“But General Shun,” the more junior officer protested, “that’s not proof.”
“You want proof?” Kira demanded. She pulled down her jacket collar to expose the bullet wound on her neck, then yanked down one side of her shirt enough to expose the twin scars on her left shoulder that had been made by a dragon’s claws. “How about this?”
General Shun nodded, smiling. “I don’t think anyone else boasts that particular set of scars of honor.”
“I’m glad they were good for something.”
“We’d been notified that Lady Kira was coming to Cape Astra for unknown reasons. And that you speak for the daughter herself. Why do you need to speak with us?”
“There’re… ” Kira realized summarizing it all wouldn’t be easy. “Some of what I’m going to talk about are state secrets of Tiae, but I know Queen Sien and my mother would want me to tell you about it so you’ll understand the urgency. You’ve heard of the great ship that brought people to this world from Urth? The crew of that ship, who broke the oaths given by their ancestors before leaving Urth, buried terrible weapons under what is now the city of Pacta Servanda. Jason and I were trying to get Urth to tell us how to deactivate them. The problem is that the remnants of the Mechanics Guild have also learned of those weapons, and want to use them to try to return to power over this world. They have the assistance of some Mages seeking the return of the Mage Guild, and Imperials and mercenaries working for Prince Maxim.”
“But Maxim is dead,” the junior officer protested.
“He wasn’t. He is now,” Kira said. “But his followers very likely don’t know that yet.”
They both looked at her for a long moment, then at each other, before looking back at Kira.
“Terrible weapons?” the general asked. “What does that mean?”
“One of them can make a city disappear. Completely destroyed, as if nothing existed there.”
“Tiae has that kind of power?”
“No,” Kira said. “Queen Sien does not control those weapons. They are still sealed in their protection. And I give you my word that my mother and I and Queen Sien are determined to deactivate and destroy those weapons so they can never be used by anyone on this world.”
“The word of the daughter herself?” General Shun nodded. “Queen Sien is highly respected, but… such power would tempt anyone but the daughter of Jules.”
“Even she might be tempted,” the junior officer said.
“No, no,” the general said, waving off the comment. “You were too young, Captain Taras. But I was there, at the meeting where Lady Mari was offered control of every land outside of the Empire. She could have been ruler of all of us, and not by striving but by being given that power. And she rejected it. She’s already passed that test.”
“Thank you,” Kira said. “You’re right. Here’s the problem. Many of those Mechanics, Mages, and others who followed Maxim are in Cape Astra. The ship they came on… is no longer available.”
“That burning ship in the harbor? That was your work?”
“Maybe,” Kira said. “If those people go to ground, they’ll be an ongoing threat. They’ll keep trying to get their hands on those weapons. But they know I’m here. Their last orders from Maxim were to find me and kill me, and to kidnap my man, Jason of Urth, who is here with me, just outside. And those people who want to kill me know that I have tickets for the early morning train north to Farland. The local, not the express.”
“How do they know that?” General Shun asked, his eyes studying Kira.
“I let them see me buying the tickets.”
‘And you think these Mechanics and Mages and their mercenaries will attack the train to get at you?”
“Yes. It’ll be a chance for the Western Alliance to eliminate a danger to it, as well as other countries in the west. They’ll come out to get me, and you can get them.”
Captain Taras nodded. “We were informed by the Bakre Confederation that an armored train carrying you was attacked and destroyed a few weeks ago.”
“You’re willing to serve as bait for a trap?” the general asked.
Kira nodded. “Both Jason and I.”
“I see the stories we’ve heard are not exaggerated,” General Shun said. “You are your mother’s daughter. What do you think?” he asked Captain Taras. “If they know she’s supposed to be on the local to Farland?”
“The trains have to slow down as they pass through the area where those old warehouses are being torn down on the north side of the city,” the junior officer replied. “I know every time I go through there, I think that would be the perfect place to stage an ambush.”
“The local also stops at that freight station only about a thousand lances north of here, doesn’t it?” the general mused. “These people who want to kill Lady Kira will watch to see if you leave on the train and if all is normal. But if when the train makes its stop at that other station, it offloads passengers and loads soldiers… Do we have time?”
“Sir.” Captain Taras gave Kira an apologetic glance before he spoke to the general. “I feel obligated to point out that Lady Kira has brought a serious threat to the Western Alliance and now expects us to clean it up.”
“That’s what you think?” General Shun said.
“It’s what has happened, sir.”
“That’s one way of seeing it. But there’s another. Again, you don’t remember this. When the Great Guilds fell and the peace of the daughter was proclaimed, one of our biggest immediate problems became trying to identify good Mechanics from bad ones. Good Mages from bad ones. Blazes, man, before the daughter began gathering her forces the idea of a good Mage didn’t even exist! Sir Master of Mages Alain led the way on that.”
The general pointed at Kira. "But one Mechanic looks like another. One Mage looks like another. How do we know which are truly working for the new world of change, and which are working against it? Twenty years on, that’s still a problem.
“The daughter of Jules has brought us a partial solution. Through risking her daughter for us, which is what the daughter of Jules does. If they go after that train to kill Lady Kira and kidnap her man, we’ll know that every Mechanic and Mage taking part in the attack is a bad one. We’ll kill some, we’ll hopefully capture the rest, and a major internal security problem will be greatly resolved.”
Captain Taras stared at General Shun, then suddenly saluted Kira. “Forgive me, Lady. I didn’t understand.”
“That’s all right,” Kira said, smiling and returning the salute. Finally, someone else was recognizing the brilliance of her plan.
“Lady, where will you be?” the general asked.
“Inside the station for the few hours left until morning, then on the train,” Kira said.
“If you’ll forgive us for rushing off, we have a lot to do and a short time to act.” General Shun paused, though. “I understand why the people you describe would want the death of the daughter of the daughter. But why do they seek to capture Jason of Urth?”
“They believe he knows things about Urth technology that could help them employ those terrible weapons.”
The general’s eyes studied her again. “Does he?”
“No. He does know more about such things than anyone else on this world, but he would never consent to helping such people. He’s risking his life, along with me, to try to ensure that danger never threatens the people of Dematr.”
“I’d expect nothing less of the chosen man of Lady Kira. I’ll see you when the train stops at the next station,” General Shun said. “Until then, Lady Kira.”
She let them leave, waiting a little while before following the officers out.
Jason was still guarding the door, as she had asked. “Well?”
“We’re on. The army of the Western Alliance is setting things in motion.”
“Thanks, Kira.” He meant that, which cheered her up again. “Why did those two guys look at me that way when they went by me?”
“What way did they look at y
ou?”
“Like I was somehow impressive?”
“Oh,” Kira said, “they’re impressed by your willingness to sacrifice yourself for the people of Dematr.”
“Excuse me?”
“They think you’re a hero! Why does that bother you?”
“Didn’t I hear the word sacrifice in there?”
“Jason!” She threw up her hands in exasperation. “There’s no making you happy. And I’ll have you know they thought my plan was great! Just wait here while I use the women’s facilities.”
“Am I going to have time to use the bathroom too before we start getting shot at again?”
“Yeah, you should have time for that. But don’t take too long.”
* * *
A few hours later Kira sat in a railcar packed with children on the way to school, workers on their way to their jobs, others returning from work to home, and a variety of others. There were indeed babies. She thought about what might have happened if she hadn’t listened to Jason, and felt ill.
During the wait for the train to leave, a period of enforced rest for her with the knowledge that the army of the Western Alliance was preparing to help them, Kira had felt herself calming as well as regaining strength. And as she did so, her worries increased. Why had she been so certain of this plan? There were so many things that could go wrong.
But then she saw some Mages watching her before the train left the station, and her worries spiked again before resolving into renewed confidence. A tiny part of her wondered at such an odd feedback mechanism, but otherwise it all felt right, so Kira relaxed.
Jason wouldn’t relax, though. If he wasn’t gazing worriedly at the crowds in the station he was stealing worried glances at her.
What was wrong with him these days?
“Jason, calm down. I know you always worry about what’s going to happen when we get on a train, but this time we know exactly what it will be.”
He nodded, his eyes still watching the crowds. “We’re going to be ambushed.”
“Yes! There’s no uncertainty to worry about.”
“You mean except for the uncertainty of whether or not we’ll be killed?” Jason asked.
Her sigh held an extra dose of aggravation. “Honestly, Jason, you used to be fun to be around but now you get upset over every little thing.”
When the train finally arrived and they pushed their way aboard, they found seats that allowed Kira to look out at the station as they departed, which also allowed those at the station to see her. Was that someone speaking on a far-talker? She thought so. “It’s working,” she whispered to Jason.
“Yay,” he whispered back.
The train rumbled down the track for only about five minutes before stopping at a freight platform.
“Attention,” a soldier announced as he entered through the car doors. “This is an emergency situation. Everyone must disembark this train now.”
Kira heard startled cries and grumbles of complaint, but as soldiers came down the aisles the people shuffled out of the car with bewildered expressions. “You, too,” a soldier told Kira. “Up and out.”
She gave him a flat look. “Have a talk with General Shun. I need to be on this train. Him, too,” she added, pointing to Jason.
Soon enough the general came by, nodding to Kira. “The stop will be a bit longer than usual, but hopefully not enough to arouse suspicion. Are you sure you want to be on that side of the car? That side will probably face any ambush.”
“The ambushers need to see that we’re on the train,” Kira said. “We’ll be fine.”
“As you wish, Lady.”
Kira watched soldiers rushing into the cars. The ones seated next to the windows wore civilian shirts and coats over their uniforms, their weapons held beneath the windows. “Jason, you look too tense. Like you’re expecting trouble. Relax.”
“I’ll try.” He looked about him. “We’ve got plenty of help. Thanks again for listening to me.”
The train lurched back into motion, still moving slowly through the city. Kira heard word being passed down to the soldiers now seated in the railcars. “Ten minutes. We’ll pass the probable ambush site in ten minutes.”
She’d never realized how long ten minutes could take.
“Warehouses,” Jason said as the train slowed even more. “This is the place.” He got up and stood next to her window.
“Jason, you’re blocking their view of me,” Kira said.
“I’m blocking their line of fire.”
“Jason!” She sensed something. “There are Mages near. A spell is building. I think it’s Mage Ivor again.”
A moment later lightning rippled somewhere up near the locomotive, and the brakes on the cars began screeching to halt the train.
Jason pulled her to the floor as gunfire erupted from the partially demolished warehouses facing the tracks.
A command rang through the railcar. “Hold fire!”
Kira lay on the floor, Jason on top of her, sensing Mages getting closer, hearing shots impacting the sides of the car. Her massive confidence abruptly shattered, and her mind was clear again. She was on a train? With soldiers on the floor of the car all around her? “Jason, what are we doing?”
“We’re being attacked! Just defend yourself!”
Kira had her pistol out as another command was yelled through the train. “Open fire!”
Soldiers reared up, rifles at ready, and unleashed a devastating fire.
Kira got up as well, staring through the window at the mercenaries who were rushing the railcars, many of them falling and others turning to run as the ambush turned upon them. A pair of men in Mechanics jackets fell together not far from her car. A Mage with a knife jerked from hits and dropped.
A big section of the side of her railcar disappeared as a Mage worked a spell, leaving Kira totally exposed to the ambush.
Knowing she was a sitting duck, Kira dove through the sudden opening, rolling as she hit the ballast along the tracks, the sharp edges of the rock punching her even through her jacket. She came to a halt, Jason rolling to a stop beside her.
Kira started to rise, but felt a major spell building again. “Take cover!” she shouted, grabbing Jason’s head and shoving him down with her.
Lightning again, racing along the track, but being attracted to the rails and drained off. A number of the wooden rail ties burst into flame, though, threatening the cars above them.
She looked up again just as a older woman in a Mechanics jacket, her face twisted with hate, leveled a rifle at Kira’s face. Before she could fire, a quick succession of holes appeared in her jacket as bullets struck. The Mechanic stumbled backwards several steps and fell.
It was like awakening into a hurricane. Only the presence of Jason beside her offered any guidance, any hope of figuring out what was going on. “We’re still in Cape Astra?” she yelled over the gunfire. Someone was aiming at her. Kira aimed and fired her pistol in one motion. Had she scored a hit? It was too hard to say, her target dropping so she could no longer see them.
“Yes!” Jason yelled back. “This is your brilliant plan!”
“Is it working?”
“I sure hope so!”
Kira felt a Mage close by drawing power for a spell. She aimed again and fired, the Mage reeling to one side. “The power here is almost gone.”
She spotted another Mage using the invisibility spell and aimed a shot at the pillar of fire marking the Mage’s presence. The Mage appeared, falling.
Another Mage flashed into view as the last traces of power in this area drained away. Exhausted from trying to maintain the spell with her own strength, the Mage held out her empty hands in surrender.
Soldiers in the green and black of the Western Alliance sprinted past Kira and Jason where they lay, charging the warehouses to catch fleeing ambushers.
Kira stared at them, sensing Mage Ivor’s presence fading. He was running again. The soldiers wouldn’t get him.
The world suddenly jolted about her a
nd her uncertainties vanished. She knew exactly what to do.
“Come on,” she told Jason.
“What?” Jason hastily got to his feet, following Kira as she ran to the train.
She spotted a dropped Western Alliance far-talker and scooped it up, running on between railcars and away from the fight, onto roads leading between the warehouses on the opposite side.
“What are we doing?” Jason demanded.
“Mage Ivor got away.”
“And?”
“We need to get him. We need to end this.”
“You’re gone again, aren’t you?”
“What are you talking about?” Kira kept them moving fast until they cleared the warehouses. “Transport north. We need transport toward Farland. Something slow. So Ivor can come after us.”
Jason used his open palm to hit his own head several times, hard.
“Why are you doing that?” Kira said.
“Because I can’t hit anybody else and I have to hit somebody! You know, for about thirty seconds there, I thought this was over and we’d go home and everything’d be all right.”
“That wasn’t very smart. Of course it’s not over. Mage Ivor got away, and maybe some others.”
Jason didn’t answer, walking along quickly beside her as Kira headed for the nearest coach station.
Horse-drawn coaches had fallen on hard times as the number of rail lines increased and more trains rolled along them. But there were still plenty of places without rail service, and still plenty of coaches serving them. Kira bought tickets on a coach heading north.
She and Jason sat outside the coach station waiting for theirs to depart, watching the horses being harnessed.
“I still love watching that,” Jason said.
“Are you all right?” Kira asked. “You sound really unhappy.”
“I wonder why I’d be unhappy?”
She had to unclench her teeth before replying. “You know what, Jason? You’re getting to be a little difficult to be around.”
He stared at her. “I’m being a little difficult to be around. I am.”