School Time for Death: Resurection (Death Dealer Saga Book 5)

by Jessie Wolf

  I wasted no time with pleasantries and come straight to the point. “I see you, Brother of War, Prince of High Winds.” The fact that I am using a formal greeting and High Elven drives home the point I have a real problem is not lost on them all. As one the small party all bow to me.

  “I see you Daughter of Death. How may the High Court be of service?”

  Staying with his native tongue I explain my problem. I tell him how the two girls first came to me asking for sanctuary. I told them that I needed to talk with him before I did anything, and how they are now undergoing the process of becoming second generation Death Dealers as part of the Daughters of the Dragon. When I finish Prince Raygel starts to laugh and Dana to giggle. This was not what I was expecting. “Would the two of you chuckle heads care to tell me what’s so damned funny?”

  Prince Raygel became very formal in his reply. He may be a prince on his home world, but here he was one my House Military Captains. “Lady Maiha, please forgive mine and Lieutenant Silver Leaf’s outburst they were uncalled for. However the reason for our laughter is one that you’ll find just as funny. You see by them joining the new Sisterhood they not only gain sanctuary, but remove you and your family from any responsibility.” At my look of confusion he turned to Dana. “Dana Silver Leaf, Child of the Sprites, would you be so kind as to explain for our benefactor?”

  “Gladly, my prince. You see, Lady Maiha, by joining a spiritual order they have removed themselves as possible mates among the Elves. Not even the High Queen Tatianna can force them to leave the order. To do so is a violation of everything to the High Elf society. Please remember that those who become messengers of the Gods and Goddesses pass beyond the bounds of Family and Class.” Dana was speaking as if this was common knowledge. Maybe it was on High Winds, but not elsewhere in the Empire. What I want to know is how she knows it; she only became a citizen of High Winds a little while ago. Before I can ask her this she supplies the answer. “I have been studying the ways of my new people, my Lady. If I am to be a Silver Elf, I want to be a credit to them.”

  “So you’re telling me that they found a way to get what they wanted, while not placing House Nakatoma in the line of fire and political fallout?”

  “Yes, my Lady that is exactly what they have done. Even though they will not be priestesses, they will still be considered Sprite Women. Not even the most politically motivated ass clown will force them to leave a religious order. To do so would be to invite down the wrath of the entire High Court on themselves.”

  “Thank you Dana, Prince Raygel, for explaining this to me. However I do have a question concerning something else with these girls. Why would the daughter of her Royal Princess of the Midnight Court and the daughter of the Ambassador of the Great Woods would be seeking sanctuary from a human House?”

  Raygel is the one who answers this one. “For almost the same reason I fled my home world, and am now in the employ of one. I am sorry, my Lady but word has spread among the noble men and women of my world that they can gain sanctuary within your House, and thus avoiding the constant fighting for power that plagues my people.”

  “How many more can I expect to show up here looking to join my House as mercenary soldiers or some such?”

  “I fear that I do not know, Lady Maiha. However if you have a Brotherhood to match this new Sisterhood it would remove the problem.” When he says this I am the one to start to giggle.

  “Believe it or not that is already in the works. When we return to school tomorrow I hope to have word that the brother school to JES will be joining with us in our endeavor to revive not only this Sisterhood but three others. Two brotherhoods and one more sisterhood, all under the banner of the Knights of the Republic. If your people wish to join they will not be turned away, Captain.”

  “Thank you, Lady Maiha. You do know that sooner or later the Black Rose and Crimson Shield will hear of your defiance of their standing order, correct?” Prince Raygel pointed out the one problem that I knew I would be facing in time.

  “To be truthful with you Captain, not only do I know this, but I hope they try to stop me. Those religious orders of zealots need to be taken on. They are part of a much larger problem, one that I mean to remove. The Temples have been rendered almost ineffective, by certain parties within their organization. Even though there are eighteen recognized orders, four of them have not been heard of for over thousands of years. Of the fourteen that are left three control the Imperial Temple and therefore the ruling counsel. The Temples are supposed to be separate from politics, but three orders have been corrupted to the point that they now control a large portion of the Parliament and Hall of Lords. I have no proof of this just a feeling.”

  “So your plan is to build a force of peacekeepers and go after the corruption within the system. Tell me my Lady, do you wish to take the Imperial Throne?” if anyone but Dana Silver Leaf asked me that question I would be hauling their ass in for treason. However, she and these three men had earned the right to question my motives. They were not blindly obedient in their loyalty to me or this House.

  “No, Lieutenant Silver Leaf, I have no designs for the Imperial Throne. In fact if anything it is my hope to strengthen the Emperors position with the Parliament and the Lords. I had hoped to end the corruption by removing the rebel Houses from the playing field. However, it seems that the corruption goes far deeper than I had originally thought.” I could see that Dana knew more than she was letting on. It was in her eyes. Do I have a spy in someone I had shown a great deal of trust, and given a second chance to? Her next words put those doubts to rest.

  “Thank you, my Lady. The fact that you do not wish for the Emperors throne says more than anything else that you deserve it. You need not fear my loyalty or those who sever you. If these reborn Knightly orders are to be peacekeepers then that is what they will become.” The serious way she talked and stood told me that she believed this with all her heart. “I for one will not request admittance; I serve the House of Nakatoma, and you my Lady, only you.”

  Before I can say anything else Taylor and Combs bow to me saying. “We follow no one else, but you Lady Maiha Nakatoma. Be it to victory or through the Gates of Hell. Where you lead we follow.”

  “I have already given my oath to the House of Nakatoma, my Lady.” leave it to Ravenswood to make it sound so simple.

  “Thank you my friends. Your faith in me doing the right thing was just what I needed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am needed inside. I have one hundred and sixteen new members of the Dragons Daughters to watch over this night.” I give the four of them a bow, and wish them a good night.

  As I reenter the Temple I am surprised to see Alice, mama, and all three of my sisters have shed their robes. Instead, all five have activated their armor. As I am taking this in Gin and Kina come up to me. “We’ll take care of your robes, my Lady. Your swords were recovered from the school thanks to your Headmaster’s assistant Miss. Green. Your mother sent word to her earlier that you would need them and they did not arrive until just moments ago. Please, hurry and disrobe, your mother wishes to start the vigil, my Lady.” the way Gin was acting told me this was very important, and did as she asked.

  Once naked I activated my armor. Only this time the color of my armor had changed. Instead of the familiar blue and black I have become used to seeing it was solid black with blue trim piping. Looking over at my sisters and Alice I notice that my armor matched theirs in coloration. The only one of us that varied was mama; hers had a second set of piping in white.

  “Dee De, why has our armor changed color?”

  Ask Charlie, he was the one to suggest it. (Dee De)

  “Ok, Charlie, what gives?”

  I looked at all the old records Commander. What I found there was this. The orders that your mother wish to revive all had a certain set of colors to show the ranks within each one. I sent this information to your family’s’ AIs. It was they that suggested we change the colors of our armor to match. (Charlie)

  “So you’re
telling me that this should be the colors of my robes?”

  Exactly, Commander. All of your armor matches the positions of your Sisterhood. (Charlie)

  I know I should be upset over the AIs taking universal action like this, but it fits with what mama is trying to do here. Now if the new novices all come out with the same colors no one will be surprised. It addressed a problem that I had not thought to think about.

  Taking the obie offered by Gin I quickly wrap it around me, and set my Dragons. There was only one other set similar to mine and they were at Alice’s waist. The fact that they were more symbolic than anything else was not lost on me. I walk over to mama, and bow to her. I may be the First High Lady of the Death Dealers to the rest of the universe, but here, in this place, at this time, She was the one in charge. “Reverend Mother, we are ready to stand watch over our new sisters. May we begin?”

  If it was not for the pulling at the corners of her mouth I would not have realized that she was proud of my request, or that I had done it right. Looking up mama raises her hands above her head, palms out. “Goddess, we come before you on this night, and ask for your blessing upon this new order of sisters. Shine down upon us as we step forward upon our mission to become Your Peacekeepers. Guide us as we strive to uphold our pillars, and return the Empire to its rightful path. Amen.” Looking down at the five of us she smiles. “Now, my daughters go take up your places at the doors to the Temple. Protect your new Sisters, and allow no one to enter until the first light of day.”

  As one we move to block the entrances to the main hall of the Temple. I take the most important one of them all. The door to the outside world. I may not understand all of this mumbo jumbo, but I know that mama doesn’t do anything without a reason. Recco went down far too easy this afternoon. I may have thought of him as a possible friend at one time, but his loyalty was not to the Emperor or the Empire. It was to a shadow order trying to rule the Empire from behind the throne and cloaked in the mysticism of the Temples. If the Black Rose order has one deep strike/ infiltration Death Dealer in its members it would be nothing for them to have even more within striking distance.

  “Dee De, give me a full sensor sweep of the compound. Charlie, analyze every last bleep, sweep, and creep. If it doesn’t identify I want to know about. I don’t trust Recco to not have gotten off a burst signal to someone.”

  By your command. (Charlie)

  Aren’t you being just a little paranoid, Maiha? (Dee De)

  “It’s not being paranoid if someone is really out to kill you.”

  Chapter 4

  As I place myself in the doorway to the Temple mama walks up to stand beside me. She has a very serious look on her face. “Maiha, I know it is against your training, but you cannot use any of your Death Dealer weapons within the Temple.”

  I don’t even turn my head to look at her. “I figured there was a reason for you sending for our swords, mama. Would you mind telling me what it is you fear? And why we can only use our swords?” I know she would not normally give me a straight answer to these questions. So you can imagine my surprise when she does.

  “High Prefect Recco disappeared from the morgue while we were at dinner.”

  “SHIT! I knew I should have burned a hole in his head. Did the son-of-bitch go through a secondary reconfigure?”

  “No, but he has managed to break into the Temple armory of training weapons.”

  “What types of weapons would he have access to in there mama?”

  “Swords, knives, staffs, almost every type of martial arts weapon there is, Maiha. However that is not our biggest problem. One of Temple’s most guarded secrets has been taken.”

  “Mama, I need to know what I’m up against if I am to defend first the Temple, and then our new novices.”

  “Every Temple has a portable communications counsel. They have them so that should any Temple fall to an enemy they can call for help.”

  “You mean to tell me that Recco can call in reinforcements?” mama just nods her head yes. “Damn it! That’s why you allowed the others to join the Sisterhood as full novices. You’re afraid the Black Rose is going to attack before we have a chance to train them the way we should.”

  “Once again, Maiha, you show a grasp for the situation far beyond what others would deny. Even as James, a man I greatly admired, you could see what others did not.”

  “Ok, fine I can deal with that easy enough. I’ll just alert the House guard and stop them at the walls while we are here. As for when we are back at the school there is fifty of the meanest s.o.b’s waiting for anyone stupid enough to attack us there. The Black Rose maybe tough, but no one in their right mind takes on two full platoons of Death Dealers protecting children.”

  “That is true, Maiha, however on this night we are handicapped, and the High Prefect knows this. If the Black Rose stands a chance at stopping what you and I have started here, they must do it now. They will not have to abide by the restrictions we will of not using our most powerful weapons.”

  “Fine, if that is the case just how many are we looking at facing?”

  “Every High Prefect has a bodyguard unit of twenty five Special Operations trained soldiers. They will not come at our House troops. In fact they will only attack the Temple itself. Unfortunately not even my beloved Wolves can get involved. This is a Temple matter between two orders and no one else may interfere.”

  I think over what mama has just told me. The more I go over it the more I realize she is right. This is a matter between Temple orders. If our new Sisterhood and the others that we will start are to have a chance then we need to face this first challenge on our own. Besides I was the one who said this order has the Trial of Refusal by Combat. If the Black Rose doesn’t want to play fair, that’s fine with me.

  “Mama, go back inside and pull Fuyuko and the twins away from the doors. Take up positions at the four points of the compass around the new Sisters. Send Alice out here to me.” When I finish giving her these instructions I go to that place deep within my soul where killing becomes easy. It is darker there than the pits of Hell. Not even during the rebellion did I go here, but this is not about winning a war. This is about one thing, and one thing only, survival.

  “Daughter” when I don’t answer her she tries my name. “Maiha.” When I still don’t answer she goes for what she knows will get my attention. “James.” When I look over at her she sees something that hasn’t been there in a long, long, long time. “Do what you must Daughter of Death. Show them what it means to face death on Death’s terms. Show these dogs what they shall face when they face the Daughters of the Dragon.” Mama gives me a quick hug and kiss on the cheek then heads inside. I hear her calling out orders to my sisters and Alice before she even crosses the threshold. “Fuyuko, Nanase, Nanami, take up positions at the north, east, and west sides of our new sisters, move now. Allison, join your wife at the foot of the Temple steps. I shall hold the south side of our sisters. When the enemy comes daughters take from them everything and give them nothing.” Even out here at the foot of the Temples steps I hear the scraping of cold steel as it leaves the scabbards. My family has placed themselves between those who would harm our new sisters and them.

  As they have done inside Alice and I will do outside. Neither of us have the training to use our swords the way the rest our family does, but what we do have is something they do not. Training in modern warfare. The best place for us is out here in the night where we can use every weapon at our disposal. I reset the swords at my waist so they won’t get in the way. My weapons will be more than just the ones in my hands and arms. They will be the night, the land, my speed, and my mind.

  Alice steps up beside me placing her hand on my shoulder. “Time to tear someone a new ass, my love. Jericho just pinged twenty six unregistered Death Dealer AIs all in the deep strike /infiltrator class. They’re coming in through the training range again. Good thing you had those security up grades done first.”

  “Good. If we can stop them over there all
the better. I don’t want any of those frackers near the Temple, or our family, Alice. Before you ask, yes we can use everything in our arsenal. That’s why we’re out here, and they’re in there.”

  “So, kitten, hammer and anvil or divide and conquer?”

  I knew she wanted to use the hammer and anvil approach, but this time we need something that plays to our strengths. “Sorry, pussycat, not this time. For starters we can’t use the big girls on this. We need stealth and speed for this. So we go with hit and run approach. You take them from the near side, I’ll go wide. And, love, be careful these monkey nuts are trained in CQC just like we are.”

  “I will be, you do the same, and don’t let your anger get the better of you or your pride. Those swords give you an extra two and a half feet of reach; use them.” With that she leans in gives me a quick peck on the lips and takes off. As she heads out I tap into Jericho, the estates new security system. I should have done this sooner, but I’m just so use to working only with Dee De and Charlie. While my Death Dealer sensor suit was one of the best it had limitations, one of which was range. Between the Jericho security system and my two AIs I gain a far greater advantage than before. I open a private link with Alice.

  “Koneko Mistress, do you have a lock on our bogies, over?”

  “Wave Dancer, I have a firm lock on two groups. Is that what you got, over?”

  “That’s affirmative Koneko Mistress. Looks like their splitting into an AB strike force. We need to hit them hard and fast before they can get into position on the Temple, over.”

  “Copy that, I’ll take the B team. I’ll hit them from the range bunker shield that way they won’t see me until it’s too late. How copy over.”

  “Sounds good Dancer, I’ll hit the A team from the control towers near side. Over”

  “Good hunting, Mistress. Love you. Over”

  “Same to you Dancer. Over”

  We cut our connection and moves into position. As I was moving to my attack point I picked up two Land Warrior suits and a pair of Jump Infantry beacons. I run a friend / foe challenge past them and they come back as belonging to some old friends. It seems that some of my House troops have decided to get involved. I have Dee De open up a link to them. I am surprised when Dana is the one to answer.