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The words came unbidden, each word forming a piece of the fabric, a fabric so beautiful, so alive. A blanket that would protect all under my care. A piece of my heart reaching out to all I had shared the White Rose with.
With each word the White Rose burned deeper into my soul becoming more and more a part of who I am. Who I am as the queen of the Witches, the Mistress of the Vampires. The Duchess of all manner of fairy folk, and all the magic of the fairy folk was at my command, awaiting my word. I spoke the words and knew beyond any doubt the men in this camp were protected and nothing made by mortal man could harm them.
“Sir. I don't mean to disturb you, but the Major wants to see you,” Mac said.
“Are the supplies here yet?” I asked.
“They got here about a half an hour ago sir,” Mac replied.
“A half hour ago? Mac just how long have I been sitting here?” I asked.
“I'd guess going on three hours now sir,” he answered.
“I said those words you called a prayer again didn't I?” I asked.
“Yes sir, but something was different this time. As you said the words any fear I had vanished. I know without doubt that we'll be going home the day after tomorrow. Until I heard you say those words I had some doubts we'd ever see home again,” he said.
“Don't say anything to anyone else Mac, I'd rather this not get around,” I said.
I headed back over to the command tent, and met Major Jackson coming out just as I reached it.
“I want to thank you Sam,” he said.
“Thank me sir? I don't understand,” I said.
“I know you don't and that's part of what I like so much about you. I don't have a clue how you do it, because I was always taught it was impossible, but now that I've met you I know anything is possible. For that I thank you,” he said.
We setup the claymores from the care package we received while I was meditating in my tent. Closing off the one point the camp was vulnerable to mass attack. Lieutenant Strong's men already knew how to use the mortars so it was just a matter of getting them setup, they would need to adjust the range during the battle. All the ammo came either in boxes for the thirty and fifty caliber machine guns or in clips for the rifles and hand guns.
Everyone was issued a hand gun and rifle. There were sniper rifles that Lieutenant Strong said he had good use for since he had a half dozen snipers.
Each of the special forces men had their forty-five's as well as an M-16 and their crossbows. Each of us had a dozen quivers of bolts for our crossbows and carried twenty, fifty round clips for our M-16's.
About midnight we let Lieutenant Strong know he and his men would be on their own in the camp and we headed for where Major Jackson had waited for us to show up. I knew none of my men were going to get any sleep that night and I doubted anyone would from either the special forces company or the regular army companies.
Around o-three hundred I gave the order for my men to take their sectors and cause just as much confusion as possible once they got there. Major Jackson watched as my men headed out into the pre-dawn morning as though going off to work in some factory.
“There will be over a hundred dead before the sun even rises,” I said.
“More like over a thousand. My men will be going out in five minutes,” Major Jackson said.
“I don't think I'd want to be the enemy this day, so many of their friends dead while they slept and no one heard a thing,” I said.
“Better them than us,” the Major said.
“A Matter of prospective, Major,” I said.
“You do know my name is Adam not Major,” Adam asked me.
“Yes, I do know, but I also know you're keeping something from me and as long as that's the case your Major Jackson my commanding officer,” I said.
“I've probably told you more about it than anyone else,” Adam said.
“Did Major Jacobs know this secret that everyone is keeping from me?” I asked.
“I doubt it Sam. I was never as angry as I was when I heard he was missing,” Adam said.
“You don't think he's dead then?” I asked.
“Chris? Dead? No Chris isn't dead, but I am surprised he hasn't shown up yet. I doubt the enemy captured him either. My best guess is he'll show up in a couple weeks to a couple months. I'd hate to be that lying ass Lieutenant he had for a second when he does show up,” Adam said.
I had never met Major Christopher Jacobs, but somehow I knew he was the man in my dreams, the man who kept saying I was the White Rose. What had he meant when he said he hadn't wanted to bite me, but it was the only way, the only way for what? I needed to concentrate on the here and now. Whatever that dream meant it hadn't happened yet and for all I knew it never would.
I loaded my crossbow and took off for the area I was responsible for creating confusion in.
The sun came up and the world stopped. The enemy had sent so many men against us trying to decide who to shoot was more difficult than just pointing and pulling the trigger was to hit someone. Each of my men had orders to take out officers first which would create the most confusion in a military that was disciplined. When it got light enough to actually see rank I thought perhaps there was some kind of mistake. It seemed every officer in the enemies' army was sitting right in front of me and half of them already dead. This camp of the enemies forces was in so much confusion already, and yet I knew it wouldn't take long and they would again be organized into a fighting unit again.
I took aim at the highest ranking officer I could see and squeezed, I saw the bolt as it left on target and watched as it continued its flight embedding itself deep in the mans chest taking him off his feet and throwing him back ten feet.
The battle was over already. With that one shot the enemy gave up and withdrew their forces, hoping to avoid the lose of the rest of their top brass.
A white flag went up and a three man contingent marched out into the open.
“We wish to talk terms!” was shouted in both their native language and English. “Please, no more death,” they called out.
I hollered back that I was listening.
“We wish no more death,” they called out again.
“Withdraw your forces, or death is all you will see here,” I said.
“A day to withdraw, we beg of you,” they hollered.
“You have three hours to have your men moving back or we will come in and slaughter you all, just as you intended for us,” I called back.
I knew everyone heard even though what was said, was said without radio's or any kind of public address system.
None of the special forces men moved waiting to see if what they heard was real or some trick the enemy was plying in hopes of getting us out in the open.
“General we are watching so if I were you I would send runners to the different units you have here. If they haven't started pulling back when the three hours are up the killing will start again,” I called out.
My radio went crazy with chatter coming from all over the battle field.
“Captain what is going on. Did you just give them three hours to start withdrawing?” Adam asked me.
“This battle is over Major, the field belongs to us. Their top commander is dead and the others watched it happen unable to do anything,” I said.
“I don't know what kind of magic the White Rose has, but I do love the smell of roses. So tell me where are you planing on going while you're on leave?” he asked.
“Home. I haven't talked to any of my family since I left for boot camp almost two years ago,” I said.
“Well I'm sure they'll be proud of you, and if they aren't you always know your family here sure as hell is,” he said.
“Is it that you're proud of me, or thankful I could once again get everyone out of a tight spot?” I asked.
“Sam I know I can say those army regulars are glad to know you and have you on their side. I doubt there is one of them whose home you wouldn't be welcome at after pullin
g their bacon out of the fire like you did,” Adam said.
“If they knew the real me Adam, I doubt any of them would want anything to do with me even after this,” I said.
The Hidden Rose Page 14