Wolf's Pawn (Sajani Tails Book 1)

by Chaaya Chandra

  Why did it have to be him? she thought. At my lowest point, it has to be my highest idol. She didn’t bother straightening up after her climb over the railing. Instead, she dropped to a knee before him—a gesture she knew he hated, but there was no way she felt that she could face him standing. “I failed, Mr. Benayle.”

  There was complete silence for a long time. She couldn’t meet his face, so she had no idea what he was doing until she saw his feet approach her across the deck. She could see his hand being proffered to her.

  “Failed Sajah?”

  She dried her tears on his hand, but refused to take it in her own. “That supply depot is still standing. It was our best hope to slow the elves. If you hadn’t shown up with your ship, we’d probably not have made it back past their outer security.”

  “My ship?”

  There was amusement in his voice, although Sajani had no idea why.

  “They’re moving into Vharkylia and I couldn’t stop them. I tried Ben…Mr. Benayle. I really tried.” The sobs were coming even more strongly now and the tears continued to fall on the vykati leader’s outstretched hand, but she stubbornly refused to grasp it as he wanted.

  “Already in Vharkylia, actually.” Ben amended for her.

  That didn’t help. It only made her feel worse. “Then,” she said slowly, “my failure is complete and total.”

  “Your mother was this dramatic as well, or so I’m told.”

  Sajani said nothing. Her mother had effectively stopped her enemy, at least long enough for Ghenis’s troops to get there. That, of course, made her think of the old vykati. Her sorrow deepened, but the tears came no more frequently. It wasn’t possible.

  The leader’s hand backed away for a moment and then his voice boomed as though he was addressing everyone on board. Most likely all of her remaining crew had climbed up by now. “I want you all to remember this moment.” She saw his feet step away from her. “Because someday, your grandchildren will want to know about the daughter of Malita Adida.

  “They’ll marvel at what two generations have accomplished for Vharkylia and will stand in awe of anyone who managed to be next to the younger of the two in some of her greatest moments.

  “And each of you will have been there with her. Each of you will be able to proudly boast of what you were able to accomplish with her. Each of you will look into the worshipful eyes of those grandchildren and tell them how proud you were to have served with the Lady of Rust.”

  There was a long pause. And he said I was dramatic, she thought. The tears were slowing. She had no idea where he could possibly be going with this, but she found herself caught up in his words.

  “And then you will be able to tell them, in sorrowful detail, what has happened this day. You’ll be able to tell them how the Copper Wolf, the legend known as Sajani Adida, felt that she had completely failed her country, completely failed her leader, and completely failed herself.

  “You’ll tell them that she actually bowed before Mr. Benayle, a crushed and defeated soul. No wolf is so lowly, no wolf is so detached, no wolf is so unworthy, that she should feel the need to kneel before me, but she did.”

  The tears had finally stopped and she felt the feelings of worthlessness and failure slipping from her. It did nothing to lessen her losses of that day, but it did strengthen her resolve.

  “But the Lady of Rust is not like others who strive to succeed. Starting on level ground is not good enough for her. Adida blood runs through her and that blood echoes within her ears each time her heart beats. It tells her that it is not enough to succeed from a normal start. Like her mother before her, she doesn’t fight against the odds: she makes the odds. And that means she can start from any level, at any time.

  “So when your grandchildren ask you what it was like to serve with Sajani, the daughter of Malita Adida, you will tell them all about what has happened today, because you will want your children, and your grandchildren, and their children to know, that nothing can stop the Copper Wolf. And if they too can muster the will and determination of an Adida, then nothing will stand in their way as well.

  “Rise up my friend,” he said and his hand appeared before her again. “Take command of your new warship and turn back this campaign of steel and lightning that threatens our nation. Like mother, like daughter. For Vharkylia!”

  She took him by the hand and rose, looking him straight in the eye. “For Vharkylia!” she shouted and then the night was full of the war howls of what seemed to be a thousand wolves.

  It was later that those howls became howls of mourning and loss.

  After hearing about the smoke, Westa had suggested they wash off the wounded and change their clothes. Healing then, might work slightly better.

  Tess had been the worst off of the survivors. They had started with her. Sajani and ‘fang worked to get her washed. Her old uniform was just cut off completely rather than working it over her wounds. They used almost half a barrel of water from the ship’s supplies and scrubbed the wounds down as much as they dared.

  Westa cast the spell to repair Tess’s leg. Light appeared around her thigh and began working its way down. It seemed to be knitting things back together at first, but it stopped below where the tourniquet had been, and the rest became separated as skin formed around what was now a stump just below her knee.

  The priestess gasped.

  “Indira spare us,” Sajani whispered.

  At that moment, Tess started awake and looked up at the three vykati that were standing over her. “What?” she said.

  “I’m so sorry Tess…” Sajani began, still focused on the stub of Tess’s leg.

  The first mate pushed herself up on her elbows and glanced down at her leg. “Nice! Now I’ll look like a real pirate!” She then slid back and went unconscious again.

  The priestess immediately made sure that Tess was all right and not going into shock. When she was sure, she looked up at the Copper Wolf. Sajani and Westa laughed. Of all the things the first mate could have said, that had been the one she least expected. Sure, Tess had always been enthusiastic and optimistic, but Sajani had thought that perhaps the loss of a leg would be too much for her.

  She’d been wrong. They left ‘fang to keep an eye on her and then moved on to see Ginger.

  Chass had already removed the spark’s clothes and cleaned up around his wounds. This left the injured vykati lying on his stomach with his tail between his legs. His cat sat on his back, like it was guarding him. Sajani placed her hands on his shoulders and said the prayer that would heal him. The wounds on his shoulder and his thigh started to work their way closed and the bullets came enough to the surface that they could be brushed off, but the areas were still bleeding. The spark did not regain consciousness.

  They went from soldier to soldier, healing what they could, until, their spells gone and their minds exhausted, they came to the cot holding the still form of Tenner. Harg had cleaned him up and changed his clothes. Parts of his fur and skin were badly burned. His eye socket was empty.

  “He got too close to one of the behemoths before launching his rocket.” Harg had appeared behind them. “He said that it looked worse than it felt.” The voice of the petty officer was subdued and slow. “He was covering us as we were heading back to the transport…”

  Sajani motioned to Westa, but the priestess hesitated.

  “I don’t think it will work,” she said. “All of my spells seemed so much weaker. He might have already moved on to his next life.”

  “We have to try, den mother.” Sajani replied.

  Westa nodded and began casting her spell. Unlike the basic healing and restorative spells she’d cast earlier, this one took a long while and light and magic began slowly forming over the still form of Tenner while she continued. Eventually the light became very bright and descended on the motionless vykati until it rested just above his skin. There was a burst of pure energy that made it impossible for those present to see for a brief moment. The light then faded away quickly.
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br />   Tenner did not move.

  No one said a word. Harg took a blanket that was at the base of the cot and draped it over the dead wolf and the three let out a mournful howl that was echoed around the ship.

  The two finally sat down to rest, their spells and emotions depleted, when a voice came from a set of stairs near the infirmary. “I’m sure you’ve had a worse day than I have, but if someone could please relieve me at the helm, I could really use a rest.”

  “Simon?” Sajani replied. She turned to Westa, “you didn’t tell me.”

  The robed wolf shrugged. “You were pretty distracted. I didn’t think you’d hear it anyway.”

  “Any other criminals aboard I need to know about?”

  “Former partner in crime at any rate. Mauro took my place running the runes that keep us hidden. He’s down there with Simon.”

  The voice of the dwarf entered her mind, “In the flesh,” he said cheerfully.

  “It only takes three to fly something this big?”

  “No, it takes more than that. I’m not sure how many. Five kept us airborne and hidden. Fillo, the gnome who was sent to teach us, said it was good we weren’t worrying about attacking or being attacked or we’d have been in real trouble. The rest of us have no idea what we’re doing.”

  Sajani really wanted to ask what had brought her devout friend here. It made no sense to her that Westa would leave her prominent position in the capital, not to mention her son and husband. There was a long and awkward pause, during which the voice from below came up again.

  “I really could use a rest, if it’s not too much trouble.”

  The voice of their dwarf companion, Mauro, followed right after it. “Shut your trap. A little real work won’t tarnish your fingernails.”

  The two ladies laughed conspiratorially.

  “I’ll keep him down there a little longer, I think,” Sajani said quietly.

  “I heard that!” the conman responded.

  “If you leave your post here,” Mauro’s voice threatened, “Benayle says you have to go clean the head.”

  “He wouldn’t!” came the immediate response.

  “Care to try it?” Mauro answered from below, “We have enough to run this ship now. Where else we putting the gong farmer?”

  There was no response and Sajani found herself giggling to hear those two at each other again. Westa joined her. It took the captain’s mind off the horrors of the day, briefly.

  “I suppose,” Westa said after a moment, “that you’re wondering what I’m doing here?”

  “I can’t believe you left your position as the Most Reverend Mother of the cathedral.”

  “That’s…not what I thought you’d say,” the priestess confessed.

  Sajani gave her a confused look.

  “You left a key position in the country open—one where your replacement, although not bad,” she added hastily, “was not nearly as qualified.”

  With the recent events still heavy on her mind, Sajani felt a little ashamed by what the den mother was saying. Normally it was her who cared about such things, not the priestess. She lowered her eyes. “I thought I could do more good here.”

  Westa leaned over and took the Copper Wolf’s hand in hers. “Too soon to know for sure,” she said in a placatory tone. “But I meant it only as a simile, not an accusation.”

  It still was a touch of salt on a very open wound, but Sajani said nothing.

  “And our reasons, in many ways, are alike. I thought I could do more good here. It looks like I arrived in time.” She went on to explain to Sajani the vision that she’d had while praying at the cathedral’s alter. When Westa came to the part of seeing Chass, she added. “And I’ve seen that wolf now.”

  Sajani nodded. “He’s hard to miss. I’d never heard him get so forceful. He’s usually so gentle.”

  “You weren’t hearing,” Westa said. “I’ve seen that before.”

  The Lady of Rust merely nodded.

  The priestess finished her story, saying that she picked a random replacement and met up with Simon, Mauro, and Benayle in Kirvirsh just ahead of the elf forces.

  Westa’s vision was exactly what Sajani needed to hear at the time. It reminded her that even the faith of a devout holy warrior would have its lapses occasionally—it had before and would again. There were times when people were required to fill in because the Divine could not be all places at all times—there were areas that were so dark that even Its light could not penetrate without someone going in first to carry it there.

  And in those times, Providence was very aware of the impact Its absence could have on the faithful and did Its best to ensure that a guiding light would remain. Westa’s vision, if not the presence of the priestess herself, was a confirmation—a light that illuminated the path that both of them needed to follow.

  “And you flew this thing all the way north from there?” Sajani said in awe.

  “No, my dear, if it’d been that long, I’d have strangled Simon and Mauro by now. ‘This thing’ as you called it, is far too small.” Benayle had walked into the infirmary and was smiling at them.

  “I’d call it by its name if I knew what it was.” Sajani countered. “But first, where did this come from?”

  “That,” Benayle answered slowly, “I’m not going to tell you.”

  Sajani started to protest, but he continued.

  “It was something that Simon and I worked out and it’s really better if we can keep the number of people who know about that down to where we can count it on one paw, without using our thumbs.”

  The Copper Wolf smiled. “I’ll get it out of him then.”

  Benayle didn’t answer that. “It was on a dirigible that we took to the coast of Zenache, near Sarbrign. We flew it to here and I’ll need you to fly me back so I can return to Vharkylia.”

  “Back to Vharkylia? Wouldn’t you be safer…” Sajani noticed Westa rolling her eyes. “I guess you two have been through this before?”

  “Ad infinitum,” the old wolf said with a bow. “I see why you call her the den mother.”

  Sajani caught Westa throwing Benayle an angry look.

  It had no effect. “As long as my nation is not safe, I don’t see why I should be.”

  “Drama hound.” Sajani accused.

  “I believe the correct response is,” he cleared his throat, “tin head?”

  Laughter came up from the two below them.

  He’d learned something from those three then. “I guess we’ll take this thing back to Sarbrign then.”

  “There you go with that ‘this thing’ again,” he chided her.

  “Then tell me what you call it.”

  “Sajah,” he sounded exasperated, “why would I name it? It’s a not a Vharkylia Alpha Ship and the Drtithen Council or Riteyai Lords usually insist on naming those anyway. It’s your ship now. You should name it.”

  A slow smile crossed the Copper Wolf’s face. “I know what we’ll call it and we’ll do this the proper way.”

  She waited for the sun to rise. They had looked for the bodies that they had been forced to leave behind, flying over the battlefield at night, safely disguised as something other than a flock of birds. The elves had left the remains alone, just like they had in the Zenache cities, and Sajani assumed, now in Rhidayar and Vharkylia. They were able to recover all but Doc, but had raised a mound for their old chaplain anyway. Westa’s magic couldn’t help any of them. Most had probably already moved on to their next incarnation.

  The twelve graves stood at the edge of the encampment, each marked with a hastily carved tombstone that their new healer had etched with the symbol infinite: the symbol of Ahj. A crescent and half-moon were visible in the sky and there was a slight covering of dew on the grass and pine needles that surrounded them. A light breeze moved her hair and had a calming effect on her. Sajani felt at peace.

  They would continue, she knew. This was not the end.

  Light fell on their faces as the sun at last crested the barren hi
ll before them. It brought a warmth not only to their bodies, but to them as a whole.

  Westa’s voice broke the stillness. “The sun. In a world where things are broken so easily, where we often find ourselves missing the friendship and love of those who have departed, it is the sun that we should turn to as an example. The sun always sets as many times as it rises. There is not a time when we experience two sunsets in a row.

  “What we are experiencing today is the moment just before the rising of the sun. It has set for others, but for us, it rises again.

  “There is evil in the world and it fights to bring us to darkness, but as long as there is a sun, it will continue to rise for us. As long as we stay true to the ideals that make us the kind of people we are, each sunset will be followed by a sunrise.

  “Those who lie here, gave all so that we could stand here free today to see one more sunrise. May Mohu and Mohi guide them all safely to their next incarnation.”

  They had no bugler, so they sang the Vharkylia national anthem and ended with more howls of mourning. Fenther had volunteered to sing a traditional Zenache dirge and she motioned for him to begin once the last of the howls went silent.

  The song started out slow and beautiful. The singer did have a wonderful and full voice, but after the first couple of bars…

  This…was a mistake, she thought as she started to pick up occasional words in the melody. It sounded appropriate enough as far as the musical notes went, and since she was the only other one that knew any Zenachen, no one would know otherwise about the lyrics. It was a long song and the melody was very moving. Heat kept coming to her face though, every time she’d understand a phrase or two. What was with him?

  Once that debacle was over, she motioned for her crew to gather around the ship. They hadn’t been able to see it when it first arrived, but now, with the morning light just beginning to fall on it, its beauty and workmanship were awe inspiring. It looked like a traditional maritime sailing ship, without the masts. The body was a bold red and the forecastle and bow were gray. The figurehead on the bow was the head of a howling wolf. The front underside of the bow was covered with many planes of glass and you could see the helm through them. Behind the glass were five round metal hatches, evenly spaced. Compared to the ship that she had started out on, this airship was huge.