Those behind the inferno retreated, but the vanguard surged forward into the darkness. A half dozen Sakovan arrows flew as one as the Omungans charged along the tunnel. The front row of the Omungans fell to the floor of the tunnel amid cries of agony and injury. A second volley of arrows immediately followed.
“They say that the dying can see a light at the end of a tunnel,” ValleyBreeze quipped out loud. “I wonder if it looks like this?”
ValleyBreeze’s hand released a ball of brilliant light. The ball sped towards the attackers, flattening into a disk as it traveled. The disk spread and sprouted blazing blades of light just before it sliced into the charging Omungans. The resulting screams were loud, but short.
“Warn us next time so we can close our eyes,” scowled ThunderSword. “I cannot see anything now.”
“Sorry,” ValleyBreeze replied sheepishly. “Cover your eyes. I plan to finish off the vanguard.”
The Sakovan mage waited a few seconds before unleashing her next spell. She was conditioned enough to avert her eyes as the brilliant light sped along the tunnel. She tossed one more spell and the tunnel grew quiet. Only the dim sounds of the wounded drifted in the air.
“I am done,” announced ValleyBreeze. “You archers can finish off the wounded.”
It was a few moments before the song of the first bowstring was heard. The Sakovan archers aimed by the sounds of the wounded and not by sight. Within moments the only sound was the distant shouting of the retreating Omungans.
“That will hold them for a while,” announced ThunderSword. “Where did you learn that spell?”
“The Chula shaman that Lyra brought with her when she was here last,” replied ValleyBreeze. “It is quite effective in an enclosed space such as this.”
“I can see that,” replied ThunderSword, “and it doesn’t waste arrows.”
“How long before they come again?” asked ValleyBreeze.
“Hard to tell,” admitted ThunderSword. “I suppose it will not be before the fires burn out. The problems as I see it is that there are far too many of them. We will need sleep eventually, but they can just send in fresh troops. We cannot hold this tunnel indefinitely.”
“We can, and we will,” asserted FalconEye from the safety of another pyron. “If we fail to hold this tunnel, all of StarCity will be destroyed. We can be relieved to get sleep just as well as the Omungans can. We just need to make sure that we keep our areas dark so that they cannot see what we are doing.”
* * *
“Come in,” smiled SunChaser as she saw who was at the door.
HawkShadow gazed in through the door as his eyes scanned the room before stepping through the doorway and leading SkyDancer with him.
“There is no one here,” SunChaser announced as she closed the door. “I told the servants to stay away until I recall them. Although they are loyal to me, I did not want them to see who was coming and going during these trying times.”
“Sounds like a safe approach to me,” nodded HawkShadow as his eyes continued to scan the interior of Cherri’s mansion. “You live quite well here.”
“Of course,” grinned SunChaser. “How else can I portray myself as the widow of a high ranking Omungan official? Would you like something to eat?”
“I sure would,” volunteered SkyDancer. “There is nothing to eat in Omunga. Do you have enough?”
“The rich are never affected by famine,” shrugged SunChaser. “Perhaps that is why they are so out of touch with the common citizen. Anyway, my kitchen is well stocked. I could not entertain the likes of the Minister of Defense if that were not so.”
“Have you kept in touch with StarCity?” asked HawkShadow as SunChaser led the new arrivals into the dining room.
“Of course,” nodded SunChaser. “I report in several times a day. I cannot afford to be lax in that regard. Okata is where the outcome of this war will be determined.”
“Perhaps,” shrugged the Sakovan assassin. “What happens at StarCity could also determine the outcome.”
“StarCity is under attack right now,” notified SunChaser. “There is fighting within the tunnel.”
“Then we must be swift with whatever we intend to do here,” SkyDancer interjected with a sense of urgency.
“Swift, but not hasty,” smiled SunChaser. “HawkShadow, go upstairs and enter the room at the top of the stairs. There are clothes in there for you. Put them on and come back down.”
HawkShadow looked at SunChaser questioningly, but she ignored him and went to the kitchen to get some food for her guests. When she returned, SunChaser placed bowls of salad on the table.
“That will get you started,” SunChaser smiled at SkyDancer. “I have some clova left over, but it is still being heated. It won’t be long.”
SkyDancer nodded her thanks and smiled. She was just dipping into the salad when she saw the Imperial Guard approaching. She leaped from her chair and pulled her sword.
“Easy, warrior,” chuckled HawkShadow as he entered the room dressed as an Imperial Guard. “Your food will not digest properly if you leap around while eating.” He turned to face SunChaser and asked, “What exactly am I supposed to do dressed this way?”
“Portray an Imperial Guard,” giggled SunChaser. “You do look quite official in that uniform.”
“Is that smart in a city with ten thousand other Imperial Guards?” asked HawkShadow.
“It is if you are to portray a soldier carrying orders from the Minister of Defense,” nodded SunChaser as she opened a drawer in a cabinet and retrieved a piece of paper.
She carefully folded the paper and then sealed it with wax using the seal of the Minister of Defense.
“Is that authentic?” asked SkyDancer.
“Oh yes,” nodded SunChaser. “General Kapla has two. He normally leaves one in his office and one at his home. This is the one from his home. The other is with him up north.”
“What does the paper say?” asked HawkShadow.
“It is marching orders for General Didyk and his army,” grinned SunChaser. “You are to portray a soldier on General Kapla’s staff. You will present this letter personally to General Didyk. No matter what anyone else says, you are to place it directly into the general’s hand. I do not want to take the chance of General Didyk saying that the orders never reached him.”
“Am I supposed to know what is in the letter?” asked HawkShadow.
“Not directly,” answered SunChaser, “but you will be aware of the purpose of the letter. As a member of General Kapla’s staff, you would have knowledge of something so important that orders had to be sent by special courier.”
“Makes sense,” nodded HawkShadow. “What are the orders, and why are they being issued?”
“General Didyk is being ordered to move his army to Alamar in support of General Romero,” answered SunChaser. “He is to leave immediately as General Romero’s army is under attack by Sakovans. The letter will explain how General Romero thinks he can hold out for no more than a week, so speed is essential. He is to leave without siege engines as they would slow his army down.”
“This is brilliant if he falls for it,” HawkShadow said with approval. “What if General Didyk questions the signature?”
“The signature is authentic,” grinned SunChaser. “I had General Kapla sign many blank papers when I was managing his investments. If that letter is placed into his hand, he cannot refuse the order. To do so would be treason.”
“What if the Katana countermands the order?” asked SkyDancer.
“He is the only one who could legally change the order,” frowned SunChaser. “The Katana must not learn of the order before General Didyk’s army has left the city.”
“Will this leave the city without Imperial Guards?” asked SkyDancer.