Premer Tzargo grinned as he watched Cardijja flee. He remembered his own feelings the first time he met the demons, but he was not about to feel sympathy for his rival. Cardijja was well respected by his men, and even Tzargo had to admit that the man was capable of great deeds, but he was not about to allow anyone to come between the Emperor and himself. A true Motangan never allowed that.
Chapter 14
Feline Persuasion
StormSong, ValleyBreeze, HawkShadow, StarWind, and Lyra dismounted from their chokas and turned to look at the narrow canyon they had just come through. General Didyk and General Manitow slid off their horses and joined the small group.
“Are you sure that halting and making a stand is a wise idea?” asked Lyra. “There are still far too many of the Motangans left.”
“This is the only passage in this ridge for a league in either direction,” nodded HawkShadow. “The plan is not without risks, but this is a golden opportunity to trim their numbers.”
“This is the ridge that I drew on Doralin’s map when I was captured,” interjected StarWind. “He thinks it runs on for leagues and leagues. He will be forced to bring his armies through it.”
“He would be a fool to believe you,” scowled StormSong. “Besides, he will obviously know that you are no longer captive. Won’t he change his plans?”
“He might,” shrugged HawkShadow, “but that does not change my thinking. Let’s assume that he is smart enough to send men out in each direction. Marching a league will take a good deal of time for those troops. Meanwhile, we can position archers atop the ridge where it ends.”
“So if he does question my information,” StarWind nodded, “his men will die three times as fast. We fight those coming through the canyon while our archers attack both ends of the ridge.”
“I think it can work,” added ValleyBreeze. “We could also have mages up with the archers. Our only problem will be breaking off the fight and retreating when they start to overrun us.”
“That is a problem,” frowned HawkShadow. “There is no easy way off the ridge.
“We can station troops on this side at each end of the ridge,” offered General Manitow. “We should be able to halt the Motangan advance long enough to give some time to those upon the ridge.”
“And how will your men retreat?” asked Lyra.
“Our men will be mounted,” answered General Didyk. “We can surely outrun the Motangans. Personally, I like this plan. I am glad that I am no longer fighting the Sakovans. The Motangans will lose a great many men in this battle. It will be a glorious victory for us.”
“You seem united in this,” smiled Lyra. “So be it then. We will stand here and inflict as much damage as we can on the Motangans, but I want an organized withdrawal when the time comes. This will not be our last stand.”
“Agreed,” nodded HawkShadow. “We must preserve our people if we are to win this war.”
“Have you contacted Marak about what I learned during my capture?” StarWind asked Lyra.
“Not yet,” the Star of Sakova shook her head. “I will do that right after this meeting.”
“And you will do that from StarCity?” StormSong asked sternly.
“I am not a feeble old woman,” frowned Lyra. “I have much to offer in these battles.”
“No one is questioning your power or your courage,” interjected HawkShadow, “but you are more than just a military weapon. You are the heart and soul of our people. Your loss, even if a simple wounding, would demoralize our people. We cannot risk that at this time.”
“He is right, Lyra,” StarWind smiled compassionately. “You are the symbol of Kaltara to us. The time will come when your powers are truly needed, but it will not be a minor battle in the woods of the Sakova.”
“Minor battle?” balked Lyra. “You cannot possibly believe that? Our whole army is on the line in this battle.”
“Our whole army is on the line each and every day,” declared General Manitow. “I agree that the Star should remove herself from the battlefield. I am going to ready my troops.”
“Manitow has already spoken my words,” smiled General Didyk as he bowed to the Star and retreated after General Manitow.
StormSong and ValleyBreeze smiled and also left. Lyra glared at HawkShadow and StarWind.
“The two of you planned this,” accused Lyra, “didn’t you?”
“If you mean making the others leave so that we could be alone with you,” grinned HawkShadow, “then the answer is yes. StarWind and I would like you to marry us before you return to StarCity.”
“Before I return…” Lyra began with a scowl, but she suddenly stopped short with a look of disbelief on her face. “Did you say marry you?”
“He did,” grinned StarWind. “We want your blessing.”
Tears came to Lyra’s eyes, but she smiled broadly. She rushed over and hugged StarWind.
“I am so happy for both of you,” Lyra cried. “We can have a big celebration when we all return to StarCity. I will have a beautiful gown made up for you.”
“We do not want to wait until after the war,” StarWind said softly. “We do not even want to wait until after this battle. We want you to marry us now.”
“Before the battle?” Lyra frowned as she broke the embrace. “Is that wise?” she asked without having to explain her reservations.
“It is the wisest thing that either of us has every done,” HawkShadow replied with a grin. “We will put our faith in Kaltara to make our a marriage a long and happy one.”
“And if He decides differently,” added StarWind, “we are ready to accept His judgment. HawkShadow and I have already discussed this at great lengths. Our minds are made up.”
“Talking to either one of you when your minds are made up is bad enough,” chuckled Lyra. “I will not even attempt to second guess your resolve, but will we have time to put together a wedding here on such short notice?”
“We will invite only the witnesses,” answered HawkShadow. “We have chosen Goral and StormSong to witness for us.”
“But the others will want to wish you well,” frowned Lyra.
“Others may come if their tasks are complete,” shrugged HawkShadow, “but we do not intend to slow down the preparations for the Motangan attack. A simple ceremony is all we ask for.”
“And your blessings,” added StarWind.
“My blessings?” smiled the Star of Sakova. “You shall certainly receive my blessings and my prayers. When do you wish to do this?”
HawkShadow whistled loudly, and Goral and StormSong suddenly appeared. StormSong was carrying a bunch of wildflowers and handed them to StarWind.
“Now would be a good time,” the assassin grinned.
* * *
“Come on,” shouted the Motangan general, “get those wagons loaded. The sun is already setting, and this caravan was supposed to be out of here this morning.”
The black-cloaked mage stood beside the general and shook his head in disbelief. “Do you think your men could work any slower?” he scowled. “Premer Doralin is certainly going to be asking questions about this delay, and I will not take the blame for it.”
“As you have made clear all afternoon,” snapped the general. “You file your report, and I will file mine. There is something spooky about this city of Alamar. All day I have had men coming to me and telling me that the supplies were not where they were supposed to be. It is almost magical how things have been moved around.”
“What are you suggesting?” frowned the mage. “Are you accusing my mages of hampering your efforts to load the supply caravans?”
“I made no such accusation,” retorted the general, “but it is curious that things are not where we left them. It certainly is not the fault of all these cats that have suddenly invaded the city. You tell me how it has happened.”
“I will tell you,” countered the mage. “Your men have probably been drinking again and have no idea where they stored the supplies when they came off the ships. Do not even think of pinning the blame for your incompetence on my mages. With ten thousand men you surely should be able to handle the shipment of supplies without magical help.”