by H. M. Clarke
“The Justiciary have always hated us,” Gwidion spoke up from his position by the door. “They have never liked the idea of a conversation that cannot be overheard by their spies. The only reason that no Flyer has been bought to them for ‘questioning’ is because we enjoy the protection of the Emperor.”
Kalena began to move uncomfortably on her feet and she exchanged a worried glance with her lieutenants. No one ever said anything openly disparaging about the Justiciary. The fact that the Wing Lieutenant did, showed just how frustrated Gwidion must be. There seemed to be a history with the Justiciary behind Gwidion that had left a very bad taste in his mouth.
Harada said nothing in response to Gwidion’s outburst. It was better not to, but the look on everyone’s face told Gwidion of their unease.
“There are no Listeners here,” Gwidion said in disgust to their caution. “No Flyer would demean themselves and their Hatar partner would never allow it.”
“It is not the Flyers you need to worry about Gwidion,” Harada carefully replied “There are other Kalarthri in these barracks who would be quite willing to sell their services to the Justiciary. The Justicars are not the only enemies we have.”
“I know, I know,” Gwidion said throwing up his hands. “But those under suspicion were sent to work in the kitchen or the latrines. I can say what I like.”
Kalena cocked her head as she heard a whisper brush her mind. She watched as Gwidion imperceptibly nodded and drew a deep breath as if to calm himself.
“I’m just giving you warning Gwidion,” Harada said. “I do not want to wake up one morning and find you and Talla missing.”
“If the Justiciary try to come for him they will have to go through us first.” Lunman said, rising from his chair.
From the look on his face Kalena thought he looked excited by the prospect of standing up to the Justiciary. Privately she agreed with him. If the Provost Justicar tried to take any of the Flight members for ‘questioning’ then they would have to fight their way passed the rest of the Wing.
But this should be stopped before her Lieutenants get to far ahead of themselves.
“Lunman, sit back down. No one is going to be taking Gwidion. We have more important matters to discuss.”
At Kalena’s command Lunman sat back obediently in his seat and stared at his feet, shame-faced.
“Sorry Wing Commander.”
“Wing pride is nothing to be sorry about Lunman, but now as Wing Lieutenant you have to watch your tongue.”
“Yes Wing Commander,” Lunman replied.
“Let’s get back to business,” Harada suddenly spoke up before something else could be said.
“Once the other Wings are back from their patrols our Wings will be sent out to catch up with the Calvary and Infantry that will be sent north. We will primarily be under the command of Captain Vosloo and we are only to act under his orders.” Harada swept a steady gaze over the officers around him. They were all competent leaders but being brought up as Kalarthri made them automatically respond to the orders of a Free Man Officer. All Kalar were supposed to obey an order from a Free Man officer without question but the Provost Marshall had given him explicit orders after the war council and he had to impress this need on his officers.
“Yes Flight Commander,” they all responded. Even Kalena. Harada knew that even though she hated being a Kalar she was more likely to jump to obey any Freeman order. This is most probably a response to her forced acceptance of the Krytal. The reasons for this were never told to Harada but somehow he knew there was something important about Kalena.
“This order of non-obeyance includes the two Justicars that are accompanying the infantry. Any order that they wish to issue to us needs to come from Captain Vosloo, and must be told as much if they try to bypass his authority. Do you understand?”
“Yes Flight Commander.”
“Go now and talk to the Wings. Tell them everything that is going on and impress on them the fact that they only obey orders given by the Captain.”
With that all the Lieutenants and Kalena rose and gave a farewell salute and left the room leaving Harada alone with his thoughts.
Chapter Five
Bedtime Stories
Kalena made her way carefully along the dark corridor of the Kalar barracks. She had not bought a candle or lantern with her, trusting that the occasional lamp along the corridors would provide sufficient light. The corridors of the barracks were empty as the Flyers were either now in bed or in the mess hall enjoying some decent food and drink before going on campaign. Kalena had just come from the mess hall and was heading back to her room.
Suddenly Kalena was caught from behind, a strong arm snaked around her waist and a hand planted firmly across her mouth to prevent her from crying out. For a moment she stiffened in shock, then she relaxed back against the man who held her. She would know the smell of him blindfolded in a pigsty. It was Kral Tayme.
“I saw you leave the Mess Hall,” he whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her cheek. “I cannot believe that I was able to sneak up on you – and catch you completely unaware…”
Swiftly, Kalena dropped down through his loose grip into a crouch while sweeping a leg out behind her. She then had the satisfaction of hearing Kral’s grunt of surprise as he fell to the hard stone floor.
“You’re growing a little lax Kral to fall for a move like that.” Kalena smiled indulgently at him in the darkness.
“It was unexpected,” Kral huffed as he collected himself off of the ground and then brushed off imaginary grit from his trousers for form.
“You should always expect the unexpected from me.” Kalena stepped forward and reached up to pat him cheekily on the large red birthmark that covered much of the right hand side of his cheek and neck. “Am I forgiven?”
Kalena could see Kral’s teeth gleam in the darkness as he smiled. “We’ll see. It’s Holm’s turn next to try and get the better of you. Speaking of Holm, he’ll be joining us when he’s finished eating.”
It had grown into a tradition over the last six years for the three friends to get together the night after a briefing to discuss their orders.
“I thought he would be having an early night as this will be his last sleep in a decent bed for a while.” Kalena turned and moved a few steps until she reached a closed door, Kral following behind her. It creaked open with the pressure of her shoulder and they stepped through into the plain chamber of a Wing Officer. Kalena’s room.
After the door latched closed behind them, Kalena twisted and punched forward with an open fist into Kral’s chest knocking him back against the door with a thud.
“What was that for?” Kral asked rubbing his chest where Kalena had hit him. “You actually hurt me!”
“That’s was for trying to ambush me on the day I get promoted and the hurt is for not succeeding.”
“That’s a little harsh Kalena.”
Kalena moved away from Kral and moved to the plain wooden table to pour both of them a drink. Kalena watched Kral as she poured.
A tall, well-built man with a mass of curly black hair and a face that most women would have considered handsome if not for the harsh red birthmark that stained the right side of his face. Kalena smiled warmly to her Wing Lieutenant as she handed him a cup. Kral took a brief sip before pursing his fine lips in disgust.
“The way you water your wine leaves much to be desired Kal. It’s as if you want to drink water instead.”
“You know I prefer water. Adding a little wine to a jug removes the bitter taste that Darkon water leaves in the mouth.” Kalena sat down on the foot of the bed and stared at Kral over the rim of the wine cup.
“There’s something on your mind Kal. You better speak it now,” Kral said as he seated himself on the only chair in the room.
“I want my wing to have the reputation for getting things done and succeeding where others fail. Which means that both my Wing Lieutenants will need to be competent and capable of keeping their Wing Commander r
eady for all situations. I want to up the ante on our ambush game.”
“Thought as much,” the Lieutenant murmured as he took another sip from his cup. Kalena saw his face stiffen and his mark looked darker in the glow of the flickering candles.
“This needs to be discussed Kral. It was different when we were both Wing Lieutenants but now…”
“Now you are a Wing Commander and you want both me and Holm to deliberately try and hurt you to see how you will react?” Kral’s hand tightened around the bowl of his cup. Kalena watched his reaction curiously and then she suddenly knew. By the One she could be so blind.
“You’ll only hurt me if you can catch me.”
Slowly, she rose from the bed and sat herself carefully on the edge of the table near Kral. Kalena then sat her cup on the table and enclosed Kral’s hands within her own. She stared into his eyes, making sure that he looked at her as she spoke.
“You do know that I do not love you. At least not in the way that you would like?”
“I know,” Kral replied. Placing his cup on the table beside hers he then gripped her hands tenderly in his own. “I know that, it’s just…” Kral suddenly looked about him, trying to find the words he wanted.
“Just what Kral?” Kalena asked, gently pulling his attention back with the sound of her voice.
“I love you Kal. I always have.” Kral knew he was taking a risk saying this but he might not get a better chance to say what was in his heart to her again. “I had the hope that one day you might have the same feelings for me.” He then snatched his hands from Kalena’s and rubbed them nervously against the thick leather of his trousers.
Kalena sat a moment, staring at her Wing Lieutenant, wondering what to say to him. Sugared words would do no good, not in the long run. Anyway she did not know how to make or speak them. Kalena prided herself on always being blunt and she quickly decided that that telling him the truth now would help him come to terms with her feelings.
“You are my best friend. After all, we grew up in the Wing together. I trust you more than anyone else in this Wing and I would give my life to save yours. I love you as a friend, not as a life partner. You know that.”
Kral groaned.
“Yes. I do. But it is my right to live in hope that you will see me differently.” Kral drew back from her in the chair as if having some distance between them will stop the hurt he felt.
At that moment a loud rapping filled the room. Kalena shot up from her desk and opened the door to admit Holm Lunman who’s impeccable timing made her grateful for the interruption.
“Good Evening Wing Commander,” he said giving Kalena a quick salute before closing the door behind him.
“Good Evening Wing Lieutenant.”
A smile suddenly pierced Holm’s face. “Are you going to let me drop the formalities yet or are you going to make me bow and scrape to you for the rest of my natural life?”
“Though having you dogging my heels for the rest of your natural life does sound tempting, I think I could let you call me Kalena when we are in private.”
Holm saw the wine cups and gave a grimace. “Kral is it still flavored water?”
Kral raised his cup and nodded accent. Kalena noted that his face now masked any feelings he was experiencing a moment ago. He’ll get over it – I don’t want to lose his friendship because of this.
Holm grinned at the action and sat himself on the foot of Kalena’s bed. He stretched out his legs and leaned back on his elbows to make himself more comfortable. As if sensing the tension in the room, Holm looked piercingly at first Kral then Kalena.
“Have I interrupted something?”
“Nothing that can’t wait.” Kral placed his wine cup on the table ad turned what he hoped was a reassuring smile to Holm. “What does it feel like to be in the Officer ranks now?”
Holm looked as if he did not believe Kral but did not push the issue. “I have not felt very different, but I have only been a Wing Lieutenant for a few hours so far. I might feel different tomorrow.”
“When you get your rank pins from the Provost Marshall in the morning, you’ll notice the difference. I certainly did.”
Kalena sat on the side of her bed next to Holm. “We’ll both go over to Brock’s office together to collect our rank pins. I’ve still to get mine.”
“Thanks Kalena.” Holm slowly drew his legs in and sat up properly on the end of the bed. “Is it really true about the Ice Tigers?” he suddenly asked. “It’s just that some of the other Flyers in the Mess Hall think that this is just one big charade to give the Justicars more power.”
“I wish what were the truth Holm,” said Kalena. “It would make things a lot easier.” Kalena got up off the bed and started to pace the room, her mind again going over the events at the meeting. “I saw the pelt with my own eyes and it was real enough.”
“Do we know anything true about these things that hasn’t been thickly brushed over with barbarism and glory in the legends and fairy tales?” Kral asked as he picked up his cup again. “After all, IceTigers have not been seen in Alleron for hundreds and hundreds of years.” Kral looked around the room at Holm sitting on the bed and Kalena with her furious pacing. “You both know the stories…Over twelve feet tall, could live in the shadows and had strange magical powers that could kill a man without leaving a mark on them. For all we know we could be flying into a trap where members of the Wing could be killed by a single thought from one of these things.”
“Harada and I have already told you all the reliable information we have on these creatures. It’s not much but the fact that they seem to be fighting with the Arranians has got our superiors worried. After all the Arranian Spellcrafters are supposed to maintain the walls to the Ice Grotto to imprison the IceTigers, not let them go traipsing around with the Arranian Army. The treaties signed by the countries of Alleron demand it since the Arranians did the least to defend against their threat.”
Kalena gave a silent thanks to Samar for giving her this information while she was at dinner. Her knowledge of history was not as good as it should be. But then again, the IceTigers were not supposed be a threat. Nowadays they are bedtime stories used to frighten children into behaving themselves.
“It helped that the Arranians were the only ones to have Spellcrafters capable of building the Grotto. Once the then King of Suene killed the Tiger Queen, the Combined forces of Alleron drove the IceTigers back to be trapped forever behind the Grotto.” Kral drank again from his cup. “Back then, the land that both Holm and I come from was still an independent nation. The Pasha of Serkritt was a signatory to that treaty, now he’s nothing better than a nursemaid making sure Serkritt stays healthy to supply the Suene Empire.”
Kral was now definitely in a foul mood. It was the only occasion that he bemoans the loss of Serkitt’s independence.
“Kral, Serkritt lost the war with Suene over a century ago and we have not the strength to win back our independence – no matter what the rebels say.” Holm quietly answered. The people from Serkritt are a fierce and independent lot, which is why as Kalarthri they get into the most amount of trouble. The solemn expression on Holm’s face suddenly cleared. “It does make you wonder what’s in it for the Arranians for the Spellcrafters to risk letting the IceTigers free?” Holm said.
Kalena stopped her pacing and shrugged. “You know the old saying Holm ‘It not for us to wonder why, its Kalar like us that do or die.’”
“On that sour note, I thing I might take myself to bed.” Kral placed his now empty cup back on the desk and stood to leave. “I’ll see you both in the morning.”
Holm rose quickly from the bed. “I think I’ll go as well. I need to get as much sleep as I can in a soft bed before I have to sleep in a bedroll on the hard ground.”
As Kral opened the door, he turned back to look at Kalena. “You do know who is in command at Foxtern now?”
Kalena shook her head.
“Everyone’s favorite Officer – Captain Jerant.”
“I thought I’d escaped him when Brock removed Jerant after that incident.” Kalena automatically rubbed behind her ear where the Crystal was inserted.
Kral said nothing in reply as he stalked out of the door; Holm followed him with a frown on his face.
Kalena nervously smiled after them as they left her room.
Chapter Six
Speeches
Harada stood silently at the head of the Muster grounds. The sun had already risen two fingers width above the surrounding mountains and the Wings had only just settled themselves.
The lateness of the Muster was not the Wings fault, but it irked Harada that it should happen in the presence of Captain Vosloo. Colonel Oded had ridden out on the morning after the war council with a select group to return as quickly as possible to his command at Foxtern, leaving Fraser Vosloo to order the disposition of the Legions. Fraser Vosloo had elected to ride with the Wings by day instead of travelling with the land forces, trusting his subordinates to deal with the two Justicars and the day to day ordering of the troops. The Captain wanted to evaluate what the Wings are capable of in mountainous terrain.
To Harada’s knowledge, the Flyers have never been sent North to the mountains. Wings are not considered to be a tactical advantage in the high alpine regions.
Ranged around Harada and Vosloo were Wing Commanders Kalena and Adhamh and the Wing Lieutenants of First and Second Wings of Second Flight. Kalena and Adhamh had ‘volunteered’ to carry Vosloo with them until they reached the fortress of Foxtern. Harada had informed them both at breakfast of this, much to Adhamh’s consternation. The Hatar hated carrying non-experienced passengers and Vosloo was a definitely a non-experienced passenger as he had never flown before.
Rested members of the returned Wings stood around the edges of the Muster Grounds to farewell their friends and comrades. Harada could see them all from his vantage point and as he scanned all the faces he had a sense of foreboding as if this would be the last time he would be with the Wings.
