by H. M. Clarke
“Wing Commander, do you have anything to eat? I’m starving.”
Harada tried to hide his smile as he slipped a hand into his belt pouch and pulled out a wrapped wad of jerky.
“Here, this should take the edge off.” Harada tossed him the food.
Holm deftly snatched the packet from the air and quickly unwrapped it.
“Thanks, Wing Commander,” he mumbled before tearing into the jerky.
“Holm, did the men say why Kalena, Kral and the two Hatar aren’t with them?”
The Flyer nodded and quickly swallowed the food in his mouth.
“Yes. They, along with Lieutenant Peana and some of his men have gone to Daegarouf to talk to the Pydarki. I also forgot to say that Captain Vosloo was missing, the Lieutenant is looking for him.”
“Vosloo’s missing? So, we find one and then lose another. Oded is not going to be happy about this.”
“Well, he’s not missing anymore. This group of men has found him. The Captain is traveling down the road with them.”
Harada shook his head and Samar let out a rumble from her chest as if she was laughing.
“Holm, you really need to work on your reporting style.”
Holm Lunman just nodded as he had gone back to gnawing on his piece of jerky.
‘Motta says that Captain Vosloo will give a report to Oded, but the information on Kalena will need to be gleaned from the men. Vosloo was away while Kalena was with them.’
‘What do you think about the news that Kalena is the Queen of the Ice Tigers?’
‘Motta confirms that that is what the men had told Holm. The Ice Tigers look to Kalena as their leader and that the Ice Tigers are going to war with the Arranians. The Tigers blame them for a lot of the killing that has happened to their people.’
‘They do? We’ve killed Ice Tigers as well, does that mean they will come against us as well?’ Harada mused.
‘Maybe, or the Ice Tigers could just think that the Arranians are responsible for all of their deaths.’
Harada could hear the noise and then low voices through the underbrush from the direction of the path. The group of men had met up with Colonel Oded on the trail. He leaned back against Samar’s shoulder to wait while the two Hatar talked privately among themselves. Holm moved to lean next to Harada, giving Samar a hard scratch around her wing join by way of compensation. It was a place that was an inconvenient spot to put a head or claw to so Samar did not mind.
Without saying a word, Harada plucked another packet of wrapped jerky from his pouch and handed it to Holm. Holm took it and eagerly tore the wrappings from it.
The sun had visibly moved a whole finger’s width across the sky before the sounds of moving bodies came towards them. Harada and Holm pushed themselves away from Samar’s side with Holm quickly brushing away jerky crumbs from his jacket front to make himself presentable.
Slowly, Harada saw men leading horses coming towards them. At their head, he recognized Captain Vosloo and Oded.
As Oded and Vosloo entered the clearing, the Coloenl gestured for Harada to move with them to one side, out of direct hearing of the main group.
Once the three of them were sure of their privacy, Oded turned to Harada.
“We’ve caught them this time. We’ve got them. Inman is a dead man.”
Harada’s eyes widened at Oded’s blunt words and his eyes flicked to Vosloo to gauge his reaction. The man showed no surprise.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Tell him, Frazier.”
The Captain drew a deep breath, uncomfortable about something, but nothing related to this news.
“My men and I have discovered that there are some traitors lurking in the Suene Empire. We have witnessed with our own eyes Justicars meeting with Arranians along one of the Northern passes. My men have uncovered that there is a rogue Arranian group working on traitorous actions to their own country and that this is the group working with the Justicars. Prince Garrick and the Emperor need to know this.”
“Do you have any physical proof of this treachery?” Harada asked.
“My Sergeant is carrying a packet captured from one of the rogue Arranians, and some of my men recognized some of the Justicars at the meeting as coming from Fort Foxtern. One of them was Videan Tsarland.”
Harada’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. That was the last name he expected to hear.
“Harada, we need to send word back to Garrick immediately. He needs to get ready for this so that he can stop things from progressing to outright war,” Colonel Oded hissed.
Harada thought a moment and then decided.
“I’ll send Holm and Motta with the news and the packet with orders to report only to Prince Garrick.”
Oded nodded. “We’ll return to Fort Foxtern with Captain Vosloo, who will report to me and Inman that the Arranians are massing only because of the Ice Tigers and not us. Make no mention of treachery until we hear back from Garrick. I want to see what his reaction is.”
Oded turned to Vosloo. “Then, once we get a moment to ourselves, you can report to me the reason you left your men in the first place.”
CHAPTER THREE
“YOU BELIEVE MEN NOT skilled in spy work when they tell you that the Arranians and the Ice Tigers are not Allied?”
Harada watched as Justicar Inman stopped his pacing to address both Colonel Oded and Captain Vosloo. Harada stood back by the door, an insect beneath the notice of the Justicar. Captain Jerant sat down in a chair behind Inman’s desk, just as beneath the Justicar’s notice as he was.
“I believe what they tell me they saw with their own eyes,” Vosloo snapped back.
Even from his position, Harada could tell from Vosloo’s tone and stance that he would prefer to be reporting to the man who on paper is supposed to be in command for Fort Foxtern. Not a Justicar.
“The camp of Ice Tiger dead? Done a few days ago?” the Justicar snorted. “That work was not done by the Arranians. That nest had been cleared out by Jerant’s men.”
“What?” Oded could not keep the surprise from his voice, as he turned to look at Vosloo.
“They killed a group of Arranians in retaliation. Why would they do that if they were allies?”
Inman shrugged. “How would I know what goes through the mind of a beast.”
Harada noted that Jerant moved uneasily in his chair, but made no effort to speak. Inman was making sure that all knew who was really in charge here.
“Our intelligence states that the Arranians are massing to attack us and that they have an Alliance with the Ice Tigers. We will keep our troops ready to act against any form of Arranian or Ice Tiger aggression.
Harada gritted his teeth. His father should have officially announced Garrick’s control of the armies by now. The fact that he hasn’t as yet must be due to Felian’s work. Harada fervently hoped that his brother was making headway in cutting her down.
“If the Arranians were going to attack us, wouldn’t they have done it already? Now would be the perfect time since only a small part of the army is stationed in the pass. Their forces could punch an entry here with ease and minimal losses.”
Inman scowled, and then resumed his pacing. The man was agitated. And annoyed. He was not happy about being questioned and contradicted.
“When Prince Garrick takes control of the Northern Armies, he will not look favorably on those who did not prepare adequately.”
Colonel Oded made the implied warning implicit in his words. Harada could tell that the man was frustrated, but bringing Garrick’s name into this atmosphere could only make matters worse.
Inman paused in his pacing, one foot balanced on his heel, hesitating on completing its step. If Harada didn’t know any better, he would think that Inman felt fear. Strange that even the mention of his brother’s name would cause that reaction. Maybe Felian and her cronies are not as secure in their position than they first thought. Father must still be loyal and listening to his son.
Then an unnerving thought
entered Harada’s mind. Maybe the reason Garrick’s command had not yet been announced is that their father wanted to keep him in the Capital. Maybe their father was not as under Felian’s control as they thought. Maybe...Maybe’s are cloud dreams. Not real until they happen.
The Justicar’s foot abruptly fell to the ground and the man continued his pacing. The scowl that crossed the man’s pale face showed plainly his annoyance to his reaction to Oded’s words. But the man gave no answer to the Colonel.
“Captain Jerant and I will only act upon intelligence gathered from reliable sources.”
“Are you inferring that my men are not reliable?” Vosloo’s voice was not raised, but the threat in it was unmistakable.
“I am inferring that they are not trained to know what they are seeing.”
Oded placed a warning hand on the Captain’s shoulder and the retort that was boiling on his lips was swallowed back like bile.
“Until we have this information verified by our own intelligence agents, we will continue to operate as if the Arranians are planning on attacking us. You are dismissed.”
Harada bristled at the casual dismissal of the Colonel as if he were a common infantryman, but the Colonel said nothing. He grabbed Vosloo by the upper arm and they both turned and left the room. Harada fell into step just behind them and closed the door as they exited.
No one spoke a word as they walked past the fort buildings back to the army encampment that skirted around the rear of the fort. As soon as they arrived back by their tents and campfire, Vosloo exploded.
“What in The One’s name just happened?”
Oded raised his hands. “Not so loud Frazer,” he hissed. “Even here there may be unwelcome ears listening in.”
Vosloo visibly took control of himself though Harada could see that his fisted hands were held tightly at his sides.
“What just happened was a confirmation that what you witnessed in the pass is connected to the Justicars here at Fort Foxtern,” Harada’s voice sat low in his throat.
“So, the traitors ARE working with the Arranians.”
“So it seems.”
Oded sat down on one of the large logs arranged in a circle around the fire. Harada followed suit and, after a moment’s hesitation, so did Vosloo.
“I hope Holm doesn’t have any trouble finding Garrick. Felian’s feelers might be more extensive than we thought,” Oded muttered.
“Holm can be quite resourceful when he wants to be,” Harada answered. “And Inman gave me the impression that Felian’s power might not be as strong as we thought.”
Oded cocked his head and gave Harada a quizzical look. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t think their control over Father is as absolute as they would like it to be. I think that the reason Father hasn’t made Garrick overall commander is that he wants Garrick close to him.”
“You got all that from Inman’s pacing?” Vosloo’s disbelief was plain in his voice.
“And from what he didn’t say,” Harada finished with a small smile.
“Either way. It still doesn’t diminish the danger we are in at the moment. It seems that the Justicars here want us to go to war with Arran,” Oded said.
“And the Ice Tigers want to go to war with Arran as well,” Vosloo said slowly as if thinking on the issue.
“And the Arranians are going to war with the Ice Tigers. Not us.”
“Unless something is done to provoke them.” Harada shot up from his seat.
“Vosloo, do you think that was what that meeting in the pass was about? Arranging a confrontation to start a war?”
Frazier Vosloo started to nod. “It makes sense. Our rogue Justicars and those Arranians are wanting to stir a fight between everyone.”
“So, why did you take off from your men?” Oded suddenly asked.
Harada sat back down on his log as Vosloo started to reply.
“Our camp was attacked by something. At first, I thought it was Ice Tigers but it turned out to be something quite different.”
“Different? What do you mean?”
“Let’s just say that there is more in these mountains to worry about than just the Ice Tigers. It looked like a giant demon hound and it’s saliva ate everything it touched. One tried to get into the tent of my Lieutenant... I decided that I would track this thing myself. Don’t ask me why I did that. At the time it seemed like the right thing to do, and for some reason, I felt this animal was somehow linked to the Pydarki, just as I think the Pydarki are involved with Kalena’s disappearance.”
Harada jerked back in surprise, not quite believing what he had just heard from Vosloo’s lips. He saw the look of startled surprise come over Oded’s face as well.
“What makes you think the Pydarki have anything to do with this? It was more likely an Arranian Spellcrafter. Except that the Ice Tigers somehow got to Kalena first before the Arranians could.”
Oded quickly recovered himself. “Yes. Holm told us that the Ice Tigers are no friends to Arran, that they are fighting each other in the mountains. I still cannot believe that Kalena is now their leader...”
“But as their leader, the Ice Tigers will not be attacking us. I notice that you did not report that to Inman.”
Harada leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, waiting for Oded to respond.
“No. I didn’t. But it will be reported to Prince Garrick.”
“Do you believe that if you had reported to the Justicar that the Ice Tigers were now being led by a Hatar Kalar that he would have sent men out to actively kill any Ice Tigers they found?”
Oded nodded. “He would do it in an effort to kill Kalena. He can’t have a fly in the ointment spoiling their plans.”
“Just as he is the fly in our ointment spoiling ours?” Vosloo said drawing both men’s attention back to himself.
Oded looked back at him but said nothing.
“Did you end up finding your monster, Frazier?” Harada asked to cut the stilted silence.
“No. I saw no sign of it once I lost that initial trail, but I swear I could feel them watching me.”
Harada raised an eyebrow at the vehement emotion in Vosloo’s voice.
“That thing came into our camp looking for something. Or someone. I want to know why.”
“Instead of finding your monster dog, you found a small group of your men,” Harada said, trying to get the conversation back on track.
“Yes. And we watched and listened to those traitors as they waited for their Arranian accomplices. Their talk as they waited incriminated them as surely as if we had seen them meet with the bastards themselves.”
“Well, too bad they didn’t incriminate Inman,” Oded muttered.
“He’s just as guilty and we all know it,” Frazier spat out. “We should incarcerate him and all his cronies to meet the justice of the crown.”
“Not without solid evidence we can’t,” Harada sat back and looked at both men. “This discussion is mute until we hear back from Garrick, or if Inman drags us into a war, not of our choosing.”
Oded Sighed. “Let us hope Garrick is having more luck than we are in the Capital.”
CHAPTER FOUR
THINGS WERE GOING WELL, so it shouldn’t have surprised Garrick when he encountered a little friction when entering the Imperial city. The soldiers being called up to join the Northern Defense were encamped a mile from the Imperial Capital’s walls. It was orderly, respectful, even with the usual camp followers, merchants and ‘entertainment’ providers attracted to the call of the easy coin.
Shatal snorted and shook his head causing Malchance’s grey to nicker and bare his teeth.
“Now, now Shatal.” Garrick slapped the horse affectionately on the neck. “You’re a warhorse, remember. You need to get used to being dirty and mud splattered again.”
Shatal just flattened his ears against his head and raised his nose so that it was above the dust of the road.
“I think Shatal has the right of it Garrick.” Malchance move
d in his saddle adjusting his weight while reining his grey back in to stop him nipping at the black. “I’d prefer to face a horde of Arranian blades than the viper’s nest we are now heading into.”
Prince Garrick gave the Duke a grim smile and glanced back over his shoulder. Behind them rode a full company of Garrick’s elite guard. One hundred elite warriors dressed in their ceremonial best, banners streaming from their lances and completely devoted to the safety of their prince. The dust of the road did nothing to detract from the effect, and it will give a message to the citizens of Hered that the imperial family still holds power within its walls.
“The Honor Guard is a nice touch, Garrick. I know you don’t like the ostentation but it is for the peoples benefit, not yours.”
“I know Willard. I want Felian to get the message that I will not roll over and get my belly rubbed like my father. It takes a lot more than sweet words and seduction to bring me under her power, and that’s all she dabbles in.”
Malchance sneezed as the dust tickled his nose. “And she’s tried both on you already.”
“No one is going to replace Caitin in my bed or my heart. No one.” Garrick’s words smashed low and hard like granite rocks in the atmosphere around them.
“And I am not saying that you should Garrick, Caitin was my sister remember,” Malchance replied in a hurry. “But the men will show Felian and her cronies that you mean to hold on to your Father’s power and that you will not be unprotected.”
“I know. By the One I hate Hered. I hate the politics, the sniping, the backstabbing, and the sycophancy... Harada should be in my place, he lives for this stuff.”
Malchance let a small smile touch his lips. “But that is not the case and you will have to work with the hand fate has dealt you.”
“I wish Harada were with me. I wish Kale-“
“Garrick!”
Garrick cut his words as Malchance’s warning. He automatically looked about them, even knowing that there were no unwelcome ears around them. But the familiar pain rose up to overwhelm him, blanketing him in its sorrow.
“I just wish I didn’t have to give her up.”
