by C A Ardron
He tossed Mantis’ medallion to him and took a quick look around the chamber. This was the perfect chance to get rid of another problem. He strode over to where Jay was being guarded.
‘You two,’ he told the two potentials. ‘Get down to the dungeon and guard Swallow.’
‘Yes, Sir,’ they both said and hurriedly left.
Jackal looked down at Jay. The boy stared back at him, his eyes defiant.
‘Enjoying your stay?’ Jackal asked with a smirk.
Jay scowled at him but didn't reply. Jackal turned away, glancing at the stone steps as he tossed Swallow's medallion onto a nearby rock. Time was moving, he could really use the Predgarians right about now.
Jackal folded his arms and watched as Cobra and Harrier prepared the Converter. This next test would not involve Jay. Cobra would want to run another test now the machine was working again. After that, Trine would no doubt push for the real thing.
‘General,’ a voice called urgently from across the cavern.
Jackal turned around, not recognising the voice for one of his Elite. There was a short, wiry man rushing towards him.
‘Salamander,’ Jackal drawled, ‘you have news, I take it? Despite the tunnels being on lock-down.’
Salamander was a snivelling coward most of the time, most definitely not Elite material in Jackal's opinion. He did have an uncanny knack of getting hold of information before anyone else though.
‘General, we’re under attack! There are four War Mark hoppers in the sky, in battle formation.’
Cobra and Harrier stopped what they were doing at the Converter interface to listen.
Well, finally! Jackal narrowed his eyes, playing the part. ‘Dakkonin?’
‘No, General. They bear the colours and sigils of the Pharollin.’
‘Pharollin?’ Jackal asked, his voice rising in genuine surprise.
‘Yes, General.’
‘Full alert,’ Jackal commanded. ‘Get all Sarpiens up to the surface and get our shields up!’
‘You might want to re-route the shields to cover the surface, Jackal,’ Cobra suggested. ‘Pharollin sometimes use arcane cannons.’
Jackal grunted. ‘Go do it, Cobra, you're the best equipped to manage that.’
‘Of course, General,’ he replied and hurried off at a jog.
As the other Sarpiens scurried out of the cavern, Jackal stood for a few seconds with a small smile on his face. The Golden Lion had chosen to ally with the Pharollin instead of the Dakkonin. That was a very good move, perhaps the Predgarian captain could pull this off without dying.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Blue Phoenix was sat at his giant, ornate desk, glaring down at the offensive communication that had found its way to him. Councillor Green Cormorant must have done some extensive digging to have found him in Steiron.
He took a pen and started to scribble at the bottom of the printed document.
Why don't we just file a petition to segregate Joinstohm and be done with it, Cormorant? I'm sure that will endear us to the Asterion government. They'll show their gratitude by cutting off our resources when the sclithe attack in full force.
Blue's scowl deepened as he read over what he'd just written. He needed to get back to Phoenicia, before the fool could convince the council that Courin didn't need the support of the Asterions. The older councillor was determined to drag them out of the empire and into the fire.
Blue's thoughts turned melancholy, it seemed to be all he was good for. He'd neither his sister's intuitive skills or his brother's raw strength of will. He took the large medallion around his neck in one hand, looking down at it. He wondered if he was deserving of a phoenix. His strength was mediocre at best compared to the rest of his family. Some days he was sure he only had it because of his father.
Blue's face hardened and he let the coin drop against his chest. He welcomed the sound of the polite knock on the door, anything to stop his present line of thought. Blue Swift walked in and he let the scowl drop from his face.
Swift deactivated her armour, forgoing her azure wings and armour for her smart grey skirt and white blouse. She wore a couple of modest pieces of jewellery, including the simple clear quartz and sapphire bead bracelet he'd given her. It was nothing special, just something he'd bought in passing when he'd seen it. Blue Swift wore it quite often though.
Her dark hair was loose about her shoulders today, giving her fair and friendly face a lovely appearance. She perched herself on one corner of the gaudy desk, her eyes quickly roving over her commander's angry scrawl. ‘Aggressive,’ she murmured.
Blue grunted and sat back in his padded seat. ‘Cormorant's loving the fact that I've been sent on this wild goose chase.’ He saw her mild expression of surprise. ‘Well, what else can I call it? The high consul knows full-well that tracking Red Phoenix down is a near impossibility.’
‘There's surely no one else on the council who would have a better chance though,’ she pointed out.
He put his worries concerning his brother to one side as he studied her. He stood and strode around the desk, impulsively taking her in his arms. He kissed her lightly, taking in the smell of her fruity perfume. Blue bowed his head to kiss her neck.
‘The White Dove has just informed me they're ready,’ Swift told him.
Blue lifted his head with a sigh, taking in her impish smile. ‘All work, Swift?’ He asked. Sometimes he wished she wasn't so formal, though he admitted that he really liked how dedicated to her work she was.
Her eyes softened as she looked up at him. ‘Perhaps after we've distracted the Sarpiens?’
Blue grinned. ‘I'll keep a slot free in my diary.’
She sniffed, feigning insult and he kissed her hand. He knew she wasn't angry at the joke, but played along, giving her the apology.
Together they left the office and went to a very ordinary-looking oak door. He should have a word with somebody about that. This Pharollin agency represented their presence in the second largest city in the world, no part of the building should be ordinary.
Blue smiled as he looked down at the teleport pad in the small room. The simply decorated walls and door gave it the feeling of an oddity. Perhaps that's why the door wasn't very ostentatious. Had they left it deliberately bare so any guests would be surprised and even awed by the shimmering sigils on the floor?
The half technological, half magical contraptions were utilitarian and very common-place in Pharollin establishments. Blue could well imagine them being impressive to someone outside of the five Orders.
Blue and Swift stepped onto the sigils and waited for their presence to activate them. He closed his eyes briefly as the shimmering, luminescent light surrounded him and deposited him in a room that was almost identical. When he led the way out he found himself on a small balcony over-looking the hopper landing bays.
He quickly descended the short flight of steps down into the airy hangar and activated his medallion. The power within surged around and through him, putting his armour firmly in place, as well as his flaming cobalt wings.
‘Well, look who decided to show up,’ a tough, gravelly voice boomed across the empty air between them.
Blue smiled politely at the hulking warrior coming to meet him. The grey-haired veteran was not in his armour. The man exuded muscle and his hard, lined visage told of countless battles and unending war.
Blue respected the old warrior tremendously. He was more than a little stiff, unbending might be a better word, but there was no one within the Pharollin Order he could think of who knew more about battle.
‘We had to wait until the Predgarians were ready, Eagle,’ Blue pointed out.
The large man sneered. ‘They've got no business going anywhere near those Sarpien tunnels. They should be informing the Dakkonin.’
Blue bit off an irritated sigh. Harpy Eagle had once been a Dakkonin warrior and his prejudices sometimes ran away from him.
Blue gave him a mild smile. ‘They're the ones paying, so we do it their way.’
Eagle grunted and turned around. ‘You!’ He bellowed at an innocent Pharollin warrior who happened to be crossing the hangar.
The unassuming warrior in green armour saw who was shouting at him and his face blanched in trepidation. ‘Yes, Peace-Keeper Harpy Eagle?’
Blue smiled wryly as he noticed the warrior's emerald wings were twitching.
Eagle glowered at the polite warrior in front of him. ‘Get the Councillor's ship running. We're leaving.’
‘Yes, Sir.’
Eagle scowled. ‘Peace-Keeper indeed,’ he muttered as the green Avian scurried away. ‘What peace? There hasn't been peace on Courin for a thousand years.’
‘878,’ Blue corrected automatically.
Eagle turned his glare towards him and sullenly wandered towards the large War Mark hopper across the hangar.
The gold painted “ship” as Harpy Eagle had referred to it was perhaps a fitting term. The War Mark II was a model only supplied to the leaders of the Orders and he once more felt a surge of pride as he looked at it. It didn't have the usual golden phoenix emblem on its wide nose but his signature blue one. The words “Cold Fire” were etched along the side in striking azure lettering.
His position as a phoenix warrior entitled him to his own, personalised War Mark. He was proud to be among the select few on Courin that everyone recognised on sight, though privately, he still worried that he was unworthy of it.
‘Are you all right?’ Swift asked.
Blue schooled his features. ‘Of course. Let's go.’
The ramp to the War Mark had been lowered and Blue quickly boarded, by-passing the twelve seats which would be used by his attack unit.
He took one of the four seats in the broad cockpit. Harpy Eagle was already manning the gun station.
‘Everything's fully charged,’ the veteran told him.
Blue nodded as he ran one hand familiarly over the hopper controls. ‘Swift, make sure our Peace-Keepers hurry and get aboard.’
Swift nodded. ‘Yes, Councillor Blue Phoenix. I believe I saw them arriving as we boarded.’
Blue smiled as she left. She was always so proper with him in public.
‘What's the plan?’ Eagle asked.
‘We need to distract the Sarpiens. The Predgarians need time to rescue their candidate from the tunnels. So we need to make the Sarpiens attack us.’
Eagle grunted sourly. ‘Easier said than done. We may have to pelt them with our cannons for a bit. Their general will not launch a full counter-attack lightly.’
‘Sarpiens tend to be a volatile bunch,’ Blue disagreed. ‘If we make it obvious we're up for a fight they'll most likely oblige us.’
Eagle leant back in his chair. ‘This one won't.’
Blue caught the man's ominous tone and gave him a surprised glance. ‘Do you know the general for this bunch of Sarpiens?’
Eagle blinked, equally surprised. ‘You mean you don't? It's the Red Jackal.’
Blue's hands froze on the helm. ‘You don't mean...the Red Jackal, from Rajiti?’
Eagle nodded as Swift returned.
‘All accounted for,’ she informed them.
Blue's mouth became a grim line. ‘I guess we're going to need those cannons after all. Have you ever fought him?’
Eagle shook his head as Swift took her place at the other navigation station. ‘No, but I've spoken to people who have. I know more or less what to expect, he won't commit his entire force on a whim.’
‘Then we'll just have to do our best. For every Sarpien that attacks us it means one less wandering around the tunnels.’
Without further ado, Blue gestured to Swift and they piloted the Cold Fire out of the hangar bay and increased their altitude. When he was satisfied with his position he switched the com on.
‘All War Marks accompanying the Cold Fire, report your status.’
‘This is Water Thrush reporting, the Firewing is in formation.’
‘Blue Hawk reporting, Frostbite in formation.’
‘This is White Osprey reporting, The Union is in formation.’
‘Very well. I'm sending you the co-ordinates now. Stand by.’
‘Blue, have you ever had to move against the Sarpiens before?’ Swift asked, her voice nervous.
He shook his head. ‘No, I understand Red Phoenix has had a few run-ins though.’
Silence ensued as he mentioned his brother’s name. He knew Swift and Eagle were aware of the situation concerning his brother.
Eagle already had a map of West Sector up on his screen. ‘Difficult to attack when you don't have a point of entry,’ he grumbled.
‘That's what the Arcane cannons are for,’ Blue said with a smile.
‘Arcane cannons are good for taking out shielding,’ Eagle agreed. ‘But it won't do much else.’
Blue nodded. ‘True, but once their shields are being hit, Jackal will know we mean business. He'll respond at that point.’
‘Jackal?’ Swift asked.
‘The Red Jackal,’ Eagle told her. ‘You've probably heard of him, he's the one that's earned himself the name, “Bloodrunner.”’
Swift's face visibly paled.
Blue spoke into the com again. ‘All units prepare for the hop. Be on guard, the Sarpiens may decide to bring the fight to us without encouragement.’
He switched the com off and put in the co-ordinates he'd already given the other War Marks.
He noticed Eagle grinning to himself. ‘What's made you so happy? It's not been that long since you were last in a fight.’
‘Droll,’ Eagle retorted. ‘I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to this skirmish, but that's not why I was smiling. It just occurred to me that four Pharollin War Marks appearing above West Sector, one of them being a War Mark II no less, will have the Dakkonin scurrying for some sort of explanation.’
Blue grinned broadly. ‘Very true.’
‘This will work in our favour in another matter as well,’ Swift told them. She seemed to have recovered somewhat from her shock. ‘We were sent here to locate the Red Phoenix, but if he doesn't put in an appearance now, even out of curiosity, can we not assume he is elsewhere?’
Blue thought about that. ‘You might be right, you know.’
‘Even if he's here but decides to ignore this spat,’ Eagle added. ‘I think we can safely assume the Council will be content with our efforts.’
Blue didn't immediately reply, pushing the switch to initiate the hop instead. A blinding whiteness enveloped everything for a few seconds before they appeared high in the sky over West Sector.
He'd had all he could take from his brother. He was immature, irresponsible and rude. Red Phoenix had always been arrogant, he had a reputation for being unbeatable in combat. Blue's hands clenched around the hopper controls as he remembered their last sparring match. He hated him.
He switched on the com again. ‘All War Marks stay in formation.’
‘We have incoming,’ Eagle warned, ‘Avian Sarpiens. Odd, I wouldn't have expected Jackal to attack unprovoked.’
‘It's not really unprovoked, Eagle,’ Swift told him with an arch smile. ‘We have four War Marks, and one of them is the Cold Fire. If they have scanners, then they know that Blue Phoenix is above them.’
‘They’re not using hoppers,’ Eagle commented. ‘That makes it dangerous for us to use the lasers. Clever, Jackal can't compete with our firepower so he's putting our weapons out of action.’
Blue nodded and turned to the com mic again. ‘All warriors in the sky, the targets are too small. Do not engage with lasers.’ He turned to Swift. ‘Monitor the positions, let us know if anything changes.’
Swift nodded and watched, her heart in her eyes, as he and Eagle left. He walked through the eight warriors awaiting action and went to the back of the hopper. Eagle, right behind him, hit a large switch and the ramp started to lower.
A huge burst of wind blew through the inside of the hopper and Blue unfolded his glowing wings.
‘Never seen you i
n battle before, Councillor,’ Eagle shouted above the noise of the wind. He grinned in anticipation, activating his medallion. When the dull, grey light faded from him he was wearing his massive armour and hooked eagle helmet.
‘It's never been my first solution to a problem,’ Blue replied. He didn't want to seem hesitant before the experienced warrior so he said no more and leapt out of the craft, taking flight and diving down to meet the attackers.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Falcon belted herself into one of the seats in the aquatic diving vehicle. They were fairly comfortable, but she didn't really notice. It was time, and she wondered if they actually had any hope of rescuing Jay.
She glanced around at the warriors with her. Dove was sat across from her while Lion and Hawk had taken the pilot’s seats and were preparing for the dive underwater. Directly in front was Wolf and behind her, Tiger and Leopard.
The seat's paired arrangement with a wide aisle between them was the standard layout for this size vehicle. It would make for quick movement if there was unexpected trouble.
There were several worries on her mind, and one in particular which she wasn't comfortable sharing with the group. Lion had wanted her to spar with Tiger because as far as he was concerned, she was untested in battle. From her point of view though, it was the Predgarians who were untested.
Only fully-trained Dakkonin and Darphon would attempt a mission such as this. Falcon knew that when they reached their destination, there was the chance they would not only encounter Jackal, but possibly Mantis as well. This raised a point actually. She waited until Lion and Hawk had finished conferring.
‘Do any of you know the names of Jackal's Elite?’
There was an uncomfortable silence.
‘Why do you want to know that?’ Dove asked.
Falcon shrugged. ‘It'd just be nice to know what I'm walking into, I might recognise some of the names.’
‘Not a bad idea,’ Lion agreed from the front of the vehicle. There was the rumble of engines and the diver began to sink a bit lower into the water.