by C A Ardron
I cannot apologise enough, for you and the Predgarians have fallen afoul to the evil deeds of the Sarpiens.’
‘Say it is not so,’ Unicorn replied, his eyes growing wide with concern. ‘Please, do enlighten me to what has transpired.’
‘A plot has been unveiled,’ Dragon explained.
Lion wondered if the Dakkonin general was always this formal with dignitaries or whether he was putting it on for the Unician’s sensibilities.
‘Sarpiens were found at the temple, they were the ones responsible for the kidnapping of your candidate.’
Lion’s fists clenched.
‘The culprits have now been dealt with, stalled by the excellent Predgarian commander, Martial Eagle. Without his interference, the Sarpiens may well have succeeded.’
‘You cannot be serious.’
Lion glanced behind him. Tiger was there, a scowl marring her pretty face. Lion noticed young Jenna, stood next to Tiger, looked just as angry.
‘It’s too late,’ Lion murmured to them. ‘There’s nothing we can do about it now. It’d be our word against his.’
‘This is troubling, General Red Dragon,’ Unicorn was saying. ‘Have you any idea what the motive behind it was? Surely a healer-in-training would be of no interest to them?’
‘No,’ Dragon agreed. ‘It’s hard to say, but it may have been to cause dissention between the Unician and Dakkonin Orders – or perhaps even between yourselves and the Predgarians, there really is no telling.’
Unicorn rubbed his chin in a thoughtful fashion. ‘Yes, yes, there’s no way to discern who the intended targets may have been. Sarpiens are well known for their great skill in deception and intrigue. Very well, General, I will let this matter drop, however, I must impose on you to mete out justice in another area.’
‘Of course, you have but to ask.’
‘Good.’ Crystal Unicorn snapped his fingers, the sound echoing across the courtyard.
Lion sucked in a breath as Dingo and Wolf dragged the unarmed Silver Locust forwards.
‘Silver Locust,’ Dragon said, for the first time showing surprise. ‘What’s happened?’
Gyrfalcon stepped forwards. ‘My apologies, General, what with current events I hadn’t had time to inform you. Earlier this week Silver Locust abandoned her post and duties and began trying to kill two Unicians – namely White Oryx and White Lemur.’
Dragon released a sigh, ‘I see.’
‘Can I assume, General, that by leaving her in your hands justice shall be carried out?’ Unicorn pressed, his voice crackling as it took on a sterner note.
‘Yes, of course, Ambassador,’ Dragon agreed.
‘Wait! Hold it!’ a voice rang out.
Lion looked about, that sounded like Hawk. The wiry Avian was pushing his way through the small gathering of Predgarians and Dakkonin.
Dragon’s silver-armoured escort grabbed him as he neared the front.
‘Hawk,’ Lion spoke, hoping to save them both some embarrassment, ‘stand down.’
‘Locust isn’t in the wrong,’ Hawk continued, ‘and I can prove it.’
Lion held his breath as Dragon regarded him.
‘The word of a bronze matters not in this instance,’ Crystal Unicorn stated, waving him away.
‘Perhaps,’ Dragon conceded, ‘but I believe in being thorough – especially when the life of one of my warriors lies in the balance. Golden Lion,’ the general added, turning, ‘is this one of yours?’
‘Yes, Sir.’
‘Is he reliable?’
Lion glanced at Hawk, who was now looking at him hopefully. ‘All my warriors are reliable.’
Dragon nodded. ‘All right, Bronze Hawk, I will hear you.’
The two silver Avians released him and Hawk stepped forwards. Pulling out his radio with one hand, he opened the closed palm of the other, revealing a small, rectangular crystal.
‘This is a Pharollin data crystal,’ Hawk told the gathering. ‘Ask anyone who knows about such things, and they will tell you that these crystals are accurate, hard to destroy and even harder to be tampered with.’
‘You’re not trying to sell it to us, Hawk,’ Falcon told him from across the circle.
Lion smiled when he saw her, he hadn’t noticed her till now. His eyes fell on the shorter male Feline stood by her - Jay. He looked good in the red armour, Lion was forced to admit.
Though he hated that he hadn’t been there to see the Choosing, Lion couldn’t help the swell of pride at seeing him.
Hawk gave a flourish of a bow to Falcon. ‘That is my esteemed partner’s way of telling me to get on with it.’
Quiet laughter came from several directions. Lion grinned and shook his head. Hawk was disarming everyone around him, as usual.
Hawk placed the data crystal in the slot in the top of his radio and turned the volume up as it began to play an audio file.
‘Just get on with it,’ Locust growled.
‘Locust, don’t be rude. It’s the least we can do for a noble Predgarian simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
‘Oryx, I don’t think-’
‘Why not, Lemur? No one’s going to interrupt us here, and it’s not like he can go running to tell anyone once we’ve shot him.
Did you want to tell him, Locust? Did you want to explain why he must die today? No? Guess I’ll do the honours then. It was nine years ago now. In Joinstohm, you were working under Golden Wolf, were you not?
We were there as well, completing a contract with a client.’
‘A Sarpien client!’
‘Oh look, she’s remembered how to speak.’
‘You had a contract with the Sarpiens? but you’re Unicians!’
‘We are Unicians, which means we have the monopoly. No one but a Unician knows how to make a medallion. It’s amazing the amount of money a Sarpien will give you for making custom medallions, especially the Black Emissaries.’
‘I found out about it, but no one would believe me…because they’re Unicians.’
‘Wait, if no one believed, then why are you here to kill us?’
‘Just tying up loose ends, which we should’ve done by now.’
‘Too late.’
There came the sounds of a fight and Hawk clicked the recording off.
‘That last bit was when Locust and I escaped,’ he told the stunned audience.
Dragon turned his attention from Hawk and regarded Unicorn, his expression expectant.
To Lion, it seemed as if Unicorn was frozen on the spot.
After a couple of moments, the ambassador turned to the nearest Unician. ‘Arrest Lemur and Oryx at once!’
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Hawk grinned at Locust as the two Unician traitors were taken away. The Dakkonin was standing mouth-agape at the turn of events.
‘See?’ he said, sauntering up to her. ‘There are better ways of goin’ about things.’
Hawk glanced at the group of Unicians, noting they were heading back to the temple. He guessed the revelation was pretty embarrassing.
He paused, seeing Locust staring at him. ‘What?’
The pale-haired woman swallowed hard and glanced at Gyrfalcon and her general. Then she turned properly to Hawk, a small smile lighting up her face.
‘I don’t mind admitting it,’ Locust said, making sure the Dakkonin and Predgarians nearby could hear her. ‘This man is my little brother, and I’m very proud of the warrior he’s grown into.’
Hawk released a strangled sound. He wasn’t sure what he was even trying to say. ‘You can’t say things like that!’ he spluttered.
A few people began to laugh, and he felt his cheeks heating up when he saw two of them were Falcon and Tiger.
‘See what you’ve done?’ he demanded of her. ‘You’ve made my partner laugh – I ain’t living this down for the next century or two!’
Locust grinned and eyed Falcon. ‘You keep looking after him.’
‘I’ll do my very best,’ she promised.
Locust nodded
. ‘From what I’ve seen of you, that’ll be good enough.’
Lion stepped forwards. ‘We need to return to West Sector. Falcon and Tiger, head back with Lynx.’
‘Huh?’ Tiger interrupted, ‘who?’
‘Falcon will explain on the way,’ Lion told her.
Hawk tried to hold back his grin. Lion had been very quick saying that.
‘Hawk and I will round-up the others and join you shortly,’ the captain added. He gestured for Hawk to follow and turned on his heel.
Hawk lingered a moment when he saw Gyrfalcon move to intercept Falcon.
‘Have you considered my offer?’ the commander asked.
Hawk breathed in. The Dakkonin had offered her a transfer? Though he didn’t think Falcon would be interested, he watched her, nervous. The Dakkonin would be able to protect her a lot better than they could.
‘Was I supposed to?’ she asked.
Gyrfalcon’s jaw dropped as the silver warrior turned away.
‘Hey,’ Hawk spoke up with a grin, getting Gyrfalcon’s attention. ‘Don’t take it personal, she’s like that with everybody.’
With one last tight grin at his sister, Hawk trotted after Lion.
‘Lion,’ Baboon called, jogging after them. ‘Before you go, I wanted to ask you about earlier today.’
‘The Dakkonin temple?’ Lion asked, keeping his voice low. ‘Dragon was lying through his teeth.’
Baboon grimaced, ‘I figured. No, I meant before that. I happened across the Silver Falcon – she said she was rescuing the Bronze Hawk from some kind of Sarpien set-up? Why didn’t you let me know beforehand? I could’ve lent a hand.’
Hawk winced at Lion’s stony silence.
‘She was supposed to contact you, ask for back-up.’
‘Well, she never did - sounds to me as if that reprimand might be in order after all.’
A growl reverberated through Lion’s helmet. ‘What in the Light’s name did she think she was doing?’
‘Whoa, hold up,’ Hawk butted in. ‘It’s not as bad as it sounds…I mean, it kinda is, but there were reasons.’
‘Reasons?’ Baboon was clearly sceptical.
‘Yeah…um, kinda personal…reasons.’ Oh, Light this was coming across bad, Falcon was gonna kill him.
‘Personal reasons?’ Baboon repeated.
Hawk glanced at Lion, hoping he was getting what he meant. ‘Well, no – not personal exactly but…reasons. I can’t really say anything, you need to ask Falcon.’
‘Sounds to me-’
Lion raised a hand, stalling Baboon. ‘I’ll sort this when I get back, Baboon. Silver Falcon is my warrior and I’ll deal with it appropriately.’
Baboon nodded and took a step back, ‘sorry, Lion. You’re right, I didn’t mean to cross the line. It’s just it was dangerous. Silver Falcon can’t go off alone like that, no matter what armour grade she has.’
‘I know. Believe me, I won’t be letting her off lightly for this.’
* * *
Wolf smiled at the interaction between Hawk and his sister. He’d never mentioned he had family in the Dakkonin. He wondered where his own brother was. They’d never seen eye to eye, but he liked to think if they ever met, they could put the old arguments and differences behind them.
Wolf didn’t even know what medallion his brother wore. He sighed a little, he could pass him in the street and never know, if his armour was active.
‘Eadim,’ he whispered. ‘One day I’ll tell you to your face you were right.’
Wolf noticed Dingo leaving the gathering. Though mostly obscured by his thick blue plates, Wolf thought there was something strange about the way he was walking. His gait revealed tiredness and his shoulders were slumping a little.
Deciding to follow, Wolf caught up to him inside the temple when Dingo slowed and disappeared into a small sitting room.
Stopping in the doorway, Wolf was just in time to see Dingo changing out of his armour. Wolf deactivated as well, letting the grey light shine about him, his armour fading away and leaving him in his comfy trousers and buttoned shirt.
‘Dingo?’ Wolf asked, joining him on the green-padded seating.
The smaller Canine shook his head. ‘This is…just wrong, you know?’
Wolf frowned at him. The man’s faded jeans and trendy blue and green t-shirt were the usual affair for the experienced warrior. His dark beard and long hair highlighted his pale complexion though.
‘Are you ill?’
Dingo shook his head again. ‘No…maybe, I don’t know…It’s all wrong.’
‘What is?’
Dingo’s head lifted, glaring at him. ‘That!’ he exclaimed, pointing out to the corridor. ‘We risked our lives to save those Unicians – and they were working for Sarpiens. Locust looked like the enemy but she wasn’t, she knew what was happening.’
‘I don’t think that excuses how she was going about it,’ Wolf pointed out.
‘No, of course not, but…’ Dingo took a deep breath. ‘Have you heard about Green Swallow?’
Wolf nodded, ‘of course. I think most of the city has by now. It’s been a hard blow, she was one of the most powerful Predgarians working here.’
‘Yeah. I just…how are we supposed to know who to trust? If the Sarpiens can corrupt Unicians, the most holy Order on the planet, and a solo Dakkonin looks like a murderer but is really trying to stop the corruption – just how are we supposed to survive?’
‘The Light will find a way,’ Wolf told him. The words sounded a little hollow, but he’d always believed it, even as a child. ‘We have to believe that and be patient.’
Wolf paused, it was obvious Dingo didn’t want to hear it, from the way he was gazing at the floor.
His radio bleeped at him, and he picked it off his belt with some relief. ‘Yes?’
‘Wolf,’ Leopard’s voice spoke. ‘Lion wants us all back in West.’
‘All right, I’ll be there soon.’ He turned his attention back to his friend. ‘Dingo, I know our fight against the sclithe gets a bit murky sometimes. I mean, it was only a few months back I learnt for the first time not all Sarpiens were willing.’
Dingo winced a little.
‘I was shocked when I realised so many of them are dragged into torture chambers and broken like that.’
‘It’s something we don’t like to think about,’ Dingo admitted.
‘It’s heart-breaking knowing that any Sarpien we come across may be a tortured soul, forced to do the bidding of the sclithe. I’ve had to live with that knowledge. This is just another of those things – and just another reason why we can’t stop.’
Dingo nodded. ‘You’re right, Wolf. I’m not going to stop, I’ve trained all my life to be a Predgarian. Both my parents were Predgarians too, I just can’t believe something like this could happen.’
* * *
Jenna rushed into Chaffinch’s embrace the moment she saw her.
The Unician healer stroked her blonde curls, ‘I was worried,’ she murmured.
Jenna heard a heavy sigh come from Ibex, Chaffinch’s partner. Chaffinch released her and looked over at him.
‘You are distressed,’ she noted.
‘I trained with Oryx,’ Ibex replied. ‘That he would do such a thing…’
‘You know our laws,’ Chaffinch told him. ‘If you want to say goodbye to him you need to be quick, he and his partner will not live past our departure of Steiron.’
Jenna gasped. ‘They’re going to be executed?’
‘It is how it must be,’ Chaffinch told her, voice growing soft. ‘They have willingly aided and conspired with Sarpiens, giving them tools to make our enemy stronger. Such people are far worse than the Sarpiens themselves – at least Sarpiens can be given the benefit of the doubt because of the coercion techniques.’
‘Yes,’ Ibex agreed, sounding aggrieved. ‘I have no wish to see Oryx. He is not the man I once called friend.’
Chaffinch nodded. ‘Come,’ she said to the two of them. ‘Let us go inside and get
Jenna something warmer to wear.’
Jenna blushed a little. She still had her blanket, but it didn’t really cover the fact she was stood in her nightdress.
‘Mentor Chaffinch,’ Jenna spoke up when they were away from all the other warriors in the corridor. ‘General Red Dragon was lying.’
Ibex snorted behind her. ‘We know, Jenna.’
‘You know? How come you didn’t say anything? He had me kidnapped! If Captain Golden Lion and his Predgarians hadn’t rescued me I’d probably be in Draconia by now.’
‘En-route,’ Ibex corrected. ‘We may be in the south but Draconia is still quite a distance from here.’
‘I’m sorry, Jenna,’ Chaffinch sighed. ‘I truly had planned to speak with the High Ambassador concerning this, but I feel it would fall on deaf ears now.’
‘Huh? Why?’
‘Timing,’ Ibex chimed in. ‘We’re in a bad place. Two of our healers have been revealed as traitors.’
Chaffinch nodded, ‘and not within Unicia, where we could have dealt with it quietly. It has happened here, while leaning on the hospitality of the Predgarian Order, and it also almost caused the discredit and execution of a Dakkonin captain.’
Jenna thought about that and nodded. ‘I see, so we’ve got to be on our best behaviour now, so the Predgarians and Dakkonin don’t think less of us?’
‘Essentially, yes,’ Chaffinch agreed, ‘accusing the Dakkonin general of untruthfulness now without solid proof would do us more harm than good.’
‘So we’re going to have to let him get away with it, for now at least,’ Ibex added.
Jenna sighed. It was all so unfair, but she knew he was right. She glanced over at her mentor. Chaffinch was beautiful, wise - not to mention a princess.
Jenna hoped that one day, she was good enough to rise to such a high rank within the Unician Order, so she had a say next time Red Dragon tried anything like this.
Chaffinch turned to her and placed her arm about Jenna’s shoulders. ‘You’ll be one of the best,’ she whispered, ‘and then that boy you like so much better watch out.’
Jenna flushed, but decided not to tell Chaffinch she’d seen him again. She wanted that to be her little secret.