Gods of Garran

The Gods of Garran: Chapter 42

A novel by Meredith Skye

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The village of Anik perched on the cliffs south of the Northern Cones, overlooking Rhashan and the Stony Dunes. Koethe and his men made for it. From there, they could monitor the battle.

The base was not well known. Koethe counted on that now.

After freeing the boy, Morrhan, Koethe had received orders to rejoin Godwin in his camp east of Drealea. He had sent a message telling of a mechanical failure on his airship and cut the message off before he could give coordinates.

Now Koethe was on the run.

Captain Bashan of Anik had always been an ally. Koethe believed he could count on her for help. She was a few years his senior and had been a fixture on Garran since long before Koethe had arrived twenty years earlier.

They had long been acquaintances. She had often joined in on their Razak card games on her visits to Urrlan. They'd passed many an agreeable drinking Cataberry wine and arguing Realm politics. She was a formidable woman.

They set the airship down nearby and approached the village. A cliff created a convenient wall on one side of the town. Long ago, a stone wall had been built around the remainder of the city, creating a small fortress. Nothing could get in, if the village didn't want it to. Even an approach from overhead would be difficult over the narrow village, most of which was sheltered under the cliff face.

The gate opened easily for them. Becnand and Fauke accompanied Koethe into the citadel. Chief Richt stayed behind to monitor communications in the airship.

They entered a guard tower, maybe 30 feet wide, and sparsely decorated. This would just be a waypoint in entering the city. The gate shut behind them and several guards barred them from proceeding through the double doors on the far side.

"What is this?" demanded Koethe, feeling genuine fear. Had he walked into a trap? Perhaps General Godwin already controlled this outpost. It was possible.

Koethe did some quick calculations. There were five soldiers in the room, against the three of them. But Koethe and his men were seasoned fighters. These might just be unpracticed guards. But he knew Maive Bashan. She was tough and he imagined she didn't keep 'unpracticed' guards in key positions.

He exchanged a glance with Becnand and Fauke.

"Captain Bashan is on her way, sir," said one of the men. "If you'll wait here."

The Anik soldiers all had their weapons handy, though they weren't poised to use them. But they were highly alert. No sense taking chances before he knew the true situation.

"Thank you," said Koethe dryly.

They didn't wait long. The double doors opened and a tall, tan woman with shoulder-length sandy blond hair strode purposefully into the room, followed by four more soldiers.

Damn the woman. Now they were outgunned. If it was a trap, Koethe would have a hard time fighting his way out of this one. But he doubted that Maive would side with the General in this conflict.

"What the hell is this I hear about attacking the tsirvaks?" were the first words out of her mouth. No greetings. No explanations.

Koethe felt a little relief. He was right about her loyalties. "That wasn't my doing. These are orders from General Godwin," explained Koethe.

She came to a stop five feet from where Koethe stood. "I don't care if they're orders from god," she said sourly. The four soldiers with her actually held rifles in their hands, armed and ready for action.

She didn't mince.

"He's gone over my head," said Koethe. "I have no intention of complying."

"Yet all the militia have been called out to Drealea to fight this insane war."

"I know," said Koethe. "But, I have a plan to counter him."

She stared at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Send native couriers to as many tsirvaks as you can reach from here, to warn them. They must leave the clan homes and hide in the hills. It won't be safe for them in the towns for the moment."

She made no response but continued to hear him out.

"I've given orders to send word to other tsirvaks in the south. As for those who remain here, you should imprison the Garrans and guard them. This could get rough."

"I'm not going to arrest my native citizens," she said coldly.

"Maive," began Koethe.

"Don't you 'Maive' me!" she retorted loudly. Her feisty nature attracted him. She reminded him of his dead wife, Nona. Or even of his daughter, Asta.

"We're at war now," argued Koethe, hoping she'd be reasonable.

"I am not going to arrest people who have been loyal to me for years. Loyal to the Realm!" Her eyes flashed. He had to admire her. "I have Garrans in key positions here."

He took in a breath. "Then, send as many as want to return home to their clans. Give them the supplies they need for the journey."

"And this battle?"

"I've sent a coded message to my militia not to attack unless the order comes directly from me."

"Some may not comply," she countered.

"Perhaps ... some," said Koethe. "What would you have me do?"

She stared at him thoughtfully. "I hear that the god-stone has been found."

He nodded, dryly. "Yes," he said.

"And that the Garrans have a new Borrai?"

"You don't believe in any of that nonsense, do you?" he asked.

She raised her eyebrows at him. "Shouldn't I?"

He scowled. "It's my daughter, Asta. I don't know how she got in the middle of this."

"Your daughter is the new Borrai?" Maive beamed at the scandalousness of it. "How interesting!"

The conversation was becoming insufferable. "What's your point? You have a suggestion?"

"Yes," she said. "Do nothing."

"Nothing?"

"When the attack begins, withdraw your militia, if you can. The rest will meet on the Stony Dunes, the site of an ill-fated battle many decades ago. If the god-stone has any effect, it should happen then. Give the gods their moment. In the past, their wrath has been great."

"Not great enough to stop our invasion a hundred years ago."

"No. A miscalculation, perhaps. I've discussed this at length with my villagers. Under no circumstances should any of us participate in this battle at Stony Dunes. After that, who knows, maybe the choices will be simpler."

Koethe doubted that. He could scarcely give away half of the planet to the Garrans, as 'Borrai-Asta' had demanded. The High Realm would never allow it. But he agreed with Captain Bashan. "We will see," he said.

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