Blade Dancer

by K. M. Tolan

  She turned. “Paleen?"

  The Ipper shook her head as if to clear away a bad dream. “Sorry. I was being given some help. Things they hadn't expected me to need so soon."

  “Something to keep your mind in one piece, I hope."

  Paleen closed her eyes for a moment. “Maybe. I've listened to new octaves I didn't even know existed."

  Mikial gave a low growl. “Spare me the details. I'd like to keep my own sanity long enough to land this thing. You're have to stay behind, Paleen. I've another rider that I have to take somewhere."

  Paleen nodded. “I know.” A shudder crept into her voice. “Right now I'm not sure I want to go back."

  Mikial did not answer. What was left to go back to? Then again, Paleen might be able to answer that. “Can you find out what's happening back home?"

  “Ipper Signal is back now. The artillery has stopped, but that's all I'm being told right now. They don't want me bothering them, Mikial. There's just too much else going on right now. They've just instructed me to have you follow the edge of the hills along the Gap. The Datha have been busy clearing bushes so you can land."

  “Turning,” Mikial acknowledged. She swept them in a gradual arc to the west until they cleared the border ridge, then returned the plane north over the narrow valley. Mikial peered ahead. “There. I can see a bunch of tents down there. Time to slow down."

  A sharp flash of cannon fire snapped skyward ahead of her. “I hope that was to mark my landing area.” Mikial reached to a brass handle next to her left thigh and pushed it forward. The propellers obliged by reducing their buzz to a light whirr. The airship was still high above the ridge tops, and moving far faster than she liked. She put them through a few decelerating half turns as they descended. The flaps came down easily, giving her a better sense of control. Mikial spied a stretch of dirt ahead, bordered by green-and-brown piles of pulled up brush. There were knots of people around the field, and more walking up from the camp. She lined herself up with the dirt strip and jerked hard at the gear lever to set the wheels in place. The nose dipped abruptly. “Nice of Dalen to warn me of this!” she hissed, sending them into an even steeper angle as Paleen gasped behind her. Mikial brought the engines back to life in a sharp buzz of renewed power.

  “What are you doing? Go up!"

  “Can't, too slow! I need speed or we'll spin like a leaf.” She watched the scrub brush rush toward them as they dove below the hilltops. Mikial pulled back on the stick in a landing approach few would forget. She certainly wouldn't. Pressed into her seat, Mikial leveled off dangerously close to the tops of small trees. Cautiously she eased back power. They dropped gently this time, the long wings barely clearing the piles of vegetation along the strip. Keeping the nose slightly high, she was rewarded with only a moderate bounce before the wheels found contact. “This thing's more like a rock with propellers,” she muttered as they jostled to a stop.

  “I think I'm going to be sick."

  “Now?” Mikial unlatched the canopy and pulled it back, savoring the crisp air as several armored Datha rushed up. “Better get my Ipper out first,” she instructed. She pulled off her helmet and looked back. “I think she's had enough of this."

  “Immediate Team!” one of them bawled out as Paleen was lifted from her seat.

  She's actually that ill? “Paleen?"

  Paleen shook her head. “I don't think it's for me. I told you your face looked a mess."

  Sure enough, Mikial found herself the center of attention for several Shandi in lighter olive battle dress. “I just haven't cleaned up,” she complained as they made her sit. Glancing around as her face was patted with wet cloths, Mikial was gratified to see that a few Cothra had showed up. Nor were they alone. Her aircraft drew a crowd of both Qurls and Servants. Mikial waved at the Cothra.

  “Any of you know how to recharge the batteries on this thing?"

  “We're being told now,” one of them shouted back, pointing to an Ipper among them with raised ear fans.

  Mikial gave an irritated growl as a Healer cleaned the gouge above her eye and dressed it. “Where's the scout? Please tell me they found one."

  One of the Datha, a large fighter with his black hair pulled behind him in double braids, squatted beside her. “I'm Strike Commander Rez, Dathia. Your cargo will be ready shortly. How bad is it back home?"

  She glanced at the Ipper male who gave directions to the Cothra as they opened panels behind the propellers. “He didn't tell you anything?"

  “Other than that we took artillery at High Keep, no."

  “They're quite fond of only telling you what they want to.” She glanced up at Paleen, who stood beside her with a frown. “Sorry, but it's true and you know it.” Mikial regarded the officer with a grim look. “The High Keep is destroyed. I suspect our training facilities are too, along with the market. They shelled the Cothra forges, and got the Ipper signal house. The last thing I saw was them hitting the sky port after we'd taken off."

  “Ground forces?"

  She shook her head. “None that I've heard of.” Mikial got to her feet as the Immediate Team finished, the commander joining her. “The Tasuria and my father were uninjured the last I saw of them. I haven't heard anything about the Tasur or others on the Tamerid."

  “Can't say I was surprised that this happened,” Rez rumbled. “You tried to warn them."

  It was gratifying to hear him share her own thoughts, but it could not keep the bitterness from her voice. “Oh, they listened, Strike Commander. Hopefully they'll at least let me defend my home before I get exiled to Tessana."

  His expression darkened. “That was your Judgment?"

  “That took care of having to go through one."

  He straightened. “At the moment, Dathia, you're still defending your home. Be content with that. You have a few moments to rest up. I suggest you use them."

  One of the Minnerans pushed his way forward. Mikial recognized his balding gray head and the wide blue belt. He seemed measurably more at ease with seeing her this time. Yorth thrust a hot mug of murr in her hands. “I heard you were coming back."

  “Thank you, Yorth,” she replied, sipping at the strong drink. “The Datha have agreed to protect you?"

  He nodded toward Rez. “Your commander has already sent his forces up Foggy Pass. It is true, then? The Eastern Union has attacked you directly?"

  “Your Manwal Kinn will find it a bit harder to string us from his bridges."

  Yorth gave her an ironic smile. “He has given us the most unseemly of allies. For a while we didn't know from which direction our deaths would come. Now we can turn to the east as one.” Yorth's expression grew determined. “Give us weapons such as yours and Manwal Kinn will have much to regret."

  Rez gave him a strained look. “Is your scout ready?"

  “Yes. He has hunted off of Iron Canyon, and knows some trails past the garrison.” Yorth gestured to a group approaching the aircraft. “He's coming now. Your healers have been with him."

  Mikial downed the remainder of her drink. “Time to leave, then.” She made her way through the ring of Datha keeping the onlookers back. A young male with the wispy start of a beard was loaded into the back seat. She stared as a couple of Shandi wadded up his blue woolen hat as an impromptu pillow behind him. Mikial leaned closer, her eyes widening. “He's snoring."

  One of the Shandi nodded, smoothing aside a shock of the passenger's brown hair. “He wouldn't get in by himself. We had to put him to sleep. Have a Shandi wake him up at the other end."

  “I'll have a message sent ahead.” Mikial searched out Paleen, but could not find her. “Where's my Signaler?"

  “Sleeping also, but for other reasons. We detected signs of mental trauma, Dathia. She should feel better when she awakes. Is there anything you can tell us that would assist in her diagnoses?"

  Mikial looked at her. “Such as what? Seeing the Holding blown to bits around her? Communicating with a friend who didn't even know he'd just died from an artillery shell?” Her voice
heated. “Forgive me, but things aren't as peaceful back home as they are out here, or hasn't that been made clear to you?"

  “Dathia."

  She turned at the sharp voice to face the Strike Commander's obvious disapproval. “I think I had best be on my way,” she amended.

  Rez gave a sidelong look as the Shandi disappeared into the crowd. “Your temperament could stand some moderation. Not all the Shandi disapprove of you, Mikial."

  Mikial took a slow breath. “I would ask you to extend my apologies, Strike Commander."

  “It will save me giving you a good cuff,” he answered wryly. “Lets get you back up. Stay along the outside ridges. The Minnerans have deployed forces on their side of the Gap. A gunner will signal you somewhere north of Gap Watch, so keep yourself awake."

  With the officer's assistance, she boosted herself back into the cockpit, reaching over afterwards to take her helmet from him. Mikial glanced back at her passenger. Hopefully he won't wake up and panic in mid-flight. One of the Cothra gave her a wave from off the left wing, indicating that the batteries had been charged successfully. Mikial nodded back, strapped herself in, and put her helmet back on.

  “And Dathia,” the officer admonished, “Resist showing off on the landings. Some of my Strike Leaders thought you were about to crash."

  “I'll restrain myself,” she assured. “Extend my wishes for a speedy recovery to my Signaler. Paleen has gone through far more horror than I'd ever have wished for her."

  Rez nodded. “I'll do that. Good luck to you as well.” He slid the canopy shut, leaving her with her charge in the rear seat, snoring. Several Datha swung the plane around. More gripped the tail and braced themselves. Eyeing the close proximity of scrub beyond the cleared field, Mikial understood their tactic well enough. She pushed the power forward, the craft lifting its nose as the props buzzed like hungry saws. Only when she started to drag those behind her did they let go. Mikial was airborne within moments. She pulled the gear up well before the strip ran out. Tucking the wing flaps back in, she kept even with the ridge tops as they sped southward.

  With a sleeping Servant in the back seat, Mikial had only her worries for company. How many had perished back home? Who had been family? Who had been friends? No doubt her mother must be frantic with the amount of injured pouring into Healer's Ridge. Assuming there was still a hospital there. Idiots! What did they think those cannons would do out there across the Gap? Sit there and look impressive? Her thoughts turned to Paleen. Hopefully the Shandi could help her. As much as she resented the Tasuria, Sencia had demonstrated that her sect could unravel mental knots just as well as they tied them.

  The haze of morning fog withdrew under the midday sun, leaving scattered clouds and good visibility as the landscape swept beneath her. Within two chimes she saw the signal she expected, cannon fire leaping skyward from even terrain bordering the wooded slopes. Further south, blue smoke curled up from the blackened hills of Gap Watch. Mikial eased the power back and turned gradually so as not to knock her sleeping passenger senseless against the canopy. Having learned from her last landing, Mikial kept her speed higher and descended toward where the cannon had fired. Tall grass swept across the bottom of the airship as she brought it down to a bouncing landing.

  Armored figures materialized from the trees. Hopping out, Mikial assisted the Datha in pulling the scout out of the cockpit. She had only to look at the drawn faces around her to see that the war that had come here as well. Quick hand motions brought Shandi forward. The young Servant awoke within a ring of Datha. The scout appeared ready to bolt until someone finally had the sense to hand him a bottle of water and some bread. That started him talking and pointing across to the snow capped range.

  A Strike Leader tapped on her shoulder. He led her back along the hillside where she found a Command Team waiting. One Datha motioned toward her. He looked like an older Parva Conn with three braids running from forehead to the nape of his neck. He wore the Iron Knot of a Force Commander on his belt. “Busy morning, Dathia,” he greeted. “Ready for a busier afternoon?"

  Mikial sat across from him and readily accepted some rations. “Awaiting orders, Force Commander."

  “You are to fly south to South Watch and meet with the Tasur and Tasuria for a new mission.” He gave her a long look. “For being such a trouble maker, Mikial, you seem to be rather popular right now."

  She bit into the meat biscuit given her, eyeing the bandage that ran the length of his unarmored forearm. “What of Gap Watch?"

  He gave a tired grunt. “They brought it down around our ears. We were expecting that ever since your little flight up the canyon some time back. Most of us were dispersed, so our losses were light. Right now the Minnerans have a contingent parading in front of their garrison. They're trying to coax us within range of their other advanced weapons."

  “They're not going to attack us here?"

  He shook his head. “You needn't worry, Dathia. As much as they'd like us to believe otherwise, I'd hardly call what we face more than a blocking force. You may have done us all a service by blowing up the ammunition caches along the Asul River. We believe those cannons are out of shells. Hopefully we can intervene, using that scout of yours, before those things are re-supplied."

  “Any further word on the rest of the Holding?” She was not sure if he would answer, or if the Ipper even bothered to tell him.

  “They've stopped bombarding High Keep, and that flying machine has withdrawn as well. Sky Camp and North Watch remain untouched, but South Watch is being shelled as we speak by more cannon positioned in fortifications to their east. I think you called it Fort Asul in your report. There are also reports coming in of large troop movements toward the southern tip of Asul Valley. My guess is the main thrust will happen down there. Probably headed toward Murcanna."

  Mikial nodded. “The Kiorannan Steward expected something like that. What about that wall they built around Murcanna? Shouldn't that stop them?"

  “Haken's Wall?” He shrugged. “The Kiorannans didn't design it to withstand the type of artillery we're seeing. I don't think Murcanna will remain a Kiorannan city for very long."

  “I should've put more weight into what the Steward told me.” She stood up and clasped her hands respectfully. “I've a long flight ahead of me, Force Commander. I'll get started. Good luck destroying those cannons."

  “We'll all do our best, yourself included.” He rose as well. “We have a Signaler going with you. Try and get in before nightfall if you can."

  “Acknowledged."

  “Oh, and we have another here who wants to talk to you.” He gestured back out toward her aircraft. “Don't get too chatty, Dathia. I want you off the ground before those Minnerans across the Gap get curious."

  It didn't take long to find out who her visitor was. There was no mistaking the scent as she approached what first appeared to be a Cothra in camouflaged armor. “Ryan?"

  The human turned and gave her a leisurely wave. His brown eyes regarded her with less certainty beneath the helmet he wore. “Mikial."

  “I can't believe the Shandi let you go,” she growled, unsure if she wanted to deliver a hug or a backhand.

  “It's amazing what an artillery barrage does for one's credibility,” he quipped. “Suddenly I was pushed before your Tasur ... reasonable fellow, unlike that wife of his."

  “You're talking about my Tasuria,” she said, baring her teeth in order to mask her agreement with his observation. “You're lucky they didn't have you playing catch with those shells you made."

  “I'm going on this little raid to help stop that. I know what we have to destroy, and the best way to do it.” He grinned. “We're allies now, Mikial. When this is over, your Tasur has agreed to pull out my crew."

  “You've a talent for making deals,” she admitted, surprised that Ryan was able to exact such cooperation. War certainly had changed attitudes quickly. So did access to the kind of technology his kind had, something a Cothra Tasur was not going to ignore either. “They
were keeping you at the hospital where my mother was. Did it get hit?"

  Ryan shook his head. “I think they tried, but the rounds fell a canyon short and only flattened some neighborhood."

  “Is that all,” she replied bleakly. He just described Shadow Canyon. Still, if the hospital had escaped unscathed, so perhaps had her mother.

  Ryan's dark humor faded as he apparently caught the worry in her face. “This is going to turn out right, Mikial. At least as right as I can make it."

  “Just stay in one piece,” she replied with a relenting smile. “I don't want your kind coming to Dessa on the hunt for revenge. Now if you'll excuse me, I've more flying to do."

  Mikial took off with a full stomach and a talkative male Ipper with curly brown hair and deeper shaded eyes. Sunset caught her roughly half way through the long trip, requiring Mikial to keep an altitude well above the hills. Vertigo quickly became a real danger. Fortunately, the Curtain swirls highlighted hill crests enough to fend it off. Toward midnight, her bleary eyes caught sight of lights in the darkness along the highway the Signaler finally found. Not only had her Ipper properly guided her through the blackness, the fellow's deliberately incessant chatter during the latter portion of the flight kept them both awake as well. Just in time too. Her seat felt like a knife-edge, and the engines sung a seductively deadly lullaby despite her Signaler's best efforts.

  Her landing area was the Valleyway Road. Transports had been lined up on either side of the pavement with their lights on. A long line of vehicles were strung out to the north, apparently held up for her arrival. Mikial brought her airship low over the heads of Datha crowded in back of trucks usually reserved for harvesting juice berries. Both she and her Ipper breathed a sigh of relief when the wheels touched down. Mikial propped herself against the tire strut of the air machine to eat a few rations handed her upon arrival. Sleep came afterwards with a passing Shandi's light touch on her forehead.

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  * * *

  Fourteen

  Mikial woke in the grayness of morning at the hands of another Healer who removed her bandage with a satisfied nod. Easing her aching body up, Mikial watched as Cothra set up long tables in the early mists. She found that she had landed below South Watch at a mill yard that was bivouac to Datha in the thousands. She was told that Eighth Force was among their number, but orders kept her from seeking her Strike just yet. It did not prevent two Cothra from insisting that she eat first before finding the Tasur and Tasuria. They set her in front of a feast of hot stew and bread. She was joined by others in her sect as the tables filled. Those who kept her mug brimming with murr, did so with a hospitality hardened in both pride and purpose. Looking up the hills where the city stood, Mikial watched swarms of workers clear roads strewn with the debris of cannon fire.