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Part 20

With a stifled yawn, Kent picked himself up from his armchair in front of the fire in his study. In the chair beside him, Marien had finally fallen asleep and was dozing comfortably. The two had talked for hours, with Marien revealing all she knew of Conrad's plan, and about the strength of her own company.

Taking a knitted wool blanket from a wooden box by the fire, Kent tucked Marien in. She shifted a little, but stayed asleep.

"So, Conrad wants to start a war with the humans." Kent thought to himself, crossing his arms and staring up at the portrait of Vahlen. "It's a bolder move than I expected from him... I suppose it's possible that he genuinely believes the intelligence regarding the wolves."

Kent shook his head, "No... Conrad's too smart for that. He would have checked and triple checked. He knows it's false. He knows he's starting a war on false pretenses."

Turning to his drinks table, Kent poured himself a half full glass of rum. As he took a sip he looked back up at the portrait. "But what about the Chariots... what do they get out of all this?"

"I wish you were still with me." He said softly, raising his glass to Vahlen. He chuckled as he took a gulp. "Of course, if you were here, you'd be scolding me for drinking so much. Sorry mate, never quite managed to kick that one."

Taking another gulp, Kent sighed heavily. "You were always supposed to be the one who forged some new destiny for our people, you were the one Alaric trusted, not me. I just wanted to be a soldier... you just dragged me along for the ride."

Kent had to stop himself from laughing out loud as he looked back at Marien. "A tradition that I am carrying on it seems. Suppose I can't help myself..."

With a heavy sigh, Kent looked down at the amber liquid in his glass. "Still wish I knew how the King found out about you and I. Though I suppose you're the reason she-"

The glass slipped from Kent's hand and his eyes grew wide as a realization shot through his brain like an arrow. The glass hit the rug, the fire spitting as droplets of spilled rum flew into the flames.

"The King! Conrad must know Adelaide would never condone the war... she'd try to end it, but that would make her look weak..."

Kent spun around to a painting of Tahl Chariot hanging on the wall. "The war hawks have been calling for an attack on the human empire since the mana tower fell! If the Chariots give them the war they've been pushing for..."

Kent's hand clenched into a fist, his voice low as he growled to himself through gritted teeth. "They'll fall in line. The Chariots will have total control of the military, they'll be able to challenge Adelaide without resistance... And if they win, Conrad goes from traitor to a national hero in an instant. They'd probably make him a bloody general, the misunderstood, underappreciated General, who did what he had to to defend his people while the King did nothing."

Turning to a window, Kent looked out over the lights of the harbour, "Old friend... What have you done?"

As quickly and quietly as he could, Kent retreated from his study.

As he stepped out into the hall, Kent turned to his bodyguard, Bruik, who was leaning against the wall beside the door.

"Please see to it that our guest is extended every courtesy."

Bruik bowed, "Yes master."

"Has Sara returned home yet?"

"No Master, she has not."

Kent crossed his arms, "She's vanished before... but never for this long."

Bruik's nose twitched. "Perhaps, sir, she has finally gotten all that she required from you?"

"Bruik... I realize that it is in your nature to be suspicious, but you really should work on your timing." Unable to shake a feeling of unease, Kent frowned. "No... it's something more, I can feel it. I'm going to go look for her."

"Sir... far be it from me to question your orders, but perhaps you should get some sleep?"

"My wife is missing, and you want me to sleep?"

"No sir."

"Good, then-"

"The city is filling with Chariot soldiers, Conrad Kolvest is preparing to start a war, it is raining hard enough to drown a fish, you haven't gotten a full night's sleep in five days, AND your wife is missing."

"It would seem you are making my point for me. There is little time and I-"

"Master," Bruik interrupted, "I will guard your body with my own. I would deflect a knife with my own heart if it came to it. But I cannot protect you if your body gives out. I would ask of you, master, that you approach this like the soldier you are, and ask yourself if you would trust a commander who has not rested to lead his troops?"

For a moment Kent was silent, staring at his bodyguard. Finally, with a smile, he bowed his head. "I am lucky to have you in my service, my friend."

"Yes master, I tend to agree."

"As soon as the sun is up, get word to the Thirteenth Company, have them start assembling here, on the grounds."

"And what if General Kolvest notices their departure?"

"Well, I actually had a thought on that..."

===

"H-high priestess... I'm scared."

Alwyn smiled as warmly as she could and took the shaking hand of the young woman in front of her.

When the Chariot soldiers invaded the Hearth, Eysa Jandal had fought hard, trying to defend others as they retreated. During the fighting she had taken a spear thrust to the chest, and a long, deep slash to her back and stomach. Now she lay on a blanket, her breathing coming in rapid gasps as her skin grew pale and her life faded away.

"I know, it's okay to be scared," Alwyn said softly, stroking Eysa's hair. "But the spirits are waiting for you. They saw how you protected your own. You were so very brave."

"But... but those that... that die in battle... we..." Eysa coughed for a moment. "We... we don't go... to the spirits..."

"That's not true." Alyn gently squeezed Eysa's hand. "When you meet the Spirits, the souls of all those in the Hearth who came before you will be there, to speak on your behalf. They will protect you, and welcome you as one of them."

"I feel... so cold..."

"I know." Alwyn placed a hand on Eysa's chest. "It's alright. Close your eyes and go to sleep, your task is done."

Eyas blinked heavily, fighting to keep her eyes open as she slumped, her hand going limp in Alwyn's grip.

"Papa..." she whispered.

"That's right, go and see your father. And someday, I'll be there too, I promise."

"A-Alwyn... mama... please... I... I don't want... to go..."

As Eysa trembled, Alwyn began to sing quietly.

"I'll be there,

When the mountains crumble into dust.

I'll be there,

When shields and swords have turned to rust.

The spirits sing,

Their call, so soft.

At the end, when we sleep...

I'll be there.

Eysa's breathing became weaker and weaker, her grip on Alwyn's hand fading.

"I'll be there,

When all we see is dark and cold.

I'll be there,

Waiting for your hand, to hold.

And so you sleep,

In peace, so deep.

All I need in this world is you.

"So I'll be there..."

As Alwyn sang, Eysa's chest went still, and the spark of life faded from her eyes. Squeezing her hand one last time, Alwyn carefully pulled the woven scarf from around Eysa's neck and placed it over her face.

"Are you alright love?" Teela asked, approaching from behind as Awlyn climbed to her feet.

"Six years ago, when the grey fever came... we lost four of our people, including Eysa's father. I remember thinking that those were the darkest days I could have imagined. How wrong I was..."

"It's awful. I wish I knew a better word but... But it's just awful..."

"I remember the day she was born." Alwyn said, looking back down at Eysa's body. "By the spirits, I remember the night she was conceived. Kalee had been having trouble finding the right mate in Hearth Takrikon. But the moment she laid her eyes on Katis, her mind was made up. An hour after meeting, they were in Katis's nest."

"That fast?"

"That fast." Alwyn nodded. "Katis had never mated before, he was so nervous, but so excited. As soon as he and Kalee were finished, he came running up to me, his hair and his fur still a complete mess. He took me by the hand and dragged me back to Kalee and asked me to bless their child. I told them it was too early to tell, that they wouldn't know for weeks if Kalee was pregnant. But they both had this look on their faces, they knew they were going to have a child. So I blessed them... and one year later, Eysa came out of her mother and into my hands, screaming and crying louder than any young one I had seen before or since."

"I remember that day." Teela nodded, "Four births in one night... I don't think I've ever been more exhausted."

Alwyn knelt down and stroked Eysa's hair. "And as she grew up... by the spirits she was quick on her feet! I thought she could even run on water if she tried. And until today... there wasn't a lick of fear in her, not once."

Alwyn took a shuddering breath. "And now... I'm going to have to send a message to her mother, telling her that her daughter is dead, on my watch."

"It's not your fault."

Alwyn swung around, drawing in breath to yell, but the frightened look in Teela's eyes stopped her.

With a heavy sigh, Alwyn looked down at her hands, still stained with blood, "I may not have killed them myself... but I was supposed to protect them. I failed in that charge."

"You did protect us! If it hadn't been for you, we could all be dead, or worse! By the spirits, love, we were betrayed centuries ago by that monster's ancestor! You couldn't have known!"

"I should have been more prepared!"

"Even you have to sleep sometimes! This burden is not yours alone to bear!"

"We shall see," Alwyn replied as another Basitin approached her.

The Basitin, a young male, bowed "High Priestess."

"Sillas, what is our condition?"

"Six dead, fifteen wounded, eight of those seriously. Ms. Dawn doesn't think Lee'Elle or Oaka will survive the night."

"Hayves, Jenna, Capella, Sumi, Barris, Torrel, and now Lee'Elle and Oaka..." Teela shook her head, "Even if we took on new members, encouraged breeding, and stepped up our training of the young ones, it will take years to recover from this."

"What of the weapon?" Alwyn demanded.

"We investigated the northwestern passage and it was just as you suspected. We stashed the weapon according to your instructions, High Priestess. If it goes off... they will suffer. "

"Fine, now what of our food?"

Sillas shook his head. "The Chariot woman didn't lie, her soldiers found and destroyed nearly all of our foodstocks, as well as our tools and weapons. We have enough food left for... two, maybe three weeks tops. Although..."

Alwyn raised an eyebrow "Although?"

"They didn't find the supplies we had cached in the lower caverns. We have enough food in our hidden store to last for months, as well as a supply of weapons."

Teela's ears perked up. "Is there enough food to allow us to retreat to another Hearth?"

"It would be a stretch... but yes."

Teela turned to Alwyn. "I know it's drastic but... Maybe we should consider retreat? I'd rather lose a few pounds than stay here."

"You want to abandon Hearth Tabar?" Alwyn demanded. "If we leave, there will be only one Hearth remaining in East Basidian! Our mission in the east will be crippled, perhaps forever!"

Sillas frowned. "With respect, high priestess, I think the Easterners just showed us their true colours. Perhaps it would be better to retreat to friendlier territory and leave them to their wars."

"That is not our way. We stand to help all Basitins!"

"Well maybe that's the problem!" Sillas snapped, the anger in his tone startling both Teela and Alwyn.

"We just got stomped on!" Sillas bellowed, his voice drawing the attention of many of the other Hearth members. "They just walked in here and crushed us, murdered us, like we were vermin."

Spreading his arms, Sillas called out to the gathering crowd. "I for one am sick of trying to protect a culture that those ignorant fools up there forsook years ago! I say to hell with them! They wanna have their war, they wanna act like bloody-minded barbarians, let them! Let them burn, let them die if that's what they want so badly! Why should we care? Why should we have to suffer for their stupidity?!"

"Are you finished?" Alwyn asked, an icy coldness in her voice as she glared at Sillas.

"Not even close! Say what you will about the Westerners, but at least they have tried to hang on to some shreds of our past. Maybe it's time we stopped sitting on the fence and actually did something for a change! Maybe it's time we abandoned this ridiculous pacifism of yours and picked a side! The side that will leave us in peace when all this is over!"

Before Alwyn could respond, Teela stormed up to Sillas and slapped him, the walls of the Hearth echoing with the sound.

"How dare you talk to her like that!" Teela shouted, her face red with anger.

As Sillas rubbed his cheek, Teela looked around at the other Hearth members. "Is that what we are? People who are good and kind and peaceful when times are good, but when things get hard we become just as bad as the warmongers and hypocrites on the surface?"

"You said you wanted to leave!" Sillas snapped.

"I was speaking from fear!" Teela replied, baring her teeth at Sillas. "And I believed it, right up until you showed me what fear turns us into! Look at you, turning on the woman who's kept us safe for years! Alwyn has sacrificed everything to defend us, and you dare call her ridiculous?! You should be ashamed!"

Teela turned and pointed at Eysa's body, "She died, our brothers and sisters died, fighting to defend us! You think they would want us to abandon everything we are?"

"They wouldn't want us to stay and die either!" A voice called out.

"Everyone here can leave anytime!" Another voice from the crowd shot back.

Gesturing around at the crowd, Teela called out to the murmuring crowd. "Living here is a choice! Doing what we do, keeping our culture alive, is a choice! And we don't make that choice because it's easy, we make it because it's right!

"Yeah!"

"Damn right!"

Sillas took a step back as Teela rounded back on him. "So if you want to go off and join the fighting, go and do it! Go on, scram! But don't you dare pretend it's for any reason other than your own revenge! And don't you DARE blame Alwyn!"

"Love, that's enough." Alwyn put a hand on Teela's shoulder.

Looking out over her people, Alwyn called out. "The choice we must make affects us all. Whether we go along with the Chariots' demands, and whether we abandon Hearth Tabar. We will... have a vote, to decide what our next course should be."

Sillas stepped up and bowed his head, "High priestess, I spoke rashly, I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to insult you. I was... I was upset and-"

"No." Alwyn shook her head. "You were right. The choice to remain as we are is no longer an option for us. And I do not think it is right that I alone should decide our next course of action."

"But High Priestess, that is our way! We follow your orders, you are the one the spirits have called to, you are the one who should lead us!"

"That way has failed, as have I." Alwyn turned away, "We shall hold the vote later. In the meantime, stoke the furnaces... we must care for our dead.

===

Sara shifted and slowly opened her eyes as she was awakened by a low moan. As Youlan was also asleep, nestled in Sara's lap. Even through the thick cotton curtains, Sara could see the golden yellow light of morning.

As she shifted, blinking away the cobwebs of sleep, Sara heard the moan again, clearer this time.

"Hey, wake up!" She shook Youlan, "Come on, get up!"

"Huh? Wh...what is it?"

"Lyon, he's waking up!"

In a flurry both women clambered to their feet and approached Lyon's bedside.

"How is he?" Youlan asked, rolling up her sleeves as Sara checked under Lyon's bandages.

Sara's eyes narrowed, "Damn... the poultice isn't binding. He's not bleeding as much as before, but he is still weak."

"Who... is there..."

Slowly Lyon's eyes slid part way open. "Y-you are... Silver..."

"Yes." Sara nodded, speaking softly, "I'm Sara Silver, I'm here to help you."

Youlan ran over to the door and shouted to the guard outside, "Go and get Davit, Lyon is awake."

Lyon gasped in agony as he tried to move.

"You must stay still!" Sara urged as Youlan hurried back to the bed.

"Shani... where.... where is Shani?"

"I don't know." As Sara held Lyon's shoulders, Youlan's hands again began to glow.

Thin tendrils of mana extended from Youlan's fingers to Lyon's skin. Almost immediately Lyon's breathing grew calmer and his pant of agony faded.

"You have to remain still," Sara urged. "I managed to remove the bolt and patch some of the damage, but you are still weak."

"Shani..." Lyon gasped. "She must... she must be stopped!"

"I think maybe we should put him back under," Youlan interrupted.

"No... no you have to... listen..." With a burst of strength, Lyon raised an arm and grabbed the front of Sara's tunic. "War..." he gasped, "Shani wants... War... Stop her..."

"War? War with who?" Sara demanded.

"The... Empire... Human Empire..."

Sara's eyes widened, "The troop movements... the units shuffling back and forth... Preparations for war!"

"Shani... will start it... she must... stop!"

"I really think he should sleep!" Youlan snapped, her eyes glowing a little as she met Sara's gaze.

"Yes... I agree." Sara pulled Lyon's hand from her tunic and guided it back down to his side. Reaching to a clay bowl sitting beside the bed, Sara withdrew a small bundle of herbs and rubbed them between her palms

"Here," she placed the herbs beneath Lyon's nose. "Breathe deeply and relax."

Lyon fought to try and turn away, but Sara grabbed hold of his chin and held his head still. Almost immediately the herbs started to take effect.

"Stop her..." Lyon managed to gasp as his eyes rolled back in his head and he relaxed, "Stop... Shani..."

"Is he out?" Youlan asked.

"Yes." Raising her head, Sara met Youlan's gaze, her eyes narrowed into angry slits, her ears flattened against her head and her tail lashing back and forth. "I was wondering what a human was doing here is Basidian... I suppose I have my answer. You're here to help the Chariots start a war."

"You don't know anything," Youlan growled. "They all called me a traitor, my father, the templar, all of them, treated me like scum. They can burn for all I care. In fact, I'm going to make them burn."

"They're your people!"

"They stopped being my people the moment they marked me!" Youlan snapped. "They branded me, so I'm going to brand them, I'm going to help your army burn the human empire to a smoking cinder."

"I can't let you do that!"

"Oh, and what are you going to do?" Youlan demanded, crossing her arms. "You swore, on your honour and your husbands honour, that you would take no action against me or anyone else."

Sara froze. Suddenly the knife that she had secreted up her sleeve, felt very heavy.

"Kent..."

"Do you have any idea what will happen when the Empire retaliates!" Sara demanded. "It will be a disaster, for everyone!"

"'Retaliates'," Youlan scoffed. "What retaliation could they manage? The only thing holding the human Empire together is the Templar, and they are only interested in their own power. Their precious Grand Templar is missing, the King is dead, they are still squabbling over his successor, Keidran slaves are revolting all across the Empire, and the wolves are just itching for another chance to invade. One little push and it falls apart."

"Even if that were true, consider how many will die!"

Youlan shrugged. "That's not my problem."

"Not your problem?!"

"My people betrayed me, murdered the man I loved, and burned a curse into my cheek. They left me only one place to go, Basidian. To get here, I needed to pay a toll, so I paid it. What happens after that is none of my concern. I'm no more responsible for the war than a blacksmith is for a sword he sells."

"This goes beyond me." Sara growled, "I can't let you start a war!" As she spoke, Sara raised her hand, preparing to throw the knife at Youlan.

Youlan took a step back, fear in her eyes as raised her hands, mana crackling around her fingers. "So what you're telling me is that Basitin honour only lasts as long as it is convenient." Youlan spat. "How very human of you."

Sara's hand trembled, her teeth grinding as her mind raced. But finally, she released her grip on the knife and it clattered to the floor.

"No..." Sara replied.

Youlan started to smile smugly, but paused when Sara met her eyes again.

"But the moment Lyon Chariot is out of danger, my oath will not bind me any more."

Youlan's fear was replaced by anger. "D-did you forget who has magic here?" she demanded, raising a hand.

Sara cried out as suddenly the weight around her neck grew incredibly heavy and dragged her to the ground. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't move.

As Sara struggled, Youlan walked around the bed, her hand raised and a ball of fire crackling in her palm.

"You're a fool!" Youlan barked. "I could kill you in an instant!"

"If you do... My husband will burn you alive!" Sara snarled, glaring up at Youlan.

"You think you can threaten me? Do you really not understand your position here?"

Before Sara could reply, Davit and a pair of Chariot guards entered the room. Immediately Davit surged forwards and roared, "Youlan no!"

"Wait, Davit, I-I wasn't going to!" Youlan stammered, stepping back as Davit approached. "But she said she was going to kill me!"

"Lighten the restraint!" Davit drew himself up in front of Youlan. "Now!"

With a wave of her hand, Youlan released the spell. Though the metal was still very heavy, Sara found that she could move again.

"I understand your position." Sara panted as she slowly pulled herself up to her feet, her muscles and bones aching from the sudden fall. A small line of blood ran down her forehead as she met Youlan's gaze. "You're an angry.... Scared little girl. And you're hoping, desperately, that your revenge will fill the hole in your heart."

Youlan's face twisted in furious rage as she raised her hand again. "How dare you!"

"Youlan! Enough!" Davit barked, grabbing her wrist and forcing it down.

"But she-"

"Calm. Down." Davit ordered, his voice soft yet firm.

Immediately Youlan stopped fighting, the ball of fire in her palm vanishing.

"Sorry..." she muttered, refusing to meet Davit's gaze.

"Just be calm and think your actions through."

"I... Yes, I will..."

Now, what of Master Lyon?" Davit asked, turning to Sara.

"His wounds are healing slowly, but there are signs of infection." Sara turned and stepped back over to the bedside, gazing down at Lyon's body. "I think the bolt may have carried fibers from his clothes into his chest. I'm seeing early signs of superation, and the flesh around the wound is quite warm."

"Lethal?"

"The poultice I applied should slow the infection and help his body to heal. But he's lost a great deal of blood, and he is very weak." Sara crossed her arms and sighed, "Honestly, at this point, it could go either way. But I am doing my best."

"Very well." Davit looked back at Youlan, "I want you to stay here and continue to assist, understood?"

"Understood." Youlan nodded, glaring at Sara.

"Good, in the meantime-" As Davit spoke, another guard entered the room and hurriedly whispered something in Davit's ear.

The look on Davit's face shifted ever so slightly. By the twitching of his eyes and tail, Sara could tell that something was very wrong.

"Fine." Davit replied, waving the guard off. "I'll be right there."

Turning back to Youlan and Sara, Davit nodded his head. "Please continue to do your best, both of you." As he turned to leave he paused for a moment, "Oh, Mrs. Silver, there is one final thing..."

"Yes?"

"You swore an oath, which you have thus far kept to, and I respect that. Just know this, I too swore an oath, to protect her." He nodded over at Youlan. "If she is harmed, by you or anyone else, my response will be... definitive."

As she met Davit's steely gaze, Sara heard Youlan's breath catch behind her. "Very well." She replied with a small nod. "I understand."

===

"Sir, I really must insist that you wait outside and-"

"Nonsense." Kent replied, hands in his pockets as he strode down the main entrance hall of the Chariot Manor. "It's so crowded out there, and the rain, I'll just wait for your masters to return."

"Sir, this is inappropriate."

"Pshaw, Lyon and I go way back, I'm sure it won't be a problem. Main parlour still straight ahead?"

Ignoring the stuttering complaints of the servant, Kent entered the main parlour. Cold droplets ran down the vast windows looking out over the bay. From the window, Kent could see a huge array of tents being set up on the grounds around the manor, temporary housing for the hundreds of Chariot Soldiers that had arrived.

"Lady Chariot." Kent nodded, giving a casual salute to the huge painting over the fireplace. As he did, he noted that the sword that usually hung beside the painting was missing.

"General, with all due respect, if you do not vacate this place until the masters return, I shall call for the guard!"

"Feel free." Kent replied carelessly, turning to inspect the row of plants. "You will find that I am still in charge of internal security for Basikal, which means I can enter any house I damn well please." As he spoke, Kent's gaze touched upon something on the floor.

"Now, while I wait, get me a cup of tea. Green, with honey, ginger and a dash of pepper."

The servant's eye twitched, his Basitin compunction to follow orders colliding against his furious indignation. "I... You... I..." Finally sighing in defeat, the man bowed, "Yes General, as you wish."

As the servant bustled off, Kent made his way along the row of plants, before stopping in front of one with long, thin yellow leaves. But the plant was not what had caught his eye. Kent knelt down, and from just underneath the bottom shelf, he pulled out a small silver knife.

Flicking open the blade, Kent's eyes narrowed as he noticed the letters 'S.S.' carved into the metal.

The sound of approaching footsteps in the hall drew his attention. Quickly tucking the knife into his tunic, Kent stood and turned.

"Good afternoon General Silver." Shani said with a little bow as she stepped into the parlour, a long crimson cape billowing out behind her.

Jabarian followed along behind her, still dressed in his form-fitting black tunic.

"Lady Chariot, what a pleasant surprise. I didn't know that you had returned to Basikal." Kent replied with a nod, keeping his voice light and jovial despite the anger swelling in his chest. As Shani entered the parlour, Kent noticed that she was wearing Tahl Chariot's sword at her hip. The blade had obviously been cleaned and sharpened, the hilt glinting with renewed polish.

"Her ladyship's movements are none of your concern." Jabarian replied, meeting Kent's gaze with cold focus. Kent noted that there was no trace of the rasping in his voice that he had heard when Jabarian had been trailing around behind Lyon, nor any shuffling of evidence of stiffness in his legs.

"Like a spider shedding its carapace." Kent's eyes narrowed, "A very poisonous spider at that..."

"Jabi, don't be rude." Shani scolded. She bowed to Kent again, "My apologies General, I was unaware that my movements were a matter of import."

Kent shrugged, "It is always a matter of import when one of Basikal's daughters returns after so long away. How did you find the Capital?"

"Exhausting. So much work to do."

"I'm sure."

"So, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Shani asked, folding her hands behind her back and striding past Kent to the collection of plants.

"I had heard that the Chariot family had moved almost the entirety of their forces back here to Basikal," Kent replied, nodding out the window at the sea of tents. "I wanted to see them for myself. I must say, I am impressed."

"Thank you."

"Of course, I would be remiss in my duty as head of Basikal's internal security and commander of the garrison if I didn't ask you just why."

"But General... I thought I had heard that you were no longer in command of the Garrison. "

"Indeed." Jabarian added. "If I'm not mistaken, that honour has been passed to Colonel- No, I'm sorry, Lieutenant General Kolvest."

Shani smiled to herself as she noted Kent's cheek twitch ever so slightly.

Running her finger down the length of a crimson cactus spine, Shani spoke in a casual voice. "Either way, I've received intelligence that the Westerners are planning to attack Basikal once the rainy season ends. As a 'daughter of Basikal', it is my duty to defend my home."

"How very noble of you. Of course... I hadn't heard that intelligence."

"Oh? Perhaps it simply... slipped through your net."

"That is possible. Though I should warn you, there is so much false intelligence floating around, who really knows what is real and what is imagined."

"I will keep that in mind, General."

"As charming as it is to speak with you, I would like to have a word with your brother. Is he available?" Kent asked, his tone darkening ever so slightly,

"I'm afraid not." Shani replied, carelessly picking a flower from a nearby plant and twirling it in her fingers. "He took some men and went on some sort of 'survival march'. He won't be back for some time."

"I do hope he is safe."

Shani dropped the flower to the ground and crushed it with her foot as she turned back to Kent. "I am sure he would appreciate your concern. I will be sure to pass it along, General."

For a long moment Shani and Kent stared at one another. The air practically crackled as an invisible war raged between them. Both combatants knew full well that the other was lying, but neither wanted to be the one who showed their hand first.

"They could try and kill me, but even for them that would be dangerous." Kent's mind raced. "They must know they can't take me alive, or at least not without a fight."

"You're a brave one, General," Shani pondered as she studied Conrad's face. "You just walked right into the hornets nest and dared us to sting you. A clever way of measuring our strength."

"They have my wife, I'm more valuable to them alive."

"He knows that just by being here, he's forcing our hand. He's trying to make us do something rash." Shani smiled to herself, "No doubt you have a backup plan in the event that either I or Jabarian decide to attack."

"She's too smart to take that bait."

"Of course, he has no idea that he is already too late. "

"So, unless they are truly desperate they'll have to-"

"The only thing I can do is-"

"Let me go."

"Let him go."

Shani smiled and bowed respectfully. "Well, General, it is always a pleasure when you visit, but I have business to attend to."

As Shani spoke, Davit appeared from one of the side passages.

"Ah, better late than never." Shani gestured at Davit, "General Silver, our head of house security, Commander Davit Rogal."

Davit bowed his head to Kent and then to Shani. "My apologies my lady, I didn't know he was here until he was already in the house."

"Oh it's no problem, the General is always welcome in our home."

Davit nodded again. "Yes ma'am, thank you ma'am."

"Now, General Silver, Davit will escort you to the front door, just to make sure you don't get lost."

As Kent and Jabarien turned to leave, Shani called out, "Oh, would you and your wife like to join us for dinner?"

Kent froze, and for a moment he seriously considered going for his weapon. Sensing this, Jabarian's hand drifted towards the daggers on his hip.

"I would be delighted, Lady Chariot." Kent replied, nodding respectfully at Shani, a friendly smile plastered on his face. "Rest assured, I shall return soon."

Shani watched with a smile on her face as Davit and Kent left the parlour.

Jabarian strode over and closed the doors behind them. "We have a problem." he hissed, turning back to Shani. "General Silver is making his move."

"Indeed."

"Then we should use his wife." Jabarian licked his lips as he tapped his fingers on the hilt of one of his swords, "Perhaps a finger or a chunk of ear would be enough to convince him that moving against us would be a painful exercise."

Shani laughed out loud, "You really are old fashioned Jabi. But no, there is no need for us to make a move ourselves."

"What do you mean?"

Shani took a deep breath and crossed her arms as she walked towards Jabarian. "Get a message to Conrad. Tell him it is time for him to earn his pay."

As she stepped around the table, suddenly Shani stumbled, catching herself against a chair.

Jabarian raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong?"

"I'm tired," Shani replied, quickly straightening, her face suddenly very pale. "I haven't slept well in days."

"Tired?" Jabarian frowned, "Surely I taught you better than that."

"You would think so, wouldn't you!" Shani snapped, the sudden anger in her voice startling Jabarian. With a long, deep breath, Shani stepped up to Jabarian and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry Jabi, I'm not angry with you."

Jabrain slapped Shani's hand away hard. "Good," he growled, glaring at Shani. "Now keep your focus. We cannot afford any slip ups at this stage."

Shani paused, her hand stinging slightly from Jabarian's strike. After a moment, her gaze hardened. "Fine, Jabarian, if that's how you want it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have things to attend to."

Shani stalked past without so much as a glance and left the parlour, slamming the door behind her.

With a soft chuckle, Jabarian pulled a knife from his belt and examined it. "It seems it's taking effect. Thank heavens they are both so utterly predictable."

===

As the door slammed behind Kent, Bruik stepped away from the doorframe. "You know Master, it is very hard to protect you when you order me to stay outside."

Bruik paused as he noted that Kent's teeth were clenched and his tail swishing sharply back and forth.

"What is it, Master?" Bruik asked.

Instead of answering, Kent tossed something over his shoulder as he started down the front steps. Catching it, Bruik looked down at the small knife in his palm.

"This is..."

"They have Sara." Kent snarled, a black rage in his voice that made even Bruik take a step backwards. "They all but announced it to me."

Bruik followed Kent as he marched back towards the carriage waiting to take them back to the city. With a nod at the driver, Bruik entered the carriage as it started to move.

"The Thirteenth has finished assembling at your residence." Bruik asked, handing the knife back to Kent. "Should we move against them?"

"I can't." Kent replied, glaring out of the window, his teeth still clenched. "Not while they have an army protecting them. Even if the Thirteenth could punch through them, they'd kill Sara before I got to her. 'Sliver' would see to that."

"Sliver?"

"He's here. Under my nose this whole time."

"Isn't he the assassin who-"

"Yes... he is."

"But he must be old by now-" Bruik paused, "The butler..."

"The butler." Kent's claws tore furrows into the seat cushion. "Jabarian... or should I say, Anton Riech, Sliver. He's back, and aligned with the Chariots, which means he's aligned with Conrad."

"I see... then we are going with the secondary plan."

"Yes." Kent looked back at Bruik, all of the humour and light that was normally in his eyes utterly absent. "Get into town and go talk to Sieg Kolvest. Turns out we are going to need him after all."

===

"Major, I'm sorry, I was-"

"I don't want to hear it Kolvest. Do you think I am a fool? I can SMELL the alcohol on you from here."

"Sir, I promise, this will never happen again!"

"You're damn right it won't."

"Thank you sir, I-"

"I am demoting you two ranks."

"Wh-what?!"

"Be thankful. If it weren't for your father's position and reputation, I'd have you in the stockade. Now go home, get yourself cleaned up and come back when you are ready to be a proper soldier!"

"I... Yes sir..."

"Get out of my office, Corporal Kolvest."

As the Major's door slammed behind him, Sieg felt as if his entire body weighed a ton. It wasn't just the hangover, but the feeling of utter failure. His entire life lay in tatters around him.

Shame filled him as he felt his eyes start stinging with tears.

"No!" Sieg snarled, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes.

Straightening his back, he marched out of the command building, pausing for a moment to slam his lieutenant's insignia on the secretary's desk.

"Here." He growled, "Tell the Major he can go ahead and choke on them!"

Sieg didn't wait to hear the secretary's response before he stormed out.

After dropping off his spear at the main gate, Sieg began the walk home. He didn't know what to feel, his brain was a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts, like scraps of colourful cloth half glimpsed in a typhoon.

He was angry at himself, but his thoughts kept drifting towards agner at Marien.

"If she'd just talked to me, none of this would have happened." he growled to himself, angrily waving off a merchant trying to sell him a fish.

"Paul's right, she lost her child, but dammit so did I! I wanted to be a father as much as she wanted to be a mother! We tried to hard for so long, so why does she need to mourn alone?! How is that fair?!"

Sieg clenched his teeth. "And how dare she get angry at me and Naomi when she's the one hanging around with Lyon Chariot, the bastard."

Sieg felt a flash of guilt. "No... What the hell am I thinking? What Naomi did... Marien would never do with Lyon."

"Dammit Naomi..." Sieg grumbled.

Sieg stopped walking and looked at himself in a store window. His fur was a mess, his hair unkempt, he had dark circles around his eyes and he looked utterly miserable.

"What am I going to do?" He wondered aloud. "What am I-"

As Seig was standing, a merchant pushing a heavy cart failed to notice Sieg and crashed squarely into him. Sieg was sent sprawling into the mud.

"Watch where yer standing!" The merchant barked, pushing his cart past as Sieg picked himself up.

Bending down and picking up a rock, Sieg considered throwing it, but decided against it. Brushing himself off as best he could, he continued, ignoring the laughs and sniggers that followed him.

"I need a drink..."

Finally, Sieg arrived home with a heavy sigh.

At first Sieg was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice that The Broken Sword was empty. But as he stepped inside, he noted that the lights were turned down. It looked as if the patrons had just stood up and left, there were glasses all over the tables, some of them still half full..

"What in the..."

As Seig closed the door behind him, a Basitin with midnight black fur and light tan hair stood from a table near the back of the room.

"Mr. Sieg Kolvest, I presume."

"Y-yes?"

"My name is Ryder Bruik, personal bodyguard for Lieutenant General Silver. The General has a job for you, something that will require you to go against orders and regulations."

Immediately Sieg felt a chill run up his spine. "What kind of job."

"The kind I can tell you about only once you have accepted my offer."

"And if I refuse?"

"I will leave, and this conversation never occurred."

Sieg stepped cautiously forwards, "What offer exactly?"

"If you carry out your mission, the General will have Marien Kolvest removed from the military and assigned to duty here in Basikal."

Sieg's breath caught in his throat. "Removed?"

"Effective immediately, with no mention of you whatsoever."

"So... she would be..."

"Here, safe and sound. The General has offered to assign her to guard duty on the dock, where she will be with you."

"No deployments?"

"No deployments."

"And no more meetings with Lyon..."

Sieg's heart thumped against his chest and his fingers twitched. It was everything he wanted.

"Marien would be here with me, we could have the life we wanted. No danger... no risk... We could raise our children together."

Sieg looked down at his hands, "Even if she doesn't take me back... at least she would be safe. I could see her again..."

"This mission is time sensitive. I can give you an hour to think it through but-"

"No!" Sieg shook his head, "No... I- I've made my decision..."

Sieg took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Its the best option for everyone... For me and for Marien."

Exhaling, he opened his eyes, "Alright... I have your answer."

End of Part 20