Chapter Thirty One
Dawn came all too early. She pulled herself out of bed and sat down in the morning light and meditated; passively gauging the state of her psyche. She felt a few raw edges and scars that could use some attention so she lingered there a while, holding each in her awareness and letting her natural healing take its course. Then she arose and prepared for battle.
Since a captain’s jacket being damaged in a fight wasn’t an unusual event, Dahlia had been supplied with an extra. She slipped one on over the otherwise unrelieved black of her clothes. She bound up her hair again, strapped on her sheathed axes, and left.
Sabir was sitting protectively close to Fidelity as she wolfed down large quantities of fried venison and eggs. Her face had filled back out and regained it’s color. She’d place a beautiful white rose in full bloom at the base of one of her pigtails.
Dahlia made herself a large cup of strong tea, collected some eggs for herself, and sat down with them.
“Welcome back to life, Fidelity.”
Fidelity stopped eating long enough to get out a cheerful, “Good morning, Captain!”
“That’s a beautiful rose.”
“Someone left it when Sabir nodded off.”
Dahlia arched an eyebrow at Sabir. “Really?”
Sabir grinned, “Don’t look at me. I wish I was that smooth.”
Fidelity looked thoughtful then shook her head. “The lieutenant from Barrack Thirteen is pretty cute and I think he was flirting with me the other day when I was out for a run.”
Dahlia laughed, “Lieutenant Kiran doesn’t strike me as the stealthy type. Maybe it was one of the doctors.”
“I’m just absolutely bewitching when I’m snoring,” Fidelity joked. “Could have been anyone who fell under my spell, really.”
“Forgive my interruption,” Borreal’s soft voice held a hint of amusement. Fidelity blushed the same color as her hair.
“Not at all, Captain Borreal, will you join us?” Dahlia said, looking up at him in mild surprise. “Can I get you some tea?”
“I’d like that, thank you.”
Dahlia pushed a cup over to him as he sat and poured some of the tea she’d made. He took a sip and coughed. “I forgot how strong you brew it.”
“We have milk and honey if that would help.” Fidelity offered, recovering from her momentary embarrassment.
Borreal took a smaller sip, “I think I’ll be fine now that I’m prepared for it, thank you.” He smiled at her, “I’m glad to see you’re in much better shape this morning.”
Fidelity smiled shyly, “Thank you, Captain. Just a bit of food and sleep and I’m right as rain.”
Borreal glanced at the enormous amount of venison and eggs still in front of the petite woman and seemed mildly lost for words.
Dahlia rescued him from the contradiction that was her fourth officer, “It is always a pleasure to see you, what brings you to my table so early this morning?”
“Looking for you, Captain DeMorra. Captains are requested for a meeting. I offered to stop by and deliver the message myself so I could see how you and your barrack were recovering. I suspect they’ll start an attack today.”
Fidelity dug into her eggs again at this news. Dahlia inwardly sighed. The woman wasn’t exaggerating when she said she just needed sleep and food and she’d be alright. The woman’s berserk abilities made her extremely difficult to kill and accelerated healing but that was only if she made it back alive. To fuel her abilities her body would consume itself from the inside out if she lost control as she had outside the gate.
“Thank you, Captain,” Dahlia replied, “when are we gathering?”
“In about an hour,” Borreal sipped at the tea again as Genji wandered in and snatched a piece of venison off Fidelity’s plate. She snarled at him as he shot out of reach.
“Glad to see you’re feeling better,” Genji grinned at her. “Getting ready to take out another company singlehanded? Imagine their humiliation at being pounded into the ground by a little girl with a flower in her hair.”
“Be polite you heathen,” Fidelity huffed. “We have a guest.”
Genji’s eyes shot over to Borreal and he bowed, “Excuse me, Captain, I was overwhelmed with relief that my fellow member had recovered and missed observing anything else.”
Borreal nodded at him and Dahlia waved him away, “Enough, Genji, your sense of where the line between appropriate and too much is seems to be off this morning.”
Genji arranged his face in a serious expression and bowed. “Yes, Captain DeMorra,” he said then walked away with a spring in his step. She suspected her rebuke had been met with more amusement than humility but Genji was an excellent actor when he chose to be. He had a talent for toeing the line without ever crossing into disrespect that Dahlia wouldn’t have tolerated.
She looked from Genji to Fidelity. He’d mentioned the rose rather quickly. She paused to consider it before turning back to the conversation at the table.
Borreal stayed a few minutes longer until he’d drank enough of her tea to be polite then nodded to them and left. A moment later Fidelity finished her plate and ran out to the yard to loosen up muscles stiff from repair and inactivity during the hours she’d slept. Dahlia and Sabir were left alone at the table as Genji opted to eat outside to enjoy the summer morning.
“How is Nel?” she asked him.
“Much better. He needs to stay under observation for a couple days but then he’ll be back and close to one hundred percent.”
“Thank goodness. When I saw him charging after Fidelity like that I thought we were going to lose our newest member.”
“I did too. I’m not sure where to place the blame; with him, Fidelity, or myself. I’ve taught them how to fight but not enough strategy. I understand why other barracks favor a regimented style, it prevents members from making mistakes like that. I need to work on strategy drills for large numbers like we faced.” Sabir looked like he’d been beating himself up over it.
“It is a risk we take running the barrack like this but don’t be so hard on yourself. If any blame lands on you then it automatically lands at my door, too. I couldn’t ask for a better lieutenant. We’ll just be grateful that no permanent damage was done and learn our lesson. Melee has never been a strong point of mine so it’s likely I’m guilty of neglecting it. We’ll increase strategy drills and I’ll stop using my own drawbacks as excuses.” She smiled, “It’ll be fun to watch Fidelity get frustrated trying to take on uneven odds until she learns to think through what she’s doing anyways.”
Sabir grinned. Dahlia was glad she’d been able to cheer him up. She’d chosen him as her first lieutenant as a good balance for her. He was rock solid, steady, and a concrete thinker while she excelled at abstract thinking, pushing offense, and multitasking under stress.
She sat in silence with her lieutenant, enjoying the quiet companionship until she felt the time of her departure growing near. She took a final sip of her tea then grabbed the pot, her cup, and Borreal’s half-finished cup. She rinsed them before walking out into the beautiful summer morning.
She allowed herself to become lost in the charm of the summer foliage while she walked down the familiar paths. There would be enough strife and stress soon enough. For now she wanted to appreciate the beauty.
She felt someone approaching. Speaking of strife and stress she glanced over her shoulder to see Horan. She made an effort to keep her body relaxed as he caught up to her.
“Good morning, Captain DeMorra.”
“Good morning, Captain Horan.”
“I wanted to congratulate you on your victory yesterday, it isn’t every day you get to witness a challenge between such skilled opponents.”
He sounded sincere. He had made an effort to be polite to her after their one encounter in front of Nel. That didn’t mean she would lower her guard around him, however. She wouldn’t have been able to push him like that unless the feelings had already been there and he was already inclined to behave like a lout.
She smiled blandly, “I was honored to have the gods on my side.”
“Yes, I was quite shocked that the heathens would have risked the gods’ wrath to interfere with the trial. I suppose we can consider Captain Ravin’s quick response the instrument of their judgement in this case.”
“The gods decree and men attend,” Dahlia mouthed the platitude as as neutral an agreement as possible. She wondered how far the circumstances of the first attack on her had spread. Was Horan probing to see if Ravin’s response might have been motivated by anything beyond defending a fellow captain? She shook it off. If rumors were going around then let him wonder. If anyone involved had told him then he wouldn’t have been looking for confirmation. Either it was an innocent observation or he wasn’t sure.
“As well we can,” Horan responded with an appropriate platitude. “I hope you will not think me rude to observe that the appearance of your,” he fished for a word, “...doubles, may have added fuel to the fires of their beliefs.”
“That is regrettable,” Dahlia focused on staying neutral without being obviously brusk.
“I do trust that none of our soldiers or citizens will buy into their hysteria. Do you plan to make the extent of your abilities public knowledge?” Horan seemed to be fishing for something but she couldn’t quite identify what.
“I trust that they will see that the gods themselves have deemed me innocent and will place their faith there.” Dahlia answered only the first part of his statement.
“It’s such an unusual ability. Of course the Puppet Master of legends called on shadows,” he paused. “Though I once heard it phrased as ‘shadows of himself’. Perhaps someone in the emperor’s forces stumbled on that version.”
“But if they hadn’t seen my ability before I don’t see how that would matter.” Dahlia was starting to get annoyed. She didn’t see the point of this conversation and no amount of bland platitudes seemed to be putting him off.
“Unless someone outside their force had and had then told a member of that force.”
“I’m afraid I really don’t see what you’re getting at,” Dahlia was short now.
“It would be rather unfortunate if anyone in this city had heard the same version I did and took it into their head to wonder if the mob had a valid case against you. After all, not everyone saw the trial end with a dagger throw. I would hate to see any ill-ease linger towards a fellow captain.”
“If someone were to weigh a tale and a heathen’s word against that of the gods and their chosen commander then I would suppose they’d find very few allies.” Dahlia shot at him, trying to hide her annoyance. This man did not deserve the satisfaction of riling her up.
“I suppose they would,” Horan nodded as they approached the meeting hall. He bowed politely to her and strode off.
What the hell was the point of that, Dahlia thought to herself.
As usual, Dahlia walked over to stand near Borreal who looked his normally serene self. He nodded to her and she returned the nod without breaking her train of thought. She turned the conversation over in her head. Surely Horan hadn’t risked provoking her--again--without a decent reason. He’d hinted that her power could make her allies nervous. Well she already knew that and though she didn’t hold much weight in the gods’ direct interference in trials by combat she knew the majority of the population was much more reverent of their deities. But he’d hinted that they may view the trial as invalidated. If that was the case then the assumption would be that Ravin violated it by attacking the trial’s administrator. Maybe he was still fishing around for her relationship with Ravin, trying to provoke something there. Or maybe he really was just trying to provoke her. ‘Jerk’ didn’t begin to cover him.
She reviewed her answers. Nothing she had said could have given him any information he didn’t already possess so she dismissed Horan from her mind. Beside her Borreal turning towards the platform snapped her back to attention and she saw Mazaran mounting and preparing to speak.
“Captains,” he addressed them all, scanning the room. “Please, bear with me, as I review some of what many of you already know. I want to ensure that we are all on the same page after yesterday’s attack.”
“You all heard the accusations that were made against Captain DeMorra, Captain Ravin, and against all of us. Though she had no obligation to, Captain DeMorra faced these accusations in a trial by combat which Captain Borreal and Captain Ravin oversaw and I witnessed along with the council and the majority of the captains here. The result was undeniable and Captain Ravin acted in accordance with the laws of the gods to preserve the outcome. I will state again that these are the facts I and the council witnessed. In addition, the three captains were able to return with a valuable prisoner. They are to be commended for their actions.”
He paused, giving the next question weight. “I ask you now, captains, does anyone here have another observation or interpretation? You will not be censored if you speak now, but once we leave I will have absolute consensus among my officers. We must be seen as a unified force.”
Lenoi stood forward, “Captain Mazaran, if I may speak.”
“Yes, Captain Lenoi.”
“I have worked with Captain DeMorra in an effort to retain the mind of one of our captives from the enemy’s force. So I know full well that this attack on their minds does not come from her but from inside their own walls.”
Mazaran nodded and Lenoi continued, “But, Captain Mazaran, we heard them call her by the title Puppet Master which I have not heard in many years. Now I hear that this is a title that has been given to her by our own council. They have accused her in her own name, known only to a select number of people. How did they know or recognize this if her own allies did not? I do not challenge the will of the gods for I agree the trial was absolute. I only ask if there is a trail that may lead back.”
Dahlia could have hit the woman. If any captain had been unaware that her unwanted title was officially sanctioned then they certainly knew it now. Her question was oddly similar to what Horan had hinted at earlier. Had they been discussing this? Or was it an indication of a wider reaction to yesterday’s events?
Captain Mazaran addressed her, “I recognize that your concern comes from your support of the force as a whole, Captain Lenoi. I will address your point fairly and, I hope, to your satisfaction. Captain DeMorra’s abilities have never been a secret. As etiquette dictates, we do not brag or display them. Her abilities were identified early on by Master Ko as were the noted similarities to the Puppet Master of legend. She has been evaluated, as have you all, and been found worthy of the honor, as have all captains. I trust the word of your old master carries the same weight for you as it does for me. The title was given in accordance with an archaic formality.”
Lenoi nodded, keeping her gaze fixed on Mazaran as he continued, “As for a trail leading back to her. As I said, her abilities were not kept a secret. If someone were determined enough they could discover much the same about any other captain here. As we’ve seen, some of their members have infiltrated our force. It would be safe to act on the assumption that they had the opportunity to discover an equal amount of information about your abilities.”
Lenoi nodded again.
“Now, I have revealed as much as I may. May I have your trust that I have full faith in Captain DeMorra’s innocence?”
“Yes, Captain Mazaran,” Lenoi bowed and returned to where she’d been standing. Dahlia focused directly on Mazaran, looking neither left nor right as she felt the eyes of her fellow captains. She sensed curiosity barely tinged by a nervous energy. These men and women were fighters to their core and they knew her, had seen how she worked with them and with her barrack. They would be the last people she would expect to shake in their shoes from a story of a myth come back to walk among them. She hoped Mazaran’s words would ease any tension and that that would remain the case.
Mazaran allowed the silence to stretch for a moment. “Then if that is all let’s turn to the defense of our city. We will replace the temporary measures I currently have stationed throughout. If any of your barrack members were part of these temporary placements they will be recalled and allowed to rest before they join the new defense initiatives.”
“I’m sure you have all observed that the men outside our gates are greater in number but contain a large number of untrained fighters.” Heads around the room nodded as he continued, “We must assume they will attempt to invade and overwhelm us. That would involve getting a large amount of their force in all at once. If it was any less then we could hold them off indefinitely purely through skill alone. That limits their options and will require them to select a strategy for overcoming our walls that is less than subtle. While we will put in place basic protection against the possibility of a concentrated strike I will focus our efforts on mobilizing to repel a large-scale operation.”
“This requires us to plan for a smaller set of likely attacks. They must go through our gate, collapse a portion of the wall, or find a way to transport a large amount of soldiers over our wall extremely quickly. The first is easy enough to counter. Barracks two through five will guard the gate through the night and barracks six through ten will be stationed during the day. Two barracks should be on guard at all times with the other nine in reserve. Watch for any veiled attack on the structure as well as an open attack. Captain Belakris and Captain Ravin, take command of your respective division.”
“The last has a limited number of options for defense as well. Captain Horan and Captain Lenoi, you will construct traps above the perimeter and prepare defenses that are deployable in the case that a large number of soldiers begin amassing in one location outside of their camp. Yours is the most ill-defined initiative and I leave it to your combined expertise to protect against an attempt to come over the wall any way beyond scaling.”
“The second, collapsing a wall, has the most requirements for defense. All captains will pull the members of their barracks with abilities related to sensing or manipulating the earth and send them to Captain Jenue. Captain Jenue, you will arrange to monitor the grounds for any activity near the wall. Captain Borreal will take the remaining eight barracks and arrange to monitor the perimeter, rotating to keep men in reserve to respond to any division that experiences an attack.”
“Research will provide temporary constructs per each Captain’s request that will allow immediate communication over the announcement system. Get the minimum number you will need sent over in a request to Professor Engail. She has team members working on them already.”
“My barrack will be preparing offensive maneuvers and will pull you in as needed. Ensure that both your lieutenants are prepared to take over for you at all times. That is all, please coordinate with your respective divisions.”
Dahlia saw Ravin walk towards the Captain of Barrack Two, Belakris, a young-looking man with sandy hair. She remained where she was as Borreal moved to take the platform. Having the most people to coordinate, he would logically stay in the meeting hall.
Ravin finished speaking with Belakris and motioned for the captains of his division to follow him into the captain’s lounge off the hall. The room was typically used for captains that wanted to relax and have a drink without their barrack around. Dahlia had only been in it a handful of times, preferring the privacy of her room or office. She followed the captains of Barracks Six, Seven, and Eight: Adenji, Symom, and Jynsen.
The lounge was comfortably furnished with stuffed seats and low tables. Ravin dropped into one in a corner of the room, filling the large seat and dwarfing the three captains that joined him. Dahlia grabbed a pot of tea and cups and placed them on the table. Then she sank into the chair closest to both Ravin and the table before pouring a cup for herself. Symom and Jynsen poured themselves tea as well as Ravin laid out the plan in his deep rasp.
“Belakris and I agreed to overlap division shifts. We’re seven in the morning to eight in the evening. His division is seven in the evening to eight in the morning. Adenji, Symom take the first half. Jynsen, stay in reserve to help when we have to defend and relay messages between us and the other divisions. Send two members of Barrack Eight to each shift. They can run for help and run messages. I’ll take second half with DeMorra. Keep ranged weapons on the soldiers at all times.”
He paused and the other four captains nodded. “Arite then, relieve the men currently at the gate. I heard some of them are yours? Good, keep them on. Send someone to me and Mazaran if anything interesting happens. DeMorra, I’ll see your barrack at the gate at two.”
Dahlia nodded again in assent. Ravin rose with the other three following suit to see to their barracks. Dahlia remained for a moment with her tea, contemplating Mazaran and Ravin’s strategies. Her pairing with him was natural. He and his barrack were indisputably the best in combat. Dahlia’s strength in psychic and stealth attacks covered an area his team was not as strong in and her barrack’s unstructured fighting style would mix well with his. He also excelled individually in unstructured and larger scale combat which Dahlia did not and, as a known target, could be vulnerable to.
But Ravin was unpredictable and utterly fearless. It wasn’t that he was brave. To be brave you had to overcome fear. Ravin simply had none. He loved combat and pitting himself against opponents. He excelled at it because he was single-minded in his approach. Nothing interfered and nothing distracted him because, in his view, nothing should. It was black and white. Dahlia couldn’t help remembering what he’d been like when he’d appeared in her garden, pulling her into a hunt with him. In this case, his interest in her might be just as black and white as his interest in fighting. He wanted it so nothing should interfere. He wouldn’t see any reason the two goals should conflict.
Single-minded didn’t mean dumb. Quite the opposite. Intense focus provided extremely astute strategy. Ravin had demonstrated that many times, even during her short time in the captains’ ranks. If anyone could watch her back and keep her secure it would be Ravin. Mazaran would not be above using the knowledge that he’d been in her room that one night to ensure that she, as a potential weapon, remained out of enemy hands. He may have been manipulating Ravin and Ravin may have seen it and taken the opportunity anyways. What would he care how the opportunity was made available? Dahlia’s head spun. Naturally gifted at pulling others’ strings she’d caught on early how internal politics worked and tried to fly as far below the radar as she could. The recent attention from other captains and exposure of not only her abilities but her erratic relationship with Ravin made her exceedingly anxious that she’d begin to get pulled into maneuverings she’d rather have had pass her by.
She left her cup and the rest of the tea things on the table and made her way back to her barrack. She felt herself relax marginally as she entered the area she considered her home with the people she’d collected into an odd sort of family.
Fidelity was lying on her back in the grass under a tree. Her feet delicately rested on her hammer and she twirled a flower between her fingers. Her expression was oddly serene for the volatile, passionate woman. Dahlia leaned over her and the dreamy expression in her eyes cleared as she bounced to her feet.
“Captain DeMorra, what’s the word?”
“Get everyone together in the common area so I only have to go over it once. We’re on the gate, second day shift.”
“Yes, ma’am!” The woman darted away.
Within ten minutes her barrack had assembled, lounging around the common area. Dahlia stood and addressed them, “Alright you all, we’ve been assigned to a division of five barracks under Captain Ravin that will be stationed on the gate during the day. The division has been divided into two shifts. Barrack Six and Seven are on the first and we’re with Barrack Nine from two to eight in the evening. Barrack Eight will stand by so they are fresh to provide support at any time our area sees action. Everyone is to carry ranged weapons and members with ranged abilities will be stationed in key areas. We haven’t worked with Captain Ravin’s barrack regularly but it shouldn’t be difficult; our method of organization is similar to theirs. They adapt to the flow of combat easily and should be able to read our movements quickly and respond. I heard from our lieutenants that that was the case the last night we worked with them and I’ve seen it in the past. When looking for direction watch me, Captain Ravin, and your lieutenants. If I am unavailable or called elsewhere they will be able to direct your movements just as ably.”
“We’ll likely be tasked with watching for veiled attacks so Arreal, Fidelity, and Jo-jo be prepared. Our psychic abilities will work well there. When we are off-duty everyone be available and armed. If there is an attack we’re likely to be called in to support defense. Raschel, members with an ability to manipulate earth are to report to Captain Jenue. Any questions about our role?”
Genji stood, “Captain DeMorra, would you prefer medium or long range?”
Dahlia nodded at her ranged weapons specialist, “You take both. Other members with ranged abilities take long range. Everyone else take medium. That should about evenly distribute it. Anything else?”
No one else stepped forward so she moved to general information. “Captain Jenue will be working with soldiers with abilities rooted in the earth to monitor for any attempt to collapse a portion of the wall. Captains Horan and Lenoi are preparing arial defenses. Captain Borreal is leading the other eight barracks on perimeter defense. Our division’s counterpart with be lead by Captain Belakris over Barracks One through Five monitoring the gate during the night. Captain Mazaran is running offense and will pull soldiers as needed. If you are pulled let me, Lieutenant Sabir, or Lieutenant Arreal know and leave immediately. Raschel, you will inform Captain Jenue. Letting me know will be a second priority. You may go now, Barrack Sixteen.”
Raschel stood, bowed, and left to join Captain Jenue’s team.
“The rest of you, the most likely strategies for our opponent in terms of our gate will be breaking through it, weakening it with a stealth team working on a key point, or infiltration and opening it from the inside. If they try to break through hopefully we’ll notice, it’d be difficult to keep that subtle,” Dahlia smiled at her joke. “Be on the lookout for anything that looks like a construct or trap designed to damage it so we can try to counter before they deploy. A stealth attack to weaken it will be up to our members monitoring for psychic hints to detect and locate along with whatever skills Captain Ravin’s soldiers have for detection.”
“Our best defense against infiltration is to stay alert and rigorous. Do not take appearances for granted. Particularly if it is someone you recognize but in a place you don’t expect. If I were attempting to infiltrate an enemy guard post I would use projection or illusion to switch places and appearances with someone they expected to see. It’s much less taxing and easier to pass off if someone starts to see through the illusion or veil. Soldiers stationed on the edge of the group, this will be especially important for you since you are the first defense against them and also the most likely to be targeted.”
She paused and let them take in everything she’d said.
“Questions?”
Genji stood up again. “Captain DeMorra,” he said with a very serious expression, “can we have a code word to identify ourselves with?”
Dahlia suppressed a grin, not entirely sure if he was having fun or making a contribution. The idea wasn’t a bad one. Being Genji it was likely both. “Of course, Genji, what would you recommend?”
“How about a question/answer code? We could start it with ‘What’s for dinner?’ then answer with ‘Axes and arrows’.”
Dahlia nodded to her third ranked member. “Alright, everyone remember that and if you see a team member doing anything that seems even remotely odd, ask them what’s for dinner.”
To their credit, her barrack took it in stride and all nodded seriously. Genji sat back down.
“Anything else?”
No one spoke up so she dismissed them. “Ok, everyone stay close and keep both combat and ranged weapons on or nearby in case we’re needed. Lieutenants, if you could stay with me.”
The rest of her team spread out, a few remaining at a seperate table in the common area. Sabir and Arreal pulled up seats near Dahlia.
“I want to make sure that you are both prepared to take over for me at any time so that if I am called away or incapacitated the barrack can support the defense effort as seamlessly as possible,” Dahlia told them.
They both nodded and listened.
“We are overlapping the last hour with Captain Belakris’s division. Captain Ravin will probably take charge in making sure they are up to speed and secure in the handoff. I’d like to show up to relieve our division’s first shift early so that we are confident in the handoff.”
“When we see any activity from our enemy I’d give initial orders, watch to see what Captain Ravin does, and then adjust accordingly. There will be two members of Barrack Eight there to send for reinforcements or communications. Again, make sure we prioritize a quick response and then send for help as needed. If you’re not sure then look to Captain Ravin to lead communications. If another division sends for our barrack while we are posted send half immediately, check in with Captain Ravin, and then follow with the rest.”
Dahlia racked her brain for a moment trying to think of any situation her lieutenants wouldn’t have clear direction. “I trust you both to run point for the barrack in my stead. If there’s any question, trust your judgement, don’t hesitate, and I believe it will be the best option.”
“We’ve got your back, Captain,” Arreal smiled at her.
“I know, thank you both.” Dahlia rose to retreat to her office. She answered urgent communications, sent a request for four emergency communication tools to Professor Engail, and pulled out her simple jet bow. Ranged weapons were not her speciality so she kept it as easy as possible, preferring to use psychic attacks and her focusing bands when necessary.
Having gotten her office duties out of the way, Dahlia situated herself in the garden to meditate. The small frays and stresses on her mind she repaired or let drift away. The bigger worries she let flow through her, taking the knowledge and grounding the emotional disruptions so she could continue to work through the coming days without any baggage or build up.
She did a quick check on the injuries she’d sustained the previous day in her trial with Mayuera. The treatment she’d received had accelerated the healing. A few areas were sore or tight but nothing pained her or threatened to reopen.
She was debating joining the members of her barrack practicing their ranged weapons when a messenger knocked and she bade him enter.
“Captain DeMorra,” he began, bowing, “the prisoner has requested to speak with you. Will you come?”
Dahlia nodded, curious, “Which prisoner?”
“The one brought in yesterday when you, Captain Borreal, and Captain Ravin were attacked after the trial.”
Mayuera then. Interesting. She followed the messenger to the infirmary holding area where they were admitted to find Mayuera still restrained but apparently receiving care. Enough so that he was clean and seemed to be in little discomfort.
Dahlia dismissed the guards and the messenger, assuring them that he posed no threat to her in his current state. She then turned to address the older man. “I was told you requested my attendance.”
He gave her a small, warm smile. “Yes, you see I’ve been contemplating the situation and what you told me. If you are able to give me a bit more information I believe I may be able to offer you something valuable.”
“You’ve changed your stance then to accept the possibility that I may be telling the truth?”
He nodded, “Yes. The longer I thought through it the more I thought it likely that your abilities are not mature enough yet to do everything that they’ve accused you of. Maybe you are playing a much deeper game and hiding the extent of what you can do to the point of letting me cut you up a good bit yesterday but I doubt it. More likely you do not have the ability to take the people they say you have in an area so far away and still be here in time to command your soldiers into battle with us. The latter conclusion is in line with what I saw of your psyche yesterday.”
Dahlia said nothing. It was true and she had to wonder why he hadn’t arrived at the same conclusion earlier. If her abilities were that strong it would have been suicide to face her in that trial. He hadn’t seemed shocked to find his opponent was not outrageously superior in skill. Mayuera allowed the silence to sit for a moment.
“And what was it you wanted to tell me?” Dahlia prompted.
“I’m not sure, I’d like to ask you a couple things first to see if I have anything worth telling.”
Dahlia resisted the urge to grow frustrated with the man. “Alright. Of course you know you’ve placed yourself in the situation of having to tell me whether or not I am able to answer your questions now that you’ve told a captain that you have information? To be fair, I’ll give you answers as I am able, providing the information is not something your forces could use against us.”
He nodded, “I suppose I have placed myself in that position. However, as I said, I’m not sure if I have something helpful or not and you likely don’t have time to pry half-composed thoughts out of me right now. Easier to answer a few questions.”
“And what are they?”
“The two men who followed you onto the field. One I saw had a solid shield, without cracks or purchases. Behind the shield stalked a predator. I couldn’t get a good look at it but I sensed bloodlust, savagery, and cunning. Who was that?”
“Sounds like Captain Ravin.”
“And what is he?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking,” Dahlia said carefully, not sure how much the blind man could see of Ravin’s psyche.
“What abilities does he display.”
“That’s something your force would consider valuable knowledge.”
“I understand. Tell me what they would already know. I’ve been told you were attacked after you knocked me unconscious.”
“Very well,” Dahlia conceded, “I can describe that. Zarek threw a dagger at me, Captain Ravin moved faster than Zarek and tackled him off the horse. I saw fire around Zarek as he tried to defend himself but Captain Ravin shook it off and killed him. He’s strong, fast, and isn’t affected by most physical attacks.”
“You saw fire? And Captain Ravin wasn’t hurt?”
“No, he was unmarked.”
“And the other man?” Mayuera asked. “I saw another man but it was hard to get a clear view and I don’t know quite how to describe it. I’ve never seen anything like him. It was as if his reality changed and shifted as he stood.”
The description fascinated Dahlia. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to see someone’s psyche that way, even shielded. “That must have been Captain Borreal. He was the only other person with me.”
“And what observable abilities did he display?”
“None.”
“None?”
Dahlia nodded her head and then realized he wouldn’t be able to sense it right now. “Yes.”
“A captain that outnumbered fought with no observed abilities?”
“Yes.”
“Is he arrogant?” The man’s tone was not offensive, merely curious.
“I’m not sure if that counts as observable but I don’t see what harm it would do with you knowing. No, Captain Borreal is not arrogant.” Her curiosity got the better of her and she continued, “I’d like to ask a question now. What did you see when you looked at me?”
Mayuera looked slightly shocked at what she’d told him of Borreal but he recovered well and answered her, “I saw contradictions. A light manifested shadows that wrapped around you while echoes of voices chased through your body. One hand held wires woven in patterns that moved and shifted down your wrist while the other hand was bathed in blood. One shadow shot through from that hand, pierced your heart, and ran through your center. You wore your shield like a liquid that poured over your body.”
“Is everyone that...vivid?”
“If I can see them fully. Most hide behind their shield. That was what most surprised me. You didn’t have a seperate, wall-like shield. It was as much a part of you as your own skin.”
“Interesting…now what were you going to tell me?”
“I’m still not sure it’s relevant but if your Captain Ravin could remain unaffected by an attack like that from Zarek and if Captain Borreal’s abilities involve shifting reality as subtly as I’m led to believe then they, and you, are further evidence of what Master Ko and I had begun seeing.”
“And what is that?” Dahlia wished he’d get to the point.
“A number of individuals have begun turning up with abilities that far outstrip what we could expect. You normally have one person, maybe two, every couple generations who manages to get to a level I’d term “extraordinary”. In this generation a handful of people are being born with abilities that rival the masters while at a very young age. You are one. I suspect the two captains who were with you are two more. I have shared this information, as I imagine Master Ko did. If I were a ruler with a large force, I would be seeking proof and trying to find a way to protect against these people since it is difficult to identify them without either my gift of sight or having their abilities disclosed to you. I imagine anyone with these abilities is careful to downplay them, making disclosure unlikely.”
Dahlia remained silent. She was skeptical but the questionable nature of his theory didn’t mean his conclusion about what the emperor may be doing was incorrect. The man who had attacked her had mentioned that the emperor and Ahriman might be focused on power. Now she had a second hand pointing in that direction. Not that it was terribly helpful unless she knew where to look. ‘Power’ was unhelpfully vague.
“I will think on what you have told me,” she said to him, mirroring what he had told her the day before. Then she rose and left.
She made her way back to the barrack, letting her mind roll through everything she had heard. He’d told her Borreal looked as if reality changed and shifted around him. She’d wondered what his abilities were but had never dared ask. As for her and Ravin, after witnessing Mazaran manipulate the physical world to deflect fire and and an onset of enemy soldiers she couldn’t imagine him being overly threatened by anyone. Though she’d never seen Ravin pitted against a wall of pure physical energy she knew it would have effectively trapped her. Who knew what else Mazaran could do with that ability. She let it go for now. Maybe in the emperor’s city these were abilities that were once-in-a-generation but here they merely made for extremely strong captains. Once-in-a-generation was like the man who had built the wall of their perimeter and his successors. The first God-King of the city, said to be a literal son of the gods, had raised it himself. He’d infused it with energy that had lasted eons and held against all attacks. Dahlia’s abilities were nothing compared to that. The man, their God-King, who ruled over her city, held power that made his force look insignificant.
She brought her thoughts back to reality, to here and now, as she entered into her barrack. Most of the members had gathered in the yard as the time for their shift neared. Dahlia retrieved her bow and then returned to find that the full barrack, save Raschel, had assembled.
“Alright, Barrack Ten, let’s get ready to give them hell,” she called out to them.