Army of the Dead (22 page)

“His words are wise,” smiled StarWind. “It is how I wish to remember SkyDancer. She was indeed a Sakovan hero.”

“I will remember her as a hero as well,” frowned HawkShadow, “but I seem to have messed everything up.”

“How?” asked StarWind.

“First I burdened SkyDancer with my feelings,” answered HawkShadow, “and now I have done the same to you. I hope we can still be friends after this.”

StarWind grinned and wrapped her arms around HawkShadow. She kissed him affectionately and nibbled on his ear.

“I have loved you for some time, HawkShadow,” cooed the spymaster. “I was afraid to get involved with you because of SkyDancer. I also did not understand your true feelings for me. Now I do. Let’s forget about the worry of causing each other grief. Neither one of us may live through this war, but I am not willing to put my life on hold because of it.”

“And if I die tomorrow?’ frowned HawkShadow. “You will not feel deserted?”

“Of course I will,” admitted StarWind, “but I will treasure our time together and not regret it. My memories of LoneBadger are not of his death. They are memories of wonderful days and wonderful feelings. I want to feel those wonderful feelings again, and I want to share them with you.”

“You will marry me then?” HawkShadow asked hopefully.

“As soon as you ask me properly,” grinned StarWind.

* * *

Premer Tzargo walked down the gangplank and halted in front of Premer Cardijja in the city of Meliban.

“Greetings,” said Premer Cardijja. “Have you brought the Emperor to Fakara?”

“I have,” replied Premer Cardijja. “What are the results of your investigation?”

“The Jiadin have fled westward,” reported Cardijja. “It appears that they ran over the mountains to Khadora. Perhaps they had word of our coming?”

“I don’t think so,” Tzargo shook his head. “Clarvoy indicated that they were looking to make peace with the free tribes. He spoke of them going to Angragar. What about the path between here and Vandegar? Is it secure?”

“It is uninhabited,” replied Cardijja. “Even the small villages are empty. The fields have been burned and the animals have been taken. You will have no food available for your journey.”

“That is what we have Duran for,” smiled Tzargo.

“I heard that it was attacked?” frowned Cardijja.

“It was a tactical error on our part,” shrugged Tzargo. “We only had a single corte protecting it. That will not happen again. We have thousands of troops there now, and they have built strong defenses. They could hold off the mightiest armada now. The enemy will never again threaten our supplies.”

“Excellent,” smiled Cardijja. “My men will create a safe corridor between here and Vandegar for the Emperor’s passing.”

“Not just for his passing,” Tzargo retorted. “The corridor will remain in place at all times. My armies must have access to the supplies, and I will not have the supply caravans attacked.”

“That is a massive area to protect,” frowned Cardijja. “It will require a great many men and dilute the forces available to me to attack the Fakarans. I would prefer to send thousands of men with each caravan for protection. It would require much less troops.”

Premer Tzargo hesitated before answering. “For now,” he said, “form the corridor. After the Emperor is safely in Vandegar, and I have had a chance to see the countryside for myself, then we will discuss the future requirements for security.”

“Fair enough,” nodded Cardijja. “I will send out the vanguard now.”

“First you must clear the main street of this city,” instructed Tzargo. “I do not want any of your men in the Emperor’s way when he disembarks. I also want the city center clear of your troops. I will allow you to select the finest building in the city for the Emperor to rest in until morning.”

Cardijja nodded as he thought about moving his officers out of the buildings they had been staying in. He turned and marched briskly towards the city center, shouting out orders as he went. Soldiers hurried to vacate their quarters from along the main street of the city. When he reached the administration building, Premer Cardijja ordered his staff to move his headquarters elsewhere. He also issued orders to his generals to start the process of creating a safe corridor to Vandegar far to the north. There were grumbles from the generals, but Cardijja’s icy glare immediately halted any thought of dissension.

Satisfied that his orders would be obeyed, Premer Cardijja left the administration building and returned to the docks. Premer Tzargo nodded appreciatively as he gazed up the empty boulevard.

“Your men are efficient,” greeted Tzargo. “The Emperor will be pleased.”

“It is my goal to please the Emperor,” smiled Cardijja.

“Then you will have seven wasooki delivered to him after he is settled in,” replied Tzargo. “There is hunger after such a long sea voyage.”

“Seven?” questioned Cardijja. “You have many men, Premer Tzargo. Surely you must mean more than that?”

“The seven wasooki are for the Emperor and his party,” explained Tzargo. “My men will help themselves to your supplies.”

“His party?” asked Cardijja. “Perhaps the administration building will not be large enough for all of them. There is an inn directly across the street. May I suggest that some of the Emperor’s party utilize that building as well as the administration building?”

“His party is not numerous,” Tzargo smiled knowingly, “but they have large appetites. I will allow you to stay with me and guide them to the administration building. You will learn realities that are only whispered of in Eldamar.”

Premer Cardijja’s brow creased in puzzlement, but he nodded his appreciation of the honor being bestowed upon him. The only time any of the premers, other than Tzargo, were allowed in the Emperor’s presence was in the throne room in Vandamar. This day in Meliban would be a story to tell his children about.

The wait was not long. Moments after Premer Tzargo spoke, Motangan soldiers marched across the gangplank. Tzargo silently issued orders with his hands, and the soldiers formed corridors along the main street of the city. When the human corridor was complete, the Emperor’s procession began. First came half a dozen black-cloaked mages, their eyes shifting constantly as if they did not trust their own soldiers. Premer Cardijja frowned at their attitude, but he kept his mouth shut.

Next came a sight that caused Cardijja to gasp out loud. He had heard rumors of the Emperor’s demons, but he did not believe the tales. He had never seen any evidence of the creatures during his many visits to the temple, but now he believed the rumors. The six creatures were extremely tall and appeared to have been chiseled out of shiny black rock. They had long sharp claws on their hands and feet, and the noise they made descending the gangplank sent a shiver up Cardijja’s spine. Their heads were hideous distortions of a beastly nature, with long sharp horns protruding from their temples. Their snouts were long, and Cardijja swallowed hard when one of them opened its mouth. Several rows of sharp, meat-tearing teeth appeared quite capable of biting through the thickest of human bones.

“You see,” smiled Premer Tzargo, “the rumors are not entirely false. You will also understand where six of the wasooki will be going tonight.”

Premer Cardijja tore his eyes away from the demons and looked at Tzargo. He found the head premer smiling broadly at him. Cardijja realized that he was being used as a source of amusement for Tzargo, and he quickly turned away to watch the procession.

In the center of the six huge demons, Emperor Vand walked silently. His head swiveled slightly as he took in the sights of the city, but his expression was one of disinterest. Premer Cardijja noticed that six more black-cloaked mages followed the demons. There were no soldiers in the Emperor’s inner circle.

“Are there no military advisors within the Emperor’s party?” Cardijja asked as he turned to Premer Tzargo.

“I am in the Emperor’s party,” replied Tzargo. “I am the only military advisor he needs. Come. We are to lead the parade.”

Premer Cardijja dutifully followed Tzargo and led the procession along the main street of Meliban. He halted outside the administration building, wondering how the demons would fit through the doorway. His silent question was immediately answered when one of the demons simply marched through the doorway, sending showers of wood splinters raining onto the porch as the wooden frame gave way to the black-rock creature. Cardijja stared at the now-enlarged doorway and shook his head. He bowed deeply as the Emperor passed by, but Vand did not appear to even notice him.

“I must make sure that the wasooki are prepared for the Emperor’s party,” Cardijja said to Tzargo as he hastened to get away from the administration building. “If anything is required by the Emperor, I will have men stationed in the park up the street. You only need to ask, and it will be supplied.”

Premer Tzargo grinned as he watched Cardijja flee. He remembered his own feelings the first time he met the demons, but he was not about to feel sympathy for his rival. Cardijja was well respected by his men, and even Tzargo had to admit that the man was capable of great deeds, but he was not about to allow anyone to come between the Emperor and himself. A true Motangan never allowed that.

StormSong, ValleyBreeze, HawkShadow, StarWind, and Lyra dismounted from their chokas and turned to look at the narrow canyon they had just come through. General Didyk and General Manitow slid off their horses and joined the small group.

“Are you sure that halting and making a stand is a wise idea?” asked Lyra. “There are still far too many of the Motangans left.”

“This is the only passage in this ridge for a league in either direction,” nodded HawkShadow. “The plan is not without risks, but this is a golden opportunity to trim their numbers.”

“This is the ridge that I drew on Doralin’s map when I was captured,” interjected StarWind. “He thinks it runs on for leagues and leagues. He will be forced to bring his armies through it.”

“He would be a fool to believe you,” scowled StormSong. “Besides, he will obviously know that you are no longer captive. Won’t he change his plans?”

“He might,” shrugged HawkShadow, “but that does not change my thinking. Let’s assume that he is smart enough to send men out in each direction. Marching a league will take a good deal of time for those troops. Meanwhile, we can position archers atop the ridge where it ends.”

“So if he does question my information,” StarWind nodded, “his men will die three times as fast. We fight those coming through the canyon while our archers attack both ends of the ridge.”

“I think it can work,” added ValleyBreeze. “We could also have mages up with the archers. Our only problem will be breaking off the fight and retreating when they start to overrun us.”

“That is a problem,” frowned HawkShadow. “There is no easy way off the ridge.

“We can station troops on this side at each end of the ridge,” offered General Manitow. “We should be able to halt the Motangan advance long enough to give some time to those upon the ridge.”

“And how will your men retreat?” asked Lyra.

“Our men will be mounted,” answered General Didyk. “We can surely outrun the Motangans. Personally, I like this plan. I am glad that I am no longer fighting the Sakovans. The Motangans will lose a great many men in this battle. It will be a glorious victory for us.”

“You seem united in this,” smiled Lyra. “So be it then. We will stand here and inflict as much damage as we can on the Motangans, but I want an organized withdrawal when the time comes. This will not be our last stand.”

“Agreed,” nodded HawkShadow. “We must preserve our people if we are to win this war.”

“Have you contacted Marak about what I learned during my capture?” StarWind asked Lyra.

“Not yet,” the Star of Sakova shook her head. “I will do that right after this meeting.”

“And you will do that from StarCity?” StormSong asked sternly.

“I am not a feeble old woman,” frowned Lyra. “I have much to offer in these battles.”

“No one is questioning your power or your courage,” interjected HawkShadow, “but you are more than just a military weapon. You are the heart and soul of our people. Your loss, even if a simple wounding, would demoralize our people. We cannot risk that at this time.”

“He is right, Lyra,” StarWind smiled compassionately. “You are the symbol of Kaltara to us. The time will come when your powers are truly needed, but it will not be a minor battle in the woods of the Sakova.”

“Minor battle?” balked Lyra. “You cannot possibly believe that? Our whole army is on the line in this battle.”

“Our whole army is on the line each and every day,” declared General Manitow. “I agree that the Star should remove herself from the battlefield. I am going to ready my troops.”

“Manitow has already spoken my words,” smiled General Didyk as he bowed to the Star and retreated after General Manitow.

StormSong and ValleyBreeze smiled and also left. Lyra glared at HawkShadow and StarWind.

“The two of you planned this,” accused Lyra, “didn’t you?”

“If you mean making the others leave so that we could be alone with you,” grinned HawkShadow, “then the answer is yes. StarWind and I would like you to marry us before you return to StarCity.”

“Before I return…” Lyra began with a scowl, but she suddenly stopped short with a look of disbelief on her face. “Did you say marry you?”

“He did,” grinned StarWind. “We want your blessing.”

Tears came to Lyra’s eyes, but she smiled broadly. She rushed over and hugged StarWind.

“I am so happy for both of you,” Lyra cried. “We can have a big celebration when we all return to StarCity. I will have a beautiful gown made up for you.”

“We do not want to wait until after the war,” StarWind said softly. “We do not even want to wait until after this battle. We want you to marry us now.”

“Before the battle?” Lyra frowned as she broke the embrace. “Is that wise?” she asked without having to explain her reservations.

“It is the wisest thing that either of us has every done,” HawkShadow replied with a grin. “We will put our faith in Kaltara to make our a marriage a long and happy one.”