Jackal’s Gambit

by C A Ardron

‘Well,’ Karen said after a while. ‘I can give you some pointers, but I don't actually know of any in this city.’

  ‘You expect us to believe that?’ Leopard asked.

  Wolf winced at her acid tone. He knew it wouldn't be long before she said something.

  Karen seemed unconcerned. ‘Yes.’

  Wolf had to stop himself from shaking his head in amazement. Didn't anything faze this woman?

  ‘I never served a green sclithe,’ Karen explained, ‘and never in this city.’

  ‘Can you tell us anything?’ Dove asked. She kept her voice gentle.

  The soft-spoken woman might be able to stop war breaking out between Karen and Leopard, but Wolf doubted it.

  Karen shrugged. ‘Greens are large, and Trine is rumoured to be larger than most, the name gives that away though. The tunnels will be quite extensive, with many entrances into the city.’

  Tiger held up a hand to pause her. ‘What do you mean about Trine's name? How is his name supposed to tell us anything?’

  ‘Sclithe don't normally have names like that,’ Karen told her. ‘Their names are alien obviously, and usually hard to pronounce. Trine renamed himself a long time ago. I don't remember what his real name is. He calls himself Trine because he boasts lordship over the land, sea and sky. As you probably know, green sclithe are almost as at home in water as blue ones, and I think I remember hearing he has quite the hopper collection too. All out war with Trine could not be undertaken lightly.’

  Wolf glanced at the others, he at least hadn't known that blue sclithe liked water.

  ‘That's not good.’ Hawk crossed his arms. ‘Looks like going against Trine is no walk in the park.’

  ‘I'm not planning on going to war against him.’ Lion told him. ‘I just want the boy back. Karen, just how extensive are these tunnels likely to be?’

  ‘Sclithe dislike the smell of Courinese.’

  Wolf couldn't believe how easy-going she sounded. She could've been talking about the weather! Didn't this subject bother her at all?

  ‘They tolerate the Sarpiens,’ Karen continued, ‘but the smell of a city is far greater. The tunnels will go down two miles at least before spreading out in different directions. Sclithe like to control a large territory. There’s also the possibility that the tunnels may be connected to another sclithe’s domain for trading purposes.’

  Lion was nodding thoughtfully.

  ‘Trine has a lot of Sarpiens,’ Karen mentioned, looking at the captain with a frown. ‘I would recommend stealthers.’

  Lion shook his head. ‘Leopard is the only one here who can stealth, and I'm not sending her in alone.’

  Karen shrugged. ‘No doubt there are stealthers in some of the other units in Steiron.’

  ‘That's not possible, we won't be getting any help from elsewhere.’

  Karen blinked and Wolf was quite relieved to see surprise on her face. He'd been starting to wonder if she could be surprised.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Hawk's mouth twisted in distaste. ‘Our area commander thinks we should wait around til the Dakkonin have some free time.’

  ‘You mean your doing this against orders?’ Karen asked.

  Her attention moved back to Lion and she looked impressed. The expression only lasted an instant before she schooled her face to calm again but Wolf had seen it, he knew he had. Lion had just scored points with her, he was sure of that.

  ‘If we don't then Jay will be lost,’ Dove told her.

  Karen tapped her fingers on the polished table top. ‘So the six of you,’ she began, her voice dripping sarcasm, ‘are going to enter the sclithe tunnels, which are infested with Sarpiens, and bring Jay out of there – all by yourselves?’

  Dove smiled. ‘Seven,’ she corrected. ‘You're coming with us, remember?’

  Karen rubbed her forehead with one hand, a pained expression crossing her face.

  ‘What?’ Wolf asked, startled.

  ‘What was that?’ Leopard said at the same time, her voice low and ominous.

  ‘Karen will be coming with us,’ Lion told them.

  Hawk's wings were fidgeting again. ‘Why? She's already told us she's never been down there. We might not be able to protect her.’

  ‘Karen says that sclithe tunnels tend to have similar layouts,’ Dove told them all. ‘I have great faith in her ability to guide us to where we need to be.’

  Wolf looked at Karen as she looked down at the table. The Unician didn't seem to be as confident as she had been.

  ‘You can't trust her!’ Leopard objected through gritted teeth. ‘She'll probably lead us into the Sarpiens on purpose!’

  Karen looked startled for a second before narrowing her eyes at the warrior. ‘Why would I do that? I want Jay back as much as any of you.’

  ‘Why? So you can bribe the Sarpiens?’

  Karen was staring at her with wide eyes, Wolf wasn't sure if it was anger or surprise at the accusation.

  ‘Enough, Leopard,’ Lion ordered, his voice sharp. ‘I won't have you harassing Karen all the time.’

  Leopard looked about the room angrily. ‘Is no one here worried that she'll betray us?’

  ‘Lion, we can't take Karen with us,’ Wolf objected. ‘Hawk's right, it would be far too dangerous to bring a civilian with us.’

  Leopard snorted derisively at his choice of words.

  ‘Well,’ Dove spoke up. ‘That wouldn’t be a problem if Karen was a Predgarian.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Karen counted to three after those words were out of Dove's mouth, that's how long it took for someone to find their voice.

  ‘Are you crazy?’ Leopard growled.

  The first to speak, of course, who else would it be? Karen schooled her features to complete calmness as she glanced around. Lion and Wolf she couldn't read, but Tiger, Leopard and Hawk all looked shocked at the suggestion.

  Karen held in a sigh. She'd tried to enter into this venture with an open mind, knowing she would have to work with people she had nothing in common with, but this woman was making it hard.

  Leopard was a living, breathing representation of why Karen had always been scared of telling anyone her secret. She was unwilling to listen to any of her team mates views on walking dead, adamant that Karen should be punished.

  Karen remembered the brief conversation she'd overheard before sneaking out of the Centre. Wolf had seemed to have been fighting in her corner, but since she'd come back he'd been unfriendly. She wasn't sure what to think about him.

  Wolf shook his head slowly. ‘I don't think that's a good idea, Lion. I know you've-’

  ‘You can't do this!’ Leopard steamrolled over Wolf's words. ‘This has gone far enough! I'm going to tell Martial Eagle everything that's happened. If you think she should be a Predgarian then you shouldn't be a captain!’

  Tiger made a startled sound in her throat. ‘Leopard, come on’ she was keeping her voice light, almost jovial.

  Karen made note of it. The two Felines appeared similar, but Tiger was the more level-headed of the two.

  ‘That's harsh,’ Tiger continued, ‘you could at least hear his reasoning.’

  Leopard glared at her partner. ‘There is no reasoning! There's no reason good enough for taking in a Sarpien.’

  Karen flinched involuntarily. There it was, out in the open. Leopard still considered her a Sarpien, not walking dead. Coercion techniques, sclithe mind control, they meant nothing to her. As long as she had a snake on her arm, there could be no reconciliation.

  Wolf cleared his throat loudly and Leopard turned her furious stare at him instead.

  ‘You've said your piece, Leopard,’ the Canine told her, his voice told Karen he was unaffected by the woman's anger. ‘Now let me say mine.’

  Leopard stepped back and leant against the kitchen doorframe, her mouth an angry line. Karen sorely wished she could see Wolf's face. She was greatly intrigued by his calm, precise way of speaking. He also owned a book about sclithe - which made her wonder even
more.

  ‘Lion,’ the big warrior began. ‘I was in this unit the day you were first assigned here. You're a good captain, you have consideration for the warriors under your care and respect for the protocols of our Order. Over the last seven years you've earned my respect. Protecting the people of Courin is what we're about, and you've always made that your greatest concern. At the time, I accepted your decision to protect Karen. We don't have any protocols for walking dead after all.’

  Tiger gave a short laugh. ‘How could we? We didn't even know they existed.’

  ‘Leopard has a point though.’ Wolf continued. ‘You need to seek permission from someone in higher authority.’

  Karen gazed out the window, keeping her thoughts to herself. She was tired of these people already. Were they taking this seriously? They should be discussing how to rescue Jay, not arguing about Predgarian protocol.

  She readily admitted that Lion had impressed her. Deciding to go against orders to rescue a boy was a brave move on his part. He might get demoted for the action, especially since the act would be stepping on the Dakkonin's toes. His willingness to give her a medallion was also surprising. She'd come in suspicious, half-expecting some ulterior motive but as she listened to Wolf's little speech she started to think there wasn't one.

  The Predgarian captain appeared to have no ulterior motives. He was doing this to help a boy, and that was all. The man might possibly be the living embodiment of what the Predgarian Order stood for. She kept telling herself that was the reason she hadn't walked out in disgust yet.

  Lion nodded immediately. ‘You're right, both of you. I would never dream of allowing someone like Karen into our Order without talking to someone about it. Forgive me for not going to Martial Eagle though.’

  Tiger gave a deep chuckle.

  ‘I got in touch with Predgariah and asked them to put a message through to Joinstohm.’

  Karen's head whipped around, her eyes widening. Joinstohm? The leadership of their Order resided in Predgariah. If he'd contacted Joinstohm it could mean only one thing.

  Hawk gave a frown. ‘What’s in Joinstohm?’

  Karen grunted in open disgust this time. Did that kid know nothing?

  Lion had noticed her jerky movement, his golden helmet swinging round to look at her.

  She put aside Hawk's stupid question. ‘General Jaguar?’ Even preparing herself, she faltered on the name. She felt very sick, though knew it wasn't a premonition this time - just her own fear getting the best of her.

  There was no one higher Lion could've gone to. Jaguar was the current leader of the Predgarian Order. If he so wished, the general could order her execution and no one would question him.

  ‘You know the general spends most of his time in Joinstohm, Karen?’ Dove asked. ‘I'm surprised you'd know something like that.’

  Karen jumped. The soft-spoken woman had come up behind her when she wasn't looking. She placed one hand comfortingly on Karen's shoulder.

  Karen grunted sourly. Dove had obviously felt her stab of terror at hearing the general's name. She controlled her breathing with difficulty, feeling insecure in her present company.

  ‘Yes, the general,’ Lion turned his attention back to Wolf and Leopard. ‘Jaguar thinks we should take the chance to enrol an ex-Sarpien into our Order. It might give us an advantage over the Sarpiens.’

  Karen tried to hide her disgust. Of course a general would think that. She should've seen it coming.

  ‘The general wants Karen to..’ Wolf didn't finish.

  Despite her fear, Karen couldn't help feel good about the fact the Canine warrior was finally shaken out of his composure.

  She glanced over at Leopard, whose mouth was hung open in shock.

  ‘He also wants us to keep it to ourselves,’ Lion added. ‘After all, not many even know what a walking dead is.’

  Tiger nodded briskly. ‘That's true, and a lot of Predgarians wouldn't be happy with the idea. It's probably best we keep it to ourselves.’

  Leopard sent her friend another glare.

  ‘What? I'm sorry, but Lion's our captain and Jaguar is our general. If they both say Karen's going to join our unit then I'm going to work with what I'm given.’

  Wolf nodded. ‘No less would ever be expected of us. Let us remember, it states in the Lumarium that we should never judge by appearance, and that the Light can reveal itself in the most unlikely of places and people.’

  Oh great, Wolf was a disciple of Sorin. Karen didn't know why she was surprised. She was amongst Predgarians, they probably all read the Lumarium every morning before breakfast. Just what was he saying anyway? She didn't look that bad!

  Karen tried to put it to one side. Wolf probably didn't even realise he was being offensive. Glancing around, she noticed that Tiger and Hawk held weary expressions. That made her feel a little better, maybe not all of them were Unician monks in disguise.

  Lion turned back to Karen. ‘The general also said that he wants Jay enrolled in our Order. What do you think to that?’

  Karen realised immediately that he was asking if she had a problem with it. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, conscious of everyone looking at her. She felt a little sad, she'd only spent a short time with Jay but had become fond of him. It had never been viable for him to come with her when she left though.

  ‘It makes sense. Jay is obviously not welcome at his home anymore, and his innate talent for fire makes him a prime target. If we actually manage to pull off this mad endeavour you've got planned, the Sarpiens will try to re-take him. He will need a lot of people around to protect him...and a medallion to call his own wouldn't hurt either.’

  Tiger grinned at her. ‘That, we can manage.’

  ‘I'm glad we're on the same page,’ Lion told her. ‘Speaking of medallions, I think it's time we gave you yours.’

  Karen grunted quietly. This was the bit she hadn't been looking forward to. ‘You need me to undergo the Predgarian tests, I suppose?’

  ‘You’ve proven yourself more than enough today as it is. Besides, you've owned a medallion before, one look at your arm proves that, so the tests aren’t really necessary.’

  Tiger flashed another grin Karen's way. ‘When do we get to see it, by the way?’

  Karen looked at the fiery woman warily.

  The Feline spread her hands. ‘I'm just saying, Leopard and I haven't seen the mark yet. I'm curious.’

  Karen tensed, not wanting to show them. The first time had been unbearable. She felt Dove's hand tighten on her shoulder.

  ‘I'm sure you'll see it at some point, Tiger.’ the healer told her. ‘Now's not the time.’

  ‘Dove, will you bring the medallions out?’ Lion asked.

  ‘In a moment, Lion. Before that, there's one more thing we need to address.’ She looked at Karen. ‘Did you want to, or shall I?’

  Karen shrugged. ‘I’ve never been one to beat around the bush.’

  This bit would be hard, and as short as she was compared to the Predgarian captain, she could at least try and say it to his face.

  She stood up, craning her neck to stare at the shielded eye sockets of his helmet. ‘Lion, if I join your unit I have one condition to make.’

  ‘Such as?’

  Karen had to bite back a smile, he sounded so suspicious. ‘When you have Jay, and he's safely back here. I want to hand the medallion back.’

  ‘What?’ Hawk asked, ‘why?’

  Karen really didn't want to explain, but she had no choice. She had to make them realise just how serious this was, how dangerous her life was.

  ‘I can't stay in Steiron, not now Jackal knows I'm here. It's too dangerous.’

  ‘But that's why we want to give you a medallion, Karen,’ Lion objected. ‘So you'll be safer.’

  Karen smiled sadly. He really thought it was that easy.

  ‘Becoming a Predgarian and living here with us will allow us to protect you,’ Lion continued.

  Karen shook her head. She tried to keep her feelings from sh
owing on her face but this subject was far too close to home. ‘You will keep me here against my will?’

  Lion didn't reply. Karen would've given a lot to see the man's face at that point.

  ‘No,’ he replied, his voice so quiet she barely heard it. ‘Of course not.’

  Guilt stabbed at her again, he sounded genuinely upset. ‘I'm sorry. You don't understand, it's not just Jackal. There's...there's a group of Sarpiens out there, who are given the task of tracking down walking dead who are still unaccounted for. They've never found my body. Until they do they'll search for me, to ensure I'm dead.’

  Karen was painfully aware of the deathly silence. She wondered what the Predgarians made of that, would they understand now and let her be?

  ‘Go on,’ Dove encouraged her.

  Karen looked at her, she wasn't sure what the healer meant.

  ‘If you want them to understand, then you have to say it.’

  A tremor of shock ran through Karen and she stared at Dove in disbelief. ‘You...know?’

  Dove gave her a knowing smile. ‘I'm older than I look. I know what group of Sarpiens you speak of, but they don't. You need to tell them.’

  Karen turned back to the gold warrior stood in front of her. She focused her gaze on the formidable breastplate, not willing to look at anything else.

  ‘The Black Emissaries.’

  ‘The Black..’ Wolf started to say, his voice hoarse.

  Karen glanced around the room. The facial reactions she could see told her they knew the name.

  ‘The Black Emissaries are chasing you?’ Hawk asked.

  He sounded shaken. For all the Avian's naivety, even he knew the name. Good, maybe they'd actually listen now.

  ‘I can't stay here,’ she told them. ‘The Emissaries look for me. If I stay here, everyone will die.’

  Lion grabbed hold of her shoulders firmly. ‘What are you saying? Don't you see? This is even more reason to keep us around you!’

  Karen struggled briefly in his grip, but with his medallion active, she might as well have been caught in the grasp of a stone statue. ‘Let go of me,’ without thinking her voice had turned cold. It was a voice she only reserved for Sarpiens, but he'd made her angry, grabbing her like that - who did he think he was?