Rjg: Adventurous Tide (Rjg #2)

TWENTY-TWO: Two Generals

Telgaro pulled up his scarf to hide his face again. Saga stood by his side as they approached the main gate. Cioran has also rejoined their party, as well as Myuiran and Erann who refused to leave as the last portion of slaves was sent to safety. The city remained empty, as they had cleared all resistance there. The storm has reached its peak. They entered the gate's left tower and began their ascent onto the wall, to look at the situation in the valley.

"Yaren is in position," Saga said. "It begins now."

Telgaro felt the approaching raiders, Yaren's soma the most energetic one.

"I'm still worried about the family business," he said. "I feel their approach and I don't know what to expect."

"Whatever will happen, will happen," Saga replied. "Sure, they can approach, but will they be able to intervene with enough damage to stop us? Besides, I never told you this before, but I have heard of other Danna who had encountered them. With fatalities from our side, I might add. Your family had played a role in the battle with Rawan at some point. I was waiting to meet this enigmatic force in person because I had no chance to engage them before. The time has come, however. This time they will pay the blood price."

"You wanted revenge for your fallen people?" Telgaro asked, looking at her calm face.

"What I want and what I must do sometimes is not one and the same thing. I have other responsibilities, but since I get the chance now, it doesn't matter whether we seek them out and kill on our own initiative, or we wait for them to come to us eventually. Both options are acceptable. And we live long lives, we can afford to wait. Our memories are also long, however."

When they finally reached the top of the tower, it was buried in snow and gusts of wind were tearing at their furs, even under the protection of the safety bubble. Through the howling of the blizzard Telgaro could make out the distant sounds of the commotion in the valley, thousands of voices roaring and faint, almost muted clangs of steel. The battle was in full power.

"Ten thousand might not be enough," Telgaro said. "This is one of the most skilled Arrakani infantry. Best of the best were sent to Rawan; raiders won't stop them, nor this sudden attack. I worry for our forces."

"Just do your job and maybe a little bit more, and everything will fall into place. The plan was not perfect from the start, but we must do what we came here to do."

Telgaro nodded in agreement. At this very moment he noticed something strange going on. The flow of the energy that powered the storm was dying down.

"Saga?" he asked, worried. "Is this your doing?"

"Interesting, they found a way to syphon the energy that fuels this storm system. I want to see how this will progress, don't do anything. Just let them feed. I can see what they had planned now, and it is an interesting power to have. Almost the opposite of mine. But soma is not just one single ability. It's an array of possibilities. How far did they progress in their knowledge of their terminals, that is what we're going to find out."

Telgaro knew that any source of power could add to his strength. It was that just not any of those he could process. Even powering the storm was done through integration with Saga's soma. Surely, she was more experienced in using her blood abilities. Her men, however relied on their steel. His hand touched the hilt of one of his swords. He should find his own style of battle, using his abilities and advance them further. What did he have? An almost indestructible body and sky cycles of combat experience. His own father, however—and Telgaro was certain he would see the old man here soon—had the abilities of Saga and even more combat experience. His only weakness was his age. Though he never showed even the faintest signs of being unable to fight. Even when his head turned grey and wrinkles covered his face, he was still as able-bodied as a middle-aged man. Telgaro always wondered about his father's unusual vitality, but never in his life would he expect it to be like this. And now they stood on opposite sides of the conflict that spanned the three countries' whole population. And surely, he came prepared, bringing his whole clan. At least those who were blood-users.

The storm was slowly dying, the wind becoming tamer and the air crispier.

"We should descend from the wall," the General told Saga.

"Indeed, an even ground is a good place to engage the enemy," she replied and signed her men to follow. "I wonder how they will scale the walls though. Flight is the only ability that you can't receive with soma. That's physically impossible. Or maybe they will march through the front gate?"

"Underground. I'm sure they know the way in," Telgaro said, climbing the narrow, steep stairs down. "If I would make a guess who sold Uwe to the Arrakani, it would be them or their allies. Considering their tactics, they know too much about the Danna's abilities, and the only place you could learn of it is Rawan. And since they work with Dagaro, that's the obvious way in."

"If that's the case, Yaren would want this information," Erann said. "Can we rely on your skill to get it out of our enemy, Telgaro?"

"That depends, clan Sevarren is not very talkative when they are tasked with a kill."

"We'll keep their numbers at bay while you and your dad can sort things out," Saga's Left Hand said. "Maybe he will be in a more talkative mood when he sees you here."

"I can only hope," Telgaro said. "If he knows that I'm here, and he probably figured it out by now, that would be one bloody debate. Though, even the dead man's blood can talk for us, Erann."

"I see the Bloodsoother has found a successor then. That's why she was so interested in you."

"I've... tried some things. I've tasted your blood before and it had mixed with mine, when we were sparring. I had... visions. When I passed out from your kneework. I've seen your capabilities, though I've lost to you on many occasions. But through the blood you all have shed I've learned things too. Those were just brief memories, no time to see through a lifetime of even one person. I always wonder if Alva could have learned that I've met Torewen's daughter before, but my guess is she never touched that part of my memory. Or maybe it's because I did not know who Mara was. I've never expected my soma to be like this. But it has its uses."

"The only problem is that your target won't part with his blood voluntarily," Saga said.

"That's where my blades come in. Not so fitting for a Red Savage fighting style, but very handy when you need to bleed something fast. My favorite."

The storm completely ceased its existence by now, the sky cleared, and the stars shone through the remnants of the clouds that once were a billowing shroud.

"They are here," Telgaro whispered. "Twelve people. The thirteenth is my father."

Saga chuckled. "Let's meet the remnants of the Lost Tribe properly then." Telgaro sensed her excitement. The Warmaster was in her element even when the storm was broken.

The shadows were alive. Something lingered in them, blending perfectly with darkness. But Telgaro saw. He saw the figures in black hoods, he heard the heartbeats pumping blood similar to his.

One figure, slightly taller than Telgaro, stepped out into the opening of the white snow, saying calmly, "Only five?"

Telgaro recognized this voice. No doubt, this was his father. He stepped in front, ready to confront his adversary.

"All these sky cycles of lies and deceit," Telgaro said to him.

"Ah, I wondered who it was with blood similar to ours," General Avaro said, nodding. "Of course, it's you. And I had such high hopes for you, Telgaro. Why now? How?"

"I won't entertain my enemy with a story," General Telgaro said. "Your son is dead, and your hopes died with him. I'm Telgaro of Slanna an Kljha kin and I will be your opponent in this battle."

"As you wish. I will personally send you to the grave you have crawled out of."