by L. Fergus
“You can't arrest me. I own you!” Kita screamed.
“I can if the army is behind me.”
Snowy and Bart nodded.
“Look at me,” Zidin commanded, but Kita refused. Zidin grabbed her chin and looked into her eyes.
“I thought so. You’re still berserking from last night. What’s gotten your tail so twisted?”
Snowy gave Zidin a nasty look over the metaphor as she absent-mindedly stroked her tail.
“What do you want to hear?” Kita shouted. “My Legion’s about to be destroyed, and I’m out here where I can do nothing about it. I don’t want to go down in history as the Legion commander who lost her entire command in the first month. I have to save what’s left. They don’t deserve to die because of my incompetence. They’re innocent, and I’ve led them to their destruction.” Tears streamed down Kita’s cheeks. Snowy put her arm around her, but she threw her off. “Leave me alone. Let me die of my shame. There’s nothing I can do now. They’re gone.”
Seeing the berserk haze fade, Zidin motioned for Bart to let Kita go and she fell into Snowy’s arms.
“I’m sorry, Snowy. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t stop it. I was weak, and I couldn’t protect you from it. I’m sorry. Please forgive me,” Kita said around sobs. “Please?”
“Kitten, you saved me. You got me to the medical scanner, and now I’m better than I was before,” Snowy said, her voice gentle and soothing.
“But you died several times. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you.”
“I’m fine now, and I’m here with you. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. For me, you’ll always be my guardian angel.” Snowy stroked Kita’s hair.
Kita stopped sobbing and took several deep breaths. “I’m sorry you saw what happened in the control room. I didn’t mean for you to. It’s not who I am; it’s not who I want to be. I just can’t help it. Please don’t think any less of me.”
“Shush. You have nothing to be sorry about. That man got what he deserved.”
“Could you be less sinister? That invisible glowing eyes trick is unnerving,” interjected Bart.
Kita burst into tears, Snowy kicked Bart with her claws out, and Zidin slapped him across the back of the head hard enough to knock him to the ground.
Snowy whispered to Kita, “Listen to me. There's nothing wrong with what you do or how you do it. Those people deserve to die with terror in their hearts. For what they’ve done to countless others, it’s too good for them.”
Zidin nodded.
“You’re so soft.” Kita snuggled into Snowy’s fur. Snowy’s tail wrapped around Kita and the tip twitched in front of her. Kita giggled as she played with it.
“That’s ridiculous,” Bart said, sounding exasperated.
“Simple pleasures,” Kita said with a sigh.
Kita set a fast pace as the group traveled over the catwalks. The reflection from the water made traveling worse during the day, baking them from above and below. Everyone kept up, except Bart.
He caught up during the first rest break of the day just as the others stood up to leave. “You have to be kidding me. We’ve been walking for over twenty-four hours. We need to get some sleep.”
Kita shook her head. “No, I'm not stopping that long. We’re over halfway there. Another day and we’ll be at the base of Razor’s Pass. If I didn’t have to stop so often during the day, I could be there already.”
“I can't do that. Have you seen my skin?”
“Yes, you look like a strawberry. Now quit stalling. I’m moving out.”
“What about him?” Bart pointed at Zidin. “He’s human, not some freak. You’ve got to stop so he can recover.”
Zidin folded his arms. “I’m a soldier, and forced marches are a fact of life. She’ll give us time to recover once we get where we’re going.” He looked at Kita sharply. “In a day we’ll be climbing Razor’s Pass. A day and a half after that, we should be in the village on the other side where we’ll meet Cowboy.”
“He’s correct,” said Kita. “You can sleep when we get to the village. Until then, shut up and move.”
“I am not a soldier. I’m a paid free-man,” said Bart.
“If you’re not careful, I will use my authority to draft you into the Legion. Then you have to do what I say.”
Bart gulped. “Ok, I’ll try my best.”
“Don’t try, do.”
Kita led the group up Razor’s Pass. She wished she didn't have the men. With just Snowy, they could move much faster. I guess I will have to play the hand I’m dealt.
As the moon rose, Bart collapsed.
“Bart, get up,” Kita ordered.
“No, I’m done.”
“Get up or I will drag you.”
Bart encased himself in rock.
“Bloody moons, you worthless piece of—” An idea struck Kita.
She knelt next to Bart and whispered in his ear, “If you get up, I’ll give you a kiss.”
The rock receded from Bart. He stood up, smiling. Kita put her arms around his neck and leaned in. Bart had triumph in his eyes as Snowy’s face dropped in a mix of shock, disgust, and hurt.
Just before Kita’s lips touched his, she pressed the heels of her hands against his neck and injected him with a stimulant and a hypnotic drug.
“Now, Bart,” said Kita, “you will keep up with Zidin and do whatever I, Snowy, or Zidin tell you to do.”
Snowy laughed and clapped her hands. “Bart, act like a chicken.”
To everyone’s amusement, Bart folded his arms like wings, clucked, and pecked the ground with his nose.
“He’s going to remember this,” said Kita. “So, don’t make him do anything you don’t want to hear about later.”
The Bart problem solved, Kita led off again at a much faster pace.
The group halted at the destroyed campsite at the top of the pass to have another look around. Snowy took the opportunity to reconnect with her cats, and Zidin and Bart rested and replenished supplies.
Kita knelt next to her father’s banner. It lay torn and covered in snow. Careful not to damage it further, she picked it up and removed it from its standard. Tears fell from her cheeks onto the soft green silk. Why am I crying over them? All I ever got from him was grief, anger, and resentment. Jeffrey was no better. Mother, I do miss, and I know she loved us all. I miss them so much. She folded the banner and tucked it away in her belt.
“Are you ok, kitten?” said Snowy coming up to Kita.
Kita wiped the last of her tears away. “What do you need?” Kita said, trying to keep a professional tone in her voice.
Snowy frowned. “The cats tell me that two armies—one to the north and one to the south—moved out of the mountains two days ago and headed toward the tubes entrances. After the armies left, the cats attacked the remaining slaughterhouses and freed groups of goats and bears. The goats are useless, except to be a food source, but the bears promised their support. Rumor has it there is a great white bear that leads them. He’s supposed to be half-human.”
“I hope Cowboy made it to the tubes before the armies. Is it possible to get a representative from the bears to meet us in the village? Can you communicate with them?”
Snowy’s tail lashed behind her. She looked eager. “Their language isn’t complex. I should be able to. I know some of my cats can. I will make sure one of them is there.”
“Good. I have a feeling we’re going to need all the help we can get. Come on. If we hurry, we can be in the village by late afternoon.”
Kita and the others reached the edge of the village. From the pass, rows of tents near the village had been visible. More noises and voices came from the village center than during her last visit.
“Hold,” said Kita. “I don’t like it. Everyone wait here while I go check it out.”
“You can’t go alone,” Snowy and Zidin said together.
“I’m the assassin. This is what I do.”
Kita entered the village with Sarge. She s
topped in a shadow short of the village center and listened to the sounds around her. Boots, lots of heavy boots. She crept closer.
“Fallen Angel, is that you?”
Kita turned around.
Eazor ran up to her. “You’re back!”
“How are you, Eazor?"
The boy smiled when Kita said his name. “I’m good. I have a family. They’re teaching me to be an armorer. Everyone here is really nice. At first, Norway scared them, but after the other cats brought in meat, everyone’s been treating him good. The village leader keeps saying the cats are a gift from the stars. My dad designed armor for Norway. He and the other smiths don’t have anything to do, so they’ve been making armor for the cats that protect us. Norway and I haven’t been able to get any of the other cats to come into the village. I keep saying you’ll come back and be able to convince them to try it on.”
Norway stood behind Eazor and wore a metal skull cover with a collar to protect his throat. Down his back, fitted plates protected his back and sides. It had a simple mechanism allowing Norway to take it on or off just by rolling.
Impressive. “I will tell the cats to send some members to be outfitted.”
Excitement lit Eazor’s eyes. “Oh! And the Legion arrived. Dad says there are about two hundred. Some saw Norway and told me that you had a war cat. I told them you and the Cat Queen gave me Norway for being good. I don’t think they believed me, but they will now.”
That explains the boots.
Kita turned her head at the sound of footsteps. A villager with a sash, Major Thorne, and Sergeant Petersen approached.
“Commander, it’s good to see you’re alright,” said Thorne. “We got your warning from Cowboy and we double-timed it here. At your earliest convenience, I’d like to brief you on our findings. It’s not good.”
“How were things in the tubes before you left?” said Kita.
“Bad. The north and west sectors, along with Central Hub, are overrun. Everyone that’s here now escaped through the tubes that led to this area. Our luck held in that they didn’t have anyone covering this area.”
“Not luck, Major. You can thank Snowy and her war cats. They destroyed the army that was meant to watch this area.” Kita whistled for the others.
To Kita’s surprise, Snowy arrived with a large white bear, several war cats, Zidin, and Bart. Snowy walked with grace and had a regal air about her as she entered. Kita wished someday she could do the same, instead of being such a bull.
“Is she dressed in war cat skins?” asked Thorne.
Kita thought about how best to explain. “No. She’s human, but she has been mixed with a war cat. She’s on our side and leads the wild war cats. I expect her to be treated like an allied commander.”
“What about the bear?”
“There’s nothing to fear,” said Snowy. “He’s on our side.” She stroked the bear’s long white fur to make her point.
Kita turned her attention to the village leader. She hadn’t met him the last time she was in the village. “How are you, Mister…”
“The name’s Murdock, Commander. I must thank you for the help you’ve sent. The other villages send their thanks as well. With all that’s happened in the region, the protection of the cats and the Legion is more than we could ask.” Murdock bowed.
“I’m glad we can help. I need to know more about what’s happening around the region.”
“I don’t know much. We keep getting orders for armor and weapons from the Crown signed by the king. We know the king is dead, and the name and signature aren’t from any of the usual advisors or the royal family. I’ve sent confirmation requests, but I haven’t gotten anything back. Until I do, we won’t fill the orders.”
“Can I see one of those orders?” said Kita.
Murdock reached into his coat. “This came this morning.”
It was a request for two hundred sets of chainmail with swords and shields. “Kind of a lot, isn’t it?”
Murdock shrugged. “We have it on hand. Even when we don’t have orders, we’re making equipment to stockpile. Until this is cleared up, I’ve instructed the smiths not to make anything—unless it’s used for our own defense. That’s why we’ve been working on armor for the cats. We hoped you could help get them into it.”
Kita motioned to Norway. “What do you think, Snowy?”
A curious look came over Snowy. She examined the armor and talked to Norway. “It’s incredible. It doesn’t pinch or pull anywhere. Norway says it's comfortable and light, almost like he’s not wearing anything at all.”
“Everyone, I would like to introduce Snowy, the queen of the war cats. She’s been traveling with me since I climbed Razor’s Pass. You can thank her for everything the war cats have done. She’s brought a new ally.”
Kita motioned to Snowy.
“This is Frostbane. He is the leader of the bears in the region. He has pledged his and his people’s support to the Legion. He says he has over a thousand bears that can join the fight. They’ll start to arrive in the hills around this area late tonight. So please, don’t be alarmed. They’ll help defend the villages and more if they are asked.”
Frostbane roared.
Murdock’s eyes went wide. “Bears, too? This is incredible. We can also make armor for them, if they’ll let us measure them.”
Snowy explained it to Frostbane. “He says yes—if it looks as good as or better than Norway’s set.” Snowy shrugged. “Bears are vain, I guess. He demands to be the first to be measured and equipped as a status symbol among his people. After that, he will instruct the bears to come down and be fitted. The last demand is that each set must be unique.”
“It won’t be a problem. Smiths are artists. They’ll love the freedom. How will we communicate with them or the cats?”
Snowy wiggled her nose. “I will leave several cats in your care. They understand the basics of the human tongue. They must be treated in the same manner as Norway. If I find them abused or mistreated, I will pull the cats and bears out and return them to the mountains. Is that understood?”
“You won’t have to worry, my lady. They will be treated well.”
“Can I ask where the forges are so the cats and bears know what to guard?”
“They’re under our feet, along with the other villages. We use the heat from the lava to power the forges. The only entrance is at the base of the mountain. Our underground area isn’t connected to the tube network. They just need to guard the door and this village.”
“We found a complete network of new tunnels built recently,” said Thorne. “I suggest guarding your tunnels in case they try to tunnel in.”
Murdock looked shocked.
“Can the bears and cats patrol your forges and villages below?” said Snowy.
“Of course. The forges and the villagers below must be protected. This is the only major armory for the entire region. I would say controlling it is a major advantage for any side in a war.”
Kita opened the equipment order all the way and exploded in rage. “That slimy slithering son of a deformed cave cucumber! I’ll rip him apart and boil him alive in a vat of acid. I’ll make sure he’s tormented for the rest of his life and that he never dies.”
Everyone looked at Kita.
“Who are you talking about?” said Snowy.
“That scaly rapist Cunningham! He’s claiming to be king. I thought I recognized that signature.” Kita screamed in frustration and stormed away.
Kita spent her frustration pounding a section of the mountain into dust. She inspected the dull shine of her bones and then the giant hole in the side of the mountain. At least something can stand up to punishment.
She sat down on the edge of the cliff. Wary of the wind, she removed her family’s banner from her belt. She didn’t understand why she cried when she saw it. She examined the family crest, trying to remember what all the pieces meant. As she studied the bottom scroll, a thread caught her attention. She tried to pull it free, but it refused to move. Irritat
ed, she tried to pick at it with her nail and realized it was stitched to the banner. It was meant to be there. She examined the thread closer. It looked like it said something. Kita switch lens and the words leaped into view. Micro-stitched below her family motto ‘Strength of Time’ was ‘Guild of the Rose.’
Kita’s hands touched her face. This banner was old. It wasn’t from any time in the last three months. How would they know? Does it mean something else? I’ve never heard of the Guild of the Rose anywhere else. Mother was an Oak—at least, that’s what she said. Maybe that’s what Mother had to give up when she married. Not just her life as a mercenary and Arconian, but her status as a Rose. Was this her way of keeping it alive? Who would I ask to find out? Zidin knew Mother for a long time, maybe he knows something he hasn’t told me.
The sound of voices came from the corner, and Kita put the banner away. She jumped up from the ledge and disappeared into the shadow. Four men came around the corner.
“What did you say you heard, Welkins?”
“I heard it coming from over here, Captain. It sounded like someone hammering on the rocks.”
“There is evidence that something broke some rocks.”
Kita’s heart jumped into her throat. It couldn’t be, not here, maybe… “Jeffrey!”
The men drew their weapons.
“Get back, whatever you are,” Jeffrey commanded.
“Jeffrey, it’s Kita.”
“That’s impossible. She died with her Legion.”
Kita cocked her head to one side. “What embarrassing story from your childhood would you like me to tell in front of your men?”
Jeffrey lowered his sword. “Is it you? I thought you were killed when those things attacked the camp.”
“I never made it. I’ve been tracking down what did attack the camp. What’s left of them is now is in the tubes destroying what’s left of my forces. The good news is, the bastards won’t be getting any reinforcements.”
“My baby sister’s been a busy girl.”
Kita rolled her eyes. “You have no idea, but we can talk about it later. We need to get you and your men down to the village to join the army that’s gathering there.”