“Colonel Fisker,” Natia said cheerily. “What are you doing here?”
“I try to eat a fine meal once in a while,” smiled the colonel. “It is hard on my salary, but the inns sometimes give free meals to officers so we respond quickly to any problems that they might have. I see that you are already engaged for the meal, or I would invite you to join me.”
Natia’s eyes narrowed as she considered the impact of Colonel Fisker seeing her with Clint. Suddenly, she smiled broadly. “Have you met General Forshire yet?”
“Forshire? No, I cannot say that I have. Is he based in Giza?”
“Goodness, no,” replied Natia. “He takes orders directly from the emperor. Would you like to meet him?”
Colonel Fisker was taken aback at the offer. While meeting a general might help his career, he was not sure of the relationship between Natia and the general. “I would not want to intrude on a romantic dinner.”
“Romantic?” chuckled Natia. “There is no romance between General Forshire and myself. Come and I will introduce you.”
Chapter 30
Covert Moves
Natia led Colonel Fisker to General Forshire’s table. The gypsy princess winked at Clint, and the general’s face hardened as he stared at the colonel. Colonel Fisker saluted smartly, but the general showed no sign of acknowledgement.
“General Forshire,” Natia said in a businesslike manner, “this is Colonel Fisker. Colonel, General Forshire is the Commander of the A Corps.”
General Forshire nodded stonily, and the colonel began to feel a bit awkward. Natia watched the colonel with a feeling of satisfaction as he fidgeted and averted his eyes from the unimpressed general.
“General,” Natia continued, “Colonel Fisker is a friend of mine and has been very helpful to me during my trips to Giza.”
“Ah,” General Forshire said with interest as his stony demeanor softened into a smile. “Perhaps you would care to join us, Colonel?”
“I don’t want to intrude,” the colonel said hesitantly.
“A friend of Natia’s is a friend of mine,” smiled the general. “Have a seat.”
“My meal has just been served,” replied the colonel. “Allow me to get my plate and bring it to the table.”
The general nodded as the colonel departed. “Where are you going with this, Natia?” whispered Clint.
“Fisker is the one who got me into the reeducation center,” Natia quickly replied. “He thinks that I am a spy for the emperor. Letting him know that I am a close friend of an important general will reinforce that thought.”
“How will that help you?” asked Clint.
“I am not sure,” Natia admitted, “but it certainly won’t hurt.”
“Then we shall impress him with the importance of your friends,” grinned Clint. “Here he comes.”
“I am grateful for the chance to share your table, General Forshire,” the colonel said as he sat next to Natia. “I must admit that I have never heard of the A Corps. I thought all armies were identified by numbers.”
“Normal armies are indeed numbered,” the general replied in a friendly manner. “There are a few special forces under the control of the emperor that carry letter designations. A Corps is the largest and most important of them.”
“Impressive,” the colonel replied earnestly. “If you don’t mind me asking, what does the A Corps do?”
“The A Corps is responsible for the security of the Federation,” stated the general. “We track down spies, rebels, and others who work to subvert the rule of the Federation. Most of what the A Corps does is secret, of course, so I cannot expand too much on our duties. Little of what we do ever reaches the ears of the people.”
Colonel Fisker nodded in understanding. “Just this evening I heard something on the way here. Some officers were talking about the capture of three rebels in the Dark Forest. Was that the A Corps?”
Clint smiled thinly as he realized that Colonel Magee was already spreading the fame of the A Corps throughout the city. He nodded slightly. “Captured is not exactly accurate. We destroyed the rebels. One of them was a very powerful mage, and that required us to completely annihilate them. If only General Tauman had arrived earlier, I could have used his mages to capture the rebels alive. Nevertheless, the others will be tracked down and eliminated”
The colonel’s eyes grew to impressive proportions. He knew that General Tauman was Commander of the First Corps, and many considered him the best general in the Federation, but General Forshire acted as if he had the authorization to summon General Tauman at will. He suddenly realized how important Natia’s friend was.
“I will let you two talk,” Natia said cheerily. “I was on my way to my room when I saw you, Colonel. I think I should complete that journey now. I will be back in a little while.”
“She is quite a woman,” the colonel said after Natia was out of hearing range.
“She is a very effective operative,” declared the general. “Were she a man, I would make her a colonel in a heartbeat and have her assigned to the A Corps, but I do not think the emperor would approve. She is far more valuable in her current position.”
“What is her position?” asked Colonel Fisker.
“I cannot comment on that,” smiled the general, “and you should know better than to ask. The fact that she has befriended you will do wonders for your future, and you should not jeopardize that friendship by trying to get her to reveal too much. A person in her position cannot afford to be open with anyone not under the direct control of the emperor. Never take her secrecy personally. It is a function of her position.”
“I understand,” the colonel said softly. “Will you be helping her here in Giza?”
“Natia doesn’t need my help right now,” answered General Forshire. “There are times when our investigations overlap, but this is not one of them. I will be leaving Giza as soon as my army catches up to me. They should be near the city tomorrow night.”
“Well,” the colonel smiled thinly, “if there is anything that I can do for you during your stay, please let me know.”
“I appreciate such offers.” General Forshire nodded to the colonel. “There are times when a competent local officer is unofficially needed. I will keep your name in mind.”
“I hope you two were not bored during my absence,” Natia said cheerily as she returned to the table.
“Not at all,” General Forshire said as he rose to his feet. “I have to go and meet with Colonel Magee. I hope both of you will forgive my rudeness.”
Natia smiled broadly, and Colonel Fisker rose to his feet and saluted the general. As soon as the general left, the colonel moved his plate to the other side of the table and sat opposite Natia.
“He must be a very important general,” the colonel said to start the conversation going.
“He was the Commanding General of Tyronia,” answered Natia. “Emperor Jaar had him brought to Despair to prepare him to be King of Tyronia, but the general refused the offer. Instead, he formed the A Corps, and I know that the emperor has been happy with his decision. He is quite a special person.”
Colonel Fisker’s eyes widened when Natia mentioned her intimate knowledge of the emperor’s feelings. It reinforced his earlier feelings that she was someone special and high up in the hierarchy of the Federation. On her previous visit to Giza, the colonel thought Judge Julius was the emperor’s man in Giza and Natia had merely been sent from Despair to help him, but now he knew otherwise. It was Natia who was calling the shots, and Judge Julius who was merely cooperating with her.
“What brings you to Giza?” probed the colonel. “Perhaps there is something that I can help you with?”
Natia frowned in silence for a moment and then turned to see if anyone was close enough to be listening to the conversation. “Perhaps there is something that you can help me with. I would like to get personnel records of a unit, but I do not want to request the records officially. Doing so might draw too much attention to what I am working on
. Is that information that you are capable of getting?”
“Depends on the unit,” answered the colonel.
“The unit that protects the reeducation center,” Natia said softly.
“City guards.” Colonel Fisker nodded. “I can get those easily, but my request will be noted.”
“That might do more harm than good.” Natia shook her head. “It was nice of you to offer, but maybe I should just request them officially.” Natia sighed with disappointment, and the colonel frowned.
“How important is this?” questioned the colonel.
“I do not waste my time on trivial matters,” retorted Natia. “I cannot say any more without your vow of secrecy.”
“I will not tell anyone,” promised the colonel.
“When I say secrecy,” frowned Natia, “I truly mean it. That means that you will never speak of what I say for any reason. Not to your superior officer, not to Judge Julius, not to someone investigating those men, not to anyone. The information I am after is needed on a much higher plane than anyone in Giza is entitled to.”
Colonel Fisker swallowed hard as he listened to Natia. There was no doubt in his mind that he was about to hear something that might shake the foundations of the army in Giza. “You have my word,” vowed the colonel. “I will never speak of what you are about to say.”
Natia stared at the colonel for several minutes before nodding slightly. “General Forshire obtained some information from the rebels he cornered in the Dark Forest. The information indicates that the rebels have been paying soldiers in Giza for some undefined services. While it may have nothing to do with the reeducation centers, he believes that the rebels have been paying for elves.”
“Paying for elves?” frowned the colonel. “What for?”
“I am sure that you have heard the rumors about young elven women being taken from the centers during the night,” Natia explained conspiratorially. “The women never return, and the rumors lead the elves to believe that the women were being fed to demons.”
“I have heard those rumors,” scowled the officer, “and they are preposterous.”
“You may think so,” retorted Natia, “but it hardly matters what you think. What matters is what the elves think. As you are aware, the elves have a choice when they reach the age of maturity. They may return to Elfwoods, or they may join the Federation as any other citizen. General Forshire thinks that the rebels seek to drive a wedge between the Federation and the elves and thereby weaken the Federation. As the emperor hopes to fully integrate the elves as willing members of the Federation, any friction between the two groups aides the cause of the rebels.”
Colonel Fisker raised an eyebrow in surprise. “I see now that my initial reaction was not well thought out. I also see why you would not want to officially request the records. How soon do you need the information?”
“The sooner the better,” answered the gypsy princess, “but I can probably wait a few days if that is necessary, but no longer.”
“Let me see what I can do,” offered the colonel. “It may be possible for me to mix those records in with my own unit and then take them out of the building. If I can get them, you will only have a single night to peruse them. I would have to get them back before someone noticed them missing. Is that a problem?”
“That would be fine,” smiled Natia.
* * * *
The sun rose over the Sea of Tears, painting the buildings of Giza with an orange glow. General Forshire finished the morning meal in the common room of the Palace Keep and exited the inn for a morning walk through the city streets. He wandered aimlessly, but kept to the main streets of the city. Part of his mission was to be seen by others, but the walking also gave him some private time to think about things. As he was walking near the Temple of Balmak, a dozen black-cloaks exited the building. A cold shiver raced up his spine, but he kept his distaste hidden. He altered his course to take him away from the temple, fearing an encounter with K’san.
Several minutes later, the general was passing by one of the city garrisons. He halted as several dozen black-cloaks emerged from the garrison and headed towards the waterfront. Never had Clint seen so many Zaran mages at one time. His curiosity piqued, he followed the mages at a distance. As the black-cloaks walked the city streets, more of them flowed out of side streets and joined the group from the garrison. The mob of black-cloaks continued to swell, and Clint fell back a bit to avoid getting too close to them. Eventually, the mages reached the waterfront, and they turned towards the shipyards. Not wanting to enter the shipyards, Clint halted on the wharf and pretended to watch the sunrise as he tried to figure out what was going on.
“It is a sight to behold, isn’t it?” a feminine voice said softly.
“I have always enjoyed sunrises,” Clint replied as he turned and saw Natia standing alongside him.
“Me, too,” the gypsy princess smiled, “but that was not what I was talking about.”
Clint glanced at the shipyards. The gates were now closed and the mages had been swallowed up by the fence surrounding the shipyards. “You saw them?”
“From a distance,” Natia answered quietly. “What is going on?”
“I have no idea,” admitted the general. “I was just out for a walk when I saw them converging on the waterfront. I followed them to see what was going on.”
“There were scores of them,” frowned Natia. “I do not feel comfortable in a city with that many of them.”
“I estimate around one hundred,” retorted Clint, “and no one should feel comfortable near so many of them. Whatever is happening, it is significant.”
For several minutes, the two Alceans stood silently, staring out at the sea.
“Peanut should be back soon,” mused the Ranger.
“I would not send a fairy to spy on them,” cautioned Natia. “With that many mages, who knows what they might be looking for. It would be too risky.”
Clint nodded silently in agreement. Natia glanced around and saw a tavern with outside tables. She tugged on Clint’s sleeve and nodded to it.
“I have already eaten,” Clint said, “but the view should be as good as any when they come out.”
The two Alceans walked to the tavern and sat down at one of the outside tables. A young woman appeared immediately and rattled off the menu. Clint ordered a couple of ales and the woman went inside and returned promptly with two mugs. The Alceans quietly sipped their ale as they waited for the black-cloaks to emerge from the shipyards. An hour passed without the gates opening, and Natia began to feel exposed sitting with a Federation general.
“I should leave,” the gypsy princess said softly. “While it might be all right to be seen with you by Federation officers, the thieves are sure to notice me if I dally here much longer. They might ask too many questions about my lingering with a general.”
“I don’t suppose the thieves in Giza are much different than the ones in Despair,” retorted Clint. “I am sure that your sitting with me has already been noted, but feel free to go. I will let you know what I have discovered when your fairy arrives from the island.”
Just then, a loud series of noises emanated from the shipyards. Shouts rang through the air with an excited pitch. The Alceans looked expectantly at the gates to the shipyard, but nothing happened. Natia glanced seaward and her eyes widened in understanding. She nudged Clint, and he turned to see a massive ship bobbing in the water. Men scrambled across the deck of the huge ship as they worked to raise gigantic sails.
“I do not think the black-cloaks will be leaving the shipyards through the gates,” Natia said in awe.
Clint frowned in confusion. His eyes swept the deck of the large ship, but the men onboard were not mages; they were seamen. “What are you saying?”
“I learned earlier that that ship has about one hundred small cabins below deck,” answered Natia. “I am pretty sure that the black-cloaks are onboard.”
“For what purpose?” asked the general.
“I don’t know,
” admitted Natia.
* * * *
Captain Kent sat before Captain Takir’s desk in the garrison in Olansk. They sat quietly, waiting for the sergeant to return. When Sergeant Lamar did return, he closed the door and crossed the room to the desk before speaking.
“Both of them are dead,” the sergeant reported quietly.
“Dead?” scowled Captain Kent. “Couldn’t you have taken at least one of them alive?”
The sergeant glared at Captain Kent, and his lips curled as if he were about to snap a nasty reply at the captain from Despair. Captain Takir sighed heavily and the sergeant glanced at him.
“What happened?” Captain Takir asked calmly.
“They refused to surrender,” answered the sergeant. “It was as if their only choices were fleeing or dying. They feared capture more than they feared death.”
“Were they wealthy?” asked Captain Takir.
“Hardly,” replied the sergeant. “A few coins, but hardly worth the bother of divvying up.”
A thin smile crossed the lips of Captain Takir. He knew how his men tried to keep whatever they found to themselves, and he hardly discouraged it as long as those doing the taking were loyal to him. “So they weren’t paid assassins.”
Captain Kent sighed with relief. “You mean I have been hiding in this garrison for nothing?”
“That isn’t what Captain Takir said,” scowled the sergeant. “They were surely assassins, and I can’t think of anyone they might want to kill other than you. Someone wants you dead rather badly, but these men were not paid to do the job. Something else is driving them.”
“I don’t understand,” frowned Captain Kent. “What are you trying to say?”
“Paid assassins would surrender once they were caught,” explained Captain Takir, “but these men preferred death to surrender. Whoever sent them is someone they fear greatly. I think it is time that you tell us why these killers keep coming to Olansk.”
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