The spell had already faded, but Benayle wasn’t that far off. She started to run towards him and then saw the elf officer out of the corner of her eye. She nocked an arrow and turned to face her, but rather than drawing a weapon, the officer stared her right into the eye and spoke her name.
There had been enough of a pause that Sajani was able to see the face of her enemy clearly and that stopped her from letting loose the arrow. It wasn’t Bean, but it looked a lot like her—older, but still very much recognizable. The captain cocked her head to the side and asked, “Bean?”
The elf nodded and tossed a small object to Sajani. Too small to be threatening, the Copper Wolf caught it instinctively and looked down at it. It was a key. When she looked back up, the elf had moved on.
Finishing the two strides she needed to reach the hunched form of Benayle, she quickly placed her hands on his shoulders and said a prayer of healing. A bright light formed around the two, but the captain didn’t care. Let them see her. She’d take them all on with Ben’s help. But while some of the wounds closed, Benayle remained visibly hurt. “I told you not to go back there,” she said with a note of anger in her voice.
The voice of her friend and mentor was weak, but still retained the fire that made him the leader he was. “You came all this way, fighting through the entire elf army, to tell me, ‘I told you so?’” He began coughing.
She put the key to his shackles and unlocked them, then pulled him to his feet and supported him as they walked back towards the front of the building. The firefight had intensified over by the warehouse and her people were holed up. They had the advantage of cover that the elves lacked, but Sajani knew that even as all this was happening, there would be another group of elves from elsewhere on the base circling around to flank them. They didn’t take Zenache that fast and not know basic tactics.
Sajani and Benayle sat in the shadows of the house and waited while the captain took a good look around. Her spell wouldn’t help Benayle move, so she had to find a way to signal Harg or Chass to come to them. That was the plan anyway.
But just when she thought it might be safe to move a little more forward to make that possible, a full platoon came cautiously towards them. Pressed down low next to the house, it was only a matter of time before they noticed the pair. They were moving parallel to the direction she wanted to go and if they kept going, would pass within a little over a meter.
She heard Benayle whisper to her, “Make a break for it. I’ll hold them off here.” It was followed by a very soft cough. “Or maybe not.” He concluded.
“I don’t see anything Westa can’t fix, old wolf.”
They both went quiet as the approaching enemy was almost upon them and getting ready to take up firing positions. Sajani gripped her bow hoping that the firefight would distract them enough for her to take out anyone close enough to see them. This was it. All this way and it all came down to dumb luck on their part.
There was a sharp metal clang, like something heavy hitting the ground and it was followed by the voice of General Sestus saying in perfect Vykati of all things, “The prisoner is getting away to the north. Forget about them.” And with that, the troops turned and raced back the direction they had come. There had been no question. Apparently, they all knew and feared that voice.
Since the elves didn’t speak Vykati, that could only mean… “Tess!” Sajani growled. She didn’t have a chance to say any more.
Tess stepped from the shadows and said in Sajani’s voice, “you never listen.” And then in her own voice she said. “Just get on the platform. We’re done here.” She motioned so that the captain could tell where to guide Benayle. “I’ll cover you.”
As soon as Sajani set foot on the platform, she saw Westa waiting for them. “Is he stable?” she asked. “I might need to save my healing.”
The captain nodded. “He might look like he’s in bad shape,” she said, “but he’s still the stubborn wolf he was when we left him. Hopefully a little wiser.”
“You can’t improve on perfection, my dear.” Benayle said softly. At least this time it wasn’t followed by more coughing.
As the platform began moving up, she grabbed ahold of the wolf leader and gave him a smothering hug. She would never admit that she could feel the tears forming in her eyes. They were tears of relief, so it didn’t count.
Benayle’s voice came from the middle. “I’m so very glad to see you too, Sajah. I didn’t think there was any way that you’d be able to find me…”
Westa launched into an explanation of what had happened with the communications system and Tess declared. “We’ll drop you off and pick up the others. There’s no reason for us to hang out at this party any longer.”
While Tess was still speaking Sajani heard Benayle tell her in a whisper. “I missed you too, but I’m not sure that my ribs were all in the proper number of pieces…” Sajani let go. “…before the hug.”
“Can we burn it all down before we go?” Tess asked.
It would have been a major setback to the elves, but Sajani thought of the elven officer who had given her the key. While the shackles would have come off eventually, it made moving Benayle a lot easier. Somewhere down there was Bean’s relative, the one who had made this all possible.
“Take out the warehouse and the building they held Benayle in, but leave the rest. Show them we know restraint.”
Restraint was difficult, after what they had done to Benayle. He was going straight to the protection of Lord General Crore and the wolf pack. There wouldn’t be time for her to visit, but he’d at least be dropped off safely. And this time, she thought looking down at the weakened form of the great leader, the old wolf wouldn’t be able to argue with her.
General Sestus read the report once again. It had all happened less than two hours before and the report was succinct and complete. The ammunition used against them had been properly identified and while some of it was new and some of it was theirs—one type was neither. Somewhere on Terah, their ancient enemy was hiding. That Copper Wolf would know where.
A coms soldier motioned to him. “Sir, the Copper Wolf came on line and wants to speak to you. She’ll try back in one minute” Was she reading his mind?
He was tempted to ignore her, but something inside of him could not. She was his nemesis and no amount of looking away would change that. Better to face her. It was the only way to eventually overcome his enemy.
The general sat down before the screen and put on his most serious expression. She would not best him. Not only did he have the better technology, he had the better mind.
The screen came to life and he could clearly see two wolf people on it—Sajani and that incredibly casual leader, Benayle. “What do you want?” he scowled.
“Just wanted you to know that there’s no use threatening Vharkylia anymore. It didn’t work when you held our leader and it won’t work now.” The screen faded out briefly, but came back after only a second. “We’ll be traveling down the Zenache and Rhidayar west coast until we reach the harbors at Drtithen.” The signal cut out again for a moment and then returned to normal. “From there, we’ll disappear into the wilds to drop off our cargo, and then I’ll be right back to tormenting you like always.”
An expletive escaped the general’s lips.
After another brief break in the signal, the Copper Wolf was back. Apparently Benayle had left. She was smiling sweetly at him. “Oh, and before I go, general, I should tell you, just by way of proper social etiquette—while that’s not a common name for a lady of my people, it is an accurate one.”
The signal terminated.
Sestus began issuing orders immediately. He’d send as many of his units as possible to follow the opposite of the route she’d given him. There was no way she’d trick him into following a path given that simply.
Tess chided Sajani, “Why’d you give him our route? Did you plan on changing it now?”
Sajani laughed. Tess was good at her job, but she had yet to learn a few tricks
from the old dog. “Ginger, keep an eye on the units near the east coast of Zenache down towards the Vharkil mountains. That’s where he’ll be sending them.”
Ginger nodded.
“Now let’s take the old wolf home before he gets any more crazy ideas.”
Chapter Fifteen:
The Supply Depot, Act II
General Crore…Lord General Crore, Sajani corrected herself, looked much leaner than the last time she’d seen him. He’d been a competent officer—that was why she’d selected him as her replacement—but even so, he’d grown still more to fill, what she knew firsthand, was a difficult position. His grip was stronger, she noticed, as they clasped hands and touched cheeks in greeting.
The uniform he wore was unpressed, but not untidy, and he was not wearing the military spats that, though not a required part of the uniform, he usually wore. In short, Sajani could tell by looking him over, he was every bit as good as the minister he had replaced.
“Welcome home, Mr. Benayle,” he said calmly and took the old wolf’s hand in his.
The national alpha looked over his shoulder at her, his arm still in a splint, and said sarcastically. “At least he didn’t tell me, ‘I told you so.’”
“And I won’t need to.” Crore responded. “Hopefully, you won’t worry us all so much again in the future.”
Benayle set a hand on the Lord General’s shoulder and winked at him. “You did a fine job—exactly what I would have done had I been here. Besides,” he added hastily, “with us under martial law, you’d have been in charge either way.”
Sajani smiled. She knew that Benayle knew exactly how the law was written. Crore did too apparently.
“Don’t you dare pass off a chew toy like that to me,” the general said emphatically. “Your duties hardly change at all…” his voice softened quickly and he looked noticeably relieved. “I’m very glad you’re back Mr. Benayle. Very glad.” The general turned to face Sajani directly as the soldiers nearby helped the old wolf into the building behind them. “I can’t begin to thank you enough, Sajah. I was terrified we’d lose him when that elven delegation said they’d captured him.”
She hadn’t heard him use that term for her since they’d been colonels together and it was comforting to hear it again. She answered with a smile, “I’ve been wanting to ask,” she said hesitantly, “about that envoy…”
Crore laughed. “Oh, she was never in any danger. I wanted them to know exactly where we stood.”
“So, you didn’t chop off her head?”
“Chop off…,” he sounded confused.
“At least one um,” she wasn’t sure how to mention Fenther’s books. “Let’s call it a well-known account—it says you sent the lead diplomat’s head back with them. It seemed a little unlike you to do…”
“No,” Crore said firmly. “I sent them back mostly intact.”
Mostly? That caught the Copper Wolf’s complete attention and she asked him about it as subtly as she was able.
“We are not a peaceful race,” he responded. “If challenged, we fight, and there was no doubt that they were challenging us. I wanted to show them, in no uncertain terms, that we were not to be intimidated or forced.”
“That required a sword?”
“No,” Crore said sternly, “I required a sword. It could have been said with a bow, like yours, with a rifle, with claws and teeth if necessary, but it had to be said. I have no doubt she will carry those scars on her neck for the rest of her life and that gives me comfort.”
Sajani nodded carefully. It wasn’t her way, and she suspected wasn’t even Crore’s normal way, but no wolf would have called it a wrong way. She couldn’t even say for sure if she would not have done the same thing if placed in that position. Tess would have, so would have ‘fang, she was sure of that.
The Lord General decided that was enough of the current topic apparently, and changed the subject directly. “How long will you be here?”
“I told the crew we’d be here for three days. I’d rather move right on, but they need a break.”
Crore laughed. “You never take a break, but thankfully for those of us who need them periodically, you know that normal people appreciate one every now and again. You probably have the next year already planned out for them.”
The Copper Wolf decided not to tell him how little planning she bothered with now. Being a pirate was very spontaneous and, with copious amounts of help from a natural, like Tess, she was still adapting to it. She did know what her next plan was. “Once we pick up some new crew and get them trained, we’ll be attacking their main supply depot in Zenache,” she told him.
Sajani didn’t think Crore knew about their first attack and was surprised to find out that he did. She was grateful that he didn’t mention how spectacularly it had failed. “I’d heard that was a major objective for you,” was about all he said about it.
“Yes. It will not only destroy a lot of their current supplies, it will force them to move back some of their forward units to protect the longer convoys it will take to get to their front line.”
Crore nodded. “That warehouse you took out in Therfass apparently has them hurting very badly.”
Sajani hadn’t heard anything about that and wondered a little how Crore would know. She told him those things directly.
The Lord General smiled, “We have some information coming from there.” He didn’t elaborate. “That warehouse was their main supply center for a lot of their technology. I’m sure they didn’t keep everything important there, but from what little I’ve been able to gather so far, it hurt them badly.”
Benayle’s voice came from the doorway behind them. Apparently, he had stopped to listen. “Taleetha and Fort?” he asked.
Sajani had no idea what that meant, but the general acknowledged it with a single word.
If she’d still been the Minister of War, she’d have insisted they tell her, but she wasn’t and sensed that it was something that the two were intentionally keeping secret. It annoyed her, but she kept her snout out of it. She would, however, check with Simon later, although he’d been particularly closed about much of anything that had transpired since Xahusha. He didn’t even tell her what Mauro was doing over here now. She had to get that from the dwarf.
Crore had turned around to face the doorway Benayle had been in and then turned back to her and said quietly, “What did they do to him? The monsters.”
The same question had been in Sajani’s mind since she first saw him being escorted from the building where they were holding him. The anger she felt as she thought about what they had done to her friend was part of what drove her through that fight. But since that time, she’d learned more. “I don’t dare ask him,” she said in a near whisper, “but as near as I can gather, it was more from what he was doing to them than what they were doing to him.”
“That went right past my ears.” Crore said candidly.
“They fought back. I imagine that he doesn’t take being held prisoner well.”
That made the Lord General smile and he repeated what he’d said earlier. “We’re not a peaceful race.”
There might not be a lot of planning involved in being a pirate, but Sajani still made use of lots of meetings with her top staff. She kept them short and direct, or rather she should say, her first mate made sure that she kept them short and direct. Tess was issuing the basic orders the Captain had given out earlier.
“Chass, you’re on helm watch, Polex is on helm with you.”
“Who is commanding the ground forces then?” Chass asked. He sounded skeptical and looked over at Sajani for verification.
“We’re keeping all our forces up for this one, to act as a contingency force.” Tess answered. Chass started to protest, but she continued quickly, “I’ll take your place at helm watch if they deploy.” She shot a glance of unconcealed distain at their Captain. “Under protest, I’ll add…”
Sajani laughed. “Noted. But I need you to manage the shield runes from the main deck a
nd coordinate the spark’s rocket fire.”
“Speaking of which,” Tess turned to Ginger and continued, “what’s the status of the new data you got from Bean’s mom?”
“I think it’s her aunt,” Ginger started, but he changed the topic immediately when Tess glared at him. “I’m still working out the chemical formulas…”
“Not that!” Tess interrupted. “What about the lighting and the manifests for each building?” Her lack of subtlety startled the spark’s cat. It looked up from Ginger’s lap and stuck its tongue out at her.
“Oh those,” Ginger said happily, “Thick as an undercoat and twice as soft. I’d hoped to have the ship’s rockets modified the way she suggested by now, but without a way to actually answer back…”
Tess didn’t let him keep rattling. “We’ll make do. Simon says there’s another supply drop from…wherever this thing came from…next week. There will be a full load of rockets, so we can use every last one tonight if need be. Was that everything Captain?” She turned back to Sajani.
The cabin they were meeting in, the gnome called the “Ready Room.” It had a large table bolted to the floor. There were chairs along the walls if they ever decided they needed them, but usually they just stood around the table. Sajani touched a rune on the surface in front of her and a somewhat transparent bird’s eye image of the supply depot appeared to drop down from the ceiling. Her staff positioned themselves so they could see it.
“We’ll be flying directly over their perimeter support, which is off this map.” She motioned to one corner. “Zenache partisans will be creating a distraction for their artillery in this area, so we’ll only have a fourth of their total artillery to worry about once we get going…”
Chass interrupted. There was heavy skepticism in his voice, “I wasn’t aware of this… Is that safe?”
Wolf's Pawn (Sajani Tails Book 1) Page 31