The Starlight Lancer

Chapter 104: Death Patrol

"If you plan on infiltrating an enclave with a fake mark, understand your life is no longer in your hands the moment you make contact."

—General Colmys Faird in a memo responding to the idea of an infiltration mission

Before long six women and two men shuffled out of the tent, each dressed in makeshift armor and sporting paint on their faces. Rasmus greeted each by name and introduced them to Zaina—their names flew by like a half-remembered river of greetings. Assembled, they didn't look like any fighting force Zaina had ever seen; they were scantily clad in shoddy armor and ragged clothes. One of the men and two of the women carried composite bows while the others carried no weapons of any kind.

Sivanya stood by with a grin. Once everyone was out of the tent Rasmus addressed Zaina, "It's my understanding that you do not wish to wield your fang?"

Zaina nodded. Everyone stared at her for a moment, making her heart beat faster; she always felt uncomfortable in new groups of people, and in this case her discomfort was also mired in anxiety over being found out.

The moment passed. When Rasmus spoke every one of his warriors turned to him with their full attention. Admiration was clear on some of their faces, but others looked at him with what appeared to be a ravenous hunger. Either way Zaina breathed a sigh of relief when the faces turned.

"Very well," he said. "In that tent you'll find what you need. We prefer bows, but if you've never wielded one, we have guns you could use."

"I've never even seen one in person," Zaina admitted. "I'd be willing to give it a try, though."

"Perhaps if this were a better time," he said. "If you're good with a gun we could use you up and running. We lost our last gunner a few patrols ago."

One of the women, a shorter, pale woman with long, brown hair and purple-and-red streaks of paint running up and down her face, chimed in. "But we avenged Avori six times over since."

Rasmus nodded. "There are a few extra rules that come with being the gunner. I'm sure Lady Sivanya still remembers them—if she would be so kind, she can inform you while we make our way to the rendezvous."

"I suppose you caught me on a good day," Sivanya said with a warm, light-hearted chuckle.

"Excellent," Rasmus said. "Deni, if you would be so kind to show Zaina where we keep the guns?"

A woman with crossed arms loosed a deep sigh. She was a Hagaran, a species very similar to humans aside from their short, curled horns and gray skin. Her eyes were a piercing crystal blue with fiery red pupils, and her shaggy, medium-length hair was somewhere between black and dark brown in color. Her nose, ears, lips, and horns were all excessively pierced, and strange-looking tattoos covered her neck, face, and shoulders. She wore a sleeveless black shirt and black slacks, both littered with holes. "Very well, Captain." Her gaze fell to Zaina. "Follow me."

Without saying another word Deni turned and walked into the tent.

Rasmus chuckled. "She takes some time to trust people, but she won't bite."

Zaina shrugged and followed her. The tent's interior was quite spacious, with small cots lining the outer walls and a single, gigantic bed in the middle of the room. From the looks of it, that was where everyone slept—pillows and blankets were strewn about every which way on the jumbo mattress, which looked worn.

Deni hurriedly made for one of the beds on the far side of the tent and pulled a large bag from underneath. The contents within clattered and clanked as she hoisted the bag on the bed and opened it.