Wartorn Obliteration

and Dardas existing within the confines of the same being.

It was a good idea though. Raven mounted her horse once again and swung it about. She had to pick her way carefully, with all the troops and equipment being moved about. Even amidst all this confusion, she was aware of those male stares that followed her everywhere. Her beauty was a radiant thing, as glorious and entrancing as a full moon.

She had a rough idea where she could find Dardas in this huge array of military might. He would be toward the rear, insulated from harm, and with a good commanding view of his army.

With that army halted and currently redeploying, the general had set up a very temporary base of operations. He was dismounted and standing with a few select members of his senior staff. They were gathered around a mapstrewn table, and Dardas was pointing and speaking rapidly. His personal guard ringed the scene.

Raven reined her horse. The foot traffic was becoming too thick for her to navigate. For a moment, she sat and watched as the general gave his orders. He certainly appeared to be in his element. There was no hesitancy in his manner, no hints of self-doubt.

For so long now she had thought this man was Weisel, a Felk lord turned military leader. She had accepted Weisel as her superior, as one who treated her as a confidant. She had accepted him as a lover.

Now she knew her beliefs were awry. When she had made love to that man, it was actually two men. The thought was peculiarly unsettling. Peculiar, because when he had made love to her it was, in fact, to two women.

Raven hopped off her horse once more, shaking her head. Whatever the new dynamic, she supposed she could get used to it.

As she approached she began to realize that all wasn't actually right with the general. There was something strange in his body language. His movements were just slightly off. As she got near enough to see his face, she noticed that his expressions were somewhat exaggerated, the facial muscles pulling tautly, the eyes protruding from the skull.

With a start, Raven realized that this disturbing appearance reminded her sharply of when the general had experienced that strange paralysis just before... just before... she had been struck by that crossbow bolt.

She sucked in a breath. It was the first time since her resurrection that she had remembered the event so vividly. It was her own death, and she was remembering it!

Plainly, this wasn't the same kind of episode, whatever was now happening to the general. But something odd was going on, she was sure. She sensed it.

The guards passed her through, and Raven edged unobtrusively up to the tight circle of senior officers gathered with Dardas around the maps.

Now she could hear him speaking. 'The scouts confirm it! East and west, precisely like I said. They're flanking us. It's a very clever battle plan. They're making the best use of their numbers, hemming us in. They can do us real damage. Whoever's strategizing for that army, they have a genuine flair. I admire it.'

Raven listened closely. It was the voice she was used to hearing, but it was pitched somewhat differently. It was strained, as if some struggle were going on behind the words. But that was mad. Or was it...?

Nevertheless, Dardas carried on.

'I wouldn't normally recommend a night attack, but the surprise advantage will be considerable. I want those Far Movement mages in place as soon as possible.'

'Yes, General Weisel,' one of the senior officers said.

'They're to go out past both enemy flanks.' Dardas's lips pulled in a tight grin.

'Understood, General,' said the officer. 'Two squads are moving the mages covertly into position right now. Both have Far Speak wizards with them, of course. They'll report when all is ready.'

'Outstanding.' Dardas sounded pleased. There was even a faint note of hysterical giddiness in his voice.

If the officers were aware that the general appeared distressed, they didn't show it. But Raven noted the odd, overwrought manner. Maybe, though, this was just how Dardas behaved when faced with an actual battle.

I don't think so, Vadya said.

Neither do I, Raven said, grimly.

Something was definitely wrong.

The same senior officer blinked at the general, smiled admiringly, and said, 'You mean to outflank the enemy's flanks.'

Dardas nodded. 'That's correct.'

'A brilliant strategy, sir.'

'It's served me before.'

'Sir?'

'Never mind.' Dardas waved. 'Report when the Far Movement mages are in place. In the meantime, continue to get the companies organized to be Moved through the portals. Dismissed.'

The officers all saluted and dispersed. Dardas's eye now fell on Raven.

'Ah, Raven. Exciting, isn't this?' He swept an arm to encompass the whole, huge militaristic display around them.

'Yes... uh, General,' she said, biting her lip again. She had to maintain a front for him. He was unaware that she knew his secret. 'Very exciting, sir,' she said, more firmly this time.

Dardas nodded and even that was exaggerated, a jerking movement.

'We're going to outflank the outflankers,' he said, happily.

'I overheard, sir.'

But Dardas was looking down at the maps on the table, not hearing her. 'It's a nice tactic they've got, whoever they are. See how their forward companies are arranged? It's bait, pure and simple. They have deliberately placed a 'weakness' right there in the middle, this unit that's weaker than the others on either side of it. They want me to attack there. It would draw our forces forward, toward that specific point. If I hadn't known in advance about the flanking maneuvers...'

'How did you know?' Again Raven was horrified to hear herself blurt so tactlessly. So much for her stoic front.

Dardas looked up from the maps. There was a hot glint in his eyes that seemed to pierce her.

'Oh,' he said finally, 'let's just say this particular scenario has a kind of... familiarity about it.' He let out a chuckle that climbed sharply into the upper registers.

Raven felt a chill.

Has he gone mad? she wondered.

Perhaps not, Vadya said. As Dardas, he must have memories of past battles, a vast experience of war.

Raven felt herself frowning. Do you mean that this might resemble something from two hundred and fifty years ago, some battle he and his Northland army fought? It was a staggering thought, though perfectly logical.

Yes.

Amazing, Raven said.

'Fergon!' the general called abruptly.

The aide came scampering to his side, saluting, freckled face flushed. 'Yes, sir!'

Unexpectedly, Dardas clapped a comradely hand on the junior officer's shoulder and said, 'I want you to fetch a drink for myself and this delectable creature here. We're going to drink a toast to this war. Right away, Fergon!'

The young officer vanished. Raven had time only for a veiled, dismayed look at the general, who was chuckling anew, before Fergon returned with a bottle and two cups. He neatly filled the cups, handed them over, and scurried off once more.

Dardas lifted his cup, some of the dark liquor sloshing over the brim, and said, 'To the eternal strife, the unending play of might against might, the test of every fighter's valor, and the dread beauty of bloodshed. To our war!'