OMARI HARU
TWENTY-FIVE
Caspagir soldiers were everywhere in the few narrow streets of Green Hollow. The heavy scent of smoke and diesel tainted the crisp air while townsfolk hurried along the train tracks out of the village, carrying their possessions and their children.
People rushing down the tracks had stopped their train. They begged for a ride away from Green Hollow.
“The town has about three thousand soldiers stationed there year-round, and my sister ordered another ten thousand to hurry south after the first Order soldiers touched Caspagir soil near Sirelis. They’ve arrived here a day ahead of us,” Shey explained as they wove their way through the panicked citizens heading in the opposite direction.
“Are thirteen thousand soldiers enough to stop the Order’s attack?” Adrian demanded.
“If this were a normal New Rosanthe test of the border, yes. More than enough. It’s why we keep three thousand stationed here.
Just to keep them from getting frisky. But after the attack on Sirelis, I expect them to move more than a hundred thousand troops through here.
The ten thousand that were sent are only here to hold the border until the evacuation is complete.
Afterward, they are to pull back to Wolfpine.
That town is more easily defensible and has become a staging area for our ground troops.
We’ll be able to stop their invasion there. ”
“I’m sorry.” Those soft words nearly caused Haru to trip. What in the world was Tyche apologizing for? It was not as if he’d ordered these invading troops to attack Caspagir.
“Why?” Shey inquired.
“I feel like you’d rather be leading your troops into battle, or at least fighting with them. Instead, you’re stuck sneaking into Bellcairn.”
“Saving the minor gods and defeating Feng will protect my people in the long run. I’d rather fight those assholes in Damardor than in my own country, where my cities are getting blown up and my citizens killed.
” The prince darted to the side to let a haggard-looking woman and two small children hurry past. “Besides, as my mother likes to remind me, I’m not the only one who knows how to run a fight.
We’ve got loads of experienced generals and admirals.
I need to rely on them to do their job.”
Haru grunted. “Just leave the nasty hero work to us.”
As they reached the edge of town, there was a blockade set up with several soldiers in Caspagir blue uniforms holding large guns.
Most were helping people leave with whatever possessions they could carry.
The refuges were generally on foot, but there were several cars and buses loaded up to the point of overflowing.
As they were about to slip inside, a soldier stepped in front of them, one hand held up. “No entry. Green Hollow is being evacuated. Please turn around and head to Wolfpine.”
Shey lowered his head, not allowing the soldier to see his face.
Prior to leaving Sirelis, the prince had dyed his hair dark brown.
He’d been growing it out since his time in Damardor, and the long strands now hung past his shoulders.
He used it now to hide the scar on the left side of his face.
They couldn’t risk any word getting out that Prince Shey was anywhere near the border, where people could speculate that he was heading toward the Federation of Order.
At that moment, Luca was hard at work in the capital impersonating the prince by shooting out emails and having other trustworthy souls spread the word that they had recently met with the prince. All the Order spies had to believe that the prince was still in the capital.
Tyche shoved to the head of the group and grabbed at the soldier’s uniform, twisting it and pulling on the man.
“Please! You have to let us into town. My mother is in there. She’s sick and mostly deaf.
She might not know about the evacuation order.
My friends and I are just now returning from Wolfpine after running there for supplies. Please, let me get my mother!”
Tears rolled down Tyche’s cheeks for his nonexistent mother. Every time the soldier pried one hand loose another grasped him as if Tyche were part octopus.
“Fuck! Yes! Fine! Go, but we won’t be able to hold back New Rosanthe forces for long. There’s nothing we can do if you’re left behind when we pull out,” the soldier snarled, seeming happy to do whatever it took to get Tyche off him.
Tyche continued to thank the soldier profusely even as Shey physically moved Tyche along past the barrier and along the main street.
There were soldiers and heavy vehicles everywhere in the narrow street, which was a mix of worn cobblestones and gravel pounded into dirt.
Haru gazed at the buildings. Few were over three stories.
The majority were only two. They were all simple in their construction, without elaborate ornamentation.
On what appeared to be Main Street, all the shop windows were dark or boarded up against the oncoming attack.
There were a few people who were still gathering their things and loading up their vehicles.
Every child they saw was pale and wide-eyed, tears glistening in the murky afternoon light.
They didn’t understand what was happening. Just that their parents were terrified.
Everything he saw made him want to shift right that second, fly outside of the city, and bathe all the Order forces in fire. Why did their lives have to be destroyed because some greedy assholes wanted to rule the world?
Tyche wiped his tears as they jogged from the principal thoroughfare of Green Hollow and headed to some more residential streets. It didn’t take them long to reach empty neighborhoods. Lights were out. Not a vehicle or person in sight. Not even a dog barked as they passed.
“They’ve got most people evacuated,” Adrian murmured as they slowed their pace to a brisk walk.
“True, but it would be best if we got off the street while we made our plans. We don’t want to be mistaken for Order spies,” Shey advised.
Haru grunted in agreement. They couldn’t be caught in Green Hollow for more than a couple of days.
They were scheduled to meet some allies in a remote town in southern Uris-Oladul called Three Hills.
These people were supposed to help them reach Damardor and get them in contact with revolutionary forces working in Bellcairn.
In the distance, thunder rumbled low and angry. Everyone looked over at Shey, who winced. He lifted a hand in defense. “That wasn’t me.” He paused and seemed to reconsider. “Well, I don’t think it was me.”
“Here. This house.” Adrian darted ahead of them, following a longer driveway off the street they were on. The house was two stories and partially hidden behind some large pine trees.
“Why this one?” Tyche asked, picking up his pace to catch up to Adrian.
“It’s empty, for starters.” He pointed at the garage door that had been left open to reveal no vehicle inside. “And second, it’s hidden from direct view on the street. It’ll be more easily overlooked if we’re still here after nightfall.”
The house was a muted gray with white shutters and dark windows.
Adrian picked the lock on the front door, and they entered the silent house.
They conducted a quick search of all the rooms to confirm that the house was, in fact, empty.
All they found were hastily emptied closets and a nearly empty pantry.
Toys were left scattered in several rooms, and half-finished homework rested on the dining room table.
“We knew this was a possibility,” Adrian muttered.
“But we were hoping we’d get lucky,” Shey finished for him. He glanced at Tyche, who threw his hands up in the air.
“I can’t be responsible for all the bad luck. Sometimes it just happens.”
Haru crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the counter near the sink. After they worked through the house, they seemed to stop naturally in the kitchen. “Do you think we’ll still be able to sneak out of Green Hollow to Eltos Pass?”
Shey nodded. “After years of skirmishes, New Rosanthe knows how many troops we keep here and how long it takes us to move them from Wolfpine and Lewes. There’s no point in trying to be creative in their attack.
They’ll be coming from the south and in big numbers.
Eltos Pass is to the southwest of the city.
Once we sneak past the city patrols, we should have no problem reaching the pass.
We’ll just need to wait until nightfall. ”
Tyche stepped out of the pantry, holding an open box of crackers. “Do you think New Rosanthe will wait till nightfall before attacking?”
Shey shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know. I have no idea if the New Rosanthe soldiers are in formation outside the city limits or if they’re still arriving.”
Haru shoved his hand into the box and pulled out a brown cracker and popped it into his mouth. It had a nice flavor of black pepper and rosemary, but it was dry as hell. This needed cheese. Maybe a fresh tomato. But now wasn’t the time.
“Do you think the train has enough room to carry all the passengers? They will take them without tickets, right?” Haru inquired.
Shey nodded. “As we were leaving the train, I asked the conductor, and he said they were taking everyone as far as Wolfpine.”
“That’s good. But it’s still going to take time to get everyone loaded up. Plus, there are more people on the road. It will be hard for the Caspagir soldiers to retreat if they have to worry about all the civilians.”
Adrian narrowed his eyes and crossed the kitchen, crowding close to Haru. “I can hear the wheels turning in that crazy head of yours. What are you thinking?”
Haru grinned slowly. “I was wondering if maybe a certain God of Luck would be willing to spread some bad luck on the Order troops as we are leaving Green Hollow.”