Richard Tuttle - Army of the Dead

“You see,” smiled Premer Tzargo, “the rumors are not entirely false. You will also understand where six of the wasooki will be going tonight.”

Premer Cardijja tore his eyes away from the demons and looked at Tzargo. He found the head premer smiling broadly at him. Cardijja realized that he was being used as a source of amusement for Tzargo, and he quickly turned away to watch the procession.

In the center of the six huge demons, Emperor Vand walked silently. His head swiveled slightly as he took in the sights of the city, but his expression was one of disinterest. Premer Cardijja noticed that six more black-cloaked mages followed the demons. There were no soldiers in the Emperor’s inner circle.

“Are there no military advisors within the Emperor’s party?” Cardijja asked as he turned to Premer Tzargo.

“I am in the Emperor’s party,” replied Tzargo. “I am the only military advisor he needs. Come. We are to lead the parade.”

Premer Cardijja dutifully followed Tzargo and led the procession along the main street of Meliban. He halted outside the administration building, wondering how the demons would fit through the doorway. His silent question was immediately answered when one of the demons simply marched through the doorway, sending showers of wood splinters raining onto the porch as the wooden frame gave way to the black-rock creature. Cardijja stared at the now-enlarged doorway and shook his head. He bowed deeply as the Emperor passed by, but Vand did not appear to even notice him.

“I must make sure that the wasooki are prepared for the Emperor’s party,” Cardijja said to Tzargo as he hastened to get away from the administration building. “If anything is required by the Emperor, I will have men stationed in the park up the street. You only need to ask, and it will be supplied.”

Premer Tzargo grinned as he watched Cardijja flee. He remembered his own feelings the first time he met the demons, but he was not about to feel sympathy for his rival. Cardijja was well respected by his men, and even Tzargo had to admit that the man was capable of great deeds, but he was not about to allow anyone to come between the Emperor and himself. A true Motangan never allowed that.

StormSong, ValleyBreeze, HawkShadow, StarWind, and Lyra dismounted from their chokas and turned to look at the narrow canyon they had just come through. General Didyk and General Manitow slid off their horses and joined the small group.

“Are you sure that halting and making a stand is a wise idea?” asked Lyra. “There are still far too many of the Motangans left.”

“This is the only passage in this ridge for a league in either direction,” nodded HawkShadow. “The plan is not without risks, but this is a golden opportunity to trim their numbers.”

“This is the ridge that I drew on Doralin’s map when I was captured,” interjected StarWind. “He thinks it runs on for leagues and leagues. He will be forced to bring his armies through it.”

“He would be a fool to believe you,” scowled StormSong. “Besides, he will obviously know that you are no longer captive. Won’t he change his plans?”

“He might,” shrugged HawkShadow, “but that does not change my thinking. Let’s assume that he is smart enough to send men out in each direction. Marching a league will take a good deal of time for those troops. Meanwhile, we can position archers atop the ridge where it ends.”

“So if he does question my information,” StarWind nodded, “his men will die three times as fast. We fight those coming through the canyon while our archers attack both ends of the ridge.”

“I think it can work,” added ValleyBreeze. “We could also have mages up with the archers. Our only problem will be breaking off the fight and retreating when they start to overrun us.”

“That is a problem,” frowned HawkShadow. “There is no easy way off the ridge.

“We can station troops on this side at each end of the ridge,” offered General Manitow. “We should be able to halt the Motangan advance long enough to give some time to those upon the ridge.”

“And how will your men retreat?” asked Lyra.

“Our men will be mounted,” answered General Didyk. “We can surely outrun the Motangans. Personally, I like this plan. I am glad that I am no longer fighting the Sakovans. The Motangans will lose a great many men in this battle. It will be a glorious victory for us.”

“You seem united in this,” smiled Lyra. “So be it then. We will stand here and inflict as much damage as we can on the Motangans, but I want an organized withdrawal when the time comes. This will not be our last stand.”

“Agreed,” nodded HawkShadow. “We must preserve our people if we are to win this war.”

“Have you contacted Marak about what I learned during my capture?” StarWind asked Lyra.

“Not yet,” the Star of Sakova shook her head. “I will do that right after this meeting.”

“And you will do that from StarCity?” StormSong asked sternly.

“I am not a feeble old woman,” frowned Lyra. “I have much to offer in these battles.”

“No one is questioning your power or your courage,” interjected HawkShadow, “but you are more than just a military weapon. You are the heart and soul of our people. Your loss, even if a simple wounding, would demoralize our people. We cannot risk that at this time.”

“He is right, Lyra,” StarWind smiled compassionately. “You are the symbol of Kaltara to us. The time will come when your powers are truly needed, but it will not be a minor battle in the woods of the Sakova.”

“Minor battle?” balked Lyra. “You cannot possibly believe that? Our whole army is on the line in this battle.”

“Our whole army is on the line each and every day,” declared General Manitow. “I agree that the Star should remove herself from the battlefield. I am going to ready my troops.”

“Manitow has already spoken my words,” smiled General Didyk as he bowed to the Star and retreated after General Manitow.

StormSong and ValleyBreeze smiled and also left. Lyra glared at HawkShadow and StarWind.

“The two of you planned this,” accused Lyra, “didn’t you?”

“If you mean making the others leave so that we could be alone with you,” grinned HawkShadow, “then the answer is yes. StarWind and I would like you to marry us before you return to StarCity.”

“Before I return…” Lyra began with a scowl, but she suddenly stopped short with a look of disbelief on her face. “Did you say marry you?”

“He did,” grinned StarWind. “We want your blessing.”

Tears came to Lyra’s eyes, but she smiled broadly. She rushed over and hugged StarWind.

“I am so happy for both of you,” Lyra cried. “We can have a big celebration when we all return to StarCity. I will have a beautiful gown made up for you.”

“We do not want to wait until after the war,” StarWind said softly. “We do not even want to wait until after this battle. We want you to marry us now.”

“Before the battle?” Lyra frowned as she broke the embrace. “Is that wise?” she asked without having to explain her reservations.

“It is the wisest thing that either of us has every done,” HawkShadow replied with a grin. “We will put our faith in Kaltara to make our a marriage a long and happy one.”

“And if He decides differently,” added StarWind, “we are ready to accept His judgment. HawkShadow and I have already discussed this at great lengths. Our minds are made up.”

“Talking to either one of you when your minds are made up is bad enough,” chuckled Lyra. “I will not even attempt to second guess your resolve, but will we have time to put together a wedding here on such short notice?”