Army of the Dead (18 page)

“Order the southern bridge destroyed immediately,” instructed the Situ lord. “At the center bridge, our infantry soldiers are to bypass the mages. They are to jump into the trench. Have the men on the other side of the trench lower ropes for them to climb out. As soon as the last mage crosses the bridge, destroy it.”

“What if the Motangans arrive before that?” asked Polema as she wove an air tunnel to the central bridge.

“The bridge must be denied to the Motangans,” declared Lord Rybak. “Regardless of costs, that bridge must be destroyed before the Motangans reach it.”

“I understand,” Polema nodded solemnly.

Lord Rybak turned to the lectain behind him. The officer snapped to attention when he felt his lord’s eyes upon him.

“There will be a change in plans,” stated Lord Rybak. “We are going to try to draw the Motangans to the south. Order the troops to start edging towards the south with every charge.”

“That will take the pressure off their northern vanguard,” frowned the lectain. “They might get to the central bridge sooner than desired.”

“They might,” agreed Lord Rybak, “but that is a chance that we must take. I am gambling that the Motangans are out to destroy as many of us as possible. If the Motangans that landed to the north did not pursue Lord Saycher, it can only be because they want to flank us from the north. If I am correct, the whole Motangan army will turn south to chase us.”

“Then I pray that you are correct,” saluted the lectain. “Will you be retreating now?”

“No,’ Lord Rybak shook his head. “I will be riding with you, Lectain. We must delay our enemies for several more hours. If they fail to turn southward, I want to be in a position to change my orders.”

The lectain smiled and nodded. He bowed slightly to the Situ lord and retreated to his mount.

“You do not need to ride with them to issue orders,” frowned Polema. “I can do that from anywhere.”

“Can you also send messages from somewhere that you are not?” questioned Lord Rybak.

“What do you mean?” Polema asked.

“Our armies on the other side of the trench must be kept informed of what is happening here,” explained Lord Rybak. “If you and I retreat, that task will remain uncompleted, and I will not retreat and leave you here. Besides, this battle is my responsibility. I plan to exact the maximum amount of damage on the enemy that we are capable of.”

“Your presence will energize the men,” smiled Polema. “They do look up to you.”

“I am glad to finally hear that,” smiled Lord Rybak. “I have spent the past few years trying to be like Emperor Marak. While I know that I can never compare myself to him, the love and respect from his men is his hallmark. They idolize him.”

“You sound envious,” stated Polema.

“I am,” grinned Lord Rybak, “but not in a bad way. I owe my life to Marak. He took me in when any other man would have killed me for what I did to him.”

“What did you do?” frowned Polema.

“I spied on him for the Situ clan,” Lord Rybak said softly. “In fact, I did everything I could to ruin his career.”

“And the Emperor never found out?” asked the air mage.

“He knew all along,” chuckled Lord Rybak. “He was always one step ahead of me. I was such a fool then.”

“I don’t understand,” replied Polema. “If he knew about your activities, why are you still alive?”

“Because Lord Marak saw something good in me,” replied Lord Rybak. “He saw something that no one else saw. He let me play my games, all the while knowing that I would eventually come around to understanding what he was trying to do.”

“I guess you did come to understand him,” smiled Polema.

“More than most people know,” Lord Rybak returned the smile. “After I became convinced that he was right and that I was wrong, I was taken prisoner by Lord Marshal Grefon of the Situ clan. The Situ almost tortured me to death, but Marak came and saved me.”

“He actually sent an army to rescue you from the Situ army?” gasped Polema. “That could start a war.”

“He sent no army,” explained Lord Rybak. “He came personally with his two shadows. Lord Marak risked his own life to rescue a reformed traitor. Yes, I envy him, and yes, I try to emulate him. Who wouldn’t after such a rescue? He not only saved my life, but he also gave me a new start in life.”

“The orders have been given,” announced the lectain as he rode onto the crest of the rise. “Our men will concentrate on the southern vanguard and start drawing them southward.”

“Excellent,” Lord Rybak responded as he turned to view the battlefield below. “It is time for us to move our observation post.”

* * *

Goral rode Bertha into the Sakovan camp, leading StarWind’s empty choka behind him. HawkShadow looked up from his seat at the campfire. Concern etched into his face, and he set his mug of coffee on the ground and rose. SkyDancer, who had been sitting next to the Sakovan assassin, also rose and followed. They caught up to Goral as the giant was tethering the two chokas.

“Where is StarWind?” asked HawkShadow.

“She was captured by the Motangans,” Goral answered without inflection.

“Captured or killed?” asked HawkShadow as other Sakovans began crowding around.

“I saw her captured,” reported Goral. “I can not say if she is still alive.”

“You saw her captured?” echoed HawkShadow. “How could you see her captured and not fight to rescue her?”

“Easy, HawkShadow,” cautioned StormSong. “Goral is not your enemy. He cannot take on the entire Motangan army by himself.”

“There was nothing that I could do,” Goral explained softly. “She was already well inside the perimeter of the encampment when she was captured. I would never have even reached her before she was hauled away. Do not make me feel worse than I already do. I asked her not to go, but she was adamant about it.”

“Spying is what she chose to do,” interjected SkyDancer. “No one knew the risks more than StarWind did.”

“Stop talking about her in the past tense,” snapped HawkShadow. “Goral did not see her killed.”

“She is as good as dead,” retorted Goral. “StarWind would never allow herself to be interrogated. She would kill herself first.”

“Did you see where they took her?” asked HawkShadow.

“I could not,” Goral shook his head. “The Motangan encampment is huge. They put her in a cage and hauled her away. I followed her progress as far as I could see, but their camp is endless. Eventually, she blended into the camp and I could not see her any more.”

“Was she disguised?” asked HawkShadow.

“She wore one of these,” nodded Goral as he held up a black cloak. “We killed two Motangan mages early in the morning. She used one of their cloaks to gain entrance into the encampment, but then something went wrong. I do not know what it was, but another mage suddenly came up behind her. There were already a thousand men between her and me.”

HawkShadow’s eyes fell on StarWind’s sword as Goral removed the sheath from his shoulder and leaned it against a tree. He shook his head sadly and departed from the small group and returned to his seat by the campfire. He picked up his cup of coffee and withdrew into himself. He did not even hear SkyDancer approach minutes later and sit down next to him.

“StarWind will be greatly missed,” SkyDancer said. “Lyra relied tremendously on her advice.”

“She is not dead yet,” retorted the Sakovan assassin.

“HawkShadow,” frowned SkyDancer, “face the reality of it. She cannot possibly escape from the Motangan encampment. Besides, Goral is correct. StarWind will kill herself before she reveals anything to the enemy. Too many good people are dying in this war.”

“That is what wars are all about,” spat HawkShadow. “I will not let these invaders come into our homeland and kill my brothers and sisters.”

“None of us will allow that,” SkyDancer nodded sympathetically. “Still, you must face the truth when it happens. I feel deeply for Goral. He was very close to StarWind, and he hasn’t gotten over losing SilverEdge yet. You didn’t make him feel any better by suggesting that he should have committed suicide to save her.”

HawkShadow stared at his partner with confusion. “That is not how I meant it,” he said softly. “I just didn’t understand the situation until he described it.”

“Well,” shrugged SkyDancer, “that is how everyone took it. It sounded like you were chastising Goral for not rescuing StarWind.”

“I will speak to Goral,” declared HawkShadow as he rose suddenly.

“That would be nice,” smiled SkyDancer. “Try to make him feel better. Her loss must be killing him.”

HawkShadow nodded and walked over to the secluded spot where Goral had chosen to sit down. The giant looked up and saw the assassin approaching, but he quickly averted his eyes.

“I apologize,” HawkShadow greeted Goral. “I should have known better than to ever question your devotion to StarWind.”

“I understand your feelings well, brother,” Goral smiled tautly. “If I thought that I could have traded my life for hers, I would not have hesitated, but there was no chance of success. She was already deep inside the camp.”

HawkShadow stood silently, and Goral fidgeted uncomfortably while he waited for HawkShadow to leave.

“I mean no disrespect, HawkShadow,” Goral finally said, “but I prefer to mourn in private this night. I hope you understand.”

“I will leave you in peace,” HawkShadow promised, “but I would request a favor before I go.”

“What is it that you want?” asked Goral.

“The black cloak,” HawkShadow replied.

Goral’s eyes squinted suspiciously at HawkShadow, but he nodded and pointed to the cloak.

“That is not the way to remember her, HawkShadow,” Goral declared. “I know that you two were close, but the enemy’s cloak is not a remembrance of StarWind. Take her sword instead.”

HawkShadow smiled tautly and removed his own sheath and leaned it against the tree next to StarWind’s. He picked up the black cloak and turned to leave.

“You can’t be serious?” gasped Goral. “There is no way that you can survive the infiltration. This is not some small party of bandits that we are talking about. This is not even an Omungan army of ten thousand men. You cannot hope to sneak into the Motangan encampment and get out again. It is suicide.”

“Suicide it may be,” nodded HawkShadow, “but it is the only chance that StarWind has. Would you rather mourn her or me?”

“I certainly do not want to mourn both of you,” countered Goral, “and that is exactly what I will end up doing if you carry through with this act of foolishness.”

“And what foolishness is that?” asked SkyDancer as she walked towards the two men.

Neither Goral nor HawkShadow responded. SkyDancer’s eyes fell on the black cloak in the assassin’s hands. Deep creases marred her forehead as she saw HawkShadow’s sword leaning against the tree.

“I will not allow it,” SkyDancer said adamantly. “It is bad enough that our friends are dying daily, but I will not permit you to throw your life away.”

“It is something that I must do,” HawkShadow said softly. “I have done it many times before.”

“In an encampment larger than StarCity?” balked SkyDancer. “You are crazy. I will admit that you are the best at what we do, but no one is that good.”

“I could use your guidance, Goral,” HawkShadow said, ignoring SkyDancer’s argument. “If you will not lead me to where StarWind entered the encampment, could you at least draw me a map?”

“Tell him nothing,” SkyDancer said angrily to Goral. “Do not help him to commit suicide.”

“Then I will find my own way,” HawkShadow said defiantly as he started to walk away.

“Why are you doing this?” asked SkyDancer. “Do you really think that you are invincible? Do you not believe that the Motangans are capable of striking you down?”

“No one is invincible,” sighed HawkShadow, as he turned to stare at SkyDancer. “What would you do if it was me that had been captured today?”

“I would be mourning alongside Goral,” replied SkyDancer as she drew her sword. “Why can’t you do the same instead of trying to impress us all with your fantastic abilities, because we all know your true limitations. You are human like the rest of us, and you can be killed, and that is exactly what is going to happen tonight if you are allowed to leave this camp.”

HawkShadow glanced at the sword in SkyDancer’s hands and shook his head. “Is that really what you would do if I was captured?” he asked softly. “You would sit under a tree and cry about it? Be honest with yourself. What would you really do?”

A long awkward silence filled the air as the three Sakovans eyed one another. Finally, SkyDancer spoke.

“I would try to rescue you,” she admitted, “but that is different. I love you, HawkShadow. I would rather die than live knowing that I might have had a chance to save you, but didn’t try.”

“Then you know why I must go tonight,” HawkShadow said softly as he turned and walked away.

SkyDancer’s eyes widened with understanding, and tears started to roll down her cheeks. Her hands opened, and her sword fell to the ground as she stared at HawkShadow’s retreating back.

“I will stop him,” offered Goral as he rose. “He is not thinking clearly.”

“No,” sobbed SkyDancer. “Let him go. In fact, go with him. Guide him to where you last saw StarWind.”

“Are you sure?” asked the giant.

“As sure as I can be about anything,” nodded SkyDancer. “If he truly loves her, there is nothing that we can do to stop him. Give him every chance to succeed that you can without endangering your own life.”

Goral nodded solemnly and hurried after the Sakovan assassin.

* * *

The Situ lectain rode up the hill and halted alongside Lord Rybak. He sat quietly for a moment to catch his breath before speaking.

“It won’t work any more,” reported the lectain. “There are too few of us left for the Motangans to be bothered chasing. They are turning westward.”

“I see that,” frowned Lord Rybak as he gazed down at the battle raging below him. “Polema is talking to our troops at the central bridge now. If we have bought them enough time to get everyone across, we will continue to head south and retreat across the trench to safety.”

The lectain nodded silently as his eyes drifted to the battle. The Situ cavalry charged into the mass of red uniforms and swiftly retreated, hoping to draw the Motangans after them, but the enemy defended themselves and then continued their westward march.