Order of the Fire Box Set

by P. E. Padilla

  Kate opened her mouth to speak, but then Molara’s meaning became clear. “Wait, you want me to pretend I’m taking the mission while trying to use my contact with Travada to get information we’re already searching for?”

  Molara turned to Achard again. “See? Sometimes she just needs a little push to get past her blind spots.”

  “Yes, I’m aware,” he said. “How do you think I’ve been handling her up to this point?”

  “Touché,” Molara admitted.

  “I’m right here.” Kate frowned at both of them.

  “We know.” Molara’s wry smile made Kate want to slap her. The feeling instantly went away when the Purple’s regular, cheerful smile returned and she laughed.

  “Augh,” Molara said. “Ruined it again. Why do I always blow it?”

  “Well, then,” Achard said. “Here is what I want you to do, Kate. Ah, first, are you serious about still considering me your commanding officer?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good, then I order you to go along with Travada. Make him think you’ve decided that following like a good little soldier will be the way you fulfill your honorable service. You will report to him the things I tell you. Some—most—will be the truth, but other things you will not tell him. I want you to understand, Kate, that I am not asking you to lie. You must merely tell the parts of the truth we are to allow Travada to know about.”

  Kate dropped her gaze to her boots. “I appreciate that, sir.”

  “It’s not entirely for you, Kate. An honorable man or woman takes the truth seriously. I do not believe in lying and would not force you to do so.”

  “Then thank you doubly, sir. In the end, the reason I will follow you is that you embody everything I believe the Order stands for.”

  “And for saying that, Kate, I thank you. I’m glad we see eye-to-eye.”

  Kate continued with her duties, such as they were. Because there was only one Black on call at any given time, her turns at the gate were few and far between. Because Travada wouldn’t send them on any missions, there was a lot of time with nothing specific to do.

  There was only so much time she could train in the training yard. Instead, Kate spent a lot of it in Molara’s section of the library.

  “…and it’s really no trouble telling Travada what the captain is up to, because like us, he has nothing to do, either,” Kate told Molara. “Honestly, the entire thing is driving me mad. I need something to do.

  “All the while, the Order is rotting from the inside out.”

  Molara, sitting directly across the table from Kate, listened with a long-suffering look on her face, as always. “Why don’t we do something, then?”

  “What?”

  “Why don’t we do something? We’ve seen the changes and know they bode ill for the Order as a whole. Why not try to find out more about what’s going on so we’ll know better how to stop it?”

  Kate’s expression turned pensive. “You…you have a point there. We’re the ones the Order turns to for information, either already available or that which needs to be found. Why shouldn’t we use our skills to learn more? Maybe find out who is responsible for all these things.”

  “Exactly,” Molara agreed.

  “But,” Peiros said, “you are speaking of investigating the members of the High Command.”

  Kate raised a finger. “If they’re not responsible for what’s happening, it won’t affect them. At least, not in a bad way. It could actually help them.”

  Molara jumped in. “Yes, we could be heroes.”

  “We could be court-martialed and discharged…or worse,” Peiros said.

  “You needn’t be part of this, Peiros,” Kate said. “All we ask is that you do not tell anyone else of it.”

  Peiros Cressa broke out in a grin. “Ah, but you misunderstand me. I think it is a wonderful idea. I merely wanted everyone to have realistic expectations. I will gladly play spy with you. As you may recall, I am a fair hand at the vocation.”

  “Good,” Molara said. “Then we have three. I think the first thing we need to do is to make a list of those in the High Command and then work on getting information on their recent activities, one by one.”

  “That is a logical way to start things, yes,” Peiros agreed.

  “Here,” Molara said, taking out some fresh sheets of paper. “I’ll start a page for each of them so we can note the information we find out about them.”

  Kate jumped in her seat. “Oh, we might as well start at the top, with the Guiding Council. I’m glad now they made us memorize the chain of command. First off, there is the Supreme Commander himself, Berart de Maligny. The captain hasn’t even been able to get in touch with him.

  “Next is the Field Marshal, Antoni Sena, responsible for combat strategy and all the field commanders. He’s the one who said he wanted to steal me from the Black to make me a ‘proper officer.’

  “The Operations Marshal is Emelye Koler. She’s responsible for supplies, acquisitions, and usage of materials.

  “Pello Sirakov is the Fortress Commander, in charge of all things involving the running of the fortress itself, including personnel.

  “The Secretary General, responsible for all records and documents, is Halie Askona.

  “Then there are the two generals in charge of the two regiments of the Order. Yael Stone for the First Regiment and Royce Walton for the Second Regiment.”

  The Purple finished writing and looked up. “There, done. I suggest we look at officers a little lower than the Council as well. Maybe down to the rank of major?”

  Kate smirked. “Definitely.” She had one major she would really like to get information on.

  “All right,” Molara said. “I can start filling these out with what we all already know. I can add what things I find in the archives here, too. What we really need is their schedules, what they’re up to and what things they’re working on.”

  Kate froze, caught up in her own thoughts. They were talking about spying and doing research on the highest-level personnel in the Order. What were they doing?

  “Kate. Kate, are you well?” It was Peiros’s voice.

  “Me? Oh, yes, yes of course. I was just thinking. Do we really suspect that the Guiding Council is trying to destroy the Order, all of humanity? I mean, it just hit me, what we’re talking about doing.”

  Molara got up and sat down next to Kate. She turned and looked into Kate’s eyes.

  “Just because we’re investigating doesn’t mean they’re involved. We have to start at the top because there must be a reason why the bad ideas and orders are making their way to the lower ranks. If it was solely some lower officer who was coming up with new procedures, one of the higher officers would shoot the idea down.

  “I’m sure all three of us want to find nothing wrong with the actions of any of the Guiding Council, but someone needs to be responsible for what is happening. We can’t shy away from it, even if it’s the Supreme Commander himself.”

  Kate held Molara’s gaze for a moment and then looked down at the table. “I suppose you’re right, though I don’t care much for the thought.”

  “We may begin investigating where we like, Kate,” Peiros said. “If it eases your mind to start lower and then eventually work up to the Guiding Council, then that is what you should do. In this, you have no direct orders and may proceed as you see fit.”

  Kate gave him a weak smile. “Thank you, Peiros. That helps. A little. I’ll think about it and let you two know what I plan on doing.”

  Molara patted Kate’s shoulder. “Yes, let’s keep each other apprised of what we’re doing. We should coordinate our efforts and consolidate our findings rather than duplicating effort.”

  “I’ll be sure to check in,” Kate told her. “For now, though, I think I’m going to go for a walk. I have some thinking to do, and I want to listen to what people are saying as I pass by.”

  Molara nodded. “You know, you would probably hear more if you weren’t wearing black.”

&nb
sp; Kate looked down at her uniform, her black armor and black cloak. “True, but what would I wear? Red? I don’t think so. If I wear civilian clothes, that would mark me out almost as much as wearing black. I know people won’t speak as freely when I’m around as they normally would, but I’ll not act ashamed of what I am.”

  “Fair enough. I just thought I’d mention it.”

  Kate gave her friends a wave and walked out the door. She wasn’t sure where she’d walk or what she might hear, but she didn’t want to be cooped up inside all day.

  No sooner had she left the library than the bell rang indicating that the gate had opened. She had been scolded before for showing up at the gate when she wasn’t on duty, so instead she chose her favorite vantage point on the east wall and watched from afar.

  It was another paltry attack by the demons. There couldn’t be more than a hundred of them, and they didn’t attack with anything close to the ferocity they normally did.

  It had been like this for several weeks, poor excuses for attacks, meaningless skirmishes that a handful of the Black could have repelled on their own. It didn’t make sense. Were the demons running out of fodder for their army? It couldn’t be that. Kate had seen thousands and thousands of them on the other side of the gate. Even with their great victory, the Order couldn’t possibly have decimated their ranks so.

  The attack was over quickly, the demons routed and the gate closed. If Kate had run to the gate, she may not have even made it there in time to see the doors swing shut.

  Shrugging, she continued on her walk. Behind her, the Reds on duty at the gate ended their shift and left the gate unmanned for the time it took them to clear the area and the new Reds to take their positions, just as new policy dictated.

  She was in no hurry and walked slowly. The faster Reds swept by her, energized by their fight.

  “I’m telling you,” one of them said. “Since we started doing things the new way, it’s much easier to take on those demons. It’s like we finally found the secret to intimidating them. We’re unstoppable.”

  Another joined the chorus. “I know. And we’re not only better, we’re more efficient. We have a lot more time off since there are fewer of us at the gate.”

  “Why the long face, Selnir?” a third said, aiming his question at a Red who didn’t seem to agree with his more vocal comrades.

  “It’s too easy,” Selnir said. “There’s something going on here we don’t know about. There’s no way that reducing our numbers would make the demons cut their forces, too. I don’t like it. I have a bad feeling about it.”

  Kate resumed her walk, and the soldiers’ conversation was soon too low to hear. At least one of them had some sense. She was beginning to think the entire Order was under some kind of magical charm or something.

  She stopped walking. What if some kind of magical force was subtly manipulating most of the Order personnel? That would explain a lot of things, but it was ridiculous. Veteran soldiers wouldn’t suddenly be affected by the mental attacks they grew accustomed to after their first few battles. She filed it away anyway, promising herself she’d ask Molara and Peiros about it the first chance she got.

  For the moment, she still had to figure out what she was going to do about investigating the Guiding Council.

  Kate didn’t have official gate duty for two more days, so the next morning, she headed back to the secret section of the library. She wanted to talk to Molara about whether it was possible that the entire fortress could be under some kind of magic spell.

  When she made her way through the secret door, thoughts of what she was going to do left her head.

  By necessity, the secret area was not as large as the normal part of the library. She had only seen two other people at a time, three once only, in all the time she’d been visiting. Now, there seemed to be wall-to-wall people.

  Molara waved at her from across the room. Peiros, next to the Purple, put his hands together and bowed over them to her. Every other set of eyes swiveled toward Kate and locked onto her.

  It was eerie, how quiet it was even with so many people.

  “Ah, Pretty Kate,” Aurel said. “I had hoped you would come today.”

  Benedict, Visimar, Koren, Achard, and even Bernar Giron were all present.

  “What is this?” Kate asked, scanning the room. By the sound of it, at least one or two more lurked between some of the shelves of books.

  Molara walked up to Kate and took her hand, pulling her toward where the Purple had been seated at one of the study tables. “This is the core of the rebellion, Kate. Pull up a chair. We have a lot of planning to do.”

  “I don’t understand,” Kate said. “How is everyone here? I thought we didn’t want to get others involved?” She leveled a gaze at Molara and raised an eyebrow.

  “Uh, yes, well…” the Purple started.

  “It’s my fault,” Achard interrupted. “I’ve been keeping in contact with all of you, and several of you have expressed a desire to do more, to try to figure out what is going on with the Order. Peiros told me about you three”—he gestured toward Kate, Molara, and Peiros—“and I thought it would be prudent to extend an invitation to some of the others on your behalf. Forgive me if I have overstepped myself.”

  Kate breathed out, mollified. “You are our commanding officer, sir. If you think the best way to proceed is for all of us to be involved, then who am I to question? We were merely trying to limit exposure for the others. I, for one, didn’t want to get anyone else in trouble.”

  Aurel put a hand on Kate’s shoulder. “Pretty Kate, don’t you see? We are all Black. We all want to do something to save the Order. Why shouldn’t we work together instead of alone or in small groups?”

  Most of those present nodded. Kate reminded herself that thinking of Aurel as simple, just because he was quiet, did the man a disservice. He often surprised her with his insight. In this case, he was completely right and she was in the wrong.

  “Well, then,” she said. “Welcome to our little group.”

  “To the Infirium,” Molara said.

  “Beg your pardon.”

  “The Infirium. It’s the name of our ‘little group.’ It’s from the language all the ancient mythology is written in, Saprenir. It means, roughly, ‘of the fire.’”

  “Oh.” Kate couldn’t help but feel her stomach drop. “We’re an organized group, then?”

  “Partly organized,” Molara said with a wink. “We’ll get more so after we all settle down and get to work. Why do you look like you just ate a piece of fruit with a worm in it?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just that…well, we have a name and we’re an organized group. We’re rebels in truth. We’re all traitors.” The last word came out in nearly a sob.

  “Not so, Kate.” It was Benedict who had spoken. “It’s clear that something is wrong and something—or someone—is working to destroy the Order of the Fire. We are working toward protecting it. You say traitors; I say heroes.”

  Visimar nodded, paused for a moment, and then spoke. “History will be the judge, but I agree with Ben. You know that there’s a rot in the Order that needs to be removed, or at least healed. Things will not fix themselves. Someone has to take the lead. Why not the Black?”

  “If you feel strongly against what we’re doing, Kate,” Achard said, “you can refrain from being part of it. We will proceed, but we don’t want anyone who doesn’t want to be part to feel like they must.”

  Kate sipped two short breaths. “No. I do believe in what we’re doing. It’s just that, I don’t know, I don’t like feeling like I’m fighting against the Order. I suppose that’s how heroes often feel, though, that they’re fighting against everyone else in the world. If not, they might not really be heroes after all, I suppose.”

  “Exactly right, Pretty Kate.”

  “And it’s about damn time you got it straight,” Koren said, softening his words with a smirk. “Now are you ready to do some planning? The Order is not getting any better. We need to fig
ure things out and save it.”

  12

  With the other Black helping, the task didn’t seem nearly as daunting to Kate. Others could investigate the members of the Guiding Council while she focused on targets a bit lower.

  Kate had never had training in spycraft, so she mostly followed the lead of the others and kept her ears and eyes open for anything that might be useful. It was a strange half-world she was in, operating as a Black following Travada’s orders and at the same time trying to determine if he was the enemy.

  But that wasn’t the only thing that proved a challenge.

  “What have you been up to lately?” Wilfred asked her as they shared a meal they had brought from the mess hall outside. “You seem busy and rush around even when you’re not on duty. What’s going on?”

  “I can’t really talk about it.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “It’s the same thing, Wilfred.”

  “No, it’s not. Phrixus Achard trusted me and told me secret things. He swore me to secrecy and even had me take an oath with that stick. You can trust me.”

  “It’s not about trusting you,” Kate said, huffing out a breath. “It’s about keeping you safe. What I’m doing is dangerous.”

  “You’re trying to solve the mystery of those strange deaths you and the captain saw. Or, you’re trying to figure out who is making all these changes in the Order.”

  “Please, Wilfred, just let it go. The more you know, the more danger you’re in.”

  Wilfred raised his chin. “I’m not afraid. What will they do, discharge me?”

  “No. They may kill you.”

  “They who?”

  “Whoever is responsible.”

  “Responsible for what?”

  “Ugh!” Kate’s hand twitched and she thought about wrapping it around his throat for a moment. “Stop with all the questions. It’s for your own good.”

  Wilfred’s eyes widened and then hardened as his brows drew down. The tight line of his mouth told Kate exactly how he felt about it.

  Though she felt bad, she remained steadfast. It was for his own good. Too many people around her had died. She would not put her first real friend in the Order in jeopardy.