Chapter 13
Hunters hunt
“NO, I SWEAR THAT PRIESTS and priestesses just appeared from the alleys the moment the three men ran that way.” He pointed west to indicate the direction. “It was like magic. I didn’t see them before or during the fight, but then I was busy watching the fight more than looking at the other spectators. The high priestess herself came out of Drillian’s Alley last and had that golden artifact from the Temple. She ran when called by a healer and touched it to the wounded person the healer indicated. Some acolytes came with stretchers and started taking the wounded away. The high priestess walked between two of the stretchers, concentrating, with a frown on her face and that thing glowing like the sun. That’s it — except for the blood on the street I might not have believed I saw it at all.”
Elades considered the baker’s statements as compared to the story he had already assembled in his notes. The baker was only one of a dozen near or direct eyewitnesses to the fight in front of the Dolphin. In fact he was the most factual direct eyewitness of them all. If it hadn’t been for the immediate arrival of the healers most of Echo Squad would be dead. Instead only two had suffered wounds too serious for direct healing, and they were still alive at the Temple. One of those was expected to make a full recovery. How in the Lord’s name did they know to be here? I have been refused admission to the high priestess three times now, and the healers just say they go where needed. Forgive me, Lord, but sometimes holy types can be really annoying.
Allua, one of his squad’s Daggers, ran in and leaned over to whisper in his ear, “Sir, the hound is ready. Alpha and Echo are ordered to river walk for him.”
Shocked at the news, Elades stood. “Thank you very much, Nualli Baker, I appreciate your help with this. Do you desire compensation for lost work?”
The baker stood. “Thank you, but my assistants are likely doing OK in my absence. I am glad things are finally getting cleaned up here. I live for the true Princes and their Regents.”
Elades smiled and waved him out. Turning, he saw more of his men had already stepped into the room as the order was being rapidly passed. Looking at Allua, he asked, “Where?”
“West Gate.”
“Of course; and Echo?”
“Already informed, sir.”
“Ridge run to within four blocks, then river walk on Duke’s lead.” No one waited a breath longer and they all bolted, most grinning with excitement. Elades couldn’t keep from smiling himself. I don’t know how he did it, but if he can truly hunt now we might finally have the advantage. Playing catch-up is even more annoying than dealing with holy types. Sorry, Lord, but you know it’s true.
They poured out of the building, using every alley, door, and window, heading in many different directions. Of course, once out of sight, they each took a separate path, turning toward the western gate at their best speed.
Elades approached the west gate from along the wall. He was stepping over another dead bird, cooked by the lightning-balls on top of the walls, when he noticed that it had something on its foot. Stopping, he picked it up. The bird was charred, like it had been in a very hot fire, especially its wings. The legs, however, were relatively untouched. On one leg was a small canister containing a sliver of paper; he took it off of the bird and pulled the sliver of paper out of the canister. It was in some kind of code. I need to show this to Duke. Looking up, he saw the silver balls at the tops of the long spikes that topped the wall sparking with lightning occasionally. Well that explains those things. Interesting counter-intelligence device, for sure. For the dozenth time, he wondered what the effect would be on a person trying to climb over the wall. We’ll have to scout the outside of the wall carefully for bodies when Duke opens the gates. This might be very interesting. I should also have our patrols look for more carrier birds.
He continued to the gate and arrived within minutes of Duke, who was sitting next to the gate, looking at the area quietly. Duke turned and walked to the gate and then sat down. He looked at it curiously, then said something, and the six-foot-thick, fifty-foot-wide metal slab slid down rapidly, with a slight grating sound like a knife being dragged over rock. It sank until it was a few inches below the street level, making a slotted line in the road across the gateway. The slotted line was where it had been paved over, hiding it from view. Must have been done when the pretenders figured out they couldn’t control it and put in the more normal gate system. Duke said something else and it slid up just as fast, closing without much more than a soft thunk. That thing has to weigh as much as a large house; what kind of machinery could lift such a weight so efficiently and evenly? Duke then opened it and closed it a few more times, and each time it moved at a different speed. Not once, however, did it close with the speed and power it had when it had cut Ticca off from the Nhia-Samri, who had then managed to fight clear and escape.
After experimenting with the gate, Duke moved around the periphery of the fight area, which was still being guarded by a dozen city guardsmen. Duke stopped at each guard and Dagger asking them to hold their hand out to be sniffed. After getting each person’s scent he continued his circuit, snuffling the ground. There were key points where he stopped and snuffled around dramatically before continuing around the scene. One spot near the gate Duke spent more than a minute following the scents. Finally he followed the fight path to and from the gate a few times before also examining the steel gate where the Nhia-Samri had pounded on it in frustration.
Duke looked around. There were a number of people watching the event with interest. Duke called out, “Alpha and Echo Commanders, front and center!”
Elades jumped down into the alley, past another of his men, who was concealed in the shadows watching the alleyway diligently. Once down, he walked out to Duke, around the fight area, which everyone was under orders to not cross for any reason. Echo’s commander, Sonnua, was coming up the street.
As they came to Duke, Elades took command as was appropriate, answering for both squads. “Sir.”
Duke glanced curiously at the bird in Elades’s hand for a moment. “Commander, evacuate the vicinity for a space of three blocks in all directions. Pay what is needed to compensate business owners. I want three detachments of guards made ready. Place one of those detachments on the perimeter here. They are under orders to not allow anyone to re-enter, but not to raise arms to anyone who refuses or who exits after the evacuation. They are to take careful note and request firmly a piece of clothing, hat, or coat to be returned later of anyone exiting late or re-entering. Again, they are not to raise arms if refused, just take careful note. Bravo Squad to assemble at the center square with the other two detachments. Elades, remain here; and Sonnua, please attend to this.”
Elades turned and signaled for Alpha to remain on guard while Sonnua started giving orders to the guards present.
Elades turned back to Duke, holding out the bird. “Sir, I found this in route.” Holding out the small paper and canister in his other hand, he added, “It had this.”
“Feed me the bird.”
Elades tossed the bird in the air and Duke snapped it like a dog catching a tasty morsel from the table. Duke chewed it whole for a few moments, then swallowed. “Not bad. Mash and corn fed, definitely a prized bird. Give that message to Ladro, with orders to make a copy for the royal scribes and for Delta’s commander to decipher.”
Elades smiled. Yes, let’s see if the Nhia-Samri agents will feed us good or bad intelligence. I wondered when we were going to deal with them. But they have done a good job so far, nothing even out of order, other than paying a little too much attention to other units’ orders.
Duke looked around as the guards were escorting everyone from the various buildings, making sure they walked down the side of the main roads and out of the area. “Elades, give me your hand.”
Elades held out his hand and Duke sniffed it carefully. “Good. Also, have anyone else involved with that fight come here immediately.”
He signaled for Alpha to report in individually. Over the next twenty minutes Duke took a good smell of every single member of Alpha Squad. By the time he was done the streets were completely silent. Duke motioned for Elades to remain still and sat in the middle of the empty street with his head held high. Although Duke’s eyes were closed his ears rotated back and forth rapidly. Once or twice his head would snap around in a direction with his ears perked in the same direction like a pointer dog. He’s waiting for something or someone. But, what? The area is evacuated.
Duke stood with his head pointing up at one of the buildings down the street, which looked like a rich merchant’s home. “Alpha, deer hunt!”
Duke burst forward like a released arrow, straight at the building, while a dozen Daggers came out of the alleys all around and ran at top speed in the direction Duke was heading. Elades felt his heart rate jump and he followed Duke as fast as he could. Duke didn’t bother heading for the main door; he ran right at the building. When he was ten feet away, he leaped high into the air, bursting through a lower window. Three other Daggers, with Elades, ran right up under the window and then partially up the wall, managing to grab the window ledge. From there they pulled themselves up and followed Duke inside.
Elades swung himself into the library with a kick. Landing, he rolled, coming up to a fighting stance and drawing his daggers. Duke had barreled through the library, knocking a table and some large chairs out of his way and crashing through the closed double doors. Elades checked that the three others were up and ready. He smiled when he recognized his second, Idanas, as well as Nullo Sidurson and his brother Essen — his best knife fighters — were the three with him. Together, the four of them followed Duke at a cautious run.
Through the doors was a large, round, two-story room with stairs going up both sides. Duke ran through the middle and jumped up, just clearing the banister to land half-way up the stairs. Elades signaled for two to follow Duke and Nullo to stay with him. Together they ran left and then up the nearer stairs. Idanas and Essen ran across the room to follow Duke up the far stairs. All four of them reached the top together. From the first floor the front and back doors crashed loudly as they were kicked in by the rest of the squad.
Duke turned right, towards the street, barking loudly, “First floor alley-side, second floor street-side,” at the top of the stairs, then barreled through a set of large white double doors. Duke’s growls sounded like a whole wolf pack. Below the sounds of more fighting could be heard. Elades waved Idanas and Essen off to a pair of doors to the left of the ones Duke had forced; then he and Nullo dove into the room where Duke was already fighting.
There were three Nhia-Samri in what looked like a spacious sun room, with large windows overlooking the gate and street. All three were dressed simply, but had odassi blades out and were circling Duke cautiously. Duke dove at one, who dodged out of the way, while the other two tried to spear him. One of them managed to stab Duke. Duke grunted with pain and twisted around, pulling the attacker off-balance as his blade was stuck in Duke’s side. Duke’s teeth succeeded in grabbing the end of his attacker’s leg, which was all Duke needed to yanked the warrior around; Elades had to admire the guy’s tenacity as he didn’t yell out or panic instead he tried to stick his other knife into Duke’s head.
Duke saw the coming attack and yanked his head around hanging on to the guy’s leg. The Nhia-Samri was whipped around violently, like a doll. The Nhia-Samri must have had a death grip on his blades; the one stuck in Duke’s side was ripped out, causing a spray of blood that arced around Duke, following the sword.
Elades stepped up to Duke’s wounded side and blocked a second attack by the remaining Nhia-Samri on that side. They exchanged a rapid series of knife thrusts and parries. On the other side of Duke the sound of another knife fight told Elades that Nullo had engaged the third Nhia-Samri. Exchanging knife strike after knife strike, he fought his opponent. They circled each other and Elades saw that Duke was slamming the one he had up and down on the floor, turning him into nothing more than a bloody pulp of a man. Duke flung the pulped man out of the window into the street and turned to Elades’s opponent.
Duke made a snap for Elades’s opponent, which forced the Nhia-Samri to dodge. That gave the opening Elades had been waiting for. Elades swiped his dagger at the Nhia-Samri’s neck with all his entire strength behind it, half decapitating the man. Blood sprayed out and over Elades and Duke as the Nhia-Samri fell.
Not pausing, Elades turned and jumped over Duke’s tail to the other side of the room where Nullo had been cut on his arm and leg but was still fighting the Nhia-Samri there. Duke’s ears twisted toward the hall, he barked and launched out of the room, giving them more space to fight. Elades stepped in and attempted a double-cut strike at the Nhia-Samri’s head, which he blocked, leaving his lower belly open. Nullo didn’t hesitate, plunging both of his knives into the Nhia-Samri’s gut. The Nhia-Samri tried to cut down on his killer, but Elades quickly parried the attack and kicked him backwards off of Nullo’s blades to fall by the window.
Grinning, they turned and followed the sound of fighting to another room where Duke was standing on one Nhia-Samri’s arms, pinning him down, while snapping at another who was trying to get Duke off. The Nhia-Samri who was pinned was ineffectively kicking Duke as hard as he could from below. But Duke ignored it. Two other Nhia-Samri were fighting Essen and Idanas individually. Nullo jumped into the fight to aid his brother. Elades whipped his dagger at the Nhia-Samri who was attacking Duke. His dagger imbedded into the Nhia-Samri’s throat, making him fall backwards into a chair, landing in such a way as to look asleep except for the dagger sticking out of his throat and the blood running down his front.
The distraction gone, Duke growled. Looking down, he turned his head sideways to take the whole pinned Nhia-Samri’s head into his mouth. The Nhia-Samri screamed as he saw the wolf’s teeth coming down. Duke bit down hard, crushing the skull and cutting off the man’s scream. Duke, still holding the head, pulled upwards with a twisting motion, ripping the man’s head right off his body. Duke spun, slinging the head out the window into the street.
Nullo and Essen had finished off the Nhia-Samri they were dealing with and were turning to help Idanas. Except that Idanas performed a masterful triple-cut maneuver, ending in a down strike that cut the Nhia-Samri open from neck to waist. The Nhia-Samri fell back, screaming, as his blood and guts burst from his opened front. Essen ended the Nhia-Samri’s suffering with a rapid cut to the neck, which partially decapitated him.
Duke looked them over and smiled, “you can’t control who comes into your life, but you can pick the window you through them out of.”
Idanas nodded and grinned madly at Duke then turned and jogged out of the room with Essen following and went down the stairs. Duke turned and listened intently for a moment. Then he sat down; licking his lips clean he turned to licking his wounds. “Good way to start. I think they got a signal off, warning the others.”
Nullo, who had been examining his wounds, looked at Duke, surprised. “Did you expect to have the element of surprise?”
Duke looked at him and then laughed. “Well, now that you mention it I had hoped for it. But you’re right, not likely to happen anyways.”
Elades looked at the wound on Duke’s side. It wasn’t very long and it had stopped bleeding. But he knew it had been deep stab. “Will you need medical attention?”
Duke stood up and shook like a wet dog, sending blood droplets everywhere. “No, it is already healing. Let’s get back to the gate and continue this hunt. I want to kill more Nhia-Samri today if possible.”
As they exited, Idanas came and reported four other Nhia-Samri had been killed on the first floor and the house was clear. They left Idanas with one team to search the house for intelligence, not expecting to get any, and then walked back to the gate.
Duke stepped up to the edge of the scene and sat down, looking at the street as if reading a book. “Run me through the events as you have assembled them again.”
Elades provided a narrative of the complete fight, pointing at various locations as he went through the events. Duke didn’t interrupt but looked hard at each place Elades pointed to. After he was finished Duke thought for a bit. “Elades, did you see Ticca ride over this Nhia-Samri?”
“No, sir, but I have the description from nine separate witnesses to the event.”
“Damn! That had to have been a hell of a maneuver to pull off. You came to the fight after they had already been fighting for at least three minutes?”
“More like five, sir. I cannot be sure, but that is what I feel is about right from the descriptions.”
“Ticca fought this guy head-to-head for five minutes before your squad got here. Then four of your squad tried to hit him with thrown knives, which he avoided, while still trying to kill Ticca. By your reports she only started Daggering six cycles ago. That is a pretty damned good performance for one so young and inexperienced. Any chance he was letting her go, just making it feel hard for her?”
“I don’t think so, sir, unless he was an unbelievably good actor; he desperately wanted to kill her. Five of us engaged him long enough to let Ticca break away, but he walked over us and gave chase. I tell you there was rage and hate in his eyes. I truly believe he wanted to kill her and he went practically berserk when the gate cut him off from her. He shouted some pretty intense oaths while he pounded on the closed gate with his knives. If he was acting for her benefit, that wouldn’t have been needed. By that time all of Alpha Squad was present and we still couldn’t stop him, sir. He fought as fast and hard with all of us as he did with Ticca; if he was any better he’d have had an easier time getting away from us. I am seriously impressed with her speed and knife skills. She is better than any of us.”
Duke was staring at the gate as they spoke. “Did they say anything? Especially Ticca?”
“The Nhia-Samri asked her who she was. She didn’t answer him.” Thinking back, Elades concentrated. “You know, I think she did say something.”
Duke looked at him. “What did she say exactly, Elades?”
Elades thought about it, making the moment clear in his head. Ticca had run and jumped up the five feet to the top of the closing gate. The Nhia-Samri lightly wounded him and a couple of his squad. He had knocked them aside and started to run for the gate. Ticca had reached the far side and did a jumping half twist flip, landing ready to fight. She didn’t look happy that the Nhia-Samri was already giving chase. She then exasperatedly called out for the gate to hurry up and close.
“Sir, she said, ‘Damn it, close already!’ from the far side of the gate.”
Duke looked at him. “Are you sure?”
Elades nodded and Duke turned back to the gate. He said something and the gate smoothly slid open. Then he said something else and the gate began slowly closing. When it had reached about five feet high Duke looked at Elades. “Commander, please say it the way Ticca did.”
“Damn it, close already!”
The gate continued its slow, steady rise.
After a few moments Duke said, “Damn it, close already!”
The gate snapped shut in the blink of an eye, slamming so hard that more of the loosened masonry was launched into the air to fall down at random. Duke yelped in surprise, jumping backwards at the sudden motion and the immense thunderclap it caused. Elades, having witnessed this before, still jumped at the sound as well. They both looked up and saw the incoming masonry and dodged the falling rocks. When the rain of rock had ended, Duke sat down and looked at the gate in genuine surprise, his mouth open. “Well that is a new one. Hell, that isn’t in any of the texts. I wonder which f*cking idiot added that ability. Now I have to test every damned city. I wonder what other inspirational commands that idiot allowed for.”
Elades was a bit confused, but he knew that wasn’t unusual for working with Duke.
Duke looked down. “We have a serious problem. New standing orders: if Ticca comes back, do not oppose her in anything, and I need to know every move she makes.”
“Yes sir. Who is she?”
“That is a good question, and we are not the only ones asking it. There are several possibilities, and some of them worry me greatly. Especially since it was either her scent, or our man in green, that I followed from Vestul’s death-site to the Dolphin. There were only two key scents where Vestul died, besides that of Vestul himself.” Duke turned around, putting his back to the gate. “Now back to our business. Whatever she is up to she’ll deal with it. I have some Nhia-Samri to deal with presently. Let me see that cloth you have stored.”
Elades went over to a doorway belonging to an empty house, where they had locked up the ripped clothing from the Nhia-Samri while trying to grab him. Elades was glad senior Daggers had been here with him as they knew enough to not touch the cloth too much and to keep it sealed. Just inside the doorway were three large steel bowls from a nearby bakery with inverted bowls on top as covers. He carefully picked up the first set of bowls so as to not disturb the cover, and placed them on the ground in front of Duke. Duke exhaled deeply bent down and pushing the top bowl off breathed in deeply through his nose. He then stuck his nose right into the cloth and whiffled through his nose as he moved the rags around with his snout.
“Damn it! It was Ticca I followed from Vestul’s body to the Dolphin. This guy was nowhere near there. That is NOT what I expected. What the hell is going on here? This guy attacked Ticca at the Dolphin, was ridden over by a horse, jumped up on that horse, pulled Ticca off of it, and they both landed like a circus act and fought like devils for over five minutes. But for what and why?” Duke put his nose down and walked back and forth around the area, snuffling like a bloodhound. He stopped where the two Nhia-Samri, along with the one in green, had fallen. “Uh huh, well now, that means that these two are his accomplices.”
“We have their clothing as well, sir.”
Duke looked up. “I was going to ask for those next, but first I want to make sure I am in top shape for this. I don’t think we’ll get a second chance here. I believe I have them pretty clearly. Bring out their clothing so I can confirm this.”
Elades went back to the same house and brought back two other sets of bowls. Duke scented from them. “Yep, that is exactly what I predicted from the scene. I’ll call him target B. This one is what I expected too, he’ll be target C. Of course our man in green, who is definitely a senior officer, will be target A. OK, that confirms everything is working as good as ever and I know everyone involved. But, none of these Nhia-Samri were the other scent I got at Vestul’s assassination location. We are still missing one player here. I need answers. So time for a good old-fashioned hunt.”
With that Duke began moving back and forth, up and down roads and alleys. He didn’t leave immediately, but went to the roofs by jumping on smaller buildings and then up on larger ones. After carefully examining their structures, he finally jumped down.
“We have been observed; I have a couple of other scents to key on. Which means they’ll be ready. Once we have left the area you can let people back in. Have the guards keep things peaceful. Send word to Bravo that once I engage they are to fish hunt as fast as possible. I would prefer if it was within five minutes.”
“Shouldn’t we just have everyone with us, sir?”
“No — there is an entry point at the city center that I have briefed them on.” With that, Duke stuck his nose down and started down the alleyway the Nhia-Samri had fled though after breaking away. Duke ran with speed, only stopping occasionally to spend some time moving back and forth on major streets. The Nhia-Samri was not stupid. He spent a great deal of time crossing back and forth on busy streets. He had to have picked up a cloak someplace to hide his bloody and ripped clothing.
Duke moved with confidence down streets and alleys; however, eventually he stopped. He then moved back and forth many times at an alley entrance. “This has been cleaned. There is a chemical agent I don’t know here, I can still smell it. It isn’t dry yet. Two guards here, no one is allowed out. Anyone may come in. I want guards below in the Delivery Channel at this point too, with the same orders.” Duke howled like a hound on the track and then ran with speed up and down streets and alleyways, making it difficult for the Daggers to keep up. He would stop and call out, “Pair of guards here and below! No one is allowed out!” He would then run back. Eventually there was a six-block square, around which a new perimeter had been established. The sun was setting but Duke didn’t stop, and he kept howling from time to time. He began carefully moving up and down through the area. Occasionally he would stop and spend a lot of time snuffling a section of the streets. He never varied from his pattern. He also howled seemingly at random.
A number of people became very upset when they were not allowed out. However, a Dagger quickly showed up and explained by whose order they were being detained, which generally made everyone decide to patiently wait.
Finally Duke had finished with every street and alley in the six-block area. The sun was fully gone from the sky and twilight was just ending. Duke sat down near one of the main entry points through the area. “Commander, more guards — I want this entire area sealed. Anyone can leave, if they strip down to nothing. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is allowed out of this area. Order some basic clothing for anyone leaving. They are only allowed to wear a shirt and pants we provide out. If they don’t like that there are a number of empty houses where they can sleep. Bring food and drink for everyone.”
Duke walked away from the perimeter guards and directly across the park square. He knocked loudly on the door of a medium-sized house which commanded a view of the blockade. The house had a small yard and a full carriage circle in front. When a butler opened the door, Duke just pushed past him, yelling, “Everyone out, go find an Inn, I am using this place tonight!”
A rich merchant stepped out of the library with a book in one hand a glass of amber liquid in the other, and an annoyed look on his face. He took one look at Duke, however, and made no argument. He ran, calling to his wife to bring the children as they were going out immediately. His wife came down the stairs, yelling at him, asking if he had lost his mind. When she saw Duke sitting in the main entry, she screamed and ran back up the stairs. After that it only took a few minutes before the entire house was completely abandoned. As the merchant left, he bowed deeply to Duke. “Excellency, please help yourself — there is wine and excellent meat in the larder. We shall find lodging until you are satisfied.”
Duke smiled, “You are generous and I will; however, do not hesitate to send a bill to my home for any damages or replacement foods. I need a command post near the fight.” Duke then turned and used his tail to sweep everything in the room to a corner, breaking a number of statues. “Commander, get his dining table and bring it here, empty. Send a message to Ladro saying that I am hungry and tired and need my maps of Llino here as soon as possible. I want all team leads for Alpha, Bravo, and Echo here in one mark. Also, double the guards on the upper and lower perimeter; call in Charlie and Delta if needed to provide some relief. I want rotating Daggers checking every point of entry at least every twenty minutes.”
With that he lay down on the side of the room and put his paws in the air, closing his eyes. Within a few minutes Duke was snoring while men rushed around to fulfill his commands. In one mark everything had been accomplished. The team leads all stood around the main room while Duke continued to snore. Ladro had brought some of Duke’s staff and the maps had been placed on the table. There was also a long stick like a fishing rod with two belted leather hoops attached near one end.
Elades was considering if he should wake Duke when like a clock striking the mark Duke made a snuffling sneeze, rolled over, sat up and started looked at the maps as if he had been doing it for some time. “Listen up. The area has been heavily cleaned of all scents. Although very effective, I could still make out a point or two, but nothing definitive. Either this is new, or perhaps this is the first time I got to them before that agent fully dissipated, which is more likely.”
Echo lead asked, “Do we go door-to-door then and raise the whole area?”
“No, there is a bit of a surprise here. Ticca was through here too. In fact she spent a lot of time wall-hugging.” Slipping his paw into the two hoops on the rod Duke bit the leather tips and pulled them tight. He then used the stick like any military commander used a pointing stick. Slapping the map at a precise location with the tip of the stick, he said, “Ticca came into the area here.” He then moved the point along a route straight to a point near the middle of the area. “She went up to here and spent a great deal of time circling this house.” He pointed at a large house that fronted one of the many park squares in the city. “She then exited by the same route she came in. She did not approach the house.”
The commanders looked at the map with interest. Elades pointed at an alley near the house where a doorway into the house was indicated. “You howled three times here. Why?”
“Nice catch. Every time I howled I had target A’s scent. He has been all over this area, especially on the path towards the Dolphin. I was howling to scare the crap out of any damned Nhia-Samri who were watching. I wanted them to know I had a hit. I suspect they know where they have been and so were able to understand my warning taunts.”
Echo lead asked, “Won’t that eliminate our element of surprise?”
Duke looked at the men. “Commanders, do you really think we are going to surprise them?” Elades chuckled and Duke gave him a ‘stop it’ look.
Everyone looked serious at that. Many shook their heads ‘no.’
“So this is going to be a direct attack?”
Duke smiled. “Oh yes, yes indeed. I want to kill every single one of them. No one gets away this time.” He pointed at places around the house. “They will be sneaking people out to attack us from behind. All units will hold at the edges of the perimeter except for two teams, which will be split in these locations. I will attack first. When I call for aid, one squad at a time will enter. This will flush them all out except for those who have been ordered to hide. Once we are finished, we will burn everything for two blocks around that house. That will flush out any hidden Nhia-Samri. Bravo, you will stop anyone trying to escape using the Delivery Channel. When we are finished you are going to send two teams to do a fish hunt under that house. There will be a sealed trunk someplace on the bottom within this perimeter. I want the contents of that chest captured. It will be booby-trapped, so be careful. Once opened you will take everything out, being careful to not touch it with bare hands; use cloth gloves only, which are to be thrown into the water when done. You will secure some lead weights so they won’t jiggle and place a single sheet of paper with a dictation I will give you later into the trunk and then put it back where you found it. We attack at dawn.”
Duke looked around while everyone pondered the plan and orders. When no one had any questions Duke said, “Excellent. Now, get to work. Tell everyone to be well-rested and to eat lightly tonight. Dismissed. Ladro, dinner please.”
Elades coordinated much of the logistics. Once everything was lined up he found a quiet corner and got a few marks’ sleep. Ladro woke him. “Duke is up.” Rising, he did some quick stretches and joined the growing number of people in the entry-hall-turned-command-room. Duke was reviewing last minute details with the Bravo Squad Commander as Elades walked up.
Duke didn’t even look around to see who it was. “Elades, Charlie Squad is going to back up Echo and maintain the perimeter. Grab some food from the next room and some arit if you want. We’ll have final briefing in fifteen.”
Turning into the dining room, he saw some other tables had been brought in and the staff was making breakfast sandwiches along with a selection of fruits and drinks. Grabbing an egg sandwich from the platter, he poured a cup of arit and ate quickly. Stepping back out, he saw that all the leads were present.
Duke looked at him and nodded. “Dawn is in two marks. Twilight needs to have zero movement. Even though they know we are coming, there is no need to advertise where everything will be. I have moved some people around based on injuries and manpower needs. The plan is still the same. Any questions?”
Everyone shook their heads no. Duke nodded. “Come.” Duke stepped outside and in the street all the Dagger squads were assembled, except for a few who were on patrol. Elades looked at them proudly. Duke stood, looking at them all in the eyes. On both sides of the street beyond the Daggers were two full detachments of city guards. The night was made as bright as day on the street and courtyard by dozens of lamps.
Duke yelled, “Daggers! Now it is time to demonstrate once again what we are. These Nhia-Samri have betrayed the kingdoms time and time again. They are bloody mercenaries who work for the nefarious cause of that little bastard, their Grand Commander. We have proved to them once before that they are our inferiors. They have not forgotten that, for now they hide in shadows, afraid to show us they are here.”
Duke paused as the Daggers and guards yelled support to his last statement. Looking over the crowd he continued, “They took coin to assassinate the last true heirs to the thrones.” The Daggers and guards yelled out at that. Many drew their weapons and held them at the ready. Duke grinned wolfishly. “This is war! Remember, the object of war is not to die for your cause but to make the other bastards die for theirs! Semper Fidelis!”
The Daggers, as one, held their daggers high and yelled: “SEMPER FIDELIS!”
Duke nodded, then yelled, smiling, “What the hell are you doing still standing there? Get back to work!” The Daggers broke and moved in many directions at once, as the leads launched from the small guest platform to coordinate. Elades had taken advantage of command to be in one of the teams that would directly cover Duke; from the beginning he stood his place. Duke watched as some Daggers had to stop moving to order the guards to their stations. Duke shook his head. “Commander, if I had two full divisions like these Dagger squads I could take this war straight to Hisuru Amajoo now and win. Go get your two teams in place.”
“Yes sir. We’ll be there.”
“I know you will.”
Elades jogged over to where his two fire teams were waiting. “Time to earn our coin.” They nodded and moved silently into the blockaded area. It took almost a half mark to get into positions. Elades looked over the quiet street and the simple house. It was large two-story house with its main entrance on Silver Street. There as a perfect front yard and nice patio with a covered carriage platform in the front. It only had a small, three-foot-tall white fence. The front doors were very large stained-glass doors which Duke could easily walk through. The windows all had whitewashed shutters; the whole house looked like some picturesque, perfect example of what a rich merchant would own.
The pre-dawn twilight came and the front doors opened. One man dressed in the loose garb and armor of a Nhia-Samri officer with his knives in the cloth belt stepped out. He wore red-painted armor plates with a black helmet which rose to a point. His feet were bare and behind him stood row after row of Nhia-Samri, also wearing their traditional armor.
The officer walked out boldly to the middle of the front yard where he was completely exposed. He held his hand up and the waiting Nhia-Samri marched out of the house, forming five ranks, four wide by four deep, directly behind the red-painted officer. One Nhia-Samri in the front right corner of each rank held a square banner with some symbol on it. On the front left corner of each rank stood a Nhia-Samri officer with a distinctive armor pattern and coloring.
The Nhia-Samri commander yelled, “Duke, I know you are out there. Come forth!”
Duke’s voice came out of the distance, “OK, we’ll do it that way. Hang on a second; I am not getting younger, you know.” After a few minutes Duke appeared, slowly sauntering down Silver Street. Behind him were the four squads of Daggers in a loose formation. The Nhia-Samri waited, but Elades could see that the officer frowned at the obvious insult of having to wait. Duke eventually got to the middle of the square, where he looked behind him. “Wait here boys, I have to deal with this upstart.” The Daggers filed out into general ranks as Duke walked up to the house and pushed open the gate — which was not locked or barred — and walked up, sitting down in front of the officer. Duke was wearing a mantle of office in the form of a golden collar of linked plates which joined in a V over his chest, where the collar connected to an emblem made of a single large emerald. He also had a pouch over one shoulder and what looked like a silver sack tied to it. Looking over the assembled Nhia-Samri, he said, “Ah yes, I see you are ready to surrender. You don’t have anyone shivering hidden in a dark hole someplace?”
The officer frowned deeper. “No, Duke, do not insult us. You know we do not surrender; however, we have not yet begun hostilities. Therefore there remains the possibility of peaceful settlement.”
Duke licked his chops. “Actually I think we started hostilities pretty formally when your man attacked our citizens.” Duke twisted his neck to pull the silver sack from his pouch and tossed it at the feet of the Nhia-Samri officer. The officer bent down and opened the sack, looking into it with an expression of anger and horror. Duke casually added, “Plus yesterday I chewed the head off your gate-watching outpost commander. Doesn’t that count?”
The officer straightened and looked at Duke with outrage and a mix of something else Elades couldn’t identify. “What is the meaning of this, Duke? Why do you insult us so boldly and force the conflict?”
Duke looked at him squarely. “You killed one of mine. One whom you knew was off-limits. Your own petty bastard Grand Warlord killed another one of mine, and the last heir to the realms, in exchange for a trinket that would no longer work. You are up to something, and I am going to find out what it is. Your choice is surrender all you know and I will let you walk out of here alive with your armor, weapons, and provisions to get you back to Hisuru Amajoo. You can carry a message from me that the Nhia-Samri have exactly four cycles to abandon every outpost, every station, every tie to the realms because after that time I will hunt them just as you hunted the orcs to extinction. If you do not accept my offer I will begin my hunt with you and yours; and your heads with my message stuffed in every mouth, and every odassi, broken, will be sent to Hisuru Amajoo. Either way you will carry my message to the bastard Shar-Lumen.”
The Nhia-Samri officer actually staggered backward a little at Duke’s declaration. He never once took his eyes from Duke’s. After a moment Duke asked, “What is your decision?”
The officer straightened standing taller. “Either way we are likely dead. There is no surrender, no compromise. One path holds honor, the other disgrace. You leave me no choice. The Nhia-Samri are absolute. Do you desire time to prepare?”
Duke used his front paw to tap the emerald. The mantle dropped off, and as he bowed his head allowing the pouch to fall beside it. He then stood and did what could only be a described as a bow to the officer. “So be it. No, I do not.”
The officer returned the bow and drew his odassi. Duke launched at him, but he dove under and rolled back to his feet while striking at Duke’s underside with one of the blades. The blade slide through Duke’s fur but had no effect. Duke landed and spun, diving low, trying to get the officer’s legs. The officer danced out of the way, stabbing out. Duke twisted, preventing the stabs from making contact. The officer leapt at Duke before the wolf could come fully around. This time a blade managed to strike into Duke’s back shanks.
Duke growled. “First blood is yours. Last blood will be mine!” He spun and nipped at the officer, who was forced to dodge; Duke predicted the dodge and adjusted for it. His teeth managed to grab part of the officer’s armor. Duke flipped his head and the officer was thrown five feet to land in a pile. Duke spun and lunged at the pile. The officer tried to roll out of the way, but Duke was too fast and trapped the officer’s arms under his front paws, just as he had done the day prior at the gate.
Duke yelled, “For Vestul and the Realms!” Biting down, he ripped the officer’s head off by the exposed neck.
With the death of their officer the Nhia-Samri screamed as one, drawing their odassi and rushing Duke. Duke leapt high and over one whole rank, yelling, “Daggers! Do you want to live forever? Get to work!”
Not exactly the codes we agreed on, but what plan ever survives the first engagement? “All Daggers attack!”
Four squads of Daggers rolled forward, screaming and drawing weapons. The two waves met loosely on the street and park directly in front of the house. Knives sang everywhere; Daggers and Nhia-Samri fought viciously. Duke spun, grabbing a Nhia-Samri by the arm and throwing him into a group of others. Duke didn’t waste any time, he dove right after him, yelling, “Hey, I’m not done with you yet!” Duke bowled over ten Nhia-Samri who tried to cut and stab him, but he danced around them, stepping on chests and heads like a prancing war horse. Ten more Nhia-Samri lunged as one against Duke before any other Daggers could get there. The wolf howled with pain and instinctively bit at what had hurt him. A Nhia-Samri lost his arm to that bite, but he stabbed again with the other. Duke jumped aside; picking up one of the ones from the ground and using him like a club, he smashed the one-armed Nhia-Samri away.
All of the Daggers attacked in groups of three to each one Nhia-Samri, as ordered. The technique worked very well. Nhia-Samri were falling at a tremendous rate, but so were the Daggers. In the distance Elades saw some people leaving the house rapidly, carrying boxes. “Echo! Get the escapers! Don’t lose what they are carrying!”
Twelve Daggers jumped out of combat and gave chase. Elades fought with Nulla and Essen; they killed Nhia-Samri after Nhia-Samri. Still the fight went on. Looking around, he saw that at least two dozen Daggers were down. Duke was dealing with six Nhia-Samri by himself; it looked like there were six Daggers downed there too. “Duke’s lost his support, move it!” They tried to force their way to Duke, but the numbers were just too much. It took too long. Duke had dozens of wounds and was bleeding profusely by the time they got to him, but still he fought on.
The Daggers rallied around Duke. The Nhia-Samri on Duke were obviously the better fighters, it was hard to get past their guard. Duke yelled in frustration, “You don’t hurt ‘em if you don’t hit ‘em. Merge six-to-one! Don’t worry about me!”
With that he rolled over a pair but they stabbed him deeply and he fell. Another Nhia-Samri sliced Duke’s side open as he fell. The Daggers all screamed. Teams began fighting harder and harder. The Nhia-Samri were down to about a quarter of their original number, but the last ones where tough and half of the Daggers had fallen as well. Elades cut across one, who managed to parry as Nulla stabbed him. Turning, they tried to attack the back of a group of three Nhia-Samri who were covering each other. “Two more sets here, now!” Some other Daggers joined the fight, but they couldn’t get in. Daggers were beginning to fall faster than Nhia-Samri.
Elades tried to coordinate some of the chaos, but it was looking like it might be a toss which side would win. A loud outcry was heard. Elades looked over and it looked like every street and alley was disgorging guards, and at their lead was Lord Dohma. The guards screamed and dove into the fight. Dohma and three other guards joined Elades’ group. “Lord Dohma, you need to not be here.”
“I outrank you, Commander. I serve the realm. Now kill these bastards, damn it!” With that his blades fairly flew, as well as Nulla’s, and the Nhia-Samri were finally losing the fight. One of the three guards with Lord Dohma fell. The other two guards, grinning madly and fighting expertly, were both killing Nhia-Samri warriors and protecting Lord Dohma. Those are some well-trained guards. I didn’t realize the weapons training they got included that kind of hand-to-hand fighting. Blood flowed freely, making the ground slippery, and the gutters were filled with the red liquid of life. The last of Nhia-Samri fell, with ten guardsmen on him, including the two that had been with Lord Dohma.
Before the last Nhia-Samri hit the ground, dozens of green-robed healers and even more white-robed acolytes from the Temple of Dalpha had appeared; they began treating the wounded guards and Daggers. Elades saw the High Priestess come down the street carrying the Light of Dalpha, which glowed like the sun. Next to her was a beautiful woman in a green dress and cream blouse who looked more a princess than a healer. The High Priestess started responding to cries from her healers and moved with great speed, carrying the Light of Dalpha where needed, bathing the wounded in a bright glow of energies. The princess like woman was also a magical healer; she moved as fast as the High Priestess, bending and touching the indicated fallen Dagger or guard with her bare hand which glowed for a moment before running to the next in need.
Lord Dohma was lending a hand to the healers and was being guarded by a Dagger and three guards. Elades looked for Lord Dohma’s two personal guards from earlier, as he wanted to congratulate them, but he couldn’t see them. Looking over the field of bodies, Elades saw that Duke was not moving and ran over to his fallen body. Feeling the wolf’s bloody side, he found a faint pulse, but Duke was bleeding from dozens of wounds and a two foot long open cut on his side was peeled back revealing bones and muscles while blood poured out like a river to the ground. “Duke needs help!”
The strange woman in the simple green dress rushed over. She ran her hands over Duke’s bloody sides and even stuck her hand into the deep cut which went down his side. She looked worried and then glanced at Elades for a moment. Her large eyes took on a determined look and she turned back to Duke speaking very softly into the wolf’s ears. “Oh Duke, beloved of Argos. There is need too soon to wait.” She knelt and embraced the great wolf’s bloody neck in a hug. Her hands and arms glowed with a soft green light which spread over the whole of Duke’s body. Duke’s larger open wounds closed before his eyes. Lord she is the most powerful healer I have ever heard of!
Duke’s head lifted slightly and he groaned. “Did I drink too much again? I have an awful headache.” His eyes were glazed slightly, and as he looked at the girl his eyebrows furrowed together. “Dalpha, where’s the aspirin? And why’d you change your hair?” Then Duke’s eyes closed and his head slumped to the ground but the wolf was breathing deeply as if sleeping.
The woman smiled at Duke and then shakily stood looking at Elades with her deep emerald eyes. She looked very pale and her legs seemed unsteady. “Worry not, he’ll be a little mobile in a few days and normal within two or three weeks.” She turned and started to walk away, her legs wobbled unsteadily as she moved off.
Elades noticed that her clothes, arms, and hands were still perfectly clean. “Who are you?”
“A healer, of course,” she answered over her shoulder.
Elades looked at Duke and then back, but she was gone. Damn! People are vanishing a lot today. He looked around and couldn’t see her anywhere. Who in the Lord’s name was that? Damn it! I hate dealing with holy types! Sorry, Lord.
Duke’s nose started twitching like it itched. Duke mumbled “Blood?” His head rolled slightly upright and he opened his eyes. His eyes were clearer and he looked around not moving his head but sniffing deeply. Duke’s eyes slowly cleared and he raised his head to get a better view. “Oh ya, the fight. Commander, report.”
Elades couldn’t help it, he felt relieved to see Duke was going to be OK. He stepped up to his commander and placed his hand reassuringly on Duke’s shoulder. Elades looked around before answering. “Casualties — many; number of dead — not known; combat efficiency — we won.”
“Good boys. Now burn it all down. There will be nothing but traps there. Collect all the heads and odassi. Don’t handle the odassi with anything other than thick-gloved hands. Make sure to keep the commander’s head and odassi separate. I’m going to take a little nap now.” With that Duke put his head down on the bloody ground and closed his eyes once more. Elades heard Duke softly chuckle and say “yep, that should about do it. Bet they remember me now.”