Chapter 14

  - Only three, - Captain Valria summarised. Though sit Irutava sat at the head of the long table, the sharp-eared girl held herself as if she had called the meeting. - One chewed up by a dragon, two concussed and with holes in their skins. But all can speak.

  - They can - and they will, - the clan leader said slowly. - I can promise you that. Most people are less afraid of death than of pain. Even the bravest warrior just needs the right approach.

  The taiko's head was tied with a piece of white cloth with brown stains beneath the rich silk dressing gown and the bandages that bound his chest were also visible. The Erdosian, however, did not seem to notice the wounds.

  - By the way, sir Chancellor, I want to apologise again for the poor work of my squad. - The elfess lowered her chin slightly, not looking ashamed at all. - Only assassins were supposed to get extra holes in their bodies.

  - It's not a big deal. - Taiko made a soothing gesture with his palm. - It's all good. When I call a senate meeting to accuse the Tagawa clan, real wounds will add weight to my words.

  - And yet, when we were guarding the Duchess of Elvart, she didn't get a scratch. I'm sorry.

  Don Armando knew of the assassination attempt on the Chancellor from Lady Maria's words. As in the harbour, a group of local warriors, supported from afar by outsiders, were in action. Only instead of a helicopter, a gunman with a rifle was working in the capital. The mercenaries managed to neutralise him, but one of the Erdos assassins blew himself up with a powerful bomb. The explosion killed three guards and wounded taiko with shrapnel. Fortunately, none of the wounds proved fatal.

  - The past is in the past. - Sir Irutawa looked around at the crowd. - It's time to plan for the future. From now on, we must act very quickly. The outsiders, and thus their allies, should already be aware of their failures. The prisoners are still being interrogated, but I've already set all the mechanisms in motion. The clan fleet is leaving the ports. We can't hide it from Tagawa's spies. That's why we've arranged everything to convince the spies that the fleet will head for their capital, not Iron Island. It might even force the Tagawa top brass to flee to Tattorubaku - a real gift.

  - What about the lack of strength? - Master Carlon asked. - You said you couldn't storm the island.

  - Several squadrons of the Republic fleet will join the Irutava fleet at sea, - the Chancellor turned to him. - Many ship captains and regimental commanders trust me enough to execute the order without delay. But they will need an excuse after the battle. That's what we've organised, as a matter of fact.

  He ran his fingertips along the smooth tabletop, touched the wine goblet next to him, but did not take it. He continued:

  - The plan is simple - the fleet gathers around Tattorubaku, isolates the island. When ordered to do so, it will storm the island. The assault itself has been planned for a long time. After the battle, the Irutava troops leave immediately, leaving the island under the protection of the Senate forces. Soon detachments of other clans arrive there to organise joint management of the mines. During the assault, you may engage in your own hunt for outsiders. I will give the order to storm the island as soon as any of the captured assassins start to speak.

  - A good plan, lord. - Valria sat up straight, squaring her narrow shoulders. - But I must make some clarifications.

  - I'm listening, Captain.

  - Aliens are good at running away, - she said, folding her palms on the table. - I've had the pleasure of seeing it for myself. There's no place for them to run off the island, but if you storm the island, they'll probably try. We must strike at their lair, at their leadership. And to do that, we need to know exactly where the alien headquarters is. The island is not a three-room peasant's hut.

  - Doesn't messier Alex know?

  - No, - replied the defector. It was the first time he had been invited to a meeting, and the alien from the other world listened to the discussion with genuine curiosity. - I never got there.

  - You'll get in, then, - Valria smiled at him.

  - What do you mean? - The alien didn't understand.

  - Carlon and I thought of something today. - The elfess laced her fingers together, her smile turning sly. - I was inspired, and Carlon helped me formulate my thoughts. The aliens aren't aware that Alex has changed sides. The very possibility doesn't seem to occur to them. They probably think he's dead. We also have a radio. We can no longer eavesdrop on the aliens' conversations, as they change the encryption every week, but Alex can send a distress signal in the old cipher.

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  - He will report that his squad was almost killed, but accomplished the task, - Master Carlon said glumly. The Imperial mage didn't even hide the fact that he was uncomfortable with the plan. - He has one of those who destroyed the portal and a local mercenary with him. They must be taken back to base immediately.

  - I'll be the prisoner, and I have a convincing wound, - the elf explained, touching her chest. - Don Armando is the mercenary. Because he's the least memorable of the bunch.

  - Well, thank you, - de Gorazzo hummed.

  - You can't argue with facts. - The girl waved her hands with feigned chagrin - even lowered the tips of her ears guiltily. - The defenders of the portal couldn't describe the don, and only him. Isn't that right, Alex?

  - Yeah. - The alien coughed into his fist. - But let's say this works out. We get evacuated. What are the three of us gonna do at the base? Kill everyone there and walk away, ignoring the explosion behind us?

  - No, of course not. - Valria took her goblet from the table, held it to her nose, and sniffed the wine. She clenched her eyes shut for some reason, and said with her eyes closed. - We will sneak into the enemy's lair with magical markings. Armando's story awakened my strategic muse. We don't have rockets, but we have dragons. The kind that can even fit indoors.

  - Dragons cannot see the flow of magic, but young Lady Akira can. - Master stroked his beard, contrary to tradition, managing not to pull a hair out of it. - When the assault on the island begins and the defenders are distracted, she can lead a flock of dragons into the aliens' lair. That is, of course, if you approve, sir taiko.

  - It sounds risky, but interesting, - admitted the Chancellor of the Republic. - But wouldn't the magic marker be seen by all the mages in the neighbourhood? There are half a dozen battle mages in the garrison, though they have a hard time near the iron veins.

  - Normally, yes, but there is a trick to it. - The mage paused for a moment, choosing his words. - Blood magic is harmful and dangerous, and yet sometimes it's the only way. I once used it to save Sergeant Dallan's life, for example. If you create a mark using a mage's blood, only that mage can see its signal. Harm is inevitable, but tolerable - a couple of drops.

  - And you are capable of such a thing? - Taiko raised his eyebrows.

  - No, sir. The blood of any mage will do, but the one who will create the amulet itself must be at least of the second stage. You have such mages. I will explain the ritual to them.

  - Well, so be it, - Taiko nodded.

  - Wait, - Dallan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. - But between Valria's arrival on the island, the start of the assault, and the arrival of help... time will pass. A lot of time. Not even minutes.

  - Yes, the three of us will have to be dodgy, - the captain agreed, smiling charmingly. - I hope they put me in the dungeon and not shoot me on the spot. And then you can get your favourite commander out of there, it won't be the first time. Armando and Alex will be safe if they don't set themselves up.

  - I'm coming with you, - the sergeant said simply.

  - No, - Valria said. She added in a softer tone. - Look, I don't really want to speak in captivity. What if they start questioning me right away? I'm stubborn, I'll hold out until help arrives. But if they start torturing you in front of me, I'll tell them everything, you bet I will. I love you. Don't you forget?

  - I didn't forget. Neither have I forgotten you. - The green-eyed girl carefully removed the glove from her left hand, pulled a narrow, straight dagger from its sheath, and... without the slightest hesitation, stabbed it through her palm. The bloody blade came out of the back of her hand.

  - What the…! - Armando shrieked, jumping up from his chair.

  - Anna, goodness! - Lady Maria jumped up too, grabbing one of the purses on her belt.

  Alex was dumbfounded and said something in his native tongue, only Master Carlon, Boyarin Yuriev and Chancellor Irutava remained silent. The elfess, surprisingly, sat stone-faced, her lips tightly pressed together. The sergeant, meanwhile, pulled the blade from her palm and slashed herself on the outside of her wrist, ripping open the sleeve of her jacket. She said in a slightly shaky voice:

  - Here. I have a... convincing wound now, too. You're not going in there without me. That's enough.

  - You've been strange since you were a child, but now you've gone completely mad! - Lady Maria, always mild and infinitely polite, roared angrily as she walked round the table. She took the dagger from the sergeant and threw it on the floor. Taking a strip of clean cloth from her purse, she hastily bandaged her companion's palm. Or was it not just her mate? "What do you mean, since childhood? - thought Armando, who had already recovered from his astonishment. - Maria grew up in the palace... So the sergeant too? And why 'Anna'?"

  - All right, - Valria finally gave up. - Let's go together.

  - Maybe I should ask, too. - Master Carlon grinned, not taking his eyes off the green-eyed girl. While Maria fiddled with her arm, the sergeant sat straight as if she'd swallowed a stick and didn't even look at the Lady Guardswoman.

  - That would be lame, - the captain sighed. - Alex could lead a regiment of soldiers to the island, saying he'd taken them all prisoner. With guns and artillery.

  - Your sergeant's loyalty is impressive, - sir Irutava said, turning to the elf. - Believe me, we Erdosians can appreciate it more than anyone else.

  - Yes, yes..., - the pointy-eared girl said. - So the four of us will infiltrate the enemy's lair. Carlon stays with the fleet, Maria with him... Do you think the dragon will pick up Corporal Green? I think so. Green with Akira and the dragons on top. That's the distribution of forces.

  - Ahem. I want to remind you about this here thing... - Alex gently touched his finger to the exploding collar.

  - We'll take it off, of course, - Valria assured the alien.

  - And what will guarantee my loyalty when we find ourselves among my former comrades? - the defector asked bluntly.

  - Nothing. - The golden-haired elf smiled in a way that warmed even Armando's chest. - Let's bring a little trust into our relationship.