No Stone Unturned

by Frank Morin

  "We'll find a way. Once we know it, we'll find a way to share it."

  "Be very careful." Jean rose and took his hands in hers. "If we move too soon, we'll die. You can't fight Evander, Connor."

  He sighed. "Maybe not, but there has to be a way."

  "First we learn," Jean said. "Look deep, see clear like Gran always said."

  "Then we act," Connor promised.

  Jean grimaced. "But until then, I have to go meet Jok and attend him at this ball celebrating the commencement of group battles."

  "It's a ball?" Connor asked. "Do you even know how to dance?"

  She glared.

  "I mean, the kind of dances they dance."

  "Don't worry," she assured him. "I can handle it."

  He believed her.

  "If he gives you any trouble, remind him that he owes me."

  "I'll be fine," she assured him, but she looked nervous. "Even though I might be the only commoner there."

  "Don't worry. You're prettier than any three other girls combined."

  She glared. "Are you calling me fat?"

  "No, really--"

  "I know," she interrupted before he started panicking. "Just teasing. Good luck with your training."

  They left the room together and Connor got an idea. "Wait for me to change into my Lian costume, and I'll escort you to the ball. How's that?"

  "I would love it," she said, looking relieved.

  When they arrived at the grand ballroom, a huge hall Connor had never entered before, it was filled to bursting with finely dressed lords and ladies. Many paused to stare at Connor and Jean, and for once, the majority of the comments were not directed at him in his mask. Noblemen stared with open admiration at Jean as she glided along beside Connor, while many of the women watched her with thinly-veiled jealousy.

  Jok appeared a moment later, resplendent in a rich doublet that almost made his hideous house colors of orange and yellow seem not completely hideous. When he saw Jean, he dropped his wine glass. He snatched for it, but only managed to knock it flying and spray wine over the gowns of two Petralist girls that Connor recognized from Ivor's army.

  They shrieked in dismay, but Jok barely noticed. He approached and took Jean's hand, his expression wondering as he bowed low over it.

  "You look lovely tonight, Jean."

  "Thank you, my lord Jok," she said, making a deep curtsy.

  Jok glanced at Connor. "Are you joining us tonight, General?"

  "Unfortunately, I have other business." He had received an invitation, but hadn't realized what it meant. As much as he wanted to keep an eye on Jean, the thought of attending the ball and actually trying to dance terrified him. Besides, if he lingered, he'd probably find an excuse to start a fight, or set all the refreshment tables on fire.

  Chapter 30

  Connor's army clashed on the eastern plain, behind some low hills that offered some concealment from spies from the other armies. The Boulders pummeled each other with admirable enthusiasm, studied by Connor and his captains from a platform of earth that Declan had raised with great difficulty in about ten minutes.

  While they watched the practice, Connor discussing the maneuvers with his captains, along with their plan for the first group battle, which loomed just two days away. Well, he called it a plan, but it was more a loosely-affiliated bunch of ideas that hadn't decided if they liked each other yet.

  "Boulder companies look strong," Connor commented as he studied the formations clashing in the center of the flat valley.

  "That last training with the Fast Rollers really helped." Shona looked pleased. She had done a great job motivating the Boulder students and helping them unite in an effective fighting unit.

  She had convinced Catriona to lead the fighting in the front line as a way to develop her leadership persona. Catriona had eagerly accepted, and that did seem to have a positive impact on the other Boulders, although Connor suspected they just wanted a chance to beat on the pudgy princess.

  "I should be out there," Lorcc muttered, bouncing on the balls of his feet, his gaze locked on the running battle whirling around the packed ranks of Boulders.

  The two dozen Striders he commanded tore across the plain, forming complex patterns as they closed, then broke apart, barely slowing to strike enemy runners. Inspired by Lorcc's bottomless energy and infectious enthusiasm, their running battles nearly rivaled those of Donald and the professional Striders of Rory's company. The day before, Connor had noticed Donald speaking in private with Lorcc after practice. He suspected Donald was trying to recruit Lorcc into Rory's company.

  "You're my captain," Connor reminded him. "So that means stopping once in a while so we can plan."

  "The primary affinities are strong," Fearghas commented, arms folded as he surveyed the field. "They'll stand firm against any other army."

  "That's not the problem though," Shona said, turning from the battle.

  Fearghas nodded toward Declan. "The problem is, how is our little tower of terror here going to stop at least three Sentries at the same time?"

  Declan seemed to like the title, despite the sarcasm, although he looked terrified as always when he thought of facing off with the other Sentries.

  "Declan, you're making great progress," Connor assured the little Sentry.

  "I love your enthusiasm, Declan," Aifric said, giving the terrified little guy a warm smile. "But I worry for you."

  Not as much as he was worrying for himself.

  "Storm clouds gather over lofty peaks," Declan declared, but then hesitated, his expression turning worried. "Ah, and drench the plain," he finished with a cringe. He was getting better at starting Sentry-speak sentences, but struggled with the closers.

  "The imagery was good on that one," Connor encouraged him. "Keep practicing."

  Then he turned to Papil, the gangly girl who he'd assigned as his Pathfinder captain. "We need to leverage our other strengths to support him,"

  "We're working on it." She had a habit of clasping her hands nervously across her stomach, and not meeting his gaze.

  She was barely fifteen and looked more like a girl than a young woman, with her freckled face and blond hair cut just above the shoulders. Her blue eyes looked almost too big for her face, but when she tapped her quartzite affinity, the glowing orbs looked quite alluring. She was quiet spoken, and her voice was usually a bit squeaky until she applied quartzite to it. Then it rang forth with amazing power, rich and sonorous, capturing the attention of everyone who heard it.

  Papil possessed a quick mind, and Connor needed her to succeed.

  "How far has testing proceeded?" he asked.

  "We've managed to throw Boulders, but not consistently enough to enter battle with confidence the plan would work."

  They were focusing on the largely-ignored potential of elemental air, but only with limited success so far. He didn't care if they ever figured out how to trigger invisible instruments like Padraigin, but he hoped they could learn to walk with air well enough to leverage it in the first battle. A tornado in the right place could scatter Spitters and maybe distract Sentries long enough for Declan to hold his own. Shona had stolen Carbrey's stone rain idea and suggested they throw Boulders over enemy lines to get at the critical tertiary affinity Petralists.

  "Keep working on it," Connor urged her. "We need that air power."

  "What if it doesn't work?" Fearghas asked.

  "It'll work," Connor insisted.

  "We need to be prepared if it doesn't," Fearghas countered.

  "He's right," Shona said. "We can't enter a battle with a half-formed plan, relying on unproven tactics."

  "We still have two days," Connor said. "We'll figure it out."

  "I think I'm still your best choice," Fearghas declared.

  "Of course you do," Shona scoffed. "Your head's so full of yourself, you actually think you can take on a Sentry."

  His hand drifted to the hilt of one of the swords on his back, and his stance shifted, becoming more graceful somehow as
he tapped obsidian. Shona's skin faded as she tapped granite and grinned, as if eager for him to strike so she could punch him off the platform.

  "Cut it out," Connor snapped. Even though he'd love to see Fearghas humble Shona, he couldn't risk one of them really getting hurt. "You two fighting doesn't help us."

  "So what about it?" Fearghas pressed, releasing his sword.

  "Maybe."

  Conventional wisdom dictated that Connor focus on defensive measures since they'd be facing armies with far greater elemental powers, but conventional wisdom also guaranteed he'd lose. So he and Fearghas had begun exploring the idea of sending the Blade on a lone incursion against enemy armies, protected by Connor's elemental powers. Fearghas was arguably the deadliest Blade in the school, and if he could close on a Sentry, he could possibly disable them.

  It was a high-risk gamble, and it would tie up Connor's tertiary powers, but it was that kind of daring maneuver they needed if they hoped for any chance at winning.

  Connor still felt like he was missing something, though.

  Like three more Sentries.

  Donald raced up to the platform and beckoned to Connor. "General, you're summoned to a meeting with Captain Rory in Command Central."

  "Keep practicing," Connor told his captains before hopping down off the platform. "Hopefully Rory's ready to tell us something about the first battle."

  Then he tapped basalt and raced after Donald.

  Chapter 31

  Command Central was situated in the top room of a massive tower sheathed in white granite that towered over the central keep. It was one of the tallest towers in the entire Carraig inner city, and the view of the closely-packed palaces, towers, and mighty halls took Connor's breath away. Tall windows encircled the entire room, and Connor wanted nothing more than to slowly walk the circumference, staring at the amazing view.

  Instead, he approached the huge, circular table that dominated the room. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling overhead, although the candles had not been lit. The floor was covered with a thick, golden carpet that muffled their footsteps.

  Connor had arrived for the meeting first. Captain Rory rose from his seat on the far side of the table, and Connor circled the room to shake his hand.

  "How's training going?" Rory asked.

  Connor felt like he'd been ordered to produce his mother's famous stewed rabbit recipe, but had been given only a pair of Hamish's stinky socks as ingredients. He was doomed to failure, unless he fundamentally changed the stakes.

  So he smiled behind his mask. "Everything is falling into place."

  "You actually have a plan?" Rory asked, looking doubtful.

  The outer door opened and a servant wearing perhaps the ugliest version of Lord Dail's uniform ushered the other champions into the room. Rory gestured them to take seats. Connor waved to the others. Ivor smiled in greeting, Padraigin waved back, and Redmund only grunted.

  "In two days' time, you will meet in the first group battle," Rory said without preamble. "This command meeting is your official notice. You will meet around the lake on the eastern plain."

  "Why are you telling us in advance?" Padraigin asked

  "Some battles are a surprise, while the location of others is clear long in advance," Rory said.

  Connor thought of the impending conflict on the border between Obrion and Granadure. The location of that first clash between the nations had been clear to everyone for weeks.

  "I decided to start with the most straightforward and obvious battle you will face this year," Rory said. "The location is known. The starting positions are known. The strength and disposition of your forces are known. Furthermore, there is a ready supply of water. That's not always the case, but we wanted to start this year with equal advantage between the Spitters and the Sentries."

  The other commanders looked excited, and were studying the little map Rory unrolled on the table, as if they weren't already intimately familiar with that area. There always had to be a map.

  What if he burned all the copies of the map? Would that postpone the battle?

  The others looked confident. Why wouldn't they? As Connor looked from Padraigin to Redmund to Ivor, he considered all the wild ideas he'd invented with his captains for defeating those crafty Dawnus and their armies. How could he leverage his forces in a way they wouldn't expect?

  Would the key be the Pathfinders, or Fearghas? Could he somehow leverage the Solas? He wasn't sure.

  Then, all of a sudden, he was. The various pieces snapped together in a way he hadn't expected, but which he absolutely loved. The answer had been right there all along. He could use the Solas, Fearghas, and the Pathfinders.

  About time. He'd begun to worry his brains had melted under all that training with Aonghus.

  He banged a hand onto the table, interrupting an indecipherable comment Redmund was making and drawing all their eyes.

  "I'm willing to accept anyone's surrender prior to the commencement of the battle. Once the fighting begins, I won't be able to show any mercy."

  Redmund banged the table in turn. "The kindling piled atop the embers of yesterday's ashes does not think to boast itself upon the logs that await their turn to burn."

  They all looked at Redmund like he was cracked. Ivor said, "Ah, you tell him, Redmund."

  Padraigin frowned at Connor. "Lian, I figured you were hoping to survive only because we'd be too busy fighting each other to pay any attention to your pitiful army, but I think you just killed those chances."

  They were getting upset, but he needed to really rile them up. "The pedra rules supreme in the skies until through pride it makes an attempt upon the armed hunter."

  Ivor sighed. "It looks to me like the first order of business in this upcoming battle is abundantly clear."

  Padraigin nodded. "I really had hoped you could at least come in second place behind me, Lian."

  Redmund looked pleased with the idea of crushing Connor first. "Though enemies oppose, a common foe may yet unite them for a time. Until after the destruction of the greatest fools, they may turn to important business."

  The meeting trended downward after that.

  Rory pulled Connor aside after the other three departed. "Lad, I thought you were a clever boy, but what you just did was tantamount to suicide. You cannot afford to lose this contest."

  "Captain, think back to the battles of Alasdair. You and General Carbrey outnumbered Ilse's forces many times, yet she prevailed against you because you became overconfident."

  Rory shook his head. "We weren't overconfident, lad. If she hadn't brought to bear those new Builder powers we'd never seen before, we would've been justified." He looked more closely at Connor. "You haven't gotten your hands on any of those infernal mechanicals have you? I cannot allow them on the battlefield."

  If only he were so lucky. Connor shook his head. "You know what I have on hand, Captain. We're outnumbered and they possess far greater tertiary affinity abilities."

  "Then why goad them like that?" Rory asked.

  "I can't win this game by surviving only because no one bothers to take the time to attack me. I need to prove to them and to my own army this battle is far from hopeless, and that it's the other armies that need to fear us."

  "That's all fine and well, lad, but you need to deliver on promises like that."

  Connor smiled. "Captain, don't you start doubting me too. Just have a little faith, and get ready for a very interesting battle."

  "All right, lad." Rory said. "I believe you, I really do. What is your plan?"

  Connor shook his head. "There are too many spies and Pathfinders with big ears in the Carraig, Captain. I'm sorry, I can't risk telling this to anyone."

  "You can risk it here," he said, gesturing at the room. "All the windows are triple-paned, with dead air in between. That's supposed to block Pathfinders.

  "I can't risk it, Captain."

  Rory shrugged. "You've taken the pedra by the jaws, lad."

  With those happy words
ringing in his ears, Connor rushed off to make plans with his captains. He was about to flip the entire geall on everyone.

  He shouldn't have been surprised when he explained how he'd provoked all the other generals that they pretty much panicked.

  "You're as insane as a marble sucker during a meteor shower," Shona gasped.

  Declan was nodding so vigorously it looked like his head might roll off his pudgy shoulders. "We're completely grouted, General."

  Connor shook his head. "Have I ever let you down?"

  "You haven't really had a chance to yet," Aifric pointed out.

  "But it seems you're planning to start big," Fearghas muttered.

  "At least listen to the plan!"

  "It had better be good," Fearghas said. "Defeating a single army would have been tough. Letting them weaken each other before they turned on us would have been a better survival strategy."

  "We need to do more than survive," Connor insisted, leaning forward and banging a fist on the table. "The Tir-raon is not won by just surviving. We need to beat them, and beat them so completely, they'll be left wondering what happened, and will be terrified to face us next time."

  "That was a very pretty speech," Shona admitted. "But pretty speeches do not win battles."

  "You're right," Connor said. "We win battles."

  He glanced to each of them in turn, holding their gaze with his, willing them to believe. "Fearghas, you'll get your chance for a crazy assault. Papil, your team will ride the air, and we will unleash the Solas's like they've never been seen before."

  When their angry expressions faded to lingering doubt, he added, "Now help me finalize a plan to beat every other army at the same time."

  Chapter 32

  Connor stood on the eastern rolling plain at the crest of the same wide, low hill Evander had split during his spectacular entrance on nomination day. All of the trappings of that day were long gone, leaving the hill bare. His army stood in ranks just below him, facing east toward the small lake.

  "Think it'll work?" Fearghas asked softly from his position to Connor's right.

  "I'll work," Connor assured him. "Their overconfidence will play right into our hands." Then he asked Declan, "You ready for this?"