by L. Fergus
Kita gave a small smile. “I command the Legion of Yorq.”
Xeen’s eyes narrowed. “The same Legion of Yorq we are currently under contract to destroy?”
A pit formed in Kita’s stomach. “Yes,” she whispered.
“I’m sorry, we didn’t know. On your word, the contract is canceled, and the men will be withdrawn.”
“Do it and tell them to bring as many of the legionnaires’ bodies as they can. I don’t want them left to the ravagers. If there are any left alive would it be possible to bring them out?”
“It will be done. If you are the commander of a Legion then they will be considered our brothers and sisters as well.”
Kita sighed in relief. “Thank you.”
“Come, girl. Let us leave this city, and we will make things right.”
Xeen and Kita moved along the Arconian column seeking out representatives from each clan and guild. There had been no military force large enough to stop them leaving the city. When Kita wasn’t meeting with dignitaries, she greeted her excited people.
The older Arconians act as if they haven’t seen a Rose in years. Everyone else acts like this is the first time they’ve met one. Curiously, Kita asked Xeen, “Everyone talks to me like I’m the only member of the Rose Guild. I thought there were more?”
“Who told you that?”
“I don’t think anyone specifically told me. They made it sound like I was part of a small group that represented Arcone and performed diplomatic and trade missions.”
“Your mother never told you who you are to become?”
“Uhm, I’m an Arconian, and I’m a Rose.”
“Did she tell you she was a Rose?”
“If my mother was a Rose, then why at my Proving Ritual did she wear the Oak marking?”
Xeen grinned. “There can only be one member of the Rose Guild at a time.”
“Why?”
“The Rose is the leader of Arcone. It is a hereditary title passed down between mother and daughter. Your mother must have been waiting until you were old enough.”
“What do you mean by leader?”
“You are the personification of Arcone. The job description they gave you is accurate. You decide what direction Arcone is to take. We will follow you to the Crushing Depths if that is where you want to go.”
Kita felt lightheaded and nauseous. Her chest tightened as if a giant weight had been placed on it. “I think I need to sit.” She flew to a large pile of rocks away from the column.
“Is there something wrong?” Xeen said after climbing up after her.
“It’s a little overwhelming to find out I have just inherited a nation. I already command a Legion and am in charge of this entire theater. I knew I had a special place in Arcone but not this. I’ve already lost the majority of my command before I knew it was mine. I don’t know if I can be responsible for a nation. I don’t think my heart can take any more.”
Xeen sat down next to her. “Arcone is different. The clans work independently with guidance from the Grand Chieftain. This is how we’ve survived with your mother gone for so long. You are not a queen responsible for us. You’re the personification of Arcone. You make the grand decisions, and we decide how best to carry them out. You lead us to war, but you don’t command. And we have the elders to make sure our decisions stay within Tradition. You get a say in everything, but only the broad-scale decisions are yours. Your high esteem comes from what you represent. You’re expected to use your power for the best interest of Arcone. Understand?”
“I just have to steer the ship and look pretty? I don’t have to worry about maintaining the ship?”
Xeen chuckled. “The sea is in your blood, girl. That sums it up in a clamshell. You might substitute fight for pretty. Come, we still have a ways to go.”
Kita and Xeen led the Arconians into the Legion camp. Snowy and Forrester saluted when she arrived. Seeing Snowy lifted Kita’s spirits.
Kita returned the salute. “Why choose now to be formal?”
Snowy looked at Forrester. “Tell her.”
“We felt all due respect was in order for the Hero of the Tubes.”
“Hero of the Tubes? What are you talking about?”
“Five thousand Arconians arrived two days ago with five hundred legionnaires from your legion. The Arconians said you sent them to rescue our men.”
“I did, but I’m not a hero. If anything, it highlights my failings of not rescuing them when I should have.”
“That’s preposterous,” said Forrester.
“I should have gone and talked to the Arconians first. How many more would be alive if I’d done this weeks ago?”
“If we’d talked to the Arconians any sooner, we wouldn’t have been in a good position to defend against an attack or politically challenge for the throne. We’ve accomplished both now. With the Arconians, we can go on the offensive. Those legionnaires sacrificed themselves so we can win.”
“How can I justify sacrificing them without telling them why? How can I live with that? They died not knowing why they were being attacked and why help wasn’t coming. And that’s my fault.”
Forrester shook his head. “They were legionnaires. They knew their duty—to defend the tubes at all costs. They weren’t going to hole up and wait for rescue. Legionnaires are not scared farmers with pitchforks. They are professional career soldiers. You belittle them by denying them their duty.”
“They were innocent! They had no reason to die down there. Who gains from their deaths? Only me and my stupid plan. It makes me as bad as Cunningham and Angus. I can’t be like that.”
Snowy took Kita’s hands. “Is that what this is about, kitten? You’re afraid you will end up like them?”
“I am like them.” Tears fell from underneath Kita’s bandana.
“You are not like them. I wouldn’t have chosen to spend my life with you if you were like them. You are a fallen angel, but remember what makes you one. You can match them evil for evil if need be, but you admit that what you do is wrong. You defended my actions when I was accused. I’ll defend you if you stand accused, ok?”
“It hurts so much.”
“I know it does. Now come, you look exhausted. Everyone will be here in the morning. We’ve commandeered the town. There is a room for you at the inn.”
“And who are you to make decisions for Lady Rose?” said Xeen.
“I’m her girlfriend,” Snowy said, baring a fang.
Snowy arrived downstairs to a working breakfast. Xeen was talking about the Arconians with Forrester, Cowboy, and Jeffrey.
Snowy turned up her nose at the breakfast the cooks laid out—mashed oats and cooked pig. She went to the kitchen and grabbed a piece of venison off a hook.
“Hey, what are you doing?” cried a cook. “Get out of here!”
“I’m getting breakfast!”
“Breakfast has been served!”
Snowy exited the kitchen. “Then put some raw meat out,” she yelled over her shoulder. “You think they’d have learned by now,” she said to no one in particular as she sat down to eat.
“I doubt the cooks are used to your dietary needs. I’m sure they had plans for that venison,” Cowboy said with a chuckle.
“Yeah, well, I can send a cat to bring more if they want,” she said around a mouthful.
After breakfast, she cleaned herself and absentmindedly chewed on a bone while listening to the men conclude the units needed to practice maneuvers.
Forrester looked at Snowy. “Where is Commander Kita, Commander? She should be here for these meetings.”
“She’s upstairs sleeping. Don’t worry, I’ll tell her what’s been decided.”
“I know you’re together, but you need to keep that separate from your duties,” said Jeffrey. “She’s the theater commander, for stars’ sake. She needs to quit being coddled and perform her duties.”
“How dare you! Your sister runs for weeks without stopping. How is getting her to stay still long enough to get some s
leep coddling her? I know you slept last night.”
“I’m talking about yesterday afternoon and all those other times she’s fallen apart. No one tells her to deal with it and grow up. You just run to hold her hand.”
Snowy snarled at Jeffrey. “You’re mad because I comforted her when she broke down after another stressor has been dumped on her? How much more do you want the poor girl to take? Her body may be damn near indestructible, but her mind is young. You’ve had years to learn how to run an army. She’s barely had any time. You should be thankful I’m here. Otherwise, you’d have to be the one to calm her.”
“She would learn her jobs faster with the stress,” Jeffrey said in an acidic tone.
“Have you ever seen what happens when she gets stressed? Last time she killed over four hundred ravagers. That’s her final release valve: killing things. What happens when there is no enemy for her to kill? I like to think she’s found a better way in me.”
“She needs to be here!” Jeffrey said, slamming his hand on the table.
“Be here for what?” Kita said. She stood at the foot of the stairs looking sleepy.
“For major command decisions!”
“I thought that’s why I had you.” Kita waved her hand at the group.
“What are you doing up?” Snowy demanded.
“I couldn’t sleep after you left. I slept on a wing funny. Oh, and I’m hungry.” Kita went to the breakfast bar, grabbed all she could carry, and set her dishes down on the paperwork spread across the table the men were using. “So, what is this major command decision that my presence is so desperately needed that you can't make a decision without me?” Kita said around mouthfuls.
“It’s not that we can’t make a decision," said Forrester. "I think King Logine is more concerned about you learning why we came to our decision.”
“You can’t explain it to me afterward, so I don’t have to listen to you argue for two hours? Speaking of learning, where’s General Thorne? He was supposed to be learning from you.”
“He’s taking care of your Legion since the Commander and Junior Commander are too busy.”
“I wasn’t told of this meeting! Otherwise, I would have been here,” snarled Snowy.
“Is that what you think?” said Kita. “I made her my junior because she’s also my girlfriend? That we’re dumping our responsibilities on you, General Thorne, and the rest?”
“Don’t answer that, General. Kita, calm down,” said Cowboy.
Kita ignored him. “General, when I got here, I said there was one person who could argue with me. That’s Cowboy. If you didn’t like something I’ve done and don’t have the stones to bring it to me, then take it to him.
"He has not questioned my decision or my choice. I expect Snowy to do as I did, follow me around and learn. Did you know there is a manual for every position in the Legion, including the commandant? Yet none for commanders. I get to make it up as I go along.
"If you think I’m not paying attention to what goes on around in my command, you’re mistaken. I have a lot of time on my hands after Snowy goes to sleep. I go through the reports and logs in the command tent in the dead of night. I chat with the night guards to see how things really are. I study manuals and update boards. I am not back in the inn goofing off.
"I’m going to chalk this morning’s little tantrum up to the added stress of fifteen thousand new soldiers to worry about. Here’s your next order. I want to move on New London in three days.” Kita folded her arms and glared.
“Lady Rose, I hope I can make it on that list as qualified to argue with you,” said Xeen.
“As long as you’re not questioning how I handle my Legion. You have a suggestion?”
“Yes. We move on Leedings instead. Its defenses are much weaker.”
“What do we gain by taking Leedings?”
“Cunningham’s forces need more supplies than the capital can produce, and they import through Leedings. If we cut his supply route, it will weaken his forces in New London.”
“Wouldn’t we cut them off if we siege the capital?”
“There is no navy to block the port of New London. We must think of our own supply lines. Leedings would give us a port and the money the city generates. This way, when we do attack New London, they will not be at full strength, and we will be stronger.”
Kita nodded. “Makes sense. Fine, we leave in three days.”
Xeen raised a hand. “Give us two weeks to train with your armies. Even that small amount will give us an edge over the soldiers guarding the city.”
“Can we afford to wait that long?”
“Cunningham has made no moves to strike at us,” said Forrester. “I’m sure he’s trying to compensate for losing the Arconians. It’ll take time to import more mercenaries—if Cunningham can even find them. If he can't, his only strategy will be to wait until we’re closer to the cities to keep his supply line short.”
Kita looked around the table. “Anyone have a problem with this?”
Everyone shook their heads.
“The more time we have, the better we’ll be,” said Cowboy.
“Ok then, make it happen. Forrester, Jeffrey”—Kita drew Dusk and picked up a piece of meat with the flat of the blade— “when I get stressed, I get deadly. And I don’t care who I take it out on.” The piece of meat cooked, burned, and then charred to dust. Kita blew the dust away. “Come on, Snowy. Let’s go have a look at our Legion that we’ve been ignoring because you’re too busy coddling me.”
“They seem to be getting the hang of it,” Kita said happily, as messages were sent to a unit using the new flag system that had been developed.
Forrester grunted.
Kita frowned. Forrester had refused to say anything to her since the morning at the inn. Concerned, she pulled Cowboy aside.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. It won’t affect how he does his job. He is too professional. You did make him look bad by calling him on what he said. You heard the whole thing?”
“So what if I called him on what he said? He was wrong, and I told him. I'd been listening to the meeting since it started. I didn’t come down earlier because I wanted to know what the grievances were. He crossed the line when he went after my personnel life—what little there is.”
"You have to remember these guys have worked hard to get where they are. They have big egos. Forrester is better than most. Making them look like fools, deserved or not, in public makes it worse. You could have walked away or, better, sent him away—it helps reestablish who’s in charge of whom. Understand?”
Kita nodded. “He had no business going after Snowy and my relationship.”
“I know, but it’s one of the few handles people have on you. When there isn’t much, they’ll grab what they can. You’ll have to get used to defending yourself.”
A Legion runner approached and saluted.
“Yes, what is it?” Kita said while returning the salute.
“There’s a man on the camp perimeter demanding to speak with you. He’s come with a dozen rather unsavory looking men. He told me if I found you to show you this.” The legionnaire took a ring out of his pocket. “He said you'd let him in. We weren’t going to, but one of the intelligence officers said to take it to you.”
Kita took the ring. It had a stylized S and M carved into a simple gold ring. It belonged to Glen, but he wouldn’t part with it unless it was a dire emergency. “Where is he?”
The legionnaire pointed to the main gate of the camp.
“Problem?” said Cowboy.
“Glen wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t serious. I’ll go find out what he wants. You stay here and keep an eye on things.”
Kita took off and flew to the main gates of the camp. Glen and his men waited while Arconian and Legion troops surrounded them. Kita landed in the center.
“At ease," she ordered. "You can go about your business. These men are with me." The legionnaires left. The Arconians stepped back but refused to go. Mentally, Kita shrugged.
She didn’t want to argue with them.
Kita handed the ring back to Glen. “Dad, what’s wrong?” Glen looks very old all of a sudden.
“They’ve taken her.”
“Mom?”
“Yes.”
“When? How? Where?”
“They took her two nights ago. We fought them, even killed two Mongulese, but they grabbed Barb and disappeared. The men traced her to New London. I’m afraid they’ll kill her if we try and rescue her. I hoped you could help get her out.”
That was the politest You Owe Me I’ve ever heard.
“Of course I’ll help. Tell your men I’ll meet them at the Wanderings to go over how we’ll get her out.”
Glen shook his head. “They’re already in position. You’ll meet them on top of the prison.”
“Ok, that makes it simple. Do they know where she is in the prison?”
“No.”
“Then I’m off. Cowboy and Snowy know who you are. They’ll take care of you.” Kita gave instructions to the Arconians to take Glen to Cowboy. With a large flap, she lifted off.
Kita landed in the center of the large tower that made up the prison of New London and dispatched the guards. Hooks landed and caught the edges of the wall and four men climbed up to join her.
Kita put her hand over the lock on the hatch and melted it. She went down the ladder and removed the patrolling guards. Three floors down, they found Barb.
A large lock hung on the door. Kita melted through it. Inside, the plush room was worthy of a noble bedroom, just with bars on the windows. Barb sat in a chair with a chain shackling her wrist anchored to the wall. Kita waved the men to Barb.
“Kita, is that you?” said Barb.
“Don’t worry, Mom, we’re here to get you out. Deek, get her out of those chains. I—”
“Hey, Boss. We’ve got trouble coming,” a man in the hallway called.
Kita stuck her head into the hallway and heard people coming up the stairs.
“We need to go,” Kita said to everyone.
Deek came out with Barb.
“Up the stairs,” said Kita as she drew her swords. “I’ll hold them off while the rest of you make your escape.”
