Wartorn Obliteration

RAVEN (5)

Orders had come for the halt, then for the scrambling reorganization of the lines. Something big was happening, on top of the very obvious magnitude of the enemy army they were now clearly facing in the last fading bits of daylight.

Torches were being fired all around. They lit among the enemy ranks, too, points of light neatly delineating those large opposite numbers. That was a sizable army. The massive, collective glow of torchlight beat back the emerging pinprick lights of the stars above.

Were they going to fight a night battle? From what Raven had overheard from the soldiers around her, this Felk army had never undertaken a major engagement at night during this whole campaign.

Then again, this army had never faced an enemy so large and evidently organized.

Raven's heart was racing, but not entirely from fear. This was undeniably exhilarating.

This will be Weisel's true test, Vadya said.

Raven had climbed off her horse. She looked around at the frenzied activity. You mean Dardas's test. She was still astonished by what she'd learned from Kumbat. Vadya, too, had been surprised to learn that Lord Weisel was the vessel for Dardas, a warlord of the Northern Continent who had been resurrected two and a half hundredwinters after his death.

I think Dardas passed his tests centuries before either of us was born, Vadya said. But now, wearing the form of Weisel, he must vanquish a new enemy, with a new army. And if he succeeds, it will be Weisel who gets the credit.

Raven nodded, slowly. Resurrection magic certainly made for strange conceptions about identity. She knew it only too well.

You still haven't reported to Matokin, Vadya said.

I don't see how I could find Berkant in all this tangle, Raven said, referring to the Far Speak wizard who had a direct line of communication to Lord Matokin in Felk.

You're not going to report Kumbat's abduction? Vadya asked.

Raven softly bit her lip. I know I should...

But? Vadya prompted.

Is that really the right thing to do? Raven blurted, then immediately regretted it. She hadn't meant to reveal her misgivings to Vadya so nakedly.

After a long silence in Raven's head, Vadya said, Your loyalties are divided, between Matokin and Weisel—or is it Dardas?

Raven lowered her eyes to the ground. I do feel an allegiance to both men, she admitted.

It's a tricky situation you're in, Vadya said.

I know.

Raven looked around. It was difficult to get an overall sense of what was happening. Troops appeared to be shifting into new patterns, companies rearranging themselves, presumably to engage this enemy. The wizards, in their black robes, were being mobilized as well.

Whatever was happening, it was being done quickly, and on a massive scale. Raven wasn't among the combatants. Actually, she wasn't sure where her place was just now. Maybe she should go check on Kumbat. But no, he was being securely guarded.

Perhaps you should report to the general, Vadya suggested.

Raven noticed how Vadya had avoided naming him. Maybe it was strange, even for her, to think of Weisel and Dardas existing within the confines of the same being.

It was a good idea though. Raven mounted her horse once again and swung it about. She had to pick her way carefully, with all the troops and equipment being moved about. Even amidst all this confusion, she was aware of those male stares that followed her everywhere. Her beauty was a radiant thing, as glorious and entrancing as a full moon.

She had a rough idea where she could find Dardas in this huge array of military might. He would be toward the rear, insulated from harm, and with a good commanding view of his army.

With that army halted and currently redeploying, the general had set up a very temporary base of operations. He was dismounted and standing with a few select members of his senior staff. They were gathered around a mapstrewn table, and Dardas was pointing and speaking rapidly. His personal guard ringed the scene.

Raven reined her horse. The foot traffic was becoming too thick for her to navigate. For a moment, she sat and watched as the general gave his orders. He certainly appeared to be in his element. There was no hesitancy in his manner, no hints of self-doubt.

For so long now she had thought this man was Weisel, a Felk lord turned military leader. She had accepted Weisel as her superior, as one who treated her as a confidant. She had accepted him as a lover.

Now she knew her beliefs were awry. When she had made love to that man, it was actually two men. The thought was peculiarly unsettling. Peculiar, because when he had made love to her it was, in fact, to two women.

Raven hopped off her horse once more, shaking her head. Whatever the new dynamic, she supposed she could get used to it.

As she approached she began to realize that all wasn't actually right with the general. There was something strange in his body language. His movements were just slightly off. As she got near enough to see his face, she noticed that his expressions were somewhat exaggerated, the facial muscles pulling tautly, the eyes protruding from the skull.

With a start, Raven realized that this disturbing appearance reminded her sharply of when the general had experienced that strange paralysis just before... just before... she had been struck by that crossbow bolt.

She sucked in a breath. It was the first time since her resurrection that she had remembered the event so vividly. It was her own death, and she was remembering it!

Plainly, this wasn't the same kind of episode, whatever was now happening to the general. But something odd was going on, she was sure. She sensed it.

The guards passed her through, and Raven edged unobtrusively up to the tight circle of senior officers gathered with Dardas around the maps.

Now she could hear him speaking. "The scouts confirm it! East and west, precisely like I said. They're flanking us. It's a very clever battle plan. They're making the best use of their numbers, hemming us in. They can do us real damage. Whoever's strategizing for that army, they have a genuine flair. I admire it."

Raven listened closely. It was the voice she was used to hearing, but it was pitched somewhat differently. It was strained, as if some struggle were going on behind the words. But that was mad. Or was it...?

Nevertheless, Dardas carried on.

"I wouldn't normally recommend a night attack, but the surprise advantage will be considerable. I want those Far Movement mages in place as soon as possible."

"Yes, General Weisel," one of the senior officers said.

"They're to go out past both enemy flanks." Dardas's lips pulled in a tight grin.

"Understood, General," said the officer. "Two squads are moving the mages covertly into position right now. Both have Far Speak wizards with them, of course. They'll report when all is ready."

"Outstanding." Dardas sounded pleased. There was even a faint note of hysterical giddiness in his voice.

If the officers were aware that the general appeared distressed, they didn't show it. But Raven noted the odd, overwrought manner. Maybe, though, this was just how Dardas behaved when faced with an actual battle.

I don't think so, Vadya said.

Neither do I, Raven said, grimly.

Something was definitely wrong.

The same senior officer blinked at the general, smiled admiringly, and said, "You mean to outflank the enemy's flanks."

Dardas nodded. "That's correct."

"A brilliant strategy, sir."

"It's served me before."

"Sir?"

"Never mind." Dardas waved. "Report when the Far Movement mages are in place. In the meantime, continue to get the companies organized to be Moved through the portals. Dismissed."

The officers all saluted and dispersed. Dardas's eye now fell on Raven.

"Ah, Raven. Exciting, isn't this?" He swept an arm to encompass the whole, huge militaristic display around them.

"Yes... uh, General," she said, biting her lip again. She had to maintain a front for him. He was unaware that she knew his secret. "Very exciting, sir," she said, more firmly this time.

Dardas nodded and even that was exaggerated, a jerking movement.

"We're going to outflank the outflankers," he said, happily.

"I overheard, sir."

But Dardas was looking down at the maps on the table, not hearing her. "It's a nice tactic they've got, whoever they are. See how their forward companies are arranged? It's bait, pure and simple. They have deliberately placed a 'weakness' right there in the middle, this unit that's weaker than the others on either side of it. They want me to attack there. It would draw our forces forward, toward that specific point. If I hadn't known in advance about the flanking maneuvers..."

"How did you know?" Again Raven was horrified to hear herself blurt so tactlessly. So much for her stoic front.

Dardas looked up from the maps. There was a hot glint in his eyes that seemed to pierce her.

"Oh," he said finally, "let's just say this particular scenario has a kind of... familiarity about it." He let out a chuckle that climbed sharply into the upper registers.

Raven felt a chill.

Has he gone mad? she wondered.

Perhaps not, Vadya said. As Dardas, he must have memories of past battles, a vast experience of war.

Raven felt herself frowning. Do you mean that this might resemble something from two hundred and fifty years ago, some battle he and his Northland army fought? It was a staggering thought, though perfectly logical.

Yes.

Amazing, Raven said.

"Fergon!" the general called abruptly.

The aide came scampering to his side, saluting, freckled face flushed. "Yes, sir!"

Unexpectedly, Dardas clapped a comradely hand on the junior officer's shoulder and said, "I want you to fetch a drink for myself and this delectable creature here. We're going to drink a toast to this war. Right away, Fergon!"

The young officer vanished. Raven had time only for a veiled, dismayed look at the general, who was chuckling anew, before Fergon returned with a bottle and two cups. He neatly filled the cups, handed them over, and scurried off once more.

Dardas lifted his cup, some of the dark liquor sloshing over the brim, and said, "To the eternal strife, the unending play of might against might, the test of every fighter's valor, and the dread beauty of bloodshed. To our war!"

Raven held her cup numbly a moment, then hurriedly drank. Dardas gulped his heroically and tossed away the cup. Raven found herself looking down at the maps, at the confusing scrawls of troop movements. She saw the enemy flanks, to the east and west, moving to surround the Felk army.

Suddenly, she looked up. A terrible thought had occurred to her.

It was sharp enough that Vadya perceived it. No, she said, horrified. You don't think...?

It's certainly possible, Raven said.

But you can't tell him, not without revealing that you know Weisel is the host body for Dardas.

Raven prepared herself grimly. Then that's what I'll have to do. This is too important.

Vadya raised more objections, but Raven deliberately shut them out.

"General Dardas," Raven said, clearly and levelly.

It took a moment for it to sink in, then the general froze. He turned and looked at her fully. The grin died on his face, replaced by a cold, penetrating stare.

"What?" he asked, too softly to be heard by anyone but her. "What did you call me?"

Raven drew a steadying breath. "I spoke to Mage Kumbat," she said, not hesitating now, but also speaking quietly, privately. No one else needed to hear this. "He told me. We are alike in this way, General. I am Raven, and yet I'm not. You are Dardas, yet you appear as Weisel."

He seemed to absorb the shock with admirable speed. He regarded her closely, shrewdly.

"Why are you saying this to me now?" he asked.

Without a waver, Raven said, "Because I believe I see a flaw in all this." She indicated the maps on the table.

Dardas's brows lifted. "Do you imagine you know something of military strategy that I don't?" He sounded incredulous, but there was a first hint of anger in his voice.

Raven trembled. She didn't want to invoke this man's ire.

"Tell me, General, is this similar to some battle you fought in your... your original lifetime?"

It felt to her as if she were asking a most intimate, most inappropriate question, and perhaps she was. But she stood her ground.

Dardas didn't answer. He frowned, looked puzzled, then annoyed, then seemed to coolly consider her question.

"As a matter of fact," he finally said, "it does."

Raven was biting her lip again. She forced herself to stop. "It is possible, General," she said, "that this particular battle—whatever it is—has been studied by the enemy. Dardas's exploits are quite famous, I understand. They're a matter of history. It is further possible that this enemy has recognized your style from previous actions during this war. They may believe you are copying Dardas's techniques of warfare, and so they might have, conceivably, restaged this battle, believing that you will react as you did in its original incarnation."

It drained her. She felt suddenly lightheaded.

Dardas's jaw had slowly unhinged. He gazed at her, stupefied now.

"You believe this is a trap within a trap?" he asked in a whisper. He waved a stiff hand at the maps.

Raven swallowed. "I strongly believe you must consider the possibility, sir." Inside her head, Vadya was utterly silent now.

Dardas shook his head, but not to negate what she had proposed. "If it's true, then I face an enemy far more worthy than I suspected." A soft, pleased smile played briefly on his lips. This time, the expression wasn't strained.

He took a step closer to her and brushed a finger along her sublime jawline, apparently not caring who saw this.

"This is excellent, Raven. You've proven invaluable to me. And of course you are correct, I am Dardas. In fact, I'm more Dardas than I was just half a watch ago. An internal shift has occurred. I believe that my host doesn't have the stomach for battle, in the end. He has... withdrawn. I am in command of this body. Do you understand?"

"I do, General," she said, firmly.

"That I can truly believe," he said. "But for the moment, you'll have to excuse me. I must call my senior staff back. If the Battle of Torran Flats can't be won one way, it can be won another."

Raven wandered a little distance off. She glanced back now and then at Dardas, watching him issuing new orders, his movements assured and natural now. Apparently his distress of earlier had been due to some sort of struggle or adjustment between himself and his host. Raven hadn't known such a thing could happen between people sharing a bodily vessel. She had certainly felt no such contention between herself and Vadya. She remarked on this silently to her own host.

I think we are unusually compatible, Vadya said.

Raven agreed. She was pleased with herself right now. She had contributed something worthwhile. She had pointed out a possibility for disaster that Dardas himself had overlooked. It might not be too farfetched to say she had just saved the day.

Tell me something, Raven.

Yes? Despite the oncoming night's chill and the frenzy of activity around her, Raven felt a warm calm glow of satisfaction.

Do you love Matokin? Vadya asked. As the father you believe him to be—do you love him?

Raven blinked. She had never put it into such language. I think I must, she finally said. If he is my father, I must love him.

Vadya was silent a moment, then asked, Do you love Dardas?

As...? Raven asked, prompting her.

As Dardas, Vadya said simply.

Raven considered. She looked at him now, a short distance away. He was bold, confident, powerful, full of ancient shrewdness and a curiously fresh zest for life.

How could I not love him? she said, finally.

Very well, Vadya said. Then, for your sake, I hope that it never becomes necessary to kill either man. Or both.