Prophecy: The Descendants War Book 6

by John Walker

  And there was never enough. Maurda assumed they measured a specific amount, just enough to keep them functional. He had a hard time with the word alive. If they dropped dead, their captors didn’t care. Three people had died during the last shift. He praised whatever divine still existed he hadn’t been there to see it.

  The Prytins who brought word of the Prophet helped bolster morale at the camp but only a little. Enough to give some of the others hope. Maurda took one thing from them. The fact they claimed to have a plan. Some kind of outside influence; assistance from another source to free them all.

  I’m not holding my breath. While talking to the elder of the two, he put on a brave face. He agreed to do whatever he could to help. But the sights and sounds of the mine sapped his will to live. Or function. Getting through the shift proved difficult until the Kahl came around with their whips.

  The worst part of the attacks came down to the fact they’d hit workers even when they were putting forth considerable effort. Keeping fear up didn’t make them perform better. It made them twitchy every time they heard a sound, each footstep or shuffle of stone behind them, until they existed in a constant state of adrenaline.

  The first day was not like this. No one received a beating. Maurda believed he may have been responsible by approaching the camp commander… trying to convince the Kahl to provide better treatment. If I brought this down on us… He fought off the thought, thrusting it to the back of his mind.

  I won’t go down that path. This place is already a torment without me adding to the punishment.

  “You.” A hand shoved Maurda into the wall. He jabbed the handle of his pickax into his gut. The pain was temporary. He turned a withering gaze at the Kahl guard standing there. “Aren’t you feeling a little above your station, eh? Lucky I don’t have a whip on me, scum. Let’s go.”

  “Where?” Maurda asked. He croaked the word. His throat was so dry he could barely speak. “Where are you taking me?”

  “Back to camp. Rest period. And I believe you may have something to contribute to our little game coming up.” The guard chuckled. “Since I hear you’ve got some airs, I hope you do. I want to put down a wager on how long you’ll last. Now move it!” He grabbed Maurda, shoving him down the hall.

  Rest period… oh. Maurda knew what the man was talking about. They’re hosting another ridiculous brawl. That’s what this is about. They want us to fight for their amusement again. These sick piles of filth! He had hoped to use the event for something, but that was when he thought he might get additional rations beforehand.

  I wonder if they’ll push us to fight to the death. Maurda hoped so. The sooner the prisoners died, the faster they’d be out of their misery. The quicker they could move on to whatever oblivion awaited them. I’ve lost my faith in anything else. Regardless of what those Prophet fools want to spout off about.

  “When is the fight?” Maurda asked.

  “Did someone suggest you could speak to me?”

  “Yes.” Maurda looked the man in the eye. “You did when you addressed me. So answer the question.”

  The Kahl squinted, sizing him up. He must’ve been gauging how far he could go while still keeping a contestant for their brawl. “You’re lucky I think you have a chance in the arena. If not, I would break you.”

  “Why do you think I’m feeling so chatty?” Maurda asked. “So come on. When is it? Specifically? If it’s today, you might as well take your frustrations out on me right now. Finish me off.”

  “Tomorrow night. We thought a little darkness might even up the odds. Make it more interesting for us to watch.”

  “The dark.” Maurda huffed. “Brilliant. By torchlight, I assume?”

  “Fires will be lit. And if someone falls in one, so be it. No one will mind. I personally look forward to watching a few of you scum flail around for your final breaths.”

  “Why do you keep us prisoners? You clearly hate us with every atom in your body.”

  “High command believes in what we’re doing here. Demoralizing your troops back home. Me? Personally?” The Kahl drew closer, rasping as they walked. “I’d slaughter every last one of you filthy piles of excrement. Burn your bodies. Send the ashes to the nearest cesspool to rot.”

  “So a little difference of opinion with your superiors, eh? How do they feel about your passions?”

  “I’m sure they’re aware of the men here who would rather not carry on this way. We’d rather be out there fighting your kind, not sitting around ensuring you work. And as far as ruining the morale of your people, that doesn’t speak of honor to me. I want you fighting fit. So I can look you in the eyes as you die.”

  “And know we’re worthy fighters,” Maurda said. “Have you thought about changing things?”

  The Kahl laughed. “Save your breath, idiot.” They emerged from the cave into the sunlight.

  Maurda guessed they were close to middle afternoon. He hadn’t fully acclimated to the rhythm of the planet or the placement of the stars. Exhaustion tended to keep him looking at the ground. I need to get over that. If he wanted to be at all useful to the new arrivals, he needed to be aware.

  “I’m serious,” Maurda said. “You and your fellow soldiers should probably do something about this. If you’re going against your regulations, your honor, then doesn’t that force you to take it up the chain? To get them to change the way they treat you? I would be speaking to my commanding officer every day.”

  “Do you want to die?” The Kahl smiled. “Because we can arrange something right now. That’s essentially what you’re saying. You want someone to kill you.”

  “I want better treatment,” Maurda replied. “I’m a prisoner of war. Other cultures have agreed upon regulations, common decency. You and your ilk… you act like we’re nothing. Less than nothing in most cases.”

  “Because you are. And we don’t make treaties with your kind. We kill you.”

  “Then why the prisoners? Someone had another idea. It isn’t just this morale hit I keep hearing about. Tell me!” Maurda shouted, rage granting him a surge of strength. “I want to hear it from you right now. Who made this happen?”

  “Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you.” The Kahl shoved him. “Now move!”

  The camp loomed ahead. Maurda’s hands shook. He had half a mind to turn on his guard. They were alone. He could likely take him. With the man’s weapon, he might even make it to the camp. What then? It didn’t matter. Perhaps they could hide the gun. But what would the Kahl do when they found their comrade?

  We’d suffer for it. That much I know for a fact. Maurda didn’t know if they’d all be killed or merely tortured. Perhaps they’d record our murders and send those home. I suppose that would make the impact they’re hoping for.

  When they arrived at the camp, the Kahl shoved him inside before locking up the gate. “Better get some sleep. You won’t want to be tired for your exhibition tomorrow. Your friends are way ahead of you.” He chuckled. “You’d better do well. Or we’ll have words.”

  “You okay?” Mareth asked. “I heard we’re having another event tomorrow.”

  Maurda nodded. “I’m fine.”

  “You seem… fiery compared to earlier.”

  “I got in a bit of an argument with my guard. He gave me some interesting ideas of how they feel about us prisoners. They aren’t all that happy. Breaking morale defeats the purpose of fighting us, I believe.”

  “They want the glory,” Mareth said, “and this robs them of it.”

  “If they start thinking we’re losing because we’re miserable, yes.” Maurda jabbed a thumb toward the tents. “Have our religious friends had anything else to say about our retreat?”

  “Not specifically. However, I think this brawl may be for their benefit. To show them how we have no loyalties.”

  “I’m going to change that.” Maurda gestured to the camp. “Point out who will be involved in the fight. I want to organize. We don’t have to brutalize one another to get through this.”

&nb
sp; “You think it’ll work? That they can play it out?”

  “They work us nearly to death in those mines. A few extra hours of sleep won’t matter. But yes, I think with a few well-placed blows, we can get someone to victory without actually beating each other senseless.”

  “Then you’d better get working but tread softly. They’re exhausted people.”

  “If they listen to me, then they don’t have to be bloody and beaten as well.” Maurda shoved away from the fence. “I’ll let you know what I turn up later. We’ll talk to the religious ones. Tell them our plan. Maybe they can help. Somehow.” He shrugged. “We might get lucky out of this.”

  “More rations won’t hurt.”

  “No.” And neither will wasting several days trying to heal contusions. Maurda squared his shoulders as he reached the first tent. Get your leader on. It’s never easy to sell past fear. I have to try. For the sake of every life here, we need to organize.

  ***

  Brahn Kless stood at attention while Aeden read something from a computer screen. The young man hadn’t spoken in private with the commander since joining the security detail. He’d only met the Lord Marshal a few times. His primary duties involved guarding the tower during normal operating hours.

  Outside of that, he spent his time training with the others. He hadn’t known what they worried about until the attack on the Lord Marshal’s home. They’d been on high alert ever since, guarding the bunker though with fewer numbers than Brahn anticipated. One of his peers mentioned it was so no one assumed that’s where they’d taken their charge.

  Brahn had spent four years as an infantry soldier. He helped bring the Dahs to their knees before his promotion to the bodyguard service. No one told him why he’d been chosen, only to report for duty. Once he arrived, they put him through paces he’d never encountered before, pushing his limits.

  Then they stuck him at the tower with instructions and a computer to guide him through his workload. He’d never questioned it openly but always wondered why. Many considered it an honor to elevate to that position, so he tried to embrace that concept. Though he would’ve much preferred taking a fight to their enemies.

  Standing just over six feet tall, he wore his pale hair shaved all but for the top. Bangs encroached on his forehead, though he kept them swept back. A strong jaw made him look like a brawler, the kind that the unarmed combat rings preferred. He’d gone a few rounds with his fellow soldiers before returning home.

  Brahn had only recently celebrated his twenty-sixth birthday. Only two other men in the unit were younger. One came straight out of the training academy. The other came with a special operations force to join them. They helped facilitate the training of the rest.

  “Thank you for coming,” Aeden said.

  As if I had a choice. Brahn nodded once.

  “The attack on the house last night has generated many questions. We need answers as soon as possible.”

  “Understood, sir.” Brahn knew investigation teams started in on high-ranking officials. He hoped he wasn’t on the list of those to be interrogated.

  “I’m putting you on a detail to assist with this process.”

  “Sir?” Brahn trained for field tactics, combat, and breaching structures. His understanding of interrogation was limited to pressing a gun against a prisoner’s head and asking in a firm voice.

  “I’ve spoken with the others and you’re one of the most personable men in the unit. Well liked. Gentle, it’s been said.”

  Brahn’s cheeks burned. “I… wouldn’t go that far, sir. I’ve never been particularly—”

  “In this case,” Aeden interrupted, “it’s a good thing. You see, I need a subtle man. Someone who won’t be overly intimidating to the subject you’ll be protecting. I want her to open up to you. Talk about herself. So you can report to me.”

  “I’m sorry, sir. I’m not following.”

  “Cirilla Anfer, the Lord Marshal’s… consort.” Aeden shrugged. “Or lover, I suppose. We can be direct here. I am assigning you to protect her for the foreseeable future. She has duties to perform and you will not leave her side. Not ever. She’ll be informed of this as well so you shouldn’t get any pushback.”

  “Is she actually in danger?”

  “She was there when the house was hit,” Aeden replied, “and she’s important to the Lord Marshal. This puts her in a crosshair. Therefore, yes. You will be serving double duty in keeping her alive as well as trying to draw out information.”

  “What information?”

  “I want to ensure she’s loyal.”

  Brahn raised his brows. “That’s a question? I mean, she’s sleeping with…”

  Aeden nodded. “I’m not sure how much you know about women, young man, but they will use their bodies to get what they want.”

  “How do I… I mean, what do you expect I’m going to do?”

  “Let her talk. Tell her about yourself. Be friendly. Be yourself, in other words. Again, I picked you because this stuff comes naturally to you. Or so the others have said. Is that accurate?”

  Brahn shrugged. “Yes, sir. I suppose it does.”

  “Then you’re well equipped to find out what we know. If you learn anything critical, you will immediately tell me. Otherwise, you can file your reports at the end of the night when she’s gone to bed. This is a full-time detail until further notice. Is that clear?”

  “Of course, sir. Do we think another attack may happen?”

  “Honestly, no. I don’t think they can field another force quickly enough. This felt like a big gamble. And it almost paid off.” Aeden stood. He came around the desk, putting his hand on Brahn’s shoulder. “Young man, I need you to understand the importance of this. Not just the information, but her life.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The Lord Marshal cherishes this girl. If you fail to keep her safe, heads will roll. If for some reason she’s going to die, I advise you go down with her.” Aeden tilted his head. “Is that clear enough for you?”

  “Very transparent, sir.”

  “Good. I’m sorry to be direct, but there can be no mistakes. You can’t assume that just because she was an assistant a few weeks ago, she’s anything less than a dignitary now.”

  “I have heard she’s been making some decisions,” Brahn replied. “Personnel and otherwise. Even elevated to the head of the admin team on the top floor.”

  “Indeed.” Aeden shook his head as he paced away. “This is why I’m worried and want you to discover what you can. No one should rise to power that quickly. And we know for a fact she has contact with intelligence.”

  “What do they have to do with this?”

  “That’s on me to discover. You focus on her.”

  “I’ll keep you well informed, sir.”

  “Good.” Aeden nodded. “She should be fully recovered from her injuries. Which means she’ll want to get back to work as quickly as possible. By all appearances, she seems to be on our side. And her passion is undeniable. She’s in the bunker which you now have access to. I’ve given you top clearance.”

  Brahn blinked. “That’s…”

  “Reserved for the men protecting the Lord Marshal directly,” Aeden replied, “yes. If everything else I said didn’t drive it home, maybe that will. Do you have any other questions?”

  “No, sir. I’m fine.”

  “Alright, you’re dismissed.”

  Brahn offered a crisp salute before striding out of the office. His heart raced, making his head spin. I should’ve asked why he picked me. It didn’t feel appropriate given the circumstances. Maybe when I know him better, I can find out how I ended up here at all.

  Much as he preferred a straightforward conflict, this did feel important. Finally, something that isn’t standing around all day. He often wondered how it would look if he requested a transfer. This made him glad he never did. Depending on what I find… oh.

  A thought gave him pause. Brahn stepped into the sun, peering up at the sky. If I do find ev
idence against her, how is that going to work for me? He didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news concerning the Lord Marshal’s lover. I hope they’re ready to be open-minded about the whole thing.

  He’d heard about generals treating soldiers badly who delivered a negative report. Having never seen such a thing himself, he couldn’t put much weight into his concern. It would’ve pushed him over the edge to be punished for stating fact. And yet, there he stood thinking about whether it might happen to him.

  Aeden seems fair. Brahn had to take heart in the commander’s transparency. I don’t know, he feels reasonable. I have to trust him. Whether or not it would bite him didn’t matter. There’s no choice in the matter either way. He took another moment to enjoy the sun before heading off toward the bunker.

  Time to meet this lady… and determine the course of my career all in one swoop. No pressure at all. Excellent.

  ***

  Cirilla adjusted her gray suit jacket, staring at herself in the mirror. She was still pale, a little shaky, but she figured some food might take care of the latter. Sev left her a message stating he wouldn’t see her until the evening. She felt his absence. Particularly because she didn’t feel comfortable speaking to anyone else about the event they had survived.

  I can’t call family. They’ll lose their minds. That meant holding things in, keeping it all to herself until she saw Sev again. Then I’ll have to gauge how he’s doing.

  She returned to the living room of the small apartment, jumping at the presence standing near the front door. He stood a head taller than her with close-cropped blond hair and intense, jade green eyes. His broad shoulders made him look particularly imposing, especially with the wide jaw and bulging arms.

  His black uniform put him in the ranks of Sev’s personal bodyguards. He carried a sidearm with a computer strapped to his left wrist.

  “Good afternoon.” His voice proved far softer than she anticipated though she expected he could be loud when necessary. “My name is Brahn Kless. I’ve been assigned as your personal bodyguard.”