He gave her no pretense now, the speech patterns of his youth coming to the surface. “I was there as part of the escort for your family, but your father thought we might frighten you, so we were not introduced. When the pirates struck, I was sent to find you and your mother as your father fought alongside my blade-brothers.” His arms tightened around her fractionally. “You did not remember, and I... could no longer see the little girl who danced and laughed with abandon.”
~=*=~
She felt the tears start again, but the mourning was quieter. She remembered the week surrounding the death of her mother, but until now, had blocked the airship trip. She had hazy memories of the memorial service, and of the Jägers who had been there, quietly standing in the back of the chapel, with crepe-wrapped hats and mourning bands.
She dimly remembered being at play as a child, but after her mother’s death, it was not as important to her. Her father’s wish that she follow him in holding the fortress was not all that shaped her into the soldier she was now. There had been the need to protect everyone from smelly men who threatened mothers and little children.
Her whispered response was, “She started training that year.” Then, though it was not nearly enough, she stretched up to kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you.”
She felt his lips touch her temple, when there was a flurry of activity in the courier’s crew. Listening for a few moments, Dalibor moved his mouth to her ear to murmur, “We are coming into the main hangar of Castle Wulfenbach, by the sound of it. I... Hy schould get beck to bein’ a schtupid Jäger, ja?”
“My sergeant is not stupid.”
His chuckle quieted as the courier’s engines cut out, but he nuzzled the top of her ear before carefully settling in for the landing.
From the noise, the hangar was not quite as busy as the flight-yard at the base had been. Dafi heard comments from the crew that they were lucky to get in before the mid-watch came on. There was a shudder and a metallic clack as the cradle latched on to the gondola, and the courier crew began offloading the mail bags from the bins on either side of them. There were a great number of orders shouted that did not make sense to her, but Dalibor seemed relaxed, so she supposed they were normal. She spent the time drying her face and generally pulling herself together for the forthcoming debriefing.
A debriefing that did not seem to be in the immediate future as the crew of the courier was dismissed, but the captain remained, speaking at length with the maintenance officer, scheduling a number of minor repairs, including a “broken” remote release cable for the drop hatch on the center mail bin. As the two officers were standing right there pointing everything out, Dafi and Dal were not going to pull the release to leave in front of the maintenance officer.
Finally, the maintenance officer left with his list of Things To Do. Dal held her hand, giving the patrol signal for “wait”.
Finally, the captain murmured, “Sit tight, I’m letting you out topside.” A few moments later, the top of the bin was unlocked, and the airship captain chuckled, “Would be nice to put a couple of the rowdier special couriers in your seat for their runs. Your handler should arrive soon, since this deck is closed for the next shift.” The captain pulled his duffel out of the overhead, and gave a saluting wave, “Good hunting to you both,” and left.
~=*=~
Peering out of the airship from their place in the shadows, Dalibor noted the flight deck was darker than he remembered. Perhaps he was getting tired of shadows and would prefer a good fight without worrying. Maybe it was the problem of watching every shadow for knife glints had him on edge. Or it really was just that dark.
She murmured, “Minimum lights for off-duty?”
Dalibor nodded, and grunted softly when he spotted movement near the maintenance officer’s desk. Maneuvering Dafi so she could use him as a shield but could still see to shoot, he kept still, watching the man of average height and build in a grubby mechanic’s coverall walk down the flightline to the Meltem. Something about the man’s stride was familiar, but it took the flash of the screwdriver being twirled in his fingers like a baton to give him the last clue. Dalibor gave what was termed a “Jäger-friendly” chuckle when the man came to the door. “Figg’rd hyu for admin, Nistor.”
The newcomer chuckled, “Next step, old man. The hornet’s nest you stirred up by stealing the knight from the board means you get me instead of the three layers under me.” He bowed to Dafi. “Quester Hasdeu, Dama Hynter. We have much to discuss.” He then produced the identifying sigil from his pocket, the gold glinting in the limited light.
~=*=~
Dafi took the proffered badge, the three sapphire crystals set in the rank band catching the light from the hangar. She turned it over to note the number etched on the reverse before handing it back. Raising her eyebrow, she spoke in what she hoped was an even tone. “Discussion would be welcome, especially if it leads to action.”
“It may not seem to be immediate, but trust me, it will occur.” Quester Hasdeu scanned the flight line, while murmuring, “However, I’d like to take this to a more secure location. Preferably meeting the fewest people possible along the way.” He alighted from the courier, and led them to the airbag pumping station. The door next to the pressure gauge panel seemed to be slightly dusty and out of use, but swung out without a sound. Behind the door, the maintenance corridor from their position stretched as far as could be seen in the dim light.
Their hike through the Castle was both awe-inspiring and a trifle unnerving. Dafi was uncomfortably aware that though it was gigantic enough to be stable, this was still an airship, and required great engineering and massive maintenance efforts to stay aloft. These corridors were chilly, but not horribly so, much like the deep storage cellars at the fortress. Seeing the checklists that different hands had initialed along their route gave her some appreciation for the safety, but she was not entirely calm.
~=*=~
Dalibor kept an eye on Dafi, irrationally proud of her ability to keep her nervousness at being in the air under control. Still, the sooner he could get her back on the ground, and back in control of her fortress, the better for her state of mind. It remained to be seen if he would need to ask permission to assist in retaking the fortress, or forgiveness for doing it anyway.
This would never be his home, but it was familiar ground for Dalibor. He knew these corridors as well as any of the other security forces on the ship, possibly better than three-quarters of the residents aboard. They headed from the lower aft airship docks to about midships, near the sick bay, but not quite to the Jägerbarracks. What surprised Dal was that Hasdeu led from the maintenance corridors to an office inside the hospital section. “Hrrr..."
Hasdeu’s voice was quiet in answer to the growl. “Not for you, old man. No worries. But we have a bit of a problem brewing around Dama Hynter.” He motioned for them to sit. “First, we do have reports that the fortress is occupied by inimical forces, but that the village is still autonomous, under the village aldermen’s control. It seems the occupiers are trying very hard to make it look as if everything is normal at Adreev. I am authorized to tell you there will be forces to assist you in retaking the fortress. Beyond that, there is not much more that I know, either in the forces assigned or the timeframe. In fact, you’ll likely be briefed by the Baron before I am told anything else.” He chuckled, then sobered with his next statement. “I should let you in on the news that you have become a person of interest to the court gossips. In fact there are some theories and queries floating about that are... curious. Dama, were there any formal contracts for your betrothal signed by you?”
Dafi shook her head, “Father had said there were initial inquiries from some of the neighboring duchies, but none had gotten to the point of a preliminary meeting.”
“That makes things interesting, then. There have been several people who should not know about the attack on Adreev that are making what seem to be making ‘sympathetic overtures’, inquiring about your health, and so on.” Hasdeu took a list from his pocket, “Were any of the inquiries by the house of Movila?”
Dalibor managed to keep from growling, but Dafi openly scoffed. “Not before the attack, no - but apparently the attempted kidnapping in Tânărăjugul was an overture.”
“That was not in the constabulary report, though we only had the helio short form.” The quester shook his head, “We should start from the beginning.”
As Dafi gave her report, beginning with the odd happenings along the trade circle road over the summer, Dal kept his counsel. Her report was succinct, and given with suppositions and theories clearly separated from documented occurrences. When she got to the attack, her voice thickened, but she kept up the report. He had not heard this part, as she had not discussed it on the trail. Finding out her seconds had practically thrown her onto her horse with the documents they had liberated from one of the attacking locotenents, Dal twitched. Her responses on the train when he had attempted to defy her orders made much more sense, now. She had already had her fill of subordinates putting themselves in danger for her.
When Dafi had finished her report, she started pulling out the documents from all the hiding spaces. Nistor was experienced enough to cover his surprise at the documents they were carrying, until the sheer number of documents overwhelmed even his mask of serene regard. “They were carrying all of this with them?”
“Ho. Nut all of dese come from Adreev.” Dal separated the piles for the different sources. “Hy got deese schoved at me, ven Hy wastoldt to get de Dama haway from de attack on da forst courier.” Even the two separate stacks were impressive in their numbers.
“And how did you get assigned to Dama Hynter’s bodyguard detail, old man?” Nistor raised his eyebrow at Dalibor, in the manner Dal had seen at many a card game.
Dal grinned and shrugged, “Chust lucky, Hy guess!”
~=*=~
She would have liked to know the answer to that as well, but Dafi was not going to berate him in front of someone who was obviously an old friend. Even with her nap on the courier, and the rest of the days previous at the base, she was getting to the end of her reserves. Making sure she did not break down in the middle of the debriefing had taken a lot out of her. Stifling a yawn, she listened attentively as Dalibor gave his version of events, from the time they met on the airship, to his conversation with the innkeeper and his observations concerning the attacks on the rail-monks and in the tavern.
Finally, the quester seemed to be satisfied with the first interview. “Things have gotten complicated. All summer there have been rumblings through the southern duchies, more than what the weather could account for.” He gestured to the papers they had brought in, “These tie quite a few incidents together, I think.” He regarded Dafi with piercing eyes, “However, you also figure into this puzzle, Dama. These three probably think they’ve covered the trail, but the papers you two were carrying are enough to send the cabal to Castle Heterodyne. I think this is part of the reason why you were hunted. The other part is a land-grab.”
“With me surviving the attack, that is a little less likely, I would think.” Dafi said, but she was not sure. There was another way, which the quester confirmed.
“It involves something that the cabal found in an old treaty that Moviloras will come to the aid of Adreev in time of need or some such... looks like they have a pack of lawyers to twist the conditions around to suit them. Apparently, their idea of aiding Adreev is to have the Dama married to their duke”
“Hy t’ink it vould be betta if dey hadn’ been de vuns to attack.”
“True, but they do not know we have proof of that.” Hasdeu patted the documentation. “There’s also the chance we can get them to come here, in a situation that would mean they are cut off from their forces, if the Dama will agree to a little intrigue.”
“I would like to hear the shape of the plan, before I jump in.” Dafi hoped the tremor she felt was not heard by the others in her voice.
“Once the heliograph reports reached here, the Baron had already gotten the paperwork drawn up to have you confirmed as commander of the fortress. Everything has been waiting for you to be found. We’re just lucky you finally reached the Castle Wulfenbach under your own power.” Hasdeu’s grin turned a bit sharp. “One oversight that’s going to trip those idiots is the fact that you actually have been trained to hold and manage the lands yourself. We think, based on the letters and other communications we have intercepted, that their plan is to have their player keep you pregnant and out of the way so they can maneuver the lands to a powerful enough foothold to challenge the Baron. The intel we have indicates they expect the Baron will give control of the fortress and lands over to whoever marries the Dama, because she was not one of the students on Castle Wulfenbach.”
“Tch, I wasn’t here because I was at the academy, and Father was a long-term supporter, dedicated to keeping the peace.”
The quester chuckled, “I don’t think they’ve paid attention to how many schools have Baron Wulfenbach on the board of trustees. He reads most of the reports from the schools, I know - it’s how I got into the track I’m in now.”
“Who ist dey player?”
“Their chosen puppet, Duke Gavril, is controlled by their holding of his gambling debt.”
“Over half of that they managed to create with a shark, according to one of the letters we brought.” Dafi felt the need to point this out, as there were people who believed in him.
“He’s also a confirmed city noble. Though he may have some good ideas for trade and export management, he’s been encouraged to be a wastrel and a dandy. Also rumored to have a gentleman lover, but it seems his handlers don’t care about what he wants, either.” Hasdeu regarded her seriously, “There are some indications they are planning to have you married and buried in a year, if he doesn’t manage to keep you busy with pregnancies. That would be a waste of resources, and you know how the Baron has saving ways.”
Dafi considered the possibility of refusing, as it could get her locked into wedding a man who would be useless in the fortress, and likely refusing to allow her to do her duty. But if they were able to get the organizers of this mess restrained by her being bait, so be it. “As long as I am not required to break my oaths, I think I can agree to bait the trap. I have no wish to be trapped as well, though.”
“Fair enough. We can get started now, before the next shift begins. Think you can manage pretending to be a delicate flower, unable to cope with exhaustion?”
~=*=~
Keeping quiet during Dafi’s last decision was difficult for Dal. On the one hand, they did need to get these vipers, but using her as bait still made him nervous.
The quester let them out of the office, to the hall with private patient rooms. Meeting a woman in a dark suit, Hasdeu murmured to her, “We need her under seclusion for nervous breakdown and exhaustion, no visitors unless cleared by me or my boss.”
“Good thing you aren’t using disease quarantine for hiding her, that was getting old.” The woman chuckled, and came to meet Dafi.
“Dama, may I present Dr. Ioana Shriram? Dr. Shriram will be taking care of you, and helping magnify your symptoms to the rumor mill.” He turned to the doctor, “Dama Hynter has nearly nothing with her, but there might be people who think she is carrying something or other.”
“Fair enough. If you will come this way, Dama?” The woman indicated the room nearest them.
As Dalibor made to follow, Nistor restrained him with a hand on his arm, “Sorry, old man. We need to have you fade into the background for now. If you aren’t shadowing her every move, there’s a better chance they won’t see you until it’s too late.” He led the Jäger back to the office.
Once the door was closed, and Dal was seated, Nistor said quietly “I didn’t tell her all the rumors flying about, but one involves her ‘pet monster’, heavy on the innuendo.” He held up his hand at the Dalibor rose out of his chair, “I don’t think anyone that will have contact with her would be crass enough to repeat it in front of her, and it’s popular only with the Normandie set. But the less you are seen with her, the less likely it will get any fuel.”
Dal knew, logically, that there was nothing he could do about the rumors with his fists. But it was very tempting. He took a few moments to calm himself before asking, “Zo. Vat do hyu t’ink hy should be doing?”
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