Hillaes nodded her head acknowledging the truth of Josef’s words and I smiled gratefully at her. She took a deep breath, “Thank you for saying that. I’ve been fretting over this ever since we learned you were captured," she finished as she looked at me.
“I’m not going to lie and say it was pleasant, but as you can see, I’m completely healed,” I said with a smile.
“Except for your funky haircut,” Brian said, “maybe you should just shave that side of your head so you don’t look like such a weird—ow,” he said as my foot collided with his shin.
“What were you saying?” I asked sweetly.
“I was just about to compliment you on your new style—ow. What was that one for?” He asked as he bent down to rub his leg.
“It’s never wise to point out when a woman gets a bad haircut, especially when it was caused by a bullet creasing her scalp,” Yoli growled from her seat next to me. Her eyes were blazing yellow in anger.
“I was just kidding,” Brian said as he held up his hands in surrender.
“It’s okay, Yoli,” I said as I placed my hand on her arm, “I appreciate you sticking up for me but since he’s emotionally stunted, he doesn’t know how to express how relieved he is that I’m safe. He’s like an annoying older brother, and I love him even though he frequently puts his foot in his mouth," I said with a grin to take the sting out of my words as everyone else at the table laughed at our verbal sparring.
“What she said,” Brian said as he pointed to me with the hand that wasn’t rubbing his injured shin.
“If you children have gotten that out of your systems, I think we need to make a plan of attack for tonight," Josef said, interrupting our shenanigans.
“I think that Ishka and I should head to Akore’s compound first so we can keep an eye on things there. We can transform into our serpent forms and remain hidden in the jungle on the property,” Raksaka suggested.
“We shouldn't attempt an assault on his property until dark,” Carlos added, “and it would be helpful to have eyes on the ground to provide surveillance.”
The screen on the wall changed to show an aerial view of Akore’s property, which covered the top of a cliff and had thick walls on three sides. The back half of the property wasn’t walled but that approach was protected by a steep drop-off leading to the ocean.
“Yoli and I can hide here and keep watch to make sure Akore doesn’t leave before we attack,” Carlos said and made marks on his tablet which showed on the screen.
“The makeshift prison is here,” I said as I circled the building on my tablet and that image was transmitted, too, “and unless I miss my guess it will be well guarded.”
“Do we know where the arcane crystals are located?” Hillaes asked.
“I didn’t see them where I was,” I said and shook my head.
“He placed them at the four corners of his property in India, so he’ll probably have them somewhere here,” Hillaes used her stylus to place four x’s on her tablet which were overlaid on the map on screen.
“The sky is clear today so I can keep an eye on things from the air,” Steve offered.
“Aren’t you afraid people will be able to see you from the ground? You’re massive in your bird form, we still want to keep as low a profile as possible," I added.
“I’m not worried about that, I’ll be up so high no one will be able to distinguish how large I really am,” Steve answered.
“I won’t be able to provide aerial support until after dark,” Robert added, “there’s no disguising my wyvern form. However, I can station myself in a restaurant close enough that I can relay mental commands to the rest of the team, but not stand out too much.” He tapped a command on his tablet and cafes and restaurants within sending distance were highlighted.
“So, you’ll be sitting and eating all day while the rest of us are hiding?” Brian grumbled.
“The sacrifices I’m willing to make,” Robert laughed.
“What are you worried about?” Jason asked Brian. “We’ll be waiting in the water until it’s time for us to come ashore, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to eat.”
“There won’t be coffee,” Brian grumped, and we laughed at his comment, which was what he was hoping for.
“I’d like to look for the arcane crystals,” Enzokuhle spoke up. “I can blend into the foliage in my impundulu form while wearing a resonance crystal around my neck.”
“I’m not sure the spell will help,” Hillaes said doubtfully.
“Even if it doesn’t, I’ll still be able to check for them by looking. But I think the problem isn’t with the spell, I just think we overestimated the effective range of your spell. As I’m looking at the aerial view of Akore’s property I’m sure I flew over it in my search pattern. But I was about a half mile in the air so let’s see what we discover when I’m right on top of them.”
“It sounds like a solid surveillance plan,” Josef commented, “but what are your plans to take down Akore?”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” I said and looked at Hillaes. “Please correct me if I’m wrong but we have three issues facing us. The first is protecting the prisoners from both Akore and the humans. Ishka and Raksaka can easily take care of the humans because they are venomous in each of their naga forms.”
“It will be easier for us to remain hidden in our serpent form during the day but once it’s dark enough we can transform into one of our other forms," Ishka said.
“One of your forms is human from the waist up with the body of a serpent, right?” Brian asked.
“Yes, that’s the best form when we need hands,” Raksaka agreed.
“I would like the two of you to protect the women," I said to the nagas.
“They will be safe with us,” Ishka nodded.
“The second issue is limiting Akore’s power. We need to figure out a way to destroy the arcane crystals so Akore cannot draw any magical energy from them," I added the second issue to the notes on the screen.
“Wu and I will remain behind to create a way to destroy the arcane crystals. We’ll join you after dark. By then, Enzokuhle will have located the crystals, and Wu and I can make our way to them in our tiger forms and lay the destructive spells on them," Hillaes offered.
“That works,” I said as I added the notes. “Then our final problem will be facing off with Akore himself. An’Ceann told me that even though Akore has been weakened he is still powerful.”
“There’s one other thing you haven’t considered,” Josef spoke from the screen. “What type of surveillance system does Akore have on his property? If he has high-tech cameras, he might know you’re on his property and be prepared for you.”
“Well, that’s something we should have thought of,” Carlos growled to Yoli.
“Let me see what we can find on our end,” Josef said. “If Akore had modern systems installed there should be an electronic record of it. Keep planning, while I get my people to look.” Josef’s image disappeared.
“I think the only way to destroy Akore is to also destroy the charm you found on the Flor do Mar,” Hillaes suggested.
“But I thought we needed to keep the charm in my pocket dimension because if Akore could access its power he would be nearly indestructible," I added.
“That’s true, but I can create a containment circle which will nullify its power as effectively as your pocket dimension. The only problem is I’ll need to be inside the circle with the charm so I can destroy it," Hillaes winced.
“Why can’t we just shoot him?” Yoli asked.
“When Wu and I traveled to Claw before Alister and Aileene’s wedding we studied the records of the ruling counsel’s battle with Akore. He seems to have some type of shield charm that protects him from physical and magical harm. We must sever every magical connection he has before we can harm him physically," Hillaes answered.
“If you’re in the circle, who’s going to confront Akore?” Jason asked. Hillaes didn’t say anything but looked at me.
“No,” Jason said with heat, “Cyndi’s faced that madman once already and almost died because of it.”
“I have to,” I said soothingly. “Akore already thinks I’m a sorceress and when he sees I survived his last attack it will shake him. This is the second attempt on my life, and I’ve walked away from both of them. Besides, last time it wasn’t his magic that hurt me, it was the guns of his goons. Ishka and Raksaka will take care of his men so Akore will face me alone.”
“Anyone Ishka and Raksaka miss won’t survive an encounter with either me or Steve,” Robert added.
I stood and sat on Jason’s lap and leaned my forehead on his. “I don't want to confront Akore again either, but I don’t see another way to do this. We need Hillaes in the circle with the charm so she can destroy it. She’s the only one who can do it and it’s the only way we can assure he can’t regenerate his power.”
“I’ve already layered the arcane crystals with protection spells for each of us and I’ll be able to add to them since Cyndi told me how the one I gave her performed. Akore won’t be able to draw energy from any of us and I’ll have some extras to give to the prisoners so they’re protected.”
Josef came back on screen, “We’ve caught another break. Akore did order a state-of-the-art surveillance system but it won’t be operational for another day or so. There were some supply issues and we’ve made sure on our end that the items necessary to complete the project won’t be available until the day after tomorrow.”
“Then it’s settled, we need to make our move tonight or we’ll lose the element of surprise,” I said, kissing Jason then standing. “Hillaes, how long do you need to complete the protection crystals?”
“It will take me an hour to add the extra spells and then I can start working on the way to destroy the larger arcane crystals," she answered.
“Will you have enough magical energy to do everything you need to do?” Jason asked.
Hillaes nodded, “I still have plenty of fully-charged crystals I brought from Claw, no problem there.”
“Okay,” I breathed deeply, “we’ve got our plan and each of us have our assignments. Once Hillaes has finished the crystals, we’ll get into our positions and wait for my signal to attack.”
“And what will that be?” Wu asked.
“Protect the Weak,” I answered with steel in my voice.
Southern Ocean
Half mile off Llandudno Beach
Cape Town, South Africa
The ocean currents were soothing as I floated twenty feet under the surface. Jason, Brian and I had been in place for hours, just waiting for it to get dark enough for us to go ashore. Members of our team had been checking in every thirty minutes and giving reports of the movements of the guards on Akore’s property. Ishka and Raksaka were in their serpent forms and hidden near the prison building. Ishka had found a way inside and was prepared to take out the guards inside at the proper time.
Robert had a good view of the road leading up to massive front gates in front of Akore’s property from where he sat in a café. Except for the workmen installing the new security system, there hadn’t been any traffic either to or from the house. Steve spotted Akore from his position high in the sky when he came outside in the late afternoon because one of the security experts must have asked him where he wanted a camera placed. He pointed to a place on the outside of his house. Things had been tense up to that point because we weren’t positive Akore was in residence and we needed him there.
Enzokuhle found the large arcane crystals where Hillaes thought they would be and was able to mark them so Hillaes could find them easily when she and Wu arrived after dark. Akore added armed guards patrolling the grounds since I’d been there last, but Enzokuhle was able to easily avoid their notice in his avian form.
We’d had a spirited discussion about what to do about the guards, but concluded they were complicit in Akore’s evil activities and would be eliminated as necessary. We were able to stay in communication through thought-speak with Robert who kept Hillaes, Wu and Josef in the loop with our tablet technology.
And we waited.
Please remind me again what I’m supposed to do, Brian asked as we floated lazily in the water, plucking fish to eat when they got too close.
You know what to do, you’re just bored, Jason teased.
True, but humor me. It’s not like I’m very effective on land in my kraken form, Brian responded.
When the time is right, we’ll all swim closer to shore. Jason and I will continue and approach the property from the water. There must be a way to access the property from the base of the cliffs because someone had to toss my body into the water after they dropped me from the cliffs above, I sent, trying not to let the emotions from my near-death experience come through our mental connections. I mustn’t have been successful because Jason’s arms slipped around me as he swam up from behind. I sent a private message of thanks to my life-mate, and he just held me tighter as I continued.
Your job is to make sure Akore doesn’t escape by sea. I’m sure he’s got plans upon plans and we don’t want to underestimate his ability to slip away.
So, if a boat comes into the sheltered bay, I get to play with it? Brian asked hopefully.
Absolutely, I answered, but stop them before they get that close. Once Jason and I leave the water, don’t let anyone get within a quarter mile of the cliffs.
That works for me—what are we going to do about the victim’s bodies?
Enzokuhle will work with Colonel Dlamini and they will ‘discover’ the bodies once we take down Akore. This will be another opportunity to seize his assets in South Africa. Even though Akore won’t stand trial for his crimes, justice will be served tonight and everything he built will be destroyed.
We talked about inconsequential things until it was time for the next report from our team. Even though we would be facing a dangerous enemy in a few hours, it was relaxing to spend time with my friends and joke with them. When Brian started telling Jason stories about what I was like when I was a girl, I tuned them out and thought about how Jason and I were getting married in a month; we just had to make sure we survived the night.
There’s a truck coming up the road towards the gate, Robert broadcast to our group, it’s some sort of transport vehicle and it looks like there are soldiers in the back.
I’ve got them, Steve sent, the gate is opening, and the guard is waving them through.
I could feel Steve and Robert’s tension through our mental connection but decided to wait until they shared more information rather than ask for a report.
I’m not sure if Akore is expecting an attack or he’s become more paranoid, but thirty men climbed out the back of the truck and are reinforcing the guards already posted. These guys move like professionals and are heavily armed, Steve reported from his position in the air.
This doesn’t change our objective, it just makes it more difficult, I sent. Robert, when it’s dark enough you’ll need to take out most of those troops. I doubt they'll be expecting a wyvern to drop into their midst and won’t know how to deal with your acidic venom.
Will do, Robert responded. Once I drop Yoli, Carlos, Hillaes and Wu onto the property, I’ll attack the troops when you send the signal. Hold on, Robert sent then there was a pause while he communicated with Josef. I’m back, Josef agrees with the addition to the plan. These troops didn’t come from the military or police so they’re probably part of a mercenary group used to working with Akore.
Wu and I are pulling up to the cafe where Robert is waiting. I’ve got the spells we need to destroy Akore’s arcane crystals, Hillaes sent.
I quickly swam to the surface to get a look at the position of the sun. I popped my head above the water and turned to the west to see the sun slipping down. Jason and I are going to swim ashore and look for the entrance to the tunnel leading to the top of the cliff. Let’s stay ready for anything, I sent as I dove and started making my way towards shore. Jason joined me and Brian let us know he
was heading out to the mouth of the bay to keep boats away.
Since we still weren’t going to attack for hours, Jason and I took our time heading in so by the time we climbed out of the water, the last of the orange sunlight was fading from the evening sky. Jason and I shifted into our partial forms and carried our tridents as we searched for the hidden smuggler’s passage. I was again thankful for my shifter eyesight because there wouldn’t be any other way to locate anything in the deepening gloom.
Look over here, Jason whispered in my mind and I looked where he pointed. There were scrapes on the rocks to the right at the base of the cliff and I could barely make out the outline of a door. There wasn’t a handle to open the door, but when I searched, I noticed a depression in the rock to the left of the outline. Jason took my trident when I held it out to him, and I pushed the rock until I heard a faint click and the door moved slightly towards me. Jason handed back my trident after I pulled the door open and noticed a sloped passage leading up.
We found the entrance to the tunnel and we’ll make our way to the top. When it’s dark enough, I need everyone to make their way into the compound and get into position. Make sure you aren’t spotted; we don’t want our quarry to suspect anything’s wrong until it’s too late for him to do anything about it.
After receiving acknowledgment from each member of the team, Jason and I made our way into the tunnel and began the climb that would lead to Akore’s destruction. I smiled at the thought of taking care of Akore once and for all.
Chapter 10
Llandudno Estates
Cape Town, South Africa
By the time Jason and I reached the top of the tunnel Robert had dropped his four passengers into the compound. We had taken our time and had used our sonar senses to make sure no one was near the entrance to the tunnel in the compound. The doorway was cleverly disguised in the trunk of a large tree in the jungle, and I mentally sent the location of the tunnel to the rest of the team so they’d know where it was. We didn’t need light as we moved up the tunnel, so I wasn’t worried about being seen when we opened the door.
Scales of Justice Page 19