Draka

There were indeed people at the river, and they were up to no good. I couldn’t see what exactly they were doing, since I was staying high, but there were enough of them at the river, at night, that there was no way in the world they weren’t doing something sneaky. And it wasn’t just in one place, either. I covered a lot of miles quickly, just scanning the riverside, and for every single Happaran camp there was a group doing something by the river.

While I couldn’t tell what exactly they were doing, I had a pretty strong suspicion about what they were trying to achieve. Once I’d covered forty or fifty miles westward I’d seen enough, and I decided to take a closer look at one of the groups and then head back early.

I landed about a mile away to make sure they didn’t see me, then trotted along the river until I got close enough to hear them. I’d noted a small copse of trees as I flew over, and there I Shifted before continuing. Moving while Shifted had been slow the last few nights; I’d gotten used to the speed and ease with which I moved while I was pumped full of Nest Heart, and going back was a pain.

At least I still had the improved sight and hearing from my second major. At first I only heard the sounds of people working, splashes and low thumps that I couldn’t identify, but once I got close I also heard the soldiers. I’d heard a little bit of Happaran before, when I was checking out their camps, but those had been mostly single words or short phrases. It was just like one of the prisoners I’d rescued from the Silver Spurs had said months ago when I captured Kira: Very similar to Karakani, but some of the words and a lot of the pronunciations were different. A little harder on the consonants, perhaps.

“It’s damned bullshit, is what it is,” one said, speaking in a low voice that wasn’t quite a whisper. “Sending us out to do this in the middle of the night, in the dark, with no sleep.”

“You’re right, but what good does it do to complain?” another replied. “Something spooked the high-ups, and you know they’re at their worst when they’re spooked. I heard some mercenary group crossed over from the north. Maybe they had something to report that pushed up the time table?”

“Brother, I don’t care why. I know it does no good. I just want the damn world to know that I’m pissed they woke us at sunrise this morning, and I’m still awake at midnight driving poles into the riverbed.”

“Would you rather have done it during the day, when one of the lemon bastards’ patrols could see us? The whole point of this is for them to not know about it. If not tonight it would have been some other night, and you know the rain is coming.”

They went on like that, the other ten soldiers weighing in or telling them to shut the hell up every so often, but nothing they said was particularly interesting. What they were doing, however, was. They were, like the first soldier had said, driving long, sharpened poles tip first into the riverbed, a few feet between each. They were driving the things in deep; I didn’t know how deep the quickly flowing river was, but the poles they’d already placed were sturdy enough that they could use them to anchor a platform from which they drove in the next pole using a big, metal tube thing with handles. I had to imagine that the post driver was heavy, with the man handling it being damned strong; it drove the posts in half a foot at a go, and they were making good time. The Divide was a fast river, but not wide. If everything continued as they were going I could see them crossing the hundred and twenty or so feet before sunrise.

And I had no doubt that was what they were trying to do. A few things had come together, making a fairly clear picture. The poles, the fact that they were doing this under cover of darkness, the talk about moving things up ahead of schedule; the Happarans were going to cross the river. They were doing it in numerous places, and the Karakani had their forces mostly concentrated near the bridge, to prevent a crossing there. This was happening.

I only withdrew a hundred feet at most before Shifting and taking to the air. Secrecy be damned; the shit was about to hit the fan, and General Sarvalian needed to start organizing his forces right the hell now! As I flew along the river I could see more of the little platforms in the water, and it spurred me to fly faster. I almost hoped that I was seen; maybe that would cause some confusion among the crews and slow them down in their work, buying us some time.

When did Karakan become “us,” I wondered. I knew a small handful of people in the army, and a few more in the city itself. Many of them feared me. Was that truly enough?

Yes, I decided. I may not be a citizen, or even an official resident. The Council may fear me or try to use me in their games. But it came back to the same simple reasons as before: as long as my family considered themselves Karakani, as long as the people I cared for identified with and lived in the city, I was on Karakan’s side. And so long as Maglan was in the army, and Herald cared for him, I would help that army.

I entered the Karakani camp at speed, braking at the last second and landing heavily in the command section. The sentries did not appreciate me landing in front of and heading for the general’s tent. That wasn’t a problem; there wasn’t much they could do to me. But neither did his personal guards, and when one of them burst out and put himself between me and the tent, sword drawn and ready to fight and die as necessary, I paused. Instinct didn’t like to be challenged, but when that challenger might actually have a good shot at winning, even she stopped to consider the situation.

I decided not to be coy about why I was there. The guy was intense, and they’d all need to know anyway. “All right,” I said in my most calming voice. “We’re all friends here, so let’s calm down, yeah? I may have come in a little hot, but the Happarans are preparing to cross the river, and the general needs to know right bloody now!”

The bodyguard didn’t relax one bit, but neither did he move to do anything. In the darkness behind him I saw the tent flap move. A woman’s face peeked out, and I recognized her as one of the tribunes who’d been in the tent with the general when I first met him; I was pretty sure her name was Verlan. We locked eyes, and hers widened before she disappeared back into the tent. A minute later the general emerged, wearing only sandals and a robe but looking entirely unbothered by the hour or the situation.

“Thank you, Mersil,” he said, putting his hand on the bodyguard’s shoulder and pushing him gently to the side. “You may stand down.”

The bodyguard gave me another long look, then sheathed his sword and took a step to the side, staying close to the general.

“Good night to you, Lady Draka,” the general said. “What is this I hear about the Happarans being up to some mischief?”

“Not mischief, general. They’re preparing to cross the river, in multiple places. This is an invasion. I’d stake my horn on it.”

It is hard to describe exactly what happened to the general when I said that. It was like he snapped into focus — he became entirely present in a way that the others around him weren’t. When he spoke, his voice was loud and clear, and demanded an immediate, clear, and concise answer. “You’ve seen this yourself? Tonight?”

“Right before I returned,” I confirmed. “All along the river westward, and I assume east as well. It looks like every camp is preparing their own crossing. I’m not sure how they’re planning to do it, but they’re driving poles into the riverbed. I don’t see what else they could be for.”

“Veretil!” the general snapped, looking past me. “Scouts up and down the river to verify, now! Parvion, rouse the cavalry and send messengers to the bridge and the outposts! They are to fall back if attacked! Verlan!” He turned towards his own tent. The tribune I’d seen peeking out of the general’s tent stepped out. She was wearing a simple cinched soldier’s tunic and looked quite embarrassed. The general continued as though the situation was entirely normal. “I want the infantry ready to move in one hour. First through twelfth cohorts to the east, thirteenth through thirty-sixth to the west. Hastel! Where’s—”

“General! General!” An elderly man I hadn’t seen before came running as fast as his old legs could carry him. He gave me only a quick glance before continuing. “An emergency sending, general! Disaster in the city! Fighting in the streets! Betrayal! The White Cranes have turned!”

Sarvalian didn’t lose a moment, whirling on the old man. “Details! What have they done?”

He stepped back, stammering. “They— the Cranes, they’re attacking the Palace, as well as the homes of several councilors and commander Terriallon’s estate. The city guard and the Grey Wolves are fighting back, but with so many of the Wolves out patrolling the countryside—”

My whole gut twisted at his words. “General!” I said, turning. “I’m going back to Karakan. The two mercenaries who were with me, they’re out with that cavalry captain, Vestem. They need to know what’s happening. I’d consider it a favor if you’d send them north as soon as possible… and maybe keep Maglan, the archer who carried the message, in reserve. If that’s possible,” I added with some hesitation.

“You’re sure? We could use you,” Sarvalian said.

“My humans are in danger,” I growled. “I will not tolerate any threat to those who belong to me.”

He considered me, then nodded, once. “In that case, would you take a message?”

“If you’re quick.”

The general didn’t even need to signal. A small writing desk with parchment, pen, ink, a message case, wax, and a seal appeared almost as if by magic, and he quickly wrote and sealed a short message.

“Thank you for your aid, Lady Draka. Please, get this to Sempralia,” he said, holding the case out. I simply lowered my head, and he hung the shoulder strap around my neck without hesitation. “I consider your side of this bargain fulfilled and more, and I will make sure that the soldiers know who warned us. Mercies watch over you, and may we meet again.”

“Same to you, general.” I bowed my head, then turned to go. As I did I spotted Darim standing at the edge of the circle surrounding us. I made my way quickly towards her, aides and sentries getting out of my way.

“Darim,” I said. “Looks like those eyes of yours are even more valuable than I thought.”

“Lady Draka,” she said, but anxiety choked off her voice.

“You can drop the ‘lady,’” I told her. “Stay safe, yeah?”

“Yeah,” she said, in almost a whisper. “I’ll— I’ll try to look after the archer. If I can. I promise I’ll do what I can.”

“I know you will. If you see Garal and Lalia, tell them that I’ve gone to look after the others. And, ah… Mercies watch over you, Darim.”

“And you, Draka.”

I left the camp surrounded by as much commotion as I’d arrived, although I was only indirectly the cause this time. The medallion nestled under my tongue nudged southwards, and dozens of threads tried to lure me in the same direction with the promise of all the Nest Hearts I could eat, but I raced north. I had a hundred and thirty miles to cover, and even at the best pace I could maintain over that kind of distance it would take me hours. Hours where everyone I loved and treasured in the city was at risk.

The Wolves were fighting the Cranes in the city, and I didn’t see any reality in which Rib and Pot would sit that out. And if Rib and Pot were fighting, if Wolves were dying, my family would be getting involved in some way. I was sure of it. Tam and Val especially had too many friends and acquaintances among the Wolves to stay neutral, and the sisters would do anything to support them. Fucking hell, I thought. They may even be getting involved in the fighting. Or the Cranes may have attacked the inn. They went after Rallon, and if they knew that his cousins might be at the Favour…

The thought spurred me to increase my speed and force myself to keep it up. I could still feel Mak and Herald there, far in the distance, but I didn’t know if they had to be alive for that ability to work, and I didn’t have anything similar for any of the others. Gods, Mercies, and Sorrows, I prayed. Don’t let them get hurt. We’ve only been family for such a short time. Don’t let me lose any of them.

I didn’t give a damn about secrecy when I arrived at the city. I landed in the bloodstained square in front of Her Grace’s Favor. The door stood broken, smashed in and off its hinges, but to my relief I could feel Herald moving around inside.

Mak was in there as well, but hadn’t moved since I got in range.

“Sisters!” I roared, and Herald stopped, then rushed to the door. I felt equal parts rage and relief when she exited the inn and ran to me. Her face was bruised, one lip and eyebrow split, and her armor was spattered with blood. By the way she moved, though, she wasn’t badly hurt, and when she threw her arms around my neck she felt as strong as ever.

“Draka!” she sighed, before releasing me and speaking rapidly in Tekereteki. “I am so glad to have you here. They withdrew half an hour ago, but we do not know if they are coming back! It is a sickhouse in there, Draka! So many injured… The yard is full of bodies, both ours and theirs. It is—” she took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“The Cranes?” I asked.

“Yes. It is horrible! They attacked the Wolves, and the Wolves only had a small force in the city, with most on patrol. It was a bloodbath. Those who could withdrew to here, since we had a force of guards around the inn, and…” she gestured helplessly to the square. “We had to barricade ourselves inside. They broke in the door, but that is as far as they made it. At that point the adventurers in the inn got involved, and we drove them out and held them there. But there are so many injured. Rallon survived, but there are probably less than a dozen Wolves alive in the city. Boot is dead. Arlal lost an arm. Everyone else has cuts and bruises or worse, and Mak and Kira are both exhausted. Ardek is trying to get potions from the alchemists, and Barro went to find a healer he knows—”

She wobbled suddenly, and sat down on the bloody cobbles. I started towards her, but she held up a hand. “I am fine. Just… tired. So very tired. How are you here?”

“I was with the general when the message came that the Palace was under attack, and that there was fighting in the streets. I had to come!”

“The Palace? They attacked the Palace? I thought this was something between the companies!”

“They did. The Palace and many, maybe all of the councilors. And the Happarans are crossing the river. I will eat my own tail if that is a coincidence.”

“Bastards!” Herald hissed. “Damned turn-coats!”

“Yeah.” I nuzzled her hair carefully. “Is everyone else going to live?”

“Of ours? Yes. Cuts and bruises, some worse than others, but we will all live.”

Like Herald, I was tired. So damned tired. I’d pushed myself to the limit getting back to the city, and now that I knew that my humans were safe, at least for the moment, I needed to get back up there. “I am going to search the streets from above,” I told Herald, nuzzling her hair. “See what the situation is, in case they have gathered for another attack or anything like that. Barricade yourselves again. Stay safe, and tell the others I am so relieved to hear that they are going to be okay.”

Herald got to her feet heavily, using my neck to pull herself up. “I will.” Then she looked at me with worry. “Lalia and Garal, how are they? How is Maglan?”

I didn’t question how she knew that they’d been with me. It must have been obvious after we left. “I do not know for sure, but I assume that they are fine. Our Wolves were out with a patrol when everything happened. I asked the general to put Maglan with the reserves, and a very competent sentry to look after him, but…” I shook my head uncertainly.

She blinked rapidly, and a few tears cut through the blood on her face, but she nodded. “All right. He will be all right. Thank you for trying. Going so far as to ask the general… he will be all right.”

“Yeah. Of course. Now, take this tube. It needs to get to Sempralia as soon as it is safe.”

She did as I asked, taking the leather case from off my neck, and I nodded towards the inn. “Get back in there, okay? Try to get some rest. I will be back as soon as I can.”

“Okay. And Draka?”

“Yeah?”

“I love you, big sister.”

“I love you too, little dragon.”