Sword of the Stars Part 5
Preparations
Heero twirled his twin-blade and clanged it against Quatre's staff. Sparks flew as the two metals struck so violently. Heero delivered several swings and thrusts, all of which Quatre successfully parried, and sent some technique of his own Heero's way. Heero parried each blow with ease, and soon they began circling each other, exchanging dangerous blows and parrying the ones sent to them.
Heero kept his eyes on Quatre's face at all times, watching his every move. The blond wore a look of determination, but a bit of frustration was also beginning to show. His attacks became more aggressive than before. Heero backed away while barely deflecting each strike. A low growl emerged from Quatre's throat and he threw himself at Heero, swinging his staff wildly. At that moment, Heero deflected the staff and kicked him in the mid-rift. Quatre choked and bent over. Heero knocked his staff away and shoved him to the ground with his foot.
Quatre rolled onto his back and smiled up at him. "Do you ever lose?"
Heero returned the smile, pulling apart his twin-blade and sheathing the swords. "Of course I lose...just not very often."
Heero offered him a hand up. The blond took it gratefully and went to retrieve his staff. When it was in his hands he smiled at him again and left the room. Heero walked across the training room to where Duo was practicing with his katana.
"Well done," Duo complimented as he slashed the air with his weapon. "He gave you more of a fight than I did, my friend."
"He's very good," Heero agreed. "I'm sure your father would have loved to have him take his training."
"Yeah..." Duo continued to fight imaginary foes, ducking and slicing the air. "Have you been assigned to your captain yet?"
Heero shook his head. "Not yet. Quatre said they are supposed to find a place for us soon." When Wufei had returned to check on them the day they woke up, he had asked if he and Duo could join the army. Wufei had been very shocked, but agreed to let Quatre hear their request. Quatre himself had admired their desire to help, even if they were doing it for their own reasons. He had agreed to let them stay in the Palace and join the Garranian Army. The king and Quatre were expecting the Triantian soldiers to arrive sometime in the next four months, so Heero and Duo had spent the last month training with Quatre and preparing for the battle.
"I see... I wonder what being a soldier is like?" Duo said, halting his imaginary duel and sheathing his katana.
"I guess we'll find out, won't we?" Heero looked around. "Hey, where did all the other soldiers go?"
Duo frowned and searched the area. "All gone, huh? I guess they all turned in for the night. I don't blame them." Duo stretched. "Are you done here, Heero? It's late and I'm tired."
Heero put a hand on his stomach and winced as a wave of nausea swept over him. Something was very wrong. He bent over and put his hands on his knees to keep from falling forward. He felt Duo put a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you all right?"
Heero shook his head and struggled to stand up. Duo steadied him. "Something...something bad is going to happen, Duo," he gasped. "Something very bad." He glanced at his friend. Duo was staring at him with a worried expression.
"You never acted like this before...not even when you felt your father find out who accidentally set fire to your stable. Is it really that bad?"
Heero nodded. He stood on his own. The nausea left, but some of the dizziness lingered. "I think it has something to do with the Imperials."
Duo narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Heero shook his head. He had never felt such *danger* before. It was as if something inside him was telling him to escape. /Escape from the Imperials? That wouldn't be such a bad idea...but I can't do that. Not yet, anyway./
He felt Duo tapping his shoulder. "Look, can we worry about this tomorrow? We're both tired. Let's go back to our rooms and sleep." His friend paused. "If something happens, Quatre or Wufei will wake us."
Heero nodded. "Okay." The two friends left the training room and walked down the halls to reach one of the staircases leading to the second floor of the castle. The halls were very nearly empty at this hour, with only several servants scurrying about on errands. The soldiers standing guard around the palace paid no mind to Heero or Duo as the two boys made their way up another floor to the guest chambers.
Duo stopped at his room. "I'll see you tomorrow, all right?"
Heero nodded. "Good night, Duo." His friend entered the chamber and shut the door behind him. Heero crossed the hall to his own room, and shut the door behind him.
Heero's chamber was fairly large. It housed a large bed, a table with two chairs, and a closet for clothes and other belongings. Heero unbuckled his sheathes and set them down on the table. He peeled off his shirt and flopped down on the bed, kicking off his boots. He stared up at the ceiling, thinking about the feeling of danger he had experienced. What did it mean? It meant trouble, of course. He only had that feeling when he was in some kind of bad situation. But it had never been that strong of a feeling. What kind of danger could he personally be in that was even worse than the burning stable incident?
A yawn interrupted his thoughts, and he realized how tired he was. He decided to worry tomorrow, and blew out the candle on the small table beside his bed. Then, he rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. Sleep came easily.
~*~
Talpa walked over the bodies of the guards and went through the gate of the border. The Triantian soldiers already on the other side saluted him. Talpa smiled wickedly and laughed.
"At last! Garrania! Once this nation falls, the rest of the world will surrender without any trouble!"
"There is more to it than that, Talpa," Ling said, lifting her dress to step over the dead guards. "He is here, too."
Talpa stopped laughing and turned to his ally. "Truly? Do you know where?"
"Not exactly," the Sorceress admitted. "But he is close, Talpa...very close."
Talpa gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. "Then let us deal with the leader of this pathetic nation and take prisoners. Ling, keep a close watch for the one." He raised his voice. "Onward, soldiers! The victory over Garrania will be a great one! The Palace is not far from here! March!"
The Triantian army flowed into Garrania and made their way toward the castle.
~*~
Yohan hurried through the night as fast as his old legs would carry him. He glanced behind him every now and then, gazing at the flames burning in the distance. Regret and sorrow filled his heart. He wished he could have helped the soldiers at the border when the Triantian army had come, but there was no way he could have been any help against the amount of soldiers there were. He had warned them of danger approaching, but they did not believe an army of sixteen thousand men was on its way to their land so soon. With no other option, Yohan had hurried onward, leaving the men to their fate.
He gazed ahead of him. The Garranian Palace was in the distance, looming over the plains. He shook his head sadly. He would never arrive before the Triantians did. They would catch up to him quickly, since they were all mounted on abnormally fast horses. He had to stop and hide somewhere for awhile. /I do not wish to do so--the boy is so close to me! But I will not make it in time It is best I conceal myself./ He glanced around. There was a forest to the east. It wasn't that far away. With a final glance at the approaching army, Yohan turned and made his way toward the forest.
~*~
The door to Duo's room banged open, and he came awake with a start. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and glanced at the doorway. Quatre was standing there, holding a candle, a frantic expression on his face.
Duo winced against the light of the candle flame. "Quatre? What--?"
"The Triantian army has crossed our border," Quatre said in a breathless voice. "They are on the march, and will be here in less than an hour." As soon as those words were out of his mouth, he dashed out of the room and across the hall. Duo jumped out of bed and pulled his shirt on while he heard Quatre barge into Heero's chambers. Quickly, he put on his leather armor, seized his katana, and raced out of the room.
As he ran out of his room, Heero emerged from his own. The two friends ran side by side down the halls, putting on their scabbards as they went. Quatre was already ahead of them, disappearing up the stairs. Duo and Heero dashed up the stairs until they reached the top floor of the Palace. The door to the throne room was already open, with the room already filled with the court, several army commanders, the Garranian General, Wufei, and Quatre. Everyone was looking at a map on the table. Duo and Heero joined them.
"They are currently crossing the plains," the General was saying, pointing at the region just past the border. "At the speed they are going, it will not be long before they arrive here."
"Thank the gods there are no villages in that area," Quatre said. "At least the people will not be hurt while we battle."
"We are lucky the border-guard arrived when he did," King Mudas said, stroking his red mustaches. "If he hadn't, they would have been on top us us before we knew about them." The king turned to Wufei. "Were you able to save him, Healer?"
Wufei shook his head sadly. "His wounds were too serious... He could not be saved..."
"What is our plan?" one of the noblemen wanted to know. "Do we attack?"
"If we do not, they will simply take us," the General replied. "Your Majesty, I suggest an all-out counterstrike against their intended ambush."
"But they have a force of sixteen thousand men!" Quatre protested. He turned to the king. "Uncle, I have no intention of surrendering, but our forces number only eleven thousand--maybe twelve. We are outnumbered!" King Mudas tapped his lips thoughtfully. "Have you forgotten our plan, Quatre?"
Quatre frowned. "But, Uncle, that plan was intended for when our forces were larger. The Triantians weren't supposed to be here for another three months!"
"How did they get here so fast?" a captain asked.
"We don't know," the General replied. "But we will not give up our land that easily. Your Majesty, I, for one, am prepared to carry out the plan."
Wufei nodded. "I agree. At least that way we will have a chance." The other members of the court and army voiced their agreements.
Finally, Quatre nodded. "Very well. I will do my part."
Duo cleared his throat. "If I may ask, what exactly is this plan?"
King Mudas motioned for his nephew to explain. Quatre turned to Duo and Heero. "General Talon and his army will lead an all-out assault against the advancing army. In the meantime, a small team of soldiers will make its way around the battlefield and seek out the general of the Triantian forces. Since the general is the supreme commander of the army, if he is killed, there will be no order among the lower-ranking officers. Hopefully, the soldiers will be unorganized and will fall easily."
Duo nodded slowly, feeling the urge for revenge surging inside him. The general of the Triantian army was the one who led the attack on Redwood's Clearing. Duo glanced at Heero, and could tell by the other boy's eyes that he was thinking the same thing. Duo glared. "Who will be the team assigned to defeat the General?"
"Four soldiers, all middle-aged and experienced. I will be leading them." Quatre nodded toward the Healing Cleric. "Wufei will be coming, too, in case one of us is badly injured."
"I want to go, too," Duo said, just as Heero said, "Take me with you!"
Quatre's eyes widened, and he glanced at the king. Mudas stared at the two boys for a moment, and nodded. Quatre smiled faintly. "You may come with me. It seems you will have a chance for revenge after all."
General Talon slammed a hand on the table. "Then let us prepare! The soldiers are ready by now. Captains, to your troops! Lord Quatre, gather your men and get ready. We have a battle to win!"
The captains ran out of the room. Quatre motioned for Duo and Heero to follow him, and then he and Wufei left, too.
Duo exchanged glances with his friend before racing after Quatre and Wufei. "Did you ever think you'd be doing this one day?" he asked while they ran.
"Not really," Heero replied, his voice distant.
Duo frowned. "Is something bothering you? Aside from the obvious, that is." Heero shrugged. "It just seems that...the closer I get to the Imperials, the further I feel I'm supposed to run."
Duo didn't reply. He turned his attention to following Quatre and Wufei down the halls of the castle.
TBC...
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