by Candy Rae
The War Council was held that evening. The human leaders were still shocked and dismayed at Jim’s news. They needed time to become acclimatised to the idea that they would in all likelihood, be fighting for their lives by summer.
Stuart MacIntosh started the ball rolling when the meeting convened. At Jim’s behest, as many settlers as possible were present, filling every available space.
“We are here to discuss how we are going to combat the invasion of the Larg and the convicts from the Electra. I need not say that our situation is a dire one. Our newfound allies,” he acknowledged Afanasei and the other Lind present with a short bow, “have explained very clearly to us what we may expect from the Larg. I am now going to ask Jim to tell us what he and the Lind feel our next steps should be.”
Jim nodded to Stuart as he stood up, Larya by his side as usual.
“Hear me out,” he announced. “Questions later.” He began by giving a summary of what they knew to date, including a sketchy tale of what had happened to the crew and the families of the Electra, and then made abundantly clear to all what would likely happen when their enemies arrived on the northern continent. He finished with a plea for all to keep calm and declared the floor open for any questions. They were not long in coming.
“Is it definite that the Larg will attack?” asked a voice.
“Yes,” answered Afanasei. His Standard was surprisingly good for one not vadeln-paired, rivalling that of Kolyei’s. “Larg will come. Bad men as well. Defend rtathlians we must do or we will die.”
“That seems clear enough,” shouted Stuart MacIntosh, struggling to be heard over the excited babble that Afanasei’s words produced. “Now we have to make plans as to how we deal with it.”
Stuart had been well briefed by Jim, Afanasei and Larya. He was going to make sure that the settlers agreed with the general plan as formulated by the four of them in secret conclave earlier that day.
Jim raised his hand for silence and got it. “You know now that certain Lind and humans bond together. Back at the Lind home live those pairs who cannot be with us today. These youngsters are learning how to fight with the Lind, but we need more vadeln-paired with the Lind in order to make our army effective.”
Jim’s audience looked surprised.
“Yes,” said Jim with a smile at his vadeln-pair, his Larya. “We are looking for volunteers to travel inland to the Lind pack-woods and bond with a Lind. I promise that it is an incredible experience and one those chosen will never regret. If we are in agreement on this, the party should be ready to leave soon. I am reliably informed that an escort will be provided. Remember also that although we need volunteers that are prepared to fight, support personnel are also needed, metal smiths, woodsmen in the main but also those with any medical knowledge. The Lind can teach us so much.”
Fullarton Crawford, young Peter’s father, spoke up when it became obvious by the silence after Jim’s plea that many were apprehensive at the thought of leaving the comparative security of the settlement to live with an alien species.
“My family and I are going,” he announced in a loud voice. “Peter and Radya are to return and as a livestock farmer I am used to dealing with four-footed friends. I do not fear the Lind. I do however greatly fear the Larg. I know as well that there are no guarantees that the Larg will not venture as far as these Lind lands, but I will feel safer that bit away from this coast when the Larg do attack.”
That started the ball rolling and soon other settlers could be overheard discussing the matter and some were calling out their names as being prepared to go. It was eventually decided that five hundred settlers would leave for the rtathlians, at least half of them to consist of men and women between the ages of fourteen and thirty who were eager to form a permanent attachment to the Lind and to fight with them. In fact there would, in the end, be no shortage of volunteers. Many had taken every chance to watch the four vadeln-pairs that day and wished for the opportunity to bond with one of these fabulous talking beasts.
Other settlers saw the pairings primarily as a means to get them out of this dark hour with the threat of thousands of Larg and the convicts descending on their homes and loved ones. None were to know at that point, but these paired Lind and humans were to become the nucleus of a cavalry force that would defend the northern continent for generations to come.
By the time the meeting was over, it was dark. Those lucky enough, or pushy enough, to have squeezed into the hall, departed, only to be mobbed by those outside desperate to learn what had been decided.
Stuart turned towards the rest of the Councillors.
“Productive meeting,” he said in a laconic voice.
“People are too scared for any dissent,” said Jean Farquharson. “I’m terrified at the prospect of being invaded by rampaging beasts and desperate men.”
“We’ll beat them off,” said Jim, the very image of a confident war leader.
“I hope so,” she replied quietly.
Afanasei had been very clear about what the Lind spies had reported concerning the fate of the male crew of the Electra. Any disbelief people had harboured had ceased abruptly on hearing this news.
Winston Randall and his family also decided to depart with those going with the Lind. Some of the youngsters training with him in animal medicine would go too, the others would remain behind at the settlement to tend to the livestock and pets. His eyes were bright with anticipation of what lay ahead. He did so love a challenge.
The settlement’s defences were to be strengthened even more. The number of smithies and forges were to be doubled in order to produce the number of weapons that would be needed. In the morning the backbreaking process of digging out a deep defensive ditch to surround the palisades would begin. Procedures would be set in place for the evacuation of the outlying farms when the Larg were sighted. The large herds of livestock the colonists were building up would be let loose. No point in giving the Larg a present of free meals. The Lind promised to help the settlers round up the herds again after the Larg had gone.
Training for war was to begin in earnest. Conscription was implemented; all those able to do so would be required to fight. The adults within the settlement found themselves with plenty to plan and discuss that night.
It had been a momentous two days. True, they had received disquieting and dangerous news of their enemies in the south, but many had suspected that this new land of theirs hid many unexpected dangers although Robert Lutterell, up until now, had been the only one to voice his opinion that the attack on the farm was only the prelude to darker times ahead. To balance this, Jim had found the missing children and more than that, returned with allies to aid them in their troubles. The existence of the convicts in the south had come as a shock and was the added complication that had altered a dangerous situation into a potentially lethal one.
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