by C A Ardron
‘Yes to what?’ he asked, making his voice softer.
Jay shrugged, ‘going out, taking a walk, seeing the city. You said when I first arrived I could go out if someone was with me but…’
Lion breathed out the softest laugh, ‘but we’re always too busy?’
Jay nodded but kept his eyes on the floor.
Rubbing at his forehead, Lion wondered how to proceed. ‘Have you spoken to anyone about the way you feel – before now, I mean?’
‘No,’ Jay responded.
‘Hey,’ Lion said, abandoning his seat and stepping round the desk to him. He placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. ‘Look, the moment’s passed, I’m not angry anymore. You know that anyway, you’re empathic. We were all worried about you, you realise that, don’t you?’
Jay nodded. ‘Yeah, I’m really sorry, I…got myself in a lot of trouble, didn’t I?’
Lion chuckled. ‘Not as much as you could’ve done. You were lucky it was just Dakkonin.’ Lion shook his shoulder a tiny bit, making the boy look at him. ‘You need to understand, Jay, this time you got away with it, but next time it might be Jackal you run into.’
Jay swallowed. ‘I know…and I know how lucky I am. I know I’m only here because Falcon saw me that night. I’d be dead now if she hadn’t rescued me. Steiron isn’t made up of Falcon’s – that’s what Dove says anyway.’
Lion’s mouth twisted in a smile. ‘Steiron wouldn’t need our help if it was, that’s for sure. I want you to go see Dove, tell her what you told me about wanting to go out more often. If there’s ever anything bothering you, Jay, you need to tell us, we won’t know otherwise.’
‘I’m sorry, Sir.’
Lion waved him off, ‘let’s forget it. I’m going to let it pass this time, but if it happens again, I’m going to have no choice but to give you a proper reprimand – and those go on your permanent record. You don’t want to be getting those before you’ve even got a medallion.’
Jay’s nod was vigorous. ‘Yes, Sir. Um, what’s going to happen about the Unicians and Dakkonin – and that big warrior Falcon had to fight?’
Lion sat back at his desk. ‘The Unicians aren’t our concern.’
‘But-’
‘We’re Predgarians, Jay. Arguments between two Orders, neither of which are ours, is none of our business. If it goes too far the Pharollin will come and clear things up. As for what happened at the market, sounds like a rogue to me. If Falcon was being aided by the Dakkonin I suspect the warrior is no longer a threat. Now nip up and see Dove. After that you might want to stay in your room and study. I’ll keep Falcon away from you until she’s had time to calm down.’
Lion smiled at Jay’s apprehension and watched as the teenager nodded and left. Lion gave a great sigh and leant his arms on the desk before him. Well, that was one unexpected problem dealt with. Guess it was time to see what South Sector was about to hand him.
He stood again and left the office, as he expected, the two warriors from South were with Hawk in the kitchen. ‘Sorry about the wait, shall we talk in my office?’
Dingo was on his feet immediately. Lion hid his smile, he’d forgotten the Canine was a bit rigid when meeting with his superiors. Lion had always thought it a shame, he’d heard good things about the blue warrior. He was experienced, reliable and steady.
Lion had always thought he’d get on well with the man, but so far Dingo had been unwilling to unwind while around him. He glanced at the second warrior. He’d never met Gecko before now and was a little surprised to find he was Unician.
Lion noted right away the young man’s skin was a darker shade than Falcon’s. He wondered if there was a reason or whether all male Unicians had darker skin. Lion tried to imagine how the conversation with Falcon would go if he asked her about it. Maybe he’d just ask Dove instead.
He led the way back to his office and sat back at his desk, Dingo closed the door.
‘What can I do for you both?’ he asked. ‘South doesn’t usually send warriors out to me when they need something.’ Lion noted the unease on Dingo’s face.
‘Grey Owl asked us to come see you personally,’ the Canine replied. ‘We’ve got news.’
Gecko nodded, his eyes eager. ‘Yeah, we’ve just found out. Green Swallow is a Sarpien!’
Chapter Ten
Locust’s head lifted from the tiny sink in the staffroom of the old, abandoned warehouse. She didn’t care about the way her pale, silvery hair splashed water across the floor.
She reached for the nearby plain white towel and began to run it through her hair. Her eyes skimmed across the counter next to her, perusing the small number of tins and boxes and a small portable cooking stove that worked on gas. Should she get something to eat?
Her serious grey eyes fell on the silver medallion she’d left by the stove. Giving her locks one last rub she reached for it. A tiny smile touched her lips, the surface was polished, allowing her to see her high cheek-boned features somewhat.
Locust ran a finger over the insect in the centre. It wasn’t easy to earn an Insecta medallion, Locust remembered she’d been so proud.
‘At the top of your game,’ she whispered. ‘A captain, a silver warrior, your name known to the General - look at you now, what have you become?’
She’d thrown everything away, just for a shot. Locust shook her head, it didn’t matter, as long as justice was served, that’s what was important.
‘Ah, how the mighty have fallen.’
Locust’s head bolted up at the oddly familiar voice. Even as her eyes began to focus her brain was running down the list of possibilities, trying to figure out who had spoken. She came to her conclusion too late, her face twisting into hate as she beheld blood-red armour and Canine helmet, the left arm bared to show off the glittering jade snake.
Locust concentrated on the coin in her hand. She gasped, seeing a fireball ignite within Jackal’s clawed fingers. Her concentration slipped as she veered to the left, needing to evade. There wasn’t a chance she’d survive a blast like that without her armour.
She yelped as the Sarpien general closed in with drawn sabre. Locust stumbled back into the wall. She groaned out, his heavy gauntleted fist swinging into her stomach.
Jackal kicked out her legs and Locust crashed to the floor, her medallion clattering across the laminate flooring. She just had time for a single, shuddered breath before the dangerous, jagged sabre was resting at her throat, pressing lightly against her skin.
Keeping the sword in place with one hand, Jackal used his other to remove his helmet. His hard face twisted in his usual arrogant smirk.
Locust met his emerald stare, refusing to flinch away.
‘Failing to activate when under attack, Locust?’ he drawled. ‘You really are off form, aren’t you?’
Locust glared at him. ‘Just get on with it,’ she grated.
She tried to gather her courage. She’d always been so sure she’d die on the battlefield. That it was going to end here, the Dakkonin believing her a traitor, hurt more than she thought possible.
Jackal wrested the medallion from her hand. ‘I’m not here to kill you.’
Locust gaped as he straightened, sheathed his blade and stepped away. For a second her instincts rose, wanting to leap up to attack – but it was pointless. He had her medallion and he was in armour. There’s no way she could beat him or even run to safety.
Still sat on the floor, back to the wall, Locust tried to remain calm under the Sarpien’s penetrating stare. His expectant face told her he was waiting for her to speak.
‘What do you want?’
Jackal grinned. ‘That’s the second time a woman has asked me that this morning, I must be on a roll.’
‘How did you even find me?” Locust grated. She’d been careful in her movements, knowing the Dakkonin and most of the city were looking for her.
‘Please, Locust, I’m a Sarpien, I can find anybody. Now, the real question of the day, is just how desperate are you?’
Locust shif
ted but decided not to move yet. Jackal might decide to kill her after all if she acted hostile.
‘The Silver Locust,’ Jackal continued, ‘a great warrior and decent captain. Little bit of a short temper, doesn’t always see subtle schemes coming, but overall competent – perhaps even a little challenging to some Sarpiens.’
Locust’s eyebrows furrowed as she glared at the man.
Jackal’s grin was evil. ‘That’s right, Locust, I’m afraid in the grand scheme of things, you were never more than a nuisance to me.’
Locust’s teeth bared but she swallowed, willing herself to calm down. ‘So why are you here now?’
Jackal leaned back against the doorframe on the other side of the small room. ‘Curiosity mostly. It’s not every day a Dakkonin captain turns criminal, so I thought I’d look into it.’ His smirk turned rock-hard. ‘Your Dakkonin colleagues have been speculating, and a few things have risen to the surface.’
Locust’s gaze dropped. It didn’t really matter if Jackal knew, or anyone else for that matter, but it still shamed her.
‘What do you want?’ she asked again, her voice low. ‘Have you just come to gloat?’
Jackal gave a soft chuckle. ‘Hardly, I value my time too highly for that. To answer your question, I want you.’
Locust’s jaw dropped. No, he didn’t actually mean…?
‘Or rather, I want your skills as a silver warrior. I’m a general, Locust, I have a lot of resources at my disposal. I can easily engineer a scenario which will allow you to get close to the two inoffensive, harmless Unicians you want to murder.’
Locust hated that she was actually listening to him. She stared down at the floor. She couldn’t, he was a Sarpien. Her breath laboured, her next words dragged out almost against her will, ‘in exchange for what?’
The silence was horrible. Slowly, Locust lifted her gaze to him and flinched from his knowing smirk. ‘I want you to fight, knock out and bring to me the Silver Falcon.’
Locust found she was gaping again. ‘No,’ she whispered. ‘Why would you want-’ Locust cut off, the answer was obvious.
‘Why do you think?’ Jackal asked. ‘I’m going to slice tiny bits out of her until she screams for mercy and then offer her up to Lord Trine.’
Locust shook her head. ‘No,’ she whispered again. ‘I won’t do it.’
‘One warrior, Locust,’ Jackal told her. ‘How many people have died because of Lemur and Oryx?’
Locust’s shoulders hunched at the names. Light, he really did know.
‘Those two harmless Unicians are anything but. No one believed you, and you got demoted. It’s taken you years to rise back up. All I’m asking for is one Predgarian – it’s not like you even know her. In exchange, you’ll be able to end the corruption within the Unician ranks.’
Locust didn’t answer right away. Jackal was playing it down, she knew that. The Silver Falcon was more than just a warrior – she was a silver Avian. The woman had proven several times over in the last half-year she was exceptional in both combat and in use of the Power.
If the Sarpiens got their hands on her, Locust shook her head. No, she couldn’t betray the Orders like that.
She couldn’t go along with this. Silver Falcon was a major threat to Jackal. Area Commander Gyrfalcon had told her to try and diplomatically acquire Falcon as a Dakkonin recruit. Locust couldn’t let Falcon get caught, but if she said no, wouldn’t Jackal kill her?
Locust took a deep breath, the Sarpien general was staring at her expectantly. If she could knock Falcon out, perhaps tie her up and hide her, she could say she’d hand over Falcon when Jackal held up his side of the bargain. She was never going to get anywhere near Oryx and Lemur without aid. Afterwards she could let Falcon go and that would be that.
‘All right,’ Locust agreed. ‘You’ve got a deal.’
* * *
Crystal Unicorn ran his palm over the smooth desk in the office the Predgarians have given him to use during his stay in Steiron. He turned at the brief knock and waited for the door to open.
He studied the two Unician healers as they entered. Both were out of armour and were dressed like himself, in the traditional white robes of the Unician priesthood.
‘Close the door,’ he ordered in the Unician tongue, since there were no southerners about.
Unicorn noticed the two men were looking nervous. Good, they better be, considering the circumstances. He let them stew a little bit, taking a cloth from off the table and polishing his quartz medallion with pride.
‘So there is a rogue in West Sector?’
‘Yes, High Ambassador,’ Oryx rushed, the dark-haired man sounded relieved. ‘Healers Chaffinch and Ibex were present.’
‘And the Dakkonin?’
Lemur and Oryx glanced at each other.
‘The candidate, Jenna Mar’corri, is now safely in our hands again,’ Lemur reported. ‘Ibex is angry and requests something be done about the interference of the Dakkonin. The girl’s progress is-’
‘And the Dakkonin?’ Unicorn asked once more, looking up from his polishing.
There was an audible click as Lemur’s mouth snapped shut.
‘There is no change,’ Oryx supplied.
Unicorn pinned them both with his stare. ‘So, the Silver Locust is still walking free within this city?’
‘Yes,’ Oryx replied after a moment.
‘It’s been nine years,’ Unicorn told them. ‘She should never have survived Joinstohm.’ He waited as his two healers gave reluctant nods. ‘Her actions will raise buried questions.’
‘What are your orders?’ Oryx asked.
Unicorn sighed. ‘She was Bronze Locust back then. Bronzes are commonplace, silvers are a different story. Such warriors should not be wasted…but her silence is of too much importance. This can never see the light of day – you understand?’
Unicorn waited for their silent nods.
‘Find her. I want her dead by the end of the week.’
Chapter Eleven
Lion brushed one hand through his thick golden hair. ‘What?’ he asked. He could hear just how numb he sounded but couldn’t help it. ‘Are you sure?’
Gecko nodded, his narrow features turning smug. ‘We found all the evidence we needed in her room.’
Dingo gave his partner a weary glance. ‘You don’t have to sound so happy about it, Gecko.’
His partner turned to him in surprise. ‘But this is a good thing, Dingo. We had no idea she was a Sarpien.’
‘I know,’ Dingo replied, his voice low. ‘But she’s been a Predgarian for years. She’s someone I trusted. It’s hard to believe she’s been hiding that snake all this time.’
‘You don’t think she was turned recently?’ Lion asked.
Dingo shook his head. ‘Past communications, misleading information and the fact no one’s seen her arms bared in years all adds up. Grey Owl thinks she’s been at this a while.’
Lion swallowed. ‘Any idea which sclithe she’s working for?’
‘We think Sharglin but we’re not sure. No one’s actually seen the snake on her arm.’
‘Then how do you know you’re correct?’
‘She’s disappeared,’ Gecko put in. ‘We think she got wind of us before we could arrest her. I got an anonymous tip about it, that’s what made me investigate. I found some things that Sarpiens use in their rituals.’
‘This is pretty bad, Captain Lion,’ Dingo spoke again. ‘Swallow had a lot of respect at the temple and in Predgariah. I didn’t say anything about this to Dove and Falcon this morning when I saw them. Grey Owl wants it to filter down through the captains so there’s less gossip and panic.’
Lion nodded, ‘so the area commander is already aware of this?’
‘Yes. I’d like to assume he’s already been in contact with Predgariah.’
Lion noted the ever so slight glance Dingo gave his partner. He didn’t think it was intended to be seen by Gecko. Surely Dingo wasn’t uneasy in his partner’s company?
‘A
ll of the Sectors have been informed now,’ Dingo continued. ‘Swallow won't have the chance to cause any trouble with the other units.’
‘We should get back to South, Dingo,’ Gecko told the larger man.
Dingo hesitated, and this time threw that guarded glance at Lion.
Lion schooled his features, not wanting Dingo to know he’d noticed. What was going on with him?
‘Why don’t you go without me, Gecko? We’re not on duty and I think I’d like to catch up with Grey Wolf while I’m here.’
Gecko shrugged. ‘Suit yourself, I’ll see you later.’
The young man saluted Lion and left the office. Dingo shifted his shoulders in an uncomfortable fashion, watching the closing door. Then he turned back to the desk. ‘Captain, this information was important, but Grey Owl could’ve easily spoken to you over the phone.’
Lion nodded, that was very true. He gestured for Dingo to sit in the chair opposite. ‘What’s the problem? Judging by your face I’m betting there is one.’
Dingo’s answering nod was brief. ‘Owl’s been in contact with Captain Silver Bison lately. They’re both a little concerned about Martial Eagle.’
Lion shifted in his chair and tried to swallow the instant dislike which rose upon hearing the commander’s name. ’Right,’ Lion responded, trying to keep his voice even.
He saw the slight smile cross Dingo’s bearded face. The man knew he didn’t like Eagle – but most of the Steiron Predgarians probably did.
‘There’s a new sclithe that’s moved into North Sector.’
Lion’s eyebrows shot up. Since when? He stayed quiet though, letting Dingo talk.
‘The Dakkonin have been sending a lot of warriors over and there have been serious incidents when the two groups have fought on the streets. Bison sent a message to Martial Eagle to have all Predgarians in Steiron on alert, because this could easily spill over into the different Sectors, especially if the other sclithe decided to get involved.’
Lion’s muscles froze. ‘I never got that message,’ he objected.
‘That’s the point,’ Dingo replied. ‘No one got that message. It wasn’t until it did spill over, into Central, anyone heard about it. Captain Golden Baboon of Central got in touch with Bison, wanting to know what was happening, and Bison was surprised Baboon hadn’t heard anything about it.’
