by Vic Broquard
Chapter 22 Strike Force One
Evsen Dragon, the eighteen year old son of Jarka and Bernard, a mage and Duska trained, sheathed his enchanted new broadsword. Already his new enchanted dagger was stowed at his side. Jarka carefully stowed six healing potions in a special bag that would withstand rough handling and submersion. Shrunk down, it fit nicely in his shirt pocket. She fastened its button, making sure it could not accidentally fall out. “You remember everything that I’ve taught you, Evsen,” Jarka fussed over her youngest son. She hated to see him go off with this Strike Force One. It had little chance of succeeding and was more like a suicide mission.
“Mom, I’ll be all right. I get to do my part now. Trust me,” the embarrassed tall, thin lad whispered, hoping that his fiancé, Katerina, who was nearby waiting to see him off, wouldn’t see or hear.
Bernard added, “Message us or whatever it is that you do when off-world. Let us know if you need anything and we’ll come running. You’ll do fine, I’m sure.” Evsen smiled; at least his dad hadn’t embarrassed him in front of Katerina.
At last, he was able to move to her side. They whispered to each other and she gave him a parting kiss. Katerina, Marek and Akira’s daughter, was also Duska and that meant they would be Mind Linked each night just before Evsen turned in. She would relay anything useful to Zoran — that was the plan the two hatched.
Zoran entered to see him off and shook his hand, “Evsen, you will do well, but just play it safe.”
Evsen agreed, focused, and stepped into the Shadows. Destination: Rehor. Place: Roskoy Castle, Eastern Sector. Roskoy Castle was a small garrison fortress where a hundred soldiers were stationed. Their charge was to protect the nearby mines. One whole wing was empty, and Baron Storm donated it to be the home base of the Strike Force One. True, the accommodations were Spartan, but the food and ale flowed freely. There were plenty of women in the town of Praha five miles to the south, if that was one’s wont.
With the exceptions of Asami, the water world, and Jing, each planet provided the force with one of their skilled fighters, well-armed of course. Fourteen fighters were supposed to arrive at Roskoy Castle by ten on the morning of May Day. Evsen pictured the map he was given and tried his best to follow it. Unfortunately, he entered Rehor from the wrong side and got turned around. He arrived just at ten, stepping out of the Shadows onto the arrival stone platform. Several others appeared at the same time and he relaxed about possibly being the last to arrive.
A thin woman in leather with a large longbow stepped out beside him. She had long brown hair, her braid falling to her waist. “This must be the place. Kaya Kasa from Isi,” she introduced herself. Evsen estimated her age at twenty-four and quickly introduced himself. A strong man and another woman stepped out of the Shadows behind them. The two turned to see the new arrivals.
The woman had long blonde hair also braided and equally long, but she was extremely well-muscled. Evsen knew that she had to be significantly stronger than he! She certainly was anything but shy. “Anwen Alun, from Anwyn,” she shook Evsen’s hand. His hand felt like it was in a blacksmith’s vice grip. She carried a bastard sword and a short sword. He carried two short swords, emulating Zoran. She was twenty-three. “And you must be our tracker,” she said to Kaya.
“Yes, Kaya Kasa, from Isi.” Kaya was shy and seldom said much, Evsen quickly discovered.
“Viktor Denek, Gladno. Pleased to meet all of you. This promises to be an exciting and worthwhile adventure. Glad to have an Isi tracker with us.” He was twenty-four and Evsen sized him up correctly — he was diplomatic. “I think the others may be waiting on us. Shall we?” he gestured and they entered the castle’s side door, where a guard led them to their barracks, explaining that this whole west wing was theirs to use as desired.
Upon entering the bunk room, the four discovered that they were the last to arrive. Ten other men were already stowing their gear, after unshrinking it, naturally. “Well, look what we have here!” a burly strong man bellowed. It was Boris Clav, nephew of the baron. He was a huge man and thirty-eight, their designated leader and quite opinionated and bossy. He was referring to the two women.
“Looks like we are the only women, Kaya,” Anwen said, ignoring the loud Boris. “Anwen Alun of Anwyn. Kaya Kasa of Isi, our tracker. Evsen Dragon, Adapazan. Viktor Denek, Gladno.” She introduced the four. Evsen was very impressed that she remembered all their names so quickly. He soon learned that she had an eidetic memory just like his mother, Jarka.
“Your leader, Boris Clav. Men, looks like we can have some fun when we are not out fighting.” He leered at the two women.
Anwen put her hands on her hips and faced Boris. “I will tell you all this only once. Lay a hand on me or Kaya and I’ll cut that part off!”
Boris did not like to be challenged by a woman, no less. With all these male fighters in the room, the two women stuck out prominently. “Whoa, did you hear that men? Ten gold says I can subdue her in two minutes or less. Any takers?”
Viktor spoke up, “Look, we are all supposed to be working together to kill these infernal dragons, not bickering among ourselves. I am sure that she is a competent fighter otherwise her baron would not have sent her.” Evsen sensed that he was trying to defuse the testosterone filled atmosphere.
“I say it will take you three minutes, Boris,” yelled the second largest man in the room, Bernd Hardt from Dietmar.
“I think that we need a new leader,” Anwen challenged him right back. Boris drew his bastard sword. Anwen pulled hers off her back in an easy draw. Everyone else backed away, giving them room. Brute strength headed for agility, strength, and intelligence. Boris took one mighty swing at Anwen. She ducked, parried, spun his sword out of his hands, caught it mid-air, and pointed hers at his throat. “Gee, you didn’t last ten seconds, big man.” The other men roared with laughter, while Boris fumed and his face crimsoned.
“Come on, she’s obviously a great fighter. I’m Tom Leadshire from Terra. This is Vladimir Milla from Valtr. Henri Huges from Gonda.”
The others introduced themselves rapidly. Fino Fione came from Cosma. Klaus Stantin was from Gerde. Federico Milano was the Alta fighter. Farrell Ahern came from Maeve and Yada Shem was from Chana. Evsen was the youngest here at eighteen. Most of the others were between twenty-two and twenty-five. Klaus was only twenty-one and Boris was the oldest by nearly ten years at thirty-eight, handpicked by Baron Strom to lead the group and serve the baron’s own ends, if possible.
The two women took an adjoining room for their quarters. Once settled in, everyone headed outside to practice and see how well each other fought. “The tracker is going to be a liability, Boris,” Bernd complained loudly so all could hear. “I don’t want to be the one having to always protect her.”
“Don’t need protecting,” Kaya said softly.
“You don’t even carry a sword,” he continued putting her down. He’d sized her up as their weakest link.
“Don’t need one,” Kaya again replied quietly.
“Oh yea? What if someone comes after you like this?” Bernd drew his sword and made a lunge towards her. To everyone’s surprise, Kaya moved like a blur, stopping some ten feet from him. As he tried again, she flashed a hundred feet from him, only this time her bow was out and an arrow notched.
“Try that again and I’ll put this arrow through your right eye,” she said quietly again. Kaya was incredibly swift. Evsen had never seen someone move as rapidly as she. He began to respect her more than the others.
Boris asked, “Well, how far can you shoot accurately? We ought to know that.”
It was a bit windy out here on the practice field. She looked at the trees in the distance and replied. “I can put this arrow in yonder wasp nest.”
“That’s three hundred yards if it’s a foot!” Boris retorted. Twang! She let her arrow fly and it pierced the wasp nest. That ended that challenge. The woman could shoot.
“Say Boris, it is wise of us to have a keen archer with us. She can protec
t all of us while we are in close combat. She’s obviously a dead shot. We need her,” Viktor said politely and diplomatically, hoping to defuse the air a bit. “Shouldn’t we pair up and go a few rounds to see how we all fight? We have to work together if we are going dragon slaying.”
By lunch all had a chance to go a few rounds with each other. Evsen was barely able to hold his own with most of the older men. He used every trick that Dana had taught him and he was pleased with the results. He doubted that anyone could take Anwen, though. She was just too skilled and quick for the men. Kaya merely stood and watched the others with their swordplay.
After lunch, Chan, Wen, and Dana arrived. Per the High Council’s orders, they were to share all of their experience in dragon hunting and slaying with the group. After all, these two women had more “dragon kills” than any other person in the Federation at this time. Admittedly, most of theirs were the weaker greens, but they were nonetheless deadly. Chan’s missing hand was testimony to that.
During the ensuing days, Viktor managed to obtain a concession from Boris. The fighter from whichever planet they were on would be the group’s temporary leader. Obviously, that person knew their own planet far better than the others. Boris grumbled about that, but could see the logic and wisdom behind it. He’d seldom been off-world and then only to Dietmar.
By June, Boris decided they’d done enough training and it was time to “go kill dragons!” At once the how raised its head. Boris decided that they should ride the countryside looking for a dragon to slay. They did so for a week without any success. True, occasionally, they spotted one flying high in the sky, but it was miles upon miles of rugged terrain away from them. Secretly, Boris was trying to lead them deep into the mountains where Baron Storm thought that the leader of the reds had a cavern home. He wanted that red eliminated. After a fruitless week, most were complaining that this was totally useless.
When asked, Evsen explained, “Well, Chan and Wen always began their hunt at the sight where the dragons attacked their people. They tracked it down and killed it.”
“But we don’t know about any dragon attacks,” Boris protested. “We know they are up there somewhere.” He pointed into the nearly impassable high peaks, a few of which still had snow packs on them.
For days, the men argued about how to proceed and Evsen was content to sit back and relax and allow them to waste time. Finally in utter frustration, Boris asked, “Kaya, you are our tracker. What would you suggest?”
“I’m not on Isi.”
“Well, no matter, what would you suggest?” Boris insisted.
“You want to kill red?”
“Yes, yes!” he fumed. “Find me a damn red!”
“Okay. Kaya will find you one.” She either teleported or stepped into the Shadows, Evsen couldn’t tell. It happened too fast. Several hours later, Kaya returned. “Join hands. Kaya lead you to red.” Suddenly everyone got excited! At last they could fight a dragon! Evsen felt uneasy about this, but joined the circle. Kaya was a Duska, he noted at once. She was Shadow Walking them all high into the far distant, uninhabited mountains. She deposited them at a small tarn. Blue-grey ice from a permanent valley glacier contrasted with the orange-red granite of the mountainside. Boulders lay everywhere, like some giant’s play toys, long overdue to be picked up. “Up there in the side of the cliff. Dragon den. At least one red lives there.”
“Okay, we charge into the entrance and slay this beast!” Boris ordered. Some Shadow Walked, some teleported. All but Kaya arrived at the large cavern’s stony entrance. Swords drawn, Boris led the charge into the dragon’s den. Valiant, Evsen thought, but foolish. He hung back, watching the party’s rear as ordered.
Evsen’s Duska senses triggered, eminent danger! “Intruders! Intruders! Thieves!” a loud, disembodied voice screamed as Boris ran past an Alarm spell, triggering it. So much for surprise, Evsen thought. The dozen continued their forward charge, while Evsen warily looked for a dragon coming at their rear or for additional traps. Suddenly, his senses screamed and he dove for the floor. Just in time, a huge wall of searing flames came rushing at him. He heard screams from those ahead of him. The flames vanished almost as suddenly as they came, typical of a red’s breath, he thought, and he picked himself up. Anwen came running back towards him. She was untouched, he noted. Out of the smoke he saw others running.
“Retreat! Get the hell out of here now!” Anwen yelled at him. He didn’t wait for further instructions and teleported back to where Kaya was waiting. She had an arrow notched and was aiming upwards.
“Silly men,” she said softly, as he landed beside her, his sword still drawn. One by one the others appeared nearby. Several men were badly burned, some limping, dragging their swords behind them.
“Where’s Boris?” Anwen called out.
“Took it full in his face! Dead most likely,” Bernd yelled, visibly shaken to his roots.
Just then, the dragon soared down from on high. His huge wings fully extended, sweeping down for the kill. “Damn, evacuate, retreat!” Bernd yelled.
Hastily, the fighters began to chant or Shadow Walk. Evsen saw that the dragon would likely get off one more blast before they could fully get away. Just then, he heard the twang of Kaya’s bow. He saw the arrow fly true and to his amazement, it struck the dragon in its chest. The huge beast let out a hideous bellow, veering away just enough to allow them to retreat back to Roskoy Castle and the landing platform.
“Thanks, Kaya!” Evsen complimented her as she was the last to arrive.
“Well done, Kaya!” Anwen added. Hastily, the men also thanked her, and they raced inside to tend to their wounded, that is, burned men. All of the fighters had been given some healing potions by their barons and many were quickly consumed. A half hour later, the intense burn pains were gone and the men began cleaning up. Half threw their old outfits away, destroyed by the dragon’s fire.
Over dinner, Anwen said, “Well, that didn’t go so well, did it? I think that we need better leadership.”
“And better plans,” added Viktor. “Look, we can’t just go charging into a dragon’s den. Fighting dragons is vastly different than fighting men.”
“That was foolhardy, I admit it,” Fino put in. “We best work out some vastly better ways or we will all be toast soon.”
“We didn’t check for traps the instant we arrived,” Evsen spoke up. “That ought to have been the second thing that we did.”
Many nodded, but Anwen asked, “So what was the first thing that we should have done, oh young one?” She taunted him about his age.
“We should have gone invisible and stayed mostly in the Shadows and gone inside to see what we were facing, the layout of the cavern, where the dragon was located, how many were in there and so on. Then, we appear at the entrance and check for traps, disarming the ones we find,” Evsen replied.
“I like the young one. He is smarter than he looks,” Anwen praised Evsen. Others began to change their opinion of the youngster.
Uncharacteristically, Kaya spoke up, “He is right. That is what we should have done, not charge in there and get killed. I don’t have a death wish. I have nothing to prove to anyone.”
“Why didn’t you do all that?” Bernd challenged her.
“Boris did not ask that. He told me to find him a red and I did what I was ordered to do. He was the boss. Hope next boss is smarter.” Bernd flushed.
“Well, one thing is for sure, we need a new leader. Any takers?” Viktor asked. Several grumbled.
“You should ask Evsen to lead. He’s fought dragons before with Zoran,” Kaya spoke up. She’d reached a decision. It was time for a real leader to step forward, one that would not get them all killed.
All eyes turned to him. “Why didn’t you say something about that?” Viktor asked.
“If I had, would any of you listened? I am only eighteen and Boris was a score older than me.”
“Touché. Point taken, Evsen. You’re right; we would not have,” Viktor said diplomatically. “So t
ell us about your dragon fights.”
The evening passed rapidly as he retold his few encounters helping Zoran rescue the kidnaped women. After that, he was unanimously appointed the new leader of Strike Force One.
The next day, everyone agreed that they needed to return and get revenge for the slaying of Boris. Evsen had everyone out watching the entrance, Invisibility spells in full force. After a day of reconnoitering, they discovered that only one dragon lived in the cavern. “Dragons leave to feed at least once a week. Here’s what we do. We wait and watch. When it leaves to go feed on an antelope, we enter its cavern, disarm its protections, and prepare a surprise attack when it returns. We must be spread out widely so that its fiery breath can only get one or two of us at the same time. The others use the time that it is blasting out its fire to close to close quarters combat. Then, we have a chance. Not a good one, mind you, but we have a chance. If the dragon’s breath comes your way, do everything in your power to get out of harm’s way, even teleporting or Shadow Walking away. Stay alive, that is your first order. Stay alive to return to the fight.”
Four long boring days later, the red finally left to hunt for food. Evsen stepped out of the Shadows and onto the entrance that he’d left in such a hurry before. Now he carefully checked for traps as did the other Duskas behind him. They all spotted the Alarm Warning spell and deactivated it. A bit further inside, they disarmed an Explosive Symbol, which would have detonated had they passed it. Even further inside, Evsen found a trip wire which he deactivated, pointing out that, if triggered, it would have dropped a one ton slab of granite on top of them. At this point, everyone was convinced they had their leader chosen well this time. No further traps were found. Now they laid theirs for the unsuspecting dragon, but not before they found the charred remains of Boris. Bernd collected the bones and put them respectfully into a small sack.