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Part 22

Teela pulled aside the curtain leading into Alwyn's quarters.

"Love? Everyone is assembled."

Alwyn sat cross legged on the floor, her eyes closed, gently humming to herself. Her long hair was no longer tied into a braid and flowed down her back like a silver river. Her sword sat on her left, her scarf, neatly folded, sat on her right. She didn't react at all to Teela's words, she simply continued to hum a low, sombre note as she rocked slowly back and forth.

A sad smile crossed Teela's face as she knelt down and wrapped her arms around Alwyn.

"You didn't fail anyone," Teela whispered, gently stroking Alwyn's ears. "You fought so hard, for all of us."

Alwyn stopped humming, her eyes slowly sliding open. "I know..."

Awlyn turned to face Teela, their eyes meeting.

As she stared into her mate's ocean blue eyes, the pain in Alwyn's heart faded. She had loved many times in her life, sometimes long and deep, other times short and passionate. All were precious to her, a gift she never thought she'd have a chance to experience. But Teela was different; in her, Alwyn had found her soulmate.

Their relationship hadn't been an easy one. Before Alwyn had been rescued by the Hearth, Teela had been the obvious choice for high priestess. She had been conceived during a sacred ritual and born to the previous high priestess, her name meant "Spirit Gift" in the old tongue. When Alwyn had joined the Hearth, Teela had always been cautious of the massive eastern Basitin warrior, reminding Alwyn often that she was an outsider.

When the spirits chose Alwyn to be high priestess, Teela had taken their decision hard. Their visions for the Hearth had been very different, Alwyn was the antithesis of everything Teela held dear, and they would often clash, their arguments long and loud. But from their arguments had grown a grudging mutual respect, and eventually a genuine regard for one another. Angry debate became respectful discussion, and the two found themselves seeking the other one out for honest counsel and advice.

Years later, the grey fever, a dreaded disease that even the hardy Basitin people feared, somehow found its way into the Hearth. One of its first victims had been Alwyn's mate at the time, followed closely by Alwyn's youngest daughter. Alwyn herself had taken sick, and between the horrible fever and the agony of grief, death had seemed preferable.

Teela would have been the high priestess if she had simply let Alwyn die. Instead, she had dragged Alwyn through, staying by her side, forcing her to eat and drink, forcing her to stay alive. Her gentle voice and tender care had saved Alwyn's life, and Alwyn had fallen deeply in love.

Teela and Alwyn snuggled close, pressing their foreheads together.

"What do you think they will choose?" Alwyn mumbled.

"I don't know..." Teela sighed. "But whatever they choose, I know you will guide us through it."

Alwyn opened her eyes, gently stroking Teela's cheek, "What about you? What do you want?"

"To be with you."

"Love..."

"I'm serious." Teela leaned back, grabbing one of Alwyn's hands and holding it against her chest. "I would go anywhere, in this world or the next, so long as it was with you."

The two stared into one another's eyes, there was no lie, no fear, no anger.

After a moment, Teela's face turned a little pink, her ears drooping as she started to speak, but seemed to have trouble finding the words.

"What is it?" Alwyn asked.

"I..." Teela gulped, "I...I want to have a baby."

"Wh-what? Alwyn looked down at herself, "I mean, I am certainly willing but... it might be getting a little late for me. I've barely felt any drive to mate for two years now..."

"No, not you, me."

Alwyn looked up sharply. Teela was more than a decade younger than her, and still in her prime. "You? But... but I thought..."

"I... lied." Teela's face grew redder as she looked down at the ground, gently touching her stomach. "I'm not infertile I just... was scared. Scared of something going wrong, like it did with my mother..."

"Oh, love..."

Raising her eyes back up to meet Alwyn's gaze, Teela cupped her face in her hands. "But I'm not scared any more. Whatever you decide, wherever we go, I want to have a baby when we get there, yours and mine."

"Well... there's going to need to be..."

"I know I know. But you'll be there with me, beginning to end. Truly, this is what I want, and if that doesn't give you a reason to see us through this..."

Her heart glowing, Alwyn pulled Teela close to her, "Okay... Alright, let's do it, you and me."

"You and me."

===

As Alwyn and Teela made their way towards the meeting place, Alwyn felt a growing tightness in her chest. The course was set, she couldn't change it now, but still she was nervous. The future had always been in her hands, now it was in the hands of others. Instinctively she reached out and took Teela's hand, their fingers intertwining as they reached the main Hearth chamber.

Almost every member of the Hearth was assembled, with only the soldiers standing at the entrances missing. Though the burned and damaged nests had been removed, the chamber still smelled heavily of smoke and the sharp tang of blood. What had once felt so much like a warm and inviting home, so safe and secure, now felt like a house whose walls had been broken by a great storm.

Dozens of pairs of eyes watched as Alwyn and Teela approached.

Still holding Teela's hand, Alwyn climbed up on top of a carved stalagmite beside the pool in the cavern's center. As she looked out over her people, Alwyn felt Teela squeeze her hand.

Alwyn took a long, deep breath, as she had before so many battles, and spoke in a loud, clear voice. "Treasured ones, the way of life we have enjoyed for so long... is over. Not since the days of the great schism have we faced this sort of threat. We are on a precipice, and the fall before us is long and dark."

The crowd offered no reaction, simply staring up at Alwyn.

"And so... I lay before you the three paths I see open to us." Alwyn gestured around the Hearth, "The first is that we abandon Hearth Tabar and make for safety, either on the mainland or in one of the Western Hearths. Despite the Chariot's efforts, we have just barely enough food to allow us to make the journey. It will be long, and it will be hard, but we will survive."

"Second, we do as the Chariot's demand. This would violate our most sacred principles, but would hopefully buy us time and tolerance, and would allow us to remain here, in our home."

A wave of murmurs rolled through the crowd at those words.

"Third... we fight. We have discovered that the Chariot woman spoke true, her ancestor did have some sort of connection to this place. We have discovered a pathway, hidden within the northwest catacombs, that leads directly to their mansion. We have hidden their weapon there, so that they shall be the first victims of their own barbaric device if it goes off. But this same tunnel could be used to attack our enemy. We could seize their leader and force them to disable their weapon."

Alwyn turned to Teela for a moment, "But, such an action... would be the end of us. Those that choose to fight, must do so with a willingness to die, rather than be captured. Anyone who is captured will no doubt be tortured, and forced to betray every other Hearth."

The air felt heavy as Alwyn looked out over the assembled crowd. It surprised her that everyone was quiet, not a single word uttered by any of her people as they watched her.

"Though I both honour and deeply appreciate the position given to me by the spirits, and by your faith and trust, I cannot ask you to blindly follow orders in the face of that which threatens us now. We shall now... vote, on our course. Those that favour retreat, raise your hands."

Not a single hand went up.

Alwyn nodded, "Very well, those that favour compliance with the Chariot's demand, raise your hands."

No hands were raised.

Alwyn felt a rush pulse through her, though whether it was excitement or fear, she did not know. "And those that would fight, raise your hands."

Again, not a single hand was raised.

Alwyn blinked in surprise. "Is there a fourth option I have not considered?"

But there was no answer. The crowd simply continued to watch her.

"Love... They are saying they want you to make the decision." Teela squeezed Alwyn's hand again. "They are saying they trust you to know what we should do, as they always have."

"She speaks the truth," Sillas's voice rang out as he stepped out of the crowd. "You are our leader. Though some of us may have spoken with fear and anger before, we ask that you lead us."

Dozens of voices and calls rose from the crowd.

"Lead us!"

"We need you, High Priestess!"

"I trust you!"

"Please, give us your wisdom!"

"But... but I..." Tears glistening in the corners of her eyes, Alwyn bowed her head. "Thank you... all of you."

"So... what shall we do, high priestess?" Teela asked, bowing her head.

Clearing her throat, Alwyn looked out over the crowd. "Those that cannot fight, prepare for evacuation. Those that can fight, take up your weapons and follow me." Alwyn drew her sword from her back and held it high, "For tonight, the Hearth strikes back at those that would harm us!"

The crowd erupted in cheers and shouts, and immediately began moving about in a flurry of activity

As she stepped down from the rocky pedestal, Alwyn pressed her forehead against Teela's. "I'm sorry, love... But I will do my best to join you at Hearth Sunical."

"I'm coming with you." As Alwyn leaned back in surprise, Teela smiled. "You are the one who taught me to fight, of course I would be coming with you."

"But that's just practice. You've never fought in a real battle before!"

"Then this shall be my first." Before Awlyn could speak, Teela leaned forward and kissed her. The two held each other for a long time, each feeling the heartbeat and breathing in the scent of the other.

"I am not going to leave you," Teela whispered as she broke off the kiss and stroked Alwyn's cheek. "I trust you, same as them."

"Alright..." Alwyn sighed. "But I want you to stay behind me, alright? Watch my back."

"Always."

"I'm serious, love. Let me protect you."

"I love you, Kati."

At the sound of her real name, Alwyn pulled Teela close.

"I love you, Teela."

"To battle then," Alwyn thought to herself as she squeezed Teela ever tighter. "One final time..."

===

Elim Carack had been to battle many times in his life. He'd participated in a siege, he'd even served on a ship during a battle on the sea. His body was marked with scars, he had seen the very worst that war could do to a body. He had seen sights and smelled odours that he could never fully describe and would haunt him for the rest of his life.

But none of those memories, not a one, made him feel as uncomfortable as he felt right now, standing guard inside the bedroom of General Silver. Even though the General's hands and feet were bound, Elim found meeting his gaze, even for a moment, made his skin crawl. At least one of the guards had finally shoved a piece of cloth in the General's mouth to keep him from hurling any more threats and insults.

"How long is he going to glare at me?" Elim wondered, grateful that his eyes were hidden behind the visor of his helmet.

Elim straightened up a little, gripping his spear tightly as his ears picked up the sound of approaching footsteps in the hall.

The door to the General's room opened and Marien stepped inside, followed by a pair of guards. Moments later Lieutenant Straum arrived with two guards of his own.

As Marien approached the General, Straum nodded at his men. Elim, along with the other guards reached down and placed their hands on the hilt of their swords, waiting for any sign of betrayal.

"You really should eat something, General," Marien said, coming to a stop just in front of Kent and pulling the cloth from his mouth. "Starving yourself is hardly going to prove your innocence."

Kent didn't respond and instead simply glared at Marien.

"You know I didn't have much choice here," Marien continued, striding over to Kent's bedside table pouring a glass of water. "You have no troops, no support, and no chance of stopping the Chariot's attack."

"I made a report three days ago," Kent shot back, "It's only a matter of time before Basikal is swarming with mainland troops!"

"Your message was intercepted," Straum replied, crossing his arms with a smug smile. "There are no reinforcements coming."

"Besides that," Marien added, "your allies turned against you the moment Conrad returned to the fortress."

Kent's eyes widened, "No..."

"It wasn't much of a fight," Straum said with a casual shrug. "The fortress has been secured. Basikal is ours."

"That's a lie!" Kent growled, breaking his silence

"So you see, General," Marien extended the glass of water towards Kent, "this battle was over before it began."

"And in two days, after the approaching storm has cleared up, the Titan fleet and our reinforcements will arrive. Then, on to Calmbirth."

"Where our nation will start it's march to its own destruction!" Kent knocked the glass of water from Marien's grip as he tried to leap to his feet. Marien reached out and slapped Kent hard, knocking him back down.

"Not destruction, vindication!" Straum was nearly giddy with excitement, his tail sweeping back and forth as he spoke with almost religious revor, "General Kolvest will ascend, the throne will return to a rightful ruler, and our people will seize our destiny! We will have revenge for the attack on our capital, the Human Empire will burn, and our people will hold dominion over the sea!"

Blood trickled from Kent's mouth as he glared up at Marien and Straum. "It will be a destiny seized by treason and betrayal."

"I would betray a thousand oaths just to be with Sieg," Marien replied, kneeling down next to Kent. "And if this is what it takes to see him safe and happy, then so be it."

"He will hate you for this!"

"Let him. So long as he survives."

"I swear, on my honour, that I will see you dead for this," Kent snarled. "And even if you survive this war, you will grow old and die, hated by a man who would have given everything for you!"

"Shut up!"

In a flash of anger, Marien grabbed the piece of cloth and shoved it back into Ken's mouth. But before she could withdraw her hand, Kent bit down hard on Marien's finger.

Marien howled as Kent's sharp teeth tore through the cloth and into her flesh. Biting down as hard as he could, Kent pulled hard, like a dog with a bone. With a loud snap, the bone gave way and Marien and Kent fell apart.

Both of Marien's soldiers rushed forward. "Captain!"

Marien's finger flew out of Kent's mouth as Straum stepped forward and kicked Kent hard in the stomach.

"Bad move, 'General'!"

Marien groaned in agony as she lay on her back, staring up at her quaking left hand, her index finger cut off just above the base knuckle. In moments her soldiers had torn off a strip of cloth and were pressing it against the wound to try and stop the bleeding.

"Are you alright, Captain?"

"I'm fine!" Marien snarled, gingerly climbing back to her feet as her head spun.

Taking a shuddering breath she glared down at Kent. "We'll have to force feed him eventually. We can't have him dying before the trial."

"His wife is a doctor, perhaps she has some poppy nectar laying about." Straum gazed down at Kent as he coughed and sputtered. "A small injection of that should take the fight out of him."

"I'll have my men look for it." Still clutching her wounded hand, Marien turned and left the room.

"I'd heard you had a sharp tongue. Suppose the Captain should have been more worried about your teeth," Straum joked, sneering down at Kent one final time before following after Marien.

===

Captain Edric Moore sat behind his desk, his face red and his hands twitching with rage. The Captain's second in command stood off to the left, her arms folded across her chest and a scowl on her face. Outside, the leading edges of the storm were just reaching the dock. The wind was stiff, the odd drop of rain pattering hard against the window panes.

Sieg stood in front of the Captain's desk, hands folded behind him and his chin raised. As soon as Sieg had come on board the Tahl's Victory, the Captain had hustled him into his private quarters.

"I do not like this at all," Captain Moore growled, his claws rhythmically tapping on the wood. "What business does General Kiovest have sending someone to search my ship!"

"As I have said, General Kolvest, my father, still has to abide by the rules of the Dock Authority," Sieg replied, rolling his eyes. "Your ship needs to be inspected, same as every other ship, otherwise it will draw unwanted attention."

"We haven't required inspection before!" Captain Moore shot back as he leaned over his desk. "We are under Chariot family jurisdiction! We OWN this dock!"

"And that has not gone unnoticed!" Sieg bellowed in response, leaning forward so that his face was less than a meter from the Captain's. "So unless you want another officer coming down here, allow me to get on with this before the storm hits!"

Despite the danger of his situation, Sieg couldn't help but feel a thrill at throwing authority around. Both the Captain and the Commander seemed genuinely taken aback by Sieg's audacity. For a moment he found himself actually enjoying the feeling of watching as the Captain was forced to back off.

Sieg leaned back. "A brief inspection Captain, just long enough to mollify my superiors, and then I will be on my way."

"Very well," Captain Moore replied at last, dropping back into his seat. "Get it done, and get off my ship."

"As you wish."

"Commander Taffet will accompany you."

"It rather defeats the purpose of an inspection if I have one of your officers looming over me."

"And since this inspection is nothing more than a formality, I must insist!"

Sensing genuine danger in the Captain's tone, Sieg nodded. "Fine, but she had best stay out of my way."

With a furious snarl and a mumbled threat, Captain Moore gestured at his Commander. "Commander Taffet, would you please escort the Lieutenant around the ship on his 'inspection', and then see to it that he is removed as soon as possible?"

"Yes, Captain." The commander gestured for Sieg to follow as she led the way out of the Captain's quarters.

"Captain Moore." Sieg bowed respectfully, before following along behind the commander.

The Captain waited until he was certain Sieg and the Commander were gone, before ringing a small bell on his desk. Moments later, an officer knocked on his door and stepped inside.

"Sir?"

"Send a message to Lady Chariot and Master Jabarian," Captain Moore ordered. "Tell them we may have a problem with General Kolvest and his brat."

===

Marien sat at the large oaken table within the kitchen of the Silver estate. Straum sat in the chair beside her, watching with interest as Volfen held the blade of a long knife in the roaring fire of the oven.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like some poppy nectar?" Straum asked as Marien placed a piece of folded leather between her teeth.

"No." Marien shook her head, trying her best to quiet her racing heart. "Need to be sharp."

"Very well."

As Straum leaned back in his chair, Volfen stepped away from the oven. The top half of the knife blade glowed a brilliant yellowy orange.

Carefully walking up beside Marien, Volfen put his free hand on her wrist, holding her arm against the table. "Alright Captain, try to hold still."

"Just do it," Marien replied, her voice muffled by the leather.

With an apologetic nod, Volfen pulled the bloody bandage away from Marien's hand as quickly as he could, before pressing the glowing metal against the stump of her index finger.

Marien squeezed her eyes shut, her toes curling and her claws tearing large splinters out of the wooden table as the room filled with a sickly hissing sound. Despite the burning, the white hot agony tearing through her mind and body, she didn't try to pull away. Other than a strangle moan, she didn't even make a sound.

The sizzle of blood boiling and the smell of burned flesh and fur filled the kitchen. Even Lieutenant Straum felt his stomach turn at the sight and the smell.

Volfen made sure there was no more bleeding, before dropping the knife in a nearby bucket of water and immediately wrapping a clean linen bandage around the seared wound. Marien spit out of the hunk of leather, her breath coming in gasps and sweat pouring down her forehead.

"Impressive," Straum admitted as Volfen finished bandaging Marien up. "I've seen soldiers scream and pass out from less."

"We have things to do," Marien replied, brushing her hair out of her eyes. "And if I am to be the Arms General, a wound like this should be nothing."

"I must admit, I had my doubts about you, Westerner. But it would seem you really are on our side. General Kolvest was wise to trust you."

Noting the reverence in Straum's voice as he spoke of Conrad, Marien leaned back in her chair. "For those with honour, my loyalty is absolute."

As Marien took a deep drink of water Volfen approached and saluted. "Captain, if there is nothing else, I will go and see to the shift change."

"Very good, Lieutenant."

"Aye."

Marien looked back at Straum as Volfen left. "You really look up to General Kolvest, don't you?"

"The General is a great man! He is a man of destiny, the sort of man that we need as Master General." Straum's eyes narrowed as his voice turned to a whisper. "The sort of man we need as King!"

"I see."

"You are lucky to be so close to his inner circle. For the General to call you his daughter, I am envious of you."

"When this is all over, I'll be certain to tell the General of your loyalty," Marien said, bowing her head to Straum. "He'll be most pleased, I'm certain."

After a moment she spoke up again. "By the way, was it true what you said? About the Titan fleet?"

"Hmmm? Oh yes, they should be here by tomorrow next. The day after that, our operation begins."

"Good." Marien experimentally flexed the remaining fingers on her left hand. "Very good. And the fortress?"

"My last report said there was still fighting, but the Second Legion is unstoppable. We'll have control by morning."

"So you lied to General Silver?"

"Why would I tell the truth to a traitor and pervert?"

"Again, wise. I am curious, General Silver never mentioned who his co-conspirators were at the Fortress. Who were they?"

Straum paused, looking back over at Marien. "He didn't tell you?"

"Have you ever found a traitor who offered his or her trust easily? Especially one so... perverse?"

"A fair point." Looking around to make certain no one would overhear him, Straum leaned close to Marien and whispered. "The fortress commander, Colonel Ashbur was a friend of General Silver's, but his second in command, Lieutenant Colonel Tybir, has been an informant for General Kolvest almost a whole year"

"Oh really?"

"Apparently, captains Herald and Thor were on Silver's side, along with a smattering of other units. There is fighting going on at the Fortress right now, but it shouldn't be long before General Kolvest is able to break into the fortress and crush all resistance."

"Good," Marien nodded. "All I needed to hear."

In a flash, Marien reached out, seized hold of Straums head, and slammed it against the table. Straum crumpled to the floor, completely knocked out.

Straum's bodyguard had barely enough time to register Marien's attack, before she was on her feet and lunging at him. As Marien bodychecked him, the guard's helmet struck the stone wall with an audible *CLANG*. The dazed guard took a single stumbling step, before Marien seized hold of a frying pan and delivered a powerful blow to the top of his head.

As the guard pitched forward and collapsed to the floor, Volfen burst through the kitchen door. A smile spread across his face as he looked at the scene before him. "Did you get what you needed?"

"Pretty much," Marien replied as she dropped the frying pan. "Leave it to Conrad Kolvest to trust a loudmouth idiot like him to be in charge here. What about the rest?"

"They've been dealt with."

"Casualties."

"Two injuries, neither one serious on our side. Headaches and cracked skulls on their side but no fatalities"

"The General?"

"He's being released right now. Elias and Caron are bringing him downstairs."

"Good, then we can get this underway." Marien sighed heavily as she looked down at her bandaged hand. "So much for learning to play the harp."

===

Kent's head spun as he descended the stairs towards his front entrance hall. It was almost as if he were in a dream, nothing seemed quite real. His wrists and ankles still hurt, and his mouth felt incredibly dry, the gag cloth having sucked all the moisture from his mouth and tongue. There was also a dull, throbbing pain in his jaw. He had cracked one of his canine teeth while biting Marien's finger.

All around him, soldiers from Marien's unit, as well as his own house guards, were working quickly to strip Conrad's soldiers of their arms and armour.

"What are they doing?" Kent asked as he walked past one of his house guards hurriedly pulling on the uniform and armour of one of Conrad's soldiers.

"Captain Kolvest's orders," one of Kent's escorts replied. "They'll take up positions to give the illusion that the Second Legion troops are still in command here."

"I see... Yes, very good."

As he reached the bottom of the staircase a trio of Basitins approached him; Marien, Volfen, and in the center-

Kent's eyes widened, "Bruik!"

"Yes, master," Bruik knelt down on one knee and bowed his head. "I am at your service once more."

"B-but how?" Kent stared open mouthed at Bruik's armour and clothing, still drenched in blood. "H-how did you.... I saw you die! You were stabbed!"

"Indeed, and had Captain Kolvest not been so proficient with her blade, what was intended to be a trick could very easily have been the end of me."

"But all the blood!"

"Animal blood," Bruik replied, unclipping his breastplate and letting it fall to the floor. Attached to the interior of the plate was a trio of bags made from animal intestines, all punctured by Marien's blade. "Sheep, to be more specific, a favour from Paul. It's a trick the humans often use in their theatre. Picked it up while I was a slave."

"Then this was all a ruse?" Kent turned to Marien. "All of it?"

"I needed to know who Conrad's contacts were," Marien replied, bowing her head. "I needed to know who I could trust."

"Why did you not tell me beforehand?!"

"Conrad absolutely had to believe that this was real," Bruik replied. "Forgive me, master, but it was I who suggested leaving you in the dark."

"But why?!"

"To keep you safe, as is my duty. Had Conrad suspected, even for a moment, that you were putting on a performance, he would have ordered his troops to attack." Bruik looked over at Marien, "Captain Kolvest, on the other hand, Conrad has never trusted. The last person in the world that Conrad would think to trust was also the last person in the world he was prepared to have betray him."

"I see... Well, the results speak for themselves! Well done all of you! I-" Kent froze mid sentence, "My god, Marien, your hand!"

"It's alright General, really. It wasn't part of the plan, but it was convincing enough to get that idiot Straum to tell me Conrad's entire plan." Marien shrugged, "Besides, compared to losing a chance to become Arms General, losing a finger seems minor."

"Thank you, Captain." Kent bowed his head. "Now, if you please, report."

"The Titan fleet will arrive within two days, after which the attack on Calmbirth will be launched. There is fighting at the fortress right now between Conrad's forces and your allies."

"Then the second legion is occupied?"

"Yes, but not for long. We don't have much time."

Bruik stepped forwards, Kent's sword and cloak in his hands. "Master."

Marien snapped into a salute, "The thirteenth company awaits your orders, General."

Grabbing hold of his cloak and whirling it around his shoulders, Kent drew his sword and held it in front of him.

"Captain Kolvest, assemble your company and get ready to move out! We make for the Chariot Manor!"

"Thirteenth company, you heard the General!" Marien bellowed. "Form up and get ready to fight!"

===

The deck of the Tahl's Victory groaned and creaked as powerful gusts of the storm blew across the docks. The lanterns that illuminated the lower decks swung back and forth, the shadows dancing across the cramped quarters as the ship swayed in the wind.

"Where are the crew?" Sieg asked, gazing around at the empty hammocks slung between the beams. There were still some crew members about, mostly working on the masts and the upper deck, but the rest of the ship seemed largely empty. From time to time he had to steady himself as the deck rolled beneath him.

"The Captain sent them ashore for the storm," Commander Taffet replied sharply, holding a lantern aloft as she walked ahead of Sieg.

Taffet was tall for a Basitin, even a female, and her body was marked with dozens of scars from burns and blades. Half of her tail was missing, as was a significant chunk of her left ear. Everything about her told Sieg that this was a warrior who was no stranger to violence.

"And I have to take her down... somehow," Sieg gulped.

After descending a final, narrow set of stairs, Sieg and the Commander arrived in the cargo hold. The hold was dark, the lamp doing little but casting eerie, flickering shadows across the barrels and boxes stacked along the walls and secured by nets.

Sieg jumped a little as Taffet spoke. "Shall we get this over with?"

"Yes, of course." Clearing his throat, Sieg made his way over to the nearest stack of boxes. "What's in here?"

"Provisions, mostly salted meat."

"I see. And this barrel here?"

"Lamp oil."

As Sieg made a show of continuing to inspect the crates, his eyes fell upon a pair of spare oars for one of the ship's longboats.

"What's in these boxes?" he asked, stepping closer to the paddles.

"Hard biscuits."

"I see. And would you mind opening them for me."

"No, not at all, 'inspector'.

As she spoke, Taffet's eyes narrowed and her hand drifted down to her sword. "You know, the contents are written on the sides."

"Of course I know that, but I want to-"

Sieg paused, the fur on the back of his neck standing straight up as he heard the unmistakable sound of a sword slowly being drawn behind him.

"How about you drop the act and tell me why you are actually here."

"I told you why," Sieg replied, keeping his voice as steady as he could, all the while inching closer to the oars. "It may be just a formality, but it is necessary for keeping up appearances."

"I've been through dozens of inspections in dozens of ports. And I can tell... you're not an inspector at all."

As Taffet lunged at him, Sieg seized hold of one of the oars and swung around, swinging the paddle as if it were a spear. Taffet's sword went flying as the blade of the oar slammed into the top of her hand with a nasty crack.

Taffet's roar of pain was cut off as Sieg slammed the paddle into her stomach. Twisting his weapon upwards, Sieg sent the blade of the paddle smashing into Taffet's chin. In the same motion, Sieg spun the oar around his body and sent the long handle of the oar crashing into the side of Taffet's head.

Taffet slammed into the stack of crates and fell hard. For a moment it looked like she was trying to pick herself up. She managed to get part way up onto one knee before her eyes rolled back and she collapsed.

Sieg was panting hard, his heart thudding against his chest and every nerve in his body tingling. Aside from his battle with Marien, he had never been in an actual fight before. Sieg had an awful feeling that if Taffet hadn't been expecting a counter attack, or was used to fighting spear-wielding opponents, he'd be dead now.

Hesitantly Sieg bent down and placed a hand in front of Taffets mouth. He sighed in relief when he felt her breath on his hand. At least she was still alive, though he certainly didn't envy her the headache she would have when she woke up.

Sieg's own breath caught as he heard footsteps on the deck above. For a terrifying moment, Sieg was certain that another crew member had heard the scuffle, but after a few moments the footsteps faded away.

Taking up Taffets sword, Sieg slashed the webbing holding down a stack of barrels labelled 'Lamp Oil". As quickly as he could he rolled the barrel towards the front of the ship where the spare sails were stored. With Taffet's sword he pried off the top of the barrel and pushed it over. Immediately, the thick, pungent oil rolled across the floor, quickly seeping into the deck boards and soaking into the ropes holding down the cargo.

Careful not to step in the oil, Sieg retreated back towards the stern, using Taffet's sword to break the unlit lanterns hanging on the main beams as he went. Soon, the entire cargo hold was filled with a pungent fishy smell.

As he picked up the lamp Taffet had brought down with her, Sieg took one more deep breath. "Alright... Here we go."

Sieg threw the lamp as hard as he could. It spiralled through the air before smashing against the floor. The lantern smashed open and the flame ignited the whale oil. In seconds the cargo hold was filled with roaring flames. A wave of heat rolled over Sieg, singeing his hair and fur as he raised a hand to shield himself.

As he started back towards the staircase leading out of the cargo hold, Sieg realized that he had forgotten about Taffet.

For a moment, Sieg considered simply turning and leaving. After all, Taffet had tried to kill him not five minutes before...

"Shit!"

Holding up a hand to shield his face from the heat, Sieg grabbed hold of the back of Taffet's uniform and dragged her back towards the staircase as fast as he could. Sieg gasped for air, the commander was heavy, and the flames were quickly making the air almost too hot to breathe.

A large cask of rum exploded in the heat, spraying flaming alcohol in all directions. Some of it splashed onto Sieg's sleeve, forcing him to drop Taffet as he desperately tried to slap it out. Some of the rum had splashed Taffet as well and Sieg desperately slapped it out, ignoring the burning on his hands as he did.

Fueled with panic and desperation, Sieg grabbed Taffet again and dragged her towards the stern. Panting and sweating, Sieg reached the bottom of the staircase, hooked his arms under Taffet's arms, and started to pull her up the stairs. Choking clouds of smoke billowed up the staircase and between the deck boards and Sieg felt as if he were going to pass out.

By the time Sieg reached the top of the stairs, half a dozen crewmen had arrived, some bearing buckets, others carrying a long canvas hose.

"Get the pumps manned!"

"Form a bucket line lads!"

"There's too much fire sir!"

"What happened?!" one officer demanded and he helped Sieg drag Taffet away from the staircase.

"A lamp fell!" Sieg coughed. "Must have been... something wrong... All of a sudden there was so much fire!"

Before the officer could say anything else, a crew member emerged from the cargo hold, his fur singed and his face stained black from smoke and soot.

"It's bad down there sir!" the young man said, brushing embers off his shirt. "Everything is burning! The deck won't hold!"

"Get more buckets down there then! We can't lose the Victory!"

"Sir, it's all on fire! There's nothing we can do! The ship is lost!"

"Get back down there or I will have your hide!"

As the officer and crew members argued, Sieg slowly backed away, vanishing amongst the chaos. The moment he was sure that no one was paying him any mind, Sieg sprinted for the stairs leading out of the lower decks, twisting and turning to avoid the panicked crew rushing to and fro.

After standing aside for a moment as another team of crewmen hurriedly dragged another hose down the stairs past him, Sieg leapt up the stairs as fast as he could. But just as he was about to climb the final staircase that led to the top deck, he heard the bellowing voice of the Captain on the deck above him.

"Get more men on the pumps now! And find Conrad's brat, there is no way this is a coincidence!"

Hurriedly retreating from the staircase, Sieg felt a wave of panic wash over him. He had to escape, but where could he go?

As more crew and soldiers descended the staircase, Sieg retreated towards the rear of the ship.

"Come on, think!"

The ship bucked as something in the cargo hold exploded. The blast rocked the lower decks, nearly knocking Sieg off his feet. The deck groaned, the sound of wood splintering filling the air. The Tahl's Victory was already beginning to come apart.

In a panic, Sieg made for the captain's quarters at the rear of the ship. As he ran he heard someone call out behind him, but he didn't pause to look back.

Bursting into the captain's quarters, Sieg slammed and locked the door behind him. Almost immediately he could hear the sounds of swords slamming against the door and the wall, the wood cracking and splintering. Now there was only one way to go.

Grabbing hold of the chair behind the Captain's desk, Sieg heaved it at the window. The glass panes shattered and the wood frames splintered as the chair crashed into them.

Sieg tossed the chair aside as the blade of a sword tore through the door behind him. Sieg backed up as far as he could, took a deep breath, wrapped his cloak around his arms, and lunged at the broken window as fast as his legs could carry him.

In an explosion of broken glass and wood, Sieg's body tore through the weakened window. He managed to take a deep breath as he fell, before plunging, amidst a shower of glass fragments, into the icy cold waters of the harbour below.

The shock of the frigid water closing over him nearly paralyzed Sieg. For a moment all he could feel was the chaos of cold and bubbles around him. He couldn't even tell which way was up. He began to panic as memories flashed through his mind of water in his lungs and the desperate pain of drowning.

Frantically, he clawed his way towards what he hoped was the surface. Sieg gasped as his head breached the surface.

The waters of the harbour were already choppy, the wind whipping them into a froth as the storm bore down on Basikal, great sheets of frigid rain rolling across the harbour.

Swimming as hard as he could, Sieg made for the dock, fighting hard against his clothes and cloak which were weighing him down. Finally, just as his arms felt like they were going to seize up, Sieg reached the dock. Grabbing hold of one of the support beams, Sieg hauled himself out of the water and slumped across the wood, too exhausted to lift his legs out of the water.

Behind him, on the Tahl's Victory, the fire was spreading rapidly, a choking cloud of smoke rising from the deck and into the darkening sky. The fire had already reached the top deck, the flames audibly hissing and sputtering in the rain and the wind.

Suddenly, just as Sieg was considering where to go next, he felt a powerful hand grab hold of the back of his tunic. Sieg tried to hold onto the beam and dig in his claws, but whoever it was who had a hold of him was too strong and he was hauled upwards.

End of Part 22.

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