Serial
62: That was the plan
February 2nd, 33 S.D. 09:38 Belet, Henron
“This is outrageous. Simply ridiculous,” Albolt said loudly. Defying his age, he paced about the room, shifting from one side quickly to the next. “I do not often find myself at a loss for words, but the lengths of your irresponsibility simply baffle me.” He shook his head vigorously as he came to a stop. “And how you sit there as if everything were fine,” he frowned.
Over on a couch, Koter sat leaning back as he put one foot over a knee. His arms spread out across the cushions behind him. His face bore a contented smile in contrast to the situation. Tibil looked on at both as he stood alone in a corner. With a sigh, he pushed himself off the wall, walking towards the two.
“It is rare to see Albolt frustrated, Koter. I hope you understand the consequences of your actions. It only makes things that much harder for us to achieve.”
“Honestly, I can hardly understand why either of you are upset,” Koter said, raising his shoulders up and down slightly. “Everything happened as it should have.”
“Hmmph!” Albolt huffed, turning around all at once upon the young officer. “You and your petty-headedness cost us our chance at gaining an important ally. Losha would have readily taken our side, especially with the diplomatic role she served at the Ganglan Pass. However, thanks to your impulsive and thoughtless nature, she is captured, along with your godmother, one of the few figures in the military who saw peace as an option.”
Koter’s eyes opened sharply for but a fleeting moment. “Sa, I had heard she in being charged with treason... but...” He held up a hand, raising only his index finger. “Let us consider that I fulfilled what you asked of me, and more.”
Albolt coughed as he blinked heavily. “Excuse me? Come again, lad?”
“This is not a joke, Koter,” Tibil said. “It is a major setback. You know that with the Wolf out of future battles, the Sventa will not so easily win. The war, no longer being one-sided, will endure indefinitely. The success of our coup rests upon ending this conflict. We cannot reform Henron while it is attacking other clans.”
“Is this how the wizened and sagacious think?” Koter laughed for a short while. Albolt and Tibil exchanged suspect glances. “You two need to get on your game. Ours is a plot of conspiracies and schemes, a series of carefully designed scenarios. If you have not planned five steps ahead of the enemy, you have already lost.”
“What are you talking about, Koter?” Tibil asked.
“Sa, please, do explain,” Albolt insisted.
“I have set up the board, exactly how we want it. Losha may be captive, but she is inside Henron, Navaran to be precise. That, gentlemen, is but a stone’s throw from the capital. She need not fight an entire army just to be here. We have already brought her here ourselves.”
“True enough,” Tibil admitted. “But she is awfully confined.”
“As if that were an issue,” Koter grinned. “There is not anything we could build that could contain her. She will break free, eventually. For the Wolf of Sventa, it is just a matter of time before she prowls these lands again.”
“Hold on a moment,” Albolt said, putting up his hand. “You mean to tell me her powers have not been sealed? Our spies have confirmed as much.”
Koter laughed again. “Sa, sa! Brilliant, is it not? You feed people like Ano and Govan a little misinformation, and they take it all in without question. You see, I was the one who told the Core Lead she could not serialize without using her hands, right before the b*****d took a shot at me. I managed to get away from the Ganglan Pass, but I knew that ambitious fool would go with it. I just had to lure him to the appropriate spot, and he apprehended Losha, not a second thought in his mind. Everyone has been relying on my experience as the only man to ever battle the Wolf and make it out unscathed, relatively speaking anyway. Now you know my reasons for targeting and provoking her like I did. I was not fighting just for fun; I had a stage to set.”
“Did you expect that avalanche?” Tibil wondered.
“Heh, not in the least. Ano was a determined man, however. All I had to do was make sure he captured her. His interference was not my first choice for getting Losha, but it worked well enough.”
“Okay, I see. You brought her to Henron via Navaran, but what good will she do us there?” Tibil questioned further. “She will be under constant watch. Even if she escapes, even if she can serialize, she will have every able soldier on her heels as soon as she does anything at all. She has her limits; she cannot fight her way through our entire clan. More importantly, how are we going to talk to her and convince her to aid us? We cannot simply walk up to her cell and ask. Remember, if we are exposed before the moment is right, we risk throwing Henron into a mess. Civil war. Timing is crucial, Koter.”
The Field Lead simply waved them off. “We will do just as you said we cannot. We go to her in Navaran.”
Tibil scratched the side of his face. “What? That prison is the tightest place in Henron, stricter than the capital. Slipping our operatives around the country is one thing. Getting them into Navaran is something else.”
Koter snapped his fingers. “Already done. Two of my people have penetrated it. The first should have passed on a message to the Wolf telling her to hold position for now. She could break out on any whim, make no mistake; however, if she is willing to cooperate with us, she knows to wait until the proper time. We can take her staying as a sign she is going to help our cause. The second agent is on his way. In fact, he should be there today.”
“How?” Tibil asked as he folded his arms.
“Tibil, you act as if Navaran is so hard to get into. It is a prison, sa? It stands to reason then that becoming a prisoner will grant you access regardless of who you are. He has been briefed as necessary, and I altered his documentation accordingly. He is to share a cell right beside Losha’s. With him, she will hear who we are and what we mean to do in detail.”
Albolt frowned as he took a seat. “Pardon my skeptical lack of confidence, Koter, but how will we know what is going on? How will we communicate with your operatives? You know very well that the soldiers stationed in Navaran rarely get leaves. It is as much a prison for them as the inmates. If they are in Navaran, they essentially remain unreachable.”
Koter waved a hand dismissively through the air. “One of them has already made their exit, although I am not privy to their current whereabouts,” he explained. “The other is just someone we have to trust to do his job. In my field, Albolt, Tibil, we have to delegate important tasks to others. You have to believe your subordinates will faithfully carry out your orders. This man I have sent to Navaran has been painstakingly informed and rehearsed. He will persuade Losha, one way or another, and then the new Henron will have a great ally.”
“Alright,” Albolt said, exhaling deeply as he closed his eyes. “Now, assuming your insider plays his role correctly, where exactly does that leave us? We need Losha here, as a fighter. I need not remind you how sparse our ranks are. We do not have enough soldiers to cause any real change. Losha by herself could alter the entire equation.”
“Ver Albolt, perhaps you are looking at the wrong equation,” Koter said. “Ano’s leadership is shaky at best. Since he has taken up command of Ver Liveta’s units, there has been great unrest among them and his own order. They saw how that craven idiot tried to bury their lot. Govan’s hands are tied in the matter, however. He could not depose Ano after the Core Lead captured Losha, and Heigon himself pressured Govan to jail Liveta. He had no choice but to give Ano the reins of half the Henron army. I suppose Govan could have taken Liveta’s place, but evidently Heigon wants the Prime Lead to supervise Lisk and Vitna in a joint spring offensive of some sort. He could not come up with another Core Lead on short notice, hence Ano’s new authority.”
“However, few are happy about this arrangement. Most are thoroughly repulsed by it. Enough to cause a mutiny, one could say. And it is not merely Ano they are livid with; they see Heigon and Govan as approving of that madman. I would wager that converting so many of these soldiers to our side would be sufficient to start an upheaval, sa?”
“Hmm...” Albolt mused. “I am beginning to see where your thoughts are heading. One thing that concerns me still is the moment we are to launch everything. That has to be very pinpointed. Despite your assurances, how can we be certain Losha will coordinate her movements with ours? As you said, she can get out of Navaran at any moment she wants, but how will she know which moment is best? Again, the lack of communication stands as an issue here.”
“If my first operative did the job, Losha has a rough idea of when we make our move. My second operative will give her the final date when we will take Henron away from Heigon.”
“Final date?” Tibil repeated. “What is this about? Not even the two of us know when things will start to pick up.”
“Ah, but I do,” Koter remarked as he stood up. Slowly, he began walking around the room, gesturing with a sweep of his arm. “It will be this spring, in exactly 44 days, on the 18th of March.”
Albolt’s gaze narrowed. “March, sa? The 18th is quite specific. I do not recall anything of importance going on. Why that day in particular?”
Koter smiled as he lifted a small pocket book from the back of his pants. From behind, he flipped it into the air. It somersaulted in a perfect arc over his head; he caught it with a clean swipe as it fell in front of his face. He shook it open once, landing on the very page he so happened to need.
“February 28th: Make preparations for passage via Prevati. March 3rd: Stage Lisk towards the southeast. March 10th: Continue with Vitna to march south of Sventa proper. March 15th: Ensure all final measures are accounted for. March 18th: Begin renewed assault.” With a snap, Koter crisply closed the book.
“Summaries of course, but there you have just heard the classified bulk of Govan’s upcoming battle strategy. Once winter ends, he is going to head south into the lands occupied by the Prevati. They are not friendly with Sventa these days; they have graciously allowed our army to use their borders to engage the enemy. Sventa expects attacks from the east, but if we pass through Prevati, they lose visibility of our soldiers. It is an excellent plan, but it works to our advantage most of all. The half of the Henron army that is loyal to Heigon will be off in foreign lands, while the other, less enamored of us will be sitting here at home. You follow this, sa?”
“Shrieks...” Tibil said cupping his chin in one hand. “If we gather enough people, we can practically take Henron from my father. No one will be able to stop us. That far out in Prevati is easily 4 or 5 days worth of travel; by the time Govan receives any word on the matter, it will be too late to prevent us from seizing the capital.”
“We would still be in for an internal struggle, once Govan returns,” Albolt observed. “I expect he would immediately abandon his siege on Sventa and come straight for us. He of all people will not take Heigon’s ouster lightly. Knowing the Prime Lead, he will do everything in his power to fight back.”
“He will not get much done, once Sventa gets involved. They will follow Losha’s lead. At any rate, they will be warring with him, not us,” Koter said. “After we assume control of the capital, we can declare an end to hostilities with Losha’s people, at least from our side. I have good contacts placed in Sventa. I will make sure they know Govan is the one they want to engage rather than our revolution. As soon as I supply them with the intelligence, we will have Govan outnumbered.”
Albolt looked up at Koter as the old man propped an arm up, resting one side of his face against his fist. “You really saw things through, sa? That is indeed a rather bold and elaborate blueprint for the coming weeks. Everything seems accurately figured and thought out, although we would have liked to know what you were up to from the beginning.”
Koter shook his head and raised his hands up. “Where is the fun in that, minister?” he asked.
“Still so young...” Tibil muttered. “Well, since the Field Lead has done most of the legwork, all we need to do is recruit those in Ano’s orders, but I doubt we will find much trouble in that matter. What do you think, Albolt?”
The elder glanced at Koter before contemplating into distance. That fellow was as cunning and crafty as all of them put together, and more perhaps. He had calculated everything in advance, bending all of the variables to his will. It were as if every piece had played to his favor. Koter claimed himself one of their members, and Albolt genuinely believed him. Even so, he couldn’t get rid of the subtle feeling that something was missing. There was something unfathomable about the Velhast Hound.
“Albolt?”
“Sa, sa... The foundations are set. All we need now are patience and perseverance.” He decided he’d have to start thinking five steps ahead of everyone as well, even Koter.
Over the past few days, Losha’s eyes had become very acquainted with the ceiling. The cell offered little means of amusement. For long hours, sometimes there was nothing better to do than lie on her back and stare up at the boundaries above. The small bed installed in the compartment was hardly comfortable, but it was more welcoming than the floor. Every new minute was as monotonous as the last, but at least this way she could meditate and reflect on things. It hadn’t even been six months since the events in Palostrol, yet the world had seemingly changed several times over. Through all that had happened, maybe it was a blessing she could stop and ponder slowly.
Now was the period of listening, both inside and out. Here were the days of waiting, of which only 44 remained. What she waited upon, however, she did not know. As deluded as it sounded, she was trusting the dream she had. There was something authentic in it she couldn’t deny... Whatever the case, she wasn’t leaving any time soon, not without knowing more about current circumstances. Her seras had finally returned to normal levels; she could exit at any instant, but that would be quite rash to say the least. After all, she had always considered herself a careful student, someone who examined before acting.
She turned her head to see Liveta sitting up in her own bed across the hallway. “Oh, you are up now,” Losha noted without moving. Liveta looked around and sighed. “Sorry. Still here with me.”
“Please do not make light of this predicament. Things for the both of us are especially grim.”
“I suppose putting on a sullen face and moping gloomily about 'darkness and doom' and whatnot would make you feel better?”
“Well, at least you would fit the mood.”
“Ksh...” Losha said. “I guess that is how Henron think: always despair at the slightest misfortune.”
“This is not bad luck or some once-in-a-century accident!” Liveta said, suddenly standing up. “I am to lose everything now! My career, my reputation, my life, my family. I know what their investigation will show: ‘proof’ of treason. Everything I ever owned or valued as a soldier, as a woman, is forfeit.”
“Sa...” Losha said, counting the cracks by twos; just how many were there, really?
“Hey!” Liveta said, grabbing the bars of her cell forcefully. “This is not some trifling joke! I am going to be executed, the same as you likely. You must excuse me if my demeanor is not exactly bright.”
“Execution, sa? I doubt it,” Losha said flatly.
“Shrieks,” Liveta scowled, wrenching herself away as she turned back into her cell. “I thought you would better understand our condition. I guess I was mistaken about your character. Here I believed you, the same woman who plagued Govan at every turn, would know the sheer gravity of our impending fate!”
“And here, Core Lead, I thought a noble officer like you would have been more collected rather than rattled.” At those words, Liveta stiffened. Losha turned herself over, sitting upright. “Listen to yourself. You are becoming hysterical. It has not been but three days, and you have already consigned yourself to death and thrown your hopes to oblivion. Now, if you are willing to talk this much - the most you have spoken since you came here - I would appreciate a few answers about what happened at the Ganglan Pass.”
Liveta’s shoulders sagged low as her head reared up. “What good will that do you to know?”
Though Losha’s hands were still tightly cuffed together, she managed to stretch out a bit. “These bars, these walls, they shall not hold me for long,” she said, extending her arms overhead as her back arched. “I am going to leave here, Liveta. It just comes down to the right day. And when I do, I may as well leave you here, if it so suits you. If you are content to wallow in hopelessness, I see no reason to disturb you.”
“What do you want to hear?” Liveta asked, turning around with a slight frown. “Not that you have convinced me of anything, but if you must be this persistent, I will answer if only to have a little peace when we are done.”
“What happened to Prime Lead Delri and the others I arrived with?”
“When the avalanche happened, your commander was very worried after you did not report in. From what I heard, you were most likely unconscious, so I doubt you remember much, but it was Ano Taksat that captured you.”
“Eww...” Losha said, making a slight face. “I vaguely recall something about his seras frequency being nearby.”
“Needless to say, he sneaked into Henron with you in tow. I learned from some of my units what had happened in the pass. Ver Delri, as you can imagine, became shocked and furious, but unless she wanted to storm into Henron right then and there, she could do little for you. After that, negotiations could not proceed. She left back into Sventa before the snow caved in your makeshift tunnel. I... I am sorry...” Liveta said, folding her arms as she looked down. “You saved them all. My thanks is scarcely enough to express how great your deeds were.”
“It is alright.”
“No, you were spot on beforehand. My conduct was not befitting of who I am, or used to be, really. I have been ungrateful for what you did for my comrades.”
“You have been through a fair amount of stress lately though, which brings me to my next query. How did you come to share this wonderful experience with me?”
“Ksh, it should be Ano keeping you company, not me. Unfortunately, events took a different course.”
“... I should not be here at all though...” Losha said offhand.
“Sa... Ano made it to Govan before I could. His version of what happened in Sventa was at odds with my report, obviously. However, due to his seniority, the fact that he captured you, and Heigon’s influence, all of the crimes Ano committed were conveniently overlooked. My ‘transgressions’ were not so easily pushed aside. As you heard from Govan himself, quite a lot of folks in Heigon’s circle viewed my withdrawal from Valia as anything ranging from dereliction, desertion, or the court favorite: treason. Never mind that the battle would have been one-sided...”
“Even so, it seems talking to you and Delri pushed me too far in their eyes: fraternizing with the enemy they say. And so I am here, awaiting the results of their sham of an inquiry into my actions. The outcome is known; it always is. The question to ask is when will they take my life. Generally they like to let ones like myself languish a bit before doling out the sentence.”
“How long, more or less?” Losha asked. “Surely not within 44 days, sa?”
“When?” Liveta said, blinking slowly at Losha’s oddly specific time frame. “Three months on average from what I gather. What is going on in 44 days?”
Suddenly from the long end of the hall, a heavy bolt clanged aloud. Grinding against the floor, the door creaked and scraped open. Footsteps soon followed.
“Nothing, Liveta. Absolutely nothing,” Losha said, leaning back against the wall. The Core Lead looked at the Wolf for a moment; her lips curled downwards ever so slightly, but she herself said nothing further. Three men came down the path. Two were guards while the third was another prisoner. He was a tall man with a slender face and figure. He had long, black hair running down his back. Only the very last lengths were put into a ponytail.
“Alright ladies, cut the chatter,” said one of the escorts on the right.
“Or else what?” Losha questioned, standing up and walking towards the bars. The guards hugged the side of the hallway closest to Liveta as they ambled past Losha. They each threw a quick glance at her but ultimately said nothing. “It was an honest question.” Losha shrugged.
“G-get in there!” the other guard said, giving the new inmate a shove. Moments later, the cell to Losha’s right slammed shut. The two guards hurriedly left without another word. For a while, silence prevailed. Liveta didn’t seem willing to converse anymore, and their most recent addition seemed to keep to himself. Once again, with nothing better to do, Losha threw herself on the bed and went back to exploring the intricacies of her cell. It wasn’t until a few minutes later that she heard a soft-spoken voice.
“S-sa... I guess you must be Losha Holvate Sventa...” the man started slowly. “The one they call the wolf.”
“Sa, I am she. And your name would be?”
“Alant. Henron naturally.”
“Hmm... A very old Asten name, you know,” Losha remarked. “These cells are reserved for Henron’s most serious offenders. Only the worst of us end up in this block. I am the single greatest threat to the Henron army, apparently. Your crime?”
“W-well nothing much that I can think of...” Alant said quietly, pausing. “Just an assassination attempt... on Heigon Henron, I mean...”
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