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Part 21

"No."

"No?"

Sieg's hands curled into fists, his ears pressed flat against his head. "No deal."

Bruik tilted his head. "But this is what you wanted."

"I thought it was. Marien wants... needs, to go to war... and as much as I hate that..."

Sieg's head spun, his heart thumping against his ribs. "You might be right, it is probably the best thing for both of us. I don't want her to go, but I will never, ever, betray her like that."

"I see..."

"And you can tell General Silver that he can go to hell." Sieg's teeth flashed, his eyes narrowed to angry slits. "I thought he was a better kind of man, but I guess him and my father are both cut from the same cloth."

Before Bruik could speak, Paul's voice rang out. "It's like I told ya, no chance."

"Indeed." Bruik nodded, a smile spreadling across his face. "No hesitation at all, most impressive."

Sieg looked back and forth between Paul and Bruik. "What's going on? What are you talking about?"

"It was a test lad." Paul replied, stepping forwards and clapping Sieg on the back. "The General needed to know what kind of man yeh really were."

Sieg looked up at Paul, "Wait, you're... with Silver?"

Paul shook his head, "Not anymore, but I did serve with him for a few years. He asked me to keep an eye on you."

"But why me?" Sieg looked over to Bruik. "Why is General Silver so interested in me."

"In part, because of your father. But also, because you are not a fighter, yet you have the bravery and strength of a warrior. He respects and honours that, and feels that Basidian needs that. It is also why he is asking for your help."

After taking a deep breath to calm himself, Sieg nodded. "Alright... so what does he want from me?"

"I cannot go into too many details, but I can give you the essentials. The Chariot family is staging a coup against the crown. They are also plotting to start a war between Basidian and the Human Empire. Your father will be leading the war effort, which involves sending Captain Kolvest to attack the Imperial fleet while its at anchor. The Chariots have also kidnapped General Silver's wife and are holding her hostage."

Taking a few more breaths to calm himself, again, Sieg nodded, his voice was little more than a wheeze. "Okay,"

"General Silver has recruited Marien Kolvest, and plans to use her company to seize the Chariot household and rescue his wife. Once that's done, Conrad Kolvest and the heads of the Chariot household will be under arrest, the Chariot security forces pacified, and the coup stopped before it can begin."

"I... I uh..." Reaching to a nearby table, Sieg grabbed hold of an abandoned half full tankard of ale and gulped it down.

Setting the tankard down, droplets of ale dripping from his nose, Sieg took a deep breath. "Alright... is that all?"

"Well... there is the Dragon." Paul shrugged.

"Dragon?!"

"Oh yeah, big 'ol fangly thing, wings, claws, whole deal."

"This is hardly the time for jokes." Bruik snapped, glaring over at Paul.

"To the contrary." Paul reached behind the bar and withdrew a bottle of rum. "Whole place is going to hell, whole mess of schemes and plots, this is exactly the time for a joke."

"There is no need to fear, Mr. Kolvest, there is no dragon." Bruik sighed as Paul poured a small glass of rum for himself and one for Sieg.

"But fer a moment you thought there was. So now our situation don't seem so bad, does it?" Paul chuckled, sliding the glass over to Sieg.

Sieg picked up the glass. "So... what does General Silver want from me?"

"A distraction."

Paul nodded at Sieg. "Before he tells ya, you better drink up boy."

Stifling a sigh as Sieg drank, Bruik continued. "We need to draw the Chariot forces away from the manor. Your position as aLieutenant in the Dock Guard puts you in a unique position to help provide us with a distraction to away the Chariot forces."

Sieg felt the bottom drop out of his stomach, but he kept his mouth shut.

"We want you to board the Chariot's ship, the Tahl's Victory, under the guise of inspecting it for contraband. Once aboard, we want you to start a fire below decks."

"Okay... then what?"

"Get off the ship and find a place to hide."

"You want me to... hide?" Seig asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. "Just what kind of coward do you think I am?

"A poor choice of words." Bruik admitted with an apologetic nod, "Just set the fire, get off the ship, and stay out of the way. The Chariots will go to the dock to try and save their ship, while general Silver attacks the Chariot Manor. Once the Chariot leadership is contained, General Silver will give the order for all forces to stand down, and the Chariots and their allies will be arrested."

"Including my father."

"I'm afraid so, yes."

For a long time Sieg was quiet, staring down at the liquid in his glass. Bruik started to speak, but Paul cut him off with a shake of his head.

"What will happen to him?" Sieg asked at last.

"Removed from his position and discharged from the army, definitely. Arrested and imprisoned, most likely."

"Executed?"

The question sent a chill through the tavern. Even Paul's ears drooped and he looked down at the table.

"Your father made his choice, he made it willingly. He has betrayed his king, his nation, and his son."

"Answer the question!" Sieg barked, leaping up from his chair and glaring at Bruik.

Paul reached out and grabbed Seig's wrist, "Easy now boy."

"You know the answer." Bruik replied evenly. Slowly he climbed to his feet and stood face to face with Seig. "Yes, as a traitor he might well be executed."

"He wouldn't... He..." But even as he tried to find the words, Sieg knew how hollow they were.

"I'll do it." Sieg said, his voice low. But I want General Silver to do everything he can to keep my father from being executed."

Sieg looked down at his feet, "I don't care if he deserves it, I... I can't be part of the reason he is killed."

"General Silver may not agree with general Kolvest, but he does respect him. He will do all he can."

"And my mother, you leave my mother alone. I don't care if she is involved in all this or not, you don't lay a finger on her. Got it? Not one finger."

"Very well, if that is all-"

"One more thing," Sieg interrupted. "I want passage for Marien and I."

Bruik raised an eyebrow, "Passage where?"

"As far away from Basidian as we can get."

Paul sat up, "Do you know what you are asking boy?"

"I do." Seig met Bruik's gaze evenly, "I want to take Marien and leave."

"And if she won't go with you."

"Then I..." Sieg's voice cracked, "That will be her choice. But I'm not staying here. I've had it with this city, I've had it with this island, and I've had it with this whole country. I want out."

"The General will be sad to hear that," Bruik replied, bowing his head. "But that can be arranged."

"When do you want me to set off this 'distraction'?" Sieg demanded, taking the final swig of rum from his glass.

"Just after nightfall."

"Fine." Sieg turned and walked stiffly back towards the stairs leading up to his apartment, grabbing hold of the bottle of rum as he went. "I'm going to go and get some sleep."

"Very well. I'll inform the General."

"You do that."

As Sieg trudged up the stairs, Bruik sat back down in his chair. "You think he'll do it?" he asked as Paul took a seat across the table from him.

"He'll do it. It'll hurt him something awful, but he'll do it."

"For the girl?"

"It's why he does most things," Paul chuckled.

Bruik leaned back in his chair, folding his arms and staring at the candle flickering on the table.

"You know, lust I understand to a point. There are... 'aspects' of both males and females for whom the... appeal is not difficult to discern. But there is something else, something deeper, that I simply don't understand."

"What, love?" Paul asked, pouring Bruik a drink. "What's to understand?"

"There are times when I look at my Master and his wife when I feel as if I am missing something. Sometimes I wonder just how broken I am that I simply don't understand it at all."

Bruik looked over at the stairs Sieg had climbed moments before. "And then I see what love does to people, and I consider myself lucky to be free of such a curse."

"You love the General." Paul replied simply, "That much is obvious from the way you talk 'bout him."

Bruik bristled a little at Paul's words. "I have no romantic desires when it comes to my Master."

Paul took a swig of his drink. "Ain't what I meant. You trust him, you see a value in 'im that is more than jus' 'is rank. That ain't a curse, that's a gift."

"I've been accused of many things, but loving my master is not one of them."

"T'ain't an accusation."

"I owe him, I would give my life for him. He is important, it is vital to our nation that he survives, and that his work is allowed to continue."

"And the boy thinks the same thing about the girl." Paul shrugged. "Sounds like love to me."

"I... I suppose you may have a point." Bruik smiled as he picked up the glass, raising it in a toast to Paul. "To the ones we love."

"To the ones we'd die for, regardless of their 'aspects'. Cheers."

The two soldiers clinked their glasses together and drank.

"Paul, do you happen to have livestock? " Bruik asked, setting down his glass.

"Couple sheep and a few chickens. Why?"

"I have one final request."

===

As he arrived in his bedroom, Sieg flopped onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Slowly he turned his head and stared at his reflection in the bottle. He was almost surprised to see tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Father... Marien... Renner... Naomi..." Sieg sighed heavily. "Just how many more..."

Sitting up, Sieg raised the bottle to his lips, but paused. A wave of shame washed over him and he let the bottle fall from his hand and tumble to the floor.

Lying back on his bed, Sieg curled up into a ball.

"Just one more duty." he muttered to himself. "Then I can leave it all behind."

===

"Once we've received word that General Kolvest has destroyed Calmbirth, we will proceed to deploy our soldiers to the mainland, under the guise of protecting High Lord Chariot and the Generals."

In the Chariot war room, an officer shifted a trio of model ships across the map. Half a dozen officers were grouped around the table, making marks and calculations on an array of maps. Shani stood at the head of the table, watching it all with bored detachment.

"Once our troops are in place, High Lord Chariot will make the accusation that King Adelaide has been conspiring with the Human Empire, and Trace Legacy via Ambassador Keiser."

"Yes, yes, fine." Shani nodded, waving her hand over the table. "And what of Madelyn Adelaide?"

The various assembled Chariot commanders looked at one another. Finally, one spoke up, "Master Jabarian has offered to see to her capture and 'pacification'."

"Fine. Leave it to him."

One of the officers spoke up, "My lady, I mean no offense, but I was under the impression that Master Jabarian was the Chariot House's majordomo, not a soldier."

"'Master' Jabarian is a great deal more than a butler or even a soldier." Shani replied sharply. "His work for our family goes far beyond polishing silverware and baking pies. It is thanks to him that the Chariot family has been able to expand its power for the last thirty years. He is also the reason our opposition so often seems to find themselves on the receiving end of highly unlikely but utterly untraceable accidents."

"Be that as it may, my lady, we cannot underestimate Madelyn Adelaide. She has proven to be a remarkably efficient spy in her own right, and a cunning warrior."

"Then by all means, offer your assistance to Jabarian yourself." Cutting off any further argument, Shani turned to another officer. "What about the Generals?"

"We've managed to obtain a number of human weapons, and will use them to launch attacks on the Generals and their staff over the next few weeks. Nothing lethal, just enough to scare them into closing ranks and fortifying themselves within the palace."

Shani nodded. "Fish in a net."

"Exactly. By the time the Generals know what's going on, their replacements will have already been selected, and the war against the Empire well underway."

"And our wolven friends?"

From the back of the room, a trio of hooded figures approached the table. The leader drew back his hood, revealing the face of a large forest wolf with ivory coloured fur marked with dark grey lines.

Shani nodded her head, "Ambassador Shrike."

"Lady Chariot." The wolf bowed his head at Shani. "You have my word, the moment your attack on Calmbirth begins, the tribal elders will order our forces to join in. Within days, our people will burn a swath of fire and death across the Empire. We will never forgive the humans for their brutality, and we will make them rue the day they-"

"Just make sure you don't make the same mistakes you did last time," Shani interrupted. "Burn the fields, but leave the villages alone. Slaughtering villagers may be cathartic, but it is no way to win a campaign. If we force the humans to deal with swarms of scared and hungry refugees, it will slow them down and drain their resources."

"But-"

"While you sow chaos and fire, we will smash the Imperial armies one by one. Once the Empire is reduced to shattered ruin, you may deal with the survivors as you see fit. Enslave them or kill them, so long as you show no mercy, I don't care."

"And the Templar?" Shrike demanded, clearly perturbed by Shani's orders.

"Kill them all."

"As you wish, lady Chariot."

"Good. Now, on to the landing operation."

===

Kent stood at the large window that overlooked the front of his house. His hands were folded behind his back as he started out over his estate. A high hedge surrounded his house, with a single gate of thick wrought iron bars that opened onto the road.

A frown crossed Kents face as he watched a few citizens hustle past his gate, clearly frightened by something unseen on the other side of the hedge.

"How many?" Kent asked as one of his house guards approached from behind.

"Around two hundred sir, all of them elites from the Second Legion."

"Bruik?"

"Just returned sir. He's downstairs, coordinating the defense."

"Fine. And Marien?"

"She's speaking to her troops now."

As Kent watched, a pair of Basitin soldiers darted from one side of his front gate to the other. Moments later, a line of soldiers bearing large, heavy shields formed a solid line just outside of the gate. Several columns of soldiers bearing spears quickly formed behind the line of shields

"It would seem our guests have arrived," Kent sighed. "Conrad doesn't waste any time, I'll give him that."

"No sir."

"And look at those lines... magnificent. He really is a very good soldier."

The wall of shields opened for a moment as Conrad Kolvest, dressed in full armour and carrying his unsheathed sword, stepped forwards.

Standing just before the gate, Conrad called out, "Attention, Lieutenant General Silver, this is General Conrad Kolvest!"

"That's 'lieutenant general Kolvest', old friend." Kent muttered under his breath.

"On my authority, as the commander of the Basikal Defence Forces, on suspicion of sedition, conspiracy, espionage, perversion, indecency, and treason, I am here to place you under arrest!"

"Quite the list he has." Kent turned to his house guard with a cockeyed grin. "Makes you wonder if he really believes it."

"We stand with you, general. We will fight till the end."

"I know you would, but not today." Kent looked over his shoulder as Conrad continued to speak. "Let's give him what he wants."

===

"Therefore," Conrad bellowed, raising his sword and aiming its point at Kent's house. "I demanded that you and your guards surrender and submit to my authority! If you do not, your guilt will be assumed and I will have no choice but to attack in earnest!"

For a full minute, each second of which felt like an eternity to the various assembled troops, Conrad awaited a response. But none came, the Silver house was eerily quiet.

"Very well then." As he lowered his sword, Conrad nodded his head at an officer behind him, "Get this gate down."

"Sir!"

Within moments, a half dozen soldiers sprinted out from behind the wall of shields, each hauling a heavy metal hook attached to a long length of chain. After attaching the hooks to the gate, the soldiers retreated, and the chains shifted as long lines of soldiers grabbed hold.

The officer that Conrad had spoken to, raised his hand. "Steady! And..." The officer brought his arm down, "Heave!"

Immediately the chains snapped taught, the gate groaning as the soldiers pulled. Within moments, the hinges began to pop, the gates bending and shrieking as the metal gave way beneath the combined strength of dozens of Basitins.

"Pull!" Conrad yelled, grabbing hold of one of the chains himself. "Come on!"

Finally, with a groaning squeal, the hinges tore free of the stone gate posts and the gate came crashing down.

"Forward!" Conrad ordered, marching over the fallen gate, the line of shields moving behind him.

As Conrad marched up the path towards the front door, several dozen guards and soldiers of the Thirteenth Company broke cover from behind bushes and low walls, bows raised and arrows drawn back. Others emerged carrying spears and javelins. Conrads troops soon found themselves surrounded on three sides.

The front door of the manor flew open and Kent strode out of his house, Marien on his left and Bruik on his right, both dressed in full armour. Kent's armour was a brilliant burnished gold, with a royal blue cape draped over his shoulders.

"Well Conrad, this is a pleasant surprise." Kent called out. "And you brought some friends along with you. How nice." Despite his words, there was not a trace of humour in Kent's voice.

"Tell your men to stand down!" Conrad demanded as his own troops raised their weapons. "You are outnumbered and outmatched."

"And you are trespassing. That would give me the home turf advantage, quite literally I am afraid."

Conrad took a step forward, "General Silver, you and I both know what will happen if you choose to fight. I am asking you to save the lives of your soldiers. Surrender, and no one has to die today."

"Who exactly put you up to this?" Kent asked, taking his own step forwards. "Was it Lyon? Or Shani? Or perhaps it was Anton Reich, though I suppose you would know him as Jabarian."

"That doesn't matter." Conrad raised his sword again. "I have authority here, and I am commanding you to stand down."

"You and I both know I won't do that."

Conrad's gaze shifted to Marien. "And you, Captain Gail? Are you certain this is what you want to do? Do you want to prove right everyone who ever claimed you would betray us?"

"There is one thing, and one thing alone that I want." Marien shouted back, drawing a short sword from her belt. "Unfortunately, I can only think of one way to achieve it..."

Raising two fingers to her lips, Marien let out a whistle. Immediately, her troops turned their weapons on Kent's house guards. The guards looked in shock at the blades at their throats and the arrows aimed at their heads. Within seconds, the Silver house guards were disarmed.

Moving with great speed, Marien grabbed hold of the sword on Kent's belt and pulled it from its sheath. At the same time she kicked Kent in the back, sending him tumbling down the last few stairs and sprawling on the gravel path.

Marien tossed Kent's sword away, the blade clattering loudly as it hit the stone.

In a flash, Bruik rounded on Marien drawing his own sword. He took a swing at Marien's throat, but she was already moving. Bruik's blade sliced the fur off of the very ends of the tufts on her ears as she ducked.

Before Bruik could recover, Marien stepped forward and drove her sword up and under Bruik's armour and into his chest.

Bruik blinked in surprise, blood trickling from his mouth. Marien withdrew her sword and Bruik crashed to the ground, a pool of blood quickly growing around him as he lay still.

"BRUIK!" Kent screamed, scrabbling to his feet and dashing back to Bruik's body. He gripped Bruik's shoulders and shook him, but there was no response.

Volfen and three other members of Marien's company surged forward and grabbed hold of Kent, pinning him to the ground.

Stepping past Kent as he struggled, Marien met Conrad's surprised gaze. "My men have taken control of the entire household, and we will hold General Silver here, under house arrest. If you want, I will testify against General Silver, and ensure he is found guilty. But I do this on one condition."

"And that is?" Conrad demanded.

"You assign another company to the suicide attack against Calmbirth, and allow my forces to take it for real."

Conrad raised an eyebrow, "'Suicide' attack?"

"You and I both know that the resources you've committed won't be enough to take Calmbirth." Marien gestured around, "As you can see, my troops are loyal. I will not allow their lives to be thrown away. But looking f you give me an extra four hundred troops, I can take Calmbirth and destroy it down to the last stone."

"Oh really."

Marien's eyes narrowed. "This war is my chance to prove myself, to you and everyone else, and I refuse to throw my life away before it even truly begins. The only place I am going to die is going to be in Sieg's arms, and I don't intend that to happen for a long time!"

"You bitch!" Kent bellowed. "This is the fate of our nation, and you're throwing it away for a promotion?"

"Shut up!" Volfen growled, kicking Kent in the cheek before putting a foot on his head.

"I see." Conrad nodded slowly, "Very well. I will take General Silver and-"

"No."

"No?"

Marien crossed her arms, "Leave some of your own troops here if you must, but as General Silver is the only thing that ensures you won't renege on your deal, I will hold him."

Conrad's tail twitched and his fur brisled. "Is my word of honour not good enough for you, captain?"

"Lieutenant colonel, remember?" Marien crossed her arms. "And can you honestly say that you are here for honour and honour alone?"

"Careful, captain," Conrad emphasized the word, "You are flirting with treason."

Marien laughed out loud, further enraging Conrad. "General Silver predicted your moves and he was prepared. He has allies in the fortress, allies that will try and rescue him if you take him there. We have already secured this place, and we are well versed in its defenses."

After a moment, Conrad returned his sword to his sheath. "It would appear I have some house cleaning to do then. Very well, I shall leave some of my men behind, but you may hold Silver here."

"And one last thing."

"What?"

"When I destroy Calmbirth, I want a generalship."

Conrad's eyes widened. "What did you say?"

"We both know what is happening here." Marien replied, an undercurrent of darkness flickering in her tone. "We both know what this really is, and what the result will be. And if I am going to go along with it, I want... I demand to be made Arms General."

"Insanity!"

"That may be, but my deal stands. Take it or leave it."

For what seemed like an eternity to the troops gathered around them, Marien and Conrad stared at one another. Marien was cool and confident, while Conrad was obviously off his footing. But the balance of power still favoured Conrad, and his troops clenched their weapons tightly, expecting the order to attack to come at any moment.

Finally, A smile crossed his face as his hand dropped from the hilt of his sword. "My son chose his mate very well." Conrad bowed his head, "Well played, Lieutenant Colonel. It would seem I have underestimated you."

Looking over his shoulder, Conrad called out, "Lieutenant Braum."

A young lieutenant bounded out of the column, "Yes General!"

"You and twenty men will stay here and make certain that General Silver is kept under lock and key."

"Yes sir!"

Turning back to Marien, Conrad nodded again, "We shall speak again very soon, daughter of mine."

Marien sheathed her sword and snapped into a salute. "Yes sir!"

As Conrad and his troops turned and began to leave, Marien looked back to Volfen. "Take the 'general' to his room and keep him there. Make certain he is secured, and I want at least four guards in with him at all times."

"Make sure that at least two of them are mine." Lieutenant Braum added, striding up to Marien's side.

"Captain?" Volfen asked.

"Do as he says."

"Aye. What about the rest?"

"Have them stripped, thoroughly searched, and then confine them to the cellars. Any that resist or refuse to give up their weapons... kill them."

"Alright, you heard her!" Volfen called out, dragging Kent to his feet. "Let's move."

"What about the body?" Braum asked, gesturing at Bruik as Marien's soldiers went to work.

"Oh that..." Marien gestured at a nearby soldier, "Private Grant, please see to it that he is placed somewhere out of the way. We'll deal with him later."

"Lindell, you help." Straum added.

"Be careful with him." Marien ordered as the two soldiers picked up Bruik's body. "He died defending his master, as he was duty bound to do. He deserves to be treated with respect."

"Yes Captain."

"Now," Marien gestured for Braum to follow her as she stared up the steps towards Kent's house. "Let's go over our guard rotations."

===

By the time the meeting was over, Shani's head hurt from the bickering, her eyes hurt from looking at maps, and her patience was well and truly taxed to its limit.

"Just shut up and do what I tell you." She snarled to herself.

As she climbed the main staircase Shani barely noticed the guards that marched past, saluting her as they went.

Reaching the top of the stairs she made her way down the hall towards her room. As she walked she stumbled, nearly knocking over a large vase as she tried to steady herself. Looking around to make sure no one saw her, Shani continued towards her room.

Each step took more and more effort, her eyes twitching as she struggled to keep her posture. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she arrived at her door and entered her room.

Closing the door behind her, Shani made her way over to her bed. She was gasping, sweat dripping from her hair as she fought to stay upright. From a secret compartment hidden in her headboard, Shani withdrew a small bottle of milky liquid and a long syringe.

Dropping to her knees, panting hard, Shani removed her cloak, her armour and her shirt. Her hands shook as she fumbled with the metal clasps keeping the bandage tight around her belly where Lyon's blade had cut her, and the wound where he had stabbed her.

Taking a deep breath, Shani gathered her focus and mental control.

"Don't scream." She repeated to herself again and again. "Don't scream."

Gritting her teeth as tightly as she could, Shani pulled the bandage aside. Her gums bled as she fought to keep from crying out, and her stomach turned as a wretched odour hit her nose.

Jabarian had trained her in basic medicine and first aid, but Shani didn't need much medical knowledge to know that the wound from her brother's dagger was badly infected. A large patch of her fur had fallen out, revealing a network of angry looking red streaks in her skin, which was hot to the touch. Worst of all, there was a vile yellow liquid alongside the blood on the bandage.

"Well... that's not good." Shani chuckled to herself as she shakily filled the syringe. "A Basitin with an infection, what are the odds? It's j-just my luck."

Shani took another deep breath before plunging the needle into her side, just above the wound. At first the pain nearly caused her to pass out, her vision filled with white spots and her head spun as if she'd been struck with a club. But then, like a hot drink warming the throat on a cold night, the poppy nectar filled her veins.

Collapsing onto her back, Shani panted as she felt the pain drain away.

"So much for being king." She chuckled to herself as she stared up at her ceiling. "Damn... And I probably would have looked really good in that crown. Shame I'll never get to wear it..."

As she stared up at her ceiling, Shani felt a rush of fear and sorrow welling up inside of her.

"Dammit, it's not fair," she growled, trying to fight back the tears threatening to gather in her eyes. "I did everything right! It's not fair!"

"Fair? What the hell are you talking about? What's fair?" The voice in her mind was so clear it was as if there was a second Shani speaking to her. for a moment she could almost see a vision of herself, perched on her bed, staring down at her.

"What are you doing? Crying? Crying over what? Get a hold of yourself, You moaned and complained for years, feeling sorry for yourself! You wanted to die so many times, well you finally got your wish!"

Gritting her teeth, Shani focussed on her hatred, the anger boiling inside of her. "Fine, if that's how it's gonna be, then fine!"

Shani sat up, the pain in her side now a dull ache. The nectar made her feel a little light-headed, but nothing she couldn't handle.

"If I'm going down, I'm taking the entire Human race with me! The empire will be the greatest funeral pyre the world has ever seen, the perfect memorial for the Sindal'Whey."

Getting back to her feet, Shani set about rewrapping her stomach with fresh bandages. "Once the war is started, Adelaide will never be able to stop it. Alive or not, it doesn't matter, I'll still win!"

===

As with all defended structures, the Basikal docks had their fair share of hidden weaknesses and secret entrances. The dock guards knew about most of them, but there was always one or two that slipped through the net.

Trying his best not to step in the odd patch of filth and fetid water, Sieg carefully made his way towards the flickering torchlight light at the end of the pipe.

Behind him was the shaft of one of the main wells that supplied the southeastern quarter of Basikal. The pipe he was crawling through was designed to allow any excess water that flowed into the well to be drained into the sea, preventing a flood that might drag taint and filth from the streets down into the water supply.

Sieg had to be extremely careful as he made his way down the pipe. Despite his claws, the stones were quite slippery, and if he slipped and fell, he would be dumped out down the side of a stone wall directly into the sea. Even if the fall didn't injure him, there was no way the other dock guards would miss the splash.

Finally, Sieg arrived at the end of the pipe and peered over the edge. The water was about eight meters down, shallow, and filled with jagged rocks. But beside the pipe was a thick, wooden support strut that held the wall in place.

The light was failing and a thick layer of clouds was quickly covering the sky. Dark grey shrouds of rain covered the northern horizon as a storm approached. Most of the guards were wearing rain cloaks already, which Sieg hoped would dull their hearing.

Taking a deep breath, Sieg leapt out of the pipe and dug his claws into the thick, oaken strut. For a moment it felt like he would fall, his claws carving deep furrows in the wood as he slid down about a meter. But he was able to dig his feet in and hold himself up.

Trying his best not to make a sound, Sieg climbed down, until he reached the planks of the dock. Moving as quickly and quietly as he could, Sieg ducked behind a nearby building.

No sooner had he crouched down behind a barrel to catch his breath, he felt a sharp point dig into the back of his neck.

"Don't move!" A familiar voice hissed.

Seig shifted slightly, "Garda? Is that you?"

"Lieutenant Kolvest?"

Sieg got to his feet and lowered the hood of his cloak as Garda removed the spear from the back of his neck

"What are you doing here?" Garda asked. "I thought you were a thief or a stowaway!"

"Shhhh!" Sieg hissed, looking around to make certain no one had heard Garda's voice.

"I also heard you were demoted." Garda's eyes widened and he raised his spear again. "You aren't here for revenge are you?"

"What?! No! Don't be ridiculous." Sieg scoffed as he pushed Garda's spear away.

"Oh... good."

"Listen, Garda, I have something I absolutely have to do. I'm... on a mission for... For my father."

"General Kolvest?!"

Sieg nodded, "Yes, but it's a secret. I need to get into the Major's office and get my insignia back."

Garda paused for a moment, studying Sieg's face. "You're trying to trick me." he said at last, raising his spear again. "I can see it, you're lying."

"I..."

"Tell me the truth!" Garda hissed, "Or I'm raising the alarm right now!"

"I..." Sieg sighed, "Yes, I was lying, I'm sorry. Here's the truth, I am on a secret mission, but it's not for my father. I want to tell you what's happening, truly I do, but I can't. It would put you in great danger and I can't do that. Just... pretend you didn't see me, okay?"

Again Garda was quiet for a moment, but then he lowered his spear. "Alright then, I'll help you."

Sieg blinked, "Y-you will?"

"My mother taught me how to read people and tell if they were telling the truth or not." Garda shrugged. "She used to be a member of the intelligence corps, She hoped I'd be part of it someday too. Comes in handy. Plus it's great for playing cards"

"I don't want to put you in danger." Sieg paused, before placing a hand on Garda's shoulder. "But... thanks."

"So, what do you need me to do?"

===

As he did every night between his patrols, Major Tanner was reading. His office was neat, his desk clear, not a single mote of dust or stray strand of fur disturbing his perfect order.

The Major was so engrossed in his book that he almost didn't hear the hesitant knock on his door.

"Major Tanner, sir?"

Breathing a heavy sigh, the Major looked up from his book, "Yes?"

The door cracked open and the major's secretary cleared his throat as stepping inside and folded his hands behind his back. "Sir, Private Garda has asked for a moment of your time."

"Tell him he can wait." Tanner replied, returning his attention to the small book of erotic Keidran poetry he had hidden within the pages of a tome on Basitin law.

"Well sir... he says he can't."

"And why not?"

"He claims to have uncovered something that he is certain you will want to see. Some kind of smuggling effort, but he refuses to speak to anyone but you."

"Tell him to report it to his Lieutenant."

"I did sir... but he remains insistant."

With an irritated growl, Tanner snapped his book closed and climbed to his feet. "Fine, where is he?"

"Outside sir."

As Tanner and his secretary left, the door at the back of the Major's office quietly clicked open.

Keeping as low to the ground as he could, Seig crept into the office and approached the Major's desk. Outside he could hear the Major talking to Garda.

"Well? What is it Private?"

"Sir, I found this while I was inspecting dock four."

"A box... of crabs?"

"Yes sir."

Sieg began pulling open the drawers of the Major's desk, inspecting each one as quickly as he could, before moving on.

"Private, did you honestly get me up from my desk to show me a box of crabs?"

"Sir, they are out of season! I believe this is evidence of a smuggling operation."

"Are you- It was the third moonrise of the rainy season last week, Private! Crabs ARE in season now you bloody fool!"

"Come on..." Sieg muttered. "Where are you?"

Opening one of the small drawers at the top of the Major's desk, Sieg's gaze lit up. His lieutenant's pins sat in a small wooden bow. Grabbing them as quickly as he could, he placed them in a pocket of his tunic and closed the drawer.

"Are you certain sir? I thought it was the fourth moonrise."

"Yes, I am ENTIRELY certain! Now get back to your post, NOW! I don't want to see hide or hair of you again!"

"Of course sir, sorry sir."

Sieg retreated as quickly as he could, making certain to close the door behind him as quietly as he could.

The room behind the Major's office was little more than a storage closet, but there was a secret hatch in the floor that dropped down to a tiny platform that floated below the dock. The major had a taste for many foreign things that would be considered forbidden, keidran spirits, fox-weed, human sweets. Major Tanner's position allowed him to see to the 'private importation' of such things, and his connection to the Chariot family, a marriage to some distant cousin of Lyon Chariot, kept anyone who learned of his private harbour from revealing it.

Sieg himself had considered reporting the major when he had first learned of his secret, but as he climbed the hidden ladder that led up to another small hatch, hidden behind a stack of crates just outside of the dock command office, he was very glad he had not.

Pulling himself back up onto the dock, Seig peered over the edge of the crates. A small crowd of assembled guards were dispersing, variously muttering to themselves as Garda looked sheepishly down at the box of crabs he had stolen from a fisherman's boat. Garda's lieutenant was furiously yelling at him, before gesturing for him to get back to his patrol.

As Garda began walking back towards his post, he looked over at the pile of crates, his gaze meeting Seig's. The two nodded at one another, before Garda returned to his post.

For a moment, Seig looked down at the lieutenant's insignia in his hand. What he was about to do was by far the most dangerous thing he had ever done, and if he was caught it would almost certainly mean banishment.

"Marien..." Sieg closed his hand around the insignia, gathering up his courage.

Clipping the pins to the collar of his armour, Sieg dropped his long cloak to the ground and began making his way towards the western section of the docks where the Tahl's Victory was docked.

As he approached the dock, Sieg took cover behind a small shed hidden in the shadows. Peering around the sheh he could see a checkpoint set up and manned by a trio of Chariot Guards and two Second Legion soldiers.

Taking a deep breath, Seig climbed to his feet and stepped out from behind the shed, folding his hands behind his back and marching forward with purpose.

As Sieg approached, one of the Chariot Soldiers stepped forwards and raised his hand.

"Halt! Identify yourself."

"Lieutenant Sieg Kolvest." Sieg replied, not slowing his advance. "I'm here on orders from my father to inspect the Tahl's Victory."

The soldiers looked at one another.

"We were not informed of an inspection."

"The Tahl's Victory is still under the jurisdiction of the Dock Guard and appearances must be maintained. All ships are to be routinely searched."

The Chariot guard raised his spear as Sieg continued to approach. "We have orders not to let anyone through!"

Sieg's eyes narrowed, "This ship is going to be inspected, one way or another. If you want to get another Lieutenant, one who might be an ally of General Silver's, then be my guest."

Again the soldiers paused, obviously not used to the dock guard giving them orders.

"Or, you can assume that my father asked ME to do this for a reason." Sieg batted aside the Chariot guard's spear as he strode by, chin raised and chest puffed out. It took all of Seig's strength to keep the terror in his chest from registering.

"Captain Moore is not going to be happy about this, neither is Commodore Schtafen." The Chariot Guard grumbled as Sieg marched by.

"I will be sure to relay that to my father," Sieg shot back. "In the meantime, let's just get this over with already."

As Sieg strode onto the dock, the guards behind him shrugged and returned to their duty.

The walk towards the Tahl's victory felt both impossibly long and terrifyingly short. Before Seig knew it, he was standing at the base of the gangplank leading up to the huge ship. At the top of the plank stood a tall officer wearing a Captain's hat.

As he stepped up the gangplank, Sieg squared his shoulders.

"Alright... let's do this."

End of Part 21

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