Rashevian Escort

A fading light streamed into the small room. Three cots leaned against each other at the back wall, folded and hastily stacked in place without further supplies. A maid uniform hung on a wall hook.

A brush smoothed delicate blonde hair. Curls responded to each stroke by springing from the stream. On the other side, a comb separated smooth strands while extracting loose hairs. Vanessa ran her hands along the folds of her white silk gown. The blade forged with Kurl’s help rested in a band around her hip. Her fingers slid along silk robes slinking over the hilt.

“What is this mysterious affinity of his? It has no name, yet forges the angel’s silver. They call it heavy vapor. But to him it’s lighter than feathers.”

Jessica and Susana continued combing her hair.

The doorknob hit the wall as Brunswick entered, “He’s a married man.”

“What exactly are you implying?” Vanessa stood, silken robes flowed from her shoulders, “Is it time for my appearance?”

“Follow me.”

They left the sparsely furnished quarters for the main guild hall. The supplies remained, and the folding table from before remained open. Correspondence piled at a desk placed in the back corner. But other than Father Tergeist and a few guards loitering about, no one else remained. Vanessa picked up an ink jar and rolled it between her fingers.

“Where is General Stanislau?”

“His work here is done, so he was required at an actual military headquarters.”

“You’re an officer controlling the squad that will decide the fate of this war. Where is your headquarters? Where is your guard? Where is your staff?” with each question an increasing anger clouded her voice.

Brunswick wiped dust off the hearth before inspecting his stained fingers, then he returned to military posture, “I’m a secret service lieutenant who exploits prisoners for the Empire. You can’t expect more than this to be provided,” He turned with a devilish smile, eyes almost aglow, “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“What is happening on the front lines?”

“Evisceration!” Brunswick shouted, his arms spread wide, “Death and evisceration on the largest scale possible. The front lines are unraveling. In the south, the 41st conscript division is breaking along the trench line faster than reports can come in. In the north, the 10th conscript division is being dismantled one unit at a time. And here, the 14th is already eviscerated. Bodies are piling up, but our blood outcasts are not yet among them. Not yet. Kurl was injured, along the neck, badly. I’m not sure how much longer his mana will hold.”

“Then where are our reinforcements?” she gripped the handle of her silver dagger tightly through her gown.

“The enemy moves west from the arctic to the black sea. Every other section of the front is strained to the breaking point. The northern swamps are overrun so badly that Konigsberg is threatened with encirclement. Several high mage squads haven’t returned from combat operations.”

Her hand covered her mouth, “Is this what you learned from the general? Then that’s all the more reason to deploy me. I shouldn’t have been held back.”

“I had my orders. I’ve arranged for a transport squad. That was the plan all along. You are to work with the blood outcasts as mage reinforcement.”

“I could have fought with them from the start!”

“And have a squad of condemned mages associated with an angel? There are forces that would never allow it.”

“I’m condemned and regarded as defective.”

“True. But you’re still an angel. While you’re technically part of the squad, you must be considered an independent entity. And you must show up to complete the work Kurl starts.”

“So I can steal the credit? That’s despicable.”

“Refuse to play by the rules and Kurl dies, along with the rest of the squad. I’ve made arrangements for a Russian pyrite squad to escort you to hill 543. Once there, you will take down whatever the squad is facing. Once accomplished, you will hide. Do I make myself clear?”

“A tool has no say in how it is utilized.”

“Come to the balcony.”

Two men waited, leaning on the rails of a porch balcony overlooking the city. Both wore flight suits with ruffled fur collars. One was short, the other tall. One had graying brown hair, the other blonde. One had a thick crooked nose, the other a nose so straight it looked like it could cut cheese. Chiseled discs shone with a slight golden hue in the sunset, though they looked rough, as if carved carefully so they didn’t break.

Brunswick introduced them, “This Caption Dubrovnik and his adjunct Lieutenant Petrovich. They’ll be flying with you to hill 543. Once there, you are to assist the Blood Outcasts in dealing with the overlord.”

Her heart beat frantically as she curtseyed before the two Rashevians, “I’m sorry I can’t be more assistance in helping you reclaim your homeland. I’m Vanessa. Herald of the Divine Light, Messenger of the Holy Father, and Serene Arbiter of Justice! Pleased to be fighting with you.”

The shorter man smiled, and spoke with a thick accent and deep voice, his Sterman broken, “We are only bringing you to the front. Then we are retreating. But while you are traveling, we will be pleased to keep you company.”

He pulled her in for a friendly hug, but it felt like a bear squeezing her.

“Don’t touch me!” she screamed.

Her spear shot through the window; glass shattered before the handle slapped against her palm. The offending Rashavian stumbled until pinned against the side wall. A silver spear poked his chest.

The taller Rashevian mage hopped on the floating false gold plate and floated a short distance away. Shining stone floated above him.

“I told you fools not to greet her that way!” Brunswick shouted, “Vanessa, enough, release him. He had no foul intentions!”

The spear lifted, Vanessa took a step back with a hand to her chest while she recovered her breath, “I’m sorry. But please refrain from touching me unless invited to do so.”

The adjunct, Petrovich, kept his false gold chunks floating, “Captain, your luck with the ladies proceeds you. Get airborne, we’ll wait for the angel. Is she flight capable?”

“I can ride my spear. I have no need of a disc,” she straddled it like a broom, then floated. The tarnish maids offered her a heavy satchel full of silver plates, pins, bullets, and coins.

“We also made a small lunch box for you and Frederika,” Susana said, “Please let her know that we miss her.”

Vanessa nodded, then she looked at the Rashevians apologetically, “Shall we be off?”

“We shall be off!” Petrovich said.

They flew up, then over the city wall at speed. Her escort had trouble keeping up with her, as if she knew exactly where to go. The white gown trailed behind her.

Brunswick glared at the two maids, “I told you to keep her in the maid outfit and not let her wear the angel robes. She’s a flying target.”

Jessica smiled and bowed politely, “I couldn’t withstand her complaints any longer.”

Susana smiled and bowed politely, “Father Tergeist made us indulge her!”