"You have to tell him," Kharl said. "He needs to know so he doesn't send you out in the middle of a mob of Demons."
"I know," she said, "But you know him. He'll think it was his fault and blame himself for it."
"True, but he still needs to know."
"Ok," she said and hugged him, "I'll tell him."
She was partially on target. It is my fault that she hadn't healed right. I didn't have a clue what I was doing at the time. It doesn't matter how fast a person can heal, or be healed, if the parts weren't in the right place beforehand. I know that if I hadn't done what I did, she would have died. But, if I had known more, I would have understood what else needed to be done.
I hoped that Lyrica would learn more than I had about where things were supposed to be before she heals much.
I eased back out to the door, and opened it loudly. When I walked around the corner I saw them both sitting a ways from the ring. They looked up and saw me. Both were happy to see me, but I could see the chaos of the deception in their auras as well.
"Hey guys," I said cheerfully, "I was just looking for you."
"What's up, Son?"
"I've figured out where I want you guys, and I know I'll be asking a lot of both of you," I began, seeing Kyra start to interrupt, "I need the new recruits trained by the best, and that means you."
She stopped herself. I hated to play them like this. She needed a place off of the front lines, and I know she didn't want to cause me pain with the knowledge that I hadn't healed her right. This would solve both of those issues.
"I need you, Mom," I said, "to take command of the training programs, here and in Kansas, when we get set up there. There's gonna be a great deal of recruiting going on now that we're free to proceed. You know the Guard well, and know who we need to place where to get the best out of our new troops. Will you do this for me? It would be a huge relief to know someone I trust, completely, is in that position."
She looked at me for a moment with a little suspicion rolling through her aura. She's not a bit slow. She knew what they had just been talking about, and coincidence is truly a rare thing.
"Yes," she said, "I'll do this. But there's something I need to tell you first."
I stepped forward, and hugged her with extra care not to put pressure on her right side, "I know, Mom. You can't hide something like that from a Soullord. I know things could have been better. I'm learning as fast as..."
"Son, you saved my life," she said and placed her hand on my cheek, "and that's enough."
"Thanks, Mom."
We were quiet for a moment and I turned back to Kharl. He had a small smile on his face, and I saw relief roll through his aura.
"I have an idea," I said with a grin. "After the demonstration for the Senators, I thought about something that would suit your fighting style."
"Experimenting again?" he asked with one eyebrow arched.
"Oh yeah," I said. "Take a look at this."
I backed a good distance away from him, and opened a portal on my stream. Then I lit up what I was doing so they could see what it was in detail. I had formed a shield that was fed by a tendril that was almost as big as my stream. Just enough was left to carry into myself the strength needed to push the shield.
"Holy shit," Kharl muttered. "That's gonna be awesome."
"That's what I was thinking," I returned. "What do you think a group of say, twenty or so powerful Mages with this sort of shield could do to a pile of Demons? Now that we're not in the caves, it seems to make sense."
What I had created was a shield of blades. They started at a point about fifteen feet in front of me. They spread out to the sides, and above me like some sort of multi-edged arrow head. The front was an edge that went from inches above the ground to ten feet over my head. The blades ran back at an angle. This would destroy a group of closely packed Demons.
"A strong Mage pushing that would be unstoppable" he said, "A literal juggernaut."
"That was my thought," I said. "I want you to get that group of Mages together and work on it. If you guys come up with a better design than the one I have, by all means, we'll use it. This one is just a prototype, of sorts."
He rubbed his huge hands together, "This is gonna be great."
"He's got a new toy," she looked at me in disgust. "I'll not see him for a damn week now."
"That's a bad thing?"
She chuckled and answered, "Now that you mention it..."
***
"Isn't your plane about to leave?" Paige asked as I walked into her office, "It will set a terrible example if the Warmaster is late for the war."
I laughed and said, "They won't start without me will they?"
"Never can tell with those crazy Guards," she answered. "What can I do for you, Colin?"
"It's something involving Lyrica," I said. "She seems determined to be a healer. She's spent a lot of time in Missoula at the hospital, and I want to do something to help her out. There's a doctor we've used several times named Pickney. I want to put him on the payroll permanently, and have him work with her. I want her to know how to put people back together, and he can help her a great deal."
"I think that's a wonderful idea," she said. "I'll send for him immediately. But I need to know where to send him. Here or Kansas. Where will our little healer be?"
"Here until the defenses are in place, just like the trainees and trainers. Once we get set up they can all be brought down there. By then, we'll need the space if things go right. I'm really hoping the recruit levels keep growing. We need as many Soulguards as we can get."
"This is true," she said. "The story Alstead did was a great boost. I was surprised that she did what she said she would do and didn't try to hurt us."
"I looked into her Soul, Paige," I said. "She has a good deal of integrity, something sorely lacking in the majority of journalists these days."
"So what do you think about her request to work with us on a semi-permanent basis?" she asked.
"I think she can help us a great deal," I answered. "If she keeps the integrity she has shown so far."
"Good, I was about to approve the request, and I wanted to hear your views on it first," she said. "Have you thought about the story she wants to do on you?"
"I'm not sure that it will do anyone any good," I said. "If I see a benefit for the Guard in that, then I'll let her. But I'm not sure it would be in our best interests for the world to see me too closely. You know what lurks inside of me."
She looked at me for a moment, "There's more than that inside of you, Colin. If that was all there was, you wouldn't be where you are at this moment."
"Maybe so, but if they get too close, they may see much more than they want to."
"It is your choice," she said. "I, for one, think there is much more good that would be seen than the darkness. But that's just my opinion. On another subject, what do you want done with the ex-Senator?"
"I need him sent to Kansas," I said, "Where I can keep an eye on him. But I need a few weeks to get some facilities built, first. If you see anyone acting funny around him, you call me. And you stay the hell away from that bastard. You know what chaos Worthington caused with much the same type of skills as this man."
"The same type of thing you can do, as well. Be very careful with that particular set of skills, Colin. It would be so easy to use it badly."
"Very true, I spend a great deal of time worrying about what I'm fated to become. So far, everyone who we've found with the Blood is evil as hell."
"If what Heltor has said is true, they had evil beginnings," she said. "You started with the opposite. You'll never become like them. It is an impossibility."
"I hope I can live up to that," I said as I stood to exit the room. She was right, I did have a plane waiting for me, and I needed to go.
"Georgia has Pickney's contact information. I'll see you in a few weeks, when you get down there."
"Bye Colin," she returned. "If you need me to push any buttons with the Government, just give
me a call. I'm having dinner with the President on Wednesday. And I think the English Prime Minister is going to be there for an introduction, as well as the Russian head of state. I'm not positive yet what he is called. Premier or President, I'm not really sure. I guess I should look that up before I stick my foot in my mouth."
"Probably a good idea," I said. "Let me know what it is when you find out, I don't have a clue either."
"Hard to believe we are the ones in control of this whole thing, and completely politically ignorant, the both of us."
"You're the one who gets to deal with the politics," I said with a laugh. "I just blow stuff up."
She was actually giggling as I left her office for the waiting plane.
Chapter 16
I could see something was up as the plane touched down. There were way too many Souls outside of the plane. It seemed that I had a reception committee waiting with well over a thousand people out there. Many were Mages, and a good many Guards too, mixed with the souls of quite a few normals also. Their Souls looked so dim beside the others that it was easy to pick them out of the crowd.
I steeled myself as the plane taxied in toward the crowd, because I hate all of this, pomp and circumstance, you might say. I would rather just get down there and start building shields.
"Just doesn't work that way, now, does it," I muttered.
"What's that, Sir?" one of the newest recruits asked. There were five of them that had just graduated to Rookies. They had been sitting quietly throughout the whole flight.
I had seen the tension in all of them at being in the same plane as a Soullord, and I was quite frustrated. But it wouldn't do to let them know that.
"It seems that they have prepared a reception for us outside the plane, so put your best face on and let's go see the show."
I stood and strode to the door.
"How does he know that?"
"Shutters down on the windows..."
"...didn't get call..."
I heard the whispers behind me. I straightened my Soulguard uniform, and stepped out the door of the plane.
They had formed a sort of corridor of Guards from the plane to the terminal, all of which stood at attention as I stepped down the stairs. I made my way toward the terminal, and nodded at a few of the Guards I recognized. I realized that I was familiar with a great deal more of them than I had thought.
There had been several Guards cycle through Knoxville while I was there. I hadn't realized exactly how many until this moment. I couldn't put names to all of the faces, but I could name quite a few.
There were a lot of flashes as the Press started with the pictures. Over the years, I had watched what the press reported, and I had very little use for them. There were exceptions to that observation however, as Alstead had kept her word, and made it a point not to trash us. There was so much a reporter could have turned against us with the detailed report she had done, the least of which was the knowledge of the Demons being kept secret for a thousand years.
At some point there would be the accusations from that choice. I still think we should have come forward long ago, but it may have precipitated what was happening right now much earlier. It's a touchy subject, and I'd rather stay away from the topic, if possible.
We made our way through the corridor of Guards to enter the terminal. Inside waited another group of people. These weren't quite so dreaded as the reporters would be. Several men in uniform waited surrounded by a group of military guards. There were three Guards and three Mages waiting as well.
Lennox Flynn, Gregor Kherkov, and Daphne Cavanaugh were the three Mages. Each had a Guard standing beside them. I recognized two of the Guards from the battle of Kansas. They had been two of the Denver guys that worked with the Kid. The other was unknown to me but his stream was large enough to classify him as Elite.
Gregor stepped forward and greeted me, "Welcome back to Kansas, Colin."
"Perhaps we can have a better outcome than the first time," I said and shook his hand. "Lord knows we need one."
"With preparation," he said, "I think we can do a great deal better."
I could see the memory of Nora Kestril exploding in a massive fireball when she Magebombed during the battle.
I'd heard the term a few days after the Last Rites, and it is as accurate as any other way to describe it. She'd Pulled everything she could as hard as she could until the explosion destroyed all of the Demons around her. And Nora was a very powerful Mage, indeed.
Gregor turned to the Guard beside him, but before he could introduce him, I nodded to the man and said, "Adam, good to see you made it through that last mess."
"Yes Sir," I could see that the man was impressed because I remembered his name. I'd only met him once, and it was in the middle of one hell of a battle.
I remembered him from the fight because, I'd spent hour after hour memorizing as many of the names as I could. I want to know my men. I don't want them to be numbers that I spend like currency. There are a lot of them, and I want them all to survive what's coming.
I know this is an impossibility, but I have to try my best to keep them all alive. We are about to be in a war, and I know I will lose men. I've already lost many, but I feel it's my duty to know who they all are. And I will try my best to make each life cost the Kresh so much that they will, eventually see that Earth would be better off left alone.
I turned toward Daphne and the Guard with her, "Through with training, Daph?"
"Just got in, was over in Scotland and hopped a flight with Flynn."
"Good to see you," I nodded to the Guard with her, "Rex, how are you doing?"
"Fine Sir," he said with much the same reaction as Adam had.
"Len," I said as I turned to Flynn, "How are things coming on our group?"
"We've got ten Mages on their way with ten Guards apiece," he said. "This should make a pretty decent crew fer you. We can test with it, ta see if we need more. I included yer two shadows in this group, and I leave it ta them ta form their Guard squads."
I nodded, "Good man, and who might this fellow be? I don't think I've ever met him."
"Colin Rourke, meet Colin MacGregor."
"Colin," I said in greeting.
"Colin," He returned in a Scottish accent.
"Nice to meet you," I said, "But I'll get better acquainted with you in a bit. Gotta go meet with the Officers over there."
I approached the group of officers and saw General Gasper standing in the front of the group.
I nodded to him, "General."
"Welcome to Hillsboro, Mr. Rourke," he said with a smile.
He turned to his left toward, if I was reading the rank insignias right, a one star general, "This is General Seran Polomo of the Army National Guard."
"General," I said and shook his hand.
Gasper turned to the right, "And this is General Marcus Stratton of the Air National Guard."
I shook his hand as well.
"You've thrown the whole Military situation in a turmoil with this Demon invasion of yours," Gasper said. "They are squabbling about who takes charge of the situation back in Washington. So while they try to figure out what they should do, the National Guard has stepped up and taken charge of the situation. Their Mandate is to protect our country from within, in short, while our Military branches work outside the country. It's not a rule so much as a long standing tradition."
"I see," I said.
"These men are ready to support you in any way they can. National Guard forces are being called up all over the country. I understand you requested several planes before you came down, and they will be here tomorrow."
"Great," I said with a bit of excitement running through me. I really wanted to see how the Soul rounds worked with the big guns. "If you guys can give me a few hours to get settled, I'd love to meet with you to discuss an overall strategy. I really need some experienced advice on this. I know our enemy but the Guard has spent the last thousand years fighting the bastards down in caves more than any other wa
y. And it looks like that has changed, completely. I would love to talk about some surface strategies that we can use to mesh our forces."
Polomo spoke first, "I think we can help with that. Both Stratton and I are vets. We may have some useful advice. And I've been briefed about the age thing with your Soulguard, but can you tell me how old you are, just for my sanity's sake. I swear you look younger than my sixteen year old son."
I laughed aloud and said, "Thirty one, next month. I'm not one of these insanely old codgers masquerading as a youngster."
As I said that I pointed toward the group of Mages, "Like Gregor, over there. I've heard rumors he's close to two hundred years old. Can't seem to get him to confess to it, though."
"Two hundred years," Polomo muttered in amazement, "Jesus Christ."
"He looks like he may be thirty," Stratton said. "He's really two hundred?"
"According to the rumors," I answered.
He shook his head in silence for a moment and then continued, "I guess we have some things to learn from you as much as things we may be able to help you accomplish. Shall we set up a meeting at, say, fourteen hundred hours."
"No problem," I said, "That actually gives me five hours to get situated, and find out where I stand with my forces. We've got Guards coming in from all over, and I need the time to see what numbers we can bring to the table at the moment. One thing I know, the Kresh will come. I just hope we get enough time to prepare some very nasty surprises for the bastards."
"I sincerely hope we can," said Polomo.
Chapter 17
"So far," I said to the Generals, "we have one hundred and thirteen Mages, and two thousand Guards moved down here. We can't just pull everyone here, because the Demons can open the smaller portals anywhere. We are afraid to pull everything to Kansas, and leave the rest of the country unprotected from smaller incursions."
"Sensible," Polomo said with a nod.
"What I don't know about is what to expect with their incursions," I continued. "Up till now, they came in secrecy. They hid in caverns, and made sneak attacks. I have a feeling this won't be the case anymore. They could open a portal in downtown Atlanta."
Soullord (Soulguard Book 2) Page 7