was a very young man who could not be older than twenty-five years of age. He had wavy dark brown hair that was swept back perfectly, but she couldn’t tell the colour of his eyes from where she stood. He stood very tall and handsome in his breeches and cloak. He looked like someone of noble blood as he had an air of authority around him. Maybe he was a Commander of some tribe.

But if he was, she’d have definitely spotted him at the Annual Assembly of Commanders in the Capital. She knew all the twenty-four Commanders. But the most important question was, what was he doing on her lands? She did not like strangers.

Her hand subconsciously moved to the hilt of her sword as she walked down the platform and towards the stranger who was staring straight at her with an amusing look on his face.

She halted a few feet away from him and held her head higher, her feet planted firmly apart. “State your business.”

He looked back at the crowd, which had now gone very silent then back at her. “I was told I would be brought before the Commander.”

Nella nodded, a look of irritation washing over her. Men! “You are. So, you either state your business or leave my lands at this instant!”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly masked. “My sincere apologies, Commander.” He reached into his satchel slowly. “I am a scholar.”

She did not relax.

“A scholar,” she repeated. “On my lands.”

He withdrew a sealed parchment and held it out carefully. “I carry a writ from the Vaelorian Conclave. I am documenting forest-bound tribes, their governance, their land pacts, and their isolation.”

“Your name?” she asked coldly.

“Dominic… Bridgeport.”

Nella unsheathed her sword and held its pointed tip to his neck. “You hesitated.” She tilted her head to the side. “Are you lying to me?”

He looked down at the sword at his throat, then back at her. He slowly held up his hands in surrender. “No need to get violent, Commander. I’m just a tad bit nervous. I’ve only heard rumours of a Lady Commander. I never thought I would get to meet her.”

Nella studied him closely for a while before lowering her sword. She sheathed it and stepped even closer to him. “A scholar, you say? From the Vaelorian Conclave?”

Dominic nodded. This lady was no Claudia Newcastle. One wrong move from him, and she wouldn’t hesitate to slit his throat.

Before she could speak again, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

“That seal is genuine.”

Elder Yareth stepped forward, his staff tapping softly against the stone. His pale eyes were fixed on the parchment Dominic still held.

“I have seen it before,” Yareth said calmly. “Few are granted such writs. Fewer still bother to use them.”

Nella turned sharply. “You recognise this?”

“I do.” Yareth’s gaze shifted briefly to Dominic, then back to her, his eyes knowing. “And the forest has already noticed him.”

That sent a chill through her.

Nella lowered her sword slowly but did not step back.

“You will surrender all weapons,” she said firmly. “You will not leave assigned quarters. You will speak to no one without permission. This stay is temporary.”

Dominic inclined his head. “I understand.”

She stripped him of his sword and knife herself, turning the fine blade over once in her hand before passing it to a soldier.

“If you harm my people,” she added quietly, “there will be no second chances.”

“I wouldn’t expect one,” Dominic replied.

She turned to the crowd. “Go about your business. This matter is handled.”

They obeyed instantly, dispersing quickly like smoke.

“Nancy,” Nella said as she walked away, “see that the scholar is taken to the guest house. Guards at the door. Supplies only.”

Nancy hurried forward. “Yes, Commander.”

Dominic stood where he was for a moment, watching Nella retreat toward the manor.

“Commander!”Dominic shouted after her. “I didn’t get your name.”

She was now climbing up the stairs. “That’s because I didn’t give it.” She turned to face him. “You can call me Commander.”

Nancy descended the stairs and walked hurriedly towards Dominic. “Please come with me, Sir Bridgeport.”

Dominic stood, staring transfixed at Nella’s retreating figure. He’d never met a more alluring and interesting woman in his entire twenty-six years of life. She was very young. Yet, a female Commander. She wore buckskin breeches! Breeches and a tunic. But even through the breeches, he could tell she had a shapely body. The breeches accentuated her curves sensually.

Dominic blinked out of his thoughts and hurried after Nancy. If the female Commander could hear his thoughts of her body, she would definitely kill him on the spot.

The guest house was just a few paces behind the manor. Nancy opened the big front door and they both walked in. The interior was warm and beautiful. There were three chairs in the living room and a rocking chair to one side. The dining area was on the left with a round wooden table and four chairs.

From where Dominic stood, he could see the kitchen. There was a wooden flight of stairs leading upstairs.

He turned back to face Nancy. “This is a beautiful house. “

Nancy smiled proudly. “All the buildings in Fresno are beautiful. Commander Nella makes sure of that.”

Dominic raised a brow. “Nella? That’s her name?”

Nancy’s hand flew to her mouth, and her eyes widened slightly as she realized her mistake. “Oh my! Oh, please, Sir Bridgeport. That was a silly slip. Please, do not tell her I told you. I do not think she would like that very much.”

“It’s alright, Miss Nancy,”Dominic reassured her with a warm smile. “I won’t say a word.”

“Alright, Sir,”Nancy breathed out in relief. Her back straightened. “I’ll send someone with your things and the supplies you would need. There will be a servant around in case you need anything. I’ll take your horse to the stables.” Then she turned to go.

“One more question, Miss?”

She turned back. “Yes, Sir?”

“Your Commander,”he said. “Is it true what the rumours say? How long has she been the Commander?”

“Since she was fourteen years of age,”Nancy answered. “It’s been ten years now.” Then she hurriedly left before he could say anything more.

Dominic didn’t know which was more shocking. The fact that she was a Commander or the fact that she’d been the Commander since she was fourteen. When he’d heard tales of the female Commander, he figured her tribe wouldn’t thrive as well as the others. Women were meant to be Ladies of their tribe, not Commanders. The few minutes he’d spent in her presence convinced him that she was definitely fit to be Commander. He was twenty-six years old, and the thought of ruling someday in place of his father did not thrill him at all. Sometimes, he wished Cisco was older.

As he climbed the stairs, the thought of Cisco being Commander brought a smile to his lips. His brother would turn the whole tribe upside down.

He walked into the first room he saw. It was very warm and it smelled strongly of vanilla and roses. It was a very plain and simple room that had a bed with woollen sheets and a chair and desk to one side. The curtains were swept aside, and he could see the Brighton Manor through the window panes.

As he stared at the beautiful house, he couldn’t help but think about the lady of the house. Who was Nella?

And what kind of land needed a Commander like her?