“They are coming through the tunnel,” ThunderSword warned through an air tunnel.
“How can they?” replied MeadowTune. “Sakovan magic makes that impossible. They cannot find the tunnel entrance to StarCity.”
“Sakovan Magic only hides the entrance,” replied ThunderSword. “It does not prohibit anyone from entering the cave. One of them probably stumbled into the cave and discovered it. It does not matter now. Get troops up here fast to man the pyrons. We can hold them for some time if we can get the pyrons manned immediately.”
“I am passing the word now,” promised MeadowTune as the air tunnel winked out.
ThunderSword hid in his pyron, which was a carved-out niche in the wall of the cave. The long tunnel through the mountain was lined with the alcoves that only afforded protection in one direction. They were carved by the Sakovans ages ago as an added measure of protection when Star City was being built. Fighters could hide in the pyrons and safely shoot arrows or toss magical projectiles without fear of being overly exposed to the enemy. If the invaders did manage to push the Sakovans further back in the tunnel, the pyrons would be of no benefit to the attackers because they were wide open on the StarCity side.
ThunderSword wove another air tunnel and directed it towards the closer Sakovans who were also hiding in pyrons.
“Anyone here with magical projectile knowledge?” asked ThunderSword keeping his voice to a whisper.
“What do you need?” asked ValleyBreeze.
“The Omungans are moving cautiously,” replied ThunderSword, “but I wish to slow them down until more help arrives. Can you see them from your position?”
“Well enough,” answered ValleyBreeze as she stared at the distant torchlights. “How about some fire?”
“Perfect,” smiled ThunderSword. “Aim deep into them. I do not want this part of the tunnel to be illuminated.”
ValleyBreeze did not bother to reply. She aimed her fireball so it flew along the roof of the tunnel. It dropped well beyond the vanguard of the Omungans, and instant chaos enveloped the attackers. The tunnel flared into brilliance where the fireball struck among the attackers. Screams echoed through the tunnel as the Omungans sought to distance themselves from the burning flesh of their comrades.
Those behind the inferno retreated, but the vanguard surged forward into the darkness. A half dozen Sakovan arrows flew as one as the Omungans charged along the tunnel. The front row of the Omungans fell to the floor of the tunnel amid cries of agony and injury. A second volley of arrows immediately followed.
“They say that the dying can see a light at the end of a tunnel,” ValleyBreeze quipped out loud. “I wonder if it looks like this?”
ValleyBreeze’s hand released a ball of brilliant light. The ball sped towards the attackers, flattening into a disk as it traveled. The disk spread and sprouted blazing blades of light just before it sliced into the charging Omungans. The resulting screams were loud, but short.
“Warn us next time so we can close our eyes,” scowled ThunderSword. “I cannot see anything now.”
“Sorry,” ValleyBreeze replied sheepishly. “Cover your eyes. I plan to finish off the vanguard.”
The Sakovan mage waited a few seconds before unleashing her next spell. She was conditioned enough to avert her eyes as the brilliant light sped along the tunnel. She tossed one more spell and the tunnel grew quiet. Only the dim sounds of the wounded drifted in the air.
“I am done,” announced ValleyBreeze. “You archers can finish off the wounded.”
It was a few moments before the song of the first bowstring was heard. The Sakovan archers aimed by the sounds of the wounded and not by sight. Within moments the only sound was the distant shouting of the retreating Omungans.
“That will hold them for a while,” announced ThunderSword. “Where did you learn that spell?”
“The Chula shaman that Lyra brought with her when she was here last,” replied ValleyBreeze. “It is quite effective in an enclosed space such as this.”
“I can see that,” replied ThunderSword, “and it doesn’t waste arrows.”
“How long before they come again?” asked ValleyBreeze.
“Hard to tell,” admitted ThunderSword. “I suppose it will not be before the fires burn out. The problems as I see it is that there are far too many of them. We will need sleep eventually, but they can just send in fresh troops. We cannot hold this tunnel indefinitely.”
“We can, and we will,” asserted FalconEye from the safety of another pyron. “If we fail to hold this tunnel, all of StarCity will be destroyed. We can be relieved to get sleep just as well as the Omungans can. We just need to make sure that we keep our areas dark so that they cannot see what we are doing.”
* * *
“Come in,” smiled SunChaser as she saw who was at the door.
HawkShadow gazed in through the door as his eyes scanned the room before stepping through the doorway and leading SkyDancer with him.
“There is no one here,” SunChaser announced as she closed the door. “I told the servants to stay away until I recall them. Although they are loyal to me, I did not want them to see who was coming and going during these trying times.”
“Sounds like a safe approach to me,” nodded HawkShadow as his eyes continued to scan the interior of Cherri’s mansion. “You live quite well here.”
“Of course,” grinned SunChaser. “How else can I portray myself as the widow of a high ranking Omungan official? Would you like something to eat?”
“I sure would,” volunteered SkyDancer. “There is nothing to eat in Omunga. Do you have enough?”
“The rich are never affected by famine,” shrugged SunChaser. “Perhaps that is why they are so out of touch with the common citizen. Anyway, my kitchen is well stocked. I could not entertain the likes of the Minister of Defense if that were not so.”
“Have you kept in touch with StarCity?” asked HawkShadow as SunChaser led the new arrivals into the dining room.
“Of course,” nodded SunChaser. “I report in several times a day. I cannot afford to be lax in that regard. Okata is where the outcome of this war will be determined.”
“Perhaps,” shrugged the Sakovan assassin. “What happens at StarCity could also determine the outcome.”
“StarCity is under attack right now,” notified SunChaser. “There is fighting within the tunnel.”
“Then we must be swift with whatever we intend to do here,” SkyDancer interjected with a sense of urgency.
“Swift, but not hasty,” smiled SunChaser. “HawkShadow, go upstairs and enter the room at the top of the stairs. There are clothes in there for you. Put them on and come back down.”
HawkShadow looked at SunChaser questioningly, but she ignored him and went to the kitchen to get some food for her guests. When she returned, SunChaser placed bowls of salad on the table.
“That will get you started,” SunChaser smiled at SkyDancer. “I have some clova left over, but it is still being heated. It won’t be long.”
SkyDancer nodded her thanks and smiled. She was just dipping into the salad when she saw the Imperial Guard approaching. She leaped from her chair and pulled her sword.
“Easy, warrior,” chuckled HawkShadow as he entered the room dressed as an Imperial Guard. “Your food will not digest properly if you leap around while eating.” He turned to face SunChaser and asked, “What exactly am I supposed to do dressed this way?”
“Portray an Imperial Guard,” giggled SunChaser. “You do look quite official in that uniform.”
“Is that smart in a city with ten thousand other Imperial Guards?” asked HawkShadow.
“It is if you are to portray a soldier carrying orders from the Minister of Defense,” nodded SunChaser as she opened a drawer in a cabinet and retrieved a piece of paper.
She carefully folded the paper and then sealed it with wax using the seal of the Minister of Defense.
“Is that authentic?” asked SkyDancer.
“Oh yes,” nodded SunChaser. “General Kapla has two. He normally leaves one in his office and one at his home. This is the one from his home. The other is with him up north.”
“What does the paper say?” asked HawkShadow.
“It is marching orders for General Didyk and his army,” grinned SunChaser. “You are to portray a soldier on General Kapla’s staff. You will present this letter personally to General Didyk. No matter what anyone else says, you are to place it directly into the general’s hand. I do not want to take the chance of General Didyk saying that the orders never reached him.”
“Am I supposed to know what is in the letter?” asked HawkShadow.
“Not directly,” answered SunChaser, “but you will be aware of the purpose of the letter. As a member of General Kapla’s staff, you would have knowledge of something so important that orders had to be sent by special courier.”
“Makes sense,” nodded HawkShadow. “What are the orders, and why are they being issued?”
“General Didyk is being ordered to move his army to Alamar in support of General Romero,” answered SunChaser. “He is to leave immediately as General Romero’s army is under attack by Sakovans. The letter will explain how General Romero thinks he can hold out for no more than a week, so speed is essential. He is to leave without siege engines as they would slow his army down.”
“This is brilliant if he falls for it,” HawkShadow said with approval. “What if General Didyk questions the signature?”
“The signature is authentic,” grinned SunChaser. “I had General Kapla sign many blank papers when I was managing his investments. If that letter is placed into his hand, he cannot refuse the order. To do so would be treason.”
“What if the Katana countermands the order?” asked SkyDancer.
“He is the only one who could legally change the order,” frowned SunChaser. “The Katana must not learn of the order before General Didyk’s army has left the city.”
“Will this leave the city without Imperial Guards?” asked SkyDancer.
“No,” SunChaser shook her head. “There will still be five thousand soldiers attached to the city, and several hundred Monitors dedicated to protecting the Imperial Palace and the Katana.”
“Then what does this accomplish?” asked HawkShadow. “We cannot get any Sakovans out of StarCity while it is under attack. We certainly can’t take on five thousand soldiers by ourselves.”
“It gets General Didyk, and the troops that are loyal to him, out of the city,” answered SunChaser. “He is the biggest threat to us right now. General Lafor leads the city garrison. He is rather inept, which is why he has always been passed over when it came to selecting generals for the major armies. When Lafor dies, the soldiers will be rudderless. Their patrols will be sloppy or nonexistent as the soldiers will realize that no one is watching them closely.”
“Aren’t there other officers?” asked SkyDancer.
“Sure there are,” replied SunChaser, “but the city garrison is the graveyard for misfits. Any decent soldier yearns for a position in the large armies. Those who don’t measure up wind up in the city garrison. Even the officers are soldiers who have been kicked out of the major armies.”
“And how is General Lafor going to die?” asked the Sakovan assassin.
“I figured that I would leave that detail up to you,” smiled SunChaser. “The first thing to do is to get General Didyk out of the way. In my stables there is a horse for you in the last stall. There is a chest behind the stall. In it you will find all the trappings to make you look official. Make sure that you tire the horse first. It must look like you have just had a long and tiring journey.”
“I can do that,” nodded HawkShadow. “Where will I find General Didyk?”
“He has an office in the Imperial Guard headquarters,” answered SunChaser. “It is located on the park in the center of the city. You cannot miss it.”
“Show me to the stables,” said HawkShadow as he picked up the letter and put it in his pouch. “I might as well get this over with quickly so I can concentrate on General Lafor.”
SunChaser led HawkShadow out the rear door of the mansion and into an alley. Part way down the alley were the stables. She showed HawkShadow the chest and left him to prepare as he saw fit. SunChaser walked back up the alley and opened the rear door. A stray cat darted into the mansion as she opened the door. SunChaser followed it in and returned to the dining room.
“A cat just raced through here,” SkyDancer announced when SunChaser entered the room. “I didn’t know that you liked cats.”
“I normally have no time for pets,” SunChaser said as she went into the kitchen and set a bowl down for the stray animal. “This one showed up a few days ago. It is the cutest thing and I felt sorry for it. This is probably the only place in town that it can get something decent to eat.”
“You are a soft touch,” SkyDancer chuckled as SunChaser returned to the dining room. “Where was it hiding when we arrived?”
“Oh, it doesn’t spend much time in the house,” answered SunChaser. “It demands to go out every morning and only returns for food. It will want to leave again as soon as it is finished eating.”
A loud knock on the door startled SunChaser. She looked nervously towards the front door.
“Are you expecting anyone?” SkyDancer whispered.
“Not unless it is HawkShadow returning for some reason,” SunChaser whispered back. “Go hide in the kitchen.”
SunChaser waited until SkyDancer left the room before walking to the front door and opening it a crack.
“Temiker?” SunChaser said in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Trying to stay out of sight,” answered Lyra’s uncle as he slid through the open door. “I am not sure if anyone in this city would remember me, but I chose not to tempt the fates.”
SunChaser shook her head and closed the door. “That is not what I meant by the question,” she said as she ushered the Alamar mage into the dining room. What are you doing in Okata?”
“I felt the need to be here when Lyra arrived,” replied Temiker. “The situation in Alamar is going well enough that I was not needed there. Am I disrupting anything?” he asked as he noticed the plates on the table.
“Not at all,” smiled Cherri. “In fact, a friend of yours is in the kitchen. Go say hello while I clean up in here.”
Temiker walked into the kitchen and saw SkyDancer at the far end. His face broke into a smile and then he noticed the cat. The mage from Alamar shook his head for a moment and then moved quickly. He cast a freeze ball at the cat.
“What are you doing?” scowled SunChaser as she entered the kitchen and saw the spell go off. “Unfreeze that cat this moment. That was cruel.”
“Not until I know who it is,” Temiker said stubbornly.
“What are you talking about?” frowned SunChaser. “It is a cat.”
Suddenly icicles flew from the cat and it disappeared. Temiker backed up warily and pushed SunChaser backward as he did so. A moment later, a tall man with the face of lion appeared. His split lips were smiling.
“How did you know?” asked Ukaro.
A knife slid into SunChaser’s hand to face the threat, but SkyDancer was laughing.
“Our friendship has caused me to look at animals differently,” smiled Temiker. “Why are you here? Why have you kept your identity secret from SunChaser?”
“I do not know SunChaser,” shrugged Ukaro. “I was afraid that revealing myself would cause her to ask questions that I preferred not to address.”
“Who is this?” demanded SunChaser.
“This is Ukaro,” introduced Temiker. “He is the head shaman of the Zatong tribe of Chula in Khadora. He is down here to help us with the Omungans. He is well trusted by Lyra as well as myself.”
“I apologize for my deceit,” Ukaro grinned at SunChaser. “I also thank you for your care and nurturing since I arrived. For a human who does not have pets, you scratch very thoughtfully.”
“What are you doing here?” asked SunChaser.
“Snooping mostly,” admitted Ukaro. “It is amazing how many places you can go in this city as a cat. I have toured the headquarters of the Imperial Guard as well as the Imperial Palace. Today I managed to get into the Katana’s private garden. I also found a secret entrance to the Imperial Palace. It opens into the office of the First Minister.”
“That could be helpful knowledge,” SunChaser said with appreciation. “Are you able to move with ease inside the palace?”
“Sometimes,” shrugged the Chula shaman. “Cats have a hard time opening doors for themselves, and I did not dare to drop my disguise inside the palace. The time for that will come later.”
“So you feel as I do then,” nodded Temiker.
“How do you feel?” SunChaser asked questioningly. “What are you saying?”
“That the battle for Omunga will come down to killing the Katana,” Ukaro replied.
“More than that. Lyra has to take control of the Omunga government,” interjected Temiker. “It is the only way to rein in the huge armies. The government of Omunga must kneel before the Star of Sakova. No other result is acceptable.”
“I guess I agree,” sighed SunChaser, “but I cannot imagine how we will accomplish that. HawkShadow is delivering a note right now to General Didyk. If it works, the last major army will leave this city by morning. Still, this Katana does not make public appearances. I fail to see how a handful of us can storm the Imperial Palace and take control of the government.”
“Well we have time to work on a plan,” shrugged Temiker. “Lyra is coming here, isn’t she?”
“She is,” answered SkyDancer. “StarWind and Goral will also be coming. Everyone else is fighting the Omungans.”
“So there will be eight of us,” remarked SunChaser. “It is not much, but we will do what we are called to do.”
“Nine,” smiled Ukaro. “Do not forget that Kaltara will always be with us.”
* * *
The door flap to the great tent flew open and the officer hurriedly entered. General Romero looked up from his desk with annoyance.
“What great victory have you come to report this time?” the general snapped sarcastically.
The officer slowed his approach and walked to the desk cautiously. He knew better than to challenge the general’s mood when Romero was sarcastic.
“They destroyed our siege engines again,” reported the officer.
“I ordered you to create them far from our encampment,” shouted the general. “How would the Sakovans even know we were building them? Did you manage to take any prisoners this time?”
“No,” the officer shook his head. “The Sakovans vanish as soon as they attack. I had men strung out in the forest as sentries to detect their approach, but no one came or left. It must be some kind of magic that we do not understand.”
“Did they use that magical light again to destroy our machines?” asked General Romero.
“They did,” nodded the officer. “Some of my men tried to block the light with their bodies. The blades sliced right through the men and continued onward to destroy the siege engines. We have no defense against such spells, General.”
“Well start all over again,” bellowed General Romero. “I must have siege engines to get past their walls. Get out of here before I have you whipped.”
The officer hurried out of the tent, relieved to be out of the presence of the general. As soon as he left, a senior officer, who had been in the tent listening to the report, walked over to the desk and sat before it.
“Don’t take it out on the men,” the staff member said soothingly to the general. “They are doing everything they can. The fact is, General, that we have been outmaneuvered this time. Without siege engines, we will never defeat General Manitow.”
“Without food,” snapped General Romero, “we cannot even retreat to Tanzaba. We must get into Alamar now, or this army will die.”
“Then it is time for negotiations,” suggested the staff member. “Perhaps you can barter food for the retreat of our army?”
“If they even have enough food in there to feed my men,” sighed the general. “It is not a bad idea, though. I know Manitow. Perhaps I can bully him into surrendering. That would certainly shorten this siege. Ready my horse.”
“You are going yourself?” the staff member said with alarm. “Is that wise?”
General Romero snorted and stared at the senior officer as if the man’s fear was misplaced. He did not want to admit that he could not trust any of his men to go into the city. The general knew there was a good chance that whoever he sent would never return. Who could blame a starving man for staying where there was food to eat?
“I am not afraid of Sakovans or Manitow,” declared General Romero. “Ready my horse.”
The officer nodded and left the tent. General Romero straightened his uniform and gathered what he would need for the trip. When he stepped out of the tent, the officer was waiting with the general’s horse. The general mounted his horse and rode towards the city walls.
General Romero thought briefly of a defender shooting him with an arrow, but he quickly dismissed the fear. As he approached the city, he could hear shouts rippling along the wall. It was obvious that the general had been recognized for who he was. Few officers had only one arm, so he knew that he was easily identifiable. He rode straight for the closest gate. As he neared the walls, the gate opened to admit him into the city. The general rode through the gate and stopped when a wall of pike men confronted him.
“If the general will dismount,” stated an officer of Alamar, “I will take you to General Manitow. Your horse will be cared for until you return.”
General Romero felt awkward inside the city of Alamar. He was grateful for the officer’s welcome as it gave him a chance to retain his dignity while crawling to the enemy. As the general was guided to the headquarters of the Imperial Guard, his eyes wandered in every direction. He observed the number of men upon the walls, and the state of their armor and weapons. He was dismayed to find no faults with either.
General Romero had never been to Alamar before, but he felt as if the officer was taking too many turns to reach the headquarters. Still, he had no choice but to follow. The tour wound its way through the marketplace, and the general nearly stumbled as he failed to watch where he was going. He halted and stared at the stalls of the market. Food was heaped upon the tables, and the prices were ridiculously low. His eyes widened as he watched a butcher carving up a large wasooki.
“Sorry, sir,” the officer said disrupting the general’s thoughts. “I should have warned you about that rough spot in the street. Are you all right?”
“Fine,” snapped the general. “I am just fine. Lead on.”
Although the general could not see it, the officer was grinning as he continued to lead the general through the city. The next thing the general noticed were the tradesmen that dealt in weapons. Thousand upon thousands of new arrows were piled high in front of the shops. New swords, axes, maces, and pikes were stacked thickly along the sides of the stalls. The general shook his head and followed the officer.
The general continued following the officer while seeing everything that he could. He noticed a lot of warriors were out of uniform, and he wondered why. He finally decided to ask the officer.
“Why does General Manitow allow those soldiers to appear in public without their uniforms?” he asked. “I thought the general was more intelligent than that. Doesn’t he realize what that does for the morale of his troops?”
“The people without uniforms are not Imperial Guards,” answered the officer. “They are part of the Citizens’ Brigade.”
“What is the Citizens’ Brigade?” asked General Romero.
“They are normal citizens,” answered the officer. “They only take up arms when the security of the city is threatened.”
“Preposterous,” the general shook his head. “What is the purpose of such a foolish thing?”
“The purpose, General,” smiled the officer, “is to enlarge the army of Alamar by five times.”
“Five times?” echoed the general as he halted in the street and stared at some of the warriors passing by. “Are you telling me that there are four thousand citizen warriors defending Alamar?”
“In addition to the one thousand Imperial Guards,” nodded the officer as he urged the general to keep walking. “Many of them are quite skilled. In fact, the Citizens’ Brigade often defeats the Imperial Guard when games are held. They are quite impressive. Ah, here we are.”
General Romero looked up and saw the headquarters of the Imperial Guard. The officer escorted him into the building and along a corridor to the office of General Manitow.
“The general is not in at the moment,” announced one of the sentries outside the office.
“I will let General Romero get situated,” answered the officer, “and then I will go find him. Right this way, General.”
The officer ushered General Romero to a chair and then retreated from the room.