Richard Tuttle - Army of the Dead

“Then you will be allowed to remain,” HawkShadow declared. “Get me some bread and water.”

The soldier nodded as HawkShadow reached out and touched the sleeping form. He felt the person move, but he could not be sure that it was StarWind. A black sack covered the person’s head and a blanket covered the body. HawkShadow peeled the blanket back and saw the black cloak of a Motangan magician. His heart skipped a beat as he began to believe that it was actually StarWind.

“There is some meat available as well,” offered the soldier as he held out a flask of water and a loaf of bread. “There is not much of it, but enough for you to ease the hunger. Would you like some?”

“I am not hungry,” HawkShadow said as he rose to a standing position and turned to face the soldier. “The bread and water is for you. I want you to dampen the bread and stuff it in your ears. Keep adding more until you can no longer hear my voice.”

HawkShadow watched closely as the soldier complied with the order. He kept talking softly, saying nothing in particular. Eventually the soldier nodded and indicated that he could not hear. HawkShadow turned and bent towards the sleeping body. He gently removed the black sack from the prisoner’s head. He felt as if a jolt of lightning was racing up his spine as he saw StarWind’s face staring at him with wide-open eyes. He smiled broadly and winked at her.

Dropping the sack on the floor, HawkShadow rose and spun towards the soldier. The assassin’s straight rigid fingers stabbed into the soldier’s throat before the man could understand that he was in trouble. The soldier’s eyes bulged from his head, and his mouth opened wide to scream, but nothing came out except a desperate wheezing. HawkShadow’s hands streaked out and grabbed the wrists of the soldier. The soldier fought to free his hands, but only for a few moments. HawkShadow lowered the dead soldier to the ground and turned back to StarWind.

“Are you crazy?” she whispered. “Do you have a plan to get us out of here?”

“No to both,” grinned HawkShadow. “Roll onto your stomach so I can cut the ropes binding you.”

StarWind immediately complied and HawkShadow’s knife sliced through the ropes holding StarWind’s arms behind her back. She sat up and rubbed her wrists as HawkShadow pulled the blanket completely away.

“Mages are only allowed to enter or leave via the mage section,” whispered StarWind. “That is what got me caught. I came in the wrong entrance.”

“Then we shall leave through the mage section,” smiled HawkShadow. “I already know where it is. Move out of the corner.”

StarWind rose and moved away from her makeshift bed. HawkShadow lifted the dead soldier and placed him where StarWind had been. He pulled the black sack over the man’s head and then covered the rest of his body with the blanket. He turned to find StarWind rummaging through a sack in the other corner. He smiled as he saw her slipping knives under her cloak and into her boots. He waited patiently until StarWind was reequipped and ready to leave.

“If I try to remove the prisoner,” explained HawkShadow, “the sentries outside will not allow it without approval. So this is my plan. I am going to go out first. Wait a short while and then follow me. I will not be in sight when you exit the tent. Just turn to your left and walk calmly until you find me. Okay?”

“If you hear a fight,” nodded StarWind, “get yourself out of here. There is no sense in giving them two prisoners.”

“I am not leaving without you,” declared HawkShadow. “If you start a fight, expect me to rush to your side. My advice is to avoid the fights. Let’s just go home.”

StarWind grinned and nodded. HawkShadow smiled and moved to the door flap. He opened it slightly and stepped outside. The two sentries immediately turned to see who was leaving the tent. HawkShadow marched angrily towards them.

“Why didn’t you tell me that another mage was already interrogating the prisoner?” scowled HawkShadow. “Are you trying to make me look like a fool?”

“I didn’t know anything about it,” one of the sentries said defensively.

“We just came on duty a short while ago,” added the other. “We truly did not know. Will this cause trouble?”

HawkShadow maintained his glare for several seconds before sighing loudly and shaking his head.

“It could cause trouble,” HawkShadow said conspiratorially, “but it doesn’t have to. The other mage has already put the prisoner into a sleep spell, so I was not able to interrogate her. Listen. Avoid the other mage when she leaves. Try not to make eye contact with her or talk to her. If you can accomplish that, perhaps all of this will blow over and be forgotten. One word and her nasty temper will draw everyone’s attention to you. I have to go.”

“We will say nothing to her,” promised one of the sentries as HawkShadow made a left and walked calmly along the path.

Moments later, StarWind nervously moved the door flap aside. Both sentries immediately turned away from the door and stared into the darkness. StarWind did not bother to be curious by their behavior. She immediately turned to the left and walked into the darkness. She walked for several minutes before a dark shape moved from behind a tree and started walking alongside her.

“What was all that about?” StarWind asked.

“I will tell you later,” answered HawkShadow. “For now let’s concentrate on getting out of here. I didn’t want to mention it before, but exiting through the mage section makes me very nervous. They have constructed a fence of black cloth around their campsite. Everything inside that fence is black, even the tents. I fear they may have the ability to recognize their own people.”

“And we will stand out,” nodded StarWind. “There may be something to your feeling. I was captured by a mage, not the soldiers. Perhaps we are better off leaving the way you came in?”

“That is not workable,” HawkShadow shook his head. “I needed a diversion from Goral to get in. We cannot get back out that way.”

“Poor Goral,” frowned StarWind. “He begged me not to come here, but I insisted. I bet he is blaming himself.”

“Of course he is,” shrugged HawkShadow. “Logically he knows that there was nothing he could do to save you, but he still feels responsible.”

“I will make it up to him somehow,” promised StarWind.

“It is too early to make such promises,” warned the assassin. “Think about it after we get out of here.”

“I will not be taken prisoner again,” StarWind said with determination. “If we are discovered, expect me to fight to the death.”

“I will be by your side,” HawkShadow declared. “We will take as many of the Motangans with us as we can.”

HawkShadow grabbed StarWind’s hand and dragged her off the path when the black fence came into view. They stood beside a large tree and stared at the gate.

“I know little of what is on the other side of the fence,” admitted HawkShadow, “but I doubt that we can change our minds once we pass through that gate.”

“What time is it?” asked StarWind

“A couple of hours before dawn,” answered HawkShadow.

“We have little choice then,” shrugged StarWind. “If we are still in this encampment when the dawn arrives, we will be dead.”

“Then let’s do it,” HawkShadow said more confidently than he truly felt.

The two Sakovans stepped back on the path and walked towards the gate. HawkShadow tried to open the gate, but it would not budge. He frowned and tried to pull harder, but it would not open.

“Magically locked?” StarWind suggested softly. “We cannot stand here like fools trying to open it.”

HawkShadow nodded and grabbed StarWind’s hand again. He led her back to the large tree, and they stood in the darkness.