Sword of the Stars Part 6
The Opposition
The uninhabited plains of Garrania weren't empty or desolate when the morning sun broke through the clouds and brought light. The Imperial army of Triantia halted their forces a mile or so before the Garranian army that stood waiting for them. There was utter silence as the two sides studied each other. No one moved.
Talpa and Ling walked their horses to the head of their army and gazed across the plains at their opponents. For a moment, neither of them said anything. Then, Talpa laughed loudly, the laughter echoing across the plains.
"Look at this, Ling!" He gestured to the Garranians. "*That* is their mighty army that will defeat Triantia? We have almost twice their number! This will be over quickly." He turned his mighty war-horse and walked it toward the back of the army, where several soldiers were preparing his large tent. He raised his voice so his captains could hear him. "You all have your orders and strategies! Win this battle for your Emperor!" He raised his black sword into the air and swung it down. "Attack!"
At his command, the Triantian army rushed forward at amazing speed, shouting their battle cry and swinging their weapons. The Garranian army also attacked, with fierce determination. Talpa watched gloriously as the two forces collided and began to battle. He dismounted and handed his horse's reins to a soldier.
"Come, Ling. We will wait out this boring battle. When it is over, we will search for the boy."
Ling joined him inside the tent, an urgent expression on her face. "He is close, Talpa. So close."
"And we will find him, Ling. Our master will live." Talpa sat and motioned for her to do the same. "All we have to do now is wait."
~*~
Duo gazed across the plains at the battle. He could not see very clearly, but the noise was picture enough. It was intense. What was the use in this? People died. People with families. Duo shook his head angrily. War was such a senseless way of settling differences. Quatre appeared beside him.
"Awful, isn't it?" he asked. "This is war." He turned to the others. "We are to find the general of the Triantian army.
He should be settled safely away from the battle, sending orders to his troops. All of the reserve soldiers will be there, too, so we may have to contend with some of them. We have to be as inconspicuous as possible. Are you ready?" Duo and the others nodded. "Then let's go."
Quatre mounted his horse, and they mounted theirs. Quatre led the way, followed by a soldier, Wufei, Duo, Heero, and the three other soldiers. They urged their horses to a full-fledged gallop and made their way around the battle, keeping a large distance between themselves and the actual fighting. Whether by luck or skill, none of the Imperials noticed them.
Soon, a large tent came into view. Duo squinted in the morning light. He didn't see any soldiers there, only a pair of guards lounging outside the tent.
"Where are all the reserve soldiers?" he asked.
"Maybe gone to fetch water or something," Quatre said. "If so, we are very lucky! Let's go!"
When they arrived at the tent, Quatre leapt off his horse and took his staff from his back. Duo and the others joined him. The two guards stood up in shock and unsheathed their swords.
"What the--?" one of them stammered. The other rushed at Quatre with his blade poised to attack. Effortlessly, the blond knocked his sword from his hand and struck his chin. While his head went up, Quatre jammed the end of his staff into the man's throat. He fell to the ground in a heap, completely lifeless.
The other guard dropped his sword as Quatre came toward him. He tried to run, but the nobleman stuck the staff between his legs and tripped him. He then jabbed the weapon into the back of his throat. He jolted once, and was still.
Duo tried not to think of the fact that those men had had families, too. With an effort, he pushed that thought from his mind. Then he noticed Wufei had turned away from the sight. Duo felt sorry for him. It must have been hard being someone dedicated to preserving life, yet also trying to kill an enemy. Duo turned to Heero. His friend wasn't looking at the dead men. Instead, he was trembling, staring at the ground, holding his twin-blade so tightly his knuckles were white. Quatre, the soldiers, and Wufei were staring at him with bewildered looks.
Duo put a hand on his friend's shoulder, and Heero nearly jumped out of his skin. "Heero, are you all right?" He gestured to the dead guards. "Is it because of that? You've seen worse."
"Them?" Heero shook his head violently. "No, it's not that. I...let's go. I'm...I'm all right."
Duo turned his gaze to Quatre. The blond shrugged and hefted his staff. "Be careful, everyone. This is it."
Duo braced himself and tightened his grip on his katana. At Quatre's signal, they burst through the tent.
The inside of the tent was mostly empty, despite the size. Only a low table in the center with sitting cushions made the furniture. A map was spread on the table. The two inhabitants of the tent stood at their entrance. One was a large man in armor, wearing a skull mask. The other, Duo realized with a start, was the woman he and Heero had seen in Redwood's Clearing.
Quatre assumed a fighting stance and addressed the man. "Are you the leader of the Triantian army?" he demanded.
The man nodded slowly. "I am General Talpa. This is Ling."
"It is him, Talpa!" the woman called Ling cried. "It is him!" Duo looked at her. She was pointing toward him. /But why?/ As he stared at her in shock, he realized he wasn't the focus of her gaze. He followed her stare until he found whom she was really pointing at. /Heero?!/ His friend was staring back at her with fearful eyes.
Quatre twirled his staff in his hands. "Prepare to die, Talpa!" he cried, ignoring Ling and Heero. He ran toward Talpa.
There was not much distance between them to cover, but quicker than lightning, Talpa's sword flew out of its sheathe and knocked his staff from his hands. As Quatre cried out in shock, the general kicked him in the stomach and then shoved the blond aside like he was nothing. As Quatre rolled to the side, Wufei ran to him. "Quatre, are you all right?"
Talpa ignored the two Garranians and began making his way toward Heero. The soldiers challenged him, but the Imperial general shoved them aside unconsciously, sending them sprawling to the ground. Heero gasped softly in surprise when Talpa approached him, but didn't back away. He twirled his twin-blade and attacked the general. Talpa raised his black blade to parry the blow, and came back with one of his own. As the two exchanged strikes, Duo raised his katana and rushed toward Talpa.
Somehow, the general sensed him coming. With a mighty blow, he knocked Heero's weapon away, sent him to the ground, turned, and met Duo's sword with his own blade. Duo tried hard not to panic as he dueled with the Triantian General. Duo had no time to attack; he had to use all of his speed and skill just to parry Talpa's blows. He kept his eyes locked on Talpa's mask, wishing he could see the man's eyes, to know what he was planning.
As Duo and Talpa continued their fight, the tent filled with ten or so Triantian soldiers. They must have returned and found the guards dead. From the corner of his eye, he saw Wufei back away from the danger and pulled his hood over his head. The soldiers would not come near him now. Attacking a Healing Cleric was simply unthinkable. Quatre, Heero, and the other Garranian soldiers picked themselves up off the ground and engaged in battle with the Triantians.
"We cannot win this!" Quatre shouted as he parried an attack from an Imperial. "We must retreat!"
"No!" Ling shouted. "He must not escape!"
Duo didn't know what they wanted with his friend, but it couldn't be good. "Heero, get out of here!"
"Never!" Talpa growled. He broke away from Duo and searched the area for Heero. Duo searched, too. He saw Quatre and Wufei together. He saw two of the four Garranians that had come with them. Then he saw Heero. His friend sliced a hole in the side of the tent and motioned for Quatre and Wufei to go through. His gaze met Duo's.
"Duo, come on!"
With a nod, Duo raced toward his friend. Together, the two of them left the tent. When they were out, Heero and Duo cut the ropes holding it up, causing the tent to crash down on the soldiers still inside.
Quatre and Wufei appeared at their side. "Come on!" the Cleric said urgently. "We have to get back to the Palace!"
"No!" a voice commanded.
Duo searched for the owner of the voice. An old man with a long white beard and mustache was standing not far from them. "Who is that?" Heero asked.
"If you value your life, children, come with me!" The old man seized the reins of one of the horses belonging to a Triantian.
Duo exchanged glances with Heero. His friend shrugged and turned to find a horse. Duo did the same. When they were mounted, the old man gestured to a forest in the distance. "If we can get there, we will be safe. Come!" The old man turned his horse and galloped away. Duo glanced down at Quatre and Wufei.
"Are you coming?"
Glancing around at the soldiers coming for them, Quatre pulled himself up onto Duo's horse. Heero reached down and pulled Wufei up with him. Duo and Heero made their horses run after the mysterious old man.
~*~
When Talpa untangled himself from the tent, the boy and his allies were gone. He roared in anger. He reached down and helped Ling stand.
"Why did you do nothing, Ling?" he demanded.
"My powers were still exhausted from the teleportation spells," the Sorceress explained. "But I know his face now. I can find him. We must go after him."
Talpa said nothing. He studied the dead soldiers around him. The boy who had challenged him--Duo?-- was quite the swordsman. Talpa had the feeling he would be trouble in the future.
"Come, Ling. We will continue this conversation somewhere private."
TBC...
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