Army of the Dead (8 page)

“It is time for you to start making preparations to flee the city,” Temiker said softly. “There is little you can do here. Alamar is finished.”

“It’s too quick,” Lyra shook her head. “There are too many of them. I thought we could hold out for a few days at least.”

“Their commander is clever,” shrugged Temiker. “He found a way to overcome every obstacle. The Sakovans may hold onto Alamar for another day, but no longer. There is no need for you to be here, though.”

“His advice is sound, Lyra,” interjected General Manitow. “There is a lot of fighting left before the Motangans take Alamar, but it is foolish to endanger you. We will make them pay with a high body count. You can trust me to accomplish that.”

“I will leave,” Lyra agreed, “but not until the Motangans land. LifeTender. ValleyBreeze. Come with me.”

Lyra moved swiftly off the roof of the building. LifeTender and ValleyBreeze followed her closely, and Temiker panted to keep up. The Star of Sakova made her way down to the waterfront. Over a thousand archers peppered the Motangan small boats and hundreds of mages threw fireballs. The Motangan catapults aimed for the archers and the mages, leaving the entire waterfront area in ruins.

Lyra halted near her group of mages. Her eyes slowly scanned the seas until she found a Motangan mage in one of the small boats. She raised her arm and pointed at him. A blast of power shot from her fist. It soared over the waves and hit the mage squarely. The mage was blown from the boat, a fist sized hole punched clear through his body.

“Aim for their mages,” shouted Lyra. “Let the archers concentrate on the soldiers.”

Lyra’s eyes sought out another black cloak and blew him away. The rest of the Sakovan mages also concentrated on the black cloaks. Within minutes there were no fireballs coming from the small boats of the second wave.

“You have such power,” Temiker remarked with awe. “Try that force bolt on one of the small boats.”

Lyra nodded and aimed for the nearest small boat. Her bolt ripped through the bow of the small boat and the soldier behind it. The boat immediately began sinking and the soldiers abandoned it. Lyra targeted another small boat, but she aimed along the side of it. Her force bolt tore the side off the boat, immediately capsizing it.

“You are just trying to delay your departure from Alamar,” chuckled Temiker. “Keep that up and none of the Motangans will reach the shore.”

Fireballs erupted from the small boats of the third wave. They were all aimed at Lyra. LifeTender and ValleyBreeze had erected shields around Lyra, Temiker and themselves. The shields glowed brightly as a dozen fireballs impacted them.

“On second thought,” frowned Temiker, “taking out their mages is a better idea.”

Lyra nodded as she shifted her concentration to the small boats of the third wave. Temiker joined in as they targeted the black cloaks. The catapults from the Motangan ships suddenly started striking the area around Lyra. Temiker knew that the magical shields around Lyra would not protect her from the catapults. He grabbed her and dragged her back.

“Now,” Temiker said forcefully, “it is time for you to leave.”

A catapult load splattered on the beach not twenty paces away. Flaming debris peppered the mages, who screamed and leaped back. Lyra sighed heavily and nodded.

“Organize the mages,” she said to LifeTender and ValleyBreeze. “Continue attacking the Motangan mages if you can do so safely. Have them fall back when it is no longer safe to be where they are. I do not want to trade mages with the Motangans. That means preserving our mages is the priority. We will need them for the rest of this war.”

Xavo exited the temple in Vandamar and hurried to the jungle path leading to the beach. He and Lady Mystic had magically carved out a clearing in the jungle a short distance from the beach. It was a hidden place where they could meet and talk without being observed in public. The Disciple of Vand smiled as he entered the clearing and saw Lady Mystic sitting with her back to a tree.

“That must have been a rather short session,” Lady Mystic remarked. “I did not expect you for an hour or so.”

“Secrecy is utmost at the present time,” shrugged Xavo. “Clarvoy was wounded in Fakara, and Vand has become more paranoid, if that is possible. I was politely excused from the rest of the session.”

“Excused?” echoed Lady Mystic. “That is highly irregular. I wonder if Vand suspects you?”

“I have no reason to believe that,” replied Xavo. “All disciples were excused. I was not singled out.”

“Hmm,” pondered Vand’s daughter. “Who was allowed to remain?”

“Only Clarvoy and the premers,” answered Xavo. “I assume that they will be discussing strategy for the invasion.”

“And the timing of it,” nodded Lady Mystic. “It is curious that Clarvoy is involved. That indicates to me that they are concerned about the defenses on the mainland. I wonder if Premer Doralin has run into trouble.”

“He has,” nodded Xavo as he sat down next to Lady Mystic. “His fleet was attacked at sea, and his losses were heavy. Right now the battle for Alamar is ongoing, but victory is assured. Vand was not entirely happy with the report, not only because of the losses, but because the report came from one of Clarvoy’s spies within Doralin’s mage group.”

“So Doralin has not reported in yet,” mused Lady Mystic. “That means that there is little positive news to report. I did not think that the Sakovans even had a navy.”

“They don’t,” frowned Xavo. “I can make no sense out of any attack at sea that could result in heavy losses. The report did not specify anything about the enemy fleet. In fact, the spy did not complete his report. The air tunnel was dropped unexpectedly. Clarvoy believes that the mage was killed before he could finish.”

“Clarvoy has been to Alamar,” noted Lady Mystic. “He could send an air tunnel of his own to get a report.”

“Not without a large chance of having the air tunnel grabbed by a Sakovan,” Xavo pointed out. “Clarvoy has no idea of how far into the city Doralin’s troops are, and they still only know how to cast one type of air tunnel. Any reply he got back would be suspect. No, he has to wait for someone there to report in.”

“Without the air tunnels that I gave to Vand,” frowned Lady Mystic, “Vand’s armies would be fighting blind. I do not know how you could forgive me for that foolish move.”

“That is history,” smiled Xavo. “We cannot change the past. The important thing is that we are working together now.”

“That we are,” smiled Lady Mystic as she rose, “and it is time for me to do my part.”

“What are you going to do?” Xavo asked apprehensively.

“Try to squeeze information out of the premers when they leave the temple,” grinned Lady Mystic.

“You are an outcast,” frowned Xavo. “They will not talk to you.”

“We shall see,” smiled Lady Mystic. “Vand’s moods swing wildly. Those who are out of favor one day may be back in favor the next.  As long as I am still alive, people will not shun me completely. You go ahead and report what you know. I will be back as soon as I discover something worthwhile.”

Lady Mystic left the clearing and walked the streets of the city until she had a view of the front of the temple. She leaned against a building and watched the citizens passing by, as if she were just whiling away the morning. It was over an hour before two premers left the temple. Premer Cardijja, who was based in Eldamar, and Premer Shamal, who was based in Sudamar, walked down the steps together. Tzargo, the premer based in Vandamar was not present, and Lady Mystic figured that he had remained in the temple.

The two premers walked together, chatting amicably, as they headed for the city docks. Lady Mystic knew that they probably had ships waiting for them to take them to their home cities. She allowed the men to pass her and then she walked behind them at a faster pace than they were walking. She caught up to them quickly.

“Premer Cardijja,” greeted Lady Mystic. “It has been a long time since you were in Vandamar.”

The two men halted and turned to face Vand’s daughter.

“And Premer Shamal as well,” smiled Lady Mystic. “Good morning. You must have been in to see my father. Did he give you another award, or did he slap your wrists?”

“Greetings, Lady Mystic,” frowned Premer Shamal. “You know that we are not allowed to discuss what goes on in the throne room. Besides, you no longer enjoy the pleasure of the Emperor. We really should not be seen with you.”

“Tsk, tsk,” smiled Lady Mystic. “Your manners could use some improvement, Shamal. You are correct about my removal from the temple, but you forget that I am Vand’s daughter. A father’s ire does not last forever. Are you really so anxious for me to list you as one of those who was rude to me when I was temporarily in disfavor?”

“I do not think that was what Premer Shamal was inferring,” Premer Cardijja quickly came to his friend’s defense. “You know that appearances in Vandamar are always important. While your disfavor might be temporary, the Emperor would frown upon our friendliness to you at this time.”

“I do understand,” smiled Lady Mystic. “It is a game that we all must play at one time or another. I will admit that it is punishing to be outcast as I have been. I think I have learned my lesson well these past few weeks. I shall never make my father angry again, and I understand your caution as well. I will just walk with you to the docks to await your ships. That will not be sufficient to activate my father’s rage.”

The premers nodded glumly and allowed Lady Mystic to walk with them. There was little to be gained by ostracizing her when she might well stand alongside Vand once again.

“This is an exciting time to be alive,” Lady Mystic said cheerily to Cardijja. “We are finally taking the war to the infidels. I would love to be on one of those ships, but father fears for my safety. As if I couldn’t take care of myself,” she added with a chuckle.

“You would make a fine addition to the mages,” smiled Premer Cardijja, “but you would have more fun with Shamal’s armies. I am afraid there will be little of interest for mages in Fakara. The savages have abandoned all of the cities. There is nothing but dusty plains left.”

“That does sound boring,” frowned Lady Mystic. “That is not my idea of a fun war. I envision more of a ruthless battle against enemy mages, where the might and power of the Motangans sends the enemies running in fear.”

“You do have quite an imagination,” chuckled Premer Shamal. “Seriously though, reports talk a lot about Khadora’s newfound use of mages. I am slightly concerned about what might be waiting for us there. The Chula are one mystery that we have been unable to get any information on. They are cause for concern.”

“Perhaps the Chula will not align with the Khadorans,” shrugged Lady Mystic.

“Perhaps,” agreed Shamal, “but I must plan as if they will. Maybe Clarvoy will find out on his trip to Khadoratung. I have asked specifically for information about the defenses that I will run into. Without that knowledge, we are going to be fighting blind, and that is not the way to fight a war.”

“Clarvoy will discover their secrets,” Lady Mystic assured the premers. “There is no one finer at his craft in the entire world. Perhaps I will come to Sudamar next week for a visit, Shamal. I would like to talk to your mages about being included in the invasion. Their recommendation along with yours would do a lot to influence my father. I would like to fight in Khadora.”

Premer Shamal stopped walking and turned to face Lady Mystic. He frowned and shook his head.

“I do not wish to be rude, Lady Mystic,” the premer from Sudamar said, “but I have probably already revealed more than I should have. Were you not the Emperor’s daughter, I would fear that I had made a treasonous mistake. Do not bother to come to Sudamar. There will be no time to impress my mages with your talents. Stay here and earn your way back into your father’s grace.”

Premer Shamal turned abruptly and walked off. Lady Mystic’s mouth opened wide in a feigned display of shock at the treatment afforded her by Shamal.

“Do not take it personally,” Premer Cardijja said consolingly. “Shamal is under a great deal of pressure, as we all are. The fact is, our fleets will be long gone by next week. If you truly wanted to fight, you should have made your case some time ago. Our ships will be loaded tonight. Forgive Shamal for his rudeness.”

“I shall,” smiled Lady Mystic. “I know that you two are good friends, and I would not want anything disparaging said about either of you. You have both served my father well. Good luck on your voyage to Fakara. I hope Vand has given you the tools required to assure victory.”

“Three hundred thousand of them,” grinned Cardijja. “Fakara will be ours within the week.”

Lady Mystic waved as the premer walked towards the ship that would return him to Eldamar. As soon as he was onboard, she turned and hurried to the jungle clearing.

* * *

General Manitow stood on the roof of the Imperial Guard headquarters in Alamar. He gazed down at the ruined city and shook his head. The harbor was full of sunken ships and floating bodies. The beach was stained with blood, and the first two blocks of buildings were totally leveled to smoking piles of rubble. The Motangan soldiers were streaming onto the shore, abandoning their hundreds of small boats to float upon the water like flotsam.

There was fighting in every sector of the city, including around the Imperial Guard headquarters, and yet the Motangan catapults still rained fire upon the city. Alamar was officially lost.

“Get me updates on General Addley and General Romero,” Manitow snapped to his mages, “and prepare to sound the alarm to retreat.”

“General Addley reports inflicting heavy casualties on the Motangans,” answered one of the mages, “but he seeks permission to withdraw. The battle will soon be a test of numbers, and that is one that he cannot win.”

“General Romero is already retreating,” declared another mage. “He said that the Motangans landed before his men were in position.”

General Manitow cursed under his breath. “Tell Addley to withdraw,” he snapped, “and sound our own retreat. We cannot stand any longer with a flank exposed. It is time to leave Alamar to the victors.”