Richard Tuttle - Army of the Dead

“They must know that we are baiting them,” HawkShadow said to StarWind. “Every time we get some ground between us, we start up the fires and have a meal, and they keep marching until they reach us. They are not fools.”

“I do not take them for fools, HawkShadow,” replied the spymaster. “Yes, they know that we are baiting them, but it doesn’t matter to them. They will keep coming after us until we are all dead. They do not need to hurry.”

“But we are mounted,” frowned HawkShadow, “and they are not. We could run rings around them. How do they ever plan to catch us?”

“I am sure that they have strategies worked out for that,” replied StarWind, “but I will not pretend to know what they are. I can make guesses though. They have many more men than we do. They can afford to spread out as they pursue us. They can also break off armies that will not be seen by us, because we are watching this big red horde out there. Sure, we have speed on them, but where are we going to go? They plan to conquer the entire landmass. There will be no hiding place for us.”

“StarWind is right,” interjected General Didyk. “They can slowly follow us to the west coast, or the south coast, or the Kalatung Mountains, but they will eventually surround us and kill us. Even if we cross the mountains into Khadora, they will follow us. Worse, their armies in Khadora will probably be waiting for us.”

“But we can continually attack them and run,” argued HawkShadow.

“We can,” agreed General Didyk, “and I suspect that they expect us to do just that. They look forward to each and every encounter with us, whether it is initiated by them or us. That is the strategy for fighting when you have such vast numerical superiority. They can easily afford to trade us man for man. They will still have a huge army left when we are all dead.”

“I have no intention of trading warriors with them,” scoffed HawkShadow. “At least not on an even basis. We will hit and run, but the results will not be to their liking.”

“On that we agree,” grinned StarWind. “Come sit with me and go over this map, HawkShadow. You know the heartland better than anyone alive. Give me your ideas on where we should stage our actions.”

General Didyk left the couple and strode across the makeshift campsite. He saw a small group of Sakovans sitting quietly and approached them.

“I heard about the loss of your friend, SilverEdge,” the general said. “I wanted to let you know that I share your grief of his loss. Not too long ago, we were enemies, but I have grown to admire you people. I heard about your heroic stand in Alamar to make sure that the mages and General Manitow got out safely. You have earned the respect of me and my men.”

“Thank you, General,” nodded Goral as Didyk walked away.

“One would think that defeating him in war would have already earned his respect,” snapped SkyDancer.

“That is uncalled for,” chided DarkBlade. “While he may not have known SilverEdge personally, I think his sorrow was genuine.”

“Many Imperial Guards also died in Alamar,” added StormSong. “Have you told their friends how sorry you are for their loss?”

“I didn’t ask for his sorrow,” spat SkyDancer as she rose and stormed off.

“What is wrong with her?” frowned StormSong. “You would think that the Omungans are still our enemies by her attitude.”

“She fears losing those who are close to her,” shrugged DarkBlade.

“Don’t we all?” asked StormSong. “We all loved SilverEdge. Why is her burden so much greater than ours?”

“It is more than the loss of SilverEdge that bothers her,” Goral said softly. “She mourns for the future losses as well as the past.”

StormSong frowned at Goral and shook her head. “Now I know why you don’t talk much, Goral,” she said. “When you do open your mouth, nothing understandable comes out.”

Goral shrugged but did not reply. StormSong sighed with exasperation and strode off towards the campfire. DarkBlade sat next to Goral and began to sharpen his sword.

“What did you mean by that, Goral?” he asked. “What exactly does SkyDancer fear?”

“SkyDancer is in love,” Goral said softly. “SilverEdge’s death showed her just how fragile life is these days. She fears losing the object of her love to this war. That makes her hate this war very much.”

“She thinks that HawkShadow is going to die?” questioned DarkBlade.

“What do I know?” replied the giant. “You should ask SkyDancer about her feelings.”

“I know you well enough, Goral,” chuckled DarkBlade. “I don’t buy the stupid giant routine at all. Others may think that you are slow, and you may enjoy them thinking that, but I know better. Does she think that HawkShadow is going to die?”

“She fears losing HawkShadow,” nodded Goral, “whether it is through death or some other means does not make much of a difference to her. The end result is the same.”

“We all may die before this over,” shrugged DarkBlade. “If she truly feels that strongly about HawkShadow, she should be spending every single moment with him while they are both alive.”

“She would not argue that point with you,” replied Goral. “Nor would I. When they are together is the only time that she smiles.”

“Where is HawkShadow?” asked DarkBlade. “I know I saw him earlier today.”

Goral nodded towards the spot where the assassin sat reading the map with StarWind. DarkBlade saw the couple sitting and frowned. Without a word to Goral, DarkBlade turned and strode over to HawkShadow.

“Tayo, HawkShadow,” said DarkBlade. “I think SkyDancer was looking for you.”

“Tayo, DarkBlade,” HawkShadow replied, tearing his eyes away from the map only for a second before returning to it. “Could you tell her where I am?”

“I think she knows where you are,” replied DarkBlade.

HawkShadow frowned in confusion, but StarWind nodded knowingly.

“I think that I have enough to dwell on, HawkShadow” smiled StarWind as she rose and started folding up the map. “Why don’t you go rest and enjoy our short stop while you can.”

“I would rather finish our discussion,” protested HawkShadow.

“Another time,” StarWind said definitively as she turned and walked away.

HawkShadow turned and frowned at DarkBlade. “Did I say something wrong to her?” he asked. “Her leaving was rather abrupt.”

“No,” DarkBlade sighed as he shook his head. “You said nothing wrong. Why don’t you go and find SkyDancer. She is feeling pretty low right now. I think you could cheer her up.”

“I imagine that she is dwelling on SilverEdge’s death,” frowned HawkShadow. “She liked him a great deal. His death must hurt her quite a bit.”

“Something like that,” replied DarkBlade. “Losing you would hurt her a lot more. Go and spend some time with her.”

HawkShadow nodded and strode off. A feeling of satisfaction filled DarkBlade as he watched the assassin walk away.

“You should not have done that,” came a voice from behind DarkBlade.

DarkBlade whirled to see MistyTrail standing behind him. “Why not?” he asked. “She needs him right now. She loves him.”

“You do not understand HawkShadow as I do,” frowned MistyTrail. “You may just have endangered his life.”

“What?” balked DarkBlade. “What a nonsensical thing to say. By telling him that SkyDancer loves him? Surely, he must already know that?”

“He knows that she loves him,” nodded MistyTrail. “She has said so to him, but he does not feel the same towards her. He likes her a great deal, but his heart belongs to another.”

“Who?” asked DarkBlade.

“That does not matter,” replied MistyTrail. “Like SkyDancer, HawkShadow’s love is not returned by the woman he loves.”