The Yeoman: Crying Albion Series - Book 1 (25 page)

Chapter
22

The
Passing

It was at the newly fortified border
crossing at Laneham that the prisoner exchange was to take place. The two
Yeomen that escorted Rebecca were in full armor and they faced the river and
bridge silently. Even their heads were covered with ballistic helmets and
tinted visors. Waiting Ministry troops and police snipers looked on from the
other side of the river.

If they saw who the two Yeoman were,
they’d be likely receive orders to open fire, despite the truce and risk to their
own prisoner.

The bridge they walked towards had a smaller
checkpoint on it, this served as the last position of Yeoman forces before the
Lincolnshire buffer zone. A light machinegun nest nearby was heavily protected
with sandbags. It trained its sights on the approaching Ministry police. Two,
Mastiff-class
armored
vehicles, did likewise to the
machinegun nest on the other side. The two prisoners from London appeared from
one of the vehicles and were equally guarded.

“We walk together again for the first time
in over ten years,” Lorraine Riley said thoughtfully to the prisoner who limped
along next to her.

“Fate has been interesting to all three of
us I think, we started together and we end it together,” Weyland said.

“Farewell Yeoman,” she said enigmatically.
“If we meet again, pact or no pact it will be final for one or both of us,”

“If it comes to that, it comes to that,”
he responded softly, “use your freedom wisely,” he added.

She gave him one of her sultry, unfathomable
looks that had a way of looking through a person. Then she walked on alone,
crossing the river slowly. About halfway across the bridge Major Matthews
approached with his escort, Malthar trailing alongside him. Unlike the latter
he’d not been abused while a prisoner, yet the stress and tension of the past
few weeks was apparent. Nearly all his companions were slain down in London and
replacing them would not be easy. Both men were flanked by two retiring
enforcers, obviously chosen for their non-threatening demeanour.

Matthews glanced at the dark-haired Kaslar
woman who began to pass him by. He wondered if she was a spy as she had that
look of one about her. She took a second look at Malthar, then she’d passed
over into the Ministry ranks where Commissioner Roberts waited to greet her. On
the other side Roger Matthews was welcomed by his men. His morale soared as he
was home at last.

Weyland and Riley watched Rebecca
disappear into a Mastiff and the rest of the enforcers turned to leave. Only
then did they themselves turn to walk back over the bridge.

“Do you think we’ll ever see her again
Eric?” she asked with a hint of sadness.

“No my love, I think she’s going to be
elsewhere now.”

“What makes you say that?”

“We have newer, more deadly enemies that
will take Rebecca’s place. For now let’s enjoy welcoming Roger home.”

Gearson stood apart from the Yeomanry and
he watched the return of Matthews and the spy Malthar. Alongside Gearson was an
emissary from his faction. She was an old woman but looked twenty years younger
than most her age. She watched the group at the bridge forlornly.

“My grand-daughter sends her thanks Kallan,
to you and the Yeomanry,” the woman said emotionally to him.

“It is well that we helped Lady of
Ravenscar.”

“Yet I bring bad news,” she spoke
lamentably to Gearson. “There will be no reinforcement, hence you’re on your
own for the time being.”

“Are you sure? Owesion said he would rally
all three of the Kindreds. I was promised a taskforce to help these folk of
ours.”

“Not yet, not yet for this island and
elsewhere,” she said enigmatically. “Before the battle begins the faction must
prepare, so slowly turns the wheel. Such are the ways,” she concluded with a
sigh.

Elsewhere it was a day of relief and as
the two sides went their separate ways, yet none could be in any doubt that the
Yeomen of Albion had triumphed.

However, while they were masters of all
they surveyed, they still yearned for that final, crucial lynchpin. A true ruler
of Albion was ultimately needed to captain their ship. Colonel Seymour was a
brilliant war chief and general but he was not a true ruler. He knew that
Albion needed someone of a higher station to at least represent that ancient
calling of old. After the buzz of the Major’s return was over he turned to
Weyland and nodded.

“Now is the time, go on your quest, find
our king! Bring him home to us!”

The
End

Out Now!

Mountain
Hold

Chronicles
of Terra’s Edge

Book
1

The dawn heralds the collapse of world
infrastructures, cities becoming arenas of mayhem while governments across the
globe fall. Out of the maelstrom of chaos diverse factions are forged and an
intrepid new spirit arises.

A small group of survivors desperately flee the collapse.
Hoping to build a sanctuary from the havoc they head into the Rocky Mountains.
In the valley below their haven, a small town finds itself under siege from a
seemingly unstoppable horde of raiders.

Dark, powerful forces of the apocalypse have awoken,
seeking to control and enslave humanity.

One of their targets, the Mountain Hold!

www.hyperborearising.com

Coming Soon!

The
Yeoman

Crying
Albion series

Book
2

For now, Albion is safe but with the prospect of a
hostile task force looming the Colonels must trust in new allies to bolster
their fledgling Yeomanry. Yet trust is in short supply and their enemies are closing
in.

Eric Weyland knows the only way to prevent outright
civil war is to find the one man who can restore the balance. Yet the only
chance at restoring it means navigating the chaotic maelstrom of invader-ridden
London.

The evil Inner Way and their allies will allow for
nothing to stand in their way as they wage a cold war on Albion. Chaos will be
unleashed from all sides as the new age looms on the horizon.

www.hyperborearising.com