by Jamie Davis
Couch stood and bowed before leaving. Chills ran down his spine as he walked away. There was a target on his back. It was time for a contingency plan, in case his boss turned against him. His loyalty to Kane hadn’t faltered. But the Director clearly wasn’t convinced.
He had to tread carefully. Mitigate the outcome in some way.
He had three days to try.
CHAPTER 8
“Five days,” Maria said. “That’s the magic number. Five days and we’ll be ready to move on the first chanter camp.”
The whole team was back in the command center. Winnie, Danny, Victor, Morgan, Tris, Elaine, Garraldi, and Maria had all assembled here the day after their successful raid in Atlanta—in and out before any response arrived to stop them.
“We’re sure we have everything we need?” Winnie asked.
“We mostly needed more of the trailer containers to convert for transport,” Tris said. “I have my techs, and any chanters powerful enough to assist, working on it now.”
“Hence the five-day timetable,” Garraldi said, stepping up to stand beside Maria in front of the wall of windows.
One of the windows had been expanded and turned to face them. It showed a wide overhead view of the easternmost safety camp. Winnie saw the familiar layout and remembered when she and Cait had planned the first raid on that camp. They’d liberated her mom and the twins. Now it was time to go back and make sure that everyone was freed.
“One last time before we finalize things,” Maria said.
Winnie nodded. Maria looked at Garraldi. He drew in some magic then tapped the window to view the camp from above.
An overlay of translucent colored areas covered the camp.
“These colors represent the current objectives and threat sectors for this operation,” Maria said. “Blue areas represent the places we’ll stage our transport vehicles for pickup. Green areas are the sections of the camp where the chanter residents are being held. Red areas represent the active defenses and orange areas show barracks for the guards, or pens where they keep the beasts patrolling the perimeter.”
“Transport first, then,” Winnie said. “Are we sure we have enough of the containers to haul everyone out of there? We can’t wait for a second trip, or open a portal large enough for our friends to fly through.”
Tris nodded. “Based on Morgan’s reports, we should be fine.”
“I padded those numbers by ten percent,” Morgan added. “I’m confident we allowed enough room for error. After Atlanta we have plenty. Now we’re just waiting for the proper charms.”
“That’s the main reason for the delay,” Tris said. “It takes time to create the permanent levitation spells and links so that several containers can be towed at once, one behind the other.”
Victor leaned forward. “Are we sure the dragons can or will tow these things? They aren’t exactly domesticated beasts of burden.”
“I can handle that,” Winnie said. “They’ll listen to me as long as I have Excalibur. I assumed command when I summoned them. They’re waiting for me to tell them what to do, beyond hunting close to Promise Point.”
Garraldi nodded. “Assuming everything goes our way, we’ll assault the camp just before dawn five days from now. We’ll fly in from the west, landing in the blue areas just long enough to ground the containers. A chanter tech will be on each one to control the levitation and keep the passengers calm.”
“Our first group of ground forces will move in to neutralize the tower guards and perimeter patrols,” Maria added. “Group one will be under my command. A second, larger force with follow Garraldi to stage a blocking action among the barracks, holding pens, and the rest of the camp while we evacuate prisoners.”
“Where will I be?” Winnie asked. “I want a piece of this, too.”
Victor said, “Overseeing the whole thing from the containers with me and Danny.”
“I want to help liberate the camp,” Winnie insisted.
Victor shook his head. “You need to stay in the rear because you’re the only one who can control the dragons. We don’t know what they’ll do once they get a taste of blood in combat. We won’t be able to get your help if the dragons turn on us or take off and leave us stranded. We can’t afford to have you in the middle of a firefight.”
“They won’t do that. I told you how it worked.”
“Humor us, Win,” Danny said.
She wasn’t a flower. She deserved her place, despite her nerves at the rail yard. Too long. Everyone was waiting for her answer. But still she said nothing, so Garraldi took the ball.
“We’ll let the dragons lead the fight against the main forces to minimize casualties. Winnie tells me they’re mostly impervious to conventional weapons. Short of shooting one with an antitank grenade or missile, we should be fine.”
She nodded for him to continue.
“Once the prisoner side of the camp is secured, we’ll start ushering the prisoners out and loading them into containers. This is the hairiest part of the op. We can only estimate how long this is going to take. Reports suggest that conditions inside the camps have deteriorated significantly since we were last there. We may have to carry some of the prisoners out. That will affect the our time on the ground.”
Maria cut in. “If the Red Legs guarding the camp or the creatures under their control mount a counter attack before we’re ready to go, we’ll have a helluva fight on our hands. We’ll have to detach the dragons from their attack, pull them back to the containers to start towing them away to the west. And that’ll be when we’re most exposed.”
“The final contingency is to use a portal to retreat our ground forces back to Promise Point once the dragons are safely away,” Garraldi said. “If we have to.”
Winnie smiled. Maria and Garraldi made a good team; everything seemed covered. She glanced around the table. “Green lights from everyone?”
A wave of nods circled the table, stopping at Elaine. She said, “What’s the timetable to repeat this operation at the other four camps? Kane will surely realize that if we can liberate one, then we can liberate them all.”
Winnie looked to Garraldi. He cleared his throat, then:
“Provided we take minimal casualties and can use portals to send the rescued chanters to cities we control for the aid they’ll surely need, we can refit and be ready to take another camp within a week. Remember, at our best estimate, it will take the dragons over a day’s flight to travel back to Promise Point towing full containers. Maybe more than two. We just don’t know. That’s a long time to be cooped up.”
“A week is a long time for Kane to retaliate,” Elaine said. “I know it’s a lot to ask but I think we should gather the information we need on the next camp now. And start formulating that plan. Expedite the next mission.”
“It can’t be helped, Mom. There are only so many dragons and limited forces here.”
“We’ll have another infantry company up to speed in two weeks,” Danny said. “That’s an additional few days, I know, but it means we can add fresh forces to the second mission to account for the wounded or tired.”
Or dead, Winnie added to herself.
After the fighting at Fort Brick, she thought she’d become immune to death and dying around her. But the previous evening had her wallowing in a few old and unwelcome thoughts.
“If that’s all,” Tris said. “I’d like to get back to supervising preparations. If people are going to be cooped up in them that long, we should have some sort of privies inside them. I still need to think about how that will work.”
“Sure,” Winnie said. “I think that’s all.”
Garraldi and Maria both nodded.
“Very well, we’ll meet again tomorrow for a progress report on preparations and any changes to the plan.”
Everyone stood and dispersed except Winnie, who remained seated and staring at the oversized window looking out on the camp.
“See something I missed?” Garraldi said, startling Winnie.
“Ju
st missing the old days,” she said giving her friend a smile. “How are things with Maria?”
The big man smiled and shrugged. “Progressing. War makes for an honest relationship, I guess. But it’s hard to enjoy it.”
Winnie pointed to Danny, standing by Maria. “We’re still feeling things out. Everything’s different since Fort Brick. I guess you do your best, and wait for a time when you can do better.”
“That’s what we’re doing,” Garraldi said. “Taking it all one day at a time.”
Winnie laid a hand on his shoulder and smiled.
Garraldi returned her smile then walked away.
Out of the corner of her eye, Winnie saw Victor and Morgan heading to the command team’s apartments. She hoped they were coping better than she and Danny, though that wouldn’t be hard.
CHAPTER 9
Something had changed, and Victor knew it.
Morgan’s strange behavior over the last day or so told him that much. He couldn’t figure out what he’d done. It had to be his fault; Victor had been in enough relationships to know that. So he decided to spend some time with Morgan this afternoon and see if they could both get to the bottom of it.
After the meeting, Victor went straight to Morgan, intercepting her before she had a chance to head back to the logistics center. He’d already told her second in command that she wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.
“Can we talk?” Victor said when he finally caught up.
“There’s a lot of work to do. You heard Winnie.”
“I think they can do without us for a little while. We could go for a walk, head up to the higher caves.”
“I don’t know, Victor.”
“I told Janice not to expect you back this afternoon. I’ve pulled some strings. The sandwiches are already packed.”
“Victor, did you plan a picnic?” Morgan said, breaking into a laugh.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing,” Morgan said, a hand on his arm. “I’ve just never seen you try to be romantic. We kind of fell in together without much of a courtship.”
“So you’ll come?”
“Yes. Let me stop by our room and grab a wrap. It’s cold up there.”
“Alright, I’ll meet you there. I’ll get our lunch from the officer’s mess.”
Morgan squeezed his hand and the two of them parted.
Victor was glad he’d been able to convince her. It had been hard to find time for just the two of them.
In the kitchens off the officers’ mess, the cook pointed to a paper bag on a shelf with Inspector Holmes written on the side. Victor waived a thank you, grabbed the bag, then headed to their room one level below.
Morgan was waiting by the door with a plaid woolen shawl draped over her shoulders.
“Ready?” He asked.
“Lead the way.”
He took her hand and led her to the lift.
It had taken him a while to get used to using the transport lifts built by Tris and the techs: large vertical chimneys within the mountain. When you reached one, you waived your hand in the open air for a moment or two, until a metal disk about ten feet across appeared. This one descended from above.
They stepped inside and Victor said, “Level 42.”
The disc ascended, slowly accelerating until openings in the vertical tube were flying by. It slowed when nearing the top, then stopped at the last opening. Victor stepped off and took Morgan’s hand.
“Those things scare the crap out of me,” he admitted.
“Me, too. I usually take the stairs and ramps we built when we first arrived.”
They headed down the passage until they reached an open space that led to a large ledge near the peak. There were heat panels radiating hot air away from the walls, but Victor could still feel the chill mountain air.
“Is this alright?” Victor asked.
“It’s perfect,” Morgan said, looking out over neighboring peaks and a brilliant green valley below.
There were chairs off to one side. Victor pulled them over.
Then, opening the paper bag, he removed the sandwiches, each wrapped in paper. Next came a pair of water bottles. There were also individually wrapped slices of what looked like carrot cake. He’d have to send an extra thank you to the cook for thinking of more than the “couple of sandwiches” he’d requested.
They sat in silence, eating their sandwiches and staring at the sky. Occasionally a dragon would swoop around a distant peak and they’d hear its bellow, fierce as always. Other than that, nothing but silence.
They finally decided to speak at the same time, and their bumble of words tumbled into a laugh.
“You go first,” Victor said.
“No, you,” Morgan urged.
“Well, I wanted to talk about us.” Victor felt too nervous. “I mean, we’ve been seeing each other for a long time. Living together that whole time. But I never take the time to tell you how I really feel.”
Morgan smiled, said nothing.
“I’m not the most romantic man, Morgan. You know that. I don’t have all the necessary props, or even a ring for you. That said, I want to ask you to marry me anyway. We don’t know how long any of this will last or even what the outcome will be at the end. But I want to make the most of today, and even more of tomorrow and the day after that.”
Morgan’s smile widened. She nodded. She wanted to cry out but couldn’t.
“Is that a yes?” Victor asked.
“Yes!” Morgan exclaimed, finally able to get a word out.
She laughed and leaned over to hug him, holding him close.
He could smell the floral fragrance of her hair, his ears delighted with her laugher. Victor swore that he’d remember this moment for the rest of his life.
He’d never been happier.
After a while, they leaned back in their chairs to look out again on the landscape before them.
Then Victor remembered. “You wanted to tell me something, too. What was it?”
“I’m pregnant,” Morgan blurted.
“What? When? How far?”
He reached over and laid a hand on her stomach.
“I’m about six weeks. It’s early. Won’t start showing for another month or so according to Elaine. I planned on visiting the menders later today to confirm what she told me.”
“Do you have reason to doubt?”
“Just being safe. They can do things to ease the pregnancy for both the baby and me. Elaine and the twins discovered it by accident, yesterday before the operation in Atlanta. We were never alone. I couldn’t tell you about it until now.”
“The baby’s alright, though? Everything’s normal?”
“Elaine said the baby’s healthy, as far as she can tell. But apparently your new abilities can be passed down. Our baby will be a chanter.”
“Does that please you?” Victor was happy either way, but Morgan was a middling. A child chanter might scare her.
“I’m so happy, Victor. It’s a life you and I created together. I don’t care whether it’s middling or chanter or anything else, so long as we’re a family.”
Victor felt a twinge of worry. He’d never known his own father and worried what kind of father he’d be. That concern, coupled with the risks of war, left him emptier than he wanted to be.
Would his son never know his father, either?
“What’s wrong, Victor? You look … bothered.”
“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about raising a baby in a place like this. How can we keep him or her safe in Promise Point?”
“We won’t be alone, Victor. When you’re out on operations, I’ll have help here or anywhere else we go. Elaine and plenty of others will be happy to lend a hand. Even Fiona offered to babysit when she got older.”
Victor smiled. It was a relief to know that if something happened to him, his family wouldn’t be alone.
“I feel like we should have some sort of toast, but water will have to do.”
He raised his water bottle. Morgan did
the same. They touched.
“To us,” Victor said.
“All three of us.”
They both took a sip then leaned together, Morgan’s head resting on his shoulder. They sat in silence, watching dragons soar in the distance. It wasn’t until the sun sunk near the western peaks, causing them to squint against the glare, that Victor realized how quickly the day had gotten away.
“I suppose we should go,” Morgan said.
“Yes, but I’d like to come back soon. Let’s make this a regular thing. We should spend as much time together as we can.”
“I’d like that.”
Morgan gathered their trash and water bottles while Victor returned the chairs to the spot along the wall where they wouldn’t get snowed on. Then they clasped hands and walked the long passage towards the lift tube.
Victor had been apprehensive about today’s plan. But in the end, it had worked out even better than he’d hoped. The pregnancy had been a surprise but it was wonderful and suited his proposal like a ring on a finger.
“We should probably get married sooner rather than later,” Victor said.
“What’s the hurry? A girl has plans for these types of things.”
“We could have a quick ceremony now and save the big party and reception for when this is all over,” Victor said, not wanting to wait.
“I suppose. But who would marry us? I suppose there might be a minister among the recruits.”
“Well, if captains at sea can marry someone, I suppose commanders on land can do so as well.”
“You mean Winnie? She’d kill me if I made her do that.”
“No, she’ll be honored. Besides, it’s her job as the leader to witness our union.”
“You can ask her, after I tell her I’m pregnant.”
“I hope she says yes,” Victor said.
“She will if she knows what’s good for her,” Morgan laughed, then stepped on the lift. “Come on, Victor. Let’s go tell her right now.”
Victor followed Morgan onto the disc.
He hoped Winnie was as receptive to all this as Morgan imagined. She could use something to perk her up after Atlanta.