“What now?” asked SkyDancer.
“Now, you two head for Campanil,” ordered HawkShadow.
“That was not the plan,” frowned Goral. “I was to be your diversion. Remember?”
“That was before,” HawkShadow shook his head. “I do not want SkyDancer to be a diversion. She needs to heal. Take her with you to StarWind.”
“If you did not need me for something,” scowled SkyDancer, “then why did you keep me from returning with StormSong?”
“Because you would not have made it through the Omungan army,” answered HawkShadow. “I pray to Kaltara that some of them made it through. You say it is just a scratch, but I saw your wound before it was healed. You are lucky to be alive. Go with Goral and heal. Your talents will be sorely needed in the future.”
“For what?” retorted SkyDancer. “I have sworn my life to protecting the Sakova, and you are treating me like I am an invalid. I am a warrior.”
“You have shown your battle prowess,” countered HawkShadow. “No one doubts your commitment. Why must you throw your life away? The Omungan army will be outside of StarCity for weeks. Your talents will be needed to harass them from the outside. Go with Goral.”
HawkShadow turned and mounted a choka. He gazed fondly at his friends and waved goodbye. Tears came to SkyDancer’s eyes as she watched him ride off.
“Why does he treat me as a child?” pouted SkyDancer. “I held my own in the battles. I am not a frail woman who needs to be protected. I am a Sakovan warrior.”
“Do you think he does not know that?” Goral asked softly. “You more than held your own. I saw you in several of the battles. Your skills are impressive. Listen to HawkShadow, and heal for a spell. He is right in saying that this war is not over. Your skills will be needed.”
“That still doesn’t explain his attitude,” scowled SkyDancer. “I thought he had more faith in me.”
“Faith?” chuckled Goral. “He adores you. HawkShadow has taken every death of a Sakovan as his own failure in leadership. To lose you would break him entirely. Are you so blind that you cannot see that?”
“He loves me?” SkyDancer asked with confusion. “You are just making that up.”
“You are blind, little one,” laughed Goral. “He worships the ground you walk on.”
SkyDancer stared at Goral for a long time before her eyes turned to gaze at the edge of the clearing where HawkShadow was last seen. Finally, her eyes returned to the giant.
“What were you supposed to do for him?” she asked.
“I wanted to be a diversion for him,” answered Goral. “I don’t think HawkShadow was keen on the idea, but I figured that I might be able to help get him out of a sticky situation.”
“Then that is what you should do,” SkyDancer declared adamantly.
“That is not a good idea any more,” objected Goral. “HawkShadow has put you in my care. I dare not endanger you now.”
“I will not endanger HawkShadow’s life,” SkyDancer stated. “If you can be a diversion to help him escape, then you should do so. If you do not want to go, then I will. You will be forced to come along.”
“You are going to try to get away from me,” grinned Goral. “You may be a mighty warrior, but even you can not get up if I sit on you.”
“If you sit on me,” chuckled SkyDancer, “I will die. Then HawkShadow will really be mad at you. Help me onto a choka.”
“Will you stay away from the Omungans?” Goral asked without moving.
“I will stay away,” promised SkyDancer. “I can hold the three chokas ready for when HawkShadow disengages. He will probably be in a hurry.”
“I am sure he will be,” nodded Goral. “Very well, but do not cause HawkShadow to be distracted from his task. Any distraction in his concentration will mean sudden death. I will not be a party to that.”
“Agreed,” grinned SkyDancer. “You won’t even know that I am there.”
Chapter 29
Assassin’s Gambit
HawkShadow silently circled the huge Omungan encampment looking for an entry point. He kept well away from the sentries and moved in the darkness of the fargi forest. When he had made a complete circuit of the perimeter he halted. The hairs on his neck rose as if someone was watching him. HawkShadow suddenly dropped to the ground and merged into the landscape. He changed direction and began crawling towards the place where he had tethered his choka.
SkyDancer heard him coming and silently signaled Goral. Together they moved and stood in the small clearing so HawkShadow would know that they were there. They did not have long to wait. HawkShadow rose and stared incredulously at the pair of Sakovans.
“What are you two doing here?” he asked softly, but firmly. “You were told to head west.”
“It was my idea,” confessed SkyDancer. “I understand why you wanted me to come with you instead of returning to StarCity. I am very grateful for what you did, but I will not let it interfere with Goral helping you to survive this night. I will stay out of the way.”
HawkShadow opened his mouth to respond, but the giant held his hand up for silence.
“Now is not the time or place to discuss this,” Goral declared. “I take it that you have already had a look at the enemy’s camp. Is there a way in?”
“There is always a way in,” replied HawkShadow, “although this one will be tight. They have a solid ring of sentries surrounding the camp. They may not have fought like they were afraid of the Sakova, but their encampment belies that. They are very nervous.”
“How will you enter?” asked Goral.
“I am not sure yet,” admitted HawkShadow. “Crawling in is out of the question. While I am sure I can get past some of the sentries, I know that I cannot get past them all.”
“And how will you get out?” interjected SkyDancer.
“One step at a time,” frowned HawkShadow. “First I have to find a way in.”
“I offered to be a distraction tonight,” Goral reminded the assassin. “I meant it. I will go around to the other side of the camp and show myself. Will that give you enough time to get in?”
“It would,” nodded HawkShadow, “but I forbid it.”
“You have no right…” Goral began.
“Save it,” interrupted HawkShadow. “I am not trying to keep you out of the action because I think I can do this alone. You cannot be the diversion for me getting into the camp because I may very well need you to get me out. This is much more difficult than I had hoped.”
“So you need two diversions?” questioned SkyDancer.
“Don’t even think about it, SkyDancer,” warned HawkShadow. “You are far too weak. It is bad enough that I am willing to risk Goral’s life for this lunacy. I will not risk yours, too.”
“She may be able to help without endangering herself,” mused Goral. “What if she used an air tunnel to create a diversion and yet remained far away from the encampment?”
SkyDancer’s eyes brightened as HawkShadow thought about the suggestion instead of immediately dismissing it. Finally, HawkShadow smiled mischievously.
“It will take both of you to get me in,” HawkShadow explained. “The air tunnel is a brilliant idea, Goral, but I need a man’s voice to make it work. You will be that voice. After I am in, you will need to move swiftly to the opposite side of the encampment in case I need a diversion to get out. SkyDancer will be able to communicate with you via the air tunnel to ask for your help if it is needed.”
“I can do that,” nodded the giant. “What is the plan?”
“There is something more important to discuss before the plan,” HawkShadow said seriously. “This is more than male bravado, Goral. I do not want you to endanger yourself by creating a diversion. You are a warrior and I am an assassin. I understand the risks that I take performing my task, but you are a warrior, and an excellent one at that. In the coming days, we need warriors more than assassins. Do not give up your life to spare mine. I must have your absolute promise on that before this goes any further.”
“I am not eager to end my days just yet,” replied Goral. “I know how to create a diversion safely, and I will try to do so, but there is always some risk involved. You understand that.”
“I do,” nodded HawkShadow, “but I worry about you some times. You almost sounded eager to sacrifice yourself earlier today before StormSong left.”
“You misunderstood me,” countered Goral. “I know that someday I will be called upon to give my life for the Sakova. That does not bother me any more. It did before Kaltara sent us the Star of Sakova, but my mind is now at peace with the idea. That does not mean that I wish to hurry it along. I will always do what I think is in the best interests of Kaltara. That does not mean surrendering my life without a fight.”
“Fair enough,” nodded HawkShadow. “Here is what I have planned.”
HawkShadow spent the next half hour detailing his plan of attack. Goral’s mind whirled with awe as he listened to the detailed movements that the assassin would make. He had always admired HawkShadow’s skill at penetration, but he had never realized how much planning went into it. It was as if HawkShadow considered every little thing that might go wrong and then planned what his actions would be if they did.
“Is everyone comfortable with this?” HawkShadow finally asked.
“I am,” answered SkyDancer. “You have thought of everything.”
“I hope that I have,” frowned the assassin, “but no one can anticipate everything. Give me a half hour head start.”
SkyDancer nodded, and HawkShadow immediately slid out of the clearing. As soon as he was gone, Goral caught SkyDancer’s attention.
“Will you be able to find the correct spot to aim your air tunnel?” he asked.
“I think so,” nodded SkyDancer. “I will extend it until I no longer hear the sounds of the camp. That will let me know that I am at the edge.”
“And it will be at a right angle from HawkShadow’s penetration point?” pushed the giant.
“It will be right where he requested it,” comforted SkyDancer. “Do not be so nervous. My part in this is minimal, but I can execute it flawlessly. You will have to move swiftly to get into position when you are done here.”
“Bertha can get me where I want to go,” smiled Goral.
“I can’t believe that you named your choka,” chuckled SkyDancer. “How do you tell her apart from the others?”
“She is the largest choka of all,” grinned Goral. “She is the only one I ride.”
The conversation died as SkyDancer tried to catch sight of HawkShadow through the dark forest. Even though she knew where he should be, she was unable to detect him. She wove her air tunnel into the camp and then slowly moved it at a right angle to HawkShadow’s intended path. She listened to snores and soft conversations as she moved the air tunnel. Finally, the nighttime noises of the forest were all that she could hear. She pulled the air tunnel back until she heard the first human sound. She kept the tube pressurized so that the tunnel was hearing only and would not transmit her voice or Goral’s.
“The air tunnel is properly positioned,” SkyDancer announced quietly. “Can you see HawkShadow?”
Goral did not respond for several minutes as his eyes peered into the darkness. The only light penetrating the dark forest came from the Omungan camp. Although the fires burned low, the illumination was relatively bright compared to the surrounding woods.
“I see him,” Goral finally said. “He is ready to take the sentry. Open the air tunnel for me.”
SkyDancer reversed the pressure in the tube and tapped Goral on the arm.
“What was that?” Goral bellowed. “It looked like a ghost. Did you see that person floating over the ground?”
SkyDancer immediately reversed the flow and listened in. She chuckled softly as the Omungan sentries reacted with alarm. The alarm spread rapidly through the camp until every waking sentry knew that something was amiss on the perimeter.
It was precisely at that moment that HawkShadow struck. He had managed to get within a dozen paces of the selected sentry. He leaned out from behind the giant fargi tree and let his Sakovan star fly through the air. It struck the sentry in the side of the head just behind his eye. The sentry wobbled briefly and then fell to the ground.
HawkShadow dropped to the ground and silently crawled to the fallen sentry. He had chosen this particular sentry because the man was not visible to his own troops. HawkShadow slid next to the body and checked it for signs of life, although he already knew the man was dead. He quietly stripped the man of his uniform. HawkShadow dressed himself in the sentry’s uniform and then stood up. While the sentry’s position had not been visible to the other sentries, HawkShadow moved slightly so that he was visible. He stood in the open waiting for any response that might come. While he was ready to bolt at the first sign of a problem, neither of the nearest sentries appeared to be alarmed when they noticed him.
HawkShadow stood in the open for half an hour, pretending to be a bored sentry. Long after the camp had quieted down from Goral’s announcement of a ghost, HawkShadow stuffed a pipe with bocco and set a striker to it. He inhaled deeply until the bocco glowed red, a small cloud of smoke rising lazily upward.
“Put that out,” one of the closest sentries called softly. “The general will hang you for that.”
HawkShadow gazed casually at the sentries on each side of him before dumping the contents of his pipe on the ground and stamping it out. He waited five minutes before proceeding with his plan.
“I have to have a smoke,” he whispered loudly. “Cover for me for a few minutes. I won’t be long.”
HawkShadow grinned at the hesitation of the nearest sentry. He swiftly turned and strode into the camp before the sentry could object. The hairs on his neck rose to attention as he walked casually into the encampment. He knew at least one of the sentries was watching him, probably with foul thoughts on his mind.
HawkShadow suddenly changed his course to put a tent between him and the sentries. He turned again and knew that the sentries would return to their boring duty once they lost sight of him. He walked casually through the camp as if he was a soldier who had trouble sleeping, or maybe one on the way to relieve himself. No one paid any attention to him. He moved constantly towards the center of the camp and finally saw the towering tent that must belong to the general.
HawkShadow walked past the great tent nonchalantly as he sized up the security. There were two Imperial Guards standing at the front flap, but the other three sides were unprotected. The assassin turned perpendicular to his previous path and walked on. He made two more widely spaced right turns until he was walking towards the rear of the great tent. His eyes roved over the surrounding campfires to see if anyone was awake. He saw no one stirring and smiled inwardly.
HawkShadow stopped at the rear of the general’s tent and fumbled with his pipe. While one hand moved exaggeratedly with the pipe, his other hand slid a knife into the fabric of the tent. He pulled the knife upward, slitting the material of the tent. He dropped the pipe when he heard the sound of a tiny bell and felt the knife rub against a metal wire. He cursed inwardly as he realized that General Valdey had taken precautions against such an entry. HawkShadow immediately moved around the corner of the tent and approached the front. He did not have long to wait before an Imperial Guard came around the corner. The Sakovan assassin was ready for him. HawkShadow extended his arm swiftly and shoved a knife into the throat of the Imperial Guard. The man gurgled as his body sagged. HawkShadow pulled his knife free and let the body fall to the ground.
The assassin immediately turned around and moved towards the rear of the tent. He heard the other Imperial Guard breathing heavy where the canvas was cut. HawkShadow stepped around the corner as if he were the missing soldier. The Imperial Guard looked up from where he was crouched down examining the tent and saw HawkShadow’s face. His mouth opened to shout an alarm, but HawkShadow’s foot rose faster. The assassin kicked the Imperial Guard in the face and dove on top of his body as
it fell. HawkShadow’s knife dug into the man’s throat as his free hand covered the man’s mouth. The Imperial Guard struggled briefly and then fell silent.
HawkShadow rose hesitantly as his eyes scanned the nearby area. He wanted to hide the bodies of the Imperial Guards, but he knew that he was out of time. He walked around to the front of the tent and entered through the flap. HawkShadow moved swiftly to the general’s bed and slit the officer’s throat. He removed a Sakovan star from his pouch and laid it on General Valdey’s chest.
As HawkShadow exited the great tent, he heard a cry of alarm from behind it. One of the bodies had been discovered. The Sakovan assassin tried to put as much distance between the great tent and himself as he could, but the whole camp was coming alive. In desperation, HawkShadow fell to the ground behind a small tent and pretended to be asleep. Soldiers started shouting and running as the intruder alarm blared through the still night. The horns started in the center of the camp and quickly spread outward. Only moments after he had feigned sleep, soldiers were kicking him and shouting for him to get up.
HawkShadow rose and pretended to look around with drowsy eyes. He searched desperately for some way to justify heading in the opposite direction of the other soldiers who were racing towards the great tent. He smiled when he saw still-sleeping soldiers between him and the edge of the encampment. He moved swiftly towards them and began kicking them and shouting for them to get up.
A new horn sounded in the distance, its tone more urgent as if it was a call to battle. HawkShadow knew that it was the diversion that Goral promised. He continued kicking soldiers and shouting at them to get up, but he was running out of targets. The whole camp was alive as Imperial Guards grabbed their weapons and raced towards the blaring horns. The Sakovan assassin was near his entry point when he saw the sentries staring at him. He waved to them and boldly walked towards his previous post.
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