Duke was sitting there, on the floor, looking at the surprised kitchen staff, a team of Daggers with wide smiles, Duke's secretary, Ladro, and a beaming head chef. The head chef crossed his arms and tried to look annoyed. "Excellency! I was going to surprise you with this!"

One of the Daggers said, "Well the hound is back, time for that hunt we had planned." Dohma smiled at that. Yes, and I suspect they will not be ready for you.

Duke gave a look of retribution to the unrepentant Dagger and then looked at the head chef. "I am surprised! The heavens know, I am surprised! To have my sense of smell return to that odor was like the G.o.ds themselves, descending to reward me for this day's work."

Five guardsmen rushed in, weapons ready, as the chef placed before Duke a platter of some kind of pastries which were tall brown spiraled rolls topped with a thick white icing. There were five other trays of these rolls that had just been pulled out of the oven. The Dagger lead waved his hand at the guards. "Put the weapons away boys, this was only a culinary emergency."

Breathing deeply, Dohma took in the odor of these odd rolls. They smelled like nothing he had known before, yet his mouth watered at the unusual scent. "What are those?"

Duke bent down and shoved the tray over his way with his nose. "These, Lord Dohma, are cinnamon rolls." He said it in such a way as to make the mere name a word of worship. "They are to be treasured by not letting them get cold before being eaten completely. This will be another perk of your new position." Looking at Ladro, the Daggers and the kitchen staff, he added, "I don't care how you did this, but thank you. Now, hurry up and give some to everyone and make sure to put some on a plate for me!"

The cooks did as instructed and everyone, including the guards, watched respectfully as Duke bit into one, closing his eyes with delight as he chewed loudly. Breathing heavily to cool the roll, he mumbled around the food, "Ah, they are still very hot! Oh wonderful, wonderful, it has been too long."

Once Duke had finished the first cinnamon roll everyone took a careful bite of one. Dohma had to admit, they were better than anything he had ever had before, except for the sharre. Truly enjoying the flavors, he watched Duke slowly savor two more; he sure is an odd creature.

When they had finished, Duke licked his lips for some time. "Can't think of a better way to start a hunt. Commander Alpha and Echo, river walk." The Daggers, busy licking their fingers, as one looked at Duke, smiled and ran out of the room without a word. Duke stood and nodded to Ladro and the cooks. "Thank you again. I will find some way to properly thank you for this. Now, if you will excuse me, Lord Dohma, you need to go read a couple of books and take care of other business as you best can decide. I'll be back to confirm your position in a more public ceremony later." Duke looked at the guardsmen. "I name your Captain, and his sister and brother, Regents of the Realm. Their children are named Regent heirs by direct bloodline only. Witness this to all staff immediately; and now I will see about those pests we discussed, Lord Dohma." Smiling, he turned and trotted out of the room and down the hall towards the front entrance, letting out a chilling howl, announcing a hunt had begun.

"Good hunting my friend." He said to the empty s.p.a.ce where Duke had just been.

He was surprised when Duke's retreating voice called out, "Thanks... Now get busy!"

Turning, he saw Ladro was trying to stifle a laugh. Busy doesn't begin to describe it. Looking at the guardsmen he saw they all were suppressing deep emotions as they looked on him, some with watering eyes. I wonder if they are just proud that one of their own has been given so much or if something inside of them knew who I was all along and is now joyous at the confirmation. This whole bloodline thing Duke talks about is a little strange. Walking out of the kitchens, he headed back to the throne room. I think I might look at some of those books, after I talk with my sister and brother.

Behind him the guards had formed into a personal escort.

"Two days. We have been cut off from almost every outpost, lookout, and direct operative. We are almost blind and stuck here hiding now for two days! Duke has Daggers out everywhere! The Daggers are watching for us and the guards are answering to the Daggers! This is totally unacceptable! When I told you to see to this personally, I didn't mean 'expose the whole operation and get us locked into this backward little city'! One thing! We only needed to get one thing and you missed it! Then you expose us, to kill off a possible witness, who wasn't even a primary target. Now we are stuck, out of communication, and have no way to continue operations." Urio-Larne paced back and forth in his library as he continued to rant.

Ossa-Ulla knelt with his head down and back straight. In supplication to his master's rage, his knives were laid bare on the floor in front of him as the tradition demanded. He was naked from the waste up. Years of perfection ruined by a deceiving charlatan of a woman who hides behind her appearance of youth to trap men. If I am allowed to continue I will rend her in the old style. She will see her own entrails pulled out slowly over days and used to feed animals while she still lives. He looked at the knives. If I get the chance, that is. Urio-Larne is within his rights to demand complete repentance of me.

"The Daggers killed two of our very best, you only just managed to escape, and that was in rags." Urio-Larne stopped in front of him. There was the sound of snapping fingers over his head, followed by something being handed to Urio-Larne by one of the two men standing at attention behind Ossa-Ulla. Urio-Larne shook the ripped green vest and shirt wadded together within his field of vision. The cloth was stained with blood - some of it his own - and had cuts from the Daggers' knives. "Rags! Rags! There are whole sections missing from these! This isn't some stupid hound! This is Duke! Duke, and you left him rags to scent you by! You came here! Rags! This was the worst and most thoughtless action of a cadet. It is impossible to think of anything you could possibly have done worse!" Throwing the clothes on the floor in front of him, Urio-Larne started pacing again.

Two days of this and each day it gets worse. More news or events come because of the start. Yet he does not decide my fate - it is as if he is waiting for something. He hasn't made up his mind yet. He is trapped and embarra.s.sed. How could I have known she was so good? We didn't even know we were surrounded by Daggers! I should have guessed that, or at the very least considered it. The first group fell so easily. Ticca, that devil woman, who is she really? That was a trap at the gate and we walked right into it. I am shocked that the Daggers would sacrifice their own to bait a trap. It was very well played. I will never underestimate them again. The group that pinned us against the gate was well prepared. She was the commander though, I am sure of it. She played her part perfectly. She led me to the gate, causing my men to follow, and then as soon as everyone was exactly where she had planned she had Duke close the trap. Very well played. I bet she is in the palace right now helping to determine how to best to hunt us down. Ticca, I swear I will rend you in the old style.

Someone stepped to the threshold of the library and waited respectfully.

Urio-Larne paced back and forth several more times. "What is it?"

"Sir, we have managed to spray every part of the neighborhood and the path Ossa-Ulla took returning here three times now. We shall not be able to do a forth."

"Why not?"

"Sir, Duke hunts."

"Not possible! He took a full dose of burned carmine. He won't be able to track effectively for at least another three or four days."

"Sir, signal relay reports Duke has begun untangling the scents at the west gate."

"We must prepare for discovery. I am not sure if three treatments are enough to stop him; two have proven ineffective before, we only know positively that six with time to dry are enough. If he comes on the area before the chemicals finish working he'll know it has been cleaned, which will give away the general area. After that, this whole area of town will be torn apart looking for us. d.a.m.n it! We must execute a complete shutdown." He spun and walked over to Ossa-Ulla. "This is worse and worse. Do you realize that having such a public fight in an open s.p.a.ce which Duke could and did have placed off-limits means he will gain all three scents? Further, you exposed our observation post for the Dolphin. Duke has claimed and sealed that too! There was no chance to clean that! Many of our warriors will be cataloged by him and there will be absolutely no hiding them!"

Urio-Larne stepped to his desk and back. He heard papers being shaken over his head. "Ossa-Ulla, you are given a reprieve."

Surprised, Ossa-Ulla looked up but remained kneeling.

Urio-Larne shook some papers at him. "Warlord Maru-Ashua commands me to reinstate you as Nhia-Samri. He allows me the privilege of naming your rank. He also suggests that I send you out of the city, to a less conspicuous location." Urio-Larne paced again and then smiled. "We will evacuate you to outpost Llino Twelve. From there you can take an a.s.sistant and proceed to Algan. I want every part of Magus Vestul's house in ashes before anyone gets the idea to search it. Do you think you can handle lighting a fire in a small city filled with old people and children, Second Lieutenant Ossa-Ulla?"

Two ranks? You strip me of two ranks?! I am barely more than a cadet. Looking firmly at his Colonel, he answered, "I will serve well. And after?"

"Return to Llino Twelve via Rhini Wood. Find out more about this Ticca. You are in no way to make contact with Ticca's family in Rhini Wood, nor are you to do anything more than intelligence gathering. I expect a complete report in four weeks."

Picking up his swords, he sheathed them respectfully. Bowing once all the way to floor he stood and walked out of the room to prepare for the journey. Bitterly, he thought, I shouldn't need a second chance. But I will take it.

Preparations didn't take long. Within a mark he was fitted with a breathing system. The underwater breather was a set of tubes that attached to a float which could be changed to look like a small piece of wood or floating garbage or reeds or whatever was appropriate for the water it was to be used in. The breather would allow fresh air down one tube only and the second tube exhausted his breath by small holes under the water, making bubbles which were too small to be spotted except up close, and then they would look like they came from a water animal. A simple valve switched back and forth based on his breathing allowed him to breathe in good air and vent the bad. It also had a helmet made from gla.s.s and wire which allowed him to see very clearly. He knew if he went too deep the gla.s.s would shatter and likely kill him.

He was also handed the weights needed to stay submerged. The water was extremely cold, especially near the bottom, but his const.i.tution could deal with the shock. Once in the water, he walked calmly down the bottom of the Delivery Channel, careful of the traffic and his breathing system. His papers, some clothes, and supplies were sealed in a water-tight harness that was strapped to his back. Once in the harbor, he carefully dropped some of the weights until he was able to easily maintain a good depth at just under the fifty-foot reach of the breathing system. Swimming slowly, he found the harbor was blocked by gates made of steel bars which were impossible to squeeze through.

He searched the docks for a way out, and finding none, he sat by a gate underwater, breathing slowly. Sooner or later they have to open the gate for a merchant; that will be my time. The day wore on and he grew very tired. The sun pa.s.sed out of sight and he felt the tides pulling him into the gate. He let the water pressure hold him there and rested. Sometime later a ship was approaching - he could hear its movement in the water and behind him; he felt the gate swing silently open. After a day of struggle, escape was as simple as relaxing and letting the tide sweep him out of the city. Duke, I have escaped you. But, the Lords permit, I will be back.

He stayed underwater until he was sure the ship was out of sight and he was far from the city. Slowly, in the dark, he surfaced in timed stages as he had been instructed. Surfacing to the starry night sky, he paused to enjoy the sight and then struck out for sh.o.r.e, which he could hear in the distance. He was east of the city where the marshes merged with the river and sea, creating the great swamp lands. When his foot hit the muddy swamp floor he knew he was close enough to sh.o.r.e to stand, but there was no dry land in sight. Taking off the heavy gear and the water pack he rearranged everything so it could be easily carried.

Looking up at the stars, he found the ones he needed. A little observation and he knew which way to head. He had studied the detailed maps of the marshes and was able to guess where he was. He also paid close attention to any sign of predators, as the marsh contained hunters that could kill a man before he could cry out.

I need to avoid contact, so I will have to skip the trader routes. He concentrated on remembering the maps. Then it came to him. There is an abandoned fishing home not far off. I might be able to rest there. Turning, he confirmed the landmarks and then began carefully navigating through the swamp beds. He stayed vigilant for any of the numerous predators. After just over a mark, he spotted the leaning house in the darkness. The house was little more than a dark outline against the greens of the swamp trees and shrubs. He approached cautiously, looking for signs of other people or predators.

The house was empty. A small thrill of success went through him and he gratefully climbed onto the solid gra.s.s-mound. Finally being able to stand on dry land, he found some old fishing net, made a hammock, and strung it as high as he could between two strong palm trees. He then hung his stuff high in the tree and climbed into the hammock, falling asleep almost instantly.

The morning sun woke him up. Looking down he saw that a couple of predators had come through to investigate his scent. I must have been exhausted to not have woken up when they came looking for me. Looking up at the tree where he had left his pack he saw it was still safely in the tree. Getting up, he took the hammock down and put the netting back where he had found it. Grabbing his pack, he put on the simple traveling clothes with his knives hidden under the shirt. It was four days to the outpost if he walked. I don't want to spend another night in this swamp. It doesn't matter how tired I am, I need to move fast right now. He started the walk ten, jog ten travel pattern that he had been taught. I should get out of the swamp by sunset and then another half-day will see me at the outpost.

The day moved on about as fast as he did. The running and walking became like a meditation. He carefully reviewed every decision he had made and action he had taken since being informed that Magus Vestul was to be intercepted before he met with Duke, the information he carried in his pouch at all times to be sent to Hisuru Amajoo unread, in no way was a Nhia-Samri to come into direct contact with Magus Vestul, and anyone not Nhia-Samri involved was to be eliminated without a trace. That a.s.signment had fallen to him. He had found a Knife capable of killing Vestul and stealing his pouch, which would hold what Hisuru Amajoo desired. The Knife killed Vestul but did not make it to the meeting, having vanished himself. Which meant the Knife was still to be found and eliminated without a trace. Ticca had appeared by surprise. Ticca had been seen in a number of key locations over the past cycle - too many locations to be a coincidence. When it was discovered she was acting for Dalpha's Temple he had decided she might be involved, which would mean the original orders applied to her. A real puzzle was how was Dalpha's Temple involved?

Ticca had left the Dolphin boldly wearing Magus Vestul's pouch. I should have seen that as a warning. In hindsight she was clearly baiting a trap. She wanted to pull us out and expose our involvement. Her trap worked perfectly; I was a fool and fell into it. I ordered her to be removed and the pouch recovered immediately by one of our own. I cannot see how she managed to hire or involve that mage. That he is a special operative is clear. How did they communicate? Unless Dalpha's Temple was communicating with the Guild... I had not ordered the Temple to be monitored. It must have been coordinated through the Temple. The foolish-seeming mage stepped in just perfectly and laid our involvement open to the world. She played me for a fool. She pretended ignorance and efficiently ran down exactly what had happened to Vestul. Her speed at recreating Vestul's movements was another clue that she knew more than we thought. She was just going through the motions, and again I fell for it. She had his pouch, which meant the Knife either sold us out or more likely she caught him and extracted all he knew then killed him. I am still missing something, I am sure of this; she didn't need to spend the day tracing Vestul, unless that was just a ruse to throw us off. That must be it - she was blinding us. Interesting techniques, by publicly hunting what she already knew she confused me, which led me straight into the gate trap. I need to learn from her brilliant tactics. What is her next move? If I can get ahead of her I can turn her own trap on her.

By the time he reached the outpost he had managed to puzzle out every aspect of Ticca's traps. She will work with Duke to destroy all of our operations in Llino. Then, knowing little or no warning was, or could, be sent to our command, she will turn to Magus Vestul's home. Urio-Larne will be forced to destroy the command post and all but the most critical records. He'll get as many as possible out, probably by facing Duke and Ticca directly. If I hurry I can beat her to Vestul's Algan home. Smiling, he realized he had the chance to get ahead of Ticca and Duke. He was free of the city before they expected, through the impenetrable defenses. I will destroy it and then wait; they will not expect a burnt sh.e.l.l. She'll come in by herself to keep suspicions down; but seeing the burnt-out house she'll realize she has been expected and will have to move fast to recover. She'll be concerned that we recovered from the house what she tried to stop us from gaining in Llino. She'll race back to get support; they'll have a secret camp set up beforehand. If I capture them I can gain the information we need and present that to Warlord Maru-Ashua.

I need someone who can play the part with me. The perfect operative will be a top-rank fighter with speed, mage-neutralization training, and who can sing and play an instrument well so we can pose as bards. I'll need to make sure to burn the house a day or two before we get to town, so as not to arouse suspicion. Small villagers are narrow-minded and superst.i.tious to a fault, if there is a fire and there are new people in town it will be blamed on them. Smiling, he laughed. Of course in this case they'd be right.

The outpost had no new communications from Llino. The commander of the outpost read Urio-Larne's orders carefully before allowing Ossa-Ulla his pick of the outpost's gear, horses and personnel. It took a day of careful interviewing before he hit on someone that would work. Fate was friendly and he found a gifted fighter, mage, and musician in the form of a beautiful woman named Runa-Illa. She was perfect for his plan. He gave her a short brief of the guise they would need and special equipment needed, along with the gist of his plan without precise details. She accepted the secrecy without comment and prepared their equipment admirably. All the equipment, new or old, had been distressed to look well-used and reasonably maintained. She chose to take a hammer dulcimer to complement the only instrument he could play better than most traveling musicians, the twelve-string guitar. It took two days to a.s.semble everything, and he pressed her hard in fighting practice to help prepare her for Ticca.

Pre-dawn on the third day after leaving Llino, he and Runa-Illa mounted the light but fast horses loaded with all the right clothes, gear, and instruments of a pair of traveling bards. As they left the outpost, Ossa-Ulla took the lead, riding at a fast canter south until out of sight of the outpost and far enough to let them cut past the southern farms of Llino. Then they turned west and kept the horses moving at a steady trot. As they pa.s.sed Llino the sun had just started to rise. The early morning light showed a series of smoke columns that could only be from a section of the city burning. Stopping to roughly triangulate the sources he knew that the command post was burning. Ticca, I will rend you in the old style.

Runa-Illa was also studying the smoke columns with a questioning look, yet she respectfully remained silent as good subordinate should. He broke the silence. "Llino command is destroyed. We are going to complete their last order to prevent the Dagger responsible from gaining any critical information. Then we are going to capture, interrogate, and kill her."

Runa-Illa looked at him with cold green eyes which burned bright with her soul. She slipped off her horse while drawing her oda.s.si. Kneeling, she held them out in front of her, blades crossed near the base just above the copper bands. Putting her head down, she said softly, "I serve, command me."

He slipped off his horse and drew his right oda.s.si. "Your service is honorable." He touched his oda.s.si blade at the point where her blades crossed the stamped mark on all three oda.s.si glowed red. Sheathing his oda.s.si, he mounted. "We must make best speed for Algan. We have to beat them there."

She stood, sheathing her oda.s.si, and mounted as well. Turning their horses, they spurred them back to a trot. Using the trot-walk travel pattern they would be able to get to Algan in perhaps a week and a half. Ossa-Ulla knew he had to get there in less than thirteen days so he could burn the house then wait a few days before the "traveling bards" got there. Ticca will be leaving Llino in two or three more days and will hurry, but not as fast as we move.

Chapter 13.

Hunters hunt "NO, I SWEAR THAT PRIESTS and priestesses just appeared from the alleys the moment the three men ran that way." He pointed west to indicate the direction. "It was like magic. I didn't see them before or during the fight, but then I was busy watching the fight more than looking at the other spectators. The high priestess herself came out of Drillian's Alley last and had that golden artifact from the Temple. She ran when called by a healer and touched it to the wounded person the healer indicated. Some acolytes came with stretchers and started taking the wounded away. The high priestess walked between two of the stretchers, concentrating, with a frown on her face and that thing glowing like the sun. That's it - except for the blood on the street I might not have believed I saw it at all."

Elades considered the baker's statements as compared to the story he had already a.s.sembled in his notes. The baker was only one of a dozen near or direct eyewitnesses to the fight in front of the Dolphin. In fact he was the most factual direct eyewitness of them all. If it hadn't been for the immediate arrival of the healers most of Echo Squad would be dead. Instead only two had suffered wounds too serious for direct healing, and they were still alive at the Temple. One of those was expected to make a full recovery. How in the Lord's name did they know to be here? I have been refused admission to the high priestess three times now, and the healers just say they go where needed. Forgive me, Lord, but sometimes holy types can be really annoying.

Allua, one of his squad's Daggers, ran in and leaned over to whisper in his ear, "Sir, the hound is ready. Alpha and Echo are ordered to river walk for him."

Shocked at the news, Elades stood. "Thank you very much, Nualli Baker, I appreciate your help with this. Do you desire compensation for lost work?"

The baker stood. "Thank you, but my a.s.sistants are likely doing OK in my absence. I am glad things are finally getting cleaned up here. I live for the true Princes and their Regents."

Elades smiled and waved him out. Turning, he saw more of his men had already stepped into the room as the order was being rapidly pa.s.sed. Looking at Allua, he asked, "Where?"

"West Gate."

"Of course; and Echo?"

"Already informed, sir."

"Ridge run to within four blocks, then river walk on Duke's lead." No one waited a breath longer and they all bolted, most grinning with excitement. Elades couldn't keep from smiling himself. I don't know how he did it, but if he can truly hunt now we might finally have the advantage. Playing catch-up is even more annoying than dealing with holy types. Sorry, Lord, but you know it's true.

They poured out of the building, using every alley, door, and window, heading in many different directions. Of course, once out of sight, they each took a separate path, turning toward the western gate at their best speed.

Elades approached the west gate from along the wall. He was stepping over another dead bird, cooked by the lightning-b.a.l.l.s on top of the walls, when he noticed that it had something on its foot. Stopping, he picked it up. The bird was charred, like it had been in a very hot fire, especially its wings. The legs, however, were relatively untouched. On one leg was a small canister containing a sliver of paper; he took it off of the bird and pulled the sliver of paper out of the canister. It was in some kind of code. I need to show this to Duke. Looking up, he saw the silver b.a.l.l.s at the tops of the long spikes that topped the wall sparking with lightning occasionally. Well that explains those things. Interesting counter-intelligence device, for sure. For the dozenth time, he wondered what the effect would be on a person trying to climb over the wall. We'll have to scout the outside of the wall carefully for bodies when Duke opens the gates. This might be very interesting. I should also have our patrols look for more carrier birds.

He continued to the gate and arrived within minutes of Duke, who was sitting next to the gate, looking at the area quietly. Duke turned and walked to the gate and then sat down. He looked at it curiously, then said something, and the six-foot-thick, fifty-foot-wide metal slab slid down rapidly, with a slight grating sound like a knife being dragged over rock. It sank until it was a few inches below the street level, making a slotted line in the road across the gateway. The slotted line was where it had been paved over, hiding it from view. Must have been done when the pretenders figured out they couldn't control it and put in the more normal gate system. Duke said something else and it slid up just as fast, closing without much more than a soft thunk. That thing has to weigh as much as a large house; what kind of machinery could lift such a weight so efficiently and evenly? Duke then opened it and closed it a few more times, and each time it moved at a different speed. Not once, however, did it close with the speed and power it had when it had cut Ticca off from the Nhia-Samri, who had then managed to fight clear and escape.

After experimenting with the gate, Duke moved around the periphery of the fight area, which was still being guarded by a dozen city guardsmen. Duke stopped at each guard and Dagger asking them to hold their hand out to be sniffed. After getting each person's scent he continued his circuit, snuffling the ground. There were key points where he stopped and snuffled around dramatically before continuing around the scene. One spot near the gate Duke spent more than a minute following the scents. Finally he followed the fight path to and from the gate a few times before also examining the steel gate where the Nhia-Samri had pounded on it in frustration.

Duke looked around. There were a number of people watching the event with interest. Duke called out, "Alpha and Echo Commanders, front and center!"

Elades jumped down into the alley, past another of his men, who was concealed in the shadows watching the alleyway diligently. Once down, he walked out to Duke, around the fight area, which everyone was under orders to not cross for any reason. Echo's commander, Sonnua, was coming up the street.

As they came to Duke, Elades took command as was appropriate, answering for both squads. "Sir."

Duke glanced curiously at the bird in Elades's hand for a moment. "Commander, evacuate the vicinity for a s.p.a.ce of three blocks in all directions. Pay what is needed to compensate business owners. I want three detachments of guards made ready. Place one of those detachments on the perimeter here. They are under orders to not allow anyone to re-enter, but not to raise arms to anyone who refuses or who exits after the evacuation. They are to take careful note and request firmly a piece of clothing, hat, or coat to be returned later of anyone exiting late or re-entering. Again, they are not to raise arms if refused, just take careful note. Bravo Squad to a.s.semble at the center square with the other two detachments. Elades, remain here; and Sonnua, please attend to this."

Elades turned and signaled for Alpha to remain on guard while Sonnua started giving orders to the guards present.

Elades turned back to Duke, holding out the bird. "Sir, I found this in route." Holding out the small paper and canister in his other hand, he added, "It had this."

"Feed me the bird."

Elades tossed the bird in the air and Duke snapped it like a dog catching a tasty morsel from the table. Duke chewed it whole for a few moments, then swallowed. "Not bad. Mash and corn fed, definitely a prized bird. Give that message to Ladro, with orders to make a copy for the royal scribes and for Delta's commander to decipher."

Elades smiled. Yes, let's see if the Nhia-Samri agents will feed us good or bad intelligence. I wondered when we were going to deal with them. But they have done a good job so far, nothing even out of order, other than paying a little too much attention to other units' orders.

Duke looked around as the guards were escorting everyone from the various buildings, making sure they walked down the side of the main roads and out of the area. "Elades, give me your hand."

Elades held out his hand and Duke sniffed it carefully. "Good. Also, have anyone else involved with that fight come here immediately."

He signaled for Alpha to report in individually. Over the next twenty minutes Duke took a good smell of every single member of Alpha Squad. By the time he was done the streets were completely silent. Duke motioned for Elades to remain still and sat in the middle of the empty street with his head held high. Although Duke's eyes were closed his ears rotated back and forth rapidly. Once or twice his head would snap around in a direction with his ears perked in the same direction like a pointer dog. He's waiting for something or someone. But, what? The area is evacuated.

Duke stood with his head pointing up at one of the buildings down the street, which looked like a rich merchant's home. "Alpha, deer hunt!"

Duke burst forward like a released arrow, straight at the building, while a dozen Daggers came out of the alleys all around and ran at top speed in the direction Duke was heading. Elades felt his heart rate jump and he followed Duke as fast as he could. Duke didn't bother heading for the main door; he ran right at the building. When he was ten feet away, he leaped high into the air, bursting through a lower window. Three other Daggers, with Elades, ran right up under the window and then partially up the wall, managing to grab the window ledge. From there they pulled themselves up and followed Duke inside.

Elades swung himself into the library with a kick. Landing, he rolled, coming up to a fighting stance and drawing his daggers. Duke had barreled through the library, knocking a table and some large chairs out of his way and crashing through the closed double doors. Elades checked that the three others were up and ready. He smiled when he recognized his second, Idanas, as well as Nullo Sidurson and his brother Essen - his best knife fighters - were the three with him. Together, the four of them followed Duke at a cautious run.

Through the doors was a large, round, two-story room with stairs going up both sides. Duke ran through the middle and jumped up, just clearing the banister to land half-way up the stairs. Elades signaled for two to follow Duke and Nullo to stay with him. Together they ran left and then up the nearer stairs. Idanas and Essen ran across the room to follow Duke up the far stairs. All four of them reached the top together. From the first floor the front and back doors crashed loudly as they were kicked in by the rest of the squad.

Duke turned right, towards the street, barking loudly, "First floor alley-side, second floor street-side," at the top of the stairs, then barreled through a set of large white double doors. Duke's growls sounded like a whole wolf pack. Below the sounds of more fighting could be heard. Elades waved Idanas and Essen off to a pair of doors to the left of the ones Duke had forced; then he and Nullo dove into the room where Duke was already fighting.

There were three Nhia-Samri in what looked like a s.p.a.cious sun room, with large windows overlooking the gate and street. All three were dressed simply, but had oda.s.si blades out and were circling Duke cautiously. Duke dove at one, who dodged out of the way, while the other two tried to spear him. One of them managed to stab Duke. Duke grunted with pain and twisted around, pulling the attacker off-balance as his blade was stuck in Duke's side. Duke's teeth succeeded in grabbing the end of his attacker's leg, which was all Duke needed to yanked the warrior around; Elades had to admire the guy's tenacity as he didn't yell out or panic instead he tried to stick his other knife into Duke's head.

Duke saw the coming attack and yanked his head around hanging on to the guy's leg. The Nhia-Samri was whipped around violently, like a doll. The Nhia-Samri must have had a death grip on his blades; the one stuck in Duke's side was ripped out, causing a spray of blood that arced around Duke, following the sword.

Elades stepped up to Duke's wounded side and blocked a second attack by the remaining Nhia-Samri on that side. They exchanged a rapid series of knife thrusts and parries. On the other side of Duke the sound of another knife fight told Elades that Nullo had engaged the third Nhia-Samri. Exchanging knife strike after knife strike, he fought his opponent. They circled each other and Elades saw that Duke was slamming the one he had up and down on the floor, turning him into nothing more than a b.l.o.o.d.y pulp of a man. Duke flung the pulped man out of the window into the street and turned to Elades's opponent.

Duke made a snap for Elades's opponent, which forced the Nhia-Samri to dodge. That gave the opening Elades had been waiting for. Elades swiped his dagger at the Nhia-Samri's neck with all his entire strength behind it, half decapitating the man. Blood sprayed out and over Elades and Duke as the Nhia-Samri fell.

Not pausing, Elades turned and jumped over Duke's tail to the other side of the room where Nullo had been cut on his arm and leg but was still fighting the Nhia-Samri there. Duke's ears twisted toward the hall, he barked and launched out of the room, giving them more s.p.a.ce to fight. Elades stepped in and attempted a double-cut strike at the Nhia-Samri's head, which he blocked, leaving his lower belly open. Nullo didn't hesitate, plunging both of his knives into the Nhia-Samri's gut. The Nhia-Samri tried to cut down on his killer, but Elades quickly parried the attack and kicked him backwards off of Nullo's blades to fall by the window.

Grinning, they turned and followed the sound of fighting to another room where Duke was standing on one Nhia-Samri's arms, pinning him down, while snapping at another who was trying to get Duke off. The Nhia-Samri who was pinned was ineffectively kicking Duke as hard as he could from below. But Duke ignored it. Two other Nhia-Samri were fighting Essen and Idanas individually. Nullo jumped into the fight to aid his brother. Elades whipped his dagger at the Nhia-Samri who was attacking Duke. His dagger imbedded into the Nhia-Samri's throat, making him fall backwards into a chair, landing in such a way as to look asleep except for the dagger sticking out of his throat and the blood running down his front.

The distraction gone, Duke growled. Looking down, he turned his head sideways to take the whole pinned Nhia-Samri's head into his mouth. The Nhia-Samri screamed as he saw the wolf's teeth coming down. Duke bit down hard, crushing the skull and cutting off the man's scream. Duke, still holding the head, pulled upwards with a twisting motion, ripping the man's head right off his body. Duke spun, slinging the head out the window into the street.

Nullo and Essen had finished off the Nhia-Samri they were dealing with and were turning to help Idanas. Except that Idanas performed a masterful triple-cut maneuver, ending in a down strike that cut the Nhia-Samri open from neck to waist. The Nhia-Samri fell back, screaming, as his blood and guts burst from his opened front. Essen ended the Nhia-Samri's suffering with a rapid cut to the neck, which partially decapitated him.

Duke looked them over and smiled, "you can't control who comes into your life, but you can pick the window you through them out of."

Idanas nodded and grinned madly at Duke then turned and jogged out of the room with Essen following and went down the stairs. Duke turned and listened intently for a moment. Then he sat down; licking his lips clean he turned to licking his wounds. "Good way to start. I think they got a signal off, warning the others."

Nullo, who had been examining his wounds, looked at Duke, surprised. "Did you expect to have the element of surprise?"

Duke looked at him and then laughed. "Well, now that you mention it I had hoped for it. But you're right, not likely to happen anyways."

Elades looked at the wound on Duke's side. It wasn't very long and it had stopped bleeding. But he knew it had been deep stab. "Will you need medical attention?"

Duke stood up and shook like a wet dog, sending blood droplets everywhere. "No, it is already healing. Let's get back to the gate and continue this hunt. I want to kill more Nhia-Samri today if possible."

As they exited, Idanas came and reported four other Nhia-Samri had been killed on the first floor and the house was clear. They left Idanas with one team to search the house for intelligence, not expecting to get any, and then walked back to the gate.

Duke stepped up to the edge of the scene and sat down, looking at the street as if reading a book. "Run me through the events as you have a.s.sembled them again."