“Ability.” He sniffed again. “But most folks call me—”
“Billy!” Shep dropped the box he was carrying and ran across the compound. He tore through the gathered crowd and swept the boy into his arms.
“Uncle Shep!” Billy’s voice trembled. “What are you doing here?”
“Where’re your sisters? And Steward?”
“Black Mountain R and R camp.”
“What the heck is that?”
“It’s a relocation and reeducation camp.” Tears streamed down Billy’s face, creating new paths through the grime on his cheeks. “It’s where Dominance is holding all the folks she captures. She’s gonna kill everyone on March sixteenth if y’all don’t surrender.”
March sixteenth? Josh’s field of vision narrowed. His mouth went dry. “That’s tomorrow.”
~***~
Billy dug what looked like a scroll out of a leather bag slung across his shoulder and handed it to Wisdom.
She unrolled it then read it out loud. “I, the undersigned, do hereby pledge my total and complete loyalty to Dominance Veyjivik, forsaking all others. I swear to obey and uphold her every command or my life be forfeit. In exchange, all my past sins and crimes against the crown shall be forgiven. I shall also be relieved of all responsibility for the sins and crimes of my clansmen.”
The top of the scroll curled up as Wisdom moved her hand lower.
“Any person that refuses to sign this treaty with their own blood shall be deemed an enemy of the state and put to death. This treaty is null and void unless signed and delivered by Wisdom Hardin no later than midnight March 16, 2010. At such time, all traitors held at the Black Mountain Relocation and Reeducation center shall be executed.”
Wisdom looked up. Her face was chalky white. “There’s already over fifty signatures on this evil artifact.”
“Artifact?” The scroll didn’t look all that old to Josh.
“Do you remember how the Book of the Dead was created?”
Josh nodded. He remembered what Hunter had told him about it anyway…it involved human sacrifice.
“There aren’t many mages powerful enough, or evil enough, to be able to create something like this.”
“Is Dominance?”
Wisdom pressed her lips together in a thin, hard line and nodded.
“So…if someone signs that treaty, but doesn’t obey Dominance…”
“They die.”
“It’s like a death pledge?”
“It is a death pledge.”
“Okay.” Josh shoved his fingers in his hair. “No one else is signing that thing.”
“I agree.” Wisdom nodded.
Hunter tapped Josh’s shoulder. “What happens to the folks that’ve already signed it?”
“There’s a loophole.” Wisdom pointed to the middle of the scroll and read it again. “This treaty is null and void unless signed and delivered by Wisdom Hardin no later than midnight March 16, 2010. I’m sure Dominance only meant that her offer of amnesty will expire tomorrow if I don’t surrender, but the way it’s worded means the entire thing expires. The death pledge will be null and void tonight after midnight.”
Billy’s voice shook. “It don’t matter whether the treaty is in effect or not. If y’all don’t sign it, Dominance will kill everyone on that list tomorrow, including my little sisters.”
The words from the Book of the Dead echoed inside Josh’s mind.
The stars and planets are nearly aligned
Blood calls to blood its powers to bind.
Live your life as you did before.
When the time is right, you’ll go to war.
Josh wasn’t living his life as he did before, not even close. He didn’t know if the time was right to go to war, but if he didn’t do something, he’d have the blood of all those innocent men, women and children on his hands.
“I say we crash her party and end this tonight.”
“You can’t do that.” Wisdom’s eyes bugged out. She was almost as crazy looking as Prudence. “You can’t face Dominance until winter solstice!”
“I can’t just sit here and let her kill all those people either!”
“Don’t be a fool! Do you think Dominance isn’t prepared for a rescue mission? She’ll be expecting it. She’s hoping you’ll walk right into her trap.”
“She doesn’t even know I exist!”
Brazen, or ‘Zen’ as he preferred to be called, stood up. “She doesn’t know you have a helicopter and four ex-marines armed with automatic weapons, either. We’ll still have the element of surprise.”
“You’ll join us?” Josh’s throat tightened with gratitude.
“We already joined you, back in Bowling Green.”
“Josh.” Wisdom wrapped her fingers around his arms. “You aren’t ready to face her. I know you want to save everyone, but you can’t. The people in that horrible camp are tragic casualties of war.”
“Not yet, they aren’t.” Josh fisted his hands to keep them from shaking.
“Then just send the marines. Let them handle it.”
“No.” Josh refused to ask anyone else to put their lives on the line if he wasn’t willing to do the same. “Tim?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I need you and Zen to round up as many volunteers as you think we’ll need.”
The air around Wisdom crackled with power. She pointed her finger at Tim’s chest. “You are not taking any of my people on this suicide mission.”
“They ain’t ‘your’ people no more.” Intimidation lived up to his power-name as he faced off with Wisdom. Neither of them raised their shields, but both of them glowed with energy. “Me and my men follow the prince.”
Josh cringed. He really wished Tim, and everybody else, would quit calling him ‘the prince.’ He pasted a smile on his face and patted Tim’s back. “Thank you. I appreciate your loyalty.”
Wisdom closed her eyes for a moment then opened them with a sigh. “I can’t stand here and listen to you fools plot your own deaths. I’m going to check on Prudence.”
Josh moved the impromptu meeting inside his tent and asked Billy to tell them everything he knew about the Black Mountain prison camp.
He amazed everyone with his detailed descriptions and total recall of facts.
Josh sent the helicopter pilots off to refuel while he brainstormed with Tim, Zen and the other marines.
Zen tapped the hand-drawn map with his finger. “The hardest part will be getting all the prisoners far enough away from the camp that they can’t be easily recaptured.”
“How many people do you think we can load on the helicopter?”
“It’s a Sikorsky S-92 so it was designed to carry twenty-two troops, plus gear. Since half of the hostages are kids, we can double that number.”
There were fifty-two names on the treaty. “If we go in light, just you guys, me and Tim; do you think we could squeeze all the hostages in for the return trip?”
“It depends on whether or not you’re willing to leave the dead behind.”
Josh’s stomach clenched, forcing bile into the back of his throat. “If it means saving more people, I’m willing. How many do you expect?”
“An operation like this usually takes weeks of planning and training. We don’t even have a real map of the compound.”
“How many?”
“You want the truth?”
“Always.”
“If we go in light, with just the six of us, like you’re suggesting…anywhere from twenty-five to fifty percent of the hostages aren’t going to make it out of there alive. We’ll probably lose a few of our own people, too.”
“There’s eight of us, not six.”
“You’re counting the pilot and copilot. If you’re planning on using the chopper to evacuate hostages, the pilots stay with the bird.”
“Crap.” Josh rubbed his temples, but it did nothing to relieve the pain throbbing behind his eyes.
“I recommend that we take more volunteers, and lead the able-bo
died out of the compound on foot. Save the chopper for the weak and wounded.”
“What about the little kids? They won’t be able to go far on foot. And none of us are going to be able to walk all the way from Kentucky to Arkansas.”
“All we need to do is get everyone to the highway. I’ll arrange a convoy to pick us up.”
“A convoy?”
“Veyjivik Enterprises has a fleet of Hummers and limos. I’m sure Mr. Hollister will loan us a few vehicles.”
“Okay. That sounds like a plan. I’ll leave you and Tim in charge of finding volunteers.”
“I wanna go.” Billy crawled out from under Josh’s cot.
He’d forgotten the kid was even there. “Sorry. All volunteers have to be at least eighteen.”
Hunter stuck his head inside the tent. “You ain’t leaving me behind.”
Josh groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. “You guys wouldn’t happen to have any Advil, would you?”
Hunter stepped inside and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ll be eighteen in a couple of months and I can shoot better than anyone here.”
Zen chuckled and shook his head.
Hunter jutted his chin out. “You ever shot a squirrel through the eye with a 22, a hundred yards away?”
Zen arched his eyebrows. “Have you?”
Shep pushed his way past Hunter into the tent. “More’n once. Next to me, Hunter’s the best shot in the region.”
“I can outshoot you any day or night Shepherd Feenie.”
Shep rolled his eyes. “Can not.”
Josh grabbed both Feenie brothers by the back of their necks and walked them outside, right into a crowd of people clustered around the front of his tent. They were obviously eavesdropping, but Josh hadn’t ordered the crowd away when he took the meeting inside his tent, so it was his own damn fault.
“I don’t care if you’re both the best shots in the whole world. Neither one of you are going if you can’t keep your mouths shut. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir.” Hunter and Shep spoke simultaneously.
“all right. I’ll lower the age limit to seventeen years and six months, but that’s as low as I’ll go.”
“Can women go?” Vixen flipped her hair over her shoulder and gave Josh a sultry look.
He closed his eyes and groaned. He didn’t want to start a women’s rights debate, but he didn’t want his men distracted by female soldiers either. “No.”
“I can shoot a squirrel at seventy-five yards.”
Shep whistled appreciatively then grinned as he let his gaze roam over Vixen’s body. “I say we take her.”
“And I said no.” Josh hadn’t seen any women during his single session of combat training. “Have you trained with Tim?”
“It depends on what you mean by training.” Vixen winked at Tim, whose face turned bright red.
“That’s exactly why I don’t want you to go.” She had Shep panting like a dog and Tim blushing like a schoolgirl. She licked her lips as she checked out Zen. No way was Josh letting her go on this mission. “This isn’t a game.”
“I know that.” Vixen huffed and shoved her fists on her hips. “But my sister’s name is on that list.”
Zen put a hand on Vixen’s shoulder. “Does she look like you?”
The last thing Josh wanted was for his best soldier to go off on some personal mission when he was counting on him to lead the entire operation. “I appreciate everyone’s willingness to help, but we can’t take everyone. We need to choose a team that will have the best chance of success, so I’m putting Tim and Zen in charge of screening volunteers.”
Josh pulled the two men aside. “No women and no kids under eighteen.”
“Yes, sir.” Zen and Tim answered in unison then turned their attention to the crowd of people wanting to volunteer.
Josh slipped back inside his tent and sprawled out on his cot. He pulled out his phone and gazed at Channie’s picture. He stroked the screen, over her face, and thought about her and their baby, hoping it would give him the courage he’d surely need before the night was over. He searched for her through their bond, but she was asleep. He’d tried to connect with her several times a day since Vince left with her, but she was always asleep. Pregnancy must be exhausting. Josh had just decided to give her a nudge to wake her up when Hunter’s roar of indignation rent the night.
“What do you mean I cain’t go? You’re taking Shep and I’m a better shot than him.”
“Am not.”
Josh groaned and swung his feet off the cot. Damn it, Hunter.
“If I can shoot the head off a nail at fifty feet, will you take me?”
Josh stepped outside. It was a new moon so there couldn’t have been less light. But that didn’t stop Hunter. He was hammering a nail into a tree stump by candlelight. A small crowd gathered to watch.
Hunter left the candle next to the nail then paced his way back as the crowd counted his strides. He kept going even after the crowd shouted, “Fifty!”
He looked up and winked at Josh. “The extra five is to keep anyone from accusing me of cheating.”
Someone handed Hunter a rifle.
“Anything I should know about the way this thing sights?”
“She skews a bit to the left. I’d allow a quarter inch at this distance.”
“Seriously?” Josh couldn’t believe Hunter was even attempting such a ridiculous shot with an unfamiliar weapon. “How come you don’t have your own gun?”
Hunter shrugged. “Most folks is willing to let me borrow theirs if I share the meat.”
He lifted the rifle to his shoulder, took a deep breath then slowly exhaled.
The bang wasn’t as loud as Josh’d expected, about like a firecracker, but it still made him jump. Would he be able to keep his head straight when the guys with automatic weapons opened up? Especially when it was the bad guys.
Hunter’s whoop of joy snapped Josh out of his downward spiral. I didn’t freak out when the trackers were shooting at us. I’ll deal with whatever happens tonight, when it happens. No point in worrying about it now.
“Go hammer in another nail.” Shep scowled at Hunter. “I’ll knock the head off at sixty yards.”
“No.” Josh had had more than enough of the Feenie brothers’ endless squabbling. “You’re already going. There’s no need to waste ammunition just to inflate your already overblown ego. Deal with it, or stay behind.”
Shep pursed his lips, but lowered his gaze and nodded.
“Let’s take a walk.” Josh pulled Hunter aside and marched him away from the crowd. “I know you want to go, and there’s no one I’d rather have watching my back, but I need you to stay here…in case I don’t make it. Someone has to take care of Prudence.”
Hunter stared at Josh. The intensity of his gaze grew uncomfortable. He blinked then cocked his head to the side and rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t agree with Ms. Wisdom very often, but she’s right about how important you are. You’re the one that needs to stay put, not me. You’re married with a little one on the way. But more importantly, you’re the only one that can defeat Dominance.”
“If I weren’t the only elemental mage, I’d agree with you. But my weird magic could be the one thing that tips the outcome of this operation in our favor.” Josh grabbed the sides of Hunter’s head and forced him to meet his gaze. “I know what I’m asking is hard, but there’s no one else I trust as much as you. Will you do it? Will you protect Channie and our baby if I don’t come back?”
“With my life.”
~***~
The plan was simple. They’d land the helicopter four miles away from the prison camp and let Tim’s team out. They’d make their way to the front of the compound, signal their arrival with a single squawk on the radio. As soon as they heard an answering squawk, signaling the arrival of Zen’s team at the bluff behind the compound, Josh would use his elemental magic to blast through the protective spells then blow apart the front gates, causing a diversion so Zen’s
team could rappel down the cliff behind the hostages’ barracks and enter the compound. Tim’s team would provide cover while Zen’s team herded the hostages towards the highway where the Veyjivik Enterprises motorcade would be waiting to whisk them all to safety.
It was a good plan. But it took less than a minute for it to fall completely apart.
Gunfire, screams of terror and wails of pain seemed to come from all directions. Josh froze. Searchlights scanned the compound and its perimeter, the ground glistened as if it had just rained, but it was blood, not water. The guards were mowing the hostages down like sheep. Josh wrapped an arm around a tree to keep from sinking to the ground. A light blinded him. Someone tackled him from behind as bullets chewed through the tree he’d been leaning against.
“Stay down, you dumb shit.”
Josh recognized Noble’s voice. What was he doing in the front? The marines were supposed to be behind the barracks.
Josh whispered, “thanks,” but the guy was already on his feet and running towards the shattered gate.
Noble ran in a zigzag pattern. Bullets thunked into the ground behind him. The little puffs of dirt chasing him were getting closer. He wasn’t going to make it.
Bursts of light lit up the interior of a tower near the gate. Muzzle flashes from an automatic weapon. Josh lifted his chest and dug the sapphire out from under his shirt. He clutched it in one hand and pointed at the guard firing at Noble with the other. Stop it!
The guard exploded, as if he’d stepped on a mine. But there wouldn’t be any mines inside a guard tower. What the hell just happened?
“Nice work.” Zen crouched beside Josh and squeezed his shoulder. He waited for the spotlight to sweep past their position then darted towards the gate.
I killed that guard. Josh raised himself to his hands and knees. He tried to get his feet under him, but his body didn’t want to cooperate. All he managed to do was rock forward.
A clammy hand grabbed the back of his neck. “Cover me, I’m going in.”
Shep? “No! Wait.”
Shep ignored Josh’s warning and surged forward. He didn’t take more than two steps before the spotlight caught him on its return sweep. A muzzle flashed in the other guard tower. Shep’s body jerked like a puppet on a string as bullets riddled his torso. He was so close that Josh heard the wet sound of metal hitting flesh.
Finding Valor Page 24
