The Awakened World Boxed Set

by William Stacey

  Terror.

  Chapter 12

  Tavi, her emotions surging, followed Captain Aguinaldo to the rusted-out World War Two-era cargo truck waiting for them. Under her arm, she carried Angie Ritter’s priceless elvish side-sword. She glanced over her shoulder at Angie and the two Seagrave brothers. Just behind them were the squad of Norteno soldiers, their stiff postures betraying their fear. The Mago Commandante herself has given them sanctuary, but what can I do? The presidente must see reason. General Gálvez won't. He hates all Coasties. All Tavi could do was try to avert bloodshed. She slowed her pace, allowing Angie to catch up, and whispered softly, "Do nothing rash. I can work this out. It's just a mistake."

  "Tavi, wait!" Shane called out from behind.

  She turned to see him being carried from the helicopter on his stretcher by a pair of medics. "I'm coming with you," he said, his face pale from his injuries.

  "No, you're not," she said, shaking her head emphatically. "You're going to the hospital, and I won't hear another word of this." She spun away before he could protest further. Damn it, was no one listening to her today? Morgan, I need you.

  The tailgate to the truck's cargo bed was down, and Casey and Rowan jumped up, pausing only long enough to pull Angie up. Tavi they let climb up on her own. Then they sat on the side bench with Angie between them, their arms across their chests, bored expressions on their faces. Tavi seated herself on the opposite bench and stared at her hands as the soldiers piled in, keeping as far from the Seagraves and the diminutive mage as they could.

  How much of the stories about her are true? Tavi wondered. They said she cast snakes of fire that moved on their own, chasing down and burning Norteno soldiers alive. That had to be bullshit.

  No mage could do anything remotely like that. Constance Morgan and Queen Elenaril shared a close relationship, but the elven queen had still refused to teach human mages any spells other than Shockwave and Shutter, insisting humans would only kill themselves trying to do more. To Tavi, that had always sounded like a weak excuse. They don't want us strong enough to challenge them. Has Angie Ritter learned more somehow? She was the adopted daughter of Chararah Succubus, a grandmaster mage. It was possible. No, she decided, it must be bullshit. No mage can create sentient fire. Even Elenaril never did that.

  Yet her gaze flicked to the young woman's face, and worry snaked through her.

  The truck vibrated to life, belching thick clouds of black smoke. Then, with a throaty roar, it pulled away from the airfield and headed for the city gates. The ride was short, with the driver leaning on his horn for most of it, forcing the throngs of citizens to move out of the way. They did so but only grudgingly.

  They approached a large four-story stone building—Canyon City’s council chambers. Canyon City wasn't the Norteno capital. Nuevo El Paso, a half-day's ride to the east, was. Tavi wasn't surprised the presidente was here. Morgan had already warned her she was coming, but she was surprised that Carter had brought General Gálvez with her. It's the attacks along the border, Tavi knew. Mother of God, what a disaster. Morgan and the Jaguar Knight dead, an invasion looming. Please, God, not an invasion. I can't fight a war without Morgan.

  But what if she had no choice?

  The truck drove past the sentries into the city council compound. At least a company of soldiers guarded the building, and they all glared with open suspicion at Angie and the Seagraves as they climbed down from the bed of the truck. The large bearded one, Casey, glared right back at them, baring his teeth and growling. Norteno soldiers nervously fingered their rifles.

  Tavi hurried between them, willing strength into her voice. "These are our guests. Granted sanctuary by the Mago Commandante herself. You will all calm down and be professional."

  Angie placed her hand on Casey's arm, and Tavi heard her whisper, "Be chill, big man."

  "Do it," Rowan ordered. "Think of the others."

  The huge man grunted but acquiesced, if only toning down his hostility a fraction. Angie remained at his side.

  "Thank you," Tavi said to Angie, but the other woman only looked away, making Tavi feel even shittier than she already did.

  Captain Aguinaldo and his men led them into the building and past more security posts. At each post, the Norteno soldiers eyed the three Coasties with hostility and subjected them to physical searches for weapons. Tavi could feel the heat from Casey, and she feared violence was certain, but once again, Angie calmed him down, volunteering to be frisked first while meeting Casey's eye with an expression that seemed to say, "See, no big deal." Rowan behaved like a pro, bearing the indignation with quiet stoicism, but Casey clearly burned with rage the entire time.

  They passed through the last of the security cordons, entering a large conference room dominated by a circular wooden table that gleamed with polish. A dozen men and women sat about the table with several dozen more sitting against the walls. Angie heard the hum of a generator and saw the projector showing pictures of carnage on a large screen set up across the table. A Norteno military officer stood at a podium next to the screen, and he paused in his briefing as Tavi and the others entered. All eyes were on Angie and the Seagraves, especially Casey.

  Tavi stopped in her tracks, an undercurrent of revulsion coursing through her. The officer had paused the slideshow on the image of a child, her dead eyes staring at the camera. Tavi forced her gaze away. There had been no children at the fort, only soldiers. What's happened?

  Have the Aztalans begun the invasion?

  Mother of God, please no.

  A woman cleared her throat, and Tavi turned to face the presidente. Monique Carter was a middle-aged black woman of heavy size but arguably more solid than fat. She wore horn-rimmed glasses, her hair tightly braided in cornrows, and a beige pantsuit. She was watching Tavi with large brown eyes filled with sorrow, reminding Tavi of her deceased grandmother.

  "Hello, Octavia. I am so happy to see you safe. You have my profound sorrow over the death of Constance Morgan. She was a hero of the republic."

  "We never found a body. She might be alive."

  "Doubtful, Mago Diputado Navarro," the man sitting beside the presidente said in a cold, lecturing tone. "And do I need to remind you that you speak to the presidente of the republic. A bit more respect."

  Tavi's eyes flashed to the stern-faced military officer sitting beside the presidente, General Ramón Gálvez. If Monique Carter brought back pleasant memories of her much-loved grandmother, Gálvez was like a hated uncle who had to be tolerated because he was family. Like the other military officers within the room, he wore his camouflaged combat uniform with a pistol in his hip holster, but unlike the others, he also wore his brightly colored campaign ribbons across his chest, entirely negating the point of camouflage. He was in his sixties, with short, graying hair and a handlebar mustache that Tavi had heard he believed made him look fierce but in truth made him look like a walrus, or at least a picture of a walrus. She had never actually seen a live walrus, but the older generation bragged of having seen them in zoos. That was something else Tavi had never seen, a zoo.

  "Sorry, sir, sorry, Madam Presidente. I ... it has been a trying day."

  "No apologies necessary, Octavia," Carter said, raising an eyebrow at Gálvez. Her gaze darted to Angie Ritter and the two Seagraves. "Some introductions, please."

  Tavi introduced Angie and the Seagraves and then noted that Erin and Jay Seagrave were still in the Brujas compound. Carter stood and welcomed the three of them and then dismissed Captain Aguinaldo and his soldiers. The captain, clearly unhappy, hesitated, glancing toward Gálvez. "I said, thank you, Captain," Carter repeated, a touch more testily.

  Captain Aguinaldo snapped to attention and saluted. "Yes, Madam Presidente." The officer and his men hurried from the chamber.

  Carter sat down once more and motioned across the table. "You four, give up your seats." She turned her glance back to Tavi and the others, a pleasant smile on her face. "Please, sit down. Someone bring tea."

  The four offi
cials she had indicated at scurried from their chairs, making room for Tavi to sit with Angie beside her and the two Seagraves opposite her. Those sitting closest to Casey and Rowan pulled their chairs back, the legs squeaking as they made room. Tavi placed Angie's sword and sword belt on the floor beneath the table and then seated herself, adjusting her own cavalry saber so she could sit.

  "Now," said Carter, laying her palms atop the wooden table. "Describe what happened at Fort Eagle Pride and what we know of the Mago Commandante and the Jaguar Knight."

  So Tavi did, describing the attack on the outpost the previous night and Morgan's flight to the fort with Tec. When Tavi described the massacre at the fort, those in the room looked decidedly uneasy.

  "There's been another attack," Carter said, interrupting Tavi. "You should know that Saint Isidore, a farming community to the south, miles north of the disputed border, has been attacked. The picture you walked in on is from that community. There were no survivors. Women, children, men ... even the animals were butchered. Whatever attacked our border forts has moved inside our sovereign territory."

  "Mother of God," whispered Tavi in horror.

  General Gálvez's chair creaked as he leaned forward, glancing at the Seagraves. "The farmers managed to launch a signal flare. But by the time a ranger patrol could arrive by horseback, everyone was dead." He looked to the officer at the podium. "Show them the print."

  "Yes, sir." The briefing officer clicked on a remote, and another picture replaced the dead child: a massive paw print. This time, there were murmured whispers of shock spreading through the room.

  "Werewolves." Gálvez spat the word, glaring at Rowan Seagrave. "And these attacks commenced immediately after the Seagrave family arrived, begging for help." His eyes flicked in distaste to Angie. "Not to mention the infamous Angel of Death. Meanwhile, our consulate in Sanwa City has been placed under house arrest—for their own protection, I'm told—and First Councilor Marshal has demanded the return of these people, calling them terrorists. He's even unhappier about our possession of their helicopter."

  Carter turned to Angie and the Seagraves. "Which brings us to you. Why don't one of you tell me why you're here."

  Angie cleared her throat, glanced to Rowan, who nodded, and then she began to speak. She repeated the same story she had told Constance Morgan and Tavi the other day and Queen Elenaril today. There were gasps in the chamber as Angie described Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Case's attack upon the Fresno Enclave and his plans to mount a coup against Marshal.

  Rowan went next, detailing the betrayal and kidnapping of his family by Case and the ritualistic murder of his brother Lewis to summon the demon Gouger of Faces.

  When he was done, Rowan sat back, crossing his arms over his chest and matching Gálvez's glare. "So, you can see, not werewolves. Your rangers are wrong. And this definitely has nothing to do with my family."

  Before Gálvez could speak again, Carter motioned for him to remain silent. "I'm sorry for your loss, and I honestly don't know what to say about the existence of demons, but I'm not following your logic. Why not werewolves, Captain Seagrave?"

  "Wrong prints. Not wolves. These things walk on all fours. And other reasons I don't care to go over again." He turned to Tavi. "You gonna tell her?"

  "He's telling the truth," Tavi said. "Or at least what we believe to be the truth. Queen Elenaril believes these things are ..." She hesitated, biting her lower lip as she looked about the room, knowing how stupid this was going to sound. "...Chupacabras. Subterranean creatures the elves call Nekomil or barbed ones."

  The silence was deafening.

  "I know how it sounds," Tavi said meekly.

  "Chupacabras?" Gálvez asked, his face reflecting his incredulity. He looked about himself. "Is this a joke?"

  "Is this what Queen Elenaril believes?" Carter asked Tavi.

  "She does."

  "Madam Presidente, this is crazy," Gálvez said. "Insanity. The most likely explanation is a werewolf attack. With the bodies savaged like that and no carcasses left behind, what else can it be?"

  "Not werewolves," Casey said in a tone dripping with scorn. "Not us at any rate."

  "It's the Tzitzime," Tavi said. "Tec and Constance Morgan both believed—"

  "The Tzitzime?" Gálvez demanded. "Ghost stories about dragon worshipers. I don't know why Mago Commandante Morgan bought into that secret blood-cult nonsense, but I never did. The Aztalan Empire and their armed forces are enough of a real threat for us, enough for anyone. We need to focus on reality."

  "Mago Commandante Morgan was convinced they were real," Tavi blurted out, her tone much sharper than she meant.

  "You forget yourself, Mago Diputado," Gálvez said. "And we knew far too little of the Jaguar Knight. I've never been happy with a free agent running loose, stirring up conspiracy theories, never knowing who he truly worked for."

  Carter raised her hand for silence once more. "Calm, people. Calm. The Jaguar Knight has always been there for us. He's helped us many times in the past. As far as these attacks, if Elenaril Cloudborn insists it was chupacabras, then we must investigate that option."

  "Wait," said Angie, an expression of confusion on her features. "You're saying you don't know who Tec's master is either? How is that possible?"

  Anger clouded Gálvez's face. "Madam Presidente, this is a sovereign matter. This woman"—he frowned at Angie—"is responsible for the deaths of dozens of our people. She doesn't need—"

  "My call, general," Carter said, cutting him off. She leaned back, linking her fingers together as she considered Angie. "You lived for years with Chararah Succubus and her sister Ephix Lamia, correct?"

  Angie nodded.

  "Would you say you knew everything about them?"

  "Not even close."

  Carter nodded. "The Fey are not our friends. They are alien to our way of thinking. They agreed to the Concord because they had to, because once the dragons brought down the Fey Sleep, we became aware of them for the first time in centuries. Think about it, centuries. They've been hiding behind that spell for hundreds of years. Creatures like Ephix Lamia and her vampires have been preying on us, literally drinking our blood."

  "They only take enough blood to survive," Angie said, but it sounded like a weak argument. No one knew how many people vampires had killed, especially after A-Day, when records ceased amid all the fighting and starvation.

  Carter sighed. "That's the story, isn't it, young lady? That the vampires only take what they need. But who knows for certain? The Fey lie as easily as they breathe. And Elenaril Cloudborn is no exception. She trains our mages but only enough to stop them from hurting themselves or others. But make no mistake, a single elven mage could easily defeat several Brujas Fantasmas mages—hell, maybe even a dozen."

  Tavi stared at her hands. She's not wrong.

  Gálvez nodded. "I've never trusted that elf. Elenaril could be lying about chupacabras. No one has ever even heard of such a thing." Carter frowned at him, watching him as if he were acting foolish. "I mean, as anything real, not just urban myths. Madam Presidente, for all we know, maybe this was Ephix Lamia's vampires."

  "This was not vampires," Angie stated bluntly. "Trust me, they wouldn't have spilled blood. Those people would have been drained."

  "Not if it's a ruse," Gálvez stated. "And you're hardly an unbiased source."

  Carter placed her hand on his forearm. "Okay, everyone. This isn't helpful. Please give us the room." She glanced at Angie and the Seagraves. "You too, I'm afraid. Thank you for your help, but I need to discuss this matter with Octavia and my general. No offence intended." She directed the last to Rowan.

  "None taken," he said as he rose.

  Angie and Casey got up as well, and the others in the room began to file out. Rowan paused and turned back to face Carter. "We've been promised horses and supplies, told we can leave whenever we want."

  Tavi bobbed her head. "It's true, Madam Presidente. Mago Commandante Morgan gave her word."

  Carter stared
at Rowan and then looked to Tavi. "We can discuss that later. Please give us the room."

  Rowan looked as though he was going to argue further, but Angie gripped his arm and whispered something to him, and he just nodded and let her lead him out of the room.

  Tavi sat quietly, facing Presidente Carter and General Gálvez, waiting until the last of the advisers and military officers had departed and the door to the chamber closed behind them. Silence settled over the chamber for a few moments before Carter spoke. "Octavia, we need to know the truth here. We're on dangerous ground. Did Constance offer these people sanctuary?"

  "She did, Madam Presidente."

  "Shit," Gálvez swore, his face reddening. "How could she be so irresponsible?"

  Tavi's pulse throbbed in her neck. Gálvez might have been a seasoned warrior, but he wasn't fit to shine Constance Morgan's boots. It took all she had to keep her mouth shut.

  Carter waited in silence for several moments before speaking, her eyes closed. "She must have had her reasons."

  "That may well be, Madam Presidente, but we can't fight a war on two fronts. Hell, I'm not confident we can even fight the Aztalans. We need allies."

  Carter met Tavi's eyes. "What of Elenaril?"

  Tavi shook her head. "She won't get involved."

  Gálvez swore again, pounding the table with his fist. "Damn that elf bitch! And to think we gave her and her people Coronado. This is the gratitude we get?"

  Does he really think the elves should be grateful to live in our ruins? He's dumber than I thought. "She doesn't see it that way," Tavi said in a neutral tone, hiding her true thoughts. "She's concerned only for her people."

  "The Concord says nothing of fighting beside us," Carter said wearily, removing her glasses and rubbing her eyes, looking as though she hadn't slept in two days.

  Gálvez turned to Carter, his expression somber. "You know what you're going to have to do?"