1 State of Grace (22 page)

Chapter 26: Clandestine Meeting

(Nine Days before Revelation Day)

Svetlana Markova sat quietly at the Bear Claw, the small tavern in Pushkingrad where she had arranged to meet Boris Davidov. They both agreed at their last meeting that it was too dangerous for her to continue to report to him in his office. Tupelov was watching them, and they couldn’t afford to be seen together in any official capacity. Thus, they decided to meet covertly.

The Bear Claw wasn’t much. Svetlana thought it was little more than a shack with a bar. It wasn’t large, had only five tables, and sold a very small and very poor selection of vodka. She wasn’t sure how the owner was able to afford to keep it open. Only one of the other tables was occupied, and it was by a man who had passed out awhile ago.

Svetlana nursed a beer as she waited for Major Davidov. She was out of uniform. In fact, to make doubly sure she wasn’t followed she had stashed clothes nearby and come in her cat form. When she was a block from the Bear Claw, she resumed her human form in a nearby alley and dressed.

She wore peasant clothes, and she’d been certain to wear a babushka over her blonde hair to further disguise herself. Davidov was late. She was getting nervous, when she saw him walk in. He went to the bar, ordered a bottle of vodka and two glasses, and then brought them to the table in the dark corner she’d chosen.

He too was in disguise. He had on rough, woolen clothing, looking like a farmer or perhaps a smith. If anyone paid attention, they would most likely assume the two were there for a different kind of clandestine meeting. Svetlana wished that were the case. She’d found her feelings for her superior warming as they worked this mystery together. As he came forward, looking all business, she sighed a little sadly. If only he weren’t such a stickler for regulations.

“Good evening,” he said as he arrived. He set the bottle and glasses on the table and seated himself.

“Good evening, Comrade,” she replied.

He quickly poured each of them a shot. Then he raised his glass.

“
Nosdroviya
,” he said as he tossed his back. She slammed hers as well.

“I have discovered new information,” she said as he poured each of them another drink.

“Go ahead,” he said.

“Over the last eight months, General Tupelov has replaced all of the frontline commanders here in Pushkingrad with hard-liners, most of whom served with him in the past. This was done slowly, presumably so as to avoid detection.”

“Just like everything else with
Operation: Hammerfall
,” Davidov commented. He drank his second shot.

“Yes,” she said. “There is more. He has also arranged visas for approximately one hundred soldiers – all of them decorated veterans who specialize in work behind enemy lines.”

“And these soldiers were granted visas to Jifan,” he said.

“No,” she replied. “To Alfar.”

Davidov’s eyebrows raised. Svetlana drank her second shot. He refilled their glasses.

“Why Alfar?” he said.

“I do not know,” she replied. “But I think it must be in support of Ravager’s mission there, whatever it is. He has been seen most often in Al-Adan attached to Ambassador Silverleaf, when the ambassador is in-country.”

“And when he is not?”

“His movements have been varied. He appears to be meeting with someone, but we have not been able to determine with whom.”

She watched as Davidov turned the possibilities over in his mind. He sipped his drink absently.

“How long were these visas to last,” he asked.

“Indefinitely,” she replied.

Davidov thought some more. She waited patiently for him to ask for more information.

“I can’t imagine what Tupelov is doing,” he said at last. “He has agents in Al-Adan, which is far from here. But he also is making sure he has commanders loyal to him on the Jifani border. What does it all mean?”

“I am uncertain, sir,” she said. “But it seems to me that
Operation: Hammerfall
is aimed at both Alfar and Jifan, particularly with this unnamed government sympathizer in Al-Adan. I think it is safe to assume Ambassador Silverleaf is the government official in question.”

“But how could the ambassador to Urland be useful to him?”

“If Silverleaf is disloyal, he could be funneling key intelligence to Tupelov through Ravager.”

“That doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Davidov commented. “Ravager is not the sort of Shadow one uses to acquire and send information. He’s an assassin. His personality makes him ill-suited to other kinds of work.”

Svetlana hesitated. She fully intended to tell her superior the next piece of information she had. She just knew it would alarm him, and she hated upsetting him.

“There is something else,” she said. “An Urlish Shadow was murdered a few days ago. The method of death strongly suggests Ravager was the killer.”

“Damn,” Davidov said. He poured himself another drink and threw it back quickly. “There can only be one explanation for that.”

“The Urlander discovered what he or Silverleaf was doing,” Svetlana finished.

Davidov nodded. A look of profound worry came over his face.

“Whom did he kill?”

“Sara Wensley-James,” Svetlana answered.

“Shadow Five,” Davidov said. “Damn. The Urlanders won’t let that rest.”

“Certainly not,” Svetlana agreed.

“That raises the stakes, Shadowcat,” he said. “The Urlanders will send someone to investigate, and it will be one of their best agents. We can only hope they don’t have anyone appropriate stationed nearby. Regardless, that may cause Tupelov to accelerate his timetable. Where is Silverleaf now?”

“On his way back from Urland,” she replied. “The Queen has appointed a new ambassador to Alfar, who is
en route
. Silverleaf is a few days ahead of him.”

“But his return to Alfar puts all of Tupelov’s players in place,” Davidov said.

“So it would appear.”

Davidov thought some more. He would make a decision about how to act, she knew. He just needed a moment to choose his options.

“Shadowcat, I want you to put together a PDB strike team,” he ordered. “Screen them carefully. Make sure they are absolutely loyal. Rule out anyone who has had any sort of contact with General Tupelov. Then I want you to watch the general. We need to know what he’s doing at all times.”

“Are you sure it is wise for me to watch him?” she said. “He is onto me and to you. I could compromise the mission.”

She wasn’t afraid. She was pleased he asked her. She just wasn’t sure it was the wisest strategy.

“There is no one else I can trust,” he said. “I would need to put someone else in the picture, and that’s too risky. You are going to have to be extremely careful.”

“
Da
, Comrade Major,” she said.

“If something is amiss, do not confront the general on your own,” he instructed. “Summon the strike team and me. We’re going to need all our resources to defeat General Tupelov.”

“
Da
, Comrade Major,” she said again.

“If nothing happens beforehand, we’ll meet here again in one week. You can brief me on any new developments. Otherwise, only contact me if it appears the general is about to make his move.”

She nodded. She didn’t like these orders. She wanted to be by his side. She wanted to move on General Tupelov now. They had enough evidence to prove his actions were malfeasant. He could be arrested and stripped of his rank.

But she understood what Davidov was doing. There was more at stake here than one rogue general. They still didn’t know or understand the breadth and scope of
Operation: Hammerfall
. Until they knew more or Tupelov made his move, they had to wait. Major Davidov didn’t want to let this plot, whatever it was, survive. He wanted to smash the whole operation. That required more intelligence, and he was right – Svetlana was the only one he could trust.

He startled her out of her thoughts by reaching across the table and taking her hand in his.

“Shadowcat,” he said. “Svetlana, please be extremely careful. If something ...” His voice trailed off, and he had to look away for a moment. Then he looked deeply into her eyes. “If something were to happen to you, I would never forgive myself.”

He held her gaze for a moment. He let his love for her show. Then he squeezed her hand tightly before releasing it and standing up.

“I’ll see you in a week,” he said. “
Dos vidanya
.”

He left without another word. Svetlana watched him go. She was stunned. His brief confession of his feelings was so extraordinary it completely melted her heart. She realized, impossible as it would be for them to be together, she was falling in love with Boris Davidov.

For the first time in her adult life, she felt lonely. It was almost unbearable.

Chapter 27: An Atheist and a Shadow

(Ten Hours, One Minute before Revelation Day)

May Honeyflower was following a hunch. Everyone was gathered for new negotiations except Silverleaf. That surprised her. She would have thought he would be very interested in what Wolf would do at the meeting. She could only surmise that meant he was otherwise occupied, and, given what Wolf told her last night, she thought that couldn’t be good.

So she excused herself from the meeting and went to look for him. It would have been simple enough to send a member of the Elite Guard to do it for her, but she didn’t want to tell anyone else what was happening just yet. Wolf leveled serious allegations against Silverleaf. It wouldn’t do to make them known before she had more time to investigate.

Moreover, she found herself not trusting Silverleaf. She was profoundly disturbed he’d not only had all of his former friends arrested and condemned, but he also manipulated her into doing a lot of the work. She’d personally made three of the arrests, and the Elite Guard she commanded was responsible for much of the investigation that put those elves on death row. She wanted to know why he would do this.

She wasn’t sure where to look for him, so she started with his quarters. As she approached them, she saw the door was partially open. Slowing her pace, she closed the distance quietly. Her caution was immediately rewarded. Silverleaf and Ravager were inside conferring. She moved quickly to the side of the hall so she would not be in immediate sight and eavesdropped. They were speaking Phrygian, a language she didn’t know as well as Urlish, but she was able to follow the conversation.

“He assured you everything is ready?” Silverleaf said.

“
Da
,” Ravager replied. “He was practically drooling with anticipation. His people will play their part.”

“Good.”

“Are we ready to proceed?” Ravager said.

“Yes,” Silverleaf replied. “The Feast of the Revelation begins at sundown. Everything is in readiness.”

“The cabinet will do as planned?”

“The cabinet and the president too,” Silverleaf said. “If anything, Mr. Dasher has helped us along. The president is even more desirous of a solution than before. This act of unity will seem necessary to her. Are your agents in place?”

“They only await my orders.”

“Then give them the final go ahead. Tell them
Operation: Hammerfall
is live tonight at sundown.”

“
Da
,” Ravager said. He was about to say something else, but he stopped and stared in Honeyflower’s direction. Realizing she’d been made, she came forward as though she had been coming down the hall the whole time. She knocked on the half-open door.

“Excuse me, Ambassador,” she said. “Ambassador Dasher has arrived and the negotiations have commenced.”

“And why aren’t you present, Captain,” Silverleaf asked. He gazed at her suspiciously.

“I presumed you would want to attend but hadn’t been informed we’d begun,” she answered. “They haven’t yet discussed matters of internal security, so my opinion wasn’t immediately required. I took the opportunity to come find you.”

“How industrious of you, Captain,” he said. His tone was just short of threatening. “Please inform the president I will be along shortly.”

“Very good, Ambassador,” she said. “I’ll see you there.”

She turned and left before she could arouse any further suspicion. She walked quickly but casually.

Wolf was right. Silverleaf was planning something, and it would target Revelation Day. Whatever it was, he was timing it for the most devastating effect possible. If something terrible were to happen on Revelation Day, it could break the spirit of Alfaris across the nation. She wouldn’t allow that.

As soon as she thought it was safe to do so, she quickened her pace so that she was nearly running. She needed to speak to Wolf as soon as possible.

***

Wolf couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Everyone was negotiating. The tone in the room was completely different than what he’d encountered last night.

“I don’t think anyone disagrees,” Waterdown was saying, “with the need to continue the magic trade with Urland. The question is how can it be guaranteed against the collapse of this government?”

“We could sign a commitment for a certain period of time to provide a certain level of support,” Goldenfawn suggested.

“I think that’s an admirable gesture, Minister,” Wolf said, “but the problem is if this government falls, the one that replaces it might not honor the agreement. What I need is some sort of plan to secure the continuance of your government, so that promises will be kept.”

“Do you have a suggestion, Ambassador?” Spellbinder said.

Wolf thought about it. An idea hit him.

“As I see it there are two basic things we need to consider,” he said. “First, Her Majesty’s worries aside, the fact is the amount of magic we actually buy from Alfar is not very high. We manufacture a lot of it ourselves, although, in general, elfin product is superior to our own, and Her Majesty no doubt will continue to want access to some of it.

“But the fact is the physical magic trade isn’t big enough to fight over. What really matters to us, I think, is the magical education we get. Every year, our Magic Division sends wizards here to study with elfin masters. A few independent sorcerers also come here to study magic.
That
is what we really need to protect.”

“And how do you suggest we accomplish that, Ambassador,” Spellbinder asked. “If the government were to collapse, a new regime could easily deny visas to your wizards and hold hostage any who were here.”

“Right,” Wolf said. “But what if instead of Urlish wizards coming here, Alfari instructors went to Urland? That way, if a hostile regime took command of Alfar, elves would still be in a position to provide Urlanders with magical education.”

“Outrageous!” Lumendrake said. “You are speaking of holding elves hostage.”

“Not at all, Minister,” Wolf soothed. “You’re quite right that holding them in Urland and forcing them to teach us would be unethical. So to get around that, every elfin master agrees before coming to teach that he or she will remain in Urland for a period of – oh, I don’t know; let’s say two years. He or she also agrees not to return to Alfar until a replacement master arrives in Urland.

“That way, service is voluntary and not forced,
and
Urland is protected against the potential loss of the trade, since no elf would consider breaking an oath like that.”

Wolf smiled to himself. He might be getting better at this whole diplomatic thing. He put the last comment in deliberately to stroke Lumendrake’s sense of elfin righteousness.

“I don’t like it,” Lumendrake said, although his tone was much less confrontational. “It still amounts to forcing elves to stay in service to humans.”

“Minister,” Wolf said, “if you look at Frey’s directives a certain way, you see that is what he ordered all elves to do. Frey wanted elves to bring the light of God to all peoples. He wanted elves to share their perfection with the other races. No race understands magic the way elves do. By agreeing to share it with us, you’re walking in Frey’s footsteps – bringing the ways of elves to others.”

Lumendrake stared at him incredulously. Wolf smiled.

“How extraordinary,” Spellbinder said, “that it should take a human to remind an elf of Frey’s mission.”

Wolf looked at her, fearing he’d caused some offense, but the president was smiling, and several people at the table were nodding. Lumendrake didn’t look like he agreed with her assessment. His scowl told Wolf he quite resented being reminded of Frey’s teachings by a non-elf.

“That’s all very well, Ambassador,” Lumendrake said, his voice dripping with disdain. “But I note that you are offering to secure Her Majesty’s needs without giving us any consideration. What about the Urlish troops who are occupying Alfari soil?”

“Forgive me, Minister,” Wolf said, “Without General Blackstone here, I’m at a bit of a disadvantage on military matters. What is the present size of our expeditionary force?”

“Thirty thousand soldiers,” Honeyflower said as she entered. “That doesn’t include government liaisons or any of the personnel from your Shadow Service.

“Ambassador Silverleaf will be along shortly,” she said, flashing Wolf a look as she seated herself. He wasn’t sure what it meant. It could have been a warning, but he couldn’t be certain. She might have been angry about something too.

“Thank you, Captain,” he replied. “
All right, thirty thousand. Suppose we reduced our troops by twenty percent upon signing of the agreement?”

A gasp went through the room. It was a significant offer, and Wolf knew from his reading nothing of like size had yet been suggested.

“That’s extremely generous,” Spellbinder said.

“Yes, very generous, indeed,” Lumendrake spat. “Except that it still leaves twenty-four thousand soldiers from this so-called ‘expeditionary force’ in Alfar.”

“I’m sure that’s just the beginning,” Goldenfawn said with a smug look on his face. “Surely the ambassador means that only to be the start of a phased withdrawal.”

“Precisely,” Wolf said. “Tell me, Minister Goldenfawn, what impact will that have on your ability to maintain security?”

Goldenfawn looked like a child who’d been caught stealing. He obviously hadn’t expected Wolf to deal in good faith.

“Impact?” Goldenfawn said.

“Yes,” Wolf replied. He smiled devilishly. “If there is a twenty percent cut in our security forces, how will that impact your ability to maintain law and order?”

Goldenfawn looked flustered. Honeyflower smiled.

“I believe, Ambassador,” she said, “the immediate impact will be negligible. Sadly, Urlish soldiers are not especially helpful in maintaining peace, at least not here in Al-Adan. The local people don’t trust them, and they are often targets for terrorists. Removing two in every ten of them will not hurt our ability to maintain control in the city.”

“Right,” Goldenfawn agreed.

“Well, let me ask you something, Captain,” Wolf said. “My understanding is, while the cities are largely under control, the Sons of Frey have a relatively free hand in the countryside. What if we transferred the majority of our soldiers to rural locations to assist local populaces? You mentioned the Sons of Frey are prone to elf-on-elf violence for the purpose of destabilizing faith in the coalition government. If we put a significant military force into the countryside, would it solve that problem?”

“It might,” Honeyflower said after a pause. “But you would have to convince the rural elves you were there for their protection, not as conquerors. Some of your soldiers would need ... shall we say new training in the way they treat the natives?”

“So we could then send cultural attachés with the soldiers, whose job it would be help the locals and soldiers work together. That could create a cultural exchange between the races that would benefit everyone.”

There were murmurs of appreciation across the table. Lumendrake continued to scowl.

“We’d have to be careful, though,” Honeyflower said. “The truth is we don’t have enough security forces to adequately deal with the terrorists alone. We do need Urlish support.”

“If we are to wait until the Sons of Frey are completely smashed, we will never be rid of the Urlanders,” Lumendrake said. “They are funded by Jifani extremists, and it’s a problem that will never truly go away.”

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Wolf said, “but the principal problem here in Al-Adan from the Sons of Frey is not their militia activities, it’s the suicide wand-ers.”

“Yes,” Honeyflower said.

“To be frank, then,” Wolf said, “that’s not really a military problem.”

“What do you mean, Ambassador?” Spellbinder said.

“Yes, Ambassador, what do you mean?” Silverleaf said as he entered the chamber. “Please explain how the murder of innocent elves isn’t the business of your army if your purpose here is to maintain security.”

Wolf glared at Silverleaf. He had things going smoothly until Silverleaf came along. Wolf could feel the mood in the room chilling.

“What I meant,” he said, “was that trying to track down a lone, mad elf bent on destroying himself and everyone around him is not a good use of military resources. Militaries are good for fighting armies. They’re not good for stopping lone killers.

“Now, according to my briefings, this ...” Wolf paused and pretended to consult the papers in front of him “... Mustique Starfellow is the ringleader/mastermind of the Sons of Frey here in Al-Adan. It seems to me the top priority is locating him and his accomplices. Again, that’s not a job a military can accomplish well.

“But it’s a perfect job for the Shadow Service.”

“What?” Lumendrake said.

“Her Majesty’s Shadow Service exists to collect information, disinform our enemies, and to handle delicate operations in areas of foreign policy. If we reduce our military presence here in Al-Adan, the other major cities, and nationwide, we can do a lot to earn the respect of the Alfari people. If we simultaneously increase our Shadow Service presence here, we can improve the security situation by increasing the personnel dedicated and well suited to finding Starfellow and stopping him.”