The story and characters of El-Hazard were created by Hiroki Hayashi and
Ryoe Tsukimura, and brought to North America by Pioneer LDC. They hold all
copyright to El-Hazard, we hold none. The following story is fan fiction,
and may not be sold or distributed for profit. It is a stand-alone story,
but it takes place in the same continuity as the fan fiction series "El
Hazard: Earth".
We are giving this story a PG rating, with warning of graphic depiction of
violence and some moderately suggestive content.
We would like to thank our pre-readers, Charlie Groark, Greg Smith and
Jerry Yen.
Mark Engels mark_engels@rocketmail.com
Ken Wolfe kenwolfe@mts.net
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Rough Justice: A Tale of El-Hazard
----------------------------------
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---
Six
---
"Ma'am, are you sure?"
"Yes, Lieutenant, I am quite sure."
The combat engineer sighed resignedly. "This way, then."
Ifurita looked over her shoulder at Makoto, nodding for him to follow.
Together they walked behind the soldier as he guided them through the
corridors. Despite the cool autumn air, Makoto sweat profusely from the
heavy canvas coveralls each of them wore. They were taking all the
necessary precautions to prevent exposure to any remaining poison gas that
may have settled into these tunnels deep beneath the amphitheater. Each of
them also wore gas masks and cloth hoods over their faces. Makoto reasoned
Ifurita wore the same gear not for her own protection, but to prevent
carrying any of the poisonous substances back to the surface.
"Royal Engineers Third Battalion has been down here all night, trying to
contain the material spilled from the smudge pots," the lieutenant
explained, nearly shouting to be heard behind his mask. "We're not yet sure
just what's in the stuff or how it came to be placed here. But we do know
from the eyewitness reports of the Great Priestesses it was the materials'
combustion that produced the poison gas."
Makoto half-listened to the combat engineer's monologue, picking up snippets
such as "further chemical analysis required" and "evidence collection
continuing." Concern for his wife was far more important to him at the
moment. This morning, when he awoke on the settee in their apartment, he
noticed his wife looking at him the same way as before he had fallen asleep.
She had said little all morning, only picking at her food when their
servants had served breakfast.
But that had changed when they had arrived at what was now being considered
a crime scene. Ifurita was all business, gathering information from
whatever source she could. He was glad they had not crossed paths with
al-Farsi yet, but thought glumly their meeting was inevitable.
Their tour of the catacombs where the smudge pots had been discovered over,
Makoto blinked repeatedly as the midmorning sun hurt his eyes. After
walking through the coarse spray from an overhead sprinkler to ensure none
of the poison remained, they entered one of dozens of tents set up where the
amphitheater's stage had been. Here they began shucking their protective
gear.
"Forgive me, m'lord and lady," the lieutenant said, sitting cross-legged on
the floor while pulling at his galoshes. "Our field commander wanted me to
bring you to him after your tour," he droned on loudly, obviously forgetting
the fact his breather no longer muffled his voice.
Makoto and Ifurita exchanged confused looks. Leonid, after all, had hailed
them as they passed during their tour of the catacombs. Why did they need
to see him now?
"That will not be necessary, Lieutenant Jizar," someone said, as if to
answer their question.
Ifurita and Makoto both looked up beyond where the lieutenant sat. A
bespectacled man dressed in a gray laborer's tunic and trousers stood there,
cradling a hard hat in the crook of one arm. He was about the same build
and age as Makoto, although over the years had taken to growing his beard
out.
"I sincerely wish we could have met again under better circumstances, my
friends."
Makoto felt a sense of relief at the sight of the man. If Dyvernius Traugot
was here, then Rune and Kaured must be bringing their best and brightest in
from the field to help address this crisis. Traugot, who Makoto had come to
know and respect from their joint scientific endeavors, was recognized as
one of the best analytical minds in all Roshtaria. In fact, a few years ago
Traugot had bestowed upon him the title Dean of the Royal Academy. He had
been Schtalubaugh's most respected understudy, and had been the logical
choice to succeed Schtalubaugh after his death. Makoto reasoned Traugot had
left his official robes in his quarters, for now his friend looked more like
a stonemason than Roshtaria's top scholar.
"Vernie," Makoto said, shaking Traugot's hand warmly. "Did you just get
back from the mines?"
"Just this morning, Mack," Traugot replied. "Queen Rune herself dispatched
a team to find me in the tunnels under Geynos to help determine what
happened here." He sighed, suggesting to Makoto there was much they did not
yet know.
"We have little to go on so far, but let me tell you what we do know,"
Traugot said resignedly as they left the equipment room. He picked up a
pair of hard hats and shook them to unfurl the canvas tails that would
protect the back of their necks from the sun. He handed one to both Makoto
and Ifurita before placing his own back atop his head.
"Have you located the three combustion sources?" Makoto inquired.
"Yes, we were able to locate them with Sister Kiku's help." Makoto and
Ifurita listened carefully as Traugot pointed about the amphitheater,
describing the scenes the smudge pots had been placed. "That's where the
first one went off," Traugot said. "We believe it detonated prematurely."
Makoto nodded, making a mental note to inquire how Traugot had arrived at
that conclusion. "What about the chemicals used?" he asked, changing the
subject.
Traugot blew out his cheeks as he exhaled. "We are still trying to contain
them. Some pretty noxious stuff remains down there."
Makoto chuckled. "Yeah. I figured those canvas suits weren't your idea of
good fashion sense."
"Well, that was just a precaution. The engineers tell me they will have the
tunnels sufficiently ventilated by nightfall to render those unnecessary,"
Traugot replied. "Did you see the scorch marks?"
"Yeah," Makoto replied. "I saw one place where some of the piping above the
smudge pot had been removed."
"I had them collected as percussive damaged specimens for examination. Did
you see the pipe joints themselves?"
"No, the engineers had just finished cutting them down and inventorying them
when Ifurita and I walked by."
"Ah. They're working fast. The lorries carrying the plasma torches arrived
only a few hours ago." Traugot motioned to the two of them with one hand.
"Let me show you something interesting."
He ushered Ifurita and Makoto to a field tent set up near the stage of the
amphitheater. The people working inside wore a variety of uniforms...
engineers, scientists, Palace guard, and the ubiquitous Mountaineers. Bent
over their work, none noticed as they entered.
The three of them knelt near a pallet while Traugot pulled back a cloth.
Underneath were several pipe sections Makoto recognized from the tunnels.
"Take a look here, Mack," he said, pointing at the pipe joints. "Notice
anything?"
Makoto whistled as he examined the joints. "These pipes look like they've
melted."
"Right. But notice the percussive damage as well."
"Vern, this would have had to get real hot really fast in order to introduce
this much plastic deformation."
"That was the conclusion I had come to. But how do you suppose that could
have happened? We haven't found any trace of any rapid-discharge
incendiaries yet."
Makoto's face fell as a disturbing thought occurred to him. Traugot nodded
knowingly, suggesting Makoto had come to the conclusion he had been leading
him to.
"By the Gods, Vern. Initrotolulene?"
Ifurita, who had been listening intently to their exchange, looked
quizzically at the two of them. "That is a very high-yield explosive, being
characteristic in its consuming itself almost entirely during detonation as
I recall," she said. Her brow knit as she tugged at her chin thoughtfully.
"But Royal Ordinance uses other explosives that are easier to handle. And
so do the Engineering Corps."
"Vern, you don't think--"
"Geynosite has to be blasted out of the ground, right?"
Makoto's eyes went wide. "You're not suggesting what I think you're
suggesting, are you?!?!" he asked incredulously.
He noticed one of the technicians look up from her work, her attention
obviously drawn to his raised voice. Upon recognizing Ifurita, she snapped
to attention, eyes wide. "M-M'lady Ifurita, Champion of the Realm!" she
said loudly, thumping her chest in salute. Everyone else in the room
scrambled to their feet, soldiers and civilians alike.
Makoto couldn't help but notice how the simple act of recognition affected
Ifurita. Flabbergasted, she blinked momentarily as she stood mute among
them. But her determined look returned quickly. "As you were, servants of
the Realm," she said, thumping her own chest in response.
Everyone in the tent resumed their work. "Er... Ifurita," Makoto began
nervously.
"Yes, Makoto?"
"I thought you requested that during peacetime soldiers didn't address you
formally."
"Well, yes, I had, but--"
"--but we are at war now, Champion."
Makoto felt his shoulders droop. "I would hate to think it necessary to
remind the Queen's own Affairs Minister a declaration of war requires
concurrence of the Council," Ifurita spat back over her shoulder.
"And I would hate to think it necessary to remind the Queen's Champion a
temporary police action does not," Minister al-Farsi lectured from the
corner of the tent he had emerged from. "I have exercised my prerogative,
nay, my responsibility to conduct this investigation as if gathering
intelligence against an enemy of the state. I believe it prudent to
henceforth conduct this operation as a military exercise rather than a
civilian investigation."
Makoto watched as Ifurita's face screwed up with scorn and contempt. "Since
the Minister has already seen fit to declare war on the Queen's behalf,
surely he intends to inform her exactly whom she has declared war upon," she
said, her voice oozing with invective. "Her Majesty will no doubt be
pleased to know that you've finished your investigation and identified the
culprits with such haste and efficiency."
Every vein in the Minister's face was clearly visible beneath his beet red
skin. "Now see here, Champion--"
"M'lady Ifurita, Champion of the Realm!" a new voice shouted, interrupting
al-Farsi.
Ifurita gasped, looking past Makoto to where the voice had come. Makoto
could see her alarm as she recognized Major Ketter Saulit before her, fist
over his heart. He remembered now. The blonde man was Commander Rilikan's
aide-de-camp, second in command of the Royal Army's Cerulean Expeditionary
Force.
But how had he gotten here so quickly?, Makoto thought. Cerulea was many
days' march to the west!
"Major Saulit," Ifurita addressed him curtly. She frowned, due Makoto
believed at the disturbing implications of Saulit's presence rather than
from having her exchange with al-Farsi interrupted.
Saulit panted, standing at attention as best as his tired legs would permit.
"M'lady, the Royal Cerulean Expeditionary Force has returned."
"At ease, soldier," Ifurita said, to which Saulit complied gratefully. "You
may continue with your report."
"Ma'am, Acting Commander Saulit of Her Majesty's Fifteenth Infantry
reporting--"
"'Acting Commander?', Ifurita interrupted. "But what of Commander Rilikan?"
Saulit paused momentarily. Makoto knew firsthand that soldiers were advised
to choose one's words carefully while delivering bad news to the Queen's
Champion. A sense of dread overwhelmed him as he noted the man's statement;
he believed none of them would like Saulit's answer.
"Champion, it is my sad duty to inform you Commander Rilikan is missing," he
began, pausing as if having difficulty accepting the terrible fact, "and is
presumed dead."
Ifurita's face fell. An uneasy silence fell over them all, save for
Saulit's panting. Before anyone could say anything else, Ifurita turned and
left the tent.
Makoto clasped Saulit and Traugot each on the shoulder, motioning them to
follow her. He had a fairly good idea of what must be going though her mind
right now and he didn't like it one bit. He was also sure that whatever
Saulit had to say, Ifurita felt it necessary to maintain secrecy. As the
three of them almost ran to keep pace with Ifurita, Makoto looked back to
see al-Farsi following a few steps behind.
He watched Ifurita enter what appeared to be the command tent, and then saw
a pair of vermilion clad reserve corps officers make a hasty exit. Makoto
reached for the tent flap, holding it aside as the group filed in one by
one. He didn't appreciate the smug look on al-Farsi's face, but said
nothing as he closed the flap behind himself.
"Continue, Commander," Ifurita addressed Saulit, not bothering to turn
around to face them.
"He had left camp with Laria, the Cerulean High Shamaness," he said
uneasily, "They were planning to go out mushrooming. But neither the troops
nor I saw him again before we broke camp to begin our scheduled march back
to Floristica. As we made our way toward the Geynosian border, my advanced
scouts found a site on the banks of the Jilea River where a struggle
appeared to have taken place."
Saulit flinched as Ifurita crossed the room more quickly than any human
would have thought possible. "Picking mushrooms?", she barked angrily in
Saulit's face. Even Makoto felt himself wince. "By the Seven Hells, man,
do you really expect me to believe my commander was out picking mushrooms in
the middle of the night accompanied by the leader of a nation whose
intentions and motives are unknown to us?"
Visibly flustered, Makoto felt for the younger man as he struggled to
compose his reply. "Ma'am, I can merely report what my superior officer
told me."
Ifurita looked to Makoto as though she was about to say something else, but
instead motioned for Saulit to go on. "Rilikan's rapier was found along
with a few shreds of his uniform. I then ordered the soldiers to break
ranks and search the area. We found pieces of what we believe to be Laria's
cloak, near where a couple sacks filled with morels appeared to have been
dropped hastily. T-there had obviously b-been a struggle, ma-ma'am."
Makoto noticed that Ifurita had taken to staring at the floor. That seemed
to rattle Saulit all the more. While her role as Queen's Champion over the
years had been more a ceremonial than a tactical one, he had been at her
side during times trying for their kingdom, their friends, and each other.
Never had he seen her give one of her subordinates the third degree like
this.
"Immediately I reformed the columns and began marching the expedition back
to Roshtaria as originally planned," Saulit was saying, doing his best to
stay focused. "A few hours later we were met by Commander Mazood of Ninth
Transport, who relayed his orders to deliver Commander Ril--"
Saulit coughed nervously, wilting under Ifurita's penetrating gaze.
"I m-mean, er... well, t-that is, Fifteenth Infantry's Acting Commander to
Floristica with all due haste. I left Lieutenant Fawaz in charge and
returned with Mazood and Baker Company."
Ifurita was silent for a moment. Makoto watched as her face went blank, the
way it always did when she was consulting her Voices.
"Has Laria resurfaced?"
"None of us have seen her, and the Ceruleans have gone to ground since
Rilikan's disappearance. We usually see several of them every day, ma'am.
We had developed what we thought were good relations with the Cerulean
Tribesmen, in fact, we had even worked out a barter system with them. None
of them have been seen since the Commander disappeared, even though we
thought for sure they would be seeing us off."
Makoto swallowed hard, dreading what he knew Ifurita was about to say.
"Commander, render me your assessment of recent events."
Translation, Makoto thought -- tell me you believe Laria betrayed Rilikan.
Saulit looked at the floor for a moment before looking back up at his
superior. "In all honesty, Ma'am, I don't know what to make of all that has
happened. Right up until the Commander disappeared, he would have trusted
Laria with his own life. Lieutenant Fawaz, Ensign Geord, myself... we all
felt the same way. She visited the camp and invited us several times to
dine with her in her tunnel chambers."
He blew out his breath as he continued. "With all candor, ma'am, we were
all beginning to like her. We liked her frankness and unassuming nature --
you always knew where you stood with her."
Hearing the High Shamaness being referred to continually in the past tense
bothered Makoto. He had no doubt Ifurita didn't like where this was leading
either.
"Doesn't matter, really. Many in the Realm will say with certainty that the
Ceruleans have betrayed us," Saulit said, glaring at al-Farsi irrespective
of his own rank. "But I just don't know what to believe right now."
"Well, I suppose, officially Rilikan would be classified as 'missing in
action.' But in six weeks--"
"Thank you, Minister," Traugot spat indignantly. "I believe we are all too
aware of what you are suggesting." No one needed reminding of the
Roshtarian Army policy that would add Rilikan to the KIA roll after missing
for that long. The sound of the Minister's voice told Makoto without
looking al-Farsi stood close, smirking self-righteously.
"M'lady Ifurita, Champion of the Realm!"
"Gods, now who?" Makoto muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. This
was quickly getting old.
He turned to see Ifurita return Commander Leonid's salute. Previously
commander of the Mountaineers before Prince Justen's appointment, he was a
seasoned veteran of many campaigns. His long black hair drawn into a pony
tail revealed his graying temples. Where Saulit had been obviously unnerved
during his report, Leonid spoke with detached precision. He embodied in
every way the character of the Mountain Legion he commanded: efficient,
effective, and haughty. But despite his patronizing demeanor, Makoto had
come to admire the man's candor and professionalism.
"Ma'am -- I came as soon as I heard Fifteenth Infantry had arrived." Leonid
turned, sneering at the other soldier. "Commander."
Ifurita knit her brow. "And I am positive you shall tell me why."
"Indeed, Ma'am. But I'll need the help of *acting* Commander Saulit here."
Now it was Saulit's turn to look confused. "Me?", he asked, pointing to his
chest.
Al-Farsi sighed disgustedly. "Get on with it, man!"
"Of course, Minister. This way, Doctor, m'lord n' lady... Commander."
Several minutes later, Leonid had assembled them around an exhibit table set
up in one of the field tents near the entrance of the tunnels beneath the
amphitheater. Makoto followed a discreet distance behind.
Leonid motioned to a few soldiers standing nearby. They brought forward a
long narrow object, wrapped entirely in cloth. "My recovery teams found
this about a half hour ago while clearing rubble from the first blast site.
We have a pretty good idea of what it is, but we need Commander Saulit to
confirm our suspicions." With a nod from him, the two soldiers drew back
the cloth for their inspection.
The battered thing had been snapped in two. But it was still recognizable
as a very well crafted staff; its ornate carvings suggested its ceremonial
nature.
All eyes turned to Saulit as he gasped. The color drained from his face.
Saulit stood bewildered as his mouth opened and closed silently.
"Commander?," Ifurita prompted.
His voice little more than a horrified whisper, Saulit finally spoke. "That
pike... it belongs to Laria, the Cerulean High Shamaness."
Makoto's head spun as an uneasy hush fell over the tent.
Ifurita was the one to break the pregnant silence. "Minister, come with
me," she said, nodding to Saulit and Leonid. Dismissed, they turned to
leave while Traugot followed suit. Then she turned her gaze to Makoto,
finally noticing where he had been standing silently nearby.
Makoto's mouth hung open as he realized what he was seeing. Before him was
not the face of the woman with whom he had laughed, loved, and lived these
many years. Instead it was a face cold, aloof, single-minded.
There he saw the face of the Demon-God.
"We have much to discuss, al-Farsi," Ifurita said. Makoto felt the hair on
the back of his neck stand on end as her eyes met his.
"If you would excuse us, my lord."
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Ryoe Tsukimura, and brought to North America by Pioneer LDC. They hold all
copyright to El-Hazard, we hold none. The following story is fan fiction,
and may not be sold or distributed for profit. It is a stand-alone story,
but it takes place in the same continuity as the fan fiction series "El
Hazard: Earth".
We are giving this story a PG rating, with warning of graphic depiction of
violence and some moderately suggestive content.
We would like to thank our pre-readers, Charlie Groark, Greg Smith and
Jerry Yen.
Mark Engels mark_engels@rocketmail.com
Ken Wolfe kenwolfe@mts.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------
Rough Justice: A Tale of El-Hazard
----------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Six
---
"Ma'am, are you sure?"
"Yes, Lieutenant, I am quite sure."
The combat engineer sighed resignedly. "This way, then."
Ifurita looked over her shoulder at Makoto, nodding for him to follow.
Together they walked behind the soldier as he guided them through the
corridors. Despite the cool autumn air, Makoto sweat profusely from the
heavy canvas coveralls each of them wore. They were taking all the
necessary precautions to prevent exposure to any remaining poison gas that
may have settled into these tunnels deep beneath the amphitheater. Each of
them also wore gas masks and cloth hoods over their faces. Makoto reasoned
Ifurita wore the same gear not for her own protection, but to prevent
carrying any of the poisonous substances back to the surface.
"Royal Engineers Third Battalion has been down here all night, trying to
contain the material spilled from the smudge pots," the lieutenant
explained, nearly shouting to be heard behind his mask. "We're not yet sure
just what's in the stuff or how it came to be placed here. But we do know
from the eyewitness reports of the Great Priestesses it was the materials'
combustion that produced the poison gas."
Makoto half-listened to the combat engineer's monologue, picking up snippets
such as "further chemical analysis required" and "evidence collection
continuing." Concern for his wife was far more important to him at the
moment. This morning, when he awoke on the settee in their apartment, he
noticed his wife looking at him the same way as before he had fallen asleep.
She had said little all morning, only picking at her food when their
servants had served breakfast.
But that had changed when they had arrived at what was now being considered
a crime scene. Ifurita was all business, gathering information from
whatever source she could. He was glad they had not crossed paths with
al-Farsi yet, but thought glumly their meeting was inevitable.
Their tour of the catacombs where the smudge pots had been discovered over,
Makoto blinked repeatedly as the midmorning sun hurt his eyes. After
walking through the coarse spray from an overhead sprinkler to ensure none
of the poison remained, they entered one of dozens of tents set up where the
amphitheater's stage had been. Here they began shucking their protective
gear.
"Forgive me, m'lord and lady," the lieutenant said, sitting cross-legged on
the floor while pulling at his galoshes. "Our field commander wanted me to
bring you to him after your tour," he droned on loudly, obviously forgetting
the fact his breather no longer muffled his voice.
Makoto and Ifurita exchanged confused looks. Leonid, after all, had hailed
them as they passed during their tour of the catacombs. Why did they need
to see him now?
"That will not be necessary, Lieutenant Jizar," someone said, as if to
answer their question.
Ifurita and Makoto both looked up beyond where the lieutenant sat. A
bespectacled man dressed in a gray laborer's tunic and trousers stood there,
cradling a hard hat in the crook of one arm. He was about the same build
and age as Makoto, although over the years had taken to growing his beard
out.
"I sincerely wish we could have met again under better circumstances, my
friends."
Makoto felt a sense of relief at the sight of the man. If Dyvernius Traugot
was here, then Rune and Kaured must be bringing their best and brightest in
from the field to help address this crisis. Traugot, who Makoto had come to
know and respect from their joint scientific endeavors, was recognized as
one of the best analytical minds in all Roshtaria. In fact, a few years ago
Traugot had bestowed upon him the title Dean of the Royal Academy. He had
been Schtalubaugh's most respected understudy, and had been the logical
choice to succeed Schtalubaugh after his death. Makoto reasoned Traugot had
left his official robes in his quarters, for now his friend looked more like
a stonemason than Roshtaria's top scholar.
"Vernie," Makoto said, shaking Traugot's hand warmly. "Did you just get
back from the mines?"
"Just this morning, Mack," Traugot replied. "Queen Rune herself dispatched
a team to find me in the tunnels under Geynos to help determine what
happened here." He sighed, suggesting to Makoto there was much they did not
yet know.
"We have little to go on so far, but let me tell you what we do know,"
Traugot said resignedly as they left the equipment room. He picked up a
pair of hard hats and shook them to unfurl the canvas tails that would
protect the back of their necks from the sun. He handed one to both Makoto
and Ifurita before placing his own back atop his head.
"Have you located the three combustion sources?" Makoto inquired.
"Yes, we were able to locate them with Sister Kiku's help." Makoto and
Ifurita listened carefully as Traugot pointed about the amphitheater,
describing the scenes the smudge pots had been placed. "That's where the
first one went off," Traugot said. "We believe it detonated prematurely."
Makoto nodded, making a mental note to inquire how Traugot had arrived at
that conclusion. "What about the chemicals used?" he asked, changing the
subject.
Traugot blew out his cheeks as he exhaled. "We are still trying to contain
them. Some pretty noxious stuff remains down there."
Makoto chuckled. "Yeah. I figured those canvas suits weren't your idea of
good fashion sense."
"Well, that was just a precaution. The engineers tell me they will have the
tunnels sufficiently ventilated by nightfall to render those unnecessary,"
Traugot replied. "Did you see the scorch marks?"
"Yeah," Makoto replied. "I saw one place where some of the piping above the
smudge pot had been removed."
"I had them collected as percussive damaged specimens for examination. Did
you see the pipe joints themselves?"
"No, the engineers had just finished cutting them down and inventorying them
when Ifurita and I walked by."
"Ah. They're working fast. The lorries carrying the plasma torches arrived
only a few hours ago." Traugot motioned to the two of them with one hand.
"Let me show you something interesting."
He ushered Ifurita and Makoto to a field tent set up near the stage of the
amphitheater. The people working inside wore a variety of uniforms...
engineers, scientists, Palace guard, and the ubiquitous Mountaineers. Bent
over their work, none noticed as they entered.
The three of them knelt near a pallet while Traugot pulled back a cloth.
Underneath were several pipe sections Makoto recognized from the tunnels.
"Take a look here, Mack," he said, pointing at the pipe joints. "Notice
anything?"
Makoto whistled as he examined the joints. "These pipes look like they've
melted."
"Right. But notice the percussive damage as well."
"Vern, this would have had to get real hot really fast in order to introduce
this much plastic deformation."
"That was the conclusion I had come to. But how do you suppose that could
have happened? We haven't found any trace of any rapid-discharge
incendiaries yet."
Makoto's face fell as a disturbing thought occurred to him. Traugot nodded
knowingly, suggesting Makoto had come to the conclusion he had been leading
him to.
"By the Gods, Vern. Initrotolulene?"
Ifurita, who had been listening intently to their exchange, looked
quizzically at the two of them. "That is a very high-yield explosive, being
characteristic in its consuming itself almost entirely during detonation as
I recall," she said. Her brow knit as she tugged at her chin thoughtfully.
"But Royal Ordinance uses other explosives that are easier to handle. And
so do the Engineering Corps."
"Vern, you don't think--"
"Geynosite has to be blasted out of the ground, right?"
Makoto's eyes went wide. "You're not suggesting what I think you're
suggesting, are you?!?!" he asked incredulously.
He noticed one of the technicians look up from her work, her attention
obviously drawn to his raised voice. Upon recognizing Ifurita, she snapped
to attention, eyes wide. "M-M'lady Ifurita, Champion of the Realm!" she
said loudly, thumping her chest in salute. Everyone else in the room
scrambled to their feet, soldiers and civilians alike.
Makoto couldn't help but notice how the simple act of recognition affected
Ifurita. Flabbergasted, she blinked momentarily as she stood mute among
them. But her determined look returned quickly. "As you were, servants of
the Realm," she said, thumping her own chest in response.
Everyone in the tent resumed their work. "Er... Ifurita," Makoto began
nervously.
"Yes, Makoto?"
"I thought you requested that during peacetime soldiers didn't address you
formally."
"Well, yes, I had, but--"
"--but we are at war now, Champion."
Makoto felt his shoulders droop. "I would hate to think it necessary to
remind the Queen's own Affairs Minister a declaration of war requires
concurrence of the Council," Ifurita spat back over her shoulder.
"And I would hate to think it necessary to remind the Queen's Champion a
temporary police action does not," Minister al-Farsi lectured from the
corner of the tent he had emerged from. "I have exercised my prerogative,
nay, my responsibility to conduct this investigation as if gathering
intelligence against an enemy of the state. I believe it prudent to
henceforth conduct this operation as a military exercise rather than a
civilian investigation."
Makoto watched as Ifurita's face screwed up with scorn and contempt. "Since
the Minister has already seen fit to declare war on the Queen's behalf,
surely he intends to inform her exactly whom she has declared war upon," she
said, her voice oozing with invective. "Her Majesty will no doubt be
pleased to know that you've finished your investigation and identified the
culprits with such haste and efficiency."
Every vein in the Minister's face was clearly visible beneath his beet red
skin. "Now see here, Champion--"
"M'lady Ifurita, Champion of the Realm!" a new voice shouted, interrupting
al-Farsi.
Ifurita gasped, looking past Makoto to where the voice had come. Makoto
could see her alarm as she recognized Major Ketter Saulit before her, fist
over his heart. He remembered now. The blonde man was Commander Rilikan's
aide-de-camp, second in command of the Royal Army's Cerulean Expeditionary
Force.
But how had he gotten here so quickly?, Makoto thought. Cerulea was many
days' march to the west!
"Major Saulit," Ifurita addressed him curtly. She frowned, due Makoto
believed at the disturbing implications of Saulit's presence rather than
from having her exchange with al-Farsi interrupted.
Saulit panted, standing at attention as best as his tired legs would permit.
"M'lady, the Royal Cerulean Expeditionary Force has returned."
"At ease, soldier," Ifurita said, to which Saulit complied gratefully. "You
may continue with your report."
"Ma'am, Acting Commander Saulit of Her Majesty's Fifteenth Infantry
reporting--"
"'Acting Commander?', Ifurita interrupted. "But what of Commander Rilikan?"
Saulit paused momentarily. Makoto knew firsthand that soldiers were advised
to choose one's words carefully while delivering bad news to the Queen's
Champion. A sense of dread overwhelmed him as he noted the man's statement;
he believed none of them would like Saulit's answer.
"Champion, it is my sad duty to inform you Commander Rilikan is missing," he
began, pausing as if having difficulty accepting the terrible fact, "and is
presumed dead."
Ifurita's face fell. An uneasy silence fell over them all, save for
Saulit's panting. Before anyone could say anything else, Ifurita turned and
left the tent.
Makoto clasped Saulit and Traugot each on the shoulder, motioning them to
follow her. He had a fairly good idea of what must be going though her mind
right now and he didn't like it one bit. He was also sure that whatever
Saulit had to say, Ifurita felt it necessary to maintain secrecy. As the
three of them almost ran to keep pace with Ifurita, Makoto looked back to
see al-Farsi following a few steps behind.
He watched Ifurita enter what appeared to be the command tent, and then saw
a pair of vermilion clad reserve corps officers make a hasty exit. Makoto
reached for the tent flap, holding it aside as the group filed in one by
one. He didn't appreciate the smug look on al-Farsi's face, but said
nothing as he closed the flap behind himself.
"Continue, Commander," Ifurita addressed Saulit, not bothering to turn
around to face them.
"He had left camp with Laria, the Cerulean High Shamaness," he said
uneasily, "They were planning to go out mushrooming. But neither the troops
nor I saw him again before we broke camp to begin our scheduled march back
to Floristica. As we made our way toward the Geynosian border, my advanced
scouts found a site on the banks of the Jilea River where a struggle
appeared to have taken place."
Saulit flinched as Ifurita crossed the room more quickly than any human
would have thought possible. "Picking mushrooms?", she barked angrily in
Saulit's face. Even Makoto felt himself wince. "By the Seven Hells, man,
do you really expect me to believe my commander was out picking mushrooms in
the middle of the night accompanied by the leader of a nation whose
intentions and motives are unknown to us?"
Visibly flustered, Makoto felt for the younger man as he struggled to
compose his reply. "Ma'am, I can merely report what my superior officer
told me."
Ifurita looked to Makoto as though she was about to say something else, but
instead motioned for Saulit to go on. "Rilikan's rapier was found along
with a few shreds of his uniform. I then ordered the soldiers to break
ranks and search the area. We found pieces of what we believe to be Laria's
cloak, near where a couple sacks filled with morels appeared to have been
dropped hastily. T-there had obviously b-been a struggle, ma-ma'am."
Makoto noticed that Ifurita had taken to staring at the floor. That seemed
to rattle Saulit all the more. While her role as Queen's Champion over the
years had been more a ceremonial than a tactical one, he had been at her
side during times trying for their kingdom, their friends, and each other.
Never had he seen her give one of her subordinates the third degree like
this.
"Immediately I reformed the columns and began marching the expedition back
to Roshtaria as originally planned," Saulit was saying, doing his best to
stay focused. "A few hours later we were met by Commander Mazood of Ninth
Transport, who relayed his orders to deliver Commander Ril--"
Saulit coughed nervously, wilting under Ifurita's penetrating gaze.
"I m-mean, er... well, t-that is, Fifteenth Infantry's Acting Commander to
Floristica with all due haste. I left Lieutenant Fawaz in charge and
returned with Mazood and Baker Company."
Ifurita was silent for a moment. Makoto watched as her face went blank, the
way it always did when she was consulting her Voices.
"Has Laria resurfaced?"
"None of us have seen her, and the Ceruleans have gone to ground since
Rilikan's disappearance. We usually see several of them every day, ma'am.
We had developed what we thought were good relations with the Cerulean
Tribesmen, in fact, we had even worked out a barter system with them. None
of them have been seen since the Commander disappeared, even though we
thought for sure they would be seeing us off."
Makoto swallowed hard, dreading what he knew Ifurita was about to say.
"Commander, render me your assessment of recent events."
Translation, Makoto thought -- tell me you believe Laria betrayed Rilikan.
Saulit looked at the floor for a moment before looking back up at his
superior. "In all honesty, Ma'am, I don't know what to make of all that has
happened. Right up until the Commander disappeared, he would have trusted
Laria with his own life. Lieutenant Fawaz, Ensign Geord, myself... we all
felt the same way. She visited the camp and invited us several times to
dine with her in her tunnel chambers."
He blew out his breath as he continued. "With all candor, ma'am, we were
all beginning to like her. We liked her frankness and unassuming nature --
you always knew where you stood with her."
Hearing the High Shamaness being referred to continually in the past tense
bothered Makoto. He had no doubt Ifurita didn't like where this was leading
either.
"Doesn't matter, really. Many in the Realm will say with certainty that the
Ceruleans have betrayed us," Saulit said, glaring at al-Farsi irrespective
of his own rank. "But I just don't know what to believe right now."
"Well, I suppose, officially Rilikan would be classified as 'missing in
action.' But in six weeks--"
"Thank you, Minister," Traugot spat indignantly. "I believe we are all too
aware of what you are suggesting." No one needed reminding of the
Roshtarian Army policy that would add Rilikan to the KIA roll after missing
for that long. The sound of the Minister's voice told Makoto without
looking al-Farsi stood close, smirking self-righteously.
"M'lady Ifurita, Champion of the Realm!"
"Gods, now who?" Makoto muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. This
was quickly getting old.
He turned to see Ifurita return Commander Leonid's salute. Previously
commander of the Mountaineers before Prince Justen's appointment, he was a
seasoned veteran of many campaigns. His long black hair drawn into a pony
tail revealed his graying temples. Where Saulit had been obviously unnerved
during his report, Leonid spoke with detached precision. He embodied in
every way the character of the Mountain Legion he commanded: efficient,
effective, and haughty. But despite his patronizing demeanor, Makoto had
come to admire the man's candor and professionalism.
"Ma'am -- I came as soon as I heard Fifteenth Infantry had arrived." Leonid
turned, sneering at the other soldier. "Commander."
Ifurita knit her brow. "And I am positive you shall tell me why."
"Indeed, Ma'am. But I'll need the help of *acting* Commander Saulit here."
Now it was Saulit's turn to look confused. "Me?", he asked, pointing to his
chest.
Al-Farsi sighed disgustedly. "Get on with it, man!"
"Of course, Minister. This way, Doctor, m'lord n' lady... Commander."
Several minutes later, Leonid had assembled them around an exhibit table set
up in one of the field tents near the entrance of the tunnels beneath the
amphitheater. Makoto followed a discreet distance behind.
Leonid motioned to a few soldiers standing nearby. They brought forward a
long narrow object, wrapped entirely in cloth. "My recovery teams found
this about a half hour ago while clearing rubble from the first blast site.
We have a pretty good idea of what it is, but we need Commander Saulit to
confirm our suspicions." With a nod from him, the two soldiers drew back
the cloth for their inspection.
The battered thing had been snapped in two. But it was still recognizable
as a very well crafted staff; its ornate carvings suggested its ceremonial
nature.
All eyes turned to Saulit as he gasped. The color drained from his face.
Saulit stood bewildered as his mouth opened and closed silently.
"Commander?," Ifurita prompted.
His voice little more than a horrified whisper, Saulit finally spoke. "That
pike... it belongs to Laria, the Cerulean High Shamaness."
Makoto's head spun as an uneasy hush fell over the tent.
Ifurita was the one to break the pregnant silence. "Minister, come with
me," she said, nodding to Saulit and Leonid. Dismissed, they turned to
leave while Traugot followed suit. Then she turned her gaze to Makoto,
finally noticing where he had been standing silently nearby.
Makoto's mouth hung open as he realized what he was seeing. Before him was
not the face of the woman with whom he had laughed, loved, and lived these
many years. Instead it was a face cold, aloof, single-minded.
There he saw the face of the Demon-God.
"We have much to discuss, al-Farsi," Ifurita said. Makoto felt the hair on
the back of his neck stand on end as her eyes met his.
"If you would excuse us, my lord."
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