'Don't bother.' He looked to the humans, and pointed at Pepperdyne. 'The younger one looks the fittest.'
'For what?' Stryke said.
'He could be useful on your mission, being one of them. Like a key, you know?'
'What is this mission?'
'You're to free our captured comrades. You and your three officers, this human and ten of your band. You can pick which ones.'
'I'd need the full strength to pull off something like that.'
'No. The other human, the dwarfs and the rest of your unit stay here. And if you fail, they die.'
16
Dawn had yet to break, and the air was chill.
The compound was a bleak collection of slab-like buildings on the outskirts of Taress. It was surrounded by a high timber wall, and there were several lookout towers. Guards patrolled inside the perimeter, and a small contingent defended the only set of gates.
In a copse on the side of a nearby hill a number of figures were stretched out on the ground, surveying the scene. Stryke, Coilla, Haskeer and Dallog were there, along with Pepperdyne, ten Wolverine privates and two resistance members. Pepperdyne was wearing a dark blue military uniform.
'They use this place solely for interrogation and executions,' one of the resistance orcs explained. 'Prisoners are kept in the biggest block, over there.' He pointed. 'The smaller ones are the torture and death chambers.'
'Where will your comrades be?' Stryke asked.
'Could be anywhere.'
'Great,' Coilla said.
The orc pointed again. 'See those two buildings? With the thatched roofs? That's the officers' mess and the barracks.'
'They're your remit, Dallog,' Stryke said.
The corporal nodded, and in turn looked to Nep, Zoda, Gant and Reafdaw, who all had bows strapped to their backs. 'Think you can manage 'em?' The quartet gave the thumbs up. 'Those and the towers are asking a lot, Stryke,' Dallog reckoned.
'This whole mission's asking a lot.' He directed that at the resistance members.
'Curfew's going to end soon,' one of them said, 'so your timing's gotta be spot on.'
'We kind of knew that,' Coilla replied dryly.
'Least you'll have the element of surprise. They won't be expecting something so bold.'
'You mean you've never tried anything like this before?'
He shook his head. 'Nobody has.'
'This just gets better.'
'Can we count on you two for help?' Stryke wanted to know.
'We're only here to observe and report back. But we'll be waiting with transport if you get out again.'
Stryke bit off a response and turned to Pepperdyne. 'You all right with this?'
'Do we have a choice?' He wriggled a couple of fingers into the buttoned-up collar of his uniform and tried stretching it. 'Damn thing's too tight,' he complained.
'Fidgeting won't make it any bigger,' Coilla said.
'This concerns me more.' He pointed at a small, dark red stain on the breast.
'Guess that was from the last owner. You'll have to hope nobody notices.'
Pepperdyne stared at the compound. 'What if they want a password or something?'
'It's a risk we'll have to take,' Stryke told him.
'That's an officer's uniform,' one of the resistance members explained. 'High ranking. It should be enough to get you in.'
'What worries me,' Haskeer said, 'is there'll only be three of us.' He glanced at Pepperdyne. 'And one a human at that.'
'Any more would be too suspicious,' the resistance member pointed out.
Stryke sighed. 'All right, let's do this.' To Coilla he added, 'Be ready to shift, and fast.'
Keeping low, he moved away. Haskeer and Pepperdyne followed.
At the foot of the hill, and out of sight of the compound, they came to an open wagon. They clambered on to it.
'Time to bind you,' Pepperdyne said, taking up a coil of rope.
'I'm not happy about this,' Haskeer grumbled ominously.
'Bit late for that,' Stryke commented. 'Here, do me first.' He turned his back.
The human bound his wrists. Then Haskeer reluctantly allowed himself to be tied.
'I've made the knots loose,' Pepperdyne assured them. 'One good tug and you'll be free. Now sit down.'
He climbed into the driver's seat and flicked the reins over the pair of horses.
They bumped around the base of the hill and joined the road. A moment later the compound came into view.
As Pepperdyne steered the wagon on to the slip road, the trio of guards lounging by the gates straightened up. Recognising his rank, but not him, they hesitated for a second before offering salutes. Then the most senior of them came forward.
'Can I help you, sir?'
'Two prisoners,' Pepperdyne replied crisply.
The guard glanced at Stryke and Haskeer. 'We've had no orders to expect prisoners.'
'What did you say?'
'I said we've had no — '
'I was referring to the way you addressed me, Sergeant! Is that how you talk to all superior officers?'
'No, I… Sir! No, sir!'
'Better. There's far too much sloppiness in the ranks. Some might accept it, I don't. Now, you were saying?'
'Begging your pardon, sir. But we've had no notice that prisoners are due, sir.'
'Well, I had orders to bring them here.'
The sergeant looked uncomfortable. 'Sir, our instructions are plain. I'd need to check this with the camp commander, sir.'
'So you're questioning my authority.'
' No sir. I only — '
'You're saying you don't trust the word of a superior officer. You're adding insolence to insubordination. Perhaps you'd like to see my orders, is that it? Is it? Here.' He reached into his tunic pocket. 'I'm sure General Hacher would be more than happy to have a sergeant inspect the directive he issued to me personally.'
The sergeant blanched. 'General… Hacher, sir?'
'Don't let that stop you. I'm sure you can explain your actions to him when he has you flogged, Private.'
'I didn't mean… that is, I… Go right in, sir!' He turned to his two companions. 'Open up and let the officer through! Move yourselves! '
The gates were hastily parted and the wagon rolled in.
Inside, there were two more guards. Much further away, in the compound proper, other soldiers could be seen going about their duties.
To Stryke and Haskeer, Pepperdyne whispered, ' Be ready.'
He brought the wagon to a halt, then glanced at the nearest watchtower. The lookout was paying them no attention. One of the guards approached, and Pepperdyne jumped down to meet him.
'What can I do for you, sir?' the guard asked.
