Council of War

by Richard S. Tuttle

  "You will need to remain here," Morro said softly. "If anyone approaches you, say that you are waiting for Speedy. Do not move from this spot. I will return as quickly as I can."

  Garth nodded and watched as the elf disappeared around a corner. He listened to Morro's footsteps, but he couldn't hear them for very long. He did however detect movement in the other direction. Garth casually turned to stare into the darkness, but he couldn't see anything. Wanting to take the cloth off his face, Garth placed the torch down and untied the cloth.

  "Hold the torch!" came a reprimand from the darkness.

  Garth moved slowly and deliberately as he bent over and picked up the torch. He held the torch to one side at arm's length and closed his eyes to let them adjust to the darkness. After a few moments, he turned his head towards the darkness and slowly opened his eyes. He could make out the walls of the sewer for a fair distance, but he still could not see the mysterious minder that was watching him.

  Morro returned after ten minutes and indicated that Garth should follow him. They rounded the corner and Garth soon learned why Morro's footsteps had faded so quickly. Set into the wall was a ladder, and Morro climbed it. Garth followed and they emerged into a basement. The basement was sprinkled with carpets and furniture, and looked very much like someone's underground home. Several torches were lit around the room, and Morro motioned to an empty sconce for Garth to place the torch he was holding. Sitting at the head of a long table was another elf, and he watched Garth closely as Morro led the Knight of Alcea to the table and indicated that he should sit. Morro sat next to him.

  "Speedy has said that you are like his brother," the elf said, "and that he trusts you with his life. That is a high recommendation, but my organization is not built on friendship. Will you give your word that you will not harm any of my people?"

  Garth stared at the elf. The man's ageless features yielded no clue as to his age, but his air of confidence was plainly evident. The elf's eyes bored into Garth with an air of superiority, and his face was set in tense confrontation.

  "I do not know your people," Garth eventually replied. "I have a suspicion of who they might be in general, but I do not know any of them in particular. As to harming any of them, I do not harm those who mean me no harm, but I will vigorously defend myself and my friends."

  "And is Speedy a friend that you will defend to the death?" asked the elf. "Even if the Federation demands his life?"

  "He is," Garth answered without hesitation, "and I would, as would those who follow me."

  The elf's face immediately softened, and he smiled at Speedy. "Fearless as you said," stated the elf, "and more honest than most." He turned towards Garth and continued, "I am known as Headman to my people. As I am sure you have already determined, my people are the thieves of Giza. Speedy violated our code today by bringing you into our lair, but he has vouched for you, and I expect you to honor his commitment while you are in Giza. Will you do so?"

  "I will honor the secrecy of your tunnels, and I will not divulge anything of whatever happens down here," Garth replied with a frown, "but I do not know all of the terms of his commitment. Is there more?"

  "It is secrecy that I demand," answered Headman. "My organization has remained in the shadows in Giza for many years, and I am not ready for knowledge of our ways and means to reach the ears of those outside the group."

  Garth wondered how much to reveal to the head thief. He glanced at Morro and saw him nod, indicating that Headman could be trusted.

  "I understand the need for secrecy," replied Garth. "The Federation is not my friend, and knowledge of thieves would not be on their list of questions should I ever be captured by them. I do not mean to belittle your organization, but I have more to fear from the Federation than you do."

  "Understood," smiled Headman. "I gathered from Speedy that the need to get you underground stems from the current chaos happening on the streets above. Whatever is going on, the Federation wants you badly. They will seal the city and begin interrogating everyone who is not a resident. Where are you staying?"

  Garth hesitated to answer.

  "Headman will not betray you," Morro promised. "I have shared with him my vision of freeing the children from the reeducation centers, and he will aid us when the time comes. No amount of coercion from the Federation could loosen his lips."

  "The Palace Keep," answered Garth. "There are three others with me."

  "Are you responsible for the explosions along the waterfront?" asked Headman.

  "I believe that one of my party is responsible," nodded Garth.

  Headman raised an eyebrow. "One of your party?" he asked astonishingly. "I cannot imagine one person causing such damage. The reports that I have heard say that the entire shipyard was destroyed, and a huge hole was blasted through the city wall. That is the work of one person?"

  "I do not know for sure," replied Garth, "but yes, one of my people could cause such destruction."

  "Then you are a powerful ally indeed," Headman replied with a nod of deference. "You and your people are still in great danger. The Federation will keep the city closed until the culprits are found. The only way to avoid immediate arrest is to have a strong alibi for this morning. Do you know of anyone in the city who will lie for you?"

  "No," Garth answered.

  "What is your supposed business in Giza?" asked Headman.

  "I am a special agent for a merchant," replied Garth. "I deal in gems and expensive artifacts."

  "Mencham?" Headman asked Morro.

  "Mencham would suffice," Morro agreed. "I will send for him now."

  "Who is Mencham?" asked Garth as Morro slipped out of the room.

  "He is a jeweler's apprentice," answered Headman. "He is also one of my people. His knowledge of delivery methods has brought in a fair amount of gold this year. If Mencham was not in a public meeting at the time of the attack, we will get him to vouch for you. You can say that you were discussing a sale with him. His word may not be enough to alleviate all of your problems, but it will give you time to figure out a way to leave the city. The worst thing you need to avoid right now is immediate arrest. With that in mind, we need to get you into your room at the Palace Keep Inn quickly."

  "Mencham will have to vouch for my wife as well," Garth stated as Morro reentered the room. "I am not sure about the others."

  "We need to find out," Morro said. "I will go and ask them while we wait for Mencham to arrive."

  Morro left the room again, and two humans entered a few minutes later. Headman waved one of them to a seat at the table. The other human stood waiting by the entrance.

  "Where were you when the trouble started, Mencham?" asked Headman. "Were you with anyone?"

  "I was minding the shop," the jeweler's apprentice answered. "With the city tightened down as it has been, I had no visitors at all today."

  "That is about to change," smiled Headman. "I would like you to meet Garth Shado, special agent for a merchant dealing in gems."

  * * *

  Squirt flew over the southern section of the Sea of Tears. Her eyes searched the waves of the sea desperately, trying to pick out anything that looked like a floating body. She had been searching for weeks, and she was tired and depressed. Feeling the strain of her exhausting search, the fairy banked sharply and headed for an island in the distance. She needed to rest her wings and recoup her energy. Gliding towards the rocky island, the fairy focused on a flat section a thousand paces from the shoreline. She landed roughly, and she berated herself for not getting enough sleep between searches. As the tiny blue fairy looked around for a suitable crevice to nap in, a large head suddenly appeared below her. The fairy flattened herself on the rock and stared at the back of the head in horror. She frowned at the stringy white hair as if something were tugging on her memory, but she did not recognize Haditha until the water witch turned around and the fairy could see her face.

  "Haditha!" exclaimed the fairy as she jumped to her feet. "You are alive!"

  The water
witch heard the fairy, but she could not determine where the voice had come from. She looked around until Squirt waved her arms.

  "There you are," smiled Haditha. "What are you doing here?"

  "I am searching for Captain Gomery," replied the fairy. "I have been searching since the attack on the fleet. I was beginning to think that my search was in vain, but finding you gives me hope. Have you seen him?"

  "Not lately," the water witch replied suspiciously. "Why would you want to find him? The need for a sea captain is long gone now. Surely, Garth and Kalina do not need him any more."

  "It does not matter if he is needed," frowned the fairy. "I am supposed to support him. Fairies never give up their task once it is assigned."

  "I am sure that he would be touched by such devotion," Haditha responded, "but I am sure that the others could make better use of your skills than searching for someone who is no longer needed. There is no shame in accepting the ways of fate and getting on with your life."

  "I don't know," frowned Squirt. "I do not think Prince Midge would look kindly on my giving up so easily."

  "So easily?" Haditha echoed with a raised eyebrow. "You have diligently searched for over a month. You must have worn your wings bare."

  "I am tired and hungry," admitted the fairy, "but it hasn't been nonstop. I have taken the time to rest each night when it is too dark to search."

  "Yet you are tired enough at midday to stop on this island," the water witch said compassionately as she stretched out her hand towards the fairy. "Come with me, and I will give you some nourishing food."

  "I would appreciate that," smiled Squirt as she walked onto Haditha's hand. "Perhaps you could watch over me while I sleep, too. I am always afraid that I will get eaten by a lizard or something."

  "You will be safe in the mine," promised Haditha.

  The water witch carried Squirt into the mine and set her down on a small table built from driftwood. The first room in the cave was a large round chamber that the dwarves used to use for gathering at the start of the day. There were ledges etched into the wall to hold tools, but no implements had adorned those shelves in ages. There were several stone stools that had survived the years, and Squirt saw two of them had been moved towards the makeshift table. The fairy sat down on the table with her back resting against a stone cup. Its cold surface felt comforting on her back after having the sun beat down on her for so long.

  "I hope you like seafood," Haditha said as she squatted near a concave stone on the floor. "I got some fresh clams this morning."

  "That would be fine," Squirt responded, "but I am more thirsty than hungry. Do you have any water?"

  "Of course," Haditha responded as she rose and approached the table. "I just have to figure out how to serve it to you."

  Haditha reached towards a second cup on the table and then stopped. She shook her head, realizing that a cup would be too large. She returned to the other side of the chamber and began chipping away at a clamshell to make a small cup, but Squirt's eyes remained focused on the other large cup on the table. The fairy's eyes narrowed as she looked around the room. Two soiled stone plates sat on one of the ledges on the wall. It became obvious to the fairy that more than one person occupied the cave, and she glanced at Haditha's back suspiciously.

  "How did you manage to get here?" Squirt asked innocently. "This is quite far from where the Remora went down."

  "I was lucky, I guess," Haditha replied. "Did everyone else make it safely to shore?"

  "Four were lost," answered the fairy. "In addition to you and the captain, Loman and Tyroma were unaccounted for. Everyone else made it safely to shore."

  "That is wonderful news," Haditha said happily as she brought the fairy some water in a small shell cup. "I am amazed that so many survived."

  "Did someone rescue you?" asked the fairy.

  "No," Haditha answered. "I just ended up here."

  "Kalina will be pleased to hear that you have survived," offered Squirt.

  "There is no reason to bother her with such news," the water witch said slyly. "She has no further need of me, and I should probably return to the Endless Swamp. If you must tell her, just say that I am fine. I have no need of being rescued."

  "It would not be much of a bother to rescue you," the fairy smiled mischievously. "They will need to come this way in any event to rescue Captain Gomery."

  "Captain Gomery?" Haditha responded haltingly. "Whatever do you mean? Have you found him?"

  "I have," grinned the fairy.

  Haditha's eyes darted nervously around the room., but it was her sustained gazing towards the rest of the mine that confirmed Squirt's suspicions.

  "I knew that he loved you very much," Squirt stated, "but I was not sure that you also loved him. I can now safely say that you do."

  "You are not going to take him away from me," scowled Haditha as she realized that the fairy was onto her deceit.

  Squirt, slightly afraid that the water witch might try to imprison her, jumped to her feet. "You do not have to fear the Knights of Alcea," the fairy said reassuringly. "They would never force anyone to serve them. I am sure that if the captain wishes to remain with you, they would not care, but they do at least have the right to know that you both survived. There was much sadness surrounding the loss of both of you."

  "Better that they think we are dead," retorted the water witch. "They do not need our help."

  "I said that they would not command his return," frowned the fairy. "Why are you so hostile?"

  Haditha's face softened and tears welled up in her eyes. She sat down on one of the stone stools and put her face in her hands.

  "You think that he will leave you?" Squirt asked compassionately. "Is that the problem?"

  Haditha sobbed and nodded. "They will not need to command his return," she said softly. "He is driven by the need to do good. Once he has a way to contact Garth and Kalina, he will arrange to rejoin them."

  The fairy stared at the water witch a long time before responding. "Perhaps," she agreed, "but I think you judge him too harshly. There are causes for which a man would willingly give his life, and I think saving Alcea is one of those for Captain Gomery, but that does not make his love for you any less than what it is. I know that he cares enough for you to put your life before his own. Can you not share his love for you with a cause that is dear to thousands?"

  The water witch wiped her eyes and stared at the tiny woman on the table. "You make it sound so simple," she said softly. "How can you know what he cares about and what he will do?"

  "I have served the captain for many months," answered Squirt. "I know him perhaps better than he knows himself. Humans are often confused about the ways of love, but love is like breathing for fairies. In a way, the captain also loves Garth and Kalina. He will be happy to let them know that he is alive and safe because he knows that they worry about him. He will gladly return to them if they need his expertise, but he will be very hesitant to leave your side. I think you already realize this, and that is why you are upset, but I think you are looking at things wrongly."

  "How is that?" asked the water witch.

  "You see his devotion to Alcea as a competitor to his affections for you," replied Squirt, "but they are really two different kinds of love."

  "What is the difference?" frowned Haditha.

  "His love of you is the love of a man," explained the fairy. "He would rather spend the rest of his life with you than any other person in the world. He wants you to be happy, and he wants to be by your side to witness that happiness. His devotion to Alcea is of another kind of love. It is the love of an ideal. For the captain, Alcea is more than a mere country. It is a way of life that has long been denied to the world because man is prone to corrupt such ideals to satisfy his own selfish desires."

  "So it is different," shrugged Haditha. "That hardly changes anything."

  "But it does," persisted the fairy. "It changes everything when you are comparing his love for you to his love for Alcea. There is no compet
ition there. You cannot see that because you have never experienced Alcea. You can only compare it to what you have experienced, and that is the Federation and those corrupt countries that preceded it. You have to try to imagine a world where everything is as you would want it to be."

  "You make Alcea sound like some dreamland," countered the water witch.

  "In a way," smiled the fairy, "that is exactly what it is. It is not perfect in everyway, but it is the greatest civilization that has ever existed. I do not know how much Captain Gomery has told you of his homeland, but Alcea is more than a nation of humans. King Arik is the leader of the fairy people as well. We call him the Bringer. He is also the leader of unicorns, dragons, elves, and dwarves."

  "I cannot imagine such a thing," admitted Haditha.

  "That is precisely my point," grinned the fairy. "I truly believe that if you had experienced Alcea, you would offer your life to protect it because it is something special that should never be destroyed."

  Haditha did not respond, and Squirt decided to let the water witch dwell upon what was already said. For several minutes the chamber remained in silence. Eventually Haditha rose and patted her shoulder.

  "Come on," she said brusquely. "I will take you to Gomery so that you can get some sleep. I know that you won't sleep before seeing him."

  Squirt grinned and leaped onto Haditha's shoulder. The water witch lit a torch and entered the mine. She started walking through a maze of tunnels, but she appeared to know where she was heading. At each branch of the tunnels, Haditha chose the one that led downward.