The Exiles (21 page)

This message Felx now held in his hand, having been given it by Councillor Tasch Huzzel, who it had originally been addressed to. Strangely enough the message had only contained a warning, not a clear one, and not a warning for anyone at RefugeCross. It was, however, the second time it was sent. The sender wondering why they had not had a reply to the first message they sent a few days ago. This only made the fact that someone was willing to kill an imperial messenger hawk for it all the more suspicious.

‘Unfortunately we don't have enough to go on to actually charge anyone of the crime,' said Captain Felx seriously. ‘But I want a complete review of the security to the messenger room as soon as possible. Change all locks and restrict the handing out of keys.'

Kirra noted down the new instructions neatly.

‘When was the last time anything like these three events happened in RefugeCross?' Felx asked his two subordinates.

‘Well there was that series of robberies a few months ago, and that unsolved fire thing,' offered Brex, scratching his goatee thoughtfully. ‘But other then that, this has to be the most we've had to handle for some time.'

‘Don't forget that wolf smuggling racket,' said Kirra, giving a thoughtful look to her commander. ‘They do say trouble comes in threes, sir.'

‘Yes, they do… Somehow I can't help feeling that the saying implies that the three are connected.'

‘Sir?' questioned Brex.

‘As you both know, I have a close professional and personal relationship with Councillor Tasch and Professor Katan,' Felx continued. ‘You two are also aware of the rumour of their connection with the wolves?' he asked.

‘What kind of guards would we be if we didn't,' replied Brex with a cocky smile. He was proud of his ability to always know what was going on.

‘Well they're true,' said Felx casually. ‘In fact, their contact up in the hills is no other then the wolf Sage Filfia.'

This caused Kirra to draw in breath sharply before whistling, impressed. Brex, however, didn't move a muscle.

‘The three of them have been working hard to ensure that peace is maintained here in the lower plains and in the occupied territories. As you can imagine, they have plenty to do,' said Felx. The bearded Captain tried to read the expressions of his two Sergeants.

Disclosing this type of information was dangerous. But it had been a conscious decision by himself as well as Tasch and Katan Huzzel. Things were getting more complicated and the small group of peace keepers needed more eyes and ears. Felx hoped is intuition about his Sergeants was correct. Though they had both fought long and hard against wolves during the war, both were easygoing Anthros by nature. Felx hoped their loyalty and trust in him outweighed any prejudices they might have against wolves.

‘What's the connection?' asked Brex after a while. Brex's continued business like manner putting Felx at ease.

Felx moved over to the balcony to look back up the main road towards the inner city.

‘As you know, there are elements on both sides that oppose the peace. We fear that what we have seen in RefugeCross is only a small part of something bigger playing out in the wolf territories.'

‘Surely that's a wolf problem,' stated Brex, his tone not carrying any hint of hostility.

‘Aren't you on good terms with the wolf Mayor? Can't she do something?' asked Kirra, voicing another well-run rumour.

‘She has bigger problems,' replied Felx. ‘The possibility of bears on her northern border and the recent attack on her second in command are just two of them.'

‘When did that come through?' asked Brex, astonished by the news about the wolf attack, even he hadn't heard that piece of information.

‘It hasn't. At least not yet,' said Felx. Looking down at the street below, he could see Lieutenant Millan coming towards the tower on foot.

‘Listen,' said Felx, turning back to is officers. ‘I have had a request by professor Katan to go and check up on Filfia with him.'

Kirra and Brex exchanged looks.

‘They'll never let you go into the wilderness, not without an escort,' said Brex.

‘I know.'

‘And they'll never approve an escort… not now,' added Kirra.

‘I know. That's why I need your help,' replied Felx, a shrewd smile appearing on his face.

‘I am going to move Kirra and myself to the border to oversee the defences. Lieutenant Millan will stay here to look after RefugeCross. And I will need you, Brex, to make sure that nothing happens while I am away.'

Brex gave his commander a blank look.

‘She does outrank me you know,' Brex stated flatly, referring to the Lieutenant, just in case his Captain had forgotten.

‘You have your ways…' replied Felx, knowing that the Sergeant had a gift of twisting words and meanings. Looking at both of his friends, Felx allowed them a few seconds to digest what he had just said.

‘I need to know if you are with me, Kirra, Brex,' Felx asked sincerely, addressing each one in turn.

Felx didn't often use the Sergeant's names when on duty, but when he did his old friends knew that he was being serious.

‘Sure Captain,' replied Kirra immediately, smiling at her superior officer.

Captain Felx had never really doubted that she would follow him. Turning to Brex, he awaited an answer.

‘Now why would I disobey a request from the one officer I actually enjoy serving under,' Brex said finally with cunning smile. ‘Particularly if he wants me to break the rules.'

Felx grinned in reply. He could already hear Lieutenant Millan coming up the stairs.

Many kilometres away in the lower hills of the WesternWilderness, Sara looked up into the morning sun. It had emerged temporarily from behind one of the many clouds slowly drifting across the sky. The weather was becoming overcast, something that would help her to move unseen.

Far ahead, Sara could just make out a group of riders travelling quickly through a part of the forest that was less densely covered with trees. Scratching her head, the young wolf consulted her very rough map of the wilderness.

Sara had been lucky to pick up their trail last night; all that extra training from her grandfather in addition to what she had learnt about tracking from her experienced mother came in very handy all of a sudden. She had to admit to herself though, that a lot of Anthros would have been able to pick up the trail.

It appeared that the exiles were confident that they were the only ones in the WesternWilderness. Obviously speed was the issue for them now, not stealth. Sara realized that it was highly likely that she was the only one other then the exiles and Sage Filfia left in the forested wilds. Once the news had spread about the reported bears, special whistles and howls had been issued from the outposts before the wolf sentries had abandoned them. Anyone in the area would have headed home immediately. To stay and risk meeting up with bears was suicide. Bear Clan warriors did not hold the same value in life as wolves or lions did.

Though Sage Filfia's house was quite far from any outpost, the bear-warning-call was well known to the more intelligent creatures of the forest. As the Sage was able to communicate somewhat with the beasts of the forest, she would be well protected in her summerhouse by now. Additional to this, there was a message system from one of the wolf outposts; any written message left in a special place would find its way to the Sage's home via one of her many feathered friends. This was something only known by a few wolves.

One of the few wolves to know of this special message system, was someone that had learnt of it only very recently from Mr Thorntreck. He was a large red wolf, and one that was currently on his way to that special, now abandoned, outpost with his band of exiles.

Sara moved back down the small rocky outcrop she had been using to get a view of the surrounding area. Down at the bottom stood a very dirty Misha, impatiently rubbing her head and short antlers onto her side.

‘Sorry girl,' Sara said apologetically. ‘But you're just too noticeable when we ride through the forest.'

Misha gave her owner an unforgiving glare. Sara had stopped to cover Misha in a mixture of mud and ash the night before. The normally pale horse was now a deep grey and brown. Misha had yet to forgive her owner for this act, and Sara had been extra kind to her animal to compensate.

‘Come on girl, lets go,' called Sara.

Misha simply turned away, seemingly ignoring her owner.

‘The quicker we get going, the sooner I wash you clean,' Sara stated. Crossing her arms, Sara challenged the young animal's stubbornness. Misha turned her head, somehow sensing that her owner was not about to budge, she conceded and trotted over.

‘Good girl,' said Sara, jumping up onto her animal.

Sara directed Misha through the dense forest.

From her observations she could tell which mountain pass the exiles were going to use. At this particular ridgeline there were only really three ways to get further up into the mountains. It had been fortunate that she had picked up the exiles trail, but it was unfortunate in that this meant she was behind them. It would be difficult to get by unseen to warn the wolf Sage.

Not for the first time today, Sara began to doubt herself. From what she could see in front of her there were about eight to ten exiles, all obviously skilled and highly motivated. She reasoned this from the fact that they must have some sort of plan to kill a very powerful Sage. Even if Sara got by them, would it be enough? Sara imagined what she would say to the wolf Sage…

Um, sorry miss Filfia, but there are some wolves outside who want to kill you. Oh, and by the way, I helped them to get here, Sara thought to herself.

The ridiculousness of the whole thing brought the spirits of the young female wolf down. And what if the group just went straight in and attacked her, would Sara jump in like she had done with her grandfather? She wouldn't last two seconds.

Sara's mind drifted to her parents, wondering what they were going through; by now they would have discovered that their daughter had disappeared again. Frowning to herself, Sara suddenly had a strong urge to go home… the problem was, to what? To an angry mother, to a disappointed father and to a grandfather she had abandoned. No, whatever happened out here, that was the way it was. The damage had been done, what more could she loose, her life?

Sara gulped audibly as she realized that was actually the case. Her mind flooded with negative emotions, it began to spread noticeably through the young wolf's body. Misha became uneasy, affected by the stress and doubt coming from her owner.

Sara was brought back to the real world be her faltering horse. Realizing that she had let her emotions get out of control, she focused on developing her confidence. She had to streamline her thoughts, she had to think positive.

So what if she did lose her life? It wasn't as if she had much of a life to go back to anyway.

This was not a particularly good argument, but it was a start.

It all balanced on if she could beat the exiles to Sage Filfia, and that was what she was going to do.

That was the trick, if life became too complicated, focus on the one thing you could do, and then do it well. Even if you weren't exactly sure how you where going to do it, but then that was what confidence was for, wasn't it? Buoyed by her owner's new determination, Misha kicked it up a gear.

The two slalomed their way through the undergrowth.

All of this activity was unknown to another traveller nearby. Trex was taking a more costal route in an effort to avoid any wolves that might be around. The young lion was still completely unaware of the false warning of Bear Clan warriors in the area, but was still trying to travel as quietly as possible in any case.

Coming over the small mountain pass, Trex began his descent with Flint, trying to stay in the cover of the rocks and low vegetation.

Had he been able to continue his careful progress, he may have noticed the small group of exiles travelling to the east as they galloped through low shrub and grasslands.